Coming In For A Landing (tags Mojo)

[Sunar Chugani]

The library was not Sunar's favorite place to be. For one thing, it was full of dusty old books written by dead and irrelevant people, and for another you were supposed to be quiet. Noise tended to elicit nasty looks at the very best, and being escorted from the premise with detention at worst. It was almost as bad as class, except that sometimes in class there were group discussions or other excuses to talk. 

Not so in the library. 

But sometimes being in the library was unavoidable. For instance, when one had a very important paper due on the themes in The Scarlet Letter for English class. He wasn't going to get pregnant, so he wasn't sure that the book was even relevant to him, but zeros tended to bring grade averages down just a little bit. 

Which was why he was in the library, thumbing through a book on Nathaniel Hawthorne in the hopes that something would jump out at him. 

He caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye, and immediately turned to see. It was a girl. A girl with a comic book. 

This was infinitely more interesting than whether or not Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville were lovers, and he squinted over at her, trying to make out what comic she was reading. The distance was too far, however. He would just have to ask. 

But how to ask without calling librarians down upon him? 

He drummed his fingers against his notebook -- and then he had it. He tore out the sheet of paper he was supposed to be writing notes on (so far he had drawn two men labeled Nathaniel and Herman, a woman carrying a baby, and Disney's Frollo leering at the woman. There were, however, no actual notes to be seen on it) and began to write:

Pssst Comic Book Girl! 

what are you reading? You look really into it, is it good?

Thanks in advance, 
Sunar


He folded this missive into a paper airplane, stuck out his tongue as he took aim, and then flung his note across the table towards her.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

Mojo had come to like the library. It was perfect for reading her comic books (and doing homework... sometimes) and not feeling out of place around groups of friends chatting and laughing. Everyone here was quiet, and doing their own thing. It definitely made Mojo feel more normal. While she usually liked taking one of the small tables by the window so she could gaze and daydream when she was done, today those seats were taken and she instead chose to sit at the end of one of the long tables in the middle of the large seating space.

She had taken notice of the boy at the other end of the table, though didn't pay him much mind. After all, they were far enough away that they couldn't really see what each other were up to. And Mojo never expected anyone to pay her much mind either - or if they did, she didn't expect them to put forth the effort to really communicate for longer than a few moments. So when a paper airplane came skidding across the table, sliding to a halt about an arms reach away from her, Mojo was certainly confused. She glanced up to see where it had come from, and the way the boy at the other end of the table was looking over at her, it was certainly him.

She looked back and forth between the crudely made plane and the boy a couple times before tentatively reaching out for the toy. Maybe he wanted it back. Though it was when she picked it up that Mojo realized something was written on the paper - folded into the creases of the plane. She looked back at the boy another time, a look of confusion on her face as she unfolded his work, and sure enough a message emerged, along with some sketches of some seemingly unrelated characters.

She glanced back at the boy once she read the note, figuring she may as well answer. It wasn't as if she were doing anything important, and if he was truly interested why not share her enthusiasm? Mojo reached into her yellow backpack which was hanging on the back of her chair, and produced a pen which wrote in purple ink. With the best grammar she could muster, Mojo replied...

Paper plane boy,

I read The Flash Vol.2 #136. I love Flash. Favorite hero. He fast like me. I have all flash comics to #230! It is best comic.

Also, I like your pictures.

Your Welcome,
Mojo

Mojo carefully folded the plane back up, and peeked behind her shoulder to make sure none of the librarian's were watching. Once she was sure the coast was clear, Mojo tossed the plane back over to the boy who called himself Sunar. But Mojo had already decided that she was going to refer to him as 'Pilot'.

[Sunar Chugani]

Sunar watched the girl intently as she looked at his airplane. He watched as she wrote something down on it and folded it back up. When she tossed it back to him he had to restrain himself from making a noise of glee. He leaned across the table to catch it, and nearly ripped off a wing in his haste to unfold it.

He read the reply twice, and then ripped another piece of paper from his notebook.

Mojo is a cool name, it makes you sound like a super hero. Doesn't The Flash have a tv show, too? 230 comics seems like a lot, do you have them all here at Hammel or are some of them at your house?

He paused and tapped his pencil against his cheek as he considered what else he should write to her.

Thanks about the pictures! Beside this he also drew a very quick expression of gratitude -- it was supposed to be a cartoon caricature of the girl, although he wasn't very close to her so he couldn't properly observe her face and get her features all right.

What's it like to be really fast? Do you always get picked first for sports teams?

Now you have me curious!

Sunar

He folded this into a new airplane and flung it toward her. Then he picked up his belongings and began to surreptitiously move a few seats closer, in case she wanted to continue their conversation.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

Mojo giggled a bit at how happy her reply seemed to make Sunar. She watched as he unfolded it and read, ripping another piece of paper from his notebook to continue the conversation. Mojo found herself smiling, mostly because this is how she usually had to start conversations, yet here she was and someone else had done the legwork. She glanced back at her comic book, but didn't get very far before another plane flew her way.

She opened it immediately, already having her pen in hand. She didn't notice the boy moving closer at first, though, mostly because she couldn't hear his rustling.

She wrote a response..



My name is Ramona Josephine. Gross name. Mojo is cool name. I am super hero in mind.

I not watch much TV. I deaf. Sorry my writing no good because deaf. Flash do have show but comic books better. Books are at my house - close to school.

Running fast gets holes in pants. Hurts legs sometimes. But running on walls and on water is best. I am super hero! I eat a lot because running is tired. I also do good pranks because fast. So tricky!

What is your superpower?

Mojo

As she wrote her note, she thought about omitting the part about being deaf, but figured it was better to say it now than later. The more she wrote, the more mistakes she would make and it was only a matter of time before the boy asked if she was illiterate. Which in a way she was, she supposed. She folded the plane up again and turned to throw it.

She paused for a moment, taken aback that the boy had moved a few seats closer, simply because she wasn't expecting it. But once she was recomposed, the plane was off again, flying across the table just past where Sunar was sitting.

[Sunar Chugani]

Sunar had already given up on his own work -- conversing with Mojo was already more interesting. He would do the essay later, possibly at the very last minute when he realized just how much time his distractions had cost him. 

For now, however, he eagerly watched as the girl wrote a reply, and leaned over once again to grab the plane as it skidded across the table towards him. 

He read her reply with creased brow. He didn't think Ramona Josephine was a bad name at all; it made her sound like a book character. But of course he wasn't the one who had to live with the name, so his opinion was irrelevant. 

He turned the paper over to write a new reply. 

Mojo sounds BAMF. Your house is close to school? Lucky! My family lives in California, so I can't visit much. Do you live off campus then? 

Then he tapped his pencil against the table as he considered the next part of his reply. 

I don't know any sign language, is writing like this okay with you? If it's too hard I'll ask someone to teach me.

Maybe he would ask Colton. He didn't know if omnilingualism included sign language or not, but it wouldn't hurt to check. 

I can store things in spaaaaaaace Here he drew a quick doodle of what was supposed to be himself next to a box full of stars. [/i]But sometimes I lose them[/i]

He folded the airplane back up, a task made easy by the creases, and tossed the plane back in her direction.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

Mojo wasn't doing anything of particular importance. She had read this comic book a number of times already. So talking to Sunar wasn't taking her away from anything, really. Especially since he seemed eager despite the fact that she couldn't possibly carry on a 'normal' conversation. This wasn't something the young girl ran into every day. People tried, sure, but it always seemed like a chore.

She accepted his reply with a smile, once more unfolding the paper plane and smoothing it out in front of her, carefully reading his reply. Just as it took her longer to write, it took Mojo a bit longer to read and comprehend what Sunar was saying. She hoped he didn't mind. But once she understood, she grabbed her purple pen, and scribbled her reply.

I live at home with family. Many brother and sister go to Hammel also. I wish I live at Hammel sometimes so I no share room with sister! haha!

Not many know sign. It ok. Write notes is good way to talk. But grammar no good, sorry. I try best.

I no understand? What power is that? Can you show me?

Mojo was genuinely curious. She had never heard of such an ability. Or maybe she had, but had never heard it described in that way. But the possibility of learning about a new power excited the girl, and she re-folded the plan and tossed it back to Sunar with a smile.

[Sunar Chugani]

Sunar unfolded the plane carefully, scanning the note with eagerness. The request for a demonstration gave him pause. Normally he would speak to get her attention, but if she was deaf that obviously wouldn't work. He squinted as he tried to think of a way to let her know he was going to show her immediately. 

He waved to get her attention, then, once he was sure she was watching he pointed to himself, then thrust his hand into the air. It halfway disappeared -- and then he pulled backwards and his hand re-emerged with a pencil. 

He shrugged and turned back to the letter so that he could write a reply to the rest of the note. 

How many siblings do you have? Maybe I know one of them! I wish my sister came to Hammel, too, but she's going to be in college next year. I'm glad I don't have to share a room with her, though! My roommate is way more fun, sorry, Indukala. 

Grammar is really hard, I don't think anyone has good grammar. He paused, and then scratched a note beside that, Except the English teachers. 

He folded the plane back up, careful to use the already existing creases before tossing the note back to her, mirroring the smile she had given him earlier.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

Mojo kept an eye on Sunar, waiting for the demonstration she requested. He got her attention after a moment, then she got her wish. The boy's arm nearly disappeared, then re-appeared holding a pencil. While Mojo still didn't completely understand what had just happened, it was certainly cool, and the look on her face was definitely one of amazement. She smiled as he turned back to the note to write to her, and she eagerly awaited the response.

After unfolding the note and scanning the massage sent to her, Mojo formulated a reply, just as she had done previously. 


5 sisters. 6 brothers. I am #8. 


She hoped that made sense to him. There were only 4 children younger than she was. Most of her siblings were older, and a couple had already left the house. That didn't mean her household wasn't crazy. 

There was a word on his note that Mojo did not recognize, and while it embarrassed her to be so clueless, she needed to know. 

What is Indukala? I not know this word... 


As Mojo moved to fold the paper back up, she noticed that it was becoming flimsy, about to tear along the seams. So the girl made the bold choice to get up and move even closer to Sunar - now directly across from him. She smiled as she sat down, setting her backpack beside her new spot, and handing the note to Sunar. 

[Sunar Chugani]

When Mojo moved to sit across from him Sunar waved excitedly before eagerly accepting the note she handed him. He read it quickly, eyes widening at the number of siblings she mentioned. 11 kids in one family! He couldn't even begin to imagine what that must be like. 

He pulled another sheet of paper from his notebook in order to scrawl his replies to her. 

Indukala is my big sister! She's a senior in high school so I guess she probably won't ever get a power.

He tapped his pencil against his chin as a new thought occurred to him. 

If I see you in the halls and want to say hi, how would I get your attention? I don't want to just throw paper at you, that's not polite, right? And can you teach me to say hello in sign language?