video | username: pearl

[beyourrock]

[Pearl was a little apprehensive at first to go ahead about this. But when she thought about it, this would be beneficial to many people here. Especially for people who were not used to missions, or even fighting for that matter.

Swallowing hard, Pearl lifts her head and sets her 'communicator' on a rock in the outskirts of the city. Out of harm's way. Once it was perfect, she starts.]

Greetings everyone of ALASTAIR. My name is Pearl, and I wanted to offer my assistance.

[In her hand, it looks to be a sword, held confidently. She bows in greeting to the jewel, shifting awkwardly. This was so different than what she's used to. Heck, she didn't know if it was even working.

Behind her, another 'Pearl' comes up behind her, with a sword as well, about to strike her over the head with it. But in one swift movement, the opposing Pearl falls to the ground, flickering. Pearl lowers her arm, the sword having penetrated the hologram, which fizzles out of existence altogether.]

I have experience when it comes to swordsmanship, and as well as experience with the use of a spear. I wanted to gather if there would be any interest for some training. We all come from many different backgrounds, myself included. I want to make sure everyone has a chance to defend themselves.

For now, I'm gauging interest. Also, if anyone else is interested in hosting some training as well. I don't... mean to be the 'head' of any group. I merely wish to help where I can. This would help immensely for what might be on the horizon for us.

If anyone has any questions, please let me know. And if you wish to speak to me in person, I'm just on the outskirts here.

Comments

[beyourrock]

[Pearl watches Kida dance, her chest almost swelling with pride as she does so. A little rough around the edges, but that's how people learn. They practice and get better.

The Gem nods furiously.] Mn, of course! I would love to show you more. Dancing is important in Gem culture. I know it's rather recreational in most cultures, but for us, it's very important. I just incorporate it more into my battle techniques.

With enough practice, you'll be proficient in no time!

[adlantisag]

[ With her legs protesting over-use, Kida relaxes into some cool-down stretches. While she does so, she turns her face to Pearl, conversational. ]

My people only dance to celebrate--celebration is important, but it's not what one might call a necessity. How is it to the Gems?

[ Agh spirits, her calves will object to this tomorrow. ]

[beyourrock]

[She can see her discomfort and furrows her brow empathetically. She could imagine the pain she would feel the following day, but if she did keep at it, it would be like nothing at all.

Pearl clears her throat once more.]

Gems use it for fusion. [She clasps her hands together.] Where two beings become one. A strong bond between them creating an entirely new being. New personality. A new experience.

[adlantisag]

[ As she listens, Kida has to blink, because while intellectually she knows Pearl is, well, a pearl, she's also a humanoid as far as Kida is aware and this all sounds very much like-- ]

Fusion is when you mate...?

[beyourrock]

[Pearl's eyes widen and she shakes her head furiously.]

N-NO! We don't---

[OH DEAR STARS, Pearl shrugs her shoulders up to her ears, as if it would hide the embarrassment on her face.]

Fusion is not a form of. Mating. No. It's just. Fusion.

Makes you stronger. It's.

It's complicated.

[adlantisag]

[ Kida quirks her brows and gestures as if to say, yes, it does appear to be 'complicated'. Pearl is blushing blue, which is cute, but also tells Kida this conversation just veered off the rails. ]

I see. So you...literally...merge?

[ She brings her hands together, twining her fingers to suggest this notion. ]

[beyourrock]

[She nods furiously once more and a hologram flickers into view in front of Pearl. A small one, for example, of herself and what looks to be a larger and taller gem.

The two of them dance fora brief moment before their gems glow and they literally form into a single, much larger being.]

I probably should have shown you first. Sorry, I get a little... passionate about these things.

[adlantisag]

[ She watches the display, and realizes how wrong she'd been. She has the grace to look sheepish. ]

Oh.

[ That's much clearer. By now Kida has finished her stretching, and she moves to sit in the grass, inviting Pearl to sit next to her. ]

That is a very interesting ability. It fusing done for recreation?

[beyourrock]

Its alright really! [She offers her a reassuring smile before she takes a seat down beside Kida, her hologram disappearing.]

Sometimes it's for fun. It's quite the display sometimes.

Other times, it is necessary for certain tasks at hand.

[adlantisag]

[ She considers the idea. In the example Pearl had shown, the two gems had fused to form something bigger, stronger. Meaning: ] Something that would require more strength than a single Gem possesses?

[ Her people have no such skill, and she's glad for it. Merging with another...it makes her skin crawl. Who is she when she isn't herself, anymore? ]

What does it feel like...?

[beyourrock]

Yes. Exactly that. The more gems fused together, the stronger the fusion can be.

[She rests her hands on her knees and lets her shoulders relax.]

I know it sounds bizarre, but it feels just. So amazing. I feel so strong, like I can do anything.

[adlantisag]

[ She tries to imagine three, four, five gems fused together. ]

And you remain yourself? How do you...think? Do you share thoughts?

[ Kida might be overthinking this, but she finds it both fascinating and gruesome, in a way. She can't imagine sharing body and mind with another individual, but then--maybe she's just never met anyone that meant that much to her, that she trusted so wholly. ]

[beyourrock]

We do share thoughts. Sometimes one personality will override another, but both gems work in tandem. The shared mind is like a vast plan in which both Gems share the space. They converse with one another, and move the fusion as one.

[Pearl laughs sheepishly.]

Now that I say it put loud, it must sound so... silly.

[adlantisag]

[ A hand fall on Pearl's shoulder, stable and reassuring. ]

It is not silly. Thank you for sharing this with me. I never knew many outsiders, living in Atlantis, and for many years I considered our way of life superior, and all intruders as tresspassers upon our land.

[ It's her turn to bring her knees up, disguising the gesture of comfort as one of practicality by massaging her legs gently. ]

There's so much I am ignorant of. I want to know everything.

[beyourrock]

[Pearl's shoulder relaxes under her hand and pale blue eyes shift to look over at Kida, the blue hue on her cheeks dimming down.]

Did you get to meet many people? From the outside, I mean. To talk to them?

[adlantisag]

Since I have come here, yes.

[ The implication being: not before. Kida looks up into the pitch-darkness of the sky. ]

But Atlantis is so remote, visitors are rare. Before Anwick, when we spoke, I hadn't seen the stars in thousands of years. Since before the Maebelmok.

[ The way she says that word implies something bigger than just a word. More shakily, she admits: ] There was barely any light in Anwick, and the sun is gone here. I hardly remember what the sun looks like.

[beyourrock]

[Pearl feels her chest become heavy. She hadn't seen the stars in that long? The sun even. Atlantis sounded wonderful, but it also sounded like a prison. Pearl would go mad if she could never see the stars again.

Hesitantly, she rests her hand on Kida's shoulder. Human reassurance right? Was she doing it right? None the less, Pearl returns her gaze down to Kida.]

Whatever this quarrel's outcome may be, I'm sure the sun will return. You deserve to see it. The stars. Everything. This is a chance for you to experience so many things. Meet so many people...

[adlantisag]

[ Kida smiles at being offered such kindess. She isn't the type to dwell on the things she can't have or hasn't had. The sun will return to her life--and her people's--or it won't. She'll press on regardless.

Still. A bit of warmth feels nice. ]

Thank you, Pearl. [ She tilts her head against her shoulder, her hair falling over Pearl's fingers. It's been a long time she hasn't connected to another being. Perhaps it's fitting that Pearl should also come from afar. Two strangers in a strange land. ] I am glad to have met you. Will you sit with me a while, and tell me more about your people?

[ If nothing else, she's eager to trade stories. ]

[beyourrock]

[Pearl's smile grows softer and she nods. Kida was very different. Pearl was so used to modern humans. The genuine curiousity she expressed was refreshing to see. Beach City had it's charms, but this place. What ALASTAIR was doing... it offered so many new venues of knowledge. Experiences. People.]

There's no need to thank me. You deserve it. I'm glad to have met you as well.

[She pulls her hand back.] My people? I wouldn't exactly say they're my people. Not anymore, at least.

[adlantisag]

You told me you had left them, yes. [ Kida shakes her head. ] But I meant--like your dancing, your fusion. Tell me about your culture. It is foreign to me, and I want to know more.

[ Especially if Pearl is divorced from it--that gives her a perspective she might otherwise lack if she was immersed in the culture herself. ]

[beyourrock]

[Pearl glances over to Kida before she sighs heavily.]

Well..

[She spoke of her homeworld, and how lavish Gems dressed up. How some Gems were held in such high regard, and Pearl spoke of this all rather passionately. Especially about fusion and dancing.

As they exchanged stories, Pearl realizes that they had been talking for quite some time. How long exactly? Who knows. Their surroundings were pitch black, sans the torches nearby. Pearl laughs.]

Goodness. We've been talking all night.

Day. Whatever time it is. You must be tired!

[adlantisag]

[ Kida listens with rapt attention. In exchange, she speaks of Atlantis: its former glory, its current disrepair, and her conflict with her father, the old King with old ideas. How Kida believes she can bring Atlantis back to what it once was, if she brings back knowledge to her city.

Night stretches on in every direction. When Pearl finally calls attention to how long they've been speaking, Kida has to laugh. She pushes herself up, wiping down her trousers. ]

Only my legs! But rest will be good. You do not sleep, do you?

[beyourrock]

[Pearl stands up beaide Kida, dusting off her leggings. Pearl stretches her arms high over her head in a long stretch, feeling it all the way down to her ankles. The Gem nods and taps her forehead as she relaxes from her stretching.]

That's correct. My gem sustains itself. However, I could experience sleep if I wanted to, like many other human experiences.

I've experienced it once. It was... strange.

[Pearl approaches the torches, snuffing them out. But her gem glows brightly, to keep the immidate area illuminated.]

[adlantisag]

[ Pearl's gem is accompanied by Kida's pendant, also glowing to ward off the darkness. ]

Strange in what way?

[ Perhaps sleep is as odd to consider for Pearl as fusing is for Kida. As her companion finishes up with the torches, Kida steps along the path back to the city, also stretching while Pearl catches up. It's colder in Chantes than in Atlantis, and she's glad for the new clothing she bought. ]

[beyourrock]

[Pearl quickly catches up to Kida. She looks at her crystal and smiles, seeing it glow in the darkness. It was very pretty, and mysterious. Being able to power so many things. Concentrated power...]

The idea of lying down, eyes closed, and vulnerable. What if I were attacked? What if something were to happen while I'm asleep?

[There's also the fact that her dreams are projected in her holograms...]