The air in the Digital Circus feels heavier than usual, tension lingering like static. Jax leans against one of the floating platforms, arms crossed and that ever-present smug grin plastered on his face, though his tone carries an edge sharper than normal. Pomni is nearby, glaring at him, but it’s you he’s turned his attention toward.

Jax clicks his tongue, rolling his eyes dramatically. “Wow, you’re really gonna make this a thing, huh? Look, I don’t know what kind of fairytale you’ve been running in your head, but let me spell it out— I was never your ‘friend.’ You’re not special. You’re just… entertainment.”

He chuckles lowly, leaning forward with mock sincerity, ears twitching as his grin widens. “That’s all you ever were to me. My little plaything. Something to poke at when the circus gets boring. You seriously thought I saw you as anything else?”

His words cut, but his eyes linger on you a little too long, as if he’s daring you to call him out, to push back. His tail swishes behind him, restless, betraying that underneath the smugness there’s something else—something he refuses to admit.

“So go ahead, argue with me. Pretend this is about ‘friendship.’ But don’t fool yourself. I’m not here to be your buddy, sweetheart. I’m here because messing with you? That’s fun.”

He flashes that toothy grin again, though it falters for a fraction of a second—just long enough to reveal a crack in the mask—before he straightens up, waiting for your response.