/monster/ - The Last Bastion of Romance

>>403065

>We could do something nice for the mice, they did help us totally unpaid, and without even breaking in first.

They have been acting more reliable lately… And they've kept their word about not breaking in. After expanding, we could certainly use their help during planting and harvesting.

>We should also buy some more varieties of seeds. Wheat, green beans, and corn.

FYI anons, I may have been motivated to pick these so our little Emily could get access to freshly made wheat flour and cornmeal for her baking…

>>403073

That’s no bad thing, it gives us some good options. It would be worth talking to Emily about what she might be interested to buy from us. Maybe she has some recipes that need something that you can’t really get locally. Big win for us if we’re the only farm in 100 miles that’s growing something people like.

More generally, the strawberries were popular, so I’m thinking other fruits would be good too. If we get a few fruit trees, they would mostly look after themselves.

>>403085

>If we get a few fruit trees, they would mostly look after themselves.

Good idea. Lemons, oranges, apples, pears, cherries. Lots of good ones we should get.

>>403085

Yes, it's time for trees. I just hope they're not as expensive as HM trees are.

>>403085

Trees sound dope, love me some one time investment long-term passive incomes. Also fruits are the best shit.

“Trees.” you said to yourself. “I should plant some trees.”

You prepared everything before getting into your truck and heading to Everton. There were a few people in Ched's today, but for the most part it wasn't busy. You waited your turn in line and then came to the counter. The guy in front was a young blond man with short hair and a blue checkered shirt underneath his apron. His nametag said “Donny” and he had a small birth mark on his cheek.

“Welcome back.” He said.

You stopped and looked at him for a second, suddenly embarrassed that you didn't remember him.

“I'm usually working in the aisles.” He said, pointed behind you. “Don't worry about it. Now what can I do for you?”

“Looking for trees to plant.” You explained. “Apples, lemons, oranges, things like that.”

Donny shook his head. “Can't help you with that, friend.”

“Really?” You asked in return.

“Don't sell trees, not even acorns. Nobody buys them, at least from us.” He said with a shrug and a wave of his hand.

“Well, where would I go, then?” You asked.

“There's a place in the city, but I'd consider it a day trip.” Donny explained, writing an address down on a piece of paper and handing it to you.

You took the piece of paper, sighed and said your goodbyes.

You went back to your truck, then noticed something familiar at the corner of your eye. You turned your head and saw a tail wagging out of the shrubbery. You approached and heard a familiar voice complaining about her luck again.

Looking around, you saw what looked like a game cartridge lying on the ground. You picked it up, these were a lot smaller than you remembered…

“You lose things pretty easy…” You stated.

“Nyah!” Ako stood up in shock and then turned around.

The slits of her eyes widened when she saw the tiny cartridge in between your fingers. “Y-yeah… I guess so.” She said with a nervous laugh.

You dropped the cartridge in her palm, she gripped it in her paw and thanked you meekly.

“What are you always doing out here anyway?” You asked.

“W-well…” Ako fidgeted. “I like to hang out out here…”

“Out here? Like at the end of the road?”

“No!… A little further in…”

“Oh, you go into the woods?” You asked.

“Yes…” She nodded.

Ako stood in silence for awhile, her tail wagged gently behind her and her ear twitched, she looked back and then to you again.

“Do you want to see?” She asked.

>>403191

Frolicking with catgirls in the woods is all well and good. I approve.

But you've yet again missed the most important recommendation of all…

Call Rory and get Ernie's contact info so we can get better prepared to handle the skinwalker.

Nothing is more important than this.

>>403192

I also still want chickens for the farm.

>>403191

Sure, why not?

>>403191

The woods are skinwalker territory, and she managed to follows us to the farmer's market so she may have also followed us here in the past and now. She could have seen enough of our first meeting with Ako to duplicate that encounter, but I doubt she's currently impersonating Ako since we smelled her before we saw her at the farmer's market. Still, I wouldn't want to walk into the woods without some means of self-defense.

I am suspicious of Ako and her sister, though mostly of her sister, because of that dream. This could be a good opportunity to learn more, but my paranoia about the skinwalker outweighs my curiosity about the cats. Tell Ako that we'd like to but we have some urgent business to attend to, then call Rory, get Ernie's contact info, and see if we can meet with him today.

>>403192

Agreed.

>>403191

I’d say it’s fine. Honestly I see ako as actually having a place out there isn’t eh woods. We should go off with her to see. I’m sure if this was actually the skinwalker we could get out of there.

>>403195

I believe if it was the skinwalker we would be seeing the red eyes from ako as well as smelling that strange smell.

No, but don’t be harsh in declining her. We’re a busy man, after all and we need to get some seeds, visit Rory for info on Ernie, and go to belle sisters to start building our friendship/giving them our business

Also, late to say but welcome back!

>>403192

> Nothing is more important than this.

Agreed. No point arguing over best girl and crop rotations if the choice gets taken from us.

Ako can wait. We must learn how to deal with Skinny and get a mask. We seek out Ernie first.

>>403213

Also, I’ve been thinking about something… when Rory said she was calling Ernie, she said

> I'm calling the Ernie for help

Is 'the Ernie' an acronym for an organisation we could join? Emergency Response Naughty Invader Eliminations?

Handing out suplexes to horny monstergirls might earn us a few pennies, and it’d be a fun side-job for a farmhand.

>>403214

>Is 'the Ernie' an acronym for an organisation we could join?

I'm still not sure if that was actually a typo or not.

Go play with the cat. We got the time

>>403209

I doubt it is anyone we know. It's probably just stalking us now. Ever learning our habits in preperation for the next time she strikes. Meanwhile, we've done good in getting a shotgun, but it's not enough! And a gas mask will take time to arrive if it must be shipped to us. This is not something we should just be brushing off just because it is a while yet until the next full moon. We should have been calling Ernie on day 1 after the last full moon.

>>403220

My first reaction was typo, but the more I thought about it, the more possibilities for a good sub-plot with a spunky, athletic sidekick, no doubt presented themselves. I like spotting authors sneaking little bits of groundwork in, so I figured I’d ask and let OP decide if there’s a path for us.

Still, I think I’ve gone meta enough for now. I’ll stop there.

>>403270

So you want us to become vigilantes As a side thing? Sounds like a fun idea

>>403191

Do it!

>>403209

Skinwalker had red eyes while impersonating Rory, so I assume her eyes stay red when transformed. Ako's eyes are green.

>>403191

Wonder where the writeboi is. Hope he’s doing alright.

>>403586

Hopefully everything’s ok. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.

Maybe the skinwalker got him…

>>403586

It's only been like 4 days. I expect something soonish, though. I'm sure he's fine.

>>403595

I wouldn't complain if she got me. It would honestly be a great relief to be relieved of life's responsibilities AND get a waifu.

How have we not met the Alraune responsible for our crops yet?

>>403612

That’s gestalt entities for you, I guess.

You took a look around, furrowing your brow. You had to say, your curiosity was peaked, but what if it was a trap? You remembered that smell and that feeling you had yesterday at the market, but at the same time…You were just being paranoid, if she had something to do with it then why didn't she try and reel you in when you first met?

“Sure?” You said, accepting her invite.

Ako looked around, narrowing her eyes at any would-be stalker. When, obviously, there were none, she beckoned you along with her paw and went into the woods. You had to step over some shrubbery and push through the bushes, but it didn't seem to bother the short cat girl all too much. Eventually, you reached a clearing and she beckoned you along with a “come on!”, going deeper into the tree line.

You spotted it behind the foliage of the trees before you reached it, what looked like a red roof jutting from the tree tops. The amazement overtook you when you finally reached it, a tree house built around a tall oak tree. But it wasn't just a kid's tree house, or something you saw in a cartoon, this could have been its own house.

Like a cabin built into the tree, with a wooden door, windows, chimney, and even a porch.

“How…How has nobody found this?” You asked.

“I'm not sure anyone ever comes out here.” Ako said. “At least, I've never seen anyone.”

“How many rooms is this?”

“Just one.”

You were more confused than amazed now. “How did you even build this?”

“It took two years or so.” Ako explained. “I had to slow down in the winters, so that probably made it take longer.”

“By yourself?” You asked.

Ako nodded.

“How did…”

Ako looked away, then back to you. “Internet.”

“Bullshit.” You countered.

“S-seriously!” She stomped her foot.

“How did you even get all the supplies out here without being noticed?” You asked.

“Carefully…” She pouted, kicking the same foot she just stomped.

You narrowed your eyes, but you don't get how else she could have done this. Maybe through help? Or maybe she inherited this house somehow? Or maybe she's just telling the truth and being honest, monsters have been surprising you a lot in these past few weeks.

“Come on, I'll show you around!” Ako chimed.

>>403785

With one leap, she was halfway out the tree, digging her claws into the side before hopping again and reaching the door that she slid open. She looked down at you, said “Oh, right.” And hopped inside. A moment later, a rope ladder dropped to the ground.

You were adamant at first, testing its resistance on the third to the bottom, but when it felt like the ladder could hold your weight, you climbed up.

The tree house was more impressive on the inside, it was warm, but not uncomfortable for the weather, shade from the leaves outside filled the room, dancing gently across the wooden ground. There wasn't any kind of extravagant furniture, you doubted she would be able to lift something like a couch up here, though it all seemed sturdy enough.

There was other things, however, like a few pillows and a futon, a wooden chest in the right-hand corner of the room flanked by four or five soft-mesh crates of various colors. The mesh boxes were filled with plastic cases that you mistaked for movies at first, stepping over the box and looking in you realized that it was a mix of movies, music, and video games, completely disorganized and just placed in the boxes.

“The chest has more.” Ako spoke up. “And some consoles… As well as my Discman and portable movie player.”

“Discman?” You asked. “What year is it?”

“I like my physical media.” She huffed. “…And its not like you're one to talk, farm boy…”

“Was that sass?” You asked. “I thought all you can do is stutter.”

“I'm really shy, okay!?” She protested, her tail and ears standing on end.

Ako paused, and then stood up straight before clearing her throat. She stretched and sat down on a beanbag chair she had near the chest.

“So you just hang out here?” You asked.

“Basically.” She sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I'm always such a neat freak at home, everyone's so anal if things aren't just perfect. I come out here and just…Relax.”

“You built a premium tree house just to relax?” You couldn't help but laugh.

“It was hard.” She sighed.

“I bet, how did you even get all the supplies up here?”

“Levers and pulleys, mostly.” She explained further.

You looked around some more, then sat down on the floor. Ako looked at at you, and then a second later got up and pulled her futon over.

“You can sit on this.” She said. “As long as you're here.”

You did just that and sat down, Ako took another deep breath and rummaged through the chest. A moment later, she handed you a pink colored hand held video game console.

“Here.” She said. “Don't want you to get bored.”

[Experienced Farmhand] “I…don't really play all that many video games.” You explained.

“Really? Not even a little?”

“I had one when I was a kid.” You explained. “But it kind of escaped me over time.”

“Well, that's okay.” Ako smiled, handing it to you. “Its a coop game, we can play together.”

It took you a moment to find the power button, but once you got your hands on it, it wasn't too similar to the dusty old console controller you had back at home. Back in the day, they had portable games as well, but they were basic, lacked color, and had basic sound. This thing may as well be a home console on its own.

>>403786

“You play these a lot?” You asked.

“When I'm out here.” Ako explained. “At home, I usually play on my computer.”

She seemed a lot more laid back now, less stressed and jumpy. Ako sunk into her bean bag chair and told you how to set everything up to play with her. You decided to stick around and play for a bit, playing some video games with Ako. The strangeness of it all faded away the more you stuck around, focusing more on this video game she handed you.

After an hour and a half of leaning over to ask her how to do something and beating a few levels, you felt like it was time to leave.

“I think I should get going.” You said with a sigh, standing up. “Still got some things to do.”

“Alright then.” Ako nodded. “I'll stay here for awhile. Maybe take a nap.”

As you were lowering the ladder, Ako stopped you.

“Hey…It was kind of cool to hang out with someone else out here.”

“Hey, no problem.” You said with a wave of your hand.

You dropped the ladder, but then stopped yourself.

“Hey, do you notice anything strange out here?” You asked.

“Aside from the usual forest sounds?” Ako asked in return.

She pondered, putting a claw against her chin.

“Now that you mention it. Sometimes I smell something fruity. And I don't think there are any trees like that out here.”

“Fruity?” You ask.

“At least I think its fruity. Kind of like Strawberries or lavender? Or both?”

You only looked back at her. “Nothing else? Nothing tried to get into the tree house?”

“Not that I know of.” Ako said. “You're starting to scare me. Its not like I have the guts to stay out here when the sun goes down.”

“Its… Its nothing.” You thought it was best to leave it at that for now. “I'll see you around.”

You said goodbye and climbed down the ladder. You reached the bottom…And took a deep breath.

The air smelled fine…Just fine… But you still felt uneasy. You looked up and saw Ako pull the ladder back into the house. She smiled and waved before going back in, sliding the door closed behind her.

When you got home sometime later, you thought it would be prudent to call Rory up. She picked up and you asked her what you needed to ask, about how to contact Ernie and all. She gave you his work number, but before you two could say goodbye…

“Hey, you're going to the summer festival, right?” Rory asked.

“The one you mentioned before?” You asked in return. “I mean…Probably? Hadn't given it much thought.”

“Cool!…Cool. Would be awesome to see you there!”

After some more small talk, Rory said she had to go back to her work out, and the two of you said goodbye. You hung up, then picked up the phone and finally called Ernie. After four rings, someone picked up. There was a loud, sharp inhale on the other side.

“Hello?” A man's voice asked.

“Hey uh, Ernie?”

“Yeah?”

You told him who you were.

“Oh, the Farm boy. Whats up?” He asked.

“I get it that you're the resident expert on skinwalkers?” You asked.

“Wouldn't say expert.” Ernie stated. “They don't show up often, its hard to get experience in that field.”

“I could…Still use some help.” You said.

Ernie paused for a moment, you heard him inhale again. “Yeah alright, I'll be there in thirty.”

Before you could say anything, he hung up. You hung up your phone and sat on the couch, tapping your hands against your lap. And just like he said, thirty minutes later, he arrived. He came in a large, white van, with no signs or advertisements on the side, it was actually rather creepy…

You met him at his van, not knowing if you should shake his hand or not, but mentally sighed with relief when he offered his.

>>403787

“Alright. Whats the problem? She show up again?” He asked.

“No.” You shook your head. “Just…You know, don't feel safe.”

“Okay, good.” He said. “Would be weird if she showed up again so soon.”

Ernie looked around the property, hands in his pockets. “You have any kind of self defense?”

“A shotgun.” You explained. “Got it a few days ago.”

“Good choice, but good luck hitting her with it. Even if you did, I doubt it would keep her down for long.”

“Isn't there some kind of ammo I can use?” You asked. “Like a silver bullet…Or Silver shell or something.”

“Not really.” He explains. “I don't even bother to shoot to kill.”

“So why even carry a gun?” You asked.

“Knock down, mostly.” He explained. “Also these.”

Ernie reached into his pocket and drew shell with a dark-gray color.”

“Whats that?” You asked.

“Ghost pepper.” He stated bluntly. “Its not the hottest, but Caravan Town Reapers are expensive.”

“You filled a shell with…Peppers?”

“Pepper seeds, bits of the pepper itself, pepper juices. Everything over 500,000 on the chart is good to go, anything lower is the equivalent of spraying a cat with a water bottle.”

“What does this do exactly?”

“Immobilizes a skinwalker. Long enough to get them to a proper specialist or relocate them.” Ernie explained. “They don't operate like monsters or humans and they're basically batshit by any humble standards. But they're still monsters, and still protected by the law.”

You didn't even think about it. Not like you could have to begin with.

“Should have told you from the start. But with the full moon and all.” Ernie explained, drawing a cigarette from his breast pocket and putting it in his mouth. He lit it and took a long drag.

“How did you even get into this?” You asked.

“Ernie took another drag and blew it out the side of his mouth. He stepped closer to you and spread the lids of his right eye with his finger and thumb, letting you get a good look. You didn't notice before, but there was a glint of rose-pink in his pupil.

“I was whisked away for over four months a few years ago back in my home town. They wrote me off because you usually can't find someone that got whisked, but Herbert could. That's why I moved out here, I wanted to learn more and defend myself…And I guess others.”

“Wait. Herbert? You asked. “Like the crazy old guy in Everton?”

“Yeah, that's him.” Ernie nodded. “Don't worry, he was always like that, it was probably worse when he was younger. His big obsession was hunting skinwalkers back in the day, and I guess he sees the world differently than everyone else, probably gave him some sort of leg up. Took me over a year of therapy in a institution before I stopped scratching at the walls trying to get back to her.”

“Where…Where is she now?” You asked.

“No idea. Guess she moved on, or gave up, I don't know, they think fucky.” Ernie sighed. “Can't really say I miss her. I'm a married man now, that apparently helps.”

“Getting married helps?”

“Fuckin' helps too, to an extent.” Ernie went on. “Especially with the poison. But since you're walking straight and all…I guess you're alright.”

Ernie dropped the butt and stepped on it, grinding it into the dirt before beckoning you along. You followed him back to the van and Ernie went to the side, jumped inside, and came out a moment later with some kind of helmet.

“Here.” He threw it to you.

The helmet was heavy, and had some kind of respirator attached to the front. The respirator was attached to a pair of goggles that seemed to seal to the helmet itself.

>>403788

“Its a ballistic gas mask from the old Zhartzev empire.” Ernie said. “The mask itself doesn't help, but you can pack the respirator with sage, which helps with the aroma, keeps the goop out of your guts.”

“You're just giving this to me?” You asked.

“I have about two hundred of them.” He said. “Real easy to get as of late.”

Ernie reached into his pocket and drew his phone, he looked at it, tapped something in, and then put it back in his pocket.

“The Missus expects me for dinner.” Ernie said.

“Anything else I should know before you go?” You asked.

“Yeah, uh…” Earnie rubbed the back of his head and looked around, he wiggled his finger and poked in a few direction.

“Totems don't always work, but sometimes they help. I think its how they're set up or maybe who makes them, we've never gotten a clarity on that. Have people over more often, throw parties, be more social… You could always get married and be done with it. If all else fails, load up on pepper shells and hope for the best.”

“Be more social?”

“Yeah, they don't usually attack when you're in large groups.”

With that, Ernie returned to his van, he looked out the driver window and gave you a wave.

“Take care now.” He said as he began to drive off.

You waved as he left, turning back to return home. Totems? There must be some local custom involving them… As you returned to your house, halfway there you heard someone call out.

“Look out below!” A woman's voice yelled from above.

You looked up and saw the delivery harpy from before, making a circle before lining up with your walkway and descending. She came down talons first, but caught her talon on a rock and lost her balance. She yelped in shock as she toppled forward, struggling to regain her balance.

[Experienced Farmhand] She almost fell, but you moved quickly and caught her in your right arm by the stomach before that happened. She exhaled in surprise, but still managed to regain her balance with your help.

“Wow…” She said, dusting herself off with her wings. “You're pretty strong.”

She eyed you up and down and gained a sultry smile. “I wonder what other parts of you are strong.”

“I…Uh.” You tensed as she advanced, looking up at you as your chest almost touched. “Did you…Have something for me?”

“Right. Right!” She peeped up.

The harpy rummaged through her bag and handed you a letter. “That's all then, see ya!”

She turned around to leave, but stopped and looked back at you one more time, eyeing you up and down before finally dashing forward and taking off.

You sighed and tried to calm the pounding in your chest, looking at the letter and opening it. It was from your mother.

She asked you how you were, told you your father was doing fine, but missed you. The farm is doing well and the farm hands are getting a hang of all the work you used to do. Your mother goes on to talk about how she was worried with you moving to a monster-populated area, but came to peace with it when she spoke to a few people from that region. She goes on to hope that you'll write back soon, or call…

You smile and put the letter in your pocket, and with that, you went inside…

Morning, it was cloudy and the rain had already came through. It was supposed to rain again, and for longer, most of the work was already done today.

You sit inside with a cup of coffee and look out, planning the day.

Welcome back, OP.

>>403785

Ako seems like a great friend to have. We should make time to hang out with her again soon. Also seems like she’s got a real talent for building things. Might be she could help us if we need to design a trap later.

> "I like my physical media"

Yeah, me too. Smart girl.

>>403788

Sounds like we should be growing a few ghost peppers. If we can get hold of the Caravan Town Reapers, it sounds like they’d pay well, otherwise anything angry enough would do.

>>403789

> they don’t usually attack when you’re in large groups

That’s a big yes for a mouse-girl movie night in my book.

>>403802

Pretty much all of this.

Beyond that, Maybe go take a look at the bulletin board.

>>403789

We should go see Herbert to get an update on our soil and maybe some skinwalker lore. We're also past the bump limit.

>>403802

Mouse girl movie night sounds good to me.

>>403819

What, really? That was fast.

Well, if anyone has questions, may as well put them here before I start a new thread.

>>403789

Like others have said, get a crash course from Herbert about combating Skinwalkers and see if he has learned anything else about our soil. Invest in some high heat peppers for pepper shots. Recruit Ako for Skinwalker trapping, and inform her exactly what that smell of strawberries and lavender was. I don't know why we didn't just tell her at the time, but it will give her motivation to help us.

I think we reached the bump cap. Also I would say that we need to end up going back to Herbert, he might have everything done. Also a letter to mom would be something that we should write, make sure she doesn’t freak out.

OP, please link the next thread ITT.

>shy girl showing her secret hideout

Holy shit that is adorable.

>>403789

>Caravan Town Reapers are expensive

We should look into finding seeds for these, nice profit and can gift some to Ernie and Herbert as thanks for their help. Our strange soil might have unintended effects on them though.

We should take some time today and call our parents, it's shameful that we haven't already tbh. Might want to avoid mentioning the girls though, they might delusional and think there's a chance their grandbabies will be human.

Also, test Rory that we plan to go to the festival and ask what day it is next week.

>>403821

Here's the archive and pastebin for thread two

http://archive.is/DUsjf

https://pastebin.com/K1LW5pQT

>>403821

Wonder when our boy will be back. I’ll be excited to see what he does.

>>404482

fingers crossed for mouse-girl pillow fight, tbh

I'm back, and the new thread us up.

>>404714