Blackout
Father's Prison
Nevermore scoffs almost spitefully.
"Age isn't any indication of readiness..." Nevermore rolls her eyes. Saying that made him sound like a foolish old man. Not ready. Being honest with herself, she's never been ready for any part of her life. That didn't stop it from happening. The world doesn't care if you are ready or not. It just is. As cold and uncaring as... as Galen Kard. The thought sours her mood.

She had forgotten about Cinder. Razz's childhood friend and squad mate turned lover. She had idealized their relationship. Razz and Sia. Mostly because of her Shared Seal with Gale. Now all the times she'd lovingly stared at her seals and thought about forever seem like a cruel joke. She sneaks a passing glance at Razz and sighs. It's not his fault. His emotions have always driven him. The polar opposite of herself.

If only she could go back being nothing but a weapon. But the pain is too sweet to let go of. All those moments. She'd almost lost them. Once when Gale died. And again when Kard tried to erase her memories and send her back. She knows it'd be easier to let go. To give up on what could have been. But how could she when that hollow pitch black void stares deep into her being every time she uses her seals?

Nevermore stays quiet. She doesn't want to seem rude. Instead she decides to divert the subject. 
"I miss love songs." She says softly. "Music in general, really. I miss being able to turn on the radio and just enjoy the music without being reminded of the future I can't have."

She's being dramatic. Self pitying. Humans are fickle things. Just semi operational computers driven by primal urges prettied up and glorified to be justifiable in the face of reason. She could go back. Have Kard erase her memories. Wipe it all out. Go back to a small little world and make happy. But at what cost? Would it matter if no one remembered him? Would it matter if she realized her dream with someone else? Would any of it matter? At all?

Probably not.

Which is why her choice to fight for his memory matters all the more. 


Smough's Flagship
Smough raises an eyebrow.
"That was you? I assumed it was The Father." Smough laughs. Then he looks at Gaul's tats. "If I did. They'd be quite expensive. Not something you can just go and find, y'know." Smough lights his pipe and takes a drag. The smoke he exhales is dispersed by the ocean winds.

"If you have appropriate compensation. I may be willing to part with a very rare and very useful Gemstone." Smough smiles hungrily. "Shall we deal?"


Flagship Sub Floor 1
The Gem in Flame's pocket begins it's whispering again.
"Claim me, oh bearer mine. Let me strengthen your blood." The whispers can be heard by no one but Flame. The whispers are also getting stronger. They fill the mind like a crashing wave and recede just as violently.