[Casual] Stained Forget Me Nots

Dread. Dread and sorrow filled her heart. She had been avoiding this conversation for awhile specifically because she didn't want to hurt her. But it was only fair that she knew. After all, it was inevitable, with the results that would ensue...

In a way, it was funny. When she made this decision, she felt nothing but excitement and joy. She hadn't told a soul, yet. That was part of the fun. She just solidified this decision with him hours before; in the early hours of the morning.

Rose sighed. She didn't want to do this to Pearl. She loved Pearl. She loved Pearl as much as she loved him. There was no doubt about that in her mind. But, he was human. He could give her this chance. He could give her the human experience. The closest thing to human experience. Rose knew better. She knows how Pearl will react.

Pearl doesn't really care much for humans. Pearl's here because Rose is here and Rose likes humans. She's been trying to talk Rose out of her relationship with Greg for ages now. Whenever his name comes up, Pearl is there to remind her that humans do not last and that he will be gone before Rose knows it, just like the others.

But her mind was made up. She knew what she felt, she knew what she longed for. And Pearl was going to have to live with it one way or another.

Something was going on, but she wasn't certain what. There was a tension in the air, different from the type that hadn't left since he came into the picture. Pearl didn't understand it, but she knew she didn't like it.

She parried away from the hologram's attack, and jumped over it, aiming at it with her own attack, but the training program darted away at just the right time. This didn't deter her from her goal, and Pearl switched tactics fluidly.

Her thoughts began to wander again, despite the rigorous training.

Greg. Stupid human Greg. She hadn't liked him from the moment she had set eyes on him, but Rose... beautiful Rose, she was enamored with him. But it made no sense - why did Rose like him so much? He was just some human!

But then, she was just some pearl.

Pearl faltered in her steps, but dodged the thrust of sword incoming at her face, and used her own weapon to spear straight though the hologram's chest. The hologram went on to ask if she wished to duel again but Pearl waved it away, closing down the program.

She looked up towards the sky, a sort of dread settling within her chest that the difficult training session hadn't been able to quell. No, she couldn't doubt Rose. This feeling had to be all in her head. Because Rose wouldn't keep anything from her. Rose told her everything.

Somehow, that didn't make her feel better, but it did make her more determined. She just needed to do something. Anything.

As she started up the training program once again, Pearl ignored the fighter's sense within her that something big and dark and dangerous was looming just over the horizon, waiting to strike.

As she neared where she figured Pearl would be, she saw her training with her holo Pearl. Oh, Pearl. Always making sure she's ready for battle to defend her. Nevermind that it had been thousands of years since the war.

Rose watched as Pearl gracefully slashed at her holo-Pearl. Her movements were always fluid, making Pearl's battles and training sessions look like a musical performance. It was amazing how a pearl, her Pearl, could become such a fair fighter. She had trained all by herself, going from servant to valiant knight. It wasn't something Rose could talk her out of, even at the beginning of it all. Pearl always did what she wanted, after all. Pearl may think she doesn't, but she definitely does. Nobody told her to be this knight she's trained herself up to be. She was no ordinary Pearl. Some would class her as defective but Rose found her extraordinary.

So extraordinary, in fact, that her heart swelled whenever she saw Pearl, especially while training. She was such a magnificent gem, defining all odds and being who she dreamt of being. Having Pearl in her life, especially for so long...it was a true gift. They'd dance and fuse, becoming Rainbow Quartz, whenever they got their time alone, inspired by Ruby and Sapphire. Sometimes, Rose didn't want to unfuse - the feeling of them being together was total bliss!

But, Rose wanted, no, she needed that human experience. Something in her pulled her towards humans and the human experience more than fusion could.

Pearl faltered, clearly distracted. Rose's smile shifted into a frown. Pearl never got distracted. Ever.

"Pearl..." her name escaped softly on Rose's lips.

Hearing that voice speaking her name, said in such a soft way in that perfect timbre, cut through Pearl's concentration. Her grip slackened and her weapon clattered to the ground. How dare she let her guard down like that - what kind of warrior was she? She stared at the other gem for a moment, taking in the large twisted curls that fell like a veil around her face, the soft ruffles of her dress, and the vivid pink of her gem.

Beautiful. Always so beautiful.

"Rose," Pearl replied. She hoped her surprise wasn't too strong in her voice. She put on a smile, almost basking in the other gem's presence - all of her worry and dread now pushed aside at the bright sight of Rose Quartz. "What are you doing here?"

Shouldn't you be with him?, she wanted to ask, but she didn't dare voice it. She was too afraid of the answer she might get.

Despite her almost accusatory question, a kind of excitement had settled over her. Rose was here, with her, and she wasn't going to waste any of that precious time being grumpy about that human man.

She already had to share Rose with him enough as it was.

Rose Quartz smiled at Pearl and held out her hand to her. At the same time, Rose grabbed the hem of her dress with her other hand, signalling that she wanted to dance. She couldn't help it - seeing Pearl move so gracefully made Rose want to dance with her.

It had been awhile since Rose danced with Pearl. Rose only danced with Greg these days. They'd dance under the stars, they'd "talk" as Greg liked to call it (and they could go on and on for hours about nothing! It was incredible!), they'd kiss, they'd end up wrapped up in one another. It was quite the experience to say the least.

About a couple of months ago, Greg had mentioned that Vidalia, Marty's...fling, had a baby.

"Oh? A baby? I've seen them but I don't really understand them," Rose admitted, stars remaining in her eyes.

Greg chuckled. "Yeah, she had a baby boy. In truth, couples that actually love each other and want to be together have babies together, usually. What happened with Vidalia and Marty, well, it's not uncommon but people don't prefer to have children and remain alone."

"Why? Why do people want babies?"

"Why? Well, uh...I guess because, you just...you want to. You want to make something new with the person you love. It's sort of like a pledge of love," Greg continued.

"It sounds like fusion," Rose said with a smile.

"It sort of is, yeah!" Greg nodded, smiling.

The gears began to turn in Rose's head. A pledge of love. Making something new with the person you love. A sort of fusion. Could she do it? She had this human form down easily...she thinks.

"Can you...can you explain how it works?" Rose asked softly.

As Greg explained the process of pregnancy, a grin broke out on Rose's lips. She knew, without a doubt, that this was what she wanted to do with Greg. For him, with him. For her. To have that beautiful human experience.

Rose had never been so consumed by such a thought before. Never had she wanted to do anything more in her existence than have a baby! She couldn't believe she had been on Earth for a couple millennia and not one had she stopped to really dive into human babies and what they were all about. It just didn't cross her mind. Sure she had seen them but didn't think much of it, assuming they just popped out of the ground or out of a plant of some sort or something. But here Greg sat, in front of her, flooding her with this feeling...

It was going to kill Pearl...

Rose didn't answer, and only held out her hand in a kind of invitation, as her other hand picked up the hem of her dress. Though confused, Pearl didn't hesitate.

Who was she to turn down an offer for a dance with Rose Quartz?

Pearl placed her hand gently into Rose's outstretched one, a fleeting touch of skin upon skin. Only for a moment.

She then took hold of Rose's hand in a tighter grip, and began to lead the other gem into a waltz. Twisting and turning and moving together as one to music only they were able to hear.

Yes, this was what she had been missing. It had been such a long time since they had danced together - even longer since they had done so alone. Pearl had missed this closeness, this feeling that they were the only two people in the entire world.

She smiled up at Rose, fully at ease for the first time in a long time.

But all dances had to come to an end, and Pearl slowed them down to a stop. She couldn't bear to take her hand away, enjoying the warmth. The intimacy. And yet, it didn't feel right.

Not anymore.  

A burst of emotion clutched at her chest, tight and painful, and Pearl finally pulled her hand away from Rose, and looked up once more at the taller woman. She put on a smile, though even she could tell it was strained. Pretending was not something she did well. "What brings you here, Rose? Do you need me for something?"

There was hopefulness in her voice - but Rose rarely needed her for anything anymore.

A soft chuckle escaped Rose Quartz. "My Pearl. I have missed you," she nodded as she said this. "I am here to talk to you, actually. It's been awhile and I've been meaning to speak to you about some things. I haven't seen my confidant in awhile." She kept up the smile. She could not falter. Not right now. It would ruin the whole thing before the two of them even began to talk.

In truth, there was nothing more in the world Rose wanted than to continue her life with Pearl. Sometimes Rose even wanted to run away from it all with Pearl and act like nothing had happened. But meeting Greg gave Rose hope. As much as she loved Pearl, adored Pearl, she also loved her gems, too. Her Crystal Gems. And she loved humans and Earth. Pearl would probably see this decision as selfish, foolish, and reckless - she wouldn't understand. How could she? Pearl was not a warrior gem and she was no leader, no matter how close she looked the part. Rose Quartz had a duty and had to put everyone else before herself (though it didn't hurt that Rose would get the chance to enjoy one of the most amazing human experiences in the process).