Arctic Meltdown (C:7XB)

[7XB]

7XB would be hard pressed to explain the source of this sudden, pensive mood that had emerged so suddenly, like a crisp, cool wave had cascaded over their head, pulling the Quartz’s senses to a keen edge. “And here you are,” they replied bluntly, casting a look over their shoulder as she scurried past them, “alive. So I'd say that your trust was not completely unwarranted in that regard.” Blunt as they were, it would not do to forget the mistakes that they'd made today, but the somber gem had allowed their own emotions to run wild for long enough today- but could they really blame her for doing the same? Their gaze was again upon the distant horizon, and the brewing darkness that swirled there threateningly.

She was right. The distrust, the suppression and hidden nature of these feelings..it had torn them apart, and even if there was any hope of these alien emotions bringing them back together, it wouldn't be now. Not without..faith.

But then, unprompted, they continued, speaking louder following the pause as they knew she had likely gone several paces by this point. “I had a commander once, an Agate. Long time ago. They told us: “You're more than the Earth you came from, bigger than the minerals that compose your being.’” It didn't mean alot to them back then, standing amongst what seemed a rather homogenous gaggle of Quartz gems fresh from the kindergarten, but in the long years since they had left that frigid rock, they'd had the time to ponder further upon it.

“I didn't understand exactly what they meant. I..I guess I still don't.” They admittedly to the small gem they assumed was still there. “But I assume it means something.”

[Paddy]

Padparadscha wanted to make her escape before any more of what she felt could burst loose; the shame of being extorted into exposure stung enough without the addition of the sore longing to forget all of this, and go back to the comforting trysts that had come about between them, to feel their arms around her-- the twisting, collapsing hole in her center grew as she tried to think of the next step forward, to leave it all behind her and move on. After all, there was one thing that those records hadn't brought to light, perhaps the thing that 7XB had truly been looking for.

For a moment she tried to see this as a good fortune; no longer would she have that feeling of conflict during her investigation into the elder courts of Homeworld, of whether or not she should share her concerns with them, because now she knew for an absolute fact that they shouldn't be entrusted with the knowledge of her escapade. Then, their words brought her to a sudden halt. She had trusted them with her life before, but to trust them with her life in this circumstance, she surmised would be her undoing.

The sapphire's back was pulled by an invisible force-- but she knew by now that it was that magnetic impulse that had gotten her into this mess in the first place. She couldn't go back, her force of will pulled forward, but that left her stymied into a stand-still as she listened to 7XB. A pang of irritation gripped her as her urge to flee mounted, alongside the urge to turn and go back to them. 

Her eyes widened as they recalled what their commander had once said. It seemed 7XB must have known what the words meant, to say them now, after knowing her past. A glint of hope, like a small star in the center of a dark void, caught her attention. Could they possibly accept her for the gem she was, is, or could be? Understand her, even? She frowned, turning her eyes down to her feet, not wanting to see that tiny glimmer, because it was too far to reach. "It means something to me," She murmured, dwelling for a moment as the storm picked up, and she turned to look at them with tears now streaming down her cooling cheeks,"Thank you for saving my life, 7XB, but I believe there is someone else you have to save now," 

[7XB]

The quartz gem had felt the inclination to turn and face her following their recollection, doing so in just enough time to witness Padparadscha do the same, heartstrings wrenched at the very sight of the salty excretions that ran down her ruddy cheeks. It was that same phantasmal, magnetic connection that had gotten them in this mess in the first place, yet they were still glad for it. It allowed them to see her reaction to their words, their attempt to, if nothing else, reassurance the sapphire that their knowledge of her roots made her no less important in their mind.

Though they feared the same could not be said for themselves in her mind, especially after their brutish display today.

“Then, I suppose it has some value after all, yeah?” The looming danger that shrouded the setting sun drew their attention again, a rueful half-smile hidden from her. “Always another rescue..” If they could call it that. “I suppose this is goodbye, Pa..Your Clarity.”

With that the Quartz arched themselves forward, struggling to break the fierce pull between them all at once, one agonizing step into Oblivion at a time.

[Paddy]

As her eyes connected with 7XB's, it became ever more difficult for her to stand her ground. She looked at them as they turned away and spoke, her own gaze becoming wider as the will to stay away from them dripped away with all the tears-- yet what had happened couldn't be forgotten or shoved aside. Now, she appreciated their recognition of her station, yet it was alongside a confusion churning within. Was this really goodbye? For now, or forever? 

It mirrored the distress she'd had every time she said goodbye to the soldier, but now with the crush of near hopelessness pressed down around her. She swallowed as her eyes trailed to the incoming blizzard. The powerful, dynamic quartz could no doubt take care of themselves out there, but Padparadscha worried anyway, despite everything they'd done, and everything she still hid from them. She couldn't forget that 7XB was a gem who carried with them the weight of a world on their shoulders, everywhere they went; she wanted to be there to help them hold it up, and to be a safety net when things when things went awry. 

If she stood there any longer, watching them too struggle to go on with that next step forward, she would give in. Perhaps both of them would be safer if this emotional investigation were closed, and they left each other to return to their own realms, but some part of her couldn't come to grips with it.

"Be safe, Commander," She answered with a strong tone, not wanting to utter something so absolute as goodbye, then turned, and wrenched herself free of the electric field that had captured her. Much of the snow had been cleared from her path by 7XB's stride, making it easier for her to quicken her pace, but harder for her to forget everything else they'd ever done for her.