Snippet #2276623

Caterina Di'angelo

"These are wrong, they need to be softer, more silky to the touch." Caterina shook her head slightly at the fabrics laid out on the table in front of her. Beside her several young people took notes on what she was saying and one gathered up the fabrics and carried them away. Caterina sighed quietly in frustration, nothing seemed quite right and she needed this design to be perfect. It was the last design in her portfolio and she had even the smallest chance of impressing her father then it needed to be extra special. The portfolio had a mixture of different outfits in it for various occasions and the last one she planned as evening wear but she needed it to be different enough to stand out on its own.

"Rina, what are you still doing here?" Sasha, her friend and employee of the company, asked. "Didn't you say you had to leave early tonight? Some dinner or something?"

Caterina checked her watch and cursed as she saw the time, the last thing she needed was for her to show her father up by being late. She was after all trying to prove herself to him not make him see her in a worse light. She nodded to Isabella before grabbing her things.

"Can you make sure they have the silks ready tomorrow?" She called over her shoulder hurrying towards the exit not waiting to hear Sasha's reply.

A short time later she was putting the final touches to her evening toilette and ensuring that she looked perfect for the evening ahead. As she applied the final coat of lip gloss she wondered what if any interesting people she would meet that night and whether tonight she would meet her match. She wasn't particularly fond of being 'matched' with someone yet she disliked the incessant waiting for it to happen almost as much. She was twenty two years old, past matching age and yet so far nothing had been announced. It made her feel as though she was too odd even for the Masquerade and could not help but worry that the others thought the same about her.

Her father shouting for her pulled her from her reverie and she looked in the mirror briefly ensuring she looked as she should, she smoothed the fabric of her red dress (http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt11 ... ses/M6.jpg) and ensured her mask was secure before she headed down to her father and the car. The trip to the manor was uncomfortable as usual with her stepmother going on about how disappointed she was with Caterina and her father sitting silently across from her. It was a relief to step out of the car even if it did mean running the gauntlet so to speak, she didn't mind the Masquerade and even enjoyed some parts of it such as the dancing, but hated how crowded it got. But her father would never allow her not to show her face and so she took a deep breath and entered the ballroom ensuring a bright, confident smile was on her face.

Nathanial Townsend

The water was cool but not cold and quiet thanks to it being his private pool, as much as he disliked those who watched over him he could not deny they ensured he had all the comforts he could possibly want. As well as all the isolation he could want or more appropriately need. Nathanial struck through the water in long fluid movements swimming from one end of the pool to the other. He swam until his muscles ached and had begun to tremble and for a time at least he felt calmer though he knew it wouldn't last. But if he was to get through this latest evening at the Masquerade he would need to hold on to that calm for as long as possible.
Finally when he could swim no more he admitted defeat and climbed out of the pool and walked naked into his private suite adjoining the pool room.

He wasn't surprised to see the suit hanging on the front of his wardrobe door and would have been more surprised if there had not have been one there. In the relatively short time he had been in Italy he had learned that the people employed to watch him and ensure nothing happened to him also did a very thorough job of ensuring he did as he was told. Oh they allowed him his freedom, or at least a pretence of freedom, just so long as it did not adversely affect the Townsend name or in any way interfere with the Masquerade. After all he was here to be 'cured' and nothing could get in the way of that, not if his father had anything to do with it.

The glass on the bedside table began to shake and the contents slosh around as it did so, realising he was clenching his fist Nathanial closed his eyes and breathed deeply. After a few moments the glass was still again and his anger sealed shut again, for now. With a resigned air he dressed hardly caring that the suit clearly had been tailored for him emphasising his broad shoulders, long legs and small hips a legacy of his years in the pool. (http://www.lulusoso.com/upload/20120414 ... or_men.jpg)
Once dressed he made his way down to the car park where his driver waited along with his chaperone. He nodded to the older man sitting in the back of the limo, by now used to the fact that his father kept constant tabs on him. The man nodded back but said nothing and the journey to the manor was made in silence.

Nathanial ensured his mask was straight and secure before leaving his shadow to take up position in a discreet corner while he entered the ballroom. Plenty of others had already arrived and he noticed those he knew such as Mime, Whisper, Lucid, Rapture and others. He nodded to each of those he recognised but did not smile nor greet them personally. Instead he walked straight to the bar and after receiving his drink simply stood watching the others.