That small measure of satisfaction settled readily within the Frenchman as Aiden seemed to admit defeat in regard to that childish movie he had once so thoroughly enjoyed. His mention that Tobias, in turn, would take great pleasure in that film seemingly enough to coax the Panther into that agreement to track it down once more. It would be curious, perhaps, to see whether or not the memories of that once favoured film could be coaxed from whatever blackened abyss they had been sealed within- not doubt some effort on Aiden's part to shield himself from whatever else had occured those evenings. Matteo satisfied, for the most part, that it would be memories of that movie alone that came to the surface. Such thoughts waned easily from his mind then in response to that request for a story. The same request Aiden had been making for some twenty years. Matteo slowly having tailored those stories over that time to be suitable for a growing boy and yet, with Aiden so clearly a man, there was little need to brush over any detail off just why he had enjoyed Miss Puerto Rico so thoroughly. For all Aiden had suffered at the hands of that woman, the boy had somehow still retained a healthy interest in women at large. Along with an understanding of how to treat them. Matteo greatly thankful for that.

Aiden's teenage years had been difficult to say the least. That normal teenage angst had been shockingly exacerbated in the boy. Risques utter destruction of that final piece of his childish innocence, a crime that Matteo would never forgive for as long as he lived, had seen the boy spiral in all sorts of directions let along the very anger and confusion such things had prompted. The discussions they'd had! The questions that had been asked. Matteo assured he would quite never forget even if he had fretted for years afterwards that his words had fallen on deaf ears. Somehow, Aiden's morals remained intact and how he thanked God every day for that. Even if he had never once allowed that unruly teenager to know how much he worried for him. Aiden had needed strength from him then. Some phases of life Matteo was decidedly glad had passed.

Yet that laughter he managed to prompt from the man was as pleasing as it had ever been. The Frenchman's tale paused only to inquire after that rather examplorary alcohol. He knew his drinks well. After all, there had been a time in which Alexander and himself had near made a national sport out of drinking and yet this one possessed a distinct flavour that was quite unique. The ancient Fae hardly surprised to hear it had been gained by some measure of law breaking an yet Matteo had come to near anticipate such things. The man instead complimenting the investment of that luxury yacht Aiden had made. His head nodded readily in agreement to the deliciousness of that drink.

"It is. I may have to find where it is made. I quite fancy it."

He offered simply, another sip taking as he finished that tale with talk of Miss puerto Rico's budding photography career and how his own ass had become that star of that apparent photoshoot he had been unwittingly engaged within. Still, he supposed, it had been quite a complimentary photo if nothing else. The Frenchman endlessly capable of finding some manner of turning around even the most vexing of situations. The government having managed to suppress most of those photos and yet he suspected Alexander had managed to procure several all the same. The hunter no doubt saving them for some later blackmail. His own head shook lightly, dismissing such thoughts for now as he settled further within his seat. Matteo so eternally appearing as if little in the world truly caused him real grief. A trait, he knew, that drove Dorian near mad.

Those accented words parted his lips one more, Matteo offering his companion thatnear brief overview of his own existence until this point, several more pressing matters glossed over in his usual style and yet he had hardly anticipated that look he was near fixed with. Aiden's striking emerald gaze held upon him and- in a fashion so reminiscent of the manner in which he had so often coaxed Aiden himself to talk- the younger man offered that more leading question. That near idle comment gently falling from his own lips and yet, while he was hardly forgetting those more pressing matters he intended to pry from Aiden later, the boy was very much a man now in turn. One he was not unwilling to speak frankly with. That soft sigh exacting itself from within him as he spoke of those difficulties, he supposed they were, in relating to his own son. A boy he had known for near six hundred years and still did not fully know how to engage with. He desired time alone with him and yet in equal measure feared what Dorian might ask of him all at once! He spoke so effortlessly with Aiden, enjoyed the mans company so easily- perhaps in a testament to all they had been through together and yet with his own biological son such relationships seemed so strained. The Frenchman near content to brush off those concerns in almost the same breath. That roll of Aiden's eyes not unnoticed and yet Matteo afforded it no comment.

That sudden assurance that he was being nothing short of ridiculous, however, saw those bright silver eyes return to the man beside him. That surprise clear upon his own features and yet he made no interruption to Aiden's insistence that time could surely be spent with both his son and son-in-law in turn. That the benefits of it surely begged considering. Matteo's fingers continued to run nonchalantly up and down that chain about his neck, fiddling idly with that crucifix at the end. Aiden's words were hardly unappreciated, nor was the boy misguided in that advice, indeed it was rather sound. Matteo simply struck by the assurance of it- by that display of social astuteness and more so- by that leadership. How far Aiden had come since the last time he had seen him. Those mere months without Risque having, seemingly, allowed the younger man to establish some manner of both place and purpose through that pack he had gained. Matteo quite unable to prevent that sensation of pride that seemed to find him then even if he hardly dared voice it to Aiden. He never had taken praise overly well. Yet God, how far he had come. The Frenchman allowing that small simper to touch his lips as he reached forward to pluck a candy from that packet Aiden had tossed to the table. Matteo giving away none of those internal considerations as he resiutated himself in that seat.

"Your not wrong. Frankly, I think I unnerve Sebastian a great deal but as you suggest it might yet be easier to engage them both for a time, even if attempting to have them focus on something other then one another is a task in itself. There is no harm in trying it your way though. I know he is going to ask me more about his Mother though- with or without Sebastian. God help me."

He had already seen those questions. It was merely a matter of when that he remained unsure off. Matteo simply unsure of how to begin to explain the only truly significant relationship off his terribly long life when he himself had not fully understood its complexities. In more than a thousand years he had still never truly understood why Isabel had not let him make her Fae. She had let herself die. She had left their son. She had left him. A part of him almost...resentful. Matteo pleased by Aiden's query on that proposition all the same if only for the ease it allowed him to discard thoughts off that woman for now. His attention fixating upon Aiden in full. He had looked into the Panther's response to that proposition several times over and yet, without a decision, that future constantly shifted.

"It is simple enough, Mon Amie. I will head to Italy soon for my sons wedding and then afterward Alexander and I will return here before I head back to France. Come home with me- to France."

He paused then, allowing just what he was asking to settle within his companions mind for a few moments before he continued, the Frenchman knowing well of those concerns that likely afflicted the younger man in that moment. His own demeanor as calm as always.

"I can sort your passport easily, a private plane and no paper trail. I would like you to come for a few months but I know of your duties here. I'd have you consider a week in the least. Tobias can surely manage the pack for a week and she is otherwise occupied for the next few months."

He knew he hardly need explain whom she was. With Risque occupied elsewhere with her own business ventures she would pay little care to what Aiden did if only he was about when she had need of him. His gaze resting upon the other man still. Aiden had never truly been much further than the city he'd been born in. To travel to another country might yet prompt some sort of...fear within the man. Even if he did not recognise it as such. Matteo almost anticipating it for him. What he was offering likely daunting in some aspect. The Frenchman finding himself almost a touch...anxious over the other man's reply.

"I promised you, when you were younger, I would show you my home. I would like to keep that promise- if you will let me, Aiden."




m a t t e o
it's tough to be a god