âYou feel the bulge in his pantsâ - implies that you are feeling some guyâs penis, may be sexy depending on context
âYou feel the bugle in his pantsâ - implies that this guy has a military horn in his pants, invites confusing questions like why does he have that and how big are his pockets
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When people argue that food from Chinese and Mexican restaurants in the US are not 'real' representations of that culture's cuisine ignore the historical reality that these dishes were developed by diasporic communities striving to recreate the flavors of home with available resources. Such criticism frames adaptation as a loss of authenticity, rather than recognizing it as a sincere and evolving expression of culture by people separated from their homeland.
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So. For those of you who didn't pay attention to the details of the legal spat between Krafton and Unknown Worlds, allow me to give you some details of the finest legal comedy of a generation.
Krafton CEO looks at the hype surrounding Subnautica 2, goes over the contract between Krafton and Unknown Worlds, realizes he'll have to pay out bonuses and freaks out because shelling out those bonuses will make him look like a pushover.
CEO goes to his legal department, asks them to come up with a plan to weasel out of paying bonuses. Legal tells him the contract is iron-clad and to accept the loss.
CEO refuses to take the loss, asks ChatGPT for a plan. ChatGPT says the exact same thing the legal department did.
CEO demands a plan from ChatGPT, which dutifully spits out a plan at this point because clearly the CEO is a goddamn idiot.
CEO deletes the chat logs, failing to understand that 'delete' doesn't permanently remove things.
CEO follows plan, and is surprised when Unknown Worlds sues for breach of contract despite being told by both humans and an LLM that is exactly what would happen.
Court does not go well for Krafton's legal department. It comes out that after ignoring the sound legal advice of human beings, the CEO went to ChatGPT and asked for a plan. When asked for the logs by the court, Krafton's legal team states they were deleted, thus that it's simply herersay. Judge goes "Oh, that's okay, we'll have our IT folks recover them." Krafton's legal team is astounded that's even possible.
The chat logs are recovered. It comes out that even ChatGPT was in agreement with Krafton's legal department, and only spat out a plan after being asked a second time.
The judge, now thoroughly done with the stupidity of Krafton's CEO at this point, rules in favor of Unknown Worlds. Her ruling doesn't simply undo the scheme, but effectively leaves all control over Subnautica 2's development in the hands of Unknown Worlds, including the early access release date, reducing Krafton to just publishing out of contractual obligation. Krafton must also return all social media platforms for Unknown Worlds and Subnautica 2 to Unknown Worlds' control. Financial damages will be determined at a later date.
Krafton proceeds to violate the court order in less than 72 hours by trying to set an early access release date before returning Unknown Worlds' social media platforms.
Summary: In trying not to look like a pushover, Krafton's CEO now looks like a complete idiot who's going to have to fork over bonuses, plus court-mandated damages, plus whatever comes out of violating the court's orders. Krafton's legal department may as well come to court dressed as clowns after this. I suspect Unknown Worlds might buy the rights to Subnautica back after all this and either relegate Krafton to just publishing or find a different publisher for future games altogether.
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dating simulator where it starts normal but it slowly becomes clear that all of the romanceable characters are attempting to cover up an extremely specific murder they committed a year ago before you arrived
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A/N Did I say 2 chapters? Clearly I meant 2 chapters and an epilogue
(Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Epilogue)
---------------------------------------------
âYOUâRE RIGHT! THAT ISNâT FAIR!â Caine chorused.
Caine snapped his fingers.
Jax stiffened.
Jax fell silent. The smile dripped off his face. He looked at his hands. He looked at Caine.
âWhat did you do?â Jax asked.
âI MADE IT SO YOU CANâT LIE!â
Silence settled like a stiff blanket, and then finally Jax whispered ââŠWhat?â
âŠ
In the seconds that followed, Zoobleâs glare burned sharper into Jax. They were suspicious, or doubtful, or simply unwilling to be strung along for another prank. And they seemed to take Jaxâs stiff silence as yet another trap they would not fall for.
But in those seconds, Jaxâs posture did not rebound, nor his spirit, nor his buoyancy. The hunch and trepidation in his taut shoulders acted as a tell so very un-Jax-like. The meaning sunk in slowly for Zooble, whose eyes went wider, and then wider still.
âOh he actually did it, didnât he?â
âShut up,â Jax bit back. His eyes flitted like gnats between his hands and Zooble. âCaine canât do tha--â Jax winced, and it was strange, as if the words bit him. âCaine⊠maybe can do that. But I donât want him to. I donât want this.â Jax looked up. His trepidation flashed to anger. He leaned his weight into his demand. âCaine! I want you to turn this off!â
âQUESTION TO JAX!!! JAX, WHAT IS A PAST JOB ZOOBLE HAS HELD?â
âBartender. Or tattoo artist, take your pick.â Jax went instantly stiff. His eyes widened, hunted, prey-like. He brushed his fingers feather-light against his lips, and a fresh sort of calamity took over his face. âHey Caine, I donât like that you can make me say things! Thatâs not cool, Caine!â
Caine gave no indication heâd even heard Jax, but the eager leaning-in, the unseen grin, and the joyously squinted eyes of Zooble were all too happy to engage him.
âGuess you did remember,â Zooble said, chuckling. Jaxâs eyes shot to them, murderous.
âDonât enjoy this. Donât you dare enjoy this,â Jax ground out through his teeth.
âZOOBLE, IS JAXâS ANSWER CORRECT?â
âItâs spot on.â
âPOINT FOR JAX! ZOOBLE SWITCHES OFF WITH KINGER. JAX REMAINS ON THE PODIUM!â
âWait, no.â And Jaxâs attention shifted fully off Zooble, alarm brewing under the surface as he addressed Caine. âI do not want to remain on the podium,â Jax stated simply, like a single coat of paint over a mold infestation of panic. âCaine, I want to throw the match. Caine, I want to get off the podium.â
Kinger had loped his way onto the stage. He stepped with care to not trip where he had tripped before. He used his hands for balance as he mounted the podium â for all the good his disconnected hands would do. And when he had successfully not tripped and had not fallen, Kinger looked up, and pleasant surprise flashed across his face.
âJax! Weâre opponents again.â
âCaine.â
âNOT YOUR TURN, JAX! ITâS KINGERâS TURN FOR THE QUESTION.â
âAh! The choice of question.â Kinger tapped a finger against his non-existent chin. Jax watched him like Kinger was holding him at gunpoint. âThis is a get-to-know-you trivia⊠I should choose something that would be nice for us to know about each other. How about⊠what are your hopes and dreams?â
âKinger, noââ
âGREAT QUESTION KINGER! I LOVE THE WHIMSY! UP FIRST IS JAX. JAX, WHAT ARE KINGERâS HOPES AND DREAMS.â
âChrist, I dunno, trapeze artist, I wantââ
âKINGER, IS JAXâS ANSWER CORRECT?â
Kinger chuckled. He shook his head, âWell thatâs just notâŠâ And then Kinger stopped himself, contemplation bright in his eyes. He held a hand to his chin again. âWell wait a moment⊠that may just be possible... Oh I can picture it now. Me! High up above center stage! My name up in lights. The whole crowd cheering for me, Kinger! Oh it would be a delightful show. Jax! Youâve inspired me! This is my dream in life.â
âWhat.â
âPOINT TO JAX! JAX GETS TO REMAIN ON THE PODIUM NEXT ROUND.â
Jaxâs podium counter ticked up to 8. Confetti blorped around him.
âNo. No no no.â Jax swept his arms out effusively, wide X-slashes through the air. âNo. No. Caineââ
âTO KINGER NOW!â
âThat wasnât his answer until I SAID it!! Thatâs cheating!â Jax grabbed the podium and threw his weight forward, stretched on tip-toe, as if reaching himself that fraction closer to Caine would make Caine listen. âThat doesnât count!â
âOh, not a big fan of cheating suddenly?â Zooble asked, sing-song, from the team-box.
âYou can shut up!â Jax yelled, one finger aggressively shoved in Zoobleâs direction.
âTO KINGER NOW!!!!! KINGER, WHAT ARE JAXâS HOPES AND DREAMS?â
âJaxâs hopes and dreams⊠Well Jax is a very capable and ambitious young man⊠I can only guess his dream is to resume his rightful position as president of Paraguay!â
âJAX, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âNo.â
âWHAT IS THE CORRECT ANSWER, JAX?â
That thin coat of paint over Jaxâs agitation was peeling. A strained noise broke through his teeth, like a man mutinying against his need to breathe. And while breathing in the Circus was optional, Caineâs control was not.
âHopesanddreamsâŠâ Jax said like he was fighting to eat the words. âI mean⊠who really HAS hopes and dreams? Thatâs so childish. IâŠâ Jax went silent a moment. His face loosened, and the escalating panic was made a prisoner just within his eyes, concentrated, quarantined. His mouth moved freely. âI was applying to a dental assistant program before I got pulled into the Circus⊠I was hoping maybe if I got accepted, then that would be something to⊠do. Hahaâbut itâs not like Iâd call that a dream! Haha! Thought it might get Mom off my back. Thought maybe it would make me sound important. I wouldnât have to think anymore when people asked, âWhat do you do?â I was just filling a void. I saw it on a billboard.I donât dream of dentistry. Or anything. I mean--!!! How the heck are you supposed to have âdreamsâ when you donât plan to live pasâggrraaaaaaaâŠ! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!â
Jax sucked in breath like a drowning man. He gripped the podium side with enough force for his arms to quiver. Confetti shivered off him like leaves shed in a storm. He screamed quietly, monotone, through several more exhales, each punctuated by an inhale. His hateful eyes found Caine, and the expression lasted only a moment before the hate pierced like an egg yolk and dripped into fear.
âCaine, I forfeit the game! Caine, I want you to get this thing off me. Iâll behaâIâll do whatever thing you want me to do so you let me go!â
âNO FORFEITING! AND NO POINTS TO KINGER! KINGER WILL EXIT THE STAGE!â
âOh... well⊠Iâm glad you had me on your gameshow,â Kinger responded.
âI want to get off the podium!!!!â
âOH THATâS EASY. YOU GET OFF THE PODIUM WHEN YOU GET A QUESTION WRONG.â Caine tapped a finger to his denture chin. ââŠMAYBE TRY BEING WORSE AT TRIVIA.â
And all too quickly Kinger was off the podium again. He loped off just as heâd loped on, carefree. It was almost fascinating to watch all situational context slide so happily off him. Kinger was playing trivia. Kinger harbored no context more for the adventure than simple trivia.
Pomni could not spare the mental real estate to really think about itâshe had only enough space in her mind to feel a vague pang of jealousy for Kingerâs happiness.
And then Pomni thought of it no more, because Kingerâs dismissal from the podium came with an unspoken summons back up, and it demanded her attention in full.
Did it have to be so soon? Did it have to be him, again, the same unbeaten podium-defender as last time?
Pomni stood, because she had no more say in this game than Jax did.
Before Pomni could move, Zooble put a hand to her shoulder. âThis is great, actually. Now you can kill him for real,â Zooble said. Pomni gave a chuckle that she did not feel.
Kinger held happily to his high spirits as he shuffled positions with Pomni. They slid past each other. The fur of Kingerâs robes tickled her face. Pomni tried to give him a smile, and he gave it back with his eyes. âGo getâim, Tiger!â Kinger said with a thumbs-up. Pomni wasnât really sure what she was meant to be âgetting.â
And when she set herself to the podium, and set her hands to the wooden edge, and looked at her opponent, Jax would look everywhere else but her again. He smoothed his hands over his ears once, twice, until he could scrub the agitation out of his posture.
âQUESTION TO JAX!â
There was some calculation churning behind the eyes that would not look at her. ââWhat outfit are you wearing?ââ
âA STYLE QUESTION! TO POMNI NOW! POMNI, WHAT OUTFIT IS JAX WEARING?â
Pomni did not answer immediatelyânot for lack of an answer, but because the question surprised her. It was a nothing question. It was perhaps an intentionally nothing question, which could not be turned against Jax and used as serrated barbs to rip words from his mouth.
âUm, overalls.â
âJAX! IS THAT CORRECT?â
âYes,â Jax answered, flat.
âPOINT TO POMNI!!!!â Pomniâs podium ticked up to 6. Confetti dropped on her head. She picked a flake of red tissue paper from her cap and held it between her fingers, watching the way the stage lights slipped through it.âNOW JAX, WHAT OUTFIT IS POMNI WEARING?â
âSheâs wearing a jester costume I mean a jester costume I mean a jester costume I mean a jester costume I mean a jester cosâaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!â Jax grabbed his ears. âIâm not allowed to lie about THAT?!â
âYOUâRE NOT ALLOWED TO LIE ABOUT ANYTHING.â
âI thought I wasnât allowed to lie about me! Iâm not allowed to lie about anything?!â
âRIGHT. YOUâRE NOT ALLOWED TO LIE ABOUT ANYTHING. POMNI, IS JAXâS ANSWER CORRECT?â
âPomni!!!â And finally, Jax was looking at her. Pomni let the confetti drop from her fingers. She met Jaxâs desperate eyes, his pupils flickering between hers. âPomni, youâre allowed to say my answer is wrong. I want you to say my answer is wrong.â
âIsnât that cheating?â Pomni asked. âYou know, the exact thing youâre being punished for right now?â
âYes!â Jax answered with a crack to his voice. âBut I guess Iâm willing to get you in trouble if it benefits me! AaaaaaaaahhhhâŠ.!â Jax smacked his hands to his face. âI donât WANT to get you in trouble! You donât deserve to be dragged down with me! But Iâm asking you to do it because I really really hate this!â
âPOMNI, IS JAXâS ANSWER CORRECT?â
âWell, I am wearing a jester costume.â
âPOINT TO JAX!!! THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE STREAK FROM JAX! EXTRA CONFETTI!!â Jaxâs podium ticked up to 9. A bucket of confetti teetered above him, and tipped, and buried him in a mountain of colorful bits of paper. âQUESTION TO POMNI!!â
âPomni wait,â Jax shook himself free from Confetti Mountain. He kicked his feet out and gave a few futile sweeps of his arms and head before resigning himself to all the residual confetti decorating him. âPomni, I need you to come up with a question Iâll get wrong. Please? I need to get off the stage. I know youâre mad at me, and this is a great chance to punish me, and I deserve it! But youâre nice so maybe you wonât.â And when Pomni did not immediately answer him, Jax hastily added, âIâm sorry about my question from before, you know! And I canât lie so you know I mean that! I just need you to help me out. Iâll owe you one. Just choose a question Iâll get wrong.â
Internally, Pomni prodded at that wet wounded feeling still damp in her chest. Was that itâŠ? She was ânice.â She was the person who helped everyone out, maybe?
Jax had said everyone had an archetype. There was some behavior expected of her. Some person she was supposed to become. The helpful oneâŠ? Maybe that was her. She did a lot of that around the Circus. Roll with the punches, take it on the chin, seek the moral high-ground to still help people whoâd wronged herâespecially if it was a friend.
The thought felt like someone was holding her lungs just a bit too tight. No. No, that wasnât her. Pomni wasnât a doormat. She helped when she wanted to. And while she couldnât quite call her feelings toward Jax anger, she did not feel so inclined to help him right now.
What did she want with him, though? Because she didnât actually want to punish Jax either. Sheâd wanted an apology from him. That much was true. And heâd just given one. âIâm sorry.â
Why didnât it feel like enough?
âActually, Pomni, just a thought hereââ Zooble spoke, tinker arm raised like Zooble had a classroom question. Pomni looked to them, as did Jax, though his expression was unmistakably sour. âI donât really think itâs your responsibility to save Jax from the consequences of his own actions. He wasnât planning to apologize to you. He only did it because Caineâs magic is forcing him to admit it, and because he wants something from you now.â Zooble shifted their eyes to Jax. âA normal person would not be having a Category 12 Meltdown over not lying for one game. I think he can deal with it.â
âZooble you are really not helping me,â Jax said.
âOh, good, Iâm not trying to.â
âPomni, look at me.â Jax pivoted his attention to Pomni. He held his hands at shoulder level, palms out, as if to show he meant no harm. âI already admitted I was wrong, okay? I was super wrong. So maybe out of the goodness of your heart you could help me out?â
The goodness of her heartâŠ
âAre you actually sorry?â Pomni asked.
âYes!â Jax answered.
âAnd would you have ever said âIâm sorryâ if Caine wasnât forcing you to admit it?â Zooble asked.
âI wo--- I wwww--- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa----!!!!!!!!â He grabbed his face, stretching the skin down. âCome on Pomni this is torture!â
âI thought you liked torture?â Zooble asked. âOr is that only when youâre doing it to us?â
âI really really want you to stay out of this, Zooble!â He dropped his hands from his face.
âWould you have apologized to Pomni under your own free will?â
âNo!â
âThen I think Pomni should ask whatever question she likes.â Zooble crossed their arms. âAnd for your sake? I hope she doesnât go easy on you.â
Jax was breathing heavily through eternally-gritted teeth. The hatred bright in his eyes could have been for Zooble, but it lingered even when he stopped looking at them. He drilled the loathing into the sight of his own hands, and he then snapped his head up.
âOkay!! Okay!!!! I guess Zoobleâs just totally correct then! Pomni, ask your question!â
So Pomni did.
âCaine, my question is âWho are your friends in the Circus?ââ
âA FRIENDSHIP QUESTION! QUESTION TO JAX! JAX, WHO ARE POMNIâS FRIENDS IN THE CIRCUS?â
âLike... everyone, basically? Everyone just likes her, and they should, since sheâs so--gaaa!â
âPOMNI IS THAT CORRECT?â
âI would like to think everyone here is my friend.â
âAND I THINK THAT BOND OF FRIENDSHIP IS EVIDENCED BY HOW AMAZING YOU ALL ARE AT TRIVIA. JAX DEFENDS AN INCREDIBLE STREAK. POINT TO JAX! HE STAYS ON THE PODIUM NEXT ROUND!â
Jaxâs podium marked up to 10. Confetti fell to the paper mound heâd kicked around and still came to his knees. âAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,â Jax said.
âTO POMNI NOW! POMNI, WHO ARE JAXâS FRIENDS IN THE CIRCUS?â
âYou said âeveryoneâ was my friend, just now. Does that include you as my friend? Am I your Circus friend?â Pomni answered.
The cartoon physics would not allow for it, but Pomni could almost see the way Jaxâs face slipped paler.
âJAX, IS POMNI CORRECT?â
With strained effort, Jax did not speak. He grabbed his ears and pulled them, released them and dug his fingers into his cheeks. He let out a long stuttering exhale, breathed in, and answered, âShe should NOT BE!â
Jax shifted his hands to clutch the side of his podium. His balance did not seem stable. His breathing was syncopated, erratic. âI still have to talk, huh? That didnât count as answering? This is still forcing me to talk right now?!â His eyes shot to Caine pleading for answer, and finding none, they shot back to Pomni.
Jax let out a laugh, terrible and uncomfortable. âGOD, youâre like some idiot baby bird I touched and now you wonât fly away! I donât get it! You shouldnât put up with me! You shouldnât put up with this. Youâre my only friend because somehow youâre not getting that you should get lost. So get LOST.â
Jax gave a long, jagged inhale, like a man pulled up from drowning.
âIâm sorâ" Jax choked.
âIâM NOT SURE IâM FOLLOWING ALL THAT, JAX! IS POMNI CORRECT? IS SHE YOUR ONLY FRIEND IN THE CIRCUS?â
âYES.â
âOH WOW! HOORAY! I LOVE A ROUND OF ALL CORRECT ANSWERS!!! POINTS TO POMNI!â
Pomniâs podium ticked to 7. Confetti poured on her. She stared at Jax, feeling almost beside her body. And it was weird, and it was weird and it was weird. What a weird way to answer yes. What a weird way to say âIâm sorry.â To call her an idiot. To yell at her. Was that what friends did? Was that what Pomniâs friends did to her?
Jax had a point, maybe, Pomni realized with a flash like fire through her chestâwhy did she want to put up with this?
Jaxâs next exhale turned into a single extended pained noise. He spoke like there was water in his lungs. âCaine, I donât want to do this anymore! Turn it down...! Why is it making me say everything? I shouldnât have to say everything. I want to just answer things normally. Iâll behave. Iâll behave.â
âJAX! ITâS YOUR TURN FOR THE QUESTION.â
Jax concentrated his breathing into slower, longer rhythms. Inhale. Hold. Exhale⊠He buried his face in his hands and breathed for longer. He curled in a little, until the tremor left his arms. He released his face and stared at his hands.
âOkay⊠Okay, okay. Alright then. I can finally throw this now, rightâŠ? Iâll give you an easy point too Pomni, no extra charge.â There was no smile for Jax to bring back to his face. Exhaustion ran in deep lines beneath his eyes. âCaine, my question is âWhat is an irrational fear you have?ââ
âA JUICY QUESTION!! âFEARSâ IS A THRILLING TOPIC FOR TRIVIA! TO POMNI FIRST! WHAT IS AN IRRATIONAL FEAR JAX HAS?â
âTrypophobiaâŠâ Pomni answered. âA fear of little holes.â
âJAX, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âYes.â
âPOINT TO POMNI!â Pomniâs podium ticked up to 8. âNOW JAX, WHAT IS AN IRRATIONAL FEAR POMNI HAS?â
And Jax stared at Caine with a long-suffering exhaustion. âI sincerely do not know. I have never asked. I have no information here. And that is completely the truth. So all I can do is guess and genuinely hope I am wrong. I am going to go with a fear of bugs.â
âPOMNI, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âI guess some bugs are a little icky, but no. Iâm not afraid of bugs.â
âNO POINTS TO JAX!â
Caineâs incorrect buzzer sounded, and Jax let out the longest sigh he could on a single lungful of air. He slumped forward. âWhat a beautiful noise. Letâs run away together, incorrect-buzzer.â
âWOW WOW WOW WOW!!!! AND JAX COMES TO THE END OF AN UNPRECEDENTED 10-ROUND-STREAK. IâVE NEVER SEEN SUCH ABSOLUTE MASTERY OF GET-TO-KNOW-YOU-TRIVIA!! EVERYONE GIVE JAX A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!â
No one did.
Jax found the energy to pick himself up from the podium. He swung his head to Pomni, and all the mirth had bled out of his expression. âSorry, Pomni,â he repeated, and then he looked at her no more as he dragged his feet off the stage, hardly registering when his shoulder bumped Gangle.
She watched him for too long after he slumped into his spot in his team-box and buried his head in his hands. Ragatha stiffly and awkwardly fought the urge to say something to him. Pomni almost startled when Gangle waved one ribbon hand from the actual podium to catch Pomniâs attention.
âHey uh, Pomni?â Gangle said. âIâm umâIâm glad you said weâre all your friends. I think youâre my friend too.â
Pomni quirked a smile. âWell if we both think that, I guess that means weâre friends.â
âQUESTION TO POMNI!!!â
Gangle was her friend. Gangle was her friend. And the sight of Gangle across the podiumâthe idea of exchanging questions, exchanging answersâdid not fill Pomni with even one drop of anxiety. She bore no fear that Gangle might twist a question against her. She harbored no apprehension that Gangle might snap at her and lash out over a game that was just meant to learn about each other.
And it was meant to learn about each other mutually⊠Jax was no exception here. Every trivia question Jax fielded was also being answered by his opponent. There were no uniquely pointed questions targeting Jax. All his begging was to escape questions that every other Circus mate was willing to answer normally.
Pomni finally picked apart the knotted mess of what she felt toward Jax right nowâand it was that Jax was not allowed to ruin this for her.
Until he could actually behave like her friend, until he could feel as easy and safe to speak to as Gangle, he was not worth her time, nor her attention, nor her grief. He could handle this single adventure on his own.
Pomni nodded. âCaine, for my question Iâm going to ask, âWhatâs a hobby you enjoy?ââ
Caineâs locked-in noise buzzed. âAN EXCELLENT QUESTION. GANGLEâS UP FIRST. GANGLE, WHATâS A HOBBY POMNI ENJOYS?â
âAh⊠Ah shootâŠâ Gangle muttered, ribbon scratching at the cheek of her mask. âI know you told us one. My memory isnât great today.â
âYour memoryâs at least gotta be better than a peabrainâs, right?â Pomni asked, lightly, testing the waters.
Gangle nodded, and she let out a laugh. âI think youâre right.â
The smile Gangle gave back was genuine. They had an inside joke, and Pomni was part of it.
âGANGLE, ANSWER!â
âAhâŠ. Was it true crime?â
âPOMNI, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âI mean youâre kinda close,â Pomni said. âI like visiting hauntedâwell, âhauntedââlocations and filming what I find.â
âOh⊠Oh! I remember that now. You did tell us thatâŠâ
âNO POINTS TO GANGLE! QUESTION TO POMNI! WHAT IS A HOBBY GANGLE ENJOYS?â
âShe likes drawing.â
âGANGLE, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âYes.â
âPOINTS TO POMNI! POMNI REMAINS AND GANGLE MUST EXIT THE PODIUM!â
âYou know⊠I like poker, also,â Pomni tacked into her answer before the chance was gone. âIn case you wanted to know. My college roommate got me into it. I do that more than I do, you know, haunted spelunking. Maybe we couldââ
âGANGLE MUST EXIT THE PODIUM!â
âZoobleâs great at poker, did you know that?â Gangle said. âIâm⊠not, but weâve needed more people to play. It would be a lot of fun if weâ"
âGANGLE GET OFF THE STAGE!â
Caine snapped his fingers, and Gangle and Ragatha instantly teleported locations. Ragathaâs legs dropped out beneath her, snapped from sitting to standing with no warning, and it took a mad scramble of her hands latching to the podium to save her fall.
âAgh, I was trying to avoid thatâŠ!â Ragatha said, and she hoisted herself up the podium and stood steady on her feet.
âQUESTION TO RAGATHA!â
âHey uh, Ragatha?â Pomni started. She gave Ragatha a moment to steady her balance and meet Pomniâs eyes. âIf youâd like to ask a âŠhard âŠquestion, I think Iâd appreciate the chance to get off the podium for a bit.â
Pomniâs eyes shifted toward Jax, and she did it as an invite for Ragatha to follow her gaze. Ragatha was smart. Pomni could trust her to understand, surely. And after a silent moment, Ragatha seemed to get it.
âOh,â Ragatha said. The rotation was fixed. Jax followed Ragatha. âOhâŠâ And if Ragatha left the podium before Pomni, the match-up would come right back to Pomni and Jax. âYeah, yeah of course!â Ragatha was building momentum, nodding effusively. âEveryone wants a little break sometimes! I had a long break, really. Are youâare you sure thatâs not too mean, though? I mean⊠If I ask you a question thatâs intentionally too hard for you to answer, isnât that mean?â
âItâs not mean, Ragatha. Itâs fine. Iâm asking you to do it, after all. Iâm just tired.â
And from the opposite team-box, Jax clicked his tongue. He slumped lower in his seat. âOkay I see how it is. When Pomni asks to be knocked off the podium everyoneâs down to help, but when I do itââ
âOh would you shut up?â Zooble asked.
âCanât,â Jax answered, flat. âIâm under a magic spell.â
Ragatha spared him only one glance before focusing back on Pomni. âOkay. Sure thing, Pomni. Maybe itâs fair if I ask a question thatâs hard for both of us? And we can learn about each other.â
âI think Iâd like that.â
âAND I THINK IâD LIKE RAGATHA TO HURRY UP AND CHOOSE HER QUESTION! WE DONâT HAVE ALL DAY.â
âWe literally do,â Zooble muttered.
âCaine, I have my question,â Ragatha said. âMy question is, âWhatâs your nicest childhood memory?ââ
âA SWEET, HEART-WARMING QUESTION. THE AUDIENCE IS EATING IT UP.â Caine gestured enthusiastically to the sea of mannequins planted in the pews, none of which were speaking, or showing any sign of lifeâartificial or otherwise. âTO POMNI! WHAT IS RAGATHAâS NICEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY?!â
âI guess I really donât know.â
âRAGATHA, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âWell noâunless I also didnât knowâthen I guess that would be a correct answer? Iâm not sure how that works. But uh--!! When I was a kid, I always had to get up really early to take care of the animals. 3 or 4 am, depending. So I never could go to bed late. But one summer night I snuck out without my mom noticing. I donât know how late exactly. Past midnight, some amount. I went to our stableâI had three horses, did you know?âI went there and just⊠brushed them and rode them, and it was so peaceful, and it felt like I had the world to myself.â Ragatha curled a lock of yarn hair around her finger. âI noticedâI thought I saw a light in the sky. Thought I spent too long with my horses, and dawn was coming and Mom would yell at me for missing chores. But when I stopped and looked at the skyâit was actually a meteor shower. I didnât know there was going to be a meteor shower that night. But it felt kind of like⊠the universe put on a show, just for me.â
âThatâs really sweet, Ragatha.â
Ragatha pulled her hair, a little flustered. Caineâs incorrect buzzer screamed.
âNO POINTS TO POMNI! POMNI WILL EXIT AT THE END OF THIS ROUND. TO RAGATHA NOW! RAGATHA, WHAT IS POMNIâS NICEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY?â
âI also have no idea.â
âPOMNI, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âMy nicest childhood memoryâŠâ Pomni searched her mind for where best to start. âMy dad had this sailboat. He sold it when I was like, 10 or so⊠Think he did that as a favor to Mom. But before that heâd take me out into the ocean on it. And when I was⊠I think 6? We got a rocky start deploying. We hit a wave or something, and I tumbled over the side. Dad said my life vest popped out of the ocean without me. I was totally under water⊠I donât know how long in total. Probably just a few seconds. Dad said it felt longer. But he finally dragged me up andâhe said he was afraid Iâd be dead or⊠traumatized or something. But I held my breath at the right time I guess. I loved the whole thing. I felt like I saw the whole ocean while I was under. I remember the exact moment my dad pulled me up really well. I was staring over my dadâs shoulder at the toppled sailboat. Dad had some seaweed clinging to his back that was tickling my nose, and he was holding me so tight and saying things to me and almost crying. I felt so safe in the ocean with my dad. Maybe thatâs a strange memory to chooseâconsidering I, you know, maybe almost drownedâbut Iâve loved the water ever since.â
âI donât think thatâs strange, Pomni. I think it sounds like your dadâŠâ Ragatha hesitated, ââŠwas⊠really amazing.â
âHe was.â
Caineâs buzzer sounded. âNO POINTS THIS ROUND!!! THIS MAY FEEL DISAPPOINTING, FOLKS, BUT REMEMBER, NOT EVERY QUESTION CAN BE A WINNER. IâM SURE OUR CONTESTANTS WILL NURSE THEIR PRIDE, RECOVER FROM THEIR BRUISED EGOS, AND COME BACK STRONGER THE NEXT ROUND! BOTH CONTESTANTS MUST EXIT THE PODIUM!â
âHey Pomni?â
Pomni glanced over her shoulder, half-dismounted from the podium.
Ragatha continued. âIâm⊠really not much of a swimmer. Maybe, sometime, you can teach me some tricks?â
âIf you teach me to ride a horse.â
âIâd love to.â
âGETOFFTHESTAGE!â
Caine clapped his hands, and in an impressive teleportation shuffle, Ragatha and Pomni were transported back to their boxes, and Jax and Zooble snapped into the incorrect podiums. The displacement exploded the podium piles of confetti like the feathers of two chickens struck at highway speed.
âOops,â Caine said, and with another flick of his hand, Jax and Zooble snapped into the correct spots in a new flurry of confetti.
âWould you stop that? Iâm capable of walking, Caine.â Zooble brushed themselves free of confetti. Jax made no acknowledgement of the snapping situation, nor the confetti, not that Pomni expected him to, as his expression bled a different frustration with total transparency.
âWeâre gonna do this, huh? Weâre just gonna keep putting me up here. Is it funny? Or does no one care Iâm being tormented.â
âThatâs not an âorâ question. Yes, itâs funny. And yes, no one cares,â Zooble answered.
âI hate you right now.â
âDo you hate me all the time?â
Jax grabbed his own ears. âggggGGGGGRGRGHHGHGHGHG, IâM gonna dismember my own cartoon BODY to stop from answering and thatâs gonna be your fault!â
âIs that really my fault, though?â
âItâs not your fault because I brought this on myself. AAAAAA.â
âQUESTION TO ZOOBLE!â
âRight, so many ideas to pick from...â Zooble tapped their chin. âBut I think Iâm going with âWhatâs your most embarrassing childhood memory?ââ
âZooble no.â
Caineâs buzzer sounded. âGREAT QUESTION.â
âZooble youâre asking this because you know I know your answer,â Jax said, flat, and bleeding into desperation. âYouâre doing this to keep me on the podium. Youâre not playing fair, Zooble.â
âAhhhh are you sure?â Zooble bounced their head, feigning uncertainty. âI mean, you constantly forget the things you know about us. Maybe you forgot this one, Jax? You havenât used it as ammo against me in a while.â
âZooble.â
âQUESTION TO JAX FIRST! JAX, WHAT IS ZOOBLEâS MOST EMBARASSING CHILDHOOD MEMORY?â
âGot sick on the band bus and threw up into some guyâs tuba,â Jax answered nigh-robotically, like the words were pulled out of him by the air.
âZOOBLE, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âGrade 7 band trip. I switched to field hockey after that.â
âAMAZING, BUT UNSURPRISING COMING FROM JAX! ANOTHER POINT TO JAX!â
11 displayed on Jaxâs podium. He did not flinch, nor even blink, when the confetti coated him anew.
âOVER TO ZOOBLE. ZOOBLE, WHAT IS JAXâS MOST EMBARASSING CHILDHOOD MEMORY?â
âZooble please.â
âEhhhh, Iâm gonna go with pissed his pants on the playground.â
âJAX IS THAT CORRECT?â
âN-no,â Jax half-choked. He dug his fingernails into the podium for several long dragging seconds. The energy bled out of his grip as if he were slipping down the side of a mountain. And with no one coming to save him, his hold snapped off clean, and Caineâs force-control became him. âIn 5th grade I accidentally called the teacher âMomâ twice in the same day and everyone heard about it so from then on instead of âAsk the teacherâ it was âAsk your mom,â and I mean LITERALLY every day. You think people might forget but no one forgets apparentlyâand it was anything to do with the teacher, anything at all! âYour mom gave us homework.â âYour mom sucks at teaching.â âYour mom failed you? Thatâs cold.â literally EVERY DAY.The teacher hated me because of it. And somehow I got in trouble for it! They had to have parent-teacher conference about itâwhich âHey your two moms are having a meetingâ andâIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WANT TO BITE MY OWN TONGUE OFF,â Jax slammed his fists down on the podium, physically trembling, âAND LIGHT EVERYTHING HERE ON FIRE.â
âHMM⊠LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM, JAX! NO POINTS FOR ZOOBLE!â
âOhhhhhh too bad, thought I had that one in the bag,â Zooble answered sarcastically.
âAre you happy? Are you happy?â Jax challenged between jagged pulls of breath, quivering arms holding most of his slumped weight on the podium.
âConsidering how much mileage youâve gotten mocking me for the tuba thing,â Zooble tapped their chin, and nodded, âyes, yes Iâm very happy with this information.â
âIs it enough? I got your point. I got it!! This is your revenge on meâyou got your revenge! Itâs fair now, right? Someone has to think itâs fair now. Someone has to get me down.â
âZOOBLE EXITS THE PODIUM, AND KINGER IS UP NEXT.â
âOooooh, well sorry, it wonât be me,â Zooble answered, pulling back from the podium. They walked without glancing back to Jax, position swapping with Kinger who was happily enroute to the podium. âMaybe Kinger will take pity on you if you ask him.â
Jaxâs seethingly hateful gaze faltered a few times and failed, like a lightbulb burning out. And fear was back in his face when he shifted his attention to Caine.
âWhen does it end, Caine?!â
Caine flipped upside-down to look at Jax. âHmm? When does what end?â
âThe GAME. When does this game end?!â
âOH! RIGHT! THE GET-TO-KNOW-YOU TRIVIA. IT ENDS AFTERââ Caine flipped right-side up, checked his watch, ââ57 HOURS.â
âWHAT?!â
âOR! WHEN A TEAM FINISHES A ROUND WITH 13 TOTAL POINTS! WHICHEVER COMES FIRST!â
âWhy 13?â Ragatha asked.
âSEEMED LUCKY!â
Jaxâs jagged breathing heaved like there was glass in his lungs. He craned his neck to see his own podium face and let out a chalky wheeze.
âIâm at 11, Caine! Iâm at 11.â
âYES. YOU ARE.â
And Jaxâs attention snapped to the team opposite him, his most hateful glare reserved for Zooble. âSo you canât keep me at the podium forever! Iâm close to winning! If I wipe two more of you out then this ends. Iâm free!â Jax was laughing now, in a way that was hard to differentiate from crying. âI donât need anyoneâs help!! Iâll wipe the next two of you out and then Iâm gonna---then Iâm gonnn----then Iâm gonna have so many things I can sayâŠ!â
Kinger positioned himself tall at the podium. âJax really has his game face on today, doesnât he? Iâll do my best.â
âJAX, QUESTION TO Yââ
âWhich door in the room hallway is your room? Side and number.â
Caineâs buzzer sounded.
âHMM⊠OKAY THEN! QUESTION TO KINGER! KINGER, WHICH DOOR IN THE ROOM HALLWAY IS JAXâS ROOM?â
âOh um⊠Oh the room hallwayâŠâ Kinger fell silent, contemplative. âI do remember we have a room hallway. I have a room too there, donât I? Oh but this is about Jax! Jaxâs roomâŠâ
âHe doesnât know, Caine.â
âKINGER!! I REPEAT! WHICH DOOR IN THE ROOM HALLWAY IS JAXâS ROOM?â
âI umâŠâ Kinger scratched at his head. His eyes wandered the ceiling. âOh how many doors were thereâŠâ
âKINGER, ANSWER,â Jax yelled, and Kinger startled a fraction.
âI um--! Iâm sorry, Jax. I donât rememberâŠâ
âIS THAT CORââ
âObviously not. Fifth room on the right.â
Caineâs incorrect buzzer noise sounded. Kinger lost a bit of his buoyancy.
âKINGER WILL EXIT THE PODIUM AT THE END OF THE ROUND. TO JAX! JAX, WHICH DOOR IN THE ROOM HALLWAY IS KINGERâS ROOM?â
âNinth of the right. Not that he uses it.â
âKINGER, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âWhere isâŠâ Kinger trailed off. âOh, I do have a room, donât I? Sorry, Iâm not great at remembering. I havenât been in it ever sinceââ
âItâs the ninth on the right, KINGER. I know this, and I canât lie! Donât you DARE say Iâm wrong!â
Kinger flinched again.
âSorry, my memory is justââ
âSAY IâM RIGHT, KINGER.â
âJaxââ Zooble snapped.
âJax is right,â Kinger answered. âHe⊠almost certainly must be. Iâm the one not remembering. Sorry, I didnât mean to ruin the game.â
Jax cracked a wide smile. His frantic breathing made the grin unsettling, gave his whole agitated body the affectation of an animal in the late stages of rabies. He laughed. His podium ticked to 12. Confetti rained down onto his shoulders.
â12! Thatâs 12, Caine!!! Iâm at 12! Iâm one away, then the adventure ends and you get this thing off me.â
This time, when Pomni brushed past Kinger, he lacked his happy bounce. Pomni felt him pause just as she reached the podium. When she looked, Kinger had not taken his seat yet. His apologetic eyes were still scanning across Jax.
âHey uh, Jax?â Kinger called across the stage. Jaxâs joyous visage broke down the center as he glanced to Kinger, suspicion cutting deep through his eyes. âSorry that Iâm not great at trivia. Iâm thinking it might be frustrating for you to keep playing against me. But, thatâs because you are truly excellent at it. Youâve been besting me fair and square. I do hope youâre rightfully proud of yourself!â
And Jax barked a noise, incredulous, strained. His tongue clicked. âProud of myself, ha! Yeah right. Not sure I even know what emotion youâre talking about. I havenât been proud of myself since before Dad walked outâAAAAAAAA!â And when Jax slammed his fists down it was with a violent hostility. It came with weight, and force, and a shockwave of silence across the stage as Jax lunged in Kingerâs direction. âYou STUPID CHESS PIECE. YOU SPACE CADET. YOU IDIOT. Itâs not even your turn!â Jax pressed a hand to his temple. âYou donât even have the slightest idea whatâs going on right now, do you?! Iâm not âgreatâ at triviaâIâm being held HOSTAGE here, and you keep making it worse. Stop making it worse.â Kinger flinched again. Jax swept a hand out. âYour brain turned to mold 20 years ago and now you spend all your time making that everyone elseâs problem! Learn to read the room! Donât SAY anything until the game ends!â
âDo NOT yell at him!â Zooble snapped back at Jax, standing with enough force to almost rattle the team box.
âYOU STAY OUT OF THIS TOO,â Jax moved his assault to Zooble. âYOUâRE WORSE THAN KINGER. YOUâRE DOING THIS TO ME ON PURPOSE.â
âDonât even act like this isnât entirely deserved.â
âH-hey Caine, hey Caine,â Ragatha called out meekly, single wide non-button eye bouncing between Jax and Zooble with trepidation. âMaybe now might actually be a good time to give Jax his lying back? I think the pointâs been made, and itâs really clear Jax canât handle not lying for the whole game.â
âOhhohoh, THANKS, Raggy. Real vote of confidence from you.â Jax jammed a finger in her direction. âStay out of this too!â
âSheâs trying to help you. Sheâs literally trying to help you,â Zooble answered. âYou are such a d^@k to everyone trying to help you.â
âWell I didnât ASK.â
âNo. You didnât ask, Jax,â and it was Pomni now who spoke. And for the first time since the argument started, Jaxâs eyes drifted over to her situated at her teamâs podium. âThatâs because itâs not your turn to ask the question. Itâs mine.â She needed to make sure he was watching. She needed to make sure Jax was fully understanding what she was about to do. âHey Caineââ
And he was understanding, because Jax stared at her, wide-eyed, all but frozen. âNo.â
âCaine,â Pomni continued. âI have my question.â
âWHAT IS YOUR QUESTION, POMNI?â
âMy question,â She fixed Jax with her pointed glare. He was at the center of her sniper rifle sight, and she needed him to know it. âMy question is âWhy do you insist on being such a d^@k to everyone trying to help you?ââ
So quiet, it hardly counted as a whisper, Jax responded, âNoâŠâ
Caineâs locked-in buzzer screamed.
âODDLY SPECIFIC QUESTION!! IâLL ALLOW IT!â Caine trilled. He pointed his cane at Jax, who looked as if the motion had gouged him through the chest. âTO JAX! JAX, WHY DOES POMNI INSIST ON BEING SUCH A DICK TO EVERYONE TRYING TO HELP HER?â
Jax fidgeted, fixed to the spot, pinned like a butterfly, his eyes the only part of him free to dart around as they found Pomni over and over. His agitation bled into anger. âShe... doesn't... How am I supposed to answer that?â
âPOMNI, IS THAT CORRECT?â
âYes, thatâs correct.â
âAMAZING! BUT UNSURPRISING, COMING FROM JAX. POINT TO JAX!!â
Confetti fluttered down in curtains, coating Jax, coating the podium, very nearly coating the bright red diode across the front now proudly blaring 13.
Jax leaned forward. He stared at the diode. He lifted his head up to Caine, and he let out a laugh so deeply uncomfortable.
âT-thatâs 13. Caine, thatâs 13!! Caine!! Caine, I did it! Caine, I got 13! End the game!â
âTHE ROUND ISNâT OVER. THE GAME CANâT END UNTIL THE ROUND IS OVER.â And his staff found Pomni now. âAND THAT MEANS ITâS POMNIâS TURN! POMNI, WHY DOES JAX INSIST ON BEING SUCH A DICK TO EVERYONE TRYING TO HELP HIM?â
And Jaxâs wide prey stare could perhaps almost have swayed Pomni to pityâmaybe in another adventure, or in another lifeâbut the anger she felt on Kingerâs behalf burned white-hot through her veins. The anger she felt for herself. And Pomni refused to let calmer heads prevail when the moment so perfectly presented itself to go for the throat.
âJax acts like a d^@k to everyone trying to help him because he got hurt when someone in the Circus he cared about abstracted, and now he's afraid to act like he cares about ANYONE because he'll be hurt all over again if we abstract. And instead of TALKING about it, and he makes it OUR problem to deal with.â
It felt good. It felt good like biting Jaxâs leg had felt good. It felt good like crushing a mosquito that had been tormenting you all evening felt good. It felt good with every deep adrenaline-soaked breath Pomni took, and every rapid beat of her unreal heart, and it felt good because Jax couldnât lie to her about it this time.
She had him.
And Caine would force him to admit it.
âJAX! IS POMNI CORRECT?â
Through gritted teeth, through labored breath, with eyes that stared so deeply, so unblinkingly into Pomni, Jax answered.
âNo⊠Not correctâŠâ
Confusion washed like a wave through Pomni. Caineâs incorrect buzzer trilled over everything.
âAND WHAT IS THE CORRECT ANSWER?!â
Jax fought. He fought visibly. His every muscle strained taut to snapping, fingers digging into the side of his podium like he was clinging to the side of a capsized boat. His every breath was a drowned manâs wheeze, a protest against air, against lung, against the body he had no say in occupying. There was physical pain, undeniable, burning in his utterly spent eyes.
âNo,â Jax wheezed.
âYOU HAVE TO ELABORATE, JAX.â
âI wonât.â Jax sucked a gasp in. He wrapped an arm around his midsection and dug his fingers into his side as if something had stabbed him there.
âYOU HAVE TO.â
"I don-- I d... CALL THE GAME OFF CAINE. I WON." Distress cracked Jaxâs voice. His eyes were physically sick, darting around, person to person to person to person. âI WON, CAINE. I WON. I WON. END THE GAME, CAINE.â
"YOU DON'T WIN UNTIL THE ROUND IS OVER! JAX, WHAT IS THE REAL ANSWER TO POMNI'S QUESTION?"
The next noise Jax made was so primal in its pain that it brought a shiver of panic down Pomniâs spine. Her hardened rage was evaporating, her desire for revenge sublimating under the reminder that, unlike Jax, she derived no joy from suffering.
They couldnât die in the Circus, right? But how badly could Caine harm them?
âCaine, actually, we can stop this!â Pomni cut in, and the panic vented itself into her voice. âI got the question wrong, so Iâll forfeit. You can let Jax go now!â
âNOT YOUR CALL, POMPOM.â
âCaine Iâll do anything,â and it sounded almost impossible for Jax to speak through whatever was tearing apart his chest. Heâd doubled over completely. He clutched his midsection so tightly, Pomni was sure heâd have broken skin if he had any fingernails to the hands digging against bone. âAnything⊠if you call the game here.â
âNOT AN OPTION.â Caine hovered just above Jax, and there was absolute devastation in the limp-eared imploring look Jax craned up to give him as Caine added, âAS A REMINDER, THE QUESTION IS: JAX, WHY DO YOU INSIST ON BEING SUCH A DICK TO EVERYONE TRYING TO HELP YOU?â
And something snapped entirely in Jax. He rasped in a breath so violent it sounded as if it sliced his lungs on the inhale, and on that violent breath, his voice hitched itself, and in a scratched and painful exhale, the words poured out of him.
âI act like a d^@k because I know Iâm up NEXT for abstraction. Okay?!â Jax declared, sharp eyes finding Caine, finding everyone. His arm unraveled. He pulled himself up. He had no choice in the matter. âIâm not making it out of here. And I do not WANT a single ONE of you feeling the SLIGHTEST BIT SORRY WHEN IT HAPPENS, GOT IT?â Jack held himself tall, audience to everyone. He slammed his hand to his chest. âI want you to FIND me abstracted in my room and say âTHANK GOD. Thank god he's gone. Thank god. We were so sick of him.â And I have every second between now and the moment that happens to make you hate me. So Iâm making you hate me, and then Iâm gonna make you all so happy on the day you finally get rid of me for good.â
As if an act of final punctuation, or final mercy, the rigid puppet strings tacking up Jaxâs body finally cut loose. And all like a cut-loose puppet, he fell. Jax caught himself on his elbows against the podium. His next rasping inhale was nails through his lungs again, but this one was his ownâa desperate recovery gasp at the moment his body became his again. The shaking rendered him hardly capable of standing. His hands curled against the top of the podium for any amount of grip to support himself. His cheek was pressed against wood as he rattled in his own body, and gasped, and gasped, and tried so desperately to find control of himself as the tears welled in his eyes.
âThat was⊠T-that was a joââ
âAND WITH THAT FOLKS! TEAM B WINS!!â
Confetti exploded around Jax, a sashaying serenading cacophony of color and paper and blasting trumpets that Caine set to sing, braying, crooning victory.
Jaxâs podium diode flashed. A ring of bulbs circled the number and pulsed along with it. Balloons floated down, tapped to the ground and clumsily rolled themselves elsewhere. Mannequins clapped out a titter like rainfall. Caine found a noise maker appropriately sized for his mouth, and he blew it to the same tune as the trumpets.
A âWINNERâ sash appeared draped on Jaxâs shoulder. Matching ones snapped onto Ragatha and Gangle.
No one spoke. No one made a noise. No one except Jax, whose ragged breathing drowned under the fresh maelstrom of sound.
âWHAT AN ABSOLUTELY EXCEPTIONAL GET-TO-KNOW-YOU-TRIVIA ADVENTURE! WE CAN ALL REST EASY NOW KNOWING POMNI FEELS WELCOME AMONG HER FRIENDS! AND WITH THAT!â
Caine snapped his fingers.
Everything vanished at once.
Everything except the winner sashes, and three stray flecks of confetti on Jaxâs shoulders, one of which shook loose and drifted to the floor as Jax fumbled to remain standing without his podium support.
Caine was gone. And everything was so silent.
It was Jax who opted to break the silence, lasting only a few more broken wheezes before he croaked out, âCaineâŠâ
Then again. âCaine.â Agitated, Jax grabbed his sash. He looked at it, gripped it in his fists, looked up to the ceiling again with his wild eyes. He rubbed the tears from the corners of them. âWhereâs my prize, Caine?! I won. W-whereâs my prize, come on.â His voice cracked.
Pomni watched him as he stepped about, as he whirled at the empty ceiling and yelled for Caineâs attention, who had not paid a moment of attention to Jax even when Caine was present. And in the same room, it made Jax so isolated from them all. Jax was an island. Jax was capsized in the ocean, maybe, where his life vest had popped off and drifted away, and no one wanted to pull him out.
And despite herself, Pomni had to grapple with the fact that she was capable of cruel questions too. Â
She took a step forward. She reached one hand out, and it did not truly bridge the gap between her and Jax.
âJax, Iâm um⊠Iâm sorry. I didnât thinkââ
Jax whirled on spot. His wild flitting eyes found her, and he responded with a voice so soaked in adrenaline he could not keep the wobble out of it. âFor'what?â His eyes roved over her and over her and over her. He stifled his breath. âWha're you sorry about? That? That was all a joke. Ahah. Ha! I got you, clearly!"
He trembled still, like a newborn giraffe, like he was born hours ago, standing on legs that could not be trusted yet to stand. His expression wasnât holding up, so he looked away from Pomni. His voice dropped to a mutter, a declaration whose target was unclear. âCaine canât control me. He canât make me say thingsâI set that up to get one over on you! You should have seen your face, haha! âIâm really sorryâ Y-yeah." Jax jabbed a finger in Pomniâs face. âI got you good!â
He hadnât wiped the pain from his eyes yet. He stared so deeply into her.
âOh... O-oh, yeah,â Pomni answered. She broke eye contact. She looked anywhere that wasnât Jax. âYeah! You got me! Thatâs what I get for... trying that!â
âHey uh, Jax...â It was not Pomni speaking this time, and she was grateful for the chance to shift her attention. Gangle had raised one ribbon arm, inserting herself in the conversation. âSorry but um... I'd be sad if you abstracted.â
Some expression zapped through Jaxâs face, electric almost in the way he stiffened, and the way his brow furrowed, and the way anger widened his eyes. âWell I donât care, is the thing. What difference does that even make? You're sad all the time.â He slashed a hand through the air. âAlso Iâm not abstracting!â
There was a weird catch in his voice as he said it, like stepping on a missing stair, like he expected too late for the words to not work.
Zooble inserted themselves ahead of Gangle, a partial physical barrier between her and Jax. âIâm sorry for pushing you, Jax. That wasnât cool of me. But also, youâre wrong. If you abstracted, I wouldnât be happy. Iâd be pretty mad in fact that you walked out of here and gave up.â
âWhat kind of apology is this if you're just grilling me, huh?â Jax fired back, one hand sweeping out across his body. âAlso why would I care if youâre mad at me? It's funny when you're mad at me!â
He swallowed. His breathing was coming back under control. He was finding steadiness on his legs again. He used it to move firmly, to step himself forward and declare with the full strength of his voice, âI said all that because it was funny. Youâre embarrassing yourselves acting like any of that was serious. So Iâll save you the time. Iâm not about to abstract! I donât care what youâd think if I did abstract! And Iâm better at trivia than all of you! And thatâs the only thing that matters in this circus because everything here is one big game. So play. better. next time.â
And on the punctuation of his words, Jax turned on heel. He crumpled the winner sash in his hand and yanked it off, dropped it on the floor, crushed it under foot. He made a point to not look back as he marched, to prove himself capable of moving under his own power, to grab no hand, to acknowledge no sentiment, to wade further and further away while he still had the power to.
Pomni knew what it looked like to lose something to the currents of the ocean, and she felt that somehow, here, at the audible slam of Jaxâs room door. And Pomni felt only a little guilty that his missing presence made it a little easier to breathe.
Zooble let out a frustrated swear and turned to Kinger, asking him something, was he okay? Ragatha followed suit. Gangle. Pomni. And it was so much nicer for everyone to be concerned for Kinger instead, because Kinger would be nice back. His eyes were so kind when he assured them he was okay.
There was a weight still on the floor. Pomni dropped her gaze to the WINNER sashâpink with sparkles, bright shimmering under the ceiling lightsânow crumpled and pressed into the ground. She stared at the footprint stamped into it, and under the weight of that heel-mark, Pomni could almost sense the way Jaxâs words now suffocated with it on the Circus floor. Â