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

Those evenings in the aftermath of that ever fateful fire had come and gone, stretching from days to weeks to months before a veritable year had passed before Sebastian had fully realized it. That singular year had so revolved around that ever growing adoration for the Italian monarch, a love that hardly waned in the slightest from that evening he'd seen that red thread first tied around their fingers. Even now, as he pressed his lips ever so gingerly against his lover's own in a sensation that was entirely chaste, those emotions still fluttered in the depths of his chest. That warmth Dorian was so capable of spreading somehow felt all the more potent in that alive skin, the man entirely certain his heart even managed to beat just a trace or two faster from that glimpse of physical affection he so cherished. He was aware, vaguely, of that simper that settled on Dorian's features and yet, he could hardly deny that he felt that same unyielding joy in the mere presence of the King. How utterly astounding that love was! How it made everything else somehow seem irrelevant in the wake of that entirely strong, intoxicating emotion. His fingers threaded within Dorian's own, the vampire still found himself craving that closeness in some fashion when in the eye of the public, even if he was so frequently offered such a thing behind the closed doors of his own estate.

Still, rather than linger upon those thoughts of his own devout adoration, Sebastian so set to replacing those idle concerns of Dorian's parentage with a voyage that surely would prove an ample distraction for the pair of them. That squishy sand was abandoned in the wake of those well worn wooden boards of the pier, those stalls, shops, and food stands wholly ignored if only for the boat that so rested at the very end of it. His gaze momentarily lingered upon the crashing waves as he so led the way towards that ivory boat, that beach somehow brought the vampire a sense of serenity, one that somehow reminded him of home, even if his England estates were hardly upon the ocean shore. Soon enough, however, Sebastian paused before that blue and white stand, purchasing those tickets only to lead the fae King up that small gangplank and onto the gently moving boat. A rather polite hello was given towards their captain, one followed soon after by Dorian himself as Sebastian led them past that helm and further down towards that viewing deck as they called it. In truth, the boat was hardly large enough to so call it a "deck" and yet, who was he to argue with those directing signs. He led the way down those stairs, stepping with little concern onto that glass bottom only to feel that rough jerk upon is hand, one that, for once, sent the vampire stumbling backwards a step or two.

His gaze shifted upwards in an entirely inquiring fashion towards his lover, simply watching that concern that so seemed to lace Dorian's features before a sort of realization crossed his mind. He'd forgotten that such a thing as this was surely baffling to the man. "Ça va, ma bichette." (It's okay, my darling) He uttered softly, so switching to that French that they so often had turned to in those earlier days of their coupling. Those words were spoken with a quiet sort of reassurance and yet, Sebastian made no effort to rush the sovereign in any fashion, simply waiting before Dorian took that first tentative step out onto that glass. A warm simper crossed his features though he said little of that momentary hesitation, the man instead inclined to lead his lover further into the depths of that room and towards that rather pointed front where they might be afforded a greater view of the ocean that so surrounded them. He settled upon that ivory bench near the bow, allowing Dorian however long he so required to become comfortable in that decidedly new environment. Fortunately, however, it seemed that such hardly took long before the sheer inquisitiveness of being able to see beneath those watery depths so overtook his lover. He could hardly help that grin that crossed his how features at that look of astonishment that filled those silver irises. The ocean was near crawling with life.

Sebastian leaned forward ever so slightly, his elbows resting on the edge of his knees as Dorian kneeled down to simply touch that see-through floor beneath them. He could hardly help that chuckle that left his lips in the wake of that bright beam upon his lover's features. "Smashing, isn't it?" He inquired, the vampire reaching up to pluck those sunglasses from his features, those impossibly blue eyes immediately turned downwards to so regard that world that existed below them. His gaze traveled from the ever quickly swimming fish towards those coral like plants and the sea stars. It was that rather abrupt shift of motion in his periphery that drew his gaze back towards the Monarch, following his lover's hand as he so pointed at a group of fish that so swum beneath them. A small simper crossed his features at those facts that so fell from the man's lips and yet, Sebastian was nothing if not an entirely dutiful student. His head bobbed ever so slightly at the names of each of those fish he pointed out, attempting to show his attentiveness to that sea life Dorian so wished to share with him. He was hardly surprised, truly, that Dorian had learned so much from a mere book and yet, the vampire had forgotten which one this one was considering the number of museums they'd visited and the book's he'd bought at those gift stores.

Hardly a complaint left his lips as Dorian so settled at his side, content to point out the variety of fish he recognized in the depths of that water, the vampire only interrupting to so point out the single fish he recognized - those cod that made up those delectable British fish and chips. It was perhaps hardly surprising really, that it would be the only aquatic life Sebastian was so effortlessly able to pinpoint and yet, it was truth all the same. The sound of those other guests stepping on the boat above momentarily drew his gaze away from the the floor beneath them, his attention stolen by that soft press of Dorian's lips against his own in a kiss he was altogether eager to return. How he so enjoyed the way the monarch tasted! How he enjoyed stealing each and every kiss that was afforded him! He leaned to the side ever so slightly, his shoulder pressing against Dorian's own in a subtle touch of affection. Those thoughts, however, were drawn by the simple muttering of his companion's voice, that very mention of his drenched shirt did little more, however, than to draw a soft chuckle from his lips. His head shook ever so slightly as he regarded the Monarch, the vampire teasing lightly in return. "According to the women on the beach, apparently you should simply go without one altogether. Don't think I don't see them staring, crumpet" And oh how that possessive part of him had noticed! Even if he was content in that simple fact that Dorian was his own to have alone.

That sudden shift of the boat beneath them drew the vampire's attention, the man wholly aware of that stiffness that so seemed to come over his lover in surprise. His hand gingerly rested upon Dorian's knee in a wordless gesture of reassurance, even as his bright blue eyes too turned downwards towards the ocean floor. His eyes trailed over that sea life beneath them, at least until those softly spoken words drew his gaze towards the frowning features of his lover. "The stingrays?" He inquired, unable to help sheepish grin. "I fear you might be too late there. I might have, sort of, swam with them once in Maldives. They do night time swims with them and the sharks. Though I can only imagine what it would have been like during the day." This, it seemed, was a topic Sebastian was fully willing to explore, even though Dorian held some clear apprehension towards the creatures. Any further talk of stingrays and sharks, however, was interrupted as a cry echoed from further down the boat and behind them, "Look! Dolphins!". His own gaze shifted, the vampire turned upon that bench only to eye the leaping pod that trailed alongside the boat. "Ah, look, Dorian." He uttered, his gaze shifting towards the fae King.

Sebastian Ellington