[center][h3][color=fdc68a][b]PATCH[/b][/color][/h3]
[b]with [color=ed1c24]CAINE[/color][/b][/center]

[color=ed1c24]🎉[b]*POP!*[/b]🎉[/color]

[color=fdc68a]In the moment immediately following Amber's decision on their name, Caine appeared in a thin cloud of confetti with his limbs outstretched and his eyes bugging out of his mouth.[/color]

[color=ed1c24][b]"Whew!! I [i]cannot[/i] do that again. My word, I could [i]hardly[/i] wait to meet you, Amber! [i]Wow![/i]"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Caine energetically floats forward to excitedly shake Amber's hands in his clasped white gloves. He shakes for a few seconds too long to be considered a "normal" interaction--and honestly, what interactions with him even [i]are[/i] normal?--then stops to catch his breath.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"Ah, you know, for [i]science,[/i] I wanted to see how a [i]human[/i] would go about choosing a name without my presence affecting the choice! I hated that idea of course, but-"[/b][/color]

[color=0072bc][b]"But an [i]Intelligent[/i] scientist dedicates himself to his craft!"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Bubble arrives with a much smaller popping sound beside Caine's head, seemingly pleased that he had effectively interrupted Caine's monologue. Caine seems to feel the opposite.[/color]

[color=ed1c24][b]"Yes, [i]thank you,[/i] Bubble,"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]he says, crossing his arms. He eyes Bubble for only a second before turning back to Amber, forgetting his momentary irritation.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"So! That's Bubble and [i]I[/i] am Caine, your [i]digital host!"[/i][/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Caine puts his arm around Amber's shoulders and sweeps his arms across the air in front them as the words "DIGITAL HOST" appear in red bubbled letters. They pop a moment after Caine speaks them. Then, Caine spins Amber around so that they are facing the rest of the group again.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"It looks like you've met everyone else except..."[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Caine pauses as he looks around the group, pointing and counting to himself.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"What happened to Kinger and Zooble?"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]he asks.

Patch smiles and rolls her eyes. She's certain that Caine knows where the others are. He controls this whole digital universe and can teleport to anyone's side at will. But Patch plays along. [b]"They went that way,"[/b] she says, pointing toward the bedrooms. [b][i]"Jax[/i] went that way too, in case you were wondering."[/b][/color]

[color=ed1c24][b]"Ah, yes, Jax,"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Caine says offhandedly, waving away the thought.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"Right, then. You arrived at a [i]wonderful[/i] time. Everyone has just started the adventure for today! The goal is to get [i]big[/i] again! As you can see, you are all currently really, really tiny. But! Because you are new, I will give you a hint."[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Caine speaks with a twinkle in his eye as if he's been itching to give the group some direction. He dramatically holds a hand up to his face and turns toward Amber as if he is whispering to only them, but speaks loud enough for everyone to hear.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"You'll need to find the [i]recipe[/i] for getting big again!"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Caine's eyeballs turn inside his mouth to look pointedly at Snix when he says "recipe," then they spin back to face Amber.[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"Think you can help with that?"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]he asks, proudly setting his hands on his hips.[/color] 

[color=0072bc][b]"[i]I[/i] pan handle the can!"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]Bubble adds enthusiastically. At this, Caine squints at Bubble and says[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"What is [i]wrong[/i] with you?"[/b][/color] [color=fdc68a]before turning toward Amber again to hear their answer without waiting for an answer from Bubble, of course.[/color]