"Maybe later," Manny replies, "for now, I'm gonna go see what's up with Pheonix."

"Yeah," Marcie sighs, slightly disappointed, "that's fair."

Manny decides to roll to see if Marice is hiding something. He rolls a fourteen. He can only detect that there is no malice in Marcie's request, but nothing else. He follows Phenoix to the cemetery.

Phoenix sits in front of Sour's grave.

"So," they sigh, "guess I'm back, kinda. I wonder if he realizes? That your soul makes up the largest part of mine. Guess that would explain the... feelings I have for him, but..."

Pheonix begins crying.

"I remember," they continue, speaking to broken souls who are a part of them, but also long gone, "I remember when you pulled the trigger. I remember... pulling the trigger. I remember everyone who makes up my own soul dieing. When I first formed, I was so afraid, I forced a smile and pressed through, but when I say Gene, I felt better. It's almost like your love for him was passed on to me. I tried to talk to him, but... he wasn't interested."

Pheonix sighs.

"I just wish that the story didn't end like it did," they sigh, "If Edgar didn't die..."

"You and me wouldn't exist," Manny steps in, "don't beat yourself up so much Pheonix. I mean, it's bad, yeah, but it's not like people are dieing in the street."

"Well," Pheonix explains, "you did fail your first quest so... they kinda are now."

"Oh, well shit. Look, maybe I can help you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, it's way to forward, but we're in a dieing world with most of the gods dead and everyone who's left is dieing. Gotta love while you can."

"Don't you mean live while you can?"

"In your case, no."

"You're right. We're all in borrowed time anyways. I'm gonna head back to the palace. You take care of whatever your second choice is, and come meet me there."

Pheonix wipes their tears, smiles slightly, and leaves.

OK, if you don't wanna hang with Marcie, we REALLY need to talk.

"Hey," Manny becomes fully self aware, "so, we're basically the same person, but we're also kinda in this co existing limbo state. So, many beings who make up me, can you do me a favor and choose Marcie? Things have been really tense and I could use the time to unwind. Like, this I gonna determine a LOT of who I am, so, choose carefully."

Manny has a choice to make...