Chapter Text
“Oh, oh, Pippins, how you amuse me so… Something else you want? A necklace? A ring? A chocolate? I have a ChocoDiamond for you.”
“It’s- No need, my king, you’ve gifted me plenty.”
“Then it is a goodbye for today, my peridot. Chop-chop!”
“Yes, your Brilliance.”
Pippins stepped out of a gem adorned rhombic door, his tense shoulders dropping along with the sigh he kept in his chest. A smile rested blissfully on his face. The doting tone and gentle voice of one of his rulers melted like a white chocolate; he locked his hands at his chest, holding the diamond necklace between his fingers. It glistened beautifully under the lights, and he felt something grow in his chest, knowing there were diamonds carefully applied on his pips.
He made his report to the king about the state of the kingdom’s inhabitants, a regular one at that after the… unfortunate event. Things seem to run smoothly. No one is trying to kill anyone, so that’s good. Scraping up for anything good to report, but good news is good news! King Diamond isn’t particularly picky for those.
Briefly, he brushed his cheek, where the hand of the other rested just moments ago.
“Suckup.”
An acidic, snickering voice took him out of his thoughts.
He turned to face the source of it, squinting in confusion.
“What did you say?”
It was one of the rudinns - the one wearing an expression of boredom and constant annoyance, with shining turquoise scales. Though it might not say much to anyone else, Pippins has hung around the rudinns long enough to tell them apart (or maybe that just comes as a given being one of the many same looking faces as well). He knew this Rudinn - Shimmer, was it? - and it really didn’t like him.
“I said don’t get too cocky.” It slithered closer, towering over him a little on almost the very tip of its tail, as if making a point. “He’ll get bored of you eventually- just like the rest of your comrades did.”
Of course, not every rudinn was going to accept him. He’s gathered just how… much… Diamond King can be. No one wants to fall from his grace, no one wants to be the least favorite. As if it was possible - the old diamond didn’t seem to tell his own treasure hoard and little jacks of diamonds apart. There was something admirable about it, he supposed - the ruler protected and adored anything and everything that he had decided to consider “his”.
Pippins frowned, folding his arms.
“They didn’t get bored of me. We talked about this.”
Today, not many remember or care that there were more pippinses to go around. Red, green, maybe there were even more before his time. But today, he’s the only green one left. And every now and then, even more reds go missing.
And as he was left, a single green pippins, unable to fit in with the reds anymore, he looked for other ways to fulfill his purpose.
The rudinn didn’t seem too interested in learning of the pippins’ story, though. As they stood, it barely seemed interested in anything at all. You’d see rudinns in pairs or alone, nothing unusual - but one that would be bored of being bored? You don’t see that every day.
It’s like getting a rise out of him was just the highlight of its day. Not like Pippins was going to give it the satisfaction, of course.
“Everyone knows it's the Lightners' will, and if it’s about time the reds learnt their place...” Pippins shrugged.
It rolled its eyes, losing interest in the conversation already. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“There’s no evidence for the contrary! Darkners don’t just disappear, you bozo.” And it doesn’t mean anything about me. Green Pippins puffed up his chest, frowning.
Rudinn flinched back, squinting its diamond eyes at the sudden display of confidence. It huffed, turning away. If Pippins didn’t know better, he’d think there was a glimpse of embarrassment on the rudinn’s face.
“Tell yourself that.” Rudinn repeated coldly. “I don’t care. Don’t come crying when it turns out you’re no more special than the rest of us.”
And it was out of view in the dark of the vast castle corridor.
The confidence he held in his shoulders disappeared along with the rudinn. He looked at his hands - little rings and beautiful bracelets, glimmering and sparkling. A beautiful door he’s just exited, it stood greatly, and tall.
It isn’t the first, and surely not the last time he’s being confronted like this. Is it his fault he just likes doing his job? No one else will! The king needs him- his Radiance said so! So what if his fascination is temporary… Nothing lasts forever.
Certainly not with Pippins- you figure it out the moment you open your eyes for the first time and your head has rolled a boring, meaningless, inconclusive 3. Nothing is forever, no tomorrow is the same or certain.
You just learn to live with it, damnit.
Once he’s entered his chamber, he’s ripped all the rings, bracelets and the necklace off himself. Even in the faintly lit abode of his, they still shined, blinding him.
It went in the box under his bed, just like every little thing he was forced to accept.
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