2520/Hot Rock Therapy

Hot Rock Therapy
Date of Scene:	10 May 2025
Location:	Crystal Tokyo
Synopsis:	Nephrite and King Endymion go find Isamu and get him to pick up his old job as Zoisite, for the Crystal Millennium.
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Nephrite, Zoisite
Tinyplot:	BMC: Dimension Future
Tinyplot2:	Black Moon Clan

---

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
King Endymion's ghost has met Nephrite at the bottom of the televator; he's showing a lot more nervous tension than he had been, and probably a lot more than he's been capable of for the past month. This whole day has been an exercise in Reacquiring Joy.

(Nervous tension, but very little to say except for a stumbling apology to Nephrite when they're halfway to the infirmary. "I'm sorry, all of this and I find myself unable to address the glaring hole in my life where you and the others used to be. I haven't been myself.")

("By which I mean, I've missed you all and was I ever that jealous? Ah-- I'll save that for my own...")

The people they see in the hallway on the way to the infirmary are mostly people who live in the palace, and they have curious looks for Nephrite but don't interrupt the King when he looks so intent on going somewhere.

It's not that long a walk between the televator and the infirmary.

Nephrite has posed:
It's hard not to be at ease around the King, to fall into the habit of smoothing things if he can. After all, he's holding a tray as he walks and it feels reminscent of some ancient diplomacies; friendships made, accords established. A bottle of gently warmed sake-- Nephrite's particular choice for an emergency or for important and heavy matters-- and a few ups, and a small wooden case in which the silk wrapped stone is hidden securely.

(And he's still very aware of the pinch mark upon his arm, and "Of course, your Majesty, any room without my presence is one sorely lacking, I understand. The others are fine too, I suppose." It's only matched by the slight smirk he turns at him. "Jealousy? Is that what it is? I hadn't noticed--")

It isn't that hard to find and flag Nurse Isamu down. It's quite noticable, after all, that the King is here. Non-corporeally, of course, which is a shame, because it's great sake.

"Hanakawa-Sensei," he calls out ahead, lifting his chin, "If you could spare a moment for the King. I brought you the drink you were after."

Zoisite has posed:
Head turns at the call, hair still in the usual messy updo. He had been currently assisting one of the children that had a minor accident within the Palace itself. Distractions were a good thing for the young mind, playing pretend and practicing sword fighting as though imitating the legends of old. Of course, the swords were nothing but bamboo ones meant for training, but it was still capable of causing harm. Like breaking glass and causing one of the children to get a nasty cut.

Thankfully he was at the end of the process bandaging the child up, fresh new gauze and colorful tape before finally stepping away.

"Lover boy?" Isamu calls back out, not recognizing the voice at first until he approached. Tired green eyes brightened at seeing that it was indeed the bartender. But instead of sliding into his usual self, the presence of the King demanded utter respect enough that he regretted addressing the boulder man as he just did.

"Ah, Endymion-Sama." Isamu looks alarmed, only now seeing the monarch for himself and bowing quickly. "My apologies. It is an honor."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Despite his unsightly translucence, the King can't possibly be anyone else. Maybe because of that translucence, because there is a younger him currently running around--

He smiles, a little rueful, at Isamu's greeting. "Hanakawa-san." That's a slight inclination of his head, there, and he holds up a hand. "First, I am very, very grateful that you're taking care of people while I cannot. Second, I--"

His head ducks as he smiles again, and then he says gently, "I was wondering if you wanted an additional job. Or perhaps, a job for when the current crisis is over and we have less of a skeleton crew running."

The King is certain-- if Isamu's seen him at all this past month, he's been ghosting the corridors without interacting. He's actually engaging now-- he's certain that this group of young heroes will save them, will awaken his wife. He's so sure now that it's temporary.

"It comes with the memories of another life." He's so serious. He's so serious.

Nephrite has posed:
A slight bow of Nephrite's head accompanies this, and despite the levity that could be applied, he seems serious as well. "You might consider this the formal interview process."

Even so, there's a very faint smile offered at the end of that.

Zoisite has posed:
Yes, the first king he's met informally was indeed the boy in a mask that had accompanied Nephrite as well. So this was a bit of a shock, considering how always busy and scarce his proper King was. However, with the quietest of invitations, that hopeful yet serious smile on both the men's lips, Isamu couldn't exactly ignore the pull it had somewhere in him.

Formal interview, additional job. Stars help him, he was barely sleeping in this current one.

Isamu straightened. "Memories of a past life?" No smile, no joking. "If I could be of any service to you, your Majesty, I will in a heartbeat. But I might need a bit more of an explanation..." And maybe some of that sake.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
King Endymion glances in Nephrite's direction as if looking for moral support, and whatever he sees seems to work, because he looks back at Isamu and gestures. "Please, let's sit down. This is Nephrite, one of the young magical heroes who've come to visit us, though I take it you've met. He brought sake, and-- an artifact, of sorts."

'Sit down' he says, well, if he can walk on the floor he can sit on a chair. He does, once they're someplace with seats. He doesn't, however, wait for Nephrite to pour. "Please indulge me, there's a bit of storytelling involved. I have-- Serenity and the Senshi have-- a history that isn't in the books, because it was too long ago -- it was over thirteen thousand years ago. She was the princess of the Moon and they were her guardians. I was prince of the Earth, and I had guardians too. You were one of them."

He looks somber at this point. "There's bad history, too, but if you'd like to-- I mean-- if you want to-- despite the bad history, I would love for you to come back. But it's pretty bad."

Nephrite has posed:
In this quieter spot, where curtains sequester several medical devices and some scattered supplies alongside a place to take a break, he settles the tray upon the table available. As the King speaks, he sets things out, moving with a dutiful sort of calm. Everything as it should be, that is what he is trying to exude-- because this is a return to form, after all. A welcome burden, he hopes.

In lieu of the King's ability to drink it, he still sets out and pours a cup for him, because that is proper. That is symbolic of everything, painfully so, as impractical as it may be (and as much as his own Mamoru might roll his eyes), but the reverence in this is important. There is weight here, and the reality of their duties come in equal measure to their personal connections to one another.

But, a cup is set next before Isamu, and the sake is poured. "You'll want to start on that now." He advises.

Zoisite has posed:
Isamu didn't question it, the way things were being set up. The seats were simple fold out chairs in hopes to not take up as much space, the smell of medical alcohol and sanitizers was a reminder to keep everything clean, free of bacteria and germs. Yet Nephrite's purpose of serving the sake made the small space seem much more sacred.

And of course, the King's words held a type of wonder in Isamu's mind. Of a history spanning long before they all existed, yet still the same, surprisingly.

Well, perhaps those two were still the same. Isamu on the other hand felt rather simple, a young man. Surely, he had questions on if he really was the owner of those old memories at all.

"Nothing would give me more honor than to be in your service. But..." He looked at his cup of sake, not yet reaching for it. Question at the tip of his tongue. "What if I am the wrong one?"

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Then first, this old doctor will have a very competent nurse, and second, you'll need to tell the boy from the past -- this Nephrite's brother-in-arms -- that it's sheer coincidence that you look so very much alike, because I am certainly not going to," the King says easily, as if he'd thought about it already. He probably has. He confides, "He's spicy."

Glancing up at Nephrite as he sets the drink in front of him, King Endymion nods solemnly. "Thank you," he tells him.

A beat.

"Will you save some for me later, though? I definitely want to taste some pre-apocalypse sake. The first one, not this one. Well, I guess, the second one and this is the third...?"

Nephrite has posed:
"Well, who's counting?" Nephrite returns coolly, almost casually, despite the small ceremony of it. He pours his own last. "I'll be sure to reserve some."

Setting the bottle down, sapphire eyes turn to Isamu, and he settles into his own seat. "I am fairly confident that you're the one. There's certain things that never change, fundamental to who we are. Those nuances may not be wholly obvious to others, but to each other..."

He trails of on that note, but he does gesture towards the bulk of the infirmary beyond the curtains. "What you've been called to do and how you conduct yourself, even in the short time I've been allowed to observe you, is the very essence of what I know Zoisite's heart to be."

He picks up his cup to add, "Spiciness not withstanding."

Zoisite has posed:
Oh.

Lover boy had a way with words that made Isamu bite his lower lip. He was sure he wasn't discreet about it either, perhaps slightly pathetic in the face of such serious matters. But he was who he was, and a gorgeous man was still a gorgeous man--brother-in-arms or not.

"Your current Zoisite must be very lucky then." If only Isamu knew who he was in another life. "Spiciness included. If I am not the one, I will tell him myself. Do not worry, your Majesty." Gaze returning to the King and bowing his head.

Heart however was calmed.

"Very well. Where should I start?" A beat. "Besides the sake, I mean."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
King Endymion looks to Nephrite, then to the box. "If you would?" he asks calmly. His heart isn't beating faster; he's not really sleeping, no. But he knows it should be.

It would be thumping out of his chest, adrenaline singing through him to the tips of his fingers--

"I wish I were physical for a lot of reasons," he says frankly, "but one of them is that I could show you and you could reject it, if you wanted, before taking memories on yourself. Another is that I'd be able to catch you if you fall over. You'll have to make do with Neph."

Singing in his veins. Neph. He'll have his own men back...

"So the bad," he starts, folding his arms and crossing his legs and sitting forward a little. He realizes what he's doing and makes a conscious effort to straighten out and open up. "THe princess and I fell in love, and there was a woman, Beryl, a seer in the court, whose heart burned with jealousy. She made a pact with a demon for power, and turned the people against the Moon, saying that I had been bewitched. The four of you-- fell for her rhetoric, and were influenced by the demon. Without you by my side..."

He shakes his head. "That was the first apocalypse. Earth invaded the moon and everyone died. Everyone."

He's curled inward a little again, and sighs and makes himself open up once more. "That was the first apocalypse. We were all reborn. So was Beryl. At some point before I was seventeen, she'd got you all again, in this new life. None of us remembered... I didn't remember anything, and none of you remembered me. She stole you again, and turned you against the moon, and gave you power, and that time we were able to stop the apocalypse. But-- you four died-- without remembering me. Without me remembering you. But your bodies were stones with your ghosts in them, and you saved my life, together, finally."

After a second, Endymion adds, "Then you were ghosts for the first two hundred years of the Crystal Millennium."

Nephrite has posed:
*You'll have to make do with Neph,* the King says, and Nephrite merely winks across the table subtly.

He moves to take up the small box, however, and sets it in front of Isamu. His face is solemn when the First Apocolypse is spoken of, summarised neatly into the most necessary facts. Gloved hands move quietly to open the case, revealing first only gentle silks, but slowly this too is pushed aside. The subtle glint of a stone becomes obvious, patiently awaiting Isamu's attention.

"There's quite a number of tragic things you'll remember, if you take up that stone. You may remember fractured truths, and memories that have been tampered with, you may need time to... organise everything into sense." He agreed quietly. "But above any of them, you will remember the most important things of all."

Sapphire eyes drifted to the King again, and for a long moment, he considered his place in this-- the grand differences between his own history, and theres, alongside the things that were undoubtedly the same. He inclined his head towards Isamu again.

"The King can't afford you a proper choice, as he said. But I can offer you my insight as a poor substitute for it. I won't say I haven't had my difficulties reconciling my current and former lives, or the... missteps taken. But I can say this--" His gaze falls to the stone. "What matters most is what will come next. I would make this choice a thousand times over, even knowing what I do now. I would rather make things right, a little late, than allow them to become any worse."

Zoisite has posed:
As the silk is pushed aside, both King and the his Knight both explain what was, what ached and what he would come to see, Isamu regards the green stone within with focus and anticipation. Like looking at the heart of someone that passed away, no longer beating yet entailing all the respect one could muster.

It was intimate to hear such words between the other two, soft warnings, but lacking any regret. Comforting, while a part of him was more than aware that any introduction of new memories and experiences would inevitably evoke some change in him. Good, bad, the in between.

A good bye to his current self, since he did accept to do this, were he the one for this particular burden.

The stone would know.

"You know, I wouldn't have become a nurse were I afraid of a little pain. Physically, emotionally or mentally." His eyes look towards his cybertech arm, the gleam of white metals and the blue light in his synthetic eye. But he did not mean in regards to himself. He could see and feel the Earth and people dying and striving so hard for survival. "I hope I am what you both see in me." There was honor in his words, his own reverence towards the cause and the invitation to returning home.

Deep breath, and he leans in, both metal and flesh taking the stone into his careful grasp, unsure of what to exactly do with it. But one usually finds themselves around what used to belong to them. And the stone felt warm in his hands. The soft random speckle of light and the rubies hidden within.

Then a glow. Soft, green, from within the stone before a bud was born from it, blooming into lotus with embers within. A greeting of the two parts that made the whole of Isamu and who he was previously. Isamu was transfixed by the vision, almost losing himself to the beauty of an ethereal flower before the embers grew into veins of flames and began to envelope the young nurse in both light and warmth.

What happened next he did not see as his mind was swiftly pulled away, back in time when everything seemed so much more magical. Just a wild boy with his stick, challenging the young prince into a duel. Soon after, always by the prince's side. Smart as a whip, protective, but also protected but the other three around him. And as the King and Knight warned him, the rest followed...

Isamu forgot to breathe.

The stone became pure like and merged into his chest, fire and petals changing his current medical clothes for the uniform of old he had always worn. Silver white, hemmed in green, and a cape flowing behind him. The inside of the cape was lovingly adorned with various shining flora and roots and petals, ever changing like they were alive.--a bit different from the other Zoisite who did not possess such an item. Simple green studs to his ears, and hair loose.

Once released by the fire and petals, this Zoisite collapsed--mind racing.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
The further explanation is welcome, is fundamentally important, is as strong and telling as the King's-- and he listens, nodding along. And then he smiles a little at Zoisite's reverent hope, and he would reach across the table and put his hand over Isamu's, but...

The flower growing out of the stone makes Endymion's eyes widen, and he leans forward, and the magic taking Isamu and trandforming him like that-- he whispers, "You missed you."

Despite the warning 'you'll have to make do with Neph,' King Endymion lunges to catch Zoisite and-- goes through the table and definitely Zoisite and probably Nephrite.

Nephrite has posed:
He was ready to move, and that was swiftly proven necessary. Just as the King lunged, all instinct, so to did Nephrite. Chair kicked to clatter in the interim, not purposefully as much as simply being in the way of boots. Arms trying to catch the dropped weight of the other, heavy and sudden.

The dead weight dropped Nephrite to a knee, lowering the other through the last of the fall, holding onto the limp body that was unmistakably transformed. Holding him propped in his arm, and upon his knee, and tapping gloved hand gently against cheek. Just enough to try and rouse, hasty. "Zoisite--"

Zoisite has posed:
Dead weight, perhaps a little more than that due to his cybernetic arm. Despite the transformation, it did not go away. And due to the white uniform, soft greens and golds, it matched. Like both metal and magical were meant to be.

Mind was finally settled like stilled water after a storm. Deep breathing, needed and sought after, yet so light. Ripples of a voice calling to him, and soft taps to flesh, his body trembled until Isamu--no, Zoisite was finally lucid in waking.

As eyes opened, he saw Nephrite. Twinkle of recognition, taking in who he recognized as a version of his own brother-in-arms. Cheeks dusting in pink with old and new memories seamlessly connecting without much chaos. Only a sincere embarrassment of his own recent conduct. A hand lifted to his mouth as he covered the smile that reached his eyes.

"Gods... I flirted with you twice so openly..." Whispers. "I'm sorry, Nephrite. Thank you, for catching me."

Sits up, head turns looking for his King, that same shine of recognition in them.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Nobody's looking when the King sidesteps out of Zoisite's chair, where he'd ended up after his ill-considered rescue attempt; Isamu is out of it and Masato is trying to snap him out of it-- so a second later he's hovering over the two of them, anxious.

Anxious until Isamu comes back out of his reverie and is embarrassed, then smiling.

It doesn't take long for Zoisite's eyes to find his King: Endymion steps closer as his first Knight to return to him speaks, and-- when Zoi sees his face, it's like Endymion is having Emotions too big for him to cope with when he doesn't have a body. Which is probably true.

His glow is brighter, though, and it's a moment of joy unmitigated by all his current sorrows.

"Zoisite."

His voice is kind and warm and soft, affectionate, relieved. "I hope you don't mind if, when I wake up, I hug you a lot."

Nephrite has posed:
A smirk alights on Nephrite's features too, tracing the other Knight's face with a likewise fondness. "And don't worry about that, you idiot... I'd flirt with me too."

It is written all over him, the relief and the easing of tension. Briefly, with a chuckle, his head dips to Zoisite's chest to rest there. "You scared the shit out of us, you bastard."

Slowly, he rights, trying to help Zoisite to sit up on his own at least.

Zoisite has posed:
To feel Nephrite's weight on his chest, the tenderness in words, Zoisite couldn't help but continue to feel the heat on his cheeks and a thud in his chest. Long, possibly ancient, but a torch burning for centuries and longer. But he did not speak more on it, chuckling at the comment of even Nephrite willing to flirt with himself.

Of course, all of this was now secondary to when their King was there. In spirit, in mind, just not flesh. How he wished it were not like this now. "I would be disappointed if you wouldn't wish to hug me, Endymion." Cheeky, but it was only between the three of them. "I think all four of us wish to hold you, after you've done nothing but hold us for so many years, seeking our advice."

"And what a Kingdom you and her Majesty has made. Even if it's in tatters now, it refuses to fall. It's strong. We'll help you in any way to keep it from falling."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Are you sure?" the King asks, his eyes twinkling. "You'll have to help find the others, and I'd appreciate it if you fought directly, but you might want to practice first. Not necessary but, you know, you don't have the muscle memory yet. You'll also be expected to babysit sometimes, and back up the Senshi, and--" He takes a breath and says ruefully, "and let them get used to you."

Nephrite has posed:
"Easy," Nephrite warned as he continued to return to his feet, pulling at the newly restored Zoisite carefully. A slow process, not to rush him in case any sort of vertigo persisted.

"Let's just concentrate on you getting back into your chair and finishing your sake, right now."

Zoisite has posed:
"Right," He nodded, finding his way back to his chair with the offered help. Thankfully he was not dizzy anymore, even with so many memories were shoved back into his mind.

"Of course I'm sure, your Majesty. Any help I can offer, I will do for you. Even if it's just to find the other three." Gaze lowered to his arms, noting that he did not have the same muscles as his other lives did. In the Silver Millennium, he was still slender, but with deadly precision. Nothing but skin and muscles. Not dissimilar to his other self in the Dark Kingdom, but he was more of a trickster that used mostly Dark Energy instead of his weapons.

Now he was merely a nurse. Muscles of a man that worked long hours non stop, and not of a fighter--yet. "You are right. I should perhaps train again, remember how to use my abilities once more. It's all in my head but my body isn't the same."

"I'll focus on healing for now. It's what I do best, in this lifetime." A nod, before lifting his gaze to both the King, then Nephrite. "Will you join me on the sake?"

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Here's where the King -- who didn't mind being called just Endymion, and it's a fair sight better than what the ghosts called him -- slow-smiles at the question, glances to Nephrite, and then says to Isamu, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Nephrite has posed:
A short nod, because of course-- *of course* he will drink with him-- and a quick thump of the back of this other Zoisite's shoulders is given. Acquiesing.

He took up both of their cups, clicked the bottom of them together, and held it out to the other Knight to take.

"Unfortunately, the sake's best for those who can enjoy a full-bodied experience," Nephrite lifted a brow and clicked his tongue, "Kanpai." He sipped.

Zoisite has posed:
Cup given, Isamu lifted it to his lips, already taking his sip. Such unfortunate timing, as Nephrite's comment only brought the King's prior comment to a full circle and straight into the nurse's lungs at his sudden inhale.

A toast, and chokes, to a new dawn of the Kingdom.