i used to rule the world

seas would rise when i gave the word

How greatly Dorian had changed from that sobbing babe Matteo had once held within his arms with such loving devotion. How effortlessly Alexander was able to recall that day of Dorian's baptism when the small family had all but hidden away from the envious eye of Italy's then Monarch. How many years had passed since then and now Dorian had a family all of his own. If only the fae had an inkling to just how thankful the aging Dark Hunter was for the boy's mere existence and the significant impact it'd had upon Matteo. A small ghost of a simper crossed his masculine features as he watched the table at large from his position at the very head of it. The very sound of Aiden's dread for those emotional words of thankfully prompted a soft chuckle from his own lips. None of the men at the table, admittedly, were prone to such tender, audible displays of affection. Sebastian was all too swift to provide that well-rehearsed answer at the young fae King's behest, one that only seemed to thrill the Italian King in turn. How easy it was to so delight Dorian! That a fact that had hardly changed, even from the child he'd met all those years ago. He had been so quickly captivated back then by the slightest glimpse of glimmer. Alexander's head shook ever so slightly as he strove to disentangle himself from those memories that could, at times, be as vivid as the waking world that surrounded him. It was so easy to lose himself to the past - some days more than others.

His eyelashes fluttered over those blue-green eyes, the Dark Hunter attentive once again to the present moment just in time to hear the youngest man at their table declare that he was thankful only for the taste of alcohol. The care in which the young man had placed to avoid such sentimental gratuity hardly seemed to pass unnoticed by a singular soul upon the table and yet, Dorian's objection was all but cut off by an almost pointed glare and equally as a sardonic response from the Frenchman. Really, Matteo took to that role of father strikingly well when it came to balancing the noticeable differences between his two sons, shielding each when necessary whilst avoiding that dispute that might have otherwise brewed. The elder fae was all too quick to take his own turn, effectively cutting off any refute either of his sons might have offered as Matteo issued an appreciation that so closely aligned with Alexander's own. How grateful they both were to finally celebrate a holiday together - after all this time, and all those centuries. He should have known better, however, thank to think Matteo might let such a sentiment remain as such, the man eternally determined to keep those true emotions behind some light-hearted facade that prompted a roll of Alexander's blue-green gaze. The very utterance of Sebastian's fangs certainly managed to create it's own fair share of dramatics, prompting a soft sigh from the Dark Hunter as his own irises turning pointedly towards the Frenchman. Truly, was Matteo unable to leave anything alone? Frankly, Alexander was more than willing to let the Frenchman flounder in that mess of his own creation as both Sebastian and Dorian's focus rallied upon the fae.

The Macedonian King leaned comfortably back within his seat, the elder man more than content to watch the veritable show before him as Matteo brushed off those concerns with a vague shrug of his shoulders. Aiden's own mellow comment that Sebastian had surely received the least favorable of all those listed traits only seemed to prompt yet another bout of laughter from the fae. Truly, Matteo's teasing knew no bounds and yet, Sebastian seemed almost...put out by it all. How utterly baffling the Englishman was - those vampiric tendencies so hiding in ways that made Alexander himself suspicious of the fellow even if he had...begrudgingly...accepted him into their family. His eyebrow rose ever so slightly as his gaze observed the manner at which Sebastian's tongue seemed to caress his fangs with a near lover's touch though truly, he should hardly be surprised at the vampire's protectiveness over his own fangs. Nor was he terribly shocked at the very manner in which Matteo so strove to use his own 'turn' as a distraction before the fae was beset with any further inquiries. Alexander graciously took up his own designated turn, the man clearing his throat before, briefly, he considered each individual in turn. His own thankfulness was far more...personable, even if it, in essence, so mirrored Matteo's own. The group of men had overcome far more than was necessary, he was sure, to have a dinner such as this - they deserved this, and the years to come now that they had all found their way to one another.

His gaze fluttered briefly towards that subtle nod his lifelong companion offered him, his own head bobbed ever so slightly in an equally as a faint gesture before Dorian offered him his own thanks with a near beaming grin. How eager the very boy seemed to offer his own words of thanks - the fae taking it upon himself to address each member of their gathering in turn. A small simper tugged at the corners of his own features as the young fae thanked him for watching over him all those long years of his life - and those sure to come. It was with Dorian's beckoning that Alexander reached for his own glass, the Dark Hunter hardly requiring any prompting for that toast. His Tumblr clinked lightly against all the others before Alexander brought the glass to his lips, easily drowning what little remained of that dark amber liquor. Ah, how he enjoyed the exquisite Brandy and the subtle burn of the alcohol as it slid down his throat. His now empty glass was placed back upon the table cloth as Alexander leaned back against that chair, the Dark Hunter all but content, his stomach full and that company entirely enjoyable. How long had it been since he'd been able to enjoy a true feast from the fae like this? His blue-green irises flickered back towards the Frenchman as Matteo move to rise, only to annouce a party trick. "Really? Again?" Alexander could hardly help himself from uttering, this 'trick' was one he'd seen a hundred times over. Hell, he still remembered the first time the Frenchman had attempted it - desserts had spilled all across the table, sliding off plates and leaving streaks of frosting and crumbs in their wake.

The poor Italian's near reluctant agreement spoke volumes of his own faith within his father as Matteo reached for the very edge of that table cloth, that yank near resulting in a shout from the poor unsuspecting fae as the entire contents disappeared. Alexander could almost swear he could hear Gregory's irritation across those thousands of miles as those empty plates and crumbs appeared within Chambord's sink and all across the countertops. His head shook ever so slightly and yet, he remained silent as his own gaze turned towards the now bare table. The flick of that cloth was all that was necessary before it was once again spread across the table - the emptiness quickly filled with a new plethora of dishes, those desserts filling every inch of that once empty table in a cornucopia of sweetness. Alexander rolled his eyes at Matteo's insistence that this was surely a party as he reached for his own bottle of alcohol, only to snatch from a plate a flaky pastry he recognized near immediately. Oh, how he missed that Baklava! Alexander's gaze turned upwards from the dessert in hand as Dorian declared that he too had a 'trick' to share with the group at large. Admittedly, he too shared Matteo's skepticism though he hardly saw a need to voice it in the same way that the Frenchman did. Rather, Alexander haphazardly tossed his napkin within Dorian's general direction, letting the fae tend to his own trick as the ancient Dark Hunter near fell into the comfortable embrace of an armchair. His feet were placed comfortably upon the coffee table in front of him as his own gaze turned towards Dorian, settled upon the floor.

"Leave the boy alone, Matteo." The Dark Hunter insisted as his age-old companion inquired after that very trick Dorian so attempted to craft...well, whatever it was. That suggestion for his own 'tricks' however, saw his eyebrow raise as he popped off the top of that bottle Alexander had pilfered for himself. "Definitely not." He agreed easily as he lifted the bottle to his lips, indulging in the taste of that liquor. After all, it truly wasn't a successful Thanksgiving until Matteo and himself were thoroughly hammered.