Nebula 2, Evening | A Matter of Great Importance [Video]

[consider8]

[The video opens and there is a pouting octoteen glowering into the screen.]

Everyone, it has come to my attention that we have a new karaoke machine. I was excited at first because that sounds like a lot of fun, but when I started it I saw that there were squids performing on the screen.

I know that many of you are human or human-adjacent and that the representation of other species may be too much to ask, but I have to ask: why squids? Why not octopi? This seems very unfair.

I won't be looking at a gift fish if it has gone south but this is very frustrating to me personally. Are octopus really held in such low regard to squid?

Please let me know. I am quite upset.

Comments

video;

[hitokiri]

[ it's debatable if he actually properly looked at the video or just listened to the words. ]

I dunno they taste equally good in my opinion.

[consider8]

[She rolls her eyes.]

I guess. Octopus taste better, I-M-O.

[Is that weird? That might be weird.]

[hitokiri]

[ it's not what he was expecting to hear that's for sure. ]

Uh. Just got a problem with squid in general then? I mean—... if ya like octopus so much shouldn't eatin' 'em be right out?

[consider8]

[Carnivorous by nature, octopuses will eat pretty much anything smaller than themselves, including other octopuses.]

I don't have a problem with squid! Its a matter of... representation!!

You're human, so you have lots of things that are made to look like you. And that's fine. I get it. But when the first thing that gets close to what looks like me and my people, its upsetting that its squid and not us!!

Try putting yourself in my shoes.

[hitokiri]

Huh. Can't say I ever thought about it much... sorta thought they were the same thing?

[ he's never claimed to be smart. unfortunately, he's also too proud for his own good despite that self-awareness. ]

Tch. I dunno, I ain't a fisherman!

[consider8]

[If his first response was to get her upset, he did not succeed until that question. Instead she just stares at him long, hard, and pointedly.]

We are not the same thing.

Audio

[essek]

If it makes any difference, from my knowledge, octopi are far more favored for familiars than squids are. I am unsure the reason why the favoritism, but many mages when they travel via the sea reform their familiars to an octopus.

Audio

[consider8]

[The voice is familiar, but she is still getting used to his timbre. So, Essek, you get to see a part of Mimi that she normally keeps quiet.]

[She's a bit speciesistic.]

Well, of course we are! Octopuses are highly intelligent and very understanding! We analyze situations and adapt well! And even though we may not have as many tentacles as squid, we know how to use what we have very well indeed!

[zombiemessiah]

I think it's because squid is a cheaper snack than Octopus

But hey, I might be pissed too. I know how I feel when people ignore the existence of blends or talkers in my world.

[consider8]

I suppose... but why would that mean that they would have squid characters on the karaoke player?

[She folds her arms at that second part, not entirely sure what it means.] I don't know what blends or talkers are.

[zombiemessiah]

Types of 'smart' zombies. I'm a blend. Doesn't matter how in control we are, there's always people treating us as a detriment to society.

[But he's not bitter.]

I guess 'cause Karaoke machines were Japanese first and they eat squid way more than Americans. Well, they did. I don't know how populated it is there anymore.

[And there's not even really a USA, it's all 'Newmerica' now so who the hell even knows.]

[consider8]

Zombies are... the deceased that have been reanimated using a virus, correct? I have never seen one before. [That she would recognize them as. There were, of course, the sanitized Octolings from her world, but that was an entirely different form of undeath.]

Because they are cheaper, right? [She doesn't know what either of those places are.]

This is the shortest tag but it took me nine years to write because I kept backspacing.

[zombiemessiah]

Welp! You're looking at one now. [He spreads his arms like the showman he is. This tall lanky man? 100% king of the damn zombies.] I'm a special case.

And yeah, that'd be why. I've not used that machine. How are they drawing them? [And he almost asks if they're doing the thing where they make them look a little like dicks. He's seen squids drawn like that as a joke. But he doesn't even know if she knows laughable human anatomy and wouldn't know to be content in the knowledge octopuses are generally less absurdly phallic in cartooned form.]

[blitzcheer]

[ Let's get a splatoon stadium-- no.

Instead: ] Let's get something cooler than a squid karaoke machine and get an octopi something-machine! How about that?

[flatteries]

[ Hey, if it's enough for her to get upset about it, then Inigo will take this matter seriously too - even if, in theory, it sounds kind of ridiculous to him. ]

I'm not sure why it would have squids performing.. Are there no humans on it at all? Just random squids?

[ He sounds genuinely confused, okay. Why is the karaoke machine squid themed!! ]

[consider8]

[Damnit you--!]

[At first she's ready to yell. But then he actually has a useful suggestion for a change!]

Vee~!! Yeah, let's do that!

[consider8]

[Its upsetting because reasons no its pretty silly]

They're more like squid-people. Or maybe someone's idea of squid people? Because they're not like the squid-people from my world.

[blitzcheer]

[ EXCUSE YOU ALL OF HIS SUGGESTIONS ARE GREAT!! ]

Cool! So, what should it be? [ Hmm... ] A videogame?

[ ! ] A Splatoon videogame!

oh nooo

[consider8]

But if you're a special case, wouldn't it make sense to assume that most zombies aren't like you? In the movies they always seem so aggressive and numerous. It would make sense to be more cautious. [Not that she doesn't think he has a point, sapient as he is, but she's also a pragmatist!]

They're... kinda weird? They're more squid-like than people-like. And it looks like they're having fun... [It just pricks her pride, okay??]

[consider8]

[She was on board until the mention of a video game. Really, Tidus?]

[Still, its enough to cut the tension and getting to chuckle aloud.]

Oh come on. What are the chances of a Splatoon video game existing? Next thing you'll say is that we should get a video game about you.

[blitzcheer]

What, why wouldn't there be? There's games about the one I play -- blitzball!

[ Huh. ] Octolings don't go into an arcade with fake ink-squirters and splat fake teammates?

[ He's even making the motion of holding a splat gun! ...or water gun. Same difference. ]

[jingyeets]

You know what it's time for, then.

( heres the guy who ordered the machine by describing around what it is, because who the heck remembers the word karaoke? not him!

anyway his hands are pressed together in front of him, palm to palm, as he says: )

It's time... to complain to the train.

[consider8]

[The question stings, though she doesn't blame Tidus for it. There was no way he would know that there was barely enough time to read casually, much less waste your time on something so frivolous.]

[So rather than answer, she shook her head.]

We would... make things. Like arenas and floating platforms. And we would run through them. That was our fun.

[blitzcheer]

Oh. [ Oh. He makes a furrowed brow. ] Well, and it defeats the point if it isn't octo-centred...

[ Hrrrm. ]

What do you think would be cool then?

[consider8]

What I think...? [Strange that so few people have asked her that, much less got her to reflect on it.]

[The question is a significant one, and makes her consider multiple things. Sadly, much of what she wants is stuff that the train couldn't provide. Things like live concerts, or food trucks, or even a splatfest stadium. They were either too big or would have to be manned by someone to work, much less be octopus-themed. Even something as simple as watching the sun set on the beach would be something beyond the train.]

Mm... inkfared goggles, maybe?

[Not a silly bone in this girl's body. Its hard thinking of things that are fun!!]