Snapshots of an Unexamined Life

by EikaPrime

Pearl Houzuki is a spoiled rich kid. Pearl Houzuki got the Manta Maria for a birthday present as a squidling. Pearl Houzuki's parents own Camp Triggerfish. Everyone knows Pearl Houzuki. But nobody knows Pearl. A companion to Snapshots of an Unlived Life, this story takes a look at the moments that make Pearl: from the missing zapfish in Splatoon 1 through Octo Expansion. COMPLETE

1. Broken

Broken

Remember, darling, there is an us and a them to the world.
Those less well off will try to fool you.
They believe their lives are harder than ours.
They're wrong. Our lives are even harder.
Because everyone is out for our wealth.

Pearl throws herself off the stage and into the arms of the crowd. As they carry her along, arms upon arms, Pearl keeps screaming: "ALL THESE FUCKING DUDES BE FUCKING SLEEPING! FUCKING! DUDES! BE FUCKING! SLEEPING!" Even without a mic, her voice carries over and through the crowd, more so as she all-out screams.

The crowd screams with her, and Pearl is deposited back on stage. She turns around, grabs the mic, and screams one more time-

and the speakers break, with a crunching shatter. Sparks flare out at the audience, who scream themselves, and half the lights-the lights there are-go out. Pearl stands there dumbly, mic in hand, and turns to her bandmates. "What?"

"Don't act like you don't know, Houzuki," growls the urchin on guitar.

Pearl frowns at him. "Look, it's not my fault, okay?" She remembers to lower the microphone this time, barely noticing all the people streaming out. "The wiring in this pace-"

"Is better than any of the other bars and clubs we've played at, and you still broke it!" The jelly slams down his guitar, no doubt breaking it.

Pearl swallows, her mouth dry. "I'll pay to have it fixed-"

"Doesn't matter anymore," says the keyboardist. She swipes one tentacle out of her face. "I'm with them. We're better off without you, Houzuki."

Pearl stares at them, at their impassive, angry faces-tired of broken equipment, tired of being kicked out of venues, tired of music, tired of her.

Pearl drops the mic on the ground and storms out. She yanks open the back door of the car and flings herself onto the long seat before it closes behind her; Reef starts the car without comment.

Pearl doesn't move, doesn't react, just lays there, on her stomach, her head jammed into the seat, and doesn't cry. Because she's been kicked out of a band.

Again.

And she should have seen it coming.