Melkor wants to know if Cam can kill Eru.

"I don't think the Valar could hold him still for me."

Is that a necessary element?

"Is this a relevant tangent?"

I suppose it depends if you want Eru running the universe or not.

"Are you suggesting that you're meaningfully keeping Eru in check somehow?"

No, not at all. I just want him to die and so when people show up with godkilling abilities I enquire after whether they can take him.

"I am pretty sure I can't take him unless he thinks it'd be really tragic if I did."

Sigh.

"But we were talking about you."

Were you hoping I would beg? I hate doing that, Eru enjoys it.

"I have very different tastes from Eru."

I noticed. So I'm not sure why we're having this exchange at all.

"I'm wondering if there is a reason not to kill you. Begging isn't such a reason, is all."

I assume you are familiar with all of the reasons not to kill people.

"You've emphatically opted out of most of them."

So have you, son. There aren't any other ones hidden away.

"Ah-huh."

That's all he has to say to Melkor.

He goes off elsewhere and says into his empty surroundings -

"Hey. I wanna write the fix fic but - that doesn't make it not have happened."

A giant hand descends from above.

It pats Cam on the head. It departs.

"whatthefuck"

Eru, presuming that was Eru, does not clarify further!

Cam writes back the estimates of 40/144, probably not, no, and creepy headpats. If the Valar care to volunteer an opinion on the significance of the headpat he'll add a footnote.

And then he goes and tells Timothy about it.

The Sanity Valar expect that means he is pleased with Cam and not going to interfere!

Timothy looks like he is refraining from saying things because of potential eavesdroppers. He hugs him. "Think you can get into the right mindset?"

"Yeah. Once the goldmage is lined up."