At Thomas' question, Antonia stood quietly, gliding silently to cross the distance between them and stand behind her lovely man. His question wasn't for her after all. She knew as well as Thomas, the real business that had brought them here this night, the tantalizing information connived from another hapless privateer captain earlier this very day - and it had not a thing to do with rounds of gleek.

But she'd have to be blind and senseless, to miss the foul mood these games with the First Mate and the helmsman had brought on him. The tense set of his jaw screamed of his growing anger as he won hand after hand, and the flashes of irritation in those copper eyes was as bright to her as a beacon fire. Oh, she could see well what the first mate was doing, the numbers ticking easily in her own head all the way down to the precise 1/12th of her own coin Nicolette still held back. And Antonia could see the peace that orchestration brought to the woman, that blessed calm that she created for herself, by her own wit and intellect, in the eye of the storm of this world.

But for all his worthy qualities, Thomas could not see the reason behind what Nicolette did, the exquisite control she exerted in every least move, the calculations and the quiet, deliberate deference before yet another captain. And he was still [i]most[/i] ill-pleased, despite that wisp of a smile he wore.

Antonia's strong fingers began to slowly knead Thomas' shoulders, his neck, a motion as soothing as the gentle kiss of calm seas against a sandy shore. She sighed tenderly as she leaned forward to whisper in Thomas' ear, words meant only for him.

[i]"Now Silver Fish, if you chose not to shoot your Antonia, even after stealing all your coin? Surely it must give you pause, to reconsider shooting your crew for [/i]throwing[i] all their coin at you, chèr? Besides, you [/i]did[i] say they would pay for the 'interruption,' non?"[/i] A gentle breeze of a laugh escaped her lips, just under her breath, as she rested the soft warmth of her cheek against his ear. His breath was scented still with tangerine, and for just a moment her thoughts were seduced to sweet anticipation, how a kiss this moment would taste - 

Before good sense returned her right where she must remain for the moment. [i]"You've yet to show them your back Thomas. Have faith. I do - in [/i]you,[i] at the least. Such an uncanny bent you have, for knowing to keep the right people around you, unless... "[/i]

Antonia chuckled warmly. [i]"Unless you are looking to make your rogue jealous already? Not even a proper kiss between us yet, but I wonder. Tell me true, are you holding out for a crimson branding on your cheek from Mademoiselle Nicolette now, as proper payment for her deception? Or... Oh! Is it the smiling helmsman who has caught your wandering eye, my lovely man?"[/i] she teased, grinning widely as she stood to her full height once more. Antonia's fingers ran tenderly along his neck, his shoulders, before those grey eyes turned first toward the ever-smiling Jax, and then to the almost-but-not-quite smiling Nicolette.