( video | un: duckling )

[danserai]

[ the feed comes on by itself. ahiru hasn't realized she's turned it on as she's pouring over these pamphlets intently, talking out loud because that's just how she functions. ]

Okay, so to get food, I need to make money. To make money, I need a job . . . What do they have?

[ she looks over the first pamphlet. ]

Healer! That doesn't sound so bad! Something something . . . "mini . . . ministration . . ." Blood? Eugh, no.

[ she tosses that one aside. ]

Next one . . . Hunter.

[ a beat. she stares at it. it stares back at her as if it knows her secret. she immediately scrunches it up, tossing into the trash can because she's not an animal.

( just a bird. that people may hunt?? duck confit is a thing. ) ]

This one! This'll be the one! Arcane scholars . . . "They either wish to consume all the knowledge they can or share all the knowledge that they can." . . .

[ another beat. she sighs. ]

Well, I'm not smart enough to be one of those. Aaaah! I'm never going to get a job! I'm going to starve! I'll never be able to have bread agaaaaain.

[ doom is clearly at hand. ]

Comments

un: trienemybest; video

[droptheious]

[Bless. He's trying his best not to laugh here.]

Okay, take a breath. You don't have to worry about getting a job. We've got plenty of food and the means to buy it. You definitely don't need to get worked up about it. Also, yeah, like everyone else has said, rocks and shells make for pretty good currency. I don't think there's any actual money here.

[danserai]

[ okay but — ]

What if I bring in a really bad shell? Will they throw it away? Will I be banned?

[droptheious]

[Oh no, oh no.]

You won't be banned. Don't worry, if they don't like what you have to give, they'll just ask for something else. And if any of them give you trouble, just let me and Fern know.

[So they can go and threaten them. ]

[danserai]

That doesn't sound too bad . . . I am good at finding things. I can find all the things then!

[ she nods, determined. usefulness!! has been achieved!! ]

[droptheious]

[She's so cute he's gonna die. ]

There you go! Just make sure you have someone around with you if you go somewhere too remote- just in case.

[danserai]

[ oh right. ]

Because of . . . the monsters?

[droptheious]

Exactly because of the monsters. Until we get you all set and ready to fight them anyway.

[He's like 70% joking. ]

[danserai]

I . . . really don't think I'm cut out for that.

[droptheious]

You'd be surprised what you're capable of! [Plus being able to Not Die here is a pretty vital skill to gain. ] Don't worry, you might be like me and do better with long-range stuff- so you don't have to get too close to whatever's attacking you.

[danserai]

[ it doesn't matter if it is up close or far away . . . ahiru just doesn't have what it takes to hurt anyone, even in self-defense. she's always avoided any kind of fight and defended herself, but she's never hurt anyone.

oh, people are gonna be mad when they find that out, won't they,,, ]

Uhm . . . Sure.

[droptheious]

[He won't tell a soul! He offers an encouraging smile.]

Don't worry, we'll figure out something perfect for you, okay? To keep you safe.

[danserai]

Mm, I'm sure there's a good solution.

[droptheious]

There will be. It'll just...take some trial and error and all. Between all of us in the house, we all have pretty specialised skills- something's bound to click.

[danserai]

Yeah . . .

[ she trails off, looking down for a moment. ]

Can I . . . tell you something? And you won't get mad?

[droptheious]

[Should he be concerned? He feels like he should be concerned. His brows pull down gently. ]

Sure? Trust me, there's not a whole lot you can say that'll make me mad.

[Well. Ahiru, specifically. There's plenty other people can say which make him mad all the damn time.]

[danserai]

. . . I don't think I could hurt monsters. Or anyone.

I know it's important to stay safe and protect myself, but I don't think I can do it if it meant hurting someone. Even if that someone is scary.

Is that silly of me?

[droptheious]

[Oh. His expression gentles.]

...No. No, it's not silly. It's...kinda admirable, that you don't want to do that.

[But Varian isn't good at sugarcoating, though he does try to keep his tone relatively even.]

It might make living here hard. We'll do everything we can to keep you safe but this world? It's...really dangerous. Sometimes it might split you away from us. But maybe we can find a way for you to escape really quickly? To somewhere safe.

[danserai]

[ ahiru nods with a faint smile. ]

I mean, I'll be careful, of course.

[ she may be naive in many ways, but she wouldn't take unnecessary risks unless she had to. ]

But I won't use any weapons.

[droptheious]

[Varian offers her a smile- it's tinged with worry, but it's a smile all the same. They're going to have to figure out something for her- sooner rather than later. Just in case. ]

Okay, that's totally fair. I'll try and get something made for you, okay? No weapons. Something to keep you safe.

[danserai]

Okay.

And thank you. I hope that wasn't too much trouble.

[droptheious]

Don't worry, you're no trouble at all. Minimal trouble here. You're like...the easiest new resident we've had.

[danserai]

[ oh dear. ]

W-Well, good! I don't want to be trouble ever.

[droptheious]

I doubt you're ever gonna be trouble here, you're good!

[Until December happens. ]

[danserai]

I hope so!