The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Claudia Emerison]

Claudia gapes at her for a moment, then, "how in brilliance did you-- oh wait, you already-- she was bound? Why? How?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I think it has to do with having Grandmother's blood in my veins."

[Claudia Emerison]

"But that would be-- bindings of that nature are illegal here," Claudia whispers furtively, shock in her voice. Before Coquette can answer her, perhaps to chide her for her naivety, the merikos gnome seems to realize it herself. "But... it's her law in the first place so... Bursting beakers, this is dangerous knowledge."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yeah. I don't plan to go up against the devil myself, to be honest, just... I had to get free."

[Claudia Emerison]

That gets a very quick nod. "No, that's fair, entirely fair, yes. I'm super pleased and proud and glad you're not-- that you don't have to--"

[Coquette Blacquin]

She flops back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "You should probably have the marriage annulled," she says dully. 

[Claudia Emerison]

"What?" Claudia feels herself reeling from the steady deluge of insanity. "Where did-- why would you say-- Coquette?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"She's going to want revenge and she'll take it out on you if she can't touch me. Better to reject me. Send me away. I'll find... somewhere else to go."

[Claudia Emerison]

Claudia looks at Coquette for a long moment, the confusion fading to... hurt. "You really think that about me? That I'd just... dump you and run? You're my wife, Coquette. I'm not going to abandon you."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Wife, husband, father, mother... it's never mattered before."

[Claudia Emerison]

"Well, then you had shit family before," Claudia snaps. "I am from Robijn Enclave and family means something here." Okay, well, to me it does. Fuck the rest of them.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"So was my wife," she says tiredly. "You... really mean that?"

[Claudia Emerison]

Claudia snorts. "That bitch wasn't Enclave. Or a wife, for that matter. Anyway, yes, I mean it."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"What does it even mean to you, to be a wife? To me it means, obedience, power games, and betrayal."

[Claudia Emerison]

"What it's meant in the past or the meaning I try to give it?" Claudia doesn't sound like she's trying to avoid the question. Instead, she's making it known that her answer is more complicated than Coquette might have hoped.