Matteo

It's tough to be a god

Alexanders ready insistence that he had 'made his point' all those years ago so prompted that roll of the Frenchmans eyes. That gesture distinctly playful all the same.Time, after all, so had a habit of softening all things. Alexander had been nothing but outraged that day and yet, here and now, both men seemed nothing but inclined to laugh over the matter of his failed future sight. The pair of them looking back upon such a day with something near akin to fondness even if Matteo had so been forced to watch over sheep for several day by way of punishment. The near-ancient Fae, only now, content to admit that he had lost no less thean four of the unfortunate beasts! Dorian was decidedly quick to chastise him and yet it was his use of the word 'balls' it seemed, that had bothered his eldest son the most. The Frenchman inclined to afford the younger man a ready grin in that moment before his shoulders lifted in a near easy shrug.

"Everybody at this table has them, no? I was aiming to be inclusive."

That very look of disdain upon the boys features was entirely worth that jest. Matteo chuckling softly before his silver gaze returned to Alexander once more. The Hunter appearing wholly surprised by his admittance after all those years and yet that surprise, it seemed, was not over his loss of those sheep but rather how many centuries it had taken the Frenchman to admit to his error. An error Alexander had known off for hundreds of years! One the Hunter had even bet with Jaques on!

"You right bastard! I was stressed about those bloody sheep for weeks! Although really I suppose, I was more stressed you would find out and you already knew, for all that time."

That near indignant look Alexander was offered so hardly lasted long. Matteo unable to prevent that amusement from tainting his features all the same. The Frenchman so eternally having a near keen sense for the ridiculous and ready humour all at once. Matteo not unwilling to admit that it was very near brilliant that Alexander had managed to elude him of this fact for so many centuries. His hand reached over suddenly then to shove the Hunter's shoulder as some form of retaliation before returning his attention to his own meal. Matteo exchanging his fork in favour of his spoon for that mashed potato that acted as a perfect accompaniment to the gravy Alexander has assisted him in creating but those few hours earlier. The Hunter's tale, it seemed, had readily sparked a further intrigue in Dorian. The Fae King readily speaking of those places he hoped Sebastian and himself might one day visit. Matteo unable to prevent that soft simper that found his features at the sheer excitement his son so seemed to have for that travel. Sebastian, in so many ways, truly having given Dorian the world- even if he was uninclined to admit such a thing to his vampiric son-in-law. Sebastian, here and now, still seeming to attempt to puzzle out that dish he had been presented with and the very plethora of meanings it might have behind it. That veritable token of goodwill so seeming to have prompted a near outright distress in the Englishman and yet, truly, Matteo was near inclined to find some manner of amusement in the boys drastic measure of over-thinking. Really- Sebastian was inclined to bring such stress upon himself. The Frenchman shook his head ever so slightly at those internal considerations before Dorian made that suggestion that Aiden might like to join him for his neck trip to Italy.

How quick his youngest son was to round upon him! As if he suspected such a thing might well be Matteo's doing. Ah, but how he had forgotten Aiden's very perceptiveness to such things! Dorian, in turn, seeming to follow his brothers lead. The eyes of that table upon him then as Matteo afforded them little more than a shrug and that vague insistence he hardly knew what they were talking about. The Frenchman, perhaps, having assisted in that very trip coming together so neatly as it had and yet- that invitation had been Dorian's own alone. His silver gaze slid easily back toward Aiden then as the younger man vaguely queried whether or not he might be able to wake up that trip. Matteo already having looking into that very thing as his head nodded in a simple reassurance that such a trip to Italy would be permissible. That woman very much destined to be far to busy that week with her distinct determination to take down rival bars in that vampiric turf war than to worry about Aiden. Matteo near distinctly aware that his thoughts of disdain upon th vampire woman were readily shared by Alexander in turn. The pair of them, for so long, having discussed near every possible method of....ending her. Alexander nothing but forthright all these years in his desire to assist and yet in this Fate was certain. In this it would not be changed without the gravest of consequence. If only Aiden could be...pushed more willingly towards his destiny. Matteo quick to brush such thoughts away as Dorian insisted he would make those plans over the next few weeks. His sons, in the least, were near destined in turn to have rather....a good time with one another. Different though they were likely to find each other in turn. That near knowing simper finding his lips before he moved to direct the conversation away from such things and onto that story of Alexander. The table, after all, surely deserved a tale of the Hunter in turn.

That groan that fell from Alexander at the mere mention of Dover only further seemed in prompt the Frenchmans enjoyment of that story. The very utterance of King John's names, in turn, seeming to coax a reaction of sorts from Sebastian- even if the vampire remained near determined not to display that emotion. Hmmm, how intriguing a talk of politics with Sebastian might be one day- if only to see if the vampire could be prompted into offering an opinion at all- else that Britishness might prevent him entirely. Alexander's insistence that he should have seen that punch with its concussive force coming so readily saw that derisive snort leave him.

"I was watching over our men in battle. You were supposed to be watching over me! You ducked, you coward."

The insistence that Alexanders was a 'coward' he knew, was likely to rile the man in some fashion. That near impish grin upon his lips all the same. Alexander keen to reignite that age-old argument between them then, his fork all but pointed at Matteo as he insisted that the entire scenario could have been avoided had Fitzwalter been forthcoming about that ravine to begin with.

"You should have sent a better scout ahead."

Dorians very query on the bridge perhaps so fortunately prevented that argument on going any further forward. Aiden's soft utterance that Alexander had a 'thing for bridges' easily coaxed tat chuckle from within himself once more. Aiden, after all, had heard far more than one story of Alexander's great love of building bridges over the years. It was Dorian insistence that the people of Dover surely appreciated the bridge however that so seemed to prompt the younger Fae to suggest they should partake of that thanksgiving tradition and so suggest what they might all be thankful for. That very groan of sorts rose within his own throat and yet that sound so hardly managed to find its way free from his lips- if only because Aiden's groan so readily overtook it. That flickering of amusement so dancing upon his lips before Dorian proclaimed he had 'heard that'. The Frenchman's attention remaining firmly upon his own plate then as Sebastian was issued that veritable honour of going first. The vampires words very much as Matteo had expected them to be. Sebastian nothing if not dependable to give those answers expected of him and yet- the Frenchman very much believed that Sebastian was truly thankful for those things, or in the least, for Dorian. As to what his son-in-laws feelings were on that family at large remained to be seen. That 'turn' as it were, passing to Aiden then. Matteo finding himself near curious of just what his younger son might answer- if he answered at all. Aiden a veritable...unknown of sorts when it came to any sort of sentimentality and yet Matteo so hardly blamed him in any sense. Those feelings and emotions that so eclipsed the WereKing were...far more intense then any so gave him credit for. Far to intense for him to dare allow himself to feel on most occasions. The world presented with that shield of aloofness in most respects. Aiden hardly disappointing in any sense with that insistence he was thankful he had never had to do thanksgiving before- and for alcohol. The last point decidedly fair, Matteo supposed and yet that answer had so hardly appeased Dorian. Aiden preceding to stare towards the Frenchman in turn with a clear, unspoken dare to tell him off for that 'thankfulness'.

"Touching, Aiden. Thank you."
That sarcasm of sorts was easily clear. Matteo eyes rolling lightly and yet he so hardly found himself truly irritable at Aiden at all, the man having very near expected just that response from his son. Matteo so momentarily seeming to consider his own words then. That near thoughtful look touching his features before those accented words parted his lips.

"I am thankful that after so many centuries I have finally gotten my family all in one place. I have wanted that for a very long time."

How very true those words were. That soft simper finding his lips then, his gaze so fliking but briefly about that table. It had been so, so long since he had sat at any dinner table with his family. Tonight, perhaps, meaning far more to him then he had dared to let on. A near impish look finding him then.

"I am also thankful for the legacy I will leave behind one day. To Dorian I leave my incredible good looks, charm and gift for languages. To Aiden I leave my exceptional sense of humour, wit, sarcasm and appreciation for the ridiculous. To Alexander I leave my gift for battle plans, last minute ideas, talent with women and Risk playing skills. To Sebastian I leave the knowledge that you have my permission to keep all your fangs."

One eye lifted ever so slightly upon those last words. Matteo so meeting his son-in-laws gaze with a clear amusement at that near vague notion that, perhaps, something had occurred that night he knew Sebastian struggled to remember. Matteo easily lifted his own drink to his lips then before nodding toward Alexander.

"Your turn, Alex."