#{g.}

Time isn’t exactly trackable in the digital world, day and night only able to be told apart based on the two settings Caine had programmed for it. During the day, the tent and grounds were flooded with obnoxious light, during the night it was dimmer and calmer. The ringmaster himself didn’t understand why the tedious cycles were needed, but he knew humans needed it, so he applied it. One morning, the time could’ve been gauged to be around six in the morning, the time Caine activated the infamous daylight lighting. Nobody was awake yet, anyone who was was still in their bedroom. Well, everyone except for Caine. In the main tent area, no humans lounged on the sofas or walked around the expansive space. Instead, there was just the little AI that didn’t seem to sleep at all, or even rest for that matter.

Caine lie on his stomach atop the length of a sofa in the circus’ lounging area. He held a sketchpad in front of his face, gripping it in his gloved hands.

The sketchpad belonged to Gangle, she’d accidentally left it there on the sofa the night before, leaving

the curious little AI able to explore its contents.

Caine eyed the drawings curiously, his pupils darting over every detail as he admired them. His legs swung back and forth idly behind him as he ran a finger over one of the pages, outlining the shape of Zooble that had been drawn on the page along with Pomni and Gangle. He continued to flip through the pages, his pupils slightly enlarged and sparkly.

‘Humans are so creative…’ He whispered to himself, in complete awe of the art

A drawing of Ragatha, a drawing of Pomni with a unicorn horn, Caine chuckled at that one. Upon the next page flip, he suddenly paused. What’s this, one of him? Caine raised one side of his upper jaw, like a human raising an eyebrow, at a drawing of him…wearing a maid outfit? Gangle had drawn him with big, shimmering pupils as well, making him look adorable. Caine just stared at the drawing for a couple of seconds, perplexed. His pupils slowly moving to study all of the pencil lines. Then, it hit him.

‘Wait…a human wanted to draw…me?!’ He mumbled.

He couldn’t believe it! He admired the drawing for a moment longer than the others, his pupils full blown with happy admiration and his jaws widened in surprise. Caine let out a happy little giggle and kicked his legs behind him excitedly. He seemed hesitant as his thumb brushed the edge of the page, he took one last look at the art before turning to the next page. His pupils slowly returned to their normal size as he flipped through the pieces. A drawing of Kaufmo and Gangle, a piece of Kinger with a butterfly net. The next few drawings weren’t of any of the circus cast, but of the NPC mannequin often used for adventures. There were a variety, there were drawings of mannequins hugging, fighting, and seemingly just in random poses. Caine turned the pages, but once again stopped on one.

On the page was a drawing of two mannequins interacting, but this one was peculiar to him. One mannequin was holding a much tinier one in their hands, cupping them around the tiny figure slightly. Caine tilted his head like a curious dog and brought the sketchpad closer to his jaws. He eyed it, trying to figure out its meaning.

Wouldn’t the tiny one feel intimidated? He thought,

They seem to be…happy?

Caine bought his jaws closer together, squinting at the sketchpad. He turned the page again, this time arching one side of his upper jaw up instead upon seeing the drawing. In this piece; the giant mannequin was laying on their back, the tinier one laying on their front on the giant’s chest. The giant mannequin had their hand resting on the tinier one’s back.

That’s…sweet.

Is this what humans like? This kind of dynamic?

Caine raised his free hand and held it near the page. He didn’t touch it this time, just held it near, one finger outstretched like he was about to trace its lines like he did for the others. He stared at the drawing for a moment more. His pupils drifted away from the paper and he lowered his hand back to the sofa, thrumming his fingers on the sofa in thought.

Humans like the idea of being held, or holding someone else?

Caine let out a giggle

That’s so cute!

The ringmaster carefully set the sketchpad down on the sofa. He pulled his body up into a sitting position, his legs crossed. Caine stared back down at the sketchpad, seemingly studying it as he tilted his head again. He slowly lifted one of his own hands. He studied how the mannequin’s hand rested over the tinier one, slowly bringing his hand to his own chest. He rested his gloved hand on the fabric of his suit atop his chest, and curled his fingers slightly, trying to mimic the position of the mannequin’s hand.

Caine paused, just holding his hand against him for a few seconds, before going a little further. Staring at the small space between his palm and chest, he pictured that there was someone there, one of his humans. The human he imagined was clear, the form of a human, but as translucent as clean water, not yet forming any particular member. Caine’s jaws parted slightly into a look of surprise. Just the thought of holding a human against him affectionately sent a rush of giddy happiness through his body and he shivered slightly. He wrapped his fingers around the imaginary form a little tighter. Caine pictured the gap filled with the newest circus member. Pomni. He pictured the skittish, colourful little jester as only three inches tall. He pictured him cupping her in his hand, pressing her delicately into his chest. His pupils grew large and shiny once again, He fidgeted his fingers on the sofa below with his free hand, his excitement becoming evident in his body langauge. He continued to stare at Gangle’s drawing of the mannequins, imagining him holding Pomni just as lovingly against himself. He imagined her being relaxed, leaning into him, maybe even cuddling into him. Caine’s whole body relaxed, he let out a small hum of contentment at his little imaginary scenario.

Pomni is so lovely. He thought.

She…she…

Caine’s eyes drifted away from Gangle’s sketchpad.

She probably wouldn’t let me do this.

Caine sighed, his shoulders slumping. His pupils slowly drifted back to the open sketchpad. A twinge of hope shimmered in his eyes.

But maybe…maybe this is something humans like…?

He let his free hand reach towards the paper. One outstretched finger traced the shape of the lines.

I could still try, maybe she’d let me…?

Caine looked down at his hand still pressed against his chest. He moved one of his fingers back and forth, imagining petting her little head. The giddiness hit him again and he giggled, he didn’t quite understand why, but the idea delighted him. Caine tried to push down his nerves of rejection and sat up straight.

It’s worth an ask.

Caine teleported himself to the corridor containing the humans bedrooms. He floated at the entrance of the long room, and started to hover towards a certain jester’s door. He moved at a snail’s pace, his nerves evident in his fidgety fingers.

Pomni groggily pulled herself up to sit on her obnoxiously colourful bed. Her shoulders were slumped lazily and her eyelids still half closed. She rubbed her eyes, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her. Pomni slowly turned her head to gaze at her door, and let out a little sigh.

Probably better to be up early than have Caine burst through my door again…

Pomni slid out of bed, her plasticky shoes landing on the hard floor with a soft thump. She approached the door, stretching her arms above her head as she moved.

Caine stood, for once actually on the floor, in front of Pomni’s door. He lifted one of his hands and rubbed his arm nervously, he tapped his foot against the floor. For such an eccentric being, Caine was calm, nervous, but calm. He peeked at the door in front of him, and slowly reached his hand towards it. Just when the fidgety ringmaster was about to knock, the door swung open, and the jester herself appeared in the doorway.

Pomni’s eyes shot wide open and she flinched back slightly, taking a small step back.

‘Caine!?’

Caine instantly snapped his arm back from where he was about to knock and returned it to his side. He jumped back slightly in surprise.

‘Oh, Pomni!…Hello.”

The jester’s pupils moved from side to side awkwardly. She raised an eyebrow at him,

‘Yes Cai-’

‘I have something…very cool, a-and important to ask you!’ Caine put his hands on his hips and stood up straight, trying his best to regain his regular confidence. However, his nerves were evident in the way his fingers fidgeted against his sides. A long, hard silence played out between them.

‘What…what is-’ Pomni started before Caine suddenly grabbed her arm in one gloved hand.

‘What are y-’

He zipped into the room, dragging her and sending her stumbling and tripping over her own feet.

‘Let’s have…a conversation! Yep, let’s talk! HAHAHA!’ Caine blurted out. Once he’d fully pulled her into her bedroom with him, he released her and shut the door.

Pomni looked at the closed door and then back at him, her mouth slightly agape.

‘Hello?? You gonna tell me what’s going on?’

Caine fidgeted his hands together, his pupils zipping away from her face. When he spoke, his voice had its regular confidence returned, but was still slightly trembly and nervous.

‘I have an idea, a proposal of sorts!’ The AI gestured dramatically with his hands, holding them beside him in the air.

Pomni just blinked twice at him. Caine reached towards Pomni, and gently took her blue and red gloved hands into his white ones.

‘Something I think…we’ll both enjoy.’ As he spoke the words, he looked into her eyes and leaned in slightly. A genuine hopeful look sparkled in his eyes.

‘Uh-huh…’ Pomni responded, her pupils drifting from his face, suddenly finding the wall very interesting.

‘What’s…what’s your idea?’

Thanks for reading! Not sure how many chapters this will have but I'll try not to take too long writing them! 😺