I dreamt I dwelled in marble halls

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Both of the new Malkavians seem pleasant enough. I know little about then so far though. Sebastian has no memory of who he is or where he has come from. Miss Herschel is a scientist of some sorts I believe, she has arrived with her own small library. I hope to speak to them both properly soon. Of course when you visit you can converse with them too. It will be lovely to hear your voice again ring through the halls."

She smiles.

"Tell me what have you been up to recently?"

[Christine Daye]

Christine giggles.

"What, besides recovering from the ball and Egypt before it?"

She gets a dreamy look on her face for a moment as her fingertips ghost to the base of her throat and away.

"...oh... of course! I met another cousin! Aganippe - a Crinaeae, visiting from Athens, no less! She is visiting Lady Sulis, who sounds like she has quite a party happening... but it makes sense, it being Samhain... And it is so nice to meet my cousins... "

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Indeed? How exciting for you. You seem to be very fortunate in the abundance of cousins that you had been able to met of late."

Katherine is smiling widely. Remember that this her derangement, play along, be nice. Her friendship is worth these little forays into whimsy and down right childishness from time to time.

"Christine, I hope that they don't decide to take you back to the Land of the Fae too soon, we would all miss your
magical music."

[Christine Daye]

Christine's smile brightens.

"...yes, it is lovely! For the longest time I thought that I would never see them again... I don't know... perhaps they could not come into the built up places... or just didn't like them... but things have changed... for the better.... "

She tilts her head, thinking for a moment.

"...well, one never knows what the future holds, but I plan to remain here for the foreseeable... my Queen of Shadows and my Fair Fae Lord are here... so I do not need to go yet... besides... I am yet to hear the horns calling me to join the Host... but rest assured I will be ready when they do! And we will ride in glory across the night skies... swirling and whirling and spinning... into the night black... star black... joy and power and strength and... ohhhh... "

She blinks slowly, licks her lips.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Hmmm, thinks Katherine, these fantasies are not all entirely innocent. Let us hope she never attempts to act out any of them. Lending Djinn eye make up is one thing, becoming a raging creature of the Wild Hunt is quite something else.

"Well I hope for my sake, that my best friend will be around for a long time yet."

I wonder whether another time a round of word association would be useful at some point. It could help reveal the source of these delusions?

"So what are your plans regarding next Elysium? Is Christmas observed at all?"

[Christine Daye]

"...oh yes! Thank you for reminding me! I have permission from the Prince and Keeper to get carollers together - and I simply insist that you are one of them! I have a selection of carols planned... Away in a Manger... Silent Night... O Come All Ye Faithful... "

She smiles happily.

"It shall be wonderful! Do say you'll sing, please!"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Of course I will, thank you for asking me. I look forward to it very much. Tell me what is the ettiquette amongst kindred in Bath regarding cards and gifts? Are they exchanged? If they are, well I must starting thinking now. I may have been able to get you a brooch that you like but I know you so well now. There are so many people that I would not have a clue what to get."

Katherine cannot help feel herself fill with festive cheer. Christmas, she always enjoyed it as a child but it was nothing to the festival that the Victorian's have turned it into. She knows inside that she is no longer in the grace of god, and therefore she has no real reason to celebrate, but the candles, trees and presents bring her senses alive. Jack would probably not really approve but at this moment she does not care.

"Christmas, Christine. How lovely!" Her eyes are shining with child like wonder.

[Erika Leroux]

Erika enters the office then, the tiredness around her eyes obvious.

"Ah, Christine, Katherine, how lovely to see you both here. The performance was, as always exquisite - and I trust that seating and hospitality was ameanable, my dear?"

[Christine Daye]

Christine beams at Erika's praise, but is quick to notice the Nosferatu's tiredness.

"...thank you Maestra... will you join us? Just for a few minutes?"

She looks hopeful, but willing to accept a negative answer. There is always so much to do in a theatre.

[Erika Leroux]

"Indeed I will. It'll be good to sit and relax for a while. Tell me both, is there anything of import? Or even rumours? I am desperate for a little light relief from the seriousness that has befallen me of late."

Erika slumps into a chair, and smiles hopefully at the two.