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[stickupherforehead]

[Pearl's quiet. There hasn't been any squawking or reprimands or singing or humming for a few weeks now. Of course, it could easily be blamed on the arrival of the new baby and magnitude of the work involved. She couldn't bring herself to prepare beforehand (how do you prepare for the death of somebody like that?), and now she has had little to no time to learn an entirely new set of skills, ranging from actually taking care of the baby to working with Greg and trying to figure out how much responsibility to give him to make him feel like he's involved (but without freaking Pearl out).

She can't help that breaking feeling whenever she sees the baby's gem or those growing curls or that smile or those eyes. She knows well enough that the child doesn't deserve it, so. She stays quiet.]

Comments

[stickupherforehead]

[that's a squeeze of her hand, but she's going to keep talking. Maybe if she tries hard enough to be normal, it'll come true sooner or later.]

Technically, we kicked it right back to the temple. Though I suppose the expression would make sense if one were to imply that the force of the kick caused it to accelerate to lightspeed...

[likegarbage]

[ Amethyst looks up at her with her brow lifted in silent appreciation, and then her smile returns. ] Pfft, you don't always gotta be so literal about everything, P. 'Kicked it to the temple' doesn't sound half as awesome.

[stickupherforehead]

Exaggerations may certainly make things sound more 'awesome,' but precision is key.

[no big surprise here, considering how Pearl fights.

There's absolutely no bite to her tone. It's almost silly and inconsequential, given everything that has happened.]

[likegarbage]

You're such a nerd, you know that?

[ She laughs. Is it weird to feel happy about this? What was the last time she got to call Pearl a nerd? It's just some silly banter, but it's so... familiar. Normal.

It's nice. ]

[stickupherforehead]

[she sniffs, almost theatrically] I should really take offense to that.

[aaand they're at the top of the hill. Pearl takes a moment just to take in the scenery. It really is one of the highest spots in the immediate area.] This is a good vantage point.

[likegarbage]

I know, right? [ Amethyst grins so proudly you'd think she planted the hill there. She stretches her arms over her head, drinking in a breath she doesn't need. ] We're always warping all over the place to fight stuff, but we never stop an' check it out after. Kind of a waste, if you ask me!

[stickupherforehead]

We're usually a bit too busy for that, but we really ought to rectify this, if only to make sure there's no lasting damage. [that's probably not what you meant]

Though from the looks of it, this place is recovering quite nicely. [even the local fauna look less anemic now!]

[likegarbage]

[ Amethyst smirks through a roll of the eyes. Even if it's for her own Pearl-reasons, she still agreed, so she's not going to complain. ] Yeah, yeah, damage surveillance. That's what I'm all about.

[ She plops down on the ground, yanking on Pearl's hand to take her with her. ] Yeah, look! I think some new trees grew over that crater we made!

[stickupherforehead]

[whoa! Pearl wobbles a moment, and then plops down right next to you. There's a fleeting moment of irritation, but she ignores it. Fighting is the last thing she wants right about now and she knows you meant well.

Instead, she leans back a little, hand on the grass, long stick legs stretched out before her.]

That was quick. [squinting in the direction you're pointing. Yup, you can still see the faint outline of the crater.] Was it that long ago?

[likegarbage]

Nah, like...[ She rocks back a little as she frowns at the sky, trying to recall. ] ... thirty years? Somethin' like that.

[ Practically yesterday. ]

[stickupherforehead]

I think Greg still had hair then. [heh. It's like you stole most of it.

Time seems to matter more when a human got involved in their lives, huh?]

[likegarbage]

Haha, man, yeah! [ Remember when. ] He used to look so cool. Now he's just kinda goofy. Isn't it weird how humans can't just make it grow back out?

[stickupherforehead]

[hmmm. Hmmmmmmm.] Don't they take hair from other people to try and cover it up? [and she's motioning to the top of her head.

Wait.] You thought he looked cool? [Pearl just...can't see it, oops.]

[likegarbage]

Right, those wig thingies! Man... humans are weird.

[ Well, geez, now you're just making it embarrassing. ] Uh... a little? Kinda goes away when you get to know him, though. But he had neat hair! 'swhy I stole it.

[stickupherforehead]

[that's a quiet laugh. Pearl's opinion of Greg at this point in time is....nothing to write home about. Definitely less than the sort of understanding they will have later on.]

Well, I certainly like it better on you.

[something big is rustling in that stand of trees, hm.]

[likegarbage]

[ She tosses her hair back with a grin. ] Yeah, I rock it, don't I?

[ Then her eyes sharpen, and in an instant she's on her feet. ] Yo, d'you see that?!

[stickupherforehead]

[she scrambles to her feet half a second later]

See what? Where?

[looking around, drawing her spear. The same stand of trees rustles again, but this time, it's closer to the canopy.]

[likegarbage]

[ She points-- ] Over there, in the trees!

Dude, what if it's the giant mosquito's monster-spawns here to get revenge?! [ She sounds pretty happy about it, though, as she pulls out her whip and starts running towards it. ] Let's go get 'em!

[stickupherforehead]

You sound much too happy about this. [did they miss something? Have tmonsters been harassing the humans around here for 30 years?

Nonetheless, Pearl keeps pace with Amethyst. A bunch of bowling ball sized mosquitoes pop up out of the canopy, buzzing angrily. A few of them have two heads, but a majority only have one.

And then there's a really loud buzzing sound behind them.]