The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"...where am I?" she asks, more tense now that she's heard Tenachka. 

[NPCs]

"In a room just off of my studio," Tenachka replies easily. "Roughly, oh, thirty feet from where you pose for me? And it's been perhaps a little over an hour, before you ask."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She sits up, reaching to take off the blindfold. At least I'm not restrained. Anymore? I feel the remains of rope marks... "I have to go. I'm late getting back already."

[NPCs]

She isn't stopped or hindered in doing so, Tenachka simply remaining seated as she watches Coquette with frank appreciation. "I'm sorry for that then, you simply seemed like you desperately needed the rest."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"...if I fell asleep in your lap, I probably did. Please forgive me. I was... restless, last night." She gives a perfunctory curtsey, forgetting that it's odd in this context, and moves to find her clothing in the next room. 

[NPCs]

"Think nothing of it," Tenachka calls after her. "I'll see you in two days, try and take care of yourself, alright?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I will."

[GamesMaster]

In order to report the events around the breaking of the engagement, the group can no longer be shielded: they must report to their Patriarch in his court.

It is late by the time they are settled, but the next day, dressed in formal clothing, the small group (Shiori, Jass, and Tsukikage) travel across the family compound. Their home is a decent size, with four bedrooms, a formal dining room, a sitting room, and a kitchen, but it is all on one floor, at the edge of the compound. Many other similar-sized homes sit empty, shut up and waiting for further family to need space. But the central building, in the most defended inner sanctum with a small wall separating it from the (walled) rest of the compound, is occupied indeed. They pass under the Tori gate and into the front parlor, removing their shoes as they enter. This is where the family's wealth is displayed: tasteful artwork, often of crickets  in abstract or scientific portrayals; fine marble countertops, a polished hardwood floor, carvings in the doorframes of flowers and abstract vines. It's not the gaudy opulence of the Tiger household, but it is expensive, inherited wealth.

They are shown to the parlor by the butler, served drinks, and invited to sit at the long, low table, sipping their green tea and nibbling on sugar cookies.

Daimyo Higurashi does not attend them himself, as Shiori had warned Jass to expect; he is old, dying, bedridden. His sole responsibility right now is to hold out long enough for a tiefling to be born of Zanon's line in their family. It is taking all his strength to do so.

Instead, they are met by Koji Higurashi, the Daimyo's grandson and Shiori's first cousin once removed, if Jass is calculating the relationship correctly. Koji has long, straight dark hair, red eyes, but no other infernal signs, and he is purely human. He gives a perfunctory bow, then sits at the far side of the table, clearly in a place of honor opposite their group.

"Good morning. How may the Daimyo's estate serve the family today?"

[Shiori]

Shiori bows as low as the table allows, holding her cup of tea so it does not spill, her green hair pinned up with many butterfly clips. She speaks Tengu, just as Koji does: "We have come to report a failed match. My sister, Tsukikage, has broken the engagement with her beau, Akira of the Eels. We wish to inform the Daimyo and ask what should be done with the issue therefrom."

[GamesMaster]

Koji frowns, just a little. "That match was of strategic importance to the family. It--"

He stops as the door is thrown open by a distraught woman, who quickly composes herself and kowtows before Koji. 

(Tsuki murmurs to Jass, in Common, "that's Setsuna, she's my mother's cousin")

Koji frowns further, rising. "Setsuna. Why have you interrupted this meeting?"

"Please forgive this dishonorable one," she says in Tengu, quite calmly. As she rises, her face is once more placid, unruffled. "This one has unfortunate news: my daughter, Ayaka, has been taken by the Eels."

Tsuki gasps, paling. Then she murmurs to Jass, in Common, "my... whatever, my relative Ayaka has been kidnapped. She's only fourteen."

[Jassinth]

Letting out a soft hiss, Jassinth shakes his head a little. "That was much faster than expected," he murmurs back. "Is she highly ranked? Special to the family?"

[GamesMaster]

"She and I are the last two eligible females in the family that haven't fucked off somewhere," murmurs Tsuki, earning a sharp glare from Shori for the profanity. 

[Jassinth]

"Ah." So it's an 'if not the one, then the other' sort of message. Lovely. "Understood."

[GamesMaster]

"She is too young to be given in lawful marriage," says Setsuna, voice eerily placid. "We must retrieve her before irrevocable harm is done."


"With what warriors?" asks Koji, frowning. 

[Jassinth]

Jass straightens, mouth opening, but stops himself. He can't speak Tengu and Tsuki can only translate quickly and quietly or risk interrupting someone but he knows what was just said regardless; 'we have to rescue her' then 'alas, alas, we cannot for some reason or another.'