jae voice test with me whines at

[unwaverings]

[ Well, okay. He wasn't sure why he was here in the first place — he doesn't even have a pet — but when he's given one of those shots, his suspicions only rise drastically. And now that he's in a kennel, well ... He might be pretty concerned.

He can't hear or see any of the Seraphim, either, but he tries calling out to them regardless, slipping his fingers through the cage end of the kennel and trying his best to see out of it. ]

Mikleo! Lailah! Edna! Zaveid! [ There's a pause as he waits, but when there's no answer, he just slumps over. He's not sure if he knows how to get out of this situation alone. Why did they disappear all of a sudden?

And he moves a hand to feel the spot on his arm where the needle went in, rubbing it gently. ] Ow ow ow ... What was that ...?

[ They don't have shots in Izuchi. Whoops. He hopes it didn't do anything seriously bad to him. ]

Comments

[imperia]

[ Ah, what a time for misunderstandings. With a doctor like T-Bone, though, Alfonse isn't surprised that the human would be mistaken as the pet – as bizarre as the whole situation is.

Wrapping one gloved hand around a front bar of the kennel, he tilts his head in Sorey's direction. ]

It looked like a shot of some kind . . . Are you all right?

[unwaverings]

[ O-Oh, someone else is here, and talking to him. He quickly searches for the source of the voice, and notices him in another kennel. ]

A shot? What did it do? [ He's not feeling anything. Yet. But more importantly: ] Ah — I'm all right! [ He's not going to worry this stranger! Instead ... ] What about you? Did they do anything to you?

[imperia]

[ He nods, a worried crease surfacing in his brow. ]

They did the same to me. From what I've gathered, these shots are meant to be preventative medicine for pets. He seems to have mistaken who the pet is, though.

[unwaverings]

[ Haah ... He has definitely clearly mistaken who the pet is. And what was that creature in the first place? He's never seen a monster that looks or acts like that. ]

Is anyone going to tell him he's got this backwards?

[imperia]

I tried to explain it to him when I was first brought here, but he was . . . preoccupied.

[ Doctor T-Bone is a garrulous professional. He never shuts up; therefore, he hears nothing. ]

[unwaverings]

[ Mmmnn. He doubts this is going to be fixed soon if other people are in here, too — it wasn't just a singular incident. So they'll have to make do — and Sorey will have to figure this out without the help of his friends. (Maybe the shot was what caused them to disappear? Agh, he should focus on the task at hand though—)

So he starts fingering the kennel bars and searching for some sort of way to get it open. ]

Then I guess we'll just have to get out of this on our own, huh?

[imperia]

[ Alfonse perks up at the roundabout proposal. He didn't see Sorey as a selfish sort of person, but receiving an invitation is always more certain and uplifting. ]

It looks like we have no other choice, but I'm sure that we can come up with something together. Do you have any ideas?

[unwaverings]

[ Don't worry, Alfonse. He's definitely going to get you both out of here. Even if he's just guessing on how to do so for now. ]

I might have one. [ Quietly inspecting it. ] If we can figure out how it's locked, we might be able to fiddle with it to get it open, right?

[ If it's built for pets, it should be easy, considering they're humans. ]

[imperia]

You're right! So all we have to do is experiment with the lock . . .

[ He searches for the lock on his kennel and, seeing it, also begins to inspect the design. The everyday kennel isn't difficult to figure out, but they're dealing with CERES technology. Their task won't be so easy. ]

Hm, what do you think?

[unwaverings]

[ He's going to try looking at the lock from as many angles as he can manage — being on this side of the bars makes it already difficult to do much with it. And it doesn't help that his fingers are kind of large ... reaching through the bars to fiddle with it is a challenge in itself. Not much room for movement.

But! Aside from the initial difficulty of even interacting with the lock, he ... doesn't think it looks particularly normal. ]

Aah, it looks a lot more complex than the kind of locks I'm used to. [ He's seen plenty of things from his exploration. But what is this technology? ]

[imperia]

[ Similarly, Alfonse fingers the lock from an equally awkward angle. He presses himself against the kennel bars in an attempt to better his view, but the improvement is so minuscule that he's still going about the task blindly. For the most part, he feels cool metal and not a keyhole where there might have been one. ]

Perhaps it runs on otherworldly technology like the rest of the colony . . . I don't think there's a keyhole.

[unwaverings]

[ Hmmnn. That's going to complicate things a little.

Sorey will keep feeling it idly while he thinks, though. ]

There's gotta be some way to make it some running then ... [ Hmm. ] I wonder if we can break it somehow.

[ He doesn't have enough understanding of this technology to think of any other way to stop it from running — ]

[imperia]

I'd rather that we don't break anything, but . . .

[ Really, what other choice do they have? Does this lock even run on electricity? A thought occurs to Alfonse all of a sudden, and he leans back. ]

Perhaps we can use some magical intervention.

[unwaverings]

[ Oh. That's an idea. An idea that Sorey is currently incapable of, but. If this guy is suggesting it, then maybe he's capable? ]

Huh? Can you use magic?

[ Pls explain the plan. ]

[imperia]

[ It's all a basic theory until they try it, but it's better than pulling at a lock that's been melded into the bar. ]

I've still got a lot to learn, but I can. If this lock runs on technology, we may be able to unlock it by giving it some kind of a jolt. I believe lightning should work.

[unwaverings]

[ Okay, you've got him super interested now and please excuse his obvious excitement. ]

Whoa, that's amazing! Can you really do that?!

[imperia]

[ Even knowing their situation, Alfonse chuckles. ]

I can try. Let's see . . .

[ He's fortunate to still have the orbs set. Calling upon the latent magic resting in them, a purple glyph appears on the bottom of the kennel under Alfonse as he chants in a low voice: Thunder upon you. A bolt of lightning descends from above, striking the lock and seemingly altering something within the system as a click sounds – to his additional luck, he doesn't get struck despite the close proximity of the spell.

He gives a quick push, and the kennel door opens. ]

Ah, there we go!

[unwaverings]

[ WOW!!!! Alfonse might hear some sounds of amazement coming from Sorey's kennel, as he's pushed up against the bars and trying to get the best view he can of that lightning strike. And the smile that forms on his face almost makes it seem like their entire situation has melted away from his mind, and he's not still stuck in some cramped cage. ]

You did it! That was so cool! And it struck right onto the lock, too! [ AaaaAAAHH. ] You've gotta show me that again later!

[ When he can see it better!! ]

[imperia]

[ Alfonse wastes no time – he crawls out of the kennel and all but dives for Sorey's lock, ignoring the wave of nausea that almost knocks him off of his feet. He casts another spell to disable the lock, then swings the kennel door open and offers a hand to Sorey. ]

Once we're out of here, I can show you as many times as you'd like. We should let Dr. T-Bone know that he's got the wrong animals.

[unwaverings]

[ Aaah! Seeing it a second time is just as exciting! And the way he watches like he's a child in a candy store should give away how much he's enjoying this. And he got to be so close to it this time, too ...

But he's quick to take Alfonse's hand, crawling out of the kennel and feeling slightly dizzy once he stands up. He blinks his eyes a little in response, and decides to ignore it, blaming it maybe on how fast he stood up after being stuck in there.

AND HE IS EXCITED TO SEE THE SPELL AGAIN LATER but yes. Business to attend to. ]

Yeah. Who knows how many other people they've done this to. [ There could be other rooms with them, or something. ] ... Or if they're doing it to someone right now. We should hurry.

[imperia]

[ Nodding, Alfonse moves toward the door he remembers entering the room through. The door opens on its own with a hiss, and he peers out to check that nobody's out in the hall. He looks over his shoulder at Sorey. ]

We'll check the other rooms as we go. I'd hate for someone else to be in the same predicament that we were.

[unwaverings]

[ Aah, he's glad out of anyone else he could've been stuck in this situation with, it's this guy. They seem to be on the same page. And his magic is extremely helpful, of course. ]

Yeah. I was lucky enough to be put in a room with you. Other people might not be so lucky.

[ You really helped him, okay.

But he'll make his way out the door then! ]

[imperia]

In that case, we should help them.

Here, we can split which rooms we check. I'll take the right side of the hallway.

[ The doors spaced along the hallway open without resistance. To Alfonse's relief, the kennels in the many rooms on the right side are empty, and he begins to suspect that they were the only ones to be caged, much less present, or that the other victims have also made a successful escape. Eventually, he turns to face Sorey. ]

Do you see anyone?

[unwaverings]

[ He nods to that. ]

Then I'll take the left.

[ Aaand, he'll check all the rooms on his side of the hallway, being sure to look closely just in case he might miss someone. But he doesn't hear or see anyone in any of his rooms either.

And just before he's about to turn to face Alfonse, another dizziness spell hits him, causing him to touch his fingers to his forehead and close his eyes for a second. He guesses it wasn't his standing up earlier that caused it. But he'll keep ignoring it, instead turning to face Alfonse and shaking his head. ]

I haven't seen anyone. Maybe it was just us.

[ In which case that's a relief. ]

[imperia]

[ He tilts his head at Sorey's odd display and verges on staring by the time he hears the answer. That's good, then; they can move on from this place, but before that: ]

Perhaps . . . By the way, how are you feeling?

[unwaverings]

[ Asking Sorey how he's feeling isn't going to get much out of him unless he's on his knees in some sort of visible pain. And he isn't! At least, not right now.

He'd prefer not to worry Alfonse, so he just places a hand on the back of his head. ]

Huh? I'm fine. [ A pause. Just in case. ] What about you?

[imperia]

[ He'll take Sorey's word for it – that is, barring any future gestures like the one he just saw. Alfonse would rather that they get out of here first before addressing any potential consequences of that strange shot for pets. ]

I'm the same . . . Well, let's see if we can find Dr. T-Bone and inform him of this severe misunderstanding.

[unwaverings]

[ Ah, that's a relief. ]

I'm glad to hear that. [ He'd hate for Alfonse to be having problems, too. As long as it's just Sorey, he can deal with it.

But he nods. ]

Yeah, he needs to know.

[ And he will start walking down the hallway again! ]

[imperia]

[ It's just their luck that, by nobody, there really is nobody in the hallway besides them. No matter how many rooms or nook and cranny they check, there's no sign of anyone else or the doctor. Eventually, they reach the exit that empties into the receptionist area and Alfonse cups his chin in thought. ]

There's no sign of him . . . I guess he isn't here anymore.

[unwaverings]

[ Mmmnn, looking around the room. ]

Not just him. It's like we're the only ones here. [ This just keeps getting weirder. ] Why would they put us in cages like that and then leave?

[ Seriously, man. When were they planning on coming back? How long were they going to be left there?

He's going to walk over the receptionist desk to check if any helpful clues were left there, when he's ... hit with more dizziness and all but trips into the desk, catching himself on it. And he'll raise a hand to his forehead. This is getting harder to hide. ]

[imperia]

[ Alfonse is just opening his mouth to answer when he rushes over to Sorey's side after that unsteady display, his eyes wide. He hovers a hand near Sorey's back, unsure if he should clamp down on the other man's shoulder as a reassuring gesture. ]

So you are feeling unwell! Are you hurt?

[unwaverings]

[ Aaah, he sounds upset. But Sorey just smiles, standing up a little straighter and placing a hand behind his head. Whoops, he didn't mean to worry him ... ]

I-I'm not hurt! Just a little dizzy, that's all. It's fine!

[imperia]

[ A little dizzy, eh. Truth be told, he also felt the same before, although not so much anymore. Alfonse's brow creases out of concern. ]

It must a side effect of the shot you received earlier . . . We should take you to a doctor.

[ A human doctor, not T-Bone. ]