[Open] An Unusual New Neighbor

If there was one good thing about having agents for parents—adoptive parents, whatever—it was the fact that they made enough money to move their daughter—adoptive daughter, whatever—into the nicest apartment complex in the city.

But of course it wasn't a smooth process. Mornica should have expected as much. Agent parent money or not, there were still plenty of people who weren't too keen on having an Octoling move into Flounder Heights. Like this uptight Inkling woman who had been responsible for helping Mornica get all of the paperwork and such settled. She hadn't even been subtle about the fact that she'd stared at Mornica suspiciously as she'd signed the papers, and as they were walking up to the apartment, she'd gone over the rules that Mornica had already agreed to... and some that were probably just made up.

"No peeking in through other apartments' windows. No entering other apartments without the express permission of their residents. No taking things that belong to other residents, especially if they've left them outside."

"Mornica is a good girl. She won't cause any trouble," her mother said. "Right, dear?"

"Mm-hmm," Mornica mumbled without even looking up from her feet. Cod, she just wanted this uptight Inkling to go away so she could get her stuff moved in and lock herself inside...

The uptight Inkling—had she even said her name?—adjusted her wire-rim glasses, still staring at Mornica. "Well, certainly she's aware that if she breaks any of these rules, she will be summarily evicted."

That was a load of kelp. The first offense for most rule-breakers was a fine. But Mornica didn't bother correcting her. It'd only make this situation even more awkward.

Finally, she got the key. Finally, with her parents' help, Mornica got her stuff moved in and unpacked just enough to be livable. Finally, Mornica's parents hugged and kissed her goodbye.

"We love you, dear," her mother said.

"Love you, too." Mornica slid her eyes up to look at her parents and cracked a small smile to show she meant it.

"Call us if you need anything. We're just a few minutes away," her father said.

"Okay."

Mornica waited until they were down the hall to throw her door shut, lean her back against it, and sink to the floor with a relieved sigh. Finally... that was over. She was finally on her own. She was finally not living with her parents anymore. She could finally go a day without hearing their pep talks about true friendship and being herself. She got it—they cared about her and wanted her to be happy. But that was hard when everyone in Inkopolis hated her.

She looked around her new apartment, trying to figure out what to do next. Her computer had been set up in the corner, a few of her books and stuffed animals had been placed on shelves, and her bedroom was already mostly set up. Everything else was still in boxes. Maybe I should unpack those before I get online, she thought. First, though, she wanted to get rid of this headache. She pulled her bobble hat off and ripped the hair tie from her tentacles, finally letting them fall free. She rubbed her scalp. Cod, even though that setup helped keep the stares down, it really did a number on her head sometimes...