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

[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!