「POISON」

「POISON」is the 17th episode out of 39 total, and the 4th episode of season 2.

## Summary

Jealous after seeing Kedamono's superior athletic abilities, Popee finds a scorpion and hurls it at Kedamono. Unfortunately (for everyone), his actions come back to bite him.

### Characters

* Popee
* Kedamono
* Papi

## Plot

The episode begins with Popee, Papi and Kedamono training outside of the circus. Popee flips about energetically, using his hands to build momentum while he gives his applauding peers a thumbs-up. Kedamono, wearing a confident mask, sprints to try a few tricks of his own. He does a lengthy routine of cartwheels, spins, even scaling a statue during one jump and landing steadily on his feet. Papi and Popee both watch in awe, at first, before Popee kneels jealously on the floor and turns his back on Kedamono. He chews on his thumb until he spots a scorpion skittering across the desert; the animal inspires him to sabotage one of Kedamono's jumps, and Popee smirks sadistically.

Popee kicks the scorpion into the distance, landing on Kedamono's bottom and giving him a nasty sting. Kedamono's expression shifts to a pained one, where he pulls his arms behind him and rushes to get the scorpion off of his body. Popee explodes into a fit of laughter, one that attracts the quiet ire of a disapproving Papi. Kedamono smacks the scorpion, which falls upon Popee's forehead and stings him. Popee attempts to tear it from his skin in shock. Popee's face pales and turns a deep, sickly shade of blue, as does Kedamono's lethargic mask. Papi shakes his head and lowers himself to Kedamono's level, where he lies weakened by the scorpion's poison. A bandage marks the spot where he was stung. Papi leans in and presses his lips to the ones on Kedamono's mask, slowly sucking out the poison through a kiss before spitting it out. After Popee slams the scorpion to the ground, he becomes witness to Papi's rescue and grimaces, giving Papi a wide berth even though Kedamono appeared to have been cured of his affliction.

Papi faces his frightened son and bats his eyelashes suggestively, which only freaks him out further. Popee places his hands on both sides of his head, distressed as Papi makes a beeline for him. Popee's arms tremble for a moment, unsure of how to stop him from getting any closer. He rummages through his bag; pulling out dozens of knives, Popee throws them in groups of three at Papi, who is undeterred and ducks to avoid the blades. Popee pants, breathless and terror-stricken. In the wake of Papi ignoring his complaints, Popee closes his eyes and prepares to pull the trigger of his gun on himself. His attempted suicide is interrupted by Papi, who wags his finger stubbornly and grabs Popee to prevent him from leaving. When he veers towards Popee, Popee strategically places a dagger in between his teeth to delay Papi's movements, however, the man decides to swallow the knife along with drawing out the poison. Popee fires his gun threateningly; the bullets miss Papi, who instead balls his fist around Popee's wrist and crushes it.

Holding him still, Papi proceeds to suck the poison out of Popee's system against Popee's will. Popee's eyes lose their colour and roll into his skull. Papi withdraws, his mouth full of poison, and Popee blinks in shock. He staggers back, flapping his arms out of anger before swiftly kicking Papi elsewhere. Papi clatters to the floor and his jaw drops once he realizes he accidentally swallowed the poison. Popee fumes, wiping his lips prior to Kedamono taking his arm and pointing at Papi. Papi gestures to his mouth, indicating he wants one of them to suck the poison out. Popee and Kedamono throw their hands up in unison, neither disposed to come to his aid due to his intimidating nature. Popee encourages Kedamono to assist him, but Kedamono shakes his head wildly, too afraid. He pushes Popee to do it, only for him to protest such a role, alternating between stamping his feet on the ground and holding his head. They argue together as Papi observes in teary disbelief, later vomiting blood and dying in front of the startled pair.

The sun sets upon the scene, and Popee and Kedamono mourn his corpse, buried in an elevated mound of sand with a wooden pole for a grave. They each lower a small white flower onto the burial site, Kedamono sobbing soon after the incident and Popee patting his back sympathetically. A gust of wind blows on Papi's hanged head accessory, fluttering lightly. Just as Popee and Kedamono trudge back to the circus, the earth bursts, with Papi suspended in mid-air. Papi grins as he catches Popee off his guard, transferring the poison into his mouth. It is assumed that Popee dies once the episode ends.