The Sun Also Rises

It was curious, truly, in those moments in which Dorian so sought to extricate himself from the confines of that white porcelain tub- that it seemed for very near one moment that Sebastian was almost inclined to follow him. The vampires sudden movements saw Dorian pause but briefly within the doorway, head inclined softly back to his companion at that barely muttered word before Dorian so seemed to dismiss such a frivolous notion as Sebastian merely finding a new position within which to be comfortable. His own thoughts wholly more concerned with finding something that might so incline that oil paint to so allow itself to be removed from their hair without the need for anything overt. Sebastian seeming entirely distressed by the notion as it was. As such, Dorian was hardly inclined to deliver him any news that was less then successful. It did not take particularly long for the Monarch to locate that female servant, Dorian determinedly keeping that towel wrapped about himself, the man somewhat embarrassed as it was to so present himself to a woman in nothing other than a towel and yet, truly, the woman seemed entirely unperturbed if not almost oblivious to it. It was, he was assured, the sign of a well-trained servant when it was so they could effortlessly remain focused upon their duty rather than any events that so occurred around them. Remaining unflustered, regardless of the circumstance. Although, truly, Dorian had come to suspect modesty in any sense, at least when at home, was not something his boyfriend might be entirely concerned with when guests did not accompany him.

Even his mention of paint hardly seemed to concern Elizabeth, the woman striding off to the kitchen in a manner wholly purposeful to return with that bottle, pressing it pleasantly into his hand with the simple instruction as to apply it in the same fashion one would shampoo before she strode off to return to whatever task he had interrupted her from before. It is only then that Dorian sees fit to return to the bathroom, allowing his towel to drop now that he was within Sebastian's company alone before settling himself back into that bath. It was his intrigue perhaps, within that bottle within his hands, that so saw the man remain oblivious still to the very fixation Sebastian seemed to hold upon his figure the moment he had returned. Dorian entirely ignorant to that power he so effortlessly performed as it continued to simply and gently weave itself about his vampire companion. Had the Monarch been aware, in any sense, of these feelings he so underhandedly, perhaps, coaxed within his companions he would surely have remained very near appalled at the idea he had forced it upon him and yet, as it was- Dorian merely settled himself with beside his lover once more. Ah, but that heated water was indeed endlessly pleasant. The dubious note to Sebastian's own voice was perhaps paralleled within his own and as the Fae so eyed that bottle himself before pouring a measure within his own hands.

"Truly it surprised me too, though women you know, seem to possess an endless knowledge for how you might clean things in a fashion men simply do not. It is a power I think, unique only to that gender and one they seem to wield with great proficiency. They did in my time- at least and it appears such a trend continues- but we shall see."

He was hardly inclined to afford womenfolk any further praise until Sebastian's hair had returned to that pale tone the man seemed so entirely fond of and that Dorian in turn could hardly fault. It was easy then, to so encourage Sebastian to lean back against him, allowing Dorians hands and fingers to work in that oil and encourage that unwanted colour from the strands. The Monarch was determined in some fashion to at least make up for so having stained the man's hair in the first place, allowing his fingers to so rhythmically massage each place they touched. It is a simple matter to allow his hands to find their way slowly, smoothly, to Sebastian's neck- affording it much the same treatment before dropping at last to the man's shoulders. Dorian entirely pleased to so coax that sigh from the man before Sebastian settled back all the more- Dorian assured he had succeeded in chasing the vampire's thoughts away from his own hair now at least. The Fae declaring several minutes later that his work was done as his lips pressed chastely to the top of the man's ear in muted affection.

It is with no small sense of intrigue that his silver gaze lingers upon his companion now, watching as the man moved away just enough to allow his head to disappear beneath the water, some entirely misplaced touch of....nervousness seeming to afflict the Fae King in that moment. It was ridiculous, surely, to hold any concern for Sebastian within his own bathtub and indeed, more so that a vampire who surely did not actually require air might drown in some fashion was utterly foolhardy and yet he cannot prevent that care that so ensnares him for this man he loves. Much of Dorian's own existence, despite how much of it had been spent near the sea or beside rivers and lakes, had been spent being so instructed to stay away from it or to wade no higher than his waist if he must. The ability to swim in the 15th century after all was a decidedly rare one, even most sailors had seemed to lack it. Dorian entirely pleased to see Sebastian surface but a moment later- shaking the water from his hair in such a fashion as to spray the Fae with those rouge droplets.

"Bastien!"

The protest within his voice remains entirely tainted with amusement all the same as a chuckle so tumbles from his lips, the man reaching to wipe that water from his eyes as Sebastian admired his own work and his newly returned hair colour before declaring it Dorian's turn. It was a fortunate thing perhaps, that his own hair had managed to be stained only within the back, the man turning obediently a moment later to allow his consort to afford him the same oil-based hair wash. The Fae-King so easily lent back against his lover, tilting his head forward just so in an effort to allow Sebastian to remove all traces of green. It is only when the vampires work is complete that Dorian eyes that water once more with a look of distrust- his silver gaze so inclined back towards his lover.

"Do you know, in all my life, I cannot recall a time in which I have ever put my head underwater? I understand the principal of simply holding my breath and I have seen you do it, it cannot possibly be that hard. I wonder though- does one close ones eyes?"

That he had never truly considered whether or not his eyes should be open for this process is surely an indication that the man truly, has so desperately little experience when it comes to any real body of water. Such is the simple nature of the Fae however, that he hardly seems to fear it, more so, he is simply wary of it and yet determined to so experiment all the same. He shifts slightly away from his lover now, assured beyond all doubt that Sebastian would hardly allow him to drown, shutting his eyes and so holding his breath before abruptly dunking his head beneath the water. Dorian having the sense, in the least, to run his fingers through his hair while below and so remove that oil and green paint before hurriedly pulling himself back up with the faintest of splutters and slightly bewildered looks.

"Gracious that was an experience. At least my hair is clean."

A soft simper so returns to his features then, the man shaking his own hair in much the fashion Sebastian had before settling himself beside the vampire once more, entirely content to return to merely relaxing in that heat until that inevitable restlessness so overcame his companion- alerting Dorian entirely to the prospect of that rising sun. He finds his own yawn upon his lips as he shifts now, stepping from that bath once more to find his towel and begin that process of drying himself thoroughly. Tonight however, he makes no effort to so find his boxer shorts or any of his clothing that had scattered itself about Sebastian's bedroom- or house in general. Tonight, the man is simply content to make his way to bed entirely as he is, slipping easily between those silken sheets he so adored if only for his assurance that he need neither sleep nor wake up alone today. How simple it was to merely sleep beside another and yet how much he adored it all at once. The Fae King waiting for his lover to join him amongst those sheets now with his own features decidedly sleepy and yet no less content in the wake of what had been an undeniably perfect evening.

Dorian Aragona