you were the answer to my dreams

The sight of that small ebony box coaxed a undeniably tidal wave of emotion within the vampire, that warm simper upon his features a clear indication of what he knew was going to come in mere moments. Sebastian was well aware of the anxiety that swarm within his lover at the flip of that lid and yet, the ring within was nothing short of utterly astounding. It was a near perfect amalgamation of his own preferences and and the fae King's tastes, that very mix was a true representation of all their marriage would surely be. That soft assurance that the ring was nothing shy of beautiful quite quickly left his lips as he reached out for it but mere moments later. It was clear, that level of meticulous detail that had gone into the creation of those precious metals, and Sebastian had every intention of fully appreciating every one of them. His fingers slowly traced that careful etching into that gold, only to move to eying those languages written in the center of it. The very meaning behind that small act was certainly not lost upon him, nor that intention to provide him that very assurance that he had so gifted the Monarch himself. It was perfect, there was certainly no other way to describe it.

To wait those three months before that official ceremony and exchanging of those rings seemed a near impossibility, even with the finality of a date. Rather, Sebastian had every intention of wearing that ring now, even though that eternal commitment before the altar had not quite yet been taken. That sweet kiss Dorian stole in those moments hardly seemed enough, not with the sort of adoration he held for the man at his side. There was, however, still one thing left to be done - one very important thing. It was the very mention of that 'job', that seemed to spur his fiance into action, that ring he'd gifted them last Christmas easily slid off his finger to be moved to his opposite hand only for that new found ring that symbolized their union before not only God but the world at large was placed within its proper spot. He was almost surprised to find he rather liked the look of that ring against his pale flesh. How long had it been, truly, since such a token had been worn? He had never truly thought he would take another after the loss of his wife, much less a husband at that.

It was that very mention of marriage suiting him that prompted a chuckle from his lips. Frankly, he was hardly certain how truthful those words would turn out to be. Then again, Dorian was on such a far different side of that spectrum then his wife. Perhaps, to the fae King, he would succeed in all the ways he had failed her. That teasing tone to Dorian's lips drew his thoughts to that present moment and away from not only his hopes for a better marriage, but his intention to ensure this one lasted. His own form quite easily embraced the fae King's own as Dorian leaned against him, his hand reached out for his lover's, purposefully letting their fingers entertain in such a fashion that those wedding rings could be seen side to side. There was a sort of peaceful contentment to that intimate moment, one filled with a sort of happiness he hadn't had for near ages before he had met Dorian. The last thing he had anticipated was for it to be shattered with the voicing of that worry that had gripped him far more than any other. Arlo, he was sure, had heard the full extent of those nonsensical concerns. He could hardly help that sigh that fell from his mouth as the vampire admitted he had, truly, considered in some great detail that conundrum of their last name and what it should be.

Before Sebastian could utter his own thoughts of the matter, however, Dorian was already offering a suggestion as to what he would have preferred. The Englishman had known well that to take on the Aragona name was a near requirement of taking a part of that royal household and yet, he had never anticipated Dorian might suggest to take his own on in return. That last name was nothing short of a near novel in comparison to those usual ones that the public took on and yet, they were hardly middle class as it was, he supposed. Ellington-Brownlow-Cust-Aragona. It was the ideal solution to Sebastian's worry on what he might have to discard in that union. He could hardly help that notion that tugged at his thoughts - that idea that Dorian was surely doing this for his benefit alone and in a softened whisper he found himself near inquiring after it all the same. Sebastian hardly anticipated that almost blank look to his lover's features in return, much less that warm smile that spread across Dorian's face but moments later.

Those very words, as small as they were, had a far greater effect on the vampire then he had anticipated. How, in all the entirety of the world, had he managed to find Dorian? What had he gotten so right to earn him someone like this? In all Sebastian had done wrong over those two hundred years - how? For all the lives he'd taken, for all the money he'd swindled and the hearts he'd broken....how did he find himself so lucky? That very emotion near threatened to overwhelm him as those silver eyes rose to meet his own. He was almost thankful, in that moment, that Dorian continued with that explanation, unaware, clearly, as to those very feelings that had so clouded his own thoughts. His head slowly bobbed in acknowledgement of his own knowledge of Dorian's last name, much less his own desire to observe that tradition of changing their names. After all, Sebastian was very much the traditional sort of man, his rather fluid sexuality aside. He had expected to hear of Dorian's simple desire to take on that mantle of all that his own last name bore, much less that hint of uncertainty that came with that offer of Dorian's own.

It was that mention of his title of Prince hat only further managed to derail the vampire's thoughts. That question of titles was one he too had been avoiding, even though he knew well of their once importance. His father, after all, would have made an effort to discover that very thing near immediately, if he was going to provide his own blessing onto any sort of marriage. Arlo had too asked of it and yet, Sebastian had once found he hardly cared what he was. After all, his place in the italian courts was certainly no closer to that Earldom his family had lost within those British courts. That reminder of France, however, and that conversation of their crests in the corner of that brightly lit candy store, was finally enough to coax some resemblance of words from the otherwise silent man. "Dorian..I..." He started, the vampire almost truly uncertain of what he could say to truly convey just those feelings that beset him - that gratefulness, that appreciation, and that ever growing love. "I would like that very much. I would be honored to give you mine....and to take yours."

Those words, he was assured, were hardly enough and yet, in that moment with those near glassy eyes, Sebastian could offer little else. Rather, he reached forward with that free arm to draw Dorian back against him, his positioned against his fiance's stomach while the vampire buried his face in the fae King's neck in that fashion he so tended to do. "How did I manage to get so lucky to have you?" He muttered softly, more to himself then to the fae Monarch in those moments. All Dorian had offered him tonight was far greater than anything he had hoped for earlier that evening with that gift of hot chocolate. He had anticipated the cuddles, hoped even for the sex but that thoughtfulness, that care, and that devotion that Dorian continued to display had a habit of catching him entirely off guard.

Sebastian Ellington