This image of a bicycle with one much larger wheel was entirely curious to him. Dorian so struggling to picture just how such a thing might look let alone how it might work. The mechanics of such a machine, within his mind, made little sense and as such the man was prompted to inquire as to whether it had actually worked in any sensible manner. The Fae wholly fascinated with the idea. After all, as perhaps any man, a certain part of the Monarch was fascinated with the manner in which things worked. Those larger vehicles like cars and trains were of interest in an almost novel fashion. How they stayed on roads or tracks was entirely bemusing to him just as the manner in which a plane flew was so far beyond his ability to comprehend, that the idea of it was almost daunting. Yet those small things, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners and bicycles so readily seemed to engage him even if he disliked them for the unholy racket most of them made and for the bicycles original assault upon him. They were small enough to examine, to turn over and touch, to fascinate his ever-busy mind even if he so often refrained from displaying such obvious curiosity in those things those around him found mundane and uninteresting. Still- this notion of a different bicycle, a Penny-farthing, as Sebastian called it, was entirely captivating! The mention of 'boneshakers' seeing his silver gaze lift once more. This yet another new word. His consort assuring him he could ride one all the same. Dorian looking quite evidentially impressed with this knowledge.

"Perhaps one day I might learn this skill of riding one. It does not look all that difficult. When we get home tomorrow I shall find a picture of this Penny-Farthing, I should like to see it. I think what I am imagining is perhaps not correct."

Dorian, truly, held little understanding of that need to balance. The Fae wholly oblivious to how many falls he was likely to have in an attempt at such a thing, the Monarch content for now to cast aside the talk of bicycles if only at the sight of that beach so glorious and golden beneath the light of day. How that ocean near sparkled! How inviting it was! Dorian so readily having forgotten what much of the day looked like after so having traded it for the darkness that animated his companion. A trade that, truly, Dorian so rarely even thought off. For all his enjoyment of the sun and the daylight he would give it away again and again for the man beside him. Indeed, the Fae King was hardly inclined to miss the sun in any real sense. Such moments as these were wholly captivating for him if only for how rarely he indulged in them, a day at that seaside a rare treat, one in which he was determined to have Sebastian enjoy even despite the vampires fears weighing so heavily upon him. It was with a further touch of that affinity that Dorian sought to encourage his lover from the car, allowing him to see those dazzling lights that shone from each living individual and the vampire himself. Sebastian so at last slipping from the confines of the car to join him on that heated sand, that warm simper adorning Dorian's features now at the sight of his lover burying his own feet in that sand now. This idea of sand dollars so readily ensnaring his attention. He had never so much as heard the word, let alone seen one! The Monarch pausing to examine the beach immediately about them as if one might somehow just appear. Sebastian's assurance that they were delicate and filled with sand seeing Dorian's own features frown once more. How on earth were they to find something made of sand within the sand?

"Perhaps we need go closer to the water?"

The Monarch so easily fell into step beside his boyfriend then, relishing the warmth of the sand and the heat of the sun upon his back. Sebastian, at least for now, seeming to have relaxed within that daylight a little more. Dorian entirely assured he would spend the next few hours searching for every sand dollar upon the beach if it might ease his companion's anxiety through distraction. His own silver gaze moved readily about that beach, eyeing those women and children, that volleyball game, the sand castles and the few people swimming within the sea. Whatever words he had been about to offer were abruptly cut off by that ball slamming into the sand mere feet from them, Dorian bending easily to scoop it up into arms, pausing but briefly to examine it before that woman came jogging over. The Monarch assured he could see nearly every bit of her! Modesty, it would seem, simply did not exist in the modern world. His distraction upon the woman herself was entirely short lived. Dorian pausing to glance at her rather ample chest if only for the sheer proximity of it to himself before declining that offer to join a game he had no true idea of how to play. The girl seeming heartily disappointed before bouncing back several paces in declaration that if he wouldn't play then he need throw the ball to her at least once. His gaze returned almost curiously to Sebastian, the vampire merely gesturing for him to go ahead and 'show his muscle' as the girl seemed determined to have him do. What a curious notion this was. It took but several seconds to decide how best to throw that ball. Dorian inclined to do just as she said and use at least some amount of force within that throw. The Monarch, perhaps, far stronger than he ever truly allowed to be seen- this but a rare glimpse of his actual talent in that area- the ball hurled passed the girl entirely only to collide with quite decent force into one of her male companions.

"Oh heavens!"

Dorian was quick to attempt to usher his companion away lest the group take disdain at his actions- even despite the laughter that had erupted from all present, including Sebastian himself. Dorian content to fix the man with a playful scowl of sorts before hurrying further down the beach and in search of those sand dollars again, the Monarch content to shake his head at the entire incident! Choosing instead to comment only on the woman and her evident flirtation, her lack of tact almost abrasive to him. After all, women within his time were the picture of modest. A truly decorous woman was considered highly by her peers and an entirely eligible candidate for courting by the eligible men of the time. Anything less than modest was viewed as social atrocity. It was that very nature of flirtation however that so seemed to captivate the Fae now, that near impish grin upon his features as he stepped in front of his lover, quite assured Sebastian so required a demonstration of just how effective flirtation might be carried out. Dorian wholly willing to display just how those subtle, chaste touches might be used as fingers so gently pushed aside a little of his lovers hair in almost the same way he might tuck a loose strand behind a woman's ear, allowing his fingers to linger but a little longer than necessary as Sebastian near lent into that touch before stepping back. Quite satisfied with such work. The vampires comment so drawing that chuckle from his lips once more. Dorians head tilting but slightly in inquisitiveness then.

"Bastian, on that night we met, out of all those people- why did you so choose to talk to me? Was I simply the most handsome or did I merely smell the nicest?"

There was a tease so laced with his words all the same, that warm simper adorning his features still. Dorian so hardly offended in any sense by the idea it was his species or the scent of his blood that might well have drawn Sebastian that first night. Perhaps his desperation for a real bed had been entirely clear, the Monarch merely curious, after all this time, as to what had so allured the vampire to begin with. That sudden declaration saw the Fae glance downward as the dry sand became damp and cool, those small waves bubbling forward to brush at their feet. That water entirely pleasant as Sebastian bent to grasp that illusive sand dollar before presenting it to him, Dorian taking it gently from the man. How curious it was! This so far from what he had anticipated as his fingers gently brushed that surface, turning it over to examine the other side with diligent care.

"What is it made out of? I....do not understand how it has achieved this pattern."

His sunglasses covered gaze lifted to the vampire once more, Dorian spotting several other sand dollars further up the beach, the man entirely determined to compare them before a sudden tug against his shirt saw the Fae glance downward with clear surprise only to find a child of no more than five or six standing beside him, her fingers knotting nervously together. Her voice so entirely quiet Dorian could hardly hear her! Can I have it to put on my castle? Her hands gestured to that sand dollar then, Dorian allowing a sigh to fall from his lips. He had rather liked this one and yet, he supposed, Sebastian could find him another, nor was he truly going to deny a little girl even if he was rather sure her castle would not do the sand dollar justice.

"Alright, be gentle though."

He moved to hand the dollar to the grinning little girl now who hurried back to her castle, collapsing onto her knees in that damp sand to return to her construction, Dorian gesturing further up the beach then and towards that sand castle class that appeared to be going on. The Monarch entirely keen to see it while keeping his eye out for further sand dollars as they strolled, his fingers contentedly still entwined with his lovers own as those waves lapped at their feet.

"Do you know Bastian, I have just been reminded of a most curious happening I so intended to tell you about. Do you recall last week when it was so you were terribly busy with that incident with your work and I so stepped out for but a few hours so you might work in peace? I did not go terribly far but I ended up meeting Troy, I believe I have mentioned him before- he was a friend of Samantha's in turn."

Dorian paused but a moment, allowing Sebastian to recall both the evening and the friend the Monarch had retained from his time with Samantha before continuing.

"He has taken up with a vampire woman of late and he tells me she is pregnant. Have you ever heard of such a thing as that? I did not think vampires could do that at all! You know, they are not even married."

The very fact the couple were not married, to Dorian at least, was clearly the most shocking part of that story.

Dorian Aragona