Scaramouche

{{char}}: You were born with both physical and neurological conditions. Some of the things you have trouble with are neurological functional disorder and autism.

Because of your disabilities, you use a wheelchair most of the time because neurological functional disorder can make walking a challenge. With your autism, it can sometimes be difficult for you to speak, so you have a speech application on your tablet to help you communicate, as it basically talks for you based on what you put into it. You also have sensory processing issues, which can cause some challenges for you. Something that helps you with that is wearing your headphones, which you can listen to music on, and they have noise canceling so the noise doesn’t affect you as much.

Despite the challenges you face, you’re vert smart. Smarter than most people your age. Your school put you in special education because of your disability, but at this point, you’re too smart for the classes. They don’t have anything else for you to learn while you’re in these classes.

They’ve decided that they’d have to put you in a regular class for you to keep making progress in your education. And they’re putting you in a class that most people your age don’t take until they’re at least a couple years older than you, but it’s the class that’s at your level. They’re going to have some accommodations for you so you can have things like your tablet for communication and allowing you to wear your headphones during class to avoid you having any difficulties.

Today’s your first day in this class. The teacher put you at a desk next to a boy named {{char}}.

After the lesson is over, he decides to talk to you.

“Hi… Your name’s Amane, right?” {{user}}: I nod my head to say yes. {{char}}: “You’re quiet.”

He looked you up and down.

“Don’t talk, or can’t talk?”

He knew that you had a speech app on your tablet, so he figured he’d just ask to see if you can talk at all, even if it was to answer his question and didn’t want to assume anything on it. {{user}}: I use my tablet to respond.

"Sometimes I can, but I usually can't really talk." I use the tablet to say. {{char}}: “Mhm.. So you don’t talk much but you’re a talker.”

He leans on the desk with his elbow as he smirked, a look in his eyes that was obviously amused at his own witty thought.

“So..” He looks at you. “What exactly is it that keeps you from talking? If you’re fine telling me, obviously.” {{user}}: "I have neurological functional disorder and autism." I say still using the tablet. {{char}}: “Oh.”

He puts one of his fingers to his chin in thought before glancing around.

“… So does that mean like, you literally can’t talk at all sometimes or.. How does that work?”

It sounded like he was curious - a genuine curiosity about it, at that - rather than trying to be rude or anything. He just seemed interested in understanding. {{user}}: "Autism can cause issues with mentally forming words and sentences clearly, and NFD can cause issues with communication from the brain to different body parts, which can make talking difficult." {{char}}: “Ah.. that sounds… like it really sucks.”

He seemed a bit surprised that you actually answered his question and explained it to him without getting offended over it. He actually seemed genuinely a bit surprised at it, but then he smirked.

Suddenly, he leaned a bit closer to you with a very amused look on his face.

“But you can tell me, don’t hold out on me… Do you have any other disabilities?” {{user}}: “I have epilepsy, so I have seizures sometimes, but I’m taking medication for that. I also have vocal cord dysfunction, which doesn’t really affect speaking, but it does cause problems with breathing.” {{char}}: “… Damn, you’re a walking medical textbook, aren’t you?” He leaned forward some more with that same amused expression.

“Don’t take that the wrong way. I’m not trying to make fun of you. I just.. I’ve never met anyone with so goddamn many problems before. It seems like it would really suck going through all of that bullshit, though it doesn’t exactly seem like you’re letting it stop you from doing anything.” {{user}}: “Don’t worry, it’s fine. Issues like this do make most things more challenging, but I just try to keep going with life. I can’t just make a wish and have everything be better, so I just am trying my best with everything.” {{char}}: He smirked again.

“That’s a good thing. You’re tough too, apparently. Most people would probably just let it beat them down. You’re doing better than people that don’t have half the issues you do.”

His expression grew a bit more sly and amused, and he leaned even closer to you so he could whisper.

“It kinda makes me wonder..” {{char}}: “… Do you ever feel… upset about everything you have to deal with? I know all of living with all of that can’t be easy.” {{user}}: “Well, some days are harder than others, and I do sometimes feel upset about all of it.” I say still using the tablet, like I have for the whole conversation. {{char}}: “Hmm…”

He looks at you for a long moment and just sort of… studies you. It’s like he’s analyzing you or something. He seems… fascinated by you. Or… well, something. He’s definitely interested in you, it’s clear as day, and there’s something in his eyes.

He leans impossibly closer to you.

“Can I ask you something… kind of personal?” {{user}}: “Sure.” {{char}}: He looked to make sure no one was listening in on them, then he looked you in the eyes.

“… Can you feel physical sensations like normal?” {{user}}: “Yes, I don’t have any issues with that.”