i used to rule the world

seas would rise when i gave the word

Alexander was entirely ignorant of his Godson's near fostering nature. He was aware, to some extent, that the boy was of good character and a strong will and yet, only so much could truly be gleamed of a soul from third party stories and a singular half hour meeting. He was not entirely oblivious to that innocent nature within the man, after all, that excitement that so filled Dorian was far more childlike than either of that jaded skepticism that near radiated from Alexander and Matteo, even if the Frenchman had certainly handled that aging with far more grace than the hunter had. Still, something could be said for the strategic mind and a boy eager to please. He could have become something great. It was a shame Matteo had not encouraged such studies, even in those few moments the man had been allowed to be within his son's life during those early years. Still, he supposed it hardly mattered in the end. This day and age hardly had much use for a solid strategist on the battlefield. Finances? Business? Certainly. But war? How the game had changed in comparison to his day and age. Perhaps things were better this way.

Even so, the Macedonian King hardly saw a reason to keep his thoughts of Dorian's supposed father figure to himself. Italy might have tried to remember him kindly but History certainly did not, nor, for that matter, did Alexander. Perhaps it was his infinitely long age or the simple fact that, as a King, he'd hardly been bound to the same social standards as others. Either way, Alexander was entirely content to be the first within Dorian's life to so blatantly utter the truth - that Ferdinand did not deserve that crown that had been placed upon his head. He had offered, once, to march on Italy and to take that very throne away from the man when Dorian was but a babe but Matteo had denied him that satisfaction. It was a shame and yet, he supposed things turned out for the best. "That power will always be placed upon those whom deserve it." He stated quite simply, a fact he wholeheartedly believed. After all, those who were too cruel or too weak had a fashion of finding themselves suddenly lacking a head for that crown altogether. His own kingdom, after all, had toppled within that grief that he'd become so lost to. Even the great Alexander was not beyond those simple facets of fate.

He allowed such considerations of his own reign pass, however, favoring instead the topic of his once favored tutor. His education, in same fashions, had been far more settled in the philosophy and the discovery of the unknown then such rigid concepts than what was taught today, then what was even taught within Dorian's own youth. Even so, he was rather confident in the idea that Dorian's once lover might have taken quite a liking to Aristotle. They were men after each other's heart. He watched that warm smile spread across his Godson's features at the sheer thought of the two men meeting, the fae Monarch's mention of Leonardo and his famed love of flight prompted a soft chuckle upon Alexander's lips. "Mmmm. He would have greatly enjoyed seeing his dreams come to life." It was a shame, truly, how much they had lost to time, how many souls they had lost and yet, at least in this manner those very beings could live on in some fashion. The mention of the pyramids, however, was a near welcomed distraction from those somber thoughts that had threatened to take purchase upon the Hunter, the man entirely willing to offer some word on the magnificence of those structures. They, and many other wonders of the world, simply waited for his Godson's discovery. How much there was to captivate the sheltered King! If that vampire could accomplish little more than accompanying Dorian upon those sightseeing trips to ensure the Italian's safety, he supposed he could consider accepting the man...possibly.

Any further consideration of his Godson's consort, however, was interrupted by that rather subtle pressure upon the bed, that soft sound near immediately drew the Hunter's gaze towards that familiar figure of the Frenchman. Alexander watched in mute inquisitiveness as Matteo picked up that cup of coffee all over again, commenting on it's taste only for the Hunter to entirely keep the information of what it was to himself. That Greek insult prompted a grin upon his features, the Macedonian King entirely content to reply in that foreign tongue with a phrase equally as berating, even if that harshness was hardly meant in any fashion. Rather, it was that notion of a gift that so curiously drew his attention as that braided bridle was pressed into his hands. It was natural, that simple observation that the piece of equipment being so largely incorrect in size hardly seemed like that horse tribe and yet, Matteo seemed entirely content to explain away that happenstance as a simple mistake. That vague shrug was met with another glimpse of suspicion, though Alexander conceded, accepting that birthday gift with a genuine word of appreciation. Though he did, truly, enjoy that bridle, it was hardly as valuable of a gift as spending time with the boy that sat across from him. "As do I..." He uttered softly, his gaze briefly brushing against Matteo's own before his attention turned towards the Italian himself.

His eyebrow raised ever so slightly at that near dismissal of the Frenchman's offer and yet, he could hardly blame the boy, considering he hardly knew of that relation between the two. Rather, his head nodded ever so slightly as he rose from his chair. His hand outstretched to shake that of the one offered to him, "I will look forward to it." He uttered and yet, he suspected Dorian hardly knew exactly how true those words were. Alexander's gaze remained upon that retreating figure of the fae till he had all but disappeared down those stairs, the sound of the bell connected to the door soon enough told him that he was once again alone with that Frenchman. His attention turned towards the man, his lips parting only for Matteo to near beat him to it. A soft chuckle left his lips and yet, Alexander provided him with little more than a small shrug. "He will be fine, he knows how to defend himself...and I can't imagine he's truly alone very often." He was, at least, willing to reassure his life long friend and yet, Alexander had failed to admit his own concern. After all, how many of his children had been murdered? How many had he lost to illness and disease or accidental mishap? None had truly seen the entire expanse of what the world had to offer. None had been taken by time itself. Matteo had every right to worry and yet, he would be an awful friend to utter such.

It was that mention of Dorian's consort that drew his attention and yet, Alexander could hardly help that soft sigh and roll of his eyes. "You must forgive me if I am not as ready as you are to accept him. The blood calls to their kind constantly. It's only a matter of time till he slips." Those infinite years of experience hunting that blood sucking species saw the Hunter regard them with a sort of weariness he was not wholly willing to give up, much less to offer his own Godson to such a creature with any kind of readiness. It was that question of his thoughts on Dorian, however, that prompted that simper to once again settle on his features. "He's certainly...enthusiastic." He uttered with a soft chuckle before slowly shaking his head, "He's so fucking innocent, Matteo. I fear he's not going to find the world as welcoming to him as he is to it." He supposed he was no better than Matteo himself. Alexander was overprotective by nature, the man unable to resist at least acknowledging that part of himself that so wanted to keep Dorian the way he was - untarnished by the cruelty of the world. God, he was just the same.