"Oh this is so exciting!" Popup all but sang as they shoved the front door to the modest outlet store open with a flourish. Spam was dressed his very best and perched atop his older sibling's shoulder, making a show of being the picture of composure whilst subtly holding onto Popup's shoulder for deer life.

They were out at one of Popup's various storefront locations, Popup didn't always nose about their actual store locations, too busy with actually developing the product and designing advertisements for said product, as Addisons were bred and born for, but sometimes they liked to swing by just to see how things were.

This time, Popup offered to bring Spam along, framing it as 'an inside look to the business world', when Spam really knew it was an effort to get him out of the house…

Things had… Deteriorated at home, to say the least…

The so-called friends Boost had been bunking with since the blowout with Click were none other than the same colleagues who 'got to him' that night… Spam had seen Boost thrice since his fight with Click, and their interactions went from awkward with Boost offering to sneak Spam to a specialist… To Boost somehow turning the act of ignoring Spam hostile…

And no matter how many times his siblings assure him that he wasn't to blame… Spam just couldn't bring himself to believe them fully.

"Service! Oh Service!" Popup all but sang as they began to skip across the store towards a counter where a soft, teal coloured Addison sat, the Addison started at their name being called before straightening up and smiling a bright placating smile.

They blinked upon seeing Popup however, and the placating smile became more genuine and bright.

"Oh, hullo Popup, weren't expecting you today, everything alright?"

Popup waved the question off with a cheery smile before replying; "Everything is peachy, I'm just here with Spam today to show him some of the inner workings of the shop."

Popup rolled the shoulder that Spam was sitting on and Spam took the gesture as his que to smile and wave.

"Oh how sweet!" The teal Addison, Service, cooed lightly as they extended a hand to the pale Addison before them.

"Nice to meet you Spam, Popup's been raving about you forever!" Service then turned to Popup, "Do you want to give him a tour yourself or?" They left the question hanging expectantly.

Popup took a moment to look around the store and Spam copied, there were a few Darkners milling about, but none that looked interested or able to purchase anything.

Popup hummed a nothing tune as they flipped the little 'Hello, my name is: Service' on the counter to read 'Ring bell for assistance'

"The grand tour if you would." Popup chimed with a blinding smile that had the other Addison's cheeks darkening. If Popup noticed, they didn't react.

The tour was nice.

Service was bright and cheery, pausing to explain or note every little thing they came across without bogging their time with too many explanations. Spam learned the layout of his older sibling's shop, who worked where and what they did.

Spam knew that Popup was the main Tea Guru of the brand, always developing new exciting blends to peddle to the public, but it was cool to see all the other little inner workings of the business.

Service usually ran the front of the outlet; she, as Spam soon learned, was a master at faking a smile and talking down unruly customers.

In the back dealing with merchandise were two green Addisons, Stock and Digit, they were responsible for crunching inventory numbers and such, they didn't say much when Popup… Well, popped up to say hello, too engrossed in their work to offer much in the way of conversation, but Spam could sense that they were just like that, not to be spiteful or anything, but just like that.

Most of the actual hard labour, the brewing, the baking and all the fun backroom work was done by an older Addison named Intigure, a surprisingly dull shade of blue Addison who specialised in cooking of all things.

Spam didn't personally get it, but he couldn't complain seeing as the Cookie Popup got for him [by their insistence] was devoured in three bites as they took a seat at one of the booths. That particular outlet store was on the vastly smaller size, so the only employees who Spam didn't meet were the ones not on the clock for that day.

"You know… I could hire you." Popup suggested just as the door closed behind them. The store's lights were off, and everything locked up for the night.

"For what?" Spam sighed as he moved to rest his chin on his sibling's shoulder.

"Anything? Everything?" Popup hummed as they hoisted their smaller sibling higher up on their back; "Ads know you'd be able to do just about anything you set your mind to."

Spam stayed quiet for a little while.

"You're not mad that I'm still colourless too, are you?" Spam asked quietly against Popup's shoulder.

"Perish the thought." The pink Addison snapped, not in a mean way mind you.

"Boost is just being an idiot…" Popup muttered sourly, "And believe me, Click has had to talk me and Survey down from storming over to his new place and beating some sense into him…"

Popup sighed heavily and shook their head.

"I don't care that you're still snowy Spam… I just don't like seeing you so down in the dumps, you know?" They stopped at a crosswalk where Popup turned to their younger brother with a smile.

"I figured getting you into a good routine could help you break out of your little rough patch…" The light turned green and Popup turned away to watch where they were going.

"You don't have to say yes, now or ever if you don't want to… But just think about it, alright?"

Spam nodded quietly… It was a nice offer for Popup to make for sure, but Spam still doubted he would take it.

Working nine to five was a great way to get him out of the house…

But the real question was whether or not a nine to five job paid better than all the odd job lines he had been steadily securing for himself over the years.