2713/Guess Who's Back

Guess Who's Back
Date of Scene:	30 July 2025
Location:	Plot Room 3
Synopsis:	Eager to check on her friend in the future Nephrite, Sailor Venus runs ahead of the others on the way to the Crystal Palace. After a happy greeting the two chat for awhile waiting for the arrival of the others. Much gossip is gotten!
Cast of Characters:	Nephrite, Minako Aino

---

Nephrite has posed:
It had been quite the sight to see.

From embattled positions within the Palace and hunkering down against the onslaught of Nemesis, gathering desperation and forging for a miracle, one actually arrived. Yet again, from the past of another world that Small Lady had fled to and gathered reinforcements in. Words could not convey the elation and relief, the grateful wash of Serenity's power as she was awakened by both the King's love and her daughter's efforts-- the Silver Crystal in its rightful place. The world breathing a sigh, the perils swept away as a nightmare faded upon waking.

Everything was new again, everything was bright. This beautiful city healed, and the poison seeping into Earth was no more as the heroes descended to ground. Scattered in handfuls, but alive and victorious.

Ahead of the first arriving few to the Palace, the Leader of the past Senshi was running, waving--

"Minako-chan!" Kaito was glad to see her, turning from his place near a small crowd of celebrating people to stride out to meet her. In uniform now, of course, he was Nephrite. Another Nephrite, the underside of his cape red and gold, starry like a nebula, and sword by his side, red hair waved about shoulders and brown eyes bright.

Minako Aino has posed:
While walking with the others, Minako had dropped her henshin. They were relaxing. Recouperating. Just. Enjoying the fact that they were alive, and they won, and the city of the future they had seen in such chaos and ruin before was now as beautiful as it once was.

She had run off ahead of the others however. Partially out of embarassment, partially due to the excitement she could feel already building up inside her. To further speed her trek along she'd transformed once again--They were, after all, 'on the job' so to speak.

Sailor Venus with arm raised in the air to wave grins brightly as she's spotted, and greeted. The pace of her approach doesn't slow though. Instead she leaps the last few steps with arms thrown wide to try and snag Nephrite in a hug.

"Kaito-kun! We did it we won!" The way she says 'we' means everyone of course and somehow she manages to convey that with the remark. There was no individual accomplishment here. All of them had done their best and finally they reached the bests result.

With a laugh she adds, "You look so different!"

Nephrite has posed:
He doesn't necessarily expect her to nearly bowl him over in a hug, but then again, he's not entirely surprised-- it is Minako. Thankfully, he's got the strength to catch her, and he does. With the momentum and the cheer, he laughs.

"It's over, I can't believe-- Well, actually, I can, now," He shakes his head, and lifts her up higher in the hug as if she's a champion, "The King and Queen have been restored, the Senshi are free-- even the Shitennou are together again..."

When he sets her down, he glances at himself-- and her, in the fuku she has-- and smirks broadly. "I feel different. Or... I feel grounded, again. I do look smart in a uniform, don't I?"

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus rather expected he could catch her. The height difference certainly would make it easier to do that! Even if she were in henshin and had been running. She wasn't Uranus after all.

A laugh easily bubbles from her none the less because it felt *good* to win, and to find out her friends were okay. All of them. The ones from her timeline, and the ones in this one too. Being lifted up like that certainly helps her beaming smile all the more.

Once again on her feet she takes a step away to look him over head to toe while cupping her chin in her hand. "You do," she agrees with a solemn nod as if this were very-important to be serious about. "Did you choose to awaken your memories, then? Ah, and the sword looks so nice! I wonder if I should carry mine with me more often." Of course she could summon it at any time, but... it was *cool* the way it was worn at the hip.

Nephrite has posed:
A grin spread, proudly, and he settled his hand on the hilt of it. "It really ties everything together, with the cape. Very official." He chuckles. "And, all this red and gold, really brings out my hair this time around."

His brows rose in a boastful way, before bowing his head a little. "You all have quite a sense for timing... Not that I lost faith that you'd be back." He pulls a face, as if they were cutting it very fine. Even so, he nods.

"I suppose it's no surprise, that I took the post in the end. I'm needed here. I have quite a few years to make up for."

Minako Aino has posed:
"It's a calling. Even us Senshi had that 'pull' of being needed. At least that's what I'm told." Venus' experience was slightly different in that she was the first awakened. Nothing had really been remembered until she was toward the end of her stint as Sailor V. THEN she felt that calling. And now she always would.

The way he poses with the sword earns another little laugh as her blue eyes twinkle with mirth, and perhaps even a bit of admiring the look. "The red is very striking. Very 'you'. This version of you at least." A glance is cast over her shoulder the way she had come but only for a moment. Her attention turns back toward Nephrite. "The others are on their way, including the other Nephrite. It'll be very easy to tell you two apart though. You're *way* cuter. Don't tell him I said that though."

Nephrite has posed:
There's a short laugh to that, and at the very least, if he isn't cuter-- after all, their features are remarkably identical-- this Nephrite does seem somewhat happier. He brings a gloved hand up to press finger to lips, implying he won't let that slip, and looks serious before he winks.

His gaze does drift towards the Palace entrance curiously, watchful, but they don't linger long. "It's a relief to see you all made it through... Nobody's too badly injured? We saw the ship come through, it looked a wreck even when it appeared. Then that black lightning, and we saw the top of it tear away."

Minako Aino has posed:
The mirth of such teasing still lingers just a bit longer on Sailor Venus' own features. While bruised a bit, she looked quite fine herself. The more serious question causes her to shift so that she turns as well to face the entrance leaving her standing beside Kaito-Nephrite.

"For the most part. Several of us are worse off than I am, but our Zoisite has been learning to heal," she explains with a hand lifting to show a strange little bloom that had attached itself to one of her wrists. A parting gift before she'd leapt after Sailor Moon into the depths of the ship.

"When we were still in space, a few holes got blown into the ship from attacks. A lot of us were sucked away. I went after Sailor Moon when she did, but we got split up again before the end of the fight."

"SHE is tired, so is Mercury. Our 'Nephrite' is pretty beaten up but Jupiter is taking care of him."

Nephrite has posed:
Standing there together, they blend into looking quite official, even though they're still chatting away. Much movement surrounds them, as others a merry, and people file out to see the restored world.

Concern holds him when she mentions Sailor Moon having been so troubled, and Venus' going after her. The sprout-- he is learning, she says, and this Nephrite smiles gently, though perhaps a little sadly. It's only the smallest little thing. A tender bloom of care.

"I see... That was brave of you." How very much like Sailor Venus to leap into the unknown to help her comrade and Princess. But... "Jupiter?"

It takes him a moment, registering that quietly, and indeed beyond the doors he sees the first signs of them. Taller than the others, moving slow, this other version of himself holding onto Sailor Jupiter for support. And she gives it easily, patient and gentle, and they look close.

A faint 'huh' puffs from his chest, and there is only a small pang in his heart now. It's distant, and different, and from long ago. But he smirks a little to lean in, "You're right, I am more handsome than him. And my cape is nicer."

Minako Aino has posed:
"It was..." For a moment Venus tapers off at being told it was brave of her. The word that springs to mind is one that has often plagued her, though she's come to accept it more recently. "It was my duty. I had to. The others were more effective against Wiseman than I was given the situation, but we *needed* her to finish things."

As the figures of the others come into view just a bit, her gaze flits over to watching his expression. Her arms cross over her chest idly as she stands next to him. Senshi, and Shittenou, overlooking those coming and going.

"They're together," she confirms quietly. A little gossip perhaps but she also knew how it had been for them in the past. How she'd seen Masato warring over whether or not he should, and poor Makoto. "Are you okay?" She thinks to ask just in case.

The lean-in with his rejoinder earns a laugh as she leans back to lightly nudge his side with her elbow. "Told you so. Although he does have a very nice car."

Nephrite has posed:
"That's fine, I've got a very nice yacht." He grins at her again, but it settles, as they people watch and trade whispers. He tilts his head to and fro.

"It's a bit of a surprise, to see them come together... Maybe even a little bit strange. Though, things are different in your time, again." The Shitennou muses quietly, curious of it as his other hand grips belt. "I can't say I disapprove. But I think my heart has healed most of its cracks."

He turned her a look. "I took my time to see the world, and I think my first love might just be the Earth itself. Our beautiful blue planet." A beat. "Although, I think I'll continue to flirt with the people on it, all the same. There's a few of them I think are... almost as beautiful as our world." He chuckled.

Minako Aino has posed:
"You had a different life and time to heal. He's fresh out of being our enemy only a year ago. It'll take time, but he's doing good! He's got people around him that care now."

Venus goes quiet just a moment in thought before she continues. "It really does help having family, too. Good family. My parents are great-- But poor Mako-chan lost hers. And his parents are kind of trash from what I've heard. Though," she admits looking back to him with a grin. "Traveling *does* do wonders. I traveled a lot before becoming Sailor Venus. This world *is* beautiful, and there's so much to see, and do, and eat!" She could appreciate good food darnit!

"And some people can be beautiful too. Like me!" A joking little hairflip comes as her hand reaches back to slide through part of the length.

"I don't think I could pull of a cape though. It'd get in the way of my hair."

Nephrite has posed:
"I spent a lot of time with my Baa-chan when I was growing up, and she certainly deserves credit for her patience. I was obsessed with Tuxedo Mask as a boy. Dressed up like him and all." The Shitennou grants fondly of this time's Naru, and then of course, hearing stories about her proximity to Usagi-chan-- because to Naru, at least in private, the Queen had always been her friend. "I also snuck an extra life in, before, just between you and I. Not a bad one, by any stretch, but always with something missing. Skiing accident took me out."

He'd remembered nothing at that time, but he remembered even that mundane life now. Like a distant dream.

"I've lived a long while, under the King and Queen. Literally, a world of difference." He smirked and nodded to her, looking her over. "You look stunning just as you are. As always, Minako-chan."

Minako Aino has posed:
That news does leave Venus looking very surprised. Another life but a short one. An eyebrow raises a little though she cracks a grin. Much like he had earlier, her finger raises to tap against her lips while giving him a wink. She wouldn't tell.

"They can be a handful. Mamoru and Usagi-chan. They do mean well and want the best for everyone though." A long gaze is swept over the renewed city appreciating what she saw so far of it. "I'm so glad I get to see this all how it should be."

Then the compliment comes. A slight flush rises to her cheeks though she grins brightly none the less. There's no shyness here, not with her. "And I'm really glad I got to meet you, Kaito-kun."

Nephrite has posed:
"Likewise." He agrees, and raises a gloved hand to rub at his cheek. "Though, I'll miss you when you go... The Senshi of this time might finally be released from their tasks, but I'm still mostly a stranger to them. It's a bit of a relief to think this other me has mended his bridges relatively quickly..."

The Shitennou makes a face, and arches a brow at her. "You seem to be fond of me, and that's a fairly good sign. Who knows? Maybe your counterpart will think I'm a charming and delightful, as well." He teases, "I can show her my guns."

A beat. "My muscles, not the illegal... weapons I made. Those will be confiscated... Probably." Brown eyes narrow. "By Malakai, no doubt. The King would probably let me have them on display in the museum, though."

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus raises a hand to clap over her mouth in a valiant effort to not giggle-snort helplessly at that obvious little misphrasing there. Even so she does manage to get out, "Oh she'll like both sorts, probably."

"A museum... Well they did help to fight against the Black Moon Clan. It's significant history now. Or will be." That's surely what Ami-chan would say, right? Or something like it.

The laughter fades, her expression softening, as she regards him again. "... You really don't know how much it meant that you came to check on me when we came back from Nemesis. I know I can hold a lot of weight on my shoulders, but it's still heavy. Everyone else had someone to look after them."

"That's not to say my friends weren't also worried, just..." The words falter and trail off leaving her only able to shrug. She couldn't quite put it into words. "Thank you."

"It might take her awhile to not be suspicious of you, but I think this time's Venus would get along with you too. Probably easier than he and I got along at first."

"Do you know he thought I was trying to seduce Zoisite as reveng for Kunzite not going out with me? I was just getting hairstyle tips!"

Nephrite has posed:
A small nod, and now with his fuller memories, he understands even more-- when she thanks him for being there, after Nemesis.

"You're welcome," is murmured to that, and in retrospect it's fitting. He is the Knight who brings Comfort, the one aware of the emotional needs of others. The confidant who advises or lends quiet strength or care.

But, at that time, he was also simply Kaito Miyake. This must've been why Isamu was so certain, too, the he would be Nephrite-- the best of him.

"Oh? Seduction and intrigue?" He laughs, taking a moment to lean against a pillar lazily. He's more relaxed. "I hope his foot tasted alright. That sounds like a mess... Why Zoisite? I know he's a flirt, too, but... Oh, was he jealous?"

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus smiles with relief when he seems to understand exactly what she was trying to say. It had been a tough time for her. For them all, and even now remembering what it had been like on that horrible planet was... Well, not pleasant. It's an effort but she decides to put it out of her mind for now.

"What? Oh, because Zoisite is Kunzite's boyfriend. I confessed to Kunzite on Valentine's Day. He has history with Zoisite though. They 'orbit one another and always have' is how Usagi put it."

A little shake of her head comes. "He thought I was trying to get revenge. It's kind of funny now, really. Neph and Zoisite were texting each other with emojis only and both got the entirely wrong impression. We thought he was caught in a fight, he thought Zoi had Kunzite over. Then came home and I was there."

A little indignant sniff comes. "I ate his portion of the cake I brought. *That* was my revenge." Intrigue indeed!

Nephrite has posed:
As she explains more, smirk forms, and slowly spreads until it's an amused-- almost naughty-- grin. Even so, he can't really hide the way his brows perk to 'Zoisite is Kunzite's boyfriend'. That was new information.

"Zoisite... Is he, really?" It sounded less like a question, and more like he was absorbing some of the finest dirt he may ever recieve. "Interesting." He looked terribly like he knew something that others did not, but he didn't speak it just now. He did look very amused.

"Yes, I suppose it could be said... Jadeite and I have our synergy, as do Kunzite and Zoisite. In some ways, they're each like our responsibility, Kunzite and I always seeming to be older than them. It's always been a little like that..." He's thoughtful, "But those two in your time... Orbitting one another, to end up that way, instead. And then Jadeite having also being involved with the Prince, too."

He shook his head. "That's very funny."

Minako Aino has posed:
"Oh you don't even know the half of it!" That naughty grin either goes unnoticed, or Mina is just stuck in gossip mode at this point. Either way she continues on as she holds a hand up to tick off fingers.

"Kunzite is Mamoru's boyfriend, too. Once Kunzite started dating Zoisite though he made him say he wouldn't date anyone else-- An when he turned me down on White Day he brought me home-made Tiramisu! At *school*!" Her expression is simply aghast.

"Seriously, it'd be one thing if it were just obligation chocolate, but a home-made item like that would have everyone assuming and asking who had returned my interest! Then I would have had to explain it's the exact opposite! I know he meant well but he didn't really *think* about that, I can tell." Huff.

"Oh, and Sailor Moon and Mercury are also dating. I mean, I did breifly date Mars but we both have a bit of a temper." To say the least. "It just didn't work."

Nephrite has posed:
He laughs about the Tiramisu. "That idiot-- He didn't get it, at all..." He tilts his head, "I can see the trouble, though. Sometimes having feelings for your comrades is... complicated." He nods. "Yeah. I understand exactly what you mean."

He's invested in hearing all about these things, memorising the details for later. He seems to delight in it, the way she divulges all of this, and the Shitennou knows he's going to have fun with them later.

For now though, he's enjoying her, and the vibrant way she dishes on her friends.