Aaren smiles. "Inara's a good friend," he says fondly.

"I was delighted to meet them!"

"I was certainly pleased to hear they'd made each others acquaintence."

"She reminds me of Teronmas, speaking of which, where are him and Feliaris?" Dal-Jaon says, looking around. "Oh, the poor things have been snared by the South Reef Matriarchs."

"While this conversation is delightful, we probably should go rescue them and talk them ourselves. Do you know them Dal-Ambre? I can introduce."

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure, no."

"Oh, you must! Dal-Karand Otoesteri knows the best fashion designers in Parjen. They even got me and my husband an unique matching set of tunics we are planning to wear to the next city's council gala."

"It would be foolish to refuse such an offer. Inara?"

"Oh, please do come. You can stay a few minutes and then rescue our boys from the conversation." She smiles very politely at Dal-Ambre while saying that.

"A wonderful idea," Dal-Ambre agrees, rising to her feet smoothly.

"Always willing to help rescue someone," Inara agrees. "If you'll excuse me," she nods to the rest of the table, although mostly Fernando, Parafi, Ima and Padrikiun.

Dal-Yora notices but doesn't comment on that meaningful nodding. Instead, she leads to where her other grandsons are.

Inara and Dal-Ambre follow.

The South Reef matriarchs both have fashionable streaks of white hair, and wear a similar fashion style, but otherwise are not very alike. Dal-Karand is bronze skinned and obviously a born sorcerer just by the way she holds herself, but also her many amulets and charms. Dal-Varja Terosteri is the very archetypical Parjen cast. Fully augmented and therefore very tall, with intensely dark skin. The later spots the three approaching and smiles. "Dal-Yora! I hope you don't want to miss out this conversation. Our dear Dal-Karand is so deeply disappointed with your grandsons' lack of fashion knowledge."

"Blame our wild war torn Earth upbringing," Teronmas says.

"Do not make excuses, young man." Dal-Karand says jovially. "Oh, who do we have here?" She says when she notices the Sauvesteri.

"Dal-Ambre Sauvesteri, my daughter Inara."

"A pleasure," Inara says, curtseying gracefully.

Dal-Varja is pleased by the curtsy, Dal-Karand appears mildly amused.

"Likewise," Dal-Karand replies smiling charmingly. "Lovely dress, maybe you can teach Dal-Yora's grandsons a thing or two about fashion. I asked if the family is going to the South Reef next season and do you know what they said? This one asked what sort of disaster relief we could expect there and the other asked about the beaches. I could hear my ancestors gasp."

"Oops," Feliaris said apologetically, but smiling.

"To be fair," Dal-Varja adds, "the beaches are lovely if you ward yourself heavily against bugs and there are some exquisite fashion disasters."

"Which led to the discussion of the negative influence of the MET gala in Elan fashion."

"I'm not sure I'd call it negative," Inara comments. "After all, if we didn't have the MET gala as a standard, how would we know who was truly exquisitely dressed? Comparing good fashion to good fashion can sometimes be a chore. And very occasionally something good comes from it."

"Nothing against innovation, my dear. But too many designers compromise," Dal-Karand says the word like it's a terrible sin, "and try to be the next big thing by adding LEDs light at everything and suddenly I am having flashbacks of a hundred and seventy years ago, when everyone was using glowing glass on everything. I would leave the atelier with a tan."

"Hey, if it means you don't have to deal with the bugs at the beach."

Dal-Varja turns her gaze down at Dal-Ambre. "Forgive my memory, but I can't recall where I know you from." Which is a very meaningfully veiled way to say that she doesn't know.

Dal-Ambre smiles and politely explains who herself and her husband are. "We hadn't had the pleasure or honour of making your acquaintance before now."

"Oh, I heard of your investments," Dal-Varja comments, "I have a distant cousin that's interested in that sort of thing."

"Aw, don't sell your friendship with Dal-Tiron so short." Dal-Yora comments. "Specially, because it's so great to surround yourself with business-minded people." She smiles at Dal-Ambre.

"Indeed."

"Well," Inara says, "If you're going to be talking business, if you don't mind, I'm going to steal Teronmas and Feliaris?"

Dal-Yora laughts jovially. "Please do, far from me to impose boring business talk on the young."

Teronmas and Feliaris will take the hint.