#rose's rambles

So. I don't know how many other people noticed this with everything else that happened in this episode, but instead of directing attention to Jax, Zooble, Ragatha or Gangle, I'd like to direct our attention to a certain chess man in the room.

Kinger.

So, I've noticed quite a bit going on with this man in THIS episode that kinda had me looking at him with a lot more suspicion.

Now, the butterfly scene may come to mind first, but take note of something before we get into the actual bug reveal;

Kinger is clear and concise in this scene. In the light.

Notice he's actually thinking clearly here. Strategizing, coming up with a plan. No silly antics, no screaming, just straight to the point.

This wouldn't have been suspicious on its own, uuuntil we get to the butterfly scene. Ragatha, of course, missing some health, comments on how unfair it is.

And how does Kinger respond?

"I've got just the thing!"

Not "Let me try something-" or "I wonder if I- there we go!" Nothing to imply thought or hesitation.

Like he's done this before.

And of course, he creates a bug in the system just for Ragatha to heal. And when Ragatha asks him about this?

Said nonchalantly, as though it's completely normal what he just did. As if it isn't world shattering knowledge that he, a player in the circus, can just MANIFEST shit.

Now, I'm sure we all already have kinda come up with the theory that he was probably a programmer on this game - a game developer. He even has a line he says to Pomni while they're stuck in "hell".

And the line he says to Ragatha when he's consoling her only furthers that theory down the line.

I do have a new theory to throw into the ring, though. What if he didn't just work on the circus - what if he was the one who programmed Caine?

He and Caine are both able to spawn something in from the looks of it. He seems rather eager for adventures a good portion of the time. Heck, he even tries to come up with compromises FOR CAINE. The whole entire reason Zooble was forced into the adventure in Episode 4 was because of Kinger's suggestion.

And the way he LOOKS AT CAINE after he says this, too. Like a proud father trying to help his son.

Also, smaller detail, in the intermission Kinger stops the bowling ball from hitting him and is hit with a chess piece instead.

A rook. A chess piece that can force a checkmate against a King.

Now this usually would just be a funny chess detail any place else, BUT hear me out on this one.

Kinger has NEVER used this ability to summon things in front of the other cast members, with Pomni being the only one knowing about his wife. So there's a LOT this guy is hiding already, but note that it's significant WHEN he does this.

What is Caine doing while the others are shooting each other? Working on the awards show, AWAY from the group. Bubble is there with the camera, sure, but we don't see them pop up close to Kinger or Ragatha until they're in the Loser Corner.

And when's the first time Kinger actually brings up this ability of his? It's only when Caine's not looking.

I think he only did this right here and now because Caine wasn't surveilling the group. Ergo, Caine wouldn't be able to call him out or undo what he did as a result.

THEN WE GET BACK TO HIS BEHAVIOR, TOO.

He's clear IN THE LIGHT, NOT JUST IN THE DARK, as stated prior.

Put all of this together, with the chess pieces in the Intermission, and you've got a little revelation here; Kinger is putting on an act. If Caine finds out one of the developers who made him is still sane, or can counteract stuff he does, or hell - could make the same things he could (and possibly better), then he'd probably lose his marbles. We've already seen how jealous and broken Caine's AI has been becoming over the course of all of this.

Perhaps Kinger's front is just a rouse to ensure Caine doesn't know he still has level playing field. He knows if Caine finds out he has power here, Caine could easily force a checkmate here (metaphorically) to get him out of the picture before he can mess up HIS circus.

So what does he do? Play up the factor. Make sure nobody knows, because if somebody knows he can do this, then they might go to Caine about it or slip up around him.

And who does he seem to trust the most right now? Ragatha. It's why he doesn't seem to mind sharing his ability with her. She won't tell Caine, because if she does she'll be doing something that could make Kinger look at her differently. She cares about everybody and being loved by all of them. If she feels she's doing something that could hurt them, she stops or backtracks. It's why Kinger shares with her - she's probably the only one who won't spill anything out of fear of losing him.

. . . I'm realizing I've been sitting here writing a ramble for 2 hours. Thank you for coming to my crazed Pepe Sylvia levels of TADC ranting and theorizing. :3