death incarnate & night triumphant

How very much Andras wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose; to roar at the men sitting in council with him. How hard was it to determine trading routes? It wasn't, it was something that should have taken them no more than an hour not two days. Typically, he was the ever patient monarch, allowing the debates to go on for however long as necessary. Though, there were times he would much rather throttle the faeries who debated and argued and shouted until their voices were hoarse. It was rare when Andras needed to use that authority to settle an issue; he found that things tended to have a way of working out; at least for the most part. Today, however, Andras has to use that authority of his to settle the debate on who would be getting what spices from the new shipment. He hides the agitation well, staring down a particularly young faerie man who had recently taken over his family business. It was that arrogance that had caused Andras to growl at him several times, the young man having the audacity to snap back at him. A mistake and the boy knew it too the moment those rather rude words left his lips, his face paling that he might have insulted the High Lord.

"Nikolai, cool your temper," Andras says dryly before pushing himself to a standing position from the table, "We will break for lunch, I expect everyone to bring a solution to this table within an hour," Andras states calmly before excusing himself to the room adjacent to the council. The moment he shuts that door, he sighs frustrated, his long fingers coming up to run at his temples. How very aggravating it was when he merely wanted to share the day with Lani but instead, he was stuck baby sitting a group of grown men, worried about who was getting what. It was as if the monarch needed to teach them that sharing was indeed okay. Scowling, he lowers his hands before he crosses the room towards the windows. Perhaps he would release those wings and fly for a bit, soaring through the sky tended to relieve his frustration or physical exertion usually did the trick too. The Fae is just about to push through that door, when his sensitive hearing picks up a soft sound. Curious, he quietly makes his way out onto the deck, those dark hazel eyes instantly finding Lani.

Such joy and glee fills her face as she packs a snowball together and begins to roll it into a much larger ball. He had seen the children in Somnia do much of the same, stacking ball after ball on each other, though the man had never had the pleasure to do so himself. His gaze immediately softens as he watches her, her eyes alight with wonder as she plays in an almost childish fashion. It was rather endearing all the same, his arms coming to cross over his chest as he follows her movements for awhile. He's surprised when she begins to decorate the white balls then, his brows furrowing in confusion. The faerie children merely stacked and carved the sculptures then, never adorned them with... twigs. Andras watches her carefully as she begins to add small decorations to the sculpture, almost laughing out loud when she adds a face and arms. It was delightful, truly the childish way she so entertained herself. Glancing down at her once more, he turns on a heel and enters the lodge again, feeling lighter than he had moments ago. The monarch was determined to finish these debates by the end of the day, he didn't want them interfering with the rest of his time here.

And that's what he did. The moment he sits down in that chair, he launches into the debates again with renewed vigor, Nikolai keeping his temper in check, still looking slightly pale from insulting the faerie King. It still takes hours to finish and by the time they are done, the room is darkening, the weak sunlight filtering through the windows and casting an orange glow over them. Bidding them a goodnight, he watches them depart one by one until he's the last one in that room. Tilting his head from side to side, he relieves the stress in his neck before he exits the room after them, pausing only once to listen to where Lani was in the house. Determining she was indeed in her room, he sighs, she was most likely exhausted from the day. He felt guilty he had to leave her to her own devices but he was pleased, nonetheless, she managed to keep herself entertained. Prowling up the stairs to his own room, he quickly discards his clothing, retrieving a towel and wrapping it around his waist before leading himself through the bathroom and out the doors towards the hot springs.

Night has fallen completely, the stars twinkling above him as he tosses the towel on a nearby chair before sinking himself into that deliciously hot water. He can't help the sigh of contentment that releases from his lips as he settles himself deeper, tilting his head back to watch the steam disappear above him and into the night. It's the sound of the opposite door being opened that has his head snapping up, eyes narrowing as he tries to make out the figure approaching the pool and sinking into the water opposite from him. Her scent hits him, his nostrils flaring as he takes her in, the steam parting enough for him to take in her form emerged in the water, clearly naked though the steam and nightfall has her obscured from view. It's clear she's oblivious to him as a devilish smile begins to toy on his lips, "Lani darling, I thought you already went to bed," he purrs at her, announcing his presence as he so casually shifts closer to her, though he stops a few feet away, respecting her privacy.

Andras Steinhello darling