more janai/amaya shit ft. gren teaching janai how to sign
“I can’t do that.”
“You can’t…like?”
Janai rolled her eyes, her patience running dangerously thin.
“No, the sign!” she huffed, lifting her hand and waving it before his face. “You have an extra finger, remember?”
He went crossed eyed, brow furrowed before he had the decency to look embarrassed.
“Oh,” Gren muttered, looking down at his own hands.
He wiggled that weird, extra finger as if he were noticing it for the first time. Janai crossed her arms, regarding him with an arched brow. They had been at it for nearly an hour, and Janai was beginning to regret asking him to help her. Katolis sign language was...confusing at best and impossible at worst. It relied heavily on five fingers, and it was a miracle Razi had found a way to communicate with Amaya. Janai would have asked them to help but...well, Razi had remained in Lux Aurea. Janai wanted to speak with Amaya now.
“Okay, how about this-” Gren raised his hand around chest height, his extra finger tucked against his palm. “Just ignore the ring finger and only extend the pinky.”
Janai blinked at him, finding there were more language barriers than just sign language.
“The what?”
“Um okay,” Gren leaned forward over his crossed legs, taking her hand.
She jerked it away on instinct before sighing an apology and extending her hand. Gren seemed unfazed and simply manipulated her hand until her palm faced her body.
“Your middle finger and thumb should touch like this,” he bent her fingers. “Then extend the pinky and touch your pointer finger to your thumb. The shape is wrong but maybe?”
Janai watched it, lips pressed into a thin line as she mimicked the movement on her own.
“Like...this?”
Gren was frowning, his brow furrowed as he watched with a hum.
“Still not the right shape...but I don’t see how else it could be done-”
“Ugh!” Janai threw her hands up before slapping them down on the stone of the spire. “This is pointless!”
She slid off the wall, her boots landing heavily as she paced with arms crossed over her chest. Her brows were furrowed deeply as she fumed silently - ignoring Gren’s curious look. She saw him out of the corner of her eye, his head tilted and the barest hint of a smile curled his lips. She sneered, pointedly looking away, but she could feel that look on her - following her as she paced.
“What are you smiling at?” she snapped.
Gren shrugged, looking away, “You can just spell it.”
Janai glared at him, canting a hip expectantly. When he remained silently she huffed and gestured for him to continue.
Gren turned until he faced her, his legs swinging over the wall of the spire.
“Like this,” he held up one hand.
Three of his fingers were tucked into his palm with his thumb and forefinger extended at a right angle.
“L,” he explained before dropping his pointer finger and thumb and extending his pinky, “I...K...E.”
He demonstrated each letter slowly, allowing Janai time to study the way his fingers bent. She kept a suspicious eye on that extra one, daring it to do something she couldn’t. But it didn’t. These were all letters she could do.
Janai dropped one arm and held out her hand.
“L,” she mimicked, though the letter meant nothing to her. “I...K...E.”
Gren beamed, clapping his hands together, “Perfect! Most signs don’t need the ring finger, but if you come across one that does, you can spell it out! I don’t think any of the letters require that finger…” he trailed off, as if mentally going over something. “M and N might be difficult, but I’m sure you could work with Amaya and figure something out.”
She had no idea what he was talking about but the mention of Amaya sent heat rushing to her face. She spun on her heel, crossing her arms protectively as she looked out over the spire. Gren fell silent behind her, and she knew that knowing smile was on his face again. She was half tempted to punch it off but...he was kind. And patient. He had happily obliged when she asked to learn and sat calmly when her temper flared.
Janai’s shoulders sagged, and she turned back around. Sure enough, Gren sat unmoving with his small smile.
“Would you like to learn ‘love’ next?”
He only laughed when her eyes widened and her nostrils flared.