text;

[wakingsavior]

hi, everyone!
my name's john egbert, i'm new which is why most of you don't know me, heh.
i know it's probably silly because dave would've found someone, but is there anyone here who knows american sign language?
it's just that i'm deaf, so it's the easiest way for me to communicate, and so far dave's the only person who knows how to do it.
if not, that's cool, and thanks for your time.

Comments

[wakingsavior]

[ If he ever figures that out, John will be forever honored that he gets to sign with him. ]

yeah, i bet i will!
even if i start an asl club or something, nobody's gonna be fluent overnight.

[knightime]

are you really going to do this???
start a club
so people can be one with our sorry asses???
...
i guess i could help
itd be a bitch to do it on your own

[wakingsavior]

well, it would mean you wouldn't be the only one who could speak easily to me!
i can read lips, but i have to ask people to slow down a lot.
people talk fast, you know?



i'd really like it if you helped.
you don't have to!
but it'd be cool.

[knightime]

hey
why dont you learn to talk???
i mean its possible right???
for you to be able to talk

[Dave kind of would love to hear John speak even if he couldn't reply back vocally.]

i guess why not
cant do anything on your own
gotta make sure eggs
doesnt fuck up as usual

[wakingsavior]

well, yeah, in theory.
i can sort of say a few things!
my speech therapist helped me with that and lip-reading.
iunno, i figure i probably sound kind of weird.

[ But he might try to practice when he's alone with Dave anyway. ]

heh, yeah.
if you've got my back, we're unstoppable!

[knightime]

you probably sound like an egbert
idk what that sounds like so dont ask me
pretty sure youd sound fine dude
and if people give you shit
i can punch them in the face for you
then theyll sound fucking funny too
and maybe missing a tooth or two

[Hah. John, you're such a dork.]

we werent unstoppable to begin with dude

[wakingsavior]

heh.
well, maybe, then!
i can try it out on you and jade.

[ You wouldn't have him any other way, Strider, and you know it ]

psh, we are badass.

[knightime]

you can probably ask jade
to help you
since
well she can talk
shed be more useful then me
and fuck yes we are

[wakingsavior]

you can still tell me if i sound like an idiot, though!
and that's important to any learning process.
or something.

[knightime]

you sound like an idiot
even over text
so you sounding like an idiot when you talk
isnt that big of a difference

[wakingsavior]

:PPPPPPPP

i was going to come do that in person
but then i realised you were right.

[knightime]

dude
are you like
texting a raspberry face at me
is that seriously a thing you are doing???

action;

[wakingsavior]

[ there is a couple minutes' pause.

and then John is in his doorway blowing a raspberry at him. ]

action;

[knightime]

[And Dave swings his door out sticking his tongue out at him like the mature coolkid he apparently is.]

action; 5ever

[wakingsavior]

[ They are the MOST mature. ]

<<'Is your roommate here?'>>

[knightime]

[Dave shakes his head. Fuck if he knew where his roommate was.]

[wakingsavior]

[ John comes in and shoves his hands in his pockets, pursing his lips thoughtfully.

Remembering all the little vibration and tongue things for speaking is hard, since he doesn't do it often, but dammit, he's going to. ]

I s-sound really... stupid.

[ It's a little lispy, the p sounds a bit like a b, and it's got an odd quality to it since he can't hear himself, and the volume fluctuates a little... but it's recognizable as words!

And he's totally blushing a little because he knows he sounds weird. ]

[knightime]

[Dave just stands there for a minute. He's honestly surprised the other talked to him. And...he honestly isn't sure how to respond but stand there in utter shock and stare at the other.

And he might be a little embarrassed because John was willing to be a little uncomfortable and say something to him.

Congratulations.

Dave Strider is more speechless then he already was.]

[wakingsavior]

[ After a moment of awkwardly standing there, John lets out a bit of a huff of air. ]

<<'Please say something? I know I sound weird. I mean, I'm pretty sure. I can't tell from first-hand experience, but...'>>

[knightime]

[He runs a hand through his hair, messily signing back.]

<<'I just didn't expect that. I guess. But hey, if talking makes you awkward, I guess I can do something in return. Not sure what, but shoot, fairs fair?'>> [Not that he knows what he could do in return for John talking. He certainly couldn't talk back or anything.]

[wakingsavior]

[ John grins sheepishly and shrugs a bit ]

<<'It's not too awkward, I just never really talk to people outside of speech therapy or telling someone I don't know that I'm deaf.

So it's less awkward and more something I've never really done before.'>>

[knightime]

<<'It was kind of cool. Hearing you talk.'>>

[It didn't really bother him that he couldn't talk. Sometimes he wish he did. When it came to his friends and stuff, but he didn't really care most of the time. The fact that John was deaf was actually nice. Because he didn't have to talk to be able to communicate with John.]

<<'But seriously. I guess I'd like to do something in return. Which isn't a whole fucking lot.'>>

[wakingsavior]

<<'It was?'>>

[ That's... news to John. But interesting information! He should practice talking with Jade. Or maybe Vriska. No, Vriska would be a jerk about it. Not that he minds much, that's just Vriska, but he'll stick with Jade, probably. ]

<<'Well, if you think of anything. It's cool if you don't think of anything, though.'>>

[knightime]

[He nods at John's question. Maybe he'd convince John to get better at it. If John could talk and read lips. He could probably get by with actual conversations. That would be cool.

He thinks a bit and instinctively moved to lift his sunglasses up, but stops and lets his arms drop. Technically, it would be easier if Dave didn't wear them while he signed, but he was also too self conscious for that. And really, he's too scared to do that. Even if it's John.]

<<'I'll think of something eventually I guess.'>>

[wakingsavior]

[ One day, he'll do it. And it will be an awesome moment, and John will appreciate it greatly.

Until then, though, John can follow him well enough with the sunglasses and the deadpan. ]

<<'Well until then, I'll just be the freaky one.'>>

[ He flops down on the bed that he's hoping is Dave's, and signs at the ceiling. ]

<<'We're going to get home at some point, right? Or... back to the Session so we can do our stuff and kick ass and save everything?'>>

[ He glances at Dave so he can see any response Dave might have to that. ]