Pearl and Greg's moment was broken when she realized none of the other Gems were still trying to get his attention, even Amethyst had gone quiet Rose looked from one to the other, knowing grin on her face. Garnet remained stoic, arms crossed in front of her chest, head bowed but lips quirked in a slight smile. Amethyst sat on the ground between them looking confused, she looked about to ask something when a groan like leather being stretched dashed the silence for her. They all turned to the source of the noise, Greg holding one hand over his stomach, the other behind his head embarrassedly.
"Oh man I guess I still haven't eaten yet today." Fingers pressing into the flesh of his stomach through his shirt as if to muffle the next rumbling groan. Rose stepped forward to offer a suggestion, only to have Pearl offer.
"I could show you some place to eat in town." A new silence fell over the four of them, one that even Greg's stomach seemed to respect. "It just seems the most logical choice, Rose and Garnet's size and coloring would draw too much attention, and Amethyst is well. . .Amethyst." Amethyst beamed up at that, pressing one thumb to the gem on her chest."
"I'm a two foot menace" She exclaimed proudly before giving a snortling laugh. Garnet simply nodded in acquiescence, Rose let her hand fall back to her side, as she studied Pearl. It only took a moment for a smile to bloom back on her face.
"I think that's a wonderful idea Pearl, but if you're going to try to blend in you might as well take it one step further and dress in something a little less conspicious." Pearl scowled looking down at the outfit she'd chosen during her last reformation before looking back up at Rose.
"W. . .what's wrong with the way I'm dressed." That old secret shame welling up in her was cut short as Greg spoke up.
"I think you look out of this world." She was unfamiliar with the term but from the context and his tone she took it as a compliment and smiled over at him.
"Sort of the Problem." Garnet offered unable to hold back a chuckle that was echoed by Rose and Amethyst as Pearl strode over to Greg, coming to stand beside him as she turned to the others with a slightly upturned nose and gently scoffed.
"Well he's the human, he would know. Come on Mr. Universe I believe there is a new pizza restaurant not far from here. . .Well at least it was new a few years ago when I was in town last." She slid her Arm around his to guide him away from the temple, Greg returning Rose and Amethyst's wave as they turned the corner from the temple entrance. "Out of this world. . .was a compliment? Right?" It took Greg a moment to realize what she was asking about then laughed lightly and nodded his head.
"It just means you look really good, pretty." That brought them to a stop Pearl looking to the side as she let her arm slide from his.
"I don't think I recall anyone calling me pretty before. . ." She said talking more to herself "Rose has certainly called me courageous, clever of course, and graceful." She perked up for a moment, smile playing across her lips for an instant before it faltered again. "But I've heard her say those things to Garnet before as well." She shoulders slumped, and she sighed out heavily."
"Well I say you're pretty." AsGreg's hand came to rest on pearl's shoulder she turned and smiled demurely as she heard him speak. Tapping the hand on her shoulder she turned and began towards the fence again.
Thank you Mr Universe. . .Greg." He caught up with her a moment later, matching her pace until they came to the chain length fence that separated the Gem's side of the beach from the human's. "Do you need some help getting over?" When Greg shook his head she lept upward, twisting her body as she moved, her back becoming almost parallel to the ground as she swung over the fence, the momentum of her leap rotating her fully so she landed facing facing him through the spaces in the chain.
"Show off." Greg said with a laugh as he climbed over the fence once again. This time however a certain Gem's giggle at his teasing distracted him and he fell. He'd have fallen face first had a pair of slender arms not shot out to halt his descent. As she helped him find his feet he pushed some of the arant hair from his eyes he chuckled. "See no problem climbing over, just getting down." Pearl laughed again, hand covering her mouth.
"I haven't laughed this much in a long time." He grinned at that.
That's too bad, it's a nice laugh." She blushed, though she still didn't know the word for it.
"Come on the Pizza restaurant is this way." Taking hold of his arm once again Pearl lead Greg down the towards the boardwalk of beach city. Fliers for Greg's show the next day were dotting several of the telephone poles along the way.
"Looks like Marty is actually doing what he said he would, you're a good influence." Pearl made an unconvincing waving motion feigning humility in an even less convincing tone.
"No no I'm sure he would have done just fine on his own, I just gave him a little push." She dropped the bravado, turning to look at him as they walked. "If he's so unreliable why do you stick with him? The two of you don't seem to get along all that well."
"I don't know, it just seems like that's how it's always been, Marty is the first person to tell me I have talent, even the fact that he wants to take advantage of it is kind of validating." Greg shrugged staring down at his feet as they were bathed in faint glow emitting from inside "Fish Stew Pizza"
"I think I know what you mean." He smiled up at her, and she return the expression as he opened the door and they went inside, the small restaurant was completely empty, an older woman stood behind the counter and grinned at them as they walked in.
"Sit anywhere you like, I'll be right with you to take your order." Pearl and Greg took the table farthest from the door, Pearl insisting on taking the seat facing the way they'd come in. When he asked why she smiled secretly and said.
"Just something I picked up out west." Greg shrugged. The woman who had been behind the counter set two glasses down filling them with ice water from a pitcher, along with placing a basket of breadsticks . She was only a little shorter than Greg and Pearl, her hair had gone almost completely white, but you wouldn't guess her age from her sprightly demeanor.
"My name is Gunga." She said tapping the nametag pinned to her chest. "I will be your server tonight how can I help you." Greg looked around as he absently nibbled away on one of the breadsticks.
"Is it just you here tonight?" He asked looking back up at her as he popped the last of the bread into his mouth and reached for another. She beamed at that, smiling broadly she drew several pictures from the pocket in her apron and set them out on the table. In the pictures were two new born babies, one smiling, the other bawling her eyes out.
"My Son's wife just had twins, I'm watching the shop while the two of them get settled." Greg leaned over the pictures, making sure not to get any crumbs on them as he grinned."
"I've always thought babies look so. . .odd, cute, but odd." Gunga laughed as Pearl spoke and scooped the pictures up, gazing down fondly at them before setting them back in her pocket.
"That is definitely a good way to describe children. Now what can I get you to eat." Grep blew air between his lips and joked.
"Pfft typical grandma, all you wanna do is show baby picutres and feed people." Gunga laughed again and turned to Pearl.
"He is a funny one, you should hold onto him, I think he is a keeper." Pearl and Greg both blushed at that and Greg reached for his menu, hiding his face behind it.
"So what looks good to you Pearl?" He asked, composing himself before he lowered the Menu again. Pearl was no longer blushing, nor was she looking at her own menu.
"Oh me, I don't really enjoy eating all that much. . .
". . .That's why you're so skinny, you should have something, put some meat on those bones." Pearl turned to the younger woman, her own tone as playful as Greg's had been.
"No bones to put it on/" Gunga laughed at that as well. "Really though no food for me, but if you have tea of some kind?" Gunga listed what tea they had and Pearl answered. "Mint with a little honey would be wonderful." Gunga marked the order on her notepad, and by the time she turned to Greg to take his order he'd completely devoured the basket of breadsticks and was licking his fingers.
"Another order of these and a small meatlovers please." He asked imporingly as he held up the empty basket and Gunga nodded. Licking his lips he ran his hands together before looking back over at Pearl as Gunga went back into the kitchen. "So let's see, you don't eat, you're super strong, and fast, and graceful, and you live in a mysterious cave with two giant women and half feral child. You're either a super hero, Magic or an alien."
All three actually." Greg began to laugh but as Pearl sat there face devoid of any humor his laughter slowed and the realization dawned on him.
"Wow, that's heavy." Pearl nodded but didn't speak again letting him process the information. She tried to stay stoic but worry crept onto her face as she imagined him running for the door, or calling her insane as some humans had before. "That. . .is so cool, I bet you were like some big hero in interplanetary war, where you had to drive your own race off the planet." He began to laugh again but as Pearl's eyes widened in shock so did his. "Heavy-er" He ran a hand through his hair eyes darting around nervously.
"I uhm, I understand that's a lot to take in all at once." He nodded, Gunga returned to place the second basket of breadsticks in front of them as they sat in silence. Moments stretched, each of them turning from each other to stare down at the table cloth.
"Well I've never been on a date with a veteran before, let alone a magic alien veteran." Pearl couldn't help but chortle slightly at that and raised her eyes to his.
"A date? That's what humans call it when two people attracted to each other agree to spend time doing a predetermined activity together." Greg nodded but countered.
"The activity doesn't have to be predetermined it can be spontaneous too, but yeah that's what a date is." Pearl nodded accepting his definition
"So the two of us are on a "date" right now?' Pearl asked raising an eyebrow and Greg bit his lip nervously.
"I thought we were, I mean if I got the wrong idea I'm sorry I. . ." Pearl leaned over placing one and on his to quiet him.
"I think you're right." Greg grinned broadly as Gunga stepped up with Pearl's steaming tea and Greg's Pizza.
"Such a cute couple."
