[Queen's Paradise: Prologue - Queen of Spiders]

[15:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Queen's Paradise: Prologue - Queen of Spiders]
[15:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I really don't think black suits me..." Lucia says as she looks at her dress in the mirror.
[15:04] <!Emilybroshoujo> The long elegant black dress puts perhaps too much emphasis on her underdeveloped hips and chest.
[15:04] <!Emilybroshoujo> The fact it's shoulderless doesn't serve to make her look any less like a child playing at dress up.
[15:05] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I think it's cute." Mesina says as she adjusts her tie.
[15:05] <!Emilybroshoujo> "W-why are you wearing a tuxedo?"
[15:06] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Eh? I don't own a black dress and your clothes are too small for me so I asked Aldeas if I could borrow something to wear." Mesina states as she holds up her index finger.
[15:07] <!Emilybroshoujo> "S-since when are you on a first name basis with him?" Lucia asks with a slight blush.
[15:07] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Eh? Jealous?~" Mesina says as she pokes Lucia's cheeks.
[15:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Of course not..." The small queen pouts. "I would never suspect you of trying to steal him from me!"
[15:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina stumbles back and grabs her chest like she was just shot in the heart.
[15:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> 'Y-you could be a little less trusting of me you know....'
[15:09] <!Emilybroshoujo> "If you're not jealous then why are you blushing?" Mesina asks as she forces back her intense expression of guilt for wanting to bone her best friends husband.
[15:11] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I... was just thinking you look really good in that." Lucia says with a blush and an awkward smile. "How can I put it.... if you were a boy I think I would hesitate to pick Aldeas over you."
[15:12] <!Emilybroshoujo> 'But you'd still pick him, huh?... Hehe....' Mesina's face forms some complicated emotion between guilt and depression as she tries to hide it behind a forced grin.
[15:12] <!Emilybroshoujo> 'Why do I feel like I've been rejected in several alternate universes at once?....'
[15:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Shall we go see if Aldeas bothered to wear a shirt?" Lucia says as she holds out her hand.
[15:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Stop being so cute damn it... I feel bad enough already."
[15:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Eh?.... S-sorry?" Lucia says with a puzzled look.
[15:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> 'SHIT!'
[15:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> "N-nothing... let's go."
[15:14] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina and Lucia head arm in arm to the throne room, where all the knights don formal wear in preparation for the arrival of the Queen of Spiders.
[15:15] <!Emilybroshoujo> Among her list of ridiculous demands for accepting the invitation to the peace talks was a formal party to celebrate her arrival.
[15:15] <!Emilybroshoujo> As the two girls arrive in the throne room they scour the room for Aldeas but he's nowhere in sight.
[15:16] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Good evening your Grace, Lady Mesina." Sir Bradly says with a bow in his tuxedo.
[15:19] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Wow! You clean up pretty good old timer, if you were 40 years younger I bet girls would be all over you." Mesina says trying her best to compliment the veteran knight.
[15:19] <!Emilybroshoujo> "... I'm only 42 lass....." He says as he looks down at the girl.
[15:20] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina goes to sit in the corner after putting her foot in her mouth for the second time in 5 minutes.
[15:21] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Boo." Aldeas says as he walks up behind Lucia and covers her eyes.
[15:21] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Oh will you please stop being so childish yo-..." Lucia stops mid sentence as she removes Aldeas' hands and turns.
[15:22] <!Emilybroshoujo> The sight of him in a full tuxedo seems to cause her linguistic skills to revert to baby talk as she tries to stammer out actual words.
[15:23] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Yeah, you look nice too darling." Aldeas says as he places a hand on Lucia's chin and closes her dropped jaw manually.
[15:24] <!Emilybroshoujo> The crimson red on Lucia's face matches the silk carpeting laid out on the floor as she staggers over to Mesina in the corner.
[15:25] <!Emilybroshoujo> "H-hey.... did you see?" Lucia says with a goofy grin as she tugs on her best friends jacket. "D-did you see it?"
[15:25] <!Emilybroshoujo> The queen points at Aldeas and hides behind Mesina like a gradeschool girl telling her best friend about her secret crush.
[15:25] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I-isn't he handsome?..."
[15:26] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Yeah, he is..." Mesina responds.
[15:26] <!Emilybroshoujo> 'Why does her reaction make me want to bully her?.... I'm a bad person.'
[15:27] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas takes his seat on the throne and makes small talk with noblemen and knights as he awaits the arrival of the guest of honor.
[15:28] <!Emilybroshoujo> Finally the large doors of the throne room are opened wide by a pair of half naked drow men.
[15:29] <!Emilybroshoujo> Following close behind them is a beautiful woman.
[15:29] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her hair is ghost white and her skin jet black, but she otherwise appears as a curvy middle aged elven woman.
[15:30] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her crimson eyes and condescending smile carry an air of nobility that makes her difficult to approach.
[15:31] <!Emilybroshoujo> From head to toe she's flawless, not a single crease in her white dress, even as it hugs the contours of her wide hips, not even so much as a single out of place hair.
[15:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her full lips curl into a grin that shows off her flawlessly white teeth.
[15:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth's orders explicitly stated that everyone should wear black, this was so she would stand out even more in her white dress.
[15:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her arrogance and conceit are exactly as rumors say.
[15:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> A fact reinforced as Aldeas bows to her and she walks past him without so much as eye contact.
[15:34] <!Emilybroshoujo> "So, where is the queen?" Lloth asks as she looks out over the room.
[15:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> "... I am the queen." Lucia says as she steps forward with a smile that hides her fuming rage at Lloth's complete disrespect.
[15:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> This is completely different from Aquaria....
[15:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I am the queen, but the person who summoned you is the king... and he's right behind you."
[15:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Oh! How silly of me, I forgot human women allowed their men to hold positions of power." Lloth says with a giggle.
[15:38] <!Emilybroshoujo> ""Yes, so if you would speak with him the-" "No, I'll pass." Lloth interrupts.
[15:38] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I have no intention of speaking with a man anymore than you would of speaking with a rodent. If you aren't well informed enough to tell me about this offer of peace then let me talk to a woman who is."
[15:40] <!Emilybroshoujo> The fact that Lloth delivers this obscenely disrespectful line without a hint of malice or hostility in her voice causes a knot in Lucia's stomach.
[15:40] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You.... BIT-" The young queens fury is cut short as she sees a sight she hasn't see in a long while.
[15:41] <!Emilybroshoujo> As she looks up at Lloth her voice catches in her throat as she sees Aldeas frowning with a look of anger in his eyes.
[15:41] <!Emilybroshoujo> The young queens legs buckle as she begins trembling uncontrollably.
[15:41] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina catches her by the arms.
[15:42] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Hooooo~....." Lloth says as she slowly turns and sees the expression on Aldeas' face.
[15:43] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Leave." The voice of the king, though delivered at a normal volume, seems to shake the windows in it's intensity.
[15:44] <!Emilybroshoujo> "If I leave how can we negotia-" "Not you, /drow/...." Aldeas interrupts.
[15:44] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I was talking to everyone else...."
[15:44] <!Emilybroshoujo> The guests all instantly begin filing out of the throne room.
[15:45] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I've.... never seen Aldeas look angry like that before." Mesina says as she carries Lucia out of the palace. "W-what's going to happen."
[15:45] <!Emilybroshoujo> "He's going to crush her." Lucia says flatly, without any hint of emotion in her voice.
[15:45] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Won't that start war?" Mesina says.
[15:46] <!Emilybroshoujo> "No lass...." Sir Bradly answers for Lucia.
[15:46] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Her grace didn't say he would kill her.... she said his majesty would 'crush' her."
[15:46] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Completely and utterly."
[15:47] <!Emilybroshoujo> "It's something the previous king never understood...."
[15:47] <!Emilybroshoujo> "There are those who cannot be reasoned or bargained with..... all they understand is force."
[15:48] <!Emilybroshoujo> "The previous king dealt with them by starting his foolhearty war, but true victory is impossible in war."
[15:48] <!Emilybroshoujo> "No matter how many people you kill, it's just violence."
[15:48] <!Emilybroshoujo> "To crush someone completely and utterly, to break their will and make them surrender any urge to ever stand against you, that kind of total domination...."
[15:48] <!Emilybroshoujo> "That is how a king does battle."
[15:49] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Intermission]


[15:55] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Intermission Out]
[15:56] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You really intend to fight me?" Lloth says as she rips off the lower half of her dress and begins swelling and changing shape.
[15:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her lower body contorts to that of a horrendously large demonic spider.
[15:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> A pair of massive spiderlike jaws burst forth from her mouth as she screams.
[15:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I'll tear out your heart and reduce your kingdom to ashes!" She wails.
[15:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You... are not possible to reason with." Aldeas responds.
[15:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You have four choices...."
[15:59] <!Emilybroshoujo> "One. Submit to my demands. All of them. Total and complete obedience is all I'll except."
[15:59] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth laughs and attempts to retort with insults and sarcasm but as she looks down at the cold gaze on the young kings face she finds herself unable to speak.
[16:01] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Two. Leave my kingdom entirely, withdraw all of your spawn from here. Every Drow and Arachne. If a single one so much as glances in the general direction of a human my response will be the total and complete eradication of your kin."
[16:02] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Three. Agree to a mutual benefit policy, in which trade can continue between our people. But in this case, in exchange for your disrespect you will step down from any position of authority."
[16:02] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Do you have any questions?" Aldeas says.
[16:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> As if a hand had been removed from around her throat Lloth can speak.
[16:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> She should attack.
[16:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> In her mind she wants to kill this boy and end it.
[16:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> But her body refuses.
[16:04] <!Emilybroshoujo> "What is the fourth option?..." she asks as the king walks calmly toward shis throne and picks up the ornate scabbard next to it.
[16:05] <!Emilybroshoujo> "War. If you refuse all three peaceful solutions I will kill you were you stand and it will start a war, everything I've done will have been for nothing. this is the only scenario in which you personally could be called the winner."
[16:05] <!Emilybroshoujo> "But in that case... you would be dead."
[16:06] <!Emilybroshoujo> "If you are so adamant about your disrespect and malign feelings towards us that you're willing to die just to start an all out war then so be it."
[16:06] <!Emilybroshoujo> For the first time ever, Aldeas draws his sword.
[16:06] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth, despite her advantage in experience does not move.
[16:07] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her instincts and centuries of battle experience are all telling her one thing.
[16:07] <!Emilybroshoujo> Right now, at this time in this place, that boy can kill her.
[16:07] <!Emilybroshoujo> And he would without hesitation.
[16:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> No, even in the demon web pits she may not be able to defeat him unharmed.
[16:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> It's not simply a problem of location and tactics.
[16:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> The boy standing before her right now.... is simply stronger than her.
[16:09] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her monster instincts are telling her to submit, to yield and beg to mate with him, but her pride as a Queen is telling her to.... what is it telling her to do?
[16:09] <!Emilybroshoujo> No matter how much she thinks there is nothing she can do.
[16:09] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth's expression changes to one of genuine fear.
[16:10] <!Emilybroshoujo> The option to run is not there, she cannot think of a way to defeat Aldeas even without knowing the full capacity of his strength, no more than that she can't even think of a way to survive.
[16:11] <!Emilybroshoujo> The spider queen reverts to her normal humanoid form.
[16:11] <!Emilybroshoujo> In this moment no amount of thinking or scheming can save her.
[16:11] <!Emilybroshoujo> She can only act...
[16:11] <!Emilybroshoujo> [ ] Run, deal with the consequences of your cowardice later.
[16:12] <!Emilybroshoujo> [ ] Fight, force Aldeas to a draw, or lose and cause his peace to crumble. It's the only way to actually win.
[16:12] <!Emilybroshoujo> [ ] Surrender to your instincts and submit to a man clearly your superior.
[16:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> This choice will define the kind of character Lloth becomes.
[16:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> Choose.
[16:13] <HyakkoF> Hmmmmm.
[16:14] <Taco_Hell> So draw and lose are the same huh?
[16:14] <!Emilybroshoujo> I don't care how you vote, vote for what you want, or vote as you think she would act.
[16:14] <!Emilybroshoujo> Doesn't matter to me.
[16:15] <!Emilybroshoujo> The option to fight will end in either a draw or Lloth's death.
[16:15] <!Emilybroshoujo> She can't see any way to actually defeat him.
[16:15] <Taco_Hell> [x] SURRENDER, BE A FRENCH SPIDER
[16:16] <HyakkoF> I think fighting may cause problems later, so [x] Surrender
[16:16] <Imouto>  [ ] Surrender to your instincts and submit to a man clearly your superior.
[16:27] <@CEB> [X] Surrender to your instincts and submit to a man clearly your superior.
[16:28] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth kneels.
[16:28] <!Emilybroshoujo> She drops to her hands and knees before Aldeas.
[16:28] <!Emilybroshoujo> "What... are your demands."
[16:29] <!Emilybroshoujo> The spider queen looks up at the king in a cold sweat.
[16:30] <!Emilybroshoujo> In an instant the heavy atmosphere is gone as Aldeas sheaths his sword.
[16:31] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Do whatever you think will make you and your people happy, and I'll do my best to help achieve it." Aldeas says as he extends his hand to the stunned drow.
[16:31] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You.... what do you...."
[16:31] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth slaps Aldeas' hand away.
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN DO WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?"
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You force me to kneel to you for that?!"
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Are you stupid?"
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Are you really a king?"
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "How can you...."
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth grits her teeth.
[16:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "H-how can you show mercy to me like that after I compared you to a rodent? How can..."
[16:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> Tears form in Lloth's eyes.
[16:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> "How can you genuinely care so much for creatures that have hunted your people like animals for centuries?"
[16:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> ".... It's not your fault you need us to breed." Aldeas says as he tilts his head.
[16:34] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth's arms fall to her side as she stares up at Aldeas dumbfounded.
[16:34] <!Emilybroshoujo> Tears roll down her cheek as her breath catches in her throat.
[16:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Besides, a lot of human men would be fine with an arachne wife, or a drow wife that whips him every night."
[16:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> "It takes all kinds you know?"
[16:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I think... the best way for all our people to be happy, if for them to be happy together."
[16:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas holds out his hand to Lloth.
[16:35] <!Emilybroshoujo> Still speechless she takes it and stands wiping the tears from her eyes.
[16:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> "W-why did I cry over something like that?..."
[16:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas laughs.
[16:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> "If I could tell you why a woman was crying I wouldn't be a king, I'd be a god."
[16:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> The boy king places his sheathed sword by the throne and moves to the front doors of the throne room.
[16:37] <!Emilybroshoujo> As he opens them Lucia stands right in front of it.
[16:37] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You.... are amazing." She says as she smiles and embraces Aldeas.
[16:38] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Not really... I think I'm just really good at pointing out the obvious." Aldeas says as he pats her head.
[16:38] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Mesina, could you show Lloth to her quarters?"
[16:38] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Y-yes...." Mesina says as she dashes over the the spider queen and bows.
[16:38] <!Emilybroshoujo> "This way please!~" She says with a smile.
[16:39] <!Emilybroshoujo> So easily it's all forgotten.
[16:39] <!Emilybroshoujo> The entire conflict erased like it never happened, nothing remaining of it but the memories buried deep into Lloth.
[16:39] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her hand shake as she walks slowly up to the chamber.
[16:39] <!Emilybroshoujo> She enters the room, furniture and curtains of beautiful black silk.
[16:40] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas did well matching the quarters to the perceived tastes of the queens.
[16:40] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lloth falls on her bed wordlessly as Mesina dashes back downstairs.
[16:40] <!Emilybroshoujo> She can hear music as the party continues like it was never interrupted.
[16:40] <!Emilybroshoujo> All the fear and apprehension of the guests quickly swept away by Aldeas.
[16:41] <!Emilybroshoujo> His existence alone brings peace to the hearts of his people.
[16:41] <!Emilybroshoujo> The uncharacteristically frail looking drow woman wraps her arms around her pillow.
[16:42] <!Emilybroshoujo> Never, in all her years did Lloth ever think she could fall in love with a man... let alone a human.
[16:42] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Queen of Spiders - End]