[IC] We Are the Crystal Gems

[pyroman]

Sodalite had already made her decision, but that didn't keep her from listening to what both Aquamarine and Spinel had to say. A soft smile made its way to her lips as she heard Spinel talking about being on Aquamarine's side. "Spooky White Gem." Sodalite chirped. "You certainly won't be useless. It's just a bump that we want to help you get over. Destroying the bump might be just as easy, but it isn't as fun, and you can't look back at the bump and remind yourself of all the things you did to get where you are." She wanted to help in getting Spinel to stay with them. It was mostly because she genuinely enjoyed Spinel's presence, as scary as she could sometimes be, but it was also because she wanted to atone for not participating in any of the battled beforehand. She felt like she had just been standing around while everyone else did their stuff, and it made her feel bad.

Her head turned to Aquamarine. "I'll stay with you."

[Kronshi]

"I'm pretty sure I know the rest of your answers, I gave you all the information I could without bringing you to my ship and thoroughly explaining. I'll head off and if anyone wants to come with and learn more than follow, your free to come with me, learn, and then make an educated decision. I'll let you go back to Aqua afterwards but after that you would be my and Home-World's enemy, but once again that is your choice to make." Bloodstone started to walk off, "Sorry for wasting your time." Blood continued into the woods and waited on the warp pad, maybe someone would risk coming with.

[21308]

"I did appreciate the offer, though!" Spinel called as Bloodstone walked off. She felt weirdly bad about his seemingly unanimous rejection.

"I never considered looking at it that way, thank you Sodalite. I suppose this makes us comrades now." Spinel considered what she'd said. Maybe harboring emotions she couldn't deal with appropriately yet could prove to be a strength someday, but she was only hypothesizing.

[LizLegend]

As what seems to be a massive amount of words being exchanged all over left and right, Zircon remains silent and tries to process it all once more. At the same time, Zircon could feel something in her head. Something annoying that's just floating around in there and it was completely bugging the crap out of her. What the hell is this feeling? The more she felt it the more her glare towards Bloodstone strengthened and the more she wanted to get this over with. Whether Zircon was expressing it any other facial way, she wasn't paying attention nor did she know. The glare was the best expression she knew what she was doing. Zircon thought this was taking too long, that much was true coming from the inside of her head. Such thoughts in her head include:

'Okay. So, the seven of us were apparently made, artificial to what it sounds like, and apparently NOT for war but to help out with the gem population and we wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for Bloodstone, or er..'Homeworld' at least. But Bloodstone and the Homeworld had a war with Aquamarine and the rebels cause whatever Homeworld was doing was killing the Earth, that and lot of people died cause of it. So all we need to do now is just pick a side.'
'..Sounds about right. Your point?'
'What the HELL ARE WE STILL DOING HERE?!'
'Bitch, I dunno!'
'I mean, both sides have been said yea? What's the problem then?'
'Well it does seem like a big decision for everyone since it, oh I dunno, effects their lives.'
'Ok that's understandable and I really don't have a right to be bothered by that nor do I want to at all but would it really take this long?'
'Uhhh probably.'
'GOD DAMN IT.'
'Aren't you effected by this at all?'
'Of course I am! I've just been thinking on everything behind it! The war, the Kindergarten, their reasons, just trying to find out which sid is the right side...'
'With the facts just given out? Look, it's not like you were there.'
'I know but...GAH! Just shut up!'
'Ok ok ok ok let's just compare back and forth here. Aquamarine seems like she cares for all us new gems, while Bloodstone just seems like he wants us to join him for whatever reason by being factual. All Bloodstone has done is give us information, useful information about ourselves, while Aquamarine has actually kept us safe and saved lives. Don't forget that it was Bloodstone who sent the spiderbots AND the giant eyeball in the first pla--'
'You do realize that I've already made a decision.'
'Wha--?! WHY THE HELL ARE WE DISCUSSING THIS THEN?!'
'Shut up! I talk to myself however I want to!'

...Huh. Seems like Zircon likes to talk to herself in her head when she's like this.

...

Awesome!

When Bloodstone walks off, Zircon relaxes and finally puts her hand down and rolls her shoulders back once. She takes a soft deep breath and pinches the bridge of her nose for couple of quick seconds, and she was looking downward. She had to calm down, or at least she wanted to. Hopefully no one notices her like that or think something is up with her. Everyone's attention was mostly towards Bloodstone and/or Aquamarine and she hasn't given any vocal cues that would give a clue, but still. She might've given a couple visual cues and just thinking that someone might have saw her and think something was wrong with her worried her enough. It's an annoying feeling. Now she just wanted to get it out of her system so it doesn't feel like her time was being wasted.

Ah...so that's what it is. Impatience...

Zircon looked up when she heard some gems' voices go about. She rolled her shoulders back again and straightened herself up before clearing her throat and facing them, "What Sodalite said," Zircon supported Sodalite's words towards Spinel. Zircon would prefer the whole group together just as it started. She wanted to say something more, but Sodalite couldn't have said it any better. Still, Zircon tried to add some things, "Even though it's short to say, I believe we can make it. We made it this far at least. And..it'd be nice to do it with everyone on the same side." Zircon then turns towards Aquamarine, "For the record going on his side didn't cross my mind," Zircon had a small smirk on. It was small, but expressive enough. "I'm with you for however long you need, or want me."

[Saarebas]

All the words that were spoken to Amber from Bloodstone simply went in one ear and out the other. How he was the commander of some army, how he was in charge of having new Gems created, and how Aquamarine was some kind of rebel. All of this may have seen reasonable to others, but to Amber all he could hear was I shot a laser at you. He had to resist the urge to follow after the guy to simply throttle him. What did help to stave Amber's anger was Aquamarine's speech and confession that she didn't want to drag him into her battle, this was something Amber could admire. Not wanting to force something on others, but to simply wish them the best and help them because of the goodness of their heart. Clearing his throat Amber stepped forward towards Aquamarine. "I may not know much about... well anything, but I do know yo' have done good by me mum and I will like to repay that favor. I will stick with yo' and help in anyway I can.

[HaltingBlooper]

Well, it was going to be pretty hard for Emerald to join the guy he'd only moments ago suggested that they try to kill. Other people around him appeared to be saying a lot of words but none of them seemed to be completely heard by Emerald. He had been angrily glaring at Bloodstone for a while, and had honestly only heard bits of what the other people had said. It seemed like things were going favorably for Aqua though, at least as far as the fake ghost, the other blue gem, the black gem, and the orange giant person. Bloodstone had gotten discouraged and had walked off after saying he basically already knew what everyone else's answer would be...which was probably right. After almost everybody had stuck with Aquamarine, it was very unlikely anyone else would join. Emerald stopped glaring and turned to Aquamarine. "I'm staying with you guys, there's no way I'd help him after what he's put us through."

[The ghost in black]

Howlite was a bit confused at what was happening, as everyone talked to bloodstone she hung back cradling her hand being overly protective of it. While Bloodstone talked about how he was he was justifying what he did even admitting that he shot the laser at them. When Bloodstone started walking away Howlite looked at the others glad that they were staying with their little group but wondered when they were all going to find a place to stay though she did enjoy the van. "I want to find out what i was created for by myself" she thought to herself as she thought back to what spindel asked Bloodstone "Im sure I wasn't made for war."

[pyroman]

A short distance away, Mayor Coss walked steadily around in an attempt to find the Crystal Gems. He had confirmed that it was safe for the people to return to the town, and began to walk in the direction he had last seen Aquamarine going in. He wanted to tell them that everyone was safe and accounted for, and were moving back to the town as they spoke. Of course, he didn't know the exact route they had taken, and instead did his best to walk in a generally straight line to find the Gems. Maybe he would be lucky enough to find any others as well.

[Raijinslayer]

As Reggie walked away from the slightly chaotic Q&A session going on, he couldn't help but wonder what the hell his involvement in this would do to his life. Well, it's not like it could get much worse, I am homeless with nothing to my name other than a bag full of snacks and two mementos that I'd be better off selling than anything else.

After that depressing thought, he looked up to see a man walking towards were henjust came from. Not sure if the Gems were done with their talk, he decided to give the guy a heads up. "Hey, I wouldn't go that way if I were you, the technicolor aliens up there are having a talk that seemed like it had the potential to get violent. If you want to talk to them, it might be better for you to wait here. I could even stay with you, if you want, talk about human stuff like sleeping, taxes, and not trying to drain the life of the planet . . . though I have to say, that last one seems to be a trait we share."

@pyroman

[Loony]

Bloody hell, who cares indeed?

Evenkite sure didn't. Not at this point. Questions were leading to disputes rather than proper answers, and it all just seemed so pointless to the little gem. Aquamarine's emotional state only seemed to support Bloodstone's words, and if she honestly did give a damn, he'd be the obvious choice as to whom to side with. That is, if it weren't for the fact that Bloodstone had so blatantly lied to her earlier. Not that it mattered in the long-run, because she didn't see how any of this had to concern her, and it took a great deal of self restraint to not join in Amber's outburst, for nearly everything he said earlier was what she had been holding back the entire meeting. She only held back her tongue because she wished to not bring any more attention to herself to increase the likelihood of her not being noticed as she leaved. However, seeing that the meeting was already falling apart, with Bloodstone and Reggie having left and the newborn gems declaring their alliances, she no longer felt the need to make it discreet. With deliberate rise to her feet, she looked up at Aqua dead in the eye (or as well as she could with her small height), her expression unreadable. She held this gaze for a good few seconds.

And then she walked towards the warp pad.

For a few moments, it almost seemed as if Eve was honestly going to join Bloodstone. Even more horrifying was the fact that, for a moment, Evenkite almost felt like doing just that. For a split second, she felt her hand twitch, as if the same strange stare she had given Aquamarine earlier and was now giving to Bloodstone would also be accompanied with an outstretched hand.

This is what humans call a handshake, She remembered him saying earlier with his own hand outstretched, It is a polite greeting as well as a way to show agreement of a deal, but in this case it is me just being polite.

What are you even thinking, Eve? By thunder, you're an idiot.

Sharply turning away from Bloodstone, she walked off silently, only speaking once there was significant distance between her and the two older gems.

"Bloody hell, who cares indeed. Good luck to you both. Thank you for your kindness, Aquamarine, ma'am, and thank you for letting us hear your side of the story, Bloodstone, sir. War or not, I'll have no part in this nonsense."

And with that, she was gone. Where was she heading? She herself had no clue. Simply away. Away was good enough for her. Besides, with all the chaos that today brought with it, she probably needed the distance. At least for a little while.

[21308]

Spinel smiled at Zircon. "Well then, I thank you as well. I'm glad we're all still together... mostly." She watched Evenkite walk off and it occurred to her to try to prevent her, but she didn't. "That's pretty unfortunate, but it's her choice. If worse comes to worst, she shouldn't be terribly challenging to track, and I can protect her without her knowing about it if need be."

[Kronshi]

Bloodstone looked towards the group waiting for someone, anyone, to join him. It seemed as though the little one had thought to follow but instead wandered off to Diamond knows where. "Well, I guess no-one's coming. I'll be off then." Bloodstone then set foot onto his warp pad and warped to his ship. He wandered around, thinking about what he should do next. He passed by a side room and looked in, "Oh, right... this one." He looked away from the room, it was full of beds to house the warriors that fought by his side. He continued his walk through the ship until he reached the back. On the back wall was a temple door with four points, in the shape of a diamond. On the top was a black gem with a red vein running through it, on the sides were a swirling rainbow gem, and a crystalline blue gem. On the bottom was a polished gray rock, with tiny green specks. He thought for a second about that last one, "I'm going to need Chromite."

[Akayaofthemoon]

Aquamarine felt completely touched by everyone's words, glad to know that almost all of them would be staying together as the same team they made in the beginning. She had really meant it when she said that she didn't expect them to fight for her or towards a war but it was nice to know that she had support, that after her fighting their would be people with her. Aqua would do her best to protect them and teach them what they needed to know. Her thoughts were drawn to the last member present that had yet to speak up on the subject and she turned her attention to them.Eve deliberately stood, looking her as straight in the eyes as she could and Aquamarine did the same until the young one walked away. She closed her eyes for a second, holding herself back from stopping the other because this was always their choice even though it hurt to see them choose Bloodstone.She just wanted them happy so if the meant they thought Bloodstone would do that for them than she would accept that.

She didn't want to watch, she made a point to look away from the two and waited to hear the sound of the warp pad but was a little startled when Evekite took a bit to speak with both Blood and herself. The choice of opting out had been what she had gone with and Aqua hoped her choice could stay that way. She would give the young gem some time and space before making any plans to follow.

Aqua slightly turned as Blood spoke, her face staying plain and calm but her eyes showing a swirl of different emotions. She curled her fingers lightly, placing it over her gem as she watched the light of the warp pad burst from somewhere off in the distance meaning he was now really gone. She nodded, thinking about how she should deal with that warp pad later but for now, they would all go to their new home.

"Why don't we go check out our new home? The temple shouldn't be very far from here and with any luck it should work for us." Aquamarine spoke softly with a gentle smile,her heart still heavy with the thoughts of the past but right now she wanted to look towards the good of the future.

[HaltingBlooper]

Emerald looked around at everyone, mostly the ones who were doing things, and then turned back to Aquamarine after a fair share of silent facial expressions.

"Why don't we go check out our new home? The temple shouldn't be very far from here and with any luck it should work for us." Aquamarine spoke softly with a gentle smile,her heart still heavy with the thoughts of the past but right now she wanted to look towards the good of the future.

@Akayaofthemoon

Home, Emerald thought. It was a nice word, a refreshing word. Yeah, that sounds nice, wherever home is. He was so tired, the yelling was tiring, the emotion was tiring, he wasn't particularly energized to begin with after being not-killed. Emerald raised a finger and said to Aquamarine: "Yeah, let's go to the...temple thingy....I just want to go back to sleep. This has been a pretty tiring encounter, you...you kn-" Emerald stopped talking and fell to the ground, asleep. And now the snoring was back, but at least it wasn't as loud. Good thing, because he had a feeling Evenkite would have come back just to wake him up...probably in a painful way.

[21308]

Chromite warped onto Bloodstone's ship almost as soon as he made the call. The armored gem stood up as straight as she could, hands at her sides. "Commander Bloodstone, I sincerely look forward to working with you again." In truth, she was incredibly happy to have any work, but she didn't want to seem desperate or too emotional about having been picked. Chromite stepped off of the warp pad and waited patiently to hear what Bloodstone had to say.

[Kronshi]

Bloodstone had ended his call while standing at warp pad, the moment he hung up Chromite had teleported beside him. "What the... Oh, Knight Chromite." He walked away and made sure the gem was following him, and headed towards the command center.

"Commander Bloodstone, I sincerely look forward to working with you again."

"And quite eager to work with me too it seems, based off the speed you got here. It's been awhile but you should know nothing gets past me. How's Home-World, has any one of importance died, and how are we in coming up with a permanent solution. I'd rather form gems on Home-World then this place but I'd be willing to suck this place dry before I let gem-kind die off." Bloodstone listened to Chromite's report before nodding, "Good, so nothing bad is happening but we're still stuck in finding a solution, just great." He started to walk off before thinking to himself then he stopped and turned. "Chromite, why don't you take a rest? The bed room is still functioning and I believe that your bed, and everyone else's, are exactly how they were left before... Umm, well. If you can't find your bed, don't forget that simply laying on a bed will cause it to change to fit your specific liking." Bloodstone wandered off for a second and then turned again, "I'll be in the temple if you need me."

Bloodstone walked over to the temple door and caressed his hand over the blue gem and opened the temple door and walked in. The room had pure, clear water that was capable of being walked on, crystalline ice shards sticking out of the floor, and a large fountain in the middle of the room, "I wonder what her room will look like if she finds a new temple." He walked over to the fountain and let himself fall through the water, only to be blasted upwards be a gush of water and launch through the temple's clouds. Blood landed on the clouds and shook himself dry, his face turning into a large grimace, "I hate water!!" Blood watched as the clouds turned into ravaging storm clouds as he came in contact with him, causing them to rain onto the watery room below. He calmed himself and listened to the rain, one of the only sounds that could calm him.

[21308]

"Always eager, sir. It's been quite some time since anyone has needed someone with my specific abilities." Chromite nodded at Blooddtone and stepped into the bedroom. She wasn't particularly interested in resting, but decided to stay there so Bloodstone would know where she was when he needed her. She shuffled around, seeing if she could find where her old bed was to pass the time. She felt a twinge of guilt at not remembering the exact location of her bed, as detail was something she prided herself on. It had been many centuries since she'd been here however, and she wasn't sure she'd ever serve on this ship again, so that knowledge was no longer crucial.

[Pathfinder]

Apollo Sunshine - We Are Born When We Die

Johnny wandered off soon after Aquamarine healed him, something about the gathering seemed out of place for a human like him. Somehow he found The Van right where he left it, untouched by both lasers and looters. "Silver lining." he thought to himself, mirthlessly and drained. Sliding the door open to a monumental mess, Johnny let out a long and tired sigh, everything just slipping through his lips and into the open air. There was nothing for him in The Van for him, or, at least not for now. It might has well have been a strangers, how everything was thrown about and disorganized...fracturing his very home. Eventually he couldn't look at it anymore, he would have to clean up eventually but for now he would leave it. For another day.

Moving on, Johnny moved about the town in search of anything to occupy his mind. Idly he found his hands on the rock in his pocket, the one he picked up when he first met the Gems. At the time it seemed special, like it meant something. But now, now it was just a cracked, useless, good for nothing waste of space. He wanted to throw it, to smash it against the next car with all he could, but instead the fury melted away and the rock just slipped through his fingers to clank against the ground. This morning everything was grand, he was soaring on cloud nine and life was in his palms. Now, now it all seemed a little empty. The colors seemed a little less, well colorful. He walked on in a haze and it was hard to explain how he felt, helpless was a good word but it didn't quite reach it. Numb sounded better but yet again, that wasn't the right word. In the end, his brush with helplessness and death left Johnny feeling empty, like the void between galaxies.

Within minutes he was back to square one, at the little grocery store where the Mayor tried to patch him up. The little blood stain on the ground was still there and everything. Ignoring it as best he could Johnny walked into the store and found the two things he was looking for, cheap beer and cigarettes. It was funny, you'd think that with how close he was to deaths door that he would stay away from those two items as much as possible, but here he was. In total it was twenty bucks, leaving the money on the counter for the owner to find. Taking out a lighter from his back pocket, Johnny lit the tab and gave it a deep drag. With a slow exhale the air around Johnny became thick with smoke, the bittersweet smell permeating the air. In no time at all Johnny was at The Van, using it as an improvised chair as he sat in the back with the doors wide open. The snap-hiss of a beer can could be heard in the air as a second cigarette was christened into the world, silence dominating the air soon after.

[Salt Me Senpai]

Within the desolate wastes known as the Kindergarten, a hole began to form with a brilliant light resonating from it, muffled scratches as dirt began being moved aside and a blank doll-looking figure slid it's way out of a hole at the very top of the far eastern wall, upon exiting it floated for a moment mid air as the whole figure began to shape itself into Melanite. Once the light faded She began to fall, loudly crashing upon the ground, her feminine figure bent down on one knee, and her eyes yet to take look at the horrible place before her. After a brief moment of not moving, trying to 'connect dots' with her self and trying to figure out her own bodily commands, she finally opened her eyes and looked up at the desolation walls before her, slowly standing as she did so, a look of insecurity spread through her face as she had no clue where exactly this was. After a deep breath she finally took the time to wander from her crashed spot, and call out: Hello! Anyone out there!? she called out in a voice with a minor shake, slightly hesitant to find out if whatever would or might call back would be an ally or not...

[LizLegend]

Zircon's small smirk grew to a smile from Spinel's thanks, but then when she looked towards Evenkite who was walking away Zircon's smile slowly dropped. She made a small soft sigh while scratching her head, which was making her long jet black hair a little more messier than it already was. Zircon shrugs, "She might be back," Zircon thought out loud, trying to shed some light which is rather ironic considering it's coming from the darker colored-gem. Zircon looked down to the side towards the ground and mumbled, "Who knows..." Zircon's head then perked up like a dog when Aquamarine mentioned going to the temple, "Ah yes!" The eagerness could be heard in Zircon's voice when she turned towards her and putting her hands behind her back properly at the same time. "We should get there soon before any other..." Zircon slightly clears her throat, " 'Events' happen..." Zircon was facing Aquamarine but she was advising the group in general sort of. Although what Zircon just advised was probably already obvious...

Zircon could feel the impatience feeling in her head all release and go away, almost. Yes, Zircon now felt much better but the feeling of impatience that just departed was only the majority of it. There was at least a small portion left in the meter, if not then at least somewhere right under a quarter. It was manageable though, Zircon can definitely make it at this rate. Just as long no spiderbots or giant eyeballs get in the way or anything and they actually make it to the temple home in one piece. If they do run into another delay depending on what it is...oh boy...get ready for Black Zircon...

Zircon almost, but didn't, jump from hearing Emerald's not-as-loud snoring. Zircon looked towards him and only blinked a couple times in reaction, "Dang he knows how to fall asleep when he wants to doesn't he..." she said in a standard kind of way, only somewhat surprised.