diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/cult/runes.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/cult/runes.dm
index 0b82c1fb1d5..e34425862df 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/cult/runes.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/cult/runes.dm
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ structure_check() searches for nearby cultist structures required for the invoca
 			ghost_invokers++
 		if(invocation)
 			if(!L.IsVocal())
-				L.emote("gestures ominously.")
+				L.custom_emote(EMOTE_VISIBLE, message = pick("draws arcane sigils in the air.","gestures ominously.","silently mouths out an invocation.","places their hands on the rune, activating it."))
 			else
 				L.say(invocation)
 			L.changeNext_move(CLICK_CD_MELEE)//THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/say.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/say.dm
index 42e1126cbd9..2ae2227561f 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/say.dm
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@
 	// how do species that don't breathe talk? magic, that's what.
 	var/breathes = (!HAS_TRAIT(src, TRAIT_NOBREATH))
 	var/obj/item/organ/internal/L = get_organ_slot("lungs")
+	if(HAS_TRAIT(src, TRAIT_MUTE))
+		return FALSE
 	if((breathes && !L) || breathes && L && (L.status & ORGAN_DEAD))
 		return FALSE
 	if(getOxyLoss() > 10 || AmountLoseBreath() >= 8 SECONDS)