Beautiful like a song

[Christine Daye]

It's gusty, as they walk along the river bank towards the weir. Christine settles her green top hat more firmly on her auburn tresses, wraps her cape closely around her shoulders. As usual, she is singing to herself quietly, waiting for her companion to choose a topic of conversation.

"The day gets dark uneasily
Darker and darker still
And you are gone to Carnevale
And I feel the winter chill

But you, little son come safely home
Riding the tail of the wind
May you always come this safely home
In winter, fire and snow"

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus has remained in his human form so as to maintain a conversation, but behind his glasses the Gangrel's eyes flash amber as he scans their surroundings.

"Ms Daye, I have a question if you would not mind my asking. Have you memorised all the songs you sing? Or does the music just...come to you?"

His coat swishes around his ankles, with hands clasped behind his back he tilts his head back and enjoys the feeling of the wind on his skin.

[Christine Daye]

Christine tilts her head, considering the question.

"Yes, and yes. I have never tried to count how many songs I have learned, but there must be hundreds. I like words, and I find it easy to memorise lyrics. But sometimes the music just comes to me... that's the time that I really feel like I am noth..." she bites back what she was going to say next, hums a moment.

"It's at times like that I feel like I am part of something... bigger... like the music of the universe is singing to me and through me... and the weight of ages... and the hopes and fears of all creation are there... all seeping through the cracks and the shadows of the world... through the night black... sky black... blood black... singing in my veins and my heart and my soul until I am lost and gone and nothing and everything and part and whole and sundered and agonised and exalted and transcended and amazed and afeared and dreaming and... ohhhhh..."

Her eyes are dreamy and unfocused. She comes back to herself with a start.

"Tell me something you know to be true."

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus smiles

"I know the moon and world both are more beautiful when viewed from a distance. But such perspective invites coldness into the heart."

He glances at her

"Tell me something you know to be false."

[Christine Daye]

She smiles, pure and perfect and joyful.

"I am not in love."

She laughs, pirouetting around with her arms spread wide, spinning and whirling. When she finally stops she giggles, dizzy.

"Tell me your dream."

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus watches Christine pirouette, his smile wide.

"A difficult question Ms Melody, for I have so many dreams. But on this night..."

He glances up at the moon, partially covered by clouds it still reflects in his glasses.

"..on this night I dream of finding love."

The compulsions of the moon are strange, I suppose it is no surprise that the Malkavian's are the clan of the moon.

He tastes the wind.

"Tell me what makes you feel safe and content."

[Christine Daye]

"...safe and content..."

Images in her mind. The pop of soap bubbles. The caress of a single nail. Black and white and red and green and gold. Notes soaring effortlessly. Two voices as one in ecstasy. Green ribbon on white skin. The closeness of a overheated cabin, a narrow bed. A dinner game without dinner. Starlight and Moonlight. Fate. Water. Hope.

"My Queen of Shadows and my Fair Fae Lord."

She breaks into song.

"...trust I seek, and I find in you... every day for us something new... open mind for a different view... and nothing else matters...

She looks at Regulus, eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Tell me your hope."

[Regulus Grey]

Hope? I don't know him much of that remains for me Christine.

Slowly raising one hand Regulus strokes his jaw, thinking. Looking at at the moon he stares long and hard at the pale disk, clouds scudding across it's surface.

"A hope is much the same as a dream...but let me see...a hope..."

He falls quiet, subconsciously a crest of feathers slides out of his skin to form around his neck. He seems to notice and with a slight apologetic smile they slide back into his skin, disappearing into nothingness once more.

"I hope...I hope that one day I may prove those who deride me for social blunders foolish."

He looks back to her

"What is your happiest memory?"

[Christine Daye]

She laughs.

"Oh, so many! Lying with Mama on the green, green grass of the rath, listening to the music of the Otherworld.... that precious moment when I can feel the entire room... the entire theatre wrapped in the coils of my voice... dancing around the campfire with wild abandon... being shown the stars... singing for Euterpe while incense wafted around.... gifts freely given... crying and laughing and singing and... oh... joy!"

She sings, a tune that he might recognise as Beethoven's Ode to Joy

"Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt*;
Alle Menschen werden Brüder*
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt."

A pause, a breath.

"Tell me something that amuses you."

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus tilts his head, considering.

"The way ducks walk."

He grind broadly, teeth flashing in the low light. It's in this moment with teeth bared and eyes gleaming amber it's possible to understand why some Kindred claim the Gangrel are close in blood to the Lupines.

"Tell me something you wish you could do."