happy_dsign | Relaxation and conversation

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Relaxation and conversation

Daphne sat on a rock at the edge of the waterfall's pool, leaning back on her hands and dangling her feet into the cool water. It was a peaceful place, with a constant cool mist on her face and the low vibration of the falls thrumming through her arms. The bikini she wore wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind, but the clothes box refused to give her a one-piece or even a tankini, so she'd given up and gone with the best one it had offered. At least it was cute and not too skimpy. And the little skirt that went over the bottoms was actually kind of adorable, she thought.

Her head tilted back, soaking up the sun's rays, eyes half-closed as she just relaxed and basked. Most of the time she was active, either working in the bakery, going to school, working out or just shooting some hoops, but right now--she was taking a rare moment to just be. To not dwell on all of the things that tried to creep back into her thoughts. It took some effort, but the setting helped.

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Between trying to keep up in her classes and helping Bart build a stable for Boko, Cissie was feeling like she needed a few hours of doing absolutely nothing. Getting some sun by the waterfall was clearly the way to go and so she headed there in a maroon and yellow bikini, towel slung over her shoulder and carrying a very trashy romance novel.

She spotted Daphne and grinned as she headed over to where she was sitting. A trashy book was all well and good but talking to friends was even better. She sat down near her and gently tapped her should to get her attention. "Hey! How's it going?"

Daphne looked up and smiled when she saw who it was. "Hi! I'm good, you?" She scooted over a little in a clear invitation for Cissie to join her.

"I'm doing good," Cissie said while she signed. She happily flopped down next to Daphne, tossing her towel and book behind her. "I think we had the same idea. I figured I could be lazy today and sit in the sun for awhile."

"That's exactly what I had in mind," Daphne answered with a grin, leaning back on her hands and swinging her feet, swirling them in the water. "We deserve a lazy day, right?"

"We so do," Cissie agreed. She slipped her sandals off and tossed them over her shoulder then dangled her feet into the water with a contented sigh. The water felt absolutely perfect and yeah, this had been the perfect idea.

"So, what's new with you?"

"Not much," Daphne replied, biting her lip as she looked at Cissie. She wanted to talk to someone about Kon, and that someone was definitely NOT Bay, but she wasn't sure if Cissie was the right person. She and Kon were close, and while she was sure she could trust Cissie not to say anything...she wasn't sure what she'd think about it.

Cissie tilted her head curiously. Maybe she was imagining things, but Daphne kind of looked like she had something on her mind. She didn't want to pry or anything if Daphne didn't want to talk about it, but if she could help, she wanted to. Daphne was her friend and that was all there is to it.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Daphne took a deep breath and smiled. "I'm okay. Just...there's something I want to talk to you about. About Kon."

"What about him?" Cissie asked, her signing a little shaky out of anxiety. She loved Kon, he was one of her best friends but she also knew that he could be a grade A brat sometimes. She wanted to hear the whole story first before she decided whether he needed to be yelled at or defended.

Daphne looked down at her hands for a moment, then sidelong at Cissie. "I think...maybe I like him." Which was probably stupid, because Kon had tons of girls around him all the time, but there it was.

Wow. That was all kind of unexpected though Cissie couldn't say why, exactly. He was easy on the eyes and a Grade A flirt - heck, she'd had a little crush of her own for a while. Who didn't, really? Maybe it was just that he seemed to have awful luck when it came to dating lately. Either he wasn't liked back in that way or the person disappeared.

"Really? It's not just the sun blinding you or anything?" She teased gently, wanting to reassure Daphne that she wasn't going to yell or anything. "Does he know?"

"I don't think it's the sun," Daphne answered with a wry smile that quickly faded. "I don't know. I tried to let him know, but either he didn't pick up on it...or he's not interested in me, so he pretended not to notice." She shrugged, smiling crookedly.

"Speaking as someone who's known him for a long time," Cissie said, shaking her head in exasperation. "He probably didn't even notice. He's remarkably dumb about some things. You might have to spell it out. Probably literally, even."

"Luckily he can fingerspell?" Daphne sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't say anything. I don't want to mess up our friendship, you know? I mean, if he doesn't like me like that, then what? Things will be awkward."

"I know," Cissie said sympathetically. She leaned over to offer Daphne a hug. She knew all too well about the whole not wanting to ruin a friendship thing over a crush. Okay, yeah, it was working out well for her and Bart but she only had to look at Cassie and Kon for a good example on how things could go wrong and really awkward.

"Do you want me to hint around and see if I can get something out of him?"

Daphne smiled sheepishly. "Would you mind? I don't want to impose."

"I wouldn't mind at all," Cissie reassured Daphne. "He won't even suspect anything, I promise."

"Thank you so much," Daphne said, hugging her impulsively.

The waterfall is a good sitting and thinking spot, so when Dairine gets there, she's not exactly surprised to see Daphne's already occupying it. She taps her on the shoulder by way of greeting to get her attention.

Private party, or can anybody join in?

Daphne waved a hand at the pool of water. I didn't reserve it or anything, feel free to join me. She smiled and kicked her feet a little, enjoying the cool splash of water it stirred up.

Dairine kicks off her shoes and settles down on the bank next to Daphne, dipping her feet into the water. And sometimes it's nice living on a tropical island, she signs with a grin.

Sometimes, Daphne agreed with a faint smile. She brushed a lock of hair back out of her face and over her shoulder before continuing. So how are you doing?

Really good. It's a pretty generic word, but Dairine's vocabulary in sign language is still more limited than she'd probably like. And some of the words she does know are more useful than others. You? I haven't heard any signs of war from your room, so that seems like a good sign.

Bay and I are getting along okay. We kind of know what topics to avoid for the most part, by now. Daphne grinned at her and shrugged. She's still Bay, but I'm getting used to having her as a roommate.

And it's not like you have to spend that much time inside. Dairine shrugs. Oh, I meant to tell you, I got a present from the island after all. How are you at paintball?

Paintball? I don't know, I've never tried it. Daphne laughed. I'm assuming the two topics are related, and I'm going to find out, though.

Mostly just running around the jungle trying to shoot your friends, Dairine explains. Really, Daphne probably already knows that. But I got a set, and there's enough for four. I thought maybe you, me, Kon, and Nick? There's a lot of fingerspelling in that last part. Unless you want a chance to shoot at Bay instead.

Daphne looked a little guilty, signing back quickly, Kon? Why Kon? The first time she fingerspelled his name, and the second she used the namesign she'd given him, the letter K moved in an S-shape over her chest.

Dairine looks puzzled, wondering if she's missed something important. Because he's been one of my best friends for ages. And I thought you guys got along? You gave him a cool namesign and everything. But if Daphne wants her to ask someone else, she will. She can just play with them both at different times.

Oh. Right. Daphne blushed and shook her head. No, we get along fine, it's fine. He's fine. She bit her lip and sighed, then admitted, ...more than fine.

...Which makes a lot more sense, actually, in light of Daphne's reaction. And Dairine is relieved that's it. "Oh," she says, and that doesn't really need a sign at all. And he knows? Doesn't know? Agrees? Or maybe needs to be kicked in the shins, because he's a boy, and you never know.

Daphne made a pathetic face. I don't know. I tried to kind of show him, on New Year's Eve, but either he didn't get it or...he pretended he didn't to spare my feelings. Either way... she shrugged. I don't know what to do. Maybe I should just let things stay how they are. Not complicate things.

Dairine is perfectly aware that she's possibly the worst person in the world to try and give advice on this kind of thing. I don't know. Either one's possible. I suck at this stuff. But hey, it's an innocent game between friends, right? Can't hurt to spend some time together.

Daphne wrinkled her nose, considering, then nodded. Count me in. If nothing else I can nail him with a few paintballs. It might be cathartic. She grinned.

Awesome, Dairine signs happily. She knows better than to ever try to play matchmaker--she'd be a disaster at it--but she decides she kinda likes the idea of Kon and Daphne. He could do a lot worse. And yeah, honestly, shooting boys usually is.

Daphne laughed at that and nodded. I can think of a couple of boys back home I would have liked to take a paintball gun to.

Dairine can too, and at least two of them have names beginning with 'R'. Yeah? Which ones?

Just some boys from school, Daphne replied, then grinned and added, And maybe my new brother and his friend. Yeah, paintball with Toby and Wilke would...actually probably be pretty damn fun.

Never had a brother, Dairine says, but I understand that doing things like that is in the rulebook. Kit was the closest thing to a brother she'd had, really, but they didn't really have the sort of relationship where she'd shoot him with stuff. Or Kon, maybe, and in his case, she's about to.

Daphne gave a wry smile. Yeah, well. I'm pretty new to it myself, so your guess is as good as mine on what's allowed. But she was pretty sure Toby would have been down with it, if she'd come up with the idea back home.

Her smile turned a little sad. ...I miss him. And John and Kathryn and her mom and grandma and Emmett...

They hit sometimes, those moments, no matter how settled you are on the island, and there's not much you can do about them. Yeah, I know, Dairine says, giving her a slightly-awkward half-hug with one arm. Just when you start getting used to one thing there, you end up here.

Daphne gave her a crooked smile. Yeah, pretty much. She leaned against Dairine briefly and then stood up. I think I want to swim. I'm getting a little sticky.

One of the perks of living here, Dairine grins, getting to her feet. Being able to just...jump in the water whenever.

Exactly. Daphne grinned. Going to join me?

Dairine doesn't have to sign her answer, the flash of grin and the jerk of her head toward the water say of course just as clearly.

Daphne beamed and slipped off the short skirt that covered her bikini bottoms, then moved to the edge of the pool and dove in smoothly, surfacing a few moments later. If there was a silver lining to her hearing aids being dead, it was that she didn't have to worry about them at times like this; they were safely tucked away in a drawer in her room, and she was even kind of getting used to not even having that minor addition to her awareness of her surroundings.

Dairine pulls her shorts and t-shirt off; this is the kind of place where you get used to wearing a bathing suit under your clothes pretty much all the time. Daphne'd done such a nice dive, and Dari could, but really?

A cannonball just sounds more fun, and she hits the water with a splash.

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Relaxation and conversation

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