(no subject)

[claudiometer]

So, two things.

Thing one: I found Raidou, and it turns out his overlay can't talk. Anyone know a form of sign language we can pass on so the poor guy can at least make himself heard? [So to speak.]

Thing two: Who all's got some Grid-fu at their disposal? We might be able to use that to find out something about our creepy nightly serenade, but I don't have any tricks that'd be halpful by themselves.

Comments

[naturaltwohands]

Drow have a sign language used for silent communication, but I do not know if it will translate the same way as speech and thoughts do in this place.

As for the other matter, I cannot help at all.

[claudiometer]

It might be worth a try, and it'd potentially give him a tool. Mermaids aren't big on written language, which makes sense since most everything would wash away, but makes for an obstacle here.

[naturaltwohands]

It is more than worthwhile to attempt, given his situation. Even if it doesn't translate, at least he could communicate with me, or anyone else that learns it. If it does not translate, then I will do my best to simplify the movements for important words. It will still take time to learn, as it is a language, after all. Unless, of course, the speed of learning holds similarly to other skills.

Giving someone a 'voice' when they have none is important work.

[claudiometer]

Even if all we have time to do is pass on some building blocks, it's better than nothing. I mean, what happens if he's the only witness to the next big threat after we're gone and can't tell anybody?

[Or, hell, if he just wants to be left alone for a while and can't make the person bugging him go away.]

[naturaltwohands]

My thoughts exactly.

We will need to teach more than just him the language, too. There is no use to signing if you are the only one that knows how.

[claudiometer]

Yeah, true. We can ask around about that and see if anyone's willing to learn it.

[naturaltwohands]

That would be for the best. If we give them the start of it, then they can grow it from there, like all languages do.

[Which gives Drizzt a thought.]

... I will have to create some new signs. There's no word for "love", or other similar concepts.

[claudiometer]

...Well, that's a real sad sack of a sign language right there. Unless it's more battle-mode signing.

[naturaltwohands]

[A surprised laugh, which is followed a bit more soberly:]

More the lack of the entire concept at all, I'm afraid. Drow lack a word for it, written, spoken, or signed, even though my father and I both knew the emotion before we had a word for it. ... But that is an aside. We should focus on helping Raidou's overlay.

[papacerberus]

Claudia suggest I speak with you about signs. I know a few both from my life in the Junkyard, and from one of my other lives. If the knowledge I have would be of help, I offer it freely.

[naturaltwohands]

My thanks to her, then!

I would be glad to learn what signs you do know. If you only know some, then you likely know the most important ones. And I wish to see if they "translate" at any case like speech does.

[papacerberus]

Then we should meet in person to experiment. Where are you?

[naturaltwohands]

I am on the shore not too far from the boat, talking to some monkeys to try and learn more about the island.

... It's actually moderately useful knowledge.

-> action

[papacerberus]

That's not a skill I personally have, but I've seen it used to great effect. I'll be there shortly.

[And true to his word, Lupa can be spotted coming up the beach towards the stretch that the Cornu is anchored near. He's still in the female body, but has clothes that fit in more, at least. Still just a vest on top, though, but on seeing Drizzt, he does button it over his breasts. He remembers their last conversation and doesn't want to cause the other man distress.]

Hello, again.

action!

[naturaltwohands]

Then I will see you soon.

[Drizzt finishes his conversation and walks back out of the jungle, Guenhwyvar, as always, at his heels. When he sees Lupa, he smiles--and he smiles wider in thanks when he sees Lupa remembering to button up his vest.]

Good day, Lupa!

[papacerberus]

[Lupa smiles in return, moving his hands in roughly equivalent, if much simplified signs as he speaks.]

Let's get started. Do you understand them?

[It's pretty clear, just from the way the signs are put together, that he's combining two different "dialects" as it were, but it works.]

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt sees it in drow, surprised for a moment before brightening instantly. He signs and speaks simultaneously back.]

I understand you perfectly. I see them as the sign I learned when I was young.

[chalicejoker]

I've got a bit of a coded sign language I could try throwing in there, too. It's mostly subtle signals for letting your partner in battle know what you're up to, but better than nothing.

[naturaltwohands]

The signs will likely be easier to learn--if that's even going to be a factor at all. I would welcome your help.

[chalicejoker]

I'd be glad to do it, then. Help these guys find a voice.

[naturaltwohands]

I cannot think of anything more Just than to give someone the power to communicate.

[Yes, that was a pun on his mark. No, he is not sorry.]

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime's just...going to try very hard to ignore that pun. So, so hard.]

...yeah, I can help with that. They're small signs, probably not going to be too hard to do underwater.

[naturaltwohands]

... Water will certainly make signs harder to do, with the way water hampers movement.

[As if it just occurred to this silly boy that water might be a problem.]

[chalicejoker]

It's definitely something to consider. Probably one reason they don't have too much in the way of signing as it is.

[naturaltwohands]

Indeed. Visible light penetrates less and less the deeper in the ocean you go. Infrared, which my people can see in when it is dark, is also useless in the water—not that they have the ability, at any rate.

It's really a difficult place to be unable to speak.