Fandom A Fresh Start | Splatoon RP (OPEN)

[Ciscodog]

And then the bickering broke out again. Though, it made sense this time. She'd seen the chemistry, it was obvious how this was gonna go. Fiona couldn't help but feel bad for Eelaine. It wasn't really their fault that they lost, but...
It wasn't my fault, right? I mean, I did my best, and we didn't know what we were getting into, but...
Why can't I just shake this off like I always do? Is there something wrong?
She looked down at the floor after putting the phone back into her pocket. She just stared for a few seconds... and didn't interfere with the argument. If it weren't for the Jace, they would probably still be fighting.
She clapped he hands onto her face twice.
No, not now, snap out of it! It's just a small losing streak, that's all! The advertisement even said there was danger in the waters, it can't be any individual, we gave it our best.
She looked back up to the scene to watch as Jace's Identity was revealed as a hybrid. Fiona, still at a distance from the rest of the team, took a hard look at Jace.
Sure enough, they definitely had there differences and similarities between each of the species. She smiled slightly, knowing that there are cases even weirder than the rumored Deepsea Metro and the Tartar Cult Conspiracy, but end in a much lighter and good note, rather than the destruction of... Yeah...
She kept fairly quiet for the rest of the trip while just standing from a distance; She still had a bit of guilt...
But why?

 

[sugar bombs]

This was the first time Nori ever met an Inktoling, and it showed in the way she stared at him. Intense, like a scientist studying a specimen. Just when she thought she’d seen everything the surface had to offer…

“Uh, yeah, sure thing.” She couldn’t help but scoff. “Your secret’s safe with me.” If only that “secret” weren’t obvious to everyone with working eyeballs…

Their little bonding session was then interrupted by a loud horn, signalling that they had arrived back in Inkopolis.

“UGH, finally!” It felt good to be back home, or at least on land that wasn’t covered in Salmonid slime. Nori jumped off the boat and shuffled down the dock leading towards the Grizzco building.

Back in the locker room, she shucked off her ink-splattered overalls and hung up her hat. Now in her street clothes, the octoling started for the lobby, but stopped once she remembered that there was a very unhappy boss in the next room.

At that point, she waited for the rest of her crew to show up, just so she wouldn’t be the only one to get mauled by an angry bear.

 

[takarokafresh]

Jace had a point. They lost and it was nobody's fault. There had to be something fishy going on. Hearing about Jace's secret, Eelaine couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. She definitely knew what it was like to be an outsider. She gave him an awkward pat on the back.
"Your secret is safe with us. And besides, it doesn't matter who or what you are, you're part of the team!"
She smiled gawkily and leaned against the railing next to Fiona.
"We should be arriving soon. I'm hungry."
Cold sweat dripped down her overalls at the thought of facing their boss. He got angry enough even when they did well so who knows how he'll react to them being completely overrun so quickly. "Maybe he'll understand... ", she muttered to herself. Once they got back, she jumped off the boat and onto the dock, heading inside to change. She stood next to Nori, trying to avoid eye contact. Now she almost preferred the irate bear over another awkward situation with her coworker.

 

[Kermit_fan505]

liam walks up to the salmon run building, but quickly stops once she sees several people there- she smooths her midnight black tentacles at the tips so they look like octoling’s and quickly puts her shades on before approaching the four.

“Hello there!” She says with a wide grin

 

[Ciscodog]

Eelaine came up to her and just kinda stood there, mentioning how she was feeling a bit peckish. She smiled slightly, but it was short lived as the impending doom of Grizz was about to be enthralled on them.
Fiona jumped off the boat and made her way to the work prep area to take off her uniform. She didn't put her toothpick back, however. She decided to just fiddle with it a bit instead, and try to calm herself down from... whatever is going on right now. But when she caught up with the others...
Huh? Another one? Why are there just so many people just here now...
Fiona waved towards the new face with yet another small smile.
"Hey, uh... we are in a bit of a pinch, sorry. We gotta talk to... the boss."
She chuckled nervously, knowing that what she said was probably caught in 4K.
She still was subconsciously trying to suppress the emotions she was experiencing on the boat ride home, too...

 

[Kermit_fan505]

“Oh, it’s alright! I just noticed you all were struggling, and wondered if i might be able to lend a helping hand! I’m a very good fighter, or so I’ve been told. Plus, I’ve done some research on salmonids!”

The seemingly octoling girl flashed a wide, bright grin. She had a faint aroma of wasabi and ash, and her tentacles were a rather unnatural shade of black- of course, she could have painted them, but it didn’t seem that way.
She had on a pink crop top and shorts, along with shades covering her eyes, along with their markings.

“My name’s Liam, by the way- it’s nice to meet you!”

 

[takarokafresh]

While anxiously waiting for another scolding, Eelaine's ears suddenly snapped at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. She turned around to see the new face already chatting with Fiona. Already being nervous enough about Grizz, she almost collapsed at the thought of socialisation. But she quickly realised this as an opportunity to take her mind off what had bern a very stressful workday and maybe even escape the claws of responsibility. She gathered what was left of her courage and approached the new kid, trying her hardest not to trip.
"Hey! You can call me Eelaine! But yeah, we just got back from a pretty rough shift, so sorry if any of us smell like fish. By the way, your hair looks really unique, is that your natural colour? Anyhow, you're welcome to hang out with us if you want, we're all just waiting anyway."
Liam's chipper attitude was a refreshing change and Eelaine already felt much more confident in facing her boss now that she had additional backup.

 

[Kermit_fan505]

Liam flinches at the mention of her hair, but quickly regains her cheery smile-
“Yep! Be careful- it’s pretty lethal, haha.” She doesn’t look like she wants to joke about it, but nonetheless does, as not to scare anyone.
“Hang out with you-? Sure! I’m pretty new to this part of inkopolis, so maybe you could show me around!”

 

[sugar bombs]

For someone who liked to run her mouth, Nori was unusually quiet. She watched the others from the sidelines, visibly confused. They all got along so effortlessly. Why? How? She just couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“HEY! I know you’re back there!” There was no sneaking past their boss. “Get over here, all of you!”

Nori sighed and dragged herself into the next room. She never thought the sight of a wooden bear would fill her with such dread.

“I gotta say, I was expecting more from you kids,” Mr. Grizz grumbled. “I should make you all re-read the training manual. That wasn’t the type of performance we’re looking for here at Grizzco Industries.”

The octoling felt her bottom lip quiver. “But, sir—“

“Let’s see how many eggs everyone collected.” There was a short pause before the receiver crackled again. “Just 22? That’s a shame.”

Nori hung her head. Those were abysmal numbers, especially considering that on any other day she would rake in at least 30 or 40 on her own.

“Alright, that’s all for today.” Mr. Grizz concluded. “Come back when you learn to coordinate. And remember to redeem your points at the window outside. HAVE A GREAT DAY!”

And that was it. Their shift was over, and judging by the orange sky outside, so was the afternoon. They were free to do whatever they wanted now.

 

[Kermit_fan505]

Until as they were leaving, an older octoling girl got thrown out from a door near the back that they hadn’t even really noticed before.
“Uf-!!” She lands on the floor with a thud as the door slams shut and locks behind her.
Her purple tentacles are messily pulled into a bun, an overall strap was unbuttoned, and one of her pant legs wasn’t tucked into her left boot.
She stands up and dusts off- most notably, there’s a golden pin in her hair- it wasn’t a toothpick, but instead was shaped more like a golden egg.
The woman looks very tired.

 

[Ciscodog]

The statue came to life reporting the facts. Yeah, they could have done better, but in reality, Grizz should have specified about the crazy salmonids.
She walked out of the room, still fiddling with the toothpick in her hand.
Then she looked back up to see Liam and...
Ah geez, not another one! Why are there so many new guys today?
She gazed at the new Octoling, who seemed rather... exhausted.
Wait a minute I know just how to cure this one!
Oh wait, probably shouldn't be rude. She turns to Liam.
"Hi Liam, I'm Fiona... uh... Could you hold on a sec?"
She moves her way down to the other newbie, and recognizes her state. Fiona puts the toothpick into her pocket, as not to lose it.
"H-hey! You look a bit tired... Could I do something for ya?"

 

[Kermit_fan505]

The woman thinks for a moment

“. . . Yes.” She looks Fiona dead in the eye- “don’t you worry about losing today- you don’t want to be doing good here. That’s my job. . . Stay out of this mess.”
Lenny wished she could say more. she wished she could tell all of them the danger they were in just by simply working here- but she couldn’t.
The strange woman keeps her composure, and turns to leave, an odd blue substance (presumably ink) dripping down the inside of her leg from the side of her overalls that was untucked.

 

[sugar bombs]

Nori was beginning to lose track of all the new pals she was making today, but something about this purple lady gave her the creeps. Comes out of nowhere just to give them cryptic (not to mention unsolicited) advice. It was all very suspect.

“Yeah, I’ll stay out of it when MakoMart starts paying more,” she rolled her eyes. Another plus to working at Grizzco was the cash. Just a few shifts were enough to keep you comfortable for an entire month. Nobody with a functioning brain would give that up. “Sounds like someone just wants to hog all the good stuff.”

 

[Kermit_fan505]

The woman seems shaken by her sudden blatant audacity-
“. . . Ha. Haha. Funny. Reeeeal funny joke, kid. If ‘the good stuff’ is getti- AAAAUGH-“ suddenly, a high pitched squeal goes off from her earpiece.
“I-i mean- yes. Go ahead and keep working here. Whatever floats your boat.” She offers an obviously phony smile as some of the blue goop falls onto the floor with an audible *drip*

 

[Ciscodog]

"Eeee... that... doesn't look good."
Fiona notices the ink. It didn't match a color nearby, much less the putrid Salmon goo.
"You sure you don't need anything? Cause that... spill says otherwise."

Maybe that's an actual leak though, should've brought an extra set of clothing...

 

[Kermit_fan505]

“Wha-“ she looks down.
“C-cod damnit! Wh-why can’t the son of aOWWW-” her earpiece buzzes again
She goes bright red, clearly embarrassed, and tries to conceal the goo with her other foot
“Nothing. It’s n-nothing.”
The ink clearly belonged to someone else

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Jace seemed to snort a bit when he was listening to Mr. Grizz before he then turned to the rest of the group. The Inktoling shook his head a bit before sighing. "I blame the weaponry that he gave us that made us lose." He spoke as he messed with his tentacle drooping in the front of him but his attention was then turned to an Octoling that was unfamiliar to him. Who was she?

His eyes then went down to the goo that was coming from her foot...or at least, where she stepped in it. "What kind of ink is this?" He asked, curious yet worried for this Octoling, "I've never seen it before..."

 

[Kermit_fan505]

“M-mind your beeswax, kid.” She stumbles out of the building-
Today sucked. At least she got what she needed. . .


The girl with black tentacles keeps her eye on Jace. Even through the sunglasses, her gaze seems unmoving.

Liam just wants to shake out her tentacles and give him a big hug- maybe a kiss. But she doesn’t.
That would be about as stupid and revealing as tying her hair into a bow and doing the stay fresh pose.

 

[takarokafresh]

Grizz's words, while not spiteful in nature, stung like an urchin in chlorinated waters. Much like a parent, he wasn't even angry, just disappointed. Yet Eelaine couldn't shake this one particular thought.
Why would he be? They had lost, sure, but he knew what they would be dealing with. The pay just seemed too good to be true. She couldn't help but feel like there was some bigger picture surrounding this grisly character.

"Hey, anyone hungry? I'm gonna go crab a bite over at Sean's if anyone's coming with."
Just as she was about to get on with it, she finally noticed the other new face.
"Woah, are you... Are you alright? You don't look too good there." She sounded genuinely concerned.
From getting swept away by waves of chum to unidentified liquids oozing from odd strangers, today just couldn't seem to get much stranger. But as they always say, never say never.

"So about that snack... anyone hungry? I'm buying if that changes anything."

 

[Kermit_fan505]

Liam cheerily pipes up- “i’m pretty hungry! I haven’t eaten since morning. But it’s ok, i could pay for my own food.” She didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, after all.

Some of the goo remained on the floor. Ew.

 

[sugar bombs]

Well, that was…weird. Nori’s head was still reeling from the encounter. If anything good was to come out of this, it was that now she would think twice about talking to weirdos that leak blue slime everywhere.

When Eelaine spoke up again, she scowled. There was something about the inkling’s voice that got on her nerves. Or, more accurately, set them all on fire one by one with a flamethrower.

“That’s not the only thing you’re buying.” She shot the other girl a glare, as if to remind her that she had a debt to pay. Her phone wasn’t going to replace itself.

But that could wait until later. There was a Crusty Seanwich with her name on it. “C’mon,” she started for the exit. “Let’s get out of here before that freak comes back.”

 

[Ciscodog]

Soon enough everyone was surrounding the scene. Eelaine did say they were hungry...
"Yeah, I could eat!"
Her stomach rumbled. Maybe she was a bit more hungry then she initially thought.
I think I forgot lunch today after that lemonade...
Oh wait Nori's phone was still an issue, that's right. That's how they got into this mess in the first place. But how could they get the money?
She walked over to a table and sat down. She needed to think, but her brain power was lacking. (Probably due to the low ink tank that is her stomach)

 

[Kermit_fan505]

“Yaaaay! Food!” Liam bounces up and down with excitement as she begins following the others out of the grizzco building.
this shakes out her tentacles a little bit- she stops dead in her tracks to quickly re-smooth them, but this leaves her very shaky. She stands there for a moment.

 

[takarokafresh]

Eelaine frowned at Nori. Was she really going to get blackmailed by her again? She didn't even do anything wrong in the first place, she simply didn't want to ruffle anyone's shell. But today, things had changed. With everything that's happened, she realised just being nice doesn't cut it sometimes.
But she didn't want the octoling to know yet.
"I haven't forgot", she said, smiling. "I'll just get my paycheck first. You guys can either wait or come with to get yours."
With that, the inkling walked over to the counter outside of Grizzco, stamping her card and awaiting her prize. One single pink plastic ball fell out, inside of it a weaved friendship bracelet. Eelaine didn't know what to say. Not only did she not get any money, she instead got a cheap looking accessory.
She hated it.
Feeling like the punchline of some sort of a sick joke, she tried to reach into the opening the gacha ball fell out of, but something sharp stung her hand and she recoiled in pain. Clenching her new possession, she walked away, visibly upset. She didn't usually get like this, but maybe today was just a bad day for her. It had been rather stressful, after all. She'd already promised her new friends she would handle their meals, so this meant she'd have to pay out of her own savings, however little was left of it anyway. As long as nobody saw what she really got, she'd be able to convince them she was paying with today's salary. Although she was angry, she didn't want anyone to feel bad for her.
She walked back over to the others while hiding her bracelet in her pocket.

"Alright, I'm all set. Just let me know what I can get you and I'll order while you get your rewards for today!" She tried her best to act happy, but she certainly wasn't. Something was fishy about her workplace and it wasn't just the fish.

 

[Kermit_fan505]

Before she could really finish that sentence, liam ran over and grabbed her wrist- “you’re bleeding-!!” She holds up her hand and points to the area where she got stung by the machine- the cut was pretty bad.
“Don’t worry- i can help!” Liam takes off her backpack and digs through it.
“Phone, bracelet, inhaler- aha!” She takes out some noesporn and a box of bandaids that were shaped like different weapons. She puts a tiny bit of the pain numbing gel and one shaped like a splattershot over Eelaine’s cut. “There we go!” She places the items back in her backpack, admiring her work.