#despamber

--

In the distance, buildings separated further from each other, and the increased space brought in more amusement park equipment and even more fair participants.

The midnight blue brick walls held glowing doors to places unknown, as exhibited by various citizens walking to and fro through the frames. Alternating crunches of blue asphalt and gravel under your heels provided a sense of comfort, it being the only constant factor between this world and your own. Intoxicated by the smell of computerized hotdogs, lemonade, and burgers, you dizzily gazed at the advertisements plastered around the concession stands.

You had to find a safe way to leave the crowded area, but how would you sneak past this many people? At least a hundred or so fair-goers were there, not counting those operating the rides and stands.

People were starting to head your way, so you ducked into the shadows between two buildings. In the process of hiding, you heard quiet clinks and rattles below your waist. "Huh? What do I have on?"

Surprisingly, you weren't wearing your library uniform anymore. There was a blue, long-sleeved shirt instead of your green one and a gold-shouldered red vest over it. Your khaki pants were turned into thicker, darker material with lightweight chainmail over your hips, and golden-toed dress shoes replaced your worn tennis shoes.

Everything is as uncomfortable as my old clothes; I guess that's why I wasn't aware of the difference.

You ran your fingers over the chainmail, then took off your scarf to trace the intricate patterns on your shoulder armor, the swirling imprints forming wings on each pad.

This whole outfit probably costs more than ten times my salary. There were also minor tears on your fabrics though that couldn't be helped. You sighed as you spread your hands over the ruined areas. At least you're well-protected.

"Anyway--" you moved a hand to your chin and leaned your other arm against one of the brick walls-- "Everyone around here has relatively normal clothes. I think I'm the only one with flashy clothing." A few pink-flushed creatures hovered by wearing vibrant blue apparel, and many syringe-headed beasts chased the former in aggressive medical uniforms.

Nevermind.

In contrast to the obnoxious medics and floating creatures, the stand keepers wore black, long-sleeved shirts and green pants. Along with the simple attire, these polygonal, colorful people carried beaming smiles and infectious laughter, making you slightly relaxed even with your problems. Moreover, they didn't seem hostile in any capacity; their lively conversations fluttered in the electrified air with an amusing mixture of idle gossip and business negotiations.

In the hope that one of them could provide assistance, you walked out of the hidden spot and into the open area.

--

The pink Addison spun more sugar into beautiful, fluffy clouds to take to his friends after work. He gathered an extra stick to dip into the stainless steel spinner but then reconsidered at the last second. It's understandable: it's near the end of his workday, and he hasn't had any customers in the past ten minutes.

Disappointed, he mumbled to himself, "There's no point in making a new cone. Nobody's interested right now."

He was at the top of his game in the good old days. Every moment, every single second, it seemed that he and his friends would always sell a product, the successful pitches and sales gimmicks pleasingly echoing in his mind. A smirk briefly appeared at the reminders of the constant marketing success and his old camaraderie.

However, buried in the pile of recollections, not all of his colleagues were so fortunate. Such reminiscing always brought back memories of... him.

The former oh-so-big shot of Cyber City, the one companion he never expected to change drastically in the face of luxury. That era of success and wealth was the greatest period of anybody's life, but at the same time, it carried the most painful realities that the Addison and his friends would ever know. Be that as it may, he can't deny that his old friend was a devoted and sincere person--when he wasn't gloating about his new business ventures or future fame anyhow.

*You just watch!

*Someday,

*I'm gonna be a big shot!

*(He jumped off the table, pointing at the ceiling upon landing. Everyone drunkenly giggled in response.)

*I'm shooting for the heavens, and you all know it!

*Those Lightners just haven't seen my potential yet!!!

There's no point in remembering a lost cause, he assured himself, and besides, that bourgeois asshole's gone downhill; Queen even replaced that has-been with her own ads years ago, as unappealing as they are.

Ugh. He closed his eyes and sighed at the growing discontent in his chest. It's not a good habit to work with terrible thoughts.

...!

Stopped by a familiar warmth, his thoughts hit the back burner. The pink worker felt a tug of force in his person, albeit a weak one; he recognized that strength and determination shared amongst a population of his favorite type of customers.

Although he prepared to leave for his break, he re-tied his ponytail to its original sleekness and fixed his leftover hair fringes to the side of his face. Then, he instinctively poised himself in a teapot pose, one hand on his hip and the other in a lifted manner, his tired expression reverting to its initial animated state: a charming Addison smile.

Soon, he found the owner of such power, a disheveled Lightner.

--

You glanced at everything around you as you limped forward. Straight ahead, there was a three-lane highway bustling with traffic so you couldn't go far, but you were determined to get aid and info from somebody.

I should've asked Nubert for directions or something...

The blinking lights of the stands around you did nothing to help the pounding in your head. Finally, nearing the end of the path, you noticed unattended stands, and between two of those stands was a single, non-busy worker, their pink, angular body maintaining what you felt was an awkward pose. Although their face said otherwise, you hoped the time of holding that position wasn't exhausting.

When you turned to their station, the stand keeper swiveled their body in your direction and puffed their chest. You reasoned that they saw you approaching their area and, being the only operator at the end of the path, readied themself for interaction.

Impaired by the lack of food and sleep though, you swayed with each footfall and shortly bumped into someone walking in the opposite direction.

*ZZT!

Mechanical sizzles erupted behind you, and as you turned to apologize, you met a lanky creature with neon blue fur, grey clothing, and a sharp drill- Wait. Is that... their face? There was a spill stain on their chest and below their feet, a crushed energy drink, the shimmer of wrinkled aluminum informing you that you made a grave mistake.

*ZZT!

*ZZT!!!

*(You rapidly spit out apology after apology, explaining your exhaustion and hunger in as few words as possible. You step backward as they gradually near you.)

*ZZT!

*(You hold up your hands in an attempt to coax them from further aggression.)

*(It doesn't work. The creature stomps forward; their claws angle

together to create a mini spear.)

*(An orb of light grows from the tip of their spear-like hands, the charge threateningly close to your face.)

"Whoa there, dear patrons!!! Please refrain from destroying the area [And Each Other]!!!"

Directly behind you, the anxious booming voice of the worker struck through the air. Their shout mixed with the sounds of the world, with the echoes of traffic, laughter, and welcoming city music, and replaced the extreme tension with awkward apprehension.

As it settled, you felt a familiarity to their vocals, the sound holding a similar bubbly twinge like that of the voice in the dump. The perpetrator fizzed a few tones of irritation at the worker but eventually backed down from attacking you and walked away, their drill-masked face peering back at you as they headed into a blue doorway.

After overcoming your shock, you turned to acknowledge your savior. "Thank you, I-"

"Don't say another word, Lightner! There's no need for such trivialities--" the stand keeper chirped with a nonchalant hand wave-- "I'm always honoured to be of assistance!!!" They knelt and picked up the crumpled can, swiftly tossing it into a nearby recycling bin.

"And besides, you don't appear to be in the best of shape. What kind of person wouldn't help someone in need?" When the worker finally faced you, you saw a white name tag on the left side of their shirt.

*Hello! My name is

*PINK.

*My pronouns are

*HE/HIM.

You stared at the paper and murmured the printed words, which caused Pink to peer down at his tag. A slight magenta flush made its way across his angular face, and he peeled the sticker off with a soft, uncomfortable chuckle.

"Ah, I... forgot I still had that on. Well! That doesn't matter now! There's... no need to introduce myself, I suppose!!!" Pink crumpled the tag and tucked it in his pocket. Although you were confused at his sudden discomfort, it would probably be too rude to ask him about it, seeing as you were strangers.

"So!!! I'm aware that you need food and bedding, right?"

You nodded, looking away from his pitying gaze. "Honestly, I forgot that you were there in the heat of the moment. Sorry you had to see the dramatics."

"Nonsense!!! If anything, I'm glad I have a way to help you now!!!" He moved behind his station and picked up a high-tech, translucent device. It's just a smartphone, you realized.

Pink dialed a number, then pulled out a smooth-surface, wooden stool from under the stand's counter, motioning for you to rest. You noticed cotton candy equipment when he moved aside: a sugar spinner, some thin cones, and a few plastic-packaged bags with names on them. Nat... Loyal... Seo... I wonder who those are for.

He talked to you while the dial tones rang. "My friends and I hang out at this one bar-and-grill after work, and I gotta tell ya, Lightner: the food's amazing!!!"

Ring, ring.

No answer yet. "Would you like to tag along with us? My treat, of course!"

"I-I... am hungry, so I appreciate your offer. Yes, if your friends are okay with it, I want to go with you." You sat beside him and fiddled with your hands while you waited. Maybe it was hasty to travel with a stranger, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

--

"MY [[Name]]??? WHY, I'M SPA- [ACK]!!!" A line of Maice rolled by, frightening the puppet and causing him to drop his small stock of products and Pipis.

"HEy, HEY- WATCH THE [[So Cheap, You'll Die]] MERCH4NDISE, YOU [ByteSized] RODENTS!!! I'M IN A [[Hurry, hurry, t1me is running 0ut!]]"

He started to gather the items back into his arms but not before apologetically petting the Pipis. In the bundle of useless things lay a few worn bowties, a couple of filled bottles with his face on the covers, and some thorn-adorned rings. Those rings, he knew, would help his plan exponentially, provided that the Knight's idea wasn't a load of-

"[$IX$]!1! WHERE ARE MY [Commemorative Ring](s)??!"

His careless fingers screeched and scratched against the harsh asphalt; the gravel and dirt increased the stains on his pants. Soon, he felt painful pricks on both palms, indicating he found the scattered, dangerous jewelry. The salesman cautiously placed them with the other products on the ground, this time checking that nothing was missing.

"HAHAHAEHAEHAHAHAEHAE!!! THAT WAS

[[Close]]."

Before the Maice startled him, he was practicing his future introduction with the Lightner. He knew that they would go to his new site; they may have muttered it, but he's definitely sure that they said they would "stop by there"!

Right?

Rarely would the reality of his situation show itself so plainly to him. Once the guy who had the Cyber World in his palm, now the forgotten reject living in Cyber City's outskirts, eager for a single interaction that didn't end in him being beaten or cursed at. Try as he might to deny it, this constant facade of confidence drained him. When he's done with the Lightner, he thought, he'll be at the top again, and his pride won't be feigned anymore.

He fiercely smacked his head, remasked his ego, and gathered his things. "I' M THE [[Number 1 Rated Salesman1997]]!!! THAT [[Little Sponge]] KNOWS I AM [100% Geniune And Trustworthy]!!!"

After convincing himself that the Lightner wasn't misleading him, he sneaked into a glowing doorway, confirming that he didn't alert any Ambyu-Lance, and traveled to a different part of the city.

--

The doors couldn't transport Lightners, only those made of Cyber World's code and similar Darkner biology, which is why he was able to run through them, zipping from one entrance to the next. He ran by hundreds of Darkners and carefully treaded busy roads throughout his route, hopping through the chaotic traffic patterns with ease.

His legs would sometimes give out under the number of items he carried and his speed, but overall, he did his best to keep from being seen by the inner-city dwellers or from getting hit by cars. Every few doors, he would catch a glimpse of familiar faces, the angular grins of past traitors reigniting his resentment. He quickened his pace with each sight of those people.

He knew the way to his proposed location, having taken the path many times before. After a few more minutes of running, his pace slowed once he walked through the last doorway to his destination.

"[[Home, Sweet, Home]]," he halfheartedly mumbled to himself as he stopped walking.

In front of him stood a green dumpster covered in warnings and Do-Not-Occupy decals, the stickers contradicting his intended use for the container. He peered over the edge to ensure a soft landing for his items, and when he was convinced the inside was cushioned properly, he threw his products in.

Following the items, he climbed in with the Pipis in his grip and landed on the trash heap. Then, the exhausted puppet grabbed a pillow hidden behind a garbage bag and took off his black jacket, muttering to himself about lights and batteries and his "brand-new customer."

"I THINK... I [Think]..." His eyes drooped as he hugged the dirty pillow, tracing the clumsily-drawn smile on it. "I think I sh-should take a [[Rest On This Luxury Bedding]]," he muttered wearily, his actions and speech exposing his past self anew, "be-before the Lightner arrives...." Finally, he stretched, placed his jacket over himself, and situated the Pipis around his body before shutting his eyes for much-needed rest.

--

The fragmented vocals eased into sleepy stutters of the Darkner he used to be. Several years ago, he would've been sobbing into the mold-ridden pillow, pathetically gripping at the seams for faux comfort and affection, but now he would rather sleep than address his declining mental health.

Other Darkners wouldn't understand unless they saw for themselves his reason for escapism and even his waking foolhardiness.

Endlessly, he imagined the bright light, the light that nearly blinded him but also blessed his once-normal skin with light and love and everything a worthless Darkner could never encounter in the Dark Worlds. Of course, he was jealous of those damned Lightners, but at the same time, he recognized that same beauty and glow in their SOULs, the hearts that exist outside of their bodies, the entire culmination of their beings!

Why, why, why couldn't he have that?

A Darkner doesn't possess a SOUL, but what if they did? What if he, the best damned salesman in all of the Dark Worlds, could control a SOUL? He could leave the Cyber World, cross the Light World, and finally experience that constant love and warmth for the rest of his life.

This longing made him wish he had never met any of them. Mike. The Knight. Jevil. Maybe his life still would've gone downhill, but at least he wouldn't be cursed with the knowledge of a joy he could never savor. At least he wouldn't feel the burn of acid and darkness drowning him, torturing him-

"STOP," he stirred himself out of the dreams, "[Stop] the [Brain Train], YOU [Cheap] [[Waste Of Garage Space]]. I DON'T..." He glimpsed at a rotting poster on the midnight blue wall, reminding himself of what happened. "I-I'm not...

[[Ughh.]]" His body shuddered as he nestled into the pillow and Pipis in a miserable attempt to soothe himself from the increasing cold and disturbing thoughts.

--

"Brrr-!!!" Pink huddled one arm around his torso while waiting for his friend to pick up.

Ring, ring.

"Wow, wish I grabbed my coat before I left today, haha! It's getting kind of chilly!!! Are-are you [[Cold]], Lightner???" His voice shivered and glitched during the question.

You turned to him and tugged at your scarf, "Kind of, but not on the same level as you." An idea popped into your head. Your shirt-and-vest insulated enough body heat that the cold didn't bother you too much, and you were positive that you didn't need the scarf.

I could give him the scarf! Hopefully he doesn't have any aversion to microfiber.

Ring, ring. "Hey, Pink, I was wondering-"

Ring, ri- Click. "Hold that thought, Lightner!"

*(You hear a muffled hello from Pink's phone.)

*Nat-! Uh, I mean, Orange!

*(Pink starts pacing around the stand area.)

*Ahh, no, my shift is over!

*Yes, I do have a Lightner with me at the moment!!!

*While we're on the subject,

*About the grill hangout...

*(He continues walking back and forth, discussing your circumstances to his friend.)

You rested your chin in your palm while you waited for him to finish. Nat... Just like the name on the cotton candy.

--

Sitting with your elbow placed on your leg and your head in your hands isn't comfortable, yet you fell asleep anyway. Before your slumber, your eyes followed Pink's walking pattern, a metronome-like movement, and it soothed your brain into a drowsy trance. Then, unknown to you, your senses darkened into a dull haze, subtly shut off, and sent you into a disturbing, surreal place...

...To a familiar darkness filled with endless mourning and colourful regret, with a sea of garbage and glass shards littering the ground in a trail to a dead-end.

*(You embraced the grieving yellow figure sympathetically. After a short time, they released you and showed you a piece of shattered glass.)

*(It was part of a broken light bulb. The same brand you got for him... for his shop.)

*(You told the bundle of darkness that he hated LEDs, so you bought him incandescent bulbs. Sad chuckles filled the air.)

*(A blue shadow continued the yellow's dialogue after the weak merriment died down.)

*Night after night, when we all went to the same cyber grill,

*He'd shoot his mouth about making it big someday.

*"You just watch!"

*"Someday,

*I'm gonna be a big shot!"

*...it's nice to hear that, Y/N.

*I thought he would be too proud to accept gifts.

*(You added that he liked the color and warmth of incandescent bulbs.

*He told you that it reminded him of

*"The Big One."

*The Sun in the Light World.)

--

The pink Addison moved in optimistic strides around the area. Yet, even throughout his conversation, he was caught in a dilemma: tell the Lightner about Addison names now or address it when they meet the other pink Addisons.

Maybe, he hoped, those two would be too tired or too busy to attend! It would be a terrible coincidence if they came today of all days.

*Hmm.

*\\ What's up, Seo?

*Just thinking about Cro and Omni.

*I don't know how I'd explain that, you know?

*The whole sharing-a-singular-work-name thing. Not being the only "Pink."

He pulled out the crumpled tag from his pocket and groaned when he looked at the wrinkled name. Pink.

*\\ Oh [#!%*]- Seo, I forgot to tell you!!!

*\\ Everybody

*\\ Is Coming

*\\ To The Grill!

*\\ Lol Whoops.

Seo crushed the sticker and scowled at the phone.

*[[NAT]]-

*\\ I'm super duper sorry, buddy! I didn't know you were bringing a Lightner!

*\\ But guess what!

*\\ Cro and Omni won't join us until we reach the tea shop,

*\\ So you can tell the Lightner before then!!!

*I just... wish I knew this beforehand.

He stopped pacing to look at them.

*(Innocent Lightners are fast asleep.)

Seo shivered again and sat on the sidewalk near the Lightner, rubbing his arms for warmth. "Anyway, I've got your and Loyal's candy bags, so you two don't have to complain about food while we head to the grill! Like usual."

The wind blew harder. "Ughh- Oh, before I forget, do you have an extra coat from Tee? I di-didn't bring mine."

After a short pause, Nat answered, "Nope, sorry, I don't have an extra! Tee's waiting in the other district with the rest of the guys; fortunately, Serp's here so he can order a jacket if you need it."

Because of the recent decline in shoppers, it bothered Seo to ask for clothing from Tee or Serp, but he knew that those two, like any Addison, would bother him until he took whatever they offered.

However, Serp was the worst of his friend group; he would pester everyone daily about mending the holes in their clothes for free or paying for Gage's laundry services with his own money. That yellow menace would not rest if he found out Seo wouldn't take a gift from him.

On one hand, he needed the coat--at this temperature, he'd be frozen in a few hours. On the other hand, though, he'd be taking away from Tee and Serp's profits if he took the offer.

"Well-"

Someone interrupted in the call's background, "Does the Lightner need one, too???"

Overlooking the Lightner and declining a gift on their behalf would be rude, so he swallowed his pride and accepted the present.

"Get a jacket for both of us, please."

——

(Author's note #2: Thank y'all so, so much for waiting for this chapter!!!! I still can't believe it took four weeks ughhh but it's my fault for the lack of scheduling and planning

If anyone notices misspellings or wrong grammar in Spamton's/any Addison's dialogue, please know that it is intentional! I try to implement a garbled, glitched element in their ad-speak, but I know that it may seem like an unnoticed writing mistake.

Also! I gave the Addisons names to keep from confusing myself and to hold a consistency with the number of Addisons we see in Deltarune. Another thing, I want to inform y’all that the tea Addison (Cro) uses it/its, and the divorce shoe Addison (Omni) uses they/them, so I would appreciate if they aren’t misgendered!

I don't know what it is about minor details that makes writing this so fun, but I'm excited that other people like it, too!!!

Anyway, thanks again to everyone who's read thus far, and hopefully I'll post the next one in two weeks!)

[Here have a doodle bc ur epic]

Anywho, I post on my Twitter regularly with updates on future works, my art, or my incoherent headcanon rambles! I hope I see y'all there and I love y'all!