[Satyr] Pen Pals

=1=
>"Darling?"
>Garret, hunched over the table in front of him, pauses and sets down his pen.
"Mother?"
>The unicorn mare trots up beside him, a concerned frown etched on her features.
>"Garnet, dear, are you all right? You've been slaving away over that note for the past two hours."
>Offering a small smile, Garret turns to face Rarity, slinging an arm over the side of his chair in the process.
"It's nothing, really."
>The frown deepens, though his mother somehow manages to keep her forehead from crinkling up.
>Fascinating, he'd have to ask her how she manages that.
>"It doesn't seem like nothing. What has you all out of sorts?"
>Garret holds back a sigh.
>Here she is again.
>Needling.
>It's not as though she doesn't have a lot of practice as a seamstress but
>That doesn't make it any easier to deal with.
>Finally, the boy lifts his hand and watches as Rarity's eyes flit over to the paper.
"It's a letter, Mother; one to my pen pal?"
>At once, the unicorn's eyes light up.
>"Emma? That darling little girl you have been corresponding with since you started primary school?"
>Garret coughs, averting his eyes while his mother continues gushing.
>"Oh, you were always so excited to get a letter from her; you would stake out the mailbox every day and would always look so disappointed if she hadn't responded!"
"M-Mother..."
>"Oh, yes, of course."
>Taking a moment to fan herself with a hoof, Rarity smiles.
>"Would you like to talk about it?"
"Not especially."
>"Oh. I see."
>At once Garret sees his mother visibly sink a little.
>An awkward silence fills the air before she smiles again.
>"Very well; I understand that a boy's heart can be difficult to navigate. But, if you ever need a gentler touch Garnet, I am always willing to assist."
"Thanks Mother."
>Rarity gives her son a gentle pat on the back before trotting out of the room.
>Garret looks over his letter again before crumpling it up and sighing.
>Things get awkward as you get older...

=2=
>It's been a long day at Griflandia General Education Facility.
>Emma drops to the ground, padding her way up to the log house she shares with the rest of her family.
>Her father, a brute of a man glances up from the porch as she approaches.
>"Ah, welcome home Spätzchen."
"Hello, Poppa."
>The two offer small smiles before he reaches off the side and pulls out an envelope.
>"You received a letter from that Ponyville boy today."
>An excited squeal erupts from the sphinx as she clambers over to him on all fours.
"Garret? Truly!?"
>Chuckling her father shakes the letter in front of her a few times.
>"Mm, indeed."
>Emma makes a few swipes at it, but the human continues to jerk it just out of her reach.
>All too quickly, the young girl realizes he's toying with her like he does her mother with the cat-tails out back.
>Puffing out her cheeks, she resists the urge to go after it again and scowls.
"Poppa, that's my letter!"
>"Of course, Spätzchen. I'm just taking my price."
>Chuckling again, the man leans forward and plants a kiss on her forehead before placing the envelope in her hands.
>Emma gives another squeal, throwing in a thank you and pecking her father on the cheek before rushing to her room.
>Despite the rustic exterior, the inside of her room is spattered with all manner of brightly colored figures.
>Some sport large eyes and equally large mouths, silently cheering from the posters on her wall.
>Others are cool, reserved, their eyes half-lidded, promising all manner of danger.
>Even the tiny toys on her desk declare loudly and proudly that Emma is something of a fanatic.
>But none of that matters right now, as she flops across her bed, body pillow forgotten as she tears into the envelope.

>Interestingly, there are a number of creases in the letter, as though it were balled up several times over.
>Quite unlike the usually meticulous boy she'd been corresponding with for nearly a decade.
>Still, the smooth, sloping script that is so unequivocally Garret stares back at her as she unfolds the letter.
>Wetting her lips, she begins to read, kicking her paws back and forth behind her.
>He begins, of course, in his usual eloquent manner, with warm greetings and well wishes to her and her family.
>Followed quickly with questions and responses to some of her comments in the last letter she sent.
>Emma's face heats up a little as she reads that he's impressed to hear about her showing in the Speedsters, seeming assured that she'll be leading her string before long.
>A short section regarding suggestions for her latest cosplay idea.
>And then a detailed account of recent occurrences in Ponyville.
>Part way through, Emma sighs and smiles.
"Ah, it sounds so nice; such a pleasant place to live with others."
>And with Garret.
>They could have so much fun together, the two of them!
>With a quiet huff, Emma shakes off the thoughts and continues reading.
>The local sphinx seems to be causing a ruckus, as usual, though Emma's certain that Alex is feeling a little lonely.
>She knows the feeling well herself.
>But the letter stops abruptly, leaving the girl somewhat confused.
"Mm, this must be where he got frustrated."
>A quiet laugh escapes her lips.
"Though I hoped he would at least say goodbye."
>Turning the letter over, Emma raises an eyebrow at a small string of text running along the bottom of the page.
>It's looks similar to Garret's, though hurried and sharply slanted.
"Emma, I do hope that you're well. Forgive the mess, but I've been wrestling with this letter for what feels like ages."
>The sphinx smiles again, glad she can read him so well by this point.
>Settling in again, she continues to read, but a few short lines later, something stops her cold.

>Gulping, she reads again, murmuring to herself.
"It would please me a great deal if you could come visit me in Ponyville."
>Emma's eyes widen as she stares at the line again and again, as though trying to find some other meaning hidden inside it.
>But no, clear as day, he's asking for her to come see him.
>Gulping, Emma places the letter down, her claw trembling as she pushes herself to her paws.
>She stumbles a little as she finds her balance, but, after a moment of hesitation, she throws her arms up high, spreads out her wings, and lets loose a loud crow of delight.
"He asked me!"
>Laughing, she repeats herself again and again, thrusting her fists into the air over and over.
>A knock on the door snaps her out of her reverie, but she can't wipe the smile off her face.
>Hurrying to door, she opens it and throws herself at her father in the hall.
"Poppa, you'll never believe what's happened!"
>As she chirps away to the human, the letter on the bed settles against the mattress.
>Had Emma been thinking clearly, she might have noticed that at the bottom, in that odd script, a simple but wildly unfamiliar closing.
>'I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours always, Garnet'


=3=
>"Garnet, letter!"
>The purple haired halfling lets out a quiet sigh of distress.
>Glancing over to the table, he eyes the numerous wads of paper littered about the overflowing wastebasket.
"I suppose that puts me behind a whole three letters now."
>It isn't as though the two of them hadn't had brief stints where letters had been delayed, but never had the smarmy satyr been at a loss for words for such an extended period.
"I wonder if she's getting anxious."
>"Garnet!"
"Coming, Mother!"
>Moving towards the door, the satyr heads down into the boutique proper, seeing his Rarity waiting for him there.
>Her wide smile gives him a momentary pause.
>Something was up.
"Mother."
>"Garnet."
>Another muzzle mauling smile stretches wide as she moves the envelope to him.
>"Here you are."
>The colt takes the thickly padded paper, still casting looks at the mare as he carefully opens the envelope.
>Goodness, Emma certainly has a lot to say this time.
>Unfolding the mess of papers, he finally glances down.
>There, across the first page, are a series of four symbols, stretched in such a way that they seek to cover every inch of the paper.
>'YES!'
>Yes?
>What is she-
>Rarity giggles, earning a flinch from her son.
"Mother, what did you-"
>"Ah, ah, Darling. You mustn't keep a lady waiting."
"Emma isn't even here."
>Puffing out her cheeks and furrowing her brow, Rarity stomps her hoof.
>"Just read!"
"...Yes, Mother."
>The uncertain feeling that had begun at the back of Garret's neck quickly works its way down into his belly as the lines fly by.
>Before long, his stomach is well in knots as he reads of Emma's exuberance regarding an upcoming trip.
>To Ponyville.
>'I am very excited to see you and your friends of which you have spoken so many times. Your home has always sounded so beautiful, and now I get the chance to see it for myself. Garret, I can hardly contain my delight!'

>Dropping the letter to his side, the boy glares at Rarity.
"What, have, you, done, Mother?"
>The unicorn tuts a few times, trotting up to her son.
>"Why, I simply helped things along their natural course, dear. You have been corresponding with this girl for ages now, I think it would be prudent for you to meet face to face."
>With a fluttering sigh, she bats her eyes.
>"Not to mention, terribly romantic. Two souls, bound together by ink and paper; longing to touch but ever kept apart..."
"MOTHER! It's not like that!"
>Tittering, Rarity gives Garret a gentle nudge.
>"Oh please, I'm only teasing. But I worry about you Garnet."
>Her face contorts into a gentle, wrinkle-less pout.
>"You seem to be cooped up inside as of late. Your friends are out running around in the world, and I never see you with them anymore. Not that I mind you keeping your clothes pristine, but don't you miss your friends?"
>Garret scowls, crossing his arms over his chest and remaining silent.
>After several moments of silence, Rarity sighs and trots past the boy.
>"Well, like it or not it seems as if your friend is coming to visit. You should make the most of this time and enjoy the experience."
>Placing a hand to his head, Garret calls back to his mother.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
>Rarity continues walking away, clip-clopping along as she replies.
>"Well, I believe the first course of action is to respond and say that you received her letter."
>The two turn their heads towards the other, the mare wearing her coy smile.
>"Perhaps you might even say that you are excited as well. Ta."
>Standing in center of the boutique, Garret resists the urge to pull his hair out.

"Mother..."
>It slips through his teeth like steam out a vent, whistling and seething with a heat unimaginable.
>Always with her snout in his business, he can't even write letters to a friend without her butting in.
>And now she's treating this like it's some kind of marriage meeting.
>Worse still, it's her idea.
>The nerve!
>With a final grunt, Garret drops his hand back to his side.
>Regardless of what he might have intended, it seems that his mother has made her move.
>The only thing left now is to go with it.
>Lest Rarity pose as him and write a letter in response.
>Again.
>With the seething fury now reduced to a frustrated simmer, Garret goes back to his room.
>Plopping down at his desk, he reads the rest of the letter, then a second and third time for good measure.
>Several moments of silence pass as he twirls the pen in hand a before finally beginning to write.
>...
>Hm.
>Somehow, the pen seems lighter now.