Ash ==> Talk to: Wade
Both ==> Go To: Jax:
"It might seem like I'm just picking random weapons, but.. I have strategies, for everything. Like you said, this won't be like fighting at the Tower. I don't know anything. I don't know where we'll be, who we're against, NOTHING! And this could actually be dangerous, I could actually die if I charge in with my brush.. Because this thing, it gives me confidence like no other weapon ever could. It also makes me reckless from time to time, because I feel like I could take on the world, if this thing is in my hands. Like I'm invincible, when I know I'm not." She said, quietly. "I want to do this safely, do this strategically.. I don't want any of us to die, especially because I forget in the heat of battle that we actually COULD."
"I wanted my brush for that very reason - that boost of confidence, that fearlessness.. Because I'm afraid, if we actually have to fight someone outside the Tower, I might chicken out at the last second and get you guys killed.. But thinking about it, using my brush might ALSO get us killed."
Wade looked down at this weapon, frowning slightly. "I'm not exactly picking 'safest' choice either. Like, I could grab a tentatek if I wanted to be sure of my weapon." He propped his charger up over his shoulder, "But I'm not."
"You don't have to be at the front lines, though." She said, quietly. "I would. So would Jax, I'm sure."
"That's why I know I want my Splat Charger with me," Wade grinned. "Even if I'm that much more defenseless myself, I make my team more dynamic and defensive with this crazy power and range," he said, tapping his weapon.
He shifted his feet, with a small shrug. "Do what only I can, you know?"
Ash nodded a bit, looking to her brush. "So.. I should pick my brush, to make the team more dynamic? I just.. Am I over thinking this?"
Wade shrugged again. "I mean... it's fair to have doubts. We are choosing weapons here, and..."
He looked over at Ash worry about weapon choice like he was a while ago. ...Krak, he couldn't just keep... glossing over the truth.
"Ash.... Okay. Let me be honest here," he began. "If I'm going to succeed at shedding some light on what's going on in Inkopolis, ...or get caught trying, I'd want to be holding a charger."
Ash blinked, looking to him, and nodding a little. "I.. I feel the same. I'd want to be using my brush, if I helped find out what's going on, or died trying.. I'd want to go down happy - Holding my inky baby."
With a chuckle, Wade nodded in agreement. He then closed his eyes, holding up his fist in with dramatic conviction, though in a sort of jokey way. "It's a good thing," Wade declared, "that we're going to make this work! I'll watch your back and you do your worst up front, and this'll be no sweat."
"Yeah, I get you." Ash giggled, smiling a bit. She felt a lot better, now. Especially upon Wade being a little silly.
Wade rubbed the back of his tentacles, suddenly sheepish. The vagueness was still... a bit uninspiring. "I... suppose you want to know what 'this' is."
"It.. Yeah. What do you know?" Ash asked, quietly, as she closed her locker and leaned against it. "It would be nice to know what I'm walking into."
Wade put his hand over his head and thought. "Hmm, I think instead of explaining, I'll show you what I found last night."
He took of his hat and pulled out the notebook with his jotted down points from the 3chan post. "I can clarify stuff, but here's... some basic stuff to get you up to speed." Wade shrugged. "I... don't think you're a spy but just... remember the whole 'Jax-Disruptor' episode if you are."
Ash blinked in surprise, reading the information. "So.. You're going off of a 3Chan post..? ...What if this is a trap?" She asked, looking to him.
Wade's turned away slightly, his expression gone pensive despite being asked this earlier. "If this is a trap," he said, "enough in the post was true to try and investigate."
He paused before saying one more thing. "And really, I would have tried to break in, either way. This post kind of warned me not to rush in without a weapon."
Ash blinked, nodding a bit. "If it's had some truth to it, it could be viable, but... I-I dunno... I wouldn't trust things like this. At least it said something smart - bring a weapon to a meet-up with an unknown squid."
Wade looked down. "I've seen it... the memory wiping it talks about. Jax has too..." he trailed off. He exhaled, "It's a lead. And that's something. If something doesn't turn up from this, I get out in one piece and keep looking."
He blinked, then glanced up at Ash. "I... I know I'm kind of being crazy right now but... I think I'll miss this chance if I wait."
"No, no, I.. I agree." Ash nodded, looking at him quietly. "The chance needs to be taken.. If this is real, as you say.. We need to get to the bottom of this, and stop it."
Wade looked at Ash, bright eyed and with a small smile. "Yeah," he breathed. He thought of the people, all of Inkopolis that this conspiracy was hiding under... and Annie. All the reasons to get to the center of this.
"...Yeah!" He concluded again, trying to hide the grin that was showing after Ash's agreement.
"If you really are a spy," Wade chuckled, "just now, I totally appreciate not having to go solo as a sniper."
Ash blinked in surprise at his comment, "A spy? For who? These.. Deepview people? Oh, please. I'd rather have my ears ripped off than work for bad people." She snorted, before smiling at him. "Besides that, snipers and I get along just fine if we're on the same team. I like to guard them if I'm not needed on the field. They have my back, so I get theirs."
With a sly grin, Wade pointed towards the exit. "Then I think we'll get along just fine. C'mon, let's go meet Jax and see where we're headed."
Ash nodded, chuckling softly. "The start of a beautiful friendship? Quite possibly. Lead the way, champ."
The two made their way up the stairs, chattering all the way. At the top they met up face to face with Jax who had what was probably an irritated look on his face--it was hard to tell, he was always rather calm. Without any words, he beckoned the two follow him deeper into the tower, until he led them to someplace behind the tower.
It was rather calm here, though the racket coming from the square could still be heard. Clearing his throat, Jax got straight to business. "As far as I know, there's only one entrance to Octo Valley that doesn't require a long trek through the mountains." He pointed to the sewer grate below them with his .92 Gal's nozzle. "I hope you all both aren't afraid of getting a little dirty."
Jax jumped through the grate with practiced ease. Almost instinctively, Ash and Wade turned up their noses, but, after a furtive, traded glance the two jumped in as well.
The sewer system was rather large, but Jax pointed out that to get to Octo Valley, all they had to do was follow the flow of sewage. Unfortunately, it made logical sense. They followed the sewage for hours, the stench of putrid ink overpowering to the senses. Ash and Wade felt like they were going to be sick. It was a godsend when they reached the end.
Even from inside the pipe, the sight was surreal. There was a literal waterfall of refuse and rancid excrement, cascading down into the deep abyss that was Octo Valley. Jax pointed up, however, and sure enough, there was a ladder that led away from the constant flow of trash.
Topside was beautiful, with bright lights and, more importantly fresh air. Everyone took the time to appreciate these small things, taking deep breaths in and out before taking in the scenery.
It was surprisingly gorgeous. Inkopolis from a distance was a unique sight in and of itself, but to top it off, they were in the middle of a floating chunk of land surrounded by miles of abyss on every side. The chunk they were on looked to be a decrepit piece of urban development, a remnant of a time long past, or an attempt to grasp at the present... who could say. It was a real mystery.
Besides the odd land-formation, something that particularly stood out was an old shack with a lot of posted notes on it... it looked almost like a conspiracy board!
Everything here was surprising and there was a lot to take in. But of course, everyone was brought back to the task at hand when Jax said, "what now, Wade? Anything the guy said to do after this?"
