The rewrite has come and the plot has completely changed! A brand new Stability has been born from the ashes of the old! I hope you enjoy, I plan to do much better with this one as I've attempted to hone my writing skills since then. I can't promise weekly updates, especially since some rather daunting things are coming up soon but...I'll most likely switch on and off with updates for Stability (Rewrite) and The Reason I Run to prevent myself from becoming bored with one and doing what I did last time, forcing myself to write a thousand words of terrible dialogue. I'll do my best to do better this time! Hope you enjoy!
Stability
She was sitting on a hill, overlooking a cliff that hung above the overpass below and gave a clear view of the pavilion. Ruby wasn't sure who she was, nor why she had sat up there for all this time, all she knew was that the gem was consistent. Whenever anyone below was dancing she'd simply watch, maybe, bangs covered her face so it wasn't easy to tell, until somebody found her and took her somewhere by the arm. It left Ruby puzzled every time as she sat on the ground below, coated with grass-like fibres that blew gently in the wind and was a dull cyan color. The pavilion is a building made for dancing, one of a few pastimes for gems, normally accompanied by learning instrumentals and some manner of fighting; though the latter was more of a requirement as of recently. It seemed things were taking a bit of a turn as resources were soon being collected by colonial means, overseen by the Diamond Authority and their elected royalty.
Ruby didn't know too much, being a simple guard in-training but due to the possibility of keeping watch over such important gems, was somewhat aware of the political figures. Organised by colored groups to make things simpler, with a representative for each that held the title of 'Princess.' It was kind of stupid but that's just how it has been made in the older times, and it was far too late to change the title now. As for how they come to power, it's unknown to most that they are hand-picked by Blue Diamond, rather than whatever sort of election anyone assume the groups have at meetings. The gems elected to go to meetings are all drawn via a vote but...a princess is a different thing entirely. Ruby could see that the gem above her certainly looked like royalty, dressing in a way she'd only seen on the Diamonds' pearls and higher ranks.
Her legs were hanging over the edge, legs bare besides the skirt and an silver anklet that hung on her right leg. Her dress a shade of an nice shade of dark blue, sleeveless besides the blue ribbons hanging on her upper arms; a matching ribbon was tied on her waist and two more in her white hair that held two clumps in loose tails. A purple pin lodged in her hair. Ruby was sure she had never seen her wear the outfit anytime she had caught a glimpse of the gem somewhere else. Strange, maybe they had a certain dress-code that the blue gem didn't like? Well, Ruby knew a thing or two about that. She'd overheard a whole boatload of complaints while working with her fellow soldiers, whether it be over their attire, jobs, or just life in general. It is rather tough when you have a militaristic government that constantly seeks to expand its empire for...some reason? Nobody real understood why everything needed to keep going at such a rapid pace but nobody had any voices to offer up this question in this society anyway.
For now it was just the same old grind, master a few hobbies, fight a few battles for a mandatory draft, make some memories; and, if you're on Homeworld, don't leave. Homeworld is the best place for a gem, beautiful landscapes, plenty of easier and more fulfilling jobs, and best of all; never ending opportunities. Every gem that wasn't there wanted to be, and even some of the newer residents. However, Ruby knew that most were unhappy, watching on with nearly immortal lifetimes and some kill to get there and only grow bored of it in the end. The assignments, the rankings, the occasionally snob or two; the works. The red gem herself was sick of it sometimes, of watching the same old days pass by with no ability to better one's self or avoid the trial of life as a soldier. Touch training under endlessly yelling instructors as the prissy nobles played warrior on the other side of the field, calmly being taught the same exercises in slow and calm fashions, over a course of weeks rather than hours. It was basically a glorified yoga club.
This was a class too, dancing, that is. Hobbies are for the richer gems, ones with power and resources that barely lift a finger past their single term in the military. Ruby thought it boring until she realised they got the down-time necessary to learn those kinds of frivolous activities, in all her years she'd never gotten to indulge herself in such things. Still, her term was almost up, she had taken an early one and soon it would be over, the only delay being ordered rest (like now) and the new quota laws. Then she would finally be done in one fell swoop, left up to her own devices for the rest of her long life. One day she would be like the gem up there, able to just...relax. It wasn't like she hated her job or anything, nor that she wanted to simply be a lazy noble, she just wanted a break after all the work she'd put in, to just sit down and learn something new and interesting; a skill considered a luxury rather than the daily grind. It was something to look forward to.
Going back to the blue gem, she had seen her but a handful of times over the course of her various rest periods for overworking herself. Limbs aching from neverending work, face and body constantly stained with grit, a weight settling on her limbs that made her feel the need to think about nothing and just wander in blackness. Sleep had been discovered very recently and was considered highly addictive and, therefore, not encouraged. Ruby longed to waste the time to try it. Watching the world had never dulled, however, and she didn't want it waste what was probably her last rest break before the final push; though it made her question why'd she'd wasted so much looking for the gem on the hill. She was just...intriguing, the way she acted so carefree, always escaping from problems despite the fact that she'd get dragged right back into them. She was always just...watching, a small smile on her face as her legs swung in a languid pace as they hung from the cliff.
Once she had even waved, completely flustering the red gem from being caught, causing her to simply fiddle with the yellow-colored badge on her maroon belt. When she looked back up, the gem from the cliff had already stole away in silence. Leaving Ruby with a blushing face and memories of a gloved hand waving to her with what seemed like enthusiasm and an ice-blue dress, absolutely drowning in lace that had made the blue gem tug at her collar uncomfortably just before making the gesture of greeting. The red gem still wonders why she'd bothered to do so, missing the look of recognition in her eyes due to the bangs. However, she had felt a guilty jealousy that made her wonder when she'd be free enough to talk to her.
She was sitting on the ground, grasses brushing over her bare legs as she watched the pavilion, she seemed deep in thought. Sapphire had seen her every time she'd come to the cliff recently, the red gem sitting in the grass that looked a little too deep in thought for her own good. A modified uniform gently hugging her curves with its darker vest, maroon belt with a spot of yellow, and skirt, its color matching the sleeveless shirt to give it the appearance of a dress despite the darker shorts underneath that matched her boots. The only difference (besides the modifications to the, normally, longer pants and sleeves to match her natural height) were the fingerless gloves covering her hands in a marred white and wrapped pattern. She looked like a soldier.
The blue gem squinted into the distance, happy to have escaped her confinement in the confusion, even if only for a short while. She was a mere prototype, freshly made from scarce resources pooled to create the most amazing power, like none ever before; to see into the future with a clear vision and terrifying accuracy. However, such an ability was most valuable to the diamonds, and her precious one cared for her far too much to let her out more than a few times. Something within the young gem was lonesome so a short trip had been warranted, ditching her guard was not a good idea but she wanted so desperately to feel the ground not present within the courtyard and watch the gems below. They could live normal lives...could feel the fresh air on any occasion and, somehow, Pearl had gotten the idea into her head that she would, someday, receive such a privilege. So she waited for what seemed like it would never come, staring out a double-paned window that isolated her from a whole new world; letting her look but never quite touch it. Sapphire slid her fingers on the ground, feeling the semi-organic plant-life with an ungloved hand that let her feel like she mattered in ways besides upkeep. Peace was soon interrupted, however, as it always was eventually; what cruel fate.
"Sapphire! There you are!" Emerald's long hair came into view, her uniform's only brightness being the white diamonds centered on her chest. She was no scientist, instead working as an underling, a guard for the more tame experiments due to her more lanky physique. "You know you aren't to go so far! You'll be kept in containment if you keep pulling these little tricks!"
"Yes...I apologize," Her hand went to the instrument at her side, a keyboard lay next to her, keys slightly worn from hours spent wasting away the empty time as she mastered it. She'd had it nearly as long as she'd been alive, not that such a time would be saying much; it felt like just yesterday with all the excitement she'd had, or lack thereof. It was a relatively new instrument, the technology itself being a rather recent discovery, in that way she could relate to it. Sapphire had taken it to play in a nicer spot than her usual and gained quite a bit of inspiration from it, though practice had quickly devolved into watching other gems; she'd never had much of a chance for interaction as it were.
"I've told you time and time again that you aren't to come here! What if you fell and damaged yourself?! I'd be shattered on the spot, you know!"
"I just...needed some time to myself is all, forgive me." The exasperated, green gem let out a long sigh as she dragged her hand through her long hair, obviously annoyed at the situation and the blue gem's obvious plotting; there was no way she wouldn't try again, not even if she felt remorse.
"Just...change your clothes and we'll get back."
"I really am sorry, Emerald...I don't know what's wrong with me…"
"It's okay, I understand what you mean, don't feel too bad about it."
"I'm risking your life-"
"Enough. If you're sorry then don't try this again, now hurry it up." Sapphire let out a quiet sigh as she stood and let her gem as her clothes changed to what 'what suited a gem of your clarity,' already annoyed by the restrictions to her movements that the annoying garment brought on. She felt constrained, limbs weighing heavier with the addition of the ice-blue gown that made her feel overdressed and think she looked vain. It all felt as pretend as always, a layer of concealment over top of the true self that almost turned everything but the aura invisible.
"Follow me," Emerald said, holding out a hand that was not meant to be taken, it beckoned her forward and, despite her aching heart that dreamed of skin-to-skin contact, she walked after her. Blue has only just started letting her go out, Pearl had barely taught her about the outside and yet she craved it in ways she knew were wrong; throwing aside precious teachings and morals just to feel freedom. She could hear the gentle mutters of the green gem but couldn't comprehend the language she was speaking, common, no doubt; she had yet to be taught any form of communication besides Room Speak.
By the time the has walked back, however, she faintly remembered more than her brief trip to the hill, hands still clutching her keyboard and refusing to brush off the stray blades of grass that had made their way between some of the keys. It was just to be a trip to the courtyard, Blue would know if she didn't clean it and yet...it felt like that would promote the grieving of evidence that she had lived for herself today. Her gloved hands tugged at the greenery as tears gathered in her eye and she changed a bitter future's fight with her precious one. A green hand outstretched behind Emerald's body and caught a strand in a gentle grasp, she stopped suddenly, nearly making Sapphire run into her. More grass was added as nimble fingers weaved the strands together as they resumed their walk back.
"Clarity," The gem in question straightened at the nickname, "I won't tell her, I know the feeling you have, it's called 'Yearning.'" She spoke quietly, without turning to face the blue gem, instead she let her actions speak as she took the gem's hand into hers and gave it a firm squeeze; she then pressed an object into her hand before opening the door to Blue Diamond's room. Clarity looked down, it was a bracelet made from grass, she turned to thank her but the door had shut harshly behind her with a sound that made Sapphire jump. Emerald was gone and Pearl was looking at her with a look of intense curiosity, hand still on the door's control panel.
