Thanks to the great Tomoyo-chan284 who beta this story.
Little by little, everything became clearer. I was in a room, or close to a room from what I could distinguish through my eyes, it was all still too fuzzy. I pushed myself with my right arm so I will be semi seated, still rubbing my eyes, because the light bothered me. Inhaling a little I let out a sigh…then I inhaled again and breathed. This was the first signal that something was wrong, I had never needed to breathe before. Being a Gem I didn't have a respiratory system or a biological functions for that matter, but here I was taking my first breaths of air. That was the moment when I realized something that I had not noticed before, my hands weren't purple, or red for that matter, they were dark skinned, like the ones that I had seen in the Pizza family, the one that Steven likes to eat with and talk to. Then something horrible crossed my mind. Slowly I turned my hands over. I needed to see my palms. Bit by bit I turned my palms, my pulse racing, for first time experiencing the biological effects of anxiety. I confirmed my darkest thoughts at the moment: my gems were gone.
-No, this can't be, how can this be possible? - I ask to no one. This didn't make any sense, I was human. I couldn't imagine why this happened, but here I was, sitting and breathing with a pulse that feels like was about to cause me a headache –Great, my first biological ailment.- I groaned as I grabbed the sides of my head trying to regain my calm. As soon as my head got better I pushed myself up to my feet. Then I realized other things: I was dressed in what appeared to be black pants, a white shirt of light material like the pants. The pants were pleated on the front with a black simple belt to secure them at my waist which was fitted but not tight. The legs of the pants I notice were a little loose but not baggy. They looked like pants that I once saw in a musical were the human men danced and wore tuxedos (or was it francs?). I take my first step and feel something on my feet: there were shoes. They were simple, black and slip on. (Moccasins?).
After discovering that I was clothed, I began to search my pockets to see if I had something else that I had not seen. My only discovery was a pocket watch. It was golden and the mechanism was on display through a clear center.
If I trusted the watch then it was 12:30 pm…not that I could tell by the constant light in the…vast space. The place where I was looked like an infinite white void, I could push my sight and not see a thing as far as my eyes could distinguish. I decided that, either I will find something or starve, so I began to run in the direction in front of me. I had very little room to decide, so running was best idea by default.
I woke up feeling greatly disoriented, closing my eyes a little because the light hurt them, I suspected that I had been sleep or unconscious for a long time because of that. I slowly sit myself up and cross my legs, put my elbows in my knees and rub my eyes that were adjusting to the light. Then I notice where I was: it was a large white space. My first thought was that it reminded me of a large storage building padded white; the floor was as white as everything, giving the aspect of infinite continuity. I rise myself up and looked in every direction; there was no end to the whiteness that I saw so I decided to walk. I realize that I had 3 days, 4 tops before thirst got me so walking was as good an idea as I got.
As I began my walk I thought to myself what I could remember. I know that I went to sleep and… nothing more. It was weird; I could not recall what happened to get me here. Maybe I was kidnapped, but who could do that to me was completely outside of my realm of thought: who could possible need a school teacher? That is without mention the strange place where I was, which looked to be limitless.
It must have been an hour I discover to my shock. I did not have my pocket watch with me or my cell phone but the amount of steps that I took felt like an hour; that or I am very out of shape to get tired after less than an hour of intense walking. Then I saw it.
There was a figure coming close to me. At first I just stood there, looking straight ahead to see if I could distinguish something. Little by little the figure took shape. It was a woman; correct that, a huge woman. While at 1.84 meters I wasn't anything out of the ordinary, especially with my family (Papa Lalo was 1.97) I considered myself comfortably tall. This woman was huge. I would say that she was about Papa Lalo's height. She had very long legs, if I used 34 inseam in my pants and considered myself a little leggy, this woman must use 36 to 38 inseam. She was wearing black pants, white shirt. She was black. Her hair was very curly creating a little fluffy ball around her head. I remember a cousin that had hair like that which I called "pelos de alambre". I smiled little. I thought that at least I won't be alone so I greeted her as she arrived.
-Buenas tardes, como le va?- I told her in my most gentle tone possible…and nothing happened. I suspected that maybe she was tired; mostly because she was sweating and after she stopped she began to take long breaths while she checked out a golden pocket watch that she pulled out of her pocket while checking her pulse. So I tried again.
-Hola? - I tried this time. No luck.
-Señora? - still nothing.
-Señorita? Joven? Muchacha?... Muchita? - Maybe I exaggerated with the last one. Then it hit me… maybe she does not speak Spanish, so I prepared myself to talk in English when she said.
-Lo entiendo claramente.- She said with the most calm and pleasant tone that I ever heard.
After running straight without rest I finally saw something. There was a figure moving towards me. Suddenly the figure stopped and did not move anymore. I keep running and the closer I got the more clearly I realize that the figure was human: it was a man. He was wearing grey pants that looked of a very coarse material, black boots, a thick black belt with a belt buckle that looked old and tarnished, he had black hair combed to the back but it was slightly curly, his face was long and thin, with a light mustache. He was not as dark as me but he was brown skinned. He looked taller than Greg, judging by how I did not completely dwarf him like I did to every single person in Beach City. In a couple of minutes I was in front of him. The rush of energy that I had initially was gone and I realized that I was very tired. I pulled my watch to look at the time and saw that it was the 2 pm: I have been running for one and a half hours. I was sweating, my shirt drenched in my fluids and my pulse rated around 172 beats (for that is what I calculated using the clock second hand). That was the moment when I hear that the man was speaking to me. I accidentally had ignored him during my private check up.
I listen him speak, just to learn that due the fact that I was no longer a gem, I did not have anymore the proper universal translator. But I did not spend millenniums on earth without learning a thing or two about human languages, so I chose my word carefully and said this: "Lo entiendo claramente."
I was glad that she understood me, so I was prepared to talk when she follow up with:
-Sabe ingles? - She asked calmly.
-Yo…yes, yes I know how to speak English- The language was easy and in the "North" were I lived the language was considered eventual fate and second nature… that and my father put me thought long classes so I could speak the language properly. I asked her:
-Would you like me to keep talking in English?-
-Yes- she answered me… which was then followed by a long awkward pause because I did not know what to ask then.
-Who are you, what is your name…Mr.? - She tentatively asked.
-Oh, well I am Isidoro Mendoza Zubia, school teacher, and you are? - I said extending my hand towards her.
-Garnet- she said taking my hand and giving me a small smile.
-Garnet what? I mean your last names are? - I asked and something funny happened. She stopped smiling and after a couple of seconds she answered back.
-Hegel, Garnet Hegel- she said in the most serious tone.
-Hegel… your last name is Hegel? - I asked hand over my mouth so I could not show my internal debate. On one side, that could be a lie, after all she did not look German to me but in the other hand only a terrible liar could come out with such a strange, not to say bizarre combination of names… Garnet Hegel…really? - Well miss Garnet…what is going on? - I asked the one question that I needed answers the most. She looked at me, then to the vast and infinite whiteness that surrounded all and looking me in the eye finally answered.
-I am not sure, it could be said that you know as much as I do- she said half serious half…annoyed. It looked like this was a mid inconvenience for her.
-You don't look too bothered with this situation- I inquire.
-Let's walk; maybe we find something, food, shelter, water or someone else- she said commandingly. Maybe I pushed too far in my questions.
It must have been about 30 minutes when I ask to stop to rest a little. I began to understand Greg when he would get tired after a long run or said that he was starving. I could feel the huger. My stomach was beginning to make sounds begging for food. The rest more than anything was to calm my legs that were completely spent, my tights hurt from the effort, my feet were beginning to feel weird and my head was beginning to pound. I had never expected humans to be this fragile. I knew that humans could die if they fall off great heights, that a good placed punch from me means the end of one of them or that they needed of food to survive, but this was different all together.
I lay down in the floor resting acclimating my respiration and clearing my mind. Maybe concerting this with Sapphire and Ruby will be more productive. The calm engulfed me, there I was in the calm that was my mind, I stopped to listen the conversation that was Ruby and Sapphire… and waited for as long as my calm let me. I was alone; I could feel them inside me, part of me, but could not hear their voices anymore. The conversation was interrupted and there was only Garnet. I could feel the tears in my eyes, what if I had lost them forever, what if I never find my way back to Steven, Pearl or Amethyst. What if I lived my whole mortal existence trapped here, in a colorless and empty world. If something happened to my loved ones, to those that are my responsibility. I needed to get back to them.
I rise up to realize that Isidoro was watching me with concern in his eyes. He was sitting a meter from me and then I realized that he had lent me his jacket. Carefully I picked up the garb to give it back to him when I realized something: I stunk. The sweat had dried out and I could feel parts of my shirt stuck to my body. I needed a shower and new clothes or to be able to clean the ones that I had.
-Are you ok? You slept for a while and you were twisting and turning- he told me, looking at me after I gave his jacket back.
-Yes, I was just having a bad dream—that wasn't a lie completely.
-Well, if you feel rested we can walk a little or we can pass the night?—he said looking at the sky… or what passed for sky in this place. It was hard to tell what time was without checking my watch so I pulled it out. If when I meet him was at the 2 pm now it was 7 pm.
-You told me that I sleep for a while, its 7 pm now, that is a good 5 hour of sleep…why don't you wake me up sooner?—I asked baffled by why he did not attempt to wake me up
-You looked tired and to be honest I tried but you simply were unable to wake up—he said a little ashamed of himself.
-Well maybe it will be a good idea to rest for the…- then my stomach betrayed me and produced a clear sound that I heard…and was pretty sure that he heard too.
He looked at me and quickly turned his head from my sight…! He was laughing at me! One hand obviously covering his mouth, other grabbing his stomach bending to the front. This was one of the most humiliating moments of my entire existence.
-Stop that—I told him firmly and for the first time (baring some exceptions) I raise my voice obviously angry and annoyed.
-Ya,ya hombre, no te encalabrines que…I mean, calm down girl, I'm also very hungry, but the timing of your stomach was really funny, I mean, you so proper and serious with a stomach that roars for food—he said while using his hand like he was calming a kid or a dog!
-Still no reason to mock me—still hurt from my dignity being betrayed by a simple biological involuntary phenomenon.
-Well miss Garnet…you are miss or a missus?—he asked curious and trying to change the subject. I reasoned the question, on one hand Sapphire and Ruby were a relationship, for which I am the representation, but in the other hand they were no longer present. I was Garnet. No future vision, no conversation, no gem. Just Garnet the human.
-Miss, and that is enough.—I said.
-Well, I even find weird to call you by your name, maybe… I will think about what I will call you, is just weird from where I come from to call someone by their name, I don't even get called by my name that often.—he said with sincerity
-What they call you?—I asked curious. Which place will be considered weird to call someone by their name?
-Different things, for example my name is Isidoro, so a lot of people in the block where I live call me Chilolo as a term of endearment or pet name. My students call me Teacher Mendoza or the same but with Zubia; my mother always told me Mijo only reverting to my name, not even my full name, when she was angry at me (which meant that I was as good as dead). Some of my childhood friends still call me Lalo. And there is the business with my second name..—
-Wait, you never told me that you had a second name.—I said a little bothered by the fact.
-Well at the time I was a little intimidated by the situation and by you.—he answered.
- Why me?—Why he would be intimidated by me if I have been trying to be as calm as I can.
-You are a huge woman, not even a skinny one, you look like could be a great boxer.—he said with a voice trying to make that a compliment. I take it.
-Well I am massive compared to a lot of people…How tall are you?—I said suddenly getting a new piece of information about me.
-About 1.84 meters.—he said.
-Could you stand a little I want to see something—He then stood up and waited to me to get up. I walked to him and then I realized. I was smaller. I was between 12 to 15 cm bigger than him but not close to the dimensions that I reached when I was a gem. Well at this point that is not that bad.
After that he offered his jacket to roll so it could be a pillow for me. I tried to desist but he insisted, saying that it will be improper to let a woman sleep in those conditions otherwise. I accepted so we will not discuss it more. He for his part took off his shirt and stayed in his white undershirt, using his shirt as a pillow… considerably less fluffy than mine but it was better than being in the floor.
I just looked up, thinking what could possibly have happened to us: maybe we were kidnapped, this room looked more and more like the ones that Pearl and Amethyst use in the temple. But unlike that place we had no control. I tried to think of something to appear but nothing, the place remained unchanged, unmoved and completely devoid of anything that could help us. I sigh, and turned my head to where Isidoro was sleeping. He was already deep sleep and look at peace. He had not lost anything yet and I hope that it will stay like this for a long time. Tomorrow we continue with this walk and maybe get some food, we have been here one day and my body keep telling me that we are running out of time.
Slow at the beginning, but bit by bit, I enter again the realm of the living…so to speak. Again rubbing my eyes and letting them adjust to the natural light of the "space" were we reside at the moment. Pulling up to a sitting position I survey every direction: nothing had changed, the place was still a vast and limitless place of nothingness. Sighing, I stood up and looked where Isidoro was sleeping. He was still deep asleep with his head turned to the left side, one hand over his stomach and the other resting to his side. I walked toward him and kneel and with my left hand pushed him by the shoulder to wake him up. He then began to stir but refused to wake up. I tried again and he turned himself contrary to me and he said in annoyed voice:
-No frieguen que es sabado—and refused to turn around trying to go back to sleep. I was completely shock… first by the expression... What did that mean "Friegues"? The tone said that probably it wasn't a good thing to say but nonetheless I persisted. Finally he violently sat up and said nearly screaming:
-Como joden hombre, que no ven que…- he stopped and looked to me then to the place and finally to me—So it was not a dream—he finally conceded, looking at me in the eye for some sort of falsehood that he could not see.
-Yes, all is real—I told him, even thought I shared the same feeling of hope that this maybe was a weird dream, a momentary loss of control during meditation by a over distracted Ruby… but it was real, we were trapped in the nothing.
After that he pushed himself up and after a slow chat about the plans for today, we decided to keep walking… if nothing could come out of this last effort we will wait, it was our second day so simply walking give us a little advantage: we will spend less energy and in the process, avoid for the moment the expenditure of our energy so we don't starve so soon.
I was beginning to feel the effects of the lack of water and food; my head was hurting, and my stomach was constantly demanding some kind of food and my mouth feel dry… I must have lost a big deal of my body water in that single run yesterday and looking at my clock I realized that it was about 2 pm. I turned and told Isidoro that we should rest a little. He agreed and he promptly sat in the ground and crossed his legs under him. I followed suit and then both were sat there, looking at the ground thinking about this predicament. He was the first to speak:
-So girl, what do you supposed that happened to us?—he asked looking straight to me and moving his hand. That was curious was as he asked the question he put his palm up in direction to me, then as he was saying his inquiry he rotated his hand from the wrist and at the end he suddenly stopped the motion. After a lot of carefully thought I said what was my hypothesis at the time.
-We are trapped in a limitless empty space, there is ground but no sight of the sky, the light comes from every site but from no place at the same time, there is air but no breeze or ventilations shafts. Apart from the clock I cannot tell the time but by the time I said, we have about 1 to 2 days tops before we starve.—I told him in all seriously.
-Don't worry, we will probably die of thirst first.—he said with a light laugh…which died out because he was waiting for mine I suppose.
-Probably you are right about thirst.—I answered back. I think that he tried to lighten the mood but I did not get why… was he not afraid to die? He then asked me something that I had not expected.
-Do you have family or friends? I mean, is there someone who will miss you and maybe try to get you back?—he asked.
I had already contemplated this option. If Steven, Pearl or Amethyst notice my absence, they probably could chalk it up to some private mission that I undertaking… which is bad news to me because there have been periods of absence of more than a week. By the time that they notice something is wrong I will be long dead. The sole thought unnerved me greatly; Steven needs me, and Pearl and Amethyst need my leadership. My family needs me.
-I have some ones to come back to—I finally said after taking time to thinking of my answer—but they are used to me being on "long trips".—it was not a lie.
-Who are they, your family?—he asked.
-That can be said.—I answered with a smile… yes, actually they were my family as far as I was concerned.
-Then you need to go back, if there is something that I can do to help I will do it, don't worry girl.—he said immediately.
-Thank you.—I said and then venture to ask him—Why you call me girl?—I asked more than curious, I mean, he explained to me that in his country it's weird to be call by your given name, but I found really intriguing to be called a girl.
-Well… you look very young… I mean how old are you?—Then he suddenly said—Sorry for that it was out of line.—That was interesting, so asking me my age was too much for him?
-I am… 33 years old.—I said, maybe with a couple of zeros more it will be less inaccurate.—How old do I look?—I asked curious because I could not see how my human me looked like.
-That is more or less the age that I thought. Maybe late 20s.—he said moving his hand again like he tried to shush a dog.—But tell me, these people have names?—he asked obviously trying to change the subject.
-Steven, Pearl and Amethyst.—I answer back.
-So you have a boyfriend.—he said understanding, but very wrong.
-No Steven is the child of Rose that has lived with Pearl and Amethyst and I since a long time ago.—I said to him.
-Who is Rose?—he asked, his curiosity and interest perked out.—She is the mother of Steven?—he asked crossing his arms and leaning towards me staring me.
-Yes she is Steven's mother, but she is not with us… not since Steven was born.—I told him feeling a little sad for the memory.
-I am sorry to hear that, dying at birth and never seen her baby must be horrible… but the father? Did he just make the kid and go?—The last bit said with what I could see that was a bit of anger.
- No he… we had an agreement of sorts, there were things that we… considered he could not teach him that we and only we could.—This was getting too uncomfortable to me and I was about to cut the conversation short when he asked.
-I think I understand, he was from different class to her and you think that he could not properly take care of him.—he said.
-Yes, that is pretty close.—it certainly was a way to see the peculiar situation that Steven was part of. I internally sigh for he gives me an out of this awkward talk.
-So you and Perla and Amethyst are the mothers of Steven?—he then asked and said.
-Rose was the mother, we only take care of him and raised him to this day.—I corrected him.
-That sounds like you are a mom girl.—he said smiling.
-Steven is not my kid…-I begin to say but he interrupted me.
- You take care of him, you make him the kid that he is today, that sounds like the kind of things a mother does, just because Rose gave birth to him does not make her the mother of Steven at least to me.—he said raising his hands, palms in my direction like he was trying to placate me.—I can prove it that you are Steven's mom. Do you love this kid?—he asked with the most serious of voices that he could muster.
That question was easy but answering it will give him the reason. So the problem was, to put him in the right and admit the obvious or… deny it and, to my eyes, insult Rose's memory by taking the title of mother from her. Before I could answer he said.
-The one who is silent concedes and you Garnet are Steven's mommy.—he told me with finality in his voice. That was annoying. It must have shown because he said quickly.—Don't be bothered by that, I am sure that Rose will be grateful to had someone that took care of her child, and to be honest you got a certain maternal air to you.—he told me… which I think was meant to be compliment.
-Thank you I guess.—I said, not sure if I deserved the title—But still…- then something happened.
To the right of where we were sitting we saw something rising from the ground. Like the ground was growing a protuberance, as white as everything. Slowly the form took a cubic shape… it was a computer. I turned to see Isidoro to see if he was seen the same thing as I did. He stared to the transformation that took place and slowly he turned his head towards me, and with the most baffled expression he muted with his lips what I think must have sounded like: "Cabron jijo de puta, viste eso?".
There was no doubt. There was a computer in front of us. It was as white as the rest of our surroundings and looked fused with the floor… or part of it, there was not clear union where it began and where it finished. The monitor was around my chest area and there was a keyboard equally fused to the sole monolithic computer in front of us. I did not look at Isidoro but I could hear when he began to move to get up. I too begin to rise and finally both were standing in front of the computer. I feel a touch in my right shoulder and I turned my head to see what Isidoro wanted.
-What do you think?—he asked me with his hands resting in his hips head looking up to my eyes, moving his head in direction of the computer that was in front of us.
-It's a computer.—I said, in all honestly there was not more to it… unless it was a question about why there was a computer in the middle of the nothing.
-Yes but why would a computer just burst out of the ground I mean…- Then the monitor began to make a sound… it was beginning to turn on. In the monitor flashed a image of a turtle (or tortoise?) And there was… a big set of gothic letters that said "hello".
Isidoro looking at the computer, then to me then to the computer, slowly beginning to walk to the computer and finally said after a short pause.
-Maybe we should answered back.—he suggested.
-I'll write.—I offered.
Thinking about what I could ask to the computer in our situation I formulated a long series of inquires to the machine. Where are we? What or who are you? Why are we here? And how can we get out? I hope that those questions will have a good answered because it became painful to wait. Nearly 2 days without food or water, sleeping on the ground and with little to no rest was getting unbearable, not to mention the genuine dread that maybe we were going to die in this place.
After 5 minutes the computer answered in a large text that read as it follows:
"You are in a pocket dimension, separated from every other one, the air that you breathe is the first air to exist in this dimension, and the light is the first light that this place has ever seen. This pocked dimension was created by me who could be called Mr. X to avoid future attempts at revenge from either of you, it is not the first time that something like this happened and probably will be better if you don't not completely know who I am, which leave us to the second question. I am to you, Garnet (yes I know who you are) what can be called a reality warping being (no not that one) and your friend Isidoro will considered me very close to a God. As for why you are here and how you can get out… well let's say that you are the result of a bet of which the contents are not of your interest. You for that matter don't worry; you will be well taken care of. You just need to write what you want in this computer and it will appear where you are: food, drinks, furniture, luxuries…everything that you could imagine is at the grasp of your hands. You just have to stay here and you will be fine. Obviously you don't ask the computer for a way out, or for something that I deemed damaging to the experiment. Nobody gets here and nobody gets out and as a proof of my good will, here is your food… I know that you are very hungry dear. Don't worry you won't be missed.
Mr.X
-Look over there—said Isidoro tapping my left shoulder. I turned and saw what he meant. In the left of us was a big bowl filled with meat. The bowl appeared metallic with a silver color and I had little doubt that maybe it was silver. All of this was on top of a wooden table with two comfy looking chairs also of wood. Then a pitcher appeared with two cups.
-Ribs, cuts and…- He stopped to pour the content of the pitcher in the cup—looks like grape juice—he drank it—It's cold and fresh grape juice… girl come here and drink.—He ushered me to come closer to the table with his left arm while with his right he poured the other glass full of juice. As soon as the cup was full he passed it to me. I looked at the cup and then I looked at him and drank. No wonder every person in commercials act like they touched the glory when they drink their products in the ads that passed between Steven's shows. The drink was received by my mouth with such joy that I moaned a little… totally involuntarily. I could feel the coolness fall from my throat to my stomach… and nothing else. I understood then that humans don't necessary feel the rest of the biological process that their food has when it enters their body like gems do when we consumed food or drinks. So we sit and began to eat. I taste every piece of the food. Isidoro was eating completely happily.. . He must have been as hungry as I was. After maybe half an hour we finished. I could barely move. I laid back my head and touched my stomach that was a little bit bigger than before. After 2 days without food or water it was great to finally have some food.
-What do you think is the experiment girl?—Isidoro asked while he drank his juice without stopping to look at me.
-I think is a social one…maybe…no, probably just a social one… were you looking to the note?—I answered him. An idea crossed my mind but I quickly dismissed it. The experiment could not be that.
-Well the computer comes to your chest area, so it was still in my line of sight.—he said shrugging his shoulders—But it bugs me, how long will we be here?—he asked.
-I am not sure.—I said with completely sincerity. Not having future vision, not being able to communicate with both Sapphire and Ruby but feeling them without hearing the conversation. I don't know how long we were going to manage to last here.
- Well I think that we need some basic stuff.—he commented as an aside after staring me while I was in my mind.
-Like what?—I asked. I knew that we needed things but I wonder what he considered vital right now.
- A shower will be nice, two beds, a couch will be good… and a toilet, after this food we will need it,—he said. And then he rose up and walked to the computer and began to write… but before that he sucked his fingers to clean them up. After that he typed and a couple of seconds latter the new furniture appeared. There were two beds and a couch which was curious. It was long, brown and had 2 big pillows on the side, the sitting place looked to be made of 2 long flat pillows well stuffed. I looked at him and asked.
-Why are the beds new but this couch is not?—I asked sitting and then lying in the couch. After sleeping in the floor, this was incredible.
-Because this is my couch,—he said patting the back of the couch—Now move a little or bend your knees, crane, because I want to sit—and he moved to the left side of the couch. I moved myself a little to the right side of the couch and there. I was with my head resting on the arm pad which was low, knees bent a little forming an angle of 45 degrees, he was in the far left, head resting in his left hand and elbow on the arm pad. I was so comfortable but it was not to be.
-I need to shower.—I said after a couple of minutes. I rise up and walk to the computer to ask for a set of pajamas. I decided to make them red so it will resemble my skin before this happened. A little bit of shampoo and soap. After I gather the necessary items I walked to the shower and realized: the shower had no shade.
-Isidoro.—I said in a flat tone.
-Humm—he grumbled from the couch… on which he was now laying.
-The shower needs a shade.—I told him pointing out the problem.
He slowly rose up to a sitting position looking at me and the shower. Then he said in a casual tone—Yes you are right it does not have one.—he told me while smiling to me. He kneels on the couch with his elbows supported in the back the couch, hands closed and head rested in his fists.
-Would you please go to the computer and ask for one.—I said. Gems really never use clothes but I understood that humans were not ok with nudity.
He looked at the computer that was at best 3 meters from the couch—Really, but I was so comfortable here.—he said at the same time that he collapsed his head and shoulders in the back of the sofa.
-I understand, you are tired.—I said and began to take my first step to the computer when he suddenly stood up.
-Perate, perate… I was joking girl, you should be less serious.—he said walking to the computer and beginning to type. The shade appeared and I enter the shower. As I began to undress I began to wonder what I looked like. I looked my arm now without my shirt. My arm was long but my forearm muscles were noticeable, as was my muscles on my upper arm. I looked my legs and they looked the same color as my hands and arms: dark skinned. The muscles of my thighs were big but my legs were nowhere near as thick as they were when I was a gem and my waist was thicker. There were other changes but I realized that I probably stood naked too long without turning on the water and that Isidoro took notice.
-Are you alright?—he shouted.
Yes I am fine, I just trying to figure out which one was the cold and which one was the hot water,—I lied… it was a lot better than saying that I was revising my new body.
-The hot usually is the right side, stand far from the water I don't want you to get burned,—he said.
-Okay.—I told him but I take his advice. While Ruby and Garnet could withstand hundreds of degrees, I was human and too warm water could burn me badly. My first shower went without problems except a little shampoo to the eyes which while painful was not really bad. After me, Isidoro took a shower, changing from his grey pants and shirt to a black shorts and a simple white undershirt, along with white socks.
As we were getting ready to sleep I wondered aloud—Do you think that he could simulated night and day for us?- I ask to him signaling the perpetual white light ever present.
-I do not know but let me see,—he spoke while walking to the computer and typing… a couple of seconds later there was darkness only broken by a light blue-gray light, enough to navigate through our new furniture.
-Good night girl.—he told to me while he got comfortable in the bed.
-Good night to you Isidoro.—I told him now finally feeling tired for the first time. But before I was sleeping I wondered: "You won't be missed." What did that phrase mean? The thought unnerved me by the implications before drifted to the dream realm.
A/N:
"Friegues" means more or less "to bother" but said in a very rude way... think like he was saying "Don't be so fucking annoying, it is Saturday."
"Cabron hijo de puta" He pronounced it with a thick north Mexican accent so he said the word hijo (son) like jijo, and the word puta (whore or bitch) was pronounced fast. This expression is similar to saying "son of a bitch" or "son of a whore." It is a very serious and impolite expression in México.
Culturally Garnet is wasting her time trying to fight the notion that she is not the mother of Steven in the eyes of Isidoro. He will forever see her as his mother and nothing will change that.
If you ask if Isidoro is not afraid to die... well he is, but only in the self preservation sense. Culturally in México you learn from childhood to accept that you will die. In fact he is less concern now that he could die than he is if Garnet does not make it. To him she has the more to return to (she has a kid).
In México is considered odd or weird to call someone by their given name. It sounds rude and not personal enough. Pet names are regular so his grandfather name was not Lalo but Isidoro. Calling your grandfather with the "Papá" plus his pet name is common. It means "father" + pet name because in that way you are saying that he is superior to your father in authority.
"Muchita" is a contraction, and slang spoken in North México. It roughly means "little young girl". "Muchacha" means "young girl" or "lady".
When he says North, he means mostly the North parts of México; yes the guy is Mexican.
He is not young, next chapter they will discuss more of that. Proof of that is that he decided to walk not to run.
Garnet is in good shape...but not marathon shape, she ran around 15 to 20 km, for 1.5 hours that is very decent shape but not olympic level one.
Isidoro was playing with Garnet. To him Garnet comes across way too serious. So he will constantly try to make her confused or get her a little angry intentionally.
Don't read to much of the turtle / tortoise. I simply like turtles.
"Perate" is shortening of the Spanish word "Esperate" which means "wait".
I still don't know how tall I will make Garnet. Gem wise she is I calculate about 200 cm (78 inches or 6.5 feet). Human Garnet is tall but I think in the lines of basketball tall. So what do you think... 194 or the full 200 cm?
She is built like a volleyball player, she still has wide hips and a slim waist... but not in gem proportions. She still has very long legs. If she sat on the ground with knees hugged by her arms, her knees will touch her chin without problem or effort.