The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Estelle Emerison]

"'Things have changed, the markets have shifted,'" Estelle says snootily in draconic accented common, her normal drow accent mostly missing. "If it really produced solid gains, I'd accept it, as taxing as it is, but no. Nine casts out of ten, it's just a façade for them trying to gain just a little bit more advantage in our deal."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"How utterly exhausting," commiserates Noire. 

[Estelle Emerison]

"It really can be," Estelle sighs, though she smiles afterwards. "Still, those trade treaties are a vital need and it's very satisfying to be the one fulfilling it. We could survive without the goods I bring in, true. It's the connections, the investment those villages have in our existence, that are the true gold. People are far more tolerant of 'dem dark elf-kin' when we're providing wealth and goods."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Are they? Or are they biding their time?" she asks, but she scowls a little at herself as she does. Paranoid much? "Sorry. I've never been accepted anywhere, it's hard to believe we can just... live here."

[Estelle Emerison]

"I get it. Well, in a way, at least. I've always felt like I had a place at the Enclave, but I've known that the Enclave wasn't welcomed since I was young. I had such hopes for creating strong ties with Nyra... They prize magic so much and drow are innately magical, plus we, specifically, have a great deal of arcane knowledge, much of it new to the surface. But that fucking cold-hearted," the next word has no common translation, not really, but it's a rather hateful slur against elves that focuses on their haughty, smug, arrogance. Estelle looks a bit guilty after the words erupts from her lips, but she doesn't take it back. "The Light assigned to met with me with... unreceptive, to put it mildly. She poisoned every contact I attempted to make during my stay and..." Deep breath. Deeeeep breaths.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Ugh. I've lost maids, suppliers, even friends once they realized I wasn't as elven as my fair skin would leave you to believe."

[Estelle Emerison]

Looking Noire over, Estelle offers, "you're not as light-skinned as that really." Pouting playfully, she adds, "and your hair! Shining white is lovely, I shan't lie, but your mithril hair... gorgeous."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She tosses her hair a little, pleased, and half-turns, peering at Estelle through the curtain of her loose hair. "Mother always said it was the color of pure moonlight. But then, she preferred to think of herself as an elf."

[Estelle Emerison]

"Moonlight?" Estelle considers it a moment, then shrugs. "I suppose so, though it's not what comes to mind first. Moonlight isn't really all that... silvery, not really, I wouldn't say."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Mithril is more a dwarf thing." She shrugs, then takes a deep breath. "Did you have other questions?" Like how I ended up in such a mess?

[Estelle Emerison]

"I find myself with a great many questions I'd like to ask of you, now that..." Estelle pauses briefly, selecting her words with care. "Now that I know whom I am trying to get to know."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"...I was the one who didn't like you, at first," admits Noire. "You were... distant and... reminded me of her. I wanted to be the dominant wife, to ensure my safety."

[Estelle Emerison]

"That's understandable," Estelle murmurs, a brief look of hurt melting into acceptance. "And... I'm sorry. About how I was at the start. I was... hurt. I love Claudia. I've loved her for a very long time and even during... our worst years, I never stopped. When you were engaged to her, it felt-- it felt I like I was being replaced. Pushed aside."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"...I can see that," she says slowly. "I never... well I won't say never, but it wasn't the same with my first wife."

[Estelle Emerison]

"I think I understand. I mean, not really, of course, I've never been in that... situation so I can't really understand." Estelle sounds flustered, not anywhere near a Claudia babble, but given how collected the drow normally is, it's rather telling. "And more, I never want you to feel... for this marriage-- you and me, or the three of us, err, four with Zevran as well-- to feel like that. Ever."