Chapter Text
Blinding lights. It’s a common phenomenon in the Cyber City, yet it never fails to amaze the darkner standing below. Xe stands in awe, xyr hands on xyr hips and xyr smile wide. The fruits of xyr labor, the beautiful and vivid, are the only things in the Dark World that has xyr full attention. The signs appear all over the city, flashing various words in support of the queen. It’s a simple job for xem; organizing the electrons to produce the colors laid out from the head butler, then setting them up. After staring at them for so long and being temporarily blinded, the electrician happily sighed and turned to face the swatchlings. Xe gives out simple commands to move all the tools back to the castle. A simple maintenance job from Queen herself gave xem enough energy to want to achieve more. But it’d have to wait until xe gets back. Once the swatchlings leave, xe zips into the wire that extends throughout the city. It normally would be a tight squeeze within the wires, but equipping any rubber on xyr uniform definitely helps smooth out the process
The wire ends right outside the shopping plaza, and xe zips out, startling a few of the passersby. Xe shakes off xyr dizziness. Quietly apologizing, Xe makes xyr way to one of the particular shops lined out. Xe slinks around, hoping to not attract the attention of any salesmen. Xyr never-ending spewing of insane deals and products causes xem to roll xyr eyes. Once xe spot the store, xe quickens xyr pace. The pink Addison looks in xyr general direction, their plastered smile even wider.
“Hey, hey! There’s my favorite customer! I was wondering where you were!” they exclaim, their hands on their hips. “I got a special, mind-exploding deal for you today!”
Chuckling and slicking back xyr hair, xe replies, “Lay it on me, Addy.”
Their eyes, or lack there of, sparkle, and they proudly explain, “Today, for the low, low price of a hundred dark dollars, you can own a spectacular box set of my famous tea!” The electrician’s eyebrows fly up. “Ah, ah! That’s not the end of it! You’ll also receive our exclusive guarantee: Should you run low on supply, you can simply replenish it through our rapid hotline!” They extend their hand out, holding a small flyer in front of xem. “What do ya say, hotshot? We got a deal?”
Xe bursts out in laughter, wiping their face of the tears. “Ah, you drive a hard bargain, Addy. I might consider your deal,” The Addison’s face shifts down a bit. “if you throw in some of that camelCase tea you got.”
“Of course! Customer satisfaction is my number one priority!” They extend their other hand, and xe shakes it. “We’ll have it delivered to your estate as soon as you leave! Thank you for your patronage!” And with that, the Addison disappears into their shop.
Feeling a bit proud, xe walks away from the store, still avoiding the other salesmen. The chatter is exhausting. Only the pink one is tolerable, since it’s how xe gets xyr tea after work. But even then, the Addisons continue to plague xyr thoughts with mindless ads concerning products xe never asked for. It happens on a regular basis; the moment they spot xem, they seemingly dogpile on top, desperate to sell their products. It didn’t help when xe started working for Queen. News spread like wildfire in the plaza, and soon xe couldn’t ever escape from them.
The wire is still active, and xe’s about to transfer until-
“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t ya know to greet a guy before running off?!” a shrill voice cries out from behind. Reluctantly, xe turns around, face-to-face with another Addison. He’s a bit shorter than the others, and he’s got no color. That nauseating grin and tacky black-and-green outfit being the only thing connecting him with the others. Suddenly, he extends his hand out, but xe doesn’t even bother to reach out. His face squirms, but he doesn’t change his tone of voice. “The name’s Spamton G. Addison! You seem like the kinda guy who is looking for some sweet deals!”
Xe puts a hand up, their face drained of any enthusiasm. “No thanks, bud. I gotta head back,” Spamton doesn’t move, his legs almost frozen in place.
“A big shot like you outta at least listen to my proposal!” Rolling xyr eyes, xe lets him continue with a simple head nod. “Splendid! Now,” He pulls out a bundle of business cards, all tied poorly together by a skinny piece of string. He begins to read them out loud in his loud voice. “based on your recent purchases, we’ve concluded that you’re seeking relaxing beverages for after the job, am I right?” Xe nods, xyr eyebrows lowering further down xyr face. Spamton begins to sweat. “W-well! Don’t listen to my competitors! I am known as an expert in tea and beverages!”
“Are you now?”
“Why, of course! You think I’d lie to a valued customer?!”
“More like stretching the truth-”
Xe’re cut off, Spamton announcing, “I have the finest selection of tea that’ll make even the Lightners jealous! A-and it can be yours for…” Xyr face is absolutely unamused, xyr eyebrows as long as they can be and xyr frown sending knives through Spamton. “You… you’re not interested, are you?”
“What gave it away?” Xe retorts with venom in xyr tone. Spamton slouches forward, gripping his arm tightly. Xe feels a bit of sympathy pinging in xyr chest, but xe ignores it completely. “Look, I already bought tea from the pink one, alright? A whole crate of ‘em.”
“You bought from them ?”
“I always do.”
That seemed to be the final blow. Sighing, Spamton adjusts his uniform, standing somewhat tall. “I see. Well… I’m sorry to bother you, valued customer,” The annoying smile is back, and he slicks back his mullet. “I’m hoping to see you again, next time with mind-blowing deals!” He sharply turns around, stiffly walking back into the plaza. Xe can hear quiet mumbles, only making out a few curses and self-degrading words.
Sighing heavily, xe calls out to him, “Hey! Spam… ington!” Spamton turns around, trying to hide his obvious tears. Regretting it slightly, xe gives him a cheap smile. “You know, your bro didn’t exactly give me anything at the moment . I could go for some tea right now.”
Spamton’s eyes nearly pop out from his skull. In the blink of an eye, Spamton is right in front of xem, holding out a random assortment of teas. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! The finest products for a big shot!”
Xe laughs awkwardly, picking out a box without breaking eye contact. “Yup. Here’s the cash,” Xe places a few dark dollars into his hand, swiftly turning around and heading towards the wire. Before xe goes through, xe waves. “I’ll see you around…”
“Spamton G. Addison!!”
“Right,” And with that, xe zaps xemself through the wire, finally making xyr way back home.