It had been a few days since the Mimic, and things settle down more and more. Ragatha and Gangle were in the stage area, throwing a ball for Twinkle to chaise and fetch for them.
"You don't mind doing this? It isnt demeaning is it?" Gangle softly smiled as she took the ball from Twinkle's jaw.
"Hm? Oh no, I actually enjoy it." Her tail wagged.
"Hey, real quick" Ragatha spoke up. "How did you tell the real Jax from the Mimic? I mean, for a second I thought we were wrong."
"Oh that? I smelled him." Twinkle smiled up at them, waiting for Gangle to throw the ball.
"Wait huh?" She dropped the ball, making Twinkle immediately lunged for it. Standing up, the fox looked confused.
"What?"
"It's just- I thought we didn't have a smell. What do you mean smell?" Ragatha returned the look of confusion.
"Well when the Mimic showed up, I noticed I could smell everything. I guess Caine either gave me the ability? Or maybe the game did since I'm a fox? Either way, yea. I smell everything." The girls nodded along.
"So- what do we smell like?" Gangle leaned in.
"Well." Twinkle stopped forward, sniffing Gangle and the air around her mask.
"You smell kind of like paint, and some led. Probably from your mask and pencil drawings"
"And me?" Ragatha was a bit excited as Twinkle leaned closer.
"I'd say cotton, with a hint of lavender. Kind of like an old toy who's washed once in awhile. But in a good way." The two girl's giggled. To them it was such silly explanations, but it was new.
Zooble walked up at the trio, curious but calm.
"Oh, what about Zobble?" The take apart toy looked confused. Even more concerned than confused, when Twinkle leaned into them.
"Hm, kind of like cleaner and for some reason candy? Also plastic."
"Hehe, Twinkle can smell us." Gangle had a cat like grin on her mask, earning a small giggle from Gangle.
"Ok, ok I can rock with it. Anyway, I have a gift for you Gangle. Come on" Zooble waved for the ribbon to follow, and so she did. The two left.
"You think they're gonna f(beep)?" Twinkle asked, leaning close to the doll.
"Tw-Twinkle!" Ragatha blushed, waving at the air.
"What? You're such a girl" Twinkle playfully pushed away the doll.
"I mean- yea- I" Ragatha's blush stayed as she rubbed her shoulder.
"Besides, Zooble cant actually do that. Neither can Gangle. Those two got unlucky with their bodies. Unlike us ya know?" Twinkle rose to her two feet stance, brushing off her dress of dust.
"Whatcha mean by that?" Ragatha looked over.
"Oh? You're trying to get under my dress now? Naughty girl~" Twinkle leaned into the doll, who's face was turning shades of red darker than her hair.
"No! N-o I-I um- well-" Ragatha stopped talking as everyone started to arrive. Through her flustered state, Ragatha didn't notice the new face of Gangle.
"Hey, you ok Ragatha?" Pomni stepped toward the doll.
"AH! YUP JUST FINE! HAHAHAHA" Ragatha looked like she wanted to hit herself.
"Well now that we're all here, it's time for out new adventure!" Caine floated to the stage as words appeared.
"Today's is The Curse of the Psychopath Butcher haha!" Caine wiggled his Bubble companion.
"There's gonna be human meat everywhere! And-" Pomni let out a small scream, making everyone look to her.
"No! No- I can't take it Caine! Can't we please just, I don't know- have a normal adventure? I can't handle more scary, like the manor thing."
"Hide and seek?" Twinkle asked.
"No no, the first time. You weren't here."
"Wait what was it like for you?" Ragatha looked down at the jester.
"The one Caine said he made for me?" Zooble looked up at the ringmaster suspiciously.
"Kinger and I were chased by this angel creature, then we were dragged down to hell. Then there was this fog that wanted to steal our bodies-" Zooble put an arm out.
"Why the f(beep) would you think I'd like that?" Zooble was clearly upset.
"Why don't we do something a bit more normal?" Gangle offered with a rare smile.
"I don't know what you people think is normal!" Caine was pouting now like a toddler.
"Why don't you look at the suggestion box?" Zooble offered.
"Oh yea, it's forgot about that." Pomni looked curious.
"We might as well not even have it." Zooble shrugged. Caine ripped the box off a random wall that appeared in the air. A stream of water started pooling. In an order, bubble lunged over; using his tongue as a plug.
"Why don't we have an adventure where Zooble is tied up and beaten like a piñata?" Everyone's eyes turned to Jax, who was giggling.
"That was mine~" Caine took out another paper.
"Lets have an adventure where Jax cant talk at all~!"
"Awe, im genuinely hurt"
"Good" Zooble snarled. Twinkle's ears twitched as she looked to Jax, but stayed quiet.
"Why don't we have and adventure where we work in a fast food place?" Caine turned to the group. "That normal?"
"Yea! Thats good" Gangle spoke out.
"Hey yea, that'd be kinda nice." Twinkle nodded.
"I used to be a manager at one point." Caine's smile returned.
"Well with that leadership, I think that means you'll be our manager! Today's adventure is going to be a Shift at Spudsy's food chain!" Caine was laughing again until Zooble scoffed.
"Yea, no way I'm doing this." Caine grumbled.
"Why do you always have to walk off?! You never do my adventures!"
"Oh, I Know." Kinger stepped up. "Why don't I sit this one out, and you take my place?" Zooble just stared at the sweet chess piece.
"That's not how that wo-" Caine clapped his fingers, stopping Zooble.
"Great idea~!" With a snap of his fingers, Zooble was sent yelling threw the floor.
"Well, lets get going!" Caine had a portal arrive, one by one everyone stepped in.
Once inside the McDonalds like restaurant, everyone had on the same uniform; accept Gangle, who had on a more professional appearance. Outside, it seemed to be sunrise.
"Well, guess we gotta prep huh boss?" Twinkle stepped up to Gangle's side. Her ears tucked back behind her little adviser hat. As well as a little hair net on her big, fluffy tail.
"That's right! And with your enthusiasm, I'd say you're my team lead~! First mate." Twinkle's tail wagged as she playfully saluted.
"Yes ma'am!" With that, both Gangle and Twinkle started to set up shop. Gangle switched on every switch. Twinkle mixed soaps together and started mopping. The others just stared at the pair.
"Are we really doing this?" Jax asked, watching the remaining three join in on prep work.
"Come on Jax! Let's get to work~!" Twinkle hopped over, her tone more mocking than playful as she smirks.
Jax glared then smirked back. Turning to Gangle, he gripped Ragatha by her waist.
"Oh no, it seems I've taken Ragatha."
"Wait huh-" Ragatha looked back with a horrified look, just as her body was thrown into a vat of hit cooking oil.
"And thrown her in the deep fryer! Oh no."
From the register, Pomni looked over at the scene. Twinkle was across the counter, mopping the dinning area.
"This is weird to watch." Pomni kept her voice lowered.
"Yea, but funny." Twinkle giggled as the mop pushed across the floor. The moment she pushed the mop bucket.
"I never knew Gangle could be like this." Pomni stared as Gangle spoke on the phone, talking to Caine.
"I don't like it." Twinkle stopped mopping, meeting Pomni's gaze.
"Whatcha mean?"
"It's- Look I know I haven't been here long. I don't really have a right to say I know you guys." Twinkle sat the mop back in the bucket; the stringy limbs soaking up the soapy water.
"But?" Pomni kept eye contact.
"But, this isn't right. It doesn't feel like Gangle. I know she's literally wearing a different mask but..." Twinkle trailed off. Her fluffy tail wrapped around her leg, her ears lowering closer to her head.
"Hey, it's gonna be ok. This place isn't real. Besides, she seems happier." Pomni leaned across the counter, putting a hand on the fox's shoulder.
"Yea. Not real. You're right." Twinkle nodded, returning to mopping. Pomni could tell she wasn't genuine. Then again, Twinkle had just gotten here.
The breakfast shift had started. Everyone was relatively ok. Pomni clicked buttons at the register. Ragatha worked on assembly, smiling as she saw old NPCs showing up. Zooble flipped the patties, burning themselves as they tried using a spatula attachment. Twinkle seemed to be on cleaning duty, and Jax stocked up.
"Uh, hey little jester. I want one stupid burger, and don't forget the stupid sauce. Last time I came here, you forgot the sauce!" Pomni stared up at the twitching mannequin.
"I heard you loud and clear!" Ragatha called from the assembly line. As she shook the bottle of pink liquid, Twinkle walked by with clean dishes. Sniffing the air she stopped.
"Um Ragatha? Maybe you shouldn't-"
"Huh?" Being distracted, Ragatha accidentally shot the liquid in her eyes. Dropping the tube on the table, the doll rubbed her eyes. Her pupils dilated, and after a moment she lazily laughed to herself.
"Oh sh(beep)" Twinkle winced as she watched. "I think that might have been my bad." Looking around, the fox quickly walked away from the slumped rag doll.
After Twinke slipped the dishes into the tub of water, her ears perked up. She heard Pomni stumbling on her words. Peaking over, she saw three gummys. She couldn't tell if they were an alligator or Crocodile-
"Hey, who's those guys?" Twinkle walked up to Pomni, once the gummies had gone to a table.
"Oh- oh! That's Gummy Goo. He's an NPC from a past adventure. He and I got stuck under the map, and he found out he was an NPC. It was a whole thing but..when he came back with us, Caine exploded him into confetti." As Pomni spoke, her eyes went a little crazed. Nervously giggling, she calmed down.
"Ah, so a friend of yours?" Twinkle playfully nudged the jester, earning a real giggle this time.
"It's not like that. I don't think. I dunno, go back to cleaning or something." Twinkle's tail wagged as Pomni playfully pushed the fox. Twinkle walked back to clean the dishes, avoiding the slurred Ragatha.
A few minutes went by, and the large appearing words outside let everyone know it was timed for lunch. Twinkle stayed at the dishwasher, cleaning the breakfast plates. But her ears quickly turned toward the drive threw as Jax stated yelling.
"The hell?! Is this considered a bus?!" Twinkle peaked out, confusion on her face as little shapes with eyes bounced around.
"Uh, the f(beep) are those?" Twinkle looked to Jax for answers. But he was to busy rubbing his head in anger.
"Ugh- Huh? Oh, those are gloinks. Caine made them for Pomni's first adventure. They're disgusting.
"Oh, I see." Twinkle stared at Jax who was still rubbing his head, a rather sour expression on his face.
"Whoa hey, you ok?" Jax looked up, his expression quickly spreading into a smile.
"Of course I am. Even though we are litterly being forced to work at a damn McDonald's." Shaking his head, the rabbit walk away. Twinkle followed, hiding behind the burger rack once Gangle approached.
"Hey there Jaxy! Whatcha doin wondering around huh?" The upbeat manager smiled at the frowning rabbit.
"This is stupid, why don't we have to do actual work? These NPCs wont remember anything." Gangle just giggle at the bunny.
"Awe come on Jax, that's not a can-do attitude~!"
"I liked you better when you were sad." Gangle froze, her smiled shifted a bit.
"Ah, I see." She laughed weakly. "Maybe you just need some more...training.."
Twinkle's eyes widened as she watched two cartoon hands grab Jax, pulling him toward the darkness of the back room. She was worried- but looking at Gangle she shook off Jax for a moment. Gangle's back was turned to the fox, giving Twinkle enough time to mask a smile as she walked.
"Hey boss!" Gangle flinched before turning to Twinkle. He ears twitched and tail wagged as she walked up with a smile.
"I finished up the dishes like ya asked. Anything else can I do?" Gangle's smile returned, directing Twinkle to her next task.