forty second dance | video; tiny bit forward dated to midmorning!

[motioned]

[The face on the screen, when first she appears, looks a bit somber.]

I guess the longer you live here, the longer you learn to expect the unexpected, huh? But even then, I didn't think - I mean, Halloween passed, so I thought maybe nothing awful would happen. I've lived here for two years and it still catches me off guard, things like that. I just hope it wasn't anyone with powers behind it. If it was, they should be ashamed of themselves. But that's not what I wanted to talk about, even though I'm really sorry to anyone who saw things that hurt them.

[But then her expression brightens considerably.]

I wanted to talk about, um, being here so long, but it's not as self centered as it sounds, I promise - I guess I just wanted to thank everyone. I think I might have said already, but it's been two years today, and even though the first few months I hated it and just wanted to go home, I think I wouldn't be the same person I am now if I hadn't come here. Not just a different person, but not as good of a person, either. I mean, I've learned so much, and so many people have helped me learn that stuff, both stuff about me and stuff about life, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Maybe not for any world. I can't help but feel like this is my home. I've met so many people, so many amazing people, people I think of as family who I would never have even known about otherwise. And a lot of them aren't here anymore, some of the best people I've ever met, but I would much rather have known them and lost them than the alternative, you know?

[Her voice gets a bit thick, though it's not in the least unhappy, and she has to pause for a moment to recollect herself.]

So I guess, just - even though horrible things can happen here and things can get very bad, and everything seems dark, I just hope everyone here can find as much light in this island as I've been able to. But I know not everyone's as lucky as me, and I know there are people who have been through things I can't even imagine, so... I'm not the best with technology, but I guess since I'm saying this to everyone, you can all tell what my NV number is, so if everything gets to be too much - there's always someone you can talk to, even if I don't know you.

[Filtered to Fakir]
I need to talk to you.

[Filtered to Gilbert]
Are you busy?

Comments

action;

[retraced]

[Okay, he mostly believes her, but...]

But something is off...what happened?

action; not sorry never sorry

[motioned]

[She finishes putting the lettuce away, shutting the refrigerator before she looks back up towards him, a shade redder but grinning brightly, unabashedly.]

Dad, he - he told me he loves me.

[An excited almost-squeak, and a little bounce. Yep.]

action; 1/oh boy

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[Meanwhile, he moves to grab for the empty fruit bowl and sets it on the counter.]

I see. So then you're happy because -

action;

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[Aaand picks up the bag of apples.]

- he told you that he lo--

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[/RECORD SCRATCH]

action;

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[Wait, stop, rewind, go back to that last thing.]

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[Because there weren't very many words in that sentence, and yet somehow he still doesn't quite...understand.........it...........]

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[Someone loves her.

Has declared his love for her.

Her. His daughter. Well, daughter on paper and in the small compartment in his heart that actually manages to somehow understand the duty that is required behind the title of 'father' that she's been kind enough to give him in their time together here.]

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[retraced]

[But that's all just details! Unnecessary details, mind!]

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[Because there is no man on the face of this planet or any planet that will ever be good enough for his daughter!!!

Why doesn't text blink anymore, this tag would be so much funnier if it did.]

action;

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[In comedic slow-motion, the bag of apples casually slips from his hands, and one by one they hit the ground and roll across the floor, bumping into the legs of chairs and slipping underneath the edge of the cabinets, but even though it's his meticulously chosen produce (the selection which he's particularly proud of today!) he doesn't even seem to see it. At all.]

action;

[retraced]

[He knew this day would come. Damn - damn what would Uncle Oscar do?!

No! He can't ask himself that anymore! Uncle's methods have never worked for him! It's because he was never the man that Oscar Vessalius was...he couldn't even grow a damned beard no matter how hard he tried!!]

action;

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[So he does the next best thing to being a Man and Dealing With This Situation.

He gracefully falls to his knees to sit amongst his fallen, perfect produce and covers his face with his hand, lamenting over how he's not ready for this and wow he's the worst father ever.]

action;

[retraced]

[It's about then that he realizes he hasn't said anything in response to her very important declaration.

And he really should....

So then, after a silent moment where he blissfully doesn't pass out or something equally embarrassing from shock, he finally manages to ask from beneath his aura of failure:]

Ahiru...

action; fin

[retraced]

Is the lettuce okay...?

[NAILED IT.]

action;

[motioned]

[ah

just... staring...]

Y-Your apples...

action;

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[Blink. Blink...............]

They fell...

action;

[motioned]

[This might be the awkwardest moment of her life and that's saying a lot.]

I-I, um, I'll help you pick them up.

[Bending down...]

action;

[retraced]

[And he realizes, somehow, just how awkward he's made it.

So he offers as a useful excuse:]

I'm sorry...I was just so shocked by what you said I think I forgot to breathe...

action;

[motioned]

[WOW]

D-Don't do that!

action;

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[He grabs for an apple with a shaky hand, promptly drops it again and then picks it back up. Little apple, stop running away...]

T-this person...it was - Fakir?

[Because crawling on the ground trying to collect apples is the best place to continue this conversation.]

action;

[motioned]

Yeah, it was, but - you can stand up, you know! You don't have to stay down there...

[dad why are you awkward]

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A-and you're...happy about it?

[It's pretty obvious that she is, but you know. Just checking.

Also he'll just stay right here on the floor. It's better this way.]

action;

[motioned]

Of course I am! I mean, I... I don't think I've ever been so happy.

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[I don't think I've ever been so happy.

His eyes widen. Ahiru is a positive person, and someone who can keep that positivity no matter what sorts of terrible things happen here. No matter who leaves, who returns, she's never completely lost herself. She deserves nothing but happiness, in Gilbert's opinion, and if this is what makes her the happiest she's ever been...

Even though it pains him to think that she'll have to grow up and he'll have to deal with making sure that she's treated with nothing but respect...!

He'll just have to accept it. He'll have to.

But he still starts...crying. Just a little. There are definitely tears in his eyes and in his voice. DON'T LOOK AT HIM.]

Then...I'm glad.