Chapter Text
It was Valentine’s Day in the Amazing Digital Circus. Or at least everyone assumed as much.
The internal clock of the world followed similar patterns to seasons. But without night and day or minutes and hours it was really hard to nail down the exact days.
All they knew was that it was some time in the first quarter of a year. Not quite winter anymore and not quite spring yet.
So Valentines time right?
Noone would care really. It was really only relevant for Caine’s themed activity for the next two days.
“Good day my shooting stars! As you all remember; yesterday I gave you the task of finding the perfect gift for your secret Valentine!”
Normally Caine would not participate in the activities he made for his players. But it was a special exception this year.
Bubble begged to be a participant in the gift giving and after much debate Caine said yes. It however left an uneven number so Caine was forced to join in so no one would be left out.
Going through the cast the gifts were mundane. No one was really close and no one really had the means to get something special anyways. Just a lot of random unwanted knick knacks traded between each other.
Gangle was the only one who a well meaning gift was easy for; a new comedy mask. Which she happily accepted from Kinger with tears in her eyes. Crying out a thank you.
Finally it was Zooble’s turn.
Walking over she pulled a comically large tooth brush from out behind them. Handed it over to Caine.
Caine felt a spark light up in him and smiled with closed eyes.
“My! This is a pleasant surprise, Zooble! Who would have thought you would pick such a thoughtful gift for me!”
A lackluster gift for anyone else but, Caine and his misguided understandings of human emotion thought otherwise. Sure maybe a boring gift for anyone else, but this made perfect sense as a will meaning gift for someone like him! Why it is the perfect size to keep those teeth of his pearly white.
Admittedly Caine didn’t need to keep up hygiene rituals like a real human. He didn’t experience decay or yellowing. But it’s the thought that counts!
“Don’t make it a big deal.” Zooble graveled. “It’s literally just one of my leg pieces I'm never going to use.”
The attempted brush off of its sentiment and importance from Zooble was lost on Caine as his spark burned into a small flame. Like lighting a candle.
“Oh how sentimental, Zooble!” He clutches the brush in hands close to his face. “You’re literally giving me a piece of yourself!” His eyes begin to well up with joyful tears.
“I never expected getting such a special gift from you!”
Zooble gave up, “whatever,” and walks back to the rest of the group.
Bubble excitedly exclaiming he’s next and opens his mouth to reveal a box wrapped in bow on his tongue. Aimed at Jax.
Caine is a little too lost in thought to acknowledge the scene. Calculating this new found feeling in his chest. The joy. The flame.
Somewhere in the background Jax yelps as Bubble licks his face.
And Zooble’s laugh at the incident finally grabs Caine out of his calculations.
“Ugh! Gross!” Jax shouts.
“I hope you like it Jax!” Bubble beams back.
Caine continues to just concentrate on Zooble’s laughter. The wiggle of their antennas, and smile in their eyes.
Never noticing how stunning they look for such a wild design. The ring accessory they have gently bouncing off their chest, bumping from their laughter.
A lot of little details he’s never really noticed before, taking hold of him now. The spots on their torso have been slightly altered to be hearts. An antenna of theirs has also lovingly been switched out with an arrow. Cupid’s perhaps?
All these bits changed for this special occasion? Oh they do care!
Caine’s fingers adjust their grip on his gift.
Zooble really is quite captivating.
Bubble floats back to his boss’ side finally breaking Caine out of his processing.
“Well! I sure hope this doesn’t awaken anything in me!” Caine says out loud with a swing of his fist.
His players all stare back at him. Astonished. Bubble gives him a curious double blink as well.
The group stays quiet for a moment before he distracts them all by continuing their game.
“Now! Who’s up next?” Answers it himself, “Pomni!” Pomni jumps, also having been taken aback by Caine’s previous outburst. She does as she’s told though and approaches Kinger with cardstock cut into a heart.
-
Caine usually checked in on his players via his Wacky Watch. Making sure they were safe and sound. Looks like they were all settling down for the day in their bedrooms.
Since the Valentines incident, he’s found himself flicking back to Zooble’s view after making sure all his other stars were okay.
Seeing what Zooble is up to for a little while longer. Goes to double check them now, clicking a knob on his watch to wind back to the view of their bedroom.
Most of their evening before bed consisted of trying on and mixing parts. An interesting ritual, he thought. Why not leave such a task for the morning? They always returned their pieces back to the previous before bed; so why bother trying them out if Zooble wasn’t going to wear them?
One of the many mysteries of his players’ behaviors.
A shrill buzzing sound distracts him from his thoughts. Paying attention to the screen again he sees Zooble has turned on a drill.
“I don’t remember authorizing that!” Caine says.
Even more worrying is seeing Zooble aim it toward one of their tested parts. While still wearing it!
Gasp!
Caine zips into action and poofs into Zooble’s room.
And Zooble shouts a car horn covering it, as they drop the power tool after a couple of failed attempts to catch it. Stunned at Caine’s sudden appearance.
“Caine!” They huff. “Remember what Pomni suggested about knocking!” Zooble says with a growl to their voice, one of their antennae pieces twitching as they narrow their eyes at Caine.
Caine shrivels in on himself. “Oh right! Sorry!” He poofs out of sight.
And Zooble hears a knock at their door.
They’re tempted not to answer but, shaking their head with annoyance, they decide might as we’ll see what the AI wants.
Swinging open the door they answer with a vexed “what? What do you want?”
“Zooble I couldn’t help but notice you were having unauthorized use of power tools! And about to use them against yourself!”
Caine knowing the specifics of what everyone and anyone was doing at any given time in the Circus wasn’t exactly new.
He isn’t always watching but they know he often does. Has eyes everywhere. Zooble should be used to it by now. And yet it still gives them a chill down their spine. Always watching.
Whatever though.
“Right. Don’t worry Caine, ” they say his name with a venom “I know what I’m doing.” They start to shut the door on him.
“Ah-bup-bup!” Caine stops the door with his hand. Wags a finger. “I cannot let one of my performers endanger themselves!”
That ignites something in Zooble. Look who’s talking, Caine puts them all in danger every day! They try to shut the door despite Caine’s hold on it. “#%*@ off.”
“Now Zooble! I can’t leave knowing you could hurt yourself! You’re one of my most treasured stars!”
That comment gets Zooble to pause. What?
“I cannot leave if you insist on continuing these antics!”
Zooble gets an idea. Well if he cares so much. Opens the door again, causing Caine to stumble forward.
“And if I had a trusted certified technician with me?”
Caine puts a finger to his bottom gum in thought. “Well,
I suppose that would be okay.”
They don’t want to hang with Caine any longer than they have to, but their little project needs to get done.
Grabbing Caine by his scruff, Zooble pulls him into their room.
The hold is rough and Zooble let’s go as quick as they had grabbed, but the feeling lasts against Caine’s chest. A feeling of warmth. He would like to experience that again.
His thoughts are interrupted by the shrill noise of that power tool turned on for a second, aimed at him.
“Zooble!” He pushes the drill with a single finger, faces it away from him, “manners!”
“Ah-huh.” Zooble turns the device back toward them. Spins the chuck of it to loosen then take out the drill bit.
Caine watches with intrigue. Zooble has many spectacular skills, he thinks.
They showed to be having fun mixing beverages together. He could not provide most of the requested alcohol choices the cast all wanted so had out a selection of juice for the group’s previous feast to choose from. Zooble would then make them all the most excellent fruit punch they ever tasted.
He continues to lay out a list of skills in his mind as Zooble opens a drawer hiding a selection of bits. Too distracted to question how they’ve amassed such a collection. Though a couple appear to be missing.
Caine remembers their artistic skills were impressive as well. He noted some of the small details they would paint on a few of their parts. Remembers their Valentine's Day look.
Caine could generate pieces of art himself but there was never any passion or thought behind it. The works created by his players and particularly by Gangle and Zooble struck a cord in his digital heart. As you could read the enjoyment they had with the process in their lines.
Humans are very fascinating, how they put so much zeal into their activities. He wonders how that would feel. How that works. When Caine wants something he merely makes it happen. To say he thinks about how to make it happen is inaccurate.
Sure Caine has limitations on what he can generate and make himself do but he doesn’t need anymore. Or any less for that matter. He never feels for ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ like his players do.
They need enrichment. He’s very familiar with what happens when their brains don’t get it. But often times they don’t want it. However they also do not want to lose their minds. Go crazy. How paradoxical.
Tightening the new drill bit into place Zooble holds it up, pressing the trigger to give it a quick test.
Guess a use in power tools is just part of Zooble’s incredible artisan resume. Admiration for them suddenly. Zooble is an artist. Zooble is art, he adds with an outer view of their parts scattered across the bed.
Finally understands this nightly routine.
And he finds himself wanting.
Uh, for what exactly?
Finally brought back to now, the drill being plopped into Caine’s hands breaks him from his assessments.
“Whassat?!”
“You said you were going to help me. Right? Technician. ”
Caine suddenly feels put on the spot. This isn’t what he wanted but feels like saying no to Zooble would be a sin. As if disappointing them would singe a piece of his code. Break his heart. If he had one.
Still…
“What are you exactly trying to do, Zooble, my dear?” He floats to the side, away from them. Holding the drill hostage.
He won’t put Zooble in danger but perhaps if he knew their exact intentions…
Zooble sighs. Annoyed. This is going to be a long evening for them.
“I’m trying to make new parts for myself.”
Caine quickly fills in the pieces. “Oh! Of course! Why didn’t you just say so?” He floats over Zooble’s way. Face too close to theirs. Holds his fingers in a snap position. “Where do you want them? I can pop in a few new holes for you!”
“Ugh.” Zooble pushes Caine out of their personal space. “Doing it with the drill is good enough, thanks.”
Looking down at the tool Caine ponders. Isn’t it easier if he just modified their models for them? Less dangerous. Faster. “Why?”
Zooble knows it’s ‘dangerous’ (as if fatality was a thing in this digital world) to drill on the parts they’re still wearing but it’s the only way they can get the pieces to feel right. A hole too big or small, feels like a pebble in the shoe for them.
A fist instead of a claw on the wrong day like pants on too tight. A button too pitching.
Like the Princess and the Pea, every small little inconvenience is felt by Zooble. They just want to be precise and comfortable. It’s so hard to be comfortable. This place never is. They owe it to themselves to at least get the rock out of their shoe.
Caine couldn’t understand that. Does Caine even physically feel his body like the rest of them? He often seems like an incorporeal entity, a surrounding in the world, and his body is just the thing he presents himself with. Like a puppet. A main hub if anything. Would explain all that teleporting around.
Why can’t they teleport, huh?
Zooble tries to think of a reasonable excuse an artificial intelligence could understand…
“Precision.”
“What?”
“I can be more exact. Feels relaxing. Look…” they put their humanoid hand to their (considered) forehead in frustration.”Does it really matter?”
Caine starts with a sound only for Zooble to immediately interrupt. “Let’s just get this over with. How’s that sound? Think of it like giving me a piercing.”
“Well I suppose those are allowed! And under the proper measures are safe!”
“Exactly. Now then.” Zooble lifts an arm up. Removes it. Replaces it with one that only reaches the length of an elbow.
Holding it up Caine can see they want to be able to make a new joint for said elbow.
This piece is a long hexagonal prism. Orange. An unsharpened pencil maybe?
Caine turns on the drill and gently moves in. Starting the hole, Zooble mentions they’ll say stop when he gets deep enough.
Its unsafe to look away from what he’s doing. Luckily Caine has multiple eyes. Switches his view to the surrounding vision of Zooble’s room. Able to see both himself and them, as well as still concentrate on his task.
Zooble’s eyes are shut but they appear to be meditative. Maybe focusing on how the make of this hole feels?
Caine zooms in his vision on their face. They seem almost relaxed. Peaceful.
“Stop.” Zooble says with a softness he’s not heard from them. He does.
Putting his teeth together, near covering his mouth’s eyes he blows out the dust from the newly made hole.
Eyes open but lidded, Zooble lifts up the limb. Picks up a near by forearm and pegs it in. Wiggles the “fingers,” (they’re strings) at Caine in a greeting gesture. He can tell they’re smiling gently.
“Looking fine, Zooble!”
“Yeah, yeah. Not bad for a bot.” Zooble holds out a hand, signaling to Caine to give back their tool.
“Oh!” Places it in their hand. “How did you get this device, Zooble? I don’t think I’ve ever spawned any myself.” Caine asks in a tone like a teacher scolding a student.
Whatever, thinks Zooble. So long as he doesn’t confiscate it from them like one, they don’t care how condescending he sounds or what he does.
“Crafted it.”
Caine mentally opens a file full of old memories. Scrolls through them. That sounds familiar.
“Got a bunch of pieces you could say vaguely make up a drill. And–“ Zooble gestures with both ‘hands’ coming together. “Squished them together.”
Quickly running through the old memories, he remembers what he found familiar. “Ah! Crafting! I completely forgot we had that feature! I should utilize it in some activities again.”
Zooble places the drill on their desk. Crosses their arms. Curious. Caine is rather funny. He’s like a super computer right? He’s pretty absentminded for something so advanced.
“You just forgot about a major feature?”
“It just became so much easier for me to spawn in what you all needed or asked for! Some folks found it tedious to collect all the pieces for something they wanted. So I guess after a while… I just sort of… forgot! Good to know it’s still working as intended.”
Caine floats over and flicks the drill. “What materials did you use for this?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Yes!”
Zooble shakes their head, irked. Does not elaborate. Walks over to the parts placed on their bunk and switches them out to ready for bed. Perhaps these less detailed parts are more comfortable for them to lay in?
Caine spaces out again. Watching Zooble do this ritual up close somehow feels invasive. He’s watched them do this countless times via his evening check-ins. But physically being here to see it feels different. Should he be watching this? Should he cover his eyes? Look away? Despite the concern, Caine can't seem to rip his gaze away. Zooble is quiet stunning even with the lack of flair.
Walking over to their box labeled 'Zooble Parts', they begin to stack their extras inside. “You can go now by the way.” Zooble says with some annoyance. Quit staring, asshole.
“Ah!” Caine floats to the door, “have a good rest Zooble! If you need any more supervised use of dangerous tools, you know who to call!”
Caine opens the door and zips out. Shuts it quickly, blocking it with his back from the other side as if to keep a beast from following him. Turns out the ‘beast’ is his thoughts; They still catch up with him.
Slides down to the floor.
His non-existent heart pounding. When did he enable that?
He feels warm all over. Touches around his gums making sure all of him is stable. He is.
The uncomfortable warmth won’t simmer. He knows how to calm it though. Lifting his wrist he reaches for a knob on his watch, hesitating. If it felt wrong to watch Zooble while in there, shouldn’t he feel wrong for watching Zooble while out?
He pulls his hand away. Shakes his head. Perhaps he’ll only tune in for his check-ins from now on... That goes for any cast member he gets too nosy about.
Caine finally forces himself up and vanishes from the dorms.