"Completely understood. I can't think of an obvious way destroying things could even help with that."

"I remain excited about the potential for worldhopping and stacking things until we can just cheat."

"Me too."

He goes back to his interrupted notes.

Cor takes that as a dismissal. Goes back to his room and thinks more.

No one interrupts him.

Eventually he sleeps on it. Wakes up.

Someone brings breakfast.

That's nice of them.

And after breakfast:

Busy? he asks Maitimo.

No.

If you want to come up I have some questions. Or I could find you.

On my way.

He knocks a minute later.

Cor lets him in.

"Morning."

"Morning. So this has been... complicated."

"Yeah, I can imagine."

"I'm... curious what you think I'm thinking."

" - I imagine you are trying to decide how you feel about the person I actually am and how much information you have about the person I actually am."

"That all the detail you have?"

" no. Uh. You would have appreciated more directly having the 'I tortured him' information - I knew that at the time, too, just couldn't make myself say it - maybe I should've written a letter - you're deeply freaked out about everyone letting me get away with it -"

Nod.

"That's another thing I didn't really mind until I met you. It is horrible. I'll figure something out. Your society might rub off on people - just having it around as an example -"

"It's not really why we're decentralized but it doesn't hurt."

"And it could probably be fixed without going fully decentralized but on the other hand that might be the fastest way to kick it, and Elves are very slow about social change."

"I've noticed that. For example, you collectively rejected the Valar's entire project and I haven't heard any alternative rationale presented for the thing about gay people."