Hi I'm cool

OG by @ bedpup on twt

It could be that Xerxes has been in fact spawned and raised fully within the Citadel, given the versatile facilities of the complex to house various beings, magical or not.

Only perhaps he wasn't intended to really become a henchman or a minion initially? Being one of many, many of his kind housed in one large pool. It's not unfeasible to think that feeding the eels might've been a task fit for, say, a very young apprentice who isn't very advanced yet.

Perhaps Xerxes was special: social and intelligent enough to catch little Moze's attention and seek him out for bonding. Different, a cut above the rest, not unlike little Moze himself. Xerxes stood out enough for Moze to name him and want to keep him close.

It's also likely that Xerxes' ability to speak and float are also thanks to Mozenrath's efforts. What if training his eel-friend and imbuing it with an enchantment to let it swim through air and breath dry was a young Moze's first major achievement?

Moze must've been proud of that feat, no?

What also backs up the theory of them two going way back is that Xerxes is endlessly loyal and enduring. He never betrays his master (...he literally switches between calling Mozenrath by his name as well as 'Master') no matter the man's outbursts or shortcomings.

It either speaks to extreme dependence or long-standing affection. Could be both.

Why we might see affection playing a major role is the very obvious habit of touch they share. Well, not just a habit, though often enough it seems Mozenrath rather idly strokes his most trusted creature; there seems to be mutual satisfaction to it.

Huge deal because we really don't see Mozenrath engaging in pleasant touch with anyone but Xerxes.

All in all, it seems like the few positive, non-hostile emotions he displays are expressed around or towards Xerxes.

...a seemingly great contrast to how he also abuses the creature, physically takes out his frustration on it.

In a messed-up way, even Mozenrath's temper could be seen as a display of that deep bond of trust between them— Mozenrath shares all of his emotions, including the least dignified ones with Xerxes, while Xerxes sticks with him and never abandons him.

We can see Xerxes acting more like Mozenrath's right hand, or his eyes when he needs an extra pair.

Xerxes might have enough of an independent opinion or a sense of humour to actually laugh at Mozenrath's expense (as we've seen in canon), and sure, Mozenrath might react to it with annoyance. Alas, it never seems to dent their relationship at all.

It's toxic but it works! ...one does wonder though, when exactly did it become this toxic.

Xerxes being the witness to years of Mozenrath gradually turning from a sensitive, hopeful little boy to a fiercely independent, aggressive young man with a thing or two to prove the world. Imagine that.

Xerxes knows things about Mozenrath that no one has, no one does and no one will.

There may be a lot about Mozenrath that Xerxes intuitively understands but doesn't have the vocabulary or language to describe in a fluent way.

Xerxes isn't exactly stupid, you know.

... But back to the emotions! :P

With how Mozenrath's visible and public expression of emotion has been limited to mere anger and its derivatives, it's possible that being so close and all, Mozenrath has sort of allocated his more vulnerable feelings to Xerxes.

In practice, this'd look like Mozenrath occasionally sort of... dissociating from his own gut reactions enough to actually carry out a demanding task, while it'll sublimate through Xerxes acting out his concern, worrying, fussing and ultimately assisting his master both tangibly as well as just stabilizing him.

What if they have more of a symbiotic relationship on this level, too? When Mozenrath can't afford to fear for his life, Xerxes does even that for him, and when Xerxes couldn't? Would it knock Mozenrath a bit off his center?

And when Mozenrath retreats to his lonesome to lament, to loathe, to miserate... does Xerxes join him, draping across his shoulders in a slithering embrace he knows only his master would like? Does it upset him that he can't really do better than that, then?

...

On a lighter note!

Mozenrath's probably a little bit of a texture freak. Meaning, he actually likes eel skin against his own. Hell, maybe he prefers it to nasty, dry, warm human skin that feels ashy and dirty to him.

And the gauntlet! You know WHAT IF the touch of the gauntlet feels awful to any normal being, but Xerxes' protective slime makes him resistant to any such effect?

AND Maybe they cuddle. And what if they did. What if they cuddled

*coughs up blkood* *cjahck* whjat if they did, huh. Wouldn't that be cute enoughtto kill me *keels over into a pile*

...yeah anyway. I'm having thoughts about this because for so actual I think Xerxes is cute. 'thirdac daaangerous!!' damn, like, boy I'd pet him too.

Enjoy the cute gif :3c