PLeasE ELIAS BEING IN HIS 40S WOULD BE SO HOT, PLEASE TELL ME MORE OF YOUR THOUGHTS
OH MAN, so I'll admit that like. A solid 75% of this idea comes from the fact that I'm just really sad that he died so young and I want him to live a long happy life, you know? And seeing an Older!Elias would be tangible proof of that.
I also just think that like, in terms of reader-insert ship dynamics, the fact that Elias was so sheltered in life would lead to this really nice push and pull between him being more mature than you in many ways but also youthfully excited about exploring the outside world with you, and needing you to take charge and walk him through life experiences that he's totally unfamiliar with despite being older.
He didn't get to experience a lot of teenage milestones or spend time hanging out with peers as a young adult, and I think there's something so charming and appealing about the idea of tenderly walking someone (another adult) who's a couple of decades older than you through their first time, taking them to your favorite places and giggling and finding a secret spot to make out like you're teenagers on your first date... it's just so sweet, and I really think he deserves it.
God, imagine sending him flowers! The thought of 45-year-old Elias blushing and swooning and just being so childishly giddy about the fact that his crush sent him a bouquet and that means they like him back! It's so sweet I'm gonna explode and die (positive)! Talking to him about the saucy romance novels he likes and letting him break free of the social expectation that a middle-aged man from a distinguished noble family should frown on all that trashy smut the kids are reading these days! Reading one out loud to him and watching him blush! Keeping him up to date on slang terms and always buying him new books as soon as they come out because you just know he'd love them!
Also, with me being around the age when he apparently died (25) and liking older men, I feel like it's inevitable that I'd go down this route XD Particularly with the Victorian/Edwardian aesthetics, which have always really really really appealed to me in a kinky context - the thought of an older man who's more cultured and refined than me putting me in my place and sternly telling me to use my manners is just soooooo hot. Especially if it's Elias and he's doing it in a sweet, loving way and maybe even laughing at himself a little because he feels silly being so authoritative.
Basically, emotional vulnerability is really really hot when it's explored and depicted well, and there's a unique kind of vulnerability in being expected to know more than someone, to be more powerful than them and not need their help, whether it's because you're older or you're in some kind of high-class position that requires you to perform competence and superiority, but actually really needing their kindness and their patience and their support, because you're still a person and you still have fears and anxieties and areas you're totally uneducated about.
He probably would've gotten the side-eye from a lot of other people in his social class for not already being married by that age, and there's just - AUGH the thought of a sweet shy middle-aged man feeling awkward about trying to romance someone for the first time, but being so sincere about it and so happy that they're reciprocating - I wanna peg him and make him cum over and over again until he's crying and hold his hand and kiss his cheek in public, and ask him to teach me all about floriography so I can confess to him with the perfect bouquet and AAAAAAAAA
