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Jax was acting different.
Everyone knew it- he knew it. There was a deep-set paranoia in the pit of his stomach, whilst his head was floating in the clouds. He was acting like a teen swooning over his dreamboat romance. He couldn’t get her out of his head. She was like gum stuck to his purple hair.
He walked into the dining hall, bright and early. He was going to get a seat beside her- just like yesterday. A nice ritual to start his day. He turned his head and halted as he saw Gangle where he usually sat.
Who did she think she was? That was his seat, god damn it! He pretended to walk to the serveware behind her, as if she hadn’t swooped in right under his nose. He had to be quick, and he had to make sure Ragatha saw him do it.
He leaned over as he knocked the back of Gangle’s seat with his foot, tipping the chair flat on the floor. She tumbled, cracked her comedy mask, and cried in the span of three seconds. He pulled the chair beside her to the space he’d made for himself, and sat on it with his arms on the rail. It creaked slightly in annoyance.
“Mornin’ Raggy.” He murmured, putting on a sleepy facade. He even gave a less-than-convincing yawn to match. She didn’t look up from her plate. She barely acknowledged him at all. He was supposedly less interesting than the poorly rendered eggs and toast on her plate. He pretended this didn’t bother him.
“Oh, um, morning Jax.” She responded, letting out a slight breath at the end of her sentence like she always did. She paused for a moment, noticing the commotion by Jax’s feet. He gave her a sinister grin and ignored it. “Oh my, Gangle, are you alright?”
Her tone was gentle, and she was up and out of her seat in seconds. She crouched down, picking up the pieces of porcelain in her mitts. The sharp edges snagged at her seams. She shifted as she helped up Gangle: The ribbons gave an appreciative smile through her black inked tears.
Jax’s nose twitched in disgust. She’d completely blown past him, for the crybaby of all people. His foot thumped against the hard ceramic floor in annoyance- an absentminded quirk he figured came from his more animalistic side. She breezed right past him- he swore his anger was justified. Ragatha looked at Gangle with such sympathy and love. Why wouldn’t she ever look at him like that?
“Here, let’s go find Caine, okay?” Ragatha purred, her tongue clicking to the backs of her teeth as she spoke. Gangle gave a nod, carrying the other part of the shattered mask in her hands- or the circus’ approximation of hands.
Now he was alone. He was alone, and it wasn’t even past breakfast. He was hoping Ragatha would curse him out. She’d call him immature or unbelievable, but they’d calm down and she’d come to his door sulking out an apology later. He could act like he was actually hurt- which, by all definitions he wasn’t, and Ragatha would give him special attention. It was worth it. But Ragatha didn’t get angry at him- she barely even acknowledged him. He wasn’t going to get that special treatment, so, why bother? Go big or go home.
“That’s not going to work, Jax.” A sardonic voice rang clear. He’d been so lost in his head he hadn’t noticed the jumble of a toybox sitting down beside him in Ragatha’s seat. “I know what you’re doing.”
Oh how Jax hated Zooble and their phlegmatic way of inserting their opinion into everything.
“Doing what? She was in my way.” Jax leaned back on his chair, tipping it to balance on just two feet. He kept his balance steady by tucking his foot under the table. He swayed to and fro.
“What you’re doing with Ragatha. I honestly don’t care what you two get up to in your own time, but roping Gangle in makes you a [$#!%]wad.”
“You wound me, Zooble.” He sweetened his voice, batting his non-existent eyelashes. The chair whined as he swung a little faster- he loved getting on Zooble’s nerves. They gave him a disgusted look, before turning back to their plate of breakfast they’d carried over. Jax gave proud little puffs of laughter. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh really?” Zooble heightened their voice, clearly not buying into his flimsy excuse. They knew what he was doing- everyone did. The writing was on the walls. “So you aren’t acting like a child because you have a thing for her?”
“What? For Gangle?” Jax made sure to purposefully misinterpret them. He knew it would get under their plastic skin: He knew they had a thing for Gangle. “Psh, you wish.”
“So you don’t have a thing for Ragatha then?”
He stopped swinging- it had taken him off guard. That was all it took for confirmation in Zooble’s eyes. He hesitated and they saw right through.
“Holy [$#!%], you actually do.” They sat up, which was slightly difficult to do with their body. The miss-match pieces all groaned as they did. Their voice threatened to break into a laugh, wobbling a bit. “Oh my [$#!%], it’s so obvious.”
“Shut up.” Jax growled. He was practically seething, gritting his spiked yellow teeth in warning. Nothing denied it, however. Zooble almost fell out of their chair laughing. Jax shot up, letting the seat clatter behind him. He didn’t care if it broke. His cheeks were surging red with sheer humiliation. For the first time since he joined here, he was at an absolute loss for words at the worst of times too. He couldn’t think of a funny quip or a snarky remark. The humiliation only made him angrier.
Zooble hadn’t seen him this pissed in a long time.
He stormed out of the dining hall, arms crossed and gripping his smooth fur. He made sure to stuff plenty of Zooble-related torture ideas into the suggestion box. Make Zooble a dartboard and we all take turns throwing increasingly more dangerous objects at them. Let’s have an adventure where Zooble gets an anvil dropped on their head and falls off a cliff. In our next adventure can we electrocute Zooble?
Jax stuffed them into the box, but didn’t feel much better. He reached for the paper and pen provided once again, about to scribble something about them getting flattened by a steamroller when he was interrupted by the second last person he wanted to see today.
“Oh Jax! You rambunctious rabbitoid! You’re just who I wanted to find stuffing pages upon pages of horrific torture on your fellow cast members in the suggestion box!”
He would’ve snapped the pen in two if he could. He plastered a fake toothy smile on his face, and turned his head slowly.
“Mm, yea, I am.” He grimaced, widening his smile. “What do you want?”
“Well, my lovely lagomorph!” He picked him off the ground, placing a hand on his back as he spun him around. “I need your expert opinion! You see, I’ve been planning this spectacular adventure for everyone here! Now, I know you all in and out, but I need some insider knowledge! And who better to ask than you, my superstar!” He doesn’t have a mouth, but he still manages to give a smile.
“Uh-huh.”
“You see, I’ve been slaving over my newest adventure. I realise what they’ve been missing all along.”
“Violenc-”
“Romance! Oh, my dear Jax, I’ve been neglecting a basic human need for all of you! You see, I don’t like to spoil my incomplete works, but this could be my best one yet! It just needs a little .. nudge! Now, don’t be shy- Who would you say our dear Ragatha might marry?”
Jax stopped, staring in slight horror. His eyebrows creased. Scratch earlier, now he was actually at a loss for words. What the hell was this Ringmaster trying to get himself into? His mouth stayed agape, but nothing came out.
“See, I wouldn't want to cause any unnecessary feelings between anyone here, so it would have to be an NPC, surely! So, Jax, what NPC would you say is her type?"
He had to be messing with him. There was no way he actually asked him that.
"I decided to pick from an array of possible male suitors! Then I realised, it was limiting me to just one gender. So I included female suitors as well! You know our dear Ragatha the best, so you'd know who her true love must be!"
Caine let go of Jax, who didn't fall, as he presented a whiteboard of options. Some were tame, like that candy princess or baroness who'd tied him up. Others were.. orbsman.
"Is that the Gloink Queen?"
"Well spotted, yes, I indeed considered the Gloink Queen as a suitable candidate! However, I discovered right after, that her and bubble were actually going steady!"
Way too much information. He felt his whole face scrunch up at the mere idea. He didn't even want to begin to think how it would work between them.
"So, who do YOU think would fit our dolly dearest best?" Caine spun the chart around a few times in anticipation. It swung from a few NPCs to the evil big tops. Ironically, he was sure he caught sight of disappearing guy too. He shook his head.
The truth was, he didn't really think any of them suited Ragatha. No, it certainly wasn't a jealousy thing. She just never seemed authentic around them. She always put up a cheery front. They wouldn't make her happy. Not like she was with him. He couldn't stand the thought of her with someone else.
Then he stopped for a second, staring at Caine. Was he actually thinking this through? It was Caine! He'd believe anything he said. For all he cared, he could tell him that Ragatha had a thing for marrying giant centipedes and he'd do it.
He must've taken too long for Caine's liking, because he disappeared away the board and crossed his arm. He tapped at the top of his cane.
"So...?" For all the awful things Jax could call Caine, impatient would be near the top. He seemed to need constant stimulation. Jax once again hesitated. That was all it took.
"Oh.. I see.." Caine slowly lowered down, making Jax follow suit. He kept his eyes on the ground. "The truth is, Jax. I was worried about your little jealousy issue with Ragatha, and I-"
He did not have a jealousy issue. He mentally interjected.
"I just thought this could maybe get your mind off it. But no! I've learnt my lesson now! I can't separate true love! My, Jax! You're a genius! Surely you two would make a specular bride and groom!" Caine spun his cane around in delight, tossing it from arm to arm. "Yes! A beautiful adventure, "Hoppily Married"!"
Jax cringed at the pun. Today couldn't get worse, even if he tried. Even if Caine sent him on an adventure in a corn maze, he didn't think it could top the deep-set embarrassment he felt now. The Ringmaster babbled to himself as he turned away from him. Jax wasted no time getting out of there.
He stomped over the checkered floor, thankful for once that the padding on his feet dulled his footsteps. Going back to his room was far too risky. He swallowed his pride, and crouched down beside Kinger's pillow fort.
"Room for one more?"
He didn't want for a response, rather slipped inside. His head hit the roof, and he had to crouch to fit his legs. It certainly wasn't built for him. Kinger looked at him strangely, but said nothing. An awkward silence drenched them both. Maybe it was for the best.
Jax sighed, settling down in the darkness. It was a much needed break from the chaos outside. Things would settle down, and he'd have the doll to himself later. Maybe she'd come to check on him later and stop paying so much attention to everyone but him. He sighed deep and heavy.
Kinger only seemed to actually acknowledge him now.
“Oh, hi Jax!" He beamed. "How’s your crush on Ragatha?”