Title: Up the Wrong Tree
Fandom: Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Rating: G/Gen
Length: 290
Characters: Poppi, Rex, Tora, Morag
Tags: mild spoilers, humour
Summary: Poppi gets stuck in Dog Mode.

"You're sure there isn't any way to get this to stop?" Rex yelled, fingers in his ears, trying to block out the cacophony of barking and growling that filled the house with increasing volume, frequency and urgency.

To give credit where it was due, the cyborg did a very good impression of a dog.

"Meh-meh!" The Nopon engineer rifled desperately through every cupboard and drawer in the house, looking for a manual or at least a suitable tool. With his head-wings sealing off his delicate ears, he was forced to use his stubby, near-vestigial hands to grab objects. Most of it ended up on the floor, making more of a racket and exciting the Poppi-dog even more.

"This not a feature of this setting!" insisted Tora, "Not know what made Dog Mode go wrong! Setting not tested enough... Tora warn daddypon!"

"If there's no mechanical way to switch it off, I could try and approach Poppi like a real dog?" suggested Morag, amusement flashing in her ice-cool eyes, "I worked with guard dogs a lot. They're cheaper than Blades if you just want a warehouse patrolling."

"Be gentle with Poppi! She fine pedigree, not big rough guard dog!"

She sighed, wondering what about the young girl's usual battlefield impression of a short, adorable tank was supposed to be refined and delicate.

"Can she have meat?"

"Well... she can no eat, but might like smell..."

Poppi's immediate reaction of launching herself at Morag, knocking her to the ground and attempting to lick her face confirmed that she could, indeed, smell the steak. Now it was being torn apart and strewn liberally around the kitchen by a dog who couldn't understand why she couldn't eat it. Tora sighed and resumed his search.