Previous thread: http://fgts.jp/vp/thread/24606811
Chapter Directory: http://pastebin.com/sgnYBisD
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>PREVIOUSLY ON SCRUMPTIOUS CALEM. . .
"Ow. Stupid pit."
"Ow. Stupid pothole."
"Ow. Stupid crater!"
"OW! DAMMIT! I've been here for all of five seconds and I already can't take it anymore! This is ten brands of ridiculous on a canoe up crazy creek! Why the hell are there so many damn holes here?! I can't take two steps without falling into one of them! Who's responsible for this!?!"
A world whose landscape is plagued with pits and craters of all shapes and sizes. It sounds hard to believe, but truth tends to be much stranger than fiction whenever you're concerned. Besides, the dozen or so few times you've tripped and smacked your face on the ground is confirmation enough that this is no hallucination.
>>24771746
"Geez... Forget that 'Weezing of Oz' analogy, Dorothy never had to deal with all this ominous shit on her little adventure. I mean, the worst she had to deal with were flying Mankeys! Compare that to..."
You pause for a second, taking in the surrounding two-toned scenery and its ever-persisting gloominess. "Er... A weird, all-black-and-white limbo that's probably ruled by a succubus who eats the souls of flying Mankeys.. and has a digging fetish."
Gruesome as those implications may be, they're somehow not enough to keep you and your brimming obliviousness from stepping blindly into a field of screams. Bless your soul.
"Welp! No time like the present! I'm on a multiverse-mission and I've got vanilla cuties and buddy guys to wrangle up!"
>Investigate the pit-littered wasteland!
A) "Say, maybe if I keep marching forward, I'll eventually run into someone!"
B) Find a big enough hole and lie in it. Is it comfy?
C) Try out the Dio communication beacon.
D) Attempt to fill the holes.. with something. What's in your bag?
>>24771750
Welcome back Nate.
A.
>>24771750
I guess A would be the most fun one.
>>24771750
>Calem proceeds to keep on falling in holes because he's not paying attention
A
Serena cutting her hair when?
>>24771750
Welcome back Nate-kun! A
>>24771750
"I can't lose my resolve!" you exclaim with balled up fists and a proud smile. "No matter how spooky things get! No amount of flying Mankey seductresses can stop me! Besides, Serena would want me to press onward, she probably wouldn't use those exact words, she'd say it all smarter and deeper, but I can just imagine her saying it!"
>"Calem. Don't make tea with that container. There's mold in it."
>"Calem. You didn't record the latest Krick & Magmorty. How rude."
>"Calem. I had a night terror. My entire bio-molecular mass was made up of cysts. They called me pustule girl and it was rather unpleasant. I'll sleep with you for the rest of the night to alleviate these feelings and reduce the chances of a follow-up dream."
>"Butterfingers. You're not very good at dancing. Your hands are clammy and they're getting mine clammy. You''re stepping on my feet. You're missing cues and everyone's watching us. And yet.. it's nice—being held like this by you, I mean."
>"Calem. I'm attempting to better my sense of humor, please give me feedback: Why was the Spoink asleep? Give up?It lost its pearl and died. Fufufufu.~"
"Er.. something like that, at any rate..... Say, maybe if I keep marching forward, I'll eventually run into someone! There has to be at least ONE person here willing to help me out! It's just a matter of finding th—OW DAMMIT! AAGGGHHHH ANOTHER FUCKING HOLE!"
There's a thousand more where that came from.
![CinderAerial[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/prQWTWe.jpg "CinderAerial[1].jpg")
>>24772892
Over the course of the next half-hour, you struggle to traverse the pothole purgatory, and in doing so accumulate a hundred more reminders about how this is literally anything but a dream.
"Ow!"
"OW!"
"GAAAAAAHHHH! STILL? I'M STILL TRIPPING?! Really?!"
In layman's terms, this universe isn't exactly a paradise. It's enormous, but it's also barren, the weather never changes, it's perpetually nighttime, there's one more moon in the sky than you're used to, and there isn't a soul to be seen.
"I... I change my mind... I'm starting to lose my resolve pretty quickly now.. I feel like I've marched.. for ages... BUT I CAN STILL SEE THE FOOTPRINTS FROM WHERE I STARTED!... Screw these holes.... THERE'S NOT EVEN ANYTHING IN THEM! It's like—It's like they just dug them for the sake of digging!"
"THEY DUG THEM TO BE A D-I-C-K! A big dick to anyone who felt like they could just waltz into their turf!"
You promptly drop to the ground, running extremely low on stamina. "W-Well then... I'll just play hipster contrarian to their little charade... I won't give in to the man! They want me to waltz in? I'LL JUST CRAWL IN!"
"Hah..."
"Haaah..."
"Haaaaaah..."
"...Actually I'm starting to think crawling is harder.."
A) Man up, sissy!
B) Consider eating the dirt.
C) It's a good thing HM Fly is something that exists, right?
>>24773392
B
for science
>>24773392
>Calem
>manning up
lel
C
A
>>24773392
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amNvDULdNk8
>Noivern used Fly!
"Noivern.. Noivern, buddy... if anyone asks.. please don't tell them I chickened out at this part.."
"Nooooooiiiii...."
For the sake of your quarter-half gains and to keep your curiosity from driving you to eat some of the world's soil, you have your wyvern warrior ferry you across the bumpy plateau. It's definitely shameful without a doubt, but at least you're not butchering your face every other step anymore.
"Blegh! O-Oh god.. Noivern what is this /air/!?" you exclaim with a gut-wrenching cough. "Are you tasting this shit? Euggh! It.. It's SO REPULSIVE! Is this air contaminated or something?! It tastes like a million Ominous Winds all packed into the atmosphere!"
"Verrrrn!"
Unfortunately, the sky has its own set of problems.
>>24774392
"Whoa whoa whoa! Wait, stop Noivern! Ixnay on the fast flying! What the hell is /THAT/?!"
"Noi?"
"Down there!" you gesture towards the gloomy plains below. "It's... oh baby! It's moving! Holy crap, something lives in this holey hell after all—and we almost skipped over it!! BINGO!"
"Noiver.."
"Hm.. You're right. It's moving, but it *does* look like there's something off about it.. Actually.." you squint and try leaning in for a closer look. "It kinda looks like it's stuck.. Stuck... in one of the holes!?!"
>Rescue the whoever-it-is?
A) UH DUHHHHHHHHHH
B) You know what would be funny? If you just kept flying! You'd be a literal madman!
Can Calem and Serena finally confess that they are really into each other or did they already do that?
>>24774471
They did that a long time ago dude
>>24774443
At your call, Noivern makes a hasty descent. It's simply not in your nature to ever ignore someone in need of help, it goes against the completely pure-hearted, righteous, justice-seeking altruism that flows through your blood. In other words, you're /that/ kind of hero, the kind that would actually help the villain out so that no one can say you're "as bad as he is".
Unless of course.. that villain happens to be Skeeter Skidouche, but the less time spent reminiscing about those halcyon days, the better. You hop off the wyvern's back and trip all the way to the trapped civilian, who seems to be stuck in the hole headfirst.
"Mmmmmffffff! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmpppphhhh!"
The guy's kind of small up close. "Could he be a Pokemon? Hm.. Let's see if I can pluck him out by the legs.. I'll pretend he's a turnip!"
![introducing-playstation-vr[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/LxXFYft.jpg "introducing-playstation-vr[1].jpg")
>>24774574
>[NOTE: THE FOLLOWING QUICK TIME EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PLAYSTATION VR™—NOW WITH REAL-TIME POKEMON-OF-THE-WEEK SAVING ACTION!]
"Huuuuuuh!?!?"
>>24774594
>not pikmin reference
wasted opportunity
>>24774594
This'll be just like my teen horror movie that suddenly becomes a monster movie vidya games!
>>24774594
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Poe1zlkGY
"Er.. No explanation? Okay.. Guess it's time to press some buttons then.. No idea why this is suddenly a thing now, but I think it's one of those 'IT'S A FEATURE' things. I didn't believe innovation in CYOAs hosted on Vietnamese sticker forums still existed but.. ah well. QUICK TIME POWERS—ACTIVATE!"
>Pluck the Pokemon out with the power of timed cinematic button presses!
A) Press the Triangle button every 1.5 seconds.
B) Jump and press the Circle button once.
C) Fuck it mash Square repeatedly with no rhyme or rhythm.
D) Alternate between tapping L1 and R1 at moderate speed.
E) Lightly tap theCrossbutton once.
F) Slowly revolve the DualShock™ left analog stick in tune to the music.
>>24775316
C, time to put that quarter gain to useAnd hopefully push it up to half gain
>>24775316
B for master thief.
>>24775316
B then A for master thief then kigndom hearts dodge
>>24775355
>[x] then [y] response
this will surely end well
>>24775316
D,I want it.
>>24775355
DELETE THIS
E
L
E
T
E
T
H
I
S
>>24775355
D E L E T E
>>24775316
D
>>24775355
ANOOON
>>24775579
>>24775423
>>24775398
>>24775380
i have unleashed the terror on this world
and i regret nothing
>>24775316
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzWq7dgkmoA
You grab a hold of the trapped Pokemon's stubby legs and map them to non-existent right and left triggers. You then proceed to enter a forced rhythm sequence, hereby progressing your life's journey into the modern century by degrading it into QTE trash.
"LEFT RIGHT LEFT"
"RIGHT LEFT RIGHT"
"LEFT LEFT RIGHT"
"RIGHT RIGHT LEFT"
"LEFT RIGHT RIGHT"
"RIGHT RIGHT LEFT"
"RIGHT LEFT RIGHT"
"LEFTLEFT RIGHTRIGHT LEFTLEFTRIGHT!"
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
With a final yank boosted by testosterone you didn't even know you /had/, you pluck the Pokemon out of the hole and rescue him from turmoil. Unfortunately, an unexpected degree of bad luck kicks in and throws him into a new dangerous situation.
[>>24775355]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP2kzgdQRzM
You pluck the little guy so hard that you send him flying into the air.
"....O-Oh..."
>What do you do, big guy!? (note: if you don't think of something in /ten minutes/, he falls to his death)
>>24775949
Have Luchy use Feather Dance on our new falling friend. The soft, fluffy down should offer a cushion from the impact.
>>24775949
Cushion his fall with Calem's bum.
>>24775949
>>24775949
Here's a crazy idea, how about we send Noivern to catch him?
>>24775988
As an environmentalist I don't feel right sending him back into that polluted sky t.b.h
>>24775994
Go catch him below the atmosphere of the poison gas
>>24775949
[>>24775979]
Getting another one of those oven-fresh stupid ideas, you retrieve Noivern's pokeball and send him back to the bench. "Noivern, fallback! I-I can still fix this! Nobodybeyond the people I've already doomedis going to go kaput today on my watch! All I have to do is cushion his fall.... WITH THE POWER OF MY POSTERIOR!"
Calculating the trajectory of the fall and accounting for the current wind speed, you move into position and gently bend over, raising your taut ass up high in anticipation for the fall. You shut your eyes tight, take a deep breath through your nostrils, and prepare for impact
"Huh.. Y'know, usually I never feel this exposedin public.Interesti—"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgEbJKWV0Vo
You are promptly slammed facefirst into the ground as the Pokemon touches down and what's more, uses you as a staircase.
>>24776447
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TltqE_PxobQ
"I'M HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
>>24776460
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrgrxmE4Kl8
A little dinky Chespin tyke hops from your butt to your head before hitting the ground. "Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Another excellent landing by the courageous and fantastical explorer MIDORO-SAMA!!! Dastardly villains cower in fear as he makes his grand debut on-stage! Pow pow! No treasure is lost, no land is uncharted! Cute girls swoon at his smooth face and well-defined features!"
Unaware of your presence, the Chespin poses with his chest puffed out. "What was thought to be the great and wonderful Midoro-sama's end was actually just another obstacle easily toppled by his impressive intellectual creativity! His imagination knows no bounds! Nothing can come in his way! NO OBSTACLE IS INSURMOUNTABLE FOR THE GREAT MIDORO-SAMA!"
"Midoro-sama returns from his latest expedition, looking as stunning as ever! The crowd gleams with a golden envy as he holds detailed records of new information documenting the forbidden wasteland of the surface world! 'But excellent explorer Midoro-sama! W-Wasn't it dangerous!? Weren't you scared?!' No, no way! What's there to be afraid of? 'But handsome explorer Midoro-sama, how were you able to survive the extremely poisonous Ominous Winds?!' Foolish but cute civilian! The great explorer Midoro-sama has lungs of steel! That's how! 'Aaaahhhh!~ Midoro-sama, please go on a date with me!' Weeeeell, I guess I could make room in my schedule for i—"
"Unnnngggghhh..." you groan.
Interrupted, the great explorer turns to you with a blank face. "What's that mister? An autograph? Weeeeeeeeeell... the excellent Midoro-sama usually doesn't pander to your demographic, but he supposes he can make an exception! Do you have a pen that I can borrow and then keep?"
>What do you say next?
>>24776568
"..Fuck you"
>>24776568
"Where the hell are we?"
>>24776568
Not that you're self-aware enough to answer, but what universe am I in?
>>24776568
scream out your cry and then faint, like a pokemon in a battle
>>24776568
"I thought great explorers were prepared for anything. But I guess these holes aren't just in the dirt, huh?"
>>24776568
"I'm pretty sure I'm a better explorer than you f.a.m"
>>24776568
Still reeling from the searing booty impact, you manage to pick up your face off the ground, coming face to face with the pint-sized self-proclaimed traveler. "Nnngh... Funny, I thought great explorers were supposed to be prepared for anything. But I guess these holes aren't just in the dirt, huh?"
The little hedgehog's upstanding, virtuous attitude drops like a rock in response. The Chespin takes a step back, scowl developing. "Oh.. I get it. Hmph. You're no fan of the unstoppable, invincible Midoro-sama, you're just another gunky grown-up that thinks he can boss me around.. meanie."
"Aha! So you /are/ a kid! Heh, I figured. You're smaller than any Chespin I've ever seen. You said your name was Midoro, huh? That's a weird name. Do the kids at your school bully you for it?"
Guard briefly down, Chespin relents and places a paw on his chin. "O-Oh, well um, actually they—HEY!" before very quickly snapping out of it. "Why am I even telling you anything!? Gunky, gritty grown-ups get to know nothing of the great explorer Midoro-SAMA—please say the -sama part, don't forget it!!—Hurrummmph! I won't let your little games ruse me!"
A) "Gunky grown-up? I went out of my way to help you out and this is the thanks I get!?"
B) "I'm a nice guy, really! I only /look like/ I want to commit dirty things."
C) "Don't you have some more role-playing to go do, kiddo?"
>>24778542
A. I'm liking Midoro as of now.
>>24771746
>Scrumptious
>>24778568
>he hasn't read it all
man up faggot and go for a run, this is golden
>>24772892
Somehow this short summary of her psyche made me sad.
Like, how awful her life had to be to turn her so emotionless and shut in.>yfw simplest wrong choice could bar Calem from helping her recover
>>24778542
"Gunky grown-up?" you parrot with a cocked brow. "I go out of my way to help you out and this is the thanks I get!?"
Still uncooperative, the stubborn explorer places his paws on his hips. "The amazingly phenomenal adventurer Midoro-sama appreciates your endeavor to lend him a hand, don't be fooled, but this doesn't instantly make us happy chum buddies! You see, the great and awesome explorer Midoro-sama didn't /NEED/ your help, he could have gotten out on his own! There is no challenge he cannot overcome with his excellent intuition and grade-A expertise! This..."
"is one of the breathtaking beliefs...."
"O F T H E G R E A T M I D O R O - S A M A !" he exclaims with a triumphant pose, one worthy of a champion. "—who does not let the authority of asinine adults bring him down! That includes you!"
A) "... Does your father know you're wandering around without parental supervision in places you probably shouldn't be in?"
B) "Annnd what 'grand', 'epic' expedition has our explorer found himself in today?"
C) "'Scuse me? I'm hardly a grown-up! I'll have you know that I've just turned—... Oh."
D) "You don't have a lot of friends, do you?"
>>24778980
C
>tfw
Time sure flies.
>>24778980
"'Scuse me? I'm hardly a grown-up! I'll have you know that I've just turned—" you pause, realizing that you're a little bit further into the year than you had previously thought. You glance at your hands and start counting the number of months that have gone by, resulting in a startling conclusion.
"... Oh."
"See! I told you!" Midoro declares with an accusatory finger. "Gunky grown-up! I bet the only reason you're here is just so you can take me back home! How much did they pay you, huh? The great Midoro-sama will double that! Perhaps not with actual ₱, gold or treasures, but er.. I can cash in a rain check! Just let me keep exploring! The amazingly wonderful Midoro-sama has a grandeur hunch! The surface world may *look* empty and poisonous, but I just know it's full of secrets! All the grown-ups want me to stay cooped up, I don't even get it! They don't know what they're missing!"
A) "I'd prefer it if you just went home. Polluted pothole land doesn't seem safe for someone your size."
B) "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.. /surface world/ you say?"
C) "I'll have you know I don't have a bank account, and that I don't take bribes."
D) "Don't you think if I -really- wanted to take you back home, I would have done it by now?"
![Wasteland_Paint[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/vFYMudr.jpg "Wasteland_Paint[1].jpg")
>>24779413
That isn't the first time Midoro has brought up a name for this pit-plagued plateau. Intrigued, you decide to rouse the little guy for some additional insight. Maybe there's more to this universe than you thought. "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.. /surface world/ you say?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgAEVaAuuoE
Midoro's quick to nod, not having caught on yet. "Yeah! The forbidden surface world!" he confirms, gesturing towards the infinite dead horizons ahead and the dual moons up in the sky. "A forgotten, lifeless, endlessly-stretching wilderness above-ground! Wrought with danger! Polluted with spectral miasma! It puts the BAD in badlands! But don't you misinterpret my account—none of this frightens the GREAT and SPECTACULAR EXPLORER MIDORO-SAMA!!!!"
>'Huh... So this deserted land.. That's really all there is left to this place?'
Midoro salutes to you, courageous and all. "My parents and their friends talk about this place all the time. 'It's not a place for kids!' 'You could get hurt!' 'It's gonna suck you away!' 'Don't breathe in the air!' Paaahhhhhh, they don't know anything! The brave MIDORO-SAMA knows they're just saying that to keep me away! I just know the surface world is hiding a secret so I came here to find it... but then the great obstacle of the random hole I tripped and got my head stuck into came about! As you can see, it was a pretty major setback! HOWEVER—"
"NO SETBACK"
"CAN *SETBACK*"
"THE EXTRAORDINARILY IRRATIONAL"
"MIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
A) "Perhaps your expedition could use a supervisor..?"
B) "So if this is supposed to be the -surface world-... Then everyone else you know lives.."
C) Show Midoro the milk cartons.
>>24779836
C
we got them for reasonhandsome white-haired lady with sword when?
>>24779848
What meme waifu are you talking about?
>>24779904the one that hunts monsters downfor money
>>24779953Anina?
>>24779966
Cirilla Fione Elen Riannon of Elder Blood, Queen of Cintra, Duchess of Brugge and Sodden, heiress of Inis Ard Skellig and Inis An Skellig, liege of Attre i Abb Yarra
also checked
>>24779836
C. An explorer, as questionable as this one might be, is probably the most likely to have seen our peeps.
>>24779836
A, send out Chesnaught too so they can bond and we can gain his trust.
>>24779836
Midoro continues admiring himself by posing in various outrageous positions and boasting of his accomplishments in third-person, and while he does that, you fish out your milk carton trump cards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q02RUvi1Z4Q
"Saaaaay.." you begin very casually. "While we're on the subject of finding things, maybe you can be of some help to me.. See, can you be honest with me for a minute and tell me if you've seen a... oh, I dunno... anyone romping around that looks like /this/?"
The little hedgehog stops posing as the cartons are shoved into his face, mugshots on all four. "Huh? Tell you if I've seen...—who?!" he blinks twice and studies at each image. "Hrmmmm.... The awe-inspiring Midoro-sama usually doesn't partake in search parties, but he supposes that he does *owe* you for saving him from that pit. Let's see here..."
"Nope. No robots."
"Haven't seen any little girls."
"The only scientist in our town isn't human!"
The teeny adventurer surveys but ultimately dismisses three of the four cartons. When he gets to your waifu's, however, there's a sudden pause. He backtracks, focusing on her profile, and therein develops a spark, a very subtle gleam in his eye. It does not go unnoticed by you.
"Huh...?" Midoro squints, a paw rubbing his chin. He leans in and studies it closer. Whatever resemblance he's seeing is too uncanny to put into words. ".... No way. Nope. Nuh-uh."
Sadly, the resemblance is just that—uncanny and nothing further. A coincidence.
"The great explorer Midoro-sama hasn't seen any of these people! And take it from him, he's an EXPLORER! He's all about finding people! Oh well. Guess you're plum out of luck!"
And as much as you want to believe him, something about his attitude just now still makes you wonder.
>>24780319
Before you can ponder further on the subject, Midoro sighs loudly. "Haaaaahhhhh! All this talkity-talk talking! Now the awesomely terrific explorer Midoro-sama isn't even in the mood to adventure anymore! My secret expedition's been compromised already, the suspenseful charm's all gone! Fwaaaaaahhhhhhh—I guess you get your wish, gunky grown-up! I'll head back home...I'llhavetostartabrandnewsecretexpeditiontomorrow..."
To your relief, the Chespin throws his arms in the air and begrudgingly concedes defeat. He retreats into the darkened unknown without another word, stubbornly stomping through the holey field on a road to nowhere...that is until he casually jumps into another hole and gets stuck again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amNvDULdNk8
"Mmmmmmpppppphhhhhhhhh! Mmmmmmmmfffpphhhhh!"
"... Are you kidding me?"
A) Yank him out again.
B) Hey, novelty idea! How about this time, instead, you STOMP him through the hole?
>>24780487
B, since he's actually trying to go in this time.
>>24780487
Midoro flails his legs haphazardly, transmitting a pitifully desperate signal for help. While the sicker half of your mind feels like abandoning the great explorer there, the ever-constant altruistic side feels intent on pushing him forward if it means getting to the bottom of your waifu's whereabouts (and as always, the latter half wins).
Oh, you'll give him a push alright.
You approach the trapped hedgehog and try to rationalize what you're about to do. "You know, dumber people COULD say that this Pokemon cruelty... But like, can it really be considered cruelty if this is actually for his own benefit?"
When you receive no response aside from your own delusional, foggy self-assurance, you proceed with raising your death leg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7SQOOZexEM
"HEADS UP"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IKvkmm3i2w
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Your merciless stomp acts as a catalyst that kickstarts Midoro on the ride of his life. The once-unassuming hole is revealed to actually be a tunnel hidden among the masses, a secret passageway leading deep into the underground.
>Enter the mysterious tunnel?
A) Okie dokie. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
B) Who the hell do you think you are? Just jumping into random holes all nilly-willy?
>>24780973
A, that question has never gotten anyone into any trouble.
>>24780973
"Man.." you muse as you look into the deep, seemingly-bottomless tunnel. "I bet I can draft a million reasons for why this is a really, really, really stupid idea.. But.. it's for Serena.. and they /do/ say that love makes you do stupid things.. or was it crazy things? Stupid crazy things? Whatever."
You take out a notebook from hammerspace and flip to the page that has your bucket list. Taking out a pen, you cross out an item. "Jump... into....pit... of... no.. return..."
Once that's out of the way you cut the pussyfooting and ready yourself. "Welp. Here goes nothing!"
And so you throw yourself in.
>>24781108
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWV5vXu_eF0
"I REEEEEEEEEGREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSTLYYYYYYYY EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVERRRRRRRRRRRRYTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
![the-blue-grotto-albert-bierstadt[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/DN2CL3p.jpg "the-blue-grotto-albert-bierstadt[1].jpg")
>>24781144
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_EH6nqQK5Y
Five scrambling loop-de-loops, eight dizzying cutbacks, and eleven discombobulating corkscrews later, you find yourself scattered in a somber grotto secluded deep below the 'surface world', spat there by the roughhousing slide tunnel.
"Nnngh.... Talk about a harsh landing... Am I.. underground now?"
There are a sparse number of lanterns keeping the cavern lit, but not enough to drown out the larger portions of darkness. It's real spooky-like, and in all honesty, you're not certain if you can say for sure it's any better than the wasteland you just escaped from.
"All that pollution above ground.. Is that what drove them to migrate? And how do the holes tie in? Ah.. Guess I'll found out."
A) Call Midoro-sama out.
B) Explore on your own.
![c3faa964ec81a7a46675b1212c7ea01e[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/80Y3OwC.jpg "c3faa964ec81a7a46675b1212c7ea01e[1].jpg")
>>24782838
You briefly contemplate exploring the caverns on your own to cover more ground, but ultimately decide that it would be best to stick with a guide who actually knows his way around the place. Problem is, it's a little too dark to see him, and he's not exactly the biggest target in the world to begin with.
"Uh, hey? Hello? Kiddo? Mido....samallama-something? Kiddo! Can you hear me!? Are you in here?! Shoot.. He couldn't have gone far. We both swooced on in around the same time.. MIIIIIDOOOOOROOOOOOO!"
Still getting no response, you sigh and let your shoulders droop. "Dang.. I really *am* getting old. I may as well be a grandpa if kids like him are able to outrun me so easily.. Where the hell could he have gotten to? Sure hope these aren't those 'labyrinth' type of caverns.."
A) Add the "-sama" to his name and try calling again.
B)SPOOKY JUMPSCARE OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
C) Cross paths with yet another colorful character.
A, be a bitch. All for waifu.
>>24783212all those choices are so fucking promisingtho B might be dedtrap
A
respect kids, they will work for you in future
>>24784038Reminder that the last jumscare option we had ended up just being Clembot
>>24784136clembot is dedmaybecan it die, what was never alive?
![fossil_magmar[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/XQOT4li.png "fossil_magmar[1].png")
>>24783212
Slithering through the darkness, you make your way through the caverns, calling out for the explorer all the while. "Hellooooooooooooooo!? HELLOOOOO!? Kiddo!? Where are you!?!?! I CAN'T SEE SHIT IN THIS GODDAMN CAVE CAPTAIN!""It's so hot...."
Your ears perk, you hear a voice coming from the other direction, but it's not Midoro's. It's a little sullen, but sullen company is better than no company at all. "Hello? Who's there!?""Do you hear it....?"
Scrambling past a fork in the road, you track the source of the speaker down to a small, low-key chamber, one lit not by lantern, but by body heat. You encounter a molten booby, looming over another pothole. "Er.. Excuse me...—""...There's a draft in here.."
"I—Uh, um.. A draft..?""They've told me to plug it up.. We're not supposed to get them down here...It feels so nice........cooooooooooool.... but it's really bad...."
The searing booby lackadaisically cranes his hulking head and stares at you with lazy, half-lidded bulbous eyes. At a glance, he seems to have a pretty one-track mindset, and the deep voice to match."Something so nice..... is bad for you..... so strange......do you know about that.....?"
A) "Er.. Can't say that I do..."
B) "Like lactose intolerance?"
C) "Like an apple with a razor in it?"
D) "You okay buddy?"
>>24784495
Crazor? maybe like apple with extra dose of pure sugar.bad for your teeth
![magmar_by_rayluaza-d6ytgeg[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/Ob2X8JP.jpg "magmar_by_rayluaza-d6ytgeg[1].jpg")
>>24784495
"Er.." you take a step back, the burning heat coming off of the booby is a little uncomfortable. "You okay buddy?" you ask, not comprehending his cryptic rhetoric."Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooober............. That's what they call me. Boooooooooober... I... I fill the empties........ Not.. Not supposed to be in the caaaaaves... No empties they say.. Booooober... go fill the empties... they say.. so hot... plug up the drafts... please keep it hot Boooooober.. they say."
'Boooooooooooooooooooober' sidesteps out of the way to give you a glimpse of the predicament. Revealed to be plaguing the cavern is a pothole, no different than the millions of holes you found back on the surface.
"What the.. There are holes here too!?""FILL 'EM UP!.... they say... Fill.... Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiilll...... the empties.......Fill..... Fillerrrrrrrr....."
"Filler...?""Fill...... Fill her up.... THE EMPTIES BOOBER.... Boooooooooooooober......."
There's a little bit of context to the booby's ramblings, that which you pick up and piece together with the rest of what you know. "So all these holes.. They're like unwanted pests, and people like you have to block them off, but where are they coming from?""Fiiiiill her uuuuuup.............. Fillerup?.............. Phil'erup......that's where..... Boooooooooooooooober and I.... and you.... are."
"Phil'er. . up? Neato. I'll keep that in mind.""Mmmmmm..... Leave Boooooooooooober be now... need concentration... Boooooooober fill up the empties....... Boooooober work.... overtime..."
A) "Just as soon as you tell me where town is."
B) "Have you seen a little Chespin around here? About yay high?"
C) Leave Boober be.
D) Give Boooooooober a biscuit.
>>24784868
D of course. Boober good boy.
>>24784868
B
second time we've chance to get back ti Ivyndiana Jones Jr
i ain't droppin' that
>>24784868
C. I feel like we should do what this guy says.
![355[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/VPG4lzN.png "355[1].png")
>>24784868The tie was randomized.
"Er... Okay then, man! Whatever you say!" you say, casually snapping fingers at the booby, figuring that it's best to just let him do his thing for now. "You uh.. You get back to filling in those potholes then.. I guess. Good.. luck?"
Boober plops himself on the ground, focusing acutely on the rotten hole with a minute flame trailing from his pudgy beak."Mm...... Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooober....... Boooooooooooooober do goooooooooooood now........... Phil in the empties......the cooooooooool empties.... No drafts allowed..... No empties......."
You can only hope that the rest of Phil'erup's civilians are more on-point with reality.
>'These holes are a bigger problem than I thought..'
![18fa5b9030f38da04008201a67723465-d5wdmnw[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/uuZgtRy.jpg "18fa5b9030f38da04008201a67723465-d5wdmnw[1].jpg")
>>24786196
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqqjXutsc-Y
"Hm hm hmmmmm... Now what do we have here?"
Partway into your little cave expedition, you discover a series of simple signs carved along the cave walls. Keeping track of each, you follow their guidance until you are lead out of the tunnel nexus and into.. something astounding.
"What the WHUZZAAAAAAHHHH!?"
You stumble upon a massive underground cavern, home to a moderately-sized township populated by both humans and Pokemon. A still-developing borough built on a foundation of collaboration, it stands as a subtle final pillar of hope. The poisonous throat-scorching winds you experienced outside seem to have absolutely no presence here.
"So is this where everyone was hiding!? Some hidden city a thousand miles under the ground!?" you ask to no one in particular, turning to a sign just outside the city limits. "Phil'erup..." you read to yourself. "Well, at least that Boober's smart enough to know where he lives.. I'm guessing that little troublemaking explorer's based here too. No way am I letting him get away!"
>Explore Phil'erup!
A) Come across the town crier.
B) Consult the resident soothsayer.
C) Visit the local Squashy-Mart.
D) Take a trip to the dentist, you cavity creep.
>>24786823
A. Next to newspapers, town criers are the best source for the latest and greatest news.
>>24786823
C
Let's get some exclusive goods.
![7_eleven_singapore_opt[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/aXqGpei.jpg "7_eleven_singapore_opt[1].jpg")
>>24786823
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exRz4egpXQY
"WELCOME TO SQUASHY-MART! How may I be of service today, friend?"
Okay. Maybe you can let him get a headstart for a few more minutes. You have to make a quickie pitstop like /n o w/ and fortunately this town has a convenience store ready to serve your needs.
This'll be a speedy in-and-out trip. Promise.
A) "Do you sell tampons?!"
B) Make a tough decision between Cheez-Its and Cheese Nips
C) Buy an official Squashy™ frozen carbonated beverage (it's like Slurpee except it's not).
D) Buy a donut, a twinkie, and maybe a drink.
E) Harass the cashier.
F) Go to the restroom.
>>24787183
F
Let's harass mons' in the restroom.
>>24787183
E
also is the cashier a cute girl?
>>24787183
Guys, when was the last time Calem actually used the restroom? He's probably been holding it for a pretty long while now
F
>>24787259
Wasn't he puking up burgers the last he used the restroom? About 44 chapters ago?
>>24787280
To be fair those burgers were pretty nasty.
>>24787183The tie was randomized.
"EXCUSE ME! DO YOU HAVE ANY TAMPONS!?!?!?!??"
"H-Hah..?—O-Oh! Er, in the back, sir! But... aren't you a... /s i r/?"
"I just need to know where the tampons are located. I don't need them now, but you never know, it COULD come in handy! Now I know where to get them when and if I'll ever need it!"
"Ah.... ahahahahaha.. Ooookaaaay then, sir.. I look forward to your.. er.. potential patronage.."
>You located the Squashy-Mart tampons that-might-come-in-handy!
A) Purchase a lottery ticket. It might be your lucky day!
B) Read the magazines but don't actually buy any of them.
C) Activate the Dio communication beacon.
D) Assure the cashier that you are not a sicko.
E) Purchase additional minutes for your Holo Caster.
>>24787555
B. Get in on that TIMEr Ball Magazine.
>>24787555
B for finding out if ISIS exists in this world.
>>24787555
C
Ask him if he needs anything from the mart.
>>24771746
> Scrumptious
>>24787555
With the tampon aisle jotted down, you decide that the next thing to do is to check in with Dio and Master Pharos and assure them you're not dead yet. However, doing so in the middle of a convenience store is just asking to be pelted at by people questioning their purpose (wouldn't want to let slip the existence of a multiverse, now would you?). In lieu of that oven-fresh retarded idea, you instead head somewhere more secluded to get a pinch of privacy.
The restroom stall with the broken lock.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiJn7-__A5k
"Mmm... I see.." utters a holographic projection of the grandmaster. "So you've traveled across so many worlds thus far, and still... you've yet to come across your friends.... This is disheartening news..."
Dio interjects, taking the receiver beacon from the master. "But more importantly, you say you've stumbled across a universe with uncanny similarities to the world I told you of—my homeworld. A part of me feels shocked to be told it's survived this long. I'd consider such news a relief—had it not been for the fact that it still wallows in misery. Misery brought upon by your transcending prominence."
"U-Uh, yeah," you nod awkwardly. "I've been thinking real hard and taping everything together—all the things I've seen and stuff, and it does kinda fit your description. Drab, depressing, the surface devoid of all color. I-I don't want to make any confirmations though, th-this could still be a false alarm! Anyway—I-I'm not sure if you know this, but they call this place Phil'erup now, the residents have all moved underground, and er.. They really don't like holes for some reason."
>>24788499
"Phil'erup? Holes? U...Underground?" Dio parrots back. "You would be right in your assumptions then. These revelations are far after my time. The surface had been withering away by the time I left, now you say it's completely inhospitable, a husk of its former glory. Hmph.. As for what else you've told me, I can only theorize that this phobia of holes draws from influence of the cult. They must have been able to garner complete control of the citizens still alive.."
A) "Their fearmongering's really bizarre.. They've got special workers who do nothing but fill any holes that pop up, I even met one!"
B) "Cult? Like, the people who ran you out of this world? Er.. But what do they win out of making the townsfolk panic?"
C) "Hey, for what it's worth, I /did/ meet this one kid! He seemed pretty not-brainwashed!"
D) "Sounds like I need to go hit up this cult then, is there a membership-type thing?"
byump
>>24790372
this
>>24771746
>tfw just start reading this
>tfw i still have 80 chapters to catch up
>>24791782
three weeks of reading
>>24791782
you know nothing mate
theres a prestory in unova,aswell as a detective story about ace detective private eye wobbunoir
>>24788546
The possibility of an underground cult manipulating the townspeople into following them through fearmongering is a scary thing to think about, like some sort-of mad reverse-on-reverse psychology. You haven't been in this world for quite long though, so you shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet (even though you're incredibly infamous for doing so). As such, Dio's suggestion remains conjecture until there's proof that can give it weight.
"Hey, for what it's worth, I /did/ meet this one kid! He seemed pretty not-brainwashed!" you announce, wanting to assure him that not everybody in town is as whackadoodly as Booooooooooooooooooooooober.
"That so? And what did 'this kid' have to say about the state of the community?"
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...." you scratch your chin, turning the other way. "Weeeeeeeeeeell... I didn't exactly get to talk to him for long, cause see, we kinda got separated on the way down here.. He's a little eccentric, actually. But the 'grown-ups' around here don't like him getting into places he shouldn't be, it's sorta strange, but maybe they're just overprotective of the next generation?"
"Or, the less the 'next generation' knows,the better."
"O-Or that.. that works too."
>>24792527
Dio crosses his arms, more than a few thoughts on his mind. "Hmph. This is a lot to take in. I didn't think so much could change given the timeframe, looks like I was wrong. Can't help but wonder what's going on behind the curtain.."
He looks up, having come up with a plan of action. "Kid, I think it's best if you continue looking into what's happened to that world, play detective and all. It's in the master's interests that you do, he still maintains that the effects of the plague are reversible. Start with the cult, I think you'll find our answers there."
"Okie dokie! You can count on me!" you beam.
"And one more thing.."
"Yeah?""... Are you making this call from a restroom?"
A) "W-Wha!? N-No!"
B) "It's not what you think!"
C) "I haven't taken a shit since White Castle, give me a break!"
D) "Tampon malfunction. Nothing you need to worry about."
E) "Only because I thought it'd be pretty problematic if anyone overheard talk of distant universes!"
>>24792691
Eskyking skyking do not answer
>>24792691
D.
>choosing anything but D
>>24792691
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amNvDULdNk8
"O-Only because I thought it'd be pretty problematic if anyone overheard talk of distant universes!"
"Things are GOING to get /pretty problematic/ if you don't get back out there and get to work!"
"G-Gaah! GRIZZLY IMPLICATIONS—MY ONLY WEAKNESS!"
"Godspeed, child!" the master calls. "GOOOOOOOOODSPEED!"
>Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssshhhhh, how hard could tracking down an underground cult possibly be?
A) Stake out the town square and maybe do some eavesdropping.
B) Why not harass patrons at the local eatery?
C) What's the underground education system like? Go to the school.
D) Stake outs are for nerds, just approach and play twenty questions with anyone that crosses your trainer's field of vision.
A. We AssCreed now.
B
>>24793330
"Hmmmm... 'play detective' huh? I think I know exactly where to go!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glZ3GsqH0rw
>VICTORY BELL BISTRO
Nothing says good intel like a comfy cafe. People with all kinds of life stories go in and out of these places by the hour. You venture to this particular cozy establishment on the hunch of finding someone who knows a tasty lick about cults and cult-related accessories, and to maybe get a nice bagel on the side for yourself (universe-hopping is very taxing).
"Someone here's gotta know something useful.."
>What's your seat preference?
A) Take a seat at the bar.
B) You happen to prefer a nice window view.
C) Sitting in the back takes the focus away from yourself!.. or does it just make you look more suspicious?
>>24793759
C, Calem's the kind of guy that'd make himself overly suspicious
>>24793759
B
>passing up a window seat
>ever
>>24793759
"NOT SUSPICIOUS.... NOT SUSPICIOUS..... NOT SUSPICIOUS....."
You take a seat in the far back, emitting a very obvious aura of suspicion to all those around you. It feels like death but it smells like freshly-ripe pineapples. Which is good because you haven't really showered in a while anyway.
A) Talk to Victreebel.
B) Talk to Poliwrath.
C) Talk to Venonat.
D) Talk to Grimer.
![victreebel[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/emGfaqv.png "victreebel[1].png")
>>24793922
The menu's fine for what it is, there's not much that stands out, but the essentials are all present and accounted for. Being confined to an underground cavern obviously limits the pool of dishes that they can whip up, and what's more, puts a ration on the supply of ingredients to make said dishes.
All's not lost however, or at least, that's what the menu tells you in the bottom right-hand corner. The minor notice serves to inform the reader that Phil'erup's population operates as a team to keep things afloat, which includes the maintenance of resources. Grass and Bug-types that produce their own food, Water-types that provide infinite water, Fire-types that can heat things, Electric-types that can light buildings, Ice-types.. that make sure that /iced/ tea is still a thing. They all chip in what they can to keep the community thriving.
It's a little inspiring, actually. The nobodies in your universe would never be so willing to cooperate, y'know cause they're all dicks in one way or another. Dire straits like this really seem to force the people into a situation where they have no choice but to work together to survive. The results of which are the epitome of 'pretty neato'.
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"W-Whaaah!?" a high-pitched cry snaps you out of your funk. You nearly jump out of your seat at the sight of the cafe's proprietor, who's quite the sight himself. A vine-tingling, pear-shaped vore whore. The voice is a little deeper than you'd expect, though.
"I take it you're ready to order?"
A) "Well I have been eyeballing the 'salty milk and coins' combo for a while now.."
B) "I'd like to order a 'hole' lot of information, if you catch my drift.."
C) "I want to feel like an exotic tropical slut today, two Lava Cookies please."
D) "Just some water. I'm here to loiter and I'm kind of a cheap bastard."
>>24794852
C, they might come in handy
C or D.. Pretty difficult decision.
C.
>>24794852
>>24794857
>>24794861Is our money even valid here?
>>24794869do they need to know that?
We ain't paying in advance
>>24794889We might accidently arise suspicions if we pass out money that looks fake to them
>>24794892if we arise suspicion, we won't need to look out for cult. The cult will look out for us.and iirc beating strange folks outta nowhere is our speciality
>>24794869
>>24794889
>>24794892
>>24794902
>LITERALLY "I didn't read the story'
Midoro mentioned ₱ as a bribe earlier.
>>24795815
it can be different ₱
>>24795815
That's the symbol for the Philippine peso.
>>24794852
Kicking back and taking in that fresh 'twenty-hour tampon appliance break' scent, you stretch your arms and place your order. For some reason, the cafe's aura has you feeling mighty hot and bothered all of a sudden. "I want to feel like an exotic tropical slut today," you explain while looking at the menu. "two Lava Cookies please."
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" the giant pear-thing wails, before lowering his tone to something more down-to-earth. "A prurient choice. I'll get that for you right away. To sweeten the wait, I offer you this free banana—BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
He leans his head back and intentionally spazzes out into a massive coughing fit, forcing himself to regurgitate a single banana from his wide ass mouth. "GUUUUUUURRRRRRREEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!.... hah..... haaaah......hah....."
The banana nonchalantly hits your table, ripe and unsullied.
"...courtesy of our resident Tropius.." he explains. "Help yourself. I'll be right back."
And just like that, the bell casually hops away.Bellhop?
A) Gently push the banana aside. Don't ruin your appetite.
B) Poke the banana.
C) Ignore the banana entirely.
D) Eat.. the banana?
>>24799380
D. We need a potassium recharge.
>>24799380
D. But slowly, Caley has to get in practice.
>>24799380
"I.. I guess it can't hurt. I DO need a potassium recharge, and phallic-shaped foodstuffs -are- hand-friendly and easy to eat.."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJFZNmJpVR8
>willingly ate the banana the Victreebel disgorged!
While you wait to be served (you're waiting for the perfect moment to grill the mr. bananaman on the verbal goods), you stealthily scan the other tables for other patrons. Like a suspicious sleuth, you very blatantly scoot your chair an inch or two closer to everyone else.
You kind of have a knack for being a nosy snoop.
![Raichu_by_Xiao_GuiGui[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/dB4DNIk.jpg "Raichu_by_Xiao_GuiGui[1].jpg")
>>24799446
"Hey Dave, this is gonna sound stupid but... can I ask you something?"
![1716542-rift__my_sandslash_by_byaku_the_hedgehog[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/LAZdIeZ.png "1716542-rift__my_sandslash_by_byaku_the_hedgehog[1].png")
>>24799483
"You just did!"
"Huh? What are you—Oh fuck off with that, I'm being serious!"
"Heh, sorry. Sure man, what's on your mind?"
"How do I say this.. It's about *this*. Y'know, *all of this*.."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Well like, doesn't it make you wonder?"
![Jenaro_Sandslash[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/ifo45tg.png "Jenaro_Sandslash[1].png")
>>24799504
"Not sure I know what you're getting at here.."
" I got the promotion, Dave. We had that after-hours party, it was nice but it felt strange, I didn't feel like I was being taken seriously. They just pay me to sit there.. and rewrite a bunch of stuff. I feel like it's a power too great for me."
"So.. just get another job? Drama 'chu."
"It's not that easy! We still haven't paid off the new house yet, I can't afford to be between jobs again! Ahhhhh... god.. I was walking home from work the other day, Dave."
"Shocking."
"There was another holeman there.."
>>24799539
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS6HX2m-HNY
"Another one? What the hell! That's like, the fourth time this month!"
"He said it popped up in our backyard this time. Said he had to fill it in right away. Listen, my kids are shaking something fierce, Dave.. They were playing around when it happened, had to be evacuated inside, I saw their faces. They were coughing a lot, now Mary can't even get them to go to sleep anymore.. it's all just so weird.. they don't know what to believe anymore, the things they tell them at that new school.."
"This is ridiculous! It's their JOB for holemen to make us feel safe and secure, so why does it feel like there are just more and more of them sprouting up lately!?"
"Maybe there's just too many holes to keep track of.."
"Hmph. Or maybe they're getting lazy."
"Ohhh man.. at least this place still feels safe to be in.."
"Cheers to that! I feel like I could be here all day!"
>>24799597
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"What-the-whozits!?!"
You nearly jump out of your skin again. Looks like you're not going to be getting used to that anytime soon. The bell-thing's back, and he's got your order too. Pretty efficient service, actually. It'd be pretty much perfect if he wasn't balancing your plate on the bulb of a strange vine stretching out from his person. Weird.
"Your Lava Cookies. If you need anything else, just holler. New business is always appreciated.I won't let them know you were listening."
A) Maybe it'd be best if you didn't bother him right away.
B) "So you can tell I'm a new face then.."
C) "I-I wasn't! I-It's just, the conversation, so interesting!"
D) "It's kind of a bad habit, sorry."
>>24799754
Wow, Victreebel is a bro.
D.
I've always wondered, how come every pokemon can talk except for ours?
>>24799792
Because.
>>24799792
Wobbunoir went into depth about that. It's genetic/natural selection.The ones that can't talk were considered "intelliless" and lower class beings.
>>24799820
Well yeah, but law of averages states we'd at least have one...oh yeah, we used to have one.
>>24799832
Drifler can suck a million cocks in Hell.
![6victreebel[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/avRgXt6.jpg "6victreebel[1].jpg")
>>24799754
"It's kind of a bad habit, sorry."
The bell raises a vine and shakes its bulb. "No need," he says calmly. "I wanted this to be a place of respite for anyone who takes the time to drop by. No bothers, no sorrows. This is a heavy situation, it's taken a toll on all of us, some people need a little more time to adjust. Unwinding never hurts, and I've always advocated that good food is an excellent outlet for that. So you can leave your apologies at the door."
"Really? Than-"
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"G-Gah!"
"..I can't control it. My bad. Except not really. No sorrows allowed. I'll get you another cookie to make up for it."
A) "Y'know, that's a real nice philosophy you've got!"
B) "How long have you been open?"
C) "Feels like that'd be adverse to your goal, huh?"
>>24799890
B
Let's warm up to him with some small talk.
>>24799890
A. It's got a "Kakuna Rattata" feel to it.
What voice do you imagine in your head when reading Calem's dialogue?
>>24799890
B on this one. It may led to something interesting.
>>24803228
What's this doing here?
>>24803746
Anon accidentally posted this here instead of the current gijinka thread.
>>24799890
For such a menacing-looking guy, there's not a hint of malice to be found in the giant pear-thing. He could very likely devour you and everyone else here in a flash if he had a mind to, but that's not in his nature. If he's guilty of anything, it's being too phlegmatic, it betrays his true convictions.
True to his word, he hops off to get that free cookie for you. When he returns, your mouth is covered in crumbs and you feel ready enough to inquire him about the darker shades of the town. He's more than earned your trust.
"Say.." you start slowly, accepting the extra treat. "How long have you been open?"
He perks up slightly (or his leaves do anyway) at that. "Huh. I wasn't aware you had put any stock into me." he mumbles. "..They call me Mr. Suboka.You may call me Subo.This cafe.. it's been in my care since this city came to be. In the beginning, the masses needed a place to lose tension, reality had struck them, so many hearts had been lost, so many others had been broken. I always had designs to start a business above-ground, but my goal would only see realization under the surface."
"To that, you might say Victory Bell fosters those unwilling to let go of the past, and those who need recess from the present. It's rare, but we also get an occasional seeker of the future.Could that be what you are?"
A) "What? Me? I'm just a normal guy! A little queer, but normal!"
B) "I can hardly remember my youth and every day is a blur, so maybe!"
C) "I don't believe in fate, if that's what you mean."
D) "Well, guess you could say I *am* out to change a few things.."
>>24805635
D. Let's see how this goes.
D
![twarda-victreebel[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/SIjVzTn.jpg "twarda-victreebel[1].png")
>>24805635
"Well, guess you could say I *am* out to change a few things.." you off-handedly mention, making sure to keep things cryptic. You're still under strict 'no mention-y the multiverse-y' policy.
Subo squints, almost as if trying to get a read on you. If there's anything for him to find, he doesn't alert you to it, and instead retracts his vines and takes a step back. "I see. If I may—would this have anything to do with your eavesdropping?"
"J-Just a little."
. . .
. . .
. . .
"You should know, this community—though it continues to grow—is still rather small. Humans and Pokemon coexist, they work in tandem, cooperating toward a future that can be born from the ashes of the surface."
"I kind of figured that..""Humans are a small number of that small population though."
"A-Ah?"
"I understand the breeding cycle of your species is much more dragged out than others. The next generation isn't due for arrival for months now, and it'll take years for them to develop higher skills. You can't be one of those.The regulars that drop here, the ones that jog by, and everyone in-between, I've come to recognize their faces."
"!"
![maxresdefault[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/CZKb2Z2.jpg "maxresdefault[1].jpg")
>>24806103"Yours is one I'm not familiar with."
>>24806109
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwNyxeSlnPw
"Uhh!—Um—Er..."
>'GAAAAAAHH! DAMN, DAMN, DAAAAAAAMN!'
You try to search for something to say, an excuse maybe, but whatever words you think of just keep getting caught in your throat. You didn't think you'd get caught in this net so soon, you haven't even prepped a back-up response! You stutter and stutter and stutter some more, you can't think straight all of a sudden. "Um...."
As a matter of fact, neither can he.
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
A vine raises to quell your underachiever's nervousness."No bothers."
"..."
Subo hops closer and lowers his tone ever so slightly."I won't ask what you really are, why you've come, or what you've planned to do. Though I've invested little into it, I know it's not my place to regulate the orders of divinity."
He then gestures to your plate.
"It's on the house. All of it."
"W-Whoa.. Really?"
"Yes. You've more pressing matters to deal with.Just remember, this place is a repose from the gloom. Should you find yourself wandering the darkness, you're welcome to come back anytime. The humble scent of home will always be waiting."
Though he's misconstrued the story to some extent, he's not far off in his assumption. As Subo hops off, he pauses and raises one final matter."I.. have a daughter. I had promised her I'd take her to see the wonders of the surface one day. Her mother's waiting patiently for us.. A bright sky, a cool breeze, a nice, warm sun.."
"Is that kind of future in your cards? I wonder.."
>>24809225
>admin
>not kicking Malva out of her sweet spot as second in command
>>24806181
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You leave the bistro a little wiser, at the cost of being burdened with far greater troubles (there's nothing to protect you from being bothered now). The wave of exotic nostalgia dissipates, and you find yourself feeling cold and isolated.
This investigation is running deeper than it should. Everytime you unravel a knot, it leaves five more in its place, it's like a network of esoteric tangles, and your aura's guilt is connected to it by a tangential thread.
The history of Phil'er'up prides itself on being built on the bases of synergy, but it's beginning to sound more like there are fouler conspiracies that make up the supports. Thinking back, it's almost like Subo was aware of this, such is the reason for the Victory Bell's existence.
You glance to the right, then to the left, before bobbing up to see the cave ceiling high up above.
"What the hell is going on in this town?"
>Explore Phil'erup
A) Enter the residential district.
B) Consult with a protesting agnostic.
C) Search for a 'holeman' to speak to.
>>24809386
A. I bet we can find our 'lil explorer around there.
>>24809386
A
>aura's guiltit's not like we had a choice, anyways
>>24809236
Why would you brainwash someone into taking over your spot?
>>24809529
Why would you hold down you potential when you know you can succeed?
>>24809386
Passing by a few civilians, you head down the road with no destination in particular. "If Subo was right about all that 'gloom and darkness' he spoke of, then.. then maybe it's better I not go searching for answers in places they have eyes on. His turf was a neutral area of respite, I'm guessing everyone else won't be as nice as him.. So, still gotta play low-key, and I should probably start playing better if I don't want to be found out again. "
To that, you find yourself roaming toward Phil'erup's residential district. The lack of urbanization here should aid in preserving your privacy from ominous onlookers. Just... try not to break into anyone's house, or stare into their windows.
A) Immediately break into someone's residence.
B) Visit the playground.
C) Go alley-roaming!
D) Visit the community garden.
>>24810397
Mnh.. I'd have to go D for this one.
![film-akcija-biseri-3_resize[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/vOhXBHU.jpg "film-akcija-biseri-3_resize[1].jpg")
>>24810397
>>24810498
>>24810499
>>24810882
>>24810901
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amNvDULdNk8
You take only two steps into the neighborhood before mindlessly breaking into the first house you see without a second thought. You do it so fast and heartlessly that you don't even realize the sheer severity of it until you're raiding their fridge for mcnuggies.
"..."
"OH FUCK I DID IT AGAIN"
A) GET OUT OF THERE.
B) Stay on the off-chance nobody heard shit.
>>24811131
I guess is just natural to break into houses.
B.
>Calem gets away with literal home invasion
>in 2015
>BUT HE DINDU NUFFIN
B R A V O
>>24811131
B.
>>24811369
Have you never played a Pokemon game? Home invasion is practically half of the Pokemon trainer experience.
>>>>>>>volcanion
nothing new to see here, back to the story
![abandoned_house[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/4MnCSdx.jpg "abandoned_house[1].jpg")
>>24811131
There's nothing of interest to be found in the fridge. In fact, there's nothing *in* the fridge at all. It's not even plugged in. It's warm, rotted, and nuggieless.
An epiphany of your random crime hits you then and there. Whiplashed, you lean on the kitchen counter, wondering how this episode came to be. "Man.... I'm really losing it lately... I was literally talking about preserving privacy five minutes ago, and now.."
"I'm trespassing and wasting time in a nuggetless kitchen."
"I mean, I've always been a little bit nutty, who isn't?"
"But ever since I stepped foot in this world, I've been.... riskier? Is that the word?"
"I told myself it was because of Serena, my desire to see her—or, er, my...mylove was driving me to do some questionable things.."
"I'm starting to think there's more to it than that."
Focusing back on what matters most, you unearth the reason for the fridge's apparent demise. "Oh.. Huh. This whole house is abandoned. I never even noticed until now.. that explains how I'm not being tackled to the ground by a breadwinner then."
"Geez, I'm making a big deal about breaking into a house that's probably already been raided.. Am I going soft or am I berating myself for not going harder?"
>What treasures could this deserted complex provide?
A) Stay in the kitchen.
B) Go to the study room.
C) Check the basement.
D) Head upstairs.
>>24812649
The D.
>>24812649
Treasure is always located in the deepest part of a dungeon so C
>>24812649
B for tomes of ancient lore
>>24812649
B
newspapers, books,work documentsanyone getting Megaton feeling yet?
![3[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/yjDc2li.jpg "3[1].jpg")
![u3[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/4xms12x.jpg "u3[1].jpg")