Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Neither were sure how exactly they ended up in their current states, but they gave up years ago. The most important moment they both remember was waking up where they did.

For the smaller one, he found himself on a pile of garbage in Waterfall. He had screamed in confusion and fallen down into the water below.

“ Dear Water, BLEH! TRASH WATER!… With much annoyance, Spamton .” He spat out the water he got into his puppet like mouth, only just then hearing his name for the first time. “…huh. Guess that’s my name.” He stood up and started to wring his clothes out while seeing himself for what he assumed to be the first time in the water’s reflection. 

His face and body were white and puppet-like, while his hair was short and black. He wore a banged up dark navy blue and dark maroon postman uniform, and sported a pair of broken glasses. He readjusted them as he got a better look at himself. “ Dear Myself, What on EARTH happened to me? Confused, Spamton .” He wasn’t 100% sure what happened, but felt a rage towards some laughing figures in a vehicle of sorts. He grumbled to himself before setting his damaged hat straight to explore the rest of the dump. “Hmm…maybe I can make a little shack for the time being? Can’t deliver mail if there’s no houses!” He wasn’t even sure how or why he wanted to deliver mail, but it felt like a habit etched onto his very being.

He had spent a few hours putting together a shanty town for one when he heard him arrive.

A scream followed by a thud from beyond a nearby trash mound caught Spamton’s attention.

“WOAH!” He exclaims before running over to investigate the source of the sound.

On a mound of garbage was a much bigger and more robotic figure, sporting a busted TV for a head and a patchwork raggedy suit. The stranger rubbed his CRT head, twitching his twisted antennae every so often. When he noticed the smaller figure watching him, the TV man’s shattered teal screen turned towards him.

“Hello?” He spoke in a scared voice, shaking a little as he sat himself upright. Spamton slinked down before deciding to just reveal himself and wave to the newcomer. “ Dear Stranger, Hello! My name is Spamton M. Spamton. Who are you ? Inquisitively, Spamton .” The TV man sat and stared for a while before finally moving again. He tried to stand upright, but tripped and fell to his knees. Spamton moved over to help the stranger, who seemed thankful. “M-My name is…T…Tenna…” A look of confusion dawns on the man’s flat face, and Spamton could somehow immediately tell the stranger was in the same boat as him. 

“ Dear Mr. Tenna , Can’t remember how you got here? Or how you know your name despite never hearing it? Well, boy do I have a similar problem to you! Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna tilted his head at the mailman’s words. “Well…I’m just going to assume your name is Spamton…correct?” Spamton nodded in response. “Right. Well, Mr. Spamton…where are we?” “A dump!” Tenna’s crooked antennae moved back with a grimace at that. “Well, I can see that….mostly. I don’t think I…belong here.” Tenna started to stand up again, but stumbled as he did so, leading Spamton to hold his hand in an attempt to support the much bigger monster. “Th-thank you. I can’t really…see too good.” Spamton hummed as he looked over the cracked screen that made up Tenna’s face. “Makes sense.” Tenna had a similar moment to Spamton, seeming to notice his reflection. However, he practically touched the water below to get a look.

“I…OH MY GOD!” He seemed much more disturbed about his banged up appearance than Spamton was; which to be fair, he didn’t look too damaged besides his clothes. “My…my SCREEN!” He fiddled with his antennae, attempting to straighten them out before wincing in pain and stopping. He patted his clothes down, looking more and more annoyed as he realized how many holes and stains covered them. “This…this is… unbecoming !” The TV man wailed dramatically, tilting his head up and covering where his eyes would be with an arm. Spamton rolled his eyes before lifting his hands to calm his new acquaintance down. “ Attention Tenna, H-Hey! No need to freak out over some cracks and clothes! I’ve found plenty of useful stuff around here in the past… some amount of hours… Truly, Spamton .” Tenna made a loud sniffing sound before looking back down at the mailman. “G-garbage?…You want me…to wear GARBAGE!?” He repeated his dramatic motion from before, and Spamton could already tell this was going to be an ordeal.

. . .

It took some convincing, but Spamton was eventually able to calm down Tenna. For now, they worked on gathering what they could from the dump to make their new home…or first home? Tenna, despite the tantrum he threw at first, ended up coming around to the dump they found themselves in. He’d still require some help from Spamton, but found a rather high-quality (for being thrown away) cane to help guide himself.

“ Salutations Tenna, HEY! CRT! CHECK OUT MY TRASH PALACE! See you soon, Spamton .” Sure enough, Spamton had pulled together a very shanty but functional shack out of old plywood and other garbage. Tenna really had to duck down to get inside, but found it to be rather nice inside.

“Hm. Better than nothing, I suppose. How did you make this so fast?” Tenna looked down at Spamton, who just shrugged it off. “Beats me.” They stood/sat in the small “hut” in silence before Tenna broke it. “So…guess I should make my own place now.” Before he can get up and leave, Spamton lifted up his hands. “ Wait, Mr. Tenna, I’ll help you make it! You can’t see too good with that busted glass face of yours, and an extra pair of grabbers would be better than one! Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna gave Spamton a surprised look before it faded into one of gratitude. “Thank you, Spamton.” 

“Anytime, neighbor !”

Chapter Text

Time passed by, and Spamton quickly learned something; he NEEDED to give people their mail. He wasn’t sure if it was hardwired into him or something from the past he can’t remember, but either way, he couldn’t go on without mail for long. He’d already been writing letters to both Tenna and himself to pass the time, and even dropping them off in little makeshift mailboxes outside their respective shacks (and some piles of trash that happened to have mailboxes in need of mail). 

“ Dear Tenna, I just HAVE to deliver mail to someone other than you and me! Surely you understand what I mean, right? Your neighbor, Spamton .” Spamton rants to Tenna, tapping a foot anxiously as he does so. The TV man hums in thought. 

“I suppose I know what you mean. Either way, aren’t you worried about being seen? What if they just think you’re a crazy person?” Tenna had already made it clear to Spamton that he had a major issue with how others perceived him. He’d claim it’d be bad for his reputation, but wouldn’t be able to explain more than that. Spamton on the other hand didn’t give a damn how people saw him, so long as they didn’t freak out (which was a very real possibility). “ Dear Tenna, Well, then I just won’t be seen! And if I am, I’ll just work the ol’ Spamton charm. From, Spamton .” Tenna just gave the mailman a blank stare. “What are you talking about? You barely leave the dump.” Spamton pulls on his collar and chuckles nervously. “W-well, I have charm! Guaranteed!” Tenna rolls his nonexistent eyes at this comment, his fists on his hips. “Well, good luck on your mail delivery endeavors, Mr. Spamton. I’ll be here…like usual.” Spamton opens his mouth to ask if he wanted to come along, but knew it’d be a fruitless endeavor. “ Dear Tenna, Then I’ll be off to test the waters! Surely someone around here could use some mail… See ya, Spamton .”

With that, Spamton was off. His patchwork mailbag was full of handmade letters and fake advertisements he’d made for Tenna and himself, but they were vague enough for anyone else to enjoy. As his shoes hit solid ground that wasn’t made of trash or covered in shallow water, Spamton felt a wave of unease.

What if they didn’t like their mail? What if he was spotted? What if it didn’t work, and he’d be stuck passing notes to Tenna for the rest of his life? He was shaking with nerves, but reasoned with himself to keep going with his plan. “ Dear Myself, You got this far! No turning back now, Mr. Big Shot… Hopefully, Spamton. ” Even if the big shot comment was a little sarcastic, his own words got him to move again. The blue cavern was oddly welcoming and peaceful, and he could see some tunnels leading away to what he hoped were houses with mailboxes. A bit more conscientious about his presence, he stinks over to one of the tunnels, pressing himself against the wall to peek in.

Sure enough, there were two oddly shaped houses inside the connecting cavern. One had its lights on, but the other looked to have no one home. Spamton practically tiptoes inside and approaches the house with the lights on. He checks for any mail slots or boxes, and is a little disgruntled to find nothing. He sighs and decides to just place the letter down in front of the door and knock. As soon as he finishes knocking, he bolts away to the tunnel leading back out. Once he’s far away enough, he slowly peeks out from the corner to see what happens.

After a few moments, the door slowly cracks open.

“Hello?” A shy and quiet voice comes from the door, which slowly opens more when they see no one else around. A pale ghost monster was at the door, eyes watering like they were about to burst into tears. They notice the mail below them at the door, and lean down curiously. “O-oh? What’s this?” A small nub-like hand picks up the letter and lifts it up to inspect it. Spamton grinds his teeth and tightly grips the corner in anticipation, praying that they don’t toss it away. The ghost opens the letter and starts to read.

“ Dear stranger, I hope you’re doing well and like mail as much as I do. If you do, I’ll bring you some more. From, Spamton. ” They stare at the letter for a few silent moments before looking around again, to which Spamton ducks away to avoid being seen. “Wow…I got some mail …I haven’t gotten mail before…thank you, mailman…I guess.” The ghost tucks the letter away before shedding a tear. “Although…it was probably for someone else…guess I’ll have to wait and see.” The door closes, and Spamton stays silent for a moment.

“ Dear Myself, YES! They said they’ll ’wait and see’. THAT MEANS THEY WANT MORE MAIL! HAHAHAHHA! Just WAIT until I tell Tenna! Victoriously, Spamton .” And so, the giddy mailman ran off to rave to his neighbor about his new found purpose.

.

For weeks, Spamton would drop off more letters to the ghost. He even started to drop some off to the ghost’s neighbors too, and even started to customize them for each monster. He’d stopped waiting around for a reaction, because he just knew in his metaphorical bones they were happy with their mail.

However, something in his routine changed drastically when he dropped off letters to the fish-lady’s house one day. He’d dropped off the letters, and started to walk away with a skip in his step when the door opened earlier than he expected.

“HEY!” The harsh voice of the lady called out to him, causing him to freeze mid step. “STAY RIGHT THERE.” He shook in place as he heard the monster walk up behind him, an intimidating energy coming off of her. He felt a hand clasp his shoulder, and he jumped in place. “You the mailman?” He slowly nods, still shaking like a leaf under her firm grip. “Well then…” 

A letter is brought into his view from her other hand, completely dispelling his fear. He looks up to see the fish lady grinning with her sharp teeth. “I have a letter I’ve been meaning to send. Think you could do that?” Spamton can’t say a word, looking between the letter and the monster. “ Dear Fish Lady, I-I’d be happy to! Where to? From, Spamton .” She snorts at his strange words, letting him go as he grabs the letter from her. “The Lab in Hotland. I’d go myself, but uh…it’s not really my kind of environment.” Spamton nods and reads the address on the letter. “THE ROYAL SCIENTIST! Must be important!” The lady barks a laugh and her grin grows bigger. “Hell yeah it is! Can I trust you with this important mission?” Spamton salutes the taller monster with a determined smile. “ Dear Fish Lady, You have my word! Sincerely, Spamton .” She laughs again. “Please, Mr. Spamton. Call me Undyne!” She extends a hand, and he shakes it (although her grip almost crushes his tiny puppet hand). “Nice meeting you!” With another quick salute, the tiny mailman sprints off with the first letter written by someone else in his bag.

He hadn’t gone to Hotland yet, but knew where to go to get there. As he sprinted through the blue caverns, he couldn’t stop thinking about his mission. He was trusted with someone else’s letter. Him ! He was really becoming a proper mailman! His strange laugh echoes through the cavern as he runs past through fields of blue echo flowers, which start repeating his laugh. As he runs through the cavern leading to Hotland, he feels the heat that gives it its name. It was certainly different from Waterfall’s cool and damp environment, but it wasn’t too harsh for the puppet. He ran past the welcome sign, and into the bright new environment.

The ground was made of orange stone, and a wooden bridge connected a gap over literal red hot lava. Spamton didn’t even notice the sleeping skeleton at the watch station to his side, too focused on his mission to care. He expected the bridge to be rickety, but it was surprisingly well constructed and sturdy. He stopped running to look around as he walked over, surprised by the pure duplicity between Hotland and Waterfall. When he reached the other side, there was a water cooler complete with paper cups. He quickly took a cup and chugged it after having ran for what could have been miles with no breaks. Afterwards, he continued onwards to find the Lab.

“ Dear Hotland, Now, where is that Lab… Spamton .” He mumbles as he looks around. To his surprise, he finds it rather fast and directly in front of him. “Oh! There .” He runs up to the large white lab, and knocks excitedly at the door. He figures it’d be best to hand it to the scientist given the letter might just burn up in this heat if left alone.

“C-coming! Hold on…” Various sounds and crashes come from inside the lab, and it takes a few long moments for the door to swish open. A short yellow lizard woman in a lab coat and glasses stands before Spamton. “O-Oh! Hello Mr…” She leaves her greeting open for Spamton to answer. “ Dear Royal Scientist, Mr. Spamton, the mailman! I have a very important letter for you! Sincerely, Spamton .” He fishes around for the letter, presenting it proudly to the scientist. “O-oh my! I-I didn’t know there was a…w-well, thank you Mr. Spamton!” She takes the letter, and visibly brightens up when she sees who it’s from. “W-well, I won’t keep you from your duties…thank you again! Uh, b-bye!” The door slides shut and Spamton is left alone.

“ Dear Myself, YES YES YES! I’M A PROPER MAILMAN NOW! EAHAHHAHAHA! Proudly, Spamton. ” He pumps his fists in the air and does a little victory dance. “ Have to tell Tenna!” He giggles happily to himself as he starts to run back home to the dump.

Chapter Text

With Spamton gone on another one of his mail routes, Tenna couldn’t help but feel a little…jealous. Spamton had explained that doing this felt natural to him, like it was what he was born to do. The two had a lot of similarities in their situation, but Tenna couldn’t understand that ; the drive to do something . He didn’t know if it was something he just didn’t have that Spamton did, or if he just forgot it like everything else in his past before the dump. Whenever he tried to remember, he’d feel a mental sting like he was purposely trying to repress it. It frustrates him to no end, and the fact Spamton doesn’t seem to have these specific struggles makes him feel alone. 

When Tenna asked Spamton about his past and what he remembered, he’d grumble about a half-memory about a group of people hitting him with some sort of car. Tenna found it strange he could only partially remember something so impactful and traumatic, but Spamton always shrugged it off, saying he had mail to worry about before any of that memory junk. 

The only semblance of his past Tenna had was his pride. He was originally horrified to be in such a dump, before Spamton of course convinced him garbage was somewhat useful. He wasn’t sure what reputation he could have possibly had, but he knew for certain he didn’t want to be seen in his current damaged state. But at the same time, he wanted… needed to be seen. To be adored, to bring smiles and laughter to monsterkind. But, he couldn’t do that in this state. It wasn’t like he could just brush off his suit and waltz right up to someone and make them happy at the snap of his fingers.

“Stupid broken body…” Tenna grumbles to himself as he preoccupies himself with treasure hunting. He’d found a few things around the dump he liked, and had started to share a love for the hobby with Spamton (which he found embarrassing to even admit to himself). He had to lean in close to get a good look at what he inspected though, and with Spamton gone, he didn’t have a second pair of much better and literal eyes to help him. 

He eventually found something that caught his attention by the feel of it alone. He lifts it up to his screen to get a better look at it. It was a very busted up VHS, one that likely couldn’t be played anymore and was waterlogged to hell and back. Something about holding and staring at it felt…familiar to Tenna. He turns it around a few times, inspecting it for any answers as to why it made him feel this way.

Then he remembers. Well, almost remembers. He remembers the sound of laughter, and seeing a few VHS tapes in front of him. Two small figures he couldn’t quite make out were talking to each other while staring in Tenna’s direction. Light was coming off his face, and he felt…frozen. Like he was paralyzed. He couldn’t feel his hands, his legs, his body; all he was in this memory was a head. And he was…happy.

So why was he crying? 

Why did this happy memory tear his metaphorical heart into pieces? He’d curled in on himself, silently sobbing the entire time. When he stopped reminiscing, he rubbed off his dark tears with confusion. 

“What the…” He murmurs to himself, staring at his face’s reflection in the shallow water below. He was in fact still crying, a steady flow of dark tears streaming down his cracked screen like he’d opened floodgates. “S-stop!” He vigorously rubs his screen, pressing on it to stop the tears like it was a bleeding wound. When he finally stops, he feels empty inside. Trying to revisit the memory caused him to purposely repress it this time. He didn’t like that, crying over something he couldn’t fully remember. It felt weird. He takes the VHS, and reels back his arm to throw it. But…he can’t bring himself to do so. He grumbles at himself, and pockets it with a sigh. “I need to get away from here…” With another sigh, he makes his way away from the dump.

He couldn’t quite get the full effect of the glowing ceiling Waterfall’s caverns had, but he still found it beautiful and relaxing. The dark grass under his shoes, the glowing blue water, the false stars; it eased Tenna’s mind. He makes his way to a large patch of grass to lay down on, using his cane to help lower himself down. He sighs out of relief this time, smiling up at the blurry false night sky above him. He feels himself start to fall asleep, and he doesn’t try to fight it. The grass was a nice change of pace from the pile of stitched together rags and boxes he called a bed back home. It doesn’t take long for the TV man to fall asleep.

.

“It’ll work…I promise.”

This was a bad one, he could already sense it. Tenna couldn’t see much where he was, but a sliver of light was coming from the cracked open door of the dark room. The figures from before were inside, pressed up against the wall as they spoke in hushed voices.

“But…I…I don’t like this plan. Not if it means…” The voice was definitely of a scared child, one of the figures from before.

“Hey, look at me.” The voice of another child with a lack of any fear came from the other figure, the second one from before. “It’ll work. I promise .” The first child sniffles. “…You mean it?” The second kid holds out a pinky finger. “I promise .” They lock fingers and shake, making a pinky promise. “And remember!” The second child puts up a finger to their mouth, and an unnerving smile crosses their face. Suddenly, they whip their head around to stare directly at Tenna with an unnatural grin on their face.

“DON’T TELL ANYONE.”

Tenna woke up with a scream, bolting upright while flinging his arms around. He was panting and if he had a heart, it’d be beating dangerously fast. He focused on his breathing and took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. Once he did, he quickly and wordlessly took his cane and lifted himself up to his feet. He speed walks back to the dump, trying and failing to forget his nightmare. Once he got back, he was greeted by Spamton who seemingly just returned.

“ Dear Tenna , HEY! You’re back! I have so much to tell you about today! I was spotted, but it was a good thing an-” he cuts himself off when he sees Tenna. “Woah…you look like you’ve witnessed a murder . You ok, Tenna? Condolences, Spamton .” Tenna opens his mouth and closes it after no words come out. He wordlessly passes by his neighbor and heads into his own little shack. Spamton was more than concerned, running after Tenna. He knocks on the front facing wall since the door was just an old curtain. “ Dear Tenna, Hey, are you ok? I uh…haven’t seen you like this before. Something happen? With Worry, Spamton .” Inside, Tenna was curled up on his “bed”, but wasn’t planning to sleep anytime soon. 

“Not today, Spamton. Tell me tomorrow…please.” Spamton wrung his hands together with concern, looking through the curtain before turning around. “Well…ok.” The mailman walks over to his own nearby shack, looking back a few times as he did so. Tenna meanwhile stayed as he was, staring blankly ahead while trying and failing to forget about what he remembered that day. “No no no no…” He whispers to himself as he feels the tears coming back. Unfortunately though, he felt something this time.

He was afraid.

Chapter Text

It’d been a day since Tenna came back and B-Lined it to his shack. Spamton decided it’d be best to respect his neighbor’s wishes and wait a day to talk to him, although he wanted to talk about what was bothering the TV more than his new job. He had to go deliver his usual mail, but knocked on Tenna’s shack to let him know he was leaving.

“ Good morning Tenna, I’m heading out for my usual deliveries. Just…wanted to let you know. I’ll be back soon though, we can talk then if you want! Sincerely, Spamton .” No response, but with a simple peek in, Spamton could see the TV man right where he was yesterday. Hesitant to leave, Spamton backed away and kept looking back as he left the dump.

.

His route was typical, but Undyne had come out to thank Spamton for his service. “I’ll be sure to let you know when I have more work for you, mailman!” She had told him, which only lifted his spirits higher. She even said she’d let the others know that Waterfall had their own mailman. It made Spamton consider branching out to the other locations too. Sure, it’d be a much longer trip to go around the whole underground, but he was a rather speedy little guy. Maybe there was a quicker way to get around he just hasn’t discovered yet.

That was a concern for another day however; he had a neighbor to cheer up. When he came back to the dump, he didn’t even need to check this time to know Tenna hadn’t moved. He knocks on the shack again, hoping to get something out of his neighbor. “ Dear Tenna, You ready to talk yet? With worry, Spamton .” It took a long moment, but eventually, Tenna grumbles a response. “No.” Spamton was even more worried than before now, but he still couldn’t bring himself to just barge into his neighbor’s house uninvited . That was just rude! 

An idea struck Spamton, and he rushed off back to his own place to put it into action. He spent a few minutes writing something down, and putting it in his bag. He rushed back over to Tenna’s shack, and placed it inside his mailbox. “ Dear Tenna, Mail’s here! Bye, Spamton .” He returned to his own “house”, and watched from the cut-out window he had facing his neighbor’s place.

Sure enough, Tenna peeked his TV head out to look around. Not noticing anyone, he looks to his mailbox and retrieves the letter. He heads back inside to read it, still not wanting to go outside again.

“ Dear Mr. Tenna, I don’t know what has you so down lately, but I want you to know I’m here to help you with anything you need. We’re both here under similar circumstances, so we should help each other; it’s the neighborly thing to do after all! We might not officially be friends, but I'd like to be your friend. So, it’d be the friendly AND neighborly thing to do to help you feel better! Sincerely your (hopefully) friend, Spamton .” Tenna stared at the letter for a while, processing it for longer than expected. A wobbly smile spreads over his cracked screen, and he feels a couple of tears dripping down. They’d referred to each other as “neighbors”, but they were practically friends at this point. Heck, they were pretty much the only other people they’d known and talked to. Tenna had started to worry that maybe Spamton had started to make better friends while on his routes…a stupid concern he had. After all, the mailman deserves better company…right? Tenna shakes his head, dismissing the negative thoughts. After all, he had a letter to write back.

Spamton was anxiously watching through his window, and gasped when Tenna came back out with a letter of his own to put in the mailbox. When he returned to his shack, Spamton ran over and retrieved the letter. He places it in his own mailbox before taking it right back out (it was standard procedure after all!). He reads the letter with excitement.

“ Dear Mr. Spamton, I’d love to be your friend. I’m honored you’d even think of me as more than a neighbor. As for my situation, I’m not sure if you could help me. It’s my memories. I think they’re coming back. They’re bad Spamton. Really bad. I don’t want to remember them, but I need answers. We can talk about it in person now if you want, just don’t expect to solve anything in one day. Thank you friend, Tenna. ” Spamton couldn’t believe his plan worked, and that they’re officially friends now! He quickly ran back over to Tenna’s shack, and knocked again. This time, the TV man came out and gave Spamton a slight smile. Spamton wordlessly took Tenna’s hand and guided them to a mound of trash that overlooked the main waterfall. They’d often sit and talk there like it was a normal hill, and it always offers a nice view of the falls. They laid down and watched the waterfall in silence for a while, Tenna clearly enjoying the calming white noise of running water. 

“So…” Tenna prompts, causing Spamton to look over at the bigger monster. “You…what do you remember from your past exactly?” The TV man tilts his damaged screen to meet the puppet’s glasses-covered eyes. “ Me?! ” Spamton asks, surprised and pointing to himself with a raised brow. “Yes.” Spamton looks away and back at the waterfall, thinking for a moment before answering. “ Dear Tenna, I remember standing still…by a road. It was…strangely bright outside, not even like Hotland. The sky was bright…and blue…” Spamton’s voice sounds wistful, and he sits upright to hug his knees as he continues. “But…then some red car or something full of stupid looking idiots hit me! Could they not see me right there?!” He shakes his head and takes a breath to calm himself down again. “Then…I was on the ground. After that…” Spamton narrows his eyes before rubbing his head. “Can’t really remember. Sorry I can’t remember much else. Hope this helps, Spamton .” Tenna would have blinked a few times if he had eyes. 

“Spamton…that sounds like the surface !” Spamton whips his head to meet Tenna’s gaze with equal surprise. “The SURFACE?!” Spamton never considered that before. But…how would a monster have come from the surface of all places? He shakes his head again, dismissing the discussion with a wave of his hand. “ Dear Tenna, This is about YOU and YOUR memories, not mine! We can talk about my stuff later. Right now, the stage is yours! So…what do you remember? Yours truly, Spamton .” It was Tenna’s turn to avoid eye contact now, seemingly forgetting for a moment he had to share his problems to solve them. It takes him a moment to gather the courage to even speak.

“I…I remember two kids watching me. I watched them too, I suppose…but it felt one-sided in my memories. I also couldn’t move, just staring ahead with no body; just a head. They…seemed so happy… I was happy…” Tenna smiles fondly before his dreadful nightmare comes back into his mind. “But then…I had a nightmare. They were going to do… something . I don’t know what exactly, but it was something bad .” His grip around his legs tightens as he remembers the ending visual and message. “And…I couldn’t do or say anything to stop it…” Tenna’s screen goes blank as he lowers his head closer to his knees. “I’m sorry…that’s all I know.” Spamton lifts up a hand slowly, almost reaching over. “Oh… Tenna… ” Tenna notices the sympathetic look on the mailman’s face before even realizing he was crying again. He sniffs, rubbing his screen and burying it into his arms. Spamton scoots closer and places a hand on Tenna’s arm and back, leaning over in a halfway hug. “ Dear Tenna , I’m sorry it hurts for you to remember that. I know it might not be much, but…I’m here for you. Just…let me know if you need anything, buddy. Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna leans into Spamton’s hug, which causes the small puppet to push back to avoid being crushed. The TV man lets himself cry again, just not alone this time. “Th-thank you…Spamton…” He gets out in between sobs, and the mailman just nods and pats his back. They stay like that for a while; Tenna grieving for a reason unknown to himself, and Spamton supporting him through it.

However, Spamton himself was thinking of his own memories. The surface ? Tenna had also mentioned being unable to move, and being watched by children…like a TV. A normal TV. Spamton… was standing by a road. A paved road. Like…

Surely not.

Surely they weren’t…

Spamton shook his head, deciding to worry over his friend rather than that . 

After all, what are the chances they were objects ?

Chapter Text

Despite the “bad memories” incident Tenna had a few weeks back, things have been good for the trash dwelling duo. Tenna was feeling better after talking to Spamton about everything, and Spamton was always happy to lend an ear to the TV man’s grievances. The mailman felt happy when Tenna started to talk about other things again, not dismissing his memories but moving past them for the time being. He liked it when his neighbor- no, friend smiled and laughed again.

Tenna had also started to try fixing himself up a little, just enough to not feel embarrassed to leave the dump. While he had a while to go before he felt confident enough to do so, he started to act bolder as he sewed his clothes and cleaned his screen. Today, he wanted to try straightening his antennae out, but had a hard time doing so.

“Ouch!” He hissed, flinching when he tried yanking them upright. Spamton didn’t like seeing his friend hurt himself like that, so he approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“ Dear Tenna, Hey, don’t hurt yourself over your appearance! At the very least handle yourself with care when fixing yourself up. Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna sighs, letting them go as his shoulders go limp. “I know, it’s just…I’m sick of them being both messed up and sensitive as hell! Maybe if I just…” He carefully reaches back up, gingerly tilting them individually in an attempt to line them up a little. It hurt, but significantly less than yanking them around. When he gets them into a random position, his face suddenly lights up and blares static. “WOAH!” Spamton falls backwards onto the watery ground, looking over his shades to see Tenna’s lit-up screen. “W-what?! What’s…happening?” Tenna is scared at first before realizing something big. “I’m…my screen is…ON?!” He frantically starts looking around the nearby trash heap in search of something reflective, eventually getting his hands on a small broken mirror. He lifts it close to his face, and sure enough, he sees reflections of his static covered face in the shards. “Holy…”

“ Dear Tenna , DO YOU HAVE CHANNELS?! Surprised, Spamton .” Tenna perks up at the idea, and uses his free hand to gently reposition his antennae. For a moment, the signal is gone, and Tenna worries he lost it. But after some finagling, colors start to show up in the shattered mirror’s reflections. Sound starts to play, sounding like distorted music and voices. “OH. MY. GOD.” Spamton starts to get up and looks up at Tenna’s screen. Tenna stares at his reflections, tantalized by the scene playing on his face . Some of the show was distorted and some was straight up missing visually due to the cracks in his face, but it was playing ok besides that.

“Today we’ll be going over one of my favorite recipes: Glamburgers! Who wants a normal burger when you can add sequins?” The show host was surprisingly a robot…kind of like Tenna. He seemed much smaller though, and was more brick shaped than humanoid, but Tenna didn’t care. “Hey…” Tenna spoke softly, staring at the reflection with amazement. “He’s kinda like… me .” Spamton narrows his eyes and rubs his chin, trying to think back onto why this robot was familiar to him. “ Dear Tenna , I think I know this guy…or, well…know of him. I can’t remember where or why though… Inquisitively, Spamton .” As if to answer Spamton’s question, the show host speaks. “We’ll be back with more Cooking With a Killer Robot, hosted by Mettaton, after these fabulous messages.” Spamton snaps his fingers, and Tenna looks down at the mailman. “Mettaton!” They say in sync.

.

It became a new pass time of the two to watch Mettaton’s shows and anything else Tenna’s antennae could pick up. They would talk about new episodes, what recipes they’d try if they had kitchens, and anything else they could think of. Tenna in particular was entranced by the show, something about it speaking to him on a spiritual level. At night, he’d sometimes dream about having a show of his own; giving quizzes to contestants, having them play games, and overall charming the audience like Mettaton did. He wondered if this was what Spamton felt about mail.

They were relaxing under the fake stars, lying on the black grass of Waterfall for the evening. Tenna was staring at the blurry ceiling above, twiddling his fingers in thought. Spamton was similarly lost in thought, staring intensely at the false stars above them. The idea that he came from the surface had rooted itself in the mailman’s mind thanks to Tenna, and it’d been haunting him for weeks . He wondered if he’d seen real stars before, but just couldn’t remember. Either way, he desperately wanted to see the true night sky like every other monster in the underground. Especially with Tenna, hopefully with his screen repaired so he could actually see the stars. He smiled to himself thinking about what the TV man would say. Maybe he could ask that Dr. Alphys if she could repair Tenna…something to keep in mind next time he sees her.

“Hey, Spamton?” Tenna’s voice takes Spamton out of his thoughts. “Hm?” He looks over at the bigger man, who’s still staring up at the ceiling he can’t properly see. “You’d tell me if this was a stupid idea, right?” Spamton tilts his head in confusion. “Depends…” Tenna smiles a little before returning to a more serious expression. “You think…I could become a star like Mettaton?” Spamton was surprised by this, lifting his head up a little. Tenna was always so worried about going out in public, but here he was wanting to be seen by everyone ? “ Dear Tenna , …I mean, probably? I don’t know much about TV and all that, but it seems up your alley. You’re practically glued to the mirror when a new episode comes on!” Spamton and Tenna chuckle at this before Tenna continues. “Yeah…it’s just…he’s able to bring so much joy! He has fans everywhere, he has his own merchandise, he’s even looking to buy a hotel ! It’s just…it seems like a dream job. I…I want to bring that joy…that hope to people. The underground can be…bleak, let’s face it. But shows like Mettaton’s…bring light and warmth into so many monsters' lives! I…I just want to make people smile , you know?” Tenna sighs dreamily, smiling hopefully up at the false sky.

Spamton’s been staring at Tenna this whole time, eyes wide after he explained his dreams. He was beginning to worry if Tenna would ever find something like he did with mail, but this blew those worries out of the water. “ Dear Tenna , When you say it like that… wow! I can’t say I’ve ever seen you this passionate about something before. You should go for it, I say! If you had a show, I’d watch you all the time! Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna feels himself blush a little, feeling some kind of embarrassment at that. “Aww, you’re just saying that!” Spamton shakes his head, sitting upright now. “Nope! I mean it!” Tenna also sits upright, smiling warmly at Spamton. “Thanks, Spamton. I really mean that.” They stare and smile at each other for a moment before laying back down, a feeling of warmth and hope in the air between them. 

.

Instead of just fixing up his shack and treasure hunting, Tenna has started to brainstorm some show ideas. He found an old notebook and has started to fill it with ideas for mini games and costumes. Sometimes, he’d work on these concepts while a new Mettaton show was playing. He took a liking to the red suit the rectangular robot wore, wondering if he could pull it off himself (in a much bigger size of course).

Meanwhile, Spamton has been cooking up an endeavor of his own. He wants to expand his route, but has to find shortcuts before he gets too ahead of himself. After all, he can’t spend multiple days on a singular mail route! Hotland wasn’t too populated, being more of a pass over place, so he wanted to try Snowdin next. After all, that place was a bustling town of fuzzy monsters, and had plenty of empty mailboxes in need of mail. He was wandering the caverns of Waterfall when he finally found the solution to his transportation problem.

“Tra la la.” A semi monotonous yet friendly voice catches Spamton’s attention. He follows the source to a nearby tunnel, the sound of running water echoing through. It led to a cavern accompanied by a river. In the river was a ferry boat, and a hooded figure was humming at the front of it. When it notices Spamton, it turns to speak to him. “Oh! Hello stranger. I haven’t seen you before. Do you need a ride somewhere?” Spamton looks around, thinking of how to go about this. “ Dear Stranger, Yes, if you can take me to Snowdin? Thanks, Spamton .” The mysterious monster nods. “Of course. I can get you there in minutes.” Spamton lights up, rushing onto the ferry with a skip in his step. The boat starts to move forward despite the lack of motion from the hooded figure, and stays moving at a rather quick pace. Spamton looks out over the water, staring at his own reflection while zoning out.

“Tra la la. You know there’s talking flowers that aren’t blue? Maybe not.” The ferry person speaks up, but Spamton can’t tell if it was directed at him or themselves. He opts to just stay silent. Soon enough, they leave the tunnel and enter the much colder and larger cavern of Snowdin. The snow and chilly breeze made it feel much less like a cavern and more like an open winter forest. Spamton was surprised the water wasn’t frozen over. The boat eventually slows down to a halt at a nearby coast by the river. Spamton steps off and thanks the stranger, learning they’re called the River Person…not much of a name, but a name nonetheless. 

Entering the small town, the environment felt anything but cold. There were monsters bustling around, and they all seemed to be cheery and friendly. There was even a tree in the center of town covered in decorations with a pile of presents underneath. It was easy to get distracted, but Spamton had a job to do, damn it! He shakes his head and starts to approach the cozy homes around the town.

He’d stuck up some friendly conversation here and there, learning names and even getting a few letters to deliver. He truly felt he’d hit the jackpot in this town. The largest and last house stood at the edge of town, somewhat close to Waterfall. There were two pristine mailboxes out front, each labeled with names in different fonts. He deposits the last of the mail he has, feeling satisfied with his work for the day. He’d definitely have to come back outside of business hours at some point, especially with that warm popular bar. Maybe he could convince Tenna to come with him to get some drinks. With his route completed, he starts to head back to where the River Person was.

As he does, he feels someone watching him. He looks around, expecting to see someone doing so, but…no one’s there. Spamton doesn’t know why he’d get a strange feeling in such a nice town, but he didn’t want to stick around and find out. He trots over to the ferry, and asks for a lift back to Waterfall. As he sits back and enjoys the ride, he can’t help but wonder where else he could go via ferry.

Chapter Text

Despite living in the trash dump away from most people, that didn’t mean no one would come by. The first time this happened was when the sad ghost from before showed up to…lay around and cry. Tenna had asked what they were doing out of concern, but they simply said they were laying around to feel like garbage around some garbage for a change. Tenna even joined them and eventually convinced Spamton to lay down as well once he started seeing stars surrounding them. They both often forget just how magical magic can be.

The second time someone showed up, Tenna and Spamton could tell hiding was the right move. A raving possessed dummy was flying around, looking for something and screaming swears when they found nothing…screamed the swears three times in a row to be exact. Luckily, it seems the two either blended well enough into their environment or hid well enough to not be spotted by them. 

The oddest the least expected visitor they ever got was none other than the royal scientist herself. Tenna was the first to notice her, hearing her nervously rambling to herself about something while he was looking for some clean-ish fabric for his suit.

“N-no, Alphys…i-it’ll be fine! You’ve got this!…You just need to…send out those requests…” Tenna didn’t want to snoop in on her little pep talk, so he decided to step out and introduce himself.

“Uh, h-hello there!” Tenna did his best to sound friendly, but he’d barely talked to anyone besides Spamton. The poor reptile shreaks in surprise, turning around to face him with wide eyes. “O-OH MY…I-I didn’t see you there, sir!” She laughs nervously, readjusting her glasses while she catches her breath. “What, uh…brings you to the dump?” She smiles, albeit strained. “Oh, uh…I…sorta… live here…” Tenna’s voice grew quieter the longer he spoke, realizing just how weird that sounded. “Oh! S-sorry for intruding, I didn’t know someone lived here…” The scientist twiddles her thumbs, avoiding eye contact like the plague (even if Tenna had no eyes to meet). 

Tenna waves off her concerns and shakes his head. “Ah, you aren’t intruding! It’s not like we own the dump; anyone can come and go as they please.” Although Tenna dreaded being spotted by too many people in his state. He himself was avoiding eye contact, and started to notice something about her uniform. A lab coat…with a familiar insignia on the front pocket. “Ma’am, if you don’t mind me asking…who are you?” She rubs the back of her spiked head, no longer faking a smile or laughing. “Oh…I’m Alphys…the royal scientist.”

“No you aren’t.” Tenna responds before he can even think, saying so as if it was just a fact. The two stared at each other in surprise for a while, Tenna frozen in disbelief of himself. “I-I MEAN, UH, NO LIKE THAT, I UH…” He waves around frantically, feeling the most embarrassed he’d ever felt before. “I just…I swear the royal scientist…you…I don’t…” He feels beyond odd, like he was on the precipice of a grand revelation, but just couldn’t get there quite yet. Alphys blinks a few times before finally speaking up. “I-I mean, if you’ve been around a while…I guess I’d be considered new…I got my position a few years ago.” Tenna zoned out for a moment.

Did he know the previous royal scientist? Or at least of them? Was there a previous one? If all that was true…why can’t he remember? “Oh, well…I am a bit of an old timer!” Tenna really only guessed, having no idea how old he really was. “But, besides all that; what brings you to these parts?” Alphys goes from confused to embarrassed once again. “O-oh, well…I uh, like to come here to think and find parts for… experiments ! Royal, top secret, important experiments! Heh…” She darts her eyes to the side, clearly hiding something; but Tenna didn’t want to further ruin his reputation with the scientist. 

The mention of experiments gives Tenna an idea…that he quickly shoots down. She might be able to fix him up, but that’d be a rude thing to ask a stranger for…right? Not like he really knew. As much as Tenna loved the idea of hosting a TV show one day, the social aspect seemed the most challenging part. But this was a chance to practice those rusty people skills, and he wasn’t going to waste it after fumbling his first impression. “Sounds like a respectable job! I suppose you can’t tell me the details or what exactly you’re doing, but I’m sure it’ll be important for the kingdom.” Alphys nods, her nervousness fading slightly. “Y-yeah, I guess it is important! I’ve been a…little worried about messing up, j-just between you and me…” She looks a little downcast, staring down at the watery ground. “Royal scientist i-is a big responsibility…it c-can be overwhelming sometimes… especially having to work directly with King Asgore himself…” 

Tenna felt that tinge of familiarity again, which was certainly odd to be connected to the mention of the King. He decides to just brush it off for now, instead focusing on the scientist in front of him. “Well, if there’s anything I can do to help you out, let me know. I’d be happy to help someone in need!” Alphys gives Tenna a smile free of nervousness, which Tenna returns. “Thanks, sir.” Tenna keeps smiling, but feels a tinge of guilt when he realizes he never gave her his name. “Please! Call me Tenna.” Alphys nods, still smiling. “Ok, Tenna . Nice to meet you!” 

She thinks for a moment before remembering something “O-oh! Actually, you could help me maybe! D-do you know where to find that mailman guy who’s been around lately?” Tenna beams, finding it pretty impressive that Spamton has really gotten some recognition. “Yes, actually; he’s my friend and neighbor!” Alphys lights up, before looking a little nervous. “Oh, that’s great ! I uh…could you tell him to come p-pick up some letters to send out? I-I need to…get some volunteers for my upcoming…experiment.” Tenna feels a little odd practically accepting a job for Spamton, but he knew the puppet guy long enough to know he’d be all about this. “Sure can do! Anything else?” Alphys looks to the side, furrowing her brow in thought. “Hmm…no…unless…” She chuckles nervously, darting her eyes even further from Tenna as she gives an embarrassed smile. “Do you…have any Mew Mew tapes laying around you could spare? I-it’s for important human research!” Tenna swears the name is familiar. “I think so…I have a few VHS tapes laying around I haven’t been able to use.”

One tape stash check later, Tenna hands Alphys three tapes that were in…ok condition. “It’s not much, but I hope this helps.” Tenna felt a little bad giving the royal scientist tapes in such bad conditions. Alphys on the other hand was staring with wide sparkling eyes like she had a stack of gold in her claws. “OHMYGOD!!! Y-YOU HAD THREE OF THEM?! THANK YOU SO MUCH, H-HOW CAN I REPAY YOU?” Tenna still feels like asking for repairs is a pretty high ask for Alphys, but doesn’t want to dismiss the offer. “Oh, you can worry about that later when you aren’t so busy! After all, you’re doing important work; I’d hate to bother you.” Alphys rips her gaze from the tapes to Tenna. “I-I mean…if you want to, sure. I’ll come back to you when I’m available, promise!“ The two shake hands to make the deal of three tapes in exchange for something in the future (that totally weren’t repairs so Tenna could see properly and not be so embarrassed about being seen).

.

Spamton, as expected, was delighted by the news that Tenna got him a job from Alphys. Ever since he’d found the river ferry, he’s been able to deliver more mail and faster too. He’d seen all sorts of places like Snowdin, the CORE, and Hotland (although there weren’t a ton of people to give mail to there besides a baker and the soon to be Mettaton’s Hotel). Even so, he had yet to enter the Capital.

The idea of being alone in the big city frightened him a little. Even if he was a speedy and passionate mailman, he couldn’t cover everyone’s house in the Capital City! It seems Spamton was finally in over his head, but it wasn’t like he could ask anyone for help. After all, he didn’t know any other mailmonsters! Even in this predicament, he couldn’t just back out of such an important job.

Spamton had picked up the many letters from Alphys, which she clearly explained had to be distributed all over the underground for an important and top secret experiment. Delivering them to Snowdin was going to be easy, and Waterfall even more. He decides to do them first before coming back to Hotland to go by the CORE and Capital…maybe that baker too if she doesn’t try making him into donuts again.

The trip to and from Waterfall was pretty uneventful. The Riverperson was still just as enigmatic as before, speaking a couple of times at max. The trip to Snowdin however went a little different.

“Tra la la. Sometimes I listen to the water, but it never has much to say.” Spamton couldn’t tell if they were joking or not, but found it a little amusing. It was hard to read them, but they didn’t seem like much for two-sided conversation anyways. When they arrived, Spamton set off on his mission. He wanted to get the easy places done first as fast as possible so he’d have time to get to everyone in the Capital. A few residents waved to him, and he would wave back with a smile. He found it odd that just a couple months or so ago he’d be turning tail and running the second someone spotted him. Something about Snowdin was just so…friendly!

Although…he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. As if more couldn’t happen this day, he finally got his answer. Spamton was just about to place a letter in one of the mailboxes at the edge of town…when he realized he literally couldn’t. He’d been brushing off the lack of free space due to the owner either not being home or something else, but the box couldn’t even close anymore. Not only did this frustrate him from a postage standpoint; it meant he couldn’t give this resident a letter. Unless he found them…or if they found him .

“hey there.” A voice Spamton hasn’t heard before comes from behind him, startling him a bit. He turns around to see a short and stout skeleton in a blue hoodie. “ Dear stranger, OH MY GOD! Sorry, you scared me a little. I don’t think I’ve seen you around before? Sincerely, Spamton .” The skeleton gives a low laugh. “heh. guess i haven’t gotten around to meeting ya. name’s sans.” He winks and extends a hand. Spamton smiles back and reaches to shake Sans’ hand. “Spamton M. Spamt-”

A loud fart sound comes from their hands, leaving Spamton frozen in pure shock and confusion. Sans chuckles before revealing a whoopie cushion in his hand. “ah, the ol’ classic whoopie cushion in the hand trick.” Spamton looks back at the full mailbox, and back at the monster. “ Dear Sans , Is this your mailbox? From, Spamton .” Sans shrugs. “eh, sure. i don’t really use it though. i don’t really use snail mail. i’m more of a slug mail guy myself.” He shrugs and winks, his permanent smile looking cheekier than normal. Spamton sighs at the joke, not wanting to admit he found it a little funny. “ To Sans, Well, at least empty your mailbox out in the future. Couldn’t put this letter in! And it’s an important one from the royal scientist . Sincerely, Spamton .” Sans looks a bit more attentive at the mention of the letter. “from alphys, huh? what’s she got for me?” Spamton hands over the letter, which Sans looks over. “well, what’s she got for whoever?” Spamton shrugs. "Can't open mail myself and she said it was too secret, so I have no idea.” Spamton turns and waves goodbye before he runs off to the ferry. 

That was the one watching him. He could tell as soon as he heard and saw him. Hell, he was watching him now. Even if his expression was relaxed, Spamton could feel a curiosity in his gaze. “ Strange ,” was all he could think as he hops back on the boat.

.

With everywhere else out of the way, Spamton was left with the dreaded Capital. He inhales and stares at the elevator, waiting for the doors to finally open. There weren’t any other monsters around, so he wouldn’t have to share an elevator, which he did look forward to. He did have a nice chat with the shopkeeper(s) and janitor of the Hotel when he first arrived. He liked the shopkeeper(s) style, and he admired the janitor’s love for a job well done. The door opens with a chime, and Spamton steps inside with a deep breath. The ride up felt painfully long, which didn’t help with his anxiety. When they finally opened, he was greeted by warm lights. 

The streetlights seemed to be the main source of light in the city, which was made up of brown bricks. Despite being very monochromatic, it definitely felt like a nice place. A few monsters were walking the streets, and Spamton wondered if he’d get lost in the maze of streets. As he starts to enter the city, a certain monster catches his eye and vice versa. A pink whale monster with wings was fluttering towards him. They wore a similar but much newer hat like Spamton’s.

“Hello sir, are you a mailman? I haven’t seen you before, but these lands do span.” Spamton can’t believe his luck. Maybe he could get some help after all. “ Dear fellow Mailmonster , Oh thank goodness, another mailperson! I have so many letters to deliver to everyone in the underground, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do it alone! Could you maybe help me out?” The whale nods happily. “Of course my friend! My help, I shall lend. I can also take these to farther lands; deep forests and the place of hot sands.” Spamton hasn’t been to a place with sand before, and was now curious if he could find a way to get there in the future. “ Dear Mailperson, Thank you so much! I’ve gotten Snowdin, Waterfall, and everyone I could find in Hotland already. Good luck, Spamton .” Even if it wasn’t the most social of introductions, the two seemed to share an understanding and passion for mail. With a change of hands (or fins) and a salute, the whale was off. Spamton let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He was worn out from the day, and despite wanting to see the city sights, he was ready to go back to his little home in the dump.

Chapter Text

As much as the two dump dwellers wanted to worry about other things, their foggy pasts have kept bleeding into their lives. Tenna would feel strange around anything to do with the royals or VHS tapes, so he’d been collecting any tapes he could find in the hopes that one day he’d look at them and have a eureka moment. Spamton meanwhile had similar feelings about the lab and CORE, although the CORE wasn’t too bad and the lab only creeped him out when he saw the inside. Even Spamton could tell the few memories Tenna did have were driving him crazy, but more so because of the large gap left un remembered. Spamton hated seeing Tenna staring off with a frown when he thought he wasn’t looking, and there had been a few times like the day he got his first memory back where he’d close himself off to cry. 

So, Spamton had two goals in mind: Help Tenna remember his past fully , and cheer him up. He wasn’t sure if the memories would necessarily cheer Tenna up based on the ones he got, but they’d at least provide some much needed closure. Since he likely couldn’t just shove Tenna in front of Asgore and hope that fixes his memory, he needed to find other ways to expose Tenna to royal stuff. In the meantime, the thing Spamton could do is take his friend to Snowdin.

“ Dear Tenna , Come ooooon! You’ll love it there! Everyone is so nice there, you don’t need to worry about the cracks in your screen. Besides, you need to get out more; for your dream job and your mental health! Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna still seemed hesitant to leave the dump, mostly because he dreaded being seen in his state. He’d gotten better after Nabstablook and Alphys came by, but didn’t actively seek out socializing with other people. “I…I don’t know. I’ve never been outside Waterfall before…buuut, like you said, it’d be good for me…” Tenna hums to himself in thought, tapping his fingers on his crossed arms. “You know what! What the hell! I’ll give it a shot.” He dramatically raises his arms before placing them on his hips with a smirk. “It’s not like someone’s going to stab me or anything…well, with words maybe, but not physically at least.” 

“ That’s the ticket!” Spamton winks and elbows Tenna. The TV man chuckles down at him, before looking around. “So, uh…I’ll tidy myself up a little. Don’t want to make my debut with some trash I didn’t notice on my suit.” Tenna ducks his little shack of a home, and Spamton goes to his own place to complete his “casual” look…by removing his hat. He was off the clock after all; it’d be unprofessional to wear his postman’s cap! Also, neither of them had any other real clothes. Tenna’s work-in-progress suit was really only half a torn blazer as of now, and Spamton didn’t really care for fashion.

Tenna and Spamton walked out of the dump, dry and trashless for their little outing. “So,” Tenna spoke up, “how do we get there?” ” Dear Tenna, Well, do I have a fun answer for you! Follow me, Spamton .” Spamton wordlessly yet excitedly leads Tenna down the tunnels leading to the river. “ Behold, Tenna , The ferry! You're welcome, Spamton .” Tenna’s antennae perk up with recognition. “Oooooh! So this is the ferry you talked about? Never thought I’d ride it myself…” Spamton grins up at his giant friend. “ Dear Tenna , Well, you sure get to now! Come on! The River Person is pretty chill. After you, Spamton .” He gestures for Tenna to go ahead of him in an overly dramatic manner. Tenna chuckles at this display, talking ahead to nervously greet the stranger.

“Tra la la! I am the River Person. Do you need a ride?” Spamton wordlessly climbs on the boat while Tenna hesitates before nodding. “Uhh, yes! W-we’re going to Snowdin, actually. If you wouldn’t mind taking us…” “Oh, I don’t mind at all, stranger. In fact, I’d like the company.” Tenna is a little shocked by just how the monster doesn’t care about his appearance. Maybe he was overthinking things. Spamton helps Tenna get on the boat and sit down. Once they take off, Tenna watches the water as they ride through it. Spamton finds it amusing how similar their first boat rides were. 

“Tra la la! Waterfall sure is pretty, but I wonder where the water falls …” Tenna perks up, and shoots Spamton a confused look. Spamton waves it off with a slight shake of the head. When they arrive in Snowdin, Tenna gasps in awe. He’d never seen snow, let alone a forest in the most cavernous cavern he’d ever seen. It was such a massive and open place, it really made Tenna wonder how this was even a cave. It made him feel…small; but in a good way. 

When they stopped, Spamton helped Tenna step out onto the snow, which made the TV man jump a little. “Oh wow!” Tenna smiles and steps on the snowy ground a few times. “This is snow , right? Can’t remember ever…seeing or feeling it before!” Spamton laughs, grinning at his friend’s display of wonder. “ Dear Tenna, I was a little too distracted by my work the first time I came here, but it sure was an experience to slow down and stomp around a little. Yours truly, Spamton .” Tenna pulls his attention away to look at his friend and then ahead. “So, the town is this way?” Spamton nods and offers his hand. “Follow me, CRT!” Spamton guides Tenna to Snowdin proper, and the bigger monster is awestruck by the sight. 

Tenna had spent so long in Waterfall, he forgot there were towns out there. He’d heard of a hidden underwater town in Waterfall, but it was much too out of the way for either Spamton or Tenna to get to. He wonders if he should check it out sometime…once he gets some waterproofing done first that is.

“Hello, Spamton! Who’s this?” The two look to see a rabbit monster outside a building waving at them with a warm smile. “ Dear Resident , Hello there! This is my friend, Tenna. Showing him Snowdin since he’s never been! Sincerely, Spamton .” The rabbit smiles cheerfully and looks up at Tenna. “Well, welcome to Snowdin, Mr. Tenna!” Tenna grins shyly before waving back. “ Dear Tenna, See what I meant? Everyone here is super friendly! You don’t need to worry about a thing. Sincerely, Spamton .” 

They keep walking around town, saying hello to the residents they pass by. Tenna can’t help but notice how many people know Spamton and treat him like a friend. He feels a tinge of jealousy that his friend has more social skills than he, the one who wants to become a performer , does. They stop outside a warm brick building with a large widow out front. Tenna looks up, but can’t quite make out what the sign says. “Grillby’s.” Spamton tells him, much to Tenna’s relief. “Grillby’s?” Tenna echoes, looking down at his short friend with a tilt of his TV head. “ See here, Tenna , It’s a restaurant and bar. I’ve been a couple times to give the owner his mail, but I’ve been waiting to try it with you, CRT! Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna feels a warmth in his chest at that, smiling at Spamton. “R-really? You…waited for me ? Thank god you convinced me to get out, or else you would’ve been waiting for years !” Tenna laughs, and Spamton joins in. “ To Tenna, Yeah, me too! Now come on, I can introduce you to some more folks on my route. Come on, Spamton .”

Entering the building was a blast of warmth that felt good on Tenna’s chilled screen. Spamton leads him over to the bar, barely crawling onto a stool while Tenna sits himself with ease. The TV man barely contains his laughter at the sight of his friend scrambling up to his seat. The man behind the counter was a finely dressed humanoid made of fire and wearing a pair of glasses. Tenna hesitantly greets him, and he returns it with a wordless nod. Looking around, Tenna could tell this was a lively place. Many monsters were sitting around and chatting with each other. He could even hear barking amongst the chatter. “ Dear CRT , So, what would you like? Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna turns back to his shorter friend. “Oh! Uh…can I even eat?” Tenna never really ate anything, but he didn’t feel the need to so he never tried. Spamton hums before getting a little lost in thought. “Huh…” The mailman drums his fingers against the countertop. “ Dear Tenna, How about we just try some fries? You have a mouth on your screen…maybe if you just shove them on your screen, it’ll work? Hope this helps, Spamton .”

They order some fries and water to see if Tenna can even eat or drink. Spamton assures Tenna that if he can’t, he’ll eat his food so it doesn’t go to waste. Tenna picks up a fry and investigates it, tapping his face as he does so. He taps it against his face, and hums disappointedly when nothing happens. “I’m going to assume I can’t drink either…” Tenna’s twisted antennae droop, and Spamton gives his friend a pat on the back. “ Sorry, Tenna , Well, at least we tried. And hey! Now we know for the future. Sincerely, Spamton .” The mailman drags the fries over to himself and starts eating them. Tenna perks up again, giving Spamton a reassuring smile. “Well, thanks for trying. Besides, that just means I’ll have more time to chat!” As if on cue, a faded red bird woman comes up and taps Tenna on the shoulder.

“Hello there, mister. I haven’t seen ya around here before, so, nice to meet ya! What’s your name?” Tenna would have blinked a few times if he had eyes. “Mr. Tenna! Nice to meet you too, Ms…” She gives a tired grin with her beak. “Robin.” She sits down a seat away from Tenna, but they keep chatting. Spamton watches but doesn’t listen, mostly looking at Tenna’s screen-face. He was beaming, as if a switch was hit on him. Spamton felt…happy seeing him like this, and relieved. Seems the other monsters started to notice the newcomer, and joined in the conversation. Before Spamton knew it, they were surrounded by friendly faces. Spamton talked mail with a few peers, and took a few opportunities to introduce them to Tenna. Spamton was originally worried the CRT would cave under the sudden attention, but he seemed to be thriving. People were laughing, smiling, already becoming friends with the newcomer. 

However, the mood shifted suddenly when someone mentioned humans. Suddenly, everyone stopped talking, and the warmth of the room chilled over. Tenna and Spamton felt the dread in the room, but also felt a bit confused. Spamton felt like something had been reawakening in his soul, but Tenna felt a little more conflicted. That one kid from his memories looked pretty… human . How did he even know what a human looked like? A royal guard slams a fist down, grabbing everyone’s attention.

“Those bastards ! They think they can just waltz in and kill monsters like it doesn’t matter!” A sort of mournful silence fills the room after that, a few mumble agreements. “Did…uh…did something happen recently?” Tenna asks, a little nervous to strike a nerve. “Snowdin Massacre…” the guard from before grumbles, the words sending another chill through the room. “Some kid came in and started dusting folks left and right. Some died…some fell down…a lucky few were hurt and just left with the trauma. The thing stopped when they faced off with a poor soul who was protecting some kid. Then it ran away to Waterfall and was hunted down by the kid’s father…the SOUL was delivered to the capital a few days later.”

Tenna felt nauseous, but Spamton felt vindicated rage. Pieces were falling into place for the mailman. The kids who hit him…they were humans . Filthy cruel humans. Spamton tensed up, and Tenna took notice. Fighting back his own shaking, the TV man took one of Spamton’s hands to reassure him. Without thinking too much, Spamton intertwined their hands together. They both seemed too lost in thought to notice. Monsters started to go off, spouting hateful things about humans and all the things they’ve done. Tenna couldn’t process anything being said, and Spamton could feel his friend’s grip tensing up. 

Suddenly, Tenna sits up from the bar, causing everyone to stop their chatter and stare. “I think…I need to go out for a while.” Without another word, Tenna strides out of the restaurant, leaving Spamton behind without a glance back. “Tenna!” The mailman calls out, extending a hand towards a long gone monster he quickly retracts. The monsters start to speculate about their new peer with concern.

“What happened?”

“Was it something I said?”

“Maybe he lost someone in the massacre…”

“Could’ve been wronged by humans.”

“Should…someone check on him?”

Spamton hops off the barstool and rushes to the door. Outside, he didn’t see the TV man anywhere in sight, but could make out his large unmistakable footsteps in the snow. They trailed off into the nearby forest, and Spamton didn’t think twice before following them. Luckily, the larger monster didn’t get far, and Spamton found him within minutes on his knees in the snow. His cane was a little ahead of him, and Spamton was worried he fell and got hurt. “Tenna!” He quickly grabs his cane and goes to his side. 

Dark tears were falling off Tenna’s cracked screen, and his breathing was shallow. Spamton, not knowing what else to do, hugs onto his friend. “It’s ok…” He pats his metal back hoping it’d calm him down.

“It isn’t…” Tenna’s voice sounded conflicted, like a mixture of sadness and rage. “None of this…I…” He brings his hands to his screen, trying to stop the tears. “I remember.” Spamton’s eyebrows lift in shock. “ Dear Tenna, You do? That…that’s…good, right?”

“No.” Tenna responds, the life draining from his shaking voice. He looks over at Spamton with a blank tear streaked screen. “They’re dead…because of me.”

Chapter Text

“Come on, slowpoke!” A child’s voice called out from the hallway. The sound of a pair of running footsteps echoed throughout the house.

“No fair! You got a head start!” Another kid responded, sounding winded. Eventually, the two ran into the room he was in, the two laughing as one tried dodging the other. One was a white goat-like monster wearing a green and yellow striped sweater, and the other was a rare sight for anyone other than him; a human with short brown hair and rosy cheeks who was also wearing a similar sweater with a single stripe. 

Tenna knew these two well.

He remembers when the human first showed up. Poor thing was in rough shape, and barely spoke to the monster they’d eventually call their family. Tenna had wished he could have told the human they were safe, but he couldn’t for some reason. They did however end up feeling better and talking more when they eventually watched something on him, and that was enough to warm his metaphorical heart.

Chara…the human’s name was Chara Dreemurr. They were taken in by the royal Dreemurr family. His family. He never spoke to any of them, but they had been together for so many years. He’d even been there before the prince was born. 

Asriel. He was a sweet boy for as long as Tenna could remember. Despite being the prince of monsterkind, he had a hard time making friends. Tenna remembers days when Asriel would watch movies about friendship, and lament to himself that he wished he could make friends too. Being a royal intimidated many fellow kids, no matter how friendly he was. No wonder the boy got so attached to his first friend who became his sibling too…

Chara on the other hand was a very troubled kid. It was easy enough to see when they showed up, wearing messy clothes and having a few scars on their body. Tenna’s heart ached whenever they’d flinch away from someone. As they got more comfortable, they started to show more…concerning attributes. They’d laugh when they felt bad, make dark or cruel comments frequently, and show a hatred towards their fellow humans that rivaled even the most spiteful veterans in the underground. Even so, they were a good kid. They showed a lot of compassion towards monsters, mainly stemming from a guilt they clearly carried with them. They were very polite, learning manners from Toriel and practiced them frequently. 

Tenna wished it was just that. Just two kids from very different backgrounds growing up together. But he knows. He knows how their story ends. Everyone does. 

They never got to grow up.

The day king Asgore got sick from the kids’ pie they accidentally poisoned with buttercups…was a day that changed everything. Chara had been told many times before that they were the hope for both humans and monsters by the king, and that idea cemented in their head. For days afterwards, the human would stay deathly silent in deep thought. One day, the two kids went out to the garden to have a talk. When they came back, Tenna overheard enough to panic.

“It’ll work…I promise.”

“But…I…I don’t like this plan. Not if it means…” “Hey, look at me...It’ll work. I promise .” 

“…You mean it?” 

“I promise . And remember! Don’t tell anyone .”

As days went by, Tenna saw the plan in action. He saw Chara sneaking bunches of buttercups. He saw them eat them and even sneak some into their own food. He saw them start coughing. He saw them fall to their knees and never get back up. He saw them being carried to their room, and heard them suffer for days. He saw the toll it took on the family.

He heard them die in their room.

He heard the cries of anguish from their family.

He saw what Asriel became with their SOUL.

And he never saw either of them again.

He knew what happened. He heard it from the garden, and saw the aftermath. The king and queen were split on what to do; if they should wage war on the humans once again, or continue to live in peaceful solitude. The queen, Toriel, left and never returned.

As for Tenna…the last thing he remembers is an odd interaction. Someone he knew was the royal scientist, who wasn’t Alphys, had asked Asgore for Tenna since he wasn’t using him. Asgore agreed to give him away, and he was unplugged.

.

Spamton had gone quiet, letting Tenna tell him every detail he could without interruption. He ran out of tears long ago, but still took shaky breaths as he told his story. Spamton was still confused as to why Tenna said he’d killed them earlier, but the TV man answers as if he read his mind.

“I couldn’t say anything…I wanted to, NEEDED to, but I couldn’t !” Tenna yells, punching the snowy ground below them as he bares his two dimensional fangs. “If I could have just warned the king and queen…if I could have just told the kids it was a bad idea, then…” His voice cracks as his antennae droop, and he takes his head into his hands with a sob. “They’re dead…because I didn’t say anything…didn’t do anything. If I…If I had just…they would still…and now, other kids are…” Spamton pats his crying friend’s back, his own metaphorical heart aching for Tenna. “ Deepest Condolences Tenna, There was nothing you could have done, Tenna. It wasn’t your fault.” “YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!” Tenna snaps back at Spamton before he can sign off his statement, making the mailman flinch. “…I do. You literally couldn’t have done anything. You were an…” Spamton can’t bring himself to sign off, trailing off as he questions if telling Tenna what he knows would help or hurt him. “I was a what ?” Tenna asks, still with some bite but much less than before. Spamton sighs and throws his caution to the wind, looking away from Tenna as he tells the truth. “Because you were an object , Tenna… Deepest Apologies, Spamton .” Spamton can feel Tenna’s gaze boring into him. “…what?” His voice was small, and it made Spamton regret telling him. “I…I came to this conclusion not too long ago.” Spamton doesn’t meet Tenna’s gaze, not really focused on anything he’s looking at. “But…but how ?!” Tenna asks desperately, confusion outweighing his guilt and despair from earlier. “…not sure.” A simple and unsatisfactory answer, but the only one the mailman could give. They remain in tense silence for a while after that.

“I think…I want to go home.” Tenna breaks the silence, not facing his friend as he speaks. With a silent nod, Spamton helps the TV man get back on his feet, and the two head back into town. A monster or two ask if they’re ok, to which Spamton waves off and gives half hearted answers. When they board the boat, no words are spoken between the two. Tenna still can’t seem to look Spamton in the eyes.

“Tra la la. I saw a flower move on its own today. Maybe it was lost?” The comment would have otherwise been shrugged off if it weren’t for the conversation they had earlier. Maybe there were others out there like them; they just hadn’t found them yet. When they arrived back in Waterfall, they walked back to the dump in silence. Both could agree that day…hadn’t been a great one. It was a shame too, seeing how comfortable Tenna was getting before that guard mentioned humans. Spamton would have to find a better place to socialize without monsters bringing up triggering topics. Maybe he could just have a word with those people from the bar for the future; let them know humans aren’t a topic Tenna prefers.

Tenna didn’t quite close himself off the way he usually did after that. He would still spend a few hours alone, but he would talk to Spamton too. Sometimes cry with him, sometimes ask questions, sometimes just listen to any stories Spamton had to share. Even in this funk, Tenna would drop everything when a new episode of Mettaton’s show came on. It seemed to peak the two’s curiosity more than usual now, seeing that Mettaton was a sentient robot Alphys made. Tenna had proposed the idea that he could have been a robot made from a TV, but neither could explain how he had the memories of the TV. Maybe because it was his head? Spamton promised to ask Alphys about it the next time he delivered her mail.

Speaking of Alphys…neither of them had seen her in a while. She said something about important top secret work she was doing, but just stopped showing up suddenly. According to Undyne, she was just spending a lot more time in the lab than usual. The two didn’t see her a lot, but it was still a little saddening to not see a friendly face drop by. Also, she could answer any questions the two have about living objects and how Mettaton is alive. It’s not like they could just ask the man himself; he was a celebrity! So for the time being, they had to come up with their own theories. Tenna’s robot theory worked for him, but Spamton…wasn’t a robot. Honestly, neither knew exactly what he was. A puppet? A bird? Neither of those really screamed mailbox, but that’s what he must have been. Maybe there was a bird or puppet in it? Just another note to leave on the cork board the two had now.

“ Dear Tenna , So; next time I see Alphys, I’ll ask her to answer a few of our questions. If that doesn’t amount to anything, he could always just dig around your memories for any answers! Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna hums in response. “Hmm. Well what about you ? Shouldn’t we dig into your memories too?” Spamton gives Tenna a look . “ Dearest Tenna, Ah yes. The memories that all take place on the surface . Seems like an easy place to visit. Not-so-sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna’s screen tints in a blush, looking away with an annoyed expression. “Well, it’s not like barging into the castle is any easier…” “But possible .” Tenna nods slowly in response. “Yes…hey, how about you ask Alphys about any TVs the royals may have had! She is the royal scientist after all.” Spamton snaps his fingers before writing a note down. “ Dear Tenna, Great idea, CRT! From what I’ve heard, she talks with the King a lot. Surely she can get that information out of him! Sincerely, Spamton .” He adds the note to the board, tying some string from another note to it. Taking a step back, they both tilt their heads.

“Hmm…starting to look a little ‘conspiracy theory’-y here.” Spamton turns to Tenna again with a raised eyebrow. “ Dear CRT , We are literally trying to figure out how we’re living objects…that itself is a little conspiracy theory’-y. Sincerely, Spamton .” Tenna snorts and shrugs. “Fair enough.”

While the two talked and laughed, something watched them from the shadows. Something that was too neither a monster nor human. Something that wondered to himself…why the doctor claimed that he was the first of his kind, while two other experiments sat right here in the open.

Chapter Text

It’d been a while since Alphys had visited the dump, which worried Tenna especially since he’d come to see her as a friend. She’d come by a few times in the past, sometimes with Undyne too, but hasn’t shown up since around the time Spamton sent out those letters from her. Although he was mostly worried about her, he also wanted to see her again to ask about possibly fixing his body again. He figures if she’s been working this whole time, surely she is or is nearly done with her experiment. Part of him was even a little jealous she’d make time for Mettaton, but he was a celebrity after all; of course he got priority over some broken TV.

A royal TV. 

Ever since he learned about his past, he had a strange mixture of grief and pride about his origins. He may have ended up in a dump (and somehow alive), but he was once royalty! Well, practically royalty. Something about the joy he brought to the royal family brought immeasurable pride to him, like he was the entertainer he wanted to be! Of course, thinking about the kids hurt him. He still caught himself crying about them weeks after he remembered his past…remembered them. Sometimes he’d wake up in a cold sweat (or as much of one a living TV could have) having nightmares about their deaths. The sound of Chara dying in their room…the sight of Chara’s body in a warped Asriel’s arms…the sound of Asriel dying in the garden. It was the most traumatic day of all their lives, even if Tenna wasn’t “alive” then. At least he had Spamton now, who would always comfort Tenna through these bouts of grief. It made Tenna want to make it up to him honestly…he didn’t deserve someone like him.

Currently, the two were sitting over a crudely constructed table they had between their “houses” (since it was too large to fit in either of them) they had made from an old broken table and crates. Spamton had gotten some crabapples from the old shopkeeper in Waterfall. Even though Tenna hasn’t really spoken to him, Spamton had made friends with him during his routes.

“Dear Tenna, I think you would like the guy! He’s always got quite the story to share…think he even knows the king! Maybe you two could share stories about Asgore, Mr. Royal TV Man! Sincerely, Spamton.” Spamton laughs at his own nickname for Tenna, who also smirks at the name. Ever since he’d told Spamton about his time as a TV, he called him various royal nicknames. “Well, maybe I’ll drop by while you’re out. Beats working on renovations and waiting for you to get back!” Tenna snorts, looking at his apple before handing it over to Spamton. Even though Tenna can’t eat, Spamton always gets him something too when he gets food. The CRT is convinced his friend does this just to get extra food sometimes. Spamton takes the apple, and pockets it for later. “Dear CRT, Well, guess I’ll be heading out soon. Need anything while I’m out? Sincerely, Spamton.” Tenna’s crooked antennae perk up. “Oh! Actually, could you try asking Alphys if she could discuss my repairs sometime?” Spamton nods. “Dear Tenna, Sure thing! Given she isn’t busy when I show up…again. Well, I’m off! See ya, Spamton.” The mailman gives Tenna a lift of his hat and a wink as a goodbye, getting up and leaving their ramshackle living space. Tenna waves goodbye, smiling wide…until Spamton is gone. 

His expression falls as he starts to reminisce about something that was minor at the time, but felt much more important now. The royal scientist wasn’t a title to be taken lightly. Tenna even remembers there being someone else having that role back when he was a TV. Back in his last memory. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite remember what the scientist looked like. Seems he still has some gaps to fill in his memories; even in the memories he already has. For now, all he can do is wait for Alphys to meet up with him again. Maybe they could discuss the previous scientist, and get some answers as to how he’s alive now.

.

Spamton didn’t have the highest hopes for Alphys to answer the door. She hadn’t been outside let alone answering the door lately. The mailman chalked it up to her experiment taking up her time and energy. However, today was a very different day than the past month or so of inactivity. When Spamton knocked on the door, he expected no response and to slip the mail under the door as per usual. But instead, the doors swished open shortly after he knocked.

“M-mailman! Great timing!” Alphys was smiling, practically radiating with excitement with a stack of letters in her claws.

“Dear Alphys, Have some letters ya need delivered? Take it the science-ing has been going well? Sincerely, Spamton.” The mailman gestured to the letters, and the scientist’s overall demeanor. The yellow lizard seemed eager about something, nodding and presenting the letters to him. “Y-yes! Everything turned out great! B-beyond great! I-I need these letters delivered ASAP to their respective addresses.” Once Spamton takes them off her claws, she flaps them up and down with a squeal. She freezes, clearly embarrassed by her actions. “Heh…sorry about that…j-just, excited and all that!” Spamton shakes his head “Dear Alphys, No need to apologize! I get excited about my job too. If anything, it’s nice to see someone in such a powerful position actually like their job!” He chuckles before handing some letters to Alphys, almost like in exchange for her own letters. “Anyways, here’s your mail! I will say, it’s been getting harder and harder fitting some of these letters through. Leaving the packages unattended almost killed me! Sincerely, Spamton.”

Alphys laughs a little. “Well, luckily there aren’t too many porch pirates around here!” They both get a laugh out of that. Spamton had almost forgotten what he wanted to talk to her about thanks to the small talk. “P.S. I actually meant to ask you about something! You see, Tenna’s been itching to talk to you again about possible repairs. Even if ya can’t fix him up right now, he’s like to talk anyways! Sincerely, Spamton.” Alphys perks up, as if she had just remembered that. “O-oh! Right! Uhh, I can’t make any promises for the repairs to be soon, but I would like to at least discuss some ideas with him first! Next time I’m around Waterfall, I’ll make sure to drop by for a chat.” Spamton gives an actual grin to the scientist. “Dear Alphys, Good! He’ll be glad to hear it. Guess I’ll be delivering these letters now! Goodbye, Spamton.” The two say their farewells before Spamton heads back out and Alphys returns to her lab.

Reading the addresses on the letters, finding most of them to be for Snowdin, with a few farther ones like the city and some place called “The Wild East”. Deciding to get the hardest ones out of the way first, he makes the pilgrimage to the city to hand the letters off to the Mailwhale. They’ve been nice and helpful, happy to take the letters and packages Spamton couldn’t deliver to do so themselves. Spamton also just found it comforting to know there were others out there delivering messages across the Underground. For such a contained and limited space, it sure was a large cave system under the mountain.

After dropping the letters off, he takes the ferry to Snowdin for the last letters. He went around to a few houses, and delivered the letters to some antsy looking monsters. One of them had even gasped when he saw who it was from, and opened it right then and there.

“Snowflake! It’s ya muddah!” The larger bird-like monster told the smaller one next to him.

“Really?!” The monster child leaned up to peek at the letter, which was being held by one of their father’s talons. “Doc said she’s all bettah! I can’t believe it!” The two cheered and embraced, Spamton slowly edging away from such a personal moment. Before he could leave though, he was stopped by a voice. “Thank ya, mailman.” Spamton wasn’t sure what news he’d been delivering, but this reaction told him it was good. And he handed it to them, even if he wasn’t the one who made the good news in the first place. He tips his hat in response. “Dear Mister, Just doing my job, eheh! Thanks, Spamton.” The mailman was beaming for the rest of the day, happy knowing these letters were bringing so much joy into their recipients’ lives.

.

Tenna had thought about going to see that Gerson person Spamton was talking about, but figured he’d go when he had a little less on his mind. He longed for answers, but knew he wasn’t getting them any time soon. So he opted to just walk around Waterfall until his mind cleared or miraculously found some answers. In his defense, he had gotten some memories back from digging in the trash and taking a nap on the grass. Who’s to say it wouldn’t happen again?

He’d walked rather far into the blue toned caverns of Waterfall, not even registering the fact he’d gone farther away from home than ever before. It took him literally walking right into another person to pull him out of his thoughts.

“Oomph!” A shorter figure stumbles back, fluttering a pair of tiny wings to keep their balance. Tenna was barely affected by the impact, but it still startled him enough to disorient him for a moment.

“Ah! I-I’m so sorry! Wasn’t looking where I was going.” Tenna apologizes profusely, waving his hands. The winged sheep monster before him just looked up with a tired yet peaceful expression. “Oh, do not worry about it my friend. I too was distracted.” Getting a better look at him, the monster seemed to be wearing a priest’s robe with the Delta Rune embroidered on the chest. Even if it wasn’t for royal reasons, seeing someone wear that symbol…it just felt too familiar. The Queen, he vaguely remembered, had a similar outfit.

“Now that I see you though, I cannot say I have seen you around here before…” The priest tilts his head as he looks up at the living TV. Tenna can’t help but feel called out for his hermit-y lifestyle. “Ah, well…I’ve unfortunately been a bit of a shut in lately so to speak.” Although he’s been getting better. The priest nods in understanding. “Mmm. I too have found myself inside more than I should be. Suppose it has just been…hard to revisit some places and memories.” Tenna could recognize the look on their face; grief. He must have lost someone…like Tenna had. 

His shoulders fall, giving the priest as much of a sympathetic look as he could give with a broken screen for a face. “I see…guess I’m not the only one!” Tenna laughs sadly, which seems to get the priest’s attention. “You too?” Seems his sympathetic look was being reflected back. “I am so sorry.” Tenna rubs the back of his boxy head. ”I’m sorry for you too.” The two stood in silence for a moment before the priest spoke up again. “If it helps, they are surely in a better place now.” Tears seem to fill his eyes, but he gives a bittersweet smile to no one in particular. “Whatever our and their beliefs are and were…I am sure those who are gone are in some place better than here.” He looks back up at Tenna, placing a reassuring arm on his shoulder. “So do your best to keep your head up, and live on for them. I am sure it is what they wanted.” Tenna can’t find anything to say, the two staying as they were for a moment before the priest takes his hand back and sighs. “Well, I must leave now. But if you ever find yourself in need of aid around here, just look for old Father Michael.” He gestures to himself before nodding a farewell and walking away.

Tenna found the interaction a welcome surprise, and was comforted by the fact a stranger could understand what he was going through with so little words. He wasn’t too surprised though; the underground was full of tragedy.

It was probably why they…

Tenna tries to think about what the priest had told him. “They’re in a better place.” He tells himself, thinking of some perfect world in the sunlight where the kids were laughing and playing. It was a sweet fantasy, and definitely helped ease the pain in his metaphorical heart. They both deserved to live in some kind of heavenly afterlife after what happened to them. He wasn’t a religious man, but figured if that’s what they believed in, why can’t it be what they got? A perfect heaven devoid of pain and suffering.

It was only after he started to feel a little more at peace that he realized he was lost. “WAIT! FATHER MICHAEL!” The TV runs in the direction he had seen the priest, hoping to get some directions back home.

There was something there Tenna and the priest didn’t notice that listened in.

“A better place, huh?” The voice broke out in twisted laughter, before leaving the cavern behind.