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Shifting quietly in her seat, the girl stared blankly down from the spectator stands, zoning out on nothing in particular. So, there was no real surprise that she barely noticed the shrill cry of the whistle, signalling the match had ended.
“Hey, Roisin? You there?”
Her friend shook her arm violently, grinning from ear to ear. She had to restrain herself from sighing.
Eager as always, Hailey was grinning from ear to ear, bright pink eyes beaming into her as she grabbed her hand. Her curly lemon tentacles were tied into a high ponytail that spilled down onto her shoulders, gracing her soft purple stains that dappled her fair skin. Roisin couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy bubble up her throat.
Whereas her friend had been so lucky as to have met her soulmate so early, she’d yet to have the same fortune. And it wasn’t as if either of them weren’t trying, one more than the other: every other week she was being dragged off by Hailey - willingly or not, it wasn’t important - to gatherings, cafes, parties, anything to meet as many people as possible. Sometimes, it was fun, finding new friends and talking to interesting people, other times it was exhausting, but not once had she found anyone that made her shiver, made her marks glow .
She could feel them burn under her top in embarrassment.
Exasperated, the yellow-inked girl sighed. “Are you drifting off on me again ?” she complained, yanking the other to her feet. “C’mon, you don’t wanna miss your chance!”
“What chance?” she grumbled back, matching her irritated tone. It was a genuine question though, wondering what her friend had caught that she didn’t herself.
Hailey shot her a ‘ don’t give me that ’ look. “You were totally swooning after that Sloshing Machine down there, and i think you caught his attention!” she hummed, pulling her down, gesturing wildly with her other hand. “And look at his ink colour!”
Groaning, Roisin complained, “Yeah but everyone’s ink colour changes in a battle - they probably don’t match.” And I didn’t even mean to… I just got lost in my thoughts.
“Wellll, lucky for you, he’s the captain, so that is his colour, and his teammates all changed to match him!” she declared, pressing her pointed finger right on her small nose.
Realising her defeat, the timid girl just sighed, not one to challenge her friend’s boundless determination, and let herself be dragged off into cod knows what.
Somehow, she’d landed herself with a new number, and a date in a couple nights, though barely any of it was her own doing. Still, she couldn’t complain, as she smiled to herself several hours later, sliding under her blanket with a new conversation up on her phone.
Oftentimes, she caught herself wondering if she was… abnormal.
Curled up around a thick, plush pillow, the moonlight cast a pale glow across her back, making her only further aware of the faint little marks that flowed through her skin. They were a shocking electric blue, betraying her more mellow pattern, like raindrop ripples across calming waves, ebbing from the back of her neck, down her shoulder blades, wrapping low around her side to tuck just underneath her breasts. The colour is what always caught her off guard, so bright and luminous. She wondered how she could get along with someone so energetic and high-energy seeming, remembering back the couple dates she’d had with the guys who matched the description, and how overwhelmed she was. Though, she supposed she’d put up with Hailey for so long - it couldn’t be that bad.
Hailey… she genuinely wondered how easy it was for her. Her and her soulmate had known each other for practically their entire lives, realising their state a fair few years ago, and getting together soon after. To her relief, the two were never affectionate around her, or other people, which made it bearable, at the very least. Yet, it still made her second-guess herself and her own experiences.
Inkstains were curious little things, adorning the bodies of inklings. They could span over half of their body, like some unfortunate cases she’d seen before, or be fairly inconspicuous, or even completely concealable. Roisin herself was in the middle, leaning towards the more obvious patterns, though hers could typically be hidden under her normal clothes. Nobody really knew where they came from, if some - and if so, what - sort of omnipotent almighty being had marked them with such patches, or if there was any sort of method in the madness, although there were a couple of trends that showed themselves to be somewhat true, such as colours being somewhat genetic, and shades being reflective of personality. Nothing particularly useful, or of interest, at least.
Funnily enough, some would say dating would be so much harder than if inkstains didn’t exist, but Roisin was inclined to disagree. As soon as the pair realised one’s colour didn’t match, or their shades were slightly off, the relationship broke off immediately, with no real feelings being made or left behind. Arguably, this made it more painless for both parties, but it also seemed so much more empty - as if there was no point in the attempt. Everyone so caught up in the end goal that they never took in anything in between, never enjoyed themselves. Was it selfish to want something more, knowing it wouldn’t end well?
Though, she couldn’t share the sentiment. The girl was so disinterested in dating, in finding a soulmate, that she couldn’t care less if she’d ended up alone at the time of her death. Before, when her friend was younger, before her soulmate, and before she’d grasped the concept of them, Hailey had always been interested in boys, in boyfriends, in pointless relationships that ended as quickly as they started. She was so head over heels for some of them that the residual feelings hurt her for months, yet she would still swoon and fluster for a pretty little face, for a kind personality, for an avid battler.
Roisin had never understood it - could never understand it. Never once in her life had she found herself attracted to someone, yet she pretended to be anyway. To humour herself, to humour her friends, or perhaps just to fit in, to feel normal. Knowing that it could end so quickly, that it would mean nothing to the other person in the long run, it made it easier to pretend. She didn’t know what she’d do if she’d ever ended up with a boyfriend who truly cared about her, and she was just acting like she did.
She really wasn’t normal.
And still, as she took the fluffy pillow in her arms and shifted to her front, cuddling it and laying her head atop, she forced herself to sleep, resigning herself to feeling numb and exhausted in the morning, despite her ‘exciting’ plans.
Inevitably, she found herself walking alone, the loud, midday hubbub of the streets around her gradually fading as she reflected. Though she wasn’t in the Square, the little coffee shop they’d chosen was fairly close, meaning good business for the owners when the weather was particularly cold, and frosty little squids flooded in to get their hot drink fix. Luckily, they’d caught an off time, but as she left, and the stages were being prepped for the next rotation, there was a couple minutes to spare for the turfers, and more had slowly crept in.
Earlier there, she had met with the captain of Shining Knights - cod, what a pitifully disgusting name - who was surprisingly laid back considering his flashy hair and even flashier gear. He had introduced himself as Matty, as they’d settled down after ordering, and after a little fumbling about, and getting their drinks served, the two were deep into a conversation about the more competitive aspect of ink battles. Roisin confided that she’d always found it fascinating to watch, but never something she could do herself, or at least find a good place to start, while Matty had encouraged her to give it a try, promising he’d help her out with a wide grin, before keenly asking her if she had any experience, and any particular favourite weapons. The attention was oddly nice, she found as she discussed the utility and versatility of Booyah Bombs, and her misadventures in using the Kensa Splattershot Pro, whilst he listened to her every word. She just knew it’d be over as soon as he realised their colours didn’t match, that they didn’t have a spark.
Despite that, the date… wasn’t bad, not by any means. Honestly, it was quite nice, Roisin admitted over text to Hailey, and it wasn’t surprising that she immediately received a phone call, begging for the details.
“Oh my cod, how was it?” her friend had avidly asked, excitement thick in her voice.
Chuckling lightly, Roisin plugged in her headphones, before shoving her hands in her pockets and sighing. “It was fun,” she smiled. “I wore the outfit you picked out too.”
She couldn’t help but giggle at her excited squeal. “Ahh! I bet it looked gorgeous on you!!”
“I have to admit, it really did,” she hummed, looking down at herself, pleased. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have a fashion sense - she considered herself fairly competent at dressing herself up - but a second opinion was always appreciated. Her black, high-waisted skater skirt was a standard, almost staple of her outfit, but her top, a flowy white tee, was very specifically open backed, perhaps to show off her stains. Now though, as the wind was starting to set back in, she had her greyish-black denim jacket draped loosely over her shoulders, a band logo spanning the back side. “Think he liked it too, actually.” She flinched at yet another squeak - cod was she gonna go deaf because of her.
“Ooooh, did he like anything else about you?” Hailey asked, her enthusiasm only growing, radiating from the phone. “Y’know…”
This time, her laugh was just a little more hollow. “Told me his blue was slightly darker, and he had peach-ish marks.”
Her friend had gone quiet, and Roisin could almost hear her falter, opening her mouth to comfort her. Before she could, she quickly asked, “You wanna hear what we did?”
“Oh, yeah!” she exclaimed, almost forgetting that little slip-up. “Tell me everything!”
Lethargic, the girl collapsed onto her sofa the moment she arrived home, splayed out ungracefully on her back. She reached out for a remote sat on the corner the coffee table, with an almost exaggerated effort as she stretched, before flicking on the TV and flopping with a loud groan. The first thing that came on was some generic, sappy romance, something she despised, but the background noise was welcome, and she couldn’t be arsed to go grab the remote to change it. Instead, she just sighed, and resigned to just scrolling idly through Inkstagram, bending her knees so the soles of her feet were flat against the cushions.
Another date, another failure. She was so used to it that it barely fazed her - she could probably claim she was desensitised to it at this point. Quite honestly, she was beginning to feel as if her inkstains were faulty, or her soulmate didn’t even exist; it wouldn’t be that surprising, but she didn’t know how to feel about it. It made her feel… empty? Somehow? Like, she didn’t feel anything at all, nothing good nor bad. It was just a normal, everyday, mundane thing, like having a shower or eating lunch.
Yet, as she let her head fall to the side, tiredly watching the screen, she knew that wasn’t a good way to think. Everyone had an inkstain, and a soulmate, and they always had a perfect ending. She gazed boredly at the screen.
His hand would flirt with her hair, cascading gently down her back, before he’d trace the electric blue tides flowing from her neck, between her shoulders. She could feel tiny little jolts from each glance of skin, not overbearing or extreme, but making their presence clearly known, like a low current running through her veins. Settling under her chin, it would tilt her head up to his, causing the two to lock eyes, thousands of unspoken words suddenly understood between them. She would open her mouth, unsure of what to say, lips kept parted as her breathing became a touch more laboured. With a flashy smirk, the other would raise his eyebrows, before cupping her cheek and leaning in, lips-
A soft ‘ding’ and a notification from the top of her screen snapped her out of her thoughts, and she drew her attention away from the scene.
‘Hey, ro you wanna go out later tonight? Found a new place we could check out x’
Wondering if her friend was ever not boundlessly energetic, Roisin sighed, before replying. What did she have to lose anyway?
She’d opted for a much more fitted outfit that night, with a powder blue shoulderless midriff top, and black mini skirt, shamelessly flaunting even more of her stains than earlier in the day. Her confidence-boost from her cute clothing was quickly slashed with dread, however, as she approached the dark and dreary looking club Hailey had told her to meet up at.
Illuminated with vivid neon against a brick wall facade, the building reminded her of the fishy seeming Grizzco that occupied the back corner of the Square, so uncharacteristically dull and sketchy compared to the other shops. It’s one of the reasons why she’d never cared to stray near it. Roisin could barely make out anything through the corrugated steel shutters, squinting to peek through the gap, though she figured that was half the point, really.
So, she bridged the gap, thoroughly out of her comfort zone.
Immediately, she was met with a demoralising wave of heat and stuffy air, accompanied with offensively loud EDM, the bass making her bones rattle. Similar neon from outside seemed to line the walls of the interior as well, out-competed in tackiness only by the blinding LED signs with stupid and overused phrases on them. The bar was tucked away in the back corner, booths and tables hugging the edges, with the pale hardwood floor crowded with inklings of varying degrees of clothed. Offensively glaring lights strobed across the black room, flashing and flickering like a beaten and broken monitor. Roisin sighed and squinted her eyes, looking for her friend.
After being greeted by Hailey and her boyfriend, she was unceremoniously shoved aside into yet another guy her friend had picked out for her. “He looks like a reel catch!” she grinned at her, and she was probably giggling at her own pun, before giving a giddy little wave as the two left. She’d probably had a little too much to drink.
Speaking of drink, he was more than happy to buy her a couple. Still slightly wary, she made sure not to keep her glass out of her sight, and cradled it close to her body as they chatted idly. He was fairly average in build, on the slightly taller and more toned end, with slicked back tentacles, and he was far from subtle with his admiration of her, constantly dropping his attention to gaze at something of her body. However, he didn’t seem to be malicious, just a creep. Roisin tried to ignore it, maybe even play along, and it got easier after her second pint. Yet, she was dreading the night, she was tired, she wanted to go home.
He - she didn’t catch his name, did his name even matter? - had said something along the lines of, ”I want to make sure you’re safe” , when she stated she wanted to leave, ”you’ve had a lot to drink” . She hadn’t - she wasn’t even tipsy, and she knew herself well, but was too exhausted to protest, and too weak to do anything if he decided to get violent. Instead, she begrudgingly went along with it, her phone ready to call Hailey if worst comes to worst. And of course, she’d only go as far as the Square, not trusting him with where she lived.
But as they were walking, Roisin couldn’t ignore the sudden boldness he suddenly gained. It started with feather light touches, arms grazing, but soon turned to arms around hips, groping hands, lecherous and unabashed looks.
She tried to push him away, but he was too persistent; tried to whisper him to stop, but her words was too quiet. She didn’t even know where she was - this wasn’t the way to the Square.
Finally, she found her voice, squeaking out a plea for him to stop. She shrunk down the second it escaped her mouth, and he seemed a lot taller than he did in the club, and his face was suddenly contorted with anger, and his grip had really tightened on her arm, and-
“Hey Rosie, I can’t believe it’s you! It’s been so long!”
Both suddenly turned around, the guy seeming infuriated. Stood in front of them was a tall, blue-inked girl, who was bristling angrily under her sweet exterior. Roisin jumped on the opportunity immediately, voice still shaky. “O-oh! Yeah… it really h-has been,” she mumbled, forcing a smile. She turned to her ‘date’. “I, um, think I’ll be s-safe walking with my friend now…”
He glared at her, and then at the intruding girl. “Whatever.” And stalked off.
As soon as he was out of earshot, the other girl immediately came up to her, concern wiping off the hostile look on her face. She looked down on Roisin, tentacles curling in the strangest little way, arms raising to hold her comfortingly before thinking better of it, unsure of her next move. The smaller girl held her gaze, before giving an endearing wide smile and burying her face into her shoulder, trying not to cry. Stunned, the taller nodded, rubbing her back through her shirt, not daring to touch bare skin. She whispered little comforts into her pointed ear.
“Th-thank you,” Roisin managed finally, pulling away from the other girl’s warm embrace. “I, uh, didn’t catch your name…?”
Chuckling, she swept a tentacle out of her face. “My name’s Arya.”
“Roisin,” she replied, feeling another smile spread across her face at the other girl’s amusement,
“Guess I hit real close there, huh?” she remarked, throwing her arms out. “How unfortunate that you were named after your soulshade.”
Roisin took a moment to get a good look at Arya, noticing her toned arms peeking out of her pulled up sleeves of her leather jacket, and more notably, the numerous little lightning bolts that sparked their way across the tan skin. From the rips in her acid wash jeans, she probably had them down her thighs as well. She squinted at the colour, confused at the shade, but maybe the low light was playing with her eyes.
Arya cocked her head. “We just standing out here? I’d be happy to walk you home, but I understand if you wouldn’t-”
“No! I wanna walk with you!” she exclaimed, just a little too rushed. What was happening to her? She was acting so childish. “I-I mean, uh…”
Her eyes, those stunning purple eyes, met with her own. “Lead the way,” she assured her softly.
Nodding, Roisin went to take the other’s hand, before suddenly faltering, looking for permission. The taller girl smiled, and took her hand, squeezing it slightly, She felt like she was going to collapse - cod, was this the drink? - but closed her fingers around her, thumb grazing the back, across a miniscule little stain.
Arya flinched back, eyes widening.
The rose-inked squid chided herself, hating how bold she’d suddenly been. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have- I-”
“C-can I touch you?”
She was taken aback. “H-huh?” She looked down, conflicted, before meeting her unfaltering look. “Y-yeah,” she decided, confused at the sudden trust she felt.
Suddenly nervous, the bluenette’s ears twitched as she stood square in front of her, hands unsure of themselves as she held them up. She breathed in deeply, before exhaling, shoulders falling slack, before her palm pressed against her stomach without warning, fingers settling around her side, unsure. Shakily, she let out another gasp, taking her right arm and wrapping it over her shoulder, hand gracing the back of her neck. At the other’s reaction, she grinned sheepishly, her hold falling relaxed and more heavy.
Meanwhile, Roisin was positively burning . As soon as those fingers so much as grazed her glowing inkstains, she had wanted to jump back, but she couldn’t, like she’d grasped a live wire, the current forcing her to keep clutching onto it, but it was nothing compared to the moment she’d closed the circuit, holding the back of her neck firmly. The feeling was unlike anything she could remember, almost unbearable, a hundred milliamps to her heart. She was struggling to breathe evenly.
They met eyes.
Arya’s smile had been replaced by a smirk, eyes wide as she watched the smaller girl was completely overcome, and she decided to show her mercy by letting go, before taking a step away, hands raised smugly. Immediately, she shuddered back, mouth falling open, voice high and squeaky. “I, uh- was that-?”
“I… think so.” The taller girl smiled, the spark in her eyes betraying her cool and collected pretense. After a beat, “I think we should get you home, first. You need the rest.”
Roisin could only nod numbly, so completely taken aback by everything that had happened in the space of fifteen or so minutes, feeling her hand scooped up again. When they hadn’t moved, she looked up, and cocked her head. “Go on,” she chuckled, gesturing her to lead the way.
“O-oh, yeah…”
As she curled up that night, with a new contact in her phone and a lengthy explanation she owed to Hailey, she fell asleep easily, the first time in too long.