The Sun Also Rises

How long it had been since he had thought of those once lavish parties and debutante balls that had, at one point in history, been the veritable epicenter of social activity for any given season! Everything about those parties had been judged from the food to the decoration to the setting and placings and even the manner in which the staff behaved. No more important factor had existed however, then to judge just whom attend which events and whether or not they had come alone or found themselves escorted by one gentleman or another. How well he remembered Ferdinand so forcing his eldest brother, Alfonso, to engage with woman after woman of good breeding or noble title. The Fathers of those girls, in turn, so seeking to encourage them to seek Alfonso before any other boy. After all, to capture the eye of the future King of Italy was a boon worthy of pride and significant talk amongst ladies and gentlemen alike. He had enjoyed those evenings so. The music and the food and the dancing and yet, beneath it all, that undercurrent of pressure to marry right and marry well and been ever present. Marriage Market, as Ferdinand had called it and Sebastian so agreed- was an apt name for such an event. Even if it had once worn the guise of a party. Dorian' own head nodded readily in agreement at his husbands comment upon that name being rather appropriate- even if Ferdinand had viewed those very events with a sort of contempt Dorian had eventually come to understand in turn.

"It was one of the few things I suspect he was right about."

He uttered simply, those further thoughts halted by Sebastian's sudden query regarding those women whom he suspected had flirted with the Monarch in those days long past. Ah! How such memories might readily prompt that simper to his lips again! A ready chuckle so hummed within the Fae King's throat, Dorian allowing his silver gaze to return to his husbands own then with a look near impish that so surely gave away that veritable answer well before the Monarch had so dared to supply it. It had been no secret, after all, that of all those Royal children Dorian had, for far more than one reason, been inclined to ...stand out. Alfonso's title as heir to that throne had resulted in no small amount of women all but throwing themselves at his older half sibling. Dorian's own less than legitimate status having seen him viewed with scorn by several in turn and yet- for every woman whom had been inclined to see only his title, or lack thereof, there have been several more whom hardly seemed to care for it all the same. Such women so taken with his appearance and how distinctly different he was from his siblings whose dark hair and dark features seems decidedly and unfortunately prominent. Dorian had been by far the most...popular amongst his siblings for receiving that female attention. How terribly it had enraged his half brothers! Their disdain for him ever growing. Yet how little Dorian could surely have done to prevent it all the same. Those memories, even now, so further that simper upon his lips.

"I do not believe a night existed in which I did not receive at least some attention from those young ladies present."

How diplomatic such an answer and yet how teasing those very words in turn! Dorian, indeed, so wholly aware that Sebastian would hardly believe he had received merely 'attention' from but a handful of women on any given night. His husband, he was assured, having at least some idea of the sheer number of women at such events and just how ...willing so many of them were to garner favour or attention.

"I am inclined to believe you were surely popular in turn, hmm?"

One eye lifted just so, Dorian wholly curious of that response as the pair so paused in the entrance way of that grand, lavish dining room that lay ready and waiting for tomorrow evening's dinner. How those servants rushed and bustled to prepare the table and its setting with a distinct and diligent care! Yet- how little that table held his attention, even as Sebastian moved to point out the very seats they would take up in only one evening from now. The room itself so capturing far more of his attention. Such designs! How readily he might incorporate them into his own plans! Dorian wholly content to announce his intention to do just that. Sebastian quick to insist he looked forward to seeing those designs as Dorian grinned warmly once more. So many ideas! How he longed for the paper to draw them upon! Later this evening, surely, when they finally returned to their room he would have the time to consider them properly. Sebastian shifted then to lead the way from that dining room and back out into the hall, the vampire navigating those halls was an impressive, practised ease. Dorian once more inclined to find himself distinctly curious of the man his lover had been within those human years when he had walked these very halls. How very unwilling he would surely have been, even then, to have shared his husband with but even one other being. Such thoughts were so surely distinctly ungracious and yet how readily they danced within his mind all the same. The Monarch so decidedly ...protective over the man he called his own.

Dorian's thoughts were inclined to shift once more towards those pending renovations of his own palace and just how very much gold his husband might be willing to permit that he decorate with. That glorious hue, after all, was by far his most favoured and if England could adorn its walls with that shade then surely Italy might be permitted that same extravagance. Sebastian's own features shifted into a frown then, the vampire seeming to consider that very proposal before suggesting that some measure of ...restraint might surely need be shown so given the state of the Italian economy. To be adorning the royal house in gold while the people of Italy struggled would be in rather poor taste. How very right Sebastian was and yet how distinctly displeasing that answer- even if that gold was Dorian's own and so hardly taxed from the people in turn. Yet, in that singular moment the Fae King so found himself content to tease his lover with that very idea, the Monarch glancing but briefly up that hallway to assure they remained alone before stepping into the nearest alcove and so tugging his husband agianst him. How easy it was to press his lips to Sebastian's own in that stolen kiss, that very gesture so hardly lacking the desire that tugged at him once more. Sebastian, as he had anticipated, so hardly failing to return that kiss with much the same passion as his hands settled upon Dorian's waist. The Monarch distinctly enjoying that sensation of being caught between his lover and the wall behind as his own hands rose upward to tangle within the thick locks of Sebastians hair.

Dorian's own lips pulled but slightly back from that ardent kiss if only long enough to insist upon how very much he adored that golden colour once more. Sebastian, this time, all too quick to assure him that he might yet be convinced to allow more of that colour. Those very words so prompting the return of that impish grin to Dorian's own features as a warm chuckle rose within the depths of his throat. His fingers so gently unwove from his lovers hair as Dorian stepped away from his husband then and back out into the hall, the vampires locks left distinctly dishevelled and yet how very much he adored that look if only for how rarely Sebastian's hair was ever in such a state of haphazardness. The Monarch's own feet pivoted lightly upon that carpet then to regard his lover once more as they strode back towards the car left waiting. Dorian, this time, so content to comment upon that room Sebastian had once stayed in and how very unlikely it was to hold any of that gold. How disappointing such a thing surely was when he had not yet found himself so saited by that colour. How quickly Sebastian in turn so seemed to understand that teasing game of sorts. The vampire so bold as to suggest that surely some of that favoured colour might yet be found in the car. The very suggestion prompting Dorian's own gaze to lift in curious amusement. Those accented words nothing short of playful.

"Oh did you now? Perhaps we ought to check when we return to it."

Dorian's steps fell back in time with his husbands own then, the pair making their way back through that palace. Dorian, just as before, so unable to help that fashion in which he near marvelled at those artworks as they passed, his head nodded politely to those staff members and yet, even for all the glory of Buckingham the Monarch so found himself distinctly desiring the comfort of that town car once more with its darkly tinted windows and ready privacy. Those front doors were held open for them once more, Dorian so readily thanking that head of staff for his hospitality before the Italian couple made their way into that waiting car, those doors closed firmly behind them as Dorian lent back into the comfort of that seat. Such a glorious morning! How right Sebastian had been to speak so highly of Buckingham! How very filled with ideas the Fae King found himself in turn and yet- that veritable hunt for 'gold' still remained at the forefront of his mind. The Monarch content to survey the interior of the car as if truly searching for that very shade.

"Hmmmm."

That very sound of contemplation hummed within his throat as the car so pulled onto that freeway and away from the Palace with its plethora of photographers and fans so desperate for a glimpse of the couple. Dorian's gaze shifted upward, that silver hue so meeting his lovers own once more.

"I am not quite sure I see any gold here, Bastian. Perhaps you might help me look? Those windows cannot be seen through can they, Mon Cher?"

How readily that impish grin so found his lips in that moment. Dorian waiting only so long as it took his lover to confirm the very darkness and privacy of that space before the Fae King shifted in his seat. His lips eagerly finding Sebastian's own once more. The Monarch more then willing to finish what he had started within the hidden alcove within the palace. Just how much he had enjoyed that Palace tour so clearly apparent in the very ardency of that kiss and yet how distinctly he desired more in that moment.

"How far is it to this university?"

Those very words were no more than a mere murmur agianst his lover's lips. Dorian near certain he so hardly needed terribly long for what he desired and yet how decidedly...thrilling that time limit so made it all at once! His lips returned to his lovers own once more, Dorian so seeking to deepen that kiss then as those first notes of satisfaction so rose within his throat. One hand moved to rest agianst Sebastian's neck with that very gesture, the other coming to rest upon the vampires thigh and yet how smoothly his hand slid upward and along that fabric, his fingers brushing agianst the length of his lover beneath that material. Dorian near curious as to just how eagerly his lover might respond to even those faint touches as his lips tugged into a warm grin agianst his husbands own. His fingers so continued with that ready exploration, those caresses atop that material becoming all the firmer and more insistent. Sebastian's figure so readily responding as Dorian had intended as the Monarch's lips pulled away from his lovers own only to press agianst the vampires neck in just that fashion he new Sebastian so adored the most. That very gesture so designed to be as pleasurable as it was distracting. Dorian's fingers so smoothly finding the button and zipper of Sebastian's dress pants. The Monarch once more content to find himself decidedly pleased at his lovers utter lack of undergarments as his lips pressed a final time to his lovers neck.

"You shall have to wave to any people we pass on my behalf, I find myself preoccupied with this gold you mentioned."

Those very words were little more than a teasing murmur agianst the vampires neck. Dorian's hand moved to encircle that length of his lover so newly exposed by those loosened pants before so abruptly lowering his head to take Sebastian within his mouth and subject the vampire to that touch of his lips and tongue in turn. His hand so working to offer its own caress. How rare it was for the Monarch to allow such things within public! Even if they were afforded the relative privacy of the town car. Dorian having become far more inclined to such boldness over that past year. The Fae wholly inclined to enjoy himself now....

Dorian Ellington-Aragona