The vampire was entirely attentive when it so came to his lover. In fact, Dorian was one of the few individuals, much less one of the few things in general, that was so often rewarded the vampire's rapt devotion. He was aware of the hint of sadness that so seemed to grace his companion's features at those softly uttered words though why such despondency seemed to linger by the idea of the way the world continued to spin upon it's axis whilst Dorian remained behind those golden doors of his castle, the vampire hadn't the least of notions. Still, he had little intention to inquire after it if the slightest mention of such a time seemed to so drag the fae King down even the slightest. It was a habit of sorts, from the centuries he'd spent as a bachelor. Topics that brought even the slightest of heartache for either party were strictly forbidden - it ruined the one night stands he had, once, so often engaged in. Such a mannerism was hard to break after so long, even if he was willing to provide his lover with every aspect of himself. Thankfully, Dorian seemed willing enough to shift the conversation instead to the vampire's own species. It was a far more pleasant conversation, one in which Sebastian himself was more than willing to divulge the peculiarities of.

His efforts to explain his own distaste in the blood of his own species seemed to be entirely effective, that scowl that crossed Dorian's features brought a soft chuckle to his lips as he so bobbed his head ever so slightly. Samantha did seem to be quite the modern girl in every regard. It hardly surprised him that she so relied upon the microwave. Sebastian himself refused to even own such a device. "It is best to simply pretend you've forgotten it's existence entirely." The vampire responded with a warm grin. The topic upon his own habits, however, was entirely dismissed in the wake of their food finally arriving. The soup was wholly distracting for the vampire, the warmth, the blood, the taste - it was entirely enticing. For several moments he was entirely entranced with the taste of the soup he swallowed, before nibbling on the only slightly seared beef tips. There was little denying that the owners of the establishment knew exactly what they were doing and it utterly delighted him to so indulge in a fashion that he so rarely did.

Regardless, his own quickly brightening gaze turned towards his lover, inquiring as to the flavor that Dorian had found within the non-blood variant of the meal he was so offered. The duck sounded utterly delectable, even he was willing enough to admit that, much less remember those few short years in which such delicacies had been not only the norm but an everyday part of his life as an Earl. How such little things such as the appearance of duck could so make him miss that life he'd once so taken for granted. Regardless, his thoughts hardly lingered upon such a somber thing as missing life, instead shifting in the wake of Dorian's own inquiry as to their plans for the Christmas holiday he had invited his lover upon. It was hardly peculiar that Sebastian himself would return home. Rather, he made a point to visit his estates at least once every five years to see to their upkeep and other necessities. He rarely stayed long though, hardly more than a few days and that prospect alone made this trip decidedly unique. Still, he found his thoughts wandering to all the things that still needed to be taken care of, or at least things he needed to address whilst their time in England. There was Lancaster House that hadn't been touched in years, the pitstone windmill was suffering from it's usual onslaught of age, not to mention the repairs he heard were needed on the church in Belton. And the whole slew of affairs he was choosing to simply ignore in Manchester.

"Eh, it can hardly wait and eternity less everything collapse from lack of oversight." He responded, more grumbling to himself then really his lover. How finicky those souls could be that oversaw his expansive estates when left unchecked. Regardless, such woes were not ones he particularly found a need to air anymore then he already had, the vampire instead turned his attention towards Dorian's Kingdom that had too been left to fend for itself. The vampire's head tilted inquisitively to the side as he listened to those grand palaces his lover so saw as a part of what he was certain was a vast network of things Dorian so owned. "Torino...? I don't think I've ever been there before. Though really I was only ever in Naples for a weekend. We had finally gotten tickets for the opera in San Carlo but then the bombing occurred...it was a shame." And oh how disappointed he had been, all those years ago, to be denied entry into the oldest opera house in all of Europe all over a damn war. Still, perhaps this time he might be able to coax his lover into so visiting such a place. There had to be some perks to sleeping with the King, wasn't there? However, it the Dorian's mention of traveling within Italy that drew the vampire's thoughts from the opera house, his own eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. "Why?" He inquired, entirely oblivious to what sort of difficulties the monarch might have with something that came so second nature to him. Although he had certainly addressed the King as he was on occasion by title, the full depth of what life would be like at Dorian's side had yet to truly make itself known to the vampire. How unprepared he was!

Still, it was Dorian's assurance that he wouldn't forget the proper date for Christmas that so caused a grin to flutter across Sebastian's lips. "I should think it impossible to forget." He commented, entirely amused by the notion. After all, the celebration of holidays was hardly something Sebastian did lightly, when he so saw fit to celebrate them, that is. He had already seen to it that Charles' father had purchased a rather large tree for the central foyer of his home, and too already been sent pictures by his manservant's mother of the delightful decorating herself and his other servants had done not only to the tree but around Belton as a whole. It seemed as if the entirety of his staff was enjoying the prospect of having their master home for Christmas. Nevertheless, the vampire offered up his own suggestion for their change in plans, even if the vampire had intended to stay at his estate for far longer than what they now anticipated. He could hardly deny he was at least somewhat curious of what life was like behind those palace walls Dorian had so been restricted to. Thankfully, this change in plans seemed to delight his lover all the same.

His eyebrow rose ever so slightly at Dorian's mention of red underwear though why he needed such a thing still remained to be seen. "You mean you're actually going to make me wear underware?" He inquired, a teasing glimpse crossing his own features at his perpetual state of indifference to such undergarments. Sebastian's mischievousness, however, hardly lasted long before he watched his lover lean forward to take a small taste of his soup, the action alone entirely surprising to the vampire. He knew Dorian was hardly disdainful of what he was, in fact, the King seemed to willingly embrace it but this, this was somehow...unexpected. His head tilted to the side as he studied Dorian's features in an inquisitive fashion, watching as the King made his own conclusion on the soup he'd utterly adored. A small smile crossed his lips at the King's judgement on it, his head bobbed ever so slightly. "Fair enough." He stated simply, his attention once more distracted by the desert that was suddenly placed in front of him.

He glanced down briefly at the blood infused cheesecake bar in front of him before his eyes shifted quite abruptly to the chocolate cake that was placed in front of his lover. A soft gasp so left his lips, his own desert almost entirely lackluster to that deliciousness of chocolate that existed just across the table. He didn't get a choice like that! The bar of blood was gingerly pushed aside, his spoon retrieved only to cut into that lava cake, knowing well the liquid chocolate that would so ooze out from the incision he'd made. The piece he'd stolen was abruptly placed within his mouth, a sound of utmost glee leaving his lips but second's later. He swallowed that warmth of chocolate, so licking the spoon and the remains of that liquid lava before those dazzlingly bright blue eyes returned to eye that cake. How much would Dorian let him get away with stealing? In fact, the entirely latter half of Dorian's question was completely forgotten in the presence of a small piece of chocolate cake. Oh the weaknesses Sebastian no longer even tried to conceal.