The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Shiori]

"I see. Let me jot that down," she adds, heading to find the leather-bound journal that she uses to keep doctrines from Raplin in, "and then we need to dress you up."

[Jassinth]

Idly amused at the idea that her journal is likely the closest to a typical holy text for Raplin in existence, Jass suddenly feels a cold shiver. "Dress me up?"

[Shiori]

"We've been commanded to wear formal attire," Shiori says quietly, sounding oddly subdued -- the reason for which is soon made clear: "I think some of my father's things will fit you."

[Jassinth]

"...formal wear?" Jass asks with mounting dread. Like what your cousin was wearing when we... oh fuck no! I'll barely be able to move! 

[Shiori]

"On the bright side, we're not going to court?" suggests Shiori, already closing the journal and heading for the attic. "Come on. Let's see what Mother saved."

Mother apparently saved four trunks of clothing, so there's plenty to choose from. Shiori decides Jassinth can, mercifully, wear his own undergarments. Over them, Shoiri layers three plain-colored robes, instructing him to hold them shut as Shiori rummages for a fourth. The one she finds is black with an abstract birdlike pattern to it in gold, perhaps meant to be cranes or perhaps eagles, and three stamps of the family crest on the back: one on each shoulder and one midway between. Over this she helps him get into a dark blue Hakama, a split skirt that is sewn slightly together to resemble trousers.



By contrast, Shiori doesn't wear the Hakama, instead wearing four layers of Kimono (which somehow is different than Kosode despite looking identical), the topmost of which has a cloud-like pattern on the medium-blue cloth. Over this she ties tightly a wide belt, turning it so the bow is in the back; it sits below a single family crest in the center between the shoulders.



Kuronue, when she is found, wears Hakama like Jass, suggesting that it's not strictly gender-based. Or perhaps there is some other reason she and he wear trousers but Shiori doesn't? Her outfit is bold green with black Hakama, and she wears two swords at her belt, one longer than the other, with the shorter one placed on top so that both are at her left side. She does her hair up in a topknot, while Shiori spends a lot of time bemoaning the lack of custom green hairpieces before finally managing an updo with four bird combs in it and a half dozen flower combs, making her hair seem like a meadow scene. As she's futzing with it, Kuronue moves to pull Jassinth's warrior tail up his head so it's more of a topknot.

[Jassinth]

"This is highly distracting," Jass repeats for the seventh time, swaying his head back and forth, which in turn causes his top-knot to bobble around. "How do people focus with this?" Despite his own words, his hands move smoothly and skillfully as he does something with a jumble of plants he'd pulled from his Helpful Herbalist's Handysack. It's only now, after several minutes of work, that a shape suddenly pulls together, revealing itself as a wreath of some kind. He pauses then, glancing over at Shiori. "Oh."

His eyes had gone to her hair first, a flash of disappointment mixed with chagrin, then they dipped lower over the rest of her body. "Why hello," he murmurs with perhaps more approval than he should be making in front of Shiori's mother.

[Shiori]

Shiori blushes, grinning at Jassinth. "Hey you," she teases. 

[Kuronue "Kor" Higurashi]

Kuronue grunts, looking them both over. "Good enough. Presentable, at least," she finally says. 

[Jassinth]

"Good enough?" Jass repeats, sounding mildly offended. "Shiori is beautiful."

[Shiori]

Shiori places a hand on Jassinth's arm. "She means I look good. Excessive compliments are not our way." 

[Jassinth]

Jass hesitates, glancing from mother to daughter and back again. "I'm sorry," he finally says, inclining his head to Kor. "Can you explain more?"

[Kuronue "Kor" Higurashi]

Kor sighs. "If you compliment someone too much, they will grow conceited. Especially a child which... well, I suppose she is not, but she feels like a child to her mother." 

[Jassinth]

"I..." Jass coughs lightly and throws Shiori an apologetic look. "Conceitedness is very much not a concern for Shiori," he says, his tone suggesting it's the opposite of that flaw that should be her concern.

[Kuronue "Kor" Higurashi]

"I'm glad you two have each other." That said, Kuronue moves towards the door. "Coming?"

[Jassinth]

Jass hesitates, glancing down at his hands, then shrugs a little before setting the plants aside. "Of course."