[IMPROMPTU] Text for Service

[knux400]

[content warnings: i don't know!!!!!! i am very very bored and attempting to run a quest ENTIRELY by the seat of my pants. if something comes up i'll CW for it in the beginning of that post and spoiler the relevant sections.]

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...

























...It's officially been 4 hours now. There's no clock on the wall or anything, but I've been counting on my phone.

The receptionist saw us, took Stream in, and then... nothing. Total silence.
Not a single person has come in or out of the waiting room since the receptionist left. They haven't even come back to their spot. If anyone else were here, they'd be worse off than we are right now.

It was 9:43 when we came in. It's now pushing midnight.

I've already shouted into all the hallways I can see from here, and I've rung the bell on the counter so many times I'm surprised it hasn't exploded or something. I sigh and glance around again. I don't know why, it's the same damn room I've been glancing at for hours. I feel like I've memorized every inch of this place.

Except...

No.

That sign was not there before. There's no way I wouldn't have seen it before now.

It's mounted onto the wall in a little frame, for crying out loud. There's no way anyone could have put it up when I wasn't looking. Did I doze off for a while? I might have. I don't remember.

"TEXT 22977 FOR HELP"

That's it. No indication of what to text, or how this would help me in any way. Muttering under my breath, I pull out my phone.

(776)-832867: im in the waiting room and the receptionist hasnt come back. can you tell me how my friend is doing?
(776)-832867: my name is Balld'r Slatecase. remember to put the apostrophe in otherwise it wont come up. friend's name is Stream Corobanon. i brought him in for a persistent migraine and the receptionist said theyd check him out?? didnt get her name but shes literally the only one here i think.
(776)-832867: is anyone in the building rn???

There. A bit rude, but it's not like it's unwarranted at this point. I let my hand drop to my side and lean back in the awful waiting room chair, sighing.

[skinstealer]

what kind of place is this? what is your friend doing here that could be taking so long?

[Guest]

Maybe stop yelling down hallways and start actually exploring them. You're going to get any answers without looking for them yourself. (If they give you any shit when you inevitably go somewhere you aren't supposed to, just tell them the Help Number Lizard told you to do it.)

[knux400]

A few moments later, my phone buzzes.

75-(467)-832537: what kind of place is this? what is your friend doing here that could be taking so long?

Are you shitting me.

How do they not know-

(546)-425630: Maybe stop yelling down hallways and start actually exploring them. You're not going to get any answers without looking for them yourself. (If they give you any shit when you inevitably go somewhere you aren't supposed to, just tell them the Help Number Lizard told you to do it.)

The Help Number Lizard????? Who do these people think they are?

...

...Still, the second one raises a decent point. The worst they can do is yell at me and tell me to go back to the waiting room. I'll just explain my situation again in much clearer terms, since apparently the people that work here don't even know where they're working.

(776)-832867: my friend Stream was admitted to the hospital (you know, the hospital you work for????) for a persistent migraine and bits of crust in his head fluid. hes an OBJ so that kind of shit is important to get looked at
(776)-832867: i checked in at 9:43. it is now 11:54. not a single soul has been in this room aside from myself since the receptionist took Stream into the back
(776)-832867: going to just wander around i guess. thanks??

I jam my phone in my pocket and glance around again. Nothing.



Except...




...The sign's gone.

Thank fuck I have the number in my phone now, at least. For all the good it's done me so far.




I walk around behind the receptionist booth and try the door Stream went in a few hours ago. Surprisingly, it's not locked.

Inside, I see a completely unmarked hallway. The only indication of anything are these tiny silver plates on some of the doors. The one I just went through says "WAIT". There's two blank doors, one to the left and one to the right, a door labeled "PHRM", a door labeled "LNGE", and a door labeled "REST".

[Guest]

Pharmacy, Lounge, Restroom it looks like.
Pharmacy would likely get you in contact with staff on the job that wouldn't want to talk to you, so maybe check LNGE first? (Don't worry how I'm reading the signs.)

[skinstealer]

ohh right. hospitals. maybe i should get checked...

rest sounds good. maybe you can take a nap.

[knux400]

My phone buzzes again. Apparently the Help Number Lizard isn't done with me yet. I wonder if it's just the one lizard, or if they're all lizards. Let's see...

(546)-425630: Pharmacy, Lounge, Restroom it looks like.
Pharmacy would likely get you in contact with staff on the job that wouldn't want to talk to you, so maybe check LNGE first? (Don't worry how I'm reading the signs.) 

I stare at my phone blankly for a few seconds. Don't worry how they're reading the signs???? That wouldn't have even occurred to me until they brought it up. Now I'm even more worried than I was before.

Okay. So I'm stuck in an empty hospital with what appears to be some kind of paranormal bullshit help line. Fine. At least this explains why they don't seem to be part of the hospital staff. As long as they don't rip my soul out or something, there's probably no harm talking to them. It's not like I have any other company right now.

75-(467)-832537: ohh right. hospitals. maybe i should get checked...
rest sounds good. maybe you can take a nap. 

As much as I'd love to take a nap, I'd rather figure out where Stream went. I mean, he's probably still in the building, but since it's become clear to me that the building is semi-haunted or something, I'd say finding him is more of a concern.

(776)-832867: going to lounge. pretty sure the other person is right about REST being a restroom, and i dont need to go rn.
(776)-832867: should i even be bothering texting you??? apparently you can see the shit im doing so.
(776)-832867: re the number with the extra two digits for some reason: definitely get checked. unless youre a ghost already in which case i dont think theres much they can do for you.
(776)-832867: who tf are you people anyway????

I open the door to the lounge. Just like the rest of the building, it's completely devoid of life. It seems to be a sort of cafeteria thing, with some kind of restaurant booth that has a shutter down over it right now. There's a condiment station on one side, complete with spice packets, napkins, and sauce dispensers with tiny little cups. On the opposite wall is a row of vending machines with various drinks and snacks. Filling the majority of the room are a bunch of little round tables, each with four chairs orbiting them. It's all very orderly, and every single chair has been pushed in. Everything is remarkably clean, and I can't spot a hint of any activity ever having happened here. There don't seem to be any exits in this room aside from the door I just came in.

I brought my wallet with me, so I could get something from the vending machines if I wanted to pay. Without money, my only options are questionable drinking fountain water and tiny cups of sauce. Aside from that, there isn't much of note here.

[author's note: although this quest is taking place on Morbit, the people on the other end of the phones can be anyone from anywhere! it's entirely up to you if you want to play as yourself or as a character.]

[Lilium Mortem]

mmm hreey. have you tried calling any kind of help line for the hospital? not this one, I don't think any of us work for the hospital lol. definitely magic or something. you can probably find the number on their website.

[Guest]

I already told you. I'm a lizard connected to the Help Number. I figured Help Number Lizard was pretty self explanatory.

That aside, get some water before heading out. Even if it's not trustworthy I think I trust the fountain water more than the tap. And an option to hydrate is good depending on how long you'll be stuck here.

[knux400]

Aaaand there goes my phone again.

(545)-406678: mmm hreey. have you tried calling any kind of help line for the hospital? not this one, I don't think any of us work for the hospital lol. definitely magic or something. you can probably find the number on their website. 

Thaaaaat would be great if I had one of those fancy phones that has a web browser in it. My phone just makes calls, sends texts, and plays Breakout, Snake, and Space War. All three of which I've already played to the point of boredom.

(546)-425630: I already told you. I'm a lizard connected to the Help Number. I figured Help Number Lizard was pretty self explanatory.
That aside, get some water before heading out. Even if it's not trustworthy I think I trust the fountain water more than the tap. And an option to hydrate is good depending on how long you'll be stuck here.

I was really, really hoping they didn't mean that literally. As far as I'm aware, lizards are one of those animals from another dimension that kind of look like some of the things we have here, but they don't actually exist, except there's lizard TCPs so they kind of do. I had to do a whole paper on TCPs in high school, that shit still gives me a headache. Probably sucks worse for them though if they're connected to a help line. It's probably jammed in the back of their neck or something.

Right. Water. Because apparently that's the best thing the lizards can come up with.


...



It's lukewarm, has that weird tap water taste, and is overall very non-refreshing, but it's still water. Best to stay hydrated.

(776)-832867: got some water
(776)-832867: third person, do you really think id be texting you if i knew the hospitals phone number or had any way of accessing it at all?
(776)-832867: trust me, i would give anything to talk to an actual member of hospital staff instead of lizards/ghosts/whatever you are.

I flip my phone closed angrily and jam it in my pocket.




...




I sigh.

Realistically, I remind myself, I probably shouldn't be acting rudely towards these things. They do seem to be trying to help, and they're the best resource I have right now. It'd probably be better not to upset them.

I mean, hell, maybe lizards are just like this on whatever planet they're from. I don't know.

(776)-832867: sorry
(776)-832867: kinda stressed out rn
(776)-832867: is there anything else i should do in here before i leave?

[skinstealer]

i can give you cheat codes for space war
helps one sort the thoughts

[Lilium Mortem]

idk dude, its late, I've forgotten more imporrtant stuff then that before. you better just get a move on. wait a second, *does* space war have cheat codes? lemme look that up real quick

ok... doesn't look like the original had any cheat codes since its like. one of the first videos games ever, and if its running on a dumb phone it either doesn't have any secrets or it'd be too obscure to have any easily findable documentation. 75-(467)-832537, I'm calling you out.

[King-Clod]

Check out the PHRM. See if there's any workers there.

[knux400]

75-(467)-832537: i can give you cheat codes for space war
helps one sort the thoughts

Don't be rude, don't be rude, don't be rude...

(776)-832867: uhhh maybe later? not really interested in video games rn

(545)-406678: idk dude, its late, I've forgotten more imporrtant stuff then that before. you better just get a move on. wait a second, *does* space war have cheat codes? lemme look that up real quick

oh my fucking god.

(545)-406678: ok... doesn't look like the original had any cheat codes since its like. one of the first videos games ever, and if its running on a dumb phone it either doesn't have any secrets or it'd be too obscure to have any easily findable documentation. 75-(467)-832537, I'm calling you out. 

Alright, fuck it. If these lizards are going to go off on random-ass tangents instead of being actually helpful, I'm going to go ahead and give them a piece of my mi-

(546)-425630: Check out the PHRM. See if there's any workers there.

...



I mash the backspace button, erasing my totally awesome comeback, before replying.

(776)-832867: heading to pharmacy now.

I head back into the hallway and open the door labeled "PHRM".

Again, it's completely barren. There's a few chairs in here, as well as some little stand-y rope-y things to indicate where people should be waiting in line. There's one of those rolling-letter displays up top, presumably to put people's names up when they're being served, but I can only guess since it's blank right now. There's shelves full of various drug store goods- cough syrup, cold medicine, band-aids, things like that. There's a large counter at the far end of the room, with a plexiglass wall blocking the entire thing from being climbed over. Looking around, there's no other way into the back area that I can see.

Behind the counter are more shelves full of bottles with labels I can't read from here, presumably the prescription stuff. There's large empty spots in some of the shelves, and a few of the bottles look misplaced. Approaching the counter and standing on my tiptoes, I can just barely make out some stray pills and empty bottles on the floor. After that, there's a corner and I can't see anything else. There's muffled noises coming from around the corner.

No exits in this room aside from the door I came through.

[Lilium Mortem]

see if you can call out to anyone, if no one answers, then go check somewhere else, theres nothing you need here, even if you did feel like shoplifting.

also don't call *me* a lizard. I'm a dragon, its insulting. this magical phone help-line isn't *just* staffed by lizards.

[King-Clod]

hi, lizard here, I disagree. We gotta survival horror this shit. Grab bandages, antiseptic, and pain killers before anyone comes into view. And investigate the noise around the corner quietly.

[knux400]

CW: Emeto, Drug Use (kind of)

(545)-406678: see if you can call out to anyone, if no one answers, then go check somewhere else, theres nothing you need here, even if you did feel like shoplifting.
(545)-406678: also don't call *me* a lizard. I'm a dragon, its insulting. this magical phone help-line isn't *just* staffed by lizards. 

(546)-425630: hi, lizard here, I disagree. We gotta survival horror this shit. Grab bandages, antiseptic, and pain killers before anyone comes into view. And investigate the noise around the corner quietly.

Great, now the lizards are disagreeing.

Seeing as I can't actually get behind the counter to investigate myself, I settle for calling out.

"Hello? Is someone there?"

The rustling stops. There's a moment of silence where I can't shake the feeling that was a really bad idea.





Someone steps around the corner. A Dopple, it looks like. They walk slowly towards me, their face expressionless.

"Heyyyyy buddy. You doing okay?"

No response. They keep moving closer. Suddenly I'm extremely grateful for this thick sheet of plexiglass between us.

"Um. Have you seen anyone else around? Staff, maybe?"

They lean down towards the small hole for passing things through, peering at me. I back away from the counter.

"Uh. Are you trying to talk, or-"

Without warning, the dopple shoves an entire bottle of prescription medication in their mouth. Bottle included. I have an extremely grisly view of shards of plastic, shreds of paper, and little pink tablets all being crunched together like some kind of awful cereal. All at once, they swallow it down with a sickening gulp.

"Whoa. Okay, dude. You can't be doing that. This is prescription stuff-"

A guttural hacking noise erupts from the dopple's throat as it opens its mouth far wider than should be physically possible. I just barely have time to duck out of the way as a glob of pink goo shoots through the opening and smacks into the back of a chair, hissing and bubbling quietly.

Right. Fuck it. I officially no longer care about theft.

I scan the shelves and quickly find some bandages, some antiseptic, and... what was the third thing they wanted me to look for?


I blink a few times.


Hang on.


What's that            smell?



Oh.

Huh.


Looks like that               spitty stuff is               making some                       fumes.





It                          really stinks in here.






No big deal              though,

I'm just



gonna                              sit for a sec,






and

[Guest]

Fly, you fool!

[Guest]

GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP

[knux400]

Oh




It's my phone



Hang on

uh



(545)-406678: Fly, you fool!



What?

That's silly.


I'm not        a                    flying                        thing.



(546)-425630: GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP


Huh?


Oh the

gas



that's probably                 dangerous



there's a little tiny bit of panic



at the           bottom of my mind

yelling up at me



i'm too sleepy. this is wrong.




i should




leave














i walk stumble over to the door


turn the handle




oh it's a         pull


not a    push




go through



close it behind me



okay





safe now i think.

fresh air feels good

[Guest]

Ok I'm sorry, we really are in a survival horror scenario. I'm sorry my last message wasn't more direct, that's my bad for not taking this seriously.

That said: Balld'r, the calculus has changed. This is no longer a matter of searching for staff that can tell you about Stream. This is a rescue mission. Stream may not be alive, or could be infected with whatever survival horror bullshit that spitter was. Maybe both.

So you have to ask yourself, do you think you can survive this place, make it through whatever is between you and Stream? Or do you think you'll get yourself killed trying?

Because unless there's some supernatural force keeping all the exits sealed(Entirely possible), you should just leave if you don't have what it takes to survive here. You're no good to Stream dead.

[Guest]

Listen. I know you just got out but we don't have much time. You need to grab tables and chairs from the lounge and barricade the door to the Pharmacy before that thing fully breaks through the glass. Can you do that?