"I'd prefer not dying, if we can manage it."

"I'd prefer you not die, too."

"So how can we work around that?"

"I'm hoping we can end the loops first... The initial deaths aren't mandatory and can be pushed back, and quite frankly by the point the timeline insists on final deaths everything in Beleriand will have gone to shit anyways. I'm willing to push through that, even over and over, if it'll end the loops, but it's better to aim before that."

"Hm. Okay."

"So really the lever we should try first is the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. If Finrod survives the Quest and is disposed kindly towards us, we may be able to use that to get into the planning. The Feanorians won't like that, assuming Elu Thingol keeps the Silmaril- but I could have a falling-out with him over that decision?"

She nods. "Doriath also usually refuses to join the battle - in part because of Celegorm and Curufin being dicks to Luthien, but the actor I've put in Celegorm role can be diverted more easily than normal... She'll be more controllable if we get Aredhel in the area, though - and that'll give us two past Melkors active in planning... The issue with Aredhel - she usually goes to Gondolin a bit before the Battle of Sudden Flame, then she default is murdered by her husband but the ex-Melkor who goes well in her role will kill her husband first... I might be able to nudge her to leave Gondolin again after that."

"And if you're pushing for Doriath to join the alliance, that'll help us - and I can put another ex-Melkor as Maglor. She's the most reasonable of us, and she'll have influence on her siblings."

"I can try to focus more on getting support in the younger generations."

She nods.

"...It'll be easiest to get us some slack on the timeline if I'm captured by Sauron and then rescued by you - and Ares won't throw a fight..."

"Could you replace him?"

"I don't have many other people who are loyal and go well - I really need someone who'll cooperate even when I'm behaving oddly or counter to our supposed goals."

"What about a simulacrum?"

"Only works for the Melkor role, sadly."

"Too bad."

"We can find somewhere else to get slack if you don't want to risk the fight."

"I don't think there are any other really easy places."

She nods. "Most of the other possibilities have bad outcomes we want to avoid built into them."

"If it's to save you, I can fight him."

Kiss.

"You're more terrifying than him anyways. It's best he learn that."

"A valuable lesson."

"One everyone should be aware of."

"At the proper time. Don't want to give them too much time to prepare."

"And the revelation should be arranged to have an appropriate emotional impact, of course."

"Of course."

Small kiss.

"I'm not sure if we should switch out any other roles..."

"I think we can keep things as they are? And note places that could be improved as we go."