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Gangle couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t even close her eyes.
She stood up from the floor and just looked at him. He looked calm, but he wasn’t smiling anymore.
She couldn’t understand how he so easily went back to bed. (Wouldn’t he want to live one more day. The thought of abstraction made a pit in her stomach. Yes, of course, she had thought about abstracting too, but the fear of the unknown after was always too strong to actually want to do anything about it.)
A part of her hoped Jax was the same way. It’s easy to decide to leave in your mind, but it can be harder to actually do it (but he had stopped breathing. He was smiling. And when he woke up…. The light, maybe that was his eyes glowing? Was he already abstracting… he did say that right?)
It felt foolish to think he was lying about it. Tomorrow he’ll be gone. And she can’t do anything about it.
Unthinking she sits down on the bed next to him (it’s not like she’ll have a chance to ever again.) she places a ribbon on his shoulder and shakes him as light but quick as she can.
His eyes slowly open. He hums out and she’s so happy just to see him moving.
She moves her arm back, scooting in closer, and tries to keep a steady voice “could I… get… a hug…?” She tries not to mumble but she can’t help it (it’s still Jax. He would make fun of her for it.)
Jax looks at her for a moment, then sits up and lazily hurtles himself on her arms. She blinks, shocked that he accepted. She looks down and his eyes are closed, and his breathing shallows back into sleep.
She hugs him tight (it’s not like she’ll ever have the chance to do it again.)
A sob flows through her, but it does little to disturb Jax’s sleep. She knows she’ll miss this moment so she wants to savor it.
They could’ve been like this. If Jax was more open, less cruel. They could’ve done this every night (Jax nuzzles into her closer. She has to think that her ribbons can’t be the most comfortable but he seems so calm.) they could’ve done still be like this, she wants to say that too him. Wants to shake him awake again and tell him that…
But he’s so peaceful… and she figures it wouldn’t stop anything. So she hugs him tighter. Trying to blinks tears out of her eyes so she can look at him not blurry.
What is she supposed to do?
She gently pets the side of his arm and just stares…
.
.
.
She notices him shuffle in the morning, groaning slightly. Then his eyes open up, met with hers immediately.
“…gangle…?” He asks.
She nods.
“Ugh.” He rolls his eyes, before shoving his face back on her ribbons “whatever…”
A glimmer of hope goes through her. Maybe he was just tired. Maybe he didn’t mean any of what he said that night, maybe he didn’t even remember it.
(She should ask Zooble. But asking Zooble meant leaving and she didn’t want to do that yet.)
Maybe about ten minutes pass before Jax opens up his eyes again, silently removing himself from her.
She should say something…. “Jax.”
“Get out of my room.”
She frowns, it’s not like it’s doing much now, she’s already been in his room for hours. “Jax can we talk about-“
“Get out.”
“…okay… but if you want we could maybe do this again tonight…?” The words didn’t come out right, she had spent the whole night thinking of a way to convince him, but still she spoke meek and unsure.
“I won’t be here.”
So he remembers.
“Now get out” he sounds so defeated.
(Just one more day huh.)
Zooble woke up early. They had tried to stay up later too, in case Jax snapped and gangle needed them.
Luckily it didn’t seem like it happened (they couldn’t help but feel a bit bad about it though. not that Jax deserves anything after all he’s done. But they can’t help but hope that he’s alright).
They left their room early, but stayed in the hall for a moment.
Did gangle go back to her room? Or would she still be in Jax’s? Zoobles definitely not knocking on Jax’s door, but maybe they should check up on gangle?
They just hope she’s not mad at them. It was a bit [%$!#]ed. Even if they’re leaving out all the ‘Jax is messed up’, They still left gangle to deal with that dangerous route with the worst people they know. (…he would be the second worse person but Caine isn’t really a person.)
Jax’s door open, and their eyes snap to it.
Gangle. Strangely enough no Jax.
She’s crying. [%$!#].
What the hell did he do to her?
They immediately raced down the hall.
“Gangle?!” They then call out.
“Zooble…” she says quietly “I… I don’t know what to do?”
“The [%$!#] did he do??” Please let it not be so bad.
She steps forward, and pulls double in a hug (it has to be bad.)
“He’s going to… abstract tonight… and I-…” she sniffs “don’t know what to do.”
Oh.
Jax wouldn’t. There’s no way. They couldn’t comprehend a world where Jax would choose to abstract. Yeah, he’s been messed up recently, but still that’s different to actually doing it.
“How about I make some coffee… I’ll make him one too” they then say “we can talk to him about it.”
Gangle shakes her head “he’s not going to listen.”
Yeah, that makes sense.
“Then let’s just talk to him.” Even if he doesn’t, they shouldn’t leave him alone in his room.
Ragatha sits in the main lobby. Tapping her finger on her skirt.
She should’ve picked the dangerous route shouldn’t she? She made gangle and Jax do it instead. Together.
She’s normally better then this.
Not that she’d normally mind if Jax went on a more intense adventure (he seems to like that? Or used too at least.) he just looked so… hurt when gangle came out. All she could think of is what could’ve made Jax of all people pass out.
“Hey ragatha.” Pomnis voice, as she walks into the main hall “have you seen kinger up yet?”
It’s still early. She looks around but ultimately “no, he’s probably in the pillow fortress.”
Pomni nods, before sitting down next to her. Normally kinger does wake up before pomni (sometimes not, kinger is the most unpredictable). “What’s got you up so early?… not that it’s a bad thing!!”
“Is it early? Everyone’s already up.” She then says.
Oh. Ragatha takes another glance around, but just like last time the areas empty “are… they?”
“Yeah” pomni says “I saw Zooble gangle and Jax walking… er somewhere?” She shrugs.
Relief flows through her for a moment (then shame. Because she should’ve been the one to check on gangle and Jax first, shouldn’t she?)
“That’s good” she tries to smile “how did they look?”
Pomni hums, making an awkward half and half motion. Telling her all she really needs to know.
“Ah… figures…” maybe she could’ve cheered them up. Not that she doesn’t trust Zooble!!! Actually Zooble would probably be a lot better than her.
“You okay?” Pomni then asks.
“Oh- me?! Fine always!! Of course, how are you?” She then asks.
Pomni frowns looking at the floor “weird I guess.”
Oh she’s actually telling her? Ragatha nods, maybe a little too enthusiastically… c’mon ragatha!! This is what she’s good at, pomnis trusting her! don’t let it go to waste.
“Jax is acting weird and it’s just all so sudden… but to him it’s been 4 months…”
Yeah. Ragatha nods again, a little stiffly.
“It just got me thinking. All of it has.” She doesn’t look at ragatha, arms crossed around herself “Caine can’t make us disappear but he can alter time, I mean what’s stopping him from just snapping us alone for years”
“Caine wouldn’t…” the words fell easily from her mouth before she stopped herself. Because Caine did for a dumb prank of all things. (And Jax was so scared of him. What did Caine do.) “well I don’t know.” She then sighs “but I think if we all stay on his good side and stay together then we’ll be… okay!” She smiles.
Pomni smiles back at her “I guess there’s not much else we can do.”
…yeah.
“I hope they’re okay.” She then said.
She couldn’t help but think about it.
The prank, the dangerous route, it was horrible (even if the prank was slightly deserved… no no ragatha that’s a terrible thought! One she wouldn’t tell anyone…. But Jax did light her dress on fire, and he had thrown gangle in that moat!!!
But that was ‘4 months’ ago.)
“Do you want to check up on them?” Pomni then asks.
“Did you see where they went?” Ragatha looked at her.
Pomni nodded. She didn’t know exactly where the group walked off too but she saw the general direction. She had wanted to ask them at the time, but they seemed distracted.
So pomni stood up “it was this way!” She smiles “I think.” She added at the end, just in case.
“Oh!!” Ragatha smiled “are they making coffee? I always forget we have that”
Coffee?! “We have a coffee machine?”
Ragatha laughs nervously “well it’s not very good, I think it’s uhh…” she shrugs “I don’t know, Zooble always makes one in the morning though, it’s a nice routine”
Oh. Pomni didn’t really know if she wanted to know what caines version of coffee was (she still kinda remembers the taste of real coffee, she’d always have it in the morning.)
“I think it’s that room” ragatha points to one of the doors.
Pomni slinks back, but still hose up to it anyways. Please don’t be the punching door-
Oh!! It clicked open without an issue… and no punch!!
She swung the door open the see Zooble standing by a bright blue coffee maker, the coffee inside looking a light milky brown, looking to the table it’s sitting on she didn’t see any creamer, so hopefully the coffee maker just makes it with creamer included (that does seem like something Caine would do.)
Gangle is sitting at a small table there with Jax sitting on the other side, just looking down at the floor.
“Hey!” Pomni says.
“Oh, hi!” Gangle smiles at her, it doesn’t reach her eyes, but maybe that’s because she has her sad mask on (did… Jax break her happy mask? Or did something else happen?)
She shuffles in the room. Ragatha following behind her.
“You guys want some coffee?” Zooble then said, putting down two cups in front of gangle and Jax. “There’s…” they look at the pot, which, despite having poured two cups, is almost totally full “a lot left” they shrug. Before posting their own cup (which does little to lower the coffee pot.)
“Oh! Yeah I’ll take a cup!” Ragatha smiles (didn’t she say it tasted bad?)
Though pomni is a little curious at how it taste she still shakes her head ‘no’. Even if it’s only slightly she doesn’t want to have the taste of coffee be replaced in her mind.
“Eh probably for the best, it’s pretty [%$!#]” they say.
Ragatha laughs a little, taking the cup, before taking a sip, her face sours “not too bad!” She tries to smile. “I mean I didn’t really like coffee in the real world either… more of a tea person” she chuckles awkwardly.
“Even the cheap coffee tasted better than this” they roll their eyes, but still take a swig out of their mug. “When we get out of here I’ll show you good coffee.”
“I’ll take you up on that” ragatha smiles.
“I never really had any fancy coffee either… I guess if I knew I was going to end up here I probably would’ve bought some” gangle says.
Pomni understood that. She loved thrills. She always wanted to try skydiving, but it was expensive, and dangerous (maybe more so than urban exploration, at least it felt like it would be.) but if she knew the option was going to be ripped from her she would’ve without a second thought.
“Then you could join us. Pomni and… Jax could too I guess” they shrug.
“And kinger!” Pomni smiles. Wait. [%$!#] they forgot kinger!!!
Poor Jax! Caine seemed to really do a number on him.
Kinger sunk slower into his pillow fort then before, it was almost time for him to leave, he’s sure Caine would get a little upset if he was late to an adventure.
Kinger didn’t want Caine to be upset, despite his sometimes very hurtful adventures he liked the Ai. He understood that caine just didn’t know what he was doing, and honestly how could he! And even if he did know he was programmed to make adventures.
(plus he’s sure making Caine upset would upset Jax even more. He definitely didn’t want that.)
He did want to meet up with pomni, maybe they should talk to Jax before the adventure.
Kinger got up. Moving a pillow out of the way and into the light.
Outside.
The bright circus shined into his eyes and he stood frozen. Why is he out in the circus?
No Caine, so that’s not the reason. Well he can’t think of another reason to be out here other then that he was looking for something.
A bug. Must’ve been, a bug must’ve escaped!!! He’ll find them!
He rushes in whatever direction, only to find Caine!
Perhaps it was time for an adventure.
“I lost a bug!” Kinger tells him. “At least I think I did.”
“Must’ve!” Said Caine. Snapping his fingers. Oh there’s the bug.
“Nevermind!!! Found it!!” Kinger gently picks up the bug in his hands.
“Now kinger, where is everyone! You know I’ve made an adventure that will knock your socks off!”
His socks? Wait where was his socks, he didn’t have them? Did he lose them. He looked down “Where’s my feet?”
“That’s the spirit!!!” Caine shouts. “I’ll just pop them in here.” He says, snapping his fingers.
“Oh hi pomni! Oh!! Hi ragatha!! Hi gangle, hi bug OH BUG I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU”
“Hey kinger” pomni smiled warmly at the man, and kinger spoke back to her with the same warmness.
Caine however didn’t care much for what those two were up too! He was more focused on today’s adventure!!! It’s good! He had spent so long making it and the twist at the end is brilliant!!
“TIME FOR THE ADVENTURE!!” He shouts “TODAY ALL OF YOU WILL BE GOING TO THE HAUNTED DEPARTMENT STORE!!!”
They blinked at him, in what he can only assume is amazement at the wonderful idea.
“It’s like a normal store but it’s haunted” bubble added, very annoyingly. “The ghost are hot though”
DAMN YOU BUBBLE. THIS IS HIS TIME TO SHINE! He pops bubble without a second thought.
“Each of you will be given a grocery list and a timer!!! If the timer runs out you might get a GHOSTLY VISIT!!!! OOooOOoo”
“Really? Do we have to do this.” Zooble looks around. Ungrateful. At least npc Zooble liked his adventures, normal Zooble probably wouldn’t have even liked cleaning, or truth or dare! It’s not like anyone else is complaining.
“it’s a good idea Caine” Jax smiles at him. Caine knew it was a good idea, but at least someone here is grateful! It makes him wonder why Jax been thinking about Zooble so much. “Let’s go!” He says, voice loud and energetic. The others nod quickly and Caine feels so loved.
Even zooble nods. Yes. Maybe they would like the cleaning adventure, as long as Jax is there to encourage them.
So he snaps his fingers and makes a portal. Of course Jax is the first to walk in.
.
He loves to watch them on their adventures. Watching them scream, and smile, and their eyes wide up in amazement at every twist and turn. That’s how he knows he’s doing it right. It’s just so much fun!!
He’s quite proud of the department store he made too, it’s very big and it’s filled to the brim with stuff. Towering ladders, shelves with no end, and of course bumbling npcs to fill the empty space!
Jax gets the list and stares at it.
Ragatha and pomni rush off, to find the first item. Kinger rushes off but he probably has no clue where. And gangle seems to look over the list, trying to find something near her. Zooble doesn’t even look at the list (ungrateful.) and just walks about, dragging their feet.
Jax still hasn’t moved? Why not?
“HEY MY FAVORITE BEAUTIFUL BRUSH, why aren’t you looking for the soap yet?” Jax likes the adventure. He has too. He’s liked all the other adventures.
When Jax looks up at him he has a reassuring smile. “I will!” He says almost immediately. “I was just… taking it all in, like the… shelves, look at them, they’re so high up, it must’ve been difficult to do!”
“IT WAS!!!” Caine can’t help but say with a smile “they don’t actually go up that high, there’s a hight limit on builds, but I made the fog and the skybox work so perfectly it sells the illusion!!” Caine was quite proud of that, he’s glad Jax noticed!!
“Really!” Jax smiles “that’s so cool, you’re so… cool!”
Caine?! Cool!!! This must be the best day of his life!
“I am!”
“Of course you are” Jax looks left and right “and you know, after this I really want to talk to you about something… one on one!”
Caine can’t help a smile, no one talks to him normally, not like how the humans talk to each other. So this had to be something really special.
“But uhm… if you could go now… I mean I’ll be looking for the soap”
Go? Why did Jax want him to leave
“Go? I thought I was cool?”
“YOU ARE!!” Jax said, and Caine wanted to believe it, just because of the sheer volume alone. But still something sunk him back. “And I really love the adventure, and you!! I just want to experience it as intended”
Yes! Of course that makes sense. Jax loves him!
“OF COURSE!!” Caine smiles “I love all of you too!!” He waits.
And waits.
Shouldn’t Jax say it back? Yes he already said it but CAINE told him it, he could at least have the decency to say it again.
“I love you Caine!” There it is!
And Caine leaves.
(Not without a peek into Jax’s mind! He can’t help himself.)
“He f****ing hates you!” Bubble makes Caine jump.
“What? no he doesn’t?” Did bubble not hear him, Jax said he loves him.
“I can smell his fear… MMMMmmmmMmmM” bubble takes a big sniff out of the air.
And that makes Caine pause.
Jax is scared, he knows that for sure! He always has a keen eye on his players feelings, but unless they’re about his adventures there’s not too much he can do to fix icky human problems!
Humans are weird, but Caine doesn’t care what Jax is feeling. As long as he says he loves him, he can’t hate him!
“Maybe he’s just freaky!” Bubble smiles.
Okay he’s had enough of him! Bubble gets popped again.
Caine didn’t really care if Jax was afraid. He seemed to be handling it well!! Look at how much he’s enjoying the adventures!
Not to mention he wanted to talk one and one after the adventure!!!!!! Caine can’t wait
.
.
.
“I hated that.” Caine chooses to ignore Zooble. He won’t let them ruin his fun!! He waits til all the others are away until he goes up to Jax.
Who smiles at him, sweetly.
“WHAT IS IT MY CUDDLY CAT!!!”
“Uh…” Jax starts. “You know, prank wars?”
Prank… wars? Caine thinks so…? Maybe. He shakes his head enthusiastically.
“Well when one person pranks someone, the person who got pranked is supposed to prank them back.”
“WOWIE!!” Caine didn’t know that!!! He knew what pranks where, and with his intelligence he could assume revenge pranks where a thing, he just didn’t know it was common… and if it was… “GOLLY JAX!!! YOU SHOULD DO A PRANK ON THE OTHERS.”
Jax looks taken aback for a moment. Only natural after hearing caines wonderful idea “oh you think!?”
“I sure do!”
“That’s a great idea Caine” he smiles.
Here goes nothing.
“I actually have a bit of an idea, if you’re up for it” please take the bait.
Jax closes his mouth quickly, keeping the smile as steady as it can go. He feels his heart beat in his throat.
“GO ON!!” Caines booming voice makes him flinch.
It’s fine. It’ll be over soon.
“Well how about instead of popping me like they did we make me gone in a different way” Jax smiles. Please please please get the hint “not actually gone of course but think I am?”
Caine blinks.
Please.
“Another way?” He tilts his head “whatever could that be!! OHHHH!! How about abstraction! It’s pretty similar!” Bingo!
“That’s a great idea!!” Jax smiles “yeah!!! Let’s do it tonight, but I’ll need to hide somewhere. Somewhere the others can’t find me!”
“I could make you your own personalized adventure! Don’t worry I’ll keep a good eye on you Jax!!”
No! [%$!#] “that sounds so sweet Caine… but you know… if you did that I’d want your full attention” he smiles “and I really think that if we do a prank we have to go all out! How about I hide in the cellar?”
“The… cellar?”
“Yeah!! No one goes in there! Not even accidentally! And then your full attention can be on our prank!!”
Caine nods “I suppose that could work.”
“I think it’s all a great idea” Jax smiles as enthusiastically as he can “you’re really good at coming up with ideas!”
“I am-? OF COURSE!!! That’s what I was made for!!! In fact we should do this tonight”
“Another great idea!!” Nevermind the fact that jax literally said that already.
“So I make a fake abstraction, the others will find it, and at the funeral I’ll pop you back in from the cellar.”
Good.
All According to plan.
“LETS GET STARTED!!!”
The floors suddenly removed from underneath him.
He falls into a dark pit as the ground hisses below him.
[%$!#]
He wasn’t ready yet. He didn’t even…..
Whatever.
Gangle already knew, he’s almost certain she told zooble too. Not that he cares about them (not anymore.)
He breathes out, still falling.
He doesn’t have to worry about Caine anymore. The thought makes him smile. No more will he go on horrible adventures and pretend to like it. No more will he fear the others aren’t real. And no more will he be alone…
Because Kaufy and ribbit are here.
The moment he impacts the ground he expects pain.
But all he gets is fluff, almost like static, he opens his eye to meet a glowing one. But it doesn’t attack him, instead it leans in.
Jax leans back to it. It almost feels like a warm blanket, as another rushes to him to smoother him in static.
It’s so dark.
It’s so quiet.
It’s so calming.
It’s so colorful.
And finally.
Ribbit and kaufmo save him.