Her knees buckled, and her gloved hands were left cold and trembling. As soon as she let free from the awards ceremony, she bolted into her bedroom and promptly face-planted into her bed.
Even though Pomni could feel the springs digging into her torso and legs through the mattress, it was the most physically comfortable she had felt since she entered this digital purgatory.
Mentally however...
She could hardly unpack what she had just been through, and maybe that was a good thing. She didn’t want to think about it yet.
Soon after, the doorknob was jiggled. Pomni lifted her heavy head off the pillow and sat up. She slid off the bed and opened the door to- who Pomni didn't expect to see-Gangle. Over time, the jester had figured out the different ways the others knocked on the door. Gangle, for example, couldn't knock with her ribbon hands, so she loudly jostled the knob of the door instead.
Gangle waved at Pomni sweetly. "Hey, I just wanted to check on you after.." She gestures off into the distance with a ribbon hand. "All that."
“Oh. Yeah, I’m fine. As fine as I can be, anyway.”
“That’s good, at least.. If you need someone, I’ll try to be there for you.” Gangle put a hand on the jester’s shoulder.
Pomni cracked a weak smile, breaking eye contact with the floor and looking up at Gangle. “I think some company would be nice right now.”
Gangle’s own smile beamed through bleary eyes. “Alright!”
She chirped as she walked inside Pomni’s room. The two make their way to Pomni’s bed and sit down.
At first, there’s only silence. Neither party really knew what to say, but they knew what the other would bring up. It was all that was on their tattered minds, after all.
However, that silence was quickly broken by Pomni. Quietly, she asked Gangle, “You seemed to enjoy yourself out there. Y’know, when you had the tommy gun.”
Gangle makes a sheepish noise, shrugging to the best of her ability. “Ehh, I guess it was fun in the moment.”
“Yeah, it was definitely funner while it was happening.”
Gangle nodded in agreement. “Kinda. I still wouldn't do it again.”
“Oh, god no.” Pomni gave a bitter chuckle, leaning back against the wall and crossing her arms.
“But you and Jax won. Isn’t that worth something?”
Pomni’s eyes hollow as she remembers. She slumps forward slightly, thinking about that argument she and Jax had.
“It’s complicated. We had a big fight.” She speaks, in a more somber tone than frightened.
“Oh. Is that why Jax wasn’t at the award ceremony?”
Pomni was reminded of Jax’s no-show at the awards ceremony. Was he really that affected? She can’t be sure. It was likely. That nonchalant attitude of his messed her up, because it always appeared like he didn’t care. It was during that fight, however, that she learned that he probably cares the most out of anyone, and that it was eating him alive. “...More or less.”
A couple beats of silence drummed out and faded into the distance as Pomni started talking again. “So… Do you wanna do anything?”
Gangle’s teary eyes welled up even more. “...Yeah, but it’s kinda weird.”
“Everything here is kinda weird. I doubt it’s that bad.”
“If you say so…”
Gangle took a deep breath. “I like to do this thing... It’s uhm- age regression, where I mentally revert to a child’s mindset for a bit. It’s a stress thing. I know that sounds super weird, but-”
Pomni held her hands up in a defensive position. “It’s okay! I don’t really get it, but you don’t need to worry about weirding me out. It sounds pretty reasonable, in all honesty.”
Gangle looked at Pomni, astounded. She’s not grossed out-? It was as if a miracle rained down on the ribbon girl.
“Really?” Gangle mumbled, looking hopeful.
Pomni nodded with more certainty, lowering her hands. “Of course. I think we could all use a good stress reliever.”
Gangle affirms with a small ‘mhm.’
“So… Is that what you wanna do?” Pomni asked.
“If it isn’t too much to ask..”
“I don’t think it is. I might not be the best at.. babysitting, but I’ll try my best!” She flexed an arm (rather unimpressively) and placed her other hand on her bicep. Her smile shone with more hope than she-or anyone- had in a good, long while, and it infected Gangle, too.
Gangle giggled at the gesture. Her mind was already slipping from maturity.
Pomni’s excitement died down, and she looked up at Gangle, anxiety brimming in her expression. “So… before you start, is there anything I need to know?” She had become much more awkward on the flip of a dime.
Gangle’s eyes droop. “I don’t like loud noises, and I kinda stop talking when I’m little.”
“Got it.” Pomni nodded.
It was a rather awkward silence. Pomni could see Gangle’s demeanor shift and change. She started idly swinging her legs as she looked around Pomni’s room.
“I’m bored…” Gangle finally mumbled.
Pomni nodded. She had to agree, sitting around and doing nothing but stewing in their mangled thoughts wasn’t too much fun.
Pomni started off with a simple yes-or-no question, “Is there anything you wanna do?”
“Can I draw?” Gangle meekly asked.
“Of course. I probably have some paper around here somewhere-”
“No need!” Gangle exclaims. She then pulled a small black sketchbook from… somewhere. A shy smile peeked through her teary face.
“Oh, I guess that’s settled, then. Do you need markers or something like that? I have some, but it might take me a bit to find them.”
“Got those too!” Gangle also took out a small pack of artist’s colored pencils.
“Haha, alright.” Internally, Pomni was relieved. She couldn’t remember the last place she put those markers.
Gangle flipped open the sketchbook and began drawing. Pomni wasn’t really sure what to do now, so she sat and silently watched, in case Gangle needed anything.
Gangle started sketching out a head, then a torso, and then the limbs. It became clear very quickly that Gangle was drawing an anime girl in a poofy skirt, with a comically large mallet. She swung her legs back and forth as she happily doodled.
Pomni too felt fulfilled. She wasn’t the best at taking care of kids, but this wasn't so bad. Maybe it was her mistake for expecting taking care of an actual child and taking care of Gangle to be the same experience.
Pomni leaned over Gangle’s shoulder as she colored the drawing.
Yeah, this wasn't so bad.