The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Varisia Primfana]

"Pardon?" Varisia looks up at Shisou, clearly not having been speaking to him with the expectation of him actually answering or anything.

[Shisou]

Shisou opens his mouth, hesitates, then leans back to grab the slate. He jots down quickly in Tangu characters (faster to draw): "So we're settled: you will take care of my problem and introduce me to your wife, and I will do my best to please you both with the intent to proceed in the engagement."

[Varisia Primfana]

Varisia had started to frown, just a little, when he started but she's smirking by the end. Oh that's just fine. Heh, looks like brutes like Indou are capable of being useful after all. Even if it's probably by accident. "Yes, I think we are. I, personally, see no issue with offering a proposal of engagement to your family as things are now. If you can woo my wife to agree-- which I will support, mildly-- then that will be that." 

A beat, then she adds, "excepting the very unlikely event of my daughter forming a firm and passionate hatred of  you. She's young still, and very outgoing, so it's very doubtful. It's never happened so far at least." She laughs, a true, warm and honest laugh. "Quite the opposite really; she's so curious and open with her emotions... It's incredible to watch, even if it worries me at times."

[Shisou]

Shisou thinks for a moment, jotting down, "Does your daughter like gifts?"

[Varisia Primfana]

"She's a toddler and female."

[Shisou]

"Candy?" he jots down, hesitantly. "Dolls? Wooden swords?"

[Varisia Primfana]

"I... Hmmm. No, I think Coquette would be put out if she were given weapons just yet," she replies regretfully. "Chocolate is too, ah, explosive for her to suit as a gift, but she's fond of dried-- not candied-- fruits. She's particularly interested in trying new things, so exoitic is better, even if it's decidedly strange tasting. A sampling of exotics perhaps. She's also at the stage where 'shiny' is one of the prime qualities she judges the value of things by, so she's been collecting gems, jewels, colored glass and the like. Nothing sharp, of course."

[Shisou]

Shisou nods, jotting down the character for "understanding" before clearing the slate. A package of fruits and shiny gemstones will do just fine, I think. Please, let her like me. Let them both like me. Maybe even fall in love with me. Oh Zanon, is this my Path? Is this what will lead me to joy and comfort at last?

[Isabela]

"You have a visitor," the steward notes as he moves to offer to take whatever baggage or coats Varisia has on her. He is sent back quickly, letting her unload her own things by her choice; soon thereafter, Varisia, wearing a fresh dress and a fresh expression, heads into the back garden where the sun is setting over a tea party.

"No! The countess?" asks her guest, laughing uproariously. Lux clearly is in the middle of telling a story; Segunda keeps trying to steal a strawberry slice off Nox's plate, as her father gently redirects her each time, and Primera is chasing fireflies on the lawn nearby, with Jessi watching her carefully to ensure she doesn't vanish. "What did the viscount do, then? Surely not the 'I'm just a maid' routine he tried earlier!" From that, she can tell the story: it's an opera Lux once snuck into, a comedy of errors he loves to retell.

The guest has dark brown skin, and long brown hair, pulled back with a jeweled hairpiece instead of her customary bandanna; she wears a thick necklace at her throat and several rings on her fingers. Captain Isabela always did like to display her wealth rather more than would be safe for someone less skilled with a blade.

[Lux]

"Oh ravishing beauty, you give far too little credit to Viscount Twillywater!" Lux covers his mouth, snickering, and gestures lazily with a hand filled with a goblet. "Of course not, of course not. Viscount Twillywater would never make the same mistake twice. He claimed to be a houseplant."

[Varisia Primfana]

"Even going so far as to clap a handful of dirt on his head," Varisia says tiredly, though she musters a faint smile, "if I recall properly."

[Isabela]

"Varisia!" says Isabela, waving. "Come, join us, have some tea. You look knackered."

[Varisia Primfana]

"Isabela," Varisia returns, inclining her head. She looks at the table, hesitation showing, then shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but I..." She blows out a sharp breath. "I'm afraid you caught me at a... delicate time." Her eyes dip to the two little girls, the younger of which has also noticed her arrival and lifts her arms with a babbled command for cuddles. 

Lux and Nox both fail to keep the shock off her face when their wife merely runs a hand over Secundia's head. "Mother has to work, precious one. But I think Nox has a strawberry you could steal if you're clever," she adds in a whisper, winking at the male. Switching to her somewhat limited aquan, she adds, "work burdens, too heavy dark for little hearts."

[Isabela]

"I understand," replies Isabela easily in the same language. "I plan to be in town for a week or so, if you don't mind I'd love to stay here and catch up with you later." She offers a wink, indicating what kind of 'catching up' she had in mind. 

[Varisia Primfana]

Mouth opening to politely, carefully, turn Isabela's offer down, the merikos drow instead pauses for a long moment, then nods. "Yes... It... Your timing is not-- Well. I'm not willing to pass up the rare chance of your company but I'm afraid I might not be the best of... hosts at the moment." The two brothers are increasingly troubled but trying to keep normal appearances up, if only for Secundia's sake. Varisia takes a shaky breath, then steps back. "I can at least walk you to your guest room before I have to-- to focus on making arrangements," she offers a touch awkwardly.