[Knickknack]
Warnings: CRT gore.. very mild descriptions. (gore of my comfort character--)
info: inspired by a [post] by @selfshipped-with-shadowguys
A/N: MAJOR thanks and props to @tabdabble for helping SO much with this!! If it weren't for them, this fic would not have finally reached its long awaited end.
Chapters: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [7]
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[Chapter 6]:
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Silence.
Silence is all that surrounded you and your gaggle of friends as you made your way through the hollow corridors of the studio. The vacant building whistling and echoing the sounds of your footsteps against oscillating patterns of linoleum, hardwood, and carpet.
Battat was the leader of the band, sprinting as fast as he could, leading you all to the exit. Passing through a few rooms with monitors and screens that displayed static and remnants of Tenna's puzzle game. The final room held a large screen that only repeated in zeroes, behind it was a haunting glimpse of hundreds more screens, some lit and some not, hanging from poles in the ceiling, jutting out from the walls, or even affixed to them. You couldn't stay to process what you saw as Battat wrenched the door open, a cold blast of air flooding in and causing you to flinch out of your thoughts.
Jive took notice and held your hand, bringing you closer and leading you through into the familiar field of static snow. The cold quickly dissipated to nothing once you were through. Not cold, not warmth, just nothing.
The rush continues, Battat retracing his steps and calling out to Tenna. A large tree, an evergreen, decorated in gold and red with a gold star topper, begins to come into view. Scattered among the piles of static snow on either side of you are various gachapon balls in an enormous size.. large enough to fit someone inside. You feel Jive's grip on your hand tighten as you pass one close by.
"Tenna!! Boss!! Where are ya!?" Battat cried out into the wind.
"Mi--!?"
"This way! He's this way, you guys!" Battat called back.
"Over --ere! Still --live!"
Just beyond the tree, you begin to hear harsh static and electrical sparks. The static grows in volume, rapid like the changing of channels at an unnatural speed. It's almost too painful to listen to, but it was essential to locate Tenna in the blinding snow.
And the sight of him ripped the air from your lungs in horror when you finally did.
"Boss!" Battat rushed to his side.
Tenna tried to reply once more, but his voice was glitching, skipping, and ultimately crushed with the static that filled his speakers. At Mike's approach, however, the sound lowered, as if it had been part of Tenna's way to flag Battat down, a signal to hear and find him after his voice had given out.
He lay face-up in the snow as more fell down around you all, and a light layer had accumulated over his body.
His arms.. His arms were strewn out beside him, just as Battat had described. Severed from the shoulder. Sparking wires and oil spilling out, staining the snow around him. His hands twitched, signals firing yet having no real directive.
His face was gone, a blank slate of glass that overflowed with static and noise, scan lines scrolling and flickering upon it.
As much of an antagonist as he had been to you, it was hard to look at him like this. He didn't deserve this. No one did.
"Talk to me, Boss - you're still with us, right?" Battat asked anxiously.
Tenna jolted slightly, but his face remained absent. "--j-jj-JJu--t --little bi-- damaged! --ah! Ha--! I can sti-- move! See?!" He tried to sit up, but his body groaned in protest, and he fell back again.
"M-Mr. Tenna..! You shouldn't try to move..!"
Up until he spoke, the ghastly spectacle had completely overshadowed the inconspicuous presence of the other figure beside Tenna. He was small, and despite his green robes and pink scarf, his white fur nearly blended in with the snow around him entirely. He was trying to mend the wires from one of Tenna's sockets and stop them from sparking.
The sight of him shook something free in your mind.
"Wait, didn't you say there were other Lightner's? But there's only him--?"
"The li'l guy's not one'a you's." Jongler spoke up, which garnered the attention of the one in question.
"Ah, you.. You're a Lightner, too..?" He seemed honestly shocked to the core at your presence. "The uhm.. The other two had already gone off. Chasing down the Knight and to seal the fountain. We.." He went quiet for a moment, his gaze down turned, "We haven't got a lot of time left here, but I can't just leave Mr. Tenna like this, I need to get him back to Castle Town with the others before this place is sealed off forever."
That.. was a lot for you to take in.
"You don-- --eed to worry yourse--f, Ralsei! I'll be fi-- I'll be.." Tenna tried so hard to keep up a cheerful demeanor, but that facade quickly crumbled, the words dying in his throat harsher than the static that cut between them. His antennae drooped, one twitching with a spark where it was bent wrong, and his screen darkened, but the static and scan lines didn't falter.
"Mr. Tenna.." Ralsei's voice was soft, "Please. Let's not make the Lightner concerned.. Now.. really isn't the time." He turned toward you and your group now, "I've tied up as many of the wires as I could, but with the number of people we have currently..We wouldn't be able to carry him to the exit in time.. I don't.. I don't know what else to do.." he went quiet, turning his head down to his lap.
The whole situation felt miserable. Everyone wracking their minds to try and think of some kind of solution. Yet, everyone was fresh out of ideas to try. Well.. almost everyone.
"Well, we could try to make some extra time." You stepped forward, breaking the silence, "The Mikes can head out and try to stall the others, keep them from sealing the fountain just yet. Meanwhile.. Uh. We can try to get Tenna up and out of the snow and go from there."
It wasn't much of a plan, but it was a start. No one could really argue with that.
"I think the cowboy should stay. We'll need all the strength we can get for this. You guys can go on ahead." You give a quick nod to Pluey and Battat, who nodded gravely in return before rushing off to the fountain. Your gaze drifts around to the remaining group, lingering on Jive and finally resting on Tenna.
You take a deep breath to steel yourself before continuing. "Okay. Let's find a way to move him."
=========
Pushing: No.
Dragging: No. You honestly might have thrown out your back in the attempts.
Tenna standing and walking by himself: Super no. Even if he could manage to get to his feet, any fall would compound his already grievous injuries.
Using the gacha ball halves as a way to slide him across the snow like a sled: No. Too small.
The falling snow gathered on your head and shoulders like grains of sand leaking from a shattered hourglass. The Mikes may have bought you some time, but they couldn't hold off the inevitable forever.
You turned your gaze to the show host and felt a pang of empathy in your heart. Tenna was lucid ..mostly. At times he was vacant and unresponsive, at others you could hear pouring from his speakers a repeating soundtrack of desperate apologies and pleas for help, and-- even more jarringly-- sometimes Tenna would snap into an almost lighthearted demeanor of optimism and flat-out denial.
He was silent at the moment, and for that, you felt guiltily thankful. The pleas for help were so painful to listen to when the best you could do was reaffirm that you were trying, while the tone-deaf optimism was unhelpful at best, heart-wrenching at worst.
You felt a warm hand on your back and slumped into Jive's shoulder before wearily shouting over the wind. "Any other ideas?"
The shadowguy was similarly exhausted, and he shook his head grimly.
"Hey-- What is that? Who else is even out here?" Ralsei's voice cut through the flurries, and his pointing claw directed your attention out onto the flickering tundra.
You could barely make out something lumbering along-- it was about the size of a truck. With a flash of recognition, your jaw dropped, and your brow furrowed.
"That's my bed!" You cried in astonishment.
"It's a Darkner?" Ralsei followed up hopefully. "Let's ask it for help!"
"Fat chance it will." You answered bitterly. At Jive's questioning music, you pointed accusingly in its direction. "That's what bucked me off and hurt my arm!"
"It looks like it's big enough to carry Tenna, though!" The little goat-monster argued, and Jive began nodding feverishly before gesticulating with a regimented line of music.
Ralsei helpfully translated. "'Maybe it just needs some music to entice it into helping us!' --That's a great idea!"
You sighed, but one glance at Tenna was enough to banish your misgivings. Desperate times and all that.
Jongler and Ralsei stayed behind to keep the show host company while you and Jive set off as quickly as possible to intercept the wayward item of furniture. As you and Jive loped over and through the snow, you watched the shadowguy pull out the saxophone you'd become so familiar with in the Light World from the dark recesses of his jacket and adjust the mouthpiece.
"Should I get its attention first?" You called over between gulps of air, and Jive made an inviting gesture as if to say <Be my guest!>
"HEY! STOP!" You screamed as loud as possible, and miraculously, the bed turned in your direction!
Then it began to trot further away.
"NO WAIT! COME BA--!" Your cry was cut short as Jive grabbed the back of your shirt to stop you from further pursuit.
The shadowguy pointed at himself with a smile. It was his turn to try now. He subsequently motioned to plug your ears, and with no time to question it, you obeyed.
Jive began to play.
Through your finger-plugs, you could make out a lilting, winding series of notes that started off quite slowly.
You looked over to see that the bed creature had turned back to look at the both of you curiously. It was working! There was hope!
The song picked up speed, and as it did so, you felt the increasing inclination to unstop your ears. You furrowed your brow and held firm, however-- whatever reason Jive had for telling you to do so had to be a good one.
It was not just the music that was entrancing but your companion as well. The movements accompanying the burgeoning melody were as hypnotic as the song itself, and you couldn't look away from him more than to glance occasionally at the bed-thing as it lumbered closer.
When finally it reached you, the bed placidly gazed up at Jive, as if waiting for instruction. The shadowguy ceased his performance, and you felt as if your brain had suddenly cleared of a very slight fog.
Jive pointed towards where Tenna and the others still were and offered some music that sounded like a request, and after a mistrustful side-eye in your direction, the bed seemed happy to oblige.
=========
It was a task and a half to heave the show host upright, but once accomplished Tenna managed to get his legs under him and brace against the bed-creature in order to stand just enough to collapse back atop it.
To your surprise and relief, the stubborn darkner seemed quite unbothered by the weight of its passenger.
Once Tenna's arms had been securely placed alongside him, you were ready to leave! The victory was thrilling but undeniably tense, and you all hurried forward through the blizzard towards the fountain. Hopefully, you hadn't taken too long.
"You's doin' okay, Boss?" Jongler asked, carefully laying a boxing glove on the uninjured part of one of Tenna's shoulders. Ralsei and the Zapper had managed to stop the sparks and ..bleeding? but the jagged wounds were still heartbreaking to see.
The show host nodded weakly.
"We'll get there in no time, don't you worry." You patted the black-clad knee reassuringly but jumped as the static-riddled voice suddenly coughed out of the speakers.
"Wh-- does --t matter? It's pointle--." Blinding tears seeped from the cracks in the shattered screen, and Tenna's breathing hitched mournfully.
"What?" You asked with concern. "What's pointless?"
"Who was I-- trying t-- kid back th--re..!?" Tenna's voice came out shrill, on the edge of crying, a sob caught in his throat that he swallowed down to continue, "Loo-- at me! I'm broken..! Useless! Who wou-- ever wan-- a busted up ol-- tele--ision!?"
"Aw, Boss," Jongler attempted to soothe their employer, but the show host seemed inconsolable.
"Susie's pro--ise.. I can't.. I ca-- accept.. I can't --o through.. There's nothing.. No--ing left for me.. No-- anymore.. Not li-- this..!" If he could, he probably would have thrown up his arms in a sweeping gesture at his damaged form, but instead all he could do was turn his head side to side at the severed limbs.
"Boss, no! Don't you's be talkin' like that! You's can still perform!" Jongler tried to assure him but failed to sound convincing.
"No!" Tenna sobbed miserably. "I'm bro---n, and that --ans I'm worthl--s!"
The words were devastating to hear. One half of you knew that he had a point - if a television or other appliance in the Light World broke, Lightners typically replaced it. The other half of you desperately wanted to contest Tenna's self-deprecation, but Jive actually beat you to it.
You saw the shadowguy's expression harden. He straightened his tie and hat and then marched alongside his old boss' sickbed. Even despite what he had gone through-- despite all that Tenna had put everyone through, Jive still continued to help him.
Jive honked at Tenna and lectured the show host in his own musical way, somehow sounding stern, but not cruel. Whatever he had said caused Tenna's screen to light back up again, but only a little.
"What a-- you talki-- about? There's nothi-- wrong wi-- you, though!" Tenna replied, confused by Jive's words, "You've go-- your --appy ending!"
"Uh, can someone translate?" You ask quietly, receiving a shy, apologetic note from Jive, one that you returned softly, "..Sorry."
"I's can help with dat." Jongler looked up from where they were by Tenna's side. "He said dat da boss doesn't need ta give up all hope and wait ta die - Dat he ain't da only one who's been damaged and felt these fears. I dunno what he means by saying all dat, but dat's what he said."
You turned your gaze back to Jive as Jongler spoke, but he didn't look back at you, instead focusing on the snow in front of him as he walked.
Being damaged.. feeling 'those same fears'? ..Being worthless, useless, thrown out.
You felt the harrowing sense of guilt that had laid dormant since you first apologized to Jive.
"..He's right, Tenna." You managed to just be heard over the sound of the wind.
"Wha-- are you --aying?"
"..I ..accidentally broke Jive just three days ago. His arm.. and wrist.." You swallowed a sickness that tried to creep its way up from your gut. "But I fixed him up. Did some research and followed some videos, and fixed him up. It's not the end of the world."
You looked into Tenna's screen. "I've seen people fix up and restore electronics that were in a far worse condition than you are now. I mean.. You've still got all your parts. You're not coated in years of dirt and caked-on rust.. There's hope for you."
"..You.. Why --re you trying to --elp me..? After all I-- done to you.." The question was tentative, ashamed.
You took a deep sigh, "Because, it doesn't matter if you're a Darkner or a Lightner, no one should have to be abandoned or forgotten. Everyone deserves a chance, or even a second chance to make things right."
"You --eally --ink I deserve some-- like --at?"
"I've come to realize you just tried to help me when you offered food earlier.." You glanced toward Jive with that remark before returning your gaze toward Tenna, "So, I'd like to repay that. You can consider this whole thing a second take of first impressions."
"A se--ond take.."
"But--" you interjected.
"B-bu-- ..'But'?"
"You gotta promise to ease up on everyone.." your voice hardens, a little stern and tired, as you lift your hand into Tenna's view and point toward Jive who looked around a little nervously before giving a small wave of his hand, "And promise to be nice to him."
Tenna went silent for several minutes, then, suddenly, he spoke up. A crackling laughter, weak and hollow and filled with disillusionment. "Wha-- do you --ean?! I-- I'm a --ood boss! I-- All my emplo--ees LOVE me!! Like a-- my fans!!"
The assertion earned him a disagreeable noise from Jive, which only strengthened your resolve.
"Tenna. I'm only as willing as you are on this deal. I'm not asking much."
He went silent again, his antennae drooping even further.
"--kay.." he finally relented, then gave another defeated chuckle. "I'd sha-- --our hand, but.."
"We can shake on it later.. When you're repaired." You reassured him, reaching over and giving a pat to his side.
Jive must have noticed how hard it was for you to see Tenna like this. He called your name to get your attention, and once he had it reached into his blazer pocket and held out a bag of sweets for you. He gave it a light shake with a soft smile and slight tilt of the head at your hesitation, before speaking a short, gentle tune, one that sounded reassuring and encouraging. He followed it up with a pleased melody and a grin when you ultimately accepted.
It was sweet of him to offer. He really did just want to make your time here pleasant.. You were sad it had to be so short.. Even if it was a sudden surprise to be here in the first place, you.. couldn't say you didn't have fun, despite everything. It was frankly the most exciting thing that had happened to you in years.
You shared the snack-- soft pastel mints that melted like chocolate on your tongue-- and a bit of chit-chat between you and the others to fill the silence as the journey neared and finally reached its end. Ralsei announced your arrival before hurrying off to meet with the other Lightners.
The fountain was breathtakingly immense. It stretched impossibly high into the sky, and its darkness somehow surpassed that of the surroundings of this world. A sense of foreboding washing over you at the mere sight of it.. and once you managed to tear your gaze away from the fountain, it seemed Jive was feeling similarly.
As you began to reach out to him for comfort, you were interrupted by Ralsei calling out to you as he returned to relay the situation. Battat and Pluey followed behind him, looking exhausted as they continued on past toward the bed.
"The fountain will be closed here in a couple of minutes, b-but not to worry! I will take you all to Castle Town, where you will be safe from the effects." Ralsei explained, turning to address you specifically with a little smile, "Uhm, once you're done here, saying your goodbye's, you should go meet up with Kris and Susie by the fountain - they'll take you back out."
You thanked the little monster boy and waved him off, watching him tread back to the fountain. Once you looked back at Jive, you noticed how tense and worried he looked. For a shadow so nonchalant.. it pained you to see him distressed. While it hurt to think you might not be able to see him again like this, you didn't want to leave him miserable-- leave him worrying.
--And he was worrying a lot. He didn't want you to leave.. He didn't know what would happen once the fountain was sealed and saying goodbye to everyone only compounded the sense of finality.. He clenched and flexed his hands restlessly to try and fight off these thoughts, a nervous, mindless action.
Jive jolted with a small honk when you placed your hand to his upper arm. Clearly, his mind had been elsewhere, staring down the fountain just a few seconds prior.
You gave him an apologetic look, removing your hand, "Sorry.. I just wanted to know if you were okay.. You seemed kinda--"
Before you could finish your sentence, Jive shot forward and enveloped you in a hug, his hands grasping at your clothes with barely restrained desperation. You didn't hesitate to hug him back with an equally firm squeeze, rubbing and patting his back.
"Hey, hey, it's okay.. It's okay!" You tried your best to ease his mind-- give him some kind of comfort, "To tell the truth.. I don't wanna leave either.. but I promise I'll talk to you every day..! It'll be okay, I promise!"
Your assurances seemed to have bolstered him as Jive lifted his head and pulled back to look at you. Letting out a light questioning sound, he sought confirmation.
You nodded and held your pinky out to him, "I promise."
He grinned with relief and hooked his own pinky with yours to seal the deal.
"Alright, now let's get going..!" You patted his arm, taking his hand in yours, and walked toward the fountain where everyone had gathered by now.
---
-----
---
That hadn't been a very graceful landing..
Pushing yourself to sit up and rubbing at your sore back, you took a moment before looking around. You were outside.. and it was still dark after having jumped through the portal door, hand-in-hand with Kris and Susie just seconds ago.
Definitely not your home and not your yard either. It was your next-door neighbor's.
You aren't entirely sure how this happened, but with everything you had gone through.. you didn't bother to question it.
Instead, you spotted Kris and Susie standing in the doorway of the house. After getting to your feet, you walked over to where they were chatting to themselves, catching something about what to do with Tenna as you approached.
"Hey!" you called out and Kris noticed you first, Susie following their lead, "Sorry, I heard you saying something about Tenna..?"
"..Uh, yeah." Susie replied, awkward due to the unexpected question, "We promised we'd find him a new home since Kris' mom doesn't need him anymore and were workin' out where we're gonna put him until we could find the best one."
"..We can leave him in Castle Town tomorrow." Kris spoke up, their serious gaze that had been lingering on you finally broken as they directed the proposition to Susie.
Castle Town? ..Promised..?
"..I don't know what Castle Town is, but I also made a promise to Tenna." You chimed in, "..You think I could have him?"
Susie looked at you in surprise and turned to Kris who only shrugged. They exchanged a few looks and nods before some unspoken agreement was made between them. They both turned back to you.
"Will you repair him?" The monster's yellow eyes searched your face with intensity.
You nodded surely. "Either I'll do it, or I'll take him somewhere to have him fixed up."
"And you need a T.V.?" Susie continued. "You'll watch him?"
You chuckled. "Oh yeah! I've been looking for one, actually, and he'd fit right in!"
After a moment, the teenager's shoulders relaxed, and her regard of you became warm. "Alright."
Susie held out her hand to shake yours, and you both grinned.
"..Okay!" She rubbed her palms together. "We can help ya transport 'im-- Where do you live? If it's too far, we'll just have to wait till morning--"
"Actually," you interjected, "I live right next door." To emphasize your statement, you pointed to your house just a bit down the way past some trees.
"Whoa.. Sick!! This is so lucky!" Susie beamed, turning back to Kris, "We hit the jackpot with this one! Come on! Let's go get Tenna! We'll tell your mom about it in the morning-- I'll think of something."
"Hey, while we're moving him, could you tell me about Castle Town?"
Susie turned back to look at you with a thumbs up. "Sure thing!"
-----
The sun was beginning its ascent by the time the two had gone back next door. An invitation to visit Castle Town being the last thing said as you waved them off.
After everything that you had been through, you were so glad to be home again.
With a little bit of struggle, you managed to get the new TV situated in its new location, plugged in and ready to go at a moment's notice, and the mental image of Tenna dancing in celebration briefly crossed your mind.
"I'll finish dressing you up later." You assured him as you gave the top of the appliance a little pat, and walked off.
There was someone else who you wanted to see and tend to more at the moment.
Walking in, you spotted the little well-dressed musician standing right where you had left him last. You gingerly lifted him in your hands as you approached the table and gave his figurine a thorough once-over. All healed up, paint and resin dried, joints sturdier than ever from where they had broken before. You couldn't help but grin and beam.
"Hello again, Jive. I think I have a better place to put you, for now."
Shuffling through the bedroom door upstairs, you leaned your back on it for a moment to just breathe, Jive's figure held protectively in hand.
"Almost feels a little strange.. being back after everything.. Like it was all a weird dream." you spoke to yourself, soft and quiet. Walking over to your bed and setting the figurine on the table beside it, adjusting him just right with a satisfied smile.
Finally crawling back into bed, the comfort of your blankets felt like heaven on your worn and exhausted body. You gave a final glance at the little saxophonist figurine on your nightstand and smiled before snuggling further into the sheets for a well-deserved nap.
Just as you were drifting off, you once again heard a little melody play, clear and soft.. and, with a grin, you had your answer. It was all very real. He was real.
You knew exactly what you would be doing first thing tomorrow.
And it was just your luck, too.
