"It gives me some idea, at least." A pause, and she isn't looking at Ilde, but she is extremely aware of her. "Don't you think there's anything worth saving?"

Still, that old hope. Whether it really was hope and faith or simply a lesson long-ingrained, she couldn't tell anymore. In either case, she just tosses back more of her drink. When in doubt, drown it out. A fine policy, to be sure.

And finally, she says something that she doesn't really believe; maybe it shows in how very flat and quiet it is. "Then again. Everybody needs to eat."