Work Text:
There was a hum of activity in the lobby of Queen's Mansion. A small group of Darkners had been asked to meet Queen there ahead of taking a train to another Dark World - Radio Heights. This included the Top Billing Actor, who had been reading through a script in his room before a Swatchling came looking for him. Despite his new social status, it was still a surprise when he discovered that he was deemed important enough to be offered a ticket by Queen.
Ant Tenshen was a purple Addison whose lanky form had him stand nearly a head over his peers. Dressed in a white shirt, black trousers that melded with the shoes on the bottom - as was normal for Addison-branded attire - and topped with a dark red belt framed with a golden buckle, and the recognisable accessories of a bright red open vest and a yellow neckerchief, it was hard to believe that this was the Addison who had broken out of his programmed purpose of Monitor Surveillance and rapidly rose to fame as an actor. From backstage assistant, to minor roles, to the headline name on billboards, he had achieved the impossible in record time, and it was all thanks to his dear Manager.
A Manager who, upon discovering the invitation to visit an entirely new Dark World, flashed a pop-up in the corner of Ant's eye:
<You May Go>
Ant grinned. "I'd be honoured to go with you, Your Majesty."
Excellent
Tonight Will Be: Perfect
You Will Be: Inspired
I Expect: More Sold Out Shows
No Pressure LOL
"None at all! You can count on me to do my very best!" He straightened his posture and gave a playful salute. Both of his antennae-like bangs stood to attention.
A wave of Queen's hand dismissed the action. Then, on second thought, she snapped her fingers. A green Swatchling hurried over and handed her a long, black scarf. She turned her attention back to Ant as she began putting it in place around her neck.
Obtain: A Jacket
There Is A Dress Code
"A dress code?"
Correct
Casual-Formal
Something Black Will Do
Ant hummed, and an idea came to him. With a wave of his hand, his inventory screen popped up. On the second swipe, he reached in and pulled out some black material. "Would this cardigan be okay?"
Queen paused, tilting her head as she scanned the Addison. She nodded.
We Are Leaving In: Fifteen Minutes
We Will Be Back: Tomorrow Afternoon
Take Anything You Need Before We Go
"Yes, Ma'am!"
After a frantic dash back to his suite in the Mansion to hastily throw the contents of an overnight bag into his inventory, Ant accompanied the group to the train station and claimed an empty seat by the window.
What an honour it was to be invited! A chance to experience the thrill of a trip to someplace new. Maybe this could be the inspiration for a touring production. There were plenty of Dark Worlds, and he was sure that many of them would love the chance to appreciate the arts for a while!
Slowly, the train set out from the station. A pop-up appeared, blocking Ant's view:
<Reminder:
You are a guest. Remember our arrangement. If you agree to work in another Dark World, your star will no longer shine.>
"I remember…" Ant mumbled. He slumped against the window, hand covering his mouth to attempt to muffle his voice. "It was just a dream for the future. An actor yearns for an audience, and the potential of new audiences is too enticing to ignore. Surely you understand?"
Another small window appeared, blinking to get Ant's attention: <You are not here for work. Take the night off.>
Ant's spiked fringe curled as his expression scrunched up. "But what about the script? You insisted I study it tonight."
<You won't have time to access your inventory. Practice your networking.>
"I'll be sure to do so. Thank you."
Do What?
Ant jumped in his seat, spinning in time to spot Queen standing in the aisle. Her arm rested against the top of the empty seat beside Ant. Her screen had a bold question mark displayed on it.
"S-sorry! Was thinking out loud. B-bad habit, and all that. Is there something I can do for you?"
I Never Told You Why We Are Going
LOL
"There's a lot happening. I'm sure you thought I already knew."
Cyber City Is Currently: Close In Proximity To Another Dark World
Radio Heights Obvs
There Is A City:
Audiacity
A Concert Is Being Held For Us There
"A concert? Who is performing?"
The Cast
The Band
The Voice Of The Airwaves
IDK
Something Like That Maybe
The names of the different acts shot right over the Addison's head. However, he smiled like he understood. "Sounds like a good lineup."
Queen paused.
Tenny
"Yes?"
Do You: Listen To The Radio?
"Rarely. Why?"
Queen's smile widened.
That's What We Are Seeing LOL
OK Bye
Queen continued down the aisle of the train, leaving only confusion in her wake. To Ant's understanding, a radio was something that could only be heard. How could they 'see' it?
The train journey was smooth, but slow. At some point, Ant had fallen asleep. It was only when the train jostled on the rails that he bolted awake and looked out the window.
The view outside had turned black - supposedly the 'in between' space between Dark Worlds - but Ant watched how hints of earthen tones began to appear. A brick, a hint of a path, some gravel underneath the tracks. Then, gradually, the colour and new forms began to hold, and a small urban area materialised out of the darkness.
A glance was enough to confirm that Audiacity was a far cry from Cyber City. While Ant's home was bright and boldly illuminated in a vivid blue, the train's destination was more muted, brandishing soft earthen tones across the landscape. As Tenna watched old-fashioned structures materialise from the shadows, it reminded him of some old movies he had watched while studying for performances.
Had they gone back in time?
No. That didn't make any sense. Radio Heights was simply not as advanced as Cyber World.
Ant scanned the passengers that left ahead of him, using the opportunity to pull on the cardigan over his outfit as an excuse to stall. On reflection, he reached down and buttoned the red vest to mimic a waistcoat as he set off. Together, the group departed the train station and entered the street - aptly named "Rail Road", according to the street sign that was attached to the wall of a shop situated on the street corner. The warning of the dress code had been one all visiting Darkners had taken to heart, as the different black accessories or clothing helped hide the vivid shades that would be too painful to focus on when compared to the quieter colours around them.
It was the first time he was thankful that his static-like skin was a soft lilac rather than anything too striking. He almost felt like he was part of the set rather than an outlier like he did amongst the other Addisons.
The group turned a corner to walk down a lively shopping street. Ant noticed several coffee shops, a bookstore, a restaurant, a newsagents, and a poster with an advertisement for a casino. These were all passed in favour of approaching the Transmittonian.
The actor slowed to a halt, looking up to take in the sight of the building.
One of the movies Ant had watched was set in the 'Golden Age' of Lightners. This ornate setting appeared to replicate that atmosphere. While it maintained the earthen theme, the Transmittonian had warm grey exterior walls that drew the eyes to the large, colourful stained glass windows. Two golden pillars framed the doorway, and Ant had to race after the group before he was left alone outside with the guards.
The interior was just as decadent as he had hoped. There was the faint, crackling sound of slow jazz playing on an old gramophone drifting through the air. The colours were dark: deep brown wooden floors; plush scarlet couches; and matching chairs and tables that almost looked black. The dim lighting alternated between hanging bulbs encased in glass orbs that gave a low glow and lit candles inside clear jars on the tables. The chairs at these tables all faced in the same direction: the stage.
The main attraction was made from a paler shade of wood compared to the rest of the floor. It was already set for the concert. Ant could see a number of stools scattered around, a large drum kit, and a beautiful blue-grey grand piano that took up half the space.
He was escorted to a small table halfway back and given an opportunity to order a drink. With no pressure to follow a waiter, he could properly look around and truly take in the sights.
One thing was clear: nothing as classy as this venue existed in Cyber City. If Ant ever made enough to purchase his own theatre, he would take inspiration from tonight. The arts were something to be enjoyed. Why not let the audience experience a little class as a treat? Surely his Manager wouldn't mind that. If anything, a beautiful venue would only encourage more visitors to see him perform. Not just on the stage, but in videos! Movies! Advertisements! There was nowhere to go but up!
The tapping of a finger against a microphone snapped Ant back to reality. A brightly coloured Darkner called for attention to welcome a band called 'The Tempos' onto the stage. This was a group of pure black figures known as Shadowguys who claimed every spot on the stage except for the piano stool.
As the crowd settled down, the opening number began and Ant let himself slump forward to remove the tension that kept his frame poker-straight while in public. This was an opportunity unlike anything he had ever experienced. He couldn't help but feel grateful that his Manager allowed him the night off to enjoy this.
Each performance was just as good as the previous one. Ant was struggling to decide what was his favourite.
After a well-performed set, the band gave their bows and hurried off the stage. The crowd began to talk amongst themselves, assuming that this was the interval starting a lot earlier than anticipated. Instead, following a few minutes, a figure ascended the wooden steps. The chatter swiftly died down as the Darkner crossed the floorboards. All attention was back on the stage.
Ant lifted himself up. This must be an important act.
The figure was dressed in a cool grey suit. A pristine white shirt with the top button undone was interrupted by a loose black tie. Flashes of red were spotted on the gloves, the little handkerchief tucked neatly into the jacket's breast pocket, and the ribbon wrapped around the cool grey fedora.
However, what caught Ant's eye was the Darkner's face. It looked like it was almost entirely made of a wood that was dark, yet warm in colour. On the front, the wood covered the eyes and reached down as far as the chin. A square had been neatly cut out to allow room for a mouth on a pure white surface. A gold bar supported the bottom of the jaw, while a similar colour functioned as eyebrows around the carved holes. These eyes blinked as the figure approached the silver standing microphone. A gloved hand traced the edge of the microphone, then dropped down to pull it closer to him in a well-rehearsed movement.
"My, my… What a great turnout tonight. Let's hear it for our friends from Cyber World, who travelled all the way here for our concert tonight!" He clapped his hands, prompting the local Darkners to do likewise. "I'd like to thank them and all our dear locals for joining us here tonight at the Transmittonian. For those of you who've never been here for a concert, my name's Scanlan, and you just had the immense pleasure of hearing my band show you what they're made of. But now, I think it's time for all of you to get acquainted with me before I call the band back up here for the main performance, don't you think?"
The musician made his way to the grand piano to sit on the stool. A stagehand hurried over to adjust the shorter microphone to be at the right height for Scanlan. The silence that gripped the audience was so strong, not even a pin could wriggle out and drop.
The moment the gloves brushed against the ivories, Ant was mesmerised, but it was when Scanlan began to sing that something ensnared him. The musician's voice was low and smooth, effortlessly sliding into a baritone range. While he sang, members of the band crept onstage to gradually add more tone to the music, like adding layers to a painting. It didn't matter to Ant who walked by or what instrument began to play. Nothing could pull his attention away from the handsome singer.
Songs blurred into one another, only vaguely distinguished by the way Ant's heart tripped over itself to keep in time.
When the interval started an hour later, it was hard to decide whether the band or Ant needed the break more. A cola had been ordered to try and help ground him and his erratic emotions.
Enjoying the Show?
Once more appearing out of nowhere, the Cyber World's Dark Ruler had effortlessly pulled out a chair beside Ant to sit on.
"It's magical. I've never heard anything like it before. This place is incredible. That piano player, he's, well - I-I mean… He's definitely something."
Define: Something
"I don't know. I felt a rush when I saw him. Maybe that's just the role he plays. It is a full house, after all."
Queen's screen briefly had the word "No" flash up on it.
So You Like It Here
"I think I do."
Wonderful
You Are: Meeting With The Dark World Ruler
Time: Now
"N-now?? What?? Me?"
Yes LOL
Keep Up
He Is: An Artist
You Are: An Artist
She lifted both hands to help clarify these two statements.
Artists Work Better Together
So Work Together
Finishing with a laugh and a clap of her hands, Queen leaned back in her chair. A slow sip of wine betrayed the news she casually dropped on the Top Billing.
Ant opened his mouth to ask for a name, only to stop when a Darkner approached the table.
"Queen! There you are! I told you not to leave without me."
A shiver ran down Ant's spine. There, standing just over Queen's shoulder, was Scanlan.
Soz Spanner
"Don't start that Cyber lingo with me. You're in my town, so speak properly."
In response, Queen shrugged.
IDK What U M3an
Im Spe@kin Gud
LOL
Giggling at the tease, she gently placed the half-full glass on the table.
This is Ant Tenshen
Tenny
This Is Scanlan
The Radio
Voice Of The Airwaves
Ruler Of Radio Heights
"So this is the little rising star you were telling me about, huh?" Scanlan grinned and offered a hand. "And here I was, thinking Cyber City was a capitalist paradise with no chance for art to flourish. Nice to meet you, kid."
"O-oh, no, the honour is mine!" Ant's mind kickstarted back into action as he jumped to his feet and snatched the offered hand with both of his. The handshake was given in a flurry, only for the Addison to freeze. The radio was looking up at him in shock.
Then, Scanlan laughed.
"I'm sorry, did I call you a 'little' rising star?"
Ant blinked. Standing in front of one another, he belatedly realised that the top of Scanlan's hat barely reached Ant's shoulders. It also drew his eye to how Scanlan was still smiling up at him. Hopefully everyone could ignore how Ant's face was burning up.
Look At The Time
There Is Somewhere Else I Totally Need To Be Right Now
The pair turned in time to see Queen make a swift departure. The word 'Lie' appeared on her screen, and Ant realised that she had intentionally abandoned him.
Scanlan, however, was unfazed by this discovery. "Can we talk outside? I need to get some air before the next act starts."
"S-sure. Oh, sorry." Both hands abruptly let go of the musician's hand. "You were incredible. I'm not used to hearing music performed like that."
"No?" One eyebrow quirked as Scanlan peered up at Tenna. "It's just a little something we like to do here a few nights a week. Give folks a chance to find their own joy outside of what they were made for."
"Sounds like what happened to me." Ant paused as Scanlan opened a door and gestured for Ant to pass through first. Whatever was going to be said slipped out of his mind entirely as he was instead greeted by the sight of a small garden.
The garden was surrounded by buildings, as though trying to mimic the walled gardens of a bygone era. Even so, the space did not feel cramped. A stone path meandered through the lush, green grass. Several small flower beds framed key locations, such as the bench Scanlan walked toward.
"I… I expected a little yard or a balcony. Not a garden. It's beautiful."
"It's quiet," Scanlan agreed, "Which makes a nice change from the noise in there. Sometimes I need some time away to clear my head during the interval. Take a seat. I'd like to have a chat."
"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude." When Scanlan patted the empty space on the bench beside him instead of giving an answer, Ant did as instructed. Silence fell, but only for a beat.
"It's nice to meet another artist from out of town, Mr Tenna. I don't want to miss the opportunity."
"... Tenna?"
Scanlan frowned. "Is that not your surname?"
"No, sir. It's 'Tenshen'. Ant Tenshen."
"Ah, I'm sorry. Queen's got a static interference in her voice. I can't always catch what she says with clarity. I thought it was because of…" He trailed off, reaching up to flick one of the bangs. The action was simple, yet Ant found he had to swallow a lump in his throat.
'Tenna'. He liked the way that name sounded.
"You know… I don't mind you calling me that. Never really had a nickname before."
"Never? You have to be pulling my strings!" Scanlan's laugh was warm. Ant wanted to lose himself in it. "Tenna… You had said how you had found your way outside of your purpose. You mind telling me about that?"
A nickname casually slipping out from the lips of the handsome musician made Ant's heart skip a beat. He felt more important than all the accolades achieved in Cyber City. His worth as an actor was second to this moment. This feeling was more than being starstruck. He might be in love with a Darkner he barely knew.
… Would his Manager allow that? They were strict on what connections Tenna formed.
Then again, they weren't here tonight. This was his night off.
This could be a problem for the Ant - no, for the Tenna of tomorrow.
Tenna rolled his shoulders and quickly exhaled to help himself focus on the conversation. "Before I became the Top Billing, I was just an Addison, the same as any other Addison. Normally, we sell things, but there are those like myself who provide a service. I worked in Monitor Surveillance."
"Which is…?"
"Like a security guard. We'd keep watch over what Lightners liked to do and would report back. It helps fine-tune ads to see what works and what doesn't, for instance."
"I see… It sounds like quite the jump from that to acting. How did you manage?"
Tenna chuckled softly. "I was lucky. I was part of a small drama group that would meet some evenings during the week. One night on my way home, I met my Manager." He would never forget the flurry of pop-ups that blocked his vision with such speed that he had been convinced he was being attacked by Poppups. "Luckily for me, they wanted to help me find a chance to prove myself."
The rise to fame was sudden, but Tenna explained how he enjoyed every minute of the challenge. He loved standing on the stage with all eyes on him. There was something about that sensation that felt 'right', like it was where he was supposed to be. The Manager was able to arrange perfectly timed meetings, or plant ideas in Tenna's head to do precisely what was needed - not that he shared any of those secrets.
All the while, Scanlan stayed quiet. It was difficult to read the expression on his wooden face, but there was no doubt that he was listening to everything that was said.
It might have only been a few minutes, but it felt like hours to the pair. Neither wanted the moment to end.
"That show you're in… When is it on?"
"Not for another six months. Why?"
Scanlan hummed. "I would like to attend, if Heaven can allow our Dark Worlds to connect at the right time in the future. The passion in each word you speak is thrilling in conversation. I would love to hear how it changes when you perform. I'm certain that is proof of your success: you have wonderful potential."
"Y-you think so?"
"I know so." Scanlan's smile was softer than any that had been flashed on the stage. Tenna wondered whether it was a genuine smile and, in turn, wondered what the implications of that were. "I've worked in the entertainment business for a long time. I know talent when I hear it, and your voice is something remarkable. Which brings me to why I wanted to have this chat: I would like to offer you a chance to spend some time at the Station."
"What?!"
"If what I heard is true, our Dark Worlds will be linked together for a while. This is the opportunity to allow a collaboration to happen." A hand raised the brim of his hat to allow Spannton to properly look up. "What do you think?"
"I-I…" Panic set in. This was really bad. "My Manager is really strict about me working outside of the city and I don't want to anger them on my night off."
"Hey, hey, relax. Deep breaths, Tenna." Scanlan had reached out and gently placed a hand on the Addison's thigh. "It's okay. I'm not offering you a job. I'm not gonna snipe talent away from someone else like that. Think of this more like a study trip. You'll be able to see how things work behind the scenes and get inspiration for your own work. My Station covers more than just music. There's current affairs, chat shows, audio dramas, and plenty of other things. Learn from radio, take in anything I can teach you, and I know you'll make waves."
"Make waves…"
Scanlan gently squeezed the thigh before letting go. Slowly, he rose to his feet. "You can think about it tonight and let my team know tomorrow morning. If anything, I think you'll be doing me the favour. I think my Station can do with having someone like you around."
"Me?" Tenna stood up, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "I'm not sure how I can help."
"Cyber City folk are vibrant and whimsical. This Dark World is in the living room of a family home. It's lovely, but I think a little spark will help lighten the atmosphere. I'm an old-fashioned kinda guy… But I believe you're the ticket to do that, Mr Top Billing. You and your pretty voice." As Scanlan passed, he patted Tenna's arm. A shiver ran down the Addison's spine before he forced himself to follow.
The sound of a tune from a saxophone floated through the air.
"That's Reed, one of my assistants. Second half is due to start."
"Before we go back inside… Did you mean what you said? About my voice?"
Scanlan stopped walking. The musician turned on his heel to face the actor. He removed his hat, allowing the light from overhead to bask him in a warm, angelic glow.
"Tenna, you have a voice for radio, and I mean that."
There You Are
No One Had Seen You
Thought You Left LOL
"Sorry. I didn't mean to disappear." Tenna spoke softly as he sat in his chair, beside the one Queen now occupied. "Scanlan had invited me outside to talk about me doing 'study trips' to the Station. He said I had a voice for radio…"
Queen didn't respond. Instead, she took a sip out of her drink to mask the knowing smile. She had expected the first meeting to go well, but for both to have feelings of some sort for one another? Maybe she should launch a dating website.
Once everyone was back in their seats, the Tempos took to the stage and began warming up.
Scanlan stayed to the side, allowing the group to have their moment of silly antics and waiting for the lead saxophonist to lead into the melody of the first song of the set. In the meantime, he had a moment to himself to reflect.
That Addison with the pretty voice and the quirky personality… It had taken him most of the conversation to gauge what Tenna even looked like, but it was worth the concentration and effort. He had a showstopping smile that sparkled differently compared to other Addisons the radio had crossed paths with. He could see purple - a soft purple that reminded Scanlan of one of the dresses the lady of the Lightner household preferred.
It was the first time since his first day of existence many years ago that he wished his vision was what others had. Why was that?
The musical hijinks shifted into a familiar composition. That was his cue to step onto the stage to applause.
"Welcome back, everyone. Are we all having a good time?" He paused to gauge the reaction, his grin growing wider as the reaction was positive. "Now that is music to my ears. Let's keep this good melody going. How about a rendition of 'Tangled Wires' to kick us off?"
Scanlan had spent many years hosting and performing in different locations, passed from one to another as years went by, but nowhere brought as much satisfaction as Radio Heights. Perhaps a family home brought with it a friendly, encouraging audience. The Darkners who resided here when he had arrived welcomed him and his Station with open arms, nor did they object to the radio theming of the Dark World. It made him more determined to put on good radio shows and performances. He wanted to set a good example and leave the past behind him.
Tonight, however, he wanted to impress. Not just as a Dark World Ruler, but as a musician. The Shadowguys always told him that music was the best way to catch someone's attention. Maybe it was time to take that on board.
With each song, he put more of himself into them than any other night. The music flowed effortlessly. Even the improvised solo sections were perfect.
Then, as the night was coming to a close, a Pippins handed him a piece of paper. From the textured letters, Spannton knew it was the acknowledgements and thanking the band. He rose from the piano stool, approached the microphone, and hesitated.
"Normally, this is something I do to help start winding down the night, but I think we should do something a little differently. Why not bring one of our guests up here to read our acknowledgements? Mr Ant Tenshen, care to showcase your Top Billing status to those of us here in the Heights?"
There was the sound of applause and cheering. Then, movement. Tenna made it onto the stage and stood beside him. That was Scanlan's opportunity to present the page to him with a flourish and step away from the microphone.
That allowed Scanlan to murmur something for only Tenna to hear: "Let me hear that pretty voice."
He had the thrill of watching the 'antennae' on the Addison bolt upright before turning to return to the piano. Fingers began to glide across the keys to play simple chords in an attempt to take attention off Tenna for only a moment. Even an actor would need a few seconds to prepare.
A voice filled the space like a missing melody as Tenna began to read.
Scanlan's form relaxed as he idly played. He barely focused on his hands. He only wanted to listen to Tenna reading and putting his heart into it - even if it was merely a list of 'thank you' messages.
The feeling that was swirling inside… It made him want to find an excuse to make Tenna stay after the concert, or request him to miss the late morning train so they could get a coffee together.
Spannton worked hard, and he usually spent his time alone. He was friendly with Elnina - Lanino, less so - and he enjoyed small talk with his Shadowguys, but he had never wanted to spend time with someone like this on a personal basis before.
The feeling brought a fuzziness that made his inner machinations whirr.
He switched to playing slow chords as a thought sunk in.
Was this love?
Had the atmosphere of his Lightner family finally begun to creep in? Was he starting to feel a yearning to forge a connection with another?
And… Why did that realisation bring with a sense of comfort rather than the fear he had anticipated?