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

[somethingtoprove]

[A face and clothing Nephrite doesn't recognize, but it doesn't matter. She's intruding and insulting him to boot. He turns that frustration on her, snarling.]

Who's there?! [He at least wants to know who has the nerve to mock him in his own dream. :|]

[drinkandforget]

[Oh, he's going to be fun. She knows this type: dwelling on their regrets, incapable of facing their lives yet oh so futilely struggling when the time comes to give them up.

At least that time isn't now. Comfortably, she introduces herself.]

I am Lethe, guardian of the River of Lost Memories, Oblivion.

[somethingtoprove]

[It's a name he's never heard either, but there is one part of that that catches his attention.] ...River of Lost Memories? [He hesitates, but tries to sound as casual as possible when he asks:] Can you return what's been lost?

[drinkandforget]

There's no point in bothering with that. Our memories have no value to begin with.

[She doesn't mention Mnemosyne.]

[somethingtoprove]

[He glowers, back to irritated again.] I'm not so sure.

[drinkandforget]

They're easily lost. What value is there in that?

All that matters is our power.

[somethingtoprove]

...I wouldn't know. [He can't remember enough to decide for himself-- how would be?]

And if you don't even have that anymore?

[drinkandforget]

Then you have nothing, like every worthless person before you and after you. They're all reduced to that in the end.

[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.]

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.

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!

[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.]

[somethingtoprove]

Shut up! [Nephrite lashes out a hand, sending out an explosion to (hopefully) blast Lethe into oblivion and make her stop mocking him!]

[drinkandforget]

[She brings up her hands to shield herself from the blast, drawing attention to the golden bracers as she stands her ground. She grits her teeth; she didn't think he'd have a strong power, some pitiful human from a backwater planet.

She'd better use her own in turn.]

Galactica Myosotis Alpestris!