inspect those photos on the mirror

>>1128916
Careful
Dont wanna give yourself raccoon eyes.

Answer tha door.
Orrrr
Climb outta the window and oeak at who it is first.

Panda 2026/07/15(Wed)23:16 No. 1129369 ID: 7f42f4
File 178415739307.png - (441.62KB , 952x941 , Rileyquest 127.png )

You don't answer immediately, instead you check the peephole.
It doesn't look like there's anybody there...
Oh, wait- what's that?

There's another knock, it's much louder now that you're pressed up against the door.

Are those Debra’s ears? Seems a bit too short to be her. Probably some kid. Yell through the door and tell the brat to go away, the place is quarantined

>>1129369
Aww... open the door.

can't leave em out in the rain

"[Your mom's name] is on vacay or something. If it's urgent, pay me twenty bucks."

>>1129369
It's just some kid, no harm in opening the door to get a better look at them. Also easier to be rude in person.

Panda 2026/07/19(Sun)15:43 No. 1129514 ID: 5fedbe
File 178447583620.png - (1.31MB , 1001x2052 , Rileyquest 128.png )

You open the door and the smell of rain hits you.
There's a mouse, a very small mouse standing in the doorway - much too small to be Debra. She's dressed appropriately for the weather down to her little rubber boots.

"Hello!" The voice is high pitched and nasally. "You're Riley, right? I need your help! Are you busy?"

It's an unusual question to ask: Everybody knows everybody in town, this is somebody you've never met before.

Do I know you from somewhere?

Who's askin'?

...Don't explicitly invite her in. Leave the door open and wait for her to enter or leave.
Vamps and shit.

Helping out with something beats hanging around here. Did Debra send her? Sounds about right for the old lady to involve you in someone’s shenanz.

Look for weather appropriate footwear to put on as well.

>>1129514
Whats up with that smug mug? She or he has bad vibes

do they need help with ghosts?

>>1129514
Depends: Who's asking and for what?

I'm sorry but who are you and how do you know who I am? Also why do you want my help? I don't really have a handy man kind of reputation and I live kind of out of the way, so why come to me?

Your help? She wants your help? You??

She's cute though...

I don't know. This mouse is giving me Jehovah witness vibes.

>>1129514
On the one hand, you should know everyone.
The idea of someone knowing you when thats not true is odd.

On the other hand, she is fricken adorable, cute, interesting and i would like to know more.

On a third mutant hand or prehensile foot, do you know anymotger grey mice that she has a family resemblance to?

>>1128916
Is it just me / an artistic oversight, or does her visible, non-reflected eye not match the reflection (wide open vs lidded)?

>>1129514
Assuming they're not an underage kiddo - list off your pricing as if you were a sex worker to fluster them.

>>1129514
Pet/massage their adorable, adorable mousey ears.

Then ask politely who they are and what kind of assistance they need.

>>1129514
Ask her if she's acquainted with Debra. Everyone knows all mice know all other mice on a psionic, hivemind-like level.

She's small and adorable and looks like someone you could easily boss around by just being assertively yourself. She's perfect.

I do believe you just found yourself a sidekick, Riley.

She can be the Watson to your Holmes. The Robin to your Batman. The one little girl you forget her name to your Inspector Gadget.

Help doesn't come for free, or cheap! There's equipment costs, womanpower, crow taxes... Ask what she can compensate you with. We need wealth, favors, or other bribery.

>>1049275
New reader, here to offer a potential theory: What if the pickle jar contained a live venomous animal? One that was freed when the jar broke, and then stung, bit or slashed Riley while she was probing in the dark.

And the weird sensation afterwards could be attributed to venom (which could have hallucinogenic effect and be slow-acting) or a transmittable pathogen like Rabies. It could be something as mundane as Tetanus too.

If Riley continues to have weird symptoms or her physical/mental state worsens, she may need to check with a doc and get a blood test at the very least. The wound may have healed but something nasty might be in her bloodstream.

Panda 2026/08/31(Mon)16:58 No. 1131530 ID: 8c96b0
File 178819552320.png - (1.14MB , 1643x1639 , Rileyquest 129.png )

You respond tepidly to the young girl knocking at your door, refusing to leave the doorway.

"Do I know you? Are you a Jenova's Witness or something?"

"Huh?" She squints at you. "From the videogame?"

"What?" The question has confused you so you move on. "Why do you need my help?"

"I was told you were the resident expert in ghost hunting! I received glowing reviews from some nice people in town."
Wow. You have a reputation for something besides failure. Awesome.

She extends a hand and on reflex you shake, the mouse is very round and cute and it makes you instantly want to trust her.

You're now OFFICIALLY FRIENDS. (+ 2 EXP)

Panda 2026/08/31(Mon)16:58 No. 1131531 ID: 8c96b0
File 178819553780.png - (532.02KB , 1005x1197 , Rileyquest 130.png )

Assuming all mice must know one another, you ask the first question that comes to mind: "Are you friends with Debra?"

She gasps in surprise!

"Yes! That's why I'm here! She didn't come home last night, which is odd because she's never late. Really, never! I think something must be wrong. I was hoping you could help check it out."

2 XP from gaining friends
See, your tits pay for themselves

Jiggle while talking

Hmm… show her the ring, ask if it was Debra’s

You were absolutely right to come to the local ghost hunter instead of filing a missing persons report. Now tell me - what sort of haunted house did she go to instead of coming back home?

>>1131531
Oh good finally something to push us forwards.

Tell her about the ghost you encountered last night!

You should take this case so that it retroactively becomes your excuse for snooping around a crime scene last night.

We're on the case!

Tell her it was a good idea to come to you instead of the (fun) police, as this is certainly a ghost matter and not a regular kidnapper/serial killer/dangerous and armed individual.

On that topic, ask why she thinks this is specifically a ghost matter. Also, what your new OFFICIAL FRIENDS actual name is and relation to Debra (the fact she knows she 'didn't come home' makes me think family member, friend, friend with benefits, roomate...).

For the case itself, we need to retrace Debra's path to find to potential spot she went missing. We last saw her on the swing yesterday, what path would she take to go home to from there? Maybe we'll find tracks or signs of where she got yoinked and go from there.

>>1131534
Agreed.

>>1131531
Adventure and mystery and ghost shenanigans HO!

Acitvate your GAYDAR (or equivalent) and check the cute mouse for any ability to be romanced as a sidequest.

How VERY SMALL is this mouse compared to Debra, another mouse?

How date-able is the mouse?

Oh no, Debra is hurt?? What happened to her you saw her just earlier yesterday!

Contemplate whether the Debra you met at the swing yesterday was in fact a ghost of Debra.

Panda 2026/09/10(Thu)02:38 No. 1131864 ID: 3c952e
File 178900788163.png - (826.54KB , 863x863 , Rileyquest 131.png )

Oh no, Debra!
"Of course I'll help!!" You're so enthusiastic you don't ask for money.
Rummaging through your pockets you find The Ring and show it off. "Was this hers?"

The mouse clears her throat. "Nope!"

Terse. To break the silence you ask the obvious question: "If she's missing why did you come to me? I saw her yesterday at the park, she's not a ghost."

She looks left. Then she looks right. Then the mouse hops closer, whispering to you.
"I need somebody who knows about w e i r d s t u f f. Last night I went looking for her and something happened."

When she steps back she pulls your map from your pocket, or inventory, or wherever you've been keeping all this bullshit you're carrying.

Panda 2026/09/10(Thu)02:38 No. 1131865 ID: 3c952e
File 178900791226.png - (1.21MB , 1109x750 , Rileyquest 132.png )

"Here. A little behind our shop in the woods I saw it." The thought of it makes the mouse frown. "I don't know what exactly; it was scary! Not like any animal I know... It was walking."
The mouse shivers when she thinks about it. "I think it got her."

The place she's pointing at is not far from where you saw the ghost, on the main street.
You tell her about the ghost. "I saw a ghost there too! It was tall, really tall and looked like a horse?"

"What I saw didn't look like a horse. But if you saw a ghost then maybe I did too! Something must have happened last night; I thought we could look for clues together."



[The currently nameless mouse joins your party.]
Her big hat and coat combo buffs your waterproofing stat.

You can visit the main street any time, the woods are safe to go through during the day.
You're hungry as fuck. When you can you should really eat.
You should also see Avery today and tell her about the ghost, she'll be at the trailer park or you can call her to meet somewhere.

>>1131865
>like a horse
A skeleton horse. Important detail.

>hungry
Well, you didn't ask for money... but you can surely work for food. Bring that up.

Before we go to Avery, let’s go over to Shane and get him in on this (and mooch some food off of him) we will need as much people as possible

Let's eat. She's got a wallet, right?

Call Avery, arrange to visit a diner or fast food place. Avery or Nameless Mouse can foot the bill.

Proceed to eat while Nameless Mouse details what IT Or SOMETHING was.

Then visit the woods shop (are they coworkers?).

>>1131867
Yes.
Tell her the weird shit detectorist thatnis riley needs fuel to work!
Feed me seymour!
Actually...
What is your name lil adorable mousey mouse?

Imply you have a HUNGER that must be SATED to hunt ghosts in the presence of a rodent.

Speaking of rodents, Debra is an OCCULT RAT, but this is a NAMELESS MOUSE. With our guidance, she may yet EVOLVE into her SUPERNATURAL RODENT form.