(vague) spoilers for the 2.0 + 2.1 trailblaze missions.

        Precious gems are often mistaken for others when surveyed by the eyes of simplistic man. However, those with expertise in the field know their rocks. They could tell jade from aventurine, carbonate from quartz. Spanning galaxies, these gathered experts had to produce the best findings when providing Emanator Diamond with the best gemstone for their new chosen one. They found the stone chalcedony to be the best representative of the Yojj diplomat the planet of Tlegona provided to the Interastral Peace Corporation. She flew to Pier Point from galaxies far beyond sight. In exchange for the Preservation's mercy, the Yojj people gave their best mind to the IPC—the only daughter of the chieftan's family. And so, after providing the young woman clothes, food, kindness—things scarce on her planet despite the position she had to hold—Diamond offered her the unpolished white crystalline whelp that would soon become her cornerstone.

        "I give you this," Diamond had said that day. "This and no return. This and your alleviation."

        The Yojj lady's brown, spiraling eyes met with theirs.

        "What about Tlegona?"

        Diamond's smile straightened out, dissipating into their usual cold grimace. Tlegona resided in a near-destroyed star system, a world being rebuilt in itself dressed in the remnants of selenic nodes and molten ores. A perfect subject—and the perfect victim of the IPC from Amber Eras past.  But Diamond was a part of this new generation. Their motives differed from the past regardless of similar alignments. Well, mostly different anyway, because Tlegona had the resources the IPC craved.

        "Tlegona is under our watch." After a pause, observing her uncertain silence, Diamond then added, "Our protection."

        She gave him a soft smile, though her eyes recessed, head hanging lowly with a glint in her gaze as she held the chunk of chalcedony in her hands. Humming to herself, she rose from her seat and headed towards the door.

        The gemstone was held close to her chest, and she said, "You are a good man, Emanator. But you are a good fabulist as well. The Tarantula loves you, imitating the management of cords extending our world into constellations and wavering promises."

        Tlegonians did not believe in the Aeons, but in the essence of life around them, every organism and their spiritual significance. The Interastral Peace Corporation, though, believed in the singular Lord: Qlipoth.

        That was the Corporation claimed at the very least.

        It was here that she was assigned the title Chalcedony of Edifice upon presenting the projects she would represent the IPC with, leaving Diamond's office to carve her desires into what would essentially become her cornerstone—a memento of the Preservation. Unwilling or not, she would become its servant, confined in the rigidity of the mantra that is Interastral Peace.

        "Welcome to Pier Point," Diamond sent their goodbyes to her. "This world is fabricated by wavering promises and business built on glass stakes."

        Penacony was a former prison planet residing in the Asdana Star System, the host of the substance memoria, which harnesses the projection and intensity of dreams. This planet, now known as the Festive World, was once owned by the Interastral Peace Corporation, and though things have changed, the IPC wanted some of it back. Diamond contacted Taravan Keane just days ago about harvesting memoria and planning out this new project. They then assigned Aventurine to lead this little mission, following up one of his requests to add Chalcedony into the mix.

        "...Topaz and Jade already handed in their cornerstones to go all in for this, and I was hoping you'd be into baiting out the Family as well," Aventurine expressed his plans over a table for two and some wine. He'd be paying, of course. He certainly owed her.

        There was Topaz of Debt Retrival, Jade of Credit, Chalcedony of Edifice, and now Aventurine—cornerstone: Stratagem. Four out of ten. Fitting title for him, as he was just elaborating on one of his many usually-kept-secret schemes in order to inform Chalcedony of the mission ahead. They had to step foot in territory as unwanted guests with the more immeasurable style.

        Chalcedony twirled a stray black curl as she took her time to think. "Like a predator, you give yourself away and take that chance to get a full meal. It's only a matter of luck, ain't it?"

        His smile, something so trademark, could never leave his face. She heard the click of his glasses handles folding over the golden frames as he took them off. "I'm the luckiest person you know, remember?"

        "And in this situation, I'm merely a chip," she mumbled. She picked up her martini glass and drank from it. "To you, I always am."

        He didn't speak for a moment. She was right about something, something in the past, but not now. "Your cornerstone is," Aventurine admitted eventually. "But I think you and Ratio are my keys to being introduced to this world."

        Keys were still tools. Veritas (with many doctorates—hence, Dr. Ratio) was an ambassador coming from the Intelligentsia Guild, and he was a Mundanite representing the IPC. While Chalcedony was the IPC's own plenipotentiary, Veritas was the foreign correspondent, and both were taught to know everything there ever was to know in order to keep relations afloat. And like Chalcedony, Veritas too had a vendetta against a gambler such as the frivolous, handsome, and secretive Aventurine, and he was most definitely hesitant on joining in on the fun as well. She watched Aventurine's blonde hair sweep across his face, adorned with an inscrutable smile and his own precious gems, those Sigonian eyes. Avgin were once kind. Was he?

        Chalcedony couldn't tell anymore. They spent a year apart by now, even if the lower-ranked still gossiped about something known as an inevitable reunion, but he seemed the same at face value. Almost unreadable, still smiling, still obsessed with what he could gain even when he'd gained enough.

        He wore gaudy things, luxuriously-woven things, from his green velvet to the fur sewn near his neck, to the watch, bejeweled bracelet, to the white pants and black shoes. His glasses were golden and hat still richly fabricated. He could hide so much within peacock feathers. With her, she wore a white satin shift with a goddess' silhouette—loose, plunging, still hugging her curves as a wide, periwinkle ribbon tied it all together at her hips and created a bow right behind. She also did wear jewelry, yes, graduated and bauble necklaces with drop earrings and an anklet hiding behind the slit of her dress. She preferred understatement, fancifulness, demure enough to lure an unsuspecting customer in, while he was prominent in the silence, a representation of power meant to be attractive in a different way for the greedy.

        "You think?" Chalcedony wanted to clarify.

        "I couldn't possibly know, this is a risky game," Aventurine reminded her. "Infiltrating Penacony's Family for the Watchmaker's secrets? It's no easy feat, but it's certainly important for our repertoire."

        After she placed her glass down on the table, he suddenly, and casually, grabbed her hand and folded it over, revealing a translucent die with golden numbers etched on each face.

        "With my personal touch in the game, though," he continued, "we could easily be victorious."

        He gestured to the die, a silent ask for her to roll it, and despite herself she entertained that measly wish. It clattered and fell onto the tablecloth, rolling on one face to another until it reached its ultimatum—a perfectly resting answer of six. For a moment, part of his luck could pass on. For what length a dream could be on the Planet of Festivities, the cornerstones would be in the right place at the right time in a bag of mixed jewels.

        Against her usual nature, she ended up laughing to herself. Had he ever changed? Had the stars weathered his polished edges down? This sounded ridiculous, yet it simultaneously had its chance to become some successful scheme of his own. His smile began to waver as she laughed. He was surprised.

        "Bidaa, bidaa..." Eyes, eyes, she addressed him. Some soul made of lead and fool's gold. She lifted her glass once more, an almost empty provision, and gestured to him. "To being victorious in your games, Aventurine. To whatever the hell you're planning."

        She never liked him, not since what they had once before, and she found him to be incredibly ambitious to the point of self-annihilation. But no matter. Disbelieving, eventually accepting, and lifting his own glass, Aventurine toasted as a means to finalize this deal. They would not shake hands, but they would drink just this once. And in the foreseeable future, four cornerstones would be in the hands of the Family, with one making a grand escape in this gamble.

take five━━first chapter
"cornerstones"

2.1 quest ruined me.
i cried so hard like
what the FUCK WAS
THAT 😭😭😭😭😭

me waiting for 04/27
and it's just me sobbing

i hope u guys enjoy what
i got cooking rn bc i love
chalcedony and aventurine
sm and they r gonna be so
strange!!!!! it's biznez baybee

🤍, bai xx

mar 30 2024