Nicoletta Moncenigo was no naive ingénue- if asked, she would but laugh and suggest she had never been, but she could play one with the Devil's grace and his gifts, alone.<br/><br/>As she watched the motion of those two upon the floor, they were as much hers as the one she had sent with instructions, who she knew soon after would return to her. Different possession, different ownership, but none the less: hers. Serafina and Alessandro's volta was something to behold. Oh, indeed there was intimacy in dance as reckless as she may well chide Aless for being in choosing such a dance. But in the subtle ever shifting movements of a body displayed where eyes could watch, and souls could shift to music in ways far purer then fuckery. Sometimes, a dance was all it took to reveal what even the minds of the dancers did not know, but the flesh did. Nicoletta, far from a romantic at heart, had to admit to herself, experience had taught her that the first dance often was a precious a jewel of understanding between two, as the first kiss could be. And even while the mask was on the Angel, there was no doubt of emotions that lay within the delicate form.<br/><br/>It didn't hurt that it amused her to see the reactions of their guests. Was this because of the display, because of the messages sent without words but with the actions? Perhaps, but with Nicoletta, was one ever sure- other than Alessandro from time to time? The sweetest of smiles placed upon her lips, dared them without words to suggest it was not her own doing. Perception was reality, was it not, at least in the eyes of the mob, no matter how 'loyal' the mob was. Nicola returned to her, by the time the dance was ending, his message delivered and the second of them once more whispered into the sweet shell of Nicoletta's ear.<br/><br/>The way those sunset curls danced about her face as she turned her face to his once more, the way the pools of her eyes widened, and full lips parted to spill laughter perhaps suggested some bit in intrigue and wickedness between herself and her Darling toy upon his return.  Oh, to be truthful, he was delicious to look upon and why should he not be? A gift from her Alessandro, this doll that was hers to control. And like any good accessory, Nicola only enhanced the beauty of his Keeper and the mystique that surrounded him was speculation and rumor to be sure.<strong>"Now, is it not our own turn, yes? Let us set them on their heels or upon their ears if they are so inclined. We surely cannot shock them any further."</strong>For him, her voice was lighter then whisper, exhaled with the wine sweetened breath to bless his flawless skin.<br/><br/>Nicola allowed the faint chuckle to escape his lips as his head inclined to her own, the blue of his eyes the sky to her earth, or the slate colored stone to the mossy highlights of pools that slipped across his features as her fingers did the same into his gloved palm. Never skin to skin, not with these two.<strong>"Always, as you wish it to be, Padrona." </strong>And with that answer, only after Aless and Serafina had taken their leave of the floor, would Nicoletta raise her other hand to signal to the musicians to play one of her favored songs. An incline of her head to those surrounding, gave her gratefulness for their attendance at this gathering, but more so it invited the to join in after the first turns of the dance were completed. Oh, such was the rules and even these scoundrels followed rules from time to time.<br/><br/>The two of them danced as if they were carved from the same stone, as if once perhaps they had been one creature. It was practiced movement, to be sure, but practiced in a way that made it seem effortless, as if the graceful knowledge of one anothers movements was but instinctual. Their conversation was their own, held in their own manner, at times merely a word slipped from lips to ears, and the eyes or slightest manifestation of motion would give answer.  She was happy when other couples began to take the floor, when the sound of conversation and gaiety once more filled the stone walls of their home, breathing life of another sort within the heart of it. The moonlight trickled in through the veiling sheer cloth, the breeze carrying the sun warmed earth caught in it’s cooling from the luminous moon and with it came the wild fragrance of the gardens.<br/><br/>She danced with her Nicola until that was interrupted by another guest who wished his time to seek her counsel. Of course, Nicola was in no way without his own requested partners, his instructions clear, as always. His hand found it’s way into a rather exploratory member of the clergy, but no judgement or shock would be found here as each couple found their way to the music. Her own form was the prize for the gentleman whose concerns she heard with patient ears, her advice given discreetly, as it always was. And his thanksgiving was apparent as he pressed his lips to her gloved hand at the end of their dance.<strong>"You will come tomorrow evening and tell me how it was taken by the council, yes?"</strong>His nod told her nothing, but his eyes told her he would likely inform her before the afternoon.  Eventually, dance would give way to refreshments and conversations in nooks and set private alcoves within the manor. Such was the case, and some of those conversations would of course, involve less then words and more then coin, as often was the case with those as well.<br/><br/>But before the night drew to that, Nicoletta would excuse herself. It wasn’t as if such was hard to do, all things considered, the fete had been a success all around. Her webs were spun, and information would trickle to her by morning, carried on little slippers and shining boots all the same. And what she did with the information would be her own amusement, for that was the one of the sweetest rewards of such a life, the power of knowledge collected in ways that even the confessional could not mimic. Eventually she would haunt the same halls that they had passed through, it was not secret where they would have headed, nor did she need the physician to give her report upon the list of injuries, no more then he needed her to press coin into his palm, for such details had already been handled.<br/><br/>It was beautiful in the way that made the soul ache and the heart bloom, the scene playing out before her. Perhaps harder to tell how long she stood in the private entrance to this room, that smile unchanging upon lips, as verdant eyes collected every detail, as if to etch it upon the marrow of her bones so that if her soul ever doubted, this could be recollected as some personal mythos to bring comfort. The humidity within the room brought a dewy glow to the complexion of silk and cream, the lighting did all favors- a fact she was sure some were more grateful for then others, as she removed her silken slippers, so that the floor did not ruin the fragile fabric.<br/><br/>Even Nicoletta could be struck by awe or inspired by that which reached outwards and compelled, no, commanded the world to be what he would make it, mired as he could be at times in that which was unchanging.  Normally, this would be where interjection would fall from her lips, some flippant remark or rapier sharp comment, or in some cases, some gentle proposal or soft word meant to turn or twine the tide. This time however, there was only the silence and the gaze that fell upon both as ears gleaned words from air kissed with water. Her own hand reached outwards, as kiss was broken, and Alessandro retreated shaking to his side of the bath, leaving Serafina to react as she would. From a smaller table there, Nicoletta poured three drinks, her presence made known with that action, the light whisper of the cloth worn dampened and clinging to form in ways that revealed more then it hid as she turned walking towards Fina first, the goblet for her extended as if the liquid courage could sweeten the girl anymore then she already was.<br/>