INT. TENT
The circus is quiet. It has its loud and quiet moments
normally, but this quiet is different. Darker.. more final.
It's nighttime- or the artificial excuse for "night" Caine
makes. The circus tent lights are dim. Everyone is in their
rooms. Jax sits on one of the seating area's many colorful
couches. He looks defeated- tired.
Pomni wanders through the tent, groggy but sleepless. She
catches Jax out of the corner of her eye. She looks around,
unsure, but eventually makes her way to him. If he notices
her approaching, he doesn't react. Pomni reaches the seating
area.
POMNI
Can't sleep?
JAX
(Scoffs)
Yeah. Something like that.
Pomni hesitates. Then asks-
POMNI
Can I sit?
Jax bristles, but any emotion evident in his face and body is
gone after an instant.
JAX
Be my guest.
Pomni sits, farthest away from Jax on the couch. They sit.
The silence is heavy.
POMNI
So...
She wants to say something, but before she can even get a
word out, Jax tuts. His hand grips the couch arm.
JAX
I'm not doing this right now,
Pomni.
POMNI
..Huh?
JAX
Oh, come on. You know what I mean.
Your stupid therapy bull.
Whatever you have to say to me-
about how it's all gonna be okay or-
or whatever, I don't wanna hear it.
Pomni watches as Jax talks, growing increasingly worried. She
inches closer to him on the couch.
JAX
We're stuck here. We'll be here
until the end of time. Nothing we
can do. Nothing we could have ever
done. No talk that can get us out
of here.
Jax pants- his breathing has picked up. He raises a hand to
his chest to calm himself.
POMNI
I just- I'm worried.
Jax looks at Pomni. She's slouched in on herself, but
significantly closer to JAX than she was moments before.
Pomni
I'm worried about you.
Jax
Don't be. I'm good.
Jax looks away again. Pomni's brows furrow.
POMNI
I'm not an idiot. I can tell when
my friends aren't okay.
JAX
(Scoffs)
You think we're friends? After I-
after everything? Have you lost
your mind?
Jax looks at his lap, at a loss.
JAX
Jesus. You don't know when to quit.
Pomni hesitates for a moment, finding her words... then says-
POMNI
You know... someone told me one
time that it's not pointless. Being
here. And that- you need to cherish
the people around you.
This hits Jax harder than Pomni expected it to- like they
were words he didn't want to hear. He flinches, expression
crumpling, not daring to make eye contact with her.
Pomni inches her hand closer, closer- until her fingers are
over Jax's. Not completely, just the loose touch of her
gloved fingers to his. Jax flinches, moves his hand towards
himself- but doesn't completely pull away.
They sit like that for a while. Silent, lightly intertwined-
until Pomni takes a leap and finally interlaces their
fingers.
Jax inhales sharply, but doesn't fight it. Lets his hand be
held. Pomni sneaks a look at him- His pupils dilate slightly
as he continues to look away. He looks even more exhausted
than he was before, but calmer. The air doesn't seem as tense
anymore.
Pomni takes a deep breath before she speaks again, breaking
their silence.
POMNI
And- and I know maybe you don't,
but I.. do cherish you. I do. Maybe
that's insane, considering the way
you act.
She gets up from the couch. Jax's palm is cold where
Pomni's hand once was. He finally looks at her, confused.
Pomni's gaze holds finality.
POMNI
So when you're done with your pity
party, I'm here. To talk. For real
this time. Come find me.
JAX
...I-
Pomni is already walking away, leaving Jax alone in the dimly
lit tent- just him and his thoughts. Him and his dangerous
brain.
He lifts his hand- the same one that pushed Pomni away after
she hugged him... the same one that just held hers.
Exhaling, Jax brings his knees to his chest, curling up in
himself. The silence, his loneliness- it doesn't feel as
scary as it did moments before.