Hey there! Did you know that yearly check-ups are the best preventative medicine you can give to your darling CYbuddy? Their health is of the utmost importance and from the Pomeranian to the Velociraptor, it's so very necessary to give your CYbuddy what he or she needs to be as happy and healthy as can be. After all, CYbuddies are the first and last defense in the war against loneliness, so you must do your best to protect the ones you have! You wouldn't want to be a friendless CYbuddy-less loser, would you? Through thick and thin, rain or shine, your CYbuddy will love you forever. And ever. And ever. Do not disappoint your CYbuddy.
You blink and suddenly find yourself in what looks like a doctor's waiting room, completely alone aside from the robot receptionist. Posters line the walls in various degrees of friendliness. Actually, is this the vet? It kind of looks like the vet. In fact, when you look down towards your lap, there will be a creature snoozing comfortably on you. Really, how did you not notice? The creature's collar names him Fluffy. (That's a dumb name, why did you name your pet Fluffy? Be more creative!) If you decide to call out to the receptionist, they will ignore you, but soon after you will hear clacking of sharp nails on the floor as someone -- or something -- comes out of the back room.
No worries, it's just the doctor.
 Greetings! My name is Thelonious T-Bone the Third and I will be Fluffy's doctor today. I will take good care of your dear Fluffy and be right back to you with him or her in a jiffy. You can, of course, completely trust me for I am the best in the business! No other Velociraptor can treat and heal pets as well as I, most certainly. But there is one tiny little thing, you see. My nurse is out sick today and my hands are too small and dangerous to work well without accidentally killing your poor pet. So, to make up for this, I will need you to be my nurse today. Do you think you can handle that?
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PHASE I [ 09 00 ] Welcome to ViViD's state of the art pet care simulator. It looks like everyone is ready and willing to get started -- maybe a little too eager to get started. There seems to have been a minor misunderstanding actually and Dr. T-Bone seems to think that... well, that you're the pet. Didn't he see Fluffy's collar? (Still, such a dumb name!)
If you don't think fast, you're likely to be shoved into a kennel or forced into getting really uncomfortable shots (to prevent rabies, you see; side effects include dizziness, nausea, sprouting animal ears for a few hours and the increased desire to bite people). At least you'll have company since it looks like this mistake is happening to everyone. Might as well get cozy and get to know the people stuck in the kennels next to you while you're here.
PHASE II [ 1200 ] It's time to actually be the nurse! And time to treat one of Dr. T-Bone's most prominent clients. You will be led to, well, a dinosaur -- a T-Rex to be exact. And you will be told that your job is to take care of its teeth.
That's right. Someone has to clean all of those teeth. And it looks like you're the lucky sap who got the job. Don't worry, the Tyrannosaurus Rex's name tag proclaims it to be vegan (and to go by the name of Sir Gadzooks) so it should be perfectly safe to reach into that gaping maw and start cleaning those teeth.
Alternatively, you could make your dental assistant do it; looks like you weren't the only one to get dragged into this farce. The question is, which one is handling the sharp pointy objects, and which one is sticking their hand into that mouth?
Also, it's not really a vegan dinosaur, that was a great big lie. And it's very, very hungry -- now might be a good time to run.
PHASE III [ 1300 ] Hope you weren't doing anything important (like sticking your hand into the mouth of a dinosaur), because someone is now throwing a blindfold over your eyes and hustling you right into the basement. A couple of twists and turns later, and you're being shoved into what appears to be an underground... peacock fighting ring? With a jaunty peacock headband on and none of your weapons on you, it seems as though you've been mistaken for a particularly ugly peacock and have been tossed into the ring.
Look out though. Those peacocks look mean. They'll go straight for the eyes if they get the chance, and will peck away merrily at your head. Of course, the walls aren't that high all things considered (they're peacocks), so it probably wouldn't be that hard to escape the ring.
(Or, if you manage to find your way down there yourself, you can always join in on the ludicrously outlandish betting pool. It might be a good way to get some cash -- if you bet on the right peacock.
Actually, is that Mr. T-Bone in the crowd too? Someone get the quack out of here!)
PHASE IV [ 1600 ] There's someone whispering.
It's a quiet, throaty whisper, and no matter where you are in the ViViD level, you can hear it. Sometimes, it's clearer than others. Sometimes, it can barely be heard at all. But it's always there, whispering, "Come closer. Come closer. Come closer."
If you should gather up your courage and follow those whispers, they will lead you to a... bird. Upon seeing you, the bird will begin to speak again in that throaty whisper, this time detailing the destruction of your world, down to the tiniest of details, such as the look on your best friend's face as they died, or the last words of your most important person. It's almost hypnotic, so much so that you can't pull away --
And just like that, the bird squawks, and it's over. What was that about? Hopefully nobody else heard all of that.
BONUS [ xxxx ] You go to speak with the vet, whether to complain about your treatment at the hands of the others, the fact that you had to play dino dentistry or to let him know that there's an illegal peacock fighting ring below his practice, and before you know it there's talk of "just to be safe" and "you never know what someone with an attitude like that will do" -- which, what? All of a sudden Dr. T-Bone and his receptionist are shoving you into a cone of shame. How embarrassing! And no matter what you do, it just won't come off.
In fact, if nothing else, it seems magnetically attracted to the walls and anyone else wearing one. If one of those poor fools happen to be within a ten foot radius of you, prepare yourselves for a massive collision. What a pain, right? It seems like the cones won't come off until you (and your magnetic partner) get out of this confounded level. If only you could find the exit (and Fluffy too -- where'd he get off to?)
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[Quatre isn't sure how he got here. For one thing, he doesn't have a pet. For another thing, this isn't where he's supposed to be. It's confusing, and whatever explanations have been thrown at him sound far-fetched at best. He doesn't know what to think, and maybe it's a blessing in a way, that he's been swept up in whatever this is, so he's not left to think on what's really happened, where his friends are.
However, being jabbed with a needle and tossed into a kennel is not exactly helping anything at all. The blond is, well, trying desperately to be reasonable about this. It's not going so well.]
Excuse me..! [Calling out through the bars as politely as he can, while he wavers on his feet, dizzy and chewing on his bottom lip. He's yet to notice the fact that he's acquired a pair of pointed cat ears the same platinum blonde color as his hair.] Excuse me, there's been a mistake here. I think I can explain if you--
[All right. If diplomacy fails, Quatre will use force, if he has to. Or better yet, maybe he can find some allies to help in this. He turns his attention about to see who else is in this predicament.] They've got you too, then. There has to be a way out of here! [Quatre votes teamwork. And hey, he hasn't tried biting anyone -- yet -- so this should work out fine.]
[Phase II]
[This though? This is when diplomacy fails entirely. Quatre is disoriented enough, that for a good second he wobbles on his feet before realizing that... yes. Those are peacocks.] Ah...
[And then Quatre finds himself dodging birds. And at least he's more agile, quicker than one might expect first seeing him. He's kept his eyes safe anyway, but he doesn't hesitate to run for the wall, leaping and hauling himself out. Or mostly out -- one of the peacocks catches the pant-leg of his khakis and the blond winds up scrabbling to hold himself up and shake the bird free.] This is really... getting ridiculous. [Give him a hand? Maybe?]
[Phase IV]
[Quatre heard the explanation when he first arrived, and now that voice. There's no ignoring it. He followed the whispers all right, straight to the strange bird and he can picture it all in his head too vividly. And it hits the pilot hard, nearly knocks the breath out of him. Trowa... Duo... Heero... Wufei... The Maganacs. All his sisters. Everyone. Gone, and he's here and.
Quatre wears his heart on his sleeve at the best of times, and it's not the best of time. His hand is curled into the front of his shirt and blue eyes are visibly full of tears.] Everyone is... [Gone... It can't be true. But he's in this strange place, who's to say what's true anymore? He's lost enough in his thoughts as he wanders that he may walk straight into you without realizing, though he's quick to murmur a soft,] Sorry... I should be paying better attention. [He even tries for a smile, apologetic.]
3
Come on. [ Which is why she didn't hesitate to help haul Quatre out, her reinforced strength more than enough to throw him right over the bar, pants-peacock and all. ] How did a boy even get into the peacock ring?
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But today seems entirely too full of strange things. [This? Not even the strangest. Strange enough that he hasn't even managed to notice the pretty feathery headband he's been given. He manages a smile even between shooing the still-aggressive peacock away -- and getting his hands pecked at for his troubles.] Thanks for your help though. Somehow that's not the worst place I've wound up today though. Is this place always so backwards? It feels like a bad dream...
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But questions can wait, it looks like we'll have to dash unless you want to fight more peacocks! [ The handlers seem pissed that one of their fighters had left the ring, and they were now rounding up on Quatre and Nanoha, cages full of other, more loyal peacocks with them. ]
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[Nothing to do but figure it out. BUt right now he has a peacock to chase off. ...and then they have another problem. Quatre frowns, and for just a moment he considers making a stand because this isn't right! And these people shouldn't do this to other people, or to these birds.
But well. They are outnumbered, so maybe retreating isn't a bad idea.] I'd rather not. I don't think it's really my calling.
[So then he inclines his head to the left.] This way! [Looks like a hallway. Hallways have doors. Maybe.]
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I'd say to report them to the police when we're out of here, but I'm not actually sure how useful the police are... [ She seems to be thinking even as she's keeping pace with the younger boy, trying to consider the possibilities. ]
We're going to bust out of this joint either way, but how would you feel about busting up this joint on our way out?
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[He's a pacifist at heart, after all. He's willing to fight for that ideal, but maybe not peacocks. That seems unnecessary. And unkind to the peacocks. ...including him. He should really ditch that headband, but right now he's busy escaping.
He frowns at her assessment.] That's not a good sign... [About the police. And he's already wondering about the people running this entire place. He glances over, lifting an eyebrow at that.]
Busting it up? [Well... considering what they're doing here? It's not exactly like taking out an Oz base, but the principle is basically the same right? So Quatre nods.] Any place running this sort of organization can't be doing any good. [He's totally in.]
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Over here! [ She turns the first corner they see and ducks into the next open room, locking the door behind her. It seems to be some kind of doctor's office. At least they take care of their peacocks? ]
Alright. We're safe for a while, so let's gather ourselves and come up with a plan. First: I'm Nanoha, Takamachi Nanoha. If we're fighting together, we should know each other's names, right?
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[Slow down, Quat. It's a peacock fighting ring, not a war. But his point stands.
Once they're behind a locked door, he's happy for introductions.] Quatre Raberba Winner. [And for once he's quite sure his family name doesn't carry the connotations it usually does.] It's good to meet you. [Another smile.] And thank you, for helping me out back there. [So now yes. About that plan.]
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We should probably work to get the peacocks out. Just freeing them can lead to its own problems, but it's better than having them fight to the death here, probably. But more importantly, we should get evidence of the illegal activity and the ringleaders themselves. If we can throw both at the police here, they may be bad, but they aren't corrupt, so they'll have to toss them in jail. [ Nanoha didn't approve of just crippling them so they could never work again, though that was probably actually the easiest option. ]
As for the actual plan of action, there's only one door so we either smash out way out guns blazing, or... Use the air vents? I could just blast through the walls too, if that's too difficult.
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But now they have business to attend. Admittedly he's not used to involving the authorities but in this case he thinks it's a good idea. After all, it is only the two of them.]
Considering we're only two people, a full on assault might not get us as far as a little stealth might. I vote the air vents. We can circle back and start closer to the fighting ring. That's where the peacocks will be right? And any evidence we could easily grab.
[A sheepish laugh,] This isn't like the missions I'm used to.
what is this deus ex?
I'm more used to going in guns blazing, but it's not always the smartest way to do things. We don't want them to be on high alert and bring everyone in, it'd end up causing way too much damage. [ To them, probably, but even so. ] Or worse, they could all end up just running away.
Ahaha. Maybe.
Once he's settled, he turns towards her to offer a hand to help her up. Quatre is nothing if not polite.] I have friends who favor that method. But this time around... mm. It's better if no one starts running. And better if no one gets hurt.
[Hopefully anyway. But Quatre figures they'll do what they have to.]
Talking like that... are you a soldier?
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Hmm. I was a soldier, but that was before Cerealia. I was a combat instructor too, raising combat magi was actually my main job! Nowadays I'm just a bodyguard-for-hire.
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But he can't think on that just now. It'll paralyze him, and he needs to keep moving forward right now.]
Combat magi?
[Not a term he's heard before. Conversation as they crawl through ducts. Hmm. He stops at another grate though, peering down. Looks like hallway to him, and he doesn't see or hear anything. Hmm.] We can slip out here?
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newtypes how do they work and is quatre even one
shh what plotholes and loose ends
no such thing duh
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APPS OPEN JUST MAKING SURE YOU KNOW
Yesssss I got app number QUAT...orze. SO CLOSE.
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4
What better way to stop thinking about what happened then to help someone out? When she made her way toward him, it was clear that he probably went through the same thing he did. But...]
H-Hey, is everything okay? You look a little lost there.
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I think that's exactly what I am. Maybe more than a little lost.
[Lost and confused. if this is what happened to his world, if those things are true, how is it that he's the only one left standing? It doesn't seem right.]
I don't think I understand this place at all yet.
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With a forced smile on her face, she placed her hands on her hips, she wanted to appear confident to him]
Then you've come to the right person! I think I might know my way around here! All you have to do is just keep on looking and you'll find a way out eventually!
[Was it clear that she has no idea what she was doing?]
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Chances are she has more of a clue than he does. Considering his baseline in this place is zero -- no clue where he is or how he got here or how to even begin trying to put these pieces together. He will. He just hasn't had a moment to regroup and think yet.]
Is that so? If it's not too much trouble, maybe you could help me?
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Instead? She immediately pointed to a certain direction in hopes he might go along with her!]
Of course, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't! We'll just go this way and I think we'll be able to get out in no time!
[Without even thinking about it, she grabbed his hand and went toward said direction!]
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So he nods.] This way then. It'd be... good to get out of here. I don't really know what to think about all of this yet.
[But wait. Where are his manners.] I'm Quatre, by the way. Quatre Raberba Winner.
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[Based on how immediate her words were, she also wanted to get out of this place and fast. At this point, her grip around her new friend tighten as her paced picked up just a bit.
Oh right, talking, maybe that will help distract her! Quick, make him laugh or something!]
It's nice to meet you, the name's Anna!
But with a last name like yours, I guess I got a sure Winner with me if we'll get out of here safely!
[Aahahhahaha....ha....haaa...]
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[Quatre looks surprised at that. That's... an option. But not in his nature, unfortunately. He thinks entirely too much about things.]
It's good to meet you too, Anna. I-- [Oh. That was pretty bad, but Quatre ducks his head with a laugh. She's cute. And definitely trying hard.] I suppose that's true, though not a very helpful one!
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[That was when her pace went just a bit faster. If he heard very carefully, he might hear her mumbling something about her sister and something about her home too.]
Oh c'mon, what's that kind of talk for? You're totally helping me out! I mean, you're keeping me company aren't you? That's more than enough for me, you know!
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We are. I'm glad. Somehow it seems easier to handle working together. [He means it too. Company helps.] How long has it been since they brought you to this place?