Work Text:
“Ay…(You know, you really don’t have to do this…)”
“Yeah right! You’ve been the one to go out scavenging the last four times so I can sit on my tush here!” Frye was strapping on her boots, weapon slung across her back, evidently not taking no for an answer. “Keep an eye on Shiver, but it’s your day bud.”
Someone had to be playing bandit, as much as he didn’t like her being alone out there.
But with a defiant shut of the door, she was gone, leaving Big Man to stand there a little dumbfounded. He hadn’t minded, honest! Out there he could continue their work alone for a bit, while Frye stayed with Shiver and further helped them adjust. Not that they needed constant babysitting, at this point, they weren't about to microwave a fork or something. But they still wouldn't go out on their own, understandably, and staying cooped in all the time wasn't good for anyone.
What to do now…
He turned to see them peeking out of Frye’s (and now their) bedroom, clearly having not been awake for long but having heard the ruckus. Their head tilted at his clear befuddlement.
Big Man made a decision fast. If he was going to be left behind, then fine! He’ll just have a fun day out with Shiver then!
…If they wanted to, of course. “Shiver!” They jumped at their name. “Frye’s going out this time. Why don’t we go out on the city, just us?’
Excited at the prospect of more “exploration”, they smile big and close the door behind them, no doubt getting actually dressed to go outside.
Shiver often went out with Frye or it was all three of them together, never just him and them. This is was a perfect chance to show them his favorite spots! A few they’d been to with the Inkling, but many were too far out of the “safety” zone to visit, or prone to give Frye sensory overload when too crowded. It’s not that Shiver couldn't be trusted to say in familiar territory, but the specifics of their situation: not influent in Inklish, not used to surface culture and societal functions, even the sheer fact of being an octoling that had him worried. If something did happen, how would they get back? What if someone recognized them as an octoling and harassed them?
(And, specifically regarding that last one, what if Shiver beats the snot out of them and they have to pay bail?)
In any case, this was the perfect opportunity! Mentally, he thought over his choices…
Operation “Shiver’s day out”
No:
- Turf wars (reminds them of Octarian army)
- Desert (reminds them of Octarian army)
- Hotlantis (doesn't like smell)
Yes:
- Favorite cafe (good sandwiches!)
- Flea market (might have something good today!)
- Hidden gem stores (support your local businesses!)
- More? (let them pick a direction?)
Big Man smiled to himself. Absolutely foolproof. He didn't just want this to be his usual fun day out, he wanted to make sure it was something they would like too. The food was a no-brainer- that had reliably been their favorite thing since coming to the surface. But hopefully the stores would catch their eyes, Shiver had only a single bag when they found them and it was full of survival stuff anyways.
By the time he’d plotted out their route in his head, Shiver stepped out and ran over. Frye had blown her portion of “fun” expenses buying them clothes, much to the slight guilt of the other, but they did look quite fresh! Black tactical-style joggers, a cropped black turtleneck not unlike their original, and an oversized monochrome camo jacket. That made the extent of their belongings, whatever they had in their side of Frye's closet. He clapped his fins.
“Very fresh! Very fresh!”
Beaming, they replied. “Where are going?”
That was the other thing, while they hung out noticeably less, he had been delighted to find out Shiver knew Ray! Just the basics and very rusty, not always pronounced correctly and with off grammar at times, but enough to hold a conversation, easier than it was to try and imitate Inklish with body language and context clues.
“It’s a surprise! Some certified Big Man favorites!”
Not any less excited, they were smiling the whole elevator ride down, up until they stepped out into the street. No matter how many times they did, no matter how many hours they’d spent on the balcony and rooftop, they couldn’t help standing in place and staring up, up, up. At goliath walls of buildings, windows plastered with curtains and clings and posters, balconies full of plants and clotheslines and even gardens. Some even shared between other apartments, even across the street. So tall, and yet, no ceiling to touch, just the open expanse of sky.
They winced, forgetting their thing– what inklings apparently called “albinism” – made them a bit light sensitive, it never having been a concern before considering the sky and sun hadn’t been real, just big LED screens.
They look back down to the streets. And the streets, bright and full of people, all so different yet so alike but in their own ways, with the freedom to choose for themselves.
They felt Big Man tug them along, the tip of his fin in their hand. “C’mon. You just woke up, how about some grub?” They gave a small nod, following him this time. “Frye likes their food, but it can get pretty overwhelming, so we don’t usually sit to eat. We can get it to go if you want!”
The idea of sitting somewhere to enjoy your food– food that you could even enjoy, was still so foreign, an idea of what life must be like among the elites. Though, Shiver understood now their lives hadn’t been much better than those of their station in the end. A gold cage was still a cage.
But such thoughts had no place on such a pleasant, sunny day meant to be fun. They let themselves be led into a space tucked into the corner of an otherwise unassuming business building. Despite the tiny interior, it was nicely decorated, with deep woods and grey walls but greenery everywhere it could fit. They see what he meant by overwhelming, for a place so small it was clearly popular, with all the seating packed tightly close by and tons of chatter as people had their brunch.
“Cassidy and Rose run this place, I’ve known’em for a long time. I even went to their wedding! They catered it themselves.”
The two turned out to be a pair of angelfish, one tall and elegant with trailing black fins that dragged the floor, her wife much smaller and a bright yellow, adorned in a frilly dress but modern apron. He made conversation with the two as they looked through the class cases, everything looking equal parts foreign and delicious. So much variety…
“I do not know any of these…Pick for me?”
“Hmmm, you’d probably like their pastries. They’ve got sandwiches if you don’t feel like sweets, too. I know you didn’t like coffee, but Rose makes a mean smoothie!”
Certain his choices would be good if he frequented so often, and content to just bask in the atmosphere. Big Man chose a table for them by the window, where they could look into the busy streets just outside. They didn’t tend to be all that picky anyhow, glad to have something with flavor at all.
Big Man tapped their shoulder, drawing their attention back to him.
“I’ve been meaning to ask…How do you know Ray and not Inklish? Not many people up here even speak it outside of the Splatlands.”
All at once, it felt like crashing to the ground. Suddenly nauseous, Shiver looked down, toying with the hem of their sleeves. He probably wouldn’t judge, and they owed him and Frye both the total truth, after all they’ve done…
“Octarians have no issue with rays. Possible allies. Knowing the language is useful. Inklish…” They give him a rueful smirk, though the sadness and guilt was clear in their eyes. “Why would you need to know the language of people you eradicate?”
Big Man felt horrible, their day had barely started and he already brought up bad memories of their past. He rushed to try to soothe it over.
“That’s not your fault, Shiver! Where else would you have learned Inklish? And you’re learning now.” His cheerful face was just like Frye’s, was like that heavenly melody itself sometimes. Soothing, comforting, reassuring in an unspoken way. Dependable. Shiver sighed. “You’ll be a chatterbox alongside Frye in no time!”
At that, they did smile, imagining a future time where conversation between them was easy as it was now. Their order was announced, Big Man had chosen a crepe and a fruit smoothie, having seen them enjoy fresh fruit before. When they bit down, they found themselves surprised, at the texture and the mass of filling within. Big Man couldn’t help a laugh as he saw the look on their face, and the big bites they took, savoring it like it was to be treasured. He urged a couple napkins their way when he realized their chin was coated in cream and strawberry juice.
They were hard not to spoil, there was just something to be said about their genuine gratitude, their reverence of the little things. It was too bad it came from a life of scarcity and suppression, but he was more than a little honored to watch their walls come unraveled in front of him.
By the time their meal was done, and they were really just hoarding the table to talk at that point, it was well into the afternoon.
“Next surprise! How does a flea market sound?”
Shiver squints their eyes in confusion. “A market that sells bugs?”
“Nope! It’s where people sell stuff they don’t need anymore at these little stands, or stuff they made.” He laughs again. “It’s how me and Frye furnished the place, if I’m honest. She said you can pick stuff for the apartment too by the way, maybe you’ll find something!”
They nodded, deep in thought as they followed behind him. Shiver kept being surprised with how…welcoming they were. To have taken them in and allowed them to recover was big enough already, then to let them stay permanently, even share a room and bed, and now they have permission to change their dwelling?
Shiver couldn’t shake the feeling that they didn’t deserve it, that it was wasted on them, but they’d learned lots about Big Man and Frye in the two months since living there, enough to know they wouldn’t take that for an answer. They’d fought their attempts to buy for them before, it just doesn’t work. Big Man would always be so patient and gentle, celebrating their little steps to a normal life, and Frye…
She’d stayed home for a majority of that time, to attend to them, something that still weighed on them heavily. To help with their wounds, teach them what she could, keep them company. Only two months but it felt like years, when you spent every waking moment with someone, and especially when that someone was…was just so wonderful .
A hand came to feel their own cheek, sighing at how warm it felt. They knew why this was happening, and they were hoping it wasn’t, but that meant acknowledging that someone could know Frye and not adore her. Shiver didn’t know how such a thing was possible.
The first thing Shiver noticed was that all of these places were off the roads, where one would to have walk and go out of their way. In case of the market, there wasn’t even a small sign to point in its direction, leading them through a few tight and cluttered side alleys, crammed between apartment complexes. It really made apparent to them how big this world was, how much was in every little corner, if you just looked.
The market was a long lot of stands and tarps, running alongside a concrete slope into the ground, where a small stream of water lazily passed through. It looked loud, and busy, and picking up on their sudden stiff body language, they felt Big Man offer them his fin.
“It can get a bit crowded, just stick close and go one table at a time.”
It wasn’t that Shiver didn’t like big groups of people, it’s not like they hadn’t always been surrounded by mass crowds of their own kind. But the fact they were all inklings, all so different in appearance than octolings and speaking in a language they barely understood, had them nervous. They’d noticed the looks they get, when out with Frye and Big Man, and the idea of being in a bind and unable to communicate was terrifying.
But that thought dissipated as they went on their way, finding the chaos not so bad once they were in it. Shiver still didn’t fully understand the appeal, so it was to sell things you no longer needed and it was beneficial as you get them cheaper if they were new, but nothing stood out to them. It all seemed like it was just old furniture and everyday gadgets, though some of it was in weird styles that Big Man explained to be really old human designs, which they could appreciate the novelty in. Novelty seemed like such a big thing to the surface people: to have for the hell of it, just because it’s cute, or strange, or interesting.
All felt so irrelevant, and at first they felt bad, wondering if Big Man would be disappointed that they didn’t seem to enjoy it, but he had yet to buy anything as well. As they walked towards the end, Shiver had begun to zone out, until a rather colorful set of tables caught their attention.
“Shiver?” He asked, but they continued on, staring up a bit in wonder. The contents of the tables were colorful too, but what had drawn them in was the multitude of things hanging from the roof the tarp. Strings of ornaments and materials, ranging from artificial like beads and woven items to natural like bone and wood. They were different lengths of segmented sections, decorated in intricate ways and they dangled noisily as they moved.
They were sure what the purpose was, but some of the designs were really beautiful. Each piece was different, but the longer you looked the more you could see how especially detailed they were, how much handiwork must have gone into each and every one. They had to say they admired this “art”, something they aught to learn to do. It was still novel to the octoling, to know that now their hands had the potential to create rather than to just destroy.
“What are these?”
“Hm...I’ve only ever seen them called mobiles? They’re usually intended to hang over a baby’s crib to catch their attention, I think.”
Shiver flushed. The first item they liked, and it was a child’s toy?! How embarrassing!
“They’re not just for kids though! These ones are meant to be art pieces! And look!” He pointed their attention at a particular one, with long, hollow metal beams at the bottom. “That’s a windchime! When the breeze hits it the bars bounce off each other and make music.”
To emphasize his point, he uses his superior height to reach up and gently push it, the pieces indeed clattering together to make a small, gentle harmony of metallic noises.
“The ones without?”
“Just meant to look pretty. This one is a suncatcher! The light hits the crystal parts and makes rainbow specks everywhere.”
Nodding, Shiver reached up to pull a particular mobile off the hook, the different parts rattling together as they did so. The main body was three sticks, some kind of dark colored wood that been sanded smooth, and the small pointy bones of some kind dangling from the bottom appealed to their taste. But what had caught their eye was the middle pieces, between the branches, colorful felt balls in reds, greens, yellows, with eccentric patterns. A particularly large one in the middle had the dry, wooly texture a lot of Frye’s blankets and rugs had, and the colors reminiscent of some of the eel tribe clothes she’d shown off before. Little crystals were embedded in the fabric, and as he said, when held to the light the reflections made an array of fascinating color.
“That’s a pretty one!”
Shiver reaches into their jacket with the other hand, digging out a little pouch with an edgy design, which acted as their wallet/purse in one. They’d been given what was called an “allowance”, for an unknown reason and to much guilt, the other two insisting that it was good they kept some on hand in case they both were ever gone and they got hungry or something. However, as Big Man or Frye were usually home to cook or just paying for things altogether, it hadn’t seen much use.
“No need! Since I brought you out, I’ll–” Shiver shot him a stern look, slapping the bag into his fin. Not that his kindness was unappreciated, the exact opposite, but they were starting to get sick of feeling like a freeloader…With money they gave them in the first place, but oh well, it still counted. “Gah, okay! But only because I got the food, okay?”
Grinning in victory, Shiver pocketed the pouch again after and happily wrapped the handles of the plastic bag around their wrist, the suncatcher safely wrapped in old newspaper
“So, where are you thinking of putting it?”
Oh, that was a good point…The idea of decor was still new, they’d become used to seeing it but have never applied to themselves. “Don’t know. Soldiers don’t get a living space of their own.”
Big Man stumbled, trying and failing to find a way to backpedal. Again! He was trying so hard not to trigger memories of their past, but it was more difficult than he thought. Not taking them around weapons and battles made sense, but it seemed like every little thing had been tainted for them…He’d be frustrated if he didn’t feel so sad for them, how everyone down there must have been treated.
Shiver simply continued their thoughts, oblivious to his panic. “Would Frye allow it? In her room?”
“Probably! It seems like the kind of thing she’d like.” He continues, glad for the way out of that topic. “Next stop: Bull Shark! It’s a music store, but they sell TV and movie stuff too, and fun little knick-knacks!”
Shiver squinted, realizing their understanding of Ray language is worse than they thought. They’d been taught the extreme basics of the more common languages in preparation for battle/exploration on the surface, and only battle-related Inklish. Funny how it would be useful in the end, but only because they fled the second they reached the surface, instead of bloodying it further.
“Er…I don’t know surface music, and the other things.”
“We’ll get you there! I’ve got plenty of TV recommendations…And you’ll know music through Frye eventually, trust me.” The crowd of before dissipates, as they enter a small plaza that connected many minor shops, the atmosphere much calmer despite plenty of jellies and inklings running amock. “But maybe you’ll like some of the little things they have! Maybe some patches and pins for your jacket? You like fashion an awful lot.”
Shrugging, they let him take the lead. They don’t know why he’s focused on them “liking” certain things, they’re just happy to be there and explore. And they were learning more about Big Man this way, the responsible and soft-spoken ray barely talked about himself. Really, having his company and getting to learn his interests was more fascinating than any trinket they were going to find.
The first thing they noticed about the store was the overwhelming smell of incense, their face scrunching as they stepped in, much to his amusement. But once they got past it, he showed off all the different aisles. Racks of vinyls and records (like disks, he explains, but old from human times), secondhand TV shows and movies (“Me and Frye like to pick ones at random sometimes to watch, you’ll get the next pick!), enough books that it could be easily mistaken for a library…And then in the corner, what he had deemed “knick-knacks”, more novel and somewhat silly things like they had seen before.
Many of them seemed to be actual toys, like squishy rubber sea creatures or strange wind-up machines. Or gimmicky items that served such specific purposes that they weren’t sure if it was a joke or not, such as a rattle for babies that looked like a training weight or oven mitts that looked like Lil Judd’s paws.
Inklings were so, so very strange.
“They’re supposed to make you laugh.” Big Man said, smiling when he realized they were picking up different items and giggling a bit, holding a duster made to look like an angler fish.
“Very silly indeed…”
“Well, this place might appeal to you more when we’re done with you! There’s no escaping bi-weekly move night!”
Still uncertain what a movie is, they smile, sure that as long as its with them, it’ll be wonderful.
Decidedly not finding anything to buy, they go to find another store, likely one of the many outside, apparently one that had many different candies and sweets. However, Shiver stopped dead in their tracks, quickly glancing at a shelf they had not noticed before.
It was a wall of small objects dangling from metal chains, with a wide open ring at the top. They all depicted different sea creatures in bright unnatural colors, made of smooth manufactured plastic, though some had shiny accents to them. Curious, they stepped further…
Shiver pulled their hands close to their face, turning the little shark over in their fingers. They’d yet to see one in real life, but their family had never let them forget the shape even once. They’d been told legends of their ferociousness, their grace, their speed. They felt their eyes well up without their permission, please be okay down there…
Before they could upset themselves further, they crouched, spotting a manta ray– the kind from human times, that didn’t stand and talk like they did now, though Shiver doubted any were still around, unlike the sharks. But if they had a shark, and a ray…
Methodically, they sorted through every rack, most sorted by type but others mixed in carelessly from prior customers. They had everything it seemed except for eels…
It was stupid, there was no way that some silly little keychains could possibly get across their feelings, all the indescribable mountains of gratitude and affection and appreciation they had for the pair into two tiny little objects. But every day Shiver struggled to find a way to make them realize what they were doing, how quite literally they were their savior, that before all this they had struggled to imagine a life worth being alive for. If they hadn’t had the chance to flee their squad that day…
But by sheer luck, there it was, a single plastic little eel. It was cerulean, instead of yellow, but it would have to do.
On the way out, they noticed a rack of inkling and octoling charms, in the squid and octopus forms respectively, in an array of colors to match the common ink styles. Smiling, they took a yellow squid and a blue octopus. They might have to borrow from Big Man after all, but if he hadn’t minded earlier…
Standing up, they turned to see…he was gone? On their tip-toes they looked past a shelf and around the store, despite the fact his large body was hard to miss.
“Big Man? ” Maybe Inklish would catch his attention better? “Big Man??”
Wandering around the shelves, they still didn’t see any sign of him.
Big Man hadn’t noticed their going quiet, not really. Thought about it once, but they’d been quiet the whole trip. The world was still a bit overwhelming, perhaps, and even then, Shiver had been one of few words thus far. When they weren’t answering questions or responding to the two, they were mostly silent, instead preferring to listen intently with occasional interruptions. If it was their personality that was fine, but he swears he sees glimmers of thought in their eyes sometimes, and he hopes they could feel comfortable opening up more…
But for now, he could help with their new favorite thing: the surface! The more they wandered, the more they’d learn about inkling society and the layout of the city, and hopefully even navigate on their own! And the faster that happened, the more they could all go out together, maybe even banditing…
Big Man had just entered the candy shop, turning to introduce it to them, when he realized Shiver was no longer behind him. Figuring they were trailing behind like they sometimes did, he walked back out into the plaza…
And they were still gone.
Two thoughts crossed his mind:
“They could be in danger” and “Frye is going to f-ng murder me”.
“Shiver?” He yelled, causing a few citizens meandering about to jump. “Shiver!!”
Oh cod, this was the worst case scenario! Just short of being in battle, maybe. They could handle themselves in a fight, but that was the farthest from his concern. If they get lost, they likely had no idea where they were going, and with incredibly minimal Inklish, no way to ask! And even if they met someone who spoke Ray, what good was it when they didn’t know him or Frye’s phone number or address, or even where in the city they were or lived. They’d be completely in the dark!
A tsunami of guilt ran over him, picturing the octoling, lost and distressed in a busy crowd of beings they can’t speak to and buildings and signs they can’t understand. They were probably panicking so bad, so scared, abandoned yet again by…
He’d find them, he had to.
Meanwhile, back at Bull Shark, Shiver simply shrugged.
The stores were all pretty close together, with a small plaza and two paths running from it on either side, all the buildings in neat little rows. He had to be outside or in one of those, he probably wouldn’t be too hard to find, especially with how tall and wide he was. It’d be fine.
They looked at the counter, conflicted. On one hand, they can’t leave to look for him, that’ll be perceived as stealing, and the last thing Big Man and Frye needed was them getting arrested. On the other hand, even if they had enough money, could they talk to the cashier? And if they left and came back, what if the eel one got purchased…
The cashier was an inkling with a hip hairstyle and trendy clothes, clicking away on a phone at their stool. It was unlikely they’d know what they were saying, and what if they made fun of them for not speaking inklish? What if they know they’re an octoling, what if they…
Shiver stares at the keychains, comic little effigies of what mattered to them most, and makes a decision.
With a lump in their throat, they stepped up to the counter, placing the items carefully on the counter. The inkling girl looks up from her phone, pulling over a keyboard.
“Oooh, cute stuff. You got an account with us?”
Shiver understood one word, cute , and immediately clenched their fists, worst fears being realized. She was making fun of them, they had to be. Frye called them that sometimes, but it was different, because it was Frye.
“No.”
“Want one? You get any of the sales we have, it’d make your 5th keychain there free.” Shiver stared, trying and failing to make sense of it, especially through their nerves, now on high alert. “Uh, hello?”
“Price?”
“Oookay,” the inkling turns the little computer screen to show them, and Shiver further flushes, did they think she was stupid?
Pulling out their pouch, trying to keep their hands from shaking, realizing how empty it is after their earlier purchase. They hadn’t yet understood how to count the currency, which was simply worse, and with more than a little shame, they put what they had onto the counter as well.
“Is enough…?”
The inkling girl didn’t even have to count, or look much for that matter. Her eyes told it all: they were short, the cashier was annoyed, and Shiver had no idea where to go from there.
They coughed, hating how hot their face felt, how their pulse raced. How they could enter battles for life and death, take harsh and often painful punishments with little reaction, but get so worked up over being humiliated…so pathetic .
“I’m sorry.” Shiver’s voice didn’t crack, thank cod. “I waste time. I will–”
When a hand pressed onto their shoulder, they jolted, nearly breaking into an attack when they realized it was another person.
Another octoling, with bright eyes and lavender purple tentacles, styled long to curl at the ends. She smiled sweetly. “Hold on, I’ve got you.” Their eyes widened at the Octarian speech, the first they’d heard since the months they’d been up here. “Sorry, my friend’s new around here. I’ve got the rest, and you can use my phone number!”
Shiver watched in horror as the other pulled out her own money, adding it to theirs on the counter to seemingly cover the rest. “You don’t have to! It’s not my fault I don’t have enough.”
The octoling just gave them a shrug, handing the printed receipt and little paper bag to them, entirely unbothered. “Here, follow me, get some fresh air.”
The inkling cashier rolled her eyes. “Come again.”
Outside, Shiver felt themselves calm down, the nervousness now replaced with guilt. Not only had this stranger helped them, she’d paid her own money to do so! They felt just as bad when Frye and Big Man did it, but at least they chose to take them in and cover their costs.
The octoling sat on a nearby bench, back against a raised flower bed, and gestured for them to sit as well, which they reluctantly did. Now that they weren’t in the heart of the moment, they took in the girls outfit, a frilly skirt and big plush cardigan, all in bright pastel colors. She probably looked strange next to them in comparison with their monotone get-up, and vice versa.
“You doing okay? Sorry for getting in your business there, but I saw them getting short with you and couldn’t stand it. I’d want someone to do the same for me.”
“I’m fine, thank you. I’m sorry you spent your money.”
The girl laughed. “Oh, it was just a tiny amount! I have a reward membership there so it made your stuff cheaper.” She held a hand out. “My name is Lacey, by the way. What’s your name?”
“Shiver.” They shook it, feeling themselves lighten up as well. “I take it you fled too?”
“Oh, yeesh, yeah, about a year ago. Haven’t thought about it for awhile, to be honest, but seeing you kinda brought me back. I was in that exact same position a lot, any time I needed to buy anything. So frustrating. People treat you like you're an idiot.” Lacey said. “You escaped?”
It was weird, telling their story again, when only Frye and Big Man knew, but also when it was someone capable of fully understanding them, not just in language, but in having been there themselves.
“ I was assigned to a mission on the surface. I never liked it, or my commander. We got attacked by a group of inklings and…” They took a deep breath. Even though they didn’t regret it, even though it was the right thing to do, the unease and fear that followed disobeying orders was so deeply ingrained into them, they felt it even now. “ I took the opportunity and ran away in the chaos, but my commander saw me and shot at me. I still got away, but I was injured, bad, and it broke my gun beyond what I could do with field repair.”
Shiver’s hand ran over their side, subconsciously soothing a wound that had long since healed.
“I hid, but I was bleeding, no supplies. Just my gear on my back and a memento…And then they found me.”
“They?”
Shiver took out the yellow squid and the manta ray keychains, presenting them to Lacey.
“Frye, Big Man.” They pointed as they spoke. “She could have killed me…I tried to kill her, but my octoshot was ruined. ” A thumb ran over the squid keychain. “ But she talked to me, calmed me down, even if I didn’t understand. She fixed my wound and convinced me to come back with her. I haven’t looked back since.” A shaky sigh. “She saved me.”
Lacey patted them on the shoulder, grin a little too knowing. “Seems like a nice girl.”
“Understatement of the year.”
“Haha, well, I’m glad you have someone up here. I didn’t, and it took a long time before I met someone who helped me, another octoling. We’ve gotta stick together up here, you know? Inklings don’t know about us, some of them don’t even think we’re real, so no one expects us to be walking around in their cities and stores.”
Stick together, cities, stores… Oh no.
“Ah! I’m supposed to be out with Big Man, but we got separated…” Shiver stood up, looking around for him. “He’s probably worried about me. He’s…kind of a big softie, he’s been protective of me this whole time. He got to be freaking out right now, I’m sure of it.”
“Sounds like a good friend, too.” Lacey stood as well. “Where do you think he’d be?”
“He said he was going to take me to a candy shop next.”
“Oh, Pleco Pops! I love that place. I know right where it is, wanna go see if he’s there?”
For lack of better options, it was no question. And it was totally just the most logical reason, and not because Shiver wanted to savor the moment of having someone from their own culture to talk to. They let the girl take their hand and lead them.
Ironically, by the time the two reached the store, Big Man had already left. Now, he wandered Bull Shark yet again, but found no trace of his friend. The girl at the counter gave him a weird look as he approached the counter, having seen him earlier.
“Ay Ay? (Have you seen my friend? They have blue tentacles, one side is shaved, they were in camo?”)”
“Yeah, they were in here earlier, nearly had a hearts attack trying to pay for some keychains. Held up my line and everything, but they left with their other friend a few minutes ago.”
“A-ay?” (F-friend?)”
“Yeah, same weird flipped hair and the odd looking eyes. I don’t know where they went, but I’ve got a line starting again, dude.”
Another octoling. Big Man felt his pulse quickening, panic setting in deeper. Another octoling! What if it was a soldier? What if they recognized them and forced them to follow them back? Shiver didn’t have a weapon, and likely wouldn’t of broke into a fight in the store, especially if the other didn't, what if…
He took a deep breath and composed himself. Before he wouldn’t of cared of it was an octoling or whoever, it was only now that they had a fugitive on their hands, but there had been no sign they were coming back for Shiver anyways...And besides, how would an octoling soldier go unnoticed in the city? In a music store for that matter?
But still, anyone had the potential to be malicious, what if it was some creep seeing someone easy to take advantage of?
Leaving the store, he mostly just felt defeated. Big Man had hoped they would just stay where they were upon realizing they got separated, but that was a bust, and now they could be anywhere. He can already hear Frye in his head: “how do you lose an entire person?! How could you let them out of your sight?!”
But he couldn’t think of what else to do, wandering store to store might work but what if they were doing the same thing? He could stand in the plaza and hope to catch them as they wandered, but long would that take? What if they weren’t even on this street anymore?
Out of ideas, he pulled out his phone, searching for Frye’s contact. He could deal with whatever she said while upset, as long as it meant finding their friend.
Unfortunately, he was not there, but much to their surprised delight (and again, slight guilt, as it came out of Lacey's pocket), they were now up one cake pop, though whatever flavor “funfetti” was supposed to be was beyond them.
“He’s probably out looking for you, then…” Lacey’s voice was muffled by her own cake, something called red velvet, though she had assured them it wasn’t flavored to taste like the fabric. “Let’s go back to the courtyard and wait, we’ll see him pop out of one of the stores eventually.”
Nodding, Shiver followed along. They’d discovered that much like themselves, Lacey hadn’t been anyone special by Octarian standards, just a fellow foot soldier. She also had family left behind, but only her grandparents. She’d been part of a mass escape with several other octolings, who all lived throughout Splatsville.
The girl, meanwhile, had noticed the yellow squid keychain the whole time, the metal O-ring wrapped around one of their fingers and their thumb sweeping over it soothingly.
“So, that Frye girl?”
“What about her?”
“What’s she like?”
Shiver felt themself flush. “She is very friendly, and energetic…and selfless. She always looks out for me, even if I tell her it isn’t necessary. Patient, even if I can’t communicate with her very easily. Even when I complicate things with my ignorance, she never gets angry. She is always cracking jokes, and smiling, and laughing.” They sigh. “ She is perfect, and I owe her so much. ”
“Well, if she’s doing all that for you, she probably doesn’t mind.”
“I just wish I could repay her.”
“Honestly…Keep being her friend, I’m sure that’ll be enough.”
Shiver hummed in thought, mind debating whether or not to ask what they wanted to this whole time. On one hand, Lacey could answer what the other two couldn’t, as doing so would out themselves. But on the other hand, she would likely connect the dots, and they’d embarrassed themselves enough…
“Lacey?”
“Yeah?”
“...How does courting work, on the surface?”
She looks a bit amused, likely having seen it coming, but didn’t laugh at them. “ There aren’t too many rules, I guess, and nothing’s arranged or anything. You could ask someone on a date without barely knowing them, or you could get to know someone first and then ask them out, or just tell your feelings altogether and skip that part.”
“I see…” This was one of the few times more rules would have been better, it already sounded so overwhelming.
“It’s Frye, isn’t it?”
“...Yes.”
“You two are pretty close?”
“I would like to think so.”
“Do you think she’d feel the same?”
“...I don’t know.”
“You won’t, unless you ask or she does it first.” Lacey gave a good-natured giggle at the strangled noise Shiver lets out, imagining such a scenario. “Look, I don’t know you too much or her at all, but if she’s going that far out of her way for you, you’ve gotta at least be important to her too.
Just keeping doing what you’re doing, and let it play out naturally. That’s what a lot of people up here do.” Before Shiver can give an opinion on the thought, she stops. “Hey, I think that’s your guy.”
Indeed, they reached the plaza again and there was Big Man, sweating profusely and looking around, forcing confused bypassers to have to walk around him. His face was full of worry, and they winced, realizing it was their fault. “Yes, that is him.”
“Somehow, he looks exactly like I thought he would.” Lacey laughs, putting a small notepad and pen out of her cardigan pocket. The ripped off paper they’re handed has a strange set of numbers on it, interrupted by dashes, as well as her name in fancy lettering, the Y shaping a heart at the end.
“Here’s my number, it’s how people use phones to contact each other. Your friends can teach you more about it, but don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you ever need to know surface stuff, or want to meet other octolings. We have a group chat!”
Shiver didn’t know what a group chat was, but they smiled back, happy to have met such a kind person. They felt lighter, somehow, just from the interaction alone. “Thank you, for everything.”
“It’s no problem, I’m just glad your experiences of the surface have been good. You better go meet back with your friend before he passes out, though. Nice meeting you, Shiver!”
Big Man’s fin had been inches away from the call button, already dreading the conversation that was about to follow. But before he could tap the button, he heard it.
“Big Man!”
Nearly dropping his phone and taking out innocent citizens with his massive wingspan, he whipped around, just in time to see Shiver jogging over to meet him. To say he was relieved was an understatement, the last few minutes had been his life flashing before his eyes, with the ending looking a lot like Frye’s splatana directed at his forehead. To see Shiver, absolutely fine, smiling and rushing towards him was more than he could ask for.
“Shiver!” Unsure how comfortable the other was with a hug, he settled for placing a fin on either side of their shoulders. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize you weren’t behind me!”
“No, it is my fault. I noticed something as you were leaving. And it is okay,” they turned around, catching Lacey as she began to leave with a small wave. The other octoling gave a final big, excited wave herself before running off. “I made a friend.”
“Can’t have enough of those!” He pulled back a bit. “What was so important you stopped?”
The squid keychain had been put back in the bag for safekeeping, and they used this opportunity to pull out the eel, shark, and ray ones in particular, presenting them proudly. “Look! It's all three of us!”
Big Man was already a bit on the edge of tears from the panic earlier, seeing the little plastic manta ray in their hand, combined with their innocent toothy grin, nearly sent him over the edge. They looked a little confused at his big, wet, puppy-dog eyes.
“I’m just glad you’re okay! I was so worried, and Frye would kill me if she found out…”
The whole day had been a disaster. He’d just wanted to show off his favorite stores and let them explore a bit more, and pick out some goodies since they could hold all their possessions they still had in both hands. But all he did was bring up painful memories or show them stuff they couldn’t understand, and then to get them lost and scared, making them embarrass themselves in public…
But he didn’t get a chance to ruminate on it, as suddenly smaller arms made the feeble attempt to wrap around his body, standing on their toes to do so, head happily pressed against him.
“Thank you, for bringing me out. It was fun.” They muttered. “To spend time with you.”
Startled by their sudden heartfelt display on top of everything else, he may have shed a single tear. A single very manly tear. Just the one. Maybe.
“We’ll do it again, with less disaster next time. But I think we’ve had enough adventure for today, don’t you think?”
They nodded, the excitement from the new sights and nerves from being in the store alone catching up to them. They had their loot, and Big Man was smiling so big and looked so less sad, so their mission was accomplished.
They were barely on the way home before he spoke again.
“Uh…let’s keep you getting lost between us, okay? She’ll tell me off for hours.”
Chuckling at his panic, and knowing exactly why he asked, Shiver mimicked zipping their mouth closed.
“...And actually, let’s run back over to Pleco Pops again. They have these spicy mango candies she loves, and if she finds out I went in there without getting her any, I’ll never hear the end of that either.”
Mango candies ended up being an entire bag, a second much larger mixed bag for everyone, and a box of five cake pops once he’d seen them staring at it. After some back and forth, he declared it was payment for losing them, and deciding not to fight free food, they grumbled and took it. If he noticed the box being empty when they reached the door, he didn’t say anything.
By the time they got back, Frye was already home, spread out on their couch, waiting for the two to get back. She had been tempted to text them, but decided that’d be overbearing, and decided to just wait. In the end, exhaustion of the trip had won over and she was fast asleep, only awakening at Big Man’s “we’re home!”
“Hey! Back already?” Frye teased. “Havin’ fun without me and all that.”
“Ay. (You said I could do what I wanted).” He gently chucked the bag of loose candies onto her stomach, smiling at her excited yell. “Ay. (And you can’t complain, I got you sweets).”
“TOTALLY forgiven. My whole trip was a bust, so this is a lifesaver.” She had one in her mouth before Shiver even had their shoes off. “Didya have fun too, Shiv?”
Thankfully she was too preoccupied to catch the nervous look flicker across Big Man’s face, as he quickly shuffled past them into the kitchen.
“I did,” they walk over to the couch, reaching into the paper bag. “I have gift.”
“You know, when you go shopping, you’re supposed to get stuff for yourselves. Buuuuut I guess I won’t complain about being spoiled.”
Shiver held the eel keychain in a fist that totally wasn’t clammy with nerves and held it out, waiting for the other to get the message. When she did, putting her hands out to catch it, they let it drop, and delighted in the little gasp she made.
“It’s so cute!”
“Ay! (I got one as well!)
They held up their little shark, so the two are next to each other. “It's all of us.”
“Aww Shivs, this is awesome! It’s like friendship bracelets, but way cooler.” Frye reached over, grabbing the satchel she’d dropped beside the couch. With quick hands, she secured the clip onto one of the many straps, the eel dangling between her gear. “Now we’ve gotta find something to put yours on…And Big Man’s, for that matter.”
“Oh, and other thing.” They went after the plastic bag next. “For the bedroom?”
Holding out the suncatcher, Frye poked it with her finger, watching the little specks of color dance across the walls and furniture. “You know, Big Man, they’ve got much better taste than either of us. They would've made this apartment look so much nicer.”
“Ay…(says the one who never cleans…)”
“I think it’s great. C’mon, we can go hang it up now.”
“Ay? (Before it gets lost in the mess and broken?)” He reluctantly hands Frye a little hammer and a nail from the drawer. “Ay…(Please be careful, this time.)”
Frye hops off the couch with a dramatic sigh. “GEEZ, you miss and put a hole in the wall ONCE. Let’s set this baby up.”
Frye’s little room had always been simple. The big bed in the middle against the far wall, a strange, ancient looking TV to its side. The walls had a few posters here or there, of different bands Shiver would have to assume, and their dresser. A, intricate rug apparently woven by her grandmother claimed the wall above the bed, adding a splash of needed color, and simple slot curtains let in the growing sunset. But otherwise, it got its clutter from piles of clothes, books, and other accumulated stuff shoved into the corners or across surfaces. Such a thing would have received harsh punishments for a soldier, but here, it felt like home.
Frye stood on the bed, holding the suncatcher and moving it around, seeing where the light from the window best hit it. At a certain spot the entire room became a gallery of colors and shapes, covering the plain walls in bursts of detail. With a small “aha!”, she hit the nail without any other destruction, and tied the string so it hung tightly.
Jumping off and onto the floor to admire her handwork, she was not only hit by the specks, but the orange light pouring from the windows as well. It made the surface of her tentacles shine, the tone of her skin warm, similarly colored eyes glistening a bit in the evening sun. She looked directly at Shiver, smile proud and soft, and they swore all their hearts stopped at once.
“Whaddya think, Shiv?”
The squid and octopus keychains sit in their closed hands, trying and failing to fight the lump in their throat and the nervous tremble in their arms. “Um, one more thing.”
“Another? Breaking in Big Man’s wallet, huh?”
Deciding to just get it over with they presented the two her, head bowed down a bit so they wouldn’t have to look her in the eye, embarrassed. They heard another small gasp, and looked up to see the inkling’s eyes wide, reaching out to grasp the objects.
“Oh my gosh, is that supposed to be us?!” A quick nod. Then she jolted in sudden excitement, running back into the living room. “Wait, hold on! Take it real quick!”
The words were too fast to process, Shiver’s mind only focusing on the keychains being placed back in their hands, and the momentary devastation it caused. Before they could further hurt their own feelings however, she was back with the satchel from before, the eel bouncing as she moved.
“Here, I’ll take the one that looks like you…” Frye grabs the blue octopus, attaching it to the same loop on her bag as the eel. “And then we take this,” her hand slipped into their pocket to grab the pouch, attaching the yellow squid to the wrist strap. “And boom!”
Confused, Shiver looked at her for context, not understanding.
“You can take little squid Frye with you, and I’ll have my little octopus Shiver with me, and that way even when we’re apart, we’re still together! Perfect, right?”
All the sudden ranges of emotion they were feeling so fast would cause a headache later, but for now, they couldn’t help the way their face turned deep red, their mind running totally blank. They were embarrassed, but mostly happy, and more than a little flustered, a million other emotions just from the little action, just an innocent moment of Frye being herself.
And for a moment Shiver thinks that this would be probably be the moment to say something, but no words come to mind, and no way to bring it out. It felt like their feet were cemented to the floor, mouth glued shut.
“Just let it play out naturally”, Lacey’s words from earlier play again in their mind. And they decide that if the words don’t come out now, then it is not their time.
“Yes,” And at that moment, looking at their Frye’s happy, affectionate face, the most natural course of action was a smile, “perfect.”