Armory? It took but several moments for the Frenchman to so understand the woman's belief and apparent delight in so being called after such a thing. Harley so mistaking that word to meaning something quote different from the truth and yet whom was he to so ruin her delight by revealing that such a word, when used as he had used it in regards to herself was far more akin to mean 'sweetheart' then it had to do with the taking up of arms. A ready amusement so finding his features once more and yet he so hardly chose to correct the raven haired beauty before him when she seemed to gain such pleasure from her own misinterpretation of that very phrase. How long it had been since he had met another whom might take pleasure in so being compared to all the beauty of an....armory. Ah, but he would not forget this young woman readily. Her self-assurance, her boldness, her determination- each of them memorable and a true rarity in the word today. Her insistence he could surely do his worst when it came to those languages prompting that ready, playful shrug from himself.

"Minä tahdon."

That warm simper so danced upon his lips once more. Harley distinctly unlikely to recognise that very language and yet she had placed before him a challenge he held little intention to lose. Matteo switching near effortlessly to that native language of Finland. Yet, it seemed, he had perhaps underestimated his opponent and just how far she was willing to go for that very victory in that delicate interplay of warring words. The violet eyed woman so pulling apart his own words only to turn them upon himself in a fashion near layered with intrigue that so dared upon him to lift his own game or afford her that victory. How very...daring off her when she knew not whom she played against! Yet, perhaps such a thing added only to her charm, an unusual brand of charm at that and yet he could so hardly deny the enjoyment he took from it. Was it truly so terrible to press their game further still- if only to see how far he need go before she baulked? Harley, it seemed, content to press further then many others dared. Yet it seemed such was her nature, the way the very world had moulded her so in an effort to survive it. How....unfortunate it was to know that the world had not so finished with her yet.How much he desired to offer her the truth of the future that awaited her in a fashion far clearer then his own layered words and yet to do as such might yet change that course of history- and not for the better. Ah, but how he found disdain in his job sometimes! Matteo quick to conceal such consideration between his own counter in that game. The near ancient Fae, this time, content to promise to show that young woman just what he might do once that tattoo was completed. Harley so readily rising to that challenge in turn with a boldness and tenacity he had near come to expect. That warm grin so finding him again as that softened chuckle hummed within his throat.

"Ah, Mon Cherie, you know not of my attachment to my pride nor the lengths I will go to keep it intact. I dare say you cannot outplay me in this game- but we shall see. You are far more daring than most and that is a prize not easily won."

It was that talk of Fae, in the least, that so returned that conversation to a note perhaps more serious. The rarity of Fae within this world so ensuring precious few were ever given to meet such a being, the misinformation that existed in regards to their species decidedly rife. Matteo content to assure that Harley, of all beings, might know the truth of them and too the veritable pitfalls of their existence. Blood that near sung to vampires, after all, so placed their species so precariously upon the brink of extinction. The violet-eyed woman before him seeming to consider that very thing before those questioned fell eagerly from her lips in a fashion not unanticipated. After all, curiosity in this was only natural. The Frenchman equally as content to sate that curiosity. His head nodding softly.

"We are akin to ageless human with powers, oui. The matter of making more of our kind however is not near so simple. To turn a human into a Fae is....an unpleasant experience, many do not survive and it is rarely performed. We are fortunate perhaps, in that our species can interbreed with humans. Yet the inheritance of the Fae gene is terribly rare, many of my kind struggle with lacking fertility in turn. In all my years I have only ever fathered one Fae-born child and that should speak of its rarity. We were not designed to survive it would seem and yet- we still cling to existence, if only barely."

There was something near rueful in his expression in that moment. Yet, perhaps he was permitted to find at least some ounce of displeasure in watching the slow extinction off his own species. The man unable to help that wry grin at her insistence he could surely sell dirt to a homeless being. Matteo readily allowing his young companion to direct that conversation instead to those countries and his own penchant for travel that so seemed to be the very motivation behind that tattoo and outside of irritating Alexander.

"Oui, Mon Cherie, I have been to Antarctica. It is very....white. Beautiful and yet....hostile, perhaps you share a kindred spirit with such a place? As for my presence in this city- my sons live here, both of them."

One silvered eye lifted but briefly upward in that decided tease. Another soft chuckle rising from within his throat before he so moved to follow the young woman to that workstation and settle himself within that chair. That seat surprisingly comfortable even if it might yet prove the site of his torture. Harley, it seemed, at least inclined to think on his words and yet he offered no more. They would make sense to her, in time. The near ancient Fae, this time, wholly content to take up that talk of the French Revolution as Harley so begun her work. The Frenchman choosing that very tale of one woman, bold before her time, whom had very near started that overthrow of the Monarch with no more than a drum and her words. Harley so readily seeming to identify with that tale in a fashion he suspected she would if only for its boldness, its daring- and the rise of female kind that had sparked such a tumultuous time in the history of the world. Same, after all, were born to change history- and how readily he suspected he was in the presence of one such being here and now even if she would scarcely believe it. Harley so insisting he spoke of the Revolution as if he had been there. That warm simper finding his lips again as he reclined easily within that chair.

"I was there, Mon Cherie- and few times in history have been so intriguing. You are right though, in all these things you say. The world is not as it once was, too few are inclined to invoke change. Too many are complacent. I hope, in your future, you do not lose your tenacity- it is refreshing and far more needed then you know. As for this dress you speak off, I cannot say I pictured you within it, you are right."

His gaze flickered but readily upward to meet that striking violet off her own once more. The Frenchman so leaving her to take from those words what she would, innocent or otherwise. Harley huffing toward him a moment later before offering that lollipop. Matteo reaching for it was a decided eagerness. The Fae appearing near boyish in those moments in which he indulged that treat.

"I am always a good boy."

That retort was perhaps equally as boyish in nature. The masochist before him content to begin her work then. Those first pricks against his skin prompting a certain discomfort and yet it was hardly beyond what he could handle. Indeed it was only once that needle began to press closer and closer to the bone that the first utterance of discontent so left his lips around that sweet. Harley prompted to pause with the sound before he gestured at her to continue. That shot of something nice and strong perhaps not at all a terrible idea. The Fae so forcing his figure to remain still all the same as Harley continued. That numbing cream, in the least, so taking off that edge. Harley so insisting his foot was 'doing a thing'. The Frenchman peering curiously downward before making a distinct effort to keep that offending foot flat and still.

"Greenland was always deceitful, I am not surprised it gives me issues now. Is that better?"

He inquired. Harley suggesting he so attempt to direct his thoughts elsewhere to prevent focusing upon that pain before she lent forward once more to return that needle to his flesh, Matteo winching slightly and yet the Fae remained determined to keep still all the same as that tattoo progressed. The young woman so daring suggest he need think harder on how to win that next round if only because he was losing now. That simper so adorning his lips again.

"I will not lose, Mon Cherie, I am merely allowing you to enjoy this moment while you finish the tattoo- this will be the closest you come to victory tonight, so savour it."

One eye lifted just so but a final time. Those accented words near inlaid with a promise all at once and a challenge in turn. Matteo content to focus his attention back upon that sweet treat as that tattoo progressed all the more. Each of those needle pricks prompting that blood to run to the surface as Harley so dutifully wiped it away. New Zealand, so far, proving to be almost the most painful. The ancient Fae wincing several more times in response to that pain, that occasional short, sharp exhale of air the only true indication he was content to offer of the pain of those needles. His determination to remain still surely decently impressive if nothing else as Harley continued. Matteo glancing downward several times to see how far the woman had progressed. Those lines decidedly well drawn. The Frenchman savouring those occasional pauses she offered him, the man caught between desiring those very breaks and merely willing her to continue all at once. How very much forward he looked to those endorphins she mentioned.

The lollipop was soon finished. Matteo moving to set the stick to the side, the Frenchman finding himself rather displeased that delightful taste had ended so soon. Another soft huff of air leaving him then as Harley begun to work her way up whatever country she had taken too etching into his skin now. Matteo so attempting to guess from those lines just which it might be. That very game so engaging his thoughts for several moments before Harley's mention off that shot seemed all the more engaging. That singular wave off his hand readily seeing that shot glass appear within it in near the same moment. That very glass so filled with that distinctive liquor as he lifted it easily to his lips. That ready simper finding them in near the same moment as he glanced downward toward the woman.

"You were working on South America, tequila seemed fitting. We Fae have very useful powers as you can see...."

That shot glass disappeared readily from his hand, only to reappear filled once more. Matteo lifting it in a toast of sorts before returning it again to his lips.

"Are you nearly finished, Mon Cherie? I am sure I have felt the weight of the world...."


m a t t e o
it's tough to be a god