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It’s only a little time into his employment at BuzzFeed - hell, he hasn’t even passed his six month review yet - so Ryan would really like to a) get this piece finished in time for tomorrow morning, and b) not cause an OSHA or HR incident.
Unfortunately, it looks like he might fail both of these aims when he practically runs over Brent in the office.
“Woah, dude! What’s the rush?!”
“Sorry, sorry,” Ryan garbles, “I just gotta pass this over to someone so they can put bumpers on it, it’s almost done otherwise but the deadline got pulled forward to tomorrow AM and everyone’s busy and I don’t have the time to do it myself, mostly ‘cos I don’t have access but I’m also busy--”
Brent hovers his hands over Ryan’s arms, like he’s too taken aback by the panic to try to actually stabilize him. He mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like Jesus Christ, and says:
“Have you tried Shane?”
This is an option he hadn’t known was available. Ryan finally catches his breath.
There’s only one issue with this, though.
“Who?” he asks.
“New Guy Shane. Well, he isn’t new new,” Brent admits, “but a couple months is still the settling in period, I guess. You’ll definitely know him - Bigfoot-height, kind of like if you stretched out a skinny white hipster… He sits in the corner by Sara? So try him. That guy can do everything except your audio production.”
Oh, that would be awesome. Ryan’s brain is already fast forwarding through the motions - he can cut the audio himself, easy, he just doesn’t have the bumpers for this particular brand. “How come he doesn’t do audio?” he asks. Hopefully it doesn’t sound too ungrateful.
Apparently not. “He’s deaf as hell, dude,” Brent says, giving him a strange look. “Can’t hear so much as a squeak. You really didn’t know about Shane?”
“No,” says Ryan. To be fair, he’s been…. Busy. Way too busy.
“Yeah, try him. I’ll see you, Ryan, try not to careen into anyone else.”
“Thanks,” says Ryan - except Brent’s already leaving, and something’s just occurred to him. “Wait! Brent! How do I ask him if he can’t hear me? Brent!”
Well, shit.
Ryan thinks fast and sprints back to his desk.
Ryan Bergara to Shane Madej [15:08]
Hey Shane, my name’s Ryan, I don’t think we’ve met properly but Brent recommended you for editing. I’m in a fix and need those new bumpers added from the H Drive. Are you free at all today? I would definitely owe you one if you’re able to help, big time.
Shane Madej to Ryan Bergara [15:10]
Sure, bring it over. I have access.
I saw the deadline got brought forward on the team chat, bad luck dude.
Ryan Bergara to Shane Madej [15:11]
I’ll be right there. Thank you SO much
Oh god, Ryan’s gonna kiss this dude. What a lifesaver.
He throws himself and his flash drive clear across the building, keeping an eye out for a giant man near Sara’s desk, and--
Well, Ryan might actually kiss this dude if the opportunity arises, regardless of his deadline. He’s fucking gorgeous.
“Holy shit. Hi,” he says.
Except Shane Madej doesn’t turn around.
Right - deaf dude. Is it rude to snap his fingers? Probably, and he can’t hear it anyway, so Ryan raps on Shane’s desk to get his attention, throwing him a desperate smile when Shane looks up from his work.
“Hi,” he says again, out of breath and already forgetting the audio issue at hand. But Shane’s already reaching for a whiteboard on his desk, propped up on its own metal legs like a miniature drawing board.
Hi! Sara’s not here today to interpret, gotta write instead.
Also I don’t lip read
“That’s fine,” Ryan says quickly, before realizing the flaw in that plan and ensuring his face and gestures convey the sentiment.
Shane hands him the marker:
No worries
Is flash drive okay? It’s for 10 tomorrow
He glances up worriedly, but Shane’s nodding, a little smile playing on his lips. The guy draws a happy face, and after dotting the eyes with his pen, he holds his hand out for the flash drive.
:) Stop by first thing. It shall be done!!
“You are the best,” Ryan gets out, rummaging through his pants pocket for the drive and dropping it in Shane’s palm. The best way of letting Shane know this (that he can think of in his current state) is by writing THANK YOU!!!!!! in huge letters on the board. It's so huge that it covers up their whole conversation so far, and Shane audibly chuckles at him.
Fuck, this guy is cute. And helpful, and he also has really nice handwriting. Ryan’s gonna buy this godsend a beer at the next company party.
The relief after meeting the deadline is incomparable. Mentally, it’s like sinking into a hot bath, except the sudden removal of time-sensitive pressure means Ryan’s re-evaluating his panicked manners around Shane. (Not the best first impression he’s ever made.)
So he revisits the dude’s desk in the hope of explaining himself. He even brought his own marker, just in case, and it looks like it was the right call - Sara’s not here today either, and Shane’s whiteboard is propped up on the desk again. Not having a translator around probably sucks quite a bit for their resident editing Sasquatch.
Shane glances up in surprise:
Hey, Ryan waves.
Shane scrambles for the whiteboard.
Back so soon? Another bumper?
The look Ryan receives when he uncaps his own dry-erase marker is fucking unparalled. He’s never been so happy to be organized for once in his life.
No. Came to say thanks!
(Because this morning had been a fleeting visit prior to a potential shitshow, and Ryan had bust through this part of the office like a tornado. There hadn’t been time for pleasantries when he’d had a wholeass video to compress.)
Hate the shirt, by the way, he adds, and laughs when Shane nods in approval. He doesn’t seem embarrassed - actually, he seems pretty damn pleased to be recognized as a minor eyesore - and in no time at all, he’s jotting something in reply.
Thanks. So does everyone
I’m not supposed to wear bright things bc it’s distracting. But - and this is very unfortunate for all my Deaf friends - I am a huge asshole.
This guy’s charming as fuck. Ryan wants to know more.
So he draws an arrow at the word ‘distracting’:
Why?
Imagine everyone you speak to is wearing carnival face paint. That’s what a neon floral shirt is like in ASL
Mardi Gras must be hell for you
Love it, Shane writes, eyes sparkling with wonder. Love anything with visual noise. It’s not polite but it is extremely fun.
He motions his head at the board, signing something absent-mindedly, and Ryan can gather enough from the motions that he wants to know if they’re finished, if he can wipe it down. Sure enough, when the blank slate resurfaces, Ryan gets the next sentence in before Shane:
Just wanted to say thank u again
If you need anything (audio?) then I’ll help anytime, you saved my ass today I s2g!!
Shane snorts again. His laugh, when quiet and small, is a very endearing little wheezing noise.
I’m going to send you on my next lunch run.
And Ryan grins, because that’s the fairest favor he can possibly think of in return. Food! Why the fuck not?
I’ll Slack you if we head out tomorrow?
Shane doesn’t write anything - he just nods his head vigorously in agreement, and Ryan curses himself for not being able to ask him everything under the sun. Taco Bell? McDonalds? Something local? Is he vegetarian, does he have allergies, does he drink? Can he handle spice or seafood or chopsticks?
Instead, he leaves their conversation there, and figures he can instant message him with that stuff when it comes up.
In the meantime, though…
The solution to the language barrier is kinda obvious.