The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[NPCs]

Manu seems pleased by Shiori's response, earning the young woman a nod of respect. "Any of those new techniques address The Three Flaws of Waters?"

"Water isn't honey? Or cream or berry juice?"

[Shiori]

"Oh yes. She focused primarily on the First Flaw," said Shoiri, launching into a technical discussion of watercolor. 

[NPCs]

Manu seemed more and more pleased as the conversation continued, the hidden tests dropping away entirely. Wrapped loosely by her eidolon, Emiko appeared to also be enjoying the conversation, though Shiori notices the noblewoman slowly coaxing Dreamy closer and closer by way of arranging the various treats that are delivered regularly. Dreamy is just about in her lap when a pair of ladies approach the table. 

"Lady Emiko, thank you soooo much for the invitation," one of them coos, her tone respectful but... cloying perhaps? Almost condescending? 

[Shiori]

Shiori is quiet, simply eating a sort of sugary dumpling. Not my place. If I'm not addressed, I should keep out of it.

[NPCs]

"Lady Suisoo, Lady Bao Li," Manu replied in a carefully polite tone. "We are pleased that you are enjoying this little get together."

"Of course, of course," the other lady tittered. "We always enjoy this teas. Lun d'Auequin's service is exquisite and their tea divine."

"And it's made all the better by being hosted by yourself," the first continued. "Always a delight, truly."

Emiko pasted a smile on her face, one that looked warmly respectful, but it didn't come close to reaching her eyes. "You fflatter me," she murmured, dipping her gaze slightly in demure modesty. 

[Shiori]

Shiori, sensing Emiko's distress, tries out a hand sign she'd worked out with Dreamy that she wasn't sure she'd ever use -- a sign meaning 'it's okay to fart here'. 

[NPCs]

Dreamy blinked twice, head cocking to the side. Then a look of concentration took over her face, followed by a look of consternation. Finally, just as one of the noblebitches was gushing about how nice talking to Emiko is, she gave up on forcing a fart. Instead, she turned to the silent noble and spoke.

"Hey! We're not supposed to potty inside buildings!"

The entire room went dead silent as the woman managed to both pale with shock and flush with embarrassment and anger. "How dar--"

"You smell like poop!" The dire fox twists her upper body to stare at Shiori. "You said pooping in buildings was A Very Bad Thing and I couldn't do it. Why can she?"

[Shiori]

Shiori colored. "hush! It's rude to point out when people are behaving inappropriately," she stage-whispered urgently, slipping a treat under the table to the fox. 

[NPCs]

"I-- I am not behaving-- How dare-- I will ruin-- I never!"

Dreamy looked back at the noblewoman, whose companion has moved several feet away, and widened her eyes as far as she can. "You've never pooped before?"

"What? Of course I've pooped--"

She broke off but it's too late to prevent a subtle swell of twitters and coughs from around the room.

[Shiori]

"Oh dear, my deepest apologies," said Shoiri, with a small laugh hidden behind a fan.

[NPCs]

Intense emotions flowed across the woman's face before she finally decided, after catastrophic losses, to perform a rapid tactical withdrawal. The other woman had drifted over to the side of the garden, pretending to have been utterly absorbed in the flowers there this whole time. 

"...an interesting regression of your maturity and understanding of Toukami culture," Manu noted in a murmur. Emiko was just staring, her gaze bouncing from Dreamy to Shiori and back again. Dreamy looked up at Manu, eyes still so very wide and guileless.

"I am baby."

[Shiori]

"Are you alright, Kame-sama?" asked Shiori in Tengu, addressing her concerned look towards Emiko along with the proper form of respectful address.

[NPCs]

Emiko jolted a hair before her expression snapped back to 'politely pleasant and inoffensive.' It relaxed, a little, a second later and she offered a gentle smile. "Of course, Tora-san. And how are you?" A question that seemed a little out of place.

Manu had slid down towards Dreamy, the pair murmuring to each other. The words were unintelligible but the tones seemed amused at least.

[Shiori]

Shoiri bit her tongue a moment, gathering her focus. "Oh, do call me by my name, I feel as if we should become fast friends."

[NPCs]

Again, there was a brief crack in Emiko's polite mask; this time a widening of her eyes, a slight pursing of her lips towards an 'o' shape. "F-f-friends?" she asks, then grimaces ever so faintly, eyes darting to the distracted Manu. "You," a slight pause, barely noticeable, "fflatter me... Shiori-san."