The scene was dull, black and grey. The only real color hummed from neon signs hanging on the walls. It was a small, classy bar. Gangle and Pomni sat at the wooden counter, already sipping their drinks. Zooble looked calm, wiping down a glass. The quiet scene was interrupted by rain, and the belll ringing. In, walked Jax. Slumped over he quietly sat next to Pomni.
"Gimmie a Whiskey sour." Jax said, getting comfortable on the bar stool. "But hold the egg whites, since im vegan." Jax couldn't believe that came out of his mouth.
"Huh- I hate this!" The rabbit complained. "How is this possible?! I thought Caine...couldn't.." Jax trailed off in shocked thought. His gaze away from the other three. Only broken when Zooble spoke up, getting the drink together.
"I could have made it was worse for you." Their glare evident.
"Well then I'm gonna call a vote, to turn Zooble into a slug~" Jax smirked, as if he already won. But the board raised again, everyone voting No accept for Twinkle. Caine was suddenly next to the distressed rabbit, drinking- something. Hard to tell really.
"Sorry Jax, everyone voted no." The smile in Caine's voice made Jax pull at his ears, groaning out in a whiney rage.
The door swung open, and Kinger walked in. Holding the door open for Ragatha, patien as she got inside.
"It's raining like the dickens out there." Kinger kept the door open as Ragatha walked in. Behind her was Twinkle, who quickly dove in.
"Hey guys" Ragatha waved happily. Once Kinger and Ragatha got to the bar, Twinkle shook out her fur. Droplets flew around her, until she was all dry.
"Damn it really is crazy out there. I love it." Twinkle walked over, and after earning a small nod from Jax, she took Caine's seat next to him. Who randomly vanished.
"I'll have a cosmopolitan." Ragatha chirped.
"I'll take a mudslide please." Twinkle's tail wagged at the thought of the drink.
"Gimmie a corncob blitz~!" Kinger wiggled in his seat next to Twinkle.
Zooble froze at the Chess pieces request. "I'll- throw somethin together for ya." Before turning around to their wall of drinks.
"You sure know your way around alcohol huh?" Pomni watched the toy move around, grabbing bottles and glasses.
"Yea, this was one of my suggestions." Zooble was calm, almost happy as they worked. "I worked at a bar briefly awhile ago. I actually like making drinks."
"That sounds so fitting for you." Jax grinned evily, earning a glare from Zooble.
"I know what that implication there, but I can't be (beep) to thinking about it." Zooble turned their back.
"I thought at being a bartender, it seemed so fun. But when I went to get hired, they turned me down for a prettier girl." Twinkle sighed as she remembered her experience. Jax looked confused, before turning his smirk to Pomni.
"So, Pomni, You ever have any jobs? Or are you a bit to young for that?" He put his hand on the jesters head, condescendingly of course. Yet. She just brushed his hand away.
"I'm 25 years old." She glared, before relaxing a bit. "And yea. I was an accountant for a-..a supermarket chain." Pomni played with her cup as she trailed off.
"Wait a supermarket? How'd ya end up here?" Jax sipped his drink. He looked actually confused, and interested in her story.
"Well- I." Pomni trailed off. Either to remember, or trying not to say the wrong things. "I would get bored sometimes, ya know? And seek mild thrills. Like exploring abandoned buildings. Ya know? And, posting a few videos of it online."
Jax's grinned widened, leaning back.
"Ah, a YouTuber." Pomni shook her head.
"Not really- no one would ever watch them." Pomni played with her drink. "It was just-..something I did for me."
Zooble handed Ragatha her drink.
"I did that sometimes. I never recorded it though- here's your cosmo." Ragatha nodded a thanks, taking it.
"Hiding something are we~?" Jax purred, making Zooble turn quickly with a disdained look.
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Zooble put their claws on their hips. "Whats your story then?"
"Oh, I thought you'd never ask~" Jax turned around, ready to paint his picture.
"Well, ya see after my lung cancer diagnosis- me and my junkie associated from a chemistry class I used to teach--"
"I figured." Zooble immediately turned. "What about you Gangle?" The crying mask finally looked up from the sketch book.
"Hey, I wasn't finished." Jax leaned over.
"If you're gonna (beep) up. At least be creative about it. I know what you're referencing" Zooble was so done with Jax's antics. Though, Twinkle giggled into her class.
"I thought it was a little funny." The fox spoke under her breath, but Jax heard. It was enough for him for now, so he sat down.
"Was that a reference to something?" Ragatha looked over confused. The group turned back To Gangle, who slowly drew on her sketchbook.
"Oh...I worked in fast food." Her tone was more quiet than usual.
"You've done more than that, I know. What about your art?" Zooble started work on Kinger's drink.
Gangle seemed a little surprised, but her gaze quickly dropped again.
"I was in community College..for graphic design...but I dropped out..I didn't really pursue art much after that.."
The tone in the bar shifted completely. The grey and black tone seemed much more fitting now.
"Hey, I'm always down to make art together if you ever want."
"Yea, me too Gangle. If you don't mind a third wheel." Twinkle over the bar, making sure the crybaby saw her happy face. Her tail wagged behind her.
"Oh, I didn't know you guys were artists." Ragatha leaned forward to see all three of them.
"Uh, yea. I was a tattoo artist for a couple years." Zooble seemed a bit happy and surprised at the suddent topic.
"A bartender AND a tattoo artist?" Jax laughed. "You're killin me here Zoobie~!" Jax leaned on the bar. His usual annoying self seemed more relaxed. Kind of like a light weight.
"What do you mean when you say that?" Zooble walked closer. "Do you have, like an actual point? Or are you just talking out of your (beep)?"
Jax sat up, still smirking. "I'm just havin a little fun~ I forgot you hate fun~"
"Fun...isn't the thing I hate." Zooble's gaze narrowed on the rabbit.
"I guess I'll go now." Ragatha spoke up, turning the attention to her. "Goodness, where to start."
"I was- well born into a fairly wealthy family. We had a large property, kind of like a farm. With some chickens and horses- and well my mother-" Ragatha stopped for a moment, pulling up her dress straps.
"Well-...uh..my mother was a lot." Ragatha started holding herself, almost looking smaller. "Uh- then I worked in real estate for a bit. Until I ended up...here.. I'm sure she..doesn't even miss me." Ragatha stared into her drink. "I certainly don't miss the yelling...and berating...and the guilt tripping." Ragatha nervously giggle, remembering it all.
Everyone stared at Ragatha, shocked and confused. Though, Jax looke down at Twinkle. She stared into her cup as if it was the most interesting thing there. Her eyes almost glazed over, her breath inaudible.
"Oh! Just a farm girl i suppose." Ragatha giggled, downing the rest of her drink.
"Eh- well there's no point in asking kinger~! He doesn't remember anything." Jax looked over the fox, who quickly composed herself; to look at Kinger.
"Never better!" Was all he said. Though, Pomni was a bit confused.
"Do- you guys know about his wife?" Jax looked confused, and Twinkle's face went blank again. Her pointed paws clenching at her dress.
"MY WHAT?!" Kinger yelled out. Though, he was quickly distracted when Zooble sat down his drink. Which made Jax flinch a bit. Zooble's eyes narrowed in on Jax, when the door opened up.
A manikin NPC entered, wearing his trusty cowboy hat. "He-" was all he got out, before vanishing immediately. Pomni- was a bit freaked.
"What?"
"Oh, thats disappearing guy. We saw his poster in the western adventure. That's just what he does." Pomni nodded to Zooble's explanation.
"God Pomni, ya didn't know that huh?" Jax smirked up at Zooble- who simply turned to ignore him. Zooble instead looked to Twinkle. Seeing her cup empty, she got the fox another glass.
"So, mudslides huh? Kinda strong anf childish all at once." Twinkle looked up at Zooble, smiling. Letting out a sigh she took a sip.
"Yea I suppose huh?" Ragatha leaned over.
"Whats a mudslide anyway?"
"Hm? Oh, it's just straight vodka and chocolate milk." Twinkle shrugged and gulped down half the cup.
"Jeeze, you're really knockin em back huh Twinkle?" Jax looked a bit surprised. He felt himself pretty tipsy on half a glass, but Twinkle seemed pretty normal on her second.
"Guess huh?" She shrugged.
"So, what's your story huh? You're the only one who hasn't opened up. If you wanna." Zooble shrugged, not wanting to put to much pressure in her.
"Me? Oh-" Twinkle thought quickly then smirked wide. She hopped on the bar to sir, leaning back dramatically.
"Well, I was enjoying my retirement you see. From an FBI profiler, turned award winning author- I had plenty of money to spare. I was on the lake with my dog, hunting ducks when I got the call. My old partner up and left the team, so I had another chance to catch the unsub who had been behind the crime that haunted me for years-" Zooble's sigh cut through the dramatic retelling.
"Wait- are you-" Gangle perked up, knowing exactly what Twinkle was referencing. She couldn't hide her giggle.
"Ah, a lover of anime and crime shows? Gangle you've stolen my heart." The two girl's laughed, Twinkle's tail wagged aggressively as she sat back down.
"See? That's what I like to see, a bit of fun!" Jax grabbed Twinkle's shoulders, almost nuzzling into her. She couldn't help but giggle louder.
"You all take this place way to seriously." He shook his head in disappointment. But when he opened his eyes, he saw Zooble- moving a small baby corn next to Jax.
"What is that?" Jax pulled back a bit.
"Are you afraid of corn?" Zooble leaned forward, observing the rabbit.
"No- i- who'd be afraid of corn?....get it away from me." Jax looked at the corn, as if making sure it wouldn't move. Zooble pushed it closer- making Jax jump up, putting distance between the two.
"I'm bored! Time to move on to the next adventure~!" Caine appeared suddenly, and before anyone could object- the group once more was swept into a portal.
----------------------------------------------------
The sun shined down on a crowded field. The roaring cheers from a crowd that was familiar, though this time the setting wasn't another race car track- it was a softball field.
"Oh, we're doing this now?" Ragatha asked, squinting her eyes as the light change hurt her eye.
High above, looking out over everything was Caine and Bubble. Their mics connected to a speaker, booming over the yelling crowd of NPCs.
"Beautiful day for a game, isn't it Bubble?" Caine looked to the floating bubble.
"BLLEEEEHHHH!" Bubble yelled out. Earning a small, confused nod from Caine.
"Oh...ok. Well today we have, the Big Tops VS the Evil Big Tops!" Caine seemed proud of his evil clones. Each character had a clone, themselves with inverted colors. Accept- for Gangle. Her replacement was a being made only of red orbs.
A yellow and red colored Pomni shifted her hips, grinning evily at her counterpart.
"Sup fu(beep)ers, I'm Evil Pomni" Her voice was relaxed, almost like a surfer bro.
"Hahahaha!" A pink themed Ragatha laughed, a generic evil laugh. Her stance, as well as her dramatic British accent screamed 'I'm better than you".
"I'm Evil Ragath~! Hahaha!"
Kinger had a blue clone, dressed in military like clothing. A mean glare rested on his blue eyes.
"General Dictator!" Was all he yelled, saluting to the sky.
Twinkle stared at her clone. She was a white fox, her spirled furr was black. Her bright purple eyes stared back, green Iris's widened. Her dress was a mitch mach stitching of random colored and shapes. It made Twinkle's ears lower, defensively.
"I..don't like this much." Was all she whispered.
"How come..I don't get a double?" Gangled mumbled out with a sniffle.
"Hi, I'm Evil-Evil Jax." Jax stared at his pink, quivering clone. Murder in his eyes.
"I'm Bazooble~! Baba yaba daba do" Zooble stared confused, her clone wiggled around as it continued to babble.
"Well- that wasn't in my suggestion" Ragatha blinked, looking over all the clones.
"Before we get into thing~!" Caine's voice boomed over the speakers. "Let's welcome our special guest~! Here to sing the American National Anthem!"
Dissappearing guy appeared once again. Walking up to a mic, set just on the side lines of the field. Grabbing the mic, he took a deep breath...
"Oh~ say-" was all he got out, before vanishing once again. Yet the crowed roared with applause anyway. Though. A few NPCs looked around confused, before their eyes landed on a giant centipede, all of its little feet clapped. Ragatha looked up, finally noticing it. She fell down in a surprised scream.
In the Big Tops trench, Kinger stood before his team.
"Alright team. I may not know what's going on, or maybe not know whos going on. Or..when is going on- or why is going on!" Kinkger looked like he was about to freak out, when a determined look spread on his face
"But darn it, I know WHERE is going on! And it's out in that field. So lets get out there, and break some tailbones team!"
Everyone just- stared. Pomni smiled a bit though, and when she looked at Twinkle- she say she was smiling too. Though everyone's eyes went to Evil Jax, who shyly walked over to the team.
"Hey- hey everyone." The pink rabbit waved. "I hope, we just all have a fun game alright? No matter who ends up winning, it matters that we all have a great time." Twinkle giggled up at the pink rabbit, he was cute. Jax didn't agree as he dead panned up at his clone.
"I wanna kill that guy." Jax spoke up, making Pomni confused.
Ragatha was up to bat. The rest of her team watched from the side lines, though only the two animals and the jester seemed to actually be watching. Ragatha hit the ball, making a run for first base.
"Huh? Oh, heh, watch this (beep)" Evil Pomni, who originally was laying down, stood up. Simply lifting her glove, she caught the ball. Ragatha stopped.
"You're out! Dumba(beep)." Evil Pomni grinned, evily of course.
"(Beep) it." Ragatha threw her cap to the ground, before looking at Jax who was laughing.
"Ha! Get owned!" Jax grinned, his eyes suddenly turning to the Pomni clone.
"Ay, that's what I'm talkin about man." The clone gave Jax a nod before going back to her post.
"Ah haha, she's cool." Jax nodded, mostly talking to himself. Though, he didnt notice Zooble and Gangle whispering-giggling.
Suddenly, a voting panel popped up. Jax stared confused. Everyone accept for Pomni voted against it, so he followed her move. But the two votes didn't save Jax from his fate. The next moment, Jax was in a maid outfit.
"The heck?! Who did THIS?!" Jax looked around frantically, his crazed eyes landing on a giggling Gangle.
"It was YOU!" The rabbit pointed, making Gangle gasp. He then started chasing Gangle, the two ran around Zooble till Kinger walked up.
"Jax, you're up to bat."
"Wha?! But- I- dont- cant- I look like this though!" Jax stammered, his brain scrambling. Zooble however stood calmly.
"Huh, why not? I thought you'd be into this kinda thing."
Twinkle giggle, nudging Ragatha who had just gotten off the field.
"They're calling him a bratty bottom I bet." Ragatha stared confused. Unknowing and without context.
Jax turned to the toy.
"What? What does that even mean? What's that supposed to mean?" Zooble looked away Shrugging.
"I'm just having fun." They looked back. "I forgot you hate fun." Even without a mouth, their smirk was obvious.
"I dont wanna wear this!" Jax's whine turned into a growl and rabbit panting. His face turning from lavender to pink. It left Zooble astonished.
"I don't think I've ever seen you THIS upset about anything."
Kinger slid over with a bat. "Jax! Bat!"
Jax glared at Zooble, snatching the bat away. "I'm gonna kill you once this is over."
"Huh, can't believe hes listing to Kinger." Twinkle spoke outloud, not to really anyone but Pomni nodded beside her.
The clones stared, Bazooble at pitcher.
"Lets see what you're made of." The joke made Jax's embarrassment rise again.
"Quiet!"
"Don't- dont worry." Evil Jax stuttered. "I think ya look good." The compliment didn't help.
"I don't wanna hear that! I want you DIED!" Jax screamed at first base.
In the trenches, Ragatha walked over. Sitting in between Pomni and Twinkle.
"Ugh..I can't believe I hit it right to her...I'm supposed to be better than that.." looking up, she realized she spoke loud enough for the two to hear her.
"Oh- sorry- just...I should be a better sport." Twinkle's eyes slightly widened, her pupils turning to almost perfect circles. Her soft tail gently wrapped around Ragatha's doll arm. She looked up at the fox, and gently smiled. Until Pomni caught her attention.
"Not to like- ya know, agree with Jax. But you can show negative emotions. It's pretty normal." Pomni smiled up, but Ragatha's eyes fell again.
"I dont know. I dont wanna be a jerk."
"I think we all need to be a jerk sometimes." Pomni's words made Ragatha think before nodding.
"Maybe..." Twinkle's tail gently squeezed Ragatha's arm. The touch made Ragatha comfortable, relaxing just for a moment.
During the girl's talk, Jax had gotten himself out. Returning to the bench, he sat on the other side of Pomni.
"So, having fun?" Pomni spoke up.
"Oh, you know it." Jax's voice was monotone, his eyes looking at nothing specific. But, he then looked up.
"Oh look, Gangle is batting now. Wonder how this will go." Jax's smirked didn't let him realize Zooble behind him, leaving a small present next to him on the bench.
Ragatha though, was fed up.
"Will you stop trying to make her like you?"
"Oh, right. I should just force her to be happy all the time. Right?" Jax smirked at Ragatha. Twinkle felt awkward being in the middle of this.
"Well- I- it's better than turning her into some kind of insensitive jerk, who deflecs everything" Ragatha shot back.
"I can think for myself guys." Pomni looked between the two.
"Yea, kind hard to change someone's thinking." Twinkle shrugged.
"Hey now, i ain't forcing anything on ya" Jax looke down toward Pomni.
"And then, you just act like you never did anything wrong in the first place. And like everyone just loves you~" Ragatha had reached her point. Standing up. She glared at the rabbit.
"When in reality, yoy just FU(beep) everything up FOR EVERYONE ELSE!"
Ragatha turned away, pissed. But Jax didn't care, smiling happily at the back of Ragatha's head. Twinkle thought, felt weird. Her ears slightly lowered as she slid further down. Making herself smaller to the others around her.
"Whoa, ok. Lets calm down a bit." Pomni spoke up. Ragatha spun around, almost getting in Pomni's face.
"What?! YOU'RE the one who said it's OK to be a JERK sometimes!"
Twinkle flinched at the loud voice. Her ears lowering to her head. Ragatha's eyes widened slightly as she realized she screamed.
"I'm so sorry, Pomni. That wasn't very cool of me."
"No. It's- it's fine."
"What, no apologies for me? This is so sad~" Jax gave a mocking pout. Ragatha's eyes twitched before she sighed. Turning away.
"I'm..sorry Jax..for, bringing up that thing earlier." Walking away, Jax's smiled fell. His eyes and pupils widened, staring as Ragatha walked away. Pomni looked as Twinkle pulled herself back on the bench. She hadn't noticed Twinkle's behavior. Looking back up at Jax, Pomni cleared her throat.
"You uh- wanna- maybe talk about that?
"I'm in a maid outfit, what do you think?" Jax looked around, finally looking at what Zooble had sat down. The corn on the cob made Jax jump lile a cat, putting himself away from the corn.
"So, how's the game goin?" Ragatha looked up at Kinger.
"Hm? Oh great! Gangle hit a home run!"
"Whoa, really?" Ragatha looked to see Gangle walking over.
"Yea- yea I did. Your advice really helped."
"Huh" Ragatha smiled, her eyes lighting up just a bit.
Twinkle and Jax watched Zooble step up to bat.
"Have you went up yet?" Jax looked at Twinkle, who was braiding her tail fur.
"Hm? Ah, no. I convinced Caine that if I was on the field, I'd chase the ball and ruin his adventure." Twinkle smiled as Jax chuckled.
"Ok, thats funny. I'd love to see that." Twinkle moved her tail, the half braid hanging down. She didn't even look at Jax as she offered her tail to his lap. He stared, confused for a moment. But eventually, he slowly started to finish the braid. He hated that this calmed him down a bit. Mindlessly moving the hair like fur, even starting another once he finished the first.
Ragatha watched as Zooble got a home run, by simply hitting Bazooble out of commission.
"Hey, Ragatha." Pomni walked to her side.
"Hm?"
"You wanna bat for me instead?" Ragatha was taken aback.
"I- mean yea! If, ya know. You dont really want to."
"Just, think of this as a second chance. To show em whos boss." Pomni smiled as Ragatha got a determined look.
The doll snatched up a new bat, walking up to the plate. She was ready. Although, Bazooble wasnt. They hadn't gotten up.
"Wowiezawie! Another home run! That means the Big Tops win!" Caine clapped from the town.
"That's um- not how softball works."
"That's how MY softball works. We're done." Caine had definitely had enough.
Evil Ragath screamed out as she suddenly melted into a thick gloop.
"Aw (beep) man, we didn't even get to bat." Evil Pomni complained.
Ragatha was confused, especially when she saw Twinkle walk up to Evil Pomni. A paper was slipped into her hand. The clone said something Ragatha couldn't make out, but thats when she was lifted in the air.
"You did it! We won~!" Kinger swung Ragatha around happily. Gangle, Zooble and Twinkle walked around the two.
"Yea! Whatever, ya did." Gangle smiled.
"Huh? Oh, yea good job team." Zooble have a thumbs up.
In the trenches, Jax popped back to normal.
"Huh, cool. Im not a vegan anymore." Without waiting another second, he ran.
"Huh? Oh, hello." Evil Jax waved shyly. But his scream rang out as Jax bit into him. Like a dog he shook Evil Jax around like a toy.
"Why is going on?!" Kinger yelled out.
Ragatha busted watched, shocked. When Pomni walked up. She giggled at Jax's antics. But when Ragatha looked at her, she quickly shut up.
The group wondered back into the circus through a portal, Caine waiting for them.
"Well now, i hope we all learned something. The suggestion box ideas arent actually fun at all! And Caine's ideas are much better~!"
"Meh, some were pretty ok." Zooble commented.
"I liked the low steak ones." Pomni smiled.
"Huh? The first was the best. The race cars too, I guess." Jax grinned, looking at Twinkle.
"Yea, that was pretty fun." Pomni suppressed a giggle. Twinkle smiled, happy people enjoyed her suggestion.
"The rest? Uh, whatever." Jax waved off, before smiling again.
"Oh, yo Pomni. I can show ya that thing in the hall was i was talkin about."
"Huh? Oh yea sure." Pomni smiled at Jax.
"Oh, I wanna come for cool stuff." Twinkle chirped up. The two looked at the fox, when Jax shrugged.
"Yea, come on keep up tails." Jax chuckled as the girls followed him.
Ragatha stared at the trio, then back at the other three walking opposite of them. She sighed, then followed Kinger, Zooble and Gangle.
Though, non of them seemed to notice him...blankly staring was a manikin. A small piece of paper in his flat hand. Before dissappearing behind a block.