every king had a story, of ancient glory,sweetly told

It was that distinctly prolonged silence in the wake of so affording his companion that gift that saw Dorian's own slight panic begin to tease at his often quite assured resolve. Sebastian by nature was hardly a man given to extensive speech, it was simply not his way and yet total silence without but even a sigh or huff of air was distinctly unusual in turn. It was curious perhaps, that of the two of them it was surely Sebastian whom was perhaps given to be the more emotive one and yet it was surely Dorian whom was by far the more willing to express those feeling out loud. There was little about the Fae that was particularly difficult to read once anyone had come to know the man for any extended period of time. Sebastian however, while Dorian had so come to learn when the man was distressed or pleased or any other emotion in between, was often decidedly difficult to perceive why those feelings had surfaced. The Monarch, in this instance, simply believing that perhaps this was asking more than the vampire might be ready to accept. After all, to take on that role as Consort, actively, was no small task and truly of late his lover had performed such a task truly admirably in every sense. The man never far when he was needed. Sebastian smiling for each and every photograph, sitting for every interview and so guiding Dorian himself through those more complex social interactions that his own decided antiquity had seen him struggle with. The vampire had been there too, behind those closed doors of the palace and away from the public eye to listen to each and every one of Dorians concerns or chase away those worries he more readily shared. The Fae King, by nature, far more inclined to simply brush those concerns aside and yet how he wished, sometimes, he might so return that favour for his lover!

It was a true relief to so have his companion speak at last. Sebastian's gaze remaining still on that box and the crown nestled within as he did, the man detailing just what such a gesture might mean within England and how it might well be perceived. The vampire glanced upward to meet his own silver gaze only at the end of his explanation before inquiring with curiosity as to what might be done if it fell off. It was by far the easier of the two queries to so attempt to assure his lover that crowns were designed, in some way at least, to remain atop the head of the wearer so presuming that wearer was not playing the fool in any sense. His hands reached readily for his own, lifting it upward to settle atop his head and so assure the man that he hardly need worry, that soft simper tugging at his lips all the same as Sebastian softly uttered that understanding. It was perhaps Dorian's own turn to remain silent a moment then, watching with some measure of curiosity as Sebastian more readily inspected the crown he had been given, running his fingers along those fine golden points before lifting it from the box. That already lightweight headpiece surely feeling like nothing at all in the vampires own hands as those neatly placed diamonds caught even the smallest instance of light to refract within them and see them shine much akin to Dorian's own. The Monarch so having gone to more effort than he truly admitted to in so attempting to craft for his lover a crown he might like or perhaps even become fond off one day. After all, one never did forget ones first crown.

It was however, those notions once more that within the English tradition such a gift might represent something vastly more that so saw the Fae inspired to speak again in an effort to address such notions. The mere mention of marriage but only a few days ago had so inspired Sebastian to enjoy his wine a little too much at dinner before that resulting distress in their bedroom afterwards and those all-too unpleasant memories of his previous wife. Dorian so assuming that it was this nervousness over marriage once more that had prompted the vampire's hesitation now and that look of confliction that seemed to exist upon him. How surely he should have considered this! The Monarch having been most determined of late to avoid any further talk of marriage if only for his belief such a thing might see that man he adored spiral back into those all-too painful memories and that readily associated depression that seemed to follow and had taken considerable effort to pull him from. This singular topic alone so seemingly determined to be spoken off even as Dorian assured him that within Italy, the Crown of the Consort was not quite the proposal is appeared to be and, more so, was a gift of tradition to represent rank and too- his importance to Dorian himself. Precious few Consorts in all of Italy's history had ever being denied that Crown, Dorian so refusing to allow Sebastian to be left out. If the man chose not to wear it then that would be another matter entirely as opposed to have never being offered it.

How curious it was though, that even in the wake of his explanation Sebastian still seemed hardly content. Dorian so entirely attuned to his lover after all these months that it was perhaps near impossible, even with all his years of practice, for Sebastian to hide any sense of distress from him. Dorian's lips pressed together slightly in both consideration and too- some measure of confusion. The man entirely incapable of so understanding that his boyfriends distress over his belief they had been moving too quickly upon that misunderstood proposal had, within the space of barely two minutes, shifted into disappointment over the fact that it was not a proposal at all! Such complex emotions utterly outside of Dorian's ability to presume. The man's mind, instead, so dancing through a myriad of other possibilities. Did he simply not like the crown? Would he have preferred something else? Was it too much to ask of him? Had that mention of marriage concerned his lover all over again? How he had known he would eventually overwhelm his lover in some fashion! This surely that final straw! Nothing about his existence as King truly easy and surely it had finally become too much and yet- Sebastian uttered little beyond that simple knowledge that he understood. The vampire turning that crown within his hands all the more as Dorian corrected the use of those titles. Sebastian suggesting that it was not all that different from England at all.

"I suppose not, no."

He uttered softly in response. Dorian attempting then, as he so often did, to return them to that more easy conversation. The Monarch inquiring as to whether Sebastian might, in the least, try that crown on- a warm simper touching his features once more. After all, even if he was but the only one whom might see that crown tonight he was wholly curious as to the fit of it. The vampire not wholly opposed to wearing it, it would seem. Dorian unable, despite it all, to prevent that smile that spread so readily across his lips at the sight of it atop his lovers head. How strange it was, that sudden surge of...emotion that seemed to grip him then, his heart so betraying him once more in that flutter within his chest and yet how he adored that sight. Even his words then holding a slight thickness to them.

"You look....very dashing."

He had never believed, in all those long years that he might ever be free of that palace let alone find a Consort and more than that- a soul mate. Someone to sit beside him on this very bed for moments such as this. How perfectly foolish he was with his emotions sometimes! Dorian making some attempt to work past them all the same as he regarded his lover once more. The Fae leaning forward then to place a singular kiss on Sebastian's cheek in a truly chaste and yet no less affectionate gesture.

"I am not sure what it is that has bothered you so this evening, Bastian. If the crown is a little too much then you really need not wear it just to please me. I shall survive, Mon Cher, I promise you that. If.....it is this talk of marriage that has concerned you I hardly intended to offer you a confusing gift, I was not aware of the English tradition in this. If you care to though, we can speak of it after Court."

That soft simper tugged at his features once more. With Court so due to begin in but a few moments there was perhaps little time to so address Sebastian's worries in this immediate moment and yet Dorian hardly dared dismiss them in any sense.

"There have been but a handful of consorts never given crowns and I did not want you to be amongst them. I love you far too much to ever so risk you thinking you did not deserve just as much as any consort before you even if we are both seen as a little....unconventional in other ways."

The man chuckled softly then in that ever-good nature. Dorian, after all, was but the first Fae to ever rule Italy. Sebastian the first vampire to ever be made a consort and more than that, they were but the first couple of a shared gender ever so bold as to dare to do just that. There was, Dorian was assured, plenty enough new history to be written about them, some of those ancient traditions too so deserving of respect- like that Consort Crown. His hand reached forward then to entangle within his lovers own, gently helping him to his feet. That very hour upon them. It was easy then to lead the way from the bedroom, into their apartments and out into the hall itself. The Palace veritably empty, almost all within it already in that throne room. Those rooms were almost peacefully quiet as Dorian led the way to that long hall he had not yet taken Sebastian down. The walls of this particular hallway adorned with portraits of each and every ruler Italy had ever had, those imposing double doors at the very far end leading to the throne room itself.

"Do you know, that crown truly does suit you? I think it makes for a nice....place-holder of sorts."

A Prince's Crown after all, would be another matter entirely and yet within those words perhaps, lay that suggestion of intention all the same for what they might one day choose to be. His hand momentarily tightened in the vampires own as they finally reached those doors. Dorian hoping so truly that for once he might chase those concerns away, whether he had guessed at them remaining to be seen- their names and titles announced; 'Crown Consort' added to Sebastian's own before the doors were finally opened to admit them, affording either of them little chance to dwell on it further for now.

"Ready?"

dorian aragona