There were more hissing words exchanged between the snakes, a conversation so repeated throughout the years that the script hardly changed even if the words did. The elder scolding with frayed patience while the younger endured it, wholly unapologetic.<br/><br/>Ortel was very careful to keep his spines and hood from flaring in the company of the prince but his expressive hands gave him away. They gestured with such exasperation that the elves could almost understand his words if not his tone.<br/><br/>"<b>The very first day! The very first day of our arrival and you manage to charm your way into an elf's pants</b>," he groused, talons fluttering in the air though there was far more weariness to them than pure outrage. He knew Ursalo's nature, it was a given that this would eventually happen, but the timing and the choice of partner was just beyond the pale, "<b>did it have to be the prince's royal man-servant? Why couldnt it have been a lowly gardener?</b>"<br/><br/>"<b>I met him in a garden</b>," Ursalo replied helpfully.<br/><br/>Ortel's hands curved in the air, pantomiming strangling someones neck for a moment before forcibly relaxing. He then seemed to loosen his whole body, his serpentine form settling into a far less hostile stance before turning to the two very confused elves.<br/><br/>"Exalted Prince Tamlin," Ortel said as reverently as a diplomat, his hands clasped together, head bowed and face structured into the most contrite expression he could manage with his reptile features. His elvish had the same breathy quality as Ursalo but his lisp was much less pronounced, "I am Ortel, head scribe and first husband of Ranuk and I humbly beg your forgiveness for any rudeness or unacceptable behavior our young Ursalo has displayed. He is still learning elven culture. Whatever offense that he may have made was not intentional."<br/><br/>Ranuk chuckled at that, a blatant lie if he ever heard one. Ursalo seemed foolhardy but Ranuk intimately knew that he was a shrewd and cunning demon. Any misbehavior was calculated and he reaped far more rewards than punishments for his risk taking. For this, he'd probably lose a few scales, an acceptable price for him in exchange for a nights worth of passion with a mysterious former enemy. He might be the very first demon to boast having a willing elf for a lover. Of course he could not resist the notoriety of such a position.<br/><br/>"I havent made any offense, I dont think," Ursalo said somewhat petulantly, but was quickly silenced by Ortel's withering gaze.