Chapter Text
19XX Cybercity
The very heart of Cyberworld filled with streets and streets of vendors, markets, stores that sell all kinds of thingamajigs. Corners of the web one might search up for information or well...other stuff. Then there's the places of the web one should watch out for. Be brave enough to explore and risk getting malware or even followed by shady beings. Everything is here to anyone's hearts content. Clothing, Art, Food, Furniture- whatever one might need want or even NOT need at all they can surely find here. Bright Blue-ish purple streets, posters of her majesty hanging on ALMOST every wall across the blocks. Radiating with elegance and power. Of course there's always a hierarchy at work here. All the way at the top of course resides her elegance, Queen. Below her the backbones of rich society. Aristocrats, Big shots and so on, those that 'turn the wheel' so to say.
There's always those that overestimate themselves, end up with the wrong people, the wrong crowd go missing at which point no one even talks about them anymore. Cybercitizen know better than to talk about "vanished" people.
except for some.
"Have you heard?"
"Have i heard what?"
And that's how it always starts.
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"People are whispering! y'know what kind of whisper"
"oh please. Thanks to your big-ass mouth no one COULD stop 'whispering' " he rolled his eyes with a visible sneaky smile.
Leaning against the counter of their stall, flicking their ponytail aside, the Pink Addison grinned over to the orange one.
"You know plugboy rowan?" they looked around a bit carefully, not exactly wanting to stir up unwanted attention.
"oh him? thought he'd show his sorry ass to us after the whole stunt"
The blue Addison approaches, reeled in by the sound of Click's gossip
"which one? do you mean the one where he tried to take over our store- unsuccessfully- or do you mean the one with the-"
"With the road damage! He took queens car and RAMMED it down the road straight into central mall!" Videon, the yellow addison chimed in -quickly relaxing his tense shoulders wanting to seem all mature n' all-- but c'mon
who could say no to click's gossip?
Clicks couldn't help but snicker "Oh man, the people's faces were incredible! - ESPECIALLY the ones from the ambyu-lances! He REALLY wanted to take a stand there hahaHA!- OW?!"
A sudden bump against their shoulder stopped clicks laughter. Mags shook their head dismissively towards pink and nudged their head over to a tall swatchling that got into view across the street, clearly warning pink. Clicks quickly shut up, stirring their cup of fresh oolong tea shooting a glance over to Payton who cleared his throat.
"ya think he's here for us? " clicks quickly turned their stern / kind of nervous face to Videon, already dreading the possible answer from the older Addison. Videon simply shrugged, still keeping one eye on the swatchling. "c'mon he's not even that close. there's no way he heard me" Because, if he did they'd all be in the grill by now.
"You guys are gonna be the end of me i fucking swear..." Mags heavily sighed out and massaged their temple, already dreading the consequences they might face because of their siblings' idiocy.
Their siblings...- ah yes. Their siblings. Addisons are quite an interesting species. Bird-like computerize-coded cybercitizen. Not the strongest in the magic-fighting department, rather using said magic to make flashy signs, pointed arrows and other advertising shmuck. Made to sell, advertise and peaque the interest of any poor idiot that comes into their way. Shiny, new Modern sleek and colorful. Any and every single way to make people look at them.
Until they're not. Usually Addisons are always colorful, flashy colors and all- except-
" Your presence is requested. "
Mags blinked up at the swatchling completely taking them out of their thoughts. The swatchling now standing right in front of them, gulping down their nervousness. Don't show the predator any fear or else you'll be eaten up. such is the rule in the cruel world of the dark.
Colorful, stern red eyes stare straight back into mags' black ones. Complete professionalism radiating from the taller swatchling. Always so stuck-up, walking around like their head isn't on the line like everyone else's. Thats just one more thing everyone keeps quiet about, the one cold truth everyone has just..accepted at this point. Rather pretend than yell it out to be put up next on the chopping block. It's harder to rise up the hierarchy than anyone might have ever thought it was,most wouldn’t even dare to try. Especially without any connections helping you to do so. It‘s not only hard but also incredibly lonely at the top, friends? Untrustworthy. In a darkworld like this it‘s a dog eat dog world. Only with power, threats and perhaps family you might have a sliver of a chance.
„My presence?“ they almost choked out, the nervousness festering inside their gut. The other addisons stayed close to mags, where ‚friends‘ would have already left you to die by the dogs, they‘re staying put. Videon put a hand on mags‘ shoulder a grounding of sorts, reassurance, trust that at least their own family won't leave them to the wolves.
“When am i supposed to turn up?“ they asked honestly already knowing the answer but asking anyway, perhaps letting out words would be better than just sit there and letting the festering fear fill them to the brim. The swatchling simply bowed and left- as quickly as they appeared so they have disappeared, scrawny fucking things. This swatchling wasn‘t one of Swatch‘s though, wearing a different outfit completely, not matching the color cafe in the slightest.
Mags finally breathed out relieved like a heavy stone lifting from their lungs. Their heart thumping in their chest. Payton was the first to speak.
“oh god, i hope it‘s just another job- you‘re the maturest from us- if YOU messed up somehow what does that mean for us?.“
The Addison siblings looked at each other, understanding in their faces. Videon already started to close down the stall, sales not mattering as much as this right now.
The door to their shared apartment clinked shut, payton throwing himself onto the couch as if to call shotgun. Said couch, quite old and cheap- creaked underneath his weight. Like another part of the family that's been through countless meltdowns, sibling fights, spilled food due to movie-marathons and so on. They let out a sigh they hadn't noticed had been held down before.
Grimacing at paytons lack of comradery, not giving any space on the couch Clickster couldn't help the grin forming at the edge of their mouth. They jumped, landing onto paytons stomach in a satisfied sitting position, claiming their spot on the couch in prideful glee.
With a startled groan their breath having been punched out of their lungs the orange one pushed clicks off of them, catching their breath"You fucking Asshole!- I could've lost my breakfast like that!"
"And who's fault s'that hm? You can't just take over the whole couch. Move your Ass over or face my wrath!" Clickster stood up with a quick motion almost gracefully saving their fall from embarrassment.
Payton scoffed straightening their back as they rubbed their poor abused stomach "YOUR wrath? Pah! You will face MY wrath when your favorite dessert's missing from the fridge!"
A mock-gasp escaped Clickster's throat as they put on their best theatrical drama performance on, trembling voice and all "You wouldn't DARE! You know EXACTLY how protective i am of my sweet sweet release of goodness-you'd be DEAD to me-"
"Don't say that."
Silence overcame the living room. Clickster and Payton looked over to Mags, standing in the doorway to the living room brows furrowed they stepped into the living room. Mags' heels clicking on the cheap tiles with every step. Almost echoing through the room, THATS how silent it had gotten.
"Not even as a joke" staying still right before the couch, arms crossed as if trying to hold themselves. "Not even because of senseless bickering, please.." it almost sounded like a beg into the open space " If we don't stick together we'll be doomed. Let's just… not do this"
Gulping down the tense feel in their throat clickster sat down onto the couch next to payton, quickly 'forgetting' the little fight- even if it was just for fun mags is right. How often did little pretend-fights turn into real ones? What if these 'fights' split them apart?
Stunned silence washed over them as Payton and clickster muttered out- almost at the same time a quiet little 'sorry'.
Mags sighed whilst straightening their hair "no it's- It's fine" guilt seeped through them quickly. They didn't exactly want to completely ruin the mood throughout the apartment than it already was. Nowadays it was normal, the tense energy everywhere, humorless, dull and empty. Living on edge wasn't exactly fun day in day out. Mags finally turned around "i should probably get going, i don't want to agitate- " the name died in their throat there isn't really a point stating the obvious, everyone knew who mags was talking about.
Clickster stood up as if on instinct before Mags managed to take the first step out " W-wait- you sure i shouldn't come with you? I don't want to leave you all alone in this"
Mags' shoulders sagged a sigh followed " You know you can't join me. Only my presence was requested- but..i appreciate it" they turned around for a moment, giving clickster a soft smile, a sad attempt at assuring their younger sibling.
The door clicked shut once again, immediately cold air bit against their face. Maybe mags should have taken a scarf or something. Seems like a freeze is bellowing through Cyberworld there is no other explanation. Usually Cyberworld doesn't have any temperatures unless the instances of a sudden technical freeze or overheat of the system.
Which seems to be the case as of now ice-cold wind howling through the busy cybercity-streets. Luckily not so cold to full-on freeze into statues yet but still. Mags knew they had to hurry if they wanted to make it unfrozen and on time.
Walking trough the streets as they gripped their jacket,trying to keep the cold out as good as they could. A shiver ran through their body "i should have gone earlier.." Mags cursed under their breath.
The typical blue glow of the streets slowly faded into purpler colors as they kept walking through corners and alleyways. The path completely burned in their head. After all, there was only that one time when they got lost. Since that day they made sure not to do that mistake ever again.
Purple streets faded into a purple-red-ish color now heading through the 'dark web' streets Mags summoned a window with a couple of settings,, turning their incognito-mode on better be safe than sorry. It's ridiculous how easy getting a virus here is. Definitely not wanting to risk that one- They still remember when Clickster caught three viruses at the same time. The hospital bill was NOT fun.
Rounding a corner the dreaded high rise-tower came into view, their destination: Big shot auto's second building.
Usually if you want to survive in the darker sides of the dark web one should keep their operations small, invisible or at least hard to see, UNLESS you belong to the higher people. Those that belong to queen's court, HER loyal henchmen that control the web alongside her.
Heading past the reception directly towards the elevators. All of this is routine at this point, pressing the button, heading up whilst having a good look out on the city since..the elevator's outer wall has a full-length window. Dangerous perhaps if say a sniper or something tried to 'cause trouble'. Guess that's how confident he is with his safety here. Mags knows exactly how many people would love to put a bullet into his head, they'd be terrified to head out of these doors or to even show their face if mags had the reputation he has and yet… He's out there like any other citizen not even with any bodyguards or anything like he's itching for someone to take him out- with a gun that is.
Ding!
That's their cue. Halls decked with dark wood panels covering black wallpaper with that obviously expensive red long carpet that seems to go on forever. That color choice wasn't random no, it was meticulously designed in case this place needed to 'get rid' of someone in these halls. after all it happened before
Mags had just finished an errand already on their way through these forsaken halls to the only exit of this floor- the elevator when they heard loud thumping footsteps almost behind them. Turning around immediately the scene folded out as followed:
Some werewire ran out of his office tumbling down against the wall seemingly out of pure terror. Shouting out pleads, begging to be left off alive, holding up a hand before itself as the werewire scrambled up onto their feet only to be stopped by a bullet straight through the spot where the wire lifts in its face.
The gunshot had scared mags onto their knees as well, holding their hands above their head to shield it - just to look up again thanks to the chilling silence that followed. Staring straight at him, with a black & white gun almost looking identical to his goddamn wingtips he liked so much, definitely designer-made- pointed still at the now dead werewire on the ground. Werewire blood splattered across the wall, the gun still having some smoke pour out of its barrel until that finally got lowered.
Mags really couldn't help it, things that terrified them made em' stare straight at the bullet wound. Grotesque, brutal- if they weren't so terrified there's a high possibility mags' would've already emptied their stomach right then and there.
"You shouldn't take so long to get home before click's gets worried y'know"
A smile. Completely devoid of anger, nervousness or anything like that- Almost that typical addison-smile except it wasn't exaggerated or drawn out to draw customers in no, it was gentle, calculated, uncanny really if one remembers what just happened.
There he stood.
Spamton G. Spamton, Back then known as white like his color- seemingly the only white addison in existence, shorter than normal ones aswell and yet… Somehow with no explanation or sign of how, he truly managed to rise to the toppest of tops. Back then he was so fragile, so unknowing when he hatched. Off-color, defective something off with him. No talent in selling,no talent in anything addison-like. Until he one day just rose up like nothing.
How the hell did he do that.
Now he's all the way up there Way too high up, practically on Queens lap at this point. He's one of the "Big shots" that control the web directly under the Queen. Mags still remembered how white used to borrow money from them just to get-by. They still remember how white helped out in each of the Addison's shops for 'pocket money' and now They're the ones that work for him.
Small nervous white
Killed someone in cold blood.
Mags could never get used to this, never.
"Do you have a death wish or what a-are you doing?!"
Mags swooped back to reality, before them was a vivirokun in a suit, usually just a simple goon in his hierarchy. It floated right before the door mags was supposed to enter 5 minutes ago.
They simply shook their head whilst walking past the vivirokun opening those heavy double-doors to his office-
To white's- no
to Spamton G. Spamtons office.