Work Text:
Ticket Taker's POV (Current Day in The Freak Circus Universe)
[As with all my stories, none of this writing is final and it is subject to change frequently!]
Ticket Taker yawned under his breath, about ready to just collapse in his bed, but not quite yet. He had one last thing to do for the night before he crashed onto his bed. Jester pranced into the dark blue tent and seated themselves in front of Ticket Taker politely.
"I can tell... you're stressed," Jester openly admitted to the eldest circus member without twisting around, who scowled at the back of purple monster's head.
"Don't look into it," Ticket Taker grumbled to himself, sliding out a navy blue hairbrush bought exactly for the reason the duo was there, which was to brush Jester's hair.
He gently glided the brush through Jester's long, violet hair. Jester's posture loosened at the action, and a reflexive, leisurely purr rippled out from their throat before they could stop it. Ticket Taker paused at the feline-like sound, closing his eyes like he was questioning all his life choices up to that point.
"I'm sorry, but, did you... just- purr?" The completely heterochromic-eyed beast inquired the other.
Jester quickly smacked their clawed gloves over their mouth, white mask tinting red, "Oh god, I did, I'm so sorry-" the words were muffled beneath their claws.
"Shut up. Just let me brush your hair," Ticket Taker snapped firmly in return.
While it was aimed to sound intimidating, it came out more like fond exasperation from a close friend.
Jester snickered but obeyed regardless, stretching their words out, "Okay, okay! Yes, sir."
Ticket Taker continued to drift the navy hairbrush through Jester's mauve-colored hair, unspeaking.
Jester's clawed gloves dropped from their mouth, settling on their lap. Their purple eyes fluttered briefly and another purr escaped from their mouth like a forbidden secret. Ticket Taker rolled his eyes in mild annoyance, but did not ask any further questions. Jester's violet forked tongue subtly peeked out from between their sharp teeth and did a blep.
Ticket Taker leaned forward to examine the other creature, "You are... sticking your tongue out. What- what is this?" He raised a brow.
"Bl... Blepping..." Jester slurred out, eyes shut, and slowly leaning to the side.
Ticket Taker realized what was occurring and swiftly wrapped his arms around their middle chest area, preventing them from flopping over onto the dirt floor.
He observed for a few moments, wanting to confirm his theory was right. Jester's breathing had slowed down significantly, they snored every once in a while, and their limps were mostly heavy and drooping. Yeah, Ticket Taker could confirm that Jester was, in fact, asleep.
Ticket Taker shook his head in disbelief, "Amazing, you manage to fall asleep while I brush your hair. I don't know if I should be concerned or impressed, perhaps both is accurate. Another night in the circus, I suppose..."
The End :D