Work Text:
ERROR. REBOOTTING.
ERROR. CRITICAL FAILURE.
SHUTTING DOWN…
“...nna…!...he…”
…
“...make it…?” Faint whispers, blown to his audio processor as static deafened everything else.
“Maybe…help connect…” Other voices sprung, barely audible as he felt his body touched. He couldn't see anything, or identify who was talking, the snow, the winds, the static were too loud.
He felt many hands, lifting him to a sitting position, one making sure he stayed stable. Other hands worked on his left and right areas, where his arms used to be. Everything went so dark. So, so dark… had his arms fallen off…?
“...Where's…” The static rang loud, but he could barely recognize the voice as Susie. She came to help him? “If Kris was here…”
“Ralsei, can't you…” Too much static again, too many murmurs and mumbles to make it audible. Yet, there's frustration in her tone, and… does she sound tired?
“Susie I-”
“Wait! Don't pull that-!”
ERROR. REBOOTTING.
ERROR. ERROR.
REBOOTTING...
…
…
He woke up again, the sun shining bright through the windows, soft rays heating his outer casing, he felt better. Seeing Toriel waking up Kris, and hearing Susie in the distance, barely hearing a discussion happening, and watching them leave.
Susie said she would help him find a new home. She even…fixed him. He had only met her, but her hope made him feel joy. It will most likely take time before they return, he saw them wearing church clothes, one of the things he missed seeing, he just has to wait a little longer.
Susie wouldn't forget him, would she? He may be an old TV in need of repairs, though he wasn't lying if he needed parts of him completely replaced…hah… “Someone out there wants you.” Susie's words rewinded the VHS tape in his memory, “Someone's gotta want a TV.”
Susie… That Susie, she really is a nice girl. The silence in the house didn't feel so suffocating as it usually felt, instead he felt anticipation. They'll return for him, he at least knows Susie will bring him to a new home.
…
Toriel returned home, picking up a book and resting on Chairiel. So they finished Church, surely by now they can find him a new home? No, no. He can't be impatient, Susie must still be finding someone who wants an old thing like him.
Actually… Even if they do find him a new home, what would they think? Would they think he's too broken? He knows he's outdated… maybe when they find him a home they will- “You don't have to take being thrown away.” Ah… She's right. He may be old, but he still works great! His new home will love him for sure. He just has to wait a little longer, it won't take long.
…
Toriel closed her book, looking at the TV. She sighed, getting up and disappearing someplace in the house. He didn't know what she was doing, wanting desperately to see, feeling utter horror at what she carried with her.
She held a box and a towel, putting them on the ground, approaching the TV. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak or cry or scream. “Up you go.” She said in a huff, as she picked him, putting him on the box. She draped the towel over him, feeling light as he was carried away.
His audio processor helped him identify he was being brought outside. The oddly chilly air touched him briefly, interrupted by Toriel carelessly dropping him to the ground.
“Heavier than I remembered.” ‘YEOUCH! Be careful!’, he wanted to say, “I definitely need my car to…” She mumbled too low for him. “Ah, I'll do it later.” Hearing the door creak, he assumed she went back inside…
…Leaving him...outside…
He couldn't see, but he did notice it was getting darker. The chill air was making his wires uncomfortably cold, then it got worse.
He was hit with the sound of rain falling, humid air, winds blew harder as above and below he was drenched. The gradual, steady recognition with each raindrop that hit the ground–No one is helping him.
He shivered under the cold, his hope dwindling, water filling inside his fragile state. He just got repaired…not that it mattered now. If this continues, he'll be–
“rain’s coming down hard, huh?” An unfamiliar voice interrupted his thoughts. “thought you might need some company, so i brought a few things.”
“Oh…! How kind of you!” Toriel says, seems as if they know each other. He couldn’t help but think this will cause another argument between the family.
“‘course. say uh…what’s that doing out here?”
“That old thing? That’s my TV, I don’t need it anymore. Do you want it?”
“nah, already have my own. i can throw it away for ya, if you want.”
“In this rain? Are you sure?”
“it’s no problem. why don’t you enjoy these and i’ll be back to join you?”
“Well, if you insist…” He heard bags being rummaged through followed by a gasp, “These are my favorite! Make sure you hurry, or else I might finish these before you return.”
“heh, i’ll keep it in mind.”
Flirting. Lanino and Elnina both had similar interactions before. His thoughts traced back to Kris as he felt lifted up by the mystery man.
“be right back.”
He felt himself jolted suddenly, causing him to feel nauseous. The sounds were different too, there were clanging sounds produced by the rain, the wind was also mild in the area.
He heard something being opened up, then he realized. As he was thrown in, his towel came off. The first thing he saw was the dumpster lid being closed, encasing him in darkness.
Water had made itself home, feeling it start to chip away at his functions. He's shivering. He's cold. The rain was muffled inside the trash. His outer shell wedged between bags emitting a foul scent.
“Darkners…all become obsolete eventually.” Ralsei’s words repeated, “We shouldn’t make Lightners worry about what happens to us.”
He felt something inside him crumble, likely his systems. He’s junk. Falling apart at the seams. It’s so dark…so, so dark.
‘Help…’
‘Please!’
‘Say something!’
…
…
‘It’s so…quiet…’
‘Please…someone…’
‘If you can hear me…please…’
…
‘Anyone…’
…
…
…
…