It's true , without them everything would cease to exist . Where one fountain seals another opens bringing those like her to their realm , a cycle repeated long before the fabled knight set foot . Daunting the fact this Lightner chose to embrace everything without question . Past , present , future all for one individual that more or less has questioned the duality of their relationship .

Muddled words still protesting to [ HEAVEN ] 's gracious 'gift' Over , and over and over and over and over until ──

❝ I'm not leaving ! ! ❞

Silence . Blocky text crumbled leaving uneven code scattered to the winds , replaced by her own font doing all to refrain from further outburst . All of which failing under the pressure of emotion as her speech crumbles , misty-eyed and struggling to stay focused .

❝ Don't you get it ? ── I have nothing to go back to . Nothing . ❞

A beat , her body quivering .

❝ The world I once knew doesn't exist , it hasn't for a long time . Before here I was another cog in the machine runnin' day to day . Moving towns helped but , it wasn't the same . ❞

Toriel , Rudy , even Asgore did their best to make her feel welcomed in their comity . It worked for a while but soon that feeling returned with vengeance , leaving but a hallow void where something once fit .

❝ The days you miss being in the spotlight ? Friends and loved ones , it's like that for me too . A era still reminiscent but , will never return to what it once was . ❞

By that point she's unable to mask the tears staining her cheeks , Unraveling the stained fabric that's remained firm against her wrist since their first encounter , clenched the moment it's removed .

❝ What more do I have to prove ? To show that I've lost equal trade by death or otherwise , that my happiness is because of what you've done for me . What they've , done for me . Name it. Anything . I'll fuckin' do it just- ❞

* Frayed Bowtie has been removed !

The ITEM is then slung against synthetic concreate , a shaky inhale following her shrill voice as it once again piercing the surrounding area . Reverbing .

@thebigshotman wished: *HAP-HAP-H4PPY [[date of birth]] [aquarium]!!! N0W TAKE TH3SE [replica designer sunglasses] 4ND PLEASE STOP [[drowning]] ME IN [[olympic sized swimming pool]] He gives Layla a replica of his glasses with a wrinkled gift bow haphazardly tied to one of the arms.

 ❝ I wouldn't have done it if your behavior hadn't been so disruptive. I can assure you, however, that a cold bath is the best way to cool down the most temperamental spirits. ❞

 The sight of the smaller salesman approaching had alarmed Layla at first, considering the last time she'd seen him, she had to get him out of what seemed to be a heated marital dispute with the TV lord. She didn't even want to think about the chaos that would have unfolded if she hadn't intervened. Yet, to her surprise, he looked calmer today ( for now ) and offered her a present—a rather crumpled one—but a present all the same.

  Seems like the bath did the trick after all.

 She observed the box's contents for a minute, her expression unreadable. The glasses didn't look bad, but— it was far from her style, and she didn't intend to wear them for now. Still, she couldn't risk coming off as ungrateful. After all, he did think of getting her something. Perhaps.. behind that crazed expression lay a tender heart. It only needed to be discovered.

 ❝ Regardless, thank you for this present. I really appreciate it. ❞

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐀 ⵑ 💚

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃 ・ @thebigshotman

 ❝ I was informed you've been wreaking havoc among the citizens of TV World and their leader. ❞ To be completely honest, she was simply drawn in by all the screaming and rage-induced meltdowns who were making it impossible for her to focus on her work, rather than anybody informing her. ❝ That's quite unbecoming of a respectable salesman don't you think? ❞ The moment she picked up the smaller man, she instantly regretted it. His shirt had an odd texture, and it felt slimy to the touch. Immediately, she began scanning him from head to toe and came to the conclusion that he could not continue to exist in such filth. She could tell his condition definitely didn't help his aggressive nature.

  ❝ I have no interest in your history together, but whatever it might be, it's absolutely no excuse to be acting like this. Now, if you'll allow me.. ❞ With a snap of her fingers, they were teleported into one of her home's pool rooms. The sleekness and cleanliness of the area around them a stark contrast with the chaos and dirtiness of the dumpsters.

 ❝ In order to achieve a clearer mind- you need to take a bath. For the love of all that is dear to me, take a bath. ❞

The Addison is just on their way home. No need to hide their tail as it bounced in tandem with each step.

Until there’s a clanging sound that captures their attention. Turning quickly to the source of the noise; since the ears that is their hair hadn’t been put down yet.

An unfamiliar, distorted voice fractures the carefully maintained harmony of Tockette's station. That vile, crackling noise that shouldn't belong here puts her on high alert. Her torso snaps around in a full 180-degree rotation, her elegant frame bending low as she locates the source of the disruption.

" You're malfunctioning, Spamton G. Spamton. " Her voice is cold and mechanical, devoid of any emotion. Glassy, black eyes lock onto him not just to see—but scan, evaluate, condemn. In her Time World, malfunctions follow the standard protocol. Citizens know what to do when their systems fail. Wandering aimlessly, glitching and putting others at risk? That's not it.

But then she pauses. Silly her! This strange, twitching little figure isn't one of hers. Tockette's rigid expression softens as her posture relaxes.

*NOW [[me?]] OR 0THER [[me?]], WE W0N’T CAUSE YA AN Y TROUBLE!!! ALL WE W4NT FROM YOU IS [[account information]] AND [w4cky $tacks]!!!

Is he babbling about nonsense to a Darkner he’s never met? Yes. But if it’ll grind the tears of that cathode, than he’ll do anything he can!

@thebigshotman

 She won't say a single word to any of that because it frankly doesn't even deserve an answer. What she will do, however, is summon her sparkly, magical anime girl branded chainsaw. / @thebigshotman

But I feel like their partnership had to have evolved from "Tenna's mailman" to "Tenna's co-star" at some point, since their final encounter was him running away after a phone call. Maybe time got distilled when Kris's laptop was away from home, since the internet runs faster than TV? Making it so Tenna was dealing with timid White Addison one day and then confident Spamton G Spamton the next?

Idk, I'm brainstorming out loud 😅 I'll make things make sense eventually. IC asks will be coming your way once I do!-@thebigshotman

[[ Hey again !!! I look forward to you throwing your spamton at me anytime ! :)

That's an interesting thought!! And a good question lol!! So the ordinary depiction is that he meets Spamton already a big shot, hires him as a mailman, and Spamton makes his way into the tv industry that way-- but he never knew him pre phone.

But in your case he knew him pre-phone, right? So in regards to the time difference... I do feel saying that there is a difference in the speed of time between the cyberworld and tv world can potentially be... messy. I don't really gel with it personally, if that's ok! It kind of messes with how old tenna is perceived, how he reflects real world culture, most importantly it would mean that tenna can't broadcast to other worlds in real time, which I really want him to do for my portrayal,,, I have no doubt in my mind that the dark world as a collective has its own timeframe, I just prefer maybe not to complicate it to that extent, for me at least.

Are you hoping to not depict Spamton's transformation into big shot spamton in real time with Tenna present? If he was present, I could see Tenna being the major influence for their stage persona as it is happening-- considering they dress identically by the time he's in full red suit era. And Tenna is already a mentor-like figure to him, in that your Spamton mentions looking up to him as an example of what a big shot is and Tenna likes to give advice. ( he also loves to see shy people come out of their shell lol ) Once they become a suddenly competent salesman, he'd take them on as their agent real quick. Maybe you're concerned about how quickly the change happens, which is fair, but they could have been off-handedly talking about Spamton someday being a tv star, like in that one thread in tenna's office we had, for who knows how long before the first phone call, since this is canon divergent to the timeline.

* 💚 Talk it out . * Walk away .

If he only knew . What begun as a search and rescue turned to equal support , finding comfort among those similar . Only recently did the star mage find their way , various gateways opened to Lightners making travel much easier between intricate firewalls . It's their responsibility to seal the fountain should anything go wrong - and while nothing's happened thus far someone in their trio has a panic button saved in their INVENTORY .

His confidence wavers , jumbled code reflecting her solemn gaze as her voice finally cuts through the silence .

* You decided to tell Spamton the truth .

❝ I never told you the reason I put off finding my friends . ❞

A slow draw of breath follows her moving towards him .

❝ Because they too , found sanctuary here . Like you they have people who looks out for their well being - but we have our demons too . Our own "messes" so to speak . Maybe I haven't earned a reputation like you have , but I'm not gonna' stand by idly while you continue to choke on your past grievances . ❞

Wings move in gest with her arms , animating between words as she delves into their discussion . Brows knit as she continues .