The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Both, I suppose."

[Claudia Emerison]

"When I was young, it meant... Respect. Trust. Romance. Acceptance and belonging. A few years later, it became frustration, impatience, and guilt on top of the rest. After-- after I b-betrayed Estelle," despite the quiver of his voice, she presses onwards without pausing, "it was almost entirely guilt, shame, self-loathing and a desperate need to never hurt her again. To not hurt anyone I love like that again. And now... Bright gods. I had thought I fucked up, that I had hurt you like... like I did Estelle. Worse even. So I guess, right now, being your wife means hope. Hope for love, hope for... having a partner, having someone to trust that trusts me. I want to be a good wife to you, to both of you. I want love and trust and friendship and so much more for all three of us."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Hope.... friendship. The last friend I truly trusted.... he sacrificed himself for me, to a fate worse than death. I don't want that. I want... I want things to be simple and easy and good. Can we just... can we just start over? Can we have that? Or are things too broken?" she whimpers. 

[Claudia Emerison]

"I don't..." Claudia trails off as something from the self-help books she'd had smuggled in comes to mind. Clarify and Inquire before Refusal. "Know what starting over looks like to you. Can you explain?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Just-- I don't know. I'm sure you have a, a report card for me in your head already, with all the ways I've been.... but just, wiping it all clean, starting from even?"

[Claudia Emerison]

"That... hmm.." Claudia wriggles around on the bed, shifting so she's laying parallel to Coquette and on her back. "Starting over at first impression, basically? It would raise too many questions in public but... okay."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"We don't have to... just... Just, assume you know nothing of me and I nothing of you, and learn from first. And we'll both try to be our best selves instead of, instead of our worst. Alright?"

[Claudia Emerison]

"I want dates," Claudia demands firmly. "And the private ones are us being 'newly courting' us."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes. Alright." She sounds exhausted. 

[Claudia Emerison]

"But right now you need some rest," Claudia says, picking up on the sag of her shoulders, the dullness of her eyes. "Need any help getting ready or..?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I won't be able to sleep. Not for a while."

[Claudia Emerison]

"Do... do you want me to run you a hot bath? Give a massage? A sleep to-- I can ask Estelle for a sleep tonic, that is."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I could... a bath would be lovely. And... perhaps you would like to join me?"

[Claudia Emerison]

Mid-nod, Claudia stills for a few seconds. "Mmmmh... okay! But no, uh, hanky-panky. Public bathing is a thing here, but, uh, we 'just met' and all so..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No, of course. I... I just wanted the company. I'm... my thoughts are... it would be nice to get to know you some."