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

There was nothing in the world, he decided, quite as alluring as that marvelous look of utter delight that crossed his lover's features upon that discovery of something entirely new. With a singular look, Dorian had a fashion of so melting his heart and birthing butterflies in his chest. It was only natural, the fashion that his own lips twitched into a warm grin in return, even as he inquired as to Dorian's thoughts of how utterly brilliant those glass panes were on the bottom of that boat. That clear blue ocean near stretched infinitely around them, the pair given but a glimpse of the underwater world that was so thriving with life they had been otherwise oblivious of. Those creatures seemed near ever moving, flowing with the currents in a chaotic dance that was wholly captivating on it's own. His bright blue eyes followed the fish they could see so close to that shore, the man wholly surprised by the sheer number and yet, he was wholly content to listen all the same to those species his lover had so effortlessly picked out from what seemed like mere blogs of movement and color to the Englishman. Fish, he concluded, were an area where he would likely forever fail at identifying, the majority of which all seemed the same to him. The sole exception to this was that cod even he took note of.

An entirely pleased grin caught his features as he as finally able to afford the Monarch something in return for that near endless wealth of knowledge Dorian had so shoved into his own mind, even if it was so strikingly anticipated of him to pinpoint that which he so often enjoyed eating. Nevertheless, he was quite content with himself, even as Dorian moved to settle once again upon that ivory bench. That sound of footsteps overhead caused his gaze to shift upwards though it was entirely momentary, the vampire entirely distracted by that idle comment of appreciation that left his lover's lips. A soft chuckle reverberated within the back of his throat and yet, Sebastian all too easily informed the man exactly what he had noticed of Dorian's own fit physique. After all, he was hardly the only one to so appreciate the King's well toned figure. He was well aware of that glimpse of satisfaction that crossed Dorian's features and yet, those teasing words only served to coax the beginning of that want within the vampire. It was, perhaps, no secret that the lust he held for the Italian burned within him in such a ceaseless blaze. "That I do.." He uttered softly, his voice taking on a hint of that huskiness that so often afflicted him when that want for Dorian's flesh so struck him.

It was, perhaps, fortunate that the other guests saw fit then to wander down into that observational room, keeping the vampire from moving any further on those blossoming desires. Rather, he was forced to settle with that simple touch of Dorian's lips on his cheek and his shoulder brushing against the Monarch's own, even if he had already decided that such a brush of attention was hardly enough for him. His attention, however, remained ever astute upon the King as it so often was, that clear surprise at the rumbling of that motor and that rather abrupt lurch forward hardly went unnoticed. It was with a silent gesture of reassurance that his hand fell upon the King's knee, gingerly squeezing as if to say that this too was entirely okay. Such a wordless affirmation, however, hardly seemed necessary in the slightest as, soon enough, his lover's gaze was once again settled on the floor beneath them and the many creatures that swam in the depths below. His own gaze darted to and fro, at least, until the man at his side saw fit to point out on animal against all the others, one that apparently restricted him from ever stepping into those waters if his lover so had his way.

That admittance that he had, perhaps once, actively sought out those very animals left his lips in an altogether sheepish fashion. That trip to that Asian island had been wholly unforgettable. That experience alone one he had hardly regretted, even in spite of that discomfort his lover so felt of those flowing creatures. His head bobbed ever so slightly at that notion that he had spent the majority of that evening in the water, even if such seemed nearly worrisome in some regard. "You know, stingrays, at least, are docile buggers usually...unless you step on them." A small shrug crossed his shoulders, the vampire himself had hardly been concerned by them at the time and remained unperturbed all the same now. After all, it wasn't as if the rays actually bit anyone. The barbs on their tail was hardly concerning when Sebastian had already been dead. It was, however, that exclamation of someone further down the boat that drew his attention towards those windows behind him, his attention shifted, those bright blue eyes catching the sight of those dolphins. His lover's name was softly uttered on his lips as he gestured towards the window, drawing his lover's attention to the delightful creatures that swam just on the other side of that glass.

For several long moments, he was content to simply watch the acrobats of those finned creatures, at least, until the softly uttered words of the man at his side drew his gaze. He was hardly surprised, really, at those tales of mermaids that men had once spun within those palace walls. Nor did he have any doubt that, once upon a time, those very stories had delighted his once young lover all the same. "I can't say that we did not have similar tales in my youth." Sebastian admitted, leaning forward ever so slightly, "Though, I think you may be right that dolphins likely contributed to such stories...they are fascinating creatures." Those dolphins, however, hardly stayed for as long as Sebastian would have liked either, the creatures simply veering off the course of that boat, leaving the patrons with but the multitude of creatures under that glass floor to so appreciate. Nevertheless, the vampire remained entirely enthralled with those facts that Dorian was so inclined to regale him with, the vampire hardly surprised as several of their fellow passengers saw fit to inquire the King expand upon those facts his lover was so keen to spout. A small simper crossed his features as Dorian so eagerly shared that knowledge with that interested fellow.

That boat returned to the dock far faster than even Sebastian had anticipated and yet, even he was willing to admit it was a nice change of pace. Slowly, he rose from that ivory bench, his fingers gingerly intertwining with Dorian's own as they followed the crowd out and upwards in a rather slow fashion. He paused at the bottom of that step, his bright blue eyes turned towards his lover, watching as the man took one final glimpse at that glass floor. That thank you he was so provided caused the man to shake his head ever so slightly. "I should be thanking you, ma biche. For giving me a day in the sun. I'd forgotten what it felt like." He uttered softly, the corner of his lips twitched in a small smile and yet, it was that sound of feet hitting the top step of that stair that drew his attention back towards that boat, the Englishman promptly leading them back upwards and onto that wooden pier. Those sunglasses settled immediately back onto his features, the man quickly finding that even the brightness of the afternoon was far too much for eyes that had seen naught but the darkness of the moon. He paused just outside of that line that had formed for the boat, his own gaze sweeping the beach only for that soft brush of Dorian's fingers to draw his gaze to his own arm.

That soft utterance only caused a frown to mar the man's features, his fingers of his free hand immediately shifted to rub the spot and yet, he could hardly deny the way that such a small, simple redness of his skin so set him on edge. His fingers seemed intent to idly caress that skin, even as Dorian's eyes turned upwards to meet his gaze. Slowly, his head shook and yet, the truth was that in that moment, with that single glimpse of red to his skin, the vampire found himself so desperately wanting the safety of indoors. It was a notion he had tried to squash, unwilling to let his own insecurities diminish that anniversary in any way and yet, in truth, the hotel sounded far more delightful than any further time upon that beach. "Mmm, no, though we still have several hours of sunlight...was there anything else you wanted here, Dorian?" He inquired, his gaze briefly searching that shore for anything his lover might still have desired from that sandy beach.

Sebastian Ellington