"Well, swords don't come under carry laws, it's firearms that have restrictions. We think it's very, very important that firearms get isolated from everyday life, and you have no need to worry that random people are armed. So we have very low actual-gun ownership rates. But there are other laws to cover actual crimes, and for someone who genuinely needs weapons to feel safe, it'd be inhumane to impose restrictions on them."

She smiles softly and nods. "That... will help a lot, honestly. What forms are required for it, and what verification do I need to provide?"

"Well, you need to show up to the police station, tell them that you need a gun to feel safe, and that you're happy to accept the bond and that you'll always keep it stored in a locked safe when not using it. Then they'll have someone install a gun locker in your home, and you're allowed to keep one shotgun to start with, and more firearms later if you get certification and training and join a gun club."

She nods. "I'll have to try that. Might ask one of you to come with me to the station that day, actually, when I get around to doing it."

"We're happy to be there for you! We really have very few live-gun owners in thomassia; most are happy doing reenactments, and feel safe enough with just police protection."

She laughs ruefully. "And if you don't grow up in a world that necessitates a phrase like 'All Cops Are Bastards', then that's an eminently reasonable way to be! If anywhere I've ever been has a chance of having actually trustworthy cops, thomassia is it. It will just take me some time to get used to that and actually viscerally believe it."

The one currently furthest from Sable nods. "We want you to know that we care. We being the three of us, and really, everyone else in thomassia. We would be ecstatic to have you feeling comfortable and safe when it comes to your bodily integrity and possessions."

She smiles gratefully.

And then a thought occurs to her. "Oh bother. Now I can't tell if my fear of cops or my fear of making people uncomfortable is going to win... I'll have to let that percolate a bit."

"I think your fear of cops will fade fast, miss!"

"Now, do you want to somehow practice being more comfortable with vulnerability? Because then there'd be less anxiety just in everyday life. I don't really have any ideas for what that'd look like, though."

"Probably a good idea. Best idea I have for that is bringing up whatever topic I can think of that both would be helpful and would make me feel nervous and shy."

She contemplates for a moment.

"How does dating work on thomassia?"

"Well, you use the same communication app that you used to contact us. You can either have, I guess, a message-routing number for dating, talking about your positive traits. Or you can try finding someone beautiful and charming on one of the chats dedicated to dating. There's also a huge number of cafes and other meeting places with dating events, because it's really helpful to meet people in person."

She nods, still blushing. "And what if you happen to run into someone beautiful and charming in daily life, say when you're out with a sailing club for the first time, and then she teaches you all about diving the next day?"

"Well, tell the person in question that you like them an extreme amount, on their phone, late in the day, where they have time and privacy to process it!"

"Oh, and I managed to remember something else. There's an interesting feature of windows in skyscrapers. You have switchable polarization. You can make it so you can see out, but nobody in other skyscrapers can see in. You get all the spacious feelings of huge glass windows, and the privacy of having the curtains drawn. Let me show you."

She walks over to a slider built into the wall. She drags a black bead on it towards the window, on the side of the slider that's colored black. All the windows in other towers visible from Sable's window turn black as well, making the buildings around her look like they're covered in inky black panels where there were huge windows previously, while leaving the view of everything else completely untouched.

"You can't see inside of their homes either with the polarization on, of course. You could walk around totally naked and they'd have no idea!"

"Thank you for the advice on both points! I'm definitely going to make use of the window one when I develop a bit more body confidence."

She looks down at her phone and blushes, then back up at her neighbors. "Would you guess now counts as late enough in the day?"

"To tell them that they induce in you a desire to reproduce with them for the purpose of continuing your genetic line, yes!"

She blushes and splutters just a bit. "That is simultaneously the bluntest and most formal phrasing I have literally ever heard for that in my life."

And the spluttering dissolves into giggling.

They form a tight group hug in response to Sable's giggling. "Patient needs more warmth and oxytocin, stat!" one of them says as she gently nuzzles Sable.

Sable sighs warmly and snuggles in.

Her neighbors are great.

Thomassia is great.

Maybe she should say any of this out loud.

"Y'all are great and I'm glad I wound up on this bizarre amazing planet and met y'all."

"And we're glad that another soul can enjoy the warm embrace and support of a prosperous and caring society like ours!" They don't let up on the hug for a while longer.

She sighs happily and stays put until they let go, because hugs are great and she spent far too long without them.

And then, when they do, she types up a message.

Hey, Helena, I just wanted to let you know I think you're gorgeous, charming, fun to spend time with, and I'd love to try dating if you're interested. No obligation or anything if not, obviously. —Sable

And then she sends it.

"Okay, girls, I did it. Nothing like taking a risk of rejection to practice vulnerability, right?"

"Absolutely! I bet you're feeling safer already. Now, hmm. What were you thinking of doing before summoning us, miss? We're happy to be here, but we think that all this hugging is starting to feel... weird."

"Good question. The plan had been a cathartic hour or two of crying and grumbling about earth being terrible and my never going back, but honestly I'm feeling better than that now. Instinct says I'm maybe okay, at least for a little while? Maybe I should see what thomassian games are like, either on my phone or at a board game cafe?"