( 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

[danserai]

I . . . don't like people knowing I'm a duck.

[cuddlery]

Oh... Sorry. I didn't realize it was a - a personal issue for you. I personally think it's great that you're a duck! You're so cute But, uh, don't worry. I can do my best to try to forget it for you!

[danserai]

Uh, you don't need to do that, really.

Why do you think it's great?

[cuddlery]

I know I don't, but I want to. I personally think people's comfort levels are extremely important! And if you're most comfortable with people not knowing you're also a duck, then Iiii am going to make myself un-know it, simple as that!

Also, I think it's great because turning into an animal sounds awesome? I know I kinda like the whole squid thing that happens here myself! Also? Duckies happen to be very adorable!

[danserai]

[ turning into an animal is awesome? really? ahiru isn't convinced. being an animal feels so boring. you can't do any of the things people can do. ]

But isn't being a person more fun? With food and games and conversation?

[cuddlery]

I mean, ducks can still play games and eat food, can't they? And I think you communicated with me pretty well when I first saw you! Uh, I guess I can't say for sure which is more fun. But you get to be both, don't you? So isn't that great? You can get the best of both worlds!

[danserai]

[ her fingers seek out the pendant, fidgeting. ]

It's only temporary.

[cuddlery]

Temporary? Well it looks like you're going back and forth a little there! That looks like it might be a little hectic, but hey, at least you still get to be both of them!

[danserai]

Yeah, but someday I'll lose it. I'll just be a duck.

I won't get to have friends.

[cuddlery]

No way! No matter what you might be, you'll always have friends! I know I wanna be your friend no matter what!

[danserai]

[ oh. ]

R-Really?

[cuddlery]

Of course! Why wouldn't I be? When I first met you as a duck, I loved spending time with you. I want to be friends with you no matter what! Did you get my name, by the way? I'm Scorpia!

[danserai]

Oh, I'm Ahiru.

[cuddlery]

Good to meet you, Ahiru! ...Officially! I am ready to be friends to the end!

[danserai]

. . . Thank you Scorpio.

I think — I'm ready to be friends till the end too!

[cuddlery]

It- it's Scorpia. But yes! I am overjoyed to hear that. We are getting this friendship train on the tracks! I, I am just so excited!

[danserai]

[ huh. ]

Really?

[cuddlery]

Really! I'm always excited to make a new friend, and you seem like awesome friendship material. And you're both a person and a duck! That's, like, twice the friend to look forward to!

[danserai]

[ ahiru still seems deeply unconvinced. which isn't scorpia's fault. this is a deep-seated insecurity of ahiru's coming to light. ]

I don't know, it seems more like one and a half friend because ducks can't really do a lot of friend stuff . . .

[cuddlery]

No way! That's not true at all. Ducks are still capable of taking part in all kinds of friendship activities. You'll see!

[danserai]

How?

[cuddlery]

Well, you're still a living being who can do all sorts of things! We could have a special day of friendship activities sometime while you're a duck, and I'll show you it'll be a whole lot of fun the whole way through!

[danserai]

[ wow, scorpia. ]

You'd do that? For me?

[cuddlery]

Absolutely I will! Why wouldn't I? It feels like a lot of fun just to think about!

[danserai]

[ she's clearly met her match in enthusiasm here. ]

It is? Ducks are kind of boring. We don't really do anything special.