It was always fun to watch Jeanette go to work. The fact that part of what made it so much fun was that it was also often extremely terrifying was really a moot point. Right after playing a little game of their own, Marko and Jeanette wasted no time to make their way to the abandoned oil drum that the tongue called home.

"I kind of figured you two might show up tonight." Bertram greeted. "The only question is what end of the big question you're on."

Jeanette put on her best innocently naughty face. "What big question to mean, Pumpkin?" She asked, her voice like saccharine. "Did it occur to you that maybe I just wanted to add Kitten here to the Sundae?"

"Nice try, princess," the Tongue laughed humorlessly. "I know this is about Cammie's offer to make me the new Harpy along with the endorsement of all but one of the Primogen. The big question is what I am going to do with the offer; and whether you want me to back down from it or to go ahead and burn your 'sister'?"

At this point, Marko judged it might be best if he just kept his mouth shut and let Jeanette do all the work. Most of the Kindred in the city tended to disregard the bright and shiny daughter of Janus as being the empty headed party-girl type with all of her screws a little loose, and that was their mistake. Where the Bad Voice clearly had madness in his methods, Jeanette really did know exactly what she was doing; there was method to her madness. If he were to attempt to add to this conversation, he was more likely to mess it up than he was to help anything.

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, Pumpkin." She replied. "Kitten and I were really looking to get a little kinky." She shifted her posture ever so slightly to convey the image of her being a helpless little girl. "I don't even really know how all that important Courtroom drama works anyway. But since you brought it up, I do know something about that Harpy nonsense that you two don't..." She finished with a playful sing-song in her voice.

Marko saw the cue she was giving him; he had a part in this script she was weaving for the Tongue after all. "What have you been holding out on me, bright daughter?" he asked, hoping to convey a mildly cross tone.

"Only that a certain dirty duckling and a certain Queen Bitch are both threatened by my pumpkin." Jeanette told him matter of factly. Out of the corner of his eye, Marko saw the Tongue quiver. While she was looking at him, she was talking to and tying the Tongue. "They worked out a way to keep Bertie from making any moves against them; by offering him a position in the Court and suddenly he's their puppet and they can tie his strings any way they like."

"I don't buy it, princess." Bertram said. To Marko it sounded like he was tryin to convince himself. It was a losing battle. Jeanette already had her hand firmly on the leash. "There's no way Cameron could talk Therese into a plan that could easily backfire on her like that."

"That's just it," she replied. "It wasn't the Dirty Duckling's idea. In fact, the only reason Therese brought him into it was so they could make it look like it was. They want you to think he was trying to shake a leg up on her and pull yours up with him."

Bertram shook his head violently to the negative. "That doesn't make sense!" he objected. "When have I ever done anything to threaten the Seneschal? Why would he agree to something like that?"

"It's just the principal of the Tower, Pumpkin." Jeanette soothed. "You of all people would know this; those at the top always want to make sure the ones at the bottom eat out their hands so they don't gnaw at the Pillars..."

"...so they give the rats a juicy morsel to ensure they know their place and do what they're told." The tongue finished the thought. "That does make sense; in a proactive way." After a second of contemplation, he rasped his laughter. "Well, there's no way that Queen Bitch is going to pull my strings like that."

"That's what I've always liked about you Pumpkin." Jeanette encouraged gently. "Even after all the fears we've been together, not once have you ever let my sister grope you into anything. You're right; of course, there's no need to start now. If you want add wise from someone who's known her twice; the best way to beat this is to deny her wish regally."

"No need to worry about that, Princess." Bertram assured her; making it clear he knew she meant legally when she said regally. "My decline will be both legitimate and respectful."

"That's good to know." She smiled. "Well, with that out of the way, since you made it clear you're interested in play tonight, Kitten and I will leave you to your work." She took Marko by the hand and started to lead him out of the tank.

"Wait..." he called after them.

Jeanette stopped, faced Marko and grinned. This will just take a second or two, Kitten. She said to him telepathically. She took two steps closer to Bertram and did her thing; it was probably the best mind that Bertram ever got in his existence, based on the way he squirmed.

For a brief moment, Marko wondered just how real his affair with the bright daughter of Janus was after all.

...as real as can be...

Just remember; perception is everything...

Marko gave his head a shake to ward off the Bad Voice. He didn't want or need it to spoil this splendid moment. What he needed was to find a way to thwart its Plan, whatever the Plan was. To do that, he needed to exercise the Bad Voice out of his noodle and out of the Network for good. But then again, maybe he should keep the Bad Voice around and try to trick it into revealing the full extent of its Plan. The problem he saw with that idea was that as long as the Bad Voice was there, it might manipulate him into doing things that fit its agenda. Another problem he saw was that Tabby Cat was under its influence too; even worse than that, she might or might not be a willing participant. Chances were good she knew more than he did about the Plan, but how much more? Was she a pawn, or a bigger piece on the board?

If only there was way to get the Bad Voice out of his head and prevent it from retreating to Tabby-Cat; which Marko suspected was its home base.

...she's an outpost...

...she knows! She knows! She saw your trick with the Tongue!

...it all fits in with the Plan...

...Troubletroubletroubletrouble...

Suddenly Marko was both encouraged and distressed; encouraged because it seemed the Network was starting to overrule the Bad Voice, which made it easier for him to think on his usual constant curve instead of a fragmented dotted line, distressed because the curve was going to what felt like a very bad place.

"Helloooo, Kitten; are you still in my sandbox?"

Marko snapped his attention to Jeanette. She was nestled right up beside him and nibbling on his earlobe, pulling on the earring there with her teeth.

"I thought I lost you to your own little world for a second." She giggled. "We are done here, Kitten; Pumpkin will not accept the Harpy offer, and Therese will not have to contend with him in her court." She clutched his hand and started to pull him away. "Now that work is done, it's time for fun. I feel like dancing!"

Marko nodded and followed her back to Asylum. Maybe she was right; maybe letting loose and cutting a rug would set the curve of his consciousness in motion. Maybe the bright idea will come when he's not trying to reach it.