Abby Palmer

Abby Palmer
Details
Also Known As	Abby Palmer
First Mentioned	"Cookies" (mentioned) "Voicemail" (named)
Status	Alive
Occupation	Real estate lawyer
Affiliations	Unknown
Family	Cecil's and Abby's mother (mother) Cecil Gershwin Palmer (brother) Janice (daughter) Steve Carlsberg (husband) Carlos (brother-in-law) Sabina (cousin) Esteban (nephew)
Known Physical Features	Resembles Cecil and her father, with dimples and a nose with a thin bridge that upturns at the tip
Pronouns	She/her
Voice
Voice Actor(s)	Ashlie Atkinson

Abby is Cecil Palmer's sister, Janice's mother, and Steve Carlsberg's wife.

When Cecil was fourteen, their mother disappeared, forcing Abby to drop out of school and raise him on her own. Cecil describes her as "reserved and controlling", blaming him for having to drop out of school, while Cecil blamed her for not being their mom. They begun to patch up their relationship when their mother returned. Abby was at their mothers side when she died, Cecil was at work.

Though her brother Cecil attempted to stop her wedding during the ceremony itself (accusing Steve Carlsberg of speaking forbidden truths, a charge that is "a mandatory reason to cancel a wedding" in Night Vale), Abby talked him down from his anger and the wedding was allowed to proceed.

Abby and Cecil do not appear to be especially close; Cecil notes in "The Registry of Middle School Crushes" that they have not spoken in some time. (Cecil also notes that he would like this to change) They do, however, seem to be on good terms: Steve states that Abby loves her brother, and Cecil babysat Janice while Steve and Abby were away.

Since Steve Carlsberg is referred to as Janice's step-father, it is likely that Janice is Abby's child from a previous relationship. When her and Steve first got together, he provided both financial support for Janice, and spiritual support for Abby, something previously done by Cecil.

During the scene in the gym in It Devours! Abby is stated to "approach life with a total practicality", and that she would not collapse with the trauma of that moment until later when she was alone in the shower.

Relationships

Cecil Gershwin Palmer

Abby is Cecil's older sister, who became his "de facto guardian" when he was 14 after their Mother's "disappearance". Abby's father disappeared just after Cecil's birth, and as Abby has memories of being held by him at the age of four, this means Abby is at least four years older than Cecil. Abby and Cecil have been described by Steve Carlsberg as having a "tumultuous relationship", and in episode 246 Abby admits that she resented having to raise Cecil, that she felt he was "never grateful, and always belligerent toward [her]" and that she "hated [him], but only because [they] were both still children". She feels that Cecil is afraid of her because she reminds him of their mother. After the birth of Janice Palmer, Abby's daughter, Cecil spent a lot of time with Abby, helping to care for Janice, until strain was put on their relationship by Abby's new relationship with Steve, who Cecil felt was "relieving him from duty". However, after the events of episode 110 where Cecil apologises to Steve, Abby and Cecil's relationship appears to have improved. In episode 246, Abby addresses the following to Cecil: "We sucked as siblings, Cecil, but we’re growing up. We’re starting to suck less. I love our game nights, like tonight. I love our family outings. I love getting to see you and Carlos and Esteban so much. I love how involved you’ve been in Janice’s life, and how welcoming you’ve been to Steve the last few years. I forgive you. I forgive myself. And I hope you will, too."

Steve Carlsberg

Steve Carlsberg is Abby's husband. They started dating sometime after the birth of Abby's daughter, Janice Palmer. When Cecil was holding his grudge against Steve, Abby defended him, saying that if Cecil didn't stop insulting Steve during his radio horoscopes, Cecil would not be invited to Janice's first ever ballet fight. Regarding Steve's beliefs about the dotted lines and glowing arrows in the sky, Abby believes him but shows little interest. In episode 246, Abby describes Steve as "full of grace", with regards to being used as a scapegoat in Abby and Cecil's messy relationship, and she thanks him for that. They have a supportive relationship, with Steve comforting Abby about her relationship with her mother and brother.

Her Mother

Abby's mother "disappeared" while Cecil was still a teenager, leaving Abby as his guardian to help him with homework, drive him around, cook for him, clean up after him and discipline him. When Abby asked her mother about her father, Abby's mother would avoid the question, and any "attempts to interrogate her would end in her questioning [Abby] about something completely unrelated". Abby's mother never read her stories. In episode 246, it is revealed that Abby's mother's disappearance, previously widely assumed by the fandom to be literal, was a metaphorical one. Her "body was around, but she was absent". She provided only for the basic needs of her children while neglecting their emotional needs. Abby regrets not trying harder to understand her mother, stating that as a child she "was too young and bitter to say, 'You look tired, mom. Do you want to talk about it?'". She tried to understand her father through her mother instead. In episode 246, Abby states that "I’m looking for mom’s ghost now, but I don’t think she wants to be found. I think she’s happier, far away from the ghost of our father."

Her Father

Abby's father disappeared just after her brother Cecil's birth, and she discusses this disappearance in detail in episode 246. In this episode, it is stated that Abby's mother never acknowledged Abby's father when asked about him, but Abby has memories of her father reading her stories, him tucking her in and being lifted into the air by him, as well as encountering him once in the middle of the night when she got up for a glass of water. Abby believed for a long time that these memories were her imagination and that her father did not exist due to her mother's reticence and the lack of photographic evidence of him. She shares physical features with her father that she does not share with her mother, such as dimples and a nose with a thin bridge that upturns at the tip. She does not remember his face, but his presence, his voice, his smell, a temperature associated with him. When Cecil was four or five, he began to draw trees with owls and tell her about a hiking trip they'd supposedly been on with their dad. She began to have dreams about her father about experiences that could not have happened, and Cecil was having the same dreams. Cecil believes these dreams to be real events, and while Abby is skeptical, she admits that she "wanted to believe that" because she "wanted more than anything for dad to be real". She does not know what their father is or what his motivations are, but is fairly certain he is dead. Abby has tried connecting to her father through dreams and art, but describes him as "impossible" and "not enigmatic or magical... fucking frustrating". Despite this, she encourages Cecil to try and contact him if that's what he wants.

Abby has to keep telling Cecil the story of their father because he always forgets, and each time she does so, she hears the sound of rain, or maybe owls.

Mentions

• Episode 44 "Cookies": Cecil mentions that Janice's mother is out of town.
• Episode 53 "The September Monologues": While Steve Carlsberg speaks, he says that he loves his wife, she loves her brother, and both he and his wife love their daughter. He later recounts the incidents with Cecil at Steve's wedding.
• Episode 57 "The List": Cecil notes that Janice and her family are among those gathered in Mission Grove Park. He comments that he doesn't like to talk about Janice's family much, but he does tolerate them "in all the requisite familial ways."
• Episode 65 "Voicemail": Steve Carlsberg mentions in a voicemail message left for Cecil that he and Abby are planning a vacation for the two of them, and asks whether Cecil is willing to babysit Janice while they are away. This is the first time Abby is called by name.
• Episode 68 "Faceless Old Women": Cecil mentions that he is reluctant to move away at the moment because his sister and brother-in-law need him to look after Janice during their vacation. He seems more concerned about disappointing his niece than her parents.
• Episode 69 "Fashion Week": Cecil says that he had Janice over "while her parents were taking a romantic long weekend in the kingdom of the Deros, deep within the hollow earth." This kingdom is apparently accessible by ordering any item from the Arby's "market fresh" menu.
• Episode 70B "Review": Cecil notes that Janice, Abby, and Steve Carlsberg were present at the new Old Night Vale Opera House. Janice later says that her mom was the one who told her that Cecil was planning to move away from Night Vale. Later in the episode, Cecil lists Abby among the reasons that he will live in Night Vale, along with Steve and Janice.
• Episode 71 "The Registry of Middle School Crushes": Cecil lists Abby among the players of Janice's heist as "Abby: my sister, whom I have not spoken with in quite a while, but whom I am hoping to speak with more." Cecil describes Abby creating the illusion of an empty hallway in the doorway of the City Council chambers using mirrors and clip lights, though he later reveals that the heist was only a story and that Abby and the other supposed "players" aside from Janice are safe in their homes.
• Episode 78 "Cooking Stuff: Thanksgiving Special": Cecil mentions that his sister and her husband as well as Cecil's niece would be joining Carlos and him for Thanksgiving dinner.
• Episode 80 "A New Sheriff in Town": Cecil says that he will be sharing some eggnog with his "dearest family: Carlos, Abby, Janice... others."
• Episode 85 "The April Monologues": Steve Carlsberg speaks briefly about enjoying quiet evenings with Abby and Janice. He also mentions that Abby had cooked a delicious-looking dinner the day he was visited by Chad Bowinger, and that the two take turns doing so.
• Episode 89 "Who's a Good Boy? Part 1" Hid away in Carlos' lab with Carlos, Steve and Janice during the strangers takeover. While talking to Cecil, Steve notes, "With Abby around, I can't imagine a bad thing that could happen."
• Episode 90 "Who's a Good Boy? Part 2" Along with her family, she held Steve back from becoming a stranger. She tells Janice she is too young to join Tamika's militia.
• Episode 100 "Toast" Steve says him and Abby had been "dating a long time" before he ever met Cecil.
• Episode 107 "The Missing Sky"
• Episode 110 "Matryoshka" Says she believes in Steve's theories, but shows little interest, making Steve believe she only said it to be nice. Rarely got along with Cecil until after their mother died, Cecil spent a great deal of time with her and her daughter because Janice's spina bifida was "costly and terrifying and exhausting". After Abby met Steve, "he took care of Janice, financially, and of Abby, spiritually.". When Janice was young, Cecil provided a lot of emotional and financial support to Abby, saying he was "comforting a sobbing mother" and "spending away his savings on medical care."
• Episode 125 "A Door Ajar Part 2" Hosted The Really Tall One in her home, she notes a "strong odor that seems to be a combination of ozone, copper, and shrimp permeating the house whenever The Really Tall One is asleep. The odor gets stronger the deeper into unconsciousness The Really Tall One gets."
• Episode 149 "The General"
• Episode 153 "The Heist, Part 1" Bought a new house, described as a "larger home, one with a yard for dogs, no stairs and wider doors for Janice's wheelchair, and even Steve's own "man cave" where he can raise bats and cultivate rare crystals."
• Episode 154 "The Heist, Part 2" Was questioned by the secret police during their investigation into her husband and brother in law.
• Episode 155 "The Heist, Part 3"
• Episode 175 "The October Monologues" Listened to Steve's stories, but never shared his enthusiasm for the truth, telling him to "let it lie, let it lie."
• Episode 176 "The Autumn Specter" As children, her and Cecil's mother would dress them up in homemade Halloween costumes and take them around to houses, where they would vaguely threaten neighbors until they gave them candy.
• Episode 181 "C****s" The day their mother left, Cecil says the clouds were "perfect, fluffy things." during their adulthood when she returned the clouds were "gray and low"
• Episode 182 "It Sticks With You" Was taken to the Redwood Remains State Park three or four times a year as a child, where her mother would walk too fast for her and Cecil to keep up. While their mother did what she needed to, her and Cecil would "play hide and seek, and try to catch toads and even had contests to see who could climb the highest". They always found their mother leaving flowers at the base of a tree.
• Episode 208 "Cecil in The Big City" Cecil gave her a snow globe as a memento from his trip.
• "Ghost Stories"
• It Devours!
• Episode 246 "A Story About Him" is narrated by Abby and discusses her relationship with her parents (especially her father) and Cecil.

Trivia

• In episode 246, "A Story About Him", Abby is given the first non-censored swear word in the show's history when she describes her father as "fucking frustrating".