The room was loud and filled with voices. He could already feel a headache approaching, but he knew that he couldn't go yet. It was way too early to disappear from such an event unless he wanted to gain the displeasure of his mother. Normally, he would rather enjoy this kind of event, but he had a deadline approaching and was slightly behind. Which his study partner kept reminding him off, thank you very much. He had lost sight on Alex a while ago, which really was a pitty. He liked the company of the prince. But luckily, he knew more then enough people and had always been great at socialising. After all, he was born for these events! Right now, he stood at the edge of the event, taking a moment to catch his breath. While he scanned the people surrounding him, a familiar redhead popped up and a smirk appeared on his lips. not even thinking about it, he walked straight over. "Look who has graced us with her attendance", he whispered right into her ear. Since he had approached from behind, she hadn't been able to spot him. "Well, well, well, Monet. It has been a while since you attended such parties, hasn't it?"

a soft shuddered walked over her back when she heard his voice at his ear. How dared he! Of course she turned aorund and looked straight into Jasper's face. Of course letting a slight flight of disguyst wander over her facial features bevor she looked at him with a bitter sweet smile. "and you are talking to me ....?", she rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, because noone else would talk to you mh?", they never had been on the best of terms, even tho they almost grewed up together if you may have said so. Her parents had multiple times implied, that hasper would have been a good fit for a marriage but also so was half of England as long as she would just pick someone to fill in the family shoes and produce heirs ... "What do you want Reed?"

A silky laugh left his lips. "How rude. This is not how Abercromby lady is supposed to talk, my dear." It was so easy to play the Reed heir. To be fair, it hadn't been a play for many many years. This had been his true personality for most of his life and thus, it came rather natural. "Unlike you, I have already done my socialising, Monet." He gave her a tiny wink. "I can already see Mrs. Jones eye you from over there. Is she still trying to get a marriage settled between you and her youngest son?" His words were followed by a tiny wink. "What a beautiful match it would be." Oh, it wouldn't. The Jones family had fallen into disgrace and their attempts of saving the family name were just.... a disaster.

she pressed her lips together for a short second bevor she emptied her champagne glass. Perfect excuse to get a refill and just leave him, right? But his next words .. her eyes shot up to his and she pressed her lips back together. "Just learn one thing: i am not an object!", oh how much she had the urge to just ...push him. Hit him even. But she could not. She could already hear her mothers upset words in her ears just thinking about it. It would be just one evening, she could survive this right? "Then go back to socialising, i havent asked you to be tortured with your present and poisonus tongue

Oh, he was enjoying this! He was enjoying this a lot! He loved how quickly he could rile up the redhead and she always gave him this look filled with so much fire and poison! If he didn't dislike her, he would probably call it quite hot. "Hmmm, so mean today." He took a sip of his own champagne flute. "But alright. If you prefer to talk with Mrs. Jones, I won't stand in your way, Monet." He could already see how said woman made her way towards them. "Have a.... successful evening, Ms. Abercromby."

Shit. this was bad. Why did she even come? she could have just stayed in ehr uni dorm..but of course she had given in when her mom started being dramatic! Bevor the other lady could say something she already pushed her arm under Jasper's. having a sweet smile on her lips. "I am sorry Mrs. Jones. Jasper had just agreed to get my another drink and we were just moving", and she almost shoved him to move with her

A triumphant smile appeared on his lips. Oh, he had known that she would use him as an escape. "I'm very sorry, Mrs. Jones", he charmingly said. "But I can't just stand by and watch our dear Monet die of thirst." He gave her his best smile before Monet already started to push him away. "I guess I now know that I'm at least higher on your like list then Mrs. Jones."

Of course she gave him a good push with the ellbow while pulling him towards the bar and grabbing a new glass of champagne. "don't.", she huffed and took a sip. "and rubb that smug smile off your lips. I just dont like being objectified and seen as a breeding machine"

He rose a perfect eyebrow at her. "I never objectified you, my dear." He waved the bartender over and got a new glas as well. "I merely stated facts. It's not my fault that Mrs. Jones is desperately trying to marry off her children into good families. It's only my great luck that she doesn't have a daughter and thus, I'm not one of her targets."

"i am sure we can get you into a gay marriage", and she took a sip off her glass, giving him a sweet smile with those words

"May I remind you that I'm the firstborn Reed?', he asked with a chuckle. "Even if Mrs. Jones would beg my parents on her knees, they would never agree. After all, I will have to be able to produce an heir."

she rolled her eyes. "Even gay couples can have children. Welcome to the modern timeline"

"And as you should be aware off, our families don't really care about the modern time." Way too little progress was happening in these old families. "And you can't tell me that you're mother isn't trying to pressure you into a good marriage."

she pressed her lips together strongly and tool another sip. "Why do you care? "

"I don't", he said with a shrug off his shoulder. "It was merely on topic and since you used me as a distraction for Mrs. Jones, I'm kind of stuck here, am I not?"