Even with years of experience with these humans, there were a few traditions that Rose sometimes did not understand yet. She didn't realize that so many eating utensils were needed to consume a human's daily nutrients at some points and yet so little at other times. She also didn't know that humans spent so much time creating different languages and evolving themselves when they were so perfect already. However, there was one tradition that she was getting used: fashion.
"Is that another T-shirt Greg?" Rose asked curiously as her lover walked into her home with a box of something.
"Yeah! Aren't they awesome? I had a guy downtown print them off for me so that I can sell them in the next concert. Everyone is going to want one of these!" Greg exclaimed and pulled out a T-shirt for her to see. It was a pinkish T-shirt that was more red than anything else and had a bright yellow star in the middle of it. The star was a symbol of Greg's band, and while the design was very charming, Rose did have one question.
"Greg, is there a reason why people would want a shirt with a star on it? I've been reading some of these magazines, and they've been saying that celestial symbols were apparently last century," Rose explained as she motioned to grab one of them. Greg had said that these were a great source of human culture, but Rose had a feeling she was getting a little bit to into a person's personal space with them.
Greg immediately made a face and began blushing in that familiar way Rose often made him feel. "W-Well, it's kind of a symbol of our band, you know? It's how we're able to go around and say 'You're one of us!' without being so public about it."
"Are you embarrassed affiliating yourselves with a single thing then?" Rose asked.
"No no! It's not like that. It's um, how do I say this? It's kind of like our fans are kind of wearing our uniforms. Like, if I'm every feeling down or sad or something, I can just go out and see some kid wearing my T-shirt because I made an impact on his life. Hay, sometimes people even send me letters on how I've changed their lives," Greg explained as he took a seat next to his girlfriend. "You know, it's kind of like I'm protecting them from those icky feelings just by playing my music, but they're the ones in uniform protecting me."
Rose stayed quiet for a few second. Symbols were not a foreign thing for her. They were often signs of which team a Gem was on back on Homeworld. However, because of her strength, Homeworld never really gave her a team to stay with. They had mention something about bringing some reinforcements, but they wouldn't truly be a part of her team because she didn't have one. Well, at least not yet.
"Rose? Hey, did I say something to upset you again? I did, didn't I?" Greg asked as he took a deep breath and sighed. He looked at the T-shirt under a different light.
"Maybe they are 'last season', huh Rose."
That brought Rose out of her thoughts and back to her beloved. She took the T-shirt from his hands and hugged it with all of her might.
"I love it," she said and kissed him on his cheek.
"You do?" he asked, genuinely surprised.
"Mmhmm, I think you should keep one, you know, for the memories. I think this is my favorite T-shirt yet. Do you think I can keep one too?" she asked. She often felt bad taking merchandise from her beloved, but this time she needed this T-shirt, and she would pay for it later of course.
"Of course sweetie! Why, honorary band members are band members as well. And don't you dare think about paying me back somehow. Me and you, this band is ours, not just mine," Greg reminded and smiled. Rose returned it, and the two of them continued talking throughout the night, even when the two of them ran out of anything meaningful to say.
The next morning, Greg woke up to an empty couch. It was late in the morning, and knowing that Rose was a morning person; he didn't feel bad waking up alone. However, it wasn't very often that she did this without telling him or even leaving a note. He figured that something bad must have happened and wandered into the kitchen to make some breakfast. Luckily, even though Rose didn't have to eat, she still kept food stocked just for humans when they wandered in the temple and needed a place to stay for the night.
The doors to the Gem rooms opened, and Greg was about to ask if she wanted anything when he saw her change.
Rose's dress was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen (besides her of course). His mother often asked her where she had gotten it, but she never got a complete response. He had always gotten a feeling it was handmade or a Gem-equivalent type thing, but he did know that it was one of the few things Rose held precious to her.
And now there it was, in perfect condition except for a star-shaped cut in the middle revealing her beautiful Gem.
"Rose, your dress," Greg began.
"I know! Isn't it fantastic dear? Now I can be in your army too!"
"My army? But what about your dress?"
Rose smiled and gathered her beloved into her arms.
"If this single symbol is able to give any human hope, then I will rip my entire dress into a star just to make them smile again," Rose explained. Breaking apart, Rose looked deeply into Greg's eyes. "Greg, the Gems of Homeworld are planning something bad for Earth. When things begin happening, I want the people of this Earth to know that I, a Crystal Gem, will continue to fight on their side. This is going to be a symbol for those of us who want to protect his planet. After all, it is your band that showed me how great humans can be. Why not project that message to the entire universe?"
Greg could feel tears welling in his eyes. Ignoring his burning toast, he picked Rose up and spun her around just like he did when she said that she would marry him.
"I love you," Greg said with a great smile, playing around with the star shaped hole of her dress. To think, his band was going to be a beacon of peace and unity in the universe, and his wife as the leader of all of it.
Sudden fear grasped his mind.
"Wait, what kind of bad things Rose? Is something going to happen to you?"
Rose breathed out, and smiled sadly. "I'm afraid my mind is already made Greg, but don't worry. I fully intend to fight and come back to you," she explained. Then she looked to the side. "Greg! Your toast!"
"Oh no!" he yelled and ran over to save his forgotten breakfast. Rose watched the spectacle with an amused expression. It was moments like these and future ones that had yet to happen that would continue to remind her that the Crystal Gems and their stars are something worth fighting for.