[Survey] Verox's Survey

A notification flashed across Verox’s tablet, AREZ’s latest technology used for sending out notifications, announcements, chatting with friends, taking pictures, and the newest addition to the long list of what the tablet, named ARID, is capable of: Surveys.

“Would you change any of your mutations?”

Hmm… A question to ponder. Verox walked along the alleyways of the reserve, he enjoyed taking the back way to his residence much more than the busy streets of the Aluriza. A second notification flashed across the small screen in his paw.

“im free 2nite. Want 2 hang?”

Verox couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle at his friend’s improper texting style.

“Sure thing. I’m off work. What time?”

Three dots quickly appeared, followed by a third notification.

“erm.. not shure see u soon tho”

Verox laughed again.

“See you soon.”

As Verox continued his walk, he thought about the latest survey. His ARID, Alurizan Reserve Interactive Device, let out a soft beep informing him that he was simply a few steps away from his home.

“Crazy what this thing does.” Verox held up the small, hand-held device and fiddled with it, feeling it’s odd smoothness in his paws. A few moments passed before a familiar voice called out.

“Verox! Hey!” Kiyo waved his paw frantically, catching his friend and any passerby’s attention.

Verox faced his friend and welcomed him with a soft smile and a warm embrace. It had been a while since the pair had any free time, and an even longer while since their Twilight Carnival endeavors and run-in with The Curator. 

“Kiyo!” Was all Verox was able to say, tongue-tied as Verox met Kiyo’s eyes. Huh? What’s happening? Releasing Kiyo from his embrace, Verox felt his face get hot.

“Verox? You ok?” Kiyo tilted his head in concern. Something flashed across Verox’s face, Kiyo could tell, before Verox returned to his usual stature.

“I’m great! Sorry about that, I just.. I think I’m tired.” Verox let out a sigh. He was tired after all, but he wasn’t quite sure what that feeling was.

“I can go if you’d like? When was the last time you ate something?” Kiyo fixed his bag hanging from his shoulder and pulled out a Ru Berry candy.

“Oh shoot… I missed midday meal and I don’t typically eat morning meal. Ugh, I’m sorry Kiyo I-” Before Verox could finish, Kiyo shoved the blue candy into the tired xero’s mouth.

“I can make evening meal tonight! I brought berries and other vegetation from my garden. We can have soup!” Kiyo excitedly bounced towards Verox’s residence, leaving the blue xero behind.

“Oh Kiyo…” Verox let out a soft sigh.


Kiyo had already let himself in by time Verox had hung his bag up, checked on a few work things on his ARID, and sat down. Kiyo rambled on as he cooked, chopping away at whatever he had brought over then placing it in a large pot filled with broth. Verox half-heartedly listened to his friend ramble away as he stared blankly at the prompt on his screen.

“Hey Kiyo?” Verox broke his friend’s babble.

“Yeah?” Kiyo turned from his pot, now stirring it.

“Would you change any of your mutations?” He asked the question on his device, hoping his friend had an answer.

“Well, I already did that, didn’t I? That seems like a bit of a silly question to ask me.” Kiyo resumed his stirring. Verox let out a grumble, his fur bristling slightly.

“Yeah, you’re right. I just.. Ugh, I just don’t know how to answer this survey.”

“Well… Think of it this way. Would you change anything about the way you look? Maybe you don’t like the length of your fur or something? I think you’re overthinking it, Verox.”

Overthinking it? Kiyo’s words almost stung, does he really overthink things?

“Well I like my fur length, I like my spots, though maybe being venomous could be cool. But I feel like I might hurt someone if I was, or what about having an extra set of arms? Oh well wait… I’d probably break everything. Hmm, a bobtail might be fun though, my tail does get in the way sometimes, but what if I miss my long tail after? What about-”

“VEROX.” Kiyo barked, jolting Verox from his daze-like state.

“Verox,” Kiyo continued, his voice softer. “These changes aren’t actually happening. It’s just a survey. Put whatever you feel like. You could also probably put nothing too. And it doesn’t say anywhere that you have to explain why you’d change something.”

Verox blinked twice. He really was tired. Had Kiyo let him continue rambling for a few moment more, he would’ve fallen asleep right then and there. Silence fell upon the two for a few moments. Kiyo finished what he was cooking, poured it into two bowls, and sat down across from Verox. He gently placed the bowls on the wooden table, watching the soup rock softly back and forth.

“Kiyo..” Verox trailed off. Did he want to finish his sentence?

“I like you.” The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“What?” Kiyo scooted back, shaking the table and sloshing the soup out of the bowls when doing so.

“What?” Verox’s head rested on his paw, nearly asleep.

“Verox?” Kiyo reached out and gently grabbed his friend’s free arm.

“Mhfmm..” Verox softly grumbled.

Kiyo sighed.
“Hey let’s get you to bed ok? We can hang out later.” Kiyo stood, and helped his friend out of his chair.
Kiyo led Verox to his bedroom, stumbling through the hallway and bumping into framed pictures that hung on the walls. Verox bumped into one corner, hearing something crash to the floor with a shattering noise. Verox, however, paid no mind to it and flopped onto his bed. Kiyo tucked him in and stole a swift kiss on his cheek, whispering “Good night” before turning the lights off. As he walked back to Verox’s kitchen and dining area, Kiyo noticed the fallen picture. Shattered glass surrounded a familiar image:

Verox and Kiyo the night after the two had met with The Curator.

It was a celebratory moment, Kiyo’s newly acquired traits glistened in the moonlight. A moment that seemed so far away now, bittersweet. If Kiyo could go back to that day, he would. His friend seemed so busy now, more than ever before. And what was that he said before promptly falling asleep on his paw?

Kiyo sat down once more, retrieving his ARID from his bag. A notification from hours ago appeared on the screen.

“Would you change any of your mutations?”

Kiyo quickly typed out:
“None that I can think of. I am satisfied” And pressed ‘submit’ without a second thought.

Kiyo sat in silence for a moment before realizing his mistake.
“Oh shi- Oh well. Can’t undo that one.”

Despite being tracked in the database, Kiyo’s ‘glitched’ mutations weren’t exactly… ethically obtained, and that one certainly didn’t make the AREZ officials happy. Even if ‘glitching’ had become common practice since Kiyo’s visit with The Curator, it was still carefully monitored, and by going through The Curator, one was “going under the radar” as some xeros said.

Kiyo pressed a few buttons, playing around with his ARID before letting out a discontent sigh. He got up from the small wooden table, cleaned the mess the soup had made, and left Verox’s house without another word.

The air was cool, a soft breeze gently pressing into Kiyo’s fur. His mind wandered as he walked, each step containing a new thought. There was so many questions surging through his head, so many questions left unanswered. The night seemed to carry a sense of sorrow and longing with it.

“Atleast Verox is sleeping for once.” Kiyo quietly laughed to himself. An overachiever, always impossibly busy trying to complete his never-ending to-do list.

Kiyo took a few more steps before his ears prickled with an approaching noise. Uh oh.

“KIYOOOOOO!” A voice called out.

“Shit, hey look, if you’re apart of the AREZ officials I—” Before Kiyo could finish, a pair of blue fluffy arms had him in a hold. Verox?  Kiyo pressed against the xero’s fur. Yes. 

“What are you doing here? Um.. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Kiyo pulled away from his fluffy friend.

Verox let out a soft sigh. “I was. And then I had a horrible nightmare, and then I thought about how dinner went, or I guess didn’t. And I’m sorry Kiy—”

“No.” Kiyo locked eyes with Verox, a serious expression painted across his face.

“Wait what?” Verox’s antennae twitched. No?

“I said no. Why would you even be sorry?” The soft breeze pulled the two xeros closer.

Verox and Kiyo stood awkwardly for a few brief moments, looking down and away from each other. The breeze pushed them closer once more, Kiyo now close enough to feel his friend’s heartbeat. Kiyo looked up, locking eyes with Verox.

“What… What are we doing?” Kiyo nearly whispered.
Verox let Kiyo’s words sit for a moment before responding in a similar whispery voice.

“Whatever we want.”