you were the answer to my dreams

Sebastian knew, to an extent, the very demeanor of the Dark Hunter seated at the head of the table. Alexander the Great was, after all, a historical figure his own age had been ill-inclined to forget. Those tales littered the books his father and brother studied of the great tacticians that had come before. He'd heard stories of the crushing defeats the Macedonian King had delivered in the face of insurmountable odds. He'd heard of bridges being built to cross rivers that should not have been crossed, desserts that were forged through and mountains that were hiked all for the sake of the triumph of saying the Macedonian army had done what no others before it had tried. This story of Dover, admittedly, aligned perfectly with history's recounting of the King and yet, how ignorant it seemed his husband was of his Godfather's tendencies! That single word of 'oh' upon the fae's lips prompted a soft simper from the Englishman though he saw little reason to point out all that history had to say of the Conqueror, at least, not now. Dorian, however, hardly seemed terribly focused upon his Godfather's petty vengeance, the Monarch quickly moving on to those rarely participated in Thanksgiving traditions - much to the displeasure of the table at large, it would seem. That audible groan from the other side of the table prompted a soft chuckle from the Victorian vampire - at least until his lover so rounded upon him to start! Ah, how keenly aware he was of his husband's entrancing silver hued irises upon him! The fae clearly relying upon him to assist in those Thanksgiving endeavors and, in turn, Sebastian hardly desired to let Dorian down in the slightest.

It was, perhaps, a by-product of his own breeding and culture that so prompted the vampire to offer the thanks that he knew was expected of him. Those words quite near left his lips without any truly meaningful thought given to them and yet - such thanks were genuine...mostly. Regardless, all of it was worth it, if only for the way in which Dorian's features so seemed to light up in a warm grin of glee. He hardly anticipated the manner at which his husband leaned forward to press his lips gingerly against Sebastian's cheek. It was, by far, the most innocent kiss Dorian had ever given him and yet, with the presence of the Monarch's family, the Englishman hadn't anticipated receiving any such affection at all. His lover, after all, tended to be far more reserved with such visible displays of care. It was a trait that Sebastian had accepted some time ago. "Of course." His words were little more than a soft murmur in response before his own crystalline irises turned attentively towards the newest member of their little family. Aiden, it seemed, was not nearly as keen on that concept of 'thankfulness'. Rather, the man seemed to consider the task before him with an intense sort of sincerity, rather than offering those easy half-hearted lies or providing a socially acceptable response, in the same manner, Sebastian himself had. It was a peculiar trait, to be sure, but telling of the man that Aiden was.

The corner of his lips tilted downwards ever so slightly as that silence seemed to persist, that task apparently an exceedingly difficult one, leaving Sebastian to wonder of the life Aiden had, or indeed still was, leading. Still - Matteo wouldn't bring someone into their fold who was in anyway a...risk to their family...would he? Softly, Sebastian exhaled and yet, they hardly had to wait much longer before the emerald eyed man leaned his head against his hand only to declare that he was thankful for alcohol of all things. The Prince's eyebrow rose ever so slightly, and yet, he supposed he too had points within his life where alcohol was all he could find it in himself to care for. Admittedly, given how he'd spent the majority of the last two hundred years - he was hardly in a place to judge the fellow. Sebastian's hand gingerly reached out, resting upon his lover's knee quite at the same moment that Matteo provided a rather pointed look - effectively cutting off Dorian's suggestion that such 'thankfulness' was hardly appropriate for the holiday. The sarcasm upon the elder fae's lips was all but palpable as the Frenchman thanked Aiden for his efforts, only to declare how pleased he was for the very legacy that he so intended to leave behind both to and within each of them. That was - until the fae so declared that the vampire was permitted to keep his fangs. Sharply, Sebastian's crystalline gaze rose quite in the same moment as Dorian's own eyes - his husband asking that very question that he most certainly would not. After all, though his memories under the sway of Arlo's venom were...spotty at best, he was assured that something had happened that night and, frankly, even he was not yet sure he was prepared for Dorian to discover such things before Sebastian himself had.

He abhorred thinking of the very things he might have said to the elder fae - particularly those thoughts he'd been striving to keep to himself of those lingering...desires he held for the Frenchman. Subconsciously, his tongue shifted, toying with his fang in a near habitual fashion, as if the vampire within remembered what he could not, as if he still hungered for the taste of that blood he scarcely realized he'd tasted. Mentally, he made a note to call Arlo in the aftermath of Thanksgiving dinner and wrangle from the man every detail he could remember of that specific night. Though he'd once been willing to forget such an evening, the continual taunting of the removal of those sharpened canines made those worries blossom to life all over again, prompting a need to know. There was a certain hint of suspicion that lingered within his gaze, even as Alexander took the opportunity to take his own turn at the Thanksgiving tradition. The Englishman's far more analytical mind was simply incapable of brushing that matter under the rug now that it had been spoken of - that trait a habit of his days as a solicitor all those years ago. A frown crossed his features before, slowly, he turned his attention to the Dark Hunter that sat at the head of the table, the Macedonian all to content to recite that list of things each man had overcome in order to be here today. Fate, it seemed, had aligned ever just so to bring them all to this dining room table - clearly with the assistance of one certain fae.

He watched as that bright grin returned to Dorian's features and yet, he was hardly surprised. Once upon a time, Dorian had thought himself alone within the world, only to discover in the span of two short years that his family was far larger than he had ever anticipated. Tonight, he knew, was important for his lover, so too were those words of appreciation and emotion that most at the table had shared. His crystalline gaze met the striking silver hue of his husband's own eyes, the fae King announcing that he was thankful for him. A soft, warm simper crossed the vampire's features though he saw little reason to interrupt his lover as Dorian turned his attention to the rest of the men at the table. Later, when they were alone and in the comfort of their own bed, he would surely show the Monarch just how thankful he was for his husband in return. Instead, Sebastian merely listened as Dorian thanked both his godfather for watching over him, and his father for being there for him before, finally, turning to his brother. Those very words of kindness he so offered the youngest, newest member of their little family only caused the simper upon his features to widen. It was the very sort of compassion that he had come to treasure from his lover - that blatant determination for good and love amongst even those he did not know. Sebastian reached out for his own glass, raising it to clink gently against the others that soon followed suit. "Cheers." He murmured softly, only to bring the glass to his lips and sip lightly on the amber colored liquid within.

Sebastian Ellington-Aragona