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[viciousabyss]

ELI

@viciousabyss

☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠

NAME: Eli Azrael
AGE: 40... ish
HOMETOWN: Kingdom of Solterra, Feywild

yo. its eli. hit me up.

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[viciousabyss]

It's far from a little factoid to him- it's actually a big deal. Eli's biggest secrets are things that seem the most inconsequential to others. Being called Elijah invokes his parents (the King and Queen), his servants and superiors and tutors, it invokes the noble aspects of his upbringing, and those are things he doesn't like to be reminded of daily. Eli is a way for him to claim freedom from that formality and make his name his own. As such, he only tolerates Elijah when it's his choice who uses it. Allowing someone permission is thus a big rite of passage, whether Cassius realizes that or not.

"I don't have a preference- I want you to call me what feels best to you. But I wanted to let you know you had permission to use my full name if you felt like it, which I don't give out lightly. Elijah Azrael Dayborn, which is highly associated with my noble title in my world, which is why I usually use Eli instead."

He huffs a little air out of his nose, a tiny laugh, at Cas calling it a 'special name.'

"That's okay. As for what I'll call you, I might have to just feel it out. I don't usually use affectionate pet names. I'm most likely to call someone a short version of their name, or something silly. Unless- unless you really want a special name too."

[wormkin]

And that's Cassius' problem, isn't it? He doesn't know what feels best when both options are so personal. Special, even. It's - easier when he doesn't have to choose, when the decision is handed to him, but - maybe he doesn't have to.

When we're alone, Elijah had said. It'll have to do, at least until Cas finds some other way of address that meets in the middle.

“Alright. You will be always be my Warmth, but here, when it is just you and I… you will be my Elijah, too.” Turning his head, he nuzzles into Elijah's palm, the connection between them soothing at his shell. “If it is not something you are comfortable with, I do not need a special name. This is enough for me.”

A beat. Two. Three.

"Noble?"

[viciousabyss]

He certainly doesn't have to choose and commit to one forever in this very moment. Or ever. In any case, what he chooses sounds good to Eli.

"Okay. That works." He smiles softly, kissing Cas on the cheek. "I'll see what I can come up with for you. But I'll definitely be calling you my boyfriend." Eli is possessive like that. He likes the title, he likes claiming and being claimed.

But- noble. Right, he must have no told Cas yet.

"Yyyyyyyyeah, I... Do you know what a noble is? Basically, my parents are King and Queen of the Dawn fey court, which rules a good portion of our realm, and we're all close descendants of the sun goddess, Soothea." So he's a prince, not that he's going to say that out loud when he's spent his life running from the title. Running from his own last name.

He goes back to searching Cas' shell for green spots.

[wormkin]

Boyfriend. Cassius is familiar with the term. The tiny people on the screen late at night would use it to describe romantic partners, but he’d never…

He likes that he is one. A boyfriend.

His eyes light up a little as Eli says he’s a noble, and Cassius knows enough to guess that he’s a prince. There’s a certain excitement to him as he turns his head.

As Eli resumes his search - the next most visible is a patch on the hip - his worms gathered on the floor abandon their task to squirm up the side of his bedside table. He reaches out an arm to open up the drawer, allowing his worms access. They nudge the book inside up into his hand, and he pulls it out almost sluggishly. It’s worn with age and use, clearly loved.

He sets it against his chest, turns it open - it’s a baby book, full of fantasy pictures and giant letters - and settles on a page with a little boy in a crown. P is for prince.

“A prince.” He sounds so fond with the tie to his memory. "Like in my book."

[viciousabyss]

While Cas is getting something from his nightstand, Eli finds that spot on his hip and carves it out. He's much faster with the blade now that he knows exactly how deep to cut. As he's fitting the new patch in, he looks up to Cassius looking at a book. A... Worn alphabet book.

As he says 'prince,' Eli opens his mouth to object, but then Cassius refers to the book. Eli moves to his side, laying down so he can see what's on the page. P is for Prince.

He lets out a small, breathy laugh.

"How are you so damn adorable?" He kisses Cas' hair. "Yep, you got me, that's me in the crown." He points to the little boy. Then his clawed fingertips gently grip the corner of the page, consideringly. "This came with you from home?"

[wormkin]

“I do not know, my Elijah. I am not doing anything unusual to make it so.” Cassius smiles at the kiss, melting a little as his worms work to glue the patch back in. There’s a little more energy to him as he continues, “But - yes, my Hunter gave it to me when we were both New. It was to help me learn human letters. I am glad that it was sent with me - it is the first gift I was ever given.”

That same fondness has him nestling his head up against Eli’s shoulder as he angles the book a bit better. His fingers trace the crown upon the prince’s head like he’s done so many times before.

(Ones next to a different body, a rougher one, in a world far, far away from here.)

“They would read it to me at first, until I could read it myself.” He stares at the page for a long moment. Closes his eyes. “They would like you, I think.”

[viciousabyss]

My Elijah. Yeah, that feels nice. Really nice.

"That's because you're usually adorable."

He wraps his arms around Cas, since snuggling seems to be the move right now. Really, it's always the move with Cassius. He can finish the patches after.

"That's really sweet." He smiles, leaning his cheek against Cas' hair.

"You think so? What are they like? I don't think you've actually told me a lot about them."

[wormkin]

Oh, Cassius is more than happy with this development. He molds himself to Eli’s shape, squirm softening to something like a purr. Well, at least before Eli asks about his fellow monsters, then he comes a little more alive.

“My Hunter is strong, burdened with a weight they have carried since they were small. A monster made, not born, they have taken their curse and used it to help those they can.” His tone takes on a thread of reverence under all that warmth. There’s a little smile on his face as he continues, “They have taught me most everything I know - they were there when I awoke in my Garden, and I have been by their side ever since.”

He tilts his head to look at Eli. “You remind me of them. You are both fierce and protective. You both strive to do good.”

[viciousabyss]

The way Cas talks about his Hunter is very sweet, though it gives Eli a pang of envy, that Cas admires them so much. That is, until he compares Elijah to them.

"Oh," he says softly, smiling. "Yeah? They sound cool. What is their curse, if I can ask...?"

A monster made, not born. That intrigues him.

[wormkin]

Something in Cas softens into something more somber. Lost in thought. His fingers buzz soft circles into Eli's middle.

“The Song. Or… that is what they have named it, the parasitic force that has made them its home. They have told me it feels like heavy drums in their veins, a shrieking choir between their ears, an all consuming instinct to hunt and tear and devour.” His voice quiets, like he’s crafting his words from memory letter by letter. “It is what makes my Hunter a monster, because - it is not something that they can ignore. They have tried. The damage had been... they were not in control.”

He pauses, fingers stopping as well. “I worry for them often. If they can find peace without my presence. If my Gardener will be enough to let them stay themself.”

[viciousabyss]

Eli listens quietly, stroking Cas' hair. That sounds like an incredibly difficult thing to deal with. But Eli is sure Cassius was a great comfort to them, and clearly, it goes both ways.

"I hope so. There's people I'm worried about at home too. We have to just... Believe in them. In their strength."

[wormkin]

“...yes, we will have to.” There is no other choice, is there? Either hope or despair, and - Cassius does not like the feeling of despair. Does not like thinking the worst of his fellow monsters.

He looks up to Eli, dark eyes round and curious. “Are there others you worry for? Outside of your family?”

[viciousabyss]

"Oh, yeah. Other than my sisters, there's Caleb, who's like a grandfather to me and helped raise me... Then there's my friends I adventure with, Amostia, Adri and Hugo. They're... The only reason I'm alive, honestly."

He'd gotten himself into some very sticky situations in the Shadowfell, and realized he couldn't do it alone.

[wormkin]

“Oh. I understand that.” Without his Hunter, he could have very well been consumed before he'd awoken. Or worse.

He hesitates, fingers moving to trace over the seams of Eli’s clothes. Eli's people must be lovely, like he is. “Do… you think they would like me? I would like to meet them, if the future allows.”

[viciousabyss]

"I think they would. They like me, so obviously their bar for companionship isn't that high to begin with, and you're way nicer and easier to get along with than I am," he jokes self-deprecatingly.

He noses into Cas' cheek and smiles against him.

"I'm sure we could figure it out." Extraplanar travel isn't new to Eli, and it's not even that uncommon where he's from, so the idea of visiting Cas' world when this is over, or vice versa, is a nice one that does sort of seem plausible. It's mainly that they're being held here by Patho-Gen and removed of their powers- Patho-Gen is the barrier to getting home, not the actual travel part.

[wormkin]

Cassius frowns. “Do not say that. You are a good companion to have. They are fortunate to have you, and so am I.”

He doesn't stay upset for long though. Can't, really, with Eli so close and comfortable. He finds himself snuggling back before he can stop himself.

“Mm. We will. And when we do, I will show you my Garden, my Hunter, my Gardener. We will - share families.” He smiles back, eyes sliding shut. “I look forward to it.”