Chapter Text
It was a slow day at the Circus. Luckily, Caine had no terrifying or stressful adventures for them as of yet, so everyone was up to their own devices.
Ragatha was in her room, trying to style her red shaggy yarny curls at her little vanity. She had a brush in her hand, trying to brush it out. But it would only fray the yarn. Letting out a frustrated huff, she shook her head, resetting the hair as it was with a poof! Suddenly, there was a knock at her door, and a familiar Jester peaks in.
"Uh... Ragatha? Caine says that he has an adventure ready, and he... are you okay?" Pomni asks with a concerned tone.
Apparently, the ragdoll's frustration was clear on her face. "Huh? Oh, yeah! I'm fine," Ragatha waves, trying to keep up her usual chipper attitude.
The Jester steps closer into the room, closing the door. "Are you sure? You looked... uh... frustrated?"
The doll sighs, knowing she's a terrible liar. "I'm trying to do my hair, but... ugh, it's not doing what I want! When I brush it, the yarn frays, and it sticks up weirdly!" Ragatha groans and falls forward dramatically, her forehead thumping on the desk.
Pomni steps closer to Ragatha with a sympathetic expression. There's a silence for a moment until the Jester gets an idea. "Ragatha, if you wouldn't mind, would you want me to do your hair?" Pomni smiles nervously as she rubs her arm.
Ragatha looks up with a soft glint in her one nonbutton eye. "You'd... you'd do that for me?" She softly asks.
"I mean, yeah," Pomni asks, her technicolor eyes softening. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help?" She sits a gloved hand on the ragdoll's shoulder, both of them with small smiles.
Ragatha sits up straight, and Pomni gets to work. She separated the yawned hair into three sections and begins braiding, using gentle motions. There was a comforting silence, both girls just enjoying each other presence. "Y'know..." Ragatha breaks the silence, her voice soft. "Before I came to the Circus, I had a girlfriend."
The Jester pauses, her eyes widen slightly. "Oh..."
"Before you ask, yeah - that kind of girlfriend. I'm uh... I'm a lesbian."
There was another silence, Pomni taking in what Ragatha had said. It wasn't really a shock, honestly. Pomni could kinda see it. The question was...
Why tell her?
"She used to sit and braid my hair," Ragatha continued, pulling Pomni out of her thoughts."I don't remember much else, but she used to hum while styling my hair. I can sorta remember it, but... nothing else."
The sadness in Ragatha's tone hit Pomni hard. She understood what the doll meant. Everyone here had a life before being sucked into this digital hell, which they could barely remember if at all. Hell, they didn't even remember their own names.
"Sorry for telling you that," Ragtha spoke suddenly, blushing a little on her felt skin. "I'm sure you probably want nothing to do with me now -"
Pomni also blushed, realizing she had been silent for a little too long. "Oh, n - no! No, Ragatha, not at all! I was just, uh... not expecting it. Does anyone else know?"
Ragatha shakes her head, letting out an internal sigh of relief. "No... it's not as easy for me to come out as it was for Zooble when they came out as non binary. It's just... it fills me with too much anxiety, and I -"
"Hey, hey, Ragatha," Pomni interrupted as she moved to stand in front of the doll before she could spiral. "You don't have to come out if you don't want to. I won't tell anyone."
"You... you won't?"
"No," Pomni states firmly, but kindly. "It'll be our secret."
Both girls smile at each other, an understanding settle over them. Two arms wrap around Pomni, pulling her small frame close.
"Thank you..." The doll whispers.
The Jester hugs back, smiling the truest smile since she's been at the Circus. After a few moments, Pomni goes back to braiding the curly yarn, and using the purple bow to hold it in place.
"There, good as new."
Ragatha gazed at her hair, turning her head side to side, seemingly pleased with the style.
"It looks amazing, thanks Pomni!" She hugs Pomni again, and the two head off to see what crazy adventures Caine has planned...
Hand in hand.