Matteo

It's tough to be a god

How very right Andras surely was to be cautious of informing his city, with those Local Lords first, of the very notion that he had already accepted those outside the Fae species into Somnia's embrace. A prejudice of sorts ran deeply within the Fae breed and yet they surely held near every reason to feel that very thing. Fae as a whole still lingered upon the very cusp of extinction, their numbers decimated over the years, largely at vampiric hands. The undead holding a near unquenchable thirst for Fae blood- the older the better. Andras and himself perhaps two of but a handful of truly aged Fae left living. To inform his Lords that he had invited not only non-Fae into the safety of the city walls, but too, vampires, would likely be a difficult task to undertake. Matteo had already caught a glimpse of that very future to some extent and yet- he offered little of it now lest he shake the confidence of the man beside him. In time those Lords would come to see as Andras did and yet that road was a difficult one. Still- traversing that path would, in equal measure, only further solidify that trust those people held in Andras as their leader. Difficult though those conversations were destined to be, in time, it would yield a truly satisfying result. Ah, but how he wished some of those very countries he dealt with on behalf of France might be equally as malleable over time! That near coy smile Andras so provided him with was met with a loose wave off his own hand, as if to dismiss any thread of concern that had wound its way into Andras' thoughts.

"They will be disagreeable at first, but when has anyone ever been agreeable to change? Give it time and they will see things as you do. Sometimes, being leader so requires the making of choices all may not like- though I suspect you know this well already, Mon Amie."

Andras, after all, had inherited his own Father's place within that Court. One that had been in desperate need of revolution. That in itself no easy task and yet, from what Matteo so understood of Somnia, beneath Andras' rule it had all but flourished. That, in the very least, spoke of sound leadership and yet the very notion that Andras might still worry for the opinions of his people spoke of humility in turn. How very unlike his Father the man before him was- and how proud Amity would have been in turn. Those very considerations, it seemed, played heavily upon Andras' own mind as the pair made their way toward what remained of the lounge room and that sofa that had, somehow, miraculously survived Andras' onslaught in the embrace of that rage. The Frenchman's ready insistence that Andras held little in common with the man whom had fathered him seemed to bring a ready and audible sound of relief to the other man's lips. Matteo unable to prevent the simper that found his own at the sheer comfort Andras seemed to take in that. EVen if, on occasion, he was forced to wear that very mask of cruelty in an effort to protect the people he led there was little save sound moral and good intent in the man that sat beside him. After all, who among them had not done....perhaps questionable things in order to protect the ones they loved?

That very admittance from Andras that he could not bring himself to feel guilty for taking some measure of solace in the idea that his Father was no longer around to command that court so readily prompted that look of understanding to Matteo's own features. The very mention of Amity only furthering that simper. How many memories he had of her! Each of them equally cherished over time and yet how little he had anticipated that, one day, her son might thank him for his veritable existence all those years ago. Those words, perhaps, holding far more meaning to the near ancient Fae then andras himself perhaps anticipated.

"I do not think you need feel guilty for such thoughts. In truth, Mon Amie, your Father would have led your court to ruin in time. I had seen it, long ago. You are, you always have been, the better leader. Your ability with people is far better than his own ever was. The work you did in rebuilding your Court is proof of that and your people are loyal to you. You have much to be proud off."

Good leaders, in this day and age, were few and far between. Matteo, perhaps, having had the privilege of knowing some of the greatest leaders in all history. Andras surely holding near every right to stand amongst them and yet....such had always been the man's destiny. The near ancient Fae seeing little need to mention that very notion here and now however as he lifted his glass to the other Fae's own. Matteo inclined to find himself rather enjoying the company of another off his kind. Fae company so tending to be hard to find. Andras a decidedly agreeable sort of companion when free of that rage. The Frenchman allowed that grin to find his own lips again at that very insistence of the mall Andras had been at risk of all but obliterating without his own interference- even if the loss of that abysmal shoe store would not have been terribly unfortunate. That ready laughter easily found its way free off his lips at Andras' insistence they could still be rid of that sore if he desired before the other man so admitted he was rather pleased Matteo had stopped him all the same. The Frenchman so holding his glass outward for Andras to refill.

"Ah, we have all made asses of ourselves over time. We are very old, we have more time and more opportunity then most to do just that. I have dont it many times myself and I am sure to do it again. Perhaps I shall regale you with a story if I drink some more."

That warm chuckle hummed readily within his throat all the same before that conversation so shifted to Lani. Matteo content to assure his companion that a future did exist in which all with Lani would be well. There was, perhaps, every chance Andras might yet follow another future instead and yet, in the very least, that chance for happiness between them existed in all the same. Whether or not Andras would always question his decision in choosing to turn lani remained to be seen in yet, Matteo himself so regretted his own decision not to change that woman he had once loved so deeply. That glass Andras so lifted in a wordless toast met with that lift of his own once more in turn before the liquor was lifted again to his lips- as if that drink might drown those memories all at once. Ah, but how reaily he had tried that very method over the centuries. Matteo wholly content to take up that talk of Dorian lest the both of them become ensnared in that past. His hand reaching out to playfully smack at the back of Andras head, the other man chuckling in his own good nature before offering him that tale. How very much it amused him to think of his son in the depths of that Fae city and ao attempting to navigate snow! That warm grin hardly faltering from his lips.

"My son was born in Naples where the snow never touches the ground. He is still becoming used to it, though he has travelled back to England with Sebastian only recently. England will teach him readily how to deal with real snow I hope. As for Sebastian, I suspect you are right. My son-in-law is protective but I would not worry. Vampire he might be but he is very....English."

Whether or not Andras would so understand just what that meant remained to be seen, that simper hardly leaving the Frenchmans lips at those near teasing words before Andras so assured him that it was he whom had perhaps not handled that situation as well as he should have. This...Navi so apparently having pushed Dorian through that portal. The girl evidently of the wilful kind. Andras sighing near tiredly at even the thought. Matteo's own silver gaze so meeting his companions then.

"Ah, it will do Dorian no harm to be pushed every now and then, he needs it. As for this Navi she sounds quite intriguing, if not a good test of your patience."

One eye lifted just so as Matteo took another sip of that drink. The man willing to admit that alcohol was decidedly good. That taste nothing but pleasant as it danced upon his tongue. Andras commenting then upon his Father once more and the man's efforts, all those years ago, to force Matteo himself into that servitude of his court. That very memory alone prompting the briefest of frown to his features. There had been many, over the years, whom had so attempted to coax the Frenchman into one Court of another. Matteo having refused each of them in turn, not matter the....force they applied. The vast majority so hardly desiring his presence so much as they desired his power. Matteo, long ago, having turned his back upon those Fae Monarchies. His loyalty to Alexander in turn having assured his commitments remained otherwise occupied. That very offer from Andras however was...rather unique in itself. That idea he might desire to 'settle down' bringing that warm laughter to his lips once more. Matteo settling further into that chair as Andras offered him a near surreptitious wink. That very look upon Matteo's own features becoming near sheepish.

"Ah, but I shall keep this offer in mind! Tell me though, what of the women in this Somnia? If I am to settle down I should surely meet some of them, no? Do you think there might be any I might fancy? Surely you must know some of them...well, no?"

One eye lifted, teasingly so, little but good-nature so within those jesting words. Matteo taking another sip of that drink as that chuckle rose warmly from within his throat. If Andras desired he might settle down then surely he needed a woman, no?