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Pearl pauses. In her disbelief, the one place she feared the most was in her mind. But what is she talking about? She remembers it was just her experience in the studio before it was dark. Luckily, she hasn't slipped anything suspicious into their ears.
"Oh, but...uhm...we're happy! I have a lot of friend in the studio so I'm not alone!" Pearl muttered.
"I...don't really get hurt a lot there..."
"I mean, everyone does get hurt, but...no children are harmed! I...I promise!"
"There's a lot of us safe there!"
The family grew pitier, with horror on their faces as they heard the journey of Pristine Pearl in her 'colourful world' against the crumbling years of silence and misery. Who couldn't be saddened by a voice like that? Pearl was such a grown bird.
"There are more children there? How many children do they put for that freak show??" Barbara commented.
"Oh...my...how could they? How could they hurt my Christine like that?" Donna broke into tears.
"How could someone be so cruel to children? You were just innocent children who could've played in playground outside while basking in sunshine!" Amelia commented.
"Of course he didn't want to hurt you! He wanted you to suffer there! Christine didn't want any of this!"
"What sick militant technique am I hearing? Can't they just draw like normal people? Do they need to make those shit—I mean, stuff?" Edward frustrate.
"We Starstuhm don't cheat with the devil so we can get this fame. If anything, none of you are ever step in my home with that tainted blood." Jolliet slams his fist on the table.
"Tainted? Am I...tainted?" Pearl asks.
"N-no, youngling. Not you...you're pure and innocent like those kids..." David replies.
"You're the Christine we always have..."
Something sparks on the table, and it is not Starglaze's edges. The family were convoluted at the thought of Pearl's misery, with all targeted to her abuser Chrome. But how can Pearl be angry with such a desperate face, especially when everyone is raising their voices?
"But...it was also my fault..."
"I was also...a bad dancer...I..."
Nobody heard her voice anymore. No longer a happy face, everyone now focuses on the studio instead of Pearl. She felt alone, with Starglaze's face annoyed with the tone around him. Nobody can eat their food in peace anymore, and Pearl feels guilty for being too open to herself.
"Oh...I'm sorry..."
"No, Christine. It's not you fault...I can assure you that..." The father consoles.
"But it seems it did now...Everyone looks unhappy..."
"Only because they were worrying about you. There's nothing wrong with that."
"I guess you're right, father...Nothing's wrong with anything..."
Being sad every day makes her so tired. Today, she thinks of her mistake while having the 'best' time of her life along with her best friend at the table. Pearl was afraid to make a bad impression, only to find that it happens not by the tide but by rain.
"I shouldn't be too nervous today. I make a lot of trouble lately..."
"Everything seems fine until I started being terrified about it..."
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It's over. The adults finally stop mumbling about Pearl's past, and the dinner can continue like before. This time, she chose to stay silent for the rest of the eating, even if it would be dull on the table. Her velvet cake has never tasted so much sweeter under the silence.
However, enduring the silence seems harder than she thought. Humans can be boring when you don't interact with them, and cakes run out quicker when you don't look at them. But at least the grandfather is proud of her for cleaning the plate, and nobody judges her for being too hungry.
"Okay. I think I'm done. Shall we move on a something? Perhaps...a human game...?" Pearl looks saddened and bored as she holds her plate.
"Not yet, Pearl! First, we have something to do first."
"R-really? Is it another...snack?"
"Nope. Just a little commemoration for someone we have lost long ago." The father commands.
The humans had another ceremony on the table. Their hands were held together in a chain of a Starstuhm while a candle was lit at the centre of the table, and a picture of a young girl stood on the table. The candle has a weird scent, but not in a funny way. It smells like a rotting fragrance in Pearl's drawer that she had left unused.
"Umph..." Pearl covers her nose.
"Eugh! It smells weird," Starglaze commented.
"It's scented-candle, star. Don't you ever smell something like this?"Charlie whispers beside him.
"Now, let Christine knew our voice here...for she has a long way in the darkness..." David recites.
To her surprise, it was supposedly a picture of Christine, who had gone from their reach many years ago. While she may return to their hands once more, they were mourning her more by her human skin than in the Joyling. It feels awkward being remembered in such a way.
*Thought* "Christine? Am I not her right now? Why are we doing this?" Pearl frowns.
"Psst, Christine..." Donna whispers.
"Come. join with us,"
"Oh...okay..." She replies with a frown.
Nevertheless, Pearl joins them in that mourning. Prayers walk out from one member to another, hoping for luck and prosperity for the soul that stands before them. Pearl was flattered but also disturbed at each of their wishes for her. She felt like she was being worshipped.
"Christine...Christine...Christine..." That's all Pearl hears on the table.
Pearl couldn't think of much but to endure that humiliating name. Christine is no more in this world, yet the family keeps uttering her name as if she were there waiting for them. But she is, yet she rose anew. Why couldn't they understand that?
*Thought*"Why? Why? Why? Why did they have to call me that?"
"Hm..." Starglaze hums.
"Shh..." Charline shuts her.
Her eyes stay shut, but her ears are always open. How annoying it was for her to be here, trying to do anything just to be called another girl. The father called her in a pleading tone, the cousins called her in a playful tone, the grandfather called her in a worshipping tone, the aunties called her in a proudful tone, and her uncle called her in an admiring tone. Everyone calls her more than they call Pearl.
*Thought* "I've had enough of this! If I hear her name once more..."
"May she rest in peace in the afterlife," Donna finishes.
"For in this ceremony, we welcomed our daughter in her new life and her new name..."
The candles melted slowly just as the prayers ended. The name Christine was shouted many times, but not after this. Pearl now understands that they were not praying for her but for Christine's departure. It seems they finally see her.
"Oh..." She blushes in flatter.
"I...you don't have to...I...oh..." She smiles.
Doubt ceases upon Pearl's head as she realises how kind her family was. All this time, she was worried that Christine would be the name cursed upon her and the woman she would be forced into. But it seems they are much more understanding than she had feared.
It was all Pearl needed to feel comfortable. Her heart and her head felt lighter, and her fingers stopped twitching. For a moment, she thought it would be an entire series of mishaps. But it seems none of that would happen by any chance. Yet what's more surprising for her is what comes into their mouth firsthand.
"Pearl, would you like some tea after your cup?" Donna ask.
They called her. They called her by her name. Was that a dream? That was beautiful. It didn't feel like pressure anymore—it felt like a family. Pearl was shedding tears of joy when they recognised her. She cried happily, for she had no more to hide—maybe a few.
"*Sobs* Oh, you're so nice...huhuhu..." She utters with tears running over her eyes. Mascara soon rivers down, but no one is judging.
"Aww..." Everyone looks in awe at her. Proud and pity, the whole family comfortably supports her.
"Woo...good for you, Pearl. Does that mean you guys still call me Starglaze?" He asks.
"We don't even know who you are, star." Charlie nods in confusion.
"Of course you didn't." Starglaze sat low, no longer hovering.
"Guess someone got lucky having a family..." Starglaze looks down with a jealous look.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Someone knocks on the door, interrupting the happy ending for Pearl. It was such a formal knock for someone who was coming to celebrate for her. Pearl can't wait to see who's waiting by the doorway of her home.
"Hang on! I'll open!"
"Uhm...who are you?" Donna opens the door.
The guests standing before her are two men wearing a white protective suit and nametags. Pearl recognises those suits from the Institute, and their carriage is waiting by the edge of the railway of the mansion. Does the Institute come here to celebrate with her, too?
"We're from the Funtakers Institute. Is this Starstuhm's mansion?" The man answers.
"Yes. Let me guess, the 90-days protection service?" The mother replies.
"Correct. Is Christine Starstuhm right there...?"
"Ehem, I think the right word is Pearl Starstuhm. Do not call my daughter with a dead name."
"Yeah! Call me properly next time..." Pearl stands beside her mother with a confident glare.
They must have never seen Pearl so delighted with humans. Sure, she still looked nervous, but she was more confident at uttering a complete sentence before them. Carolina would've been proud for Pearl to grow such bravery.
"Woah, okay. We thought you would feel bad being called Christine, but I guess there's progress in you, kid," One man uttered.
"Anyway, we're the assigned supervisor for Christine—I mean, Pearl's well-being and safety." The man pulls out his paperboard.
"You? Why not Ms Carolina?"
"Oh, dear. Carolina's a scientist, not a guard. She can't just come out of the Institute to care for one Joyling. Besides, there's already a task coming to her mind more important than that."
But Pearl was surprised to find out that Carolina wasn't there. Oddly, she didn't even send a message about her or a gift for Pearl. The men were just doing their jobs on the field, and they had no interest in having some cakes with Pearl.
"She...she already forgot about me...?" Pearl stares with a frown.
"No, but she has to. A new child is about to be assigned for her soon and Carolina is now starting from the bottom...just like she did with you before..."
"Oh, I see..." Pearl holds her cheek softly.
Pearl had to learn the hard way that Carolina wouldn't be coming to her party. She was a busy woman in a place where Pearl had left, and she may have forgotten about her. After all, there wouldn't be any treats for Carolina when she arrived here.
Today was such a bittersweet day. Pearl finally felt comfortable being in a new nest, only to find her old one was gone for good. Perhaps she was never meant to look back on that old tree and fly for good.
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[Living Room]
Now Pearl gets to enjoy the rest of her time in the mansion with a happy family. No pressure, no tension, and clearly no buildup trouble meant to prevent her from being a coward, right? Now she could spend her time with someone her age on the talks of funsies and colours. Do humans speak of these?
"Whoa, that can't be true, right?" Starglaze debates.
"I'm afraid she is. Looks like we're finally on our own, my friend." Pearl replies.
"Hey, that ain't bad! At least you're not alone. No one likes a lone card!" Cain replies.
"Yeah, he's right. Although, I wish I could share this moment with her..."
"Ugh! Can't this day get any worse? I've had enough of being here..." Starglaze complains.
"I don't know, Starsy. I think it's great here! Who else wants to live in a place like this?" Pearl teases.
"Ugh, I change my mind! I don't want to be here anymore!" Starglaze grunts.
"Bring me back to the Institute now! Augh...!"