The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Shiori]

She gives a sad smile. "I'm one of those hothouse birds now, the ones that wither and die without a special heated cage. I'll always be trapped. That's what coming home meant."

[Jassinth]

"Tch. I'm an Oaken Ranger, I can teach any bird to thrive in the wilds," Jass countered. 

[GamesMaster]

"Fine. I'll buy you a pet bird and if you can keep it alive outside the special cage for a whole month, we'll see at that point."

[Jassinth]

That got a blank stare, then an awkward cough. "You... you do realize that the bird thing was just a metaphor, right? It doesn't... actually reflect on my ability to help you?"

[Shiori]

Shiori smiles a touch, looking away. "That sounds like I win the argument, then."

[Jassinth]

"What? No, that's not--" Jass scowled at her, though there's a curve to his lips that puts the lie to any real displeasure. "I meant your challenge doesn't make sense, not that I can't help you learn to stand, walk and dance without chains."

[Shiori]

"Well that's my point. You seem to think you can do the impossible. I don't believe you. So prove it."

[Jassinth]

"Fine," Jass snapped, standing up stiffly. "So I shall."

[GamesMaster]

And so, with big doe eyes and a warm smile, Shiori cajoles one of the other servants to procure for her a bird. It's a colorful bird, one brought from exotic locale, with the ability to mimic speech as well as other sounds it hears -- it's particularly good at the whistle of a teakettle, for example. 

It's in the room for the next lesson Shiori takes from her new tutor. She barely pays it mind, focusing on walking with books stacked on her head. 

When he orders her to get on her knees, she refuses. "You forget your place," she says frostily. 

"Forget your place!" echoes the bird. 

[NPCs]

Dniss tossed the bird a scathing glance but puts it's prattling aside. "My... place?" he repeated in a soft whisper, one that clashes dangerously with the shimmer of emotion in his eyes. "You think to speak of me about 'my place?' You?"

[Shiori]

"I am the lady of this house," she says, her voice steel. "You are merely a servant."

[NPCs]

"Lady?" He tsks her again. "You are a whore, sold to cover your family's debts again and again."

[GamesMaster]

"You are a whore! You are a whore!" chirps the bird. 

Shiori pinches her lips together, fury in her eyes. "How dare you!"

[NPCs]

"Easily." He bares his teeth in a mocking grin. "Though not as easy as you."

[Shiori]

That does it -- she slaps him, hard, with all the strength born of a lifetime of adventuring.