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Who: Lapis and Peridot
What: Lapis is having bit of A Depression after Blue Diamond shows up. Peridot is very concerned.
Where: Supervisor's Grove! Inside their shared trailer.
When: Prior to the AU event, a day or so after Blue Diamond arrives.
Warnings: Nah. No nasty content, just rocks being sad.

Ages. That's what it feels like. It feels like it's been literal ages since Lapis last got up out of her hammock and actually did anything other than sleep.

Logically, Peridot knows that isn't actually the case, that Lapis has only been in this position for maybe two days, tops, but what can she say? She's worried. Lapis may not be the most energetic or vivacious person she knows even on her best days, but Peridot doesn't think she's ever seen her quite THIS lethargic before, not even when the Crystal Gems had first brought her back to the Barn, after everything with the Cluster happened.

She sort of gets it. Blue Diamond, Lapis's Diamond, is here at the carnival now. Here to STAY, apparently, and that knowledge has to be what's messing with her, Peridot just doesn't quite get why. She keeps attempting to understand, trying to put herself in Lapis's place, but that tactic really isn't helping any, because it's not like Lapis got into a screaming match with Blue like she had done with Yellow, right? Things could be a LOT worse. But Lapis won't engage with her about the topic, so Peridot can't gather anymore data about the issue, and she's getting increasingly frustrated and worried about her friend.

That's fine then. If Lapis doesn't want to talk? Peridot will try to cheer her up a different way.

And so, the engineer sidles into the living room where the hammock is set up, a big cheesy grin on her face.

"Heeeeyyyy Lapis. Laz! La-zu-laaayyy. Here's an idea: Why don't you come outside and smash a box of these colorful illumination spheres with Pumpkin and me?"

She's talking about light-bulbs. She has a huge box of them in a myriad of colors, bits that she's been hoarding off of the old food stands whenever they need replacing. She's still not sure what she's going to do with them, or with the glass once she breaks them, but she thinks they could both make some pretty good Morps with the stuff.

Comments

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"You--"

There's a long, agonizing pause while Peridot gapes. "You... told her." She shakes her head in disbelief. "Okay, but-- that means she still knew to ask about him. Right?"

[mirrortide]

"No! That's the worst part! I panicked and just started blabbering to her!" Peridot probably understands? The inherent Terror And Need To Appease Your Diamond. "It's been forever since I've even seen her! I couldn't stop myself!"

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"Lapis..."

There's a lot of emotion packed into that one word. Disappointment, but also a lot of sympathy and understanding.

She sits there in silence for a moment, the tip of her tail twitching thoughtfully.

"Well," Peridot says at last, after a moment: "It's like I said. Even if he has her gem, Steven didn't do any of the things Rose Quartz did, so it's not like the diamonds should have any issue with him... You know. Aside from the fact that he's technically a half-fleshy abomination against our kind."

[mirrortide]

She hears that disappointment and it makes her feel bad? Like, more than she already had been. Lapis covers her head with her arms, high key wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.

Lapis makes a muffled noise of frustration. "She said she wants to put him on trial when Pink Diamond is brought back. Even though I told her that he wasn't actually Rose Quartz!"

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Peridot leans back slightly at that sound; she hates hearing Lapis this upset. It makes her anxious, and she isn't always sure what to do to help.

"Okay! Okay," she says in an attempt to sound reassuring, making a hand gesture indicating 'take it down a notch' that Lapis can't even see. "That's completely idiotic, but hey! What else should we expect from Diamonds, at this point? Hahaha!"

The forced laughter trails off. After a moment's hesitation, Peridot scooches a little closer and awkwardly reaches up and over the hammock edge with her short little arms to put a hand on Lapis' shoulder.

"I'm pretty sure Steven can handle himself, Lapis. And even if he can't... We're not going to just let the diamonds hurt him. We're filthy rebels now, remember?"

[mirrortide]

Lapis makes another noise of dissatisfaction and frustration, though this one is significantly longer and more drawn out. She stops when Peridot puts her hand on her shoulder, though she doesn't look up.

"I guess."

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"Um, no. You don't guess. You know," Peridot insists sternly. She's putting on her best 'lecture voice' now: "The Diamonds don't have any authority here, for one thing. I mean, I technically out rank them as far as carnival hierarchy goes. And even besides all that, I can already think of a million ways to keep Pink Diamond from getting her hands on him."

[mirrortide]

... The Diamonds don't have any authority here. That's right. This time, Lapis lifts her head fully to look at Peridot. This is such an intense whirlwind of emotions in a very short time span for Lapis.

"... Like?"

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"We use the Ringmaster," Peridot says simply. "Blue Diamond isn't the only person who can sign contracts to inconvenience others. Steven's contract will be up before hers, so he could make some kind of deal with her himself... Or, my contract is up before either of them, I could stick around longer in exchange for something to fix the situation. It's just a matter of striking a deal to give Steven immunity or something, or, I don't know... force Pink Diamond to view him more favorably."

[mirrortide]

That's... Okay, that's a good idea, and it does a lot to soothe Lapis' Extreme Fears about the entire situation. But also... That's right. Peridot will end up leaving before her, won't she?

She scrunches her face a little, looking at Peridot. "How long do you have left here anyway?"

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Peridot actually frowns. "I dunno, like... 9 months, probably? I haven't really been keeping track." She's been having too much fun, for the most part. She cocks her head slightly, giving Lapis a slightly concerned look. "Why do you ask?"

[mirrortide]

"No reason. I just thought it might get a lot quieter with you gone." It's not said insultingly? But also the direct translation of that is that she'd miss Peridot. "Unless you do plan on making another contract, anyway."

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"What?" She looks sort of offended? "Don't be stupid, I'm not leaving while you still have time left here. I stuck around for Amethyst, of course I'm going to stick around for you too."

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"Why? You don't have to do that. Wouldn't you end up having to stay here longer than me again if you signed another contract?" Either way, it sort of looks like Lapis will be without Peridot for some measure of time either way.

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Peridot simply shrugs. "I'll figure something out. But as long as any of my friends are still here, I'm not going anywhere. Especially if you're involved," she smirks, teasing. "Face it Lazuli, you're basically hopeless without me here to boss you around."

[mirrortide]

Hey look, Peridot has finally eased some measure of smile out of Lapis.

"It's true. I'm absolutely hopeless without you." As always, the sarcasm will PROBABLY go over Peridots' head. Oh well. At least she's feeling marginally better about the whole... everything? It's not exactly a real fix, but it works to ease her worries for now.

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Indeed. Peridot beams, both pleased to have that rather silly assertion of hers validated, and to see that Lapis seems to be feeling a bit better. "Right! And that's why you should totally come outside and smash some things with me for the sake of our morps, because obviously I know best!"

[mirrortide]

"You got it, oh bossy one." Look, she's even getting up out of the hammock now. Congratulations, Peridot. You've done it.

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“Yes! Peridot WINS!” she exclaims, pumping both fists in the air grinning like an awful little goblin. She eagerly scrambles to her feet and snatches the box back up, and then hollers: “PUMPKIN! Come on, we’re going outside!”