Sebastian Ellington-Aragona

His Royal Highness, Prince of Italy

Sebastian had long ago stopped attempting to deny his own Incubus tendencies. Despite his wholehearted commitment to his marriage, he found himself incapable of attempting to keep William all the same. He was aware, to some degree, of the feelings William harbordered for him. At the very least the Dark Hunter had been interested in him...physically...sexually...perhaps even emotionally but he had never quite realized the depths of such feelings. Even now, as he leaned forward, his breath warm against William's ear as he insisted that he still desired William's blood, he was unaware of just how truly masochistic he was being to toy with his childhood friend's heart in such a manner. Those very words Sebastian uttered, however, were nothing if not terribly effective in pulling the Dark Hunter from the dismal thoughts that seemed keen to ravage his mind. William's body was all too quick to betray the way the Hunter's thoughts refocused, that shudder down his spine hardly had gone unnoticed by the Incubus, even as Sebastian pulled away with an almost mischievous simper upon his lips. He watched as the tenseness that had once caused William's shoulders to rise dissipated, the Hunter seemed to slowly relax, only to reach out for Sebastian's hand.

A glimpse of surprise fluttered across his features as William pushed his fingers between the vampire's own. That gesture was largely unexpected, though Sebastian made little effort to pull away from the touch. The navy hue of his gaze rose upwards towards his companion, only to be met with an almost teasing comment of just how expensive William was. Sebastian could hardly help the snort that left his nose. Money, after all, had become increasingly insignificant to the vampire after the shock of just how much his husband had accumulated over the centuries - money that had become theirs in the aftermath of their marriage. Payment, suffice to say, was hardly an issue. His utterance of such, however, was answered by William's insistence that he would protect him for free. Clearly the Hunter had little idea of the crowds that Sebastian's mere presence could generate. His eyebrow rose almost dubiously as he eyed his companion for a moment. "Don't be daft, Will. A quid always sweetens the deal and makes it worthwhile when everything becomes a bloody cock up." Sebastian was well aware, after all, with what was demanded of their staff. While it might have seemed like an easy job, William would learn quickly how foolish he'd been to accept such a post without pay. William, he suspected, needed the money. His very insistence of such seemed to chase away all rebuttals the Dark Hunter had, even if William still failed to understand exactly how much power the royal couple and extended family had managed to amass. The Council, he knew, would think twice.

Sebastian had expected Will's acceptance, his presence alone apparently enough to coax the Hunter to stay. A small simper settled upon the Englishman's features before William lifted the vampire's hand to his lips. For a brief moment, a glimpse of confusion crossed the Prince's features as those words of loyalty left William's lips. It was...peculiar...for Sebastian to be on the receiving end of such an oath of fealty when, for years, it had been him on his knees promising to be a faithful servant to his Monarchy. This, after all, was the first time anyone had made such a commitment directly to him. A small simper fluttered across his features as William's gaze turned upwards towards him, only for the Hunter to continue with an unexpected declaration of...feelings. Such emotions were ones that had never been spoken of between the pair, it was an unwritten rule both of the century of their birth and, in turn, within their own friendship. Those words William offered him, however, were ones that Sebastian was entirely unable to return. Once upon a time, he might have given then freely, he might have considered them apart of the same sweet nothings he'd uttered or agreed to in the incubus' efforts to seduce and therefore feed off of his target for the evening but now...now those morals all but forbade those three simple words from ever leaving his lips to any beyond his husband.

The Italian Prince was certain his answer was hardly what William wished to hear, the vampire hesitating even as he offered those words of thanks. How...awkward that moment felt, a sensation that was altogether unusual for the suave Englishman. He was almost thankful that Will chose to focus upon his usage of the Hunter's full first name rather than the feelings he had all but ignored acknowledging. Admittedly, Sebastian had hardly realized he'd deviated from his usual casual usage of his companion's given name. The moment, after all, had required a level of seriousness that accompanied the use of 'William'. Still, Sebastian had little desire then to turn the conversation back to that, and so, instead, he allowed a small simper to flutter across his features. "Ah, sorry, mate." The vampire responded, gingerly taking his hand out of William's own only to fall back comfortably against the mattress of his marital bed. A soft breath left his lips as his childhood friend moved to settle on the bed beside him, only to comment after the Duke's late father.

Oh, the relationship Sebastian had with that man. William's father had made it clear what he had thought of Sebastian, being beneath their station, though it hadn't done an ounce to dissuade the pair of friends from their frequent visitations. The mention of Georgiana, however, was yet another almost...unexpected conversational topic. His lips pressed together ever so slightly as William insisted he'd have been happy with his friend's sister. Happy with a girl he had paid less attention to than a stick. A soft sound left his lips before his shoulders lifted in a vague shrug. "As a mortal, maybe. But as a vampire...mmm..." His nose wrinkled, "...let's just say...this is not my first marriage Will, I make for a terrible husband." That was putting it lightly but...perhaps this time...he might redeem himself. The very thought of it was enough to cause the Prince to toy with the wedding band upon his finger in quiet contemplation. Those thoughts hardly offered him any sort of ease, William ruining the path they tread with the very mention of Italy's Queen. That glimpse of confusion upon his features was immediate before Sebastian put together the pieces of his companion's comment. Italy was hardly as progressive as England had become, the Monarchy still entirely focused upon it's male heirs. His very mention of Dorian, as his King seemed to prompt an almost blank look upon William's face, even as Sebastian's thoughts returned to the work that his companion's presence had interrupted him from.

His lamentations of the latest global pandemic, however, seemed to fall on deaf ears as the silence stretched between them, only for William to query, in a quiet, hesitant voice, if things would have been...different....had they reunited sooner. Immediately, Sebastian's gaze shifted towards his companion, even as Will stared pointedly at the ceiling. He shifted upwards and onto his elbows as his lips parted, only for the Englishman to remain silent. It was...difficult for him to share that which he knew to be irrevocably true. That bright ruby read thread told him everything he needed to know about how things would have ended up. Destiny had determined he was meant for another, that his very heart belonged to someone else....but how well he knew the truth would break William's heart. His head shook ever so slightly as he glanced down at his companion. "I...I don't know, Will. This is...where I belong now...but...when the time comes...I will help you find your soulmate, I promise." Even if it would undoubtedly result in William leaving him...again.