Well, he could apply himself to social skills, you say, just doesn't. Motivation more than ability gap, maybe.

I tried applying myself to engineering with no success at all. I'm thoroughly mediocre at it.

Then I am out of speculations.

You all right? You must be wearying of defending your personal life.

It's what I signed up for. I am surprised that he hadn't heard that I didn't remember I was married before.

I think he'd heard it and was unsure whether to believe it. It is a bit strange.

Yeah, reincarnation: it's weird.

Much better than you dying forever though.

I think so too.

Governor sometime or do you think it's still best to spend your time with Aydanci? Or would he want to play?

You know, he might be convinced to play. Possibly only on my team, though.

That's very fair. Non-evil, let's not scare him.

I'm not sure he'd be scared exactly, but I can show him notes before dropping him headfirst into an evil game.

So maybe I'll be at a bit of a disadvantage while Aydanci picks up the game and I catch up on my memories.

I bet you'll live. And anyway I am looking forward to winning a few games, I feel I've been very patient with the whole mess.

You've won more at non-evil than I have, I'm just better at evil so far.

You are terrifyingly evil for the objective best person in the world.

I use my powers for good. A person who was less good at thinking of evil might not have thought to be anonymous about storks and then where might I be. I told Aydanci you said I was the objective best person in the world, incidentally, he was charmed.

Of course he was, Maitimo says a bit smugly.

Yes, yes, he is slightly me-obsessed.

You should find it flattering. And it's convenient when the best path to doing right by someone is to be your best self and do the things you do best.

I find it a little worrying - I mean, he was slightly me-obsessed before too but this level of it has post-traumatic written all over it - but yes, extremely convenient.

Maybe Lorien in a few centuries when he's ready.

I'm hoping it doesn't take him centuries. If he isn't substantially perked up in two, three years I'm doing something wrong.