I dreamt I dwelled in marble halls

[Mrs K. Saunders]

She looks at Thomas walking away and turns back to Christine smiling.

"Oh come now Christine, what harm has been done? So a young boy gets a crush on a lady? That happens all the time. Please do not chastise him, he discharged his duties very well."

Katherine studies Christine's face and considers for a second.

"Oh surely you are not jealous? Did he formerly hold a candle for you? Was he some kind of special member of your staff? Please let us not fight about it. You sang beautifully this evening, as always."

[Christine Daye]

Christine jaw is tense and her tone very controlled.

"Katherine.... in case it has escaped your notice... this theatre is my haven... the staff and audience my herd and my ghouls..."

She takes a deep breath, fighting her anger.

"You do not get to use disciplines on my staff!"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine sighs.

"Fine Christine. I will not do it again now I know they are all so very special to you. I honestly cannot see that I have done very much harm though. Surely you know that I hold no ill will towards you or dear Erika? It was just a little fun. Come now let us celebrate your wonderful performance!"

She touches Christine's arm reassuringly.

[Christine Daye]

Christine flinches back at Katherine's touch.

"Do not touch me!" she snarls. But it's not her voice. It's a man's voice, deep bass and grating.

She gasps a breath, fighting for control of herself.

"Don't, Katherine..." in her normal tone, if tenser than before.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Christine," barely whispers Katherine as she collapses backwards away from her friend. She falls awkwardly down on to a nearby chair, covering her ears. Wrong, wrong, the voice is wrong she thinks. Memories of thoughts and personas race through her head. Stop... stop..stop! She is within these memories and also a bystander looking on at her suffering. She will control this and if... if she fails then he will be here soon. He will be here soon, to make things right. To ensure that she is her again.

[Christine Daye]

... oh, lift him up and carry him along... Fire Marengo, fire away!
Set him down where he belongs... Fire Marengo, fire away!

Katherine's attack of the vapours gives Christine the chance to gather herself. But it's a struggle. To come to her theatre.... treat her staff like that... and then to touch her, uninvited!

The music in Christine's head is raw and angry, her post-performance nerves rubbed raw.

... Stow him in his hull below... Fire Marengo, fire away!
It's stay he must but then he'll go.... Fire Marengo, fire away!

Still, she gathers herself, fingers tight around each other, humming to herself as she waits for Katherine to stop panicking.

Idly, she wonders if there are any smelling salts on the premises. Probably. You can find the strangest things in the theatre.

...Ease him in and let him lay... Fire Marengo, fire away!
Set him down and there he'll stay.... Fire Marengo, fire away!

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine mind swirls and makes her giddy. Slowly but surely the different names, the strange visages in her reflection and the emotional pain, calm down. A gentler memory comes to the fore, a smile of handsome scandivian and she opens her eyes. Confused as to where she is. A figure stands before her, she squints trying to make out who.

"Henning? Where are we?"

She tries to stand but her legs give way.

[Christine Daye]

Christine sighs in resignation (and no little irritation) , and sits down, folding her arms. She waits for Katherine to come back to reality, not engaging with her, but ready to stop her doing anything stupid. Or stupider.

... When I get back to Liverpool Town, Fire Marengo, fire away!
I'll pass a line to little Sally Brown. Fire Marengo, fire away!
I'll haul her high and I'll haul her low, Fire Marengo, fire away!
I'll bust her blocks and I'll make her go. Fire Marengo, fire away!

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Suddenly the whole field of Katherine's vision settles back into full focus. She sees Christine sitting close by looking irritable. She in turn is angered by the memory of what Christine did with her voice. She stands and faces Christine.

"I promise to not use a discipline on your staff; when you stop using your disciplines on me. I have told you many a time that I do not like your ability to manipulate your speech! I meant no harm by what I did to Thomas and you have never resisted a friendly hug from me before. Remember that I care for you Christine and it was I that brought you back from the brink, not so long ago. I have no problem with you, but it seems that you do with me."

She picks up her gloves and wrap.

"Maybe I should go, this evening has turned somewhat sour."

[Christine Daye]

Incredulity twangs like an out of tune harp string, with the same shuddering feeling of wrongness and revulsion. For several long shocked moments, Christine just stares at the other Malkavian, eyes wide.

Really?! Really, Katherine?! You come to my haven, my theatre, sit in the best seats in the house - box 3 for your exclusive use, listening to my music, all for free. And then you swan around the place like you own it, and entrance my staff? And when I express my anger - my restrained anger - at your rudeness, you pass it off like it was a joke - and touch me without invitation! You do not get to touch me without my permission. You never have, and you never will!

She can feel them, in her mind. The strength of her chord, her root, her third. She knows how furious they would be on her behalf. It gives her strength, where perhaps once, she would have quailed. Bleithneyria snarls. Fionnuisce screams, high pitched and haughty.

...and when I snap at you - just snap! - you have a fit of the vapours, and suddenly this whole stupid, stupid situation is my fault?! No. No no no no no.

The chord fills her mind. Fills her until she feels like she's bursting with it, with the strength of her Trinity.

She tilts her head slightly to the side, and sighs gently.

"...oh... I am so sorry that you feel this way, Mrs Saunders... and it was such a pity... Maestra was hoping to see you this evening... she's always so busy... but she was hoping to catch you... she's probably been delayed by staff issues or something... there is always so much to do here in a theatre!"

She giggles, manic.

"... but she would not wish to detain you if you have other business... nor do I... Good night, Mrs Saunders."