[Ai shrinks further and further into herself as if, by taking up as little room as physically possible, she can will herself into invisibility.]
Some of the others have said that as well.
[There’s an oddly pensive note in Jay’s voice. This seems to be a common thread of grief, among those who are willing to (or maybe can’t help but) express it to others. That Shinonome and Roscent were “too young”.
Too young for what, he wonders? Too young to be here? Too young to kill? Too young to die? He just doesn't understand it. They're still dead. Wasn’t Shinonome’s age and poor health what made her an appealing target to Roscent in the first place? And it’s not as if Roscent’s age stopped anyone from voting for her, when it came down to it. No one was willing to give up their own life for hers.]
It's not a sentiment I understand. Being young isn’t a shield, here or anywhere.
[Well, it’s probably impossible for him. After all, Jay is a liar and a cheat. The life he's built for himself is constructed from whole cloth; from stolen time he was never supposed to have. When he was younger, he never even thought to imagine making it to "probably" sixteen.]
no subject
Some of the others have said that as well.
[There’s an oddly pensive note in Jay’s voice. This seems to be a common thread of grief, among those who are willing to (or maybe can’t help but) express it to others. That Shinonome and Roscent were “too young”.
Too young for what, he wonders? Too young to be here? Too young to kill? Too young to die? He just doesn't understand it. They're still dead. Wasn’t Shinonome’s age and poor health what made her an appealing target to Roscent in the first place? And it’s not as if Roscent’s age stopped anyone from voting for her, when it came down to it. No one was willing to give up their own life for hers.]
It's not a sentiment I understand. Being young isn’t a shield, here or anywhere.
[Well, it’s probably impossible for him. After all, Jay is a liar and a cheat. The life he's built for himself is constructed from whole cloth; from stolen time he was never supposed to have. When he was younger, he never even thought to imagine making it to "probably" sixteen.]