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It’s not that you had ever assumed you would be immune to Caine’s wacky adventures or goofy side quests, but when the whole circus tent shook before his sudden appearance, you just hoped you’d be in the clear for… whatever… was happening that day. I mean, he’d made it clear before that you were one of his favorites. Hell, maybe you were even his favorite, period. He always let you sit out on quests, let you sit in his office with him long before the escape adventure, always took your thoughtful criticisms as improvements for new ideas, and yet-

Not only did the song, dance, and three-day adventure absolutely destroy the resolve of yourself and the rest of Caine’s “frivolous fruitcakes,” but you knew that this version of Caine wasn’t the one who got nervous when your compliments were too kind, or laughed at your jokes with a little less showmanship. No, this was something much different.

When Pomni had distracted Caine by rattling off all the things you hated, you stepped up and declared how you hated Caine’s constant need for validation, while also taking zero criticism to heart. Big mistake. Huge.

While you wouldn’t say that you regret your time with Caine, in his office and the circus, it definitely didn’t help now. Your words had only served as the deepest wound to his ego, and conversely he knew the most about you. Just like with the rest of his superstars, Caine was proud to have a close eye on all of you at all times, but after you had started cozying up to the ringleader himself? Well, you’re just his special circus act now. And such a special act requires lots of detailed scrutiny, my dear! Your strengths? Check. Your intelligence? Of course! Your digital design’s attractiveness? Only the best! Your weaknesses? Well, check, but not like he’d ever-

Suddenly, you were thrown into the black void, your torture being an endless onslaught of insecurities and reminders of the mistakes you made in the circus - people you pushed away who were secretly abstracting, times you made yourself and your problems a burden onto the rest of the cast, and everything you thought could never be exposed. You screamed and flailed and felt yourself tear up at the endless onslaught of torture and suffering, just wanting it to end and beginning to regret everything you had done with, and for, Caine.

You couldn’t tell if this was something Caine wanted to do to you, either, or if this was some type of AI-induced mania-like virus, or some type of control override, or-

And just like that, he was gone. Kinger had removed him from the circus entirely. And now you had to move on from what felt like the eternity of adventures that your life became.