"Peridot? Peridot!" Comes the loud shout outside of the princess' door, followed by quick, loud knocks.
Peridot groans, slowly sitting up, "Whaaaat...?" She shouts back, but tiredly, rubbing her eyes, not even processing who is speaking to her.
"Get ready! Today is the celebration! Have you no common sense?! Arise!"
Peridot's eyes widen, "O-okay, mom! Sorry!" She shouts back, way more awake than before, quickly jumping out of bed.
Yellow Diamond huffs, then walks back briskly down the hallway.
Peridot glances to her door, sighing softly, then walking quickly towards her body length mirror, a mannequin with her dress next to it. She rolls her eyes, "I hate dresses..." She mumbles, but proceeds in getting undressed from her comfy pajamas.
Today is the annual Diamond Collaboration which last about five full days, in which the four diamonds and their sectors and citizens come together in a huge party in each other's own sector. And this year, it's Peridot's mothers turn to host; Yellow Diamond.
It's not that Peridot hates it; she really doesn't, it's actually rather enjoyable once she actually participates in the nights events. It's just what she has to do in order to prepare for the event.
Dresses, styling hair, acting extremely proper. These aren't things that Peridot is accustomed to, much to her mothers' disliking.
Unlike her daughter, Yellow Diamond is very proper, always dresses nice and fancy, and almost always has a strict and formal way about everything she does, whether it be talking to other gems, or just simply walking down the hallway.
Peridot is content with running down the halls with a sweatshirt on and spraying spray paint all over the walls, laughing and feeling like she can do anything.
The princess sighs as she removed her tank top, tossing it backwards onto her bed behind her. She yelps, though, as her door starts to open, instantly covering her chest. She smiles, though, knowing who it is, "Jasper, you clod, close the door, I'm changing!"
"Oh, if you insist, princess," Jasper says with a chuckle, closing the door, but staying right outside the door.
"Ugh, please don't call me that, you know I hate it," Peridot says in a playful tone, uncovering herself once more, proceeding to remove the rest of her clothing.
"But it's your title, Peri!" Jasper laughs.
Being the strongest gem there is around here, Yellow Diamond had assigned Jasper as being Peridot's personal guard and soldier. She's even the captain in the ranks! Regardless of being older than Peridot, the two are still close, Jasper even slipping in a few subtle hints that she's attracted to the princess in a certain way, but Peridot either doesn't notice, or chooses to ignore it.
"So what?!" Peridot laughs, carefully slipping her dress on, grunting a little, "Man, can this thing be any tighter around my chest?!" She mumbles to herself, then says louder, "Okay, you can come in now! Hey, can you tie this for me?"
Jasper walks in, seeing Peridot turn around, gesturing to the laces on the back of her dress. Jasper loops them through the corresponding holes, "You look very pretty..." She says with a smile, proceeding to tie the laces in a perfect bow.
Peridot sighs, but manages a soft smile, "Thank you, Jasper... But it's so uncomfortable...!" She then laughs softly with a roll of her eyes. "And I've gotta do my hair yet... Ugh!" Peridot looks in the mirror, looking at her triangle-shaped, messy hair with unamused, half-closed eyes.
"Well you'd better hurry. We've got to be in the courtyard in half an hour, Peri," Jasper says with a chuckle, tightening the bow slightly, then walking back towards the door, "Meet me out there, alright?" She says with a smile, then walks out.
"Half an hour?!" Peridot shouts as Jasper leaves, hearing a laugh from her down the hallway. Peridot quickly grabs her brush off of her dresser, forcing her hair to go down straight, managing to curl it slightly at the end.
She quickly pulls all of her hair back, but leaves two thick strands on either side. Peridot braids the very ends of her hair, the does the same to the strands she left on either side in front, but braids it a lot tighter. The two braids rest on her shoulders.
Peridot looks in the mirror once more, taking a breather for a moment. She runs her hands slowly up and down her dress, smoothing it out, then doing a little experimental spin, her dress flaring up a bit. She smiles slightly, smoothing her hair a bit more before walking out of her room.
She gently clicks her door closed, turning around to face the wide hallway. Sighing, Peridot walks to the left down the hall, looking at the large portraits of Gem leaders and other important Gems as she goes.
Many pearls run down the hall carrying outfits or platters of food, trying to hurry. Why they even cook food is a mystery to Peridot. It's not like they ever eat it. Every year is the same: it's there for decoration. Rather pointless, but that's another thing that Peridot just doesn't understand.
"Peridot! Keep your back straight!" A sudden exclamation comes from behind her, making her gasp and turn around, straightening her back in the process.
"M-mom! I thought you were already in the courtyard..." Peridot says with a little nervous laugh.
"Everyone is already here, we have to go out together!" Yellow Diamond says, quickly moving her daughter along, adjusting her dress and her hair as they go, much to Peridot's annoyance.
As they round the corner, they see Jasper with her sword in its sheath waiting by the huge and oak doors, a loud murmur of gems coming from the other side. She gives Peridot a reassuring smile, and she returns it a little.
"Ready?" Yellow Diamond says with a big smile, resting her hands on Peridot's shoulders from behind. Peridot only nods.
Yellow Diamond then signals for Jasper to open the doors, holding them open for the two. Yellow Diamond gently pushes Peridot along outside on the balcony of the courtyard.
The crowds of gems go silent, all looking up as the doors open, and they suddenly bust into loud cheers as they see Yellow Diamond and Peridot.
Yellow Diamond waves elegantly with a big smile, subtly nudging Peridot to do the same. Reluctantly, Peridot obliges, putting on a smile as she waves.
Here we go again...
