death incarnate & night triumphant

Andras wasn't entirely sure what to do with Maeve, the High Lord feeling rather bad for the child. He was certain she felt alone, her own kind an absence in her life that should never had happened. Wherever her parents were, her biological parents, it was hard to say, their race dwindling in the past several centuries. Faeries has practically been hunted to extinction. If Andras has to guess as to the whereabouts to Maeve's parents... he could only assume they were dead. Yet, he pushes such thoughts away for the moment as he begins to project his voice into the child's head, her eyes lighting up with such excitement, the Fae can hardly refuse the own smile that stretches across his lips. And as he sympathizes with her, explaining that he had done wicked things in his life as well, his eyes soften at her response. Such innocence in the mind of a child, something he hoped the children in Somnia could forever have.

"Perhaps," he shrugs to her statement casually before launching into his own questions, his suspicions confirmed that she was, in fact, alone and without proper supervision from the supernatural order. Truly, it was amazing she lasted as long as she did in foster care without being found out by a Dark Hunter. The very thought of that sends a shiver down his spine. Though he had met his fair share of decent hunters out there... there were still many that held a superior air, deeming themselves better than any other race or thinking they should be the only race to live alongside humans. It was rather sickening, Andras himself having disposed of his fair share of hunters like that. His mind darkening at the memories, he keeps an entirely pleasant smile on his features as he listens to Maeve, only to see her sink back into herself.

"That's absurd!" He exclaims playfully, "How could anyone not adore you?" He raises he brows in mock anger, "You know, Maeve, I could march myself ever to your foster parents' home and play a little trick on them," he grins at her mischievously. Perhaps not the best plan to suggest to a child and yet, Andras had hardly any experience with children. Somnia was filled with many faerie children and he interacted with them in the town and during holidays, he can't say he had many conversations with them. The more he thought on it, the more he realized that was something he needed to change. Still, he cannot help but feel for the child as he sees the fear flash across her eyes, his own dark hazels filling with pity. He pauses for the briefest of moments as he decides what to do. Maeve should be around her own kind, being raised by a faerie and taught how to use her powers. It could be dangerous if she was never properly trained, and yet, in human eyes it might be considered kidnapping, they could go as far as to submit a missing person report. Although, Andras knew the human foster care system was shoddy at best. There were runaways all the time.

Hiding the sigh the so desperately wants to release, he merely smiles pleasantly at Maeve, his hands still casually resting on the table, "Of course not, not unless you want to," he finally says gently, hoping to pull her out of her shell once more. They are interrupted only briefly by the waitress and then he's launching into his story once more about the other faerie children. Andras can see the curiosity in her eyes, the excitement that is ready to explode from her tiny frame and the man can hardly hide the smile that ghosts his lips. When she reaches across the table and grabs his hand, he knows she's ready to bolt from her chair and find Somnia on her own. Chuckling quietly, he gently squeezes her tiny hand back, "Weren't you hungry? I could hear your stomach growling only a moment ago," he grins at her.

And it was as if his very words summoned the waitress back, bringing a massive tower of chocolate chip pancakes topped with an absurd amount of whip cream. That very waitress grinning like a fiend as she places the food in front of Maeve and his tea sliding in front of him. Releasing the child's hand, he nods his gratitude and hands the woman a few bills to pay for their meal, well- Maeve's meal. "No change," he murmurs to the human before returning his attention to the girl. "Dig in, then we will talk about my home," he nods to Maeve before grasping the tea and bringing it to his lips and taking a sip. He has to hide the grimace, the faerie lord entirely used to well, faerie tea. It was no fault to the humans, they simply could not mirror tea, or any food for that matter, that was made with the assurance of magic. Stifling a sigh, he continues to hold that mug in his hands, "Now Maeve, you're not in trouble, I simply want to know a little bit more about how you make people do what you want them to do. Will you tell me?" He asks curiously, hoping he can help control this magic of hers.

Andras Steinhello darling