#HoH!Tim Shepard

[questionablehuman422]

I'm gonna talk about all of this, but...

[questionablehuman422]

has anyone else thought about how maybe someone in the Shepard Gang (Tim) could have some kind of disability that requires them to use ASL? Just me? Okay. (explanation below cut)

So, I'm not the only one who noticed that bit in TWTTIN that says "They cussed us out in both english and sign language" right?

Obviously this just means that Curly and Co flipped Mark and Byron off, but I am studying ASL and like incorporating it into my writing. As a result I came up with the idea that someone (*cough cough* Tim *cough cough*) has some kind of disability that makes using ASL necessary in some way.

I did a little research on how ASL was received in the 60s and while the deaf community made some moves and gained better recognition, the public perception of ASL wasn't great and didn't really change until the 80s.

Now, please imagine a deaf/hard of hearing/selectively mute (I haven't decided yet) Tim coming up with some basic signs and learning every cuss word possible. (I am aware that A Dictionary of American Sign Language came out in 1965, and Grammar of Sign Language came out in 1960, however they likely wouldn't have access to that. Also Tim's probably comfortable with what he has by then and is too stubborn to change now.)

I ask you to consider that Tim can lip read just fine, but it's easier to sign. He teaches his gang some basics and talks about how it's to "Keep people out of our business" and how "not talking will piss off the people we don't like". I just really like the thought of it okay?

Also if you made it all the way here you're cool.

[questionablehuman422]

Sorry for not having HoH!Tim up so quickly. Apparently creating a very scuffed and narrow version of sign language, drawing out the signs, designing character dynamics, and also real life make it kinda hard :/

Rest assured that I am working on it and it is in the forefront of my mind. Please have some loose tidbits of info about it for the time being:

• Tim has only formally told two people about it (Angela and Curly)

• Everyone else has either figured it out, been told by Curly or Angela, or remains oblivious

• Tim lost his hearing from an ear infection when he was seven

• Everyone in his gang, plus a few others, have name signs because according to him: "I ain't wastin' time spelling it out for you whenever I need to address you"

• Unlike actual sign, Tim's very scuffed version follows English sentencing structure because he's definitely uninformed enough to believe that ASL is just English with your hands. (IT ISN'T)

[questionablehuman422]

07 to all who voted.

Special shoutout to my friends who deliberately tried to skew the votes. One was successful (@lasagn4catzz) , the other wasn't (Clockwork_Bird on Ao3).

Catz voted THREE TIMES, twice for himself, once for Birdie (who also snatched my phone to vote the minute I showed her because she doesn't have an account).

The rants will be posted in order of most to least demanded! Expect the first sometime this week!

I'm gonna talk about all of this, but...