Rather than finish the whiskey in her glass, Claudia stared at it for a moment, then put it on the dresser and pushed it away. It wasn't often she let herself imbibe unchecked, and she was acutely conscious of the need for numbness happening more and more.

"--you're quite right," she replied with a semi-forced smile. Kicking herself for this show of weakness, she felt her bland, perfect mask returning, despite her loathing of such a firewall. "There's been so much to do lately, what with organizing the coming Feast, this problem with individuals being unable to leave; it's been quite trying."

Decorum. Decorum she could do. "But I do thank you for your kind concern, Mr. Mackinnon." Despite her formality, she twinkled slightly. "And for the good Scotch."