Something about this time of year got the masses focused on their stories and songs and nostalgia as the dark creeps in they huddle still, not around campfires so much but in their books and their shows and their bastion of light. Telling their stories twisting them and turning them, re imagine and redefining.

But that provided the opportunity he sought a chance to practice picking apart the symbolism to reach understanding, and the medley of the nights performance slamming together cherry picked pieces from well loved musical added new context that could offer new insight.

That came later of course first the pre-requisite small talk, something the man in grey was increasingly less fond of. He couldn't recall the last time he had cracked a joke. And so has taken his post at the fringe of the hall allowing the buzz and bubble of conversation filter around him. A glass of champagne in a gloved hand the better to fit but otherwise untouched.