"Put the phone back for me," Brian tells Jackson, and he takes it from her and locks the screen and tucks it back into Brian's pocket.

"Well. That was - interesting."

"Yeah. Weird," says Jackson. "You gonna get along with yourselves?"

"If she's anything like me, yeah, especially once we catch each other up on our different magic."

"It seems somewhat narcissistic to compliment her, but - definitely."

"I'd probably hate a me from a weird nondynamic world," comments Jackson.

"Jackson," says Brian.

"What? I would."

"Write it down to mention to your therapist next time."

"Yes Brian." Jackson gets a notebook out of the glove compartment and writes it down.

She's just... not going to touch that, then.

"There doesn't seem to be that big of a difference between me and - other Mariam."

"Sure, but if I were from a nondynamic world -"

"Jackson."

"Sorry Brian."

Daria looks like she's about to say something tactless, so Mariam decides it's probably best to move the conversation on to something else.

"About how many nondynamics are there, anyway?" It might be worth the trouble to pretend to have a role, if they're particularly unusual and there aren't any hard to fake social cues.

"I dunno. Not many," says Jackson. "Probably less than a percent? Maybe they hide it though."

"How would you hide it? I'm wondering if it makes sense for me to try to present as something, two nondynamics seem like they'd raise some eyebrows."

"They'd dress like one or the other. You're not super legible, but I wouldn't've guessed nondynamic, switch is more likely - or laundry day -"

"How common are switches, do you think it'd be easier to pass as one?"

Daria is still bristling somewhat on her alt's behalf, and is eyeing Mariam in a way that makes it perfectly clear exactly what she thinks of going along with the alternative universe kink bullshit.

"Ten percent, I think?"

"Hmm. Which do you think it'll be easier for me to look like? - relax, Daria, I don't think you need to do it, just that it might make things a little easier if one of us isn't a statistical anomaly."

"I don't really know a lot about fashion besides stuff I wear," says Jackson. "And it's partly how you like, carry yourself, too..."

"Oh, that makes sense."

"Jackson's discernible as a sub in a peacoat carrying a flogger at thirty yards," says Brian affectionately.

"I think I see what you mean. The..." She waves her hand, trying to indicate Jackson's general demeanor.

"Yeah, that," says Jackson. "And Brian's pretty clear, too, I think -"

"Not 'thirty yards in a windbreaker wearing a collar' obvious," says Brian, "but yeah."

"Windbreakers are a sub thing?"

"Kind of? I'm naming coats because they cover up a lot of the other signals but I'd expect subs to go for windbreakers more and doms to go for peacoats more," Brian says.

"Is there anything else that's just for subs or doms? Other than a - flogger or collar or something like that." She's reminding herself that this is another universe where this is normal and almost manages not to trip over the words.

"Showing off your neck even if you aren't collared's a sub thing," Jackson says. "So turtlenecks are dommy, but kind of also an old person thing? Uh, heels are subby... long hair is subby, that one's obvious so I forgot..."