✳ 001 ✳ [video]

[stabilimentum]

[Two proud Canadian geese. They're the only things of visible interest, standing no more than a few yards away. The video stays steady as a white-gloved hand moves into view, its palm turned to the sky and holding a few leaves of romaine lettuce. The geese immediately notice the offering, but they're too wary to approach for whatever reason.]You

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video;

[quackery]

[It's- confusing, the calm that comes over her when he starts to speak, but she smiles nonetheless.

She pauses when she notices the mansion, though.]

How come you're outside our house, sir?

video;

[stabilimentum]

[When Claude answers, the viewpoint has shifted again: now almost all of him is shown, though he's still feeding the geese. Whatever his NV is, it seems to be hanging down from something--the branch of the nearest tree?--because the picture gently sways with each passing breeze.]

I am waiting for him.

video;

[quackery]

Oh! Are you from Alois' world?

video;

[stabilimentum]

Alois Trancy is my master.

video;

[quackery]

Oh!

A-Ah, you should probably come in! It's raining and everything, you might get sick! That'd be bad, especially on your first day!

video;

[stabilimentum]

Your concern doesn't go unappreciated, my lady.

However, my master and I are currently engaged in a game. [This one is a variation on charades, believe it or not. Which fairy tale does Claude represent right now?]

video;

[quackery]

It's nothing much to appreciate...

Oh, a game? What kind of game are you playing?

video;

[stabilimentum]

It is plenty to me.

This game is similar to "charades." That is to say, one party acts out something that the other must identify via guessing. [Though they were supposed to be playing hide-and-seek when he first arrived...

His master can be fickle, he supposes.]

video;

[quackery]

Oh, that sounds like fun! I bet Alois would be really good at something like that.

video;

[stabilimentum]

My master is quite skilled at many games of that nature.

[By now, Alois should be the champion for playing pretend.]

video;

[quackery]

Yeah, he is!

-Oh, I'm really sorry, I forgot to tell you my name! I'm Ahiru. What's yours?

video;

[stabilimentum]

You need not apologize, Miss Ahiru. My name is Claude Faustus.

voice;

[quackery]

[It's like the name hangs out on the air for a moment before she finally catches it; there's a spark of recognition, but not yet remembrance. Her eyes scan the ceiling, as though it will hold the significance of the name that she knows must exist somehow. Claude... A split second later, it clicks.

'I just wanted a fairy.'

No. No, no, no, no-

There's a short, nearly pained gasp as her face assumes an expression of shock, and - pain. Please, no. Her mouth hangs open, and her eyes widen, and she feels altogether small and powerless. There's a lingering sense of trust and acceptance towards him, even so, which only serves to frustrate her more in the end.]

You're Claude-?!

Q-Qua--

[Quickly, the device is switched from the video function to voice.]

video;

[stabilimentum]

[That is definitely one way of finding out whether or not Alois has spoken of his black butler to anyone else.]

...

[Was that a duck?]

Yes.

[Claude continues to use the video format, since he doesn't have anything to hide from another's eyes. It is still raining, there are still geese milling about, and he... has run out of lettuce. What a pity. Once the game is finished, assuming Alois doesn't want to play a new one immediately afterward, Claude can go get some more food for the birds. For now, he dusts off his hands--more force of habit than not, since his gloves are too wet to be dusted.]

My master has mentioned me, I should think.

voice;

[quackery]

[The reply is delayed a few minutes, but soon enough, the voice comes back, frantic and more than a little shrill.]

B-But you're not just his servant, are you?

video;

[stabilimentum]

[Claude hasn't moved anywhere else yet. Crouching down, but not entirely out of view, he reaches over to gently stroke one goose's dark, feathery head. The goose is accepting of that--weirdly docile despite earlier caution.]

We are constant companions, [he says, side-glancing the NV.]