Scared Pearl

@scared-pearl

I should not have done it. But I just... wanted to be Sardonyx with her a little bit more. With all the rest that happened, can I ever go back? ( Indie Pearl blog, non-exclusive, chatter-friendly

32 posts

Pearl chuckled a little bit at the mention of her relishing in exercise. Oh, she certainly enjoyed stretching her limbs a bit, but just sitting down and following in the chant had been… carthaic.

“I’m sure I could manage to sit still a bit more if needed. But exercise is good too" To be honest her first reaction was that it would be some kind of duel, but the other gem had shown a… dislike for weapons earlier.

“Where do we go?”

baddeleyite-archived

“Well first, we have to go back to the warp chamber,” She explained, her eyebrows furrowing as she thought about the directions to the training hall in question. “from there we warp to the inner sanctum, which is about two and a half miles inside the mountain.” She caught a glimpse of Pearl’s surprise at her words.

“Surprising I know,” She continued with a small smile as they began to leave the chapel. “I was just as shocked as you were at how far the temple extends far into the mountain range. I haven’t even managed to map out a fraction of it.”

“Two and a half miles?” Pearl sounded both surprised and disbelieving. That the temple was big there was no doubt, but that big? She felt like she should have been more aware of such a big structure...

But she couldn’t say that it was a lie nor why her host would chose to lie about such a thing. And since it would be so easy to discover the truth... she was probably telling the truth.

“And it extends into the mountain? It must be the biggest gem structure left on Earth.. that I know of at least. Please, show me how to go there, I would love to see more of it. If it is anything like this...” There was a hint of excitement in her voice. So much to see!

#baddeleyite #in character

To Pearl the whole thing was not quite as nice as it was for Baddeleyite - she had no good memories of doing this in the past. But it was not bad by any means. In fact it reminded her a little bit about some of her own sword-exercises - time to calm down and find your center.

When it all ends, and the other gem speaks, Pearl chuckles lightly. She takes a few moments to rise up and stretch her back a little bit before she answers “It was my pleasure. And it is the least I can do since you’ve given me a place to stay… now when nobody else want me to stay with them…”

Pearl clasped her hands in front of herself, lost in thought for a second before she shakes her head slightly to return to more happy topics “What do you usually do now? And how often do we pray?”

baddeleyite-archived

“Hm….” She thought for a few moments, unfolding her legs and stretching herself out on the floor as she did. She’d already tended the temple garden and swept the steps, and Pearl had helped her sweep out the chapel before the litany. “Well, I suppose after litany, I’d be training right now…”

She pulled herself up off the floor, Her kameez glowing as it shape-shifted into a more appropriate ensemble for training, the hem shortening until it met her the waistband of her salwar and her sleeves rolling up to her shoulders.

“I’m sure a Gem like yourself would relish a bit of exercise after having to sit still for so long.” Baddeleyite offered with friendly smile as she rolled her shoulders to loosen them up. “As Green Jasper the Militant once said: ‘To serve the Goddess fully requires a clear mind and spirit; but a well-maintained sword arm doesn’t hurt either’.”

Pearl chuckled a little bit at the mention of her relishing in exercise. Oh, she certainly enjoyed stretching her limbs a bit, but just sitting down and following in the chant had been... carthaic.

“I’m sure I could manage to sit still a bit more if needed. But exercise is good too" To be honest her first reaction was that it would be some kind of duel, but the other gem had shown a... dislike for weapons earlier.

“Where do we go?”

#baddeleyite #sorry it is so short

Pearl kept one step away from the other gem so she could watch and not be in the way for the ritual. It was most likely rather important to her host and it was the least she could do not to get in the way.

At least until she gets invited to sit down beside the other one. She stepped forward and, after a smile in return, followed the steps made by Baddeleyite.

Or at least almost so. She only closed one eye and a half while the other closed both. But Pearl felt the need to peek at the other, to make sure she was keeping up. Maybe next time she wouldn’t need to.

When the words came she spoke them too, slightly later than the other. She needed to hear the words before she could repeat them.

“Blessed be the Mother of Moons, whose…”

baddeleyite-archived

As Baddeleyite had promised, the ceremony was short and simple, lasting only an hour and a half in comparison to the more complex and verbose rituals of her faith. She was happy to hear Pearl echoing her words, her mind pulling forth old memories of the by-gone days of her novice-hood under Abbess Blue Jade. How she too had to rely on parroting her mentor when it came to prayers as old as Homeworld itself.

Bowing her head in obeisance to the Goddess statue finally, the service was done as she let out a sigh of relief and began to unwind the beads from her hand and wrist. “Thank you for indulging me, sister.” She said as she rubbed the impressions the beads had left on her palm out of habit. “It was nice to have someone else to pray with.”

To Pearl the whole thing was not quite as nice as it was for Baddeleyite - she had no good memories of doing this in the past. But it was not bad by any means. In fact it reminded her a little bit about some of her own sword-exercises - time to calm down and find your center.

When it all ends, and the other gem speaks, Pearl chuckles lightly. She takes a few moments to rise up and stretch her back a little bit before she answers “It was my pleasure. And it is the least I can do since you’ve given me a place to stay... now when nobody else want me to stay with them...”

Pearl clasped her hands in front of herself, lost in thought for a second before she shakes her head slightly to return to more happy topics “What do you usually do now? And how often do we pray?”

#baddeleyite #in character

Pearl seemed… surprised by the reaction she got. She had not expected to be scolded by the stranger-gem. But she would not back down quite that easily for she did not trust her guest at all.

She crossed her arms over her chest instead, looking annoyed as she does so.

“I have studied humans for thousands of years and I have learned some of their customs” The answer was true. Admittedly, most of the early studies might been through figurative binoculars from as far away as she could get, but it was true.

“Now who are you and what are you doing here? You are not welcome!” The last statement was almost a surprise to Pearl. It wasn’t what she had intended to say… but it was what she wanted to say, wasn’t it?

Yes, she just wanted to be alone, so this stranger should go before she destroyed even more. Yes it felt like that would be for the best.

“Just who the hell do you think you are?” Arsenic snarled, stepping closer still to take full advantage of her intimidating stature. “I don’t need your permission to be where I want, least of all here.” Studied humans for thousand of years. Please. She’d studied them in the way a zoologist studied animals: from the safe elevation of a superiority complex. And she wanted to demand answers as if the owned the place? Arsenic was almost speechless from frustration. Almost.

“My name is Arsenic, and I’m a Gem almost like you,” she snapped. “Except I think of this planet as my home, not some place I’m stuck because ‘Home’ won’t have me back.”

Pearl shrank back ever so slightly at first. Then she straightened up and stared up at the other gem. She was feeling... angry. More angry than perhaps she should have. But just as much, she wanted this gem gone. She wanted to be alone.

“This world is my Home, and don’t you dare to say anything else! And this-” She gestured slightly towards the cave-entrance “-is my home too! Now go away! I don’t want anything to do with you, nor Garnet, nor anyone! Just... just go”

She turned around to return back to her cave, this time remembering to lowering her head before hitting it a third time. That just wouldn’t been good.

#toxicgem #in character #not sure how quickly it works but she's pretty unsable as it is #so I say it's due to both #...do tell if that was wrong

Pearl quickly bowed in return to the bow she herself receive as the other Gem left. When she was left alone she turns around to look at the things around her - just allowing herself to disappear into the world of this treasure of beauty.

She didn’t notice when Baddeleyite returned - not before she spoke up. Pearl lets out a yelp of surprise and spun around, then breathes out and chuckled when she realized who it was.

“Thank you. You are very kind” Pearl stepped out and over towards the prayer mats and the other gem - but she did not kneel down. Instead she waited for the other to take the lead, not wishing to just guess the ceremony’s steps.

baddeleyite-archived

Carefully, the nun arranged the three candles in a triangle pattern around a small, tarnished brass pot. After lighting each one in turn, she then used their flames to light the three incense sticks before arranging them in the pot in the same triangular pattern as the candles.

She breathed deep of the smoke they gave off before moving back to the mats, offering one of the sets of beads to Pearl with a smile. “Just do as I do, sister,” She instructed patiently, seating herself in a lotus pose on the mat, the prayer beads wrapped around her left hand and wrist while she held her right hand level with her chest at a right angle.

Breathing deep again, she exhaled slowly, closing her eyes as she did. She did this a few more times with a slow three second rhythm of inhaling through her nose and again out her mouth. Finally, she opened her eyes again and began to speak.

“Blessed be the Mother of Moons, whose divine tears gave life to Gemkind. May your holy gaze watch over us as we journey through this life along towards the Moonlit Path so that we may one day rest eternally at your side…”

Pearl kept one step away from the other gem so she could watch and not be in the way for the ritual. It was most likely rather important to her host and it was the least she could do not to get in the way.

At least until she gets invited to sit down beside the other one. She stepped forward and, after a smile in return, followed the steps made by Baddeleyite.

Or at least almost so. She only closed one eye and a half while the other closed both. But Pearl felt the need to peek at the other, to make sure she was keeping up. Maybe next time she wouldn’t need to.

When the words came she spoke them too, slightly later than the other. She needed to hear the words before she could repeat them.

“Blessed be the Mother of Moons, whose...”

#baddeleyite #in character

Pearl hesitated for a second, then sighs quietly “We are careful. But Homeworld is far away. Unless they send more ships I think we will be safe”

She tried as encouraging smile as she could “Besides, if they come you can help us protect Steven! If we took down one ship we can take down more!”

mirrorxeyes-deactivated20200421

“I want to protect Steven, but we can’t keep depending on me to take down a ship every time. Eventually, you’ll need a new plan.” Lapis knew the novelty would grow old after some time had passed.

“I… we took down a ship too!” Pearl pointed towards herself “Me and Amethyst and… Garnet” She paused for a second, then shook her head a little bit to continue.

“What else do you want? We do have the Quartizine Trio to help you if a ship is too tough”

mirrorxeyes-deactivated20200421

“But how long did that take you? I know I’m the quicker and safer solution, but Homeworld will plan and make it difficult for you to win all the battles.” She shook her head a bit.

“I’m just saying that you’re going to need to figure out some more plans for stopping a ship.”

Pearl didn’t seem too happy about the pushing on the point, until finally she is forced to admit something “I don’t have a better plan! Our best weapon is the Quartizine Trio and it is not strong enough. I can’t build something better”

She sighs deeply “If they come... we’ll have to face them in person, we can’t fight their ships”

#mirrorxeyes #in character

Pearl chuckled at that reaction and gave as reassuring a smile as she could give.

“I would not mind taking part in your prayer - but I might get the words or the ceremonies wrong“ She moved the broom from one hand to the other “Besides I would love to see the ceremony. We don’t pray much back at the… temple…”

Pearl could hear how silly that sounded, but it was true. Nobody could make Amethyst sit still and pray - or respect anyone praying. She’d climb all over them in a matter of minutes.

baddeleyite-archived

“Oh… Well, thank you, sister.” She replied with a small smile, glad to see she had not offended her guest. It was understandable for the Pearl to be unfamiliar with the rituals, Goddess worship having been mostly tolerated rather than openly embraced near the start of the Earth Rebellion.

Many gems at that time simply viewed her and others like her as backwards and primitive, while others labeled them as traitors for not constantly bowing and kissing the ground the Diamonds walked on like it tasted of sunshine and sugar. And things had only gone downhill after Homeworld learned of the Sisterhoods siding with Rose and the Rebellion…

Bowing politely to her guest, Baddeleyite left the room to get what was needed for the litany to begin. She returned fifteen minutes later with three deep blue candles, three incense sticks, two sets of prayer beads and a pair of worn mats floating behind her.

“For you, I’d be more than happy to keep things simple,” She said, letting the prayer mats gently lay parallel to each other on the floor in front of the Goddess statue. “I don’t really stand much on the grander ceremonies around here anyway.”

Pearl quickly bowed in return to the bow she herself receive as the other Gem left. When she was left alone she turns around to look at the things around her - just allowing herself to disappear into the world of this treasure of beauty.

She didn’t notice when Baddeleyite returned - not before she spoke up. Pearl lets out a yelp of surprise and spun around, then breathes out and chuckled when she realized who it was.

“Thank you. You are very kind” Pearl stepped out and over towards the prayer mats and the other gem - but she did not kneel down. Instead she waited for the other to take the lead, not wishing to just guess the ceremony’s steps.

#baddeleyite #in character

Pearl hesitated for a second, then sighs quietly “We are careful. But Homeworld is far away. Unless they send more ships I think we will be safe”

She tried as encouraging smile as she could “Besides, if they come you can help us protect Steven! If we took down one ship we can take down more!”

mirrorxeyes-deactivated20200421

“I want to protect Steven, but we can’t keep depending on me to take down a ship every time. Eventually, you’ll need a new plan.” Lapis knew the novelty would grow old after some time had passed.

“I... we took down a ship too!” Pearl pointed towards herself “Me and Amethyst and... Garnet” She paused for a second, then shook her head a little bit to continue.

“What else do you want? We do have the Quartizine Trio to help you if a ship is too tough”

#mirrorxeyes #in character

“Oh no, you don’t get to make assumptions like that,” Arsenic said, crossing her arms. For once, she didn’t retreat from the physical nearness, almost hoping her poisonous air would start to affect Pearl. “If you genuinely think you’re the only rational Gems on this planet or that anyone doesn’t know about you, you’re sadly mistaken on both fronts.” She stared down the straight slope of her nose at the other Gem, who, even standing fully straight, was several inches shorter than her.

“But somehow, that doesn’t surprise me,” she went on. “How much do the three of you actually know about the planet you’re supposedly protecting? Because you’ve always seemed a bit detached to me.”

Pearl seemed... surprised by the reaction she got. She had not expected to be scolded by the stranger-gem. But she would not back down quite that easily for she did not trust her guest at all.

She crossed her arms over her chest instead, looking annoyed as she does so.

“I have studied humans for thousands of years and I have learned some of their customs” The answer was true. Admittedly, most of the early studies might been through figurative binoculars from as far away as she could get, but it was true.

“Now who are you and what are you doing here? You are not welcome!” The last statement was almost a surprise to Pearl. It wasn’t what she had intended to say... but it was what she wanted to say, wasn’t it?

Yes, she just wanted to be alone, so this stranger should go before she destroyed even more. Yes it felt like that would be for the best.

#toxicgem #in character #no preference of my own but thank you for asking!

mirrorxeyes-deactivated20200421

♒ @scared-pearl

“You and the others are in pretty deep trouble back on Homeworld.”

Pearl let out an empty little chuckle at that. Homeworld’s opinion were very low on her list of concerns. “You don’t say. We’ve been in trouble with them ever since the rebelion”

She turned her head to look at the blue gem “I’m not very worried about that right now, Lapis Lazuli”

mirrorxeyes-deactivated20200421

“I know. But it seems worse than it was last time I was there. And it seems like it might be more dangerous that way. Things are advanced. And now you have Steven. I would just…be careful. For Steven’s sake.” Lapis wrapped her arms around herself loosely.

Pearl hesitated for a second, then sighs quietly “We are careful. But Homeworld is far away. Unless they send more ships I think we will be safe”

She tried as encouraging smile as she could “Besides, if they come you can help us protect Steven! If we took down one ship we can take down more!”

#mirrorxeyes #in character

Last she’d checked, Pearls didn’t come from Kindergartens; that is, it was a weird thing for one to crawl out of a cave. Aside from that, she wasn’t in the mood to be treated as if she’d done something wrong just by being there. As if she had no right to be there. Just as she began to hiss her reply, she quickly noticed that this wasn’t just a Pearl: this was the Pearl. The combat-trained renegade, Rose Quartz’s right-hand, survivor of the rebellion and illustrious member of the Crystal Gems. Of all the times and places they could’ve met…. But being in the know did put her at a distinct advantage.

“That’s my business, isn’t it?” she asked coolly. “It seems much stranger to me that one of the ever-ready Crystal Gems isn’t at her post. Won’t the others be missing you?”

Pearl frowned at the first bit of that answer, she didn’t like it at all. This gem had just ruined her decoration after all.

The rest of what was said made Pearl straighten up - a move that she quickly regrets as she hits her head for the second time in almost no time at all. She steps forward, a lot closer to the other gem, to avoid a third time.

This time she straightens up again, to her full height, and stares at the other gem “What do you know about the Crystal Gems? Are you one of Peridot’s allies from Homeworld? Because if you are I will stop you from harming the Earth again!”

There was perhaps a tone of exhaustion in Pearl’s voice. She really didn’t want to have to fight anyone, even less than she normally wants to fight someone. She was just going through the motions. Because she felt she had to.

#toxic gem #toxicgem #which one of those is the best for you?#in character

Starter for @toxic-gem

Pearl carefully placed the last stone, the smallest one, on top of the pile. It reached as high up as her waist and was remarkably similar to the similar to the other one just two steps away, on the other side of the cave-entrance.

They were her doorframe, decoration, and distraction. Distraction from the large and very angry fusion back home that might just attack her if she returned.

Pearl took a step back and critically looked over them. They were different, but they were similar enough. What was more bothering was the shape of the cave-opening itself. It was so uneven.

Perhaps she should buy some kind of pickaxe, her spear just wasn’t very good for that kind of work - not from a lack of trying as marks on the rock could attest to.

With a sigh Pearl lowered her head to avoid hitting it on the low roof, and stepped inside to the small and even more unevenly shaped space on the other side.

The piles of stone, clearly made by hand and not by nature, remained outside. Those passing by might even spot them.

She had asked herself what she was doing there maybe five times and had never gotten an answer. So she hadn’t left. She was standing on the face of a steep hill, formed my some immense shearing power thousands of years ago. Yes, she’d been there for that. This place had been her , after all, where most of her open combat had taken place during the rebellion. It still looked the same.

And that made sense; given it was a simple stretch of gray rock bearing the evidence of a war between cosmic forces. Craters. Visors and ship parts charred beyond recognition. Arsenic’s gaze fell to the ground just long enough to catch the briefest glimmer of shattered gem fragments in the dust–orange, pink…dark gray that felt chillingly familiar–before she quickly looked away.

It wasn’t the first time she’d come back, and she felt like an idiot every single time. As if that part of her life wasn’t over. As if there were any way to change it. As if she wanted to. Just as she started to wonder how many of her fellows were still alive and how many could have been crushed during other invasions, she quickly decided it was time to go. She scaled the nearly vertical rockside without much difficulty, but her chest still felt tight when she reached the top. Stupid. On her brisk travel down the other side, she noticed a pair of neatly-stacked columns along the wall. Something left over from the war? Good. She came to a sudden stop right beside them and swept her leg across the ground to scatter them completely. Unsprisingly, it didn’t make her feelany better.

Pearl had taken to pull out a spear of her gem and was just about to spend some time chipping away at her ‘table’ to make it something that might resemble a flat surface. It was unproductive, but it gave her something to focus on.

Then she heard the sound of tumbling rock from outside. At first she froze; a cave-in? Was she stuck here until she could hack her way outside?

Then she realized that it was the rocks piled up outside. One of the piles must have collapsed, perhaps even hitting the other and bringing them both down!

She could have sworn she had made them more stable than that... though admittedly she wasn’t at her very best right now. With a sigh she put the spear aside - where it would soon disappear into nothing - and stepped out of the cave.

Because of her lowered head the first thing she saw were a pair of feet. Her head snapped up so quickly she managed to knock her head on the hard rock.

For a second she saw Garnet. Large, angry Garnet here to take out her anger on Pearl. For that moment there was fear in Pearl’s eyes.

Then she saw the actual gem out there and the fear was replaced with confusion.

“Who are you?” She demanded - not quite as intimidating as normal seeing how she was hunched up and rubbing her head with one hand “What are you doing here?”

#toxic gem #toxicgem #in character

Pearl was happy to give her attention to the task. It was cleaning, which was always a good thing to do when possible, and it was something she could stop thinking while doing.

It was simply calming - even more when there was no Steven or Amethyst climbing over something in a corner or Garnet…

Pearl stopped, a shiver passing through her, and she quickly returned to work, putting her all into it. She did not wish to think of home.

Soon, almost too soon, they were done. Though it was probably a good idea not to spend all day cleaning. That might be a little bit too much.

When Baddeleyite makes her declaration about the litany Pearl hesitates for a second. She had nothing against joining the prayer of her host - that much is just polite - but she hadn’t even known there was one! Though in hindsight she really should been able to guess.

Hopefully her host would forgive her for not knowing the words… and the prayer was not too demanding of faith.

“Of course…”

baddeleyite-archived

Half-way to the door, a realization hit the nun that made her feel completely foolish. Quickly she turned back to Pearl and bowed in deep apology. “I’m sorry, gem-sister,” She apologized, flushing slightly. “you don’t have to join me if you don’t wish to.”

“Please, feel free to look around the temple while I pray.” She offered politely, gesturing to the door. “I didn’t mean to imply that you had to join me. I suppose I got a little too excited since… well, I haven’t had another within these walls with me in ages.”

Pearl chuckled at that reaction and gave as reassuring a smile as she could give.

“I would not mind taking part in your prayer - but I might get the words or the ceremonies wrong“ She moved the broom from one hand to the other “Besides I would love to see the ceremony. We don’t pray much back at the... temple...”

Pearl could hear how silly that sounded, but it was true. Nobody could make Amethyst sit still and pray - or respect anyone praying. She’d climb all over them in a matter of minutes.

#baddeleyite #in character

Starter for @toxic-gem

Pearl carefully placed the last stone, the smallest one, on top of the pile. It reached as high up as her waist and was remarkably similar to the similar to the other one just two steps away, on the other side of the cave-entrance.

They were her doorframe, decoration, and distraction. Distraction from the large and very angry fusion back home that might just attack her if she returned.

Pearl took a step back and critically looked over them. They were different, but they were similar enough. What was more bothering was the shape of the cave-opening itself. It was so uneven.

Perhaps she should buy some kind of pickaxe, her spear just wasn’t very good for that kind of work - not from a lack of trying as marks on the rock could attest to.

With a sigh Pearl lowered her head to avoid hitting it on the low roof, and stepped inside to the small and even more unevenly shaped space on the other side.

The piles of stone, clearly made by hand and not by nature, remained outside. Those passing by might even spot them.

#toxic gem #toxicgem #in character #is this satisfactory?

mirrorxeyes-deactivated20200421

♒ @scared-pearl

“You and the others are in pretty deep trouble back on Homeworld.”

Pearl let out an empty little chuckle at that. Homeworld’s opinion were very low on her list of concerns. “You don’t say. We’ve been in trouble with them ever since the rebelion”

She turned her head to look at the blue gem “I’m not very worried about that right now, Lapis Lazuli”

#mirrorxeyes #in character

Pearl smiles at Baddeleyite “You just need the training” She smiles warmly “But you are right, covering up anything up here would be disrespectful” Pearl reaches up with a hand to her chin as she considers this.

“Perhaps you could decorate some bare walls elsewhere, while you learn? Or in frames of wood… no, stone would be better. It lasts longer” Pearl nods to herself. It is probably lucky that she doesn’t just go and try to build those frames herself!

Thankfully she stops herself before she goes too far “…but first we should clean everything…”

baddeleyite-archived

The nun nodded in agreement, happy to get underway. And so the two Gems began their work, starting by sweeping the floor. There was something almost serene in the constant rhythmic motion of the broom sweeping across the floor and the sound of the bristles across the stone floor.

Then again, she had been doing this sort of thing for a long while and she might’ve gotten used to the monotony of it all. But with the arrival of Pearl, things felt a little more lively than they used to. Sure, she was just one gem, but it was still one more gem than before. Besides, it was good to have someone to talk to finally.

After the sweeping was done and she marveled at how quickly the task had gotten done with the two of them on the job, Baddeleytie smiled and turned to Pearl warmly.

“Thank you again, gem-sister, for helping me. Now we can begin the morning litany!” She declared joyously as she turned and headed towards the door. “Please wait here while I get what we need to begin.”

Pearl was happy to give her attention to the task. It was cleaning, which was always a good thing to do when possible, and it was something she could stop thinking while doing.

It was simply calming - even more when there was no Steven or Amethyst climbing over something in a corner or Garnet...

Pearl stopped, a shiver passing through her, and she quickly returned to work, putting her all into it. She did not wish to think of home.

Soon, almost too soon, they were done. Though it was probably a good idea not to spend all day cleaning. That might be a little bit too much.

When Baddeleyite makes her declaration about the litany Pearl hesitates for a second. She had nothing against joining the prayer of her host - that much is just polite - but she hadn’t even known there was one! Though in hindsight she really should been able to guess.

Hopefully her host would forgive her for not knowing the words... and the prayer was not too demanding of faith.

“Of course...”

#baddeleyite #in character

Pearl reached out, almost placing her fingertips against the mural before she stopped herself and pulled her hand back.

“It is very good work” She looked up at the mural with regret in her eyes “And you are right, it’s almost like the old days… when we were not trapped here on Earth”

Pearl sighs longingly, before she realizes what she is doing and shakes her head to snap herself out of it.

“Tell me, have you ever made one of your own? You clearly have talent”

baddeleyite-archived

“R-really?”

She blushed modestly, eagerly grabbing onto the change of subject like a drowning man to a life preserver. She quickly turned back to Pearl, a nervous smile on her face at the unexpected praise.

“I’m okay, I guess,” She replied, awkwardly twisting her broom in her hands. “I’m not as good as the old archivists but I suppose I did a serviceable job.” She looked back up at the murals, subtly flushing.

“But… Do you really think I could? I-I-I mean I’ve had a few ideas but I didn’t want to cover up anything already on the temple walls…”

Pearl smiles at Baddeleyite “You just need the training” She smiles warmly “But you are right, covering up anything up here would be disrespectful” Pearl reaches up with a hand to her chin as she considers this.

“Perhaps you could decorate some bare walls elsewhere, while you learn? Or in frames of wood... no, stone would be better. It lasts longer” Pearl nods to herself. It is probably lucky that she doesn’t just go and try to build those frames herself!

Thankfully she stops herself before she goes too far “...but first we should clean everything...”

#baddeleyite #in character

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