Jasper's ultimatum towards the end terrified Pearl for a moment and she didn't bother hiding that on her face, nor did she hate the way her resolve hit her like a freight train and finally had her uncurling from herself and leaning forward, closer to Jasper. "And if you ever show me that level of rage without a reasonable cause... then I will do the honor of kicking my own ass out." The proper woman finally cursed, for once, hoping to solidfy how serious she also was. She was done being in toxic friendships, relationships, and all the above if it meant going through what she'd gone through with Shay again. As she leaned back, she tried cooling herself. Jasper's impromptu ultimatum had rattled her as well as threatened her, but she knew the woman was in every right to give such a demand for the safety of her child. She long since figured out how serious Jasper was about Mala and the risks with which she would go to protect her.<br/><br/>Glancing through the album of gruesome little photos, Pearl could only imagine such a thing was kept for records only, or perhaps a grim reminder of the cruelty of the world. The older woman kept seeing images of herself in Malas place with each picture. Of course Mala had been bullied for her differences, Pearl knew how that felt all too well, but to see it in picture format as undeniable proof was unsettling and she just kept thinking how much she wanted the little girl home that instantly so she could love her and give her all the affection she could ever want.<br/><br/>Jasper went on to mention the second parent and confirmed what Pearl had suspecting all along. She finally closed the album and held it to her form, the urge to protect Mala still quite strong within her. She felt that for all her students, but the time she had spent with Jasper's little girl put her in a special place in the woman's heart so when Jasper ended her speech with the mention of a promise to be made, Pearl all but jumped on it. Barely, however, she'd managed to give the moment pause to truly think about it, but she already knew she'd made up her mind long ago. Looking down at her clothing, Pearl reminesced for a while. If they were going to be adult about this, she may as well continue the trend. "That night I fainted and you brought me to your home. I woke up in a pair of sweatpants and a tshirt that smelled just like you. I have no recollection of dressing myself in that, so I know you did that while I was passed out." She glanced up at Jasper, but the woman was still looking out the windows. "You saw them, then. The scars on my body that I usually hide and the reason I typically wear more baggy clothes. They're all from my own childhood and just growing up in the bad part of town. You helped me move, you saw my apartment and the part of town I grew up in. You see me now and how I look..." She emphasized this by gesturing to her overly pale skin and platinum blonde hair, her red eyes, and the rather sharp and prominent nose. "Lab rat was the least of what I was called and what was done to me. I didn't have someone like you around to beat up people for me either. I just wanted to dance and enjoy myself and when they broke my bones and laughed in my face, telling me I failed the experiment, I kept going. I took a self defense class, I met a fencing instructor, I fell in love with the art of it all. I learned to grow up faster than the other children. I can understand what Mala is going through, what you went through. If only by a fraction. And that's why my classes are so strict about bullying. And that's why I can tell you, with every fiber of my being, that I have long since promised myself to stay in Mala's life for as long as she would have me. And... your life too." Pearl sighed and finally reached for her iced coffee that had now become room temperature at best and gave a good long sip.<br/><br/>What Jasper brought up next was unavoidable and Pearl was surprisingly happy to feel she wasn't as freaked out about it as she thought she would be. Honestly, after everything they just shared, it almost felt like a cake walk in comparison; sharing battle scars, some quite literally. Still, Pearl's face flushed as her paled skin allowed it quite easily and she gripped the cup tighter in her hands. The lapse in her words must of been long enough because Jasper started giving her incentives to speak again. Pearl didn't need them, but that wasn't to say she wasn't going to use them when the time came. Jasper seemed to like when the smaller woman decided to woman up and be straight with her, so Pearl decided that would be the best way to tell her this as well. She placed the mug down in her lap and stared the woman straight in the eye, her only tell being that color flushing her cheeks and the way Pearl gripped the mug for dear life to the point her fingertips were turning pure white.<br/><br/>"Shay was talking about you. I told her I have feelings for you. Because I do. I like you, Jasper... a lot." She finally broke eye contact, looking down at her drink and letting the larger woman take in the information before she finally added. "But you don't have to worry because I'm not interested in dating anyone right now. I need... some time to explore me. I tend to pop in and out of relationships looking for validation in those I bring to bed, but I need to find it in myself first before I let someone in again." With all the signs Jasper had given her up to this point regarding her own feelings, Pearl was more confused than ever, but maybe that was for the best. They could explore each other with no hurry or motivation. That was, if Jasper had any interest in her to begin with.