The Language of Friendship (Victoria)

Guest

He'd made the decision to move to the staff quarters in Hogwarts when he received the news he'd gotten the job, and as such had turned in his 30 day notice to the Leaky Cauldron. While Luca did intend to continue work there during the holidays, that part-time job hadn't brought in the amount he wanted. Sure, it was enough to survive, but Luca had always wanted more than to 'survive' -- he wanted to live.

Besides, it would be not only interesting but a great learning opportunity to work among wizards and witches (even if young ones); he'd never really had that chance before. His travels had taken him many places, but the wizarding world was not usually one of those.

Stepping into the Leaky Cauldron for what would be his second last night, Luca headed straight for the counter, smiling widely at the man behind it. They'd come to be friends during Luca's short time there, and while Joseph didn't know ASL (other than the odd word here and there that Luca had taught him), they often watched football and drank beer together after shifts; if it had been a day with particular interesting customers (either good or bad) they would exhcange stories over Luca's laptop, taking turns to type.

So, without needing to say much other than holding up three fingers, Luca signaled his order preference as he sat himself down at the bar. Thank you, he signed; Joseph returned it with a nod and a smile and bustled off to get Luca's food ready.

A few moments later, a drink was placed down in front of him -- a butterbeer, something he had discovered he really, really enjoyed -- and Luca picked it up with another Thank you. Sipping at it, he let his mind wander as he waited for his food.

Subject: Re: The Language of Friendship (Victoria) Sat Jul 01, 2017 8:45 am

Victoria had finished up another day at the Ministry and was heading for some food at the Leaky Cauldron. She was heading over to Jake's house that evening to see her niece and nephew, but also to check on how her brother was holding up with the terrible twosome.

Not that Ivan and Adrienne were that much bother, really, but Jake was juggling too much.

Victoria stepped in to the pub and made a beeline to the bar, finding herself arriving to it just as some food was placed down to the man next to her. Victoria, never afraid of talking to new people, turned to the man with a smile. "That smells amazing, I'm so envious!" She joked, letting out a soft laugh at that phrase.

There was, after all, nothing to be envious over, she was going to get her own food in just a moment.

The man, though, didn't reply to her words, in any manner, and Victoria frowned to herself, only momentarily, before the Barman spoke. "Luca is Deaf, he's not ignoring you. Here." He said, before catching Luca's attention and motioning to Victoria.

A blush had crept up in to Victoria's features through embarrassment at the man's aid in the moment, but she wasn't going to shy away from the situation. But, first. "Please could you make me the same as what Luca is having?" Victoria asked and the Barman was off once more doing his job.

Turning to the man beside her, Victoria considered for a moment, before smiling at him. Her mind was blanking in that moment, she didn't know sign language, she didn't want to seem rude by assuming he could lip read either -- because she would perhaps talk to slowly to make sure he understood, or she would assume he could when he in fact could not.

So, instead, Victoria held up a finger in a manner that she believed to be a universal sign of 'wait' and reached down in to her bag, producing a notebook and two pens. Putting them on the bar, Victoria worked quickly, because her mind was ticking so very quickly.

Hello, my name is Victoria. The barman told me your name is Luca and that you are Deaf. I'm afraid I don't know any sign language, and I didn't wish to assume that lip reading was a good way to speak to you -- I hope I'm not causing any offence.

The barman told me you were Deaf because as I sat down I said "That smells amazing, I'm so envious!" -- it looks great!

Anyway, the question I was going to ask is, would you mind if we sat together? It's okay if you ~~say~~ write no back.

Sliding the pad of paper to the man, Victoria gave him a warm smile, hoping she hadn't offended him in any way, because that would, truly, be awful, and the complete opposite of what she was trying to say.

Placing the pen next to the pad, she waited patiently for his reply.

________________________________________________

~ Profile ~ Vickson Playlist ~
~ Slender ~ 30 ~ Bookworm ~ 5' ~ American ~

Guest

A short while later, his food was placed in front of him, and Luca turned his mind away from his thoughts. He'd gone down a rabbit hole again, delving deeper and deeper until he himself wasn't sure what he'd been thinking of. The last thing he remembered was a mental image of her; it was a wound that had never quite closed no matter how far he had run -- both literally and mentally.

Picking up the fork and knife, he sent a smile towards Joseph. Cutting into the pie, he was just lifting the first bite towards his mouth when he saw Joseph waving at him. Glancing up, he followed the gesture and turned towards the person beside him.

A female, an apparent blush on her face. Her face was turned away from him, and so he couldn't make out the words she was saying but as Joseph walked off it was evident that it was most likely her order and not directed towards him. What had it been, then?

He took in the woman before him, from her outfit to her expressions and face. Being Deaf meant that he was able to pick up on body language better and faster than most others, since he couldn't rely on verbal cues. She turned, allowing him to get a better read of her facial expressions, and noted the smile. It was a friendly one, and put him at rest; many people found him attractive -- he had to be, in order to have been a model, but it was always so ... shallow to him to judge someone purely on looks -- and tried flirting. But he saw nothing of this in the person before him, only someone looking to be a friend.

And that he didn't mind.

It took him just a moment to realise she was trying to tell him to wait, and not the start of any number of words. Amusement crept onto his lips, but he bit it back, knowing that (more likely than not) her intentions had been pure. Not many people who weren't related to or knew anyone Deaf knew sign language, after all -- and even then, sign was different in each country. He was in Britian now, and ASL wasn't used here.

True enough, a few moments later, she pulled out a notebook and two pens, and Luca waited for her to finish writing. She pushed it over to him when she was done, and he glanced down, eyes scanning the words; he'd always been a fast reader. Instead of writing his reply, though, he slipped out his phone from his pocket and opened an app. He typed faster than he wrote, after all.

Tapping a button after he was done, he put the phone before her, allowing the robotic voice to say "Hello, Victoria. Nice to meet you. It's not a problen. I can read lips, but I prefer writing; it's easier for us. It is amazing; what did you order? I don't mind company. How was your day?"

Subject: Re: The Language of Friendship (Victoria) Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:15 am

Superficial people might have gone bananas over Luca's looks -- Victoria could not deny that he was a vastly attractive man -- but Victoria was not sat her because of the man's looks. He could have been the most unattractive man on the planet, she still would have struck up conversation, simply because that was how she was as a person.

But, what had been more interesting -- and had indeed wanted her to converse with the man more -- was that he was Deaf. He was, therefore, part of the Disabled community. A community that she had once been a part of, but through fortunate circumstances, had been healed of her own. There was, undeniably, a pull to the man for this reason. She understood, to an extent, what that life was life, and how people often avoided you because you weren't normal.

Victoria had noted the amusement on his lips when she'd tried to show him to wait a moment, and the light blush that had been on her cheeks darkened slightly. Embarrassed because she was obviously messing up this situation in a manner of speaking.

But, also, she'd noticed his eyes. They were such a vivid blue, unlike any other she'd seen before. They were intimidatingly beautiful, but she had something to do, and thus she pushed that idea to the side completely.

She watched the man reading for a moment -- he was a fast reader, given he was pulling his phone out only a few moments later, something Victoria admired in anyone. As the robotic voice spoke, Victoria smiled at the words she was greeted with. Looking to the phone as it was done, and then to Luca, she carefully picked up his phone and typed the reply in to the app, just as he had done, before sliding it back across the bar to him.

It's wonderful to meet you, too. Writing is fine by me! I ordered the same as you, it smelt too nice to pass up on. So, I'm reliant on your choice being a good one!

My day was great, thank you, I work for the Ministry, and we happened to prosecute a backstreet smuggler for the improper transport of magical creatures. Hippogryffs, of all beasts! I work with the Law Enforcement Squad.

And you? How was your day? What do you do for work? Are you expecting anyone? I would hate to intrude...

________________________________________________

~ Profile ~ Vickson Playlist ~
~ Slender ~ 30 ~ Bookworm ~ 5' ~ American ~

» Mind Your Language (Chee Wye)
» An Offer of Friendship, and Help (Amethyst & Finley)
» A Friendship Blooms {Sterling & Dominique}
» Meet Up with Victoria (Victoria and Adaline)
» You again! (Victoria)