Chapter Text
Ragatha inspects the paper more, reading intensely with Pomni and Kinger Infront of her. They're on another adventure, the setting is deep at night, and of course, it's forever nighttime.
They're supposed to find an underground pipe system, fix them, and stop the floods. Something normal for once. The six were split into two groups a three, both required to find the pipe system with their given clues.
"Hmm.. it says we have to 'find the hidden pipes,' is that a riddle?" Ragatha asks, slightly clueless.
"How is that a clue.." Pomni asks, they both reply with a shrug. "well we might as well look for the next clue." They all start walking. Kinger abruptly stops, seeming to have spot something. Ragatha and Pomni stop a little more Infront than him.
"Yes Kinger?" Ragatha says, looking back at him.
"Another note?" He muttered, he picks up a piece of paper. It glitches, starling him; only Caine's lazy coding can be the cause of this.
"What's it say?" Pomni asks. They all look closer, reading it in their mind, before Ragatha speaks up.
"Scatter? Seriously? Is he asking us to split up, right after we got in our required groups?" Pomni nods. And almost like they all share one brain, they do infact, scatter, walking in different directions.
Meanwhile..
With Gangle, Zooble, and Jax. Jax has wondered off, he has no interest in participating in the adventure. Usually, he would stay to prank the two, or prank the other group. But something has been bothering him too much.
Ragatha,
And Pomni. They've been spending an awful lot time together. Why does he even care, he doesn't, at least that's what he's trying to convince himself of. Jax finds shelter in a shabby, empty bar. He sits down on the floor, bringing his legs to his chest.
His mind is scattered. How could Ragatha get so close with her? She basically just got here, and Ragatha was his. Well, she didn't know that, but he does and that's all that matters to him.
Maybe if he up'd the pranks he'd have her back to himself. Why does it even matter. The Ragdoll and Jester, they're both woman, and the same gender usually makes friends better with the same gender. So of course she'd rather be friends with her than him. Well, they aren't friends, but still!
He should definitely up the pranks, then Ragatha will definitely keep a good eye on him.
God, why does he even care? He should find the other group now. Jax finally figured out what trick to do to inconvenience . Just as he stands up to head out. He walks right into the Ragdoll.
"Ack!—" She moves back, rubbing her head. "oh, Jax? Weren't you with Gangle and Zooble?" She asks, before Jax grabs her by her shoulders.
"Ragatha! What's going on with you and Pomni!?" He yells, it's like the time he used to regulate his emotions was useless. His pupils are small, his eyes furrowed. Ragatha stares at him, slightly shocked and really scared. She looks around.
"I-is this a prank.. what's going on!?" She exclaims. Jax realizes what he's doing, it's like he regains consciousness. He slowly let's her go, taking a step back. He starts to force a snicker.
"Khkhkhkhkh.. of course it's a prank! You think I'd care about what you and POmni have going on.. psh.." He attempts to brush off the topic. "Nevermind that, what're you doing here, dollface? Came to see me?"
"I didn't even know you were here Jax. Well, it's doesn't look like there's any clues here anyway.. so I'll be on my merry way!" Just as Ragatha is about to leave, he blocks her path.
"I could help you with clues! You're all alone! You clearly need someone as amazinggg as me! C'mon, let's go, Rags.." He drags her along, not giving her a chance to protest. Does he even know how this game works? Cause it's definitely not just 'partner up with whoever you feel like and goof around.'
"Ehh... Thanks Jax, but I prefer—"
"To be with me! I know.." Ragatha sighs, knowing theres no getting through this Rabbit. Why does he even want to work with her, she should keep her guard up-
"Woah!" Ragatha trips over something, more like someone. Jax tripped her, he starts chuckling as she tumbles over, barely being able to break her fall. She stabilizes herself, glaring at Jax.
"Woah Raggy, you should really watch where you're going!" He snickers.
"Well maybe if you didn't trip me!" Ragatha yells. She scoffs, continuing to walk, this time ahead of him. What is he doing wrong? He attempts to catch up, speed walking behind her. He ponders for a moment, what else can he do.. he could try a compliment! Or what he considers a compliment.
"Ragatha.." He says, she doesn't acknowledge him. "Has anyone ever told you your hair looks like liquorice—"
"JAX!" She screams, turning to face him, that startles him a bit. Ragatha clearly doesn't like her hair being compared to candy, for some reason. They both stay quiet, just staring at each other. Jax manages to force a snicker before Ragatha brings her hands to her face. "Ugh, don't follow me.." She walks off, the fog engulfing her.
He immediately stops laughing. He definitely messed up now, he needs to find Gangle and Zooble, someone to distract himself from this mess.
Kinger, Pomni, and Ragatha won the prize for the adventure, nothing!
"Seriously Caine!? That took such a long time to finish, and we don't even get anything??" Pomni complained. Caine simply responded with a shrug. Ragatha attempts to speak up, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well, at least we won! I mean.. a false prize sure is disappointing, but victory is always more satisfactory, right?" Pomni and Kinger just nodded, even if they didn't actually agree.
"Oh please, who cares about 'victory' if there's no prize! Satisfactory? You're funny, doll." Ragatha directs her attention to him before looking back, slightly aggravated. Crap. Why didn't she say anything?
"What's wrong, Raggy? Cats got your tongue?" She doesn't acknowledge him. Panic was filling Jax's heart and mind. He walks behind her as he spoke, waiting for a response before mouthing 'whatever' and heading to his room. Jax sits on the edge of his bed, hands on his cheeks, conflicted. What's up with her? No, what's up with him? A little after Pomni came he became, well, a little possessive of Ragatha.
He doesn't consider Ragatha his friend, their relationship is more of a semi-one-sided rivalry. So what is wrong!? What are these strong feelings??
Could it be.. love? No, no way. But yes, yes way.. Yes, it was love! His love for Ragatha, maybe that's why he targets her the most. How boring it is without him being able to torture her. And this.. her ignoring him; It was eating him alive. He needs to figure out more about Ragatha, he already knows a little. She crochets occasionally, she's scared of centipedes, she like softball, yatta yatta.
But he needs to figure out more. And to do so, he might need to follow her around the Circus. It's not creepy, desperate times call for desperate measures, okay? Maybe even take some photos too, he's got to have a spare camera somewhere, and even if he doesn't he'll just ask Caine.
Jax gets off his bed, and begins rummaging through his drawers. It's just a bunch of random stuff, stupid photos.. photos? No, he can't focus on those people, they're gone now. No camera though, time to ask Caine.
Jax leaves his room and begins yelling.
"Caineee!!! Oh Caine!!!! Wheres that stupid host at.."
"You called?" Caine appears right next to Jax, making him yelp, a little louder than he would have preferred.
"God! Yes, don't do that.. Anyways, I need a camera."
"A camera? For what? Could it possibly be foreshadowing another adventure!?" Caine exclaims, with an exaggerated look on face.
"No, none of that bull[%¥^|], just give me one."
"Eh, sure, why not? I don't feel like dwelling on this topic!" Caine spawns a a shiny black camera in Jax's hands. Jax was going to tell him to go away, but he remembers something. He doesn't know where the others went after he left for his room.
"Say Caine.. have you seen Raga—"
"Nope, bye-bye!" And just like that, Caine disappeared. Great. Now he has to find Ragatha himself. He decides to check the dining room, maybe she wants for snacks. And just like he predicted, she was there. Eating a salad by herself. She had a content look on her face, one he couldn't bare to look at, yet can stare at for years.
Focus! He turns on the camera. He successfully snaps a photo of her, aren't their more steps to this? It's abnormally easy. He takes four more pictures. He noticed Ragatha has finished her food. The bowl just disappears, much to her surprise, he snaps a few pictures of reaction her reaction.
Oh, looks like she's getting up. He should hide. Jax swiftly hides behind a pillar, taking a picture as she walks past him, unaware of that shutter sound the camera makes. He follows her around for the rest of the day, from when she ate her salad, to when she went to her room, he followed her. He doesn't know if anyone saw him, but he hopes no one didn't. Imagine if they used that against him.
Jax collapses onto his bed, exhausted. Who knew Ragatha moved so much!? He looks through the the photos he took.
"I should get some of these printed out, would look good on my wall.." He muttered to himself. Jax pays attention to the photos with Ragatha actually doing activities, but it's mostly just doing random stuff with Kinger or Pomni, no good.
He bets the rest were wondering why he barely tormented them, he'll make sure to make up for that tomorrow. But right now, he's tired. Jax tosses the camera onto the floor. The closes his eyes.