"- fair enough."

"Your family is great! And also sometimes really exasperating!"

"These two observations are wholly compatible!"

"They are! And yet, I suspect that if I tried to make these assertions to your brother Curufinwe, they would not be positively received!"

"I think it's about, like, presumed motives. What is the point of telling someone that you find their family exasperating - well, I can think of a hundred, but I bet he thinks of two, which are 'to hurt them' and 'to be later able to justify hurting them'."

"Whereas the actual motive is--having an emotion and wishing to express it. But it's hard to blame him for that interpretation."

"I think it's pretty fair to blame him, actually, but - yeah, it is what it is."

She shrugs. "People can do what they can do. I have more capability to be empathetic and emotionally thoughtful than him, so if I want a positive relationship with him it's on me to navigate it.

I did not mean that as condescending as it came out."

"I remember deciding when I was three that if I didn't want my father to keep saying things that hurt people I had to manage conversations better."

"When you were three? I'm sorry to hear that."

"Does not seem to have done any damage."

"That's good.

When I was three I thought my parents were perfect and it was--good, that I had that. Maybe it wouldn't have been as nice for you, but," she shrugs. "It's something most people get to have, I think."

"Probably. I wouldn't trade my father for anything, though."

"I definitely wouldn't expect otherwise."

"And I might've had that reaction to any parents, honestly."

"My first instinct is to disagree with you but then I remember my mother's actual personality."

"Oh?"

"Her name is 'Ercanis' and it suits. She's...not very conciliatory, with people she doesn't respect. She has a much lower threshold for respecting people than your dad does, but..."

"And perhaps I'm just a contrary child who would have decided the people around me were doing things wrong no matter what they were doing."

"Maybe! Sadly, I cannot meet adorable small Maitimo to check."

"I regret neglecting to stay adorable and small long enough to meet you."

"Alas, by the time I was around for you to realize this error I expect it was already too late."

"I will tell the Valar Elves grow up too fast and they should make it even slower."

"If you do, don't let the Ambarussa know I prompted it."

"I cannot imagine they'd blame you."