westwhere | [closed]

WHO: Anduin Wrynn & Eleven
WHEN: A day or two after Anduin's network post
WHERE: The gardens
WHAT: Two light soft boys meet up and have a heart-to-heart
WARNINGS: None so far!

Back home in Stormwind, whenever Anduin had needed a moment to collect himself, to think -- well. He had hardly been able to find one. But when it was allowed, he would find himself in the gardens, just off of the throne room and the armory in Stormwind Keep. Perhaps it had something to do with its proximity to the Royal Library, another favorite spot of Anduin's. Or perhaps there's something about it that simply made him feel at peace. A little piece of nature, nestled in the heart of the castle.

It is for this reason that Anduin finds himself seeking out whatever piece of nature he can find, here in this village. The forests he knows are dangerous to enter, but he remembers there are gardens? And he needs to get out of the house before anyone else shows up demanding his attention or words of wisdom he is running out of patience to supply.

He might have known that the gardens here would be occupied as well.

"Oh," he says, drawing to a halt. "My apologies, I do not mean to interrupt."

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This particular garden is showing signs of drought, leaves drooping and delicate buds beginning to wither. At the center of it, Eleven sits in a meditative state, brows furrowed as his energy reaches out to the life around him. It's a subtle thing, the way stems strengthen and petals unfurl at the edges, but a small smile comes to his face just as soon as another source of energy approaches.

His eyes open as the other speaks, and caught in an odd place between external awareness and spiritual focus, Anduin may feel a warm brush of curious energy at his feet that winds up through his ankles, then steadily dissipates.

Eleven knows he's seen him before, though from a distance. He can't recall the words he'd spoken, though he vaguely remembers an apologetic tone. More interesting is the sense he'd gleaned while he'd still been connected to the life around him. As such, he stares at the young man with some surprise and a touch of wonder.

"You're light."

Anduin can feel... something, as Eleven comes back to himself, although he will be honest that he does not know what exactly it is. As a priest of the light, Anduin's less of a caster himself than he is a -- conduit, of a much greater and more powerful energy than himself.

The words themselves catch Anduin slightly off-balance. Not because they are not...accurate. But because he is not expecting them. He supposes that Eleven might have seen him using the Light at some point during their journey (he has not been as careful with his spells as he probably should have been). He suspects, however, there is more to it than that.

"Yes," Anduin says, at last. Hesitating, he flicks him a careful smile before continuing, "According to the priests I have studied under, we all are."

Eleven returns his smile, warmed. He decides he likes him.

"Yes," he breathes on a short laugh. "I've heard that." Though admittedly his senses aren't so keen to pick up on faint traces as such.

For a few moments, Eleven simply smiles at him, soaking in relief and gladness before realizing it might seem strange.

"Sorry," he says with a sheepish grimace. "I know it's difficult, being in a world like this one where everything seems so dark. I hope you're managing better than I've been."

Anduin smiles wider, waving off the apology and gingerly stepping forward through the garden toward him. He assumes he has been invited to a conversation, or at least that he is welcome to stay, given Eleven's reaction to his appearance thus far.

Gingerly, because he does not want to step on anything vital. And because he is moving slower these days. These Light-forsaken curses...

"I have been managing well enough," he says, which is to say that he is coping. "I am afraid to say that... It is not all that different than some of the situations we have had to deal with back home, unfortunately."

Anduin moves to take a seat on an upturned bucket within conversational distance of Eleven -- if he were to sit on the ground he might need to ask for help and that's far too embarrassing to contemplate.

"I had rather hoped that, waking up in such a place, I might have something more of a holiday, but..." He shrugs, ruefully.

Eleven nods, sobering. He brushes his fingers through the grass.

"It seems most everyone's home world is in a state. I wish this one were kinder."

But it wasn't, and he was fortunate to have found some support and joy along the way. "But I'm glad there's someone like you here, now. There's a great deal of death and darkness working against us here, and I haven't been managing to bring about much light on my own."

Anduin flashes the other man a gentle smile at that.

"There is strength in numbers," he offers. Honestly, he knows the feeling. He has better days than others. Although -- it is better here, where he has less responsibilities to manage. Less weight resting on his shoulders. The thought makes him feel guilty. Most of the time he simply tries not to think about it at all.

"Forgive my ignorance, I understand we are from different worlds, but. We seem to share some things in common. Are you also a priest, or...?"

((ooc: forgive me for being so slow with this, somehow this got lost/buried in the notifs for anduin's network post. happy to continue if you are though, i would love for the pair of them to continue to chat and get to know each other!))

He laughs shortly.

"Not really. Though I guess in some ways.." Eleven shrugs. "In any case, I'm not formally trained in such things. But I'm- I was blessed by the Goddess of my world to preserve Life and Light. I haven't been doing terribly well with either of those things here. It might be that we could accomplish more in working together."

Anduin offers Eleven a soft smile.

"I am certain that you do not give yourself enough credit," he offers, gently. "But I would be equally happy to work with you on whatever I can. And -- to compare notes, if you would be so inclined."

He tilts his head at the other man.

"Though I cannot claim to have been blessed by the Holy Light itself, I... Am its acolyte."

A modest sort. He nods, though he doesn't quite agree that he's done any better than he's mentioned.

"'Compare notes'," he repeats, curious, and leans forward with it. "Where would you like to start?"

Where to start...

Anduin tilts his head slightly, smiling as he considers the question, before he realizes that there really is only one place to begin.

"The Light," he says. "I would ask... What it represents for you? I would not want to assume that our interpretations are one and the same, and I -- recognize that it is difficult to explain, for those who might not understand."

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no worries! I'm happy to continue

perfect!!! c:

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