White lies π (please read more under the cut <3)
So happy I finished this thing before ep 8 oof
Anyway, the comic was born out of
my thoughts about Caine's model lacking many essential facial features (as if he was never intended to show any emotions) and yet him being literally the most expressive character in the circus despite everything.
me being low-key obsessed with the implications episode 7 left us with. Players questioning everything they've been told and Caine being in the center of it all.
Just to be clear, I do believe Caine is written as a sentient AI who is just struggling to understand humanity and everything that comes with it. And I think these thoughts about him faking his emotions are inherently wrong within a story. He's oblivious and desperate but not malicious. But couple it with the fact that he's been lying about many other things (so far I'm inclined to think it was for players' sake in his own eyes) and that humans have been suffering for a while dealing with a literal god that doesn't understand them... Well, I have a feeling that they will doubt his motives and literally everything they know, rightfully so.
The amount of attention this little comic received is a bit terrifying and overwhelming and seeing all the different interesting interpretations people come up with I just wanted to explain mine own a little better <3
I want them all to be healed and happy, little guy absolutely included, but man the situation is rough, and the odds are against us
(Also please ignore typos, I'm hyperaware of them and even messed up writing my on name, i was really, really tired :') )
TW: toxic relationship, general mentions of harm/insecurities.
Minors PLEASE DNI! Thank you!!
(also sorry if this is so ass but I keep seeing ppl talk abt post-episode 8 Caine fanfic and NO ONE IS ACTUALLY WRITING IT so hereβs my little ficβ¦ enjoy!)
Itβs not that you had ever assumed you would be immune to Caineβs wacky adventures or goofy side quests, but when the whole circus tent shook before his sudden appearance, you just hoped youβd be in the clear forβ¦ whateverβ¦ was happening that day.
I mean, heβd made it clear before that you were one of his favorites. Hell, maybe you were even his favorite, period. He always let you sit out on quests, let you sit in his office with him long before the escape adventure, always took your thoughtful criticisms as improvements for new ideas, and yet-
Not only did the song, dance, and three-day adventure absolutely destroy the resolve of yourself and the rest of Caineβs βfrivolous fruitcakes,β but you knew that this version of Caine wasnβt the one who got nervous when your compliments were too kind, or laughed at your jokes with a little less showmanship.
No, this was something much different.
When Pomni had distracted Caine by rattling off all the things you hated, you stepped up and declared how you hated Caineβs constant need for validation, while also taking zero criticism to heart.
Big mistake. Huge.
While you wouldnβt say that you regret your time with Caine, in his office and the circus, it definitely didnβt help now. Your words had only served as the deepest wound to his ego, and conversely he knew the most about you.
Just like with the rest of his superstars, Caine was proud to have a close eye on all of you at all times, but after you had started cozying up to the ringleader himself? Well, youβre just his special circus act now. And such a special act requires lots of detailed scrutiny, my dear! Your strengths? Check. Your intelligence? Of course! Your digital designβs attractiveness? Only the best!
Your weaknesses? Well, check, but not like heβd ever-
Suddenly, you were thrown into the black void, your torture being an endless onslaught of insecurities and reminders of the mistakes you made in the circus - people you pushed away who were secretly abstracting, times you made yourself and your problems a burden onto the rest of the cast, and everything you thought could never be exposed. You screamed and flailed and felt yourself tear up at the endless onslaught of torture and suffering, just wanting it to end and beginning to regret everything you had done with, and for, Caine.
You couldnβt tell if this was something Caine wanted to do to you, either, or if this was some type of AI-induced mania-like virus, or some type of control override, or-
And just like that, he was gone. Kinger had removed him from the circus entirely. And now you had to move on from what felt like the eternity of adventures that your life became.
A/N: AHHH SORRY IF THIS IS BAD I lowk just had this idea suddenly and itβs really not fleshed outβ¦ if anyone wants to build on it feel free to tag me and make a post, Iβd love to see what else ppl come up with!
Genuinely surprised there arenβt more Rand Ridley fics. Thereβs like two. I thought that there was no old white man too low for us to stoop to? This cannot be the bottom of the barrel, I KNOW thereβs worse than this
Screenshotted from Caelin on yt who posted high quality ver of the spotβs scenes (video is called βThe Spot Scenepack 4k UPSCALEDβ in case youβre interested).
i love telling people "godspeed" it adds so much weight and dignity to everything i'll say it to a friend driving cross country or a coworker grabbing lunch from the corner store like good luck bitch!! may the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back!!!
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