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Some called it unfair. Others called it necessary. No matter which way you sliced it, despite his role in stopping Mr. Grizz, DJ Octavio was arrested and put back into his snow globe in Octo Canyon. Well, a significantly more fortified version. He did break out illegally, after all. Shortly after this, (former) Cap'n Craig Cuttlefish of the New Squidbeak Splatoon decided to pay his old "friend" a visit.
As he popped out of the kettle from Inkopolis, he noticed the DJ sulking, turned away from him.
Cuttlefish sighed. Seems like Octavio was in a bad mood. Nothing too out of the ordinary.
"Tavi-" Cuttlefish began.
The other flinched, but quickly regained composure. "Don't you 'Tavi' me, Cuttlefish."
A sigh. "Octavio."
"What."
"First of all, no need for that attitude. I just wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For helping us out back there."
The Octoling scoffed. "I wasn't helping you, squidiot. It's not like I was gonna let that overgrown furball have his way."
"I do appreciate it though. Mind if we chat a bit?"
Octavio snapped, whirling around. "Look, I don't - WHAH! FLAT JUMPSCARE! Why do you look like that?!"
"Huh? Oh, this?" He held up his long, spindly tentacles. "Yeah, got squidnapped, nearly died, no biggie really. My agents are lookin' for a way to turn me back, but..." he shrugged, gesturing to his head. "Gonna be hard with no ink and no brain. Heh."
"He did WHAT?!"
"Don't act so shocked, Octavio. You used to break out and squidnap me every other day. Ah, good times... it was a nice break from the stress of being captain."
"But-!" he sputtered. "That's different!"
"How so?"
"Well - I've never actually hurt you in those! And as your mortal enemy, I'm the only one allowed to mess with you! I gotta teach that bear a lesson-"
"You already did."
"Oh." Octavio visibly deflated.
"Actually, about that 'mortal enemy' thing. That's partly why I'm here."
"...Elaborate."
"I've done a lotta thinkin' - but hardly any inkin' - lately. What I'm trying to get at, here, is that I'm willin' to forgive you."
"You - what?"
"I want to try starting over."
Octavio glared. "I - no, no! We can't just 'start over'! Not after everything you've done to me and my people!"
The former captain looked briefly wounded. "Ah, I... I figured that'd be the case. But could you at least try and hear out my end of things? Then I promise I'll be outta your tentacles.
"...Fine. Whatever. Just get it over with."
"Hoo boy, where do I even start?" Cuttlefish sat down by the snow globe (as much as flying squid jerky could sit down, anyway).
"Well, for starters, I understand why you took the Great Zapfish. You just wanted to help the Octarians. Your methods weren't the best, but I get it. You've always been considerate like that. Shame, we should figure out a way to share it, so your kind don't live in darkness anymore."
Octavio stayed silent.
"My biggest regret is havin' to fight you in the Great Turf War. There should've been another way to fix things."
"You sure didn't try to stop it," the Octoling bitterly remarked.
"Well, it's not like you did either," Cuttlefish retorted. "We're never the same when the tides are high. That's just how life works. What's important is that I shouldn't have let the riptide take me away from what really mattered - us."
"...There was never an 'us'."
"I beg to differ! Back in the day, we used to be thick as thieves, you 'n me. I still remember those days fondly."
"Look, Craig. It's not like I want to be friends again anyway, but you don't know the half of what I did. When you find out you'll change your tune real quick."
"Oh, I already know what you did to Callie."
A pause.
"You've gotta be squiddin' me..." Octavio grumbled. And you don't even care?"
Cuttlefish shrugged. "I mean, I'm not happy about it. But Callie's already forgiven ya', so I figured I should too."
When the other didn't respond, he sighed again. "I guess what I've been meaning to say is that... I missed you."
Still no response from the Octoling, save for his form tensing up a bit.
"My offer still stands. Please give it some thought. I'll see ya later... Tavi."
And just like that, Cuttlefish was back in Inkopolis, leaving Octavio to his very conflicted thoughts.
It wasn't long before he got his next visitor, none other than Callie. The two had been on good terms ever since Callie's squidnapping. She really didn't hold it against him, and they grew fairly close through Callie's repeated use of the Hypno shades.
"Wassup, old man!"
"Little squirt. How've you been?"
"Same old, same old. Gramps told me they locked you back up here, so I figured I should visit!"
"Hmph. I'm too old to even steal the great Zapfish nowadays. But I hear your songs are kickin' off."
Callie's eyes widened. "They have! Have you heard our new song?"
"No."
"Oh my cod, I have to show you right now! It's called Wave Goodbye!" She brought out her shell phone and pulled up the music. They listened to it quietly.
Around halfway into the song, Octavio nodded. "Calamari Inkantation. That's a touch."
"I know, right? And the latest version we all made in the big battle has been off the charts!"
"That's... the 3MIX, yeah? They actually like it?"
"Totally! And a bunch of Inklings are saying that your spicy beats are the best part of the song!"
"They like me?"
"Duh. You're, like, totally fresh! If you gave up this whole 'villain' thing and went to Splatsville or something, you'd be a hit! We'd even let you collab in our songs more! ...Well maybe not Marie. But she'd come around eventually."
"That... I'll consider it, whenever I get outta here."
"Awesome!" Callie paused. "You know, it's kinda funny. You helped us save the world using the song we used to stop you. That's some real character growth right there."
"...It grew on me eventually," he admitted. "Cuttlefish wasn't lying, it really is a heavenly melody."
Callie's shell phone began to ring. "Oh, hold that thought. I gotta take this."
"...What? Yeah, just like I said... seriously?! Okay... fine. I'll let him know." She sighed, turning to the DJ. "Marie says that I have to come back now, and the rest of the NSS want to talk to you," she pouted.
"The rest of them?!"
"Good luck dude, she sounded angry. But ooh, it'll be just like in 'A Squidmas Carol'! Ghosts visiting a cranky old man to change his heart... or whatever they have planned. But I have to get going now or I'll never hear the end of it. See you around!"
Octavio groaned. "Yeah, okay. Bye. Actually-" he paused, trying to figure out the right words.
"You're a really good singer, you know that?"
Callie blinked, then grinned. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
Unsurprisingly, Marie was next. Out of all the agents in the NSS, she was the one he was dreading the most. Marie was the only he was actually kinda scared of. And tagging along with her was Agent 4.
"Great, you must be the Ghosts of Squidmas Past," Octavio grumbled.
Marie scowled. "Callie can call it whatever she wants. But you and me? We need to talk."
Her icy glare would've sent shivers down his spine, if he had one. "Let me guess. This is about the incident five years ago."
"Exactly. Look, I'm just here to get one thing straight. Gramps might forgive you. Even Callie might forgive you. But me...?" she drawled out, letting the tension build.
"I will never forgive you," Marie snarled. "You hurt my cousin, my best friend. You deserve to rot in that snow globe."
"...I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong."
"You don't get to apologize now. It's much too late for that."
She turned away, and muttered, "I can't believe Gramps wants to let you out."
"What was that?"
"None of your business. 4, meet me back in Inkopolis when you're done." And with that, she was gone.
Agent 4 coughed into their fist. "Sorry about Marie."
"Whatever. I probably deserved it anyway."
"Aw, don't say that! That makes me feel bad! Sure, you might've squidnapped a famous pop star... and brainwashed her... but that's in the past now! Most of us have forgiven you, anyway."
"Is... is it true that Cuttlefish wants to let me out?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yeah. He sees something in you, you know." Agent 4 leaned in close to the snow globe, whispering. "Between you and me, I don't think he's over the war yet. He looks pretty sad every time someone mentions you."
"Oh..."
"...Cod, now I've gone and made both of us sad. I'm gonna leave before I make it worse. It was great fighting you five years ago!"
"Thanks, squidkid."
...It seemed he would never be able to fix his past.
DJ Octavio didn't know who to expect next, but it certainly wasn't a certain Agent 3 hand in hand with a very familiar Octoling.
"You," he pointed as the Octoling girl reached the snow globe.
"...And you." He glared at Agent 3, who glared silently right back. Though if the recognizable hat on their head said anything, Agent 3 had taken over as the new captain in Cuttlefish's place. Disgusting.
"Oh, Mr. Octavio sir! I wasn't expecting to see you again. Miss Callie said something about us being the Ghosts of Squidmas Gift for you!"
Agent 3 whispered something in her ear.
"Ah! They say it's the Ghosts of Squidmas Present. Whoops! Inklish is still a bit tricky sometimes."
"You're one of my soldiers, correct? What are you doing here?"
"Um..." she seemed sheepish. "Actually, I left the Octarian Army quite a while ago. I heard the Inkantation and, well, the rest was history. I go by Agent 8 now!"
Agent 3 smiled, and squeezed her hand. He felt a short pang in his heart, uncomfortably close to jealously. No, surely it must've been disgust. Whatever it was, it quickly subsided.
"It's always the Inkantation," Octavio muttered. "Fine. Whatever. If you're happy with the Inklings then I don't care."
Agent 8 made uncomfortably long eye contact. "I can tell your heart has been touched by the heavenly melody as well. Mr. Cuttlefish was correct, you really have changed."
"Yadda, yadda, who cares. Why does everyone keep talkin' about 'change' anywho?"
"I'm not sure. Times have definitely changed, though! I feel more free than I ever have."
He scrunched up his face. "So... are you two a thing or somethin'? I'd hope not."
Agent 8 gasped. "Sir! Are you homophobic?!"
"No! What kind of a stupid question is that?! It's just - if you really had to date an Inkling, why them?" Octavio pointed at Agent 3, who flipped him off.
She gazed dreamily at the Inkling. Ew. "They saved me when I was stuck in the Deepsea Metro. They're so cool and strong, and I love them so much."
"Ugh, okay, that's enough. I get the point. But... is your type of relationship common? Have they really moved on so fast?"
"Sir, I don't know how to break this to you, but it's been well over one hundred years since the Great Turf War. Things are different now! ...We're all friends again."
Agent 3 nodded in agreement, but then tugged on Agent 8's sleeve.
"Oh! You're right! It's time for us to get going. We have a date soon!"
"Bye."
"And now! As ghosts we shall depart away!"
And as soon as they had appeared, they disappeared.
Everyone else has moved on... was it time he finally started living in the present?
The last to show their face was Neo 3.
"Hey dude. Callie says I'm the Ghost of Squidmas Future."
Octavio rolled his eyes. "Then this is the part where you show me some terrifying future that magically changes my ways."
"Close? I guess? It shouldn't be terrifying though."
"Whaddya mean by that?"
"Look, man. I don't have some personal grudge against you, and hopefully you feel the same about me-"
"I suppose."
"-and I'm really just here to ask you... questions."
"Whatever. Can't really go anywhere. Go ahead."
Neo 3 inhaled sharply; hands pressed together. "Okay. So. There's no polite way to say this. I'm sorry in advance."
"Stop bein' cryptic and just get on with it!"
"...You do realize that squidnapping your enemy multiple times, hypnotizing his granddaughter as a means of revenge, and setting aside your differences for the sake the world... is kinda gay, right?"
"What."
"I dunno man, you didn't have to keep squidnapping him every time you escaped. I'm just saying that seems a little attention-seeking. Also the Captain told me you used to stare at him when you thought no one was looking."
"That's... that's because...!" No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't come up with a good explanation.
Everything that had happened - why did he do all that?
Was - did he?
Oh.
Oh.
Oh no.
And suddenly, everything made too much sense.
"DJ, you okay? You look like you're gonna pass - ohhh." Their eyes widened in understanding. "So it's true?"
"Shut up! No it's not! I hate him! He's my worst enemy! I want him dead! And he probably wants me dead too!"
Neo 3 gave him such a concerned expression. "Dude. Do you need to talk, or something?"
"No!"
"Are you sure?"
"...No."
"Okay, then listen. Regardless of whether or not you actually do have a massive crush on your sworn enemy, I know for a fact Cuttlefish doesn't want to hurt you. He may be a bit weird in the head, but he genuinely still cares about you. He realized that after the crater near Splatsville collapsed."
"What?"
"He told me a little later that the entire time he was squidnapped, he couldn't help but worry about you. He's a man of his word, Octavio. That much is true."
"But... but even then. What am I supposed to do?"
Neo 3 put their hand on the snowglobe in an attempt to comfort him. If you really do care about him as much as you think... you don't need to tell him right away. You don't need to tell him ever. If this is what you want, then put your rivalry aside."
"...You're pretty mature for a squiddo. I hate sayin' this, but you're right."
"I know. Just be honest with him. As much as you're ready for, anyway."
"I... yeah. Okay. I'll do that."
Neo 3 looked at him, and then at the kettle. "I can tell you've got a lot of thinking to do. I'll leave you to it. Good luck with whatever youchoose, Octavio."
"You too, Neo. Splat you on the flip side."
As the agent disappeared, Octavio looked down at his trembling tentacles, gut curling in terror. All this time and he never realized. How horrifying.
But he would be squidding himself if he didn't miss Cuttlefish too. That was the one secret he had been keeping, he just never realized why.
Why Octavio got so angry at the thought of Mr. Grizz hurting him. Why he kept antagonizing him regardless of whether or not it would help his troops.
He never realized why, despite hating him with all of his heart, he couldn't handle the thought of letting go.
But was Craig really willing to forgive him? That's what everyone had said. But he just couldn't see why he had been the first to try and reconcile.
Did he feel even a fraction of the same way?
Could things go back to the way they used to be?
Was there finally hope for the future?
The next day, Cuttlefish returned to Octo Canyon.
"Octavio," he greeted."
"...You can call me Tavi again. I don't care anymore," the Octoling mumbled.
"Changed your tune real quick, eh? Well then, Tavi-"
"Don't wear it out."
"-have you thought about what I said?"
"I have."
"And?"
"I have a question first. I heard you wanna let me outta this thing. Will you still do that if I say no?"
"Yep," the old Inkling replied simply. "I'll still let you out. I'd be might sad, of course, but I'd do it. Why, are you gonna say no?"
"You'd still...?" he whispered, voice nearly breaking, before clearing his throat. "I've thought long and hard about it. Your agents even came to visit me. I've made my decision: ...I would like to be friends again."
And Cuttlefish looked the happiest Octavio'd seen him in decades. "I knew you'd come around eventually! Bring it in, pal!"
He flew straight into the glass, bouncing off of it with a hard THUNK.
The two sat in stunned silence, Cuttlefish flat against the ground.
"..."
"..."
"I'm still trapped in the snow globe, Craig," he sighed.
The other sprang up. "Oh right! Let's get you out. Bend over?"
"WHAT?!"
"Like, ya know, topple the snowglobe so I can unscrew the bottom."
"Oh - of course that's what you meant, I knew that-"
Despite his near three-heart attack, he followed instructions. Somehow Cuttlefish could work a screwdriver even with his lightweight form, though it seemed he still struggled a bit. Octavio understood; it was a bit tricker to maneuver when stuck in swim form. That didn't mean he couldn't laugh at him though.
Heh. Who's squid now, stupid?
Eventually the hatch opened, spilling him out onto the ground.
"You're not gonna run off, right?"
"Couldn't even if I wanted to. Can't walk well in swim form."
"Ah, okay. You can use me as support so we can back into town." He helped him up. "Onward! A new future for Inklings and Octolings alike awaits!"
Octavio began tuning out the other's ramblings after a little while. This felt nice, it felt familiar.
"...I missed this," he admitted to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothin'. Story for another day."
"Another day... I'll be lookin' forward to that."