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Fenelle might have been too caught up in battle preparations to actually remember doing the whole "I'm deaf" spiel as dee realises now with Eilidh talking to dem rather than writing or signing. Dee looks, for a moment, actually dumbfounded, the sign language feedbacking an innate feature of dem unless surpresses - if dee doesn't understand, it'll show.

Then, dee squints, trying to figure out "lipreading", but it's really hard when you're really not quite sure how people could even communicate when they're just moving like that. (Dee knows there's vocal chords and all, but approach that with a mentality of 'sounds fake but okay'.) It doesn't really yield results, so dee would need to ask the other later to repeat what they've said in picture.

Dee waves, then points at der ears, shaking der head and signing, I'm deaf, could you repeat that please? Dee also quickly punches the same into der phone, letting text-to-speech work the same, even if dee can only trust in the system that the words are actually conveyed.

Morgrem in the meanwhile flexes his hair like stretching his muscles, eyeing the Wooper. There's been little room for vanity with Fen's training, but even so there's part of Morgrem that is a bit concerned at the prospect of dirty hair - for entirely practical purposes, of course.

eilidh leitch

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Fenelle is in the middle of handing over der Rocket-screen-device (larger screen than der personal phone, something dee would hand over to a Rocket. Since it's including the custom TTS mod, not to any non-Rocket), as ... oooh. Fenelle feels a bit more comfortable now with sign language being an option, not minding that the other isn't fluent. Dee also reminds demself that dee would need to calm it down a bit and not sign too fast.

Dee does smile very faintly and nod at the question, marked by the tilted head at the end. Before replying to the question proper, dee points at der face, and especially der eyebrows, raising them high while making a questioning face, meaning that these are usually the question markers - for starters, just raising the eyebrows comically high should work well enough. I'm relatively new, yes ... only started working properly december, last year. I'm a cracker, mostly.

Don't worry about it! I'm happy you know sign language. Then, dee adds, My sign name for M-I-L-L-E is, then quickly moves der flat right hand to der right while wiggling der fingers as if typing, repeating it two times and not moving der mouth. F-E-N-E-L-L-E is, now they pucker their lips, and draw several "thin" lines with der hands shaped like the f-sign. You can use either.

Morgrem watches the conversation unfold, deciding to focus on it for a brief moment as they start signing. It's something he's still learning, too, and, given his humanoid anatomy, might actually be able to do one day ... a little bit, at least. (One eye remains on the Wooper, though, should they try anything in the meanwhile. One could never know ...)

eilidh leitch

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It's relatively rare for Fenelle to feel comfortable. Dee usually is more comfortable within Rocket Headquarters and Sootopolis than anywhere else (except the patch of lands where der beloved parents (/s) wander), but even then ... how do you feel at ease around terrorists? Dee isn't sure, but there's something dee finds nice in Eilidh's company, and dee finds demself smiling a little bit even as Eilidh thanks dem for the explanation.

(Maybe it's the Big Sister vibes. Though nothing would beat Sailor as the best sibling ever.)

Dee can't hear what she says next, but thinks reading "Mille" on her lips - or well, that's what dee chooses to believe. (Lipreading is knowing context and a good portion of just guessing, things dee is only good at in theory.)

Oh! It seems like Eilidh actually is also new here. Dee chuckles lightly at her playful display, before signing, more seriously, So you're not a frontline fighter, I assume? What do you do else then? If I may ask. I'm a cracker myself, and occasionally well. A professional gambler, I like to call it. Figuring out the wrinkles in missions and the stochastics of certain risks and plans ... risk assessment could also be a wording for it. (But dee doesn't get to do that often - being new and not trustworthy enough, and all.)

The battling statement is only further enhanced by the Paldean Wooper being extremely silly (and really adorable, even if Fenelle doesn't think so). Fenelle remains a bit dumbfounded by its behaviour, but seeing Eilidh doing her best to stifle her laughter does make der lips curve upwards slightly. It certainly is ... an interesting one, dee signs back, Do you want to take it into Rocket battles with you?

Dee sees a glint in Morgrem's confused face, one that dee would normally welcome. However, dee doesn't want to be rude - societal rules are so confusing - at the moment, so dee stomps to get der pokémon's attention. His head snaps to dem, watching dem intently as dee slowly signs, Don't attack yet. The Morgrem grimaces, but resigns himself to being ready - he hasn't followed the conversation between them, and even then, seems to be adamant that this silly guy is actually a predator biding his time.

(Or it's his paranoia speaking.)

eilidh leitch

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The fight actually commences then, with Morgrem actually being close to losing. The Poison type does seem to be tougher to deal with than anticipated for the dark fairy, causing him to fumble more than one time. Maybe it's also the novelty of the fight still - of a fight where he's observed, where there's expectations not only to survive, but to win.

It's then that he realises it's the same like before, isn't it? He had to win, or else. The unthinkable else that lingers in the air, a thought that threatens suffocation with its lackingness. A void that devours all.

No, he can't lose this fight. He can't- He can't.

Fenelle raises an eyebrow as he actually starts glowing and morphs, his shape twisting as hair almost covers him entirely, seemingly in protection. And then ... a Stomping Tantrum to shake the earth, and ultimately leads them to a win. Dee regards the Grimmsnarl with a thoughtful look, before patting him once on the back. Seems like there may be a future ahead ...