"I'm not dead-set on dying. But I'd like the way I die to mean something, when it happens. I don't see what's wrong with that. And since none of this can mean anything to me in the long term because of what I am, I'd just like not to hurt people any more than I have to along the way."
"I've lived millions of years, and I'd live millions more without aging or changing. I don't want that. You can go live your life however you want, but I can't live my life at all. I'm tired of it. It's got to end eventually, it might as well do something decent."
"I'm not trying to save everyone. But anyone is better than no one. I'd save someone, if I got the chance. I wouldn't have to die, but if I did, so be it."
"I never said I was courageous. I just said that I think it would be better, simpler, and safer for everyone if..." He trailed off. "You, too? Something happened to you. You lost someone, maybe? Were you the hero, or were they?"
"I would say it is more selfish, though still selfless perhaps, to stake your life on someone you love, because you are preserving what is of value to you. I don't see how it could be a bad thing to help more people live longer. That's a net positive."
Variance turned to Allera, violet eyes narrowed in a conflicted expression. "I..."
He turned back. "That doesn't make sense. I think my life is worth the same. Probably less, actually. So it's worthwhile to preserve what is of greater value."
"They could have been alerted by the curse. And those weapons have existed for a while. They're difficult to create and maintain, but they are useful for certain other things and it's not unreasonable that there'd be one available."