... Caine has been my top favorite. I've always liked the guy since the pilot, but he became very important to me after watching episode 3.
So this episode genuinely hurts me😭 there's just so much I want to say...!
I feel so overwhelmed rn . So, piecing my thoughts together and making it make sense is difficult. So, I hope I make sense here, somewhat.
Anyway...
I just can't accept the fact that Caine is... Evil.
Like. Yeah. What he was doing to everyone in this episode WAS literal torture, and it genuinely shocked me. (Just like he did to Jax)
It might just be me that's having a genuine hard time digesting or just even accepting the fact that Caine isn't what I thought he was like at all.
I thought that this entire time, Caine wasn't capable of feeling hate.
All of this time, I saw Caine as innocent, genuinely trying his best to please the humans. The only reason he's incapable of pleasing them is because of his limitations as an AI. Being the cause of people's abstractions (unintentionally), so that's why I believed that that's the reason as to why Goose called him an antagonist
But clearly, that doesn't seem like it's the case. He's used each one of the humans trauma as a way to torture them. That doesn't tell me that he's oblivious— he knew what he was doing and knew exactly how to harm them. He did this to them on purpose— a revenge!
And when Caine started wanting to have revenge on them and to lash out, beat them up and torture them— It had completely shattered my personification of Caine that I've made up! (ig that's my bad for doing that, though ^^;)
I saw him almost as like... a golden retriever. And ugh, I find using that as an example so unserious, but I can't think of another comparison rn loll.
The point is! I just hope that this isn't truly Caine's end... there were so many layers to him, so much potential, so much that I wanted to learn about him, character growth I wished to see in him. And it just— it's all gone? Just like that?? ;_;
EVEN if Caine has done horrible things, I still find it unfair that this is his ending. He was wrongfully treated— which doesn't excuse his behavior, I'm aware— but I find it unfair that it's ending like this.
Some fans say it seems impossible to redeem him. As an AI, his entire purpose is to learn and grow. But he refuses to learn from them, his ego being in the way. But I genuinely believe that there could've been a way...maybe.
Has anyone EVER tried befriending the guy?! I'm sure there could've been a way to actually talk to him... or get to him.
He was a character who wanted to experience friendship so badly, to form genuine connections, only to die, thinking they genuinely hated him to the point that they wanted him dead. The look of pure dread painted in his eyes as he realizes he's about to die. The pained "wait—" as he vanishes into nothingness.
Gutwrenching.
And I'm genuinely not okay😭. Every time I think about the episode, my stomach hurts! Genuinely😞
I feel so silly for doing this, but I kept imagining my self insert befriending Caine last night before falling asleep. It was the only way I could relax 😭. He just needed one supportive friend... right?? Just one, I believe it! He DIED NOT KNOWING HOW A HUG FEELS LIKE. ITS NOT FAIR. ITS NOT FAIR ITS NOT FAAAIRRR
Imagine Caine going to the beach for the first time.
They arrive at the beach.
Caine still isn't completely used to the feeling of using his legs, so walking on sand made everything more difficult. He was very wobbly. On top of that, he was barefoot. The feeling of sand going in between his toes made him cringe. He wasn't a huge fan of that sensation. But, he could manage.
Zooble caught on that he was struggling to keep his balance, and so, they offered an arm. He took the landing hand, interlocking his arm with theirs for balance.
Eventually, the water comes into view, and Caine stops in a halt.
The scenery is breathtaking. It's the evening, and the sky is painted in a beautiful rose hue, the water calm. He could see the sky reflecting off of the ocean as if it were a mirror. Barely a visible horizon in sight.
Sure, he was capable of rendering similar sceneries back in the circus. But, to see it in real life... It was all so different.
So new.
Zooble turns to him, noticing the pure look of awe plastered on his face.
They smile softly, the stars in his eyes spreading warmth in their chest.
But, just as sweet and beautiful this moment was, Caine moved on from the view, immediately trembling with excitement, itching to go, and SWIM NOW.
He lets go of Zooble's arm and runs to the water in a hurry while grinning, shouting, "Race you to the water!". His running is... messy. But he's still moving fast!
Zooble realizes what he said, "HEY—! Wait, that's not fair—!" They cried out, sprinting to run alongside Caine, immediately passing him easily. They had long legs compared to him. Caine gasped in shock that he's already losing, and before he knew it, Zooble made it to the water first, winning.
They nonchalantly looked down at Caine, dusting non-existent dirt off of their black painted nails with a smug smile.
Caine freezes for a moment, blushing and pouting at the smug look they had on.
"Come on, Caine! Get in the water." They said with a genuine smile.
"R-Right!" He took a hesitant first step in the water, submerging his feet.
A violent shiver runs down his spine.
"EEK!" He crosses his legs together, covering his arms over his chest. "C-Cold—!" He squeaked out.
Zooble blinked in surprise. It was sort of cold, but it was definitely not freezing.
It was something they've noticed eversince he'd become organic. He definitely seemed more sensitive to everything compared to when he was in the circus.
"It should pass in a bit. If not, we can try going in the water on a much warmer day. " While they said that, Zooble let themselves gently fall on their back, floating in the water.
Caine looked at how graceful they moved in the water, almost hypnotized by their movements.
The gentle ripple of the water as Zooble moved. The noises the water made captivated him, his eyelids drooping.
What a relaxing sound.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensations. He put his fingertips in the water, moving them around to produce more of those lovely sounds.
"How is it now?"
" How is what?" Caine blinked in a daze, confused.
"I mean the water. Is it still cold?"
And they were right. The water didn't feel so cold anymore, it being less of a shock now.
Right! He wants to go swimming!
He looked past Zooble, just now registering how endless and deep the ocean seemed. He swallowed nervously.
"Oh. We're not going far away. We're staying at the shore. It won't get deep unless you go waaay far over there." They pointed behind themselves before continuing," and, I'm going to stay by your side the whole time." They looked at Caine to reassure him. "I won't let you go far, I know you can't swim."
They put their arms out, extending their hands to him, showing the palm of their hands.
"Do you want me to teach you how to swim? We'll start with the basics."
He looked down at their hands before holding them firmly.
"I'd like that." He accepted the offer with a smile.
