Sebastian Ellington

Cause i've been dancing with shadows
waiting till the morning after

In that moment of breathless stillness, Sebastian's bright blue eyes stared quite intently at that image upon that small cellphone screen. The image itself was lovely, though Dorian's work so often was. Those lines were sharp and crisp, the shapes so perfectly measured and the form entirely reminiscent of his own day and age. There was a certain regalness within that lion - from the tame but magnificent mane to those carefully sculpted muscles and carefully groomed hair that tipped his tail with a near perfect point. All that crest symbolized had a manner of bringing that fluttering to his heart, emotion to his chest and fear in his stomach. How such a simple thing could create such mixed emotions within the vampire! That chocolate dipped pretzel was slowly removed from his mouth, the vampire entirely well aware of how utterly important this singular moment was about to be, particularly since he knew well he could no longer ignore those concerns. After all, what if Dorian had anticipated him to rebrand those homes and businesses and he didn't? The simply thought of arguing with his fiance, much less earning Dorian's disapproval was enough to only heighten that anxiety that battered at the vampire's otherwise tremulous thoughts.

Even despite such worries, he too hardly missed the significance of that crest. That symbol was a rather physical manifestation of their upcoming wedding. It was a show of their two houses coming together as one - of them coming together as one. It was touching, really, even if Sebastian was far too wrought with his own concerns to impress upon the King how meaningful such a thing was other to inform the man that the drawing really was lovely. How that single word fell so drastically short of all that he felt of that insignia. He was hardly unaware of the effect his silence had upon his lover, after all, Sebastian could quite near hear that change within the King's heart, quite near mirroring the sudden hammering of his own usually steady and quiet beating. His gaze flickered briefly towards his lover's fingers, watching as Dorian's hand gingerly seemed to toy with the edges of that ebony metal that connected the pair. He knew, in that singular moment, that Dorian knew. Any considerations he had of putting this off further were all but demolished in that moment. It was with a soft sigh and rather blatant hesitance that Sebastian finally inquired of whether or not that crest would have to take the place of his own familial homes.

He hardly anticipated that inquiry on how long he had been dwelling upon such a topic without bringing it to his lover's attention, his gaze quite determined to stare anywhere besides the Monarch at his side. He could hardly admit just how important this very thing had been to him, or how he had considered not asking for the King's hand altogether for this very reason. That shrug of his shoulders was altogether vague, that response was quite near mumbled as his bright blue eyes slowly turned to the floor. That soft sigh quite near saw the Englishman wince, the man altogether aware of what that exasperated sound could mean. Rather, he quite near cut the fae King off in his efforts to provide some sort of explanation before everything went far too awry. If there was anything Sebastian had far too much experience with, it was this. He knew exactly how easily things could get heated and words could get said or ignored altogether.

It wasn't often, truly, that the vampire spoke of his family, though it was hardly out of a dislike for them or a poor relationship with them. Quite the contrary, he had adored those moments of his mortality with them. Losing them, any of them, had been a distinctly difficult thing for the man. Those early years of his eternal life had truly been the hardest he'd experienced - from dealing with those cravings by himself to the loss of his father, the finding and loss of his wife, and everyone else soon after. After centuries, he should have been okay with simply allowing things change and yet, that promise he'd made his father had resonated within him that even now, he struggled with the idea of letting the man down in any fashion. It was only after that tale was told that he dared to glance up at his lover, almost preparing for the worst as he surely had done time and time before in a different age with a different significant other. That tenseness to his frame only seemed to worsen in those moments that Dorian's lips parted, the vampire wholly anticipated the worst - only to find himself quite near pleasantly surprised. In fact, it was almost to the point that he felt guilty for expecting anything less of the King, particularly when Dorian had already done all of this for his enjoyment alone.

Those assurances that followed quite seemed to sooth the Englishman, his body quite near relaxing in the wake of them. His heart slowed from that frantic beat, slowly returning to something more usual whilst the King continued to speak of what that royal symbol would and would not mean in the years upon years to come. It was, however, the distinct care and adoration with which Dorian seemed to treat that necklace that forever hung around the man's neck of that ebony and gold coin that stood for his family's home that brought a glimpse of that once warm simper back to his features. He could hardly help the way that he reached out for the fae, those small displays of affection were how he best knew how to express those feelings within that moment - the relief that flooded him had no words, much less his gratefulness for the simple fact that Dorian not only understood the importance of that signal for him but also even accepted the determination that existed within the Englishman to keep that promise fulfilled even after all this time.

It was clear that Dorian was quite near anticipating that kiss, his fiancee's lips fitted so easily against his own in that tender moment. He could smell that sweetness of that toffee on Dorian's breath, he could taste it on his lips, intermingled within that flavor that was best described as Dorian alone. It was, he was sure, moments such as this that he lived for, even despite the fear that had plagued him but seconds ago. It was the aftermath, with that affection and love and clear thoughtfulness that made all the difference in the world. Slowly, Sebastian leaned back from that tender kiss, his words altogether soft as he thanked the King for being willing enough to even hear those thoughts that plagued him, much less for the entirety of the evening that had been so wonderfully made just for his benefit. 'Thank you' somehow didn't seem sufficient enough. That grin upon the Monarch's lips prompted that soft smile to remain present on his own, particularly as Dorian spoke of his enjoyment of surprising the Englishman with things he too might enjoy - chocolate was certainly one of his weaknesses. Still, it was the mention of all that they would be faced with in the upcoming months that made the vampire falter. "I just..." He started, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to consider those words he wished to impart upon the King. "I just want you to be happy, Dorian." That he might be the source of any discontent within his fiancee was, perhaps, his greatest fear. That love he held for the man was quite near boundless and, in return, Sebastian was wholly determined to ensure this marriage did not at all end like his last one. Weddings, it would seem, had a fashion of drawing from the man those more unreasonable worries.

He watched as Dorian's gaze flickered towards the watch that was quite near always present upon his wrist, a glimpse of inquisitiveness had settled upon his own features in that moment. He hardly expected that mischievous look upon Dorian's face, or the fact that the King had made several more plans for their evening. "The second half?" He inquired and yet, Sebastian hardly protested, gathering that bag of chocolate sweets into his arms. His hand fit into Dorian's own once he was certain he'd picked up everything, the man particularly keen to thank the staff of that chocolate store as well as the owner before he allowed himself to be led from that little store and back into the comforting darkness of that nondescript vehicle. The vampire pulled that seat belt over his chest, entirely aware of that piece of chocolate that was pilfered from his bag. Those sweets, however, were meant for both of them, each one chosen with care for the new tastes they might assault his lover with. His bright blue eyes slowly turned towards the Monarch at the mention of that wedding planner, his eyebrow rising ever so slightly. Though he had suggested hiring the wedding planner in the first place, he was almost surprised by how quickly they had not only found one but how quickly the whole affair seemed to be moving along. He was hardly perturbed of such rapidness, however, the vampire still quite....excited for that wedding. He could hardly deny that innate desire to cement that relationship with the fae King - to be Dorian's own and to have the fae King for himself for the world to see.

It was the mention of that guest list, however, that prompted a soft breath from the vampire's lips. "I have been avoiding attempting to create that list. I'm eternally afraid I'm going to forget someone." He admitted at that mention of Emma and her rather persistent nature. It was silly, truly, to be so concerned with whom he was going to invite to such a royal affair when, truly, those that were likely to be forgotten were never terribly that important, to begin with. That inquiry of whom he intended to invite cause a glimpse of consideration to cross his features. "Everyone at Belton, of course." They were, after all, the closest thing to family, the whole group surely needed to be at such an event. "I also...sort of invited Arlo already. Kind of." He admitted, well aware of those ramblings that he had beset the man with. "I also invited his pet thing, though I'm fairly certain she's a were...I haven't met her yet to confirm it." He had, after all, informed his lover entirely of that peculiar friendship he had found with the man. Though that evening had been...certainly bizarre, he had found himself entirely unwilling to keep those details of his night from his fiance's knowledge, even if they had only come after those physical needs he'd created within them both were satisfied. "I also have to make a list of everyone I regularly do business with...." His voice trailed off as he spoke aloud, considering that very list before a very particular thought contorted his features, his nose crunching ever so slightly in distaste. "Do you think my coven would be insulted if I didn't invite them?" It was the first time Sebastian had ever mentioned his involvement with that vampire group, though the man had hardly been there the past year or so as it was to begin with. Still, to have that many vampires in the halls of Caserta made him distinctly uncomfortable, that more territorial part of the man quite near flaring to life at just the thought of it. Isolt might have been his Supreme but that palace had somehow fallen into those territories that the distinctly animalistic part of him considered as his.