Twelfth Beat | Am I Better off this Way

[knightime]

Characters: Dave Strider and everyone
Format: Either or
This log is: open
Location: Somewhere in the grass with lots of space; accessible to both schools.
Summary: Dave finally decides that he's going to continue teaching ASL to everyone. Even without the presence of his bucktoothed best friend.
Warnings: Language and possibly a ridiculous amount of cute.

asl
in an hour
heres the location

The grassy area had a few books lying around. There was one opened to the alphabet and a few others were open to some simple, everyday words that were common in everyday use.

Dave was sitting near them, although he was busy flattening his sandwich. It's not like anyone was here yet. Honestly, this was probably a terrible idea. He wasn't cut out to be this people person who helped everyone learn with a smile. That was John's forte. But John wasn't here anymore. Hell, a lot of people weren't here anymore.

But...it was nice. Seeing everyone sign to him. Even if it was a simple hello or the bare minimal. it was nice to see people try to communicate to him. Hell, it looked like they still were trying. Why should he deny them the chance to learn?

Even if it made him nervous.

Because he wasn't used to it. Shit was too personal. This was too much. And it was impossible to read his face. He knew the basics for ASL. Facial expression was important. But he still kept to hiding behind the shades.

He pushed all those thoughts out of his head. Right. Teaching ASL. He can do that. He started eating his sandwich, waiting for people to arrive.

Comments

[kingdomsgambit]

After John finally finished tucking away class notes for later, he walked over to Dave's class, as promised.

"Hel --"

Wait, no. He spelled Hello, Dave. to him. It's still really slow, but he was learning.

[knightime]

Dave had to roll his eyes. He'd have to tell John that waving hello actually suffices, mute or not. Instead he motions the other to sit down. He used his PDA for this. It would take too long to ask these through signing and he wanted to know what the other knew so he could actually teach him instead of spending more time for John to try and answer his question.

how much do you know at this point?
i assume alphabet with how you just signed fuck you to me
but oh well
hello to you too

Hopefully John doesn't actually take him seriously. Welp.

[kingdomsgambit]

He bought it for a second, cheeks reddening. And then he looked at Dave's face and rolled his eyes. He knew he spelled it right. Dave was a douche.

"Words, I suppose? I brushed up on the alphabet the other day, and found it to be rather easy."

[fracturedsoul]

Dirk arrived early. No way was he going to miss out on this; having a non-awkward way of communicating with his roommate even sans PDAs? Definitely a plus. Especially if someone else who had to sign showed up. (Briefly, he wondered whatever happened to Shizune.)

He just waved as he approached Dave, taking a seat a few feet away from him.

[knightime]

Dave was still in the middle of his sandwich but he jabbed his finger at the book which was opened to the alphabet and then pointed it to himself.

As in 'sign me the alphabet' but he wasn't even sure if that made sense to Dirk.

On the upside, he gets to see what Dirk does.

[fracturedsoul]

Dirk glanced over at the book -- aha. He had read up on that much just in case there was ever a pressing emergency. Now to see how much he remembered.

'A, B, C, D, S --'

[allurprincess]

Having moved away from the dorms and into the cottage, Sora was full of Jade cuddles but entirely malnourished of Dave. So when he put up the ASL notice, she jumped on it.

And then jumped on him.

Well, not really, but she did sprawl down next to him with a cheerful huff of breath with a hello lost in there somewhere.

[knightime]

Oh my god he thought Sora was going to tackle him. He's so glad she didn't.

He glanced over and waited for her to catch her breath before doing anything. He hadn't really talked to her since she moved to go be the best little prefect you could be. Or whatever.

She's the same as always. Sheesh.

[allurprincess]

Is it good or bad to have a battle pair of prefects looking out for you? Who knows. Jade and Sora are the co-leaders of the Looking After Dave fellowship, anyway. She smiles at him as she regains her breath, and then remembers that, hey.

You can sign without opening your mouth. That's a thing that can happen.

'Hello'!

[anotherpath]

[Yuki sees the sign for the ASL class and brushes up on what she knows for the whole time before the class. It wasn't that she was trying to impress Dave or anything, she just thought that it was important to know! She wondered if knowing ASL would help her back home...]

[But then it's almost time for class so she heads over to the allotted meeting area. When she gets there she sits next to Dave and signs] Hello Dave, how are you?

[knightime]

[Oh snap. look who seems to be getting all fancy and better with their ASL. He signs back, but not very quickly. He didn't want to get too carried away and confuse her.

Needed to slowly ease them into it right?]

'Hey. I'm pretty chill.'

[anotherpath]

[she misses the word "chill" so she signs again to him in hopes of catching it the second time]

[bloodandfire]

[Daenerys didn't really mean to pick up some of the ASL, but living with Dave meant that she would pick something up. It was easier that way too, so Dany finds herself at Dave's class]

[signing:] Good afternoon.

[knightime]

[He's always a little surprised when Daenerys shows up. For some reason, he just doesn't think this is something she'd care to do. Either way, he isn't going to reject anyone just because he's surprised.

It looks like she's gotten the alphabet down pretty well. Guess the previous lessons weren't a waste.]

'Hey. You're ready to learn some words now?'

[bloodandfire]

[She's kept her distance, it's true, but the mothering part of her just wants to communicate easily with him. We can ignore the fact that they're almost the same age. Did Dave have a baby? I think not.]

'Yes.' [she pauses] How do you manage to teach so many people?

[pencilpremonition]

Becca was definitely interested in learning sign language. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten the hang of the alphabet at all yet, let alone anything harder. Still, she wanted to try, and she came and waved to Dave happily.

[knightime]

He waved back before going to his PDA. Second nature. And it was easier to ask through his PDA to potentially sign it and not have her understand.

how far have you gotten for now???

[smupette]

Sis may act like she doesn't care or bother too much with what Dave does- but in fact she really does. This is why she's even showing up to this ASL class within the hour. She was curious to see if Dave was taking the same route as she had when she taught him. Damn Striders all being left handed. It should be interesting she thinks.

She approaches Dave, signing to him immediately since it was their way of communication. 'Sup? It's nice to see you opening yourself up again.' She had always worried Dave would close himself off like he normally did.

Even after their last conversation, Sis had been worried herself that Dave wasn't going to be pleased to see her. Whatever that rap battle had turned into wasn't good at all. So she supposed this was her chance to make up for whatever bullshittery she had caused the last time.

[knightime]

Dave just...blanches a bit when Sis arrives. Stupid, why did you think she wasn't coming? He honestly has no answer for that himself. Welp.

'Who says I'm not opening up? I am the most open person. It is me. All the friends and people. I am the biggest social butterfly. Spreading my wings and flying all across Rakuen like a fucking friendophile.' Hahah. God, what is he signing. Honestly, she kind of hit the nail on the head. All these people always talking to him. It was weird. He was so used to just the three colored texts of his best friends and the new acquaintances of uncool troll kids.

[savedbyasong]

Hello Dave, how are you? Guess whose been practicing even when there were no lessons. Shion sat down near him with a smile. I happy you think teach more

It was the closest he could get to 'I'm glad you decided to resume teaching' but Shion's vocabulary was limited. Also he had had to look up the sign for teach, and happy so his hand form was probably wrong.

But he was trying.

[knightime]

Oh my god. He's trying to not laugh. Just. At least you didn't sign anything vulgar. Shion signing vulgar things by accident would be hilarious.

He signs slowly for the other, sticking to the alphabet mostly.

'I think we need to expand your vocabulary. You don't know how funny it is to see you sign something that isn't grammatically correct.'

Hopefully you understood most of that.

[greenspaces]

She might be turning somersaults in the grass to get to him; there's a flash of black, some red and gold, and a tiny Jade is rolling practically into Dave's lap. When she gets there, she holds her hands up and signs the pattern meant for good morning! followed by Dave's name. Her grin might be a little infectious, bright and cheerful.

[knightime]

Oh, what's this? A wild Jade in his lap? Couldn't be. Better weaken her a bit before he can catch her in a pokeball.

If he had one.

If she was actually a pokemon.

Instead, Dave digs his fingers lightly into her sides and starts tickling her. You gotta pay the fee to lie in his lap!!!

[overbiterestart]

[Hey Dave, did you need another bucktoothed friend in your life? Especially one that looks closely related to a certain Egbert boy. Not that she knows him by anything but Poppop though.

Well, she's approaching anyways because she's curious. She never knew Dirk had a sibling besides his older Bro, and this guy definitely didn't look older than the other.]

Hey! [She just kinda waves. She's gonna be so new at this.]

[knightime]

[Dave stares at Jane blankly for a little bit. You look a hell lot like John, Jade, and Jake. This...this is not a surprise. No, it is. He's lying. He can't quite wrap his mind around all this still. He's slightly more aware to expect it with the whole info dump back on the meteor. It was still weird.]

im guessing youre new here
i havent seen you around