[Closed]

[periphrasing]

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

[mirrortide]

There's a lot to unpack for Lapis now that Blue Diamond is here. There's still bitterness and anger that's suddenly come to the forefront about being left behind, something she thought that she wouldn't much care about before, and then there's more anger at being forced to go back to earth as an informant with Peridot and Jasper, though that one has been significantly eased as of late.

And now there's the whole thing with Blue Diamond and Steven and how she was just completely ready and willing to fight her Diamond if it came down to her hurting Steven in any way...

And now she's been assigned, by a Diamond she no longer even is loyal to, to protect Steven so that Blue Diamond can see Pink Diamond have justice when the Ringmaster brings her back.

... Lapis is completely ready to fight Pink Diamond too if she has to, to keep Steven safe.

Her arm hangs loosely over the edge of the hammock as she lifts her head to look at Peridot. She doesn't even bother to give a quirk of her lip at Peridot's presence anymore.

"What for?"

[periphrasing]

"For morps, obviously!" Peridot says, her grin unwavering. "And also because breaking stuff is... actually surprisingly fun. And you seem like you could use some fun."

[mirrortide]

She's silent for a few seconds, before she just lets her head drop back into her arms. "No thanks, I don't really feel like it, Peridot."

[periphrasing]

Peridot likes to consider herself something of an expert on Lapis matters. Whether or not that's actually true is debatable, but there's something to be said for the fact that she predicted exactly this kind of response from her friend... and she's also not about to give up that easily.

Normally in this sort of situation, Peridot would try to be respectful and give Lapis her space. Sometimes Lazuli just needs some time to be Lazuli, right? Well. Not THIS time. It's been long enough, and Peridot isn't going anywhere without a fight.

She sags a bit, ears drooping. "Come on Lapis," she pleads, "you can't just stay in that hammock forever...!"

[mirrortide]

"Sure I can." Comes Lapis' muffled response. Gems are immortal after all, so there's technically no reason she couldn't.

[periphrasing]

To be fair, the hammock would rot out from under her eventually.

"Well, you shouldn't," Peridot stubbornly insists, putting on her most bossy tone. "And unless you're prepared to give me a counterpoint by explaining what happened, I'm not going to take no for an answer."

[mirrortide]

The floor is fine too, Peridot.

'It's fine' won't work as a counterpoint, so Lapis just groans against her arm. "Blue Diamond made me take her to Steven." Which should be all Peridot needs to know? But she continues on, words muffled anyway. "She plans on asking the Ringmaster to bring back Pink Diamond so that she can deal with Steven."

[periphrasing]

Peridot gapes uselessly for a long moment. Suddenly, she drops to the floor in front of the hammock, because standing and thinking about this all is a lot to ask right now.

"Wow," she says finally, after too long of a pause. "Okay, that's... A lot of information to process, right there."

[mirrortide]

Peridot slumps to the floor, but it seems like admitting that out loud has spurred at least a little life into Lapis.

"... I was going to fight Blue Diamond if she hurt Steven." She says, obviously enough, but she makes a face too, like a sudden realization is suddenly dawning on her. "I would have attempted to shatter her if she hurt Steven." Silence, and then,

"I'm a no good rebel too." SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE A CRYSTAL GEM, PEARL IS A CRYSTAL GEM. PERIDOT HELP.

[periphrasing]

HEY PERIDOT IS ALSO A CRYSTAL GEM? TECHNICALLY? AT LEAST SHE SORT OF THINKS OF HERSELF AS ONE, ANYWAY.

"But-- I don't get it," Peridot says, looking back up with a confused frown. She's concerned about Lapis, but she's also kind of hung up on one of the first points she mentioned: "What in the stars do the Diamonds want with Steven? I mean it's not like he's important-- I mean, he's important to you and ME, and I guess the others, but. He's just some weird hybrid!"

[mirrortide]

"Because he's not just some weird hybrid?" Lapis explains, slightly frantic. "He's- He's half Rose Quartz." Did Peridot not realize? No, probably not. She hadn't been made then, after all. Still, the name Rose Quartz should ring a bell?

[periphrasing]

Geez Lapis she knows who Rose Quartz is, have a LITTLE faith.

"Well yeah but he's not THE Rose Quartz," she argues. "And it's not like he was there during the rebellion. And-- And how did Blue Diamond even figure out that he was connected to the rebel leader anyway?!"

The zoo, the trial? Peridot isn't even remotely aware of any of that. #canon point problems.

[mirrortide]

"He is The Rose Quartz, Peridot!" She's suddenly less frantic, but she hangs her head back down into her hammock. "Because I told her." Comes the muffled admission. She's not proud of it, but she'd basically been frozen in terror and started babbling.

As one does in front of the Diamonds anyway.

[periphrasing]

"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!"

[periphrasing]

"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!"

[periphrasing]

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."

[periphrasing]

"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?"

[periphrasing]

"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?"

[periphrasing]

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."

[periphrasing]

"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."

[mirrortide]

"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.

[periphrasing]

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.

[periphrasing]

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.

[periphrasing]

“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!”