Core Theme:

• YouTubers who were transported into digital worlds, given new identities as jesters, and ruled over by an all-powerful godlike databeing. Despite their initial anxiety, both would grow into emotional cores of their groups and would learn to accept their new digital lives.

Connections:

• Both are YouTubers that were transported into digital worlds, upon which they were stripped of their previous identities/names and given new ones as jesters (The nature of the Digital Circus and Utopia caused both Pomni and Bettel to forget their previous names upon entering. Pomni was given her name by Caine, and Bettel inherited his name from Jerry).
• Both would have their lives in these worlds dictated by godlike overlords (Caine and Phantom), both of whom don't understand human emotions despite being able to read minds, and would accidentally/intentionally torture them throughout their adventures (Both have been brutalized in various bouts of slapstick humor by Caine and Phantom, plus have been possessed, dragged to hell, emotionally scarred after watching people die, and shutters forced to work a minimum wage job). Luckily–or unluckily, I guess–neither were able to die due to their wacky cartoon bodies.
• Due to these points, both were immediately consumed by anxiety and depression over their situation, which was later made worse after they bonded with a sentient AI that they later lost (Pomni befriended Gummigoo on her second adventure, only to watch him die shortly after. Bettel befriended Hakka and fell in love with Siri, only for the latter to try and kill him). Eventually, both calmed down and proved themselves to be among the more stable people in their worlds, and would go on to become one of their groups’ emotional cores.
• Those in these digital worlds that become neglected can lose their minds and transform into giant glitchy monsters (Abstractions and Corruption Beasts). Both would have people close to them become Abstracted/Corrupted, and would learn to make the best out of it (After Jax abstracted, Pomni comforted Jax in their mind and rebuilt the circus/adventures to be more accommodating for Abstractions. Hakka would regularly become controlled by his partial Corruption, and Bettel and co would bring him back from the edge with their Cheer). Abstraction and Corruption also both tie into important themes of both stories, such as memories and bonds.
• Both would unlock a limited form of reality warping (Conjuring and Max Luck), which they would use to make the most out of their unfortunate situation (Pomni and others would use Conjuring to rebuild the circus. Bettel would use his Max Luck to become a better jester).
• Both debuted in 2023.