LOG-096.

  I stepped forward.

  Bismuth glanced at me, frowning. Someone behind me made to say something.

  "You clod."

  The words slipped out. Not unintentionally, of course. Oh no, I was already calculating my next set, even as the blacksmith let out an unamused grunt.

  "Look lil green, I don't care if-"

  I brought my hands together into a polite grasp, back straightening, legs snapping into place. It was a good pose. Type fifteen, pattern two.

  Something about it caused Bismuth's gruff demeanor to falter ever so slightly.

  "I'm sorry, you utter clod. You cracking dull piece of rock. You murky lump of a misshapen glass!"

  I heard Vanilla let out another one of her usual scandalised gasps, even as Bismuth's eyes continued to widen, matching the way my voice continued to rise.

  Stepping forward, I brought a hand up, one finger extending to poke at the rebel's chest, just below her gemstone.

  "Hey now, I get I-"

  I poked it again, snarling.

  "You scratched, crystallographic defect! Don't you cracking 'hey now' me! Go grind yourself off a vertice you fucking bitch!"

  The several ooohs! that erupted from a few of the surrounding Jaspers washed over me, even as I stepped backwards, bringing up my hand to grasp the side of my head, fingers yanking at my hair.

  "One cracking thing! One! Literally all you needed to do was keep your mouth shut and listen! Oh my cracking-why did I let you out? How could I have been so stupid!?"

  I knew why, of course. Because I wouldn't have been able to live with myself after the fact, knowing I'd left someone to rot when I could have done something about it. Even if I was beginning to regret that particular stance, just a little.

  Heedless of my internal thoughts, Bismuth's response was to stomp forward, prompting several tense glances from the surrounding party, her larger lightform looming over my own.

  "Listen here! I don't know where you think I come from, but Rose lied to us! Lied to me! She-"

  I resisted the urge to manifest my claws at the blatant threat display, instead allowing myself, just this once, to fully give into that oh so very human sensation of being pissed right the fuck off.

  "I'M NOT DONE YOU SHIT CUNT CLUMP! Are you deaf!? Half formed maybe!? Yes she lied! Of course she lied! What you did, right here? THAT'S WHY SHE BLOODY LIED!"

  Several gasps, most from the surrounding Beach City locals at the first half, and the rest from the Gems around me at the second, followed my yell, even as I whirled around, gesturing to the sky.

  "You rebelled because you wanted to do something Homeworld didn't want you to do! And she did the exact same thing! Do you seriously think Homeworld's rulers are made to run around starting rebellions against their own Empire?!"

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Clenching my fists, I brought them up to rap against the sides of my head, grinding my teeth ever so slightly.

  "Do you know how much of a problem that's going to be to deal with you utter moron of a pebble!? Pink cracking Diamond! You just drove off Pink! Cracking! Diamond! Think you clod! Oh for the love of-and Stars know where she's gone now as well! And right after dealing with all the other nonsense I've had to put up with while you were taking a nap in that damned bubble!"

  Another whirl turned me back towards the incensed Crystal Gem. Suffice to say, I pushed forward before she could open her damn mouth again, ignoring the sound of heavy footfalls approaching from somewhere behind me.

  "Just give me a big, fat break! I'm so fucking tired of this bullshit! You piece of dirt! Bastard! Dumbass! Crappy! Dull! Dim! Bitch ass motherfucker!"

  "Viridian-"

  I felt a hand move to grab at my wrist, and promptly slapped away what I quickly realised to be Emerald's attempt to touch me, shooting the admiral a scathing glance. I'd probably have to make up for my aggression later with even more fucking talking, but I wasn't really in the business of caring at the moment.

  "Shush! I have more!"

  Besides, I was committed at this point. Enough that the rogue officer's expression went slack with incomprehension as I made excellent use of my eidetic memory, recounting many, many classes in college where I'd traded curses with a wide and very diverse friend group, each and every single one being directed at the angry, but now also visibly bewildered Bismuth.

  "Ku?ko! Glupani kamen!"

  Did she deserve it? Possibly. Did it make me feel better? Most definitely.

  "Estúpida! Arschloch schlampe fotze! Connasse!"

  Lighter steps followed Emerald's approach. I ignored them.

  "Now Viridian that is enough! Where did you even hear those!?"

  Caught up as I was, I didn't bother resisting as both Vanilla and an apparently traitorous Vermilion and Brim grabbed me, all three beginning to pull me away from the fucking idiot in front of us.

  "Stronzo! Vaffanculo! Nǐ fēngle ma?!"

  Nonetheless, I didn't let the stream of curses stop until I had been dragged well away from Bismuth, and then some, with my former owner shooting the rebellious construction Gem an annoyed glance before turning and following after us.

  ---

  "So, Rose Quartz is Pink Diamond."

  I remained seated on the loose boulder Vermilion had dragged over for me to sit on, the sound of the waves lapping at the sand next to us filling the air and breaking the silence following Emerald's question.

  Vanilla was the first to sigh, bringing up a hand to palm over her eyes.

  "Yes. Yes she is. There is...a lot of missing context."

  The admiral merely nodded slowly in response, exchanging glances with a silent Brim, the Lapis Lazuli idly standing near the edge of the water, before turning back towards me, a familiar, commanding look in her eyes.

  "You seem to be more than aware of the situation. Could...could you summarise?"

  She saved it fairly well, but I still caught the slight lapse where she'd reminded herself to ask a question, rather than order an explanation.

  "Yes, yes I can."

  It was nice to see her trying, at least. Something good I could focus on, in the midst of all the bad.

  Shaking my head and shunting the thought to somewhere in the back of my mind, I sat up slightly, uncrossing my legs and allowing my hands to fall atop my knees as I looked up at the tall green Gem.

  "To cut an extremely long story short, Pink Diamond showed up to colonise Earth, realised she was rather appreciative of organic life and free choice, and promptly started a rebellion against the other Diamonds. I can only presume she did so as Rose Quartz to limit their initial response. Some soldier turning traitor is one thing, one of Homeworld's rulers declaring civil war is another entirely."

  My questioning glance at Vanilla prompted a sigh and nod, even as she lowered her hand and shot Vermilion a thankful look, the red Pearl patting her shoulder uncertainly.

  Tilting my head back, I stared up at the sky.

  "So yeah, rogue Diamond who has been living here ever since the end of the rebellion, as far as the Empire was aware. For obvious reasons, she didn't really want her true origins getting out to her fellow rebels. It's a sore spot. One I...am starting to realise I've been more than a little careless about, given recent events."

  The statement prompted an uncharacteristic snort from Vanilla, the Crystal Gem glaring at me in a weird mixture between amusement and irritation.

  "Ah, comprehending the consequences of your actions I see?"

  I glared right back at her with narrowed eyes, then slowly lifted a hand, extending my middle finger.

  Brim, Vermilion and Emerald all stared at the digit in incomprehension, even as Vanilla shook her head in disgust.

  "You are, without a doubt, the single most uncouth Pearl I have ever met in my entire life. It's genuinely impressive."

  Then the renegade lowered her hands to brush off some imaginary dust from her outfit, before turning around and walking off.

  "Uhm...where are you going?"

  She merely waved a hand at my batchmate's question, seemingly heading towards the temple.

  "I'm going to go find Rose. Stars know none of you will ever find her usual hiding spots, and I doubt Bismuth or the other Crystal Gems are rather keen on the idea at the moment."

  Watching her steadily move further and further away, I finally lowered my head with a sigh, ignoring Vermilion's awkward pats, Emerald's concerned staring and Brim's anxious, silent glances.

  "...Fuck's sake."