[ And his voice counts for nothing? Tut tut, Batter, he's always been friendly and generous to you. Perhaps right now, more than ever. He's offering a bribe. ]

That's a shame, but you can always fix one up. People need, after all. As long as people need, there'll never be an end to currency!

[ So cheerful... he feels his flesh with a genuine curiosity and fascination. So this is what the other person on the screen felt like. Even the little hairs on his arm feel gentle. No wonder they felt like they had so much power and so little restraint. No wonder Batter is the way he is! He borrowed not even a fraction of it. ]

I'm afraid your good amigo knows the script from the beginning to end, so I never truly die. The game is unplayed for a while, but it is played again.

Inevitably.

[ He slices up his apple and shoves the pieces through the hole in his mask. ]

But enough of that! Autonomy, my friend! I can feel my bones and my heart beating. No strings on my back! The world in every shade and color-- thank goodness the mask filters some of it out! [ He opens his arms for a hug. ] I bet you haven't even been hugged yet. Come here.

[ Zacharie finally knows his shape! Shorter than the Batter but strong, more hair, darker skin. This is so much nicer than lifting five pixels worth of arms around someone's shoulder. He lifts him in a friendly hug despite their size difference, them promptly lets him go. ]

And just with that, I can't wait to see what the things I mimed actually felt like!