Intro:

https://youtu.be/EL-D9LrFJd4

---

(Azazel's POV)

I woke up from the sun shining on my face. I was so tired from having to run from those fans yesterday, that I didn't even take my clothes off. Well, not exactly mine; I was still wearing Callie's jacket and beanie.

Azazel: Oh my God! I need to buy blinds for these windows!

I got up, went downstairs, and got myself some breakfast.

Pearl woke up a little bit later, while I was still eating breakfast.

Pearl: You're up early.

Azazel: That, or you woke up late.

Pearl: I need optimum sleep time. You think beauty like this happens naturally?

Azazel: Are you saying you need to work to look good?

Pearl: Yes. No! Wait- That's not what I meant.

Pearl looked a bit agitated now.

Azazel: Relax, I was kidding. You look great.

Pearl smiled at this.

Pearl: At least you can recognize it.

Marina then entered the room, followed by Juvia.

Marina: *Yawn* Why didn't you two wake me up?

Pearl and I looked at each other confused.

Pearl & Azazel: You didn't ask?

Marina: True, I guess.

Juvia: Oh, breakfast. *She smiles*

Marina and Juvia sat down, and started eating. I, now done with my food, started washing the dishes. After a minute, Pearl added her dishes to the sink.

Azazel: Really?

Pearl: What? Might as well give you some use, when you're crashing here for free.

Azazel: Then what if I just paid to stay here?

Pearl: Aww. You couldn't afford it.

Azazel: Probably.

I looked over to my other side, to see Marina and Juvia standing there with their dishes.

Marina: Sorry, but do you mind doing mine too?

Juvia: Same here, as well?

Azazel: Sure.

Pearl: So they get a pass?

Azazel: That's because they asked.

Pearl: You know, it's not wise to choose favorites.

Azazel: I'm not choosing favorites. You're all my friends.

This made Marina and Juvia smile, and Pearl blush.

After a couple minutes, I got a text from Marie.

----------

Marie: Hey! Are you free today?

Azazel: Yeah. What do you need?

Marie: Nothing, just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out with me at work today.

Azazel: Sure, sounds fun.

Marie: Great, just meet me at Octo Canyon.

Azazel: You got it!

----------

The four of us all arrived in the Square. Pearl and Marina waved goodbye as they went to work. Juvia waved goodbye as well, as she went to go work in Salmon Run. And, like always, I waited until they were out of sight before entering the grate to Octo Canyon.

I then popped out of the grate.

Azazel: Hey! Marie?

Marie: Yeah, I'm over here.

I turned around to see her sitting on the couch.

Azazel: Where's Callie?

Marie: She had to go to work today. Also, why the hell are you wearing her jacket and hat?

Azazel: First, I'm sure you didn't just invite me because Callie wasn't here.

I said sarcastically.

Azazel: Second, because I was going to give them back to her.

Marie: No, I get that, but why are you wearing them?

Azazel: I look fabulous as fuck!

Marie: That's not the word I would use.

Azazel: So, what're we doing?

Marie: Well, I work on the radio, and the great part about that is I can work from the cabin.

Azazel: Oh, cool. So what do I do?

Marie: Well, it's kind of like a podcast, so you're head to add some dynamics, since Callie isn't here.

Azazel: Do I get paid?

Marie:

https://youtu.be/BwSts2s4ba4

Azazel: Ha. Ha. So when do we start?

Marie: Well, we can really start whenever, but why start now.

She patted the spot on the couch next to her.

I walked over and sat down.

Azazel: Not very good reception, is there?

Marie: We're on floating platforms a good ways away from civilization.

She started knocking on my head.

Marie: It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

After a bit of time, we decided to start.

We entered the Cuttlefish Cabin, to reveal a mattress laying on the floor, and a short table, where they could just sit on the floor. [Here's Sunken Scroll #20 from Splatoon 2]

Azazel: Wow, this place is a dump.

Marie: It's my Gramp's. I'm watching the place while he and 3 are off doing who knows what.

Azazel: Too bad you couldn't watch Octavio.

Marie looked over, quickly, with her lips scrunched, and her eyes being slits. The anger was ever-present.

Azazel: Sorry. So, am I ever going to meet them?

Marie: Whenever they return... They've been gone for a long time.

Azazel: I'm sure they're fine. This, "3" must be pretty skilled, right?

Marie: In everything but hygiene.

She chuckled at this.

Marie: Actually, you remind me a lot of 3, if she practiced hygiene more often, and if she were two years older.

I gave a slight laugh.

Azazel: Yeah, and the way you talk about the Cap'n, he may be an old-timer, but has plenty of experience.

Marie: Yeah.

---

We've now been talking on the radio show for a while now.

Azazel: You see, it's okay to wait to the last minute, but you want to make sure, you have all the things before hand.

Marie: Yeah, I remember one time, I waited to the last day, but then realized I didn't have my book to study.

Azazel: How'd you forgot the book?

Marie: What?

Azazel: I mean... it's the book! That's the one thing you need in order to study, and you didn't know where it was? You didn't feel twenty pounds light, from not having to carry it.

Marie: Listen, I just didn't notice it.

Azazel: I'm sure your teacher could notice while grading your papers the next day.

Marie: Hey!

Marie started standing up and going around the table.

Azazel: Ah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry.

Marie: Yeah, that's right.

Marie was laughing. Then, she saw the time, and whispered something to me.

Marie: Hey, head back to the Square, the pizza should be arriving any second now.

Azazel: On it.

I then left to go grab it.

Marie: We'll be taking calls now.

The phone started ringing.

Marie: Hello? Your on.

Random (R.) Male Inkling: Yeah, when will you be announcing the winners for the contest?

Marie: I'll be announcing them soon. No need to worry. Stay fresh!

She hung up the call.

She then answered the next caller.

Marie: Heya! You're on the air.

R. Male Inkling: Uh, do you and Callie still hang out a lot?

Marie: Callie and I have moved on to different careers. Hers keeps her busy a lot, but recently, we're spending a lot more time together. The Squid Sisters still reign supreme. Stay fresh!

Marie hung up. A couple seconds later, she picked up the next call.

Marie: Welcome! Speak out.

R. Female Inkling: Wha? Oh! I'm on. Uh, is it true that you and Callie will be doing a concert with Off the Hook soon?

Marie: That would be correct! Callie and I, have recently, got to hang out with Pearl and Marina, and we're settling the details. So, expect a killer show sometime in the future! Stay fresh!

She hung up. Marie picked up the next call.

Marie: Caller? You're up.

R. Female Inkling: Oh! First, I just wanted to say I love the dynamics between you and the other Inkling you're talking with; it adds great chemistry.

Marie: Why, thank you. We are close friends.

R. Female Inkling: Now, for my question. Does he know you like him?

Marie started blushing, from the abruptness of this kind of question.

Marie: Wh-What?!

R. Female Inkling: Well, it's obvious you like him, if I add, but does he know?

Marie quickly hung up the phone call.

Marie: Okay, everybody! No more phone calls today!

I then opened the door to the cabin.

Azazel:

Azazel: What'd I mess?

Marie: Oh, n-nothing. We just had some of the viewers call.

Azazel: I missed it? Damn.

Marie: Y-yeah, but no need to worry. Really.

Azazel: Are you okay? You seem... unsettled.

Marie: Yep! I'm fine! Just hand me a slice of pizza.

Azazel: Oh! Right, here you go.

I set the pizza box on the table between us.

Azazel: So? Any interesting callers?

Marie: Nope! Nothing I couldn't answer.

---

(Marie's POV)

The show was now over.

Marie: They loved us!

Marie was so excited that she hugged me.

Marie: You should be on the show all the time.

Azazel: I don't know about all the time, but I wouldn't mind doing this again.

Marie looked up at my face.

Marie: That's all I need.

Her happy look went away, and turned into awe.

She then stopped hugging me, and cleared her throat.

Callie then came through the grate. She looked around the situation.

Callie: Aw, did I miss the spicy action?

Marie hit Callie on the head.

Marie: Shut it!

Callie: Ow!

Azazel: Oh, before I leave, Callie, I brought your jacket and hat back.

Callie: Sweet!

Azazel:... 

Callie: What?

Azazel: Where's my jacket?

Callie: Oh! I must've left it at home.

Azazel: Go figure. Well, I'll see you two later. (At least I didn't have my trench coat on, that could've been a disaster.)

I left through the grate as Callie and Marie were waving goodbye.

Without turning to speak, Marie spoke to Callie.

Marie: You know, eventually he'll find out you're just sleeping in his hoodie.

Callie: Naw. I'll be fine.

-On the way home-

(Azazel's POV)

Juvia: So, what did you do today?

Azazel: Oh, I helped Marie with her work.

Pearl: Again? I thought you said you were done.

Azazel: Oh, no. This was different. This was for her radio show.

Marina: Oh, right! I forgot she did those.

Azazel: Yeah, we basically just sat there, talking the entire time. Had some pizza delivered. It was pretty fun.

Marina: You should come with us to work one of these days.

Pearl: Yeah, you've made it on radio, but television is where it's at.

Azazel: Sounds like fun, so long as I don't have to tell the weather or anything like that.

Marina: Nah, you'll be fine.

I looked over at Marina and noticed something.

Azazel: Hey, Marina?

Marina: Hm?

Azazel: What's that?

I said pointing towards what was hanging from her hip.

Marina: Oh, Pearl and I got out early today, so we went to Mt. Nantai, we go there every once in a while, and we found this radio there.

Azazel: Cool, but a radio is useless without the other.

Pearl: Ugh! How much longer until we're there?

Azazel: Do you have somewhere to be?

Juvia: Yeah, I'd like to get in on it as well.

Pearl began getting flustered, and started blushing.

Pearl: Wh-What?! No! Of course not! Why would I do that?!

Azazel: Woah! Calm down. I was only joking.

Pearl, now calm, was left embarrassed.

Marina and Juvia on the other hand, were just laughing.

---

We arrived home. I took a shower. And decided to watch some TV in the living room. Pearl, Marina, and Juvia joined after a while. But, eventually, I fell asleep on the couch.

Pearl, Marina, and Juvia used this opportunity to cuddle up with me, and use me as a pillow.

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY...

https://youtu.be/Ru_H5PiyfSA

Looks like we're finally getting into the Octo Expansion part of the story. If you guys enjoy this chapter and enjoy this story, be sure to show me some love, hit that vote button, follow me to receive news on Into the Light. Chapter 14 is in development. As always, I'm RaveDogg, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

October 25th, 2020