"Reminds me of all those times we'd go do jobs together," Hideo said, walking his way towards the core room. "Dealing with weird stuff, gathering stuff while our Pokemon do all the fighting. We haven't really had a lot of time to do this lately, have we?"

Ironically, it was now because Hideo's time was on a premium, a good amount spent on his Gym and training some of his more troublesome Pokemon.

He even had one of those troublesome Pokemon in tow, that giant Jigglypuff (Scream Tail, as it'd been named) following behind him. It wasn't jumping on anyone yet, which was already a step up, but Uxie was keeping a close (closed) eye on it, in case it acted up.

"And just like those jobs, let's share the work~" His way of saying he didn't want Doug taking the brunt of the radiation this time.

Choice: Take the brunt equally +50 points

John Sullivan

EXTRACTION #3

With Hideo Kino

"Oh yeah. We were fighting monkeys back then." He said, the memory coming back to him like a ghost. "How times have changed."

Now they were fighting monstrosities shat out from the deepest bowels of an elder god while trying to mine its kidney stones for power.

What the fuck was their life now?

"Yeah yeah." He said, throwing his pickaxe atop his shoulders as he moved past Hideo, ruffling his hair. "You better not complain to me when all the radiation keeps you short and cute forever."

Who knew what the radiation could do in the long term?

---

• Take the brunt equally. Receive 50 RKS POINTS.

"Thieving monkeys. And now we're mining stuff from an alternate dimension. We've definitely moved up in the world." Three years ago, he would've called anyone that told him he'd be doing this a nutjob.

Yet here he was.

He pouted at Doug's joke. "I am not," he argued, letting out his Diggersby to do the mining work for him. "I'll hit puberty, radiation or not. Even if my Pokemon want me to stay this size."

Uxie pat him on the head, a smile on its face as it spread the mental shielding across the party. "And I gotta do a lot of clothes shopping when that happens. This sweater's fit me for a while, but it'll get tight if I get taller. I'd have to get lucky and find a new one when that happens."

…
…

"My Pokemon are gonna find one, aren't they?"

Choice: Focus on heals/defense +50 points

John Sullivan

EXTRACTION #3

With Hideo Kino

"Then why does it feel like a downgrade?" He asked the other wryly.

He, too, would've called anyone a nutjob for making such claims— while also hoping they were right. How foolish, he had been.

"Can't blame them!" He said as he began smashing the ore vein with his pickaxe, his grin audible. "You're very portable at that size! Makes their job easier!"

He gave Uxie and the rest of the boy's pokemon time a conspiratorial grin— though it faltered upon meeting the not!Jigglypuff's blank gaze.

"Well if they can't, I will." He assured the boy, snickering. "Can't have you change your look now. It's part of your league brand!"

---

• Focus on heals/defense. Receive 50 RKS POINTS.

"I mean I get a paycheck now, so it feels like an upgrade to me." A steady income gave him a lot more flexibility with his spending - he could actually plan his expenses now, instead of waiting to hit big with a job.

Uxie happily nodded at the rest that Doug said. The Diggersby even took a moment from her digging to offer a thumbs-up, to show her approval.

"I imagine it'd make your job easier too," Hideo sighed. "You've hauled me off enough times already. And I've kinda accepted I'm cursed to wear stripes the rest of my life."

He turned to face Doug. "Though I guess I gotta deal with you tossing striped sweaters at me too, huh?"

Their banter was momentarily stopped by a notice from Uxie, that the always-appearing-abnormality was starting to manifest. And this one was…less than threatening compared to the last ones they'd face: it was a brown Wigglytuff, with the fluff of a Whimisicott. It didn't even seem like it was here to fight them.

Alas, the Scream Tail was told to attack anything that appeared out of nowhere; said harmless-looking creature was jumped by the giant not!Jigglypuff, Psychic Fangs seeking out its (fake) body.

"...you're at least gonna get me different-colored sweaters, right?"

Choice: Battle a fusion Pokemon +50 points

John Sullivan

EXTRACTION #3

With Hideo Kino

"Sure." He said with a measure of morbid awe, his attention enraptured by the horrific violence being inflicted upon the harmless looking fusion they had managed to summon.

"I've been thinking green would be a good color on you." He said.

Just seemed to fit, for some reason.

...

"We should get ready to leave." Doug said, glancing over to a pocket watch. "We're almost out of time."

---

• Battle a fusion Pokemon. Receive 50 RKS POINTS.

The amalgamation's suffering didn't last long - though it barely showed any signs of pain even as the Scream Tail bit into the non-fluffy parts. It disappeared in a poof of the same energy that it was made from, the Scream Tail looking dissatisfied at the outcome.

"I'll take your word for it. Maybe even mix some green in there too. I hear that's a good combo." Color didn't matter much to him, but he did have to put some effort into fashion.

And green felt right, somehow.

Once the dark hue and pulsing began, was when Hideo knew Doug was right about leaving. "Didn't bring enough Pokemon to carry stuff…but we can always come back," he said, his Diggersby hauling as much as she could - which wasn't all that they mined.

The Scream Tail followed along as well, still holding that dissatisfied face - and Uxie watching it once more.

Choice: Lessen the load and escape +100 points

John Sullivan