Work Text:
"Pomni, I have good news and bad news!"
"Oh... great..." The circus clown already didn't like where this was going.
"The good news is that I have decided to go against my programming and physically harm you!"
"What?!" She shrieked. "How is that good news?!"
"Because it is an action that I choose to do!" He pontificated with a pointed finger before drifting it to below his jaw, his voice drifting softer and softer with uncertainty. "The bad news is that I... don't know how to do that."
"Uh, w-well," she cleared her digital throat, "what kind of harm did you have in mind?"
"From what I've seen amongst the other members of the circus, the most enticing manner would be to strike you on and inside your mouth!" He zoomed to mere inches from her. "With my mouth." He seemed to be getting closer, his voice a whisper. "For several seconds to even minutes."
Pomni, despite her digital avatar, felt heat rush over her face. Feeling overwhelmed, she stepped away and shivered with a mix of anxiety and... something else. Then she blinked. "Wait, who did you see kissing?"
"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, Pomni," he floated backwards, "which is why I can't tell you that it was Gangle and Zooble!"
"What?!"
"So what do you say, my little Bigtop fry pop~?"
Pomni looked to his extended hand. If she said no, she'd assume he'd go ask one of the other circus members like Jax or Ragatha... or Kinger, which was a weirder thought than she expected. But if she said yes, then she would be allowing Caine to do as he pleased, giving him even more control than he already had over her. Ever since she'd arrived at the digital circus, with every adventure she'd been on, she'd been at the mercy of the ringmaster and his insanity.
And yet, he offered her a choice. An illusion of choice, perhaps, but a choice regardless. And thinking back on it, despite all the horrors and dangers she'd experienced, Caine was always there to greet them at the end, attempting to offer comfort in his strange and sometimes unhelpful way. But the intent was there, and he cared for the humans who've entered the circus. With this in mind, she gave her answer.
"First, I want you to promise me something."
"Anything you want, Pomni~!" He cheerfully answered.
"First, I want you to promise me you'll do what I say when I say it."
"Absolutely~!"
"Next, if I say no, then I mean no."
"Of course, Pomni! This is a family friendly entertainment center! Why would anyone consider doing something insidious in a place of whimsy and wonder?!"
Pausing for a moment then choosing to ignore the remark. "And last, I... I want to be in control."
"But... But I'm the ringmaster." Caine blinked. "I'm supposed to be in control. It's my job."
"You can still be the ringmaster," she explained, "but I want to be the one to set the pace here. That's why I want you to listen to me when I tell you to stop."
Caine was quiet for a moment. He curled his finger in front of his teeth, almost biting them, his eyes narrowed and darting left and right. He was already working outside of his programming by taking this initiative with kissing Pomni, so stepping even further and giving more control to her felt... wrong.
"If..." Pomni gulped. "If you don't want to, you don't have to-"
"No, no, my dear, I... I accept your terms." He then waved his arm. "Out here, I will be the ringmaster!" He drifted down, standing on the floor in front of her. "But here, when we are like this, you will be the one in control."
"Okay." Pomni stepped closer, her artificial heart beating a thousand times faster than she'd expected. She'd kissed before, hadn't she? Her old life was hazy at certain points, but she was certain she'd had been in a relationship or two. Right? It's not like she was without a lover for 25 years before becoming trapped in the circus. Unless that was normal? Her head started to buzz. She decided to bite the metaphorical bullet and lunged forward, thrusting her tongue into his mouth.
A second became two. Two seconds became five. Five seconds became bliss as Pomni felt herself melt into the chemicals and hormones that flooded her mind with pleasure. Her hands began to wander, stroking Caine's jaw and squeezing as she trailed along his flank. Then she pulled away, giving a soft sigh of relief...
And finding Caine staring at her with wide eyes.
"I, uh..." He cleared his throat. "I was expecting something more chaste, but..." He then gave a familiar, awkward chuckle. "You are the ringmaster!"
"Uh, Caine, I'm-"
"Anyways, I gotta go make sure Bubble isn't selling data without me again! Good-bye~!" He zipped off-screen, leaving his eyes to stare emotionlessly at Pomni. Or, at least, to others it would be without emotion. Pomni, however, could see elation glittering from his pupils as he stared at her. She couldn't help but giggle, even as Caine dragged his orbs away.
Meanwhile, behind one of the circus structures, two of the other members had seen the whole encounter. They looked to each other before Gangle shouted to Zooble. "I TOLD YOU HE SAW US~!"