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“That TV shalth notice mine brillianceth any day nowe…” Rouxls muttered to himself as he tried out different lampshades in the mirror. He was stuck between a light blue and a deep pinkish-purple, unsure of which one would make him more dazzling. He was not going to give up on getting Tenna to notice him, not ever. King might’ve been in jail and Queen… well, he was still working on that! But Tenna was clearly someone big and powerful. And Rouxls always seize the opportunity to get higher.
He was planning to sneak into Tenna’s established room in the Castle Town’s Castle, unannounced, and set himself up as the humble lamp. The perfect plan. Not only that, but Tenna’s room was also very pleasing to look at. It reminded Rouxls of when he was actually there, in Tenna’s Green Room. Doing his makeup and helping his lovely honeys on the game console as Lancer spun about on the floor. A shame that it’s all gone now, but that's besides the point.
He had picked light blue. Time to lamp out.
—
Creaking one of the double doors open, Rouxls was met with a strange sight. The room was unsettlingly not as bright as he remembered, the air was coated in a strange, chilly haze that made Rouxls shiver slightly. Stepping into the room quietly and taking care to not close the door, He could make out the silhouette of Tenna sprawled out on the ground, face up, his nose pointing towards the ceiling.
It was admittedly very strange to see someone as energetic and towering as Tenna to be in such a calm, vulnerable position. He was noticeably much smaller as well, not tiny or anything, but definitely not as tall as he used to be. Was he asleep or turned off? Rouxls decided to find out.
“Tenna?” His voice slightly echoed throughout the empty room. “Art thou… awake?” No response, he must’ve been in a deep sleep. Rouxls didn’t want to further disturb him, couldn’t risk Tenna’s image of him being ruined, he stepped out and began to close the door when-
BZT-!
Tenna’s screen flashed for a split second, one of his antennas twitching. Rouxls stopped in his tracks, watching as Tenna slowly sat up. “Wh…” the TV mumbled. “Ah, mine apologies.” Rouxls replied before beginning to shut the door again, assuming that he had just interrupted Tenna’s nap. “Wait.” He heard.
“Don’t leave me here alone. Stay here.” He asked quickly, tilting his head slightly. “Please.” The once upbeat TV show host now sat on the floor, his mouth contorted into a wobbly frown which did not look right on him at all. Rouxls stopped zoning out. “If you insiste.” He replied, closing the door and sitting on the floor, removing the lampshade. That caught Tenna’s attention.
“Oh, it’s you…” He remarked, recognising the man who, up until now, was a fuzzy memory in the back of Tenna’s memories. “Ahh, shouldst i put the lampshade back on mine head?” Rouxls asked, afraid that he had unnerved Tenna. “N-No, i need a person’s company. Not a lamps.” He chuckled a bit, assuming that his weak joke had not landed. Rouxls completely missed the cue.
“Whateverest is the matter with thee? Tis not everydaye that thou sulks alone.” Rouxls asked, trying not to sound too mean or berating. Despite his lack in comforting others, he wanted to try his best to not let Tenna’s fears swallow him whole. “I… I like this place, but I don't know if this can be a permanent home for someone like me.” Tenna lamented, his head and antenna drooping. “Ahh, is the lacke of attention a problemeth?” Rouxls asked again, inching himself closer to Tenna who was practically shrinking with every second.
“But I don’t want to say anything to the Lightners! They were the ones that gave me a second chance, and those unforgettable boards!” Tenna raised his head up. “But… after all we had been through, shouldn’t Kris have at least known that I would've been happiest elsewhere?” Tenna quickly covered his mouth. “Oh, what has gotten into me? Badmouthing Kris like that. Forgive me.” He whined, covering his screen with his face. He flinched upon feeling a hand on his back.
“Thereth thereth…” Rouxls comforted. “Thou will find one’s courage to speak upe.” Tenna leaned into Rouxls’ touch, slowly increasing in size. “Surely, Someone is out thereth waiting for thous presence to bring a smile to their face.” Rouxls’ hand made its way up to Tenna’s head, calmly stroking between his antenna. He wasn’t going to bring up how Tenna’s screen was pink, he didn’t want to embarrass the poor guy.
That was when he got an idea.
“Say…” Rouxls began. “Whatst do you evene Haveth to watch?” He questioned Tenna, to which he was met with a… contrasting response. “You’d… want to watch me?” Tenna beamed, staring right into Rouxls. It was intense and kind of sad how desperate the TV was for an audience. Rouxls nodded. “Any… bug programmese?” And just like that, Tenna was once again towering over Rouxls, raising his hands in excitement. The lights in the room flicked back on, along with the relaxing music. “I have just the thing for you! Are snail programmes your kind of thing? They count as bugs, right?”
“Perfecte.” Rouxls replied, watching as Tenna danced and swayed his body around. He was finally getting back to being himself. “Let’s not waste any more time then! Please, make yourself comfortable! I have HOURS of snails for you to see!” Rouxls exhaled with a smile, sat down and watched as Tenna’s huge body also sat down, crossing his legs into a basket, static engulfing his screen before the snail marathon began.