Mysterious Hierarchies ((Paddy))

[Mad Azurite]

As the pearl was conducting her inspection of the gem, the sapphire’s voice rung out, sounding far better than she than earlier, and the vibrato returning to her tongue. Cocoa had just took hold of Chevron’s face, tilting it here and there as she expected her gemstone for any imperfections, when she made a small smile at the sapphire’s questions. “Yes, my mistress has decided to create various gems as gifts for our leaders—our Chevron Amethyst here being the retainer for her highness Pink Diamond.” Cocoa, then began to inspect the wings of the chevron again; she showed certain smile, she couldn’t resist being dazzled by the beautiful patternizations within the crystalline sections of each of the synthetic feathers. “This scout model has already proven her incredible traits, hasn’t she? Her flight capabilities are astounding, though reserved mostly to the higher altitudes and atmospheres, her vision is also so astute that she could spot a rebel miles before they’d even notice her.”

“Summon your weapon, solder.” She’d say to the chevron, who looked at her a little skeptically, before summoning a massive siege-bow that was quite literally her size, which she rested against her body, the ornate weapon was not only impressive, but a complicated build, containing a series of locking rotaries at different pressure points of the bow itself meant to not only ease its drawing but act as spring-back to drive the arrow forward with impressive strength. The string segmented into various breaks that were attached to braces, the arrows must have been something large enough to be drawn with gems full stance, almost like firing short-spears instead of any traditional projectile. The bow even featured an aiming apparatus. Of course, such a massive weapon looked difficult to draw quickly, and such tool would be hard wield in the fray of combat. The bow also featured a small ‘bayonet’ at its top end, more a decorated bladed end in the case she needed to defend herself at close combat.

“We intend to send her as soon as we can, but unfortunately we have to perform test to ensure she’s working at her utmost proficiency.” She’d then turn the sapphire, walking away, there was a recognizably discontent glare in the eyes of the chevron, she seemed very unhappy, though the reason wasn’t the fault of the pearl or anyone else. She wasn’t sure what it was, but was it about the idea of being a gift? Of just being sent off somewhere, she wanted to speak up—but part of her remained quiet, tuning her ears to listen closely to what was going on.

Azurite, listened to the sapphire, and her memory jolted as she recalled what Beady had proposed to the gems, “O’yeah, something about testing out something? Had something to do with making gems?” The Pearl looked over surprise, "Oh! What an honor!” she’d say, and for an odd moment the purple glow about her would flicker, “I’m jealous, madam. It seems she’s chosen you to be the first to test our gem-template generator system.” She thought for a moment, “A fine choice indeed, my master—no better than to let a noble get a chance at such an incredible technological advancement.”

“Normally, gem construction is a complicated and a difficult procedure due to cost and timeliness, the many orders for various gem types and many other motives belonging to the client in question. But we’ve designed a sort of templater—made for use of those willing to put in the cost necessary to operate such a device." she'd finish.

[Paddy]

As Chevron's weapon was revealed, 6UE's jaw dropped and she craned her neck to get a look at this complicated mechanism, an orchestra of parts that would certain give this gem a heft of fire power. There was an old adage, that one's weapon could say something about who they were as a gem-- and the amethyst decided this weapon could say a lot about its young wielder, and her destiny. 

Padparadscha's brows went up, her expression remaining sober as she imagined the field strategies a gem such as Chevron would be implemented in; a gem such as her could provide an astounding advantage to Homeworld. "Very impressive," She said, genuinely but her tone was solemn. She was in no way a soldier, but from her conversations with such gems, and her own battles, she began to take even the thought of combat much more seriously,"I'm sure she'll perform stupendously in duress testing. This model is cutting edge, that is for certain,"   

The sapphire was quick to notice Chevron's discomfort as she too inspected the gem from a more distant position; though she'd gotten a rather close look at the gem and her flight ability, it had piqued her interest to know this gem was going to be working alongside members of her own court. She assumed the scout's discomfort was with the attention itself. 

6UE on the other hand too saw that Chevron was uncomfortable, and she had her own guesses; having a couple of gems talking about you as if you weren't standing right there was always a bit of a nerve-pincher, saying things about you that seemed to diminish your own wishes as a gem. Amethyst was a part of a whole, just a regular amethyst with some minor defects, but she had the urge to stand out; this often got her in trouble. Chevron certainly stood out in appearance, but she too was an amethyst soldier, who might have felt the same now as the bodyguard had many times in the past-- belittled. Amethyst felt she had to do or say something while the noble, pearl, and the higher station soldier discussed whatever odd thing they were offering Padpara. 

With her hands still clasped behind her, the aristocrat's brow quirked as the true offer was hinted at by Azurite, and something about Cocoa's aspect seemed to change, but she couldn't be sure what. Then, her eyes widened as the elaboration went on. This sounded like something awfully complicated; even with intuitive holotech apparatuses she sometimes lost her way and had to ask gems in her technology network for help, typically Olivine or Yelle. Would she be able to operate such a device, especially in its beta testing stages? Part of her became giddy, imagining what she could do with such a thing-- but she also had to wonder why Serendibite wanted it to be her, specifically, who would receive this technology. Was she truly an astute choice for testing something like this? She hoped she wouldn't fail to deliver whatever results the designer was looking for. 

By the time the sapphire had begun to contemplate her response, 6UE scooted a bit closer to Chevron and gave her a grin, eyeing the other gems with a knowing look on her face. "Whatcha thinkin?" She muttered quietly, her brows floating up lightly. 

Meanwhile, Padparadscha was internally reeling, and tried to think of a way to put her thoughts into words."Well, I can't very well deny such an offer," She began slowly,"I'm extremely curious, it does sound quite incredible," Her hands unclasped as she took a step toward the pearl, her desire to know more about this glinting in her eyes, but there was a beat of hesitation, "I do imagine you'll be offering guidance?"  

 

[Mad Azurite]

Even Azurite was a little impressed by the large siege-bow, it was certainly a design like nothing she’d ever seen, she imagined the bow took some time to draw; which meant this gem, with her boosted abilities would be most likely some kind of distant marksmen, being able to fly, she could easily find vantage points and use them to her discretion, she didn’t want to imagine getting hit by whatever this gem was launching with this bow—it would probably mean the end of you if it hit anywhere at center mass. She listened then to Cocoa’s words, this sounded pretty interesting. She imagined what kind of gem she’d make, part of her consumed with the thought of making her own gem template—which she theorized is why she’d never get a chance. She’d create the most ridiculous discombobulated monstrosity, with five legs, a centipede body and nine faces and nose on its butt. The image was incredibly disturbing but would be totally worth it.

Chevron who had been statue-still as the two talked seemed to relax some as the attention shifted from her, but the look of indignation in her eyes only to shift a more surprise gaze to what was essentially a cousin to her, as they lurched beside them. The smile on the Amethyst face seemed to hit Chevron straight in the heart and she also managed a more nervous uncertain smile as she listened, hearing words she was unsure how to answer—the sudden shift in her expression becoming uncertain as she thought of how to reply. She kept her voice low as they talked, “I’m …” she didn’t know why, but she felt strange saying it, “I am not just z’eh tool? Am I?” She whispered to the amethyst, “Just a gee’ft, as she says?” despite the strange eyes the chevron had, they expressed emotion about as well as any other, and there was a questionably saddened look in her eyes.

Cocoa beamed at the sapphire’s response, “Well, the device or system we’ve created is interactive in of itself—a template generator with an easy-to-use interface. It breaks down the more complicated measures of the system, leaving an expansive category-selector, appearance generator … well, it’d be simpler to show you.” She spin on her heel, “Though I might be able to aid in the smaller intricacies, tutorials you see, the point of this device is to let others more easily design gems and their gem templates without the need of sending large explicit documents and more, bothering my master with tidbits about this and that to be added on.” She’d begin to walk in a direction, it seemed despite this being a labyrinth, she knew the way almost instinctually. As if she had walked through this entire area thousands of times.

“My mistress is most likely in her quarters,” she thought aloud, and Azurite would look at Cocoa, “Said she was going to send Pink Diamond a message about something?” Cocoa nodded, “She’s most likely going to inform her that her gift has just reached the inspection phase and that the testing will begin soon.” Cocoa would reply, “Please, follow me.” Cocoa would then begin to make her way though, there was something odd—it seemed the gem’s originally giddy nature was slowly but surely beginning to wane, she expressed now a certain stoic and less openly cheerful but more tired looking, as if she had just come off some kind of elated state of her own. But she still showed signs of jovialness in her visage—the purple glow faint but there.

[Paddy]

Amethyst hadn't been paying so much attention to whatever the other gems were talking about, she knew whatever it was, it wasn't for her, and she'd probably hear about it the whole way back when the chatty noble was given her chance to talk about it. Instead, she peered down at the other amethyst, whose words gave her heart a sharp left hook. Her grin evaporated, eyes darted away, her bulky arms crossed over her chest as she thought about it. "That's..." --exactly what they were. Tools, for the empire to use, gifts for higher ups like Padparadscha to allocate to tasks. But the sapphire was a tool, everyone was, even the Diamonds. Still, Chevron's words highlighted one of 6UE's deepest frustrations. Gems were more than a holopanel or field drop tech or weapons technology like Azurite's Glitterdance.

"It's...complicated," She uttered, surprising herself with her own inability to explain to this gem the reality of her situation; unable, because of how much it affected other soldiers she knew, but also herself. Recalling a certain quartz commander who had based their stoic philosophies around the idea of being a useful tool, she wondered if it were better to tell the young gem to fit into her place and to stay in line. Then, she gave a sigh, "You're...you're way more than that," She kept her voice down, eyes flicking up to Azurite as she recalled the meltdown the gem had just a short while ago, then her gaze slid between the others as she spoke,"--and don't forget it, even if gems like them want you to," Her words became stronger, but then her arms fell to her sides and her expression loosened,"But you still gotta do your job--because...because...if you don't..." Her brows furrowed, her eyes hard,"...that's just the way things work. Gems who don't work...get booted." 6UE hesitated near Chevron as Cocoa began to walk, but would follow behind when her patron moved.

The sapphire was entirely absorbed in her focus on what Cocoa was saying, and followed as the pearl began to lead. She tried to pick apart the words, scrutinize them and try to find the angles that this gem could've been working, that Serendibite was working. There had to be something more to this. Thinking on the days events, she recalled all of the under-handedness she had sensed, and the fact that her data had been destroyed by mysterious means, as well as the very direct warnings she'd received. At Azurite's mention of a message for Pink Diamond, the sapphire nearly froze up-- none of the gems here could know the full truth of what Serendibite had meant to say to her Diamond; what if it had something to do with what had been said here? But she kept going, her curiosity burning hotly as she imagined what could be done with such a template. "I believe I understand, so it's not exactly creating, but rather it serves as a way to build blueprints which your designer can interpret into more functional models?" She hoped she had understood it correctly, but it all still sounded so complex to her. The gem had a bit of a nurturing streak, but she didn't imagine she could create something as nuanced as Serendibite's designs. Her eyes flickered back to Chevron as she recalled the first moment she'd seen the gem emerge. She'd never imagined a gem like her would get a chance at creating anything that wasn't a plasma sculpture. "This will be quite an interesting medium to work with, though I greatly appreciate your tutorial offer. It sounds rather ingenious." 

[Mad Azurite]

As the Amethyst spoke, the look in the Chevron’s eyes seemed twist between a strange intuitiveness as she looked up at her—only to pick up on the ultimate meaning the amethyst words and her look of shattered expectations left her frozen where she stood. Suddenly thrown into the world, able to think, to respond and the first words she was given was that she’s a tool, something to be given away like a gift. She didn’t immediately follow after them, her stomach churned with something, disgust? Fear? She was more than upset with the situation, she felt like doing something, she felt like escaping while she had the chance. But what would the repercussions be when one assumed such a thing? When one committed to it?

Azurite would place her hand on the Chevrons shoulder as she passed her, “C’mon, time to go.” She honestly looked at this gem like she did all other K-sigma creations. She’d a sister, like family. Chevron seemed to hop out of a trance and stare at the gem with a worried look before nodding and following them to their destination. 

Cocoa would take them down turns and twist, the mechanical maze emitting strange noises and a cacophony of machinery whirling away. Again, the glow to her form began to flicker, she’d look back, “Well. Actually, yes and no, the templater not only designs the template of the gem, but the gem stone as well. So you’ll be doing both today.” She say, “And, no it’s I who should be thanking you, this is a very important project for … us …” She voice trailed to a halt as the glow suddenly began to fade, and the pearl suddenly hung her head, since she was leading the group they couldn’t quite see her eyes. But she had suddenly gone so quiet, except what could be considered a light shutter of the voice.

Azurite had noticed the strange slowed pace of the pearl, he’s hand seemed to lift to her face, like she trying hide something. “Uh …” she started, and looked at the other two solders, and hunched her shoulders.

[Paddy]

For the sapphire, these changes in mood from Cocoa were telegraphed loudly, even the soldiers hadn't missed them. Her brows furrowed as she tried to put together what had happened; earlier the gem had gone from being the most surly pearl she'd ever spoken to, then suddenly became fully, genuinely overjoyed. Now, her joy seemed to have drained out of her, the weight of her body becoming heavier with each reluctant step forward. It was quite the mystery, but she knew that the gems on this ship were capable of altering minds to some capacity, had she too been affected by the particles Azurite emitted? That didn't seem right, Padparadscha puzzled over it as she continued to follow, unsure of how to approach this situation. 

6UE was kicking herself for saying what she did to Chevron. Should she have told her the question was ridiculous? Should she have gone even further with her ridicule of the system? No-- those thoughts were dangerous, and even after learning that her own patron seemed to be treading some kind of line, she knew she didn't want the noble to overhear anything too rebellious-- or anyone for that matter, especially now that it seemed that they were under some kind of surveillance. But as she walked, arms crossed defensively over her chest, she noticed the pace the group walked at had slowed significantly, and as Azurite glanced at her, she glanced back, a more confused look to her furrowed brows. She kept quiet, but tried to figure out what was going on from the context. Now, she was gaining a bit more interest in this templater, since she wasn't focusing as much on trying to guide Chevron into the right direction...whatever that was. 

Padparadscha's discomfort with the lingering silence, only broken by an utterance from Azurite before the lull continued, grew exponentially. "Important? Revolutionary even," She uttered in a stilted manner,"I have to say I'm surprised that I've been given this opportunity," The implied question was, why her? Because she was a noble and happened to be here? Could she ask an answer of the pearl now? "To think that any gem could try their hand at a lapidary's work. I do wonder if us in the aristocracy will be any good at it," She gave a sort of awkward chuckle, "Certainly no where near the level of your esteemed designer herself," The gem had no idea what to do in this social situation, which made her nervous. It was part of the job of gems such as herself to know how to handle the social with grace, but it was difficult to be graceful or tactful without knowing what exactly was going on. 

[Mad Azurite]

As they walked, the silence was broken by the sapphire, and part of Azurite wondered if that was a good idea to even be talking to the pearl, she had noted that the effects of Cocoa’s mood elevator seemed to have dried up. And part her wondered what exactly was happening in this situation, or more so what was about to happen, as the sapphire seemed to be agreeing with the pearl and even going on to compliment Azurite and many of the gems-here’s creator. But the pearl, whose pace had slowed almost to a halt, only looked back at the gems, and the look on her face almost broke Azurite. The pearl had nothing but tears rolling down her face, a look of betrayal and humiliation as she turned her head just barely at the group. 

Azurite almost wanted to scold her for acting so bratty, Cocoa knew her place, her position, and yet here she tried to flaunt power in a way she knew didn’t have. Something that she wanted to blame the pearl, but ultimately was the fault of so much really. Her mistress for one, who gave her full reign of the facility, and the nature of how pearls were treated. She honestly couldn’t blame the gem for her reaction. Beady spoiled her, only because she disliked the way the gems in question were treated. As Serendibite had said, there were lazy nobles who did nothing with their lives, using their pearls as tools and taking the all the gains while their assistants lived in the shadows of their grandness—the exception being the pearls directly under diamonds. 

Not only were they treated in a lowly manner, they were walked on, it was something that bothered Azurite—sometimes she would mess with the pearl, but she honestly had respect for Cocoa, she ran this facility almost flawlessly, so many details, and task and things to regiment and organize. Beady treated her like an equal because she knew without this pearl, she’d be in so much stress and her workloads would be doubled.

“I …” the pearl would start through a hoarse voice, locking up as emotions were clogging her throat for air. “I would believe it’s that my master wishes for you to empathize with her.” It was a strange thing to say, but simply something she overheard Serendibite musing on. “Whatever that means. And thank you, my master’s have been in the dark for some time, few know of her true skill.” She seemed to make a sigh that shuttered into an exhausted whimper, “And we’ll see.” She said as she went quiet, all but her pained breaths, possibly the sign she was shedding more tears being heard after. Azurite looked at the other two solders with something of a skeptical, yet pitiful expression. Chevron looked over confused and her ‘forceful,’ nature reared, “Ms. Cocoa, you seem so sad. V’at happened, my dear?” And Azurite would immediately tap the violet gems’ wrist with her own, subtly, “Let’s let her have her moment, okay? Don’t worry, she’s just a little tired.”

“But z’at is not right, she v’as so joyfe’lle not long ee’go.” Azurite wasn’t actually ready for the Chevron to back sass her in this regard and looked over.

“Look, just—its hard to explain. Let her be. Alright?” She had a fiercer look in her eyes, as she was trying to order her with her eyes alone. Chevron would pout, still worried about the gem who suddenly shifted moods.

“K’ay, but z’at still v’orries me …” She’d get out, and Azurite shot her an angry look. This gem just didn't get social cues did she?

[Paddy]

Suffice to say, the sapphire hadn't been prepared to see the pearl so vulnerable. Her lips fell slightly as her brows floated up, but she quickly tried to modulate her expression. She remembered the etiquette testing she had been through back when she lived in her own kindergarten among her sisters; she had been taught to ignore their tears, to pretend it wasn't happening, to simply move along with whatever procedure. But Padparadscha 8QE had never been one who could do that easily-- especially remembering the days when she had been left to herself in that manner. Seeing another gem show vulnerability had always been something of a weakness for her.  

But she also knew that this gem seemed to have a stinging hatred for her. Would it be better to do as she had been taught, for both of their sake? Azurite seemed, to some degree, to hold a similar notion, that the pearl should be left to sort out her own emotions. Padparadscha attempted to go on without acknowledging the pearl's obvious misery, giving only a nod at her words, and mulling them over. She began to see now what Serendibite's goal was; this was an extension of her warning, but not in the way that the sapphire had initially feared. 

Amethyst felt enormously tense and uncomfortable. She rarely saw any gem leak from the face like that, it was strange, and hard to cope with-- especially after seeing a gem she looked up to have an emotional breakdown in the same day. Despite that, she had the same urge that Chevron did, to try to solve whatever bothered the gem. Pearls were gems that 6UE had always more or less ignored, but she'd gotten to know Pink Pearl in her time with Padparadscha, and this Cocoa seemed to be a spunky one. Though, Azurite shut Chevron's questioning down, and 6UE herself determined to follow the Honor Guardian's advice on this one. She scratched the back of her neck, averting her eyes from the suffering pearl, wishing that uncomfortable feeling could be quelled.   

Alas, silence, especially in these sorts of situations, always heaved up bad memories for the aristocratic gem. Even if the other gems spoke, she could practically feel the heavy silence that radiated from Cocoa. She needed to fill the silence."Well, I'll certainly try," She managed in a light tone, clasping her hands in front of her. Her fingers fidgeted nervously, and she took a small step closer to the pearl,"-- to empathize, I mean," and for the time being, not with Serendibite, but with the pearl. 

[Mad Azurite]

The silence was unnerving for both Chevron and the Azurite, moreso Azurite who disliked quiet, unless it was the silence of the space--which had a different ring to her ears. Or lack thereof. She would look around nervously as they walked, the quiet sapphire, the sulking pearl—then the two solders beside her. “So, uh.” She thought for a moment, “Really liking the lack of atmosphere in here, nothing better than the void and some stabilized gravity to keep you grounded, right?” She said aloud as she look up at the massive skylight the gems tried to escape through earlier. Chevron would look at the Azurite confused, wondering why she would even bring up such a thing.

The pearl seemed to actually grow annoyed, not at the sapphire surprisingly, but to azurite’s musings about the atmosphere, “That is well appreciated, noble.” She said, there was a certain bit of fervent indignation topping her voice, “And no Azurite, there actually is a simulated atmosphere on this ship, though various areas are comprised differently. We filter carbon monoxide from this portion of facility into our botany section, feeding the plant-life there since the gas is necessary for their growth—where they produce oxygen, in which we utilize in aerodynamic power generators for different areas of the facility.”

Azurite listened with some surprise, not expecting her to say something. “Whoa. That’s some complicated business that went straight over my head, but sounds cool, for sure.” She said, the pearl only seemed narrow her eyes as they shifted about corners and walked through the same access point Serendibite had been sitting at. She sometimes wished she could sit in that giant chair, the comfort would probably be like three-hundred times that of any regular chair.

She’d then lead them down a hall that seemed to change intermittently with both machinery and elaborate décor—and then eventually transform, the room that opened had a strange field of energy that blocked it off—which pearl passed through unfazed, it seemed it was meant to contain atmospheric levels as the room ahead of it was filled with flora of various kind, some early, some possibly not—the garden forest filled with organic life spanned into a large walkway that bridged into a steps leading to an even larger door—presumably this foyer acting as an entry way and point of relaxation for this ships’ master.

She’d then separate from the group, heading towards a panel. Pressing a small voice module, “My mistress, may we enter.” She waited for a moment, “Our guest were found roaming the facility, I’ve brought them here, seems they were lost.”

“Ask them to wait in the gardens please, I will be there in a moment.” A voice would ring from the panel. Cocoa, looked back, her expression devoid of any true emotion, “Please allow yourselves some relax in the garden, I should hope this will only take a moment.”

[Paddy]

Padparadscha almost went to correct Azurite herself; she of course didn't know the particulars, though she knew there had to be some sort of atmosphere in order for smell, sound, and other vibrations to transmit. But just as unprepared as she had been for the pearl's slip of composure, she now was again surprised as Cocoa seemed to become more "herself", or as the sapphire had originally known her. The sapphire simply pressed her lips together, and allowed her to inform the Honor Guard-- while also gaining some more interesting information about this facility.

6UE felt like her head was spinning-- this mission had been a crazy one up to this point, certainly nothing she was use to, but she felt almost as if she couldn't tell up from down. What had bothered Cocoa so much? Was the 1090 still in effect? Did Padparadscha forget all about it, or was she still distrusting of this situation? How did the templater work? It was difficult for her to scrounge any answers for her questions. Luckily she was just an average amethyst bodyguard, and didn't have to say or do anything unless given the order; she lingered near her patron, casting her attention to the other gems as they spoke.

Moving on through the site with Cocoa in the lead, both pink court gem found their eyes wandering on the scenery. Padparadscha wondered at the use of the mechanized structures she saw, and could be heard muttering about the more artistic structures as they passed by; things like "Stunning," or "Striking composition!". As the kindergarten halls opened into a lush garden of specimens, the sapphire found herself a little intrigued. She'd always found plant life to be somewhat intrusive, but it could also be quite enjoyable to look at or be in the presence of-- when it wasn't directly in her way. Fortunately for everyone there was a path that they were able to follow up to the door.
As Cocoa addressed Serendibite, her attention split. 

The sapphire observed the situation carefully. She wasn't exactly sure what to expect. This day she had been through quite a lot, and wanted to know more about this beta technology. It could be quite useful, but part of her feared the implications. If it was true that she were going to be participating in the building of a new gem, it sounded like an enormous responsibility. She contemplated it with her hands clasped in front of her, observing the twisting, fanning, fluttering plant-life that surrounded them. It reminded her of the thick Earthling forests, inducing memories that were both stressful, and calming. She began to wander around, getting a closer look at the complex details that sprouted along the surface of the leaves in some plants. Her eyes narrowed, and she peered at Cocoa surreptitiously, trying to put together what had been going on with the gem. 

Meanwhile 6UE shifted her weight back onto one hip as the announcement came that they would all have to be put on hold for a moment. She could look at anything and find entertainment in it, and she imagined being stationed in a room like this would be a whole lot more entertaining than the blank walls she was use to staring at. But nonetheless the amethyst became progressively more bored as she followed the sapphire with her eyes, keeping the gem in sight but not really shifting her stance. The soldier blinked, and realized she never actually introduced herself to Chevron, and felt something of an urge to do so being that the gem was also an amethyst. She scratched her neck and smiled at the shorter gem,"Hey, by the way, I'm Amethyst 8L2S 6UE, but uh, most just call me 6UE. I hope I didn't freak you out with uh...what I said back there," Then she looked over to Azurite, who'd asked her about nick-names earlier,"But call me whatever seems right I guess,"  

[Mad Azurite]

The pearl herself seemed to grow rim in the face after telling the party to they’d have to wait, which meant she’d have to be sitting here in front of them. Her eyes shifted to stone benches that lined the garden where the gem would sit—decisively not facing any of the other gems around, surprisingly birds were here as well canaries and tanagers, and a choice insects, orb-weaver spiders were dangling in large webs hidden in the trees, butterflies fluttering about, dragon flies buzzing here and there and carpenters with their stingless large bodies floating about adorably—a few seemed to be attracted to the sapphire’s bright colors in question and would flutter over to stare at her in almost quiet hovers, buzzing softly as they seemed confused by this strangely shaped flower.

Cocoa had sat on a stone bench by the entrance of her masters’ private quarters, choosing to dis-faced the other gems as she was obviously brooding, sulking even as she wrapped her arms around her hunched over. How embarrassing, all she was trying to do was protect her master from these wild aristocrats thinking they can just march in here and accuse her of what they like. She was more disappointed with her inability to protect her master’s image, this sinister little sapphire could ruin everything with the wrong accusations. She knew nothing of what Serendibite has done over her almost countless lifetimes.

A few small hummingbird’s zipped over to her, and she look over, her face lightened, no smiles—but she would extend a finger to them and one would land on it. Her face hiding back the feeling of breaking into tears again. There was shame in her of course, and she was hurt—part of her felt betrayed. Why did she hold so much interest in this sapphire?

“Once a gem learns to love … she’s never the same.” She seemed to utter under her breath, thinking aloud, recounting what someone once told her.

Chevron seemed worried, watching the Pearl from a distance, she wanted to say something—she felt she should, but already Azurite had seemed to protest, who was standing beside her as she watched birds fly around the odd room they were in. She overheard the Ami introduce herself, and watched as chevron looked over, or glanced upward at least at the taller gem, “Eet’ ee’s nice to meet you, 6u’ee. And do not v’orry, your v’ord’s dee'd not hurt me.” She almost seemed to have trouble pronouncing the her cut and code. Azurite smile, “Oh yeah, guess I should introduce myself too. Azurite L560. Azzy for short, though.” She wasn’t afraid to say her own nickname.

“You three are sol’jurs, no?” She’d ask and then inspecting the large weapon on Azurite, and then looked to the Amethyst and then at the sapphire, “V’hat is she z’en? She is z’o small, how does she protect herself?” Azurite sort of chuckled and then looked up at the Amethyst.

[Paddy]

She didn't notice right away that she seemed to have tiny pursuers, but the sapphire double took as she spotted one of the small buzzing bees, and narrowed her large eyes at the creature. With a glance around, she realized a whole battalion of them seemed to be closing in around her. The gem never paid close attention to organic life unless it was a part of her investigations; she was vaguely aware that these were some kind of Earthling creatures. They seemed to pose no immediate threat, but they made her uncomfortable with their hovering. She cleared her throat, wondering if they were sentient in some way as she began to try to back away, then ducked around, trying to weave through them. 

Though, they only kept up hovering after her. She pursed her lips and began to shuffle back toward the door with haste, hoping to escape from the strange things, and as she did, she noticed Cocoa sitting alone. Again she felt that twisting feeling that she did when there was a hurt gem who she couldn't help; a pink court gem without healing abilities, but still retaining her Diamond's generous philosophies, the sapphire was reminded of the frustration she had at the circumstances of her creation. She tried to think of a way to make an approach.  

As she neared the door of Serendibite's quarter, Padparadscha caught the faint words spoken by the pearl and froze. Love? Her mind flashed through memories she associated with that word, both pleasant and not, and her curiosity burst into flames as she understood that this pearl must've known something about it. What exactly was meant by the quiet statement? Knowing the words hadn't been hers to hear, it was a conundrum for her-- follow her curious instinct, or repress it with her aristocratic sensibility? "Why is that, do you figure?" She uttered in a stilted manner as she approached, unable to contain her curiosity. This was, after all, a very important subject for one of her ongoing investigations. But she'd provide Cocoa with an escape route if that topic wasn't appropriate, as the sapphire already knew it wasn't.

"--and I find myself being challenged by these small creatures," She shrunk away from a bee hovering right in her face, and waved her hand around to get it out of the way,"--uf! I assume they're harmless?" She wondered if the pearl would find her as intrusive as one of these hovering bees, though Cocoa seemed to be enjoying the company of another small Earthling. All the noble could do for now was hope that she could manage to get the pearl talking.   

"Oh, uh-- good," Amethyst gave a grin to Chevron,"Yeah I'm a soldier, been guarding doors most of my life. Around thirty years it'll be...but now I'm a field guard, I guess..." Her eyes swept around the room, until they landed on the sapphire who had been lingering near the bench,"--But her clarity is not a soldier. She's a...well she's an investigator, but she says that's 'not what she was really made for'. I dunno what she means by that," 6UE admitted, her eyes trailing from the direction of Padparadscha, back to Chevron and Azzy,"I guess she protects herself by hiring quartz soldiers, but she's got this really freaky power, and, erm...she's a feisty noble for sure, apparently she's gotten a bit of combat training from another quartz who served as her field guard,"

[Mad Azurite]

Cocoa had just seemed to resolve her thoughts when she swore she heard footsteps behind her, she refused to turn and acknowledge who it was, as she had again started tearing up in the moments before this. But when she heard a reply to her unconscious statement, her head shifted to see the sapphire and the pearl only seemed to regress inward, and look away. The carpenter bees around her worried her, they were solitary docile creatures—she didn’t want to see the sapphire maiming anything more with her foolish ignorance. She even went to says he was challenged by them, how these aristocrats managed to keep this society alive perplexed her with such obliviousness was beyond her. She sighed, she wanted to answer the pearl’s first question, but she seemed to be trying to dodge it, she thought before her cutting voice met the air, “They are carpenter bees, necessary to the ecosystem of this room’s garden and Earth’s forest. They are attracted to bright colors, like white, blue, yellow’s and pinks.” She’d put the last part hoping the gem would get it, but if not, “They aren’t challenging you, they simply find you pretty,” she’d say the last part with a bit of scathing ire in her voice. She was losing her patience.

She leaned over and plucked large tulip out the ground, rotating as she waved the white flower in their direction. The carpenter bees, attracted by its colors and movement, immediately shifted attention, landing on the earthly plant around its stem and maw, and went prodding away at whatever nectar they could suck at. She’d carefully, slowly, guide them towards a vestige of various flowers and wild grass, where they began their pollination and nectar gathering task once again. After she was done, she straightened and sigh, before looking back at the sapphire incredulously, “And what would you care of love? It’s not an emotion that should concern someone of your stature in the slightest, your highness.” She’d say the last part with an almost ironic tinge in her feigned revering.

Why is this nitty-fool bothering me! Her thoughts were almost booming in her own mind.

Chevron listened carefully, along with Azurite who looked over at the two beside her. “Yeah, gotta love guarding doors, best pastime ever.” She’d add, and Chevron only looked at the two with obvious confusion. “Yeah, she might not be a solder, but I’d still be careful tussling with something like. Her powers aren’t something you’d wanna take lightly in the battlefield—she could melt your face off before she even touched you.” Azurite put out, knowing exactly what she was dealing with, she knew of a few other gems who wielded powers like these, she had one strategy for anything wielding something that dangerous—really the only thing you could do. Take them out fast and hard, and don’t get hit. 

Chevron looked at the two with some interest, “I z’ee.” She would say, “And do you … ee’njoy such mundane posee’tions? Do z’ese z’ing’s boz’erre you? I feel you are v’orth more z’an just disposibe’lle entities, no?” she’d ask and Azurite had to a do a double take at Chevron, wondering where this was coming from, “Wait, What?” She asked, and then she looked up 6UE, “We aren’t disposable … I mean maybe in the eyes of some gems, but I’ll be damned to let them put down in such a way.” She said crossing her arms and staring at the ground with something of irritable glare in her eyes.

[Paddy]

The hostility emanating from the pearl was easy to read, and the sapphire's own impatience was flared by it, but she pursed her lips and regarded the gem as she informed her about the bees. Her eyes followed the creatures as they buzzed away, after the pearl's offer to them, and she found herself considerably less nervous. Even if they were harmless, and not plotting some kind of attack on her, organics had a way of creeping this gem out.  

"Quite the contrary, Cocoa," She stated in the most breezy tone she could manage. She gingerly sat down onto the bench, though there was a good amount of space between her and the pearl, who was no doubt trying not to grind her teeth at this point. But the sapphire had already dipped her toes into the subject matter, and she decided that a pearl couldn't do much about her wanting to know more,"I find your assessment to be intriguing. It's...confusing, to say the least-- how something that seems so...simple, from a distance, can be host to so much complexity..." She'd never even thought of love as an emotion before a recent dispatch, which she was glad that she hadn't taken any data down about, now that her information had been pillaged.

6UE gave a healthy chuckle at Azurite's comment; certainly guarding fancier doors for the Diamonds was just as gruelingly boring as guarding the halls, hanger or the moonbase armory. She listened, nodding as Azzy seemed to put it into better terms for her. Putting together how that small sapphire could manage such a, well, frightening power was beyond her.

Speaking of small gems, it hadn't been until this exact moment that 6UE realized she was the tallest gem in the room. She almost gave an internal start at the thought; typically, she was the shortest and had been roasted on many occasions by her fellow quartz for lacking a whole five inches off of what would be standard. Her coloration was a bit wrong too, but apparently not wrong enough to keep nobles from picking her. But, soon she'd be far from the tallest, whenever the designer was done with whatever she was doing. For now, she glanced to Chevron, listening as her expression became more serious. As Azurite spoke her piece, Amethyst's eyes snapped over to her. She didn't realize there were other soldiers who felt the same that she did about these things. For a moment she wondered if the words were some kind of bait, trying to get her to say the wrong thing, but she didn't take Azzy as the type to do that. "Right...I'm happy to do what I was made for. This field work can get hard sometimes, but it's honestly what I'm good at. And you know what? I'm the only Amethyst 8L2S 6UE Homeworld's got," She gave a little smirk,"Maybe not the most flawless gem, but I think me, and every other soldier-- maybe even every gem-- deep down we know we're more than whatever purpose we have, that we're unique, that our sisters aren't...disposable. I've met some quartz who hardcore lie to themselves about it, maybe they have to. But it's true," Though, she kept her voice down.

[Mad Azurite]

As the sapphire sat across from her Cocoa managed to scoot to the far end in response, avoiding the sapphire’s gaze and turning her nose away as if she reeked of something unpleasant. Not taking even a glance at her, as the sapphire continued with her words, words that the pearl could not immediately answer, part of her was considering what she really wanted to say to this sapphire. But upon hearing such a daft explanation of something as mysterious as love, her head rose, an epiphany hit the chocolate pearl. Love to her was undoubtedly both a curse and boon, something indescribable by any sense—it seemed love in of itself could take forms, and like the many examples she had seen from it—had a completely neutral stance in this world. Whether or not it was something pure or twisted was something beyond her reckoning, but it was a mystery—one that when caught up into, could prove about as painful as it was pleasurable.

Her mind tossed ideas in her head, what better way than to make this noble see, to make her suffer, than for her to truly fall in love with something. Then maybe when her heart was broken, when her soul was crushed like she managed provoke within her own life—she’d see, she’d change, she’d break. A coy fox-like smile took the pearl’s features, the anger in her usually placid eyes rescinded into a more leisurely expression though a certain callousness emanated behind them. She managed to actually look at the sapphire with a raised brow, “Simple, enigmatic, misunderstood, whatever definition you’d like to give it. But to be honest, madam … I’m curious, what do you think ‘love,’ is?” the pearl would inquire of her, waiting for the response as she shifted her gaze back to the flowers amongst them.

Azurite listened carefully to 6UE’s words and so did Chevron who would shift her gaze up and two darting between both of the gems before her. Both of which were taller than her and one far more so than the other. Though, with 6UE there was a strange almost inherent familiarity with a gem, but even some kind of inward need to feel familial and to relate with this gem. Though she trusted the Azurite, he couldn’t lie her appearance was a bit off putting, her eyes registered a strikingly painful amount of age to them, and were dark and heavy. Azurite also smiled at her compadre’s fine explanation, she felt the same way actually. She was the only damn Azzy, though as she said this, she felt a bit of heaviness in her chest. Which drew her attention to the two gem’s floating in shattered states within her chest. 

You two, you’re gonna be the only Jazzy and Spazzy I know. Nothing can replace you, and I’m not going to forget you. 

Her thoughts only brought her back to the days after the two were shattered, she was taught as a solder to not feel anything for lost gems, that they were tools, that they were disposable as well. But when the memories of the laughter, and the joy and happiness she felt with the gems managed to flood the shadows of her mind, the struggles they fought through for centuries on end, the deeds they done, the honor they made for themselves with their own skills and teamwork. The gem couldn’t let go, it was then that Azzy sometimes felt there was something wrong with her. But unbeknownst to her, she loved her companions. She didn’t know the words to use, or how she truly felt about it, but it was certainly that.

One could only wish it didn’t take losing her best-friends to learn this.

But the gaze in Chevy’s eyes, they became worried as she listened, especially at the last part—where gems would even lie to themselves to try and avoid the pain behind their choices and their meaningless existence—or should one say an existence chiseled out for them. Azurite read her face, she thought for a moment, “Chevron, I don’t really know what’s gonna happen to you after you leave here, but don’t make the same mistakes me and my squad made. Don’t sacrifice yourself and who you are for anyone who sees you for more than just their purpose for you.” Chevron seemed to understand now though that she was a part of a pecking-order. “But, v’ill z’is ever change?” he said as he looked the azurite and amethyst in the eyes for a question. “Or v’ill our see’sters live as sacrifices till z’e day v’ee are gone?”