Chapter Text
Callista stepped infront of her mirror making sure she looked the best she could, going to work sure isn't some ocassion but it doesn't mean you can't doll up a bit!
ah, as beautiful as ever, her white tight pants hugged her figure nicely as well as her purple shirt with two stripes in the middle, she smoothed out her cheek fur upwards, before grapping her keys and heading outside
it was a good hour untill they opened, and it wasn't like they were long away but you never know what can happen on the way, besides she didn't get ready only to mess herself up with running, in heels on top of that yeesh
The streets were far from empty but not exactly busy, people were mainly getting to their jobs just like her, some obviously later than others, she even had to get out the way for few runners! Gosh the mouseton streets were just the fullest when she had to get somewhere but suddenly quiet and empty when she had some time to herself, it was like a curse
Nothing went unordinary untill a duo of very, very slow men carring a large old looking sofa were in her way, might as well be taking up the whole street!
She tried walking around them untill she realized theres just no space, she impatiently waited untill there was a small gap between them and the road, she squeezed through it as seemingly it was the only way to get through, she looked back frustrated, see that woudn't happen if she wasn't set on tim-ah!
Suddenly she felt herself bump into- flowers? "Ah sorry-" chirped a squeeky high voice…one she unfortunately recognized
Behind the flowers was mickey, holding up two large bouquettes that might as well be the size of his whole body, one red the other yellow, she hasn't expected to see him before her shift started let alone on her way there, did their roads even allign like that?
She sighed quietly not stopping to chat "hello mickey" he wasn't a bad guy by any means quite the opposite, he was so squeky clean it got on her nerves, besides who would want to talk to their boss even a minute before their shift starts? Not her! She quickly went through the streets hoping to lose him or at least get further away
Unfortunatley the quiet footsteps behind her told her that wasn't happening "Callista! didn't mean to bump into you like that" oh surely he didn't
Again next to her the flowers appeared their strong colors and size practicly begging to be looked at, unlike mickey who was barely visible next to them, it didn't look like something for pinkie or anyone else she could think of…
Now, were her curiosity and unability to mind her own business stronger than distain towards a round squeeky toy on legs that gives her her paychecks?
…
"Are those for pinkie?"
"Oh no- but thinking of it I should probably got an extra one for her"
"Hah! Id like to see you carry all that" she laughed, he'd be falling every direction! Even if he held it with his tail! Hah!
But if these aren't for pinkie…was it someones birthday? Some celebration? Nothing was written anywhere about that but then again it never was, it was like they were trying to cause those 'i can't belive you all forgot' scenes on purpose, half the time it wasn't even something worth writing home about! god forbid you don't have the first day goofy slipped on air written on your callendar
But then again nothing seemed out of ordinary, no specials prepared to her knowlage, no changes in her scheadule, she hasn't heard anything new and today seemed as usual as it could, maybe he just bought flowers because, or picked them up for someone else? Seems like something he'd do he was weird like that…god is she really thinking on that right now? Did she ran out of gossip or what?
"my brothers visiting" he hummed
she nodded "ah alright" Makes more sense than picking them up for someone
…
suddenly she spun on her heel towards him staring holes through him "You have a brother!?" She shouted confused making him jump
There's more of him!? Oh god, she looked into nothingness as she imagined another mouse and another squeaky voice coming out of em like an airhorn, the idea alone gave her goosebumps!
"Well yeah! we haven't talked…or seen eachother in a bit, so now that we got plans to i thought id bring him something" he held the red flowers up almost blocking her way, callista raised an eyebrow "and flowers will do it?" she asked. Those aren't usualy something you get you'r siblings, more like parent's or friends on ocassions- "I don't know what he likes now so…it's more of a gesture gift?" he explained, but it sounded more like a question
ah-
callista showed down any more remarks, not only was this not her business but it seemed somewhat personal and made her feel- weird, still she looked at the other flowers, yellow, less moss looking and firm, the flowers weren't for pinkie but taking two bouquettes for one person seemed unpractical, just mesh them into one big one
the mouse noticed her staring at the yellow things "he's got a lover" he briefly explained, with slight lesser than usual smile, callista hummed, guess theres gonna finally be more than 4 mice at the house of mouse huh!
…hopefully only 2 of them will sound like squeeky toys
Thankfully they didn't talk much after this, her only guess was that it was as akward for him as it was fir her
Quietly they arrived to the club, going opposite directions before they even walked through the front door
Ah the club, not the best place to be at but surely not the worst! As she walked around the tables she noticed everything running smoothly, almost unusualy smoothly- the food came out fast, most things usualy putting up a fight worked like on a clock and everything seemed kinda- wax covered? but without the wax, clean shining, it was weird
even backstage! Usually dusty old boxes and dirty floor all looked new, she felt the tip of her tail wiggle as she looked around further, even the walls seemed better in shape! Did they have the health inspectors coming through today? The fda? No no that all would make ruckus and she'd hear about it sooner than late- "ha cha cha!"
Her ears picked up hearing the familiar sound, she turned around seeing no one else but her beloved mortimer in the flesh, looking as handsome as ever in an orange tuxedo with mismatched tie
"yannow I never got why the best stuff is always hidden backstage~" he hummed, leaning on the wall in the way that looks good but is almost definitley uncomfortable
callista chuckled stepping closer "they say hidden treasure is the best~" she purred putting her hand on his shoulder "because you have to work for it"
mortimers tail wagged as rosy blush made it's way to his cheeks "really, id take your sinning over their puny cartoons anyday" callista chuckled throwing her hand down "oh please as if you hear a word!" he smiled akwardly taken aback, was it that noticable? "well-! it's not my fault the visuals are distracting!"
The two chuckled, untill he stepped even closer "say, ya woudn't need help getting into you'r work attire eh?" he teased, dorky smile on his face reaching his eyes "nope¬" she smiled seeing him stiffen in place "I just got here, have some manners will you?" she teased moving her tail under his chin "ahah- sorry doll" he rubbed his neck akwardly, cute as ever
callista started walking towards her dressing room "but that doesn't mean I'd mind some company" she looked back as the words set into his head, and smile appears on his face, soon he practicly jumped after her
the place began aligning itself with the open hours, people from all diverent stories began coming through the doors, ready to order and watch whatever mickey or horace would think is good enough to throw on, callista sighed, rolling up her sleeves, ready to go from table to table and have her poor ears assulted by pg-friendly violent yelling from at least half the guests, if she's lucky, truly some people here acted like some animals!
she felt her tail stiffen up at the thought, but, someones gotta do the work around here! and she's simply too generous for her own good it seems!
and so the working hours oficcialy began the moment callista went up to her first table.
Nothing interesting was happening, as usual few people fought over the littlest things making for somehwat of an entertaiment, the cartoons ranged from simly boring to somewhat charming, of course, the little screentime mortimer had was an obvious highlight, it almost felt like a rip off anytime it ended but alas, things were going smoothly, eventualy they reached a moment where no one needed anything and few who did already had max, goofy or the penguins at the table
callista rested her back to one of entrace walls, looking out the window, almost instincly reaching for a ciggarate before realizing nows not the time, not yet at least, working hard or hardly working, if theres nothing to do does she really have a choice?
she looked around unamused untill she noticed a little bit of orange on the background of blues and purples most oh the place was in, popping out not just with the color but the handsomness
her favorite admirer stood not far away looking her way, the two locked eyes before she quiskly blew him a kiss followed by a little wave, he pretended to catch it in sweet gesture, yet somehow menaged to trip over his own legs in the process, she chuckled, oh how she hoped for it to never change
she kipped over, offering a hand up, he took it before even looking up, his face already red, either of her presance or shere embaresment, he looked around, as if saying "no one saw that right?" she smiled at him warmry "love hurts ay?" she chuckled, he shook his head "yea, especialy in the ankle"
the two looked at the club, weirdly put together in it's disorder, it was full of toons from everywhere and more afterall, the only moment you'd have to worry is when it's calm, she hummed getting his attention "so tell me, how you're doing today? " she started, mortimer shrugged his shoulder "with you? coudn't be better" the pair stared eachother in the eyes
she smirked "you know, I think I could guess you're a mouse even if I never saw you'r face" curious he tilted his head "yeah?" she purred "yeahhh"
"afterall you're just so cheesy"
he stared at her, as dreamy as before untill few seconds later it hit him "ah!?" he gasped, almost shocked at the punchilne, she coudnt help but laugh at her own joke "I can't belive it!" he exhaled over dramaticly "even you in this cold cruel word make me the butt of the joke" he put his hand over his chest, laying his head low, even adjusting the hat to cast a dramatic shadow over his eyes, expression so serious it almost became comical, callista only laughed further
finally he turned around on his heel, straightening up with almost puffed up chest, one hand up one down "adios" gasped mortimer pulling his head even higher practicly nose pointing to celling as he marched away notably, she laughed so much it soon turned into caughing, her hands got on her knees needing as she lowered herself needing moment to catch her breath and let the last laughs out
of course, he turned around sooner than she could, leading her a hand as she got back up "ohhh, you can't be doing that" she playfully punched his arm "I'll ruin my make up because of you" the pair chuckled "aw you didn't mind any other times I did tha-" she quickly put fingers to his mouth, blush now occupying her fave "oh my godness"
"you really are loosing all your manners" she pointed her finger, sharp smile occupying her face, he put his hands up "im sorry doll you just make me loose myself"
"how may I repay you" repay? callist raised an eyebrow "would a glass of wine do the trick? or maybe you'd fancy a pair of golden movie tickets" ah repay, despite fooling around like a pair of teenagers the words 'date' rarely came out neither of their mouths, they probably used every word in vocabulary exept it when suggestin some more close time away from their usual meeting places
callista thought before nodding "you know I was always somewhat a fan of theater" he nodded "you have been?" the question as innocent as it was started to shift the vibe as one would put it
"yannow I used to take classes once, back when I was a little fur ball" he gestured next to himself giving a scale to how tall, or short he'd be at the time
"is that why youre so good at improv?"
"no! that's all natural!" he declared proudly, before raising an eyebrow "what?" she put her hand on her hip "nothin, just did ya also take em?" callista looked thrown off
"actin classes! once you mentioned you worked in show bizz before so, id only assume we've got that in common" callistas ears dropped slightly not liking where it was heading but not wanting to cut the conversation in half "yeah…" she wanted to change the topic-
"did they teach ya singing there too? cuz man I remember them making me scream like an ostrich, and I didn't even want to sing just tap dance" as mortimer laughed he failed to notice the uprising stiffness in his partner, who only felt something become heavier in her chest, for stupid reason too! theres nothing suspicious in the topic it's as ligh hearted as breeze! it's just her remembering stuff-
…truth be told, can it be said you took classes if most of your childhood you spent already knowing the basics, and learning most of it on you own…without anyone else on your level really around in you exclude…the other one
callista coughed "uh yeah, a bit" she answeared not fully remembering the question "I bet you were at the top eh?"
"and at the bottom" she muttered through her teeth
"what?"
callista breathed in and out letting out a louder than wanted sigh "nothing, heh, the coudn't teach me anything I already coudn't do" the reply meant to switch the mood back up and come off as usualy cocky as lighthearted feel heavily flat as he voice still had the hoovering annoyed stiff tone to itself, lacking her usual charisma, let alone charm
mortimer stared at her, awful silently with a hint of worry to his face, she tried looking away from "did I uh…say something wrong?" he could feel his tail wrap around his leg, callista sighed again "no no it's nothing, just remembered something" with that the playful banter between the two came to a cold end, shit
he looked around thinking of something to take that back, that whole acting class thing back- god it was stup to bring up anyway, he just thought that- ugh! maybe they had something in common there! some link a little something he could joke about or poke at in the future…and that might help him get to know her a little better-
but callista liked to keep private about…everything! let alone anything to do with "the past" he felt the urge to slap himself for not only not picking up on killing the vibe sooner but he keept poking the topic he knew he always missed his shot in, foolishly hoping for what? that maybe he'd hit the gold spot that would help him ask about it more and maybe she'd even bring something up on her own, god who was he mickey!?
the pair uncomfortable stood in place, finally trying to get back on track callista shrugged "so, do you have an idea for" she choughed "the movie the golden ticked could take us to?" he sighed with relief "I was hoping you would tell me that heh"
callista shuffled in her stance a bit "how bout we mix em?" she smirked, weakly but truly "eh?" he raised an eyebrow "you said a glass of wine or a pair of golden tickets, how bout a mix?" mortimer looked to the side then back at her before seriously looking at the ground
"I lied about sneaking drinks to that premiere, im sorry-" the confession interrupt her low chuckle "not like that! what do you say"
she turned towards him " you buy us some wine" reached her hands towards him "come over at my place" wrapped them around his neck pushing herself closer "late at night" she whispered to his ear, voice deep "and we'll-"
"watch desperate mousewifes till be pass out"
as she pulled away she noticed the completly frozen pink face of mortimer with lips put into a perfect straight line before he let out a quiet "owh" dropping his shoulders, callistas smirk grew as mortimer nodded "for you" she pointed at herself "for me <3"
as she held her hand up, she noticed her watch, showing much, much later hour than expected, taking a better look at it it was almost her show time! she quickly held her hand showing it to him, as bright as ever mortimer took her hand in his kissing it, as sweet as it was she pulled away tapping the watch
quickly she started heading towards the other end of the room, suggesting with her hand he'd follow her
aa
and so the two started heading backstage, going through the table area, almost not bumping into anyone! the way there was almost peaceful despite nothing seeming out ordinary pumba and timon ate bugs off the menu, queen of hearts made little people off her food then ate their heads off, cinderelas mice ate while she watched the cartoons, mickey was walking in circles looking like he just might tear his head off, good was doing splits delivering the wrong order, max- wait a moment- mickey was walking in circles looking like he just might tear his head off?
they both looked at him like he grew a second head before looking at eachother and at him again, he was in such bad shape it almost seemed like he grew some claws uncer those glowes of his…callista, half unwillingly, continued heading backstage, mortimer following her much closer this time
"she dumped him-" mortimer suggested
"noooo" callista wagged her finger as the two headed through faster hoping to avoid any liseners
"I dunno what happened, but you think it means you get less hours today?"
"oh please. a nuke could drop and I'd still have pull through till my smoke break"
eventually they had to walk, somewhat closer to very, very distressed mouse, nicely putting it he looked like he just survived going through a trash grinder and was experiencing stage 1 rabies, for a moment callista swore he had those, cartoonish two colored eyes, the ones meaning youre going crazy
after opening the doors backstage and closing them, gently they sighed, almost like they avoided something bad
"geee did someone die or something?" mortimer wondered looking back
callistas tail wagged like a snake behind her as she walked towards her dressing room, thinking what could set him so on edge? on daily basis the guy might as well be wearing a halo over his head but now? she could have sworn he looked like that possesed version from himself from his last short he showed around in private untill the censor monkeys found out and took it from him that is…
callista wondered untill a lightbulb clicked in her head and she spun on her heel making mortimer almost walk onto her before he jumped back "I know what happened!" that only made him raise an eyebrow
callista gestured for him to come closer to her room as she went in "ha cha cha~" but before he could fully walk in she gently pushed him out, her long tail teasing him around his neck before fading back to the room with her in "not yet buster~" she purred teasingly, making him let out a quiet "mph"