...Man, Jing Yi's going to notice Oscar flinching at the sky and announce to everyone that it's very suspicious. Hopefully not but he doesn't like the idea of Jing Yi scrutinizing his behavior one bit.

Oh no, someone scrutinising your behaviour and making you admit secrets! It must be such a horrible experience!

Oh, Jing Yi wasn't there at all for the traitor thing. Do they really have to tell Jing Yi about the traitor thing, probably yes for the same reason Sal told Inaaya but it's gonna be awkward and suck and he doesn't want to.

"I don't recall feeling compelled to tell her private information above and beyond what you'd tell a partner?"

Okay but you also got engaged to her after knowing her for less than six weeks, Inaaya does not say, because it's been said several times already.

"Oh! Splendid."

I wouldn't call it splendid, Terrence.

Come on, Oscar, look on the bright side now and then.

"Going back a bit-- I'm a little concerned about the 'we all keep tabs on each other plan,' just because I honestly would not expect anyone here except maybe Sal to be able to tell if I was doing something out of character."

"I am also concerned."

"Maybe you should stay away from Evie? --if an unknown number of people can mind control people, there's not a whole lot we can really... Do, about that."

"Yeah. I am planning on staying away from Evie, just, we don't actually know she's the only one. We don't know very much at all." 

"Can she affect people she hasn't met? Through writing, maybe?"

Not looking at Terrence.

"Do - hm. Do you have anyone else we could ask? To... I don't know, write one of us if something seems off? Someone who's not involved?"

"You, or Oscar, I mean - I mean, I know it would be a strange request ..."

There is an unknown amount of mind control in the world. He kind of wishes he could inform his anarchist friends about this horrible practice but he's... being magically prevented from telling them, for one, and for two he'd be written off as an occultist crank at best.

(Sal blushes. Does not otherwise respond to Inaaya.)

"If they notice something off about us or about anything that could be attributed to mind control?"

"Sure. yes, something like that. An odd plan, preoccupation, a change in motivation. ...I would leave it up to individual discretion whether or not to mention mind control as a concern, mind you."

"...There's Dr Aarons. He probably wouldn't even question the request."

"I'm wondering something. Does mind control... always result in the victim developing positive feelings about the person charming them? Might be a good thing to keep track of. If we start... getting very interested in Evie. Mm, no offense to Jing Yi."

No offense to Terrence either for that matter.

"I can add a postscript to the letter but after our last conversation I'm not sure he'll take it seriously."

"I have someone who'd be able to tell if something was wrong, or if I suddenly developed a new goal or a weird plan or a crush for no clear reason. It wouldn't even be that strange to ask."

And Joan would be able to tell. Inaaya is unshakably confident in this.

(...She's not totally thrilled with the part of this plan where the others become aware that Joan exists but it's not like she has to tell them any details.)

"I'm thinking someone who sees you a lot, who knows you well. Maybe your wife, Oscar. Just someone who would notice and could alert the others. Jing Yi could act as mine - or, well, I mean, given the concern. Maybe another one of you. ... I'm just saying, if we want a, a sort of mind-control warning system, and there's a person available."

"Oh, excellent."

"We just don't know enough about mind control to make any useful assumptions. But I'm willing to keep an eye on Terrence."

Who does Sal have. Does Sal have anyone. Kind of the entire way Sal's life is built is deliberately designed to prevent this being possible. "I have... a coworker. Maybe. Or, there's... a relative I could talk to..."

Terrence nods, sympathetically. "You and Inaaya are close, it sounds like? Perhaps she can help as well."