Sebastian Ellington

Crowned Consort of Italy

There was something about that simple assertion that Dorian would be delighted to travel anywhere in the entirety of that world with him that set his heart aflutter, that warm simper flooding his features as Dorian's fingers traced over those emerald leaves. It was silly, how something so small and simple could only further affirm within his mind exactly what his intentions were for tonight. He needed Dorian to know just how much he so desperately loved him, those feelings the King was capable of creating within him could be near overwhelming at times. It was a sort of feeling he'd never thought was even possible to exist and yet, now that he had found that everlasting love with the man, he had no intention of ever letting his boyfriend go. That talk of how those palaces surely would feel unloved if they continued to visit only Caserta temporarily distracted the vampire, the man inclined to mutter softly his regret for those places that surely deserved their own share of affection given in the form of their own presence in those halls that had gone unused for a near millenium. That almost endearing tone to his lover's lips brought a small pout to his own.

That talk of traveling and palaces, however, was interrupted only as they reached the end of those rows of grapes, pausing before a young woman whom quite quickly recognized the Lord of that estate. That inquiry of just how the vampire was outside during those daylight hours was quite easily brushed off, his own lover altogether keen to distract her with inquiries of that wine. He knew, innately, that those questions would surely come again, particularly with how many pictures of them would surely surface from today's outing alone. He had not truly anticipated the reaction of those crowds upon his grounds, though he so rarely did when they were outside of Italy. Gone were those days when they could freely wander the streets of London or, apparently, his own home without going unnoticed. Those excuses would surely only last them for so long before someone found out the truth and yet, Sebastian had every intention of drawing out the secrecy of Dorian's affinity for as long as possible. He abhorred the notion of putting the man in harm's way because of himself and that desire for sunlight. This was certainly part of the reason why those trips out in the world in the daytime were kept at a minimum, even despite his lover's growing aptitude.

That offered glass of wine was quickly waved off as he watched Dorian taste that red liquor, the fae clearly quite taken with the taste before pausing mid-sentence with the assurance that he'd seen his own father amongst those guests perusing Tatton's cellars. His own attention quickly shifted through the crowd at large, the vampire almost relieved to find that it certainly was not Matteo before he commented that surely, Dorian merely needed to drink more to ensure the unfortunate fellow quite near turned into the man he had anticipated seeing. That chuckle prompted a warm grin upon his own features before he suggested the tasting of that far sweeter drink, this one too turned down with the same ease as before - it was an action that was decidedly atypical for the usually avid wine drinker. He was hardly aware as to Dorian's own acuteness in this deviation from his normal behavior, his bright blue eyes instead focused on finishing the last of that little lunch box of sorts that rested within his hand. He had quite purposefully saved that last chocolate dipped strawberry for the end, the man entirely assured that they were both the perfect beginning and ending to that treat of food.

Any joy he might have taken from that fruit, however, was interrupted by that abrupt and rather unexpected inquiry from his lover's lips on his own health. Ill?! He hadn't been ill in a near eternity! In fact, Sebastian was rather certain he didn't remember what feeling sick even felt like! As a mortal, he had been particularly healthy, even despite the age he'd been born in. He vaguely remembered coming down with a cold as a child but it was the sort of memory that he could simply state as happened rather than conjure up any details or substantial feelings. A glimpse of confusion fluttered across his features as he inquired if he should be feeling ill, the Englishman almost eying that empty box with a hint of suspicion, even if he doubted Dorian might have knowingly done anything to make him sick in the slightest. That concern upon his lover's features surely only serving to worsen his own. That explanation he was finally offered from the King was so unexpected that Sebastian could hardly help the laughter that rolled from his lips, his head shaking ever so slightly as he quickly assured his lover that, not only was the wine utterly delicious, but that he was vastly more certain now that he was absolutely fine.

That lie he offered her lover to clarify his odd behavior fell almost too easily from his lips, even if it was not completely a falsification. He hated telling Dorian even almost half-truths and yet, surely the King would forgive him for this, right? That relief that near instantly spread across his boyfriend's features was enough to squelch that guilt within him, if only due to the fact that he perhaps hated that look of fear and worry on the man's refined face far more than that partial lie. His head shook ever so slightly as Dorian admitted that he hadn't stopped to consider all the things that surely affected the vampire in his current state. When he was alive he grew hungry and tired, he tanned (much to his amazement) and he most certainly would have been effected far greater than usual from that drink. "Please, don't be. I simply figured we might enjoy the rest of the garden before I become completely incoherent." He jested, all the while encouraging Martha to pour that next wine for his lover to taste. It was that sudden question of anything else he might like to see that caused him to pause in consideration, his bright blue eyes but briefly brushing across that near transparent, windowed dome in the center of those grounds.

He knew well how Dorian felt of insects of any kind, the man had even quite purposefully inquired Dorian's feelings of butterflies once upon a time if only because he had been considering performing that song within that lovely dome itself. The King's utter disapproval of even those whimsical insects had prompted a venue change of sorts and yet, with the Butterfly Garden's first appearance in Tatton, he wanted to at least see if it was well enough received to prompt the creation of it again, much less the care of all of those exotic creatures within. That look of concern at the sheer mention of those butterflies, however, prompted a quick reassurance that they hardly needed to step inside. Rather, the vampire merely wished to skirt the outsides of it and observe from afar. It was a notion that, apparently, was simply not enough for the fae. In fact, it was in a rather bold effort to appear sure of himself that he listened to Dorian declare that he could certainly manage to step in that dome if he desired of it before that mention of stinging prompted his own head to tilt. "Butterflies don't have stingers, love." He corrected the King quite gently, pausing on the way only to deposit that now empty box in one of the trashcans.

The butterfly dome certainly managed to attack a crowd, the children wholly delighted in those creatures and yet, even those butterflies were not enough to prompt the Monarch and himself to move unnoticed amongst them. His own gaze, however, focused quite purposefully upon the man at his side as Dorian stared at those people within the glass dome, those butterflies even visible from outside that structure. The volunteer at the door, however, was entirely quick to jump at the chance to please them, going so far even to offer that the staff might clear the dome for them alone. Dorian's rejection of the idea was hardly surprising and yet, his own eyebrow rose ever so slightly at the man's insistence that he would again be fine. "Are you sure?" He inquired. After all, he hardly wished to push the man into something he disliked. He waited for some nod of assurance from his lover before stepping into that dome, the warmth all but near embracing them as the vampire quite slowly began to meander down that circular pathway.

His own wandering was quickly cut short by a sound of surprise falling from his lover's lips and yet, he hardly had the time to react before he felt that hand slip into his own, his lover's face quite near burying into the cloth of his shoulder. Those muffled words prompted a soft simper upon his features, even if he knew Dorian was anything but 'fine'. That ring upon his finger near told him of that rushed beating to his lover's heart, that tightness of Dorian's grasp within his own equally as telling. "Of course you are." He uttered softly, his head briefly leaning back to brush against Dorian's own. It was in an effort to soothe his lover that his own fingers gingerly squeezed against Dorian's own, the vampire entirely content to tell Dorian all he knew of those insects as he carefully led them through that dome. "Did you know that some moths don't eat anything at all because they don't have mouths?" He stated, glancing back at his lover before continuing, "And a group of butterflies is known as a flutter. We essentially flew in this flutter from around the world." He quite purposefully failed to admit that they had been near caterpillars when they had all be brought in, or the whole process of changing from mere wiggly worms to the beautiful things they were now. Rather, his attention was quite purposeful upon not only guiding the King back towards that door but too attempting to make those creatures somehow less terrifying than they appeared.

"Did you know that a butterfly's wings are completely clear? They have scales like fish and the colors that we see on their wings are due to light reflecting off of their scales." In fact, it was only the utterance of that simple fact that caused his head to tilt in consideration. "I bet you I could do some pretty neat things with them" He commented, more to himself then his lover. In his current state, those abilities were closed off to him and those insects were notoriously not night dwellers. "Hmm...." Sebastian was content to ponder on it for a moment longer before he paused right before that entrance. "Love, we're here, you can leave but...there's a Monarch butterfly right over there, he's the King of all butterflies - just like you." He commented softly to his lover, gesturing loosely at that plant right beside the door. "He won't hurt you though, I promise. In fact, butterflies are so delicate that if you even let your finger brush against their wings, you could remove the scales off of them that let them fly and cause them to die - so see, their far more delicate than even you, Ma Bichette." That tone was quite near teasing, even at those softly whispered words, his own bright blue eyes briefly brushed towards the King as he gestured briefly towards that exit from what was clearly a bit too much for the man he so adored.