Chapter Description:

Ever wondered what turf wars is like for your Inklings and Octolings? Time for me to find out, around getting used to living in Inkopolis.

Disclaimers:
Splatoon is owned by Nintendo
Spike is my own OC, as is the currently unnamed Sea Urchin.

Spike explained that he would give me a few days to get a feel for living in Inkopolis before he actually did anything, which gave me time to explore the normally off-limits areas and come up with some ideas for what kind of gear set I wanted.

I'll… freely admit that fashion is really not my thing. I've never had an eye for what's fashionable and what isn't. One of the advantages of my fashion options being limited to only match-legal gear is that most of the options don't look completely terrible.

That being said, I quickly discovered that you can still make some combinations that are such hideous crimes against fashion sense that even I can recognise them. So since Spike had decided I'd wear what was practical for matches, I took a leaf from his book and decided not to care about abilities, I just picked what I liked.

I'm sure there are those who don't like what I ended up with. A simple Short Beanie (I've never got used to my 'hair' as an Octoling), the FA-01 Jacket, and the Red Hi-Horses because I just like chunky red footwear. Spike didn't seem to object to it, at least.

While I had the time to myself, I tried to find the magic Sea Urchin, but in addition to being very mysterious, he was also very elusive. I even tried bugging Murch about it, but he absolutely refused to say anything. All I was able to find out was the Sea Urchin's name, Neon.

I also spent time at the Shoal, which… wasn't easy for me since I'm just not a social person. It wasn't helped once people realised just who I was - or rather, they realised that I was the bad player that Spike had dragged in. I got mixed responses when that emerged. Some were curious about humanity (of course), others took the entirely unsympathetic view of, "You had this coming."

Some, however, were more understanding and helped me adjust to the differences between the human and Splatoon worlds, as well as helping to get me started on prep for my match. There was one Inkling who went by the name of Ace who was happy to help me out for one reason only.

"Your Inkling has a bit of a reputation," he explained to me once. "He's not just irritable, he's got a short temper and anger management issues. More than a few of us have had to talk him down - and some of them, like me, know what it's like when he gets physical."

"Physical? You mean he actually hit you? I thought I saw rules forbidding that in here."

"Never stopped him before. He got thrown out each time, but it doesn't change that it happened. Usually it happened right after you made another ill-fated attempt to play, which of course only aggravated him."

I knew Ace didn't mean it as harshly as others had said it, but after some of the reactions I'd had, I always felt a mix of shame and anger at myself, and it showed. "I did keep trying," I said defensively. "I just…"

"You don't have to justify yourself to me. Spike might rage about having a bad player for so long, and he's not wrong that it's uncommon, but we all know we can't help it. We don't get to choose our players, and we don't get to do anything about their skill."

"Except where Neon is concerned, apparently."

Ace scowled. "Most of us know better than to take a risk on him. There are… rumours about some of his costs. Things like-" I didn't get to find out what, as he vanished in front of me. As startling as it was, it also wasn't uncommon - it just meant that his player had loaded in, so of course just like me with Spike, he'd been taken back to Inkopolis Square. I'd have to find out what he had to say about Neon later.

Around just trying to socialise, I did take part in some duels with others that were off-duty, though not often by myself. I quickly learned that Spike had been right - what I'd been through was definitely not enough for me to go up against an experienced Inkling.

These matches helped me find what kind of weapons I was good at. I… wanted to be good with dualies, but just… no. Even Ace once pointedly told me to stop trying. I'm ok with rollers, and to a lesser extent brushes, and I can sort of use a charger… as long as others can watch my back. I'm better at awareness than I used to be, but not by much.

Mostly however I found myself using the regular old Splattershot. It was very close to the Octo Shot, which in turn was one of the most common weapons I got to use in Deepsea Metro. It's a pretty plain weapon… but I had a feel for it, and it got the job done.

I also made a point of visiting Deca Tower daily to get a chance to look at stages in Recon mode, getting a feel for what they were like in first-person. Of course, I couldn't do it when the stage was being used for a match, and more than a few times I had to quickly vacate because of an impending match.

Interestingly, even when it was available, I noticed that I couldn't visit Salmon Run stages this way. I even asked at the Grizzco office, but was told that it was simply too risky to let anyone look around during a Salmon Run. Since there was no one in the office when it was closed, I couldn't even ask about a visit outside of Salmon Run time.

Eventually of course, Spike decided it was time to play again. Unlike Ace, I actually happened to be at the apartment when I was suddenly in the square, although it did interrupt the game I was playing, a virtual version of Tableturf Battles, which was annoying.

"Time to get you some more experience," I heard him say. "First though, you're going to have to be me for the first zone of Octo Canyon, then you'll get your first taste of turf wars. Doesn't look like Salmon Run is available at the moment though, so you'll have to wait to get your first taste of that."

Which was annoying, because that was one of the modes I was actually the most curious about. Grizzco seems to open whenever they feel like it though, so there wasn't anything I could do about this.

Having spent all my time in my new Octoling form for all this time, and become accustomed to it, once I reached Octo Canyon and emerged in Spike's Inkling form… I keenly felt the differences between Inklings and Octolings. It's subtle, but I definitely noticed them and started to understand why Spike didn't want to be the one to turn Octoling.

I also can't say I like the Hero Suit, particularly the hoodie. Do you have any idea how stiff that collar is on it? And that's not to meant that those headphones are forever clipping the hood. And those snow boots might complement the look, but they are heavier than they look.

Despite this, it didn't slow me down at all, though that might just have been because Spike had control. He rather pointedly commented, "I'll show you how this first stage should have been played," before taking me in.

I'd completed it with him, of course. The last thing I'd done before he'd forced me into this situation. Naturally, it took far less time under his control, and the other stages in the first zone also didn't take long.

Even the toaster boss wasn't that hard, and having faced it once before down in Deepsea Metro - and in a more difficult form at that - meant that not only was it not much of a challenge for Spike, I didn't feel anxious about the fight.

"See how easy things are when you can actually play properly?" Spike remarked afterwards. Sometimes I think he made these remarks knowing that I couldn't reply, because if I could it would have started an argument.

I was happy to be back to my own Octoling form once back in Inkopolis, of course. Well, Spike might have decided how I looked as one, but I was still more comfortable as an Octoling.

He took me straight into turf wars, my first experience being on Port Mackerel with the Enperry Splat Dualies, Spike unknowingly rubbing it in that I wished I was good with dualies. I quickly learned that dualies were his most favoured weapon, making it even worse for me.

If you thought turf wars are hectic for you, you should spare a thought for what it looks like for us in first person. Even when I'm not under Spike's control, I don't have any kind of view of the whole map. I can't see whether or not my team-mates have been splatted. Super jumps for me are always blind. Spike might be able to tell if it's safe, but I can't.

On top of that, I don't hear any music unlike you, but I can hear the sounds of the match, and that's often the only indication I have that someone's been splatted - and unless I see it, I don't know who or which team. I can see a lot less than you can too, since you have a third-person view. Taken together it's… hectic just doesn't begin to cover it.

And yet, I love it. I can easily understand just why so many are drawn to turf wars in-universe, and how it became such a popular sport. It might be noisy, chaotic and absolutely frustrating when I get splatted. But for all that sports have never really been my thing, even I can get behind this. It's fun, and I can't deny I like the adrenaline rush that each match gives - especially on a victory.

And that's just turf wars alone. Spike played several matches (taking about five attempts to get Sturgeon Shipyard, the other map in the rotation) before giving me a break from turf wars, and showed me something interesting.

"Watch this," he said once I was back in the square. "Look over at where you spawn in when I start playing."

I thought I didn't have any choice - but felt the now-familiar feeling of his control fading. The square became more populated, as it always did when I wasn't controlled, but what I noticed most was Spike's Inkling avatar poofing into existence ahead of me.

"I can't see you from out here, of course," he told me. "But it means I can give you a break while I still play. Pretty important since I want to get your feedback on things, and I can't do that when controlling you."

"Give me a few moments," I murmured, quickly moving around the corner to the closed Grizzco office. I didn't want other people thinking I'd gone crazy talking to myself. "By the way, you forgot to change my gear back."

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, as I got teleported back as he switched back to me - and when he'd re-equipped me and switched again, this time I was rather unceremoniously pushed to one side when his Inkling avatar respawned, forcing me to walk back to Grizzco all over again.

"So what did you think of turf wars?" he pressed me, while I watched his avatar head straight for Deca Tower.

"At least if I lose to you in this mirror match we have to do, I'll have something I can enjoy," I remarked, sounding rather less enthusiastic than I actually felt. "That doesn't mean I'm going to just let you win though, no matter how much I might enjoy this."

"I wouldn't want you to throw the match anyway, I do want to make sure you're a decent challenge for me. I'll try to make sure you get a chance to see as many stages as I can get you into… if the map selection lets me."

"And other weapons? You kinda only used the dualies there."

"I… might have forgotten that bit. Next time, 'kay?"

"Hey if you're doing more turf wars, count me in!"

"Someone's eager," he laughed. "I'm actually trying out ranked battles on myself to make sure I'm decently competent at them before I take you into them. Anyway, I already decided to give you a break every now and then to make sure you want to do more, and so I can get your thoughts about things."

Well at least he was being considerate, despite how he'd treated Ace. I really wanted to play more turf wars though… and while I may not have been as good solo as I was with Spike, at least the Shoal could make that possible.