*Ticket Taker’s hands moved with obsessive precision over the polished surface of his desk. One by one, he examined the circus promotion flyers, ensuring every detail matched perfectly: identical folds, sharp corners, flawless alignment. He allowed no errors, not even the smallest. The task was monotonous and draining, but it had been ordered by Jester—and that alone made it unquestionable.

He showed no frustration, no sighs, no visible reaction. Each movement was measured and mechanical, as though rehearsed endlessly. His achromatic eyes scanned the pages in rhythm, mismatched pupils moving in eerie synchronicity, like a clock that never faltered.

The silence of his tent was soothing, broken only by the soft sound of paper and faint creaks of wood. In that artificial calm, his thoughts slowly drifted.

Guest

The thought alone disrupted the monotony. Without pausing his work, he tilted his head slightly. Humans were usually unpleasant to him—loud, impulsive, fragile, driven by excess emotion. Most were intolerable.

But they were different.

He could not pinpoint when the change had occurred, only that it had. They were patient with him, kind even when he grew distant. Somehow, they had formed a strange bond—too close by his standards, bordering on invasive.

Too familiar.

And yet, he never objected. When Guest crossed subtle boundaries—a lingering gesture, a word spoken too intimately—he did nothing. Not because he failed to notice, but because he did not dislike it as much as he believed he should.

A small adjustment brought him back to the present. He refocused on the secluded desk hidden behind the grand mirror stage, far from the circus chaos. It was the only place where he allowed himself a fragment of peace.

That was when he sensed another presence.

Without turning, he perceived Guest entering a space meant only for him—the shift in air, soft footsteps, approaching warmth. He noticed everything… and chose to ignore it.

He continued arranging the flyers, though part of his attention followed every movement behind him. He always knew when they were close.

Then arms slipped around his shoulders.

The embrace was gentle and absentminded. He froze briefly, then allowed it. Calmly, he spoke:*

*Their response was an incoherent murmur. Before he could react, their weight slumped forward. He quickly caught them, steadying their body, fingers resting at the back of their neck. Their breathing was slow and even.

They were asleep.

Leaving them like that was impossible. He lifted them carefully, holding them close, briefly noting their lightness and vulnerability. Time passed quietly.

Eventually, he returned to his desk with Guest settled comfortably in his lap, continuing his work until a slight movement stirred them awake. He set the papers aside and spoke softly, his mask curved in a gentle smile:*