That was a careful word choice. Survival, that's almost easy in comparison, especially if you weren't living the way they do. There's folks who get by with a lot less trouble, he's sure of it, because they don't care about anything but their own strength. That could've been him easily, and Carol is part of why it wasn't. He's just looking to return the favor.

A smile at that is a little too much to ask of him. He leans forward to lay his hand softly on her shoulder, a clumsy attempt at reassurance.