Chapter Text
Their sole day off never lasted long, and before Spamton knew it the race was on towards the next one. Tenna was locked in with preparations. Fully determined to make their game show segment today a grand spectacle for the kids. Or kid rather. Asriel was apparently grounded. A reasonable explanation for his partners' frantic mood, going off of Tennas' word on the matter.
Spamton had a feeling he'd be called guest star as a contestant on the show today. His laughably bad track record would be a hit with Kris, and Tenna was no doubt banking on his bad luck to retain their young viewers' attention span. Goodness knows they're going to need it. Especially if they want any hope of keeping the little tike from eating any stray moss they found on the floor. Kris was a weird kid for sure, but Spamton supposed their bravery was sort of commendable. Brazen and unapologetic– just like their favorite co-host.
They had another show to broadcast before TV Time went fully underway, but that'd leave just enough time for him to schedule a proper sound check with Pluey. Tenna was always a stickler for these things when he got antsy so it was better to do it now. A pop-up flashed above his head as he looked around for the cat. Another contract to scan through and sign, one of many that would continue to pile up throughout the day. Spamton worked on doing that as he headed towards the catwalk. Scrolling down the screen with a flick of his finger each paragraph he glossed through seemed to be in order, so with no further effort to spare, the addison signed across the digital line before flicking the holograph away.
Tenna wasn't tech savvy by any means, but at the very least they'd finally gotten a proper e-mail chain going around here. Spamton would just have to print them off later so Tenna could store them in his filing cabinets, which was easier than the old system so he'd take it. Placing his cane against the wall, Spamton sat on the pulley swing hanging up by the ladder before strapping himself in and giving the rope beside him a good tug to start pulling him up. It'd be great to rig this thing with a bit more mobility so he could move it around the whole lot, but until he and Pluey had the time to brainstorm that set up together it worked well enough just letting him access the stage at least. He could see the cat already at work testing their lights before he called out to him.
"Yo [[Cool Cat]], how's it [Lookie Lookie!] up here?"
Pluey flashed him with a thumbs up and a cheerful smile.
"Mind [Checkmate] the [*Boing*] too while you're [High as a Kite]– up here?" Spamton added.
Nodding back at him Pluey flicked his fingers across his soundboard. Adjusting the volume across the different sound effects as needed until they were just the pitches they needed to be, and when he was done he turned back to Spamton for his approval. Everything sounded good, but something was missing.
"[Cold as Ice] you add–"
It was on the tip of his tongue! He just couldn't remember the name. Spamton snapped his fingers, hoping for any sort of purchase of the memory coming back to him, but was met with nothing. Nothing but what it sounded like. Maybe… Ugh, no. His tic didn't work like that, but… maybe if he tried?
It was worth a shot, right?
"[*Splat*]"
Spamton brows shot up high. He'd made that noise out loud, hadn't he? Pluey looked through his system before adding the right sound to his board before pressing a button to test it. It was the exact same one that had indeed just come from Spamtons' mouth.
"Yeah, [That's the One!]."
This begged the question, one that often lingered in the back of Spamtons' mind, but was there a way he could control his tic? If not outright correcting it, could he at least have some sort of say as to what came out of his own mouth? Maybe it wasn't as impossible as he'd initially thought.
"That'll [Dr. Dolittle]." Spamton assured with a thumbs up of his own, "Keep up the [Goodie Two Shoes] work, [[Kitty Cat]]."
As Pluey happily carried along Spamton let the rope slip down, bringing him back to ground floor level at a gradual pace. He had another couple of pop-ups fill his inbox while he was up there, and a few more as he set his feet back on the floor, but it was nothing he couldn't leaf through while he went to go check on Battat. Guy was likely up to his neck with last minute prop and quiz sheet recalls. Scanning through the next batch of e-mails, it looked like one guy was complaining about his locker being too big, another about their locker being too small. Big deal, just swap 'em– next problem. There's not enough snacks in the green room and someone was caught stealing everybodys' hair products.
Well, nobody in this whole studio has anything remotely close to hair except for Spamton and the weather duo and he'd be damned if he let some bozo steal his gel. He has to special order that stuff, and it ain't cheap! So that one's easy, they'll just fire that idiot. There. Less mouths to feed and his feathers stay nice and gelled. Now that's killing a bird with three stones– ha!
"Ah, Spamton! Thank goodness you're here."
Cutting down the middle of his e-mails, Spamton brushed them off towards the sides and was able to see Battat much more clearly now. A sense of relief was evident as he caught sight of the addison before dropping the mats back down to the floor. Still slightly out of breath, the unlucky bastard had been struggling with the heavy crash mats he was having to drag behind him.
"Tenna can't seem to make up his mind about the physical challenges he wants to do today an' he's runnin' me ragged. You gotta talk some sense into 'im before I pass out!"
Happy to have an excuse to stash the rest of his e-mails the rest away, Spamton passed Battat by with a hearty pat to the shoulder.
"Don't [Sweater Weather] it, [[Mean Green]]. I'll go [Call Today!] with him. You just [Get Comfy On a Brand New Leather Couch, For Only $999.99], alright?"
"Couch. Sit. Got it. Will do." Greenie recited, seeming happy to oblige.
After making sure the pippin actually made it to at least something resembling a couch, Spamton shifted his focus back to Tenna. Watching him race around the stage as the previous show had just started to wrap up. Spamton couldn't help but shake his head. Angel preserve them, but he and Tenna couldn't both be this in over their heads so early in the day. With his cane dully plinking against the wooden planks Spamton headed over towards his anxious boyfriend, but even now he couldn't help but smile. Even with the dizzy panic he was in, Spamton just loved to watch his man hard at work.
"Hey [[Aunt]], that banner's [Just You Watch]'in a little [Crooked Con-Man] over there."
Tenna grunted, fussing with it even harder now, and Spamton couldn't help but laugh. Doesn't he know Kris isn't even going to notice something so small?
"I'm working on it!" He assured in a huff, "No thanks to you!"
Yes. Because a man capable of growing and shrinking on a whim needs help reaching the ceiling from a guy who can't even stand on his own two feet for more than ten minutes. Although, now that Spamton thought about it, there was one way he could help. The addison tapped his chin, as something of a devious thought came to mind.
"Oh, but you [Fresh Glazed Donuts] need my [Quality Service]. Not when you're so [Big Shot!] and [Oh Yeah, Tough Guy!]."
From the corner of his eye, as Spamton splayed a coy little hand across his chest, he could already see Tennas' reach extending just that little bit higher. He approached his boyfriend casually from behind. Letting his hand slowly drag across his pant leg as he brisked past him. Relishing in the shiver he felt from Tenna at his touch.
"Your bright [Honey Glow] is the perfect [~Light of my life~] to look into all those [Nooks and Crannies]. And those [A Long Long Time Ago] legs– [Oh, Baby That's What I Like!]. Those are [My Only Weakness!]."
Spamton wasn't sure if Tenna had even registered his head bonking up well past the opening curtains ceiling, until he started bending down to adjust the spot he'd previously had to stand on the tips of his toes to reach earlier. His screen was glowing with that beautiful ray of red green and blue amidst the static fuzz, highlighting that cute flustered smile.
"Okay, Spammy, okay! You made your point already!" Tenna called to him as he held up his palm, "Now cut it out before I blow a hole through the roof!"
As long as he was admitting defeat Spamton supposed that was good enough, and just hearing Tenna laugh let him know his work here was done.
"[[Kitty!]] and I already [Take it to the Next Level!] care of the [Sounds Good to Me]–board." He let his partner know.
A noticeable weight seemed to fall from Tennas' shoulders just then, as Spamton had a feeling it would.
"Oh good! That just leaves the physical challenges left to sort out."
That was easy enough. Spamton burns anything he touches kitchen-wise and always gets tangled in the ropes when they put him in that dinosaur onesie. After all that he just had to fail the first jump in the obstacle course after a boastful show of bragging and the instant karma would be enough to have Kris in hysterics.
"What's there to [Sort and Shuffle]? We'll just [Dewey Decimal System] our usual [Settings], and everything will be just [Fine and Dandy]."
Tenna, however, shook his head. Guess he was in the mood to be particularly stubborn today.
"We need to shake things up around here," He insisted, while adding just a bit more quietly under his breath, "and keep you from getting hurt."
Ah. So that's it. Spamton began a rapid and harsh pace as he repeatedly tapped his foot against the floor. He was pretty sure he wasn't meant to hear that little footnote.
"I'm not made of [Glass Slippers], you know." He shot back, challenging the crt towering above him.
"I-I know that!" Tenna defended, startled as he shrunk down a fair inch or two closer towards the stage, "But it wouldn't hurt to be just a little safer, now would it?"
His smile wobbled with concern, and it had Spamtons' foot tapping just that little bit less. Damn him. Damn him for having a point. One Spamton couldn't readily argue with. Though he wasn't about to admit to that so easily.
"I guess the [Mini-Games] are getting a little [Expired Chips]." He settled with, picking the lesser of two evils, "It wouldn't [Ouch! That Smarts!] to try something [New and Improved!]."
That seemed to do the trick, and Spamton watched as Tennas' tense mood improved instantly.
"I knew you'd get it! And I promise, these new games I have planned will be exciting and accessible!"
Somehow Spamton doubted that, but as long as the show was entertaining for the kid he supposed he didn't really care one way or the other. Tenna tapped a finger against the side of his head as his antenna buzzed, standing rigid above his head at full attention. Guess that means they're on for the show.
"Just got word, we're on in five!" Tenna relayed, "You'll be on the center podium today!"
It was no surprise that the stage was already fully cleared by the time he turned back around to face it once again. The crew around here works fast. Battat had already taken his spot back up behind the camera, shooting a thumbs up that he was ready to roll as Spamton took his place on the stage. The podiums were all set and his fellow contestants had already taken their positions along either side of him. Looks like he'd be facing off with Koda and– was that Nora? The shadow guy who'd been picking on Battat?
"Places, people, places! Three minutes 'till we're rollin'!" Battat warned, bellowing out the order from his megaphone.
Spamton leaned across the podium to glare towards his would-be opponent, and sure enough it was her. Nora smiled wearily, even throwing in a hesitant wave. Spamton, meanwhile, wasted no time cutting a firm line across his throat. He wasn't usually all that competitive when it came to these games, knowing how terrible he was at playing them. However, just because he couldn't beat Nora in this friendly little competition per se didn't mean he couldn't take her down with him. After all, he still owed Koda a favor after all the shit she had to put up with when dealing with Tenna, didn't he?
About time he cashed that in.
"One minute!"
Spamton looked over towards Koda next and noticed she was still a touch apprehensive being so close to him as she avoided his gaze.
"Good [Lucky Flannel], [[Kodak]]." He offered, along with an outstretched hand ready to shake.
She glanced at him and his hand, a professional smile stretched tautly across her features, before she briefly shook it and turned back to face the cameras.
"Right. Same to you."
Koda still seemed to be cautiously avoiding him after that stupid blow-up his boyfriend had over the lights last week. Worried just looking his way would cost her her job. Spamton hoped to change that today.
"Thirty seconds!"
As Tenna adjusted his tie and straightened his stance, Spamton tucked his cane just out of sight underneath his podium. Remembering to remove his glasses before slipping them back into his pocket. All it took was a slight bit of shuffling around and just like that the pair of hosts were ready for the cameras, all seconds before they were live. It was a practiced routine by this point. Hell, Spamton knew for a fact he could go so far as to impromptuly brush his teeth with the back of his sleeve and there wouldn't be so much as a crumb caught in frame between his smile and his jacket. Considering he's done it before.
Not even Tenna knows he's that slick.
"Ten seconds 'till the title sequence closes!"
Spamton and Tennas' prerecorded voices rang loud and clear as the velvet curtain rose. Their final note drowned out by the cheers of the live studio audience, and with beaming smiles all three contestants waved warmly towards the crowd below.
"Howdy-do and welcome to the show!" Tenna addressed, pointing towards the rolling cameras before that same finger and another redirected themselves Spamtons' way, "We're back at it again with another episode oooof–"
That's his que.
"[Say it, Don't Spray it!] with him folks!" Spamton tagged in, hyping the crowd along with a welcoming flick of his hand towards the crowd.
"T! V! Time!!!" The audience, as well as everyone up on stage, cheered.
Tennas' smile softened a fair bit for just a moment, and Spamton was pretty sure he just heard Kris say it too.
"Thaaaat's right everybody," Tenna went on to announce, putting that spectacular broadway grin right back on in full display, "and we've got quite a show for you today!"
As his partner went on to explain the rules Spamton glanced around the stage, noticing the usual props for the physical challenges to be lacking. Tenna said he wanted to do things a little differently this time around, but what exactly did he have in mind? Just seems like he's removed anything physical in general. Not his most brilliant strategy, knowing Kris. Kid's gonna start channel hopping if they're not careful, which was always one step away from them flicking off the tv in general.
"– so get ready to duke it out in this special feature edition of TV Time!"
Spamtons' attention snapped back to the roar of the audience. He wasn't sure what was supposed to be so special about this episode in particular, but damn it all if he wasn't about to sell that with the eagerest of grins. He looked to Tenna who was already glancing his way. Always so unabashed about his blatant favoritism, despite all the good it's ever done for the hapless addison. Those lips ever so subtly mouthed the words, "good luck" and Spamton briefly let his smile soften, before the question board hit the back screen.
"Let's start with our first question." Tenna tapped his cards against his palm, adjusting them neatly, before pulling them up a little closer to his screen, "What video game was the Governor of Cityopolis playing in Powder Pow Gals' season three fourth episode, Child Snearing? Was it, Jackie and Dexter: The Progenitor Legend, The Saga of Hilda: Harmonica of Time, Wily Copper and the Lawful Coyotacus, or Grave Tango?"
Video games. It just had to start with video games. A subject Spamton knew almost nothing about. Koda slapped the button with instant conviction.
"Yes. Koda?"
"The Saga of Hilda: Harmonica of Time." She answered, as if she couldn't say it fast enough.
The "correct" bell chimed through the air, launching the crowd into an excited cheer for the first answer meeting such a swift conclusion. It was always fun to have someone clever behind the buzzer. That audience laps that up like a dog on peanut butter. Spamton clapped in support, which was admittedly unlike him but what could he say? He was actually rooting for somebody else for once.
"That's correct!" Tenna pointed his cards towards the roof as he stood on the tips of his toes before giving a little twirl and pointing towards Jongler from just behind the curtains, "Put a point on the board for Koda!"
As directed, Jongler flicked the tally up in Kodas' favor. It was now one to zero and zero.
"Now," Tenna continued, settling back down as he flipped over towards the next card, "let's get on with our next question."
From video games, to cartoons, to current pop songs on the radio, Spamton was far from qualified to be answering these trivia brain busters, but when he lost he did so with the lousiest of answers.
"I wanna [Talk to Me, Talk to Me, Talk to Me, Baby!]... Sweet Smash?"
Incorrect buzzer number one.
"Ooh Ooh Ohh! It's [~Mama had a chicken, Mama had a cow, Dad was proud, he didn't care how~]."
Incorrect buzzer number two.
"[Lemme Get Uhhhh], Remind Me by Røyksopp?"
Incorrect buzzer number three. Tenna tried his best not to laugh, but a faint chuckle or two still managed to slip past his words.
"What? That's not even an answer on the board!" He chided.
Nora kept trying to hit the button but Spamton refused to give her the chance. Slapping his hand on that buzzer knowing full well he couldn't narrow down the answer if it was the last option on the board. Spamton swore up and down he wasn't stupid! There was just something about having a limited time in front of all these people. He just panics. Which was fortunate this time around as it gave Koda all the time she needed to come up with the right answer.
He liked to think his little "process of elimination" helped her. At least somewhat.
"Koda."
"Fernalicious by Fernie."
"Correct again!"
Well, his choice was the top song charting the ad jingles for that year so he was still correct– by proxy, and Spamton was more than willing to take that as a win for the sake of his bruised pride. Besides, it was funnier if he kept up his losing streak. Those negative numbers piling up on the scoreboard were big for retaining the kids' attention span, who couldn't seem to get enough of it. That's what all this suffering was for in the end, and far be it for him to deny the audience a good show. Plus, it didn't hurt that it paid as well as it did. Spamton wasn't exactly an altruist here.
From the corner of his eye Spamton could see the set being rearranged from backstage as the screen displaying their questions flicked to a new image.
"Koda, that marks three in a row for you now, which means you get to lead the charge in our next game!"
A compartment on their podiums opened up, revealing a game controller for each of them.
"Pick up those controllers everybody," Tenna went on to announce, "and get ready for adventure, as you work together to beat the dungeon!"
Oh boy. Considering Spamton was shit at video game trivia, he didn't like his chances when it came to actually playing one. Thankfully Tenna was nice enough to jot down the controls for him on a sticky note. He would have assumed that to be the Mike crews' doing if it weren't for the litany of hearts bordering around the edges of the paper. Who else would do such a thing but that absolute loon he called a boyfriend, and embarrassment of needing his hand held just to play be damned. The sentiment was touching regardless.
After a brief glance or three towards the paper, Spamton got the hang of what button did what before he looked up towards the screen. Whoever had gone through the trouble of setting this all up had even gone so far as to mod in some sprites of himself and the other two contestants into the game, and Spamton had to say, he made for a sexy couple of pixels.
"Quit fooling around and follow us to the next screen already." Koda quietly whispered his way.
Spamton would chalk her tone to attitude if it weren't for the anxious frown across her face. Or rather, the lips that made up for her lack of one. Given her history behind the camera he couldn't help but wonder if this was Kodas' first time up on stage. She seemed anxious.
"[Easy Bake Oven] there [[Kodak]]," He teased with a chuckle, "not all of us have the same [Higher Education] for [Twiddling Sticks] like you do."
Despite how fun it would be to keep "fooling around" Spamton wasn't about to hold up the show any longer than he had to. Knowing Tennas' ire when it came to wasting their tight schedule. Besides, he was trying to get on the shuttahs' good side, and that meant nudging her towards the win. Of course he had no idea how Koda was even able to play as well as she did, seeing as her eyes and hands were one in the same, but he wasn't about to worry about that right now. All that mattered now was making sure he didn't lose all their lives. Or however this game worked.
Koda seemed intent on following some sort of colored tile in the room she led them to. Blue from the looks of it. Whatever she was doing it must have worked because after a bit of follow the tile the spikes blocking their path eventually lowered, letting them pass through into the next room. What exactly was Spamton supposed to do here? Follow Koda around while she solved all the puzzles for them? Fine by him.
Every now and then Tenna talked to the audience and asked them how their group was meant to solve the various rooms, and suddenly some of their puzzles were being solved. Even if Koda was still working on the solution. The layabout addison was pretty sure that was Kris' doing. Answering all of Tennas' questions with the rapid excitement of someone on the cusps of bagging a million dark dollars. The kid really was a natural behind the controller. In spite of their older brother always handing them the knock-off brand to play with.
As the next screen took its time scrolling to the left, the three spotted their first batch of enemies which was… strange. Have they ever had enemies programmed into the copy of the game meant for the show? Not that he can remember.
"Looks like we have our first encounter– comin' in hot! Watch out for those fire-balls!" Tenna warned, playing up his pun game for the crowd.
Spamton looked at his notes to see which button fired his spells or whatever, when the stage suddenly shifted. The lights were cut, a steady cloud of fog coated the air, and their podiums were rolled off of the stage. Just out of sight back behind the curtains. Spamton felt a surge of adrenaline hit all at once and knew right then and there that this wasn't going to be an in-game fight.
"Spamton, Cat's comin' in ta rig ya to the swing and put ya in costume."
As the words came through his radio sure enough, Pluey was already fastening a pair of wings over his shoulders.
"The [Halibut]? I didn't [Sign Up For Your Chance–] to play [GirlGames.Com]." He argued, hopping into the swing and helping Pluey adjust the straps in spite of his protests.
"They cover up the strings, an ain't no tellin' how long this combat's gonna go on for." Battat reasoned.
Spamton supposed this was better than having to fuss around with his cane, at the very least.
"Well [[Mr. Schmidt]], can you at least [Feed Me Seymour!] my lines?"
Hasn't anyone around here ever heard of a dress rehearsal? Was Tenna out of his mind!?
"Just use your normal ACTions–" Greenie shot back, having the gull to chuckle at his poor expense, "well, non-lethal methods preferred of course."
His normal ACT? Spamton didn't know any offensive spells, and he sure as hell can't hit anyone from his up on this swing! Just what exactly is he supposed to do!? With the stage set the lights, now mimicking a dim purple grid, gave life back to the set. From the pecking order, it looks like Spamton was placed in the supporting role, with Nora on offense and Koda taking the lead up top. Spamton's never fought in a group per say, but he's had his fair experience with being pummeled by groups to spot the familiar chain of command.
The music pumping through the speakers was energetic and bouncy, and as their opponents finally rolled in through the fog, the addison found his fingers tapping rhythmically along. It was better than letting all this anxious energy fester anyway. Three shadow guys took to the stage, firing bullets that Koda froze in frame, and with a quick turn of the photo the bullets were shot right back at them.
"Now that's what I call a reverse shot!" Tenna chimed in, "Keep it comin' guys!"
Nora was up next and her finger gun ready and blazing, she fired. The center-most guy was hit with the charge and looked about two steps from throwing in the towel.
"Looks like someone's lookin' forward to that commercial break. Well, we're not quite done yet! So take it away, Spams!"
Spamton knew only bothering to learn healing spells and nothing else would come back to bite him in the ass someday– but why did it have to be today!? He wasn't about to throw a pipis out on the stage. Not when his were so buggy and unpredictable. So what else could he do?
"Uh, Mr. Spamton?" Koda prompted, "It's your turn."
Panic–
"[Take Two!] THIS!"
Without a second thought, Spamton pried off his shoe before throwing it across the room. Just barely missing the shadow guy in the middle as the leather loafer flopped unceremoniously into the ground. Leaving everyone on stage to stare up at Spamton completely flabbergasted.
"..."
There was a snicker just past his immediate right, and to Spamtons' surprise it was Koda who was currently hiding a hand over her mouth.
"... was that supposed to be an attack or–" Nora tried to ask before a guttural groan reverberated across the stage.
The shadow guy who Spamton had been aiming for fell back as if he was hit. Fleeing the stage in dramatic fashion and really doing his best to milk that performance for all it was worth.
"Uh… W-wow! What an– unusual attack." His partner settled with, once the initial shock wore off, "Bet he can't do that again folks."
Tenna code for, "don't you dare do that again" if Spamton had ever heard it.
"What the heck was that, Spamton!?"
All he could do was roll his eyes.
"I don't have [Raunchy] attacks, [[Mike]]." Spamton shot back, "I tried to [Warning!] you!"
"Yeah, well maybe try using your support spells then! Even if no one needs 'em they'll at least make more sense than throwin' you're damn shoe!"
"Alright, Alright! I [Get it, Got it, Doubt it]."
Koda was up next, carrying more of the fight than Spamton could hope to at the moment even as she took the teams first hit. If he could just stand on his own two feet without losing his balance then maybe he could get a good swing in with a bat, but even acting it out after a couple of times would be enough to take the wind right out of his sails. Talk about a lackluster performance, and Spamton refused to give this kid anything short of his best. Nora fired another couple of shots, managing to hit both of their opponents across the stage, before it was Spamtons' turn once again. At least he could be helpful this time around, now that one of them had gotten hurt.
Spamton brought up his holographic keyboard and pressed f1, sending a little winged copy of himself over towards Koda. Watching as it brought her back to full health. Which wasn't much of an accomplishment if those health bars being projected towards the bottom of the stage were anything to go by, but Koda seemed appreciative either way. By her next attack another shadow guy was down, leaving just one more to deal with before the encounter was over. However, unfortunately for them, Noras' attack missed. Forcing Spamton to step back in to try and figure out what to do.
He could raise their tension points by defending himself but this wasn't an actual fight. That'd just be boring, and Kris didn't seem like the kind of kid to appreciate their entertainment suddenly going educational out of the blue. Spamton looked through his arsenal of spells to see if he could find something else. Two healing spells and– a persuasion buff. It's never worked for him before but… this was television– where all the magic happens. Why the hell not?
Spamton activated the spell, feeling that surge of confidence wash over him, then let it all out.
"[Hey Hey Hey!] Back off [[Jack]]! You don't wanna [Tough Messes] with my [Krew]. 'Cause we [No, No, A Thousand Times NO!] how to [~I'm bringin' sexy back~] on the [Life is Pain!! I Hate My–!]."
At first there was a hint of confusion across his opponents' features as he spoke, and maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part, but Spamton could swear the gradual shift to frightful hesitation was genuine. That, or maybe the guy was just a good actor. Who knows. Either way, he backed off and the battle was over. Tenna clapped as the lights dimmed once again.
"What a photogenic finish, folks!"
Once again the lights shut down, the fog rolled in, and the television magic of a well oiled crew swooped in to redress the set to the game show it had once been. There was a moment before the lights came back on that Spamton had to himself just to breathe, and hearing a relieved sigh right beside him, it was clear he wasn't the only one who needed it. There was a noticeable lack of tension in Kodas' shoulders now compared to earlier in the shoot as she let out a quiet hum of laughter.
"So… how's your foot?"
Yep. He should have known that stunt would come to bite him in the ass. This was all anyone was bound to talk about for weeks now. His pride wounded, Spamton answered Koda with a defeated but well meaning smile.
"A little [Frosted Flakes], but I'll live."
Koda chuckled slightly.
"That shoe really went flying didn't it?"
Spamton let out a laugh of his own, unable to help himself as the thought came back to him.
"Would have been more of a [What a Spectacle] if it actually [*Bonk*] the guy."
"You were close."
The addisons' eyes lit up a fair bit. Feeling hopeful.
"Yeah?"
"Just missed it by–" Koda extended her arms, and the longer she splayed them out, the longer he groaned, "... thaaaat much."
Chuckling into his hands, Spamton leaned against the podium before swiping both of his palms down across his face. Doing his best to wipe growing the exhaustion creeping up on him away as he got ready for the cameras to start rolling. He looked over to Koda, and for the first time in far too long, she finally seemed at ease. This wasn't exactly how he planned to bury the hatchet but results were results, right? Hopefully this next question wouldn't ruin it.
"So," Spamton began, righting himself back up off the podium, "after you [Congratulations, You Won!], you wanna grab lunch? My [Sweets] of course. I [Not Even Once] got to [We're Sorry For Your–] to apologize, I mean. For [Ey Yo, What's Happenin'!] last [Weak in the Knees]. At [Least of All], for my [Quality Auto Parts] in it."
Koda seemed taken aback, the memory resurfacing from the looks of it, and for a brief moment her smile faltered just that little bit.
"You don't [Half Off!] to, of [Three Course Meal]." He added, "If [That Youthful Glow] don't want to."
She seemed to think about it, and the longer she did, the more that thoughtful smile from earlier started to come back.
"You know what." Koda replied after a bit of a nod, "Okay. I think I'd like that."
It was no surprise that Spamton lost the game in the end. In fact, it had looked to be his greatest failure yet at a whopping negative fifty two, but regardless, he couldn't help but feel a little accomplished. It wasn't everyday between him and Tenna that he got to be the one to smooth things over, and for once, that other shoe sure felt nice to try on. No one, besides Tenna, has ever taken him seriously without him having to raise his voice and make a scene before. It's strange, but nice. Maybe he didn't always have to be as much of an asshole as he thought.