#xanelen

[veilosdaigoa]

Daily Writing Challenge February 2025 Day 3 - Salutation

“Good day, Doctor Deh’lorei.” Veilos nodded with a smile as he stepped into the man’s office at The Shielded Mind clinic.

“Formal salutations do you no good here, Veil. You know you’re welcome to call me Xan. I don’t believe we have an appointment today though?” Xanelen pulled his comm device from his pocket and flipped through his schedule for the day, brow furrowed as his own golden gaze met that of his friend. “Are you feeling well, does something feel off?”

“Xan, and no, no appointment. I feel…fine? But that’s not why I’m here anyways.” Veil shut the office door behind them, thick manila envelope in hand.

“Since you’re here I may as well check anyways.” Xanelen gestured towards a nearby chair, “Any changes? Headaches? What am I thinking about? Surface thoughts.”

Veilos did as requested and sat at the edge of the seat, shaking his head. “No. Well…” He lifted a hand, trying to find the correct words to explain. “First, you’re thinking about Meryn.” He chuckled softly to himself, that was not surprising. “Second, you’re worried about me, but there’s no reason for it. There’s a …clarity there I don’t recall from before. Everything feels sharper, my memory seems better. More than better, eidetic almost. I’m not sure if it’s me trying to overcompensate for the loss I assumed I would suffer or just a curious side effect from a traumatic brain injury.”

Xanelen listened quietly as fingers prodded along the healing scar on the side of Veilos’s head, then took a penlight to flash at both eyes. “Either could be the case. Near death experiences tend to give many a renewed sense of purpose and a greater appreciation for life and everything in it. But Acquired Savant Syndrome is also something I’ve witnessed before. Mathematical calculations and pattern recognition specifically in that case, but enhanced memory can also occur. Rare, but does happen.”

“Acquired Savant Syndrome. ASS.” Veilos held in his childish laugh as Xanelen couldn’t help but smirk at the unfortunate acronym.

“Sense of humor is still well intact, I see.” He flashed his old military colleague a teasing look before continuing, “Everything looks fine though, including your latest scans. Just keep track of anything unusual.” He waved his hand, Veilos already knew the drill. “What did you come here for?”

Veilos presented the manila envelope to Xanelen. “I would like to work here. There’s all my credentials, certificates, references, everything you need. I’m ready to get back to work. I need something to occupy my time with.”

Xanelen looked at the envelope, and then back to Veilos with a surprised expression. “You know I don’t need all of that from you. I can put it on file, but you’re as good as hired here. I know your skills well enough at this point, and trust you to do a good job. Your health seems fine as well, I’ve seen no reason to be worried about anything.” Xanelen hesitated briefly as he returned his penlight to his pocket, “Is this truly what you want? I know it’s not been easy for you to be back in the city this much.”

Veilos leaned back against the chair, crossing his arms over his chest, “Can’t always keep running and avoiding, catches up at some point. Sometimes you need a good wake up call too.” He gestured towards his scalp. “I guess I just miss home, even if it doesn’t feel like much of a home right now.” Xanelen offered an encouraging, but slightly sad smile. He had known Veil’s family well, especially his wife. The scourge had taken so much from so many. “Then welcome home, and welcome to The Shielded Mind.”

@daily-writing-challenge @xanelen

[gloamingdawn]

February Day 2 - Protect/Fray

It was funny how terrifying a signature line could be.

She’d faced down hordes of demons on the battlefield, semi-godlike beings, titan creations, dragons, and countless other regularly fear inducing creatures that had plagued Azeroth in the recent decades. But this was beyond even them.

Lyn chewed on the end of her pen and read over the many pages again, and again, curled up in a chair at the dining table in her small kitchen. Rationalizing. Delaying.

This process made the most sense. The potions she’d had to be on to even get to the point of potentially having viable children had seen her mental state tatter and fray. Those had easily been some of the worst months of her life, and she’d been through plenty of terrible times.

It would protect her body, and probably the baby too. What had dying, and being brought back with divine magic, done? There was some risk in there, and that made her too nervous to even think about trying herself.

But it was odd to think about turning it all over to a surrogate. The notion that it was a genuine, fascinating biomagical-medical marvel and equally a tragic loss of a deeply personal experience coexisted peacefully and were equally at war.

Meryn thought it was the best idea too. He was happy to go to the check ins and keep her up to date if she had to leave again soon — and if felt like she was going to have to leave again soon. Between odd dreams and a growing persistent, preternatural feeling that she was in the wrong place, and where she needed to go was far from here, it seemed inevitable.

His name and contact information were printed as an approved contact on the appropriate page. If she dropped dead after serving “her purpose”, he and Xanelen would raise the child, and they’d probably be better parents than she would anyway.

She’d sat on this for weeks already, running through all the potentials on either side of the problem and joy scale. Overthinking, as she did. It was a big decision though, wasn’t it worth the agonizing?

At this point, though, it was getting a little ridiculous. It’s not like ink on the page would spontaneously manifest a baby on the table out of thin air. She still had to take it to the doctor’s office, and they would take it from there.

Lyn huffed and scrawled her name and the date quickly at the bottom of the contract.

@daily-writing-challenge

[aerdendios]

Daily Writing Challenge Day 16 - Pain

At his follow-up appointment with the clinic, he was given a clean bill of health. There was still a small amount of bruising and stiffness, but that was to be expected with the trauma that his body had gone through. Everything felt good enough to return to the gym, although he was advised to hold off on the sparring for at least a little while longer.  It was for the best, with the pent-up rage he was holding inside of himself, he didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t deserve it.

Aerden still had yet to deal with the incident that happened with his mother’s husband on a mental level. It was a lot to handle, not just the news of that evil man being the cause of his mother’s death, but also what had been done to him. Every time he thought back on it, that lump of fear began to rise in his throat.  He had spent hours thinking that he was going to die, and at times wishing he would die instead of having to suffer through the pain.

He shuddered at the thought, flexing his fingers to ensure that they were still functioning properly, and then quickly shoved that thought deep down.  It wasn’t healthy, at some point he would have to talk about it to someone, probably a therapist. Doctor Deh’lorei had already offered, but thankfully didn’t press the topic. This was not something he wanted to dump on anyone else’s shoulders, that would only cause rash decisions and this was much more complicated than he let on.   This was his problem. Plus, he needed to be the one to figure out what he wanted to do. He didn’t want opinions, suggestions, or anyone trying to sway his mind.

But deep down he already knew his mind was made up, it was just a matter of figuring out how and when, and then finding the courage. Aerden had killed before, but only out of absolute necessity. Even then, he wasn’t sure he considered blood trolls or minions of N’Zoth killed in battle on the same level as planning on murdering a man he once called his father.

He squeezed his eyes shut at the thought, inhaling deeply in an attempt to calm his racing heart.  Could he really do this?  What if he chickened out at the last moment?  What if he got caught?  There were so many what if’s involved that it became overwhelming; maybe it didn’t need to be this complicated.  

He had been chewing so hard on his lower lip that he eventually tasted blood.  If anyone would be able to understand and help, it would be Pollux right?  He knew the man himself, and rightfully held a grudge against him.  Pollux also knew about all the past abuse Aerden had suffered by him. They weren’t the only ones he had hurt either. It wasn’t a crime if he deserved it, right?  Aerden pulled out his comm device and sent a brief message off to Pollux before he could think too much about it:  ‘U able 2 get any leave soon? Need 2 talk.’

Now it was time for the gym, he had a lot of bottled-up aggression to get out.

@daily-writing-challenge​ @polluxhale​ @xanelen​

[saltsparkle]

Someday I’ll figure out how to not be allergic to finishing artwork. Someday. 

@xanelen & @embergale 

[xanelen]

One year together.

One year since they stood hand in hand by the pond in Eversong Woods and pledged themselves to one another for the remainder of their lives.  Had it already been that long?  It didn’t feel as if an entire year had already passed and unfortunately much of that year Xanelen had been kept far away from his husband.  Such was the life of being married to a military man, he had little time to spare during wartime.

The timing was horrible and there was no way he’d be able to make the journey home, no time to even spare just a single night for his husband.  He wasn’t the only one, many of the men and women in his unit were married and missing their loved ones just as much as he did.  He knew Meryn was disappointed, but he would make it up to the man at some point when all of this was over.

However, being a powerful mind priest certainly had its perks.  His mind link with Meryn was the most dominant connection he possessed and even if he was not able to be there physically, he would be there mentally.  It had been awhile since he pulled Meryn into his dreams, while he was out on the field he needed to reserve his energy and often times kept their connection simplistic.  

Tonight would be different.

Tonight he had reconstructed a perfect replica of their beach house within his mind and the moment the two men had drifted off into their separate slumbers, Meryn would find himself swept away into this elaborate dream.  Everything would feel so very real:  The sounds of the crashing waves, the heat of the sun on his skin and even the taste of salt in the air, every element was perfectly detailed and it was difficult to believe that this was a dream.  The exertion for such precision would take its toll on the Doctor, but it was worth it.  It was always worth it for him.

Xanelen would already be there awaiting his husband, his bare form stretched out along a miraculously sand-free towel - it was his dream, sand would not be getting everywhere, nor would the sun be detrimental to the skin!  A hand stretches out, beckoning his husband to join him.

“Happy Anniversary, love.  Tonight I’m all yours.”

@embergale

[felonous]

^ My military characters at this upcoming WoW storyline.

Noooope nope nope.  None of them are being involved in that.

Time to assign them elsewhere!

[daxionsunvale]

The losses had been devastating, no one had expected this, no one was ready for this.

He felt helpless as his brethren fell all around him, the only thing he could do was to keep fighting no matter how hard his muscles screamed and strained, how the fel fire continued to burn his flesh even after it was put out or how he felt his energy slowly drain away.  The Light wouldn’t fail him, it never did, although there were times when he felt uncertain.

The arrival back into Orgrimmar was a solemn affair, but there would be no time to mourn the dead as the Legion was already knocking on their gates.  The medics looked even more ragged than the fighters as they dealt with an overwhelming number of injured and the bodies continued to pile up.  Familiar faces he had fought beside for years, men and women with families and loved ones they were trying to protect and gave their lives doing so.  It was heart-wrenching, but such was war.  

He locked eyes across one of the medical tents with Doctor Deh’lorei, thankful to see him alive still.  The man was an absolute rock for those around him and many lives would be saved this day thanks to him.  Daxion’s wounds were healed as best as possible, his weren’t as serious as many others having only sustained burns along his neck and cheek and a rather deep gash in the crook of his right left arm.  The adrenaline had long since gone, reminding him of the pain and just how exhausted he was.   

They couldn’t afford the luxury of resting for too long and before he knew it he was back out on the field.  Reports had been pouring in from all over Azeroth of various attacks, they would need all the men and women they could muster, although many did not expect what happened next:  Demon Hunters.  He wasn’t overly fond of them, not many were, but he would learn to fight by their sides against this common enemy.  

Typically they would bring fear, but today they brought hope.

@xanelen

[xanelen]

It was a quick and simple ceremony, which was just the way they had wanted it.  Those available and nearby were told last minute, the only ones that knew well beforehand were the two grooms and their officiant, Khaeris.  The wedding was held out by the pond in Eversong Woods:  There were no fancy decorations, no groomsmen, or no walking down the aisle to classical music .  Just them and few friends to witness their union together.  

It was perfect.

The reception would be held in two weeks at The Shielded Mind clinic, this time there would be invitations and actual planning in advance so everyone who wanted to do so could give the happy couple their blessings in person.  Neither Xanelen nor Meryn desired anything fancy, the simpler the better especially when it came to Xanelen as he was never a fan of having all the attention focused on him.  He would have been just as happy to sneak off for a few days and elope without telling a single soul but in the end this option seemed the best for the both of them.

After spending the majority of his life completely alone, he never thought in a million years that he would ever get married.  He had spent so long denying what he was and in these past two years he had come so far, mostly thanks to the man that he now called his husband.  No longer ashamed to hide who he was, he now wanted to show that to the entire world.  They had already decided a while ago that Meryn would take Xanelen’s last name, Meryn Deh’lorei did have really lovely ring to it.  

That evening he was carried over the threshold of their home in Silvermoon and the two shared an unforgettable first night together as a married couple.  It was the best day of his life and he was looking forward to many, many more with his new husband.

@embergale @kharrisdawndancer mention