The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Paerle Emerison]

"Oh? I've never heard of those before," Paerle says with interest. "What do they taste like? How are they grown?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Oh, they can be flavored like anything. The important part is that you boil down sheep's hooves until they release a... a substance, I suppose, and you use that to thicken broth or something until it's solid and... wiggly. And a bit translucent? It's liquid to start with, so you do it in some sort of shaped mold, so that you end up with a large shape in whatever color your liquid is. I have seen the shape of a tree, a lamb, a sword... all sorts of things. It's very impressive."

[Paerle Emerison]

Paerle stares blankly at Coquette as she explains, confusion in her eyes. "Wait, sheep hooves? Is that-- is that what the mold is fed or is that added to them in the cooking or..?

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Oh! I see where I erred. Not mold the plant, but mold like you use to shape poured metal."

[Paerle Emerison]

Letting out a laugh, Paerle shakes her head. "That-- that makes a great deal more sense, yes. I was wondering, given how skittish surfacers are about eating fungus of any kind, even, nice safe molds!"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"There are some among.. my mother's people," she says carefully, "who eat fungus. Typically the kind that develops a large, meaty cap."

[Paerle Emerison]

Her mother's people? Glaylian or whatever? "Those are often the most... savory dishes. Personally, I prefer a tart linchen crumble but mushroom caps are a lovely main dish." Her eyes brighten and she asks, "oh, have you ever had them when they remove the stalks and then fill the underside of the dish with cheese and fish?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Cheese, yes, but not fish. There is a superstition in Glaley about not mixing cheese and fish. Is it good?"

[Paerle Emerison]

"Yes, very warm and filling, with a nice balance of earthy and salty. But I'm sorry, now I'm curious about this superstition. Why would they be afraid of eating two things together? Obviously, toxic reactions aside."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Oh, it's not so much a luck or fortune thing so much as... a taboo. Perhaps it is most akin to... bad manners? It is simply Not Done."

[Paerle Emerison]

"How peculiar," Paerle muses, tapping the rim of her wineglass with a finger. "Do you have any idea as to the origin of that taboo?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"None whatsoever. It doesn't seem to serve a purpose, simply... fashion?"

[Paerle Emerison]

"Fascinating," Paerle repeats. "But you've no issue with trying such? Is that because you lived for so long in Alessia or because you simply do not care?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I hardly feel Glalian anymore," she laughs. "I have to be open to trying new things or else I would never have survived my first marriage, let alone this one."

[Paerle Emerison]

"Adaptability is a very desirable trait," Paerle comments, nodding. She pauses then, gaze drifting downwards. "There's no danger," she says, her tone indicating that she's well aware that phrases like that are rarely all that effective but doesn't have a better one, "but if you look off to your left," she gestures, "there's my Luvia studying you." And indeed, through the doorway deeper into Paerle's rooms, Coquette can spot a very large arachnoid. A bit bigger than Justinina even before counting pincers or tail, she's a nearly black green color that has a hint of shine, as if wet, but manages to avoid drawing attention despite that feature. The pincers are smaller than Claudia's hands, if just barely, and the barb on the tail is on par with a full-sized knitting needle. Luvia isn't moving from her spot, just crouching there, facing Coquette in quiet contemplation.