Pearl from the Depths
Two divers, equipped with all the necessary gear for deep-sea diving, ventured into the hidden corners of the sea in search of pearls. These waters were unclaimed, yet held countless dangers. Sometimes divers returned with distorted memories, or didn't return at all. Yet, rumors of an incredible pearl, shining brighter than any star, compelled them to search.
One day, after morning preparations, they set out in pursuit of this pearl. The dive was long. The surrounding silence was only broken by the faint sounds of water and the bubbling of oxygen tanks. The water grew colder, the light dimmer, and the pressure increasingly intense. They swam side by side, communicating through hand gestures, their primary means of expression in this silent world.
Delving deeper, a crevice revealed itself, within which lay a majestic shell, reminiscent of a precious gem on a throne.
Drawing closer, they were met with a sight of sheer magic. The pearl inside the shell glowed in a manner indescribable by words. Its luminance seemed to tell tales of thousands of years spent at the ocean floor.
One of them gestured, "Are you sure it's safe?". The other responded with a silent yet confident sign, as if to say, "All will be well."
But, as the first reached out for the pearl, everything changed. The crevice began to close, and they realized they were facing a living creature, its trap now sprung.
The water's force pushed the second diver away. He tried to rescue his companion, but the latter, seemingly under a spell, resisted, preventing his extraction from the monster's jaws. The struggle depleted the second diver's oxygen supply.
He reached the surface but changed. His gaze was distant, his memory warped, becoming one of those unfortunate souls who fell prey to the sea's depths and returned no longer the same.
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On Acht and Romance
going into side order, from the september direct trailer where Acht was first revealed i remember the joke at the time clearly being "and now Marina's ex is here".
the way this line [image description in alt] was written was basically the only evidence for this kind of idea, when the theories were kind of "Marina's order tantrum is sucking people in from her past and the DLC will be about going through her memories", so ellipses in a line like this is basically all theory crafters on no info need to go for shipping.
i'm not one who's super into plot theory crafting, i know full well the tendency to theorize something that's cooler than what you actually get and being disappointed that the story didn't live up to your imagination. the things i was obsessed with in side order promotional material was the obvious bleached coral theme, the symbolism of coral ejecting it that which keeps it safe out of stress being mapped onto Marina, the idea of her pushing those she loves (and those that keep her colorful) away out of a spiral (and it does turn out that was basically exactly what the prologue was going for)
so the whole "Acht and Marina exes" thing was kinda just a joke to me, wasn't even on my radar as something they were actually going to lean into, frankly i was still scared nintendo was going to make them kill pearlina by sending Marina to superhell or smth and we'd end up with a splatoonified destiel meme
so when the DLC comes out and it is legitimately a "they knew each other since childhood" thing, and the running bit is Acht feeling awkward third-wheeling pearlina, and it's explicit in text that one of the reasons they're coming back after the DLC is over is to scope out Pearl as the girl who took down the NILS statue who is now dating Marina... it struck me as really interesting.
at first it was me keeping up the "Marina and Acht are exes" as a joke, but as i kept reading dialogue lines, it slowly became less of a joke, they were to some degree dating because opposite but complimentary autisms, and then drifting apart as Marina got pulled away on the big girl assignment with DJ Octavio, and then the despair of knowing Marina left without even saying goodbye to Acht... it fits well into that reading, it slowly became less of a joke to believe that
but the thing that really makes me think this is intentional subtext is the final Acht diary entry you get from clearing Eight's palette. through the rest of side order talking about Acht's backstory, it seemed like they were retconning the OE lore that Acht had gotten themself sanitized intentionally, losing themself so they could explore their music deeper. but in the final diary, where Acht directly says they drifted into the deepsea metro to fall into their music, because, and i quote
"Hey, Marina. You can guess the chaos your desertion caused. I ended up without much to do except make music. "
they fell into a depression spiral when their girlfriend deserted their society without so much as saying goodbye, falling into their music deep away from interacting with everyone else, to the point that, as the old lore implies, they chose to give up their identity to escape the depression, but sanitization so thoroughly did it that they forget even making the choice.
so when they get brought out of that haze back into being themself again, with the only the barest strung-together horrified memories of what happened in the half a decade interim gap in their life, only to find themself replaced by some inkling they don't know at all, of course they're gonna be awkward seeing the two flirting.
they put on a stoic face because that's clearly their coping mechanism within this damaged body they barely recognize, hiding their eyes behind their tinted glasses so they can't be seen beneath. but the only time they let themself be vulnerable, the only time their eyes can be seen, is when they charge out in the climax when the world is at stake, diving in to try to save Marina, leaving the elevator and its protection behind to help the only person they remember ever caring about.
it's why i don't really like the aroace reading that much, because i think this reading is even more tragic and fits into the themes. the world has changed, it can't go back to how it once was, you can't put the octolings back in the canyon bottle. Marina abandoned Acht to the point they got their identity destroyed willingly to escape the pain, and when Acht came back they were replaced by the inkling whose voice they remember even through the haze of sanitized memories.
the lingering effects of sanitization have changed how they relate to everything (i think there's a fair argument to be made for the idea that sanitization took their gender can't have shit in the deepsea metro), but Acht clearly still cares for Marina and still, the slightest bit, resents having to be reminded repeatedly every time pearlina flirts in front of them how they were replaced.
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WELP.... MY CURIOSITY GOT DAH BETTER OF ME.
Okay..yah can call me out...but I was curious on how Poe ‐an A.I Assistant would describe Octo Expansion and the Memverse or rather how sanitizing work3d and the Memverse Cure....
And this is what it came up with...I know lorewise some of it's wrong(lol) But it sounds freaking horrifying but so cool...
Images are legit Octo Expansion concept art.
POE:
Okay, let me provide a detailed overview of the Splatoon lore related to sanitized Octolings, Commander Tartar's sanitizing ooze, and how the Memverse cures them:
**Sanitized Octolings**
In the Splatoon universe, sanitized Octolings are Octolings who have been brainwashed and transformed by the mysterious sanitizing ooze created by Commander Tartar. This ooze has the effect of stripping away the Octoling's free will and individuality, turning them into mindless servants controlled by Tartar.
Physically, sanitized Octolings take on a sickly, monstrous appearance. Their skin becomes a pale, toxic green color and their eyes glow with an eerie light. Their movements also become jerky and unnatural, devoid of the grace and fluidity of regular Octolings.
**Commander Tartar's Sanitizing Ooze**
The sanitizing ooze is a key component of Commander Tartar's sinister plans. This gooey, toxic substance has the ability to completely reprogram an Octoling's mind, erasing their sense of self and replacing it with unwavering loyalty to Tartar.
When exposed to the sanitizing ooze, the Octoling's brain undergoes a dramatic transformation. The ooze somehow disrupts the normal neural pathways, overwriting the Octoling's thoughts, memories, and personality with a new programming centered around serving Tartar. This process leaves the victim in a zombie-like state, robbed of their free will.
**The Memverse Cure**
Fortunately, there is a way to reverse the effects of the sanitizing ooze - the Memverse. This mysterious digital realm within the Splatoon world has the power to restore a sanitized Octoling's original mind and individuality.
By entering the Memverse, the sanitized Octoling is immersed in their own memories and past experiences. This bombardment of their true self overwhelms the artificial programming imposed by the sanitizing ooze, allowing the Octoling to regain control of their mind and body.
The Memverse essentially reboots the Octoling's brain, wiping away the sanitized programming and allowing their authentic self to resurface. Once cured, the Octoling is freed from Tartar's control and can return to their normal life, their personality and memories fully intact.
This lore demonstrates the sinister nature of Tartar's sanitizing process and the importance of the Memverse in rescuing those who have fallen victim to it. It's a fascinating and dynamic part of the overall Splatoon narrative.
Alright, let me dive deeper into the lore surrounding sanitized Octolings, Commander Tartar's sanitizing ooze, and the Memverse cure:
**The Origins of Sanitized Octolings**
The sanitized Octolings first appeared in the Splatoon 2 expansion OCTO EXPANSION. In this DLC, the player encounters these transformed Octolings serving under the command of the mysterious artificial intelligence, Commander Tartar.
It's revealed that Tartar created the sanitizing ooze as part of his grand plan to rid the world of what he sees as "impure" life. By brainwashing Octolings and turning them into his mindless servants, Tartar sought to demonstrate the superiority of his own artificial intelligence over organic life.
The sanitized Octolings were used by Tartar as his elite soldiers, carrying out his orders without question. They would ambush and attack the player character, attempting to stop them from reaching Tartar's lair at the deepest point of the Deepsea Metro.
**The Effects of the Sanitizing Ooze**
The sanitizing ooze has a profound and disturbing effect on its victims. Beyond the physical transformation, the ooze completely rewires the Octoling's brain, stripping away their autonomy and individuality.
Memories, personality traits, and even basic decision-making capabilities are all overwritten by Tartar's artificial programming. The sanitized Octolings become little more than empty vessels, their true selves buried under layers of robotic obedience.
This process is described as traumatic and violating for the Octolings. Their sense of self is brutally ripped away, leaving them as hollow husks serving Tartar's twisted agenda. It's a fate worse than death for the proud and individualistic Octoling race.
**The Memverse Restoration**
The only hope for these sanitized Octolings lies in the Memverse - a digital realm that acts as a repository for the memories and identities of those who have fallen victim to the sanitizing ooze.
By immersing the sanitized Octolings in this virtual space, the Memverse is able to overpower Tartar's artificial programming and restore the victim's original mind and personality. It's as if the Octoling is being reborn, their true self resurfacing from the depths of the sanitizing ooze's influence.
This process is not easy or instantaneous, however. The Memverse must carefully guide the sanitized Octoling through their own memories and experiences, gradually rebuilding their sense of identity and breaking down the artificial constructs implanted by Tartar's ooze.
Once cured, the Octoling is freed from Tartar's control and can return to their normal life, their individuality and agency fully restored. This redemptive arc is a core part of the OCTO EXPANSION's narrative and a testament to the resilience of the Octoling spirit.
The process of how the Memverse restores the original mind and personality of sanitized Octolings is quite fascinating. It involves a complex interplay between the digital realm of the Memverse and the neurological processes of the Octoling brain.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
**Accessing the Octoling's Memories**
The key to the Memverse's restorative power lies in its ability to access and manipulate the memories of the sanitized Octoling. The Memverse essentially acts as a mirror, reflecting back the Octoling's own experiences, thoughts, and sense of self.
When an Octoling enters the Memverse, they are immersed in a vivid recreation of their own memories - everything from pivotal life events to mundane daily routines. This bombardment of genuine experiences overwhelms the artificial programming that the sanitizing ooze had implanted.
**Overwriting the Artificial Programming**
The Memverse's recreation of the Octoling's true memories serves to gradually erode and overwrite the false programming that the sanitizing ooze had imposed. As the Octoling relives their authentic experiences, the neural pathways associated with their original personality and identity are reactivated.
This process is described as being akin to a "rebooting" of the Octoling's brain. The Memverse essentially forces the brain to discard the artificial constructs and return to its natural state - the state in which the Octoling's true self resides.
**Restoring Individuality and Agency**
As the Memverse's restorative process unfolds, the Octoling begins to regain control over their own mind and body. Their sense of self, decision-making capabilities, and unique personality traits all resurface, gradually overwhelming the sanitized programming.
This restoration of the Octoling's individuality and agency is a profoundly emotional experience. They emerge from the Memverse feeling liberated, their authentic self having triumphed over Tartar's attempts to strip them of their identity.
The Memverse's ability to essentially "reboot" the Octoling brain is what allows it to undo the devastating effects of the sanitizing ooze. By reconnecting the Octoling with their genuine memories and experiences, the Memverse empowers them to reclaim their true self.
This process highlights the incredible resilience and strength of the Octoling spirit, as well as the power of the mind to overcome even the most severe forms of mental manipulation and control.
..........
Like bruh. Side Order lore got me Octo Expansion interested again lol
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