LOG-092.

  It was an altogether fascinating experience, watching someone's entire worldview crumble around them in the span of a short conversation.

  "Pink Diamond. She-you're kidding, right? That...that makes no sense!"

  Exchanging glances with a visibly uncomfortable Vanilla, I stepped forward, allowing the Crystal Gem to take a moment to herself as Bismuth's wide eyes flicked over to face me.

  Crossing my arms, I sighed.

  "It's the truth of the matter. Suffice to say, even Diamonds don't exactly get treated right, at the best of times. The rebellion...your rebellion, was most definitely real. But it was made with the foundations of a Gem that really just wanted some semblance of freedom in her life. And then you showed up with your Diamond shattering super weapon...and showed it off to one in hiding. Things spiraled from there, naturally."

  The rogue construction Gem stared down at me with an unreadable emotion flitting across her face, before glancing around.

  "Spiraled really is a way to say it, huh? And then...Stars it really does explain some things. The constant info, those upper crust generals running around like lost Rubies...and where is Rose...or rather Pink now?" Bismuth's terse expression lessened slightly in the face of Vanilla's glare, one hand coming up to awkwardly grasp at the back of her neck as the Pearl stepped forward, wagging a finger in front of the larger Gem's face.

  "She's nearby and ready to talk, so don't even think about it. I know that look on your face! I don't even want to know what came over the both of you to result in this...this mess! But it most certainly won't be happening again!"

  Bismuth made to open her mouth-

  "Is that understood!?"

  -only to clack it shut and nod quickly as the finger drew close enough to poke at her chin.

  "Alright alright! You're the boss! Glad to see that you're at least still the same old Pearl-er, Vanilla, rather. Sorry. That's gonna take some getting used to."

  As my pale counterpart let out a huff that drew a weary chuckle from her old friend, I looked over towards Vermilion, motioning my Batchmate over towards one of the larger clouds. The crimson Gem understood the assignment quickly enough, bounding along and eventually through the solid looking pink mass.

  Something Bismuth didn't fail to notice, naturally, her eyes flicking over between me and my fellow Pearl's exit.

  "So is that...?"

  At my nod, the blacksmith took a deep breath, nodding to herself.

  "Alright...alright. We're talking. Yep. Mhm." The tense Gem's eyes closed for a moment, only opening once Vanilla leaned over to grasp at her fellow rebel's arm, drawing a small, hesitant smile from her.

  Naturally, that's just around when Rose popped out of the hole Vermilion had made, followed shortly by Brim and the Pearl herself following after her.

  The silence that ensued as the leader of the Crystal Gems locked eyes with Bismuth was, to put a single word to it, motherfucking unbearable.

  Clap clap.

  The two quick motions of my palms slapping together was apparently enough to shake the pair of large Gems out of their standoff state, with Rose hesitantly walking forward and finally shuffling to a stop just a few meters away, Bismuth staring back at her warily. I pondered whether to introduce Brim or not, only for the Lazuli in question to shake her head rapidly at my look, deliberately stepping to the side.

  "...Rose."

  It felt like there was enough tension packed into that singular word to shatter a Gem, even as the faux Quartz shifted in place slightly, looking supremely uncomfortable.

  "...Bismuth."

  Glancing between the pair, I stepped back slightly, closer towards Vanilla and Vermilion, even as Bismuth's face twitched, her hands clenching into tight fists as she put on a conversational tone that sounded like it physically hurt the former construction worker.

  "So I spoke with Pe-Vanilla. Got briefed up and all that. You uh...you know?"

  Rose nodded slowly. Hesitantly.

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  "I...yes? I'm...I'm sorry I...but you get it? Right? Why I...?"

  Once more, the rainbow haired Gem's large hand rose to rub at the back of her neck, the blacksmith taking on a chagrined expression.

  "Why you bubbled me?" The terse question drew a shameful look from Rose, and judging by Bismuth's own uncomfortable face, she wasn't quite sure what to do with it.

  "...Yes."

  I had to resist the urge to flinch as a familiar hand wrapped around my arm, glancing at Brim out of the corner of my vision.

  The Lapis Lazuli mouthed something that I eventually recognized to be 'awkward,' prompting me to nod vehemently as Bismuth shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

  "...I'm like...really mad right now."

  Rose nodded. Bismuth continued.

  "I mean-I get it. Sort of, from your...perspective. But...wow these are feelings I never thought I'd be feeling, you know?!" The way her voice turned slightly higher pitched at the end of the sentence drew a wince from Rose, even as the Diamond slowly brought her hands together, fingers poking at each other.

  "It...isn't something I ever wanted to reveal."

  Now it was Bismuth's turn to nod quickly, the blacksmith grasping at her chin.

  "Yeah, I can see why! I mean, you're a Diamond. Heck, you're Pink Diamond-" Rose winced at the name, even as her counterpart continued. "-and yet you're also the damned founder of the Crystal Gems! I just....why?"

  The aforementioned Diamond blinked as Bismuth suddenly rounded back on her, gaze intense.

  "Why...what?"

  Eyes narrowing, the rebel flicked a hand, gesturing at nothing.

  "Why the rebellion? Why the Crystal Gems? You're a Diamond. You could have just...I don't cracking know, ordered us all to rebel! Indoctrinated as we were, we would have listened!"

  Rose's hands shook slightly, but a deep breath was apparently enough to settle them, her eyes meeting Bismuth's, full of a pleading intensity that softened her voice more than it already had. Idly, I did my best to ignore the way Brim's head kept swiveling to face the two Gems, in between glancing at me, Vermilion and Vanilla.

  "Bismuth…I couldn't just order anyone to rebel. That was never the point. I…I needed all of you to choose freedom, to want it as much as I did."

  The faux Quartz paused, her hands balling into tentative fists. "I know it sounds foolish now. But it couldn't mean the same thing if it was just…just a command. You would've been fighting because of me, not because of what you believed in. And then what would've happened if…if I was caught? If Homeworld realized they were fighting a civil war rather than a rebellion?"

  Bismuth's face contorted as she processed the pink Gem's words, her fists tightening by her sides. "But Rose-or Pink-or whatever I'm supposed to call you...don't you see what that cost us? We...I trusted you with everything. And all that time, you were what we were supposed to be fighting!? You told us that Pink Diamond was scum for Stars' sake!"

  Vanilla's small gasp went unheard as the blacksmith began to pace, hands coming up to grasp at the sides of her hair.

  "I was so excited to show you the Breaking Point. It was supposed to win us the war-and then you bubbled me! You could have-you could have talked! Or something! I don't know!"

  Rose's mouth opened and closed a few times, only seeming to further incense Bismuth.

  So I took a deep breath and stepped between the pair, repressing a wince as both emotional gazes fell on me in confusion.

  "Pink Diamond is stupid, and it is a damned miracle she is that way, rather than being outright evil."

  My tone remained sharp, in spite of Rose's wince and Vanilla's scandalized huff.

  Narrowing my eyes, I glared up at Bismuth, the rebel staring back down at me in what I could only assume was minor bewilderment.

  "Yes, she directly represents what the rebellion was formed to fight against. Yes, she could have gone about things in a much better way, had she been informed of literally anything at the time. Yes, she panicked and locked you away in a bubble for thousands of years because she's scared of communicating despite being a Stars damned Diamond."

  Rolling my eyes at the larger Gem's blink at each point, I inclined my head towards the shamefaced rogue ruler twiddling her thumbs behind me.

  "And as much as it might feel like I'm stomping all over your feelings saying this, we're so astronomically lucky she ended up the way she did that it's not even funny. Rose bubbled you. What do you think any other Diamond would have done in the face of a Gem proposing their assassination?"

  Painful comprehension lit up the blacksmith's features at that, a hand coming up to rub at her face.

  "I...get your point, lil green. Really don't like it, but...I get it."

  Nodding slowly, I blinked.

  "Good, then you also understand why you're gonna need to keep this to yourself once we get out of here, right?"

  She paused at that, her eyes narrowing as she registered the implication. "You...want me to help cover this up?" Her voice was incredulous, a mixture of dismay and disbelief. "To just…pretend I'm fine with this?"

  Vanilla, still visibly agitated, stepped forward. "Not pretend, Bismuth, just…keep it from the others. Just for now. Until we can find a way to make it right. We have to keep Rose's true identity safe. For the whole rebellion. Or...what's left of it, at least."

  Unfortunately for the Pearl's intentions, Bismuth's face was already hardening, a fresh layer of anger settling in as she took a step back. "So you want me to lie. Just like you did."

  Oh for fuck's sake.

  "It's not like that." I said, frustration finally creeping into my voice. "There's still a lot you need to get caught up on. The Corruption blast. Where Vermilion, Brim and I came from. The Retaliator-we've barely managed to stabilize everything recently, the last thing we need right now is a damned schism erupting because of Rose's old identity getting out."

  Bismuth's gaze bounced between us all, hurt and anger blazing within her eyes as she processed my demand.

  "And what happens when the others do find out, huh? What happens when Garnet finds out? Or Biggs! She'd be devastated. Crazy Lace, lil Larimar, everyone! They've all fought for Rose Quartz! Not…not Pink cracking Diamond!"

  Vanilla's voice softened, genuine pleading in her tone even as she winced at some of the names mentioned. "They don't have to find out like that, Bismuth. You're right, this would break their hearts...and that's exactly why we need your help to keep this secret. It doesn't have to be forever! Just...until we can find the right moment?"

  But the more she pleaded, the more resolute the old rebel seemed to become. She looked each of us in the eye, one by one, her expression a blend of resignation and fierce determination. "I can't do that. I can't keep lying to my family like this. I won't."

  With a pained, decisive look, she turned on her heel and started toward the distant but no less visible door, muttering under her breath. "The others deserve to know. They trusted you too."

  "Bismuth, wait!" Rose took a panicked step forward, reaching out, but Bismuth quickened her pace, a few quiet words prompting a set of clouds to separate the lot of us.

  Seemed she knew how to use the room as well.

  Both Pearl and Diamond flinched slightly as I snapped my fingers, already tugging Brim along with me and waving Vermilion over as well, my Batchmate practically scurrying to catch up with us.

  "Stop sitting there moping and come on! If this goes the way she wants then we're going to need to run some major damage control!"

  Annoying. I mean, the blacksmith's response was perfectly understandable but...

  Ugh.