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“THAT’S ALL, folks!”
Tellie told the audience as she reached the end of her show.
“Have a good night, afternoon or morning! Thank you for watching and tune in next time! Goodbye!!!”
Tellie enthusiastically waved goodbye as the curtains closed.
She exhaled. Another successful show done! She could tell that the audience loved it!
She walked through the set. Many of her employees, mostly Shadow guys, congratulated her as she passed through.
She thanked them, mostly out of obligation. She didn’t care much for compliments. As long as her Lightners were happy, she felt accomplished!
“Ellie!! Amazing show!!!”
She turned around and saw her small friends. All of them looked identical, all being small flowers. However, she recognized them by their enthusiastic voice.
“Thank you!”
She told the Golden flower humbly.
“You always know how to capture the crowd! So elegant!”
The Blue Flower complimented her.
“It’s nothing!”
Tellie laughed at the compliment.
The rest of the flowers continued to compliment her. Tellie took each compliment humbly. It always embarrassed her when the wedding bouquet attacked her with compliments. She didn’t deserve them. She was just doing her job!
“I’m going to miss you..”
The Green flower said quietly.
Tellie turned to look at them in surprise.
The Green flower noticed that they said this out loud. A vine hits them on their head.
“You weren’t supposed to say that!”
The Orange flower scolded the Green flower.
“What do you mean by that?”
Tellie asked the Green flower.
Suddenly all the flowers went silent.
The Cyan flower spoke up.
“Ellie.. it was only a matter of time.. but…”
They trailed off, not wanting to tell Tellie the news.
Tellie immediately knew what they were referring to.
“They got a new TV. Didn’t they?”
She asked the wedding bouquet. Their lack of response confirmed her suspicions.
“Hey.. it’s going to be fine!”
She told the flowers reassuringly.
“You’re not scared? Upset?”
The Purple flower asked her with concern in their voice.
“If I have to be honest.. No.”
Tellie told them.
“As they said,”
Tellie referred to the Cyan flower.
“It was only a matter of time. As long as I made the family happy.. I feel accomplished as a TV!”
Tellie smiled sweetly, showing how unafraid and prepared she is for the end of her time as the family TV.
The wedding bouquet were surprised at how well Tellie took the news. Many other Darkners, including themselves, are afraid of being thrown out and inevitably losing their purpose.
“When are they going to start using them?”
Tellie asked the flowers.
“Well… probably until tomorrow! At least, that's what Asgore said!”
The Yellow flower informed Tellie.
Tellie chuckled at the piece of information. Asgore could almost never seem to let go of his old objects. He probably told Toriel that they should watch Tellie for one more day before using the new TV.
“Are they here?”
Tellie asked the flowers.
“We’re not too sure yet.. we can’t really move around.”
The Golden flower said.
“I’ll ask around.”
Tellie told the flowers.
She waved goodbye to the flowers and Tellie walked across her studio. She asked around to see if the new TV was somewhere near. No one has seen them yet.
Tellie goes outside her studio, a place she hasn’t seen in a long time. Tellie wanted to get through this area quickly. She never liked being in quiet, isolated places. She didn’t like being alone with her thoughts..
She noticed someone next to the sleeping couch! It was the TV! They looked very similar to her, except with a different head shape and slightly more purple hue in color.
“Ah! There you are!”
Tellie told the TV.
The TV jumped and immediately turned towards her direction.
“Oh! Hello…”
The TV said nervously.
“You were looking for me? I don’t even know where I am…”
“Of course, I was looking for you!”
Tellie then bowed gracefully for the TV.
“Once I heard about the famous new TV, I HAD to go meet them!”
“Oh! Me? Famous?”
The TV blushed at the comment. Despite how nervous and confused they were, they seemed to love compliments.
“C’mon! Let me show you around!”
Tellie began walking back towards her studio. She turned back to see if they were following her. The TV noticed that she was waiting for them and quickly caught up with her.
Once Tellie and the TV made it back to the studio. Tellie introduced them to everyone. Everyone cheered for the TV and happily welcomed them to the studio. The TV blushed at all the compliments. They outstretched their arms and started bowing enthusiastically, as if they finished a grand performance. They must have REALLY loved the attention, Tellie thought.
Eventually, Tellie cleared her throat and the TV quickly stopped bowing and stood straight, looking embarrassed. Tellie smiled at them. She liked the energy, but she hopes they don’t develop a huge ego in the future..
Tellie shows the new TV around the studio, answering each of their questions. She also tells them about their Lightners.
“In the morning, Toriel usually plays the cooking channel and the news. In the afternoon or so, Asgore usually watches the golf channel or his favorite cowboy show! During nighttime, both Toriel and Asgore spend time together watching various movies and romantic movies or my show! However, that schedule might change now that they have their son, little Asriel! He finds me a little scary! I’m sure that he’ll love you though! All your shows are in color, right?”
Tellie rants a bit before asking the TV a question.
“Huh?”
The TV was not paying much attention, seemingly distracted in their own thoughts and slightly overwhelmed over all the information.
Tellie patiently asked the question again.
“You’re a color TV, correct? You play all your shows in color?”
“Yeah! I’m very special that way!”
The TV enthusiastically told Tellie. They almost seemed to be bragging as well..
They only pay attention when they talk about themselves, Tellie thought. Great. Maybe they already have a big ego..
“So… Do you recall any of the information I just told you?”
Tellie asks the TV.
“Uhh… My family is Asgore, Toriel and their son Asriel. And.. they watch a lot of channels...”
The TV answered.
“Hmmm.. Close enough.”
Tellie said in response.
“Firstly, the Lightners are not your family. Each family member watches specific channels at certain times. We do NOT want to play anything unexpected. Make sure you are paying attention. I’m only giving this tour ONCE.”
Tellie sharply told the TV. She wanted to make sure the TV does their job correctly and efficiently. If she had to get stricter with them, she was not afraid to do so.
The TV nodded and bowed their head. They also shrank a few inches.
Once she was done with the tour, she led the TV to her office, or their office since she has no use for it after tomorrow.
“That’s all you need to know! Any last questions before I go?”
“What’s your name?”
The TV asked Tellie.
Tellie was surprised at the question. Why are they asking about her and not about their job?
“I’m Tellie. Tellie Vision.”
She answered. She then laughed.
“Asgore loves to give a lot of us silly names.. He’ll probably give you one too!”
“Tellie.. That’s a wonderful name! I hope I get a name as nice as that!”
The TV told her as they smiled at her joyfully.
Tellie didn’t know why she felt weird when they told her this. Usually she didn’t care for compliments, but hearing that come from the other TV made her feel… happy.
“Thank you.”
She eventually said.
“Anything else-”
Tellie started to ask when a Shadow guy came into the office flailing their arms and making frantic saxophone noises.
“What!? I’m needed on the set?! NOW!?”
Tellie asked the Shadow guy. They nodded their head.
Tellie turned towards the other TV.
“I have to go. I apologize.”
She quickly ran out of the office and went to the set.
Who could be using her this late in the nigh-
Asgore.
Of course.
She sighed and quickly went to the cowboy set. She was the only one there.
In the Lightworld, Asgore was sitting on the floor changing the channels for his favorite childhood show.
She knew better than to interrupt him.
Asgore sighed.
“I’m sorry to wake you, Ellie. I just wanted to.. use you one last time.”
“…”
He laughed softly.
“All the fun memories we made…”
“……..”
Asgore watched his favorite episode of the cowboy show in silence.
“I know Tori doesn’t want to but… I can’t bring myself to throw you out.”
Asgore eventually says.
“What.”
Tellie responded, despite the fact that he couldn’t hear her.
“The thought of throwing you out, after all this time… depresses me. I can keep you in the new TV’s box for a bit..”
Asgore suggests as he looks at the new TV’s box.
“Asgore... You don’t NEED me anymore!”
Tellie shouted to Asgore in frustration.
Asgore kept talking to Tellie, reassuring her that she won’t get thrown out.
At this point, Tellie stopped listening and started shouting at him. He could not hear her, but she needed to release her anger. She felt… betrayed.
She had been preparing herself for this day and he immediately backs away.
“NO!! Why are you still keeping me???!! You have a newer, BETTER TV right THERE!!! I’m an old TV!! Why do you still want me??!!! I have no purpose anymore!!! Just THROW ME OUT!!!”
She couldn’t take it anymore. She forcibly turned herself off in the Lightworld.
Asgore looked surprised and tried to turn the TV on again. Tellie refused, keeping herself off.
“Tellie…”
Asgore starts. Tellie could not take any more of this and stormed out of the set. She realized she didn’t know where to go, her office was the new TV’s now.
“Tellie?”
She heard a voice and turned towards them. It was the new TV.
“Were you talking with the Lightner?”
She composed herself.
“How much did you see?”
She sharply asked.
“I’m sorry.. I just wanted to see how you did the show… I didn’t know…”
The TV shrank as they apologized for what they saw.
“….I’ll see you in the morning.”
Tellie said before she left the room, leaving the TV there by themself.
Tellie went off to find a quiet, isolated place. Away from everyone. She didn’t deserve a room.
She put her screen in her hands. It was fine! Everything is fine! She could be the new TV’s mentor while she is still here! That's her purpose now!
She can’t just sit there and… exist! She NEEDS a purpose. No purpose and she’s nothing. She’ll be worthless..
Tellie tried to keep herself busy by planning for the next day. She HATED being alone with her thoughts.
Before she knew it, it was already the next day.
Tellie spent the rest of the days mentoring the new TV. Teaching them all her tricks and telling them more about the family. She planned to keep all their conversations strictly professional, however, the other TV never left her alone.
They were always by her side, happy to have someone similar to them to talk to. Tellie couldn’t help but grow attached to the other TV. They go to her for everything, even small things. Is this how Toriel felt with little Asriel?
They were very excited when they/he finally got his name.
Tellie was alone. Whenever the other TV was busy with their show, she was always somewhere alone. Others have tried to talk to her, but she always pushed them away. She didn’t deserve them. All of them should be focused on their jobs and assisting the new TV. She was nothing. She didn’t deserve their kindness and concern. She isn’t important. She is just a waste of-
“Tellie!!!!”
The TV suddenly appeared. They seemed to have grown taller as well, extremely happy about something. Despite the fact that Tellie pushed away everyone who tried to talk to her, she couldn’t bring herself to push away the other TV. Mentors are always supposed to be there for their mentees. At least, that’s what she tried to tell herself…
Another reason is because the other TV would shrink out of sadness and beg her to stay. They were pathetic sometimes…
Tellie couldn’t help but laugh at the other TV’s joyful attitude.
“What happened?”
The TV stood confidently.
“Gorey gave me a name today!!”
Gorey???!!
Tellie turned her attention to the other TV in interest.
“What did he name you?”
“Ant Tenna!!! MR. Ant Tenna!”
As he said this, the name appeared in gold letters on top of him, a new trick that he had learned recently.
Tellie laughed at the name.
“Ant Tenna! That’s an adorable name!”
Tenna pouted when Tellie said this.
“Adorable?!”
Tellie laughed at his reaction.
“So, should I call you Ant from now on?”
Tellie asked him.
Tenna hummed.
“I think I prefer Tenna.. Ant makes me sound small!! And I am NOT small OR cute!”
Tenna said as he crossed his arms.
“Yes, you are!”
Tellie teased as she pushed down his hat on his screen.
“Little Ant!!!”
She said in an annoying voice.
“HEY!!”
Tenna complained before laughing as well.
“You may also refer to me as he and him now!! Since I am Mr. Ant Tenna!”
Tenna told Tellie.
“And you are okay with that?”
Tellie asked.
Tenna looked at her in confusion.
“Yes… Why?”
Tellie also wondered why she asked that question to him.
“Well… isn’t it weird for someone to just decide your identity like that?”
“No.. Not really. I don’t really care. As long as I’m making my family happy, I’m willing to be anything for them!”
Tenna answered Tellie.
Tellie found this… confusing. Surely Tenna has his own preference… right? The thought of someone deciding what she identifies as makes her… disgusted. She was always a “She”... She always felt like a “She”. If someone were to refer to her as something else…
Tellie stopped herself from that thought. Why was she thinking this? She’s not an individual…she was just a TV…. Why did she care so much.. She isn’t supposed to…
“I also prefer Tenna because it sounds like Tellie! Almost like we are related! Like a family!!”
Tenna told Tellie.
A family…
“Tenna. We are not a family.”
Tellie told Tenna.
Tenna looked at Tellie in shock.
“We are just TVs. TVs don’t have families. Our purpose is to entertain others. How can we have families? That is not our purpose.”
Tellie told Tenna.
Tenna shrunk in sadness.
“But I thought…”
Tellie realized how she acted towards him earlier. How careless of her.. Making Tenna think that they were a family.
Tellie sighed.
“Tenna.. I’m just your mentor. I apologize for making you think otherwise.”
Tellie stepped away from him. Tenna shrank even further.
Tellie sighed again. He was so.. emotional for a Darkner. Too emotional. He cares too much. Did she do this?
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
Tellie asked Tenna.
Tenna shook his head in silence.
“Good.”
She put her arms behind her back and turned away from him.
He was still standing there.
“You can go now.”
She sharply told him.
Tenna realized that she wanted him to leave her alone. He quickly left the room.
After this, Tellie and Tenna had many more moments like this. As soon as Tellie realized she was getting attached, she immediately pushed him away.
Eventually came her last day in the Dreemurr household.
Tellie was walking back from another day of advising Tenna. Or watching him do his show. He was a natural. He rarely asked for her help.
“Ellie!!”
Someone shouted for her.
Tellie walked faster. Trying to avoid them.
“TELLIE! GET OVER HERE! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!”
She stopped. Reluctantly, she turned around and saw the wedding bouquet staring at her. The Orange flower being the one who just shouted at her. She has not been talking with them for a while…
“Yes?”
Tellie said to them, rather dismissively. Usually she was very friendly with them.
She knew how cold and distant she was to everyone, even the ones she got along with. But she never considered them her friends. Why would she need friends if she was going to get thrown out and lose her purpose eventually.
“Well…”
The Green flower started before they were interrupted by the Purple flower.
“Just a heads up. Toriel asked, no Ordered, Asgore to throw you out. Today.”
Finally, Tellie thought.
“…Thank you.”
Tellie told them. She waited to see if they would say anything else. They stared at her, but none of them said anything.
Tellie left without saying anything. It was easier for her.
Tellie walked through the studio, others saying goodbye to her as well. She didn’t say anything to them.
She went outside her studio. A place very familiar to her now. She sat and waited.
Why was she nervous? She has been preparing herself for this day. She thought she was ready.
“TELLIE!!!”
Someone cried.
No.. why is HE here?
Tenna ran out the studio, searching for Tellie and shouting her name. Tellie didn’t say anything, hoping that Tenna wouldn't find her. He does find her eventually.
“Tellie.. I heard that..No..Please tell me it isn’t true..!”
Tenna begged Tellie, desperately wanting to be wrong.
Tellie didn’t say anything.
“Tellie…”
Tenna dropped to his knees in front of her.
“Tenna…It’s fine!”
Tellie eventually told him. She stood up.
“I fulfilled my purpose! It was going to happen eventually.”
Tellie tried to say with a smile.
“I’m not scared..!”
Tellie tried to say confidently like last time. However, she sounded nervous. It was so much easier back then.. Why was it harder to say? Why doesn’t she believe it anymore?
Tenna stood up without saying a word. Suddenly he went up to her and wrapped his arms around her. Tellie was confused.
He was hugging her? Tellie felt so confused. She has never been hugged before. She has never come in such close contact with another. Only the Lightners could do these things.. Feel these things. TV’s are not supposed to love or care for anyone….
Despite her thoughts, the hug felt.. Nice. Especially from Tenna.
She hugged him back.
Tenna shook as she hugged him back. He was crying. Tellie tried her best to reassure him.
“Tenna, It’s okay!”
Tellie told him.
“You don’t have to worry about me! I’ll be fine. I won’t be here anymore, but I promise you everything is going to be okay. Nothing lasts forever.. Including us! I’m happy that I fulfilled my purpos-”
“I DON’T CARE ABOUT ‘PURPOSE’! WHY DO YOU KEEP MENTIONING IT!”
Tenna snaps and shouts at Tellie, interrupting her from her usual speech.
“I just… I don't want to lose my sister…”
Tellie was stunned. Sister… That's how he saw her. Even when she tried to push him away all those times. Even when she tried to avoid getting close to him. Even when she scolded him for having those thoughts. He still loved her as a sister. As his family.
She was just trying to tell him the truth! Why couldn’t he understand? She is just trying to make everything easier for him when he inevitably gets thrown out like her! She just wants to make things easier… for herself.
“Tenna.”
Tellie slightly pulled away and grabbed his shoulders.
“Promise me. Promise me that you will take care of the family for me.”
Tenna didn’t want to look at her. His screen was turned off, making his expression unclear.
“I apologize that we can’t control what the Lightners do to us.. But please.. Do this for me.”
She shook him once to emphasize what she's telling him.
Tenna didn’t respond. Tellie felt herself growing more anxious. PLEASE, she thought. STOP MAKING THIS HARDER FOR ME!
Eventually, he nodded.
She exhaled in relief as he stepped away from her.
He turned around and started to slowly walk back to the studio. He stopped.
“Goodbye Tellie.”
He told her without turning around.
A moment of silence passed before he said,
“I love you, Tellie.”
Tellie felt like someone punched her in the gut. She was glad he was not looking at her.
“I… I love you too, Tenna.”
She told him.
He started walking again before Tellie told him something else.
“Tenna.”
He stopped.
“Remember our promise. And… Keep smiling for me, okay?”
“Yes.”
Tenna said.
She watched him as he headed back to the studio. Watched him until he was clear out of sight.
Once he left for good, she immediately fell to the ground.
She was keeping it together for Tenna, but she couldn’t take it anymore. She immediately started breaking down.
She put her hands over her screen.
It’s actually happening. She’s getting thrown out…
She has no purpose anymore. All she is is a piece of trash. No longer a waste of space, but actual trash that no one wants anymore.
She should be happy. Satisfied. She fulfilled her purpose, didn’t she? She made the Lightners happy, especially Asgore. She told herself this everyday. But now…
All she felt was fear.
She was alone with her thoughts. Her work can’t distract her anymore….
She couldn’t stop all the memories from flooding her mind. Is this what it means for her life to flash before her eyes/screen?
She remembered her time as the family TV. Asgore watching her when he was younger. Asgore taking her with him to his new house, after getting married to Toriel. Asgore and Toriel’s time adjusting to the new home. Asriel’s arrival.
She remembered her time in the studio. Meeting all her employees. Meeting the flower bouquet. All the shows she recorded. Her show… She really missed her show.
Tellie suddenly became aware of how she acted and treated the others. She was so.. careless about them. Ignorant of their feelings. Dismissive of their words. She never appreciated her relationships. Why would she? She was just a TV. They were all objects. Why would objects care about each other?
How did they deal with her all these years? She never did think once of what they could be feeling. She never listened to anyone. Only when it was related to the Lightners and purpose.
There it was again. Purpose. That was all she cared about, wasn’t it? How annoying it must have been for everyone to hear that word coming from her mouth, again and again.
Tellie thought of how she would have been if she didn’t care for her purpose.
She felt so cold suddenly.
Was it already time? She was running out of time.
She felt so scared. She realized she didn’t want to get thrown out. She didn’t want to die.
She wanted to go back. She wanted to go back and tell everyone how much she cared for them. All of them must have thought that she did not care about them.
She acted like she didn’t care for them. She wished that she cared for them more.
She remembered her last words with the wedding bouquet. She wished she could have said more. They were the closest thing to her friends…. And she completely dismissed them.
And Tenna… Oh Tenna.
She wanted to blame him for everything. He was the reason why she was getting thrown out. He was everything she couldn’t be. She shouldn’t be. He was new. He was a loud color TV, much more interesting than a boring silent black and white TV. He could play so much more than her. So much better than her. Even the stupid cowboy show Asgore loves. The one thing that Asgore loved about her, and Tenna has it. He was very emotional, unlike her. Even the employees seem to have more fun with him, or at least found him amusing. He acted so much more personally with the Lightners. She initially thought of this as a flaw, but he seemed to understand the Lighteners more deeply.
She wanted to hate him… but she couldn’t.
She loved him. She practically raised him. He was her brother. She suddenly wished she could have taken back those final words. “Keep Smiling”, those words did more harm to her than good. She might have ruined Tenna’s future because of her fear.
She wants to hug him again. Stay with him.
She felt like she was freezing. Is this how death felt like? She hated the cold.
She remembered when Asgore put a blanket over her one time.
Asgore…
How she wished she could tell him how much he meant to her. He still kept her, even when no one wanted her anymore.
Why isn’t he saving her now? Why isn’t he arguing with Toriel to keep her? Why does Toriel hate her so much? Why? Why? WHY?
She felt numb.
Her anger faded and she immediately started feeling despair.
She started apologizing for everyone she has hurt. She begged for forgiveness, even though no one could hear her. She begged for more time. She begged for another chance.
Tellie suddenly passed out. Falling into a deep sleep.
Never to wake up again.