Chapter Text
I wanna ruin our friendship
We should be lovers instead
I don't know how to say this
'Cause you're really my dearest friend
Absolutely nothing is going to ruin today for her.
At least that's what Marina swears to herself, carefully applying eyedrops to her eyes.
Countless hours at the desk toiling away at useless codes till an annoyed customer gave her a rang leaves the eyes running dry. It doesn't help that the last few DJ gigs she's had down in central Inkopolis had her playing till the sun rose. All of it for some extra cash so she could afford a nicer outfit for this day.
“You know, she's not going to be picking out every single flaw in your appearance. From what you've described to me, I think she may be the one you'll have to worry about.” a robotic voice taunts Marina from the living room.
In the past, Marina would've shot back a response but she can't do that now. Not while she's applying the makeup that unfortunately ate a hole in her wallet.
The worst part of living in Inkopolis is needing a roommate to keep herself sane. At least with Tartar, that was supposed to be her answer to the issue.
Unfortunately for Marina who should've thought about coding in a mute button for him, he ended up being the worst type roommate she's ever had. One that is annoying, self-centered, doesn't pay rent, and worst of all, is a gossiper.
“You see, my associates at the Human Museum of Inkopolis have theorized that this Pearl you have feelings for is actually one of those lowlifes that seek out hearts for their wealth. The scum of the earth that, unfortunately, you think has a beautiful appearance.”
Marina pokes her head out of the bathroom and gives the makeshift-telephone box a glare. “Tartar, I told you to stop telling your coworkers about my feelings!”
“Correction, Marina. I didn't tell them specifically about your feelings. I just made mentions to my associates that a friend of mine is attempting to date.”
“It's not a date. Ugh, I thought we were already done talking about this.” Marina mumbles, turning her attention back to the bathroom mirror. Seafoam teal and pink eyes stare back at her, a small shimmer lighting them up before it dies back down. She'll have to take extra medication tonight when everything is over with. “Pearl is a good person. I know you, Marie, and literally everyone else I know disagree with me, but I know she is. None of you have given her a chance even though you've never met her.”
“She has yet to prove our suspicions wrong. Each time you leave to hang out with her at some location, it's near the sketchiest part of town. What if she was some crime lord who wants to traffic you out?”
“Tar,” Marina sticks her arm out of the doorway and motions to the apartment. “We live in Inkopolis. You say that like there isn't a crime happening anywhere in this city. And you and I both know she's not some crime lord.”
“Point taken, but I argue you this. Are you really sure she loves you for who you are, Marina? Not for what your potential is?”
That makes Marina pause mid-way through adding a special gel to her ink to give a glittery appearance to her tentacles.
As far as Pearl knew about her, Marina is a musician. A busy I.T. employee who spent her nights playing as a DJ to whatever club gave her an offer. Nothing more, nothing less.
Pearl didn't need to know about the Ida family. Of the girl who ran from home to make music. Someone with night terrors who sobbed for a lost friend.
“We'll just have to see, won't we?” Marina responds back, continuing with the gel.
“Fine. You've made your point. I still think she's going to steal the wealth you carry.”
With some finishing touches done, Marina steps out into the living room. “Besides from my turntables? Nothing here is worth anything.”
Tartar's body shakes back and forth. His own way of showing annoyance. “Even myself?”
“Of course not. You're priceless to me, Tar.” Marina says with all her hearts.
He's the only friend she has left from Octaria. A relic given to her by her mom after visiting the Deep Sea Metro Museum and meeting with its director. Due to its damage, it took her months as a kid to repair it, but when she did, she discovered an AI with an archive of human knowledge. Or what remained of it considering Tartar had some memory decay.
Tartar floats and raises himself to her eye level. His body, a mix of octarian gravity technology and scrap she's pulled from the metal yard of Inkopolis. “I appreciate the sentiment. Truly. But please make sure to keep yourself safe with her.”
“I will, and if anything happens, you're my emergency contact.”
“If you are dead on the scene, I will make sure your own shōjo manga is published so that everyone can know the gay mess of an author that you are.”
“You're such a jerk!” Marina exclaims, giving Tartar a gentle push.
“A jerk that has an internal clock system that tells it is nearly time for you to leave or else you will miss your train to your date.” Tartar hums, floating over to the couch where it grabs the remote and turns on the tv.
“Shit—” Marina curses under her breath and rushes over to grab her purse. “Thanks for the reminder, and again, Tar, not a date! We're just hanging out!”
“I know regular friends will have anniversaries, but you two are beyond regular based on the evidence from your text records.”
“I told you to stop going through my phone!”
“And I told you to make your fifty-four passwords more complicated. While the unintelligent sea life we call neighbors may not get it, there is always a chance of a genius hiding amongst them!”
“Bye, Tar!”
Making her way to the door, Marina mentally goes over anything she could have the chance of missing.
Keys, check. Phone, check. Headphones, check. Medication...
Is fine for now. It's something she could worry about later since it wasn't due for another week by her calendar standard. If everything went off smoothly, she could hold off having to buy the cheaper brand and get the stronger special restraint.
Now all she has to focus on is Pearl.
The subway ride from northern Inkopolis across the city to the docks always gives Marina some time to think.
For as big as Inkopolis is, parts of it felt so small when in comparison to Octaria. Trains aren't as fast, there are more roads than walkways, and everyone aims their eyes towards their phones or up towards the booming advertisements. Nobody knew each other unless they were another big celebrity in the city of stars.
It makes her miss the community her old home has.
She knew the old lady down the block from her house who sold flowers from her garden. Of the twins that would come to Marina to ask to fix their broken toys. Even the street vendors would remember her face and always knew what she would be ordering.
Marina knew them, but they only knew of Marine Ida. Son of General Ida of Octaria's Defense force. The future of Octaria as her grandpa Octavio would put it when introducing her to the high-ranking families.
Only their family and her best friend knew her as Marina. They had thought of doing a ceremony to announce her new name officially, but by that time, Marina had left.
A sense of guilt washes over causing Marina's tentacles to curl closer to her head. The tingling needle-like pain in her non-existent tailbone doesn't help her either.
As much as she wants to go back to Octaria, she knows she can't. Not with the way she left nor with the way she hasn't tried to reconnect within the past five years.
Admittedly, it's a combination of fear, grudges, regret swirling together in a nasty worry soup inside her brain.
On one hand, if she doesn't go back home, they would at least be safe. There's no safe place for her to go if things get out of hand if she goes home. In Inkopolis, there are plenty of areas that aren't heavily populated or bustling with activity. Quiet places where no one could bother her.
On the other hand, if she goes back to face her sister and mother, who knows how they'll react. Hearing how she lost Acht, her new condition, and worse of all, her failure in her dreams of becoming the next big musician of Inkopolis.
Up and coming would count in her books if she hadn't missed the one most important meeting of her life with the famous mysterious DJ, Dedf1sh, who was searching at the time for a co-star in Inkopolis. That position went to a sea angel bassist.
Her one chance of making it big, catching that hook to a better life, all due to missing a train.
Yet, if she hadn't missed the train, she would have never met Pearl in the first place.
Her cheeks start to warm as Marina remembers the embarrassing way she met the cute pale inkling. Hands fidgeting with the blue lace of her dress.
During that time, Marina had been in a rush after a delay at work. She really owed it to Kensaki who saved her their manager's wrath of her denial of overtime.
By the time she reached the station, her vision had blurred and she ended up colliding into Pearl on the train platform.
If she had the ability to, she would say a prayer for her mother's personal combat training having lent her quick reflexes. It saved her from knocking the poor squid onto the tracks, but at the cost of her precious keytar flinging off from its clips down to the train tracks.
At the time, it should've been lost. They were minutes away from the train arriving on time. Years of scraps turned into beauty, ready to be crushed beneath pounds of steel.
Then Pearl hopped down, gave her the keyboard, and Marina had to save the squid's life a second time and pulled her back up onto the platform. She didn't focus on the train pulled up because at the time, all she could do was freak out on why someone, a stranger of all people, would put their life on the line just to save her keyboard. Worse, they were caught by security where they were questioned about their actions but in the end, were left off with a ticket.
Cod, it was stupid, and still is in her eyes even today, but for that time, the day changed her life as after they left the officer's office, the squid introduced herself as Pearl.
The rest was history, and now in the present, Marina finds herself feeling a bit of excitement as the intercom announces they'll be arriving at her stop.
Ten minutes.
By Marina's count, it's been approximately ten minutes after five. Their agreed time to meet up for the reservation.
A sigh leaves her throat as she picks at the complementary salad the restaurant provides. Turning over tomatoes with a twist of her fork, trying to ignore the doubt growing amongst her gut. Her head is a mess due to a ping of pain ringing out every other minute.
She trusts Pearl. It's not uncommon for her to be late considering her history for their past meet-ups. The longest record Marina has down for her is two hours, but that was with a warning at the least. Pearl wasn't even at fault considering her boss refused to let her leave on time.
“Are you perhaps, Ms. Umami?” A waiter asks Marina.
“No—” Marina starts but catches herself. Forgetting the fake name she gave earlier when making the reservations. “I-I mean yes! Why do you ask?”
“I don't mean to alarm you, but we've had a disruption with a tramp from outside asking for your name. She keeps swearing she is here to meet you, but we were skeptical as you understand.” The waiter awkwardly explains, trying to hide her uneasiness.
‘A tramp?' Marina thinks, getting up from the table. If someone knew her fake name, that meant it could either be Pearl or...
“Sorry. Is it alright if I come to see who it is? I am expecting a second person for my reservation after all.”
“Are you sure? This vagrant's appearance is... undignified. We can just have security come to escort them out.”
Marina bites back an abrasive comeback that comes straight to her mind. She doesn’t want to make a scene by calling out the waiter’s classism nor get kicked out. It annoys her how much everyone around her keeps questioning her choices. She's not a young inkblot.
“Just lead the way.”
The waiter nods and leads her around the room back towards the entrance. Other patrons give Marina a glance but nothing more, too lost in their luxuriant dishes above her paygrade.
Coming around the corner, Marina spots her.
Even with the staff crowding around her, Marina can make out the signature bobs with ashy gray tips. They ripple with shades of reds, a sign of irritation, until settling into a stark white as Pearl's shades make direct contact with her. Her tentacles smooth back down into their default creamy-white but take on a pink hue the closer Marina approaches until she's right in front of her.
“Marina! I'm so sorry for being late but they wouldn't let me in!”
A response dies in Marina's throat as an employee pushes their way in to block Pearl from view.
“We apologize for this inconvenience, Miss. We'll have her right off the property soon when security arrives.”
Marina holds up her hand and shakes her head.
“Please don't. She's part of my reservation and I would prefer if we'd be able to just head back to our table without causing any more issues for your establishment.”
It nearly makes Marina chuckle the way the staffs' expressions turn to shock but she holds a straight face. A part of her is already regretting taking Marie's recommendation for the place. If this is how they're just treating Pearl for her appearance, she can't imagine how worse they are to others.
Most of the staff take their leave back towards the restaurant, but the main host gives Marina a quick bow.
“Apologies, Ms. Umami.” He says, straightening up. His whiskers twitching with anxiety. “We just presumed she was another street vagrant trying to ask for free meals due to her... appearance.”
Marina glances down at Pearl, fully taking in her outfit now that she's got a clear view.
In comparison to Pearl's other outfits, her tattered leather jacket is more well-fitting to her frame than the oversized long sleeve t-shirts she's grown accustomed to seeing her wearing. Even her ripped jeans and black boots with tape wraps for straps gave Pearl a punk vibe that Marina found fitting.
What's even moreso different is the scent radiating off Pearl that Marina's nose catches. Instead of rotting dead fish due to Pearl's workplace at the fish market, Marina can smell a sweet scent of peaches and vanilla rolling off her. Such an alluring scent makes her head swirl with a dizziness but not enough to truly bother her.
Pearl chuckles nervously and scratches the back of her head. “Sorry, it's the nicest thing I've got. I tried to get something on time but-”
“It's fine, Pearl.” Marina reassures, hoping that would at least calm the squid's jitters she can see from her foot rapidly tapping. “You don't have to apologize since you did nothing wrong.”
Pearl shoots her a look of confusion.
Marina points a claw towards a ruleboard on the host's stand that says 'No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.' “By their rules, you fit in their standard. It was an error on their part for refusing you service.”
“Which we are absolutely sorry for, Ms. Umami.” The host speaks up, but Marina shoots him a small glare.
“Don't apologize to me. She's the one you should apologize to.”
“Mar, that's not needed—” Pearl starts, only to be cut off as the host takes her hand.
“We apologize for the treatment you faced. I can offer you a free dish if there are no ill feelings.”
Pearl grins and shakes the catfish's fin. “Deal!”
“Now, are we allowed to return to our table?” Marina pipes in.
“Of course! And we'll make sure to have your food right out after your orders come in.” The hosts assures, moving out of their way and back to the stand.
Marina nods and takes Pearl by the hand to start leading her back to their table. Falling into a small silence until they reach the small two-seater with a false lantern flicking in the middle. A nice distance away from the majority of the restaurant bustling with chattering seafolk.
“Sorry for the ruckus, Marina.”
“No, you're fine.” Marina says, sitting down at their table. “I just wish they weren't so rude about it.”
Pearl sits down across her in an almost practiced manner as if trying to avoid causing a single scratch against the chair.
“I mean, you can't blame them Mar for doing their jobs. it's not everyday that you have someone like—” Pearl pauses, waving her hand over herself in exaggeration. “—me show up at some fancy joint.”
Marina repeats the hand wave back towards Pearl.
“You don't deserve to be treated like that just because you look a certain way. No one does.”
“You're not wrong there, and—” Pearl pauses, picking up her fork to point at Marina. The light catching on her shades. “—it was funny to see you had them start quivering like fish sticks in hot oil from just a glare.”
“That wasn't funny, Pearl. I was being serious.”
“I know, Mar, but you gotta admit it. Your disappointed face makes even the toughest seafolk go running!”
Marina frowns at her words. She knows Pearl is exaggerating but a part of her feels uncomfortable about growing to have her mom's resting scowl.
Pearl, mouth agape at Marina’s reaction, puts her fork quickly back down. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I don't mean that in a bad way!”
“Then how did you mean it?”
“I meant it in like a cool teacher or,” Pearl adjusts her shades, “like you got this boss energy around ya. Kinda like a superhero who makes the bad guys realize they should give up on stealin' crabby cakes and go learn to become some bakers. Name their joint Crabbers Goods and have lil bake sales for the schools. They'll—”
Marina fails to keep her giggles in as she bursts into a small fit of laughter. Tentacles flickering with amusement and coiling from the small embarrassment she feels due to the volume of her laugh. Luckily no one is looking their way.
“Hey! What's got you glowin' like a glowfly? Don't like my crabby cake robbers?” Pearl teases, faking to be offended.
“I just think you're a great storyteller. Someone who takes such a small moment and turns it into the wackiest of tales.”
Pearl flicks her hand out and aims her thumb towards herself. “My tales ain't wacky! They got soul cause I give 'em souls. Thats the power of MC P.K. Fire!”
Marina sucks in a breath, fiddling with her hands, and pushes down a purr. Just seeing the pure joy on Pearl's face makes her stomach do somersaults.
“MC P.K. Fire? Where did that come from?” Marina asks. “It sounds like you took the name of a move from that game, OceanFree?”
“Ow! You wound me!” Pearl exclaims, faking a splattershot injury to the shoulder. She recollects herself and leans back in her chair. Carefully balancing herself so as to not fall. “Ya not wrong. Back when I was a lil' gremlin, I wanted to be a singer. Then life hit me like bag of bricks and I never really got the chance to again. Doesn't stop me from writing down some lyrics time to time thinking what it would be like if I got to perform as a rapper in some big time group.”
“And that would be your stage name?”
“One of 'em. I never been too sure on what to use 'cause I don't get much of a chance to perform with—” Pearl stops, losing her grin as a grimace forms. “My history.”
Marina feels her hearts drop seeing Pearl lose her happy energy. She understands more than what she can tell Pearl, but she truly understands what it means to push your dreams aside for something out of your control.
“I know how that can be...”
Pearl shakes her head. “Hey, let's not get all in the dumps. This is a special dinner after all and—”
She raises her hand and waves down the waiter.
“We got some banger free food to eat!”
For all the trouble the place gave them both, the food ended up being more lackluster than what Marina had expected. Even Tar's home-cooking was better than the spaghetti they offered.
Marina runs her tongue over her upper beak to push off any food crumbs remaining. Her mind, preoccupied by thoughts of the gnawing hunger growing in her stomach. Twisting its claws deep, growling with warnings that she needs to eat soon. An oddity considering the large meal both Pearl and her had not an hour ago. Or at least she did, with Pearl offering most of her meal to Marina.
The only reason why it would be so bothersome after having eaten is—
“Hey! Eaaarth to Marina!”
Marina jumps back as a pale hand pulls away from her face.
“Oh shit!” Pearl takes a few steps back. Giving Marina a look of concern. “Sorry about that, Mar. I didn't mean to scare ya like that.”
“No, no, you're fine.” Marina reassures, grabbing her longest tentacle to unfurl it from its wound up state. “I was just lost in my head there for a moment.”
Pearl sighs out of relief and turns back around. “I heard that's not good for your health.”
“Oh really? Now where did you hear that from before.”
”I got my resources and they say that leads to a very serious condition.”
Marina rolls her eyes, picking up her pace to match Pearl's so she could walk besides her. “And that is?”
“Being far out of this world!” Pearl exclaims, throwing her hands out and spinning her body. Doing a few twirls before facing Marina again. “But, I saw you already had it when you came to bail me out.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Marina starts to ask, but feels the cogs in her brain roar to life, watching in real-time as Pearl's smile grows wider every second.
“You!”
“Me!” The culprit's grin grows, making Marina blush hard.
No one on the sidewalk at that time stops her as she grabs the inkling by her jacket and shakes her wildly. Marina slips into a few octarian curses here and there but nothing that would've gotten her in trouble back in Octaria.
That was her sister and Acht's thing. Sticking up against the boring laws as they put it. Troublemakers who would've loved to meet Pearl she thinks.
After Marina decides the little troublemaker has had enough, she lets Pearl hold onto her arm as she dizzily steps around to catch her balance.
“Next time, I'm making you carry me for doing that!” Pearl says, then tripping over her own feet with a yelp.
Marina catches her. “So where is this club you've been wanting to invite me to for so long?”
“Not much farther ahead.” Pearl gazes up at Marina. Her eyes unreadable with her shades. “And whatever you do. Don't ask any questions and just follow my lead.”
Marina narrows her eyes at the statement. Now there were quirks that Pearl has every often, but this was something different. Something that reminds Marina of how — Oh, that makes perfect sense. First Acht, now Pearl.
She was into troublemakers.
“Alright. I trust you, Pearl.”
Turns out the club that Pearl had in mind? Had a line to the point that they found it wrapped around the building. By Marina's estimate, it would take a couple of hours simply to get a chance to enter. That's counting even if they got past the crab bouncers who blocked the entrance.
Pearl's method of getting in?
It was simply going around the back to an exit door where Pearl waved down a koi fish in a bartender uniform. She gave them a pack of cigars and he opened the door for them. Not a single word exchanged nor a glance given as they made their way inside the club.
The moment they pass the door, Marina is hit by a heavy whiff of alcohol stemming from every inch of the storage room. A saving grace is given once they continue on until they reach the main club floor, but the scent lingers heavily at the back of her snout.
A beat drops and Marina grabs Pearl just to hold on as the walls go shaking. The earplugs she managed to put in earlier nearly came undone if not for her quick thinking to have her tentacles help push them back in. It doesn't help either that the vibration from the sound feels like it's bouncing around hitting every heart as it tries to find a way out.
'Now that's a sound system I need.' She thinks as Pearl leads them away from the bar towards an upstairs area where the sound significantly lessens to a level where conservation isn't shouting. A genius part of the architecture she notes scanning the walls to see how they achieved the sound nullifying, but then getting a distraction in the form of the massive turntable set down below near the dance floor. Not only being a set that she dreams of playing on, but the symbol on it gave away who exactly the set belongs to.
“You got us into a Dedf1sh performance?!” Marina practically screams —half out of joy, half out of pure astonishment— grabbing Pearl by the shoulders now.
“Not exactly but close!” Pearl corrects.
She pulls Marina off and guides her over to an empty booth. Pearl takes one end while Marina takes the other. Far but not distant enough that they wouldn't be able to hold hands. Plenty of room away from the other clubgoers who were in their own conversations.
“Since their schedule is pretty random besides when they're hosting those splatfests with that sea angel bassist, Cli0ne, I knew it'd be hard to grab tickets for a show. Then I heard a tip from a friend that they have a chance to perform tonight here.”
“You got other friends?” Marina teases, her face glowing with excitement over getting the chance to see Dedf1sh perform live.
“I'll have you know I do! Unlike you, I actually go outside to touch grass.” Pearl jests, waving down a waiter. “Got anything in mind for a drink?”
“I'll take something fruity but nothing strong.”
Pearl hums. “How does a virgin colada sound? It's a tropical mix with some coconut and pineapple in it but no alcohol.”
Another pulse of pain rings throughout her head making her flinch, claws digging into the underside of the table. She tries her best to keep her smile to not make Pearl worry. “I'll take it.”
Pearl nods and makes their order.
Marina chooses to tune out the conversation, focusing instead on herself. The ever-growing aches in her muscles has been a bother the entire night, and she knows it can't be a sign of that.
By her calculations, her complications tend to line up with the moon cycles, but that isn't for another week by her calendar. Stress is another factor she knows that can contribute, however just being with Pearl makes her feel like she's on clouds so she mentally crosses that out as being a source. In the end, it could just be a small flare-up due to the weaker medication she is taking.
It wouldn't be the first time she's had flare-ups bother her in the past.
All she needs to do is get through the rest of her time with Pearl, and then she could hide under her heated weighted blanket until it went down.
“Drink's here, Mar.”
Marina's ears perk up, her attention back to the squid holding a small shot glass with a clear amber liquid.
“How much will it cost?” she asks, now investigating her own drink which is a white liquid in a vase-like glass. A cherry floats along the surface while a slice of pineapple sits on the rim.
“Pssh! Don't worry 'bout that. The bill is on me.”
“Are you sure? I know you told me before you were having issues with your boss giving you a paycheck.”
Pearl shakes her head. “Dude's a jerk, but you got nothin' to worry about. Cal's been letting me help her out with a few errands here and there so I got some extra dough.”
Marina tilts her head to the left at the name mentioned. “Cal is one of your friends, right?”
Pearl shrugs and downs her shot of rum effortlessly. Not a single flinch. “I mean she sorta is. She calls me her friend, and I don't say no to it. We're just not as close as you and I are.”
Marina decides to take a sip of her own drink at that moment. Hoping the lights in the club hides her blushing face as the weight of Pearl's words sinks deeply. Sweet coconut with tinges of sour pineapple meets her tastebuds and makes her melt. A small purr of delight leaves her throat.
“Drink's good isn't it?”
“Mhm.” she hums, closing her eyes.
Pearl chuckles. “I'm glad. It's been nice seeing you so happy.”
Marina eyes fly right open. She finds both her glass empty, and Pearl not looking towards her, but again towards the dance floor, avoiding her gaze.
“What do you mean by that?” she can't help but ask.
Pearl pauses, then turns her attention back towards Marina. Shades sparkling under the club's disco light.
“I—” Pearl starts, but freezes. Marina can see the way she tries to find the right words.
“I know work has been really rough on ya recently. Each time we hang out, you're so exhausted that you nod off and sleep even when you don't catch it. Then there's the customers you've got to handle, your coworkers being bassholes, and the whole chronic pain you told me that's been messin' with ya badly.
“That's why I asked if we could hang out for a whole day. Just do something different where you wouldn't have to worry about nothin' and get a whole day that's a treat just for ya since you deserve it, Mar. You're my best friend, and I wanted to show it by giving you all this.”
A part of Marina thinks about how the past six months of knowing Pearl, the generous squid just keeps on surprising her. From learning music history to giving tips on Marina's tracks to bantering about silly arguments. Pearl was someone who actually listened to her, and she in return had someone she could listen to. Someone who went above and beyond to get her a chance at seeing Marina's all-time favorite artist.
Another part of her wants to cross the table and kiss Pearl. To cup her face and pull her in so she can kiss her like there's no tomorrow. To show how much she truly wants to be more in Pearl's life.
She chooses not to do that, instead going for a simpler route to nod along and smile.
“You're magical, Pearl.” She says earnestly.
Pearl's cheeks flush with a light blue tint which she covers her face to hide. She sheepishly looks up at the strobe lights moving about with plenty of hues. “H-Hehe— I mean. I wouldn't say I am.”
“Pearl, name one reason why.”
Pearl's face pales for a second. Even taking a moment to pause before holding her hand out at Marina. “I can give you five.”
Marina raises an eyebrow. The sound of the club changing into an ever-growing hum at the back of her head, but she pushes to focus solely on Pearl. “I don't believe that.”
“One, I'm not magical. I just happen to have knowledge on what's going around with big time places like these.”
'That's odd. She's only said before that she's worked in fish markets.' Marina thinks but nods for Pearl to continue.
“Two, some folks owe me a few favors and I owe them. The entire bar staff here knows me because I helped them get jobs here a long time ago. We still do small exchanges, but nothing big like tonight. Those cigars cost me a few paychecks, but I wanted to take you somewhere special tonight.”
“I appreciate the sentiment Pearl, but you should've saved those paychecks for yourself.”
“Nuh-uh, gotta give my friend the best.” Pearl argues, then holds up three fingers. “Three, I'm not anyone special. Just a squid who was down on their luck and met a teal goddess that turned out to be a dork.”
Marina's cheeks flush again but this time she brings up her hands and claps her cheeks to try to calm her nerves jumping with love. “Hey! That shouldn't count.”
“Nah. My count, my choice.” Pearl turns her attention back to Marina. “Which brings me to reason four. I'm not a big ol' fantasy nerd that loves to watch fairytales like The Queen Betrothed a hundred times because it has a happy ending. Seriously Mar, we watched five days in a row at the theatres because you had free tickets and didn't want to be alone.”
Marina lets out a whine. “It's one of my favorites, and you said you hadn't seen it!”
“Five whole days, Mar.”
Marina crosses her arms with a huff. “So, how does that make me magical in your eyes then?”
“Because in this whole wide world? There's only one octopus I know who can see a movie she loves so much and be able to experience it like it's the first time she's seen it.” Pearl explains, pointing at Marina.
"That's a special magic you got. You've got the magic of seeing the beauty in the niche, filling a room with pure joy from your beats, and showing that no matter how much life sucks. You, Marina Ida, are someone that proves life is worth living.”
For a moment, the world is quiet.
Then a beat drops.
Following up with a crescendo into a cadence of electronic voices. Conversations continue, shoes hit the dance floor with large taps, and signs buzz from the electrified neon bulbs.
Yet, none of it compares to the roaring thunder of Marina's hearts. Drumming along to the thoughts racing in her mind. Words upon words falling flat as her throat tightens thinking what to say in return.
She's frozen in place, tentacles sitting idle, and eyes locking straight towards the squid in front of her.
Marina needs to say something, but the only noise that leaves her is a choked sob.
Pearl's image grows blurry.
“I—”
Pearl jumps out of her seat and crosses over to Marina in seconds. Hands shaking with hesitation to reach out.
“D-Don't cry, Marina! Shit! I didn't mean to make you cry!”
Pearl is scared. Marina can see it in the way her mouth gapes and beak chattering. A faint image of eyes wide with pupils dilated is all what Marina can make out behind the shades.
“I'm so sorry, Marina! I didn't— Cod, I didn't think! I was just blurting shit out without considering how you may feel and now you're crying—”
“Pearl!”
“I should've stayed quiet and not said anything in the first place! Fuck! I'm just ruining this night entirely— First, I made an embarrassing scene and saddle ya with the whole fancy joint gives us stare downs. Now, here I am, ruining the night because my stupid brain didn't think ahead and—
“PEARL!”
Marina reaches out and cusps Pearl's face in her hands. Gentle teal claws meeting freezing cold skin. Seafoam green and pink eyes meeting black glass. Her own tentacles create a self-made curtain.
“You didn't do anything wrong, Pearl! You— All night you have been trying your best! I know you have because I can see it and I lo— I just know you never had ill intentions. Cod!
“Can I kiss you?!”
Pearl is speechless. A record scratches in Marina's mind.
'WHAT DID YOU DO?!' her mind screams inside.
She feels her throat close up again seeing Pearl's glassy golden eyes that stare at her with a sense of shock and disbelief as Pearl's shades sink down to her nose.
Pearl bites her lip. “Why me?! I'm the asshole who made you cry! You shouldn't want a self-centered dumbass that's so busy being worried about herself! You deserve someone better—”
Marina ignores the scorching pain erupting in her nerves. It ripples under her skin begging for release but she pushes the urge down. She refuses to back down. Not when she can't leave Pearl feeling terrible.
“And why do you get to decide who is better for me? Just because you can't see the good things about yourself, doesn't mean no one else can, and I want you as well! Why can't that be enough?”
“Because you— I-I can't—” Pearl stutters, her eyes looking anywhere else besides Marina. She doesn't fight to leave Marina's gentle hold. “I don't want you getting hurt. Not by me.”
“Then let me choose Pearl, whether or not I do. I want to stay by you, and I trust you because I know you never would hurt me.”
Pearl's eyes stop avoiding her. Rich gold staring at her with an unknown emotion until they close.
She gives her a nod, a confirmation.
Marina takes it and closes the gap. Glossy teal lips meeting cracked pale lips. Hands rubbing Pearl's face in an effort to help ease the tension she feels under the skin. Even her beak catches Pearl's for a second startling her, however Pearl helps pull her back.
It's sloppy, but she feels like she's on top of the world.
A sharp edge catches her lip, nerves freezing up as a warm droplet leaves the cut. It's so minuscule that she barely even notices it until Pearl's tongue runs over it. Her body shivers from a foreign feeling coursing through her.
Two hands collide against her chest and push, tearing her out of her blissful state.
She stumbles back, nearly tripping from her heels. Hands frozen in place from their previous position. Her blood burns, pulsating with her hearts, but her body is unmoving, rigid, completely frozen in place.
The air leaves Marina's lungs as she sees Pearl's expression.
Fear.
There is pure fear in Pearl's starry pupils.
Her shades are gone, cast away onto the ground a few feet away. Body trembling, hands tightly clasping over her mouth.
The sight breaks Marina's hearts.
What has she done?
A sudden wave of pain courses through her body like a flood.
She needs to leave. It can't be held back any longer. She'll only make things worse— far worse— and hurt Pearl further.
“I-I'm sorry!”
Marina runs.
She can't stop it now that it has started. It's too late to go back. There's no apology she can give to make it up, not when she can feel her beak grow sharper, aching with an urge to snap at whatever is closest.
Looking for an exit, the only thing Marina can make out amongst her everflowing tears are the large blurry shapes of the other club patrons.
A body bumps into her and she jolts back. Barely catching the slurred words of a clownfish apologizing. Every sound around her is growing louder into a garble mess among the thunderous beats of her hearts.
The smell of alcohol, perfume, and sweat floods her nose causing her to curl her lip and growl.
People lost in drunken bliss ignore her, but others give her a wide berth, an exit that she takes without hesitation.
She knows she doesn't have long given by how the world starts to spin. Marina doesn't know where she is going, only knowing that she needs to get away. Away from everyone.
A haven from the deafening noise comes in the form of a backroom she finds empty besides from stage equipment. It's dark and yet she can see the room clearly as her vision changes.
Another wave of anguish washes over her as she collapses to the ground.
A clawed hand smashes the ground, creating a small indent, while the other grips away at her head. Marina can feel her body grow in size, tearing apart the dress she spent so long trying to get. The pressure in her lower-back finally exploding out as a tail emerges.
Pearl's expression of fear flashes in her mind.
'I'm a monster...' The last thought of consciousness says, sinking away under the pain.
When Marina wakes again, a deep hunger has set in. Her limbs ache, hearts are racing, and her stomach is grumbling for her to hunt.
She wraps her paws over her head and growls at the overwhelming sensations.
There are too many scents and sounds clouding her senses.
A part of her wants to leave and hunt the prey right outside. Another is reeling back, reminding her that she's not safe. She's in danger.
The door clicks.
Marina shoots up and climbs up a set of boxes, finding a hold onto the ceiling as she digs her claws in.
Her mouth drools as a sweet scent of peaches hits her nose.
She can see a small person? Squid? Prey? Moving about the room, an object in hand which casts a light. It even hits her, blinding her for a second, but it doesn't alert the prey to her presence.
It stops and calls out. She can't make out the words, however, it doesn't stop her from getting close. The prey is saying a name. She should know it, but all she can think about is the hunger driving her to move. If she eats, she'll have the energy to take on the danger.
Marina creeps over, jaw unhinging; looming over the squid's head.
All she needs is just a bite.
Just. One. Bite.