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Gangle didn’t tell Zooble much of anything from that day. All they know is that her and Jax went through a portal on an adventure. She hadn’t even mentioned the birthday thing.
(She smiled. And said it was fun.)
Zooble really wants to believe that. But they don’t. Because it’s still Jax at the end of the day. And this afternoon only solidified it. They saw what had happened in the corner of their eye.
Jax was panicking. And hard.
She hadn’t meant it- she didn’t even know what it was- she didn’t mean too!
She was in the corner of the main area, minding her own business (gangle told her it’d be nice to get out of her room.) mostly just standing awkwardly. She didn’t want to talk to anyone and she didn’t want to sit down either. She had been thinking about something, but what it was, she doesn’t really remember… maybe she wasn’t even thinking. She has been zoning out a lot lately.
Then there was a tap on her shoulder. And she turned. Startled. And she hadn’t meant to hit gangle it just kinda… happened. The touch was so sudden, and she had tried to push her off gently but gangle was so much closer then she thought and she hit her right in the face.
And then her face broke.
It literally FELL. And shattered on the floor- she feels like vomiting just remembering it. Gangle didn’t even care either?!! Well she DID. But it seemed more like an annoyance, and Jax TRIED to apologize, but she just… shrugged her off. Obviously upset too. She was crying. And she told her she was going to hang out with Zooble.
And she had walked away.
Now in Jax’s hand is her… face? Mask thing. The shards of it anyways.
She has all the pieces, luckily unlike with real glass all of the cuts are just big chunks, so they were easy to put back together like a puzzle.
She has glue. She has a lot of supplies like this in her room (there’s a few discarded scrap books. That must’ve been why she had the supplies). Her hand shakes as she glues it together.
She was so stupid. If she just took two seconds to think about who it could be before trying to push them off… she’s always been dumb.
She tries her best to hold the last part in place. The glue is noticeable, but the dried bits seemed to be staying together well.
Is this even enough. Can gangle even put this face back on after it’s broken? She’s glad gangle had another face under this one. Did she always?
Would gangle even care if she fixed it.
Jax likes her. She can’t deny that. It’s not like the other options are better, but she’s the coolest one here. (Pomni sucks. She still hates pomni. She doesn’t care for ragatha or kinger. Caine is okay. And Zooble… ugh.) but gangle was the only GOOD one.
They got along. But at times like this she worries. Just how long until their friendship breaks. Gangle and her barely hang out in front of the others. They only really meet up during night time. It’s some of her favorite moments in the circus. Just drawing together. But everyone else has a place in the circus. Pomni and ragatha and kinger and Caine all hang out together. Zooble and gangle are so close.
She feels weird. Like she doesn’t belong. What is she supposed to even do here?
She’ll start with bringing gangle the face back. That’s all she can do,
She takes it in her hands. Everyone should be in their room by now… maybe if she’s lucky they’ll get to hang out before sleeping. (Though she wouldn’t want to bet on it.)
She makes the familiar walk down the hallway to gangles door.
Is this weird? Was there a reason gangle didn’t pick up these pieces? Was it like snake skin? Or shedding hair?
She looks at the face in her hands. It definitely looks weird.
She frowns.
Why is this so complicated.
Riley would know what to do. Riley never cared about anything, no that’s not true. They always cared, they just… did it effortlessly.
She could tell them whatever, and they’d always respond in the way she needed. Even if it was just a simple ‘that sucks.’… that doesn’t mean she HAD told them everything though… maybe she should’ve.
God all of this was so stupid! What in the world is she doing?! She’s a cartoon rabbit, who just glued someone’s face back together??! She shouldn’t have to be worrying about dumb cartoon looking people hating her! She should be delivering mail!!! Or practicing piano!! Or paying taxes or something???
None of this felt real. She just wanted to skip to the day she’d wake up.
She placed the glass face on the floor. It’s stupid. Gangle doesn’t even want it. She’s sure she doesn’t.
She sits at the side of Zoobles door. She’s been here before. And she doesn’t feel any less immature than she did then.
She feels like she’s going in circles. And everytime it goes back to one thought. She just wants Riley.
Zooble can’t sleep. They have been having some trouble recently. (Gangle stopped showing up in the night sometimes too. Zooble doesn’t think this is the cause of it per se, they’ve had issues like this even when gangles here. But it’s definitely caused their brain to over think.) it’s not like gangle would always show up every night. She’s just has been slowing down visits.
But right now they hear her. Outside of their door. Light footsteps, a pause, and then shuffling.
She’s not knocking. And they wait patiently for her to reach out. But she doesn’t.
Eventually the shuffling stops, but there’s no more footsteps… is gangle… still there?
Maybe she needs help, but is too scared to ask for it.
They could imagine it too well. Gangle sitting outside her door. Crying because some asshole broke her comedy mask.
And before they knew it they were standing up, already halfway to their door.
They couldn’t leave gangle out there.
They open the door.
Oh. It’s Jax.
Again.
“What are you doing.”
He jumps.
“It’s not your problem.” He speaks, not even bothering to look up at them.
Next to him is gangles comedy mask. The one he broke earlier. It’s glued back together, they can still see the cracks.
Oh.
“Did you fix it.” Zoobles almost taken aback by their own words, they ready themselves to be disappointed by the answer…. But
He nods.
“Is that dumb? I don’t know how it works.”
Oh. “No. That’s- that’s nice. You should give it to her.” It is. Really nice actually. Their Jax wouldn’t have done that.
“I mean she just left it so I don’t know…” he mumbles.
“Well normally Caine gives her another, I guess she can make her own too.” Both options work, both is what gangle normally does “but I think it’ll mean a lot if you give her it.”
Jax looks at her with big eyes. “Okay… thanks.”
Weird. They almost don’t want to close their door. But they do anyways.
It feels like a trick. It has to be. Jax has been yelling at ragatha and pomni, standoffish towards most other people, and breaking gangles mask. He hasn’t changed. Even if they want him too. If anything this could be a prank. They could close their door and leave gangle to deal with the repercussions of that.
So they put their head against the door. They hear Jax knock.
Gangles door opens.
“Jax..?” She says.
“I uh.” And then silence.
“You fixed it.” Gangle says.
“Yeah. Sorry I didn’t- I didn’t mean to hit you or break it- I didn’t even know your face did that- sorry”
And gangle laughs, softly “it’s okay. Thank you for fixing it.”
There’s quiet.
“Do you want to come inside.”
No response. Maybe Jax shook his head, or nodded. Zooble wouldn’t know.
It sounds like it went well.
And they breathe a sigh of relief.
Maybe if gangle and Jax are getting along that’s not so bad. (They just hope Jax really has changed… why is it so hard to trust him?)