Archive of Our Own

Grime made of sparkles and sand cover Zoobles' claw, forcing them to groan and wipe it off on their tacky whimsical uniform. They're already drenched in it anyway. After being stranded on a magical island, most would figure anything is possible. But unfortunate to Zooble, their body's lack of commitment has ruined any chance of having a break for the night.

Caine's intentions were to gather everyone into a magical island to form closer bonds with one another. “Through newfound friendships,” he said, “and finding your passion for magic, you all have to explore a school of wonder and work together to open the magic portal back home in unison! I'm sure all of you mystical merry munchkins will find this adventure to be a piece of cake!”

After two weeks of waiting, all of them had lost hope to believe that Caine would pity their failure and let them go back to the circus. Clearly, they aren't getting home until they all have a relationship breakthrough that portal opens. At first, Zooble had paid little effort to the adventure. He's bound to give up eventually. But he didn't. And this isn't something Zooble can watch from the sidelines this time. Being forced into a dormitory with their worst nightmare wasn't enough; they have to participate in school again. Even with no ill intentions, Caine clearly doesn't understand the crowd's age demographic. 

In a particularly tricky gym class, Zooble finally attempted to pass a class in hopes to escape this pastel hellhole, but had been pushed mid-air. They fell flat in the swampy cliffs of the castle with the streams and leading waterfalls. They'd been saved by the assistance of Pomni and Gangle.. But even their aid couldn't magically locate Zoobles' lost arm in pixie dust.

So at the darkest hour of the sparkly land, zooble had to give up their sleep hours to search for their missing forearm. Sleeping was the only time Zooble felt at peace in this unicorn-puked castle, but Caine hasn't answered the calls to his name all day. It looks like it's up to them.

Zooble grimaces at the cold water enveloping up to their knees, and the colorful swirls of rainbow sand and glimmering water doesn't make finding their arm any easier as they dig around. Gangle had offered to help, but Zooble decided to decline the kind offer. If they can't have a peaceful rest, at least they'd feel a little better knowing someone they care about did. 

The ruffled white sleeves of their uniform had now stained multiple colors and their hand aches from the ice cold water and scraping against sand and rocks. They're almost certain this is where they'd fallen, so it's bound to be around. A glaring frustration builds at the burning memory, they're certain it had to be Jax that pushed them. Who else would it be? But with your head underwater and your eyes spinning around after being pulled up, there isn't much you can do to articulate the situation. Even if going back to the circus is their goal, a good night's rest after running in circles around fairies instead of angrily trudging in muddy water would have been appreciated.

“Oh, look! You can actually do something!”

An irritating higher pitch of sarcasm causes Zooble to groan. If they could, they'd bite their tongue. 

“-You know, I thought you could only brood about hating everything.”

“Ugh.. Shut it, Jax.”

The culprit, Jax, charismatically swoops over on the stepping stones to taunt his “friend” on their knees drenched in glittery water. Like Zooble, Jax is still dressed in uniform. But he'd taken the dramatic cape Caine had snapped onto him off, leaving cuffed slacks, a vest, and a corset, all in black. But more in character, with his white sleeves rolled up to resemble a rebel in cartoon skits.

“Did you drop your dignity? You're not gonna find it like that, Zoobie.”

Zooble ignores the taunt. A lack of a reaction may stir his obnoxious shenanigans elsewhere. But he sits himself on a large stone to their right. They sigh. He wants something. 

“What do you want, Jax?”

“Me? So glad you asked. I want a triple pumped Moca cappuccino with caramel sauce on the whipped cream. To go, of course.”

Zooble has to refrain from a bothered reaction at the jab, but a twitch of their eye says more than any curse could right now. He'll get bored eventually, no point in wasting my time, they figure. Returning to their search and ignoring any smug comments from the bothersome man beside them, they feel something plastic under the water. Their hopes spike.

Jax shuts up momentarily, quietly watches as Zooble struggles to pull something out of the water with an interested expression. 

Zooble huffs, pulling harder. Jax tsks, looking vaguely annoyed at something they can't pinpoint.

*Pop!* Zooble topples backwards and lands on their back with a wet splat into the water, soaking them entirely. They're fairly nonchalant about it, but relieved to have finished their quest.

“Gh.. Finally,” Zooble grumbles. They lift their claw, only to see a magic wand in their grasp instead of their arm they thought they'd found. They groan.

“F%#K!”

Zooble drops the purple wand onto the stone path and momentarily rests their head, lying exhausted and annoyed in the water. Jax's square eyes follow the wand, then Zooble lying in the mud. They stare at the endless void of the star sprinkled sky, tired and loudly breathing. Their usual nonchalant attitude is much more irritated from their aching, freezing situation. 

He's not going anywhere.. It's way too late for him to actually want to be an a##hole. They can't even swear in their mind. They sigh, their tone regulated and much more neutral.

“Jax. What do you want?”

“.. Eh?”

“Why are you here?”

Snapping out of the silence, Jax shakes his head dramatically. Zoobles' patience wears thin.

“What? Can't I stop by to check up on my roomie?”

“..”

“You look like you lost some weight.”

“Oh my God, you know if you want to go do something how about you f#%k off?”

“Yeesh! So hostile, Zoob. I'm only saying hi.”

“Ugh..”

Although it was snappy, it was an honest question. But paying little mind, Zooble sits up, their back cold to the mystical air, and now lukewarm feeling water clung to their clothes. Their eyes focus on the mud, not giving Jax the satisfaction of being glanced at. Their frustration slowly fizzles to something more somber.

“Jax, just go to bed.”

“What, and leave you all alone in the dark?~”

“Yes.”

“Come on, isn't the point of this place to bond together? We both are getting sick of this weird princess-place. Give me a chance.”

They pinch where between their nose once was, relaxing their shoulders.

“I swear to God, Jax..”

“Whaat I'm serious!”

Sarcasm drips from every word out of the sadistic bunnies mouth. About as much as Zoobles' wrecked uniform. They shiver, thinking about walking all the way back to the dorms drenched and cold. But imagining Jax by their side in that scenario makes it sound a thousand times worse. But, Zooble ponders what could be worse than that. Maybe staying in this castle forever. That could be worse. After all, unlike in the circus, Zooble doesn't have spare limbs. They have to keep constant track of these ones. Not to mention daily classes of nonsensical school disguised as “magic”. 

And being a roommate with Jax for eternity is a fate far too cruel for them to accept. Putting their internal thoughts aside, they shrug the distaste off.

“.. Whatever. We can “bond” by you sitting there and doing nothing.”

Jax fakes a cheerful gasp. “You do like me around after all! If you weren't such an unlikeable downer, I'd be touched. Truly.”

Zooble scoffs and returns to their search, only colder than before and more agitated. If they were lucky, Caine could be fooled by their insincere bonding and grant them a way out of this childish hell if they make their sarcasm subtle enough. That, if Jax doesn't ruin it last minute. Which he probably will. Their head aches.

“Still looking for that plastic junk, eh?”

“..”

“Want some help, ol’ pal?”

“No.”

Zooble pauses, and glances around the empty trench. Hoping to not see a certain ringmaster dressed in red hear that. They correct themself,

“Uh.. No…Thanks. I got it.”

That word felt like acid on their tongue, but it's better than being trapped in a school forever. And trapped with a jerk forever, they add.

“You look like you're used to being in the mud.”

 Zooble pays little mind to Jax's rambles with discreet jabs trying to provoke them. They're all cheap, and if ignored they fall flat enough for Zooble to hope he gets bored of taunting them. But after a few failed mocks, Jax groans.

“Ughhh! This is killing me. Can't you just use that wand lying around as your new arm?? I'm tired.”

Although a sharp quip lies on the tip of Zoobles (nonexistent) tongue, something more attention grabbing fizzles it out first. 

“... You say that like you're being forced to be here.”

“Pshh. I'm just bored. Who wants to sit here all day and watch you scramble in sparkles all day? Lamee.”

“Then.. Leave?”

Jax scoffs. It sounds more defensive than Zooble is used to hearing. They make a mental note of it. He'll admit what he wants eventually. They reach their claw deeper in the multicolored sand. They wince lightly at the grainy texture and the water so close to their triangle head's chin. 

“Heh, you're really bad at this.”

“Can you do better with one arm?”

“I dunno. My body is actually very stable. Hm. So I guess we'll never know.”

Although that stung stung a little, Zooble rolls their eyes. He doesn't deserve any brainpower. 

“Where's the other one? Don't tell me you two got into a fight.” He chuckles.

“Nope. Can't say the same for you though.”

If Zooble glanced up, they would've caught the anger on Jax's face. Good thing they didn't. He wishes he could leave this freak alone by itself. Jax sits himself up, stretching his arms dramatically as if he'd been the one scuffling in mud for an hour. He circles them around the path like a shark.

“Phew! Well, since you asked so nicely, I'll give you the expert round of finding stuff. Don't thank me, really.”

“.. Huh?”

Before any interjection, Zooble gets a giant splash of water in the face from the kick of Jax's boot. They wince and shut their eyes, wiping away any glitter with a loud groan.

“You!!-- you motherf#%ker!!!”

“Huh? Oh whoopsie. Didn't mean to do that.”

Zooble growls at the glittery water straining their vision, wiping it away with the back of their claw. Don't. A reaction is what he wants. They mumble under their breath, blinking a few times until their vision settles.

“.. Jax you-..”

Their eyes widen as they stare at their lost arm, dripping a faint rainbow and limp in Jax's hand. Genuine surprise almost lingers in their question,

“How did you..- what the hell?!”

“Found it! Gee, you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached to your body, Zoobie. Oh wait! You do lose it!”

“Give that back you a##hole.”

Zooble swipes for their arm, but as quick as they can jerk over, Jax can take two steps back. Their now found hand is blue with intricate fingers, unlike the swiping claw that can't dig themself out of the mud fast enough. Jax grins eye to eye,

“Give what back? Ohh, this thing? Well, aren't you gonna thank me for finding it? Kinda disrespectful if you don't.”

What feels like blood rushes to Zooble's head, making them feel annoyed and hot in the face. They hoist themself up with a sludged thump, trying to stand straight and pry themself forward out of the cakey mud their shoes sank into. Ugh. Jax takes another casual step back, playing with the fingertips of the disembodied plastic hand. A vague irritated flush rises to Zooble's cheeks as they try to free themself and lunge forward, more reactive than usual.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Wow, kinda rude, Zooble. I give you the grace of my friendship and you use crude language like that? Maybe I don't wanna give it back now.”

Finally freeing themself, Zooble yanks their legs forward successfully into the sludge in front of them. “Tch..” Slow, agitated and rolling their eyes, Jax looks more than happy with himself as he takes another step back and holds it over the edge of the rocky cliff where the waterfalls begin beside them. Zoobles eyes narrow.

“You. Wouldn't. Dare.”

“I would dare, actually. Use your manners and maybe I'll pity you a little. Say “thank you Jax!”.”

He teases as if speaking to a child, twirling Zooble's lost arm in circles with his fingers as it's squirming can't free itself from his clutches. Zooble grunts, finally making another step from the mud parallel to the mocker on a slightly higher stone. Their hand twitches, itching to lunge at him. But they know that Jax will drop it. They know they'll have to go underwater and fight whatever may be at the bottom of that pool. Zooble sighs. That motherfu##er. Gritting their hypothetical teeth, Zoobles hand retracts. For a moment, they stare at Jax with a glaring hatred in their eyes. No longer impulsive anger, but a deep resentment.

“.. Can you give that back?”

“Can you have it back what?”

Refusing to even utter a sarcastic please, Zooble just tries to swipe it with their claw. Jax just walks backwards further from them, chuckling.

“That's not very kind of you, roomie. Sorry, guess I'll have to drop it now– h–!”

Jax stumbles, the ledge being much shorter than he'd anticipated. Both of them gasp as Jax falls backward.

Zooble scuffles forward and grasps the lonely arm in Jax's hand.

Jax's mouth hangs open, shocked as Zooble keeps them from falling. 

Clutching onto Zooble's arm saved him from the steep fall, his foot still hanging on the edge of the rock and Zooble's strength the only thing keeping him grounded.

For a moment, they both just stare at each other. Zooble's firm grasp shakes, snapping them both back to the moment. Even on the brink of a cliff, Jax grins.

“Oh, saving me Zooble?”

Their stare darkens to a glare. Attempting to let Jax fall and to keep their arm, Zooble jerks their elbow up and snatches their lone arm back above their head. But Jax's grip doesn't slip, and he gasps.

Jax tumbles forward at the tug and topples, landing against Zooble with a thud.

.. Huh? Zooble's anger quickly blinks to a horror as they both stand there against each other, Jax's shoes now stuck in the mud with them and their chests far too close than either of them would ever want them to be. Both their metaphorical mouths hang open. Zooble stands frozen and stares.

“..uhhh…?”

“..”

Immediately releasing Zooble's arm from his grasp, Jax struggles through the mud, trying to shove them away. Zooble flinches, just as stuck as he is. They groan with a hint of irritation while Jax is desperate to make distance. Their cartoonish faces begin to burn bright reds as Jax stutters and his ears droop down.

“G- Get off of me!”

Zooble tilts their head. 

“You think I want to be here?!”

They both awkwardly try to squirm the opposing directions, both uncomfortably hot and pissed off. Zooble wrangles their way out of the mud, using Jax as an involuntary crutch. Zooble ends up sitting on the stone, tired, but at least they're a few more inches away from each other. They struggle to pull their feet out of the mud with the rest of them, both ignoring the shock and flushes on their faces.

.. At least he's quiet. 

For once, Jax seems uncharacteristically silent. It stretches on until Zooble frees themselves and turns back to their feet on the stone path, leaving Jax trapped in the glittery mud. They finally look back to Jax, pretending not to notice how horrified they both look.

Jax stands in the mud a few seconds longer, staring down at his chest silently. But when he notices Zooble's gaze, he turns his head up snobbishly and scoffs.

“Tch. I told you to be polite, not throw yourself onto me you freak.”

Zooble finds themself unusually embarrassed by that. Does he really think that, or is he being stupid? But they don't say anything to quip back with. And slowly, the masked grin on Jax's face begins to fade to his real, flushed blank stare. Zooble reattaches their arm through their sleeve in dead silence as Jax tries to pry himself out of the mud with complaining grunts.

Zooble adjusts their arm. It feels good to have sensation there once more. And more importantly, intricate fingers to curl around in the windy air. They look down at their arm, then themself. Drenched in sparkly mud, soaked, and freezing cold. Then they look at Jax. Pathetically stuck in the mud, soaked below the knees and his gloves stained with the same rainbow colors as their sleeves. They want to roll their eyes, and against their better judgement 

Zooble offers their hand.

Jax stares wide eyed for a moment before he sneers by instinct. But it's masked with a cheeky grin.

“Is this your way of apologizing for ruining my shoes?”

“Just get up, Jax.”

His grin softens to a more uncomfortable, forced smile. He stares up at their face, casting a triangle shadow over him from the colorful moon. He scoffs and goes back to freeing himself by hand. This is just sad. Zooble glares, and without a second to consider, they take Jax's wrist by force. He jolts,

“H– hey!”

“This is stupid. Get up.”

Zooble grabs his side, prying him out of the steep mud with their strength. Zooble groans, their knees(?) bending with a struggle. Jax doesn't pull away, but he gives a look of disgust down at his hip. He's lifted out of the mud successfully. He takes a step out, grasping onto Zoobles shoulders for support as they both struggle loudly without words. Once he steps onto the higher ground, his legs shake and he stabilizes himself, and Zooble pretends not to notice how close they are again for their own dignity.

Temporarily weak, Jax involuntarily leans his neck over Zooble's shoulder. Not touching, but closer than either of them would mention. They both Huff, loudly breathing and exhausted while they both shake from the freezing nights cold. Zooble can't help but wonder what goes through his head when he's surprised. Jax however, doesn't like the idea of Zooble being kind to him. It's not in character, and he needs that. He hates them being so patient with him, let alone so tired. Breathing so close to him. It's all so.. human. The millisecond he can stand straight, he shoves himself away from the other with a weak stumble. They both look in opposing directions.

Zooble sighs. They feel their own arm again with their claw, taking a few steps further away before crossing them.

“Let's not talk about this.” They seem to both silently agree on that. Once he processes enough, Jax crosses his arms as well.

“Well good going, toybox. You got me drenched too! And after I found your arm, that's j–”

“Jax. Just.. Stop talking.”

For once, he scoffs. And he keeps it shut. 

They both walk beside each other back down to the kingdom's staircase, shuddering and refusing to talk about it. And Jax refusing to even tease about it. At least for now.

Walking back to their dorm in silence, although irritated and cold, Zooble looks relieved to have their hand back. Jax faintly smirks as Zoobles eyes stay ahead, refusing to meet his staring that he knows they can see. They don't care, but Jax hopes they do. He feels slight satisfaction that he'd gotten under their skin so intensely for once. And better yet, they didn't suspect a thing. Maybe it fuels his ego to try something else later. Maybe when they're both less.. Flushed and freezing. 

They never even noticed during that search that he'd had their arm under his vest the whole time. He'd intended to keep it if zooble didn't have the key to their room and he was tired. Jax turns his head away, softly chuckling at it. 

“.. What.”

Zooble snarls at his quiet laugh. The smirk on his face grows wider, but before he can open his mouth, his face drops when he looks at Zooble.

“..”

They huff. Hasn't he been enough for one day? Zooble sighs an angry “What?” before they look down and see it themself. Glittering magic from their hands. A faint angry blush rises on their cheeks.

“.. Are you kidding me.”

Jax would be laughing hysterically if he didn't feel magic tingle in his hands too.

And maybe in his face. Maybe Zoobles too. They both ignore thinking about that.

Gangle yawns, sleepy and dazed from the long day. It isn't easy being a manager. Correction, an unpaid one. With all the piling strange “homework” given out by Caine every week, Gangle had offered to do Zoobles on top of her own while they searched for their arm. Then when Jax heard about that, he'd snaked his way into getting her to do it with cunning threats of blackmail. Leaving her with not two, but three people's worth of work. It wasn't necessarily difficult, but there was much to be done on the strange sticker covered laptops on magic potions, friendship and Caine not so discreetly asking adventure questions. Distant soothing music follows her around everywhere she goes, it changes depending on the time. She looks at the gold clock hung above the doorway to the pool. 2:57. She sighs sadly. Indescribable dread always seems to fill her at this hour.

She'd perched herself in the open cafe, the middle of the castle's halls. It was somewhere Jax probably wouldn't look and no one else would bother to be right now. Sure, she has a dormitory, but after Kinger filled it with all kinds of unnamed bugs.. she's decided she'd much rather work here than at a smaller desk with centipedes. A singular dim light from the lamp on the table's rounded edge hums a bright enough orange for ambiance while she mindlessly clicks away on the keyboard. 

She's tired. She has been for a while, but a feeling of nostalgia flows over her nerves. How long has it been since she'd done this? Alone at a dark table, typing away. It gives her a bittersweet memory of her life before the circus, and the loneliness that came with it. It almost feels like she was destined to this gloomy fate.

Her happy mask lies broken in her bag, shattered into pieces. She hasn't gotten a new one since the adventure's arrival, so she's begun trying to force it on her other at times. The same way her companion zooble hasn't gotten new parts. She worries about them, potentially still searching for their arm alone. She'd been tempted to go up there. But instead, she stays near the door outside. If zooble really needs it, she'll be here just in case.

The quiet is very faintly interrupted by footsteps. She winces and looks to the empty doorway. The footsteps continue, and they aren't the ones she thought she'd hear. Rather than a smooth plastic walk, they sound like very quiet, plush steps.

Behind her, coming down the stairs, she sees the familiar shape of a ragdoll in a flowy dress. Ragatha.

She looks relatively the same, only dressed in a more dolled up interpretation of a princess's vintage nightgown. Long, lighter blue frills and more airy thin fabric with a stitched purse. Gangle feels a hint of envy at her beauty compared to herself only getting a red “starlight cardigan”, so dubbed by Caine.

“Oh! Gangle! Heh, I.. didn't think anyone would be down here.”

They both silently stare at each other before Ragatha opens her mouth again, 

“Ah.. Uh, say, what are you doing up so late? Are you.. feeling alright?”

A light smile fixes Gangle's mask. Sincere or not, she does appreciate Ragatha's concern. Although she finds herself unsure of how to answer in a positive light like she knows Ragatha wants.

“Yeah. I'm just finishing some work. ..”

The agonizing silence starts to kill Ragatha's urge to keep a conversation going. She lightly lifts her dress to take the last step down the fancy staircase and get closer, while Gangle turns her face back to the screen.

“Oh, working, huh? That.. Sure is dedication for this hour. I'm just grabbing a snack. You know how the munchies come when you least expect it, heheh. Eh.”

In an odd sense, Ragatha feels like Gangle knows she's lying. It's something that she's always felt uncomfortable with facing. Unlike nearly all the others, Gangle may be the only person in the circus Ragatha hadn't smothered when she ended up here. Something about Gangle makes her anxious. 

Gangle is thoughtful in the silence. She doesn't want to rudely shatter the attitude Ragatha works hard to keep up, but a nagging feeling of concern rises above it. She shyly keeps her eyes down on her screen.

“.. Yeah. It does.”

A very slow,  impulsive question escapes Gangle's mouth before she can tiredly think to prevent it.

“Do you wanna sit down?”

The silence feels more charged as Ragatha's face begins to shift from something uncomfortable to a surprised delight.

“O- oh! I mean, Of course! I just wouldn't wanna bug you too much if you're super busy.. – but, if you're fine with it, then..”

Ragatha awkwardly tiptoes over to the cafe's stand. With a click of a button and clinking some of Caine's odd adventure currency in, she presses a few of the buttons and fumbles a few remaining gems back into her purse. Gangle sighs. It's not that she dislikes Ragatha, but her constant need for things to be okay is.. Well, exhausting. 

“Do.. You want anything Gangle? I really don't mind, it costs less than you think, heheh..”

“No thanks.”

Ragatha silently curses herself as the machine whirrs her a late night snack. Sh#%t! Am I just bad at this or is Gangle always.. Intimidating? It's almost like she can see right through her. And Ragatha unknowingly finds it.. Scary.

Intimidating? She blinks a few times at the thought. No, what's so intimidating about Gangle? She's quiet and sweet. A hot shame rises in Ragatha's face for even thinking about that. Positive thoughts, she tells herself.

*Ding!* A little plate of strawberry and orange rolls steam out of the magical oven. Ragatha is quick to rush to it, even if she ends up getting a bit burnt by the tray. Now with her snack, she takes the chair directly beside Gangle. Then she curses herself again. Did I really just do that?? Out of all the chairs?? Ugh, Stupid! 

Gangle isn't very.. Talkative. She usually isn't, but now more than ever. It's understandable, she's concentrating. But of course, Ragatha's nature is to support.

“That's.. a lot of work, Gangle.”

No response. She clears her throat, “Uh.. Want me to help?”

The close tension between the two urges Ragatha to keep talking, but she refrains. Gangle sighs.

“You don't have to do that. It's a lot of-”

“Oh, that's fine! Those tests are fairly easy, really no big deal. I can handle a few if you'd like.. a break?”

A tad invasive, Ragatha turns the laptop to her face to take a peek. She frowns at the sight of a familiar question box.

“Huh.. That's weird. I swore we've done this one already.”

“I did. But.. I'm doing Zooble's work too. And… *Mutter*..”

Ragatha chuckles a little at the mumble. “Hah, for a second there I thought you said Jax.”

“...”

“......”

Ragatha slowly turns her head with her eye widened.

“.. Jax??”

Gangle squeaks an embarrassed excuse to avoid the topic, “Um- everyone needs to get some work done, right? If we wanna leave.. S.. So..”

Ragatha sighs, clearly pitying the lame excuse. Without a hint of consideration, she pats the ribbon resembling Gangle's shoulder.

“But you shouldn't have to do it by yourself! I mean.. We don't.. Talk a lot. But I'm always here for everyone! You don't have to be alone and sad, no one wants that!”

“... Sometimes I just want to feel that way, Ragatha.”

She grimaces slightly when she watches Gangle look right through her. She tries not to feel irritated by it, and her tone wavers.

“I mean.. Three people is a lot of work, you know. You should get some rest.”

“But..” 

Gangle shakes her head sadly.

“But I have to get this done tonight. It's due tomorrow.”

Ragatha imagines herself being stern and insisting Gangle needs sleep. She pictures Gangle begrudgingly listening to her words. She can also imagine all of them then failing their tests and getting an extra week of work. And gangle silently judging her for causing all of it. And being such a strict, scary person. Just like..

“No!”

“.. ?”

“I– uh.. I mean.. No. Gangle, you're tired. How about you take a little nap to freshen up? I can do this page! Easy peasy.”

Selflessly offering her own hours, she insistently scootches up right against Gangle's chair and takes over the keyboard. Unable to decline, Gangle just stares at the screen and the answers slowly being typed out by fingerless hands.

“After all, you need to change the answers up a bit so Caine doesn't notice, right? It's really no big deal, really. Heheh.. Heh.”

A bit uncomfortable with Gangle's characteristic silence, Ragatha tries to drown her need for assurance from the lack she's getting in the screen in front of her. That's more of a Gangle thing to do, but who knows? Maybe she's onto something. She's determined to solve all the silly questions on magic species and classes if it means helping someone in need. The faint feeling of a tired mask resting on her shoulder causes her to twitch in surprise, but it only stalls her with a little shock before she's back in her zone. 

Ragatha tries to pretend she isn't tired. She hesitates, and with her free hand, she takes a strawberry roll from her plate and takes a small bite. It's surprisingly good, much better than anything Caine usually makes in their adventures. It has a sweet taste of pastured strawberries that she can reminisce about picking off plants back in her old life. She'd be lying if she said she didn't miss the fresh fruit. Gangle glances away. She feels bad for slightly crumbling Ragatha's safe net. So she says the first hazy thing she can think of.

“- I like your hair.”

Ragatha jolts out of her nostalgia and her eyes snap to the mask resting on her shoulder. She tries to respond without sounding too surprised.

“O- oh! Thank you, h- heh. I guess we've.. Not been this close before.”

She blurts out the stupidest thing she doesn't stop to think about,

“-- You can- touch it if you want. Were friends! I.. don't mind.”

A painfully cringe silence echoes through the halls. As if the music stopped dead in its lullaby to mock Ragatha's comment. She sighs and shamefully opens her mouth to apologize profusely, but the unexpected sensation of a ribbon in her hair stops her.

Oh! 

She feels a warm pink on her cheeks, despite being stuffed with cotton. Ragatha can't help but lean into it while the other woman dozes off, twirling her flimsy ribbon hand in Ragatha's soft hair. She also pretends it isn't distracting her tremendously from her task. 

She tries to press on, ignoring how suddenly close the two are now that she's processing it. Silky strands of ribbon, swirled so close her lifted arm on the table almost phases through the hollow in Gangle's chest. She can't recall the last time she's felt a friendly touch. Or touch at all. Actually, yes she can. When she glitched out Pomni’s hand. But she tries not to look down on herself for just a little while longer. 

Gangle sleepily curls her hands around the soft strings in her grasp. It's in times like this she wished she didn't have such an active imagination, even when she's exhausted. It reminds her of one of her favorite manga stories. Not that she sees Ragatha as a potential partner, she tries to add to make herself feel less of a freak. With her eyes closed and her ribbon hand lazily grazing, she tells herself it's just something friendly. Because they're both lonely. It makes herself feel a lot better for imagining things far too sappy for someone she doesn't particularly enjoy hanging out with all the time. She knows this won't last forever, nothing good ever does. Especially not with someone so dependent on a facade like Ragatha. Not with her own.. polar-opposite, swinging emotions. Gangle yawns, eventually letting her mind slow.

A small huff escapes Ragatha's lips. Not quite uncomfortable, but closer to a soft content. She doesn't really care if she looks desperate for attention, because deep down she thinks she might be. As much as she just wants everyone to be happy.. She selfishly likes the feeling of attention on her. Is that wrong? She feels a hint of guilt at the thought.

Maybe she's just not good at this type of thing. 

.. But it feels pretty good. 

Ragatha types on, her head leaned gently against the cool porcelain on her neck.

Zooble is tempted to collapse in their room. But the last thing they need is more glitter in this place. And especially, not drenched in it. So they take a right instead of the way to the dorms. Jax freezes, almost taken a bit off guard at their course. He instinctively smirks.

“What? You suddenly feel like going the long way? Trying to be productive, I see.”

They groan, nonchalantly crossing their arms. How dense is that oval head of his? 

“I'm taking a shower, genius.”

They glance at them both covered in dirt. Their eyes soften to a look of faint pity.

“You should come too.”

“.....”

Jax coughs, his smirk almost faltering. Almost.

“Sorry Zoobie, I'm not into grouchy toyboxes.”

“Oh my God, you knew what I meant.”

Deliberately ignoring the silence, Zooble keeps walking without bothering to look behind them. But they can tell by the eventual obnoxious tone that he is following.

“I'm just surprised you care enough. Aren't you too cool to do anything? You seemed that way when you made Gangle do all your work.”

“I didn't “make” her do anything. She offered. Just because you push everyone around doesn't mean I do.”

“Pft. You say that like you actually care about her.”

“I do care about her.”

“Oh yeah? I can't even fathom anyone caring about someone pathetic like that.”

“Yeah. I bet you can't.”

“Alright, Mr “I'm too cool to care”. Save me the lecture.”

Jax smugly waves a gesture at them even though he's ignored. He almost.. feels regret after saying that. Pf, as if Zooble was cool. Maybe in their wet, glittery dreams. He grins at his own internal insult. But it's hard to move an unmovable object, so he doesn't bother wasting it on their ears. If anything, the quiet walk (other than their squeaking shoes) begins to make Jax think. Now that he feels better about himself, it'd be extremely easy to bring up the earlier events for torment. But that's too soon, he figures. Maybe he'll wait until they need to open that portal. He almost chuckles. Right where everyone will hear. The horror on Zoobles face, getting under that inconsistent skin makes him feel giddy already. Sure, it wasn't fun for him either, but attitude goes a long way. If he doesn't care, but Zooble does, that will say a lot more about them than it will him. At least that's how he sees it. 

He's a tad annoyed by the long, dark detour back to the dorm, however. The pink castle walls shimmer, even under nothing but moonlight and wide stained-glass windows. He would have dealt with some sparkles if he could get into his room and sleep. Change of plan, has to admit to himself. When mcgrumpsalot gets into the shower, I snag the key. He would've done it by now, but for some reason he really hasn't been able to find it on them this entire time. It's foreign to him, not being able to locate a key on someone. But it won't be that way much longer.

“.. What are you smiling at?”

“Huh?”

An uncharacteristic horror flashes in Jax's head when he realizes he's been staring Zooble up and down, grinning the entire time. He saves himself as quickly as he can,

“Because you look funny. If I took a picture and said you got a magic makeover by the girls, Caine would believe it.”

“I don't care. Stop staring at me.”

“Yeesh, you are in a mood today Zoobs.”

They roll their eyes at the childish retort. He's always this way. He can't take anything seriously.

“Gee, I wonder why.”

“Come onn, it's just some mud. Don't be such a downer.”

“I'm not a downer. You just ruin everything.”

“E– ..”

Jax tsks, his wide grin not stopping his narrowed eyes in something close to offense. Zooble would almost feel bad for the subtle look of hurt if Jax didn't immediately patch it up by putting his hands on the back of his neck and chuckling. He wants to leave the scene so badly he sucks in a breath.

“I dunno, sounds like a little someone is jealous they don't join in on the fun.”

If tormenting people is what you call “fun”... Zooble groans and clutches their arms, crossing them together tighter. A reaction is what he wants. So they take in a deep breath, and keep walking nonchalantly with a shrug.

“Whatever.”

Jax playfully sighs and looks ahead, pretending he isn't vaguely flustered. He doesn't even mentally admit it, he pushes a giant wall around even the hint of that idea. There are two doorways to separate spas, but neither are labeled and both look the exact same, so everyone picks whatever they wish at random. Jax instinctively thinks to take the left, but he follows Zooble into the other. He needs to find that key, after all. 

Practically ignoring his presence, Zooble begrudgingly stomps over to shelves of towels and spare clothing, and throws them over a stall wall. Then, thoughtlessly unbuttons the tacky uniform they'd been forced to wear all day. 

Despite it being their default form, Jax feels his face grow hot. He turns his hand to shield, but only to the side.

“Wh– jeez!! You couldn't go into the stall first? Gross.”

Zooble turns to face him with a genuine puzzle.

“.. I'm always like this? Caine just gave me a uniform for this adventure. What are you even talking about?”

Zooble tosses their coat and vest into a laundry basket. Jax feels vaguely uncomfortable, questioning himself slightly as he watches zooble unbutton their shirt.

“You still could've done that away from my eyes. No one wants to see that.”

“Look away then. I'm not bringing that basket into the shower.”

“Blah, ew. Don't miss too much when I get the hell outta here.”

Jax turns and walks away with the same smug tone as always. But he secretly curses in his head. F##k. But I need that key.

Although Zooble couldn't care less, it feels suspicious enough for them to glance up and ask. They don't mention how he looked strangely worked up. Zoobles words cause him to pause in his tracks.

“Why are you acting weird?”

Jax scoffs, turning his head far to the side. He crosses his arms, forcing out an unaltered chuckle.

“I'm not acting weird at all. You must be reading between the lines too much from that ridiculous magic-stuff in your hands.”

“.. Whatever.”

Further ignoring whatever Jax may be trying to pull, Zooble pries themself out of their soggy uniform and tosses it all in the laundry bin. It's magical, so by the time they get out it'll be clean again. But Zoobles calling it a day and wearing pajamas on the way back instead. When zooble shuts the stall door, Jax's head spins with an unfamiliar feeling. And he really, really hates it. He has been a little more on edge, hasn't he? It feels like ever since that clown got under his skin he's been.. Feeling things more. He's the funny one! He doesn't feel things. He's not open. He's the one that makes hypothetical audiences laugh at his antics, not the one blushing over a triangle for brains taking their shirt off in front of him. That's not him. Definitely wasn't him.

.. Oh, right. 

Bringing himself back to earth (or technically the circus) after standing in silence for a while, he regains his bearings and scuffles through the dirty laundry in search of the key he knows Zooble has. No one else has it, and that door is still locked. The master of finding keys isn't the one that should be locked out of his own room. That's ridiculous. He gets increasingly more frustrated the more he looks to no avail. He may be good at hiding it, but he's tired. He's cold. He wants to go home. .. Or, at least to his temporary bed to sleep. He doesn't really have a home.

A few minutes pass. Far longer than he'd like.

He grunts in annoyance. “Where the hell is that thing??” he grumbles with a whisper. 

“.. Uhh…?”

Jax turns his head to see zooble behind him, a towel wrapped around their waist. This looks bad. Like a deer in headlights, Jax forgets to use his inside thoughts.

“F%#k.”

He slaps a hot wet cloth from the basket onto Zoobles face. They curse and immediately fight to see again.

“You– !! A##hole!!”

Jax loudly cackles at their misery, the embarrassment leaving his body as quick as it came. 

“HA!! That's what it feels like to look at your face!”

Warm. He mentally blocks that out and chucks another random towel violently.

“?! - What the– Are you just throwing sh#t now?! I just got out of the–” *SPLAT*

“- Jax!!”

“Yes, dear roomie Zoobie?~”

The last thing Jax sees is getting whipped in the head with a glittery towel.

“Aaaand…”

A white gloved hand opens the last jar of bugs. fireflies, to be specific. “There!”

They float around the dormitory with glee, the cartoonish creatures all in different spots. Some in potted plants, others happily buzzing around the top of Kingers head. His eyes tell that he's smiling. It's nothing too spacious, but there's a kitchen, a beanbag by the TV.. And more importantly, his new impregnable fortress. With an open door, for all critters! He feels proud of himself for his night's work.

“Hmm.. Almost perfect.. But it's missing something crucial. What do you think?”

Kinger turns his head, talking to the nearby lamp. It gives no answer.

“Ah, You're right. It's empty. Looks like this fortress needs some frosting!”

He kneels down to crawl into the fortress of pillows and blankets, but something stops him. “Hmm…”

Before he can nonsensically ponder some more out loud, he's startled by the irritating loud ring through the room. He thinks to investigate it, but he should probably answer the doorbell first. He happily welcomes whoever may be at his gates. He peeks the door open, staring straight ahead. 

“Uhhh.. Hello?”

“Huh? Who said that?”

Kinger's head frantically turns his head at the darkness outside.

“Uh- I came–”

“Shh, careful Pomni. I heard someone say hello.”

“It..  was me.”

“Oh! Hi Pomni!”

She peeks behind him at his dormitory. The lights color it to look pink, there's a giant pillow fort and bugs are clearly scattered on the walls. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. While Kinger is dressed the same but in a slightly fancier fabric, Pomni is in plain blue linen pajamas. Confusing time period, she knows.

“Hey, um, Kinger.. I just wanted to check in. I heard a scream.”

“You did? Oh, well that may have been me. I remembered a really funny joke.”

“.. Right.”

“What are you doing up, Pomni?”

“.... Uhhmm…”

She hesitates and shrugs her shoulders. She isn't feeling very tired despite the hour. They don't necessarily need sleep, but most would be tired both mentally and physically by now. She is, but she's been feeling.. Restless. 

She'd knocked on Jax's door, trying to get them to talk considering how on edge they've been. All he really does is glance at her like she's scum for fighting against his facade. She would fight to pry more if his unusual reactiveness didn't have him pestering poor Gangle and Zooble more than ever. So she thought to talk. .. But he never answered. She feels guilty, because all he's been doing lately is avoiding her. After no response to her knocks, she began wandering the dormitory balconies.

“I guess I just can't sleep.”

“Oh, well I have just the thing for you! Would you like to come in?”

“Uhh.. Sure.”

She follows behind, figuring she might as well since she's here. She already can't sleep, and she'd walked all the way up to the second floor. Although her dormitory looks relatively the same, Kinger and Gangles have more.. Decor. There's a corkboard of a few weeks worth of anime portraits, a shelf of art supplies and magic wands. How did Gangle even know where to get all these things? And a giant pillow fort in the center with crawling bugs everywhere. She's careful to watch her feet. Kinger unexpectedly hands her an empty mug, pausing her tracks.

“Uh..”

“Here, take this for bedtime.”

“.. Thanks, Kinger.”

It's a deep blue with pink stars as the subject. She wonders why she hasn't found it in her own dorm yet. She takes careful steps around the place, first to the kitchen. She discreetly keeps the mug in her comically infinite pocket.

“Oh, do you want some soup for the road?”

Pomni raises an eyebrow as Kinger talks to her, looking at a potted plant. He then turns back to her, sounding cheerful.

“Oh, pardon my manners. Take whatever you like! We can store some in the fortress for a show.”

“Fortress?”

“Well, it wouldn't be a good sleepover if you slept outside. Come in! You're just in time to see my new insect collection from this adventure.”

Although she doesn't.. Completely understand some of Kinger's dialogue, she gets the general point. She doesn't recall agreeing to a sleepover, but it doesn't sound all that bad if it's just for a little while. And it's not like she doesn't enjoy Kinger's company. He may be one of the few people she feels she can trust in this expressively wacky-world. Kinger crawls into his fort, gesturing her in. Before she follows, she grabs a stray, silver cookie jar and cups it in her arms. 

“I've been working on expanding this place for days! .. Though insulation isn't my strong suit. We only have marshmallows.”

Pomni peeks her head in. Pink light seeps through the cracks of thin outer layer blankets, causing rays of light in Kinger’s little sanctuary. It looks beautiful. It vaguely resembles the sun simmering through water on a hot summer day. Kinger makes himself comfortable on his “chair” pillow and taps his finger where his chin would be.

“Hmm… Even though I'm in here, it's still missing something. Maybe it's missing a Pomni!”

A small smile creeps up her face at that remark. Cute, she'd almost think. She doesn't question it, but an idea clicks in her head. She hands Kinger the cookie jar and takes a step back.

“.. I think I have an idea, actually.”

“Ooh, you do?? Do you want me to turn around and count to ten?”

Pomni’s face scrunches to confusion, but she awkwardly nods her head.

“Uhhh.. Sure. You wait right there.”

Her feet carry her around the room where she thinks the lights may be. It's hard to tell with all the critters and handmade posters (made by both residents) on the walls, but it has its own familiar charm to it. She listens to the lightly muffled voice in the fort,

“You know, Pomni, I think this place is really starting to feel like home now. What could make it better?”

“I dunno.. I like it here.”

“Me too! I'm sure anything you have to add will be perfect. It's better to say grace than to not say anything at all.”

He muses to himself out loud, causing a little fond smile on her face. Concentrate, she has to think. Ah, there it is. The light switch. She reaches her hand out to flick it off, but she's interrupted.

“She would've liked you.”

“.. Huh?”

Halting her tracks, she cranks her head close to “too cartoonishly far”. She feels a strange pang of unfamiliarity as her shoes follow her head's direction.

“What do you mean?... Who?” 

“.. Who?”

She stares back at the distant uneven eyes in the fort, knowing exactly what he meant. She instinctively decides to not push him too hard, and for once not try to think about the faint ache in her heart. She turns her back and flicks off the light, the air feeling a bit heavier for her. The chess piece unbeknownst to this quietly yelps.

“Ah! Pomni! It's dark!”

“Huh? Wha– I thought you liked the dark?”

“I do! I'm celebrating.”

Quickly letting her guard fall, she awkwardly chuckles at the silly banter and carefully finds her way back to the middle of the room. She bends down and crawls into the fort, careful for her pajamas to not snug on anything.. Buggy. Green fireflies begin to buzz around the tent and show her the way. She seeks through the entrance, the inside comically way bigger than it was on the outside. The fort could almost be its own separate dormitory. There's a plethora of cushions to make up a giant bedroom. Kinger is sat at a “desk” with the cookie jar settled on it. Even in the dark, she can't help but admire the dedication he can put into every fortress he creates, even if it can't last forever in an adventure. Pomni sighs, grabs a cookie and sits herself up on the edge of the strangely fancy pillow-bed.

“Hey Kinger.”

The lack of response tells her he still needs a moment. Patiently, after chomping away on her cookie, she plops herself down on the edge of the bed, now sprawled out on it. It's comfortable, far more soft compared to the bed in her dormitory.

“How did you get all this stuff?”

“Hm? Oh, Caine lets you buy it!”

Hm. She'd never thought to use any of the strange gems Caine shovels into their pockets every pass they get. That and she doesn't really know how to access them. He put them in “her wallet” but it disappeared out of thin air. She lets the exhausted air leave her lungs and she stares up at a dark, plush ceiling. After long silence and a snack eaten, she feels a strange little creature crawl up her hand. She thinks to shake it off, but she refrains her slight disgust at the feeling of intricate legs on her finger. She lifts her head and looks at her hand.

A cute little white caterpillar has crawled into her palm comfortably. The bugs are nothing realistic, they appear more like a children's book interpretation. It's actually pretty cute. She stares at it, intrigued.

“I think she likes you.”

Her eyes snap back to the voice in the dark. His tone is much softer and deep, causing a little shiver whenever she hears it unexpectedly. It's far from a bad thing.

“Hi Kinger.”

“Hey, Pomni.”

The fleeting glow of green shows her the outline of a king she's oh so familiar with. She sits back up properly to avoid hogging the entire bed. The caterpillar twirls around her hand, like a small fuzzy snake.

“What's this little guy?”

She scoots to invite some room on the bed. Kinger takes the offer and sits beside her, looking at the hand she reaches out to him.

“Oh, that's a wooly bear caterpillar. There's a good variety of terrains in this place. In those dewdrop meadows you wouldn't believe how many I saw.”

“Hm.”

Pomni stares at the fuzzy creature exploring her hand with a little smile. Before she entered the circus, she knew nearly nothing about bugs. But it's safe to say that by now she can leave with a good chunk of knowledge. Pomni scoots up and sits criss crossed, giggling a little as the caterpillar crawls up her arm. Kinger leans his head.

“Can you guess what she'll turn into soon?”

“A.. moth, I'm guessing?”

She thinks back to some of his past oversharing.

“.. Tiger moth?”

“Mhm, a virginian tiger moth. It's nice you remembered that.”

The caterpillar rests itself on Pomni’s shoulder, its comical eyes twinkling at the faint glows from the room, but the little critter pulls at her squared hair a little. She tries not to move to make it comfortable, but she winces. Kinger blinks a few times and instinctively reaches his hand before stopping himself.

“- Oh, sorry.”

Pomni’s eyes scan over the gloved hand by her face. They soften.

“No, it's fine. Go ahead.”

A little surprised but nonetheless appreciated, Kinger carefully smoothes her hair back, as if brushing her hair. She sighs, lifting her head now untangled once more as the caterpillar sleeps.

“Thanks.”

She softly smiles. He pulls his hand back, sitting close beside her. Not ever close enough to touch, but enough for both of them to feel comforted by it in their own ways. She hadn't realized she'd been staring at him for a while until she shuffles her legs awkwardly.

“Sorry, I think I'm a bit tired.”

“Hm? Oh, you can sleep here if you want.”

Something about that sentence makes butterflies swerve in her stomach. Wow, she's even thinking about this metaphorically. 

“Would that be okay?”

“Of course it would.”

Carefully, Pomnis lies on her back as she did before, only less hogging than before. The caterpillar is still sound asleep, and the feeling of soft cushions make her realize how unbelievably tired she's actually been. Kinger lies beside her, both of them staring upward at nothing in particular. She closes her eyes.

“How have you been holding up?”

“Same as always. I'm resilient. How about you, Pomni?”

“... Well..”

She hesitates and flutters her eyes open. She's used to being emotionally open, but it's rare to be on the reciprocating end of something deep. The quiet look she can see in the corner of her eye makes it feel a little easier.

“I got in a fight with Jax. I think you knew that.”

Pomni sighs again. 

“I can't really find a way to talk to him. I failed right before I came here, actually. I guess I'm just tired of.. Lots of stuff.”

“Jax is, Well.. He's not as in touch with himself as you, you know. It's okay to feel frustrated.”

Gently, Pomni holds the sleeping caterpillar from her shoulder to the crook of her jester hat. It sleeps snugly there. Huh. My hands are glowing. She turns onto her side and smiles at Kinger.

“Thanks. I'll be fine, don't worry.”

“I know you will.”

Something itches at Pomni. It looks like Kinger is sad about something. Maybe not upset, but melancholic. 

“You still look a little tired yourself… Want to.. talk? about it?”

“Heh. You read people like a book, you know that Pomni?”

“I've gotten that before.”

He turns his head to the ceiling. The buzzing of fireflies resembles stars under the dark walls they're trapped under. 

“I've been missing someone recently. I guess this place can take me back sometimes.”

“Oh, you mean..”

“Yeah. One of Caine's first adventures had the same concept. The map was completely different, but I remember me and her exploring together. She had a knack for finding secret glitches through things when Caine was still learning. We'd sneak to this spot on top of the roof and lie there, talking.”

“That sounds sweet.”

“Even if we had nothing to talk about, she always found something so we could hear each other's voice. It's just bittersweet in this place. I never knew the last time I'd hold her.”

Pomni frowns. She may not know his exact extent, but she knows how much it hurts to lose someone. Especially someone he'd been so undeniably in love with for who knows how long. But she hopes her being there is enough. She reaches out her hand. Kinger turns his head to her, and she can tell he's smiling. Although it's hesitant and awkward, she rests it on his shoulder and they stare at each other.

“Do you.. still want to be held?”

A bit quicker than expected, Kinger pulls her into a loose, gentle hug. Surprisingly, it feels really nice despite her usual dislike for them.

“Thank you, Pomni.”

Ragatha yawns, her eyes barely opening. And as fast as she regains consciousness she feels instant regret. I- I fell asleep?! Crud, crud! Stupid! Her panicked jolts cease when she finds Gangle sound asleep against her shoulder. She sighs, though she's unsure if it's relief or irritation. The laptop is still open, the last page nearly finished. She must have dozed off before she could click the last one finished. Ignoring her headache, she shifts Gangle against her chest so she can type with both her hands and finish what she started. It's not easy to type with no intricate fingers, but she's made it this far. She finds herself strangely intrigued by the glowing out of her hands, but she brushes it off as insomniac hallucinations.

She flinches when she hears distant bickering. She cranks her head to hear two irritated voices, mouthing off at each other. She spots Zooble, dressed in strange pajamas and Jax.. Glittery? With an ice pack on his head. She hopes neither of them spot her as they walk back to their room.

“You had it coming.”

“Had it nothing. Just open this stupid door so I can go to bed.”

Ragatha peeks at the open balcony above her. She raises an eyebrow as she watches Zooble bend down and take a key from under the rug in front of their dormitory. She's even more surprised to see Jax astounded by this with his mouth hung open.

A loud, bleeped curse shakes the entire castle.

Caine circles in his office. Or better yet, he paces endlessly with pent up excitement. 

“They'll love this one for sure, Bubble! They've been begging for an exit for who knows how long! It needs to be perfect.”

He tinkers with a floating orb, resembling a snowglobe. In it lies a previous adventure in a spooky mansion. He lays it out onto its stand with a smile.

“That way, they'll get to look back on all the good times they've had together! What's more beautiful than the rosy filter of memories?”

Bubble makes an incoherent noise. 

“Eeexactly!! But if we want this to be a real deal my dear friend, then we have to make sure this entire office is neat and tidy! I can't have them all come into my office and think it's a mess! What kind of host would I be if it's not fancy?”

He chuckles and gently clinks a second orb onto the stand. This time, a snowy pasture with mountains and a cabin. 

“Ahh, does that ever look swell. I hope my little tweeting tatortots know how much work I've put into this little surprise. … A lot!”

He claps his hands together and floats back to inspect the arrangement of globes.

“Bubble! How even is this?”

“As even as I am ############## –”

Caine pops him with his baton.

“- Well, that's excellent!”

Slowly, Caine settles back into his chair, admiring his newly organized office. He sighs and rests his chin (technically his bottom gums) into his palm.

“Surely they'll love this one. .. I mean, they can't hate every adventure I make, right? Of course not!”

Bubble floats around in the background behind him and chugs maple syrup from a dispenser.

“I mean.. They hated the last ones, didn't they? They must not like my revamped “High Royals Castle” either.. But fret not my dear Bubble!”

He points his baton to Bubble, now away from the dispenser and nodding in agreement. The second Caine turns his back, Bubble begins drinking it again.

“This one is sure to make them all happy. I just know it! In fact, they'll be so touched that I know they'll pick the right option and stay with me! .. – I mean us. Us.”

Caine's enthusiastic tone wavers and he glances to the globes.

“.. Speaking of.. They haven't completed my new adventure in weeks. They're not stuck, are they? What do you think, Bubble?”

“Aaahhhlllehhhhhhhaughhh”

“- You're right! I should check up on their progress! They may just be stuck on one last step!”

Caine swishes an entrance out of thin air and flies through the gleaming portal. He peeks around the castle tinted by darkness and confetti. 

“Hello myy slippery skittles! It appears you've all been taking a teency amount more time than I..”

Caine's eccentrics fall flat when he sees only Ragatha and Gangle. They're both dead asleep on each other at a table with a laptop still bright and open. He quietly floats over to see both of their hands faint with magic.

Wowzers! Looks like these two have done their part! Isn't that the cutest sight?..

Caine looks over to see Bubble hadn't followed him. He shrugs it off.

Well, this memory can't be left to forget! He pulls out a Polaroid camera behind his back out of nowhere and takes a picture of the two. He smiles and swerves through the castle to look for the other remaining humans. He sneaks over to see Jax and Zooble in the spa room. Aw, and Jax is sleeping too! How adorable!

Jax is unconscious and lying on the bench in the spa, a fluffy towel as a pillow. Zooble dries themselves off across from him, looking content about something. Caine gleams at the sight. Wow, these two have that magic as well! 

He takes a second picture of the two residents, unbeknownst to him. Last but not least, he swifts away before Zooble can see him and glides his way to find Pomni and Kinger.

Glitching through the map, he peeks his head through the door and sees the two of them soundly asleep as well, cuddling each other. Awwee! Well, it looks like they're really bad at it because they're so far away from each other. But nonetheless Caine is touched his adventure has been so perfect for once. With all this magic, I wonder why they haven't opened the portal yet?.. He gasps.

They must love this adventure so much they've been spending time here until I show up to see them open the portal!!  He could shed a tear at the sight. He takes one last picture, now leaving him with three happy memories to hang in his office.

Of course, he's not in any of them. 

But that just seems to be the way they have fun. He tries to come to terms with that and sneakily makes his way home. He dives into his portal, eccentric and beaming.

“Bubble! You won't believe what happened!...”

His flamboyant cheer dies at the sight of Bubble sleeping on the floor and all his maple syrup empty.

“Bubble!! That was the model for the candy canyon kingdom sequel! Bad!”

He raises his Baton, but nothing comes of it. Oh, who is he kidding. It's kind of cute. Caine takes out the Polaroid camera and hovers it in the air, snapping a picture of himself and Bubble. He could've sworn he heard a distant curse, but he ignores it.