Simply Ridiculous [Open]

[Aisling MacGrory]

A hand touch, and a nod from the mute. Aisling wanted to keep in touch with Autumn, mostly because she couldn't help but want that willing contact and conversation with someone. Plus, there was a part of Aisling that knew that the more information she got, the more she could determine for Autumn. That part of her mind simply craved the information, wanted the data.

Why couldn't Autumn just see it?

And wouldn't Aisling want someone to talk to. Aisling nodded, though she started shrinking in on herself. People didn't want to talk to her; that's why they didn't make the effort to try and figure out how to use her words. It was too difficult to understand, even if Aisling could communicate most of what she wanted through her facial expressions anyway.

Another hand grab. Aisling looked up at Autumn, blinked, and watched the hands move. Unsteady, uncertain, and nearly wrong, but the effort was there, was clear. Aisling nodded. Time to start trying. Necessary words first...


{*ahem* here's where i have to admit to knowing very little sign myself. So I can generally describe what Aisling's trying to sign, but unless I look up signs (thank you, God, for the internet), I'm not going to be able to know them. DId you just want to gloss over them? Sort of talk about the ones they'd have learned?}

[Autumn Buckland]

In the back of Autumn's mind, the cogs were quietly whirring into how she might be able to get the mute girl's voice back from a Sidhe. Maybe she'd have to trade her own voice? Or something equally special - or maybe that was why Aisling had no voice in the first place; she'd given it away to receive some sort of magic. She wasn't entirely sure how to bring up the subject of trading her voice, and what for, because it was a personal thing and maybe the older girl didn't want to talk about it.

She'd just ask the plants later.

Aisling was more of a quiet little forget-me-not than a loud vivacious sunflower, Autumn decided. Her movements and lack of voice made her blend into nothing, which was sad, because Autumn believed her to be extremely pretty and interesting - even if she had silly views about schools and staying in them. She did brighten at the nod, and moved her hands into another position.

... friendship. The Hand signal spelt out, and then the girl frowned.

"I don't know much but my ma had a friend in the village when she was about 20 who had lost her voice too. Ma got it back for her though in the end, amazing what a bit of herbal remedy and some magic will do." Any discussion about the existance - or lack thereof- of magic would be simply shut down by the girl. Magic existed. Just like unicorns and fae and mermaids. "I don't know what the magic was, but maybe when I'm back in Ireland I can find out and send it to you."

{Yes please, I know NO ASL except for... nope. Nothing xD So yes, glossing over is a very very good idea unless you want me stuck in google for the next fortnight}

[Aisling MacGrory]

Friendship did you really need much more? Aisling was at least able to do greetings easily enough, and it helped that "Autumn" was a season, but she didn't want to rush. Plus, Aisling kept pausing, thinking that she wasn't saying or doing something quite right, which resulted in her going back over it again. To make matters even more confusing, she often wanted to sign her frustrations, and that only added more gestures to the mix.

She stopped completely when Autumn talked, preferring to listen anyway. It was a touching story, and Aisling nearly felt herself tearing up thinking about it. Her voice was gone; had always been gone; always would be gone. Aisling had come to accept that some time ago. But could she disenchant Autumn? The other girl hardly acted like she'd listen to reason anyway.

Still, time to drag out the phone for a quick message:
I haven't been able to talk since I was born. They're not sure what the problem is, but I've never had a voice. I don't even know what I'd sound like

The last was perhaps not necessary, but it stumbled out of Aisling's fingers before she could delete it, and she was already showing the display to Autumn and fidgeting. She lowered it after she was certain that Autumn saw it, likely read it, and was ready to keep going on sign. Anything was better than talking about Aisling's lack of voice.

[Autumn Buckland]

True to word, Autumn absorbed everything with the care and detail that she kept for her plants, happy for some sort of distraction from her misery. She was clumsy at first, fingers moving awkwardly across her palms as she made words, but then she thought of it more as a hand dance, and the words came easier. She pretended each sentence was to some sort of concerto, and found it so much easier.

She looked more disappointed than anything when the message came up on the phone, and let out a soft lamenting sigh. "That must be sad, but you can't miss what you never had. That's what Grandmama said to us. Still..." Her eyes misted over slightly as her brain whirred through all the mythical creatures that could have cursed a baby, or a pregnant woman. Clearly Aisling's mother had upset some sort of magical being, but it was such an effort to know which was which sometimes.

"Don't they have technology to give people voices?" She asked innocently, scratching her head. "I think there's a man in some book I read during Science who is in a wheelchair and a computer speaks for him. Sounds like a lot of funny business if you ask me, because what if the computer said something that he didn't actually want to say? Like if I asked Romie for a cup of tea but the voice said I think you're a poxy algae ridden Kappa? But that's besides the point, I'm sure you could get a voice somehow."

She went quiet while her mind whizzed with ideas, and after a long stare at the foot of the sofa, she eventually blinked and looked up. "I don't understand technology much. It's all boards and lines and cold feeling. When you hold something wooden, you can feel the life and warmth that was in it, when you hold something plastic it just feels... sad. Hollow." The redhead didn't like cutting down trees, but she did approve of whittling dead wood into things. Her hairbrush was one of those pieces her father carved, and she could feel the gentle warmth of that tree's life radiating in her hands.

Sorry, she signed, realising she'd gone off on an entirely different tangent all together.

[Aisling MacGrory]

Was it horrible that Aisling wanted to study Autumn? The other girl was just so fascinating. Her ideas were quaint, almost outdated, and she spoke them with such conviction. Aisling had figured that people like this existed, but she certainly hadn't encountered any of them yet. She found herself staring in awe, almost forgetting that she was supposed to be contributing somehow.

Conversations were hard.

A quick type into the phone again; Aisling's fingers were quite fast, really. They have such machines, and I've used them. They feel strange though. Like you said. Not alive. I think I'd rather try using my hands.

Though as Aisling finished writing it, she stared at the screen, realizing that she was technically doing exactly that in order to communicate. The phone was clearly not alive, clearly technology, and clearly helping Aisling communicate. It wasn't as though she could communicate her thoughts some other way, with Autumn still learning ASL. Not without pen and paper.

Sorry? Aisling shook her head. It was all so interesting. Her eyes widened and she tried a smile, even a reassuring touch. No reason to be upset. Just relax. Aisling even slid her hand along Autumn's arm for a while, hoping to communicate without words again.


Really, it wasn't as hard as some people made it out to be.

[Autumn Buckland]

The irony wasn't lost on Autumn, and she giggled a little when she read Aisling's message, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know what I'd do without my voice." She said thoughtfully, looking down at her pitcher plant. "I wouldn't be able to talk to the trees or the plants, and that would be terribly sad." Still, Aisling seemed happy enough without her voice, even if it was weird talking to silence.

"I could be your voice." Autumn offered after a long pause. "Just tell me what to say and I'll say it for you and make sure people listen. I do it for the trees already." She was used to translating across a point for something that could not speak for itself. The earth sang with so many things it wanted, and yet it never received, and she felt she needed to communicate with it as best as she could.

Suddenly standing, she took Aisling's hand. "You should come to my garden. Eric and Alice helped me make it before they went away, and it's ever so peaceful. We found a wall that is actually more an outdoor room and we made it our little place. We've seen little fae prancing on the leaves and the flowers smile at you." She breathed the words as if they were magic. "But it's a secret garden like in the book, so you mustn't tell a soul." Her green eyes flashed. "Promise?"

And with that, the redhead seized her plant and took off outside, beckoning Aisling with her. It was sad that they were going in late Autumn, not Spring when there were new shoots growing from the earth, but there were still cold weather plants in bloom around the plot of land Autumn had claimed for herself. It took a long moment of patrolling the outer wall of the Institute before she found the odd jut, and squeezed behind a prickly hedge.

"In here." She added, before disappearing from sight.

[Aisling MacGrory]

That was one thing that Aisling had wondered. Was it possible that there were people like her, people without voices, but they possessed abilities like that? She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she'd been "gifted" with something like that.

The offer of a voice nearly made Aisling tear up though. She stared at Autumn, hardly believing that someone would be so willing to do something like that for her. Sure, sometimes people who understood sign willingly volunteered to translate, but this was something else entirely. What would have brought on something like that so soon? What were the chances... 5%.... sometimes Aisling hated her brain. But knowing it didn't make it any less impressive, and it certainly didn't stop Aisling from giving Autumn a tight hug in thanks.

She nearly scurried away after a few seconds, mostly around the time Autumn started talking about the garden. It sounded quite fantastic; just hearing about it made Aisling's eyes widen even further. At first, she felt like pointing out that, technically, Aisling couldn't tell anyone about it if she wanted to. However, that seemed rather petty, so instead Aisling settled for enthusiastic nodding.

While going outside bothered her, Aisling certainly wasn't about to abandon such an opportunity as this. She willingly followed Autumn, keeping close behind the other girl.

In here. What were the chances... 76%. High because Autumn spoke to plants and was looking for a plant based sanctuary.

Aisling still hated her brain. Even as she stood around the wall, trying to determine where the entrance was...

[Autumn Buckland]

The hug was well received - Autumn was a tactile girl, and having such a close knit family she'd been used to lots of great family hugs, hand holding and other things. "If I get better at signing, then I can just speak for you all the time. Or until I leave anyway, but you could come with me." She offered hopefully. Her family were always happy for fresh blood in the caravans, and imagine what Aisling could learn in the Irish countryside? She could show her mermaid coves and the ancient forests...

But she was getting too far ahead of herself, and she shook her head. It was important right now to show Aisling the beauty of her secret garden, and she was delighted that the teen wanted to see it. As she vanished behind the hedge, she politely asked it to move slightly so Aisling could come through. "It's clear, if you need my hand..." She offered it out willingly.

After a quick tug, the redhead introduced the plants to Aisling with a smile. "This is the garden." She said, gesturing round, and setting her plant down on a makeshift rickety bench she'd worked on with thick branches tied tightly with twine. "There are Primroses, Asters, Sedum..." She introduced tham all as though they were dear friends. "Then I've been growing Damsens for Damsen jam... my Aunt makes that. There are carrots, beetroots... and a rude blackberry bush has grown in over there, but it's not so bad." She shrugged lightly.

"Do you like it?" She asked eventually, looking so much happier now she was in her garden. "It's just me looking after it now, but I hope Germaine and Romeo help eventually." She brushed her fingertips over the blooms, then looked up hopefully.

"You can help too, if you would like."

[Aisling MacGrory]

While Aisling certainly enjoyed Autumn's company, she just as certainly wasn't about to follow the gypsy into her traveling life. Aisling knew that she did much, much better with stability and quiet. A nice library, a source of books and some puzzles to keep her mind sharp. That was all Aisling really needed. Perhaps someone to make her feel less alone, but there were even times when Aisling wondered if she really needed that.

A hedge. It moved. Aisling cautiously took the hand, nearly squeezing it tight. Then she was pulled into what amounted to a storybook. The mute gaped, turning around. The chances, the sheer improbability of it all, it simply delighted her and boggled her mind. Every once in a while, Aisling was presented with a pattern that fascinated her, and this was very much one. Her hand reached out to touch a plant, running her fingers along it, all while she listened intently to Autumn's description.

A hidden garden, known only to a few students and well tended by one who could speak with plants. Yes, this was definitely something out a tale.

Aisling nodded, turning to look at Autumn. A smile, then a gesture around her. The place made Aisling happy; it was beautiful. You didn't need words to carry that across. Aisling moved over to another row of plants, her pattern-driven mind starting. A light touch, and the plant shifted just so. Much better odds there.

If only there weren't so many random factors.

Aisling sat by some flowers, running her hand along them. She glanced to Autumn, as if asking how such a thing could possibly exist in the recesses of a school in Vermont.

[Autumn Buckland]

Autumn felt a wave of happiness tickle her from her head to her toes as Aisling showed her appreciation for the garden. The plants reacted to this emotion with little dances, leaves or petals twinkling benignly at the mute girl. They were also singing, but only Autumn could hear that; the soft high pitched voice of the Aster, the low sonorous grumble of the beetroot and the playful lilt of the blackberry bramble. She closed her eyes just to listen for a time, then grinned. "The plants are singing to you. They are glad you like them."

"Sometimes, if I close my eyes tight enough and concentrate, I can pretend I'm not in Vermont any more." She explained, sitting down on the bench and tending to one of the plants. "All I can hear is the conversations between the plants, and the magic of the tree spirits as they glide around on the wind. And I sneak out of that horrid little dorm at night sometimes, light a candle and just sit here and wait to hear the owls and the buzz of the crickets." She looked imploringly at Aisling, as if begging her to understand.

"Everyone makes so much noise all the time that they can't appreciate anything. All I hear is how so and so did this and what someone sent on one of their funny phone messages. I don't care about all that nonsense because it's always the same. The plants never tell me the same things. My ma never repeated herself or wore silly short skirts and really high pointy heels. None of us did." A shrug, and she brushed her fingertips over the leaves, before joining Aisling on the ground, resting her cheek on her shoulder and sighing contentedly.

For a long time she tried to decipher how to explain herself, how she came across this empty forgotten space of wall, but slowly the words came to her, and she began to speak again. "I explore a lot. Me and Germaine and when Alice and Eric were here too... we used to go on adventures out into the forest and over this stupid wall. I found this, I guess it used to be some sort of little sentry post or whatever. Maybe an old storage room? Anyway, it was concealed by that giant hedge, and it was by chance I was climbing over when I saw this... this secret place. The earth was messy and there were swags of weeds and dead plants. We worked so hard with seeds and we bought little trowels and a watering can..."

Her voice died then, and her eyes widened. Nudging Aisling to look at a particularly eager looking sprout of a hedge, the redhead breathed; "A song sparrow!" And the little bird perched there, head cocked politely towards both ladies, before singing it's song.

[Aisling MacGrory]

Singing; Aisling had never thought of plants has being able to speak, let alone sing before, but just hearing it, especially hearing it from Autumn, brought that image to mind. Aisling nearly wanted to close her eyes and see if she could listen herself. Perhaps they'd be willing to speak with her, since she was in the proximity of someone who was so intimate with him. Aisling knew the probability was low; her brain simply wouldn't ignore the fact, but she simply had to resist it, at least for a few moments.

The story came next, or more, Autumn's description of how she could forget where she was, her troubles and what came of her. The way Autumn spoke weighed upon Aisling, and she nearly started crying again. It just sounded so grossly unfair, like capturing a wild thing.

Yes, Aisling decided, she'd certainly been wrong in thinking this was the best place for Autumn.

Aisling nodded as Autumn explained. It sounded appealing, though not something that Aisling could do. Aisling's eyes widened at the idea, and sorrow started to creep upon her features. That Autumn should be forced to do something so different... it sounded wrong. Despite herself, Aisling felt the tears starting to brim in her eyes.

Autumn's next story started to wipe away those tears though. The idea of finding something like this, a treasure hidden in the grounds. Aisling wished that she had been there to help, to be one of the people to discover something like this. That didn't mean that she couldn't help now though, certainly. Probability worked well with tending plants, since they didn't exactly have will of their own. Well, Aisling hadn't thought they did; Autumn seemed determined to prove that to the contrary.

Aisling started to type out a message on her screen, when Autumn exclaimed. The mute girl's head jerked up, just in time to see the bird landing. Her fingers accidentally slid the percentage of the bird's arriving there into the text, and before Aisling could stop and think about it, she was showing it to Autumn:

I wouldn't mind helping the garden, maybe looking after it while you're away. I can actually help plants well; it works with my power. 12% That is, if you don't mind.

[Autumn Buckland]

"Oh please don't cry!" Autumn begged, looking at Aisling and shuffling over to cuddle her across the shoulders. "If you cry then I will, and the flowers will get upset." She smiled wetly, scrubbing at her eyes and trying to concentrate on something else. She ran her fingers over the bushy tops of the growing vegetables and fruits, and instead gently uprooted a carrot from the earth. Soil clung to her fingers, and then to her dress as she brushed it off, and she went to the watering can, dunking the carrot in the water to wash it.

"Here, try it! The carrots have to be ready to go, and this one is still, it no longer talks." She nodded, placing the washed vegetable in Aisling's hands. "They're slightly sweet from being well looked after." She explained, settling down beside Aisling once more and brushing her fingertips over the tops of the other vegetables. "Later I'll pick some of these berries and see if I can make jam." She was sure that she could get more money that way - selling pots of fresh jam and home-grown vegetables.

When she read Aisling's message, the strange addition of the 12% confused her, and Autumn looked up bewildered, before shrugging it off. "I'm glad." She said warmly, flopping backwards on the cool autumn earth. Soon she'd begin to retire into herself for the winter, already she could feel the affects of the dwindling warmth and shorter days on her body. She was relying more on actual food instead of her photosynthesis, and it was impossibly difficult to get out of bed. She wasn't sure how long it would take before she was practically in hibernation mode.

"We should come here at night, it's beautiful." She admitted, smiling warmly. "Will you come?" She added, turning her head and seizing Aisling's hands. "I promise I'll bring warm tea or something, so we don't get too cold." She nodded, then stifled a yawn.

The flowers around her also yawned, and her pitcher plant seemed to stretch as if preparing for bed. "Goodness me, I am so sorry." The redhead shook her head. "It's getting close to hibernation time for me and most of the plants." Her eyes looked over at the evergreens. "I don't think I'm an evergreen, I'm more an oak. And this oak desperately wants to sleep through winter."

[Aisling MacGrory]

Another cuddle; enough deep blush. Aisling even shifted under the other girl's comfort. She'd never quite experienced someone this willing to reach out. Perhaps she simply needed to find the right people. Or, you know, actually go out and attempt to connect with people, period. Aisling took a deep breath to steady herself, her hands coming up for a message.

Then, carrot. Aisling stared it for a few seconds. How could someone eat something that had been talking to them? Aisling wasn't exactly a vegetarian; she never really put that much thought into her food, beyond the various probabilities that always assailed her whenever something like that presented itself. Now though, she couldn't help it. Where was her phone?

Busy making promises. Aisling was at least relieved that Autumn accepted her help, and offered a smile. There was something quiet and reassuring about this place; it reminded Aisling of the library, only more open. This made the second promise, to come at night, all the easier, and Aisling's head bobbed with enthusiasm at that. As far as the mute was concerned, she'd made another friend in Autumn, and Aisling was sure to be nearly clingy herself.

A yawn, and Aisling was wondering if perhaps she should be tired herself. Then her brain presented her with a nifty little percentage: 75%; the chance that someone with a power like Autumn would also pick up secondary traits as a result. it was enough to make Aisling's eyes widen, and she dropped down next to Autumn. Phone; she needed her phone.

Quick message. Show:
You might be affected by the plants; there is a high chance that you pick up secondary characteristics. We should see about getting you somewhere warmer, even if it is nice here.

The last was definitely a concession. Aisling knew she was coming back here, and soon. For now, she was tugging on Autumn, the concern of the probabilities weighing upon Aisling's face.

[Autumn Buckland]

Autumn loved making friends, despite her hatred for the school. It may be uncouth and a horrible kidnapping place, but the people, some of them had good hearts and sweet minds. The redhead was delighted to have met such a kind friend in Aisling.

"Inside?" Her voice wavered, brow furrowing slightly. "I'm not sure I want to go back in yet." She admitted, sighing and looking around her. The inside was cold and unkind and full of liars. But still, she could feel exhaustion overwhelming her. Another yawn. "Can't we just find a blanket?" She asked hopefully, moving her hands through her hair.

But Aisling was her friend and surely didn't want to make her miserable - and they would be out again at night. It seemed silly to resist when her entire body felt like it was growing dormant in the steady cool air outdoors.

"Alright." She finally agreed, touching Aisling's hand and holding it. "I guess if we must." She sighed softly, rising up and taking her pitcher plant, then looking over at the flowers twinkling at her. "I'll be back soon." She cooed, smiling. And with that, she moved the hedge to the side again, and let Aisling tug her.

[Aisling MacGrory]

Truthfully, Aisling wasn't all that certain she really wanted to head back in herself. Yet she knew they couldn't stay out here, not for as long as needed. Hence the tugging, and the insistent looks. Perhaps what Autumn really needed was someone like Aisling? No, that was far, far too presumptious.

In the end, there just wasn't a blanket to be found.

They must. Aisling nodded, tugged more, and finally helped Autumn get to her feet. The mute looked around for a while, memorizing it, seeing the percentages that streamed into her consciousness. Nothing new, nothing threatening. The whole place was peaceful. A sanctuary worth preserving.

Aisling nodded to the place, promising to, well, live up to her promises. Then, once she had Autumn in hand, she'd hed back to Hammel proper.


{aww, end thread there? definitely going to have to put these two together sometime; I love writing their interactions (even if it is mostly Aisling going O.O and Autumn chattering)}