ArchivedLogs:Communicating

Communicating
Dramatis Personae Lyric, Nom, Sage
In Absentia	2014-05-03 '
Location <XS> Back Porch
The back patio is a restful place to sit and relax, in most weather. Ample seating comes in the form of umbrella'd deck chairs and a cushioned porch swing, and the neighboring gardens attract butterflies and hummingbirds to make the viewing pleasant. The hot tub is usually open for use, though in snowy weather the transition in and out is a shivery one! It's a beautiful Saturday here at Xavier's, sunny and warm; the grounds are alive with activity, boisterous and energetic. Lyric looks like she's probably /been/ boisterous and energetic herself up until recently, dressed for /sportsball/ in grey-and-pink track pants, sneakers, a white athletic tank with a long-sleeved lightweight grey hoodie unzipped over top, a gauzy white scarf wrapped over her poofy hair. She's kind of sweaty still, sipping at a large tumbler of lemonade where she sits cross-legged on a deck chair; beside the chair there's a soccer ball that gives some evidence of /what/ she's been up to. Her bag sits beside that, forgotten at the moment in favor of her drink. Mmm. Between her legs there's a small hand drum; the hand /not/ currently occupied with Lemonade is absently tapping fingers against the edge of the skin, though too lightly at the moment to actually draw much of any /sound/ forth. Nom is prety jazzed up herself. That means she's wearing black jeans and a voluminous black hoodie instead of her usual victorian dress. Today was a lot of jogging and chasing of wild animals in the woods! She is not, however sweaty. Perhaps because right now, she's creeping out the door towards the back porch to look at the potential hot water. Then she gets a load of Lyric and she plops on the ground on her butt, tilts her head slightly, and looks at the drum. Then she waves at the girl,"Hiiiiii." Lyric glances up at the waving, head tipping slightly to one side as well. She uncurls one leg to swing it down off the side of her chair, angling her body more towards Nom; her other leg stays curled around the body of her drum, holding it in against herself. A bright smile breaks across her face, and she waggles her lemonade glass at Nom in a friendly return-wave, taking another gulp from it before setting it down next to her chair to wave /properly/. /Hi/. She looks between Nom and the hot tub when Nom looks at it, pointing to the tub with a questioning lift of brows. Nom pokes at the water in the hot tub a moment later, then turns back to Lyric and nods. She points at herself, then the tub, then just heaves a visibly theatrical sigh. She wraps her arms around herself in a hug, then begins to turn up the head and the jets. She starts wiggling free of her hoodie (she's got something like a wetsuit under it), and starts talking,"Me am very tired. Sore. Want relax in tub! You join?" She starts on the jeans, too, though she does pause to point at the drum and quirk her eyebrows curiously. Lyric's brows furrow as Nom starts speaking, a confused expression crossing her face. Her head shakes slowly, hand lifting to raise one index finger alongside the side of her head as Nom speaks, brows knitting together. She dips her head, looking down at the drum and back up at Nom. Her hands beat down against it, a lively-quick beat before she picks her lemonade up again. She squints one eye up in puzzlement at the /wetsuit/ beneath the hoodie, head tipping even /further/ to the side. Blink. /Blink/. Her hand turns up and out towards the garment. Nom frowns a little bit, and then does something SHE used to do when someone talked at her and she was having trouble replying... She taps her lips, then points a finger at Lyric questioningly. Then she is speaking, enunciating as carefully as she can while watching Lyric,"When me am change shape... most clothes am not follow. Always wear this. Stretchy. Tight. Easy." Does she think speaking slower will make a deaf person hear her? No. She hasn't quite figured it out yet. She just figures her speech is being pretty incomprehensible. She fishes in the pockets of her now-discarded hoodie until she finds a bag of beef jerky and Brazil nuts. She pops it open, and tosses a large hunk into her mouth. As usual, she has a serious case of lamprey-mouth. She offers the bag to the girl, even as she snakes out a hand, stretching a little impossibly, to dip fingers in the water. Lyric's brows do not /un/furrow as Nom speaks. When the other girl taps her lips, she just shakes her head and taps her own ear. She leans down, opening up her bag to pull out an oddly plasticky notebook and a pen from it. By the time she looks back up there are -- a lot more /teeth/ than before; her eyes open enormous and wide, cheeks briefly puffing out. She shakes her head at the offer of food, flipping her notebook open to the first page, writing on the shiny-plastic page inside -- 'Don't understand? Your words confusing. Cool teeth though are you shark too?' Nom frowns as the girl starts writing, then shakes her head, actually reaching up to tangle fingers in her hair and tug at it in frustration. She digs through the hoodie again until she finds some laminated notecards, and begins to draw on it the one thing she can regularly write. "NOM." She points at herself, then at the card, then points at the notebook and makes a helpless expression followed by a shrug. When she sees Lyric will not be expecting her to share, she about splits her head in half opening her mouth, and dumps the whole bag in it, plastic and all, and chews. Lyric /squeaks/ when Nom's head splits in half, scooting backwards on the long deck chair and dropping her notebook and pen to fall to the ground beside it as her hand flies to her mouth. Her eyes are still just huge and wide, leg squeezing in tighter around her drum as she presses back against the back of the chair. It takes a moment for her to lower her hand, reaching for -- a pen that's no longer there; she has to lean down to search for it, scooping up her notebook and wiping it clean with the eraser at the back of the pen. But then not actually writing anything new. Just kind of wide-eyed, catching her breath for a moment with her mouth shaped into an O. Her fingers finally move, absently fingerspelling -- N-O-M, in the air, as her mouth works in a chewing motion. Though she still is looking juuust a little shellshocked. The girl finishes chewing the stuff in short order, then gives a thumbs up to the girl. She doesn't get the fingerspelling... though she does copy the motion relatively closely, though her N looks more like T. Her face, however is completely devoid of understanding. She picks up her notecard and writes next to 'nom': NAYM. Almost exhausted her store of words. Nom seems pleased with herself however, throwing her hands up in the air with a loud,"WHOOP!" Then she clambers into the hot tub, wiggling around until she can face Lyric. She even gives the girl a toothy smile... which probably isn't actually very reassuring, since she's got so damn many of the things. Lyric squints at this word in confusion, fingerspelling this, too -- N-A-Y-M? -- with a puzzled tilt of head and furrowing of her brow, though a moment later her expression clears up in sudden understanding. Her hands both lift, index and middle fingers tapping together to /sign/ 'NAME'. Then point to Nom, her index finger touching to her lips. She points to herself, too, face lit up in a smile before signing her /own/ name. L-Y-R-I-C, slowly fingerspelled first before her namesign is given, a sort of modified combination of the signs for RHYTHM and DRUMMING. Her smile grows somewhat crooked in response to Nom's, head ducking slightly as she looks a Nom's enormous plethora of teeth; she covers up her own mouth to stifle her tiny giggle. Nom frowns, staring carefully at Lyrics fingers for a moment, copying most of the motions blindly. Surprisingly, though... Still easier than speech. She signs first the L-Y-R-I-C, then tries the namesign, which she finds infinitely more easy to manage. With a gleeful clap, she makes the sign again, then points at Lyric. Then she makes the 'N-O-M' sign, and points at herself, quirking her eyebrows. Not being able to read doesn't hinder her ability to sign, thankfully. 'N-O-M', Lyric signs again, nodding her head brightly, and adds a new namesign after this, too, N-M with her fingers opening and shutting very CHOMPY wide in between the letters. This seems to entertain her; for a moment she just repeats this, grinning brighter as she CHOMP-hands towards Nom. Points at Nom again with another small giggle. Her teeth clack together while she signs this, almost without noticing. Nom makes the N-M sign, then the N-O-M. She writes on one of her little laminated notecards, one of the other words she's figured out, and then another on the back. First she holds up,'EASIE', and signs the few things she's managed to copy. Then she flips the notecard over: 'HARD' with a string of random letters next to it. After a moment, she draws a pair of lips next to that, and points at her mouth. She makes a 'gimme' motion a moment later. She wants more! She makes chomp-hands back at Lyric, then nashes her teeth together meaningfully and gives a thumbs-up. Lyric's fingers roll lightly against the skin of her drum, and then she points at the notecard -- 'hard' -- and lifts her hands to tap both her hands together, first two fingers of each bent in crooked v-shapes. 'HARD'. Then points at the notecard again. Makes the sign again. Her finger twirls in the air, pointing at the notecard again where Nom had written on the other side. This time the fingers of one hand brush lighty against the fingertips of the other, bending them slightly upwards -- 'EASY'. Her tongue pokes into the side of her cheek thoughtfully as she considers for a moment. She hops up out of her chair, moving over to the side of the hot tub to flick her fingers into the water, scooping a little bit up and letting it trickle back out of the side of her cupped hand before tapping three fingers in a W handshape against her chin. 'WATER'. She watches with more concentration than is entirely normal for her. She holds out her stack of laminated cards and the dry-erase marker while sinking further into the water. Nom grins toothily, and then sprouts a third arm, or something very like one, and mimics each sign in turn. She repeats each several times, before she taps at her mouth, and makes speaky motions, then makes gun with her fingers, points at her temple, and makes a 'boom' motion with her mouth. Then she takes a hand and trickles it away from her mouth, pantomiming something drifting away. Lyric leans up against the side of the hot tub, brows creasing into a worried frown through this pantomiming. She makes a gun-shape with her fingers, too, thumb pulling the trigger -- 'GUN' is an intuitive enough sign without really needing to be taught. Her cheeks puff out, breath expelled in a quick rush. She points the gun-shape at Nom, brows lifting in questioning with the next thumb-trigger-pull. Nom she frowns and she points at her mouth, then draws an X-across it, then pantomimes the gun going off again. Then she leans out of the hot tub to fish for her stack of flashcards, shows it to the girl, and then taps it on her own forehead. She's trying to explain why she can't read. She can't tell if it's working or not. She shrugs helplessly. Entering from the mansion is Sage. She's dressed in a gray jacket, a pair of jeans, and boots, ATHENA missing (but this has been common since she returned from Tennessee). Looking around several times, her eyes stop and narrow on Nom and Lyric, before she speaks, taking a moment to recall names. "Oh, hello Ms. Dirie, Nom.". She approaches the hot tub, a quirk of her head. "How are you two doing this fine afternoon?". Lyric winces, rubbing her fingertips against her temple with a sympathetic cringe. Her fingers ball up into a fist, rubbing in a circle against her chest, her nose crinkling up and her tongue sticking out of her mouth. The movement of another approaching person draws her attention, and she turns, eyes narrowing in intent focus on Sage as she lifts her hand to wave, standing up a little bit straighter as the teacher approaches. She watches Sage curiously, teeth biting down at her lip again as she puzzles out this question, eventually tapping her thumb against her chest, 'FINE'. She points to Sage afterwards, eyebrows raised in silent questioning. Her other hand lifts, forefinger tapping against her eyes where Sage's glasses usually are, questioning there, too. Nom waves emphatically to Sage as she appears, and then throws her hand up pointing at her to alert Lyric to her if she hasn't noticed. Seeing Lyric catch it on her own, she mimics the fist motion near her chest, then mouths, without saying,'apology'? Having thus asked her question, she informs Sage,"Me am talking with..." She makes Lyric's namesign, having never heard it. "Me am not know many spells and she not hear." "Her name is Lyric.". Sage says this calmly, before turning to Lyric herself, taking a second to get what she's saying. "I am still recalibrating ATHENA. I cannot use it in my current state.". She signs this as well, but it takes a few seconds to sign it. Sage curiously turns to Nom. "How is the water?" Lyric bobs her head in a nod at Nom's mouthed question, signing SORRY again though this time merely in confirmation. She watches Nom and Sage speak curiously, her own lips moving silently though it's unclear how much of the exchange she is catching. Her arm rests up against the side of the hot tub, fingertips trailing down into the water and her lips curling up into a smile as Sage translates her words into sign. 'Can't use?' Her brows furrow curiously. 'Why? What's wrong?' Nom smiles toothily at Sage,"Athena? I sorry. Me am not know everything. What are state current?" She splashes a little, then informs Sage,"Hot. Make tummy work better." She burps, then covers her mouth, gigling. She beckons to both Sage and Lyric, pointing at the water. Apparently she wants guests. Sage sighs, before deciding to tell them, signing as she speaks. "I have lost my powers. ATHENA was built to work with my brain, but I am now unable to use it due to not having the focus I once did.". Sage quickly realizes this line of subject could be..kind of disturbing, and attempts to change it. "ATHENA is a pair of computer glasses I built. I would join you, but I am not dressed for it. Apologies." Lyric's eyes open wide, mouth dropping open at this information. 'What how?' is her intial shocked question. 'I didn't know what was POSSIBLE are you OKAY?' She leans in closer, peering with narrowed eyes at Sage as though she might /see/ some evidence of sudden /depowered/-ness on the teacher. HUH. She straightens again a moment later, leaning back against the hot tub again, eyes gone back to enormous-huge. Her fingers dip into the water but she shakes her head no at the invitation; her other hand plucks fingers against her clothing demonstratively. Hoodie. Trackpants. She gestures to her own outfit and then to Nom's. "What it like? It hurt? It peaceful?" Nevermind that these questions might be considered invasive in polite society. She's still learning 'society' period. "It okay. You sit. Keep company." She closes her eyes and dips her head underneath the water, wetting her hair. She comes up with a happy gasp. Then Nom hops up and sits on the side of the hot tub. She signs 'sorry' to Lyric, shrugs, and then says,"Are it fixable?" "I do not know.". This might be a reply to both Nom's 'are it fixable' and Lyric's 'what how'. Sage turns to Lyric with a sigh. "I am adjusting. I am physically fine, atleast.". Sage moves closer, taking a seat on the ground. "Dr. McCoy is still looking into it.". Sage looks at the water for a moment. "I am not the only one affected, though, so you should not just worry about me. I believe we will all get through this.". There's still a worried expression written into Lyric's face, lips pursed and brows furrowed as she inspects Sage. Then leans in to give the teacher two /firm/ pats on the shoulder. There, /there/. She bites at her lip, sucking her cheeks in between her teeth. Her fist lifts to sign SORRY again. 'SCARY', she finally signs. And then with a sudden curious widening of eyes and a questioning look, 'Sublime? He stole powers?' A faint shudder shivers through her at this notion. Oh, wait... they're comforting sage? She leans up out of the water, fishes in her discarded hoodie, and pulls out a piece of gum. She holds it out to Sage. Yes. Her answer is gum. "Me am get good at hug. Me am make many snacks. Snacksgood yes?" Then she has to stop so she can watch Lyrics' signs dumbly. She doesn't get most of them, but she's absorbing them,"She talk good. Me am talk like that one day." Sage shakes her head. She kind of doesn't want to worry them more, but, she's kind of dug herself into this. "Prometheus.". Sage abruptly stands up. "I am sorry for worrying you. I should get something to eat. Have a good day.". Lyric's mouth opens into another O, brows crumpling inward. Another 'sorry', signed, her shoulders slumping again. Her head tilts at the mention of snacks, though. And something to eat. She hops up, eyes suddenly lighting as she signs -- '/FOOD/,' fingers tapping eagerly at her lips. This is apparently a very pressing issue, abruptly. She /has/ been sportsing most of her day, after all. She waves to Sage and Nom brightly, scurrying over to her chair to sling her bag over her shoulder, tucking her notebook and pen into it before scooping her soccer ball and drum into her arms. With this rather awkward load to carry she's left just flashing Nom a bright smile, head bobbing, before she scurries off as well in search of edibles. Nom waves at Sage, and then Lyric as they tender reasons to need to leave,"Nice to am meet you Lyric!" As if the girl could hear her. She wiggles fingers at Sage,"Try beefhearts. They ams good." She drops back into the hot tub, then and watches Lyric move off, waving even more effusively. The last sight before she plunges beneath the water is her making the N-M chomping-sign."