#anthill acts

[ant-dreemurr]

*ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒᵈˡᵉ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿˢ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ*

[Antony, preparing to work on character scripts, finds the drawing on his desk. His pink mouth instantly curls into a scowl, the top of his screen furrowing unhappily.]

……. Stupid chanle…. It isn’t supposed to be able to do that.

[For a while, he ignores it. But it stays there as he works. It itches for his attention. After a long moment, he angrily grabs it, tearing it slightly—]

………

[Quietly, Antony drops one hand. Despite the small tear in the paper, the slug quietly grabs a nearby pencil and stabs it into the wall. A custom pin for the paper beside painted stars and faded stardom.]

[He resumes work.]

[ant-dreemurr]

*Hours later during hours of rest, the independent chanele finds its way to its powered down host. Asleep for the evening. It seems to have gotten used to the idea of affection while it was away, hesitantly but deliberately settling in beside the broken CRT. It nuzzles the tip of its nose at the bottom of Antony’s casing, snuggling up to the ghost of a lord denied his existence, and powers down along side him.*

[Antony temporarily wakes up, antennas twitching to glance at the odd chanle.]

Mmm… what the…. Huh???? What are YOU doing here?!!? I thought I….

………. Whatever.

[Despite his grouchiness, Antony does nothing. Silence returns as the slug powers itself off once more.]

[ant-dreemurr]

Ant was approached by a darkner wrapped in a blanket, making it impossible to know what he looked like. They reached out and gave him a sticker with an star sticker that said "you're cool"

:]

Darkner turned around and disappeared into the snow fields

….. UH. HEY, WHAT’S— WAIT, WHERE DID YOU GO?!!?!

WHERE DO I PUT THIS………?

[After careful contemplation, Antony sticks the sticker onto the side of his residential TV. No, not his head. Do you know how often that gets recycled? I mean the one sitting quietly on a crate in his Anthill.]

[ant-dreemurr]

https://www.tumblr.com/ant-dreemurr/823134167853334528/i-i-finally-made-it-i-thought-it-would-look?source=share

H-HUH! I - I didn't mean to ... oh... both of them are gone...

*I try to follow but can a small ball of manifestation of a digital identity even compete with a fast slug , I loose them

(sigh)... I keep startling people....I hope I meet them again though...

*I explore the large expense of the frozen waste land... slowly finding the ruins of the grandiose studio, ones lively and thriving now so..... cold

Woah... such a big building... No lights.... No noise... did the crew fully move on from here, can darkness even do that????? But even if they did, the big guy himself is a sucker for the classics, he can't abandon the studio like that even if he went on retirement....

*I come closer the building gets bigger but it just feels like a husk

... hmm maybe it's just the back part, maybe there is a grand entrance somewhere... there is no way it would be like this..

*I spotted something in the corner of my eye.... it's static like appearance moves into a dark corner just past the back door I found

Hmm...is it one of them...

*I approach

H-hi again, sorry if I was too sudden earlier.... You said I wasn't allowed there and I needed to be escorted out.... and left yourself .... I don't want to startle you so I am not getting closer.... But I really can't see you hehe 😅

[Antony jumps, startled from his mission of attempting to break into the studio. He snarls at the newcomer, shaking.]

DIDN’T I TELL YOU TO $&%# OFF?!!!?! YOU’RE RUINING THE (script)!!!!! JUST KEEP (clear the aisles) AND WE’LL BE (hunky-dory), OKAY?!!!?!

[The slug hurriedly carries itself into the outside vent, shutting itself in. The sound of it clattering through is audible for several moments before it goes far enough for the sound to fade.]

[ant-dreemurr]

*The rogue chanele that had returned wearing the cloak just several days ago seems busy. It currently stands upon the makeshift table of several crates. Sandwiched between its static pedal waves and said table lies a blank sheet of off white paper. And held within both of its small arms, a red crayon with a worn “TV Time” wrapper curling outwards from age. It appears to be drawing something, although it’s stature makes it a ‘sizable’ task all it’s own. However jt appears to be enjoying it. It pulls the crayon away once complete, wiping the effort off the forehead of its casing. The drawing depicts a crudely sketch of the chanele (itself) hugging and being hugged by a scribble visage of Antony. Both with similar warbley smiles.*

[Antony picks up the chanle with one arm, pink teeth scowling at the picture.]

What is THIS??? I don’t remember asking you to (play) (Pictionary)!!!!! You…. Why did you draw that???? You all are supposed to (following the script) I give!!!! How are you……

[After a moment, Antony drops the chanle and slides off.]

Whatever. I have more (Q-N-A) to finish.

[ant-dreemurr]

I-I finally made it! .... I thought it would look brighter but oh well .

*I find a channel*

Oh aren't you a cute lil thing!

*the channel goes away and I follow it

*I see the silhouette

Wa-ait is that really him! I thought he was in Music World or something but maybe he is revisiting his old studio, I came here to see the razzel dazzel of it all, the vintage classic looks! But my luck I found HIM! Ok I need to meet him, I have been a huge fan for ages! Get a grip and greet him silly! (All this I say to myself)

*the more I go closer the more the silhouette becomes smaller and shifts.... till I see

*I stand a few inches apart, not sure of what I see

Hmm... a bigger of that cutey?!

Ehehehaha……. (lunchtime) for the day—

HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!??! THE STAGE ISN’T OPEN!!!!! (-please escort) (you) (off-stage)!!!!!

[Antony hurriedly shoves the can carried by the chanle into himself and races off, disappearing into the white cliffs. The chanle itself burrows below the snow, disappearing as well. In seconds, the only evidence anything was there is the large imprint left, and the falling snow is already working to erase it.]

[ant-dreemurr]

"Excuse me, does this lil guy belong to you?" *A small, yet freshly cleaned chanele perched and passive in the palm of one's hand. It's dirty casing cleaned and a bandage laid with care across a large crack on the left side of it's cubed head, comically large in comparison. However it appears less jittery than it's counter parts, static mostly settled. A needle felted cloak lovingly crafted from scarlet colored wool keeping it warm. It appears placid, tended to, and well fed.* "I found them out in the snow a while back, and I couldn't just leave them out in the cold. Honestly I've grown pretty fond of them but, they seem, sad some how. If they had a family, I wanted to make sure they weren't missing him or worried... Would that per chance be you?"

WHAT THE—?!!? I SWORE I DID A PROPER (head count) BEFORE (lunchtime)!!!!! HOW DID THAT ONE (ran off the course)?!!!?!?

[Antony takes the chanle. His pink mouth twitches into a confused frown.]

Why did you even……???

WELL, THANKS, I SUPPOSE!!!!! (See you on the next episode of-), THEN!!!!! BYE BYE!!!!! I’LL FIGURE OUT……. what to do with……. you, then.