Arc 1 Chapter 4 Rising Troubles
NOTE: Have been busy lately. I haven't had time to go back over the chapters to check on grammar and narration mistakes. Another short chapter, I was running out of ideas and didn't put a whole lot of effort into this chapter so bear with me the Arc will slowly get better.
As the weeks progressed and the days flew by, Blake seemed like, that he accepted his new life more and more. Blake got a job at the market across from Mimi's clothes store always getting a wave from his inkling crush. Who is still trying to find the courage to tell him how she feels.
Cuttlefish was still running errands for his friend Ammoses, while every now and then being bombarded by questions about Blake. Judd sometimes asks questions about Blake too, while other times just eating or napping.
Octavio was doing gigs with his DJ skills all over the valley. Though Octavio at times was getting exhausted from it and was losing time to hang out with Cuttlefish and Blake.
Octavio had been appointed to be the leader and chancellor for the octarians, ensuring good relations between the races and that the octarian society had sufficient crops and supplies and that they were treated fairly by the inklings.
As time went by people started to notice that the tide was coming closer towards the land and that the sea levels were slowly rising up. This was eventually brought up to the inkling council and Octavio himself.
When Octavio found time from the DJ business and governing the octarians he decided that he wanted to spend what time he had with Cuttlefish and Blake. Let's hope that Octavio's new role doesn't cloud his judgment and relationship between the races or Cuttlefish.
It was the weekend and Blake and Cuttlefish were looking forward to some time off. The two of them ate breakfast and got ready to head out the door.
As the two of them walk out they soon see an approaching Octavio.
"Hey, Octavio," says Cuttlefish.
"How's the DJ business been doing?" asked Blake.
"Great you guys, I've been booked for months now and it's getting exhausting," says Octavio.
"your complaining?" asked Cuttlefish.
"huh, no it's just I like to have some time to myself for a good while and hang out with my friends," exclaims Octavio. "Hey, you guys want to see the modifications I've done to the DJ booth," asked Octavio.
"Sure," both Cuttlefish and Blake responded. The three soon left the cabin and headed towards Octavio's.
As they walked the path Octavio was talking about his DJ business as well as the appointment of octarian chancellor.
"Wow, I'm proud of you Octavio, I'm sure all the octarians chose you for a reason, " complemented Cuttlefish.
"that's great Octavio, I'm proud too," exclaimed Blake.
"Thanks, you guys, but it's a lot on my plate, I just wish I made more time to spend with you guys, I don't want this to put a constraint on our friendship," said a concerned Octavio.
"I'm sure it won't Octavio, I understand that you're busy with that stuff and I trust that things will work out, we've been friends since we were hatchlings," said a reassuring Cuttlefish.
"You're always the one to ignore the negatives, but thanks, I hope we can stay friends as well as our races, " said Octavio. "That reminds me, I have some concerns I need to talk to you about, but It can wait for now," said Octavio.
The three of them finally reach Octavio's and walk inside.
At Octavio's, Cuttlefish and Blake were examining the newly designed DJ booth. It had a Japanese architecture to it with what looked like a torii behind the turntable with stage lights attached to the top of them.
"So what do you guys think?" asked Octavio.
"Wow, I'm impressed Octavio," said Blake.
"It looks awesome, " said Cuttlefish.
"I also got an outfit to match it, wait here for a moment," said Octavio.
Octavio left and came back wearing the new DJ outfit. It made him look like a samurai with helmet and armor.
"So...?" asked Octavio.
"It's different," says Blake.
"looking fresh," complimented Cuttlefish.
"Thanks, you guys, I've been working on this thing for a month now," said Octavio rubbing the back of his head and red-faced. "Hey, I also wanted to bring you here so we could spend some time together, We haven't hung out for a while," said Octavio.
"sounds good Octavio, but what did you wanna do?, asked Cuttlefish.
"how about we eat first," suggested Octavio.
"Sounds good," said Blake.
Octavio set up a Japanese style dinner while all three of them sat on the floor eating. Octavio held up a bamboo cup of tea and said: "to friendship, let it not falter,". Blake and Cuttlefish held up their cups to toast. The three of them continued to eat and then headed off to spend time together before Octavio's next show.
It has been nearly a year since Blake was pulled out of the cryostasis pod. Blake was wearing traditional clothes that he had gotten, he was sitting in front of the Cuttlefish's cabin. Blake had much running through his mind while he was spacing out not paying attention to a figure waving getting his attention.
"Hey! you ok bucko, "asked Cuttlefish.
"huh...yeah I'm fine," Blake says depressingly.
"you don't sound like, it's...about does dreams isn't it," replied Cuttlefish.
Blake remained silent as he got up. "I just can't remember anything before ya'll found me. I feel like my memories are slowly coming back to me, but my head hurts to think about it," said Blake as he sighed.
"Things will come back to you in time bucko," said Cuttlefish.
"I hope so," replied Blake.
Blake and Cuttlefish started to walk up the path towards the village when they were stopped by a figure, it was Octavio.
"Octavio, how's it going," said Cuttlefish as he waved.
"Cuttlefish, I need to talk to about something...alone," said Octavio as pulled Cuttlefish aside.
Blake was baffled and wondered what was going on. The two of them started to walk off.
"Hey bucko, I'll catch up with you later," says Cuttlefish walking away with Octavio.
Oh...ok then, see you later Cuttlefish," said Blake as he made his way towards the village.
Blake reached the village wondering why Cuttlefish and Octavio had to leave somewhere without him.
Blake looked around noticing the inklings and octarians weren't hanging around each other like they used to. Blake noticed also, that there was not as much produce at the market. The prices were also going up.
"I wonder why everything is costing higher lately," wondered Blake.
As Blake had left the market place, a figure had walked behind him," he...he...hey Blake," said the figure. Blake turned around and saw a female orange-tentacled inkling in a kimono look at him with a blush.
"Hi, Mimi," says Blake.
"What have you been up to lately," says Mimi shyly.
"umm...nothing really," responded says, Blake, looking down scratching the back of his head.
"I...I...I thought we could hang out for a while," says a nervous Mimi.
"Sure, since Cuttlefish had to leave with Octavio for some reason," replied Blake.
Mimi and Blake soon left the market with Mimi towing Blake behind her.
The two of them headed down to a Japanese style garden in the center of the village.
The two of them walked around enjoying the peaceful scenery and looking at the little reflecting pools.
Both of them decided to sit down and just enjoy the serenity of the garden.
"wow, this place is beautiful," complimented Blake.
"it's my favorite place in the whole village, I always like coming here when I'm not running my store," said Mimi calmly.
Mimi was getting more relaxed as she was hanging Blake. She felt that this may be the best time to let Blake know how she felt about him, hoping they could get to know each other better.
"um...Blake...I wanted...to tell you something," said Mimi with her head turned away hiding her anxiety.
"Yeah, Mimi?" asked Blake
It's just...I...wanted to...get to know you better," said a Mimi with a blush.
Mimi then noticed that her hand was on top of his and jerked with a red face and turned away from Blake. Blake also had the same reaction and blushed, rubbing his arm.
"oh...uhhhh...sure, Mimi...about," replied Blake rubbing his arm and head turned, realizing what she was truly wanted to ask him.
I...uh...just...How do I say this," said Mimi stuttering with nervousness.
"Mimi you don't have to be shy, just talk to me like anyone else," said a comforting Blake.
"It's just...(Sigh), I wanna get this off my chest... , Blake I... like you," Mimi muttered.
"what was that Mimi?" asked Blake.
"I like you!" Mimi shouted jumping off the bench then covering her mouth with a beet-red face.
Blake didn't know what to think or what to say and remained silent from the surprising situation. For a moment had conflicting thoughts running through his mind until he spoke up.
"Mimi,I...like you too, but as a friend, I'm sorry," said Blake.
"huh?" replied a Mimi with a shocked look on her face.
"It's just...I don't think anyone would accept it...An inkling and human going out together, I don't want to put you in a predicament," replied Blake looking Mimi in the eyes.
"But...I...understand," said Mimi sadly with tears starting to form.
Mimi looked turned away wiping a tear from her eye. She walked away with her head down and ears folded. Blake couldn't help but feel bad as he watched Mimi walk out of the garden in a depressed state.
"I'm sorry Mimi," Blake muttered to himself.
After a moment he got up and left the garden and made his way back to Cuttlefish's, but not before heading back to the market to get some grub.
Later at Octavio's place, Octavio and Cuttlefish were discussing serious matters.
"I know we're friends Cuttlefish, but this is getting serious," said Octavio. he paused for a moment and turned back to Cuttlefish. "Cuttlefish, the seawaters are rising, and we're losing some of the lands around the valley," said Octavio worried.
"yes I've noticed Octavio," replied Cuttlefish.
"What are we to do? We will start losing farmland soon and food will start getting more and more scarce," says Octavio. "the inklings and octarians are squabbling amongst each other." says Octavio again.
"I'll see what I can do, the best thing to do is ensure our people that the waters will go back down," says Cuttlefish.
"Well, you know how vulnerable we are to water and that we can't swim Cuttlefish, I don't want to treat this lightly. I am representing my race after all," says Octavio.
"yes I know, but I don't want to create a panic neither Octavio, I don't want our races to be up each other throats," says Cuttlefish.
The two of them paused for a moment and were lost in thought, thinking of what to do with the situation.
"We Octavio I can just hope that waters will eventually recede back down and that things will calm down," said Cuttlefish after a moment.
"right, I hope so too. For now, I'll try to talk to my people and try to keep tensions down," responded Octavio.
Cuttlefish and Octavio get up and shake hands.
An hour later Cuttlefish returns to his cabin with Blake waiting on wondering what has been going on.
"Hey Cuttlefish, so what were you and Octavio talking about?' " asked Blake.
"It's just things, nothing worth talking about'" responds Cuttlefish.
"Alright then, well I bought some Krabby cakes for dinner," says Blake.
"I'm not hungry," says Cuttlefish as he slowly makes his way in the cabin.
"Huh?... He never passes up Krabby cakes, I wonder what he and Octavio were talking about?" says a worried Blake.
Cuttlefish and Blake made their way to bed. Cuttlefish hadn't said goodnight or anything before he laid down, which was worrisome.
Blake laid in his hammock what was bothering Cuttlefish. Blake was wondering if had anything to do with Octavio being chancellor for the octarians and if this was putting a bind on their friendship.
Blake for a moment dwelled and eventually feel asleep hoping that things would get better, but overtime the situation was slowly getting worse and worse as the waters were slowly rising on the shores of the valley.
The inklings and octarians were soon put in a dilemma that would change their society and maybe even peace among the races.
Food was getting shorter and shorter and the races were squabbling over the territory.
inklings accused the octarians of having more resources and vice versa.
Octavio and Cuttlefish can hopefully pacify the feuding amongst the races or maybe it would take a human to stop the bickering. The future of the valley was looking grim and friendships were being tested. We shall soon find out.
AFTERTHOUGHTS: This chapter is short and brief. It is more less a prelude for troubles to come. Let's just hope everybody is prepared especially, Blake seeing that he couldn't accept Mimi's feelings and Cuttlefish and Octavio are hiding the fact that sea waters are slowly rising, putting everyone in danger as to not cause panic.