Chapter Text
“You really should consider your future as scare performer”, Caine spoke up again, leaning against the trailer next to Pomni, both watching the last things being boxed away for the travel.
“Nah, maybe another time”, Pomni replied with a shrug, smiling at Caine, “when you come back, maybe?”
Caine nodded, shyly closing his jaw as he turned away. Their second date wouldn't leave his mind. Pomni insisted on planning it this time, to his disappointment. He really wanted to make up for the horrible first date that they had just the week prior.
On the other side, Caine couldn’t explain the pure joy he experienced when he found himself with Pomni, spending the day with a beekeeper that she knew from her support group. Mrs. Kinger was such a delight and Caine probably embarrassed himself when bombarding that poor chess lady with all the questions about beekeeping.
But he was called a natural while doing the harvesting himself (under her guidance, of course) and Caine couldn’t remember when he had last been this happy.
Pomni took pictures and videos of their date, teasing him but eventually trying out herself to pull out a frame… quickly pulling away from it when one tiny bee landed on her hand.
“Are you thinking about bees?” Pomni asked, a cheeky grin on her lips.
“How did you know?”
“Your eyes get all glassy and turn two different directions while your jaw claps open like nobody is home”, the jester chuckled, gently shoving the lower jaw up to proof her point, “I’m really glad you liked our outing. Has been quite an adventure.”
“And what an adventure it was!” Caine shouted, fists shaking from excitement, “next time, I hope I can give you the same experience! Though I doubt I could ever top yours…”
“Are you kidding? I loved exploring that dance school”, Pomni did that shy rubbing-the-arm before crossing her arms in confidence, “and who knows? Maybe you will get a call from the theater, apologizing to you for a mistake they made.”
Caine stopped looking at her smirking lips, focusing back on what she said, “that is an oddly specific thing to be hopeful for…”
“Just text me when you made it safely to Gloinkvillage, okay?” Pomni replied.
“Will do!”
They both awkwardly glanced at each other, not really knowing how to officially say goodbye. The fact they both were not ready to say their goodbyes was not helpful either.
“Caine! Stop flirting with your girl and get going!” someone shouted, making Caine finally move.
Taking her hands gently, he softly touched her knuckles with his front teeth in a form of kiss.
“Goodbye Pomni”
“Goodbye…”
Day 1
We made it – delete
I made it safely – delete
Arrived. – delete
Dear Pomni. With this message I am here to inform you that we made it safely to Gloinkvillage. – del-send
!!!!!!
? … !
Hi Caine! – delete
Well, that’s a funny way to inform me XD – delete
I was just thinking about y – delete
How has travel been? – delete
...
Dear Caine. Thank you for informing me about your safe arrival to Gloinkvillage. May I acquire knowledge on your current wellbeing? – send
Day 16
Hi Pomni, Steven here. – send
Hi…? – send
[attached image] – send
WHAT HAPPENED?? WHY IS CAINE IN A TRANSPORT CAGE?? WHERE ARE HIS CLOTHES?? – send
Funny story. Caine wanted to do this old-building-exploring-thing that he said you like – send
And then we didn’t see or hear him for hours – send
Next thing I know, he calls from an animal shelter – send
Toothy here got caught by the police and pretended to be a dog – send
Wait. Caine pretended to be a dog? – send
He usually does, when he gets arrested by someone – send
Would you assume him to be sentient when you only see a barking set of teeth with eyes? – send
Though this is the first time he actually did something illegal to be arrested for – send
HE GOT ARRESTED?? – delete
What do you mean first time- delete
He got wrongfully arrested?? – delete
…
I’m probably responsible for this… - send
What do you mean? – send
Well, I kinda broke some rules the first time I went urban exploring with him. And now he got arrested… - send
[attached image] – send
Found this rescue dog. Quite unique and very talk active, too. Interested to adopt him? – send
Of course! I always wanted a rescue dog! – send
POMNI. WHY DO YOU ENABLE HIM?? HE WON’T STOP CALLING ME A RESCUE! – send
Day 27
“Hey Pomni! Something unbelievable happened! Apparently, the theater, where we wanted to go, made a mistake! I received a full refund and even the promise to take someone with me the next time for free!”
“Th-That’s awesome… hey. Caine. I’m sorry but I’m quite busy at the moment. Can I call you back?”
“Oh! Of course! Wowie, I didn’t check the time first, I’m-“
*peep peep peep*
“…sorry?”
Day 30
“Please leave a message after the tone.” *peep*
“Good evening Pomni… you…*rustle*… you haven’t called like you said… So… I thought I check up on you?... call me back, okay?”
Day 41
“Please leave a message after the tone.” *peep*
“Hey! … It’s… meee. … Again. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright? Can’t have my favorite person be all gloomy by herself… HA! *cough* I mean… call me back, okay?”
Day 48
“Please leave a message after the tone.” *peep*
“Hello Pomni… I don’t mean to be clingy or anything. I just… I… can we talk?”
Day 50
“Please leave a message after the tone.” *peep*
“I don’t want to sound crazy… or toxic… or clingy… but I need answers! Pomni! Please talk to me! Plea-“
Day 51
“Please leave a message after the tone.” *peep*
…
…
…
“I’m sorry Pomni. I won’t bother you anymore.”
Day 75
Caine was doomscrolling on his phone. But not like any normal person.
Because he was no normal person and never will be.
Instead, he held the phone between his big front teeth while the glove inside his mouth swiped the videos up.
He ignored the empty words of Steven, barely hearing him talk to him, not even grimacing when the human swore.
There was an insult towards his teeth but Caine didn’t care. When everyone else was avoiding the toothbrush, nobody blinks an eye. But of course, when Caine does it, everyone has a problem.
Like it always was.
“Man, at least take a shower… or use your mouthwash or whatever…”
Caine didn’t acknowledge him, instead mindlessly staring at this one bee video where two bees collide midflight.
Hilarious.
He swiped along, skipping some videos he knew he disliked until a green frog lady came on screen.
“Did you see this in ‘Ribbit’s amazing mystery podcast’?” a monotone and quite bored voice spoke over the clips shown.
Caine swiped along but quickly swiped back when his eyes caught a glimpse of Pomni.
He sat up and took the phone properly into his hand.
“Did you see this in ‘Ribbit’s amazing mystery podcast’? In her last podcast, she revealed the injustice happening in the Theater of Zirkus City and outing an employee secretly steeling tickets from guests. Let me explain.”
Caine stared in silence as the bored voice talked about the very specific theater he went with Pomni, watching in shock at the realization that this nice woman had been targeting him for his appearance.
That didn’t surprise him too much, if he was being honest. What did surprise him, was seeing Pomni sitting there, explaining the situation.
Caine quickly looked up the podcast, finding it easily and started to listen in. He noticed that it had taken place a day before he talked to her for the last time.
Maybe there might be the answer to her decision in abandoning him?
Hopefully there was.
The Podcast started with the usual greeting, the thanks to sponsors, the introduction of the topic of the day with the guest connected to said topic.
Oh, and how beautiful said guest looked that day.
Pomni’s pantsuit screamed ‘Business’ and her eyes were warning not to screw with her.
Caine hated himself for feeling aroused by that. He put his phone away and decided to only listen, walking to the restroom to brush his teeth again.
Wowie. He really let himself go.
Quickly grabbing his hand brush, he began his routine.
It was mesmerizing, hearing about their first date from Pomni’s perspective.
Apparently, she was just as nervous as he was at the beginning of their first date. Yet, Pomni really seemed to love their travel by tramp, their exploration of the old school and the dinner at the maid café like she told him. Caine was relieved when nothing about Zooble was mentioned. Instead, Pomni skipped right to the rescue from the teenagers and her first experience as a scare actor.
But then there was a shift. Pomni was ranting about the lady at the desk, telling all about the looks the people gave Caine and how that made her feel.
Caine was aware of people staring. He was aware of their eyes narrowing down on him. But somehow, he overlooked it completely that Pomni was bothered by it. Usually, no one ever seemed to notice when he asked.
Maybe that was the reason she stopped calling him? It was too much pressure for her to date someone like him?
Ugly Monster…
Caine shook his head and turned his attention back to the video. Pomni was sitting there, talking to that Ribbit lady (sounding awfully familiar), when said lady cut her off shortly, telling her she can continue right after their break.
There was silence, apparently for the advertisement of their sponsor. But it never came. Instead, the women were shown sitting there still, as Pomni started to gush over Caine.
Caine spit out the toothpaste before risking to swallow it, now intently watching the podcast.
“I mean, of course I was a bit scared when I saw him for the first time. He was in this scary, blood smeared costume and he does have an unusual look. But let me tell you, he is such a cootie patootie.”
“Oh? Tell me more”, Ribbit smirked, leaning in just as Pomni did.
Caine slowly grabbed his toothbrush for the in between spaces, transfixed on their conversation as he absentmindly brushed away the tartar that he neglected to take care of.
“Ever had a gondola ride in a supermarket? With Italian songs and a gentleman helping you in and out of the cart?”
“Not that I know of.”
“And that was before the first date. Don’t get me started on his looks”, Pomni chuckled, making Caine already feel another wave of anxiety resurface, “this man’s waist is snatched! I still wonder if he wore a corset that evening.”
Caine chocked on the toothbrush that slipped from his hand, quickly having to turn his body intangible for the brush to be able to fall pass the opening on his hint head, causing the rest of his clothes to follow on the floor.
That… that was unexpected. Now Caine just waited for it all to balance out by Pomni commenting on his unsettling tee-
“- such a cute look he gets when he thinks about bees. Caine in general has such cute expressions when he gets all excited.”
“Alright, girl, we can talk about that sometime later. Break is over”, Ribbit said with a warm smile before switching their conversation back to the theater story and the injustice that occurred there.
Caine spaced out for the rest of the podcast.
Nothing made sense anymore.
If Pomni was so smitten with Caine’s expressions and his …’snatched waist’…, why was she avoiding him?
He mulled over possible answers while wiping off the foam and gunk from his teeth, but nothing logical came to mind.
“Thank you for coming today, Pomni.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“And thank you all for watching and listening in!”
Caine glanced one last time at the video, noticing a mail address lighten up and Ribbit telling people to be ready for the next podcast because they will answer to the questions send to this address.