The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Shisou]

"I m-m-m-m-mean, h-h-h-he's r-r-r-r-right," stammers Shisou, and instead of leaving it there, he actually presses on -- something rare for the softspoken, quiet youth. "Th-th-th-this i-i-i-i-is a g-g-gilded c-c-c-c-cage. B-b-b-but..." He shrugs, letting that encompass the rest of his little speech. 

[Nox]

"But," Nox agrees softly. "Happiness is happiness, whether it's behind bars or not. And... and there is happiness here."

[Shisou]

Shisou smiles shyly, reaching for Nox's hand as he climbs into the tub. "Y-y-y-yeah."

[Nox]

Nox takes the hand of his sort of, sort of not, husband and presses a kiss to the palm before helping him in. Truth be told, he meant first his children-- for all that they were sired one to each twin, both daughters are loved equally, fiercely, by both brothers-- and then his twin, but... "Our love was made richer with your entry, Shisou," he says, a husky note flirting on the edge of his voice. "It would be greedy to expect that with every newcomer to our household."

[Shisou]

Shisou nods, his smile fading. I know, he thinks but doesn't say. And yet... you have each other. Always have, always will. It'd be nice not to be the outsider, the third wheel. Maybe that's why he hasn't told them his secret yet, the impossible dream written across his heart, not even the heartbreak of losing Carbonne forever. They knew he'd lost someone, maybe more than one person, but it seemed sweeter and easier not to talk about what they'd lost, what they'd left behind to come here. Instead he sighs, closing his eyes and letting the warm water soothe his aches. 

Before long, they're all clean, and he slips out of the bath once more to get dressed. Their good dress uniforms are on the rack: smart three-piece suits, each emblazoned with the family crest that matches their tattoos. Nathaniel's has slits tailored into the back to allow for his wings; each has been made to fit them, and Shisou has no doubt the final suit is perfectly sized to fit the newcomer. It's Shisou's turn to help Nathaniel with his wings, the lame one lacking the agility to fit it into the suit without extra buttons to do up and make it snug. 

[Nathaniel]

The other man surprises Shisou by moving with a towel toward Zevran's bath afterward -- Nathaniel? Moving on his own initiative? And yet he does, kneeling beside the tub and offering the towel like a peace offering. 

"Do you need anything?" he asks, in his soft, silken voice. "Assistance of any kind? I am pleased to be of service."

[Zevran]

A darkness in him stirs, a hateful, wounded, selfish voice that he wishes spoke with Denaris's voice instead of his own. Kill me or yourself, your choice. If you still know what that even is. Zevran takes a slow breath, eyes closing again. Sometimes the darkness beneath his eyelids is the only comfort he can find on a given day. "...why?"

[Nathaniel]

"I... don't understand the question."

[Zevran]

Of course not. "Why are you offering? Why does it please you?" he asks wearily.

[Nathaniel]

"I... enjoy having something useful to do, some purpose," he says quietly. "Please, may I assist you? Mistress has not called for me in some time."

[Shisou]

Shisou sighs, heading after Nathaniel. "S-s-s-sorry ab-b-b-bout h-h-h-him," he begins. 

[Zevran]

"You are answering my questions, no? Why me?" he adds, tone firming. He doesn't so much as glance at Shisou. "Why offer me help?"

[Nathaniel]

"You are new here. The others have made it clear they do not require my assistance with bathing or dressing." 

[Zevran]

Zevran raises an eyebrow. "Have they said why?"

[Nathaniel]

"Yes." Nathaniel declines to elaborate.