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

There was something almost wonderful, truly, to that consideration that they might one day call this city home- or any other city they might fancy within their truly long lives. In all those years the Monarch had spent within his Palace in Italy, in a world never changing or shifting, he had never truly looked forward to his own future with any real excitement. Why should he? He had known what each day would bring. He had known how each day would go. The walls of his home would not change, the faces he saw would not alter and though the weather outside his home might flutter with the seasons he was hardly permitted to experience it. He had forgotten, perhaps, what it was like to be excited. He had forgotten the joys of looking forward to the unknown and oh how he adored it! The future that lingered before himself and Sebastian was unknown in some sense and yet that very mystery delighted him. The places they might see, the people they would meet, the years they so had to spend together and all the things they might fill them with were nothing short of exciting. Dorian inclined to find joy in existence itself. Sebastian's gentle utterance of 'one day' only further prompting that soft simper to his lips as he lead the way back through that snowy square and toward their hotel.

"Next time."

Dorian corrected him near softly, his silvered gaze turned to his lover with no small glimpse of impishness. Those words, so eternally, holding every depth of meaning to the pair. They stepped into that blissfully heated lobby but a moment later, the Prince so coaxed into that cafe so Dorian himself could see about that celebration of Easter in just the fashion he knew Sebastian might desire best. It was only once he had returned to that suite alone that the Monarch begun that task of hiding those Easter treats all about that room. Dorian doing his best to assure each of those little chocolates was concealed in some manner- with but a few handfuls placed in those more obvious locations if only to afford the vampire some confidence in his chocolate hunting abilities. Several more of those eggs were hidden far more diligently and with the sheer intention of encouraging his lover to play that game. How well Sebastian truly could smell chocolate he hardly new. His husband so rarely choosing to speak of the extent of his vampiric capabilities in any sense and yet, Dorian so hardly faulted him for it. Sebastian, he knew, did not like to think of himself in any truly predatory way- even if he possessed such capabilities. Dorian hardly inclined in equal measure to query the man on the truth depth of those vampiric notions. The Monarch so readily having accepted Sebastian for all he was so long ago.

It was only once he was near assured those eggs had been hidden satisfactorily that his golden phone was fished from his pocket, that promised text message sent dutifully to his husband before the Monarch moved to position himself comfortably upon their bed. That large easter rabbit tucked behind his back in an effort to conceal it till last. Dorian quite unable to keep that excitable grin from his on lips. It was silly perhaps and yet how he adored to surprise his lover! How he enjoyed moments just such as this when it might be them alone and the rest of the world could so easily be shut out. It hardly took long for Sebastian to arrive, the vampire juggling that key card and coffee cup amongst a myriad of boxes as he did. Dorian so readily eyeing those parcels the man placed upon the dining room table with a clear inquisitiveness. How on earth had Sebastian found time to go shopping? Such puzzlement, it seemed, would be destined to wait for but a few moments yet. Dorian content to offer his lover that knowledge of just why he had so been constrained to the cafe for the past half and hour. That easter basket held out towards him as the vampire offered him that coffee in return. The Monarch eagerly reaching for that gloriously heated cup of his favoured coffee. That Sebastian so eternally remembered such small things as this, he was sure, so made him love that man even more.

The pleasure he found in that drink however was decidedly short lived. His features shifted into a look of simple awe as Sebastian reached upward to pluck that chocolate treat from the fan blade above them. How well he had thought he had hidden it! That the very first one the vampire had found! That near indignant look readily settled upon the fae's features then. Dorian content to assure his lover that he was perfectly wretched for finding it first. Sebastian insisting that the egg had been so terribly out of place upon the fan blade to begin with that it had been easy to spot. Dorian's own eyes rolling lightly once more, that chuckle rising readily from his throat before both hands were near tossed upward in defeat.

"I should have known it was so my husband would be the only man in the world who inspects the blades of fans when he enters a room. Do you do this often?"

Such words were nothing short of teasing, both eyes raising upward in a clear playfulness as he queried that curious habit. Dorian waving his hand once more to send Sebastian off to hunt the rest of those treats as that coffee was returned to his own lips. The vampire, as expected, readily seemed to locate those easier chocolates, sweeping them from the shelves and tables to add to that basket sitting upon the bed. The Fae King content to watch his lover with no small amount of amusement, offering the man that number he sought after even despite Sebastian clear distraction with the task at hand. That first sweep of the room had proven decidedly fruitful and yet, that task had surely become more difficult now. Sebastian so forced to begin to actually hunt. The vampires nose twitching in those clear efforts to scent that 'prey' he was after. Dorian so attempting not to chuckle at the sight. At least until he was promptly informed that his own scent was impeding that hunt. Another chuckle rising to his lips then. The Monarch readily announcing that he was pleased it was, if only to slow Sebastian down. Dorian wholly content to threaten to slow the vampire down even further if it might be so required off him. That suggestion he might very well take something off readily seeing the vampire pivot to face him once more. That impish grin dancing back upon his lips as Sebastian assurance he wouldn't dare. That near wary look his lover wore surely indicating how little the vampire trusted his own words.

"Darling, you know I would."

Dorian lent readily back against that headboard then, one finger reaching up to effortlessly flick open another button off his shirt, the Fae so hardly intending to go any further in that moment and yet he was quite assured that point had been made all the same. The remains off his coffee easily finished then before that cup was placed carefully on the bedside table. Sebastian returned near eagerly to that hunt then. Dorian content to watch him jostle those curtains and peer behind the television, his own gaze lingering but briefly on those wrapped boxes upon the table. The Fae King so beginning that query upon just what they were before simply allowing the words to fall short. Sebastian, he was sure, was far to absorbed in that game. The vampire eyeing that kitchen with a clear wariness before abruptly declaring 'birthday presents'. Dorian blinking in a momentary confusion as to such a statement before the realisation of just what the man meant seemed to strike him.

"For me? What are they?"

He had very near forgotten, in the excitement of that holiday, that Sebastian had assured him his gifts were soon to arrive. That curiosity that so personified the Monarch readily seeming to ensnare him then as he continued to eye those gifts. Dorian contemplating their size and shape before Sebastians sudden declaration he had found more of those treats drew his attention once more. Dorian eyeing those up-ended containers with amusement. The normally tidy vampire so clearly having excited himself beyond any need to neaten them once more. Those new found eggs were dutifully returned to the basket, the Prince so querying just how many he had found as Dorian peered into that basket once more. With those four eggs concealed within the books and the one so hidden behind his back Dorian was assured there was at least five still remaining.

"Forty Five. Your still missing some."

He assured him as Sebastian's attention dutifully returned to that hunt. The vampire sweeping that apartment once more only to pause before the bookcase. That look of simple concentration upon his features a rather....adorable look in every sense. Dorian chuckling softly at his attempts to find those eggs atop or behind the books- only to come up short. Sebastian at last removing one book entirely to eye the empty space left behind. Those words muttered to himself hardly missed. Dorian momentarily content to allow that near smug look to find his features. That it would be this puzzle that so stumped the vampire was perhaps surprising and yet Dorian largely suspected those pages obscured that chocolate scent entirely. It was merely unfortunate, perhaps, that he had not so accounted for gravity. That chocolate egg concealed within the book Sebastian had held so unceremoniously dropping to the floor a moment later. That look of continued puzzlement on his lovers features prompting that laughter all over again before Sebastian so at last seemed to make that connection and pilfer those eggs to place them in the basket. Leaving only one unfound.

"I fear you might never find the last one, Mon Cher. It is decidedly tricky. Although, I might yet be willing to negotiate it's location."

That warm simper danced upon his lips once more. Dorian unfolding his limbs to stretch his legs out before him, one folding over the other in a clear picture of relaxation. The chocolate rabbit still nestled behind him as his arms so folded behind his head in a distinct enjoyment at so having something Sebastian desired from him. His head at last nodded towards those packages upon the table. His curiosity a decidedly unforgiving thing! Surely Sebastian must know how difficult he found surprises in turn!

"If I might be given a hint as to what is in my birthday gift I can surely assist you in the location of your final chocolate- which is the very best of the chocolates too....."

dorian ellington-aragona