[b]Rudy - Outpost - Matt/Thomas[/b]

Rudy wasn't sure he liked the hints Matt was dropping, especially toward someone so new as Thomas. Outpost needed to be put back on track, not have [i]yet another[/i] person deciding they knew what was best for everyone. "I'm all for change," Rudy said, leaning in closer to Matt. "But if change compromises the safety of Outpost, I don't think..." He trailed off his, his brow furrowing in thought. "Just don't do anything... fucking..." He searched for the right word to use, his hand circling the air. "... Crazy."

"Maybe I do want to know what's going on," Thomas said. "I'm a part of all this now, aren't I?"

Rudy looked toward Matt before sighing. "Fuck, whatever. Reggie's a popular guy around here, okay? But he's all about Outpost being strong at the cost of our stability. I respect the guy and I'm a part of his team, but I love our community too much to watch it crack itself in two... Do you understand?"

Thomas leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. He nodded after a moment and smiled. "I get it. Everyone's got their own agenda. I've seen this happen before, with another group. In fact, I-"

Thomas trailed off as Richard entered the room. He didn't look much happier than before. "Everyone's still here," he said, signing along with his words. "Good on you guys." A few of the people in the room awkwardly chuckled. They were well aware how fast they were diminishing.

"This is a good thing, because a smaller class will be easier to teach. You guys are going to become very skilled, I promise you."

If only Richard sounded confident.

***

With the class over, Richard was quick to leave, almost as if he was embarrassed. He told everyone to practice outside of the classroom and that they should try the language whenever they speak, even if no one they were talking to was deaf. Then he was gone, with Elliot slowly following after. The rest of the students were slowly getting up as well, most of them discussing if the class could survive much longer.

Before Elliot could leave, Thomas stopped him. Elliot turned around angrily, but Thomas held out his hand in a stopping gesture rather than speaking. It seemed that was enough to pause Elliot, as he waited for Thomas to turn around and address everyone in the class. "I think we're all concerned about this class sticking around. There's not many of us and it's still early... But I think there's a bigger concern here that affects all of us."

Confused, everyone in the room looked at each other. Hesitantly, Rudy conveyed what Thomas said to Elliot. A girl named Samantha decided to speak up and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Well, I think Matt has a better idea than I do, but..." Thomas turned and gestured toward Elliot. "As far as I've heard, Elliot's been discriminated against, hasn't he? I may not have the whole story, but what efforts have been taken to fix that? If all you've got to show is this dwindling class, then I think there is a problem. You're a diverse group of people, so why is this tolerated? We're all here to learn and I think all of us here can empathize with Elliot." Thomas then raised his hands and attempted sign as he spoke: "I'm very sorry. I would have been your friend, if I had been around before. I wouldn't have tolerated this."

Elliot shook his head and laughed. He looked toward Rudy with a smile on his face. [i]"You wouldn't believe what this guy just said to me,"[/i] he signed.

"What?" Thomas asked.

"He... says he's grateful," Rudy responded, smiling back. "You probably need to work on your signing, though." But then Rudy felt a stab of... what? Jealousy? [i]Thomas[/i] wasn't Elliot's friend, yet he was the one who got the boy to smile. As for the discrimination, Rudy hadn't tolerated it either, but what could he possibly have [i]done[/i]? For that matter, what could have Thomas done? Not much fucking else, Rudy thought.

"I think where there's smoke, there's fire," Thomas continued, addressing everyone again. "And in this case, someone isn't leading Outpost to its best ability. Who do you have in charge? A council? I honestly though [i]Reggie[/i] was in charge before I arrived."

"Well... I don't know," Samantha said. "I honestly don't know Reggie too well. I arrived around the same time he did, but he's never spoken to me."

"He doesn't like to associate outside of the scouts and the council," Rudy said. "Not since the mutiny attempt. People really only listen to him because he stopped it. He's not friendly... not like Myriah." Rudy looked toward Matt. "And not like other people on the council."

Thomas turned toward Matt as well. "It seems we have a lot to talk about. The floor is yours, Matt."