"Why not try the Necronomicon?"

"What's that? Where would I find that?"

Terrence, do not.

(Oscar doesn't know what it is either but it sounds dodgy. Magic is making him a total scold.)

"What did you mean. When you said I betrayed us to a cult. What was it a cult to? Why did they do that? Did I... Was it insanity? One of those books that drives you mad?"

It would be super cool if in fact her other self was mind-controlled and she doesn't have the potential for great evil lurking within or whatever.

"Well, you can find it at Harvard and Miskatonic and the Pickman's private collection... probably also either Oxford or Cambridge!"

To Violet: "Well, you took some drugs that ate your goals and made you desire only power, but I don't think that was the primary thing at issue."

"Oh! Thanks! That's surprisingly helpful." He frantically reconsiders his phrasing. "I mean, uh - thanks!"

"See! There are totally more tomes here."

Quietly: "Better than the alternative."

"Do these drugs exist in our world too."

"You might also enjoy Edward Pickman Derby's work, the Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan... von Junzt, of course."

Even quieter: "......................Are any of us. Going to betray our group. To any cults. What with all the, uh, mind-control going around."

Terrence. Is Terrence going to switch sides. God why is Terrence in this room.

"One of you already has!" Nessa says cheerfully. "That person sure does make a habit of betrayal."

He and Clapper should start a book club. Anyway. Uh. Sal's having some kind of personal revelation and that sounds important too. Also, he's a lady in most universes or something, which is fun.

Terrence gets a receipt and a pencil stub out of his pocket and writes down the book names.

"Those drugs don't exist in our world yet!" Nessa chirps. "Growth mindset!"

"Terrence should take black liao though. I'm sure he'll find it a rewarding experience; it brings back the dreams of childhood. Or, rather, the dreams of before you read the King in Yellow."

"Oh, I, uh - I don't really - um - oh, what the hell." He writes that one down too.

"Careful! It's addictive! But I suppose not more addictive than all three of the things you're already addicted to."

"...Can you tell us who has betrayed us? Or would that not cause enough drama and suspicion?"

"It wouldn't cause enough drama and suspicion!"

Probably not a terrific idea to give Terrence any of his then, but the idea jumps into his mind anyway.

"Thanks for the warning," he says. "It's not-- wait no, never mind." Not opening that box.

"Oh, thank you - what am I addicted to??" Terrence says to himself, with great confusion.

He adds "3 addictions" to his notes.

"I mean, I would be suspicious if I knew someone were betraying me," he says, hopefully, because he wants to know things.

Terrence has never betrayed anyone, certainly.

"Terrence, one of your greatest pleasures warps your mind so you crave more of it; it makes you unpleasant to be around to those who don't share your passion, makes you sick and weak, and takes decades off your expected lifespan."

"I speak of course of tobacco."

"The King in Yellow is bad too."

She hates this actually. She hates this entire conversation. She has so many more feelings than she previously did.

Smoking is bad for you?

"Oh. Gosh." That sounds bad. Maybe he should stop smoking.

"Do you have any further questions?"