A/N: Here comes the fluff...I am so, so sorry. I'm not a mushy writer. I don't have a lot of practice, especially because I lack a heart myself, but I tried my best. This will pick up soon, I'm sorry if you're out there falling asleep to my writing. But thank you for falling asleep to this! Please read and review! Let's be friends.

Pearl could keep her composure no longer, as hard as she tried. She was confident that whatever shotty rush repair job had been done to the ship was coming apart as they rattled through the atmosphere of Homeworld, working up to nearly warp-speed. She was posted in the cock-pit standing behind Rose Quartz, who had her back turned to her as she mumbled directions to her crew, apparently unaware of the fact that they ship was currently attempting to disintegrate into nothingness (Pearl was convinced — the Peridot's could roll their eyes all they wanted.)

"How are you doing back there, Pearl?" Rose Quartz turned, smiling. Pearl realized that she looked ridiculous, but she could not for the life of her think about letting go of the portion of the wall that she was clinging to. Pearl looked up and met Rose Quartz' kind smile with something closer to a grimace. Rose Quartz laughed quietly and excused herself from the crew, stepping backwards.

"I've been thinking about what you told me. About your history," she said. Pearl wracked her brain for something that she could have possibly said that would entertain her interest. "What did you do, before you were assigned to Pink Diamond?"

Here it was, the fork in the road. The deep, dark, like, or the truth. "That is a very long, very boring story."

"I don't think its that boring. I noticed something. Your gem placement. And the way you summoned your…weapon," she hesitated on the word, because they both knew that it was a prop, really. "Its identical to a different diamond than the one you serve now."

Pearl said nothing.

"Please answer." Her voice was firm. That was an order.

"I was transferred out of White Diamonds care as a…rare gesture of mercy. She found my service less than satisfactory, so she handed me down to her sister rather than shatter me."

"And why is that? Diamonds will shatter much higher ranking gems than you will without thought."

"White Diamond didn't — doesn't…believe in waste. Everything has a use. She's more a punisher than an…ender."

"And a transfer of service was what she saw as adequate punishment?"

"Oh, no. No, that wasn't the…that was after. Pink Diamond was just starting to come into power, but White Diamond…" Pearl stopped herself. "Forgive me, I don't think that I'm comfortable talking about this anymore. Discipline as you see fit."

She may as well have asked Rose Quartz to do battle with her. Her eyes went wide, her brow furrowed. "Pearl, I'm not going to punish you for not feeling comfortable discussing something like that. It's obviously sensitive information, and Diamond's have a way of…being places they aren't…" she cast a brief glance over her shoulder at the crew. All seven backs were to them but their conversation had dulled to a low murmur. "Lets take a walk and touch base with some of the other crews. You're due for a report."

"Yes, ma'am." Pearl followed Rose Quartz into the narrow hallway with corrugated metal sides, saying nothing else. Back on steady ground. Kind of. Just as the thought crossed her mild the ship lurched deeply to the port side, dumping her to the ground, but not before Rose Quartz caught the full force of her upper body from behind, stumbling so that they fell nearly on top of each other. Pearl rolled to the right immediately, avoiding bodily contact as soon as was possible.

The only contact she was allowed to make with other gems was when by her Diamond's direct command. Pink Diamond towered nearly six times greater than her height, so she often enjoyed lifting Pearl to her eye level when she commanded her to do something for entertainment, such as dance, or was it. She had no idea how Rose Quartz would react, so she turned her head and clamored to her feet in silence.

"Are you alright?" Rose Quartz asked. To Pearl's complete shock she reached over and dusted off Pearl's leg. Pearl stiffened instinctively. Rose Quartz's skin was surprisingly soft. Warm. An then it was gone, and she realized that she was being asked a question.

"Yes. My sincerest apologies."

"That's enough," Rose said suddenly.

This is it. One mistake too far…Let's have it then… Pearl mentally prepared herself for what must be coming. She was ashamed. In the matter of a day she had managed to make more critical errors than she had in probably the last few centuries.

"Pearl, from now on you are forbidden for apologizing. The remainder of this voyage. I won't hear it anymore."

Which was an order. Pearl was tempted to disobey. Obviously her apologies had so greatly displeased her temporary master. What else was there to say. "My performance has been dissatisfactory and I have no valid excuse. There will be no more errors."

"Okay, I'm banning that too!" Rose replied immediately. And now Pearl was thoroughly confused. "Pearl, you're…different. You're not part of some hive mind. You're an individual. You're out of your element. You're without real, proper instruction. A lot yourself some room for growth."

"I'm not built to be capable of errors. There isn't room for…"

"Flexibility. I know. But there is. You are a being. So be. Exist in this world, for yourself. Experience everything that there is to experience. You turn in your reports, and you run your numbers, and you do your job but just…keep an open mind, okay?" Rose had inched closer. Her eyes were wild looking, her curls falling around Pearl's face. Pearl inhaled the scent.

"I can do that," she breathed, unable to turn away.

"Good," Rose smiled, but did not retreat. "Go turn in your report. Give Pink Diamond my regards."

"Yes ma'am."