wakingsavior | [PSL] FOR KIM, BECAUSE WE ARE DORKS

[Dave was a local photographer. He was pretty young, but he was doing pretty good for himself despite never really going to college. But hey, at least he tried. Just not very long, considering how quick he was to give up and drop out. But his photography was popular and he was good with touching up anyways. It was easy money for him at the least to afford a place by himself and keep up with his bills and still had spending money to be a little frivolous.

The only downside was he didn't have many friends. He wasn't really popular in high school and he skipped college life completely.

It worried the few people he was close with, not that he cared. He was fine watching people through his lenses. If anything, he had a nasty habit of just watching people. He really liked watching people. Sometimes, if he found them interesting enough, he'd take a snapshot. People were just interesting to watch, but too intimidating to approach.

Dave liked visiting the coffee shop. Different people comes and go, and they were all fun to watch. Today, Dave only had a traditional film camera on him. He usually brought his digital camera or at least his Polaroid, but he just thought it would good be a good day to bring his traditional film camera. It been awhile since he broke out and used his dark room, so maybe that's why.

For the passed while, he had been intently watching John though. He had taken a few photos of John or more specifically, John's hands. It was mesmerizing and fascinating. He hadn't seen it before through all his photography career, and that was quite a few people already. But Dave didn't dare approach him. He just sat at his small table with his coffee, watching the other. The workers here were used to him doing so or they would have kicked him out by now for seeming like some creepy stalker or something. He was pretty much stick thin. If he turned to his profile, he'd probably disappear at how thin he was. He was tall and really pale too, so...well he likes to think he isn't that bad looking, but he could come off as those creepy losers who live in a basement or something.]

[ John's pretty skinny himself, though not quite as thin as Dave, but his skin's berry-brown. He and his cousin Jade had both been raised by their grandparents, and well. As long as Nanna could bake, she didn't much care where they lived, and Grandpa loved to travel and adventure, so they spent a lot of life all around the world, outdoors, running wild and excited and learning science and pranking and guns almost incidentally.

John was a regular of sorts, as well, in the past couple of weeks since he'd arrived and tried to settle in. It was a bit odd, for his family, but he'd decided he wanted to try to decide what to do with his life, other than running around the world with Jade, and clearly the best way to do that is to settle somewhere very unlike the world he's used to, alone.

One of the baristas comes by with a new mug of coffee, lightly touching him on the shoulder before setting it down so as not to startle him. John looks up and smiles widely, signing "thank you" (which is at least not too uncommon to know, if you know nothing else) before she takes the empty mug back behind the counter.

It's when he turns back to his computer that he catches sight of the pale boy in sunglasses who may or may not be looking at him - it's hard to tell. And... well, John's friendly, and doesn't have any friends around here yet, really. He doesn't want to wave on the off chance that Dave's not actually looking at him, because that would just be weird, right? So he settles on looking directly at Dave and smiling before turning back to his computer.

He can TOTALLY do this "making friends in a new place that kind of makes him nervous" thing. ]

[Dave's family life was a little unique. Part of why he had gotten so used to being by himself is that he never really had a lot to begin with as far as company went. His brother had a questionable fetish site after all. At first, it wasn't that big of a deal. Kids didn't like Dave for his eyes, growing up in Texas. Dave was fine playing by himself. He can't miss what he never had. It was a bit of a problem late middle school and especially high school.

A lot of slurs were always thrown his way and if it weren't for Bro teaching him self defense, it would have been a lot worst. Now, Dave just wears his shades everywhere he goes. It was a bit of a cowards route, but he also kept pairs of colored contacts for dealing with clients. It was just something he wasn't too comfortable with dealing with, and it wasn't like they needed to know. But taking photos with shades is kind of silly.

Dave caught that smile and he wished he could have gotten it on camera. John's teeth weren't amazing, but that smile and those eyes. He was pretty sure his heart skipped a beat.

He waved over the barista that helped John just now. He kind of offhandedly pointed in John's direction as he spoke. He simple told her that he wanted to pay for John's bill. He doesn't really know why. He doesn't know what gave him the sudden impulse, but he just...wanted to do something for the other. Even if he may never speak to John or even see him again. Dave just suddenly felt the need to try and get the others' attention somehow.]

[ To be honest, for a while nothing more happens. John checks his email, finishes his muffin, reads a couple Cracked articles, looks at pictures of kittens or whatever it is he does online. Then he stretches, gets up, and goes to pay for his coffee.

Only to find that cute-guy-in-the-glasses has already picked it up for him. He looks back at Dave with a startled half smile, thanks the barista, and goes back to gather his things. And, y'know, grab his notebook and pen to scribble something down.

He tucks his laptop into his bag, walks over to Dave, and holds out the notebook. ]

thanks for the coffee! you didn't have to do that, but that was totally cool of you. i like your camera by the way. :)

[Dave had stopped watching John and had went back to watching people go in and out for the time being. It seemed like things weren't going to happen. It's not like he was expecting it too. He's used to people coming and going.

He's actually slightly startled when John approaches him. It wasn't like he was expecting it. He looks up at John and reads the notebook and what was written out. Was he mute? Well, he must be mute if he wasn't talking. Seriously, he's not really prepared for social interaction and especially something like this.

Dave kind of glances away, mumbling as he spoke. He has no idea that John was deaf, not mute.] Uh. Your welcome. Thanks. [Oh my god, he's so awkward. Your Bro would be real disappointed with you right now, Dave.]

[ OH CRAP, does he think John just can't talk? Or is too shy? HE CAN SEE THE LIPS MOVING, HE'S TALKING, BUT JOHN CAN'T SEE THEM TO READ! AAAAAAH!

Okay, but seriously, it's not a big deal, John's had all sorts of unhelpful responses to his notes, this is not the worst. He quickly scribbles out another note under the first one. ]

sorry, can you say that again facing me? i can't lipread very well at an angle. and don't feel bad, everybody does it.

[ John smiles encouragingly because daw, this guy seems shy! But he paid for John's coffee, so he must be nice. Which means John is MAKING FRIENDS WITH HIM! His first friend in his new town! He'll have to email Jade tonight and tell her all about it. ]

[It's a bit of both, honestly. Dave knew how to be civil and he knew how to speak to people professionally. It was easy to do that. There was nothing really personal and most of it was done over e-mail majority of the time. So the amount of talking wasn't that bad, and he always got so into his work, it wasn't something that went through his mind.

But this? This was different. This was trying to be social for the sake of social and not for work. How the fuck do you do social and not fuck up?

Dave glances back at the note. Oh...oh the other reads lips. That would mean. Oh fuck.] Oh fuck, wow. Holy shit, I'm sorry. Wow, I'm already making like the most embarrassing ass of myself. I kind of just assumed you were mute or something, but you're deaf and holy shit, dude I'm sorry. I'm not like trying to treat you differently. I just wanted to pay for your coffee since you smiled at me and I kind of took a photo or like ten while you were signing or some shit. Fuck, that was probably really creepy to admit, I swear I'm not some serial killer who goes out to coffee shops and scope out their victims. [Dave. DAVE STOP TALKING. Holy shit, you're talking a mile a minute.]

[ He took his picture? It's a really nice camera, he's probably a photographer, and honestly, John LOVES good photography. He's no good at it himself, but he loves looking at art shows and so forth. Flipping through National Geographic and photography magazines.

Photography is a language he can understand.

He holds up a hand to stop Dave's ramble, grinning a little, and scribbles again. ]

it's cool! i'm no good at photography but i love going to galleries and stuff. can i see the pictures when you develop them?

[Dave automatically shuts up when John holds his hand up at him. At least he knows how to stop when someone wants him too. Kind of.

Dave didn't really do galleries and stuff. He had a portfolio obviously, but shows were a little too much for him. Setting up and opening nights would have terrified him much too much. He'd probably have some freakout. It seemed too claustrophobic for him.

Dave shifted a big, digging into his pocket for his wallet. Dave held out one of his cards. It was simple. His name and all his contact was on one side and a simple photo he had painstakingly chosen was on the back.] My e-mail, website, and my work number is on that. [Dave had a personal number, but it was actually used much less than his work number. He wasn't very social.]

[ Maybe John can change your mind, and do all your socializing for you. It's sad when the deaf kid who has to resort to a notepad is more sociable than you...

John takes the card, inspects it, then slides it carefully into his wallet, in front of his ID. Another moment of scribbling, ripping out a strip of paper, scribbling on the strip, then holding both out with a shy grin. ]

that's my email. i'll send you one asap, ok?

[Dave is fine being antisocial though. And galleries seemed too pretentious and not really his shtick anyways. He was fine with just sending his portfolio to people and what not. Galleries were meant for art. Or at least, he felt like a gallery showing of photos weren't quite as exciting as a gallery showing of art.

Dave took the slips of papers from John.]

Yeah, ok. Cool.

[ John rocks back on his heels for a few seconds, looking a little eager but uncertain, and then abruptly waves with a grin and turns to leave.

He starts texting Jade as soon as he's out of the coffee shop, and doesn't stop until he gets home.

When he gets home, he pulls the card Dave gave him out of his wallet and sends out an email. ]

hey, it's john.
the kid from the coffee shop.
anyway i just wanted to shoot you an email so you'd have mine!
in case you lost the paper i gave you.
i know how easy it is to lose random scraps of paper.
anyway just let me know i didn't get spam-foldered or anything, thanks.
:)

[He probably gets an e-mail back within the next few minutes. Guy is always on the internet. Even on his phone.]

youre lucky i love you so much
like woah so much fucking love
i had to swim through thousands of spam mail just to find this pearl
this diamond in the rough
so many emails about enlarging my penis
also my nonexistent feminine chest
but thats a touchy subject
cant just casually talk to a lady that way
sup though
you didnt waste anytime to email me did you
already swooning over the strider charm i see
sorry ill try and turn my swag off

[PSL] FOR KIM, BECAUSE WE ARE DORKS

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