Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

White.

It was all you could see.

The space in which you found yourself was complete and utterly white, nothing but pure, bright light in sight. The sheer nothingness stretched out in all directions, seemingly having no end to it.

The void you were in appeared to be alive, as if the very fabric of the universe was pulsating. The void was absolute, all-encompassing, and you were helpless in it's grip.

You attempt to move, but you quickly found that you were completely paralyzed. It felt like you were trapped, unable to escape from your own body. You're stuck in place, frozen by the sight of the white void and lack of sound.

The quiet was disturbing, and you felt a chill run down your spine. The silence was as cold as the void itself, and as still as a graveyard in the middle of the night.

At first, you couldn't quite put your finger on what was so disturbing about the lack of sound. It wasn't just that there was no noise, but rather, it was the absence of everything else — no wind, no crickets, no birds, no rustling of leaves.

It was as though you had been enveloped in a bubble, cut off from the world, and left to your own devices.

Then, without warning, a piercing sound pierces the silence. It's like a loud, high-pitched scream, but it doesn't sound human. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once, as if it were echoing off the walls of the void itself. It lasts for what feels like an eternity, and you struggle to comprehend what you're hearing.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the sound stopped.

Your throat ached, your lungs burned, and your body was left trembling. The source of the sound that was echoing on and on was silenced with a hiccup escaping past your lips.

You struggled to comprehend the horror of what was happening to you — your body wracked with sobs and hiccups, your mind consumed by a fear you couldn't even begin to understand.

It feels as if your very being is being torn apart at the seams, and you are left with nothing but a primal dread that transcends all reason.

The quiet in the vast expanse of nothingness was broken by a searing pain that shot through your brain, and it was as if someone had lit a fire at the base of your skull. In your desperation, you attempt to scream again, but the only sound in the void is your own heartbeat, pounding in your ears. The pain is overwhelming, and you feel yourself being dragged downwards into the void.

The pain continues to worsen, and you struggle to hold on to your sanity. The fear is all-consuming, and you begin to wonder if this is what it feels like to die.

Suddenly, the pain quickly disappears and you feel yourself falling into a bottomless pit. You reach out to nowhere, unable to stop yourself.

Then, all at once, the world shifts and distorts. Colors you can't even name flash in front of you, causing your eyes to hurt. Everything feels too loud, too much, like you're about to go mad from the overwhelming sheer magnitude of it all.

You close your eyes, trying to shut out the blinding colors and overwhelming sensations surrounding you. You feel yourself falling, falling, falling deeper into the void. The colors and sounds fade away, and you're left with nothing but darkness and silence.

You feel yourself landing with a jolt. Your eyes snap open when you feel your feet stable, and you're met with a scene of a bright circus tent. You try to move, to explore, but the world feels like it's holding its breath, like it's waiting for something.

You cautiously take a step forward, immediately feeling a squishy surface below you. You stumble backward, your heart racing and your mind racing even faster as you try to make sense of your surroundings.

The floor beneath you is covered in pillows, each one a different color — green, blue, red, yellow. You take a moment to catch your breath, trying to slow down the panic that's starting to rise within you.

You notice slight rustling beneath the pile of pillows, and before you knew it, two blue eyes pop out of the assortment of cushions. They're jittery and nervous, darting around the place in a cartoonish manner.

As soon as they see you, their eyes widen in horror and they let out a loud scream.

You stumble back, surprised and startled by the unexpected presence. You weren't anticipating anything still living and breathing in this strange and unfamiliar place.

"W-Who are you?!" They exclaim, tucking themselves deeper into their fortress. They scream at the sight of you, practically begging you to leave them alone, their voice shaking with fear.

You can't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the character, and you take a step closer, struggling to reply, but find your words stuck in your throat — as if you were mute.

You raise your arms up in an attempt to show that you were no harm, trying to calm them down, but their fear doesn't seem to diminish.

"Well, it appears that we have a new addition to our cast!"

You jump at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, turning to see who it belongs to. Your heart skips a beat as you see the speaker, perched on top of the pile of pillows, cane in hand, looking down at you.

You screamed, and it screamed back — seemingly as shocked as you were.

This thing was dressed in a striking ensemble, wearing a shimmering, cherry red tuxedo with shiny black trims paired with matching trousers, and a crisp white dress shirt.

But the weirdest thing about this creature was the head.

The head, resembling a gigantic chattering teeth toy, was complete with a large jaw that seemed to come alive. It's eyes, one with a vibrant green iris and the other with a cerulean hue, floated inside the chattering teeth, making this individual appear otherworldly.

You try to back away, staring at the thing before you — and it just raised it's... teeth.

Like it was confused on why you were retreating away.

"Now, now!" It laughs, using it's cane to bring you back closer. "Can't have you running away when the show hasn't yet started!"

You try to speak, your voice shaky and strained. But no matter how hard you try to force the words out, nothing comes. It's like your throat is closing up, and your vocal cords are frozen.

You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down, but the fear and frustration are overwhelming. You can feel your heart pounding in your chest, and it's as if time has slowed down. You're trapped, unable to speak, unable to ask for help, unable to do anything but stand there, trembling with fear.

"Looks like someone's speechless!" It says with a heartily tone, before pulling you up by your arm.

As the dentures pull you up into the air, the rush of the wind in your face and the height make your heart race. You feel your stomach drop and you realize that you're being taken off of the ground.

You feel like you're about to pass out from fear, but the momentum keeps you moving until you're on a... stage with the ringleader.

You can hear the sounds of the crowd rising to a roar of anticipation, and you can't help but look around to find the source of the cheers.

Nothing.

"Ladies and gentlemen," it exclaims, throwing it's arms up dramatically, "I present to you, the newest addition to our crew! This little thing here is too shy to speak, isn't that awful?"

The crowd of voices seemed to let out "aww"s and "ooo"s, seemingly empathetic with your situation.

"Uhh... Caine?" A rough voice butts in, catching the attention of the teeth with a body.  It seems to raise it's non-existent brow, and you turn your attention to the newest speaker.

They had a doll-like body, complete with a blue button replacing their left eye and red, thread-like hair flowing from their head. Their dress was long and sleek, falling to the ankles, the color a soft lavender, with matching patches of a darker lavender sewn on.

"Who... is that?" They question, pointing to you.

You let out a sudden squeak as you suddenly realize the many stares that are now placed on you. It all happens in a blink of an eye as you now notice the myriad of... more characters crowded around with the doll.

"Glad you asked, Ragatha!" Caine hollars, stretching it's arm to you and pushing you closer to the assortment of what you could only assume as people.

"This here's our newest member of our circus!" He speaks, rubbing the top of your head with his knuckles before harshly patting your shoulder.

"Great, another one." A new voice speaks up, tone in their voice leaking with sarcasm. You can feel the disdain dripping from their words, as they speak in a tone that is completely annoyed.

Your eyes lock onto the figure, and you take in their appearance. From the brief glance you take, the unhappy person appears to be an anthropomorphic purple rabbit, sporting nothing but red overalls.

Their expression is clearly one of dissatisfaction, with a sense of irritation emanating from them — but it quickly changes to a look of intrigue when they catch you staring at them.

A new voice enters the conversation, a soft and timid one that stands in contrast to the previous, sharp tone. They speak up, but with caution as if they are not sure if their objection will be welcomed.

"T...That's not nice, Jax..." Their words hanging in the air as they wait for a response. It's clear that they're trying to speak out against the rudeness, but they're also trying not to draw too much attention to themselves.

You see that the new person speaking up against Jax is composed of red ribbons twisted and entwined together to form a humanoid shape. Their face is that of a sad white porcelain mask with black eyes and a mouth. They appear to have four ribbons representing their arms and legs, each twisted in different ways to create the illusion of movement.

"Why d'you expect him to care, Gangle? He doesn't have a heart for you to tug at his strings," the figure next to the red ribbons points out, placing their shoulder gently on their friend's.

This person's tone is stern, but you can feel the concern underlying their words. It's clear that they're not trying to be mean, but rather, they're trying to help Gangle understand that Jax may not be the best person to rely on. Their demeanor is stoic and matter-of-fact, as if they've seen this sort of situation play out before and want to provide solid advice.

You attempt to get a better look at the mysterious figure, but are left even more puzzled by their appearance. They have an abundance of distinctive features, making it difficult to make a full assessment. The notable features you manage to take in include their triangular head, which adds to the unsettling fact of not recognizing the rest of their body.

It's challenging to decipher anything beyond their head, as your eyes continue to shift between the various features, struggling to form a cohesive image in your mind.

"Oh, you wound me, Zooble!" The rabbit known as Jax poses dramatically, placing the back of his hand to his forehead in an attempt to consult himself.

The silence surrounding you was suddenly broken by a voice that was softer than Gangle's, so much so that it was almost a whisper.

"A new... member?" Someone asked, sounding surprised. The words were punctuated by a pause as if they were trying to process the information they were receiving. Their tone was gentle, bordering on hesitance, as if they were unsure of what to do next.

You glance over to the them, taking note of all the small details that littered them. As you scan over the person who spoke, you take in all of the small details that define them.

Their pale, white skin stands out amongst the crowd, almost unrealistically flawless. Despite the otherworldly feel they emit, they stand out as the most human in their attire.

Their outfit was one of a court jester, complete with a red and blue striped suit, a blue and red jester hat, and even their short brown hair poking out from underneath.

"Right, right, we're a little ahead of ourselves here," Caine chuckles, his tone light and carefree. "Pomni is still new and hasn't really experienced a new cast, aside from herself!"

Pomni jolts at the mention of her name.

"So, it's perfectly normal for her to feel a little confused at the sight of you — as she's just getting her bearings here, too!" Caine's laugh is joyful and warm, and you can tell that he's trying to make Pomni feel comfortable by including her in the conversation.

"Ghnk...!"

Despite your best efforts to speak up, your voice comes out as nothing more than a sore whimper, unable to articulate into coherent words. The frustration of being unable to verbalize your questions and thoughts causes you to grip your throat tightly, the discomfort of the situation mounting.

It's as if your body is rebelling against you, unable to respond the way you want it to. The sensation is surreal and unsettling, leaving you feeling trapped within your own body.

"What, rabbit got your tongue?" Jax speaks up in what you could consider as an attempt to cheer you up with a joke. However, it didn't feel like it.

The inability to communicate causes a sense of frustration and anger to build within you, and you find yourself collapsing onto the floor, desperately grasping at your throat as your muscles cramp and convulse.

This catches the attention of Caine, who's eyes seemed to pop out of their teeth in a cartoonish manner.

"Ah, I get it now!" He says, a hint of excitement in his voice as he realizes the answer. He crouches down to your level, leveling his gaze with your eyes.

"You can't speak because you're a... mime!" He exclaims, looking pleased with himself for figuring it out.

The room around you starts to blur, and the sounds of the conversation fade into the background. The moment you turn your attention to your hands, you notice that they are devoid of the vibrant colors that filled the world you arrived in.

Your vision becomes blurry as your body begins to shake uncontrollably. You feel like you're floating outside of yourself, detached from the present moment. You're utterly unable to speak, no matter how hard you try, and your words come out as gibberish.

"Let me speak."

You plea.

But the world says no.

Chapter Text

Black.

It was different to what you saw yesterday.

You take a few seconds to fully gain your bearings and become aware of your surroundings.

The darkness inside the room was so dense that it was nearly impossible to see more than a few feet in front of you.

A dimly illuminated lamp is the only source of light, casting a faint glow on the walls and ceiling.

It's a stark contrast to the vibrant and colorful world you experienced yesterday.

The memories of the previous day start to fade like fog on a window, leaving you wondering if it really happened or if it was just a creation of your mind.

You let out a deep sigh, groggily rubbing your eyes as your body protests against the early morning wakeup. You shift to the edge of the bed and slowly swing your legs over the side, pausing for a moment to clear your head before standing up.

You feel the coldness of the morning air and pull your blanket around your shoulders, searching for warmth.

It's soft texture comforts you.

As you shuffle towards the door, your body feels clumsy and disoriented — like you're trapped in a dream.

You rub your eyes with your fingers, trying to brush away the sleepiness that seems to cling to your lashes.

You clear your throat, hoping to rid yourself of the dryness that makes your voice sound hoarse, but all that comes out is a raspy croak. You attempt to swallow, hoping to dislodge whatever is causing the dryness, but your throat feels constricted and tight.

You give up and resign yourself to silence, hoping that the hoarse sound will eventually fade and you'll be able to speak properly again.

Despite the lingering weariness, you force yourself forward, taking one step after the other until you reached the door. Your hand extends out to grasp the knob, and you turn it with a slow and steady motion, feeling the coolness of the metal against your skin.

You take a deep breath, hoping to shake off the fatigue and clear your head for the day ahead.

Pushing open the door, a wash of vivid colors greets you — so vibrant they almost feel like a physical presence. The intense shades of reds, pinks, and yellows seem to almost glow, and you're momentarily blinded by their sheer intensity.

After a few seconds, your eyes adjust to the sudden change, and you begin to take in your surroundings.

"Where am I?"

Is what you wanted to say.

But the words die in your throat as you try to speak, and a gurgling sound emits from your mouth instead.

Your hands instinctively reach up to your throat, and you grip it tightly, trying to will your vocal cords to obey you.

With your legs weakened by fear, you fall to the ground, your body wracked by confusion. The warm, comforting blanket that had wrapped around your shoulders falls aside, leaving you feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Looking down at your body in a fit of panic, you are immediately confronted by the familiarity of the black and white hues you remember all too well from yesterday.

The memories of the previous day come flooding back, overwhelming your senses and leaving you feeling completely lost and alone. Your heart races, and you struggle to catch your breath, feeling as though the world around you is spinning out of control.

"Newbie!"

The muffled voice calling out to you is a faint whisper in the back of your mind, as you struggle to grasp the situation you find yourself in. The fear and confusion in their tone causes your heart to beat faster, making it difficult for you to focus on anything but your own body.

You feel as if your mind has been ripped from your body, and you're lost in a haze.

You feel like a stranger in your own body.

You struggle to focus on anything but the sight of your anatomy, the monochrome hues causing an inexplicable sense of dread to wash over you.

You are lifted off of the ground, but you don't even acknowledge the physical sensation. Your mind is consumed with thoughts and emotions you can't quite name, and you fight to make sense of what's happening to you.

As you wander in your own thoughts, you are suddenly pulled back to reality by the feeling of rought — yet soft, textured hands against your cheeks.

The person holding you gently yet firmly forces you to look straight at them. Your eyes dart to their face, and you find yourself staring into the face of a familiar stranger.

"Snap out of it!"

Ragatha's words contain an urgency.

"You're okay... you're okay..." She repeats, trying to soothe you — but the desperation in her voice feels more like an attempt to convince herself , leaving you feeling uncertain and even more afraid.

Despite that, your lips tremble with a smile. You quickly pull yourself closer to her, seeking the comfort and warmth of her presence. In that moment, you realize that she's all you have, and you hold her close, seeking any iota of comfort that she might be able to provide.

Your breathing begins to slow and your heartbeat calms. The fear and confusion that had gripped you begins to fade, replaced by a sense of calm and clarity. It takes a moment, but eventually you find yourself feeling in control of your emotions once again.

You take a couple steps back, your eyes darting between the floor and her figure.

"Look... newbie," her voice is quiet and unsteady, and she seems unsure of how to continue, "last night... you fainted."

You... fainted?

The confusion etched across your face is unmistakable, and her perceptive eyes notice immediately. She takes a step forward and kneels down to meet you at your level, her hand gently resting on your shoulder.

"It's okay," she says, her voice low and soothing. "It's okay. I'm-... We're here to help you, and we'll figure this out together."

You look down at your feet, your eyes trailing across the floor. A deep breath moves through you, and for a moment, the tension in your chest eases. You tilt your head back up and your eyes meet hers by accident, and you feel yourself recoil. Your throat feels so tight, and no words come out when you try to speak. Your arm shakes as you hesitantly point to your throat, and her eyes widened.

"Right..." Her shoulders sag with a sense of defeat, and her eyes scan you with a mix of empathy and concern. She wants to help you, but she doesn't know how. The feeling of being understood and cared for by her is enough to offer a small measure of comfort, even in the face of your confusion and frustration.

Ragatha tries to lift your spirits, but the concern etched across her face is evident. "W-Well, surely Caine can help!" Her voice is cheerful, but you can feel the lack of conviction in her voice. She grabs your wrist and tries to smile at you, but her expression still exudes a sense of uncertainty.

"He, uh, wanted to see you when you woke up anyway!" She's trying to distract you, and for a moment, it almost works.

You give her a quick nod, indicating that you're willing to go with her. Her smile is warm and soothing, and you can feel your own lips curving upward in response. Your smile seems to encourage her, and she gives your wrist a gentle squeeze.

She begins to lead you down the long, winding corridor. The silence in the hallway interrupted only by the sound of your steps echoing off the walls. Ragatha keeps a constant grip on your wrist, not allowing you to stray from her side — knowing that did not want to lose her in this unfamiliar maze.

The hum of your steps are suddenly overpowered by the sound of people bickering behind the walls, voices muffled by the distance. Despite the distance, you can still hear the conversation —

"You're s'posed to put the cereal after the milk, don't ya know? You get craaazy health hazards if you have cereal in before milk." The masculine voice is full of mirth, the sound of their laughter spilling into your space.

"...Excuse me?" A feminine voice butts in, a hint of irritation in their tone.

"I thought I was clear, Mix n' Match. "

"You've gotta be kidding me." There's a brief moment of silence as if they're allowing the other person to respond, and you can feel the tension that fills the space. "Cereal goes in before the milk."

Silence.

"Y-Yeah... what Zooble s-said..." A third voice speaks up, and you can practically hear the anxiety dripping through their words.

"Zip it, crybaby — the adults are talking."

The voices continue to bicker, and it's clear that they're not going to come to a resolution anytime soon. The argument seems to be getting louder and more heated, and before you can listen any further, Ragatha speaks up.

"So, newbie... do you happen to remember anything from last night?" Her voice is slightly nervous, and she seems to be trying to diffuse the tension in the air.

The tension that filled the room moments ago still hangs in the air, and you can feel the pressure to answer her question. You shrug, looking down at your feet as you walk, unsure of what to say. It's not like you could say anything, though.

"Well... I'm Ragatha." She says, her voice full of energy and enthusiasm. You nod, indicating that you knew her name already, and the tension in the air seems to dissolve a bit. It's clear that she's trying to make small talk, and you try to respond in kind.

"Oh! We also got a new member a couple days ago... same situation as you," she pauses, "well, all of us... but you get what I mean! Her name is Pomni, and she's such a sweetheart." She babbles on excitedly, and her voice is laced with enthusiasm. You smile at her, happy to see that she's so excited about the new member.

"The oldest here is Kinger. He's the chess piece, if you can still remember him from yesterday. He's kind of... um, well..." Ragatha's voice trails off, and you can tell that she's searching for the words to finish the sentence.

After a brief pause, she perks back up, her voice full of energy once again. "Gangle's very considerate!"

As Ragatha continues to lead you down the corridor, rambling on and on about her fellow members, you can't help but take in your surroundings even more.

The hallway is filled with spaced out doors, each one having a picture of characters hanging in the middle of them. The doors are beautifully ornate, with intricate carvings and patterns covering their surface. The icons hanging from them are equally beautiful, with each one depicting a different person.

However, a lot of the icons seemed to be crossed out.

There are pictures hung up in frames on the walls, and all of them appear to have some relation to circuses in some way.

You take the last few steps down the corridor with Ragatha, your footsteps echoing off the walls as you head towards the end of the hallway. As you approach the end of the it, you notice that it seems to resemble the frame of a toy slide.

You step out of the corridor with Ragatha by your side, taking in your surroundings as you get your bearings. The world around you feels upscaled, with everything being massive and towering above you. Everything looks familiar, yet you find yourself unable to name anything in the area.

You continue to follow the doll, letting her lead the way as you make your way through the labyrinth. The rooms seem almost endless, with no end in sight —  passing through many doors and hallways, each one leading to another.

Suddenly, without warning, Ragatha comes to a screeching halt, causing you to almost fall over at the sudden stop. You catch yourself at the last minute, your feet skidding across the floor as you struggle to maintain your balance.

"Well, if it isn't Ragatha and the mime!"

You shake your head rapidly, trying to clear the fog of confusion that's fallen over you. You look up at the source of the noise, and are met with a pair of dentures threatening to touch the tip of your nose.

You stumble back in shock at the sight of the disembodied teeth, your heart racing with fear as you try to understand what's happening. The teeth just let out a laugh, the sound echoing through the room and causing goosebumps to form on your arms.

"Still squeamish, it seams!" He grabs an arm of Ragatha's to finish his pun, gloved fingers inching down to her hand. "Nonetheless, welcome to the show!"

He takes a bow, and with a final guffaw, the creature spins his body, almost like he was performing a circus act, to further itself from you and the ragdoll.

He takes a moment to collect his thoughts, rubbing his... chin, as if considering what to say next. With a snap of his fingers, he then points at you with a sense of urgency, his eyes locked on to you.

"I wanted to see you because I have yet to ask you your name, my friend!"

The sound of his voice causes your breath to catch in your throat. You stand silent for a moment, not sure what to say or do.

What was your name?

You feel your throat clamming up in the same fashion as earlier, and you stare into the eyes of the ringmaster. Your mind runs blank, and you blink a few times — trying to remember anything about your name, but you can't seem to find an answer.

The panic of the situation hits you like a truck, and the realization that you've forgotten your own name is too much to bear.

As you're frozen in panic, and Ragatha quickly notices you're in distress and reaches out a comforting hand towards you. She can see the fear etched onto your face, and she does her best to try and comfort you, but the ringmaster has a grip on your attention. She lets her hand hover near your shoulder, a small gesture of support.

Caine simply watches you panic, his blank expression unmoved as you're left to struggle with the sudden realization that you've forgotten who you are.

The ringmaster's eyes somehow blink several times, seemingly processing the information before letting out a dry chuckle. You notice that his expression has changed, now a more friendly attitude. It seems like he's trying to be nice, but you can't help but be wary of his sudden shift in behavior.

"Say, if you can't remember your name... we can give you one!"

That... didn't feel right. The idea of being given a new name because you've forgotten yours feels like a twisted joke, like your very identity is being diminished. It just feels like you were losing a piece of yourself, even if you forgot your name in the first place.

The thought of being given a new name by this creature, a name that wasn't your own, felt so wrong. You want to tell him that it's not right, that you should not be given a new one as if it's something as easy as changing a shirt.

But all you could do was shake your head.

"No?" He questioned your actions, non-existent brows furrowing as he rubbed the bottom of his teeth in thought.

"What would we refer to you as, then?" Ragatha butts in with an awkward laugh, trying to get you to reconsider. Her voice is calm, but there's an undertone of concern that you can't miss.

You shrug, feeling helpless as you angle your head down to look at the tiled floor.

Ragatha is hesitant, looking at you with concern as she trails off. You can feel the weight of her words, as if she knows that this is a decision you shouldn't make lightly.

"But... if that's what you really want..."

Her voice is soft and careful, as if she's trying not to pressure you into anything. She's giving you an option, a choice that she's willing to respect. You can't help but feel grateful for her understanding, despite the gravity of the situation.

"Then I will support you, whatever your decision may be."

You feel indebted to the doll for her support, and you find yourself wondering how you could ever repay her kindness.

You smile, and she smiles back.

Caine forces himself in between the two of you, airhorns suddenly appearing out of nowhere to catch your attention. You can't help but jump at the sudden noise, and the ringmaster let’s out a hearty laugh before speaking.

"Bonding time's over, you two!"

The ringmaster looks pleased with himself, a grin stretching across his toothy head. His eyes meet Ragatha's own, who stares back at him with her arms crossed, and expression stiff. You can't help but feel a sense of sympathy for her, as if she wants to speak her mind, but can't say the words.

"We got a whole new cast for the mime here to get used to!" He exclaims, grabbing the two of you by your arms, and suddenly — you find yourself in a new room. Your head feels like it's spinning, and you can't quite make sense of what's happening.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." Caine waves his hands in a grand gesture, his head's grin growing wider with each passing second, "a-and Zooble."

"W-Wait, Caine..." Ragatha tries to get his attention.

He continues to speak, ignoring the ragdoll — his voice growing louder as he gesticulates with his arms.

"We have a new member, ready and willing to put on the show of your lifetime as an introductory!"

His eyes scan the crowd, searching for any sign of interest or excitement.

"Cai—"

"So sit back, relax, perhaps get a bucket of digital popcorn..." Caine's voice was low, "and let the magic of the circus bring life to your dreams! ...According to Pomni."

He ends his sentence with a dramatic flourish, striking a pose and holding his hands up to the audience — and you swear that you heard a stock sound effect of children cheering in the background.

Ragatha's shoulders droop, a look of exhaustion and defeat settling on her face. She lets out a deep breath, and her back bends forward. It's as if she's given up on the prospect of gaining Caine's attention, or even trying to communicate with him in a meaningful way. She looks defeated, unable to fight against the absurdity of the situation that surrounds her.

The room is silent.

"What the %$!# are you talking about, Caine?" A feminine voice cuts through the chaotic din, and you immediately recognize it belonging to the voice you heard earlier with Ragatha in the hall.

"My, keep that foul language to yourself — this is a family-friendly show!" He leftures, arms crossed around his chest as he bends forward, the intensity of his scolding clear as day.

Zooble rolls their eyes, mirroring the Caine's movements with a bit of exaggerated drama. Their arms are crossed across their chest, their movement a mimicry of the ringmaster's own gestures. Their antennas seem to twitch in annoyance, a clear sign that they're just as fed up with the situation as you are.

"So... the newbie have a name yet?" The purple rabbit's voice is tinged with boredom and disinterest, as if he's only asking out of a sense of obligation. He's looking at the back of his hand as he speaks — as if he finds the whole conversation to be a waste of time. It's clear that he doesn't care about you or your circumstances, and his lack of interest in the situation is almost palpable.

"Glad you asked, Jax!" Caine says, a triumphant grin spreading across his toothy face. "No!"

His brows furrowed at Caine.

"Wha'd'ya mean no?" He repeats, voice comes out as a mix of confusion and frustration, as if he can't quite believe what he's hearing.

"No means no, don't you know?" Caine says with exaggerated motions, his hands sweeping through the air as he speaks.

"...B-But you wanted to see them... for their name." Gangle stammers, her voice barely louder than a whisper. She's stumbling over her ribbons, as if the words she's trying to say are too big for her to handle.

She sinks herself into her ribbon-wrapped form, her arms hanging limply around her with deflated shoulders.

"Well, I did try to ask..." Caine starts, moving his hand in a circular motion. "But the thing about this human is... um, the fact that they don't want a new name!"

You feel a rush of embarrassment at his words, and you shyly nod, backing the pair of teeth up. Not that he needed it.

"What?" Jax gawks, his hand landing on his hip as he eyes you up and down. "So what the hell do we call 'em?"

His voice is tinged with annoyance, as if he can't quite believe what he's hearing. It's clear that he's not impressed by your reluctance to take on a new name, and you can't help but feel a bit self-conscious as his gaze settles on you.

"I suppose you can decide," Caine hums, crossing his arms and nodding to himself, "like a nickname of sorts!"

"Ugh, I don't know how you expect us to just... magically come up with something." Zooble points out, antennae twitching. You look away, twiddling with your thumbs. Their words seem to sting a little, and you can't help but feel a pang of guilt for bothering them with your problem of a new name.

"Did someone say something about bugs?"

The person who spoke suddenly pops out of the pillows to your left, causing you to jump back in surprise. You remember the pillows and the man from the day before, and your heart races as you try to make sense of the situation.

"Z-Zooble said 'ugh'... if that's what got you mistaken..." Gangle says, fidgeting with the ends of their ribbons. She sounds uncertain, as if she's not quite sure what she's saying is the right thing.

The chess piece is quiet, eyes blinking like a frog in response.

"Anyways," Jax cuts in, interrupting the two of them, "you said something about a show?" He reminds Caine, whose jaw drops. Literally.

"Oh my, how could I forget?" He snaps his fingers, immediately pointing them at you with a wink.

"We're going to saw our mime in half to get them used to what we do around here!" He hums, and this time it's your turn to be jawdropped.

You were going to get cut in half?!

"What?!" Ragatha yells, marching up to Caine with anger fueling her steps. She's got her fists clenched at her sides, her eyes narrowed with fury. It's a powerful sight, and you can't quite believe what you're seeing.

"Caine! They're... they're new! You can't just... do that to them! What about, y'know, an in-house adventure?!"

At the mention of an adventure, most of the cast groaned in the background.

Ragatha's eye twitched.

Caine pauses, crossing his arms in consideration. He seems lost in thought — eyes narrowing, as much as they could, in concentration.

"Well... how about we put it to a vote?" He suggests, throwing it out there as an option. The man seems open to compromise, willing to accommodate the needs of the group. "I don't mind a new adventure, but it still seems like the rest need a break! Especially after Kaufmo's abstraction!"

Ragatha mutters, clenching her fist in defeat. Her eyes are downcast, and you can see the frustration on her face. With a defeated sigh, she looks back at you with a look of sympathy.

"Of course, democracy decides all!" He uses his cain to point to the assortment of characters standing around aimlessly.

"Those who'd prefer an in-house adventure, raise your hand!" He says, looking over the cast with a hopeful expression on his face. You take a look around, scanning the crowd for anyone who seems eager for an adventure.

But to your surprise, there's no one with their hand raised.

"Gadzooks!" He screeches, eyes popping out of his mouth in shock. "It seems like it's unanimous!"

With a snap of his fingers, you immediately find yourself trapped in a box. You can't move, not even a bit, except for a few weak wiggly movements here and there.

"Welcome, everyone... to the mime-sawing!" Caine cries out with a thunderous voice and a theatrical flair that sends shivers down your spine.

With another snap of his fingers, you watch in horror as a giant hacksaw materializes above you. It's serrated teeth as big as you, it's frame as tall as the sky, it's presence as ominous as the approaching storms of a dark night.

As the gigantic blade inches closer to your abdomen, your heart pounds in your chest like a drum — your breaths come in short, ragged gasps.

"Remember kids, don't try this at home!"

What the %$!# is happening?

What did you do to deserve this?