"So, what's the plan, Proudmoore?" Li-Ming stepped in front of the mage, a girlish smile on her face.
Jaina sighed. "I told you, we just wander and try to find Penelope."
Li-Ming plopped herself down on a large rock. "I thought this was going to be fun, you know?"
Jaina looked at her confusedly. "What?" she said.
"You're one of the nicest, funniest people in the Nexus. And here you are, acting all serious-business."
"I'm sorry, Li-Ming, but when our lives are at stake, i'd rather not take it light-heartedly."
"Whatever."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Li-Ming snapped.
"OH! SO NOW YOU WANT TO TALK TO PEOPLE?! WELL I'M SORRY I'M NOT ALL THAT GOOD OF A PERSON TO TALK TO! I'M SORRY I CALL MYSELF A WIZARD WHEN YOU'RE ALL LIKE 'OH NO, YOU SHOULD CALL YOURSELF A MAGE!'"
"Because you should!"
"THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY! PEOPLE LIKE YOU! ARTHAS LOVES YOU, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S 'EVIL!' KAEL'THAS LOVES YOU TOO, BUT EVEN THOUGH HE'S PERFECTLY FINE IN THE HEAD, YOU STILL TURN HIM DOWN BECAUSE 'OOOH, THERE'S TOO MUCH OF AN AGE GAP!' AND 'OOH, I'M NOT ATTRACTED TO ELVES!' AND 'ISN'T HE IN A THING WITH SYLVANAS NOW?!' YOU LABEL EVERYONE, YOU DON'T GET TOO CLOSE TO ANYBODY BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY'RE JUST GOING TO DIE, JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER AND BROTHER! AND NOW YOU'RE LABELING ME 'A MAGE' BECAUSE I USE MAGIC!"
Jaina went red in the face.
"I have a perfect reply to that, Li-Ming." She spat out acidically. "One, I know people like me! I try to have a friendship with everyone, except some people just have to go and make it harder! I'm not in love with Arthas anymore because he slaughtered innocent people, killed his father, destroyed Quel'thalas, Kael and Sylvanas' homeland, and started basically a zombie apocalypse on Azeroth! Wouldn't you stop liking a man if he did that, too? The reason I turn Kael'thas down is because yes, that age gap is the Grand Canyon of age-gaps! Do you know how old Kael'thas is? He may look pretty young, but he's actually 236 years old, Li-Ming. That's just creepy! Also, so what if i'm not attracted to Elves? I can have preferences! I'm not a sex-crazed nuthouse like some other girls! And yes, he's in a relationship with Sylvanas! I don't want to ruin that! It's the only time i've seen both of them genuinely happy at the same time. I saw Sylvanas sneak two rings into her pocket the other day! I'd look like a conceited slut if I just went and kissed Kael in front of Sylvanas! I do not label people, either! I call you a mage because you are one, and it's silly to call yourself a 'wizard'. And how dare you mention my father and Derek in such a disrespectful light!"
Li-Ming shook angrily. "I can mention your father and brother however the hells I please. I did you a favor there. I didn't even mention your fetish with Orcs!"
"I do not have an Orc fetish! My friendship with Thrall is purely politics-related!"
"Oh sure! I noticed that photo in your pants last month when I was snooping in your room!"
Jaina blushed. "How dare you go through my clothes!"
"Oh, I did. You should see a gynecologist, honey. Your underwear looks like somebody blew their nose in it!"
Jaina turned even more red. "You had no right to go through my underwear drawer either!"
"Oh, I did. That's where I found the money I stole!"
"I demand you give that back this instant!"
"Not until you admit your infatuation with all things Orc-related!"
"Well, i'm not going to speak to you until you admit your infatuation with Sonya."
Li-Ming's face went pale. "S-Sonya? How did you…"
"How did I know? I see you, whenever you talk to her. You go completely red, and you start sweating. Not a good sign if you're trying to hide it from her."
"How dare you! If you tell her, i'll tell Thrall...I'll tell him…"
Jaina whirled around and slapped her. "YOU'LL TELL HIM WHAT, SKANK?! YOU'LL TELL HIM WHAT?!"
Li-Ming held her face for a second, tears springing into her eyes and her whimpering filling the air.
Jaina's anger subsided, and she was horrified at herself. She reached out for Li-Ming's shoulder. "L-Li-Ming! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to- I didn't want to…"
Li-Ming sniffed. "FIRST A MAGE, AND NOW A SKANK?!" she shouted, before sprinting into the forest.
"LI-MING! WAIT!" Jaina shouted, running after her.
Jaina found Li-Ming, sitting on a log next to a lovely clear pond, bawling her eyes out. Jaina walked over and sat next to her.
"Li-Ming…" She said, softly.
"What do you want? Do you want to slap me and call me a skank again?" Li-Ming muttered, miserably.
"No, Li-Ming, no… I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean what I said, and i'm sorry. If you want to be called a wizard, i'll respect your wishes and call you as such."
Li-Ming forced a laugh. "Sounds like Kael'thas' uptight sentence wording is getting to you." She giggled.
"Oh, gods! Am I really starting to sound like him?"
"Heheh. Yeah."
Jaina let out a sigh. "Listen," She began. "I won't tell Sonya that you like her, if you don't tell Thrall about my, quote-unquote, 'Orc fetish'."
Li-Ming exhaled, and rubbed the tears off her cheeks. "I think I want to tell Sonya myself that I like her, like Sylvanas did."
"Oh, are you going to tell her like that? Just replace every Sunstrider with Sonya?"
"Wait, I forget. How did she say it?"
Jaina cleared her throat. "'Kael'thas Anasterian Sunstrider, you were present at my birth, mainly because your father forced you to watch as 'it was natural'. From the instant my infant eyes saw your face, i've loved you. Will you, I don't know, play Mortal Kombat and have a marathon of The Walking Dead with me?' and then Kael'thas went, 'Um, Sylvanas? Don't you remember, Li-Ming already told me? I fell unconscious? You carried me for 3 whole miles? But sure, yes, let's play some Mortal Kombat, but I call Scorpion."
Li-Ming snorted and laughed. "Hold on, hold on, Mortal Kombat and The Walking Dead were the best things Sylvanas could come up with for a romantic night?"
"Well, they didn't exactly have a better thing to do. Penelope's takeover, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
They sat in silence for 2 minutes, before Li-Ming spoke up.
"You know, I really like you, Jaina."
Jaina's heartbeat sped up. "P-platonically, right?"
Li-Ming leaned towards her face, her lips pursed. Jaina scooted away.
"I'm sorry, Li-Ming. I just don't like girls like that. You're really nice and all, but I prefer boys."
Li-Ming pulled away, and flushed red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I guess I should've known, what with your 'sort-of-romantic' track-record."
"No, it's okay. I find it great you're like that. The Nexus could use a little individuality in spectrums like that."
"Jaina?"
"Yes, Li-Ming?"
"What if Sonya doesn't like girls, too?"
Jaina thought for a moment, before going "I don't know, Mingy. I really don't. But the rest of the group will be here for support."
Li-Ming rubbed her eyes. "Nearly started crying again. We should get going, but where?"
It was then that they heard familiar voices.
"Ouch, my ankle!" Kael'thas shouted, his green, glowing eyes visible from even there.
"Do you see any possible areas where she might be?" He said.
Tyrande's glowing blue eyes could be seen, scanning the landscape.
"Possible that castle there, just outside Dragon Shire. The one with the pink walls and red roof?"
"Good idea." Sylvanas said. "I have a feeling fate wants us to go there. Just a nag, though."
"Guys!" Li-Ming shouted. Running over to them.
"Mingy, such a pleasure to see you, child." Tyrande said, hugging Li-Ming.
Li-Ming laughed. "You don't have to use the pet name."
"I find it a better way to connect with people, and you seen fine with it, like how Kael's fine with being called Kael."
"Actually, i'm not-"
Sylvanas elbowed Kael'thas. "You're fine with it." She said.
"Whatever you say, lady."
Consort: you're close, but still pretty far to the way Kael's life will be snuffed out.
That would be a good idea, Lo doesn't hold very much respect for Mince for the way he treats her*. A rebellion would be nice, with her on their side. And yes, she does get handed very important info a lot, and she reads it when nobody's looking. Because of that, she had not only learned why they're doing this to the Nexus, but also Penelope's secret brownie recipe!
*Lo is a girl.