The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Jassinth]

He'd noticed her a couple of seconds before she drew even with him, giving him time to tuck the tea away in his belt. "Ma'am," he murmured as they walked, the merikos drow a step behind her on the left. "Is all well?"

[Shiori]

"Yes, of course."

[Jassinth]

That got a snort. A quiet one, of course, but still. "Ma'am, party or no, this was political. There's no 'of course' with politics."

[Shiori]

"I believe I have made a real friend... and possibly the start of a few enemies," she admits, as they get further from the tea house and towards the waiting boat. 

[Jassinth]

Dreamy shifted sleepily in Jassinth's arms, having begged to be carried seconds after reaching him. "I've decided... Manu... eternal rival..."

Eyebrow lifted, Jass queried, "might I hope that this Manu is not the friend you've made?"

[Shiori]

"I think-- I hope-- she means that in a friendly sort of way. Manu is my friend's spirit companion. Eidolon. Whatever."

[Jassinth]

Jass considered that for a moment, then shrugged. "It'll be fine," he decided firmly. 

[Shiori]

"Exactly. Dreamy had a wonderful time and knows she can't come with me if she can't behave in public, so she won't attack anyone at these things."

[Jassinth]

"Won't be caught," Dreamy mumbled, her breathing evening out as she falls to slumber.

Just think of it as practice for the baby, Jassinth told himself. "Wait what?" He didn't realize he'd blurted that out loud, his thoughts too caught on really noticing that he'd begun to think of Shiori's child as, in a serious way, his own. 

[Shiori]

Shiori half-turns towards him, sucking in a quick breath. "What? Is something wrong?"

[Jassinth]

"Sorry what?" Jass asked distractedly, his eyes cloudy in thought for a moment before he focused them on her. "I wasn't-- my apologies, my lady, I was carelessly lost in thought."

[Shiori]

So something he can't say in public. Got it. "Alright. See that it doesn't happen again."

[Jassinth]

Shit. She's going to ask when we get back. Okay. That's okay. I can just say something else. Just... lie to her. About something vital and... dammit. "Yes, my lady." He offered a quick bow before resuming their walk. 

And true to expectation, once they were safely behind closed doors, Shiori turned to him with an inquisitive expression. Deciding to skip the part were she probed for answers, he offered her a weak, almost timid, smile before speaking up first. "I... Dreamy's behavior... it-" he glanced at the door to his own room, where he'd deposited her on this pillow, as if to check to see if she'd somehow snuck into Shiori's room, "she made me think of a young child's behavior."

[Shiori]

Shoiri colors a little. "Oh! I -- yes. I see. Alright. So, what did you think of the place?"

[Jassinth]

His eyebrows raised, Jass gave her a surprised look. That's it? She isn't going to press or anything? "Ah, it was rather nice, I think. I wasn't able to get a table," was asked to wait outside rather, "but the peppermint, lemongrass, rose, daisy and honeycomb tea was rather good." He smirked a bit as he hefted the bag he'd been looking at when she'd met back up with him.