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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[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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