Scene #3315: Nothing Ventured

Owner	Pose
Peridot	Peridot had seen better days. But the state of the living room in the Crystal gem house seemed to not fare much better. All the windows were broken, and glass littered the floor around the entire space. And for the third day now, Peridot hung suspended from the rafters. She had been secured by a length of rope that was looped several times around her torso, binding her arms to her body. It was tied tight. It had to be, for a gem could shape shift. On the second day, her skin had been rubbed raw. But after the rough treatment she endured, now the rope was actively cutting her. If Toph was in the vicinity to sense her gem, and the body connected to it, giving her a clear view of Peridot without her limb enhancers. It became clear that Peridot's true form was tiny. But the gem hung limply without moving. Her head and legs dangling. Toph possibly did not posses the knowledge about gems to know just how bad of a shape Peridot was in. She didn't have a heartbeat to detect her state of distress. And Toph would be unable see the massive black bruise that covered her neck. It was early morning, and her visit with Blurr concluded late into the night. No one had been in to see her since.
Toph Beifong	There had been other things to do the last days, which is why Toph hadn't immediately rushed to talk with the thieving gem after her capture. It had been more important for the crystal gems to talk with her, but since they have had a few days, then it's about damn time that she be allowed to ask Peridot some simple questions. The warning that Peridot gets that somebody is approaching are the footsteps that come up the stairs outside and then cross the front porch before there's a knock on the door. "Hey, anybody home here?" The young, female voice ought to be familiar by now, just like the head that peeks in as Toph opens the door, a curious look on her face as she clearly listens. Unlike her movements on the warship and out in the forest, she moves a bit slower now, and she closes the door behind her as she enters the room. Though she suddenly halts, confusion crossing her face. "What are you doing hanging in the air like that?" she asks, sounding puzzled as she points in Peridot's direction.
Peridot	Though Peridot had been limp and unresponsive to the environment around her before, a the sound of someone walking up through the front door the change that over takes her is instant. Like a feral animal she snaps into a defensive mind set. Her knees tuck quickly against her chest. She lowers her head against her shoulders to protect her vulnerable neck. The movement sending a jolt of pain that elicits a pained whimper. "Ah!" But her neck had been the focus of two separate interrogations and she was not eager to have the already pulverized area hit again. She simply couldn't take anymore. Her eyes were wild and unfocused. Jittery as she looked towards Toph, behind her, to her left and right. Searching for enemies before settling back on the small earth bender. "Hahaha... haha.." She laughed. a scared laugh. But she was trying to sound tough. "And they.. finally..." Her breathing picked up in pace. Toph can barely recognize Peridot's voice, it was rough and scratchy. Deeper. "...Finally send the dirt wizard. Well.. I can't gaurd my gem now..." Her eyes closed halfway, her brows furrowing.
Toph Beifong	It seems like the young teenager is on her own now, perhaps coming here expecting to be greeted by the crystal gems. Which might be why she looks slightly surprised at hearing Peridot's voice. Sure, it's different, but for a girl whose ears are as sharp as they can be naturally it's pretty easy to tell who it is. But still, to hear Peridot talk like this is surprising. At first she doesn't talk, instead she walks over and stops in front of where Peridot is hanging, arms crossed over her chest. "Nobody sent me here," she states firmly. Sure, Toph doesn't look happy, but she has a sense of calm over her, carrying herself with confidence. "You sound like crud." And she sounds scared. Just what has happened here, and why did they hang her from the ceiling of all things?
Peridot	As Toph approaches her, Peridot flinches away, turning her from her. She had seen this one turn into a literal rock monster. Though she supposed the size of the room was a limiting factor. They were in the Crystal Gems home base, after all. But she had already learned that Toph could summon more power than she seemed capable of. She doesn't respond directly to Toph's accusation. She believed it to be a taunt. Of course she sounded terrible. The perma fusion had crushed her wind pipe the day before yesterday. A move that would have been fatal to a human; but gems didn't need air to live. They could withstand far more damage than most biologicals. It just hurt. "Don't." She says quickly, tucking her chin against her shoulder.
Toph Beifong	The earthbender keeps standing still, and she listens. It's all she can do for now since Peridot is suspended from the ceiling. "Sheesh, relax. It sounds like you've been hurt enough as it is judging by your voice," the blind girl comments before she... flops down on her butt on the floor underneath Peridot. "Why are you hanging from the ceiling? And where's Garnet and Pearl?"
Peridot	She opens her eyes slowly. But her gaurd doesn't lower. She briefly glances over at the temple door and back to Toph. "..I don't know." She eventually answers. "Last I saw they went through that large door be.. behind the warp pad." The temple door itself was massive, and it had five gemstones embedded into it. Seemingly, one for each gem that lived here. "If I recall... ancient gems often employed temples with.. similar aesthetic properties as.. this. There are likely facilities inside that constitute the bulk of their base." "The permafusion hung me up here... two solar cycles ago following the success of your.." Her eyes squint. "..mission to assault me. An unsurprising savage method for prisoner containment from a war machine such as she."
Toph Beifong	"Oh, in the temple?" Toph comments, reaching a hand up to pick at her nose with her left pinkie finger. Though she frowns a bit. "So you've been hanging around for two days. No wonder you sound tired..." She pulls her finger out of her nostril, and then flicks a booger to the side, and her expression turns more serious. "The reason we grabbed you was because you stole the corrupted gem from me. And another reason I came along was because you stole /my/ satchel." Here the blind girl's unseeing eyes narrow where she sit, and she has the same look on her face that she had on the warship. "ID didn't find it where we grabbed you. So /where/ is it?"
Peridot	"You all want something from me." Peridot answered in that rough tone. Her own brows press down over her eyes. Her face was unguarded, the visor that usually rested there had long been shattered, and she didn't have the energy to produce a new one. Strands of her hair hung around her face. "And what are -you- going to do to pry it out of me?" Her chin pressed even harder against her shoulder. Part of her believed that she could take another round of interrogation if she just protected that spot. Though another part of her immediatly regretted opening with a challenge. For all her bravado, Peridot barely knew what Toph was talking about. Though she suspected it was primarily about the corrupted gem. Not the satchel. "Or... better question." She started, in an effort to divert her challenge to something more productive. "What are you going to give me.. in exchange for this information?"
Toph Beifong	Great, now she's being like /this/. The young earthbender huffs where she sits. "I'm going to do something so horrible that will make you shriek in horror unless you tell me where my satchel is," she states simply. "I don't know what the others did to you, but you will tell me what I want to know unless you want to make me /really/ angry." Toph remains calm where she sits, not yet moving to get to her feet again. "And I warn you, I can tear through metal like a warm knife through butter," she warns her.
Peridot	"But you won't kill me." Peridot looked around with a shifty expression. "The autobot... Garnet... all three of you, machines of war." She said in a knowing tone. She had, after all, spent most of her life around weapons. Garnet had promised to do terrible things to do her, but stated that killing was too far. Blurr had brought her to the brink of being shattered, but she called his bluff- and was choked out for her efforts. But it was revealed to be a step too far. "And if you won't kill me- that means there is room for an.. for an accord to be made." "Un-tie me." She starts. "I'm.. exhausted. Untie me, and maybe I'll tell you where I.." She paused to choose her words here. Truthfully, she hadn't put much thought about where she placed the satchel. But, clearly it was important to Toph, and so she had to play along. "I'll tell you where I hid it." The word 'hid' sounded much more purposeful. And Peridot wanted to heighten the value of her cooperation. "If you release me." She goes on. "I'll even go get it for you... I'll hand over it all. The Satchel, the gem. No fights. No tricks. I just want to get out of here."
Toph Beifong	"Why on earth would I kill you?" Toph asks, arching an eyebrow. "I'm not a machine of war, flesh and blood. I love fighting, not killing." No, while Toph is good at fighting, she doesn't enjoy going too far. Not even to most Confederates. And killing is something she will only do when she has to. Right now Peridot is no threat, so... Though Toph can't help but let out a snort when Peridot makes her request. "Do I /look/ stupid to you? You tell me, because I obviously can't tell myself." The girl leans back, supporting her left hand on the floor. "We captured you, and since the crystal gems aren't here I'm not going to let you run off, Cloderella. I'm going to ask you one more time... /where/ is my satchel?" There is a pause as the blind girl narrows her eyes. "If you don't tell me, I will make you regret it."
Peridot	"That's not how an accord is made!" She shoots back. "I give you something. You give me something." She goes on an increasingly frantic voice. "An exchange." She starts into a coughing fit, her rapid talking beginning to agitate her already sore throat. "Un-tie me. I can't feel anything below my shoulders. My chemical transportation fluid is seeping. I can't escape without my limb enhancers. Not very far." She looked around again, looking for the crystal gems. "I'll even tell you about the corrupted gem and everything I learned about it." She offers, believing that to be the important bit. "A simple exchange of creature comfort for a wealth of knowledge!" "You will gain nothing, otherwise!"
Toph Beifong	A heavy sigh leaves Toph, and she closes her eyes as she frowns, rolling her head back and to the side. "Technically, I don't owe you anything since you took /my/ stuff," she points out. The coughing fit isn't interrupted, though Toph doesn't look like she is eager to let Peridot down. "I didn't know you gems could bleed. Aren't your bodies made of light or something? As for telling me about the corrupted gem, why are you so eager to tell /me/ about it?" After all, she didn't ask about it. "There has to be a reason /why/ Garnet tied you up instead of keeping you in a cell or something... Just what would you do if I un-tied you? Sit down on the couch and watch TV? Cook dinner for when the crystal gems return? Do laundry?" Of course Toph can't keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
Peridot	"I don't know. I don't care!" She shouts. "The crystal gems are barbaric! I can't understand their motives. You don't.. know them! You don't know what they did during the war. How many gems they killed in the defense of earth. How many innocent gems!" "When they were my prisoners, I kept them in a cell!" She goes on, a bit of venom in her voice. "I didn't tie them to one spot. I didn't beat them when they couldn't defend themselves!" "I wish I did!" Her teeth grit. She felt a wash of hot anger roll over her. "I could have been so much more cruel. I could have harvested them. I could have shattered them. I could have left them alone with a sociopath!" She grit her teeth, her eyes furrowed down. "But I'm not a savage!" "The corrupted gem is the thing of value. I deemed everything else of value in your satchel to be worthless. Clearly that is what this is about."
Toph Beifong	For a while Toph nearly looks bored as Peridot talks, and she sighs again. "I know you even less than I know them, and I know better than to take simply your word for it. I don't know what kind of cells are best for keeping gems in either. Plus I have more important stuff to do than to play prison guard for you until the crystal gems return." Ugh, staying here to play keeper for Peridot... Something that Peridot says though makes Toph narrow her eyes, and abruptly she pushes herself up from the floor, and she fumbles a bit before she grabs onto Peridot's shoulder. "This isn't about the corrupted gem! What did you do to my reading glove?!" she snaps.
Peridot	The grab sends a jolt of pain through her upper body. Which makes her yell out. "Ow! Stop stop! They hurt my neck!" She rapidly explains. The fringes of the bruise had extended to her collar bone and the lower part of her chin. She bit down, to swallow the pain. "What? The touch stump warmer? It was of no value! I analyzed it thoroughly. It's worthless! Everything in your bag was!" She wrinkled her nose, at the very least she seemed to genuinely not understand. "Why go through all this for that piece of trash?" Her brows raised.
Pearl	A shaft of light appears on the warp pad, and a moment later Pearl emerges from it. The first thing she sees is Peridot dangling there like an abused marionette. She can't help but laugh at the sight. "So that's what you look like without all those gadgets attached to you! You look like an angry little puppy!" She snickers, then the state of the house and Toph's level of irritation start to sink in. "What in the world happened here!? Steven's gone and I still can't manage to keep this place from falling apart for more than two days!?"
Toph Beifong	When Peridot reacts so strongly to Toph simply taking hold of her shoulder Toph's eyes widen slightly. While she doesn't tighten her grip on Peridot's shoulder she doesn't let go either. Just... how rough have they been in getting info from Peridot? "That's a glove, and a special glove that my dad made for me. If you really had analysed it properly you would have figured out it's high level engineering. I want it back, and I want it back NOW! Where is it?!" The sound of somebody arriving makes Toph turn her head slightly, and she recognises Pearl's voice easily. "Why don't you keep her in a cell? She's desperate to not hang around off the floor, and I can't blame her. I can always bend her a cell or something if you want or need me to." She pauses slightly as she frowns. "IF she tells me where my glove is, that is." Yes, the blind girl seems rather desperate to get her glove back.
Peridot	And things had been going comparatively well. Peridot shifts her glare to Pearl as she enters the room. Though she was still angry at the tall gem for stabbing her in the chest. Somehow hearing her laugh at her while she was in a bloodied and bruised state ignited a rage in her chest. Ridicule on top of injury. She gave a momentary flash of murderous intent. It was perhaps a harmless enough laugh, but it couldn't been more poorly timed at this juncture in the negotiation. Something in Peridot snapped. "The war machine happened. The autobot happened you--!" Clod didn't seem to fully articulate Peridot's anger. She began to laugh, her head tilting back. She forgot for a moment to protect her neck. Her mad laughter transitioned... became interrupted by the sound of choked crying. "You left me with a walking weapon and a deranged machine! What did you think was going to happen!?" "Hah haha..!" Her eyes became wet and glassy. "And why are you lying to me? Why do all this to me, and say you'll let me go? You know I'm going to kill every last one of you if I get out for this! Maybe I already broke your glove apart too!" She went on wildly. "Bit by bit, to pieces and tossed the tattered thing out the airlock once I understood how it worked!" The transition was rational to crazed had been fast. A tantrum of sorts brought on by her racked emotional state. Her legs kicked and flailed wildly. "Maybe I already burned the satchel! Worthless, all worthless human garbage!"
Pearl	A worried look crosses Pearl's face as she starts to realize just how abused Peridot is. "Who did this!?" She snaps on the edge of anger. "Crystal Gems do not torture people!" She says as she stamps her foot. She looks Toph over.. She didn't do this did she? It was more likely Garnet. She hopes. "We don't have a cell. We have bubbles and the basement." She explains with a sigh. "However. I think I can arrange a compromise considering the way Peridot's been treated." She walks to the front door, and concentrated for a moment until a Holo-Pearl appears. "Do you wish to engage in combat!?" It intones, raising it's holo-saber. Pearl steps back and instructs it, "Any Gem who approaches this door is an enemy combatant." She then repeats the process with the back door. It's not perfect, but she's pretty sure she could catch Peridot if she bolted for the loft window. She turns to peer at Peridot, "Now Now, if you want me to let you down you're going to have to stop throwing tantrums." She chides.
Toph Beifong	It's clear Peridot's traumatised from what happened to her, and Toph makes a mental report to pass this information on. But she does not look pleased when Peridot talks about the possibility of her glove being broken. "It's NOT worthless! My /dad/ made it for me!" As for Pearl's statement, Toph sighs. "She was like this when I showed up, but I don't really know if there's a specific reason why Garnet tied her up. I like fighting people who can fight back, not when they're like this!" It's serious, and touching Peridot's shoulder is the only thing Toph has done besides talking with the homeworld gem. "The Union doesn't approve of such measures, I'm sure, and I'll bring this information to my supervising officer. Which also happens to be my /dad/," she points out to Peridot. But to hear that Pearl has a compromise is good, and she nods. "Just tell me where my glove is, that's all I want to know. I have no interest in killing you or fighting you like this, I just want my reading glove back!" Peridot isn't the only one who's getting worked up. Heck, as close as Toph is the gem might even see that the blind girl looks... slightly upset?
Peridot	Peridot breaths heavily, her voice had been even scratchier as the increased use of her voice put even more pressure on her wounded wind pipe. The possibility of actually getting out of the ropes seemed to work. "Why does it matter who gave it to you?" "I recall this dad being a kindergarten tech of sorts. Except that earthlings get.. attached to them?" Her worldview ironically explained Toph's powers to Peridot. Gems could be born who control elements, such as water, or even the ground. This made Toph more like a gem, than a human to her. "Just make a new one." She looked to Pearl. "Your autobot pal nearly cracked my gem! He produced a sonic emitter and held it right up to me!" Peridot looked around. The broken glass surely supported that explanation. It wasn't just the windows, but the tv, the picture frames, everything had been shattered by the ultra high frequency. "I.. called his bluff but.." She paused. There was certainly a moment where she thought she was going to shatter.
Pearl	"We need to be more careful about who we let in here. Remind me to give Blurr a good talking to." Pearl rolls her eyes as she listens to Peridot. "Do you think Garnet would happy just swapping out Sapphire for another one?" She asks in annoyance, "Humans grow new humans inside their females. It's a long laborious process that results in emotional bonding." She explains in a way she hopes Peridot will understand. "If you promise to give Toph her glove back I'll let you down." She says earnestly, "Or if that still isn't enough for you..." She walks up to Peridot and sticks her face about an inch from the other Gem's, "I'll be happy to explain human reprodcution to you in excruciating /exacting/ detail! I find mucus plugs to be particularly fascinating myself!" She threatens with an insane looking grin on her face.
Toph Beifong	It seems like gems don't get family, huh? Toph sighs, not looking too pleased when Peridot suggests that a new glove can be made. "Because he made it just for me so I could read with my fingers, genius. And he matters because he saved my life and gave me a home. I don't want a new one, the first glove he made is special because it's the first gift he's ever given me. Where. Is. It?" Toph's fingers don't let go of Peridot's shoulder just yet. So Blurr nearly cracked Peridot's gem... that doesn't sound good. Toph raises her other hand, moving up towards Peridot's gem. "Seriously, he gets carried away too easily..." she mutters, resting her hand over the gem. While Peridot might get nervous, she should notice that the earthbender isn't actually doing anything to the gem. It's more like she's... inspecting it? "It's fine, and not about to crack anytime soon." Though the moment Pearl threatens to explain human reproduction Toph's face pales, and she visibly shudders. "... trust me, you don't want to learn more about what kind of holes we humans crawl out of. It's gross." Or just how humans are made in the first place.
Peridot	"Let me down, and.. I will see that it's returned." Peridot eventually says, wiping her face on her shoulder. Pearl would notice her signature visor is also gone. Likely shattered with all the other glass, and she didn't have the energy needed to manifest a new one. "These are acceptable term agreements. Frankly, I don't care about the glove to begin with." She looks off to the side. "I thought it was worthless, so It's merely sitting in storage next to my work bench." "And know this is not a concession! I am coming out ahead in this arrangement! A dad glove to be out of these biting thread constrictors!" As Toph reaches up to touch her gem, Peridot flinches back as far as she can. Blurr wasn't the only one who came close to attack her gem directly. She suspected everyone. But, when nothing happens she opens her eyes slowly. "I do not need to know where humans come from." She eventually says. "The terms previous terms are agreeable on their own."
Pearl	"Alright, it's good to see that we're being reasonable now. Give me just a moment." SPearl smiles and leaves Peridot to place a third holo-Pearl on the warp pad. It could be a little awkward if Garnet suddenly comes home, but better safe than sorry. "Thank you Toph. She didn't show any obvious signs of gem damage, but it's nice to have a rock expert on hand to be certain." She grins. Pearl walks up behind Peridot and starts undoing her bonds. It can't help but hurt some with as long as she's been hanging there but she does so with a gentleness reminicent of all the scraped knees and other bruises she's treated Steven for during boyhood. Not to mention the injuries he's suffered on missions. "Do you have any other concerns about yuor well being I should know about?"
Toph Beifong	"Actually, it's worth a lot of money in many worlds since my dad is a genius inventor and super hero," Toph points out. "I want it back for the sentimental value, though." If Peridot thinks it's her coming ahead, so be it. She seems to have many weird ideas and impressions. Like how she flinches when her gem is touched. "If I wanted to shatter your gem I would have done so when I first walked in, so /relax/. I'll only use my bending if you give me no other choice," Toph points out as she steps away so Pearl can get Peridot down. "Eh, being too harsh on prisoners wouldn't reflect well on the Union. I'll tell Goldie about this so he can see decide what we should do next." As for getting the glove back? Toph has a determined expression on her face as she considers this. "I'll just tell Jasper to bring it to me," which might be easier said than done, "that's quicker if Pearl and Garnet aren't done getting information from you." What matters is that she knows the glove is okay, and that she can get it back. So Toph turns around, offering a brief wave as she heads off to the door. "I'd better get home before Pepper whines about me being late to dinner, good luck getting the info you guys need, Pearl."
Peridot	"Yes! Your war machine nearly broke my wind pipe!" The hoarse voice seemed to support that theory. Peridot was certainly indignant about all of it. "She threatened to bury me in a hole if I didn't cooperate!" As she is lowered from the ceiling, she collapses onto the ground when her legs touch the floor. She hadn't used them in three days, and most of her felt numb. But, she otherwise lets Pearl help her up, and doesn't move as the ropes are unbound. Initially she doesn't seem to react, but as Pearl works and unveils more of her arm she can see the damage done isn't easy to ignore. Three days of hanging from a ceiling, tied extra tightly while being roughly treated. The rope had cut into her skin. Though gems didn't have as much blood as humans, they did have internal body fluids like blood. Peridot's was a bright green color and it had seeped through rough skin abrasions where the rope had been secured. She makes little pained gasp as the rest of the rope falls away. Peridot squints at Jasper. "Not that I care if you get it back... but, if you ask Jasper to bring it, she's just as likely to break it. She breaks -my robonoids- all the time and she works -for me-. She is not likely to treat your tech gentle if she doesn't like you."
Toph Beifong	Toph halts in the doorway when Peridot speaks up, though she doesn't turn around. "So she's a rough brute, is that it? I know how to handle rough brutes, I beat them up for years. Anything else I should know about Jasper?" she asks calmly.
Peridot	Peridot didn't seem willing to give up any more information. She certainly wasn't about to arm Toph with anything useful. "Yes. Tell her I command her to come rescue me." She adds after a moment of thought.
Pearl	"Garnet isn't a war machine! She can just be rather blunt at times." Pearl tries to explain. "I'm sorry for the way you've been treated. Make no mistake that you are a prisoner But what's been done to you is reprehensible! Rose would never have allowed it." She apologizes. "We can put all of this behind us. Tell us about the cluster and we'll see about trading you back for Toph's belongings and the corrupted Gem. In the mean time. There are some medical supplies in the bathroom. They're intended for humans, but I think I can manage to clean your wounds up a bit if you'll allow it."
Peridot	Peridot looked to Pearl with suspicion. "Is that your game huh?" Her lips pursed. She sat on the floor and looked at her arms. They were still numb but the feeling was steadily returning. With some effort she raised her forearms, her hands visibly shaking. "Get me back to full health... lure me into a false sense of security and then unleash the Garnet back on me?" She looked over her shoulders, counting the Holo-Pearls. One by every exit. Even if she got outside she wouldn't be able to get far. Not without someone there to extract her. She looks back to Pearl. "Well, it'll be cleaning my wounds or stabbing me in the chest -again- so I reform with a fresh undamaged body." Even if she believed that more grueling treatment was coming, she didn't seem overly willing to commit to denying treatment.
Toph Beifong	Well, why not...? The blind girl shrugs slightly. "Sure, I'll tell her." Then she's off.
Pearl	Pearl shakes her head. "No that's not my game. Torture is against both Rose Quartz's code of ethics, and Union accords. It won't happen again if I have anything to say about it! Now come on, into the bathroom with you!" She urges Peridot back on her feet, and offers a hand, even though she doubts she'll take it. "Let's see if we can't come to an agreement on information about The Cluster while we're at it."
Peridot	Peridot narrows her eyes, and does not take the hand. But she does however transition herself into the bathroom. She pauses and looks around the interior before looking back to the Pearl. "What makes you think an arrangement can even be reached! You clods have been a pain from half way across the galaxy! Destroying my probes. My robonoids." "Why should I even consider working with you?"
Pearl	"Point taken. Look at it from our point of view. We swore to protect the people of this planet. From our point of view, You're the invaders come to reclaim this planet for the Homeworld, which we fought a thousand year war to free ourselves from in the first place!" Pearl explains. She motions for Peridot to take a seat. either on the toilet or the bathtub, whichever she's more comfortable with. "And I'll admit I'm not keen on the idea of returning you to the kindergarten. I know you're going to try to get it up and running again. but I'm willing to do so in exchange for the information and items we've been asking for." She pulls out a few things from the medicine cabinet. a bottle labeled H202, some bandages, and some sort of ointment. "It we can't come to an arrangement, I'll have to poof and bubble you again. I'll check on you in a century or so to see if you've changed your mind." She says this as a simple matter of fact despite the fact it likely sounds like a threat to Peridot.
Peridot	"I am an Invader." She says with some mild indigination. "You are also an invader! We're all planet invaders! It's what gems do! I'm not the one acting strangely. It's you." She starts to fold her arms, but the gesture is too painful, so she simply keeps them at her side. She looks to the toilet, it was the most seat-shaped thing she could make out, and so, she sat on it. "Jasper will never let you just sit on my bubble for a century!" But she does have some pause. Her capacity as a diplomat had at least started her down the path of being less rigid in how she dealt with foes... even a hated enemy. "But enough squabble!.. given the circumstances. If you are willing to make some concessions." She raises her arm. "Perhaps... perhaps a trade.. -can- be afforded. I want the cluster destroyed as much as you clods."
Pearl	"We're rebels and this is our adopted planet!" Pearl corrects, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. "We /appear/ to be acting strangely to you I'm sure. But it's simply that we disagreed with how Homeworld ruled us and we wanted to be able to live on our own terms." She sighs. She wants to add 'You're the one's that made a big deal out of it.' But leaves it unsaid. "You must understand at least a little? I'm rather pleased with the fact that you haven't treated me as a simple Servant Pearl so far." Pearl dabs some of the disinfectant on a cloth and holds it up. "This is to clean the wounds, it's going to sting a bit... maybe a lot. But it won't last long." She then holds up the ointment, "This will keep infection from returning. Not that it's much a problem for us, but it's also a painkiller and I think you'll find it quite soothing. Are you ready?"
Peridot	"Well." She starts, looking at the solution Pearl held. "You -are- acting like a servant. I didn't feel the need to point it out." She says with a vague gesture to what Pearl was actively doing. "Though I did wonder who you were taking orders from. I assume this must be the Amethyst's doing though I have not seen her since our ship crashed." "If this... pain cream will make this.. go away, then do your worst!" She says holding her arm out further and clenching her eyes shut.
Pearl	"I'm a Crystal Gem!" Pearl repeats, "Garnet is our leader, and I follow her by choice! I'm simply rectifying the fact that our prisoner has been mistreated." She explains, then gets to work cleaning Peridot's wounds. the Peroxide stings at least as much as promised, but the ointment works as promised as well, and once her arms and wrists are bandaged the aches and pains do seem to fade somewhat. For the brusing she finds and instant cold pack, which she activates and offers to her. "Hold this against your neck, wherever it hurts the most, and it'll help the swelling go down."
Peridot	Peridot let's little whimpers escape as the various peroxides and ointments do their work. Gems couldn't be killed by an infection, but that didn't mean getting one would be a pleasant experience. "Primitive... adhesive strips." She says, as she looks at the bands wrapped around her arms. Perhaps accidentally attributing the scientifically correct name. "But I suppose that's all you have access to when you abandon thousand years of scientific discovery to live among the apes." She takes the cold pack and delicately takes the instructions, pressing it against her neck. Of all the wounds on her, this one was by far the worse. "Ah!" She yelps as it makes initial contact. Initially pulling it away.. and then, sets it back down on the center of the bruise. "Nngg..." She strains to not pull it away, but eventually the ice begins to numb it. "It's cold." She complains. "A fusion leader? I suppose you haven't completely abandoned Homeworld culture. She is the strongest. Afterall."
Pearl	"You'll regenerate fully in time." Pearl says knowingly. "And this isn't all we have. If I trusted you I'd have taken you to Rose's healing fountain." There's a note of haughtiness there. "I did fly that ship of yours briefly you know. Once I got used to the increased data stream it wasn't that different from the ones I used to fly. It just had more.. what do they say? whistling bells? Somethng like that." She shrugs. "It's suppposed to be cold, that's how you know it's working!" She laughs. "If your comfortable now we can return toteh living room. You said you wanted the Cluster destroyed. I can assume that means it's dangerous. Maybe we can help with that?"
Peridot	Peridot hopped off the seat continuing to hold the pack against her neck. "Yes. You did. Another great time you three tied me up." She mentions. "Of course, just one in the long string of times you annoyed me." Peridot walks into the living room. She paused briefly, there was still shattered glass everywhere. Not to mention, she had spent three miserable days suspended from the ceiling in this room. "A healing fountain." She comments idily. "Noted." "Now that I'm no longer fearing for my life.. perhaps I can think now." "You gems." She turns to face Pearl, looking up at her. "You must know exactly where a lot of ancient gem sites are. This is your home turf, after all, is it not?"
Pearl	Pearl shivers momentarily when she gets a look at the broken glass again. "This has got to get cleaned up.. but I can't do anything about it till I have someone else here to watch you." She sighs, "Yuo can be annoying too, don't forget that!" "She nods to Peridot, "We do." She says cautiously, "There's even a couple I know about that the others don't. But I'm going to need an awful lot of convincing to share any locations with you."
Peridot	"I only want one location." Peridot says walking towards one of the Holo-Pearls. However, she stops before reaching it. She knew if she got too close the thing would launch off into an assault. More, she was simply observing it's craftman ship. Peridot could also make projections such as this. However, hers were stationary. Used primarily as a decoy rather than an active guard. "Kindergarten prime." She finally speaks without turning to look back at Pearl. "I want Kindergarten primes location. And I want you gems to not.. meddle in my affairs there." She frowns. Her brows pressing down over her eyes. "Give me that. And I'll tell you everything there is to know about the cluster."
Pearl	Pearl closes her eyes for a moment, "That's a rather hefty request. I need to talk it over with Garnet." She says with a pained expression. She already knows it's going to be an emphatic NO. But she doesn't want to undo the progress she's made so far. "Now that we've unified there are other options available. There could be other worlds with compatible magical energies that you could use. If we can find one, we'd even help you move the incubators there." She offers hopefully. "I'm also not willingto accept that Homeworld is just gone just yet. I'd like to look at your findings and see if there's any place else we can look for it."
Peridot	"For what reason would you want to locate Homeworld?" She ask looking over her shoulder. "Rebel gems are killed on sight." She gestures briefly at herself. "I might even get into trouble just for... negotiating with you!" She gestures towards Pearl. "I'm only even considering making a deal because I'm a prisoner! I'm taking a huge risk." She looks down. "Jasper will never honor any kind of agreement we even.. arrive at!" "There are several worlds to choose from. But only the one that unified with us has the exact magic properties that produce good gems."
Pearl	"Isn't it obvious!? If we can find Homeworld, then we're not a critically endagered species anymore! You wouldn't have to reactivate the kindergarten and could go home. of course we'd smash the galaxy warp behind you again and then loko for union assistance in shielding our earth from their detection. There doesn't have to be another war and we don't have to go back to killing each other!" Pearl pleads. "I'm not too worried about Jasper. She's brutish and predicatble and Garnet's beaten her twice." She says smugly, "If it comes to it We can protect you from her. We're not as bad as you think we are!"
Peridot	Peridot rubbed her chin. "Very well. Sound logic." She raised the ice pack from her neck for a few moments. "I don't.. understand how you do it. How you choose to be here. I didn't have a choice in the matter." She signs.. her tone weary. "I have another deal to make." "I want something off the table. I need... assurances that I will get out of this.. unbubbled. No matter what conclusion we come too. I don't know what you -do- with your prisoners. But if this planet.. this portion of the planet is destroyed because of the cluster, you cannot leave me behind to die." "In exchange I will give you all the information I have on Steven."
Pearl	"I wish you could have met Rose. She saw the beauty in everything. In the people of this planet. She showed it to us, that's why we chose to be here." Pearl says with a wistful sigh. She looks Peridot in the eye and give her a reasurring nod. "Agreed. I may have a little trouble convincing Garnet not to bubble you again, but I'll find a way. Steven has a lot of Rose in him, If we can find him I'm sure he'll speak up for you too."
Peridot	"Yes. I'm sure she would have loved me. A loyal homeworlder." Peridot grimaces. She had done her research on the rebellion. Though she believed Rose to be long dead. She supposed she wanted it that way so more Homeworlders would show up. "Very well then. You have much to discuss with your leader." It seemed as thought Peridot was not willing to compltely trust Pearl yet. Or, even that make a deal without verifying it with someone Peridot considered to be her superior. "In the meantime... I need to rest.. for a while." Now that she mentioned it- Peridot looked awful. Not just her injuiries, her eyes were exhausted. She hadn't been able to rest in three days. "And.. talking hurts." She added, touching her hand to her throat gently. "Allow me to rest here in private with your.. holo golems." She says squinting at the holo-Pearls and made a little dismissive hand gesture towards Pearl.
Pearl	Pearl seems a little uneasy with idea idea of leaving Peridot alone, but appears to give in after a long pause. "Alright, I suppose you can't cause too much trouble in your current condition. I'll leave you be." With that she heads upstairs into the loft. She knows a spot up there where Steven loves to hide and just watch the goings on in the house. It's extraordinarily rare for Pearl to shapeshift, but once she's out of sight she does so, so she can more easily fit into Steven's hiding place and remain unobserved. She's not going to take her eyes off Peridot!
Peridot	"One more thing." She says. Her tone authoritative. "...Thank you. For your service. Though your allies injured me to begin with... I appreciate the attempt to un-do the damage your superior caused." The gratitude itself seemed genuine, at least. Even with the implied servitude undertones. Whether it was an act of insubordination, or the actions of a free gem. Then she let Pearl leave. Peridot waited until she was certain she was alone. Or, at the very least, she believed she was alone. She didn't know she was still being watched. At first she just stood there for a full minute, un-moving. Staring at the holo-Pearl. Finally, she moves. She didn't try to escape but merely raises her hands to her face, her fingers were trembling. She covered her mouth and fell to her knees. The stress and fear of her situation had gotten to her. She had managed to hold herself together while speaking to the Pearl. But now that she was alone again, she had held it in for as long as she thought she could. Her hands muffled the stream of sniffles that came next. She laid down on the floor, and hugged herself, tucking her knees against her chest. She rocked back and forth slowly. She would rest. But, she would forget that she was defenseless in a den of vipers.