he was both everything you could ever want
and nothing you could ever have

The foiled rabbit presented to the Englishman prompted a gasp of disbelief from his lips as he eyed his husband. That tactic was low, as far as Sebastian was concerned. And Dorian had held the audacity to call his effort to make a deal for that last piece of chocolate as circumventing the unspoken rules of this game! Sebastian was altogether quick to set the record straight, as far as his otherworldly senses were concerned. He watched that grin spread across Dorian's features at that very real threat that left his lips. They both, however, were fully aware that if it so came to checking the fae Monarch for chocolate, that game would turn into something else entirely, not that either seemed to mind terribly at the prospect. "Oh, I'm quite certain what I'd find." He retorted with distinct playfulness. His gaze fluttered briefly down to that rabbit in his hands as his lover leaned forward to place that chaste kiss upon his cheek. That sentiment of a 'Happy Easter' was softly returned, much less with his own genuine gratitude at the effort the King had put in for his benefit alone. It astounded him sometimes, just how much Dorian seemed to think of him above all else. He had never quite had a relationship quite like this one, and though it was for that very reason that he had so embraced the idea of marriage a second time, it still confounded him just how he'd gotten this lucky.

It was the sound of his name upon Dorian's lips, however, that drew the vampire's thoughts back to the present. That almost pathetic whine prompted a soft chuckle within him. He placed that rabbit upon the very peak of that precarious tower of chocolate only to assure the man that he was going to keep his own end of that deal they had struck. He rose to cross the room towards that dining room table, informing the Monarch as he went of the ways they might possibly be able to spend their Easter next year. He scooped up the two packages in his hands before his blue eyes met the startled glimpse upon Dorian's features at the mention of that Chocolate Quarter. His head bobbed as he made his way back towards the bed, speaking as he walked. "We do, admittedly it's not as chocolatey as it's name sounds. It used to be a warehouse for Cadbury chocolate but...they've turned it into a retirement community now. They're hailing back to their roots with the week-long chocolate festival." That history of what should have sounded like a heavenly slice of England left that town far more lackluster in comparison to that factory that used to stand there. Still, his head shook ever so slightly at the mention of Bristol. "No, I haven't, you would like it though, there's quite a few Museums and the Cathedral and several zoos. I don't have any homes there but, we can stay in a hotel if you'd like to visit." He was hardly opposed to the idea, England, after all, eternally held his heart, regardless of the city.

Sebastian settled upon the edge of the bed, only to reach out and provide his lover with the smaller of those two boxes. This one, he was certain, should go first if only for the simple fact of how terribly distracting the second could surely be if Dorian allowed it. He watched as his husband took that box, only to open it with such distinct care to reveal that expensive piece of jewelry. The golden hue alone, he was sure, would be enough to warrant Dorian's attention and yet, it was surely the multitude of diamonds inlaid in neat symmetrical rows that had too captured Sebastian's own. The sound of that soft gasp upon Dorian's lips prompted a soft simper to cross his own features as Dorian picked up that piece with such delicate care. It was that tenderness that prompted Sebastian to inform the King exactly why this piece was so unique, beyond the metal and the number of those ivory stones. Rather, it was the simple idea behind the piece and the campaign they had run with it that had coaxed Sebastian to spend the sheer amount of money requested for it. The very phrase 'how far will you go for love' had been printed on the inside. That second soft kiss placed upon his cheek caused that grin to widen ever so slightly in a small show of delight at how that gift seemed to be received, even if Sebastian had not truly ever had his doubts.

It was that inquiry of how that unremovable bracelet worked that prompted Sebastian to rifle through the wrapping of the box only to produce a small screwdriver from somewhere in the wrapping. He took that bracelet from the King, briefly searching for that small indentation to designate the screw required to undo that hinge. It took a moment before he pulled that golden screw out, opening the bracelet for his lover's wrist. It was only once Dorian's wrist was nestled into the bracelet that the Prince worked on putting it back together. The sheer cost of the piece prompted him to encourage that screw tighter than perhaps necessary but, it wasn't often Sebastian was inclined to wear expensive jewelry. He might have tailored suits and fancy estates but something like this was...well, not something the vampire was often inclined to spend his money on. Softly, Sebastian inquired to Dorian's thoughts on the gift, now that it was securely fastened around his wrist. He watched as Dorian held his wrist up to better eye the gift. His head bobbed ever so slightly at that comment of how well it suited the King. It was, quite honestly, the very sort of style his high-class husband seemed drawn to and yet, it was the very notion of that bracelet being a statement of an eternity like they were that caused his own features to soften.

"Just like us." He uttered softly as Dorian's fingers ran over the surface of that newest accessory. The mention of Matteo, however, caused his head to tilt to the side ever so slightly in brief curiosity. Although Sebastian hardly had any sort of meaningful relationship with his new father-in-law, he was truly pleased that things between Dorian and Matteo seemed to be working themselves out. It was, admittedly, his own lack of a father that prompted the vampire to press his lover on working on the fractured relationship he had with his own. After all, he hardly wanted Dorian to live the rest of his life like he had the past few hundred, under the belief that he had lost what little family he had, not when he still had someone alive! "Hm, well, I am sure he is just busy with that love, but it might be nice for him to get a surprise text from you too." He uttered the suggestion softly, even though he knew well it was not his place to tread, he still tried to consider the elder Frenchman's feelings all the same. It was, he was sure, that notion of the importance of family that had been instilled within the man himself.

Still, any further thoughts of Matteo were quickly dismissed as Sebastian handed his lover that final box to open and unwrap. "I guess I can let you have this one now." He offered in a teasing tone. The box inside of that shipping box was decidedly plain in comparison to that Cartier box, this one, although it shared the same black theme, had three simple words printed on the exterior of it. 'Love is Art'. Sebastian shifted closer towards his husband as he watched Dorian lift the lid of the box to reveal a complete kit inside. At the top, there was a black tube with the same phrase printed in white ink. Beside it lay a folded up piece of transparent plastic, on the top of which was a small door sign that said 'Do Not Disturb, Painting in Progress'. Two small bottles of paint were further to the right of that, underneath of which was a small black shower sponge and two pairs of plastic wads tucked into one another. Sebastian could hardly help that grin that settled on his features as he glanced between that kit and Dorian himself. "Do you know what it is?" He inquired, far more pleased with himself than he surely should be. "I told you, I got this idea off of you." The vampire continued, his slender fingers reached out to gingerly brush against the surface of those paints, his bright blue eyes turned upwards towards his lover, entirely certain that Dorian would remember the only time in which they had experimented with that medium. It had, after all, left is hair a distinct shade of blue-ish green that had required some....peculiar oil to work out. This time, hopefully, there would be no need for olive oil. Perhaps he should have ordered some of that in advance too....

Sebastian Ellington-Aragona