Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Nighttime had fallen on the Digital Circus. Or, the closest approximation to nighttime the digital world could conjure. For all his creativity and power, Caine was unable to create actual darkness. Instead, he simply lowered the brightness of the colors throughout the Tent. It gave an illusion of darkness, while keeping everything perfectly visible.

Of course, given they weren’t as controlled by the AI, the performers never changed with the colors. They retained their more vibrant palettes, even during nighttime. Thanks to this, they tended to stand out against the darkened background should any of them venture out at night.

And venture one has. A bright red mass of ribbons wearing a pair of equally bright white masks slunk through the hall of bedrooms. The only sound the mass made was a slight rustling against the floor of the tent, barely noticeable as they swished from nearly the end of the hall to near the entrance to it. The ribbons came to a stop in front of a door with a smiling face and both masks took a deep breath before moving forward.

Ragatha’s eyes shot open the second she heard a deep breath outside her door. She had been a light sleeper ever since she came to the Circus. There was never any telling if someone would need her, and with everyone always one minor inconvenience away from abstraction, Ragatha wanted to be as attentive as possible.

Her eyes stared up at the ceiling for a brief moment until a knock spurred her out of bed. The ragdoll wondered who would be at her door this late at night. Hopefully, it wasn’t Jax with some dumb prank she would have to compartmentalize. Smoothing out her nightgown, Ragatha swung the door open and came face-to-face with a masked mass of ribbons.

Gangle’s body had expanded, all of her ribbons having lengthened to resemble a pile instead of her usual neat, coiled body. Her Tragedy and Comedy masks watched Ragatha from either side of the pile, eyeing the doll woman apologetically. “Hey, Ragatha,” Comedy greeted her, careful to keep her voice down.

“Hey, Gangle,” Ragatha murmured, voice dropping to a soothing coo as her mindset shifted. “Is it time?”

“I should have had another day,” Tragedy sighed forlornly. “Something must have brought it on early.”

“That’s fine, sweetheart,” Ragatha told her gently, reaching out to cradle the mask in one of her hands. She used the other to stroke Comedy as well, both masks nuzzling into the plush softness of her hands. “Would you like to start now, or wait until morning?”

“Now, please!” Comedy replied excitedly.

Ragatha chuckled and stepped back. “Of course. Come on in.”

She disappeared back into her room and Gangle slunk forward. The mass of ribbons slithered into the ‘dark’ bedroom. The door slid shut behind her with a quiet ‘click’.

Pomni’s eyes creaked open and she yawned. She had managed to figure out a system for avoiding Caine’s obnoxiously abrupt wake-up calls. Since sleep wasn’t necessary in the Circus, Pomni could wake as she pleased and suffer no negative effects from it. However, she did prefer to sleep as long as she was able.

It was easiest to tell when she was awake too early because the colors of the Circus would still be darkened. Caine lightened them shortly before he called them all for a new adventure. All Pomni had to do was pay attention to the colors, or sleep lightly enough that the inherent brightness of the colors penetrated her eyelids. Not a difficult feat seeing as sleeping deeply was difficult in a place like the Digital Circus.

Slinking out of bed, the jester glanced around. She guessed that, from the brightened colors, she had a few minutes before Caine called them all. That was enough time to do her morning routine and properly wake up.

“GOOD MORNING, MY AMAZING SUPERSTARS!”

Well, there went that plan. Pomni shrugged off her irritation at the sheer volume of her ringmaster’s voice and continued with her intended morning ritual. Taking advantage of the stretchiness of her body, Pomni stretched her limbs a few times and made sure to do her neck and face as well. Whatever adventure they were sent on was very likely to involve her more cartoony aspects in one way or another, and she wanted to be prepared.

Once finished with her stretches, Pomni made her way out of her room. It was rare for Ragatha not to have come by to either wish her good morning, or offer to walk to the main area together. It wasn’t that Pomni wanted her to force herself to do it, the brunette just… really enjoyed the ragdoll’s company. Ragatha had a way of making everything feel just a little calmer, or comforting. It was one of the things Pomni liked about her so much.

Shaking the thoughts off, Pomni hurried to the main area of the Tent. Ragatha was likely to be there with the others, since the jester tended to be one of the last people out, apart from Zooble if they weren’t up for an adventure. Pomni scurried into the main area, but paused in mild surprise when she found two of their number still missing.

Jax and Zooble turned to her curiously. “Whoa,” Jax snorted. “Weird for you to be out before Red, Bells.”

Pomni glanced around in confusion. “Where are Ragatha and Gangle?”

“No clue,” Zooble drawled with a shrug. “They’re usually the first ones here.”

Jax barked out a laugh. “Maybe you’re rubbin’ off on your girl, Bells,” he teased Pomni. “Slackin’ off and gettin’ here late.”

The blush spots on Pomni’s cheeks began to glow in a mimicry of a blush. Her hands fidgeted more with her gloves and she shot Jax a reproachful glare. “Ragatha doesn’t slack off,” she muttered quietly. “A-and she’s not my girl.”

Large yellow eyes narrowed mockingly and Jax leaned closer. “Aw, what was that? Did I hear a hint of dejection in that clown voice of yours?”

Pomni’s glare turned sharper, her fists clenched in annoyance. Jax watched her excitedly, waiting to see what she would do. Fortunately or unfortunately, the pair were interrupted by a burst of confetti and a quick ‘fweet’ of several trumpets

Caine popped into existence above the stage, Bubble at his side. "HELLO, HELLO, MY WONDERFUL WAFFLECONES! Another great adventure awaits! The Rumbling of Rattlesnake Ridge! The inhabitants of Rattlesnake Ridge have been experiencing strange tremors in the ground. It's up to the six of you to-."

He stopped, eyes roving over those gathered. "Hm. I could've sworn there were six of you. Where are Ragatha and Gangle?"

"They're probably skippin' out!" Jax called.

"Gangle maybe," Zooble snorted. "Ragatha doesn't skip. The only time she misses an adventure is-." They stopped. Wait, that was right. There were only select times in the year Ragatha ever missed adventures. Zooble’s eyes widened as realization hit them.

Pomni watched them in confusion. What were they about to say? Why did they look like they had just finished a puzzle? Confusion switched to concern when Jax stiffened, the expression on his face mirroring Zooble’s. Okay, now Pomni was a little worried. If Jax knew what was going on, then she definitely should.

“Um, what-?” Pomni didn’t even have time to get the question out.

Caine poofed right above her head and snapped his fingers. A dust yellow portal appeared in front of the group and he called, “Well, no matter! They’re just going to have to miss the absolutely INCREDITASTIC adventure I have planned! Good luck to the four of you in getting to the root of that rumbling! The Rattlesnake Ridge awaits!”

Without further ado, the portal sucked the quartet in, Jax and Zooble groaning in frustration the whole time. Just before being pulled into the vortex, Pomni shot a look to the hall holding everyone’s rooms. Her last thought before disappearing was hoping Ragatha and Gangle had a better day than she was about to.

Ragatha’s nose twitched slightly and she scrunched her face. “Mm, feel a sneeze,” she muttered.

“Do you want to be let down?” Tragedy asked, mask coming to face her.

“Oh, no, no!” Ragatha sent her a reassuring smile. “That’s not necessary sweetheart. I can’t feel it anymore. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

Gangle’s ribbons tightened around her and Ragatha bit back a moan. It was lucky her body couldn’t produce liquid in its natural state or her bed would be absolutely soaked. And she hadn’t even touched it for hours.

It always ended up this way during Gangle’s heats. The ribbon woman would tie Ragatha in whichever position she found most pleasing and suspend her over the bed for hours. Ragatha couldn’t find it in herself to complain given muscle fatigue wasn’t something she had to worry about. Though, the slow pace Gangle tended to go at always left her wanting more. This was only their third position of the day.

Speaking of, the ribbons on her thighs tightened, digging into the plush material as the ribbon between her legs stroked the seam acting as her vulva. A moan slipped from Ragatha’s lips and both masks perked up excitedly. The ribbon framing her breasts loosened and tightened to mimic kneading the fabric.

“Ah, that’s it,” Ragatha rasped.

“Is it good?” Comedy eagerly inquired. “Am I being good?”

“You’re being very good,” the ragdoll affirmed, arching into the ribbon between her legs. “Such a good omega.”

Tragedy leaned forward to nuzzle against Ragatha’s neck happily. “I wanna be good,” she sniffed with a hopeful lilt. “I wanna be a good omega.”

The ribbons around Ragatha’s breasts shifted, the tips rubbing lightly over the button nipples the doll had. Ragatha drew in a sharp breath, eyelid fluttering as she arched into the touch. It was too light to provide much stimulation, but enough to send jolts of pleasure through her cotton.

Gangle watched the reactions excitedly. She wanted to be a good omega for her alpha. Ragatha always helped her be good, always helped her when the heat and need became too much. Gangle wanted to make her alpha feel good, too.

The ribbon between her legs slid up to circle the button of her clit, causing Ragatha to jolt, a choked moan rushing from her throat. The ribbons on her breasts circled her nipples teasingly, squeezing her breasts in intervals to provide extra stimulation. After several seconds of agonizing teasing, the ribbon circling her clit finally ran over it fully and Ragatha groaned.

“Oh.” Her hips bucked desperately, hoping for more contact, her eyes rolling slightly as a shot of pleasure panged through her stomach. “Oh, Gangle, sweetheart, I’m close.”

“It feels good?” Comedy gasped. She continued flicking the redhead’s clit, rubbing over Ragatha’s nipples more purposefully now.

Heat buzzed through Ragatha’s cotton, focusing behind her belly button. “It feels so good,” Ragatha breathed, tremors shaking through her thighs. “I’m almost there.”

Gangle continued sliding over Ragatha’s body happily, intent on bringing as much pleasure as possible. “I-I wanna be good,” she whimpered. She focused more on Ragatha’s clit and thighs, rubbing along the seam between her legs faster. “I wanna be a good omega for you.”

Ragatha managed a slight smile before a moan caught in her throat. “Yes, Gangle, be a good girl. A good omega. Make me cum.”

The ribbons around her seemed to shiver as both of Gangle’s masks moaned in unison. The rubbing on Ragatha’s clit and nipples became fast enough to rival vibrations and it was all the doll could do to hold on just a little longer. A ribbon slithered up and around Ragatha’s neck and it was over.

White-hot fire spread through Ragatha’s cotton, filling her with pleasure as her orgasm took hold. A single black eye rolled in her head, the doll gasping in a shuddering breath. Her body seized, limbs writhing in the ribbons’ grasp as ecstasy pumped through every fiber of her linen body.

“Yes!” Ragatha cried, head thrown back. “Yes, Gangle!”

The ribbons holding the doll shook and spasmed alongside her, tightening and loosening as the masks moaned. The movement prolonged Ragatha’s bliss and the pair moaned and whimpered together for several seconds longer.

When the pleasure subsided, Gangle allowed her hold to loosen. Not enough to unwrap herself from Ragatha’s limbs, but enough to lower the both of them to the waiting bed. Her masks settled against Ragatha as the ragdoll fought to catch her breath.

Comedy smiled from her spot against Ragatha’s shoulder. “Was it good?”

A plush hand came up to gently stroke her as a smile pulled Ragatha’s lips. “It was very good,” she chuckled. “You were so good for me, Gangle.”

Comedy hummed in contentment and Ragatha allowed her other hand to cradle Tragedy, nestled into her side. “We still look like this,” Tragedy mumbled with a sigh.

“Do you want to go another round?” Ragatha asked, bringing the sad mask up to look at her properly.

“Do you?” Tragedy’s eyes watched her hopefully.

A soothing smile was her response. “Why don’t we take a nap first?” Ragatha cooed. “A quick one before doing a few more rounds, alright?”

“Okay,” Gangle agreed.

Ragatha settled more comfortably in her bed and brought the masks up to nuzzle into her shoulders. As Gangle drifted off, Ragatha wondered how the adventure must have been going. Sleep tugged at her and the redhead allowed herself to sink into slumber. She hoped the others weren’t in too much trouble.

“That. [Fucking.] Sucked.” Zooble shook another rattlesnake loose from their arm angrily.

“Yeah, that was even more bogus than usual,” Jax grumbled, yanking a rattlesnake off his ear. “I thought it would be somethin’ cool like a earthquake machine or a cult we could beat up, but nooo. Dancing. Snakes.”

“Well, a dance battle could’ve gone worse,” Pomni grunted as she shook a few snakes from her hat. “Wouldn’t’ve been so bad if you hadn’t nearly thrown your last round.”

“I was bored!” Jax huffed, throwing his hands up in the air. “Who wants to dance battle snakes? They got no arms or legs!”

Zooble and Pomni rolled their eyes, the latter tugging a snake from the back of Kinger’s robe. They weren’t going to argue Jax’s logic, because it was stupid logic, but it was still annoying. They could’ve been out sooner if not for his stupid goofing off.

Right on time, the portal from before opened up for them to return home. The quartet trudged their way through, glad for the adventure to be over. Even with it being one of the lighter ones, it was still exhausting. Mentally, of course, given physical limitations weren’t a thing for them in the digital world.

Pomni glanced around as they all returned to the main area of the Tent. Neither Gangle nor Ragatha had come to greet them upon return. Ignoring how strange it was for either of them to skip an adventure in the first place, it especially wasn’t like Ragatha not to greet someone after not having seen them for some time.

“WELCOME HOME, MY MUSICAL MUCHACHOS!” Caine called, appearing overhead happily. “Congratulations on rooting out the cause of that rattlesnake rumble! With your mad moves, the residents of Rattlesnake Ridge will have nothing to fear now!”

“They literally no longer exist,” Zooble muttered to themselves.

“As your reward, each of you shall receive a video recording of your performances for you to rewatch at your leisure.” Groans of disapproval filled the air, which Caine ignored. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go prepare tomorrow’s exciting adventure!”

He disappeared in a shower of confetti.

Once he was gone, the group relaxed with sighs of relief. Pomni waited a few more moments, but no. Not a single sign of their friends anywhere to be found.

“Where’s Ragatha?” she finally asked aloud. “And Gangle? It’s not like them to miss an adventure…”

Jax and Zooble shared a quick glance, having realized the reason for their friends’ absences that morning. They both knew what time of year it was, but they’d forgotten how new Pomni was to the Circus. She wouldn’t know anyone’s cycles yet.

The purple rabbit smirked, seeing an opportunity to have some fun. “She’s probably just helpin’ Tears in one of their rooms,” he said nonchalantly. “Why? Missin’ your girl already, Bells?”

Once more, Pomni’s blush spots glowed and she glared up at Jax. “She’s not my girl.”

“There’s that disappointment again,” Jax snickered, moving to tower over her mockingly. “Sad little clown wants a cute doll all to herself.”

“Cut it out, [asshole,]” Pomni huffed, swatting at the rabbit irritably. “You’re not funny.”

“Yet messin’ with you is hilarious,” Jax shot back. His ever-present grin widened and he leaned his head back on his arms. “Whatever. If you don’t wanna admit it, it’s fine. But I’d be careful with my eyes if ya wanna convince the rest of us.”

Pomni grumbled unintelligibly under her breath as she flipped Jax the bird and made her way toward the hall where their living quarters were. He didn’t know what he was talking about. Pomni liked Ragatha just as much as anybody else did. And if that wasn’t remotely true, that was no one’s business but her own. It didn’t matter; she had friends to find.

Gangle’s absence could have been just passed off as wanting to hide and keep herself away from Jax. Pomni wouldn’t blame her given how often he was the cause of her comedy mask breaking or otherwise leaving her face. If she wanted a day away, she deserved it.

Ragatha’s absence, though, made Pomni a little skittish. Ragatha seemed to genuinely enjoy Caine’s adventures, so it didn’t make sense for her to miss out on one. Then again, given how helpful and accommodating Ragatha tended to be, it was likely her absence and Gangle’s were connected. With a day to simply be with her comedy mask, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for Gangle to have asked Ragatha to keep her company for the day. That seemed the most plausible option.

Pomni wondered what they had done. Maybe a tea party? Coloring? Gangle might’ve shown Ragatha some of her drawings. Whatever it was, Pomni hoped they had a good time.

Pausing at Ragatha’s door, since it was the closest to the entrance to the hallway, Pomni decided to check and see if they were in there. If not, she would make her way to Gangle’s room near the end of the hall. That in mind, the jester knocked solidly at the door.

Inside, Gangle squeaked, her ribbons tightening around Ragatha reflexively. They had just gotten into a new position. Ragatha’s body was suspended belly-up, her arms tied behind her and her legs bound so they were bent and spread apart. Since they didn’t need to breathe or worry about the effects of gravity, there was a single ribbon under the doll woman’s head to keep it from lolling. They hadn’t even started their foreplay yet.

Almost instantly, Gangle’s ribbons loosened around Ragatha’s body. They had been gone at least all day. That meant the others had gone out on an adventure. If someone was knocking now, it meant everyone was back. What if it was Jax? It was no secret that Ragatha’s door was the only one he bothered to knock on (for reasons unknown to literally everyone, probably even himself). He could be there to set up a new prank, or mock her for being a useless omega, or some other horrible, Jax-like thing he would do.

A whimper slipped from Tragedy and Ragatha hurried to soothe her, shushing her gently. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Someone’s just at the door.”

“W-what if it’s Jax?” Tragedy pointed out fearfully, hiding her face in Ragatha’s side.

“There’s only one way to know for sure,” Ragatha said. “If it is him, I'll send him away. I promise.”

Tragedy seemed unconvinced, but Comedy slowly lowered Ragatha to the bed. The doll stood and asked, “Do you want to let me go so I can get dressed or-?”

“No!” Both masks exclaimed.

“I like being wrapped around you!” Comedy told her, tightening her ribbons to emphasize her point. Ragatha stopped a breathless moan from escaping.

“I-I’d rather stay with you,” Tragedy added, also tightening the ribbons. Ragatha’s knees went a little weak.

“Alright,” the ragdoll conceded, somewhat breathlessly. “Just cover me, please.”

The ribbons did as requested, covering her private areas to the best of their ability. Ragatha decided to take it. Nearly everyone in the Circus had seen her in some state of undress before anyway, so it probably wasn’t a big deal. The second she opened the door, Ragatha rescinded that notion. It was definitely a big deal.

Pomni felt a small bit of tension leave her shoulders as the doorknob turned. Oh good, they were both in there. It wouldn’t do well for her anxiety to head further down the hall. She tended to avoid Gangle’s room on account of it being directly opposite… Kaufmo’s.

Pomni had been prepared to ask what the two had spent the day doing. That thought died in her throat as soon as the door opened. Pomni’s eyes nearly dropped right out of her head.

In front of her stood Ragatha, completely naked apart from the bright red ribbon wrapped around her body. It barely left anything to the imagination, only really managing to cover her nipples, which poked against the silk, and kept the area between her legs hidden. Everything else was on full display. Her wide hips and thighs, her curves, the adorable button on her stomach, and even the stitching of a heart on her chest. It took all of Pomni’s self-control not to start drooling on the spot.

Forcing her eyes away from the tantalizing view of her friend’s body, pinwheel eyes spotted two masks peeking over Ragatha’s shoulders. While she wasn’t used to seeing both masks at once unless one was broken, there was still no doubt who they belonged to. With the realization that Gangle was wrapped around Ragatha's body, Pomni’s nonexistent heart screeched to a halt as she understood what the pair had been doing.

“I-I-I’m so sorry!” she choked out, eyes whizzing in their sockets. Were they together? Had she been crushing on someone else’s girlfriend? “I-I didn’t m-mean to interrupt-!”

“Whoa, Pomni, calm down!” Ragatha hurried to place the tips of her pointer fingers on Pomni’s shoulders soothingly. It was the most amount of touch Pomni allowed when she was riled up. Pomni froze, allowing the warmth of Ragatha’s fingers to ground her as she watched the taller woman. “It’s perfectly fine. There’s no need for you to apologize. I’m sorry that I shocked you this way. I should have asked who it was instead of opening the door like this.”

Pomni slowly nodded, not quite processing the words. She swallowed thickly, still trying not to ogle someone she deeply respected, but also trying not to glare at someone she doubted she was capable of actually being upset with. There were just so many questions in her mind and she needed a moment to sort through them.

“U-um… s-so why are you…?” The jester tried not to look as she waved a hand at Ragatha’s lack of dress.

“Gangle is on her heat cycle.” Ragatha gestured to the masks, who were now properly looking over her shoulder since Pomni was the one revealed to be at the door. “I was just helping her through it. Being like this makes it difficult for her to go on adventures. I help her with her cycle whenever she asks so she can get back to a regular routine.”

“And we always ask!” Comedy chirped, nuzzling against Ragatha’s face. Pomni’s eye twitched at the action, but she said nothing.

Small pink patches appeared on Ragatha’s cheeks, as if stitched there by a ghost. “I, uh, tend to be her favorite.”

“She’s the only one who will help me,” Tragedy whimpered sadly.

A soft shushing sound made both Pomni and Gangle melt a little as Ragatha’s hand came up to gently hold the sad mask. Pomni’s cheeks glowed brightly as she tried to convince herself not to be jealous. But Ragatha’s hands were so soft and she wanted them to touch her face like that…

In an effort to be normal about the situation, Pomni sought the answer to a burning question in her mind. “Why are her masks separate?” she inquired, her voice rasping slightly with repressed want. “I didn’t know they could do that.”

“All of us change appearance slightly when we go through our cycles,” Ragatha explained patiently, turning her attention back to Pomni even as her hand continued stroking Tragedy comfortingly. “Gangle’s masks become separate entities and her body expands, hence why there’s so much more ribbon than usual.” Pomni’s eyes hungrily flicked back to her friend’s body before dragging themselves back to Ragatha’s eyes. “She’s still one person, though.”

“O-oh, um, okay.” Pomni looked from the masks back to Ragatha. “Uh, so, I guess I’ll leave you to it, then...”

“She should be back to herself by tomorrow,” Ragatha said, her gaze not leaving Pomni at all. “So you can tell us all about today’s adventure in the morning!”

Good, Pomni thought, perking up at that. If this passed by morning, she would be able to hang with Ragatha again tomorrow no problem. She wouldn’t need to sit with this stupid, inconvenient jealousy for longer than necessary!

Aloud, she said, “Right! Um, I’m gonna go rest anyway. I just, uh, wanted to check on you guys.” Clearing her throat in an effort to stop making this so awkward, the brunette turned. “See you both tomorrow!”

Ragatha smiled and gave her a quick wave before gently shutting her bedroom door. As soon as it was closed, Pomni took a few steps away and heaved a sigh of relief. That was not at all the way she had intended to see Ragatha naked, if at all. She expected there to be dates and kissing, and hadn’t intended for there to be company alongside. Still, she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Ragatha truly was just as gorgeous as Pomni always thought she’d be. After the mess of an adventure she just went through, Pomni wouldn’t complain.

Back in Ragatha’s room, the ragdoll allowed herself to relax for a moment. She thought the first time Pomni saw her naked would be under different circumstances. Maybe once she worked up the nerve to ask her on a date to the carnival, shared their first kiss, and maybe a romantic dinner. She did not expect it to be this way. It took everything in her not to burst from arousal and embarrassment at knowing the little jester could see nearly everything.

A giggle brought the ragdoll out of her mind and the ribbons around her body tightened. “You enjoyed that,” Comedy purred, coming to rest against Ragatha’s shoulder.

“W-what do you mean?” Ragatha stammered nervously. They couldn’t possibly know about her crush, could they?

In response, the ribbon between her legs rubbed over her seam, brushing against her clit. A soft cry ripped from Ragatha’s mouth and her legs shook. “Your seam kept tightening,” Comedy teased. “And you kept rubbing your legs together.”

“I-I’ve just never… been watched like that before,” Ragatha mumbled, refusing to look the mask in the eyes.

“Well, if it made you that excited, we can help relieve some of that tension.” The ribbons around Ragatha’s body tightened, Gangle puppeteering her body to walk back toward the bed.

“You did say we would be back to normal by tomorrow,” Tragedy added quietly.

“Then I’ll have to make good on my word,” Ragatha chuckled. “Let’s get back to work, sweetie.”

The rest of the night was spent in multiple positions. Ragatha’s body was much more sensitive than it had been before Pomni’s interruption. If Gangle noticed, she made no comment on it. Ragatha just hoped Pomni had liked what she saw.

Pomni awoke in a sweat in the middle of the night. She definitely enjoyed seeing Ragatha naked.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Pomni peeked out of her bedroom before the wake-up call even sounded. After her… descriptive dream the previous night, she hadn’t trusted herself to go back to sleep. Instead, she had spent the rest of the night hoping against hope that Ragatha and Gangle had finished up, and Gangle was back to normal now. A small, traitorous part of her actually hoped they hadn’t finished and she would get a chance to see Ragatha wrapped up like a delicious Christmas present again. Pomni beat that part of her with a nail bat and stuffed it in the closet.

With a deep breath, the jester made her way out to the main area to await the others. She was going to be normal about this. She would not make a big deal about it, and she would go about life as she had before. The only difference now was that she knew exactly how curvy and beautiful Ragatha was under her dress. Pomni could even remember the small areas where the stitches hadn’t faded, probably acting as scars from when Ragatha wasn’t as adept at sewing herself up.

No, be normal! she told herself. She is your best friend. Best friends see each other’s bodies all the time. Be normal about this.

A shout filled the air, startling the small woman from grappling with herself. “GOOD MORNING, SUPERSTARS! RISE AND SHINE!”

Thank god for Caine.

Pomni hopped onto the stage to await the others, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t have a heart, but if she did, it would be pounding with the anticipation. Would Ragatha and Gangle show up? Or would Gangle’s heat cycle last longer than Ragatha predicted? Would it be all day again if it did? Maybe Pomni could stop by again? Or would that be weird, considering she now knew the cause of their disappearance? Ugh, why was this so complicated!

“Oh!” a voice piped up from the direction of their living quarters. Pomni’s head shot up immediately to find a familiar redhead coming closer. “Good morning, Pomni! You’re awake early!”

Pomni fought not to be disappointed that Ragatha wore her adventuring dress now. Even as she watched her friend come closer, her eyes overlaid the visage in front of her with the image from the day before. The way she moved and swayed and-.

“Y-yeah!” Pomni croaked, forcing herself away from those thoughts. “I, uh, had trouble sleeping properly after yesterday’s adventure, so I just said [fuck] it when the lights came on and came out.”

Ragatha nodded with an understanding smile, her eyes surveying the jester carefully. Pomni didn’t seem awkward about what happened yesterday, thank goodness. Ragatha would hate for things to get tense between them because of her lack of foresight. Moving to the stage, the ragdoll hoisted herself up and sat beside her friend.

“That’s unfortunate. I might have some non-brand tea blends that might be able to help with that.” The patches from before appeared on her cheeks as she added, “You can… come to my room after today’s adventure if you’d like?”

Pomni’s blush spots glowed and she smiled shyly up at the taller woman. “Yeah, I-I’d really appreciate that.”

“Well, well!” an annoying voice called, breaking into their moment. Neither needed to turn to know who had shattered their tranquility. “Looks like Two Tone is awake earlier today! Missed her that much, huh, Tiny?”

“Jax, I swear to god…” Pomni grumbled, turning to glare at the purple rabbit as he sauntered closer. From behind him bounced Gangle, comedy mask the only one in sight and body coiled neatly as usual. It seemed she really was back to normal now.

“Morning, Jax!” Ragatha said before anything else inflammatory could come from the rabbit’s mouth. “How was the adventure yesterday? Exciting?”

“Hardly,” Jax muttered, crossing his arms petulantly. “We had to dance battle snakes. I would’ve rather just stayed here. Dancing is more your thing.”

Pinwheel eyes swiveled to the doll curiously. “It is?”

“Oh, uh, w-well…” The pink patches steadily switched to darker shades as Ragatha avoided Pomni’s eyes bashfully. “I mean, I like it. I-I wouldn’t really call it my thing…”

“Ragatha’s the best dancer in the Circus!” Gangle piped up. “She knows a bunch of different styles and moves.”

A small grin spread over Pomni’s lips. “I hope we do another dancing adventure soon then,” she said softly, pupils turning into stars as she stared up at the flustered ragdoll. “I’d love to see you dance sometime.”

“I-!” Ragatha brushed some of her hair back, ignoring how the strands just fell back into place. “Y-you would?”

“Sure,” Pomni affirmed without a shred of doubt. “Maybe… something to think about in the future?”

“Yeah!” Black stared into two-colored pinwheel as a smile curled Ragatha’s lips as well. “I’d love to dance with you sometime, Pomni.” ‘With’, not ‘for’. They both heard it.

Jax threw his head back with a disgusted groan. “Get a room, you ingrates,” he huffed. “Last thing I need is your grossness getting all over the place.”

“Better than whatever you’ve got going on,” Pomni snorted.

She scooted closer to Ragatha as they waited to see who else would come out. The pair tried desperately not to think about the fact that they’d made plans to hang out after the adventure and take each other dancing some time. It was best not to read into it.

Kinger hopped his way from his pillow fort a short while later, and Zooble slunk from the living quarters with a roll of their eyes. Caine appeared in front of the group and surveyed them, mentally counting. Yup! Six! No mistakes today, time to get this show on the road!

“HELLO THERE, MY GALLIVANTING GOAT-HERDERS! I hope you’re excited for the AMAZE-RIFIC adventure I have for you today!” He paused for applause. He received none. “Today, you’ll be investigating the disappearance of an important artifact!”

Bubble winked into existence in front of him. “What artifact is it, Caine!”

“Glad you asked, Bubble! It’s-!”

“And what’s it’s significance!” Bubble cut in eagerly.

Caine blinked. “It’s a-.”

“And who-?” A single pop and Bubble was gone.

“You, my perfect performers, shall be investigating THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE DUNESVILLE DOOMSDAY DEVICE!” Confetti rained through the air as the name of the adventure appeared above Caine’s head. “The town of Dunesville needs to know where its famed deactivated doomsday device went off to. Hope you’re all ready for a possibly deadly time!”

Pomni stared up at him. “Deadly?” her voice cracked.

“Don’t worry, Pom,” Ragatha reassured her quietly. “Dying on Caine’s adventures is pretty rare.”

“For you, maybe,” Zooble grumbled, glaring off to the side. “I’m good sitting this one ou-.”

Before they could even turn back toward the living quarters, a bright red portal appeared in front of them and they stepped right through it. “Your adventure awaits!” Caine chirped in a far-too-cheerful tone as he zoomed around and shoved the remaining performers into the portal as well.

The crew found themselves in a sandy area surrounded by houses and palm trees. Zooble stomped against the sandy ground irritably and growled, “When I get my hands on that son of a [bitch]-!”

Ragatha reached out and placed a hand on their shoulder. “Calm down, Zooble,” she cooed. “It can’t be that bad. Maybe this one will go by fast. There can’t be a lot of places to hide a ‘doomsday device’ in such a barren landscape.”

Zooble grumbled unintelligibly and just crossed their arms petulantly.

The adventure did technically go by quickly. Finding the device—on a giant sand dune—was the easy part. Securing it from the sandworms Caine created to steal and guard it was a bit more difficult. By the end of it, everyone had been chomped on by a massive worm at least once and Jax had purposefully activated the doomsday device. Zooble and Gangle worked in tandem to hoist Ragatha onto the ray and she covered it with her body, taking the brunt of the blast.

“Jax, you [motherfucker!]” Pomni snarled as she and Zooble supported Ragatha, who was missing a significant amount of body mass having taken a huge laser to the torso. “All we had to do was return the [damn] thing!”

“Yeah, but it seemed too easy,” Jax shrugged, ever-present smile wide as he strolled along without a care. Gangle and Kinger had been tasked with carrying the device back to the town, since Jax couldn’t be trusted with it. “Had to spice things up a little!”

“We literally all have [fucking] teeth marks in us,” Zooble growled out, eyes burning holes into the purple rabbit. “Those stupid worms were a challenge all on their own, you [jackass.]”

Jax snorted. “Oh please. We coulda taken those things in our sleep. This made it more fun!”

Pomni’s teeth sharpened as she glared at him, but she took a deep breath. Ragatha’s head lolled onto her shoulder and the yarn strands of her hair felt ticklish against Pomni’s cheek. Thankfully, there was still cotton in her head, or she would be dead right now.

“I don’t think it’s too bad,” Ragatha mumbled, her words slightly slurred. Zooble had informed Pomni that slurred speech was one of the few ways to tell when Ragatha was in pain. “I mean, we saved the town, so no harm done!”

“You shut the [fuck] up until you heal,” Zooble huffed, though it was clearly more out of concern than irritation. “We don’t know if talking will cause any more issues.”

“Sorry.” Ragatha fell silent and simply enjoyed feeling hands carrying her. She could tell the difference between Zooble’s hard plastic and Pomni’s softer gloves. It took every remaining ounce of strength in her body not to nuzzle into the jester’s shoulder.

Wait, that was right. She was leaning on Pomni, but Pomni wasn’t fond of touching others. Carefully, Ragatha tried to shift more of her weight toward Zooble.

“Whoa, whoa!” Pomni hurried to wrap her arms more securely around the injured ragdoll. “W-what are you doing?”

“I-I know you don’t really like touching,” Ragatha responded, breathing heavily through the pain. “I was trying to put more of my body on Zooble, since they’re more used to doing this for me.”

“Thanks,” Zooble snorted without a hint of offense.

Blue-and-red eyes flicked from the injured woman to Zooble. “Th-this is okay,” Pomni stated. “I don’t mind as long as we get you back to the town so you can heal.” She didn’t mind ever when Ragatha touched her, actually. There was something soothing about the ragdoll’s plush hands and soft body. The few times Pomni had accepted a hug from Ragatha, they had been the best hugs of her life.

“Disgusting,” Jax muttered, shaking his head as he led them back into the town limits. He was lucky all of Zooble’s limbs were occupied or at least one would have flown at his head.

Cheers erupted through the air as the sandy-colored mannequin people of the town celebrated having their artifact returned to them. Once the mayor finished thanking them for their deed, the portal to return appeared. Ragatha took a deep breath as Zooble and Pomni carried her through it. They stepped onto the other side with her on her own two feet and she sighed in relief.

“Thanks for the help, guys,” she told them happily. “That would’ve been rough otherwise.”

“It’s no big deal,” Zooble shrugged. Their eyes shifted to their shorter partner and they added under their breath, “Though, I don’t think Pomni would’ve minded having to carry you alone too much.”

“Zooble!” Pomni hissed.

“WELCOME BACK, MY JUMPING JUGGLE-JIGGLERS!” Caine called, popping up above Zooble’s head. “I hope you had a fantabulous time in Dunesville! For returning the Doomsday Device, feel free to enjoy this wonderful meal Bubble has prepared for you all!”

The dinner table appeared and a few of the members happily made their way toward it. Pomni sagged slightly and Ragatha glanced at her curiously. “Hey,” the redhead said softly, catching Pomni’s attention. “Why don’t we go have that tea?”

Pomni perked up. Tea after such a stressful adventure sounded wonderful. “Y-yeah, that sounds great.”

Ragatha led the way to her room and Pomni followed. Flashes of the previous evening played in the jester’s mind and she forced herself to focus. She needed to be normal about the situation. Gangle’s heat was over and Ragatha was clothed.

“Come on in,” Ragatha chirped, opening her door and allowing Pomni to enter first.

Faux sunlight filtered in, mimicking early evening, with reds and orange to indicate a sunset. Pomni made her way over to the table and chairs on one side of the room while Ragatha stepped over to the stove and put a kettle of water on.

“Thank you again for helping me during the adventure,” Ragatha spoke up in a quiet voice. “I know touching isn’t really your thing, so I… I really appreciate it.” Your hands feel so nice against my body, remained unsaid.

“Oh, uh, y-you don’t have to thank me for that,” Pomni told her, her cheek spots glowing brightly. “I-I really didn’t mind carrying you. You’re, uh, light a-and soft. I’d do it again if you need it.”

Pink patches appeared on Ragatha’s cheeks and she smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The kettle whistled and Ragatha quickly prepped their tea. She set a cup in front of Pomni and took a seat opposite the smaller woman. The atmosphere was calm and quiet. It was a welcome change from the day’s adventure, and from the turmoil in Pomni’s mind. Ragatha simply tried not to focus on the memory of Pomni’s hands on her as she enjoyed her tea.

“Thanks, Ragatha,” Pomni said as she finished her cup. “The tea was great.”

“It was nothing,” Ragatha replied bashfully. “Let me know if you need some any time. I don’t mind making it.”

Pomni bit her lip before asking, “So… then… t-tomorrow?”

A black eye focused on her in surprise and a slow smile spread over Ragatha’s lips. “Yes. Absolutely. Tomorrow then!”

Pomni smiled and made her way out, heading toward her room. She could still feel Ragatha’s linen against her fingers, but it wasn’t the itching crawling feeling she got after touching someone. Touching Ragatha was different than touching anyone else. It was pleasant and warm, and she would not at all mind carrying Ragatha again, in any number of situations.

Maybe tomorrow she would tell Ragatha it was okay to touch her. If she didn’t convince herself that would be too weird.

Chapter Text

Ragatha hummed quietly to herself as she strolled to the main area of the Tent. The meetings with Pomni in the evenings had become more frequent since that first day and the ragdoll couldn’t be happier. When not experiencing a mental break, Pomni was the most enjoyable member of the Circus to get along with. She listened when Ragatha talked, spoke her mind bluntly, and had a general energetic air around her (though that might have been her skittishness).

A mitten hand ran through red yarn as Ragatha contemplated what she could tell Pomni that evening. Her topics tended to veer toward the Circus and explaining some of the ins and outs that Pomni hadn’t learned yet. Maybe, if the little jester was up for it, Ragatha could take her on a proper tour, show her some of the doors that held neat rooms behind them…

“Mornin’, Cottonhead!”

The greeting pulled Ragatha right out of her musing and she glanced up to find Jax grinning at her. He reclined on the stage, legs crossed as he waited for Caine. Jax being awake so early was cause for suspicion, given it usually tended to be because of a prank, but Ragatha would wait to see the mischief before doing anything about it.

“Good morning, Jax!” she chirped. “Ready for another adventure?”

“Ready to tear it up, ya mean?” Jax snickered. “Oh yeah. I’m hype.”

Ragatha shook her head. “You are insatiable with the bloodlust. What’s wrong with just going along with the adventure to get back sooner? Don’t you have an entire laundry list of pranks to prep for?”

“Sure do!” Jax laughed, hopping from the stage as she neared. “Got tons of ideas, but it can’t hurt to torment a few of Caine’s robots before comin’ back to torment you suckers, too.”

“I don’t know where to begin with you,” Ragatha sighed, pressing a hand against her forehead.

“And that’s the fun of it.” Jax allowed some of his demeanor to drop as he moved closer. “So, what’s goin’ on with you and Tiny? Anything new?”

“Pomni?” Ragatha blinked up at him in confusion. She wouldn’t have expected Jax of all people to care about what she did in her free time or with whom. “We’ve been having tea every night to unwind. It’s a nice routine, especially since dinner can get kind of hectic.”

Yellow eyes surveyed her curiously and a sly grin spread over his lips. “Bet you’re enjoyin’ the alone time with her, huh? Some girl-on-girl time, if you get me?”

“Well, she is my friend,” Ragatha pointed out, missing his meaning. “It’s only natural I’d like spending time with her.”

“Mhm,” Jax snorted. He folded his arms behind his head. “Natural is sure a word to use. Wonder what other natural things you two get up to. Teabags can get so hot and heavy when they’re wet-.”

The jingle of bells indicated another presence coming closer and Jax decided to leave his teasing for another time. Pomni might actually chew his face off if she heard the innuendos he was making. Just because Ragatha wouldn’t get them immediately didn’t mean he wanted to try his luck. Though, he didn’t miss the way the ragdoll perked up excitedly when a blue and red-clad form scurried from their living quarters. Oh yeah, he was going to have fun with these two.

Pomni made her way into the main area. Since starting the evening teatimes with Ragatha, she had been sleeping a bit better and waking earlier. That second one was especially helpful, as it meant more time with Ragatha before adventures. A smile tugged Pomni’s lips at the thought of the redhead. She wondered what they would talk about after the adventure that day…

Pinwheel eyes alighted on the pair already in the main area and Pomni scurried over. “Good morning,” she called, lifting a hand in greeting.

“Good morning, Pomni!” Ragatha chirped. She moved forward and beamed down at the jester. “Ready for the day?”

“As I’ll ever be, I guess,” Pomni shrugged with a slight shake of her head. “Who knows what nightmares Caine has in store for us this time…”

“Oh, don’t think like that,” Ragatha said encouragingly as Gangle and Zooble made their way from the living quarters. “I’m sure something fun will come of this one!”

Pomni decided not to ruin her friend’s good mood this early. No doubt, Jax would do that within moments of entering whatever world Caine had in store for them. For now, the quintet waited for their final member and their ringmaster to come by. Gangle and Zooble chatted idly about some of the recent adventures the group had gone on, with Jax intoning and Pomni simply watching from the sidelines.

Ragatha glanced over at Kinger’s pillow fort in confusion. While he wasn’t as lucid as the rest of them, he at least tended to be aware of when adventures were happening. Making sure the others were preoccupied, the ragdoll pulled a notepad from a hidden pocket in her dress and looked over the most recent page of tally marks. Adding them all together, she felt her heart drop. Ah. It was that time.

Before Ragatha could do anything about it, Caine appeared for his morning announcement. “GOOD MORNING, MY SKULL-WAGGING SCALLIWAGS!” the ringmaster called, eyes alight with excitement. “I hope you’re ready for another ROUSING adventure!”

“We’re not,” Zooble grunted. Cain ignored them.

“Today’s adventure is going to be a wild one!” Caine cheered. “You’ll be tasked with stopping a rampant pickpocket in THE PICKPOCKETING PLATYPUS OF PRISM PEAK!” The adventure’s name appeared above him in large, blocky letters and Caine gave the group and open-mouthed grin. “It’s up to you, my incredible performers, to find this pickpocketing marsupial and bring it to justice!”

“Do we gotta…” Zooble groaned, holding their head in their hand. Caine ignored them once again.

“Good luck, superstars!” Caine cheered, whizzing around to them all so he could shove them into the portal.

Ragatha waited until the last possible moment before stepping to the side to avoid the AI. Caine completely missed her.

“What.”

The AI stared at his hands in complete shock as the portal closed, everyone else having been pushed in. What just happened? Had he miscalculated? No, that wasn’t possible! How did she do that?

Turning to the ragdoll in shock, Caine called, “Ragatha-?”

“Sorry, Caine!” Ragatha said from where she was already walking away. “I can’t go on the adventure today. I’ll try to make it up to you soon, okay?”

“I… uh… okay…”

Caine watched in no small bit of bewilderment as Ragatha gave him a cheerful wave and continued on her way. The ringmaster simply hung limply in the air, hardly even aware anymore as he tried to figure out what went wrong in his calculations. He was going to be there for a while.

Ragatha hurried over to the pillow fort set up in the main area. Her heart couldn’t beat, but it would be pounding if it could. Kinger only missed adventures when… things were too difficult for him to come out. Ragatha was sure her numbers were right and it was… time.

The redhead knelt beside the fort and her fabric mouth mimicked biting her lip. Hesitantly, she called, “Kinger? It’s Ragatha.” There was no response from inside, not even a scream as he was startled. “I-I’m coming in, okay?”

She still received no response. Steeling herself, Ragatha opened the door to the fort and crawled her way in. With the light streaming in through the open doorway, the ragdoll was able to see everything inside the fort clearly. The blankets and pillows were all in order for the most part. That was a relief at least.

A black eye fell on the lone figure in the shelter and Ragatha felt her heart drop. Kinger’s form was speckled with black spots, as though someone had attempted making a white and black chess piece and had come away with a marble patterned one instead. His eyes were even more unfocused than usual, which was concerning since he was in the dark. The fingers of his right hand drummed against the pillow he was sitting on, flexing every few seconds as if reaching out for something. Or someone.

Scooting further into the fort, Ragatha gently shut the door behind her. “Kinger?” she called in a soft tone.

“Queenie?” Kinger croaked, perking up hopefully.

A small ripping sound was heard and Ragatha sighed. She would need to sew up her heart later. For now, she needed to focus on her friend. “No, Kinger. Ragatha.”

“Oh.” The king piece wilted on himself. “H-hi.”

“Hey. Is there…” Ragatha swallowed. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

Kinger’s hands shook and he clenched them into fists. They had done this enough times that he knew what Ragatha meant when she asked. It didn’t stop the immediate instinct to snap at her for even suggesting…!

“Um, can you… tell me a story?” Kinger whispered. “M-my mind is f-fuzzy and I can’t- I can’t put anything t-together-.”

A soft shushing sound made the king piece pause. Shuffling reached him before something warm and weighted was draped over his shoulders. “Of course I’ll tell you a story, Kinger,” Ragatha cooed. She maneuvered her friend so he was lying down. “Any story you want.”

This was a constant of Kinger’s ruts. They were… incompatible with one another now, so it was best if Ragatha simply took his mind off it instead of trying to help speed it up. While she always strived to help her friends, though, Ragatha had to admit she wasn’t fond of helping Kinger with his ruts. They always opened old wounds she tried to keep closed.

“How about I tell you about the time Queenie took me on a flash tour of the Gilman Grotto during the kraken adventure?” she suggested.

“That sounds exciting,” Kinger mumbled, leaning his head against her leg as Ragatha settled beside him. “Let’s hear it.”

Ragatha smiled and placed a hand on his head. “Well, it started when Caine told us we would be exploring a ‘never before seen’ underwater grotto. You, me, Queenie, and Squiggly were ready to go, but Wormo was nowhere to be found…”

“Oh, thank you, brave heroes!” the chief of the town cheered as Zooble kicked the pickpocketing platypus forward. “You have saved our wonderful town from a dreadful fiend!”

The group was covered in swamp water, mucus, foliage, and any other number of things they would rather not speak of. Having to chase an anthropomorphic platypus partially made of stone through an overgrown mountain forest and the swampy valley at the bottom of it did not help their moods in the slightest. Jax aimed his bootzooka at the platypus and desperately wanted to use it, if for no other reason than to make himself feel better. Stupid thing pushed him in the water while escaping them the first time (of way too many), and the added weight to his stuffing slowed him down.

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” Pomni muttered as she also glared at the criminal. “Glad you’re safe or whatever.”

The mannequin townsfolk cheered and chanted for the proclaimed ‘heroes’ and the group just waited impatiently for their portal home. “This better come out when we go through,” Jax growled under his breath.

“You’re telling me,” Zooble agreed, knocking their fist against their head to rid it of some of the swamp water. “Stupid [fucking] platypus loves the water too [damn] much for my liking.”

“It’s a good thing Ragatha wasn’t on this one,” Gangle murmured, trying not to let any part of her mucus coated body touch anything. “It would’ve been a nightmare for her.”

“Was a nightmare for us,” Jax grumbled.

The portal back to the Circus appeared and the group trudged their way through, breathing sighs of relief as the remnants of their skirmishes vanished. While the others shook themselves out, Pomni looked around. “Where are Ragatha and Kinger?” she wondered aloud, having been thinking the question the entire adventure.

“Eyeballs is probably in his pillow fort,” Jax shrugged, leaning his head back on his arms. “No clue where Linens has gotten off to.” A sly grin curled his lips as he looked down at Pomni. “You can go find her, if you wanna see her so bad.”

Pomni glared up at him and flipped him the (censored) bird, ignoring the glow of her blush spots. She didn’t need his stupid ribbing after the craziness they had just gone through. If he wanted to be a prick, he could do it on his own time.

In an effort not to prove Jax right, Pomni made her way toward Kinger’s pillow fort. After the freakiness that was the Mildenhall Manor, they had grown closer to one another. The pillow fort had become one of Pomni’s favorite places to go whenever she was having a breakdown and couldn’t get to her room or Ragatha fast enough.

“Hey, Kinger?” the jester called, voice hesitant. “Y-you okay? Can… can I come in?”

There was a pause for a moment and Pomni wondered if Kinger was even in there. She relaxed when the door to the fort opened slightly. Pomni had just enough time to open her mouth before a plush hand grabbed her by the arm and yanked her into the fort.

The unexpected handling would usually have sent Pomni’s skin aflame. Something like that, especially from Caine or Jax, tended to cause her fight or flight instincts to kick in. The itch was there for all of a moment before it dissipated completely. Not even Kinger could get that reaction from her. Pomni stared around at the inside of the fort in confusion, wondering what just happened.

Darkness covered everything, with barely there slivers of light seeping through one or two of the pillows. On the side opposite the door was a bundle of blankets, clearly someone lying down. Ragatha scooted away from Pomni once she had shut the door behind them. She held her hands where Pomni could see them, hoping the jester wouldn’t be angry.

“I’m sorry for grabbing you like that,” she murmured softly.

“No, uh, i-it’s okay.” And explained why the itching didn’t flare the way it usually would. Pomni looked over the ragdoll. “What’s going on?”

Ragatha brushed her hair back and released a sigh. “The light makes things worse for him during this time.”

“What?”

Pomni turned her attention to the bundle of blankets, clearly Kinger. It was difficult to make him out without a sufficient light source, but she spotted some darker areas on his head and face. A clear indication of what must have been going on. “It’s… his rut?”

“Yes.” Ragatha returned to Kinger’s side, settled beside him. “I’ve been monitoring him all day and doing what I could to help him through it.”

“You’re… you’re not…” Pomni couldn’t quite figure out how to articulate what she wanted to ask, but thankfully, Ragatha seemed to understand.

“No, no. Kinger and I don’t…” We don’t do that anymore. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “I, uh, tell him stories instead. It… helps pass the time until his rut is over.”

Confusion was back in full force and Pomni tilted her head, large eyes gazing at the ragdoll as she moved closer. “But… can’t you help him… through it? L-like you did with Gangle?”

Ragatha seemed to wilt on herself. Pomni’s heart seized, thinking she might have hurt her friend’s feelings somehow. A thought made worse by a small ripping sound from somewhere Pomni couldn’t see. Sadness swept through Ragatha as memories flashed in her mind’s eye.

“I haven’t really helped Kinger with his, um, urges, since…” Since just after his wife… She swallowed thickly around the lump in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to voice it. “He prefers things this way.”

Pomni frowned, looking between the ragdoll and the haggard chess piece. She didn’t like seeing Kinger suffer. He was so kind, and was actually really nice company. “But… wouldn’t it be better to… have it over with sooner?” She fidgeted with her hands as she looked Kinger over. “I know he’s not usually all there, but this must be… difficult for him, right?”

“It’s better for his mental state for him to weather it,” Ragatha told her, a slight sad edge to her voice. “Besides, I’m not…” I’m not Queenie. Queenie was… gone. No one would ever be her. No one could ever compare to her, for Kinger and maybe for Ragatha. Unable to properly vocalize that, Ragatha settled on, “He’s precarious enough. I don’t want to make it worse.”

Pinwheel eyes watched the way the older woman tensed while speaking. Context clues were enough to explain exactly what Ragatha wouldn’t—or maybe couldn’t—say aloud. The jester lowered her eyes to the barely-conscious king piece and nodded slowly.

“Do you… need help?” she asked.

Ragatha’s head snapped up in bewilderment. “What?”

“Helping take care of Kinger,” Pomni clarified. She coughed and gestured to his prone form. “Is there anything else you need? I-I can get it. The others are probably off doing their own thing already, so…”

“O-oh, that’s- that isn’t necessary, Pomni,” Ragatha told her quickly, waving her hands. “I’m sure you’d like to rest after the adventure. I can handle-.”

Kinger shifted and both women turned their attention to him. Ragatha placed a hand on his forehead and the chess piece looked up at her. “Ragatha?” he whispered.

“I’m here, Kinger,” she cooed. “How are you feeling?”

“Not better,” Kinger chuckled dryly. “Can you… tell me something else?”

“Of course, Kinger, just give me a moment.” Ragatha patted his head and turned back to Pomni. “You don’t have to stay if you’re tired. I just… tell him stories about… his wife.”

Pomni’s eyes flicked from the man who had protected and comforted her when she desperately needed it to the woman who had taken her under wing to guide and comfort her since her arrival in this hellscape. Both exuded an air of grief Pomni hadn’t felt since Kaufmo’s funeral. There was no way she was leaving them alone like this. Even if it was in solidarity only, she was going to be there for them.

“N-no, it’s okay,” Pomni stated, making up her mind. “I don’t mind, i-if you’re okay with me hanging around listening?”

Ragatha eyed her cautiously. Pomni seemed determined to stay, so Ragatha would allow it. “Alright,” she whispered. Scooting slightly to make room for Pomni near Kinger, the ragdoll leaned against the wall of the pillow fort and turned her gaze to the ceiling. “Let’s see. How about… the time I tried showing off for Queenie during the Dungeon Disaster Zone?”

Kinger gave a soft hum, leaning his head against her leg. “Sounds fun.”

“It was embarrassing,” Ragatha snorted. “I was still pretty new to the Circus, but since you and Queenie had taken it upon yourselves to make me feel welcome, I acclimated pretty fast. I suppose there was a bit of hero worship there, or something. I wanted to treat you like royalty. Caine’s morning announcement gave me the perfect opportunity to show you both how capable I was…”

Pomni listened in fascination as Ragatha spun a tale about some booby-trapped dungeon Caine created that they had to find a dastardly dingo in. There was something to do with the anthropomorphic dingo stealing a prized jewel from a mining town. That took backseat to Ragatha going over the different ways she tried to show off to Kinger and his wife while trying to solve the clues to the dingo’s hideout.

Before she could stop herself, Pomni asked a question involving some saw blades and Ragatha getting a cut in her side. “So, you had to spend the entire adventure with your side cut open?”

There was a pause in the story as both Kinger and Ragatha glanced at the jester in mild surprise. “I always keep a small sewing kit in one of my pockets,” the ragdoll explained. “For small, quick fixes during adventures. It helps keep things moving without losing my stuffing.”

From there, the story continued, but Pomni kept asking questions every now and then about the different things Ragatha did. And once that story finished, Pomni asked questions during the next one, and the one following that. Neither Ragatha nor Kinger seemed to mind her inquiries, and in fact, after a while, Kinger sat up to lean his head properly against Ragatha’s shoulder to listen.

Usually, an alpha on rut would be wary of too much physical contact with another alpha. It was one of the reasons they were incompatible with each other. But he didn’t mind as much as he had in the past. Listening to the stories of his wife with someone who loved her possibly just as much as he did made it easier to lean on Ragatha for support the way she had been encouraging him to do.

After the third story, Kinger properly sat up and his eyes crinkled slightly as if he were smiling. “I think the pair of you should head to bed,” he told them gently, stopping Ragatha before she could launch into another tale.

“A-are you sure?” Ragatha asked. Her eyes roved over him in shock. She hadn’t seen him recover after a single day since before they lost Queenie. Was he really okay?

“I feel much better now,” Kinger reassured her with a nod. He turned to Pomni to make sure she wasn’t also worried. “Thank you both for staying with me today. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, uh, n-no problem!” Personally, Pomni didn’t think she really did anything. All she did was sit, listen, and occasionally ask a question. She had greatly enjoyed the stories Ragatha told, and had been immersed in more than one of them. But still, that couldn’t compare to having actually experienced it and lost one of the main characters of the tale.

There was a moment of silence. Ragatha still wasn’t entirely sure Kinger was back to himself, and Kinger was willing to wait for her to come to a consensus. Pomni just looked between them, not wanting to shatter what tranquility remained.

Finally, Ragatha took a breath. “Okay,” she said quietly. “Shall we head back to our rooms, Pomni?”

“Yeah, sounds good!” Pomni hesitated before reaching out to touch Kinger’s hand, an acceptable amount of contact after the last few emotionally-charged hours. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Kinger.”

“I’ll see you for tomorrow’s adventure, Pomni,” Kinger chirped.

The jester climbed from the pillow fort and Ragatha rubbed her arm. It didn’t make any sense. Why was Kinger okay now? Was this rut lighter than the previous ones?

“Ragatha?”

The ragdoll lifted her head quickly to find the king piece watching her. “Yes, Kinger?”

Hazy blue eyes surveyed her for a moment before Kinger said, “I like how much happier you are telling the stories now. I like you better this way.”

Pink patches appeared on Ragatha’s cheeks, and she rubbed her arm again. “You… do?”

“The memories are… painful,” Kinger sighed, eyes turning up to the ceiling sadly. “But they’re our best way of carrying her with us. I want you to remember those times happily, even if they’re sad to think about.” His eyes refocused on her, suddenly sharp blue gazing into surprised black. “I like your stories better this way. They… help more.”

Ah, so that was it. It wasn’t a lighter rut. Kinger’s rut had accepted this as his method of dealing with it. It now relied on Ragatha’s delivery to determine how Kinger got through it. She hadn’t even considered that. The stories always… hurt so much to tell.

But… she had been happier telling the stories with Pomni present. It wasn’t just telling Kinger things he already knew about their lost member; it was spreading Queenie’s memory to more people. Telling her story instead of keeping it between them.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Kinger,” Ragatha whispered. “Get some rest, okay?”

A pair of hands reached out and brought her into a quick hug. Ragatha tensed, unsure if he was still too deep in his rut for her to reciprocate. “Thank you, Ragatha,” Kinger told her quietly. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

With that, he let her go. The ragdoll climbed from the fort and looked around. Pomni waited patiently a few feet away, her way of giving them privacy. She waved and Ragatha strolled closer.

“Shall we?” the redhead chirped, gesturing toward the hall their living quarters were in.

“Let’s.”

Pomni fell into step beside Ragatha as they made their way to their bedrooms. “Um, thanks,” she said in a soft voice. “You know, for letting me stay and letting me ask questions.”

“It’s no trouble,” Ragatha chuckled. “It was actually nice having you along.”

“The stories seemed to really help him,” Pomni said, glancing up at her. “You’re doing great for him.”

Ragatha was silent for a long moment. Pomni bit her lip, hoping she hadn’t overstepped somehow. She looked up when she heard a low sigh as they neared Ragatha’s door.

“It wasn’t always like this,” Ragatha murmured, folding her arms around herself. “Once upon a time, it was incredibly easy for Kinger and me to help each other on our ruts.”

“You helped each other?” Pomni inquired, a curious lilt to her voice. Alphas helping one another on their ruts was rare. As the ones meant to take care of everyone else, alphas didn’t take kindly to someone else taking their role when they were at their most fragile.

Ragatha hummed in the back of her throat. “Queenie helped us. She was a beta, so it was easy for her to handle us. She…” The ragdoll took a strained breath. “She helped me on mine since the moment I arrived. Kinger was more hesitant, given both of us are alphas, but… with her encouragement, he joined her in helping me. After a while… our ruts synched up, so it was easier for Queenie to help us both and for us to get comfortable helping each other.”

Sadness swirled in her eye as Ragatha paused to glance two doors down from her own, at the door with the crossed-out queen piece. “After her… after we lost her, I-I… tried to help Kinger with his rut, but… It didn’t end well. Without Queenie’s beta aura there to mediate, our natural alpha instincts took control. I… couldn’t be submissive and comforting the way he needed me to since both of us were still grieving, and it made it harder for him.” Her body slumped despondently and her arms tightened around her body. Pomni felt the overwhelming urge to hug her. “I… stopped trying after that. Telling stories… is better for him.”

A hand gently slid onto her arm and Ragatha glanced down to find a comforting smile directed up at her. “I’m sorry,” Pomni whispered, moving closer to wrap her arms around Ragatha’s torso. The doll woman stiffened, unsure if she was allowed to reciprocate. “I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you both, having lost someone so special to you. But… I’m… so proud of you and Kinger for continuing on despite it.” Pinwheel eyes shone up at her. “You’re both so strong, Ragatha. I’m sure Queenie would be proud, too.”

Tears welled in Ragatha’s eye and she reached up to wipe them away. The liquid soaked into her fabric, but she didn’t care. Her free hand hesitated before falling to rest on Pomni’s hat. “Thank you,” Ragatha sniffled, wiping away more tears. “For what it’s worth, she would have adored you, Pomni.”

“You think so?” the jester asked.

“Sweet, caring, adorable, and funny.” Ragatha gave her a watery smile, unaware that her descriptors had set Pomni’s nonexistent heart pounding. “What’s not to like? I’m certain she would have taken to you just as much as I have.”

Pomni’s pupils wavered happily and her blush spots rivaled stop signals. “If it’s okay, i-if you feel up for it, do you, um- could you tell me more stories about her?”

Ragatha considered the idea. She was somewhat mentally and emotionally exhausted from the time she spent primarily with Kinger while everyone was on the adventure. However, Kinger was right. Being able to share the stories with Pomni did feel different. Maybe… she’d be able to feel slightly less sad about remembering if she continued like this.

“Yeah,” Ragatha finally said, opening her bedroom door. “Yeah, I’d love that. How about the time Queenie and I got lost in the Ferocious Forest?”

“That sounds like fun,” Pomni replied.

“Alright! It started with Caine’s morning announcement. It was the three of us, plus Squiggly, Wormo, and Kaufmo. We were supposed to find some kind of Flimsy Ferret that was terrorizing a village near the forest it resided in…”

As Pomni followed Ragatha into the room, she smiled. Ragatha’s shoulders weren’t as slumped, her hands were more animated, and her voice was lighter. She was smiling more brightly than she had been during the first story Pomni had heard earlier. While it felt a little strange listening to stories about someone she didn’t meet, the jester had to admit, it felt good being able to help Kinger and Ragatha this way. She would listen to the stories for the rest of eternity if that’s what her friends needed her to do.

As long as Ragatha kept smiling.

Chapter Text

“RISE AND SHINE, MY SUPERSTARS! TIME FOR ANOTHER SPLENDERIFIC DAY!”

Ragatha glanced up at the sound of Caine’s call. She smiled and finished up the sentence she had been writing in her journal. After Pomni joined her for Kinger’s rut, the ragdoll decided it couldn’t hurt to write her stories down. Not just as a way to retain her memories the longer she spent in the Circus, but also as a way to keep Queenie’s memory alive.

Every night, after teatime with Pomni, Ragatha sat to write down whichever stories she had told. It cut into her sleep routine, but since they didn’t need to sleep, Ragatha just used Caine’s wakeup call as her cue to finish up. It had worked like a charm so far.

Stepping from her room, Ragatha made her way toward the entrance to their living quarters. The others would be waking soon and she wanted to be there with a bright smile to greet them. It was the least she could do, to make their mornings more enjoyable. Assuming Jax didn’t pull some sort of trick, or goad her into an argument.

“Morning, Ragatha,” a voice said behind her.

She turned to find Pomni scurrying closer, small smile on her lips. A smile to mimic it pulled Ragatha’s own lips and she paused to allow her friend to catch up. “Hey, Pomni,” she greeted her. “Good morning. How’d you sleep?”

“Pretty good, until Caine’s wakeup call,” Pomni snorted. “He’s so unnecessarily loud. He couldn’t get any louder unless he used a megaphone.”

“Don’t give him any ideas,” Ragatha giggled quietly. “And I’m almost convinced he would actually be quieter with a megaphone.”

“It might actually cancel out some of the noise,” the smaller woman agreed with a laugh.

“If it’s too much of a bother, though, I think there’s probably a way to get around it,” Ragatha suggested once their laughter died down. “Earmuffs could work.”

Pomni snorted, brushing some of her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, but I doubt I’ll be able to get Caine to give me earmuffs without a really convincing argument.”

A soft chuckle made her look up and she found Ragatha smiling down at her in a way that was far too reminiscent of Jax. It was confident in a more self-assured way. It was such an unusual thing to see on her face, Pomni’s blush spots couldn’t help but glow.

“I never said you should ask Caine,” Ragatha said, dropping her voice low.

“Oh yeah?” Pomni swallowed thickly. What was happening? Her face felt so hot.

“I could always make it for you,” the doll woman told her as she leaned closer. “Caine’s worlds always have an abundance of materials. If I collect enough, I can make you earmuffs.” Black and button stared into red and blue pinwheel. “Would that be alright?”

Pomni was certain she had a heart. It was thumping through her body. It was going to pound right out of her chest. “Y-yeah. S-sounds good.”

“Great!” Ragatha cheered, stepping back and clapping her hands together excitedly. “I’ll get started right away, starting with today’s adventure!”

I’m going to die from the whiplash, Pomni thought, body relaxing. “Thanks, Ragatha. And let me know if you need help getting anything! I-I’ve gotten pretty good at finding things on these adventures.”

“You got it,” Ragatha agreed. “Together, we’ll have no trouble getting you those earmuffs!”

“What are you two so happy about?” a voice grumbled from the direction of their living quarters. The pair turned to find Zooble and Gangle coming closer, the latter’s comedy mask firmly in place.

“Good morning, you two!” Ragatha chirped with a wave. “Ready for the adventure?”

Zooble scoffed and rolled their eyes. “Not really.”

“Sure am!” Gangle said happily. “I wonder what Caine has in store for us today!”

“SO EXCITED TO HEAR THAT, GANGLE!” Caine exclaimed, popping into existence above their heads. “Because today’s adventure will be STUPENDAWESOME!” His eyes roved over them. “Where’s Jax?”

The group looked around. Kinger was making his way over from his pillow fort, but Jax was nowhere to be found. “That’s strange,” Ragatha muttered. “He’s usually out here not long after I am.”

“Looks like he’s not gonna show today,” Zooble murmured. Their eyes narrowed in the best semblance of a smirk they could muster. “Means we finally get a break from his [shit] for a while.”

“At least for today!” Gangle cheered excitedly.

“An adventure without Jax actually sounds kind of nice,” Pomni said in a soft tone. “Less to deal with, honestly.”

“Well then, let’s get you all going!” Caine shouted, brushing off the absence of one of his performers. “The Lost Loot of Lisenia Lake is awaiting! Make sure to solve the clues and you five might find something WONDERFUL awaiting you!”

The portal appeared before them and the quintet made their way through. Down the hall to the living quarters, in the room behind a smiling rabbit face, a pair of yellow eyes glared at the ceiling. He could weather this. He would weather this. No matter how much he wanted that big, soft alpha to come and make this stupid heat disappear, he wouldn’t leave. He was better than the others. There was no way he would crawl to her feet begging her to help him. Screw that.

Jax took a deep breath and rolled onto his side, curling into a ball. His ears lay flat on his head as he snuggled into his bedding. All he had to do was sleep it off.

“That was amazing!” Gangle cheered as she stepped through the portal. Her comedy mask had managed to remain in place the entire time, so a beaming smile lit her porcelain face. In her hands, she carried a box filled with new art supplies, her reward for finding her chest in the Lisenia Lake. “I can’t wait to put all this to use!”

Zooble strolled through with the entire chest rolling behind them. It was several new ‘EXCLUSIVE’ body parts to choose from, as well as sheet music for their drumset. “Can’t complain,” they said nonchalantly. “I could’ve done without the huge sharktopus, though. Those things shouldn’t have been able to survive in a lake.”

“I thought it was pretty cute!” Ragatha giggled, following behind them. “It probably would’ve made a cute pet if it wasn’t so, ya know, big.” Within her grasp were two chests. One that had been meant for Jax, which she had not opened despite Zooble’s insistence, and the other belonging to her, filled with more sewing supplies and some sheet music for her cello.

Kinger hopped through carrying a small chest. It was hammerspace, filled with cages for his bug collection. Some of the bugs he’d seen on the adventure were already in there. “Yes, it would have been a nice centerpiece for the main area!”

Last through was Pomni, dragging a chest full of blankets, a stuffed salmon plush, and a toy ATM filled with fake money. She knocked a hand against her head to rid her ‘ears’ of any remaining water, seeing as her chest had been the one deepest in the Lake. “I’m just glad none of us ended up eaten.”

“Which we definitely would’ve if Jax had come along,” Zooble snorted. “Thank [fuck] he wasn’t here.”

There were murmurs of agreement from Pomni and Gangle, while Ragatha remained silent on the matter. She looked in the direction of their rooms, eyebrows furrowed. She hoped Jax was alright. Maybe he would join them in the morning? She could hold on to his chest until then.

Turning her gaze to her best friend, Ragatha smiled. “I think I got a good chunk of things to start on that project we were talking about,” she said quietly, not wanting to hurt Caine’s feelings by bringing up the earmuffs directly. “I can get to work while we have our tea?”

Pomni perked up excitedly. It was true. While exploring Lisenia Lake, they had prolonged the trip slightly by looking around for any materials that might be useable. Thankfully, worlds created by Caine didn’t follow conventional rules, so Ragatha was able to find some wood that would work as the frame and didn’t make Pomni’s skin itch.

“Let’s do it,” Pomni agreed.

The pair bid their friends good night and made their way toward Ragatha’s room. Pomni made a stop in at her bedroom to put her chest away before joining the ragdoll. While she was away, Ragatha had lined up a few of her stuffed animals.

“Can you do me a favor?” she asked.

“Uh, sure?” Pomni eyed the plushies in confusion.

“Choose which one of these you like the least for me?” Ragatha scooted the animals forward. “There’s absolutely no pressure. I just can’t decide for myself.”

Pinwheel eyes looked around at them all and Pomni slowly pointed to the stuffed shark. “Uh, this one, I guess. Not fond of sharks right now, heh.”

“I can understand that,” Ragatha chuckled, picking up the shark plush. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

Pomni had just enough time to open her mouth and ask why the choice needed to be made… before Ragatha took a large needle and slashed the shark’s stomach open. “W-what?!” the jester squeaked, staring as cotton spilled from the now mangled plush.

“I just needed the stuffing,” Ragatha explained, settling down on her bed with the wood she had found and some glue from her own collection. “This way, I can make them nice and soft, so they don’t hurt your head while you sleep!”

“B-but you spend so much work on these plushies,” Pomni pointed out frantically. “Y-you shouldn’t have to give them up just because of me!”

A soft hand lifted one of her own and Ragatha placed it against her chest, momentarily silencing the stunned jester. “Pomni, that’s not something to worry about,” she cooed. “The stuffies are something easy and simple for me to make to pass the time. Doing this for you is important, though. I don’t mind remaking a few plushies if it means you sleep easier.”

Warmth spread through Pomni as they gazed at one another. Ragatha was serious about making things comfortable for her. The younger woman briefly wondered if she did things like this for the others, but dismissed the idea. None of them really allowed Ragatha to care for them the way Pomni did. Sure, they had been rocky when Ragatha was still kind of treating her like a child, but they had gotten passed that. Now, Pomni could enjoy a friend just… doing something for her because they wanted to. Pomni’s hand unconsciously squeezed Ragatha’s gratefully and the doll woman realized what she was doing.

“O-oh!” Ragatha hurried to release Pomni’s hand, clearing her throat awkwardly. “S-sorry! I didn’t mean- I-I should’ve asked-!”

“Ragatha?” The woman in question stopped, fidgeting with her hands anxiously. “I… don’t mind it, you know? When you touch me. I, uh, I like it.” Pomni’s eyes shifted around, but she forced herself to maintain eye contact. She needed to get this across. “So… h-holding my hand is… it’s okay.”

“You’re sure?” Ragatha asked in a hesitant tone.

To emphasize how sure she was, Pomni gently reached out and squeezed Ragatha’s hand again. This time, the ragdoll squeezed back with a smile, the patches on her cheeks switching shades as Pomni’s blush spots glowed brightly. After a moment, Ragatha pulled away.

“Alright, I think it’ll only take a day or two, but the earmuffs should be done in no time!” She sat back on her bed and picked up the wood they found. “Do you need me to make the tea?”

“No, you go ahead,” Pomni reassured her. “I can make it.”

Ragatha smiled and got to work bending the wood. The two women worked in domestic quiet, simply enjoying the feeling of the other being nearby. It was a tranquil atmosphere, different from their usual teatime, but no less enjoyable.

Next door, a purple form tossed and turned in bed, desperate for even a taste of relief from a different kind of warmth.

“Ugh, it’s so nice being without that stupid rabbit!” Zooble groaned, strolling from another portal. “No dumb remarks, no unnecessary chaos, and none of him making me wanna choke his [ass] out every time he opens his mouth. I wish Jax’s heat would come around more often.”

“I-I don’t know about that,” Gangle said nervously, tragedy mask looking around to make sure Jax wasn’t around. “I don’t want him to be in pain so much. Heats get so… rough, even here.”

“Yeah, but isn’t it nice being able to keep your comedy mask for longer than a few minutes after waking up?” Zooble pointed out, looking up at her slyly. “Even if it gets broken on the mission, it’s still cool for it to last longer, right?”

The ribbon woman hummed. “I guess…”

Ragatha and Pomni made their way through the portal as well, the jester practically dragging herself with the ragdoll helping to support her. The adventure had been difficult on Pomni’s more cartoonish aspects. Her stretching had been useful, but it had also been used to tie her to a pole when the villains of this particular story got hold of her.

“Hey, Ragatha?” Pomni mumbled.

The redhead glanced down at her friend. “Yes, Pomni?”

“Can you help me to my room? I think I just want to sleep.”

“Of course,” Ragatha chuckled. Carefully, she reached out and lifted Pomni into her arms completely. “I-is this okay?”

Pomni’s blush spots glowed brightly and she gave a nervous laugh. “Uh, hah, um, yeah. Yeah, this is fine. Thank you.”

“It’s no trouble!” Ragatha chirped, heading down the hall to their living quarters as Caine congratulated Zooble and Gangle on a job well done. “I’m just glad we found you before something awful could happen to you.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.” Pomni shuddered at what could have come about. Those bandits didn’t look like they were playing around.

Ragatha stopped in front of Pomni’s door and gently set the jester down. “There you go.” She shifted a little, clasping her hands in front of her as Pomni steadied herself on her own feet. “Um, sleep well.”

“Thanks again,” Pomni told her with a smile. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Ragatha gave a small wave as Pomni made her way into her room and shut the door. The doll contemplated heading to her own room. The adventure had been a little on the dangerous side. Still, there was something that needed to be addressed…

Looking to the door right across from her, the doll gave a small sigh. It had been two days already. While she was relishing the less hectic adventures, she also knew they were a monkey’s paw. Jax would be more prone to lashing out and aggression once his heat ended if nothing was done about it. For the betterment of the others… she would help him.

Hopefully.

Ragatha took a fortifying breath as she stepped across the hall. Lifting her hand, the doll woman hesitated. “God give me strength,” she muttered to herself and knocked. “Jax?” she called. “Are you in there?”

She knew she wouldn’t hear anything. The rooms were soundproof. No sound could escape. If Jax answered, she wouldn’t know. “I’m coming in, alright?” Still no answer, not that she expected one.

Carefully, Ragatha opened the door and stepped into the room. The entire thing was made of dirt. It had been pounded into a solid floor, and the furniture was all wild-looking, unpolished wood. A hole in the ceiling led into a tunnel and, the few times Ragatha had been in the room, she wondered if it actually led anywhere. On the far side was a nest of grass and hay, with a quilt blanket and plush pillow Ragatha herself had knitted for him.

The scent from the nest was overwhelming, even across the burrow. Ragatha knew that if it were anyone else’s pheromones, she would likely be pushed into a forced rut. Gangle and Kinger didn’t let off any scent, so it was easier to control herself for their sakes. If not for Jax being Jax, Ragatha absolutely would be drawn into his scent without inhibition.

Small mercies.

“I said go away,” Jax growled from underneath the blanket.

“You knew I wouldn’t,” Ragatha sighed as she moved closer. “You know we can’t hear anything outside the rooms.”

“Then why’d you bother even knockin’?” the purple rabbit grumbled. His bright yellow eyes glared at her from the darkness of his blanket. “Just leave me alone.”

The ragdoll paused and knelt beside the bed. “Jax, I know you’re suffering,” Ragatha said quietly. “You know I can’t just sit by and let you without trying to do something.”

“Well, I hate it when you try,” Jax huffed. “I don’t need your help. I’m not gonna grovel to some high and mighty alpha to help poor, pathetic me with my dumb heat.”

“You don’t have to grovel,” Ragatha pointed out. “I’m the one coming to you, you know. I’m seeking you out, Jax.”

She had a point. Jax scowled, little pink nose twitching as he realized she was right. Instead of him having to crawl to her, she was kneeling beside him. It… was a nice switch. It made him feel a little more… powerful. A little in control, knowing he had made an alpha come to him. Maybe… this wouldn’t be so bad.

Rolling to face her properly, the purple rabbit poked his head from the blanket. Instead of resembling a stuffed rabbit plush, Jax now looked more like a violet anthropomorphic rabbit. His overalls were gone and his fur was much fluffier. His ears and nose twitched with minute movements, and his mouth was able to open when he spoke. Two long incisors protruded from his top lip.

“Okay, fine!” he grumbled, sitting up. His body was still long, but more proportionately than before. “But we gotta set down some rules. I’m not just gonna let you dominate me like I’m some drooling, desperate omega.”

Ragatha resisted the urge to roll her eyes. How someone as young as him could have such a backwards way of viewing things was beyond her. Whatever. If it got him back to himself sooner, she would play the game, just as she always did.

“Alright,” she said in a purposefully calm voice. “I’ll do this your way, Jax.”

Two hours later, Ragatha was regretting every choice that brought her to this moment. For the past two hours, Jax had been edging her like the sadist he was. His hips thrust against the seam between her legs, which had split to allow him entry. Every few thrusts, his cock twitched against her stuffing, indicating how pent-up he was. Whimpers crawled up Ragatha’s throat with each movement he made, every touch sending flame over her skin. Her senses were simultaneously understimulated and overstimulated, and it all… hurt.

Carefully, the doll tried rocking her hips, only for claws to dig into them, restricting her movements. A whine rumbled up her throat and Ragatha rasped, “Jax, please-!”

“You don’t cum until I say,” Jax huffed, keeping his own hips moving at a slow pace. “And you don’t move without my permission!”

Edging was his favorite way to maintain control of his situation. He decided when they came and how much stimulation they got. It was difficult on him because all he wanted was for her to ride him like no tomorrow, but he wouldn’t give in to that. He would maintain his composure just as he always had.

Plus, watching Ragatha struggle to contain herself was pretty fun. It was the closest he’d gotten to a prank rush since this stupid heat started. Way better than goading her into a pointless argument.

Ragatha couldn’t sweat or drool in her regular form, but if she could, she would be foaming at the mouth. Two hours was excessive for edging someone, even for Jax. Heavy panting filtered from her as she fought to keep control of herself. It would be so easy to flip him over and ride him to completion, but she couldn’t. This was for him. If she did anything outside of what he was comfortable with, he might shut down and then he’d be worse off. She had to endure.

Jax’s hips sped up by a minuscule amount and they both moaned softly. Ragatha’s legs wrapped around his back, hoping to coax him into going faster. Jax paused his movements and a strangled groan ripped from Ragatha’s lips.

“What did I say?” Jax snarled low in his throat, eyes narrowed to slits with the effort of holding himself back.

“Jax, come on!” Ragatha whined, her thighs shaking as the heat in her stomach cried out for release. “I’m trying to help you.”

“I didn’t ask for your help!” Jax snapped. His hips restarted their snail’s pace. He wasn’t going to let himself be at some alpha’s mercy. He wasn’t a weakling! “You chose to be here, so just lie down and take it!”

“There’s nothing to take!” Ragatha growled furiously. It was like this every year. Why was he always so difficult! “You’re not giving me anything!”

Jax thrust his hips roughly against the ripped seam between Ragatha’s legs, forcing a desperate shout from her. “This is my way of getting through this stupid heat,” he huffed, going back to his slow pace. “If you don’t like it, you can leave!”

A black eye glared at him. If she left, he might suffer even worse, having been unfulfilled. As much as Ragatha always hated his edging, she didn’t want Jax to suffer his heat.

“I don’t want to leave,” she muttered, slumping against the bedding.

“Aw, don’t sound so disappointed, Dollface,” Jax snickered. He sped up just a little at her admission. “I know this isn’t the kinda behavior you like. I heard ya when Ribbons was on her heat.” He grunted as he rolled his hips, his cock sinking deep into her stuffing before he went back to thrusting. “Bein’ all sweet and cooin’ to her like she was your perfect little omega.”

“Th-that’s not-.” Ragatha gasped, cutting herself off. It was still too slow to really do anything for her, but Jax speeding up even the smallest bit felt heavenly. “Tragedy was self-conscious! I-I was- ooh!- I was reassuring her!”

“Sure ya were,” the rabbit snorted, pink nose twitching teasingly. Oh yeah, this was what he needed. Screw edging, what if he just pounded her while deriding her choices? That sounded like a blast. Maybe next time… “And I bet calling her a good omega and all those adorable petnames was just reassurance too, huh?”

Ragatha bit her lip, arching her back as another twinge of pleasure shot through her. “H-how did you even find that out? The rooms are soundproof…”

“Heard it right from the mask herself,” Jax snickered. He ground himself against her, letting the seam deliciously drag against his length. “She was over the moon, talkin’ about how much you praised her. Bet it gave ya such a rush, puttin’ her in her place like that.”

“That wasn’t- Gangle likes it when I say those things to her!” Ragatha fought not to rock her hips into each thrust. She couldn’t afford to lose their momentum, not with Jax finally starting to come around.

“Oh please.” Jax leaned forward so they were nearly nose to nose. It was a miracle he managed to keep up the slow pace given how riled up this was making him. “You like sayin’ those things to her. You like turning her into a pathetic pile of omega mush. Betcha wanna do it with all of us.”

“I don’t,” Ragatha whimpered. She wasn’t one for degradation, but this was definitely doing something for her. Maybe it was because of the pent-up frustration of the last few hours. Her mind was latching on to anything that might help provide release. “And Gangle isn’t path-.”

A moan rocked through her body as Jax sped up. His pace was steady and his grin was massive. “You do,” he sneered, dropping so their chests were touching. “You wanna turn us all into your obedient little pack. Even Kinger. You want us to submit to you as the only capable alpha here.”

Plush hands gripped at the fur on his back. Ragatha was seeing stars. She was so close. The pace Jax set would be considered ‘steady’ for anyone else, but it was perfect for her. “I don’t need submission,” she mumbled, burying her face in the rabbit’s shoulder.

One of Jax’s hands came up to cradle her head. “Yeah? Then why’re ya eager to nuzzle me, huh? Wanna bite me? Wanna make me your good little boy?” Just saying the words sent a violent shudder rocking pleasurably through his body and Jax veered away from that line of teasing. He didn’t need to give her anything to use against him. “Or would you rather have someone else?”

His claws dug into her hair as his pace sped up. “You want that dorky little jester, don’t you?” Ragatha tensed. He couldn’t tell if it was from her approaching climax or his accusation, but he’d roll with it. He was so close. “You want Tiny all to yourself, huh? Wanna mark her little body all over? Scent her and make sure everyone knows she’s taken? Bet you’d love for another reason for her to trail after you like a dumb lost puppy.”

Something about that phrase rang through Ragatha. Rage swept through her cotton like a storm. Pomni didn’t trail her, and she wasn’t a lost puppy. She was a grown woman who could stand on her own, even if she needed a little help or comfort sometimes. Ragatha had been working not to treat her like a child or some pet, and she would not stand for someone insinuating she was still of that mindset.

Jax moaned softly, burying his face in the bright red strands of yarn as he finally felt blessed relief. Every nerve in his anthropomorphic body fired at once, sending white-hot bliss through his system. His cock twitched sharply before a string of cum shot directly into Ragatha’s stuffing. He thrust his hips and another shot spurted out, almost immediately followed by a third.

A slight ripping sound was heard, his paws grasping at any part of her he could reach and not minding his claws at all. He just needed to feel closer to her, closer to an alpha. Only she could bring him this bliss, no one else, but he wouldn’t ever let anyone know it.

A few more strings spilled from his twitching cock before Jax collapsed on top of Ragatha, panting heavily. It felt so good finally getting the release he needed. Edging always gave him the best orgasms, and meant he didn’t have to spend all day having sex. The less time being an alpha’s pet project, the better. Already, his cock was softening.

As he moved to pull out, though, the seam tightened around the base of his dick. “Ah!” Jax gasped, too overstimulated to enjoy the feeling. “What are you doing!”

Ragatha pulled back and bright yellow eyes glared down at her, only to balk at the fury in the black eye staring back. Jax’s ears fell flat as his entire body froze up. Nobody was safe when Ragatha was angry.

“Let’s make one thing clear,” Ragatha growled, not loosening her grip in his fur. “I help you because I don’t want you to suffer. Untreated heats and ruts are miserable and if I can be the outlet you need to get yours over with, I will be.”

She sat up, forcing Jax backward until he was kneeling and she was straddling him. His dick twitched inside her, and Jax hated how hot she was when she was furious. He didn’t want to go another round. He wanted the heat finished!

“But don’t bring Pomni into this,” Ragatha huffed. “She has nothing to do with your weird understanding of second genders, and I won’t allow her to be disrespected in that way. Do you understand?”

She kept her hands on his back where they had been during his orgasm, but with the intensity of her gaze, Jax felt like she might as well have grabbed his chin and forced him to maintain eye contact. His dick twitched again.

“Y-yes, ma’am,” Jax mumbled, lowering his gaze in an attempt to keep his desire under control.

“Good.” Ragatha released a breath of relief and allowed her seam to loosen. She would need to assess the new rips in her body from his claws, but she could do that once his heat had subsided. She doubted the ‘injuries’ she had just received would be the last ones. “Do you need to do another round of edging or is there something else you want to do?”

“I…” Jax hated what he was about to do, but seeing her like that really got him riled up. But he wasn’t going to be meek about it. “Ya know, I think I kinda like this position,” he smirked, hands falling to her hips. “Feels kinda good, Dolly. Why don’t you go for a ride?”

The ragdoll eyed him suspiciously. “You… want me to ride you?” That was an odd change. Usually, he hated anything to do with her being in control of their pleasure. Why the switch?

“Well, I just did all the work on our last orgasm,” Jax pointed out with a sly shrug. “So it’s only fair you pull your weight a little, too.”

“I could’ve helped if you’d let me,” Ragatha grumbled. She carefully slid her hands over his shoulders and shifted her position so she was kneeling properly. Lifting herself, Ragatha released a soft breath as she lowered herself over Jax’s rekindling erection.

The rabbit smiled as he watched her. Her movements were shaky, which meant she hadn’t cum when he had. That kind of made him upset, since he wanted her to cum before he did. But this was fine. It meant she would be a desperate mess. He could still use that to his advantage.

There were all sorts of ways to play with a doll, after all.

The next morning, Pomni yawned, hopping out of bed before Caine’s announcement could sound. Ragatha wasn’t finished with her earmuffs yet, so waking before the announcement was a preferred alternative to being jumpscared out of her sleep. If he was going to startle her, she at least wanted to already be prepared for it. The jester cracked her neck and began her stretches.

Across the hall, Ragatha sighed as she pulled on her dress. “You should be good now, Jax,” she told him tiredly. “If you want, you can go on today’s adventure, or you can stay here-.”

A pair of long, purple arms wrapped around her middle and Ragatha paused as a furry cheek—made of felt instead of real fur—rubbed against her own. “I don’t wanna stay unless you’re stayin’ with me,” Jax chuckled, his voice rumbling deep in his chest. Despite beginning to return to his regular form, he still sported an erection, grinding it slowly against Ragatha’s back. “Or is the big, strong alpha too tired from rompin’ with poor, little ol’ me?”

Ragatha didn’t bother remarking on his taunt. “Alright, if you want to go another round, let me just get my dress-.” She cut off with a gasp as Jax simply slid a hand under her dress to lift it. His fingers roughly rubbed at the seam, coaxing it open for him. The tall rabbit bent his knees, keeping one hand on Ragatha’s front as he plunged himself into her. A groan rocked both of them.

“JAX!” Ragatha snapped in a raspy tone.

“What?” Jax whined, the smile on his face indicating he knew exactly why she was upset. “You said another round was fine!”

“I was going to take my dress off! You couldn’t have waited?!”

Jax grunted as he set a quick pace, knowing he wouldn’t last long like this. “Where would the fun be in that?” he laughed breathlessly.

“Ugh.” Ragatha leaned into him with a roll of her eyes, giving him more leverage to thrust into her. Considering how fast he was going, she knew he would be back to normal once this last bout finished.

Jax grinned. It was always fun messing with her, heat or not. A moan rumbled up his throat, his shrinking claws tearing into her dress, much to Ragatha’s irritation. One of her hands reached up to stroke his upright ears and Jax was mortified to hear himself whimper. He couldn’t let her get away with that!

But he was so close!

“Almost there, Dolly,” he groaned. He pushed his body forward, bending them both over as his hips slapped against hers, their plush bodies giving beneath one another. “Oh yeah.”

His breath stuttered as his cock twitched inside her. String after string of cum spurted into her cotton, coating both of them. A grumble reached his ears, but Jax didn’t care, finally satisfied and free from his dumb heat. Grinding against his irritated partner to ensure he got the last of it out, the violet bunny pulled out, his dick already shrinking out of existence.

“Man,” Jax panted, scooting backward. “Thank god that’s over.”

“Now I’m a mess,” Ragatha muttered. She craned her neck backward to examine the damage and huffed. “This better come out when I leave.”

“Relax, it always does.” Jax stood and stretched, popping his joints with a satisfied groan. “Guess we better head out. Don’t wanna get scared outta our pants by Caine’s wakeup call.”

A black eye glared at him as the rabbit man strolled from the room nonchalantly, whistling the whole way. What she wouldn’t give to rattle him like a chewtoy just once. The least he could do was thank her for the help. Classic Jax.

Pomni finished stretching her eyes and peeked out of her room. Caine’s announcement hadn’t gone off yet, so she was in the clear. If she made it to the main area now, she might even be able to greet Ragatha there instead of the other way around.

As she stepped out, Pomni paused as Jax’s door opened. Was his heat over? Didn’t heats usually last longer?

Jax strolled out without a care, looking the same as he always did. Yellow grin firmly in place as he stepped out. The second he spotted the red and blue-clad form watching him across the hall, though, that grin widened. Ooh, perfect! An opportunity to mess with the little jester!

Spinning on his heel, Jax gave Ragatha a smile much too large to be genuine. “Thanks a ton for the help, Rags,” he said in a voice louder than necessary for speaking to someone right beside him. “I really appreciate it. Did me a real solid!”

Pomni’s eyes flicked to the door, barely managing to catch a glimpse of Ragatha before Jax pulled her into a tight hug, nuzzling his chin against the top of her head. Pinwheel eyes narrowed when she noticed him grinding himself against the ragdoll. A soft growl built in Pomni’s throat. If his heat was over, why was he still touching Ragatha like that?

“J-Jax, I don’t-.” Ragatha grimaced as Jax leaned closer, bending his body to rub his cheek against hers. “What are you-?”

“Don’t be shy,” Jax snickered, keeping her close. One eye opened to check Pomni and noted her blush spots were glowing. Perfect. “You weren’t shy when you came to my room last night and practically begged to help with my heat.”

The growl grew louder. Pomni felt her teeth sharpening, her fists clenched as she waited for the disgusting display to end. It was taking everything in her not to march over and choke Jax out. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but it sure felt like he did.

“Jax, please,” Ragatha sighed, hanging limply in his grasp. “I appreciate the gratitude, but this is excessive.”

A laugh was her response and Jax gave one more cheek nuzzle before stepping back. “Relax. What’s a little skinship between friends?”

“Please don’t say that when your semen was literally coating my insides two seconds ago,” Ragatha grumbled. She took it back. Getting thanked by Jax was too weird.

Jax resisted the urge to cackle as Pomni’s eyes widened impossibly further than their usual big. Comedy gold. His work was done. “Whatever you say, Dollface. See ya out there for the adventure!”

And with that, the spindly man strolled out toward the main area, whistling all the while. Ragatha pressed her hand to her forehead, shaking her head slightly. “I swear, that man…”

Pomni, meanwhile, was taking in the sight of her friend. Ragatha appeared exhausted. She was covered in fresh tears, cotton visible through them and even spilling from some of the larger rips. There were holes in her dress and her hair was messier than usual. She looked a mess.

“W-what happened?” Pomni gasped, hurrying closer.

“Oh! Pomni, I-I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Ragatha sent her a tired smile as the jester looked her over more closely. “Were you heading to the main area?”

“Y-yeah,” Pomni affirmed. Her hand hovered over a rip in Ragatha’s arm that looked like it would need a serious sewing job. “What happened to you? D-did you two fight?”

“No, no!” Ragatha began walking toward her own room. “You remember how I said everyone changes appearance on their cycle?” Pomni nodded. “Well, among other things, Jax grows claws. It’s one of the only parts of his change that he actually enjoys.” She paused to send a sheepish smile at her friend. “Since he has a, uh, kind of old-fashioned view of second genders, and an old-fashioned view of primary ones, he doesn’t really like anything that can render him vulnerable.”

“And…” Pomni’s eyebrows furrowed. “He… attacked you?”

“He just gets more aggressive than usual,” Ragatha reassured her quickly. “It’s his way of trying to establish dominance or whatever. He hates that his heat makes him crave my presence, so he tries to keep control of the situation any way he can.”

Pomni snorted. “Jax wants to establish his dominance over an alpha? He could just go to Kinger for that.”

“He knows,” the ragdoll shrugged as she opened the door to her room. “He doesn’t want Kinger, though. His heat wants me, so I’m the one he wants to dominate. It rarely works, so he makes do.” She gestured to her rips. “This is his way of making do. I don’t question his thought process. I just help him so he returns to a suitable level of tolerable.”

Pomni followed her into the room and watched as Ragatha gathered sewing supplies. It would take some time to patch herself up. She would miss the adventure. It seemed unfair to leave her by her lonesome after the work she just went through for Jax of all people. Pomni swallowed and moved closer.

“D-do you need help?” she spoke up quietly.

Ragatha gave her a small smile, eye shining gratefully. “No, it’s alright. I’m used to doing this myself…”

“You shouldn’t have to do it alone,” the smaller woman told her. Gently, she placed a hand on Ragatha’s, gazing up into the ragdoll’s eyes seriously. “Please. Any way I can, let me help.”

Despite the sheer abundance of contact she’d had the previous night, Ragatha couldn’t help but melt into Pomni’s touch. It was better than Jax’s, warm and soothing. It felt incredible.

“Um, o-okay,” the older woman whispered, patches appearing on her cheeks in a dark shade of red. “C-can you… do you know anything about sewing?”

“Not much,” Pomni confessed, squeezing Ragatha’s hand. “If you coach me through it, I’m sure I can get the hang of it, though. P-probably.”

The mixture of insecurity and determination made Ragatha’s fabric heart skip a nonexistent beat. Of course, there was another issue that needed to be addressed. “Um… Okay, but…” Ragatha fiddled with her thumbs, missing the way Pomni’s eyes wavered and shifted shape at the adorable habit. “I didn’t… have my dress on… through most of it, so, uh… Some of the rips are…”

Pomni blinked and her blush spots lit up brighter than a Christmas tree. “Oh! Um, okay.” She needed to be normal! “Well, I-I’ve already, you know, seen you naked, so…” She gave her best encouraging smile, hoping it didn’t look too awkward. “Are you… uncomfortable with…?”

“N-no!” Ragatha cleared her throat, her cheek patches returning with a vengeance. “I-I just… didn’t want to take you by surprise again…”

They watched each other awkwardly, Ragatha shifting her weight and Pomni fighting not to combust on the spot. With a deep breath, Ragatha clutched the hem of her dress and began to pull. Pomni’s cheek spots may as well have been beacons as she watched more and more skin come into view. She had seen it all before, during Gangle’s heat (and in her dreams), but it was so different now. Ragatha was purposefully removing her clothes and Pomni wasn’t a frazzled wreck. Granted, the jester would still have preferred different circumstances for this, but she would not complain.

Ragatha’s cheek patches were cherry red as she finished removing her clothes and neatly folded them over her rocking chair. Turning back to Pomni, she cleared her throat bashfully. “A-are you ready?”

“Yup.” Pomni cringed slightly at how quickly she responded. “Uh, like I said, just coach me.”

“Right.” Ragatha sat on the bed and handed the threaded needle to her friend. As Pomni moved to take it, Ragatha’s other hand caught hers. “I really appreciate you doing this for me, Pom. Just… let me know if the touching becomes too much and we can take a break.” Ragatha watched her closely. “Okay?”

Pomni smiled, her pupils warping and switching colors and shapes. It was just… so sweet of Ragatha to think about her needs despite being the one in need of patching up. “Okay.” With a deep breath, Pomni set to work.

Suffice to say, she didn’t break contact with Ragatha until the stitching was finished and Ragatha moved to get dressed. A day spent way better than any adventure.