epidemiology | (no subject)

CHARACTERS: Peridot, Pearl, and OPEN!

DATE: After Oska-sim, before the Team-Bonding tasks event

WARNINGS: Robotic dismemberment, maybe.

SUMMARY: Robot fights??? Robot fights.

• BEFORE THE FIGHT •

[Now that Oska has been "fixed"… it's about time to mess it up again. At least in a contained way that doesn't involve any "false realities." Two large, pilot-able robots stand opposite each other in a large ring, circled off with linked rope and poles.

One robot is a bright green color, diamond shaped with claw-like hands, and shorter than the other robot. The second robot is tall, smoother looking, with longer "legs" and pastel colored.

Both are unoccupied… for now, but outside of the ring is a crudely, and almost lazily painted sign with the words: ]

BUY TICKETS HERE

[…Someone's selling tickets to this??

Maybe someone else is nearby who can answer some questions… Or maybe also has no idea what's about to happen, but hey, feel free to look around anyway. ]

• THE FIGHT •

[A. - Closed to Peridot and Pearl]

[~~Now that the tickets have been sold~~, both Gems arrive at the arena.

After inspecting the area marked for their fight, and then inspecting her own robot to make sure Pearl hadn't tried to CHEAT while she was away, Peridot climbs into her own robot, testing the controls. It works just as well as it did when she first assembled it, so everything seems fine. As Pearl climbs into her own robot, Peridot calls out a taunt.]

I HOPE YOU'RE READY TO PRACTICE BOWING AGAIN, RENEGADE SCUM!!

[B. - Open To All]

[Oh, so that's why those giant robots were there. An old fashioned showdown, This Town Isn't Big Enough For The Both Of Us-style... But no guns and quick drawing, and with robots instead? Seems like it. Feel free to watch, and maybe wind up dodging some torn up dirt as the fight processes.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No I didn't mean it like that!

[She lifts a hand to try and try and coax him down. Pearl can't help but grin wider, almost sheepishly now as she looks up at the stand he's made for her and moves to stand beside him, facing him towards the display.]

No one has ever done anything like this for me. Not this extreme. Not this extravagant. Plus, if a Pearl from homeworld was given this, it would be seen as a joke. But this means a lot to me. I'm just not used to such efforts put towards me...

[Then again, he was a king after all. Pearl feels her chest swell with pride, watching the flags idly flap in the wind before glancing at Gilgamesh in the corner of her eye.]

I'm very flattered, Gilgamesh. Thank you.

[Gilgamesh glances back to the wreckage and frowns. Not because of anything Pearl has said; his temper had cooled long before the match ended, thanks to Ranmaru's intervention. But because he can tell how much she wanted to win. How important it was that she send a message to Peridot that she was more than just a Pearl. In that regard, had she succeeded? Had anything really changed at all?

"I will never bow to any homeworld gem."

...of course. He's never seen her looking so forthright, so satisfied in asserting herself. It was a slow journey to self-confidence, a journey that would be wrought with success as well as failure, but undeniably a steady one. A journey embarked together. His frown shifts back to a smile, and he seems to understand now.

Rather than with words, Gilgamesh answers her thanks with a small kiss and a quiet thought, just for her: I am very proud of you, wonderful Pearl.]

[Pearl moves her hands so that her fingers thread with one hand of his, giving it a small squeeze. Peridot and Pearl had come to a mutual agreement of sorts. And while it was apparent from the wreckage that Pearl lost the overall fight, she certainly didn't feel the defeat settle into her shoulders. No, not at all.

This kind of support from Gilgamesh, and even Steven. She would have stubbornly sequestered herself for a few days to lick at her own wounds. To feverishly do better. Maybe even build another robot.

She didn't feel the need to do that. The Gem felt at ease. And someone was proud of her. That's all that mattered. That's more than what she could ever ask for.

She returns the kiss with a soft peck of her own, still not used to this... "thing" between them. It seemed to go much more smoothly for Greg and Rose back in the day. She was warming up to the idea, slowly but surely. She pulls back, her gem glowing warmly at the thought received.]

I'll do better next time.

[Gilgamesh's expression turns downright coy as he uses the moment as an excuse to sneak Pearl back into his arms and whirl her around as if she'd won anyway. She was in good cheer about it, and therefore so was he. As sore of a loser as he tended to be, she tempered him well—encouraged him to be a better person as he encouraged Pearl to see herself in a better light.]

Next time, borrow one of mine. I guarantee I've weaponry even a being of the homeworld has never seen before.

[Though it's a suggestion mostly made in jest. Pearl's too stubborn to use anything she hasn't made herself, he realizes.]

Next time... I will expect a sound victory. So ordered by the King.

[And she giggles, leaning into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his middle, her laughter muffled by his chest. Once settled, Pearl pulls her head back to peer up at him, beaming. But she lightly smacks his chest.]

You know I can't do that. Besides, I wouldn't want to harm any of your treasures.

[And also, yes, she would rather build something herself to prove even more so to Peridot that Pearls are capable of anything, especially herself.

She grins and nudges his side with an elbow.]

Ordering your master around, huh? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

But yes, victory will be had next time.

[Gilgamesh hums with Pearl in his hold, considering. For a man so old sometimes he can be rather childlike in his affections, dipping his lips over her hair or stopping for silly puffs of air beside her ear. Or maybe it's just a sign he's relaxed and happy enough to indulge her these small shows of intimacy.]

It certainly can be, depending upon my mood...

[Note: Gilgamesh may have interpreted master under a slightly different definition here, judging by the sly wink and the grin that follows.]

[The puffs of air and the nuzzling of her hair earns him soft giggles from the Gem in turn. She felt heavy in his arms. The day had taken its toll on her, however she was very relaxed. Comfortable with being held like this. Her eyes close, resting her gem against the nape of his neck before--

Her eyes snap open, cheeks baring that signature blue blush. Again, Pearl lightly swats at his chest.]

You know what I meant!