Need a Little Change

"Need a Little Change" is the second chapter to the Diamond In The Rough prequel fic.

Summary
Greg Universe and Blue Diamond bond more and more over each others experiences. Blue Diamond talks about her life on Homeworld and how the other Diamonds have personally taken Pink Diamonds death. Greg talks about the car crash that left him orphaned as well as the stress his conservative extended family placed on his dreams once he was in their care. Greg begins to entertain Blue Diamond with songs, jokes, stories about Earth, and hikes around the mountainside to distract her from her grief.

Later in the chapter, Greg hopes to bring Blue Diamond into the local village. While walking to the village, Greg strikes conversation with Blue Pearl in an attempt to get to know her better. The two don't talk for very long due to Blue Pearl freezing up in response to questions and Blue Diamond's comment of Blue Pearl being "easily overwhelmed".

Once the trio reach the village Greg says that Blue Diamond couldn't enter the village because of her towering height. Blue Diamond mentions her shapeshifting abilities but ultimately refuses to enter as it is "unbecoming" and "improper" to use them to shrink herself. She instead suggests Blue Pearl goes in her stead, which she does. Greg and Blue Pearl wander the village together. Greg buys a large sketch book with a traditional Korean print of herons on the cover for Blue Diamond. He also buys gold star hair clips for Blue Pearl, who stores them in her gem instead of putting them on.

Greg gives his gift to Blue Diamond once they leave the village. She becomes enamored with the gift and then shapeshifts herself smaller so she can enter the village normally as well.

Cannon Discontinuity

 * The chapter is implied to take place when "Greg the Babysitter" would. Greg is not poor, living in Beach City, or sings during the chapter.
 * Sour Cream does not exist in this AU and could not be hypothetically 'baby sat' regardless.
 * White Diamond is mentioned.