Chapter Text
Zooble crossed off another day on their calendar. Today would be the two hundred and forty-third day since they'd awoken from the circus.
The bus was crowded, which was normal for their new life—well, not new. To everyone but them, they hadn't been gone at all: they'd simply ventured into another abandoned building, and had come out an entirely different person.
They had moved, changed jobs, left the people they used to know behind, but they still weren't used to being free.
The bus slowed to a stop. They stepped out onto the sidewalk, bumping into people on their way towards their work. Their body was so… different now. They hadn't gotten used to it even in all the time they'd had it back.
They shouldered the door of their retail job open. The work wasn't too bad—the place matched their interests pretty well—but it was still annoying needing money. Today's setup was the same as every other day's; they turned the lights on, shut the alarm off, and started the background music. Soon enough, their coworkers clocked in, followed by the usual crowd of customers.
People went through to the register, they made small talk when necessary, and then they would leave. A normal cycle for a normal day.
That is, until someone caught their eye. A girl in a red hoodie stood in the back corner, hiding behind a display. Something about her was oddly familiar to Zooble. She stood nervously, with a curled-up kind of posture, and her eyes darted between t-shirts and merchandise, as if she was looking for an opportunity to grab them without being noticed.
With nothing better to do, they crossed the room to where she stood, wondering if they could be of some help.
"You finding everything alright?" They asked, waving lazily.
She flinched away, surprised by their sudden appearance. "Oh—uhm, yes! Thank you!" An awkward smile spread across her face, and she bowed her head.
That voice was one that they recognized instantly. It was Gangle's; it's pitch, it's tone, it's shakiness. Unquestionably, that was her voice. They stood still for a second too long. Their slow efforts to convince themselves that no one else in the circus had been real shattered instantly, something that surely showed on their face.
They went back behind the register, hoping that they hadn't scared her. Perhaps, they reasoned, they'd only heard Gangle's voice because that's what they wanted to hear. There were many reasons, none of which logically involved Gangle being here, in the same room as them, exchanging words with each other again.
Checking someone's items out, they scanned the room for her again. She held a blind box and a hoodie. The items did look like something Gangle would like, but they might be reaching at this point—many people who visited the store liked those kind of things.
They continued beeping products through the register. Probably-not-Gangle stepped into the aisle soon enough, basket full of items.
"Big fan of this character, huh?" They quipped as she stepped up to them, trying to make small talk. Her pile of items assured them that any conversation they might start would have time to run course.
She giggled. "Ah, well, I love whole franchise really!" She glanced at a plush of the pink-haired character. "She is my favorite though," she admitted.
They nodded. Her pile of items had been scanned. "Hope to see you again soon," they waved as she picked the bag up.
She looked down sheepishly, replying in a quick "You too!" Before rushing out of the doors.
Zooble leaned back in their chair. She really did remind them of Gangle. They could've sworn that they'd seen that character in one of her sketchbooks, plus her mannerisms were similar… but it couldn't be her, right?
What are the chances that two circus members would even be living in the same place—let alone meeting each other? The chances were too low for them to justify.
Even though she was certainly not Gangle, she still seemed nice enough to be around. Hopefully, they wished, she would come back.