Jackson Lanzing

“Oh, get off it with that. So sensitive about language. Mate, love, nest, whatever. Point is, it stinks, especially when it goes bad. I get wanting to run away.”

“Nothing is off-limits to me, tiny human. You think the desire in your heart is buried, but I couldn't ignore it if I tried! It means this: you want me to peace out? Shut it all down? Fine! I'll go! But you'll never get your next wish. Your secret wish. [. .] A mother's love. A father you know. A world at peace. A sky of stars. This could be yours . . . or you could lose it forever. And I can go. Doesn't matter to me, you finite speck.”

“Oh, no, nope, shoot. Are we about to human mate?”

“I worked hard as [fuck] to get here.”

“Okay, well, on Borelletrox V, the males are kept completely isolated from all images of the female until Binding Day and the females are, erm, let's just say they’ve' got a lot of--”

“What? Why are you making the glee nose? The death of my world is funny? The final vengeance of my people? I will kill you.”

“Don't let this consume you. Try not to blame me. Don't live in hate. Or grief. Just live.”

“I think . . . I've got everything I want.”

“Sounds like a great place to get killed. Hard pass.”

“I'm not going to lie: there are no good options here.”