death incarnate & night triumphant

Matteo's words were comforting in a sense, Andras hardly needing to be told he was doing the right thing or that he was doing a good job and yet... it did feel rather nice to know he wasn't destroying the faerie race as a whole. Andras having taking on the job of protector for their race was ambitious to say the least and he was entirely aware the man would not be able to eradicate the darkness from the world let alone within Somnia. There was peace, for the most part, squabbling lords and fighting within the hierarchy was normal, something he could never rid but he could help placate anger. He's drawn away by such lingering thoughts by the slap against the back of his head, Andras grinning at Matteo as he raises his hand and rubs at it. Matteo's own smile mirroring Andras's in that moment as he asks if he would dodge Sebastian's punch. He gives a small shrug, "Vampires do hit very hard," he readily agrees, "Although, I've learned how to take a punch without it knocking the head from my shoulders," he grimaces at the very thought of Dorian's husband taking a swing at him. "I think I would allow Sebastian one hit," he winces, "I understand the thought of putting a loved one in danger, even though Dorian wasn't in any semblance of danger, portal traveling can be very... terrifying," he offers Matteo a grin again, before knocking back his drink.

Their conversation shifts to Navi as the very thought of her simply brings the stress lines to his face. Running a hand through his hair, sending the locks into disarray, as Matteo chuckles at him. Shooting him a look, Andras scoffs at the ancient faerie, even going as far as to roll his eyes at the man, "I may have bit off more than I can chew with her, she would rather live in a tree," he admits, shaking his head. He had been in her room at the lodge once since she had arrived, if she had the ability to, he was certain she would turn her room into a veritable treehouse of sorts. Ida, his housekeeper, had thrown in the towel trying to keep the leaves from her room and instead, shut the door. The woman, even more ancient than the two old faeries sitting in this very room, never gave up on anything. She was more grandmotherly than anything and slow to upset but Navi had managed to do it in the first month she had been living at the lodge. It was... astonishing. The very thought of Navi was causing a hint of anxiety within him, wanting to push those anxious thoughts away, he focuses on something much more pleasant.

Andras offers the male a place within his court, knowing full well Matteo wouldn't accept and yet, he would offer the man a place of solace if he should ever need it. What he wasn't expecting was the man inquiring about the very women that lived in Somnia. A grin breaking out across his features, the thought of Navi pushed away for the time being as he explains about the different faeries within his home. Matteo's response has Andras laughing heartily, shaking his head and the man's bold claim, "Some of the males are extremely old fashioned, if you were to go after any of the married women it would be at your own risk," he chuckles again, though he was certain Matteo would have no issues in avoiding being caught. "However, I can introduce you to a few of the women, I'm sure they would be pleased," he grins at the man taking another drink of the alcohol before asking he keep his home a secret.

"I am very grateful for the offer. I worry that I may need to take you up on that sooner rather than later," his voice troubled for the briefest of moment and yet, he hardly wanted to ruin the mood by his suspicions. He's saved from such thoughts by the offer of home repair, Andras arching a brow at the man in curiosity, "I would be in your debt if you decided to help," he states, curious to see what the male had up his sleeve. He fully expected Matteo to use one of his many affinities, Andras entirely curious by the whole ordeal. Grinning at him, he gives him a brief nod, a go ahead of sorts. It's when the conversation shifts back to Andras that a lazy grin spreads across his lips as he settles a little deeper into the cushions, "I've never married," he started off slowly, wondering where he could even start with such a story, "I've had many lovers over the centuries but I never asked them to share a life with me. I wanted someone to be my equal in every sense not defer to me on everything," he wrinkled his nose at the thought, "They were a few that wanted to marry to simply have power and some knew what it meant to be married to the monarch. It would be a life of work, of constantly having a target on their back," he shrugged simply, downing the rest of his drink.

"Lani was a surprise. She is... was so human and fragile, a woman I had no business getting involved with in the first place. And so very, very young," he frowns at the thought and yet, he realized, even with his absurd temper tantrum he threw today, he would let her go if she decided she didn't want to be with him. It was, perhaps, the reason of such rage he had released earlier, he simply had not wanted to face the acceptance of that. Sighing deeply, his dark eyes turn on Matteo with a sad smile, "I'm slowly beginning to realize that whatever she decides, even if it cracks my soul in two, I will accept her decision," he admits out loud, not realizing he would later be getting a visit from Ida telling him Lani had simply left. "And you? Did you ever marry?" He asks, wanting to change the subject away from his own love life.

Andras Steinhello darling