how fate does so love the restless

In the wake of the very stress of that evening that had come to pass there was a distinct pleasure to be had in simply reclining in front of that fire. It's warmth was nothing short of welcome and too- Aiden's presence beside him was comforting, in its own fashion, to the near ancient Fae. There was no doubt that the sinking of the Ark was distinctly traumatic for his son, even if Aiden continued to struggle to uphold those walls of indifference to a certain extent. The exhaustion that wore at the WereKing features and voice was nothing short of telling. Matteo, ever since Aiden's childhood, had been nothing if strikingly good at knowing just when the younger man had reached that inevitably breaking point. In what remained of that night the Frenchman was, thereby, merely content to simply offer Aiden his company, that tumbler of whiskey and too- a far more gentle conversation- if only to steal the Panther's mind away from that darkened place it so often seemed fated to linger in the wake of Risque's assaults. Matteo had no sooner settled more fully into that sofa then his finger taped softly at the tumbler within his hand. That whiskey the pair had shared was smoothly refilled before the Frenchman passed it gently back to his son. Alcohol, after all, even in small amounts, so had a habit of numbing both body and mind alike. Matteo, in that moment, so seeking to have that whiskey steal away the sharp edges of distress that probed at Aiden;s thoughts. Sleep would come easier to the younger man in the wake of that drink. Alcohol so eternally had such an effect. How well Matteo had experienced it himself over the centuries. Hmmm, perhaps too well- and for too long.

Such thoughts were dismissed from his own mind as the silver of his gaze shifted from that dancing fireplace and toward his companion. Matteo content to ask after one of those few metaphorical bright spots within Aiden's existence. The young woman the family had, finally, been given the pleasure of meeting for the first time tonight. Matteo's efforts to coax Aiden to speak of her were met with a near baffled look by the young man as the Frenchman's gaze merely rolled. Ah Sacrebleu! How the boy had managed to get any woman at all he did not know! How vague he was! Matteo's hand reached out to gently, playfully shove at Aiden's arm. The Frenchman so further elaborating that it was Mira he spoke of- before the threat of an impending party in the wake of the consummation of that relationship seemed to at last spark some sort of reaction within his younger son. Aiden's sharply worded response was met with little more than a chuckle from the Fae, a ready simper so easily found his lips in the wake of Aiden's exasperation before the younger man so finally sighed in defeat. To coax Aiden to speak of anything personal, no matter how small, was a veritable feat in itself. Even if he lamented he so hardly knew what to say that Matteo did not already know. The Frenchman's shoulders lifted loosely within a gentle shrug as his gaze remained upon his son's own. Those accented lyrics softly parted his lips.

"There is a difference, Mon Fils, in seeing those visions and hearing you speak of her yourself."

Those visions, after all, provided him a veritable visual of that future to come- they so hardly provided him any knowledge of the emotions of those involved. Some things, perhaps, could be deduced from the expression or action or word within that foresight and yet he could so hardly read the minds of those around him. To know what Aiden thought of Mira was a distinctly different sort of...intimacy. One no amount of foresight could ever provide. To coax Aiden to speak of those feelings too- might yet help the younger man detangle them from the near constant distress that danced within the back of his every thought. Those emotions, after all, were....newer to Aiden. Matteo, through that seemingly simple conversation, made every effort to help his son realise them- whatever they might be. Aiden fell silent for a moment then as Matteo's gaze continued to linger upon him, the boy seemed to consider his thoughts before promptly announcing Mira enjoyed movies and stars. Matteo could hardly prevent the fashion in which one eye rose ever so slightly. Ah, but heaven help him! Aiden had so surely been dating Mira, in some capacity, for several months now and her love of stars and moves was so all he seemed to have deduced? How very...hopeless his son truly was and yet, how unable the Frenchman was to prevent that simper of amusement that found his lips as his head softly shook. How very....Aiden. Still, he supposed that the boy had managed to take note of at least two of her interests was....some sort of achievement. Ah, but Mira so surely had her work cut out for her. A soft chuckle hummed lightly within the Frenchman's chest, his gaze readily finding the green of Aiden's own.

"You should take her to the observatory, or better yet, the planetarium. That has movies about stars. You will surely be irresistible to her if you can combine her two great loves, oui."

Those words were distinctly teasing, even if only gently, as another chuckle rose within Matteo's throat. The ancient Fae so allowed his head to shake softly once more. Perhaps he should have been clearer from the beginning about just what he was asking. Matteo, this time, choosing his own words with a more distinct care.

"What I meant, Aidun, is what do you think of her? What about her attracts you? Why did you choose Mira when there are so many other women in the world?"