High Class Entertainment (C: Imperial Topaz)

[Paddy]

Back on Homeworld, arena matches were a thrilling occasion; seeing gems battle each other for glory, recognition, trial and perhaps employment when the stakes were raised, was something she had often indulged in as a young gem. However, after her excursions on Earth and her increased correspondence with soldiers, there was something about the warlike tastes of the aristocracy that seemed off-putting. Of course the combatants would all emerge again with their forms in tact after today, but violence left a poor after taste for the Pink Court judiciary sapphire. However, events like these were almost an obligation during wartime, a show of solidarity and energy between allies. 

Padparadscha sat in the middle of the stands with her hands in her lap, where she had only a handful of times before, situated among other Pink Court dignitaries who buzzed with excitement over the match that would pit their own servants against one another. Her brows floated high on her face as she scanned the crowd for faces she would recognize, so she could better avoid having to make small talk or pretend to be interested in their ostentatious displays. Though she yearned for someone to chat with, most nobles were utter bores, and her pearl had probably already heard enough for the day. She gave a sigh, and tapped her wrist to bring up her holotech screen so she could flip through it.   

Next to her sat Pink Pearl, who twiddled her thumbs and allowed her eyes to flicker over the pit, where a myriad of colorful crystal soldiers had been lining up. The sapphire craned her neck a bit to get a look at her Jasper bodyguard, who seemed to be engaged in some banter with another gem along the sidelines. The din of pre-game activity reverberating throughout the cavernous arena prevented her from being able to overhear what it was that they were discussing, so she trained her eyes around the pit to get a look at all of the combatants. Many were bulky quartz and squat corundums, but there were other specialized soldiers among them. The referees and announcer were among them as well, checking in with the servants as higher caste gems continued to file into the stands and situate themselves for a good viewing experience. 

Imperial Topaz

[Imperial Topaz]

Imperial Topaz was never fond of 'gladitorial' fights. She didn't have a penchance for violence so seeing bulky Gems beat the living stardust out of each other was low on her priority list. Two factors, however, ultimately convince her to go: The request by her Diamond that all of her Earth based Gems take a 'break' for the event, and to test out the new bodyguard she had unwillingly received from Homeworld quite recently. In correlation with her high standing as an Earth Gem, the higher ups thought it best that the passive Forgemaster be granted a Gem more willing to put physical work in. The conversation with her - a Phenakite - (a gem type she had never honestly had contact with before) went a bit like this:

"I appreciate your... dedication, but I don't really need a body guard."

"The Diamonds have found it best that you be protected, my Clarity. It is prudent I stand by your side."

"...If you insist on referring to me so respectfully, does this mean I may order you to... not do this?"

"Apologies, but the order from the Diamond's trump yours, my Clarity."

*sigh*

The Phenakite was actually capable of summoning a weapon - a falchion, if Topaz remembered correctly. In addition, she carried a Starforge shield made by, funnily enough, Topaz herself a few centuries ago. Combined with her preference to cover her upper face with a typical Quartz visor, she took on the appearance of a generic but obviously strong 'knight' archetype back on Earth. They had arrived... fashionably late as most of the other Gems were filing in, and Topaz ascended the stairs to the section reserved for Pink Diamond's court while Phenakite silently went to the combatant's section to prepare.

Arriving at her destination, Topaz nodded briefly and exchanged waves with some of the more tolerable nobles among the court, while the rest simply bowed respectfully. On Homeworld she was a noble yes, but on Earth she was almost at the top - a position she cared little for. A short Gem was sitting next to a Pink colored Pearl, facial features obscured by the holotech she was using. Shrugging, Topaz sat below and off to the side, away from most of the other people as her eyes zoned in at the gathering warriors below.

[Paddy]

Padparadscha sullenly flicked through her screen while her pearl patiently observed the goings on around her. The pearl had always been a quiet, soft spoken one, but she silently admired the boisterous gems around her, and felt imbued with the energy they loosed into the buzzing air. Even if her patron didn't, she quite enjoyed the excitement that coalesced just before something momentous occurred. The pearl's eyes followed a vaguely familiar gem who sat down just below her in the stands, though before she could say anything about it, her patron spoke up, her voice a crisp soprano among the crowd of others. 

"Ugh!" The sapphire suddenly tapped her bracelet to get her screen out of her face,"When are they going to get started! Are we waiting for this star to implode or is something going to happen soon?" She rhetorically asked Pink Pearl, who smiled sweetly to her patron.

"I'm not sure your clarity," Pink Pearl had an innocent sincerity to her answer, despite the sarcasm dripping in the sapphire's tone. Though she knew the announcer was surely waiting for every VIP guest to check in, she knew that Padparadscha already knew that as well. Rather, pearl suspected well that the sapphire simply had an urge to move her mouth for catharsis. 

"Puh!" Padparadscha shook her head; there were so many things in her schedule that she could have been preparing for,"Well, 3JJ better win something today, or this idleness will have me imploding," She had faith in 3JJ's abilities, but she liked to think all of her allies in the arena would have some strength and weaknesses to bring to the fight.

[Imperial Topaz]

A familiar voice caught Topaz's attention, and she craned her neck back to see the formerly obscured Gem and recognize her as 'the' Padparadscha whom she'd been seeing quite a bit of recently. She appeared to be attending with her Pearl, which now only caused a slight downward tug on Topaz's lips, but she suppressed the feeling welling up and decided instead to grab her attention, schooching up one row only semi-ungracefully. 

"Hello, Padaparadscha." She said calmly, giving a slight wave to grab her attention. "I would say 'fancy meeting you here', but we are both apart of the same court are we not? Perhaps a better question would be: have you anyone that is participating in the combat today?"

[Paddy]

Pink Pearl's eyes darted from her patron, to the gems in the line up, then to Imperial Topaz as the gem switched her way through the stands while there was still room to do so. Her lips parted to say something about the gem, but then her mouth closed once again when it became apparent Topaz was going to make her own introduction. The pearl's eyes searched for Topaz's own pearl, but didn't see her; she assumed the gem must be running errands, which was a shame considering the excitement here. 

Padparadscha's brows shot up at the sound of her name projecting up the stands-- she rarely heard her name in such a casual fashion, for one, but she also recognized the voice. The sapphire peered down and noticed the gem who'd said it,"Ah, Forgemaster," She chimed, giving a little polite smile, then scooted up a bit herself to better salute the gem. After her salute ended, she gave a wider smile,"Well yes, my bodyguard is in the running. 3JJ is an upstanding Jasper, she's performed quite well on the field," She gave a gesture toward the creamy orange jasper, gem-core set into the furrow of her brow as she seemed to still be engaged in conversation with another quartz soldier. Padparadscha swiveled to look back at Imperial Topaz,"You must be here for someone as well? Or perhaps enjoying the match for leisure?"  

The pearl stayed quiet, but she listened curiously as the aristocratic gems spoke to one another.

[Imperial Topaz]

"Leisure and entertainment? Stars no, but perhaps being able to get some out of events like this would prove to help me serve my Diamond better. Asides from performing a civic duty to the court, I happen to have received a new guard..." She waved her hand dismissively. "The higher high ups decided they didn't want Earth's only Forgemaster to be running around without some entourage, so despite me declining the offer of 'finally getting a Pearl', they decided at minimum I was to be accompanied by a guard. She's a Phenakite - one of those newer model Quartzes. A bit smaller but certainly just as fierce and uh, quite the non-conversationalist." Topaz quickly turned to the Pearl by Padparadscha's side, tilting her head and flipping her own half mane with her other hand. "I've seen you quite a lot, but we've never spoken, I believe. How long have you been with Padparadscha?"

[Paddy]

Padparadscha's head canted to the side a bit as she listened, hair swishing over with the light gravity of the moon. She hadn't met many nobles who seemed just as stubborn as she had once been over the prospect of hiring help. Though, her escapades on Earth had taught her the value of being a part of a unit, that she didn't always have to do things alone. "It's for the better, I'm sure," She smiled warmly at Topaz,"It can be a bother sometimes, when I first got here I swore I could do it all myself. But the quality of your support can make the different between victory and defeat. I wish Phenakite the best of luck today," She peered toward her pearl, then out toward the line up, searching for signs of the quartz warrior that Topaz described. 

Pink Pearl was caught off guard at being addressed, and shrank a bit as she nervously glanced toward her patron. Padpara gave her a full smile, so the pearl took that as her cue to speak, pale pink eyes flicked back to hover on Imperial Topaz,"About fifty Earthling solar cycles, your clarity," She spoke in her soft tone, but her voice managed to carry over the din of voices around them. The pearl gave a small smile,"My sapphire didn't want to hire me at first either,"

The sapphire pursed her lips,"But of course she's done nothing but prove herself over the years, I'd say she's one of the best," The pearl beamed at her patron's praise, pride sparkling in her eyes. 

[Imperial Topaz]

"Pardon my crassness, but I never took you for one to warm up so quickly to Gems, Padparadscha." Topaz said idly. "A folly of my own, I suppose, for our relations when we first met were... 'not good' to speak the best of it, and now I wouldn't be put off to say we at the very least share some sense of camaraderie." Letting her gaze sweep the contenders, her vision finally settled on Phenakite - the combination of her smaller stature and stark white form made her easier to pick out among the varying oranges, purples, and reds that typically made up Quartz soldiers. "I suppose having someone to guard me is for the best, taking into consideration my overall ineptitude in combat... but I've never really felt comfortable having to give out orders on constant basis to another Gem. Even my Bismuths are mostly autonomous, knowing what and when to do with little input from me." 50 years... In that short time (relatively speaking for a Gem) Pink Pearl had seemingly grown accustomed to her... matrons mood, desires, and tendencies. Pearls were never given enough credit, in her opinion, for their amazing ability for just plain empathy. They usually work hard to suppress their own emotions at the behest of a master, yet still remain keen enough to perfectly mold themselves to them. It was... a bit unnerving, Topaz thought. 

[Paddy]

Her eyes flickered at Imperial Topaz's straightforward statement; it was a bit embarrassing to hear, but she gave a chuckle to mask her awkwardness,"I suppose I enjoy a candid rapport, Forgemaster, especially with those who too work in the name of our magnanimous Pink Diamond. I do apologize for my own brashness; at times I simply get caught in the moment. It can be irritating to wait when you know there could be a more effective way," She decided to allow herself to be more forthright as well,"It can be nerve-racking, being in command of a situation. You seem to handle it well from what I've seen," The subject reminded her of her failures and successes while in command, though mostly the failures. 

None were speaking particularly loud as the stands continued to fill, but as Yellow, Blue, and Pink Diamond's court filed in, along with what appeared to be a handful of White Diamond's elites, the arena became a cacophonous chamber where distinguishing the origin of all the noise became increasingly difficult. Then, all of the soldiers participating in the battle were directed to their own stands on the far side of the room, and the lights dimmed as the Diamond's signature chime rang through the room, rendering most of the gems there quiet, though some continued to prattle in hushed tones.

A spotlight flicked on, and the announcer-- a long, tall, sparkling white gem in a sleek empire dress raised her hands, and the moonrocks beneath her feet whisked up at her beckoning, a pedestal emerged from the ground for her to stand on as her clear timbre projected crisply over the stands, and she gave a Diamond salute to the crowd,"Salutations, esteemed excellencies! Today you've come to see the prowess fostered by your comrades, and to see the glorious designs of our Diamonds triumph in games of wits, endurance, and skill! Our first game will of course be a crowd favorite-- head-to-head, one on one combat!" The Cerussite gem directed her luminescent hands toward the score board, which already had the first match-ups calculated,"The matches will be recorded here, by our most dutiful technicians, who will be updating the score in real-time," Two gems stepped out from behind the board to give deep bows to the crowd, before shuffling back,"Of course, you will all be prompted for priceless, valued votes at the end of each match," 

[Imperial Topaz]

The bedazzled white Gem finished speaking, clearing the area so the focus was reset onto the fighters below, making last minute preparations before beginning the first match. A majority of the crowd surrounding her buzzed with excitement, the emotion almost palpable in the stale air of the moon base. Topaz kept her eyes trained forward, extending one arm to prop up her body as she leaned to the side, sitting silently for a moment as she watched the spectacle. "I suppose handling it is a tad bit easier if you don't really feel like you have that much power in the first place." She said clearly, drumming her fingers on the stands. "Did you know I technically have an armada that heeds to my commands if I wished? Or perhaps that I could order the installation of more forges on the planet if I so choose? I... did not. I wasn't that big of a deal back on Homeworld - a good architect, sure, but not something special."

While waiting for the Sapphire's possible response, Topaz checked the two combatants - to be met with slight disappointment. Neither of the two Gems were Padaparadscha's bodyguard or Topaz's, and instead it seemed to be an unrelated Jasper and an Amethyst squaring off first. Not really knowing either, as she didn't keep up with the other nobles' "property", Topaz decided to simply vote with the crowd at the end for simplicity's sake. Not voting could be taken as a sign that one didn't enjoy the match, and Diamond knows they would try to hit each other even harder to appease disgruntled nobles.

[Paddy]

The sapphire poised herself as Cerussite gave the announcements, and the combatants prepared themselves for the scrap. Her eyes flicked away for a moment; she wondered whether all this violence had been sanctioned at all by her Diamond, or was it the elder courts? The Diamonds weren't here, except for in the symbolism painted on the walls, so there was no real way to know. As Topaz began to speak, her eyes shifted, and she was glad to have something else to dwell on. 

"Impressive," She said in a hushed tone, canting forward a bit to be more easily heard. Her eyes flicked up to the gems squaring off in the pit, then back to the gem she was talking to,"Any sort of control requires a good amount of grit to take on; you speak humbly, but I admire a gem who can do as much and maintain respect for her station," She gave a smile, then allowed her eyes to wander onto the field, but her mind wandered on her own responsibilities. At times, it felt she had to shout her accomplishments from a mountain top to get any respect in this Diamond-forsaken solar system; Homeworld had been exacting but never forgot her place.

The sapphire watched the soldier's movements closely. After all, if she wanted her own combat training to go better, she would need to survey the skills of those who were natural masters. A determined expression on her face, her keen vision caught the mistakes, the missed advantages, the taken opportunities, becoming more and more tense as she sat. Her fists clenched as she watched with sheer focus, until in a huff of orange dust, the Amethyst took the final opportunity, landing the decisive blow. Padparadscha's body relaxed as if she were taking a breath after diving too deep, and quickly swung her holopanel in front of her to vote for the gem she felt fought better.

Another set of soldiers waltzed out onto the field and began to size each other up before the next fight would begin. 

[Imperial Topaz]

Topaz fell silent, lips pursed as her eyes tracked one of the warriors for the next battle, realizing it was Phenakite. Having to go so early on meant that even if she won this fight, she would have to fight opponents on their A-game when she was weakened. A bit annoying, but Topaz had a flicker of curiosity to see how far she would make it. Realizing a majority of the other Gems around her had voted already, Topaz hastily grabbed her 'donated' Holopad from one of the station workers. (She had asked for a temporary one, not the poor technician's personal pad, but it was a bit late for that.) Casting her vote for the victor, she set the technology down as she refocused on the arena, warriors having started to square up. Phenakite was up against a Carnelian, and the size discrepancy was rather... obvious. A foot shorter and much less... (wide?), Phenakite's posture was rather relaxed as she sized up her opponent. Unlike the bigger Quartz who had her weapon summoned, a rather large mace, Phenakite was only loosely holding the shield she had brought in with her, not responding to any of the jeers the Carnelian was pumping out. "What is she doing?" Topaz mused.

The match started, and in an instant, the Carnelian swung her blunt weapon. If it hit, Phenakite would had poofed right then and there - so it was probably to her benefit when she simply took a step to the side, letting the awkward weapon crash into the ground as the near translucent stone on her hand glowed for a brief moment before activating, creating a falchion that Phenakite retaliated with, the blade scoring a deep hit into the Quartz's side as Phenakite hopped back, shield up and ready for action.

[Paddy]

She kept her eyes darting between the opponents; she recognized Imperial Topaz's Phenakite bodyguard who had been pointed out earlier, who had been matched up with a heavy weight opponent. The carnelian seemed more than ready for a brawl, but the smaller quartz took a different approach, an impassive poker face-- a technique the sapphire recognized and admired, especially when faced with such a large, aggressive enemy.

Padparadscha watched with building tension as the gems readied themselves, and her eyes widened as the mace swung effortlessly through the low gravity atmosphere, smacking straight into the dusty pit-- but Phenakite seemed to evade the loudly telegraphed attack just as easily, and a quick motion, dealt the blow that would decide the match-- or so the sapphire had thought. Phenakite didn't seem as caught off guard by her fellow quartz's resilience, already prepared for her opponent's next swing.

Carnelian grimaced, recovering deftly despite the grizzly wound, and didn't give her opponent a moment to think before she heaved her mace from the ground, revealing the crater she'd left behind. The mace flew with a heft of inertia as Carnelian attempted to use her reach advantage to slam Phenakite's unshielded side. Meanwhile, Padparadscha teetered on the edge of her seat, eyes wide as she followed the action. 

[Imperial Topaz]

Phenakite, unable to form a cohesive counterattack, was forced to completely dodge the oncoming heavy swing - opting to utilize the low gravity to hop over it, bringing her legs nearly to her chest as the weapon screeched by underneath her. Carnelian took this opportunity to continue her momentum, swinging in an arc again after her first attempt missed, this time with Phenakite recovering from the leap. Phenakite in response loosened her grip on the shield she was carrying and literally threw it at the oncoming attack, slowing the moment and causing the trajectory to be skewed as the Gem's weapon bounced off the starforged metal. 

Capitalizing on Carnelian's shock, Phenakite lunged forward and impaled her foe with her falchion, earning a grunt of pain and a moment later a poofed Gem as the damage took its' toll. Picking up her shield, Phenakite de-summoned her weapon and bowed to the crowd, slinging the shield over her back as she did so. As customary, she also gently retrieved the Carnelian's gemstone, holding it in a loose yet firm grip as she escorted herself off the battlefield and back in line to wait for her next match.

"I was... not expecting that". Topaz uttered, awed by the sight.

[Paddy]

Chills ran down her spine as Phenakite landed the decisive blow, ending the match quickly. Padparadscha knew that would be better for the Phenakite guardian in the long run in a game of endurance, but she could imagine the Carnelian's wounded pride after all was said and done. The gem would have a chance to fight again, however, and would perhaps learn from the battle. 

"Unexpected, but effective!" She said after recovering from her initial shock at the swift victory,"It seems you have quite the gem on your team, Forgemaster," For good measure, she gave her vote to Phenakite,"I'd be proud, she moves with experience and expertise," She contemplated what a match up between 3JJ and Phenakite would look like; the jasper lacked the broad swathe of experience possessed by other gems as she was rather new herself, as well as being the brawny hot-headed type practiced in close-quarters combat, just as this Carnelian had been. However, the gem was absolutely relentless, and perhaps that persistence would pay in the ring with a patient, clear-headed gem like Phenakite.  

Coincidentally, 3JJ was up next, along with another gem who Padparadscha didn't immediately recognize. The Jasper had a look of cool confidence on her face as she walked up to the pit, but as she glanced around at the crowd, she couldn't help but to give a sardonic grin. 

"Oh! There's mine," Padparadscha chuckled, and waggled her fingers at the Jasper, who gave a more genuine smile as she gave a curt nod of her head in response, before shifting her eyes back to stare down her opponent.