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With the last piece of deftly carved gemstone slid into place, Padparadscha heaved a sigh--both from relief and frustration, waiting for anything, any response from the sleeping beauty in their casket. Their hands frantically tap the wooden table with anticipation, and with each passing second it almost feels like yet another one of their failures Padparadscha had been so familiar with, when--
a small movement.
That small, tiny twitch was enough to catch Padparadscha's attention, and after a few moments of waiting that definitely seemed all too long than it actually was, Rutile finally flutters open their eyelids, and greets their doctor with a small smile. "Padparadscha. How long has it be—"
Unfortunately for them, the doctor was too fatigued to even answer their question. Padparadscha almost dropped to the hard floor and possibly crack some parts of their body, and, although Rutile's mind was still fogged by grogginess from just waking up seconds ago, they were awake enough to grab the doctor by their uniform and prevent them from hitting the floor, their nose only mere inches away from it.
"...Oh dear."
Rutile stretches their limbs after what they'd guessed was their century old rest, or possibly even longer than that. They had just placed Padparadscha into what they thought would be a comfortable position to sleep in, and covered the doctor with their own uniform they had on--loose and unbuttoned, showing the holes they were born with, now filled with gemstones of varying colours. It's not like they needed it anyway. They were fine with going around the School shirtless, quite unlike some other gems.
And, it would definitely be a cute gift and surprise for when Padparadscha finally wakes up.
Going down the hallways, they had one motive in mind: find Lapis. Of course, they ought to tell and report to Sensei in Padparadscha's place, but they decided that it could wait. They could choose to meet with Zircon, an old friend they used to converse with back in the old days, back when things were so simple and no one important was taken away. Not Benito, none of the Amethysts, not Hemi, not Melon, not Alexi, and Zircon was as cheery as can be, but they decided they'll go meet with the elder gem later.
Rutile was too deep into their thoughts that when their name was called by none other than Lapis Lazuli, the one who was just on their mind, they almost jumped out of shock. "Rutile? Why are you alone? Where is Padparadscha?"
"Oh, they went back to sleep before I had any chance of talking to them. That reminds me. I was just searching for you," Rutile smiled, and when they saw Lapis' cold stare on their naked upper half, that's when they could actually feel the bite of cold breeze in the night, and even then it was still hard to tell from the gems' natural numbness to temperature. They gave a sheepish smile before fumbling to cover their chest with their arms.
"You know Red Beryl would kill you if they saw you walking around shirtless, abandoning their prized work--our uniforms."
Rutile sighed and raised their hands in the air. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Spare me the scolding please, and please don't tell on me."
Lapis sighed. "I'll consider it."
"And what about you? Where's that kid Cairngorm? The last time I saw you two you were practically inseparable."
"Do you mean the last time you were awake? Well, as much as I don't want to doubt Padparadscha's skills that was quite some time ago."
"You mean something happened? Ooh, did you two get in a fight or something?"
"It is nothing of the sort. They have just grown to be less..."
"Clingy." Rutile and Lapis said at the exact same time. "Jinx," Rutile snickered, and did a small fist pump into the air. Right when Lapis was about to counter, they added on, "no buttercups."
The blue gem groaned, and scratches their head. "Curse you. We're too old to be playing this silly game. At least leave it for the younger gems."
"Oh, come on. I've been asleep for the majority of my life. Technically I haven't aged at all."
"I see. That explains why you're very much like a child."
"Why, thank you. It flatters me that you still think I'm childlike despite me being one of the oldest here."
"I meant that as an insult."
"I'll just have to take it as a compliment then."
Lapis shakes their head and places a hand on their forehead. "You really are a handful. It's like you haven't changed at all."
"I'm glad to hear that. This truly reminds me of the olden days."
"What does?"
"This. It felt like it's been forever since we last talked. Maybe because it is."
There was silence after that last remark, but it wasn't an uncomfortable one. Rutile turned to look at the scenery from the School, and, in their opinion, the way it was painted dark blue from the night looked especially beautiful. Rutile almost always seemed to wake up during the day, but on rare occasions like this, they always made sure to treasure the scenery they never really had a chance to see, considering their condition, and how they almost always went back to sleep before night falls.
"Where is your uniform, by the way?" Lapis commented, pointing a finger at Rutile's bare chest. "Of course, it's not like it would've made a difference if you were wearing it. It's like you refuse to acknowledge the existence of buttons."
Rutile snorted. "Hey. I just want everyone to see how sparkly I am."
Lapis shakes their head, before letting out a long, silent sigh, quiet, but loud in the silence of the night. Everyone else had probably started going to sleep, judging by how dark it was. Maybe some of them, like Zircon, Lapis thought, stayed up to either play card games or lament the past, now just a blur in memory. From where Lapis was awkwardly standing, their wooden clipboard in hand, they could see Rutile move to sit down on one of the half... wall...things...? (I'm sorry I couldn't fucking find what the word was in English lol.)
Lapis moved to sit down next to them, patting out their seat first to get rid of any dust that had settled there. Of course, it wasn't a big deal, but it was still a bother when the dust stuck to their powdered skin. After a few moments of silence, which the two of them spent basking in the moonlight that reached the School and taking in the dark blue scenery of the landscape at night, the blue gem felt a heavy weight on their shoulder, and they didn't have to turn around to know that it was Rutile leaning on them.
"What's this? Are you tired already?" They commented, and they could feel Rutile shake their head while still leaning on them. It kind of tickles.
"No... I just. I guess I just miss the old days."
"I see..."
Lapis set aside the clipboard they had in their hand and moved it to settle on top of Rutile's. The brown gem almost jolted in surprise once again, and Lapis only smiled at that. "Hey, Rutile?"
"Hmmm." Rutile only hummed in response.
"When Padparadscha finally cures you, will you promise—..."
Lapis stopped when they realized how cheesy it sounded compared to when they were rehearsing it in their head, but that wasn't the only reason they had stopped. It wasn't long before the heavy weight on Lapis' shoulder had gotten heavier, and the gem there had gotten silent. Lapis lets go of their hand on the brown gem's, and stood up, carefully placing a hand on Rutile so they don't fall from their position and crack or shatter--the doctor would kill them for that.
"I... suppose that shall wait. Let's get you to Padparadscha."
No response, of course.