[TADC] 📜🎪 M A K I N G ◦ A N ◦ N P C ! - Act 4

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M A K I N G ◦ A N ◦ N P C !

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⊹˚₊·‧Chapter 4: Ah!

Pomni was grateful for her brain to at least somewhat reflect and communicate that she needed time to think, because, hoo boy, was she right about that. She locked herself inside her room, not participating in any adventure, for days. People came and knocked, but ultimately respected her response that she “just needed some alone time”. Even Caine didn’t violate her personal space for once. 

The way her brain did mental gymnastics during that time was… sloppy. She could barely hold a single thought. They were constantly racing, jumping over each other, poking her, coming out of nowhere, and even choking her. When she was asleep she dreamed of nothing else, either. They mixed with the most bottom-of-the-barrel thoughts, too—stuff that was fairly unimportant, like if that would make Pomni a dad. She also wondered if Ragatha would have a postpartum body (which she found more enticing than it she should) or who they should choose as a godparent. Then the core-belief thoughts came back, erasing the human ones: What even was growing inside of Ragatha? Following that there were thoughts Pomni was afraid of—at one point she imagined the baby as a real, human baby, and—and this was the absolutely scary part—this mental image terrified her. Even grossed her out. What did that mean? Was this proof of some mental corruption? Had Pomni started to become less human Was this clown avatar now her true reality? But… she didn’t even like babies in the first place. So… so maybe that was just a normal response, something she would’ve felt in flesh and bone, too. Right? 

Maneuvering through this torrent of overwhelming emotions was downright impossible. 

And after five whole days, Pomni finally accepted exactly that.

She accepted that there was no real solution. She accepted that this whole baby NPC thing was just like everything else here: a leap of faith. She accepted that she wouldn’t be able for a long time—maybe never—to know how she felt about all this.

And once she did, the path before her was finally clearing up.

She didn’t know whether she was ready to take on a parental role or not. But she knew what she definitely wanted to be: a good friend.

So in the late evening of the 5th day, Pomni got up from her bed, grabbed her cushion, walked out of her room for the first time in that duration, and went over to Ragatha’s door.

Then she knocked.

A soft, sleepy “It’s open” resounded from inside. Pomni opened the door.

“Hey… h-hey, Ragatha. It’s me.”

Ragatha propped herself with one arm on the bed so that her upper body was sitting a little more upright. She was wearing an actual sleeping skin, with a cute bonnet covering all of her locks. Pomni caught herself scanning the blanket to look for a certain protruding curve, but the blanket was too fluffy to reveal anything.

“Oh… oh, Pomni I… I’m sorry, I was just about to fall asleep. How... how can I help you?”

“Please, don’t get up. I’m just… I was wondering if it would be okay if… I sleep here tonight?”

Ragatha looked at her, perplexed. “Oh…” she said, then continued, “Why… yes, sure, of course. Wow. I… I never had a sleepover before. Here in the circus, I mean. That’s… that’s exciting.”

Pomni came closer, holding onto her pillow as if it was giving her strength. “If… if that’s okay with you, I’d like to do it every night from now on. Till the … the NPC is here, at least.”

Ragatha shuffled to the side and opened up the blanket for Pomni to dive under. This finally revealed her belly. And to Pomni’s surprise, it was clearly bigger than the last time they saw each other. Damn… time was progressing alarmingly fast with this.

“Oh wow… uhm. That’s a sweet sentiment, Pomni. I think I would appreciate that? But I might need some nights for myself, now and then.”

Something about what Ragatha said made Pomni’s heart pound faster, though she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

“Of course… You can throw me out anytime you want,” she said, almost meekly, as she got into Ragatha’s surprisingly soft bed, placing her pillow next to hers, who draped the blanket over Pomni and tucked her in.

Ragatha did this with such natural confidence and care, ensuring that Pomni was comfortable and pampered, which made the tiny jester blush. Hard.

There was no doubt Ragatha would be a wonderful, loving mother.

Then, Ragatha lay down again, too, facing Pomni. There was some sort of blue mood light shining somewhere behind Pomni, so she could see Ragatha’s face. Has she always been… this pretty…? Was the pregnancy making her prettier, somehow…?

“I have to admit, I was worried about you, Pomni. One or two more days, and I probably wouldn’t have been able to give you any more space. Not because I don’t respect it, but because… you know……..”

“I… I wouldn’t abstract over this,” Pomni assured her, looking for Ragatha’s hand under the blanket. She got one and held it with both of her hands. “If you don't do it, I'll do it three times less.”

Ragatha chuckled. “Pomni… that’s… not how emotions work. But… it is kind of sweet. Thank you.”

Pomni felt Ragatha’s hand within hers. It was so plushy, so soft… so delicate. And…

Wait, was she still holding it? 

She quickly let go.

“How were the last days?” Pomni quickly asked to deflect.

Ragatha rolled her eye. “Oh, you know. The usual. Another underwater adventure. Kinger being strange. Jax being a nuisance. Caine being… unreasonable.”

“I see… and… with you…?”

Ragatha didn’t answer right away. It seemed as if she was gathering her thoughts. Then, she said, “I’m… good, I think? In fact, I don’t think I ever was this… relaxed. As if I finally have something to do. A purpose, maybe?”

Pomni looked at her. This was surprising, but it also made sense.

“The others still don’t know. But… it’s getting hard to hide. My dress conceals a lot, but give it two more weeks, three at most… it will probably be very evident, then.”

“I… I see. Sorry it took me so long to finally talk with you again and figure out how to proceed.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. To be honest, it’s a little exciting.” Ragatha answered, and a faint blush adorned her face. “To have this little secret, right in front of everyone…”

Pomni felt her face growing hot now, too. Who knew Ragatha could have such an improper side? 

But… she was right. There was something exciting about it. Their secret. 

Oh, wow. Had she just really thought that?

“Personally, I’d like to see where this is going. To have them figure it out eventually. This way I can focus on the baby and myself.”

“Wow… Ragatha. That’s… unusual for you.”

Ragatha looked at Pomni again. “It is? Huh… yeah. You’re right, I guess.”

“But that’s good!” Pomni quickly added, “I like this side of yours! It’s sexy.”

Ragatha stared at Pomni.

“Uh... attractive, I mean.”

Ragatha continued staring.

“Cool! It’s cool. You’re cool.”

Still no response from Ragatha.

Pomni slowly tried to turn away.

Ragatha grabbed her by the arm. “Thank you,” she then said, “I… I truly appreciate it. I can’t remember anyone having ever called me... well, any of that, really.”

Pomni immediately turned back.

“But it’s true! It’s not just the whole… NPC thing. It’s hidden in plain sight in many things you do. Mainly in the mere fact that, despite all, despite your care and how important others are to you, you’re still here.”

Ragatha’s blush spread further over her face, taking on a deeper hue.

“Oh… w-wow. S-shucks. Thank you. That’s awfully ni—ah!”

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