Been a minute since I've written an entire cast shot for TADC-- dont expect this to be a common thing again
Notes: gn reader, short and sweet, written on computer, Canon character focused, im sure ive already written this a loooooooong time ago but blah blah blah feeling like its been long enough to warrant a rewrite esp as new episodes have likely come out between then and now
CWs: mentions of body dysmorphia in zoobles part, mentions of loss in kingers part as well as struggles with memory
CAINE
LOVE love loves cuddling with you- hes never actually cuddled another person... bubble doesnt count and thats more of like... comical clinging hug than actual cuddling!
odds are youre physically larger than him but thats not going to stop him being big spoon- definitely has the traditional "men need to be the one in that position" not because he feels he NEEDS to as a man... he just likes feeling like youre personal protector- your man, your guy, your... uhuhuh... yeah!
he sometimes like to cuddle you mid air... hope youre not afraid of heights and the odd feeling of defying physics!
POMNI
again, odds are youre larger than her. she seems more of a little spoon person... though she strikes me as the type to be an awkward cuddler. she doesnt really know where to put her hands- even if its far from the first time youve cuddled into one another
i love her, and she loves you- but pomni looks like the type of person to run uncomfortably hot and doesnt like being touched because of it... clammy and gross feeling, doesnt like it. dont touch her she will get irritated from the feel... its not that she doesnt like you she just doesnt like feeling sweaty
compromises by holding your hand in bed... looping your fingers together as you sleep feels... more tender honestly...
RAGATHA
shes soft and plush- of course she is, shes a doll! definitely has some weight to her... sleeping with her arm wrapped around you is so comforting, genuinely the best sleep youve gotten in a while
she also vaguely smells like berries! so thats a bonus! she totally gets it if you nestle your face into her hair and drift off smelling her! sure its a little quirky but shes not going to judge you for it... honestly if you smelled nice like that she might do the same
no big spoon/little spoon thing... you two mostly just cling onto one another in the bed by any means necessary
JAX
only ever cuddles you when he knows for a fact other people arent going to come in and see him like this. i still stand firm that he hates being seen as soft and vulnerable. even letting himself indulge in stuff like this in an unapologetically tender and sincere way for YOU takes some time
and even then hes most likely to shift into you and cuddle if youre asleep, unable to perceive his rare moment of just... being soft.
he doesnt like being little spoon though, even without the vulnerability stuff
hes kind of sticky.. hes not fluffy in my mind. hes like those rubber squishy toys
KINGER
its... nice holding someone again... but when was the last time hes held someone? why does it feels so familiar but so different- it wasnt you in his arms before was it? it was... someone else, wasnt it? ...hes hardly in the moment long enough most of the time to really dwell on it
he likes being the big spoon- keeping you in his arms... er... hands... makes him feel anchored, calmer. he knows hes missed this even if he cant quite pin point why
but... he kind of melts right into you when you turn it back on him and make him the little spoon. its like seeing a stunned animal relax into comfort
GANGLE
cuddling with her can be a little... hard.. shes made of ribbon so there isnt much to hold and she doesnt have much weight to her... it.. definitely is a sore topic for her. it makes her feel like shes falling short somewhere. like she cant properly cuddle you
even holding her bundled up in your arms doesnt feel right, and shes going to pull away the entire time- doesnt want to waste your efforts even if you try to reassure her... times like this call for creativity--
wrapping her ribbons around you might be a little unconventional... and might lead to tangling- but its something, and its something only you two can do.. no one else! its special and unique to your relationship specifically.. word it like that to her and she'll cheer up a bit!
ZOOBLE
they dont... much care for cuddling. for multiple reasons. partly because its just not for them, and partly because it forces them to actively become aware of what their body is like... the shape, the textures... its all a bit much...
but zooble doesnt want to make you feel rejected- its a hard situation all around. they are going to at least talk to you about it so youre not left in the dark... though it might take a while for them to bring it up
they much prefer non physical intimacy anyways- even prior to the circus. acts of service, talking, spending time. things like that mean more to them
pretty sure she’s words + attention all the way. she’ll notice every little thing about you, she’ll hype you up in the smallest moments (“omg you made that? that’s amazing!!” “wait wait wait tell me again, that’s so cool”), she’d always be checking in because she gets worried if you’re quiet for a bit. she wants to make sure your feelings are heard and validated, because she knows what it’s like to feel trapped, so she overcompensates by giving you this full-force sunshine energy whenever she can. and she’ll never get tired of listening to your thoughts, no matter how messy they come out
.ᐟ RAGATHA
the eternal camp counselor energy. . . i always see her love language as quality time. she’ll patch you up, literally sew you back together if needed. Ragatha loves just sitting with you, asking questions about who you are, what you like, what makes you laugh. her love is caretaking, maybe a little forced at times (bc she masks her own panic), but always genuine in tone! she gives so much of herself away in taking care of people that honestly? the way she loves is just making sure you don’t unravel the way she secretly is.
.ᐟ JAX
personalized cruelty. if he doesn’t like you, you’re just background noise. if he does like you, congratulations, you’re his favorite toy. the way he spends time nitpicking you, scaring you, singling you out, that’s the closest thing to affection he can manage. he probably wouldn’t ever say anything sweet unless it was sarcastic, and honestly, the second you expect attachment from him, he’s out.
Jax doesn’t want to need anyone, doesn’t want to be needed. attachment feels like a trap, so he pushes, prods, tries to prove to himself that you’ll crack and run. but if you don’t and stay after the sharp remarks and his torments, then you’ll notice his cruelty. . . soften ? his love language is in the cracks where he lets himself just be near you. Jax won’t admit it, but he’s terrified of feeling he actually cares, so he hides it in the only mask he knows, mockery.
.ᐟ CAINE
words words words. i think Caine’s entire love language would be grand affirmations. like “ASTOUNDING!! WONDERFUL, MY DEAR!! you’ve outdone yourself yet again!!” for literally breathing lmao. it’s also about attention, he’ll spotlight you, build a whole silly adventure around you, make you the star. because he actually enjoys watching you light up. he’s literally designed to perform so his way of caring is spotlighting you !!
.ᐟ KINGER
father-figure vibes for sure. he’s been here longest, so his love is teaching you what he knows. like, “here’s how you don’t lose your head when the floor turns into jelly” kind of stuff. it’s very quality time mixed with guidance. he’ll ramble about ants and in a way, that’s him sharing himself. but also, he’s protective in a dad way, he’s not gonna let you wander off unprepared.
.ᐟ GANGLE
.ᐟ ZOOBLE
i guess her love language would be gifts + trust. she loves making little drawings and doodles of you, she’d come over all hesitant like, “um. . .i made this for you.” that and if she ever trusted you with her comedy mask, that’s basically her giving you her heart. so if she puts it in your hands, it means she believes you won’t laugh at her vulnerability. + Gangle clings, like literally wraps her ribbons around you, shy and nervous, but desperate to hold you.
so since Zooble acts like they don’t give a damn, if they choose to keep you around, that’s already love. they’ll always stick around when things get heavy, actually listening to every word you say. the way they show love is so PATIENT. like they’ll sit through your meltdown, they’ll let you ramble about the same thing for the 10th time, their love language is acts of service + quality time. they’re still there when everyone else would’ve walked away.
i NEED more teenager!reader in tadc lol! if you’re interested, obviously. my request is; how would the tadc characters react to teen!reader going through puberty in the circus? throwing tantrums, meltdowns, being unnecessarily mean, or even just randomly crying. i just need this because ep8 is coming soon i am scared by the teasers…
That might actually be a special kind of hell. Getting trapped in those awkward teen years forever. Not to mention how uncomfortable it would make Caine! Who now has another Zooble on his hands, but worse.
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Adventures in teenage angst
★ You've cursed out Caine. Multiple times, actually! Calling him a "Raggedy b***h," and "Rejected fever-dream wannabe," among other things. He always glitches out for a moment. Then tries to pretend you didn't just say that.
★ Of course Jax just has to mess with you, especially when you're already in a bad mood. "Aw, look at the little baby cry. Should I get your diary? Maybe some scented markers?" You threw a lamp at his face. Missing by about an inch.
★ Can you guess who doesn't have the patience for you? If you guessed Zooble, you'd be right! They take one good look at you, yelling at the sky, (trying to find Caine) and they walk away. Choosing their battles. "Good luck, kid." Zooble calls out while leaving the room. The hell were you even trying to do?
★ Calling you unhinged would be an understatement. Unstable is more accurate. You're yelling one moment, then crying the next. Emotions swinging fast enough to give Gangle whiplash. Overwhelmed, but still trying your best.
★ Kinger is good at keeping you calm. Or at least getting you settled down enough to talk. It usually happens inside his pillow fort. Having sought his help on your own.
★ Ragatha loves you very much. She's like the older sister you didn't know you needed. Always there when you need her. Honestly, if you didn't have her in your life, you would've been sleeping in the cellar by now.
★ Poor Pomni. She has less than half a clue when it comes to children. And yes -she considers you a child. The one time she tried to scold you, you almost ripped off her arm. "Hey! You, um... You shouldn't do... That." Pomni trailed off. Seeing the violence in your eyes.
I see that your requests are open, may I ask for a tadc x reader where the main cast reacts to their usually strong and prideful s/o suddenly breaking into tears? Please and thanks, love your writing!
☆TADC CAST REACTS TO READER BREAKING DOWN☆
HEYYY BABESSS tysm for the request 🥹🥹 episode 9 is out and GODDDDUH
☆STARRY NOTES☆ : fem!reader duh durrrr. And um i lwk made jax an asshole in this. Think of how Ribbit abstracted (im so sorry)
TW: cursing, mention of death (abstraction), mention of suicide (abstraction, only in Jax's part)
☆POMNI☆
I mean come on. She always knew you were strong, especially when she first showed up in the circus and you were just a nicer version of jax
You were strong and confident and prideful, that she just fed off your energy, and that's honestly how SHE got so strong for the others to rely on
So seeing you, that pillar that allowed her to adjust so quickly, finally breaking down? Chest heaving and tears streaming down your face, fingers digging into your chest as if trying to reign it in?
She.. god, she never expected that from you. She's stunned, even, staring at you before moving into action, even touching you to try and bring you back
Because you're RESPECTFUL and know she's not one for touch, you try to pull back for her comfort, choking on apologies before she has to bring you back into her arms
Because she remembers when you first did this for her, and at that time, her being so desperate for contact she didn't even care about the touch thing
She assumed you needed the same. She learned all this from you, after all.
☆RAGATHA☆
for someone who also conceals what she actually feels for the sake of others, she understands your predicament on an uncomfortably personal level
But you're far more confident than she is that she almost believes you're unbreakable. Comforting the newbies, spending time with all of them, even Jax, to make sure they'll be alright
God, she aspires to be like you someday. Out of everyone, you are her inspiration, most definitely
So when a friend, when Ribbit abstracted, she watched you break for the first time ever. You attended the funeral, you stayed strong then, listing everything you loved about them and being their friend
She's walking back to her room when she sees you, standing in the hallway in front of Ribbit's door
Assuming no one is here, because Jax is in his room and the others are somewhere else, you're.. crying
Heartbreaking, full body sobs that she's never seen you do before. She's seen you tear up, maybe, but never this type of sadness
She's entranced, in a way, as she watches. Your hands are clenched so tightly there are creaking noises straining from the creases, digging into your clothes or skin, folding in on yourself
The tears are so big they blind you, blind Ribbit and her face. Why didn't you go check on her? You saw them looking down and reached out, and when they pushed you away, you just accepted it? How fucking stupid are you?
You hate yourself for this, because maybe you could've saved her. Your hands go from your clothes to your shoulders, gripping harshly. You idiot. You idiot.
Then she's there, crying with you and cradling you against her chest, holding you like she would a child because god she understands
She feels the same hatred you do.
☆GANGLE☆
After Zooble, you are her safe place
If something goes wrong or something happens or Jax bullies her again, she goes to either Zooble or you, but then again...
She's seen Zooble cry. But she's never seen you cry, not once. Ever, actually. That's confusing to her, but she finds solace in you, and has drawn you countless times as some undefeatable hero in some shonen anime she can't seem to remember
Until that adventure, that day. The day Caine made everyone believe that they had even the slightest chance of escaping this hell.
You're so angry, at first, festering with the same anger as everyone else, but it just boils uncontrollably until you're.. sobbing?
Face contorted, every feature trembling as if screaming the sorrow of everyone, those cartoonish tears dragging down your face as if scarring you
She's never seen you like this. It scares her, almost, how you looked that day. So angry and so damn hurt. But for some reason, seeing you that way.. you were so beautiful.
She can't contain the urge of an artist, and now, instead of drawing you as an undefeatable hero, you're drawn with that same expression, breaking down, angry on everyone's behalf
She feels guilty for finding such attraction in your intense feelings, but she just ends up loving you more.
☆ZOOBLE☆
Zooble always thinks of themselves as some sort of ugly. An ugly that can't be fixed by changing between these parts, by acting different
They're shackled to an identity they wish they could get rid of and perfect and they just can't. They'll lay there, having a damn panic attack over an identity.
But you've always been there, holding them in whichever way you must to make them feel even a bit better, praising them with every new look they try, and you're probably one of the only reasons they even love themselves at all
So when they see you break down, have one of those panic attacks over something you insist is trivial — they know better, they always have — and just sobbing, they.. pause
That expression of yours. They're shocked. They hate they assumed, but they always thought you'd be pretty when you cried. This expression is, inherently, ugly.
But they don't see you that way at all. You're beautiful, actually, and that makes them hesitate before comforting you because you're just so pretty
They think about this, and think, 'is that how I look to them?' But in a good way. You see them as.. beautiful. And they finally get that.
They start to think being 'ugly' isn't so bad after all.
☆JAX☆
He always stops himself from crying. His body, this world, is so damn stupid that how could he cry in it? Over what, fake people? Oh please.
That's why he got with you in the first place. You never cried, not during funerals, not when people abstracted. Hell, sometimes you even made light of things, which he particularly enjoyed
He was softening up a bit. Being more like himself. It was a bit annoying, but he had you, so what of it?
Then he sees you crying. You're angry, which he, of course, has felt before, but you're so angry you're crying. You, of all people, are shedding tears in such a place? He stares in a way that looks almost.. disgusted, as much as disbelieving.
He thought you were strong enough. This.. this is just pathetic.
He doesn't talk to you again after. He didn't comfort you then, either, which is to be expected of him. But he just starts.. isolating you. Leaves you behind in discussion, never pairs up with you, talks to ANYONE else so you're alone
Because pathetic people have no place here.
so why is he now crying, standing before your door, your profile crossed out, staring at him like he's a tick you can't brush off. And maybe he was.
For some weird damn reason, he regrets it. And that becomes his final reason as well.
He hopes he can apologize.
☆KINGER☆
He always tried to coax you into letting out your emotions instead of just pushing through, because the wise kinger says to take care of yourself damn it!!!
After Queenie he doubted he could love again, but then you showed up. You only recently started dating him, since you didn't want to get him in another relationship after his wife abstracted
because we're RESPECTFUL
But he sees you starts crying, and even though it's bright as SHIT in the circus, he locks in. Because wdym. His partner is crying.
He gets flashbacks of being with his wife in the real world, of her crying and being in distress, and I SWEAR he's never locked in so fast. He's by your side, holding you, saying all the right things because come on guys its KINGER
after the cause of your distress is taken away or dealt with, he brings you to his pillow fort and you guys stay like that for hours, laying on his chest as he speaks about bugs and all the things he likes
Just words to fill the endless stream of panic and hurt, to comfort you and give you something to grasp onto
Yo,,,,,,,,, I know that the caption(?) for the request of child!reader with ribbit and kaufmo is a joke, but can you expand more on the oldest child!reader/child!reader actually being one of the testers before❓
I think I'd be nice to see everyone's collective reactions that a child stayed as surprisingly long as kinger
At first it was just a joke. But the more I think about it, the more the idea makes sense. Brain scans can't age. If someone entered the Circus as a child? They would stay a child, even as time passes.
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The child!Reader being one of the oldest members
★ You never mentioned how long you'd been here. Time feels messed up in a place where days aren't counted. Or even felt. Ageing isn't possible, not here, so for now you're stuck as a little kid.
★ Memories get fuzzy when you try thinking about your first couple days. Adjusting over the span of about two weeks. All you remember was Kinger being there. Caine too.
★ It actually took forever for Zooble or Gangle to realize just how long you've been here. What tipped Zooble off was the brief mention of someone named Rattie. A lady they had never met. Asking Ragatha didn't help, because she didn't know who that was.
★ "Oh, they've been here forever." She said calmly. Catching Zooble's full attention. That ...didn't sound right. You were so young. How would that even work? "What do you mean?" They turned to her, confused.
★ Gangle was drawing with you when a certain yellow dog caught her attention. Drawn on lined paper with crayons. She recognized it immediately. His door was just down the haul. The nameplate crossed out. You must've known this person.
★ That day she learned about Scratch. You only knew him a few days before he went away. But Kinger had sometimes talked about him. Allowing you to share second-hand stories. Apparently, he was creative, like her!
★ As mentioned before, you kind of just exist. Happily living out the countless days. Filled with adventures and games. Perfectly content to stay in this world. Jax is jealous of how easily it all comes to you.
★ Jax fights practically everything. Pushing boundaries, testing each person's limit, and hurting everyone who tries to get close. You just accept things blindly. Trusting people to catch you if you fall. Deep down, Jax wishes she could be like that.
★ Technically, you're actually about 20 or 30. Considering the Digital Circus was built around 1999. Ragatha was scanned later, sometime in 2008.
★ That's a strange thought. So Pomni pretends not to know your whole backstory. You honestly don't remember much anyway. The situation is kind of an open secret. Your childhood is decades long and still counting.
★ You've always been called "the baby." Queenie gave you the nickname before anyone settled on a proper name. It seemed to stick. Kinger still calls you that, and Ragatha does too! Jax uses it to tease you, because of course he would.
hi!!! i love ur tadc headcanon blurbs <3 i was wondering if u could do headcanons with the whole cast for reader who's the youngest in the circus? not super young, just a year or two younger than jax since he's the actual youngest
Writing this made me think about ageing. It's bound to happen, nobody gets an exception, but imagen just... not getting older? That'd be terrifying. Staying the same forever way forever.
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The main cast & young adult Reader
★ You were the very mature age of nineteen when you got stuck in the circus. Technically an adult. But it doesn't really feel like it. Especially to the older folks, like Ragatha and Kinger.
★ If you want to make them feel old, you could point out the year you were born. It hits different when the others realize that time has basically stopped affecting them. The years keep passing, yet they stay the same.
★ Gangle remembers working with teenagers. Her managers hired a lot of sixteen to nineteen‑year‑old's, back when she worked in fast food. They almost never lasted a full year. You're here to stay. So she tries her best to make you feel comfortable.
★ Being as gentle as he is, Kinger doesn't mind when you need somewhere to hide away. His pillow fort is always open to you. Where you can finally breathe. He's a bit of an adoptive dad. Honestly.
★ That thought makes you wonder, what does your family think? "You ran away to join the circus!" Caine yells, being technically true. While conveniently forgetting you didn't choose this life.
★ Zooble is the closest person to you, mentally speaking. Zooble was pretty young when they got trapped. But unlike you, they seemed to have life pretty figured out. You? Not so much. No offence, but you were yet to get your shit together.
★ The second youngest is Jax. Who's a whole three years older. He tries to look out for you when he can. Not well, obviously. But he tries to make an attempt. You might catch him lingering nearby, like he wants to keep his distance and stay close at the same time.
