Chapter Text
It had been rather quiet in the circus as of late. Pomni managed to (somehow) convince Caine to give everyone a day off after their affairs with retail, even now Jax still doesn’t fully understand how she managed to crack someone as dense as him. Alas, here he was, sitting in the lounge area, doing absolutely #$%! all nothing. To say he was bored out of his mind would be an understatement. Their last adventure had been a bust thanks to Gangle, and even before that he was never quite given the opportunity to fulfill his violence quota.
He needed something, anything to distract himself from this endless monotony. The idea of doing nothing, it scared him more than he was willing to let on. It's why he always made sure to keep active, but how could he make sure to keep active when nothing was happening?
Eyes traveling across the room, Jax tried to spot anything that could occupy his mind for the time being. First they landed on Gangle, he considered messing with her for a moment before throwing the idea out upon seeing Zooble sitting next to her, great. As fun as it was to mess with them, Jax wasn’t quite in the mood to be strangled right now thank you very much.
His eyes then landed on Kinger, who as usual was just sort of… standing around, expression completely blank, he could only imagine what was going on behind those eyes, assuming that there even was anything going on to begin with.
On paper, Kinger seemed like the perfect subject to mess with. He was completely off his knocker, and was scared by basically anything, yet Jax found out rather quickly that trying to crack Kinger was nearly impossible, the man was too mentally unstable to really be affected by anything Jax threw at him, it had gotten old rather quickly.
Finally, his eyes landed on Pomni and Ragatha. Messing with Pomni had quickly lost its luster after the first time. She just didn’t give him the energy that he wanted, the fact that she had adapted to the circus so quickly and coasted by with little to no issues didn’t really help matters.
So that left Ragatha. Good ol’ “hide all my feelings behind positivity” Ragatha. She’d been one of his favorite punching bags since day one, even now her reactions were always the most entertaining, but that in itself came with its own issues. Ragatha being so easy to rile up meant that she was incredibly predictable, and right now Jax needed something new, something fresh that’ll really get his chaos juices flowing, and he just couldn’t think of anything off the top of his head that would guarantee any new-
“Yooo, Jax! I, like, hate you... but I don't want you to hate me. Is that weird?”
Oh.
Oh that’s it.
Their last escapade had Ragatha off her knocker the whole time didn’t it? He hadn’t really thought much of it in the moment, he’d been too… affected by the training tape he’d been forced to experience thanks to Gangle snitching on him, but now, NOW. That might just be the perfect way to get some new material.
Feeling his classic cheshire grin return to his face, Jax stood himself up and started scheming. If he recalled correctly, the reason Ragatha was like that was because some of the “Stupid Sauce” from their fast food adventure accidentally got into her eye, so he would need a way to get some of that. Luckily for him, he knew just the trick.
“Oh Bubble, you always know how to make me say this exact sentence.”
Caine says, laughing along with Bubble as the two of them ate their meals at the UNNAMED digital restaurant they eat at whenever he isn’t busy with their next adventure. He had allowed the circus members a day off after Pomni gave him flawless reasoning that consisted of:
“Hey can we just… not?”
Truly riveting logic, he can’t believe he hadn’t thought of it sooner! He picked up another spoonful of his Delicious Digital Cuisine™, preparing to stuff it down his gullet when, in an unprecedented turn of events, his Wacky Watch™ started to go off.
Checking his wrist, Caine’s eyes grew wide as he saw that yet another one of his members had ventured out into the void! He for sure thought he’d taken care of this problem after last time. Teleporting out of the UNNAMED digital restaurant and out into the void, he was shocked to see none other than Jax, floating there and looking completely bored out of his mind.
“JAX?!” He exclaimed, hands going to the sides of his dentures in complete shock. It didn’t take the rabbit long to acknowledge him with his usual aura of nonchalance.
“Oh hey, was wondering when you’d show up.”
In the blink of a second Caine had grabbed Jax and teleported the both of them back into the tent, the ringmaster giving him a look of disappointment.
“Jax, what did I tell you about venturing out into the void? That place is strictly off limits!” He said, arms outstretched to emphasize his point. Jax, as you’d expect from him at this point, did not look even remotely fazed by the AI’s annoyance.
“Sorry, guess I forgot.” The rabbit said with a shrug.
“But hey, now that I got you here, mind if I ask you a favor?”
Immediately, Caine’s anger evaporated, replaced with the type of excited curiosity you would expect to see from a young child being told a really big secret.
“Oh? Why of course you can my long eared friend! What can I do for you on this fine evening?” He asked, bringing his face uncomfortably close to Jax. Letting out a noise of discomfort, he pushed the dentures away as he began to explain.
“You see, I’ve been feelin’ a little bad for how I’ve been treating Ragatha lately. She’s just trying to keep spirits high and I’m sitting here being a real douche about it, so I decided, I want to get her an apology gift.”
“An apology gift?! Why that’s great news! I always knew you and Ragatha had the potential to be great friends!” Caine replied, throwing his arms up into the air.
“Yeah yeah, so you think you can do that for me?”
“Why of course I can Jax! Anything you want I’ll whip it up for you in a jiffy! As long as it isn’t a way out of course.”
“Great~” Jax said, smile stretching to impossible lengths.
“So here’s what I want for Ragatha’s gift…”
“So you’re saying you basically drugged yourself by getting some of that Stupid Sauce in your eye?” Pomni questioned as she sat next to Ragatha on the couch.
“Yeah, it was a very… surreal experience, I couldn’t really comprehend anything that was going on and it all felt like a strange dream.” Ragatha affirmed, feet kicking idly as her eyes drifted to the floor.
“Guess that explains why you seemed so out of it after the adventure…” Pomni commented, eliciting a chuckle from the ragdoll.
“Well, hopefully that’s the last time I ever make a mistake like that, last thing I need is to be under the influence while Jax is being his usual-”
“Hey~ did somebody say my name?” A familiar, ear-grating voice called out.
“Oh god…” Pomni groaned. Oh god indeed.
Looking up, Ragatha grimaced at the all-too-familiar sight of Jax approaching them, classic grin dawning his face as he approached the two women.
“Hey ladies~ how’s it hangin'?” The rabbit says as he stops in front of them. Pomni wasted no time boring her worst glare into the man’s eyes.
“Well we were doing good.” The jester replied. She hardly needed to elaborate, they all knew what she was implying. Jax just laughed.
“You wound me Pomni, and here I was thinking we were just starting to get along.”
Pomni looked about ready to let out her worst potty language before Ragatha cut in.
“What do you want, Jax?” She spoke in a decidedly dejected tone. Instantly, the rabbit’s yellow eyes shifted to her’s, smile stretching impossibly wide.
“I’m glad you asked Doll Face. I actually wanted to give you something.”
Ragatha blinked a few times. Jax wanted to give her something? That… wasn’t normal.
“You want to give me something?” She questioned, as if trying to affirm that she’d heard him right.
“What? Can’t a guy be kind every now and again?” The rabbit questioned with a raised brow.
“Well when it’s you then yeah.” Pomni pointed out dryly. Jax just rolled his eyes.
“Geez, talk about having little faith in me having basic decency.” Reaching behind his back, the rabbit pulled out an admittedly large sandwich reminiscent of one you’d see at a Subway, or at least, Ragatha thinks it looks like that, she hadn’t seen one of those things in a long time.
“See, I’ve been feelin’ real bad for how I’ve treated you over the past however long we’ve been trapped in this Hell, so I decided to give you an apology gift.”
Ragatha staired in silent shock at the declaration. Jax was… actually sorry?
“Okay, now I know you’re $%!#ing with us.” Pomni spoke again.
“There is no way that you of all people would actually feel bad for what you've done, you’re literally like, a god damn sociopath, this is clearly another one of your stupid tricks and we’re not falling for it!” The jester declared, her expression resolute.
“Oh come on Pomni~ just cause I like to mess around doesn’t mean I can’t be nice to people or feel bad. What do you take me for, some kind of AI?” Jax questioned, smile never falling. Pomni scoffed.
“Yeah no, no way, this is clearly a trick, everyone can tell that you’re full of bull#$%! Jax, right Rags?” The jester rebutted, pinwheel eyes looking to Ragatha hopefully.
“W-Well…” The ragdoll started. She knew Pomni was right, the chances of Jax feeling any semblance of remorse for anything he’s ever done was laughably low. But on the other hand…
“I mean… it’s just a sandwich right? Even if it is a trap I’m sure it can’t be that bad. Plus, maybe Jax really has changed! We can’t just dismiss what might be a genuine show of goodwill, right?” The ragdoll finished, though anyone could tell through her tone that she wasn’t entirely convinced herself.
“See? Ragatha knows I can be good when I want to be? You could learn a thing or two from her Pomni.” Jax spoke, smugness practically radiating off of him now.
“Are you $%#!ing kidding me?” Pomni said, utterly baffled.
“Ragatha- you- you can’t be serious! You know what Jax is like you can’t actually fall for this!” She exclaimed, tone bordering on desperate.
“Now Pomni, I get where you’re coming from, but come on, Jax is a person too isn’t he?” Ragatha replied, standing up from the couch and approaching Jax, taking the sandwich out of the rabbit’s hands.
“And it’s like I said, it’s just a sandwich.” She says before taking a bite, completely missing the way Jax’s smile seemed to widen even further.
The ragdoll lets out a hum of surprise. It actually tasted pretty good.
“See? Nothing happened. I am completely f…” Before she could even finish what she was saying, a sudden feeling of dizziness overwhelmed her, the world itself seeming to convulse. She suddenly found it impossible to focus, arms going slack, dropping the sandwich out of her hands, her eyes stared up into nothing.
“Hey! I worked hard on that, ya know.” Jax spoke, though Ragatha hardly even registered what he was saying at this point.
“...Ragatha? Are you alright?” Pomni said after him, her voice tinged with concern. Slowly, the ragdoll’s eyes met the jester’s, and just like that, something seemed to switch in her brain, a crooked smile crossing her face.
“Pomni~” The woman drawled out, body slumping forward as she took in the beautiful and very confused jester standing in front of her.
Pomni stared up at her with a slightly nervous expression, clearly put off off by Ragatha’s sudden change in behavior, something that, oddly enough, seemed to excite the ragdoll.
“Has anyone ever told you how cute you are, Pomni?”
“U-Uh, what? What do you…” Yet Pomni couldn’t finish, her speech halted as Ragatha reached out, placing a gentle hand on her cheek.
The jester stood stiff in the ragdoll’s grasp, her eyes growing wide.
“Hehehe~ your eyes are all big and adorable, I just wanna squeeze your little cheeks~” She continued to drone, completely uncaring of the world around her at this point. The only thing that mattered to her right now, was the flustered jester standing in front of her.
“R-Ragatha I-”
“God, I just wanna hold you forever, you’re so beautiful and kind, sometimes I just want to hold you in my arms so that I can protect you from all the nasty things in the world.”
She brought her face closer to Pomni’s, taking in every little detail. Her pale, perfect face, her dark lips, her hypnotizing eyes… For a moment, Ragatha felt nothing but peace. Like nothing in her eternal life mattered anymore, but just as the bliss began to take over, her mind suddenly halted at a thought, a memory, a past experience, and her smile dropped.
“But I can’t have you, can I?” She spoke in a sad tone. Pomni blinked a few times.
“W-What? What do you-”
“Don’t act like you don’t know! You think I didn’t see the way you were looking at the gummy guy!” The ragdoll exclaimed, hands removing themselves from the jester’s face as she flailed them in the air.
“You were all over him! You just wanted all of his attention, but what about me huh?! What’s wrong with me?! Am I not good enough for you Pomni?!”
“R-Ragatha-”
“He’s not even #$%!ing real! He’s an NPC for crying out loud!” Ragatha interrupted, voice raising to a shout.
“What do I need to do huh?! Do I need to become an NPC too?! Is that what you need from me?! Is that what it’ll take for you to love me?!”
Her eyes then flicked to Jax who, to his credit, also looked taken aback.
“And you…” She marched towards the rabbit, anger filling her senses.
“Don’t even get me started on you! What were you thinking?! Just throwing Pomni off the truck like that! What the #$%! is wrong with you?!” The ragdoll shouted, jabbing the rabbit in the chest, causing him to stumble back slightly.
“Woah, hey! Hold on now I was just-”
“No! Shut up!” Ragatha exclaimed.
“Do you have any idea how much I wanted to hurt you when you did that?! I wanted to tear your #$%!ing limbs off! And the only reason I didn’t is because I knew that I’d just be giving you what you wanted! You stupid $%!ing, $%!#!”
Jax was silent. For the first time since he first came to the circus, he was completely, and utterly shellshocked.
“Well?! Got nothing to say?! Come on Jax! Hit me with one of your stupid jokes! I know you can do it!” Ragatha continued to shout, but Jax just stood there, silent.
“Ugh!” The ragdoll exclaiming.
“Even when I’m asking for it you still won’t listen! Why can’t anything just go my #$%!ing way?!”
Everyone was watching at this point, even Caine, who just so happened to hear the racket, was watching everything unfold.
“I spend all this time putting on a smile for others to keep them happy, but what about me huh?! What about me?!” She shouted to the skies above.
“I just…” Her voice began to lower, anger fading away into something more vulnerable.
“I just want somebody to love me… that’s all I’ve ever $#!%ing wanted, and when I finally get that chance…” The ragdoll collapsed to her knees, her single eye shaking.
“I…” And like that, the dam completely bursts. Burying her head into the floor, Ragatha began to sob, arms wrapping around her own head.
For a moment, the only sound that was heard was that of Ragatha’s own crying. No one knew what to do, what to say. Pomni was too busy sorting through her own thoughts to help, and everyone else seemed too scared to approach her.
Finally, Caine began to lower himself to the ground, expression sheepish.
“Well uh… it seems our friend Ragatha here is feeling a little down! I’ll just be taking her to her room now until she’s back to normal. Back to business everyone! None of this ever happened!” The ringmaster exclaimed before placing a hand on Ragatha’s back and disappearing.
When the sound of sobbing ceased, the rest of the circus members continued to stand there silently. Even now no one actually knew what to do. That is, until Jax decided to open his stupid mouth.
“For the record, I had no idea that was going to happen.”
It took Pomni a few seconds to process what she had just heard, and when it did, her eyes slowly met Jax, and all she saw was red.