26 October 2020

Prompt: Costume

Character/Pairing: Dingo King (OC), Inkki (OC kwami)

Rating: T / PG-13 / Teen

Notes: I started this with the idea of going into detail about Ininko's super suit. That's still here, but Idk what the rest is. xD (…technically all Ininko needs to say to activate his power is "ink", but bc it's Dingo and he's Extra he goes, "Awwww…you made me INK!")

"You're taking this better than most people would."

It's to his merit – how well he's taking it – that Dingo's eyebrow only twitches a little. The little octopus on his shoulder squirms a little, and the feeling is…disturbing, at best.

"I told you: I know what kwamis are," he says, reaching for the pot of coffee the little guy had insisted he make. Inkki squirms on his shoulder again before taking off, and Dingo's glad for the reprieve. He knows Sass spends half his time coiled up in Luka's hoodie, but Sass isn't slimy. "My best mate has been defending Paris with a Miraculous for years."

Inkki only hums as Dingo reaches for a mug. He grins when he sees the teal kraken mug his cousin had found online somewhere. He wonders if he'll let him take it home with him.

"Have you?" Inkki asks once he's floating in the coffee. He bobs a little, submerging himself before stretching his little tentacles out to float.

"Have I what?" he asks, hopping up on the counter beside the mug. He's filled his own with the rest of the coffee, and he takes a long drag from his mug. Part of him thinks he's still asleep.

"Been defending Paris for years?" Inkki clarifies, and Dingo shrugs.

"LB doesn't really trust me with a Miraculous," he says. At Inkki's look, Dingo shrugs again. "She's dating my mate. He got really sick last winter, and I kinda stepped in then? I'm not a very good snake, though."

Inkki makes a sound that could be interpreted as laughing, and bubbles rise up around him.

"No," he says, slapping a tentacle against the surface of the coffee. "I know Sass. I suppose you wouldn't be."

There's a little gleam in his eyes as he spins in the coffee and adds, "I think you'll be a good octopus, though."

Which is what finds Dingo in his temporary bedroom a short while later. The little ring that Inkki had been clinging to in the water – the one that had glinted in the sun and first caught Dingo's attention – was curled around his finger. It looked like a pewter tentacle, something offbeat and kitschy and inconspicuous. Recalling how Luka's bangle looked untransformed, Dingo supposes that's the point.

"So how does this work?" Dingo asks, twisting his hand to inspect the ring from various angles. Inkki's floating by his head, smirking. Dingo shoots him a little grin. "What're my right words, octopus king?"

"To use my Miraculous, you must say, Inkki, Dive Deep!" Inkki says. Dingo nods, curling his hand into a fist.

"And what's your power?" he asks. Inkki gives him a look, and he rolls his eyes. "Don't look at me like that. Sass is a snake, right? You'd think he'd be venom or hypnosis or something, not limited time control."

"If you cry out Ink, you can attack your enemies with paralyzing ink," Inkki says, and Dingo's grin widens a little.

"Much cooler than time," he says, raising his fist towards the little kwami. Inkki just watches him, and he wiggles his fingers at him. Inkki remains still, and Dingo sighs. "Buddy, we gotta get you up to date with the times. It's called a fist bump."

"…I don't have fists," Inkki points out, and Dingo can only laugh as he shakes his head.

"Ok," he says. "Let's do this. Inkki, Dive Deep!"

There's a flash of blue-green light, and when it clears Dingo is blinking at his mirror through large, golden goggles with blue lenses. He doesn't know quite how to feel as he stares at his reflection. The costume of the Octopus Miraculous is certainly a lot more…revealing than any he's seen so far.

Really, it's nonexistent.

The most concealing part of the suit – if you can even call it a suit – is the blue and gold knee-length sarong tied around his hips. There are golden bangles – two each, totaling eight – on his wrists and ankles, and his feet are bare. No boots. No pants. No shirt. Eight more bangles – necklaces? – wrap around his neck, all in gold. Large golden goggles with blue lenses cover his eyes, giving him a mad scientist vibe, and a blue scarf is wrapped around his forehead. His hair has turned a dark blonde, stretching out behind him in eight thick dreads that would almost reach his waist if they'd fall flat. There are chunky blue beads threaded throughout them, reminding him of Inkki's spots. And yeah, he looks sick, but…he can't imagine this super suit is very practical.

He's been in akuma fights before, both as a hero and as a civilian. There's no way he's coming out of any battle with Hawkmoth unscathed. Shit, just running around Paris's rooftops for patrol is going to tear his feet up…

"Inkki," he sighs, lodging his hands firmly on his hips, "I'm not quite sure this is gonna work, mate."