Peach Pearl
There are many mediums for art. Stories, song, poetry, painting, dance….
Pearl knows none of these. They're still around, but they're tucked away in forgotten corners or reserved exclusively to the elites. She does not have access to them.
The word 'art' doesn't exist on Homeworld. Not anymore. The practice itself exists, but in extremely limited forms. War stories. Hymns of praise. Chants of obedience. Murals of the Diamonds. Dances in their honour.
Pearl's medium is video.
Officially, it's her Master's medium. Ulexite is one of the most distinguished of her kind, her skill and subtly having brought her great commendation, and the position of Chief Media Director for the entire Empire.
Pearl herself has never seen much of that famous skill and subtly. Oh, she supposes her Master must have it— that prowess is what earned her a pearl in the first place— but Ulexite never seems to exercise it anymore. She's taken well to fame, and enjoys basking in the recognition. So much so, that the actual work which earned her that reputation is now beneath her. The only kind of 'labour' she ever sees Ulexite doing is strutting among her underlings, criticising their creations, acting like her every word is a declaration delivered by a Diamond herself.
Pearl's the only one who does any of the real work.
It had started with small tasks. Ulexite would ask her to find some footage to use in her next project. Or to polish up some pictures for her. Or just clean up this video. Or overlay this audio. Or, or, or. The ors never ended, and now all of it is created by Pearl.
It irritates Pearl. Not the work. Not the praise Ulexite gets for it. Not the way she's ignored.
What irritates her is that Ulexite was given such an amazing gift— this talent, this position— and she chooses to squander it.
Pearl is not going to make the same mistake.
The videos she makes in Ulexite's name are showed all across the Empire. At war rallies, at the founding of colonies, at celebrations. They're played in Kindergartens to newly formed troops, in factories to the Gems working the supply lines, in spaceships to those with nothing else to distract them. She has a direct line to every single Gem in existence.
So she takes her commissions, her orders. She depicts the might of the Diamonds: the monuments made in their image, the cities they've built, the planets they've seized. She overlays it with honouring hymns, with speeches, with cries of respect and admiration and loyalty from their subjects. She makes the greatest propaganda videos ever constructed.
And then, she sneaks other things in. Hidden messages which can only be caught if someone goes through the video frame by frame. Circles. Stars. Communication. Code.
And sometimes, for just a moment, a Pink Diamond, among the Blue and the Yellow and the White. A reminder.
If one fell, so can the others.
oOo
Author's Note: Three things today.
1) In real life, ulexite is known as the 'tv stone'. This is because its structure is like that of fibre optic cables, and it transmits the image of anything behind it onto the the front of the stone's surface. Seemed absolutely perfect for this particular story.
2) Meant to mention this last chapter, but I forgot: congrats to everyone who guessed! 'Mist' was Cream Pearl from Chapter 20.
3) Going on a short hiatus. I'm heading off on a trip, not bringing my laptop with me, and going to have spotty net access. There should, however, be plenty of time to write using good old pen-and-paper, so never fear: Little Rebellions should return in about two weeks, along with various other fics of mine.