I Have No Scream and I Must Mouth

Tian will have found a simple note waiting for them. Handrwitten in fountain pen, but so neat and geometric to seem almost printed, it simply stated: "I need to discuss an important matter with you. Let us meet at one of the tables outside the Hostess of Fertility. The drink's on me. Come alone." A time and a date followed, and it was signed simply 'Uta'.

A Messenger will have delivered a second note a few days later, unexpected. In the same handwrigting, it stated, "Nevermind, the payments I was waiting for have arrived. I can now afford to pay drinks for multiple people. Our appointment is still confirmed, but you may now bring company if you so desire!" Also signed, 'Uta'.

And so, at the appointed date and time, Uta is sitting at one of the outside tables. She keeps herself occupied by reading a book.

Since arriving in Yamato, it has become more common for Tian to be addressed directly. It is likely do to the fact that they have taken on a role as bringer of information from the Uncrowned to the Yamato Adventurers. That, and the recent co-discovery of a better way to remove and dispose of the Crowns that have been so influential in changing the world as we know it.

Yet, letters from Uta are always strange in their own way. Of course, Tian had confirmed the identity of the writer with a few people, making sure it wasn't some sort of trap. Then again, who would set a trap right in the middle of Alne? Uta probably would. Thankfully Uta isn't a threat.

The weather has grown colder as the months have stretched on into this second year within Elder Tale. As Tian approaches, they are wearing a fur-lined cloak which seems to add to the lupine aesthetic. Their face carries the usual wolf mask, which covers from forehead to just above the lips, the rest of their features painted in makeup to match.

There is some measure of confidence in the way that they approach, pulling out a chair opposite and leaning forward slightly, making sure both hands are available for signing. The signs that follow are simple. "<You wanted to speak to me?>" No pretense, but there is a curious tilt of the head from the wolf-fox.

Uta is also wearing something appropriate to the weather herself. To most people it will look like a Gwen-quality black winter coat; people who follow the fickle ephemera of fashion might be able to tell that it's from the year before. It is, however, only a very restricted amount of Adventurers that are privvy to the importance that this item carries in Adventurer History: it was the first non-food Item that Uta chewed on to assess whether it was handcrafted or produced through the menu. It ultimately gave birth to legends such as the Phantom Licker.

But this is a secret she carries in her heart.

People who know Uta, at this point, would expect her to look up and offer a bright smile. And they would be wrong. Uta's expression of apparent serious concentration remains. She replies to Tian's question with a simple nod, and then her burrow frows even further. "Can you read lips?", she asks, but her answer is not spoken out loud: it is mouthed, with only an underlying hiss of exhalation.

There is a quiet moment where one of Tian's ears lightly flicks to one side and their head remains tilted in a quizzical fashion. There is a look in the Cait Sith's eyes that suggest they are trying to reason out just what Uta might be trying to get across.

One hand lifts, finger moving in a way that suggests they are trying to think of what to say in answer. With a shake of the head, they lift one fist up next to their temple and extend a finger upwards. They then lower both hands, extending thumb and forefingers, touching the thumbs together and then separating both hands. "<I do not understand that language.>"

If nothing else, it seems that Tian has understood that Uta was trying to speak without audibly making sound. The fact that they had tried to lip-read it may be answer enough to the question, though. However, it seems obvious that they do not understand Japanese.

Uta rubbs the upper half of her face. She hadn't thought of that detail, of course. She gives herself some time to think and recover, and then tries again. "How about mouthing English?" This time she speaks, and remarkably well for a non-native, but... her voice is hoarse, weak; her expression, a wince.

As if that was not enough to convey her message, she lifts her chin, points at her own throat, follows by miming a grimace, exhaling, then shaking her head in defeat.

There is another of those subtle ear twitches from Tian, as if the large appendages were reacting to something, though it certainly isn't as expressive as someone who is actually hearing. It's hard to tell if Tian can pick up on the fact that there is a strain to Uta's voice or not, but they do close one hand into a fist and bob it forward in confirmation.

"<Yes. I understand English. I can read lips in English and Chinese.>" Tian covers one hand with the other, and then lifts one and draws a backwards seven across their chest. These two symbols must represent 'English' and 'Chinese' respectively. "<Also sign English and Chinese.>" They extend the fingers of one hand and tuck the thumb, touching the index finger against their chin, and then extends both hands, bringing them close together. "<Speaking... only a little.>"

This is the first time that Tian has even admitted to having any capability to speak. However, most have never seen them even attempt to make more than instinctive sounds now and again.

Then, with another of those curious tilts of the head, the Cait Sith asks, "<Is something wrong?>"

The confirmation that Tian can understand at leat Mouthed English draws a sigh of relief from Uta. And there even is a slight raise of eyebrows in mild surprise at the admission that Tian can, in fact, speak, but she seems to have bigger concerns on her mind, at the moment.

"Yes. My voice.", Uta confirms, in mouthed English. This time without even an explicit exhalation to go with it. What she may lack in the sound department, however, she more than makes up for through slow, exaggerated mouth movements and intense facial expressions worth of a pantomime. "Lost. Voice. A lllllot of times!" Yes, she tilted her head up on the "l", held her tongue still, and released the "ot" as her head plunged back down.

"Sore throat. Speaking, hard. -Hurts-." A sigh and a rub of her forehead, before, with a more hopeful expression, she resumes, "You can help." She clasps her hands and leans over, slightly, and toning down her exaggerated movements, she asks, "Can you teach sign language?"

Despite their features being masked and harder to read than the average person, there is a dawning look of understanding from the Cait Sith. Tian reaches up, lifting the wolf mask up from their features. Though there is still paint streaked across their eyes underneath, it allows the individual's features to be more open. The mask it set down in front of them.

"<Take care not to hurt yourself.>" Tian's expression shows obvious concern. Without the mask, everything about their facial reactions is more readable. Perhaps wearing it is a way of literally masking their intentions off from other people in most common circumstances.

The request is met with a moment of that hesitation, their finger tapping slightly on the table before nodding once. "<I can try. I am best with ASL.>" They finger spell the three letters. For someone who is from China, it is a bit unusual that they sign most comfortably in English rather than their own native sign language.

"<There is more to it than memorizing signs. Expressions make much of the meaning.>" Tian explains, motioning near their face, confirming that the mask may very well be one of their ways of obfuscating their own thoughts from playing out on their face. "<I have taught people before. It has been a few years.>"

"I try. Sometimes, cannot avoid," Uta replies at the recommendation about trying not to hurt herself. The tension in her expression is held throughout Tian's reflection with associated tapping of fignger, and released with a sigh of relief at the offer of an attempt. "ASL works." The rest of Tian's discussion mostly gets nods of acknowledgement. As said before: speaking, hard.

"I hope my ASL will translate for others" Uta adds, afterwards.

A Lander Pooka waitress picks this moment to show up at the table. "Hello, Adventurers, welcome to the Hostess of Fertility! May I take your order?", she asks with a smile. Uta turns to look. Then looks at Tian. Waitress, Tian. "You first," Uta mouths, before wincing again and holding her head. Probably a migraine. "...and since you can actually speak to her, can you get me a juice? Any kind will do."

Tian's eyebrows lift, a subtle sign of questioning that isn't brought to words. Perhaps, as someone who doesn't speak, they simply cannot fathom how injuries to the throat and vocal chords could be unavoidable. There is that tilt of the head that follows, then a slight lift of the shoulders. Tian seems to speak volumes with body language alone at some points.

"<It understands me. It should understand you.>" Tian replies, replicating that same gesture of holding a fist near their head and extending their index finger. This is clearly the sign for 'understanding'.

At the arrival of the waitress, Tian offers a small smile which seems to shift some of the features of their face. The harsh lines of the wolf makeup softening slightly. They make a gesture that looks like forming a tea-cup out of one hand, the fingers of the other held together like stirring with a spoon. "<A tea, black, no sugar.>" With a glance of golden eyes towards Uta, the Cait Sith nods before touching a bent index finger to their cheek, turning it and extending the pinky finger. "<Apple juice for my friend.>"

Then, for Uta's sake, she repeats the gesture, which probably looks a bit strange to the poor waitress. Tian motions at Uta, as if prompting them to attempt replicating the gesture.

"...Apple Juice, got it," The Waitress says, when the gesture is repeated. Yes, it probably did look strange, and she did say that in what is a likely attempt to confirm she got it the first time.

Uta's newly shown expression of gratitude shifts to surprise when she's prompted to go for an attempt. Slow and careful, she repeats the gesture. There is some hesitation and probably clumsiness in the part where the pinky finger is first extended and then the arm is rotated. The multi-step approach takes a couple of attempts, but it seems decent enough the second time. Or, at least, acceptable, for a complete novice.

The Waitress seems to still be staring -- either because she hasn't understood, or because she cannot believe these people have stated the same thing a third time, so, while waiting for a reaction, Uta will continue her explanation to Tian. "Rather, don't know how to avoid." she begins, taking a hand to ther larynx as she mouths the words. "Something I do strains the voice. Side effect. Studying why. How to avoid."

At this point, a correction is in order. People who know Uta would not have been wrong. They would have been rushed. The bright smile does come, in the end, even if it has to be tinged in a slight overtone of physical suffering. Probably the migraine. "Thanks...", the Spriggan outright says, this time. It is unclear whether the translation system will convey to Tian that her voice is a raspy hoarse mess at a fraction of its usual volume, but that is certainly how the waitress (and Uta herself) will hear it.

Tian seems used to how unusual it can look to the outside world when teaching aspects of sign language. Of course, it's that much more strange when there is a system translating what is being said. The Cait Sith turns back towards the waitress, offering a bright smile that looks very uncharacteristic on their usually serious features. "<I am sorry. I am teaching her how I speak.>"

This, at least, leaves the poor waitress with some idea of what might be going on. Then, turning back to Uta, Tian's expression softens again. It's like there are two sides to this individual, the harder edge they tend to show in battle, and a softer side that comes when helping others. The mask seems to hide this part of themselves from most people.

"<One can still communicate, even without a voice.>" Tian confirms, understanding showing in the set of their lips and the kindness in their eyes. "<We can start simple. Common words. Concepts. Stringing them together is harder.>" There is a rueful look there, followed by a soundless sort of laugh. "<Of course, you can always write, too.>"

"...Oh," the waitress says, raising her eyebrows in surprised understanding. "Good, good!", she smiles. She turns to Uta and cheers her on with a "Do your best, I'm sure you'll make it!", at which point Uta just smiles and nods in gratitude and empathy. Easier than explaining. There is a moment of hesitation on the waitress' behalf, she pulls back, and with a hint of worry, she asks Uta, "Wait, can you understand me?"

Uta, at this point, along with a nod, repeats the gesture from earlier: a fist near her head, then extending the index finger. The gesture for 'understanding'