Use your power to uncover Pearl’s true desires

You’ve never seen this much anguish and uncertainty on Pearl’s face before. And you never want to see her this upset or disappointed with you ever again.

She’s right. You made a mistake with her. With Zoey, too. With all your friends. You haven’t been careful, or smart. You’ve been impulsive. Ultimate power was never your problem - it was your lack of forethought. You owe it to everybody - Pearl included - to do better than that.

You feel something shift in your stomach. Like a gear fell out, and you’ve put it back right side up where before, it was upside down. You can fix this. The only mistake you’ve truly made is in not having fixed it already.

Pearl senses the shift in you. “Chase?”

You gently remove Pearl’s hand from your cheek, and hold her fingers firmly between your hands. “I’m sorry Pearl,” you say. “You’re right. I’ve been stupid. I didn’t think about how any of this would make you feel. I should never have let you get hurt. That’s on me.”

Pearl’s ire softens. “I’m not that mad,” she says. “Just, having sex with Zoey is one thing, but it’s the principle. If we stick to you and me it’ll make everything so much simpler.”

“That’s exactly what I mean,” you say, drawing circles on her palm in thought. “I made sure I had your consent, and I made sure you liked dressing up, but I didn’t do anything to make sure you’d be happy with being physical.”

Pearl’s eyes widen and she jerks her hand out from yours. “Chase,” she says, eyes darkening, “what did you do?”

“It’s okay,” you say, smiling reassuringly. “I have everything under control.”

Pearl tenses. “No, Chase, let’s just talk -”

“I temporarily claim your consciousness,” you declare, quickly. “Now sleep - but not so deeply that you can’t stand up or hear my voice.”

Despite her fighting tooth and nail to stay awake, Pearl’s panic drifts away. “But… no…” she exhales, as her eyes slip closed.

Swaying, Pearl rests her back against the front door of her house, her fear and worry smoothing away, her breathing deep and even.

“With your consciousness, now, I want you to visualize something,” you say. “Can you do that?”

Pearl’s brow furrows but her eyes remain closed. “Huh… uh huh…” she murmurs distantly.

“I want you to visualize yourself in your dream relationship,” you say. “Think of all your hopes, all your expectations, when it comes to dating and romance. Visualize them all together in your mind. Paint a picture of what it looks like in your imagination, how it happens, down to every last detail.”

Pearl’s brow furrows in effort, and she makes a small, conflicted sound. Then she relaxes.

“Tell me where you are in the picture,” you say.

“I’m… all kinds of places…”

“Good. Very good.” You lean in, heart pounding. It’s working. You remain calm. Composed. Not for yourself, but for Pearl. “What’s the first place you see? Where does the picture begin?”

Pearl frowns softly. “I’m… at college. I’m taking an art class, or something. I can’t tell.” Her voice is small.

You take a deep breath. You’re doing this for Pearl, you remind yourself.

“Tell me everything that happens. Everything you see.”

Slowly, Pearl picks out details from the vision only she can see. “There’s a boy I don’t know, but he’s cute. He smiles when he sees me? I make him laugh, or…” she trails off, but picks up another thread. “Oh. He’s tall. He likes music and stuff. We have a lot in common. Talking to him is like the easiest thing, he really listens. Doesn’t talk over me.”

“I’m not wearing anything special. No makeup or anything, just a hoodie and a skirt or whatever. He asks for my number, but he’s kinda shy. Then he calls and asks me out somewhere intellectual. Like a museum or the theater...”

You picture the scene as best you can. It feels like the platonic ideal version of Pearl’s script for how she might theoretically meet her dream boyfriend. You didn’t know Pearl was into shy guys before - is that why neither of you looked at each other like that before? It’s too late to wonder.

“Let’s move forward,” you suggest. You need to see more. “Imagine where you want the relationship to go. Where you hope it’s going. Imagine how you want it to be, how you want it to feel, if everything goes perfectly with this guy.”

Pearl lets out a long breath, her closed eyes working as if she were truly dreaming.

“Tell me what’s happening now,” you say, quiet yourself now.

She spreads her hands flat back against the door, frowning in concentration. “I’m in a chapel, I think. A big one. Like a cathedral or… I don’t know, but it’s old. There’s ancient columns and statues. My friends are there. You’re there. Mom and Macy are there. I’m at the altar holding a bouquet of flowers, and I’m wearing this beautiful, ornate white dress.”

“There’s a man across from me. And… it’s stupid how much I love this guy. I know I’m going to remember this day for the rest of forever. And I’m scared and excited at the same time, and it’s super freaking cliche and cheesy, but I finally found somebody who loves me. I’m starting my life with my person, and he’s starting his life with me, and I’m so ridiculously happy…”

Dating, love, marriage. Pearl’s raw desires are surprisingly, typically romantic for somebody who wears all black and addresses all situations with cynicism and sarcastic wit.

No wonder Pearl took you wanting to fool around with Zoey so hard. What she wants out of a relationship, even one with you, has clear rules, directions, and expectations. With your own approach for a more nebulous, ‘figure it out as you go’ mentality, even if you and Pearl were dating normally, getting physical with your best friend from freshman year was fated to cause conflict.

You want to have fun. Pearl’s trying to find a partner. You’re on totally different levels when it comes to what you’re looking for and what you’re willing to commit to.

But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To fix this. Somehow. What’s your power for if not this?