Closed to Shotaro [and maybe others later]

[decideformyself]

Being dead was significantly less interesting than Philip had anticipated. After all, it wasn't much of anything. The really interesting part was coming back to life, being disoriented for a few minutes, and then realizing what had happened.

How thrilling.

After the morning announcement, he wasted no time in barging over to Shotaro's cell. "Shotaro! Guess what!"

Comments

[decideformyself]

"A zombie?" he repeated, confused.

[starcharted]

He... really needed to learn to be more subjective with his choice of words.

"They're sort of like... monsters. They don't actually exist, mind you, but they're used often in films and the like. Basically they're the undead who have come back to life for one reason or another." The more he explained it, the worse it sounded. Now he remembered why had been so put off the first time Xiaoyu had called him one.

[decideformyself]

"A metaphor, then," he realized. "But it's not wrong. There is something monstrous about it." He smiled wryly. "Myself and the other Deadmen in particular. You're merely an outsider who was unfortunate enough to be caught up in this."

[starcharted]

"I always have had a penchant for trouble." He admitted, the slight smile on his face giving away that he rather preferred things that way.

"Rather I'm like you and Shotaro or not doesn't really matter, especially after all we've been through. We're friends, sren't we? I plan on sticking by the both of you -- who, by the way, are definitely not monsters -- from here on."

[decideformyself]

Philip paid no mind to that dismissal of his and Shotaro's monstrosity. The term was value-neutral to him. What did it matter?

"Hopefully the next incident you stick by us for does not turn out like the first."

[starcharted]

"I'd be a liar if I said I wouldn't mind keeping the rest of my organs." The look on his face definitely said that he didn't want to repeat that sort of thing if they didn't have to.

"Speaking of. How are you holding up? Feeling alright?"

[decideformyself]

He nodded, self-consciously placing one hand over his abdomen where the stitches remain. "I will need to be more careful, though. I may be revived again in the future, but the process of dying was not pleasant."

[starcharted]

"It's really not, is it?" He lamented quietly. "It was quick when it happened to me. In a way I suppose I should consider that a mercy."

He crossed his arms then, looking a bit more unsure of himself than he normally did. "That was back before I knew they'd bring me back, however."

It wasn't that he was telling Philip because he was fishing for sympathy, but more because he hadn't found anyone else he could relate to on the subject. Most people that he had known from then were gone, meaning that many inmates didn't even know he had died. Not even Clara.

[decideformyself]

"Then nobody told you?" Philip was a bit surprised to hear that. "I would consider information of that sort to be vital for any newcomer."

[starcharted]

"It's not something they wanted us to know." He furrowed his eyebrows. "I can't help but wonder how many secrets they have that are still undiscovered."

[decideformyself]

"That makes little sense. If they didn't want us to know, they should do something to prevent the knowledge from spreading." It's the same as with G-block.

Philip sighs and rubs at his hair. "This place makes absolutely no sense."

[starcharted]

"They probably like to watch the show we put on with our conspiracies and disbelief. We're like rats in a cage if you think about it." With most people John wouldn't have been so blunt, but Philip was the type that probably would have been insulted if he had been anything but.

"Not to us, maybe. I suspect this all makes perfect sense in the Warden's mind."

[decideformyself]

When John put it that way... It was much like the scientists and doctors at the lab Philip had escaped from. He still didn't know what their end goal had been in researching the Branch of Sin, but they'd definitely drawn entertainment from their experiments.

"Which is to say we may understand if we manage to approximate her way of thinking."

[starcharted]

"I'd be willing to make that wager, yes, but part of me isn't sure I want to know the exact details what kind of twisted mindset she's got." He put a hand to his chin. "Still, understanding her on a psychological level would be a massive advantage."

[decideformyself]

Philip has enough trouble understanding the other inmates on a psychological level. Other people are so weird. Still, it's worth a shot.

"I'll need to check out some books on psychology," he mutters.

[starcharted]

"I could do the same if you'd like. Would it be against the rules if I did that and lent them to you?"

[decideformyself]

"I don't believe so. It's discouraged, because if anything were to happen to the books while in my care you would be the one responsible for them. However, I will not allow that eventuality to come to pass."

[starcharted]

"That's what we'll do, then. Care to give "me" some suggestions?" He smiled, happy that things were already returning to normal.

[decideformyself]

"Anything on the psychology of sadism," he replied. "If you can find something along those lines in this library, that is."