[Ozymandias nudges his companion beside him gently with an elbow. Laughing amicably at the joke that was told as though it was the first time he's heard it today, his eyes are still trained on the older women at the table. But beneath the table, what he's passing over to the person beside him is a small flask. He's attended enough of these little tea parties at this point to know what's needed to get through the repetitious and yet endless cycle of gossip and polite smear campaigns against the women who couldn't attend today.]

I think there is something we all enjoy about a forbidden love though, don't you think, Adelaine?

[He keeps the attention away so that one might pour a bit of rum into their tea while everyone is focused on Adelaine's response.]

[When not providing a way of coping with the gossip, he does at least provide advice, too, at the beginning or when there's a reshuffling of tables to avoid an entirely unpleasant experience.]

I wouldn't sit there.

[Maybe it's because that's Caryn seat and sitting there will invite a 20-minute long passive-aggressive tirade about the seat until it spurns her fellow ladies to ask you to move only for her to "not really" want the spot. Or maybe Ora will be sitting nearby and no amount of perfumes in the world can mask a life-long habit of smoking. Or you may find yourself subjected to Sabine if you choose to sit there. Maybe not such a big deal for a Witch, but a Monster may find themselves losing patience with her comments. Either way, he provides a quiet explanation and motions for you to find somewhere else.]

Thank the gods you're here.

[Ramesses presses a kiss to Chariot's cheek, keeping his voice low. She barely managed to step through the door before he politely excused himself from his table to help her get settled. Ramesses helps her out of her coat, passing it off to the nearby servant who takes it to hang it up with the others. Taking Chariot's hands into his, he warms them gently with a small spell to start taking the chill from outside out of her. Keeping his voice quiet, he continues,]

Adelaine has told me the story of her friend's granddaughter and her infatuation with a Turnskin that works down at the docks at least three times now while Lucilla keeps "accidentally" moving her foot into my leg under the table. And if I'm not mistaken, she keeps trying to aim higher.

[Put Ramesses in a room full of bureaucrats and statesmen, he shines. Stick him with a bunch of very bored, old, rich women who want to gossip more than they wish to discuss business, and he starts to get a little antsy. Hence why he could not get to her fast enough. Although he did well in making his urgency seem more due to seeing a lover (much to Lucilla's chagrin) rather than a desperate want of escaping the conversation. No doubt the old women are now filling the void with a discussion of Chariot.]

[But he takes a breath. Chariot is here, and he won't have to tolerate this by himself any longer. Even if she's not the most eloquent in these kinds of situations, just having the camaraderie is enough for Ramesses to feel he can be more centered and remain charming as he hears another line about how one of these women lamenting how they wish there was more they could do than merely provide the funds all the while everyone at the table knowing they won't lift a finger beyond that. He smiles, chuckling warmly as he brings her hands up to kiss her fingertips.]

So, it's going wonderful so far.

[Releasing one of her hands, Ramesses adjust his hold on her remaining hand to bring her further into the estate to meet with the women holding the purse strings. It's then that he notices someone else just behind Chariot, standing close enough to imply that they came together. He looks from her to Chariot, and then back again. He's curious more than anything.]

Who is this, my love?