( 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]

Oh, I imagine it's the same for lots of people!

[individualized]

You think so?

[She considers it for a second.]

If that is the case, it's not spoken of often.

[danserai]

Maybe you just need to ask. I'm sure there's more than you realize.

[individualized]

[Ahiru no, she's just gonna randomly ask people that now...]

All right. Thank you for the advice, er—

[Aaaand she just realized that she doesn't know her name. Or vice versa in spite of her obvious username.]

R-right, I am Echo.

[danserai]

Nice to meet you, Echo! My name is Ahiru.

[individualized]

Nice to meet you, as well.

[She bows her head politely.]

[danserai]

Are you new here? Are you making lots of friends?

[individualized]

That's correct. I am not sure if I am making friends or not, however.

[danserai]

You could double check and ask?

[individualized]

I have lost contact with the people I met at sea. Most of the people I've spoken with since then are individuals I knew before, and I am not sure how to classify those relationships.

[danserai]

That's true.

But you can make friends now! And find out from them.

[individualized]

I see. I will look into the best methods for doing so, then.

[danserai]

Methods?

[individualized]

For initiating a friendship.

[danserai]

What methods are those? Are they special?

[individualized]

I don't know. That is why I need to look into them.

[danserai]

Oh, I don't think you need methods or anything. Just be yourself . . . spend time with them . . . ?

[individualized]

[She has to think about this for a moment.]

Interesting. Thank you for the information.

[danserai]

You're welcome.

It's really not that hard. And I'm sure you'll have lots of friends very soon!

[individualized]

I-I see...

["Lots" sounds pretty overwhelming to her.]

To clarify, should one approach people at random, be selective in those choices, or wait to be approached?

[Because it sounds like she has one friend, and she was definitely approached.]

[danserai]

It's up to you. There's no right or wrong way.

But if you find it easier if people come to you first and then asking them if they want to be friends, that's fine. Or if you get along with someone easily and ask then.

[individualized]

All right. I believe I understand. Again, I am grateful.

[danserai]

Good luck, Echo! I know you can do it.