[ whether it's a joke or a genuine line of questioning, she has to pause to consider it. yes, on one hand, when everything had been simpler. no, on the other hand, when she'd been too overwhelmed by what she'd discovered — and the consequences of choices she'd had to make along the way — to feel even the least bit sane. ]

Not really. I think the general consensus would be more of a 'too stubborn to give up' thing. [ or even too strong to be anything but convinced she'd win, confront whatever she'd needed to without running. maybe it qualifies as optimistic, maybe it doesn't. ] I had to have someone teach me how to be optimistic.