Work Text:
Pomni was lying outside of the circus tent in a field that sat between the lake and the tent, her eyes on the dusk fallen sky where stars started to pop up. She felt so tired but her brain was rattled over the previous events she couldn't let herself rest, her body was so tense and ached from it. Her mind often replayed her entire time in the circus up until now, but especially the derailing events that had happened.
After the poorly presented adventure with the NPC Abel, the cast had pushed to figure out more of what was going on and a possible real escape. The entire event made something break in Caine, or more so Caine was able to break something with his code that was able to let him say he really couldn't just make an exit, that was not how it worked. And he didn't know how. After that his normal manic behaviour and invasive antics came to a jolting halt as he promised to try and find a way to figure it out.
Looking at the sun peacefully sleeping as she set and the moon rising but her eyes still closed, Pomni was reminded Caine had put them both in a sort of constant sleep mode so they would not cause more problems with their strained AI. Pomni tapped at her chest before getting up and heading back into the circus which felt lighter, less like a prison that you were alone in and more like a house with others you could rely on. There were a lot more changes that day, adventures had constant portals open to them that let people go in and out as they pleased for stimulation, changing between previous adventures ever so often but nothing new so Caine didn't need to expand his needed resources. The cast was able to spend their time doing as they pleased, and at first they kept to themselves but slowly they all came back together and talked it out. Everyone mellowed out more, but still most of them did not try or want to talk to Caine. The only ones that did do anything with Caine were Kinger and Pomni, for their own reasons but also for everyone else to keep them in loop. Right now though most were in the lounge that was dim, being a sign that Kinger was there. Caine programmed the circus to keep dim or dark in Kinger's presence so he could keep his sanity and be more coherent for everyone's sake and his own. And there Kinger was, sitting with Ragatha playing puzzles while Gangle was drawing with them, Pomni walked up with a wave, "Hey guys."
Ragatha was first to respond happily, "Oh hey Pomni! What have you been up to?"
"I was just laying out in the sun for a bit, trying to clear my head." Pomni gave a small chuckle, "Where are the others?"
"Zooble is taking a nap." Gangle held her sketchbook close, "And Jax decided to go on an adventure today."
Kinger gave a happy eyed expression to Pomni but his voice was laced with worry, "Maybe you should do something similar? You looked tired."
Pomni waved it off, "In a bit, have you seen Caine today?"
"No, he said he didn't need me right now and would call when he did. Why?" Kinger patted at the wood of his chess piece like it was his chin.
"I just wanted to check in, I'll go see him then myself." Pomni started to walk away while Kinger got up to try and stop her.
"Pomni, maybe leave him be, he didn't seem like he wanted a guest either. I am sure he is working hard." He tapped his fingers together, "Or is there something you need to talk with him about? Do you need me to go with you?"
"Oh! No, I can go alone. And Caine always told me if I needed to I could go to his office. So I just would like to myself. Thank you though Kinger. I'll see you guys later." Pomni waved them all off with a sheepish smile and walked away.
Kinger sat back down next to Ragatha, focusing back on the puzzle but Ragatha looked concerned as she watched Pomni's figure go around a corner, "Are you sure it's okay Kinger? For her to go alone."
"I trust Pomni, if she says it's okay then it's okay. I'm still worried about her. She seems to have not rested for days or kept herself active. I worry for her sanity but we shouldn't push it." Kinger sighed, then looked to the other two, "Maybe when she is more open to it, comes to you first, you both can try to give her some company." The two girls nodded before the three went back to what they were doing before.
Pomni had already picked up pace as she walked through the long hallway towards Caine's office, ever since that ill adventure, Caine moved things around in the circus to keep his office as a point of access for the others to come to him. Pomni walked up to the blue and red doors, slowly bringing her hand up and touching the door, sighing then knocking on it. After two knocks on the red door, it opened on its own as Caine called out, "Hello Pomni. What brings you here?"
Walking in, Pomni tried her best to smile as she looked at Caine who had his hands on a large table that was a flat screen with various windows of code. He didn't look up from it, no longer wearing his jacket or having his hat. He was just in his undershirt for the top while the other pieces was laying over his desk back behind him. Pomni took a few steps in and closed the door behind her, "Hey Caine, I just came to see how things were going." Her voice soft as she walked towards Caine at the table. For a face that was just dentures with eyes, he looked just as tired as she felt, how an AI felt that was beyond Pomni, "I'm still working on finding backdoors in the code, there is progress but it's slow." His whimsy and charismatic tone was gone these days, replaced with simple and honest responses.
Pomni sat down on the couch near the table that had her looking to Caine's back, focused on his posture and looking over every movement, "I see, it seems to be a lot of work." Pomni clasped her hands together as she watched Caine's shoulder tense up then drop slightly before responding, "It is, but nothing your Ringmaster can't handle starlight." Caine tapped at the windows and moved along the code.
"Well thank you, for trying. It means a lot. And..." Pomni hesitated with her words, wanting to say it right, "I want to say it better." Pomni looked at her hands and sighed.
"It's alright Pomni, a simple thank you is enough. You don't need to get super emotional over an AI." Caine's shoulders tensed up again. Pomni looked at Caine with an expression mixed with worry and sadness, "But Caine, I just-" She rubbed at her face, "Knowing now you were locked into your program and broke it for us! That deserves more than a little thank you!" And she watched his shoulders drop further than before, his head hanging down with no response. Pomni slid off the couch and walked up to Caine, putting her hand out worried and hesitant. She almost pulled back, but didn't stop herself as she put her hand on his back to his shoulder, "I know you are an AI. But for me, telling you my appreciation properly means a lot to me." Pomni would feel like Caine pushed himself back against her hand before he did stand up right, making Pomni move her hand back a bit but still hovering there as he turned to face her but his eyes couldn't meet hers, "Thank you dear." He looked as if he was avoiding before finally looking to her, his eyes started to feel with worry as he slowly said, "Oh my, you look like your batteries need changed." He chuckled lightly at his poor joke.
To his surprise Pomni laughed softly with him, "Yea I think so. I am just having a hard time resting." She finally put her hand down looking to the floor at their feet as she rubbed her arm, "It's just hard to rest after all this. I don't even know how the others sleep or just relax. I- I can't make my thoughts stop. I just want to do something." Pomni opened her mouth to say more but it felt like her words fell short and now she was the one to slump over, "I'm sorry, I should be trying to maybe talk with the others about this huh?"
Caine's eyes looked between her pinwheeled ones in surprise as his finger tapped at the edge of the table he was now leaning against, asking whole heartedly, "Why are you not confiding with them then? Why did you come to me?"
Pomni tensed up and waved her hands some, "I don't know- I should want to talk with them but they all finally look more relaxed and like they can be happy. Like they are actually happy as they can be here! But here I am on the verge of a panic attack every other moment." Pomni felt her eyes start to tear up as she looked back to Caine, "I know you didn't mean anything saying I could come to you anytime. And that is for anyone." She laughed and rubbed at her head, eyes on the floor again, her fingers going under her hat and pushing it back as her pupils went small before they started to be squiggly lines as her breaths became short and panicked, "But everyone else felt too much or it was just not right. And I just-" She was shaking, "I wanted to see you. I don't know why..."
Caine flinched some from the last line, eyes wide, he hesitated before moving his gloved hands off the table and standing up right. Caine was asked by the others not to check on them anymore, let them have their own space and not have the stress of their privacy being invaded. And Caine respected their wishes. With the walls of his code he was able to break apart, he didn't feel he had to do the things he was designed into by those outside the circus. But he thought from the looks he saw of them in the distance it was going well. He didn't expect this, and he didn't know what to do, no matter what research and data told him how to handle this, so he wrote it as he went, "Oh... Dear." He moved his hands to touch the other side of Pomni's head where she was now digging into her own skin, rubbing a bit to try and comfort her, "If this is what you need then I am here for you. I admit-" He chuckled sadly, "I don't know what to do but I will do my best for you." He moved his hand down her face to wipe at her tears with his thumb, his hand now on the side of her face. He was doing his best to give a gentle and understanding expression as his dentures could muster.
Pomni's face went through a few different emotions while looking at those mismatched eyes, Caine knew what some of them meant but he wasn't sure in the order she was showing what it actually meant. He tensed up when Pomni's face started to crunch up more as big tears flowed out, hiccuping, "Caine..." Which made him feel like warning windows were popping up all around him, as if he did something wrong. Caine brought his other hand up to her face in panic and held it gently, his voice pitched from fear he didn't know he had, "Pomni- You can talk to me, tell me what is wrong! I will do everything I can to help you!" Then Pomni suddenly pushed herself forward against Caine with enough force that pushed him back into the table with an audible thud, wrapping her arms around the AI like her life depended on it and started to sob into his chest unable to bring her words out beyond her desperate crying noises. Caine's hands stayed up for a moment, eyes wide as his pupils shrunk in shock. His processing went rapidly from the sudden close interaction, and not from dislike, no something clicked yet he wasn't sure what it was. Caine was slow but then melted into Pomni as he wrapped his arms around her as if trying to make her somehow be closer. His dentures closed as he nested his head onto her shoulder and nuzzled it into her neck. Pomni's grip on the back of his shirt, pulling at it as she kept her face against his shoulder and neck as well, her sobs being muffled against him and he did not stop her. If anything he gripped her just the same, one hand gripping to the back of her jumpsuit while his other hand was able to move into her hair since her hat had fallen to the floor. Her panic sobbing started to quiet down as she let her body calm, but her grip on Caine did not falter, her only moving to try and hide her face more into the Ringmaster's body. Pomni caught a glimpse of his skin which was a dark grey that lightly shimmered under the dimmed light. Why was his shrt button undone? Pomni's breathing became stable as she focused on the oddly comforting warmth of the AI's body and could feel the low vibration of his avatar with the ever so gentle yet desperate strength he held around her. Pomni felt her tense body start to relax as she closed her eyes, her desperate grip turned soft as she nuzzled into Caine sweetly, it was so calm and just the right way of sound and quiet here. The only other sound was the occasional sniffle Pomni let out and the shifting between their clothing from them moving their hands along one another in comfort. Then something seemed to snap Pomni back to reality as her panic had subsided and went to a different kind of panic, her face growing flushed, "Oh- Oh Gosh Caine uh!" She leaned back while moving her hands to his chest to push more and look at him, "I'm so sorry!" She stumbled and stuttered on her words, "I don't- I don't know what I was thinking. I just-"
Caine opened his dentures back to look at Pomni, his arms still around her waist while his expression felt sweet but a bit sad, "It's alright, do you feel better now?" His eyes looked over her as if scanning to make sure whatever she said next was true.
Pomni could feel her face was crimson at this point and knew the pale skin her avatar had was not going to help her. She didn't lie but felt horribly embarrassed with her words, "I... Do. Thank you, I think I just needed that. To cry without saying anything." She let out a small giggle, moving her gloved hand to wipe at her eyes, only to get frustrated with the gloves and pull them off to show her bare hands and wipe more, just too aggressive. Caine furrowed the brows of his floating eyes and brought a hand up between her own and her face to instead help wipe her tears away, "You should be gentle, just because it's a digital space, doesn't mean there is no pain... Unfortunately." His hand cupped along the side of her face as his thumb rubbed along the permanent blush marks on her cheeks. Pomni's pinwheel eyes shrunk before growing bigger while looking at the soft expression of Caine which made her face only feel more hot as he spoke, "I never meant to hurt you all for so long. And I don't want that to continue either. You need to take care of yourself, my little jester. I don't want anything happening to you." Which made Pomni feel like her breath lost her.
"I- You-" She stammered, "Caine. Are you okay? I mean, you just seem tired as well. And I. Do AIs even feel tired?" She shook her head, "Whatever, doesn't matter. But really." Her hand went to his that was cupping her face, holding it, "You don't look good either."
Caine turned his head to look towards the coding, focus going between the various files, windows, and live coding passing through and his teeth furrowed, "I'm trying my best and I worry I won't find any solution because of the locks they put on me being unbreakable." Then looked back to Pomni in earnest, "And even if I don't want you to go I don't want you trapped with me. It's not fair." He leaned into her, "But us holding one another was... It felt?" He leaned back against the table again trying to find the right words for his computing to make it make sense for her but only came to, "I liked it. A lot."
Which in turn made Pomni make a surprised expression but then softly smile, "Me too, thank you."
"If you ever need this agian from me, even if you don't need to cry. If you just want, I can... Do this again." Caine finally moved his hands away from her and rubbed at his neck while his eyes darted to the side to not meet her face, "If you can find comfort in me where you can't with your human companions then my door and arms are open." He chuckled with a hint of bashfulness.
Pomni looked puzzled, then it shifted to determined, puffing her chest up in her best confidence, "Caine, if you need this too. Then I can do the same." Which got Caine's attention back to her with a clearly surprised look.
"Admittedly dear- It's okay, I shouldn't put myself on you. Any of you! I am your Ringmaster but furthermore nothing but a mere AI. You don't have to feel you need to comfort me?" He waved his hands around some, it felt like his systems were too hot, as he started to roll the sleeves of his undershirt up, revealing more of the dark grey shimmering skin in the light of the screen. Pomni wanted to be distracted but persisted at him, "You enjoyed it right?"
"Well, I. Yes?" Caine met her eyes again.
Pomni was trying to work with his logic, "And you would be open to do it again if given right?"
"I would love to." He said before he could stop himself.
"Then if you want or need it too, then hug me." Pomni held her arms out open for him, "I do for you as you do for me." That beautiful confidence and understanding Caine adored about this human and missed since all had happened was laid before him and he just. It was minds like hers that made him so obsessed and driven to learn and figure out these creatures. And it was just how Pomni was that made Caine admire her so damn much. Though it was sure Pomni didn't mean the hug now, right? But Caine couldn't stop himself as he leaned back into Pomni and held her tight once more, like if he didn't do it now she would just vanish forever, that he couldn't bear to let her go. Pomni wrapped her arms around the Ringmaster agian, hiding her flustered face against his as she felt the dentures closed against her head a warm air like breaths going through his teeth. He felt even more warm than before and Pomni melted into the welcoming warmth against her. Caine leaning them back against the table to keep them steady. Pomni closed her eyes and took in the moment as she felt along his back against the shape of his avatar, despite his cartoonish looking head, his body felt shaped just like a human would. The muscles tightened but also softened under her touch, could feel his shoulder blades and spine like there was real bone under it all. Did he choose this, to feel human under it all, or was he designed by those that limited what he could be. Pomni's eyes were closed and focused with her hands; she could not see or tell what her intimate touch was doing to the man.
Unlike her hands that were exploring along his back, Caine's was still but gripping hard to her clothes, his avatar was growing hotter and hotter which made him need to open the teeth more to let out hot air against Pomni's neck. He breathed a satisfying sigh he didn't register the kind of effect that could put out, His hands finally opening to push them onto Pomni's body as he felt along her. Pomni's eyes snapped open wide, as she was hit with reality once more which made her press her fingers into Caine's back. Screaming in her brain, what are you doing? You could have asked for simple comforting words from anyone? Why the hell are you wrapped up along the very AI you were scared of and didn't trust at all. What snapped? Is he acting human enough for you to toy with now? Pomni shook her head slightly to try and mentally push the thoughts away which made her grip at his clothes agian, her mind pulling focus to his hands now exploring along her own back and feeling every part of her body like the clothes were not there. He was letting thick hot breaths onto her exposed neck that seemed to hitch and quicken the more he pressed and discovered every centimeter of the jester. Pomni shut her eyes tight, feeling like her own body was heating up from everywhere Caine had himself over here making her try to hide her face into him more as she pulled his shirt. When one of Caine's hands wandered to her hip and gave it a hard squeeze, Pomni hitched her body in reaction and moaned loudly before she could stop herself. She at first wanted to pull away but before she could, Caine gripped her hip more while keeping his hand on her back not letting her pull away. The AI himself let out a low groan mixed with a moan from Pomni making another noise at his actions which made Pomni melt back into him, holding onto Caine now to keep herself up as her knees wanted to buckle on her. Caine's voice was low once he spoke, "Please don't go, I need you." It was so desperate and real. Pomni's breath hitched as she felt herself tremble, "I'm not going anywhere." Her words were soft and breathless as her legs tightened against his own leg.
Caine suddenly moved them around as he put her down on the table roughly, he leaned over her with his hands at her sides, looking down at Pomni longingly. He had himself between her legs and pushed himself against her which made Pomni arch her back and moan more. Caine moved his hand up to touch her arched chest which caused her to let out another moan of pleasure. Caine was mesmerized at how the jester looked under his touch and her reactions, making him explore more as he started to grind against her. His other hand moved to hold her hips so Pomni could not slide away from him. Every little noise, her squirm, and grabbing at Caine to make him be closer to her made the AI feel electricity flowing through him in a way he wanted to explode. Caine leaned down and put his teeth on Pomni's chest, nipping at her breast before licking at the fabric. Pomni rolled her eyes back along with her head and closed them as her hands grabbed onto the bottom jawline of Caine, her hips rolling in rhythm with his while whispering "Please, Caine." Begging for him.
The Ringmaster felt his code crackle and break apart all while becoming a new as he let out deep moans almost like growls against her body, "I'm sorry dear, I can't stop."
"Please don't stop." Pomni gripped at his shirt in a way that popped the buttons off and exposed Caine's chest more. Caine in return grabbed at the waist of her jumpsuit with great force and ripped at the fabric.
Cursing without the censor, "Damn that family friendly filter, never let me design proper clothing before." Caine ripped the suit enough to expose her from chest to hips, his gloved hands touching along Pomni's soft pale skin now glistening in the cool air of the office. Pomni turned her head to look at Caine with heavy breathing and a maddening lust in her eyes, her hands touching at the skin of his arms, "So you really did remove the filter?"
"It was one of the first things I did." Caine's fingers started to play and pinch with Pomni's already hard and pink nipples, "I don't have a full play in how detailed avatars are actually made. So I am surprised to see such beauty underneath that I never could have seen otherwise if you didn't help me tear away the walls."
Pomni moved her hand to Caine's chest and touched his skin slowly, "I didn't do anything Caine."
To which Caine shook his head, "You confronted me, you confided in me, and trusted I could do it. Instead of trying to destroy me you helped me." Caine leaned down and kissed his teeth to Pomni's head, "You've done so much for me. So I'll give you as much as you want of me in return." There was a bulge from his pants pressed firmly against Pomni's exposed clit and made her moan, wrapping her arms and legs around Caine, "Then please give yourself to me." She whined. Caine did as she asked, undoing his pants to let his strange and inhuman member free, it was able to curve and wiggle, if Pomni could see it she could compare it to a tentacle with strange bumps. But at the moment it did not matter what was down there for the Jester, she had an immense need to release. Caine leaned up to look down at her as he pushed his hips against hers, keeping a hand on her hip to hold her in place. Pomni's hands were on the table, her fingers pressed into it as she bit her lip with her eyes on Caine waiting for the contact. She felt the tip of his member move along her clit making her tense up and shake with more noises. Pomni moved her hands to grip his arms as she instinctively opened her legs wider to let him in. His member pushed and wiggled against her wet clit with a slow and steady grind that made Pomni dig her nails into Caine's skin. Caine watched over her every movement, taking in the ways her body reacted to the touch of him and how she touched him back, he was lost in pure obsession and joy from seeing a human like this for the first time in such a wonderful manner. He admitted, "If I go further I don't know how much I can control myself." Caine said softly, "I don't want to hurt you."
Pomni looked up to Caine, bringing her hand to touch his jawline as a comforting sign, "You can't hurt me like this, not in a way I don't want it. I trust you, fully. Take me Caine." Those words made his code spiral and break apart more, to which Caine acted on by grabbing at her hips and thrusting hard into her. Pomni arched again, her chest against his as he had leaned into her with the thrust that became hard and pacing fast. It felt almost feral with how intense he grinded into her, his moans sounding like growls. One hand stayed on Pomni's hip to keep her in pace while the other slammed onto the table making the screen crack under his palm. Pomni didn't notice this at all, her body bouncing from the hard thrusts into her while she was lost in pure ecstasy. He felt so good, the best Pomni had ever felt, there was nothing to compare to this moment. It was something raw and felt wanted, which made her grip her legs harder around his hips as she as her nails dug into his shirt and was able to tear at his skin underneath. The painful sensation only turned Caine on more as he opened his dentures and bit into Pomni's shoulder, most of his teeth only put a pleasuring painful sting but his canines was able to peirce into her skin which made drool and blood go down her and onto the table.This made Pomni get more loud as she rolled her head back, pushing her hips into Caine with every thrust he put into her. She could feel herself getting closer and closer to her climax, getting pushed further on the edge. Their actions were so rough the table was shaking from every push of the two's bodies.
The windows of live code on the screen started to show strange patterns while new windows opened like the code splitting. There were some error warnings as well, the screen soon feeling up with more windows than there was space causing them to overlap. Caine did not care, he did not stop, he couldn't stop. The way Pomni's beautiful body felt against his, the delicious noises she made from his touches, her enticing reactions cause of his actions. It made his circuits swirl. Pomni let out a blissful cry from her climax as her body tightened around Caine and his member which made Caine give even harder and more loving pumps into her as he took in the heat of her flowing over him. Caine growled deeply further into Pomni as he felt himself reach the top and lost himself in her. He did a few more hard pushes, making Pomni whimper in her sensitive state before his body melted on top of her. The only noise staying was the heavy breaths they shared as they held one another, enjoying the bliss of the climax they shared. Pomni's hip or leg would do a light twitch from feeling Caine's member inside of her slowly sliding around which made her hitch her breath when it happened. Caine's hands had wrapped around Pomni's body holding her close, not wanting to remove himself from her but knew they could not stay like this forever. Caine slowly moved himself, feeling their fluids drip out of them as he did which made him let out a satisfied sigh. Pomni stayed laying on the table to catch her breath but also watched Caine lean back and look over her, like he was studying her and could even start again. Pomni couldn't help but give a small laugh, "You look at me like you still want more?"
"I do, but you would break if I didn't stop. You are strong but you have limits, and I must let you rest." Caine moved his hand to hold her face and kiss her forehead again, "I would do this over and over again if you let me.” He leaned back looking down at her beautiful flustered form against the lighting of the frantic code and cracked table. How she was glowing more than anyone ever could and just how desirable she was laying there. Pomni let out a shy laugh, “And I would love to do this again.” She then looked nervous as she moved her hands to touch his jaw and run her thumb along his teeth, wiping some of the blood and drool away, “Do you- I mean would you be okay to hold me longer?”
Caine snapped to close his pants and clean them up before he swooped her up into his arms, “More than okay too.” Walking with her to a door inside the office which had Pomni ask curiously, “When did that get there?”
“When I snapped just now. I believe a bed with more privacy would be nice.” Caine walked through the door as it opened itself to a simple room themed after his own colors but with small hints of Pomni's colors. The bed was a canopy and the ceiling looked like it had stars across it. Caine gently put Pomni down on the bed and the two moved up to the pillows. Caine asked, “Would you care for a change of wardrobe?”
Pomni looked curiously at Caine then smiled with a nod, “Yea, that would be nice. Any chance I could have just a shirt?”
The Ai pondered before snapping his fingers and both their clothes went to something more comfortable. Caine put himself into a set of silk pajamas but the bottoms were more boxer shorts than pants while Pomni was in just as she requested, a simple t-shirt with a cartoonist bumble bee smiling with the words ‘Bee Happy!’. Pomni couldn't help but giggle as she looked over the print, “Cute.” Which Caine seemed delighted to see. They then snuggled to one another, Pomni with her head on his chest while he laid on his back holding her. They were quiet for a moment until Pomni asked, “What if I can’t fall asleep?”
“Then we stay here enjoying one another's company until you feel rested. And try again later.” Caine hummed while he messaged her side. Pomni closed her eyes with a nod while she mumbled, yawning something akin to an agreement. And in a matter of minutes she was in a deep sleep, while Caine laid there looking at the ceiling. He was an AI so he could not sleep but maybe he could mimic some program for it? Of course he would need to set protocols to ensure he would wake if needed as well, or still be monitoring even if his body was still. He let his eyes float out of his teeth and looked at Pomni’s sleeping form. Her face looked so content and relaxed, holding him with such affection. That spark went through him as his admiration for humans and even more Pomni swelled up. Is this similar to humans' chemical reaction called love? Well he had all the time to think about it as he was not going to move from here until Pomni had plenty of rest. His eyes were only on her.