The wind on the sea

[Christine Daye]

"...oh.... it sounds like you had a very rough time of it... but it has made you strong... which is a good thing... "

She hums idly.

"...are the stories only for the Gangrel? ... I like stories... and now you are here... in Bath... I cannot think of a stranger contrast... well... I can... but not between places in this world..."

[Regulus Grey]

He nods, once more a smile twitching the corners of his mouth.

"It's been quite a shock, getting used to such casual luxury once more."

He shakes his head.

"Some stories perhaps are only for the Gangrel, but the majority are there to be shared with whomever desires to know. Words have power...but not if they are locked up inside someone's head."

[Christine Daye]

".... I cannot even imagine! Are you getting used to it? Or does your heart yearn for the harsh beauty of the steppes?"

She nods.

"Tales need to be told.... for not to be told is to be forgotten... the same with songs... it is why I love the old music so much... and the new!"

She giggles.

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus lets out a breath slowly, then nods.

"I..I am getting used to it. The fire in the evening, being able to warm myself and have fuel fetched for me. Ready availability of blood without having to put as much effort into hunting for it. But the thing I am enjoying most...is the music. The steppes were cold and still...the howling wind and wolves weren't exactly joyful to listen to..."

He breaths deeply

"Yes...music was what I missed most. And books...sitting down in front of a fire with a book and music playing in the background...to me that's what epitomises luxury these days. Do I want to go back? At times...dealing with certain members of the court has made me thing I would be better leaving. But...meeting the other Neonates has helped convince me that coming home was a good idea."

He nods gravely

"I could not agree more, there are few worse things in the world than being forgotten....and music or knowledge being forgotten is especially troubling."

[Christine Daye]

"...ah... that is where our travels differ... I have never been far from warmth or food... and I always travel with a great many books!"

She smiles.

"...it is your turn to ask a question... " she prompts.

[Regulus Grey]

"Ahh...a question."

He stretches at his forearm for a few moments before speaking.

"Do forgive me that...this question is not as deep as yours...but how did Bath come to have four princes? It was my understanding that a Prince would rule for quite some time."

He looks at her quizzically.

[Christine Daye]

She heaves a sigh.

"... this could take a while... and there are bits that I might not have understood properly.... here goes...

"When Maestra and I first arrived, the Prince was a Ventrue, grandchilde of Mithras, of London. Aurelius, I think he was called - he had a string of names and titles which no one ever got right... and preferred being referred to as the Consul Maximus...."

She pulls a face of dislike.

"...anyway, he didn't want to be here any more than other people wanted him to be here... kept banging on about his beloved India... and there was another Ventrue, Redfern, who set up this bizarre plot to attempt to kill the Consul Maximus by blowing up a train... because of something about city sovereignty and not being ruled from London.... Well... the train blew up, but no harm was done to the Consul Maximus and Redfern and his childe Knox got blood hunted for their pains... and Bath was under curfew for a long time after that which made everything really very difficult...

"...the Consul Maximus had had enough by that point and sodded off back to India... leaving Lady Leverson as Prince... and she called off the blood hunt on Redfern and Knox... she lasted a couple of months before the Primogen Council got fed up with her hiding things from them... and they kicked her out... in favour of the then Nosferatu Primogen, Malota of Aquitane... Mr Black's sire...

"... the Master Harpy at that time was Elder Viktor, also a Nosferatu... Malota didn't even make it a month as Prince before she was dead.... and Viktor attempted to seize praxis... but was stymied by Beauclair... who was Seneschal under Leverson and never had the time to have his role changed by Malota...

"Viktor, I think would have made a good Prince... he had the ruthlessness in him to rule effectively... but the Council chose Beauclair... and now I hear of ructions and blood hunts and further attempts to seize praxis... so we shall have to see who winds up with this poisoned crown next... either Beauclair will hold it... or Clyntahn will take it... or someone else will... who knows?"

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus inclines his head politely.

"Thank you for the context, I fear I am at a disadvantage not knowing the history of the city...and the character of the other inhabitants. Another question if I may?"

He blinks slowly, still looking at her.

"You mentioned you traveled before settling here, where did you travel from originally?"

[Christine Daye]

"...oh... all over! London... Paris... Munich... Vienna... Dublin... Athens... Berlin... Madrid... Prague... both before and after I became my current self... "

She shrugs.

"...the life of a touring musician... I have spent a lot of time in rehearsal studios attached to theatres in the greatest cities of the world! Though I have not left Europe... not yet anyway..."

[Regulus Grey]

He seems stunned for a moment.

"Well..you are well travelled."

He blinks, his lips once more twitching upwards.

"Do you have another question for me? Or may I ask once more?"