"Are you and Iobel temperamentally the same? I suppose you're not a different species..."

"Well, we are, but not psychologically. We seem pretty alike under all the life experiences."

"I think most of the differences between Mitros and I are related to the kind of problems we're accustomed to solving. ...except for the wanting kids."

"Does he not? Iobel's been assuming they'll need an heir eventually, she was working on a spell but might just go with demonic conception."

"No he does, but, like, 'we want an heir eventually, hopefully we can magic it because otherwise it'll be awkward', not like 'babies! Iobel's babies! Iobel's babies!!!"

"It matters whose babies? Apart from their being one's own?"

"It's less significant but it's still there - if you're in love with someone of course you want to see what specifically the children you have with them are like..."

"How firmly involved are you with your matching lesbians, because demonic conception is neat stuff."

"Surrogates cost almost as much as the credit, but tempting."

"Demonic conception can also do wonderful things for lesbians, if this would represent an improvement for them too."

"I will ask them."

Nod.

Meanwhile:

"So if you want Cam for your birthday..."

" - yes."

"Can be arranged."

"I have the best wife."

"Yes you do. Is Aitim into him too or too... married?"

"Not too married. He's... trying to avoid situations where Anitam's and Cam's interests are different, hopefully by straightening out Anitam, and I think he thinks until he's done that... it's hard to sustain a relationship that's shoving substantial policy disagreements under the rug, particularly if one of the appealing things about a relationship is shared glee at fixing everything."

"And there are substantial policy disagreements?"

" - maybe more like style differences? There are substantial differences."

Nod. "I'm much less confident I could get Aitim the same present but for different reasons."

"Oh? Not that you need to, I am pretty sure if he decides it's a good idea to pursue it he can do that all by himself."

"Cam and I seem alike in the ways that matter to us but I'm less confident that you and Aitim are alike in the ways that matter to us. So I can vouch for you more than I could him."

"I will let him know he will have to actually demonstrate positive qualities to seduce people with them. I think he'll cope."

"Also Cam finds his species kind of frustrating."