Christmas Eve at the Jackdaw’s

[Christine Daye]

This.... this is why I adore you, my Maestra...

Christine takes the ribbon with a beatific smile and murmur of thanks, and carefully ties it around one of the branches, bowing her head in respect.

"...oh, spirit of Christmas... cast your blessings over this gathering... gods of the Green Wood... shelter and protect us.... "

She looks up in surprise as Matthias and Lissa enter, stifling a giggle behind her hand, before exclaiming:

"...oh! You look beautiful! What wonderful gowns! How lovely to see you both!"

She looks over, catches Jerome's eye for a moment.

"I think you are quite right. With such an.... august and refined gathering... Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan would likely find no end of inspiration here!"

She giggles again.

"Oh! And I must tell you about the delightful plot synopsis your clanmate, Lord Durham gifted Maestra and myself after Elysium! It has a great deal of potential. I think it might amuse you no end..."

[annabelle]

Helen looks at Jerome with a new appreciation and grins “Indeed. A little blood spillage now and then is expected when emotions run high Mr Price. But that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it?”

She then lowers her voice dangerously “Let’s look at Elder Jackdaw now. Who do you think he will find the most attractive, the dutiful wife or this new version of her which might be full of surprises since we don’t know if it’s fully transformed into her.” and with that she takes a long sip from her drink looking at both Katherine(s) dramatically like she is torn.

She licks her lips and traces the blood from her fangs with hooded eyes “Mmmm….I don’t know, they both look like two delicious pretty little things to me. It’s hard to decide.”

She wanted to add ‘Too bad Miroslav is not around’ but she decides otherwise.

While her gaze is focused to the two dark haired beauties she adds to Christine’s suggestion.

“I suppose we just found out who will play the protagonist in the play Christine...He might do it for a life boon.”

[Reginald Verity]

An imposing and ornately decorated carriage arrives outside of the Jackdaws residence. There is a pause whilst the moonlight glistens and reflects from the polished silver ornamentation and then the door opens and a footman produces steps. Exiting the carriage is first Reginald Verity dressed in appropriate evening wear, a cashmere coat and top hat. He looks around cautiously before turning to his companion, Constance, whose he hand he holds as she descends from the vehicle. The house was indeed impressive, he’d give them that at least.

Passing his coat hat and scarf to an attendant who he barely registered, he turned to the hostess. “Simply marvellous Mrs Jackdaw simply marvellously. You are to be commended for you’re hosting and regaled as such. I have brought a small offering for the tree of a vintage of my own creation. It’s a fi...I mean spicy and exciting Spanish ambrosia. Thank you for your kind invitation. Of course I will take my duties as protector of dear Constance’s virtue most seriously.”

And entering the house Reggie directed Constance’s around bowing and greeting appropriately to those in attendance but giving a special smile to Helen, who he noted in conversation with Christine. “Now now Reggie, easy does it” he thought to himself. “It’s not the Fire Court But there’s are dangers of another kind aplenty” as he peered the corners of rooms, under the stairs, behind the tree and so forth from any sign of Jackdaw and his crossbow. It was such an encumberance to have the hikes repaired on his dress cloths after all.

Finally settling by a table to the rear of the room he provided a reassuring smile to Constance and took a moment to pause. Speaking across the telepathic link he shared with Valentina he briefly affirmed “So far so good darling.”

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Helen knew of course that talking in a low voice makes no difference to the Jackdaw’s ability to hear. She will ignore her, despite the anger boiling inside. Now is not the time to reprimand the Princess; Katherine is the calm, genteel hostess.

She hears another carriage draw up outside, wondering who it might be Katherine glances out of the window. Ah, Constance. At last someone with some sense. She appears to have brought an escort, how strange.

She almost faints with shock when Verity walks into the room. She quickly glances to Jack to see his reaction. (What do we do? Constance never mentioned an escort, let alone Verity).

“Good evening Constance. How are you?” She smiles at her with an expression of what the hell were you thinking? She decides to not acknowledge Verity for now until she is sure she will react in a properly polite manner.

[Valentina Audley]

In a room far from Katherine's dwelling, Valentina smiled lazily in response to Reggie's mind message.

"I'm glad to hear it darling, because if you get a hole in your waistcoat that silk will fray beyond even my patching abilities!"

Amusement follows the thought to him.

"Now, if you can spare me a moment of your time, assuming the company you're keeping isn't too fascinating, I'm working on a new gown. Do you think I should place the frill here, or here?" The accompanying image of Valentina in a risque pale pink clinging number, the first has the frill placed to accentuate the bust, in the second it trails invitingly down her thigh.

"I thought I should make some new frocks darling, in case I get invited to travel anywhere this spring!" Mental giggles accompany this thought, a joke shared between them needs no more explanation.

"Of course, whilst I sew it on, you'll entertain me with all the jollity I failed to get invited to, won't you loverling?"

[Reginald Verity]

Upon receipt of the image from Valentina, Reggie forgets all around him and manage several to miss his glass with the punch he was pouring. Collecting himself momentarily he notes that it is only a small spill and attempts to cover the mark with a cloth. If challenged he will of course blame it on someone else. After all there were many choices. He perused the room looking for a suitable individual - Christine perhaps or Matthias’ chide.

“My dear, you really are far too kind and considerate. Your creation isn’t exquisite, as are you.”

[Christine Daye]

Christine beams with delight when she sees Constance and Verity arrive, but another expression of confusion crosses her face at Katherine's obvious snub of the Toreador Elder.

"Mr Verity, how lovely to see you! A very happy Christmas to you! And to you too Constance! Oh, my, we are quite a party now! Do you think we shall play charades before the carolling? I am no good at charades, but they are amusing... or am I thinking of animal, vegetable or mineral? ... which one is the one with the blindfold?"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Taking time to compose herself for a moment, she turns to Verity. Slightly perplexed for a moment as what he was doing with a cloth near the punch bowl.

“Dear Elder Verity, my apologies I quite missed greeting you. My mind is in such a whirl, there have been so many things to plan and also so many surprises. I had no idea that Constance had chosen you as an escort. How wonderful that you could make it. I am honoured that you chose to come.”

(Jack, help me please).

[Trevor Jackdaw]

Jackdaw's never been one for people. Well all but a few. Social gatherings are nothing but a chore outside of those who's companies he'd rather spend. Like Kathrine and only three others. But he loves Kathrine and wants her to be happy. So he was here sitting at a table preparing games. He listens intently to those entering. Helen and Price. Christine and Erika. All tame enough if Helen behaves herself. Mathias and his childe should be fine if he doesn't push too many buttons. However he considers the choice of skin tantamount to plagiarism of a much finer work that he can only hope to match the grace, heart and beauty of soul. As for the Childe she helped explain Jesus to him. Not well but she at least on one occasion tried to helpful, so he felt no instant disdain for her.
And know Verity. It's sad went you find yourself hating someone you once had a sand grain of respect for. But his insult to the bond he share with Kathrine was too much. At Kathrine's message he responds by going to her and place his arm around her. (I'm here. Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen.) He keeps an eye firmly clocked on Verity.

[Lady Fortescue]

Valeria, too, has never been one for people. But despite a questionable adherence to her clan, which, more oft than not is like herding cats into a pen and elicits the spiritual equivalent of an eyeball hemorrhaging glass, the Malkavian prefers solitude.

Christmas, she hears, is meant for family. It is a time to connect to those closest to you, and if they are all dead, then those you can suffer well. And she has been told it is a small gathering. Though Valeria is aware that Jackdaw's Childe enjoys the company of "best friends" who claim shoddy lineage, Valeria is expecting almost exclusively Malkavians.

Thus, Valeria is astonished (and a little chargrinned) to be welcomed by a thoroughfare of noise when she reaches the door. This is more than four people. And she would recognise the male whore's voice anywhere. Since when did they invite Toreador to personal function? How uncouth.

The Primogen is under an Obfuscate: a middle-aged man in a sizable raincoat, but once inside (should the staff let her in!) she replaces it with her standard pale-haired woman in a high-necked black gown. There is a festive trim to the dress hem, silver and decorated with stars. It is at odds with its owner's blank expression.

Valeria extends an archaic but formal greeting to every Elder present, before sending a warmer hail across a telepathic link to the Jackdaw hosts, noting in wary confirmation the presence of the Toreador Primogen.

She is not altogether sure whether the Ventrue 'slot' has been filled on the Council, but greets Matthias regardless, because Valeria cares more for age than labels that downgrade it. She has never felt an Elder should not be an Elder. It is just a shame that his blood belongs to mongrel Usurpers. But then again, so does Verity's, and so too does Leverson's. Campion is not a vampire so she cannot count him in that ruckus. To the Prince she extends another deep greeting, and to those Malkavians present regardless of age her lips twitch into a small smile.

"Have I come to the correct establishment?" she asks of no one in particular, but arctic eyes stray towards Jackdaw. "What a festive amount of predators under one roof."