driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Zhas
Broadcast: Video
Action: N/A
When: Nebulous now-time

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[for once, Zhas is not wearing a full face of skull makeup.

so for all intents and purposes, this looks like a video feed of a pretty normal guy propping up his communicator on something so that he doesn't have to hold it. as he steps back, his eyes go a little glowy in the dim light of the Red Fish's cargo bay--but that's not the focus, here.

his expression stays blank, but he brings his hands up to sign, in very clear ASL:] 'Who understands sign language?'

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[Ah... it's been a while since he used it, but that's... kind of intriguing, isn't it? He can't tell if Zhas is mute or deaf or what, yet, but it doesn't really matter.

His own feed flicks on and he gives a small smile before signing in return, pausing once or twice to think on ASL versus the Chinese-American version he once used with an old friend:]

'It's been a while since I used American, but I know it.'

[oh, who is this... little person...? he doesn't seem to mind the pauses-- like with Vision, any chance to talk without using his voice is a welcome opportunity in itself.]

'Do you want to try answering some questions?'

[he'll keep trying to sign clearly and slowly--none of the sloppy shorthand he usually uses with Coil.]

Edited 2016-06-05 03:58 (UTC)

[The most important little person tbh. He nods in response to the question.]

'I would be happy to do so.'

[this is good. he also nods, and decides to start with a simple question again.]

What's your name?

[He pauses for a moment, deciding how to best answer that. It's a simple question, but his name...]

'Bear with me, it's probably a little strange to see. My name is Qing-Yuan.'

[The first signing of it is something akin to "waterfall", though it's the Chinese version - he doesn't know of a good American approximation. Then he spells it in ASL, and states it aloud for completion's sake.]

[...okay, he thought it would be a simple question. his eyes narrow as he gets three very different-"sounding" answers, but he's a good sport and tries to copy the sign he was shown for his name anyway.

...and because he wants to do it right, he asks:] Sign it again?

Sorry. Chinese names don't translate well.

[And so he does, slowing down even more this time. It makes the similarities with its ASL counterpart a little more clear, like "waterfall" but a smaller motion. And the spelling, of course, of a romanised name that doesn't sound as it's written.

A-at least it wasn't Gaelic....]

[hey, it's okay--he gets it much better the second time. feeling like he's got that down, he moves them along again.]

I am Z-H-A-S. Or... [he signs a Z over his face, much simper.]

How long have you been here?

Nice to meet you, Zhas.

[He uses the short form for his name, smiling brightly. At the question, he considers that; the time is a little awkward, but he remembers coming just before this ship's Thanksgiving, so that helps.]

Since about late November. Almost seven months now.

[he nods in response to keep it simple, now that they're moving along.]

Have you left this place at any point in that time? Or have you been here the whole time?

[He shakes his head at that.]

Here the whole time. Heard of people who left and came back, though.

I am one of those.

[which is really what this broadcast was about; he wanted to talk to people about something very important, but he can't do that very well with how uncomfortable he is with his own words.]

Do you know any names of those people?

[Qing pauses, about to say no - Zhas will note his head shakes before he recalls something. Small, but...]

There was someone who started on my ship, previously. C-H-A-R-A, I think. [He spells it out with a thoughtful furrow to his brow.] Then they showed up again, and on another ship - but from what I saw, didn't remember anything from being here before.

[he doesn't respond immediately, narrowing his eyes in quiet thought. that's not exactly what he was looking for, but it's still a factor... maybe one more piece of the puzzle.

eventually, he nods and brings his hands up to sign again.]

I am looking for people who remember both times... But thank you, this is something to start with.

[That's the problem when there are a dozen puzzles and nobody's sure which pieces go with which ones.]

I have no recollection of any, but I doubt it never happens. I'll keep an eye out for them and let you know.

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