The Sun Also Rises

The very idea that Italy might, somehow, crumble without him was met with the softest chuckle of amusement by the Monarch. Sebastian's light tease wholly appreciated in that moment even if Dorian was assured it were not true. Perhaps, once, he might well have believed just that and yet his subsequent departure and absence from his throne these past months had hardly failed to result in the downfall of his country. At least, not to his awareness. In fact, the more time he had spent away from Italy and his palace- while utterly terrifying at first- the more Dorian had so come to realise how very large the world itself was and how much of it he surely longed to see. He had missed so much, experienced so little and how his mind longed to know more of it! What had once terrified him now only inspired him. His chance meeting with Sebastian- though perhaps more an act of fate- all those months ago had simply been the beginning of this most glorious relationship and too a veritable plethora of experiences he had never known of the even miss. How addictive freedom was when one might be given just a taste of it. How delighted, truly, in the idea that he might show Sebastian his home, that he might finally explore his own country and too bring his own palace into the modern world where it belonged. There was an undeniable sense of excitement in that and yet for all his pleasure in that which he would share with his lover upon their arrival in Naples there existed too a nervousness of sorts, a resentment to have to return to work in some sense. These past few months had been a blissful holiday away from all that he had once been and while at first he had longed only to return to it, now he found himself so relishing that anonymity that existed within the city, in spending his days asleep at Sebastians side and his nights with exploring every new facet of the world Sebastian could think to show him. How these worries plagued at his mind! Yet, such is the nature of the man and indeed his very upbringing that sharing such things to often was simply not of an acceptable nature. It was not Sebastian's burden to concern himself with and indeed Dorian was loath to afford his lover any concern. The man entirely content to allow that conversation to return to those more pleasant ideals, his lovers soft reassurances entirely meaningful all the same. How endearing it was to know his consort was, in turn, perhaps willing to accept that some things would surely change in the wake of this trip.

It was only once dinner had been finished and dessert served in turn that Dorian allowed his thoughts to dare linger on anything save the sheer amount of food he had eaten. It was surely silly, really, the such worries might continue to tease at him and yet how curious he was, in turn, to find that such worries were so often centred about Sebastian himself. Love, it seemed, was an entirely eclipsing emotion. One that was quite willing to see him betray concern for his own affairs indeed those of his country for fear Sebastian might find any displeasure in this visit else be made to feel uncomfortable in any sense. His boyfriend's happiness, after all, was imperative to him. He feared the vampire might find himself overwhelmed in what was to come. Some small, hidden part of himself so desperately worried, in truth, that Sebastian might resent those changes that would surely happen in both their lives. That he might resent them enough to leave. The thought of it alone more than Dorian could bare. The Monarch allowing perhaps just the tip of those fears to be known in some effort to at least prepare the man for what was to come. Though in truth he was assured nothing but the experience in itself would allow him to fathom it in full.

His thoughts are interrupted, grateful so, by Sebastian halted next to him atop that soft, freshly fallen snow that had turned the world white. The vampire moving to stand suddenly in front of him now and halt his own steps. The silver of his own gaze was cast briefly down, watching as Sebastian moved to gently take his other hand until he held both within his own. The Fae King glancing upward once more, those initial words the man offered seeing a genuine surprise taint his features, as if Sebastian had known, somehow, of those far worse fears that coiled within him. His lover so seeking to assure him all of Italy was hardly enough to see him falter, Dorian so unable to prevent that softening of his features and too that smile that found his lips. How silly it was that he might need to hear those words, for surely he had known it all along regardless and yet even he, arguably the more rational of the pair when it came to worries, might be given to need his own reassurances sometimes. Yet how effortlessly too, Sebastian so seemed to sooth those concerns. The vampire evidently far more worried perhaps, with his own apparent concerns if ineptitude in that role of consort. Ah, but it is surely Dorian's turn to chuckle now! His hands resting still in the mans own.

"Ah, Mon Cher, but I have every faith in you. I will help you too, in all things. We will both work it out- together. You need not fear doing things wrong. Consorts are like Kings- no one can tell us we are wrong."

There is a tease to those words then, even despite the truth within them, Dorian allowing that simper to return to his features now. The man oblivious, in that moment, to Sebastian's perhaps very real concern of their shared gender and how the world would look upon an openly gay Monarch. Something so rare it was near unheard off. A worry that, amongst the others, Dorian had not yet taken the time to grow concerned over. Though it was surely inevitable. For now however, it hardly occurred to him. The Fae King so content to worry of just one thing at a time and even that worry now seemed so fleeting and foolish that it had been spoken off aloud. How glorious this relationship business might be for seeing those worries rested. Those softly uttered words from the vampire seeing that simper trace his features once more, Dorian leaning upward place that soft kiss on his consort's cheek in turn.

"You know, I am inclined to believe you when you say it. We will work it out, you are right. If you, whom worries of all things, are not worried of this then I shall not be either."

There is a decidedly impish grin to his features now, Dorian so deliberately seeking to poke at his lover with such words. Sebastian's capacity for concern hardly any secret. Indeed it was a trait Dorian had come to find so wonderfully endearing and yet it did not mean, surely, that he could not tease at his boyfriend a little- a rich chuckle rising within his throat once more. There was still a little time before that inevitable dawn, at least enough that Dorian so seeing no need to rush as he moved to release but one of his lovers hands to step up and onto a cobblestone wall that ran throughout the garden in a rare show of boyish playfulness. The Fae King so attempting to walk along that snowy, uneven surface, one hand still rather fiercely gripping Sebastian's own lest he fall. Dorian content to speak as he did. Wobbling slightly, the man almost assured he felt a slightly unsteady beat of his lovers heart in response to his own momentary lack of balance, that simper teasing at his features still.

"I think next year when we come back here, we should stay for longer? Perhaps we might see your other homes then too? If you'd like any way."

And it was, with that, that Dorian remained content to return their conversation to those far more intriguing things, casting aside those worries for another day. Christmas, after all, was a day for pleasant things and this had been a truly pleasant Christmas. He paused then, at the end of the wall, a small space existing now between where this wall finished and the next started. The Monarch clearly debating on whether or not it might be jumped- and whether Sebastian might let him even try. The man glancing briefly to his lover, his words wholly playful now.

"You know Mon Cher, you have a very adorable look on your face when you think I am about to be reckless."

Dorian Aragona