Virgil and Elijah are a history of friendship and lonliness. They both had their place in heavens order. One to be a messenger, the other a guardian. They were taught the same virtues. The same tales. Though both radiated... something that differed from the other angels who listened closely and took the teachings to heart.
Virgil was no stranger to breaking rules. He would find himself wandering at the time of lessons. It was all always just repeated doctrine anyways. He was seeking actual knowledge. He didn't speak much to the others, kept to himself, kept himself busy. But he was alone. He would tell himself, he is fine with that, noone really could keep up with him anyways. Noone would want to.
So it came as a surprise when he tended to the garden he planted, and one person approached from behind. " What are you planting? "
Elijah was younger, smaller, frailer. An angel brimming with the energy of healing. Of virtues this realm preached and yet did not reward. Virgil had kept his distance from him, just like from any other. This was the first time however, someone decided to break that distance. With only curiosity. Pure and gentle.
Virgil explained his plants with clinical accuracy. Heavenly blooms. Earthly herbs. Even as he delved into the toxins some of these produced, Elijah didn't whince. Didn't stop listening. Instead just... " This one needs a bit of help standing upright, do you have a cord? "
It was an unlikely scenario, but this little angel ended up helping Virgil with this little hobby. Spending sometimes more time with Virgil than at the lessons. Learning from Virgil about new seedlings. And Virgil watched as Elijah cared for the plants, how Elijah took note of every little shift, and adjusted quickly. Be it moving a plant away from another plantgroup because of the soil, or water some more than others. They both found comeradery in a heaven that felt lonely otherwise, simply over botany.
Until it abruptly ended, as one angel fell... and the other remained.