“It’s nothing. Who cares?”

Jax scooped Soldan into his arms and grinned down at her; he was holding her like a baby. Or a bride. Same thing, right?

Jax didn’t realize he was staring at the eraser half of the pencil until someone knocked on his door and almost startled him out of his fur.

Well, now he was glad he hadn’t been sleeping. That would’ve been a TERRIBLE way to wake up.

“GUH-huh!! …wh-… Caine!!”

His brows knit and nearly came together as he stomped up to the door and swung it open. As hot as the boiling rage that had suddenly swept over him was, Jax stopped, and his pupils grew large instead of tiny squares, flooded with anger.

The strained, crooked grin on his face didn’t hide just how much he wanted to slam the door in Caine’s face at all, but what did it matter?

Yellow eyes tired, he pointed his fingers- palms pressed together- at the ringmaster and asked, “what’s the adventure?” in a tone that suggested hastily-contained frustration. Not that Caine would realize this, he was sure… but that was what he wanted, anyway.

Well, it's best not to think about that now.

"There you are, Jax! Why, I wasn't sure if you'd show up after you missed the award for Wascalliest Wabbit." Jax had been gone for part of the event — doing what, Caine doesn't know. "We ended up giving it to Bubble instead."

"Ain't I a stinker?" says an inexplicably bunny-eared Bubble. (Seems he's ripping off Jax's shtick...)

“…yeaaahhh, that’s… yeah. A volcano, huh? An active one, too.”

He shut his eyes and sucked in a breath that sounded more like a hiss. An active volcano sounded kinda cool, he supposed… well, not exactly cool, but tolerable. Maybe.

“Sure. Yeah. Let’s go,” he finally answered, his typical toothy smile coming right back. He took long strides and tossed his arms behind his head.

Sh&t’s fine, he told himself, more than once. It’s not your problem, anyway.

“So, what’s this adventure gonna have in store for us this time? It’ll be including the risk of ‘death’ by lava, I’m guessing?”

Jax had only had what he called a ‘game over’- or death in an adventure- once, when he was crushed by a meteorite in some kind of odd, space-like environment. He couldn’t recall if it was from the suggestion box or not, but assumed it wasn’t. Caine seemed to forget it existed unless he was reminded, and even then, half the time, no suggestions were answered.

❛  you're going to burn in the sun if you don't put on sunscreen.  ❜

❛  i got sand everywhere. e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.  ❜

❛  come on, the water is perfect!  ❜

❛  i haven't been to the beach in ages.  ❜

❛  can you help me look for seashells, please?  ❜

❛  you're not seriously building a sandcastle right now.  ❜

❛  if we leave now, we can still catch the sunset.  ❜

❛  you make even the hottest days feel bearable.  ❜

❛  i wish summer could last forever.  ❜

❛  i'm not sharing my popsicle with you; get your own.  ❜

❛  that seagull is looking at your food suspiciously.  ❜

❛  are you trying to get sunscreen in my hair? if so, you're doing a great job.  ❜

❛  did you seriously forget the towels?  ❜

❛  if you splash me even once, this means war.  ❜

❛  i think i swallowed half the ocean.  ❜

❛  this is why i don't like the beach.  ❜

❛  i already told you i'm not getting in the water.  ❜

❛  it's summer, how can you still be this cold?  ❜

❛  i didn't think i'd be spending my summer with you of all people ... but i'm really glad i did.  ❜

❛  i should have known you'd be dramatic about sand.  ❜

[ sunscreen ] sender helps receiver put on some sunscreen

[ splash ] sender splashes receiver in the water

[ float ] sender and receiver float together in the water

[ ice cream ] sender takes receiver to go get some ice cream

[ sandcastle ] sender and receiver build a sandcastle together

[ volleyball ] sender and receiver play beach volleyball

[ bonfire ] sender and receiver attend a beach bonfire

[ sand ] sender buries receiver in the sand

[ shells ] sender gives receiver a pretty seashell they found

[ aloe ] sender gently puts aloe on receiver's sunburn

[ shade ] sender pulls receiver into the shade

[ wave ] sender pulls receiver closer when the waves get rough

[ stars ] sender and receiver lie on the beach until the stars come out

[ shiver ] sender notices receiver is cold after swimming

[ ferris wheel ] sender and receiver ride a ferris wheel at a seaside fair

[ rain ] sender and receiver get caught in warm summer rain

[ beach ] sender and receiver go to the beach together

[ market ] sender and receiver explore a market together

[ beach promenade ] sender and receiver walk along the beach promenade taking in the view

[ sunset ] sender and receiver watch the sunset together

Jax’s eyelids fluttered when the door closed.

“…I was wrong.”

"Hm? Oh, thanks, Ragatha, but I think I'll pass." She said softly, trying to force a gentle smile. "Is everything alright? You look quite distracted-" Pomni immediately stood up from her seat and nodded quickly. "Yeah, just tired! Uh... guess I should go back to my room." She rubbed the back of her head, waved at the woman, and walked towards the hallway before she was bombarded with more unwanted questions. ---- She fidgeted with her fingers nervously, replaying what happened last night over and over again. Jax's words about him being the cause of someone's abstraction never left her mind, along with his wishful thinking that he preferred to be in that cellar instead, which gave her a bad taste in her mouth. He was having those thoughts, and yet... she decided to abandon him.

Sure, he made horrid mistakes, and part of her knew her reaction was valid, still... he was her friend. Whether he liked it or not. She should be strong and prove to him that he can heal and be a better person, work on himself, just as he was doing these past few days, and that she'll be fine.

Both will be fine, she repeated to herself. They just had to hold onto each other to make this work. Nothing was impossible. ...

"Zooble?" Pomni asked quickly once her eyes fell on them, already walking away from the bunny's room. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart raced, afraid that he... might be... "Hey, uh... how is...?" She gestured at Jax's door.

"He didn't come to breakfast... I... thought something bad happened." She said, trying to ignore the stinging in her eyes.

The thought of ‘corruption’ wasn’t so much of a possibility in their mind- Pomni being betrayed again was. Not anymore, though, because something in her big eyes and her slightly uneven voice said that her worry ran far deeper than they or anyone else had realized.

Nothing made her turn as red as a tomato than their comment about her and Jax's relationship. While she knew they basically loved each other, hearing that same realization from another person made her feel tingly and nervous. Were they really that obvious? In any case, it was clear Zooble won't even buy it if she ever denied her feelings.

Pomni then smiled, touched that they were willing to help with the others. That'd totally make things easier for her and Jax.

"Well, even people like Jax need some love in their lives. Um... I thank you for understanding and helping me, Zooble. Everything's going to be fine. He is trying hard to change. He needs us all to believe in him." She said solemnly.

After Zooble announced it was okay to go check on Jax , Pomni nodded and they left. Her eyes were now fixated ahead, her small feet moving towards his door. When she was right in front, she raised a hesitant hand to push it open. To her surprise, it was unlocked, and the girl peeked inside her friend's room.

She immediately stared at the rabbit's tense figure, frowning slightly as he clutched his bedsheets. He looked so panicked. Maybe he wasn't expecting her to come. Was he mad at her that she left last night? Probably, but she wouldn't blame him.

So she just stepped in, closing the door behind her.

"Jax, hey. Uh... how's it going? I was just here to apologize for leaving last night. I... I didn't know what to do or say after... you know..." The jester fidgeted with her fingers. "But, I'm sorry... I should be with you, no matter what happened in the past. I'm grateful you told me everything, though. You need someone to understand and help you heal your wounds, and I'm willing to do that... if you allow me." She walked closer to where he laid, grabbed his hand gently and intertwined their fingers together.

Her heart beat so hard she swore it was going to explode, her cheeks flushed deeply, and a gentle smile appeared on her face, eyes full of genuine love for him. "I love you, Jax. We are in this together."

She finished, bringing his large hand to her lips to kiss it, silently assuring him nothing will break them apart again. Not his fears, not her doubts.

Jax completely gave up on the sleeping act and slowly sat upright, still shaking and staring at her with small pupils and a racing heart. He didn’t get a chance to say anything before she started talking instead- but he’d been about to say it didn’t matter, that nothing did, when she went on.

He physically couldn’t talk for a few moments. When he found that he could again, he seized the chance.

“…b-but… I… no.”

He shook his head, looking stern- out of character for him, but still visible nonetheless. “You… don’t need to say sorry for that. I-I told you it was my fault Ribbit abstracted, Pomni. Of course you left! I-… I get it, I guess…”

Embarrassed, the bunny ducked his head. “I still don’t understand why you came back-”

She took his hand. Jax got wide-eyed, then sniffled, tearing up. “I… man, d&mn it, Pomni…!”

His smile faded a few moments afterward because she kissed his hand, too, and he laughed, a sort of crying sound following. “Y-you’re so annoying… you know that?”

Of course he was joking.

He turned his head towards her, then, and watched her for a few heartbeats, thumping loudly in his head. Even so, there was nothing else he could focus on except her adorable little smile, and the softness of her eyes as she looked back at his teary yellow ones.

Jax put the hand she’d kissed on her cheek, and he wrapped the other around her body, pulling her in for a hug he so desperately wanted.

If he sank, he wouldn’t let her come with him. But something told him that abstraction- or giving up at all- was less likely now. Maybe that wasn’t the right wording… but it was true.

He wasn’t about to let go of what he had.

Not as long as she was here.

Jax’s eyelids fluttered when the door closed.

“…I was wrong.”

"Hm? Oh, thanks, Ragatha, but I think I'll pass." She said softly, trying to force a gentle smile. "Is everything alright? You look quite distracted-" Pomni immediately stood up from her seat and nodded quickly. "Yeah, just tired! Uh... guess I should go back to my room." She rubbed the back of her head, waved at the woman, and walked towards the hallway before she was bombarded with more unwanted questions. ---- She fidgeted with her fingers nervously, replaying what happened last night over and over again. Jax's words about him being the cause of someone's abstraction never left her mind, along with his wishful thinking that he preferred to be in that cellar instead, which gave her a bad taste in her mouth. He was having those thoughts, and yet... she decided to abandon him.

Sure, he made horrid mistakes, and part of her knew her reaction was valid, still... he was her friend. Whether he liked it or not. She should be strong and prove to him that he can heal and be a better person, work on himself, just as he was doing these past few days, and that she'll be fine.

Both will be fine, she repeated to herself. They just had to hold onto each other to make this work. Nothing was impossible. ...

"Zooble?" Pomni asked quickly once her eyes fell on them, already walking away from the bunny's room. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart raced, afraid that he... might be... "Hey, uh... how is...?" She gestured at Jax's door.

"He didn't come to breakfast... I... thought something bad happened." She said, trying to ignore the stinging in her eyes.

The thought of ‘corruption’ wasn’t so much of a possibility in their mind- Pomni being betrayed again was. Not anymore, though, because something in her big eyes and her slightly uneven voice said that her worry ran far deeper than they or anyone else had realized.

That's strange. Usually, Jax was around when it was time for Caine to announce his daily adventure. And it was usually Zooble who he had to corral into being part of the team! But one-two-three-four-five, and sure enough, that's one less head than there usually is in the group. And while he could just snap his fingers and solve the problem like that, he felt like taking a more personal approach.

"Wait right here, my cuisinarts!"

In the blink of an eye, Caine warped from the stage and to the hallway, right outside Jax's room. Bubble floated closely by, presumably for moral support.

He knocked on the door — "Daisy Bell", he saved for Zooble, and he hadn't warmed up his singing voice — and tried to wake him up with a cheerful "Oh, Jaaaaaaax! You're missing an awfully good adventure today!"

Jax didn’t realize he was staring at the eraser half of the pencil until someone knocked on his door and almost startled him out of his fur.

Well, now he was glad he hadn’t been sleeping. That would’ve been a TERRIBLE way to wake up.

“GUH-huh!! …wh-… Caine!!”

His brows knit and nearly came together as he stomped up to the door and swung it open. As hot as the boiling rage that had suddenly swept over him was, Jax stopped, and his pupils grew large instead of tiny squares, flooded with anger.

The strained, crooked grin on his face didn’t hide just how much he wanted to slam the door in Caine’s face at all, but what did it matter?

Yellow eyes tired, he pointed his fingers- palms pressed together- at the ringmaster and asked, “what’s the adventure?” in a tone that suggested hastily-contained frustration. Not that Caine would realize this, he was sure… but that was what he wanted, anyway.

Zack groaned, lying on a lawn chair- in the shade, but still sweating- in red shorts and a gray tank top that was damp under his arms and at the uppermost part of the ‘collar’ of the top.

Not having actually expected to be sprayed but laughing anyway, Zack stood up in a flash and snatched up the Super-Soaker that he had beside him, on the side where Kaitlyn couldn’t see it.

He figured this was bound to happen, so he knew it was best to get revenge, too!