Chapter Text
○ In my opinion, what we saw in the show, the group doesn't really care, or seem to acknowledge the age gaps that much. As the only times it got brought up is the bar scene in ep 5, and a line from Kinger in episode 6.
○How the group learns about your age is going to be from Caine during his enthusiastic welcoming you into the circus. What will cause Caine to bring up your age is your form. The program accessing your mind file is most likely creating something from your childhood. A favourite toy or game. It'll be new, and different enough that Caine comments on it.
"Hang on now, haven't seen a body like this before." Caine comments as he cartoonishly spins you around. You become dizzy and depend on his grip, yet Caine lets go of you to pull out a file from the air behind his back. You drop to the ground whilst Caine thoughtfully hums, flipping through the pages.
"Oh, here's why! It seems you're the same age as Kinger! I like it! The more the merrier!" He tosses the paper into the air, and it turns into confetti. That slowly drifts in the air, and lands on your horror-struck face. Where the f@#$ are you.
○After that first moment, Caine wouldn't care about your age. It's from a place of being clueless about humans, and not understanding the importance of it. He's more focused on making a good impression, trying to impress you with his adventure, and making you enjoy your stay. To get one human to like him.
○The only one that truly acknowledges your age, and brings it up all the time is Jax. Yes, it is for his own twisted enjoyment. While he does occasionally pull jokes on Kinger as he's less resilient to them due to not being all there sometimes. There's something about someone new, the fresh meat. Who's still sane that drawls his attention to you.
○You're able to acknowledge these jokes. To get frustrated, annoyed, or angry enough to react at them. An unexpected dynamic for Jax, the 'funny one' to dive into. Maybe he gets to see if you’re the 'old one' archetype, or something just as fun. Expect to hear all the clichés, jokes on your hearing, if your knees hurt, and repeating Caine's instructions slowly whenever you get confused.
○Two people jump at your defence from Jax. The first, being Zooble. Who doesn’t hesitate to tell Jax off and encourages you to do the same.
"AH!" you yelp, falling to the ground with a groan. "Oops! Did I cause that?" an irritating voice drips with fake sympathy begins. You roll onto your back to glare at Jax standing above you. "Sorry! Hopefully your hip didn't break on impact." His smiles mockingly.
"Don't mind him, he's a d@#$." Zooble settles onto the couch next to you. Glaring at Jax's retreating figure. "Wait, how?" Zooble glanced towards you to see your wide eyes. "How did you do that?" You stare at them dumbfound, staring at the spot on their face where the censor appears. "You got a lot to learn." Zooble sighs.
○Zooble most likely had friends older than themselves, given that they work as a bartender and wouldn't see the age gap as a problem, or anything remarkable to comment on. More curious about how you appear in the cirucs like everyone is when a new member appears.
○They are open to a friendship with you, and wouldn't treat you differently — at first. Once warming up, Zooble would make light jokes of your age. Nothing like Jax’s, ones that earn a laugh or an affectionate eye rolling from you. Making references you don’t get, memes, or asking how the Stone Age was.
○ Ragatha is the next one to defend you from Jax, shooing him away or calling him out on his pranks. However, your first meeting will unfortunately be awkward, as with the sudden attention on your age, she'll try to reassure you that your age isn't a big deal. Yet she finds herself overusing the word 'old', and making the air feel awkward.
○ Most importantly, Ragatha is the one to check in on you. Helping you through the circus, as we saw she did with Pomni. Acting kindly with a radiant positivity as she's trying to show you the ropes. We saw Ragatha confess to Kinger that she feels as if she fail Pomni, so as the newest member after, she might become overbearing as she overcompensates to make sure she doesn't fail you. Because of this, you could feel annoyed as you try to adjust to the circus, and cope with Ragatha keeping tabs on you. Somehow, in the end, Ragatha gains two adoptive parental figures as you take her into your care, and reassure her that your okay.
"Don't mind Jax, he pokes fun at everyone." Ragatha comes to stand next to you.
"He does?" you comment half heartly, trying your best not to let your eyes focus on the button eye. You're still getting used to the new bodies you and everyone have. "Yeah, but not of our ages." Ragatha shrugs. Her eyes wide at the sound of your confused grunt, realising too late that her attempt of comforting you sounds like an insult. "I just meant! Since he was making jokes about your age- Not that I’m saying you’re old. But you are." She quickly corrects herself, her eye avoiding yours as she tries to do damage control, "I mean, Caine did mention your Kinger's age, and he is the oldest. Are you older than him? Oh sorry! I shouldn't ask how old you- Um, I mean-" "I just want to know what happened to the headset." You sigh tiredly, cutting Ragatha's ramble.
○It's difficult trying to bond with Kinger when he's in the light. The most you get from him is a quick comment acknowledging how it's 'nice not being the only old one', before he quickly derails. You probably try to avoid him, fearful that what contributes to his mental state is his age, and the image of what your future could be like. Not knowing the trauma he has faced and what truly contributes to his state.
"It's nice not being the only old one in the circus anymore." Kinger pipes up. You haven't been around the chess piece much, not due to a lack of trying, but simply adjusting to your new life. "How old are you?" You ask. "Huh? I'm not sure how old you are." Kinger tilts his head. "That wasn't-" You get cut off by a gasp from Kinger as he suddenly drops to the ground. Watching the digital ants with wide awe eyes. With a sigh, you give up on correcting yourself and slowly back away.
○ It's when you catch him in the dark, after his mind has settled, that you'll get a genuine heart-to-heart. That's when you two can swap stories of who you were, talk about life, and discuss the other members. Making light jokes about how nice you don't have to worry about random joint pain or the weather changing. It's grounding to know there's someone who can relate.
○ Pomni will gain a new perspective as she no longer holds the title of ‘newest’ member. She understands the others more as she watches you freak out and claim it as a dream like she did. She might even cringe at herself when remembering how she react when arriving at the circus. Besides that, she is the biggest help in adjusting.
○ Pomni has shown to be able to emotion reguate through the adventures, and given everything that hit her when she first joined, she'll be the best to help ease you into your new life. Giving advice that feels inspirational as you adjust, willing to listen to any concerns, as we saw she did with Gangle, or bring you back from the ledge as she did for Jax.
Pomni stops in her tracks as she spots you sitting alone in some corner of the circus. She doesn't hesiate as she heads towards you, her feet softly echo as she approaches. Recognising the look of hopelessness all too well, she silently sits down beside you, leaving some space between as she crosses her legs "I know how everything must feel. And look." Pomni slowly touches on the subject. "It's a lot to take in at first. I'm still adjusting myself." "Is there any way out?" you mumble, staring hard into the floor. "An exit? We haven't found one. Yet." Her firm tone grabs your attention, and you turn your head to see her kind, determined red and blue pupils that shine in the faith she has. "But we will."
○ Doesn't mention your age much and helps clear up some things about Kinger. Like your fears that his age contributes to his mental state would be clear up, and is a relief to know. She might make a joke about it if your concerns were very obvious. Pomni will keep checking on you and making sure you hang around the group, but it isn't overbearing like Ragatha.
○ When Gangle first approaches you, she doesn't spend much time acknowledging your age; she mainly focuses on how Jax treats you. Trying her best to reassure you since a part of her feels guilty for being relieved that Jax is not paying close attention to her, and is picking on you. Her words come out weak and shakily when she tells you, “Jax is always like that”, and “You get used to it.”
"You know that really old anime?" She animatedly asks. You listen closely for any keep points to help narrow down the anime. Your smile slowly fades as Gangle proceeds to describe one of your all-time favourites.
○ If anything, you're more likely to adopt her, immediately spotting the bullying she faces, and taking a somewhat parental role. If you happen to watch, and know about anime. Not only would you be able to grow a stronger/closer friendship, bonding over sharing your favourites, ranking them, etc. But that's when your age will get brought up when Gangle accidentally humbles you, with phrases such as;
○ Or by casually dropping, "Oh, I was born that year!" as you were describing the anime you loved in your teenage years. Oh, the joys of alive before her. That's when the age gap hits you the hardest.