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artbyifer.bsky.social
@artbyifer.bsky.social
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This week on #RunawayToTheStars: Gillie puzzles, Talita counts, Gillie talks directly with Talita for the first time.

Catch up: https://runawaytothestars.com
Read ahead: https://patreon.com/jayrockin
Gillie: (ASL) …And I don’t appreciate being made to feel that way by a friend. She glares at Talita, who sweats guiltily. Idrisah: Talita, you know we don’t mind helping you, right? Talita: I know... but... this isn't a rational feeling. I'm not going to "know" myself out of it. Idrisah makes a somber face. Idrisah: Well, trust me– you’re not going to avoid your way out of it either. Being friends means being each other’s problems. Talita: Yeah… Gillie stares wide-eyed at her phone transcription and then bursts into laughter, making Talita flinch and Idrisah look over in confusion. Gillie: (ASL) HAAHAHAHA! You two are so gloomy! Yeah we got a problem—one with a solution! That’s called a PUZZLE! Puzzles are FUN! Gillie: (ASL) Talita! How do you normally count on your hands? Talita puts a hand on her chin and looks away, frowning. Talita: Um… it’s not like ASL. Gillie signs at her forcefully, making Talita turn back with a start. Gillie: (ASL) Show me! Talita: Ok. Talita sits down more comfortably on her rear four legs and holds up a hand. She begins to count with a closed fist, her thumbs postioned outside her curled fingers. Talita: Zero, She first opens her right thumb, leaving the other digits curled. Talita: 1 She next closes her right thumb and extends her right finger, beginning a binary series where curled digits represent zeros, and extended digits represent ones. The current position of her four-digit hand can be represented as such: 0010 Talita: 2 Hand position: 0011 Talita: 3 Hand position: 0100 Talita: 4 Hand position: 0101 Talita: 5 Hand position: 0110 Talita: 6 Hand position: 0111 Talita: 7 Hand position: 1000 Talita: 8 Hand position: 1001 Talita: 9 Hand position: 1010 Talita: 10 Hand position: 1011 Talita: 11 Hand position: 1100 Talita: 12 Hand position: 1101 Talita: 13 Hand position: 1110 Talita: 14 Hand position: 1111 Talita: 15 On the last hand position, Talita repeats the closed fist, but this time with the thumbs inside the curled fingers. Talita: 16. Idrisah: Is that binary counting?? Avians do something similar… Talita: Yeah… Though I’m cheating to take it higher than 15… She swaps between the 0 and 16 fist positions. Gillie grins at Talita. Gillie: (ASL) What’s 2 plus 2? Talita: Uh...  She hesitantly holds up her hand with the binary position 0010. Talita: (sign) …4? Gillie grins wider. Gillie: (ASL) What’s 4 times 2? Talita: (sign) 8. Gillie: (ASL) What’s 30 minus 5 times 4 divided by 11? Talita stares off into the distance, calculating Gillie's math question, then looks back to her. Talita: (ASL) About... (binary sign) Nine?? Gillie, still grinning, keeps the eye contact. Gillie: (ASL) It’s nice to look at your face when you’re talking to me, nerd. Talita blinks in surprise and then breaks into a shy smile, trunk curling upwards and cheeks fluffing slightly. Talita: (ASL) …Thanks. Idrisah: (ASL) Wanna try fingerspelling next? Talita: Sure… I’ve got time.
July 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM