Hide your face so the world will never find you.

[Rahmil Binachi]

"I never wanted to kill you."
If she was in her right mind, she probably would have made a silly joke about that. But of course, she wasn't, and so she just chuckled at a comment that wasn't there.

The second twirl was better than the last. However, now it was her turn to ask something. She bit her bottom lip as she thought, raking her slushy conscience of anything she could ask.
Finally, she grabbed a hold of one.
" _{Now, where did you buy such an elaborate costume from? Or did you wrestle a bear for it yourself?} "
It was a silly question compared to his, but it was the best she could think of, and she was proud she thought of anything at all.
Despite the alternate personality, Rahmil still sucked at making conversation. Which was good, because Diego seemed to have an act for topic-starters.
She always blamed it on living alone for the past few years. With no one to talk to, you are left with just your thoughts.
'Me, Myself, and I' pretty much, save for the few times she would talk to the owner of the inn. Though, that's why she was glad she was starting to make friends.
Nicola and Diego. However, the Courtesan she met oh so long ago was part of her friendship with Nicola, however she got the feeling she wasn't really wanted around with her.
Probably it was because she was thought to be a hooker herself, but that was completely thrown out the minute it started.
Then that brought up the idea of Nicola, she hadn't seen him in awhile, and she wondered what on earth he could be up to.
He'd probably have fun here as well, she thought, remembering back on his drunken experience.

Nearly stepping on Diego's feet brought her back to reality. She had zoned off again. Okay, focus Rahmil, she scolded, looking directly at him, and forced herself to listen to what ever response he was coming up with- if she hadn't already missed it, that is.

[Diego Liberatore]

Diego looked down at her as she laughed randomly. "I'm serious." he said, not understanding her humor. But he let it go. She was drunk, she wouldn't even have been dancing with him if she was sober. Well, maybe that wasn't exactly true. She had accepted to dance before she had any drinks, outside in the snow. Maybe she was being herself... kind of.

A smirk spread over his face when he heard her question. His response was immediate. "I wrestled it, of course." he scoffed, as if it was an easy task. But he couldn't come up with a believable story if he tried. Had he wrestled the bear, he would have many more scars on his body than the few that he already had. "Right out of the box I bought it in. My aunt made it for me, and some for my cousins, too. Do you like it?" he asked, lowering his head so she could get a better look at it. But when he looked at her, her eyes seemed distant before they snapped back to him as she bumped his foot, as if caught off guard. "Are you okay?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Would you like to sit down?"

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola felt his cheeks redden slightly at Rosa's touch, though it was probably hardly noticeable under his mask. At her last response, he quickly waved a hand in dismissal. "No no, it's just..." he paused as he tried to search for the right words to explain himself, "If you just came here to eat, I don't see why you should feel obligated to dance with me," he said as his eyes drifted to the floor. "Besides, I'll just embarrass us both." He let out a short laugh, though there was hardly any humor behind it.

[Rosa Giovanno]

Rosa gave him a skeptical look, as if she didn't believe what he was saying. "Who says I feel obligated?" she asked, sounding sincere but hiding the truth. He had done so much for her and the other girls, and so unprepared as well, that she did feel obligated to repay him. "A moment ago you wanted to dance, and now suddenly you don't." She sighed, almost frustratedly, but she buried it. "This is Rome, Bello. You must say what you want, and mean it." Rosa took him by the hand and gently started to lead him to the ballroom floor. "And besides, it is impossible for you to embarrass me." They were not themselves tonight. No one (except for Nicola, apparently) would be recognizing her and no one would be recognizing him. And more than that, he could not embarrass her more than she had already embarrassed herself. There was no harm in a dance with a friend, as he insisted on calling her.

[Rahmil Binachi]

He was showing her his suit, when she came back to focus.
She had heard his explanation, but her mind didn't fully register it until the next time he spoke up.
Asking her if she needed to sit. She scoffed and pulled away, placing her hands on her hips in a mock anger
" _{Do you think I an un-capable of dancing?} " She asked, wiggling her butt in a goofy manner.
" _{Or are 'ya scared that I'll knock a few toes off?} " She stomped up to him, in a motion of stepping on toes, but lost balance and fell against him.
She immediately erupted into laughter, finally realizing that he might be on the right path for sitting down.
" _{Well, that might be a better idea.} " She admitted through her giggles, and pushed herself up into a rightful standing position.

[Diego Liberatore]

His eyes widened as he watched her wiggle and stomp towards him. During their previous songs it may not have been so obvious, but now that it was a slow dance she caught the attention of a few others, who chuckled briefly behind their masks and looked away, as if they knew it was rude to laugh. Diego's arms flew out to catch her as she stumbled into him, and she knocked his mask off his face again so that it hung around his neck. Dear Lord. She wasn't just drunk, she was drunk, and acting so unlike herself that Diego was certain it was time to sit out for a minute. He put his arm around her waist, not willing to take the chance to find out if she could walk in a straight line, and helped her towards the edge of the room, where the tables and chairs stood empty. He didn't bother to put his mask back on, fearful that if he used his free hand he would immediately need it to catch her again. Diego bumped into a man, whom a woman was trying to lead to dance, though he seemed reluctant. "Pardon me, Messere." he said as he walked by them and helped Rahmil into a chair. "Don't go anywhere." he told her softly, and went to get her some food. She was beyond sobering at this point, but at least it would help.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola sighed as he was pulled to the dance floor reluctantly. What had he just gotten himself into? On his way, he bumped into a man in a bear costume, though he hardly paid him mind; he simply muttered a quick apology and avoided eye contact. And now came the awkward part--actually starting the dance. He didn't know how to go about it, so instead he waited for Rosa to make the first move.

[Rosa Giovanno]

It soon became clear to her just how ignorant he was, and it surprised her. Dancing, at least slow dancing, should have been a basic concept to most. It was a culture that needed to be learned, and even the lowly peasant class indulged in the art. It was just like reading or writing. But still, she decided she would be patient with him, and guided his hands to her hips and wrapped her own arms lightly around his neck. "Shall I lead, then?" she teased him a bit, but actually wondered if she should. Rosa had never lead in a dance before, but she thought she might have better luck at it than him. Unless, of course, he wanted to be a man and not be guided about by her. It did feel a bit strange to be dancing with a friend who wasn't a client, but she supposed there was a first time for everything.

[Rahmil Binachi]

His arm around her kept her supported, in case she was to fall again.
She almost objected it, about to say she could easily walk on her own. But before she could protest, she was already being sat down, and told to stay put.
Feeling scolded, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, tapping her fingernails on the wooden table. She was no child! She was a 27 year old woman.
And she was about to tell him so when he returned, but she saw the plate of food, and all was forgiven.
She was a little upset when she didn't see a glass of wine with it, but soon figured that wine was probably not a very good idea at the moment.

[Diego Liberatore]

It was amusing to him to see her face as he returned, to watch it change from agitated to hungry. Diego took a seat beside her, already knowing how he would tease her. "Who said this is for you?" he smirked, setting the plate down in front of himself instead, only to slide it over to her, along with a fork and a napkin. He turned slightly in his seat so he could keep eye contact with her, and felt his chin bump against the top of his mask. He removed it completely and set it on the table, it would have just gotten in the way at this point. And the people who remained were so attentive to their partners, that it didn't matter who saw him. He didn't make a habit of making enemies. Except for Rahmil, of course, but he was trying mend it as best he could. He rose from his chair again, only to return with a cup of water to go with her supper. The hunger he had when he arrived had left him somehow, and he had enough to eat at his house later if it returned.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola allowed Rosa to guide his hands, and was a little nervous when he found them by her waist. It made him even more nervous when she wrapped her arms around his neck. Nicola was still... Unaccustomed to the touch of a woman. In fact, it almost dazed him slightly, and was only brought back into reality when she spoke. Shall I lead, then? After a few moments of consideration, he nodded his head shortly and quickly, clear uncertainty in his eyes. He didn't know how to lead a dance, let alone dance in general, so maybe it was smart letting her lead.

[Rosa Giovanno]

To see him so uncomfortable strangely calmed her a bit, as seeing him look as awkward as she really felt meant that she wasn't so alone. But still, she knew how awful a feeling it was, and didn't say anything for a while as they danced. It was nice, for once, to spend time with a man who wasn't looking for anything in return. She just wondered how long he would stay that way -innocent, like a puppy before it turns into a rabid wolf. It was just a matter of time, she thought, before he would be devoured by the darkness of the city, as inevitably everyone was. Already, if there was no change in his behavior, there was a change in his eyes. He had seen things since they had last met. Seen death and blood and suffering. Though still uncertain, never certain as she was in trusting men, Rosa hoped he never changed. For his sake. "Relax, Nicola." she finally spoke up after a while. He was moving so tensely it was difficult to direct him anywhere. And she decided it might be best to start a conversation so he wasn't focusing on dancing. "You've been earning your stripes in your creed?" she asked, looking up at his masked face.

[Rahmil Binachi]

His little trick about the food sent her into giggles, so much, that she didn't have the opportunity to retort with her own silly remark. So instead, she stuck her tongue out at him and looked down to what she had in store for her. Only to dip her beak right into it. She cursed under her breath, and followed him in taking the mask off.
Fresh air hit her face, and it was like taking a breath of fresh air after staying inside for days on end. She closed her eyes and let the feeling sweep over her skin, and brought her hands up to rub the places where the mask had put the most pressure.
It was strange. They were suddenly Rahmil and Diego again, not the Bear and the Raven. She almost put her mask back on, but then the plate of food would most likely end up on her dress and on her mask rather than her mouth.
Letting out a huff, she soon pushed the feeling aside and grinned at him.
" _{Well thank you, signore, for this lovely meal you have prepared for me. It must have taken a while to cook up something like this.} " She announced, breaking the silence and taking a bite.
" _{Would you like some?} "

[Diego Liberatore]

He raised an eyebrow, as if to tell her that it wasn't that funny. But the corners of his mouth twitched upward as well, somewhat proudly, glad that finally his jokes were worth laughing at. And, admittedly, Diego liked her laugh. Even if it did carry the spirits of wine in its sound. But when he looked up again, he had to bite his tongue to keep himself from laughing, and patiently picked up her mask as she set it down, using a napkin to wipe off the food she had just knocked it into. He tried his best not to look her in the face, knowing that if he did he might fail in his struggle not to giggle. Pink lines marked her skin where the mask had been, leaving a ring around the upper half of her face.

"You're welcome." he answered her, smiling. "And no, thank you. I'm not that hungry." Instead he just watched her eat, hoping the food would help her and not put her in a worse state later, when it settled in her stomach. So he was quiet and respectful as she ate, not speaking anything that would warrant a reply so that she wouldn't have to answer with her mouth full. But it would be awkward, to simply sit and not say anything at all. So he waited to ask his questions between bites. "How is your Christmas going?" he asked her the same question from earlier, though he had never actually gotten a response back.

[Nicola Rangé]

Rosa's words brought Nico's attention back to her. The whole time he had only been watching their feet as they danced about the room. 'Relax. Relax...' he kept reminding himself. 'You're dancing with a friend, no one's watching. Just relax.' His thoughts eased his mind a bit, but Rosa's question captured his attention once again. "Uh, yes, actually," he said lowly with a slight grin on his face. He knew there was no way anyone could have heard him, yet he didn't want to risk being overheard by a Templar, or anyone else who could want him dead.

"I finally got one of these," he added with the same volume to his voice. He presented his wrist between them, his hand leaving Rosa's waist for a short moment, and unsheathed his hidden blade, though only the tip of it was visible through his sleeve. He returned the blade to its original position before returning his hand to her waist.

The blade symbolized his new experience--how he had learned so much more since their last encounter. When she had given him his first contract, he remembered just how afraid he was. He had never murdered; he could barely scale a rooftop. Yet still, he had come so far since then. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride wash over him that very moment, and he also hoped he hadn't intimidated his friend too much.