Chapter Text
It was a simple question for a momentous occasion. And yet, it was the day before the splatfest, and Cove still hadn't made up her mind. The octoling couldn't help but stifle a groan as she watched her squidder page blow up with questions about what team she would pick. Posts yelling about "rock supremacy!" or "paper is best option imo" or even "scissors? no. here for the #bigmansweep" were piled sky high on the picture of herself posing by the terminal. It was posted only three hours ago, and it had garnered around 15k likes. Despite the caption reading "Made up my mind, picking a team~" she had absolutely no idea what direction to go, not even remotely. There were already arguments about where her loyalty stood, and it was starting to piss her off. The topic was a simple children's game! Why couldn't she just pick?! Pissed off by the whole situation, Cove began to walk toward the lobby for some food when she heard some people in the distance.
"Just me, or does that person kinda look like Cove?"
"Cove? Like, the model? You're right!"
Shit. Just her luck that she would get spotted in public. Cove elected to head home and lay low for a while. Maybe try to relax or something. She probably had leftovers anyway.
With little to no interruption, she arrived at her apartment and immediately threw herself onto the sofa. Relaxation turned to annoyance as she heard the chime of her ringtone.
"Cove Acantha speaking, how may I help you?"
"Cove, my star! My pretty little thing, ugh, I've been trying to get a hold of you for hours. "
The voice is familiar, belonging to an executive at a recent shoot of hers. Mr. Big Shot. Cove didn't have to remember his name to know he was a dick. She held back a scowl.
"Mhm… Sorry about that. What can I do for y–"
"Are you busy this weekend? I've got a concert, and a slot with your name on it.~"
God, she hated this guy. "This weekend's the splatfest. I'm sure my manager told you, I don't work spla–" She was cut off once more.
" Yes, yes, you don't work splatfests, but this is different! There will be a lot of important people in attendance, not to mention scouters! Your solo career is blossoming, but it wouldn't kill you to join a group, dear."
She pinches the bridge of her nose. "That's not a flexible condition for me, now st–"
" Anything is flexible! You just have to be open-minded. That's the quality of a good star!"
"I should be able to set bou–"
"C'mon, just pop by! You'll have so much fun, even if you're working! Give it a shot."
"No. I'm fine where I am right n–"
"Everything can be better, darling! Just give me a ch–"
Face red, Cove hangs up, resisting every urge to throw her phone across the room. Still in her position on the couch, she grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed into it. Work was hell, life was hell. It was all just so draining. Eventually her eyes grew heavy with exhaustion, so she let herself close them as she shifted into a comfortable position. Sleep slowly claimed her, and she finally managed to rest.
Upon waking hours later, she returned to the terminal to find a crowd gathered around the massive tablet. Great! Absolutely lovely. A sigh escaped from under her privacy mask and she took a seat on a nearby bench, opting to just… wait it out. At least she went out undercover, so it was likely she wouldn't be bothered. She took out her phone, snapped a quick picture of the terminal, then began to draft a post for it. "Frenzy before the fest! Can't wait to start battling! ><" As she went to send the post, a figure suddenly bumped into her, knocking her phone from her hands.
"Sorry!" the inkling yelped, though the cry was oddly quiet. They picked up her phone and nearly threw it back to her. She simply responded with a laugh, catching it.
"No, no, I was in the way, don't apologize!" Cove took a moment to look them up and down. An inkling stood in front of her. Though they were around the same height, the other seemed to be around 14 or 15. There was something in their eyes– a frenzied desperation. Panic, a need for a way out.
She knew that look all too well.
Cove tilted her head slightly, pocketing her phone with a soft smile. "Hey, hey. What's got you in such a rush?" She asked, crossing her legs. "C'mon. Sit with me for a little while. It's not like the crowd is going anywhere soon." She patted the seat next to her gently, offering the other the spot. After a moment, the other silently did as they were told, and Cove took a moment to really adjust herself. The inkling next to her displayed a yellow ink in contrast to her pastel blue. They were around the same height, but not when sitting down, because the other slouched. Little details.
They sat in silence for a while, each looking at their own respective things. Sometimes Cove would look at her phone while the stranger watched the jellies nearby. After a while, Cove finally broke the silence. "Is this your first splatfest?" asked Cove. She kept her voice soft, doing her best not to scare the other away. The other nodded, not bothering to look back at her. Instead, they kept their eyes on the terminal. "It's actually mine too." Hours had passed without either of them noticing; by now, many of the people were gone, having picked their teams and left. She stood, turning to the other and offering her hand. "C'mon. Let's go pick teams." A beat of silence passed, Cove's hand floating in the air. Reluctantly, the other took it, and they began to walk over to the terminal. "My name is Cove. And yours?"
"Neo."
"It's nice to meet you, Neo."
They stopped in front of the screen, and Cove gently made a gesture for them to pick. They tapped the screen a few times, and a splatfest tee dispensed itself beneath the screen. "Scissors," noted Cove. She stepped up to the terminal and sighed.
Team Scissors, size small. A splatfest tee dispensed itself beneath the screen, and Cove fumbled with it as it did so. Neo stifled a laugh, causing her to scowl. "Oh, shut up," she teased, a soft smile on her face. "Whatever." As she began to walk away, Cove hesitated for a minute before turning back to Neo. "Do you have a splatfest team?"
"No."
"Do you want one?"
Neo pauses. Team? Did they need a team?? It would be nice to have one, though…
"Sure."
Cove smiled softly, nodding quickly. "The fest should start in ten. Do you mind if I get changed?" Neo shook their head, and Cove simply gave a nod. "Alrighty! Sounds like a plan." She turned, looking back at Neo with a fond smile. "C'mon! Let's get going!"
One successful trip to Cove's apartment later, the two were dressed and ready to battle in the splatfest. They walked to the lobby, Cove whistling a tune as they went. She knew she had a locker there with weapons and drinks, so she wasn't too worried about them needing tickets. Neo didn't look like the type to care too much about farming ability chunks, and Cove wasn't trying to farm anything specific. The girl looked to her new companion, who was bringing along a Tri-Stringer that barely looked like it'd stay together.
"Neo??" She started, "Question. Are you sure you can battle with that thing?? It looks like it might… sha-peww! All up in your face." Cove frowned, and Neo shook their head.
"I'll be okay," was all Neo said in response. Cove decided to believe them, as she didn't exactly know how to really… fix the problem. If worse came to worst, she was always willing to lend them some of her weapons.
"If you say so. Let's go, then."
Together, the two entered the lobby for the first out of many times that night.
A month or so had passed since the splatfest. The rising star was hiding out in her apartment now, her only company being her pet goldie, Gummy. She felt nothing, staring up at the ceiling and wondering what she would have to do next. This had become the normality for Cove. It was lonely at night, but it was always nice to have a place to call home. Cove had been sleeping on the couch rather than her queen sized bed for a while now, in an attempt to feel… something. She'd felt numb for the past few weeks. Empty, like she was just a machine carrying out orders. Sure, she ate and drank, and she went to all of her lessons, shoots and practices, but it was all just the same, over and over and over again. She was surviving, but she never felt alive. Not anymore.
Her phone rang, and Cove didn't even bother checking the number before picking up. "Cove Acantha speaking, how may I help you?"
" Acantha. " Ah, shit. It was her manager, and she sounded pissed. Her manager screamed something about professionality and class in Cove's ear, and how she shouldn't have to be covered for at all. Cove just groaned.
"I was 5 minutes late to a shoot, cry me a fucking river."
"You're consistently late! I can't keep covering for you! Sometimes it's 5, sometimes it's 30!" Her manager sighs on the other line. "You've got to get your shit together, or I'll do it for you."
"Yeah?! I'd like to see you fucking try. And for the last time, don't call me outside of work hours!"
Cove hangs up with a click, slamming her phone down onto a nearby table. Tired eyes start to close before her ringtone cuts through her peace once more.
" Fuck! " She yells in frustration, picking up her phone and answering it. "Cove Acantha, how may I help you?" Her voice is deadpan, hints of irritation lacing it.
"H-hello-? Um, remember me? We played team scissors together in the splatfest a while back. Yeah, so I kinda sorta ran away from home with my smallfry, and now I'm stranded in the desert with this Splattershot Jr. that I found. Could I just, do you mind if I crash on your couch for a while? Just until I have enough money to get my own place."
Cove's end of the line is dead silent. Wait a damn minute.
" Neo?! " Cove gasps, a smile creeping onto her face.
"You do remember me!"
"I already have a room ready for you."
"Wait, wha–"
"Find the train! You can catch a ride from there," she explained, picking herself up and sprinting to the guest room. Finally, the other bedroom in her two-bedroom apartment would be put to use. Adrenaline shot through her, endorphins turning her into a giddy mess. "Wait until morning, though, it's way easier to find your way."
"Seriously? Okay…" They groaned, and shuffling on the other end of the line indicated that they were sitting down. "Alright. Well, I'll see you then, I guess."
"I'll meet you at the bench by the terminal, okay? I'll bring anything you need, clothes, food, drinks, anything and everything!" Cove prattled on, dusting the new room. "Just think of me like your new big sister! Or something. Whatever you're comfortable with!" By now she's beaming, absolutely glowing with excitement. Neo just laughed from the other line.
"Alright. Tomorrow. The bench by the splatfest terminal."
"Sounds like a plan!"
Neo hangs up, and Cove grins. Cleaning wasn't usually an easy task for her, but this was different. Her mind was a mess of bouncing balls, ideas and energy shooting from place to place in her headspace. The only coherent thought she could keep a grasp on was– "I'm not going to be alone anymore!"