The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"...the idea of family?"

[NPCs]

"Yes. Well, specifically, about family... The idea that family means more than just people you can trust and depend on marginally more than those that are not family. Do surface stories ever have the, ah, the theme, I suppose, the theme of rivals that fight and compete, ruthlessly even, with each other but will turn to destroy any outside threat with instant unity?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No," she says slowly, "but.. I have heard my ex-wife speak of some she felt that way towards."

[NPCs]

"Not the best association," Pearle notes with a grimace. "Regardless. It's only recently that I've truly grasped just how, hmm, fulfilling and rewarding family can be. Not just in power or influence but more.. intrinsically so."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Which is why you tormented Claudia so," she says, eyes narrowing. 

[NPCs]

Paerle's eyes dim and a soft sigh slips from her lips. "A very valid accusation," she says softly. "That was... that is not a moment I am proud of, Coquette, that I can promise you easily. I did not-- still do not, if I am to be honest-- approve of Claudia for my sister. She's a burden and a weakness and I sought to... to prove such, carelessly ignoring how my 'test' would deepen the issue. It was foolish of me, and something I've worked very hard to address." She flicks her gaze towards Feythal. "And not without... outside motivation, I could add," she murmurs ruefully, sounding sincere, though Coquette gets the impression she's downplaying-- likely to herself as much as Coquette-- just how cruel her 'test' was.

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette lets out a long sigh. "I can understand doing things one regrets," she admits. "I have not lived a perfect life, not by a long shot. I even had to kill one I trusted, once, when he turned against me. It was... I can understand getting carried away."

[NPCs]

"That is... a harsh test and burden to carry," Paerle says with a faint note of surprise in her voice and approval in her eyes. "You impress me yet again."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Do I? I do not feel impressive," she admits. "I feel... tired. I could sleep for a week."

[NPCs]

"Tired oft comes of carrying harsh burdens," Paerle points out with a faint smirk.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I suppose my emotional muscles must be enormous," she quips. "Still. Thank you for your help. I appreciate having someone supportive to talk to."

The fact it's a dig at her new wife to say so must have escaped her. Or maybe it didn't. 

[NPCs]

Pearle nods slightly, her gaze knowing. "I'm happy to help," she says warmly, then adds, "to do better." Leaning back in a show of unconscious grace and sensuality, she continues briskly. "Now! I can see the next gift giver glaring outright so I must withdraw. As soon as the last gift is given, I'll call for the room and see if we can run the clock out."

[GamesMaster]

The next gift -- a child's primer on manners, insulting her grasp of their culture -- goes almost unremarked by Coquette, besides a simple thanks. The next is underwear far too large -- "Forgive me, I must have misjudged the size of your behind, I will recall that surfacers are not as blessed" -- but Coquette merely smiles a tight smile and waves them along. The next gift...

"A bit of rope?"

"And still far too much for you, a would-be Drow too human to ever be truly one of us. Let us see if you have the wits to know what to do with it," the woman sneers. She's from one of the other Drow famiglias, a prouder, more haughty group known for having mysteriously few merikos. Some say they drown their babies if they're not at least as dark as a charred bit of wood.

[Zevran]

I'm about to get in trouble again, Zevran thinks to himself with a internal sigh. Barely noticed by the room, he moves from the shadowed back of the room to Coquette's side. "Shall I hang this offensive speck or merely whip her bloody, my Lady?" he asks in a deferential tone, one hand half gesturing, half reaching to take the rope.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Whip her. Let her know what crossing a member of Famiglia Emirison means, and let her bring that news back to the rest of her ignorant Famiglia." Noire's face is stone, placid, showing no trace of emotion.