"Are you there? Please pick up. These people are dangerous, you'll hurt yourself," goes the first.

"Please don't be dead. Don't do this, don't go after them, they // these people // the gang might kill you, if you wanna go after them have a plan // strategy // idea // my help, I can help you, just—"

...uh.

She emails. Title: Do NOT let Hollister know I'm alive, body: If the wrong people find out I'm still alive a lot of people might get hurt, and the necessary information to contact her via IM.

<GenderBender> Are you alright?

<argylecape> Yeah, I'm fine.

<argylecape> Are you all right?

<argylecape> Gang thing was a lie, I'm not in danger.

<GenderBender> Oh

<GenderBender> So who wants to kill you?

<argylecape> Nobody yet

<argylecape> Mostly because they don't know I exist

<argylecape> And I want to keep it that way.

<GenderBender> Who are "they" and why would they want to kill you if they knew?

<GenderBender> Is it the government?

<argylecape> Yeah

<argylecape> The mysterious teleporting guy from before is the head of the DoS

<argylecape> I found out kind of by accident, I saw a video of him online.

<GenderBender> What the fuck

<argylecape> Yes, exactly.

<argylecape> I don't KNOW that Hollister would tell them about me even if I asked him not to

<argylecape> But I'm not trusting my life to it. So.

<argylecape> Sorry for freaking you out.

<argylecape> Anyway

<argylecape> I know a little about what they're doing

<argylecape> Not much and not why

<argylecape> And I can't tell you, because there's other people involved and I don't have permission

<argylecape> But I'm working on figuring out what we need to do about it.

<GenderBender> You can't tell anything they're doing?

<GenderBender> I mean, other than being obviously creepy and Picassos and ack.

<argylecape> Pretty much, yeah.

<argylecape> Montgomery isn't the only one who flickers, I can tell you that I guess.

<argylecape> Also did you know you did? That's kind of worrying.

<GenderBender> I did? Flicker?

<argylecape> Yeah, in the second message you left.

<argylecape> Sounded like maybe it was happening because you were upset, that's why I emailed.

<GenderBender> Can you send me the audio?

<argylecape> Let me see if I can figure out how.

It takes a few minutes, but she manages it.

<GenderBender> I have no idea what to do with this information.

<argylecape> Me either

<argylecape> I don't actually think you're dangerous or anything?

<argylecape> Getting stuck that way seems like it'd be a bad thing

<argylecape> For everybody involved

<argylecape> But the dangerous Picassos I've heard have seemed like they were dangerous because of the kinds of people they were

<argylecape> And how that worked with how Picassos lose some stuff with how they can think

<argylecape> Not because Picassos are just automatically bad or anything.

<argylecape> If it is something where getting upset causes it you should know so you can be careful, is all.

<GenderBender> But if I'm partially Picasso what does that even mean?

<GenderBender> That's not even a thing, or well, I guess the DoS could've lied.

<argylecape> Yeah, maybe don't trust the DoS at all, about anything

<argylecape> If they say the sky is blue, check.

<GenderBender> But why would they do that?

<GenderBender> Their entire purpose is keeping the City safe.

<argylecape> Yeah, they /say/ that

<argylecape> I grew up in an institution.

<argylecape> Government types say all /kinds/ of stuff they don't mean at all.

<argylecape> Or think they mean but aren't going to follow through on.

<argylecape> You really do have to look at what they're actually doing.

<argylecape> Which in this case is 'literally having friendly conversations with Bedlam'.

<GenderBender> But it's not just about saying things.

<GenderBender> This is like the fire brigade starting fires.

<GenderBender> It's the whole point, the department has been around since the City started.

<argylecape> ...yes?

<argylecape> I mean

<argylecape> I get what you're saying

<argylecape> But it doesn't surprise me at all that they're doing the exact opposite of what they're meant to

<argylecape> I'm not sure why things like this happen but they definitely do.

<GenderBender> It surprises me, if the D.o.S. doesn't do its job then someone else has to!