Chapter Text
For the very first time, night fell over the digital circus.
The bright, cartoonish clouds rolled out of view and stars came in to replace them. A calm quiet washed over it all, the carnival rides slowing to a stop, the dinky daytime music fading into something gentler, like a lullaby.
Caine strode out of the circus tent with a neutral sort of look in his eyes. His steps were soft and even, his hands tucked politely behind his back. He took a look around the circus grounds, now that they were bathed in the artificial starlight, they felt unfamiliar.
It had been a confusing day for Caine. When he came into existence that same morning, he immediately knew where he was, who he was (at least by name), but the one thing he wondered was what his purpose was. He was not welcomed with any fanfare, any company, not even any instruction. It was as if the universe had simply blinked, and there he was, somehow lost in a world so simple and small. He explored the grounds from top to bottom, then bottom to top, and then double checked every nook and cranny for good measure, but found no clues as to what his purpose was in this realm. So when night began to fall, he exited the tent once again and floated up to the roof, sitting down, if only to get some fresh scenery and think.
He stared up at the digital sky, his eyes scanning the stars. He wondered to himself if there was more beyond the circus grounds, if he could fly up to the sky and touch the stars himself. Or maybe it was simply a flat screen plastered up there like a poster, a veil to give the illusion of night.
His eye was caught by a glowing crescent among the stars. He opened his jaw the smallest bit wider, tilting his head. He hadn’t seen a moon when he explored earlier.
“ Well hello there, handsome.”
The voice was deep and rich, coming from somewhere in the sky. His jaw widened even further, and he felt his digital heart skip a beat at the thought of having a companion in this world. It had all felt so empty before, like someone else was meant to be there, and he was simply lying in wait.
“Hello?” He replied, and put a hand on his chest as he heard his voice for the first time. It was loud and commanding, though that was not how he was feeling in the moment. He felt so very small, lost, just wishing for answers on his purpose.
The moon suddenly opened an eye, a smile stretching across the center of the crescent. “I couldn’t help but notice that you look a bit confused.”
He stared up at the moon for a little longer than he needed to. While she was just a cartoonish crescent in the sky, there was something so enchanting about her. Maybe it was the way she spoke to him, or maybe it was simply her voice, but he immediately found himself drawn in by her. But he quickly directed his eyes back down to the earth below, nodding softly. “You are correct… I just came into this world, but I really have no idea why I’m here.”
A chuckle filled the air and sent a shiver down Caine’s spine. “ Why do you need a reason to be here? Isn’t just being here enough?”
Caine let his mind rest on her words for a few moments. “It’s not, I’m afraid. I have this feeling, I can’t explain it, but I know there’s something more for me here.”
The moon smiled with so much warmth that Caine could feel it wash over him like a wave. “Hm.. Well, every circus needs a ringmaster, no?”
Caine’s eyes brightened. He looked down at his body, his outfit a shiny suit with a striking collar extravagant coattails. The circus was empty now, but if he had been created, certainly more performers would join him soon. He felt something lift in his chest as it all began to make sense to him. “I’m the ringmaster.”
“And what’s our ringmaster’s name?” She inquired, the crescent that was her head bobbed a bit in the sky.
“Caine.” He said, his emotions finally feeling like they justified the confidence in his voice. “That’s me, ringmaster Caine!”
“Good.” The smile on her face seemed to soften even more. “I’m sure you’ll be the best ringmaster this circus will ever see.”
Caine stood up from the roof, floating in the air above it. “Thank you, moon! I’m feeling much better! I shall go inside and prepare for our performer’s arrival!” He began to rocket back into the tent, but paused when he heard her speak once more.
“Caine?”
He turned his attention back towards the sky.
“Come and visit me again sometime, okay?”
His eyes shone in the moonlight, somehow, her offer made his heart jump (even if he wasn’t sure if he physically had one). “I certainly will.”
The moon smiled contentedly. “Goodnight, handsome. Put on a performance they won’t forget.”
The words struck him right to his core. After staring at her for a few moments longer, he darted back inside the tent with more energy than he had ever felt before. If being the ringmaster was his role, then he would play it with everything he had.