"I had a way to suicide. Charp was right there. I hesitated."

Hug.

Hug.

"How's Aydanci -"

"Almost as nervous about not being in the same room as I am but this is looking like it'll go on a long time, human standards..."

Nod. "Useful to be able to go around the corner, sometimes."

"Also, if I wake up first and need the bathroom I have to drag him out of bed and when he's groggy he sometimes resents that."

Giggle. "In that case I will applaud your progress."

"Thanks."

"If this is real I think I'll be okay, eventually."

"That's good."

Nod.

"Is it mostly Ruviri? You didn't seem optimistic before."

"Mostly, yeah. When she's doing the magic thing existing is not moment-to-moment very unpleasant and also she can tell Findekáno how to sit so as not to scare me and then I have - space to work on my head."

"Maybe Findekáno could bounce posture stuff to me too."

"I bet he'd be happy to. Redmages would have such a great set of powers if not for the cost -"

"I can't say it appeals to me but I can see why you'd like it."

"I don't know if I'd choose to be one, even if there weren't a cost. Depends on how many people my decisions were going to affect and whether I could know them all, I think, and I'm worried it handles conflict badly. But I'd be very glad they existed, if not for -"

"It doesn't appeal even client-side, I want anybody with that much information to - come by it honestly -"

"You could, just by being very observant, and that makes a difference for me."

Nod. "I'm glad she helps. It's cute how she does your nails."

"I'm glad she still gets to mostly be fifteen - sixteen now. Felt bad about that with Lári. Which probably prompted her to ask about the nails, but." Shrug. "Couple people have asked questions back home but I do not have the energy to avoid that."

"She acts like you're her favorite weird uncle, you'll probably pass inspection."

"I can live with that. Can't have people thinking I'd take up with teenagers from other universes."

"You, never."