The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I don't ever want to see them again," she says, her voice cold, distant. A moment later the illusion is ruined as she races to the wash-basin and vomits into it. 

[Estelle Emerison]

Estelle follows quickly behind, a snap of her hand vanishing the bulk of the mess and a second the rest. Pouring a goblet of water, she says quietly, "consider them gone. I'll see to it personally, I swear."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Some of them aren't degrading. "You looked," she whispers, fat tears falling into the newly cleaned space. 

[Estelle Emerison]

"Yes," Estelle confirms without any sign she'd considered lying about it. She taps the glass of water, adding, "I've glamoured it to taste of mint."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Noire chugs some of the water, then sets it down. Still not looking, she says, "Well, ask me all your stupid questions I suppose. Might as well get it over with."

[Estelle Emerison]

"How can I help?"

No judgment, no scorn, not even any pity. Just an honest question, a sincere offer.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I don't know," she admits in a harsh whisper. "I hate it. I don't have a plan for this. I don't know what I'm doing. And-- and you were right, before. About... about Claudia. So maybe you know what to do."

[Estelle Emerison]

Ciren's warmth! Maybe I know what to do? Oh dear. Okay. "To start... have you spoken with Joyous Seline about this? Or rather, what steps have you already taken?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I don't... like her, much," she admits. "She.. she isn't right. Too judgemental. Well, everyone's judgemental towards me," she scoffs. "Even other Drow who ought to understand what I mean are judgemental towards me. As if I was going to burst out with a song worshipping The Iron Bitch any second now."

[Estelle Emerison]

Why are you so damn sure you're right then, if everyone judges you poorly? "I disagree with some of your opinions but I certainly don't think that of you." Not thinking much of it, Estelle reaches over to stroke Coquette's hair soothingly. "I could listen, if you want. I'm no mind healer, but... I do care about you."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette flinches away. "It's as though, as though my entire life was a lie. I know what you all think of me. That I am arrogant beyond what I can back up with this body. That I am delusional, to think of myself as Drow and not Merikos Drow. That I am a fool, to have listened when my Drow wife who was raised in a Drow compound taught me about what the Drow are like. That the past several years were just a fever dream."

[Estelle Emerison]

"I'll admit to being somewhat taken aback at your... belief sounds condescending. Your assertation? That you are pureblood drow. But it didn't take long for me to accept it," Estelle assures her softly. "I might have struggled more to accept it if you had no drow blood at all, but you do, so I did not."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"There is nothing human in me. The short-lived nature, the impatience, the quick learning. It takes me a long time to think through things, to change. Cindy is always frustrated with how little I change compared to her, but it just takes me longer."

[Estelle Emerison]

"Oh yes," Estelle groans, playing it up only a pinch. "I get that all the time, working on trade deals with other groups. There aren't any large dwarf clans nearby and the elves won't even speak to us," some real bitterness there, "so it's mostly greater short lived we deal with. I swear, they want to revisit terms every year."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Every year? Not once a decade? What, do they think we're made of time?"