intelligent nametags

[thaumobabble]

Jane alerts everyone to the existence of a new Bell, the nature of her wives and children, and the presence of her mother-in-law.

She stands ready to move in anyone who wishes to attend this new party.

Glass stands ready to receive them.

Comments

[thaumobabble]

Here's Glass!

[self_composed]

"We were curious if you can tell us how vampire mates are chosen. And werewolf imprints, for that matter."

[thaumobabble]

Glass looks at the available examples of both phenomena.

"...I'm not sure," she says. "I don't think it's consistently the same on high layers, but there is something going on, on high layers. On low layers the werewolves are only choosing from among people who they could have children with were they so inclined and the vampires are only choosing people with compatible orientations, but I can't make out any patterns in what else is governing this."

[calendarofcrime]

"Interesting."

[autokinetic]

Aegis is over here, dancing with Alice-of-Aurum for no reason.

[alicornucopia]

"Incoming," says Alice. "Hi, Steel!"

[calendarofcrime]

"Hello," says Steel.

[autokinetic]

"What's up?" asks Aegis.

[calendarofcrime]

"I heard you are surprised that my wife has not violently overthrown my mother," says Steel. "Do you care to explain yourself?"

[autokinetic]

"I didn't put it like that," Aegis says. "I'm badly socialized but I'm not that badly socialized. Violent overthrow is totally in the Bell repertoire, though, and letting other people run things mostly isn't. Sometimes we just pack up and move, Angela's being patient, I think Rose is completely ignoring monarchs-qua-monarchs, but Glass is the only one who lives in a castle and wears a crown and has someone else in the big chair. So either there's something special going on with Glass, or your mom is a really good or at least a really noninterfering sorta queen, or she was being patient and now you're all Downsided you're looking at some personal upheavals."

[calendarofcrime]

"I predict," says Sherlock, "that my mother will continue to be queen for a very long time."

[autokinetic]

"And," says Aegis, "that's weird. I'm not saying it can't happen, it's just weird."

[calendarofcrime]

[alicornucopia]

Alice departs this area of party in response to some manner of vision.

[autokinetic]

Aegis shrugs. She does a casual backflip.

[calendarofcrime]

Steel observes Aegis.

[autokinetic]

"I bet at least half of us were thinking it, I'm just the one who was tactless enough to say anything."

[calendarofcrime]

"I am trying to decide whether or not this is a problem."

[autokinetic]

"That I think it or that I might be right?"

[calendarofcrime]

"No."

[autokinetic]

"What, then?"

[calendarofcrime]

"That it is such a prevalent opinion."

[autokinetic]

Aegis shrugs. "We figure out how Bells are by seeing what Bells do. We imitate each other some 'cause we're all so cool, but not slavishly or anything. If Glass thinks your mom is the best queen and she pulls a Rose instead of a Shell Bell, or works on something like Amariah trying to unite all the kingdoms of the world before she sits on them collectively, or does something totally novel, we'll all go 'huh' and incorporate it and then wonder whether the next Bell is going to do that. Besides, you're her obvious mint-helper. We'll spot her some coins if you can't keep up, but even if you ignore that she must really love you to have married you, she's not likely to do anything you strenuously object to."

[calendarofcrime]

"There are plenty of excellent reasons why she should not violently overthrow my mother," Sherlock agrees. "Among them is the fact that it would not work. Nevertheless, I find the attitude disquieting."

[autokinetic]

"Okay, and?"