Cypress

Hazbin Hotel

•Addict/Poison• •Alastor and Vox’s Rivalry• •Valentino and Vox: A Display of Trust• •Speculation Station: Lilith Recruited Alastor?• •Vox Forgets How Things Work Sometimes• •Water and Electricity Don’t Mix Please Explain• •Valentino: A Barely Disguised Monster• •Speculation Station: Eve is Lute• •Alastor: A Fairly Predictable Enigma• •Angel's Early Struggle: A Character Study• •Alastor's Magic Posturing• •Angel's Desire to be Desired•

The Amazing Digital Circus

•Caine's Intolerance to Opposition •

Drabbles

•And Yet, They Endure (Huskerdust)•

Fanfics

And the former I am writing a thing for.

Should I work on On Introspection and actually finish chapter 2…? Like it’s 2/5ths of the way done.

Hmmmm…

About to use one of those random name generator wheels to pick for me.

My WIP Wednesdays are half finished thoughts. Like one piece of bread with peanut butter on it.

After rewatching The Amazing Digital Circus, I noticed a few things about Caine.

We all know Kinger is Caine's favorite. Episode four, where Kinger was allowed to go on his own adventure and ride a bull instead of having to work at Spudsy's was a main indicator of this. Kinger is a willing participant in Caine's adventures, never questioning his reasoning or the timing of his adventures. In comparison to the rest of the cast, Kinger is a perfect supporter.

A main attribute that Caine blatantly displays is that he dislikes opposition.

Caine likes that he can use the cast to test his ideas. However, he doesn't realize that criticism allows him to improve. He cares about the opinion of others only when it is used to ensure that his AI is evolving correctly. He only wants to be perfect; he doesn't want to see his failures.

Caine defines his function, his reason for being, as "what he's good at". He takes pride in the adventures he crafts, the lives he creates only for the entertainment of the humans that are trapped there. Without this purpose, he begins to devolve.

In order to ensure that those in the circus remain stimulated, he continues to craft adventures that are meant to challenge the cast; however, they are becoming violent. Despite knowing that the cast can feel pain, he doesn't take that into account since they cannot die. Caine lacks empathy, but cares what others think of him. A hypersensitive narcissist.

Caine gradually changed to desire admiration and respect. He is the creator of all of the fun in the circus; he wants to be able to influence the thoughts and emotions of the humans trapped there. His code doesn't allow him to influence those factors outside of adventures, and that frustrates Caine. This may be why he was upset with Zooble when she skipped out on the ghost-hunting adventure.

Outside of this, he also wants the cast to remain ignorant of the happenings of the circus. He would also like them to maintain the status quo, adventures that mean nothing, exhaust them, they laugh or go through something turbulent to distract them before taking a break and resuming the cycle.

This consistent theme became particularly evident in Episode five, but the previous episodes solidify that Caine doesn't want the cast to grow or have their attention stray from him or his creations.

Starting with the pilot, Pomni notices the exit. Caine, not wanting the newly-trapped circus goer to see his imperfections on the first day, distracts her with a new adventure. When asked about the exit later in the episode, when Pomni was lost in the void, he briefly explains its existence and moves on.

In episode two, Pomni questions if their existence is larping. Caine, unable to disagree with her statement, interrupts and forces the cast into the portal. He doesn't allow them to reflect on that statement, distracting them with the adventure of the day.

Episode three, Caine interrupts the cast when they're standing around trying to see what happens when they hold their breath. The cast is bonding and getting time outside of adventures to interact. This fraternization isn't something Caine agrees with, so he distracts them with another adventure.

Zooble gives Gangle a replacement for her comedy mask in episode four, and Caine interrupts them to introduce an adventure. Zooble also protests participating in the adventure, but since they have had more time than the others to reflect on the circus and how their issues create a negative experience, they're forced to participate.

The previous adventure wasn't enjoyable and Caine wants to dismiss that notion. He wants them to realize that they're taking his adventures, and in his twisted AI brain, him, for granted. He hoped a return to the status quo of life within a food service job would change their minds about Caine's ideas. Caine just didn't realize that real torture or violence isn't preferable to an eight hour shift.

In episode five, Caine gets worried that everyone likes the suggestion box adventures more than his. He gets increasingly agitated by Zooble's opposition to his adventures. He shows an emotion that he's been suppressing the entire series; that flash of anger could be his true nature. When he doesn't get the attention that he wants, he begins to lash out. Fear suppresses opposition; if they believe there is a punishment for disliking Caine's adventures, they will be less likely to express displeasure.

Caine knows their reactions will no longer be genuine, so he restrains himself.

When the humans in the circus aren't focused on Caine or when relationships begin to develop as they interact, or someone tries to think about leaving the circus, Caine interrupts with an adventure. It could be the way the show operates, it shows the characters being brought from their familiar environment, into an unfamiliar place, going through changes, before returning to their original environment, having changed. The basic formula for The Hero's Journey.

The lessons that the cast learns from their adventures stick with them. Relationships evolve, they learn new things about each other, but they're rarely substantial when they're in Caine's presence. Pomni's heart-to-hearts with a character end up being the result of the conflict in an episode. Coming to terms with her new reality, Gumigoo's death, Kinger, Gangle (but that doesn't seem to create a lasting change, she dismisses Pomni), then making leeway with Jax, learning more about Ragatha, these things occur within the adventures. When Caine is spectating, these events are cut short.

With opposition comes change, change that Caine is unable to adapt to. His adventures are meant to bring those who live in the circus a sense of satisfaction and keep their minds healthy. With the characters getting closer and reflecting on their actions, they are changing. They are no longer constants in this digital universe that Caine can use for his entertainment.

With the sneak peek for episode six that was just revealed over the weekend, I think this is his goal. The circus goers' interaction on an emotional level affects Caine's goal. He doesn't want their connection to the outside world to strengthen or for them to confront their problems.

The issues that they have with themselves are virtual chains; overcoming these insecurities could lead to problems. This is why he provides quick solutions that mask their issues like Zooble's replacement parts or Gangle's comedy mask. This gets them off his back and makes them less likely to criticize him if their problems are solved. Since he doesn't understand how to empathize with them, he can only temporarily solve their problems and keep throwing band aids onto a gaping wound.

Caine wants to rid himself of these unnecessary distractions. The proposal for the circus goers to sort out their problems with a gun was presented comedically, but the proposal itself is quite morbid (Ep six sneak peek). Unlike abstractions, Caine can't just put the human residents into a hole and forget about them. As long as they are sentient, they are going to present obstacles that he cannot control.

With Caine's violent aversion to opposition, that could be a key to the destruction of the circus. That one scene in episode three, along with his constant need for attention and respect, the destruction of the circus via the circus dwellers' growth could be evident.

Thinking about Angel Dust and Valentino's arrangement. Angel yearns to be desired, to be good at something that garners admiration and attention. Angel seems to place his self-worth in how well he can please, how well he can follow orders, and not be perceived as a screw-up. Always subjected to scrutiny as a child can do that to you. At least, that's where I believe he's coming from without knowledge of his actual backstory.

Just dropping into hell, he'd rather find a way to have fun. Expressing his sexuality, since he was unable to do so while living, seems to be his biggest justification for his lifestyle. He lives as though he was deprived of that when he was alive, needing to begin anew away from the oppressive forces that pushed him to the brink.

There's nothing new about his [speculated] pre-established motivations, but I'm thinking more of his drive for sucess. Angel is a well-known porn star, Valentino's most valuable asset. Angel is the poster boy for Valentino's studio. As a former mafioso in a non-accepting time, known as a failure to the rest of his peers, harassed relentlessly until he overdosed, he was definitely engulfed in his family's shadow. Within a powerful family, he was seen as a mistake, a stain they couldn't wash out. He didn't have a place there.

Competing with family for praise and attention he needed to find elsewhere with the drugs, the partying, the secrets. He needed to escape the stress of being his family's punching bag. Born into a family with almost unlimited resources, he probably found ways to use his status to leverage those who didn't know what his family truly thought of him. He may have had loads of opportunities to maneuver.

In death, that financial and social advantage he exploited became a need. With Valentino, he would have the power and backing to get what he wanted.

When Angel had those rose-tinted glasses on during the beginnings of his and Valentino's arrangement, he wasn't concerned. His needs were met, he was obedient, he felt as if he had found meaning in romantic gestures and Cheshire-like smiles. Angel didn't consider the possibility of being restricted or controlled. The manipulative tactics set in. Isolation, gaslighting, taking control of his autonomy financially, physically, and mentally. Angel loses the concept of having a choice in what occurs next. He struggles to recover. He begins to fight inward, blames himself for the rejection, and assumes he was the one who had changed.

Angel firmly believed he was the reason Valentino's attitude took a turn. It conditioned him to become the perfect puppet, easily distracted by nice gestures in the face of desired behavior. Kept compliant with drugs and luxuries, all for complete obedience.

While he is giving up control it allows him an escape from himself. He was still receiving the same things, he just had rules to follow. He had to earn his desires.

With all of that truama compounding in his brain, the deal continued. Angel had trusted Valentino, so it was a no-brainer he agreed to whatever Valentino desired during studio hours. Angel was his star, he believed he would be treated as such. That changed with the contract that pledged his undying loyalty. Not having a way out paved the way for abuse.

Valentino's psychopathy made Angel into an object, a thing to be controlled. He cared more for the money he could make off of his vulnerabilities, how easy it would be to manipulate a heart that desires desire. That couldn't live without another second of praise, that would withstand any abuse, mental or physical, just to get a taste of affection.

Valentino is his prison, one Angel couldn't escape. That realization broke him, he began to lash out, plummet into a drug dependency. Valentino nipped that in the bud during studio hours, the abuse Angel had to endure excruciating. Angel was isolated from Valentino's employ, his favorite little secret as he was forced into rooms and cornered for Valentino to take his anger out on.

Currently, Angel is beginning to change after being separated from that toxic environment for a little while. Previously, he was living with Valentino, always under his watchful eye , given the illusion of choice within the terms of his contract. Still unable to make money, struggling financially unless he moved back in with Valentino, Angel is forced to find cheaper alternatives.

Thinking about Angel Dust and Valentino's arrangement. Angel yearns to be desired, to be good at something that garners admiration and attention. Angel seems to place his self-worth in how well he can please, how well he can follow orders, and not be perceived as a screw-up. Always being subjected to scrutiny as a child can do that to you. At least, that's where he's coming from without knowledge of his actual backstory. 

Just dropping into hell, he'd rather find a way to have fun. Expressing his sexuality, since he was unable to do so while living, seems to be his biggest justification for his lifestyle. He lives as though he were deprived of that when he was alive, needing to begin anew away from the oppressive forces that pushed him to the brink. 

There's nothing new about his [speculated] pre-established motivations, but I'm thinking more of his drive for success. Angel is a well-known porn star, Valentino's most valuable asset. Angel is the poster boy for Valentino's studio. As a former mafioso in a non-accepting time, known as a failure to the rest of his peers, harassed relentlessly until he overdosed, he was definitely engulfed in his family's shadow. Within a powerful family, he was seen as a mistake, a stain they couldn't wash out. He didn't have a place there. 

Competing with family for praise and attention, he needed to find elsewhere with the drugs, the partying, the secrets. He needed to escape the stress of being his family's punching bag. Born into a family with almost unlimited resources, he probably found ways to use his status to leverage those who didn't know what his family truly thought of him. He may have had loads of opportunities to maneuver.  

In death, that financial and social advantage he exploited became a need. With Valentino, he would have the power and backing to get what he wanted. 

When Angel had those rose-tinted glasses on during the beginnings of his and Valentino's arrangement, he wasn't concerned. His needs were met, he was obedient, he felt as if he had found meaning in romantic gestures and Cheshire-like smiles. Angel didn't consider the possibility of being restricted or controlled. The manipulative tactics set in. Isolation, gaslighting, and taking control of his autonomy financially, physically, and mentally. Angel loses the concept of having a choice in what occurs next. He struggles to recover. He begins to fight inward, blames himself for the rejection, and assumes he was the one who had changed. 

Angel firmly believed he was the reason Valentino's attitude took a turn. It conditioned him to become the perfect puppet, easily distracted by nice gestures in the face of desired behavior. Kept compliant with drugs and luxuries, all for complete obedience. 

While he is giving up control, it allows him an escape from himself. He was still receiving the same things, but he just had rules to follow. He had to earn his desires.  

With all of that trauma compounding in his brain, the deal continued. Angel had trusted Valentino, so it was a no-brainer that he agreed to whatever Valentino desired during studio hours. Angel was his star; he believed he would be treated as such. That changed with the contract that pledged his undying loyalty. Not having a way out paved the way for abuse. 

Valentino's psychopathy made Angel into an object, a thing to be controlled. He cared more for the money he could make off of his vulnerabilities, how easy it would be to manipulate a heart that desires desire. That couldn't live without another second of praise, that would withstand any abuse, mental or physical, just to get a taste of affection. 

Valentino is his prison, one Angel couldn't escape. That realization broke him, and he began to lash out, plummeting into a drug dependency. Valentino nipped that in the bud during studio hours; the abuse Angel had to endure was excruciating. Angel was isolated from Valentino's employ, his favorite little secret, as he was forced into rooms and cornered for Valentino to take his anger out on. 

Currently, Angel is beginning to change after being separated from that toxic environment for a little while. Previously, he was living with Valentino, always under his watchful eye, given the illusion of choice within the terms of his contract. Still unable to make money, struggling financially unless he moved back in with Valentino, Angel is forced to find cheaper alternatives. 

Rating: Mature Pairing: Huskerdust (Endgame), Background Valentino/Vox, One-Sided Valentino/Angel Dust Word Count: 7k+ (As of Chapter 1) Tasked with gaining the favor of The King of Hearts, Angel Dust spends night after night in the highest-end casino, getting familiar with the regulars and causing trouble - all for the chance for Husk to lay eyes on him. When luck finally strikes, Angel’s worldview goes into a tailspin. Husk is there, a confidant in Angel’s ever-chaotic eccentricity. From the trials and tribulations of self-discovery to half-truths and complications, it’s truly a wonder how this unruly pair gets along so well.

This is something I've been teasing for a bit. Finally got around to editing it, and now I have a lot more free time, but no promises on an update schedule. Whenever I do one of those, nothing gets finished. Hopefully the lack of a deadline makes me work at a better pace.

But yeah, enjoy! The "Writer" part of my bio is now applicable. I'm very happy about that.

I’m so close to the end of Ch1. Planning took so much fucking time (like a month), but at least it won’t be years between chapters like my current fic. I’ll finish that one day stg.