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A very rough comic about Caine singing Daisy Bell 🎩🌼

And the original grid version

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Analyzing Caine and Zooble character dynamics

Spoilers for episode 6 of The Amazing Digital Circus under the break.

Of all the character dynamics, Caine and Zooble's is one of the most fascinating to me. Many people interpret their interactions as just antagonistic to each other, but I think it's a lot messier than that. And it is not all just hate and derision.

To address the elephant in the room, yes, Caine expresses unfiltered anger at Zooble more than anyone else. Zooble is also unafraid to express their unfiltered thoughts around Caine, and that is the backbone of their dynamic. It is uneasy, but both are aware that on some level they are reliant on the other for mutual survival.

As Zooble points out in the therapy session episode, everyone has reasons for not speaking to Caine about their concerns, his relationship with the other human players may as well be nonexistent. They call on him for requests on occasion but that's it, no one besides Zooble ever just sits there with him and has difficult but real conversation, and tries to understand his eccentricities.

Caine relies on Zooble because he cannot have meaningful relationships with the other A.I. His friendship with Bubble is a facade, it's not a real relationship, their "bonding" is really just pre-programmed dialogue like in the theme intro, or literal filler sentences ("You always know how to make me say this exact sentence.") When Bubble does break the filter, he tells Caine to die or generally says things that are too unhinged and nonsensical. The only other AI of interest in the tent is the Moon, which just flirts and makes him uncomfortable. Same with the mannequins at the rewards show, any "love" from the other A.I is hollow, because they are just an extension of himself. That's the reason he didn't rig the awards show to make himself win. It would mean nothing if he did, he wants genuine connection, he wants the hard truth no matter how much it hurts. Only Zooble offers that.

Zooble doesn't emotionally rely on Caine, far from it it is in the best interest of their own sanity not to spend time around him or in his adventures. But Zooble is the "I'm going to speak to the manager" type of person among the cast, and that has led to Zooble being the only human that regularly interacts with Caine. Zooble has seen enough to be able to know where his baseline behavior is. When Caine starts acting strangely Zooble is the only one that really reacts. The others probably can't tell the difference between "normal" wacky glitches, and crisis glitching, so they just shrug it off. Zooble has witnessed what happens when Caine is in crisis and knows what triggers it, so continuing to talk to him has become a matter of survival, because leaving an upset reality warper alone to stew in their existential crisis could destroy everything.

Zooble is irritated by Caine, but also concerned, their response to Caine giving up and half-assing the gun adventure is a good example of Zooble knowing when Caine isn't okay. Same with Zooble being the only one to question the purpose of the intermission sequence.

We know that Zooble has no interest in adventures, so Zooble should in theory prefer Caine to stop caring and just throw some guns on the ground and walk away, he's giving them exactly what they want for once. But Zooble knows that to Caine, the adventures are his art, his form of self expression and reason to live. The look on Zooble's face is that of worry when he gave up, and despite it going against their preference they try to convince Caine to put in more effort, Zooble ends up fully participating in the in-house adventure, because Caine not caring if his guests have fun is a "crisis" level glitch.

The Problem: Zooble's personality is NOT equipped to be able to deal with Caine's issues, they are far too impatient and irritable for it. Its not their fault, not everyone can be as patient and understanding as Pomni or Kinger. Kinger may have too much personal baggage to help Caine, and Pomni is new and was previously not in a stable headspace to be dealing with Caine either. But now that Pomni is doing better, her natural interest in others has started to shine through, and she is becoming more curious about him. "Did Caine just say Ass?", "Does he really do that?" (Sing Daisy Bell in front of Zooble's door.) are the right questions to be asking, and Pomni gently explaining that she and Zooble prefer relaxed adventures is a good sign. Given how she handled Gummigoo's crisis, she might start to recognize Caine's and be able to relieve Zooble of the frustration. (AssuMing it's not too late to save Caine).

Speaking of the whole Daisy Bell thing, to me that sounds like a cry for help from Caine. Much like with the therapy session, where it ended with him on the couch, his constant "checking in" with Zooble is his way of reaching out for his own sake and framing it as him still following his directive as an A.I. to ensure his guests are satisfied. He is frequently frustrated with Zooble, but I don't think he hates them, and the feeling is probably mutual. I think that's why he ended up creating the "Biggest Sailor Mouth" award for them, it might just be his way of showing that he actually appreciates Zooble's lack of filter, albiet it a tongue in cheek way.

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girldad and emo teen energy

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⚠ TAKE EP 6 SPOILER ⚠ (a small one tho)

"Caine's been checking up on my room lately. When I don't answer, he just starts singing "Daisy Bell" in front of my door."

I'm sorry but they gave me chatterbox crumbs you can't blame me

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I love their doomed dynamic so much👏👏👏

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Do you think Jesus came on the cross just a little bit

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Like to charge reblog to cast

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That line has been living rent free in my head since the ep premiered

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My friend is trying to name herself, and she's like, "Oh, what's that name that's like marmalade, but it's a name?" and I know she means Adelaide, but I think I can talk her into naming herself Marmalade if I play my cards right here.

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so bECAUSE OF THE PILOT TRAILER I WENT OUTSIDE AND STARTED SCREAMING AT 12AM SO NATURALLY SOMEONE THOUGHT I WAS BEING MURDERED AND CALLED THE POLICE AND WHEN THEY GOT HERE I HAD TO GIVE THEM MY EXPLANATION FOR SCREAMING AT 12AM SO I JUST SAID HOMESTUCK AND ONE OF THE COPS EYES SUDDENLY GOT REALLY BIG AND THEN HE SAID "VIVZIEPOP HOMESTUCK ANIMATED SERIES PILOT TRAILER??!?" AND THEN HE WATCHED THE TRAILER ON HIS PHONE I HAVE A GROWN POLICE MAN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY CRYING ON HIS PHONE I HAVE A GROWN POLICE MAN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY CRYING AND CURSING AT HUSSIE UNDER HIS BREATH HIS PARTER GAVE HIM A SHOCK BLANKET OH MY GOD

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Just bought a fallen empire off temu

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Some humans trapped in a computer...

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I think there is something wrong with my PC..

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same hat

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This may be my favorite image ever, actually

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SOMEONE finally gets Caine talking about...everything- and they mention something about how hard it must be "not being appreciated for a thing you enjoy doing" when-

its ENA TIME BABY