Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ah, Cyber City. It was a Dark World that was a far cry from the TV Studio. Cyber City was fast-paced, high-activity, never sleeping! 

Ironically, it wasn't ideal for a TV star like Tenna. With the sheer amount of advertisements and banners around the place, everyone was vying for the same attention. If he was here, then he ran the risk of feeling under pressure to chase relevancy. At the studio, there was no worry about that. How could there be? He was the main attraction!

There was no need to worry. In fact, Tenna was embracing it as best he could! The residents of the city deserved to have some high-quality, reliable entertainment, and he would deliver!

Instead of one of his bright outfits used for filming, he was in a black suit with a plain white shirt. His lucky yellow tie had been swapped out for a narrow, dark red tie. Today was dedicated to meetings with important officials, and it was vital Tenna looked every bit as good off-screen as he did on it. He wanted to ooze in classy professionalism.

His main contact in Cyber City was an Addison named Ashes who specialised in wholesale and could supply the Studio with things in bulk - especially helpful in situations such as the Shadowguys needing new socks after they were blown away by something exciting. She stood a head taller than the average Addison, and could almost look him in the nose when he adjusted himself to half his size. She was a yellow-gold Addison with hair slicked back into spikes. Her suit was black and sharp, very much playing the role of "serious businesswoman" to a 'T'. She was stoic and hard to make laugh, but Tenna respected her opinion and her company. In a way, they balanced each other out.

They had agreed to meet in the Color Café before the first round of meetings. Ashes was an individual who adhered to routines and familiarity in order to keep things efficient - a shame Tenna couldn't successfully hire her to assist with the scheduling of the studio! - and so it was easy to anticipate what would happen.

Tenna would step inside, ducking under the doorframe to minimise the risk of denting his head. Ashes would have a table set up. She would have his usual order of coolant lemonade ready. Herself and her assistant would be standing, ready to greet him.

That was precisely what happened… Except for one detail.

Ashes' assistant was a deep green Addison by the name of Forest. Their hair was bunched up in a high, tight ponytail and their outfit normally consisted of a black blazer and skirt, white shirt, and bright green trousers that morphed into shoes.

That Addison was not there.

Instead, it was a particularly short, pure white Addison with bright, pale pink eyes. Their hair was in two styles: the top half was combed back and spiked, while the bottom half was tied nearly into a ponytail. He wore a white turtleneck that was covered by a neat, black sweater with white cuffs, paired with the bright green trousers that morphed into shoes.

Despite looking as though they were swamped in layers of clothes, Tenna had to admit that the assistant was rather adorable… Even if they looked terrified.

"Mr Tenna. Welcome back to Cyber City. I take it the journey was pleasant?" Ashes approached, hand extended. Tenna beamed and accepted it, shaking it firmly but without the usual flair he would provide.

"Ms Ashes! The trip was smooth sailing as always. I will never understand the appeal of using roller coasters, but I won't fault the workings of an effective system! How are you doing? Have the sales been going well?" Tenna had learned that it was considered polite to ask that to an Addison, and his memory was rewarded with a smile.

"The profits have maintained their averages for this time of of year, thank you for asking. Before we start anything, I wish to apologise for the discrepancy from your previous visits. Forest has taken ill and is on bedrest until their energy has recovered. For this visit, I will be assisted by Snow. He completed an internship with me several months ago and I am confident that he will be able to complete the required tasks."

"Is that so?" He turned his head to look at the shorter Addison, who seemed to shrink back slightly. A thought crossed his mind as he snapped his fingers.

"Ah, where are my manners?" He took a short breath and allowed his form to shrink until he was half his normal size. "I do apologise for forgetting to adjust myself. It's a pleasure to meet you… Snow, was it?" A gloved hand was offered.

"Y-yes sir…" Snow's voice was soft, and he tripped over such a simple response. Following a quick glance up to Ashes, Snow reached out to shake Tenna's hand. Tenna was mindful to move gently, worried that he might accidentally hurt the other in the process.

"Snow is still rather new," Ashes explained. "He spent a lot of time working in isolation, and he is still in the adjusting period when it comes to social settings."

"That sounds somewhat concerning. Did something happen?"

"N-no sir. I just, um… I…"

"He maintains the email servers," finished Ashes, who herself was sympathetic about Snow's inability to answer a question. Tenna could see how Snow's face was turning pink. He would need to keep that in mind. There was nothing wrong with being a little shy, even if the individual in question looked positively delightful.

The TV host decided that it would be better to take the spotlight off Snow to help ease that stage fright. "Ah, I see! You are the mailman of this city! You must be quite the busy bee!"

"A mailman?" Snow repeated with wide eyes. "I… I suppose I am, when I think about it."

"What an important service you run, Snow. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to assist during my visit. I am very grateful for this."

The pink dusting was still on Snow's face, but now it was paired with a small smile. 

At that moment, Tenna knew that he wanted to see that sweet smile again. It had quickly become the highlight of the day.

The meeting went as Tenna expected. The contract for shipments was updated, orders for new stock were placed, and an enquiry about new dressing room furniture was placed. Ashes, as always, was efficient and had all the notes and invoices on standby. Snow had the harder job of keeping notes of topics that were brought up. When Tenna noticed how the Addison appeared to fumble while writing, he made a conscious effort to speak slower and stall on topics longer than he might normally have.

After a short break, it was his opportunity to have a meeting with Queen. Tenna provided her with the breakdown of TV shows that Lightners expressed interest in since they last spoke. This would allow her to better fine-tune her search results to ensure maximum user satisfaction. Both Addisons were present at the meeting, each taking notes on different matters that were raised.

Following this, there was supposed to be a look at the statistics on which broadcasts were popular in Cyber City. However, as Tenna watched the two Addisons tidy up once Queen departed, he couldn't help but notice how worn out Snow looked. Ashes' words about his inexperience with social outings came to mind.

"I don't know about you two," he said as he rose out of the chair and dramatically stretched, "but I think I would like to wrap up production for today. What was I thinking, scheduling three different meetings on the day I arrived here without a proper commercial break! I'm quite embarrassed at that rookie mistake. I think I'm going to retire to my room. Why don't you two finish up early as well?"

"Are you sure?" Ashes asked, a look of surprise betraying her normally neutral expression. Tenna smiled at the pair, throwing a glance to Snow. His poker face needed some work, as the relief was clear on his face.

"I'm quite sure. You two have a good night and - actually, before you go." Tenna's right hand dove into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed Ashes a small bundle of Dark Dollars. "Take a proper break before heading home. Get something nice for yourselves. I'll see you both in the morning."

Tenna gave the pair a playful salute before leaving the boardroom. He could have continued the talks but… Then again, if they continued working any longer, his mind might have wandered to Snow. At least he could reflect on that pretty little snowdrop in the peace of his accommodation.

Oh, he was doomed, wasn't he?

Chapter Text

As expected, Snow stayed on Tenna's mind for the rest of the night. By morning, he had made the bold decision to dress to impress. Instead of the simple, dark navy suit that he had previously intended to wear, he instead pulled out a royal blue suit. This was paired it with a black shirt, and topped off with his lucky yellow tie and matching shoes. He wanted to make a good impression this time.

Breakfast went by in a blur. Before he knew where he was, he was standing in the foyer of Queen's Mansion five minutes early. He couldn't help it! He had the jitters like he was hosting a brand new series. He needed to move and be there! He wanted to see Snow again! He needed to give himself as much time as possible to commit that beautiful face to memory.

Eventually, he had successfully distracted himself by admiring some of the artwork on display. The sound of footsteps and faint conversation caught his attention. He turned to face them, only to immediately feel a jolt of electricity shoot up his spine.

Ashes was in similar attire to yesterday, but Snow was not. In fact, it looked as though he had also dressed up. Was he also trying to impress? Or was that in itself too optimistic?

The bulky turtleneck was gone, instead replaced with a v-necked white shirt. A long, black cardigan with the cuffs rolled up was left open, and reached halfway down his thighs. Finally, the trouser-shoe combo that Tenna could not understand the workings of were tan. Snow looked sophisticated and professional as he held a notebook and pen in one arm.

Everything was… Perfect. Snow really was beautiful. A truly flawless snowdrop. 

The smile had formed on Tenna's face before he registered it. When he did, he quickly brought himself to attention and spread his arms out. Hopefully it would draw attention away from the heat he felt on his screen.

"Good morning to you both! I hope you were able to rest sufficiently following our early conclusion?"

"Yes, we did. Were you treated well here?" It wasn't Ashes' place to ask such a question, as they both knew she had no authority to make any changes. Nevertheless, Tenna appreciated the concern.

"Everything has been as spectacular as always. Now, shall we make haste to the distribution station? We can discuss the ratings on the way. It's best not to keep my men waiting."

Snow did seem a little nervous at that thought, so Tenna reached down and placed a hand on his shoulder. There was a sound that almost sounded like a squeak from Snow, but Tenna would have needed to replay the tapes to know for sure.

"Reed and Ligature are a good pair, if a little… Eccentric. You'll see what I mean when we get there. But… Oh no. May I fix this?" He knelt down in front of Snow and carefully repositioned the cardigan. "I didn't mean to disrupt it. You look really nice today. Best to let everyone see that, eh?"

"Y-yes sir…?" 

Tenna stopped. There was uncertainty in that voice. Was Snow scared of him?

That thought weighed heavily on the back of Tenna's mind as the group made the short walk to the distribution station. It was the location that broadcast both radio and TV productions (Tenna's own shows topped that list. What a relief!).

Just inside the door were two Shadowguys. Thankfully, the pair had spruced themselves up. Their shadowy forms were clean and crisp, and their hats were neatly pressed and properly placed. More importantly, they had listened to Tenna's request of leaving the socks behind. They needed to represent the studio and this was an excellent start!

"Good mornin', fellas!" The pair zipped to stand either side of Tenna. The one on the left tipped his hat, while the one on the right pulled out an equally shadowy saxophone and played a little flourish in greeting. "The one with the saxophone is Reed, and the one without is Ligature. Boys, I'm sure you both remember Ms Ashes, our Cyber World contact. And this is Snow, her stand-in assistant."

The introduction had only been provided when the pair perked up at the sight of Snow and dashed over to walk either side of him. Tenna sighed and turned to Ashes, who had moved to just behind his left shoulder.

"Well, I suppose it's good that they are getting along already..." The pair looked over their shoulders. It seemed as though the Shadowguys were excited to see someone pure white, as though Snow was their opposite.

A detailed breakdown of preferred shows was passed to Tenna to better analyse as they made their way to an empty office. This was the information that he wanted to know, and the primary reason for his visit. As he was asking about the duration of record keeping for the breakdown -

The sound of harmonious saxophone filled the air.

Tenna groaned and turned back to the trio a few paces behind him. The Shadowguys had conveniently stopped and were looking at Snow. It was clear to see Tenna had made a mistake. This was simply their attempt to 'speak' to Snow. Rather than scolding the pair, he decided to hold his tongue and step into the office. However, before he could close the door, there was the sound of an odd beat. Snow was hitting the hardcover notebook with his free hand. The Shadowguys were quick to play along with a bouncy, jazzy tune.

What a clever decision! Snow was a natural. If there was a way to help build up his confidence, he could be quite the charmer. Maybe he could charm Tenna too.

The channel of thought was quickly flipped as he closed the door. He needed to focus.

Armed with knowledge and inspiration on how to make upcoming productions even better for Darkners, Tenna emerged from the office an hour later. 

Ashes called Snow over, handing him a folded slip of paper with their coffee orders and instructing him to meet them in the production room. Snow nodded and hurried off. The Shadowguys gave Tenna a look, and he sighed.

"Yes, you can go with him. Don't get distracted!"

Tenna and Ashes turned toward the production room. Her head was turned slightly, watching something over her shoulder. After a moment, she stopped. Tenna did likewise.

"Mr Tenna? May I ask you something in a non-professional capacity?"

"Absolutely. What's on your mind?"

"What game are you trying to play with Snow?"

A beat.

"Game?"

"Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been acting around him. While he is employed in a temporary capacity as my assistant, in a personal setting he is a family friend. I am not going to let any suspicious actions slip by."

"S-suspicious??" Tenna sputtered, antennae bolting upright. "Ms Ashes, surely you know I'm an honest Darkner. I wouldn't -"

"You have been giving him looks. I hope you are not planning anything malicious."

"Of course not! While, yes, I do admit I am quite besotted by him, I am not someone to order another to say or do anything they do not want."

Ashes sighed softly. "Sir, Snow is still new when it comes to social outings. There are a lot of things he needs time to learn and understand. I would appreciate it if you could be mindful of this and not overwhelm him."

Tenna's head lowered as he felt himself shrink a little in guilt. "I assure you, I have no intention to act on what I feel. I like him, and I suppose that might be the reason why I am acting out of character."

"He is a good Darkner who has had a bad start in life. I would like to see him prosper and find happiness in his own time, when he is ready."

"I would like that for him too." Tenna looked up. The yellow Addison gave him a small smile. That brought with it the confidence to return to his previous height as he added, "I don't want him feeling uncomfortable or intimidated in my presence. In fact, that would be the worst possible thing!"

Ashes didn't respond, but simply smiled before resuming her brisk pace to the production room. Tenna was quick to follow, relieved that he was off the hook.

But it did give him food for thought. He liked Snow. That wasn't something he had felt for anyone before. He was quite content in the company of friends, but Snow was different.

He reached up to adjust his antennae and slowly exhale. He needed to recalibrate and focus. This trip wasn't about love. It was about work!

The production office was a flurry of activity. There were several computers, each with a Plugboy monitoring different activities. Two blue Addisons were keenly invested on a large board that displayed different advertising ideas. There was even an office Tasque to help boost morale. Tenna had an opportunity to chat with Edah, one of the main radio hosts. She was a petite figure with a plain, round head and a floating headset around her. When she spoke, the microphone attached to the headset moved. It was a good opportunity to show that different forms of media can get along just fine!

Video killed the radio star? Nonsense! Why can't they all share the spotlight?

Edah hurried to the booth to get ready for her next show when Snow finally returned. The walk and fresh air had done him some good, as he was smiling as he gave Ashes her coffee along with the change, and then presented Tenna with his drink.

"Ah, thank you Snow." As much as he might have wanted to say more, Tenna decided to leave it there and simply finish with a smile. Snow smiled in return before stepping aside to help Reed and Ligature move some boxes. But just before they set to work, Reed played a little flourish on his saxophone.

Immediately after that, Tenna swore he heard a quiet, rushed "S-shut up!" from Snow.

He chuckled to himself as he made his way over to talk to the blue Addisons. It was certainly an improvement to know that whatever had spooked Snow had passed.

But now there was a new question on his mind: Reed's comment was an "I told you so". What had they said about him? Nice things? Had they noticed his suit?

… Did Snow like it?

Oh, to be able to playback that conversation on VHS!!

The rest of the day went by in a blur. A lot of the meetings were similar to ones he would have in the studio, only these were far less formal on account of him not being 'in charge'. Tenna was even asked to step in and supervise a segment of a radio debate. It was an enjoyable experience to view the production process from another perspective!

But for Tenna, it was more of a thrill to look over his shoulder to check something and spot Snow chatting with the Shadowguys. It looked like this was how it should be. In fact, he could easily imagine Snow in the TV Studio. He would be a natural. And if he had time to find his footing and believed in himself… There was no doubt in Tenna's mind that the Addison could be a star on the screen.

And wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

The work day wound down, and the group stepped out of the building.

"Thank you both for your assistance over the last two days. It's reassuring to know that I will never truly feel out of place so far from my Studio. Please, allow me to bring you both out for dinner. It's the least I can do to say 'thank you' before I leave tomorrow."

"That is very kind of you," Ashes smiled. "We would be delighted to join you. Won't we, Snow?" She paused, glancing down at the same time as Tenna to notice Snow's surprise. 

"Are you sure?" Snow asked.

"Of course I am." Tenna answered with a smile. Then, a thought crossed his mind. "Ah! You must think that I have overlooked my own company. Reed and Ligature are going to a jazz concert, so they already told me they won't be free." Ligature lifted his hat to reveal that there were indeed two concert tickets there. "Of course, this isn't part of the work day. If you have other plans you can decline. Don't let me interrupt anything." 

He had to keep it together. It would be okay if Snow had to leave. It wasn't a rejection. He could manage that. In fact, he'd like it if Snow could refuse because he had hobbies and other interests!

Instead, Snow looked back up at Ashes, as though making sure it was okay to speak. "I can go to the dinner."

Tenna was already in good spirits, but the confirmation had him brighten up. "Oh, how wonderful! Then, let us get going! Fellas, I'll see you both in the morning. Have fun tonight!"

Reed and Ligature tipped their hats at the same time and waved the group off.

True to his word, Tenna kept the dinner arrangements as informal as one could when holding a celebrity status. The chosen restaurant were able to give them a table in a quiet corner, away from the crowd.

All work-related topics were off the table. Instead, Tenna took the opportunity to ask questions. How did Snow and Ashes meet? How did these internships take place originally?

The Addisons answered the questions as best at they could. At first, it was mostly Ashes speaking, but Snow gradually found his voice and joined in. He was able to explain how his job does not involve sales of any sort. Things that should have been natural instinct to him were missing. Ashes and others in their friend circle agreed to let Snow work alongside them to learn various skills and see the world of advertising from different perspectives. It wasn't inspiring him to explore other avenues in his work, but it was fun to spend time with his friends.

Tenna had laughed. Why would Snow need to look for anything else? Managing the mail was such an important role. Snow had a hand in helping bring others together! He could reach out and offer a sort of company and connection in a way many others couldn't. It was like the world of TV, in a way. 

That opened the door for the Addisons to start asking Tenna questions about his own experiences and work. At first, the questions were surface level and reminded Tenna of various interviews he had participated in. Then, Snow asked Tenna to choose his favourite genre to work on.

"That's like making me choose a favourite between my children!" He laughed. "But I suppose if I had to choose… I think it would be the gameshows. The Lightners I am with… the family consists of a couple with two very young children, and watching gameshows together really brings them together. Oh, they have so much fun! Trying to guess the answers, laughing, getting excited when contestants do, well… It's truly magical when you know you are making others smile." As much as Tenna enjoyed the excitement of Cyber City, he was looking forward to seeing that family again. Returning to that normal routine would be bliss. "Ah! But listen to me ramble on about -"

The conversation screeched to a halt as a loud, buzzing tone filled the air. Ashes muttered an apology as she flipped through her inventory to pull out a clunky mobile phone. 

"Hello? Solas? Look, this isn't -" She paused as the Darkner on the other end interrupted. She sighed and stood up. "Alright. Give me a moment to step outside."

Suddenly, Tenna was alone with Snow. Was this a test? But who was she testing: Tenna, to see what his true motivations were; or Snow, to see how he would handle being left alone without the 'crutch' of a familiar face?

The unexpected departure had the pair sit in silence for a moment, until Tenna had an idea.

"On that note... I recall Ashes saying to me before about how family is important to Addisons. Is that true with you?"

It was a good question. Snow's face lit up. "Having a brother has changed my life for the better. When I was just a white Addison and nothing more I was, um - well, I was in a bad place. I didn't know anything outside of my work. I didn't see anyone, talk to anyone, and I spent long hours in a dark room by myself. nowhere was open when I walked to work, and everywhere had closed up for the night when I was returning home." As though noticing Tenna's concerned expression, Snow quickly continued, "But then, one day, the power went out and I had to go home early. I was able to walk down the Shopping District for the first time during the day, and I met Rose when he was fixing the window display in his store. He's the one who told me that my name was Snow."

"You don't choose your name?" Tenna leaned forward, propping the base of his TV on one hand so he could give Snow his full attention.

"No. Before that day, I was just 'White'. I don't know why, but your real name is hidden in your sibling's coding. The name is unlocked when you look them in the eyes and the colour matches your own. When I saw him, I knew his name was 'Rose', but I didn't know why I knew that."

That caught Tenna's attention. "You knew your brother because you have the same eye colour? Isn't that risky? Surely there are others with pink eyes too?"

"That's what I would have said if I had been told before that day but… I don't know, I just… knew? O-oh, hold on. Let me… Try and find it…" Snow called up a white screen, and Tenna watched in fascination as he flipped through it until he pulled out a photo frame. This was passed across the table. "Here! This is a photo of myself and Rose."

The picture in question had Snow beside a taller, pink Addison who had crouched to be closer in height. The hair was also long, but this Addison had a fringe that fell neatly over the right side of the face instead of hair spiked back. Rose had an arm draped over Snow's shoulder as the pair sported matching grins. Most importantly, the eyes were indeed the exact same colour, down to the very shade. How fascinating!

"Heh, would you look at that… You two do look rather alike…"  Snow looked so happy. Tenna would do anything to have Snow smile at him like that.

Wait. No. He couldn't focus on that! He scanned the photograph again, trying to find anything else of interest!

"If I may ask, why are there pieces of paint on your face?"

"That was the day my apartment was painted!" Snow hopped off his chair and dragged it around the table until he was sitting beside Tenna. From here, it was easier to point to the wall in the background. "Look, I have that paint on my cheek because my paintbrush hit me while I was trying to brush my hair out of my eyes. Rose wanted to take a photograph together so it could be the first item I ever kept in my inventory."

"That is such a sweet idea. Your brother must care a lot about you."

"I hope so -" Snow cut himself off and shook his head. "No, I know he does. He always does whatever he can to help me. He's taught me so much, and I hope I can show him how much I appreciate him one day…"

"You will find a way," Tenna reassured. "Your family means a lot to you. Thank you for helping me learn about that connection."

"Don't you already know? You said you had kids."

"Did I… Oh!" Tenna waved his hand with a nervous chuckle. "No, no, I was using that as a turn of phrase when you asked me to choose a favourite show genre. I don't actually have any children."

"Then what about your family? Not the Lightners. Your own family."

"My family…?" A phrase that Tenna had never used for himself before. "I… I suppose I never thought about it before. I have the Studio, but…" His antennae drooped with a sigh. "When the curtains close and the scene is finished… It's just me."

His attention stayed on the photograph, even if the vision was dotted with static. For the star of the screen, he did lead a rather lonely and miserable life. Funny how he never realised it before.

"It isn't too late, you know."

Snow's voice brought clarity to the haze. The TV head turned, a frown clear on the screen. "What do you mean?"

"There is no deadline for a family. I've been told I found mine very late for an Addison. I think you will be able to find someone special to become part of your family!"

Snow's smile was so sweet, so warm. Tenna would have done anything in that moment to say how he wished he could be part of Snow's family, but he knew better than that. There was a level of professionalism that needed to stay. Personal desires wouldn't be chased. Not like this, not when Snow was still figuring out the world for himself.

Deep breath. He needed to try and keep his head on the right channel.

"You're right. Maybe it'll happen one day. I would like to start a family of my own, whatever form that might take. I think it could be something grand."

"It will be, sir. It'll be worth the wait when it happens."

"When what happens?" The pair jumped at Ashes' voice. Tenna turned in alarm, quickly sporting a wide grin.

"Snow had been telling me the story behind this photograph!" The object was hurriedly shown to Ashes. She hummed softly, and smiled.

"Rose is rather lucky I didn't give him an earful that day for all the trouble he caused with that camera."

"You were there?"

"Yes. It was a good thing I was. Rose and Solas were so hyperactive that the pair nearly had a full-blown battle in Snow's kitchen."

"Stop the presses! I was under the impression this was just a simple painting job. What exactly happened?"

The meal wrapped up with both Addisons regaling the events of the 'decoration party'. Apparently, it was an excuse for all of their friends to meet up, spend the day together painting Snow's kitchen and living room, and share stories and snacks in a makeshift picnic on the floor while everything around them dried. Ashes and Snow were able to piece together an elaborately planned day, filled with many good memories.

It was a far cry from the things Tenna himself did when he had his own time off. It made him look down at the photograph again. What would it be like to have someone there when the day was done? Maybe he could consider adoption. He did like the idea of being a father.

Unfortunately, any attempts to distract himself with the thoughts of parenthood were interrupted with images of the beautiful snowdrop beside him being part of those very same imagined moments.

Eventually, he returned the photo to Snow. It was better not to encourage the daydreams that wouldn't happen.

The bill arrived, the waiters began cleaning up, and Ashes lifted her jacket off the back of the chair.

"Thank you for hosting us this evening, Mr Tenna."

"It was my pleasure to be able to enjoy such wonderful company. We must try and do this again next time our paths cross. Be safe on your journey home, okay?"

"I will make sure of it. Goodnight, sir." Ashes gave a short nod of the head as herself and Snow made their way toward the main area of the restaurant. Before they stepped through the doorway, however, Snow stopped and turned back around.

"I hope you are able to find a family of your own one day, Mr Tenna."

Tenna's expression softened. "Thank you, Snowdrop."

That should have been that, except Snow's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. There was silence for a moment, then…

"Um… it's just 'Snow', sir."

"Pardon?" What was Snow talking about? Of course Tenna remembered the Addison's name! 

"You said 'Snowdrop'. 'Snow' isn't short for anything."

Dread hit him harder than a power surge during a storm.

"Ah. D-did I say that? My apologies. That was a-a slip of the tongue! You must forgive me. It's been a long few days. You know how it can be. Have a good night!" Grateful for a second doorway to the bar where he could pay the bill, Tenna made a hasty retreat before anything else could be said.

As a performer, Tenna knew the skill of keeping a straight face in the heat of the moment. He was able to pay the bill with a little small talk and a smile while leaving a rather generous tip. He could keep his head held high and a brisk pace on the walk back. There were even a few chance encounters in the Queen's Castle where he had to stop and say hello to a few individuals.

The act was perfect. But it couldn't last forever.

The mask fell and broke the moment he locked the door. In fact, he couldn't step fully into the room, opting instead to sink to a sitting position right there, with his back pressed against the door.

He pulled his knees up and curled into a ball. A shaky breath did nothing to provide any sort of grounding.

That was it. He had ruined everything. One word slipped out of the fantasy of his mind and into the reality of the world.

One word.

Snowdrop.

One. Word.

And everything was ruined.

Snow would certainly hate him for such an uncouth and vulgar thing.

And Ashes! She had questioned whether he was planning anything suspicious, and this is how he proves his innocence?? She was going to march straight home and tear their contract into shreds. There was no way she would want to associate with him after this. He betrayed her trust.

The world grew bigger and emptier around him.

He didn't mean to.

It was an accident.

And now...

He would certainly lose the first spark of attraction he had ever felt in his life.

When he did eventually climb into bed, sleep did not come easy. His traitorous heart was breaking over a love that had never even happened.

Chapter Text

Tenna was awake before dawn. Words and scenarios had been playing on repeat in his head, with only brief intermissions of sleep. This couldn't be how the story ended! What a terrible conclusion to the three-part season! No. This wouldn't be the end. It wouldn't be right to leave with these negative thoughts looming over him like bad signal disrupting a broadcast. As much as the idea twisted his wires, he needed to apologise and face rejection. Snow needed to be allowed to close the door on his own. It was important to give him the choice.

Compared to the previous days, Tenna opted to dress down. He chose a white, short sleeved shirt with the top buttons undone. This was over a thin, pale grey turtleneck that he often wore to cover his casing - best not to cause further trouble with exposing himself too much! Finally, he chose his formal, black shoes.

Breakfast was reluctantly taken and eaten in silence. It did nothing to quell the thoughts spinning in his mind, but it did allow his team an opportunity to talk to him about the plans for the trip home. Reed and Ligature were in high spirits and were excitedly replaying segments of the concert that they could remember to a Zapper named Connie and a Pippin named Rolls. These two had only arrived this morning in the train, and were in charge of making sure everyone returned home safely without any stowaways.

Once Reed and Ligature were sent to fetch Tenna's luggage and pack it onto the train, Tenna turned to the remaining staff.

"Delay the trip until lunch. I wish to go shopping."

The Shopping District was buzzing with activity. The streets were the same dark blue as most of the city, but the vibrant lights and eye-catching signs brought a different sense of life. Everything was competing to be the winning spotlight. It was like all the TV channels were playing on a dozen screens at the same time. There were voices shouting offers, passing snippets of conversations, apologies as near-misses occurred.

Around Tenna, the paths were moderately busy. Some residents were engrossed in shopping trips with friends, while others were clinging onto briefcases and trying to find the quickest route to their next destination. Life was certainly fast-paced. Even for Tenna, who was used to frantic work days, was finding himself surprised over the energy all around him. His slow pace caught the attention of Darkners who were not in a hurry. It wasn't long before he was swarmed with fans wanting autographs or photographs together. Tenna, ever the people-pleaser, was more than happy to take some time to complete the requests. It was good to shake a little bit of the guilt after such a miserable night.

But, of course, meeting fans couldn't last forever. He had a mission to complete! All he needed to do was find the store that Snow's brother worked at, and ask whether he could talk to Snow one last time. 

If he was allowed in, of course.

Once he bid the fans a fond farewell, Tenna set his sights on the closest store. This was the beginning of an important quest!

It wasn't as simple as finding his solution in the first store he entered.  In fact, after nine attempts, he was no further to his goal. It would have been easy to ask for directions, but rumours spiralled. The last thing he needed was someone catching a whiff of a story and running with it. This needed to be resolved discreetly. If he had to wander aimlessly, then so be it.

In the meantime, he was able to partake in retail therapy.

To mask his true plans, Tenna set himself a side-quest: buy one souvenir (or a set of the same souvenir) in every shop he entered. The list of purchases began to grow. Board games for the Pippins, novelty controller pins for the Zappers, musical bangles for the Shadowguys, a cloud-themed ornament for Lanino and Elnina… 

(Connie and Rolls were carrying an array of bags between them in no time.)

In each store, he examined the Addisons. They came in a wide variety of bright, eye-catching colours. Yellow, blue, green, purple, neon pink, golden-brown... The list went on. Not only that, none of the eye colours matched in shade. Some might have had blue eyes, but they weren't the exact same blue. It was such an unusual concept.

It only served to keep him focused on what he needed to do. He would find that pink Addison. If only he knew where Rose worked!

The trio had made excellent progress down the street, only stopping for a quick breath because Rolls was beginning to look tired from carrying four bulky bags. The moment of peace allowed Tenna to properly take in the surrounding sights. Across the street was a store that proudly declared itself the 'Fashion Boutique'. As a Darkner who took pride in his appearance, he was enticed to investigate the display window. Other stores used a large window to showcase an example of their wares in a way that made them desirable. However, the Fashion Boutique took a different approach. It decided to tell a story.

In the scene, there were two blank-faced mannequins with spiked hair. One wore a pale green sweater with a white shirt and black trousers, while the other wore a purple dress with narrow shoulder straps and a white ribbon around the stomach. The 'couple' were standing beside a tree, admiring the beauty of it. This tree was made from a wide variety of shoes, arranged in a conical shape where it started wide at the bottom and ended in a point.

(It reminded Tenna of the tree his Lightner family liked putting up inside the house for the Holidays.)

What a magical setting! He simply had to go inside!

As soon as the bell rang overhead, he was greeted by a friendly, warm orange Addison who introduced himself as Solas. True to the name of 'Fashion Boutique', he had a black waistcoat over a pale grey shirt with white details on the cuffs, accompanied by a white cravat and the green trousers and shoes combo that Tenna believed must be 'standard issue' for nearly all Addisons. For the first time since he started this mission, something clicked with Tenna.

"Solas… I've heard your name before."

"Y-you have?? That's quite a tremendous honour."

"I have... It was... Oh! Of course!" Tenna snapped his fingers as the memory came back to him. "Ashes mentioned it in passing. And now that I look at you… Your eyes. They match. So that would make you two siblings, correct?"

"Y-yes sir! She's my sister! She was telling me about how everything went yesterday."

In a moment, a simple comment had slapped him with guilt. "She did…?"

"She did! She had a nice time and said that you were kind enough to pay the bill. She always works so hard. I'm glad you were able to give her a chance to unwind. It was good for her to have a change to her normal routine and enjoy the company of others outside of a work setting. Thank you for encouraging that."

Tenna paused. No mention of wanting to end the contract? Maybe… She wasn't angry at him. "I am truly honoured to be able to work with her. She is a very clever Darkner."

"That she is, sir. I'm very proud of her. Now, how can I help you today? I would hope that you may find something here that will suit your exquisite taste in fashion."

"Exquisite?" A peculiar choice of word that had Tenna's antennae prick in curiosity.

"Certainly, sir. I enjoy seeing the different outfits you wear on your shows. They are very inspiring to my own work."

"You don't say!" 

Solas was certainly as smart as his sister, knowing exactly how to inflate the celebrity's ego. There was no way Tenna was leaving here empty handed. This was despite Solas being the opposite of his sister, personality-wise. While Ashes preferred to keep matters on topic, Solas enjoyed small talk and asking little questions. He was good company to have around the store and the wide array of clothing.

Through this, Tenna discovered that all the outfits, shoes, and accessories were created locally by Addisons. Solas himself was a tailor who was happy to share his opinions on what might suit Tenna. When Tenna lifted an orange coat, Solas guided him to one of the mirrors and suggested draping it over his shoulders rather than wearing it properly.

Tenna did as instructed, and found that it gave him a rather striking silhouette. It would work when worn correctly, but he could certainly take this idea home with him.

For the time being, his mind was distracted from his actual mission as he also decided to take a purple suit and trousers, a white waistcoat, and a set of four bright ties.

"Our shoe section is this way. We have a wide range of options for all sorts of events, feet types, and styles. This isn't my area of expertise but I am happy to redirect you to my colleague." Conveniently for Solas, said colleague was restocking a shelf on the first aisle. 

Tenna realised it was a pink Addison that turned around. His hair was tied up, bar a segment that fell over the right side of his face. The shoe expert brushed some loose strands in place as he looked up at the unexpected customer.

"Ah. You must be Mr Tenna!" A professional smile that Tenna had seen on half a dozen other Addisons appeared. "If it is shoes you are looking for, then you have stepped into the right place. Is there anything you have in mind?"

Tenna didn't answer. Instead, his eyebrows furrowed. This Addison looked like the one in the photograph, but there had been other pink Addisons with their hair tied up.

"We have shoes of many different styles. Not only that, we have shoes specially created with moments and occasions in mind to give our customers an extra bit of confidence when they step out for the day."

Then again, Tenna thought, this pink Addison had pale pink eyes. They didn't stand out as much, but they certainly reminded him of Snow.

The silence had the two shop assistants swap looks. This was becoming uncomfortable.

"Excuse me, sir… Is everything alright?" A hand reached forward to gently tap Tenna's arm, and the host jumped in fright.

"A-ah! My apologies! I was lost in thought! I'm not from Cyber City, and I find it difficult to tell Addisons apart. I must ask: would you happen to be Rose?"

The pink Addison's expression shifted to suspicion. He glanced at Solas, who shrugged in confusion. Then, he looked up at Tenna with those familiar-yet-foreign pink eyes.

"Yes. My name is Rose. Why do you want to know?"

"Wonderful! Marvellous! That's good to hear! Very good to hear!" Clasping his hands together, Tenna grinned. "Would you be able to point me in the direction of the venue your brother works in? I would like an opportunity to talk to him before I go."

Rose's eyebrows shot up. Points were connecting in his mind. The wariness was put aside as he smiled. It wasn't a professional one, but rather a genuine one mixed with a dash of inspiration. "He was in a tizzy when he arrived this morning. I could barely get a sentence out of him, but he said something about a block in the email server. I haven't seen him since... I can check if he is free to talk to you."

"Thank you. I can pay for what I have picked in the meantime." Tenna's idea had Solas nod.

"There is actually something I wanted to ask you about the clothes before you buy them, if you are okay with me asking."

"Of course. Anything I can enlighten you with, I will!" Tenna turned his head in time to see Rose step into a room at the back of the shop, then followed Solas to the till.

"I noticed on some of your shows that you can change your size. Is there a possibility that what you purchase here will tear?"

"An excellent question! As a matter of fact, they won't. When I wear something, they seamlessly adjust with me. For example…" He lifted the orange jacket and draped it over his shoulders again. Then, he took a breath and allowed himself to grow a foot taller. "As you can see, the jacket maintains the same proportions." He shrunk down, took off the jacket, and passed it over to Solas so he could examine it. "Once I bring them back to my Dark World, they will gain the ability to be equipped no matter what size they originally are. If I were to try that here, they would not fit."

Solas nodded enthusiastically. "I see! That is incredible!"

Unfortunately, small talk could not stall for time forever. The clothes were paid for after a thorough inspection. Each item was folded and packed with practiced professionalism. Solas even went through the steps for how to care for the different items. Rolls had poked her head in to remind Tenna that they needed to return to the station. He lied and said he was waiting for a clerk to return with something and needed another few minutes.

She closed the door, and silence fell. There was little more either of them could do to idle the time away.

After a moment, Solas sighed. "I do apologise for the delay. Snow is normally quick to appear when called for, but if there was something wrong with the servers, he might not appear."

Tenna felt the confidence from before falter. "I do hope that isn't the case. Did… you happen to see him when you spoke to your sister yesterday?"

"I'm afraid not. Ashes arrived on her own. Apparently, Snow had planned to tag along, but changed his mind."

"... I see." Tenna's screen switched to static. "I fear I may have made a grievous mistake yesterday. That's… actually why I've been shopping. I was hoping to apologise for speaking out of turn."

Solas' smile slipped. "Did you insult him?"

"What? No, no! I -" Tenna cut himself off as something caught Solas' eye. He looked aside, and Tenna did likewise, in time to see two Addisons step out of a room near the back of the shop. Snow was in the same outfit from their first meeting, presumably his work uniform, as he stayed a step behind Rose. 

The simple fact of Snow agreeing to come out and see him was enough to brighten Tenna's demeanour. He took a slow breath - just like how he would sometimes before a live performance - and stepped over to an open space. Snow slowed to a halt, while Rose continued past Tenna until he was beside Solas. It wasn't complete privacy, but it was better than nothing. 

Snow's formed tensed for a moment before he forced himself to give a small bow. "Good morning, Mr Tenna. I apologise for not being on the floor when you arrived -"

"You do not need to apologise for anything. Your work is important and it is good that you take such diligent care of it. If anything… It is me who should apologise." Tenna took another slow breath. This was it. "Snow, I am sorry for making you uncomfortable by using the wrong name yesterday. It was a genuine slip of the tongue, but it was still a line that should not have been crossed. Please understand that I would never want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable."

Snow slowly rubbed the back of his neck. He glanced at something over Tenna's shoulder, and it took the celebrity everything in him not to look behind him.

"It was… Unexpected. I didn't know what to do at the time. But after you left and I could think about it more, I realised… I actually liked it. T-the name, I mean. I've never had anyone call me something different, like that. And then that got me thinking about when we spoke by ourselves yesterday… I liked that too. But…"

"But…?" This was it. The rejection was imminent. Snow had filed a complaint. He had reported Tenna. Something was going to ensure that this was the end of it.

"But…" Snow was clearly stalling to form abstract thoughts into words. When he sighed, it was an action that had his entire frame slump. "I don't know. I mean, there's a lot I don't know. These last few months have had me figuring out the world, but there's still a lot I don't know about myself. I want to try and understand my different feelings because… That name made me feel special in a way that has never happened before."

"So… you do like it?"

"I think so. And I'm okay hearing it again." To Tenna's surprise, it was Snow who now exhaled slowly to shoo away nerves. " Mr Tenna, sir, I… think I would like a… A something. With you. As an 'us'. But… Not yet? A-at least, until I'm ready."

"You… want me to wait for you?" Tenna's question was purely one of clarification, but instead it seemed to strike a hint of fear in Snow. "N-not like that. I mean… I'm okay with waiting. I thought you would hate me after that."

"I don't think I could hate you if I tried, sir."

He wanted to leap for joy, but Tenna had to keep himself controlled a little longer.

"Mamma, Mamma Mia…" Tenna put a hand on the side of his head to try and stop himself from spiralling into blabbering a word salad, a smile spreading on his face as this unexpected turn set in. "I will wait for you, as long as it takes. If this is something you want, it will be your decision as to say when to raise the curtain. Thank you for being honest with me, Snowdrop… Are you sure it is alright for me to use that?"

Snow's face darkened with a dusting of pink across his cheeks. There was a bashful smile that made something in Tenna's chest trip over itself. "It's alright, sir."

"In that case, why don't you stop using formal titles with me? Let's try and keep things even. Just call me 'Tenna'." His antennae perked at an idea. He reached into his shirt pocket to fish out his card holder. This was popped open and flipped through until a plain, sleek business card was retrieved. "My personal line. Anything I can help you with, ask it of me. Even if it is just to say 'hello'." He leaned down to hand Snow the card. But as their hands met, Tenna swiftly flipped them so he could kiss the back of Snow's hand in the process.

"Mr Tenna, sir? We really need to go!" Roll's voice broke the moment. In an instant, the mask of professionalism was back on.

"Of course. I'm coming now! I hope you all have a good day." Tenna returned to the counter to fetch the bag, then opened the door. Before he stepped through, he turned to smile at Snow.

"I hope to talk to you soon, Tenna!" The white Addison's smile was brighter and more welcoming than any spotlight.

It was only when Tenna was back in his dressing room in the Studio, getting ready for his first performance of the evening, that the reality of everything could sink in.

He was in love, and there was a chance Snow felt the same!

He could wait. He had all the time in the world to wait! After all, he had spent this long alone. What was the harm in waiting a little longer for his precious Snowdrop?