Chapter Text
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I know how she acts at home, but
Marie's shy.
Watch out for her at school, would you?
Just don't tell her I asked.
The cheers almost bowl Callie off her feet when they finish Calamari Inkantation and have to make way for the Chirpy Chips. Sure, they're not the main band, but inklings are throwing flowers, envelopes, and even some clothing items on it. No way can the Chirps perform with all that on the stage—and it's for her and Mar!
As she and Marie leave, Callie spots a janitor's giant pushbroom in the wings. She grabs it and runs back out, across the stage, as a wave of questioning sound surrounds her. It turns into laughter and applause as she plops down the oversized broom and starts sweeping up all her and Marie's goodies.
Callie can't stop grinning. She loves moments like this, the unscripted seconds that make a show memorable, and she can tell she just did a doozy. They'll gain a lot more fans from this.
She keeps going, stopping now and then to push everything into a pile, and eventually sweeping everything right into their dressing room. Marie locks it behind her as Callie plops on the ground and starts sorting things.
Lots of it is unlabeled, of course, or either has a tag with both their names on it or pink and green ties. But some things are labeled for only one of them, either with pink ribbon or green ribbon or one name, and at the end of it all they each have a dozen notes from fans... but Callie has almost twice the flowers Marie does.
Callie glances back, where Marie's loosened the ties on her dress, headphones on (probably finishing that podcast she started on the drive up). Since Mar's distracted, Callie strips the pink ribbons from flowers until they've both got the same amount. She pulls on some sweats over her tights so she can shove the ribbons in a pocket, taps Marie on the shoulder, and asks, "How many vases do you think I should ask for?"
Marie pulls off her headphones and scans the flowers; she doesn't smile, but Callie sees her eyes dance. "One each, and... five for all the rest? Where are we going to put them all."
"Our house, The studio. Everywhere," Callie says, because duh. "I'm gonna go get those. Don't lock me out!"
Marie shakes her head, but she's smiling now. "I suppose you'll want to take turns reading the notes when you get back?" She sounds annoyed, as always, but Callie knows her better than that.
"Yep!" Callie pokes her shoulder. "Back in a few."
Then Callie's out the door, almost skipping, only pausing to trash the pink ribbons and hide the evidence as she goes to get those vases.