"Where I'm from? 'Grateful you survived' isn't a normal thought to have." Abby's life has been all about not suffering more than not dying, which is a good starting point to gauge differences. Ginny's had it rougher than Abby, and Abby's pretty sure Ginny was never in 'glad I didn't die' camp. It's a good help to figure out their differences.

But maybe she should embrace that, now that it seems to be where her life is now. She just wanted to sulk in her lack of friends not- this.

"Oh, way too sober. That's easy to answer." Abby considers ways to veer the topic to happier places. But at the same time she's far too curious to try to get a handle on everything to just- decide to talk about the weather or some shit. "What's here, in the Free Cities, that's better than your home? There are a lot more rules on what I can't do at home. Like drinking."