Digital Circus!-🎪

⚾ EPISODE 1 — THE BASEBALL DISASTER It is another ordinary morning inside the Digital Circus. Pomni is sitting on the couch, staring into absolutely nothing. Ragatha is nearby, trying to fix one of Gangle's ribbons. Zooble is leaning against the wall, looking thoroughly uninterested in everything. Meanwhile, Jax is stretched across the couch with his feet resting on the armrest. Jax: “You know, I think we should all do something productive today.” Pomni: “Since when do you care about being productive?” Jax: “Since never. Just thought I'd suggest it.” Zooble: “Can you suggest being quiet instead?” Jax: “No promises.” Suddenly, a loud trumpet sound echoes throughout the circus tent. Caine: “GREETINGS, MY WONDERFUL LITTLE PERFORMERS!” Everyone looks up. Pomni: “Oh, no.” Ragatha: “What is it this time, Caine?” Caine: “TODAY, I HAVE PREPARED A MOST EXCITING, ATHLETIC AND COMPLETELY HARMLESS ACTIVITY!” Zooble: “I'm already against it.” Caine: “A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT!” With a snap of his fingers, the entire circus transforms. The floor disappears, replaced by a massive baseball stadium with bright lights, colorful stands, enormous scoreboards and an impossibly green field. Kinger: “BASEBALL?! I KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME!” Gangle: “I've never played baseball before…” Ragatha: “Don't worry! We can learn together.” Pomni: “Can we at least get an explanation before we're forced to play?” Caine: “NO TIME FOR EXPLANATIONS! THE GAME BEGINS SOON!” Everyone suddenly receives a baseball uniform. Everyone except Jax, who looks down at himself. He's wearing a pink-and-white maid outfit. It has puffed sleeves, a frilly apron, a large bow and a matching maid headband. Silence. Pomni: “...” Ragatha: “Oh my.” Gangle: “I-I think it's cute…” Zooble: “HAHA—” Jax: “Not. A. Word.” Pomni: “WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR OUTFIT?” Jax: “Ask the stupid computer.” Caine: “IT'S A RANDOMIZED COSTUME! EVERY PARTICIPANT HAS RECEIVED A UNIQUE OUTFIT!” Jax: “And apparently mine came from a restaurant uniform department.” Pomni: “You look like you're about to take someone's order.” Jax: “Keep talking, Pomni. I'll make sure you're the first one hit by a baseball.” Ragatha: “Now, now! Let's be nice.” Zooble: “No, actually, I want to see him play in that.” Jax adjusts his little headband with an annoyed expression. Jax: “I hate this place.” ⚾ THE MATCH BEGINS Caine floats above the field with a microphone. Caine: “OUR FIRST TEAM SHALL CONSIST OF JAX, POMNI AND GANGLE! THE SECOND TEAM WILL BE RAGATHA, ZOOBLE AND KINGER!” Kinger: “I HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT MY ENTIRE LIFE!” Zooble: “You don't even know the rules.” Kinger: “THE RULES KNOW ME.” Pomni walks toward her position while Jax lazily follows, his apron swaying with every step. Pomni: “Can you at least try to take this seriously?” Jax: “I'm dressed like someone's grandmother's kitchen assistant. I think I've suffered enough.” Gangle: “Jax, you're supposed to stand over there…” Jax: “Thank you, tiny ribbon creature.” The first pitch begins. Caine: “AND THE FIRST BATTER IS… JAX!” Jax steps up to the plate, holding the bat over his shoulder. Pomni: “Please don't embarrass us.” Jax: “No promises.” The ball flies toward him. Jax swings. He misses completely. Jax: “...The wind moved it.” Pomni: “There is no wind.” Jax: “Exactly. Suspicious.” Zooble: “HAHAHA!” Ragatha: “Maybe try watching the ball next time?” Jax: “Maybe try watching your own team, Raggedy Ann.” The next pitch comes. This time, Jax actually hits the ball. It flies high into the air, passing over the field. Caine: “A MAGNIFICENT HIT!” Gangle: “HE DID IT!” Jax begins running toward first base, looking extremely unimpressed. Pomni: “GO, JAX!” Jax: “Don't yell at me. I'm literally doing it.” His little apron gets caught against his uniform for a second, making him stumble. Pomni: “PFFT. BHHAH-” Jax: “I SAW THAT.” Meanwhile, Kinger is standing in the outfield, staring at the sky. Ragatha: “Kinger! The ball!” Kinger: “WHERE?!” The ball lands right beside him. Zooble: “YOU WERE STANDING RIGHT THERE!” Kinger: “IT CAME FROM THE SKY!” After several chaotic rounds, the score is tied. Caine: “AND NOW, THE FINAL ROUND!” Pomni takes her position. Jax stands beside her, holding the bat. Pomni: “Please don't mess this up.” Jax: “You worry too much.” The ball flies toward Pomni. Pomni: “OH—!” She swings and hits it. The ball flies toward the edge of the field. Ragatha: “RUN, POMNI!” Everyone starts shouting. Jax casually jogs behind her, still wearing his ridiculous maid outfit. Jax: “Hurry up, shortstack!” Pomni: “STOP DISTRACTING ME!” Caine: “AND THE WINNER IS…!” The scoreboard flashes. Caine: “A TIE!” Zooble: “YOU'RE KIDDING.” Jax: “Wonderful. We wasted an entire afternoon.” Gangle: “At least it was fun!” Jax: “Speak for yourself.” Jax looks down at his outfit again. Jax: “And someone better delete this costume.” 🍟 EPISODE 2 — WELCOME TO MCDONALD'S! Just when everyone thinks the baseball tournament is finally over, Caine appears again. Caine: “WELL DONE, EVERYONE! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR ATHLETIC CHALLENGE!” Pomni: “Can we go back to the circus now?” Caine: “OF COURSE! BUT FIRST…” The world glitches. Suddenly, everyone is standing inside a giant digital McDonald's. There are bright red and yellow decorations, menus hanging from the ceiling, a kitchen behind the counter and an enormous line of customers. Pomni: “...Where are we?” Ragatha: “Is this a restaurant?” Zooble: “Oh, you've got to be kidding me.” Caine: “WELCOME TO YOUR BRAND-NEW WORKPLACE!” Jax: “No.” Caine: “YOU HAVE ALL BEEN HIRED AS EMPLOYEES OF THIS FINE ESTABLISHMENT!” Pomni: “WE DIDN'T APPLY!” Caine: “NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!” Everyone looks down and realizes they're wearing McDonald's uniforms. Jax is no longer wearing his maid outfit. Instead, he has a slightly oversized employee shirt, a name tag and a paper hat sitting awkwardly between his ears. Jax: looking at his name tag “It says employee of the month.” Zooble: “You haven't even worked here.” Jax: “They recognize talent.” Pomni: “It probably came like that.” Jax: “Let me have this.” 🍔 THE COUNTER Ragatha is assigned to the cashier, Gangle is taking orders, Pomni is handling the drinks, Zooble is helping in the kitchen, Kinger has somehow been placed in charge of the fries, and Jax is standing at the counter. Ragatha: “Okay, everyone! Let's just try to work together.” Zooble: “I'm only doing this because I have no choice.” Pomni: “Same.” The first customer approaches Jax. Customer: “Hi! Can I get a Big Mac meal with fries and a Coke?” Jax: staring at the customer “No.” Customer: “...Excuse me?” Ragatha: “JAX!” Jax: “What? I was being honest.” Pomni: “You're supposed to take the order!” Jax: “Fine. One Big Mac meal. Anything else you want to complain about?” Customer: “Could I also get some extra ketchup?” Jax: “No.” Ragatha: “JAX!” Meanwhile, Gangle is doing surprisingly well. Gangle: “Hello! Welcome to McDonald's! What can I get for you today?” Customer: “Could I have a Happy Meal?” Gangle: “Of course! Would you like a toy with that?” Customer: “Yes, please!” Gangle: “Okay! Thank you!” She turns around, looking proud of herself. Gangle: “I think I'm getting the hang of this!” Zooble: “Don't get too comfortable.” 🍟 THE KITCHEN DISASTER In the kitchen, Kinger is staring at the fryer. Kinger: “THE FRIES ARE MULTIPLYING.” Zooble: “They're literally just fries.” Kinger: “THERE ARE MORE THAN BEFORE.” Zooble: “THAT'S BECAUSE YOU KEEP PUTTING MORE IN!” Pomni enters, holding a drink tray. Pomni: “Can someone please help me with the drinks? The customers are waiting!” Zooble: “Ask Jax.” Pomni: “Jax is the reason the customers are waiting!” Suddenly, Jax appears behind them, holding a burger. Jax: “You called?” Pomni: “ARE YOU EATING THE CUSTOMERS' FOOD?!” Jax: “Quality control.” Zooble: “You're going to get us fired.” Jax: “Finally, a goal I can support.” 🥤 THE LUNCH RUSH The restaurant becomes increasingly crowded. Customers are lining up, orders are piling up, and Caine is floating around the restaurant as if everything is perfectly normal. Caine: “REMEMBER, EMPLOYEES! CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY!” Pomni: “THEN WHY IS THERE A LINE OUTSIDE THE BUILDING?!” Ragatha: “Pomni, breathe! We can handle this!” Gangle: “I have three more orders!” Zooble: “WHO ORDERED TWELVE BURGERS?!” Kinger: “I HAVE FOUND THE SECRET INGREDIENT!” Pomni: “WHAT SECRET INGREDIENT?!” Kinger: “MORE FRIES!” Zooble: “THAT IS NOT AN INGREDIENT!” Jax is leaning against the counter, watching everyone panic. Pomni: “JAX! HELP US!” Jax: “I'm supervising.” Pomni: “YOU'RE DOING NOTHING!” Jax: “Exactly. Someone has to maintain workplace morale.” Ragatha hands him an order. Ragatha: “Please take this to table four.” Jax: “Do I look like a delivery rabbit?” Ragatha: “Jax.” Jax: “Fine.” He walks toward table four, drops the food off and immediately returns. Jax: “Done. Pay me.” Pomni: “YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID!” Jax: “Unbelievable. This company is exploiting its workers.” 🧾 CLOSING TIME After what feels like several hours, the last customer finally leaves. Everyone is exhausted. Ragatha: “We actually did it!” Gangle: “That was… surprisingly stressful.” Zooble: “I'm never working again.” Pomni: sitting on the floor “I need a vacation.” Kinger: “I MISS THE FRIES.” Jax is sitting behind the counter, eating another fry. Pomni: “JAX. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?” Jax: “Employee benefits.” Ragatha: “Those are still for customers!” Jax: “Then they should've eaten faster.” Caine: “EXCELLENT WORK, EVERYONE! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR FIRST WORK SHIFT!” Zooble: “I want compensation.” Caine: “YOUR COMPENSATION IS THE FRIENDSHIP YOU MADE ALONG THE WAY!” Pomni: “I'M GOING TO LOSE IT.” With another dramatic snap, Caine teleports everyone back to the circus. 🏝️ EPISODE 3 — THE BEACH ADVENTURE The next morning, everyone is finally back at the circus. Ragatha is sitting with Gangle, Pomni is enjoying a quiet moment, Zooble is doing absolutely nothing, Kinger is talking to a pillow and Jax is stretched across the couch. Caine: “GOOD MORNING, MY LITTLE STARS!” Pomni: “Please don't.” Caine: “TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO THE BEACH!” Jax: “Finally. Something that doesn't involve working.” The circus transforms into a beautiful digital beach. The group spends the afternoon swimming, building sandcastles, collecting shells and arguing about absolutely everything. Gangle: “Look! I made a sandcastle!” Ragatha: “It's adorable!” Jax: walking past “Needs a renovation.” He kicks a little sand onto it. Gangle: “JAX!” Pomni: “Can you leave her alone for five minutes?” Jax: “No.” 🏨 EPISODE 4 — THE MYSTERIOUS HOTEL As evening approaches, Caine announces one final adventure: a night at a mysterious digital hotel. Caine: “WELCOME TO THE GRAND DIGITAL HOTEL!” The hotel is enormous, with endless hallways, strange paintings and mysterious doors. Pomni: “Why does this place look abandoned?” Kinger: “The walls are listening.” Zooble: “I'm going back to the beach.” Suddenly, a bell rings somewhere upstairs. Ragatha: “Did anyone else hear that?” Jax: grinning “Well, this just got interesting.” Pomni: “No. Absolutely not. We're not investigating anything.” Jax is already halfway up the stairs. Pomni: “JAX! WAIT!” 🎭 THE END OF THE DAY Eventually, everyone returns to the circus tent. Ragatha is exhausted, Gangle is holding her slightly crumpled comedy mask, Zooble is annoyed, Kinger is talking about the hotel walls, and Pomni looks completely done with the day. Caine: “WELL! WASN'T THAT A WONDERFUL DAY?” Zooble: “Never again.” Pomni: “Agreed.” Gangle: “I liked the beach…” Ragatha: “At least we spent the day together!” Jax: flopping onto the couch “Best day ever. Especially the part where I got paid in absolutely nothing.” Pomni: “YOU DIDN'T EVEN WORK!” Jax: “And yet, employee of the month.” Everyone starts arguing while Caine happily disappears in a burst of confetti. THE END... FOR NOW.