Work Text:
The main cast sat around the circus together. Today was abnormally quiet, everyone was engaging in casual conversation. Even Zooble, who was normally an enormous grumpy-pants, seemed somewhat content. They all sat in a comfortable silence, the only sound was the faint scrape of a pencil; Gangle was drawing some more of that "anime" stuff she liked. All was calm—
Then Caine showed up.
"SALUTATIONS MY SUPER SLIMY SUGAR SIFTERS! I'VE GOT A SUPERB ADVENTURE FOR YOU ALL TODAY!" He shouted, despite the volume being unnecessary when the circus was this quiet.
The groups smiles faltered. It wasn't like they didn't like Caine, well, Zooble wasn't exactly the biggest fan of him, but still, but they were all getting tired of his adventures. Ragatha couldn't help but feel bad for him. She knew Caine would spend hours perfecting the little details in the map or making the NPCs more immersive, so when none of the others seemed to be interested by Caines sudden exclamation, she decided to speak up, hoping that having at least one circus member actually care would make him feel better.
"Wow Caine! What're we going to do this time?" The ragdoll asked, voice dripping with forced positivity that even a two year old tell was fake.
Apparently, Caine must have forgotten to install some emotional intelligence into his system.
His eyes lit up and he clasped his hands together.
"I'M GLAD YOU ASKED, RAGATHA! THIS TIME IVE DECIDED TO MAKE A TALENT SHOW, WHERE EVEYONE GETS TO PREFORM!" He shouted, snapping his fingers and creating a portal to what looked to be a theatre. There was a stage that was much larger than necessary, some chairs surrounding it and a single spotlight shining on the centre of the stage. It looked oddly familiar.
Everyone walked through the portal and sat down in their seats.
"WELL, NOW THAT YOU'VE ALL SETTLED IN THERE, WHO'D LIKE TO GO FIRST?" Caine asked. His question was met with silence.
"HM, IT SEEMS THAT NOBODY WANTS TO PREFORM TODAY. OH WELL, I'LL HAVE TO LET SOMEONE DECIDE FOR YOU!" He said, Bubble suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
"BUBBLE! WHICH ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BONSAI BUSHES DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAVE A GO?" Caine asked his translucent assistant.
"I think the %@!*%%$ rabbit should go first!" Bubble replied, nodding in Jax's direction.
Jax's eyes widened. He was not going to humiliate himself, on stage, with the whole circus watching him.
"Wha- there is no way I'm going up there!" He retorted. Caine pulled out a long piece of paper from his hat, squinting at the text that he'd made so tiny it was practically impossible to read.
"UH IT SAYS IN SECTION 697 SUBSECTION 395 THAT YOU MUST PARTICIPATE UNLESS YOU HAVE A VALID TEASON TO BE EXEMPT!" Caine informed the purple rabbit. Of course Caine had to have made an entire rulebook. Jax sighed, before asking:
"Is not having talent a valid exemption?"
Ragatha's smile drooped a little. "Why do you think that? You have plenty of talent Jax!" She said, trying to raise his self-esteem.
"Right then Rags, if I'm talented, what even are my talents!?" Jax replied.
"W-well first of you're very good with guns—
" Jax cut her off with a snort.
"D'you really they'd let me on stage with guns?" He said.
"Well no, but you have other talents too! Like that one time you uh mentioned you could play piano-"
She was then cut off for a second time this conversation, but instead of Jax, it was Caine.
"OOOH PIANO! CLASSY, I LIKE IT! NOW, LETS SEE YOU PLAY!" He said, clicking his fingers to make a piano appear on the stage. Jax opened his mouth to protest, but couldn't speak when Bubble bit his ear and dragged him up to the stage, dropping him on the piano stool. His grip was surprisingly strong for a literal bubble.
Luckily there was some sheet music, becuase he'd completely forgotten the 5 songs he'd learned all that time ago.
His fingers clumsily and slowly hit they keys, and he quietly sang into the microphone.
"Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do, I'm half crazy all for the love of you,"
His voice was soft, soothing it hadn't been since he was seven. It was almost soothing, but of course, no one told him. Gangle had fallen asleep, Kinger stared into nothingness, probably thinking about his wife, and Zooble — despite not wanting to admit it — was impressed by his vocals.
Jax kept on singing, slowly gaining some more confidence in how he hit the keys and how his voice grew ever so slightly louder.
"It won't be a stylish marriage, i can't afford a carriage, but you'd look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built of two,"
He seemed to be getting the hang of it now, he seemed much more confident than he had when he first walked on that stage. He sounded like he was having much more fun singing now. "Dai-sy, Dai-sy, give me your answ-er do~"
Kinger thought back to his wife. She used to love this song. Back when they were young, slow dancing together at their wedding.
"There is a flow-er with-in my hea-rt, Dai-sy, Dai-sy,"
Oh, if only she was here to see this. If only, if only.