Swap Pomni au: Pomni's relationships ( minus Jax)
I'm probably gonna make like several posts about Jax's and Pomni's relationship in this au, but for now let me tell you about the jesters emotional hold on everyone.
Moon: moon was actually the first person/AI that Pomni every really reached out too. In the early days, between thinking the circus was a dream, her near constant crashouts and breakdowns after find out it was not a dream, and her insomnia (which she still has), Pomni spent a lot of time just sitting outside circus. One night she and the moon finally talked. Since then, the moon has become a near constant person in Pomni's digital life. It's even gotten to the point where Caine ended up making bodies for her and her sister to join him around the circus. The moon is almost a mother figure to Pomni and is the only AI that knows Pomni's still looking for an exit. She even helps her when she can. Unlike Caine, moon has never forgotten her true programming....
Sun: surprisingly, the sun likes Pomni. She respects the fact Pomni doesn't put up with much and kinda corral Caine. Still a massive jerk to her but almost In a friendly way.
Kinger: in the beginning, there was a lot of distrust of kinger in Pomni's heart. Until one night, she met the real kinger. The lucid Kinger. Learning about him, his wife, and through numerous context clues, his involvement with the circus eased them into being friends. In fact, Pomni ended up having many of her first nights sleeping in kinger's fort. Eventually, when kinger started teaching Pomni how to manipulate the circus's code, it became more like a father/daughter bond. Even now, when kinger isn't lucid, he always seems to know how Pomni's doing and tries to care for her.
Gangle: gangle looks up to Pomni and sees her as the sister she's never had. Despite (very technically) being older than Pomni, Pomni acts so much like gangle's big sister it's not even funny. Despite this closeness, Pomni keeps most of her secrets hidden from her. Because she wants gangle happy more than anything.
Zooble: Zooble, like everyone else looks up to Pomni for what she's done. Unlike everyone, zooble knows not to put so much onto her shoulders. Because of this, they don't interact as much, but Pomni is more than happy to play wingwoman for them when it comes to gangle.
Kaufmo: kaufmo see Pomni as a leader and a guide, someone to listen to more than not. So when she and Jax not subtly told kaufy to stop looking for an exit, he obliged. A part of him knows they're hiding something, but for now he trusts Pomni... Let's just hope it isn't misplaced.
Ragatha: the newest arrival, Ragatha is still getting used to the circus. Unlike canon, Ragatha has spent a few years away from her mother and thankfully, has learned not to be a complete people pleaser... Though she unfortunately is still very much a "always remain positive" kind of person. Despite that, she has fallen into step with Pomni and Jax thanks to finding the exit door on her first day, setting forward changes that could very well save everyone.
Gummygoo: the first NPC Pomni ever met, like canon, she and him ended up in the asset storage causing him to awaken and begin to grow. Caine initially erased him, but once Pomni figured out more control of the code, she restored him. Gummygoo now spends most of the time when not in use as a scout, searching the underbelly of the circus for the exit. He has an unrequited crush on Pomni, but refuses to act on it because 1) he's and NPC and Pomni will (he hopes) eventually leave the circus. And 2) she's with Jax, and while he and Jax aren't friendly, he very much respects him and knows he loves Pomni.
Caine: Caine, at first, treated Pomni like any normal Player. But when Pomni began to not give Caine accurate feedback on his adventures, but outright praise for whenever he tried to follow her ideas, he began to develop a feedback loop in response. To put it simply: Caine needs to appease Pomni now. To him, she's like a big sister that he looks up too. Despite essentially being God, Pomni has nearly complete control of the circus through Caine, and everyone knows it. Recently however, Caine's emotional stability is... Lessening. And this along with the rediscovery of the exit door, is prompting Pomni and her team to move on with trying to get everyone out. Because even AI can break...