Chapter Text
“And this here is your living quarters! Every room starts off pre-made with what the system thinks you will like, but everyone is able to change their rooms freely! I recommend getting in touch with Kinger to learn about conjuring.” Caine walks up behind Jax, pointing at the rooms. “This seems to be your room! You are right next to Zooble, if you cannot get a hold of anyone-me especially-go and talk to them!” Caine is ready to poof off, before Jax stops him.
“UH, wait, please-”
“Well what is it my furry fairy?”
“Uh..t-that zooble guy? Uh..” Jaz rubs his arm, looking away embarrassingly. “W-why is everyone calling her ‘they’? O-or him? Do you not know what she is or-”
“Well, that is how they feel most comfortable! We make sure everyone is safe and as comfortable here in the circus! I have no clue how, uh, gender or identity work, but if you have any more problems please talk to them!” And with that, he vanishes.
Jax stands in the middle of the hallway for a bit, wondering. “T-..t-that doesn't make any sense. Ive never gotten people like-...her? Them? Fuck if i know..” He talks to himself, before walking up to his room, slowly opening the door.
He thought it would look different. He thought it would look like-..a boys room. Something manly, and boy was he wrong.
The room was dim, and fairly spacious. It had pink striped walls, glow in the dark stars on the ceiling, shooting stars/clouds on walls, a pink rug, teal flooring, one of those play tables in the corner with bookcase and lockbox, dresser on opposite wall of the bed, the quilt on his bed seemed to be reversible with pink polka dot on one side and funky squares, and a desk beside his bed.
This was nothing like him.
Were they fucking with him? Most of the people he's seen in this circus seemed to be ’girls’, so it wasn't crazy that this was the default, but for him? He wasn't a girl, he wasnt-......did the computer confuse him for someone else or something!?
He needed to get this changed immediately.
Part of him did like the room. It was cute, and it reminded him a lot of his childhood playroom. The one he would share with his two older sisters and twin sister, but-..
That's not him. He’s not a girl, he’s not a tranny, he’s not a faggot.
He slams the door, sticking his hands in his pockets and walking away back to the common area with everyone else.
He can't let them see his room. He can't let them make fun of him.
…
“Mom, can you lay off my back for ONE FUCKING MINUTE!?”
“You are NOT going to cuss at me like that, young man! I am the adult here, I deserve more respect than what you're giving me.
“I-im not trying to cuss, ma, i just-...c-cant you just let me talk to you? Without you bringing up Lynsey, or Syd, or Destiny, or GOD FORBID-”
“Leeroy you do not bring his name up, do you hear me?”
“YOU DON'T CALL ME THAT, MOM! I told you I wanna go by Lee, not-”
“Oh here we go, with your fucking faggot shit. YOU'RE A BOY. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A BOY. Nothing you do will change that, and nothing you do will stop me from calling you my SON.”
…
She never did understand. He doesn't want to end up like her.
…
He walks back out to the common area, where they seem to be having...lunch? He walks in nervously, kicking at an imaginary rock with his feet. “I, uh, thought you guys said it didn't matter if we ate?..”
Everyone looked up at him, Zooble giving him a little wave using their free hand, the other wrapped around...what was her name, Gangle? “Oh, hey Jax. Yeah, we don't necessarily get hungry or anything, but its still good to have something every once once in a while. You want anything?”
He sits on an empty cushion, crossing his arms and looking away. “No. I'm not hungry.”
He was always a fatass anyway.
“Uh, Zooble? I actually have a question..”
Zooble takes a deep breath, looking around before answering. “Go on..”
“Uh…are you a boy or girl?”
Everyone makes a few surprising noises, looking between Zooble and Jax. “..what?”
“I-i mean, everyone's using ‘they’ on you, but from what I see you're just one person, ha..” He starts to pick and scratch at his skin.
“No, Jax, I don't fit into either category. I never have.”
“...what? No, you have to either be a boy or girl. Thats-”
“No you don't. I-...if you don't fit into one of those you can be in between…why?”
He sits still for a minute, before looking away. “I dunno, i just-...curiosity i guess, it was stupid anyway…”
…I didnt know people could do that.