Chapter Text
Having witnessed these colorful walls of the digital realm for years, Kinger expected nothing in this empty space where only he ruled. At least when others were absent. Whenever the other circus members retreated to their rooms, Kinger would often have his own little adventure. One that didn’t involve the AI ringmaster forcing him to pursue.
The chess piece would wander the checkerboard tiles of the circus tent. Or step outside, deciding whether the Moon or Sun dominated what “hours” could be. Take a breath of non-existent air to capture what little humanity this place had.
However, like most times, he committed to his “impenetrable fortress”. Especially since just earlier he was forced to face another funeral.
Ragatha’s positivity only held for so long. Zooble’s stoic walls needed to fall. With her comedy mask Gangle’s true feelings would not be barricaded. Jax would ditch the scene when it deemed “too boring”...but his inconspicuous presence during this sad occasion did not go undetected by the chess piece.
And the jester. Dear Pomni. Less than two days of absolute agony. Followed by a loss of her own. Yet she stood with all of them to pay her respects for someone she never even met.
Kinger knew Kaufmo would have definitely liked her. In fact, the chess piece was certain others who once occupied the circus would have liked her.
She would have liked her.
Huddled in his soft cavern, Kinger closed his eyes, memories of a much more innocent world. A much more innocent time. Friends that outnumbered the little group they had now. A similarly-gloved hand in his. Butterflies.
Others like Jax and Zooble often believed he would be the next to go. That his mind was simply too far gone to keep going. While years in the digital circus have done a number to him, the others failed to realize he was not without spirit. Ragatha may try to think on the positive side (and annoyingly so) but the most sane side of Kinger would attempt to lift others up in the most realistic, more comforting way possible.
That’s what he attempted during Kaufmo’s funeral. And especially when the clown’s photo was joined by the image of a certain gummy gator.
Gangle or maybe Ragatha (or possible Zooble) made it soon after the funeral had finished. They had lost a friend known for years. Pomni lost one known for only hours. No difference.
While it seemed almost bittersweet, placing his photo on the table amidst enjoying the fruits (or literal candies) of their labor made the mood much softer. Kinger had manage to witness the jester’s smile. Not a forced one. Not one born out of the sanity attempting to slip away. But a genuine, wonderful smile. Full of hope.
No way of escape. No exit. But hope existed for other reasons. Kaufmo would have wanted them all to keep going.
And that’s what they all were doing. That what Kinger was sure Pomni was doing.
The peaceful trance ceased. Blue eyes blinked into reality as the most notable veteran of the circus felt a presence. Pushing aside the door of his pillow fortress, he slowly crawled out and peered around.
Neither circus member nor ringmaster in sight. The only presence was the funeral arrangements left from earlier. They were to leave it there for a few days before putting everything away. One of them would hold Kaufmo’s photo in their room. And of course the other photo would go with-
“Pomni?” Kinger uttered softly, spotting the familiar red and blue nearing the funeral setting.
He watched as she stood in front of the display, possible to pay her respects once again. Kinger never thought she would leave her room, not since what happened on her first day. But there she was, back facing him and her shoulders hunched. Shaking. Face in palms.
A few notable drops on the floor.
Her attempts to muffle her sobs were in vain. Kinger was able to hear them despite the distance from his fort.
Even more motivated to abandon his impenetrable fortress, the chess piece carefully trekked toward the newest member.
“Pomni?” he spoke softly.
Until now, she thought she was the only one here. She emitted a gasp upon seeing him, his mouthless face and limbless features startling her as they did her first day. Of all people to find her a mess like this-
“Oh, Kinger!” she greeted with so much false cheeriness she could have been mistaken for Ragatha. She hurriedly wiped her eyes. This circus could censor swearing but not tears. “Um, what are you doing here?”
He had seen this mask as many times as Gangle had broken hers.
Kinger arched a bit forward, his eyes gazing down at Pomni’s. “My impenetrable fortress is currently stationed here,” he explained, gesturing to the pile of pillows behind him.
Pomni blinked as if she just recalled her own answer to a simple equation. “Oh, yeah, your pillow fort...tress,” she muttered, another thing to be reminded about this place.
Kinger nodded before turning to the two photos on the table behind her. “Have you come to say goodbye again?” he asked, his voice faltering a bit as he saw the image of an old friend.
Pomni turned back to the display. What compelled her to come back here was a lot of things. And she wasn’t sure if the guy who chased insects could understand any of them. The jester hoped to be alone but it seemed fate had other plans.
Like when she put on that headset.
“I...just...” her voice wavered, rubbing her arms. “Ragatha did say Caine re-uses NPCs so it’s not really goodbye...” she insisted.
The quivering lip did not go unnoticed. He didn’t need a mouth to know what that was like. How it felt. Many times. Especially that time.
No doubt Pomni’s attempt to adjust was only getting harder at this point. Forced into a new environment. Nearly attacked by an abstraction. Losing someone she connected so much with despite how short their time was together-
As soon as Pomni tried to hide her sniffles, head bowed as if hoping to clip right through the floor, Kinger could not just stand by and allow someone else to suffer this grief alone.
Hands limitlessly reached forward, gathering the broken jester. This attempt startled her, pinwheels staring at gloves that laid on her shoulders. Kinger winced. Among everything absurd in this world, hands without limbs was not something she could immediately get used to.
But upon a second attempt, Pomni allowed herself this closeness. Allowed herself to be close the designated “crazy guy”. It was supposed to be a simple embrace, to ensure her she wasn’t alone in this world. Yet moments later the jester pressed deeper against his robe, practically feeling the wooden surface that made up Kinger’s person.
He had made a poor attempt at welcoming her to the circus on her first day. But he poured every bit of himself welcoming this.
While no doubt an odd friendship was still in the works, at least Pomni could trust him. She trusted him to accept her tears as they leaked onto his robe. A sob emerged, her face pressed further against him. He welcomed it all.
“Oh, Pomni...” Kinger muttered woefully, his gloved hands holding her as she trembled. “We’ve all been through this. Believe me, I’ve been through this...”
Faces from years passed clouded his memory. One in particular that made him bring Pomni closer. She was the one in mourning, yet he couldn’t stop himself from grieving again during this moment.
He hunched over, as if shielding the jester from anything else that could traumatize her. Pomni, for all those times she was easily startled in the presence of others, accepted this supposedly crazy man.
But not once since he found her here did he show his loonier side. In fact, this side of him was so...human. Of course he was human, having ended up here the same way she had.
However, it was more comforting. The kind Ragatha thought she could be.
Since coming to this circus, Pomni wasn’t sure who to trust. Caine’s code couldn’t understand true emotions. Zooble rarely showed any emotion (save for the funeral). Ragatha always hid her emotions behind a broken smile. Gangle couldn’t hide her emotions behind a broken mask and was often a blubbering mess. And Jax only had one emotion and it was to make a mess.
And Kinger, Pomni admittedly thought he was too far gone upon first glance. But after today, and this moment right now-
“You’re the only man I trust right now...” she muttered into his robe.
Kinger took a moment to process the words. Before looking down at the jester who appeared much smaller now.
“Only man?” he repeated confusedly.
More tears fell as Pomni stared at the checkered floor. Her hands never left his robe, pressing her cheek against it.
“Caine doesn’t understand at all, Jax refuses to understand because he’s a heartless jerk and I literally hate him...” she muttered, feeling no better than a child whining to a parent. “And Gummigoo...”
She stopped, more tears dripping down her cheeks. She didn’t cry when Caine zapped the gator out of the circus. She did not shed a single tear when she placed his photo on the table. Yet here she was, breaking like a dam in front of the one person she didn’t think could comprehend at all (other than Caine).
“Gummigoo...” she choked. “...well, he’s...”
One of Kinger’s hands grasped hers, that laid pressed against his robe. He gave a gentle, assuring squeeze.
“I may not have gotten to know him like you did,” the chess piece expressed solemnly. “But I bet he would’ve appreciated what you’ve done for him.”
He only learned bits and pieces from her and Ragatha’s conversation earlier. About venturing into the map. An NPC learning the truth. Of all his years, Kinger never thought someone else’s world would come crashing down as his had. He was certain had Gummigoog remained, they would be considerably friends.
It’s what Kinger hoped to be with Pomni.
He felt Pomni peel away from his robe to gaze up at him. Eyes that once reflected a broken person shone with so much awe. Pinwheels never broke away crystal blues.
“How are you doing that?” she questioned softly.
He blinked. “Doing what?”
The jester gulped, almost fearing this was another one of his memory slippages thanks to the circus. “Doing this...making me feel better thing...”
She was relieved to see no signs of confusion as Kinger gave her a gentle look.
“Like I said, Pomni,” Kinger answered carefully, averting his gaze toward the two photos. “I’ve been through this. I know this pain. I only wish to help with yours.”
Despite no mouth, Pomni felt the presence of a smile etched on his avatar. Despite no mouth, Kinger’s smile was far more sincere than the one forcibly made by Ragatha. The one mockingly displayed by Jax. The one creepily generated by Caine.
Pomni liked this smile.
“Thank you...” she said, barely above a whisper.
And there was that smile. Hopeful.
Yes, they could get through this. They were all stuck here together. They had each other. And while Pomni was yet to 100% trust all of them (Jax was probably in the -10s), there was at least progress.
Thoughts of better days ahead for the newest member were immediately driven out when Kinger felt something. He thought Pomni had laid her head once more against his robe.
However, her eyes remained solely on him. This time one of her hands had reached up and laid against the side of his face. An odd gesture from the jester. But Kinger did not cease it.
Perhaps she just needed more assurance that he was real in a world that wasn’t. Or see that she wouldn’t clip right through him during this moment of closure. Or-
The small jester’s toes barely assisted. But her hands managed to pull a height down to hers.
And once they were within closer level, before Kinger could process what exactly was happening, lips crashed where ones were hopefully present.
