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"Cut! That's a wrap!"
The sound of a buzzer pierced through the studio. You stepped down from your contestant's podium and picked off the bits of confetti that clung to your blazer. Around you, the TV World employees bustled about, sweeping away the loose confetti on the ground and putting away props. A Pippins handed you a towel and a cup of water before running off to help a Shadowguy scrub the burn marks off the countertop from a previous physical challenge. You sipped your water, almost wishing that you could play just one more round of Tenna's game show. But soon enough, the stage lights dimmed and you were ushered back to the green room.
The heels of your dress shoes echoed as you walked down the empty hallway to your dressing room. Each step felt heavier than the next. You thought back to the recent games of Tenna's Marvelous Mystery Board. The smile you plastered on your face, the laughter and dances you lost yourself in while being part of the show. You hoped that you played well enough for the cameras. Framed posters of various movies and television shows lined the walls, but you averted your gaze. As much as you loved staring up at the visage of your beloved entertainer and partner, you weren't keen on seeing the face that reflected in the glass frames. Just as you were about to enter your dressing room, you heard loud footsteps behind you and a voice call out your name. You whirled around. "Tenna!"
"Darling!" Tenna quickened his steps and scooped you up in a tight hug. "How's my busy bee?"
You laughed, wrapping your arms around his neck to return the hug. "Never better! What're you doing here, I thought you had to prepare for another segment coming up?"
Setting you back down, Tenna gestured at your dressing room door, and you quickly opened the door and let the two of you in. He sat down on the nearest chair and sighed. Now at eye-level, he looked at you with his hands pressed together against his mouth. He hesitated, before speaking up at last.
"I wanted to talk to you. About your PERFORMANCE."
"What?" Your smile faltered, your hand trembling as you closed the door behind you. "I thought you wanted me to be one of your actors? Am I...am I not doing well enough?"
Tenna flinched and waved his hands, shaking his head vigorously. "NO! No, the ratings are GREAT, the show's fine." He pointed a finger and tapped your head. "But YOU, my dear, look all GLOOBY lately. What's wrong?"
You shook your head and smiled. "Nothing? Look, you have a show to host. Don't worry about me—"
"Mike?" Tenna pressed a hand to the side of his screen while his antenna pinged a signal. "Cut to that infomercial we've been wanting to air. The EXTENDED one."
Your jaw dropped. Tenna lowered his head and turned to you with an expected look. "Well?"
You tried to laugh it off and turn to leave, but Tenna grabbed you by the shoulders. As he pressed close to your face, you saw your reflection on his screen. The dark circles under your eyes. The fake smile stretched across your face that you've worn for the past few weeks. You had done everything, played all his games, acted your heart out trying to hide the hollowness in your chest. Out of everyone, why did it have to be him to find out? You felt tears prickle at the edges of your vision. No. Not this again. You wretched your gaze away, blinking rapidly. Tenna reached up and cupped your cheek, gently turning your face back towards him with a concerned expression. "Starlight..."
"How did you know?"
Tenna huffed in amusement, his antenna twitching. "Darling, how long have you been ACTing for me? How much longer have you watched me?"
He brushed a thumb across your cheek, his voice growing soft. "You know I love when you put on a SHOW, dear. But not like this."
Drip. Drip. Tears fell steadily down your face, soaking Tenna's glove. You gasped, rushing to wipe your eyes and apologize profusely, but Tenna shook his head and pulled you down to sit beside him, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. You buried your face into his blazer, your quiet sniffles growing into heavy sobs. Tenna said nothing, rubbing slow circles against your back. You sat there for some time, listening to the steady thrum of energy in Tenna's chassis, the hum of static emitting from his screen. At last, you took a shuddering breath and leaned back into the crook of Tenna's arm. And you told him everything.
You told him about things happening back in the Light World. Things that were stressing you out at home, at school, at work. Events out of your control that were spiraling into an overwhelming mess. The ways you were desperately grappling to set everything back in order but ultimately kept drowning in uncertainty. And how you tried to escape, smothering yourself in Tenna's shows in hopes of avoiding reality. But it wasn't enough. No matter how many games you played, how many quizzes you solved and how many times you laughed and danced and spent time in TV World, it was never enough. Yet you kept thinking, one more physical challenge. One more round and surely you'll feel better. As long as everyone else is happy, surely you'll be happy soon too.
Tenna listened as the words poured out and flowed as freely as the tears that still ran down your face. You paused to catch your breath and hesitantly looked up. Tenna's screen was black. Your voice shook. "T-Tenna?"
Snap! Tenna snapped his fingers, and you felt your surroundings shift. For a split second, you were airborne, no longer sitting at your chair but falling through a void of pure television static until...FWUMP! You landed on an old red sofa, its soft cushions breaking your fall. As your eyes adjusted to the dark, you found yourself facing a large screen connected to a game console. Another one of Tenna's boards?
Tenna sprang up, growing in size as he spoke into a microphone in the empty room. "We've got a very SPECIAL episode for you tonight, folks!"
"Tenna, who are you talking to? There's no one recording, and there's no audience to—"
"TONIGHT! Our MARVELOUS contestant will have to face their most DIFFICULT challenge yet!!" The showhost pointed dramatically at you. "Taking time to REST and recover!"
You couldn't help but laugh. This was silly. "I've been resting just by coming here," you protested, starting to get up. "I'm just a little stressed, that's all. I'll be fine, we have to work on that segment and...!"
With a single hand, Tenna shoved you back into your seat. "HAHA! Seems like our CONTESTANT is already struggling with this PHYSICAL CHALLENGE," He teased, leaning over you and pinning you against the couch. You felt your cheeks start to burn under the glow of his screen pressing close to your face. "F-fine! I'll...rest."
"TV-tastic! Now THAT'S what I like to hear." Tenna shrank down and plopped down beside you, launching you up a few inches before landing back down in your seat. You attempted a weak smile, but your downcast eyes betrayed your facade. Tenna frowned, his casing furrowing. "Look, sweetheart..." He spoke quieter now, his voice a gentle murmur. "I don't know what exactly happened in the Light World while you were away. But I know you did your best with what you had, like any good ACTOR would."
You didn't respond, leaning against his arm and reaching for his hand instead. A small smile crossed Tenna's screen and he took your hands in his with a gentle yet steady grip. "You put so much of YOURSELF in everything you do! But being in showbiz like that can wear ya down over time," he continued, stroking the back of your hand idly. "It's OK to take longer commercial breaks sometimes. I mean, have you SEEN the shopping networks during the holidays?"
You yawned, just the thought of nonstop infomercials was making you drowsy. Tenna shrugged off his overcoat, draping it over you and enveloping you in its thick red material. He waved off your protests. "There's a spare in my dressing room. And we won't be using this board until next week. Rest as LONG as you need, superstar."
Suddenly, Tenna's antenna pinged, and he jolted to his feet. "The infomercial ended ALREADY??" He pressed his hand to the side of his screen while turning on the monitor in front of you to broadcast the main stage outside. "Don't worry darling, now you can watch ME from the comfort of your seat! Now don't touch that dial, I'll be RIGHT BACK after these quick messages!!" With that, Tenna slid off towards his dressing room before popping up on screen wearing a spare red tailcoat and his signature energetic smile. But you knew he still had several more segments to record, scripts to review, and contracts to write up after this.
Damn hypocrite, you thought bitterly. But the coat Tenna threw over you was soft and heavy, with the lingering smell of cologne and ozone. You laid down, snuggling the coat as a large blanket, and let your mind slowly drift away to the comforting sound of Tenna's chatter on screen. Long after the day's recordings had ended and the studio lights had all been turned off, Tenna returned to your side and sat down on the floor in front of the couch. He rested his head against the couch cushions and placed a hand over your sleeping figure, smiling softly as you sighed and nuzzled against it.
"Goodnight, my lovely viewer," he murmured. "No matter what, I'll always be so proud of you."