The right way to come back down

[happy_dsign]

When Daphne woke up this morning and found out about the changes to the island, she wondered if it was somehow in league with the Kennishes. She'd only been joking when she'd mentioned Kathryn hiring a Ferris Wheel for her birthday party to Emmett, the day that she'd arrived here, and yet here one was, just in time for the actual date of her

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[not_the_s]

When Kon saw her, he was almost hesitant to catch her attention. It looked like she was opening a birthday present and, from her reaction, it was one of those sort of presents. The ones that either made you hate or love the island. He couldn't tell from her reaction which it was, but after a minute, he decided that enough was enough.

He walked over and tapped on the side of her arm gently, offering her a smile when she looked up.

"Everything okay?" he asked, signing along with his words.

[happy_dsign]

Daphne nodded, then shrugged. "I got a birthday present from a friend back home. I thought maybe he was here, but..." She sighed and shook her head. "I guess not." She carefully folded the poster up again and set it in the open box.

[not_the_s]

"It's the island." His voice got quieter even though he knew she couldn't hear him. "It does crazy and screwed up things sometimes. Are you sure that you're okay?"

[happy_dsign]

Daphne cast a longing look at the gift and then nodded. "I'm okay. Just...homesick, I guess." She gave him a weak smile.

[not_the_s]

Kon's face grew mostly solemn and he nodded. "I get that a lot. Me being homesick, not other people telling me they are. I miss being able to fly." Instead of doing the little flapping motion, he threw his arms out and zoomed around her, hoping to make her laugh a little. When he was back in front of her, he asked, "Want to come with me to the roller coaster?"

[happy_dsign]

Daphne didn't really feel like company at the moment, but she was used to putting on a brave face--had to be, really. And she knew if she went back to her room she'd probably just end up wallowing, so she nodded. "Sure, let me just put this in my room. I could use some ice cream or something, too, I think. Technically it is my birthday, after all." Even if she'd considered herself sixteen since August, as it had been two days before her birthday when she arrived.

[not_the_s]

"You should totally have some of Del's ice cream sometime," Kon said, "though you might want to ask her what the flavor is when you get some. Sometimes she does normal - or at least delicious - flavors and other times she does the most bizarre and disgusting flavors you've ever heard of."

[happy_dsign]

"Del? She's the one teaching ASL, isn't she?" Daphne gave a little shake of her head, rolling her eyes. "She's...interesting." Insane just seemed impolite to say.

[not_the_s]

"Is she?" He wasn't sure that he'd known that. "She is...well, crazy in the most literal sense, I suppose. The embodiment of insanity. But also a very cool woman."

[happy_dsign]

"...That sounds about right, from what I saw." The embodiment of insanity? Why not, she'd met Aphrodite and was talking to a clone of Superman. "Honestly, though, I'd rather someone teach ASL that was actually useful. I was thinking about offering to tutor people. It would be nice to have more people learning it."

[not_the_s]

Kon nodded and smiled wistfully. "There used to be, but she...left. Abby was the one who taught me how to sign at all. I knew a girl a while ago on the American Olympic Archery team who was deaf and so thought it was worthwhile."

Not that he really thought he'd see her again.

[happy_dsign]

"Well, I'm glad she taught you," Daphne replied with a smile. "I'm happy to reap the benefits of it." Even if he wasn't as fluent as Dairine.

[not_the_s]

That was an opening that Kon couldn't resist. He winked at her and signed, "Reap any benefits you like." It wasn't like he could help it. Well, maybe he could, but she was cute and there were few things that were harder to resist than flirting with a cute girl. Especially when that flirting might have the side benefit of making her feel better.

"So. Shall we see what the island has brought us? I'll be your guide if you want me to be."

[happy_dsign]

Daphne laughed and rolled her eyes. "Sure." She gathered up her gift and ducked into her room just long enough to toss it onto her bed, then came back out and held out her hands, presenting herself to him. "I'm all yours," she commented with a playful smile.

[not_the_s]

"Oh, are you? Good to know." He nudged her shoulder and grinned. He would have taken her arm in his if she didn't need her arm to sign. "Do you have a preference on where to start or should we just wander around and figure out what to do next?"

[happy_dsign]

"I haven't really seen what there is yet, so...wander around sounds good!" Daphne answered, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet, excited to go check out the island's new layout--especially with someone fun and attractive who she could flirt with.