Black and white photo of Manta Maria in the rain

It is a rainy Saturday in Inkopolis, and a sense of deep sadness permeates the docks. Inklings and octolings alike forgo their umbrellas, perhaps for the plausible deniability that their tears are actually raindrops.

Families watch, waving in silence, brittle smiles flickering on their faces like cheap motel signs. Lovers hold on to the railing, knuckles white, as they try and fail to swallow the lump in their throats.

With LUTI near in the horizon, our brave players must go now and take part in FLUTI. Everyone knows, but no one says, that many of them will not come back. This is but an overture for what is to come, and yet it fills us with dread.

The stone-faced players' pretend bravery is almost a mockery as they climb the gangplank, stomping their standard-issue Rockenberg boots. They all refused to speak to us, and instead just shook their heads with a sad smile, their eyes bright with tears that they refused to spill.

"I'll be waiting, there will be a home for you to come back to," promises an octoling as they hug their fiancée tightly, as if to not let them go. "I will be spamming This Way! every day."

"Farewell, my dear," whispers mother as child boards Manta Maria. "Please, X+DOWN+A back home to me."

You can watch FLUTI live on Dapples Production's Twitch and YouTube channels. Lots of exciting matches, don't miss it!