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“Pearl look at this isn’t it great?” Pink ushered Pearl over while vigorously pointing at something on the ground.
“My Diamo-; My Rose???” Pearl jumbled through words and expressions trying to understand what Pink was so excited about.
“Rose is fine remember Pearl right now you’re not mine we’re experiencing this planet together. Besides look at how beautiful this thing is.” Pink laid down a finger on the ground letting the insect crawl and cling to her which tickled Pink. “ahaha, that tickles.”
“My… mhmm, Rose; are you sure that’s safe to do.” Rose flung her hair to side to turn to face Pearl.
“Pearl don’t be silly this thing is friendly. Here take a closer look.” Rose swiftly placed her index finger in Pearls face but it so close Pearl struggled to make it out.
“Forgive me Rose but your finger is too close I can’t make it out well.”
“Sorry Pearl-” Rose backed up her finger. “There; is that better.”
“No need to apologize Rose, and yes that’s much better.” Pearl put a hand over her mouth by how casually she ordered Pink diamond blushing at the shame of that realization.
“Good. Ok now take a good look.”
Pearl stared at the insect and still looked just as confused. “It’s very—“ pausing to find the right words. “Delicate looking in a good way.”
“Of course it’s delicate all the life on this planet is. But what does it invoke in you, what do you think? And give me your true feelings.” Rose smiled and carefully caressed the insect which squirmed at her touch
Pearl took notice and what she felt at first was confusion and pity at how small Pathetic it looked. The final emotion she couldn’t quite register but seeing Pink give the bug so much attention, focus and touch her cheeks flared and she felt something that she couldn’t quite understand. “Well I feel that it looks kinda cute in a way because it’s so fragile and pathetic yet it continues to go through its existence and squirm and fight under the touch of a much larger better life form.”
“That’s the spirit Pearl I knew would find it.” Rose lunged and tightly hugged Pearl who was now brighter than a red light
“I’m glad that made you happy my diamond.” Rose let go and Pearl wondered if she said something wrong and silently cursed herself under her breath.
“Pearl it’s Rose remember!”
Pearl scratched the upper right side of her head. “Oh that’s right and I was doing so well.”
“That’s alright Pearl, we all make mistakes. Oh right the; what was it- bug.” Rose opened her palm to display a gruesome sight of the bug's broken body and green fluid leaking onto the background of Rose’s hand.
“No! What have I done…” Beady eyes looked to Pearl, “can we fix this?” Rose pulled at her hair with her free hand smile faded to gritted teeth and worried expressions. “How could I, you even kept saying it was fragile but I didn’t know life was this fragile.” Pearl grabbed the bottom of Rose’s hand and masking the disgust picked up the insect out of Rose’s hand. “That poor beautiful creature.” Rose shifted her down slightly but not enough that her eyes couldn’t still stare at what she’d done.
“Don’t worry My Diamond, we'll fix this.” Pearl only caught the My Diamond after she said it but Pink didn’t seem to notice or maybe even care this time. “Follow me.” Pearl grabbed Pink and rushed as fast as they could.
While running Pink spotted a bit of movement at first she thought was because of the speed they were running but the motion was soft and slow and didn’t sync. “Pearl, stop for a second.” Immediately the pair came to a screeching halt.
“Yes?” Pink gestured her eyes down.
“Look.”
Pearl's eyes followed as instructed, seeing the twitches from the insects legs each one a scream for life. “That’s good it’s still alive and fighting-”
“Just as hard as we are.” Rose finished Pearl’s thought with the latter. Rose quickly slipped her hand back onto Pearl’s palm and gestured for her to continue. Pearl didn’t hesitate and quickly repicked up speed. “By the way Pearl where are we going?”
Without looking back Pearl yelled, “To your palanquin.”
“What’s at my palanquin that could be of any use?”
“I’m sure there is something there and it’s not like we have anywhere else on this planet that could be of use to help this bug.” Running further ahead once the palanquin was in view Preal quickly opened the curtain to usher Pink in. “And remember to turn back into your original diamond form.”
Pink didn’t even listen and stayed as Rose bolting into the palanquin. Pearl nervously but quickly surveyed the area for anyone who might get the wrong idea. “Good.” Pearl closed the curtain to go to her diamond's side.
“Pearl what do we do now?” Rose’s face was so tense Pearl thought if this continued Rose’s face would be stuck like that.
“Here it is.” Pearl grabbed a small bottle off the ground next to giant chair in the center of the palanquin.
“This normally works for healing gems so maybe it’ll work for that bug.”
Rose checked on the bug a small amount of washed over her. “It’s still moving.” Noting the quick weak twitches the bug made.
“Here it goes.” Pearl doused the bug in a drop of the Pinks healing fluid.
The bug instantly began to shine bright pink moving its body like it was dancing in joy. Finally coming back as a now pink bug but seemed just fine and made a delight noise and had Rose giddy.
“Pearl you did it! Oh you’re amazing; Thank you!” Rose grabbed Pearl with her free arm and spun her around with the other hand twirling open Palmed above them. The big wriggled in Rose’s hand making her giggle even more but making sure not to close this time.
“It was nothing…” Pearl wanted to say more but instead fell into. Rose’s calming embrace it made Pearl feel something unfamiliar, and somehow unfitting of her station. It felt wrong but so right to the point Pearl just let it happen and tried to push any negative thoughts down. “It was no problem Rose.”
Rose let go after the hug continued for only few more fleeting moments. Outstretched Pearl clearly yearned for the embrace to last even a few more moments. Staring at her outstretched arm her face turn pinker than a quartz. “Mmhmm. What do you plan on doing with the bug now? After this I don’t think keeping it is the best idea.”
“Of course not. Though I wish are time could be longer it’s probably for the best.” Rose stared at the bug now wiggling at the tip of her finger trying to find a new place to go only to see it was trapped by the confines of Rose’s hand. It turned to face her Rose saw her reflection in the bugs eyes. “I see you’re also trapped little bug I have seen those same longing looks for something more myself.”
“Let's take it back to where we found it.”
“Good idea this creature deserves to be free.” Rose followed Pearl they didn’t rush it Rose never took her eyes off the bug the entire treak back.
“I guess it's time to say goodbye.” Rose dropped to her knees. “You were a fascinating little creature.” Rose dropped her hand to floor welcoming the bug back into the world. The bug wasted no time in wiggling off Rose’s hand and onto a nearby leaf.
“How are you feeling my diamond.”
“I think i’ll be ok. I know now that if this little creature can be free then maybe one day I can be free.” Rose wiped her eyes and turned back into her original form. “Let’s go back to palanquin it’s been a day.”
“Of course we could get the chance to talk about what we can try tomorrow.”
“That sounds nice. I think you also learned something today Pearl.”
“What would that be?” You Pearl’s head drifted to the side shoulders rising slightly.
“You learned to be more casual with me. I’m glad we both got to learn something knew.”
Pearl blushed just realizing how casual she had been speaking even touching her diamond. “I’m sorry for that it was unbecoming of a Pearl.”
“While it might be unbecoming of a Pearl. It’s becoming of something much better a companion.”
Pink calling Pearl tickled her in gem in way that made her gently sway from side to side. “That’s good then.”