[ Ah. They hadn't quite meant to say that - mouth running a few steps ahead as the rest of them tried to find a topic that wasn't bickering about paper or prying into why they have odd, stuffy habits - but they know better then to pretend it didn't happen. ]

In case you haven't noticed by now, I'm rather fond of my privacy.

[ There's no heat to the reproach, as their forced levity settles comfortably into the usual tone of dry sarcasm. ]

And really, when would mentioning her have done anyone any good? We've all... lost, those close to us, and I'm already far luckier then most. [ Another piece of tape is carefully unstuck. They don't look up. ] Complaining further would be cruel.

[ Unlike so many, they didn't arrive alone. It's something they're forever grateful for, selfishly so, because they don't know where they'd be otherwise. ]