Matteo

It's tough to be a god

Ah! But how he had underestimated the exuberance of youth! His young equine companion, filled with good food and perhaps, taking as much contentment in his company as he took in her own, seemed to grow only more talkative- at least by way of those projected thoughts. Matteo near assured the young mare was not nearly so aware of her thoughts as he himself and yet, for now at least, he saw little need to inform her of that very thing. Rather, the Frenchman merely allowed his hand to continue to rest agianst the warmth of her dark neck, his fingers gently searching out those itches, both already recognised and yet to be discovered, before gently seeking to scratch them away in that fashion most equine seemed to enjoy. How very much she reminded him, in that moment, of his own first mount. A gift from his birth father when he had been little more than a boy. That shaggy pony had not been near so fine as Calliel and yet he had held the same dark coat and silvery white mane. Matteo had thought the world of that creature once. He had brushed its dappled coat so often his Mother had sworn he would brush away that fur and yet he had held nothing but pride in the little gelding. How small and scruffy and aged that pony had been and yet to his boyish eyes it had been the finest of palfreys, Matteo thinking upon that pony with affection even now, so many years later and even after Alexander had shown him, and given him, several truly exquisite horses over the years. Each one putting that boyhood pony to shame and yet still it held that very place in his affections.

Those very questions Calliel so unknowingly presented were answered with ease. Matteo's accented words offered with the same gentleness as his touch as he explained just where those sandwiches had come from and too- the very disdain that Hunter unit seemed to find in his presence if only because of his species. Such things so hardly concerned him, not any longer, Matteo having lived far too much and far too long to take to heart the prejudices of men whose minds and eyes had not yet seen either the very best or the worst of the world. They had not yet been forced to look upon another man not for what he was but rather who and until that moment in which their very lives depend upon another, when morals rather than species might be judged they surely would not understand. To convince them otherwise was a waste of breath. They could go on disliking him as intently as they pleased. The Frenchman all but immune to it. So provided they followed his orders their minds could think as they pleased. In time, they would change, indeed, he would see to it that they did and yet time itself was that very factor. His very thoughts, it seemed, had sparked a renewed curiosity in his companion once more, Calliel suddenly pulling her head away from him to eye him warily, those cautious steps so laced with hesitancy pressing her large, powerful form backwards as Matteo eyed her curiously in turn. The ancient Fae making little move to stop her.

One large, heavy hoof stamped agianst the ground. That mare eyeing him further now as that near knowing simper so managed to find its way onto his own lips. Ah, but perhaps she had noted his responses to her very thoughts. The young woman only now seeming to fasten onto that very notion and yet not....quite as he had anticipated she might. Calliel shifted suddenly forward once more, her face thrust into his own far closer then he had anticipated, Matteo momentarily left blinking in surprise only for Calliel to declare him ...a horse whisperer. A look of surprise so readily found its way to his features then. Matteo, perhaps, inclined to admit Alexander had taught him well when it came to those animals his Father favoured so much and yet he had never before had such a title cast upon him. Ha! But how envious Alexander would be to know that he had been given that title over him and by a horse no less! This, surely, the highest of honours. Matteo affording Calliel that serious nod then.

"Ah, yes, this is surely true. I am sure I taught Alexander everything of import that he knows, yes."

That grin upon his own features widened readily then, Matteo chuckling at his own impishness. He would, surely, have to tell the young mare of the truth and yet for those few moments at least he was content to enjoy her belief in his own skill set. Calliel, it seemed, entirely oblivious to her own telepathic skill as she pressed closer to him once more, her forehead so pressing agianst his own as if that physical connection might somehow improve that communication between them. Matteo, once more, so struggling to keep the amusement from his features as the silver black mare determinedly answered his questions. Ah, but such a bright young mind she had! The Frenchman listened quietly then as Calliel so spoke of those attributes of the other species that, in one way or another, made them a danger. Her insistence that she was 'just a horse' prompting his features to frown a little and yet he remained silent until her own words faltered and her gaze turned to his own with curiosity. Matteo leaning but gently away from her, his hand coming to rest upon her forehead all the same. The Frenchman so clearly considering his words then before offering them in those accented tones and with that ever-present, knowing smile.

"Oh, I think my kind can be very dangerous but it depends what you call dangerous, Mon Cherie. We Fae are immortal like Hunters, did you know we do not even need to eat or drink? We will never die from time or age or hunger or thirst- and we are not driven to kill like a Hunter. We are free of any such desires. Fae are not bound by the sun or a need for blood as a vampire is. Day or night holds no limitations for us. Witches too are touched by mortality and while they control the elements we Fae are so often tied to spirits, one foot in life and one in death- or so it is said. As for Weres, they too are bound by the moon as we are not and many Fae possess heightened senses or even wings as many Were do. We are ...a piece of all other species, enough to afford us some power but not so much as to afford us their limitations. Many Fae possess ...unusual powers and we are said to be by far the most ...tricky. Any being can be dangerous, Mon Amie, it is how one uses their power that matters."

Matteo paused but briefly then, allowing those very words to turn within the young mares mind before his fingers reached idly upward to capture but a piece of her silver forelock between that forefinger and thumb- the Frenchman idly beginning to twist that hair gently in the beginnings of war braid.

"Why, Mon Amie, do you say you are only a horse? Do you know of the true power of a horse? Such a remarkable animal. One that has shaped history as no other. A horse has one of the greatest abilities for endurance of any animal upon this earth, a horse of your size is capable of pulling weight on inexplicable measure and too- the force of a horses kick is enough to shatter concrete and bone alike. The bite of a horse has more force then that of a wolf and a horse will go agianst its very instincts, its very being- for love or simply if asked with enough kindness. A horse is selfless if he has reason to be. I think a horse should be quite a wonderful thing to be for he has the attributes most men can only dream off. Be proud of what you are, Calliel. No battle was ever won on the back of a tiger or lion or wolf. I know, Mon Amie, for I was there to see them- and it was a horse left standing each and every time."