Chapter Text
“WOW! WHAT AN ADVENTURE RIGHT?”
“It was…alright.” Weirdly enough, Zooble responds to Caine's welcome back. It’s already weird enough that they came on this adventure. I mean today was pretty chill but still surprising.
“YOUR REWARD IS…BEING ALLOWED TO SIT IN YOUR ROOMS AND THINK! OKAY BYE NOW!” A snap of Caine's fingers sends them all back to their rooms, except one purple rabbit.
“Wha-?”
“HELLO JAX!”
“Oh great,” he mutters. “Guess it’s my lucky day.”
“IT IS INDEED!” Caine's AI doesn’t process the sarcasm dripping from Jax’s voice. “NOW THEN, I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PROPOSAL FOR YOU." The ringmaster points his index finger in Jax’s face, making him grimace.
Jax gently pushes the finger away from in between his eyes.
“Okay…? What? Are you trying to sell me something?”
“STOP TALKING.” Caine takes a breath and fixes his bow-tie that's not even in need of fixing in the first place. “YOU SEE JAX, OUR NEWEST FRIEND HAS BEEN HAVING A…ROUGH ADJUSTMENT PERIOD TO SAY THE LEAST.”
“Pomni? That really sucks doesn’t it.”
“IT DOESN'T JUST SUCK JAX, IT'S RUINING THE FLOW OF MY CIRCUS.”
Suddenly a chart with different types of graphs pop ups in between the two characters. At the very top it reads Pomnis’ name with her icon, then below some other data.
“FOUR MONTHS!” Caine announces suddenly before he holds up four fingers. “STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, THATS HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THE AVERAGE PERFORMER TO STOP SPIRLING AND BEGIN TO ADJUST !”
Nobody knew Caine was recording this type of data but for his AI brain, it’s not surprising.
“POMNI HAS BEEN HERE FOR…LETS SEE.”
Jax has absolutely no idea where this is going but all he knows is that it’s not going to be good. He stands there looking up at the ringmaster with pure annoyance.
“THREE MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS” Caine takes another look at the chart beside him, carefully studying it. “HM…AT THIS RATE, SHE’LL ABSTRACT WAY TOO FAST FOR MY LIKING.”
Another chart pops up. But this time, it has Jax’s name at the top, his icon right next to it also. Caine switches his attention to the other chart, reading it quietly. Jax scoffs. How the hell is this his problem? Why did Caine pick him out of everyone?
“Caine.”
No answer.
“Caine!”
“YES JAX?”
Jax jumps at the set of teeth turning around sharply, He rubs his temples and groans.
“Are you going to get to the point or what?”
“AH, YES.” Caine turns back towards the sets of data, showing Jax his own. “ACCORDING TO THIS YOU HAVE DEALT WITH NEAR ABSTRACTION BEFORE ALREADY.”
Jax’s pupils shrink into small squares.
“Woah, woah shhhh! Caine quiet down would ya?!”
“OH WELL THATS JUST WHAT IS SAYS HERE. IT'S ALSO ITS WHY I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS JOB.”
Job?
Oh great, he already has to be stuck here and now he's gonna be employed too. The rabbit moves his hand, almost in a way of saying ‘go on’.
“YOU'RE GOING TO HELP OUR JESTER FRIEND GET TO HER FOUR MONTH MILESTONE WITHOUT COMPLETELY LOSING HER MIND.” A small trumpet sound effect plays with Caine's words, treating this like an award show.
What? No way. Why is Caine putting her problems on him?
“Uhm, yeah. I’m good, see ya.” Jax heads for the dorms with a heel turn before Caine brings him right back. “Hey!-“
“JAX…” The set of teeth steps forward. “WOULD IF I TOLD YOU THERE A PAYMENT…JUST BECAUSE I'M A RINGMASTER MADE OF TEETH DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T PAY WELL.”
One of the eyebrows above Jax’s eye raises.
“Okay…what is it?”
“THATS A GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU PEOPLE WANT.”
Jax knows what everyone really wants but he knows that’s not an option so he does the next best thing.
“You know Caine…this sounds like a pretty hard job. I'm gonna need a good reward…” A smirk appears on his face, his yellow teeth taking up half his face “Some admin privileges would come in handy you know, I think that’s a fair enough payment.” Jax makes a show of examining the nonexistent nails on his gloved hand and brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.
Caine stares at Jax before putting a hand around the chin of his jaw like head. Displaying his train of thought.
“IT DEPENDS…YOURE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A VERY GOOD JOB IF YOU WANT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF THOSE PRIVILAGES.”
“I-“
“TELL YOU WHAT JAX, LETS MAKE A BET. IF YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY KEEP YOURSELF AND POMNI FROM GOING COMPLETELY OVER THE EDGE BY JUST SIMPLY BECOMING HER FRIEND, YOU CAN HAVE NOVICE ADMIN POWERS AND CHOOSE DINNER EVERY NIGHT.”
You know what, not really what Jax was thinking but that’s good enough for him.
“BUBBLE MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT LAST IDEA…BUT WHATEVER A DEAL IS A DEAL.” Caine holds out a single hand towards Jax for a handshake. “WHAT DO YOU SAY, FRIENDO?”
It’d be a piece of cake. I mean, what the hell could even go wrong? She’d probably walk right into it, and when she did, It’d prove to everyone that he could get anyone wrapped right around his finger if he wanted to. All their efforts to ‘protect’ her from him would be useless. Protect her from what, exactly? Jax almost scoffs. Like any of them can actually protect anyone in this place. Honestly, he’d be doing her a favor. A little toughening up never hurt anybody. The clown’s gonna have to get used to things around here eventually. Might as well rip the band-aid off now instead of letting Ragatha and the others baby her forever. Think of it like exposure therapy.
“Sure buddy.” Jax clasps the ringmaster's hand, doing a firm shake.
“NICE TALKING. BYE.” With a crisp snap, Caine puts Jax back in his room.
Jax thinks. Still, there's a part of him that believes all the things the others say about him. Even if he doesn't want to. No amount of him boosting his own ego could ever erase that feeling that he’s a virus. The only words that run around his head laying in his uncomfortably small bed at night. As much as he doesn’t want to admit it he's scared. Not even scared, terrified even. Terrified that he’ll be the reason why these people eventually die out. Die out and never come back except to haunt him for his pitiful efforts to be normal.
Pathetic really, too selfish to realize that no matter what you everyone you love will be gone all because you wanted to have something that everyone else has. Not everyone gets what they want Jax. They just want to manipulate you.
No one likes you.
They like the idea of you.
But he’s not doing this to get close with anyone, No. He’s trying to finally get some power in this stupid place. He made a bet with Caine, and he’s gonna win it.
As much as Pomni hated adventures, Ragatha was right. If they had constant free time, she’d be gone within a few days. The comfort of being alone with her thoughts came with its disadvantages but overall it’s better than having no time to herself at all. She doesn’t spend her free time doing much, she mostly either writes or just…thinks. Think about the wasted potential she had. Think about how much personality she had in the real world but now she’s just a cartoon character. Meant to entertain and be laughed at, not with. It almost feels like her identity has been stripped from her and now her only purpose in life is to be a miserable little jester who can’t think for herself or feel any other emotion other than numbness. A familiar knock bangs on Pomnis door, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“Pomni..? Are you awake? Just checking on you…” Ragatha's voice is heard from outside the door, sounding kind of frantic.
Pomni's back leaves the bed, swinging her legs to the edge to hop off and head to the door.
“Hello?-“
The door swings open to find Ragatha about to leave another knock.
“Oh hi Pomni! How are you doing? I know today’s adventure wasn’t as…climactic as usual but I still wanted to check up on you!”
Pomni doesn’t answer right away. For a second she just stares at the ragdoll, lost in her own mind before giving her a small smile.
“Hey Ragatha…yeah im doing, alright. You?”
The ragdoll smiles back at her with that infectious smile she always does.
“Oh me? I’m doing okay.” Ragatha fiddles with her hands through the sudden silence. “Well! The rest of us were all going to head to dinner then hang out in the living room afterwards if you wanted to join.”
Pomni knows she should spend some time with everybody but to be honest she doesn’t really know if she has the social battery for that right now.
“Oh, um…sure, I’d love to.” But she agrees anyway.
She would definitely consider Ragatha her best friend here and she seems very desperate to get her out of her room right now so why not.
The string-mouth on the ragdolls face curves upwards slightly even more, showing her appreciation for accepting the offer.
“Yay! Just come to the main area when you’re ready.”
A quick thumbs up and small smile comes from Pomni before shutting the door with a sigh.
The circus is quiet.
Well… as quiet as it can be. The faint, endlessly cheerful circus music hums in the background, keeping true silence from ever settling in. Jax sits asleep in the armchair in the main living room. His ears hang lazily on either side of his head before bolting straight up at the banging sound of a yell.
“JAX!”
His body jumps in a disgustingly cartoonish way, eyes popping open with small black pupils.
“Jesus! Can’t a guy sleep without any children's toys barking orders at him?!”
“Don’t throw that bull@#%$ at me, you're the anthropomorphic rabbit here.”
Jax groggily lays his head back down but not without shooting an exhausted glare towards the assortment of parts.
“Anyways…do you have any idea where Ragatha and Pomni are?”
Ragatha and Pomni
Ragatha and Pomni
Ragatha and Pomni
It's like that’s the only thing he ever hears these days. No, he doesn’t give a damn who hangs out with who but something about the way Ragatha acts around that girl is just straight up annoying. She has this voice she uses when around her. Almost like she’s talking to a child. It’s not like he necessarily blames her though.
She’s scared too.
Scared that Pomni will end up closer to him instead.
Scared that the jester will end up like him.
His ears twitch.
“…You gonna answer me?”
Jax blinks, like he forgot he was there.
“No, I don't know where they are. Why the heck would you ask me?”
“I don’t know,” Zooble says flatly. “You always seem to know exactly where and when the right moment to annoy people is.”
“I know, cool talent huh?”
For a second longer than necessary, Zoobles gaze lingers on him. Like they’re trying to figure something out.
Jax notices.
Of course he does.
He takes a hand to smooth out his ears and fur on the top of his head, doing an over dramatic stretch before standing up from the armchair.
“Hoo-wee!” he says, cracking his back. “Would you look at the time? Almost dinner!”
He glances toward Zooble with an exaggerated grin.
“Aren’t you excited to see what Bubble cooked up today, Zoobie?”
Zooble doesn’t respond. Instead they direct a sigh and an eye roll towards the rabbit, earning a quick chuckle of success out of him.
Dinner started as every meal did. Everyone in their ‘assigned’ seats and eating quietly. Well, no one really had to sit anywhere, It was just more socially acceptable if you chose one seat and stuck with it. Pomni caught onto a lot of these little unspoken rules pretty quickly. She didn’t HATE her seat but she did have to admit, it's not very lucky to be sat right between Jax and Gangle. Once everybody sits at the table, Caine along with his floating, bubble companion appears to greet the crew. Pomni never really ever listened to whatever he had to say and it seemed like nobody else did either. She would never have enough energy, mentally or physically, to listen to whatever that floating cavity had to say to her.
After Caine had said what he wanted to say, he left the bubble to take care of that day's meal. Their very low poly, blocky, unappetizing meal. It wasn’t the best food she's ever had but at least it comforts the phantom hunger in their stomachs. Everything went the same as it always did but something felt different. Pomni couldn’t quite tell what it was but she felt oddly more aware than usual. But well, it's a digital world for god sakes. She hasn’t felt normal at all since she got here. She gets snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of a cup, accidentally pushed by her elbow, crashing against the floor. The small, pixilated pieces of the cup fly causing Pomni to cover her face in indistinct with a small gasp as the cup shatters.
“Oh my goodness! Pomni are you alright?”
Ragatha scurries out of her seats towards Pomni. Quickly getting down to her level to check on her.
“Are you hurt? What happened?”
Pomni's senses are immediately overloaded with Ragatha in her face, holding onto her shoulders and questioning her.
The blush across her face darkens out of pure embarrassment and awkwardness. As much as she liked her best friend's compassion for her, she knows this is too much. Before Pomni can speak up, another voice fills the room.
“Jeez Raggy, lay off her she's fine. It's a cup.” Jax's tone sounds oddly serious. Like this is bothering him more than it's bothering Pomni .
The rag doll turns towards him sharply. Hands on her hips getting back to her normal level.
“Im comforting her. Stay out of this.”
“Ha! You call that comforting? Look at her!” Jax uses his hand to signal to the jester. “She looks like she just went through a war zone, if that war was against a rag doll getting all up in her face.”
“STOP IT!” Pomni's yells out with a choke in her throat. She sounds like she’s basically on the edge of tears. “Why can’t you guys let me have one normal night?!”
The whole room is deathly silent. Wide eyes stare at Pomni as she sniffles, trying to get her words out.
“I-…“
An agonizing silence surrounds the dinner table. Everyone watches as Pomni starts to pick up the shards of glass from the floor and place them back on the table for Caine to delete when he resets the table.
She turns back towards everybody.
“Goodnight.” Her words are short but heavy, bringing a weight onto everybody at dinner.
The silence stays as Pomni trudges around the corner into the dorms.
“Oh Pomni seems tired, she's already going to bed!”
Zooble responds to Kinger's words. Their sentence is for everybody but mostly directs their attention towards Gangle.
“Yeah…I think that sounds like a good idea for the rest of us too.”
The red ribbon and toy-box character gently step out of their seats, pushing back in their chairs as they also head towards the dorms. Gangle awkwardly waves her ribbon hand, the other intertwined with Zoobles claw as they leave.
Kinger, without any more words, quietly crawls back into his pillow fort. Settling in for the night. That just leaves Ragatha and Jax.
“So, are you going to say anything about what just happened?”
He scoffs at her words.
“Nah.”
Jax walks off, disappearing into the hallway.
Typical nights don’t normally go like this for Pomni.
Angry sounds of scribbles in her writing book fill the room. Recently she’s really enjoyed spending her nights at the spot where they had the ‘Stargazing’ adventure peacefully writing in a spare notebook she found on her first day. She’s never been very big on poetry, journaling or anything like that but just simply writing out the thoughts she can’t say out loud is better than keeping them boiling inside of her in her opinion. But tonight that’s not what she needed. She just needed to get her anger out somehow.
The whole notebook is completely disheveled, filled with pencil punctures, rips, scribbles and the occasional tear dripping onto the mess. A part of her doesn’t even know why she feels so much pain and aggression right now. She thinks it’s probably the anxiety catching up to her but really it’s just her own feelings of insecurity that’s really getting to her. She doesn’t even notice the occasional wet tears turn into full on angry sobs. Her whole plan to calm herself down immediately backfires only making herself even more distressed. The other thing she doesn’t notice is the sudden tiny note slide under her door. It’s a small piece of lined notebook paper, folded down the middle. The moment she notices it she hops out of her bed and tries to read it with her blurry, tear-filled vision.
“you good?”
Pomni flips the paper around to see if any name is signed anywhere but she assumes it’s who she thinks it is. She rips a paper out of her beat up notebook and writes back with messy handwriting. Another tear landed on the piece of paper while writing, hoping they wouldn't notice it.
“yeah i’m fine”
The folded note gets slid under and she sits by her door, with her knees to her chest, waiting for a response. If she even gets one.
“didn’t really sound like it”
Her expression falters at the response, was she really being that loud?
“I just miss feeling like I have something to hold on to, like a will to live of some sort.”
“Or just have any control over my own life. I miss it a lot.”
She’s scared sending the two separate notes makes her look desperate to vent but at this point she doesn’t even really care, she just needs another outlet besides obliterating her own room. Lucky for her, she gets a response pretty quickly
“yeah, that’s pretty normal but just to warn you, that feeling never really fully goes away.”
Before she can respond, another note from the person behind the door is delivered.
“but yk nobody here has a cool a%# jester hat if that makes you feel any better”
A choked chuckle leaves her throat with the note in hand.
“Thanks, but I promise I'm okay Ragatha.”
Pomni doesn’t get a response until at least two full minutes later.
wow, rude much. >:[
She grimaces at the note. What?
“???”
Hesitation fills her body before picking up the next note sent under the door.
“this isn’t Ragatha yk.”
Realization washes over her. Jesus, she feels stupid.
“jax?? wtf are you doing”
Another longer wait passes over. She sends another piece under the door.
“hello?”
Nothing.