"That's a very charitable interpretation."

"I think a big part of liking everyone is defaulting to those. Also understanding them very thoroughly. Most people like themselves."

"I've noticed that. You can borrow their reasoning?"

"I can borrow their reasoning, I can borrow their self-doubts, I can want for them everything they want for themselves - whether or not I actually approve of it."

"...that sounds contradictory."

"Don't you want things for yourself sometimes that you don't approve of, or wouldn't do?"

"Nnnot exactly? Not once I think about it."

"Huh. I do. So I don't have trouble adopting other wants that I don't endorse and wouldn't follow through on. If someone wants, I don't know, disproportionate revenge, I can talk with them and want them to have that and also have no hesitation about stopping them if they try to do it."

"Sounds useful to the extent I know what you're talking about. I can - I don't know what I'd be taking revenge for in particular, but I could imagine observing that it would on some level be satisfying to have and then observing that this is not the level on which I actually care about stuff."

"Maybe that's a different framing of the same thing. Observing that something would be satisfying, or relating to the desire, isn't as - helpful, for engagement with people, as wanting it with them and wanting it for them, I don't expect, but then you're probably not often trying to do engagement with people that involves finding them good and interesting and important."

"Yeah, not usually, I am differently specialized."

"I am a big believer in specialization."

"Is desiring disproportionate revenge a thing that often comes up in Valinor?"

"Yes? The wrongs are small and the revenges are also small. People can be petty. Or rather, I think, people size their emotions to the stakes they're accustomed to. Survivors of Utumno do not tend to be petty at all."

"Utumno?"

"The Enemy's greatest fortress; it fell when he did. He kept slaves there."

"Ah. Yeah."

"They mostly don't talk about it. I have not pressed the point. But the difference in outlook is apparent to me within a few minutes of meeting someone."

"That's fast. Do I sort neatly?"

"Not into a category with which I was previously familiar. It's not clear to me whether that's because you're a human or an unusual one. Either way I'd like to work with more people like you."

"I bet you say that to all the personality types."

I like everyone I meet. I do not lose my head over most of them.

Good, it wouldn't be nearly so flattering if you did.

I have been with exactly as many people as you, and had a few centuries more for it.

Well, I seem to remember hearing that I'm objectively the best person in the world, so you know how to pick 'em.