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Sky shivered at the chilly night air. Though it wasn't as cold as the winter that came before, the early spring air still carried with it a noticeable chill. Sky looked up as she exited the sewer grate, taking in the view of the stars. It was a sight she felt she would never get tired of. She was eager for the weather to get warmer so her and Thalia could go stargazing more often.
But stargazing was not her purpose for visiting Octo Canyon tonight.
Earlier in the night, she had joined the rest of the NSS in celebrating her first birthday on the surface. During the festivities, she had begun to think, and those thoughts gave her questions. Questions she was currently seeking answers for, from the only person she knew could answer them.
Sky took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She had spoken to Octavio before, but always with someone else there. She had never spoken to him alone.
Despite her apprehension, she approached the snow globe, Octavio's sleeping form visible within.
Sky knocked on the glass orb.
Octavio stirred at the disturbance, but remained asleep.
Sky knocked again, slightly harder, careful not to accidentally release the Octarian leader.
Octavio let out a groan as he rose, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Autumn if that's you I swear to Cod I'm gonna-" He stopped when he saw the octoling before him and no one else. "Vi- er, Sky? What are you doing here?"
Sky lowered herself to sit on the cold ground as she spoke. "I wanted to talk."
"Hmph," Octavio paused to shift out of his octopus form. His mantle was a dark magenta, with his long tentacles pulled back into a neat bun. His wrinkled face was covered in scars from countless battles, some more recent than others. The elegant kimono he wore, despite showing clear signs that it hadn't been washed in months, served as a reminder of his status as leader of the Octarian Empire. "I figured as much, but that doesn't really answer my question. Why me? Why not someone else from the NSS? What about Autumn? You two seem close."
"Because you're the only person that can answer my questions."
Octavio crossed his arms. "Well in that case, ask away. Not like I have anything better to do."
Sky took another deep breath before she began. "Do you know what today is?"
"Not really," he gestures to the globe around him, "they didn't really leave me with a way to keep track."
"It's my birthday.” She paused for a moment. “Just wanted you to know."
"Oh," he paused, unsure of how to respond before giving an uncertain reply, "happy birthday?"
She gives a nod before continuing with her questions. "What are things like in the domes? What kind of condition are they in?"
Octavio let out a sigh. "I'll be honest with you. Things are bad." Octavio shrugged as he adjusted his position, anger becoming noticeable in his voice as he continued. "Can't really say I'm surprised though, considering we were forced to live underground as a result of a war we didn't start, because the inklings are too selfish to jus-"
"Stop." Sky spoke in a cold tone. "I don't care about your old grudges. And I don't care that you're still not over the fact that you lost a war that ended over a century ago. I asked you how the domes are now. That's what I care about."
Octavio seemed to deflate slightly. "Like I said, it's bad. We've had to abandon a number of the outer domes simply because we don't have the resources to maintain them, and we don't have enough power to keep the lights on. And then there's the issue of food. We managed to get a bit of a stockpile, but even with strict rationing we're slowly running out."
Sky closed her eyes as she thought, taking in the new information. "So why do you keep fighting? Your empire is on the verge of collapsing and yet, instead of focusing your efforts on creating a sustainable infrastructure, you built an army and insisted on perpetuating a war that only you care about. Why?" She paused. Despite the almost pleading tone in her voice she continued. "Look at me and Marina. We're living proof that inklings and octolings can coexist peacefully. We're happy, because we have the freedom to do what we want. What reason, aside from blind hatred and petty revenge, could you possibly have to justify what you've done?"
A silent moment passes between the two octolings. Octavio seems deep in thought, though Sky is unsure of what he might be thinking about.
After a long moment, Octavio is the first to break the silence. "I'm sorry. For everything you had to deal with in the domes. Even if you can't remember any of it, I just want you to know that I'm sorry."
Sky shakes her head. "I haven't forgotten everything. I can still remember bits and pieces, but the details seem to still be missing. I remember there were some people I cared about, a family perhaps. But I can't remember their names or their faces."
Octavio seems to perk up slightly at this. "Do you remember anything about me?"
Sky closes her eyes as she thinks. "Just feelings of frustration and resentment," she continues to think, "but I didn't hate you."
Neither of them speak as they let the conversation settle in their minds. After a short while, Sky gets up to leave.
"Wait."
Sky returned to the ground.
"I want to give you something. Y'know, since it's your birthday."
"Okay." Sky waits, a memory of what happened to Callie causes her to be on edge.
Octavio searches the folds of his kimono, before pulling something from the inner layers. He places the object into a compartment which he then closes, causing the same compartment to open on the outside.
Sky takes the object and begins to inspect it. She feels her muscles tense as she quickly recognizes the pair of sunglasses in her hands.
"They're not Hypnoshades, if that's what you're worried about." Octavio seemed to notice the tension in Sky's features. "These are- well, were mine. Besides, it's not like I have the tools or materials needed to convert them." He says gesturing toward the globe around him.
Sky visibly relaxes, if only slightly. She continues to inspect the shades, noting the long strands of kelp affixed to each side. Seeming satisfied with her inspection, as she is unable to find anything to indicate Octavio is lying, she decides to have Marina take a look at them as well. Just in case.
Sky stands to leave once more. "Thank you for talking to me."
"No problem. And happy birthday."
Sky says nothing as she returns to the sewer grate. She enters, leaving the canyon, and Octavio, behind her.