Nod.

Shahn goes to the store for formula.

"Do you know how to get to a point where people think they can come to us to ask for help with something like that -"

"Kinda got an uphill battle there. If you'd felt like it you coulda had me beaten to death in the street, gotta make real sure nobody thinks you feel like it."

He is getting so much practice at not spluttering in horror. So much of it. Way too much of it, really.

"For saying mean things about my species? That's an execution offense these days?"

"What, you wanna know exactly what to say to a cop if you ever change your mind on that?"

"I suppose I might want to know what to tell my people not to say. It won't occur to them - the King, at home, couldn't do that even to someone who tried to kill him in public in the middle of First Plaza -"

"You go 'officer, officer, the garbage is being shockingly rude, is that the kind of conduct you allow in your trash around here' - and they go, 'we're so sorry, sir, what would you like done with it, how can we make this right for you' -"

"I don't think they'll do that by accident. Uh, in Valinor beating people to death is not allowed."

"Gosh, bad news for my beating people to death hobby."

"If it's really important you could put out a personal ad and maybe you'd find people who are into it."

Giggle.

"I don't know why your world is so terrible, as individuals you mostly seem lovely."

"I didn't know there were nicer planets so I don't know why we're not one."

"We've got the Valar, that's some of it. Maybe a lot of it. But Endorë is still nicer than here."

Pack pack pack. Patched old clothes and "will I be able to even charge any electronics from here or should I just give them all to my sister -"

"They hacked together a thing that lets data transfer but you'll be able to afford a new computer no problem and it'll certainly be much easier."

"How'm I affording things no problem, exactly - you don't even die, right?"

"We don't, no. Every citizen of my country gets money every month, and it's enough for food and shelter and clothes and a computer if you don't waste it, and then you work a job if you want more money than that."

"...where does the money come from?"

"Taxes."

"What, on all these people who aren't even working?"

"On the ones who are! Lots of people do, lots of people like contributing to society. - maybe they wouldn't if society sucked -"

"You don't even have castes, right -"

"We don't."

"That must be neat."