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

No sooner had Sebastian carried that small child out within his arms then Dorian so found himself slumping against that hall wall in the sheer relief of having Anna-Marie out of his sight. God, but what a night this had been! His mind was positively filled with questions and yet for now in the very least the Monarch merely found himself relieved that the worst of that evening was surely over. One hand lifted to run through those dark locks of his hair, a soft sigh falling from his lips as Dorian so set about doing all that was surely left for him to do in the absence of Sebastian. Tidy. It was not a task he was particularly accustomed too and yet those idle actions so managed to occupy his thoughts, assisting him to order them in the same fashion in which he set about ordering that house as it should have been. The Monarch easily straightened that hall table, rearranging those few things upon it that had been toppled by the vampire's collision with it before he moved to grasp that paper and his own pastels, tucking them neatly into his pocket before determinedly scrunching up that drawing Anna-Marie had been working on. It was petty perhaps and yet Dorian found himself inclined to pettiness this evening. His dislike for that singular being exceeding the sort he had felt for another in a terribly long time.

He worked diligently to replace those books and Knick knacks the girl had sent flying in her search for that supposed 'key. Dorian entirely relieved he'd managed to stop the child progressing up those stairs and into Sebastian's bedroom lest she have beset that room too with her 'games'. He paused briefly to exam that restored bookcase and straightened chairs, the Fae rather pleased with his efforts, Charles and Elizabeth would surely have been proud of his attempts regardless. The Monarch wandered briefly from that living room then and back into the hall, grasping that bag Sebastian had brought with him earlier only to peer within. His silver gaze settling upon those chocolate truffles, the man, despite it all, unable to help that simper that touched his lips in simple appreciation for his lover's thoughtfulness. Dorian plucked several from that bag then, slipping one between his lips, savouring the distinctly pleasurable taste and so momentarily allowing any worries to be all but absorbed within that sensation before he returned to the living room. Just what to do about the nightmare that was the kitchen had barely crossed his thoughts when the sound of the front door opening once more assured him off his lovers return. Dorian so unable to prevent that sense of relief at hearing the vampire come through the door and stride into that living room a moment later. How naturally worrying over Sebastian so came to him! How quickly that man had become the very centre off his world. Even for all the immortality his lover possessed the Monarch was still inclined to fret for his well-being, especially at the hands off this apparent maker. His silver gaze glancing over that man adored even if only to reassure himself he was entirely fine.

That kiss placed atop his forehead managed to bring a smile to his lips all the same, Dorian moving to fall into step behind his boyfriend, this notion of 'gin' seeing one eye lift curiously. The word was as unfamiliar as the drink itself and yet Dorian hardly found himself opposed to the idea tonight in any sense. The Monarch assured Sebastian could have offered him nearly anything from amongst those modern alcohols and he would surely have taken it up with delight. His head simply shaking softly in response.

"I've not ever tried it. Is it strong?"

There was the slightest touch of humour to those words all the same. Dorian, even despite that evening, entirely capable of finding but even the faintest speck of brightness within it as he followed the vampire into the kitchen itself. That sudden cry of 'Florence!' saw his own eyes widen in surprise. Dorian hurriedly searching the room for this supposed woman only to see Sebastian's features all but crumple at the sight of that teapot, the vampire bending gingerly over it to clutch at those broken pieces before settling upon the floor himself amongst that cracked crockery. Of course the teapot would have a name. Dorian half inclined to wonder if Anna-Marie had known and so purposely chosen to see to it that just this one in particular was broken. That guilt tugging at him now. It was, perhaps, not so entirely his fault it had been broken and yet that hardly lessened his own distress in this, Dorian moving to rest one hand upon Sebastian's shoulder before easing himself downward in turn to sit beside him on the floor. God, but he couldn't remember a time in which he had ever sat in a kitchen, let alone on its floor! Still, such trivial things hardly mattered now. His words wholly quiet.

"I'm sorry Bastian, it was my fault I fear. Anna-Marie demanded tea and that I make it for her. I told her I didn't know how but it seemed to matter little to her and it would appear the tea â€"er- Florence, has suffered for it. I truly am sorry love, perhaps....hmmm...."

He reached for but one of those pieces now, turning it over within his hands in a moment of contemplation. Dorian so purposefully attempting to shield his burned and blistered fingers from the vampire as he did. It was a foolish worry perhaps and yet he so feared any injury upon himself, no matter how mild, might so encourage his lover into a state of distress all over again- one that might prompt the vampire to do something so foolish as dare to suggest his home or worse, Sebastian himself, might not be safe for him. Dorian so refusing to even entertain such thoughts and as such those fingers remained dutifully concealed. He had been burned by hot water before and he surely would be again. Dorian assured it would heal in a matter of days. His focus for now so returned to that piece of broken Florence, Dorian carefully taking a piece from Sebastian's hand before pressing it to that one in his own. It was a curious thought that so beset him in that moment and yet he reached easily for that white paint pastel within his pocket all the same. The Monarch remained wholly fixated upon his task, painting neatly over those cracks between the two pieces, speaking softly as he worked.

"Was it true what the child said? Is she truly the one who made you?"

His words remained entirely calm, that simply question uttered as his gaze glanced upward from his task and yet his tone was gentle all the same, prompting as opposed to truly questioning. Dorian utterly unwilling to distress his lover all over again upon those topics that were surely personal even if his own mind burned with questions. The Monarch willing to take whatever Sebastian might seek to offer tonight. His fingers lifting at last from those two pieces of broken tea pot now joined flawlessly once more- his affinity moving to embrace that colour now, assuring that blue covered the previously white line of his repair now painted closed. This part of Florence at least as good as she had ever been. Dorian momentarily satisfied as he pressed it back into Sebastian's hand now, reaching for another piece as that warm simper touched his lips.

"It seems to me that there is still some hope yet."

dorian aragona