Vivian remembered where Mr Tenna’s office was, at least. Down a hallway strayed from the other offices, past a door labeled as “B1”. She didn’t need to go far to find it again. His office door was huge, and held a star-shaped sign clearly labeled with his name:
Her arm froze in place before she could reach the wooden surface of his door. She felt like her entire body paralyzed on the spot. Sadly, Vivian always hated knocking on doors. She hated entering unfamiliar private rooms in general— in fact, she was afraid of the act itself. Standing in front of the door, she was reminded of when she’d been a child. Waking up from those reoccurring nightmares, afraid and alone, wanting nothing more than the security of her parents, while the only thing keeping the poor toddler from the comfort was her own inability to let herself into their bedroom.
“This isn’t like that,” She shook herself out of the anxiety-induced memory, “Mr. Tenna asked me to look for him. He wants me to knock! Worse case scenario, he just won’t be here.”
Vivian took a deep breath, forcing her terror down into her stomach, and knocked on the door a little too hard. So hard that it startled even her!
Before she could run off from the door (an instinct she’d also developed as a child), Vivian could hear the sound of a sudden thump coming from inside the office, followed by the now familiar voice, “I’ll be right there!”
She swallowed hard, and kept her feet planted firm on the tiled floor. It was agony to wait, even if it was, in reality, only less than five seconds before Tenna opened his door and looked down.
“Vivian! You’re back out already!” He smiled wide with surprise, “How do you like your room? Anything I can do to cozy it up a little more?”
Before Vivian could really respond, Tenna had already continued, leaning over the poor girl, “More blankets? Less blankets? Fluffier pillows? Firmer pillows?”
She shook her head, feeling her face heat up at the sheer enthusiasm this man had over her. It was unlike anything she’d seen before, let alone experience for herself,
“Actually, uh, I just wanted to see you again.” She finally managed to get out.
Tenna paused for a second.
Viv continued, “I really liked the tour. And I love— I really love the room you made me!” She smiled shyly, “Thank you. And um, I’m sorry I couldn’t say that before.”
He turned away as she spoke, which made Vivian worry, “Tenna..?”
“Oh, Vivian, VIVIAN!” Tenna squealed, lifting her into his arms and twirling, “You sweet, sweet little thing! I knew you’d love it. I just knew it!” He beamed, planting a loving smooch onto Vivian’s forehead before dropping her into his desk chair.
She felt dizzy. The chair squeaked with age as she leaned back into it, and she felt her face prickle with blush.
Not noticing her bashfulness, Tenna began to pace around the room, grabbing different items, and placed them on his desk, “Alllllllright, Superstar! I wanted to give you a special preview of what I have planned for us in the upcoming days.”
He nodded with a grin, and set up a makeshift gameboard. It’s hard to make it out, as it was a bunch of office supplies, but Viv could vaguely see the vision he had,
“For my show, yes! I spared no expense in making this the perfect game for you. Our journey begins here, in the old ruins of what once was the kingdom of—”
Vivian listened to Tenna’s whole plan, and honestly began to get very excited about the very concept. She lifted herself onto her feet and leaned over to see the plans her TV had come up with just for her.
“…—and that’s the end of episode one!” Tenna finished. Before Vivian can give an applause, his large gloved hand swooped across the desk, and knocked everything to the ground, “How do you like it? It’s great, isn’t it? I think so too!” He smiled.
She flinched a bit at the sudden mess Tenna had made, but managed to clap for him as planned, “I’m excited to play it for real!”
How often does anyone get to play a game created for them? And it looked so fun! Vivian began to rock back and forth, “When will I get to?”
“Yes, YES!” He beamed, “I’m never one to disappoint a guest; and certainly not our most prized lightner!” With a scoop, Vivian was once again in Tenna’s arms, “I just so happened to leave a time slot open tomorrow just in case you got that energy back!”
Her arms wrapped around his hand and she thought to herself. Might as well ask, right?:
“What would’ve happened if I wasn’t ready to do your special show at all?”
“Oh, well, I would, uh!” He cleared his throat, but it didn’t stop the stammering. He then tugged at his shirt collar, “I uh.. Well— The show’s time slot, you see. It would just get filled by some other show instead!”
“Don’t you worry about all that stuff though, Sweetheart— haha! We have systems in place to make sure not an hour goes by without entertainment.” He moved his hand back to Viv, and booped her on the nose, “And obviously I know you wouldn’t want to be off set forever! You love the spotlight, always have!”
Vivian began to redden more. She was already flustered by being once again held by Tenna, but being stuck listening to him talk about her was a different level.
“I remember your family would put your recitals on tape and play them for you and your siblings. You’d act so embarrassed when they watched, but then you would rewatch them when they weren’t looking!” The fondness was palpable in the CRT’s voice, and he began to carry her out of his office.
Oddly, his voice lowered to a murmur as they passed the “B1” door, only to return to his usual volume after rounding the corner.
“Always the little star you are, Vivian my girl!” He concluded, then he looked back at her, “Whoa, hey— Are you okay? Your face is red!”
Vivian quickly buried her face, burning with embarrassment, into his sleeve, “I… am fine! Really! Just, uhhh!!” She took a few deep breaths before admitting, “Not good at… being percieved.”
Despite his lack of eyes, the sound of blinking could be heard.
She swallowed, “T-That doesn’t mean I’m not doing the show or anything! I do want to! I just—” how do you even explain? “—Don’t like when I’m watched..?”
“I don’t get what you mean one bit.”
“It’s fine! It’s not even like important right now, I’ll be fine on your show anyway!” She insisted, now even more flustered than before.
“Hurray!!!” With a push, Tenna tossed Vivian a safe distance in the air and catched her with ease, “I just know this will be the best show this world has ever had!”
It was impossible for Vivian to not burst into a giggle when tossed. She expected him to do it eventually. “Okay, but don’t get your hopes up— I might not be the best at the game! Or even the show at all!”
Tenna could only laugh at her words, “Don’t be silly, it isn’t about how well you perform. Everyone will love this show because YOU will be on it!”
Before she knew it, Vivian was carried back into her new room, and Tenna had set her back to her feet.
“I need to get to work in a few minutes,” He explained with an apologetic smile, “But maybe, before I have to go, maybe I could… Spend a little more time with you? Maybe… Show off more of this wonderful little room I’ve had made for you?”
Vivian got the feeling he wanted nothing more than to just spend the rest of the day with her. Her heart ached strangely at the thought. Still, all she could do was smile, and she gave him a shy nod, “I’d like that, yea.”
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