001 ❊ He dreams of honor and strength.

[somethingtoprove]

[For a long moment, there's no sound, no movement. Nephrite just stands in the middle of a long tunnel to a dark cave, staring at his hands and his clothes as if to decide whether or not they're real. His uniform, his powers, the unusual eye and hair color-- they're all back. ...But this is a dream. Of course it is. In reality, he's nothing more than a stupid human now and he is not in the Dark Kingdom anymore. He bares his teeth, ground tight against each other in frustration. This should be a good dream, but all he is... is confused. Confused and angry and maybe even a little jealous.

He wants his role as a Shitennou back-- it's all he has. But he's not so sure he wants to obey Beryl or endure the mockery he's so sure to receive upon returning. With a loud growl, his hands ball into fists and he slams one of them into the nearest rocky surface, spraying dirt and debris.]

Even my own dreams mock me!

Comments

[mooneternal]

( it's not that she means to sneak up on him... in fact, usagi isn't the greatest at the subtlties of sneaking in general... but when she sees him pound that fist into the nearest target... part of her suddenly seems to realize being here isn't the best idea.
so this is the former moon princess... attempting to tip-toe away unnoticed... )

[tasercopter]

Can't say I blame 'em. [Reno is leaning up against the cave wall, lighting up a cigarette.]

I just met you, and I already feel like mocking you, pretty boy.

[somethingtoprove]

[What's this? The lack of subtleties - even if only because this tunnel is otherwise dead silent and prone to amplifying sound - is enough to prompt Nephrite into turning around. Instead of looking enraged, though, an arrogant grin spreads across his face.]

Look who it is! What's the princess doing in the Dark Kingdom?

[He pivots to face her completely. Oh, he'll chase you if he has to. Even if it's only in his dreams, he's going to defeat the Moon Princess!]

[somethingtoprove]

[And cue the snarling and growling. It almost looks like he's trying to grin, but it's twisted by his anger.]

Go ahead and see what happens!

[somethingtoprove]

No one knows everything, you idiot.

[It's not a very difficult thing to strive for, really. There may as well be steam coming out of his ears.]

[somethingtoprove]

[Once again, he has someone telling him he has no purpose, no worth. A stranger in his dreams, even. How much more pathetic could he get?] As I thought. [He gives a short laugh, humorless and cold.]

And bringing me back as a human is to punish and torment me then, isn't it?! [This isn't directed at Lethe. His luck and fortune - or lack thereof - is a more appropriate target.]

[somethingtoprove]

Like this? [A year is a long time. Dark Mercury wasn't around for a year, so... what did this mean? Surely Sailor Mercury wouldn't dream of her time in the Dark Kingdom. There's so much he wants to know-- but he doesn't know how to ask nicely.]

Tell me!

[waterfell]

[It's about as 'nicely' as she ever expected Nephrite to ask, considering it didn't involve insulting her or calling her names.

Close enough, really.]

I'll tell you, but you might not believe it.

First of all, it's been four years since I went to the Dark Kingdom. Back then, when Sailor Moon was revealed as the princess, I was pulled into a different world.

I learned the truth about the past life there, and I learned what would happen if my world went on the way it was. So when I returned, I worked to change everything.

poor neph. his luck stat is 0, man. kinda like his int. all went into str. XD /shot

[drinkandforget]

[Likewise, none of Lethe's comments are truly personal. They're directed at the simple concept of an existence with no power, a temporal and fleeting life.]

You must have really done poorly.

[nyankos]

[ She howls with laughter at the insult , hand on hip . ]

Says the pompous fool who's screaming at nobody but himself.

[somethingtoprove]

We'll see who's laughing when I impale you on this blade! [And just like that, his long sword appears in his hand (and oh, how he's forgotten how nice it is to be able to do this!) and he storms towards her, not at all holding back when he lashes the sword out at her.]

[somethingtoprove]

[That's almost a little too much to swallow, but when Nephrite stops and studies her again, he does notice that she looks more beautiful older. She acted as if she'd known him for a long time when she first appeared here... He was not the brains of the Shitennou, but even he could put that together. It just... didn't make sense.]

That would... [He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, trying to understand.] That's like saying we're from two different times! No-- two different worlds! [Because you're not the Mercury he knows.] ...Is that what you're saying?

more beautiful, huh? >D

[waterfell]

[That's... exactly what she's saying, actually. And without laughter or shouting on Nephrite's part. Mercury nods.]

It changed after Sailor Moon revealed herself. The things I remember from before then, are probably the same as you.

[An argument. A fight. A cape.]

lmfao it's funny 'cause it's truuue

[somethingtoprove]

[He scoffs, lips pulled back to a furious sneer.]

Obviously! [He's practically roaring now.] Just leave!

[nyankos]

[ She can 't deny that it all happened quickly , but she doesn 't break a sweat over it , her long legs bending as effortlessly , she moves out of the way of the blade , stumbling backwards -- lacking grace as she laughs , grin growing wider on her face . It 's almost diabolical , cat-like eyes stretched just as wide as the grin on her face . ]

What a fool you are!

[drinkandforget]

I'm amazed a failure like this was left alive, even to humiliate him. Galaxia-sama certainly wouldn't tolerate it.

[Nope, doesn't seem to be leaving.]

you didn't see that. :| what are you talking about.

[somethingtoprove]

[It still doesn't make any sense. No sense at all! But he's curious-- how exactly did Dark Mercury make a difference?]

Changed in what way?

SAW IT SAW IT~ confess your feelings!

[waterfell]

[So many ways, Nephrite. So many ways. Even Mercury isn't sure where to begin. What's the most important?

What were the things she wanted to change above all else?]

The prince and princess are gone. Thus, the planet was able to survive.

[It's the next part that's harder to say, when it leaves her feeling so exposed. There's a pause, and a long, fixed look.]

And you. Beryl was killed before she could touch you.

[tasercopter]

[Now, that just makes her laugh.]

A little slow on the uptake, aren't you?

I already started.

[mooneternal]

Gii --!! ( uh oh... caught!! slowly she turns around, a goofy, and rather nervous wide smile across her face. immediately an arm seems to find the way to the back of her head as she forces an airy laugh ) Ah... heheh! Looks like I took a wrong turn, this isn't the ice cream parlor! So I'll just be on my way...!

NEVERRR. maybe later...

[somethingtoprove]

[The first revelation stuns Nephrite. Both of them? The planet was able to survive? And what about Queen--

...Oh. The shock in his face is clear as glass. A myriad of emotions rampage through his chest before he can even begin to try processing them all and it results in an almost uncharacteristic silence. How should he feel? Satisfied that Beryl got what was coming to her and he was spared? Shocked but impressed that Mercury had changed the world so much? The man who had cared enough about them to surrender to the Dark Kingdom so that the Shitennou might live-- maybe he was disappointed that that Endymion was gone. Perhaps most of all, he was jealous and resentful towards the fact that another Nephrite got his life back while he was stuck merely dreaming about it.]

It sounds like everything worked out.

[His voice is only a thin veil away from cracking and breaking into a screaming rant. It's only a matter of time; his shock is the only thing keeping him somewhat calm right now.]

NOW.

[waterfell]

[She either misses what's behind those words, or something else is more important to her. She doesn't speak any words that might ease the feelings coursing through Nephrite, or the frustration.

What she says is far simpler.]

We won. [And he, who once rejected her help, can still learn from her experiences and her achievements - for achievements they are.]

Y U SO PUSHY, MERCURY.

[somethingtoprove]

[Either way, once the shock starts to wear off, Nephrite makes it pretty clear himself what he's feeling. He shoots back up to his feet, no longer in the mood to sit and mope on his rock.]

You won! [You, you, you! Never him! And he whips around, snapping his cape behind him. He doesn't walk off, but he starts pacing back and forth, teeming with those feelings.] It doesn't change that I still died where I am! That I'm a stupid, pathetic human! What do I have now?! I have no powers, no purpose-- I don't even have my memories!

[He abruptly stops pacing and stares at her, breathing harshly through his teeth and nose.] "We" didn't win!

ARE YOU SAYING SHE DOESN'T DESERVE THE BEST?! (also, keywords :|)

[waterfell]

[Her face softens to something that could almost still be called gentle. She doesn't seem to mind the pacing, the frenetic energy; she doesn't let them hold her back from him. Instead, she steps closer. If she thought she'd accept it, she'd put a hand on his arm, but it stays where it is, after the tiniest of gestures to indicate where it might have been.

In those words, he's made something shift inside her again.]

Your memories? [She glances away.] Are you saying you want to chase after them?

THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. HE ALSO DOESN'T NEED NO SENSHI PITY.

[somethingtoprove]

[There's something almost calming about her presence-- about that subtle shift. He doesn't even consciously acknowledge it or seem to be aware of it. There's still rage and frustration in his eyes, but he seems less likely to take out a wall. It's an improvement.]

What else do I have? Beryl-sama--... [He cuts off, his voice choking in anger just at mentioning the name; he doesn't think he needs to say it. She forced him to kill himself and now he's not sure where his loyalty lies.] My honor as a shitennou is most important! I hate not knowing when the others do! I deserve that much!