Elliea had fallen asleep on Gabriel’s shoulder and he didn’t want to wake her but he could see other people preparing for the plane to land. He fidgeted slightly wondering what to do. Waking her would make him feel terrible since she wrote until she was exhausted but they also needed to deplane soon. He decided to hold off a little longer until some of the others were actually exiting the plane. After several more minutes half the plane had left and he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He shook her lightly and signed in front of her eyes that they needed to leave quickly. He expected her to be pretty sleepy but she jumped up right away and took charge of everything, grabbing bags and inserting them into the line competently. He smiled cheerfully glad to be able just grab the strap of her duffel bag and be towed along. He knew that most people spent time dwelling on their hardships but not him. His parents were teachers at a deaf school and were both deaf as well so he grew up signing. He spent all his days in school surrounded by people who could sign and by the time he got old enough to come into contact with people who didn’t know how to handle communication with a deaf person he had already formed plenty of happy memories. In fact this silent life fit him very well because he was the kind of person that liked to enjoy the moment for all it was worth. Cutting out one sense only served to enhance his others, at least that was his opinion. Gabriel’s reminiscing was rudely disturbed as Elliea stopped and he rammed into her back. He quickly apologized with rapid hand signals but she waved him off, “This is the final airport on your papers. Let’s step out of the crowd to the side here and you can tell me where you have to go next.” They shuffled out of the river of faceless people over to the side of the room and Elliea began getting his papers out of her bag. “Where do you need to go next?”
He thought for a second then told her that he was supposed to stay at The Lighthouse Inn, a quaint themed hotel, and that tomorrow he would start his new job. Elliea nodded and pondered for a moment, “Are you going to be able to memorize the instructions I give you?” He shook his head sadly and haltingly replied that his shyness caused him to mix up sentences sometimes. Plus he was great with some things but not directions and street names. Elliea frowned, “Well I could call you a cab but how would you communicate with the hotel staff? It’s almost guaranteed that they do not know sign. This would be easier if you spoke as well.” Gabriel blushed hot and awkwardly fiddled with his hands. Elliea tilted her head, “Yes, what?” He shrugged and signed back that he could speak. He just didn’t because he was self conscience. To his surprise she dropped her head into her palm but also smiled, “You’re a people pleaser aren’t you. Well this would have been nice to know before hand. I’ll help you.” She reached out and placed a hand on his throat, “Feel that? That is where your voice box is.” She grabbed his hand and replaced her’s with it on the voice box. “So when you talk you need to focus on how the air feels going through that area. Maybe that will help you to gauge volume.” He frowned in concentration and shifted from foot to foot before finally speaking out loud, “I am Gabriel.” His speech was almost painfully precise but Elliea nodded happily, “Yes! Nearly perfect. Now just practice getting the right mix over time.” Once more he focused and spoke semi-haltingly, “Thank you for helping me. You are a good person.” She signed thank you, moving her hand from her chin towards him, along with saying it out loud. “That was perfect. Use that middle voice and you are good to go and adjust. Okay let me write down a few things you can say that way you don’t forget them.”
She quickly knelt on the seat of a chair while scribbling hurriedly on a piece of scrap paper left on the desk behind the chair. Gabriel just watched her in silence until she turned back to him. He grabbed the proffered paper but neither of them let go. He looked her in the eyes sadly before speaking out loud, “Thank you for being so kind to me. I am very sad that we must part ways now. Will we….do you think we will ever meet again?” Elliea saw sadness flood Gabriel’s green eyes as his shoulders slumped and it doubled her own sadness at the farewell. She gave him a quick hug and put a hand on his arm, “We will meet again. I know that.” She signed 'farewell for now' and he repeated the gesture before turning with his things, paper in hand, and making his way to the exit. She gazed after him and wondered how so much pain could be involved in a goodbye from such a newly bloomed friendship.
*is offended on behalf of Idahoans everywhere* How's it feel to be the queen of a state that most people don't know exists? That's one or two more than I've ever dated.
They should feel grateful to me and King. Glorious, my reign has just begun. Let the land acquiring begin!!!!! That's the point. XD
No, that's it. No more. I'm proud of weird things, like how I haven't taken a nap since the start of the fall semester, never dated anybody, haven't had a haircut in like 8 months...
)
![[derp]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/YqNTPqyQUocVMYXZgUAI.png)
Glorious, my reign has just begun. Let the land acquiring begin!!!!! That's the point. XD
Between insanity and boredom. 
) 
