Mitsuru 009 // See No Fail, Speak No Fail

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[This has been a poor start to her day off. Sundays were one of the few, rare, moments where Mitsuru could take her time with waking up. Which, she did enjoy at first. Right up until she stretched and yawned-

Or tried to yawn. That had been when she'd realized that her voice didn't work; almost like all the nerves to it had been cut off, leaving her mute. And then, she was shocked into full wakefulness when she realized that she also couldn't hear or feel Artemisia in the back of her mind.

So, perhaps understandably, Mitsuru is not in the best, or most alert of moods as she steps into the cafeteria for breakfast.]

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[the-right-moves.livejournal.com]

[ Talk about a bad day. There was absolutely no comfort in waking up and being unable to see. It felt like there was just this dark cloud in front of his eyes, and while he could feel himself blinking, maybe catching a color or two in his peripheral vision, he was otherwise left completely blind.

...Just what was going on? This place just kept getting weirder and weirder.

He wasn't stupid, though. If there was something blocking his vision, then it was the perfect opportunity to hone his other senses, right?

...Except for the fact he was still having some trouble with it. ]

Oof! [ He bumped into something--no, someone--as he made his way to the cafeteria...or at least that was what the Garden Faculty had said he was heading towards. He had his translator with him, but being unable to see properly, he couldn't adjust a thing. So he was stuck with... ]

...Ah, so-ri!

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Her feet scuffed across the floor, but that was the only sound that came from her when something heavy slammed into her from the side.

Strike that, someone heavy, and with an odd word inflection. Mitsuru tried to get something out of her mouth in response. A 'I'm alright' or even a 'be careful where you're going' would work well-

Right up until she straightened herself and saw who it was, her eyes widening for a moment.]

"-------!"

['Akihiko!' is what she tried to say, but still nothing came out. Hopefully, he wouldn't take it amiss...Although it did beg the question of why he was using English with her, when their home language would have sufficed. Or what those odd, black smears around his eyes meant.]

[the-right-moves.livejournal.com]

[ No response. Well, this made everything incredibly more awkward than it had to be. Or than it already was. Were they just too embarrassed to acknowledge him? Akihiko coughed, turning his head in the direction he...thought the other wasn't. ]

E-...E-kusukyuuzu... [ "Excuse", a difficult word to pronounce well, really. His hand groped for the wall, but instead found a shoulder. He immediately lurched back, instead finding the wall with his own head and shoulder.

Thud.

Well, this was a good start to the day. ]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Mitsuru's confusion only grew as he tried to fumble out something that vaguely sounded like an apology, all without recognizing her. It was only when he flinched back after touching her shoulder (something that surprised her enough that she wasn't able to move in time to stop him from lurching back) and smacked into a wall that he should have noticed, that it clicked in her mind.

He couldn't see her. That explained the dark blots around his eyes, the mangled English-

And the fact that his shoulder was probably starting to hurt from hitting that wall.]

"---- ----."

['Stay still' she tried to say, as she moved towards him and put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. At least with a wall at his back, he hopefully wouldn't start too badly from the sudden contact. Mitsuru also tried to keep her touch gentle; she had the feeling he wouldn't react well if she grabbed him, compared to laying her hand on him and giving Akihiko a sense of space.]

[the-right-moves.livejournal.com]

[ He nearly jumped back once again when he felt a hand on his own shoulder, but something about it was calming. The tension in his body dissipated a little. The silence between them was definitely unnerving--but maybe they were just pitying him and his obvious lack of language skills.

He put his hand on the one that touched him, following the fingers down the length of the arm. It was when his own fingers found a lock of hair clinging to the fabric of her shirt that he paused.

He didn't really understand why he knew, but... ]

...Mitsuru?

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes widened for a moment, both from the contact, and from how he was able to recognize her. Her posture went rigid for a moment, before she was able to act again.

Carefully, Mitsuru drew her hand away from his shoulder before wrapping it over his, and guiding it up to her face.

This wasn't a very eloquent, or refined way of communicating. Really, there was very little about it that didn't feel awkward...But there's also wasn't much else she could think of when it came to communicating without words, and without sight.

Once his hand was resting near her cheek, she nodded into it as a 'yes.' And, with her other hand, she pressed it against his throat for a moment before drawing a line across it, trying to communicate that something was wrong with her voice.]

[the-right-moves.livejournal.com]

[ It was a little awkward, but he honestly didn't know what else to do. He felt her head nod in his palm and he relaxed a little more, glad to know he hadn't just grabbed some stranger (though Mitsuru's execution was nothing to laugh at, either).

The line across his throat, however... ]

Huh? [ What did she mean by that? Cut? Did someone try to--wait...

...she could have easily just-- ]

...You can't speak?

[derped.livejournal.com]

[It's strange that Rion is even affected by this at all; after all, he's a native from this time, and they don't seem to have been affected. Regardless, he looks really, really jittery, as if he can't stop moving, and when he does it's with an unnatural quickness. Rion's deft, yes, but not that deft.

When he sees Mitsuru, though, he waves, just a bit too quickly, the movement too exaggerated for normal.]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[As distracted as she is by Artemisia's absence, and the fact that her throat still won't work properly, Mitsuru doesn't miss that there's something off about her classmate. But before she can pin down what, she sees that wave.

This isn't a greeting she's used to making, even on the best of days. So, when she raises her hand to wave back, the gesture is a bit slow, and hesitant. (And might well look even slower to him.)]

[derped.livejournal.com]

[... well, that's odd. Normally this would be the part where she makes a B| face and goes "Lyon." At least she's got the B| face down (assuming that it is, in fact, a default expression for her. Rion looks up towards her curiously, confused.]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Given the current state of things, B| feels like a highly appropriate expression.]

"-----."

[Still nothing. No matter how many times she tries, there's no sound. Something in her throat refuses to work, even though her lips move in the exact shape of what she wants to say. And, as she mulls over that, her expression gets a little darker, and she averts her eyes so she's glaring at the far wall instead of Lyon.]

[derped.livejournal.com]

[Rion gestures to his own lips, and then looks at Mitsuru questioningly. He's seen some of the other people, earlier, with what's going on, but he's not sure why she's just not saying what's wrong.]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Just out of the corner of her eye, she can see that reaction. And as much as she would like to simply move on and avoid continuing this exchange, it would be rude to do so.

...This still is not going to be enjoyable. Not in the slightest. Especially given that her grasp on sign language is still not optimal.* Still, after a moment of getting her expression under control, she steps closer to where Rion is, and very carefully brings her hands up.

*(Although knowing Mitsuru, optimal would equal 'can fully translate the complete works of Shakespeare into the language.')]

'I seem to have eN-

Encountered a problem upon waking up.'

[With how stiff she's standing as she signs that, it's amazing that her arms and hands are moving with even remote fluidity.]

[fierybluebird]

[Marco is moving at twice his usual speed which makes him look a lot likely a flying blurry pineapple-headed swift. And his talking is just as fast.]

Oh, hey there. I see you're slowed down too, eh.

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Hm, the rare Pineapple Swift! Such a sighting makes for a red letter day in the field of bird watching!

...Or, perhaps it just earns an astonished blink or two. Mitsuru stares for all of three seconds (which might be more like six seconds for Marco. Or maybe even a solid minute) before she shakes her head back and forth.]

"--, -- --- ----."

[And it looks like she still can't form words, or say 'No, I'm not slow,' try as she might. Her lips form the words, but there's still no sound.]

[fierybluebird]

[Stares at for a moment and then gets a pad of paper and a pen, and quickly returns.]

So are you just even slower than everyone else or completely unable to talk?

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[It takes discipline to keep from glowering at that 'even slower' comment. As it is, her neck is a bit stiff when she nods, but all of that quickly fades in the face of embarrassment...And a touch of frustration, that non-verbal communication is so difficult.

Feeling incredibly awkward, Mitsuru also holds up two fingers, indicating the second option.]

[fierybluebird]

[Nods rapidly and hands her the pen and paper.]

It's what Rion uses when people can't understand sign language. You should talk to him about maybe learning more of it too.

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Now that, she does frown a little at...Although after a moment she does take the offered pen and paper, and doesn't hesitate to start using them. Given that she moves slower relative to him (which is something she still isn't sure if she approves of) Mitsuru tries to write a little quicker, without sacrificing legibility, or too much finesse.]



[A pause as she considers those words, and then,]

[zeroth-card.livejournal.com]

[Minato is already in the cafeteria - he might have woken up late on other Sundays, but when all of a sudden all the voices inside his head went silent, he felt the need to be where many people might gather.

Having the volume of his mp3 player so high that the music can be vaguely heard beyond the headphones might be overdoing it, though.

Still, he notices Mitsuru arrive, and so he waves in greeting.]

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Mitsuru notices the wave. And that unlike some of the other people she's met, his gesture is at a speed she's used to. Both that and the fact that it's Arisato is welcoming, and she nods at it before moving towards him.

And as she closes the distance, there is a briefly horrified look at how loud that music is, although she tries to mask it quickly. And instead, give him a look that hopefully (the key word in this case being hopefully. This isn't an expression she's used to providing) gives him a look to ask if everything is okay.]

[zeroth-card.livejournal.com]

[Minato notices that brief look - honestly, he's known Mitsuru long enough to be on the lookout for those all-too-brief cracks on her armor - as well as the possible intent of that look. More importantly, he notices how she's not voicing her concern or her displeasure, which confirms for him which affliction she's got.

He gives his response through sign language - not that well, but it's okay for a beginner.]

'Can't hear Persona'

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Once she translates those signs, Mitsuru pulls out her paper pad, and pulls up a chair all in one smooth motion before sitting down and placing the pad on the table between them.]



[She writes that down first, but after pausing a moment, writes something else down as well.]

[zeroth-card.livejournal.com]

[He takes out his own pad - even if he's not all that close to Rion, he's seen him carry it around often enough to bring one out when he woke up silent.]

Yeah. And thanks; I've been practicing.

[willnotsubmit.livejournal.com]

[Her expression wavers again when she writes that. 'Unpleasant' was still something of a misnomer. Waking up without a presence that had been quietly by her side for the past ten years? It was almost like realizing that she'd lost a hand while she was sleeping.]