Outbox

Sender: unknown
Origin: unknown
Received: 30 November, Monday

Decrypted message reads:

Dear Mother and Father,

The contract has been signed, and as of 11:00 this morning the building is mine! It is such a relief to have a center for my operations, even if this does now mean the beginning of the long and arduous task of reorganizing everything.

As I mentioned, the top floor is already laid out as a luxurious home for the type of businessman who would rather be in constant contact with his operations than have any human contact. That suits me well enough, as it ensures a degree of privacy that I will certainly treasure as soon as the conclave starts inspecting my business and lifestyle.

I fear they will begin intruding sooner than I would like. It seems that the lower-caste members wish to induct me into their quorum as soon as possible, convinced that I will side with them. The more reactionary members, meanwhile, are determined to find fault with me and thus hope to thoroughly examine my life before I have a chance to gather my bearings in my new position. Of course, I hear all of this information by hearsay, and you surely know at least as much if not more than I do about the situation.

After signing the papers I was able to find half an hour in which to survey my new holdings. The residence was very thoughtfully appointed, and it will require minimal alterations to make it entirely suited to my needs. I am anxious to get started, so I have already contracted builders to work at a hasty schedule. I may be able to move into the master bedroom as early as next week. Though the personal effects of the previous owner were all taken by his next of kin, the lawyers gave me the option to buy the place furnished—and I happily accepted. I am content not to burden myself with such considerations at this time.

I suspect it will still be at least a month or two before I can comfortably invite you to come and stay with me. In the meantime, I am heartened to know that you are both doing well. I look forward to hearing your voices when I call tonight.

It is a pleasant feeling to know that the secrets and subterfuges that brought me to this position are slowly melting into the past, and I hope that I will soon be able to bring perfect honesty to all of my dealings. And I look forward to the not-too-distant date when I have your examples of honor and goodness always before me, to guide my choices.

Ever yours,

Da’ashalenne

(Continue.)

Outbox: Keeping in touch

Sender: David Ages
To: Brook Haupenstaat
Subject: Keeping in touch

Dear Brook,

I hope this message does not feel out of the blue, coming as it does nearly a month since our last correspondence. I wish to give you a sense of how things have progressed on my end, what changes have occurred in my life and what I hope to see in the future.

First of all, if I have not communicated my gratitude in strong enough terms, please allow me to take a moment now and state that I could not possibly have regained my dignity and my good name in the eyes of my people so quickly and completely without your assistance. Your most thorough description on the events on the 12^th of October did much to convince the conclave to clear me of any wrongdoing. While some of them had entertained doubts about Darcy’s intentions, the extremes to which she went were beyond even what they found readily believable.

In the time since we last parted company I have, as you may have heard, become heir to the marketing empire that Darcy and her parents so skillfully developed. Though it is not my chosen field, I do acknowledge that there is a great deal of power in controlling the words and messages that people hear. I am very busy with the work of learning this trade, and repairing the damage that was done when Darcy’s headquarters was destroyed.

I hope it is not too forward of me, but I wish to emphasize how very taxing this work has been—and state most emphatically that this has been a major deterrent to contacting you. I should like to become more closely acquainted with you Brook, to learn of your interests and opinions over candlelight and wine. At a time like this, when I could not possibly ignore my work for even the span of an evening, I choose not to contact you because I dislike the concept of approaching you in half measure.

Our time together has been not only brief but also strained by overpowering circumstances. Still, I sense I am not amiss in my sensation that you would respond favorably to a romantic overture. When the time is right, I do hope that you will accept my invitation.

I must go now and respond to some of my innumerable duties. Again, thank you for the vital role you played in last month’s circumstances. I look forward to the day when I can contact you in earnest.

Yours,

David Ages

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