Scenario:Tikoh - Tikoh Treat

Tikoh Treat

The nurse stops Tikoh before she goes to confront the doctor, mentions that staff are required to wear costumes to observe the holiday, and lends her a modified nurse's outfit. Tikoh dons the costume and heads to the station, where she finds the doctor to be just as unpleasant as the nurse described.

---

Just as Tikoh is ready and raring to give the rude doctor a piece of her mind, the nurse stops her.

Tikoh: Is there an issue with my outfit? What's wrong with it?

Nurse: What with the entire town in Halloween mode, I'm afraid what you're wearing now might make you look out of place.

Nurse: It's a tradition for the station staff to wear costumes in observance of the holiday.

Tikoh: Okay, that's fine and all, but I don't have one on me.

Nurse: Well, why don't you wear mine? I made some modifications to my uniform after I found out I'd be on first aid duty on Halloween.

Tikoh: You'd let me borrow your costume?

Nurse: Sure. I'm not in the mood to be walking around in this outfit anyway... You'll find much more use out of it than I will.

Tikoh: You're a life saver! I'll go change into it. Be right back!

Nurse: Wow, it looks amazing on you! I think the sizing might be a bit off, but it's not too bad!

Tikoh: (I don't like what she's implying...)

Tikoh: Well, it's a costume and that's all that matters to me! Now I can work at the first aid station without raising any suspicion.

Nurse: Right, it's perfect! With this outfit, you look like any other blood-covered nurse!

Tikoh: By the way, I came up with a great idea when I put this on! I was thinking I'd infiltrate the station as a nurse in your place!

Tikoh: The doctor will be more likely to treat me the same way he's been treating you if I say I'm a nurse.

Tikoh: This way I'll be able to observe what exactly about his behavior is problematic and give him plenty of feedback about it later.

Nurse: Oh, I don't know about that... I feel like I'm causing you so much trouble...

Tikoh: It's no trouble at all. I'll update you on how it goes later!

Nurse: Sorry for putting you through all of this... I really appreciate your help.

Tikoh accepts the nurse's appreciation and sees her off into the night.

Tikoh: Hellooo?

Harvin Doctor: Hm? Are you a patient?

Tikoh: My name is Tikoh. I heard the first aid station was short a nurse, so I've come to—

Tikoh: (Okay, what gives? This guy's the doctor, right? Why isn't he dressed up!)

Tikoh: (Though if he's the kind of guy the nurse said he is, then I guess he wouldn't be the type to put on a costume...)

Harvin Doctor: You're... a nurse?

Tikoh: That's right. A veteran nurse with tons of experience in the field.

Harvin Doctor: The young ones are so quick to quit these days. Well, just to let you know, I expect you to give me your best while you're here, got it?

Tikoh: (She wouldn't have given up if you treated her nicely! This doctor might be as obnoxious as she said he was...)

Tikoh: (Calm down, Tikoh... Don't get in his face just yet. Record every one of his faults first before you lay into him!)

Though taken aback by his unpleasant behavior, Tikoh stays composed.

And with a tinge of fury in her heart, she thus begins her undercover investigation into this distasteful doctor.

Tikoh Treat: Scene 2

Tikoh begins her in-depth investigation into the doctor's behavior and witnesses his careless way of examining patients as well as his highly inaccurate diagnoses. She recalls what the nurse said about his unorthodox methods, leading her to suspect the doctor might be a quack.

---

Not long after Tikoh kicks off her investigation, a patient peeks into the tent.

Unwell Man: Ex-excuse me... Sorry to bother you, but is this the first aid station? I'm not feeling so good...

Harvin Doctor: Hm... What's the matter?

Unwell Man: I was walking outside and just felt sick all of a sudden...

Tikoh: (He looks exhausted, but fine otherwise. Can't say for sure without taking a closer look, but there's a good chance he was just overwhelmed by the crowd.)

Harvin Doctor: I see... Well, let's have a look.

The doctor presses a stethoscope against the man's chest, then quickly examines the inside of his mouth.

Tikoh: (Darn, I couldn't get a good look at his throat!)

Harvin Doctor: Hmm...

Unwell Man: Um... Doctor?

Harvin Doctor: You might not be happy to hear this...

Harvin Doctor: But it looks like you may have a life-threatening illness.

Tikoh & Patient: What!

Tikoh: D-Doctor, are you sure?

Harvin Doctor: Don't interrupt a doctor when he's talking. You should know better, nurse.

Tikoh: (The ego on this guy! Settle down, Tikoh. You don't want to blow up in front of the patient...)

Harvin Doctor: Let me guess, you've been feeling unwell for a while now, haven't you?

Unwell Man: No, I've been fine, actually... I wouldn't have come to this festival if I didn't feel up to it.

Harvin Doctor: Are you sure? Think hard, try to remember. Your health is on the line here.

Unwell Man: Well, now that you mention it... I had a bit of a stomach issue a few days ago...

Harvin Doctor: Mhm... Just as I thought. It might be too late for you.

Unwell Man: T-too late? It was just an upset stomach! Doc, whatever it is, you've gotta help me, please!

Harvin Doctor: There's only one way to cure what you have.

Unwell Man: Will... Will I have to go under the knife?

Harvin Doctor: Oh, no, you won't have to do anything like that. All you need is exercise. Just work out. Try a bit of strength training.

Tikoh & Patient: Strength training?

Harvin Doctor: Don't look so surprised, nurse. Moving your body is important, right?

Tikoh: W-well... Yes, it is, but...

Unwell Man: Can strength training alone cure a life-threatening sickness?

Harvin Doctor: That's entirely up to you. Are you doubting the advice of a doctor? Good luck curing yourself with that mindset.

Unwell Man: N-no, of course not. It's just... Okay doc, exercise it is. I'm gonna make squats and push-ups part of my daily routine from now on!

Harvin Doctor: Good. From what I've seen, every second counts, so start soon. You might only have a few days left to live. All right then, take care.

Tikoh: O-okay... I guess I'll see him out now.

Tikoh leads the man toward the exit.

Unwell Man: Sigh... I have a hard time believing strength training will cure whatever I've got...

Tikoh: Um, excuse me, sir... But would you mind if I took a look at you?

Unwell Man: Huh? But aren't you just a nurse?

Tikoh: Trust me, getting a second opinion is always in your best interest.

Unwell Man: Oh, um... Yeah, that makes sense. Okay then, go ahead.

Tikoh: (He's got some swelling in his throat and a light fever...)

Tikoh: (But nothing life-threatening. I can't be sure without doing a thorough checkup, but I suppose giving him some advice wouldn't be too out of line...)

Tikoh: You have a slight cold, the symptoms of which were likely worsened from the stress of being in a crowd.

Tikoh: Go home and get some rest. Later, if you still feel sick or are concerned about your health, see a doctor, all right?

Unwell Man: O-okay... You know, it's funny... You seem more like a doctor than the actual doctor.

The man sighs in relief and trudges his way home.

After seeing the man out, Tikoh briskly walks up to the doctor.

Tikoh: Doctor, can I ask you a question?

Harvin Doctor: What is it? Make it quick, a patient could come in at any moment.

Tikoh: Are you a real doctor? Tell me about your credentials, if you don't mind.

Harvin Doctor: Excuse me? What an odd question. Why are you, a nurse, doubting me, a doctor?

Tikoh: Well, to be honest, I've never heard a doctor recommend exercise to a patient experiencing an urgent health episode.

Harvin Doctor: Are you suggesting you have knowledge of every single medical treatment in the world?

Tikoh: No, that's not at all what I'm saying...

Harvin Doctor: Then I don't want to hear another word from you. There's a saying in my hometown: "the body heals when the body moves." I suggest you take that to heart.

Tikoh: (That's his basis for medicine? Adages from his hometown!)

Tikoh is broken from her stupor by a sound coming from the station entrance.

Woman's Voice: Hello, is anybody here? Is this the first aid station?

Tikoh: Yes, it is! I'll be right with you!

Their second patient of the night is a woman complaining of dizziness and nausea.

The doctor initiates a checkup and reaches to press a stethoscope against the woman's chest.

Harvin Doctor: Ahh... Mhm, mhm...

Tikoh: (He barely touched her with his stethoscope! Okay, this "doctor" is beyond fishy...)

Harvin Doctor: All right, I know exactly what's wrong with you...

Tikoh: (Anemia, perhaps? No, there's no way we could diagnose her without doing a more in-depth exam—)

Harvin Doctor: You're possessed by an evil spirit. The effects are manifesting in your head, but the spirit's in your right ankle.

Tikoh & Patient: An evil spirit?

Harvin Doctor: It's Halloween; possessions are pretty common around this time.

Tikoh: (O-okay, (Captain) has fought a malevolent pumpkin spirit before, but this is just insane!)

Unwell Woman: Wh-wh-what should I do, doctor?

Harvin Doctor: The only way you'll get better is if we exorcise the spirit from you. Show me your ankle.

Tikoh: (What? Her ankle might be last on the list of places he should be checking!)

Harvin Doctor: Nurse... Exorcise her. A "veteran" like you should have no problem performing an exorcism.

Tikoh: I don't think you know what being a veteran nurse means!

Harvin Doctor: See, you're just an amateur... I'll do you a solid and teach you an exorcism chant from my hometown.

The doctor tells Tikoh what to say and points to the patient.

Harvin Doctor: Well, go on. Start chanting.

Tikoh: Wiggle and bibble, shake and stir, begone foul spirit, leave as you were... Wiggle and bibble, shake and stir...

Harvin Doctor: I can't hear you! Where's the passion? The spirit you're exorcising is evil, not benevolent!

Tikoh: Wiggle and bibble! Shake and stir! Begone foul spirit! Leave as you were! Wiggle and bibble! Shake and stir!

Tikoh: (What in the skies am I doing? And what is this nonsense chant?)

Tikoh: (Is this "doctor" just some kind of faith healer?)

Tikoh continues to chant despite struggling to understand the logic of the doctor's so-called "treatment."

Tikoh: Wiggle and bibble! Shake and Stir!

Harvin Doctor: All right, that's enough. The chant doesn't really do anything anyway.

Tikoh: Then why make me do it!

Unwell Woman: Can someone explain to me what's going on...

Tikoh: It's about time you take your job seriously, doctor! There is a whole list of things you should be checking on the patient!

Harvin Doctor: I know that. Just calm down, a simple operation will fix her right up.

Harvin Doctor: Scalpel.

Tikoh: Scalpel.

Tikoh: Wait, no! Give her a real checkup!

Harvin Doctor: Sweat.

Tikoh: You're not even doing anything that would make you sweat! Besides, you can wipe it yourself!

Unwell Woman: Uh... Not to interrupt, but can one of you tell me exactly what's wrong with me?

Harvin Doctor: Ah, yes... It's all in your head. All illness is psychosomatic, as they say. Your symptoms have calmed down. You can leave now.

Unwell Woman: Oh, I guess they have...

Harvin Doctor: See, relaxing by engaging in a bit of small talk is in itself a great way to treat illness. All right then, take care.

Tikoh: I... I suppose I'll see her out.

Just as she did with the patient before, Tikoh leads the woman outside.

Tikoh: You have a mild case of heatstroke. With a few aggravating factors, it's not uncommon to catch it even during the cooler seasons.

Tikoh: Just cut down on alcohol for a little bit and keep yourself hydrated.

Tikoh: For good measure, I'll cast a spell on you to keep you cool. After which I suggest you go straight home to get some rest.

Unwell Woman: Thank you so much!

After seeing the woman off and giving her some real medical attention, Tikoh goes back into the tent.

With no more patients to treat, a dead silence blankets the station.

As Tikoh observes the now quiet doctor, a question nags at her.

Tikoh: (Is this guy just a quack?)

Tikoh: (The way he talks to each patient is strange... like he's trying to manipulate them and convince them that he's a real doctor.)

Tikoh: (Unlike surgery, the effects of internal medicine aren't immediately visible, which makes persuading them that much easier for him.)

Tikoh: (I've heard rumors about quack doctors here and there in my travels... Maybe he's one of them?)

Tikoh: (Impersonating a doctor and deceiving patients like this is despicable behavior, and I won't stand for it!)

Nurse: But this new doctor I'm working with is not just difficult, his treatments are also unorthodox. Some of them I've never even seen before.

Tikoh: (When she described him, I was thinking he'd just be one of those eccentric doctors. But if he's a quack... well, that would make a lot more sense.)

Tikoh: (But I'll need more hard evidence if I want to prove it...)

In the hushed tent, the gears in Tikoh's head continue to turn.

Tikoh Treat: Scene 3

Lyria visits the first aid station with a scrape. Tikoh attempts to treat her, but she is interrupted by the doctor who comes up with another wildly inaccurate diagnosis. Suddenly, the troubled nurse appears with the real doctor in charge. The fake doctor then admits that he was just having fun in costume. Tikoh explodes on him and he runs off scared into the night.

---

As Tikoh mulls over a plot to expose the "doctor," a familiar voice calls out her name.

Vyrn: Yoohoo, Tikoh? Are you in here?

Lyria: Sorry to bother you, Tikoh... I tripped and scraped up my knee...

Lyria's tone is sullen as she limps into the tent, borrowing (Captain)'s shoulder to support herself.

Tikoh: Oh boy, that must've hurt... Wait here. A little disinfecting and a bandage should do the trick.

Lyria: Thanks...

Lyria: Wait, Tikoh! What are you wearing?

Tikoh: Ah, right, I can explain...

Harvin Doctor: Hm? Is that a patient? You know better than to tend to them yourself, nurse. Would you take responsibility if something happened?

Tikoh: It's just a little scrape. A nurse like myself is more than capable of handling—

Harvin Doctor: Well, now that the doctor's here, how about you let the doctor handle this, hm? Come on, let's have a look.

Vyrn: Nurse? I thought you were a doctor, Tikoh?

Tikoh: Sorry, guys. I'll let you in on what's going on later.

Tikoh looks on with a pained expression as the doctor conducts his examination.

After giving Lyria's injury a cursory check, he shakes his head.

Harvin Doctor: Sorry to say, but it's broken.

Lyria & Vyrn: What!

Vyrn: There's no way her leg is broken. We just walked here!

Harvin Doctor: Ah, is that right? I suppose it's just a scrape then.

Vyrn: Duh, that's what we've been saying! What about her leg looks broken?

Harvin Doctor: See, when I said "it" was broken, I meant, uh... her heart.

Both: (What is this guy talkin' about...)
(What is this guy talking about...)

Harvin Doctor: Put some spit on it. That'll fix you right up. All right then, take care.

Tikoh: Hold up! Don't you think it's a little unethical for a doctor to recommend such an unsanitary way to treat a wound?

Harvin Doctor: Oh, um... Right. Well, since you're so concerned, I'll let you disinfect it.

Tikoh: That's what I was going to do in the first place...

Exasperated by the doctor's flippant behavior, Tikoh glares at him as he retreats to the back of the tent.

Lyria: Um... What's going on between you and the doctor?

Tikoh: It's a long story, but I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you. Maybe it'll distract Lyria from the sting of the disinfectant.

Tikoh's hands move deftly as she dresses Lyria's wound while summarizing her misadventures thus far.

Vyrn: That doctor is as shady as can be...

Harvin Doctor: That girl! Is she still here?

Vyrn: Whoa, what's the matter, doc?

Harvin Doctor: I noticed something about the skin around her injury...

Harvin Doctor: She has ABD... Acute Bonito's Disease!

Lyria: A-acute... what? I-is that some kind of serious sickness?

Harvin Doctor: It's an incredibly rare illness! Left untreated, it'll cause the skin of whoever suffers from it to shine bright blue like a bonito's scales!

Tikoh: Get a grip, doctor! There's no such thing as Acute Bonito's Disease!

Harvin Doctor: How can you be so sure?

Tikoh: What?

Harvin Doctor: I have a question for you that might sound familiar: do you have knowledge of every single illness in the world?

Tikoh: I... No, I don't, but... I've never heard of an illness with symptoms remotely close to whatever ABD's are!

Harvin Doctor: If there's anyone that needs to get a grip, it's you, nurse!

Tikoh: ...!

Harvin Doctor: Listen to me. Your experience as a nurse is invaluable, but it's folly to think you always know what's right.

Harvin Doctor: ABD is exceedingly rare. It's said only one in three hundred thousand people ever fall victim to it.

Harvin Doctor: I once tried to treat a young girl with ABD, but I couldn't save her...

Harvin Doctor: At the time, not much was known about the illness, you see... Nothing could be done, really.

Harvin Doctor: After seeing what that horrid disease did to that little girl, I dedicated my life to researching ABD so that I could one day eradicate it.

Harvin Doctor: I look at you and I'm reminded of how I used to be...

Tikoh: ...

Harvin Doctor: Being a medical professional doesn't make you superior to the patient.

Harvin Doctor: You must always be aware of your own ignorance and keep in mind that you will consistently come face to face with the unknown.

Tikoh: Doctor...

Tikoh: So... can you explain to me what went on with those last couple of patients?

Tikoh: I took another look at them after your checkup and found your initial diagnoses to be inaccurate.

Harvin Doctor: This is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I've been studying ABD for so long, I've forgotten how to perform a simple checkup...

Harvin Doctor: So you followed up with them afterward to correct my mistakes, did you? I appreciate it. Unfortunate that it was necessary. Clearly I, too, still have a lot to learn.

Harvin Doctor: Perhaps you're the kind of nurse that I've always needed.

Harvin Doctor: I've been fumbling around in the dark for so long. But with you at my side, I'm certain we can save so many lives...

Harvin Doctor: If you're not fed up with me yet, I beg you, please, stay with me. I need your support!

Tikoh: Doctor!

Lyria: So, um... Am I gonna turn into a bonito?

Harvin Doctor: We can talk more about us later! Let's focus on curing this girl first!

Harvin Doctor: We'll need to suppress the might of the raging bonito within her if we're going to get anywhere! I'll treat her while you perform the exorcism!

Tikoh: Wait, we're doing another exorcism?

Tikoh pushes her fists together and thrusts them into the air. Just as she begins the chant, an unfamiliar figure walks in.

Human Man: What are you all doing here?

Nurse: Ah, Tikoh! You're still here!

Tikoh: Huh? Oh, you're the nurse I met earlier.

Nurse: So, um... I just came to tell you that I've decided to come back to my post!

Tikoh: Oh, that... That's good. But who's he?

Nurse: He's the doctor I told to you about. After talking with you, I plucked up the courage to have an honest conversation with him!

Human Doctor: Ah, so you're Doctor Tikoh. My nurse told me all about you. I apologize for putting you through so much trouble...

Human Doctor: Somewhere along the way I forgot that proper communication is important when working with fellow medical professionals.

Human Doctor: Being strict is not all that it takes to be a good doctor.

Nurse: It's my fault too. I let my fear hold me back when I should have asked you more questions.

Nurse: But not anymore. I'm going to do everything I can to learn the doctor's techniques and expertise so I can be just like you, Tikoh!

Tikoh: Umm... I-I'm confused...

Harvin Doctor: ...

Tikoh's glance hops back and forth between the Harvin doctor next to her and the Human doctor beside the nurse. She ultimately stops on the latter.

Tikoh: Where have you been this entire time?

Human Doctor: I received word of someone in need of urgent care, so I rushed out to take care of it. Thankfully, it didn't turn into anything too serious.

As soon as the doctor explains his absence, everyone's gaze shifts onto the Harvin "doctor."

Harvin Doctor: ...

Tikoh: Well... Care to explain yourself, "doctor"?

Fake Doctor: Oh, uh... H-hey, doc. Nice to meet you...

Tikoh: Who are you?

Fake Doctor: So, um... Funny story. You're gonna laugh. See, this is, uh... This is a costume.

Tikoh: You're wearing... a doctor costume?

Fake Doctor: I thought it'd be fun to visit the first aid station wearing it. For a second, nobody was here. Then someone came in wearing a nurse's outfit.

Fake Doctor: After that, another person entered acting like a patient. I just figured I'd happened onto the set of some kind of skit.

Fake Doctor: Halfway through, I realized it was the real deal. But I was having fun, so I just kept going...

Fake Doctor: I made up Acute Bonito's Disease on the spot. Pretty funny, right? Aha... Ahahaha...

Tikoh: Grr!

Tikoh: This isn't a joke! Get on your knees now and beg for forgiveness! People's lives are at risk in a place like this!

Tikoh: What would've happened if you made a mistake "playing doctor," huh?

Fake Doctor: I-I'm sorry, I've learned my lesson! I won't ever do this again, I promise!

Tikoh: You better not!

Feeling the pressure from Tikoh's warranted browbeating, the fake doctor makes off as fast as he can.

Vyrn: (Tikoh can be terrifying...)

Nurse: You can keep the outfit.

Tikoh: What? No, I can't possibly accept something so well made...

Nurse: You deserve it. Think of it as a thanks for helping me out. Besides, it looks stunning on you, even if the sizing's a bit off...

Nurse: I'll take over from here. Enjoy Halloween in your new costume!

Lyria: That's nice of her, isn't it, Tikoh! I was just thinking how cute you look in that outfit!

Tikoh: I'm not one to wear costumes, but I may as well keep it on. It is Halloween, after all.

Vyrn: I hope you didn't forget your promise! You said you'd join us if the first aid station didn't need you, right? Well, let's go have some fun!

Tikoh: To be honest with you... that debacle made me dead tired.

Tikoh: But what's a little more exhaustion, right? I'm already out, so I might as well have fun!

Tikoh puts the first aid station behind her, bidding it farewell before disappearing into the noisy crowd with (Captain) and the others.

With the near-delirious Tikoh in tow, the crew set off to revel in the rest of their festive and happy Halloween night.