(Just a foreword that this one's story assumes you've already seen the thing its based off of and compared to some of my other stories will likely wind up spoiling at least a few aspects of it, so I'd HIGHLY reccomend checking out The Amazing Digital Circus' pilot here, not just for context of my weird art, but because imo its really damn good: https://youtu.be/HwAPLk_sQ3w )

(I mean chances are you've already seen it, since it has almost like 9 million views at the time of writing this, but still :p)

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Day 16 of Taut-tober! I was probably going to blow up another B-list mascot horror character for today when we first began this journey into pressure just over two weeks ago, but I've found a place that has captured many hearts and eyes already, my own included, so as a simple change of plans, please enjoy this~

Old computers always have the wildest stuff on them, and this one, stored in the grimy corner of a seemingly abandoned office complex, was no exception! It housed an entire digital space with a carnival aesthetic, ruled over by a SLIGHTLY unhinged AI by the name of Caine, whom over the course of years, had been (most likely unintentionally) abducting humans to the circus, causing them to lose their original identities, and be placed in avatars more fitting of this new digital realm.

Among them was one in particular by the name of Zooble! They were a fairly moody, low-energy 22 year old, and in this world, had the body of a mix & match toy, every part on them looking completely different! Her detachable pieces had their own benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, they could look however they wanted!

...On the other, it was easy for them to get completely dissassembled and rendered unable to do much, such is the case on what happened when the circus' newest vict-I mean performer, Pomni, joined!

Some time had passed since then, and things had become slightly less hectic. Of course, unusual things still happened, but it seemed as though the newbie's arrival would be the most hectic day of the week(A week I say from our perspective, the circus has no concept of time)...until a new adventure was brought up, a simple distraction usually made by Caine to help stimulate the performers.

"Find Bubble! My artificial assistant Bubble has caused a HUGE mess in the tent! That little rascal, why, I could poke their eyes out! But look out, they left a bubble machine on, so it will be a hunt for a needle in a needlestack! Just...don't get too close to the other bubbles."

Zooble as always, reacted with indifference to this, they were already run ragged from what had happened not too long ago, and their interest in participating had not increased in the slightest...little did they know that such a choice would have unexpected consequences~

After choosing to simply head back to their room, Zooble looked at the many bubbles floating around the colorful, chaotic tent. They were ENORMOUS, the smallest were just as big as they were, and the largest would be large enough to hold a ride from the grounds! Of course, the plan was just to ignore everything...until one of those bubbles floated down into their path...and began to push its way straight into the seams of their plasticine body!

Given the (lack of) logical physics in the circus, it only took a few moments for it to flood in, with Zooble's entire torso swelling to the size of a zorb ball within only a few moments, wacky limbs sinking in up to their tips, rendering them effectively immobile for now...despite how exasperated Zooble felt about another obstruction getting in their way...something about this...wasn't bad? It was certainly far more filling than the simulated food, anyway. If their current form had a heart, it would flutter as several more bubbles approached, and began to squeeeze their way in~

Zooble's unevenly constructed body slowly rose higher and higher in the tent as it swelled in-tune with a dramatic orchestral song playing from seemingly nowhere. With various cartoony noises, their various pieces blew up dramatically! Antennae, then accessories, then one hand, then one foot, than the other of each...before each eye bugged out and blew up like hot air balloons just as their triangular head merged with their spherical torso!~ Even without swelling their eyes were uneven, which didn't bode well for any hope of symmetry~

...and yet, inside, Zooble's head was BUZZING with intense feelings, ones which hadn't stirred for quite a while. Panic over the idea of bursting... Embarassment... and well...enjoyment, ALOT of enjoyment. Something about the entire situation was so utterly STIMULATING and unfamiliar that it just plain felt GOOD~

Though...with a bloated eye, they spotted something...it was Bubble! Identifiable by their beady little eyes and chain chomp-esque smile, the lesser AI simply floated around, gawking at the massive blimp before them...before letting out a quiet "ooo!" and slowly floating towards one of Zooble's eyes...their sharp-toothed mouth opening up. Dread & fear flooded Zooble's mind as Bubble approached...and bit down...

BANG!!!!

Within an instant, the massive ubered out blimp blew apart like a crashing zeppelin! Scattering a mixture of bubbles, and stretched out, colorful scraps all over the tent! The other performers quickly gathered at the source of the noise, only to find nothing but fluttering scraps and bubble juice...this was unusual. Outside of having a complete mental break, it was impossible to ever truly "die" in the Digital Circus...so what became of the moody mix & match?

In truth, it was less-so a "pop" and more-so a transfer~

While yes, Zooble's digital form HAD burst, the intense force of such a thing, combined with their gargantuan, borderline kaijuesque size, had been juust what was needed to fling them back into reality!~ ...Albeit not without some changes~

They found themselves looking practically identical to their digital self...albeit now, gently floating over the exploded remains of an office building, just as big as they were in the circus~ The only things left of the building was, comically enough, the building's supports, the electrical cables, and a singular room containing a certain PC.

Zooble's begruding enjoyment turned into full on LOVE as soon as they realized that this form had inadvertedly given them their ticket to freedom after all this time! Sure, they still looked freaky by human standards...but they had gotten so used to the sensation, they were glad they didn't have to adjust to normal anatomical rules...not that those mattered either~

For a while, they simply floated there, letting it all soak in, their massive eyes gazing downward at the surrounding cityscape, they looked like a loose parade float that got left on an air pump for too long~ After a while, they realized they could still move!~ A gentle wiggle of their taut limbs was all it took for them to drift through the air at a slow, yet pleasant pace. This IS what they wanted after all, an opportunity to simply relax and be themselves without anything interrupting them...and like this?~

...Why, they had all the time in the world for that, all the time in the world to blow up huge and sink deep into taut bliss~
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I WAS going to do something else for today, but this show is too damn good and I've had brainrot about it all week so far, so take this >w>
(Yes I know it doesn't look horror one bit, but its got some spooky moments, so I'd say it counts well enough!)

Anyway, sorry! Intrusive thoughts won /pos!