And 'cause it got stuck on my head
After the release of the World of Warcraft voiceclips (le sniff ;_;);
Kael didn't tend to question his surroundings when there was no need for it, but there was something about the Outlands that filled one's head with strange ideas. Illidan didn't seem to have as much of an issue - Lady Vashj also seemed content for that matter - but for some reason Kael found himself doing things and wondering what on earth had possessed him. He might have linked it with demonic possession were it not for the fact most of the other blood elves seemed to be having problems too, and while he'd heard of mass taint through the orcs, he'd not come across anything that should have effected elves in such a way.
Still, Illidan was distracted; and happy in his distraction, even if those around him knew it bordered on the outright unstable. And when Kael mentioned it, Illidan let it slide; seemed determined to ignore Kael's concerns in that area. Not that he'd let his lack of concern extend elsewhere; even though there seemed to be a strange blur over all events recently, Illidan could still work Kael's nerves like an expert.
'Expert' wasn't far off the truth, given the length of time they'd spent together now. 'Artisan' likely fitted better; Illidan's horns and wings had made creativity a necessity, and while there were other ways for one possessing his powers to cope with blindness, once they entered the bedroom it was usually better to just let the non-protective spells and charms slide, and learn with fingertips and hands and the pressure of claws... several times Kael had found himself caught off guard imagining how he appeared in Illidan's mind, whether it was an image, or whether it was a shape with nerves and flesh, and sometimes it took his breath away or made him suddenly uncomfortable around his followers.
It was the mornings afterwards that bothered Kael the most - not just the lack of real weather in Outland, the lack of anything as beautiful as a clear sunrise - but lying next to Illidan and remembering what he'd been doing outside their bedroom. He'd meant to ask Vashj about any expertise she had with demons, because it was wrong for him to act the way he had recently; he was driven by loyalty to those who would help his people, and even if Illidan hadn't yet succeeded, he had promised. Hedging bets was never Kael's way.
Something felt wrong about the morning; more wrong than ever, to be true. He couldn't place it, but over the last few months he'd learnt a thing or two about trusting his instincts. Illidan's breathing was steady, the sky looked normal; still, there was an odd feeling in his gut that wouldn't entirely leave. He'd never been inclined to rely on others for reassurance, but he willed Illidan to wake up; willed him to put his mind to it and sense what was there. Kael could pick up a demon's aura if he knew it well enough, detect the scent of disease on the air, but something was wrong with the world that wouldn't leave him be.
He never thought he'd do anything so cowardly, but for once, he wished the mist over his mind would thicken, and save him his worries.
Kael didn't tend to question his surroundings when there was no need for it, but there was something about the Outlands that filled one's head with strange ideas. Illidan didn't seem to have as much of an issue - Lady Vashj also seemed content for that matter - but for some reason Kael found himself doing things and wondering what on earth had possessed him. He might have linked it with demonic possession were it not for the fact most of the other blood elves seemed to be having problems too, and while he'd heard of mass taint through the orcs, he'd not come across anything that should have effected elves in such a way.
Still, Illidan was distracted; and happy in his distraction, even if those around him knew it bordered on the outright unstable. And when Kael mentioned it, Illidan let it slide; seemed determined to ignore Kael's concerns in that area. Not that he'd let his lack of concern extend elsewhere; even though there seemed to be a strange blur over all events recently, Illidan could still work Kael's nerves like an expert.
'Expert' wasn't far off the truth, given the length of time they'd spent together now. 'Artisan' likely fitted better; Illidan's horns and wings had made creativity a necessity, and while there were other ways for one possessing his powers to cope with blindness, once they entered the bedroom it was usually better to just let the non-protective spells and charms slide, and learn with fingertips and hands and the pressure of claws... several times Kael had found himself caught off guard imagining how he appeared in Illidan's mind, whether it was an image, or whether it was a shape with nerves and flesh, and sometimes it took his breath away or made him suddenly uncomfortable around his followers.
It was the mornings afterwards that bothered Kael the most - not just the lack of real weather in Outland, the lack of anything as beautiful as a clear sunrise - but lying next to Illidan and remembering what he'd been doing outside their bedroom. He'd meant to ask Vashj about any expertise she had with demons, because it was wrong for him to act the way he had recently; he was driven by loyalty to those who would help his people, and even if Illidan hadn't yet succeeded, he had promised. Hedging bets was never Kael's way.
Something felt wrong about the morning; more wrong than ever, to be true. He couldn't place it, but over the last few months he'd learnt a thing or two about trusting his instincts. Illidan's breathing was steady, the sky looked normal; still, there was an odd feeling in his gut that wouldn't entirely leave. He'd never been inclined to rely on others for reassurance, but he willed Illidan to wake up; willed him to put his mind to it and sense what was there. Kael could pick up a demon's aura if he knew it well enough, detect the scent of disease on the air, but something was wrong with the world that wouldn't leave him be.
He never thought he'd do anything so cowardly, but for once, he wished the mist over his mind would thicken, and save him his worries.