Wedding Reception

Capitol. 

At this time, the wedding's grand reception had just ended and they were seeing the guests off.

The couple were holding hands—or, more accurately, Victoire's claws were on Thaddeus' arms—while Octavia stood on Thaddeus' other side.

After saying goodbye to the next few guests, she leaned a bit to whisper.

"Try not to frown so much," Octavia whispered to Thaddeus, retaining a practiced smile as she shook the hands of a politician and his wife.

"Didn't you see that bastard watching your every move?" She said, tentatively looking in a direction.

His mother was referring to West, his half-brother, and his mother, Wensha. 

The pair of mother and son were currently on the other end of the room, socializing with people from their own circles—whom his mother called vulgar nouveau riches. 

Regardless, they looked like they were having fun being surrounded by bootlickers, sending glances in their direction.