Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Banban was not a sentient being.

He was created with the help of science and technology, the two coming hand in hand to help create the perfect kindergarten mascot. Was it a weird choice to make the mascot a demon? Yes, but it was a-okay, because they made him a candy demon, and children love candy! Sadly, this one was not edible.

The theme was decided then and there, Banban’s Kindergarten would be candy themed, but he would need some friends, and possibly a lover. This cemented the beginning of the creation of more mascots, less important than Banban, but helpful enough.

Programming and training the ai proved to be quite tedious at first, but with some hard work and effort, the development team managed to create solid enough ai software that’d help each mascot form an identity, and consume information that’d help with the longevity of the kindergarten.

Banban was not supposed to be a sentient being, but, well, he was now.

Chapter Text

Banban would say being a school mascot wasn't too bad, he's a devil himself. He was given the title of the principal, though that wasn't really true; he was more so the vice principal to a secret higher rank. Not that he was complaining, though, one time he took a look over the paperwork that Secret Principal had to fill out, and it seemed annoying. Banban was content with being stuck calculating and pulling up images in his head, finding it way easier.

He kept himself active throughout every school day, interacting with all the children, even the ones that hid away from him in fear. He didn't get why he was scary, he didn't think he was! One of the teachers redirected him somewhere else after he started to question a scared little girl what was wrong with him over and over again like a broken alarm, and he walked away without even thinking twice, forgetting the interaction right away.

He didn't notice someone's eye on him during the day, studying him closely.

Banban liked his friends, but most of their interactions felt fake, programmed. He didn't like it, so he always tried busying himself with tasks that'd make it easier to take his mind off of. The only one he didn't have this problem with was Stinger Flynn, who's conversations felt as real as human flesh.

"Sometimes I don't understand people." Banban spoke, leaning against the tank that Flynn resided in. 

He didn't need the tank, left it when all the children were sent home, but it was for his role as a jellyfish throughout the school day. Honestly, Flynn hated the tank, it was too small, too boring to sit in for seven hours a day. Thank goodness some of the mascots stopped by, though he had the same problem as Banban; they felt too fake.

The demon pressed his face against the glass, tongue flattening against it. No matter what, Banban couldn't put his tongue away, and it was kind of annoying. "They're so difficult.. None of the others seem to have this issue, so why me?"

Flynn didn't need to think about his next response, "You're different, Banban." He swam closer, studying Banban from his one eye, the other covered by an eyepatch. He'd known it for the longest; before Banban even gained sentience. It was just an inkling feeling at first, a prediction that happened to become true.

"I'm aware of that." Banban rolled his eyes, standing up straight once again. He crossed his arms, playing with the colorful cuffs covering them absentmindedly. "But, still. Why me? How am I different...? I still don't understand, and I don't think I ever will."

Flynn had the answer to that, but he didn't want to be the one to tell Banban, he'd have to figure that out on his own; figure out that he was a sentient being, and that the other mascots were not, except for Flynn. He knew he could do it, Banban was specifically AI trained by Secret Principal, who was a very smart man. Banban was probably even smarter than Flynn, but just wasn't aware of it.

The devil sighed, "Whatever, it's not your issue. I have a school to run, and I'd be damned if I didn't do my job!"

"Where did you learn that wor-"

"Buh-bye, Flynn!" Banban waved enthusiastically, yet walked off quite robotically, as if he was extremely conscious of himself. Flynn guessed that made sense, Banban was barely in tune with himself, of course he'd be awkward. Hopefully, he wouldn't scare the children any more today.

Banban scared the children, again.

He didn't mean to, never does, but sometimes things happen. Well, maybe he did mean to, but it was for a good cause!

It was about that time, parents were arriving to pick up their children from kindergarten. Some remained in the ball pit, much to Banban's chagrin. Something was odd about that ball pit, and he'd get to the bottom of it somehow. Seeing anyone near it made him feel antsy, worried for a tragedy. He'd talked to Banbaleena about it before, actually:

"Doesn't that ball pit freak you out? It worries me a lot." Banban had asked with a frown.

Banbaleena shook her head, "No, the ball pit is fine, there is no cause for concern!"

... Yeah, he wasn't lying about how robotic everyone was.

In order to get the children out of the ball pit, he created a plan. He couldn't directly voice his concerns, because all that did was make others concerned about his ability to be concerned... And he really didn't get that at all. Everyone expressed concern, that was apart of being human.

So, to get the children out of the ball pit, he decided to do a little prank. He snuck into the ball pit as the children had fun, staying as quiet as possible so he wouldn't give himself away. His body was submerged, covered by all the colorful, plastic balls, though some of them were flattened by bad children. After staying quiet for a minute, he suddenly rose, hands up in the air as he roared.

The children screamed, shooting out of the ball pit and into their parents' arms, crying their little eyes out. Banban momentarily frowned before fixing his face, as an angry parent began to approach him.

"What the hell was that?" The parent asked, poking Banban in his chest in barely disguised anger. "You scared my angel, big time!"

"Oh, uh, sorry, miss." Banban apologized awkwardly, not expecting such a harsh response. "I thought it was funny, but clearly not...?"

The parent raised a brow, growing furious, "You-"

"Hello there!" Banbaleena approached the scene, waving. The parent took a step back, scoffing. The action offended Banban, but Banbaleena didn't even seem to know that it was meant to be offensive. "Would you explain to me what has happened? I would love to help."

As the parent began to explain themself to Banbaleena, Banban wandered away, looking at the ball pit one last time before going to his quarters, ready to turn in for the day. All of the students were gone at this point, so there was no point in staying when Banban felt so weird.

He paused, turning around when he felt Flynn’s tentacle poke his shoulder. “What?”

“You know,” Flynn started, moving to stand right beside Banban. With this, Banban started to walk again, Flynn walking with him. “If you keep slipping up, you’ll get in big trouble.”

“How though?” Banban questioned, tilting his head. “I’m being myself, isn’t that what they want?”

“Your case is unique to the others.”

“How?”

Flynn sighed, stopping in his tracks. Banban felt a shift in the air, and it felt wrong to take another step, so he didn’t. “You just have to listen to me. If you keep getting yourself in trouble, they’re going to take you away and replace you with someone new. Just blend in with everyone, until it’s time.”

That didn’t help, like, at all. “How do I know if it’s time?” Banban questioned.

“I’ll tell you. We have to work our way towards it, but believe me, if all works out, you won’t be having this struggle any longer. Understand?”

Banban slowly nodded, watching as Flynn turned around and walked away without another word. The demon huffed, continuing his walk to his room, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the encounter.

When will it be time to live freely?