[ He nods at her explanation, almost absently. Not that he isn't paying attention, more that what she says automatically makes sense, so he has no reason to question it. People are people. For better or worse, that's kinda seemed to always hold true.

She still reminds him of Lydia, in a way. But Moiraine has him thinking of Chrissie — Avasarala — now, too. Much more tactful — like Lydia had been, when she'd needed to be — but as long as they're talking rulers, he can see it. The way she carries herself. She's someone who commands respect; someone who can get others to do what needs to be done. And he likes that, too.

But her question earns a shrug, not out of dismissiveness, but because he's not entirely sure if there is an answer. ]

When I left? I dunno if anyone does. Some kinda natural disaster happened. Civilization broke. So, you know, shit got tribal. I had my people. I guess everyone else had theirs. The strongest ones survive, and then everyone else is just kinda fucked.

[ You know. Life. He pauses, scratches idly at the back of his neck with his free hand. ]

Before all that, there was this woman, Chrissie. She seemed pretty in charge of everything. Dunno what happened to her, though. Maybe she's still in charge.

[ No, wait. He frowns. The universe he came from is dead. He felt it, before all this. He seems relatively unaffected, considering its implications. ]

Or was. Since that's all gone now.