Shifting Sands of Gold

Sanderson Mansnoozie was the guardian of Dreams once upon a time. Then a curse came and tore him from his land. Now he is Sanford Mann, a sweet, lovable, masseuse with selective mutism

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know || Sanford and Annica

[urchinwithnograce]

Annica blushed a bit and ran her hand through her hair. She was proud, but she didn’t like boasting particularly. (Unless you were being arrogant of course, and Sanford most definitely was not.) “I’m glad!” She nodded, truthfully. She liked Sanford. He seemed so sweet and kind. It was a pity that perhaps some people tended to over look him because he couldn’t speak. She didn’t know for sure but she knew that some people could do things like that without meaning to. But that only made her want to listen to him even more, to make sure someone heard him. “Oh, of course. Sorry.” She laughed a bit and linked arms with him happily.

[dreamofgoldensand]

He smiled and nodded 'Especially someone that is such good company.' He added. Whens he wound her arm with his and apologized he waved it off good naturedly and started to lead her to the park. It wasn't too far from her apartment and hadn't taken him much time to get there but he had a large tent he had rented from work when they had stalls at summer events like the Miner's day festival and had placed a small heater with a rented generator and decorated with fairy lights and had a table set up for diner. It was private but not too private he hoped. Besides that he tended to like to dream big and thus go all out for things. he turned to her and signed 'Do you like it?'

[miss-sparkle-bottom]

[its-about-hope]

"Everyone’s shorter than me, mate," he pointed out, already heading off to Granny’s. "Well it’s takin’ its sweet time!" he shouted, as if the snow would hear him, "It needs to rack off already." Three months was enough. "What’s it you people believe?" he asked, looking at Sanford confused, "Groundhog? Bloody thing saw its shadow or somethin’?"

[dreamofgoldensand]

"Well yeah but you're half giant and I'm a hobbit." He pointed out with a chuckle. "So it's even worse." as they made their way towards grannies more meandering than walking. "Just to annoy you." He joked amusing himself. "Ground hog is afraid of its shadow if it gets scared it means 2 more weeks of winter." He said simply.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know || Sanford and Annica

[urchinwithnograce]

Annica laughed softly at his curiousity of which languages she spoke. “English. French, Spanish, Danish, Italian. I’m fluent in . And I’ve got a working understanding of Japanese,Russian, lesser so Finnish and then from there I don’t speak much but I’ve studied slightly…” She explained. On top of American Sign Language, obviously. Annica nodded as he explained, waiting for him to finish and smiled. “I kind of guessed that, but I didn’t want to assume anything. But I figured either way it couldn’t hurt to know. It could only make things easier.” Since she knew he’d only known her a short while he wasn’t likely able to speak around her for some time. So this would make it easier to communicate.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford's eyes went huge as she listed the languages. it was quite the extensive list he would give her credit and it was very endearing and kind of attractive that she could do so much. He realized that might not be quite the right thing to say though even if it was a date. He nodded at her thinking right. 'It is nice to have someone to talk to at least a little.' he signed to her almost as a thank you of sorts. 'We should hurry though I'm sure dinner's getting cold.' he added a sign and offered her an arm to lead her to their date.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know || Sanford and Annica

[urchinwithnograce]

"Quite a list." She admitted, depending on if he wanted the ones she was fluent in, mostly fluent in, knew only bits of… there were at least five she spoke fluently. Not including her almost fluent ASL that is. Since… well you didn’t speak it. Plus, like she’d explain she wasn’t fluent in that…yet. She grinned at how pleased he was and finished putting the flowers in a vase she adjusted them and gave a satisfied smile she turned back to him. "Of course, I wasn’t sure if you knew, plus I was really rusty or I would have tried when we first met. But I didn’t want to end up misreading or anything." She walked back towards him. "I can’t imagine not being able to talk, so I had to try something." Not that she’d had much difficulty last time… it was just much easier, she assumed, to be able to form your own sentences instead of trying to mime things out. That was part of why she learned so many languages. Rarely would anyone be left hoping someone could understand them with her around.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford's eyebrows raised in interest and his head tilted  curious as to why there would be a list and what it consisted of. He nodded impressed at her abilities with conversation. It was amazing to find someone who wanted to talk so much. He liked the thought of that. He chuckled at her worried over it but nodded that it was probably a good plan. 'I understand. With so many languages it would make sense.' he signed his assurance. He looked confused for a moment but then realized. Not everyone knew the particularly strange portion of his little speaking problem. 'I'm not totally unable to talk. I have selective muteism it means I get anxiety around certain kinds of people and my vocal chords tense up so I can't talk. When I'm very close to someone I can usually get to a point I can talk again.' he explained though he realized some of the the signs in that sentence were very advanced so he tried to use as elementary signs as possible. 

[its-about-hope]

"Crikey!" Raymond flinched away, turning back to Sanford. "Didn’t see you there, mate." Raymond nodded, taking another glance at the frozen wasteland. So much for Spring. "You want one? My shout."

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford laughed at his friend's surprise. "It's the short thing." He joked to his significantly taller friend."I would love one! Think you'll be ok without spring for a few more days. It had to melt soon right?"

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Open

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Pitch stumbled slightly, surprised by Sanford’s sudden push, but he quickly recovered. “Ugh your silence is so annoying. I thought that no longer hearing you prattling about your silly dreams would make things better but not understanding you is worse.” He couldn’t tell if the shove was because he was right or because he was wrong and Pitch hated being wrong.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford felt a growl at the back of his throat as he glared at the man in front of him. He wouldn't be silent if Malaki had just stopped being an ass and not made his entire position and silence worse. He wished he could retort, he ha done ready but all he could do was stand and glare. He pointed accusingly at Malaki and reminded him the silence was his fault and then pointed his thumb down telling him he was wrong.

[its-about-hope]

"Bloody oath, this snow never ends!"

[dreamofgoldensand]

"It's been a crazy cold winter." Sanford agreed. "But it's a good reason to drink Hot chocolate?"

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know || Sanford and Annica

[urchinwithnograce]

She smiled, happy that he seemed so positively thrilled she could sign. She could understand more than she could sign herself. Which was perfectly okay in this case, considering he was able to hear her speak. She glanced at the flowers, she couldn’t sign back, but it wasn’t necessary. “I can understand almost everything. But I can’t sign quite as well as I understand… It was one of the languages I wanted to learn fluently, but then… there’s not a lot of use for it around here… well, I didn’t think there was… but I…” She laughed a bit nervously and beckoned for him to follow her to the kitchen while she spoke. “I reminded myself of what I knew and started studying it again after— I met you.” She set the flowers and chocolates down on the counter top and pulled out a vase, making sure she was able to see him as she did this, so she could see what he was signing. 

[dreamofgoldensand]

He smiled and pumped his fist excitedly in the air in celebration of her statement that she could understand sign. It was the best news he'd heard all week and he's heard quite a lot of good news. 'Understanding is all you need really. I can hear just fine it's talking I have issues with.' He signed to her jokingly. 'What other languages were there?' he asked curiously then shook his head. 'Nevermind tell me when we get there.' he decided instead too excited to take her to their destination. 'Thank you for trying to learn again for me though. I appreciate it.' He signed giddily loving being able to communicate.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know || Sanford and Annica

[urchinwithnograce]

Annica had studied sign language in school (along with a ‘few’ other languages) but, Storybrooke, being Storybrooke she’d never have a chance to use it. After meeting Sanford last time she’d brushed up on it and the sign he used made her blush, but grin. She hadn’t been sure he used any sign language and though she wasn’t perfect at it she knew enough to help. Grinning she signed back Thank you. “You look quite nice yourself.” She signed, as she spoke, and gently laughed. “I think I got that right…” She hadn’t practiced until she’d met him… “Thank you!” Still smiling she took the chocolates and flowers from him and couldn’t help but bring them up to her nose and inhale the smell. They smelled good, like spring. “They’re beautiful.” She paused a moment. “Come in for a moment so I can put these in a vase?” She offered stepping back from the door so he could come in.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford was shocked when her hands moved in a way that said thank you. His mouth dropped to the floor and his eyes grew huge. He had never met someone in town that spoke or even comprehended any other languages and yet she had just responded to him in one. She was amazing. Beyond amazing she was a complete anomaly and he kinda loved it. He smiled a goofy smile and nodded his thanks responding with the sign and singing asking how much sign language she knew happy to have a real way to communicate other than just writing. He nodded energetically with a bright and radiant smile because she knew sign language and that was just amazing. He accepted her offer with a smile and a nod bowing his thanks and taking a hesitant step in looking around the beautiful and comfortable apartment watching her.

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Open

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Pitch stared at the slip of paper dumbfounded. This little bastard had managed to get a date?! Ridding his face quickly of his shock and annoyance Pitch looked away coldly. “Well good for you. It seems someone took pity on you.” He hated how angry it made him, but he couldn’t help it, the while damn holiday pissed him off.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford huffed loudly with a frustrated and angry grunt to it. He hated this. The silence and the distance and the pain. It still hurt. It was like seeing the sun turn to ice so it would always burn black and never feel warm again. It was lonely to have the only person whom he had called friend for a long time be so far. He pushed Malaki in the back. It wasn't pity. Annica was genuinely a good human being and if he pulled his head out of his ass he'd have one too.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know ||Sanford and Annica

[urchinwithnograce]

Annica had signed up for the Blind Date thing on a whim. Thinking it could be fun, a nice chance to meet people, or spend time with those she’d met in the past. And well, worst comes to worst at least it would be memorable. It’d beat sitting at home for the what seemed like millionth year in a row. Not that she didn’t enjoy a good romantic movie, but well— Sometimes it was nice to go out and have a little fun yourself. This year, she wanted her own evening. And she was quite pleased to be told it was Sanford. He was kind, and though he couldn’t talk, she really didn’t mind. They’d managed to have a conversation before, and she was sure they’d be able to do it again. In fact, she was certain they’d be able to do it again.

She was waiting, she wasn’t particularly nervous, she knew Sanford was sweet. And it would be a fun evening, but at the same time she was nervous. Because he was quite handsome, and well… it seemed more like an actual date with the fact that she knew him outside of this. But it wasn’t a bad thing. It just made her a bit anxious. When she heard the knock she smiled and smoothed her hands over her dress and checked her hair, she wore only the sides up and the rest fell in gentle waves. She took a breath to calm her nerves and smiled as she answered the door. “Happy Valentine’s Day!” She greeted cheerfully.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford kept smiling as she answered the door and tried not to look stunned. His hand moved of it's own accord and even with the heart shaped box in it he signed beautiful without even realizing that he was signing, something he had taken up for a short time hoping to communicate before realizing that no one else spoke it. It had been a try and failure. He shook his head and let out a nervous chuckle before holding up the bouquet of assorted flowers and the chocolates and giving her a quick bow of greeting. Moments like these he really really wished he could talk if only to ask her how she was when his hands were full.

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Open

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Pitch raised a brow. “Don’t look at me like that, you won’t fair any better than myself. Who would want to call a silent annoyance like yourself their Valentine?”

[dream-of-golden-sand]

Sanford smirked and gave him a look that said Malaki was so wrong. He then sighed and shook his head pityingly at his old friend looking almost pained but keeping it well hidden. He Reached into his back pocket and showed him the slip of paper with the information on his blind date that evening with Annica Urchin, a beautiful young girl whom he quite enjoyed speaking to. They’d held conversation rather well. It was hard to see his old friend alone knowing the loss of his wife and daughter had hit him so. He wished he could fix it but not everything could be easily repaired and Malaki didn’t want to be helped, he had learned that too. Besides that, Sanford wasn’t silent forever, hardly the same could be said for the bitter man before him.

[livingindarknessandfear-deactiv]

Open

"I hate Valentine’s, it’s a stupid holiday that big companies use to make more money."

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford looked pointedly at Malaki and sighed shaking his head He was being far too much of a grump for the holiday and though once upon a time he could easily talk to the man he could no longer seem to squeeze out the syllables that used to come so easily. Even now he was silent and he missed his old friend terrible, but could not trust him.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Do you like, I need to know||Sanford and Annica

Date/Time: February 14, 2014

Location:

Sanford knew how hard it could be to enjoy his company. It wasn't that he was a hard person to get along with, it was the incident. When he was a child he had been terrified of other people. He would be shy and quite and hide often because he was small and different, he didn't fit. For class he had been required to give a speech and he had tried to but he got so nervous he went to speak and nothing came out. The teacher and entire class started to mock him and he had been unable to talk to people he didn't know ever since.  It was a lot more complicated than that, but thus were the basics. Sadly that made it difficult for him to easily meet someone so when the opportunity for blind dates came along he was completely open to it and had instantly started to plan.

He had been pleasantly happy upon hearing Annica's name. She was a sweet person he had talked to before and she was interesting and beautiful and nice and he liked her very much. He figured dinner at a house was a bit too much but he hated crowded places as it was hard to hear and all the restaurants would be very full so he made other plans and had been setting them up all day and then headed to her apartment to pick her up. He brought flowers and chocolates with him hoping she liked such things and dressed in a button down shirt of deep purple and black dress pants and a golden tie. He was curious as to what her answers had been and set up questions he could ask her and had them written down to keep up conversation. He liked being allowed to pre-plan it helped him. He walked to her door and knocked.

[urchinwithnograce]

Too cold for ice cream? Nah.

[urchinwithnograce]

She noted the slight noise to his laughter. The hint that he could speak, or at least make some sort of noise. That was quite curious… but she didn’t ask on it.If six siblings taught her nothing else, they taught her to respect privacy. To a point at least. Annica bit her lip, trying to think of how to explain her aunt. “She’s obsessed with beauty, hiding anything that’s not perfect. And flaunting what she thinks is…” She shrugged. “She’s a Hollywood induced zombie.” A little laugh at her own joke. “She owns a beauty shop. Plus she’s always seemed to… dislike, my father and our family honestly.”

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford could always tell when people were curious. It was something on their face and the way they looked somehow just told him. Possibly it was because he had to communicate so much with non-verbals that he was more sensitive to them. Whatever it was she wanted to know and he would like to tell her, or teach her, but that seemed impossible. He scrunched his nose at the sound of her aunt. She sounded like a horrible woman. He didn't mean to be rude but she did sound quite interesting. He shook his head and made the crazy symbol for her. He couldn't imagine why anyone would dislike her and if her family was the same any of them. She was pretty and kind and that was enough reason to like anyone!

[notprincecharming-anymore]

Moonlight Avenue | Sanford and David

[notprincecharming-anymore]

David was confused when the man handed him a notebook, but held it close to his eyes. “Sanford.” he read aloud. “That’s your name?” he was still confused as to why the man didn’t speak, but he was willing to continue this odd conversation. Perhaps there was someone odder than him in Storybrooke after all.

[dreamofgoldensand]

Sanford nodded when the man said his name and pointed to his chest taking the book back and tucking it away carefully. He needed that book, it was his identifier and he had learned the hard way most people did no sign even though he had taken it up as a way to communicate. Though even then he was afraid to mess up and say something he shouldn't so he didn't much mind. It was how all of this started anyway. He looked around for a way to keep talking having always been told conversation was a give and take. As used to being alone as he was he liked being with people even if he was useless conversation. He hated when conversations stopped just because he couldn't keep them going.