The Midnight Prince

[GamesMaster]

"Of course. You will be family, now. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask. Now. If you change back, Tsuki can handle the details while we get some tea?"

[Rokag]

"Um..alright." Rokag frowned a little. Why does she want to talk to me now?! She was suddenly feeling like there was some sort of test she was about to take...and it felt weird that she would be kinda her mo- She suddenly had to steady herself. She didn't WANT to think about that. She'd done well on not doing for this long, so why was it a problem now.

She disrobed and gave a look at Tsuki, maybe hoping she'd have some idea from what she was in store for.

[GamesMaster]

Tsuki nods. "Got it. And... it's nice to see you up," she says, softly.

Kuronue sniffs, but doesn't reply. Instead, she leads Rokag to the back garden, calling for tea from the house servants. The tea arrives within minutes, steeping still as the pot is placed on the table. Kuronue waits, then serves the tea, adding sugar to her own and a little milk.

"So," she says, once Rokag's tea is fixed to her liking. "You have successfully ensnared my son. Are you pleased with yourself?"

[Rokag]

Um...okay. Wasn't quite prepared for THAT. Rokag had, thankfully, not started drinking her tea befor Kuronue started, or she might have not managed to hide her surprise. "I...didn't think I ensnared anyone." She tried taking a sip of her tea so she could think about if Kuronue was ALSO against her, but for different reasons.

[GamesMaster]

"Regardless, you have cast your net and hauled him aboard. Are you pleased with your catch? Or would you throw him back if you could? Speak honestly."

[Rokag]

Rokag thought a little bit about what could happen . If she could lie and say that she was honored to have him? That she was scared of having ANY kind of kid and...everything that was going to be.

Or she could take the small fact that Tsuki hadn't ever spoke ill of the woman that she should try being honest....or at least more honest than she's used to.

"Not that I am saying that I am...but if I wasn't happy, why would that matter? I'm pretty sure that if I said anything to the contrary of it, I would either be killed or locked away till I gave birth and THEN killed. What would that answer change?" And why should I trust you with how I feel when you've been living here and I've not seen or heard anything from you? Kuronue would probably notice that, despite sipping tea, Rokag seemed a little agitated and wary. Peeking around her soon to be mother-in-law as if expecting to see something behind her.

[GamesMaster]

"Arrangements could be made. Shisou has cousins; I have some authority here. If you would prefer, you could be wed to one of them. One that is more handsome, and doesn't stutter. Or perhaps my daughter, if that is the way your affections lie? My husband would complain, but we could have the deed done before he gets word of it."

[Rokag]

Rokag frowned a little as she thought on THAT answer, but it wasn't what she'd expected. Why even GIVE me a way out... She blinked a second as the simple solution came to mind but...why bring it up now? Why throw Tsuki at someone like that in the first pla- Fuck, that letter. She remembered the letter about sending her somewhere. She'd been absorbed in her own problems to the point where she'd almost forgotten.

She gave a look at Kuronue that gave the woman her full attenion before she spoke. "Okay...but I'm not here because Shisou is a catch. If that was all, I would have tried running before now." Rokag took another breath. "It was because of Shisou that I stayed...well, it was because of Seiya that I stayed long enough to get to know Shisou, but also because of him."

[GamesMaster]

Kuronue nods, once, and sips her tea. "Very good," she says, putting down the teacup. "I'll have arrangements made to present you with a dowry of your own to start your household with. It wont' be much, don't expect miracles, but I have some set aside that will be yours."

[Rokag]

"...You know you could have just asked Tsuki if I hated him." Rokag took a long breath. "Since I'm sure she would have just tried to kill me if I was just after money or a husband.

[GamesMaster]

"Tsukikage can be brash, but she is not as good a judge of character as I am. She would do anything to protect her brother. But she does not know every secret of a woman's heart. She is... young. I was young like that once." She sips her tea, looking sad. "I doubt I have long for this world, you know. I am no longer able to bear children. Eventually my husband will grow tired of me and seek a younger wife."

[Rokag]

"...Not sure I could fool her for long. She's not dumb." Rokag gave her a look before taking a sip of the tea and thinking. "You...know that he's going to do it? Why let him?"

[GamesMaster]

"I don't have a choice. I was sold to him to satisfy my first husband's debts to the Yakuza. He had a gambling addiction, and while I know he meant only to provide better for our family, he lost more than we could afford to repay. We would have been destitute. By placing my life in Indou's hands, I bought a better life for my children. Whatever he does to me does not matter."

[Rokag]

I don't know if they would agree. Rokag needed to ask Shisou a bit more about what had happened. "But what about what he does to them? I might not know him well, but there's plenty of Eels elsewhere that I can guess what would happen." She paused a moment to sip her tea in thought. "I...did remember you. You were there when I signed the contract to marry Shisou...and I wondered if either of you wondered where I'd come from."

[GamesMaster]

"I do, of course. But my husband investigated your background. If he'd found something, you would be out. So."