// BOTTOM FEEDER .

“Hmm.. So it’s similar to the other labs?“ he nods and smiles, this is making him slightly nostalgiac.. “It’s a good thing that you’re at work then, keeping the little guys safe!” He recalls the time he spend in some other lab, his memory has been hazy from all the stuff run on him. but he recalls some faces. Some names too, but he doesn’t want to bother Coltrax with that. He points to his glasses “Do they run those tests here too? Oh and.. Do you have any preferences for the subjects?“  He smiles happily, seems he doesn’t feel very phased by his subtle threats.. that or he didn’t notice them.. “Like, Gender, age, build.. That sorta thing..“

❛      in    ways  ,    yes  .     ❜         corltax    agrees    ───   though    his    was    specifically    tailored    to    a    more    concise    goal    compared    to    some  ,    the    happenings    of    a    laboratory    were    probably    rather    symmetrical    to    onlookers  .

taking    quick    note    of    the    hypnoshades    the    inkling    motioned    toward  ,    the    scientist    shook    his    head  .         ❛      conversions    or    hypnosis  ?         no  .         our    inklings    typically    never    leave    the    lab    once    they    enter  ,    you    see  .     ❜         plus    ───   corltax’s    feverish    mistrust    of    the    species    left    him    with    little    desire    to    see    more    running    freely    through    their    streets  .

@corltax···   wanted   a   starter   💗

    ❛   Whoa um,   are you okay?   you seem really upset,   ❜      

She continued adding items to her satchel - bear mace, flashbang grenades, caffeine pills, not looking up from her task, “Every single step I take has been carefully plotted and planned…everything to the second, including my own death.”

She finally rose up, a manila envelope in her hand that she passed to the Octoling, “Speaking of, this is yours - upon declaration of my death, the title of the house will be transferred to you…you’ll never have to worry about anyone disturbing you while you find your way back.”

margaret    was    stronger    than    he    could    ever    hope    to    become   ───   even    the    mention    of    death    alone    was    enough    to    unease    his    stomach  .         as    much    as    the    idea    sat    poorly    with    him    the    longer    corltax    spent    here  ,    it    was    clear    the    woman’s    mind    was    unchangeable  .         that    much  ,    at    least  ,    he    could    relate    to  .

@octowasa Arms delicately drape around the other as a soft kiss is planted from behind. He felt like surprising the other with a little be of affection. ❝ Yo, dweeb. ❞

the    forefront    of    corltax’s    attention    was    on    his    work  ,    like    usual  ;      checking    over    statistics    and    double    checking    once    he    was    done     ───    the    rather    repetitive    and    droning    task    left    him    a    touch    drowned    out    from    the    world    surrounding  ,    meaning    sudden    warmth    and    the    press    of    a    kiss    caught    the    scientist    rather    off    guard  .

eyes    lifted    with    a    blink  ,    a    hum    of    surprise    settling    gently    in    his    throat    as    corltax    shifted    his    head    just    so    to    glance    over    his    shoulder  .         ❛       ───    hello  .      ❜         own    response    was    spoken    embarrassingly    awkwardly  ,    enough    to    make    cheeks    flush    if    the    octoling    was    willing    to    admit    to    such    a    thing         (      which    he    wasn’t  !      )

clearing    his    throat    slightly    in    an    attempt    to    subdue    the    impact    of    his    own    fluster    corltax    instead    offered    an    easy    smile  ,    resting    his    hand    against    one    of    octavio’s    arms  .         ❛      it’s    good    to    see    you  ,    my    dear  .      ❜

He smiles politely and steps closer, “I heard you… Well.. How should I put this? That you… Needed some more ‘volunteers’. Is that correct?” his face changes to a smug grin “well you see.. I have some personal issues with my.. Kind, and I’d love to see you do your work on some deserving folks.”

His face changes back to a professional look as he clears his throat. “remind me again, what kind of research do they do here again? I have never seen these labs i believe”

there’s    clear    mistrust    written    into    the    octolings    expression  ,    he’s    not    the    type    to    overlook    species    for    personal    standing  .       ❛      you’re    not    wrong  .         we’re    always    accepting    test    subjects    here  ;      some    tend    to    come    and    go    rather    fast  ,    you    see  .     ❜         corltax    is    however  ,    willing    to    allow    this    one    his    cooperation    until    proven    a    detriment  .

“ But don’tcha think location’s kinda the whole point, when it comes t’ investigation? ”   They’re just about dripping arrogance—weight shifted, stance staggered, left arm rested across their torso, elbow cupped and both hands drumming aimlessly. Even their   ( visible )   weapons are sheathed: both signature pistols holstered, knife still strapped to their thigh.

“ Y’know full well why I’m here, cinnamon. Justice for Inklings, an’ all that. Be a doll an’ don’ make this hard for me, hm? ”

❛      an    investigation    i    gave    no    approval    of    enduring  .      ❜         came    a    quick    reminder    ───     the    agents    palpable    confidence    doing    nothing    to    wet    his    own    rather    bold    attitude  ,    given    his    situation  .

“That’s the idea…and believe me - I’ve been researching and training for this day for over a decade…the most dangerous thing in that asylum will be me, Corltax, make no mistake of that; you needn’t waste a single thought on me - focus on yourself.”

❛     if    you    insist  ...     ❜         he    exhales    gently  ,    resting    back    in    his    seat    and    crossing    a    leg  ,    thoughtful  .        the    fate    of    this    human    should    not    be    a    concern    of    his  ,    even    more    still    if    this    was    indeed    the    past  ...      but    margaret    had    been    hospitable    when    she    hadn’t    need    be  ,    and    corltax    wasn’t    entirely    heartless  .

———— 🌺┊      SHE’S UNREADABLE. Large eyes reside devoid, pupils dividing as her attention blurs and splits him in two. Mouth traces straight along her jaw, mimicking the horizontal fall of distant brows. Only when she blinked did her gaze fall persistently upon his face, the robotic turn of her head minuscle.

❝ Thank you, ❞   she mouths, a familiar neutrality dulling the chipper edge to her usually buoyant voice.   ❝ But you misunderstand, I believe — you will not be working with a weapon. Just a girl who doesn’t want to be one. That Killer Wail’s me, so there’s nothing mechanical involved. Does… that help your capability to deal with it, any? ❞  

he’s    judging    oh    so    harshly   ───   inwardly  ,    of    course  ;      attentive    eyes    seemingly    quite    bored    as    his    gaze    never    strays  .         she’s    odd  ,    and    corltax    can’t    seem    to    find    what    exactly    it    was    about    this    one    that    caught    octavio’s    attention    so    strongly  ,    enough    to    trust  ...      trust    like    family  ,    no    less  .

“There isn’t… your time would be better spent working out a way to return to where you came, Corltax - view it as an opportunity; without me here, you’ll have free reign of the space, free of distractions.”