Sound of silence

[innocent_insanity]

WHO: Kurloz and you
TONE: Light? Sombre? Contemplative?
RATING: PG-13 for language
WHEN: 18th January - early evening
WHERE: School hallways
WHAT: Kurloz is sitting by one of the windows, sketching the winter scenery outside as well as whatever catches his fancy. Approach for a portrait? Ask to see his pictures? Stare curiously at the mute kid??
STATUS: Ongoing

Kurloz still wasn't sure how he'd convinced his mother to let him stay at Hogwarts (for now) but he figured he'd have to thank his local healer who'd informed her that it would be unwise to move the boy so soon to an unfamiliar location when he had only just begun to re-establish his friendships and function as a healthier teenage boy again. He was grateful though, and was happy to be back at school, even if his mother had been a bit more wet-eyed than usual when sending him back.

It was peaceful that evening, and Kurloz had found himself a nice window-space in the hallway to stare out into the darkening grounds outside, idly sketching out the scene in his sketchbook.

Comments

[candycrabapple]

Karkat had been watching him for a little while, and had decided to come over and look at what he was doing. He stopped a few feet away, and gave him a curious look.


"Hey, show me what your drawing."

He figured there was no point in asking too many questions, because it's not like he could just tell him, and Karkat didn't want him wasting his sketch book on replies.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz glanced up at the disruption and stared at the short boy for a moment before smiling and handing his sketchbook over. The sketch was surprisingly detailed despite the monotone nature of the subject, Kurloz having used magic to make his wand behave much like a watercolour paint brush. As a result the snow was shaded with hints of indigo and violet with the oncoming dusk, the sky a deepening mix of pinks and reds with dark blue on the edges.

[candycrabapple]

Taking the sketchbook, Karkat just stares. He was never known for his drawing skills and when seeing someone with such talent is humbling and also kind of annoying.

"You know, if you don't end up doing anything with this when you leave here, then you're wasting a real talented part of you. You could even become a pretentious prat with it too."

[innocent_insanity]

It took a moment for Kurloz to realize he was being complimented, but when he did he grinned with a strong hint of bashful pleasure, rubbing the back of his neck as he got his notebook out.

aw thanks, bro! me mam's a painter, you should get a look on with some of her shit!

[candycrabapple]

Karkat shrugs the thanks away.

"Well if you learnt from her then I better she's selling her stuff and making money off it. Otherwise she's a mo-... Fool. Do you always use that notebook to talk? Isn't there some magic spell or something that can make shit easier for you?"

[innocent_insanity]

Shrugging, Kurloz smiled a bit and answered with more writing:

i gots me a spell what can write what a fucker thinks but just writing is fine for me. and me mam does sell her stuff, does a lot of portrait work and shit.

[candycrabapple]

"Well, good, fantastic. At least she's not a moron."

He stands there and looks at the note pad for a bit.

"What about sign language?"

[innocent_insanity]

i can do that shit but not everyone else can, you know?

[candycrabapple]

"Want to teach me? It looks at least less pointless than some of the other things I've already learnt here."

[innocent_insanity]

He stared for a moment, silently regarding this tiny boy before him, and smiled, nodding.

we can be starting with the basest of motherfucking basics. this is how you get your greet on.

Up went the right hand, fingers straightened before folding down to his palm in a wave, lips shaping out 'hello' clearly.

[candycrabapple]

He watches him then imitates the move, is fingers not as straight.

"Well, this isn't very hard."

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz reached out to straighten Karkat's fingers, gesturing again with his own hand to show the difference between what the younger boy had been doing and how it should be done.

Then he demonstrated how to say thank you, again writing down the words on his notepad first.

[candycrabapple]

Watching and taking in the adjustments Kurloz supplies, Karkat tries again, getting it right this time.

"Hello."

Watching a gain, he takes more care this time to get his fingers in the right position and imitates the gesture.

"Thank you."

He looks at Kurloz with looking for reassurance.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz nodded, smiling and giving Karkat a thumbs-up to show he's doing a good job. He added 'you're welcome' and 'sorry' to the slowly growing list of gestures, knowing they wouldn't cover much this night but hoping that maybe Karkat would be able to remember these basic ones at least.

[candycrabapple]

As Karkat is taught a new gesture he repeats it several times till he's content he's got it right.

"This really is something actually interesting. Can you keep teaching me? Obviously not to night, but meeting up and teaching."

[innocent_insanity]

Grinning, Kurloz nodded eagerly.

i'd like that.

[candycrabapple]

Karkat rubs behind his ear as he thinks.

"After dinner? For a an hour or two on... Tuesdays?"

[innocent_insanity]

sounds good. :o)

[candycrabapple]

"I'm right in front of you, you can just bloody smile at me, you don't have to do this shit."

Karkat leans in and taps the note pad. More exactly, taps the smiley.

[innocent_insanity]

it's habit.

[Smiles and shrugs.]

[candycrabapple]

Well it's a stupid habit. Maybe you should stop talking...Er... Writing to fucking morons then.

[innocent_insanity]

[Shoulders shaking with silent laughter.]

sure bro.

[candycrabapple]

Yeah. Well. I'll see you on Tuesday then. And if you're late I'm going to break your nose and make you eat it. Uh, bye.

[Karkat gives him something of an awkward wave, then looks unsure if he should just walk off or not.]

[innocent_insanity]

[Grins and gives him a sloppy salute to indicate that yes, Karkat's got a deal and that he can go if he wants.]

[candycrabapple]

[Karkat just nods at him, as he walks away, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he does.]