[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=#db518d][b]What do you [i]mean[/i] you don’t know a Ragatha?[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’

Zooble’s rising voice has Clover’s attention drifting back to the spot where Caine hovers. The arguments between them and the AI are nothing new, but it looks like Caine’s words are agitating them more than usual. Considering what Clover is hearing, that's understandable. If Caine's beginning to confuse them with NPCs, that was... bad. [i]Really[/i] bad.

‘[b]Yeah[/b],’ he mutters back to Patch. ‘[b]Not sure what he’s playing at here.[/b]’

Pomni is still over by Gangle and Riff’s sides, but that doesn’t stop her from staring at Caine with dawning horror. Clover is abruptly reminded of her second day here, how she tried to bring back that gummy crocodile NPC and lost him near immediately. He doesn’t want to imagine what she might be thinking right now.

Call it whimsy, call it impulsiveness – whatever spurs him to action, ultimately, is an effort to keep the situation from derailing any further. He’s seen enough arguments with Caine that he’s not expecting this to come out in anything other than a resentful stalemate (or the ringmaster getting his way, anyway).

‘[/color][color=#db518d][b]That’s not even a–what the [%$!#] are you talking about?[/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’ Zooble is sputtering now, in the wake of Caine's oblivious offer.

‘[b]Caine[/b],’ he says, stepping up to them. He nods apologetically at Zooble for interrupting before continuing in his indifferent tone. ‘[b]Buddy, you’ve got the whole rest of us waiting here to play your adventure. That’s, what, a 90% success rate? No harm in letting Zooble sit this one out. Maybe they’ll get enough rest to join in on the next one.[/b]’

‘[/color][color=#db518d][b][i]Clover![/i][/b][/color][color=#8FBC8F]’

His only response to their snap is a look and a shrug. Zooble’s ire doesn't last long; probably because they know what he's trying to do. With a harsh sigh, they fold their mismatched arms and look away.[/color]