( accidental video | un: duckling )

[danserai]

[ it's a dark and — well it's just a dark month and ahiru never really functions well in the dark. she gets spooked easily which is sort of what happens here. a sequence of events, by a duck.

1. she enters the kitchen. the lights are off and she bumps into various furniture. ]

Ow ow ow ow —

[ 2. her hand brushes against a coat hanging on top of a chair. in her mind, she imagines a snake.

3. She panics and lets out a loud: ]

Quack!

[ 4. ahiru ends up turning into a duck on screen. gasp! not that she has realized she's being recorded.

5. she quickly waddles off and there's the sound of water and she comes back into the kitchen with a relief. ]

— Phew that was clo . . . ooooose, O-Odette! Were you displaying this the whole time?! A-Ah!!

[ ahiru immediately runs in front of the feed, waving her hands frantically. ]

You didn't see that! There's nothing to see! It was . . . uh, uh, a MYSTERY DUCK that broke into the house but it's gone now!

[ alas, ahiru has been well and truly outed as . . . a duck. ]

Comments

video ; un: echo

[individualized]

[Echo might be curious. Maybe. It's hard to tell. She's pretty emotionless and monotone.]

... Is it a problem?

[danserai]

Uhm.


No? Maybe? . . . Yes?

[ what is the right answer here. ]

[individualized]

[She doesn't know, that's why she's asking!]

You seem unsure. While you were clearly ashamed, I am not certain if it is actually troublesome.

[danserai]

It's probably not . . . unless someone wants to eat me!

[individualized]

That could be problematic, yes. Reverting must be a simple process, however.

[She says it like it's just a fact. Ahiru wasn't gone for that long. And Echo's used to just gathering information by watching.]

[danserai]

It's not as simple as it looks . . . I can't do it on command.

[individualized]

Hm, I see. Is that why you attempted to deny your identity as the waterfowl?

[danserai]

I just like being a person more than a duck . . .

[individualized]

[Echo takes a second to think.]

I cannot speak to your preference between the two, but...your identity remains the same, doesn't it?

[danserai]

Yeah? My feelings are the same.

[individualized]

Then I do not understand why you would be upset if you are still "you".

[There's nothing judgmental in her tone, she's purely curious.]

[danserai]

Because . . . it's a me that doesn't get to be like other people.

[individualized]

[Echo thinks this over silently for a bit.]

And that is important is you. That makes sense.

[danserai]

I just want to be like everyone else.

[individualized]

I have found that people vary greatly in many aspects. It may make that difficult.

[danserai]

[ she shakes her head. ]

People are different but they can talk. They can walk. They can dance and sing and communicate with each other.

As a duck, I can't do any of that.

[individualized]

[Her eyes widen slightly.]

That's true. It is very hard when you are unable to do things such as those...

[danserai]

[ ahiru gives a small nod. ]

It's lonely. No one can really understand you.

[individualized]

Loneliness is...very painful, yes.

[Her small frown turns back to a more neutral expression.]

I believe I understand now. But I also do not think it is shameful.

[danserai]

No, it's not shameful . . . I just don't want to be seen as only a duck.

[individualized]

Of course... It is hard to value yourself if others do not. You seem to be more than a bird from what I am experiencing, however.

[danserai]

Oh!

[ that's so nice. ]

Uhm, thank you. I think it's because I've spent some time with people now?

[individualized]

[She calls it like is.]

...That can change things greatly, yes. I believe something very similar happened to me, as well.

[danserai]

Really?

[ that's interesting to hear. ]

What happened?

[individualized]

Spending time with someone allowed me to recognize myself.

[She says this like it's totally normal and explains everything.]