Matteo

It's tough to be a god

Such curious thing- these portals. Matteo content to eye that swirling black mass with some curiosity and indeed an equal intrigue of sorts. Several questions content to linger at the forefront of his mind. Matteo, it seemed, as equally prone to that curiosity as his son and yet- the elder Fae certainly faced that very possibility with distinctly more bravery then his offspring. Matteo, indeed, so hardly fearing that method of travel in the slightest. After all, if his body could survive that constant break down and reform he subject it to on a nearly daily basis there was no reason why stepping through a portal would not be a far easier and indeed perhaps less taxing performance. Andras' concern for that portal being open however was hardly missed. The Frenchman's query upon it readily seeming to prompt both that reassuring smile and indeed those equally off-handed words from the other Fae that such a thing was hardly a concern. Matteo so allowed one eye to lift in a near dubious look. The near ancient fae so hardly believing those words- something, it seemed- was remiss with thatportal being open and yet if Andras hardly wished to speak on it Matteo saw little need to press him. A mans worrries were his own, after all. The Frenchman allowing that shift in subject to the mention off his own son. Matteo readily taking upon that notion with amusement.

How it pleased him to hear the true tale of Dorian's adventure through that portal! The Italian King having left out that very notion that he had been pushed through by another member of Andras' Court, much less that he had found himself angry about it. To even consider Dorian angry, though he had surely seen it before, was distinctly amusing in every sense. Matteo unable to prevent that light chuckle that found his lips at Andras' insistence of his sons 'hesitancy'. Matteo entirely capable of believing such a thing. Dorian, while more than capable of being distinctly brave when the moment should strike him- was distinctly prone to being wary of those things he did not understand. He could hardly fault the boy in any sense, not after the life he had lived and yet it would hardly harm him to embrace the world a little more. Andras and his court would be nothing but good for him. Andras musing upon Somia and too- the reluctance of those other lords was not unanticipated. People were often hesitant to accept those.....not like them. Even if they so hardly dared to admit that such was the case. There was too- every reason for the Fae to be cautious. Their species all but decimated by other supernatural populations. Matteo allowing that soft shrug to find him then.

"Are you so truly surprised your lords are reluctant, Mon Amie? The world has not always been kind to the Fae, often at the hands of other species. I believe in the rightness of your cause but too- I cannot fault them for their fear."

It was his very job as the Ambassador of France to deal with those negotiations between countries on near a daily basis, Matteo no stranger to such things or their difficulties. Andras too, he suspected, understood the difficulties before him in his desire to open Somia to species outside their own. That very apology that so left Andras lips prompted that lift of Matteo's eyes once more. The Frenchman wholly oblivious to the notion Andras had seen fit to pry within his mind at all and yet he so hardly found himself perturbed in any sense. Matteo brushing off that apology with ease before insisting he hardly minded, rather, it was Andras whom might yet see that which he did not desire too. The sheer amount of....imagery and thought that passed through Matteo's mind like rapid fire enough to cause distress to any being not used to handling such things. Andras chuckling softly in that ready agreement.

"I find my own mind displeasing enough at times, I should think any other would too."

That soft simper remained upon his lips even despite the veritable seriousness of such things. Matteo following Andras back through that ruined house as the other Fae saw to answering his own queries then. Andras readily speaking of his own Monarchy and how he saw fit to rule in a manner that was distinctly far from his Father's own. The very mention of Andras' Father coaing that frown to his own features all the same. It was no secret, after all, that they had gotten on....rather poorly. His own affections for Amity surely the cause of much of that grief and yet too- their natures had not been compatible from the start. Along with his own continual refusals to join that Monarchy beneath him. Matteo, long ago, having put in place his own....rules of sorts. The Frenchman never yet having accepted any invitation to join any Monarchy.

"You are nothing like your Father was. In this single hour alone you and I have become better companions than I ever was with him. We found each other, how you say, disagreeable? His ethics, his morals, they did not align with my own and they were not at all like yours- though these things you know. Your Father was a capable leader, but not a good one, there is a difference. You were always destined to be different from him though. I assured your Mother of it when she was pregnant with you. Your destiny is far different than his own ever was."

That soft simer found his lips once more, matteo so seeking perhaps to...assuage a worry of sorts he suspected still lingered within the man beside him. Andras, it seemed, prone to questioning himself and his own actions more then was surely needed and yet that sheer determination to be different from his sire surely drove him to such things. Matteo briefly content to consider whether or not Dorian was the same over himself. Surely not. Matteo assured he was rather likeable, wasn't he? That reminder of that promised drink so seemed to prompt Andras into action once more. The Fae leading the way into that ruined kitchen in pursuit of glasses and well-aged scotch before gesturing to what remained of that couch. The Frenchman assured he had sat on worse in his time before making himself comfortable. He reached readily for that offered glass, lifting it upward to clink agianst Andras' own.

"Cheers."

That sentiment was warmly repeated as Andras took that seat beside him. Matteo lifting that glass to his lips in turn, savouring that potent taste. A taste he knew all to well and had been his veritable downfall more then once. That sudden question unanticipated and yet his silver gaze met Andras' own evenly then as the younger Fae gestured to that destroyed room. Matteo's own head nodding simply then.

"Yes, I had foreseen the state you would be in and the....unfortunate fallout of what was so destined to occur if I did not present myself as a target of sorts. The downtown Mall on Briar Street would never have been the same. Although really the loss of that show store would not have been a tragedy. Some of them are an offense to God I am sure. In the end though- it would have only further distressed you."

That glass was lifted to his lips once more. Matteo offering some vague indication of the destruction Andras had been near destined to cause if not given...someone to focus on. Besides, was he not to blame for Andras' anger? At least a little of it? He had hardly been able to tell Andras all he desired of what that future had held and yet still, perhaps he near deserved a touch of that aggression that had been directed toward himself.

"You were already upset over Lani, you did not need to be upset over destroying a shopping mall as well. A future exists for you and Lani, a good one and I truly hope you find it, Mon Amie. I lost my....."

He paused then, those accented words halted as he so considered just what she had been to him. His wife? His mate? His....everything.

"Soul-mate many years ago because I did not turn her. Maybe I should have, maybe I was right not to. I do not know any longer- but you in the very least so have the chance with your Lani still. Do not let that temper get in your way."

One hand reached out then, Matteo lightly cuffing Andras across the back of the head in a clearly playful gesture, that chuckle rising within his throat then.

"Tell me, how did Dorian handle this Somia itself?"