The Sun Also Rises

There was an eternal struggle that so came with forcing himself into wakefulness in the middle of the day. His body, one so used to that diurnal schedule had become as much a slave to the moon as Sebastian's had. Attempting to rouse himself from bed in time for that midday appointment proving to be a difficult affair and yet the Monarch was determined that his own companions should not be put out by his own decidedly unusual schedule. The idea of a 'bistro' was of terribly great curiosity to him. He had never so much as heard such a word let alone seen such a place. Sebastian's attempts to explain that it was something of a casual eating space only further piqued his curiosity. His security team distinctly displeased with the idea all the same if only for the sheer amount of space they would be required to guard and too- the number of entrances they would be forced to prevent the paparazzi from finding. With that February wedding looming ever closer by the day that international interest remained at an all time high. Dorian having given up attempting to prevent this photographs from making their way to the cover of every newspaper and magazine stand in the city. How those people even managed to take those photographs he hardly knew and yet to attempt to dissuade them was a losing battle. It had become easier to simply stay home and behind the walls of their lavish mansion. Dorian entirely capable of conducting his work from his office, almost all of Sebastian's business dealings, in turn, capable of being conducted via phone or internet and too- the pair were entirely apt at entertaining themselves thoroughly behind closed doors. Yet too, being so denied that outside world if only through difficulty of access so had a habit of making the Monarch desire it all the more. Dorian and Sebastian facing that hassle at least once a week in some effort to go out, even if only to drop Maxwell to his Puppy Preschool. Dorian finding he quite looked forward to that lunch date with his newest of companions if only because it might so involve him being outside- even if he hardly wished to subject Lani to that media circus of his existence.

That drive into the southern part of the city took significantly longer than it might have done otherwise, that black town car forced to take several unusual routes to assure they were not followed. His security team travelling ahead of them to remove any potential undesirables from that intended location well before the Monarch arrived. Dorian's fingers taped lightly at his phone as he leant back against the leather interior of the car, scrolling through those emails, his features frowning slightly at several of those upcoming meetings he hardly found he looked forward too. Those documents on education policy still sitting within his desk to be gone over later in the evening. How very tedious. The Monarch briefly considering how easy it might be to encourage Sebastian to distract him from that work, his lips pulled into a soft simper as his fingers flicked from those emails to the pictures folder off his phone. Dorian browsing those christmas photos they had taken just this week passed. This the first time he had ever celebrated a christmas with his family. Several days spent at Belton in England at Sebastian's family home before several more were spent at his own palace in Naples before they had finally returned home for that Italian christmas with Matteo and Alexander. How glorious it was to have a family once more. Dorian very near treasuring those photos of them altogether. His fiance and Father and Godfather and even Maxwell in turn. The Fae King half given to wonder whether or not Beylani had spent that holiday with her own family. Perhaps he should inquire.

That car pulled to a stop outside that new eatery, Dorian eyeing it with intrigue as Charles stepped from that car to open his door, Dorian reaching for his sunglasses then before pausing to straighten his shirt, his phone tucked back into the pocket off his black jeans as he slid from the vehicle. Several of those security guards moved to position themselves around him, Dorian making every effort as if to pretend they were not there before making his way up those steps and into that establishment, offering his name to the woman at the door before assuring her he was looking for someone in particular. Beylani pointed easily out to him then. That smile readily found his features then, those bodyguards taking up positions at the entrances rather than shadowing the Monarch to that table himself as he had instructed. The man genuinely pleased to see that demure young blonde again, a part of him near convinced Andras would corrupt her entirely into his own devilish ways given enough time. For now, however, she appeared the picture of pleasantness. Dorian so taking her hand as he approached, allowing his lips to brush the back of it in that age-old gesture of greeting before his head nodded politely.

"Lani, it is good to see you again!"

He waited for that woman to seat herself once more before taking that seat across from her, those bright silver gaze glancing about that room with a decided intrigue. How...open it was. How many people their were! How very casual it seemed. Dorian quite assured he had never been to such a place as this save for in those early days off his courtship with Sebastian when they had partaken off food from that street seller. Then again, that lack of need for food by either Sebastian or himself perhaps contributed to such a thing. Dorian only eating or drinking on those occasions he felt like partaking of such things or desired to try something new. The Fae long since having lost the need for sustenance in any sense. His gaze drifting to that menu all the same. Dorian still capable of finding that near sense of wonder within the world in even the most mundane off places. That warm grin finding his lips as he regarded Lani again.

"How have you been? Did you return to visit your family over the christmas season?"

Those accented words were offered with the same lightness in which he did all things, the man genuinely curious of just how she had spent that celebration, the last time he had seen her being that tea party just before christmas itself.

"Did you spend any time with Andras over the holidays?"

That almost knowing smile so found its way to the Monarch's lips then, Dorian allowing one eye to lift in a manner almost subtly playful as he regarded her then. The closeness off the pair and indeed he mutual interest they had shared within one another over his own tea party so hardly having been missed by the ever-observant Fae.

Dorian Aragona