Avalon was quiet. The Courtiers and other Kindred all busy elsewhere with other projects. Martha sat at her desk...and tapped at a half-hearted Google search about the Phantom Time Hypothesis.

She fiddled with her twin tails and looked off to the picture on her wall of the ballerina. It wasn't that she was bored, more...bothered. Thoughts of people and places occupied her.

Rubbing hard at her knee she stood up, tried to walk about and soon regretted it. She had stood up too fast. Leaning against her desk she frowned.

Gathering her cane she decided to leave her studies for a moment and take a walk around the Avalon. Leaving her hat on her head and her satchel and blazer on her hatstand, she took up her cane. With no one about, she had dressed in her school uniform. Martha brushing at her long gymslip and hobbled out. Gently closing and locking her chamber door.

Taking care to move silently as possible and out in the Avalon basement foyer and dancehall area Martha hobbled over to The Stairs.

Keeping an eye and ear out for anyone who might be around as she fiddled with her cane and, seeing no one immediately about, she experiment and tried out standing on the bottom step to The Stairs. She set her cane down by the bottom step and looked up the flight of Stairs...yes, there was the new elevator. But, this was a challenge.

Conner Greyson sat in the corner of court and watched the courtiers. He also took notice of a certain Mekhet who looked up the steps and wondered what her plan was. They had installed a elevator but then again... Conner stood and made his way over to the lady Herald as she looked up the steps, "May I be of assistance, Herald Villiers." The Shadow said trying his best not to startle her.

But she was startled, clutching her hands to her chest in a gesture of surprise, wide eyed, she looked to the voice with embarrased wide eyes. "Ah! Ah! Deputy Greyson! Priscus! You...you are the very Devil of stealth!" she giggles nervously, keeping her hands to her chest. She tries another smile. "Assistance? Perhaps, sir...I...I was to test myself against The Stairs...the elevator is a Modern delight...and such a joy to ride in! But...well..." her words trail away. She falls quiet. "You are kind to offer though, sir. Thank you." she adds, with a sincere respectful nod of the head. She tries another smile, one hand strays to her lame hip and begins a gentle rubbing there. Her eyes watching Conner carefully, respectfully.

Conner leaned against the wall, taking stock of the diminutive woman, "You are welcome. I will leave you too it then, I would hate to offend someone as capable as you." Conner says in an polite, but not placating, voice. Conner speaks as if to leave her to the steps, but he does not move, his ever observant eyes watching in case she falls. He doubted she would, any Kindred with such an injury would have adapted by now. At least if they were worth the ashes they were made from.

She smiles nervously. "Ah!" she giggles slightly, "You linger, sir! Thank you" but she wonders if her is to examine her in someway...it would make sense. She nods, resolving now, she dips a curtsy, lifts her gymslip an inch or two to give freer movement at the hem and proceeds to try to run up The Stairs. She efforts are ungainly, her stiff leg makes her progress slow and it looks painful. But she is resolute and does not falter in her effort. She reaches the top, lowers the hem of her gymslip, turns and smiles triumphantly to Conner. All wide eyed.

Conner gives a bow and a quiet applause. "Well done Herald Villiers, Yes I lingered. If you lost your balance I wanted to be within reach to assist." Conner explains as he climbs the steps to shorten the distance there words had to travel.

She replies to the applause by a careful, if slow and playful curtsy...but, as he talks, Martha seems oddly moved by this, her hands clutch again at her chest, she looks to Conner with wide eyes once more. "Goodness, sir...how thoughtful." she seems taken aback, hangs her head, as if shamed in someway, "How kind, sir. Thank you." she begins to carefully hobble down The Stairs to meet Conner upon them...her effort, she realises, is intentionally symbolic as well as practical.

"Is there something wrong, Herald Villiers?" Conner asked taking notice of the look on the woman's face.

"Oh, only...you are so thoughtful, sir. It is so long since we conversed last and...I feared that...well, I had hoped that our hearts had not hardened towards each other. I should hate for that to happen, sir." she pauses at rest on one of The Steps, rubbing hard at her hip, her gaze to her shoes.

Conner's brow furrowed, "Perhaps we should speak privately." Conner said offering her his arm, if she accepts he will lead her to her office or a private room where they can sit and speak. "Is your office acceptable or would you prefer a meeting room?" Conner asked.

Martha nods, glumly. She clearly suspects some rebuke. Her hand waves towards the meeting room. If I am to be scolded, she feels, let it be there. "The meeting room is free, sir." she accepts his arm and meekly allows herself to be led where he will take her within the confines of the Elysia.

Conner does just that escorts her to a meeting room where they can discuss what she means. Once inside Conner waits for Martha to sit, once she does he does too. "Herald Villiers, why do you think there is ill will between us." Conner asks cutting right to the meat of the issue.

Martha seems to be baffled, she is used to standing when receiving a rebuke, so it takes her a while before she sits down. "Well, sir...you and I...we used to share more of our time. Since you became Priscus, we have hardly spoken, sir. Did...did I offend you? Did I upset or disappoint you in some way?" she seems at a loss. "I am certain that, if I did, I did not mean to do those things. I have spoken to you often about my desire and intentions to help you...nothing has altered that in me." she sits and rubs hard at her stiff knee, wide eyed, she seems to be looking hard at Conner. As if trying to decode his reaction and thoughts.

Conner's face is plain, he betrays no emotion. "You and I may have our differences Herald Villiers, but I have not intentionally neglected you or avoided you. I am just very... focused."

"Differences, sir? But, where are are points of difference? About which matters do we not have harmony of thought or deed, sir?" she seems baffled.

"Our personalities Madam Herald," Conner says, "You are outgoing and energetic, I am introverted and reserved. But we are family and we must respect each other differences."

Martha nods meekly. "Yes, sir...yes, indeed. I hope I am tolerant. I..I also look forward to seeing how the Delightful Miss Cardoso will perform as Whip!" a smile now. "I wonder, sir, what will our next activity be...as a Clan, I mean."

"I feel that Miss Cardoso was a good choice by our clan. I was pleased to see you vote for her." Conner says remembering her inability to vote for him for Priscus and then in turn blaming him that he could not vote. That had made him... less then pleased. "As for any future activities," Conner questioned if she actually ment the as a Clan part or just with him, "I am not sure. I wish to respect our clan's privacy. But Miss Cardoso and several others have been working well assisting on some issues for the Reeve's office."

"She may even make a good Seneschal one day." Conner said as if thinking aloud. "Did you have anything in mind perhaps Herald Villiers?"

Martha seems subdued still, she shakes her head. "No, sir...I cannot think of anything at present. The Daeva held a successful Court, of course...though, I can foresee that, were one to suggest a ball or some such event, doubtless there would be disagreement. Reaching a unified decision will always be hard, sir." she looks down and rubs hard at her knee. "I stand ready to help how ever I may with any such scheme though, sir!" she offers a sincere smile while rubbing harder at her leg.

"Hmm that would be very interesting, the clan Mekhet holding a court." Conner thought for a few moments. "Herald Villiers you are a very educated woman. May I ask, what are you reading right now?"

Martha blinks at the apparent non sequitor, she tries a smile and briefly gestures with an open hand towards her chambers; "Of course, you may ask, sir!" she replies, clearly delighted at this turn in the conversation...she seems to enjoy books. "Currently, sir, I am reading 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come' by Professor Norman Cohn, sir...it is, as one may imagine from the title, an academic assessment and analytical look at the roots of apocalyptic mythologies and corresponding cosmologies." she smiles. Watches Conner, wondering what his next question might be.

Conner nodded, "Very interesting. I recently acquired a rather interesting device. Do you know what a Ebook Reader is?" Conner asked trying to appeal to her education to find a middle ground between them. She was just so damned agreeable that he was unsure of what she was actually interested in. Conner hated being placated too, even unintentionally.

"I have heard of them, sir...I have even seen one in use!" she nods, clearly puzzled at this turn of conversation...but not adverse to it, "But I do not own one, sir. Should I obtain one?" she asks, wondering if this was Conner's way of leading into suggesting a Court theme based on the history of printing...or libraries.

"No I don't feel that would be necessary. But I do enjoy mine. I read a good deal you see and with such a device I have incalcuable amount of books at my fingertips." Conner said trying to make casual conversation. Trying to have a conversation that one would have with a friend. But with the look of puzzlement on her face he could see he was not being successful.

Martha seems to catch up a little. The change of topic had confused her. For Conner to stray from his focus was seemingly unusual. Martha nods smiling sincerely. "Ah! I see!" she adds a giggle as she rubs hard at her knee. "You make obtaining such a device sound simply essential, sir! I should very much wish to see yours in action, if I may! At your convenience, of course!"

"I am sure we can make such a arrangement." Conner said with a nod, "Currently I am reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. I find it very interesting look at the human condition." Conner leaned back and crossed his leg, Steepling his fingers as he did.

"The human condition? I have not read that yet, sir. I hope I will make time to do so, sir. It will be interesting to see what all the present fuss is about." Martha smiles, "I wonder, sir, what do you feel is the key lesson one may draw from the book?"

"Well, I haven't finished the book so I do not wish to color your view of the piece. Perhaps, once I have finished it, we can discuss it more. So far it is an interesting look at a government controlling it's people to a point past stagnation." Conner says.

"Hmm" Martha muses upon this theory. She has read a lot about governance and the sociology and philosophy of government and found this stimulating talk. "A point past stagnation? An interesting, and alarming, point of view, sir...one dangerously close to the margins of warning about Black Helicopters and secret FEMA internment camps. I can see now why the book might appeal to those anxious about Big Government and the influence of the military-industrial complex." she nods, her mind now buzzing along a hundred different avenues of thought and theory.

"Yes, it is interesting." Conner paused for a few moments before saying, "Well we should return to our duties I suppose. I have rounds to make. But I will give what you said some thought. If I do decide that the Clan will host a court you can be certain that I will go to you for input." Conner says with reassurance in his voice.

Nodding happily, Martha seems happier and reassured. "Yes, sir...thank you. I look forward to helping, sir." another smile as she stands, readies herself and, offering a respectful nod to Conner, returns to her Duties.