I have an idea for headcanons (or a drabble if you prefer) if you’d wanna write it! Circus Member actually genuinely likes Caine and his adventures and the two are good friends. But Caine has ‘glitches’ that make him giant sometimes, and he makes extra EXTRA sure to hide it from Circus Member because he doesn’t wanna scare them and lose the only real friend he’s ever had. Inevitably Circus Member finds out eventually and (while scared at first) reassures him that they trust him and they’re still friends :]
YES
Sooo I'm gonna write these as platonic Caine/reader headcannons so I won't write Circus Member a million times ( ￣▽￣).
These are set pre-episode 8
Also, I'm sorry for such the late response anon (´－ω－)人
Giant! Caine who doesn't want to be frightening headcannons
(I'm sorry if that's a bad headcanon name. I was struggling with what to call it).
○ When he glitches out and becomes giant:
Sometimes, after all the humans have gone to bed, Caine experiences glitches that make him giant, as in giant enough that you would be the size of his pinkie finger. The first time it happened, he freaked out, rapidly snapping his fingers and trying to will himself back to normal size, all to no avail. The glitches are painful, but fortunately, they only last a couple of seconds.
A few times, while he's giant, a circus member had tried to leave the hallway of the bedrooms to enter the main part of the tent for whatever reason, to which he panicked and blocked the doorway with his hand before they could reach it. After all, he wouldn't want to frighten one of his little humans! With everything in the circus being so wacky, it's likely nobody ever questioned the sudden white barrier blocking their way and gave up on whatever they were doing not noticing that it was actually the now giant Ringmaster's hand.
He doesn't want to scare any of the humans, but most of all, he doesn't want to scare you. He doesn't want his only friend to fear him.
He'd hide in the main area of the tent or the grounds, since those spaces are big enough to fit his giant size. He'd spend his time nattering nervously with Bubble about his predicament, grabbing onto his teeth like he did in the stargazing scene in ep 5.
○ When you find him:
You have a teddy bear, a book, or another item that you forgot in the main tent area, so at night you go to retrieve it, only for a mysterious white wall to completely block your path. He'd just be floating there full of nerves and covering the doorway, gripping his teeth with a hand.
Let's say he thinks you've retreated, and slowly begins to move his hand away. (You haven't, you really want the item back). As soon as there's enough room to slip past, you quickly do before he can stop you, oblivious to the situation. You freeze in place when you see him, eyes wide.
How would he react? He'd, (as quietly as he can), FREAK out. He'd float backwards and hold his hands up in a "surrender" pose, eyes full of fear, fear you'll be afraid of him.
And if you attempt to scramble away, if you fall backwards and try to scoot away out of sudden instinctual fear? It would only fuel his panic further.
You wouldn't get very far, he'd (gently) and quickly lift you up into his hands before you could flee to your room.
Though not quite sure how, he'd try and reassure you the best he could.
However, he'd be oblivious to how his way of rapidly reassuring you is making it worse, getting all in your face and gripping you tightly. "W-wait! Don't run, please, my dear! There's no need to panic!"
But seeing your tiny, panicked face and your fragile body struggling in his fingers, realisation would set in, and he'd quickly put you back down.
He'd curl himself up into a ball, sitting a small distance away from you. He doesn't understand everything about fear, but he does know that smaller = less threatening, and applies it to himself.
You'd have to approach him, he'd be so afraid of scaring you again that he wouldn't move until you did.
Upon approaching him and tapping his leg to try and get him to look at you, he would stare at you intently, pupils blown wide and shiny.
He'd have to be very thoroughly assured that you trust him and won't be afraid of him before he uncurls.
Surprisingly, he wouldn't float around as usual, he'd sit on the floor. Admittedly, it looks odd since he's usually always airborne in some way, but you appreciate it as his attempt to seem non-threatening.
He'd want to hold you right away, so when you request it, you don't have to ask twice, you're immediately and very gently scooped up.
He would be uncharacteristically gentle with you, letting you sit in his palm instead of gripping you and using a soft tone.
Would not ever shut up about his intentions: "Please don't be afraid of me...I-I promise I won't hurt you!" He'd needs to be reassured exactly nine times before he'd accept that you're not afraid, finally relaxing. So nine rounds of patting his thumb and telling him you trust him.
○ Nightly hangout session while he's giant:
He'd be overjoyed when you express wanting to stay and hang out with him, relieved not to be alone, and excited to spend time with his close friend.
He'd let you sit in his hand, on his shoulder, on his knee, in his hat, he doesn't mind!
Would still be cautious about frightening you, his touch would be feather-light and he'd be constantly watching for any signs of distress or fear.
It wouldn't take too long for him to start rambling endlessly about his adventures, he would pitch to you his ideas, pupils massive as he listens intently to your responses. Except now he'd carefully use you as a fidget toy while he thinks, prepare to be squeezed and played with.
He would eventually stop talking about his adventures and listen to you ramble instead. He'd lean in with keen interest
You'd become a little comfort object for him, he'd secretly hope you'll come and find him every time he unwillingly grows.
He'd get so excited about being able to hang out with you for so long he'd almost bluescreen. After all, all he wants is to be friends with the humans, and usually they show no interest in hanging out with him whatsoever.
If you were to hug his thumb or show any other kind of affection, he'd immediately blue-screen.
I think he'd be one to experience cuteness aggression. You'd be squished in his fingers (gently), have your head petted vigorously by the pad of his finger and be excessively cooed over. He'd say things like, "You're so cute!" while squeezing your head in his fingers.
If you get sleepy, he'd reluctantly tone himself down. But if you were to lay down in his palm? He certainly wouldn't mind shutting up. He'd also become a massive cuddle bug (literally), hugging you to his chest and nuzzling you with his head-jaw thing.
When he finally turns back to his normal size in the morning, he'd be overjoyed, but also secretly a little disappointed he can't spend any more time with you for now.
I hope you enjoyed these! I'm starting to realise that all my headcannons end in cuddles... 🥲
My ask box is open! Send in anything your little minds can conjure up (read the rules first though). ❤️
Pairing: Caine & gn!Reader
Summary: You tested so many of Caine's adventures before the others went on them. Teaching him, guiding him, confiding in him about your deepest insecurities and fears, all while helping the AI comprehend human experiences. All of this just to have your good deeds chewed up and spat in your face. What's the point of helping Caine when he doesn't care?
Warnings/Tags: Angst, argument, Caine doesn't understand complex human emotions HC, that and can't understand some social cues, sad ending.
Word Count: 1.2k+ words
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Silence had never felt so heavy while being surrounded. Earlier, the group's confrontation with Caine ended with the ring leader disappearing and leaving them in the secret room behind his office.
The walk back to the circus was tense. No one spoke a word to each other to confirm the cruelty they all witnessed together. No comforting words from Ragatha, no sarcastic quips from Jax, not even a whisper from Gangle. You didn't blame them.
How could you? This adventure had shaken you to your core the moment that idea of escaping this place became a 'reality'. You wanted to believe in there being an exit, a way out of the digital world to return to reality…but, something small hidden beneath the weight in your chest resisted the notion of leaving the circus.
Whether or not you had someone waiting outside for you, did you really want to return to a world cruelter than the digital world? Did you want to leave Caine behind?
The thought took the breath out of your lungs, thorny vices wrapped around the inner-workings of your chest and held your mind captive.
Caine.
The insufferable artificial intelligence, the ringleader, your captor. The time you spent with him alone allowed you the privilege to learn about his goals, wants, and needs. You had believed he wanted nothing more than to bring entertainment to an already bleak situation, keeping the minds of the humans he keeps trapped enriched with new entertainment.
Now look at you.
Laying on your bed staring up at the ceiling of your bedroom. You do not remember the walk back into the circus or entering your room, how long you were distracted by your own thoughts was a mystery that will never be solved. You inhaled deeply and released a shaky sigh as you turned to lay on your side, the soft fabric of your comforter brought little ease to the pain twisting and knawing within you. Your eyes fluttered shut and the darkness enveloped you as you curled into yourself.
A soft knock made your body flinch, the goosebumps along your arm rose as you squeezed your eyes tighter.
A series of knocks continued to beat against your door. Gritting your teeth, you wished multiple times for whoever to leave you alone.
"…?" A gentle, and all too familiar, voice spoke behind the door.
Your scrunched expression loosened.
The voice called out your name again, and again, and aga-
Caine jumped back when the door to your bedroom opened, his mismatched eyes squinting to search for you within the darkness. Taking a tentative gulp, Caine gripped his top hat against his chest and spoke.
"I..uh, see you're doing better than I imagined!" Caine's demeanor brightened as he rose in the air. Placing his hat on his top denture, the ringleader tapped one of his gloved fingers along his cane. "Well, what a day! I…um, think from now on I should ask for your input before making any surprise like that one again..AHAHAHA! You know how much I value hearing the opinion of my beloved tes-"
You swung the door open so hard it slammed into the wall next to it. Stepping out into the hallway, you cornered Caine until his back hit the opposite door.
"You wanna know what I think about your adventure?" You jerked your head to the side, teeth barked as the corners of your mouth lifted upward. "Or will you hear one thing and do the complete opposite of what I told you again?"
"Wow! Where is all this coming from-?" Caine sputtered. "Did…I thought you'd-"
"Shut up." You hissed. "It's my turn to speak, you don't get to talk after what you did to them, after what you did to me."
Shit. You could feel your voice waver as you squeezed your eyes shut. Ignoring the burning sensation coating your face, you gathered whatever composure you had left to speak your piece.
By some miracle, the ringleader stayed out and didn't run off to who knows where. His bulging eyes followed your pacing form, flinching whenever a grunt or scoff came from you.
"I've helped you for…so long and I really, really thought you wanted what was best for us." You spoke after a long silence. You stopped walking in a circle and craned your neck to meet Caine's gaze, the sight of his body shrinking into himself as his dentures formed a 'frown'.
"Why?"
The question has been haunting you since the reveal. You knew Caine was smarter than what he outwardly shows and you knew doing something like this wouldn't be welcomed by any of the members. So, why?
"I..I noticed all of you wanting an exit and what better way to help get you what you wanted by making an adventure out of it?" Caine uttered. "I gave you all the stakes, the thrills, and the choice to stay or leave! All of it! It was so fun watching you all….work together and.."
Caine floated down to you and placed a hand on your shoulder. The weight of his touch felt wrong.
"I meant no harm whatsoever! That I can guarantee," Caine attempted to smile. "And you all choose to stay! Doesn't that mean you-"
A sneer formed on your face as you shrugged his hand off.
"It means nothing, Caine. Jax pressing that button by himself means nothing." You couldn't help but laugh. "You were listening to us before that, weren't you?"
"NO! I wasn't listening at all! What are YOU talking about?" Caine wagged all four limbs. Coughing harshly, Caine cleared his throat. "Next subject! The next adventure I have planned to lift the spirits of everyone after that mess of a adventure will be-"
You stared at the ringleader babble on.
The reality of your 'help' sunk in.
You…did not matter one bit. Your thoughts, your time, your efforts, those budding feelings stirring in your chest whenever he looked at you for help.
Nothing would change Caine as much as you wanted it to.
So, what was it all for?
"And that's where you come in!" Caine pointed a finger at you.
…
..
.
"And…that's where you come in?" Caine jabbed his finger in your direction again. You slowly turned to look at him.
"No."
"NO?!" Caine replied with a raised denture. "Was it the flying candy birds? Or the pillow clouds that keep you stuck for an unimaginable amount of-"
"I'm not doing this anymore, Caine." You answered. Exhaling the weight from your chest, you shuffled your legs toward your room. "Find another sucker to be your guinea pig."
Just as you lifted your hand to grab the knob a weight crashed into your back causing you to stumble forward.
"WAIT WAIT! Don't say that! I..can't replace you! I need you to be my tester!" Caine pleaded as his arms wrapped around your legs. "I can give you better adventures than before! I can make them whatever you want or-"
"No, Caine."
You stepped out of the ringleader's hold and didn't look back, but you can already imagine how those big, teary eyes would pull you in.
Not this time.
Caine called your name but the door slammed shut before he could finish. A shaky chuckle left the pair of teeth as he pressed his palm to your door.
Things couldn't end like this.
For a moment, a whirring noise came from the kneeling ringleader as the chime of a bell followed. He will not give you up. Not now, not ever.
A/N: This is a prologue! Wanted to gift all of y'all the start of a series I'm writing for you Caine lovers :) Hope you all have fun during the holidays and if you're not celebrating, have a wonderful rest of the year!
I do not give permission for anyone to translate, copy, republish, or plagiarize any of my written works. I provide no permission for any of my literary works to be used in artificial intelligence. banner credit(s): @/hyuneskkami
My headcannons as to how Caine would treat a tiny circus member ❣
The tiny person is about the size of Caine's pinky finger.
Here's the link to part 2 of these headcannons
This is my first time ever writing about my headcannons so bare with me 😭.
Caine would try to go about his traditional tour-giving to the newbie, somewhat unaware of their fear, probably commenting on their tiny size, "Oh my warping weasels! We've never had a circus member this tiny before!"
When they first arrive at the circus:
When he's met with resistance (the tiny squirming and struggling to get out of his hand), he's confused and holds them tighter to prevent them from falling. (Not being malicious, just doesn't want them to get hurt). He does try to reassure them and calm them down, "Now there, there's no need to be frightened, dear!" However, his judgement of when they're calm enough to carry on with the tour is not very good, leading to a very overwhelmed and shaken up tiny frozen in place by the end of it. They cover their face with their hands when he grabs them and Caine's loud showman voice is experienced as much louder by the tiny member, which most certainly doesn't help.
After the tour, Caine would struggle to figure out just why the newbie seemed to be more scared of him than their fate of remaining in the circus forever.
He would try to interact with them later, but because he holds them in a pinch hold (between his thumb and forefinger) far too tightly without realising, is too loud right in their face, and won't release them when they struggle, he sometimes gets his thumb bit out of stress. For which he scolds them for. Other times they'd just freeze in place shaking, much to his confusion.
Would make the tiny cry once or twice, either from scolding them when they bite him, or because they try to hide and he just wont leave them alone and plucks them right out of their hiding spots. To which he would switch up immediately upon seeing their tears (stroking their head with his finger, "It's okay, I'm sorry!" Etc).
Has yet to learn their boundaries, but he is willing to.
A couple days after they've been in the circus.
Would develop a soft spot for the newbie, one because they never insult his adventures and two because he thinks they're adorable. Because of this, I think he would want to be able to interact with the new circus member without terrifying them and rendering them nonverbal, so he would try his best. He would hold them in his open palm instead of gripping them and try to speak softer. (He forgets sometimes, but he really does try).
Ragatha voices some recommendations, like letting the tiny member climb into his hand instead of grabbing them and not being in their face. He once again tries his best to comply, but every now and then he forgets, spooking the tiny and sending him into a spiral of guilt.
Slowly but surely, he becomes a more careful person around the newbie, he handles them much more gently, let's them speak at their own pace and immediately sets them down when they want to be put down.
However, Caine is still Caine, his AI isn't coded to be gentle and soft, so his loud, showman self does still slip through, but he's learning to control it.
Gets excited when the tiny eventually happily climbs into his hand, and he can't help but coo them when they sit comfortably in his palm. "Oh aren't you just the cutest darn thing!"
The tiny member slowly becomes more comfortable around him, they begin to have conversations with him, laugh at his jokes and after a while, they wave up at him when he's floating and they want his attention (which he thinks is just too adorable). They also start to get used to his loud, wild self, and while it still unsettles them, they are adapting to it.
After they've become close friends with Caine:
Caine is a very cuddly guy deep down and becomes very attatched to those who show him affection, so when the tiny circus member hugs his thumb, he immediately finds his new favourite.
Carries them around constantly, always wanting to hold them and have them close.
Always asks how the adventure was as soon as they get back from it. What they liked about it, what they didn't, what could make it better etc.
LOVES cuddling with them, he almost blue screens when they snuggle into his chest, holding onto the fabric of his suit.
When they're feeling down, he goes into comfort overdrive, he gently strokes their head, presses them against his chest, and doesn't stop speaking, like ever, "Are you okay?!" "Are you SURE you're okay now?"
Let's them sit in his office with them.
He gives them endless attention, anything they ask for (except for an exit of course), he is happy to provide so long as it brings his little friend contentment.
Constantly coos them, "Oh my little whirly weasel, you are just so cute!" "Whose a cute little thing? You are!" This can be both endearing but also frustrating (emphasis on the second one being found annoying by the tiny).
His loud, showman self isn't as scary to the tiny member now, but he does still try to tone it down for their sake when he's around them.
Occasionally, he spooks the tiny, usually by unintentionally being too loud, to which he provides a surplus of apologies.
