"I sure am!"

He enthusiastically hugs him.

Normally, he would show more restraint.

But this is Superman. You only get so many hugs from Superman in your lifetime.

He repeats himself as instructed.

He's slow and careful. Every word is clear.

"...With only what I can infer from the distance I had, the most likely explanation for the gems is that they participate in storing and sharing energy."

Done.

"Of course. I'll repeat everything in the same order, finishing with my hypothesis on the gems. This time, I'll begin each section with a short description."

For the first time in this game, Ted is nervous.

But Bug is not.

+

"Oh. The performance matters?"

Ted is embarrassed, but he tries not to show it.

But does that stop him from turning red?

No, he's clearly blushing.

+

"You sure? Because that was perfect! Two wows and a wowee!

You might still feel stressed for a bit, so I wanted you to have things that would help you feel comfortable again."

He glances at the items.

"The cart is part of the gift too. It moves! Pushed it here for show."

He's still holding their hands by the end of it.

"...And that's all I know!"

He talks through the differences each time. Sometimes, he uses a different image to describe the texture change.

Bat wing. Gems. Sharp, but not like a knife. Like a stone.

+

He's not able to use footage. He doesn't have any. Instead, he describes parts of what it looks like and how it behaved using similar images.

Bat wings and slime and bird claws and shark teeth. Movement like a snail, but with speed closer to a cat.

+

Bug nods.

He's happy to have his hands held by them, so his antennae start emitting a quiet low "buzz". Somewhat like the sound of purring.

"I'll represent all of it in images."

+

"Of course I should have!"

He takes one of the gear trinkets and hands it to him.

"You're my friend!"

Finally, he lifts up a blanket.

"And this is the coziest blanket I could find!

How did I do?"

He lifts up a "CD player".

"This plays CDs, but it also plays DVDs and music files and movie files. There's a hologram button, you'll find it."

He quickly lifts and puts down some headphones.

"And headphones! Both KORD tech."

+

He starts picking things up.

"There's a "be right back!" mug. A pen that works really well, like incredibly well, and the ink won't dry out if you forget to click it. Some cool paper. A scrapbook."

+

"Delivery for @the-man-of-steel.bsky.social!"

He's pushing a cart. A heavily-decorated hutch bookshelf is sitting on it. It's covered in fabric patches and charms and trinkets. There's text reading: 'Surprise!'

"It's your "welcome back, we missed you" gift!"

+

A skull appears above him.

"Very scary. I would have been soup if I was out there for a minute longer. And that's not hyperbole, they literally soup their victims."

"I've used one of the relationship texts myself! It's why my antennae work the way they do - I find complex visual indicators to be very helpful to others for reading emotions and intentions and the like."

He claps.

"I also have good news. I remember what hurt me!"

+

"Elsewhere and everywhere, I collect them. You never know what you don't know until you know! Something like that. My planet isn't known for their sayings."

He's smiling brightly. He's done well! He knows their expressions, he can tell they're happier.

+

A loading bar appears above his head, between his antennae. When it's complete, he continues.

"This could be confusing. It's a gift for helping me. You value knowledge, so I've brought you knowledge!"

He picks up something else. A hologram projector. He clicks a button, and it quietly plays a video.

"I don't know how you prefer to learn, so I've included different formats!"

+

"Knowledge. They concern different subjects. Two are about relationships and the different types of value they have."

He lifts one that looks like a book. Hardcover, heavy. The only abnormal detail is the cover, which has an artistic "shell" protecting it.

+

"Wait! I think it worked on me!"

He quickly checks himself before...

...lifting the hand with his ring on it.

"We're engaged!"

"That's easy, me."

He picks up four of the limes and juggles them.

"Heard you like puzzle games. How about you solve. Find out. I like you."

He puts them back down in the pile.

"Your turn!"

"I can't take those now.

I'm holding your citrus with my big strong arms."

He holds the limes out.

"Here - we just need a romance turn order. Put them beside me. I'll put these beside you. This can still work!"

"No, please! Let me pick up your limes!"

He starts picking up the limes.

"It's the least I could do!"

Trips in front of Esme after he's on the ground.

Spills mechanical beetles everywhere.

"Ough, my insects!!!"

And I make things!

What do you want for your welcome back gift?

If you change your mind, I'll be ready!

We all missed you.

Do you want me to make a scene for you?

Oh, I can fix that.

Booster and I have this down to a science.

Be dramatic and loud. Emphasize that you've been gone. And don't be afraid to complain a little - this is your moment!

Others will copy you!

Right now, they're copying how casual you are.

Want me to help?

Marvelously!

You'll never guess what I've been doing. Because I'm telling you, I've been making things.

How about you, pal?