The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Claudia Emerison]

"Yes," Claudia cuts in, sounding more determined than either wife has heard the imsy gnome in years. Or ever, for Coquette. She's pale, her hands are trembling against her thighs but her expression is bull-headed determination.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"What is this.... alternative?" she asks, her voice tight, low. 

[Estelle Emerison]

Estelle hesitates, then waves Coquette over to her. Lowering her voice, she explains, "I readied a spell that can allow me to read her surface thoughts. It can be blocked but not fooled, so what I'll hear is what she's truly thinking. The downside is that I'll only be able to read what she's actively thinking about so we'll have to guide things."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette gives a feral grin. "That, I can do."

[Estelle Emerison]

Estelle looks slightly alarmed and more than a bit dubious after seeing that expression but pushes that aside to give a nod. Turning back to Claudia, she says at a normal volume, "alright, I'm going to cast a divination spell Claudia. Please don't resist, I only have the one casting memorized. It'll last for ten minutes though, so we should have plenty of time."

[Claudia Emerison]

"Understood," Claudia says, her tone overly precise and crisp. "Go ahead and-- and start." Her eyes flick to Coquette and she quivers.

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette stalks towards her, waiting for Estelle to confirm that she's cast before she launches into rapid-fire questioning: "When did you last see Tenachka?"

[Claudia Emerison]

Umm. Okay, it's going to be okay. You trust Estelle, this'll be fine. Just-- huh?  Uhh, I guess, "three days ago." Wait, it was just, "But it was just in passing. I was going to Storeroom Onyx and spotted here in the main hall, lounging on the dias, as I went past the doorway. The time before that was..." She hesitates, just few a few seconds. When you had that freak out at dinner. Shit. How should I..? "Umm. That dinner when you... had to leave early? For personal reasons?" she tries.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"What happened after we left the dinner that night?" she asks, narrowing her eyes. "With Tenachka, not myself."

[Claudia Emerison]

You were-- oh. Right, uh, "she... stayed in the dining hall, I guess? I mean, I was with you, in our rooms so I'm speculating there but I feel moderately confident in that statement." At least I think I am? Busted beakers, now I'm second guessing myself about what my seconds guesses are. This is awful.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Have you noticed any notable lapses in memory?" she suddenly snaps out, al at once. 

[Claudia Emerison]

Only when I go over the recommended dose of... "Not unexplained ones," she hears herself saying. "Like sleep or--"

"Claudia."

The young woman flinches, looking ashamed. "...or if I take a heavier dose of my calming tonic than is... recommended," she says quietly. Or entirely safe.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"How often does this occur?"

[Claudia Emerison]

Too often probably. Definately. Ever is technically too often so... "Not... Not that often, not really. Umm." She shifts guiltily, then sags a little. "Maybe once or twice a month? Or, well, it's..." She licks her lips. "It comes in batches. Sometimes... sometimes I don't even take a typical dose for months, others... More often."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Is it possible on this tonic that you could do things you don't recall?"