Moon Pearle

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Perhaps because I watched the new episode late at night during anxiety attack (sort of??), but for some reason I got the clear feeling that Jax isn't human, but a second AI, and we were pretty clearly hinted at this several times.

First, when he said he was "incapable" of abstracting, eh?

Second, when he ran away from Kinger's explanation and was "Oh, it's all true." and feeling panic again.

Third, when they strip him of his "character" skin during the cast's torture scene.

I heard a theory that Jax might be an NPC, and there are definitely a lot of suspicious details surrounding him, but what if he's "Abel"? Perhaps Cain brought him to the circus for some purpose and reprogrammed him to think he's a messed-up dude, or perhaps gave him the memories/personality of someone from the circus who had already abstracted.

…the fields of Mistria After removing the last piece of armor, you finally lay down in the field's clearing, and at that moment a deep, relaxed sigh escaped your lips. The aching fatigue that had gripped your back and legs was gradually receding. You had absolutely no desire to get up anytime soon. After such an adventure as today, the clearing felt almost like a well-fluffed featherbed, and the grass around it was in no worse than silken sheets. The fresh air filled your lungs and calmed your mind, displacing the adrenaline from the events you had just experienced. Сeline sat next to you, her side pressed slightly against yours. After hearing the whole story, her gaze wandered somewhere across the fields that stretched out before you. Her fingers absentmindedly played with the fabric of her skirt, betraying the anxious state of her thoughts. "Oh, petal, I wish I could help you more," she muttered. "If only I knew how much you carry on your shoulders…" "Celine," you gently took her hand, stopping her from fiddling with the poor fabric any further. "It's okay. You helped me a lot, even though you didn't know the whole truth." "But I didn't do anything, did I?" she asked, a little incredulously, but a blush had already touched her cheeks. "How about your herbal teas? And how your advice helped me save the garden while I was too busy rescuing dragons in the mines? And how you hold me close when I was exhausted? Celine, you are my miracle." Without hesitation, you gently pulled her closer. She squeaked in surprise and collapsed on top of you. After a moment of confusion, an embarrassed, but clearly happy, giggle rang out. God, how you loved her sweet little laugh. After a brief hesitation, Celine carefully shifted so she could rest her head comfortably on your chest. The pleasant weight of her body and the scent of her hair grounded you in the most wonderful way, allowing you to truly rest. You wrapped your arms around her shoulders, lightly squeezing, and then you let out another contented sigh.

…the bridge on the Western Road You sat down on the riverbank and dipped your bare feet into the water, letting cool current wash away all your fatigue. Your greaves, like the rest of your armor, lay nearby. Even though it wasn't heavy, you still felt a sense of relief when you took it all off. The sun had almost set. The turbulent events of the previous day were fading away, leaving you with a quiet evening and timid stars in the lilac haze of twilight. Balor rustled his boot buckles and then joined you. He immediately shivered at the cool sensation on his skin, and something in his expression suggested he was regretting his decision. You couldn't help but giggle. "When I first met you here, I had no idea things would turn out like this." His nostalgic gaze slid toward the bridge. You nodded silently, also feeling that warm feeling in your chest. For a couple of minutes, you quietly gazed at the very place where you'd first met. "Me too. This isn't exactly what I signed up for when I accepted the invitation to move here." "Do you regret getting involved in all this?" You turned to him. It was as if you saw the reflection of the starlight in his eyes. You always liked this little playful sparkles that lit up when he looked at something shiny. A slight smile played on his lips. But not his signature charming grin he flashed at everyone. This one was softer. More sincere. A special one he'd saved just for you. "No, not at all. It was hard, but it was worth it to come to Mistria. And to meet you." You moved a little closer, resting your head on his shoulder. For a moment, he froze, almost instinctively. Then, slowly, the tense muscles relaxed. He shifted slightly, so you can lean on him comfortably. "Hmm," he sighed, as if considering your words, letting them sink in. "I'm a traveling merchant, after all. We could have met anywhere, without having to fight monsters or make pacts with dragons." Ah, he dares to tease. You snorted, feeling his chest bounce slightly with a quiet chuckle. Touché. "But we met here and now!" you declared stubbornly. He chuckled softly, his breath warm in your hair. He pressed his cheek to the top of your head, inhaling deeply. "As you say, jewel." It really didn't matter why the roads had led you here. The important thing was that you were now walking this path together.

…the bathhouse The hot water gently envelops your tired muscles, warming and caressing them. Just what you need after a long, eventful day. You felt the tension leave your body, giving way to the bliss that only a good bath can provide. The thick steam curled around you, filled with the scent of sweet oils. Juniper slowly sat onto the stone edge behind you, her smooth legs gently gliding over your shoulders. "Close your eyes," she said in a commanding tone, but you heard notes of tenderness beneath the façade. Something splashed near your ear, and you smelled cherries and vanilla. Then Juniper's hands touched your head. Her dexterous, slender fingers gently massaged the fragrant lather into your hair, sharp manicure pleasantly scratching scalp, sending shivers down your spine. "Mmm, you're amazing," you sighed blissfully. "I know," she chuckled. "Just don't get used to it, okay? This is special treatment for saving the town and all." You smiled, but said nothing. Juniper was still herself, even after everything that had happened between you. And that was exactly what you liked about her. And oh, you weren't even going to complain, especially while she was pampering you like this. A comfortable silence fell for a couple of minutes. You basked in your girlfriend's gentle touch as she thoroughly washed your hair. Juniper was a witch, of course, but the magic she was performing now was clearly nothing compared to all the spells you'd encountered. "And by the way," she suddenly broke the silence, her voice calm and businesslike. This wasn't good. "After the flow of magic stabilized, I sense a significant shift in the energies around. I plan to preform several experiments soon, and you, pretty thing, will be my test subject again. So be sure to clear your schedule." "Ah, so you're just coaxing to participate in your evil witch doings. And here I thought you loved me," you sighed dramatically, pressing your cheek against her knee. "Don't be ridiculous," she snorted. It was unclear which half of your sentence this comment referred to. Perhaps both. You giggled contentedly and, without looking, caught her hand to pull it to your lips for a kiss. However, along with the softness of her velvety skin, you also tasted the bitter taste of shampoo, and your face instantly grimaced. “Fool,” she sighed, but with endless affection in her voice, generously pouring water on you.

…the Summit Your day had already been eventful and exhausting, but you still decided to go to the summit to watch the sunset. By the end of the climb, your legs were aching with fatigue, so when you finally reached your destination, you breathed a loud sigh of relief. Hurrying to remove your armor, you settled near the edge of the summit. Forests, rivers, fields, and the small from the distant, toy-like towers of the capital, lie before you. The view from here was always breathtaking. However, March was clearly more interested in your new armor. You always knew he'd been eager to examine it properly even when it was in the museum. Of course, touching the valuable exhibit wasn't allowed. You smiled as he turned the helmet over in his hands, appreciating all the details and the craftsmanship. His eyes sparkled with delight, and his tanned cheeks had that charming flush that appeared when he was delighted with something but didn't want to admit it out loud. Cute. "Hun, are you saying this armor magically adjusted to your size when you put it on?" "Exactly. I have witnesses!" It was funny that, of all your long history, the one that impressed him most was the armor-related episode. Funny, but not surprising, knowing March. "Crazy. No, absolutely everything you told me about magic and dragons is crazy, but this—it's simply incredible." He carefully placed the helmet on the grass, and then finally moved closer to you. Your shoulders touched as you both watched the sun gradually set and the sky turn orange and pink. "You know, I really underestimated you. Just think how much you've actually done…" "Wow, are you going to apologize for being rude?" you teased, lightly nudging him in the side with your elbow. "What? No way!" he snorted, blushing even more. "You had to earn my trust, and you did, good job. But I won't apologize!" You laughed, watching his ears redden as quickly as the setting sun. You couldn't resist kissing his rosy cheek, earning a disgruntled grunt. His strong arm darted to grab your shoulders, tugging a bit sharply so you buried your face in his chest. It didn't help muffle your laughter, ringing over the summit.

…the Sleeping Dragon Inn You settled comfortably on the small sofa in Reina's room, finally stretching out your legs among the pillows. After such a difficult and eventful day, being horizontal was a dream come true. A buzz of voices filled the air outside the door; most likely, the entire town had gathered in the hall to discuss what had just happened. You knew they were talking about you and the dragons, but you were in no hurry to get up and face all the questions. Not today. Although it was a bit fun to hide there and eavesdrop on snatches of enthusiastic chatter. You felt like a naughty child, hiding right under their noses. The doors opened quietly, and Reina slipped inside cautiously, glancing around to make sure no one was following her. She held a plate of some fragrant dish in her hands, and your stomach immediately rumbled from the smell alone. "Your belly sounds like a dragon's growl. Poor thing, you must be so hungry after everything that happened!" She placed the plate on the table. There was a generous portion of your favorite dish, hot, clearly fresh from the stove. It seemed it wasn't on the menu today. "Did you make this for me?" "Of course, pudding, you deserve a nice treat after saving the town!" She watched with a smile as you eagerly ate, quickly shoving bite after bite into your mouth. Her eyes were warm and gentle, just like the fire burning in the hearth beneath the cauldron. The food was incredibly delicious, and you weren't entirely sure if it was because you were really hungry and tired or because it was prepared by the caring hands of your talented girlfriend. "Should I get you anything else?" she asked as you pushed your empty plate away with a contented sigh. "No, thank you, I'm full. Although.. I do want dessert. A special one!" Without hesitation, you extend your arms, inviting her into a hug. She giggles and eagerly plops down on the couch next to you. She enthusiastically wriggle a bit before her arms finally wrapped tightly around your waist. "A special cuddle from the chief," Reyna giggled, resting her head on your shoulder. "Send the chief my compliments," you play along, kissing the top of her head.