stop and smell the ozone

by honorthecock (keyburnflower)

Summary:

An Abernant could not be a windrider. An Abernant was to stay safe on the ground. An Abernant was a benefactor, a guide, the one to sign the contracts, the devil in the details. An Abernant was much too well-to-do to smile through frost-laden lips, to clap their engineer on the back despite the grime, to lower themself to the level of a deckhand when duties had to be done.

An Abernant could not be a windrider. And yet there Adaine stood.

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Letters between the Abernant sisters as the younger inexorably flies the nest.

Chapter 1: OZONE - I

Summary:

Eighteen, jaded, and still bleeding where she severed the umbilical cord tying her to Bellenuit, Adaine writes a letter to her sister.

Aelwyn - 

The skies were always meant to be out of reach for an Abernant, of this much I am certain. I am not content, however, to rest my head on the soil of the family plot and wait for death to come. To die within twenty paces of where you were born is the aspiration of a salmon or perhaps a clam, and it is not the salt of the sea for which I yearn.

As both yourself and Father may have well noticed by now, I have departed overnight. I needn't name the ship on which I fly. In lieu of leaving this letter for you where he might find it, I've sent it by mail, disguised as else under your name. To further the hope that it should reach you, I have left it lacking a return address. You need not know where I go, for in your heart you know already it is beyond your grasp, weighed down by blood-born greed as you are. That said, I don't loathe you as I do the rest of our ilk - you are my sister, despite it all, and there are ways in which I believe we are very, very alike.

I do not think you meant for the skies, not by far, but I do think you kind, in the recesses of your heart. Believe me that you are more, believe me that you are meant for more, believe me that I see and understand. Spare yourself the indignity of their expectations. 

Having caught an updraft, dearest sister yours -
With love,
Adaine Abernant

Notes:

a new multi chapter fic right after i start my last? yes.

Chapter 2: OZONE - II

Summary:

With a year of learning under her belt, Aelwyn dignifies her sister with a response.

Adaine -

I apologize for how long my response took. The shock of your leaving took us all aback, of course, and then to the forefront was the matter that we've intentionally not been told your destination.

It is only by virtue of noble blood and stained coin I've the privilege to hear rumor of where you land. I hope for all the world you stay on course and indeed dock so that my letter might find you, for if it goes long without your eye it might be my end. Beyond my reach may you stay, however, as longer I watch more I find you never earned this family's disdain.

Little in the manor has changed for the better since your departure. Mother stays bowed over documents in the drawing room for most hours as always and Father rarely returns home. I feel he gazes at either Mother or I and sees another way in which he failed. Thus it is away he stays, tail between his legs. That you've managed to make such a man feel shame deserves commendation - may this vindicate you. Ride stronger, higher knowing he suffers.

Only by Mother's hand do we connect with those beyond Bellenuit, for I've still little to write out about, save for that which I hide away for you. Indeed I've made many a pass at this letter and this incarnation may still be destined for the wastebasket yet. I hear word only recently that we're due for a meeting with old man Seacaster, though by what new achievement we've earned his audience is beyond me. Hear as well that his son still asks after you, gone though you are, to the chagrin of his father. Perhaps they plot your capture, though I doubt - the old pirate is a romantic at heart. If he sends that boy out on his own voyage you surely soon will hear.

There have been no deaths or births; we stagnate in your absence, that I might not get distracted. At times I dream to gather my courage and get my sky-legs that I might venture after you just for a chance to see beyond the tunnel-air veil. I know in my heart of course that I am not so strong. It does not stop me from missing you.

You know - what continues to stun me is that it's not been long since you left, ultimately. Were I younger I might miss you for a year and feel as though it were a decade, but aging I am and so warped the mind becomes. One hates to be old and act it, but it is not worth hiding the change. All I've heard makes me think the sky has surely aged you as well, point that you might find yourself my elder at heart, and isn't that twisted? Have you drawn blood? Felled men? I hear you've a pistol on your hip, now, by God what a change! I'd think the sound of it firing would rend your soul from your chest were you at all the girl I remember, my dearest little sister.

If in your heart at all I be, write me back if you've ever the chance. I doubt where I reside shall change.

With love,
Aelwyn

Chapter 3: OZONE - III

Summary:

A new beginning, or a rebirth? It's unclear as of yet. What is clear is that this can be made to work.

Aelwyn -

It's you! By God! It's you! It is difficult to overstate the joy I felt upon realizing just who it was who sent me that previous letter. As for its tardiness - I forgive you, as I always will. If you contact me again I shall happily respond in kind! You are my sister, after all, as our last correspondence proved. If you've an awareness of our flight path in the near future it should not be so difficult to reach me, but on the off chance anything changes, I will be certain to notify you. It is unlikely, but still.

It does not surprise me that Father reacted poorly - nor that Mother did not react at all, but I suspect she wages a war in her mind on the topic even now, a year later. Never one to externalize, that woman. I do wonder at times if she envies my audacity. If I could find the strength to walk out, why can't she? Especially young as I was. Practically still laden with eggshell.

So long since I've seen you and still you see fit to needle me about that Seacaster boy! Wicked woman you are. He's just turned fourteen this year, hasn't he? Old Bill is an eccentric man, but having spent time with young Fabian, I sincerely doubt he would let even his most darling only child pilot one of his fleet. Nor venture out as crew, mind you, he's rational enough to know the boy's the first thing that'd be getting tipped overboard. Heaven knows I've nursed the same urge. Mind, do send Fabian my regards if you happen to see him on your visit. I envy you the opportunity to have a younger sibling and he's the closest I've ever got. Darling boy he is, the quirks aside.

(It's not long off that the Uplands are where we dock... suppose I will just have to find out which of us sees him first.)

Never join me in these skies! Hallowed not are the lands amongst the clouds, much as a priest insists. In particular if you man a ship much like mine - high we fly, been told she's built specially for such feats - the thin air will get to you in wretched ways. Dreadful things you see. You step out above deck to watch the stars, a thousand winding fractal arms converge on an inbred point and blot out the sky, and then before you know it, it's a day later and the ship's already docked. Nightmarish, I tell you. If we meet again it will be on solid ground.

And nay! I've not killed anyone. Yet. Some these godforsaken crewmates give me dreadful headaches and I've had the urge to blast them to smithereens, but this is not an uncommon desire for men to instill in women, as we know by now. Alas, I am much too kind to do such a thing... luckily I've endeared myself to our hired muscle and dearest Ms. Faeth is not nearly as polite as I. She's of a rare breed, her - I find myself growing increasingly attached to the transient stragglers we take from port to port and it is just miserable to see them go. I pray she never leaves us, by death or by foot, for she keeps me as sane as one can be in a profession like this.

If I can wheedle a use of the camera on board out of the captain I may just send you a picture of us all. Rare technology to be taken up high, yes, but we do a lot of mapping work! It is useful in this way.

I may have grown, but it's little I've changed at heart, for indeed it is there you are. Good memories of the childhood we had are sparing and I find you to have been my young self's saving grace. How funny is that? Not very, I imagine, but neither of us have the wherewithal to cry over it. Simply not how we're wired, we Abernants, and what a shame.

With love and what little else I've got to give,
Adaine

Notes:

Though rumor squalls so whispered is truth,
for though ships fall from predator's tooth -
Its tendrils wind to soul defend,
a bargain struck with wave-wrought men.
Chained in sea beyond the sky
where lightning bring your ship come hie -
Written record dash its name
but neath far skies all know its shame.
Origin unknown.

There is a tale, or used to be
of beast that prowls the sky -
None can tell you how it looks
for most who see it die.
From nose it draw what give him life
and on the face it freeze -
Cold take him down to his lungs
'til he no longer breathes.
Stricken he shake and stumble down,
under-deck be chance of survival -
A furnace roars, his saving grace,
his untimely revival.
Excerpt lifted from On Beasts and Their Ballads, most recent translation as of Vol. 4 pub 1379 - product of lore aggregate managed by J. G. Ackers - source reckoned shanty or folk ballad