GenericHmale OP t1_j8wfksv wrote on February 17, 2023 at 1:06 PM

Reply to comment by GenericHmale in [WP] As you slowly fade into death, you reflect on your life and think about all that has happened. What you would do differently, things you wished had happened. As you finally fade away into nothing a final though crosses you mind, but it's doesnt feel like your own, simply announcing: "Game Over" by GenericHmale

Lor found himself back in somthing that looks an awful lot like his previous home. The scenery shifts even as he looks at it. A shelf at one time he remembers holds a collection of novels and books for teenagers and young adults, packed alongside Lego constructs and Nerf guns. Only to shift to a shelf filled with certificates of education and accomplishments of a man at the peak of his prime. It shifts again, displaying family photos and models of carved wood made for someone much younger, another shelf contains boxes of useless junk along side bottles of pills.

Everything in the room follows this strange pattern of seeming to "age along" just as you stop observing it. Like a permanent trick of the eyes.

"Right then, this sight is giving me an awful headache, Lor thought. I think I'll have a sit down to gather my thoughts and wait out this mystery."

It was only once Lor was seated and relaxed that another state of mind began to overcome him again.

"PLEASE SELECT A MODIFICATION FOR YOUR NEXT LIFE"

Raising an eyebrow at the vagueness of "Modification" Lor decided to ask his mind what it really meant by this.

"Would you mind clarifying on what you mean by modification, please."

Almost at once he began to think back on his entire life, as though seeing it on a VHS or DVD player on 1000 times the normal speed. Lor remember all the times he'd wondered to himself about little things. Like changing who got his first kiss, who he married, what job path he went down, places he'd wanted to travle to, and other such small things.

But then there came the more wild fantasys. What if I was some sort of ancient eldrich monster that came from the ocean to wreak havic in the places I'd lived? What if I was a legendary beast like a Minotaur? What if Aliens had invaded and I'd become a super soldier to fight them off and save humanity, or even the reverse; being an alien sent to exterminate humanity?

All of these thoughts and fantasys played through my head and in my heart I knew each of them would be as real as my previous life.

But, Lor decided he had a few questions.

"Well, that was a rather large ammount of information to take in, he said as he rubbed his temples, I do have a few questions though."

"Firstly, have I been here before. Or- uh, I mean to say, Have I died before?"

"NO, THIS IS YOUR FIRST LIFE. AND IS THEREFORE YOUR FIRST TIME HERE"

GenericHmale OP t1_j8wfnzo wrote on February 17, 2023 at 1:06 PM

"I see... I'm nit sure wether to feel comforted at that. Is this what awaits everyone after they die?"

"ANSWER REFUSED, ONLY QUESTIONS RELATED TO YOUR LIFES, OLD OR NEW WILL BE ANSWERED."

This answer caused Lor to pause. "How odd, a bit of a shame as I really am curious as to my family and friends, but I can understand the need for everyone to have their own privacy."

Lor decided to move on to another question, having the feeling that getting an answer out of the voice in his head would be the equivalent of trying to break through a brick wall with only a toothpick.

"How many mods and What kind of mods am I allowed to make?"

"ONLY ONE MODIFICATION OF ANY KIND IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED."

"Currently?" Now there was a curious thought to have, if Lor was understanding correctly (and he was), then he could be allowed only a single change among all of the possibilities he'd seen. "Seem's a bit of a waste doesn't it? Can't you allow my just 1 more change, please?"

"NO."

Lor frowned at such an abrupt rejection. "Ouch, didn't have to be so hard on me."

"Just one more question then."

"Will I remember any of my past life?"

"NO. UNLESS MODIFIED, MEMORY RETENTION OF PREVIOUS LIVES AND THIS EXISTANCE ARE RENDERED VOID"

"...I see." This final question troubled Lor deeply, he'd rather enjoyed his old life except for how deeply average it all was. Funny that even in death, he was still rather emotionally attached to his old life.

Lor sat for a great many minutes thinking on what to do. About what life to live. And yet...

The ever average man eventually decided on a most average dream in the end.

"Voice? Would it be possible to live the same life again, but be able to retain my memories of my previous life?"

"YES, THIS WILL USE UP YOUR MODIFICATION, ARE YOU SURE YOU WISH TO APPLY THIS MODIFICATION?"

"....yes, yes please."

............................................... ........................ ............ ....... ... . "MODIFICATION AND LIFE CONDITIONS SET, AS YOU ARE USING A PREVIOUS LIFE, DO YOU WANT TO SKIP FORWARDS TO A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME IN YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF STARTING FRESH?"

Lor was quite surprised to hear(?) The voice say this and almost wanted to question how this wasn't another Mod, however, he was smart enough to not stick his head in the gift horses mouth all the way.

"What age am I allowed to start at?" But that didn't mean he didn't want to ask just that little question.

"TO ALLOW FOR EASIER MEMORY RETENTION AND PROVIDE THE FREATEST POTENTIAL FOR GOWTH, THE MINIMUM AGE ALLOWED IN THIS CASE IS 10 YEARS OF AGE. THE MAXIMUM AGE ALLOWED IS 69."

Lor made a squinting motion with his eyes and resisted the notion of laughing at the juvenile coincidence the voice had given him. "I see, thank you......"

After even more consideration, Lor decided to try and get an early start to his life again as a young adult.

"Voice, I'd like to start again as 20 year old me thank you."

"REINCARNATION BEGINING"

"LIVE A GOOD LIFE LOREM"

Before Lor could think on why the voice referred to him in name he felt a sense of somthing returning to him.

If he later tried explainingnthe experience to someone, Lor would say "It was as though I was experiencing what it was like to become concrete on the footpath, solidifying, becoming something."

And like waking up from a dream, he woke up having turned 20. Ready to live his new life.