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OH NO SHE'S DOING IT AGAIN
TITLE: Purple - Red = Blue
FANDOM: WoW
PEOPLE: Jaina and Aethas, primarily.
PAIRING: None, really.
RATING: PG-ish.
WARNINGS: If you actually like how the game canon is you'll probably get all madpants at me for making fun of it. :D But if you don't, this may entertain you. Hey, I like making nonsensical shit make sense. Silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you will!
NOTES: SHE'S PEEING ON CANON'S RUG AGAIN
So yeah lol I got sick of the hackery and decided to work within the boundaries of canonical events to SOME extent, but make things make fucking sense and keep people IC as I did so. And then this happened. Takes place after the stupid bell crap (which ended differently because I don't feel the urge to be edgy and grimdark). JAINA DISAPPROVES OF PORTAL macro goes here!
So the background: Theramore still got pwnt, BUT there is no lol realityhole, and it got pwnt in a manner that was less contrived. There were minimal casualties (and none on the civilian front)--although a certain carrot-top mage is comatose as a result of the arcane backlash, as are most of the other folks who were too close when everythang splod. (There's only so much one can do with a lot of hungry Felhunters and some hardcore counterspell-shields.) Jaina's roaring rampage of revenge was Garrosh-centric (everybody else just got ice-blocked or teleported to Stonard) and she beat the pants off him and let him live because she knows he has a fragile little ego and it'd be painful for him to live with being owned by a giiirrrllll wweh. XD
Anyway :B Have some Jaina being a badass fucking diplomat. BECAUSE SHE IS. Eat me, Blizzard.
This is one of the few times you'll see me acknowledge canon.
--
"Sunreaver, we need to talk. I know this wasn't...your...Sunreaver? Can you please take off your helm? It's driving me crazy. It has been since Northrend. So...please?"
"...I have hat hair."
"I won't laugh."
Aethas Sunreaver doffed his helm and ran a hand through his hair, making it stand out in all directions. Jaina thought he looked like a nervous marigold at this point, and didn't especially blame him. After all, it wasn't long ago thay she'd stormed Orgrimmar and attacked Grommash Hold, freezing anyone who got between herself and Garrosh Hellscream--and her retribution. (She would call it what it was. She had a right to her anger, and certain things simply could not be left be.) After beating him to within an inch of his life, she razed the hold to its foundations, leavging Orgrimmar looking as if it had been struck by one very erratic blizzard.
While the belligerent "warchief" survived as she'd intended--she would not stoop to the same level as Garrosh, there would be no casualties aside him and he would not yet be allowed to die, not yet, not before he damned well atoned--he was humiliated utterly. Not only had be been soundly defeated by a human, but a female human at that, and on his own turf.
She knew he would attempt to retaliate, but she figured he would at least do so in person. What little respect she had left for him was rapidly spiralling down the drain.
There was no doubt in her mind that this whole escapade wasn't solely Garrosh's idea. Like Blackhand before him, he wasn't much more now than a stooge for his advisors--all of them now the bad elements longing for the 'good old days' (and she was very familiar with THAT sort). While she knew Eitrigg and Saurfang would try their best to rein him in, they were only two against a crowd, and Garrosh was disinclined to listen to people who didn't enable him. Again--much like Blackhand. Completing the trifecta, his stooge status didn't absolve him from any blame.
Garrosh was not a tactician, nor was he evil as such...but he was selfish, thoughtless, easily swayed by appeals to his (all-too-fragile) ego, and he had a superiority complex roughly the size of Kul Tiras itself. Combining that with a passel of war-mongering muckrakers was...well.
Atop these other charming traits, it seemed he was also a coward at the core. Why else would he hide behind 'lesser races'? Using the Blood Elves thus, backing them into a corner, ruling with fear, forcing them to essentially take his revenge for him…really? REALLY?
Did he think she didn't know him?
Did he think she was a complete ignoramus, that she'd simply blame them and attack without thinking?
Fat chance.
"Archmage Aethas," Jaina said, "I know what that portal was for; I also know that what it was for was hardly your own idea. While I'm not going to repeat the mistakes of my predecessors and toss the lot of you into the Violet Hold without a second thought, I think we both know that something has to change now, and we both know what needs to change."
Aethas gave her a rather charming lopsided grin. "Yes. When a factor poses a risk, remove it. ...I'd rather it hadn't come to this. Had it been my choice alone, I would have requested that the Warchief 'delegate' this mission right up his own…erm. Nostril." Then he sighed. "I feel like a coward, honestly. Or a child who's claiming a ghost broke the lamp."
"You're neither. You're someone being put over a barrel by a loud-mouthed, violent, immature, tyrannical ass."
"Second verse, same as the first," muttered Aethas. "All I could think was 'how glorious, history's going to repeat itself, maybe the prison guards won't be hateful louts this time around'."
"There's no point to that," Jaina said. "Nor is there any point to executing you. That would make me a hypocrite. Decrying Garrosh's actions and then repeating them--no, thank you. Azeroth's seen quite enough rulers who dance to that tune."
"Indeed," Aethas said. "…So, what would you have us do, besides 'exeunt omnes, stage right'?"
"That's all. Take your belongings and vacate the premises. As the saying goes, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here."
That got a laugh from Aethas. Good. He wasn't angry, wouldn't seek to retaliate. This was not going to go pear-shaped. Not if Jaina could help it.
"I understand that this is your home too, Archmage, and I would never deny it. Dalaran was founded by your people as much as mine…but until such time as your "warchief" ceases these…antics…it's not safe for either of us if your people should remain. You'll be used again, and should someone other than me decide to make an example of you, then everything will only escalate further. We'll end up with an endless cycle of retribution and retaliation, and neither of us wants that. I do not want any more disasters; I do not want any more casualties of war, and I certainly do not want to see your people used as pawns again. To be sure of that last...your people can't stay here."
"I know," Aethas said.
"So then, you agree to...what would you call this? Voluntary exile?"
"That's as good a term as any--"
The door opened and closed; both Aethas and Jaina looked up at the ranger who'd entered. Jaina gave her a reassuring smile; Aethas inclined his head politely. After a moment, she did likewise.
"Archmage Proudmoore. Sunreaver. I heard 'volunatry exile'. So it's a done deal, then?"
"It is that, Ranger-General," Aethas replied. "Well met."
"Same to you. ...Could be better."
"Oh, don't I know it." A heavy sigh.
"You're just in time. We've come to an agreement," said Jaina.
The ranger smiled at her (and didn't bother to try to hide her relief), then sobered and turned again to Aethas. "So I heard you right, then, just to clarify? You're heading out."
"We are."
"Good." A long silence, and then, "Thanks. This is best for us both. No chance of a repeat performance this way. ...I was worried you'd fly off the handle at us, and we'd have to kick you in the pants."
"No, it's understandable, I know what has to be done. No handles are flying anywhere," said Aethas. Then he blinked, and put a hand to his temple. "That made precious little sense. I'm sorry. It's...been a day."
"That's putting it real lightly. ...I wish you'd sunk that stupid brute in the sea, Archmage Proudmoore. It could have saved us this happening."
"Maybe, but not necessarily," Jaina said with a tired smile. "It's possible it could have, but there's no real guarantee that something else might have happened instead. Those aren't dice I want to roll. Right now, Garrosh is only one head on a very, very ugly hydra. Someone would rise up to replace him, and given the attitudes he's fostered--"
"--They'd be as lousy as he is or worse, and pounce right on 'revenge for the fallen'," the ranger finished. "…With our luck as of late, they'd be much worse. Ugh. Still...it's rather like asking if we'd rather be poked in the eye or drop a knife on our feet."
Aethas chuckled. "Sit on a live ember or stub a bare toe on a Scourge wagon?"
That got a grin from his one-time opponent. "…I like that, that's more apt."
"So," Jaina said, bringing the exchange back on track, "is this solution acceptable to you both? The Sunreavers accept voluntary exile until such time as there's peace between Alliance and Horde?"
"That works for me," said the ranger. "The Sunreavers are gone, so they're safe, so we're safe--and nothing like this can happen again? I'm satisfied."
"I am as well," Aethas said. "No one is setting me on fire or tossing me off the city wall. My compatriots and myself are being allowed to leave peacefully in spite of being the fall guys again. I think that's fair, and I'm grateful, really. I can think of several people who wouldn't be that moderate."
"Hey, now. I wouldn't throw you off the wall, Sunreaver."
"I didn't mean you, Ranger-General."
"I know, I'm just pulling your leg." The ranger gave him a wry grin. "But my point stands. I wouldn't toss you off the wall. I'd get us both ported to ground level and throw your fancy pants in the creek for being obnoxious, but…"
She trailed off, closed her eyes, sighed, then looked at Aethas steadily.
"I'm guessing you heard what I said after the first fiasco, when I was screaming at the top of my lungs," she said. "It would have been hard not to hear me, they probably did in Alterac. Anyway--I'll admit, some of what I said was out of line. I was angry, and I know you know why."
"I do," Aethas replied. "I'm not going to judge you for that. You have a right to be angry."
"Ys, but I also have to act like a grown woman and point that anger at where it belongs. Punching you in the jaw might be satisfying for a few minutes...but it isn't going to fix anything. Besides, flying off the handle when the stakes are this high gets you killed and usually gets your comrades killed, too. We're at war, now, but it's not even a straightforward war--everything's fussy and delicate and annoying, so I can't afford to be Lady Hothead. What a pain." She was quiet a while, and then said, "Hey, Sunreaver?"
"Yes?"
"...I may not agree with your methods or the choices you make, or the choices you made in the past...but...you and me are kindred. If I deny that, I'm demeaning us both, right? And honestly...had my circumstances not been what they are, I can't say I wouldn't have made the same choices as you. So...yes. That."
Aethas bowed his head. "Thank you. ...For what it's worth, I'm glad your spouse lives yet. His speeches were…they…they left something to be desired, but that's not important--I'm babbling. I apologize. He's a decent man. He believed us when we sought to make amends. He deserves better."
The ranger swallowed hard and for a moment Jaina thought she might break down…but soon she chortled, and grinned at Aethas. "Come on, don't be such a sentimental gossamer-seed, Sunreaver. Are you kidding? Of course he lived. He's too stubborn to do otherwise, and even if he weren't he'd irritate the spirits enough that they'd throw him back."
Jaina did go to her friend's side, then, and touched her shoulder. "He's been moved to the specialists' facilities now. We have our best healers looking out for him. We're not giving up on him, or anyone else."
"Of course you're not. You're even more stubborn than he is."
Aethas bowed then, deep and formal. "With your permission, I'll take my leave, then? If there's nothing more…?"
"No more. We're good." Jaina smiled. "Dismissed, Archmage Sunreaver. Be well, and don't let me catch you back here until I damned well invite you back.
"Understood," Aethas said. "…I owe you for this, Archmage Proudmoore. The lot of us do, and I don't forget such debts."
"No. No debt," Jaina said. "I didn't do this to hold one over on you. i did it because doing otherwise would be stupid and frankly wrong. Anger is not a free pass to be violent and unreasonable. I've been telling King Varian that for months and I'm not about to turn around now and let him I-told-you-so at me."
"Very well." Aethas started to put his helm back on, then crinkled his nose and opted not to. "When next we meet, may it be in better circumstances and in a time of peace."
"Same to you, Sunreaver," said the ranger.
Another bow. "Belore shala diel," Aethas said. "Shorel'aran."
"Shorel'aran, malanore," Jaina replied. "Take care of yourself."
Aethas nodded. He turned, and his form shimmered and vanished.
Jaina knew he'd gone to gather his belongings and leave Dalaran with his compatriots, as requested. She let herself be proud, be a little smug. She'd won. She'd solved this without violence, without stupidity. There'd be no revenge attacks, no ever-escalating volleys of return fire.
"That went better than it had any right to," said the ranger. "I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, you realize."
Jaina closed her eyes briefly, contented, and then smiled at her comrade. "It tales a little extra effort to get the best possible end result, but I find it's worth it."
"So was that sincere, or clever diplomat tricks?"
Jaina's smile broadened. "Yes."
"…Do all Archmages think they're unutterably hilarious when they aren't, or is that just you and my husband?"
"Yes."
"You're impossible." An eye-roll, and then the Silver Covenant's head smiled back. "Come on. Let's go see them off--and I mean that literally. Though I reserve the right to make fun of Sunreaver if he gets sappy again."
"You know it's fine if you're still angry, of course."
"Of course. I am. But not at him. …What about you?"
"It's as you said. I'm angry," Jaina said, "but not at him. And not at Songweaver and his obnoxious little mustache-twirling act, either. perhaps he's forgotten, but I knew him when I was a novice at Dalaran. he's always been a theatrical pain in the tail, and a bit of a lout, but he's not soulless. I don't doubt that he came to Theramore initially to scout for Garrosh, but…as a general rule, elven spies don't 'just get caught'. And they don't posture madly if they ARE caught."
"So--what--he let himself be caught and was a condescending, nasty little ass--"
"--For a reason."
A long pause. "…You think he let himself be caught and showed off as a warning."
"He may have. I knew long before he was found what was liable to happen, but--" Jaina snorted. "The way he carried on in front of me, and then again when he was incarcerated--I'm shocked the stenographer kept a straight face recording his testimony."
"So…in essence…he uses similar tactics to you, only he's less honest…and also a horrific actor."
"Yes, though 'horrific' doesn't quite describe the magnitude of how bad he was."
An even longer pause. "That's impressive."
"it was." Jaina fiddled with a loose thread on her sleeve cuff a moment, then said, "Shall we go see them off? I don't have any doubt that they're going to leave, but…for closure's sake..?"
"Sounds like a decent plan to me."
FANDOM: WoW
PEOPLE: Jaina and Aethas, primarily.
PAIRING: None, really.
RATING: PG-ish.
WARNINGS: If you actually like how the game canon is you'll probably get all madpants at me for making fun of it. :D But if you don't, this may entertain you. Hey, I like making nonsensical shit make sense. Silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you will!
NOTES: SHE'S PEEING ON CANON'S RUG AGAIN
So yeah lol I got sick of the hackery and decided to work within the boundaries of canonical events to SOME extent, but make things make fucking sense and keep people IC as I did so. And then this happened. Takes place after the stupid bell crap (which ended differently because I don't feel the urge to be edgy and grimdark). JAINA DISAPPROVES OF PORTAL macro goes here!
So the background: Theramore still got pwnt, BUT there is no lol realityhole, and it got pwnt in a manner that was less contrived. There were minimal casualties (and none on the civilian front)--although a certain carrot-top mage is comatose as a result of the arcane backlash, as are most of the other folks who were too close when everythang splod. (There's only so much one can do with a lot of hungry Felhunters and some hardcore counterspell-shields.) Jaina's roaring rampage of revenge was Garrosh-centric (everybody else just got ice-blocked or teleported to Stonard) and she beat the pants off him and let him live because she knows he has a fragile little ego and it'd be painful for him to live with being owned by a giiirrrllll wweh. XD
Anyway :B Have some Jaina being a badass fucking diplomat. BECAUSE SHE IS. Eat me, Blizzard.
This is one of the few times you'll see me acknowledge canon.
--
"Sunreaver, we need to talk. I know this wasn't...your...Sunreaver? Can you please take off your helm? It's driving me crazy. It has been since Northrend. So...please?"
"...I have hat hair."
"I won't laugh."
Aethas Sunreaver doffed his helm and ran a hand through his hair, making it stand out in all directions. Jaina thought he looked like a nervous marigold at this point, and didn't especially blame him. After all, it wasn't long ago thay she'd stormed Orgrimmar and attacked Grommash Hold, freezing anyone who got between herself and Garrosh Hellscream--and her retribution. (She would call it what it was. She had a right to her anger, and certain things simply could not be left be.) After beating him to within an inch of his life, she razed the hold to its foundations, leavging Orgrimmar looking as if it had been struck by one very erratic blizzard.
While the belligerent "warchief" survived as she'd intended--she would not stoop to the same level as Garrosh, there would be no casualties aside him and he would not yet be allowed to die, not yet, not before he damned well atoned--he was humiliated utterly. Not only had be been soundly defeated by a human, but a female human at that, and on his own turf.
She knew he would attempt to retaliate, but she figured he would at least do so in person. What little respect she had left for him was rapidly spiralling down the drain.
There was no doubt in her mind that this whole escapade wasn't solely Garrosh's idea. Like Blackhand before him, he wasn't much more now than a stooge for his advisors--all of them now the bad elements longing for the 'good old days' (and she was very familiar with THAT sort). While she knew Eitrigg and Saurfang would try their best to rein him in, they were only two against a crowd, and Garrosh was disinclined to listen to people who didn't enable him. Again--much like Blackhand. Completing the trifecta, his stooge status didn't absolve him from any blame.
Garrosh was not a tactician, nor was he evil as such...but he was selfish, thoughtless, easily swayed by appeals to his (all-too-fragile) ego, and he had a superiority complex roughly the size of Kul Tiras itself. Combining that with a passel of war-mongering muckrakers was...well.
Atop these other charming traits, it seemed he was also a coward at the core. Why else would he hide behind 'lesser races'? Using the Blood Elves thus, backing them into a corner, ruling with fear, forcing them to essentially take his revenge for him…really? REALLY?
Did he think she didn't know him?
Did he think she was a complete ignoramus, that she'd simply blame them and attack without thinking?
Fat chance.
"Archmage Aethas," Jaina said, "I know what that portal was for; I also know that what it was for was hardly your own idea. While I'm not going to repeat the mistakes of my predecessors and toss the lot of you into the Violet Hold without a second thought, I think we both know that something has to change now, and we both know what needs to change."
Aethas gave her a rather charming lopsided grin. "Yes. When a factor poses a risk, remove it. ...I'd rather it hadn't come to this. Had it been my choice alone, I would have requested that the Warchief 'delegate' this mission right up his own…erm. Nostril." Then he sighed. "I feel like a coward, honestly. Or a child who's claiming a ghost broke the lamp."
"You're neither. You're someone being put over a barrel by a loud-mouthed, violent, immature, tyrannical ass."
"Second verse, same as the first," muttered Aethas. "All I could think was 'how glorious, history's going to repeat itself, maybe the prison guards won't be hateful louts this time around'."
"There's no point to that," Jaina said. "Nor is there any point to executing you. That would make me a hypocrite. Decrying Garrosh's actions and then repeating them--no, thank you. Azeroth's seen quite enough rulers who dance to that tune."
"Indeed," Aethas said. "…So, what would you have us do, besides 'exeunt omnes, stage right'?"
"That's all. Take your belongings and vacate the premises. As the saying goes, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here."
That got a laugh from Aethas. Good. He wasn't angry, wouldn't seek to retaliate. This was not going to go pear-shaped. Not if Jaina could help it.
"I understand that this is your home too, Archmage, and I would never deny it. Dalaran was founded by your people as much as mine…but until such time as your "warchief" ceases these…antics…it's not safe for either of us if your people should remain. You'll be used again, and should someone other than me decide to make an example of you, then everything will only escalate further. We'll end up with an endless cycle of retribution and retaliation, and neither of us wants that. I do not want any more disasters; I do not want any more casualties of war, and I certainly do not want to see your people used as pawns again. To be sure of that last...your people can't stay here."
"I know," Aethas said.
"So then, you agree to...what would you call this? Voluntary exile?"
"That's as good a term as any--"
The door opened and closed; both Aethas and Jaina looked up at the ranger who'd entered. Jaina gave her a reassuring smile; Aethas inclined his head politely. After a moment, she did likewise.
"Archmage Proudmoore. Sunreaver. I heard 'volunatry exile'. So it's a done deal, then?"
"It is that, Ranger-General," Aethas replied. "Well met."
"Same to you. ...Could be better."
"Oh, don't I know it." A heavy sigh.
"You're just in time. We've come to an agreement," said Jaina.
The ranger smiled at her (and didn't bother to try to hide her relief), then sobered and turned again to Aethas. "So I heard you right, then, just to clarify? You're heading out."
"We are."
"Good." A long silence, and then, "Thanks. This is best for us both. No chance of a repeat performance this way. ...I was worried you'd fly off the handle at us, and we'd have to kick you in the pants."
"No, it's understandable, I know what has to be done. No handles are flying anywhere," said Aethas. Then he blinked, and put a hand to his temple. "That made precious little sense. I'm sorry. It's...been a day."
"That's putting it real lightly. ...I wish you'd sunk that stupid brute in the sea, Archmage Proudmoore. It could have saved us this happening."
"Maybe, but not necessarily," Jaina said with a tired smile. "It's possible it could have, but there's no real guarantee that something else might have happened instead. Those aren't dice I want to roll. Right now, Garrosh is only one head on a very, very ugly hydra. Someone would rise up to replace him, and given the attitudes he's fostered--"
"--They'd be as lousy as he is or worse, and pounce right on 'revenge for the fallen'," the ranger finished. "…With our luck as of late, they'd be much worse. Ugh. Still...it's rather like asking if we'd rather be poked in the eye or drop a knife on our feet."
Aethas chuckled. "Sit on a live ember or stub a bare toe on a Scourge wagon?"
That got a grin from his one-time opponent. "…I like that, that's more apt."
"So," Jaina said, bringing the exchange back on track, "is this solution acceptable to you both? The Sunreavers accept voluntary exile until such time as there's peace between Alliance and Horde?"
"That works for me," said the ranger. "The Sunreavers are gone, so they're safe, so we're safe--and nothing like this can happen again? I'm satisfied."
"I am as well," Aethas said. "No one is setting me on fire or tossing me off the city wall. My compatriots and myself are being allowed to leave peacefully in spite of being the fall guys again. I think that's fair, and I'm grateful, really. I can think of several people who wouldn't be that moderate."
"Hey, now. I wouldn't throw you off the wall, Sunreaver."
"I didn't mean you, Ranger-General."
"I know, I'm just pulling your leg." The ranger gave him a wry grin. "But my point stands. I wouldn't toss you off the wall. I'd get us both ported to ground level and throw your fancy pants in the creek for being obnoxious, but…"
She trailed off, closed her eyes, sighed, then looked at Aethas steadily.
"I'm guessing you heard what I said after the first fiasco, when I was screaming at the top of my lungs," she said. "It would have been hard not to hear me, they probably did in Alterac. Anyway--I'll admit, some of what I said was out of line. I was angry, and I know you know why."
"I do," Aethas replied. "I'm not going to judge you for that. You have a right to be angry."
"Ys, but I also have to act like a grown woman and point that anger at where it belongs. Punching you in the jaw might be satisfying for a few minutes...but it isn't going to fix anything. Besides, flying off the handle when the stakes are this high gets you killed and usually gets your comrades killed, too. We're at war, now, but it's not even a straightforward war--everything's fussy and delicate and annoying, so I can't afford to be Lady Hothead. What a pain." She was quiet a while, and then said, "Hey, Sunreaver?"
"Yes?"
"...I may not agree with your methods or the choices you make, or the choices you made in the past...but...you and me are kindred. If I deny that, I'm demeaning us both, right? And honestly...had my circumstances not been what they are, I can't say I wouldn't have made the same choices as you. So...yes. That."
Aethas bowed his head. "Thank you. ...For what it's worth, I'm glad your spouse lives yet. His speeches were…they…they left something to be desired, but that's not important--I'm babbling. I apologize. He's a decent man. He believed us when we sought to make amends. He deserves better."
The ranger swallowed hard and for a moment Jaina thought she might break down…but soon she chortled, and grinned at Aethas. "Come on, don't be such a sentimental gossamer-seed, Sunreaver. Are you kidding? Of course he lived. He's too stubborn to do otherwise, and even if he weren't he'd irritate the spirits enough that they'd throw him back."
Jaina did go to her friend's side, then, and touched her shoulder. "He's been moved to the specialists' facilities now. We have our best healers looking out for him. We're not giving up on him, or anyone else."
"Of course you're not. You're even more stubborn than he is."
Aethas bowed then, deep and formal. "With your permission, I'll take my leave, then? If there's nothing more…?"
"No more. We're good." Jaina smiled. "Dismissed, Archmage Sunreaver. Be well, and don't let me catch you back here until I damned well invite you back.
"Understood," Aethas said. "…I owe you for this, Archmage Proudmoore. The lot of us do, and I don't forget such debts."
"No. No debt," Jaina said. "I didn't do this to hold one over on you. i did it because doing otherwise would be stupid and frankly wrong. Anger is not a free pass to be violent and unreasonable. I've been telling King Varian that for months and I'm not about to turn around now and let him I-told-you-so at me."
"Very well." Aethas started to put his helm back on, then crinkled his nose and opted not to. "When next we meet, may it be in better circumstances and in a time of peace."
"Same to you, Sunreaver," said the ranger.
Another bow. "Belore shala diel," Aethas said. "Shorel'aran."
"Shorel'aran, malanore," Jaina replied. "Take care of yourself."
Aethas nodded. He turned, and his form shimmered and vanished.
Jaina knew he'd gone to gather his belongings and leave Dalaran with his compatriots, as requested. She let herself be proud, be a little smug. She'd won. She'd solved this without violence, without stupidity. There'd be no revenge attacks, no ever-escalating volleys of return fire.
"That went better than it had any right to," said the ranger. "I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, you realize."
Jaina closed her eyes briefly, contented, and then smiled at her comrade. "It tales a little extra effort to get the best possible end result, but I find it's worth it."
"So was that sincere, or clever diplomat tricks?"
Jaina's smile broadened. "Yes."
"…Do all Archmages think they're unutterably hilarious when they aren't, or is that just you and my husband?"
"Yes."
"You're impossible." An eye-roll, and then the Silver Covenant's head smiled back. "Come on. Let's go see them off--and I mean that literally. Though I reserve the right to make fun of Sunreaver if he gets sappy again."
"You know it's fine if you're still angry, of course."
"Of course. I am. But not at him. …What about you?"
"It's as you said. I'm angry," Jaina said, "but not at him. And not at Songweaver and his obnoxious little mustache-twirling act, either. perhaps he's forgotten, but I knew him when I was a novice at Dalaran. he's always been a theatrical pain in the tail, and a bit of a lout, but he's not soulless. I don't doubt that he came to Theramore initially to scout for Garrosh, but…as a general rule, elven spies don't 'just get caught'. And they don't posture madly if they ARE caught."
"So--what--he let himself be caught and was a condescending, nasty little ass--"
"--For a reason."
A long pause. "…You think he let himself be caught and showed off as a warning."
"He may have. I knew long before he was found what was liable to happen, but--" Jaina snorted. "The way he carried on in front of me, and then again when he was incarcerated--I'm shocked the stenographer kept a straight face recording his testimony."
"So…in essence…he uses similar tactics to you, only he's less honest…and also a horrific actor."
"Yes, though 'horrific' doesn't quite describe the magnitude of how bad he was."
An even longer pause. "That's impressive."
"it was." Jaina fiddled with a loose thread on her sleeve cuff a moment, then said, "Shall we go see them off? I don't have any doubt that they're going to leave, but…for closure's sake..?"
"Sounds like a decent plan to me."
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/glees at the improvement
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I just really like badass chessmaster diplomats. XD Jaina being pragmatic as all hell is fun.
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I still TOTALLY love this.
You make me want to read this book. ^^
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I need to get writing more. You make my confidence increase~
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Also, the line about "nervous marigold" was priceless.
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It's like...I'm never gonna deny people the right to be hacked off at lousy things, but misdirected anger is not great. So Jaina gets to have justified rar, and temper and direct it the same way she does with arcane energy. Whee!
And--yeah, that line just sort of happened and it made me giggle endlessly. Jaina having a penchant for funny similes entertains me!