Ragatha

The Ragdoll walked through the familiar deteriorating walls of the Digital purgatory she called home that is until with a hard and sudden jolt she found herself landing on the floor of somewhere Similar yet completely different . With a trembling demeanor she stood holding her head the feeling of shock wearing off as she looked around taking it all in her mind running a mile a minute . Though after awhile she slowly made her way to attempt to find one of the others and she thought she did but wait why did they look so different....

[ Annie stares at your muse from behind a corner her unblinking stare drilling bullets into them ]

Um, hello?

*She approaches*

Annie is immediately flabbergasted looking at the less uncanny version of what seems to be herself though that doesn't show on her unmoving features. In her mind she quickly goes over every scenario of how this might be jesters next plan to torture her but...but how did she create a an area so....advanced looking So Whimsical looking....so Nice.....

[ The slightly shorter doll jolts back hiding behind the wall as the other approaches scared out of her wits trembling slightly ]

Let's just say the last interaction with another version of herself didn't go well for her

Hey, hey! You don’t need to be scared-! It’s just me… I’m not gonna hurt you or anything! Um… do you, y’know, talk?

The Other Doll was also so so very confused...jesters creations were never this advanced or aware they were normally simply tools used to torment her and the others....

Annie tries to breath in and out to calm herself though such a thing could not be heard from her low poly and far less versatile avatar before choosing to move from behind the wall

[ now facing the other she then shook her head as to say 'no' confirming she is in fact mute ]

Oh- got it. Well, um… my name is Ragatha, and this is the circus! There are other people in here too, but they’re currently in a adventure made by Caine- he’s an AI y’know? The one in charge of this place. I’m glad I decided to skip today though- I can show you around! Um, do you wanna go to my room? I might have some pen and paper thrown around somewhere, then you can communicate by writing?…does that sound good?

Caine? The Name seems familiar.... in a vague sort of way to Annie jester had a habit of altering their minds and one of the first things to go was the memory of the original leader or well God as she calls herself of them all

truly unused to this level of kindness and attentiveness she begins to doubt if this other her was made by jester at all.....though still she's cautious as this could be...no was probably a trick...

[ she nods taking the similar ragdolls hand afraid of what might happen if she denied it after this she looks to the floor in a rather meek way ]

This is where we usually sleep-! Not that we have to, but it’s still nice, right? I’m not sure if you… also work like that.

*when they finally get to her room, Ragatha opens the door and invites the new doll in.*

And this is my room-! It’s not a lot but I hope you feel comfortable here. Let’s see… I’m sure there’s paper somewhere… hah, found it! So, can you write your name? And um… maybe explain where you’re from..?

Annie truly couldn't believe her eyes or well eye as she passed down the hall of rooms . this place was just the same as her circus . lay out and all . essentially the only difference was it was so so friendly and-and bright !....was this even real ? Did she fall asleep and now she's dreaming ? And if not why would jester make all this ? It didn't make any sense ! Not that anything in her whole existence had but still all the entity that used to be her fellow human companion ever wanted to do was torment them make them suffer....why hadn't anything bad happened yet....

Annie looks around as they enter the room her eyes dilating in surprise . it was her room just far more colorful and inviting . If this did flip around on her she hoped it wait awhile.....she kinda liked it here

[ as they enter she takes a seat on the piano bench and looks up to Ragatha taking the notebook and begins writing "my name is Annie I really like your room and I don't really know what's going on here or why your being so nice to me but please tell me why does the circus look like this? Where are the others?" she seemed frazzled as she handed the notebook back to Ragatha toying with her hands a bit and looking around Anxiously her permanent smile unflinching ]

Annie, huh? That’s a pretty name! I suppose it’s not your-um, real name either if you ended up here the same way we have, by putting on a headset and all…

Well, I think the circus has always looked like this? Ever since I joined, anyway…and it has been a good while, hah… unless you live in a different circus? I mean, I never heard of that existing but I-I didn’t think a different version of me existed either so…

And uh, if you mean the others who live here, they’re in some adventure involving spaceships? I didn’t quite catch the explanation, but um, yeah, they’re not here right now.. do they exist in your circus too?

Also, why wouldn’t I be nice to you? You seem so sweet already! Plus It wouldn’t be fair to just leave you around here on your own, y’know? Gee, it’s confusing having an alternate version of yourself haha…

Annie nodded at the notion that it wasn't her real name though it might as well be at this point being trapped in the Amazing Digital Circus for years upon years aswell . Well a knock off completely unfinished version of the Original creative Ai project the company C&A abandoned created through far less than legal means . though of course this fact was completely unknown to the doll . heck she doesn't even remember anything from before existing as she is now excluding the most miniscule of memory flashes here and there and of course basic things .

[ Annie tilts her head at the notion that the circus has always been this way before her eyes widen at the words there not here right now as any previous thoughts or questions she may have wrote down leave her mind she proceeds to write frantically seeming genuinely scared before turning the notebook to Ragatha The paper reads "there not being hurt are they?" ]

What-? N-no! I mean, at least I don’t think so? Sometimes we get really torn up in adventures- but Caine always fixes us right up-! Plus a lot of the pain is just numbed down cause, y’know, cartoon physics… But don’t worry- I’m sure they’re fine. Caine wouldn’t hurt anyone on purpose!

Annie's paranoia seemed to worsen at the others words nothing about this was making any sense! this was a test from jester it had to be....it just had to be

She seems to panic breathing heavy pupil shaking before gathering her strength to write once more , the writing becoming more erratic and messy as she went on

[ "I don't know what you want from me jester but please just get it over with" still sitting on the bench as she turns away from the other ragdoll holding her knees and trying not to make eye contact as she held out the book shakily to what she kept telling herself was one of jesters games if she was capable she'd be tearing up ]

“Jester”…? You’re not…talking about Pomni, are you? She’s the only jester here… but she wouldn’t hurt anyone either! Who.. who are you talking to? H-hey, deep breaths, okay? I promise you nothings gonna happen- is there, uh, something I can do…?

*She went reaching for her with her hand but then decides it’s better not to. She looks at the other worryingly, It feels like technically Annie shouldn’t be here, but the thought of letting her go back to wherever it was she lived wasn’t the best idea either.*

Pomni's name was not one she knew yet ringed with familiarity just as Caine's . As previously mentioned many of Annie's memories of pre jester were altered or taken away entirely with the entity's arrival . she had no idea there was ever a time without jester

Annie listened to the other doll eventually taking deep breaths before calming down a bit after she picked up the notebook again looking to her still shaking slightly . she wrote intently "I'm sorry none of this is making any sense to me I don't know what to do or if your even real truly you weren't made by jester your not an NPC sent to punish me for something?" Her gaze met the others finally examining her expression while handing over the notebook . she wanted to believe the other was real her kindness was real but it was hard to accept

Its fine…! I know it must be… a lot. I promise you I’m real, Annie. I don’t- I wouldn’t ever punish you?! I’ve been wondering if you’re an NPC as well but you’re…. Too, uh, unique to be one, if that makes sense… That’s not a bad thing-! I promise I don’t wanna hurt you, okay?

*she touched Annie’s shoulder warmly. Trying to make sure she’s feeling the tiniest bit better.*

Of course a small level of distrust and confusion still remained how could it not? after all of what she'd been through--but the other's words did soothe her a substantial amount or at least enough for her to not pull away from her touch . She nodded at the others request as she took the notebook once more beginning to do just that "it's not much nothing like whatever this place is...it's more of a purgatory of sorts if I'm being honest we can feel pain and often do , we do need sleep and to eat and we also don't really have adventures " she tried to recall everything she'd collected about this bright version of the circus she'd found herself in as to compare and give the other the best answer

[ Annie handed back the notebook unaware of how eerie it was that she seemed unphased explaining everything as if it was normal ]

A purgatory? I’m sorry… that sounds awful. Huh, so you actually feel things in a more human way? That’s…interesting. Sometimes I really miss feeling those basic necessities just to feel a bit more… real, hah.. though it probably doesn’t work much in you favor, does it…

Annie shakes her head in agreement at it not working in their favor often . jester really only made it that way as to have more means to assert her power over them often denying food or slumber whenever she felt the urge to . what made it worse is that there was no escape not even through abstraction which didn't exist in there version there minds where truly trapped forever no matter how much they'd deteriorate

[ Annie thinks for a moment before taking the notebook back and writing out "we usually just try to be there for each other really or well when possible jester doesn't like it when we get along to well , other times we just wander or attempt to get sleep or find something to eat , I'm good friends with nullble and jack and well I think me and jangle are friends? It's hard to tell sometimes Crowner is so kind almost like a dad to all of us" she smiles genuinely for the first time when thinking of the others ending with a "I hope there ok" she passes the notebook ]

Annie was shocked to hear that Jack's seeming counterpart was the one who was mean to everyone really . in her world surprisingly jangle could be the mean one at times or well she usually flipped on a dime happy or angry .

[ Annie begins writing now happy to talk about her fellow circus members however that happiness dulls a bit as she shakes her head no to the question of remembering anything from her previous life she only writes "I can only say I know of it I don't really remember anything before becoming well this" she motions to herself looking a bit defeated ]

Oh, I see.. it must feel bad not…remembering those things. The only thing we really forget is our names… I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s partially good you can’t remember how it used to be though…I mean there’s definitely some stuff to forget haha!! But forgetting our horses… y’know, Chestnut, Butterscotch and Alfredo…I’d be really upset about that :(

Annie may be an alternate version of Ragatha in the Digital verse but in real life the truth was she was a completely different person hence her friends different personalities the similar avatars and names were absolutely intentional however as someone had attempted to recreate the abandoned Amazing Digital Circus project exactly of course the doll was clueless to all this however....

hearing of the other's horses names Annie once more seems to smile genuinely before beginning to write again this time with more pep though as she turned the page ah! a paper cut! she was bleeding actual....blood

[ Annie doesn't flinch having been through far worse she simply looks at her mitten like hand in acknowledgment tilting her head ]

Oh gosh- are you okay? You’re bleeding! Like, actually bleeding! I- we don’t really bleed here- it’s not, um, family friendly… I just have stuffing, for example-

um- you want me to, uh, stitch that up? Oh, wait what am I thinking- that’s probably not how you do it… hmmmm, I’ll see if i can find something-!

*Ragatha looks over her sewing kit and finds a spare fabric, then goes over to Annie, takes her hand and cleans up the blood*

Annie listens attentively to the frantic doll shaking her head as if to say no 'I'm fine don't worry' as she was fretting to find a solution to the bleeding

The smaller doll stands up from the piano bench after ragatha took care of the small cut and stares at the other for just a moment before launching into hugging her as to thank her for her kindness a heart beat can be felt emitting from her chest

I-im sorry you’re stuck in there, Annie. You- you don’t deserve it. Please know that, okay? That um, “Jester” person shouldn’t treat any of you like that. I’m… really glad you ended up in here somehow .

Annie really wasn't used to this level of affection as she savoured every moment of it hoping she'd never return to the circus she'd arrived from

[ pulling back after awhile looking to the other happily with a hint of contentment in her expression ]

Annie looks just as defeated for a moment looking to the floor unsure what to do- that's when she realizes something and a petrified look comes across her face as she clutches her chest

[ Annie runs to the notebook quickly but then drops it seeing what was on the page she opened up to....it was a drawing of jester with no mouth and the words "ready or not" ]

Annie? Is, uh, everything okay..?

*she picks up the notebook and looks at the drawing, confused*

Annie simply shakes her head no over and over no no no no no

[ the two dolls are hit with a massive glitching episode and everything goes dark as there's flashes of the void and lastly a flash of jesters face ]

[ both land in the main area of Duffys Digital Circus Annie Landing on her face ]

A-Annie..? Is this what I think it is..? How did we- why..

A dark and hollow laugh echoes in the background seeming as if it was coming from there own minds something Annie was far to familiar with the doll trembling in fear as she stands looking to Ragatha before nodding confirming where they where

The laughing turns to a voice a voice similar to Ragatha's dear friend from her world pomni though with a tinge of something..... sinister and inhuman "oh Annie how I missed you... and look you've brought a guest well don't be rude give her the tour I'm sure she'll find it delightful ~ !"

[ as the entity spoke Annie stared to the floor blankly while gripping Ragatha's arm tightly in fear ]

hm… i actually really enjoy the adventures where we just chill and spend time together, you know? maybe a camping one could be nice. eating marshmallows, telling stories…

- @your-favourite-journalist

[it writes something down in a worn journal, his gaze never leaving the nervous ragdoll.]

"and- i don't wish to make you uncomfortable- i must confirm there are no falsehoods in your statement, and unfortunately at the moment you seem to be. abnormally nervous for a simple question of a crush that you could simply wave off if you were sure it was false. i hate to say this, but learn this lesson from the rabbit- be more forceful about so-called falshoods."

[they scoff slightly at the mention of jax but continue to stare at ragatha, an intensity to his stare, as if its waiting for the doll to change her answer under pressure.]

Learning a lesson from Jax? Im not sure that’s the best idea…but I’m telling the truth, I promise! Though… if I- y’ know, felt something like that for her… maybe it should be kind of private? And…. I really, really don’t wanna make Pomni upset… you understand that, right?

*she looks away for a while, concerned. Then snaps back to reality.*

hm… i actually really enjoy the adventures where we just chill and spend time together, you know? maybe a camping one could be nice. eating marshmallows, telling stories…

@gangletheredribbonasks

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frolicking with mama :)

[Ko-Fi]

@gangletheredribbonasks

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