She grins, broadly. "And if the world plays with a stacked deck, you cheat right back."

"Just so. When my interworld group finds me, that will become much easier."

She nods, thinking. "What are they like?"

"We have a concept called alts, because we have noticed that certain people, personalities and circumstances, repeat across worlds. There are two major alt groups. One is mine, the other is- well, you."

She's clearly surprised, steps halting.

She's quiet for a few long moments, then: "That's. Strange, I suppose."

"You are the first to possess your particular face. Many of us look very similar."

"Then how did you recognize me?"

"My own brand of magic, which comes from manipulating the Force. Among other things, I am able to recognize members of a template."

"Ah."

She hums, gaze distant.

"How alike are alts, then?"

"Most of the basic personality is the same, with variations for peculiarities of upbringing and culture."

She nods. "I can't say I've ever met anyone who already knew me."

"It can be disconcerting, especially in cases where there are significant differences. For instance, one of your alts has children, twins."

"Ah."

"Only the one?"

"So far, yes."

She glances down, deep in thought.

Elesse reaches out to lightly brush the edge of her emotions, get an idea of the drift of her thoughts.

Sad, mostly, infused with a sort of bone deep exhaustion and traced with wistfulness.

"I mention this in particular," she says carefully, "because my two companions are alts of those twins."

Surprise, and unease, and - something almost like shame. Uncertainty.

She looks away.

"How are they?" she asks, voice quiet.

"They are both well. The girl is a princess and a Name, and I believe the boy will earn his. I told them what I suspected of their relationship, and the girl had her adoptive parents confirm it."

"They would both like to meet their mother."

She smiles a little.

"That's - good. Though I'd disappoint them."

"I would not be too sure about that."

"I'm hardly an ideal mother."

"You do not have to be. They are adults now. You just have to be yourself, that is all they want."

"...I don't have a good explanation for why I didn't raise them. Not - a true or complete one."

"There is a lot of myself it would be - hard to share."