Video; un: der Ritter

[anagnorises]

[Here's a new face. A dead-serious, possibly even angry (or maybe that's just the eyebrows) face.

Fakir doesn't waste time. He holds a picture of a duck up in front of the Omni, taking up the whole screen. It looks...well it doesn't look entirely unlike this duck. Still holding the picture up, he starts to talk.]

If you find this duck in one of the traps around, do not eat it. Bring her to me to look after. I think she followed me from my world - I recognize her from there.

[100% foolproof cover story! Definitely impossible for anyone to poke holes in, given that people may have seen the duck last month and he's only turned up now.

He takes the picture down.]

Thank you.

Comments

1/??

[danserai]

[ oh? ]

[danserai]

[ oh . . . wait ]

END

[danserai]

F — Fakir?!

What is this?!

video, un: tabris

[peripheries]

If the duck is caught in at trap, it's probably dead.

[anagnorises]

People are putting traps for animals around everywhere! I'm trying to be careful.

[Since some people may just walk into things, or be easily startled, or both.]

( private )

[danserai]

[ after much fumbling, ahiru manages to lock the discussion. ]

B — But what if someone figures it out?! It's hard enough trying to keep it a secret!

[anagnorises]

[Fakir's breath hitches for a moment, before he glares. Just going right to his worst fears, are we?]

Just let me know if you see her.

( private )

[anagnorises]

It can't be that easy to figure out.

[...wait how much has she been turning into a duck here.]

[danserai]

There's not a lot of ducks running around the place, Fakir.

[anagnorises]

There aren't a lot of ducks that turn into girls.

[danserai]

B-But . . .

What if I accidentally turn back into a girl? Like if there's a rainstorm! What if I fall into a puddle?! What if there are giant puddles that follow you?!

I'm not ready for anyone to knoooow.

video; un: deku

[wannasmash]

Is she your pet?

[ He's already sworn off calamari because of the whole squid thing. Guess he's not eating duck either, until she's reunited with this guy. ]

Do you want help putting up lost duck posters?

video | un: OZ

[swornto]

You're expecting your pet... duck? To show up?

[Do people keep pet ducks? He's never heard of it. Unless;]

Are you like the mama duck? [Did this guy hatch a duck egg and have the baby impress on him?]

audio; un: doublehedgedsword

[laminae]

A duck, huh? Is she a friend of yours, or do you have a grudge against her?

[Look, either of those are viable options when you come from a place as strange as Ooo.]

audio; un: padlocks

[enblightened]

Fortunately, such a creature is easy to see.

I am... ah, often in the forest. If I spot your little friend, I shall inform you.

[he doesn't ask questions, people have secrets for a reason]

[peripheries]

Is it a pet? You're very attached.

Video UN: glyphywitchy

[imaglyphwitch]

Who would eat that poor thing?! So small and cute.

Ok, I'm going to look out for it myself. Although...why exactly would a duck follow you from your world? Is it magic?

un: trienemybest; voice

[droptheious]

[Varian keeps the video off, to hide his corruption from the network at large- but he recognises this guy from Ahiru's memory. There's a surge of protectiveness in him, and his tone is uneasy - a sliver of annoyance slipping through. ]

I haven't seen any ducks around. What do you mean by look after.

[Why is the DUCK important? He hasn't quite put two and two together to make four yet. ]

1/???

[anagnorises]

Giant puddles?

[He knows things are weird (weirder?) here but seriously.]

2/3

[anagnorises]

[Wait, oh no, what if it rains?

But it's snowing now. Can snow have an effect when it melts?]

end

[anagnorises]

[We can figure that out later. Soon, but later. First-]

We'll keep that from happening. That's why we're planning ahead.

[anagnorises]

She lived at my school. I used get her out of trouble.

[danserai]

[ and just like that, her doubts are quietened. if fakir believes it, then ahiru believes it too, whole-heartedly. ]

Okay . . . it's just . . . been nice? Being a girl, making so many friends . . .

If I'm not that, then . . .

[ she wouldn't be able to do anything. not even talk to fakir. it's scary and it feels scarier now that she's having a real taste of life outside of the story and the role she's been given. ]

[anagnorises]

She's not a pet. [It...hadn't occurred to him that of course people are going to assume that.]

But I looked after her sometimes.

...Do you think we could make enough posters? [It might not be a bad idea, especially since his understanding is that only Sleepers have access to these devices.]

[anagnorises]

The what? [Where did that come from? The mama duck?

It's a moment before he catches back up to the first part of what was said.]

She's not a pet. I just helped her sometimes. I saw her briefly earlier, so I know she's here.