Chapter Text
Jax is seen standing outside Ribbit’s door. Jax is slumped over nervously, eyes in the shape of small squares jotting around erratically. They raise their hand to the door, unable to hold still, and they…
…they knock on the door. God, finally.
The seconds pass slowly as Ribbit walks over to open the door. Jax contemplates leaving, but their mind is shifting around too rapidly to settle on the idea of going away anymore. They’ve already knocked, they’ve already decided. It’s done. It’s time.
Ribbit opens the door. Her eyes widen as she notices who’s there.
“Oh, hi…” she says. “Um…”
Jax stands still, steady for just a moment. “I’m not ready to talk.”
“That’s okay.”
Jax walks past Ribbit into her room, and falls back into her bed. Ribbit walks over to them, closing the door behind her. She sits down on the bed next to Jax.
Jax looks up at the stars shining on the ceiling, currently set to display a variety of pinks and purples. “I’m so sorry,” they say. “I’m, so, so [bleep]ing sorry.” They sit up and lean over to hug Ribbit, collapsing into her arms. “I don’t know what’s going on,” they mumble into Ribbit’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Ribbit looks down at Jax. They look even more lost and confused than they were when they first entered the circus, and they still found it in them to confide in Ribbit. She tears up at the sight of Jax’s trembling body.
“I’m glad you came back to me,” she says, massaging Jax’s back. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I’m sorry for prying.”
Jax sniffs. “I don’t know why I don’t trust you. I mean, I do trust you. I trust you more than anyone.”
“Maybe you don’t trust yourself.”
Jax clings onto Ribbit with all their strength. “I need you,” they sob. “Don’t let me push you away. You’re all I have.”
“Jax.”
Jax pulls themself out of the hug and holds onto Ribbit’s shoulders. They inhale sharply. “Call me Daisy.” They fall backwards onto the bed and bury their head under a pillow.
Ribbit puts her hand over Daisy’s. “I like that.”
Daisy lowers the pillow down to her torso. She looks up at Ribbit and meets her eyes. “Thanks.” She sniffles and contorts her mouth into a weak smile. She looks back up to the stars on the ceiling.
Ribbit shifts over to lay down next to Daisy. At that moment, everything feels kind of okay.
“I’ve been such a jerk to you,” Daisy says. “Why don’t you hate me?”
“I don’t think you hurt me anymore than you hurt yourself.”
Daisy turns over to look at Ribbit. The star lights cast an ethereal pink glow on her face. She looks beautiful.
“How did you know?”
“That you’re hurting?” Ribbit turns towards Daisy. “Because you’re not acting like yourself.”
“No,” Daisy says. “How did you know that, like, you’re a woman?”
Ribbit looks back towards the ceiling, chuckling. “Eh, I don’t know. It just made more sense.”
Daisy gets lost in Ribbit’s face for a moment. “Do you, um… is that your only bow?” Daisy asks.
“Nah.” Ribbit stands up and walks towards her closet. “What color do you want?”
Daisy’s pupils almost shrink into nothingness as her eyelids widen. She sits up to see Ribbit. “I like the color you wear,” she squeaks out.
Ribbit grabs a reddish pink bow from her closet and walks over to Daisy’s side of the bed. She secures the bow onto the base of Daisy’s ear.
Daisy stands up and walks over to a mirror in the corner of the room, with Ribbit following behind. She drops down to kneel on the floor as she sobs at the reflection of herself. “I’m so confused,” she says.
Ribbit sits down on the floor next to Daisy. “It looks good on you.”
“It… does, I think.” Daisy looks over to Ribbit. “Do you think the others would care?” Daisy wipes the tears off her face.
“I’m… not sure, to be honest,” Ribbit says. “Only you and Kaufmo know that I’m a trans woman. I’m sure Kaufmo wouldn’t mind.”
“Ragatha’s a farm girl. She’s very, like, traditional. What would she think of this?”
“You don’t have to tell her.”
“I want her to accept me,” Daisy says, breaking into tears again.
“I know,” Ribbit says, grabbing onto both of Daisy’s hands. “What if… what if I come out to her to test the waters?”
“You’d be willing to do that for me?”
“I’m not super close with her, anyway. If things go south, at least I’ll still have you and Kaufmo.”
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
Ribbit sighs. “You know, I don’t want you to regret being honest again. If you change your mind about anything and decide to push me away again, I’m gonna be upset. I’m here for you.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to put yourself in danger!”
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe you should take some more time to figure out how you want to go about this. Just know, Daisy, I’m here if you need me.”
“Thank you.” Daisy wraps her arms around Ribbit again. “Thank you for everything.”