The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Jassinth]

"What's the line for punching people?" Jass asks quickly as they approach earshot of the front door.

[Shiori]

"Please don't." 

[Jassinth]

"Fair," Jass allows, just as a servants steps out from a small alcove to greet them.

[skip us to the meeting?]

[GamesMaster]

Soon enough everyone is seated with tea. Kuronue cedes her spot at the low table to Shiori, who kneels and sips the tea respectfully, letting Kuronue and Jassinth sit on the low futon behind them. Across the table from Shiori is seated opposite Koji, who has two of his own guards sat behind him. To Shiori's left is a taller man with shock-white hair and deep red eyes, wearing a pair of swords and entirely without guards. To Shiori's right is a man who looks distinctly different than the others in the room, and is wearing garb like Jassinth's but with a different seal on the back. He has brought three of his own guards. 

[Play Koji and the Tiger and I'll do Sess and Shoiri?]

[NPCs]

"It pleases and honors me both to have you all join me today," Koji intones, after the more formulaic greetings and invocations to the spirits are complete, of course. "The last few days have been tiresomely eventful, have they not? It is good to have this quiet moment together."

[Shiori]

"I agree," says Shiori quietly, taking a sip of her tea. 

Sesshomaru eyes her out of the corner of his eye, giving the barest hint of a snort -- nothing so crass as to be obvious, but it's clear he thinks little of her contribution to the conversation. "Indeed they have. And yet, under Daimyo Higurashi's leadership, we remain a family, and so these small moments are beneficial to our family's welfare." 

[NPCs]

"For the moment," the stranger replies. Well, stranger to some of those gathered here. Shiori can, at least, guess who he is by virtue of his family crest and content; Towa Akio, nephew of the current Towa patriarch and Seiya's father-electi. "Such bold events often boost promising rewards... but promises are not always kept." He does not, even for a second, glance towards Kuronue, a thing noticeable in its absence.

[Shiori]

Shiori takes another sip of her tea, speaking quietly but firmly. "I know my cousin Ayaka will respect what we have done. If no-one else ever does, then may-- may Raplin's roots nourish our family." 

Sesshomaru tenses, hearing the unfamiliar blessing. "Raplin may choose to nourish whomever he pleases. I see no reason that has anything to do with us." There's a subtle dig in that Sesshomau uses the tengu form one would use to speak of a leader, but not the form resolved for a God. 

[Jassinth]

Jass has to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from sallying forth at the insult and disregard. He is rewarded for his restraint when an eagle-- a mundane one, not Death-Soars-Above-- lets out a furious cry from just outside the window across from Sesshomaru. Next to the eagle, in what could, technically, be a perfectly natural event, are about a score of other birds, all glaring at him. Without another sound, they all fly away in a flurry of wings and feathers.

[NPCs]

"...have you, perchance, given offence to the Karasu or Tsuru clans of late, Lord Sesshomaru?" the Tiger asks idly, watching all this with a detached interest.

[GamesMaster]

"Many predators flock when their prey is weak," says Shiori. At Sesshomaru's glare, she shrugs. "It is the truth. Our family is weakened from its former glory."

[NPCs]

"Cousin, niece, honored guest... please, let us not spoil our meal with harsh words and unsightly tempers," Koji says smoothly, his voice kind but his expression stern.

[Shiori]

"Of course. My apologies," says Shiori. 

[GamesMaster]

Sesshomaru sips his tea. "Unfortunately, ugly words must still be spoken. The Eels will surely retaliate for the transgression my niece undertook upon herself."

[NPCs]

"I agree," the Tiger at the table says with the sort of finality that implies he feels he's established an unbreakable fact. "First your sister flees her wedding day with two broken men at her hands, then you slay a dozen or more of their men?" He shakes his head, expression grave. "They will respond with fire and blood."