The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Jassinth]

"Of course," he murmured back. Then he gave a pained grin, lips twisting with distaste. "I'll have to come up with a new ploy." Hopefully one that doesn't taste nearly as foul.

[Shiori]

"Why bother," she said, darkly. "He'll just try again another day. And again and again. There's no end in sight."

[Jassinth]

Jassinth coughed delicately. "Well. His health.. well, he is quite old. His healers might have an estimation of two or three years, but who knows what could happen to shorten that time?"

[Shiori]

"And put me at the Tiger's disposal?" 

[Jassinth]

Jassinth paused, frowning, as he heard that. "Wait, even... you think they would marry you to someone else?"

[Shiori]

"Probably not. But lock me away with their widows and elderly women and never let me see the light of day again? That I believe."

[Jassinth]

"Then... then we need to prevent them from doing that," Jassinth murmured thoughtfully. "Make it impossible-- or at least too painful to consider-- hiding you away."

[Shiori]

"..you know, I was invited to tea with one of the Emperor's younger cousins. Maybe I can use that somehow."

[Jassinth]

"Ah, yes," Jassinth breathed out, eyes widening a little. "Yes, invites to outings and the like from the Emperor's family, even distant, would be rather hard to rebuff, wouldn't they."

[Shiori]

"I was going to accept, but I was thinking on how to word my reply. If I'm careful, maybe I can... I don't know... strike up a friendship? Ingratiate myself?"

[Jassinth]

Nose wrinkled from considering that sort of approach, Jass instead asked, "do you know anything about her?"

[Shiori]

"Not really. What do you know?"

[Jassinth]

Jass stared back at her. "I... know she's the Emperor's cousin and she sent an invite to you?"

[Shiori]

Shiori winces. "Sorry. It's Emiko."

[Jassinth]

Lips pursed, the merikos drow racked his brain for whatever gossip or stories he might have picked up on Young Mistress Emiko. "That is... His grandniece's husband's cousin, I think. Not an Outblood but she is a summoner, so respected if not honored? Her summons is some kind of serpent, I think. Amphibius, of course." He paused, then asked, "does this sound like the right person?"