[ With a wry half-grin, Tim makes a small amused sound. ]

Not a fan? Well shit, pumpkin. Coulda fooled me, what with the super warm reception and all...

[ His smile remains, but the humor drains away. ]

All the Doppelgangers had to get one. Jack's winning hand, heh. Controlled the whole casino with this baby. Or, I mean, until everything went to hell that is, then I was mostly just running for my life 24/7... but before that, yeah, pretty sweet. I guess.

[ There's a pang of regret for the friends he's left behind there, especially because he knows he's abandoned them forever if he gets to have any say in it. ]

So yeah, didn't actually get a whole lot of news about the outside world once the lockdown hit. Sorry.

[ He never even got to know— ]

He–hey, um... Rhys? It's Rhys, right. Cool. I dunno if you know this, but you're the first person I've even talked to who might, so...

[ Tim's tone is peculiar. Neither sad nor happy, neither concerned nor vindicated. ]

Jack—

[ Just... curious, maybe. Light, soft, in search of a reason that's been missing for a long time. ]

How'd he die?