[Voice]

[poweryetunknown]

Here's a question.

Do birthdays count if you're dead?

[It's an important question, okay.]

Comments

[poweryetunknown]

Yeah? How soon?

[emperor_penguin]

Mm... 'bout three months. So not all that soon, I s'ppose. Didn't celebrate it last year. Maybe I should do somethin' big this time.

[Just a passing thought.]

...So, what're you gonna do with your second shot at livin'?

[poweryetunknown]

Might be nice.

[... He shrugs a little.]

Live it better than I did the first time.

[emperor_penguin]

An admirable goal.

[Not really one he shares, but still.]

I'm plannin' to look at mine as more of a peaceful retirement.

[poweryetunknown]

My view of a lot of things changed after I died.

[emperor_penguin]

Hmm. Yeah, guess it would. Well, dependin' on how you go.

[poweryetunknown]

I was shot while I was staring at some art.

[Not the best way to go, honestly.]

[emperor_penguin]

Bet it was some juiced up gangbanger, huh?

[He shakes his head.]

Hell of a world.

[poweryetunknown]

Actually, I met the guy after I died. Dragged me into his sick game.

[emperor_penguin]

Most folks die and stay dead. Musta been a pretty special kinda game.

[poweryetunknown]

It's a game for the dead to get a chance to come back to life, so yeah, it is.

[emperor_penguin]

Lucky you. Most folks don't get a chance like that.

[poweryetunknown]

I know. It's pretty rare to be allowed to come back to life anyway, apparently.

[emperor_penguin]

So what kinda game'd you have to play for that?

[poweryetunknown]

It was called the Reaper's Game. Survive for a week with the Noise and the challenges and do well enough and you had a chance to come back to life.

[emperor_penguin]

So if you lose, you're dead for good, I imagine. Nothin' to lose, and everythin' to gain, that about sum it up?

[poweryetunknown]

Pretty much.

[emperor_penguin]

Well? Did'ja win? Or are you still in the middle of it?

[poweryetunknown]

I was at the end of it, yeah.

[emperor_penguin]

And then you ended up here. Game over anyway. Ain't that a hell of a prize.

[poweryetunknown]

Pretty much. I still have a lot of questions about the whole thing.

[emperor_penguin]

Not too keen on helpin' that butterfly man either?

[poweryetunknown]

... Maybe. I need more information before I do that.

[emperor_penguin]

Well, I dunno about you, but it sounds to me like he's lookin' to keep a turf war alive and well. And I've had just about enough of that sorta thing. Ain't never any winners in a game like that.

[poweryetunknown]

I just settled the equivalent of a turf war. I'm not looking to get into another one without a good reason.