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A Zircs By Any Other Name
Zircs… hmm.
It was short. Saying that as opposed to Blue Zircon was certainly efficient. And it was meant to endear her to her new comrades.
And yet, it felt almost demeaning to her. She groaned and shook her head. "Must you call me that?"
The overcooked Amethyst snickered and tossed a Chaaaaap at her. "Yeah Zee. It's just cooler than Blue Nerdcon."
"I did say that Zircon was perfectly acceptable, in light of my status as the only Zircon on Earth." She popped the projectile potato chaaaaap into her mouth
But Amethyst merely barked with laughter. "That's not how nicknames work. You don't choose them; they choose you."
Zircon frowned, trying to puzzle out such an abstract concept.
"Give it some time. It'll grow on ya."
…Grow?
Blue Zircon, Facet-8B8X, newly arrived refugee to Earth, groaned and rubbed her temples.
Amethyst didn't bring it up again, and neither did Zircon. In fact, the lanky Gem had other things on her mind when the issue was touched on again.
It was Buck of all people. Kind, relaxed, unflappable Buck.
It was innocuous. He saw her coming and raised his hand in greeting.
"Morning Zorks."
Zircon's mouth opened and snapped shut quickly. Her brow furrowed. She squinted at her new friend.
"Excuse me? Did you just call me Z-"
"Yo Bucko, Zonks! What's up guys?"
Zircon whirled around and spied Sour Cream approaching. She sputtered.
"Morning Sir Creme," Buck greeted his taller compatriot with a "fist bump". Zircon glared between the two of them.
"What is this?" she hissed.
"Aw, what's tha matter Zinc?" Jenny sauntered up behind her.
Zircon whirled around and cast a suspicious gaze at the lithe human. "Wwwwwhat are you three doing? Stop it!"
Buck gave a benign chuckle. "It's cool, Gingerbread. Zarks is just a little confused."
Zircon groaned and hid her face.
"Aw, lay off her, Buckaroo. And you, Feta Cheese. You're one to talk about names."
"Heh, yeah. You got a point, Jay-P. Sorry Zack."
"WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT?"
A rough cackle from behind her. Zircon's eyes narrowed and she spun around, accusing finger leveled.
"You!" she fairly spat.
Amethyst, picking her nose, beamed smugly.
"April Fools Zorg."
Zircon dropped to her knees and gave a defeated moan.
"Zircs is just fine," she muttered weakly as she lay down and curled into a ball. Two words floated through her mind.
Earth Madness.