<argylecape> Yeah.

<argylecape> Maybe I'll be able to introduce you sometime, after this is all over

<argylecape> I bet you'd get along.

<PennyLane> I'd like to meet them!

<PennyLane> You said they didn't know about the cubism thing, though, how'd they react when you told them?

<argylecape> They were pretty worried.

<argylecape> I think most people would be.

<PennyLane> But they're okay now?

<argylecape> Yeah.

<PennyLane> *nod*

<PennyLane> Can Sadde use any more Picasso powers?

<argylecape> I don't think they've tried.

<argylecape> What kind of powers?

<PennyLane> Like how they're in many places at the same time or don't age or don't really get permanently hurt unless they're completely set on fire

<argylecape> I'll have to ask sometime.

<PennyLane> Cool!

<PennyLane> Earlier today I went out to try to meet new people

<PennyLane> And I met people!

<PennyLane> A girl named Milly and a boy named Lucas

<PennyLane> Turns out Lucas's parents are the programmers who made EchoMap!

<argylecape> Oh, that's cool.

<PennyLane> It really is!

<PennyLane> And they've got these movie things going, Lucas and Milly Productions is what they're called I think

<PennyLane> Lucas is really talented

<PennyLane> But Milly's parents are sort of super paranoid about everything and keep her almost locked up all the time, she has to wear so many coats just to go out

<PennyLane> It's because she's fragile and has a weak immune system?

<PennyLane> But it's this kind of paranoia that the DoS causes in people

<argylecape> Ugh.

<PennyLane> Milly is also terrified of the Sideways

<PennyLane> I didn't mention I do mapping because I think it'd freak her out

<PennyLane> She might get paranoid about catching cubism even though that's not how it works

<argylecape> Do you know how it does work?

<PennyLane> Well

<PennyLane> Not really

<PennyLane> But I've been going into the Sideways since I was little and I've even been to red-blacks and I never got infected so like

<PennyLane> Either I have some weird immunity or it can't be that easy

<PannyLane> And dad didn't get infected either even though mom did...

<argylecape> But people do, so there has to be something. Infection might not be the right way to think about it, though, capes don't work like that.

<argylecape> Anyway that sounds really rough for her.

<PennyLane> Yeah

<PennyLane> I have a theory, but it's, like, really flimsy

<argylecape> Oh?

<PennyLane> Well

<PennyLane> What if it's all in people's heads?

<PennyLane> Like, that's crazy, right? It's a physical condition, it makes no sense

<PennyLane> But Bedlam is the goddess of chaos and madness, right?

<PennyLane> What if it's people going mad that does it?

<PennyLane> Losing hope, or even, what if just by believing they're turning into Picassos they do

<PennyLane> And then all the DoS-originated paranoia is not only useless, it's actively dangerous

<argylecape> Could be. Sadde turned when they were upset and scared. And that sometimes happens with capes.

<argylecape> I'm not sure, though. One of the picassos I've heard was scared of turning but the others were doing different things. 

<PennyLane> Right, that's why it's not super obvious that it's true

<PennyLane> But I think I'm onto something

<PennyLane> Just not sure what

<argylecape> Yeah.

<PennyLane> Anyway I gotta go

<PennyLane> Aunt Karla wants to have dinner and go to bed

<argylecape> Okay. Talk to you later.

She goes about her evening, and resumes her stakeout late the following morning.