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It was another night in Castle Town - the bustling streets started to calm down and most of the neighbor folk went either home-ways or in the cat cafe. It might've been a routine for Tenna either to wilt away in his room, spiraling into a bundle of messy memories that seemed to scar themselves under his robotic wiring and into his poor star-shaped heart. Making it crack further every night.
Or, Tenna might try going to the cafe and talk with his old acquaintance Swatch. He always served amazing drinks and could lend an ear, just like Ramb once, even though Tenna never really liked the plug darkner back in the studio…
Speaking of TV World, he would chat with his ex-employees at the establishment who at least held him at some kind of level of revere, instead of outright ignoring him or spreading rumors.
Elnina and Lanino were a nice chat, despite Tenna's angry outbursts in the past coating their interactions with tension. Shuttahs, Shadow Guys, Zappers were okay too, they even referred to Tenna as "boss" sometimes which made him feel even more like an asshole. If only he'd be a good boss and didn't treat his employees like disposable and replaceable, maybe… maybe he'd have a stronger community around him now.
There wouldn't be any rumors around him… it were always pippins who spread them, too. Damn those rule-breakers… Tenna would miss them as well, drinking his incapacitated heart away with Queen's Battery Acid and reminisce on the gold days with Swatch.
But Tenna was never honest enough to admit he was still bitter not only about how he used to be watched by the whole family and even Holidays, but also about his Big Shot ex who ripped him off all those years ago, stripping of success and… other, rather personal things, like self-esteem and ability to confide in somebody without being too controlling. Tenna's repressed cocktail of love and hate made him uninterested in other relationships and closed himself off in work, blaming everything on him.
This lifestyle was suppose to be the ideal evening spent by Tenna. After all, he was still recovering from the injury he got after facing The Roaring Knight - therefore he couldn't work until his body gave out, because he was still weak. Scars over his clavicle were still fresh, and physical pain was present half of the day when Tenna moved too suddenly or slept the wrong way.
He was just trying to settle down until new home was found for him and he could start fresh. Even though nights after nights spent with friends who weren't that close to him, or trying to sleep in an empty bed, or washing the dishes for Angel's sake…
…
His hands would cleanse over the cup, humming a tune under his nose. Tenna was just doing honky-doody, until the realization sank in of what commercial jingle he was thinking about.
It was Spammy's-- no, that mailman's advertisement where he was wearing this…
Stunning red vest, just like I used to wear on special occasions…
Those black, sparkly shoes that screamed of how well they were polished and high heels to make sure he was a bit taller in the frame…
His smile wide and inviting, but oh, I knew… I knew which one was for air and which was reserved for… me, backstage.
And his face, oh… His face was…
…..
….
…
Tenna's whole body froze as he tried to remember.
What did his face look like?
Were Spamton's eyes always closed? What was his eye color? Did he smile with his teeth or without? Did he have dimples when he smiled?
The only thing he could remember was a blurry figure in a shiny red suit and a yellow tie. His boots sparkly-clean, his hair covered in thick gel to keep it in place, even though a few still got out - imperfectly perfect.
But his face? What did his face look like?
I'm starting to forget your face.
Tenna would snap out of his head when he heard a load cracking noise. His mug was broken on the floor.
He knew it was pathetic, it was pointless and frankly Spamton was probably riding his Cungadero with someone else, feeling the breeze and all, while Tenna kept being the rustic TV Host that got too boring to watch.
But then, Tenna met a puppet who he saw in TV World when lightners were there. He might've foamed it out of sheer repugnance for the unidentifiable creature once, but he never expected to see it again, in Castle Town of all places! And also eventually find out the uncanny-looking thing was his old business partner Spamton, THIS WHOLE TIME!
Yeah, that Spamton he thought was at the top of the world somewhere else, somewhere better? With someone newer? That "Happily-Ever-After" Tenna was so sure Spamton got - never happened. Instead of going up, he hit the bottom of the barrel and resented Tenna for it. His body morphed against his will, his speech was mangled and he slept in damn garbage cans while Tenna…
Tenna used to think he had it worse. He was forgotten by the lightners, forced to keep his show afloat despite it being irrelevant, and thought Spamton was bathing in the recognition preserved for Tenna, not for him!
But as it turns out, Tenna was all wrong. This whole time Spamton was alone, surrounded by no one except foes who never hesitated to get physical. He was homeless, hopeless, and it was all Tenna's fault.
In the end, they both got the shorter end of the stick and never knew.
It took a lot of time to learn the truth from both sides, it took a lot of time to… let it sink in. After all those years they never stopped loving with their horribly cracked hearts and yet let despise dominate their view on each other for so long. And it probably would've stayed the same if they hadn't seen each other that day in Castle Town.
It started a difficult path to healing. Together.
At the end of the day, even the Prophecy couldn't separate these two at the face of death or time, the two found each other again anyway.
And they could finally have something they didn't, even back in the Big Shot days. There was no more pressure, no more status to uphold in front of the others or restrictions to follow in public.
They were free to commit and confide in each others arms, figuratively and literally.
In the present, some time after their reunion and a lot of improvement they've done for each other - they were resting in their shared bedroom in Castle Town.
It was greatly expanded since the day Tenna first arrived, or after him and Spamton saw each other back then. Their room was now twice the bigger - it had a fireplace, a king bed, a window, and another room among from the other junk Tenna brought with him before his Dark World fell into obscurity. Also Spamton's new possessions he thrifted here-and-there in town were also a lot in place that once was just a singular room for Tenna's temporary stay.
Tenna's arms were wrapped around Spamton who laid atop the tall darkner, his arms reciprocating the hug. Tenna's screen displayed some new comedy that came out a few months ago, entertaining his partner who seemed to be annoyed at the stupid plot progression and commented on it every five minutes.
Tomorrow lightners won't be coming to get the Dealmakers for another adventure, so the two could have this evening and tomorrow all for themselves. It couldn't help but feed into Tenna's reassurance that Spamton was here to stay. He's not going to vanish when the lightners take him on another dangerous task, Tenna puts his trust in him just like Spamton does in return.
Of course, to get here it took them so many uncomfortable conversations, and eventually deciding to go to a therapist and work through everything they preferred to ignore back then. It was more of a surprise there was an actual therapist darkner in Castle Town than the fact they went there at all.
Tenna was consumed in thought, and after a while to ponder it he decided to bring it up. His screen switched from the comedy show back to his face.
"You don't seem too invested, so I thought we might… talk? About something important?" Tenna began, hoping he didn't misinterpret Spamton's complaints for actual interest. "We could go back to watching though, if you want." He added in case he was wrong, to which Spamton rolled his eyes, seen behind the lenses of his multicolored glasses. The puppet instantly knew it was important by the tone of his husband, who already had sweat animation playing on his screen, indicating anxiety.
"A; aLRIGHT, [split it] OUT [[Boob Tube]]. WHAT'S BOTHERING YO U?" Spamton rose to sit on Tenna's torso, his nervousness piquing Spamton's curiosity.
Tenna took a deep breath, chuckling at his own piteousness in front of Spamton. He promised he'll stop with the over-dramatic outbursts, but was this really it? He was just trying to share his feelings, it was okay, right?
"Golly, it's just… a lot on my mind! I've been thinking… about the place I'll soon be given to." Tenna's screen dimmed at the thought.
That place will probably be Mrs Toriel's classroom where she teaches elementary, or were they middle schoolers? Regardless, Tenna was excited to be in the center of attention once again, especially by so many lightners and even teach them something through whatever he'll be displaying.
Including having his mother figure around, despite… her trying to get rid of him, previously. He didn't hold a grudge against her, after all she didn't know her TV had consciousness or feelings.
"It will be a classroom, full of kids running around who'll watch me." A small smile spread across his screen. "And Toriel will be there, most likely. And, you see…"
The thing he was about to say saddened Tenna so much, because wasn't Spamton essentially part of Queen in the Light World? Maybe he was an artificial spam email in Queen's "inbox", was it? Or maybe Spamton was a printed out email letter, in which case…
"Would you want to… go with me? Permanently?" Tenna asked, teeth sinking in his lower lip out of nerves.
I could ask the lightners to take Spammy along with me, and…
Otherwise, he would have to travel between worlds regularly, or I would.
"That's also okay if you'd prefer to stay here! After all, the classroom is probably not in need of printed out emails… haha…" Tenna was unsure if he tried to reassure Spamton or himself, but both were equally going wrong.
Spamton staggered, but quickly recovered from his words and snickered.
"EAHAHEAHEA!!1! !1 WELL GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, [[Trash Heap]]!1! THE [Purple Beast] ALREADY TOLD ME ABOUT ." He slicked his hair back proudly, watching Tenna's face slowly twist in revelation. "IN FACT, SHE COULD JUS>>tT SAY THAT MY [[Laight W0rLd]] FORM WAS A [Necessary ingredient to] THE [CRTs] S sSO NO ONE COULD ACCIDENTA;LLY THR0W ME [[Out and about]] !!"
What the puppet didn't expect, is being lurchingly pulled in an even tighter embrace than before. Tenna's screen overheating and smoke fuming out the vent haphazardly, he smiled with relief. In retrospect, Spamton swiftly adjusted around Tenna's strong mechanical arms before snuggling in his neck like a koala.
"Oh, Spammy!" Tenna beamed. "Y-You really would?? Then…" He pulled away slightly, wiping the artificial tears off his screen, sniffing joyfully. "Then our baby won't be stuck here, and make more friends!"
They both cared about their daughter deeply, especially because in order for an addison, or in this case, half-addison to hatch - they need to receive a lot of attention and protection from their parents. But that wasn't meant to be, when they both worked 24/7 in the studio, obviously.
Then the phone call… Spamton ran away, leaving Tenna to foolishly hide the pipis away from prying eyes, as if she was something to be embarrassed about.
Of course she wasn't going to hatch in that environment…
But then, after so many complicated years - both parents were together once again. Two months after Tenna and Spamton "revamped" their vows… she finally hatched, surrounded with love by both parents.
Now, she was old enough to go out with a friend!
It is nice, for the time being, but living in Castle Town could get boring because of limitations of the landscape around them. You could only explore so far, after all.
That's why Tenna needed to be wanted not only by the lightners in the classroom he might be in soon, but also surrounded by new colleges, potential friends, and of course Spamton and their daughter. Tenna wanted to create a future outside of Castle Town for his family, one they'll enjoy.
Spamton nodded, his hand brushing over Tenna's sweater in soft, soothing motions.
"THAT 'D BE TH<e E [[Low income? Call]] EVER 4 YOU AND [Little Missy]!" He agreed, though his smile strained. "B- B BUT D0-N'T YOU TH1NK [I, me, & myself] W1lL ME$$ [[Up!]] YOuR R [[Highly Recommended]]? ??> POT3NTIAL [DEALS] AND [SALES] WOULD SEE MY [[MUGSHOT]] AND ! "
Tenna's screen wavered to one of sadness.
Why did Spamton always say this nowadays?
It's not like I ever agreed with that, or--
….
Okay, maybe I said something like that once, but… I didn't mean it!
Am I part of the reason he feels self conscious…?
"Spammy, no! Listen, if it's because of what I said once it's complete--" A drop outside the window. Again, and again, and again until it turned in a cacophony of raindrops falling outside. They both looked at each other puzzlingly and pressed their faces against the window, to see… rain.
Was it ever a thing in Tenna Dark World? No. Was it in Spamton's? Judging by his face, no as well. Then what the hell is going on?
"Crack in your ceiling?] MUST BE LETt1NG S0ME [[WATER SUPPLY NEAR YOU]] 4FROM THE 0U ' TS1DE…" Spamton whispered, as much as he could with his voice box forever set to max. His hand pressing against the glass, looking at the outside.
"Huh… a glimpse of the Light World I suppose." Tenna barely-audibly responded, fascinated. His free hand slowly wrapped Spamton's, bringing his attention back to the screen. "I meant it when I said you don't need to change for anyone's sake." Tenna smiled. "You're as charming as ever for me, Spamton."
Spamton scoffed, even though his face seemingly relaxed.
"YEAH 1 D0N"T K; N0W WHY [[I said what I said!] . I'M EV3RY BUDDY 'S FAVORITE [[Number 1 Rated Salesman1997]] A FT3R ALL."
Tenna snapped his fingers encouragingly.
"That's right, there's my favorite salesman!" Tenna grinned, pressing a kiss to Spamton's cheek and making him flush slight red. Not because of anger like he usually does, but in sweet-sweet embarrassment.
A short pause lingers in the air before Tenna speaks up again, his voice slowly paced than before as the raindrops outside hit the window.
"You think… kids would like me?" He asked with the tone that craved approval, some kind of reassurance. "I know Toriel won't go easy on me, b-but Susie put a good word for me..!! S-so…" An image of even his last dedicated viewer turning him off, as dust and cobwebs molded around his cables and the screen. Useless take of space before nearly being thrown out.
His face wrinkled, hand squeezing the blanket over them tightly in his grasp before getting thrown back to the present with Spamton's concerned frown piercing through.
"TORIEL… SHMOR1EL… SHE'S NOT THE ONLY [Tech Around Town!], IT 'S NOT LIKE SH3 GonNA [[Gloom]] OVeR Y- YOU [[Every Sunday Mornin']] !!" Spamton's words hurtled in a brisk torrent of jumbled-up words, hoping to placate the CRT.
"IN FACT, SHE M-1- 1I- IGHT
"SHE M-1- 1I- IGHT
"SHE M-1- 1I- IGHT
"SHE M-1- 1I- IGHT
"SHE M-1- 1I- IGHT
"SHE M-1- 1I- IGHT
Tenna froze, this glitch where Spamton got stuck in a loop wasn't an unusual thing but it got him off guard every time nevertheless. Before he could decide what to do and how to help him exactly - Spamton grabbed on his jaw with one hand and hit his temple with another. He snapped out of it at the rough impact, making Tenna wince.
"Spammy…!" He wailed, his palm brushing against puppet's head in careful petting.
Spamton sighed in annoyance, still accepting the touch.
"SHE M1GH; T [Feels] NOSTA>>lg1C." He finally finished, making his point clear.
"SHE DOESN'T [[Let me tell you how much I've come to hate]] Y0U." His smile softened for a brief moment. "MY [Guts] AR3 TELL^NG [Mii] YOU ARE G-- GONNA BE [[Wine]] AND DANDY, [[BIGSHOT]]."
Tenna's mouth slipped in a barely noticeable smile. He whispered.
"You think…?"
"[Eye] KN0;W."
Tenna couldn't help but melt into a smile, his hands wrapping around his screen like a smitten damsel.
"Oh, you…!" Spamton couldn't help but smirk wider, his eyes sharing an unspoken conversation. "I mean, even if that's the case… I'd need a certain someone help me te-e-e-ach!" Tenna sing-songed teasingly, watching his little mail man raise a brow.
"WH<.AT AR,E YOU [Getting laid] AT? "
"Teach maybe not only lightners but darkners too? Surely there's little ones our kid's age." Tenna stretches his arms in excitement. "Good gracious, imagine! I assist in projecting stellar things for lightners, and you teach darkners? While our baby's also there? Part of the class?"
Spamton's eyes widened, his arms articulating at himself, puzzled.
"WHAT, [[ME / I / MYSELF]] ?? I''M N 0T [Suits on a discount]--ABLE F0R TH1$ [Job Application], JUST LOOK AT ME!"
"I think you'd look pretty great in a suit anyway." Tenna mumbled, giving Spamton an honest look of complete adoration.
Drop.
Drop.
Drop.
Spamton's small doll-like hand slowly wrapped around Tenna's two big fingers, in an attempt to intertwine them together. He rested his chin on Tenna's chest, looking out the raining window.
Maybe this was worth a shot.
"I'LL [Watch and learn] FROM YOU."