Chapter Text
It’s never expected. How could it be? I mean nobody ever knows ahead of time that, no matter what, they’ll be plagued by nightmares dreaming and awake, so they’ll be criminally unrested. Anyway yeah, to make a long story short, I called off work today because of that very reason and decided to spend the day in my jammies, exhausted, and unable to sleep. I planned on going to the darkworld until a realization hit. It was right after I called my work’s office to inform them and I tried making some mental notes, and I then realized… Trying to form thoughts only made dark clouds.
I tried harder to form more complex thoughts, but all I got was haze. Ah, fantastic, it was age regression time, of course it’d happen now. The mind of a scared adult is going through a thick fog over water and coming out a scared child. The fog still surrounds, but at least now I know what I am and what I am capable of. Well, and my jammies aren’t very vulgar or have anything to further my confusion or fear so, I guess I’m all good… I still wish this wasn’t happening at all but, it was, so TV World here I come…
Sorry in advance, Tenna…
.✦ ݁˖
Like usual, I spawn in the Green Room, the last thing I saw being pulsing darkness that was replaced by, slowly sparkling stars… Wait, these stars were, different? It looks like an actual night sky, where am I???
It takes a moment to realize, but I’m laying down in a dark room. The new location already has me more scared so I quietly murmur to myself and clutch my chest as I sit up and look around. It’s dark, but not completely, and before I can be further terrified I am leaning into a wall of warmth bringing me closer and shushing me.
“Oh dear, hey, hey it’s ok! I’m here, you’re safe…”
Whenever he gets gentle and sweet like this, I always want to break down crying, but even little I can’t let myself do that. Though, this state of mind does lower my barriers somewhat, so I hold on tight to him and bury myself in his soft clothes while quietly whining like a dog. He keeps gently stroking my hair and back and cooing to me. He’s always been so oddly perfect when I get like this; it’s admirable.
“Don't you worry, Mr. Ant Tenna's got you, and he's going to make sure you feel just marvelous today.”
I can practically hear his smile in his voice, and that gets me to calm down more. I’m still clinging to him, but my whining lowers to a stop, and I give him a few nuzzles before letting my face be illuminated by his bright, white screen.
“... First though, I bet you’re pretty tuckered out, huh, superstar?”
Slowly I nod and bring a small hand up to rub my eyes. Something odd about this dark world was that, whenever my brain entered little mode, my body adjusted to fit that mental mold. How it worked, I'll never know, but I guess it made as much sense as sentient die and the sun being a huge stage light.
Gently I’m pushed back into soft, silky sheets and pillows, stars gently twinkling overhead. Tenna carefully tucks me in and makes sure I’m ok before cuddling me overtop the blankets. Even if I was fully awake and alert before, this level of pampering would always get me relaxed and lethargic in seconds.
I looked at his face and only got to see his adoring smile for a few seconds before he lowered his brightness and volume, and turned on an old cartoon I used to love. Normally bigger me would be too uncomfortable and embarrassed watching some baby show, especially WITH someone, but little me? Little me couldn't care less. I was happy, Tenna was happy, so who cares?
My eyelids get so heavy, but I want to keep watching, keep spending time with him. Eventually though, all good things must come to an end, and so, I fall asleep.
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
Eventually, I wake back up, and surprisingly I remain in the same headspace, obvious by the fact I’m still more pint sized than usual. What is even more obvious though, is Tenna laying beside me. He doesn't snore or show signs of deep sleep, but his screen shows nothing but dark, warped reflections. While he is still out, I play around with my mirrored image, and accidentally wake him with my giggling at the way my face stretches and looks like a fish.
His screen’s dim, but on, and as he comes too, he subtly brightens back up and regains that iconic nose and smile he's known for.
“I see someone's awake! How ya feeling?”
While fully rested, I still have a little sleep left in my eyes which I am already rubbing away as he asks.
“A lot better! Thank you, Tenna.”
“Well OF COURSE! I couldn't BARE to see my little superstar all , not when I can do something about it!”
I giggle softly and scoot closer to give him more hugs. Of course he accepts and pulls me in closer, and I notice a flowering scent blooming behind me. He is so adorable, I love him.
“You , you! Making me spring up some flowers over here-”
He cuts himself off and quickly hums before softly gasping. I’m unsure what was happening until he leans back, and I feel something large nestle it's way into my hair. It carries the same floral scent, and feels velvety to the touch. I’m not sure the specific kind of flower he grows, but it comes from him, so I love it regardless.
“There! Ohh look at you! You look so pretty, TOTALLY camera ready! (If you want to be, that is.)”
The shock and awe of being crowned like this almost makes me not hear that last part, but after it moseyed on into the part of my brain that stores memories and learning, I think about it. Could I- no, do I want to be on stage right now? That sounded like a lot, and I'd probably be up against some actual adults, so…
“We can play whatever you want! And don't worry, I'd make SURE the others play fair. Heh, or if you wanted, it could just be you up on stage! Whatever you want, sweet pea.”
Gently and lovingly, he rustles my already tangled hair and brings another wide smile to my face. Honestly that DID sound like a lot of fun, so…
“Sure! That sounds nice!”
“ Just give me a second, and I'll get everything whipped right up for you!~”
Before leaving my side, he gives me a couple pats on the head before springing out of bed and whispering to himself over in the corner. I can hear some echoing sound coming from him, so I assume he’s talking to Mike. Whatever it is they’re discussing, I decide not to pay a single second to wondering about the logistics or anything grown ups are supposed to think about. Why should I? I'm not one right now, I'm as free as a bee! And like a bee, I left yet stayed close to the hive.
AKA I just get up out of bed but lean against it while fixing some of my ratty hair. It’s a little difficult because of the tangles, and kind of hurts in some places, but hey, never doubt a finger comb… Well, Tenna certainly was, because as he walks back over to me, he materializes a square hairbrush in his hand, and gently guides me to his vanity.
I don’t even come up over the desk’s edge, but after some adjustments to comical levels, I can finally see myself in the mirror, illuminated by yellow bulbs. Seeing myself like this is so odd, I really am just so… little! Small but, I didn't feel it, I felt particularly little… This feeling is mine, and nobody can take it from me. As he carefully brushes from the bottom of my hair up, he softly speaks to me like the child I am.
“You like looking at yourself? I'm not surprised, who could ever get tired of such a cute face, huh?”
His compliments always make me smile and make a warm feeling glow within me all throughout. I don't know how he got so skilled in making people feel like they were priceless treasures, but he sure has the talent for it, and I'm so grateful he does.
“Are you excited to go play games on stage?”
“Mhm. I'm a little scared cuz I can't… Play like normal, but I'll still try to have fun!”
“That's the spirit!~”
“... Just… can you make sure nobody's holding back too much? People would sometimes do that to me to make me feel better, and, I could always tell…”
“Oh don't you worry, I can guarantee nobody will be holding back in THIS ! After all, I designed it SPECIFICALLY for you, my little silly star~”
He did? Oh wow, he's done that before, but something about now just makes me feel extra special, I don't know how much more love I can take! I think I spaced out from an overload of affection, because before I realized it, Tenna was already done brushing my now perfectly fluffed hair and admiring his own work. I low-key look like a little doll, but not in a creepy way, more like in a plushie way, and something about that just, ohh… Out comes the flappy hands.
“Hehehe boy, aren't YOU excited! Better be careful though, or else those hands of yours might get as strong as wings and carry you away!”
Suddenly he picks me up and holds me close to his chest before spinning around a couple times and further cooing to me. God he is such a dad this is awesome haha.
“And we wouldn't THAT to happen, now would we? Poor me, being left all alone without his little to brighten up his days! Oh I'd just be so
without you!”
He lifts me up to plant a quick kiss on my cheek, which I of course laugh sweetly at, and after a satisfied sigh from the man himself, he got his bearings and headed out the door into the pastel greens and blues of the world.