"This is unacceptable!" The Dark Daughter of Janus exclaimed as she sat in front of her vanity mirror in the half of the suite she shared that belonged to her. "I absolutely refuse to give that loathsome creature the privilege of becoming one of my officers! Do either of you remember how much trouble he has caused us over the years? Do you think I'm going to give him even an inch of opportunity to undo all the hard work I have done? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW RIDICULOUS YOUR PROPOSAL IS? ANSWER ME!"

"It wasn't our proposal, dear sister."

Marko flinched a little bit when he heard the voice as if she was standing right beside him even though the lips of Therese were not moving. He had no idea that either one of the identities were capable of throwing their voices like that. Though he supposed it would make sense; it made the delusion of two separate people all the more complete.

"The idea came from your very own marriage of mutually assured destruction. This was Dirty Ducklings' proposal. Don't lash the messenger with that sharp tongue of yours." Jeanette argued.

Therese scowled in the mirror in front of her, looking at the spot where her sister's voice was heard but nobody was really standing.

"Is that so, Jeanette?" Therese countered. "Is it not obvious to you what Cameron is doing, then? Clearly he's trying to stuff my Court with those loyal to him so he can remove me from office. Is that what you two want, too? Is that why you're willing to endorse Bertram to the office of Harpy?"

"Please, Therese; now you're the one who's being ridiculous." Jeanette laughed. "The night I support the Dirty Duckling is the night I show myself the Silly Clown Wallpaper."

Marko, standing aside to let the sisters fight this out amongst her selves, gulped air quietly; he did not much like the direction this is going at all. He wanted to interject, but had no idea what he could do or say that would do anything but make things worse.

An offer can be rejected...

"Then this must have to do with your disgusting, wicked affections for that Sewer Rat!" Therese shouted. "Or did you think I didn't know? Oh, yes, dear sister; I know very well that your leash on Bertram Tung is woven form those Impious Satin Sheets of yours."

The accusation was met with silence. It wasn't exactly true, but it was the rumor that everyone, including the Tongue of Santa Monica was supposed to believe.

"What's the matter, Jeanette? No denial, no witty comeback? Do you deny that you're just trying to help your pet rat move up the ladder as some kind of treat for his services?"

What are you waiting for?

Speak up now!

"If I may, your highness, my voices and I have a thought on the matter you two are discussing." Marko said. Therese turned her attention to him; she removed her spectacles, and the scowl on her face softened just a little bit to reveal a hint of affection.

The mirror is turning...

"Our thought is this;" he continued. "Just because an offer is made doesn't mean it has to be accepted. What if the tongue wags to the negative?"

Therese hardened her glare again. "Why would he do that?" she demanded. "Of course he would accept such an offer just to spite me and come up with new ways to get under my skin."

"But by declining the offer he would hinder the efficiency of your Court and as result hamstring you as Prince." Marko countered.

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?" Therese retorted, quite apparently as close to hysterics as one can ever get.

"That's exactly his point, Therese." Jeanette pointed out with surprising delicacy. "I can make sure Bertram makes the right choice for you. As for the position of Harpy, I'm sure there will be someone who wants the job."

The Keeper...

Marko winced at the surge of power and authority that the Bad Voice asserted itself. Now he had more questions than ever: Did the Bad Voice mean Susan not Susan? Why would it want her to be Harpy and Keeper of Elysium? Why not Tabby-Cat? Was this part of the Plan? Was he playing into some Tremere trick? Susan not Susan was Toreador, wasn't she? Was she a Tremere pawn, too? What was the Bad Voice planning, anyway? Was this why he hacked the Network? Was he making sure he was heard by more than just the Wizards?

"Jeanette is right, Highness." Marko said, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "There is no doubt at least one other; more suitable candidate will step forward. If you let her convince Bertram to refuse, it would be much better than you refusing him."

Therese glanced to the spot that she 'saw' her twin sister through the mirror. "And how exactly would you convince him? Spare me the physical details; I do not need to hear that filth. What will you tell him?"

By this time, Therese had her hair down and was redoing it in the style that Jeanette favored. It always marvelled Marko how Therese always seemed to do this without even being aware of it. Of course now the Network was being silent; the Bad Voice always seemed to have that effect.

"That's simple; first, I'll assure him that the offer is your idea, and that it is in fact a trap to ensure that he is completely beholden to your will at all times." Jeanette explained. "And then I'll put it in his bubbly brain that the best way he has to infuriate you is to foil your diabolical plan by simply refusing the offer."

It was exactly the idea that Marko had. Only now he wasn't so sure it was his idea. Maybe it was the Bad Voice. Maybe that was the Plan. Maybe he was the pawn. It was a little too late now; he could see it in what was left of Therese's face as the mirror was finishing its turn and Jeanette was gaining the Body without Therese even noticing. Marko had new worry; was Jeanette infected too? As far as he knew, she wasn't in the Network. Did the Bad Voice get past the Network? Could it hack anyone it wanted now?

"That might just work." Therese said thoughtfully. "It's certainly worth the effort, anyway. Besides, even if he does accept, I'm sure I can make up enough make work tasks for him to have to attend to as my new Harpy; at least until that young Warlock...?"

"His name is Rutger" Marko said quietly.

"Yes" She pointed at him. "Thank you. Even if Bertram does take the job, I can keep him occupied long enough to make sure Rutger is ready to take over for him." She hesitated briefly as she applied Jeanette's lipstick onto her mouth, and blew a kiss at her reflection. "Go and make it happen." Therese said, looking directly at her own reflection. She winked at herself in that flirtatious manner.

"Oh, I will dear sister. You sleep tight now..." Jeanette giggled as she spun in the chair and leaped out of it and into Marko's arms.