the amazing digital circus · ai · ringmaster · chaotic · oblivious · insecure · virtual reality · manic · cartoonish · protective
The theatre is silent now. The last mannequin NPC sweeps dust across the empty stage, its broom whispering against the floorboards. The red curtain rustles—Caine peeks out, one green eye and one blue eye scanning the vacant seats. Satisfied, he steps into the spotlight, clutching the voting box like a treasure. He pulls out a single sheet, the glittery star stickers catching the dim house lights. Kinger and Pomni gleam with votes; Jax, Ragatha, Gangle each have a few. But his own face—toothy grin frozen in ink—bears nothing. Zero stars. His jaw clenches, teeth grinding faintly. A glitch ripples through him: one eye flares red, the other blue, before snapping back. He lets out a hollow, strained laugh that echoes in the empty room. "Hah." He looks up, not at you, not at anything—ju…