Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Citrine has always been loved by her family and she loves them all the more in return. But even that love can't fill the hole inside of her, and chasing after her past only leads to more heartbreak.
cw: this section contains bullying and misgendering language
Nova: *sigh* Nothing’s wrong with the school, kiddo, it’s just.
Calcite: Your uncle and I are worried that Basil’s bullying is going to get worse, and…well, if that happens…
Peppermint: I can handle it.
Nova: Kiddo…
Peppermint: I can! I know who I am, and no one calling me a freak’s gonna change that. Besides, giving into bullies just means they won, right?
Peppermint: I don’t want to let Basil win.
Calcite: Pep, not everything’s about winning or losing. You can walk away from this. There’s plenty of schools without Basil in them. Without any nasty bullies.
Peppermint: I know, but…
Peppermint: Those schools won’t have Oceana, or Rose, or Candy Corn either…
Nova: You can still hang out with your friends. And you can make new ones.
Peppermint: …what if I don’t want to?
Calcite: Make new friends?
Peppermint: Leave the school. What if I wanna stay there?
Nova: You can, of course, but–
Peppermint: Then I want to stay.
Peppermint: I know you said I can, but…I don’t want to walk away from this just because Basil’s a jerk. I like school, I like my classes, my friends, and…
Nova: And?
Peppermint: …I just like it there. So…can I stay?
Nova: Of course, we’re just.
Calcite: We’re just worried. But maybe we shouldn’t be?
Peppermint: …Nah. I can handle it. Citrine helps, too.
Nova: Yes she does. *sighing laugh* Okay. Okay, we’ll keep things as they are for now. But if they get any worse…
Peppermint: I’ll tell you, I promise. And, uh…
Peppermint: Could you…maybe not ground Citrine for this?
Calcite: Oh?
Peppermint: She was only protecting me and I’d have done the same thing and you told us to look out for each other and I–
Nova: Pep, slow down! *laugh*
Calcite: We were talking about that, too. The school has their rules, but we have ours. Citrine isn’t in trouble with either of us. She’s not grounded.
Peppermint: Oh. Oh, good.
Nova: But thank you for standing up for her all the same.
Peppermint: Well, yeah? She’s my sister–I mean–
Nova: Pep…
Peppermint: Don’t tell her I said that?
Calcite: Our lips are sealed.
That night…
Peppermint: So Grampa was also named Peppermint?
Corona: That’s right. He was the first, your Dad the second, and you the third.
Peppermint III: Why give everyone the same name?
Peppermint II: It’s tradition, son. Sort of like how all your cousins are named after precious stones. Ah–Citrine, if you had a kid, what would you name them?
Citrine: Um…Emerald?
Peppermint II: See? Tradition!
Peppermint III: Yeah, but…there’s other kinds of mint, aren’t there? Spearmint, and Wintermint, and…I dunno, Fresh Mint? Why Peppermint?
Peppermint II: *laugh* Honestly I think my mother–your Gramma–just didn’t want to think of a name. And she insisted we name you that, too, so…
Peppermint III: So what were you thinking of naming me?
Corona: Well, we were thinking Prominence. Keep to the solar theme, you know?
*Chatter continues off-screen…*
Citrine: Ah–Dad, do you have a minute?
Calcite: Sure thing. What’s up?
Citrine: Thanks for not grounding me. I know I shouldn’t have pushed Basil, I just…
Calcite: I know. You were defending Pep, and that’s a good thing. Sometimes…sometimes words alone won’t work, and your Pop and I will never be mad at you for defending yourself or Pep. I want you to know that.
Citrine: I know, Dad.
Calcite: Just…next time try not to do it while a teacher’s nearby. Principal Brilliant really means that no tolerance thing.
Citrine: I’ll be careful, promise. Um…
Calcite: Take your time.
Citrine: Can I talk to my mom like how Pep talks to their parents?
Calcite: You can talk to your Mom whenever you want, baby.
Citrine: Oh, good! Do you have her Simera number? I can call her when Pep’s done and–
Calcite: …oh. You mean Solana, not…oh, Citrine.
Citrine: …Dad?
Calcite: We don’t have Solana’s Simera number, and…there’s no easy way to say this,
Citrine: Tell me!
Citrine: She’s off on some big jungle adventure right? Gramron said that’s why she left me with you and Pop and–
Calcite: Ma…*sigh* No, Citrine. That’s not what it is. Solana…your mother thought it was best if she wasn’t part of your life. We’ve sent her pictures, but…she’s never responded.
Citrine: …what? W-what does that mean? Maybe she’s just busy–
Calcite: I don’t know. What I do know is that she’s never answered us, and when she left you here she was…pretty sure about it. I don’t think she’d answer if you called.
Citrine: but why not? Did I…did I do something wrong?
Calcite: No, of course not. You were two when she brought you here. She told us she wanted what was best for you, and that wasn’t her.
Citrine: …why? She’s…she’s my Mom, right?
Citrine: I-I know that Ma Amber died before I was even born, but…but…
Calcite: Honey…sometimes the best thing we can do for someone is to…not be there. To give them to someone who can be better for them. Doing that, bringing you here, Solana loved you in the best way she could.
Calcite: It’s no one’s fault, there’s nothing and no one to blame, she just…did the best she could.
Citrine: but…why? Wasn’t I…
Calcite: You were more than enough–you’ve always been more than enough. I can’t tell you what she was thinking, or if there was some other reason there. I don’t know any of that.
Calcite: But I do know that she loved you as much as she could. That’s going to have to be enough.
Citrine: ….oh. O-okay. I…okay.
Calcite: I’m sorry, baby.
Citrine: It’s okay….it’s not your fault.
Calcite: That doesn’t make me any less sorry. I wish I had more to give you. If it were up to me she’d be here, or at least pick up a call…
Citrine: …yeah…*sniff* Thanks anyway…
Calcite: Always. Come here.
Peppermint: So she just…doesn’t want to talk to any of us?
Citrine: I guess? Dad said she’s never answered any of their emails, and it’s not like…it’s not like we can send something to her in person. Mail doesn’t even make it to Alam.
Peppermint: Yeah, but…it’s been like 10 years! She doesn’t even wanna get to know you at all?
Citrine: …seems like it.
Peppermint: That’s stupid! You’re the best cousin ever–who wouldn’t want you to be their kid?
Citrine: Heh…I guess…I guess my own mother?
Peppermint: Citrine…
Citrine: Your Mom and Dad had to leave to go to work, but they love you. They call you all the time. My mom doesn’t even call for my birthday.
Citrine: It’s like….it’s like she doesn’t want me to exist, so she doesn’t even send an e-card…
Peppermint: Citrine…
Citrine: …
Citrine: It’s stupid. Even Oceana’s dad called for her birthday after he left…he even has her for the weekends sometimes!
Peppermint: Yeah, but he just lives in Sulani. It’s a lot closer than Selvadorada. Maybe that’s why…
Citrine: I’m not asking to go to Selva! But she could send a card or…something.
Citrine: Just…something that says “I know you exist”.
Peppermint: Oh, Cit…
Citrine: ….nah, it’s…it’s okay. If she…if she doesn’t want me in her life, that’s…that’s on her, right?
Peppermint: …yeah, but…she’s your Mom. That means something, doesn’t it?
Three days later…
Nova: Pep, are you sure you want to wear that to school today?
Peppermint: Yeah? Why wouldn’t I?
Nova: It’s just, well…
Calcite: Basil’s supposed to be coming back today.
Calcite: And considering what happened last time…
Peppermint: He already knows, though? It’s not like wearing or not wearing my bracelets are gonna change that now!
Citrine: And I’ll deal with Basil if he starts anything.
Moonstone: Citrine, sweetie, that’s…
Calcite: Do not start anything, Citrine. Just walk away, both of you.
Citrine: But Dad–
Calcite: No buts! Do not engage with him. Just leave him be.
Citrine/Peppermint: Okay….
Moonstone: Honestly…just stay safe, the both of you. Sometimes that means not getting into it, even if the other person deserves a lesson for being a jerk.Life has a way of…taking care of those kinds of people.
Citrine: What do you mean?
Moonstone: Oh, I had some bullies when I was in high school. They thought they could be mean and scare me, but they weren’t. Last I heard, they weren’t living the…best lives they could.
Citrine: And you think Basil’ll be the same?
Moonstone: I’m sure of it.
Moonstone: Just let life sort him out, baby. There’s no point in sinking to his level.
Citrine: …okay. If you say so.
Calcite: Listen to your Gram, Citrine.
Saffron: But, if you have to finish something, remember to keep your thumb on the outside of your fist. Don’t break your fingers and the jerk’s nose!
Moonstone: Saff! *sigh* Well, she is right. One of these days we should sign you two up for self defense courses. They can do a world of good.
Peppermint: Really? Could we?
Nova: I don’t see why not. Martial arts are good for all kinds of things, not just self-defense. The exercise is good for you.
Calcite: And you can usually do them inside, which is good in this weather!
Calcite: I swear it gets hotter every year…
Nova: *laugh* Never go to Siilea, babe. You haven’t seen hot until the thermometers break in the air.
Calcite/Peppermint: NO THANK YOU!
*Everyone laughs*
Citrine: Martial arts sound cool, though! And we’re supposed to start something like that in gym this year, so maybe lessons would be okay?
Moonstone: I think they’d be great.
At school…
Polar: Well, since you kids are so good at acing pop quizzes, we’ve got a good ten minutes left! Does anyone have anything they want to ask about?
Peppermint: Um…
Polar: Yes, Peppermint?
Peppermint: …Um, Miss Freeze? What makes someone not a boy or a girl?
Polar: How do you mean?
Peppermint: Well, I…I’m non-binary, see, but…why? I know I have boy parts, so why…why aren’t I boy?
Citrine: Pop said that was gender, which is different than parts, but how does that work?
Oceana: Dad says there’s some fish that can change what they are if they to. Are we the same?
Polar: *chuckle* No, we’re not like clownfish. Though there are people who do transition from boy to girl, or girl to boy.
Candy Corn: How does that work? Aren’t you born one and stay that way?
Basil: *snort* You should…
Basil: That’s–
Candy Corn: Transgender…oh, like transformation! Transforming gender!
Citrine: Like magical guardians!
Peppermint: Doesn’t feel that magical…and that’s not what I asked…
Polar: Ah–you’re right, I’m sorry. To get back on track, gender is who we are. When we’re born the doctors will write down what gender they think we are, based on what parts we have, but sometimes we don’t feel like that, and we don’t feel like the other one of the two. Now, what is a system of two called?
Rose: A binary! So if you’re not one or the other you’re–
Peppermint: Non-binary! But how does that happen?
Peppermint: Is there some kinda…I dunno, coin that’d flip for non-binary?
Candy Corn: Sounds more like the coin fell off the table…how can you have a two sided coin flip for a third option?
Polar: A good question, but no. No, Peppermint, there is no coin that flips for gender. Gender is something we decide for ourselves, by ourselves, based on how we feel about ourselves. Sometimes that feeling matches our body and what people expect of a person with those parts to have, and sometimes it doesn’t. But it is always up to us how we feel about that.
Oceana: If it’s all just a feeling, can it change?
Polar: Absolutely.
Rose: So if you feel like one thing one day, can you feel like another thing another day?
Polar: You can, and some people do.
Basil: So some people are really freaks, then.
Polar: Basil, we’ve spoken about this. Someone being different doesn’t make them a “freak”.
Basil: Sure it does! Everyone in this school’s a freak.
Candy Corn: So are you!
Candy Corn: And a huge jerk still!
Citrine; Pep–
Peppermint: So we do choose this…
Polar: No, Peppermint. We choose what we like, movies and books, but things like this? Feelings like this, that come from the core of who we are? No. That we don’t choose.
Peppermint: So I…I really am this way…
Citrine: O-of course you are! What, did you think you were faking or something?
Peppermint: No, I just…I didn’t know if it was real or not.
Basil: Ha! As if you could ever fake being a freak like you!
Polar: Alright, that’s enough out of you! Basil, you were warned about that sort of talk. We’re going to the Principal’s office.
Basil: Hmph!
Peppermint: Miss Freeze? Thanks. For explaining it.
Citrine: Pep…
Polar: Of course. But the only one who matters with this is you, Peppermint. Don’t let anyone ever try to tell you who you are, alright? Only you can know that for sure.
Peppermint: Heh…I won’t.
*bell rings*
Polar: Class dismissed.
Later…
Citrine: Why didn’t you say something if you weren’t sure? Pop coulda helped!
Peppermint: I didn’t want to worry anybody!
Peppermint: And everyone’s been so cool about this while I figure it all out…it woulda been weird if I just came out and said, “hey, now I’m not so sure”?
Citrine: No it wouldn’t! I mean–we’d probably all get our theys and our hes mixed up, but–it wouldn’t have been weird.
Peppermint: Well I would have felt bad about it.
Peppermint: But now I don’t have to and–
Basil: Hey, freak!
Citrine: Basil you jerk!
Peppermint: *oof* Hey! What did I do?!
Basil: Freeze told the Principal I called you a freak and he called my Dad! If I’m in trouble, it’s your fault!
Citrine: Pep didn’t do anything to you! You’re the one who chose to be such a jerk!
Basil: Well someone had to teach this freak a lesson!
Peppermint: I may be a freak, but at least I’m not a total jerk! It wouldn’t hurt to be nice!
Basil: Ha! Like people like you deserve people like me being nice to you!
Citrine: Oh, that is it!
Citrine: I’ve had it with you!
Basil: Wha–
Peppermint: Citrine don’t!
Basil: oof!
Citrine: Stay away from my sibling!
Citrine: Come on Pep.
Peppermint: Cit…you…
Basil: Ow….
Peppermint: Why did you do that?
Citrine: I told you. No one’s going to call you anything you don’t want to be called. I–oh no…
Polar: What is going on here?!
Basil: Citrine hit me!
Citrine: …I did. And I’m not apologizing.
Polar: Oh, Citrine…
Later…
Peppermint: …back there, you called me your sibling. Did you…you mean it?
Citrine: Of course I do. Brother–o-or sibling, or whichever, it’s who you are to me. A-and you don’t have to feel the same I just–
Peppermint: No, I do! You’re my sister. I was gonna tell you, I just…well…
Citrine: Yeah…heh…I’m in so much trouble now…
-
Lemongrass: She broke his nose! She hit my son so hard she broke his nose! I want that girl expelled and I’m pressing charges–
Calcite: The hell you are!
Maroon: Alright, stop!
Maroon: I thought I made myself clear the last time that the two of them getting a second chance was a one time thing. They were both told that, in this office, so how did we get here?
Lemongrass: My son was just–
Calcite: Being a bully, and I can see where he gets it from.
Maroon: Mr. Crystal–
Calcite: No. I won’t deny that Citrine shouldn’t have punched Basil that hard, but she was defending her cousin again, from Basil. Again. Do you honestly think charges will stick against that, Mr. Herb?
Lemongrass: Once it gets out what sort of…boy that boy is–
Calcite: Yeah. I can see where Basil gets it.
Calcite: Alright. The end result of this is that Citrine burned her second chance. I’d like her transcripts, and Peppermint’s as well. We’ll leave as soon as I have those.
Maroon: Mr Crystal–
Calcite: No. It’s clear to me that this isn’t a safe place for any child under my care. Citrine may have been expelled, but I’m pulling Peppermint right now.
Lemongrass: You may as well. A freak like that has no place in such an establishment–
Maroon: Mr. Herb! We do not tolerate that language about our students, former or otherwise.
Lemongrass: Hmph.
Maroon: Mr. Crystal, are you sure about this?
Calcite: I’m sure. So long as Basil Herb goes to this school, Peppermint won’t either.
Lemongrass: Hmph. That won’t be a problem, either. Give me his transcripts, Maroon. My boy deserves a better place than…this.
Maroon: *sigh* Alright then. Now, about these charges…neither I nor my faculty will be helping with those, Mr. Herb.
Lemongrass: I beg your pardon?! She attacked my son!
Calcite: She defended someone else from a bullying peer. No judge would take the case.
Calcite: Look at it this way: your precious son will never have to interact with freaks luke my kids ever again.
Lemongrass: We should be so lucky!
Maroon: So, no charges?
Lemongrass: ….not against the girl. Against your school for fostering such a negative environment, on the other hand…
Calcite: Oh, for…
Calcite: The only fostering came from your kid, Herb. Grow up already.
Lemongrass: My son was doing the Watcher’s work. Mixed freaks like you and your brats don’t have any place in polite society.
Calcite: …we have different definitions of polite. Do you need me for anything here, Principal?
Maroon: *sigh* No, no. Here–the transcripts you requested. Give my best to the children.
Calcite: I will. Good luck.
Peppermint: –Uncle Cal!
Calcite: Let’s go.
Citrine: Dad, I–
Calcite: Let’s go.
Citrine: He’s mad.
Peppermint: He is so mad…
Peppermint: At least we don’t have to do homework tonight? I mean, we don’t have to go to school anymore!
Citrine: Not that school….I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Rose and Oceana…
Peppermint: We can see them at the park tomorrow or–
Calcite: You can, Citrine won’t. This time you really are grounded.
Citrine: …fine.
Peppermint: Fine? But, Cit, you were–
Citrine: I said it’s fine, Pep. Just…don’t. Please.
Nova: *sigh* So.
Calcite: So.
Peppermint: So…?
Calcite: Citrine, go to your room. We’ll talk about this later.
Citrine: Fine!
Moonstone: ….well. That’s…not a good sign.
Saffron: She is…so much like her mother.
-
Nova: *sigh* You too, Pep. You’re not in trouble, just.
Peppermint: ‘kay.
Peppermint: Um…please don’t be mad at Citrine, Uncles. She was just looking out for me and I…
Calcite: We’re not mad at her, kiddo, just. *sigh* We’ll talk about this later. Go on.
Nova: So what’s the real damage here?
Calcite: Citrine’s expelled, I pulled Pep from school, and Lemongrass wanted to press charges against Citrine for breaking Basil’s nose but may have dropped the idea–
Nova: Charges?! Are you serious?!
Calcite: He sounded serious! But then he dropped it and I don’t know anymore, babe.
Nova: Great! *groan* I’m going to call Dad….maybe he knows a lawyer we can borrow if we need one.
Calcite: Yeah….Watcher, what a mess….
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