femslash february 2022 prompt 21: black.
Rock Paper Scissors
Pearl squinted at the outfit Marie offered to her. The sequins caught her eye and immediately caused her nose to wrinkle. They glittered almost garishly under the fluorescent lights of Marie's expansive linen closet. Up close, a faint musky scent wafted from the tight fabric, which prompted Marie to remark that they needed to be washed.
"But hey, it should fit you," she added, smoothing down her old dress. "And if I keep looking around, I'm sure I'll find a spare hat and pair of leggings."
Pearl hesitated. When their record label suggested a collaboration between them, they had also mentioned matching costumes would entice the kids of Inkopolis. Fashion sold products, including music tracks. Although they were both artists that had earned the respect of inklings and octolings far and wide, Marie had pounced on the idea with an unusual amount of fascination, leading to Pearl standing in her closet leering at Marie's old costume.
Slowly, she held up her hands, "C'mon, that doesn't suit me. It's way too shiny and looks like a dress for a doll."
Marie tilted her head. "You don't like the sequins? Kids love the sequins."
"Am I a kid at twenty-one?" She shook her head. "I'll pass. Listen, I'm still all for our get-ups matching, but I think we'll do better with some flare and freestylin' looks."
As Pearl spoke, Marie made a droning, unconvinced sound. It continued even after Pearl finished and only ceased when she loudly clicked her tongue. "Yeah but your MC Princess outfit is already outdated."
"What? No way!" Pearl crossed her arms, leaning forward only to get another whiff of Marie's outfit. She covered her nose, quickly stepping to the side. "You gotta get that washed."
Pearl folded the dress up and lazily flung it out into her bedroom. "As I was saying, the Squid Sisters look is back on the market. Just check social media, You'll see kids wearing the dress everywhere."
Pearl snatched her phone from her oversized pocket. Her thumbs hurriedly unlocked the passcode. Within seconds, she was searching through the trending tags on various social media sites. She squinted, her lips pursing in consternation, as she came across hundreds of fans donning the Squid Sisters original uniform, which she privately admitted was timeless.
Groaning, Pearl lowered her phone and met Marie's amused face. "Yeah, well, it's not gonna fit a collab, man. We have to be stylin'! Y'know!" She thrust her arms up and dangled her hands. "Stay fresh, Marie!"
"Oh, you did not use my catchphrase against me," she said, rolling her eyes.
As Pearl cackled, it was obvious they had come to a standstill. While there were still plenty of outfits for them to discuss, Marie had insisted on her dress while Pearl was willing to examine anything else. Various outfits and kimonos hung on the racks surrounding them, but their minds were focused on their visions, unable to come to an agreement.
But Marie suddenly snapped her fingers. She broke out in a toothy grin, one that immediately vexed Pearl. "Hey, I got an idea. Why don't we ro-sham-bo for it? Whoever wins gets their style shown for the music video." Her smirk stretched into her cheek. "And I know you hate backing down from a challenge. So, what do you say?"
Pearl hummed, the corners of her lips curving upward. She cracked her knuckles, grunting when one took a moment longer to snap. "See, I know you're playing me, and you're right."
She chuckled. "And your simplemindedness is just one reason of many why I like you."
"What can I say? No need to be complex when I say what I mean and mean what I do," she sneered, and she threw out her hand.
They made fists. On every count, they bobbed them up and down. Pearl took a deep breath on two, her mind racing with what to pick. Marie's cunning and mind games cut deep. At that notion, on three, Pearl clenched her hand even tighter and threw it in the middle.
Marie chose paper and covered Pearl's fist. She even wiggled her fingers on Pearl's knuckles. When Pearl raised her head, gawking, Marie continued smirking at her.
"Best two out of three," she spat, snatching her hand away.
Marie shrugged. "Done. Watch it be the same result."
Her words flicked a switch in Pearl's mind. She focused on the curve visible in Marie's palm when she held out her hand. For every count, she kept it the same. Pearl gnawed on the inside of her mouth, unsure if what Marie planned would happen, but gathering her courage, she thrust out two fingers on three.
She snipped through Pearl's paper and cheered. "Yes! Aw, yeah! Can't trick the Pearl-ster! Scissors cuts paper and round two is mine!"
"Huh. Reverse psychology usually works on Callie. Guess you're too smart for that tactic," Marie muttered as Pearl twisted her fingers around Marie's palm.
"Guess I'm a cut above theā¦" Pearl trailed off. She scratched her chin, searching for a way to finish her sentence only to sigh. "Well, finishing it with 'rest' doesn't really go with what I wanted to say about rocks and papers and whatever. Eh, screw it. Last round."
"I'll help you with your one-liners later," Marie promised, and Pearl stuck out her tongue.
They bobbed their hands to the beat. On one, Pearl switched to scissors. On two, she formed another fist. Marie seemed to have caught on to her game and continued swapping her options. On one, she also chose scissors. On two, she held out her hand flat. On three, their eyes narrowed. Pearl roared a mighty battle cry that bounced off the walls, Marie grimacing at the sound assaulting her ears.
Pearl thrust down her palm, making it as flat as paper, and Marie held out two fingers. "Snip," was all Marie said before pinching Pearl's hand between them.
Her mouth dropped. She couldn't believe her eyes. She hoped it was a mirage, but Marie teasingly slid her fingers across her palm until it fit in the space between her forefinger and middle finger.
Pearl lost. She dropped her head, groaning. Marie chuckled and cupped Pearl's cheek. As gently as she could, she lifted Pearl's despondent gaze back to her, wearing a lazy smile that brought out a deep sigh from within Pearl.
"Alright, alright. I'm not a sore loser. I'll wear your smelly dress but only if I accessorize the gloves with some chains," she said, then tugged at her oversized zipper. "The ladies love the bling."
Marie hummed. "Oh, right, your sleeveless gloves. It just screams middle school phase."
"You like 'em," Pearl huffed, leaning up on her tiptoes, and hearing Marie laugh, her face lighting up in delight, she decided that losing had been in her best interest after all.
