The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Coquette Blacquin]

She looks startled, then blushes slightly. "I'm partial to caramels," she says softly. "But only in... certain moods. In other moods I'm partial to honeyed ants. That's probably your safer bet. Still, if you bring me caramels, I might be kinder to you."

[Zevran]

Zevran nods slowly, still not looking in her direction. "And your view on meringues?" A slight sigh. "And those of the other..." A note of dubious, almost suspicious, attentiveness creeps into his voice. "Husbands?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I enjoy meringues," she agrees amiably. "Nox enjoys baking, you might be able to get him to make something. He and Lux enjoy pretty much everything he makes. Nathaniel... he doesn't really have preferences anymore, at least not ones he'll admit. But he likes to be noticed, I've noticed."

[Zevran]

"I see. Thank you." Probably best to ask Nox for his assistance then. Annoying, but making an enemy for stepping on his toes would be even more so. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Of course." She pauses, then adds, "I know I have no right to ask anything further of you, but... if you can see any way to help Nathaniel that I am not already doing, please let me know. I would love to see him regain some sense of independent self. I fear my wife is not... skilled in this regard."

[Zevran]

Zevran lifts a hand and waves his fingers briefly towards the ground, though the motion is unobtrusive and small. This is the mountain formed from my shock. "What have you tried?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"In truth, very little. I have been kind and patient, encouraging him to speak up when I can, asking him directly about his preferences and needs. I have refused him from my bed, though my wife does not. And I have asked each of the other husbands to do what they can to befriend him, as I worry that my position gives him the implication that I have power over him and thus makes him see me as a master rather than a lover."

[Zevran]

"He may simply be broken," Zevran says bluntly. "Not everything can be fixed. Not everyone wants to be fixed."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Something hard crosses her face. "Unacceptable." She takes a breath, then, and her face softens somewhat. "Forgive me. I know this. But... I will not give up on someone in my care. How much worse would it be if there was a chance and I did not do everything in my power to manifest it?"

[Zevran]

He turns a few degrees back to her, her voice having caught his attention. "I see... You spoke of one question raised during our game, but not the second..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"We were distracted after the first question. I didn't get my chance to ask the second. I will when she returns."

[Zevran]

"Distracted?" Zevran asks suspiciously, wondering what would distract the intensely driven woman he'd challenged last night.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Varisia wished to say goodbye properly before her trip," she says, reddening a little. "Typically she does not leave so very soon after returning, so I would have had more time to speak with her."

[Zevran]

Prop- "Ah." There's a pause as the obviousness of his understanding hang between them. Another Zevran, another time, another place, would have delighted in the reveal and taken playfully merciless advantage of it. This one... "Hopefully the delay causes no harm. Very well. I have little idea how long this baking will take, so I should probably get on that. With your leave?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Of course. Please tell Shisou that I have been informed of his plans, as I am certain my handmaiden is out of his mind with worry by now." She smiles, a tired, kind smile, and stands, with a small curtsey. "Please enjoy your evening."