The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Shiori]

"Let them try," suggests Shoiri. "We are not so broken as to fall before a gang of thugs."

[GamesMaster]

Sesshomaru scowls just a touch, gripping his teacup tighter. 

[NPCs]

"And yet that is blood, noble blood perhaps, that need not be shed," Akio counters smoothly. "Perhaps another path might lead you through such violence without harm?"

Koji doesn't pause in his careful buttering of Alessian style crumpet. "Oh? It would please Grandfather to avoid the loss of even more of his precious blood."

[Shiori]

"Grandfather is wise and prudent to consider the family's overall health and wellbeing."

[NPCs]

Eyes closing a bit, Akio spreads his hands wide. "The best medicine for violence is, of course, friendship. Bonds of alliance and loyalty... particularly to those who are strong where you are weak."

[Shiori]

"Weak as we may be, we are not so low as to buy off those who are not even recognized as noble."

[NPCs]

"Of course!" Aiko says swiftly, nodding. "Insect you may be, but I know the Cicadas are above such. No, I was thinking that you could take advantage of what could be two concerns to instead bring greater connection to ones already friends."

[Shiori]

Shoiri frowns. "With all the girl's gone through, I hardly think this is the time to be discussing such a deal."

[NPCs]

"On the contrary! Providing stability and expectations can be soothing, even comforting, to one set adrift," Aiko counters, earning a slow nod from Koji, though it's one of consideration rather than outright agreement. 

[Shiori]

"She is barely old enough to marry," counters Shiori. "Surely she needs the stability of her home family while she recovers from such a brutal attack."

[NPCs]

"Or perhaps it would be a change of scenery and the comfort of greater security that would be more restful and healing," Aiko replies, then swiftly moves on to say, "and she would not be entirely without familiarity; she could be assigned to your sister Tsuki."

"Oh?" Koji asks with a single raised eyebrow. "An interesting proposal."

"I have a nephew of sorts who has recently proven himself to be most astute in matters of management. He would make a fine husband to an equally proven mother," Aiko explains with a smile. 'Of sorts' in this case being a polite way of saying he's the bastard of his half-brother.

[Shiori]

"One of my sisters is already wed to your son," Shoiri says casually. 

[NPCs]

"And that marriage has brought forth a true bounty for the Cicadas, no?"

[Shiori]

"Mm." The non-committal noise is a pretty harsh negation in their culture. 

[NPCs]

Before Aiko can act on the offense he's surely feeling, Koji claps his hands together lightly. "The union of Tiger and Cicada has, of course, brought forth bounty for all in involved," he declares, countering Shiori's reaction and pointing out the children Seiya(?) has given the Tigers. "A deeper union could be useful in the same way, true, but such a choice is not easily made."