[Audio]

[atethecanary]

People are annoying enough without having to hear every single thing they're whispering about.

[Julian didn't plan on having to deal with snake attacks and getting super hearing back this week. His voice shows he obviously isn't a very happy camper right now, and it's equal parts cranky and demanding.]

I have earplugs but it's not like I can use those all the time. Someone tell me how to make it better.

[Private to Lyall]

Whoever you are Nick told me you could help. Now fix it.

Comments

[shotguncarnage]

apparently you can just ignore it.

[atethecanary]

How am I supposed to just ignore it? Everything is so loud.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Ah, hello.

[He didn't get warning of this. Not yet, anyway. Still, he is a high school teacher. He can handle attitude, to some extent. Unfortunately, now he has to bring disappointing news.]

I'm, er, afraid there really isn't any "fixing it"... if it's anything like mine. I've got the same affliction, and I'm definitely fond of earplugs. I'm getting used to it, though?

[Audio]

[atethecanary]

[Maybe if the situation had been a bit different Julian would have actually been a bit more polite and actually introduced himself. Instead, all he does is grumble discontentedly. It's a good thing Lyall can handle some attitude.]

So I'm just supposed to hope I get used to it? That doesn't sound like a good option. Isn't there anything else I can do?

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Unfortunately, not really. Try to avoid very busy streets, areas with construction, and obvious sources of loud noises. Try keeping one earplug in, the one street-side, and the other out. It helps in learning how to sort through things.

[There's a brief pause after the most pertinent of his advice, before he asks:]

Is this the only change of this fashion you've gone through, thus far?

[Audio]

[atethecanary]

Great. It's not like it's easy to avoid construction when you live near the business district.

[Julian grumbles more, but when he speaks next some of the rudeness is gone from his voice.]

But I'll keep the one earplug thing in mind.

[That's as close to a thanks as Lyall's going to get.]

So far this is it. What other changes have you gone through?

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Far more than that... my sense of smell changed, first, actually. It helped a little in dealing with the hearing, but not much. I'm a werewolf now, though, rather all the way around.

You, ah. You may or may not go that route.

[Considering he knows other people with supernatural senses, he's learned not to jump to conclusions. Besides, the one time he did that, he offended the party in question.]

[Audio]

[atethecanary]

You're a... werewolf?

[There's a long pause as Julian deals with the echo he just received. Even if he hasn't gotten too many yet, Julian's pretty sure he's always going to think they're freaky.]

I remember I used to know a werewolf. Before.

[And despite Lyall telling him otherwise, now Julian's beginning to assume there's a good chance he was a werewolf too. Why else would he have known one.]

What's it like being a werewolf? You don't do the whole change at full moon and kill people thing... do you?

text;

[detectivetroll]

But think of all the gossip you'll have on people.

[audio]

[atethecanary]

[Julian sighs. His life is so hard.]

I have more important things to do than gossip.

[But he can't help but sound slightly amused.]

Besides, I've only heard boring things.

text;

[detectivetroll]

[Nick waits, raising one eyebrow, and then grins when Julian adds that last part.]

Who have you been listening to?

[audio]

[atethecanary]

I haven't been listening on purpose. I just happened to overhear. It's not like I can help it.

[Someone sounds awfully defensive.]

I've heard some people at college and some of the staff at my house.

text;

[detectivetroll]

Really? Because if I had enhanced hearing, man, I'd be using it to listen in on people.

[He chuckles a little.]

Why don't I pick you up and we can go grab lunch somewhere where there isn't a ton of construction vehicles right outside your door? I can try to help with the hearing thing.

[audio]

[atethecanary]

[Julian snorts at the first comment, but he perks up at the next part and has to try his best to sound nonchalant.]

Okay. It will be better than sitting at home with a headache.

[unelven]

I've found that meditation helps block out the noise of hearing everything and everyone.

[atethecanary]

... Meditation? That really works?

[Julian's always thought meditation was dumb, and he lets it show in his voice, but he's willing to try anything at this point.]

Doesn't that require focus?

[unelven]

Actually it trains you to do the opposite of focus. If you can learn to focus on nothing, then you're mind is clear and you won't be paying attention to anything at all.

And it works if you're not sitting next to a loud gum chewer.

[atethecanary]

Focusing on nothing? That sounds boring and difficult. But I guess if it will help... I can try it.

[He still doesn't sound particularly enthusiastic about it, though, but the last comment makes him snort, amused.]

I swear half the people at my school are loud gum chewers.

[It's really only been a few people, but it feel like half the school to Julian. He really shouldn't be meditating at school, anyway.]

[unelven]

You can try it, or you can learn to enjoy hearing absolutely everything around you. That's your choice.

[atethecanary]

... Fine. I'll try it.

[text]

[pianistofraielin]

noise-cancelling headphones! they're way more effective for drowning out background noise than earplugs are.

[audio]

[atethecanary]

They are?

[He's already started looking, and there's background noise of him typing and clicking as he searches through all the choices. In the end, he just picks the most expensive one.]

Well, they better work because I just bought a pair.

[text]

[pianistofraielin]

yeah they work really well for low-frequency background noise but not so much for high-frequency stuff, you might wanna use them together with the earplugs for that.

[he only knows this because he's a music geek and studied this shit for concerts and home audio setup. FINALLY HIS HIGHLY SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE COMES IN HANDY...]

[audio]

[atethecanary]

Okay. I'll try that.

[And if it doesn't work, Julian's got enough money where a couple hundred dollars wasted doesn't really make a difference to him anyway.]

Did they work for your hearing?

[Julian doesn't know about the music knowledge, so he's just assuming whoever it is has super hearing like him.]

[text]

[pianistofraielin]

oh, i don't have a superhearing problem! i just know a lot about noise pollution and sound quality.