"What was I even doing that you didn't like?"

Thorn sighs. "Family."

"Seems like there's a lot of worlds that have problems, but I get the impulse to chase after the ones you hear about. Family, huh? You're making me miss mine. Haven't done that in a while."

"Fortunately, we can be many people. Clematis or Hannah here could just fork and leave the new copy to run around in the High Wilderness, that's something we have the power to do. But we try to be reserved with that, because the more tangled and complex the selftree gets, the greater the chance for Family Drama."

"Do I want to hear an example of...? Yes, I do. But the question is, do you want to tell me, I suppose."

"Occasionally there are usses who get screwed up by something. Things like your starlight exposure, that they don't know enough to avoid. When that happens it's always a row among the family as to what to do with them and how much of a vote they should get in things and how much of their issues we should repair. We have a test to see if someone still counts as one of us, but beyond that..."

"It can require real delicacy, healing those damaged selves."

"Sometimes you and yours try to heal the personality right out of them."

"Girls."

"Hmm. I don't think I'll really get it unless I do some, uh, forking and merging myself. Maybe in a few years."

"Yeah, maybe. Do you have any more questions for these two, or?"

"Oh, leaving already? I'll probably think of twenty as soon as you go. Ooh, any particular recommendations from the catalog?"

"Have you mentioned the Rose Bowers to her at all?" 

Thorn flushes. "No. No I have not."

"Then that's my recommendation."

"A Ring of Nine Lives would be my recommendation. Prevention is better than a cure, but an instant magical cure is pretty good most of the time."

She glances at Thorn and the corners of her mouth sneak up a bit, but she turns back to Clematis and says, "I did seriously consider the ring last time. Depending on how much of a budget to kit me out Thorn thinks is a good idea - since I'll pay it back as we go and all - first thing I'm getting next time."

"In a dangerous profession like skyfaring I'd definitely advise one. The maps are probably enough to cover it, and if not I'm sure Thorn can cover the excess out of her spending money. We have a lot of budget to throw around, but young Thorns get an allowance." 

"I already burned a lot of my allowance synthesizing some chorister honey, but I should still be able to cover it."

"I suppose OTC doesn't do loans outside of, like, oaths. I think setting up our engine and then going on a run to Lustrum for a good source of Hours is the way forward. Bet I could find someone selling a barrel or two here if OTC would buy them, though? Two rods of freedom except as tattoos, and a ring of nine lives... A pair of sending stones might be nice but if I add everything that might be nice it'll add up to thousands and thousands."

"Sounds like your budget should stretch."

"I'm heading back, now. I have other things to do. Don't forget about the Rose Bowers!"

Hannah wanders off back through the portal.

"Nice meeting you!"

To Clematis, "Last question for now. Does the amulet of inviolable form work on slow things, like a disease that turns you to glass over years?"

"Yes, it ought to. Most of our defenses are strongly general in able to catch threats from across the multiverse."

"Good to know. Thanks for visiting, it was interesting."