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

It was curious perhaps, the fashion in which Sebastian seemed almost surprised to be offered that assistance in his search for the illusive answers he had been struggling to gather for some time. Yet, despite Dorian's own opinions and some doubt within himself that Anna-Marie might ever return to the being that she had so supposedly once been- he could hardly bring himself to ignore his lovers hope for her sanity to return when it was within his means to assist in it. Perhaps it would prove to be nothing but folly and yet, if it were so, he held at least some faith that Matteo would put an end to frivolous searching that would ultimately change little in one way or another. Dorian so momentarily inclined to believe that perhaps he had too much faith in the elder Fae whom was often more inclined to cryptic clues or pointless mentions of things for his own amusement and yet surely, surely he would see the seriousness off this affair and at least find some way to assist them. If Anna-Marie could be returned to that being she had so supposedly once been then that would largely solve a great deal of their problems. There was no guarantee that, even sane, she might so approve of their relationship and yet he suspected that in the least she would hardly seek to interfere nor terrorize Sebastian as he suspected she had done far more times then was made mention off her tonight.

It was that mention of Matteo himself however that so caused even his own heart to flutter with trepidation. He hardly feared the Frenchman, more so he feared that conversation. There could be only two outcomes from it and yet, oddly, Dorian had hardly decided which he preferred. Each response surely only prompted more questions, the Monarch holding some fear too- that the other Fae might take some offense at being queried off his affairs in this fashion. Matteo a notoriously private being to the extent that even Dorian- whom had known him over five hundred years- barely knew where he lived, if he had family or very much of what he did with his time. How foolish it was to be so nervous over these things and yet that anxiety touched his frame all the same at this considerations of that upcoming tea. The Fae almost loath to consider that he need do these things without Sebastian and yet it would hardly be respectful, to either his lover or his friend, to have them both sit through that conversation. Especially if it went poorly. The risk of that perhaps what gnawed most at his anxiety, Dorian almost grateful for the idea Sebastian too might have those queries to ask of the elder Fae if only to provide his mind a distraction from it all. His silver gaze lifted upward now to eye his lover at the man's utterance that his own queries in this were far more important and that if they did not manage to get to Sebastian's own or that tea turned into something less then pleasurable then he was hardly to fret over it. Dorian allowing that simper to touch his lips all the same, even if, perhaps, it was a little more forced then he truly intended as he so attempted to press it through that nervousness. His head nodded softly in agreement with his lover all the same.

"Well, if he is not whom I suspect then it shall be rather a short conversation."

He uttered softly, attempting to swallow that anxiety and so force his mind back to the issue at hand, offering that intelligence department in turn should Sebastian prefer to deal with them and yet, as he had suspected, his lover hardly knew enough upon which to offer those beings with a true place to begin. Anna-Marie, it would seem, providing Sebastian with terrible little over those years. Dorian content to inquire as to whether he even knew the name of this other vampire she had created some years before or just whom had taken her and so prompted this apparent breakdown to begin with. That soft frown that adorned his consorts features hardly filled him with hope for that reply, Sebastian so admitting that he had never discovered her name nor whom had taken her outside of those feeble scraps of information. A knight with dark hair and ash coloured eyes, perhaps dark brown, whom smelled of cloves. There was, perhaps, several thousand beings within the span of two hundred years whom may well have fit that description! Such information was...something in the least and yet surely it was not nearly enough to begin a veritable quest upon. Dorian sighing softly then.

"I see this quandary we are in. I will keep this description in mind though I do not know what good it will do me. Whom is this Ceara? You have mentioned her often tonight."

Sebastian, by design, so rarely seemed to have friends and yet Dorian was not above believing that the man had perhaps made one within his lifetime though he had hardly ever mentioned such a name before. An acquaintance perhaps? His curiosity upon such a being existing only until Sebastian's fingers so lifted to massage at his head in the fashion one did at the onset of a headache. The Monarch allowing further questions to fall silent now in the wake of that stress that seemed to weigh upon his lover in those moments. Dorian so allowing that silence to prevail a little before shifting that conversation away from those unanswered questions and towards that night with Samantha and that event he so new Sebastian had answers too. There was a relief of sorts, in so finding the answers to that story at last and yet Dorian had so hardly anticipated the manner in which that retelling of Anna-Maries actions that night might so distress him! It was a curious sensation, an emotion he did not quite know how to name and yet for all he knew of his lover, of the lengths he so went to in an effort to prevent harm to others and how he so often laboured over those choices, to know he had been forced to cast them aside for the selfish whims of petulant child whom lacked the empathy to see the cause of her actions was....infuriating to him. That utter protectiveness for the man before him flared almost potently within him now. It was the wrongness of it, perhaps, the injustice of it. That knowledge of just how much such a thing might distress Sebastian in turn utterly unbearable to him. Dorian so struggling to press through that agitation if only because it was surely not that which Sebastian needed from him now.

His hand upon the vampires own, at last, seemed to cease those scrubbing actions, Dorian seeking the entirety of his lovers attention in that all-too delicate moment, his own words softly uttered in some hope he might so have the vampire understand that, between them at least, those worries could be shared. That perhaps these were not burdens he need shoulder entirely by himself any longer and that such a level of internal worry surely pained Dorian to see upon him far more than it did to hear of them. His utter, irrevocable love for that man so prompting his efforts now- if only to have him see it. How difficult it was to cast aside those presses of society, Dorian hardly unaware of that struggle to move beyond the time periods in which they were surely ensnared to a certain extent and yet- for how long could they gone on with such stress hidden between them? Anna-Marie had, this night, intruded upon both their lives and as such Dorian was assured this would not be a problem solved alone. His own heart so fluttered in some measure of concern then for just how Sebastian might respond to such things, to be asked to share those worries with him rather than conceal them. That soft utterance that he would at least try so stirring a small, warm simper to his own lips. Dorian once more dismissing that apology. Assured there was no need for it when he too was just as guilty off desiring not to burden Sebastian with worries in turn. The Monarch content to believe they had taken but another step within their relationship tonight, even if only small- and yet, this evening, even those small victories mattered so desperately much.

He had failed to anticipate, perhaps, that fashion in which his lover had so taken those words to heart here and now, Sebastian abruptly stepping passed those drinks- his head finding Dorian's shoulder to near nestle his face within it before- at last- the very worst of those worries finally came tumbling from the man's lips. It was instinctive- that fashion in which his arms wrapped about his lovers waist, drawing the man closer to him as if some foolish part of him believed his hold alone might chase those fears away and yet....was not this too his greatest fear? That Anna-Marie might return and- more than that- that she might seek to use Sebastian against him? How that fear turned within his own mind! Dorian so softly uttering just that if only for his own determination to offer Sebastian the truth of his own fears in turn and yet his hold upon the man tightened slightly all the same as Sebastian's arms wrapped about his own figure. Dorian hardly unaware of the simple comfort of that gesture. The Fae so at last uttering but one way in which he might combat that girl should she return. It was hardly ideal. No part of it was and yet it....was something. A way in which both their lives might be saved if it should come to it. Dorian wholly assured that if it every came to it that it would be Anna-Marie whom begged his mercy that night. The Monarch assured in that moment of just how far he would go if need be. That softly muttered assurance that Sebastian would try to overcome that hold she had upon him met with a simple nod off his head, his very heart almost aching at those words, Dorian assured he could not manage his own in that moment. The man almost relieved Sebastian could not see his features here and now. How he had so never expected to discuss how they might survive something and that possibility that they might be forced to such drastic measure less risk losing one another.

"I hope so too."

It was all he could truly manage in that moment, his words holding that thickness still as he struggled to swallow back that emotion. Sebastian's assurance that he merely wished her gone as she had been before met with a simper of sorts if only for how futile even Dorian knew that hope to be. The Fae hardly content to move for several moments, merely leaving his arms wrapped about his boyfriend then, so relishing in that scent and feel of him, in simply holding him before that sigh at last fell from him. Dorian moving to let his lips press to Sebastian's forehead in that touch of affection.

"Come, let's not stand in this kitchen any longer."

He shifted back from his lover only enough to grasp that drink in one hand, his free hand entwining within the vampires own as he moved to lead him from that kitchen. Charles would be home soon, the manservant surely capable of caring for it, Dorian leading the way through the living room and up those stairs, content to take them to that place that was surely theirs alone. The bedroom door shut behind them, his drink placed on that nightstand beside his side of the bed before the Monarch simply tumbled back onto those neatly made sheets. Dorian waited only so long as it took Sebastian to find that place beside him before he shifted to rest on his stomach nearly atop Sebastian's chest in by far one off his favoured positions, allowing his limbs to tangle slightly with the vampires own. His lips pressed to his consorts with a ready fervour then and yet, for once, it was hardly with any want for sexual desire. He simply.....needed that kiss, that closeness and everything that came with it. He craved that taste and feel of him. Dorian so placing every bit off utter love and affection within that gesture, that simple need to express it, somehow, so overwhelming him in that moment of utter sweetness as if that alone could so simply solve everything. The Monarch at last leaning back to rest his head upon Sebastian's chest in a way he had done a thousand times before and so intended to do a thousand times more. That soft sound of rain outside so turning his attention briefly to that window, Dorian quite having come to enjoy it during their time within England in which it had rained nearly every night.

"Bastian?"

His head returned to his lover's chest then, resting upon it as the silver of his gaze found the blue off his companions own.

"Would you think me utterly foolish if I told you that I believed, truly, that if ever that day should come that she seeks to have you harm me that I think you would not? I do not know the strength of these commands she can give but I cannot imagine that they are nearly as strong as....this. This is the strongest thing I have ever known and maybe I am given to fairy tales but- I still want to believe it- and I do."

It was a soft admittance, uttered to his lover alone in a truly rare moment of that genuine emotion so outwardly spoken off and while surely he had another plan for that event, should it ever happen and all other efforts fail, did it truly hurt to believe that love might be enough? As to what he so hoped to achieve with that admittance he hardly knew and yet perhaps it did not matter. He had faith in them, if nothing else and quite simply, tonight at least- he was sure that was all that mattered.

dorian aragona