[ ishmael can spot his hesitance from a mile away -- a result of an unspoken taboo among sailors who don't want to share any more of themselves than necessary. she was like that too, once upon a time. burying her feelings for the other sinners was something she needed to do, and back then she would've accepted that kind of answer and left it at that. but that's rarely the solution, isn't it?

that and, frankly, his answer is way too boring. she raises an incredulous brow at him. ]

And? I think most of us came from worlds with a lot of death, and most of us were trying to survive just to see another day too. What's so special about yours?

[ she would know. and so far, none of the worlds she's heard about is as bad as hers. but maybe she's just desensitized from everything she's seen at this point. ]