His hand brushed along Amisi's cheek, caressing it gingerly, trailing that fingertip down her neck and along the curve of her collarbone, as if dallying with the idea of letting his fingertips trail lower, while she sat on his lap, but not yet decided on his course of action. He let his fingertip trail down her arm and across her stomach gingerly, slyly, gently. "I am kind and cruel in equal measures, like all men."<br/><br/>Alain turned his eyes to Moire as she walked towards him. "Brag," he said, his voice flat in tone. "How<em>fucking</em>ignorant are you?" he growled before inhaling a sharp breath and then forcing it out. "I have been to hell and back for this kingdom, and without the actions of men<em>and</em>women like myself, this whole land would be overturned by barbarians, who would've raped and pillaged every one of your cities and then razed them to the ground. If you consider it smug that I am glad to be alive, to have survived that horror, then so be it. And if you would like to learn the ways of battle, pretty girl, I will be happy to teach them to you. But this is the role that's been assigned to me, and that the role that's been assigned to you, and glaring at me because your city dealt you a bum hand will do you no good at all. In fact, if you are so opposed to doing the duty<em>your</em>city has pushed upon<em>you</em>when I went to war for a country that is not even mine, then fine, you may go and sit in the corner and do... nothing." His fingertips curled a bit, as if he was resisting making a fist, before he relaxed them.<br/><br/>He inhaled a deep breath and let it out again with a bit of forceful sigh. "I am sorry. I am tense, I am weary and I am attempting to do the best with the expectations that have been foisted upon me by the king. I apologize if I come across a bit strong or rash." He leaned in and kissed Amisi's shoulder, pushing the strap off the dress off on one side, so he could kiss there. Tiffany seemed content staying distant for the time being, so he would handle them each as he could.