As they finally reached their places at the table Akakios didn't even think to check further up the table, for he had not assumed the woman he had been dancing with before would ever be seated ahead of him. Sitting down, he was pleased to find that he would be spared the awkward conversation about his lack of a human appetite given that his seat was free of plates and only a neatly folded napkin was set before him. Setting the glasses down, he turned to Lucas, who was already deep in conversation with the woman beside him, and whispered his thanks for his friend's forethought.
Getting settled, he sat up straight again and looked across the table at the dark-haired man and nodded in silent greeting as he lifted his glass of wine to his lips, a small twitch of a smile visible there. He had no idea who the man was. As he took his drink, though, a familiar voice caught his attention. Smiling knowingly to himself, Akakios set his glass down and watched the conversation patiently, wondering how long they might be entrenched in it.
It was only a few minutes before he felt a slight lull in the conversation. He seized the opportunity to lean across the table and place the glass of water in front of the light-haired woman. "Madame," he greeted kindly, not wanting to interrupt them yet happy he had his prey in his sights again.
Before long he felt a slight tugging on his sleeve and heard an excited voice at his ear. "That's them! That's her," Lucas practically swooned, trying to point discreetly at the pair beside their host.
"Her?" Akakios questioned in a hushed voice, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yes! The-" He was cut off by the arrival of their first course, and all but Akakios receiving a plate. "This is why I wanted you to be here," he continued excitedly, grinning with glee as he looked between the siblings.
"Don't just talk about them, Lucas, they're right here," Akakios prompted him, rolling his eyes in irritation.
"Oh, but... I-I don't want to interrupt her, she looks busy," he whispered back, very concerned about Amleah though his eyes lit up as they settled upon her brother.