The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Jassinth]

"Entirely understandable. I could not imagine being given your first true taste, and then being denied forever more."

[Shiori]

"And you... you're beautiful, and those hands! So I.. but you're my bodyguard and my friend. I don't want to damage that."

[Jassinth]

"The friendship, I believe, would not be an issue," the merikos drow thinks out loud. "I have not had dozens of lovers or the like, but those I have had have all been very pleasant experiences; and enlightening ones, I would say. Aside from Maeve, the two in particular that are relevant to this were both Cirenites. One was actually a Joy, one of Their rare Inquisitors. He was taking a sabbatical at the Oak and..." Jass smiles with warm remembrance. 

[Shiori]

"But there must be a reason they say never to... dally with those under your employ."

[Jassinth]

Shaking off the memory, Jass nods, a lopsided and faintly regretful smile on his lips. "Yes, I had skipped mentioning that one for a reason," he agrees. "Becoming lovers-- even good friends-- affects judgment. If one's affection and concern for their principal-- the target of a bodyguard-- outpaces their discipline, then they were react on emotion and impulse during danger, which often leads to... subpar decisions." The wince he makes during that last phrase makes it clear what he's implying.

[Shiori]

Shiori looks down at her stomach, placing both hands on the flat expanse. "And I have to do what's best for the children, now."

[Jassinth]

"Yes," Jass agrees with a nod. "But that does bring up something I've been thinking on for the last week or so; I'm not actually a very good bodyguard. I have some healing and I can do some very limited conjuring of beast summons or terrain features, but that's about all I have going for me. My combat skills skew to archery and some limited knifework, neither of which are very good for keeping another person safe. I'm good, very good if I am to be blunt, but depth of ability can only compensate for mismatched ability so much."

[Shiori]

Shiori glances up at him, eyes shining. "But... you're all I have."

[Jassinth]

"That's not true any-- I'm not leaving, Shiori," he abruptly swerves, then steps in close so he can pull the teary woman in for an embrace. "I'm not leaving."

[Shiori]

"S-sorry," she stammers, holding him tightly. "I've been weepy ever since I got this new body."

[Jassinth]

"You're also pregnant," he points out gently. "Still early days, yes, but given the nature-- hah-- of the babe... well."

[Shiori]

"That's fair," she says, wiping at her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm glad you're staying."

[Jassinth]

Nudging her hands out of the way, Jass dabs at her eyes with a soft strip of cloth. He's not one to have a handkerchief, but he is the sort to carry around clean bandages at all times. "I'm glad you're comfortable enough to be this open around me," he replies after he finishes, kissing the tip of her nose.

[Shiori]

Shiori nods. "You know, it didn't feel so stifling when I lived here all the time, but... we're a very closed-off people, aren't we?"

[Jassinth]

"So how's breakfast? Do you want tea?" Jass asks in the bright, cheerful, tone of one just asked if the asker's family sucks.