It was kind of amazing how both Alodie and Strytha both found hot baths to be incredibly relaxing. Well, okay. Maybe not such a surprise to Alodie, at least where she was concerned. Strytha though? Still something of a shock. Oftentimes, the youma seemed so… above such mundane things as a nice bath or raspberry eclairs. And if it weren’t for the fact that she could feel just how relaxed the youma was, she wouldn’t even be allowing herself these thoughts. But she’d learned that it was safe enough for her to think her own thinks as long as Strytha ‘slept’. Which, judging by the sensation of complete bonelessness within her chest, was precisely what the youma was doing.

Well and good. Alodie settled deeper into the tub and sighed as lavender scented steam swirled around. Now as long as she didn’t think of anything too alarming or too loudly, she’d have a bit of mental privacy. She’d come to think of the little beast as a firm ally, so she couldn’t help but wince a little at herself for wanting that privacy desperately. Strytha was meant to help her. To make her a better officer. And she’d been promoted to Captain under the youma’s guidance. So it had to be doing something right. Ah, but this business with Melian. What a goddamned mess. What a <********> goddamned mess.

Moving slowly, she draped both of her arms over the edges of the tub, and grimaced. She’d liked the idea of bringing Melian over to the Negaverse. It had been a good compromise between her and the youma. It wouldn’t force her to murder her cousin and the Negaverse would get a recruit out of it. It should have been simple. And now, here she was, spending almost all her waking moments looking for ways to murder her cousin.

She felt the youma in her chest stirring fitfully and forced herself to think the laziest, most calming thoughts she could manage, holding her breath as Strytha sank back into sleep. Too close. She’d have to be more careful if she wanted to prolong this nice little moment of mental solitude. It seemed to her that it was only when Strytha slept that she could sit and question herself. When she was Kadyrelite, the youma’s words made such sense. But at times, like now, she couldn’t help but feel sick at the idea of killing family. But Strytha insisted on loyalty. And loyalty demanded she do this.

Even if, deep down, she wished she didn’t have to.

She felt Strytha move restlessly and carefully clamped down on her potentially less-than-loyal thoughts. Instead, she forced herself to focus on how lovely the warm water felt against her skin. And how nice the lavender bath oil smelled. Though, maybe it was a little too mellow. Maybe she’d go looking for something with a hint of pink grapefruit. Cheerful bursts of citrus sounded more up her alley. But, strangely enough, it was Strytha who prefered the lavender. Strytha seemed to enjoy a lot of things she wouldn’t have expected. She’d have to take some time to think about that too. But maybe not today. Instead, she let the steam and lavender to send her into a doze, trusting in her arms to keep her from sinking into the water and accidentally drowning.