The Sun Also Rises

There was something wholly calming about the warmth and darkness of his room. The sofa was soft beneath him and the fire beside him glowed in a manner almost comforting if only for that simple familiarity it bought. This 'ruling' business had proven to be more difficult then he remembered and yet, he supposed, he was hardly being fair in his judgement of himself on but one single event in one single day. Yet still, there existed within the man the notion that there was, in more ways than one, something to prove to all those whom simply believed he could not do that which was set before him. Dorian wholly determined to prove he could and yet here and now he so questioned whether he truly wanted too. It was tiredness surely, tiredness and frustration that so elicited those thoughts, Dorian truly relieved when Sebastian stirred at last. It was hardly for his desire to speak of those issues however that so seemed to see the man delight in the wakefulness of his lover, more so, the simple sound of Sebastian stirring, of the presence of his boyfriend, was vastly more comforting to the man then any couch or fire might ever be. A soft smile, at last, found its way to his features as the vampire so appeared at the back of that sofa to rest his elbow and head almost laconically upon it as Dorian so informed him of all those things he had missed during his sleep.

That Sebastian was not opposed to that public appearance so managed to sooth at least some of those concerns that had turned within his mind. Dorian, perhaps selfishly, having dreaded the thought of appearing before countless unknown people alone only for them to stare at him. Whether or not his lover so realised just what he was agreeing to however remained to be seen, even Dorian himself perhaps not fully anticipating exactly what appearing before press and public truly meant. Both, it seemed, destined to be somewhat surprised in those coming days- though for now the Monarchs thoughts were content to brush such things aside. His mind far more willing to focus on his annoyance with the President that he had not, until this morning, known even existed. It was relieving, in a sense, to finally announce his thoughts on the man to another, Dorian allowing that irritation to be so fully expressed in a fashion politeness in company refused to allow him to show otherwise. The King so confiding these things to his lover alone as his words finally fell silent with that huff, the almost sad simper upon the vampires lips hardly missed though Dorian scarcely needed to query it's appearance. He knew just as Sebastian did, he supposed, that their shared gender would eventually be given to cause issue and that there would be those whom out rightly opposed it. He had anticipated just this and yet he had been caught off guard by just how defensive he was over the matter and yet it was hardly just his own character he was inclined to defend. Dorian refusing to have Sebastian tarnished in any fashion. What they shared behind closed doors was their business alone and he refused to suffer any implications by another that it might be wrong in any fashion. It was that gentle brush of fingers against his skin that drew his gaze upward to the blue of the vampires own as the man moved to seat himself on the edge of the sofa now, Sebastian's inquiry upon his sleep drawing a soft simper to his lips, chasing away those other thoughts. Ah, but of course his lover would worry of this!

"I had some sleep. It was restless I fear, but I did sleep all the same. I have requested no meetings outside anything deemed an emergency be scheduled in the daytime from now on though. If people truly wish to meet with me then they will make the effort to do so on our schedule. "

It was, after all, a simple matter to meet with someone at seven or eight in the evening, such being neither too early for him nor too late for those of less vampiric persuasion. Sebastian leaned forward then, his lips pressing sweetly to the Monarch's own, Dorian all-too eagerly returning that gesture as so many of those issues seemed wholly less important in that moment. The vampires assurance that they need only attend that last meeting before they might spend the whole evening on that sofa was met with a soft chuckle, the Fae King allowing his arm to be lifted from his eyes as Sebastian's lips graced the inside of his wrist. How that simple gesture might flare that want within him and too- how easily his lover so seemed to render the politics of the world unimportant! Dorian, for the first time, so appreciating his companion's rather naked figure so perched upon that couch. His features frowning slightly in a moment of consideration, one made all the more difficult by that wholly distracting form before him.

"You are right. I think perhaps I might have public appearances set for tomorrow evening and later on this week we shall hold formal court. I will see these outer gardens opened for the public tonight though, so they might enjoy them. Other meetings can be made for later in the week too which means that, this evening, we have but one meeting, a feast to attend and then we can enjoy La Festa di San Silvestro, New Years Eve, just the two of us. How does this sound?"

The palace had, during the day, so set about decorating with ready delight. It had after all, been years since they had truly celebrated such an event. Benito so sparing no expense in seeing to tonight's dinner, Dorian assured it should veritably destroy the advisor were himself and Sebastian not to attend it and yet it was those after-dinner affairs the Monarch so found himself looking forward too. His fingers laced through his lovers own now, Dorian wholly content to tug Sebastian down onto that sofa, shifting to rest his head in the vampires lap- that impish grin returned to his features- his free hand reaching idly to trace those plains of his lovers hard, toned chest. He knew that chest, each line and curve so intimately and yet it hardly failed to appeal to him time and time again.

"Spero che siate pronti a vedere il modo in cui gli italiani così celebriamo questa sera, il mio amore. Forse mi potrebbe assit a dormire meglio questa mattina contribuendo a stancarmi fuori stasera. Se puoi." (I hope you are ready to see how we Italians so celebrate this evening, my love. Perhaps you might assist me in sleeping better this morning by helping to tire me out tonight? Don't forget your underwear.)

Those softly spoken Italian lyrics were entirely teasing. One eye lifting almost playfully at that innuendo so laced within those words. The Fae King finding himself truly curious as to which pair of undergarments his lover might choose for the evening's festivities. Dorian more than willing to allow his thoughts to be taken with this rather than all those other concerns that danced at the edge of his mind. Sebastian's efforts to distract him from those worries so evidently having worked. How fortunate he was, truly, to have achieved the affections of such a man. His hand fell to rest upon his own chest now, the other remaining nestled in the vampires own. Sebastian inquiring then as to whom they were seeing this evening.

"Hmm? Oh, it is only Matteo this evening. He 'appeared' late this afternoon in the drawing room. Terrified the page boy. Benito attempted to schedule him for later in the evening but I fear he is not particularly prone to following Benito's schedules and he was insistent. I presume he merely wishes to see me and meet you in turn, it has been nearly over a year since he last visited."

Dorian was so notably less concerned over this meeting then he had been the last. The Fae King wholly oblivious, in turn, to any nervousness such a meeting might have afflicted within his lover if only for those assumptions the vampire had made on the man whom had watched over Dorian, in a sense, these past centuries. For his part, Dorian was entirely inclined to continue resting within his lovers lap, relishing that calm and quiet and the gentle crackle of that fire, his silver gaze glancing over his own suited form as he reclined. The man speaking softly a final time.

"You need not dress in anything too proper, this is not a formal meeting. I think I shall change as well. I would feel silly being the only one in a suit- what are you going to wear? And Bastian, thank you."

He was sure he need not say for what, his hand squeezing his consorts own for just a moment before his gaze drifted to that wardrobe and the meeting that awaited them.

Dorian Aragona