(Possible creative name to come)

[Tinker Bell]

Just for @kobayashi and me!


Name: Jaydyn Matthews


Age: 19


Personality: Jaydyn sometimes says the wrong thing and makes a situation rather awkward, although he tries to avoid it. He is kind and often goes out of his way to help others and make them smile. Even though being deaf is an obstacle when it comes to things like getting a job or even ordering food, he refuses to let it stop him.


Background: Jaydyn went deaf when he was two. He didn't learn sign language until he was in 3rd grade though. He can talk, although he messes up some pronunciations, he also can read lips, which helps when he meets someone who doesn't know sign language. Not that it works all the time.


Appearance: (FC: Troye Sivan)

 

[kobayashi]

Name: Liam Running Bear


Age: 34


Personality: Liam is an excellent actor. His bright smiles and friendly body language mask a deep prejudice he's yet to overcome. He rarely says what's really on his mind and for all his perceived outgoingness, he's actually quite introverted and quiet.


Background: Born on Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, Liam was illegally taken from his family when he was 7 and raised in foster care. resulting in a antipathy against whites and privileged people in general. Liam is quite aware of this line of thought and although he's been trying to become a better person he's having a hard time letting go of past injustices.


Appearance: (FC: Nathaniel Arcand)


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[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn had his messenger bag over his shoulder. He was back walking the familiar streets, it was summer and he had just finished his first semester at college. It was good to be back, but his friends were still off at college, so he was alone until they all finished. He was the only one to go to a different college than them. While he wandered aimlessly, he came across the place that had been his favorite spot to sit for hours. It was a small coffee shop and Jaydyn walked in.


He pulled out his phone, checking his messages and hanging back, deciding what he wanted. He decided to go with some fruity iced tea because he hated coffee, it was ironic really. He walked up to the counter and asked the person for what he wanted. He must have mispronounced some of it or something because the person looked confused. With a sigh, Jaydyn typed it out on his phone and showed it to them. Couldn't they just go back to saying 'raspberry iced tea, please?' and not the complicated stuff they had now?


He had already pulled out his money, which was good because she looked down as she said the amount. That didn't help him. He handed over a random amount and she gave him his change. He couldn't even check to see if it was right. It no longer bothered Jaydyn. Well, he couldn't do anything about it, so he stopped trying. Now he stepped away and waited for his drink.

 

[kobayashi]

A large, paw-like hand tugged at the tie around his neck as as lips pulled into an uninviting scowl. He rolled his shoulders in obvious discomfort, taking long pounding strides down the sidewalk. Liam was currently in between jobs to be politically correct, but it was more like currently unemployable and his last interview had gone to shit quickly after it had started. Apparently a loose potty mouth was less than welcome in a professional setting. Shit, wasn't like anyone hadn't heard those words anyway.


A red traffic light halted his progress and he turned to catch a glimpse of himself in the window of what appeared to be some hole in the wall coffee joint. His frown pulled tighter. Damn, he looked like some kind of jackass in a second hand black suit and tie that likely wasn't knotted correctly to begin with. He shoved his hand through dark slicked back hair, scrubbing it out of place and more like how he was used to wearing it. Curly and unruly. Well that was a little bit better at least. Subconsciously his eyes pulled to the sign again and poked his brain to push his legs forward for a cup of caffeine.


He shoved the door open with an elbow, taking a glance at the time on his watch. Immediately the rich coffee aroma filled his nostrils, his eyes nearly rolling back into his head in pure bliss. Coffee was probably the one addiction it was okay for him to have and he took full advantage of it. Stepping to the counter the noticed the near desertion of the place and almost changed his mind. Couldn't be that great if the place was empty right? Dark chocolate colored eyes shifted to take notice of only other customer before voicing his order which was much too complicated for any coffee commoner. Liam was elite coffee royalty.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn saw the person making his drink look up. He guessed someone else had come into the shop. Most people thought this place was lame or something just because not many people came in. Jaydyn saw it as perfect. The person behind the counter looked almost petrified when the very large man ordered. Somehow they remembered it and swiftly put Jaydyn's drink up before starting on the man's. Jaydyn grabbed the cup and a straw before sitting down at one of the tables near the window. He loved those tables the best because he could watch people so much easier there.


He opened his bag and pulled out a sketchpad. Resting it in his lap, leaning it against the table for support, he got ready to draw with one of the pencils he always carried with him. Most people thought it was weird to carry so many art supplies at a time, but he didn't care. His passion was art, drawing mostly, and he never knew when he would find something worth drawing. His eyes first wandered outside and then around the shop.


They landed on the man waiting for his drink. Jaydyn assumed it was coffee. His hand started to move without thinking and Jaydyn looked down at the page. He had started to draw the man's profile. His sketchbook was filled with drawings of people, he just found them more interesting than, say, a tree. He never showed anyone this sketchbook though. He didn't know if people would like their face being shown to others. He had another sketchbook full of people that said it was okay to show to others.

 

[kobayashi]

Liam shifted his weight and checked his watch again. Not that he had anywhere to go or any place to be at. He was just upset at yet another failure to notch his belt with and drag him down. He shouldn't have been surprised, thirty-odd years of the world working against him was nothing new, though it was getting extremely tiring.


The kid's movement caught his attention momentarily and Liam watched him until he sat down to draw. Seriously? People really did that sort of thing? Must be nice to have that kind of leisure time. He must be a student of some sort. As not to stare too long, Liam's favor turned once again to the barista whom he silently willed to work faster. It must have worked because a few short seconds later a piping hot complicated coffee was presented and a bright, sparking smile was plastered across his face. Thank you, god! And that's exactly what he did as his fingers wrapped around the cardboard sleeve encasing the cup. He lifted it to his lips, letting his eyes slide closed and silently mouthed a prayer. Only it wasn't in English.


Turning on his heel he squared his shoulders as if all the worries he had walked in with had magically vanished and replaced Liam's optimism in the manifestation of a hot drink. Yes, he thought, coffee was indeed magical. He took a large stride forward and looked up to find a pair of eyes on him and that stopped him dead in his tracks once more. It looked as if a whole slew of emotions and thoughts washed over his expression at once and after a momentary pause, his trajectory realigned straight for the kid's table.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn continued to draw, his mind tuning everything else out. Not that there was much it had to tune out. Sound wasn't an issue. For some reason his mind kept the male's image, as if compelling him to draw it. He needed to practice anyway, so he kept drawing.


He looked up a moment to see the man had caught him looking. Oh no. That couldn't possibly be good. Jaydyn looked down at the table, watching the man's feet get closer. Could he be one of those people? The ones that really didn't like it when others started to draw them?


He quickly turned the page. He then started on drawing the counter in the shop. A horrible coverup really, but it was all he had. So he kept drawing, trying not to show that he was mentally freaking out at the moment.


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[kobayashi]

What the hell was that? Had he never seen an Indian before? How he hated those judgmental sideways glances. Yes, his skin color was natural. No, he didn't have to wear his hair long. Yes, it was naturally curly. No, he didn't wear leather and feathers every day, nor did he ride his horse around town. The stereotypes were enough to drive him nuts.


Internally Liam began to seethe the more he thought about it but he put his best face forward; a friendly grin that made his eyes narrow to half moons and sparkle. He hadn't planned any kind of confrontation and yet his feet moved of their own accord, pulling him for the table as if magnetized. His dazzling smile faltered a bit as he reached his destination. What the hell was he going to say?


Perhaps it was best to not say anything. Instead he simply held out his hand and motioned for the sketchbook to be given to him. Maybe if he could feign friendly interest the kid would cooperate.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn watched the man's feet coming closer. He shrunk in his seat a little bit. He felt guilty for drawing him, perhaps he really didn't like people looking at him. Plus there was no denying that he had obviously been drawing him. He'd had people get mad at him for not asking their permission and he meant really mad. Luckily he could usually pull the "deaf" card and pretend that he had no idea what they were saying, even though he usually did.


Then the man was at the table. Jaydyn slowly looked up at him and he was...smiling? That was weird. Jaydyn's heart still started to beat faster, feeling like it rose to his throat. Sheepishly, Jaydyn held out the notebook. He couldn't just not let him look at the picture Jaydyn had obviously been drawing of him. He still felt like it was a stupid move.


Sometimes he would wait until the person had left and picture their face. However, Jaydyn hadn't done that since last summer and he didn't think he could do it now. Something about the man's profile just drew him in and Jaydyn felt like he had to draw him.

 

[kobayashi]

Liam snatched the notebook with a flick of his wrist, an inviting smile still plastered across his face in an apparent passive aggressive fashion. God, he felt like such a prick. Like some kind of jackass teacher confiscating a student's rude doodle. Still, it wasn't like him to be walked all over either. If he didn't speak up for himself, nobody would.


He kept his deep brown eyes firmly locked on the younger kid's as he flipped backwards through the pages until he stumbled across something completely unexpected. Instantly guilt slammed into him like a ton of bricks when he witnessed not the stereotypical drawings he anticipated but himself -- as he was. Shit, he really was a jackass. Taking his time, he studied the kid's line work. How the hell did he have enough time to draw such an impressive likeness when he'd only been seated for a few minutes?


The next time he looked up his grin had vanished, replaced with a solemn expression. "It's good," he mumbled and reluctantly shuffled the notebook back to him.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn flinched when the sketchbook was quickly gone from his hands. He shrunk in his seat a bit more as he flipped, seeming to find the picture of him. His eyes didn't leave the man's face. If he looked away he might miss it if he said anything. That was a switching part of being deaf, if you looked away you missed everything. Depending on the situation, it could be helpful. Now it didn't seem like it was going to be. The man's smile seemed faked, it didn't reach his eyes, so Jaydyn thought he put it on to seem nice.


Then it was gone. Was the man mad? Jaydyn quickly glanced to see his body language. He didn't seem mad. That was a good thing, right? It had to be, it couldn't be a bad thing. Then he said something, only Jaydyn didn't catch it. He mumbled, of course he mumbled. Mumbling was the down fall of lip reading, they didn't move enough to be read and it annoyed Jaydyn.


He took his sketchbook back, slowly bringing it back to the table. "I'm sorry, what?" He hoped the man didn't take it the wrong way, but Jaydyn wanted to know what he had said.

 

[kobayashi]

Liam's free hand surfed through his hair, messing it up even further. A habit that exposed itself when he was nervous or anxious. Shifting on his feet, his discomfort with the situation was painfully obvious. He didn't like be wrong and he particularly didn't like being wrong and making a fool of himself. Even now his unsure gestures were surely overpowering his calm and in control facade.


"Your drawing...It's good," He repeated. "You must be a student?" Had Liam known anything about this kid he probably would have spoken clearly but be it as it may he still mumbled -- only louder.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn could tell his was most likely nervous. Calm people didn't shift like that. Then he wondered what made the other so anxious. It couldn't possibly be him, could it? Then he spoke again. He was still doing the mumbling. Jaydyn could tell because his lips still weren't moving.


He'd probably have to say that he was deaf. However he'd like to avoid it if he could. "I'm sorry, again, but could you repeat it again?" He asked, knowing this guy probably thought he was an idiot. "Clearer?"


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[kobayashi]

Liam was a bit taken aback. Was this kid testing his patience? Pretty bold words for someone squirming in their seat. But, Liam noticed, there was something about the way he pronounced his words that was a bit off. Something in the way he seemed to watch his mouth and ask for repetitions. Suddenly it dawned on him like a lightbulb and he canted his head, studying the kid as if he could somehow visually confirm his suspicions.


"You can't hear me, can you?" This time he spoke appropriately and clearly, smiling again. Ahh, he thought, this might be a blessing in disguise. Now that he knew this kid wasn't just making fun of him, he could easily scold him for it, walk out and leave the whole messy business behind as if it never happened. But the funny thing was, he wasn't so sure he wanted to do that. Liam internally chided himself. Last thing he needed was to waste time with a white boy when he needed to be looking for a job. Even more than that he really needed to be out of this damned suit.


Liam's smile shifted to an actual sincere grin. "Look, I just wanted to make sure you weren't perpetuating face paint and war bonnets, alright?" There was a definite pause as if maybe he wasn't very accustomed to apologizing -- if you could even call it that. Perhaps he wasn't even sure if the kid could even make out what he was saying "It's good," he repeated "The drawing that is... it's good."

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn sighed when the man seemed to finally understand. He took a moment after the man finally spoke clearly and then nodded a little bit. Then he waited. He waited for the dramatically slowed speech, the indication that he was talking louder as if it would help. However, it didn't come. He just talked normally and Jaydyn could understand him.


"Oh." Was that what he had been upset about? He looked down at the sketch of the man and then back up in time to catch that it was good. "Um, thanks." He said. "I just draw people as they are." He told him. He didn't draw what people wanted him to, just what he wanted to. "I'm sorry if I upset you." He added.

 

[kobayashi]

Liam shrugged sheepishly. He knew he was too hot headed most of the time but found he couldn't quite help it. Giving people the benefit of the doubt had burned him before and he'd been determined not to let it happen again. Least of all by a kind of cute young man whose honesty guilted him immensely. Still gripping his coffee, his free hand once again scrubbed through his hair and scratched at the back of his neck.


"No... uh... Sorry about before. I'll let you... " He trailed off with a stiff flourish of his hand. He hesitated a few moments too long before turning on his heel to leave. There was plenty more daylight and plenty more people in the city in which to make a complete fool of himself in front of.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Jaydyn still felt weird about the whole thing, knowing most of it was his own fault. He usually didn't let people see him looking at them. He'd been totally careless. Why couldn't he have just drawn the counter from to get go? Then it seemed like the man was going to leave. No. He was going to leave.


"Wait." Jaydyn stood up quickly and moved in front of him. He could not let this opportunity pass. "If it's not too much trouble, could I draw you?" He asked. "I mean, an actual drawing and not just a sketch." He had to say yes. Jaydyn didn't know why, but he felt pulled to the man and knew he had to do this. "Please."


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