Chapter Text
Lucas Splattington was your average, everyday inkling. His friends would describe him as kind, funny, cool, and overall radiates lovable goofball energy! He first moved to Inkopolis Square when he was about 18, the summer after graduating high school, with the goals of finding a good job, meeting new people, experiencing new… experiences, and having fun and enjoying life. Now he was almost 19, and he’d grown to love the city. That’s saying a lot because he lov3: a lot of things!
He loved his family (of course), his friends, ink battles, video games, and he loves music! Fun fact, he was inspired by all the hottest bands in Inkopolis, from Ink Theory to Chirpy Chips. Their songs got him to get more into music, and even occasionally write his own songs. Sometimes he would just be in his room, playing his keyboard, either learning other people’s songs or coming up with his own melodieses, being sure to document anything he though sounded great. He wasn’t interested in a music career, so he just makes music as a hobby.
His #1 choice for a career when he graduated high school was game design. At the time he worked part-time at Ancho-V Games as an intern. He didn’t do too much but so far it was enough for him to get money and be happy. Yeah, he programs. He’s kind of a computer geek, and basically a huge nerd, but he’s not as introverted as that would make him seem. He genuinely enjoys hanging out with friends and meeting new people, but he doesn’t mind chilling by himself.
He also studies humans, the highly-advanced species that went extinct 12,000 years ago. Sometimes he would nerd out and share a bunch of facts that he would learn. He could be annoying at times, but his friends still liked him a lot. He also enjoys shopping for new gear and weapons for him to show off his style, even though he typically wear the same outfit every day.
His looks were relatively average. He had greenish-grayish eyes and orange-ish skin. He was a bit taller than the average inkling, about 175 centimeters. His go-to outfit was a Squidvader Cap, a Takoroka Nylon Vintage, and a pair of Orange Arrows. His eyes may be an ordinary color, but there was something about them that made it so different. His eyes had a sort of triangle-shaped sparkle in the corner. This special sparkle came from his mother, who was part firefly squid. One would expect him to be short since he came from such a small species of squid, but thanks to his dad being a Humboldt squid, he was actually taller than the average inkling!
Okay, what else... um, oh! Let me tell you his stats! He's a level 36 (at the time when this was first written) and his highest rank is A- (he's good but not THAT good). He also takes Salmon Run very seriously but still tries to have fun. After all, he IS a profreshional.
Now, there's two more things you need to know about him. Okay, don't tell anyone, but he was Agent 4 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon! Well, not YET at least. He doesn’t get recruited until a little later, but we’ll get to that. The final thing you need to know is that he had this HUUUUGE crush on a certain celebrity.
He’d always had the hots towards Marina, one of the members of Off the Hook, Inkopolis Square’s famous pop duo, and it wasn’t much of a surprise. It was near impossible to find someone who didn’t think she was even a little attractive. Whether it was her pretty face, her heavenly voice, or her gorgeous outfits. Whatever the reason, everyone loved her, not just for her looks, but for her fun and loving personality. Yep, everyone loved her... especially Lucas.
The first time he saw her, he immediately fell in love, his hearts pounding with passion. Every day after that, he would walk by the window, wave to her (and Pearl, the other member of the duo), and they would always wave back. He would get so flustered around her sometimes to the point where he could hardly talk. He’d get this tight feeling in his chest, as if all his love for her was about to bust out of it like a burst bomb. He was aware, however, of the possibility that he may never get together with her, especially whenever Marina was already in a relationship, but she still remained #1 on his crush list.
Now let me tell you how they first met. It’s a funny story, actually! It was a week since Lucas first moved to the place. He was on his way to Ye Old Clothe Shoppe since he was finally fresh enough for a new shirt when he was interrupted by the sound of screaming fans. He went over to see a group of inklings jumping up and down, who seemed to be surrounding something. Lucas moved closer to see that they were surrounding Pearl and Marina, begging for autographs.
He was star struck at the sight of Marina, who held up her hands in a "hold up" sort of manner and said, "We'll get everyone's autographs!" There were only 10 people in the crowd (including Lucas), so it would be quick. Pearl and Marina sat at a nearby table, and the inklings all formed a line, with Lucas in the back. When he finally reached the table, he could barely move, he was so anxious, but not anxious enough to not talk. "H-Hi," he said, holding out a piece of paper, his hands a bit shaky and sweaty. He gulped, which hardly helped to moisten is bone-dry throat, and continued, "C-Can I have your autograph?"
"Sure," said Pearl and Marina simultaneously, and they signed the paper, quickly and smoothly with pens matching their color. When they were done, Lucas sighed and smiled and said, "T-Thanks!" He walked back, and when he was out of their sight, he yelled to himself! "Ah, stupid stupid stupid! Pull yourself together man! You can't just stutter like that, you'll seem like a weirdo! Alright... just calm down, you'll do better next time. At least you got an autograph-" it was just then when he realized he had successfully gotten an autograph. ”Holy shit I GOT AN AUTOGRAPH!” he said. He couldn't be happier. He didn't notice, however, the two girls talking about him behind his back.
"Pfff," said Pearl, rolling her eyes, "what a weirdo!"
"Oh be quiet!" said Marina, "he was just a little nervous. I mean we can’t blame him, he’s clearly new here. He seems like a nice guy, actually...”
This was about 38 weeks ago, though, back when the band was really starting to get popular. He would still see them often in the Square. Sometimes, the girls would go out again, but in their casual outfits (or their “octo expansion” outfits for you normies, lol), or even in disguises. Lucas was able to recognize them though, but he'd never interact with them, especially around other people, because he wouldn’t want to embarrass himself if he said something stupid.
Still, he enjoyed seeing the girls around.!He'd be a bit disappointed when he doesn't see Marina in her original outfit, but he liked her all the same, no matter what. Even during that one time when he was on an Agent 4 mission where he first encountered Octolings.
He told Marie (AKA Agent 2) that he saw they had suction-cups on the outside of their hair instead of the inside, and that Marina had that same thing. Marie told him that it was because Marina was an Octoling. Lucas was shocked to hear this. He thought, "Why would they let an Octoling into Inkopolis Square?! I just don't understand!" Marie was able to explain to him that Marina became good and came to the surface to live in peace and harmony with the inklings, and that no one knows she's an Octoling (though they had to keep it secret!). Lucas didn't care what Marina was, he still liked her a lot.
He was absolutely thrilled when he heard there was a job opening for a roadie for Off the Hook. He would help to transport band equipment wherever they would have a performance. It had good pay, and Lucas was strong enough to lift the gear. He has a membership at Musselforge Fitness and he worked out there 2 times a week. It really pays off. His roadie shifts were really the only opportunities he had to actually talk to the girls. Eventually, he became friends with them, and was able to get the nerves to talk to them normally without being too awkward, but he'd still get a little nervous around Marina. Sometimes some fans would come backstage and annoy Pearl and Marina when they were simply trying to relax, but Lucas was able to be their "bodyguard" and keep them away. Let me tell you about one time when that happened...
It was the intermission of the show in the Inkopolis Amphitheater. Backstage, Lucas was helping to move some speakers. He was wearing a small headset, a leather jacket with the word "ROADIE" on the back, a name tag on the front, and a pair of slick black tennis shoes. After he moved what he needed to, he saw Pearl and Marina. He took a deep breath, straightened his jacket and went over to talk to them. "Hello," he said awkwardly. The two girls stopped talking and looked at him.
"Hi," they said at the same time.
"You must be one of our new roadies. I don’t think we’ve met before,” said Marina.
“Oh, well I'm Lucas," he said. He didn’t have a name tag or anything, so this was one thing he couldn’t avoid saying
“Sup!” said Pearl, nodding her head once. “Wait, I feel like I know ya from somewhere... Gah but where?!"
"Oh!” Lucas wasn’t expecting the girls to actually have a single memory of him. “Um, you probably don't remember me, but I… I got an autograph from you that one time"
It hit Marina, "Oh yeah!" she said, "I remember you now!" Lucas smiled. His crush actually remembered he existed!
"Yeah," said Pearl, "you were the kid who was super nervous.”
“Pearliiiie! Don’t embarrass him like that,” said Marina, angry at Pearl’s rudeness.
“Hey I wasn’t trying to!” said Pearl, pointing her palms towards the ceiling.
“No, she’s right. I was super nervous, but at least I got that autograph. I’m… really a huge fan of you guys. I love your music.”
“Doesn’t everyone? Ha ha! But thanks.”
“Yeah thanks, we’re glad to hear that!” said Marina
He was relieved that he could finally have a conversation with the girls. He was still pretty nervous, but he was doing better.
Suddenly there was a sound of something banging on a door. Lucas and the girls looked over to the left to see a jellyfish bodyguard struggling to hold down a door that was being pushed on by fans who were trying to get in the backstage. The jellyfish failed to hold the door any longer and it swung open. The fans came through and started screaming while running towards the table where Pearl and Marina were sitting. The two girls stared in fear, and put their hands in front of them as to fend off the crowd, until Lucas turned around and put his hands out and blocked them. They tried to get passed him but failed, since a couple more bodyguards ran in and helped to block the crowd. "Sorry," he said sternly, "you can't get any closer. You're not allowed back here without passes, now please leave!"
The crowd aww-ed in disappointment and went back out the door. "That's right," said the jellyfish bodyguard by the door, "Move along people!"
"Wow," said Lucas, putting his hands down, "can’t believe that worked."
"Oh my cod, thank you, Lucas!" said Marina.
"Yeah thanks," said Pearl, "There was no way we coulda survived that!"
“Oh, y-you’re welcome!,” he said.
“Hey,” said Marina, “you should come hang out with us at the after-concert party tonight! Whadaya say?"
Lucas froze when she said this. Hang out, and possibly be friends, with the two members of Off the Hook?! It was a dream come true! He unfroze and tried to look normal. "Yeah... I’d love to!" he said. Everyone smiled.