Lapis and Peridot

Time Passes

[Lapis' POV]

Time crept by, teasing me with its agonizing slowness. Peridot had left me standing in the center of my cell, completely unsure what I should do; hours had probably passed since then, but I still hadn't decided on a way to pass the time. All I had done was drop to the ground right where I had been standing before, and I sat there staring at the wall and thinking through everything that had happened and might happen and was happening. I had no idea what time it was or how long had passed, but it felt like nearly an eternity. Jasper stomped by my cell once or twice (goodness knew what she was doing), but other than that, I was alone and in silence.

Peridot promised to listen to me. But what am I going to tell her? I guess I hadn't thought of that.

What's going to happen to me after this mission is completed? What IS the mission? I know Peridot is going to Earth to check on something, but what?

Is anything going to happen to Steven? Why was he so kind to me? I tried to drown him – I fought him – and yet he helped me get home...

How could Homeworld have changed so much while I was gone? Oh, well, I suppose 5,000 years is a really long time.

Is Peridot starting to care about me? She seems to be softening, not as much a robotic-gem as before... but I don't know... she's fighting it.

The thoughts flitted through my mind, and slowly I sorted them out, answering what questions I could and leaving the rest for later. I would ask Peridot about some of them. As for the rest... I'd wait and see.

I was jolted from my pondering by footsteps coming down the corridor. I hoped it wasn't Jasper (the last two times she had passed, she had cursed at me irritably), and before long my hopes were answered: the footsteps had the metallic clang that I associated with Peridot's metal feet. What were those queer metal limbs of hers? They were so odd. Prosthetic limbs, maybe, or something to make dealing with technology easier – who knew. Maybe I'd ask. Or was that too personal a question? Before I could decide, Peridot was outside my cell. The barrier was brought down and Peridot stepped into the room with barely a pause in her stride. Once she stood directly in front of me, she stopped abruptly.

"Are you alright?" Her voice was mostly monotonous. I was probably imagining the concerned tone.

"Yeah, I'm fine." The polite response came to my mind ('are you alright?') but I ignored it. "You said you were going to answer some of my questions, and listen to me. Can we start now?"

Peridot frowned slightly. "Why are you so eager?"

I looked at her as if it were obvious, although it probably wasn't. "Because! I'm finally going to get a shot at understanding what's going on!"

"Oh. Very well then. You may begin asking now. I may or may not answer."

I thought for a minute, then decided to go with a simple question at first. "Okay. Let's see. What's your mission about? Why are you coming to Earth?"

Peridot hesitated, then replied tentatively, "I need to check on something for Yellow Diamond. Something called the Cluster."

"...yes, and, what is the cluster?"

Once again Peridot paused. "I'm not in a position where I can disclose that information," she replied at last.

"Oh well." That would have to do for now. "What's your usual job, back on Homeworld?"

"I'm a technician. All Peridots are. Weren't there Peridots back when you lived on Homeworld?"

"No, not that I know of. It was a long time ago that I was on Homeworld – over five thousand years ago – how many years have you been in existence?"

Peridot shrugged. "Why are your questions so arbitrary? I emerged twelve years ago."

I smiled, slowly growing more comfortable with this conversation. It had been awfully awkward at first, but it seemed nicer now. "My questions are random because there's a lot I'm wondering. And really, twelve years ago? How is it that you're so trusted that you are leading an important mission like this one?"

"I work hard, and I was promoted often. At the time of my emerging I was taken under Yellow Diamond's wing, so to speak – so I had an advantage from the start. I've never let the Authorities down. That's why I'm trusted." Peridot took a breath, then continued. "Until now, that is. I've never let the Authorities down until now." For a moment she looked like she was about to cry, but the emotion hid itself quickly.

"Oh." For a moment I didn't have anything to say. Then I decided that if a question would be too personal, she'd refuse to answer, so I asked on. "What are those?"– indicating her floating fingers– "You said something about advanced gem tech, but what are those, and your arm things, and feet things?"

Peridot's face twisted wryly. "I shan't answer that in detail," she replied. "But the basic idea is that these are limb enhancers. They enable me to do a lot more than I could usually... and they also increase my height, which is a nice perk." Her eyes looked me up and down, and then she spoke again, hesitantly: "Lapis... do you mind my using your informal name?"

"No," I replied. "Do you mind my using your nickname – Peri?"

"Yes, I do mind it," Peridot replied instantly. Her eyes flickered slightly to something like– regret? But then she went on. "I don't like people being personal with me. My name is Peridot – to call me Peri is very familiar, and I don't know anyone in that way. I also don't like others touching me." Her face slowly turned a darker shade of green and I couldn't help but smile at her discomfort.

"You mean like... this?" I asked, deciding I could try and tease her. As I spoke I stretched out my foot and touched hers.

"Y-yes, like that." Peridot drew her foot away, flushing a darker green. I stopped teasing her. It was pathetically easy. After a moment of awkward silence Peridot drew a deep breath and shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. "Well, I'll come back again later..."

"Alright," I said. Something inside of me was sorry she was leaving, but I overcame it and smiled at her as she turned to leave. "Make it soon. There's nothing to do in this cell."

"I'll come back in a few hours," she replied, nodding. I nodded back at her.

"See you then."