Okay. Good skill on the osanwë problem.

Thanks.

She snuggles for another minute, and then: I should get back. I should be able to check in again soon, but don't worry if I can't.

Kobolds track time on the scale of days much more than Quendi do. It did not seem long to us, don't worry.

Okay. Hug. See you when I can, then.

Back at the workshop, Tirinquo has been waiting worriedly for her to return, and goes to get a hug and mutter unhappily at her when she comes back in, but doesn't seem otherwise the worse for wear.

A couple days later, she approaches the Quendi they seem closest to. I'd like to try osanwë with Tirinquo again, would you like to help?

Sure. What do you need me to do?

Well, the problem, I think, is that they're not used to anything being in their head that's not them - they don't talk and they're not used to being talked to, so that's how things have always been for them. So when someone osanwës them, they think it's their own thought and get upset that they're having thoughts that don't make sense. So what you need to do - if I'm right - is to explain what osanwë is, just as facts, not as a conversation or anything.

Okay, I can definitely do that.

Good, thanks. And she goes and gets Tirinquo's attention.

And the person sends this is a Quendi mind. These are Quendi thoughts. The Quendi is sharing thoughts.

Uh?

Okay, uh.

If that's true it's deeply weird and they don't like it. Though they do like it more than the alternative, they guess.

Is it true?

The other kobold did indicate that something was about to happen... so, probably... Speakers can practically read minds if they know you well enough, but Tirinquo doesn't think this one knows them that well yet, and knowing that that would happen before it did is something else again... okay, probably true. Still weird.

The Quendi can stop thought-sharing if Tirinquo does not like it.

Yeah.

Understands it, prefers we not do it, she reports.

Great. Tell them we might need to tell them things with osanwë sometimes anyway, if they're important?

That'd be doing it again, and they just asked me not to.

Okay. Thanks for your help.

Of course.

Back to work?

No, actually. Tirinquo wants to go for a walk, clear their mind a little.

Okay.

She goes with them, of course.

...no, a walk alone.

...all right.

Tyelkormo, are you around?

Speaking loosely enough. What's up?

Not sure if you've been told, but Tirinquo's on a drug that makes them not think of things as dangerous, so they shouldn't be alone, but they want some time away from me. By which I mean they just walked off. Can you come keep an eye on them?

Sigh. Sure.