10 - New Pets
You considered what to do with the two humans. They were your property, along with everything else on this planet. You could keep them if you wanted to. While they were rather grimy, they were pretty amusing as well. But... You were supposed to be a Responsible Diamond now. No more little pets, no more little silly organics that you tried to keep hidden in your room that would escape and chase the pearls around the palace. You were supposed to work, contribute to Gem Society, fulfill your purpose in life.
But... as you looked at the two little lives sitting in your lap, the thought of just letting them go back to the world caused you to ache. To just let them leave and be useless, having no point to their lives beyond mindless replication, and even that they weren't particularly good at. There is no place for them in gem society, caring for them would be an inefficient waste of resources, but you wanted to regardless.
While you are debating with yourself, you smile at them. "I can take you Vale, if you'd like." You offered, pressing Vale's location on the screen. The forest around your palanquin blurred away to the blue of the sky as your palanquin launched itself into the air, to the surprise of the humans even though they couldn't feel the slightest bit of movement.
Within seconds, you were on top of a hill overlooking the city of Vale, and the humans were stunned at the sight. "Wh-what? What just happened?" Lie Ren asked, shocked.
"We're in Vale." You explained. Seems like whatever Little Humans were for in Human Society, it wasn't their thinking skills. Perhaps they were akin to Pearls, status symbols and prized possessions but only fit for assisting another human. Would explain the thing called "chores" that Little Humans were apparently assigned.
"But… we can't be! We're in Vacuo!" Nora argued. Well, this was a new feeling. Someone disagreeing with you wasn't another Diamond. If they were gems, and you were one of the other Diamonds, that'd be grounds for immediate shattering unless they had a VERY good reason for the obvious disrespect. But, then again, if they were gems and you were any other Diamond, they wouldn't be sitting in your lap or had been crawling in your hair or any of the other "indignities" you've happily allowed. You were never as big on that stuff as them, though you had to pretend to be sometimes.
But… you DID enjoy getting to prove people who doubted you wrong. You didn't get many chances, most gems would take what you said as true without a second thought, and the other Diamonds had a very annoying habit of being right. So, when presented with this opportunity, you couldn't resist. You scooped them up into your arms, stating "I'll prove it." Carrying them, you stood up and walked through the curtains shielding your Palanquin onto the hill-side. "See? Feel the wind? This is real. And
that is Vale."
You crouched down and stood them up on the grass beneath your feet. They stared at the city for a while longer, still in shock, before Lie Ren spoke up hesitantly. "I-I guess we'll be going then. Thank you for your assistance, we are in your debt." She said, turning towards you and bowing.
Nora however was still looking out at the city, a vaguely worried and sad expression on their face. You again recall they were without owners, and you could scarcely imagine the life of a Pearl without an owner. It must be a terribly sad one, without point or purpose and nothing to do. Almost without thinking, you say "You can do that, or…" You catch yourself. You've taken many organic pets before, much to Blue and Yellow's displeasure. You were supposed to have put those days behind you, and yet here you are, about to take two more. But, you already started your sentence, and a Diamond can't show hesitation or doubt, so you steel your resolve and finish "You could come with me. I can keep you save and provide you with whatever you might need."
You hope they will decline your offer. You are a Proper Diamond, you don't take pets anymore, and you shouldn't have said anything in the first place, but you also can't take back what you said. The two humans look at eachother, before Nora hesitantly asks "R-really? You just met us. Y-You don't have to do anything for us."
Dread and excitement built in equal measure. You wanted them to just say no, but at the same time you couldn't deny that you wanted them to say yes. The immature, foolish, irresponsible you that you were so desperately trying to leave behind, but stubbornly clung to existence. Hiding your inner turmoil, you answered "I don't have to, but I want to. It'll be no trouble at all, and I wouldn't want you to suffer."
Again the two Little Humans looked at eachother, before turning towards you. Lie Ren's eyes watered up, and she darted forward to hug one of your legs crying. Nora walked forwards and hugged her and your leg as well, saying "I-If you'll have us, we'll happily come along."
… Well, you now had two new pets. You've made absolutely no plans of what you want to do with them, or how to care for them. You can pass most of the work off to Pearl, that IS her job after all, tending to things when you are otherwise too busy. But you still have to tell her what you want done with them over all.
[] Keep them a secret. This will be rather easy, you've got many locations that no one besides yourself and your Pearl are allowed. You just have to keep them there and cared for, and you can visit and play with them when you wish.
[X] Don't hide them. You've made this misstep, and now you have to own it. They will be allowed in far more locations, and it won't matter if another gem sees them. [-2 Approval]
Colony Completion = 12% ; Your Kindergarten is almost fully operational and self sufficient. Once that is done, you can turn your focus on the next piece of Major Infrastructure.
Favor = 31% ; Time has passed and your behavior is slowly sliding into distant memory. But Diamonds have a LONG memory, so you probably shouldn't rely on time to make up for all the irritation you caused.
Approval = 31% ; You've indulged yourself and explored your planet some. Hopefully that is out of your system and you can get back to work.
What do you personally do?
[] Continue directing your colony from your Moonbase. [+2 Colony Completion, +1 Approval]
[x] Create your own gem template. [+3 Approval]
-[x] Carnelian, leading research focused gems. Intelligent enhanced gem, created to control Pink Diamond's research projects and direct lesser science gems. Composed and focused in getting their projects complete.
[] Explore your new planet, you've explored one part of it but there's a lot you haven't seen yet!. [-3 Approval]
[] Go back to Homeworld, and hold a Ball. You haven't had one of those in a while, and it'd be a nice way to make the other Diamonds smile. [+4 Favor]
[] Spend time with your new pets. Play with them and enjoy their company.
A/N : So, I'm back from the dead. Here, have the update, and two new kids, when you know pretty much nothing about kids or the raising of them.
And as always, write-ins are allowed but require approval.