The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Nox]

"Nathaniel," Nox said with affectionate exasperation, "I'm not trying to study or interrogate you. I just want to help how I can. You're... you're family, Nat." 

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel looks startled. "I... had not considered that."

[Nox]

Nox sagged a little, looking ashamed. "Then I apologize for not having made that clearer in the past."

[Nathaniel]

"I do not believe I am allowed to have a.... family. I am a slave. My progeny belong to my mistress. My siblings belong to someone else."

[Nox]

A bittersweet smile danced over Nox's lips. "Sometimes, family isn't who you had or were supposed to have, but who you're lucky enough to find."

[Nathaniel]

"You sound like Mistress Coquette," he says quietly. 

[Nox]

"I take that as a compliment," Nox answered with a chuckle. Not like I buy a single poisoned word about her from the bitch's mouth.

[Nathaniel]

"She always liked to tell me I was no longer a slave. But I do not understand in what ways I am better off now, or even what ways my life would be different if I was still enslaved."

[Nox]

"Ah." Nox sighed, long and bitter. "Well, I would say that's because we are slaves," he explained in a very low voice. "No collars or chains-- most of the time-- but we lack freedom. I guess... I guess the only thing different is that if we could somehow get free of here, we'd be safer than most slaves would be."

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel is silent a long while before he turns to look at Nox, voice cracking slightly. "Why did she leave us behind?"

[Nox]

"I don't know," Nox admitted, the words coming only with effort. "But... in the darkest part of the night, when I doubt she ever cared for us, I can't even begin to doubt her love for her daughters. If she left them behind, it was only because she had no other choice."

[Nathaniel]

"She pissed off the Mistress," he whispers. "Something awful. I had never seen her so angry. She is still angry, and it's been months. I have always been her favorite stress relief and I am barely sufficient anymore."

[Nox]

"...before all the guards were replaced, I overheard two of them ranting about how many of her comrades 'that horned monster' took down before they captured him," Nox whispered, eyes locked on the bored healer. Given that Varissia was claiming that Bull had kidnapped Coquette, the implication that he had been captured was telling.

[Nathaniel]

"Then she is dead. She must be."

[Nox]

A jolt went through Nox, sending his eyes flying out wide. "What? How-- how do you figure that?" he blurted out, his accent growing less refined.