death incarnate & night triumphant

The brightness in the young woman was drastically dimmed, something Andras would hate himself for a long time, if not forever. He was the reason those gentle smiles and easy blushes were long but vanished. The male knew he should have never involved himself with a human and yet, he couldn't bring himself to leave her alone. It had been the first time in centuries he had felt any sort of feeling beyond camaraderie, sure he had many lovers in the past and yet, they were phantom emotions disappearing on the wind. Nothing too intricate to give him a desire to pursue - until Lani. How delicate she had been, her flushing face entrancing and how captivating her eyes were the first time he saw her. How very different she was now, the sadness emanating from her, the polite smile on her lips fading almost immediately. Oh yes, Andras hated himself for what he had done but at least she was alive.

As her smile fades, watchful eyes of his own observes the young fae woman, she seemed flighty, distracted. Her gaze falling on the women seated behind him and he could feel how overwhelmed she was. Perhaps he should have sent someone to watch over her, to teach her the ways to block out sounds and all other things that come with being reborn into a new body. Another item he needed to add to his list as he brooded over liquor tonight. Pushing the thought away, he listens silently as she speaks, Andras leaning back into his chair casually as he observes her. He winces internally, the man desperately trying to silence the words that want to crawl out of his mouth. Surely she wouldn't want a job from him! And as much as he attempts to keep his thoughts locked away, he can't quite control himself. He never could around the blonde woman anyways. "I could offer you a job... in Somnia if you wished, there is quite a bit of work to be done in the city or I'm sure Ida would enjoy an extra pair of hands for preparations..." he trailed off, not entirely sure if that was a good idea to be offering her sanctuary within Somnia.

Again the whispering of women reaches those delicately pointed tips, a moment of annoyance flashing through him at the mocking women. No matter where he went, no matter what age he lived through, there were always gossiping women. Even within his own court, though it was kept to a minimum simply because he didn't want to have simpering, gossiping fools following him around. He's distracted by the way she continuously drinks from her wine, he had only seen Lani consume alcohol a handful of times and she didn't handle it... all that well. Yet, he knew better than to stop her or even make a comment. Before she might have a clever comment to shoot back at him but now he was worried he would chase her away.

The way her eyes seem to glaze over at a distant memory right before she mentions the snow, has his heart clenching. They had enjoyed Somnia together, the snow, the cabin. A great many things he was certain he would never get to experience again. Rightfully so. "It keeps my court in shape," he snorts, eyes glinting with amusement before pausing, "You know, you are always welcome to visit, you have access to the portals and the cabin... well, the cabin is yours, you can come and go as you please," he says, his mask firmly in place, hardly giving away any notion of the turmoil roiling beneath his skin. Andras almost feels cold, the moment the warmth of her smile fades, his fingers tightening on the stem of his wine glass. It takes him a long moment before he can convince his fingers to relax, lest he shatter the glass in his hand. When the waiter reappears, he can't help but extend the invite to the young woman, shutting down any sense of hopefulness that is coursing through him but when she accepts, his brows flick upward, the only show of surprise before he regains his self control.

She orders and Andras can't help but allow a small simper to tug at the corner of his lips before his attention is directed to the man, "Chef's choice," he responds before handing the waiter the menus and watching him scurry off to put in their order. Once his gaze is firmly settled back on Lani, he can't help but read the panic in her face, though she does a rather spectacular job at hiding it, he knows his time is limited. He would be lucky she would stay long enough for her food to arrive. It's a thought he's mulling over when the voices of the women behind him, once again, drift towards them. Insulting, gossiping women. Oh, how he despised them. He knows Lani can hear them, clearly the young fae woman not able to block out the sounds around her. He refused to allow his... reacquaintance to be interrupted by old women who had nothing better to do. Again, he casually leans back a dark, wicked smile tugging at his lips as he casually lays a hand on his knee, the other laying against the armrest, "Lani darling," he states, using his old pet name to grab her attention, "Look at me," he murmurs, his eyes narrowing in delight, "I'll teach you to block it out, but for now...," he trails off as his index finger raises, just slightly, almost looking like he was simply tapping a pattern on his knee.

That dark power appears from his own shadow, something Lani can hardly see from where she's sitting, though the strand snakes it's way through the ground before wrapping around the legs of the table, climbing, climbing, climbing before it explodes into chaos on the gossiping women's table. Wine is upturned rather aggressively, the three women sprayed by red droplets, staining their blouses. All three of them are standing in an instant, shrieking loudly as they try desperately to get away from the splattering wine. The waiters are there a moment later, armed in towels and asking if they are okay as they begin to dab at their blouses, one complaining loudly that her dress was ruined. A dark laugh snakes out of Andras at that, his finger stilling and the small shadow that had caused so much ruckus, vanishing. Glancing over his shoulder to watch the women for a moment, he glances back towards Lani, his shoulders shrugging, "They should be more careful," he winks at the young fae.

Andras Steinhello darling