"Oh it's real dumb. And the planet is flat."

"I mean - maybe if the Valar were even dumber they'd be too dumb to be harmful?"

"Nope they're actually more powerful over shorter ranges and temperamentally alike just worse at physics. Also flat Aulës get to give Dwarves an afterlife which yours don't have by default."

"Can he give ours one?"

"I don't think so but Dwarves can do the turning into demons et al thing."

"Huh. And someone's telling them?"

"Local Aulë is probably already in a lightleaper."

They glance at each other and smile. They go back to reading.

Cam puts a wing over Timothy.

Yep they are apparently not taking that as permission to lean any closer than necessary for reading. 

Oh well.

It's good reading. When done they look at each other again and then dissolve into giggles. 

" - our alts shouldn't visit. At least not with friends - Timothy's okay because it won't occur to most people he's me but once they see the male Elf ones it will -"

Snort. "Ah-huh."

"My responsibility is to these people and I'm not going to push them along faster than they're ready for."

That's not really it, you just hate the thought of people hating you -

- you don't mind -

I am super enthusiastic about continuing to be on speaking terms with my family! Just want to keep straight what we're doing and why -

"We have forever."

"Y'know I have an Elf alt and I was hoping she'd be able to explain this to me but in her it just manifests as frontloading effort for long-term projects, not this weird blaséness about the interim."

"You don't experience - thinking it's more important something be done right than done quickly, given that the consequences will be around forever?"

"I do, but - 'without unnecessary delay' is part of 'right'."

"If you're trying to avoid looking like you're rushing to impose new laws for your convenience, doing it right means delaying as much as needed to avoid that impression."

"I am not in a position to impose laws. Anyway, your Valar will be sane any minute now, you can look like you're reacting to that or something."

"I'll try to get a feel for it."

"Have fun with that."