Having agreed to assist Guy in teaching Pierre how to dance, Darla was sitting in her library and awaiting her Temoin and his Pomme's arrival. It had been many years since she had danced, but she had forgotten nothing and was here to provide a helping hand and to provide Guy with a female dance partner for Pierre.

Smiling slightly, she was looking forward to the chance to dance once again, the last time having been with Gerard at their first meeting and not in the most relaxing of moments. Whoever said the duties of a Master of the City were always boring?

Guy entered the library dressed in a manner that was, well, decidedly NOT normal for him. He was wearing a pair of modern black athletic pants and a red tank-top, or wifebeater, as the uneducated gentleman who'd helped him locate it at the store had called it, and was also barefoot. However, despite being abnormal, it would be much better suited to the activity at hand, teaching his little leopard how one dances, as the poor man's idea of dancing was some sort of tasteless and twisted sex-crazed *something* that he tended to see in the mistresses' clubs.

He bowed to Darla as he came in. Smiling at her e said, "Thank you my mistress, for agreeing to assist me in this endeavour. I think we;ll start with the minuet, as it's very simple and straightforward, and the simpleness of the music style lends itself well to instruction. That is, of course, if you don't have other plans already?"

________

OOC: For reference:

song in the minuet style: http://zs.ffshrine.org/ocarina-of-time/mid...et_Symphony.mid

minuet dance example: http://youtube.com/watch?v=G0BDsNdllv0

As Natasha finished getting dressed in her normal everyday wear of a loose white dress , giving a beautiful contrast to the black of her hair hung low in a simple braid. She came down the stairs searching for anyone in the house, since her arrival, she had only spoken with Mistress Darla and a few select housekeepers. Natasha was near a door and heard voices.

She walked through to see the Mistress along with another vampire, a male vampire. Natasha nodded her head in a bow addressing Darla, "Mistress I hope I am not intruding on anything, I merely heard voices." Natasha then turned her attention to the other in the room. He was very powerful, a master she was sure of. Giving him the same courtesy as the Mistress, she bowed her head "Sir, please excuse my intrusion. I am Natasha." She then stood up straight awaiting their replies.

Bowing her head in response to Guy, Darla smiled as she took in his new and interesting choice of attire. She herself had taken one of her far older dresses out of storage for the occasion: a loose black gown with a built in belt at the waist and pants beneath the skirt. It was a fighting dress, designed for women to wear whilst learning combat without having to bear the dishonor of wearing men's clothing. She would not be fighting tonight, but just as Guy had had to forsake his more restrictive attire, so had she.

"It is no problem Guy, for I enjoy dancing and the chance to teach another is most pleasurable. Your choice is wonderful, and was to be my suggestion."

Looking towards the doors as she sensed the arrival of Natasha, she smiled in welcome and motioned for the vampire to come sit next to her whilst they awaited the leopard.

"You are not intruding at all Natasha, infact you are most welcome to watch our lessons."

Pierre suddenly opened the curtain of the shower only just after taking a glance across the room at the clock that just chimed noon. Of course, long before he had made it so that it chimed at 11, which was going to be his alarm to go downstairs and meet his lover for some ‘dance lessons’ of his. Now, Pierre wasn’t one to be boastful at all, but he didn’t think that he had to be taught how to dance. He wasn’t that bad at it was he?

Now, of course, there had to be a bit of a twist with his coming out of the shower. It was like a ceremony to him, and he had done it at least a few times since he had made the Strigoi Estate his home. With the water that dripped off of his body, his feet slipped on the ground and he fell to the floor, head just barely missing the head of the tub, but instead hitting the edge of the sink table. Cursing loudly at the now thumping of his head, Pierre stood up groggily and reached out for a towel.

After getting somewhat dried off and making sure that the puddle on the floor of the bathroom was cleaned up, Pierre threw on a pair of *cough*homo-like*cough* short shorts and one of Guy’s ever-too-large-for-Pierre shirts. It just happened to be grey, with the shorts being jeans colored. He didn’t even bother with the shoes, but made his way downstairs.

As he walked into the room where Guy had told him to be for the dance lessons, he realized that there were two other people there that he had either missed in the briefing or weren’t mentioned at all. He shyly blushed and made a brisk walk over to Guy, huddling in his side and hugging him. “I’m sorry I’m late.” he said, rubbing his face on Guy’s shirt like a cat would.

There were very few things that would have kept Kiana from travelling through the Estate, though on this particular afternoon Kiana dind't seem to care. She'd been up most of the night - having left her own apartment to seek refuge within the Strigoi Estate ((OOC: It was the only thing Pierre and I could think of so I could pop up O.o)) for a while, and she was thankful that Darla had been understanding at the time. She would one day have to repair the Master Vampire for such kindness.

But at the moment, Kiana had been curious. And when she got curious it usually meant she wanted to explore the lands a little bit. There had been very few things to do in her room for the time being and she hadn't fully got to see what the rest of the mansion looked like. ANd as far as Kiana knew, there were others that were staying at the Estate as well. Though so far she hadn't seen a soul in sight.

Perhaps either this place was simply too big that it made finding people a little difficult, or there was no one to find because everyone else was still sleeping. Actually, Kiana hadn't bothered to look at the clock before leaving her own room. Though she did remember last time she glimpsed at the clock it had been around ten. Perhaps everyone else was simply still asleep.

She was in a pair of black jheans and a black T-shirt with knee-high black boots. Her long silk black hair was laying passed the middle of her back slightly. Her black painted fingernails were now running through her hair, acting almost like a comb, making sure she hadn't missed anything when she brushed her hair earlier that morning.

Coming to the ned of one hallway, Kiana stopped when she heard some voices from a near by room. She turned, and curiosity getting the better of her, Kiana followed these voices until she reached what appeared to be a library. Upon entering the room though, Kiana spotted not only the Mistriss, but three new people she had never met before.

Turning her attention to the Mistriss, Kiana sank into a bow before saying, "I apologize if I'm interrupting something." She stood back up and looked around the room at the others.

Watching Pierre enter, Darla blinked with polite suprise at his attire then frowned. She could hear the blood rushing in the back of his head, he had hit himself or done himself some form of injury.

"Pierre, are you well or did you have a mishap on your way here?"

She had not had the time to stand and start moving towards her Temoin and his cat when Kiana walked in, the black jeans and shirt making her muse for a moment on the dress sense of some of her younger Kiss members.

"Kiana, welcome. This is Galeno, my Temoin, and Natasha. The leopard with Galeno is Pierre, his Pomme de Sang. We are teaching our young cat the art of dance tonight, you are free to observe should you wish it."

Seeing the cat come in, Natasha looked at his choice of clothing and was rather puzzled, of course, she had no idea what 'lessons' she had stumbled upon. Seeing how the lycan- a leopard from his aura, for she had only seen a few in the presence of her other masters, she would recognize it anywhere. Seeing his reaction to the male vampire, they could be lovers, yes she was sure of it. Her face was pleasantly blank as she study her new surroundings, her new kiss.

Just as she was going to ask what lesson was being taught, another vampire walked in, a non master as herself. Seeing her dressed as she was, she must have been a newer vampire, for most of the older ones as herself kept their sense of style from their particular time period when they were turned. Nodding her head in greeting to Kiana as Darla greeted her. Smiling inward as Darla introduced Galeno, her Temion, just as Natasha had thought. Thinking to herself Ah, a Pomme as well as a lover, they are very close.

A smile crossed her lips as she heard Darla speak of the lesson, dancing. Literature, music, and dancing, some of her loves. "Κυρία Darla και ο κύριος Galeno*, what dance would you be teaching tonight, and if I may be so bold, who is this to benefit?"






*Mistress Darla and mister Galeno

"We are to be teaching as many dances as the night and our cat's ability will allow Natasha, but we shall be starting with the minuet."

Turning to Pierre and Guy, she stood and walked gracefully to the pair, her mind swimming with each thing she knew about dance from her instruction as a child.

"Now Pierre, Guy, shall we begin?"

Without turning she motioned for the CD player she had commissioned from one of her clubs to start playing, and the sweet notes of a classical minuet piece drifted out across the room.

"Listen to the music Pierre. This is not the time to start moving, you must feel and know the music you are to dance to if you are to have a hope of doing this correctly."

Guy bowed politely to Natasha as she entered. He hadn't actually met her yet, but he had been aware of her presence in the kiss. Apparently, this was now remedied. He spoke to her politely, "It is a pleasure to meet you Natasha. I am Galeno. A lady never interrupts, only graces others with her beauty by bringing it to their presence." He smiled at her as he turned to Pierre as he entered.

"Good morning, mi micino. I note that as always, you remind us all that grace and dignity are things that are learned just as the art of walking on bathroom tile must be learned," he teased gently kissing the leopard's head.

He turned again as Kiana entered the room. He gave her courtesy as well. " I bid thee good afternoon as well, Kiana Whisper. Please, fell free to join our activity. " His inner mind was quickly taking note of the fact that Natasha and Kiana, despite being non-masters were also able to awaken in the early afternoon, a testament to the power of Miami.

He bowed to his mistress as she came to stand near himself and Pierre, "Yes milady. I think it is high time we begin." Turning outward he motioned for the two lesser vampires and Pierre to clear the central part of the floor. He spoke loud enough to be heard over the music, but also oddly in time with it, "The first rule of any dance is to not just hear to music but to see and feel it. It is a stream that will direct your body. This is the minuet, something which is very technically simple, but amongst the most graceful of any dance I've ever ecountered. First, observe and listen."

He paused for a moment allowing himself to slip into the beat before facing Darla and stepping into a bow and holding his hand to her. He waited for her to place her hand in his before moving three timed steps forward, holding, stepping back, and antoher hold. Moving with the music he let go of Darla and moved into a graceful turn about stretching the line of his legs out and showing the larger lines of his chest. Finishing, he knelt before his mistress allowing her to use him as a frame for herself next.

((WARNING: Jealous!Pierre))

As both Darla and Guy spoke of his encounter with the floor only minutes ago, he blushed and buried his face in Guy’s chest. He only came back up for air and to spy on the others in the room. It was then that he realized that he was in a room with three women and only Guy to protect him. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. It was still thumping, and it hurt to think for a while, but he knew he would get over it sometime.

At first, Pierre had thought that the thump on his head had started making him delusional, but his thoughts were interrupted as he realized that the stereo had been turned on across the room and was now playing classical music for them to dance to. As Guy kissed his head, the thumping slowed and he cuddled closer, only to be pushed away soon after so that Guy was standing in the middle of the room alone. Pierre sat down on the floor, stubborn as to not dance with Guy just yet.

Of course, he didn’t have to dance with Guy the first time, just so that he could see how he was supposed to dance first and to feel the flow of the music. Pierre wasn’t paying attention to the dancing or the music though. In fact, he wasn’t even taking in the fact that Guy was talking, or the footwork that he was using in the dance, or the movements that the vampire made with his arms and legs to add ease and effort to the movement of the dance. Because he started paying very close attention when he pulled himself closer to Darla and they started dancing across the floor.

Yes, he was paying complete attention to the fact that Guy had decided to dance with Darla instead of forcing him to dance with the vampire. He pulled his knees up to his chest as he sent a deathly glare toward the two, mostly at Darla. How would Guy even think of dancing with someone other than him? His eyes turned to his catlike slits and he emitted a low growl in his throat as Guy danced along with Darla.

Taking Guy's offered hand, Darla curtsied slightly and moved with him then waited until he was bowed before her. Noticing but ignoring the growl and cat eyes from Pierre, she gracefully walked around Guy in steady, measured steps, her skirst gatehered into one hand. When she had almost finished her circle she started speaking, moving until she was standing close to Guy with her back to him, both their hands holding each other's.

"Pierre, dance is not always about physical closeness, of sex and heat. This dance has a story, it is the courting of two lovers, the man approaches, the woman acknowledges him, and it becomes the cycles of romance as they move around each other. It is soft, elegant, not wild and lust-fueled. We are not merely teaching you to dance, we are teaching you some very important rules of life. How to hold another, how to respect the physical boundries of another, how to show respect and grace in social situations, to learn rules and movements as one to be applied to later situations. Think of it as though we are giving you the tools to be a confident, well-mannered man that most would be proud to know."

Natasha went to a small seating area on the edge of the room to give the dancers plenty of room. As Darla switched on the music, Natasha closed her eyes briefly and hummed along with the melody picturing her dancing the minuet in her head, going through the steps. Ah how she loved classical music. Watching as Darla gave instructions on listening and feeling the music, she studied them all.

As Galeno moved to dance with his mistress to show the beauty of the flow of dance, she caught Pierre out of the corner of her eye. Natasha was puzzled at the sudden leap of jealousy from the cat. She didn't need to even look at his aura to know he was oozing jealousy toward her Mistress. Dancing was merely dancing unless the partners made it more so, so why was Pierre acting like a five year old who wanted to play with his toy that someone had borrowed? Another mystery to be filed away in her mind.

Natasha was surprised at how the cat reacted, he growled at the Mistress of the City- his lovers Mistress. Darla merely explained to the cat, which was less than what many of her previous Masters would have done- a lash of power to shut him up would have been a main choice from her memories of most of them.

Standing up, Natasha walked over to Pierre, and sat down next to him, rather closely to speak to him. Whispering low to have a private conversation with him, "Pierre, Λίγη γάτα*, you have no reason to be jealous. It is merely a dance, if I were to take your hand and have you guide me on the floor, it would be nothing for your Galeno to worry over. It is merely an art that two people may indulge in together, nothing to growl over."

*Little cat

Guy deftly ignored Pierre's growling as he and Darla continued their motions. He, however, did consider it as he moved. There was absolutely nothing sexual, in the remotest, about what was going on amongst himself and the mistress. For that matter, the only part of them touching was the very tips of their fingers. He waited until the end of the piece before turning to Pierre, "Relax micino. This is the world of formal social dance, not the half concealed lust of a modern club. This is a social grace. In a real setting we would all be moving about indiscriminately choosing partners for one or two dances."

It seemed as if no one noticed him at first, until the Master of the City opened her mouth only to give him a lecture. This time, though, he listened just for the sake of listening to her. He didn’t want to make her any more angry than she probably was. It seemed as if she was trying to teach him how to be a man over again. And, having not known a father, it all seemed a bit new to him, but weird since she was a woman teaching this to him.

It wasn’t very soon after Darla’s chat about dancing that one of the vampires in the room came over to sit beside him. He felt a bit weird with the woman sitting so close to him. She said something in a different language, and then she started talking him about the same thing as Darla, only hers sounded a bit more personal, as if between friends. It almost seemed like she wanted him to join her to dance as well, but right now he only felt like dancing with his Guy. “Sorry . . . ” he muttered, shifting only a little in his spot, trying to get used to the woman so close to him. “...but I don’t really feel comfortable-“

Before he could finish his sentence, though, his vampire lover started to speak. He noted the normal dancing of where Pierre used to live, and even he had to admit that the dancing down in the clubs was a bit more sexual and crazy than the ones he was going to be learning here in this room. It was so much different, in fact, that Pierre wondered why they were so far apart when they were dancing. Not that he was complaining, as they were as close as he wanted them to be right now. Then, hearing that during a dance he was expected to dance with many other people, he hoped that he would never be forced to dance with a female that he knew nothing about.

Finally, Pierre stood and wrapped his arms around his waist. “Can I try now?” he asked, looking at Guy, telling him with his eyes that he meant to dance with only him, and not with someone else in the room.

Guy looked down at his kitten. The man really didn't understand much of the ideas of being at court, but Guy decided maybe he should take things one move at a time. He madea gesture, and the music restarted from the beginning. He looked at Pierre, "Take a few moments to establish the emotion."

The vampire dipped and spun away from his cat, presumably to show off but really just to speak to Darla, who he whispered to when he passed, "Would you dance with Natasha this time, please. I'll try to pass him off to her when he gets going."

Nodding to Guy at his request, Darla smiled coolly at Pierre and inclined her head. She knew it was slightly mocking, but she felt it would be a resonse far more likeable for the cat than seeing her wtih her sword levelled at him. Turning to look at Natasha, Darla extended her hand towards her so that she could bring her to her feet.

"Do you wish to dance Natahsa?"

Although phrased as a request, Darla knew that her vampires all knew that a request from her was simply a nicer way of phrasing a command.

Watching the cat finally go and join his love, Natasha smiled, especially when they began dancing. Watching Darla walk over and extend her hand, Natasha took it. With a bow and a smile Natasha answered her Mistress. “It would be my pleasure Mistress.”

Letting her Mistress lead her across the dance floor, Natasha realized how long it had been since she had last graced a dance floor. Smiling at her Mistress as they began to dance, Natasha not only watched her own dance partner, but watched the cat and Galeno as well. He was actually dancing better than he may have thought. Turning her attention back to the woman who deserved it, she smiled once again “You are a very good dancer Mistress Darla.”

Pierre blushed as Guy spun away from him, telling him to feel the emotion. He was feeling it, he knew. It wasn’t that hard to dance and he shouldn’t even have to go through the torment of the others telling him how to dance. All of these thoughts rushed through his mind, telling him that he knew what to do and when to do it. He didn’t need any of their help, because he knew how to dance... Just not like they wanted him to dance.

The cat followed as Guy walked away from him, determined to show the people in the room that he could dance just as well as any of them could. From what he had seen of the dance, it looked so simple. He was even hoping that they would have started off with a more complicated dance, because this one looked as if a toddler could do it.

Pierre eyed Darla as she walked over to Natasha, asking the other vampire woman to dance along with her. He smiled at them, realizing now that he would be able to dance with his vampire without being yelled at for not dancing with a woman. Now this would surely be easy. He turned around and took a hold of Guy’s hand. They started to dance with the music. Pierre looked down to his feet, staring there to make sure he was dancing correctly.