The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Zevran]

His lips move briefly, then his tongue emerges to wet his lips with little effect. Trying again, this time she hears something. Began with a 'z' sound, short and ended with either 'an' or 'han' perhaps?

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Zoltran?" 

As she asks, she realizes the problem, and reaches back into her basket. The jar she pulls out this time is smaller, but it's filled with crystal pure water, and she unscrews the top before handing it to him. "Here, drink this slow now so you don't waste it."

[NPCs]

Trembling hands raise to cradle the jar, both of them needed to support its minor weight. He only has a bruising and a single welt on the left arm, so it's not injuries doing this. Infection or some other illness? Or possibly just thirst and starvation, given the ashen look to his lips and the gauntness of his features and ribs. Carefully, so carefully it's clear he's had practice with this sort of weakness, he tilts the jar over and trickles water into his mouth. After a moment, he gingerly rests the jar against his forehead. 

"Zevran," he whispers again, voice still raspy and weak but audible at least.

[Coquette Blacquin]

She nods, making no move to help him with the jar -- letting him work through it himself. "Zevran. Alright. I can't promise that you're safe here, but it's bound to be a lot better than what you've been through. I'll protect you if I can, but if you seen an opening, you take it, understand? This place... it's not slavery, but it's not freedom either." 

Watching him trickle a little more water into his mouth, she reaches into the basket and pulls out a small paper-wrapped package. "Not much nutrients but the calories will do you some good." She tucks it onto the bed beside him.

[Zevran]

Zevran watches her as she does all this and its only her constant struggle with the masks and undercurrents of her life that allows her to see the wary distrust in his eyes. He makes no move towards the package, though that might well be just because he's struggling enough with just the jar. Something about his posture, his body language, nags at her almost absently but she can't put her finger on what it is. Or even what it's telling her.

[Coquette Blacquin]

After a moment of staring at him, she straightens, taking the basket with the dirty water and rag with her. "Try to get some sleep. I'm sure the Mistress has plans for you in the morning." Then she turns to go. 

[Zevran]

Barely audible, the word 'name' floats after her as she stands.

[Coquette Blacquin]

She turns then, pausing a moment. "Hmm?"

[Zevran]

He looks at her, actually directly at her, for a single heartbeat, before his eyes drop away. "You."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"My name? For now, you may call me Madam Noire." Then she turns away once more. 

[Shisou]

The next person he sees, some 12 hours later, is a young man, perhaps eighteen or so, with short brown hair and big dark eyes. He's wearing a simple tunic with a fancy crest embroidered on the front, with no leggings and simple indoor silk shoes -- nothing you could get very far in if you had to run. He stops in the doorway and gives a simple bow, hands pressed together, in the Toukami style.

"G-g-g-g-greetings," he stammers. "A-are you w-well?"

[Zevran]

Zevran is sitting on the cot, legs crossed and eyes closed. Aside from a gentle rise and fall of his chest, he doesn't seem to move at all. 

Even after the boy's greeting.

[Shisou]

"U-u-u-um," stammers the boy, shifting a little from side to side. "I am sup-p-posed to b-b-bring you t-to the b-b-b-baths...."

[Zevran]

Zevran sighs internally. And you'll be whipped if I do not, is that the game? Sadly for you, I no longer care. 

He does, of course, despite how much he believes otherwise. His heart is broken and his will cracked in two, but love and hope still linger underneath despair. 

[Shisou]

"Um... I'll j-j-j-just... I'll j-j-j-just g-g-get the o-o-others," he stammers, after a minute. "M-m-maybe... y-y-y-you d-d-do speak c-c-c-common r-r-right?" He adds, then tries in Tengu, "h-h-h-aj-j-j-jime-m-mash-ite?"