he was both everything you could ever want
and nothing you could ever have

Truly, Sebastian utterly hated keeping such secrets as this from the man he so cherished. It somehow felt immoral to hide the truth of the one thing that so particularly burdened sovereign from him, particularly when he knew those facts might so ease the man's concerns, at least to a degree. That sound of anxiety within Dorian's voice pained his beating heart. After all, was not his job as Consort, as boyfriend, to provide Dorian with his steadfast loyalty? How that guilt so tore at him! In those moments, he found himself almost disliking that Frenchman for so putting him in this sort of situation, then again, perhaps this was all merely some sort of horrendous test of some sort - he could see Matteo engaging in such ridiculous behavior in order to figure out which of those futures he so saw was accurate. His head shook ever so slightly as he tried to push those thoughts to the back of his mind, he could see within the depths of those silver eyes he so adored the heartache that so filled his lover, one that he simply could not allow to fester. Instead, Sebastian attempted to provide the man some measure of reassurance in the ways that he could without overstepping those boundaries that polite society and his upbringing still so impressed upon him, even if he was fairly certain that with Dorian he was allowed a far greater measure of leniency.

Those words of his lover's character so left his lips with a certain firm certainty, the man wholly refusing to allow Dorian to believe he was anything lesser than he was - the marvelous, breathtaking, courageous man that he was. That glimpse of a smile he was so rewarded with brought a small twitch to his own lips, even if he was not hardly done quite yet. Those compliments that he so afforded the King was hardly all the assurance that his boyfriend required, of this he knew. Rather, Sebastian was inclined to offer some excuse on the behalf of the man whom, as far as he was concerned, really should have just provided his son with the truth. How could Matteo have found an acceptance with the thought that Dorian thought himself unloved and unwanted? Perhaps that effort he had so placed within that gigantic novel was his attempt to show the Monarch otherwise but, surely, something more was warranted? Sebastian attempted, all the same, to paint the picture of the French fae in somewhat of a good light, absolutely refusing to allow that relationship between the two become tarnished before it had really even had a chance to begin. Dorian deserved a good father and he was entirely certain that Matteo was capable of being one if the desire struck him.

He watched as that look of contemplation crossed his boyfriend's features, the man clearly had never considered what Matteo had done during all those years instead of that which he hadn't. Still, even he knew that soft sigh was little more than resignation. "I think afternoon tea sounds wonderful, mon amor. Charlie and Elizabeth would be happy to put such a thing together." After all, afternoon tea, by it's very definition, occurred within the afternoon, a point in time during which Sebastian himself was decidedly unaware of the world at large. Beyond that, he was certain such a conversation was one meant to be shared by them alone, though he loathed to think how Dorian should feel if he fell into the knowledge that he had known this very thing the entire time. He could only hope his lover wouldn't fault him for such a thing. Still, the vampire knew well his capability to so linger upon such somber thoughts, the man instead trying to return to lighter topics in an effort for both of them. After all, it was their one year anniversary and such should not be marred by Matteo's decided uselessness as a father or his own self pity. It was perhaps that which contributed to his enthusiasm at that rather plain and uncomplicated tower, the vampire displaying a level of gleeful emotion he so rarely did for something quite like this.

That praise he was rewarded, however, was met with a suspicious glower, the vampire entirely aware of how his own creation compared to that magnificent art the fae was so capable of meticulously crafting. Dorian was forever astounding him in one fashion or another and in this he had no reason to ever expect anything different. Still, he was aware of that subdued grin that toyed at the corner of Dorian's lips that pandering comment met with yet another skeptical look, even as he glanced over at those perfect details of that small rendition of a castle. It was quite clear Dorian had so excelled in that art of sand, even more so that the man surely could have crafted something far more breathtaking then Sebastian could even imagine if given the right amount of time and the appropriate tools to do so. His head shook ever so slightly as those compliments so rolled in, the vampire inclined to utter in a fashion that was entirely teasing, "Such a show off." His head shaking ever so slightly, even if the difference in their skill level hardly bothered him in the slightest.

It was, however, that rogue tidal way that so caught the vampire off guard, assaulting both of their sand castles, his shorts and half of his own t-shirt to render him in a state that was wholly uncomfortable, even if it so showed off those finely tuned muscles beneath that now near sheer cotton material. Dorian, it seemed, hardly fared any better, nor did his own creation. His gaze fluttered upwards towards the fae as the man so inspected those sandcastles, that exclamation of his own only temporarily drew his eyes towards that still standing and yet, decidedly sad looking tower. A sound of mock indignation fell from his lips, that grumbling hardly subsided by Dorian's insistence that it had been beautiful all the same. Rather, he let himself be distracted from that falling lump of sand by a rather unexpected display of the King's own physical fitness - it was a fact he was well aware of if not for their frequent exploits within his bedroom and yet, he was inclined to recline upon that sand and enjoy the show all the same. Unfortunately, it seemed as if he was hardly the only one, however. Those women and their vocal appreciation of the fae was enough to draw his gaze before the vampire so sought to topple his companion - his fingers gingerly pressing to the man's chest only to ignore that declaration as he so gingerly pushed.

A grin danced upon his features as he watched the fae tumble into that near ivory sand, the man's physique surely coated with those granules if only in thanks partly to that miniscule tsunami that had so had it's way with them but moment's prior. Sebastian was willing to allow Dorian the attempt to brush that sand from his frame before a sound so gathered his attention. His gaze followed that boat as it made it's way back towards that nearby dock, the advertisement written on that white wash side informed the vampire exactly of what it was and slowly, he glanced back over at his companion, so inviting the Monarch to see the creatures at the bottom of that vast ocean before them. He was well aware of that look of confusion that crossed Dorian's features, only further prompting a simper upon his own and yet, that acceptance was all he truly needed. His hand reached out to his lover, momentarily drawing the man in closer, just enough for his lips to lightly brush against Dorian's own in a further effort to chase away any thoughts that might have lingered of Matteo and his own certainty of being undesired, particularly when Sebastian so needed him like the very air his lungs now so hungrily enjoyed.

It was with his fingers once again intertwined with Dorian's own that the vampire so led the way off the sand and onto that nearby wooden pier. He fished some rogue cash from...um....somewhere...., purchasing those tickets only to lead the fae King onto that boat. Sebastian offered the captain a rather polite hello as he led his lover further down towards that observational area below, the bottom of the small vessel was near entirely made of glass panels to so afford a glimpse through those clear waters. His steps slowed as he found the pair a place near the front of the boat, the vampire settled upon one of those small benches, entirely pleased with the view now so afforded to his lover. The fish alone already could be seen beneath them, accompanied with that various plant like life of corals and sponges and seaweed. His gaze shifted from their surroundings towards the King himself, so subtly looking for any glimpse of approval.

Sebastian Ellington