Do we flip a coin if there's a tie?
Inflame [Steven Universe Colony Builder]
- Thread starter Coshiua
- Start date
Do we flip a coin if there's a tie?
- Location
- United states of america
[X] She should attempt to learn moreabout the planet that she is on from Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG while the two of them are building the wall around the Carnelian Encampment. There are more Gems here then she thought there could be on this planet -- even after meeting the carnelians. Maybe 9XG can tell her why?
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
If no one votes to break the tie before I close it, then I will break the tie for you.
Fortunatley, bioticgrunt has broken it so I won't have to when I close the vote. Unfortunately, I will probably not close the this weekend as I have three other quests in need of update.
[X] She should attempt to learn moreabout the planet that she is on from Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG while the two of them are building the wall around the Carnelian Encampment. There are more Gems here then she thought there could be on this planet -- even after meeting the carnelians. Maybe 9XG can tell her why?
- Location
- Virginia
[X] She should attempt to learn more about the planet that she is on from Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG while the two of them are building the wall around the Carnelian Encampment. There are more Gems here then she thought there could be on this planet -- even after meeting the carnelians. Maybe 9XG can tell her why?
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG have learned that basalt can be used in construction [building blocks or in groundwork] and in making statues. However, she is not discovered its other use as she has been unable to heat and extrude it -- things that Ruby Facet-5L3G Cut-2XG can theoretically help them with -- to create stone wool.
Quarried basalt rock melts at about 1,400 °C or 2,550 °F. I had initially assumed that Ruby Facet-5L3G Cut-2XG would not be able to heat basalt to its melting point until I remembered the scene from Keystone Motel, headed to the Steven Universe Reddit's Who is hotter? thread, input the result into a KJ to Celsius Converter, and realized that it was possible. She would just have to reach an emotional state equlivant to the emotional state Ruby reached in Keystone Motel. That, or Fuse.
EDIT:
Behold! The power of the In-Thread Vote Tally!!
[Please ignore the "Coshiua" in it. The program is just counting my earlier Vote Tally on Page 5.]
Last edited:
Settling In 2.2
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
[] She should attempt to learn more about the planet that she is on from Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG while the two of them are building the wall around the Carnelian Encampment. There are more Gems here then she thought there could be on this planet -- even after meeting the carnelians. Maybe 9XG can tell her why?
Settling In 2.2
Ruby hadn't had a chance of keeping up with 9XG. She thought that she had done a decent job of building up her strength and her building skills -- as she was able to transport thicker and heavier stacks of basalt blocks from the encampment to the wall and use them to build with greater speed and precision. But the amount of basalt bricks she could transport and the speed at which she could build was nothing compared to 9XG's. 9XG was able to transport five times the amount of stacks of basalt blocks she could and built five times faster than she could. Even just trying to keep up with 9XG was a challenge, and she was pretty sure that 9XG was holding back in order to not make her feel bad.
Ruby stood next to 9XG on the outside of the wall that ran around the encampment, the newest stacks of basalt bricks that they had transported laying between them. 9XG filled in the small cracks and holes between the blocks of basalt that she laid down while Ruby continued to stack basalt blocks. The wall was primitive and crude, and she knew that it wouldn't do much to deter a full-fledged Quartz Soldier like 10TR, but it would provide them at least a basic defense. Looking at it, she couldn't help the little spark of pride that flared up inside of her.
Ruby could never claim to be a Bismuth, but she had helped build this.
"In the morning, would you like to learn some more building techniques, 2XG?" 9XG suddenly asked, her eyes briefly turning to look at Ruby as she continued to fill in the cracks and the holes in their wall. "I believe that you would be able to pick them up as well as you have picked up the wall construction technique. Soon, at least, if you practice those techniques like we have practiced wall construction."
Ruby nodded, her own eyes not leaving the wall in front of her as she continued to stack blocks on top of it, too worried that she would misplace a block.
"I... I think that I would like that." Ruby said. "I don't know much building techniques. It... It would be nice to have the chance to learn some more."
Even if Ruby never used the building techniques that 9XG would teach her here on this planet, she would still have learned them and be able to use them if she found herself in a similar situation in the future. And, even if she couldn't admit it to herself, she liked building.
9XG smiled. "Then we will work more on the wall tomorrow and, after that, I will teach you those other buildings techniques." She turned to look at Ruby. "Soon enough, you might even be able to keep up with me."
The near playfulness of the words told Ruby that 9XG's words were more of a joke than a threat. She looked from the wall she had been working on toward 9XG and tried to pretend that she wasn't blushing dark burgundy. "I'll do my best."
"I'll keep you to that 2XG."
Ruby looked up at 9XG -- a question swirling through her mind that had been bothering her since she had first encountered 9XG, 9XH and 9XI. "9XG...." She called. 9XG's eyes flicked over to her. "There is something that I have been meaning to ask you for a while now. After Yellow Diamond sent us to retrieve Jasper from the Earth, Ruby made us read through all of the reports related to the Earth. There were a lot of files on the Earth -- rumors that a small cell of the Crystal Gems could still exist on the Earth -- but... but there was nothing in them that mentioned that there were Gems on this planet. The reports mentioned that this planet had once been considered as a potential colony, but that Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond had decided against it because it would be a waste of resources.
"I wanted to ask you if you might know the reason that Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond decided to turn this planet into a colony after it had been deemed a waste of resources."
9XG didn't speak for a long couple of moments. "... I don't think that I can answer that question, 2XG." 9XG finally said. "It's not because I don't want to answer that question -- it's just that I don't know the answer to that question." She looked at the wall. "I don't think that I could find out the answer to that question either. The one Gem that I know that might have known the answer to that question isn't... around anymore."
A kind of disappointment developed in Ruby's stomach at the words, but she didn't let the feeling show on her face. "Oh..." She paused for a long couple of moments -- watching 9XG turn around and move back to the stack of basalt blocks. 9XG bent over and grabbed two armfuls of blocks from the top of the stack with one hand, turned around, and used her other hand to start stacking them. Her actions were similar to how she had acted before, but there was something off about her. Had... Had Ruby upset her? 'Oh. Oh no....'
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should ask Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG if she wants to talk about it. She doesn't know if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG will want to talk about it, but.... Perhaps Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG will feel better if she has a chance to talk about what she's feeling.
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to distract Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by asking her about Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XH and Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XI. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG starts to think about that, she will think less of the Gem that is no longer around and feel better...?
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt distract Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by asking her about herself. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG starts to think about that, she will think less of the Gem that is no longer around and feel better...?
Settling In 2.2
Ruby hadn't had a chance of keeping up with 9XG. She thought that she had done a decent job of building up her strength and her building skills -- as she was able to transport thicker and heavier stacks of basalt blocks from the encampment to the wall and use them to build with greater speed and precision. But the amount of basalt bricks she could transport and the speed at which she could build was nothing compared to 9XG's. 9XG was able to transport five times the amount of stacks of basalt blocks she could and built five times faster than she could. Even just trying to keep up with 9XG was a challenge, and she was pretty sure that 9XG was holding back in order to not make her feel bad.
Ruby stood next to 9XG on the outside of the wall that ran around the encampment, the newest stacks of basalt bricks that they had transported laying between them. 9XG filled in the small cracks and holes between the blocks of basalt that she laid down while Ruby continued to stack basalt blocks. The wall was primitive and crude, and she knew that it wouldn't do much to deter a full-fledged Quartz Soldier like 10TR, but it would provide them at least a basic defense. Looking at it, she couldn't help the little spark of pride that flared up inside of her.
Ruby could never claim to be a Bismuth, but she had helped build this.
"In the morning, would you like to learn some more building techniques, 2XG?" 9XG suddenly asked, her eyes briefly turning to look at Ruby as she continued to fill in the cracks and the holes in their wall. "I believe that you would be able to pick them up as well as you have picked up the wall construction technique. Soon, at least, if you practice those techniques like we have practiced wall construction."
Ruby nodded, her own eyes not leaving the wall in front of her as she continued to stack blocks on top of it, too worried that she would misplace a block.
"I... I think that I would like that." Ruby said. "I don't know much building techniques. It... It would be nice to have the chance to learn some more."
Even if Ruby never used the building techniques that 9XG would teach her here on this planet, she would still have learned them and be able to use them if she found herself in a similar situation in the future. And, even if she couldn't admit it to herself, she liked building.
9XG smiled. "Then we will work more on the wall tomorrow and, after that, I will teach you those other buildings techniques." She turned to look at Ruby. "Soon enough, you might even be able to keep up with me."
The near playfulness of the words told Ruby that 9XG's words were more of a joke than a threat. She looked from the wall she had been working on toward 9XG and tried to pretend that she wasn't blushing dark burgundy. "I'll do my best."
"I'll keep you to that 2XG."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ruby looked up at 9XG -- a question swirling through her mind that had been bothering her since she had first encountered 9XG, 9XH and 9XI. "9XG...." She called. 9XG's eyes flicked over to her. "There is something that I have been meaning to ask you for a while now. After Yellow Diamond sent us to retrieve Jasper from the Earth, Ruby made us read through all of the reports related to the Earth. There were a lot of files on the Earth -- rumors that a small cell of the Crystal Gems could still exist on the Earth -- but... but there was nothing in them that mentioned that there were Gems on this planet. The reports mentioned that this planet had once been considered as a potential colony, but that Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond had decided against it because it would be a waste of resources.
"I wanted to ask you if you might know the reason that Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond decided to turn this planet into a colony after it had been deemed a waste of resources."
9XG didn't speak for a long couple of moments. "... I don't think that I can answer that question, 2XG." 9XG finally said. "It's not because I don't want to answer that question -- it's just that I don't know the answer to that question." She looked at the wall. "I don't think that I could find out the answer to that question either. The one Gem that I know that might have known the answer to that question isn't... around anymore."
A kind of disappointment developed in Ruby's stomach at the words, but she didn't let the feeling show on her face. "Oh..." She paused for a long couple of moments -- watching 9XG turn around and move back to the stack of basalt blocks. 9XG bent over and grabbed two armfuls of blocks from the top of the stack with one hand, turned around, and used her other hand to start stacking them. Her actions were similar to how she had acted before, but there was something off about her. Had... Had Ruby upset her? 'Oh. Oh no....'
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should ask Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG if she wants to talk about it. She doesn't know if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG will want to talk about it, but.... Perhaps Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG will feel better if she has a chance to talk about what she's feeling.
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to distract Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by asking her about Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XH and Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XI. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG starts to think about that, she will think less of the Gem that is no longer around and feel better...?
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt distract Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by asking her about herself. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG starts to think about that, she will think less of the Gem that is no longer around and feel better...?
Dragonjackel
GOLDEN Judgement
- Location
- Gregory House
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
They seem like good gems, 10/10, would befriend.
They seem like good gems, 10/10, would befriend.
- Location
- Puerto Rico
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
- Location
- United states of america
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
ChildishChimera
A umbran summon
- Location
- New York
[X] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
Settling In 2.3
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
[] She suspects Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG is upset because she is thinking about the Gem that is no longer around. She should attempt to connect with Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG by telling her about her platoon and how much she misses them. Perhaps if Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG knows that there is someone in a similar situation to her, it will help her feel better...?
Settling In 2.3
For a long moment, Ruby didn't do anything. She knew that her forgetfulness had often upset Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, and Ruby, but she had never thought that her words could upset someone like her words had clearly upset 9XG. She hadn't had a lot to say back on the ship that would upset the others. But when she had somehow managed to upset them, her behavior was either excused because of her lack of experience or dealt with by a firm reminder of what she was supposed to be doing and/or a cuff on the head. But.... she wasn't on the ship, she wasn't with the others, and she didn't think that this could be solved with a firm reminder or a cuff on the head.
Ruby had not intended to upset 9XG when she had asked her about whether or not she knew the reason that Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond had eventually decided to turn this planet into a colony, but it was still her fault that 9XG was upset. It was her responsibility to apologize and try to make up for her mistake. Even if she had no idea of how she was supposed to do that.
"I'm sorry." Ruby started. 9XG turned toward her so that she could look at her with an unreadable expression on her face. "I didn't mean to upset you when I asked you that."
"... It's fine, 2XG. I should have known that you would want to ask me a couple of questions about this planet. Stars know that I would have questions if I ended up in a situation like you have ended up in." She paused for a moment. "It wasn't a bad question to have asked either. It just... brought up a lot of memories that I would have rather it didn't. It's nothing that you need to worry about though."
".... It's okay to miss someone, 9XG." 9XG's movements stilled as her words reached her -- and she turned around to look at her. She could tell that her words had some effect on 9XG -- and looked at her -- her widened eyes and parted lips -- she couldn't help but to think of how startled she looked. In that moment 9XG didn't look like the leader that 9XH and 9XI looked up to: she didn't look like the Gem with an intense interest in the things outside of this planet. 9XG looked similar to the heartbroken Gem that had thought that she had been left behind, but different.
Ruby looked at 9XG. "I miss... I have missed my platoon since the moment that I was separated from them. I miss being able to see and to talk to Ruby, Ruby, Ruby or Ruby whenever I want to. I miss being told what to do by Ruby. I miss being able to be reminded about what I'm supposed to be doing by Ruby. I miss being able to know that I won't mess things up because Ruby is there. I miss being able to listen to Ruby tell us stories about Era One, miss being able to listen to Ruby talk about the planets we travel to, miss being able to listen to Ruby tell me I'm doing something wrong and correct me.
She clutched her Gem. "I miss them all so much that it hurts. I... I feel like I have been fractured on the inside and nothing... nothing that I do makes the feeling go away. I try not to think about it a lot -- because I don't want to feel like this -- but I can't stop it." The wet something prickled at the corners of her eyes and then started to fall. "I can't stop feeling this way, but.... but it's okay to feel this way. It's okay to feel this way -- and it is okay for you to feel this way too, 9XG."
"..."
"..."
"... I don't think that i have ever stopped missing her." 9XG admitted. The words were so quiet that it was almost hard to hear. "I stop thinking about her for a while -- and I start to think that I have started to move on -- and then something reminds me about her and I start missing her all over again."
9XG trailed off and then shut her eyes tight. When she opened them again, Ruby could see the pain in them as clearly as anything else. 9XG wasn't trying to hide it at all, allowing her to see it, and her Gem warmed as she realized that she had never seen 9XG as completely open like this.
Before Ruby knew it, she was pushing herself off of the wall and then walking until she was standing beside 9XG, her arms moving to wrap around her. 9XG's fingers clenched into tight fists, and she didn't even try to return the hold. Ruby made to move back -- thinking about whether or not she had done something wrong and starting to panic because she was sure she had, but then 9XG pushed into her. The wet something formed in the corner of 9XG's eyes, but 9XG didn't let it fall, didn't let her voice shake as she continued, but the pain that she felt was still all too obvious to her.
"It happened about a couple of days after we left." 9XG said in a quiet voice. "9XA was talking to 9XD and a couple of the others about something, and they were attacked. The rest were forced to retreat into their gemstones to heal and left on the ground, but 9XA was taken. 11XA took her to their home, back to 11XC, who tortured her for information, forcing her to tell them everything that she knew." She stopped for a brief moment. "Finally, after they had forced her to tell them everything that she knew, 11XC shattered her, and I... I had no idea that any of that was happening. I wasn't there -- and the Gem that we all looked up to was shattered because those... those shard-damned clods thought that she was holding something back." She broke off again, having to work to control her breathing. She swallowed before she continued in a softer tone. "I didn't know about any of it, until we came back and heard about what had happened from 9XB. 9XB had just told us about what happened when the others returned.
9XG's lip wobbled dangerously. "9XD -- 9XD was the last of them to arrive. She was holding something in her hands -- shielding it -- and I thought that it must have been 9XA's gemstone. 9XB and 9XC tried to stop me -- to tell me that I didn't want to see what was in 9XD's hands -- but I didn't listen. I made it to 9XD and she looked at me for a long moment before she opened her hands. I didn't recognize the shards at first, but.... I knew it was a Carnelian Gemstone. I knew that 9XB, 9XC, 9XD, 9XE and 9XF were standing around me, so I knew that it had to be 9XA. I ... I didn't take it well."
"... What did you do?"
"I...." 9XG's chin trembled, her fury palpable even as she visibly tried to control it. "I convinced the others to take me to the place where they had found 9XA's shards and then I searched for clues that might lead me to the Tiger's Eyes' Kindergarten. I spotted one of their scouts and followed her until she lead me back to their Kindergarten. I rushed in and demanded that they tell me what had happened -- that they tell me what they had done to 9XA -- and they told me. I attacked them -- and I lost. I would have been shattered if the others hadn't retraced my steps and followed me back to the Tiger's Eyes' Kingergarten and taken my gemstone back from the Tiger's Eyes."
Ruby remained silent for a long couple of moments after that. "What happened to them? To the other Carnelians?"
"The Red War happened."
"... Oh."
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space, but she made a commitment. She should continue to work on the wall with 9XG.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should head out with 9XH and 9XI to start to retrieve the Communication Hub Pillars that the Carnelians have been using as land-markers. Changes Focus to Exploration.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should attempt to study the three Communication Hub Pillars in an attempt to see what she can learn from them. Changes Focus to Research.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should ask about the available materials in the surrounding area and then spend time collecting them. Changes Focus to Resource Gathering.
Settling In 2.3
For a long moment, Ruby didn't do anything. She knew that her forgetfulness had often upset Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, and Ruby, but she had never thought that her words could upset someone like her words had clearly upset 9XG. She hadn't had a lot to say back on the ship that would upset the others. But when she had somehow managed to upset them, her behavior was either excused because of her lack of experience or dealt with by a firm reminder of what she was supposed to be doing and/or a cuff on the head. But.... she wasn't on the ship, she wasn't with the others, and she didn't think that this could be solved with a firm reminder or a cuff on the head.
Ruby had not intended to upset 9XG when she had asked her about whether or not she knew the reason that Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond had eventually decided to turn this planet into a colony, but it was still her fault that 9XG was upset. It was her responsibility to apologize and try to make up for her mistake. Even if she had no idea of how she was supposed to do that.
"I'm sorry." Ruby started. 9XG turned toward her so that she could look at her with an unreadable expression on her face. "I didn't mean to upset you when I asked you that."
"... It's fine, 2XG. I should have known that you would want to ask me a couple of questions about this planet. Stars know that I would have questions if I ended up in a situation like you have ended up in." She paused for a moment. "It wasn't a bad question to have asked either. It just... brought up a lot of memories that I would have rather it didn't. It's nothing that you need to worry about though."
".... It's okay to miss someone, 9XG." 9XG's movements stilled as her words reached her -- and she turned around to look at her. She could tell that her words had some effect on 9XG -- and looked at her -- her widened eyes and parted lips -- she couldn't help but to think of how startled she looked. In that moment 9XG didn't look like the leader that 9XH and 9XI looked up to: she didn't look like the Gem with an intense interest in the things outside of this planet. 9XG looked similar to the heartbroken Gem that had thought that she had been left behind, but different.
Ruby looked at 9XG. "I miss... I have missed my platoon since the moment that I was separated from them. I miss being able to see and to talk to Ruby, Ruby, Ruby or Ruby whenever I want to. I miss being told what to do by Ruby. I miss being able to be reminded about what I'm supposed to be doing by Ruby. I miss being able to know that I won't mess things up because Ruby is there. I miss being able to listen to Ruby tell us stories about Era One, miss being able to listen to Ruby talk about the planets we travel to, miss being able to listen to Ruby tell me I'm doing something wrong and correct me.
She clutched her Gem. "I miss them all so much that it hurts. I... I feel like I have been fractured on the inside and nothing... nothing that I do makes the feeling go away. I try not to think about it a lot -- because I don't want to feel like this -- but I can't stop it." The wet something prickled at the corners of her eyes and then started to fall. "I can't stop feeling this way, but.... but it's okay to feel this way. It's okay to feel this way -- and it is okay for you to feel this way too, 9XG."
"..."
"..."
"... I don't think that i have ever stopped missing her." 9XG admitted. The words were so quiet that it was almost hard to hear. "I stop thinking about her for a while -- and I start to think that I have started to move on -- and then something reminds me about her and I start missing her all over again."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I wasn't there when it happened." 9XG murmured. Ruby could hear the pain in her voice. "9XA sent out 9XE, 9XF and I to scout out the unusual terrain that 9XC had told us she had seen outside of the pocketed chasma. 9XA had wanted us to find out as much as we could about the unusual terrain -- to find out if there was something there that we might have been able to use. So, we travelled to the pocketed chasma and then into the unusual terrain that 9XC had found.. We found the terrain to be unusual and -- while it was not as unusual in the way that 9XC had led us to believe that it would be -- it excited us because we thought that we might be able to use it. We hoped that if we told 9XA about what we had found, she would send the others back with us to help us start transporting things. We headed home...."
9XG trailed off and then shut her eyes tight. When she opened them again, Ruby could see the pain in them as clearly as anything else. 9XG wasn't trying to hide it at all, allowing her to see it, and her Gem warmed as she realized that she had never seen 9XG as completely open like this.
Before Ruby knew it, she was pushing herself off of the wall and then walking until she was standing beside 9XG, her arms moving to wrap around her. 9XG's fingers clenched into tight fists, and she didn't even try to return the hold. Ruby made to move back -- thinking about whether or not she had done something wrong and starting to panic because she was sure she had, but then 9XG pushed into her. The wet something formed in the corner of 9XG's eyes, but 9XG didn't let it fall, didn't let her voice shake as she continued, but the pain that she felt was still all too obvious to her.
"It happened about a couple of days after we left." 9XG said in a quiet voice. "9XA was talking to 9XD and a couple of the others about something, and they were attacked. The rest were forced to retreat into their gemstones to heal and left on the ground, but 9XA was taken. 11XA took her to their home, back to 11XC, who tortured her for information, forcing her to tell them everything that she knew." She stopped for a brief moment. "Finally, after they had forced her to tell them everything that she knew, 11XC shattered her, and I... I had no idea that any of that was happening. I wasn't there -- and the Gem that we all looked up to was shattered because those... those shard-damned clods thought that she was holding something back." She broke off again, having to work to control her breathing. She swallowed before she continued in a softer tone. "I didn't know about any of it, until we came back and heard about what had happened from 9XB. 9XB had just told us about what happened when the others returned.
9XG's lip wobbled dangerously. "9XD -- 9XD was the last of them to arrive. She was holding something in her hands -- shielding it -- and I thought that it must have been 9XA's gemstone. 9XB and 9XC tried to stop me -- to tell me that I didn't want to see what was in 9XD's hands -- but I didn't listen. I made it to 9XD and she looked at me for a long moment before she opened her hands. I didn't recognize the shards at first, but.... I knew it was a Carnelian Gemstone. I knew that 9XB, 9XC, 9XD, 9XE and 9XF were standing around me, so I knew that it had to be 9XA. I ... I didn't take it well."
"... What did you do?"
"I...." 9XG's chin trembled, her fury palpable even as she visibly tried to control it. "I convinced the others to take me to the place where they had found 9XA's shards and then I searched for clues that might lead me to the Tiger's Eyes' Kindergarten. I spotted one of their scouts and followed her until she lead me back to their Kindergarten. I rushed in and demanded that they tell me what had happened -- that they tell me what they had done to 9XA -- and they told me. I attacked them -- and I lost. I would have been shattered if the others hadn't retraced my steps and followed me back to the Tiger's Eyes' Kingergarten and taken my gemstone back from the Tiger's Eyes."
Ruby remained silent for a long couple of moments after that. "What happened to them? To the other Carnelians?"
"The Red War happened."
"... Oh."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9XH and 9XI did not return until the sun had begun to set and darkness had began to spread across the landscape. Ruby and 9XG stood on top of one of the boulders that ran around the encampment, projecting red and reddish-orange lights from their gemstones to see the area outside better, until 9XG saw the reddish-orange lights that 9XH and 9XI were projecting from their own gemstones. The closest light flickered as 9XH shifted her grip on the communication hub pillar above her head to free one of her hands and then motioned for them to come down and help.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space, but she made a commitment. She should continue to work on the wall with 9XG.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should head out with 9XH and 9XI to start to retrieve the Communication Hub Pillars that the Carnelians have been using as land-markers. Changes Focus to Exploration.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should attempt to study the three Communication Hub Pillars in an attempt to see what she can learn from them. Changes Focus to Research.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should ask about the available materials in the surrounding area and then spend time collecting them. Changes Focus to Resource Gathering.
Last edited:
- Location
- United states of america
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should ask about the available materials in the surrounding area and then spend time collecting them. Changes Focus to Resource Gathering.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should attempt to study the three Communication Hub Pillars in an attempt to see what she can learn from them. Changes Focus to Research.
Can we promise 9XG that if anything like that ever happens again that we'll grind those gems into powder?
Can we promise 9XG that if anything like that ever happens again that we'll grind those gems into powder?
Last edited:
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
Thanks for spotting that, Neathbow.
I don't see a reason why you couldn't.
Markala
Hannor & Polycho Shipper
- Location
- At the Junction of Angst and Fluff
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should ask about the available materials in the surrounding area and then spend time collecting them. Changes Focus to Resource Gathering.
Yeah because Leggy has gone through a fairly traumatic few days and I wouldn't be surprised if she had to a somewhat unhealthy extent attached herself to these new gems as subconscious substitutes for her squad and since she's first and foremost as a Ruby a soldier (quartz always seemed more like gladiators or officers than soldiers to me) I don't think she'd have any problem killing.
redzonejoe
Vaguely Pastafarian
- Location
- Canada
Guys, they're eventually counting on us to rebuild the communication hub. While making a wall helps keep us secure until we get a chance to do so, I strongly suggest we help gather more pillars, or study the ones we have. These are actions that directly contribute to the success of our current project.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should attempt to study the three Communication Hub Pillars in an attempt to see what she can learn from them. Changes Focus to Research.
[X] She thinks that it would be smart if she gave Carnelian Facet-1M4R Cut-9XG some space. She should attempt to study the three Communication Hub Pillars in an attempt to see what she can learn from them. Changes Focus to Research.
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
The only Gem that Ruby has not started to form a connection with is 9XH -- and even then that might not take long as 9XH has started to lower her guard around Ruby.
Speaking of which, did anyone notice the Red Oni / Blue Oni trope that 9XH and 9XI have? I think that so have been very balant about it, but it would be nice to hear what you guys think.
It is unknown how much Rubies know after they come into existence, but I think that it's more than possible that they are aware that they are made to fight and even kill and/or shatter If nessescary. Its also more than likely that Ruby knows all of that, but needed time to learn the non-comba related portions of her duties.
That reminds me.... I have to look into the military and positions within the military so I can flesh out Homeworlds military.
I can give you a run down of the Canadian armed forces if you wish, but I think you'd do well to base the Rubies off the traditional roll of the French Foreign Legion, that of a body of cannon fodder who can fight in dangerous and distant lands without risking the lives of people/gems considered more important.
Coshiua
An Autistic Kyogre~!
- Location
- The Ocean
I believe that the equivalent rank title for Quartz Soldiers on earth would be Second lieutenant. Second lieutenants are [usually] the most junior grade of commissioned officers -- and most people who become second lieutenants don't remain second lieutenants for long before being promoted -- which seems similar to the role that Quartz Soldiers serve. Quartz Soldiers are of a higher standing than Rubies but -- while it is still unknown what it would take for Quartz Soldiersto be "promoted" -- Jasper's capelet in The Return makes me think that she had been promoted at least once.
The equivalent rank title for Agates on earth would probably be Major or Battalion Executive Officer | Battalion Operations Officer. From what we have seen of Agates in the latest Steven Bomb -- and Yellow Diamonds comment in "What's The Use Of Feeling Blue?" -- Agates are staff officers put in charge of Quartz Soldiers and other personnel, logistics and operations of fairly important facilities.
I don't know if i can determine an equivalent rank title for Nephrites until we see one in person and learn more about them, but they probably hold a less or an equal rank to Quartz Soldiers.
...
...
Of course, now that I started to think about the latest Steven Bomb, I have started to think about the Quartz Soldiers from Prime Kindergarten, the Beta Kindergarten and their Gemstones. It was already shown that different placements could effect the overall shape of a Gem's Gemstone -- Pearl's Gemstone being an oval while Blue Pearl and Yellow Pearl's Gemstone were circles -- but not that there could be different facets.
I mean, compare the Beta Kindergarten Jaspers' Gemstone with Jasper's Gemstone: the Beta Kindergarten Jaspers' Gemstone are circular gemstones without a facet while Jasper's Gemstone is a multifaceted diamond-shaped gemstone. It suggest that there might be a scale from 'defective' to 'normal' to 'perfect' which excites me because it means more variation between Gems -- and it suggests that Amethyst can't be that defective if she has a relatively normal Gemstone.
Which, if this was true, would suggest that Holly Blue Agate was close to a perfect Agate. If only she had been able to show off more of her skills....
Oh well. I've rambled enough for now.