"Then stop wondering to the point where I notice and begin to dwell."

"I am missing at least one of the concepts I'd need to be nearly so discomfited."

"Eh?"

"My suspicion is that Ivan is reacting to something in the neighborhood of an incest taboo, differing species notwithstanding -"

"Was I not clear about not wishing to dwell?"

"- but I didn't grow up in a context where that ever came up."

"I won't say I don't find it weird, but I think the different species part is a little more prominent for me," says Miles. "Or something. By all means, let's not encourage Ivan to dwell, though."

"Thank you."

"Nothing? I mean, I suppose I'd ask for his life story and so on?"

"What if we met the otherworldly you when you did not at the time have a girlfriend?"

"Oh, shut up, Miles."

"Right. Heaven forfend that I dwell."

"Well, we already know what you'd do if you met your own alt, I suppose. Linyabel, suppose a one of you who was an elf complete with pointy ears walked in?"

"Plot elaborate plots and form an implicit pact of mutual aid, but I don't think that's what you're asking, and for what you're probably asking you probably need to hypothetically remove my husband and specify a couple of things about the other me."

"Would removing your husband be completely necessary?"

"Not doing so would probably require elaborate renegotiations, and this over something that doesn't actually appeal to me nearly as much as the plotting of elaborate plots and the mutual aid thing anyway."

"Elaborate plots are fun," Miles agrees.

"They are!"

"It's a magic bar. There's a bathroom over there, though," says Linya, pointing.

"It's not a bathroom? Huh?" says a similar voice from the source of the newcomer.

"It's—you'd better come see, darling," he says, turning to address the room beyond the door although his eyes keep straying back to Linyabel. "I do nnnot think I have the context to explain."