"It's good to at least have a goal, for that sort of thing. A target range, I suppose."

There were definitely worse ways - worse reasons - to enact population control.

V's expression isn't as readable as Merwen describes her family life; there's a touch or two of wistfulness, perhaps?

They offer a hand to squeeze. "I can understand the importance of family. And what it's like to miss them when apart, especially when you were so close-"

Whether they were of blood or not did not strictly matter - but it's the look on Merwen's face that speaks volumes just now.

"... Thank you, for telling of them." Softly they add. "It is important to remember, even when it hurts."