(OOG: Figured I might as well pick up where the Alyson post left off, since my brain seems to be empty of ideas... ^^ Please excuse the poor writing - I'm not even sure why I bothered to post this, since no one here has offended me or anything...)

Fascinating.

Years of brainwashing, and the girl still showed signs of her base personality. It wasn't exactly a surprise... the followers of Nisan had always been a strong-willed bunch, and those from Sophia's time had been worse than most. But she wasn't sure it was quite convenient, at this time.

Certainly, she might save them the trouble of tracking the second 'Elly' down, but a stronger resurgence of memories might force her to turn against Solaris, and that could not be allowed. Certainly not with the recent loss of Elanore and the preoccupation of the Elements. Irina was the strongest weapon she had at this moment, aside from the Treymond girl... and she was not going to allow Irina to be placed in danger. Not until her training was complete.

//I really never expected you to be the sympathetic type, if you'll forgive me for saying so.// Faith's dry whisper shattered her train of thought, an intrusion as unwelcome as Kyouran's touch.

Miang's lips quirked in a faint, twisted smile, but she refrained - barely - from retorting in kind.

"Myaru...?"

//Ariath...// She turned from the console abruptly, waving her hand over the panel that would turn the office light off before gliding into the hallway. Ariath's call had been faint, but clear; this was most certainly not the time for an audible conflict with Faith.

Strangely enough, she'd taken to speaking aloud sometimes, when dealing with the ancient Sister... Perhaps it was a sign of insanity. And a blessing, such a state would be... She wouldn't worry, wouldn't be caught up in politics... Her creator likely wouldn't allow it to last long, but any interlude would be welcome...

//You're farther gone than I thought...//

//You really aren't one to talk, Faith - you're only a voice within my mind, after all.// Myaru made her way into the bedroom, whispering a soft apology to Ariath, and pushed the door closed softly.

Pale, seemingly smooth as alabaster, he sat up at her entrance, propped on his elbows. Vivid jade glittered in the faint moonlight, beneath his silvery bangs, sharp despite the sleep slurring his voice. "What were you doing, so late...? It's a little early to begin rounds..."

She shrugged the robe from her shoulders, allowing the silken folds to slide from her back into a pool around her feet. The dry amusement in his voice was nearly identical to Faith's - she very nearly shuddered, before she once again reminded herself where she was. He wouldn't understand such reactions... and they were ever so difficult to explain away...

"I'm sorry, Ariath... I had to contact someone, and I'm afraid I forgot to do it earlier. I didn't intend on awakening you..."

"You didn't." He sat up, running his fingers through his bangs, though the sharpness of his gaze remained focused on her. "I must admit, I'm curious... it isn't every day you 'forget' to make calls..."

Myaru winced inwardly, cursing her own sleep-sluggish mind as she slipped between the covers. There was no reason to lie, of course, and she was, in fact, telling the truth... but gods, even children in Jugend could concoct better wording...

//Damn my carelessness...// "I contacted Alyson Treymond... my schedule slated her breifing for last night, and I was too busy with the pay forms..." The excuse sounded hollow even in her own ears. Had their jaunt the the surface completely dulled her wits?

//Delayed reaction, I'm sure...//

Myaru shoved the voice to the back of her mind, hot anger flashing forth, barely within her grip. Faith's satisfaction was almost tangible.

Ariath's lips quirked in one of his cynical little smiles. "And you feared I would censure you for that? This is the Ministry's little mission, not mine..." His mouth twisted further, for a moment, before his expression smoothed again, and he continued. "Don't worry about it - let them. If we're going to do it their way..."

She considered his words for a moment, their tone, cadence... and casually leaned over to embrace him and press a kiss onto his shoulder. "Don't let them eat at you like this, Ariath... they're just a group of grumpy old men. And suffering from youth complexes, no less."

A dry chuckle rumbled through his chest, sounding hollowly in her ear. "Forgive me if I won't repeat that..."

"No pun intended, my dear." Myaru smiled faintly, running her fingertips along his collarbone teasingly. It was so easy to distract him... though of course, she supposed it wasn't really necessary now. But why stop? There wasn't any rule that said she couldn't have a little fun.

He captured her hand with a swift motion, bringing her fingers to his lips. "I heard," he murmured, breath soft, "That you had an encounter with Aishou, a few days ago..."

Breath stilling, Myaru nodded once, hesitantly. Yes... how could she forget that? It had been such a disappointing encounter, and yet... "Why do you mention this... now?" And yet... why had it come up /now/? She didn't like the implication of that at all. Why had he waited this long?

"Call it curiosity..."

Myaru's lips thinned to a line. "I passed her in the halls on my way to work, and she picked a fight. I won't go so far as to say I didn't do /anything/ to provoke her, but her attitude..." She suppressed a scowl, if only by a hairsbredth. Most didn't survive that sort of meeting with her; only Aishou's application of Drive had stopped her from challenging the girl.

After all... only a fool would pick a fight with an Element on enhancement drugs. Certainly not an Element with Aishou's ether rating. There was no doubt in her mind she could flatten the girl under her heel, but the battle would be long, and quite destructive... And she simply couldn't afford that kind of a show at this point in her plans.

Besides... Aishou's history was far too interesting to snuff out, just yet. If and when she managed to find the true Elly...

"So I've heard. You gave the lab techs quite a scare - enough of one that they came to me with the security tapes." He released her fingers, hand trailing down to stroke through her hair. "I'd ask if you know each other, but I think that question has already been answered."

She shrugged, the hitch of shoulders rather indifferent. "I have vague memories of her from my days in Jugend... but she was several grades below me at the time, and I didn't have much opportunity to notice her."

Ariath's arms tightened about her shoulders, ever so slightly. "And...?"

"And it's nothing to worry about... We've never been forced to work together, and I don't think anyone is silly enough to try it." Her gaze flickered to him a moment, as she tilted her face up to kiss him again. "I don't care for her, but I can live with her existence."

For now, in any case... She melded her body to Ariath's strengthening embrace, letting her eyes slide closed as his last, rather sleepy murmur fell upon her ears.

She would only put up with the girl so long. Once Aishou outlived her usefulness... she would be snuffed out of existence.

Just like her Mother.

(Summary: Myaru reflects on Alyson and her counterpart, Aishou. Once again, she weedles her way out of trouble with Ariath, by a somewhat wider margin than usual.)