Second Unused Utility Belt | Video

[hellofist]

[Today, Cass is dressed like a normal person. She's sitting in the cafeteria with a mug of tea, perched in a chair with her knees drawn up to her chest and her oversized sweater pulled over them so she's just a blob of blue fabric with arms. Even the hood is up. With her chin on her knees and her eyes on the tea, she speaks to the comm quietly.]

Had all the words. Could make them, if I wanted. Could write. Talked normal. Was normal.

Couldn't see bodies talking. Didn't need. [Her fist comes up to rub at her temple.] Makes headaches, now.

Does that... happen a lot? Was confusing. Was not fun.

Comments

[love_slave]

I'm learning to read and write. We could learn together if you want.

[Stupid... brainwashing upbringings.]

[hellofist]

[Cass perks up a little at that. Here she thought she was the only one.]

How much... do you know?

[love_slave]

I know the alphabet now. All of it, not just the first four. And Ariadne and some other people offered to help me learn.

[hellofist]

I know A. Need... lots of practice.

[So much that she doesn't even know if it's worth it, or even possible. Still, she can appreciate what that takes, to learn the whole entire alphabet.]

You should... be proud. Happy for you.

[love_slave]

It didn't take me very long at all. I think you could. There was a song called "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"? If you get used to singing the letters to the same tune, they're easier to remember, and even in the right order.

[hellofist]

[There is now quite a lot of fidgeting. That sounds sounds like something she should know, but-]

Don't know it. Never... heard of it.

[love_slave]

It's okay. I just learned that one, too. [She decides at that point that Cass needs to hear Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and she sings it.

She can also do Yo Way Yo or the Klingon song Chang taught her! She's picking them up left and right.]

[hellofist]

[No one has ever sung to her before. She wasn't expecting it, when she mentioned not knowing the song. It causes so many confusing things inside her and when it's done, all Cass can do is stare. It takes her a moment to remember she's actually supposed to answer.]

Beautiful...

[love_slave]

[Oh, the smile that gets out of her.] I thought it was a pretty song, too. I think you could learn it.

[hellofist]

Will you teach me?

I'm Cassandra. Cass. You?

[love_slave]

I'd be happy to.

I'm Zev of B3k.

[hellofist]

Zev.

[She likes that name. It's short, easy. Sounds nice.]

When do... you practice?

[love_slave]

I don't really have a scheduled time since there's not much to do here. So whenever you would like would be fine with me.

[hellofist]

Maybe when you do... Contact me?

[It's going to be hard for Cass to commit to this at first. There's still so much shame, but maybe learning with someone that's like her will make it easier.]

[love_slave]

I will. [She sees no shame in it. It's better than having to rely on a robot head to read anything in an emergency.]

[hellofist]

Thank you.

[Hopefully, it's clear that this offer means a lot more than Cass can really get across with just thanks.]