"Y'all know what time its is! It's Off the Hook coming at you LIVE from Inkopolis Square" sang the pop icons voices from the radio.
"No… just a few more minutes…" said a very sleepy inkling, reaching blindly to silence the blaring device. The inkling miserably failed in her attempts and smacked the radio off the nightstand, unplugging it from the socket and sending it falling to the ground. The inkling lay still in the bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of the city below, beginning to wake and start the day.
Time to get up…
The inkling groaned and sat up in the small, yet comfortable bed. To the right stood a nightstand, a small lamp sat on top accompanied by a charging cable and her Squidphone 10. A shelf clung to the wall above the bed, slightly crooked. A couple picture frames and a red laundry clip was all the weight it could hold. To the left lay the window, blinds half open. Beneath the window was the city of Inkopolis, a bustling hub for cephalopod culture and the location of Inkopolis square and Deca tower, the site where inklings and octolings could participate in turf war, the most popular sport around.
The inkling tumbled out of bed and staggered over to the window. She yawned loudly as she peered out the window. And while the view was certainly not one that would win any awards, the young cephalopod found it comforting to gaze out upon the city. It was a chilly Squidtember morning and she shivered as a gust of chilled air blew across her face. In the distance, the mighty Deca tower loomed, the Great Zapfish entwined around the soaring spire.
She tore herself away from the view and walked towards the bathroom to begin her morning routine. She took off her pajamas and hoped into the shower, warm ink came flowing down, enveloping the room in steam.
She turned the knob to turn the shower off and stepped out. She put on some underwear before quickly brushing her teeth. She paused and gazed into the mirror.
Her eyes were a piercing blue, it was the first thing everybody noticed about her. Her turquoise coloured tentacles were long and usually kept tied in a messy bun, but were now draped across her shoulders, framing her face.
Today is an important day. I cannot mess up this meeting.
The inkling was jerked out of her trance by a loud knock at the door.
"Hey Cynthia, you awake yet?"
"Just a minute" I called. I hurried to my dresser and threw on a pair of leggings and a Negative longcuff sweater. I grabbed a pair of socks and hopped towards the door, pulling them on as I went. I unlatched the door and pulled it open.
In the doorway stood another inkling. He had stormy gray eyes, His teal tentacles were tied up in a neat ponytail and he wore a reel sweat that was one size too big for him and tall boots that he called 'Neo octoling boots' or something. He was slightly Taller than me and twice as confidant. He looked nothing like me. And he was my brother.
"Hey Lucas, what are you doing here, i thought you already left for work? Doesn't Sheldon need you right now? Don't you have a shift?" I asked him, moving away from the door to let him in.
He lived in the apartment next to mine, so they were conjoined. He was currently paying for both of them right now. Ever since our parents were killed by a devastating hurricane that struck the city over a decade ago, he had taken care of me. He currently worked for Sheldon at Ammo Knights in the weapons development testing division. It paid well but i knew that we would not be able to support the both of us forever. Which is why i was applying for jobs. That reminded me, I had to get my stuff organized. I was still nervous as hell about my job interview with one of the most prestigious clothing stores in all of Inkopolis.
"Why do you think sis?" replied the inkling chuckling, who was now siting down on my couch. "Today is your job interview, right? I wanted to see how you were faring. I know how nervous you get about these things"
"Heh, thanks bro, but you didn't have to do this, I'm quite capable on my own"
"I know you are, but that doesn't mean I won't watch out for you. That, is what we older bothers are for" he said, gesturing to himself in a very regal way, smirking at me.
"I know, which is why I'm getting a job, so I can help you out as well, I just hope I can land one"
"Cynthia, you'll be fine, and even if you don't get the job, just know that everything will be okay. I can take care of you for a little longer. Sheldon is a good employer, he pays me well enough to keep both of us alive."
"I know, and you've done so much for me, but I'm tired of weighing you down…"
"Stop right there! You are not 'weighing me down' and you are going to go to this interview and knock his non-existent socks off!" shouted Lucas, standing up from his seat and coming over to me. "Don't worry, I've got your back, that's why I took time off work, I knew you'd be second guessing yourself, so I came to give morale support. i didn't want you to back down"
"Ha, me? back down? Never!"
His eyebrow shot up.
"Woah, look at the time, we need to get going Cynthia if you want to be there early"
"Oh yeah, you're right, let me get my things" I gasped.
I ran to my room, grabbed my phone and rushed back to the door, grabbing my long black coat from the hook as I exited my apartment into the hall. I just stepped out when I quickly stopped and ran back inside. I hopped up onto my bed and grabbed my studio headphones from my shelf. Just in case I needed to relax.
When I returned to the hall Lucas was their waiting
"Ready Cynthia?"
"As I'll ever be" I replied, exhaling a large breath of air.
"Oh, you forgot to tie your tentacles" exclaimed Lucas. "Never mind, I'll tie it for you on the monorail"
We hurried to the station and boarded the 8:45 to Inkopolis. On the way there, Lucas had me face the window as he took an elastic band from his pocket and began bunching my tentacles at the back of my head. He hadn't done this for me since i was a little child, it felt nice, it was calming.
"Hey Lucas, thanks for always being their for me?"
"No problem, I know you would have done the same for me"
"Okay… all done. we have an hour before your meeting" lets get some breakfast I'm hungry."
The monorail spoke in an electronic voice, "now arriving at Inkopolis Square"
"This is our stop, come on, I'm buying" said Lucas as he stood up to leave
We exited the station and made our way to the café next to Deca tower. We couldn't find a place to sit so we both just ordered mochas and began walking around the square. Lucas was busy talking, I wasn't paying much attention to him, I was trying to stay calm
We walked over to a table near Ye Old Clothe Shoppe to wait until my scheduled interview time.
A jellyfish stepped out of the store and beckoned me to enter
We both stood up.
"Good luck Cynthia, he said" he came over and hugged me.
"Thanks, I'm going to need it" I finally stuttered. I followed the jellyfish into the store. I was nervous as hell. He led me into a small office tucked away behind the counter for check-out.
Take a deep breath, and in we go.
Jelfonzo greeted me enthusiastically as I entered, shaking my hand.
"welcometh, I presume you be'th Cynthia. I am did please to meeteth thee. I behold f'rward to seeth what thee has't to off'r"
. . . .
So, how was that? It's my first attempt at a fanfiction so forgive me if its terrible.
Anyway, the action picks up in chapter 2 so please stay tuned and tell me what you think so far.
Oh, BTW, this is a different telling of the original, I felt it flowed smoother, so if you've read the first version you should re-read the first two chapters, there are some pretty significant changes.
Au Revoir!