Quack

[threateningflour]

Who: Coulson and anyone
What: Duck
Where: Highcrest
When: 3/16
Warnings: ridiculous ahead

[Along a dirt road in Highcrest this fine morning, one agent is continuing his daily stroll around Mallow Hallow. There is one difference today, a brood of ducklings are waddling after him.

As he crosses the road, the ducklings honk and try to rush across to follow him, prompting a frown on Coulson's face, so he turns back around, ushering them back to the side of the road and crouches down before them sternly]

Look both ways before crossing.

[No, he hasn't grown a soft spot for them. Why do you ask?]

Comments

[blueeyedflyboy]

_{[......he's seen this before somewhere....]}

...Are ducklings following one around a normal thing, here? This is the second time I've seen this occurrence.

[threateningflour]

[looks up]

Possibly. It's the first time for me.

[the ducklings crowd behind him, away from the stranger]

[blueeyedflyboy]

It is quite interesting.

_{[He watches the ducks for a moment, then kneels on the sidewalk nearby, placing a gloved hand on the ground. He then turns his attention back to the man, allowing the ducks to do their own thing.]}

As I said, I've seen it before. Once. They were following a young man in Astralfield. It's...

_{[He trails off, realizing that he's about to repeat himself.]}

They must like you.

[on_thin_ice]

[Jack laughs from his position on a branch]

Aww.

[threateningflour]

They imprinted on the wrong person.

[one of the ducklings waddle over to the gloved hand, suspicious]

[threateningflour]

[stands and looks up at him]

Can I help you?

[on_thin_ice]

Nope, just wanted to point and laugh, Mama Duck.

[petitvoleur]

[While Coulson is crouched down, a petite slip of a girl approaches silently and begins picking his pockets. She's bored, but stealing will always be a worthwhile pastime, and this man looks like he may have something of value on him.]

[threateningflour]

[the obvious items are a gun and a tazer and he's speaking without turning around]

I wouldn't do that.

[threateningflour]

They're just confused.

[one of the ducklings makes a suspiciously offended sound]

[on_thin_ice]

[He laughs.]

Ducks are smart. They taught me how to fly centuries ago. Or was that geese?

[threateningflour]

[centuries...]

Geese are smart and vicious.

[on_thin_ice]

They are? They didn't seem to mind...

[threateningflour]

They're territorial where I'm from.

[on_thin_ice]

Oh, that's still true.

But I'm not human so I pass!

[threateningflour]

What's your name?

[on_thin_ice]

It's Jack Frost.

[blueeyedflyboy]

_{[Balfour wisely pays the duckling no mind and continues to watch Coulson instead. He can see the little bird from his angle just fine, but any movements would likely startle it.]}

Even still, you seem to take very good care of them. Some would have just let them waddle out into traffic and not cared.

_{[Yeep. He'd seen that.]}

[threateningflour]

[arcs his eyebrows]

Personification of winter.

[threateningflour]

[it's a good idea because the duckling is inching ever closer, peering around the glove and back again]

Everyone deserves a chance.

[though he's certainly not sure if the ducklings understood him]

[on_thin_ice]

I like being called a person better, thank you very much.

[petitvoleur]

[She half-pulls out the weaponry, and, finding it disinteresting, doesn't bother. His warning, however, causes her to pause and very carefully pull away, standing at a reasonable distance. To be honest, she's embarrassed to be caught. She usually isn't.]

You're perceptive.

[threateningflour]

Mr. Frost then.

[threateningflour]

Habit. [he stands and turns to face her, giving his weapons a cursory check] Don't like letting my guard down.

[on_thin_ice]

[Weirdo]

Jack. It's Jack. Do I look that old to you?