Stability

Clarity sat within the room's confines, her own much more open and visible via the outside; no walls solid enough to hide behind. In a way, it resembled a dollhouse, cushions laid on the floor much smaller than any furniture in the larger room around it; it hung from the ceiling towards the left. She longed to let her legs dangle at the edge of the open door but knew it would displease the missus; the reason it was suspended so high above the ground was to keep the parakeet where it was. This was a bird unable to fly away, even if it had the courage to ever ask of anything, this blue bird knew much better but found herself wondering regardless. Blue fingers fiddled with the bracelet in her hand, not daring to be bold enough to display the forbidden goods, reminding the bird of her true form. A flightless gem not meant to touch the sky, one made to be kept high and dry, away from danger; this was her purpose and she didn't recall when it became a chore. When Pearl had come in the wake of admittance and shown her what she knew of Homeworld outside of the room.

Pearl, at least, had a taste of the world, though also to remind her of what she was missing so perhaps it was best left away from Sapphire. Speaking of which, the gem in question seemed to be trying to grab her attention for quite a while now, lazily waving her hand upwards.

"Where did you get that?" She asked quietly, Room Speak flowing off her tongue, she had learned rather quickly that it was the only acceptable communication here.

"...Outside." Clarity said, hesitation clearly evident.

"You really went there?"

"I did...even saw someone there I've seen before, a red one."

"Was it like how I remember it? The stories I told you?"

"It was…, and it was beautiful, just like you said."

"It is good to know that nothing has changed...do you want to continue our lessons?"

"I would...my guard, Emerald...I didn't understand what she said; I'm still so bad at it." She fidgeted, hand running through her short hair and fiddling with the ribbons within. Pearl spoke a long sentence in Common, something forbidden within these walls, Sapphire wasn't quite sure when she'd started acting so disobedient, nor when her own mind called her Sapphire instead of Clarity. She couldn't focus on that, however, instead her mind took on the task of listening for the missus' return and deconstructing the sentence given.

Ruby had just a few days left, her break was up and she had reported to the nearest officer, a simple quartz who had signed her up for basic delivery; what was essentially a mission normally left for lapis lazulis was instead assigned as a glorified 'You're retiring from duty so we'll give you the easy junk that'll only take a few hours' mission. The kind people would slack on, it being their last task, and be given more time as disciplinary, something the ruby did not understand. It was completely ludicrous to simply quit whilst ahead and only prolong your race, a ridiculous notion to any gem with half a stone. Not that she could afford the luxury of thinking about more than directions at the moment, not while traversing the halls in search of the room of a certain diamond.

"Hey, do you know which way I should be going to find Blue Diamond? I have a delivery for her." She asked a nearby gem.

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry but you're going the wrong way!"

"Seriously, ugh, I'm shattered if I don't get this in on time."

"No worries! I can show you the way!" Ruby was dumbfounded at her kindness, responding with her own in kind as she accepted the offer with a smile.

"By the way, it is a pleasure to meet you, I'm Citrine, Cut: 6GL." She listed no Facet.

"Ruby...I uh, never remember my numbers, heh…" She rubbed the back of her neck in mock embarrassment as a blush coated her cheeks. She knew exactly why she didn't say it but had grown good at pretending; no one needed to know about it anyway. It didn't seem to put the yellow gem off, however, instead she seemed to continue with simply smiling pleasantly as she led on without even looking at where she was going; it was astounding.

"Forgive me, might we make a short detour, I need to drop something off as well."

"No worries! You showing me there will already make this take way less time, I'll wait for you here!" With that, Citrine bowed, letting her golden bangs fall from her face whilst keeping her braided bun in place, before letting tall legs guide her forward and down another hall. The stopped at a door before picking up the skirt of her dress, which drew out another blush from the red gem, and revealing her gem to the door; she was only gone for a few minutes before Ruby realised she hadn't been carrying anything to deliver in the first place. Not to mention the oddity of a citrine being out on her own in place like this, walking with ease through the maze of halls as they were normally used as glorified songbirds; servants like the newly discovered pearls. Though they had been phased out of style recently, so it was likely they were considering the, for teaching or entertainment purposes for nobles; the red gem decided not to pry much but still satiate her curiosity when the gem returned.

"I apologise for taking so long," The yellow gem said, freshly emerged from the door that housed a bright glow of green inside, "I did not mean to delay as long as I did."

"No issues but...if-if you don't mind me asking...what's a citrine doing in a place like this?"

"You want to know? Well, you're probably aware they're 'going out of style' lately so many have been reassigned to different tasks but...I remain." She said, eyes forward but filled with a sadness Ruby couldn't see as the gem stared ahead and they walked forward. "I service the entirety of this building at all times, odd jobs, songs, anything that is requested of me."

"Do you have time to be showing me the way? Aren't you really busy?"

"I can always make time to help visitors, it is the one pleasure I get from this job." She said cheerily, a hint of something else lying just beneath the surface, a stab of silence to indicate it should be the end of the interrogation before her facade of happiness shattered. Ruby obliged despite her questions, like why she didn't like singing or how hard it was to do all of it on her own, to never have time to relax beyond showing people around… It was really nothing unusual in the world they both lived in and yet… It wasn't her problem though, mind moving to her own life and away from their own, it didn't feel good, like ignoring a crying soul that's clear in view, but trying to change anything now would be fruitless and probably leave them with a clear notion after being rejected; she knew nothing about her. A barrier of impotence and expected politeness that one never crossed, not even to save someone you could see dying before your very eyes; that's just the society gems had chosen.

"We're here." Ruby stopped abruptly, nearly ramming into the gem before her as she stood, still facing the door, square gem glittering as it shown when she lifted her skirt to bow.

"Uh, thanks, I-I appreciate it."

"It was my pleasure, do come find me again if you find yourself in need of further guidance." Herv words made her sound like an oracle but were laced with a tone of desperation that the red gem was quick to answer.

"Of course! After all, I get lost so often these days." Ruby winked and rubbed her neck in a nonchalant manner as the yellow gem smiled genuinely, a blush set on her cheeks from happiness, she would most definitely look forward to seeing the ruby again; if only for a few more minutes of blissful relaxation she often found with other visitors. She walked away with steps that actually produced sound, giving an air of confidence as she left to answer the calls of those above her just a little bit lighter; sometimes all she needed was a little reassurance. Ruby sighed, anxiety welling in her gut as she turned back towards the large door decorated in blue and swathed in rhombus shapes. Her time was somewhat short but she still couldn't bring herself to enter with hesitation, she was about to face the leader of another section of gems, ones made for political matters she knew nothing of beyond the basic rules; common sense filling in the rest. Blue Diamond may not be her diamond but she was a diamond, meaning respect is demanded, the parcel felt weighing in her hands, seeming like it was preparing to pull her down into the floor.

"Stars…" She muttered, steeling herself at the entryway that was already intimidating at a normal stature, much less her own. Ruby tried to assure herself that she wouldn't stumble, stutter, or slip-up; that it was just a simple delivery… At this thought, the red gem moved forward with a hopeful confidence with no backing against the actual hopelessness as her hand moved to open the door. In a mere moment, at a light touch of the panel, the door slid open in a soundless motion that almost immediately released the sound of mindless chatter within. A conversation in odd sounds that would occasionally sway into their actual language before quickly swapping back as a long string of, 'words,' followed. Her body froze at the odd conversation and it stopped abruptly as a gasp sounded and she became released from her paralysis.

"Uh, hello! I'm here for a delivery…?" She said, breaking the odd silence that then followed her statement and went on, "Uhh...or I'll just, uh- so...somewhere...else…" Ruby stepped back, about to leave, when a voice stops her, one quiet sounding of a small interjection.

"Wait." The pearl was quite, bowing in a refined manner as she sauntered up to the gem still standing at the door. "I shall give it to her, you may leave it with me." Ruby fumbled before eventually giving the small box to the gem in question, then another one spoke in the same odd sounds and clicking of her tongue. The pearl didn't answer, head merely turning back to listen before she whispered to Ruby, "What did you hear?"

"Wha-what do you mean?" She looked up and around, following the gentle sounds of other worldly speech that led her to a blue gem. She was suspended in a cage of swirling gold and...it was the same gem she had seen! That day in the courtyard when she had waved and- and that time on the hill! Recognition stained her eyes in a fog of relief as she sighed, wiping the sweat from her brow at the sudden realization that Blue Diamond was not here and she did not have to worry.

"Speak to no one of what you have seen here."

"I still don't know what you mean…!"

"Good. I will give this to Blue Diamond for you, I will not tell her of your lateness should you agree not to mention anything you've seen or heard here, deal?"

"But I'm not-" She reconsidered as she felt the burning of a glare from the pearl, "D-Deal." She turned on her heel, sparing one last glance at the room before the door shut behind her just as she pulled away. In mere moments she was traversing the halls again, no citrine in sight, with complete shock still jarring her from reality; that was one terrifying pearl...