Joseph's mood was slightly improved when Rhys put away his book and turned his attention fully to the Brujah. The fingers in his hair was comforting and distracting, which was exactly what Joseph needed.
He was absolutely stroppy about everything and irritated at his inability to do a bloody thing about it. This shit was why so many of his clan had quit the Camarilla entirely. Because all of this antiquated psuedo-monarchy was bloody slow and overcomplicated.
Rhys' teasing earned him a chuckle. "Only by me, love," he responded. "There's other rooms we can steal off to and have our own private party." It would be a convenient way to make being at the party less tedious and irritating. Since he couldn't get out of going.
Catching Rhys' hand in his hair, Joseph brought it down to his lips and gave his a lover a playful bite. Not enough to draw blood. It was probably too soon for that, unfortunately. But enough to tease the young Tremere a little. "It'll be entertaining to put dents in someone else's furniture for a change." The dents and tears were entire the Brujah's fault, of course.