Yellow Addison: *Standing in front of the TV doors in the castle, hyping themselves up. They’ve never attempted to make a sale this important with someone in-person- let alone directly at all. Okay. Don’t be nervous. This will help the Addisons re-enter the market. This is your Shot. Your chance to be a-
The TV emblazoned doors swing open, revealing the tallest Darkner, the lord of the screens himself, the screen that made them briefly scream, Mr. (Ant) Tenna! …Who appears to be holding something delicately in his palm.
Tenna: *A big smile spreads across his face as soon as he sees the yellow salesman below. Hello there! You must be the Addison who took that job offer! I’m so glad you’re here! Come on in! *Backs out of the door.
The thing in his palm: *Starts chirping and squeaking in slight distress.
Tenna: Oh, my darling, I’m sorry. Was I too loud? *He hunches over a little and gently strokes the… bird…? with his finger. It’s okay... Daddy's here.
Yellow: I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. Tenna, but what is… who is… That?
Tenna: I’m glad you-! *Lowers his volume. I’m glad you asked. This here is the job- I need you to watch my sweet little angel while I shoot a new show.
Yellow: Oh- I thought this was for something about the show-
Tenna: It is...! I can’t possibly take my little one to the shoot. She might get hurt...! *He shrinks down a bit, cupping the tiny thing in his hands. As he does, the white and cream-colored ball of fluff becomes much more apparent.
Yellow: *”So, I’m a glorified babysitter…?! No. No, don’t think like that, Yellow. This could be our ticket back into having a successful career. WITHOUT those damn e-mails…”
Tenna: *Sing songy tone. Hold out and cup your hands…!
Yellow: O-okay…? *Does so. They go stiff when they feel something warm and fluffy the size of a softball fall into them. Uh-!? *They look down at the creature in shock. Is this a good-
The thing: *Stunned for a second, turning around and sniffing the air and Yellow’s hands. Then starts squawking and honking as loud as her little body will allow.
Yellow: Aah! What did I do-!? I didn’t mean to-! How do I-! *Something about hearing all that distress makes something in their chest sink. How do I calm her down?!
Tenna: *He leans over the Addison and the little crying creature. You must be new to this- Don’t worry! *He lifts a finger as he straightens up. I thought this might happen so I made sure we had plenty of time beforehand.
Tenna: First, you haven’t done anything wrong. She’s just startled. What you want to do is calm down. Tennis can practically smell the panic. *He taps the end of his nose.
Yellow: H-how?! She’s shrieking-
Tenna: Take a deep breath! *Smiles as Yellow follows his suggestion. Now, pet her ever so gently with your thumbs…!
Yellow: *Hesitates. What if they squish something important? What if she doesn’t like it and bites them? They look up at Tenna, baffled.
Tenna: *Patiently observing them with a tilt of the head.
Yellow: *They very lightly rub the mane of the little crying ball.
Tennis: *Presses her head into the thumbs with some quieter, confused and insistent chirps.
Yellow: *That same thing in their chest flutters at the small, curious critter in their hands. She’s… cute. *They rub the side of her head. And soft like a cat.
Tennis: *Hearing their softer voice, her chirps quiet down further into tiny, pleased chitters and happy growls. She rubs her cheek against their thumb.
Tenna: *Circles behind them. He leans over their shoulder with a pleased smile. Look at that! I think she already likes you…
Yellow: *Smiles fondly at the tiny critter nestling her head against their palm. She’s like a little Tennis Ball… *Cooing as they gently scratch her back with a finger. Aren’t you…? You’re just a little Tennis Ball. *Whispers sweetly when it chirps happily. Tennis baaall- *They jump slightly when Tenna taps their shoulder. Huh…?
Tenna: There’s still more to show you before I leave- like feeding her! She looks so cute when she drinks her formula!
Yellow: Oh- Oh no! *Quickly lowers their voice, feeling the sweet little creature tremble in their hands. Ssh, it’s okay… *Goes back to petting her as they look up at Tenna. Don’t worry about that. I think I know how- I used to see emails with lightners feeding their kids all the time. I’m sure I can do it, sir-
Tenna: *Wraps an arm around their shoulder and guides them to the kitchen. Don’t be silly! Seeing something on TV is much different than the actual, genuine performance. You gotta rehearse for the role, if you know what I mean.
Yellow: Rehearse for the- Did you rehearse for this…?
Tenna: For having a kid? Goodness, no… No one can prepare for that entirely- that’s life for ya. But I think you’ll do fine taking care of her while I’m away. *Pats Yellow’s shoulder before going to show them how to feed Tennis.
Yellow: *Later, long after Tenna has left, they lie on the couch with Tennis happily curled up on their chest. Life, huh…? What kind of life… Do I have? *They look down at the content baby darkner, snoozing happily. What kind of life will you have, little Nissa? *Smiles at the nickname before letting their head rest again. What kind of life will I have?
……….
……………..
Tennis: *Drawing a picture while lying on the cream colored carpet of her caretaker’s apartment.
Yellow: *Walking into the room from the hall, deciding to check in on the little Darkner. I see someone’s having a bit of a creative streak! Whatcha drawing, Nissa?
Tennis: My family! *Scoots over so Yellow can see the picture.
Tennis: See, there’s Dad! *Points at a crude crayon drawing of a giant in a red suit with a TV for a head.
Tennis: *Points at a smaller character in a blue and green gown holding the TV man’s hand and another person’s opposite of him. There are black scribbles around the face of the screen- meant to represent hair. There’s me!
Tennis: *Points at a man barely taller than her, wearing something similar to the TV. Unlike the taller man, this person has a long, pointy triangular nose and black triangles for hair. That’s my other dad!
Tennis: And this is! *Points at a scratchy yellow stick figure standing off to the side of everyone. They have a barely rendered smily face. It’s hard to tell where their shirt ends and their pants and shoes begin… Even if they almost always wear green pants in the first place. You!
Yellow: *Seeing the quality drop so drastically in comparison to her actual parents- especially the one who she’s never met- stings a little. I… See…
Tennis: I’m not done with your dra-ing! It looks bad but I still gotta add things like the nooooose and the hair and col-r it in moooooore!
Yellow: *Relieved. But something about the composition bothers them. They’re in the picture… but they are alone… “Why do I feel jealous…? I should be happy that they think of me as their family at all! That she loves me so much she’d include me in their drawing!”
Yellow: *Regardless of their thoughts, they can’t bear to bring down her creativity. She worked hard on that drawing!! Ah! It’s a lovely drawing, Nissa!
Tennis: You rea–y think so, Elly?
Yellow: Absolutely!! You always draw the nicest pictures for me, Tennis! *Beaming proudly down at them before getting up. I’ll go make us dinner.
….
……..
Tennis: *Roughly in her teens now. She sits out on the rail of the balcony of Yellow’s apartment, looking out at the other buildings nearby, thinking of the other parent she could have had. Occasionally, she glances at the ad snippet- at the bright shining smile of the Addison leaning out of a car window. Who were you…?
Yellow: *Slides open the window/door to their room. Nissa, your dad said it’s going to be another late rehearsal, so I’ve made some dinner for us both! Hope you don’t mind Tagg Soup…
Tennis: *Looks down at the ad again at the word “Dad”. WHERE are you…?
Yellow: … Nissa?
Tennis: Maybe… if you were Here. I could Stay Home… Maybe we could stay up and play video games. Watch a movie. Maybe surprise Dad with dinner…
Yellow: *Sighs and walks out, leaving the door open and the curtain softly swaying in the breeze. They speak softly as they lean on the railing next to them. Tennis… Does it get lonely here?
Tennis: H-huh? Elly? Umm… Only a little. But you and everyone else are always around! So it’s not that lonesome at all!
Yellow: You don’t have to hide it, Tennis. You always come out to the balcony on late nights like these.
Tennis: *Heavy sigh. Why does Dad always work late…?
Yellow: He’s got an important job, entertaining us all-
Tennis: But- I’m important too… aren’t I? I don’t get to see him th-t m-ch! *Squeezes the banister tightly as she hunches over. I wi– I had my -ther dad! I wish I was-’t –ways being babysat!!
Yellow: *Leans back at her outburst. They tell themself not to take it personally, but they can’t help it.
Tennis: Why am I —ays here?! Why can’t I se- my pa-ents!? Is it be-au–e I’m bRO-Ken?! A Mis-ake?!
Yellow: No… It’s… *It feels almost like they’re back in their office in Cyber City- just finding out about replacing the E-Mail guy- the guy in the ad the teen holds as a memento to her lost father. The one who abandoned her. It all comes back to him, somehow. Some way. Nissa, it’s not that. Never that.
Tennis: *Sobbing. D-do they j-st hate me-?!
Yellow: *They shakily lift their hand to reach out to her. No. They would never… *Their hand trembles with doubt- fear that their reassurance won’t be enough. Even to the people they care about, the kid they raise and love as much as if she were their own child, they’re just a stand-in for the real deal. They still grab her shoulder. I don’t… and neither does your dad.
Yellow: *Now, they take a deep breath, swallowing all of their insecurities. Swallowing all of their doubts.
Yellow: *They hug the GPS. Tightly. I’m not the one who needs to say this but… I’m sorry, Nissa. For what it’s worth, your Dad, Tenna, loves you. The Mikes love you. Queen loves you. The Addisons love you. I love you, okay? Flaws and all, just the way you are…
Tennis: … *Sniffs and hugs them back, burying her screen in their chest.
Yellow: He’ll have time off, one day, and maybe we can all play video games or watch a movie together, okay?
Tennis: Ok-kay…
….
………
……………….
Yellow: *Singing to themselves while packing things up after watching Tennis.
Jongler: Whoa! Yous gotta pretty good voice!
Yellow: Heh- It’s not the strongest voice out us Addisons I don’t think-
Pluey: *Smooth jazz floats out of his mouth as he points at Yellow.
Battat: Yeah! You tell them, Pluey!
Yellow: Hm? That good? Me?! Oh no, no no. I worked in E-mail. I was never that good at making jingles or all that the others do.
Pluey: *A high note, then a low note. Then they dance while singing a catchy string of swing music.
Jongler: Dat sounds like a great idea, Plue!
Battat: What! No! No way! Our cover would get blown in an instant if we all performed at once in our Mike suits-
Yellow: We could schedule when Tenna’s busiest.
Battat: And what if he cancels something or swings by the cafe for coffee?!
Yellow: Well, he probably knows there are three versions of Mike already. Think about it, Bats, you’re all different sizes. Plus, knowing the guy, he’s not so stupid that he’d think you’re the same guy.
Battat: That ccould be explained with a costume cha-
Jongler: So, whats youse sayin’ is dat he thinks Mike is three different people?
Yellow: That’s riiight! But me being a lead singer in a Jazz band would never work. My voice just isn’t the right- Ack! Pluey!
Pluey: *Threw their arm over their shoulder so they could feel their neck.
Yellow: *Blushing heavily as the shadowguy’s fingers press into and around their vocal chords. Wh-What are you doing, Plu?
Pluey: *Confident saxophone noise.
Yellow: You- You really believe I have a good voice?
Battat: Trust me, Pluey’s an expert at this sort of thing. Comes with being a musician by default. *Rolls his eyes. Psshhht. Lucky.
Yellow: Hmm…. I think you’d do better with Pink, really. Their voice has a kind of crowd-grabbing quality that-
Battat: *Waves his hands frantically in the air. But we don’t know Pink!
Jongler: We know YOU, Boss!
Pluey: *Plays a snippet of “Rock-a-bye Baby” while miming the motions.
Battat: If it wasn’t for that kid we wouldn’t have met you. Let alone let you stay- not like you had any leads on the real Mike.
Yellow: Right… The real Mike. Speaking of… Do you all ever feel like that’s all you’re good for? Being a stand in for him?
Pluey: *Shakes his head with a shrug then gets on all fours to and rubs against the other Mikes.
Battat: Ha! I know I’m good for other kinds of stuff! Like looking real cool and gambling! It’s just an act to keep Tenna hap- Ack- Pluey!!
Jongler: Keepin Tenna happy is our numba one priority! It ain’t our lives. I think.
Yellow: But what if it were. What if it was… everything you were…? What if you looked in the mirror and saw a man you never met- someone that was supposed to be HERE?
[Yellow: *They enter their bathroom in their apartment. They look into their mirror for but a brief second before- AAAAAH-! *Jumping back and collapsing against the linen closet at the sight of a white addison of the same type and code.]
Yellow: *Holds out their hand to side of them where a transparent suggestion of another Yellow to be placed down slides into view. What if all you were were a copy that’s served its purpose?
[Yellow: *Finds themself face to face with that same white Addison in their dreams. Envelopes marred by glitches and missing textures slowly drift down into the abyss below them. A feeling of finality washes over them as their body begins to vanish into satic.
White: You were made for Email and Email alone. Your services are no longer needed. *The envelopes- the letters- slowly invert their course, rising up out of the abyss.
Yellow: *They scramble and limp towards the Addison, their hands slipping down from his shirt to his pants. Please- I still have a reason- a purpose- here! Don’t send me away-
White: *Kneels and tilts his head curiously as they lightly lift their head by the chin. Don’t worry about that… *His face contorts to a forced, molded grin. I’ll take care of everything.
Yellow: *Bolts upright in their bed, screaming. They continue, doubling over and clutching their chest. When they finish, their breath and voice are ragged and hoarse.]
Yellow: What if Tenna found out…? What would be the point of you three after-
Battat: HEY! WILL YOU STOP TALKING STUPID OR DO WE NEED TO START A BATTLE!?
Yellow: H-Huh? I’m not talking stupid. These are things I’ve had on my mind for a while-
Jongler: *Crosses their arms. Dunno. Sounds pretty stupid ta me, Yella. Youse sayin you think youse a copy but dat ain’t checkin out.
Yellow: Wh- Do you not see this? *Gestures at the suggested copy of themself.
Battat: UGH. WHO CAAARRRRESSS… *Pulling his face down so hard the inside of his eye sockets can be seen. So what if you’re some version of some other guy?!
Pluey: *Jabs a thumb at himself with a disapproving saxophone sound.
Jongler: Or I’s bein’ another Zapper an’ all.
Battat: *He jumps onto the Addison’s chest and torso and grabs their collar. You hear that, you lemon?! So what do you want to do?!
Yellow: Huh-?! What do I…? Um… *Looks at Pluey and Jongler. Start a band?
Jongler: Say it likes you MEANS it, Boss!
Pluey: *Plays insistent saxophone notes while pumping his fists in front of him at Yellow.
Battat: What do YOU want?! *Waves a green gloved hand out emphatically.
Yellow: I want… *A slight confident smile crosses their face along with the slightest blush. To write music! I want to sing with you three!! *Grins so brightly, so genuinely. ”And I want to be there for my friends… My family.”
Battat: HA! That’s more like it!!! *Jumps down.
Jongler: Now you’s gettin the big picture! You’s you! *Slicing towards the Addison with their hand. You gets to say whatever you wanna say.
Pluey: *Rubs their head against Yellow’s chin affectionately as a cat would, humming a catchy, free sounding tune.
….
………..
Yellow: *Writing down their latest story- this one set in the far reaches of space starring an unlucky salesman. A knock interrupts their reverie and they can’t help but sigh in disappointment. Come in.
Tennis: *Yawns as they open the door. Aury had a bad nightmare and they didn’t want to come get you alone…
Yellow: *Looks over their shoulder at Tennis and the little literal golden child tucked hiding behind their leg. They smile softly, apologetically. Perhaps it was a bad idea to have icecream right before bed time, they wonder.
Yellow: *Gets up from their desk then kneels down to comfort their kid. What a terrible nightmare it must have been…
Aury: *Sniffling. I dreamt… you didn’t want me anymore… Cause I made you mad. You left me in a cold dark box…
Yellow: *Blinks in surprise at hearing such a sad dream. For a moment it reminds them of their own fears and doubts. But then they look at Aury, a result of their own decisions- a representation of their freedom. Then Tennis, a literal guiding light that could have been so much darker without their guidance… and now guiding their precious little one to Yellow for comfort.
Yellow: Oh, Aury, no… Sweetie… Come here… *Gently pulls Aury away from their older cousin. The Addison wraps the kid up in a hug. No matter how mad I get, I would never think that. I’d never make that rotten of a deal. *They stroke the back of their head, failing to smooth down the black tipped tuffs of hair. I love you so much, Aury…
Aury: *Hugs their parent back as best they can and buries their tiny face in their oversized and faded TV Time Shirt. Prommy…? Big prommy, Ba-ba?
Yellow: *Softly chuckles at the silly way they ask that. I prommy. *They beckon Tennis closer.
Tennis: *Smiles and joins the hug.
Yellow: *With one arm, they hold the young GPS as tightly as they can. I mean that for you as well, Nissa… Sweet Tennis Racket. Even if you’re all grown up. You’re both so precious… so important to me.
Yellow: …You both taught me what love was.
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