Splatoon: The Brothers and the Others
Son of War
Hi there! My name is Ari Jabin, I'm fourteen! Oh yeah, I'm an Inkling, too. Mom says I need to get better at my heroic monologues if I want to be a popular Inkling that gets fame and glory, so I'm practicing by talking to myself. Inklings are like…squids, except they stand on two feet, have black rings around their eyes, and only have some tentacles on their heads. I hope that was a good enough explanation, I'm still getting used to this whole, "narrator" stuff. Today, or rather, tomorrow, is the day I first set foot in Inkopolis, because we're moving there from Splatlake City! So excited, even though I'll miss this city, amazing place, you should visit sometimes. Oh, wait hold on, I almost forgot what I looked like!
I have orange tentacles and tan skin, as well as green eyes! The tan mostly from all the beaches mom and dad brought me to when I was a small squid for vacations and stuff. For my birthday, I got a Jungle Hat, I wear that above my Basic Tee and Cream Basics, but I'll make sure to get cooler stuff later.
"Hey! Don't forget me!" A voice called out from behind me.
I smiled, turning around. "Of course I wouldn't, Sari."
Sari's pretty much my favorite cousin. Well, she's really the ONLY cousin I know, but that doesn't stop me from being my favorite. She wears a little plain white headband, as well as a Basic Tee and Cream Basics like me, orange tentacles dropping from her head. She also has my skin color, and the same green eyes as I do.
"Not to mention I would follow this guy to the ends of the earth," Sari stated, hugging me.
"Aw, thanks. Hey, I feel like you would be better off narrating than me!" I told her with a bright grin.
"What? Can you picture me going around declaring and pronouncing?" Sari asked, standing up. "'Look at me, I'm the great Sari!'"
Laughing at her antics, I gave her a playful nudge. "Yeah…but if I'm honest...I'd totally do that."
Sari smirked. "That'll be the day."
We sat together in my room, a small place with hardwood floors and a simple grey wallpaper, decked out with a few posters of one of my favorite bands, a bunk bed in the very back. Together we were laughing and telling jokes, until we could hear someone speak. Turning towards the door of my room, we carefully walked up, and put our ears to the door.
"Ares."
"Yeah?"
"I wanted to talk to you about, you know…"
"Our son? Heh, he's an amazing kid ain't he?"
"Y-Yeah. I just wanted to ask...when are we going to send him to school?"
"...What?"
"He's great at Turf Wars and all…but I'm afraid if we don't do anything, he could be sent down the wrong path."
"...He doesn't need any fancy education or anything. He's fine the way he is, he could very well be the greatest squid Inkopolis could have ever known."
"Ari is just a squid, Ares! You can't possibly expect him to grow without some form of education!"
"Ari will do JUST fine! Have some faith in your son, Zuchi!"
"I DO have faith in him! It's just-"
Looking at Sari, I could tell she was as equally worried about their current state-of-affairs. Not wanting to let this go on any further, I opened the doors and burst out of my room, into a hallway. "Stop fighting!"
My parents turned towards me. Standing in the hall were Ares and Zuchi. Ares is a very muscular Inkling, with that biker getup, boots, jacket and all, even a pair of sunglasses, with a hardened, war veteran face with an x-shaped scar on his cheek. Zuchi has a similar biker look, but without the sunglasses, she just lets her tentacles flow in a little ponytail. You might think that with their looks this could be an extremely dysfunctional family, but I actually love them a lot. They're pretty cool, using money from their time in the Great Turf Wars and stuff to provide for me and Sari. I sometimes address them by their first name because my mother insists that names are important, and that titles aren't completely necessary. Unfortunately, my parents aren't always 100% in sync with one another.
"I don't like it when you fight…" I said, stepping back.
Zuchi sighed, pursing her lips. "We aren't fighting, Ari...we're just…"
"Having a heated conversation, son." Ares said with a face that attempted to say, "Everything's-fine-don't-worry".
They always call it that. Whenever they fight, the call it a "heated conversation" as if they don't want me to get upset. It doesn't convince me in the slightest.
"Again? Guys, please, you don't need to fight… Really, especially over me." I said.
"'Heated conversation'." My mother corrected with a reassuring smile.
"...It's fine Ari, just...go to bed, we've got a big day tomorrow, remember." My father said, waving me off.
Biting my lip, (making sure not to tear into it with my squid teeth) I sighed, walking back to my room. Sneaking a glance as I left with a heavy heart, I walked back inside, closed the door, and sighed.
"Another argument?" Sari asked.
Nodding, I fell to the floor in exasperation. Now I just stared at the ceiling, keeping a careful ear on the door.
"...Sari? I need to ask you an honest question." I asked.
"What is it?" She asked back.
Taking my face from looking at the ceiling, I stared at her. "...Do you think mom and dad are going to get a...divorce?"
Sari paused, looking away for a moment. "That's...um, kinda hard to say. It sorta does seem like a tough love right now, the two have been arguing for weeks, Ari."
"...Yeah." I said.
The two of us sat in silence on the floor, awkward silence to be precise.
"...But you know, if that does happen…" Sari began, looking at me. "You'll always have me, cousin, no matter what happens."
I smiled. "Thank you, Sari."
"Anytime, Ari. I think I'm gonna hit the tank."
"Seaweed. Hit the seaweed." I corrected her.
"Potato tomato," she fired back with a smirk as she stood up and began walking away. "And I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter, I was right anyways."
"Alright, sure." I said, not wishing to get into one of my own, "heated conversations".
The two of us walked away to a large bunk bed at the back of the room. As always, Sari took bottom bunk, letting me get top bunk. Climbing up a ladder to the bed, I flopped down on the mattress, and slid under the covers, shutting my eyes, and going to sleep.
Today was the day. We were leaving our humble abode behind, as well as the great city of Splatlake City, traveling all the way to Inkopolis in two motorcycles. Yeah, the biker getup wasn't for show, my parents have their own motorcycles, they're colored sort of like the Blaster weapon you see in Turf Wars, you know, flame decals over a black paint job. I hung onto the back of mom's, while Sari sat with dad on an adjacent motorcycle next to us. Our luggages and such were being transported in a moving van, and honestly I don't see why we could've done that like a normal person. But mom begs to differ:
"Motorcycles are a more, 'bold' choice, Ari. Think about it: Entering Inkopolis on a wheelie, the flames of the motorcycle shining bright as we pierce through the city limits, making a dramatic entrance even the Squid Sisters would swoon at!" Zuchi said.
...Isn't my mom so cool? I wanna be as dramatic as her when I get older. Of course, dad isn't exactly too fond of that.
"We don't need extra narrative in our lives, hon." He said, sighing.
"It's fun though, isn't that right Ari?" She said, nodding at me.
Nodding back, I smiled. Ares rolled his eyes, then turned around and peered down at my cousin.
"How you farin', Sari?" He asked.
"Peachy, uncle." She told him and pumped her fist in the air. "Let's get this show on the road!"
"Alright then…" He said, revving his engine. "Let's ride!"
My parents practically twisted their motorcycle accelerators to oblivion and back, the bikes speeding up, quickly speeding through at a speed I'm pretty sure that would've gotten us arrested, leaving the moving van and our old house in the dust. I held on to my mother's jacket for dear life, afraid of getting completely shredded by the rear wheel, while Sari cheered me on.
"Yeah!" She smiled.
"OH COD PLEASE DON'T LET ME FALL!" I screamed in a manly tone.
"I wouldn't dream of it." She announced with a smile.
"Letting you die before you see Inkopolis would be the very last thing we'd EVER want to happen." Ares told me with a grin.
"Th-Thanks?!" I said.
"You're welcome, boy! Hold on tight, because we're speeding up!" He said, revving the engine further.
"We're already accelerating at the speed of sound, how much faster could we go?!"
Ares grinned, his white beak flashing for a moment.
Zuchi sighed. "Ari, you know better than to ask your father questions like that."
"Why don't we find out then? Zuchi, first one to Inkopolis has to pay the rent!" Ares laughed, speeding away, leaving a huge trail of dust blown up into the air.
"Well, you brought this upon yourself son. Now you'll see the speed and power of the cods, right about-"
The motorcycle made a loud revving noise.
"Now!" Zuchi said.
Both of us gripped the motorcycle, albeit for different reasons. Zuchi revved the vehicle up, allowing it to travel at an extreme speed, and the two of us sped off towards Inkopolis, with me hanging on by a thread, my eyes totally not tearing up or anything.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Th-That wasn't me, by the way.
After a normally terrifying bike ride, that wasn't scary at ALL to me, we finally arrived in the streets of Inkopolis, as dictated by a sign that said, "Welcome to Inkopolis!". You know, in case it wasn't too obvious. The motorcycle was finally slowing down to a speed that would guarantee that my tentacles wouldn't fly off. I slumped back in the seat, letting my head bump onto the pavement.
"You okay, squiddo?" Zuchi asked, hopping off the bike, making sure to park it.
"Uh, just fine, mother! I'm completely unharmed by the wild winds of the...north?" I attempted to explain in a melodramatic voice. "Was that good?"
My mother snickered. "Maybe someday Ari, maybe someday."
Sighing, I got up to my feet, and stretched, making sure that all of my organs and suckers were all in the right places.
"Where's father and Sari?" I asked.
Zuchi shrugged. "Well, if I know your father, past all of the arrogance...he should be arriving soon."
Speak of the devil, the two of them nearly crashed into a building, skidding to a stop precariously close to the cement walls. Ares breathed a sigh of relief, turning around to look at Sari. She was frozen in fright, her eyes wide and beads of sweat pouring down her face. She fell back on the motorcycle, and coughed.
"Wheeze…" She said.
Like that. Ares gently slung her over her shoulder, and sheepishly grinned.
"Ares…" My mother began.
"She asked for it." He said with a shrug, Sari stirring somewhat. "Anyways, we're here."
Ares looked behind him. The building he almost crashed into had a sign on it saying, "Flounder Heights" in Inkling. Looking over the building, I realized that this was only one apartment building. Looking around, I noticed dozens of other buildings in the apartment complex, as well as one large, at least ten story building being constructed in the middle.
Zuchi smiled. "What do you think, Ari?"
"It's amazing. Spectacular." I said, almost breathless.
"Heard that the new building they're constructing over there is gonna be a Turf War location sometime in the future." My father said with a grin.
Sari perked up on Ares' shoulder. "You mean we'll live here AND play Turf Wars here?! Ari, that sounds awesome!"
I smiled. This was a pretty good start. Ares, Zuchi, Sari and I began walking into one of the main buildings, entering an office, where a receptionist stood. After a lengthy talk with the receptionist, we were finally given access to our room. Another lengthy ascent up a flight of stairs later, we made it to our apartment room, or the door at least. Upon opening the door, we were greeted by a luxury suite, multiple beds with the fluffiest comforters and pillows crowding the mattress. The apartment was huge, about the size of a small house. Most of us just focused on the comfortable looking beds rather than the size and scape though.
"Whoa! How'd they furnish this room so quickly?" I asked.
Ares grinned, tossing a couple gold G coins up in the air. "Money talks, kid."
Sari, already extremely exhausted from the motorcycle ride, flopped down on one of the beds in front of her, shifting into squid form, letting her tentacles fall on the covers, sighing contently.
"This is awesome," Sari muttered as she spun around, taking in the sights.
"Glad you like it, Sari." Zuchi said. "Ari, you alright with sharing a bed?"
My face flushed crimson. "I'm not a little squid, mother!"
Ares rolled his eyes. "It's just sleeping with your cousin, what's the matter with that?"
I frowned at my father.
Zuchi frowned. "Way to make it weird, hun."
Ares chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Err, in a platonic way."
Sighing, I walked over to the bed Sari was resting on, and flopped down next to her, stretching my limbs. My eyelids were already drooping.
"I think I'm going to take a nap," I said.
"Alright, Ari. See you when you wake up." Zuchi said, waving.
"Don't let the bedbugs bite," Ares added. "Because they will attack."
"Ares…" My mother sighed.
"Those things are vicious," Father said with a snicker.
Rolling my eyes, I drifted off to sleep, not at all prepared for what would wake me up very, very soon.
I woke up with a start. Sounds of crashing and fighting alerted me. Rubbing my eyes, I leaped off the bed, landing on the floor, got up, and began trying to wake up Sari.
"Sari! Wake up! There's trouble afoot!" I said, shaking my cousin.
"Hmm- Wha?" She murmured, getting to her feet, stepping off the bed.
Worriedly, we quickly searched the house for the sounds, and lo and behold:
"Ares! Stop being shellfish, he NEEDS to enroll!" Zuchi yelled.
"Pushing him that hard isn't going to do anything! You always ramble on about how 'great' he is, so YOU of all people should understand that going to a chump school is just going to hamper his skill!" Ares yelled.
"His skills aren't yet perfected! If he goes now, he'll be crushed! Cod's sake Ares, why don't you ever stop and listen?!"
"Zuchi, shut up! He will be fine without your bullshrimp school!"
We could hear them having another "heated conversation", which was quickly ended by the sharp sound of a smack. Both of us cringed, sneaking around the corner, where Ares stood with a red, tentacle shaped mark on his face next to his scar, Zuchi standing by holding her tentacles like a whip. Enraged, my father snapped back, gripping her by the collar of her jacket, about to slam her in the face.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" I yelled.
Both of them snapped to me.
"Unhand her," I demanded.
"Ari-"
"LET GO OF HER, NOW!" I screamed, taking a step forward.
Then my father did the last thing I expected him to do. He began tearing up. Releasing my mother, he clenched his fists. Zuchi grit her teeth, tears streaming down her face as well, walking over to me and Sari, crouching down behind us and cautiously gripping us by the shoulders.
"C'mon guys. We're leaving." She said, walking away, attempting to drag us.
"They're staying HERE," Ares growled.
"..."
Both Sari and I were at a loss for words. The two of them stared at each other for what felt like a millennium.
"...Ares. I'm DONE arguing. Ari...Sari...stay safe, and keep your father in line." Zuchi hissed the last part and stormed off.
"Hmph," Ares grunted, walking away to a secluded part of the apartment.
All we did was stand there in shock.
Uh...yeah. This is kinda awkward...but...that was the last official "heated conversation" Ares and Zuchi ever had. I still have yet to understand why they got so angry over school. I just wanted us to be the greatest family ever, then this happens?! ...Aside from that, a bit of a court battle ensued later, and, well...dad kept us, and mom's been away for quite a while. I haven't seen her since, but I've seen plenty of dad, he's been trying to flirt with new women and fail, as well as be less than nice to me and Sari. But hey, it hasn't been all bad. I met two other girls in Inkopolis today, and they seem pretty nice. Think their names are Rit and Bas? ...sigh. Yes, I just said SIGH.
...Even if they can't get back together, I just want them to be friends. Happy. I'll make sure as the son of the Jabin family, I WILL make things right. I will bring honor to our family name one way or another, and make things perfect...I will. Somehow…
"Hmm…"
"Hey, Ari?"
"Mmm? What is it, glorious cousin of mine? What do you wish to ask the great Ari?"
"You've been staring at the sky for a while now. You okay?"
"Uh, of course, of course! Just reminiscing, nothing to worry about."
"...Right."
"But thank you for asking anyways, Sari."
"...You're welcome, Ari. You know I'd follow you to the ends of the earth if needed."
"Heh. Thanks Sari."
AN: That's a bit of insight into Ari's past. Sorry if I made it too melodramatic, but considering how melodramatic Ari himself tends to be, I hope and at the same time wonder whether or not this was fitting enough. Oh well. Don't worry all you humor fans, I'm planning on something in the future to sate your Bate Bros. humor needs.
Time for the first review call of the new year! Thanks Ultrapyre for reviewing! The character bios are one thing, but I also plan on some hopefully non-linear adventures with the Bate Bros. too where they don't have to adhere to an overarching plot.
But anyways, thanks again for reading guys, this is ThePizzaLovingTurtle, I really need to practice my video game...game, especially for the Past vs. Future Splatfest. See ya in another time!