Work Text:
Type A, Type P
💚 💛 ❤️
Loving Pearl, who is self-sacrificing and humble and fierce all rolled into one tall, soft knight on the battlefield, is such an easy thing to do. This does not mean, however, that Scott always enjoys her insistent company all hours of the day. It’s like, “I need to breathe, I need to breeeeeathe…” Nah. It can wait. I can spend more time with Pearl.
“What are you doing?” he asks, standing with hands on hips as Pearl stretches out in prickled grass. “Are you going to roll?” It’s not like the hill’s entirely grass. Patches of dirt and weeds are mixed in there, along with flowers struggling for every scrap of light. There’s a spider in shadow down at the bottom. Plus, you know… It’s Minecraft. Does she think she lives somewhere else? Every drop she takes from block to block is at risk of dropping hearts.
“Fastest way down,” Pearl replies, like she thought he’d agree straightaway. Scott glances down at the hill’s base.
“Pond’s down there.”
“That’s all right.” Pearl lines herself up the way she wants to be, then leans into the force of gravity and lets it seize control. Scott tightens his lips, but says nothing in particular as she “Oof”s and grunts the whole way down the hill. Every hit jolts Pearl’s body, and one even flashes her form red. At the bottom, she tumbles straight into the pond with a yelp and a splash. Scott cups both hands around his mouth.
“I did warn you!”
Pearl’s a soggy ghost, a pathetic dog, when she paddles her way to shore and drags herself out again. Sea serpent. Sea siren! Probably a siren, yeah, since her next trick will surely be an attempt to lure him into following her need. She’s got grass all in her hair. She must be freezing. The rattle of the win chills Scott to his core even from way up here, and he’s all dry with a jacket on. He takes the steady route, walking briskly down to join her. At the pond’s edge, to make a point, he leans over until he can plant his hands on his knees.
“Did you have fun?”
“I did!” Pearl gathers her hair together and starts squeezing water down the tips. What once looked light brown and maybe speckled blond now hangs dark on her shoulder, nearly black in most places. It’s like the underside of a raven’s wing. “You should’ve tried it, mate. Still can. I’ll walk up with you.”
“Ah, no thanks. I’m walking this way.” So saying, he clicks a finger the direction he needs to go. “Byeeee! I’ll catch you back at home, but I have got to find Cleo right now.” Pearl’s supposed to be helping him. She’s really slowing this journey down, despite every attempt to speed up quick.
Pearl bursts into laughter, staggering to her feet. Her arms swing low and she’s still dripping wet. Before Scott can stop her, she drags him in with an arm around his shoulders and bears her knuckles in his skull. “Man, how do you even breathe without scheduling it on your calendar? Come on- Rolling down one hill’s not gonna kill you.”
“You’re mussing my hair,” Scott mumbles in her sleeve. “And you’re very gross and cold.”
Pearl withdraws, but only by a step. Like a puppy with a stick in its mouth, she tries to pat her feet and butt her head again. You can practically see the play bow, or the whuff of flared nostrils when she shakes her head. “We’re not gonna be late. Cleo doesn’t even know we’re coming! She might not even be home, silly.”
“I’ll get covered in grass! This is a diplomatic mission. We’re off to see the Fairy Queen… Lizzie will not be looking down on me today. She will treat me like an equal.” It’s entangled with the game, but you know- And Lizzie, of course, already killed them once; she doesn’t need to see them soppy and pathetic on their knees.
“Fairies like mud and flowers,” Pearl argues back, tossing her hair. Water droplets arc, splattering across Scott’s face, and he blinks in silent reproach. “Learn to live a little.”
As if he does not live every moment to its fullest! Scott swats Pearl’s hand aside with both of his, striding past her while escape’s allowed. “My mind is in a very good place right now, actually. I don’t need rolling down a silly hill to make me feel alive. Also, I’m wet now, so thank you so much for that. Thank you. I’m going to squeeze your cheeks and make you look me in the eye until you absorb all my pain. Yes, this is what I’ll do.”
Pearl whistles in disappointment. Nonetheless, she trots after Scott and folds her arms behind her neck. “I’ll take the L and leave it, mate… But on our way home, when there’s no Cleo or princess to show off to, you really should try a hill with me. You don’t gotta impress me, mate. I’ve seen you drool when you sleep.”
“How very reassuring. I shall add this to my to-do list.”
Pearl blurts laughter out again. She jogs forward, spins around, and throws her hands back towards him. “Oi! Don’t tell me fun goes on your calendar too!”
“Pearl, you know how I get… You know how I aaaaam.”
“Can we run, at least? If you’re worried we’ll be late, we may as well pick up speed.”
Scott considers for but a moment, running glossy words through his hands and teeth. He unpockets his hands. You’ve got to be ready to grab yourself any time you trip and fall; don’t ever turn off your whole brain. “Yeah, we can run.”
Pearl pumps the air, like Scott just praised her for hard work and told her she’d won a prize. She flips a cartwheel, and by the time Scott’s walking pace has caught with hers, she’s back on her feet again. She thumps her fist twice against her chest. “On my mark, then?”
“On mine, I think. You’ve gotta let me add it to my list.”
“Ah, you! … All right, then. On your mark.”