The Sun Also Rises

It was, Dorian knew, a wholly foolish endeavor to hide an entire dish of butter in ones draw and yet Sebastian's emergence from that bathroom had caught him caught off guard and so afforded him terribly little by way of options for so concealing that butter in any other fashion- else finding some logical way to explain it that did not cause his husband any great distress. He knew readily, after all, just how very much effort his lover so put into such evenings as this. Matteo prompted a great discomfort in Sebastian regardless off his own assurance that his Father hardly disliked him at all. The vampire so often seeming unable to decide just where he believed he stood with the ancient Frenchman and yet, such was his nature, that Sebastian so went to every length to encourage that relationship between Matteo and Dorian in turn- even despite his own discomforts. Dorian wholly aware of the selflessness of such an act upon his husbands part and, in turn, he so hardly desired Sebastian might be given any other reason to feel as if Matteo took some displeasure in him. It was terribly endearing, after all, just how much Sebastian tried. Dorian unwilling to make the man feel as if his efforts might be for naught in any sense. The Monarch quick to hurry them both down stairs before any explanations for butter might need be had. Charles afforded a near pointed look in turn that so surely might encourage the manservant to rescue that butter before it soaked the clothing within the draw itself as it melted.

Dorian's hand fit easily within his lovers own then, the Fae King content to lead that way downstairs. The pair having barely left their room before that plethora of scents so readily found them. How glorious dinner smelled! The Monarch finding himself quite near excited at the prospect of trying so many new foods even if the very notion of exactly what they were celebrating and why so hardly seemed terribly clear to him. Sebastian having explained that holiday to him several times over along with why it was so hardly celebrated in England or indeed, in any other country. Dorian so merely having settled upon the understanding it was a feast in which they were so surely encouraged to remember just what they might be thankful for within their lives. The Fae King hardly opposed to such a notion or indeed the veritable exposure to such much of Matteo's cooking it afforded him. Dorian so easily reached the bottom of those stairs then, his hand affording his lovers own a final, reassuring squeeze before he moved to release it an step towards Matteo in turn. The elder Fae leaning upward from that chair to embrace him. Dorian, even now, unable to help that very delight he found in a gesture so simple as that very hug. That ready praise for dinner he offered was met with his Father's insistence it was not yet quite ready before the elder Fae suggested he had chosen such a glorious table setting and colour scheme for Dorian's own like- along with the season. Alexander quick to insist Matteo would have chosen them anyway. That love of gold and ostentation, it seemed, one readily shared between both Fae men. Dorian unable to help that chuckle that found his lips in response before he moved to greet his Godfather.

How terribly fond he was of Alexander! Dorian so having looked quite forward to seeing the man even despite that single day each week they spent together within his own stables. The Hunter a decidedly talented teacher when it came to those equestrian arts and though Dorian knew readily how to sit a horse, so many years spent outside of that saddle had prompted his desire to find pleasure within it once more. Alexander already having furthered his learning well beyond what it had ever been before. Nikolai, in turn, so surely never having been fitter- even if he remained resistance to that newest of movements. The Half-pass proving a challenge for both man and rider and yet- Dorian was assured he had made distinct progress. That sudden laughter from Matteo so readily saw his attention shift back to his Father. The Fae insisting Alexander and his own horse had exchanged words over that very maneuver. Dorian unable to prevent that simper of amusement that found his lips at the very thought of it. Alexander and Frost appeared nothing but practised and polished each time they rode together and yet it was not too terribly difficult to imagine how wilful such a horse might be- especially with its very human mind. Dorian himself so hardly feared Alexanders stallion and yet the war horse was imposing in every sense of the word. It's height alone! Dorian having so insisted Alexander stand by its head the one and only time he had so found the courage to stroke the fine animal. His Godfathers assurance most horses resisted that half-pass at first prompting a nod to his head all the same.

"I have been practicing most days. I fear Sebastian has become quite dizzy with the amount of times I have ridden around him of late while he watches."

Matteo's very insistence then that he would be willing to add something extra to both Charles and Elizabeth's payment for that month for the help they had offered him tonight was, Dorian so thought, quite a lovely gesture and yet such a query was for Sebastian to answer alone. The Monarch himself holding little knowledge of just what Charles or Elizabeth might be paid at all. Such idle thoughts however so hardly lasted long before his attention shifted back toward that table with its wonderful spread. Dorian so inclined to notice that extra seat for the first time. Was Anastasia perhaps to join them? Although if such were the case she might surely have arrived with Alexander. That very query on that fifth seat falling from his lips a moment later only for Matteo to near effortlessly insist he had invited the final member of their family. That look of decided confusion found his features as readily as Sebastian's own. Another family member? One invited by Matteo? Had he an Aunt or Cousin of some kind he so hardly knew off? Matteo, he was sure, so having insisted his own sisters and parents had long since passed. The sudden sound of that doorbell afforded the Fae truly little time to consider the matter further. His gaze shifting but briefly to Sebastian in that shared moment of confusion between the pair before those muffled voices from the hall saw his features frown once more. A mystery only further by Alexander's sudden, soft assurance that, despite appearances, Matteo was so apparently nervous to introduce him to whomever he had invited tonight. Dorian so blinking in bafflement once more.

"Nervous to introduce him to me? Whatever for? Who is it, Alexander? You knew of this?"

Such questions! Dorian so readily attempting to extract those answers from Alexander before Matteo returned. The Hunters words only having furthered his curiosity before the Frenchman so suddenly reappeared with a dark-haired young man at his side. This.....not at all what Dorian had anticipated. The young man could hardly have been more than 30 or so- at least from appearance. That he might well be of immortal breed a consideration Dorian had so already allowed to pass his already near racing thoughts. His rather shaggy mop of hair was darker then Matteo's own and considerably darker then his in turn. The mans caramel coloured skin affording him a near tanned look that was decidedly unique and yet nothing, Dorian was assured, was quote so unique as the man's eyes. That striking emerald hue was nothing short of....exquisite. How terribly pretty they were! The Fae King rather ashamed such a thought might be his first and yet he could hardly deny the attractiveness of the man even if he had no intent to act upon it. Yet how his appearance only furthered that mystery! After all, the man hardly appeared...well....French at all. Was he a very distant cousin perhaps?

It was to Alexander he was introduced first. The Dark Hunter insisting it was a pleasure to finally meet him, this Aiden, as if this was their first meeting in turn. Dorian so affording Sebastian another curious glance then before Matteo so led the young man to the vampire in turn to offer those introductions. Matteo and Aiden both reaching him last. Alexander's insistence that the Frenchman was nervous over this meeting resting near profoundly within his thoughts as Matteo so revealed Aiden lived in this very city and that it was surely time they met properly despite having apparently crossed each others path several times. This final member to their family so suddenly revealed as his brother. The very shock of that singular word so speared through the Monarch with a distinct potency. That very look of utter shock and complete confusion upon his features near blatantly clear. Dorian glancing from Matteo to Aiden and back again as his lips parted, whatever words he had so been struggling to offer hardly seeming to form. Brother. Brother? How good a time had Matteo had in Puerto Rico!? A far more logical part of his mind readily insisted that there was no possible way in which Matteo had fathered this boy and raised him to at least thirty years of age in only the months it had been since that Puerto Rico Scandal. Dorian struggling desperately in those few moments to grasp that very information he had been offered all the same. The world around him seeming to move in a near slow motion. His emotions a complete and utter tangle.

He was....furious. Yes, quite furious he was sure at Matteo for keeping such a thing from him! That very anger so intermingled with a clear confusion on this whole affair and a good deal many questions that turned within his thoughts until they toppled and collided with one another. How utterly guilty he felt for so thinking his own brother was pretty! He had committed a veritable sin of thought he was sure, although perhaps one might be forgiven for such a thing when one did not know the truth of one's relation. Surely such a thing might be thought on later. Another part of the Monarch unable to deny that flickering of....happiness that came with that very announcement. A part of him near relishing that information if only for the very fact he had....desired a sibling for the longest of times. At least, one whom might be amicapable towards him in the way Sebastian spoke of his own brother. How Dorian so longed for a relationship akin to what his husband had once shared with his siblings! Dorian's own half siblings having held little care for him in any sense and surely.....surely Matteo would not introduce Aiden into their midst if he foresaw such treatment reoccuring again? He...wonderful it might be.....to have a real brother.

How these thoughts accosted his mind! The world so seeming to come near sharply into focus once more. Dorian near distinctly aware he had been staring near blankly at Aiden for what was surely a socially unacceptable amount of time. Those manners so ingrained over so many hundreds of years quick to guide him then, despite his own tumbling thoughts. His hand so readily extended to Aiden's own then. Dorian waiting only so long as it took the other man to take it before affording it that firm shake. That warm simper readily finding his lips.

"Forgive me, Aiden. I am a little surprised to meet you is all- but it is not at all a bad surprise."

How very much he meant those words. After all, it was hardly Aiden's fault. Rather that very shock was entirely Matteo's doing. How very much trouble the Frenchman was in and indeed how surely the man must know it! How decidedly devious it was to so introduce Aiden to their family when Matteo so surely knew without question that Dorian and Sebastian's own good manner would prevent any questioning off his actions. The Monarch entirely determined that he would exchange words with his Father later all the same. Matteo would not escape this. Yet- here and now was so hardly the time. Dorian so gently releasing his brothers hand then as he regarded him once more. That concept of brother still so new within his thoughts.

"I....I fear I have great deal of questions. You must take very strongly after your Mother, I do not see a great deal of my-"

That very word was halted readily upon his lips. Dorian frowning slightly in that realisation that seemed to strike him all at once. The Monarch quick to repair that very sentence.

"I do not see a great deal of our Father in you. Although I do see several similarities now that I say it. Were you born in France? What do you do here in the city? Would you like a drink?"

A drink, Dorian had decided quite abruptly was an excellent thing. His thoughts still very much turning rapidly within his mind, the Monarch still appearing somewhat dazed as he turned from Aiden then to head toward that liquor cabinet. His hand brushing softly against Sebastian's own in that silent assurance he was, mostly, quite alright. That collection of drinks nothing short of utterly impressive in every way. Dorian rather assured he quite fancied some of that Brandy that Alexander was drinking for himself, that bottle easily taken from the cabinet before he gestured to it in turn.

"What would you like, Aiden? Sebastian, Matteo- do you fancy anything?"

They could all use a drink, surely. Dorian's silvered gaze returned to meet the green of Aiden's own once more. His very own brother.....after all this time. How very, very many questions he had....

Dorian Ellington-Aragona