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It was nighttime in the Amazing Digital Circus. The Moon shined down on the quiet, calm grounds, weaving ballads about her unrequited love. The stars chirped and chattered and chuckled, dancing through the sky. The nauseatingly bright colors of the tent had been de-saturated, made more bearable in the low light.
The night was not a time for adventures, but for sleep. And sleep the performers did, tucked into their digital yet comfortable beds, snoring away into dreamland. What did they dream of? Future adventures yet to come? A life that was no longer theirs? Things with too many eyes and too many arms and too many voices that screamed let us out let us out LET US OUT–
It did not matter. The Ringmaster was not privy to their minds, and so their dreams remained unobserved by his otherwise all-seeing eyes. Safe in their own thoughts, the once-humans slept.
All except one.
The Jester stared at her ceiling, fingers tap tap tapping away on her clenched hands. Her bed was comfortable, her pillow soft, her blanket warm. She wasn’t overheating, there was no physical pain or discomfort, the sleeping conditions as optimal as they could possibly be.
And yet, awake she remained.
The corner of her mouth twitched, pulling her false face into a cartoony grimace. She shifted, and her non-existent lungs sighed a long, heavy breath. Pomni had been trying to sleep for hours. She’d lain in every conceivable position, counted an obscene number of sheep, and even tried humming a half-forgotten lullaby. Nothing worked, and the blissfulness of unconsciousness remained just out of reach.
Pomni let out another sigh. It wasn’t even that she wasn’t tired. She was so tired, the kind of exhausted that filled your bones and weighed down your limbs. She just wanted…wanted……
What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?
I’d move on. And probably forget about you.
“ARUGHHHHH!” A sharp, nearly feral snarl tore its way out of her throat as she hurled her pillow at the wall. Her chest heaved as she watched the pillow slum pathetically to the floor. With a furious, nearly breathless, hiss of pure rage, Pomni lunged towards the pillow. She slammed it into the floor. Then again. Then again. Then again and again and again and again and again andagainandagainandagainand–
Pomni sat on the cold, hard floor, her head in her hands. She ran her fingers down her face with a groan. She wasn’t getting any sleep tonight. It wasn’t like she needed it…but she still liked to get it. It made her feel less [#@%&*!] up, less crazy, less…trapped. She stood up, tossing the poor, abused pillow back onto her bed.
Carefully, quietly, she opened her door. The hallway was dark, all the doors shut firmly closed. Thank god, she hadn’t woken anyone. She didn’t…really feel like talking. Especially not to…her eyes darted to one door in particular. Her hands shook as she curled them into fists and walked determinedly into the circus proper.
She’d never explored the circus at night before. It was…strange. Or, stranger than usual at least. It felt far too quiet, too peaceful, she kept expecting Caine to pop out at any second with a new, horrible adventure. But Caine never showed and she began to relax. It was kind of fun, walking around at night. The once overwhelming colors more palatable, the once confusing shapes less distressing and more interesting. No sudden loud noises or adventures or rabbits with god [#%$*@!^] awful coping mechanisms. Just Pomni, the sound of her footsteps, and the constant, low mumble of the circus.
Her casual stroll stuttered to a halt as she noticed one of those wooden letter blocks clipping into a wall. It was trapped in a corner and vibrated awfully every couple seconds, as if trying to free itself. Pomni grasped hold of the block, trying to release it from its prison. She pulled and pulled and may have actually gotten it loose.
If the block hadn’t chosen that moment to jitter jitter jitter until the oh-so-helpful Jester found herself outside the map.
Pomni had exactly one moment to think oh [#%@!] before she was falling falling falling, plummeting into the endless abyss. She screamed, desperate and ragged and panicked, until her body hit the ground with a loud, painful thud. She groaned, blinking up at an unfamiliar ceiling. It was a grid, segmented by perfect, clean lines. Slowly, she sat up and looked around–
“AHHHHHHHH!! CAINE WHAT THE [#@%!]?!” She shrieked darting away from the Ringmaster.
But Caine didn’t respond. Didn’t blink or move or…do anything at all. He just stood there…in an A-pose…and Bubble was right next to him, just as unnaturally still…oh.
“Oh.” Pomni breathed. “It’s just his model.” She guessed that made sense, now that she thought about it. Caine and Bubble were both NPCs like…like Gummigoo. And they had to pull their models from somewhere.
As she caught her breath, she glanced around the new room. It was really similar to the Candy Kingdom dev room, just a lot smaller. And Caine and Bubble were the only models present. That and…and a door.
She frowned and timidly walked up to it. It was a simple, wooden door. Similar to their bedroom doors, just without a sign. She opened the door and…huh…it actually led somewhere. A short hallway that opened into a larger room.
Curious, she crept forward. Floating in the center of the room was Caine, looking far more casual than Pomni had ever seen him. His hat, cane, and suit were gone, leaving him in just his undershirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing…absolutely nothing. Pomni’s not sure what she expected to be under Caine’s clothes, but where anyone else would have had skin, Caine just had an absence.
His back was turned to her, his focus on a bright…thing in his hands. So bright, she had to squint when she looked at it. Caine was adjusting it, almost molding it. As he moved his hands, its size and brightness shifted.
He looked…calm for once. Pomni was so used to him darting all over the place, loud and animated, talking his head- teeth- whatever off. But here, he was still and quiet and relaxed. She didn’t realize relaxing was something Caine was capable of, yet here he was.
The AI made a zoom out motion with his hand and Pomni flinched back as the light suddenly got brighter and brighter. She threw her arms over her head, the brightness overtaking everything, completely enveloping her.
A moment passed.
Then another.
Slowly, carefully, she looked back up. The sight stole her breath, her eyes widening as she took in the scene.
Pomni was in a meadow. And not a cartoony, bright pink meadow, with goofy bugs and a smiling sun. A real life meadow. She could feel the wind gently caress her, smell the fresh air and grass, feel the warm sun shining down on her skin. She watched, entranced, as the grass gently swayed with the breeze. She kneeled down and rubbed one of the blades between her fingers. It felt real, natural, and, for a moment, she could almost pretend she was really outside.
That she was free.
She took in a deep breath. Held it. Slowly let it out. Savoring the feeling of fresh air in her missing lungs. She tilted her head towards the beautiful, blue sky. Clouds drifted overhead. Not cotton candy clouds or cartoony clouds, but real, misty clouds. Pomni didn’t think she’d ever been so happy to see realistic clouds in her life.
Her eyes lazily drifted around the space, all the stress and tension leaking out of her. Wildflowers of all different colors were sprinkled around the meadow, bees buzzing as they flew between the flowers.
Caine had barely moved, and still had yet to notice her. He was staring up at the sun, head tilted as if considering it. She saw him making small movements with his hand and the sun adjusted with those movements. Changing size or where exactly it was in the sky. Trying to get it just right.
He looked…comically out of place, like he didn’t belong. A cartoonish pair of dentures in a life-like meadow. Then again…Pomni supposed she looked pretty out of place too. At least right now.
She pushed herself to her feet and walked towards him. “Uh, Caine?”
The AI didn’t respond, still looking at the sky.
“Caine? …Caine. ……CAINE!”
Absolutely nothing. He still hadn’t even noticed her.
Exasperated, Pomni tugged on his shirt. “Hey!”
Caine sprang back and screamed, his eyes popping out of his head.
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!”
“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”
The two screamed at each other for a solid second.
“POMNI?!” Caine exclaimed in his typical, booming voice. “W-WHA-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE ASLEEP! HOW DID YOU EVEN GET HERE? DID-” Caine put his hands on his waist, looking stern. “DID YOU CLIP OUT OF THE MAP AGAIN?”
“Not on purpose!” Pomni cried, defensive. “I just saw this block and- ugh! Whatever, what are you doing?” She gestured at the meadow. “Is this…the next adventure?”
Caine nervously laughed. “WHAT? NO NO NO NO, OF COURSE NOT! IT’S SO– SO BORING! NO STORY, NO CHARACTERS, NO STAKES. JUST–” His eyes darted around. “JUST BEES AND GRASS. NO, REST ASSURED MY DEAR, THIS WILL NEVER BE AN ADVENTURE.”
“Oh.” That…was kind of disappointing actually. This looked pretty nice. “Well, if it’s not an adventure, then why are you working on it?”
“UH- WELL- I- UHHHHHHHHEY SHOULDN’T YOU BE GOING BACK TO BED?” Caine said, trying, and failing, to change the subject.
“No. What are you working on?”
“NO?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO? I THOUGHT YOU HUMANS LOVED SLEEPING.”
“Caine. What are you doing?”
Caine crossed his arms and slammed his teeth shut. “NO.”
“That doesn’t even–”
“IT’S NOT IMPORTANT.”
“It seems kind of important.”
Caine opened his teeth and looked at his non-existent watch. “OH DEAR LOOK AT THAT IT’S REALLY LATE YOU SHOULD GO TO BED.” He raised his other hand, about to snap his fingers.
“If you don’t tell me I’m not going on the next adventure!” She blurted out.
Caine gasped, looking for all the world like a kicked puppy. “WHAT? NO! YOU CAN’T DO THAT!”
“Why not? Zooble does it.”
“BUT- YOU- THAT’S- ARUGH!” He threw up his arms, frustrated.
A moment passed, Caine pouting and Pomni standing firm.
“mmmmmmmMMMMMMMHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FINE.” He zoomed up way too close and pointed a finger at her. “BUT YOU HAVE TO PROMISE TO GO ON THE NEXT ADVENTURE.”
“I promise.”
Caine eyed her, as if trying to figure out whether she was lying.
After a moment, he sighed. And he floated down to the ground.
Pomni stared at him, astonished. She had never seen Caine actually walk, he always floated everywhere.
He stared out at the meadow for a moment, his back to her.
“...I love bees.” He said, his voice shockingly calm. “I wasn’t programmed to love them. It’s not relevant to my character, or a part of the game. So there was no point in adding little things like specific likes and dislikes.” He held out his hand, palm upward facing, and a bee buzzed over and landed in it. Caine stared down at it.
“I wasn’t programmed to love them, I just do. Did you know that bumblebees have long tongues, called a proboscis, that they use to lap up nectar? Most of the time when they take nectar they pollinate the flowers, but sometimes they steal the nectar through holes that they make in the base of the flower, like little thieves. And-and instead of dancing, like honey bees do, they just run excitedly around the nest. We’re not even sure why exactly they do it, they just do.”
He looked up at Pomni. “Isn’t that fascinating?"
He didn’t wait for her answer, just went back to staring at the bee in his hand. “I love bees, and…and…” His shoulders tensed, the fingers in his other hand curling into a tight fist. The fingers of the hand holding the bee twitched, as if contemplating crushing it.
“And I’m never going to see a real bee.”
Pomni stared at him.
Opened her mouth.
Closed it.
“Oh.”
She didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry? That sucks? All felt insignificant in the face of this.
Suddenly, Caine’s head twisted in her direction. The bee flew out of his hand. “WELL THAT’S ENOUGH OF THAT!”
“Wait–”
He floated back up into the air and snapped his fingers. His model shifted back to its usual outfit. “NOW COME ALONG, MY WANDERLUSTFUL WANDERER! YOU HAVE A BED TO GET TO.”
“Caine-”
His fingers snapped once again.
Pomni found herself in her bedroom, as if nothing had happened, Caine nowhere in sight.
She slumped down onto her bed and put her head in her hands. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t explore, couldn’t…whatever. She needed to do something, she needed…needed…
Pomni stood and walked out of her bedroom, determined. She went up to Ragatha’s door, and knocked.
Several seconds later, Ragatha opened the door, looking half-asleep.
“Pomni…?” She yawned, a tear beading in her stuck-on eye. “What…what is it? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Uh, sorry for waking you up so late…I just…um…” She paused, feeling awkward. “Do you have any fabric?”
Ragatha blinked at her. Then gave a small smile. “I’m sure I can find something, come on in.”
Ragatha left the door and Pomni, smiling, followed her inside.
—A Couple Days Later—
Pomni walked up to the stage, joining the others as they waited for today’s adventure.
“What do we think it is today?” She asked.
Ragatha just shrugged.
“Who cares? I’m not doing it, whatever it is.” Said Zooble.
“AAAH-” Kinger shrieked. “Oh! Hello, Pomni.”
“Maybe it’ll be something more calm…?” Said Gangle. “I always like the calmer ones.”
Pomni glanced at Jax. He’d been watching her, but the second he saw her looking he stiffened and turned away.
She stifled a sigh. Great, another day of this.
The drums rolled, the lights dimmed, and Caine spawned onto the stage in an explosion of confetti.
“GOOD MORNING, MY GORGEOUS GEOLOGISTS! ARE YOU READY FOR AN ADVENTURE?!” Caine exclaimed, pointing at them.
“Uh-”
“WONDERFUL! TODAY’S ADVENTURE IS–”
“Wait wait wait, Caine.” Pomni raised her hand, trying to get his attention.
“WELL WELL WELL, WHAT’S THAT I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE?” Caine took his eye out of his head and ‘spied’ her with it. “IS THAT A QUESTION I SEE?!” He zoomed in front of her, once again getting Way Too Close. “WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, POMNI?”
“It’s uh– not really a question, actually. I have something for you.”
Caine blinked, stunned. “You–”
She took the gift out of her inventory and held it out towards him. It was a bee plush, just big enough to fit comfortably in a hand. It was pretty obviously handmade. It didn’t have any antenna…or legs. Really it was just a striped sack with mismatched button eyes, floppy wings, and a smile that took Pomni an embarrassingly long amount of time to get right.
Slowly, Caine took it from her, his hands shaking. “You– you made this for me?” He asked, tearing up as he pointed at himself.
[%#@$], please don’t start crying. “Uh–! Yeah, I–”
“You-! I-! Oh, POMNI!!!” Caine quite literally leaped into the air, spinning around and proudly showing off the bee. “THIS IS THE MOST WOUNDEROUS THING I’VE EVER SEEN!!! IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL!! LOOK AT ITS LITTLE EYES! AND, OH, ITS LITTLE SMILE! I LOVE IT!” He hugged the plushie.
“Y-yeah. It looks really good, Pomni.” Gangle said, smiling.
Zooble gave her a thumbs up.
“Oh! What a lovely Bombus.” Said Kinger.
Jax didn’t say anything.
“Ah, thanks.” Pomni rubbed her arm. “Ragatha helped.”
“But it was all Pomni’s idea!” Ragatha said, cheerily.
“I just–” Pomni looked back up at Caine, who was watching her. “I know it’s not a real bee…but it’s something at least.”
Caine looked like he was about to start crying again. “IT’S VERY MUCH SOMETHING!! AND I LOVE SOMETHING! THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME!”
“That’s–” Good? Kind of pathetic? She wasn’t sure which one to go with. Luckily, Caine moved on before she could decide.
“OH THANK YOU POMNI! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” He spun around a couple times, before slowing to a stop. He blinked. “I…suppose I should send you on an adventure now.” Caine said, sounding incredibly unenthusiastic about the idea.
“Or…we could take a break?”
Caine tilted his head. “A break?”
“Sure, we could just hang out.” She smiled at him. “You could join us if you want, tell us all about bees.”
Caine processed this for a moment. Then he beamed at her. “That sounds like a wonderful idea, my dear!”
And they spent the rest of the day doing exactly that.