epidemiology | OPEN (forward dated a little Jan 1)

Entry tags:

OPEN (forward dated a little Jan 1)

CHARACTERS: Pearl (

beyourrock) and you!

DATE: Jan 1st

WARNINGS: N/A

SUMMARY: Pearl takes some time to clear her head. Sort of.

[This past week, Pearl had been busying herself with errands, cooking, baking, anything that would get her mind off the mark on her hand. She slowly started to realize that these mundane tasks weren’t doing her any good. Her mind was still loud.

Let it be the most beautiful sort of disaster that consumes you...

Maybe it was time to take a different approach.]

A: Sworn to the Sword
[Pearl had cleared a small area for herself and her training. Scooping what snow she could into precise mounds. Dead grass was revealed, along with worn down dirt, in a perfect square, large enough for combat. It wasn’t preferred, but it would have to do. Especially without the use of Warp Pads here, in order to transport to the area she usually trained.

The Gem stood in the middle of the miniature arena, two swords in hand. He gem on her forehead glows brightly, producing a blue figure in front of her. A perfect copy, give or take the emotionless face it held. She tosses the sword to the hologram and it in turn catches it by the handle.

And the sword dance begins. Clashing metal, sparks flying, elegant movements, and yet, they both had considerable power behind each blow, letting out a rush of air in the nearby radius of the arena. To anyone observing, they may notice Pearl is rather focused on the task at hand, as her hologram evades her attacks, returning with its own.]

B: May I Have this Dance?
[After her self appointed training, Pearl had put away her swords, letting them disappear with a flurry of sparkles. The hologram of herself holds out its hand out to Pearl, in which she takes. Similar to her fight with the hologram, it’s elegant, but with a much softer edge to it as they danced. Spinning and twisting, gliding across the arena, despite the unstable ground.

Pearl closes her eyes, as if she has memorized all the steps, falling in line with her hologram. As she moves, the hologram flickers into different shakes of different people, never missing a beat. She spins, and the hologram changes into a barefooted young woman with long hair, and when she’s dipped back, a woman in uniform holds her under the small of her back, and then straightens her back up again. The hologram extends her arm outward, Pearl holding it and doing the same. Again, the form changes, into a man with armor. And then she’s tugged in, twirling again until she rests against the holograms chest, looking up to see a tall woman with large curls, a soft smile on her face.

The gem’s eyes widen and she breaks away from the hologram, which splits into two shapes. A tall woman with square shaped hair and shades, while another stood beside her. Much shorter but with long unkempt hair. The both stare down Pearl, smiling as well, arms either crossed or on their hips. Silent laughter passes their lips, soft and heart warming before they disappear in a fizzle.

Pearl stares at where the holograms stood, her breathing suddenly ragged. Her left hand clutches over her chest, her gaze falling to the ground. Furrowing her brow, she exhales heavily, closing her eyes.]

What would they think...?

C: A Girl and her Bird
[Pearl sits in the middle of the arena, sitting beside a giant white bird, with blue trimmed feathers. A small bag of feed is set down for him, and she quietly observes him eating, her gloved hands running through his feathers on his back. He was a hassle, but she seemed to be warming up to the idea of a mount. A pet of sorts, and Quartz seemed to be calming her mind.

The Gem closes her eyes and laughs weakly as she hears the bird gobble down his food.]

Relax Quartz. You’ll choke if you eat too fast.

[She says, scoldingly, but the bird doesn’t seem to heed her words, continuing his ‘feast’. Her shoulders slump, it wasn’t worth it at this point.]

D: Wildcard
{{ooc: If none of these tickles your fancy, you're more than welcomed to toss in your own! If you're not sure, just drop me a pp on plurk at littlestpenguin}}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Urk. Gilgamesh withers a bit under the aura of a firm disciplinarian and waves his hands around emphatically. Perhaps overly so.]

O-of course they're rife with excitement! As if I couldn't find ways to entertain myself, even mingling among these utterly unworthy masses! What an absolutely preposterous notion, that I would fall into the wretched doldrums of such mortal tedium, ahahahaha...

[She's totally buying this, right? Right.]

[Pearl stares at him dryly.]

Excitement, hm? [Her foot taps a little as she narrows her eyes at him. With a huff, she steps up to him and prods his chest with a finger.]

I do hope you're behaving yourself.

...it's unbearably boring.

[Well, that didn't much prodding to unveil. Talk about an anticlimax.]

[Pearl blinks. Huh, that was different than what she was expecting. She slumps her shoulders and shakes her head with a small sigh.]

Don't tell me that a King doesn't have any hobbies he likes to enjoy. You have a giant Gate with numerous things! [The Gem saw it for herself after all. Books, and so many other things.]

Besides, didn't you say you like to lounge about and drink wine in your free time?

That's certainly so, but...

[Gilgamesh appears to be fidgeting around what he really wants to say. It's like he's reverted to a huffy child asking after something from their guardian. ...or rather, that side's become more prominent now. It will take a bit more encouragement to ferret out the truth.]

[Pearl's lips purse into a thin line. Determined as she peers up at him, ands prominently on her hips now in her own huffing gesture. Just what exactly has gotten into him? From the way they ended their dance to... this?]

Does a cat have hold of the King of Heroes' tongue? What's gotten you so worked up?

Your read of the atmosphere has proven remarkably poor!! It should be obvious that we must spend more time together!!

[Oops. Hold on, back up, redo.]

I meant to say it's become a necessity. Because...

[...because...]

...because it's the will of the King. That is sufficient explanation for my request.

[Swing and a miss.]

[Pearl steps back, surprised by his outburst... but she slowly shakes her head. She turns on her heels and waves her hand dismissively.]

You're just saying that because I'm your Master. [Otherwise, why would it be a necessity?]

[Bluntly:]

I'm saying that because I derive enjoyment from it. From your company.

[Pearl hit the wrong button this time. He sounds offended, most especially that she's turned her back. An unwise course of action around this King.]

[She stops and lowers her hand, closing her eyes as she digests his words. Her hands raise up, rubbing at her arms uneasily as she looks over her shoulder at him. After a few moments, Pearl turns to face him.]

You know you can come see me any time, if you're that lonely.

But, don't you have some friends here as well?

I'm not lonely.

[The image of Enkidu, lying in his arms, dying with every breath, flashes over the bond unbidden. Or perhaps it is on purpose, what he shows to her—not to argue against loneliness, but to show he only ever had need for one friend in the world. And with them gone...

To say Gilgamesh looks put out now would be a severe understatement. His face curls up like it's been struck and his words come sternly.]

Rather, it is the King's duty to walk alone. It is a different matter entirely from entertaining guests.

[Pearl's hands hang at her sides, feeling rather guilty for not reading him better before. Her brows knit together, apologetically, hands fidgeting. That man's image in her mind, yet again. Enkidu meant a lot to Gilgamesh. They were close. It was a sensitive topic for him to talk about. When he did share stories or images of him, she felt honored, that he trusted her that much.]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you I just...

[Now, Gilgamesh turns away from her instead. It isn't hurt written across his brow, per se, but a distant sort of thoughtfulness. He's no doting teenager that required every ounce of her attention, or worse yet, pity. To be seen as such grates at him. It reminds him of how broad a gap still existed between them.

This, he thinks, must be misunderstanding.]

If you dislike my company, then say so. I will keep my distance.

[His eyes flicker back to hers, sharp and bloody.]

But do not presume I need anything from you, beyond the stipulations of the contract. You go too far.

No, I didn't mean...

[Her chest sinks to the pit of her stomach. Even if she wore the Command Seals of a Master, she suddenly feels unwanted. No longer needed. No, this isn't what she intended. She closes her eyes and bows her head submissively.]

I'm sorry, Gilgamesh. I never said I didn't like your company. Not one bit.

Things have transpired since my last meeting with you. I've been trying to clear my head of any doubts. [She gestures to the arena around them.]

I did not mean to offend you.

[Gilgamesh just sighs, quietly. Maybe if it had been some other fool he respected less he would've cursed them right out for their disrespect, but it's Pearl. Calming down from his initial bristling, he knows she means well. And it's fair to want some time to think. Alone.

Perhaps he shouldn't have interceded here. Maybe they'd both read the air wrong.

Gilgamesh returns to her side, and there's no irritation in his step. He brushes their fingers together, just as he'd done before, by way of apology, though he won't quite look her in the eye. His features are softer. Kinder.]

Do not concern yourself over it.

[Even if she will anyway. Finally, Gilgamesh concedes the truth.]

I missed your face. How it would light up when I told stories. Your voice, how riveted it would sound at every twist and turn. It was wonderful.

[Pearl lifts her head, but sees that his eyes are elsewhere. She doesn't blame him. Pearl thought it was just some other ploy to get her to be lowered into a false sense of security, like he had initially with the contract. And have more truth coming crashing down on her once more. It was hard enough with the other Master on her case about keeping Gilgamesh in line.

It was true. His stories kept her enraptured. Her fingers brush back in turn over his and she looks to the side, her gem glowing softly. She offers a weak chuckle, hooking one finger around one of his, for a brief hesitating moment before pulling her hands back entirely.]

I do admire your stories. They're thrilling and exciting whenever I get to hear them. And I'm honored that you share them with me in the first place.

[Don't do that, he wants to chide her, just a moment more, I would touch you. His eyes are elsewhere and he can tell that her heart is, too. This is the beast that he wrought, the specter of mistrust. He doesn't regret a thing but perhaps now he understands the weight of what he's done. Of course she would be this way. Of course she would pull back.

And in the end, hadn't he always been distant from his Masters? Even from Kirei, there was no such thing as affection between them. Just equivalent exchange, a mutual benefit. Really, all he should want from her is a decent source of entertainment, and yet...

He wants to reach out, but recognizes he's lost his chance. He'll have to try again some other time.]

Ask for them whenever you'd like, Pearl. I will always answer.

[His brow crinkles together, beseechingly.]

But you are burdened, so I wait. I ask only you speak to me, if you are uncertain; that I may help you if you are unsure. It is what I am here for.

[Pearl's heart is a mix of emotions, and it weighs heavy in her chest. Thankfully, the Gem steels herself, standing up a little more. A little more professional as she grips her hands into loose fists at her sides, leather gloves creaking as she does so. Something does come to mind.]

I met another Master here. She's very determined about keeping you in line.

Rin Tohsaka is her name. Are you familiar with her?

Undoubtedly she would be. The Tohsaka line and I have something of a history together.

[A history he's willing to be very forthright about. Pearl may just have more sway than she believes with him, as before it'd be a topic he'd gloss over without a second thought. Now, he understands Pearl would want the truth. He intends to give it to her and head any doubts off at the pass.]

That girl hails from the Fifth Holy Grail War. We fought against each other in pursuit of opposing aims.

[Not that he really needs to, but... it's worth clarifying, so Gilgamesh too drops any lingering airs and asks of Pearl directly:]

I'm presuming she spoke with you? And at length.

[So she's from the future Holy Grail War, in which Gilgamesh was yet to be apart of. But she seemed to know about him as well. Did that mean Archer and Rin were contracted? Either way, she knows to be mindful of those two.

Pearl purses her lips into a thin line.]

Indeed she did. She takes me for a martyr, having been contracted with you. I do not view myself as such. I did not survive a thousand year war to be told off my some little girl about what a mistake I've made.

[That conversation just rubbed her the wrong way. Being spoken down to like that.]

I know very well what I've gotten myself into. You've made that very clear, and you know where I stand on the matter. I made my choice, and I'm sticking with it.

[Gilgamesh, perhaps predictably, proves quick to leap to her defense. He seems about as happy she is about it—which is to say not at all. Finally, in something, they are a united front. He speaks with similar displeased undertones and glares as if Rin herself has manifested before them on the spot.]

She is without a doubt a meddlesome girl undeserving of your attention. She fails to understand the greater machinations of the world and so would happily place the blame upon others in her own stead. I do not deny her magical prowess, but...

[Gilgamesh shakes his head, and looks with confidence—and notably, with loyalty—to his Master.]

She acts like a child, and so should be treated like a child. Pay her no mind, Pearl. From here on out, we go where we choose.

[Pearl admires his support. A note on her message she left Pearl does come to mind.]

She also mentioned that you killed her father.

[She pauses and meets his gaze sternly, searching those deep red eyes for a deeper meaning.]

Is this true?

It is not.

[No measure of a lie lingers in his words, though some may have considered them such. He's able to look in her the eye because he knows, ultimately, it was not his own hand that led to Tokiomi's death. He provided the means and the encouragement, but it was not the same as striking the killing blow.

No, the one responsible was...]

Kotomine Kirei, my former Master. He struck her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, down in his efforts to find purpose for himself.

[That does remind him of something. Something important. A note of concern enters his voice, or perhaps it is more like unnatural caution.]

Should that man ever come to this world, Pearl, stay far away from him. His wickedness knows no bounds, for his soul knows only emptiness.

[She had learned about his former master perviously, but he was only mentioned in passing. However, if Gilgamesh is warning her about him, he's obviously a threat to be considered if he were to manifest here. The Gem nods, understanding.]

Yes, of course.

[And that brings another point up, but it causes her hands to fidget, searching for the correct words.]

There's also something else I must ask of you. There's someone here that I wish for you to... keep safe. His name is Steven, he's from my world and is the only family in which I have here. I do not wish for any harm to come to him.

[Pearl holds her hand out, her gem projecting a hologram of a young boy standing on her palm. He grins widely, standing proud with a star on his t-shirt, and dark curly hair.]

If anything were to happen to him... I don't know what I'd do.

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