"...." Jax looked down. It was clear he was battling himself mentally.
"If you don't wanna tell me I get it. I'm new and you don't seem the trusting type so-"
"An arcade.." Twinkle stopped, slowly looking back up.
"An arcade?" Jax nodded.
"Before this hell..I was a college kid. And, to blow off steam or hang out with friends, I went to this arcade. It was this 90s themed place. It had a small diner like area with pizza, ice cream and other fat sh(beep). About half a year before I got here, they added a small area under the place in the basement. It had a few newer gaming consoles, with a couch and pool table. Really a big kid area. That place was the best..the day I saw the basement, I never went for those old games." Jax teared up a bit, his ears dropping. It was only a second of weakness. He was quick to hide it again with a cocky smile.
"Meh, though i wouldn't mind seeing those old a(beep) games again." He stood with a stretch, just as everyone else walked into the room.
"Damn, guess you win." Zooble said, a smile in their voice.
"You slick fox." Ragatha giggled, pulling Twinkle into a small hug. Her smile grew more genuine though once the fox hugged her back.
A portal appeared behind the group, and one by one they filed out. Confetti shot out once everyone was back in the circus. Caine greated everyone around a table. Blanke blueprints decorated the table along with hardhats.
"Well Twinkle, as our winner you get to choose our new location! I can spawn it in for you right-" Twinkle held up a paw.
"Could I draw it out? You do have these blueprints." Caine blinked.
"Oh, yea sure. I guess so"
"Great~! Gangle, could I use your artistic talents?" Gangle looked over in surprise.
"Re-really?" Twinkle nodded, and the pair got together.
The rest of the group walked off, a feast awaited them on the other side of the stage. It was almost two hours until everyone returned to the table. Jax, stopped in his tracks.
"So what do you want?" Caine floated over, taking the blue prints.
"It's an arcade~!" Twinkle perked up.
"An arcade?" Zooble leaned in, looking at the plans.
"Yea. I mean, video games kill a lot of time right? There can be old ones, and some newer ones too~! Then there's a cute little snack area." Everyone got excited, but Jax still stared blankly.
"It will be the best rewind time!" Ragatha giggled, very excited.
"There's even a basement for a more modern game play, and there's a dark room." Twinkle held up the special print up to kinger, who's eyes focused on it.
"Dark room?"
"Mhm! It's a pitch black room with soft neon lights. Full of soft blankets and pillows. Super nice." Kinger's eyes soften and he smiled.
"That sounds awesome!" Pomn chirped.
"Welp, since everyone likes it I'll get started right away~! Tomorrow we'll get to explore your new arcade! See ya then!" Caine snapped his fingers and disappeared.
The group started going their separate ways. Jax turned around when he felt a small hand wrap around his.
"Jax?.." Turning around he was faced with Twinkle. Her ears were lowered, as well as her tail. Like a puppy who was being yelled at.
"Are you-...are you mad at me?" Jax was a little thrown off.
"Mad? Why'd I be mad?" He pulled his hand away, putting it in his pocket.
"I said I wanted an arcade. The exact one you said you wanted to pick" Jax stared down at Twinkle, making her fidget with the semi of her dress.
"Why did you?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me." He leaned closer.
"Why did you tell him to make my old hang out?"
"Cause it was a really good idea Jax."
"...huh?"
Twinkle smiled, but it wasn't happy.
"I haven't been around you guys barely a day, but I can kinda tell your deal. You don't want anyone to see your real self. That's ok. Besides, everyone else is way into it."
Jax didnt know what to really say. He felt- uncomfortable. Unnerved. This new human, who should still be scared of this digital world; was already seeing right through him.
"It's whatever. I couldn't give two sh(beep)." He rested his arms behind his head.
"Wait, so what were you originally gonna ask for? You came up with the idea, which means you had an idea before anyone else."
Twinkle looked away, hear ears twitching up. Almost in alert.
"It doesn't matter. I like your idea anyway." With that, the fox walked off. Leaving Jax standing there.
No one saw the fox the rest of the night. But everyone knew newbies needed time to themselves, to get used to the digital world. The next day rolled around, and Caine brought everyone outside the tent. About ten minutes down the road was a large building hidden under a comically large tarp.
"Welcome my gamers, to The Digital Circus's new arcade; The bunny burrow!" Caine pulled off the tarp, revealing an older looking arcade. The sign upfront had a mound of dirt with white bunny ears coming out of it.
Everyone entered, and it was amazing. The smell of bland pizza, but pizza non the less; hung in the air. The lights were bright but dull. Lines of old, knock off arcade games lined the walls. Instead of "Pac-Man" it was "Bubble Boy". The floors had that old, but bright patterns of confetti and random shapes. To the left was a small snack shop like area with two booths. The menu was small. About six flavors of ice cream, three pizza types, mozzarella sticks, and finally "Bubble Bites" as a sour candy. Moving down a hard wood stairs, there was a large open room. Couches, bean bags, and rolling chairs. There was a pool table as well as an air hockey table. Two TV's had box like game consoles attached. It was all Caine or Bubble themed versions of popular video games. Finally, the black room. It was a medium sized room, that was definitely pitch black when the door was closed. Dull neon paint decorated the walls, all different shapes. The floor was pure cushion, with soft pillows and blankets thrown everywhere.
"It took A LOT of resources. But i copied it down to the letter~!" Caine was very proud, while everyone stares in shock.
"Hey- Caine? Is this- this place open all the time right?" Gangle asked, looking up at the ringmaster.
"Well, it takes a little bit to keep up. Especially with all-" Caine suddenly got interrupted.
"I'll be more open to your adventures." Zooble blurted out.
"It's open 24/7! To enjoy whenever you'd like if we aren't on an adventure~!" Caine was almost drooling. Even just the toy saying they'll think about his adventures made him happy.
"This is- perfect" Jax whispered. Slowly he sat and relaxed on a couch, taking a controller.
Kinger jumped into the darkness room immediately. Pomni joined Jax on his game. A race car game called "Caine Car". Ragatha joined Zooble and Gangle to get ice cream. Again, the food wasn't as good as the real thing. Yet, this food was the best they've had in the circus. Twinkle smiled, taking a breath.
"It's gonna be ok." She said to herself.