memezilla | Jail Cell Mee

["What d'you think?" she wants to launch back, but the words are caught in her throat. She's defenseless and far from her top form - if he wanted, he could finish the job that jerk squid started easily, and Thida isn't about to let that happen. Give an inch and they take a mile, right?

...But he isn't trying anything either. In fact, he almost seems...depressed. Which makes sense, if he's moping in a jail cell. But Octolings are ruthless, she's experienced it herself. Maybe it's because she, for all intents and purposes, has blended back into things as a normal kid without even replica gear to signify her, but...her Agent sensibilities are still a Thing, Hero Shot or no.

For now, she sets them to the side of her mind.]

...Unexpected.

Uh-huh. You squids bein' huge inkholes isn't, though.

[He absolutely could, but honestly? He's got no reason to, never mind the fact that he isn't feeling up to his usual bravado. She's just unlucky, not in his way to anything, and if he DID attack her he'd just be playing right into the hands and expectations of the jerks who threw her in here. Sure, his life is absolutely over, but he's not making hell worse with an assault charge.

He's an Octoling, not a monster. Not that the squids know the difference, but still.]

Probably gonna rot in here forever and you're all already acting like I'm some kinda circus freak... just lemme alone.

[She huffs at that as her response, turning away. Yeah, he would have that opinion.]

Nah. Y'got friends...don'tcha? They'll spring ya?

[She honestly wouldn't be surprised if that happened - and if she could get herself out of here in the confusion, well, more power to all of them, right?]

[He doesn't answer that. Just... stares down at the ground, up at her, then away.

He's got friends and family back home, in the kettles. None of them know he's been coming up here. He'd been checking back in periodically - his parents and grandfather think he's been staying with friends, his friends think nothing unusual's going on. It's not like they talk to each other, so it'll be a while of him being missing before anyone starts looking for him. And they certainly won't start looking on the surface.

This was supposed to be his personal crusade, something only he could do because of his abilities, because no other mimics were taking the risk. It wasn't supposed to come tumbling down around him.

Points for dramatic timing, though, because that's about when the lights go out.]

Huh...?

[There's some exclamations and scrambling from the guards outside, and a low whine from the powered door to the cell as it switches to backup. Thaum stiffens as the sounds escalate - is someone actually fighting the guards? Whatever happens, it's over quickly, and a lanky figure emerges from the direction of the noise.

It's hard to make him out - he's wearing all black, with a hood pulled over his head, though the bright pink of his eyes does seem to stand out from the darkness. An inkling? But as he stops right at the cell door, he flashes a lazy grin made up of faintly glow-in-the-dark, zipperlike teeth... okay, not an inkling, then.]

Wh... who the splat are you!?

[No way this guy's really here for him, right?? Thaum's eyes shoot back to Thida - this is someone SHE knows, right??? Because he doesn't think he can handle it if the surface mafia or whatever has come for him. That's a thing that probably exists, yeah.]

[At least he's got someone to go back to - that will notice he's gone. Even though he doesn't answer, Thida would think that still if he did. That's how the world is supposed to work, right? Even for Octojerks.

She bolts up when the lights go out, though, hissing a bit in pain, but her ears still catch the scuffle, and she looks in its direction. When the new figure appears, eyes glowing, she makes a startled noise that is so not a whimper and backpedals as far as she can until her back hits a wall.]

W-Whozzat?!

[The figure rolls his shoulder, unslinging something from his back and bringing it around to rest the butt of it against the floor - it's Thaum's charger. Thaum stands at the sight of it, giving the guy a wary look.

The figure's eyes narrow slightly - not menacingly, but knowingly, his smirk only widening before he speaks.]

That is you, innit, T? Thought I recognized your squirt gun here, and I don't forget a set of eyes.

[His voice is low and smooth, with a slightly odd accent, and it suddenly hits Thaum like a truck who this is. He darts to the front of the cell, slamming his palms against the glass door.]

YOU! That bucket idiot from today! You absolute hectocotylus, you ain't a squid either!!

[The anemone simply hums a bit to himself as he retrieves a small device that looks like it's made mostly of duct tape, random wires, and hope from his pocket, setting it against the door's lock.]

Ru~uuuuude~

[There's a sharp whine of protest from the door, which burbles and fizzles into a dying whistle, and the lock disengages.]

[Thida grimaces at the slur, but the comments about weapons piques her interest. An anemone with a bucket? Was...he trying to play in Turf Wars? Could he?

Thida shoves the thought to the side as the new person works on the door, her mind working in overtime. So the Octo had a friend topside - one that he'd played in matches with before, today even. But how would an Octarian have gotten into a match, much less the lobby or the plaza, without being caught before now? It's all very suspect.]

...See? Yer friend came. Knew it.

[She's going to attempt to play it cool for now, though.]

[Well, he was wearing a flannel shirt and a wide-brimmed hat with his tentacles all crammed into it earlier, but yeah apparently that's enough of a disguise to fool the Turf War officials. They don't exactly scrutinize these kids too closely these days.

Their rescuer lets the door slide open and steps aside to let them out, giving a bow with a flourish. It mostly just earns him a scowl from Thaum.]

It's Darian, by the way. Guessing you didn't catch that earlier. Now, if you and your lady would kindly move it along, lil' Myo's only gonna have security out for oh, ten more minutes, tops.

[Yeah, he's scowling, but Thaum's still more than glad to trot his way out of the cell, snatching his charger back and inspecting it for damage.]

Yeah, yeah, fine. Not lookin' a gift seahorse in the nose. And she's not mine!

[Then, to Thida,]

And this weirdo's not my friend! I don't know any of you crazy people up here!

Really? With the way she kept smashing that inkbrush into your face? Mmm, mmm, my bad.

H-hey, shut up, are you TRYING to blow my cover!?

Does it matter?

[The fact that this guy was willingly letting Thida out and not just yanking Thaum out and shutting the door in her face sends him a notch higher in her respect. She'll follow Thaum out, nodding to Darian in thanks.]

Not his. Just...so y'know.

[Like she would actually fraternize with the enemy like that. Eeeew.

Though the mention of more Turf War stuff sends a chill down her spine, and she stops. It's too weird not to ask about...]

...Today?

["Does it matter" indeed. Thaum spends a moment puffing up his cheeks and pouting like he's five, but Darian's not wrong. He's been caught once, the authorities know what his Inkling form looks like now, and if he wants to keep sneaking around he's going to have to practice a new one. Ugh.

So, when Thida asks, he gives an annoyed huff, turns to her, and throws his hands up in defeat. As he does so, he briefly deforms into ink, as if he's about to pop into octopus form, but he doesn't. Instead, his features just shift a bit, and yep - remember this face, Thida? Sure is that jerk of a charger with the banded tentacle tips from a few of your matches today!]

Surprise. Can we go?

[It does to these two, at least. Thida turns at the plop of ink, eyes widening, and when Thaum reforms as someone much more familiar to her, things click in her head. The familiar brusque voice, the charger, their confrontation in the plaza...sure, he's not the one who got her thrown in here, but he'd pushed her patience enough to be left open to that jerk who wouldn't stop insulting her and her squad.

Thida tenses.]

How...?

[Darian's already gripping the collar of Thaum's jacket and starting to pull him along - albeit with an easy going laugh and a comment of "Nice trick, eh?" - so Thaum only settles for sticking his tongue out at her.]

Octoling secret. Hmph!

[And then batting Darian's hands away as he resigns himself to following the anemone. He honestly doesn't care if Thida also follows or not - he's certainly not looking back to check. He is staying in Inkling form, though, just in case.]

[Oh, she's following alright. A foot closer and she'd be stepping right on Thaum's heels, but there's no way she's getting that close. No, give her a little distance, some kind of buffer. Just in case.]

Tell me!

What part 'a "secret" don't you get? You two idiots already know too much!

[Darian's leading them down the hall, past several knocked out officers and guards. Some of them are twitching slightly.

Darian himself stretches, lacing his fingers behind his head and strolling along as if their jailbreak is a walk in the park.]

Funny, innit? Ain't showin' that part on the news. And hey, relax. Can't speak for the lady, but we're not your enemy, T.

[Thida resists the urge to stick her tongue out and proclaim how unfun secrets are - this situation is anything but the time to tease. Her eyes catch onto every knocked-out officer, and she simply passes them by - no use rubbing their fuckups in their faces.]

How long've you been doin' it?

[Darian pauses as they reach some lockers by the door, kicking them open and handing Thida her inkbrush back.]

Long enough.

[Thaum huffs, crossing his arms. He's... actually only been at it a few weeks. He looks alarmed when Darian produces the inkbrush from the locker though, taking a few steps back from Thida as he points accusingly.]

Hey, hey! If you're not an enemy, the splat are you giving the squid her weapon back for!?

Fair's fair.

[Have a lazy shrug as Darian just opens the back door to the facility and saunters out, clearly expecting them to follow.]

Y'both care 'bout those weapons, doncha? Shame to leave 'em behind.

[Thida can't keep from gasping when Darian reveals and hands over her Inkbrush. She takes it into her arms and hugs it, for a moment grinning like a squid with a Splatling gun, before hefting the brush end onto one shoulder. Her eyes slide to Thaum as she adjusts her grip.

...

She won't hit him. No. Not unless he attacks. There's still too much that's strange and curious about him that she wants to get an answer on. With a little "Hmph!" she follows the anemone, looking quite proud and just a touch smug.]

Thank you, Darian!

[Thaum makes some interesting, frustrated noises as he begrudgingly stomps after the other two, crossing his arms and burying his chin in his coat's high collar with a scowl.]

Welcome, lil' miss. Don't think I caught your name, by the way...?

[They're outside now, on a back street behind the station. Darian's walking pretty swiftly for his casual demeanor, making for a sewer grate. He does tug his hood back a little as he gives Thida a careless smile, letting several long, thin purple tentacles spill out from under it.]

Ugh, shut up! You think you're so cool, don't you!? The splat do you even want from me, and don't say you don't! ...Wait, where are we going?

[Darian just shrugs.]

Hey, you're right T, we got a favor to ask. Figured we'd talk back at base, though, so the girls can talk to ya as well. Didn't expect a two-fer, but this lady's free to come along too, if she wants to lay low a bit.

[He stops at the grate, tapping it with a foot. Anemones can't slip through grates like this or travel through inklines, so it's an odd choice.]

Guessing you've at least taken one o' these from the kettles before, yeah? Run the line to Mackerel Street, we'll meet you there.

Thida.

[She says it loud enough so Thaum could hear - so he knows who knows his secret. Just in case he wants to, you know. Localize his aggression. And keep it away from any other sky-blue squids with goggles. They pop up sometimes.

She looks down at the kettle, a little surprised at its presence and the offer.]

...Yeah. Good t'hide for now. 'S okey?

[Because it's very likely Thaum would do it, and she definitely needs some questions answered.]

Ahh, nice t'meetcha, miss Thida.

[Thaum just continues giving his huffy, totally-not-over-here-pouting look, though with the way he glances at Thida it's clear he is indeed making a note of her name. And not pleased that she's still tagging along. At least it means he can keep tabs on her for now, though...]

"The girls?" The other two who were on your team, right?

S'right. See ya there, though? Ain't gonna be pretty if we stick around here much longer. The ol' stun juice's gonna wear off pretty soon.

[Indeed, the lights are coming back on at the police station, which isn't a good sign. Darian gives a casual wave and leaves, slipping into the shadows of the alleyway without another word.

Thaum glances back at the station, fidgety, then to the sewer grate, then to Thida. Doesn't look like they have much choice, if they don't want to get caught again. That weird guy's just letting him go, though? He could ride the underground sewer lines all the way across Inkopolis if he wanted and never show up at Darian's "base" at all!

...but he was also someone who'd busted him out, knowing full well he's an Octoling. And damn if Thaum won't repay a favor. At least it's not to a squid.]

Pfft. Mackerel Street it is. Hurry up if you're comin'.

[With that, he pops into a perfect mimicry of an Inkling's squid form, dropping into the grate.]

[She doesn't see his eyes, but she does feel them on her back. Good, remember that name, octojerk. Remember who's going to splat you six ways to Sunday if you ever show up in her matches.

Thida gives a wave to their savior and hums at Thaum's words. What kind of squid doesn't at least give someone a "thank you" when they literally save your tentacles? ~~A proper city squid, probably.~~]

Comin'.

[She shifts as well, following Thaum into the grate.]

Jail Cell Mee

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

the color's fine, don't worry :3

Thaum don't call your rescuer a tentacle dick, that's not nice

i looked it up and went "pfft omg"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject