Alex and Kiaria got a text from Jay, her "quick meeting" with her team was running far longer than expected. Jay just asked them to meet her in Inkopolis square and hopefully them being there would be enough to yoink her away so they could actually do the things they planned to, like bowling. Now to be fair, Jay loved her team, they were like her extended family! But she also had an obligation to her actual family. That being her cousin and her cousin's fiance. That was something Jay was very excited about as well, ever since hearing that Alex was planning to propose she's been doing everything in her power not to spill the beans. Wait what was going on? Oh yeah Jessie was going over strategy. For being a shy Octoling, she was surprisingly talkative and energetic once she was comfortable.

"Okay so if they take the tower and you've got your special charged, hold on to it until we can make a push, alright Malina? We don't want a repeat of last time" Jessie says as she glares at Malina and then the both of them chuckle softly, rolling their eyes at their own antics. "But actually though, if we're all splatted, fall back until we respawn. We're stronger as a unit. This isn't like Rainmaker. When Rainmaker was the tournament mode it was all just grab and run, but this requires more strategic thinking."

"Jay, I still can't believe you went from the Clash Blaster, arguably the most overpowered weapon for Tower Control, and are now just using the Kensa Pro. Like yeah it's got some good power but really?" Malina chuckles and playfully nudges Jay's shoulder with her fist, Jay chuckling as well and rubbing the spot where Malina had nudged her.

"I wasn't having fun with the Clash! Isn't that part of why we're doing this too? To have fun? Well I have more fun playing with the Kensa Splattershot Pro than I was having with the Clash Blaster." Jay shrugs, not really sure what else to say about it. She really did enjoy the Kensa Pro more than the Clash, she found she got more splats with it too which is always satisfying. She did have to learn a bit about aiming to be really good with it but it worked out in the end since she has so much better range with the weapon than she did before with her old one.

The group banters back and forth a little more, poking fun at each other's weapon choices while also laughing and smiling. They're good friends so they'd never actually be upset over a weapon choice, unless that choice was actively hurting the team. However even then they'd probably lean towards wanting to help that person get better with the weapon and offering to help them practice with it. However before they can get very far with said banter, an Octoling with a ponytail, and an Inkling with an interesting scar over her right eye begin approaching the group. Jay gives the two a smile and a wave, planning to introduce them to her team, but unexpectedly, Jessie stands quickly upon seeing them, and bows to the Octoling that approaches.

"C-Captain Ida!" Jessie says while remaining in the bow. Everyone else at the table exchanges a confused glance in response to this since they'd never seen Jessie do anything like this before. Then again, she'd also never met Kiaria before so that is likely the exact reason why.

"At ease." Kiaria says with a smile, gesturing for the other Octoling to rise. She was happy to know someone who recognized her had made it to the surface safely, she had always been worried about what had happened to those who'd followed her into the rebellion. "I haven't been 'Captain' for quite some time now, but it's always good to see a familiar face on the surface, what's your name, soldier?"

"J-Jessie Ma'am! Jessie Lamonds. I was under your command when the Calamari Inkantation was performed, and I followed you into the rebellion." Jessie may have been given an 'At ease', but she was still standing straight when addressing Kiaria, there was a level of respect and possibly admiration there as well. It's easy to tell that Jessie thought highly of Kiaria.

"Ah yes I remember! I see you've grown your tentacles out a little as well since then, probably why I didn't immediately recognize you. You and Takeshi were integral to us having any hope of success… speaking of Takeshi, do you know what happened to him? Last I remember I ordered him to evacuate and then I got captured." Kiaria asks with a look of worry, only she does a good job of hiding it so only Alex and Jessie are able to pick up on it. Alex is able to notice because she knows Kiaria so well that she can tell when her lover is upset by something, and Jessie can tell because it's a similar look to what Kiaria would have any time the rebels were under siege and needed to evacuate.

"Unfortunately I do not know… the rebels were scattered a bit after your capture, but we did our best. I think I heard he was trying to unite the factions but my group was small and we made a break for the surface when the chance arose." Jessie looks down a little, almost like she's ashamed of herself for abandoning the rebellion, even though it seems Kiaria won't be upset by it. Jessie has wrestled with that thought for a while, what might've happened had she stayed? She'll never know will she?

"Well, it's good to know you're safe. Octavio is… likely not going to be an issue if the intel I have is anything to go off, so I don't think there's much to worry about anymore since the loyalists won't actually have him actively controlling their minds with the hypnosis." Kiaria smiles and puts her hand on Jessie's shoulder to reassure her, Jessie looks up and smiles softly, feeling relaxed and put at ease with her choices.

Jay clears her throat in a not so subtle way, which results in Jessie and Kiaria realizing they'd completely forgotten about the entire reason they were here and they both blushed sheepishly, Jessie a little harder than Kiaria however. Alex had gone and grabbed a couple seats for herself and for Kiaria already however, so they were all able to take a seat and actually talk like normal people now.

"S-Sorry about that." Jessie blushes a little as she brushes the large tentacle out of her face, allowing her to properly see everyone in the group again. She could easily get that tentacle trimmed down but she likes having it so large, it's something that's uniquely hers.

"Don't worry about it, now! Introductions!" Jay smiles, clapping her hands together and getting the attention of everyone around her. Then she smirks as she points at her cousin and her cousin's fiance. "This is my cousin Alex, and her smooch partner Kiaria."

"JAY!" Alex blushes fiercely and shoots her cousin a death glare, prompting both Jay and Kiaria to giggle in response. Alex crosses her arms and frowns, she's not actually upset but she's playing it up because of how dramatic her instinctual reaction was.

"Don't let her work you up Lexie, she's just trying to be funny." Kiaria smiles and kisses Alex's cheek, allowing the Inkling to calm down a little. Alex takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as she does to allow it to calm her entire body.

"Y-Yeah, you're right Kia, thanks." Alex smiles back at Kiaria, the Octoling rubbing her lover's head a little to drive home the point that she's okay. Alex has been a little more on edge recently and Kiaria has been doing her best to make sure to help her realize everything's okay and she's not in danger anymore. It's a process but it's worth it for her love.

"Wait wait wait… I'm sorry but… LEXIE?!" Jay interjects, a little dumbfounded at the nickname that Kiaria has given Alex. Also with a little snicker as well because she herself never even called Alex that, and they grew up together! Though that could easily be a good thing too, since it means it's something that's unique for Kiaria to refer to her as.

"We're getting off topic." Alex interrupts before any further questions can be asked or answered, turning the focus of the group back to the original intent, they'd gotten sidetracked again somehow. "Alright Jay, you were going to introduce us to your team and then we were going to head out."

"Right! Right of course! Alright well… apparently Eigh- I mean… Kiaria… you know Jessie already." Jay points at the Octoling with a large tentacle hanging in front of her face and a somewhat similar ponytail to Kiaria's own poking out the back of her head. The Octoling in question waves at Kiaria and Alex upon attention being drawn to her, smiling softly and trying not to cause another scene.

"H-Hi! Uhm…" Jessie looks at Alex with weary eyes, almost like she's not sure if she should trust her. But her old captain seems to… that should be good enough for her, but her weariness has kept her from harm more than once. She was ready to make a move at a moment's notice if need be.

"This here's Malina! She's deadly with a roller, and lethal with everything else too!" Jay states proudly as she points over to the other Octoling on her team, she's got a more basic tentacle style, just a little longer. No ponytail or any single tentacle that's larger than the rest. She rocks the look though, making it her own with a yellow to magenta gradient that you wouldn't think would work, and yet it totally does.

"Hey! Nice to meet you!" Malina gives a little salute wave, she wasn't part of the rebels and Kiaria can confirm that just by looking at her, but, she did also defect from Octavio's forces and come to the surface, and really that's all the Rebels hoped to achieve anyways.

"And finally, we have Allie!" Jay smiles while pointing at the only other Inkling in the group aside from herself. Only to find said Inkling has fallen asleep. "Oh, oh dear… Malina did you keep her up all night again?"

"Wh-What no of course not!" Malina looks offended by the accusation, but a simple eyebrow raise from Jau changes her tone completely. "Y-Yeah… I kept texting her… b-but! She texted me first! I just didn't realize what time it was!"

Jay just sighs and facepalms, prompting Alex and Kiaria to giggle a little. Malina is blushing and Jessie is covering her mouth to stifle her own giggles as well. Jay really can't believe how completely wrong this entire meeting has gone, and yet it's going about exactly as perfectly as she could have possibly hoped for too.

"You know what? This is fine, this is fine… it works out actually, because Kiaria, Alex, and I… well we're all supposed to be heading out anyways. In fact we probably should've left by now anyways." Jay rationalizes, trying to make light of the situation despite how royally fucked up it is compared to how it was supposed to go.

"We should be going yeah… we might have to change our plans a bit too since I think the bowling alley is gonna be a bit packed now." Alex says as she holds up her phone, Squitter was open and there was a post about spotting the Squid Sisters at said bowling alley.

"Awe man, I wanted to go bowling!" Jay complains, but she stands and grabs her bag, signalling Kiaria and Alex to do the same. Surely they'll come up with an idea for something to do together somehow. Hopefully one that doesn't involve obscenely large crowds. "Alright, I'll see you guys next sunday for Practice!"

Jay waves her team goodbye, and then heads off with Alex and Kiaria, probably back to their apartment to play video games since it's a classic fallback that never gets old. Alex and Kiaria hold hands as they walk, Jay just puts her hands in her pockets. The awake members of Jay's team eye the three of them as they walk away until they're out of sight.