How curious her assumptions off him in that moment and yet how potent in their accuracy all at once. Perhaps he had no right to hold the confidence he did when, as Harley suggested, he was inclined to lose near as often as he did win and yet was that not the most intriguing game off all? Was it truly a loss if he had lost nothing for it? Ah, but how his mind might enjoy those considerations with a bottle of tequila to accompany them. Yet how dangerous a past-time that was. Alcohol and thoughts a truly potent mix he had been lost within for several centuries before and one such path perhaps better not ventured down again any time soon. Matteo, for now, so hardly allowing that bright simper to falter as that rich chuckle fell from his lips once more. Perhaps he did enjoy losing if only for the very fact it afforded him a challenge to take up again. The Frenchman, for now, finding his thoughts distracted once more for the predictions of heavenly potatoes to Harley's sudden query on whether or not those visions that acousted his mind and eyes were inclined to hurt. That raven-haired woman, for all her fire and brimstone, was decidedly shrewd in her observations and more so- she was curious too. How such talents would only further serve her in time. Matteo content enough to afford her honesty in those answers as his head simply shook. His accented words lacking that tease now as he glanced upward and toward her.
"Yes, that is how the visions appear, my eyes take on that red hue when that power finds itself in use. It does not hurt though. Every now and then they will wake me in the night- but such visions as strong as that are rare."
So few beings ever asked after that affinity, in the least, they so rarely inquired as to how it worked. Matteo quote unable to recall the last time anyone had asked him whether such an affinity hurt him. The near ancient Fae once more finding himself decidedly curious of the mind of the violet eyed woman before him. That sudden query that left her lips, this time, prompting the man to near pause entirely in his work. Was anyone truly free? How.....bold a question that was and yet how much he longed to answer it the way he knew she desired it to be answered, the way Aiden desired it to be answered and Dorian too surely had for century after century as he paced those stone walls. How very obtuse the idea of freedom was and yet in turn how very much it might mean something different to each person you asked. Matteo inclined to silence for several long moments then as he considered that very question. How ridiculous it was that he had lived well over two thousand years and a question such as that might still find itself difficult to answer. Then again, perhaps it was not the question that was hard but rather finding an answer that might mean something to the young woman before him. His own features softened then, that warm simper lingering still as he offered her that response. Matteo choosing, this time, to focus upon the importance of choice in freedom. After all, in what was to come, in that life Harley was destined to lead the very concept of choice was destined to to mean far more to her then it ever had before. If only Aiden could remember it in turn. If only he could remember he still had choice even when he truly believed otherwise. Harley insisting she would take comfort in her own choice no matter how insignificant it was.
"That, Mon Cherie, is a very good thought to have. I hope you will remember it. As for taking as many of them out as you can- I do not think that is a bad choice either. I enjoy your ambition."
That near impish grin so found his features once more in the wake of the presentation of that potato and his singular declaration he had won yet again. Harley determined to argue with him over the matter of right and winning. Ah, but how he near pitied any man whom had tried to impress her! The raven-haired woman quicker with her words then near any woman he had ever known before. How much he enjoyed her nature- even if he continued to tease at it- and to change that game upon her when she so lest seemed to anticipate it. She was bolder then she had been the last time he had appeared behind her in just that fashion. She hardly whirled to face him like a veritable hellfire, not this time. Her figure instead seemed to near press back into his own. Even Matteo not unwilling to admit there was a pleasantness to her warmth. Her figure still held a tenseness of sorts to it, a readiness a part of him was near inclined to see whether or not he might coax away. Would it truly be difficult to prompt her to relax? To see how long it would take her to lean into him entirely? To see whether she might give in to him completely? Ah, how teasing his own thoughts were inclined to be. Harley insisting this game had rules. The very notion prompting that chuckle again as he slid away from her only to reappear upon that couch with arms behind his head. Did she truly understand their game? Even so, he could hardly deny how intriguing player she was. It had been.....centuries since any woman had come nearly so far.
Harley, however, so seemed content to remind him near constantly that she was not quite alike any other. The violet eyed woman seemin to grow bolder all the still as she all but lay agianst and atop him. That newfound feline within herself seeming to demand a different sort of satisfaction, one seeming found agianst the warmth off his own figure and the skin off his neck that she all but nuzzled agianst. That very sensation was hardly displeasing in any sense. Indeed the Frenchman found himself wholly inclined to simply allow her to lay there. That press off her lips prompted a soft sound from him all the same as his hand reached to toy idly with that smooth, exposed skin upon her leg. How long had it been since she had properly slept? How long since she had felt safe enough to do so? Those very thoughts turned softly within his mind before she insisted he smelled good. Matteo unable to prevent that chuckle once more before offering her that simple truth behind that scent- and the workings off her newly found animalistic desires. After all- it was only fair she understood them. That soft touch off his hand haltied now as that near glorious shade of pink seemed to rush to her features. Harley. Embarrassed. Who would ever have thought? Yet he so hardly calls her out upon it now or presses her further in the reaches of that tumultuous emotion as she covered her eyes in a response near akin to a child. The violet eyed woman daring to glance down toward him once more in the struggle for composure before her head pressed again to his hand in a touch almost tender- and her lips found the corner off his own in just such a way as to coax that warm simper to them again.
How reluctant she was to move and indeed he found himself near reluctant to allow her and yet such was a game they would no doubt return to in time. Matteo content to claim another victory all the same. Harley teasing at the fabric off his shirt a moment before proceeding to all but stalk into the kitchen in search of that alcohol- as if a drink might somehow assist her in regaining command of that veritable footing she had lost in their game. The woman insisting his victory was a lie as he moved to seat himself upright upon that couch once more. His shoulders lifted in that teasing shrug.
"Ah, Mon Cherie, but you are the one running this time, no?"
He very near he was assured she considered throwing that bottle toward him. That impish grin finding his lips all the same as he accepted that offer for a drink before shifting upon that couch to make room for her beside him once more. Their game it seemed, would have to wait. After all, there was reason for his presence here tonight beyond a desire to merely enjoy her company. The Frenchman determined to....repair what Risque had broken- or in the very least- assist Harley in surviving just what was to come. Those very photographs were summoned to his hands one by one, each picture laid put upon that table before them as the young woman's words seemed to die in near the same moment. That energy and enthusiasm seeming to falter within her in turn. A small part of the Frenchman near inclined to...ache in turn at that damage that had already been done. A question at last seeming to fall from her lips.
"I know them because I have been following them all for a very, very long time."
It was not, he knew, so truly an answer and yet he suspected here and now Harley did not truly seek in depth answers. Her violet gaze already upon those photographs once more. Matte inclined to watch hernear careful now as she picked up one picture after the other. The young woman reaching first for that image of Risque herself, only to gesture to that off Teradore. The Frenchman inclined to merely nod despite her decidedly...colourful descriptions. Ah, but how much he might liked to have seen Risque called such a thing to her very face and yet, for now, he merely he watched. Those images of Darcy and Cobain, it seemed, prompted no recognition within the woman, several more of those photographs passed over in turn before, near curiously, she paused upon the very last. Matteo's own silver gaze inclined to frown now. Harley words taking ona near different tone entirely. A forced, cold indifference. One that gave away perhaps far more than she intended in that moment. Risque's brother one of the few within that carnival or chaos Matteo himself new strikingly little off. After all, he had not followed Nathaniel throughout the years. Harley, however, seemed to know him only too well. Matteo, for once, finding himself inclined to question just why Harley's very demeanor seemed to shift so drastically at the mere sight of that man, more so then even Risque herself- though not just yet. There were other matters to attend to before he afforded that violet eyed woman any further information. That query upon her ability to keep a secret in that moment balancing them upon the very precipice of an entirely different future. One that would see both their paths change.
The sudden determination with which Harley met his own silvered gaze was not unexpected. Harley had proven herself to be a distinctly forthright individual when she chose. Reckless perhaps, bold, unyielding and yet- she was not a liar. That much he knew without need to peer into that rapidly shifting future that existed before them both this very evening. That sudden command for his pinky finger however was wholly unanticipated. The Frenchman eyeing her almost curiously as she pivoted to face him with her declaration this was a solemn vow- her voice holding a near reverence of sorts. Matteo moving to mimic that gesture before holding his own pinky out. The man inclined to feel near boyish. Only to have Harley suddenly lift her hand away. His gaze shifting to her own once more in surprise. Only for the woman to demand the translation to those words he had uttered toward her some weeks. That very request prompting laughter from him then.
"Ah, Mon Cherie, fear not, those words were merely ploy. You told me that I should, how you say, do my worst when it came to languages. Mina Thadon, it means, 'so I will'. "
That his very words of agreement to her very challenge had so been designed to tease at her as if they had meant to be something far more illusive was surely clear. The near ancient Fae grinning toward her in distinct pride at his very jest before allowing his finger to curl in the warmth off her own. Harley so suddenly demanding that if this very game, as it were, was to finish poorly that he was the one whom so had to flee with his children. That near rueful simper so finding his lips once more.
"I will try, Mon Cherie. That is all I can promise you tonight."
He very much he meant them too. Harley so oblivious, for now, to the impossibility of that promise and yet he offered no more upon it as he moved to release her hand and take that offered drink. This a manner of vow taking he understood more readily. His glass moving to tap against her own before downing that very shot with an expert ease. Harley assuring him she was ready, even if she hardly knew why he had chosen her to chance upon. That warm simper so upon his lips again.
"Because I have seen your future and i am determined to help you realise it, because Risque does not deserve to destroy another being and because my helping you, perhaps, might atone for the things I did."
It was near habitual, the fashion in which his left hand rose to toy with that crucifix at his chest. That singular silver-coloured chain and cross that so never left his neck and yet, as to just what those words meant remained to be seen for now. The Frenchman turning his attention back upon those photographs. A certain impishness seeming to return to the man then to chase away that sudden solemnity that had found him only moments ago.
"There is much power in knowledge, even if you do not yet realise it. To master an enemy is to know an enemy. We will start here. Think of that bar Risque owns as a coven all its own of sorts. There is one leader, Risque, this you know, but knowing where the others fall will help you too. Here."
His hand extended forward then to press upon that picture of Risque and slide it to the top of the table. Matteo reaching then for those pictures of Tetradore and Darcy in turn. That vampire with the mismatched eyes was slid into place just below Risque's picture and to the left. Tetradore's own placed in the same position, but to the right, ever so slightly lower than Darcy's own. Matteo pointing to the vampire first.
"This one you do not know, but you will, I fear. Darcy Blackjack. Think of a vampire coven as something....living, if you will. Something that needs all its parts moving to function. Syn has a dominant female, so it must have a dominate male though he is submissive to Risque. He is not one of Risques own creations, she holds no maker bond over him but she does not need to and therein lies a strength of sorts, Mon Cherie. Darcy Blackjack is perhaps the only vampire or Were within that place by choice. It is fortunate perhaps that he cares little for Risque's cats and will likely pay you no heed unless he is given reason too. Try not to give him a reason to- although I already know you are not going to listen to me. He has a painfully short temper and is as violent as Risque herself. Do not let his subservience to her or the way he talks fool you though. He has survived risque for nearly two centuries, i know no other who has done that. He clever and beyond clever he is cunning- and one of the few who can whisper to her ear and have her listen- and he knows it. It is he whom I have a fabulous weapon agianst that I shall lend you."
Matteo leant easily backward then, his hands held out before him to summon that sudden and decidedly impressive jet black machine gun so complete with caved flame insignia down that barrel and grip. That weapon nothing short of exquisite and of a military grade unseen by any civilian. That very look upon Harleys features so suddenly prompting that ready laughter from the Frenchman then as that glorious gun so suddenly disappeared from his hands.
"Ah! You should have seen to look on your face! I would not give you a such a weapon as that, this, this is your weapon."
His wrist so flicked once more then, that pair of deep, violet coloured sunglasses appearing within his hand then as he so held them out to the woman before him now to take from his hands. Those glasses, perhaps, somewhat less....extravagant then a machine gun. How lucky she was to have such a spirit guide as he!
"They are to protect you from his eyes, Mon Cherie. Difficult though it is because of the way they look- you must try not to meet Darcy's eyes without sunglasses on. Try them on, they will suit you I think, they will match your own eyes...."
m a t t e o
it's tough to be a god
|
