vanilla & co. | splatoon

prologue 1/2

---(dividers brought to you by wondering what is wrong with the above picture)---

The young inkling shuffled up to the front desk nervously. She wore the basic gear--White Headband, Basic Tee, Cream Basics--and clutched a Splattershot Jr. "Uh... can I get into a lobby?" This kid was obviously a Level 1, completely new to the game. She fiddled with her long tentacles as she waited for the squidceptionist (receptionist) to respond.

After what seemed like a while, the older squid looked up. "Yeah, sure, kid. Door's over there." She jerked a thumb over her shoulder, pointing to a black door. A tall Octoling stood by it, his tentacle covering one of his eyes.

"Do I have to pay?" The newbie peered over the desk. "I don't have any money." She glanced behind her, at the line forming. Each cephalopod had some amount of gold coin held in a hand or jangling in a pocket.

"Nah. First battle's free." The squidceptionist scribbled something on a notepad and handed it to the younger inkling, along with a ticket. "Show that to the guard, they'll let you in."

"Okay! Thanks!" She grinned.

As she walked away, she heard a call. "Kid, wait!"

She turned around. "Yeah?"

"What's your name?"

"Splat!"

------

"Custoooooom!!"

A tall inkling turned around to face the source of the whine, swinging a Custom Hydra Splatling with her. Her bangs fell into her eyes, and she blew them out again. "What?"

"You got the new 'cut yet?" A shorter inkling with pigtails darted into the room, a pair of Dapple Dualies Nouveau bouncing on her hips.

"No." Custom sighed. "And Neo, will you stop asking me? I'll get it the day they let me."

"Stupid transphobic barbershop." Neo kicked a dummy.

"Neoveau," Custom scolded. She wasn't serious, and an undertone of laughter was audible in her voice. Neo grinned. Neither of them had heard Custom genuinely happy for a while, and Neo loved hearing it again.

------

The doors to Ammo Knights swung open, and a tall octoling stepped inside, followed closely by a shorter (but still tall) inkling. The former strode forward confidently, while the latter gazed around as if she had never been here before. Judging by their heights, both were too old to be competing in the Square's many tournaments. However, they could still play Turf and Ranked, so Sheldon was used to older cephalopods stopping by.

"Hello, hello! What kind of weapon are you in the market for?" Sheldon greeted them with his usual line.

"Actually, we're not here to buy." The octoling flicked his tentacle out of his eyes. "My friend here wants you to show her the ropes."

"H-hey!" The friend in question snapped out of her reverie. "Not like that!"

Sheldon cocked his head. He didn't quite understand what either of them were talking about.

"I mean," the inkling began, "could you show me how weapons work? Like, how you make them and fix them and stuff? I've just been really interested in them, but--"

"But she's too scared to ask you." the octoling smirked.

"Well!" She began a retort indignantly, but seemed to deflate. "Well, yeah. That's true. But now I've asked!" She glared at him.

"No problem!" Sheldon chattered. Someone was finally asking him questions, instead of telling him to "Hurry it up!"

"Well, you see, first I draw up a design. Then, it's a matter of finding the right materials..." Sheldon began a spiel as he led the inkling to his back room. The octoling watched in amusement, growing bored after a while and leaving for Jelly Fresh.