Here was someone Joel didn't know. As always, he felt the need to be a little guarded.... but this guy's dilemma was something he'd very definitely been through himself.

"Nope. You ain't dead. Leastways, if you are, so am I and I have been for the better part've two years." he replied, slapping his hands together to free them of sawdust and regular dust.

"You get used to 'em. Most of 'em are kids like any other, even if they're actually dogs that can breathe fire or porcupines that can run at the speed of sound. Or robots."