Era1 Universe: Encore!

Your character experiences an unexpected introduction. What happens?

"Just get it over with Cal," the shy blue gem whispered to herself. She had to. She absolutely had to.

The general supply of things had been running low. Meals were becoming meager and she knew the importance of maintaining proper nutrition. Which meant the worst thing of all worst things.

Going to town.

Calli wandered into the gem equivalent of a human grocery store and kept her gaze low. She wanted in and out. No questions asked.

A stray thought pierced her heart. If she hadn't had all those unfortunate incidents in the past would so many people hate her? Maybe she'd live in town versus a haunted shell of a laboratory. She'd have friends, at least more of them and a well rounded healthy social circle. And everywhere she went she wouldn't have to worry about-

"It's her," a voice from somewhere over her shoulder whispered.

"Don't look," Calli kept repeating over and over to herself like a mantra as she grabbed some canned carrots and hurried to another aisle.

"There she is," another voice whispered under their breath.

"The Mother of Monsters!" Another loudly hissed.

The voices grew louder and louder around her. It felt like every person in this store was pointing and chanting that wretched name:

Mother of Monsters

Calli hurried to a different aisle. She ran right into a tall pale blue gem. Her long ombre hair was tied up in a high ponytail and her wardrobe was something else entirely.

Corset.

Tank top.

Layered skirt.

"Are you okay?" This blue gem asked with a kind smile. Her eyes twinkling.

Calli rubbed her head. "I uh- sure?"

The gem helped her up. "I'm Lari. Who are you?"

"Me?"

"Yes," Lari chuckled.

"I'm... I'm... C-Calli..?"

Lari tilted her head in warm confusion. "Calli?"

Calli's heart was in her throat with worry. "Yes?"

After a moment of contemplation she beamed. "What a great name! Hey, do you like games?"

"Where is this going?"

Lari reached inside her corset and pulled out a piece of paper and gave it to Calli. "There's going to be a game night at the coffee shop tomorrow night and I thought you might want to join everyone for some fun."

Calli blinked. "You... don't even know me."

"So? Everyone deserves to have some fun." Lari chuckled and nudged Calli in the arm.

"M-maybe... maybe I will."

"Sounds great! See ya around!" Lari called happily as she walked away down the aisle.

Calli studied the paper with the time and address of the game night. Her interactions with Lari playing over and over in her head. Everyone hated her. Right? So why was this gem so nice to her? Could Lari really be something different? Better yet... nice?