why is there a word for that

[alicornucopia]

Finnah's just arrived at work to open the store for the morning shift; she has her apron on but hasn't put her hair up yet. She lets in the customer who always takes half an angle to determine that he wants four buttercreams, again, and then nips into the back to tend to her hair and check the overnight progress of the rock candy.

This isn't the back.

But that -

No, he's too tall to be Mial, if this is a Mial prank it's a stupidly elaborate one.

"Okay, I give up," she says, "what the hell?"

Comments

[unmarred]

"If you do have one of me, I bet he's from Oridaan, then," says Mark. "But no conquest of Komarr, no Solstice Massacre, no embittered David Galen with a laser-targeted grudge against the Vorkosigans - I think you're safe."

[alicornucopia]

"Someone did attack them once, but they used me, and I don't think I'm you," Finnah says.

[unmarred]

"I don't think you're me, either. You're very un-me-like."

[isthisart]

Linya scans Koridaar again.

[greatcomposure]

The scanner estimates her age significantly lower than before, although there aren't any obvious outward signs yet.

[isthisart]

Linya doesn't consider this exciting enough to interrupt the conversation Koridaar is having with Avar.

[on_my_word]

They continue quietly talking about the implications of longevity.

[thisvorlunatic]

Mial is the first to be eliminated from the pegs game. He glowers at his alts and mutters nasty things under his breath.

A mere few turns afterward, Miles beats Stalas. "Ha! I win, you bastards!"

"Bastard yourself," growls Stalas. "My grandfather never tried to kill me."

"No, but your brother did," Miles retorts.

"I win 'no attempted murder by relatives'," Mial cuts in.

They set up for another game immediately.

[unmarred]

Mark watches this in fascination.

"I think I might have started something I won't be able to stop," he says. "Also, if anyone was wondering, any non-Miles trying to take sides at this point would be an extraordinarily bad idea."

[alicornucopia]

"Why?" asks Finnah. She is still sitting on Mial.

[unmarred]

"They've escalated to unforgivable sniping. Well, 'unforgivable' might be a little strong. Very nasty sniping, anyway. Which they allow each other by virtue of being alts, but any outsider stepping into that crossfire disturbs the balance and makes it all hurt again."

[alicornucopia]

Finnah decides to stop being on Mial. She flies away and shifts midair, feet on the ground. "Weird," she says.

[unmarred]

"I was right," he adds, "Mial is pushing harder than the other two."

[alicornucopia]

"And they're ganging up on him," says Finnah.

[unmarred]

"Yeah. That part might stabilize out, though. Even the other thing might, given enough time. You may have noticed that when a Miles is pushed he tends to push back."

[alicornucopia]

"Nooooo, really?" Finnah flops into a chair.

[unmarred]

Mark giggles.

[middlingalong]

Meanwhile, Ivan and Aurin are telling each other about their respective current girlfriends.

[unmarred]

Mark idly eavesdrops.

[middlingalong]

Vivienne's virtues have already been spoken; Siya, apparently, likes to fly, and plays the huan (an instrument) and amisro (a sport), the latter of which comes with a uniform that Aurin appreciates very much. She doesn't like kids but does like drakes and is currently between pet ones after her prior one succumbed to old age; Aurin is considering getting her one for Hearthnight. It is her favorite holiday and she's planning to be in a parade for it.

[unmarred]

Well, that's adorable.

[middlingalong]

"Is this topic of conversation really that interesting to you?" Ivan wonders in Mark's direction.

[unmarred]

"Why wouldn't it be?"

[middlingalong]

"You've never met Vivienne or Siya?" suggests Aurin.

[unmarred]

"Should that matter?"