Pomni

a cartoon character wearing a jester hat has a smiley face on his face ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester hat has a smiley face on his face

"H-huh? Oh, uh... Hi."

She seemed a little unfocused before Cloud touched her. She did recoil a little, not exactly being one for physical contact.

"Oh!! You! I... never got your name. You doing okay?"

She's waving a flag around with Jet's face on it. #𝐂𝐖𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐗

"Well, take it easy, ok? Don't hurt yourself."

"You uh... need anything to help with. Y'know."

She gestured to his injuries.

"All That."

a cartoon character wearing a jester hat has a smiley face on his face ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester hat has a smiley face on his face

@jetthehawk.bsky.social "You did amazing out there. That was... genuinely incredible.

Never thought I'd actually get to see you race. Like, in person."

a jester is dancing in a video game . ALT: a jester is dancing in a video game .

"..."

Proceeds to vomit black sludge from the stress-

"JET! JET! JET! JET! JET!!!!"

a cartoon character wearing a jester hat is standing in a hallway ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester hat is standing in a hallway

"YEAAAAHHHH!!!! I KNEW HE COULD DO IT!!!!" #𝐂𝐖𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐗

((NOOOOOO :C

"...what do you mean?" she asked. She was confused and worried...

a cartoon character wearing a jester 's hat is standing on a stage ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester 's hat is standing on a stage

"Throwing a bomb at a downed racer... that's gotta be illegal, right??" #𝐂𝐖𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐗

a cartoon character wearing a jester hat looks sad ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester hat looks sad

"Oh f[#$%@], Jet wiped out-" #𝐂𝐖𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐗

"Ack!"

She steps back; she can tell Cloud is the source.

"You uh... wanna talk about whatever it is that's bothering you?..."

"Oh! Uh, it's a... sandbox game."

The jester had decided to go and get a drink... and hopefully avoid getting hit in the face by one of the racers Storm turned into a glorified Source Engine ragdoll.

She sipped on the drink, only to spot Cloud.

"...you uh, okay?"

a cartoon character wearing a big taps hat ALT: a cartoon character wearing a big taps hat

"Oh sweet Jesus I think I saw someone turn into a Garry's Mod ragdoll after Storm hit them" #𝐂𝐖𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐗

Holding up a sign that says "GO JET". #𝐂𝐖𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐗

a cartoon character wearing a jester hat and a name tag that says " berni " ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester hat and a name tag that says " berni "

"Go get them! You got this!" @jetthehawk.bsky.social

a cartoon character with a jester hat and gloves ALT: a cartoon character with a jester hat and gloves

"...do you have any kind of outlet for any of this?" the jester asked... A little reluctant to push because the last thing the hawk needed right now was someone trying to analyze him or coerce him into a glorified therapy session.

"Uh... digital beings can still have a soul..."

"Sorry... I just don't want what happened to Jax to happen to anyone else."

"I mean... sure, that's one way to do it, but all it does is create enemies. And it... runs the risk of pushing away the people you actually do care about.

Then you end up isolated and sinking deeper into that persona until it tears you apart."

"I-if this is... no, no, I'm not a jester, I-I'm supposed to be human in the real world!!! I-I can't be stuck like this!!!"

She's starting to experience a complete breakdown... her mind swimming and shuddering...

"I don't think there's anything wrong with being nice to people. You can be gentle and still be fierce when it matters. Balance is important."

a cartoon character with a jester hat and gloves ALT: a cartoon character with a jester hat and gloves

"I dunno if I'd ever wanna race... it looks stressful. I think I'll stick to racing games..."

a cartoon character wearing a jester hat and a name tag that says " berni " ALT: a cartoon character wearing a jester hat and a name tag that says " berni "

"I've... made a few, yeah. So that's good at least!"

((the jester therapy session calls to u....

(just kidding get to it when u feel up to it)

"Real... life?"

She looked down at her hands. The red and blue gloves, with the white-skinned noodle limbs connected.

"N-no, that... that can't be! I'm... I'm still... this THING..."

Something was *deeply wrong.*

"Will do! You uh... feeling okay after the other day?"