File: location.jpg (368 KB, 1232x928)

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What? You want to know about where you live?

This is the world of Cutémon! There are many human towns and cities across the world. You don't know anything about them.

You are currently in the forest where you were born.

Suddenly, you hear a noise!

File: onlion.jpg (255 KB, 1232x928)

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A young human is walking down the road! You're pretty sure he's a boy! He's a little taller than you. With him is a mechanical mon. As the two approach your hiding spot, the mon stops and looks at the trees.

A second later, the boy stops and tilts his head toward the mon. "What's wrong, Onlion?"

The pair stand silently for a moment.

Just as you're about to shift position, the boy speaks. "Come on, Onlion. Let's get you back to the Professor's secret lab!"

"Huh? A secret lab?" As soon as you speak, you slap your hands over your mouth to keep any more noise from escaping!

The boy and the mon both look around from one side of the road to the other at the sound of your voice. "What was that noise?"


BODY: 1
MIND: 1


>Leap out into the road and challenge Onlion (roll 1d100)
>Remain hidden and secretly follow them (roll 1d100)

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5753546
>remain hidden and secretly follow them

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5753546
>Remain hidden and secretly follow them (roll 1d100)
What makes us distinct from a human girl?

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>5753546

>>5753570
Forgot to put this >Remain hidden and secretly follow them (roll 1d100)

My id probably switched since I left my houses wifi range

File: lagomunch.jpg (356 KB, 1232x928)

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Onlion takes one step, then stops with one paw in the air.

The boy shifts his position to widen his stance. "Can you sense anything?"

He looks across the treeline at the edge of the dirt road. You manage to duck down just before his gaze crosses over your hiding spot.

"Whatever it is, it's gone now. Come on." The boy takes another step forward. Onlion looks at the trees again. "Come on, let's go."

When the boy starts walking forward Onlion follows. The two of them walk past your hiding spot and neither one looks toward you. Onlion seems like it might be able to sense you if you get too close!

Even if Onlion wasn't around, you can't pass for a human girl, because human girls only have two eyes! Maybe if you had a Baseball Cap, you could blend in with humans!

It might be a good idea to wait a little while until you follow them!

[SFX: Thundercrack, rain]

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to wait a little while until you followed them! Somehow you managed to lose them in the forest and now it's raining!

What's that? A Lagomunch scurries out of the brush and looks up at you!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1


>Run up to the Lagomunch and bite it (roll 1d100)
>Ignore it and try to find the human boy (roll 1d100)

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>5753579
You're running a quest based off of Moemon?
Eh, whatever.

> Run up to the Lagomunch and bite it (roll 1d100)

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>5753579
>Run up to the Lagomunch and bite it (roll 1d100)

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>5753579
>>Run up to the Lagomunch and bite it (roll 1d100)

File: secret lab.jpg (385 KB, 1232x928)

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Because you've always been a Wild Cutémon, you don't have any formal training when it comes to fighting, so you only know how to Trip or Bite your opponent. And because Lagomunch is already lying on the ground, you can't trip it, which only leaves you with one possible attack!

You jump at Lagomunch and it's too surprised to get out of your way! You tackle it and as you roll in the mud Lagomunch manages to get your foot in its mouth but then you bite its ear until it lets go! For a moment the two of you eye each other, and then Lagomunch's body extends like an accordion and knocks into you! The two of you wrestle again until you manage to get on top.

"Had enough?" Lagomunch can't move while you're sitting on it like it's a chair. One of its ears droops.

You can feel the energy from winning your battle reinvigorating you!

"I wish I knew where that human boy went!"

Lagomunch's ears perk up. "Mawwwwnch!"

"Huh?" You look down at Lagomunch. "You know where he is?"

"Mawwwnch!" Lagomunch's ear points out to the trees. The rain is stopping and the sun is coming back out! Through the trees you can see Onlion and the human boy! That must be the road!

You manage to catch up to them just as they arrive at a building hidden in the forest.

Onlion stops and looks back in your direction! You hide just in time, but now the human boy is looking around too!

"Is someone there? Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you!" The human boy looks around for a moment and then shrugs at Onlion. "I guess it was just my imagination. Come on, let's get you home."

The human boy opens the door and the two of them walk inside. The door is starting to close, but you don't know if you're brave enough to enter!

>Enter the building
>Wait outside for now

>>5753639
>Wait outside for now

>>5753639
>>Enter the building

>>5753639
>Enter the building

File: professor plumtree.jpg (214 KB, 1232x928)

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Maybe it would be better to stay outside! Of course, that doesn't mean you can't have a little peek! You sprint out of the trees and up the path, and grab the door just before it closes. With one deep breath you step inside.

The hall is dark and cool. Ahead you hear footsteps and as you approach you can see the human boy walking down another hall with Onlion. You follow the two of them until they walk into a room where a tall man in a white labcoat is typing on a computer. When they enter the room, the tall man looks up. "Oh, Joe Apple. How did my Onlion prototype perform during its field test?"

Joe Apple? That must be the human boy's name!

"Great, Professor Plumtree!" Joe pats Onlion's head. "It was just like having a mon of my own!"

Onlion walks to a lab table and hops up on it, then lies down and closes its eyes. Professor Plumtree connects a thin cable to the back of Onlion's head until it clicks into place. "It will take a few hours to download all the data we've collected about the various mons in this area."

Joe leans in and looks closely at the back of Onlion's head. "Are there lots of mons around here, Professor?"

"Many types of mon are native to this area, but there's one very rare species of mon that isn't found anywhere else!" Professor Plumtree looks up from his computer across the room toward Joe. "The Cutémon! To tell you the truth, I built my research laboratory here because I was hoping to find a Cutémon to study! You might say it's an obsession of mine!"

You duck out of sight and gasp. They're talking about you!

"Are Cutémons a special type of mon, Professor?"

When you hear Joe's voice you peek back out and Professor Plumtree continues.

"Special? My boy, they're the most special mon of all! Such lovely figures! Those thin legs, those smooth tummies, those... is it any wonder mankind has been interested in cataloging and breeding them for years?"

"What does that mean, Professor?"

"It..." The Professor seems to notice Joe for the first time. "I'll tell you when you're older!"

File: cutecaptor.jpg (176 KB, 1232x928)

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"Here, I want you to have this." Professor Plumtree reaches into the pocket of his lab coat and pulls out a small pink object the size of a baseball. The ball is glowing so brightly that it shines pink light on everything! "I've been working on this for a couple of years."

"What is it?" Joe asks as he squints and examines the object in the Professor's hand more closely.

"This is a Cutécaptor." The Professor points at the circular indent on the ball's surface. "If you encounter a Cutémon, you can capture it with this. The Cutémon will be held inside until you release it. Incidentally, this is the only way to take a mon through airports, seaports, or train stations."

Joe takes the object and turns it over in his hands and then looks up at Professor Plumtree. "What happens to a Cutémon who gets captured?"

The Professor has his hand on Joe's back as he leads the boy out of the room. "Once you've captured a Cutémon, the two of you will share a mental bond... and maybe more! By the way, have you thought about where you'll go now?"

Joe nods. "I was thinking about going east to Rust City. Maybe I can get a job at the arena there and save up enough Coins to afford a mon of my own."

You were so interested in watching the humans that you weren't paying attention, and now Joe is coming your way! There's nowhere to hide and as soon as he turns the corner he sees you!

"A Cutémon!" Joe shoves his hand into his pocket and fumbles the cutécaptor as he pulls it out. He's too nervous to use it correctly!

Professor Plumtree appears from around the corner and gasps when he sees you! "A Cutémon! Capture it! Use the cutécaptor I gave you!"


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 0


Wait, what's this? LOVE? Mons aren't supposed to have a stat called LOVE! They're only supposed to have stats like BODY and MIND!

Is this the maybe more that Professor Plumtree was talking about? This means... you don't know what this means!

>Try to escape (roll 1d100)
>Allow yourself to be captured

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>5753865
>Try to escape (roll 1d100)

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>5753865
>Try to escape (roll 1d100)

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>5753865
>Try to escape (roll 1d100)
Weirdos

File: rabbadrab.jpg (234 KB, 1232x928)

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You turn around and run! Before Joe can aim the cutécaptor, you're already around the corner and back up the hall. In a moment the door to the outside is in sight!

"Wait!" You can hear Joe's voice behind you as he chases you. Behind him, Professor Plumtree is shouting to use the cutécaptor.

The laboratory door flies open with a bang and you leap outside! No way are they putting you in that thing! Your feet crunch across the dirt path as you escape into the trees. A moment later the door opens again and Joe comes out with Professor Plumtree behind him. The two humans look at the surrounding forest, but you're so well-hidden that they soon give up.

"I'm sorry she got away, Professor." Joe gives one last look around.

"Don't be sorry!" The Professor pats Joe's shoulder. "A Cutémon sighting is a rare treat!"

"Well, I should get going before it gets dark." Joe looks up at the sky.

"Thanks again for helping me out!" Professor Plumtree waves at Joe as the boy departs up the road. The Professor watches until Joe is out of sight, then looks around the forest and puts his hands on his hips in disappointment before finally going back inside.

You stay hidden for a while longer, but the sun is starting to go down, and it's not your fault if you also happen to be going east!

The air is starting to get colder. Now that it's dark you can see the flicker of firelight in the distance ahead of you!

When Joe returns from the woods with an armload of firewood, he sees the common Rabbadrab that's crawled closer to the warm fire, but he also seems to sense you!

"Hello?" Joe tosses the firewood at the Rabbadrab's feet at digs the cutécaptor out of his pocket. He holds it up and you notice that the cutécaptor is glowing more brightly as he waves it in your direction!

"What? His cutécaptor glows when a Cutémon is nearby? That's not fair!" You didn't mean to say that out loud!

Suddenly Joe's head turns in your direction and he takes a few steps toward your hiding spot! "It's alright if you want to come sit by the fire!" He looks at the cutécaptor in his hand and puts it back in his pocket. "I won't hurt you!"

>Come out where he can see you
>Stay hidden until he's asleep

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep
We don't want to be bred by pervert professors.

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep

>>5753863
Professor has some major Yaoi Hands going on

Oh man what is this quest. I'm intrigued.

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep
So what’s this qst based off?

File: Spoiler Image (182 KB, 800x1100)

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>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep

>>5754105
A decades-old literary classic.

>>5753969
>Stay hidden until he's asleep
Supported.

>the Pokeballs can suddenly detect her now.
You're kidding.

>>5753561
I'd also like to know.

>>5753907
>>5753980
We should form a plan to blend in our protagonist with human society and set a low profile for her. Our first priorities should be finding a suitable disguise, securing a means of maintaining hygiene, and obtaining literacy sufficient enough to secure a basic job for her it isn't clear if she's speaking actual words or if it just sounds like yelling to humans, but she's effectively on undocumented migrant mode here. A hat will only take her so far, but if we wanted to be purely pragmatic here, she could use a headdress with religious connotations so no one would ask her to take it off. Something like a hijab would be easy to fashion with a long piece of fabric. For hygiene, a gym shower, beach shower head, or hostel could work. There's bound to be soap, shampoo, and conditioner lying around, quite literally if using Pokemon game logic. Literacy will take time, but there are several ways to accomplish this. The first way is spotting a library or bookstore without any weird Pokemon detectors, then listening in whenever adults read to kids or teach language arts. Pretending to not know how to speak the language to secure an informal tutor is risky, but could work on staff in small bookstores. If not much else works, she could pull a Frankenstein's monster and listen in to houses in the forest or countryside. Once she's literate, learning simple arithmetic via books and finding a job preferably one without too many eyes on her at once can follow. Unless she finds a nice old lady with poor eyesight, however, finding a place to crash meanwhile won't be easy. If she gets injured or sick beyond means healing items can treat, or gets on the radar of immigration agencies, it's game over. Finding this world's equivalent of Ed Galbraith the Disappearer could help with enough cash, but that'd be a high risk move to make. Bicycles and minor railways which are less likely to have detection would be useful for getting around.

>>5754585
It probably goes without saying, but let's put her out of the way of Johnny Appleseed and Professor Pedotree as much as possible. They're the only people who may be able to recognize her on sight. Avoid Rust City, any town on the way there, and any small towns with gyms. It could be easy to keep tabs on the professor's whereabouts through articles and academic journals, although we'll want to research other professors in his field to obfuscate our digital footprint and make it look like general academic interest.

>>5754585
>I'd also like to know.
It does seem from later posts as if the picture in OP depicts us, so we have extra eyes atop our head, and a sort of toothy bone helmet.

File: picture.jpg (131 KB, 1232x928)

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Joe stands facing in your direction for a few moments, then he turns around and walks back to the fire. You stay right where you are! Joe seems harmless, but you can't trust humans, right? Especially one who has a cutécaptor!

You have to put your hands in front of your mouth to stop your teeth from chattering! After a while, Joe puts all the rest of the firewood in the fire, then curls up and goes to sleep!

This is your chance to take that cutécaptor! You sneak closer to the sleeping human boy until you're right next to him! He's breathing slowly. You reach one hand into his pocket and... you can't find the cutécaptor! All you can find is a piece of paper!

Oh! Is this... is this his girlfriend? She's so beautiful! She must be the most beautiful human girl in the world!

Joe takes a deep breath and rolls over! You must have woken him up! You hold completely still, and even hold your breath! You can't tell if he's still asleep!

After a few minutes, you think he's asleep, but he's facing the wrong direction! Now you can't put the picture back where you found it! You had better hold on to it for now. You can put it back later tonight.

It's so cold, you might as well sit near the campfire for a little while and warm up. Joe is sleeping so soundly that he won't notice you!

File: shootuner and chunken.jpg (325 KB, 1232x928)

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[SFX: birds chirping]

What? It's already morning? You can't believe you fell asleep next to Joe! But if Joe isn't here, then that means he saw you sleeping! How embarrassing!

But that means he saw you sleeping and didn't capture you with his cutécaptor!

But that means... you don't know what that means!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


Wait, why did your LOVE stat increase? You don't love anybody!

>Catch up to Joe... but only so you can return his picture! (roll 2d100)
>Catch up to Joe to steal the cutécaptor (roll 1d100)

>>5754625
>>5754626
>You reach one hand into his pocket and... you can't find the cutécaptor!
Why his pocket? The device is spherical, unless I misunderstand.

>Oh! Is this... is this his girlfriend?
We don't know for sure. It could also be a sibling who passed away and keeps a photo of because he misses her.

>What? It's already morning? You can't believe you fell asleep next to Joe!
We have to get that MIND stat up pronto.

>But that means he saw you sleeping and didn't capture you with his cutécaptor!
That's interesting. This implies that people capture cutémon with "intimate" intents if that picture was of Joe's girlfriend, which means she absolutely needs to avoid capture. If that picture isn't his girlfriend but a deceased person he was close with, that indicates he recognizes a measure of intelligence in the protagonist we need a name for her.

That leaves two options. Either
>A: we catch up to Joe to hand over the picture personally, waving it in hand as we do so, and hope the assumptions above are correct
>B: we catch up to Joe to return his photo, but leave it ahead of him in a place he'll find it

It would be unfeasible to attempt to steal his ball, as he can apparently use it to detect her presence. On the note of that ball, we should make it a long term goal to understand how it works and eventually dismantle it for the microcontroller. She could put that in a false medical device like a fake diabetes patch to get past gates at seaports or high capacity train stations and act offended if someone is suspicious about it, but that might not fly kek at airports. Joe would be a great ally if he really has no interest in capturing her and their relationship stays platonic, but his frequent proximity to other trainers may put her at risk. It all depends on how common cutécaptor balls are. That being said, my vote will be on A or B once other votes come in or more context is provided.

>>5754626
>Catch up to Joe... but only so you can return his picture! (roll 2d100)

>>5754238
wut

File: Spoiler Image (680 KB, 591x607)

680 KB PNG

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5754626
>Catch up to Joe to steal the cutécaptor (roll 1d100)
We can leave the picture in the captor's place, really.

>>5754708
An oldie

>>5754626
>>5754680
I guess I'll place my vote on A.
>Catch up to Joe... but only so you can return his picture! (roll 2d100)
>A: we catch up to Joe to hand over the picture personally, waving it in hand as we do so, and hope the assumptions above are correct

Let's try to avoid other trainers on the way.

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>5754626
>Catch up to Joe to steal the cutécaptor (roll 1d100)

>>5754626
>Catch up to Joe... but only so you can return his picture! (roll 2d100)

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>5754626
>Catch up to Joe to steal the cutécaptor (roll 1d100)

Rolled 25, 29 = 54 (2d100)

>>5754626
>Catch up to Joe... but only so you can return his picture! (roll 2d100)

Rolled 98, 67 = 165 (2d100)

>>5754768
Might as well roll the 2d100. Not sure why it's a different check than the other choice. Both entail catching up to him first.

What are you using to make these images? Sometimes I can see AI artifacts and it looks like you are superimposing characters over backgrounds, but it looks so clean that it makes me feel like you're spending a lot of time post-processing.

>>5754626
>>Catch up to Joe... but only so you can return his picture! (roll 2d100)

File: success.jpg (231 KB, 1232x928)

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You leap to your feet and look around, and as soon as you find Joe's tracks you set off running down the road after him! You're not following him to give him back his picture, obviously! You're following him to steal that cutécaptor so no one can use it to capture you! If you happen to put the picture back in its place, so what? It's just a dumb picture!

After a few minutes, you realize you'll need to be sneaky if you want to steal the cutécaptor without Joe noticing, and you slow down to a fast walk. There aren't any other roads around here, so he must still be on this one!

An hour later, you spot Joe in the distance and quickly duck out of sight. It's almost lunch time! Your stomach is growling! You hope it doesn't give you away!

You sneak through the forest alongside the road until you get close to where Joe has stopped to eat his lunch. You didn't know he had any food!

While he's sitting and looking up the road, you crawl up behind him and reach into his jacket pocket and feel the cutécaptor!

You have it!

Wait, you forgot about the picture! You bend over and dig around in your own pocket and almost lose your balance! The cutécaptor goes up into the air and you barely catch it!

You stick the picture in Joe's pocket and hold perfectly still with the cutécaptor balanced in one hand...

Joe didn't notice anything!

You crawl away as quickly and quietly as you can. As soon as you make it to the trees, Joe turns around and you quickly duck down.

"Hello?" Joe looks around at the trees. "Is someone there?"

After a moment he stands up and stretches, and then picks up his things and starts walking east again! You think you should say something to him, but you don't know what to say!

Instead, you just watch him until he's out of sight.

File: diamond.jpg (261 KB, 1232x928)

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Now that you have the cutécaptor, you don't know what to do! You hadn't planned this far.

Since Joe is walking east on the road, the best way to avoid getting caught is to go back west on the road! What? Caught? You didn't do anything wrong!

You turn the cutécaptor over in your hands and gently poke at the smooth metal surface. According to Professor Plumtree, it only captures Cutémons, but you aren't sure how to use it and you don't want to accidentally capture yourself!

"Now isn't this an interesting sight?"

What? You were so interested in the cutécaptor that you didn't notice a car stopped in the road along the cliffside! There's a human woman leaning on it, almost like she was waiting for you! How long has she been watching you?

The woman steps away from the car and leans a little closer to you! "I never thought I'd find a Wild Cutémon! What's that you've got there? It looks like one of Professor Plumtree's contraptions. Why don't you let Diamond have that before you hurt yourself?"

You can't help taking a step backward and grabbing the cutécaptor with both hands!

"Oh?" Diamond is smiling. You have a bad feeling about this! "You're a feisty little mon! You'll make a fun addition to my arena!"

You don't like the sound of that!

"I'm going to enjoy training you! Why don't you get in my car and we can go for a drive?"

You really don't like the sound of that! You look around for someplace to hide but the road is on the side of a cliff!

"Where do you think you're going, little Cutémon?" Diamond puts two fingers to her lips and whistles! "Rattletrap!"

File: rattletrap.jpg (276 KB, 1232x928)

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"Sssssssss..."

Something is crawling up the side of the cliff! It's a mon that looks like a huge snake with an anglerfish lure!

You look around again but you can't escape! You look at Diamond and she laughs. "Rattletrap will make sure you cooperate! Soon, you'll obey my every order!"


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


You don't know what to do! You can't use any of your Cutémon abilities because you don't have a human trainer!

>Run up to Rattletrap and bite it (roll 1d100)
>Cry for help (roll 2d100)

Rattletrap's lure is starting to glow.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5755684
>Run up to Rattletrap and bite it (roll 1d100)
Or better yet
>Run away, if it's allowed

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>5755710
+1

Rolled 69, 7 = 76 (2d100)

>>5755684
>Cry for help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoixvmBlrtI&pp=ygUPbWFtYSBsdWlnaSBoZWxw

>>5755684
>Cry for help

Cry for help has more dice, its more likely to work. beating Rattletrap a trained veteran mom seems implausible.

Rolled 17, 84 = 101 (2d100)

>>5755684
>Cry for help (roll 2d100)
Let's hope Joe is still feeling generous. That Rattletrap looks trained, so our protagonist doesn't stand a chance. We also still don't know for sure if she can actually speak or just repeats her own name like other Pokemon from the perspective of humans, but there isn't much choice. Do we have a name for her yet?

>You bend over and dig around in your own pocket
Is this an actual article of clothing or a biological pouch somewhat similar to a Kangaroo's? It'll be good to know how much clothes she's going to need to blend in.

>>5755844
>>5756173
The best rolls for calling for help are, in order, 69 and 84 so far. Whatever that first roll represents, it's going to be a close call.

Rolled 70, 41 = 111 (2d100)

>>5755684
>Cry for help (roll 2d100)

>>5756179
>>5756189
>from 69 to 70
Those dice are fucking with us.

File: cutecaptor_02.jpg (116 KB, 1232x928)

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Rattletrap slides up onto the road and you only know how to do one thing! You stuff the cutécaptor in your jacket pocket and charge at Rattletrap!

"Are you really going to do that?" Diamond can't believe it!

Rattletrap lifts its head up and you jump onto its underbelly! You grab a hold of the scales on its underbelly with both hands and bite down as hard as you can!

Its scales are too hard! You can't even make a dent in them with your teeth!

Rattletrap flicks you off with a shake! You fly through the air and land on the road!

That hurt!

Rattletrap is closing in to attack!

You can't stop yourself from crying out in fear!

Diamond is laughing! "Enough of this! I don't want to ruin my new prize attraction! Rattletrap! Use your lure!"

Rattletrap's lure begins to shimmer! You can't look away.

"That's better!" Diamond walks up to Rattletrap and scratches its chin. "Now, little Cutémon, reveal your secrets! Where is that contraption of Professor Plumtree's?"

You don't know why, but you can't help obeying Diamond! You reach into your jacket pocket and pull out the cutécaptor!

"No way! Is this that crazy invention Professor Plumtree was working on?" Diamond is reaching toward the cutécaptor! "What did he call it, a cutécaptor? Give that to me, right now!"

What? What are you doing? You can't help holding the cutécaptor out toward Diamond!

"Not so fast!"

What? Rattletrap's hypno attack was broken?

Oh, no! You both fumbled the cutécaptor when you heard that voice!

File: happy.jpg (117 KB, 1232x928)

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You can't believe it! Joe is standing on the crest of the road! You're so happy you can't contain yourself!

"Joe!"

What? Both Joe and Diamond are looking at you! It seems like they didn't realize you could speak!

Joe bends down and picks up the cutécaptor as it rolls toward him! It looks like he can see that you want it back! "First, take care of Rattletrap!"

You look at Rattletrap but it still has just as many scales!

"This time, bite Rattletrap's lure!"

What? Rattletrap's lure? Why didn't you think of that?

File: splash.jpg (383 KB, 1232x928)

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"No, wait! What are you doing?!" Diamond can't believe it!

Rattletrap looks afraid! You charge across the road but instead of jumping on Rattletrap's underbelly you jump up and grab onto its lure!

You bite down as hard as you can!

Rattletrap can't stand the pain and flees off the cliff!

[SFX: Roaring water, splash]

"No! What are you doing?!" Diamond runs to the edge of the cliff and leans over so far she almost slips and falls! "Get back here, you overgrown earthworm!" You can't believe it! Diamond is actually climbing down the cliff after Rattletrap!

"Are you alright?" Joe is holding out the cutécaptor toward you!

What? Come on, take it back from him already! Why are your ears so hot, anyway?

After you take the cutécaptor back from Joe, he leans into the window of Diamond's car and looks around for a moment. "It's too bad she took her car key with her. It would be a lot faster than walking!" Joe stands up straight and looks at you. "You know, a mon out on your own like this is an easy target for underhanded trainers!"

What? Is Joe saying you're still in danger?

"I'm going to a place called Rust City. You're welcome to come with me as long as you like. You might attract less attention that way."

What? You're nodding your head? You mean you might want to go along with Joe for now? It seems like it's not too bad to be near him!

"When we get to Rust City, we might be able to find you a baseball cap to help you blend in."

What? Is Joe saying that you really could blend in with humans with a baseball cap?

"You know, it won't work to keep calling you Cutémon! After all, you need a real name!"

What? A real name? What kind of name could he have in mind?

"I think you should be named after..."

>A month of the year
>A flower
>Decide later

>>5756257
>Decide later
Names are important

>>5756257
>Decide later

>>5756257
>Decide later

File: Handshake.jpg (141 KB, 1600x900)

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>>5756257
>Joe is quite literally ride or die
Hell yeah. Good to know the protagonist is capable of speech, this will make learning to read and building our MIND stat much easier.

>"When we get to Rust City, we might be able to find you a baseball cap to help you blend in."
How about on the way in? Asking for a length of fabric to fashion a headdress would have to do until then. It's also less likely that people would ask her to remove it as they would assume it's for religious or cultural reasons, and a criminal organization likely now knows what her hair color is.

>>5756260
Agreed. Let's wait until something gives us a good idea.

>>5756257
>>A flower

>>5756257
>A flower
Joe seems to be cool guy

>>5756257
>A month of the year that isn't April, May or June

>>5756257
>>A month of the year

>>5756257
We shouldn't name ourselves after a month.
We should name a month after us.
>decide later

File: road.jpg (288 KB, 1232x928)

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"A..."

Joe is interrupted by the sound of struggling coming from over the edge of the cliff! Suddenly, Diamond's hand pops up over the edge and grabs a hold of the ground, and next to her, Rattletrap's head pops up and it sinks its teeth into the dirt!

A gust of wind catches Diamond's hat and blows it off her head! Diamond reaches out to grab it and starts to fall, but then Rattletrap lets go to try and catch her and they both fall backward off the cliff!

"We'd better get going before those two make it back up the cliff." Joe gestures up the road in the direction he came. "Come on, let's hurry."

The two of you start running up the road! After a few minutes you slow down to catch your breath and you hear the sound of a motor approaching! You and Joe climb up the bank into the trees and hide. A moment later Diamond speeds by in her car with Rattletrap stuffed into the back seat! The car is going so fast you barely have time to see the bandage on Rattletrap's lure as their car speeds away to the east.

You shift your position to stand back up, but Joe puts his hand on your arm!

What? Joe's hand is on your arm! Why is this a big deal? It's just a hand!

"Wait." Joe seems to be expecting something! You're not sure what is happening. Joe is watching up the road where Diamond's car went! He doesn't seem to be moving, so you crouch back down next to him.

A few moments later, you start to hear the sound of a motor approaching again! Diamond's car is coming back toward you! It seems like Joe knows a lot of things about humans!

The car slows down and Diamond and Rattletrap both peer out at the trees. After they pass, you can hear the sound of the car speeding up again!

It seems like Diamond is looking for you!

"I think we should stay off the road for now." Joe looks in the direction of Diamond's car. "Let's get a bit further into the forest."

You think that might be a good idea!

File: vulprime.jpg (295 KB, 1232x928)

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After a while you find an old path that doesn't seem to be used very much! You walk for the rest of the afternoon. You come to a stream and Joe starts to cross it without hesitating. You're not sure, but Joe seems to know which way to go! He seems to know a lot of things.

What? Why are you thinking about Joe so much?

"He's just an ordinary human, right?" You didn't mean to say that out loud!

"What did you say?" You're lucky that Joe has gotten quite a bit ahead of you! When he notices how far back you are he stops and waits for you to catch up. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were getting tired."

You're not tired! Should you say something?

"We should rest here for a little while." Joe sits down on a rock at the edge of the stream and starts to unwrap some fish. "Do you want to share the rest of my lunch?"

Your stomach is growling! You had forgotten how hungry you are!

The two of you sit on the rock next to each other and eat in silence.

You want to talk to Joe but you don't know what to talk about! Mons don't usually speak so you don't have much practice!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree
>Ask Joe about his picture

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree
Have to know if Joe has picked up on how weird the guy is

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree
What >>5757119 said.

>>5757102
>write-in
>mup da doo didda po mo gub didda be dat tum muhfuggen bix nood cof bin dub ho muhfugga

>>5757218
I'm sorely tempted to switch to this

File: Spoiler Image (295 KB, 474x494)

295 KB PNG

>>5757221
>>5757218
>A wild Cutemon appears
battle theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoXj4dlFwlg

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree
As nice as it would be to get further context on the picture, he doesn't know that it was in our position, so it's probably best to not let him know that we accidentally swiped it before.

We need to ask specifically if the professor is someone we should worry about he probably is, and how closely we should expect him to keep note of our activities. Any assignments the professor put Joe up to would also be good to know about. On that note, this would be a good question to ask
>additional question
>What are Joe's long term goals?

>>5757318
>spoiler
He wants to enslave and fuck us, so unless we're into that, we should be very worried

>>5757324
That's very much apparent to me, but the question is partly to gauge Joe's impressions about him and estimate how far the professor's reach is, as we don't know whether he's academically respected or somewhat isolated. I should have clarified.

>>5757102
>>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree

>>5757102
>Ask Joe about Professor Plumtree
Op, you’re definitely not trying to lead this into smut, right?

I read up on this but I really hope we're not just locked to Joe Apple or run facefirst into sucking his cock. I still don't think he's 100% legit and I'd rather not be a concubine to a teenager or worse

>>5757102
>>Ask Joe about his picture

>>5757723
I think however he answers the questions we ask him might give us a better idea. If the protagonist's relations with Joe stay platonic and he isn't leading us back to the professor's pedo den which she should know because the local area is her habitat, we probably won't have to worry about those kinds of activities. Not using the ball says a lot, but we also don't want him blackmailing her with knowledge of her secret to do illegal activities. He's one of the only three people that can recognize us on sight, but we don't have many options on who we keep company without a change in attire and some kind of head wear. If Diamond is working for a criminal organization, she may even need to wear a length of fabric that hides her hair entirely or dye her hair another color.

File: cutecaptor_03.jpg (126 KB, 1232x928)

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You can't help thinking about the cutécaptor! You don't even notice what you're doing when you reach into your jacket pocket. One you realize you're touching it, you take it out and start turning it over in your hands.

You think about dropping it in the stream but then you think about what might happen if someone else finds it!

Joe finishes eating the last of his fish and leans back, but then the late afternoon sun reflects on the cutécaptor's surface and he notices you holding it! "Hmm?"

You look up from the cutécaptor at Joe. You still don't know quite what to say!

"I suppose you're thinking about what happened with Professor Plumtree yesterday."

How did he know?

"Professor Plumtree isn't actually that scary all the time. He's one of the world's top experts on mons. All the top arena trainers read his magazine. He paid me 10 Coins to take his prototype Onlion out to look through that forest for native mons so he can study them better. He's going to take the prototype Onlion to the Rust City Arena to demonstrate it at the next tournament. He's hoping to find an investor to make more of them."

You don't like the idea of more Onlions looking for you! Maybe you should stay away from Rust City!

What? You just remembered Joe said he was going to Rust City?

File: old sign.jpg (336 KB, 1232x928)

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Joe stands up from the rock. "We should keep moving while it's still daylight."

You put the cutécaptor back in your pocket and stand up next to him, and the two of you start walking along the path again.

Wait, didn't he say he was going to...

Wait, what's that? Up ahead!

"It's a sign of some kind." Joe walks up to it and touches the boards. "It looks pretty old."

You think it looks like a picture of a mon!

Joe turns his head away from the sign and looks at you for a long moment! What? What is he looking at?

"There's probably no one around, but maybe we should try to disguise you for now."

What? Does Joe want you to disguise yourself as a human girl?

Joe grabs one of his sleeves and pulls his arm through it. What? Joe is taking off his jacket?

Joe steps closer to you! He's standing so close you're almost touching! You can't help taking a step backward!

"Here, hold still." Joe puts his jacket over your head! You don't know what he's doing, but you can't see anything! You can feel him tying the sleeves together!

A moment later he lifts his jacket away from your eyes and hangs it over the back of your head! Joe seems satisfied with how it looks!

"At least no one will be able to tell you're a Cutémon for now." Joe smiles at you and says "I think a baseball cap would look better, though!"

Suddenly, you see a flash of flame in the distance through the trees, and you hear a human voice! It sounds upset!

You look at Joe but he's already starting to run toward it! Joe looks back at you and says "Come on, someone could be hurt!"

File: torrentani.jpg (257 KB, 1232x928)

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"No, no, no, that will never do! How do you expect me to get my rice wine if you can't even handle a little fire?" What? It's an old human man? You can't help hiding behind Joe!

"Who're you?" The old human man seems angry at you and Joe but then the Torrentani flapping next to him chirps!

"TANI!"

"Quiet, you useless guppy!" The old man swings his cane at the Torrentani but it flutters out of his reach!

You peek out from behind Joe. You hope Joe knows what to say!

The old human man starts to swing his cane around again and Joe has to hold up his hands to protect himself! "We're just travelers, sir! We ran into some bandits on the main road, so we're taking this path toward Rust City."

"Hrmph! Good luck with that, sonny!" The old human man stops trying to hit the Torrentani and points with his cane in the direction you and Joe are going! "There's a Combuster lurking up ahead and I can't drive it off with just my Torrentani here. That coward delivery boy won't make the trip as long as the Combuster is in the area!"

Joe looks up the path the way the old human man pointed. "A Combuster?"

That sounds scary!

"I don't suppose either of you have a mon of your own, do you?"

What? Does this mean he really thinks you're a human girl?

The old human man leans on his cane and sighs. "You say you're going to Rust City? I used to be a trainer in the Rust City Arena, you know. You'd think I wouldn't have so much trouble with one little Combuster. That's old age for you."

>Take Joe's jacket off of your head
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5757723
We were two steps away from being Diamond's abused arena slave. There are worse trainer out their then joe.

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5757723
Agreed.

>>5758025
So it SEEMS. I still don't necessarily want to be bound to him.

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head
For now, though...

>>5758004
There are three implications that stick out to me from this moment.

>"I suppose you're thinking about what happened with Professor Plumtree yesterday."
This could just be good intuition, but Joe has an unusually keen sense for what our character has been thinking so far. Whether he recognizes it himself isn't clear yet.

>Professor Plumtree isn't actually that scary all the time.
Joe is picking up on the professor's strange attitude as well, but his naivety as a kid prevents him from seeing the full extent of the danger it poses. It doesn't seem like he's trying to put our character in what he recognizes as harm's way, but we should keep a close eye on what he's being told to do. He has an unusual sense, but he'll only recognize what a kid can conceptualize at the end of the day.

>He's one of the world's top experts on mons. All the top arena trainers read his magazine. He paid me 10 Coins to take his prototype Onlion out to look through that forest for native mons so he can study them better. He's going to take the prototype Onlion to the Rust City Arena to demonstrate it at the next tournament. He's hoping to find an investor to make more of them.
This professor has plans that go beyond being just a fucking degenerate. We already know his Onlions can record footage and information on what it sees, and his insistence on paying a kid under the table to test this work despite the clout he has is suspect. It's likely that these Onlions will eventually be capable of wireless transmission as their name indicates, meaning it has the potential to become a massive surveillance network. Whatever investor he plans to work with is likely criminal or spooky in nature, but the conversation Joe had with the professor implies his role in whatever is going on is already complete. In other words, it's out of his hands and it's likely the professor doesn't want anyone to know Joe did his chores. Plumtree and whoever he's working with have to be stopped. Shit, those Onlions need to stay away from kids.

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head
No reason not to right now. It sucks to see the geezer beat his Torrentani treated like that, but his question about our character having a Pokemon of her own raises an interesting point. Eyebrows may be raised if people see a girl following a trainer around without Pokemon of her own. We just might have to make her a Pokemon trainer to tackle all the same challenges Joe would on his journey. It's a morally dubious matter with her position, but training with her own Pokemon team personally gives her a way to become stronger without becoming someone's property. Imagine the sort of legend she'd develop about a mad lass of incredible strength that spars with her own Pokemon. It's crazy enough to work. Regardless, press at any level likely keep their eyes on trainers, so we'll have to find a hat for any occasion or one for each occasion.

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head
Why on earth would we take it off?

>>5758006
>>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5758180
I think taking it off implies we reveal we're a mon and go fight this 'Combuster' fellow.

File: Kangaroo.jpg (101 KB, 1200x675)

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>>5758187
Who says she needs to take it off? Bite is her only move, but fists are a universal language.

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5758202
Fistfighting a fiery mon successfully will probably ALSO blow our cover.

>>5758006
>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5758006
>>Leave Joe's jacket on your head

>>5758006
>Leave Joe’s jacket on your head

File: amphibikite.jpg (264 KB, 1232x928)

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"Hrmph..."

What? The old human man seems to be looking at Joe's jacket! He's probably wondering why you're wearing it on your head!

"Well, anyway, if you can't help me with that Combuster, you may as well come in and spend the night." The old human man stands up and walks out of the water and up into the tall grass without looking back. "My name's Booker, by the way. My dojo is just up the hill."

The torrentani flaps around in a circle and chirps "TANI!" and then follows him!

Joe starts to follow them up the hill. "My name's Joe."

What? You grabbed Joe's arm without thinking about it? You don't like the idea of going inside another human building!

Joe stops and looks at you. "What's wrong?" He sees where you're looking and looks up to the building at the top of the hill! "Oh, I see. It'll be alright. It'll be more comfortable than sleeping outside."

You don't know if you're convinced!

Joe smiles and says "Besides, I'll be right there with you."

Well...

Booker's dojo isn't anything like Professor Plumtree's laboratory! The dojo is made of wood and the only light is from the lamps.

"Wow, is that really THE Amphibikite?" Joe seems interested in a picture hanging on the wall!

"That's right, sonny." What? Booker is smiling? You can't believe it! "Still the only mon to be able to be equally capable on land, in the air, or in the water. Of course, he didn't start out that way."

Booker leans on his cane for a moment, and then he looks at you and says "I'll show you where you can sleep."

File: camster.jpg (227 KB, 1232x928)

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You've never slept indoors before! It's a lot different than a forest floor! You even find a Video Game in your room!

What? You don't know how to play it?

Suddenly, you hear a squeaking noise from under the blankets! A little fuzzy mon crawls out and its fur changes pattern to match your blankets!

What? There's a Camster in your room?

"Cam-cam! Cam-cam!"

What? Camster is pointing at the video game?

"Cam-cam! Cam-cam!"

What? Camster knows how to play the video game?

You suppose it wouldn't hurt to play it for a little while...

What? You and Camster stayed up late playing the video game?

You can hear Joe and Booker talking in the other room. You don't think they know you can hear them!

What? You're going to listen to them anyway?

"Earlier, when you said Amphibikite didn't start out that way, what did you mean?" That was Joe's voice!

"Mons aren't born knowing how to use their special abilities. They need a human trainer to unlock them. When I started training Amphibikite, he couldn't fly. Heck, he could barely glide. And his Hurrinado attack? He would have knocked himself out."

"You mean they can't use them without a human trainer?"

"Most mons go their entire lives without ever using any of their special abilities."

You don't hear them talking for a few moments and then you hear Booker's voice!

"That girl you're traveling with. She doesn't speak much, does she? And I'm not even going to ask about the jacket!"

"Uh... you were saying something about unlocking the special abilities of mons?"

"Mons need the mental connection to their human trainer to develop their abilities. Without a human trainer, a mon will remain the way it was born. For example, a Catscan needs a human trainer to help it perform a Tele-Fission attack, and a Ripmunk needs a human trainer to be able to Swell."

For a moment you don't hear anything, but then you hear their chairs creak and you hear Joe's voice!

"I should get to sleep. Thank you for letting us spend the night here."

You hear Joe walking down the hall to his room and close his door!

What? It seems like Booker is still awake?


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities
>Stay in your room

>>5759022
>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

>>5759022
>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

>>5759022
>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

>>5759022
>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

>>5759022
>>Stay in your room

>>5759022
>Stay in your room

>>5759022
>>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

File: Pajama Hoodie.jpg (46 KB, 470x1001)

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>>5759022
>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities
Let's make sure she's wearing something on her head as she does so.

>Mons need the mental connection to their human trainer to develop their abilities
There's likely a hopefully positive loophole to this. Wild Pokemon evolve without a trainer somehow anyway, Pokeballs weren't always a thing, and for better or worse what counts as a connection is a liberal definition in the setting.

>>5759022
>>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

>>5759560
This isn't EXACTLY Pokemon, anon...

>>5759022
>Ask Booker about Cutémon abilities

File: cutecaptor_04.jpg (64 KB, 1232x928)

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Now's your chance to talk to Booker!

Camster looks up at you as you stand up and walk to the door!

"Cam-cam! Cam-cam!"

What? You forgot to put Joe's jacket back on your head! You had better do that before you talk to Booker! You tie Joe's jacket back around your head. You hope it looks as nice as when Joe did it!

Booker is still in the room with the picture of Amphibikite. It seems like he's been holding the picture and looking at it since Joe went to sleep! When you step into the room the floor creaks and he looks up from the picture at you! "Hrmph. Can't sleep? Not surprised you can't sleep with that jacket on your head."

You walk across the room to where Booker is sitting and see Torrentani napping in a bucket of water!

You look at Booker and don't know what to say, so you just say something!

"Mon abilities?"

"Hrmph. You're interested in becoming a mon trainer just like that other kid? Well, which mon do you want to know about?"

This is it! Are you really going to ask him? You can't believe you're doing this!

"Cutémon?"

Booker waves his hand and turns his head away! You think that means he doesn't think you're serious!

What? You're really going to make him think you're serious?

You give him a determined look!

Booker turns his head and looks at you again! "Hrmph. Well, you're probably never going to see a Wild Cutémon, but I suppose there's no harm in telling you. Now, let's see..."

Booker scratches his beard and looks out the window at the moon! It seems like he's thinking about your question!

After a few moments he turns his head back and looks at you! "Most mons have two special abilities, but I seem to recall that Cutémons have three special abilities. There's the Overbite, where the Cutémon's outer fangs extend... there's the Hair Pin, where the Cutémon can use its hair to tangle another mon..."

What? He only told you about two special abilities!

"Three?"

"Hrmph... I don't remember what the Cutémon's third special ability is."

What? He can't remember? Well, he is pretty old, after all! You had better ask him everything else you want to know while you can!

"Mental connection?"

"That's right. Mons and human trainers form a special bond that doesn't exist in the wild. The human trainer helps the mon focus its natural abilities in ways that it wouldn't do on its own. Normally, it takes at least a year for a human trainer to form the connection with a mon, but I remember reading something... what was that punk professor's name? Plumtree?"

What? Booker is talking about Professor Plumtree?

Booker scratches his beard and leans back in his chair. "I think he was working on a device that would instantly form the mental connection with a Cutémon."

What? A device? Is Booker talking about the cutécaptor?

File: combuster.jpg (265 KB, 1232x928)

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Suddenly, you see a blaze of light from outside the window!

"That light!" It seems like Booker sees it too! He jumps up and kicks over Torrentani's bucket! Torrentani flops out of the bucket and flutters into the air! Torrentani looks confused!

"TANI!"

Booker grabs his cane and hurries outside with Torrentani!

What? You're afraid to go outside?

You go outside anyway!

What? There's something coming out of the forest toward Booker's dojo? It's a mon that looks like an angry bull on fire! It's starting the trees on fire everywhere it goes!

What? You forgot about the Combuster?

What? Booker's dojo is made of wood?

Joe runs outside next to you and sees Combuster! "Oh, no!"

Booker turns his head and says "You kids stay back!"

What? You don't think Booker and Torrentani can defeat Combuster?

Booker stumbles and almost falls trying to get down the dojo steps! Torrentani flutters past Booker toward Combuster!

"Torrentani! Hit it with your Cloudburst!"

Torrentani chirps "TANI!" and spins in a circle but before it can do anything else Combuster swings its head and swats Torrentani onto the ground with its horn!

What? Why isn't Torrentani getting up off the ground?

"Torrentani!" You didn't mean to say that out loud!

Combuster turns its head!

Combuster is looking at you!

You can't see Combuster very well with Joe's jacket on your head!

>Challenge Combuster with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)
>Take Joe's jacket off and challenge Combuster (roll 2d100)

>>5759854
>Run away
This ain't our fight

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>5759854
>Challenge Combuster with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)

Rolled 93, 45 = 138 (2d100)

>>5759851
>I think he was working on a device that would instantly form the mental connection with a Cutémon
Knowing Pedotree, we know what kind of "connection" that would be.

>>5759854
These options aren't very great for us. If she fights this thing, she'll get swept. If she fights this thing without the jacket, she'll get swept and caught, either by the instant "connection" cutécaptor or a standard ball. She can't outrun this thing either, so that leaves us with one choice.
>Write in
>Ride the Combuster into submission (2d100)
First d100 to get on, the second to hold on until it calms down.

Yeehaw.

>>5759892
With Joe's jacket on, of course.

Rolled 34, 32 = 66 (2d100)

>>5759854
>Take Joe's jacket off and challenge Combuster (roll 2d100)
gotta let it out, gotta let it out!!!

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>5759854
>>5759892
+1, Yippee Ki-Yay!

Rolled 16, 34 = 50 (2d100)

>>5760042
fugg, wrong dice

Rolled 24, 30 = 54 (2d100)

>>5759854
>>5759892
Seconding the write-in, yeehaw here goes

Rolled 3, 56 = 59 (2d100)

>>5759854
>>Take Joe's jacket off and challenge Combuster (roll 2d100)

File: stump.jpg (365 KB, 1232x928)

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You're too afraid to move! Combuster is leaving a burning hoofprint with each step!

What? You think you should take Joe's jacket off of your head?

You look at Joe!

What? Joe doesn't seem to be afraid? Does he know something you don't?

Joe glances from Combuster to you and says "This is like when you fought Rattletrap!"

What? You don't know what Joe is talking about!

"You defeated Rattletrap by finding its weakness!"

What? Is Joe talking about Rattletrap's lure? You don't think Combuster has a lure!

"Look!" Joe is pointing at Combuster! "Only its hooves are on fire! If you can get on Combuster's back, the flames won't reach you!"

What? Joe thinks you can get on Combuster's back?

What? You're really going to try it?

"I'm coming, Torrentani!" Booker is trying to rescue Torrentani!

Combuster is looking at Booker! Quick, now's your chance!

You climb up a tree as fast as you can!

Combuster is charging at Booker!

You jump on Combuster's back!

Combuster can't believe it!

What? Combuster is bucking like a rodeo bull! You don't think you can hang on much longer!

Combuster starts charging! You can't hang on any longer!

You land on the ground!

That hurt!

What? Combuster is still charging? It's headed right for that huge stump!

[SFX: Loud crack]

You can't believe it! Combuster almost knocked itself out! It doesn't seem to know where it is!

Combuster is wandering away!

"Torrentani!" Booker is holding Torrentani!

Torrentani's fins are limp!

"Oh, this can't be happening!" What? Booker is starting to cry? "You were the bravest, most loyal mon a trainer could ever ask for! I didn't deserve a mon like you! If only you could tell me you forgive me!"

"TANI!"

"What?! You're still alive?!" Booker is so surprised he drops Torrentani on the ground!

Torrentani flops around and flutters back up into the air! "TANI!"

Booker can't believe it! "You useless guppy! You tricked me!" Booker looks at you and Joe. "Well, what are you standing around for? Don't you know it's past bedtime?"

File: location.jpg (368 KB, 1232x928)

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The next morning you and Joe get ready to leave toward Rust City!

What? Booker and Torrentani are waiting for you when you walk out of the dojo? "Hrmph. I didn't think you should travel without any provisions." Booker gives Joe some wrapped food and says "My friend Rudy owns the Rust City Arena. If you mention my name, he's sure to give you a job."

"Thank you." Joe bows at Booker! "I appreciate all your advice!"

What? It looks like Booker has something for you too? It's the video game! "Hrmph. That was an interesting way to handle a Combuster."

You think you should say something!

"Thank you!"

Booker turns away from you! What? You think Booker was smiling when he turned away from you?

"TANI!"

"Quiet!" Booker swings his cane at Torrentani but then he looks back at you and Joe!

"Ready?" Joe is looking at you! "We should be able to make it to Rust City before dark if we don't run into anyone."

You and Joe walk out of the forest and onto the plains! You walk all day!

What? You've never been on this side of the mountains before?

You didn't realize how far you've traveled! You made it all the way to the crater lakes!

What? You didn't know Rust City was on the shore of a crater lake? Well, you're here now!

File: ripmunk.jpg (222 KB, 1232x928)

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You see a lot of humans here! What? They're looking at you? It's probably because you're wearing Joe's jacket on your head!

You can't help feeling embarrassed!

"Wait." Joe seems to be looking at a sign! You don't know what it means! "The Rust City Arena is right up this street. Let's take a quick look."

You and Joe see a big building at the end of the street! A group of human men and some mons are standing outside the entrance!

Joe looks at you and says "This must be the arena. Let's go inside and meet Rudy."

You don't know if you want to go inside the building!

What? You just remembered that Joe said you could find a Baseball Cap in Rust City?

Joe looks at you and nods. "If you want to stay outside, you can. I won't take very long." Joe turns and walks toward the men. You don't know what to do!

One of the men walks away from the entrance toward Joe The Ripmunk follows next to him! It's a lot bigger than you expected!

"Hi, I'm Joe!" Joe waves at the human man. "I'm here to talk to Rudy about getting a job at the arena!"

The human men start laughing! You don't think it sounds very nice! "Ain't you heard, kid? Old man Rudy is dead! My name's Carlos."

"Dead?" Joe can't believe it! "Does that mean you're the arena's new owner?"

What? The human men start laughing again? They don't seem very friendly!

"The arena's closed permanently, kid. This is our turf now."

Joe doesn't know what to say!

"Beat it, kid. And tell your little girlfriend, nice jacket."

What? Is Carlos talking about you?

What? Why are your cheeks so warm? You're not Joe's girlfriend!

"Come on." Joe takes your arm and starts leading you back down the street away from the arena. "We'd better get out of here."

File: volito.jpg (280 KB, 1232x928)

280 KB JPG

Joe seems pretty upset!

What? Joe is smiling at you even though he's upset? "I promised to try and find you a baseball cap. I still have 10 coins."

There are so many buildings in Rust City, you don't know where to start looking!

"Come on, I see an item shop over there." It seems like Joe knows where to look! Are you finally going to get a baseball cap?

"Oh, no!" What? Joe seems upset about something else! He's pointing at a sign in the window of the item shop! "It says they're out of business."

What? Does this mean you can't get a baseball cap?

"Don't worry." Joe looks around the street and says "I'm sure there's another item shop somewhere around here."

"Forget about it!" What? A little human girl overheard Joe?

"Come on, Volito!" The little human girl is walking toward the two of you! It looks like she's wearing a baseball cap! Floating next to her is a mon that looks like an inflated pig! "Ever since the Rust City Arena closed down six months ago, all the stores have gone out of business!"

Is that why every window has a sign like the one in the item shop?

"That's too bad." Joe points at the girl's baseball cap. "I wanted to buy a baseball cap like yours."

"Not for sale!" The girl grabs her baseball cap and holds it tightly on her head! "Especially if it's a rare commodity! I've never seen either of you around before. My name's Mashi! What's yours?"

"My name is Joe. This is... um... my friend."

Mashi is looking up at you! It seems like she's curious about you! "Well? Don't you have a name too? And why do you have a jacket on your head?"

You don't know what to say! You look at Joe and he looks at Mashi! "Um, you were saying something about the Rust City Arena being closed?"

"Yeah!" Mashi looks toward the arena. "My grandfather was the arena's owner. I was supposed to take over from him, but after he died, Carlos and his gang bullied me out! Now no one is coming to Rust City for tournaments because Carlos just uses it as a place for his gang to hang out, and no one can do anything about it because his Ripmunk is too strong!"

"Your grandfather?" Joe looks away from Mashi. "Was your grandfather's name Rudy?"

Mashi seems to be a little more friendly now! "Yeah! How did you know?"

Joe looks at Mashi again and says "His friend Booker... he wanted me to... um, to say hello."

"Huh? You know Grandpa's friend Booker?" Mashi is looking at you! "I'll make you two a deal. If you can help me get Carlos and his gang to leave the arena for good, I'll give you my baseball cap!"

Joe is nodding his head! "I came here to work at the Rust City Arena."

What? Joe is looking at you?

"Um... but I can't speak for my friend."

>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back
>Leave Rust City and look for a hat somewhere else

>>5760885
>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back

>>5760885
>Leave Rust City and look for a hat somewhere else
Rust City is dangerous, anyway, since Plumtree is going to be here soon, especially if the arena gets up-and-running, to demo Onlion.

>>5760878
I can't believe that stunt I suggested actually worked despite rolling low for holding on.

>>5760885
Professor Plumtree wanting to market Onlion in the equivalent of Salton City makes him all the more suspicious. It's likely he really is making deals with a criminal organization. Whether Carlos is in on it isn't clear yet.

That being said, our character is stuck between a rock and a hard place. If she stays and we work our wizardry to boot Carlos out of town, there's a nonzero chance that Joe will end up on Plumtree's shit list for interfering with his plans, and he'll be doubly pissed if he finds out she's with him from descriptions alone. Plumtree might use his clout to sour people in high places toward them. On the other hand, the second option implies that she'll be separating from Joe, which she's honestly in no position to do without proper head wear. Even if Joe comes with, those Onlions will get out there and there will be no place to hide from Plumtree. She's effectively stuck in Rust City for these reasons. We have to find a way to get Carlos out of town without a direct confrontation to get that hat and hinder Plumtree's "marketing" without ending up on his radar. In short, the professor has to believe those thugs are bailing rather than getting ousted. That being said, here's a suggestion.

>Write in
>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back by making Carlos and his thugs believe they are being haunted by Rudy's ghost
It might be irreverent and likely to take several days, but everything lines up. Carlos crashed into Rudy's old store, is causing trouble, and openly disrespected someone sent by a friend of his. The first two nights are simple. Make bumps in the night, move objects to strange places, make the air colder somehow. Then things can be ramped out with silent groans, dolls or ominous drawings that look vaguely like Rudy, and what sounds like employee activity at the old cashier desk. Finally, when he's pissing his pants and losing sleep at night, we break his electricity, make spooky noises, and have Volito float around in a white blanket pretending to be a ghost. It's ultimately up to Mashi to set this plan in motion as he's her grandfather, but I'm sure enough people are unhappy about Carlos to make it a community effort once it is. What do you guys think?

>>5760885
>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back

Rust City being more vacant than usual should help some in avoiding suspicion for now, though as >>5760897 says the danger is only going to increase especially if the arena is reopened. Hoping this can be procrastinated lel

>>5760885
Supporting >>5760947. Haunting it is!

>>5760885
>>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back

>>5760885
>Leave Rust City and look for a hat somewhere else

>>5760947
I'll back the haunting, if we're staying, which it seems we are.

>>5760885
Changing my vote from >>5760897

>>5760885
>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back

>>5760947
>>5760885
supporting

>>5760885
>Stay with Joe and help Mashi get the arena back

File: jocktopus.jpg (232 KB, 1232x928)

232 KB JPG

What? You're nodding your head? You really want to help Mashi get rid of Carlos and his gang?

Joe is smiling! He seems happy that you decided to stay!

Mashi is looking at you and Joe! "Well? Got any ideas?"

Joe is looking toward the arena! He seems to be thinking about something! "We should find out all we can before we make a plan. Is there a back door to the arena?"

"Yeah! It's on a side street near here!" Mashi seems happy that you're both helping her! "Come on, I'll show you!"

Mashi runs between the buildings so quickly that you and Joe have a hard time keeping up with her!

Suddenly, she stops and ducks back into the alley! It seems like she saw something unexpected!

When you and Joe catch up to Mashi, you peek around the corner and see a human man guarding the door! Next to him is a mon that looks like a blue octopus with big shoulderpads! It seems like the human man and the Jocktopus might be part of Carlos's gang!

What? Joe and Mashi are whispering? You had better whisper too!

"Is that door always guarded?"

"Yeah! And even if the Jocktopus couldn't see in two directions at once, that door is locked!"

"Is there any other way into the arena?"

"Yeah! I mean, there's the mon entrance, but only Volito could get inside that way."

"VO-LITO!"

"Keep your voice down, Volito!"

"What do you mean? What's the mon entrance?"

"It's a set of automatic doors that allows mons through one at a time."

"You mean a mon can get into the arena through a special entrance?"

"Yeah! But it won't open if it detects any humans in the room."

"Even if we could get inside, I'm not sure what the four of us can do to make them all leave and not come back."

What? You're thinking about how some travelers in the forest are scared of ghosts?

You feel like you should say something!

"Ghosts?"

What? Did you say something wrong? Joe and Mashi are both looking at you? Maybe it's because you forgot to whisper!

What? Now Joe and Mashi are looking at each other and smiling? It seems like Joe and Mashi both like your idea!

Joe peeks around the corner again. "If only there was an easy way for us to get in and out."

"Carlos took my key to the arena doors, but there might still be a spare key in the arena office."

"Could we send Volito in to get it?"

"Yeah! I mean, Volito knows his way around inside the arena, but I don't know if he could open the office door and get the key out of the desk drawer!"

"VO-LITO!"

"Keep your voice down, Volito!"


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)
>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi (roll 2d100)

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>5761645
>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

Rolled 50, 43 = 93 (2d100)

>>5761645
>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi (roll 2d100)
Mashi’s got us covered, hopefully :p

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>5761645
>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>5761645
>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>5761645
>>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

Rolled 81, 45 = 126 (2d100)

>>5761645
>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi (roll 2d100)

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>5761645
>>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

>>5761645
>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

>>5761659
>>Come back after it gets dark and sneak in by yourself (roll 1d100)

File: rust city arena mon entrance.jpg (287 KB, 1232x928)

287 KB JPG

You think that you could find the spare key!

Joe peeks around the corner again. "Where is the mon entrance, anyway?"

"Right over there!" Mashi points to another door along the wall. "It's never locked, since you can only get to the check-in terminal."

What? Joe is grinning at you? You think you know what that means!

Are you really going to go inside the building all by yourself?

You're grinning back at Joe! He knows what that means!

Joe looks at Mashi and whispers "Tell you what, Mashi... why don't you meet us tomorrow morning outside of that item shop?"

"Yeah! We can figure out how to get the spare key!"

"Sure..."

After the sun goes down, you and Joe wait a few more hours. It looks like the back door is unguarded! You don't see anyone else around!

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Joe looks concerned!

What? You're nodding even though you're afraid to go inside the building? You had better go now, before you lose your courage!

You run across the street! When you grab the door handle it's unlocked and you hurry inside but you almost slip on the smooth floor!

There's a picture of a mon on the wall in front of you! It looks dangerous!

You walk a little further into the room and see a hallway. This must be what Mashi was talking about!

You start to walk toward the hallway when suddenly a machine lights up and you hear a voice!

"Welcome to the Rust City Arena. Please direct your mon to the hallway ahead for inspection. Thank you!"

You don't like the sound of being inspected!

What? You're really going to walk into the hall? You start walking into the hall when suddenly a light shines over you! You hold completely still and after a moment it stops and the wall behind you slides closed!

What? You didn't know that the mon entrance was a one-way entrance?

It looks like you'll have to find the spare key before you can get out through the back door!

File: musseal.jpg (238 KB, 1232x928)

238 KB JPG

This building is a lot bigger than Professor Plumtree's laboratory!

What? The floor makes your footsteps sound louder than normal? You had better tip-toe your way to the office!

You've never been in a building this big before! It would probably be a lot easier to find the office if Volito was here with you!

After a while you find a room you haven't seen yet. You're sure this must be the office!

You open the door a crack and peek into the room. You see a desk with a computer terminal on it! This must be the desk with the spare key!

What? The night guard is sleeping in front of the desk? He's really snoring!

Next to him is a mon that looks like a bulky seal!

What? The Musseal just opened one eye halfway and closed it again?

You hold completely still!

Musseal's eyes are still closed.

What? You can't tell if Musseal is really sleeping? That's probably because you've never seen a sleeping Musseal before!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)
>Try to sneak past both of them (roll 1d100)

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>5762654
>Try to sneak past both of them (roll 1d100)
Sneaky

>>5762654
>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)

Remember... "a Ripmunk needs a human trainer to be able to Swell"
If we get it alone, we can maybe beat it without it trainer's help to use muscle-type special moves.

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5762654
>>5762661

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>5762654
>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5762654
>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5762654
>>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)

>>5762654
>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)
Let's make sure the guard doesn't notice.

>>5762661
>>5762662
That came in clutch.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5762654
>>Try to lure Musseal out of the room (roll 1d100)

File: rust city arena floor.jpg (449 KB, 1232x928)

449 KB JPG

What? Musseal just opened one eye a crack to look at you? You're pretty sure Musseal is only pretending to be asleep!

Musseal's human trainer is still snoring loudly!

You might be able to get the spare key out of the drawer if you get Musseal out of the office first! It should be easy since Musseal already knows you're here!

Maybe you can lure Musseal into a room and close the door on him! You tip-toe for a little while and then make sure Musseal can hear your footsteps!

You think you hear something!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

You peek around the corner and see Musseal flop through the office doorway into the hall! He looks the other direction, then turns his head toward you!

Maybe you should have gone a little further before you started making noise!

You run down the hallway as fast as you can!

Musseal is flopping behind you!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Musseal is getting closer! You had better find someplace to trap him! You keep running through the building and suddenly realize you don't know where you are! You've never been in this part of the building before!

You keep running and see a doorway further up the hallway!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Musseal is just around the corner!

You run through the doorway!

What? It's the arena floor, where mons used to fight? It looks like Carlos and his gang have been using it as a garage for their car!

You don't know anything about cars!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Musseal sees you! He flops across the arena floor toward you!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Try to outrun Musseal on the way back to the office (roll 1d100)
>Challenge Musseal with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)
>Take Joe's jacket off of your head and challenge Musseal (roll 2d100)

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5763293
>Challenge Musseal with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)
Just in case we're spotted by a HU-mon.

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>5763293
>Challenge Musseal with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>5763293
>Challenge Musseal with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)
I kind of want us to drive that car

>>5763293
>Try to outrun Musseal on the way back to the office (roll 1d100)

>>5763293
>Take Joe's jacket off of your head and challenge Musseal (roll 2d100)
there's no one here, time to use our full powers

>>5763332
>>5763398
>>5763418
We have to remember that Carlos's gang must not know their hideout was broken into. If that guard wakes up in the morning to see his Musseal beat up and lying around in the arena, they'll know someone was sneaking around at night. They'll run a check up of every important room in the building, including the office, and assess the gates. When that happens, they'll notice one of the spare keys are missing and that a Mon went through that machine, specifically a Cutémon. Not only will our cover be blown and our plan to scare them away fail, but Plumtree will haul ass and accelerate his plans in Rust City. This might be !notPokemon, but I don't think game logic will work here. They won't forget someone beat up their Musseal just because she sneaks away with the key successfully.

>>5763293
>You run through the doorway!
This implies that the door to the arena was pushed open, which gives us an opportunity to slip away. We don't know if other doors might be open, so it would be too big of a risk to attempt to lock the Musseal in the arena. However, we can attempt to get him stuck in something like a spare tire, bucket, or net. Come morning, his owner would assume his Musseal wandered over to the arena and fucked around.

>Challenge Musseal with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)
This is still my vote, but let's use any of the objects lying around capable of immobilizing the Musseal. Our goal should be to get him stuck, not beat him to a pulp and compromise our mission here. Besides, we don't have any moves of our own besides biting and whatever she's physically capable of with two legs and arms.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>5763293
>>Try to outrun Musseal on the way back to the office (roll 1d100)

>>5763293
>Try to outrun Musseal on the way back to the office (roll 1d100)

Cars? How hard can driving a car be? If a 6 year old in Malaysia can do it, surely so can we, right?

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5763293
>>Challenge Musseal with Joe's jacket on your head (roll 1d100)

File: rust city arena spare key.jpg (135 KB, 1232x928)

135 KB JPG

Musseal is really moving! He's flopping across the arena straight toward you!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

What? You don't know what to do? Musseal weighs a lot more than you do! Maybe you should run away!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Musseal seems pretty upset! Before you can run away, Musseal jumps on top of the car and belly-flops on top of you!

That hurt a lot!

You can't move, no matter how hard you try!

Musseal flops off of you but you can barely breathe!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Musseal jumps back on top of the car! It looks like he's getting ready for another belly-flop! You don't think you can stand another belly-flop!

What? You're trying to crawl underneath of the car? You can barely move!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Musseal belly-flops off of the car! You crawl underneath the car just as he lands!

Musseal is angry! That probably hurt!

Musseal tries to reach his flipper under the car but he can't quite reach you!

What? Are you really going to bite Musseal's flipper? Well, it IS right there in front of your face!

You chomp down on Musseal's flipper! He's really mad now!

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

While Musseal is distracted you crawl out from under the car on the other side but Musseal flops around the car and cuts you off!

You can't help taking a step backward! You bump into the door handle of the car.

What? You're getting an idea?

"MUSSA-MUSSA!"

Too late! Musseal is flopping at you!

What? You opened the car door just as Musseal was jumping at you?

Musseal lands inside the car!

You close the door before Musseal can escape!

Musseal is trapped in the car!

With Musseal out of the way, it should be no problem to get the spare key!

What? The guard is still sleeping? You can hardly hear your footsteps because he's snoring so loudly!

You sneak up to him and open the drawer! Inside is a key! It's so heavy, it must be important! This must be the spare key that Mashi told you about!

Don't forget to close the drawer before you leave!

After you carefully close the drawer you sneak back downstairs. It looks like Musseal is still trapped inside the car!

You already know where the back door is but it's locked! Good thing you have the spare key! You unlock the door and step outside!

File: spotter.jpg (236 KB, 1232x928)

236 KB JPG

What? Joe was waiting outside for you the entire time? Are you really surprised?

"You got it!" Joe seems happy to see the key but then he seems to realize that you got in a fight with Musseal! "Are you alright?"

You don't know what to say!

"We should get out of here before someone sees us. Come on, I think I saw a place that rents rooms."

What? You can't stay awake any longer?

What? You wake up in a bed? You don't know how you got here, but you feel a lot better this morning!

What? Joe is lying on the floor? It seems like he slept on the floor!

Maybe you should wake him up! You're supposed to meet Mashi now, right?

What? You're going to let him sleep for a few more minutes?

Mashi and Volito are waiting for you outside the item shop when you arrive! "I've been waiting all morning! We need to start planning how to get that spare key."

What? Joe is looking at you? He must want you to show Mashi the spare key!

You take it out of your pocket and hold it up!

Mashi can't believe it! "No way! How did you get that?"

Joe is grinning! Is he going to tell Mashi that you're really a Cutémon? "Let's just say it was easier to get inside than you thought."

It seems like Mashi doesn't know what to think! "Whatever! Now that we have the spare key, are you two ready for the second part of the operation?"

Joe is nodding! You're nodding too? It seems like you're all looking forward to scaring Carlos and his gang!

"Come on." Mashi turns and starts running up the alley! "I borrowed some things from a friend that we can use!"

You and Joe follow Mashi and Volito through the alley until you get to a pile of garbage. What? Something is hidden underneath! It looks like a big box!

"Here." Mashi takes the lid off the box. You can't help looking inside! "This is a fog machine, and this is a light projector, and this is a wireless speaker, and this is the sound board for the speaker..."

It seems like Mashi really knows a lot about this stuff!

"Carlos and his gang don't get up until after noon. We can go in through the back door with this equipment, lock the door behind us, and set up in the basement. Then, when it gets dark, we can shut off the water so they have to go downstairs to see what's wrong."

The four of you make it to the basement without being seen!

Later that night Mashi turns off the water pipe. A little while later, you hear two human men coming downstairs!

"Can you believe Musseal was dumb enough to get stuck in the car again?"

"Woooooooo..."

"W-what was that?"

"I dunno, I ain't never heard nothing like that before!"

"What's with this fog?"

"I don't wanna be down here no more!"

"Spotta!"

What? There's a mon with them? Spotter doesn't seem to be fooled by the fog machine!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)
>Try to escape without being discovered (roll 1d100)

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5764215
>Try to escape without being discovered (roll 1d100)

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5764215
>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)
"Do you wanna see something cool ?"

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5764215
>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)
I'm open to ideas. I'm thinking maybe the light projector to blind it and then a foul odour or especially spooky sound to scare it?
Poop in the fog machine and wail?

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>5764215
>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)
Shit, I don't know, scream like a nightjar?

File: Phone.jpg (182 KB, 641x621)

182 KB JPG

>>5764239
>43
Anyone else have any ideas?

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>5764215
>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>5764215
>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)
Cast spooky shadows using the projector or blind it like >>5764233 said? Thinking we’ll have to use a specific sound to scare spotter but how would we know which? Praying Mashi comes in clutch with the soundboard

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5764215
>>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>5764215
>>Try to scare Spotter with a different trick (roll 1d100)

File: crawlspace.jpg (236 KB, 1232x928)

236 KB JPG

"Hey, what's the matter, Spotter?"

"Spotta! Spotta!"

"What's going on?"

"I don't know! Spotter normally only acts like this when he smells another mon nearby!"

"There ain't supposed to be no mons in the basement!"

Oh, no! It looks like Spotter knows you're here! You don't know what to do!

You can't help taking a step backward! You step all the way into the fog!

What? You don't know where Joe and Mashi went? You can't see very well because of the fog machine and because you're still wearing Joe's jacket on your head! In fact, you can't see at all!

You can't help taking another step backward!

What? You think you accidentally kicked the fog machine?

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"Sounds like someone's in the basement!"

You don't want to get caught by Spotter or the human men! You had better think of something quickly!

It looks like you kicked the fog machine into a crawlspace! This might be your only chance! You squeeze into the crawlspace after it!

What? You see Joe and Mashi and Volito across the room? They made it to the basement door! The human men still haven't seen them! Joe is waving his hand for you to come hide with him! You had better do it now before the human men see you!

"Spotta! Spotta!"

Oh, no! Spotter is sticking his nose into the crawlspace!

"What is it, Spotter?"

You crawl around to the other end of the crawlspace, but one of the human men is already there! He's blocking you from escaping!

You can see Joe but you can't reach him!

What? You could roll the cutécaptor to Joe?

You're not sure if you want to do that! You've never been captured by the cutécaptor before!

"Spotta! Spotta!"

Spotta is starting to squeeze into the crawlspace! He's almost far enough inside to see you!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Bite Spotter on the nose (roll 1d100)
>Bite the human man on the toe (roll 1d100)
>Ask Joe to capture you with the cutécaptor (roll 1d100)

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5764864
>Bite Spotter on the nose (roll 1d100)

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>5764865
>Bite Spotter on the nose (roll 1d100)

>>5764865
>>5764874 was meant for this.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5764865
>Bite Spotter on the nose (roll 1d100)
Chomp!

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>5764865
>Bite Spotter on the nose (roll 1d100)

>>5764865
You probably won't be able to coax the players into capturing themselves, QM. People despise railroading attempts.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>5764865
>Bite Spotter on the nose (roll 1d100)
If we're still behind all that fog, let's try to bite hard enough to scare him off.

>>5765082
I'm really hoping this isn't going to devolve into another coomer thread. We narrowly avoided that early on.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>5764865
>>Ask Joe to capture you with the cutécaptor (roll 1d100)

File: barbelisk.jpg (186 KB, 1232x928)

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You don't think you want to be captured inside the cutécaptor! After all, you don't know anything about it!

What? There's only one other way out of this? You're going to bite something?

What? You're going to bite Spotter's nose?

Well, it IS right there in front of your face!

You chomp down on Spotter's nose!

Spotter can't stand the pain and flees across the room!

"Spotter!"

"What's he doing? He's going crazy!"

It seems like the human men are distracted! Now's your chance!

You grab the fog machine and squeeze out of the crawlspace! It seems like they can't see you because of the fog! You quickly run across the room toward the basement door!

Mashi is already running up the stairs! "Hurry! We can hide on the main level!"

You and Joe follow Mashi and Volito up the stairs! The four of you manage to duck through a door and close it behind you before anyone spots you!

What? The fog machine just ran out of fog?

It's crowded in here! You can't see anything in the dark!

"Move over, Volito!"

"VO-LITO!"

"Keep your voice down, Volito!"

"Lisssk!"

"Shhh! What was that?"

It sounds like another human man! It sounds like he's right outside the door!

"Hey, Barbelisk thinks there's someone in here!"

[SFX: door opening]

"Lisssk!"

"Huh? This room's empty?"

"Keep searching! Something's not right!" That sounds like Carlos's voice!

It sounds like they're searching the whole arena! You're not sure what to do!


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Stay where you are for now (roll 1d100)
>Sneak out before they find you (roll 1d100)

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>5765284
>Sneak out before they find you (roll 1d100)
Spooooky!

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>5765284
>Sneak out

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>5765284
>Sneak out before they find you (roll 1d100)

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5765284
>>Stay where you are for now (roll 1d100)

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>5765284
>Sneak out before they find you (roll 1d100)

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>5765284
>Sneak out before they find you (roll 1d100)

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>5765284
>Sneak out before they find you (roll 1d100)

File: stratocat.jpg (322 KB, 1232x928)

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What? You can't stand being stuck in this tiny room any longer? Are you really going to open the door?

You open the door a crack!

You peek out just after one of the human men walks by the door! He doesn't see you! Talk about a lucky break!

Mashi whispers "Anybody there?" and then sticks her head out from underneath your arm! "Come on, let's go!" Mashi pushes by underneath you and tip-toes up the hall in the opposite direction! You had better do the same thing!

You don't know how you did it, but all four of you manage to sneak out the back door without being seen! You even remember to lock it behind you after you're outside!

"My fog machine!" Mashi takes the fog machine from you. "Thanks for grabbing it!" She looks back at the arena and says "It's too bad we couldn't scare them more."

"We did a great job scaring those guys, and we got out without being seen." Joe is smiling at you! "We should celebrate."

"Yeah, you're right! And I know just the place! Come on, Volito!"

"VO-LITO!"

Mashi leads you through the alleys to the edge of the lake! You can smell cooking fish! It looks like Mashi led you and Joe to an outdoor food stand! "I hope you're hungry!"

Joe is nodding his head! "I'm starved!"

"Hi, Enzo! Give us three specials!"

"Hey, Miss Mashi! Three specials, coming right up!"

What? Joe seems concerned! He's looking in his pocket! "Um, but I spent all my coins on our room last night."

"Hey, no problem! If you two are friends of Miss Mashi, it's on the house!" It seems like the cook likes you!

"Thanks, Enzo!"

"Hey, did I ever tell you how your grandfather helped me out when I was first getting started? He let me sell food in the arena! Here you go, miss!"

What? Enzo is holding out a big chunk of roasted Vampike on a skewer right up to your face?

What? You don't know if you want to eat another mon, even though you're really hungry?

It smells pretty delicious!

What? You still don't know if you want to eat it?

Maybe one bite wouldn't hurt! After all, it's already cooked, right?

What? It's delicious? You can't help eating the entire thing!

What? You're even chewing on the stick? You didn't realize how hungry you were!

"Hey, Miss Mashi! You had better keep an eye on your Volito!"

"VO-LITO!"

"Huh? What do you mean, Enzo?" Mashi seems concerned! She's looking at Volito!

File: candy bar.jpg (220 KB, 1232x928)

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"I heard an agent for the Traders was in town."

Mashi seems upset! "What? The Traders?"

"Hey, just passing along what I heard!"

You don't know what that means!

Joe looks at Mashi and says "Traders?" It seems like Joe doesn't know what it means either!

Mashi is looking at Volito again! "The Traders are a group of underground mon dealers who deal in rare mons! What would they be doing in Rust City?"

"Rare mons?" Joe is looking at you! Is it because you're a Cutémon?

"Whatever!" Mashi waves at Enzo. "Thanks for the Vampike, Enzo! Come on, you two. I'll show you where we live."

"VO-LITO!"

"Come on, Volito!"

Mashi leads you and Joe all the way to the very top of one of the buildings! It looks like this is where Mashi used to live with her grandfather when he was still alive!

Mashi points at one of the bedrooms and tells Joe "You can sleep in Grandpa's room."

"Thanks, I'm sure it will be nicer than the place we slept last night." It seems like Joe is ready to go to sleep!

Mashi looks at you and says "You can sleep on the couch in the other room."

What? Your stomach is still growling even though you ate all that roasted Vampike?

"Oh, are you hungry?" It seems like Mashi heard your stomach growling! Mashi opens a cupboard door and looks around inside. She holds up a candy bar and throws it on the table! "I think this candy bar is all I have, but they say you're not supposed to eat candy bars before bedtime!"

Your stomach is still growling!

What? You're going to eat the candy bar anyway?

You eat the whole thing! It's delicious!

After you eat the candy bar you go lie down on the couch but all you can do is toss and turn!

What? You can't sleep? Maybe it's because you ate that candy bar!

You get back up off the couch and find Mashi sitting outside on the edge of the deck looking at the lake!

"Huh? You can't sleep either?" Mashi scoots over on the edge of the deck and says "Well, you might as well sit down."

You sit down next to Mashi with your feet hanging off the edge. You feel like you should say something but you don't know what to say!

Before you can say anything, Mashi says "I don't understand why the Traders would send an agent to Rust City! They only care about capturing the rarest mons. Why would they be looking for one here?"


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 1


>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi
>Keep Joe's jacket on your head for now

>>5766449
No idea how we got away with that one, but I'm glad that we did.

>>5766450
It seems like Mashi lives in some sort of favela, and has been in poverty ever since her grandfather died. If he had authority over the arena to an extent, that implies they were both well off until something happened to push them there, most likely the arena's closure. Rust City must have been a high maintenance egg basket for it to fall apart so quickly. It makes the circumstances surrounding the incident very suspect, but it's not clear how that connects to anything else going on. That being said, poverty puts people in desperate positions. It isn't unlikely Mashi would plot to sell our protagonist out if it meant getting by. We were lucky that Joe turned out to not be a massive creep, let alone let her keep the captor ball. She should probably keep the jacket on for now, but let's give her something to talk about.

>Write in
>Keep Joe's jacket on your head for now and ask Mashi if she's worried
Mashi doesn't have anyone else at the moment, so might as well check up on how's she's doing. Life couldn't have been easy for her after Rudy died.

>>5766450
>>5766478
Going with the write-in, you are right I think, better safe than sorry until Mashi has gotten the arena back anyway.

>>5766450
>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi
time to reveal ourselves to our friend

>>5766450
Supporting >>5766478

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5766450
>>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi

>>5766478
+1

>>5766450
>Keep Joe's jacket on your head for now and ask Mashi if she's worried

>>5766478
Supping the write in. Man, theres a loooooot of fucking hoops for our poor, paranoid protag. I wonder if things will let up AFTER Rust City

>>5766450
>Keep Joe's jacket on your head for now and ask Mashi if she's worried

File: mashi's house.jpg (330 KB, 1232x928)

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Mashi seems upset!

You don't know what to say!

Well? You had better say something!

"Worried?"

Mashi looks up at you, then looks back at the lake. You're not sure if she's going to say anything, but then she says "I guess so. It seems like you don't know much about mons. Volito is special because he's the only one."

What? Is Mashi saying that there aren't any other Volitos?

"Grandpa found Volito when he was exploring the Southern Islands. Everybody thought they were extinct until then. I guess I'm worried that the Traders might be here to capture Volito! I mean, he's not even a very powerful mon and nobody ever tried to capture him before but maybe somebody wants him because he's the only one. I mean, why else would the Traders bother coming to Rust City?" Mashi looks back up at you and says "I can't lose Volito!"

What? Mashi is sniffling and wiping her eyes? It seems like she's really worried about Volito!

Wait, what are you doing? You're reaching up to touch Joe's jacket? Are you really going to take it off of your head in front of Mashi?

Well, it DOES seem like it would fix everything!

What? You're afraid that Mashi might tell someone you're really a Cutémon? You're not sure if Mashi would do something like that!

Then again, she IS pretty young!

What? You really don't know if you want to take Joe's jacket off of your head? You're going to keep it on even though Mashi is upset?

What? What is this strange feeling in your chest?


BODY: 1
MIND: 1
LOVE: 0


Wait, why did your LOVE stat decrease? You didn't do anything!

Is this because you have a strange feeling in your chest? You don't know what to think!

Is this how human girls feel all the time?

Mashi wipes her nose and says "Thanks for helping me try to get Carlos and his gang out of the arena. I know I can do a good job running it!" She wipes her eyes again and says "It might not seem like it, but it made a decent profit. Even though we could have moved someplace nicer, Grandpa always spent most of the profits on our neighbors. He always said 'Give what you can.'"

It sounds like Mashi's grandfather was a very nice human!

What? The strange feeling in your chest is even worse now?

>Take Joe's jacket off of your head in front of Mashi
>Better just go back to bed