A Drow's Dilemma Ep. 80: Take Two

With some confusion, he glanced over to Caleldir. Equalize the sexes in the Underdark? Impossible. Tsabdrin shook his head. "Your plan will lead you to insanity, Caleldir."

Caleldir gave a feral grin. "I am already quite insane, my dear drow," he said in a tone where madness hovered just beneath. "But my goal is not to make things like they are on the surface, nor even to make the sexes fully equal. Only to guarantee that where we rule, the egregious abuses cease. Pragmatism, pragmatism, pragmatism. If most males are treated well and not stomped all over, they will be happy. If they are happy, they will perform their roles in society with far less friction or chance of rebellion. Take slaves, for instance, although it is perhaps a poor example. Slaves that are brutalized, fearful, and beat down, will take the smallest chance to run, rebel, betray, or at the very best stand idly by as others do those things. But slaves who are treated fairly and honourably, who are taken care of, who know that their master genuinely cares about them, those will willingly fight to the death to protect the master. The second type of slave are far, far more useful. I am not advocating weakness, but intelligent pragmatism."

"It's an admirable goal, I suppose. I will help where I can. At least we may be able to convince the women that we're worth more than they think. Perhaps then sons will not die to make room for the more favorable gender. And I know Ashyr will help with that, too. She always treated me as an equal." Tsabdrin's gaze became distant as bittersweet memories flooded in. "Or at least she did, during the first sixty years of our lives. We were partners, you know. Inseparable. Right up until we weren't."

Caleldir looked a bit self-conscious and looked away, not sure what to say. So he changed the subject slightly. "So, no more drow breeding contracts for you, then?" He asked. "Because if you are up for it, I actually think that I might be able to negotiate a 'breeding contract' for you, actually. Althaia was talking about making a 'Dark' strain of Aelsuna's new race. Would you say no to a permanent breeding contract with a few nymphs? Because Aelsuna, working through Althaia, may be interested in hooking you up. I think that they would be nicer than drow, at least. But a whole lot more sexually demanding, even if they are trying to become one of those civilized nymphs that do things like wear clothes, some of the time, and occasionally do things other than sex."

Realizing what all he had just said, Caleldir slapped himself. "I cannot believe what I just did." He groused. "I was trying not to get swept up in that frivolous 'goddess's' plan. And yet here I am. Ignore what I just said if you feel anything other than enthusiasm. If you feel enthusiasm, talk with Althaia when we get back. I am still trying to stay out of this mess."

"I would prefer to never be contracted out again, to be honest. Even if it was to a couple of lovely nymphs. I would rather have-" Tsabdrin broke off his words before he went further down that train of thought. "I will think about it. Who knows how I will feel after I meet a couple more of those nymphs who don't just want to laze around in a pool all day. I did not like Althaia at first, but that changed after I became acquainted with her." He shot a grin over to the other male. "And I don't just mean the sex. But that is nice."

"You misunderstand what I mean by contracted out." Caleldir said dryly. "Aelsuna oversees marriages most of the time, even if she makes a weird exception for me. I am talking about marriage contracts and referring to them as permanent breeding contracts out of a bit of deliberate irony. You would not be getting mistresses, but wives. But there is plenty of time to think about that sort of thing."

"I had a feeling that that was what you meant," Tsabdrin responded. "It would really depend on the females, I think. It's a stupid thing for a male drow like me to want, I know, but I'd like to be valued for more than just my dick. Perhaps even find that dreaded 'L' word, and share it with someone who feels the same way. Even if it's 'stupid and dangerous.'" He sighed, yet again. "I am sorry. I'm oversharing. I do not expect you to care."

The half-nymph smiled slightly sadly. "I know the feeling," he said gently. "At least, to a certain extent I do. Eternity knows I have trouble keeping women from valuing my dick far more than I want them too. At least in the Underdark, I will have House Duskhaven to permanently keep me. But Aelsuna is a goddess of Love. Beauty, love, passion, sex, that sort of thing. So if you are looking for love, I expect that she would be willing to indulge you." He paused for a moment, then scowled. "And here I am pleading that annoying woman's case again. It is like she got in my brain." With a huff he increased his pace back to the camp, before slowing again for a moment. "I will at very least do my best to care." He said in reply to Tsabdrin's last observation. "And I really do understand your emotions on this."

And with that, they were back to the camp. "Found the other ranger." He said laconically to the two drow present.