Early Kazoo 2

[subcircuits]

[An hour or two after today's morning announcement, the ICPs light up again, this time showing Devero's face. He made himself fairly scarce yesterday-- he had a new toy to play with!!-- so newcomers, you may not have seen him around. (If you had, you'd probably recognize the distinctive device that he wears on his face.) He's wearing it now as he looks earnestly into the ICP camera. From the background, he's obviously in his cabin.]

Hello, folks, a moment of your time, if you please! I promise to be a lot less annoying than Glowstick was last night.

First, for you new passengers, my name's Devero. Unfortunately, that's not what it says on the passenger roster, but please don't try to call me by that string of numbers and letters. That's my ID code, but it's not my name.

Second. [He holds up a compact little brick-looking thing in one hand, showing it for a moment before he takes it and opens it up into a futuristic-looking tablet.] I'm donating this to the library. It's a course to teach yourself sign language-- well, GSL, the sign language where I come from. [He sets down the tablet, steps back far enough from the ICP that he's visible from the waist up, and as he speaks the next part, he signs it too.] We have a few folks on the train who would benefit from more people knowing it, so if you want to learn, come find this in the library. [He stops signing and gets closer to the screen again.]

I'm going to try to be in the library for lessons or anyone who wants to practice on certain days too. I'll put it up on that board in standard when I have a set time nailed down.

Third, in case you hadn't heard: Cassie's hosting a ballroom social tomorrow in the evening. You can ask her for the details; I just wanted to say that after I'm done here I'm going to park myself in the gym for a few hours. You want to brush up on your ballroom, or learn some steps so you can do a turn on the dance floor with your blind date? I've got you covered.

Oh, one last thing. [He turns and reaches out of the picture, then draws his hand back into the frame. Hovering above it is a vaguely loaf-shaped metal thing with a big camera lens in front and a purple ribbon tassel hanging off the antenna on the back.] This is my new Mantiscope. It's a kind of robot pet from my world, and it's completely harmless. [He makes a gesture in the air with his free hand, and the floating loaf extends its neck and its legs, dropping lightly to his palm. It swivels its elongate head and focuses its lens-eye on his face. That little antenna on the back end pivots up and down, making the tassel wave.] It's new, so it should stick by me since I'm its user. If you see it on its own anywhere, will you let me know so I can come collect it? I'd appreciate it.

Okay, that's all I've got. Thanks for your time. I'll head down to the gym shortly, but let me know if you have any questions while I'm still here.

Comments

[helborn]

Oh! Shit, I didn't realize there might be people who need to have sign language... I got so used to telepathy. Um. I'm interested in learning... if you don't mind. I'll be in and out of the library anyway, so I might try to track you down. I'm more of a... hands-on learner.

... I didn't mean for that to be a pun.

[subcircuits]

[Maybe he didn't mean it, but Devero chuckles anyway.] Telepathy is definitely not a universal trait on this train. I don't think we have anyone who's fully Deaf or fully mute, so learning how to sign isn't essential, but it would certainly make things easier for the folks who need some accessibility help.

Of course I don't mind teaching; just grab me when you see me and we can get started.

[helborn]

Yeah, we had a whole psychic network the last place I was at.

I just got here and I'm still trying to figure this whole place out... if you're the one who's listed like that on the roster, I think we're on the same team.

[sciencegirl]

It's so cute! [Look, everything else, Entrapta will address later. But Devero has a baby! Look at it be a baby!!]

We should make a playdate with Sandra! I bet it would be phenomenal for behavioral development.

[And she can't hold back a little happy squeak, because look at it. Oh! Right. The dance thing.]

So... Okay, I also have a favor to ask you.

[subcircuits]

Isn't it? I've always wanted one of these! [He's had his robot baby for one (1) day and he'd already fistfight a person to defend it.]

We absolutely should! Xenopet coding is built on the Learning Pet software platform, so the more interactions it has, the more sophisticated-- and individual-- it will be come. It'll be good for them both!

[He cocks his head to the side.] Oh? What can I do for you?

[sciencegirl]

[She gurgle squeaks about it. It's so good. It's so good LOOK AT IT!] Please tell me it also comes with a construction guide for simple repair. Oh wait. Could I scan him!

[Right! Yes, the thing.]

Oh, sooooooo. That ballroom thing? I'm going, but I am going to need help picking out shoes because I never get dressed up for these things. I've never really needed to before! But there's going to be a lot of political restoration back home so I need to be a little more responsible with my personal presentation.

[Just a little.]

Video

[consider8]

[She does keep an eye on the robot, but there is something else that she also finds... interesting.]

What is "sign language?"

[subcircuits]

[Devero steps back from the ICP again, so that his full torso is visible. His hands and arms move-- actually, his whole upper body seems to get into it as he signs for her what he also says out loud:]

It's talking with your hands, so you can communicate with people who can't hear or can't speak aloud.

[consider8]

[Eight beams.]

Clever! And that is used as a way to communicate without exposing your position!

[foxyou]

[Ignoring the Entire Rest Of This Post--]

Who exactly would benefit from our learning this sign language? Learning it doesn't seem like it would be very useful unless there were others who could understand it. [And yet he looks more interested than he sounds...]

[subcircuits]

There are already passengers on this train who are hard of hearing or unable to speak aloud. The more of us who learn it now, the easier it will be for them to communicate with the rest of us.

[foxyou]

Are there many of those kinds of passengers? [Because having the majority learn for the sake of the few is...no he knows better than to say that.] It would be interesting to learn, at least.

[A pause.]

You...said you would offer lessons? [Can't admit he doesn't understand that fancy tablet thing...]

[fightcreamsundae]

Cherry waited on him - or maybe joined him - in the gym. Either way, her ears perked up significantly and her tail curled cheerily as she saw him. She waved to him.

“Hi Mr. Devero!” She cheerfully approached in a manner that could only be described as a trot.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to any sort of Ishgardian ball; I thought maybe this would be a good opportunity to get some practice in?”

She is telling the absolute truth, but there’s a playfulness in the way her tail starts to twitch that suggests she may not need as much practice as she’s implying.

She’s also excited enough to forget to introduce herself, apparently.

[subcircuits]

"Just Devero is fine!" he returned as the newcomer trotted right up to him. "Or Mx. Devero, if you must."

His eyes make a very obvious trip from her ears to her tail and then back to her face, but otherwise he keeps his cool about the fact that he's just been approached by a cat person. Be cool, Devero, everyone's cool on this train.

"That where you come from?" he asks her with a smile. "Ishgard?"

[fightcreamsundae]

“Oh! I’m sorry for the mistake, um, Mx. Devero.” She mostly repeated it to see how it felt to say. It was a new title for her, one she had never heard of, but she would just as cheerily use it. She didn’t seem to get too caught up over the stumble, and his examination of her seemed not to bother her either.

“Ishgard? Oh, no! I’m originally from a place called Dravania. It’s to the west and a little bit north of Ishgard. The dragons of Dravania and the elezen of Ishgard were actually at war until quite recently.” She blinked at that, then continued cheerily.

“I left home and travelled aaaaaaaaall the way from continent Aldenard to Othard! I lived in a city called Kugane so that I could train with the strongest and best warrior in all of Hydaelyn.” Her eyes shine brightly as she explained the last bit.

“Sometimes my auntie Q’uila would invite me to the grand balls of Ishgard. She knows I like to dance and get all dressed up and spend time with Ser Aymeric and everyone of House Fortemps and even sometimes Ms. Kha would be there and that’s always fun because she would sometimes play violin or piano and of course having two warriors of light at any event - or even more!! - is always a treat...” She stopped to take a breath. Might be a good time to interject.

[myblueskies]

Oh I know some sign language because my friend in the heavens couldn't speak so she taught me! But I don't know if it will be the same as yours... [Then again everyone spoke different languages and could understand each other, so hopefully it was the same!]

Does your robot pet friend have a name? He looks very friendly!

[subcircuits]

When I tried to talk to Prisoner, who knows a different sign language from mine, the only thing we had in common was finger-spelling. [Unfortunately.] But if you like we can try and see if we understand each other!

Not yet! [Devero smiles at the little robot, which bobs its tail again.] I wanted to see what kind of personality it starts to develop before I named it.

[myblueskies]

Oh... Maybe it won't work then because mister Prisoner can understand me when I sign and I can understand him... [Mostly.] So maybe it's different... I'd like to learn yours too though sir!

[Finding out what his robot is like before giving him a name was a very good idea!]

[unholyandbroken]

My knowledge is bare bones, past collegue of m father was deaf, but would like to learn more.

[subcircuits]

You might be starting from the ground up. I tried speaking to another passenger who knows how to sign and the only thing our languages had in common was the spelling. [He lifts his hands and finger-spells out the last word as he says it.] Not to discourage you, of course; just so you're aware going into it.

[irrationally]

[ Devero is saying so much here.

And yet the one thing Alice seems to focus amidst it all is just: ]

You got a pet?

[ THIS IS JUST WHAT SHE'S HERE FOR. Apparently. Who cares about all these other social things, there's a pet, pet, cute pet!! Even if it's a robot pet rather than an animal one, she'll take it. Show her more of that thing, Devero!! ]

What can it do?

[subcircuits]

[Clearly, Alice has the best priorities.

Devero brings both of his hands together in front of his chest, the little robot adjusting with the motion to stand across both of his palms.]

Not much, right now. It's still so new, it's mostly just in observation and learning mode. But I should be able to teach it some commands and tricks!

[irrationally]

Learning mode?

[ Alice may actually be leaning in here - her face looking comically large on the screen as she's trying to get the best look possible at the little thing. Someone sure is excited, especially by Alice's usual standards. ]

What sort of things can it learn? Does it copy what it sees from other people? [ Kind of like a human baby. ]

[firewalled]

Oh! Hey, mind if I meet you at the gym? I could probably use some pointers.

[Sure, Soldat taught him a little, but the more dances Rich knows, the better chance he has of his blind date going well.]

The sign langusge guide was a really good idea, too. I'll have to check it out when I have time.

[subcircuits]

Of course not, Rich! I'll see you there.

[He smiles.] Thanks. Let me know if you need a crash course in how to work the actual book.