Joel catches Ellie several times making the ASL for “endure and survive” to herself a few weeks after everything in Kansas City and asks her what she is doing.
After she explains what the signs mean and shows him how to make them it becomes a thing between them.
A secret little way to communicate with each other when words are hard or can’t be said. A way to say “You’re Okay” and “I’m here with you”. A way to check in during the long days of walking, a way to say “all clear” at a distance without having to yell, a way to say goodnight. It’s especially useful when words are harder after Silver Lake.
After a nightmare, Joel will take Ellie’s hands in the dark and move them into the signs for her. Ellie finds it incredibly grounding. If Joel is having one of his panic moments he can’t hear anything over his ringing ears but seeing Ellie make those signs with her hands in front of him or guide is hands into making them helps him settle.
Even when they get to Jackson they do it often and they never explain to anyone what it actually means. I even becomes their sort of send off to each other when they get to the point they are able to go on their own to do things in Jackson.
