Ya know the "oldest child!reader/child!reader actually being one of the testers" actually got me thinking, given the circus members find out who they are and see what their human counterparts are up to it would interesting to see how they'd react to child!reader being an adult irl, maybe they're getting/have a computer science degree? Maybe their dad was Scratch? Just food for thought, it would be interesting to see what they think about that fact when they can see it with their own eyes.
Actually wrote this one already! But that post has less plot, and the Reader was much younger in real life.
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Seeing you've grown up
★ Fully understanding what happened to get you here wasn't possible. Probably because you were so young. Honestly, it might be a good thing.
★ Using a child as a test subject was undeniably unethical. Throwing experimental brain scans into the mix made the whole thing that much worse. With all due respect, what the sweet-and-sour fuck was Scratch thinking?
★ You can't recall the first days you spent in the Circus. Of course, years have passed since then. But don't worry, because Kinger can't remember either. All you know is that everyone around you was acting weird, and it made you feel overwhelmed.
★ Being strictly family-friendly, Caine assumed you'd love being here -which you do! Just not for the reasons he thought.
★ Infinite adventures, all you can eat buffets, and endless new toys should keep any child happy. Children are much easier to please than adults. Something Caine is eternally grateful for. But what you truly adore is the attention.
★ Keeping this in mind, right after Jax's portion of the slideshow was the Reader's. (Caine always saves the best for last.) Instead of sitting on the couch next to Pomni, you sat on the floor. Looking up at the display with starry eyes.
★ You didn't realize the person on the screen, that's you. You looked so happy! Obviously social media doesn't show every part of a person's life, but from what could be seen, the world had been kind to you.
★ Apparently you'd gone off to college? There were several photos of you at a computer lab. Unintelligible code blurred across the screen. Kinger thought the place looked familiar. Wait... was that the same school he went to?!?
★ Five seconds into your part, Ragatha started choking back her tears. All this time she'd been feeling guilty. Guilty you weren't given the chance to live your own life. Now she can finally rest easy, taking comfort in knowing your future is bright.
★ Caine couldn't figure out what your major was for the life of him. Only you were working with computers and engineering. And that you'd posted about "spring break" for three consecutive years.
★ It's a little funny how these things work out. The first version of you grew up and decided to work with computers. Second version didn't even realize something was wrong. Made the whole cast think about how/why you adapted to the Circus so well.
★ If the Reader was Scratch's (aka Mike Dobby's) child, he'd have paid to put you through school. The tumor in his head might've killed him. But that's what a trust fund is for. Not leaving you well off, just comfortable.