Christmas Eve at the Jackdaw’s

[annabelle]

Helen raises her eyebrows with appreciation and with a thank you she takes the drink and relaxes in one of the big sofas she spotted earlier. The sofa felt super soft and comfortable and that was one of Helen's weaknesses. She could stay in this sofa all night without a complaint.

She takes a sip and observes the surroundings. Maybe this will be an uneventful party after all. All she had to do was relax and enjoy the evening without causing any chaos this time.

Relax Helen, take a deep breath, you got this. You can be civilised for once. Yes, you can. Yes.

[Christine Daye]

"...my mother's people have pin trees.... decorated with silver and nails... a surety to return... when one travels far from home... but this tree... it is well adorned.... so beautiful!"

Christine smiles, her gaze distant.

"...I would have tied ribbons on its branches... bright holly berries... baubles and icicles and snowflakes.... ivy garlands and silver bells... o the rising of the sun.... and the running of the deer.... the playing of the merry organ... sweet singing of the choir... "

She blinks, smiling softly, if still a bit distantly at Jerome.

"...but yes.... O Tannenbaum will be perfect! What an excellent suggestion, Mr Price! "

[Mrs K. Saunders]

“Mr Price, there are a few more guests expected. Mr Corvinus and his childe, Mr Isaac Black, Miss Caswell, Lady Mayweather, Miss Herschel and perhaps Mr Knox too. Though I have not had a reply from
Mr Knox, it maybe he is on another of his brave missions to protect the Camarilla. Such a shame, I would have been delighted to have him here. I am so pleased with the horses he found my husband and I.”

She smiles in the direction of her husband in the corner, who was obviously building himself up to civilised social conversation. He was busying himself setting up the games table, readying dominoes, cards and other such entertainments. Why he ever suggested that they invite people around was beyond her. His attempts to make her happy seemed to be at such detriment to himself at times. She needs to tell him that he need not martyr himself so in future.

“In the dining room there is a Christmas feast for those who choose to partake, but of course no one should feel an obligation.” She smiles at Christine particularly at this point.

“When the others arrive we have a group of carollers to sing and perhaps give refreshment if you can all guarantee no permanent harm come to them or the masquerade.”

[Erika Leroux]

Quietly Erika undoes a ribbon from her hair, a burgandy one, edged with gold thread, and passes it to Christine.

"Here. As well as a song." she murmurs. "It seems only reasonable."

She reaches for a glass of wine, and turns to Jerome, smiling. "A fine choice indeed. It's good to see you again. I trust all is well? I am sorry I was unable to talk more with you last time we met - and not least because you seem so knowledgeable of the musical arts. "

[Matthias]

"Now, now my dear, let us not fight over such trivialities any more. It is Christmastide eve no less and it would certainly look poorly if the door were to open and we were found to be arguing like bitter old maids."

Matthias smiled sweetly at Lissa as they approached the door of the Jackdaws. The walk through the city had been quite pleasant in the winter's air. Admittedly it had been a less than auspicious start to the evening. Between walking through the south dressed up for a posh evening out and into the north of the city along with the constant back and forth between them that had started before they had even left.

The glare that he could feel boring into the side of his head was quietly amusing and he took a moment to smooth down the front of the purple dress he had decided on. He smiled warmly at his Childe and knocked delicately on the door. It was quite rare time that he got to lecture another on proper behaviour and appearances in mortal society. Behind them walked one his stable carrying the gifts from them both, a gentleman to accompany them on their walk. Wilberforce was no Waberley unfortunately but his background meant he was the most suitable to use this evening.

At the surprised look on Ellen's face as she opened the door he simply smiled pleasantly and spoke before she had chance to.

"Good evening, do be a dear and let us in won't you?"

Matthias turned and took his gift for the Jackdaw's from Wilberforce and waited for Lissa to take her own before the pair entered into the house. Wilberforce nodded to his charges and after a quiet "Good eve ladies." left empty handed the way they had come once the door was shut.

"You should go and tell the lady of the house the Corvinus party has arrived." he said to Ellen with a smile. He knew that look. It was the one most servant's wore when he turned up looking and sounding like their master or mistress.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine is startled by the voice coming from the hall and looks uneasy. William, Helen’s ghoul whispers something into her ear and she calms a little.

She says brightly, if not a little shakily, on the new arrivals entrance to the drawing room, “Ah Mr Corvinus and your childe, I am delighted you have come. I cannot of course pretend that I am not a little surprised by your appearance, but if makes you comfortable then there is no issue. Of course you will have had made sure that this will not break the masquerade in any way.”

She smiles sweetly.

“I hope that you are still able to enjoy the feast that Ellen and my staff created? It can be found in the dining room.”

[annabelle]

Upon the arrival of Katherine 2 and Elisabet it seems that the sofa was so comfortable for the young Ventrue she fallen immediately into the arms of Morpheus. But it only lasted 3 minutes surprisingly.

Upon waking up Helen observes the circus with an unreadable expression. There is an emotional detachment there, watching their interaction like she would observe an animal interaction in the Zoo behind bars. Katherine the prey and Matthias the predator. Smelling the fear and the weakness and Helen is wondering can a prey be taught to be a predator and what it takes to transform a prey into one. Is that even possible? Is Katherine doomed to be prey until someone snatches her neck for real? Maybe there was hope for something sustainable between a predator and a prey.

Upon Katherine’s reply she chuckles and then says to Jerome with a fake yawn “I told you it will be a peaceful evening. Some admire Katherine so much they even try to be like her. There is so much love in this court.”

[Elisabeth.BasireDuP]

Lissa's look of frustration is swiftly calmed into calm politeness as they are ushered in to the house. She curtsies graciously to the Prince and then their hostess. "Your Grace, it's a pleasure to meet you again, Mrs Jackdaw, thank you very much for your kind invitation". She places a rectangular parcel under the tree, then returns to stand bus behind her sire.

[Jerome Price]

The florid entrance of Matthias elicits a raised eyebrow from Jerome, he leans in towards Erika and whispers "Indeed your Majesty. I try to keep abreast of anything new when time allows. I had hoped to make it to London for the unveiling of messieurs Gilbert and Sullivan's latest production, Iolanthe, they do provide the most delightfully light-hearted satire on the sorry state of the kine's politics. But I am certain that tonight will make up for missing it, in fact if we're very lucky the list of guests look like we could be in for a pastiche of their work this very evening."

Jerome takes a step to the sofa upon which Helen appears to have lost herself and perches on the end, "Do you have any genre or periods which are of specific interest to you your majesty?"

At Helen's interjection, Jerome leans down to the sofa and nods, "Yes, so much love in the court that it over-flows it would seem. And when the cup runneth over, blood is sure to be spilt." With an exaggerated motion Jerome rolls his glass so the red liquid sloshes to the lip and almost over and then back to his lips where he drinks deeply. "

[Matthias]

At Katherine's comment of breaking the masquerade, one eyebrow rises slightly for the briefest of moments before it vanishes in light laughter and a widening smile at Helen's comment. The mannerisms, movements and voice are all eerily similar to Katherine's own.

"Indeed my dear, to truly know and understand a person one must first walk a mile in their shoes. I had hoped to gain some glimmering insight into what goes through the mind of one such as Mrs Jackdaw. For one who is believed to be of the Beau Monde, our dear hostess has an incredible capacity to cause insult to her betters in our own circles and also has yet to learn how to provide a proper, suitable and worth while apology."

The bright and cheerful smile is turned upon their hostess.

"Still, it is Christmastide and a time for joy. I do so love this time of year, you can actually get out and about at quite a reasonable hour of the day and speak to all sorts of people. I thought as it's the first time I've attended a soiree on this evening, normally I just attend the Christmastide mass, and apparently gifts are given on this day for some reason as well as you being the hostess I should get you something special."

A simple, covered wicker basket is passed to Katherine before they turn and help themselves to one of the crystal glasses filled with blood. There is a round of smiles and polite nods to the other guests in greeting as they sit down on one of the seats and make themselves comfortable.