lostcarnival | I Think I Need A Little Change

Who: Greg and Anyone
Where: Around and about
When: In the week or so following the kidnappings
What:The feeling when you just can't find the silver lining and give up trying

While Steven's more than earned some time off of work recovering from his wound and the sudden rush of changes, Greg can't justify the same. As much as he'd like to stay with Steven all day there's still things that need fixing and lights that need arranging, and so long as Steven's in no actual danger Greg has to trust he can be left to his own devices. After all, Greg usually has to leave him to his own devices even when there is actual danger. That's how things have always been. It's no different.

No different, no different. Who cares about growing horns or fangs or the rest, it's happening to everyone. He has to get over it, deal with the differences, it gets better after all, and so many people just love living here, and what has he got to complain about anyway. Steven's fine, he's fine, everything's fine.

A. On the job

The work is just involved enough that Greg can focus in on it and block out the excess of frustration and distress plaguing his consciousness. The rest of the world fades to a blur while he works.

Still, sleep deprived, working on autopilot, and electrical wires rarely make a good combination. If he doesn't irritate people with an overbright spotlight shining in their eyes, he may draw ire via the occasional yelp as he shocks himself.

B. Comfort Eating

Greg's never been the most outgoing or energetic person around, but he's made an effort to appear open and friendly to his coworkers and peers in passing. Still, he's fairly certain he's of passing interest to anyone, and that suits him just fine right now. He moves quickly around the grounds, avoiding eye contact and speaking little. If he can't shake off this bad mood, he may as well avoid rubbing anyone the wrong way with his moping.

The longest he spends outside of work or his trailer is in the cafeteria, where he guzzles down coffee and whatever's served with the highest calorie count. When all else fails, he can stockpile the energy and comfort. It's not exactly the prettiest sight, but he does make the effort to eat by himself where no one has to watch him scarf it down. Doing great, feeling fantastic.

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"A little over a month." He rolls a shoulder in a weary shrug. "Seems to hit everyone different. I grew the overbite in a couple weeks, but Steven... he just started his, now..." Of course, if she talked with Peridot, surely she was told about Steven.

He certainly isn't one to ask about anything shapeshifting. Amethyst is the expert, and she relishes in the strangeness. "It's... harmless." That's the nicest possible thing he can say about it.

"Steven changed too? What does he look like now?" You know, so she can single him out when she does end up finding him. Lapis does perk up at the mention of Steven considerably, though. She knew he was here, but she hasn't seen him yet.

"And harmless or not, that doesn't mean I like it."

"I don't like it either."

The words come out a little more clipped than he meant. Greg hesitates, taking a breath before trying again. "But it's happening anyway. We have to live with that until we can go home."

That's all he can do, is love with it. He rubs his eyes. "Seems like Steven's got a tail now, and this miss stuff is growing him... maybe more. It changes every time I get back to him."

The clipped tone and words catches her offguard, and Lapis' expression changes to one considerably more sympathetic. "Sorry." She gently wraps her arms around herself. "I guess no one really likes being stuck somewhere against their will to begin with, and being forcibly changed into something you're not while having to do as someone else says..."

But she knows what she needs to now. Steven has a tail and... Moss? Growing on him. That word sounds familiar.

Greg deflates as she talks. If anyone has reason to be upset with this, it's Lapis. Just because he's annoyed doesn't mean he has it the worst.

"A lot of people seem to really enjoy it here. There's a lot of things to do, places to see..." He sighs. "But... I dunno. I still can't figure what to make of it."

Well, as far as she's concerned, all of them who are trapped here have it the worst. The fact that people apparently enjoy it here though, like Peridot, well, she can't wrap her head around that.

"Peridot seems to like it here too. I can't understand it." She's being held against her will, and apparently that's not uncommon. "I haven't even been here that long and I already just want to go home.

"Some people just... enjoy change." He was one of those people, for a time. But that was a long while back. But now change is happening whether he likes it or not, in all too many ways.

"Steven seemed like he was having fun, up until. Y'know." Peridot surely mentioned that.

Anything that Lapis was going to say originally is quickly forgotten about when Greg says something happened to Steven. Only in less words, but Lapis gets the message.

"Until what?" No, Peridot hasn't said a word. But also she's trying this thing called optimism. That maybe it's not as bad thing, whatever it is.

Greg looks up at her again--at first surprised, then deeply uncomfortable. Then just... even more weary and exhausted than before. The one good thing about having so few workers around and news spreading fast, he hasn't really needed to explain it to people.

"Oh... that's..." He clears his throat. "He... he's fine, but. He and Peridot ran into some trouble the other day, and it... it shook us all up."

"What do you mean they ran into some trouble?" If they ran into Peridot why hadn't Peridot said anything? Why was Lapis finding this out from Greg?

This whole optimism thing is taking a nose dive. Fast.

He hesitates. How can he simplify all this down to make sure she understands without causing her to panic, but also without belittling the situation...? It doesn't seem like there's a way. The longer he pauses to think about it the more it'll agitate her, too.

"Some of the, uh. The locals, where we're visiting... they got... aggressive. Steven got hurt protecting Peridot." His eyes remain on his overloaded plate. "But, he's healed up. He's fine."

"They... got aggressive?" Wait. "Steven got hurt? Why?" Why would anyone hurt Steven? He's probably the least harmful person that Lapis has ever met. "Is he okay?" Lapis, Greg just said he was. "I should- I need to go see him!"

She'll take two, three steps away before it occurs to her that she doesn't know where Steven is. She turns back to Greg. "Where is he?"

"Ah--" Greg motions to get to his feet, thinking he can show her the way. After a moment's thought, however, he sits back down with a sigh.

"Trailer twenty-one. We put up an HQ sign over the door, you can't miss it." She'll want to talk with him alone. And he's got all these fried potatoes to eat.

And she's off. Very suddenly. Sorry, Greg. At the very least she yells "Thanks!" Over her shoulder before she's gone. At least she didn't just fly off without saying thank you this time?

I Think I Need A Little Change

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