[center][color=#8FBC8F][h3][b]CLOVER[/b][/h3][/color]
[b]with [color=#ba311c]POMNI[/color] and [color=#db518d]ZOOBLE[/color][/b][/center]

[color=#8FBC8F]‘[/color][color=fdc68a][b]Sleep okay?[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’

Clover shrugs.

‘[b]Would be nice if I was still asleep[/b],’ he says. ‘[b]But we can’t always get what we want.[/b]’

It [i]is[/i] somewhat odd that Caine isn’t already around to greet the people he literally dragged out of bed to play with, but Clover isn’t one to question manic, peppy AIs with an unhealthy obsession with game design. He’s just here, the way he was here yesterday, and the day before that, and so on. 

Zooble, on the other hand, takes the ringmaster’s absence with much more enthusiasm.

‘[/color][color=#db518d][b]Works for me[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F],’ they say in response to Snix’s grumbling. ‘[/color][color=#db518d][b]I’m going before he comes back.[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’

They seem unconcerned with the threat of being dragged back here, but Clover supposes Zooble wouldn’t be Zooble if they didn’t try ducking out of an adventure at every opportunity. Pomni steps up and, for a brief moment, he thinks she’s about to convince Zooble to wait too.

‘[/color][color=#ba311c][b]If you’re heading back to the rooms, could you see if Ragatha’s okay?[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’ she says instead. ‘[/color][color=#ba311c][b]I don’t know why Caine would summon all of us except her.[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’

‘[/color][color=#db518d][b]Maybe he just forgot[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F],’ they say, shrugging. ‘[/color][color=#db518d][b]But sure, I’ll check on her.[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’

As they wander off, Patch starts musing on the day’s adventure.

‘[b]Whatever it is, it’s not going to be a smooth ride[/b],’ says Clover. ‘[b]I don’t think the guy understands the definition of “chill”.[/b]’[/color]