Could Serafina have been more perfectly suited for her role in the evening? Nicoletta could not image such, if it did exist. The fair headed maiden was glorious, even in her masked state and her mannerisms, her nature endeared her to those close friends who had been invited in to participate in the game. It was a shame that Alessandro missed certain parts, but such was an additional fine for his behavior and Nicoletta was sure it was that fine which would pain and pang his heart when he was better suited to contemplate his misdeed. Serafina felt the adoration and happiness with her presence surely, by the way Nicoletta embraced her hand within her own as they awaited what would come from Alessandro, his Asp, and the gift he had surely brought home in some attempt to appease her.<br/><br/>In truth, even the Dragon could be sated with such an offering of their home to one who needed it so. Even if the Dragon may gripe and grumble about such events for weeks indeed.<br/><br/>Eyes, the color of the finest spring in record, glittered and gleamed with venomous poison as what they adored observing the most, chose to spread those arms, the retraction of the gesture with that expression painted upon handsome features, did little to soften the wrath that awaited expulsion from curved form. There was a strength in how her fingers tightened about Serafina's in those moments, when sharp teeth plucked at her own lower tier, forcing a swelling to the pillowy flesh that resembled a pout and brought color so crimson to enhance the curve of mouth. As if 'that' would silence the words that wished to burst forth like some ever-flowing miasmas, dark in ichor and consumption of the foolishness that had brought pain to body she adored more than her own. And for one as vain as Nicoletta, was that not a testament to her love?<br/><br/>The assembly rejoiced at the gift of the wine and the assertion that the boy would be kept by the House itself. Vittorio, in all his glory, managed to shoot a look upwards as if to try to find her, to mouth some set of words that would remain unknown even to her. The action caused her to turn her masked face and press kiss to Serafina's temple, using the golden curls as a buffer for her own smile of amusement. Perhaps that was the tell that Alessandro, even within his cups needed to be aware of which masked creature was of his own soul and kind. Still, she could not stop the sound of her laughter, low and sweet as it blessed those precious golden curls of the girl who had stolen some bit of her heart already, against her wishes, mind you.<br/><br/>Alessandro's next words, oh they eradicated the softness of her laughter from the air, as she turned her head ever so slowly, eyes going wider framed by the mask worn as his voice took on sober tones and declarations were made in mixed company of cherished friends, but just friends none the less!  The shake of her head had already started as if the slight gesture could stop him from the rarity of such being delivered in such company, as if the notion of confessions made public would but start tongues to wagging, breaking the careful masks worn within the light of day and not in the moonlights magical glow.  Her slippered feet moved her only but a fraction forward as the chuckle given by him before the climb would indeed allow some saving grace to what had already been said.<br/><br/>Up the trellis the wounded warrior in all his glory ascended and to the balcony where others parted, the game of it turned serious for the words being spoken. Something intimate within that exchange, the fact that he cared not who heard. Nicoletta was not within her own cups, the words were not merely spoke for herself, but for Serafina as well, he had brought the girl into their unit for purpose. What was fit for one, would one day as time progressed emotions be fit for both. The lift of her chin brought those eyes of hers to follow his motion as he slipped nearer to her, over the edge of balcony his appearance and subsequent sweeping of her curved form against his hard lines making it ever so hard to keep that serious expression upon her face.<br/><br/>Oh, he did indeed sweep mask from her features and upon his wine stained lips a kiss so fierce was placed that it bordered upon its own violent battle indeed. Fierce it was, the use of teeth and tongue to take what was her own from him, as if to know his breath as it filled her lungs and the warmth of his mouth was to know it was not specter at all, but her Alessandro indeed. The crowd cheered and for but a moment her hand slipped from Serafina's. The purpose of the release became apparent when that hand slipped up to the line of his chest, hunting the wound for her own fingertips to probe harsh against it, sharp enough to make his "I<em>am</em>sorry" even thicker with emotion.<br/><br/>It was Nicoletta's other hand that drifted upwards to let her nails curve into the hair at the nape of his neck, the tension there seen only by those cheering souls near enough as she hissed into the broken kiss and possibly pained expression upon those features of her Love.<strong> " It is possible I believe you, Alessandro. Perhaps an accounting is in order. Shall we say a mark in your ledger to be rubbed out when I commit a sin as grave?"</strong>the way her fingers played against the ruined fabric and the wound, her body pressed so tightly as she lowered her head to brush her lips against it, eyes turned upwards to play their own games as they locked with his.<em>"There is no where you will go that I will not follow."</em>It was not threat, it was promise meant for his ears.<em>"You would be a fool if you think something as simple as the afterlife would save you from me."</em><br/><br/><strong>"But for reparation, I do think you owe our Angel a dance, for she has not all evening- beautiful mourner that she is.  And if you are a specter, then we only until dawn to keep you. And if you are not, then perhaps dancing with her will remind you what folly it is to chase such adventures when Heaven is a member of your home. " </strong>The last of those words delivered to the grouping who cheered as the music was signaled for once more. "<strong>Let us eat and drink and be as merry as we can be at your most wondrous return."</strong>His wound could wait till after the dance, her heart ached to see Serafina rewarded with movements and nearness upon the marble floors alight with the moonlight and awashed with the sounds in Alessandro's arms and indeed it might be better medicine then another could provide her Love.<br/><br/>Nicoletta reached out once more for Serafina’s warm fingertips, bringing them to Alessandro’s with her own touch, careful to not used the bloodied hand. The rub of that crimson upwards, to paint her own cheeks slightly with the color rubbed until it was not lewd or crude. The other bit of the sacrifice used to paint that lower lip of her, mixed him into the slight wound her teeth had made upon her lip. Sating something within as she cast that smile to those who had gathered, already reaching outwards to slide her arm within Madame De Soto’s, hand raising in gesture to mark their return to the festivities. Menfolk downstairs ready to dance and ladies ready to gossip about the adventure that surely had been had. A careful consideration to force the Asp to come forward to tell at least some version of the tale, for surely it would be wondrous enough to add to the legend that Alessandro and the Asp were becoming –not merely within their own minds.<br/>