Pearl's New Friend Is Definitely Not Evil At All, Okay

[foolyoutwice]

It takes a fair amount of open space to cut down one flying ship in order to repair another. In the end, Pearl and Loki had set up shop in the grass outside the garage. His skiff--scorched, dented from bullets, gashed along one side, crooked-winged--sits next to a larger Asgardian craft, one built on similar lines but considerably more ornate. Even by Asgardian standards. The hull is covered with inlaid twining patterns that work themselves out into serpents and wolves and falcons.

It's splendid. Beautiful craftsmanship in the style of two thousand years ago. And Loki is gleefully marking off portions of it to chop up. With a flaming torch thing that he certainly hopes is adequate to the task. Pearl had thought it might be.

"Do you think we'll need to replace the entire wing? Or just the damaged section?"

Comments

[a_conversation]

"We all need those sometimes." Here Garnet smiles, though it may look more like she is baring her teeth.

[ownerless]

"Yes, we certainly do," Pearl agrees. Garnet's obvious wariness is starting to make her more visibly nervous.

[foolyoutwice]

Hm.

They're looking more uneasy than reassured. Pearl, in particular, is looking more uneasy--more uneasy, especially, now that Garnet is here. Which is somewhat interesting!

He shouldn't push those buttons, he really shouldn't, it's counterproductive, but-- "Well. I've had my share of learning experiences since coming here," he answers. "Meeting you Gems has been a revelation, for instance. Sparring with Pearl, trying out her spear..."

[a_conversation]

Garnet's head swivels in Pearl's direction.

Trying out her spear? But Garnet won't ask about that, not here. Not yet.

"How was the sparring?" This is directed at either of them, and it means multiple things: why did you let him do that, why is he so trustworthy, and also how did you manage to spar with Pearl and not get crushed, just how powerful are Asgardians anyway.

[ownerless]

...does it help that she regretted that as soon as it happened? No, that never does help.

"We were very well-matched!" Pearl cries. She's gone a bit shrill. It was fine! Everything is fine!

[foolyoutwice]

"It was an honor. And a pleasure." It really was, and Loki almost half regrets needling at an obvious insecure spot. He taps his fingers against the hull of the boat he means to cut down for scrap. "And do you fix up damaged craft as well?"

[a_conversation]

Garnet considers this. "No. Is that your hobby?"

Well-matched. With Pearl. That is...interesting.

[foolyoutwice]

He laughs. "I was wondering if I could ask you to help."

[ownerless]

"Oh, Garnet's not really..." Well, maybe she wants to! "--but you're welcome, of course!"

[a_conversation]

Garnet considers this. "I'm not an expert but I can lend a hand," she decides.

Mostly because, even though she hasn't invoked her future-vision yet, it is...nagging at her. As if it wants to be used. She won't use it while Loki is watching, but later...and in the meantime she can learn more about Loki.

"Is your friend also at Milliways, then?"

[foolyoutwice]

"The sections of hull will be heavy." And Garnet looks like she can manage heavy. As can Loki, but two to do the lifting makes things so much easier.

"My friend? Mm. Yes."

[ownerless]

"Garnet can certainly help with that!" Pearl supplies. "Who is your friend?"

[a_conversation]

"I can," Garnet echoes, and looks at Loki, awaiting his answer.

[foolyoutwice]

Loki looks back at Garnet. Quizzically. "He's a friend who values discretion," he answers. "Which I'm sure you can appreciate. I imagine you value it as well."

[a_conversation]

It's like that, is it. "Yes."

She looks at the skiff. "What needs to be done here?"

[ownerless]

"The primary damage is to the wing, as you can see!" There's still a tense edge to her bright tone. "The rest is largely superficial. But if we can borrow parts from this older model, it shouldn't be too difficult!"

[foolyoutwice]

Hey, does Garnet want Loki spreading their business around to people he's just met? Discretion.

He mentally shrugs off the reservation in Garnet's voice and the tension in Pearl's: they'll sort that out themselves. But ideally they'll help him fix up the skiff first.

Loki scrambles lightly back up onto the older ship and retrieves his torch. "So. I was going to cut here and here...."

Back to work, Pearl?

[a_conversation]

As they get back to work, Garnet discreetly takes the opportunity to invoke her future vision.

She sees--

Space. Palaces and rainbows, dazzling vistas and jeweled halls, and--

Betrayal. Stabbing, threats, murder. But--also reconciliation, peace, putting aside old grudges, winning back trust.

So many possible immediate futures, and in such sharp contradiction to each other.

Well.

She won't say anything right this second. She'll stay quiet and help. But when Loki's attention is elsewhere, she'll pull Pearl aside for a quiet word.

[ownerless]

"Oh--" Pearl lets herself willingly be pulled aside, but glances back at Loki. Then back to Garnet. "Yes?"

[a_conversation]

[ooc: sorry, DW did not email me this notification! I can pick right up here if that's good?]

"Loki may not be what you think he is. How well do you know him?"

Hey, maybe Pearl knows all about the backstory and motives implied in the future-vision flashes!

But probably not.

[ownerless]

Pearl looks instantly alarmed. "Well, not-- we don't-- we've sparred, but--" She leans in closer. "Have you seen something?"

[a_conversation]

"Yes," Garnet says, flatly. "Many things. He--he has a lot of betrayals behind him. And ahead of him. Or at least the possibility of them. And the possibility of attacking earth." Invading it, at least.

She doesn't--she truly doesn't--want to ruin a new friendship-of-sorts for Pearl, or judge someone unfairly. "Of course we all have dangerous possibilities, even if they don't all show up in my future-vision." Because for most people those possibilities are less immediate.

[ownerless]

Pearl's brow furrows as Garnet speaks.

But then she says, "Well... couldn't someone looking at our past say the same thing?"

[a_conversation]

"Yes." This is why she doesn't want to judge! "They could. But your likely futures don't include stabbing me, or bringing an invading army to Earth."

Garnet sighs. "I'm not trying to get you to stop being friends with him." Who knows, maybe Pearl will be a good influence! "Just be careful."

[ownerless]

--wait.

"You saw him stabbing you?!"