Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Thank you, and of course... Catch ya later!” Shiver turned to the interviewer and struck their signature pose, trying to be mindful of the other Octoling sitting to their right. The interviewer turned off their recorder and stood up, bowing to the group of idols in respect before leaving.

“So-“ Callie started a conversation but was quickly interrupted by the same interviewer coming back in, mumbling about something to give to each of the groups. As quick as they passed out the letters, they left again.

Marina received the envelope for Off The Hook, and was the first to notice the emblem on the corner, right by the addresser.

“This is from the Splatfest Bureau!” Several ears perked up at that, and Marie noticed second.

“Ours is too. Shiver, what’s yours?”

They scanned the corner, looking over the same emblem the trio received shortly after bringing the Splatsville scene to the mainstream. They’d later found out that it was originally part of the Squid Sister’s Splatfest logo, as a collaborative effort between the idols and the officials.

“It seems we all have some business to tend to. I’d say we wrap up this meeting an-“ Shiver was about to pocket the envelope, but Frye yanked it from them before they got even close to.

“As if! This has gotta mean something, y’know!” Frye took her finger under the lip of the envelope, tearing it across. “If all of us got a letter from the same spot at the same time, especially since it’s the Splatfest Bureau, it’s gotta do with all of us!”

“I have a feeling that you should read that with your band members, then.” Marie pointed out. “We all probably should.”

They started shuffling spots on the couches, Pearl and Shiver switching spots and Callie standing up to stand over Marie from behind the couch.

Marina had opened her letter and she and Pearl read together shoulder to shoulder. Marie unfolded her own letter, and Callie leaned in to read closer.

“To whom it may concern... Splatfest contract...” Callie stopped reading under her breath with a shocked look, and Marie’s eyebrows raised.

Deep Cut had watched with bated breath to see the other’s reactions, Frye holding the letter as the three scanned the room. Looking down, they all began to read the little paper.

From the Inkforce Splatfest Bureau, July 12th, XXXX

To whom it may concern:

The current 2-year Splatfest contract for Splatsville and it’s representative group, Deep Cut, is set to expire in 60 days on September 9th, XXXX. The group will be given a 21-day grace period past this date to finalize a special Splatfest in commemoration.

The Inkforce Splatfest Bureau has authorized a 72-hour event for this purpose, to be used in September at any point, as well as granted permission for previous contract holders to collaborate on one stage with the group. Similar invitations have been given to previous contract holders.

Preparations should be made as soon as possible, and any Splatfest plans prior to September submitted in the next week. If the contact information of previous contract holders is required, please send an email to [email protected] with the request.

T. Drees, Director

The trio stared at the letter for a while. They were so swept in the joys of their festivals that they nearly forgot they had so little time.

“Ay ay, ay... (I knew we had 2 years, but it didn’t feel like time had passed at all...)” Big Man slumped a little over the two.

“Right?! It feels like yesterday that we were fighting rock paper scissors!”

“Wait, what does it mean by ‘special Splatfest’?” Shiver pointed to the second sentence.

“Well, if you’re going out, why not go out with a bang?” Pearl grinned.

“Wait, wait, HOLD ON. Why can’t we just renew the contract? Prevent this whole planning the end of Splatfests as Deep Cut knows it for another YEAR?” Frye looked around at the four girls sitting at both sides of their group.

“Legal jargon prevents you from renewing it for at least 2 years after it expires, even then it’s impossible to do because they’ll most likely have a new contract set up.” Marie pointed to herself, “I tried on behalf of the Squid Sisters...” then pointed to Off The Hook. “but these two had a contract set up by the time I could.”

“I’m still impressed we got those other ones after the fact...” Marina thought back to when they’d received an impromptu pass for 4 more Splatfests. None of them knew why it happened, but nobody was complaining, for sure.

“That’s beside the point. You can’t renew it, you’ll most likely have no chance, and you’ve got at most 70 days to plan what is possibly the largest nights of your career.” Marie shot off her words in quickfire, giving Deep Cut no chance to breathe as she spoke. “I am not speaking to you as your friend on this. I am speaking as your boss, and you want as much time and energy as you can planning this.”

Frye admitted her truth sheepishly. “Well... We didn’t have much planned for next month.”

“Ay. (You didn’t plan next month.)” She glared at Big Man before turning back to look at the letter in question.

“I’m sure we can find something to recycle, to be honest.” Reading the few paragraphs their doom spelled out, one stuck out to Frye. “There’s still the whole thing about granting previous contract holders a collaboration on stage with us...”

“What if we all pitch in then?” Eyes turned to Callie at her proposal.

“Like... More than the song?” Callie nodded at Frye. Frye grimaced in having more work to do.

“Exactly! We can all help with organizing venues, tech, and outfits! I think I still have our costume designer on call...” She reached into a hidden pocket on her romper to pull out her phone, but Marie quickly put her hand over it.

“Yeah, let’s save the calls for later.” Pearl chipped in her agreement. “For now, I think all we need is an agreement and a choice of venue. Those book up fast, so we can just say where.”

“So...” The room went stagnant for a moment as Marina piped up. She took a deep breath before restarting her thoughts. “Okay. Shiver, as the unofficial-“

“Official.” They had been the winner of that Splatfest, after all.

“... official representative to Deep Cut in this instance, do you and your band agree to letting us, Off The Hook, assist in preparations for this Splatfest?”

The trio looked between each other, then Shiver and Frye looked at each other with a look in their eyes. They then looked back to the Inkling-Octoling duo before them.

“We agree to those terms on the promise of a rematch.” Frye grinned mischievously and Marina nodded politely.

Marina then gestured her arms over to the Squid Sisters. “And do you agree to letting-“

“They’d have to agree anyways. They’re my employees.” Marie crossed her arms and smirked.

“Hey! Cut us some!” Frye whined. “... That is true, though. We agree.”

Marina dropped her arms, taking a second to process that was an agreement in all technicality.

“Ay? Ayay?? (Is that it? We’re done with the agreements?)”

“Not quite, Big Man. There’s still one agreement we get to tend to.” Shiver smiled their sharptoothed grin. They pointed their fan in Off The Hook’s direction and their open hand in the Squid Sisters’. “Do you two groups, Off The Hook and the Squid Sisters, agree to giving us complete control of the venue and color scheme in all regards?”

The four looked among their respective duos and at each other. “I don’t see why not.” Pearl shrugged.

Marina squealed in excitement and flapped her hands as if she was double waving. “Then all we need to do right now is have you decide where we go! Oh, this is so exciting!!”

Shiver looked between her bandmates. A smile formed on their faces. “I think we have an idea...”

The train squealed into the old station, splattered with paint as multiple Inklings, Octolings, and jellyfish shuffled out into the music and festivities out in the Splatlands deserts near the Crater. This was sure to be the best three days of their lives.

Chapter Text

The two girls sat at the little round table, looking over to the monitor to view the Splatcast that had been broadcasting the tally for the first Splatfest to have three groups collaborating. So far, Team Present had the majority in both the votes and conch shell rates pre-Splatfest. Callie and Marie’s team had pulled in a close second.

Callie leaned closer to her cousin’s ear. “Y’know, I went out there for our team in a few matches. I rarely ever saw Pearl and Marina’s team!”

“You should have heard Pearl complain about the mirror matches and the supposed sweats we have, then.” Marie giggled to herself with a smirk.

“Time for a Clout check! Open, Pro, and Tricolor Clout results incoming!” Shiver piped up from the monitor, turning their attention back. If the three groups knew anything, Clout was always the tell-all for a team’s fate. The girls patted the table in a drumroll as the rates came across the screen. Team Past had won every Clout category.

Doing the math in their heads, the Squid Sisters realized they bagged the win faster than the results had started to fill in thirds on the screen in the Splatsville studio. They had to adlib in the next 15 seconds, and hope that whatever gabbing the other groups could do would be enough to fill airtime.

The points flashed over the bars, 500 for Past, 370 for Present, and none for Future. Marie noted to herself to write out her condolences later.

“Team Past reigned victorious in the Grand Festival!” Their old Splatfest jingle played, and the two of them could’ve screamed their lungs off right now had it not been for the fact their microphone was turned on with a little red light at the announcement of the results. Big Man let out a shocked “Ay!” at the news.

Callie pumped a fist in the air in the most professional way she could. “Awww yeah! We did it, Marie!”

“Whoop whoop!” Marie shared in the celebration.

“This can’t be happening!” Pearl’s voice came across in defeat.

“Right?! GRRR!” Frye grumbled her own distaste, though none of it was ever serious to them.

“Shout-out to everyone on Team Past! You all are the BEST.” Callie cupped her hands around her mouth, like she was shouting into the mic without shouting.

“They sure are! I think our team used their past experiences to get the upper hand.” Callie shot her a look as if to say “Seriously? You make a pun now?”

Of course, the losers had to get in their own words.

“Team Present fought like there was no tomorrow! Weren’t they great, Pearl?”

“Yeah, who cares what the history books’ll say? Mad props to all of you!” The two of them could tell Pearl was probably going to have way too many people lining up to see her after this.

Shiver was the appropriate responder for their own team. “Team Future really went for it. We’re still the actual future, you know. Fresh as ever.”  

“Ay. Ay! (Thank you all for your support. You’re so cool for picking us!)”

Marie kept an eye on the clock, she could get in some more words to keep this ball rolling. “In honor of Team Past’s victory, let’s hear some of everyone’s favorite memories!”

“Ooh! I got one... Or 30. I could talk battle stories forever!” Frye had her arms extended out in the broadcast, showcasing her many tales to tell the next time Marie would most likely have to call a meeting.

“Mine would be the day I first heard Pearl’s voice at Mt. Nantai!” Callie hoped she wouldn’t go in-depth about this again, not on the small airtime they had. “Let me set the stage...”

“Uhm... Not sure we have the airtime for that far back. Save it for a podcast.” Shiver probably saved them a solid hour of overtime in that moment.

“Aww, I still wanna hear it.” Callie sounded bummed, as if she and Marie hadn’t heard the story from Marina herself over 20 times. “The seven of us should get together another time!”

“Totes! I got way more to say about the Grand Festival with all y’all.” To the Squid Sisters, that was Pearl for I got some gossip from the jellyfish.

“Right. Getting back to that, massive congratulations to everyone on Team Past!” Shiver smiled to the camera.

“Ay! (Really, everyone was amazing! And I’m not just saying that—I’m overly sincere!)”

The microphone’s little red light blinked faster. Their own time on air was almost up.

“Alright, see you later, everyone!” Callie double-waved to the window with a grin, knowing there were maybe three Inklings outside watching.

“We’ll be waiting for you in Inkopolis Plaza.” The light turned off as Marie finished her sentence. They were off the air once more.

“And of course, you can catch us anytime at Inkopolis Square!” Pearl was probably waving similar to Callie.

If not her, then Marina definitely was. “Hope to see you all in the crowd!”

“Ay. Ay! (Thank you to the Squid Sisters and Off the Hook. You’re legends for this!)”

“Catch ya later!”

Callie turned off the monitor, as the rest of the broadcast was always the current stages and the usual Grizzco ad.

“Well, that’s it. Isn’t it?” Callie put her hands in her lap.

“For us? Or for their contract?”

“I don’t know... Both?”

“For the latter, that’s the odd thing.” Marie pulled out her phone, showing Callie some texts that Shiver had sent her not even half an hour before the broadcast. The conversation strung itself around a letter sent to Deep Cut, something about how the special fests would be reoccurring. “Their contract never mentioned this, and nobody at the Bureau has given them an explanation.”

“So? It’s Off the Hook over again. We could probably assume it’s that.” Callie shrugged.

“It’s just weird, is all.”

“As far as we know, they don’t have to worry about this for another month. They should get a break from all this Splatfest stuff, especially since they’re not the winners.”

Marie sighed. “You’re right.” She thought back to the hecticness of their own lives after everything had been said and done. “They’ll need the break.”

“Speaking of...” Callie looked over to the plaza outside, the light blue glow of the dawn clearing into the sun’s radiance. “I think we should get some breakfast.”

The two of them had donned streetwear, deciding to take the backways to the train station. They wanted to try out a Splatsville ramen place, maybe something out of their comfort zone.

“It’s been years since we’ve heard that glorious little jingle... So nostalgic...”

“Look who’s becoming the grandma now.” Callie smacked her lightly across the cheek. “I can’t believe they even managed to get that. If I remember, they shut down the system we kept that tune on after our contract expired.”

“I uhm... I may have kept a copy of it, as well as well as some of our old demos, on a thumb drive...”

“You’re kidding.” Marie deadpanned.

“I had no way of knowing if they were going to delete it! Besides, it’s our work, and we deserve to keep our history with us! Isn’t that the whole point of Team Past?”

“I forgot you were the one who picked that team originally.” Marie recalled their own similar Splatfest almost 9 years before, though it was a more childish debate. “Didn’t you want to pick that team because of dinosaurs?”

“They are majestic creatures.” She crossed her arms and pouted. “Also, don’t forget you wanted printable pizza slices!”

“I had the more sensible idea. I doubt you could get a dinosaur to let you ride it.”

“I can try!”

As they walked down the alleyway behind their studio, all the realization hit them at once.

This had been the last time they were ever going to be live on broadcast.

This Splatfest was the first one they both officially shared a side on. They won to their Splatfest jingle as Callie and Marie.

And Deep Cut deserved the most right now, not from both their boss and boss’ cousin. From the Squid Sisters as their friends and coworkers in entertainment.

Marie had stopped in her steps, Callie following close suit.

“Are you alright?”

“We need to call them.” Marie pulled her phone out and speed-dialed the intended recipients, tears welling. Turning on the speakerphone, she held the phone up to her and Callie.

“Yello? You got Frye here.”

“This is Marie.” She managed to push out in whatever was left of a professional tone.

“BOSS?! I didn’t think you’d- Oh- GUYS!” Frye shouted outside of the room she was in, probably yelling for her bandmates. “I am so sorry about that, ma’am, I wasn’t thinking you’d call so soon-“

“Don’t worry about it. I wanted to talk to you three as just Marie. I have Callie with me, too.”

The sounds of shuffling came through as Shiver was angrily yelling various words in a Splatlandian vernacular of Octarian, something neither her nor Callie had yet asked to be taught. Big Man knew in at least some capacity, as he tried shushing Shiver as they both came in clearer on speaker.

“AY! (Shiver, this might just be something nice! Calm down!)”

“If you’re calling to rub this in our faces, I’l-“ Shiver cut themselves off as they most likely read the caller ID. “Sorry boss. We’ve had a... bit of a problem with spam callers after this ‘cast.”

The thought of how much of a security risk it was to have their cell number be public information crossed their minds, but that was a conversation for later on.

Something about that broke the last bit of dignity Marie could hold. “Oh my cod, I am SO SORRY for you three!  I can’t- I don’t-“ She was a blubbering mess to her employees as tears flowed in rivers down her face.

Various shocked and surprised reactions came across the speaker and next to the Inkling. Marie herself hadn’t expected to cry over the phone this morning, but here she was.

“This was your own big final Splatfest, and you got-“ She sniffled. “Nobody gave you a chance!”

“Wh- Is that what this is about?! That we lost?” Frye shouted back.

Callie had long caught on to what the call was for, so she grabbed the phone, taking over with her own idea as tears pricked her too. “No, not at all! We wanted to call and check in on you after the news, but it seems we’ve got some unruly fans to set right as well.”

“This is normal for us! We’ve been dealing with this for months, and it isn’t new now!”

“This isn’t normal to go through as a whole, though?! You all deserve apologies, SO MANY APOLOGIES, and a hell of a security update!” Callie grabbed a fistful of tentacles on the side of her head in exasperation.

“We just... None of us wanted this level of attention afterward. Especially from a lot of the self-righteous Inkopolitan pricks. No offense.” Frye spat out that last sentence faster than the previous ones.

“None taken, that’s unfortunately part of the job.” Callie giggled a little.

“Well, we were gonna go get somethin’ to eat, maybe go on a mini press tour. Just get us out of the studio for once.”

“Can we meet up for ramen, then? If that’s alright with you three, of course.”

“YES!” Frye was the first to blurt out an answer. The other two quickly followed up with agreement.

“Where are we meeting up?” Shiver questioned.

“Well... We were thinking that you could take us somewhere. Show us around Splatsville, too.” Marie had wiped her own tears, and was slowly working herself to regain composure.

“Ay ayay. Ay? (Hard ask for us, especially Shiver and Frye. Do we get anything out of it?)”

“The whole day with us, barring travel time, and free food.”

“Who said you’re footing the bill?” Shiver’s distaste in that painted the call clear as day.

“Me. It’s the least we can do for you right now.”

“If this is some sort of pity party, then count us out.”

“It’s not. I’m calling this...” Marie pondered something not synonymous. “Your day off from idol work after the Splatfest that defined your lives.”

Shiver sighed from the phone’s speaker. “Who are we kidding? You’d probably rope us into this anyways. Alright, we’ll get you a Deep Cut approved tour of Splatsville with the best spots. Meet us at the second platform when you get here, we’ve got some discussions to do.”

“One more thing, you three.”

“Yo? Wassup?” Frye poked in.

“Don’t wear your stage outfits. We’re not looking for mass publicity here.”

“Manta ray. Giant manta ray.” Frye stared through the call.

“People seriously believed Ian BGM and Big Man were separate, y’know. I think you can make it work!” Callie smiled.

The sounds of “thank you”s and shuffling out of the room followed Callie’s statement, and for a few moments it was quiet on the other line.

“Well then, I guess we’ll see you in a bit?” Shiver was the one left with the phone.

“Mhm, we’ll meet at the station! Catch ya there!” The dial tone carried after that, leaving the two of them in the alleyway again. “Our calendars are clear... right?”

As the Squid Sisters stepped off the train into the station, they had ended up on the exact platform Shiver said to meet them on. Though not noticeable at first, the excessive waving they did to flag the girls down was a dead giveaway where Deep Cut was.

And they managed to listen to Marie on their dress code.

Shiver wore a violet-red happi with white detailing at the bottom, black square cut pants that extended just past their knee, and simple sandals. Big Man had replaced his headband with a purple-blue baseball cap and the same round sunglasses he wore as Ian BGM. Frye had a pastel green top on, similar to her stage outfit, with black thigh-high shorts, lemon-lime fingerless gloves, and a more practical form of her heel socks. They all had something different with their tentacles or fins, Shiver had tied their tentacles in a low ponytail, Frye had her tentacles in space buns, and Big Man had changed his fin pattern to be squarer somehow.

“You three ready to lead us around?” Callie smiled big and bright.

As Callie slurped up her noodles with the goofiest smile, Frye set her chopsticks to the side and pointed her fingers at the duo, other hand planted firmly to the table.

“Alright you two, we get to ask questions now.”

Marie shrugged. “Fair enough. Don’t make it too personal, we’re still in public.”

Frye took a breath in before starting her question. “We know that you both were part in Chaos VS. Order, but what did you do afterward with Off The Hook? Something like this?” She extended her arms out around the booth they were sitting in at Robo ROM-en.

Callie answered like it was an interview for the press. “We sent them both a letter of congratulations, Marina was wrapping herself up in work for their world tour as soon as their final Splatfest had ended. They both got a dedicated section individually, and one commending the both of them as a group.” Callie was on Team Chaos, but they still wanted to send something out to be nice. “Never got a paper response, but we got a picture of Marina crying from happiness a week or so later.”

“Did she do well after that…? Like, nothing bad happened?”

“Her and Pearl are still married, so I doubt anything bad came of it.” Marie smirked, much to the bewilderment of the trio. Marriage wasn’t well-liked in their line of idol business, and Off The Hook had ducked under the system. “You can ask them about that when we meet next, so who’s next?”

The two other members of Deep Cut looked over at Big Man, signaling his turn. He had a set question in his mind, and nothing would deter him from it.

“Ay. Ayay ay? (Why did you call yourselves Agent 1 and 2, and why does the Captain look years younger?)”

Marie leaned into the table with a lopsided grin. “Bit too personal. Try again.”

Maybe there was one deterrent.

Big Man flapped his arms in disappointment before flapping back up again. “Ay! (Oh! Then I’ll ask, did you take sides in our Splatfests?)”

“Ooh, yes! Not on official documentation, but when it came to things like ice cream and what to do when the world was ending, we always fought fierce!” Callie beamed wide.

“You’re still salty Handshake won, aren’t you?” Marie crossed her arms and looked over at Callie with a small smile.

“It’s too dignified for a greeting!”

“And a hug isn’t too casual?”

Callie pouted at that. In truth, it depended on the personal situation.

“Hm… It seems I get to bite now.” Shiver held their fan over their mouth in contempt. “How does it really feel to win together for once?”

The two cousins looked between each other, sharing the knowing gaze of some 26 years of friendship, fighting, and the ins and outs. Words exchanged with hopes the press doesn’t get their hands on it. Everything they’d been through as Agents 1 and 2.

“I think...” Callie smiled warmly.

She remembered when they had first taken the stage, fresh 17-somethings with the biggest aspirations ahead of them. The Splatfests they had coordinated were always something childish, but Callie vs. Marie was the penultimate for them.

The months before, when a new agent was taken under Cap’n Cuttlefish’s tutelage, the first since her and Marie. The two of them fawned over the little kid, helping them out with whatever they could ln regards to agent work and schooling.

Marie thought to after she won, the year afterward that built on them and tore them apart further than they ever had been. The absolute dread she felt when she couldn’t reach Callie, to later find Octavio, her Gramps, and the Great Zapfish missing.

The hours she put into helping train an agent to help her find them, giving them the care and attention she wished she should’ve given Callie. That sinking feeling when they found her hypnotized, working with the enemy.

When Marie refused to talk to Callie in the months after, blaming herself for it all. If only she’d helped, if only she’d paid attention. If only, if only, if only.

Callie remembered when she finally gave herself the moment, she sat them down and told Marie she forgave her. The look of total relief on her face when she said it, and the sobbing and hugging afterward.

The countless hours of berating the two of them did when Cuttlefish turned up after months of being missing, with a scarred Agent 3 in tow and numerous tales about an underwater metro.

When Cuttlefish retired, passing the mantle of captain on to his first protégé after his grandkids. The little graduation ceremony they held in Octo Valley, right by where they had been first recruited.

When they found Alterna and met Deep Cut as bandits. Hiring them as Marie’s employees, and the gradual friendship between cities thereafter. Getting back into Splatfests, entering the limelight alongside fresh faces, and performing in the penultimate event of their trilogy.

They could always reminisce on the past, but everything that was here and now had to focus towards the future. The future sat in front of them, waiting for their response.

Marie smiled back at her. “It’s everything.”