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]

[His grin cools into a smirk, looking back over the pool of lava bubbling and flowing down below.]

Is the so-called soldier of wisdom also fond of power?

[waterfell]

[Is that even a question? Her smirk answers his, arrogant as always; perhaps it's more attractive when it's not directed at him.]

Of course. I'm always becoming more powerful.

[Be warned, Nephrite; she's had a lot of time and a lot of battles to back those words up.]

[somethingtoprove]

That's surprising. [Coming from a guy who thinks power has nothing to do with smarts, though... that isn't surprising.] That's right. You're from another world, you said. You've spent all that time pursuing power?

[waterfell]

[For a moment, there's a coldness to her expression that doesn't quite seem to suit her even though, though the answer isn't directed at Nephrite, precisely.]

What else is there?

[It's the only pursuit that hasn't brought frustration, and perhaps even pain - if she'd confess it.]

[somethingtoprove]

[Nephrite watches her for that long moment, but it's without the smirk he wore before.]

Point made.

[That's right. There's nothing but power. Something he'd been robbed of. He found himself envying Mercury for her growing power when he was now left with none, except in his dreams. He glowers into the volcano for a long while.]

I could have been something. I could have been stronger than the others! [His fists are clenches tight as his sides. It burns him up inside that even Beryl even chose Kunzite and Zoisite, who have made it pointedly clear their loyalties do not lie with her, over him. He deserved better.]

[waterfell]

[She doesn't like seeing him struggle, especially when it doesn't take reading his mind to know thoughts of Beryl lurk within the conflict somewhere. Finally, she deflects the subject only a little.

Think about yourself, Nephrite.]

If you were stronger, strongest, what would you do?

[somethingtoprove]

[The question catches Nephrite off guard and the look on his face is not at all disguised well. What would he do? He has to actually stop and think about it. All he's known is that he wants it because then people would have to respect him. He's torn between taking revenge and taking his - what he believes is - his rightful place serving Beryl. In the end, it's his honor and duty as a Shitennou that drives him to answer...]

I would prove my worth to Beryl and show her that casting me aside in favor of those three was a mistake. Then I would be her favorite and Jadeite would be cast out to suffer. [And then he would find out how it feels to work tirelessly and get no appreciation. No favor. Perhaps then that smug little smirk would be wiped clean off his face.]

[waterfell]

[There are times Mercury would like nothing better than to shake Nephrite and tell him to simply sit down and stop making things worse for himself. At the very least, she'd like to wipe Beryl out of his mind completely, if she could, as completely as Beryl wiped the past out of his.

Yes, that's the place to start to tear this down.]

Nephrite. Have you considered the fact it was Beryl that took the memories you want? Or that it was Beryl who's responsible for you being in this state?

[Who would forgive those things?]

[somethingtoprove]

[Nephrite turns on Mercury again, his eyes fixed on her, intense and full of emotion. Exactly what emotion, however, is anyone's guess. He's not even sure he knows. It's because of that uncertainty and conflict-- the fact that he has no sensible answer to her questions that he lashes out in the most pathetic attempt to deflect her away from the subject.]

What do you care, Mercury?! [He takes a step towards her, though it's just for show (whether or not he would admit is an entirely different thing). He has no intention to truly attack, especially not on the edge of this volcano.] If I choose to be loyal to Beryl, that's my business! My honor!

[waterfell]

Even if you don't think about it, I do.

[They're words she'd never speak, not aloud and perhaps not even to herself, if she were thinking entirely clearly. Still, her mind is too sharp; she sees at once that there's no answer in his words. She keeps up the attack - for attack it is, although not battle.]

There's no honor in being a fool! In letting yourself be used and thrown away! Are you so pathetic?

[She doesn't much care that the word will anger him; she links it to Beryl and hopes the connection will stick in his mind. She holds her ground.]

If you're planning to let yourself be trash, you may as well let me kick you here and now.

[She gives a curt nod towards the rim of the volcano. The bite to her words, as always, is designed to goad him and push him, but in a different direction this time. Her eyes meet his, dark.]