Chapter 30: Festivity Shopping

As the morning sun rose Callie awoke to find herself tucked into a bed in a different room. 'Wasn't I in Marie's room writing a song with her? Did Addie bring me here?' She thought as she stood up and put on a pair of slippers, already in pajamas. She saw said black tentacled squid asleep in a chair, a notebook in his lap with different drawings, some crossed out and crumpled papers on the floor. 'Guess he can't decide on a design for the new weapon.' She giggled and went downstairs, smelling breakfast cooking.

"Ah, Miss Callie, good morning" Chives greeted her with a plate of eggs and sausage.

"Good morning, Chives." She smiled at the elderly Mimic Octoling before picking up a fork.

"Today's a big day, isn't it?"

"I suppose it is!" She replied with an egg in her mouth.

"Eat up, you will need your energy"

"She's got it in spades, pal." Adstrum's voice was heard from the doorway.

"Oh, I suppose you are correct. Please have some breakfast. Would you like anything to drink?"

"No sausage, please. Not a fan." He replied and took a seat next to Callie. "Um...caffeinated soda?"

"Of course. I have ham, bacon, or some french toast."

"Bacon! Not too crunchy, though. I like it soft."

"Right away, sir"

"So what's your plan today, Addie?" Callie asked as she finished her plate.

"I want a closer look at the weapon at the museum. Hey, Chives, I was told you could help with that. Can you?" He looked at the elder.

"I see. I shall get you the key. Please do not make too much of a mess."

"He might need supervision." Callie sighed and chuckled a bit.

"And what's your plan, beautiful?" Adstrum asked her as a glass of soda was placed in front of him.

"Um...hanging out with Marie and Ari, I think." She shrugged.

Shelly quietly walked in, reading the paper.

"Hey, Chives. Have you heard from Cici?" Callie asked.

"Hmm, such a strange answer I got from her. She asked me who I was… But it must be that new medicine's side effects..."

Callie's eyes widened and Adstrum nearly choked on his soda.

"What? Cici doesn't remember you?"

"To be fair, it was over the phone. She's not very tech savvy…"

"Oh...true…" Callie looked at Adstrum with a worried look on her face. "I hope she's okay."

"She says she is okay…"

"Glad to hear that."

"Yes, I was happily surprised too… but it still kinda seems… off. Maybe I should go see her later..."

"Yeah. It does…" Callie nodded in agreement. "Hope she's okay."

"Glad to hear she's doing okay. But any word on my baby boy?" Mariana asked as she stepped into the dining room.

"Peacefully sleeping… My lady left him a letter and a neat cape, before they separated her for her treatments."

"Oh...Okay. Glad he's okay." She sat down and starting breathing rapidly.

"Calm down, Mariana. Jack's a tough boy. He'll be fine." Tonga said as he walked in.

"I'll say… Had a dream where he kicked my ass a few times…" Arisara muttered, as she walked in rubbing her eyes

"Good morning, Ari!" Callie smiled and waved.

"Heya, Callie." She smiled back at her.

"You can have my chair. I'm done with it." Callie stood up and pulled the chair out for her.

"Oh, are you sure? There are more chairs here."

"Yeah. I'm going to go see if Marie's awake anyway. She needs breakfast too." She smiled as she walked to the stairs.

"Oh, okay."

"So what are you doing today, Ari?" Adstrum asked as Chives put a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him.

"I don't know…" Arisara rubbed her arm.

"You, Callie, and Marie going to do anything?" He asked as he threw a piece of bacon in his mouth.

"Oh, we may go check out the festival."

"Hope you guys have fun. I'll be at the museum until the concert." He smiled as he finished half of his plate, Chives putting a plate of eggs in front of Arisara.

"Oh, okay" She started eating.

A moment later Callie came down holding Marie by the hand, her cousin rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"It's too early…" Marie yawned.

"Good morning, Ms Sunshine." Adstrum chuckled as Callie pulled her to the table.

"Morning everyone."

Callie gave her cousin a hug before leading her over to a chair next to Ari. "Morning."

"Good morning, Marie. How do you take your eggs and would you like french toast or pancakes?" Chives asked as he poured Marie some tea.

"Wow, you made all of this?" Marie asked, "Um well done and pancakes are fine."

"PUNCAKE!" Adstrum pumped his arms into the air.

"Addie, calm down." Callie smiled and rolled her eyes before noticing the clam in the room. "Oh, hi Shelly!"

"Good morning, Callie" The clam greeted as she typed away on her computer.

"Hey, what time is the concert tonight?" She asked as she took a seat next to Adstrum.

"The concert is at 7pm, so maybe arrive 15 minutes early if you can."

"Okay!" Callie smiled as a plate of pancakes was put in front of her.

"Gotcha." Adstrum nodded as he finished his plate.

"So what time do you guys want to go see the festival?" Callie looked at Marie and Arisara.

"Usually when the sun goes down the lights are the prettiest." Chives suggested, "But the shops and rides should still be open."

"Okay. Anything you guys want to do until then?" Callie asked.

"What can we do?" Marie asked while digging into her plate.

"Um…" Arisara shrugged.

"I don't know about you guys…" Adstrum stood up and grabbed a pancake, munching on it. "But I am going back to the museum. Where are the keys, Chives? Please?"

"Hm? I didn't give it to you?" Chives looked into his pockets.

"Not yet." He replied before swallowing the pancake in his mouth.

"Oh yes, pardon my old age… here we are" He gave him a key.

"Thank you." Adstrum smiled widely before heading toward the door. "This will be fun."

"Please only test in the test area!" Chives waved goodbye to him.

"We'll see what happens!" He yelled back as he ran out the door.

"Oh dear… I may have to clean up after him later… Ah, can't be helped. I am off to go see my lady. I will bring her some fresh baked cookies today."

"I kinda wanna go with, but I don't think that will be wise" Arisara stirred her coffee.

"Why not?" Callie asked, her mouth full of pancake bites and a bit of syrup on her chin.

"I don't know. I guess I just feel kinda bad about what happened."

"Me too…" Callie swallowed and wiped her face with a napkin.

"She's recovering, right?"

"I just hope Cici is okay. Hope she'll get over what happened." Callie looked at her cousin.

"... I am kinda worried too… but I think they won't let us in" Marie sighed.

"Dang…Well, maybe we can get Cici something at the festival to give her when we see her again." Callie said, trying to lighten the mood.

"..." Marie seemed depressed thinking about it.

Callie scooted over and pulled her cousin into a hug, unsure of what to say.

"Wanna check out the festival?" Arisara suggested.

"Yes!" Callie jumped up.

"Come on, let's go."

"Okay!" Callie stood up and handed her plate to Chives.

The girls got their stuff and headed to the festival.


When they arrived they found that they were still setting up for the celebrations. Callie's eyes widened as she wandered around, with Marie and Arisara following behind her. "This all looks so cool!"

"There is a lot of lights" Arisara looked at the hanging lights.

"I can't wait to see them light up!" Callie jumped in excitement. "Look at them all!"

"They say everyone who's a firefly will light up too."

"Oh, why can't it be night already!?" She stamped her foot in frustration.

"Hehe, it would nice for a date, huh?" Marie smiled.

"Yeah, it would." Callie nodded. "Maybe Addie and I can check it out after the concert."

"Oh, look at that" Arisara walked over to a booth.

Callie and Marie followed her over to it and took a look. There were glass necklaces in various color, shapes, and sizes.

"They look so pretty."

"Yeah, I want this one… it would look cute on Cici." Marie looked at a stained glass pendent.

"Oh, let's get it for her. And give it to her when we see her again." Callie suggested. "It's such a pretty necklace."

"Wow they have so many shops" Arisara pointed down the aisle.

"Yes they do. Let's go see them all!" Callie started running down the aisle as Marie looked at the pendant.

She paid for the pendent and ran to catch up with Callie.

"Look at this one! Oh, that one! Look at that shop! What's this one selling?!" Callie darted back and forth down the aisle, looking at the different shops.

"Hehe, you can buy anything you want. We do have money, Callie" Marie watched her hyper cousin run around.

"That is true! But...remember last time we went shopping at a festival...or was it a carnival?"

"Once in a lifetime, Callie."

She just raised an eyebrow at her cousin. "What?"

"I mean we may not come back and if we do they may have different stuff."

"Oh...Okay!" Callie started picking out stuff she liked and purchased them, quickly filling three bags worth of items.

"Heh," Marie smiled as she bought nick nacks for her parents.

"You want anything, Ari?" Callie asked, holding some bags of items with her tentacles.

"Um… I'm poor…"

"Well, point out something you want and we'll get it for you." She smiled widely. "Right, Marie?"

"I can't do that…" Arisara replied.

"Why not?"

"Guilt" She rubbed her arms.

"Why? We can afford anything you want. No need to be guilty about it." Callie nudged her gently with a smile.

"I have nothing to pay you back, though."

"You don't have to pay us back. You're our friend!"

"..."

"Just get something" Marie messed her tentacles.

"Fine."

Callie watched Arisara browse through the shops with a smile. "How do you feel about this, Marie?"

"Well, I like this but I can't help thinking about Cici. This place was how she became who she is today."

"Oh. Right. Um...I was asking about how you feel about Arisara. You know, with her being Gramps's Agent 8 and being an Octoling." She nervously smiled. "I think it's great!"

"It's kinda unbelievable. Like a 'pinch me I'm dreaming.' I guess since we've been fighting Octavio for so long it just seems so weird."

"I kind of feel that way, too. But I just think that not all of the Octarians are on his side. Arisara is proof that some, if not all, of the Octolings aren't with him. And didn't we hear that some Octolings are walking around Inkopolis?" Callie looked at her cousin with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, they are coming from Botanical Garden. She allowed them to immigrate wherever they want. She says just don't cause problems or off with your head."

"Who? Aria?"

"Yeah, if they try anything she will find them and end them."

Callie sighed and shook her head. "I think we should keep an eye on her. Aria, I mean."

"Well, she's looking after our wellbeing. It's not like she's killing for no reason."

"Good point. Still, I fear she isn't all there. I hear that talk out of Addie and I know his mind is fragile." She shuddered at her imagination. "I just hope she's not serious and is just teasing."

"Pretty sure she's not."

"Okay." Callie nodded and looked back at Arisara.

"I see you over there hugging that plushie squid!" Marie snickered as Arisara jumped a couple of feet and hid behind it.

"That was adorable!" Callie lightly applauded.

Arisara was flustered as her tentacles turned red.

Both Squid Sisters laughed at her before walking over. "I'm curious what that was about." Callie giggled and patted Ari's shoulder.

"Here buddy. Keep the change" Marie handed the shopkeeper the money.

"Ah… Um… Th-thank you" Arisara squeaked as she hid her face into the plush she bought.

"That was so cute, Ari." Callie smiled and hugged her.

Arisara sheepishly smiled.

"Is this what you bought?" The hyper Squid Sister pointed to the plush the Octoling was holding.

"Heh, it's almost a quarter of her height" Marie smiled.

"It's okay, Ari. It's an adorable plush." Callie smiled widely.

"It's really fluffy… I have never felt something like it before."

"Well, glad you found something you like. Hug it as much as you want. Hugs are nice."

"Okay!"

"So what now?" Marie asked.

"What time is it? We should go get Addie and get ready for the concert, right?" Callie took out her phone and checked the time.

"Oh, right, it's almost time, isn't it?"

"I'll go get Addie and meet you guys at the stage?"

"Alright. Let's go Arisara" Marie walked towards the stage with her.


Callie walked into the Human Museum and headed straight for the Weapons exhibit, finding the display case for the flame weapon empty. 'They actually let him use it?' She thought as she looked around for a tour guide, finding one behind a desk. "Excuse me!" She ran up to them. "Um, did you see an Inkling with a jacket on recently?"

"Um yes, Chive's guest right? They should be in the testing room in the very back."

"You guys test the weapons you put on display?" Callie asked. "And you have a testing room?"

"Yes mam. To ensure Bubble's artifacts are still in working conditions."

"Oh. Okay." She nodded at the penguin before following them to the back.

The walls of the testing room had scorch marks on them and there was a testing dummy on fire in the center, the smoke from it going out through a vent in the ceiling. Adstrum stood with the weapon on his back and a large smile on his face.

"Oh, dear." Chives put it out.

"Heheheheheheheheheheheh." The jacketed inkling chortled as he aimed the gun upward before a stream of flame shot out of the weapon's nozzle. "What was this thing called again!?"

"Flamethrower, sir."

"I LOVE IT!" He yelled as he stopped firing and got ready to shoot it again. "I AM ADSTRUM, HEAR ME-" He was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.

"Addie, fun's over. Sorry." Callie smiled. "Give the weapon back."

"Ah, hello Miss Callie" Chives bowed his head.

"Hi Chives!" She waved at the elderly butler.

"I don't wannaaaaa!" Adstrum whined and fidgeted.

"Don't be a child. Come on. We have to go to the concert now." She placed her hands on her hips.

"No! Let go!" Adstrum struggled as a few museum employees grabbed the flamethrower and began to remove it from his back. "NO!"

"I got word of my lady. She's...not doing well..."

"Oh…Cici…" Callie sighed and pulled Adstrum into a hug, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Woah, it's okay, Callie." Adstrum stopped struggling against the employees and let them take the flamethrower, turning his attention to Callie and hugging her. "I'm sure Cici will be fine. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that there are people helping her."

"I'm sure she will be back to her old sleepy way soon" Chives reassured them.

"I hope she'll be back to that, at least." Callie muttered.

"I'm sure she will, beautiful." Adstrum kissed her forehead.

"Ah we should really go. You are going to be late."

"Oh, yeah! Come on, pretty lady!" Adstrum said and pulled Callie by the hand toward the exit.

"Okay. Okay!" She slowly smiled and ran alongside him.

Chives cleaned up the room and followed them to the concert.

Author's Note: I hate forgetting to update this. But classes and other distractions get in the way.

Thank you The Bowser Monster, Guest, Agent Cherry, and Noodle Doodle for leaving reviews. I greatly appreciate that, guys.

Well, we didn't know that while writing this, Guest. We're writing this based off our knowledge. We're too lazy to look up stuff sometimes.

Thank you, Cherry. Glad I could hit the weak spot in your heart.

Glad you luv the fanfic, Noodle. Thanks for reviewing.

See you all next week with another chapter. Hopefully sooner...