Jules:
(frowning after reading the poem) This poem seems too dark and nihilistic. It's as if the poet has given up on any redemption.
Andrei:
(with a crooked smile, half in jest) Well, I think it's a good counterbalance to the lighter stuff. Sometimes a jolt of darkness can wake the heart and shake us out of our easy illusions. Granted, too much shock and most people go numb instead of waking up.
Soo:
(tilting her head, in a wistful tone, then looking at Andrei) I don’t mind gloom if it leads somewhere toward a constructive solution, but this piece... it wallows. It’s noir to the core: resigned, cynical, and stuck in oblivion.
Ellesha:
(leaning forward) I like to think that every problem has a solution if we expand our awareness. If we’re bold and creative enough to look thinks from a different angle, some sort of answer manifests.
Philyra:
(shaking her head, voice like a closing door) That’s a beautiful illusion, Ellesha, but not always true. Sometimes the chess board is set, and every move leads to ruin. There are checkmates in life and some endings can’t be rewritten.
Elijah:
(pausing thoughtfully) Maybe. But even checkmate forces us to reconsider the game itself. Some games are not worth playing and the best move is to transcend the chess board.