Author's Note: May contain explicit C4llie. Also, adult humor & language. Enjoy!
After the two popstars left, the Agents made themselves comfortable on the makeshift living room. Callie was a design expert, but Marie was no slouch either. Magenta & lime green were the clear dominant colors on the couches, commissioned by the Sisters themselves, having much money still from endorsements, movies, theater sales, & etc. Wi-fi wasn't a problem, Sheldon took care of that spot, much to the relief of the young Agents, who were browsing Squidbook, exchanging memes. Marie & Callie were conversing over something at the dining table, while Cap'n Cuttlefish was lounging in his grandsquid chair, Bamboozler still in hand.
"Ah, the show business. A fickle industry indeed.", said Marie, as she was finishing up the last of her drink.
"But it offered & gave us a lot.", Callie said, gathering the last of her SeaBass chips.
"But at what cost?", said Marie, sadness crossing the lime squid's pretty face. "Our fame eventually got to us, and it ultimately tore us apart.", she lamented. "Those were the worst times of my life.", she mused sadly.
"Hey now Marie, that was the Octarians.", Callie said to her cousin, patting her hand. "Besides, we're gonna release an album, right?", she added.
"Oh, yeah!", Marie's head snapped up. "The comeback album. Our Fresh Start.", she said.
"Presscon's tomorrow, 10 in the morning at the New Albacore Hotel.", Callie said, laying out the details. "Amy texted me earlier, before we went.", said the magenta Inkling.
"Why didn't you told me earlier?", Marie asked her cousin, puzzled. "That's...unusual of you.", she observed.
"Well, the New Squidbeak Splatoon comes first, Marie.", Callie said. "Especially now that another menace is on the rise.", she added, furrowing her brows.
"And with Octavio out in the open once more, he is free to scheme all kinds of squit on Inkopolis.", Marie remarked, a hard expression crossing her pretty face.
"Hey, we are as numerous as ever now.", Callie reminded her. "Now that Pearl & Marina is officially in on the Splatoon, that's two more capable bodies & another resident genius.", she said, mentally counting.
"The former chief weapon engineer of the Octarians. Now working for the opposite side.", Marie remarked snidely. "How ironic.", she said, a smile crossing her face. "At least we don't have to solely listen & rely on Sheldon for weapons!", she said bemusedly.
"He has his uses, though! And a lot! I just wish he'd tone down on the geek speak though.", concurred Callie.
"Anyways..", Marie said, shifting subject, "Any idea on questions at the presscon tomorrow?", she asked her partner.
"They'll be asking us inevitably about our take at the whole 'Marina is an Octoling' kerfuffle, that's almost certain.", Callie repied.
"Well, we were their forerunners.", Marie remarked. "Anyways...", she squinted, lowering her voice to avoid Evan hearing them, who was busy playing a round of Clash of Squid Totaled with Shannon & Jesse, "Is Evan making a move yet?", she asked Callie.
"Making a move? Oh, he's just being a gentleman.", Callie scoffed at her lime-green counterpart.
"Oh please.", Marie scoffed back. "I saw your body language back there when we were evacuating the battle earlier.", she said, "And that wasn't just because you were gasping for air from that Tenta Missile attack. ", she added.
"Come on now, Marie, we're just good friends!", Callie retorted. "Although, he's an absolute beast in the sheets, that much I'll admit.", she said, blushing.
"Hey, careful now, grandpa might hear you. Last thing grandpa needs to hear is our proclivities.", Marie reminded. "Although...", as she saw the elderly cephalopod asleep in his rocking chair, "I super agree with you.", she said, as she threw her empty can into the wastecan. "Hey, maybe we should ask them if they'd wanna have dinner here!", said Marie, her trademark flirty smirk flashing.
"That's an idea!", Callie concurred excitedly."Oh, and wait, if we're planning on something steamy, maybe might as well get to the Hotel too!", she piped up. "That'll be two splats with one shot!", she added.
"I like your thinking, cousin.", Marie said.
"Come on, you're just as horny sometimes.", Callie said mischievously.
"At least I reel it in.", Marie retorted. "Unlike you, who just swoons over whoever you find attractive on SquidSnap.", she chuckled.
"Hey, I may not be exactly a tame squid, but I choose who does me!", she protested. "And at least I do sensible acts when I do get it on.", she said. "You and your BDSM fetish.", she mumbled.
"But do we have something to eat though?", Marie said, opting to change the subject out of shame.
"Changing the subject I see.", Callie remarked. "But we can easily do with that.", she said.
Meanwhile, the three Agents were having a good time, winning a streak of matches. Three was leading the charge most of the time, with Four & Five on flank. Agent 3 soon called quits later, picking up an old Ink Today magazine.
"Hey Four, how's it going?", she said nonchalantly.
"Fine enough.", Evan said. "Usual hijinks in rank-", he added.
"You know what I'm talking about.", Jesse said sternly.
"That again, Jesse? Come on.", scoffed Evan.
"It's been a year since you're acquainted, you know. And you're good friends and more at that!", she retorted. "For Codsake, she is practically begging you to be together!", she snarled quietly, to avoid Callie hearing.
"I sure enjoy her company Jesse, but I'm not sure I should be taking it to the next level.", Evan replied, pondering.
"That's good enough!", said Shannon, piping up.
"Shannon, there are things you dunno yet still.", said Evan, reacting to the sudden speaking of the Octoling, chuckling.
"Like how she is very touchy with you every time you're close?", Jesse retorted, answering to Evan's statement. Both Squid Sisters approached the Agents with an idea, as they were debating further.
"Hey, wanna have dinner at our house later?", offered Callie.
"Your choosing.", Marie complemented.
"Wanna come with us to the mall? For some groceries later.", asked Callie, side-eyeing Evan, making the green Inkling blush, attempting to hide said blush.
"Non problemo, Señora Callie.", said Evan teasingly.
"I'll be here with Cap. Bring along Shannon if she wanna.", said Jesse. "I already see where this is going, and not too fond of it.", she said grumpily.
"Well, we can't force you into things you don't like.", Shannon shrugged. "But try to loosen up bit every once in a while!", she chimed up.
"I'd only loosen up once I get to X #1.", Jesse said in a flat tone. "And maybe even more if I get to splat whoever the fuck screwed with my head at the Kamabo facilities.", she snarled.
"Hey now Jesse, you don't need to be 'Agent 3, The Most Fearless' all the time!", Callie bit in. "All cephalopods have fears, we must learn to embrace them!", she advised the younger Inkling.
"I'd rather splat them than embrace it.", Jesse replied, still perusing Ink Today. "Because being strong wasn't enough, and I nearly splatted mercilessly an innocent.", she continued, looking at Shannon. "And for what? Some deranged freak that wants to kill us all?", she said, all in a dead tone.
"Jesse.", Marie began. "Sometimes, being hard isn't the best strategy to all of life's problems.", she said to the orange inkling. "You get tough too much, you build a shell around yourself, shunning even those you know, those close to you. Those who care.", she added. "And soon, that shell's gonna be so hard, you wouldn't even know yourself.", she said.
"Trust me, I still know who I am.", Jesse reassured the team with a smile. "Go on. I'll keep Cap company and tell him you just went for some groceries and dinner.", she said. "You know me, I am not a people person that much.", said Jesse.
"Well, we won't persist for now.", said Marie, now joined by Evan & Shannon. "But that has got to change soon.", she reminded the young veteran. The four of them clambered out of the underground shelter and swam through the grate back up to Inkopolis Plaza, one by one to avoid suspicion.
When the whole party finally made it up top, both cousins donned their signature disguise pieces: shades for Callie, face mask for Marie. However, both had changed up slightly their pieces: Callie went for the 18k Aviators, while Marie has the Dust Blocker 2000. The Agents have still their last turf gear: Fish Fry Biscuit Bandanna, Black Hoodie, & Banana Basics for Evan, a Takoroka Mesh, a tank top with accompanying silver chain, and Zombie Hi-Horses for Shannon.
The four walked happily to the station, choosing to go to the house by train to pick up one of Marie & Callie's cars. The group exchanged small talk all the way from the station to their abode in the suburbs of Inkopolis. They then hailed a taxi to take them to Oceania Estates,a short trip to the outskirts of Inkopolis, where the duo resided nowadays, after the kerfuffle in Octo Canyon, gathering their profits from their active popstar days.
The Squid Sisters' house was simple, but elegant. The house used modernized architecture, boasting 2 levels, an expansive balcony, and well tended plants. Grey was the main color of the walls, with lime & hot pink accents, denoting who lived there. Two sedans stood there, one for Marie, one for Callie. The taxi soon arrived at the front door, and all clambered out. Shannon took the front seat, while Callie & Marie flanked Evan for some reason.
"Hoo, sure feels good to be home!", said Callie, as she approached an apparatus mounted to the wall: a retinal scanner. The gates were made of metal, and were automated.
"Callie Cuttlefish, recognized", chimed the robotic voice. Marie followed suit, then they let their guests into the house.
"Yeah, especially after that kerfuffle earlier.", said Marie, after entering the living room, a luxurious sofa set being the dominant pieces in the area. All four found places, sitting themselves down, Callie positioning herself beside Evan, to his confusion.
"So, what's on the menu?", said Callie, teasingly gripping Evan at the arm. Marie facepalmed at the sight, laughing internally at the aggressiveness of her cousin. Shannon just kept a straight face, having seen this times before.
"Maybe just take-out will do?", said Evan sheepishly.
"I wanna make it special!", said Callie, "For someone as special as you!", she said, before realizing what she said, blushing pink in the process. "Tell you what. Authentic Pescian pasta cuisine. Pasta, garlic bread, the works.", she smiled, as she stated her idea.
"Sounds good.", said Evan.
"Let's go to the grocery then!", said Callie, zipping up to retrieve the keys to her car, a late model Silverfish Arrow sedan, parked beside Marie's car, a Red Claw Angler, a sports roadster, designed for speed. The four clambered in, with Callie naturally taking the wheel, followed by Marie in the passenger seat, and the two Agents at the back seats. Callie revved up the car while Marie operated the gate, and after a few moments, they were off to Mako Mart.
Parking was not much of a hassle, as there were barely any shoppers that time. Callie easily found a spot at the expansive parking lot, and soon, they were inside the premises, the guard immediately recognizing the popstars & their friends.
"Nice to see you round, Miss Callie!", said the guard, an Inkling armed with a Splattershot modified for security purposes.
"Same here!", said the magenta Inkling.
"Just a little shopping!", said Marie, stating their business in a light manner, as they were being scanned by the guard.
"No Ink Battles for today, so feel free to shop anywhere!", said the guard to the foursome. Evan headed to the cart section and pulled off one, handing it to Shannon after seeing how she approached Evan, saying how she always loved to push one, since things like Mako Mart aren't a thing in Octo Canyon.
Marie brainstormed on the fly where to go first, deciding on the noodle & grain section first. She had an entire week worth of dishes written down in her notepad, a gift from a long-time fan some time ago when they were still doing Inkopolis News. It had seen better days, but still presentable. Shannon zipped along excitedly, nearly getting the kart stuck on a corner of an aisle when she was turning, earning a few scowls from the jelly & Inkling shoppers.
The place still has the markings of an Ink Battle: yellow & black lines indicated where battle usually took place, and the spawn points. As there was no Ink Battles today, the shelves don't have their usual plastic cover, exposing rightfully the goods within the shelves: cereal, biscuit, and so on.
"Right then, what's the menu? Spaghetti with meatballs sounds good.", said Callie. "Be right back with the ground beef.", she said, dashing off into the fresh produce section. Marie & the others proceeded to another direction for the rest of the ingredients for the spaghetti: spaghetti sauce, herbs, mushrooms, canned tomatoes.
"Hey Shannon, having fun pushing the cart?", said Evan, smiling as he heaved various canned goods into it, including canned chowder, mackerel, corned beef, & tomatoes.
"I've had experience with Pearl & Marina, but Marina took it away after I almost crashed into an aisle of glass milk bottles.", she began in shame. "But I've been getting better. It's not like we have things like this down there.", she continued.
"Then how do you get your sustenance for the day?", said Evan, half-puzzled, half-concerned.
"We have rations delivered by select soldiers on rotation.", said Shannon. "Contains the same squit everyday, every week: propaganda, propaganda, a few packs of standard issue food packs, usually with crab soup, snail nuggets, and a lot of seaweed. The approved formula according to them.", she said.
"Wow, that must have been boring. That's gonna get old real fast.", Evan said, as they trudged along with Marie, who was texting Callie their whereabouts.
"That wouldn't get old fast if all the Elite & ranking officials did not hog all the good stuff to them.", said Shannon, slight disgust staining her words. "And even then, Elites got to the good stuff very rarely.", she said.
"How's the neighbors in Flounder Heights so far?", changing the subject, as he picked up a box of cheddar cheese.
"Amicable so far.", she said. "Rent being the most challenging part so far, next to loneliness.", she quipped. "I heard that's the best there is for temporary living?", she inquired.
"Well, much more that it's now out of rotation for Ink Battles, something about the management begging off after complaints of loud noise during splatfest matches.", he replied. "But it is recently being outclassed now by some up & coming complexes in & around Inkopolis.", he added.
"Shame, would have loved to battle there.", she replied. The Inkling & Octoling continued chatting about various things, making Callie's rejoining a bit unnoticed by the two, which made her have a twinge of jealousy before controlling herself.
"Hiya, cousin!", she said, as she ladled the packs of ground beef, along with the rest of the groceries.
"Caaaallie, are you having a binge on those chips again?", Marie squinted at her, noticing the quite alarming quantity of various junk food Callie heaved in with the ground beef.
"For we have... Uh... Guests?", she said shiftily, grinning in embarrassment.
"Sigh. I guess I could have some of those too.", said Marie resignedly. "I mean, they're literally the best movie companions, aside from you of course.", she added. "But we gotta stay fit, ya know?", she said. "That and keeping track of our cash.", she added.
"Yeah, yeah, I can like burn that in 2 Turf battles! Stat!", Callie scoffed, as the party trudged along, continuing their shopping. Soon, Evan steered the cart to a waiting jelly cashier, which recognized the popstars, but nonetheless doing her job as if this was a routine customer.
"Nice to see you, miss Callie!", said the cashier, as she was processing their line of groceries.
"You still work here, Jelcie?" said the magenta Inkling.
"Yeah. Hey octoling, how's Inkopolis? ", said Jelcie, taking notice of Shannon.
"Just fine.", said the magenta Octoling, as she heaved more unto the counter.
"Hiya Jelcie.", said Marie, approaching the counter to pay. "How's MakoMart doing in between Ink Battles?", she casually asked.
"Oh yeah, Ink Battles are probably all the excitement here.", she said, continuing to process the merchandise. "It's not like we can abandon post to watch them splat each other.", she added. "Cash or card?", she asked the lime-green female, as she was finished with their stuff.
"Cash. Cold hard cash, dear.", said Marie, a slight smirk slipping in.
"Haha, you truly are back to Marie.", said the cashier. Another jelly boxed up all the merchandise and heaved it into the kart, in which Evan helped with, seeing as jellies aren't exactly made for heavy lifting. The company uneventfully proceeded to cart their groceries into their car. Callie made a bid to help Evan lift the groceries unto the trunk, which earned a sniggering smirk from Callie.
"Just ask her out already, Evan, for Cod's sake!", Marie whispered under her breath, as she watched Callie and Evan flirt with each other underhandedly, while Shannon waited in the car.
Soon the company drove out of the mart, and back to Ocenia Heights, driving into the darkening six-o-clock skies.
After-Chapter Bits:
What do the Squid Sisters actually think of the Marina bombshell brouhaha? They certainly do applaud the Octoling. Be on the lookout for a lemon starring Callie, Evan, & Marie. The lemon will be a separate piece & will have a separate title. And with that...Stay Fresh, Stay Off the Hook!