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The seaside has been peaceful lately. Nothing but the boundless ocean and salty wind blowing softly, rippling the surface of the water. Waves crashed lazily against the sharp rocks by the elevated coast, making them glisten in the sunlight. It was a very nice place, even though Cinnabar usually preferred the beach. It was hard getting used to seeing the ocean during daytime, but they liked it nonetheless. The seaside was comforting and solitary, with only the sea creatures drifting by to keep them company. Interacting with the other gems had been… bothersome, sometimes. At least jellyfish and the like were not complicated and not at risk of being hurt by Cinnabar’s poison, making them surprisingly pleasant companions.
Lately, the beach became somewhat of a social gathering spot, especially during the warm days of summer. Patrolling became mostly obsolete without Lunarians attacking. That left the remaining gems with plenty of free time, and that time could be spent on having fun. As pleasant as the lack of the threat of being taken away was, Cinnabar’s usual spot had been compromised by large groups of loud, poison-sensitive gems enjoying themselves. Thus, they concluded that ruining their fun would be a bad way of thanking the others for taking them in.
Long story short, Cinnabar found themselves a new spot for sulking by their lonesome.
If they tried really hard, the voices of others could still be heard from there, but usually they just focused on the translucent surface of the water and the vast emptiness at the bottom of the ocean.
Cinnabar sat on a large, smooth rock close to the edge of the solid land. Their chin rested on top of their knees, which they pulled close to their chest. Staring into the horizon with an absent look in their eyes, they let the time pass them by. One of the younger gems was laughing loudly in the distance. The others were probably looking for seashells or something. Sometimes, Cinnabar wondered if it was fun. It probably was, considering how some of the gems tended to brag about finding the nicest trinkets after the fact.
They didn’t want to join, for everyone’s sake, but there was no way not to think about that. Over the years of solitude, the list of topics to think about progressively got shorter and shorter, and the curious behavior of others was an interesting thing to ponder.
A few times, Cinnabar was asked if they wanted to join the fun, but they declined every time. Everyone simply had no self-preservation instinct, to even think about something so stupid. Being considered was the strangest new experience they had ever gained, and they weren’t sure if they liked that. Especially when it came to a large group like that. They couldn’t figure out the reasoning behind that.
Right then, they heard a sound of footsteps. It was as if the person approaching could hear Cinnabar’s thoughts and came to confuse them more. Soon, the noise accompanying gravel being stepped on with someone’s shoes was joined by something light being dragged. Cinnabar flinched in their place. Their head turned back so quickly, they felt something crunch audibly in their neck. Hopefully nothing was broken. Subjecting Rutile to their presence was the last thing they wanted to do
The one approaching was Bort, with the usual dry expression on their face and their floor-length hair sweeping the gravel behind them. They were wearing their summer uniform, as expected, and, also as per usual, holding their black sword in their hand.
They stopped mid-step as they noticed Cinnabar staring at them, a bit agitated.
Both gems looked at each other for a few (very awkward) seconds.
The gears in Cinnabar’s mind immediately started turning, looking for the adequate response to this situation. Fortunately, there was only one option available to choose from. The obvious “Escape and let Bort be” option.
They jumped to their feet, fully intending to disappear at a moment's notice. That’s what they would usually do, but for some reason Bort kept eying them with uncomfortable intensity. There was something about their ability to focus on another person so wholly and figure out their tiniest weaknesses, that made Cinnabar feel even more perceived than they usually did.
Another few seconds passed. The gems stared at each other in silence.
“Uh, I will just…” Cinnabar said finally, probably too quietly to be heard. “Leave.”
Much to their surprise, Bort did hear. They regarded the other gem with an indiscernable intention.
“You don’t have to,” they responded. “I came to look at the jellyfish. No one wanted to spar with me.”
Cinnabar fidgeted in their place, even more confused with every passing second.
“...I’m sorry.” They had no idea if they were actually apologizing for something or expressing pity.
“Huh” Bort tilted their head. They found Cinnabar’s response incomprehensible. “Don’t be.”
“Actually nevermind. If you want to sit here, I can… go somewhere else.” Being forced to actually explain themselves was exactly the reason why Cinnabar preferred to just disappear without a trace. It worked with Phos all those years ago. Why couldn’t it work this time as well?
“I don’t care if you stay. Don’t bother.” Bort’s expression was completely still, even though they likely had as little of an idea what to do as Cinnabar.
Silence ensued.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Cinnabar suddenly felt very embarrassed. “It’s better if I leave, it’s okay.”
“Very bold of you to believe you could actually hurt me.” Bort motioned slightly with the hand holding their sword. “Many tried.”
That vaguely threatening sentence made Cinnabar consider the possibility that maybe the diamond really was just looking to be injured or — even more concerning — really did value their combat abilities over simple self-preservation.
“I genuinely don’t care. If there are jellyfish, I don’t mind you staying.”
“...If you say so…” Cinnabar fought the urge to jump into the water and shatter themselves against the rocks. The whole ordeal was mortifying, at the very least.
Bort discarded their sword gently, placing it against the large rock. They then proceeded to crouch near the edge of the coast.
There were a few stray jellyfish floating carelessly near the shore. They really were quite beautiful. Nearly completely transparent, with a slight pink tint and weird, circular shapes inside. They varied in size, but most were quite large. Their tentacles danced behind them as they moved, creating a weirdly elegant impression, despite how silly and squeezable they looked.
Cinnabar, who moved a little bit further away in order not to disturb Bort, never paid much attention to these creatures, except for mindlessly looking at them while they pondered things they usually concerned themselves with. Things like “best ways to permanently remove themselves from the gem society without alarming anyone” and whatnot. After all, jellyfish didn’t really do much.
Bort on the other hand clearly enjoyed spending their free time looking into the shallow water, where the critters resided.
“They grew,” they said under their breath, causing Cinnabar to almost shatter in surprise.
They mumbled something unintelligible, even to themselves. Bort didn’t seem to be waiting for a response, which made it likely the comment was originally meant only for themselves.
“You wanted to say something?”
“Eh… Not really.”
“Okay.”
They returned to watching the jellyfish swim. Bort’s long hair formed somewhat of a curtain, hiding their face from view. Long, shiny strands laid on their back and further on the ground. Wind blew into their face from the front, sometimes making it possible for Cinnabar to notice the faint sparks in the other’s eyes. They seemed at peace.
“...Actually…” Cinnabar spoke before they could think it through.
Bort took their eyes off the surface of the water and let out a curious hum.
“...They kind of look like you. The jellyfish, I mean.” Idiot, you’re such an idiot, why would you say that. “...Nevermind, forget that, I didn’t mean that. Sorry. I don’t know why I…”
Bort’s eyes narrowed.
“Backtracking on compliments is a coward’s way of doing things, you know?” they said, much to the other’s reluctant relief. By that point, Cinnabar was as close to hyperventilating as a species that by nature cannot even ventilate normally, had ever been.
“...What”
“It’s probably the hair.”
Bort didn’t seem to feel insulted by the comment. They flinged the strand of hair obscuring the side of their face with the fingers of their right hand. “What? I like jellyfish.”
Cinnabar considered the utter stupidity of their own comment. Bort looked nothing like the jellyfish, starting from the fact that it was literally transparent and ending at the gem’s intimidating (and violent) aura, which the careless creature definitely didn’t share.
They just nodded along, looking confused and awkward. Another reason they preferred to be on their own. It might have been soulcrushingly lonely, but at least this didn’t happen.
“If you say so…”
Bort turned their head back toward the jellyfish.
“Now that Lunarians are not bothering us,” they said. The tone of their voice might have been a little softer than usual. “I don’t really know what to do with myself.”
Cinnabar looked at them from the top of their rock. Whatever Bort’s reasoning for talking to them was, it did nothing to make the mess inside of their head to quiet down.
“...I think I know what you mean.”
Night patrols might have always been useless, but now that they were living mostly in peace, their uselessness became way more striking. Thus, the gems have unanimously declared that Cinnabar’s night duty had been lifted. Not to mention they were now going to be included in group activities. That just put them even more on edge. They didn’t know how to live with other people, they never seriously considered that as a possibility. Why would they, really, when they were no more than a parasite, that would eventually end up causing more harm than good? And once that happened, they would once again end up alone. The current peace and newfound friendliness among the gems was only temporary, especially with Cinnabar in proximity to it - a poison both literally and figuratively.
Bort’s situation was nothing like that - Cinnabar once again berated themselves for saying stupid things. They were always necessary. Everyone knew that and everyone valued the fact that without Bort among their ranks, half of the remaining gems would have already been taken to the moon.
Cinnabar had no reference for how that could possibly feel like. So they said nothing further. Instead they just played with their mercury, forming little figurines in the air, making sure none of it accidentally slipped out of control.
“The other gems said they don’t want to fight now that they don’t have to.” Bort continued. “It reminds them how much of us is gone.”
They looked at Cinnabar. Upon noticing the figurine of Phos suspended mid-air, their eyes narrowed with some kind of curiosity. Cinnabar immediately squished the poison back into a shapeless blob. Playing with something so dangerous was irresponsible.
“Interesting. You seem to control that substance well enough.” Bort said. “What other properties does it have?”
“It’s… not very safe. At all.” Cinnabar said with hesitation. “And it’s poisonous.”
“I know that, idiot. I mean apart from that. To what extent can it be controlled? How much of it can you use at once? What does it do to Lunarians? I want to know how to utilize it in combat.”
“Well… I can mostly control it if I focus hard enough…” Cinnabar ignored the fact they just got called an idiot. Somehow that just seemed like a common part of Bort’s vocabulary that didn’t hold much meaning. They glanced at the diamond, who nodded approvingly.
“And… I think I have never been in a situation when I ran out of it. So I think there is a lot? I… I would rather not find out how much there is.”
“Impressive.”
“No, no, it’s not.” Cinnabar denied quickly, embarrassed. “I can’t control every single drop, I’m not good enough. It’s still dangerous.”
“But does it get the job done?”
“I… I don’t know.”
Bort shrugged.
“We’ll have to find out someday.”
“No!” Cinnabar’s horrified reaction took both of them off guard, especially themselves. “I mean… I don’t want to hurt anyone. I really shouldn’t… do anything like this around anyone else. I will just cause trouble…”
“It’s not like any of us can really test that now. The others are busy with their… whatever that is.” Bort motioned in the direction of the beach. “They won’t fight you. They didn’t want to fight me. I figured they consider me to be scary.”
They stated that as a fact, with no real emotion in their voice. In fact they just looked… aimless.
Cinnabar thought the other gems might have had somewhat of a point. They were, however, nice to them. Something Cinnabar didn’t really understand. Why would Bort even consider being nice to a person whose very existence was a safety hazard, who deserved to be eliminated without a second thought, and who, for some reason had now been invited out of their enclosure, to roam about, risking the lives of everyone they came into contact with. Not to mention Bort willingly exposing themselves to such a person, knowing that without them, all the other gems would sooner or later fall apart.
“You’re not scary. I think.” they blurted out. “No more than I am anyway.”
“You are not threatening.” Bort deadpanned. “You are physically weak and can’t even be rude to me. I am mildly disappointed.”
Cinnabar opened and closed their mouth a few times. Really, how were they even supposed to respond to that? Be flattered at the “not threatening” part? Insulted? Should they apologize for being disappointning?
“...But… The poison…” they finally managed to choke out.
“What is the point if you don’t even use it?” Bort said, looking at the jellyfish, still swimming leisurely by the seashore. “You won’t, outside of a last case scenario. I could beat you in a fight.”
Cinnabar didn’t even have any words left to say.
“Don’t take that as me insulting you.” Bort clarified quickly. “I am simply stating what i think is the truth. You have potential, I told you so already. For now, you are an interesting companion though. I would like to pair up with you someday”
Needless to say, their conversation was more and more baffling to poor Cinnabar with every sentence exchanged.
“Why…” they said reluctantly. “Why are you telling me that?”
“Why woudn’t I? I think you are interesting.”
They sat quietly for a few short minutes. The sun was slowly starting to set, illuminating the surface of the water with new, mesmerizing colors. That was the sea Cinnabar was more familiar with. And yet sitting there with someone else was weirder than any landscape could possibly be.
They had no purpose being there, and yet it was comforting somehow, to not be alone.
“I’m going to pet one of the jellyfish.” Bort said finally, standing up and proceeding to get into the water carefully. Red Beryl and Rutile were going to go through all of the stages of grief once they heard about it, but the gem didn’t seem to care. “They are soft. You want to touch one too?”
Cinnabar considered the question. Bort would surely rip off their head with their bare hands if something went wrong.
“I… don’t know. I don’t want to cause trouble. For you. And them. And for the… medic gem.” Cinnabar was not very good with names, which made them feel even more pathetic than they already did.
“It will be fine. Just don’t squish it.”
Saying that, Bort approached a jellyfish slowly. It didn’t seem startled. They touched its head structure and gently brushed it with their palm. Their hair sank to the bottom of the water, much to the surprise of one of the other jellyfish, that crashed into it by accident. Bort smiled lightly
Reluctantly, Cinnabar joined Bort in the water. Much to their surprise, the jellyfish also didn’t swim away from them. It was odd.
They found it hard to move in the dense ocean, but slowly they reached the side of the other gem. Standing this close to someone made their throat tighten.
“Go on. Pet it.” Bort said with a usual note of impatience in their voice.
Cinnabar nodded. The lump in their throat made it impossible to speak, so they didn’t even try. They reached forward with their hand, not sure what to expect from the gelatinous creature floating way too close to them for its own safety.
It really was weird. It was so soft, unlike anything they’ve ever touched. They stroked it a few times, like in awe. They poked it delicately, making it drift away a few centimeters. It was fascinating.
“Fun, right?” Bort said, breaking the silence.
“Mhm.” responded the other, as audibly as possible with the restrictive feeing in their throat. They nodded, just to make it more clear.
“I come here every day to feed them and stuff. For some reason, they have to ‘eat’,” saying that, Bort made quotation marks in the air. “I don’t know why, but they need it to live. In general, they don’t last long. Come along if you want to.”
The unspoken “since neither of us knows what to do with our time now” hanged in the air, unacknowledged.
Cinnabar nodded again. They were going to ponder the implications of looking forward to seeing Bort again some other time. The fact they actually wanted to come bothered them to no end. There would be time to berate themselves for being irresponsible, unwise and cruel once the moment ends.
For now though, all they could think about was the water brushing against their thighs and the jellyfish beneath their palm. They enjoyed it far more than they probably should have.