[boyband au]

[angstennou]

Who: Nephrite and anyone who comes visit him!
What: Nephrite and Ami discussing what to do about Kunzite's blackmailing
When: After Nephrite gets arrested for punching Kunzite in a concert
Where: Juuban district's jail

Nephrite was sitting at his cell, still fuming. Kunzite, that bastard. He doesn't have the right to treat Ami like that. And he dared to say he loved her? Yeah, sure. They say Nephrite is a bad loser because of his temper. At least he doesn't try to hurt someone he likes. Aaaaargh he should have broken all the bastard's teeth, so he wouldn't be able to show up at that meet and greet tomorrow.

Nephrite didn't care anymore if Beryl fired him. He never got paid and he didn't want to share a stage with such an asshole. But he didn't want to ruin Ami's career too. He wished he still had his phone, so he could text Mamoru for help. He started pacing as he tried to think of a way to help Ami while he couldn't get out of the jail.

Comments

[musicite]

Well, he knows it for certain now. But yes, he'd noticed the way Nephrite and Mercury looked at each other. There was a certain feeling between them.

Zoisite, though, had no intention of using the information to cause harm, only to try to persuade Nephrite against an action he believed would make the younger boy's situation worse.

"If you meet her again," he pointed out, "there may be more troubles."

[angstennou]

"What troubles? I am already fired and in jail! And all the troubles were Kunzite's fault." And he would be very lonely if he ended things with Ami now.

...But it might actually be better for her if they were not together anymore... Even if Kunzite said anything, she could say they weren't dating anymore or something. He probably should ask her about that if she came to see him.

[musicite]

Frankly, Zoisite would likely encourage whatever line of thought would convince Nephrite to separate from Mercury. Without her, Nephrite might have the chance to repair the rift with Kunzite, and even to be accepted back into the group. That would be the best outcome as far as Zoisite was concerned.

What further troubles did he forsee? Zoisite's expression turned distant for a moment.

"What about your future career?" he asked softly. "If this continues, that will also be at risk."

[angstennou]

Nephrite might be too spiteful and stubborn to reconciliate, Zoi. he doesn't want to work with Kunzite anymore.

"What career? I am out already, remember? And I am not as good as you guys, no matter how hard I work." He had gotten in the group only because the guys had insisted with Ms. Beryl and Ms. Metalia, after all.

[musicite]

"That is not true," said Zoisite, who had always been the more encouraging about Nephrite's talents. "You are a part of this group. They will also understand that."

Right now? Even he has to admit that this is right, sending Nephrite away while tempers cool. But eventually? He fully hopes and expects to see them all together again.

[angstennou]

"Well, the concert went on just fine without me, didn't it? I guess I wasn't really needed there." It was fun while it lasted, though. Before Kunzite ruined everything for him. "And I don't want to be part of a group that plays dirty to get contracts."

[musicite]

A group that played dirty? Zoisite was pretty sure Mamoru wouldn't like that. Which meant he didn't like it.

It was also the first he'd specifically heard of it. He tended to stay out of Beryl's way, and she stayed out of his; and he still wasn't sure he believed ill of Kunzite.

"What do you mean?"

[angstennou]

"Kunzite tried to use Ami to get information on her group and to sabotage them." Just remembering it made him angry. Their schedule was always full, it wouldn't hurt to leave a few contracts for the girls.

[musicite]

Zoisite was still dismissive. Not of the truth of Nephrite's words, but of their rivals.

"We do not need that advantage," he said with what might have been arrogance.

[angstennou]

"I know, right?" Nephrite didn't mean it in the same way, he just thought there were lots of contracts around and there was no need to go so far. But even if their views were a little different, Zoisite agreed with him. "Can you convince Kunzite of it, though?"

[musicite]

Zoisite gave Nephrite a brief, wry smile. "Has anyone convinced Kunzite of something he does not wish to see?"

Kunzite was, in many ways, stubborn, and very slow to change his views or opinions. In one sense, Zoisite knew, it was a virtue. It made Kunzite dedicated, and loyal. But in another sense, it was a flaw. It made him rigid, unable to bend even when he should. Even when he knew he should.

[angstennou]

Nephrite pouted. "No, I guess not. But at least he listens to you a little more." Because whatever Nephrite said was always dismissed as stupid. And then they would end up fighting.

[musicite]

"If you wish," Zoisite offered, "I will speak with him. But I can make no promise regarding his actions."

That probably went without saying. The offer was as sincere as it was possible for Zoisite to be, though. If it would add to at least some peace, he would gladly stand between his two friends and mediate their argument.

[angstennou]

"To be honest, I'm not sure if it would be better or worse if you talked to him." Kunzite always found ways to turn anything Nephrite did against himself, what if he made things worse again? Not that things could get much worse for him, but who knew about Ami? And, well, might get Zoisite in a bad position too. "But thanks anyway."

[musicite]

"I will not speak with him, if you do not wish it," said Zoisite. He knew that any results would be unpredictable, and he had no desire to make things worse for Nephrite, either.

[angstennou]

"I don't even know anymore. Do what you think it's best." Zoisite's judgement was usually better than his, and probably even more in this situation.

[musicite]

He would have liked to cheer Nephrite up, but... that always seemed to be a difficult task. Perhaps it was not something that could be done in a single visit, in a day.

"If you wish me to come here again," he said, the only offer he could still make, "I will."

[angstennou]

Nephrite already had a tendency to mope over a lot of things, and after all the day's events, it was really hard to cheer up.

"Are you sure? Won't you get in trouble with the media and Ms. Beryl?"

[musicite]

"I don't mind that," he answered. Zoisite didn't much care about either of those things, really, especially compared to at least trying to be here for Nephrite.

[angstennou]

True, Zoisite didn't care about anything that wasn't their group or his piano. Nephrite usually found that annoying, but he had to admit that right now he was glad that Zoisite was like that.

"Well, it would be nice if came then." It would be good to have news from the outside world and something to look forward to.

[musicite]

"As often as you wish." Coming from Zoisite ,it was a promise. Actually, Nephrite could probably look forward to hearing Zoisite had come at almost every possible opportunity.