"And I am definitely being biased because I want to recruit our family, but I would definitely want to monitor more places?"

He raises his hands in a mild defensive gesture. "To be clear here we don't have a strong opinion on whether you guys should person anyone in particular, we just want to make sure you're considering all the relevant stuff about what being a person is like, including things like the reality editing bit. Cor and I only got Caleb and Lilith after we collectively had the memories of being around for multiple years and it involved some rather extreme circumstances and knowing for sure that they wouldn't die, and I'm not saying you need that much but it is a very hard decision to reverse."

"I mean... thank you? But I am aware that is selfish."

Red shrugs. "I would not characterise it as selfish. I'm sure I would have wanted the same, had I had any family.—had Cor had any family. The Vatores might have a perspective for you if you want to ask about why they didn't bring their family back but it might just be related to how their parents died eighty years ago."

Felix makes a complicated face. "If they're okay with that maybe I will... I am not sure I can put into words why it's selfish."

"Do you think they wouldn't want to be people?"

"No...? I mean, I do think they would prefer being people. I just... there are so many others that would too, and I am not rushing to turn them at the earliest possibility."

Red raises one eyebrow at him. "Prioritisation is not selfishness, you have way more information about them than anyone else you could turn into a person and that's important, and also you don't owe any particular nonexistent person to get them to exist. If someone does not already exist then there is not actually a reason to make them, they're not trapped in some limbo begging to be let out or something."

Nod.

"Should I disclose that I think I sort of get where Felix is coming from? Assuming it's the same place where we should just... optimize what we do for the greatest benefit."

"The greatest benefit... of whom?"

"Of everyone. Present or future. I am aware that does include us, but..."

"...but we are not doing it for the benefit of everyone, just our own. I guess it's not selfish, but it isn't selfless?" He makes a face. "Why are emotions so this?"

"Improving the world in full generality is of course a good idea so that anyone who may or may not come to be will have a better life but—why would bringing any particular, arbitrary person be on expectation better for future people, including them, absent any further information?"

"Well, presumably because some NPCs will make better PCs than others. But we haven't done any of the work to figure out which ones are. We just have some NPCs that we are personally invested into."

"Right, and as you said you already know—or at least expect—that it's a good idea to bring them in, it's just a matter of when. So your choice is between spending zero effort and waiting zero time to perform an action with positive expectation—waking your family up—versus the tons of effort to find and get to know any given other NPC and then try to figure out if actually waking them up is positive at all."

Smile. "I like you." He cradles Red's head with one hand. "You're lovely."

"I do try."

Another magic flying paper crane.

are you guys flirting now? does that mean you'll join the orgy?

"Cor for goodness's sake stop being such a horndog," calls the pot out to the kettle. "And if you have something important to say just send Caleb next time."

Another paper crane.

caleb is a bit tied up right now

They read over his shoulder. "Is Caleb literally tied up?"

"Probably! He's trying to get me horny, too."

He's too naked to lie about how Cor is in fact succeeding at least a bit.

They sure have noticed. "You... can go join them? I am not sure how I am feeling..."

There is one way he is feeling that is also noticeable, but his worldviews have changed completely on account of being recently created.

"We could watch?" Fenris says both as a question and an offer.