The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Estelle Emerison]

"A lesson in humility and caution if naught else it seems," Estelle says softly, eyes flashing with temper and magic both. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Try me," he snarls. 

[Estelle Emerison]

"What do you hope to gain from this?" Estelle asks, voice low and restrained.

[Coquette Blacquin]

He seems about to answer, when suddenly he stops, taking a deep breath, then another. "I apologize," he says in quite a different tone. 

[Estelle Emerison]

"...really," Estelle says flatly, eyes narrowing as she marks the obvious shift. Is she possessed? Or perhaps she has a spiritual companion? Which is much the same, granted, but only in execu-- focus, not the time for academics. "That's a rapid alteration of your stance."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I wasn't quite... sometimes I am... in the past. In another time and place. I wasn't quite here, quite myself, yet. I didn't quite realize to whom I was speaking," Cedric lies, but it's an easy lie, one that's believable because it leans on his own faults. 

[Estelle Emerison]

"It sounded more like you didn't know whom was speaking, rather than speaking to," Estelle says neutrally, sliding more weight to the idea that Coquette is a spiritualist. Perhaps Despair, perhaps Anger. Or Fear... or Remorse... Tch. I don't know her well enough to really guess yet, best to stop myself so I don't build up false expectations. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No, I thought you were a servant I once had, one who was always speaking down to me, as if I were her inferior." 

[Estelle Emerison]

"And the changes in both your dictation and tone?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I know not what you mean."

[Estelle Emerison]

Estelle arches an eyebrow as she settles back on her heels. "Do you truly not? It was very noticeable to me."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Perhaps you need more rest."

[Estelle Emerison]

"I have a spell that can perfectly recall a memory with absolute clarity. Granted, I did not prepare it this morning, but it could be cast tomorrow without issue." She pauses a moment, then asks deliberately, "will I have to cast it? Or will you speak with me honestly?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I am being honest. Whatever you might have observed was an artifact of the memory."

[Estelle Emerison]

Deciding to switch tactics-- in part to throw Coquette off and see if she stumbles but as much if not more to simply refocus on more important matters-- Estelle flicks a hand to the side, a local gesture indicating waning interest. Or, at times, waning patience, as both can serve much the same in a conversation. "As you like; I am more concerned with your panic anyway." What scar did my warning enflame? Was she worried about being exposed in public, about dominating Claudia? About being in the position of the hypothetical Claudia?