Jobs
Gramps, you have to recruit Marie.
We need an Agent 2!
And she's smart, and serious,
And she's amazing with her charger.
Or even without it—did you see my bug net?
Please?
Marie hums along to the music as she wanders Arowana. Losing the Naughty VS Nice splatfest wasn't so bad; sure, she'd rather win, but there was always another splatfest to compete on. Besides, Callie promised she'd make her awesome homemade soup to cheer Marie up, and that almost makes up for it.
And while Callie's making soup, Marie can just chill. She's already passed by the bookshop and emerged with three more titles than she meant to buy, and checked out the top 40 hits (Maritime Melody is currently 21 on the charts; good, but not their best). She should stop by Rod's Fishy Feasts and pick up some of their amazing double-chocolate rainbow cookies for dessert as a surprise.
A group of teens have camped out with some speakers in the center of the food court, taking advantage of the space to improvise a dance routine to Splatack. Marie grins as she maneuvers past them to get her cookies.
She gives her order as the song changes. Marie bobs her head to the beat; this is new. Strong drums and guitar, very fresh and—
Someone sings in Octarian.
Marie whips around and reaches for a charger that isn't there before she realizes it's coming from the speakers. There are no octoslobs in sight, just the singing—singing in Octarian and Inklish, a combination that just—it shouldn't.
And a group of inkling teens, looking scarce old enough to shift, dancing to it like any other music. Like—like—
"Miss?" An employee thrusts a brown paper bag in Marie's hands; she blinks and takes it. "Mind elsewhere? I've had those days. I threw in a couple extra cookies, you look like you need them."
Marie forces a smile before remembering she's wearing a mask, he can't see anyway. "Thank you. And, um, yeah, it's been... a day." She tips him and turns away, digs in her pocket for her phone, and flicks to an app she hasn't used in ages.
Ten seconds later, the song ends and her phone pulls up the song name (Ebb and Flow), release date (December 8), spot on the charts (32 and climbing), and band. Off The Hook. Their first single. Two members. A picture of the pair in a ridiculous pose that—Marie's hearts squeeze—looks like it took direct inspiration from her and Callie.
One, Pearl Houzuki, short and aggressive in pink spiked clothing. An inkling family with more money than sense, she'd heard the girl had gone into the punk scene and kept tabs on her during the zapfish kidnapping. Probably either naive or stupid, or maybe both, if half of what Marie learned was true. But the other...
A tall girl. Dark skinned. Teal-tipped black tentacles with suckers on the outside, curling at the end. Separated mask. Simple white shoes, jeans, and hoodie. Headphones hiding her ears. A pair of broken goggles perched on her forehead.
An Octarian, dressed like any inkling she'd pass in Inkopolis.
Marina.
The soup won't be ready for an hour or more, but Marie's done here. She needs to talk to Callie. Now.