#although i guess it could still work it seems like octarian society is way fucked like maybe they didnt interact much to begin with

[jel-jel-jel]

hey do you guys like dedf1sh

#my art #splatoon #side order #acht mizuta #marina ida #splatoon paul #im not entirely a believer in the acht / paul sibling theory but i do think itd be funny as hell #like dude you forgot your brother man. what the fuck #although i guess it could still work it seems like octarian society is way fucked like maybe they didnt interact much to begin with #anyway. all my faves are my little fashion dolls #you guys like they/them tummy? you better

[mambo-rewritten]

A/N: Hey, sorry for lack of an update last week! I’ve been working on this piece on and off for the past two weeks, trying to get it just right. As always, thank you @splat-kostecko for editing for me, and @enchiladahomie for letting me write Eli! Y’all are the best <3

Bit of an angst warning, by the way. This isn’t canon, I just had an idea and wanted to run with it. Enjoy~!

It was late evening, and the Turf War lobbies were closed for the night. The Square was mostly empty, save for a couple of Inklings and Octolings sitting at one of the tables talking quietly. Graham wondered to himself why they were still here, since the shops were all closed.

An Octoling girl kept glancing up to look at the alley over by the cafe, a look of fear and dread plastered on her face. What is she so scared of? The sea urchin who eats there everyday? I can’t understand why, he seems really nice… Graham thought to himself, following her line of sight. Maybe I’ll should check it out for her. He pushed back his chair and walked across the Square, cries of warning falling on (literal) deaf ears.

He stopped walking when he found himself in the dark alley, nothing really scary jumping out at him. He felt a wary hand fall on his shoulder, and he turned to face his companion, a relatively tall Octoling boy with red headphones. He shook his head, blue eyes wide with the same fear the Octoling girl had. Graham furrowed his brow, looking down at the other boy’s lips to try and understand what he was saying.

“Trust me, you really shouldn’t go down there…there are monsters worse than what we lived with in the Valley down there. You really should stay here, in the Square.”

Graham tilted his head, now even more confused than before. Monsters? There weren’t any monsters in the Valley. Maybe DJ Octavio was one, but he was just trying to help his people, albeit in the wrong way. He shook his head and pointed at himself, then at the gate. He was going no matter what.

The other Octoling paled and took a step back, not making a move to stop him again. “I tried to warn you…but…” he visibly faltered, “Be careful of the man in the suit.”

What in the world was this guy talking about? The Octoling girl from before poked her head out from behind him, teal eyes owlishly wide with unease. Graham took note of the oddly colored scars around her eyes and peeking out from behind her face mask, now more confused than he was before. He really wished he knew what she was saying behind the mask but couldn’t quite make it out. He shook his head at her and pointed to his ears, then shrugged. They seemed to understand and motioned urgently for him to follow them.

He scowled and shook his head, pointing adamantly at the gate again. He only faltered when he spotted Eli, his boyfriend, approaching.

‘Listen to them. They’re saying it’s really dangerous,’ he signed to him, a worried expression clouding his features as his eyes flicked between Graham and the two terrified Octolings.

‘But they could be exaggerating! It’s just a subway station!’ He signed back with a pout. ‘I’m going down there, and you can’t stop me.’ To emphasize his point, he hopped through the fence, and looked back at the three of them.

The girl rushed forwards and caught his arm, her eyes somehow wider than before, and filled with tears. Graham looked over at Elijah for a translation, but only got a shrug in reply. He placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring nod. He signed something to her, and Eli translated.

“I’ll be okay.”

This seemed to placate the girl, and she let go of him, looking over at Eli, who nodded and jumped the fence.

‘What did she say to you?’ Graham asked. ‘I was gonna go alone.’

Eli sighed. ‘She asked me to come with you and keep you safe. From what, I don’t know. But she and the guy were really freaked out that we’re going down here.’

‘I’m not a child! I can take care of myself!’ he signed angrily, glaring at Elijah.

Eli grabbed his arm and turned him around, so they were facing each other. ‘Not from this, she said. You won’t be able to hear it coming. She said it would take advantage of you, then use you. Since I can hear, I’ll be able to stop whatever it is that’s down here before it hurts you.’

Graham scowled and looked away. ‘Fine…’ he sulked and crossed his arms. A soft smile rose to his lips when he felt Eli press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

The proceeded downwards, fingers interlaced as they held hands. The sloped hallway eventually flattened out, and opened up into a large railway platform. The platform was darkened and mostly empty, save for a few giant pieces of shattered glass on the floor from what looked to be from an enormous blender. Graham pulled away to kneel down next to it and get a closer look. It was nothing like the technology he had seen or used back in the Valley, and just the sight of it instilled a sense of apprehensiveness in him. He stood up and took a step back, his eyes wide as he inspected the base.

‘Someone tried to blend them up…’ he signed slowly. ‘That’s the girl’s ink…’ he pointed at the floor at various places, where there was, in fact, teal ink splattered on the ground, next to a large rotary blade, which was coated in it.

Eli just stared, slack-jawed and wide-eyed. ‘We…’ he hesitated, waved his hand, and started over. ‘We should leave. It’s not safe, and this place really gives me the creeps…’

‘No. I’m gonna find out what happened to them. I may not know them personally, but they’re my family. I need to know what caused them to be so freaked out and scared of this place.’ Graham dropped his hands in finality, then moved to examine the glass and blade closer.

Elijah jerked a little, reaching to cover his ears. Graham took note and furrowed his brow, quickly turning around to face the quickly-approaching light.

A long train squealed to a halt right in front of the two boys, and Eli finally relaxed when the train doors opened. Elijah’s eyes widened as he watched Graham straighten up and climb aboard the train. He barely caught him by the hem of his sweater and yanked him back onto the train platform. ‘Are you fucking insane?!’ He pulled down his mask and snarled at Graham, baring sharp teeth. ‘You don’t know where that train is going! You’re gonna get yourself killed!’

Graham curled his own lip in a growl, then pushed Eli off him. ‘Stop treating me like a fucking kid! I can handle myself. Just go home. I’ll be back after I find out what happened.’

‘No! Those Octolings said there’s something down here that will hurt you. I can’t let that happen.’ His face fell, and a clouded expression of worry covered his features. “I love you too much to let that happen…” he said aloud, and although Graham didn’t hear him, he fully understood what he said. ‘Besides. How will you be able to ask questions if you don’t have a translator?’ He pointed out with a shaky smile.

The Octoling sighed, nodded, and climbed aboard, his Inkling boyfriend begrudgingly dragging behind as he fixed his mask.

Graham looked around the train car, taking note of the few passengers: a small blue sea cucumber, a tall isopod carrying a briefcase, and lastly, a tall Inkling man with dark blue tentacles, which faded to green on the tips. He took note of the formal-looking suit he was wearing and narrowed his eyes. Man in a suit… but he doesn’t look very threatening…?

He sat down on an unoccupied seat, near the sea cucumber. Eli sat down next to him, turning his attention downwards in surprise. Graham tilted his head as he watched Eli, and tugged on his sleeve. ‘What are you doing?’

‘He’s the conductor of the train.’

‘It’s a sea slug.’

‘His name is C.Q. Cumber and he’s asking us if we have ridden the Metro before. Which, obviously, we haven’t, but maybe he can provide us some answers?’

‘It’s a start… I guess…’ Graham frowned and chewed on his lip in thought. ‘Ask him about the Octolings. He might know something about them.’ He shrugged and looked down expectantly at the tiny conductor.

‘He says that there are multiple enemies in the testing chambers, some of which are Octolings. That sounds kind of weird… Octolings attacking other Octolings?’ Eli translated to him, a look of worry on his face.

‘What about the two in the square? Have any Octolings ridden the train?’

Elijah nodded. ‘He says there were two, a boy and a girl. Something happened to the girl that caused her to become a part of one of the tests? He says the boy saved her and they broke out of the underground. But she came back?’ Eli held up a hand to silence C.Q., who was still talking. ‘She came back and turned into one of the enemies again. But she was more powerful than the ones in the tests. But then the boy and two squids took her back. None of that makes sense.’

Graham frowned, his brain muddled with a plethora of thoughts. ‘What if the man in the suit was what turned her bad? His ink is like hers, but a little different.’

‘I mean, is that even possible?’

He nodded, his expression turning grim. ‘It is incredibly easy to brainwash someone, especially someone who has been brainwashed in the past.’

Eli furrowed his brow in worry and placed a hand on Graham’s leg. ‘Is that what happens in Octarian Society? Did that happen to you…?’

The Octoling turned his head away and nodded. ‘Music...Glasses… I only managed to break free because I lost my hearing.’

The squid covered his mouth through the fabric of his mask, his eyes wide at this new information. He moved to the other side of his boyfriend so that he could see his hands. ‘Baby, I am so, so sorry that that happened to you… but we have to get out of here immediately if that’s the case. You just said it yourself that the girl was brainwashed and used. It’s really not safe to be here…’

Graham balled his hand into a fist and slammed it down on his knee. ‘I just…want answers. Then we can go home…’ he took a deep breath, trying to fight off the tears. He jumped a little when he felt a cold...something touch his leg. C.Q. Cumber was looking up at him, and he pointed at the man in the suit.

‘He says the commander has answers. But the orange Octoling said to be careful of him…’ Eli signed for him.

The Octoling got to his feet and walked to stand directly in front of the slender Inkling. ‘I was told you have answers to the questions I have.’ He signed quickly, ignoring Eli’s desperate attempts to make him come back.

The “commander” lifted his head from the newspaper he was reading to meet his gaze, causing Graham to take a step back in surprise.

His eyes were unnaturally black, with bright turquoise irises.

The man folded his paper very carefully and set it down next to him. ‘You have questions for me?’ He signed, his movements more fluid and practiced than Eli’s were. Graham blinked, watching him in awe.

‘Yes, and I’m not leaving until I get my answers.’

The Inkling smirked. ‘Stubborn, just like they were. It’s a good trait to have, dear, but that trait will get you in some trouble someday. Why don’t you follow me off the train to the next stop? We can speak, or rather, sign, more privately there. Your friend will have to stay here, unfortunately.’

‘With all due respect, Eli has to come. He’s my translator,’ Graham faltered, his gaze flicking over to aforementioned Inkling, before returning back to the one sitting in front of him.

He shrugged and reached to pick his newspaper back up. ‘Then you won’t obtain the answers you seek.’

Graham threw out a hand, and the man looked back up at him with a knowing smirk. ‘Fine. I’ll come alone. I just need to know what happened to them.’

‘All in due time, dear. What’s your name, by the way?’ He asked with a small smile.

‘Graham.’

‘Commander Tartar. It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ he held out a hand, which Graham took and shook with uncertainty.

Eli rushed over and pulled Graham back to their seats, his eyes betraying his panic. ‘What did you just agree to?!’ He demanded.

He didn’t meet his gaze as he signed back. ‘I’m meeting with him on the next stop. Alone. He has answers and I need them.’

‘No, I can’t let you do that, I’m coming with—’

Graham swatted his hand away and let out a warning growl. ‘He said he won’t tell me if you’re there. I have to do this alone.’

Eli sighed and shook his head. ‘I’m staying on the platform at least. Just in case something happens…’

Graham nodded, reaching to fiddle with the Squidfin Hook Cans that hung from his neck, then pulled Eli in for a kiss. The train pulled to a halt, and the Commander got to his feet, motioning for Graham to follow.

‘Eli wants to stay on the platform, if that’s okay, Commander,’ Graham signed to him, biting his lip in worry.

He nodded. ‘That’s fine, this won’t take long.’

The younger octopus looked back at his companion, suddenly feeling incredibly nervous, though he couldn’t put a finger on why. He took a deep breath and walked up the sloped floor, following closely behind the Commander. The bright light caused him to wince and hold up a hand, then slowly lowered it as his eyes adjusted. ‘What is this place?’ He asked.

‘Simply a rendezvous. You said you had questions for me.’ Guess there was no beating around the bush.

Graham nodded. ‘I-I do. I met two Octolings that were terrified of this place. The conductor told me that you knew something about them?’

‘Ah, yes. 10,005 and 10,008. Fine subject, 10,005 was. 10,008, not so much. But Five… Five had an immense amount of potential to be great. So, I took it upon myself to make sure she used that potential to reach amazing heights. If it hadn’t been for that blasted 10,008, I would have succeeded.’ He balled his fists in anger. ‘He and those blasted Inklings ruined everything for me.’

Graham lifted his hands to say something, but dropped them as the Commander continued.

The tall Inkling smirked as his gaze slowly drifted back to Graham, his unnatural eyes twinkling in the low light of the station platform. ‘I see that potential in you as well, Graham. Will you allow me to make you great?’ He extended a sickly green hand out to him, grinning.

His eyes flicked down from his face to his hand, then back up to his face as he shook his head. ‘You’re what they’re scared of… I need to go…’

Tartar’s grin grew, and he grabbed Graham’s wrist before he could dart off. ‘I think you misunderstood, dear. You no longer have a choice.’

Graham’s eyes widened, and he tried to free himself, opening his mouth to scream, only to find Tartar’s free hand covering the lower half of his face.

Thoughts raced at lightning speed through his head as he struggled. I should have listened to them. I should never have come here. He’s going to kill me. I’m going to die! Eli…!!

Tartar grinned and let go of his face and arm, holding a finger to his lips. Graham shifted his gaze to the side of him, doing his best to calculate his escape. He broke out into a run, only to be caught by the collar of his shirt and flung into the wall.

The Commander tutted and shook his head. “And here I thought this would be easy,” he murmured to himself as he approached the dazed Octoling. “Stay still for me, won’t you, dear?” He crooned as he pulled out the needle and syringe. “I honestly wasn’t expecting company today, much less an Octoling. It’s a shame you can’t hear me. But you should know that I won’t allow you to run out of here and tell the world of my failures. No, the world will only know of my accomplishments. You could have been one of them, you know, if only you had complied with my wishes. Such a shame, my dear Graham.”

Tartar uncapped the needle and rolled up Graham’s sleeve, slowly pressing the tip into his arm and emptying the barrel of a sickly, teal fluid. He stood up and discarded it over the side of the platform, pushed his hands in his pockets, and walked back to the train.

“Commander? Where’s Graham?” Elijah asked, instantly getting to his feet.

“He’s fine. Said he wanted to enjoy the scenery for a while. You’re free to join him now, if you’d like,” he purred and waved a hand, climbing aboard the train.

Elijah blinked and took off into the hallway, skidding to a halt when he spotted Graham sitting on the ledge of the platform silently, his back to the entrance of the platform. Everything seemed to slow around Eli, and he heard his pulse racing in his ears. He slowly approached him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, and turned him around. “Graham…?”

Instantly, he recoiled and gasped, as if he’d touched a hot iron. Graham’s normally lively and excitable eyes were dull, his sclera black, just like Tartar’s were. Elijah took a step back, then fell to his knees. “Wh-… what happened to you…? What did he do to you…?” he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking as tears threatened to spill over onto his cheeks.

Graham stood up and stumbled, then fell to his knees in front of Eli, causing the squid to scramble backwards to get away from him. “N-no… Graham, no! Say something!”

His head lolled to the side, his eyes blank and lifeless. His hands remained by his sides, then slowly rose to sign something.

‘I’m sorry. I love you, Elijah.’

Eli felt his heart break as he watched Graham succumb to whatever virus Tartar had implanted in him. He felt his hearts shatter when he realized that his love had just died right in front of him, and he hadn’t done anything to help.

He caught Graham’s dead weight as his body fell forwards, and he let out an anguished scream into the devastated nothingness.

#original writing #ft. graham #ft. mambo #ft. boii #ft. elijah #ft. tartar #angst writing #splatoon 2 #splatoon fanfiction #splatoon oc