Featuring Mateo from @tevintergallus
Co-written by tevintergallus. Pulled directly from Lanti and Mateo’s RP transcripts with minimal edits
[Takes place between the Crow fights in the Halls of Valor]
Lanti wandered into the living room. She had told Mateo she would come by to check on him. "Teo? You home?" Mateo is lying on the couch, cuddling with a sleeping Ilio. "Yes, hola." He greets Lanti tiredly. She dropped her voice to a whisper so as not to disturb Ilio. "How are you feeling, hermoso?" She quietly approached the pair on the couch. "Quite well, weary. This one hasn't left my side since we left." He reached for Lanti's hand. "How are you?" "Aww, that's sweet," she told him with a smile as she took his hand, tracing her thumb over the back of it. "You didn't answer my question," he lightly chuckled. "I'm well. How are you doing? Recovering alright?"
"Yeah, I have an ice block resting on me. A heavy ice block resting on me." He quietly joked. She chuckled as she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Mateo's forehead. "Good. I'm glad to see him taking care of you." "He hates seeing us get hurt, even if we sign up for an event with the potential of getting hurt." "I know, that's still sweet though. Definitely didn't expect to see him like this, though." Mateo hugs Ilio closer. “Fairly, you know little about us, but you will learn more over time. Thank you for coming over.” "I know you pretty well. And I've been getting to know him and Amina more, too. And of course. I wanted to check on you."
“How well do you know me?” "I know where you live. You've told me yourself that not many people do." Mateo stifles his laughter. “That is common sense. Does everyone know where you live?” "No, but anyone in the lighthouse could figure it out," she answered plainly. “That's invasive,” he said plainly. "Yeah," she agreed with a chuckle. "And I know how to make you snort laugh." “You do. You and Ilio.” He added Ilio to irk her. "And don't you forget it," she told him with a smile before gently poking his forehead. "It is just a snort," he lightly dismissed. Ilio stretched before snuggling Mateo more. "It is a snort, but it is very adorable," she told him with a playful smirk. "Very cute."
Mateo blushes from her sweet compliment. "Thank you, hermosa." "No need to thank me. You know how I feel about you." “You know how I feel about you.” He winks. Ilio opened an eye to see who was causing Mateo to talk and spotted Lanti. She receives a glare and a head shake from him before he resumes his sleep. She stuck her tongue out at Ilio before he went back to sleep. "Should I go? Let you two get back to your rest?" “He’s fine; I’m fine. Stay. What is up with you two, though?” he whispered. "Oh, your brother got upset at me for, and this is a quote, 'darkening his doorstep with my shortness,'" she said with a laugh. Mateo stiffens, trying to stifle his laughter. Tears spring to his eyes. He whimpers, trying to stay quiet.
“Lanti, you’re darkening my living room with your excessive talking,” he mumbled in his sleep. That broke Mateo. He covers Ilio’s ears and snort laughs up a storm. She laughs with Mateo with an 'I told you so' expression. "Not to mention your brother had a grand ole time dunking me in the pool." “Dunk of approval,” he whispered. "That's what Amina said too," she whispered back with a chuckle and shook her head. “You see three people with the same face. How do you feel?” "I feel like each of you has your own unique personality," she told him with a chuckle. “We do! We have our own things!” "Specifically, you like me, Amina and I are friends, and Ilio tolerates me," she said with another chuckle. "Ilio dunked you. He likes you, but those aren't personality traits."
She gave him a disbelieving face, scrunching her nose. "Ehhhh, I don't know about that. And I know they aren't personality traits, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to mention it." "Would you rather he dislike you?" He chuckled. "Darkened his doorstep-" Mateo stifled another laugh. "No, but I would prefer he not dunk me," she said with a chuckle. "Yes, darkened his doorstep and, apparently, now his living room too." "You know you can talk to him, right? Not now," He looks to spot a weary-eyed Ilio staring at him. "Lo siento, hermano." He looked back at Lanti. "You aren't the only one darkening the living room." She did her best to keep her laughter quiet. "I know. That's why I came over last time. I feel like we bonded a little."
"Bonding is nice. What did you two talk about?" "We didn't talk much, actually. We just spent time together, goofing off and having fun. He showed me his magic." "Did you play tag?" She chuckled at the question. "Yeah, we did. It was a lot of fun." "Then he likes you," he chuckles. She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Teo," she said with a chuckle as she shook her head. "It is whatever I say," he smirks. She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "That is not what I meant. Smart ass," she teased lightly with a smirk of her own. He opted for a smile rather than laughing. He will have to get up soon to return to the arena for the next match. "As much as I love this, I must return to my fellow Dragons soon. Next match starts in an hour."
"Then I should let you get going." She leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss as she stroked his hair. "Or, you can return with us. Still have to watch us whoop ass." Mateo gently removed himself from under Ilio. He felt properly rested and cared for thanks to his baby brother's help. "Yeah, that would work. I'd love to see you kick ass," she told him with a smile as she held her hand out for him to take. "I did kick ass! Until I was hit with electricity. Ouch," He laughed a bit too loud, but Ilio didn't stir. "He will join us when he is ready." "Easy, handsome, can't have you getting hurt again before we even get there," she teased with a soft chuckle.
"Hm, Venatori have grudges against us, so I am not surprised I was struck as hard as I was." "Well, just don't let it happen again," she teased lightly with a smile. "I will try my best," He presses a kiss to Ilio's head and covers him with a blanket. "I'm going to run to the bathroom, then we can head back. I believe Mina is with Nuru." He hops up the stairs to use the bathroom. She chuckled for a moment as he bounded up the stairs. She looked over at Ilio and smiled. She moved to him and gently adjusted his pillow. Ilio curls into the fetal position as best he can. A small whine comes from him. She gives him a gentle pat on the head before moving towards the door to patiently wait for Mateo. "No, Lanti. Dark..." Ilio is mumbling in his sleep.
"Ilio?" She asked quietly, watching him cautiously. "Dark... Stop..." He turns over with the pillow. "Ilio??" She asked quietly, getting closer to him, worrying slightly. "Darkening my... doorstep," He mumbles. She chuckled and shook her head again, rolling her eyes. "Why are you laughing?" Mateo returns from the bathroom. "I didn't know Ilio talked in his sleep," she told him with another chuckle. "He does?" He glanced at his slumbering brother as his face scrunched from confusion. "Never noticed." "Yep. He said I was darkening his doorstep," she said as she chuckled and shook her head again. "Come on, let's get going." "Again?" He laughs. He takes Lanti's hand, then leads her out of the house towards the Hall of Valor eluvian. "Yes, let's so Ilio can have a good dream," he jokes. She rolled her eyes and smiled at his joke as the pair headed to the eluvian and departed for the Hall of Valor.
