Chapter Text
You wanna see something cool?
That’s what Jax had asked her the moment Pomni had finished her breakfast. He’d been wearing a huge grin, eyes narrowed with the kind of mischief she can never anticipate.
Pomni had originally planned to go have some me time in her room, but the proposition had piqued her curiosity. She had smiled. Said yes.
Pomni finds it hard to say no to Jax’s offers to hang out. It’s not that she dislikes hanging out with the others. But most of the time they just want to sit around and Jax…
Jax loves exploring. It’s something Pomni hadn’t really been inclined to do before considering how many times opening an unfamiliar door had ended up with her punched to the ground by a boxing glove.
But having a guide makes it different.
Jax makes it fun.
Now the two of them are deep in the Circus, down some hall she’s never been to before and in a room where—
“Why the blank face, Pomni?”
Pomni stares at the legion of maybe twenty skeletons which are dancing to simple yet wacky choreography in unison.
There’s no music playing, so it’s kind of unsettling.
“Do they just… never stop doing this?” Pomni asks.
“They sure don’t,” Jax says with delight.
“Why are they… here?” Pomni asks, watching their footwork.
“They were an asset from a past adventure and they got dumped here for some reason.” Jax shrugs.
“What kind of adventure was that?” Pomni asks as the seven second dance loop starts again.
Jax hums like he’s trying to recall, putting a finger on his chin. Then he looks down at Pomni with half lidded eyes and an [BEEP]hole grin.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Pomni’s eyelids also lower, but with a lack of amusement. “That’s why I asked.”
“Wow, Pomni, since you’re so invested, I’ll tell you,” Jax decides, tilting his head back and shutting his eyes as if returning to a dream.
He’s silent for a long while.
“Uhh—“ Pomni starts, but Jax’s eyes open and he shrugs.
“I can’t remember. I do seem to recall an undead Elvis, though.”
Pomni snorts at that. “Is Caine… allowed to do that?”
“Can’t copyright the King,” Jax says flippantly, walking over to one of the skeletons. “Check this out.”
Jax shoves the skeleton as hard as he can. It stumbles and falls to the ground, bones scattering everywhere. Pomni raises her eyebrows.
Then the bones fly back together and the skeleton is upright. It continues to boogie.
“Isn’t that hilarious?” Jax asks, looking over expectantly at Pomni. “Ahhh. Classic. Think you could learn the dance?”
Pomni really, really doesn’t think she could even if she wanted to. She shakes her head. Then can’t help but joke a little, “Maybe if there was music.”
That has Jax grinning. “See, that’s what I like about you, Pomni. You play along.”
Pomni smiles.
Jax puts a thoughtful hand to his chin. “Well, these bad boys match up to pretty much anything so I’m sure I can come up with something.”
Pomni, being the good sport that she is, suggests, “Maybe we could ask Caine for a boombox…?”
“Now you’re talking,” Jax says. “But why use a boombox when we could just sing?”
Pomni immediately withers. “Oh no, I’m not singing.”
“What if I sing with you?” Jax tempts her, leaning down to Pomni’s level. “It just has to be public domain, though, or else Caine will come down on you like a flaming sword for copyright violation.”
“Uhh,” Pomni says. “I don’t know what’s a public domain song.”
“C’mon, Pomni,” Jax groans, straightening up and then slumping back like she’s killing him here. “Use that giant accountant brain.”
“What does accounting have to do with anything?” Pomni doesn’t get it.
“Come on, Pomni,” Jax urges. “Quick! Give me an answer! Three, two, one, go!!”
“Uh, uh, uh,” Pomni stutters. “Happy Birth— the Happy Birthday song.”
“Pomni,” Jax says solemnly. “You’re a genius.”
“I’m not gonna sing it, though,” Pomni lays that one down flat.
“Aw, c’mon,” Jax coaxes her. “I’ll be your backup.”
He puts a hand on his hip and leans to the side. “You won’t sing with little ol’ me?”
Pomni frowns. Then she looks back at the skeletons.
“Come on.” Jax is so insistent. “Three, two, one—“
Pomni feels a rush of panic and sings like it’s some sort of stupid Pavlovian response.
“Ha— happy biiirthday to—“
She’s the only one singing.
Pomni’s eyes narrow and she turns on Jax slowly, glaring up at his grinning face.
“I’m leaving,” she says and turns, heading for the door.
“Nooo, don’t do that,” Jax calls after her laughingly. “I promise I’ll sing this time for real. Once more with feeling. A one, and a two, and a– Oh c’mon, Pomni, come back.”
Pomni does not go back, heading into the hall. Jax eventually catches up to her, passes her, then starts to walk backwards slightly ahead of her. The fact that he can without tripping over his feet is obnoxious.
“Don’t go.”
Pomni eyes him suspiciously. “No. I’m leaving if you’re just gonna make fun of me.”
“Wh- I am not making fun of you. You’d know if I was.” Jax waggles his brows at her.
Pomni tries not to smile. It’s important to put your foot down with Jax, she’s learned.
“Nope. You didn’t sing, so now I’m gonna go take a nap.”
“Aw Pomni I’m sorry, I’ll sing next time for sure. I’ll- Happy birthday-”
Jax starts to sing off key. It’s hard to tell if it’s on purpose or not.
Pomni busts out laughing.
It’s cut off as a cuckoo clock appears beside them, chiming loudly and making them both jump, Pomni significantly more.
A miniature Caine pops out of the model of Bubble at the top of the house, resting on his tongue.
“Hey my little cuckoos! It’s adventure o’clock! Come join your fellow castmates for the next amaaazing adventure!” The birdhouse explodes into confetti and streamers with an odd clanging sound.
Without further warning they’re yanked violently through the Circus and dumped to the ground with the others.
As Pomni sits up her eyes roll a couple times before focusing on Gangle, who gives her a little wave. “Hi Pomni!”
“Oh, hi,” Pomni responds, still gaining her bearings.
Her eyes move to Ragatha, who by her expression has clearly noticed Pomni and Jax arrived together. It makes Pomni feel a little awkward.
“Ooh, new adventure. What do you think it’ll be, Pomni?” Jax asks, stealing back her attention.
“No need to answer that, Pomni!” Caine cries, commanding everyone’s attention. “Because I’ll tell you!”
“Break out the flour and the baking powder because you’re going to participate in the Great Amazing Bakeoff! Test your skills while the hosts walk around and terrorize you to the amusement of all!”
“Hey Pomni,” Jax nudges her. “Can you bake?”
Caine claps his hands together as if to summon the attention of an unruly elementary kid class. He then summons a microphone and taps it with loud feedback.
“Haha, is this thing on? Can anyone hear me? Can you hear me??!”
Everyone exchanges uneasy looks at the little freak out. Caine lets go of the microphone and it floats for a moment before popping out of existence. Caine straightens his unrumpled tuxedo.
“Anyway! You’ll be facing off against each other! Whatever you do, don’t let it get to your heads and cause a lot of drama!” Caine cries hopefully.
The portal opens beneath him. “Have fun, you absolute scamps.”
There’s garbled yelling as they all fall through the portal, landing hard on the floor of a large outdoor tent. There are multiple counter stations set up. The view outside is of a lovely countryside.
Maybe this one won’t be so bad after all, Pomni thinks.
“Where are we?” Gangle asks, steadying her comedy mask as they all get to their feet, sans Jax who landed on his.
“You are in my tent now! Your fate is in my hands, do you understand me?”
The bellow comes from behind them and they all turn to see someone with unsettling blue eyes towering over them.
It’s Kinger’s evil counterpart.
Gangle startles, Zooble steadying her as she almost falls back down.
“I didn’t consent to coming on this adventure,” Zooble calls into the void.
“Oh no, don’t tell me it’s going to be these guys again!” Ragatha cries in dismay.
Sure enough, their evil counterparts step forward.
“That’s right! Today you are at our mercy!” evil Ragatha cackles, head thrown back sharply. The real Ragatha’s eye twitches.
“H-hey everyone! Good to see you again!” evil Jax says shyly, giving a little wave.
Huh. It’s weird that they remember them.
“You never speak again!” Jax snarls at him, looking ready to make a second meal of his doppelganger. Then his eyes move down to evil Pomni.
“Hey, evil Pomni,” Jax greets with an easy smirk that she returns.
“Sup?” she responds before turning her eyes to Pomni and flipping her off.
Pomni just stares, unable to glean the meaning.
“Alright, maggots! Listen up because I will not be repeating myself! You may only refer to me as Chef Dictatorer! I will give you an objective and you will deliver on that objective so help me God!”
Pomni eyes the others uneasily, Ragatha suddenly noticing her gaze and perking up, offering an encouraging smile.
Chef Dictatorer starts pacing back and forth. “Your mission is to create an experience that evokes the feeling of being on the battlefield and knowing you’re alive.
“I want to be transported emotionally,” he continues. “Do you understand me?!”
“Uh, what does that mean?” Pomni tries to ask but a buzzer loudly sounds.
“You have five hours on the dot!”
What else is there to do but go to their stations?
Pomni heads to hers, a little at a loss of what to do. She weighs her options then decides to make what she assumes will turn out to be a sugar cookie. Maybe she can decorate it… somehow.
Pomni’s just started to open her cupboard to see what supplies she has to work with when she’s startled by a harsh,
“Hey! Back off! This isn’t your station!”
Pomni’s eyes dart up in alarm. A couple stations down, evil Orbsman is blocking Gangle’s path with a heated glare.
“Wh– but- but none of them are labeled,” Gangle protests weakly.
“This station is for Orbsman, got it? I don’t know who you are! Frick off!” Evil Orbsman points towards the wall with an orb.
“Oooh, are you kidding me?” Gangle cries. “I can actually bake! I would have won this [BEEP]!”
Jax cackles, the sound soon joined by evil Pomni’s snickering. Pomni glances over to Jax’s station where evil Pomni is already leaning against the counter as they laugh over Gangle’s misfortune.
Charming.
“It’s okay, Gangle, you can help me,” Zooble calls over.
Gangle sighs softly but makes her way towards Zooble’s station. Evil Ragatha suddenly jumps up beside her, startling Gangle. “Ah! Ah! No helping that’s cheating! And cheaters with be pu-huuuunished!”
She begins to cackle again, maybe going a little too ham on it. Ragatha is staring at her like she’s close to losing it.
Zooble rolls their eyes. “Whatever. Gangle you can still hang out with me.”
Gangle gives them a smile but as she leans against Zooble’s counter she laments again, “But why don’t I have an evil clone?”
“Trust me, it’s not a loss,” Zooble says with a distinct lack of amusement as they look out a tent window where their clone is rolling around in the grass.
Pomni tends to her ingredients uneasily, trying to recall literally anything about baking. Her mind wanders and she looks over to Jax’s table again.
He’s talking with evil Pomni as he cuts something up with a huge butcher knife. The other Pomni is leaning against his table, with her chin on her fist, grinning as he tells her something.
“Hey, Pomni!”
A voice to Pomni’s side draws her attention and she looks over at Ragatha who is stationed next to her. She’s smiling at Pomni. “What are you going to make?”
“Oh,” Pomni says, a little disoriented. “I’m making sugar cookies!”
“Oh nice!” Ragatha says like it’s genius. “I’m making a mille-feuille!”
“Ah?” Pomni thiiiinks she knows what that is. “Oh, cool. A type of, uh, pastry…?”
“Oh!” Ragatha says. “Yeah! I used to make these all the time! They’re really tricky, but once you get the hang of them they’re not bad.”
“Do you like baki—“ Pomni starts, but is cut off by an evil laugh.
”Hahahahaha!” evil Ragatha cries. “You think you can replicate that mille-feuille after so many years?! Don’t make me laugh!”
Pomni’s eyes widen, then dart over to Ragatha. Her teeth are set in a grimace, hands gripping a bag of flour tighter. “It’s all muscle memory. I’m sure I can–”
“Oh please!” evil Ragatha railroads over her. “The only thing your muscles remember is failure! Hohoho!!”
Pomni’s mouth turns down in an uncomfortable grimace. “Uh-”
”Hmph!” Ragatha seethes, spiking her flour to the counter. “I need to go- grab something from over there.”
She storms off, Pomni watching her retreating back with concern.
“As they say, can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen!” evil Ragatha chortles.
Then she turns on Pomni.
“What are you making anyway?” evil Ragatha leans over to see the mess Pomni has in a bowl. It’s like, just flour and butter. Evil Ragatha stares with a mean, blank grin on her face.
“Sugar cookies,” Pomni says.
“Sugar cookies?! Ha! So simple even a child could do it!” evil Ragatha waves her hand with theatric dismissal.
”Yeah,” Pomni agrees. “It’s the only recipe I know sooooo.”
“Ha! Well, try winning any points with your peasant food!” evil Ragatha cackles. ”Hahahahahahaha!”
Pomni turns back to her concoction.
This is gonna be a long one.
—
As it turns out, Pomni is never given the peace to concentrate enough to figure out the recipe.
Chef Dictatorer stands over her for a good portion of the time yelling at her over and over demanding to know what she’s doing.
At one point Pomni glances over at Jax, but he’s absorbed in a task.
Evil Pomni looks over, though.
She smirks.
”… and that’s why creating these pastries is not only a necessity, it is a privelige,” Chef Dictatorer says, holding his hand over his heart and looking on vaguely to some imaginary flag.
“Great,” Pomni says. “Can you go away?”
He’s really getting on her nerves.
“How disrespectful!” he yells.
But he must be bored, because after a few moments of silence from Pomni Chef Dictatorer hops off. Pomni sighs.
She’s just about to start deciphering which container is the baking powder when evil Ragatha pops on by again.
“I see you’ve made no progress! That’s hilarious!” she says. “At least you’re a really good jester! Because you’re making me laugh at you, you see!”
Pomni stares down at her task wondering why Caine wants them to be antagonized so much.
“Ugh, would you just go away already!” Ragatha cries, returning to her station with a panicked expression.
“Avoiding your problems per usual, Cowardatha!”
The mean girl energy is really wearing on Pomni, who gives evil Ragatha a long, unamused look.
“Can you just-?!” Ragatha starts, clearly about to lose it. She picks up a rolling pin like she’s about to do something with it.
“Oh uh, hey everyone! What’s going on over here?” Comes a simpering voice.
Everyone’s head turns and evil Jax is standing there, rubbing his arm awkwardly. “Having fun?”
“Oh evil Jax, no one will ever love you!” evil Ragatha cries with venomous joy, laughing herself into a coughing fit as she thankfully takes her leave.
Ragatha breathes out slowly, lowering the pin. She looks at evil Jax warily.
His eyes dart between Ragatha and Pomni, giving a nervous laugh and tapping his pointer fingers together, “Haa, that evil Ragatha. She’s an acquired taste that ummmm some never acquire.”
Pomni’s eyebrows raise. Then she can’t help but laugh. She remembers the Jax clone being weird.
“We all know somebody like that,” she says.
“W-we do?” Ragatha asks with a nervous laugh. “Like, here in the Circus?”
Pomni looks over at Ragatha in alarm. “Nnno, that’s not what I meant.”
“Oh! Haha! Right, of course not,” Ragatha laughs with… relief? Mania?
Pomni can’t blame her for being frazzled. Her evil clone is particularly mean and it feels very pointed when aimed at Ragatha.
Pomni can’t help but recall Ragatha talking about her life at the bar and her heart clenches with sympathy.
Her eyes start to move instinctively towards her own evil clone and Jax when there’s the gentlest tap on her shoulder.
When she glances up Jax’s clone looks like maybe he’s waiting for her to smack him.
“Sorry to bother you. Um. I’m supposed to be sabotaging you right now. Evil Orbsman told me I’m supposed to switch your sugar and your salt, but that would really mess with your flavor profile. That would be so mean, so if anyone asks just pretend I did, okay?”
Listening to these words come out of this Jax’s mouth feels like a surreal fever dream.
“Oh um, also, your oven is on a little high,” evil Jax warns her.
Pomni looks over at her oven. Sure enough she cranked it up to 450.
”Uh. Thanks.”
Pomni turns the oven down a bit and looks over at the clone curiously.
“Sooo,” she says, stirring her dough with a wooden spoon that’s too big for her. It’s kind of hard to reach the counter in general. “Are you like the opposite of us or our inner demons or…?”
“Huh?” Evil Jax looks nervously to the side like the right answer will be written out on a cheat sheet. “I’m, uh. I’m Jax’s clone. And I’m evil.”
“As if we needed one of those,” Ragatha mutters.
“Oh uh, yeah,” evil Jax gives a small laugh. “I guess you really didn’t. Haha. We’re kind of a hindrance I’m sure. Sorry about that. But um, your pastry is looking really beautiful!”
Ragatha stares at him and sighs.
His eyes move to Pomni’s bowl of slop. “Yours is looking really unique!”
Pomni looks down at it then back to him. “Thank you.”
He gives her a thumbs up.
Pomni isn’t quite done looking at him when she lifts the bottle of baking powder and dumps some in arbitrarily. When she looks down she realizes there’s a small mountain of it on her dough.
“… [BEEP].”
“Oh well, that’s okay! You can just-” evil Jax glances around then uses a spoon to start scooping the baking powder back into the container. “No one will ever know!”
Pomni watches him do this.
”Not that I’m mad or anything,” she says. “But why are you doing this?”
“H-huh? Oh!” His eyes roll away as he reaches up to rub the back of his neck. “Am I annoying you? I’m really sorry about that. I just wanted to be helpful. I mean, you deserve a fun adventure!”
Evil Jax gives an anxious little laugh. “You know, despite us being evil and all.”
“Yeah…” Pomni peers up at this other Jax, curious about if there are any crossover personality traits with the real one. It doesn’t seem to be the case. At all. “Well, thanks. Not gonna lie, I kind of don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Oh, I’m programmed to know about actual, y’know, baking stuff. For this adventure anyway. That’s what I’m good at, baseball and baking.”
The more he talks the more nervous he appears to become.
“Wow,” evil Jax says. “Is it just me or am I talking really loud right now?”
Pomni laughs. “Not really.”
She doesn’t mind entertaining this bizarre version of Jax. When she glances over at Ragatha she’s staring blankly at her pastry, not moving.
“Ragatha?”
Ragatha snaps out of it, looking over at Pomni with a wide eye. “Sorry!”
“You’re— you’re good,” Pomni says. “You good?”
“Ha- ha-! Why- why wouldn’t I be just great?” Ragatha asks like she’s on the verge of a panic attack.
“Do you need any help with your pastry? I can-!” evil Jax starts to cheerfully offer and Ragatha cuts him off cold.
“No, I don’t need your help!” Ragatha sighs sharply. “I mean- I’ve got it.”
“R-right,” evil Jax says, smiling at the ground. “No worries!”
The atmosphere is decidedly awkward.
“Eep!” Gangle cries, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Oh for crying out-!” Zooble grumbles, the pastry they’ve just taken out of the oven on fire.
“Oh gosh!” Ragatha says in alarm, hurrying over to help put it out.
”Yes! Bake the flames of war into your entry!” Chef Dictatorer cries with a clenched fist.
Jax and evil Pomni are cackling like hyenas again.
Jax’s eyes slide over to Pomni, meeting her gaze. His smile pulls up wider.
Then it slips past her, expression twisting instantly into one of rage.
When Pomni glances back to follow his gaze, it lands on Jax’s clone, who’s giving a friendly wave.
Pomni looks back at Jax who is mouthing what is surely death threats to his clone.
”You two are really different,” she tells evil Jax matter of factly.
“I guess that’s the point, right?” Evil Jax glances at her face then away. “Does it uh- does it bother you?”
“Huh?” Pomni ponders what he could mean. “No, I don’t think so.”
She doesn’t want to make a habit of getting friendly with NPCs after what happened last time. But Jax seems to be having fun chilling with her clone. Maybe a little messing around is okay.
“If you’re asking if it’s okay to hang around that’s fine,” Pomni says.
Evil Jax perks up. “Gee, thanks! You’re so nice, Pomni!”
They pause to watch the progress of the fire being put out, Zooble, Gangle and Ragatha examining the charred remains of Zooble’s pastry as the flames die down.
“Do you think we should go help?” Pomni wonders aloud.
“Nah,” evil Jax says with a shrug. “Too many cooks.”
The joke doesn’t land for a second. It’s not even that funny, but Pomni’s laughter takes her by surprise.
“I guess you’re right. We’d just get in the way.”
“Oh I hear that one all the time,” Jax says with a little laugh. “That and ‘shut up, Jax.’”
He doesn’t sound overly put out about it.
“Ah,” Pomni says. “Evil Pomni?”
“Huh?” Jax looks surprised. Then he shakes his head. “Nah, she’s actually pretty cool when you get to know her. I mean she does say that, but.”
Ah.
Something sours in Pomni’s chest.
“So,” she says. “You don’t… have lives outside of games, right?”
“Huh?” Evil Jax looks at her curiously. “No? We have programming, though.”
“Right…” That’s so weird. The NPCs are weird.
Uncanny.
Pomni looks back at her dough which appears to be separating and melting. “Give me your honest opinion. Do you think I have a shot at winning?”
“Oh, absolutely!” evil Jax says with such earnest enthusiasm it’s just funny.
Pomni starts laughing, feeling a little better than she had before.
This Jax is funny too.
Her eyes slip over to the real thing.
Jax looks like he’s about to set the whole tent on fire. But why…?
Jax has just started to walk over when evil Orbsman suddenly looms over Pomni and evil Jax. “Hey, nerd! What are you doing? Go sabotage something or I’ll bake you into a pie!”
“Gosh, that would be inconvenient,” evil Jax concedes in a troubled tone.
“That’s what I’m saying,” evil Orbsman doubles down.
“R-right, okay well, guess I gotta go now Pomni. Um, good luck!” He smiles and waves, evil Orbsman tripping him as he tries to walk away.
He hits the ground with a sound that would be funny if it wasn’t for the actual situation. Evil Jax quickly skitters to his feet and shuffles towards Kinger’s station. Evil Orbsman rolls his eyes then looks down at Pomni.
Then her cookie batter.
“Ha! Good luck winning with that!” He laughs as he wanders off.
By the time Pomni finally remembers Jax had been walking over he’s already back at his station, fussing with something in a bowl.
Pomni glances over at Ragatha’s station which is empty. She frowns and starts divvying out bits of dough for the cookies.
Maybe this will turn out.
—
Pomni stares at her cookies in the oven with a solemn shake of her head.
These are not going to be edible.
She realized halfway through their cook time that she had forgotten about half the portion of sugar she needed. She needs to find a way to make them a little sweeter.
Powdered sugar, maybe…?
Pomni heads over to the pantry where extra ingredients are probably stored. Sure enough it’s stocked and she starts rifling through it for the sugar.
“Where is-” Pomni mutters to herself, then glances up at the shelf just out of her reach and sure enough there’s the powdered sugar.
With a sigh Pomni stretches up on her tiptoes trying to get a grip on it. She becomes aware of a presence behind her, a purple arm reaching up over her and snatching up the powdered sugar.
“What’s wrong, Pomni? Having trouble reaching something?” Jax teases as he dangles the bag just out of her reach.
Pomni tilts her head backwards to look at him upside down.
“Um, can I have the powdered sugar?” she asks even though she already knows the answer.
“Well I don’t know Pomni. Can you?” Jax asks like a particularly obnoxious teacher.
Pomni’s expression rapidly becomes unamused. “Are you going to let me have it or not?”
Jax hisses. “Oooh, that’s a big ask from your rival. I mean if I don’t win the prize money then I’ll never be able to pay for my great uncle twice removed’s life saving surgery.”
“I… don’t think there’s any prize money,” Pomni says slowly.
“Then why are we bothering to compete?” Jax asks with an earnest tinge in his voice.
“I dunno,” Pomni shrugs. “Pride?”
“[BEEP] that,” Jax rejects outright. “I don’t have any pride in baking a good. I only put in effort for fun or cold, hard cash.”
Pomni considers him.
For some reason talking to Jax isn’t cheering her up. In fact, she feels oddly stormy in her chest and becomes aware of a frown on her own face when she sees one form on Jax’s.
“What.” Jax looks from her eyes to her mouth then back. “What’s that look for.”
“Look?” Pomni panics. “Uhh, I was just. Thinking about stuff. Are you actually using the powdered sugar or are you just keeping it from me?”
Jax continues to look at her, and at some point it becomes reproachful. He drops the bag and it lands on her head, a small puff of sugar filling the air around her. “Knock yourself out.”
He snatches what looks like pepper out of the cupboard then turns and marches off.
Probably in a rush to get back to the evil version of her.
where had that thought come from
Pomni is immediately on edge, fiddling with the sugar bag and looking downwards as she walks—
—right into someone.
The bag of powdered sugar explodes all over Pomni’s face. When the cloud clears she’s staring up at evil Jax whose overalls are now half white.
“Oh my god,” Pomni says. “I am so sorry. Oh my god.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” He exclaims, leaning down towards her with concerned eyes. “It got all over you!”
His hands hover in the air like he wants to wipe it away then start to fidget. “Are you alright?”
He’s just so much nicer than Jax. Jax is definitely the evil version, she thinks with amusement and, for some reason, the slightest tinge of bitterness.
Woah, woah, woah.
Pomni slams the breaks on that thought. She’s sure if she shared the sentiment with Jax he would laugh and agree. But the reproach she feels isn’t cool.
Evil Jax waves his hand in front of her face, wiping off his overalls. “Uh, you good?”
“Ahaha, yeah,” Pomni wheezes out. “Just covered in flour. I mean, sugar.”
That makes evil Jax laugh gently. “Well that’s okay! You’re pretty regardless.”
“Haha, well—“
The words register.
Pretty, huh?
Pomni prepares to be vaguely flattered. But instead a strange feeling hits and she feels heat creeping over her face. The other Jax looks nervous.
“Uhh, did I say the wrong thing—“
Pomni walks past him in a tizzy, heading for her work station and setting down the sugar. She feels weirdly flustered as she brushes the powder off and doesn’t like it.
It has less to do with the fake Jax and more to do with…
There’s the barking of laughter and she glances over to see evil Pomni throwing her head back at something Jax said. He’s grinning at her, talking, and then his eyes slide over and land on Pomni.
Her face reddens further and she feels embarrassed for a reason she can’t quite figure out.
Jax’s reaction pulls her out of it with some modicum of alarm as a variety of emotions wash over his expression.
First he looks surprised. Then he looks irritated.
Then he looks [BEEP]ed.
Her face reddens further. What is his problem?
Evil Pomni looks at Jax, smirk falling into something else. Then her eyes move over to Pomni, too.
“Those two are just so-” Ragatha’s voice drags Pomni’s attention away, though both their stares linger in her mind as Ragatha sighs. “Never mind. How are your cookies turning out, Pomni?”
Ah. Ragatha’s back.
“Umm…” Pomni looks at her cookies through the little oven door.
Then she grabs the oven mit as fast as she can and opens it, releasing a plume of smoke. She pulls her cookies out. Only about half of them are charred, the rest of them burnt.
“Oh god,” she says. “My cookies.”
“H-hey, it’s okay!” Ragatha attempts to cheer her up. “Maybe the judges won’t mind!”
Pomni looks over at Ragatha’s perfect sheets of pastry which are cooling on her table and nods.
“Watch out, Ragatha. I’m very quickly becoming stiff competition,” Pomni jokes, but she just kind of feels down.
She wonders if Ragatha can see it.
Ragatha laughs. “Oh Pomni, you’re so funny! May the best dessert win!”
“Yeah.”
Pomni wonders if Jax is still looking, and if so what kind of face he’s making. She doesn’t bother to turn and look. If he’s interested in Pomni’s attention the evil version of her seems more than happy to give it to him.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be nice about it,” Ragatha reassures, even as Chef Dictatorer yells something about two inches from Kinger’s face.
“About wha?” Pomni asks blankly, lost in her own thoughts.
“Your cookies,” Ragatha gently prompts.
“Oh, right.”
Pomni is flustered today. She starts to pick through her cookies for any that are edible. There are none, so she tosses them and sighs, trying to make something out of the remainder of her dough. The consistency has changed and it’s oddly sticky.
This adventure feels particularly long.
—
Pomni keeps a watchful eye over her cookies this time, squinting through the little door to get an idea of how cooked they are. Ragatha had advised her to turn down the heat on her oven again and she had, but Pomni doesn’t have very high hopes.
Honestly, she feels pretty crappy. She hasn’t fully registered why because thinking about it is uncomfortable. All she knows is it has something to do with Jax and his weird behavior combo’d with the other Pomni.
Jax probably thinks she’s way funnier. Pomni just doesn’t have the personality for mean-spirited humor. Does he prefer–
Pomni rolls her eyes. Oh so that’s what this is.
Is she [BEEP]ing jealous of herself?
That’s just embarrassing.
Pomni isn’t really the type to get jealous of friends. She considers herself to be someone who keeps pretty healthy boundaries so–
what the [BEEP] is this [BEEP]?
It’s as she gives a sigh and pulls away from the oven window that a voice startles her out of her thoughts.
“Sup, ugly.”
Pomni turns her head slowly, eyes wide, to see evil Pomni standing beside her with her hip jutted out. She’s grinning at Pomni with lowered eyelids and malicious intent.
Pomni really doesn’t want to talk to her.
“That… I…” Pomni is at a loss. She points at evil Pomni then at herself. “Wouldn’t that mean you’re ugly too…?”
Evil Pomni laughs at that, rolling her eyes as she flashes her shark-like teeth at Pomni. “Shows what you know. Being hot is an attitude and I actually pull it off.”
Hm.
She struts over, slumping over to look at Pomni’s cookies. “Ha! Those look like [BEEP]. Chef Dictatorer is going to rip you a new one.”
“I mean,” Pomni concedes. “Probably. Why are you talking to me?”
Her clone’s smirk deepens and she has the feeling she’s walked right into some kind of trap. “Well you just kept looking over. I thought maybe you felt neglected. What, you want an autograph?”
Then she sneers at Pomni. “Or were you hoping for Jax’s attention.”
Pomni freezes.
Oh.
Oh this [BEEP] is reading her like a book and Pomni does not appreciate it.
“Nnno?” she asks rather than says.
“Oh, so you don’t mind if I’m paying him a bunch of attention, then,” evil Pomni says casually, examining her glove.
“It’s a free country,” Pomni says flatly. She doesn’t know what reaction she should be having, but it’s probably not this.
“Is it? Is it really?” Her evil clone says flippantly. Then she gives Pomni this look of amusement like she’s missing out on some obvious joke. “Maybe you prefer evil Jax? Do you think he’s more your speed?”
“Wha?” Pomni’s brows shoot up. Then, to her displeasure, she feels them furrow. “He’s fine. Aren’t you supposed to be sabotaging my cooking, or…?”
“Ha!!” Evil Pomni cackles, glancing at the oven. “By the looks of your cookies I don’t even need to. Thanks for making my job easy.”
“Huh?” Pomni looks back at her cookies through the window.
Then she scrambles to take them out, nearly dropping them all on the ground as she pulls the half-burnt cookies from the oven. She sets them on her table and scowls. They look like [BEEP].
“What did I say?” Evil Pomni smirks. “They look like [BEEP].”
“Well then,” Pomni says with a defeated shrug. “Looks like your job’s done. See ya!”
“Awwww, you’re not having fun?” the other version of her taunts. “Jeez, such a buzzkill. No wonder Jax doesn’t want to hang out with you.”
Pomni opens her mouth to say something, unsure of what it might be.
“Oh noooo,” comes evil Jax’s voice, highkey and soft.
Pomni whirls around to look up at Jax’s double who is approaching with a worried look on his face.
“They got a little burnt, huh?” he says, looking down sadly at Pomni’s cookies. “N-not that they look bad! Actually, I like my cookies a little crispy so–”
“Nobody asked, dorkus,” evil Pomni snorts. She looks him up and down like she’s trying to figure out where to tackle him to take him down. “The cookies aren’t for you anyway, they’re for Coach Dictatorer.”
“You mean Chef Dictatorer,” evil Jax corrects.
Evil Pomni waves her hand. “Same diff. Now go take a hike.”
Evil Jax does not. Evil Pomni doesn’t make him.
“Can I try?” the other Jax asks, examining the cookies like there’s anything of worth there.
“Uhh,” Pomni says. “Knock yourself out.”
“I wish you would,” evil Pomni says, kicking at the back of his knee. It gives out and evil Jax nearly crumples to the ground, but catches himself on the counter.
He continues on as if nothing happened, picking up a cookie and taking a bite. His eyes roll up thoughtfully as he chews.
And then he slowly stops chewing.
Evil Jax glances between the two Pomnis nervously. The poor guy is starting to sweat.
Pomni sighs and picks up a paper towel, handing it to him. “It’s cool. Spit it out.”
There’s this moment where evil Jax clearly is trying to swallow the cookie. But then he grabs the paper towel and turns politely to spit it out. Great.
He turns back to Pomni with a nervous smile. “It wasn’t that bad.”
Something about that strikes Pomni even in the depths of the pout that’s creeping on and she laughs, amusement winning out.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah!” evil Jax insists.
“Yeah right.” Evil Pomni rolls her eyes, looking a little annoyed at Pomni’s mood. She gives her an even look. “He’s just saying that because he’s submissive and lame.”
“No, really! It’s the foundation of a great cookie!” evil Jax insists.
Pomni’s mouth curves up and she just shakes her head at him as he returns the little smile.
Evil Pomni snorts in disgust but there’s still some form of amusement shining behind them aimed at things Pomni can only guess at.
“Uhh, what is this?” the actual Jax’s voice cuts in with more than a little annoyance. “Why are the two Pomnis here with the lesser version of myself?”
That immediately has Pomni’s clone laughing. “Yeaaah he is! Got ‘im!”
Jax’s clone laughs nervously, maybe remembering how Jax had attacked him last time. “Haha… yeah…”
Jax sneers at him then looks over at Pomni’s cookies. “Ohhh, Pomni, I didn’t know you were a real baker. Chef [BEEP]ing Boyardee over here.”
“Actually,” the other Jax speaks up. “Chef Boyardee is more like canned spaghetti not baked goods–”
“You shut your mouth when you’re talking to me,” Jax snaps. ”Never correct me.”
Evil Jax shuts up immediately. He shares a nervous look with Pomni who just shrugs. The real Jax’s eyes narrow.
“So are we gonna just stand here all day with our [BEEP]s out or are we gonna sabotage Pomni?” evil Pomni asks, picking at her ear with her pinky finger. She flicks something away. “Cause I see powdered sugar and I’m sure we could do something with that.”
Pomni’s chest tightens with irrational annoyance that she immediately tries to assuage with humor.
“Oh, is that why you came over? Gonna sabotage the competition? Cause it’s too late. Mine are gonna win.” Pomni says, pointing at evil Jax with her thumb. “He tried one and said it was the best cookie he’s ever had.”
“Huh??” Evil Jax blinks rapidly. Then he nods and lies, “Oh, yeah, it was great!”
“Oh you tried it, did you?” Jax asks like it’s a betrayal.
“Y-yeah it was-” evil Jax starts, quickly cut off by Jax again.
“You shut your pie hole! You wouldn’t know good taste if it murdered your whole family! I’ll reassemble you into Ikea furniture!”
His evil clone blinks wide eyed at Jax then hesitantly offers, “I’m sure yours is really good too!”
“How dare you compliment me?! I’ll kill you!” Jax lunges towards him, evil Jax stumbling backwards with a little ’Eeek’!
“Hahaha! Fight, fight, fight!” evil Pomni chants, pumping her fist in the air.
“What are you all doing?” Ragatha’s voice cuts in. “All of you leave Pomni alone!"
Everyone’s heads turn and she stands back at her station from wherever she’d gone off to, hands on her hips. It’s hard to say who she looks most peeved about.
Pomni feels they’re on the precipice of a huge fight.
”ALRIGHT ALL YOU [BEEP]ERS GET IN LINE, AT YOUR STATIONS, GO GO GO, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”
Chef Dictatorer’s voice rings out over the area.
”THE TIME OF JUDGMENT HAS ARRIVED!”
It has not been five hours.
Evil Pomni snorts and motions at evil Jax. “Hey, come down here a sec.”
He leans down agreeably and evil Pomni yanks on his ear.
“Ow, ow, ow!!”
“We’ve got places to be. Later, losers.” She starts dragging evil Jax off, leaving Pomni with the real one.
She realizes she can’t look at him. It’s weird.
“May the best clown win,” she says a little flatly.
“Whoever wins this stupid thing is a clown,” Jax mutters, sounding put out like he hasn’t been having a blast all day with her counterpart.
Pomni doesn’t say anything and eventually she hears Jax walk away to his station. She dislikes the weird feeling in her chest.
She glances up to watch his back for a moment, then looks over at Ragatha who’s watching her with a frown that quickly turns up in a smile when she notices Pomni looking. Ragatha offers her a little thumbs up of encouragement, which Pomni returns even though she doesn’t feel anything but the desire to go lay on her bed.
“Alright you sorry excuses for lifeforms, it is time to show me what you are made of! Prepare for the taste test!” Chef Dictatorer cries from the front of the room, surrounded by his posse. Zooble’s evil clone has finally wandered back inside it seems, faced backwards.
The gaggle starts at Jax’s table.
Pomni finally brings herself to look over again and for a moment she thinks he still looks put out. Then he presents his dish, which Pomni can’t quite see from her station.
“Interesting color,” Chef Dictatorer states. “Like looking down at your mangled enemies!”
”Thank you, that’s what I was going for,” Jax states breezily.
Chef Dictatorer takes a forkful and holds it up to where his mouth would be, where it promptly disappears.
There are several seconds of silence and Jax finally prompts with anticipation, “Well?”
“This is not a dessert, it is an affront to God and all his angels! It is impossible to say how you could make something taste so distinctly like nothing and also decade old leather boots!” A gloved finger is jabbed in Jax’s face. “What do you have to say about this abomination?”
Jax brushes the hand from his face and smirks as he says, “I say I made something disgusting and you had to eat it. Like a loser.”
Chef Dictatorer looks close to losing it on Jax then starts to slowly nod. “I respect it. Always tear down your enemies, even if it means losing victory! Your touching words will increase your overall score. But heed me when I say never bake again!”
“Aw,” Jax says with false hurt, even as he turns to high five evil Pomni, who is snickering at his side.
“Nice,” she states.
Pomni’s chest prickles.
Jax’s gaze starts to turn towards her but Pomni’s eyes darts to Kinger, who’s next up.
“Well, I couldn’t remember the prompt, so I went with the theme ‘Spring Insect Collection’!” Kinger informs them cheerfully.
“That was not the prompt and just hearing you say those words makes me sick!” Chef Dictatorer yells.
“Foolish fool! Couldn’t even remember the most basic instructions!” Evil Ragatha chortles. “Humiliation will follow you like a stain!”
“Stains can’t walk,” Evil Zooble interjects and the other clones all stare in annoyance before ignoring them.
“Anyway,” Chef Dictatorer moves things along. “Let’s taste this weak concoction of yours!”
Pomni is close enough to see Kinger has made a beautiful light green pie as his counterpart tries a bite.
He stands there, and stands there. Is he… chewing? Thinking? Frozen?
“You good?” Evil Orbsman finally asks.
“No, I am evil!” Chef Dictatorer suddenly cries, making Kinger jump. He fixes Kinger with a sharp glare then slowly holds out his hand.
Kinger tilts his head as he looks at it then reaches out to shake hands.
“You may be a mother[BEEP]er but you make a [BEEP] fine key lime pie!” Chef Dictatorer declares.
“Gosh, I’m so honored. Thank you! I can’t remember where I learned the recipe but I remember loving it,” Kinger says happily.
“C-can I try a piece?” evil Jax asks.
“Only I may taste things!” Chef Dictatorer slaps him down hard.
“O-okay,” evil Jax says in a weak, agreeable voice as they move on to–
Oh god it’s Pomni’s turn.
Pomni immediately gets shifty eyes.
"I made, uh--"
"Sugar cookies!" Kinger's very evil clone cries. "So simple even a child could do it!"
"Hahahahahaha!" comes evil Ragatha's laughter.
Chef Dictatorer picks up a cookie and examines it.
“They’re supposed to flatten out,” Pomni tells him, met with mixed snickering from the peanut gallery.
“No [BEEP] they're supposed to flatten out,” Chef Dictatorer grouses then brings it closer. A piece disappears with a chomp sound.
He immediately turns his head and spits it out.
"Disgraceful! I wouldn't serve these to my worst enemy!"
"Uhh," Pomni says.
"I've tasted dirt that was better than this!" the fake chef claims. "You lose!"
Pomni nods. "Okay."
Evil Jax gives her a sad smile. "Next time, eh?"
There had better not be a next time.
“Sucks to suuuuck,” her evil clone tells her with a smug grin before wandering off with the others to Ragatha’s station, where she starts to over-explain her pastry.
She seems really nervous about it and Pomni feels bad for her.
Pomni notices evil Jax has lingered and her eyebrows raise slightly. He gives an anxious laugh and wave then rushes over to stand with the other evil clones.
“--so the layers should be-” Ragatha is rambling and she’s cut off by a sharp gesture from Chef Dictatorer. “Silence! Your dish will speak for itself!”
Ragatha’s mouth turns into a grimace as Chef Dictatorer takes a bite. The tension feels almost palpable, Ragatha clasping her hands together tightly.
Chef Dictatorer’s hand suddenly moves out, like it had for Kinger, and Ragatha’s eye goes wide. She tentatively reaches out, her hand caught and shaken firmly. “Oh, oh wow! You like it that much? I’m so glad-!”
“Yes, it’s delicious! I can really taste your suffering in it! Just phenomenal!”
“Eh…?” Ragatha responds weakly, clearly not sure how to take that.
“To the next! We don’t have all day!” Chef Dictatorer cries, leading them to-
“Where is Orbsman?” He demands as they come to the empty station.
Evil Orbsman shakes his head. “The cowardly jerk didn’t show his face!”
“Orbsman isn’t even from the Circus!” Gangle cries in frustration, understandably not over being slighted.
Chef Dictatorer glares in her direction then gestures with a thumb. “Who is this intruder?”
The others all shrug.
Evil Zooble suggests, “Maybe she’s a piece of litter that blew in!”
The actual Zooble narrows their eyes with displeasure. “Can we just get mine out of the way so this is over already?”
“Prepare to be judged!” Kinger’s double states, heading over to look at Zooble’s charred… whatever they were making.
Chef Dictatorer holds it up, examining the burnt remains then takes a bite, then spits it to the ground. “Hmmm, tastes like the flames of oppression, I like it! Inedible but hits the assignment!”
He clenches his fist, crumbling the rest of the burnt pastry. “The tasting segment has concluded and your worth will be evaluated!”
The clones head back to the judge’s table so Chef Dictatorer can address them all. “In last place is Pomni, who should be ashamed and feel bad. Everyone, point and laugh!”
Their evil clones immediately do so, except for evil Jax. Pomni can’t help herself from glancing over at the real one. He’s not laughing either.
“Next, while I appreciate the artistic choice, Zooble comes in second to last. That was inedible!”
“That’s what you get for makin’ a hat!” Zooble’s doppelganger states in a silly voice.
“What does that even mean?” Zooble scoffs in annoyance as the next ranking is announced.
“In third we have Jax, whose blood thirsty nature should be recognized, feared, and respected!”
“Thank you, thank you, I am a proud pest,” Jax says, waving to all of them like he’s in a parade.
Pomni's eyes meet his briefly and a gut-wrenching jolt goes through her. She looks away again, feeling unpleasantly flustered.
“In second, though I find him revolting, is my good counterpart, Kinger! Though you just absolutely [BEEP]ed up the theme, I did feel something in this cold heart of mine!”
“Neat!” Kinger declares, looking like the only truly happy person there.
“That leaves our winner, Ragatha! The delicate layer of your pastry is ingeniously infused with misery in every bite. I was haunted and satisfied by the taste. Well done!”
“I- won? Really?” Ragatha asks in disbelief, expression clearing into something less troubled as her smile almost reaches her eye.
“Goodness, you can feel how little competition there was for Ragatha to be the winner!” Her evil clone titters hysterically.
Ragatha scowls for a moment then tries to ignore her, looking over at Pomni instead. “Can you believe it, Pomni? I got first!”
“Yes! Your prize is the knowledge that you are better than your peers and nothing else!” Chef Dictatorer declares. “With that, the Great Amazing Bakeoff has concluded!”
Despite it being over, he continues to go off about something, yelling and hollering about a dish he once made that he definitely never made.
Pomni looks over at Ragatha and gives her a thumbs up.
"Congratulations! It looked really tasty!" Pomni says with a smile. "You should see if Bubble will let you bake sometime."
Ragatha's smile falters. "Maybe, but... I don't know. Bubble is really territorial about the kitchen."
"Screw what Ragatha made, I wanna taste the mess you created," says a voice behind Pomni that she immediately identifies as Jax. She jumps and turns around, looking up at him a little nervously.
Jax seems to take in her expression and his smirk turns to a scowl.
Then he smirks again, leaning over Pomni's table to examine her cookies.
"Too bad the evil counterparts didn't get to taste them. Oh well, more for me!"
Pomni's arm shoots out and she shields her cookies.
"Nope," she says.
Jax's eyebrows shoot up and he looks indignant. "Wha? Oh come on. They're [BEEP]y, let me just have one!"
His arm tries to snake around her protective barrier.
Pomni tries to fend off his attacks, but Jax is too fast. He snatches up a cookie and immediately holds it out of her reach with a grin.
"Ha! Short!!"
It's then that Pomni has a [BEEP]ing outburst.
"The other Pomni is short too, but I don't see you ragging on her!"
It's said way too loud. Shouted, really. Pomni's heart stops as everyone looks over.
Her eyes land on her clone, who is laughing at her, then nervously move back to Jax.
Jax is staring at her like she's suddenly grown a second head.
"Why would I do that?" Jax asks, the question sounding surprisingly genuine. "She wouldn't have a funny reaction."
Then with a tone of surprise that feels mocking after how this whole adventure has played out, "Are you mad at me?"
Pomni's eyes go wide.
Oh no.
Oh no now he thinks she's mad at him. She’s [BEEP]ing things up.
And then something absolutely stupid happens.
Tears fill Pomni's eyes.
"No?" she says in a small voice.
Jax looks taken aback, brow pinching in.
"Wait, whoa. Hey, what's wrong?" Jax is clueless. Great. That makes it worse for sure. It's just Pomni.
He reaches out to her when Ragatha's voice cuts in, "Would you stop upsetting Pomni?"
Jax's expression hardens and his hand stops short then falls to his side.
"Ugghhh, you win first place and now you're God? Huh? Fine, jeez, I won't eat it." Jax flips the cookie to the counter where it crumbles to pieces.
Pomni wants to diffuse this, tell Ragatha that Jax didn't do anything wrong. This is on Pomni.
But when she opens her mouth she can feel the floodgate of emotions and makes the mistake of looking at her double.
Evil Pomni is grinning maliciously. She puts her finger under her eye and mimes a tear falling down it before mouthing, 'Crybaby.'
Pomni turns sharply and walks away, going to find a place to calm down until the portal opens up again.
She doesn't know why she's acting this way, but it's not cool.
—
Pomni sits on the edge of the world.
She didn't have to go far. Beyond a little hill was a sheer drop off into nothing. Caine hadn't bothered to build a whole setting for this one and with the content she can't blame him.
She feels so dumb.
What had that even been? Maybe she just got overwhelmed. That has to be it. She stares dully out into the blue void they're floating in, kicking her legs off the side of the cliff. It's kind of calming.
"Um, hey," a small voice squeaks, startling Pomni so badly she starts to fall forward off the edge of the world.
She gasps sharply, preparing for the inevitably horrible conclusion her fall will lead to, when a hand is suddenly on her shoulder and yanking her back into-
"Oh my gosh, that was a close call, huh? I bet that would have been a really long tumble!" evil Jax says nervously behind her, hand lingering.
Pomni tilts her head back to look at him, heart still pounding.
"Oh," she says, a little shellshocked. "It's you."
Evil Jax glances to the side then back. "I can leave you be."
Pomni shakes her head. "No, it's fine. What's, um, up?"
"Oh!" He looks so happy not to be sent away. "It's just, I saw you leaving and you seemed kind of down so um."
He sounds like he's making himself increasingly anxious before blurting out, "Are you okay?"
Pomni looks at him with wide eyes. Something about the words out of Jax's mouth really hit her as strange and–
Pomni looks away.
"I'm okay," she says. "It's just been a weird day."
"Yeah?" evil Jax says, fretting. "Do you... want to talk about it?"
Not really.
"I... guess I'm just feeling self-conscious."
"O-oh?" He's definitely not programmed for this which is why it's weird he asked. "Well... I think you're pretty neat."
"No offense," Pomni says. "But you don't really know... me."
"Maybe," he says. "But I know part of you."
Pomni looks back at him, lips parting in uncertain surprise. Then she gives the NPC a little smile and pats the ground next to her.
"Wanna dangle your legs off the edge?"
"Oh, I dunno..." evil Jax peers over the ledge doubtfully.
"Aw, c'mon, daddy-long-legs," Pomni's smile grows a bit.
"Who the [BEEP] are you calling ‘Daddy?’"
Pomni hurts her neck looking back so fast. Jax is standing behind them both.
He's seething over the sight of his clone, eyes practically turning into daggers as he glares down the other Jax.
"Oh, hello-" his clone starts.
"If you ever try to exchange pleasantries with me again I'll rip off your ears and choke you with them!" Jax exclaims with feeling.
Then his eyes turn sharply to Pomni. "What is this [BEEP]!?"
Pomni's eyes go wide as UFOs.
"Huh– what?" she stumbles, baffled. "What's what?"
Jax's expression screws up into displeasure and something else she doesn't have time to interpret before he throws his arms angrily into the air, proclaiming, "This is bull[BEEP]!"
"Aw, I'm sorry, are you not having a fun time? Did the other Pomni say something mean?" The other Jax asks with wide eyes that definitely only increase Jax's aggression.
"What'd I say?!" Jax cries, stepping forward and giving his clone a hard shove.
The other Jax's arms pinwheel and then he gives a soft little yelp of surprise as he falls off the edge of the world.
"Oh my god, even his death cry sounds pathetic and weird!" Jax shouts in offense.
"Jax!" Pomni cries as she watches evil Jax plummet, growing smaller and smaller until he's just a pinprick. She looks back at Jax in alarm.
He's an NPC, but who knows how much Caine worked on the counterparts. Can he feel pain? Maybe?
"What is your beef?" Pomni asks, a little aghast. "You already chewed him up on the baseball field."
"Not enough, clearly," Jax hisses through his teeth.
He glares at Pomni, and glares, until her own brow starts to furrow. "Did you just come out here to glare at me or...?"
"Yup that's why I'm here! I'm a [BEEP]hole, what else could it be?" Jax says dramatically before crossing his arms. "I can't believe you're actually hanging out with that wimp!"
Jax starts to tap his foot in irritation then seems to catch himself, abruptly stopping.
"I..." Pomni is at a loss.
Jax looks really angry.
upset
Pomni thinks of her counterpart's smirking face and feels a flash of irritation.
"What's the big deal? You've been hanging out with my evil twin all day," she tells him flat out.
"What? So what?" Jax sounds so baffled it sends another sting of irritation through her.
"How is it any different?" Pomni demands dryly.
"It's totally different, that guy sucks!" Jax protests.
Ah, but evil Pomni doesn't suck.
Is he self-conscious about evil Jax making him look bad? The longer Pomni looks at him the more aggravated he seems to become.
"Welp," she says at length. "Can't hang with him now."
"[BEEP] right you can't."
Pomni rolls her eyes and stands up, brushing off out of instinct rather than an actual need to in this digital space.
"Are you mad at me?" she asks earnestly, meeting Jax's eyes.
Jax seems to be deciding and that makes her feel tired. This has not been a great day for Pomni. Most of them aren't nowadays.
Jax's gaze finally averts towards the sheer drop. "Why would I be?"
"I... dunno."
Pomni looks at him a moment longer then also turns her gaze to the void. She thinks she can see the tiniest dot that might be evil Jax still falling.
Then she looks away.
"C'mon," Pomni says. "Let's go home."
She stiffens a bit at the word. She hadn't meant to say that.
But isn't it true, though?
Jax grunts, still displeased. Pomni can't figure out what he wants from her and if he won't say then they're at an impasse. Pomni waits a second then starts to walk towards the tent.
"Do you like that [BEEP]y copy more than me?" Jax blurts at her back.
Pomni turns around so fast it seems to alarm Jax, who rears back slightly.
"... no," she says at length.
"Liar," Jax denies. "Don't tell lies."
Pomni shakes her head at him. Is that why he's upset.
Is he jealous...?
She doubts that's it, but it makes her uncomfortable because then she has to sit in what she begrudgingly acknowledges as her own jealousy.
"I'm not lying," Pomni says. "You're the one who's my friend."
does Jax like the other Pomni better?
Jax stands with his hip jutted out, looking at Pomni like he's trying to believe her, then like he can't quite do it.
He takes on a haughty expression instead. "That's right I'm the one that's your friend. And as your friend I'm telling you not to hang out with creepy little NPCs."
Pomni opens her mouth to respond but Jax cuts her off, walking past her. "Let's go back before Caine forgets us in this stupid adventure."
Huh.
Pomni trails after Jax, thinking of the fallen NPC and wondering at her own
emotions.
The portal is waiting for them back in the tent, thank [BEEP].
”There you are,” Zooble says with relief. “Come on, let’s get out of this [BEEP]y adventure.”
Pomni couldn’t agree more.
As they pass evil Pomni, she gives Jax a lazy high five and Pomni a glare.
This is really weird.
It’s the last thought that washes over her as she steps through the portal.
—
Pomni sits with Ragatha and Gangle who are discussing some old movie they’d both watched in the real world. Pomni doesn’t want to be a poor sport, but movie discussions are so boring when she hasn’t seen the film. It gives her time to lose herself in thought.
What the Hell was up with today’s adventure? It had been horrible. She never wants to bake again.
But that’s not what’s bothering her.
Pomni’s thoughts return to catching glimpses of Jax and evil Pomni getting along, thick as thieves. Laughing and joking together so easily. Pomni knows her own humor is stilted and doesn’t mesh with Jax’s the same way. He makes her laugh. But he probably doesn’t think Pomni is funny at all–
What the–?
Pomni straightens up on the couch so suddenly Ragatha and Gangle glance at her. She pretends to just be changing positions.
Of course Jax thinks she’s funny. This is ridiculous. She literally has daily proof that he thinks she’s funny, so what’s this irrational nonsense that’s become lodged in her brain?
I want him to like me better than her
The thought swims in her chest, threatening to grow and become uncomfortable, detrimental. She takes a deep breath and calms herself.
It’s then that Pomni sees Jax at a distance.
He’s walking through the Circus, a deep scowl on his face. Before Pomni realizes it, she’s on her feet and walking towards him. Ragatha and Gangle continue to talk behind her as she slips away, heading after Jax at a trot.
When she finally catches up to him he’s slowed to a stop, crossed his arms. He’s a little hunched and she can tell that he’s crabby even with his back facing her.
“Hey, Jax,” she greets on uneven footing.
“What.”
Oh yeah, he’s in a crappy mood. Pomni doesn’t say anything for a moment and he stiffens up before turning around, giving her an unamused look.
“What is it,” he says again.
“Oh, uh…”
Pomni’s heart pitter patters.
She hadn’t come to him with anything prepared to say. But does she need to?
They’re friends, right?
Pomni considers the emotions she’s been feeling all day, the strain. She thinks she sees something similar in Jax’s eyes. The unpleasantness eases and she offers him a little smile.
“Do you wanna explore with me?”
Jax stares at her almost suspiciously before averting his gaze and muttering, “No.”
“Why not?” Pomni asks, concern mixing into her tone. He always wants to explore.
His eyes move back to her slowly and then he gives a sharp scoff, straightening up. “Well when you put it like that.”
Then his mouth seems to turn up reluctantly into a smile. “Sure, why not.”
It’s Jax who starts leading them off down a hall at a brisk pace, Pomni trailing after. She catches up to him and peeks up at his face curiously.
“Hey, Jax?”
Jax’s eyes glance at her then immediately away. “What.”
Words come out of Pomni’s mouth.
“The clones are wacky and all, but I have more fun when it’s just us.”
Jax raises his eyebrows, a hand coming to rest on his hip as they walk. “Oh yeah? Even though you were all buddy buddy with the stupid me?”
“You were hanging out with my clone the whole time,” Pomni counters.
That makes Jax look over with this expression like he’s suddenly gleaned something, head tilting. “Mmm, well. You’re still right, it’s more fun when it’s just us.”
Pomni feels oddly seen.
She gives Jax a smile.
just us
“Sooo,” Pomni says. “Do you want to go back to the puzzle room?”
“Oh, the one with the flying hammers?” Jax asks.
“I– what? No? There’s one with flying hammers?” Pomni asks a little nervously. “Definitely not that one–”
“That one it is,” Jax says, changing directions so fast it gives Pomni whiplash.
“Wait up,” she says. Jax starts walking faster. “Jax, wait up!”
“Get longer legs, loser,” Jax says flippantly, quickening his stride.
Pomni glares at his back as he starts trotting off like a [BEEP]hole.
But as she chases him through the Circus she starts to wonder how long something like this can last.
She hopes they stay friends for a long time.