Chapter Text
When first starting out “Off The Hook” was an independent band. After meeting up with Marina, and the octoling shared a taste for music, Pearl bought the two equipment for essentially a garage band. No manager looking over them, no rules they had to follow, nothing like that. Though, with that came no reward or marketing for their music either. Sure, they picked up some small gigs here and there, earned a few tips, but nothing over the top. Hell, the tips weren’t even anything to brag about. That was until they were tipped a hefty sum from one person alone. It was a sharply dressed gentleman, an urchin. His spiky hair was rather long, overgrown even, both his purple-green eyes were visible, and he stood at a tall stature. It was obvious this man was well matured, from his spikes to his height.
After their gig, Pearl and Marina were shocked at the amount, the large sum being rubber banded together, showing it was one tip. Luckily, the urchin stayed after the show. It seemed like a ploy. Nobody gives that much money for some mediocre, two person band.
Marina hopped her way off the stage - with Pearl close behind - a bubbly smile on her face. The octoling came up to the urchin gentleman, clasping her hands together. “Thank you sir! We’ve very appreciative of the tip!” Instead of giving her own voice, Pearl just nodded along, standing beside Marina with her hands on her hips.
The calm tempered urchin gave a small smile in return, showing his gratitude for the thanks. “Oh girls, you were amazing on stage. I’ve been to a few of your gigs, and you’re outstanding. How would you like management for the band? Big money, advertisement, fame, concerts instead of gigs...” He offered, keeping his small smile and calm eyes.
Pearl seemed to squint her eyes into a glare-like expression. That was the ruse, there’s the catch, he’d become their manager and destroy their garage band vibe. “We’re not looking for management, thank you. You can take your tip back if that’s what you’re looking for.” Reaching over to the tip jar, Pearl took the roll of money out, holding it out for him to take. He was just trying to reel them in with money.
Though, as Pearl was against the whole idea, Marina was honestly intrigued. He had money, and possible connections to people to shoot ‘Off The Hook’ to top charts. It was at least worth a shot, was it not? “Woah, Pearlie, hold on. Don’t cut straight to no. Let’s hear him out.” While talking, Marina had lowered Pearl’s hand before turning back to the urchin. “Sir, could you please explain everything to us first, just to understand everything?”
Peering over to Pearl for a moment after her outbreak, the man looked back to Marina with a smile. “Of course young lady. And please, call me Mr. Uni, you don’t need to use ‘sir’.” Reaching his hand out for a proper greeting shake, Marina shook his hand without any issues, though Pearl? Nope. She wasn’t going to shake his hand. The inkling was obviously very opposed to this idea. “How about we go back stage and talk? You can pack your equipment up while we talk as well.”
With a smile, Marina agreed to going backstage, while Pearl begrudgingly led the way, distancing herself from Uni. Pearl just focused on packing - and quickly - while Marina and Uni talked over what management would be like. If he managed them, he would get a 15-25% cut, schedule the concerts, manage the money outflow between the two, and take inventory. Honestly, it sounded normal, like any other band manager, but Pearl still didn’t take the bait. Something was off.
“Mr. Uni, we will stay in contact for the future!” Marina gleefully exclaimed, reaching over into her bag for a notebook and pencil. “This could really turn into something nice!” While speaking, the octoling scribbled her number on a piece of paper, ripping it out of the book, and handing it over. “We’ll talk again soon!” With her inviting smile, Marina got a smile in return from Uni.
As the urchin stood, pocketing the folded piece of paper, Marina realized how tall he actually was. The octoling herself was taller than just about everyone she knew, though he cleared her. She was 5’10”, so Uni had to be at least 6’6”, if not taller. On his way out, he gave Pearl a pat on the back…which resulted in Uni receiving a smack in return from the inkling, and a foul mouth. “Don’t fucking touch me.” Pearl scowled, glaring up at him. Though, the urchin didn’t pay any attention to her, and simply left though the backstage door.
As Pearl looked over to Marina who was obviously not impressed, the inkling finished packing up the rest of their equipment and headed home.
Once they arrived home - or rather Pearl’s home - they dropped their bags in their room. Though Pearl immediately started stripping from her stage clothes, to instead put on something more comfortable. While the inkling looked through her clothes for something more comfortable, Marina sat at Pearl’s bedroom desk. “Why were you so upset tonight? Did something happen to make you upset?” In a soft voice, the octoling spun her chair around to face Pearl, who was changing into a tank top and underwear.
With a sigh, Pearl looked up to Marina. “I told you I didn’t want management. He’s going to put strict rules on our band. We won’t be able to do what we like anymore, but what’s trendy now instead. Plus, he gives me a bad vibe Rina. I’m not in a bad mood though.” Pulling up her underwear, Pearl walked over to her desk, pulling a bottle of floral flavored whiskey from an organizer with a smile. “Want some?”
Marina gave a soft smile back, before giving a nod. “Sure, but not a lot Pearlie, that stuff burns y’know.” After agreeing, the octoling got up to change from her stage clothes as well. While she got undressed and slipped into a crop top with underwear, Pearl got wine glasses out, pouring some whiskey for the both of them. Marina’s glass didn’t have much of the addictive liquid, though Pearl’s glass was about half full. Probably 5 Oz or more. Though, as the octoling turned around, she immediately shook her head. “Absolutely not, Pearl! That’s too much!” Pointing to the inkling’s glass, Marina walked over.
“Aww, come on, Rina. It’s been a long day. I’ll just drink this and go to bed.” Grabbing her glass before Marina could, Pearl gave her puppy eyes, which soon made Marina finally agree. Sure, the octoling knew only 3 Oz a day was good with whiskey, but she couldn’t turn down puppy eyes.
Grabbing her own drink, Marina made her way to the bed, turning on their tv to entertain them before going to bed. While drinking, she leaned off the bed to not drip anything on the bedding. Though, Marina couldn’t take a simple sip without coughing afterwards, the burning sensation always got her. She wasn’t a drinker like Pearl. Moving from the desk to the bed, Pearl brought her drink as well, though she didn’t take the precaution to lean off the bed. Instead, the inkling practically chugged her drink within just a few minutes. Laying back in bed, Pearl put her empty glass on the nightstand, while Marina laid her glass on the other nightstand, though it wasn’t empty.
The pink inkling laid in bed, her face gradually getting red over the span of a few minutes. Trying to be kind, the octoling quietly got up to turn the lights off, and turned the tv down as her girlfriend tried to sleep. Though, Marina was still sitting up watching tv, thinking over Uni’s deal. This could seriously set them high.