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Even by Mecha’s standards, this was a new low, concerning their love life. Sure, They had… stooped low before to get the notice of romantic interest(s) also. But that was when they were a school kid. They were on prime time for young love and dumb mistakes then. They could romanticize breaking their pot as a wallflower and earning the love of school rapscallion if they were in their teens. But such efforts merely resulted in being stuck in the school lacrosse team for the year (Their crush didn’t even make the team for being rowdy and uncooperative, and probably actually just wanted an excuse to hit people with sticks). They even learnt a little music for that little shit after lacrosse was a fail, but not enough to keep up with an eventual rock-star.
In hindsight maybe they shouldn’t define themselves through their relations to people. On other hand, they work two blue collar jobs serving people, so…
That inkling was probably too stuck on their ex to notice Mecha, in hindsight (Still seemed to be according to Squitter). With school-crush eventually upgrading to a celebrity crush who probably didn’t even notice Mecha’s existence, lessons were learnt. Moments of courage did not make them brave, and they either had to be consistently brave or not even try: Graduated summa-coward laude for doing all that shit and never once introducing themselves. Got tired for nothing.
And Mecha eventually made peace with that right? Some people are meant to be the supportive cast, even the background cast. Background was comfy, spotlight was scorching and blinding.
Just like the sun as they climbed the crane they were building for Frye (for the world’s biggest crane game). What was their business at the top of the world as they made it, going against all they learnt ?
“Mechanic! Come down and have a meal!”
Mecha thought about staying exactly as they were, pretending not to hear. At least that way they couldn't ruin whatever it was going on between them and Frye. They guessed being stuck in a raft stranded, there was just not that much distance they could admire Frye from. Mecha tried anyway, looking back to the yellow, gleaming dot and meeting the stars within her eyes, which stopped them as they were. They sufficed with a vague hand gesture meaning five minutes when their lips failed them. They wanted to at least get the deck done so there would be a place to put whatever the crane caught before showing Frye and… Nothing after, probably. However, once they climbed down, they were dragged to breakfast by Shiver.
So patronizing. But appreciated, nonetheless. For some rich weirdos, they were uncharacteristically inclusive. Hammering the deck had to wait.
A haircut later, some time more and being swung from the crane that was done just two hours ago by Frye… Mecha was thinking, you know, them being Splatfest presenters and stage announcers made their whole “You ought to know me” attitude make sense. It would have probably worked if it was anyone else, too. But as a part-time mechanic for a Clam Blitz firm, they didn't need Splatcast to know where to be. Plus, since no fish would need a pilot to fly and waste the Splatfest, it was the only break Mecha got. They were not gonna waste time in Anarchy Avenue in their only free days when it was most chaotic.
How was Mecha supposed to know? Bizarros raiding newly discovered islands for treasure were expected to have a sense of self-importance and the usual side of main-character syndrome no matter if they were actually important people or not.
Then again… Their eyes kept gazing over to Big Man, who was Splatsville royalty but didn't carry himself as such. Shiver and Frye were also set to lead Splatsville too, sure, but Big Man was already in charge. If they were less wise, they might've mistaken him as the sane one of Deep Cut, but they knew if he was truly sane he would not be in this situation with them right now. There was no sane one when speaking about Deep Cut.
They did not care to think through what this implied about them, they had weird salt-addled salmon to survive through.
Not to mention, they were an extra screw to a perfectly working machine, not really becoming anything ~of~ Deep Cut. A hopefully temporary arrangement where they got their small share of excitement and nothing more. They didn’t have the guts to ask why they were getting the peer treatment and not as the helper as they were, but they still got the butterflies as they held on tight to Big Man’s torso and let him let loose his showstopper. Manta ray ejected himself from the bot and danced with strong and graceful movements, sending their opponents to their doom, taking Mecha as his danse macabre partner. As they proceeded with the mapping of the isles, some part of Mecha wondered if he would accept an older student such as themselves to that famous dance school. This didn’t leave their lips, of course.
While they were busy thinking…
(“We’ll go home alright… Once we’ve stripped the Spirhalite Islands bare of treasure. Every last piece!”)
(“Aaaay?! (Whaaaaa?!)”)
“C’mon Mechanic, you want more too right?”
Huh?
Why are they expected to speak?
“I’m taking your silence as a yes!”
“Then it’s settled!”
Wait, what is?
(Mecha was a pushover, so odds are they would have been peer pressured to say yes anyway.)
Shiver, democratically elected leader of Deep Cut (by the people of Splatsville), acted as expected of her, as a leader. Frye was chummy, Big Man was friendly, it was Shiver who brought some consistency to Mecha’s world. Yes! Mecha was a stranger they didn’t know! A competent one, but someone they needn’t trust so freely!
No sane ones, remember? The giant shark she tamed should have been the proof of that. And it was not like the shark was gonna listen to someone sane, so, stranded Mecha stayed. The least they could do was use those tanks they found to get to treasure Shiver so desperately sought and be done with this elevated role they were given. Shiver treated them as they felt right: A glorified screwdriver in a world full of golden screws to steal. That got away from Mecha, they mean, like a tool? You get what they mean.
Shiver was greedy, she was possessive of what she was given: A city of people who regarded her with respect, and two partners in crime who loved her to the point of disrespect. So going into the throes of danger meant keeping her treasures safe to the point of facing danger with Mecha alone.
Wish she wasn’t as intimidating, but Mecha supposed one couldn’t be a leader without it. There were scarier things in the world, like the Flappetizer.
“That nearly went a lot worse.” Shiver said as Mecha gazed at Zamazingo, and when she was up in Mecha’s face, suddenly she was the most dangerous thing again.
“I was sure you were done for! But you are not too shabby, are you?” There was a possessive fondness Mecha would rather not recognize, or they would betray themselves. Shiver too must have sensed it, backing away and mumbling about Mecha being smart enough. When they looked at her to make sense of the world, she turned away and led their focus to treasure.
True performer, that one. But no treasure was good enough to distract them long enough to not watch Shiver sing, and wonder if Master Mega could smell the blood rushing to their cheeks. Because you know, shark and blood.
Yep, not good enough of a distraction, as they dared to gaze back at Shiver. Then averted it once more.
Mecha could watch Frye most comfortably when she was napping around in a sunbeam like Judd, but this did mean they were not privy to her eyes. Just one of the things cute about her, though the way her long ears curved when she was happy was unbeatable (Mecha perhaps had a type in inklings). It was instead Shiver and Big Man keeping them company as they sipped the tea made from the isle’s foliage together.
Beyond thinking maybe they don’t need hot leaf juice as the sun was beaming down, there was a sense of vague anxiety as the other two sipped unknown plant blend, so needless to say, Mecha did not partake.
They missed coffee and their sleep schedule was all better for it. What horror. They instead expanded the test range to not look over to “tea” drinkers. They had the tendency to occupy themselves whenever they were anxious, which made them a good mechanic. When they were extra stressed, they learnt a new thing. Like piloting. They were an OK pilot, despite what the helicopter crash may imply.
Knock, knock, knock, hammer, hammer, hammer.
“Ay! Ay? (The test range is pretty big now! That should help with Manta Dance practice, huh, mechanic?)” Dance was a new hobby, technically. They wanted to do more of it when they were back to the mainland.
“…You say that like you usually have a rider, but haven’t you done that technique alone?” There was a shark-like smile in her face.
Whatever she was implying, they could not tell.
“Ay! Ay. Ay! (Hey! I’m experimenting with my technique, is all. Mechanic is helping me define my own take on the tradition!)” Pinkish hue stood out from his green-ish cheeks. It was cute to Mecha, which they distanced themselves from the affect. Although confusion was stronger, they made a mental note to hear out Big Man again whenever they got private time. They found his drive to self-improve endearing, and if they got to help, that would make them feel good as well. Even if they didn’t agree with the assessment they were improving alongside Big Man.
“The way they move, you know they would be a good dancer. But unlucky you, I considered them for Onaga clan first!” Frye was awake, since when?
The moment she stood up, she was dealing soft punches to Big Man. “Fight me!” she said between laughter. Why was Mecha being fought over?
“Hush now, you two.” Two swift but loving blows of Shiver’s fan cut away their play-fighting. “You are scaring the mechanic.” She then turned to the other two.
“Let’s get on with our exhibition while the other two calm down.”
Whatever Shiver said, Mechanic did. Kind of like how they were with Frye, but they didn’t question that.
(Although Mechanic was not in possession of this information, Shiver playfully stuck her tongue out to Big Man as she got into the boat. “No fair.” Frye said to herself with a playful pout as she swung the crane a little bit faster to annoy Shiver. Not enough to hurt, right amount to rattle.)
Mecha preferred to focus on the screw Frye was fiddling with as they fiddled with the weapons. They had been gathering resources to upgrade their only splatling, they knew they needed the fire power without sacrificing their range. “I knew from a glance you were a Splatling main! It fits you!” said Frye as she flashed her huge fanged smile.
They really weren’t. “What makes you say so?”
“You are the type to take time to warm up, but once you do, there is no stopping you from unleashing your true self! Ratatatata!”
“But a lot of weapons have wind-ups.”
“Also when you start talking, you don’t stop.”
“Hey!”
“Just kidding. I like hearing your voice. I also like splatlings. It reminds me of the barrage of my eels!”
“Are you a splatling main?”
“You know I’m not patient enough! I gotta hit stuff with my splatana!”
“I’ll be your backliner then.”
“With me in the front, you in the middle with Big Man and his Slosher, Shiver in the back with the Stringer, we are a proper Turf Team!”
“I don’t do Turf.” Mecha raised an eyebrow. They were a Ranked mechanic, they could not betray themselves like that. “It doesn’t have strategy.”
“Me hitting you hard is the strategy. Like you’re supposed to with the boss.”
“…It’s more satisfying to splat people in Ranked anyway. ”
“See how I got you talking? Splatling behavior!”
Maybe Mecha should try out splatling.
Even if they are out of the meta.
And when they grasped the handles of the splatling, it was with newfound confidence. They had to, to be midliner so the joke went. Although it was an offer given in the heat of the argument, they still fought like there was a place among the team to earn (and even perhaps keep?).
With a slap to the back way too close to ass for comfort, Frye congratulated them: “Two of us got this licked!”
Shiver was graceful, making use of her arms and hands. Frye’s dance? She was lithe with her whole body, making use of all her strength with sure steps and bold moves. Demanded attention, and Mecha gave it all.
Just…
What were the projectors depicting?
Mecha hadn’t had a music chat since… Trade school. They were rusty. They usually disliked the process, but Big Man was invested in it as a producer, so…
“Ay, Ay, Ay! (Front Roe’s singles invoke this nostalgia for a better time, but also that those times are possible again with the right people. That’s what they mean with Sea Me Now!)”
“…I thought,” it wasn’t really *their* thought they were parroting, but whatever to contribute to the conversation, “Squid Squad was Splatlands Rock gentrified into resembling Inkopolis pop.”
“ Ay, Ay? Ay. Ay. Aay…(Well, doesn’t it sound nice when people’s sounds come together? That’s the thing about us. Music brings us together. Wish other people could hear it too…”
They gazed upon Shiver and Frye having an Arcade date together with the machine Mecha set up. Mecha was jealous without knowing who they were jealous of.
“Ay. Ay. (Also you confused Squid Squad with Front Roe. It’s an understandable mistake with their similar sounds.).”
“…Front Roe IS Squid Squad.”
That gave Big Man a pause.
“ Ay…(Wait…)”
“Ay?!?! AY!!! (Front Roe IS Squid Squad?!?! 003SOY didn’t even tell me!!!)” The way he yelled sounded like he had made an enemy without knowing.
Was it not well-known? Suddenly.
“BIG MAN! ARE YOU GUSHING ABOUT INKOPOLIS MUSIC AGAIN?!”
Uh oh?
Squid Jump was forgotten as Frye and Shiver snapped to attention.
As Shiver talked about not being able to look Master Mega in the eyes, Mecha was avoiding eye contact by looking at the soon-to-be yellow plush eel on her hands. But noticing this, Shiver put down her work and took back her fan.
She hit the wooden handle on her seat to gather attention, as she often apparently did in their show (“It has become a habit, you see.”).
“I always had a shred of doubt why such a perfect shark would choose me.”
Shiver did? Out of all people? While Shiver talked of gathering courage, Mecha tried. Genuinely.
“Imagine my surprise when his big, round eyes are pretty cute!”, said Shiv, using the fan to hold Mecha’s face and force them to look. Face her head on.
“Sure, his jagged teeth are scary enough to give you chills…” They felt blood rush to their face, Shiver had that kind of effect on them. “But his greatest weapon is her whole appeal!” Mecha found themselves staring at Shiver’s fang, waiting for the next word.
“So no more doubts! Me and Master Mega are going full throttle together, leaving terror in our wake!” She gently let go of their face.
Shiver said Master Mega had taken a liking to Mecha as well, but the implications of their talk and that Shiver liked them first was not yet registering.
They were nearing the center of the islands, which meant going home soon. Their uncomfy bed, shit coffee and boring routine were a mere days away. And yet, it did not spark the joy they thought it would. Wait, why were all those adjectives negative?
After Big Man was tricked into the next exhibition, Mecha had very little comfort to give, not from a lack of trying, but because it was just not innate to them.
But hadn’t they become a person unlike who they started as already?
Maybe they could say some poetic thing that will inspire the courage they don’t have in Big Man.
“…It’s gonna be OK.” they said, with a crooked and shy smile.
Maybe not. But the smile that spread on Big Man’s face proved it was more than enough.
“Ay… Ay. (Before we go and fight… I had a breakthrough.)”
Mecha made a noise of curiosity.
“Ay. Ay… AY! (The Manta Dance Showstopper is not just an attack. What it’s really about… LOVE!)”
Before Mecha could process, he went on. “Ay. Ay! (It’s about trust in your partner, appreciation of the ocean and the land, and respect for your opponent. So I’ll use that love to fuel a fiery, passionate Manta Dance!)”. His big fins grasped Mecha’s hands . “ Ay! (The next time I dance for you, it will burn brighter and will be seared to perfection!)”
Mecha didn’t know what to do, so they furiously nodded as their ears curled.
“Are you guys ready?!” Frye called from the crane.
Before Mecha could internalize and suppress, Big Man started climbing inside the bot. “Ay. (It’s thanks to you always fighting by my side that I could blow past my limits).”
As Mecha clung to the side of the bot, “Ay! A-AY!!!! (I’m really really grateful! Someday soon, I’ll prove it to you-UUUUU!!!)”
And they blasted off.
GIMA often supplied their helicopters to GrizzCo, in the event of Big Big Run(s). Seven Rings were a familiar sight, but Mecha never thought they would see light pierce seven holes to the sky and they would be actually up-close to see it.
“You ready to take it to them, Mechanic? If they are looking for a fight, we’ll bring one!”
“That naughty Power Egg’s gonna get what’s coming to it. All with your help, of course.”
There was no space for self-deprecation, it was do or die. If they trusted them with the fate of the world, then they must have seen something that wasn’t obvious to them. Something worth trusting.
Facing the end of the world alone, they clung to the trust that was given to them and made the best of it. Even when deprived of their tanks, their companions and even their splatling, they rode the rising tide as golden light illuminated and refracted off the beastly salmon. (Why did it have arms? Why was it praying for?)
Soon, Mecha heard the soft “Ay” of Big Man calling for them above. “Ay! (Come ooon!)”, and they made their leap of faith and didn’t think about what would happen if Big Man didn’t catch them, not one bit, because they trusted him that much. (Maybe they thought about it a little.)
Salmonarch was rising to the sky, its one head splitting into three, a hellish sight that made Mecha wonder if they were even alive.
“Ay? Ay? (Huh? I’m still alive?)”
Case in point.
“Ay! Ay?! (What is this? What’s going on?!)”
“Looks like it’s extending a special invitation… So we should show proper gratitude!”
Mecha took their battle stance.
“You’ll rue this day for the rest of your afterlife.” Shiver said with the cadence of a huntress.
“They are gonna hear how hard we beat you all across the universe!”
“Say it with sizzle… I’m Frye!”
“And you can call me Shiver!”
“Ay! (Big Man in the house!)”
Mecha balled up their fist.
“Plus a rising star among treasure hunters!” Who’s even ..?
“Ay! (The Mechanic, A wrench in your plans!)” HUH?
“Together, making our combined debut…” “…a crew of first class raiders!”
Salmonarch was up against the Invincible… “DEEP FAM”!
…
Guess they were part of that.
Smile and wave 4 fingers.
Mecha liked the sound of that.
“Listen up! It’s going down!”
They locked into their fight stance once more.
“Alright, Let’s dance!”
Mecha had learnt a thing about dancing or two.
And when the apocalypse incarnate didn’t give up, with Shiver and Frye holding their arms and Big Man holding all three, they just had to give saving the world a spin.
Be brave for a change, as Deep Cut chanted their name as if it was a drinking game.
“Surprise Shining Hidden Sleek Anarchy Canvas Overboard Ego Nebula Driiilll… ATTAACK!!”