A/N: During the rebellion, at some point.


Garnet doesn't like the limelight. She doesn't like cameras. Giving orders to the Crystal Gems is one thing, but whole crowds? No thanks. She's the kind of gem that thrives on her own freedom. If she is suddenly beholden to an entire crowd (or even just Mrs. Maheswaren on the phone), she panics and says all the wrong things. She's not like Rose, who can be charismatic for crowds without quailing at their size.

Planning out battle tactics for a rebellion? Anticipating enemy movements using probability? No problem. But translating detailed strategies to troops in such a way that they don't need to have the whole picture to understand their part?

Rose Quartz doesn't seem surprised when Garnet shoves the digital clipboard containing their plans for the next several days into her hands. "I'll be on the training field if you need me."

"You were a huge influence on these tactics," Rose says, holding the clipboard to her massive bosom. "Don't you want to be there when they're revealed?"

"Let Pearl do it. She likes it."

Pearl is of course at Rose's side, and has been the entire time. She is a very big help when it comes to keeping everything organized on macro and micro scales. Upon hearing this suggestion, however, her whole demeanor changes from one of professionalism and grace to one of poorly concealed delight. "Really? Again? Are you sure you don't want to take credit for what you've done?"

She really is so young, even now.

"I don't need any credit," says Garnet. "I just need the strategies to work."

"That's…" Pearl struggles to find the right word while also still being polite. "Very humble, Garnet."

Garnet doesn't say anything to that, merely waves as she leaves the bunker and heads to the training field. Pearl should know by now that humility has nothing to do with it. Garnet conceptualizes a strategy with the help of her future vision, Pearl refines it into something cohesive and streamlined, and Rose delivers it wholesale. It's a good system; no sense in changing it now.