[Bixir] Pearl

General Information
Name
Pearl

Race
Gem (Pearl)

Gender
Genderless (Female Pronouns)

Role
Guardian (Beach City)

Origin World
Humanity's Haven (Steven Universe, 2013)

Age
Over six thousand years

History
“Well, it was a long, long time ago. I was Rose’s personal servant. It was such an honor at the time, but… other Gems didn't see it that way, Steven. Homeworld is… different from Earth. And not in good ways. Rose believed all life was worth protecting. And the Diamonds… well, they wanted to oppress them. Humanity's Haven, your world, Steven, was in their crosshairs. But your mother and I weren't going to let that happen! We’d let it come to war if it had to!

"And, it did. The war was terrible. But, the Rebellion, what Rose was fighting for, was noble! Oh, it was so noble… She was perfect, Steven. How she led on the battlefield, how she inspired others to follow her example, the heart that she had for everything that she fought for!

“...for me…

“Your world took some getting used to, but Rose made it feel like home. She saw so much beauty in it. I couldn't quite say the same at the time, but your mother was so gifted with helping others see the world the way she did. It was early during our stay at Beach City, opposing Pink Diamond’s forces, that we found… well, we found Garnet! I am sure she will want to tell you that story herself. It is very sweet. It was not long after that we met Amethyst at...

“Now, I'm sure you're wondering about how Rose met Greg. That’s… for another time. I am sure that he will want to tell you himself. How he was so captivated by Rose - I mean, who wouldn't be? - how it was so much more than a phase, how… It is not my place.

“I can give Homeworld one thing; they are persistent. We did what we could, of course, but there were so few Crystal Gems left by now. After Rose lost her sword, she was… different. She began to see things differently, and all of us could feel it. It was like she was starting to… to say goodbye without actually saying it.

“I can’t really describe what happened next. I don't think anyone can. A Gem hybrid of… of any kind, really, had never happened. No one thought it was possible, but Rose believed. This was what she wanted. She wanted you, Steven. How could I say no to that? Everything changed after that; for all of us.

“You were certainly a handful growing up! Garnet, Amethyst and I hardly knew what to do with you! We were so busy fighting off Homeworld, but Greg did his best to raise you. Human customs still elude me, but I am… thankful that he was there for you when we couldn't be. I owe him that much.

“We’ve had plenty adventures of our own, haven’t we? The idol, Rose’s Garden, even that- You've learned so much, Steven, and I am sure that you will learn so much more. I… I don't know what comes next, but after what happened with that Gem in the mirror…

“I’m sorry, Rose. I hope you can forgive me.”



Appearance

Image





Physical Appearance
True to her name, Pearl is a low-rank Gem, notably radiant in its luster and smooth to the touch, though ultimately negligible in its durability and sheen compared to most other Gems.

Clothing/Armor
Like all Gems, Pearl’s “physical” form is actually a projection of hard light energy from her Gem, which rests on the forehead of her “body”. Pearl’s form is incredibly elegant, the most composed of the Crystal Gems, though also the most dainty. Her body is a pale color, much like her Gem. It is as much dancer as it is sword-fighter, nimble and graceful as the wind itself. Pearl’s “hair” is sharp, styled directly behind her head in a precise arrangement. Her eyes are a gleaming turquoise, almost as pristine as the gem in her forehead. Her nose is sharp and pointy, and perhaps her most distinctive feature (aside from being a Gem). She is not a bird.

The clothing on Pearl's projected form can vary widely. Her most common outfit is a form-fitting dress with athletic shorts, stockings and ballet shoes, with a snug jacket over the upper half of her torso. It strikes a fashion statement while remaining true to Pearl's practical needs. Remarkably ideal. Pearl has grown exceptionally fond of Earth's fashions, and occasionally ventures out to New York City and San Fransokyo to sample the latest trends.

Some of Pearl's other outfits are not so much clothing as they are armor. Pearl's old regalia from her time on Homeworld is reminiscent of feudal knights, though she is nonetheless quite nimble in it all the same, practically unhindered as she moves about. Faded stars can be seen on the pauldrons of the armor. Rose’s symbol, a vibrant pink bloom centered within a pale-moon heart, is seen visibly on the breastplate. Another form Pearl takes upon herslef is an elaborate spacefaring uniform for when she operates machinery, such as Gummi Ships or mecha.

Weapon(s)
Pearl’s Gem weapon comes in two forms: the first is a saber, primarily used in training exercises, or when it is more sensible over her usual tactics. The more common weapon is a long, elegant spear, an extension of Pearl’s grace and discipline.

Misc.
She's not a bird you guys.



Personality





General Personality
Pearl is a sage. For as long as Pearl has existed, she has provided counsel, often when it was never asked for. She is driven by a compulsive need to be useful to others, least of all Rose Quartz, and now, Steven. Pearl has the wisdom and experience of thousands of years, and she is eager to share it with others, welcome or otherwise. That she has come this far invites an ego, though it is not something that Pearl shies away from. She is quick to embrace her former station under Rose Quartz, and quick to remind others of her worth through it. If there is an opportunity to teach or to advise, she will likely take it upon herself to do so. With intrepid mindas like Steven, this happens... often.

Pearl is a warrior. In spite of being a class of Gem that was least suited for combat, Pearl has taken strides to maintain her presence on the battlefield as a respectable combatant. Her swordplay is just as integral to her nature as her dancing, the two intertwined with her identity as a protector and guide to the innocent. She is a fierce mother hen for those in her care, and she will not hesitate to push back against anyone she sees as a threat. Including Onion. Especially Onion.

Pearl is a mother. Out of all the Crystal Gems, Pearl most closely resembles the maternal grace and kindness of Rose Quartz. This is not to say that Garnet or Amethyst do not embody Rose Quartz in key ways, but that Pearl especially conveys her qualities of care and supervision. More than her proclivities for teaching and guiding others, Pearl longs to do everything that she can to make Steven the best version of himself that he can possibly be. This goes for many others as well, including Connie, her fellow Crystal Gems, and the occasional pupil she takes under her wing at Scala Ad Caelum... though Steven and his Gem will always be Pearl's highest priority. Even after thousands of years, some things never change.

Likes/Dislikes

• Dancing, swordplay, tidiness, symmetry, being right, teaching, miscellaneous human customs, level-headedness
• Impropriety, eating and drinking, uncleanliness, disorder, being referred to as a bird, recklessness, being wrong

Dreams/Goals
Pearl longs to see Steven grow up, a longing owed to several things: her overwhelming maternal instincts, her concern for the safety of Beach City and the rest of Humanity's Haven, and above all else, that it was what Rose wanted; for herself, and for Steven.



Abilities

Skills
Shapeshifting
Given that a Gem’s projected form is made out of light, they can change their form at will like a shapeshifter. They can turn into anything that they can imagine, though the form taken, unless the user is particularly skilled, will have the same color as the Gem’s original form. Pearl frowns upon shapeshifting as a whole, and as such, almost never uses it.

Regeneration
If a Gem’s hardlight form sustains inordinate damage or is defeated in battle through various means, she must revert to her Gem form, and must build up energy before they can generate their hardlight form again. The length of this process depends on the extent of the damage incurred, as well as the Gem itself. Pearl is particularly careful with her regenerations when they occur, and can take days to create a new form. However, as a result, Pearl’s hardlight forms are extremely sound, almost always operating at full capacity.

Gem Fusion
All Gems are inherently capable of “Fusion”, a bonding process that combines two (or more) Gems to create a much more powerful entity that is greater than the sum of its parts. Fusion takes place not only at the molecular level, but mentally and emotionally as well. In order to properly fuse, the Gems involved must have behaviors and thought patterns that are compatible with one another; otherwise, the result Fusion is an abomination. Homeworld Gems frown greatly upon Gem Fusion, and consider it an affront to the very nature of a Gem. Pearl has Fused with Rose Quartz, Garnet and Amethyst, to create Rainbow Quartz, Sardonyx, and Opal respectively. Pearl has also Fused with both Garnet and Amethyst together to create Alexandrite.


AI Constructs
Pearl is uniquely capable of generating holographic AI constructs, designed for sparring and training modules of varying difficulty and format. These constructs generally resemble Pearl or the other Crystal Gems, for simplicity’s sake. This skill is presumably inherent in all Pearls, secondhand support Gems that they are. Pearl’s skill with machinery does not seem to give her an edge in this regard, save perhaps in their modular programming (see below).

Engineer
Pearl is exceptionally technically minded, for all intents and purposes the intelligence operator of the Crystal Gems. She is capable of working with and even understanding Homeworld technology (though the more cutting-edge appliances elude her at times). It goes without saying that Pearl has no difficulty replicating Earth technology, from reversing the effects of an electromagnetic pulse to building a Gummi Ship out of scrap. Though Pearl does not necessarily have the precision or depth of understanding as a specialized Homeworld Gem, she is certainly capable of competing with one.

Master Combatant
Pearl is a warrior virtually without peer, personally trained by Rose Quartz and has remained dedicated to training her discipline when she is able. Though not exactly as strong as Garnet, Pearl has proven herself to be extraordinarily capable and clever in a fight, as seen when she managed to defeat an enraged Sugilite. However, all of Pearl’s training has been with her spear and / or sword; she would not do so well in a fist-fight.

Magic
Pearl, like all Gems, has no aptitude for magic.


Bond Information

Friends/Allies

Steven Quartz Universe
Rose Quartz was the Homeworld Gem to which Pearl was created in servitude to. She taught her the value of self-worth, and the love she has for all living things. Pearl loves and respects her above all else, to the point of unhealthy obsession. Her feelings towards Steven are similar, though more closely reflect motherly concern, often treating Steven as if he were her own son, as much as that human custom may elude her.


Garnet
The (mostly) permanent fusion of Ruby and Sapphire is without question the second person that Pearl trusts most. She holds Garnet in high regard, striving to be more like her however and whenever she can. She respects her as the leader of the Crystal Gems, often going to rather drastic lengths to impress her.


Amethyst
Pearl has a rocky relationship with the youngest member of the Crystal Gems to say the least. They are the least like one another, and prone to get into arguments. However, they have begun to understand one another, and know to set aside their differences when it’s time for action.


Greg Universe
On one hand, Pearl treats Greg with a degree of respect, acknowledging that he is Steven’s “father” (as little as she understands what that means) and the responsibility and authority that that gives him. On the other, Pearl holds bitter resentment towards him for, in her eyes, driving Rose away from her, whom she loved more than anything else in the universe. She continues to hold this against him as a grudge, boiling underneath the surface.


Connie Maheswaran
Pearl trusts Connie well enough, and even thinks her an apt companion for Steven, often taking lengths to ensure they spend time together, or even directly intervening with ham-fisted of her own for both of them. Maybe even one day she could teach Connie to be Steven’s Pearl~


Rivals/Enemies

Homeworld
As a Crystal Gem, and perhaps its longest-running member short of Rose Quartz herself, Pearl despises the Gems of Homeworld and everything that they represent. Though tempered in many respects by Rose over the course of the Rebellion, Pearl remains by far the most zealous Crystal Gems when it comes to fighting Homeworld. This can often cause Pearl to act borderline irrationally when directly faced with a Homeworld Gem.

Faction Link(s)
The Keyblade Union
Pearl is the Crystal Gem's liaison with Scala Ad Caelum, as well as the only member to have visited that world. She is a registered Guardian, and often lends her services to the cause of the Keyblades when time permits.

Heroes of Haven
Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl are among the greatest of the Haven's protectors, and often collaborate with the other Heroes to defend their world from invaders.

The Crystal Gems
The local defenders of Beach City aren't just heroes from outer space. They're a close-knit family of warriors, mothers, outcasts and more who will give everything to protect the world that they love. While Garnet is the field leader, Pearl is the heart of the team, and makes sure that everyone comes home in one piece.


Journal Info

Journal Blurb
Pearl is a member of the Crystal Gems, dedicated to protecting humanity from Homeworld and the forces of darkness. She is by far the oldest of the team, and looks after those close to her as if they were her own children.



Quote
“There are different ways of being strong.”

Notes
Courageous/Wise/Neurotic/Fierce/Helicopter Bird Mom/Overly protective

RP Sample
Pearl sighed, gazing longingly at the sweet little scene. It would be perfect, if she didn't feel so guilty. The massive pink ball of fur reclined at the foot of the bed, for once its beady, soul-baring gaze closed off as it mildly snored. She was thankful that, among many other things in her life right now. The half-boy, half-Gem sound asleep, for one thing. Half-Rose…

“Nngh… huh?” And just like that, he began to stir. The little boy rubbed his eyes, bending up from his pillow to look sleepily at Pearl, who was equally startled and at a loss for words, her eyes skirting away from his. That lion woke up too. She could already feel it looking at her with those inescapable eyes...

“S-Steven! What, what are you doing up so late?”

“I was sleeping… well, sorta. I had a really weird dream. You were there, and you were saying stuff about my mom, and … Pearl, what are you doing in my room?”

Think of something, quick! “I, err, I was… I sometimes like to watch you sleep at night. And by sometimes I mean often.

...

“Good night, Steven.”

With that, the Gem-in-shining-armor quickly turned, and headed down the stair and towards the temple door. It wasn’t actually a lie, in part. After all, Rose would never lie to her. It was only fair.