Kurtis valued routine. It meant tasks stayed organized, that appointments were not forgotten so easily, that chores got done. Plus, you never had to worry about your mind wandering off to stuff best left alone.
Unfortunately, routine also had a way of getting thrown off track easily. If someone wasn't where they were supposed to be at a certain time or if an unforeseen event like bad weather happened, even the most carefully laden plans could go awry.
That's why Kurtis also believed in backup plans.
Take this morning for example.
He woke up at the usual 6 a.m. to help out with breakfast, only to find Pearl at the table with tea in her hands, Uma at the stove as though nothing about this scene warranted question. The elder woman did not take long to notice her grandson in the doorway, let alone his confusion.
"Good morning, nuxwiti!" Uma greeted cheerily. Hearing the greeting, Pearl stiffened at the sight of the young man, eyes wide like those of a deer in headlights; Kurtis pretended not to notice. "Did you sleep well?"
Kurtis stretched his muscled arms with a faint grunt. "Nkëkhitunkòm. Tani hách Amber?" When Uma shrugged at the question, he blinked out of curiosity. Amber was usually down here with them at this time. "Nuxa?"
Playfully rolling her eyes, his grandmother gestured in the direction of the family greenhouse. "Your lazy father is probably strolling amongst the flowers again. As for Amber, it's best to let her be for now. She's probably meditating with Garnet after that session."
Session? Kurtis eyed Pearl out of his peripherals, the slim Gem pointedly avoiding his gaze in favor of her tea. Sighing, the young man took a seat opposite their guest and accepted the cup of decaf his grandmother offered him soon after. Whatever business the slim rock woman had here, Kurtis had no intentions of discerning it.
That is until Pearl suddenly stood up with a nervous smile. "Speaking of Garnet, I better get back with her! Thank you, ma'am, for having us here but it's best that we got back to the temple!"
Uma waved a blasé hand. "Oh come now. What's Earth time to someone who's functionally immortal?"
Okay, that was a pretty damn good argument. Pearl sucked her lips inward in verbal defeat and hesitantly sat back down, Uma taking that as permission to set a napkin next to her cup. The lithe Gem eyed the napkin with wary defiance, as though the cloth dared order her to remain seated.
Kurtis hid an amused half-smile behind his cup at the sight. Steven's rock-moms were a trip sometimes.
His grandmother batted no eye. "Now then, I'd best get the shop open! I'll call you if I need any help, alright?" She patted Kurt's hand as she walked past to the front of the shop. Without looking back, she waved over her shoulder goodbye. "You two enjoy yourselves."
Oh stars, Pearl thought with a grimace. This was not how she intended to spend her morning. Why didn't she choose to wait for Garnet at the temple instead? Better yet, she could have gone with her so they could find Amber together. Okay, so the small yellow Gem had always been closer friends with the fusion than with Pearl but still—
"I'm not gonna attack, ya know?"
The blunt statement took Pearl by surprise, and only took her a moment to realize it had come from Kurtis.
She rolled her eyes at the ludicrous statement. She didn't fear him; she just...feared interacting with him instead—and something in her gemstone told her that Kurtis suspected the same if his knowing look was any indication. She straightened her posture, not threatening but still dignified. "I'm well aware of that. It's just—"
"You want to know why I'm not."
Okay, did this young human have to finish her sentences like that? This conversation felt like talking with Garnet only more aggravating. With a petulant sigh, Pearl leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. "That would be preferable."
Kurtis took another sip of his coffee. "Dogs." Pearl arched an eyebrow that requested explanation. "My people have plenty of stories about them and why they deserve respect. One in particular is about this dog who wanted to warm himself near a fire, only a really stubborn girl kept pestering him to tell her a story. He did...by sharing an accurate prediction that she'd die three days later. A little grim but somehow it was Miss Rose's favorite story if I remember right."
"It was," Pearl affirmed with nostalgic eyes into her tea, ignoring how Kurtis sidestepped her question, "she even kept that tiny plush dog you gave her back then. I wanted to burn it after she told us about Steven." The look of curiosity Kurtis gave had not been what Pearl expected, but she managed a sad smile. "She'd already made her mind up about having a child with Greg by then, but...I think that story you shared was what gave her one last push."
No response. The distant chirping of morning birds compensated but to avail.
"I thought you looked upset when I saw you with Lydia."
Pearl's face pinched. Already the heated words she and the woman exchanged long ago echoed with a vengeance, the perplexed child the young man had been, watching from afar amidst a sandcastle, clear as well.
I never could stand how you humans put so much stock into unfounded concepts.
What's that supposed to mean?
A regretful sigh comprised Pearl's response. "You were so small back then. You couldn't have known." What right did she have to expect someone that age to understand? To recognize the impact of one small mistake? No, Pearl corrected, it was never a mistake. It had simply been Rose doing what she did best: reaching out to others.
All Kurtis did was reach back.
Just that your species is laughably dependable on things that never existed, let alone have proof that they do. Even with how far humans have come since they crawled out of their caves, your species is still inane enough to think that there are higher abstract forces that care about you.
Oh, like your species hasn't been doing the same for millennia?
...H-How do you—
The only difference is that we humans weren't as 'fortunate' enough to have one big oligarchy leading our whole planet. Nope, we had to learn that all on our own—and let me tell you, we are no closer to being perfect than when we started.
I implied no such thing!
"She really let you have it," Kurtis spoke.
"Well, I was the one who started it."
You didn't have to. The way you act does that for you.
Excuse me?!
Look, I couldn't care less what you think about humanity. My only stipulation is that you take it to somebody who gives two shits because all I care is making sure is that the kid I brought to this beach has a good time here.
"It was also my fault for not letting her leaving it at that."
What does everyone keep seeing in these tiny, fragile things?
In her mind's eye, Pearl could see Lydia turning to her, confused by her question and no doubt impatient that this crazy space lady refused to let this conversation end.
You, Greg, Amethyst...Rose...what's so worthwhile about something so powerless and insignificant? What supposedly beautiful, wonderful thing do you all keep seeing that I don't?!
Lady, whatever you're getting at, you might wanna talk this out with—
I'm getting at the fact that everyone sees it fit to throw everything they've worked for, everyone who loved them, just for some tiny creature that can't understand anything about what others gave up for it! Because I've been trying; I am trying and I still don't understand! What was so important about one child that Rose ended herself for it?!
Present-day Pearl groaned at the recalled theatrics of her past self, face in her hands as if to hide away from the mortification. So lost in herself, the lean Gem vaguely noticed the feel of a warm calloused hand on her back. For a half-second, she mistook the person for Lydia, awkwardly comforting her like she did on the beach long ago, but it was only Kurtis when she looked, the human's face unsure and patient.
Stars, Pearl wished Kurtis hadn't brought that memory up. Then again, perhaps that had been more of inevitability than mere possibility. With a precious someone they had in common now, the two of them would be foolish to assume they would not end up running into each other, which meant coming to terms with one another as well.
With a petulant sigh, Pearl took a nearby napkin to wipe away encroaching tears. "I'm sorry you heard all of that. It was grossly unbecoming of me."
Kurtis shook his head. "People in mourning get angry." That was one of the stages of grief, after all. "Me and Lydia were just at the wrong place at the wrong time."
As if that fact justifies my dragging either of you into my drama. Still, Pearl appreciated the lack of resentment. The last thing she wanted was making enemies with Amber's family. Speaking of Amber, Garnet had been gone on her search for the yellow Gem a while now. Where was she?
As if in sync with her thoughts, Marcus wheeled into the kitchen, the scent of potting soil fresh on him. That classic debonair smile appeared at the sight of the Crystal Gem in his kitchen. "Why Señorita Pearl, looks about ta be that time!"
Pearl and Kurtis looked at him perplexedly. "Papá," Kurtis slanted his head forward, brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Marcus mouthed a silent 'o' and snapped his fingers, realization lighting up in his eyes. "My bad! Forgot the context! Lemme start over: Señorita Pearl, in accordance with Lady Garnet's vision, she and Amber would love if you were to join them at this time." Wait, so they weren't here then? Just as Pearl opened her mouth to ask just that, Marcus seemed to read her mind instantly. "At Silver Lake just on the edge of Beach City to be more precise."
Pearl smiled gratefully and moved to leave before a realization stopped her: there were no Warp Pads near that area. At best, she'd have to hike a good number of miles, which would take her well into the late afternoon if she started this instant. And who knew where Lion was at this point.
I guess I'll just have to ask Greg for a ride. In which case, she smiled graciously at Marcus. "Thank you for telling me. I better not keep them waiting."
"I'll take you there."
Once again, Kurt and his bluntness took Pearl by surprise.
"Oh no, no!" The slim swordfighter held her hands up. "That's quite alright. I can always ask Greg for a ride."
"True dat," Marcus agreed though not without wagging a finger afterward, "but dear Gregory's on the other side of town while Kurt here's an inch or two away." He shrugged his shoulders, face in a nonchalant pout. "Just sayin'. You'll spare yourself a good deal of legwork."
Pearl could only roll her eyes. Ugh, these humans did not want to make this endeavor easy on her, did they? Actually, now that she thought about the offer, having Kurtis along may help when she saw Amber again—that is assuming the young man wanted to join in on that conversation at all.
Either way, Kurtis nodded at his father's suggestion before grabbing his jacket off the coat rack by the refrigerator and waving a hand to gesture Pearl to follow him, the Crystal Gem following suit.
A good ten minutes later, the pair arrived at Silver Lake in Kurtis' blue, slightly rusted pickup truck. Looking out the passenger-side window, Pearl could see Garnet and Amber sitting together on the off-white sandy shore, throwing rocks across the surface (of all activities but who was she to judge?). Pearl exited the car and crossed the green grass towards her friends. Out of her peripheral, she noticed Kurtis hanging back to lounge against the truck and check his phone.
Looks like I'm going in alone, after all.
Fortunately, when Amber and Garnet saw her they waved with smiles. Pearl took at as a good sign and returned the greeting just as she reached them, hands behind her back, eyes quickly noting the notebook and yellow-ladybug backpack between the two other Gems. "Amber? Are you feeling alright?"
Picking up the notebook, Amber wrote her response. Well enough, all things considered. Are YOU feeling alright?
"Also well enough, 'all things considered'." Pearl crossed her arms reproachfully. "It was rather rude to show us something that significant and just leave in the middle of it, you know." Despite the words, Pearl said them with a playful smirk. She wanted to make sure Amber bore no ill-will towards them for driving her to share that painful memory with them.
Scribble-scribble.
It's also rude to visit someone at 3 in the morning to tell them a best friend of theirs had been hiding another best friend behind their back, but at least you guys had the decency to knock first.
That response inspired a bright cyan blue out of Pearl. Alright seriously, did everyone in the Flores family have the innate ability to argue very well?
Garnet shrugged, holding back a smile at Pearl's expression. "Given the choice between that and never telling you at all, this was the lesser of the two rudes."
"Impoliteness aside," Pearl interjected before this conservation derailed too far into silliness, "I'm guessing you two had a lot to talk about."
"We did," the maroon fusion shifted her body around to face her teammate properly, "would you prefer all the details or just a summary?"
Smiling, Pearl took a seat on the ground before her friends, legs crossed. "I don't expect an epic honestly."
Garnet looked to Amber, who nodded, and returned her gaze to Pearl. "Once we came out of the Globe's simulation, I caught Amber in her dog form, just about to leave. She told me she was headed for the barn so she could ask Lapis to fly her here."
That would certainly explain how you two got here so quickly. In fact, now that Garnet mentioned the water-shifter, Pearl looked around herself but could not see Lapis anywhere. She must have gone back to the barn. Pretty fitting that Amber had sought her help to retreat here; the yellow Gem often chose large bodies of water like this during the war to meditate. However, Pearl also marveled that Lapis let Garnet accompany them; the water Gem must had at least shown resistance until Amber convinced her.
"I didn't want to leave you out of it, Pearl. " Garnet removed her glasses to give her friend an apologetic stare, "but considering whom that memory involved—"
Pearl shook her head, ignoring the pang in her stone. "I understand. That was a hard epiphany for both of us," she scratched her cheek and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I needed some time to digest everything anyway."
Amber rubbed her nape abashedly. We all did. Like I told Garnet, you guys didn't have to come after me.
"We didn't'," Garnet slanted her head to her much shorter friend, "I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel alone."
Whereas Pearl had been content to collect her thoughts over the incident between Rose and Amber, Garnet had not been able to shake off the frustration, the anxious energy brought about by her uncertainty. As much as she had been improving in communicating with the others, she remained a person of action. Hence why she chose Amber's wordless Steven-like companionship and asked to come along for the ride. She needed some peace of mind.
Speaking of peace, Amber put her hands together in a meditative position, almost as though she were praying for strength, before directing a soft apologetic gaze to Pearl. Since we're all making up here, I'm sorry Amethyst's so obsessed with Jasper. I only wanted her to know more about her heritage, not send her on a death wish.
Pearl shook her head. "To be honest, she was bound to learn more about this eventually. It's more on us that she's so upset about all this."
"She's going to be okay," Garnet asserted, "As long as she and Steven stick together, she'll pull through this. But Pearl," she looked up to her friend, "we can't afford to make our own go wayward anymore. We have to be more open with Amethyst about all this going forward. Steven, too."
Don't forget Peridot. The others looked at Amber confusedly. She knows literally nothing about her own species, let alone the history. Did you know that Homeworld leads the current generation to believe that the Diamonds were the ones to come up with the idea of the injectors?
Pearl could not help the incredulous snort that escaped her. "Of course not! That was clearly the work of a dedicated technician. Peridot Facet-1H6G Cut-3DA as a matter of fact." Just because the Diamonds were the leaders didn't mean they had to assume credit for every bit of progress. How full of oneself could a Gem get?
And you don't even want to know the garbage they used to cover up the Rebellion. Just another reason Peridot did right in dissing Yellow Diamond.
Garnet hummed in disappointment at that tidbit, hardly surprised.
A haughty huff emanated from Pearl, who crossed her arms. "Well at least we all have sense enough to admit when we've messed up," she blushed again at the knowing glances from her friends, "albeit with a bit of a push. Still, you're both right. Hiding all this just makes things more complicated than necessary, and after everything with Jasper, Peridot and that Ruby squad, we can't afford more schisms like this." A light tap to the knee brought Pearl's attention to a perplexed Amber.
What was that about a Ruby Squad?
Pearl shared a mien of surprise with Garnet. "Peridot and Lapis hadn't told you?"
Amber's eyes shifted side to side for a moment. So that story about you guys fending off a bunch of Rubies from Homeworld by playing baseball was true then? I thought Peridot was trying to be funny.
Oh...Garnet and Pearl shared yet another look before their silence dissolved into a fit of laughter. Honestly, neither of them could blame their smaller companion for assuming that. For someone who prioritized objectivity, Peridot had something of a penchant for tall tales. Still, that story was awfully humorous when one looked back on it.
In fact, Garnet was just about to comment on just that when something in Amber's backpack started ringing. The molehog reached in and produced the object to reveal her cell phone vibrating. Who could be calling her right at this hour?
Pressing the call button, she put the phone to her ear and managed a deeply garbled 'hello'. Lapis' voice emitted from the device almost immediately. "Um, Amber? Could you come over to the barn? We have a slight problem." The bored annoyance in her voice could not be more apparent. "Also, Peridot says to bring the others with you."
Positioning the phone against her shoulder so her hands were free and screeching to keep Lapis from hanging up yet, Amber hastened to write in her notebook, making sure to groan out 'again' to insure she got the other Gem's words right. Once she and Lapis hung up, she presented the 'play-by-play' to the others.
Garnet sighed, one hand on her hip, while Pearl facepalmed in annoyance.
You're gonna need another baseball game.