Lapis and Peridot

There's so much more...

[Lapis' POV]

"Are you saying that back before you were trapped in the mirror, Yellow Diamond was just a minor force in the Diamond Authority?"

"Yes, that's what I said. I don't know what happened while I was gone, but – she's really in charge now?"

"She's pretty much the leader of the Authority now. She's the one who passed the act that destroyed the old monuments and rebuilt them in a more modern fashion–"

"WHAT!? She destroyed them!?"

"Well, they were a safety hazard, so she had them replaced by metal structures..."

Peridot and I had been talking for a while now, speaking about Homeworld and the past. We carefully avoided the topic of the future and the present, sticking only to facts and history. I thought it best to get to know Peridot a little better before I tried to change her world views as drastically as I was planning to. She seemed a little confused and unstable at first, but as we conversed she relaxed a little. She was still sitting straight up, but her posture was a little less stiff, and when I had moved to sit beside her she hadn't protested (I made sure to give her some space, though; she probably needed it). Time went fast as we spoke, and before long Peridot looked at her touchscreen and her eyebrows flew up.

"I have to go! Lapis, I'll come back soon and we can talk again, but I have something scheduled for–"

"Wait. Peridot. Do you have a clock?"

"A what?"

"A, you know, a time-measurer."

"Oh. Yes. I do have one. Obviously."

"No, I mean one you can give me. The time goes so slowly – maybe if I could see what time it was..."

"I see. I can get you one. I'll bring it to you next time I come. For now you'll have to make do without it, I'm afraid." I nodded, not wanting to be too pushy, although I did wish she could just bring it right away. Peridot got to her feet and opened the wall. As she left (closing the cell behind her, of course) she added one more sentence: "Oh! And Lapis – if Jasper comes by, try not to be too spirited. I would prefer not to have to 'punish' you again."

"...fine."

[Peridot's POV]

I had to admit: talking to Lapis was extremely intriguing. She knew so much about history, which was to me very interesting (you could almost say I studied it unnecessarily) and her reactions when she heard bits of new information were amusing. The only issue was that the more time I spent with her, the more she seemed to take over my thoughts. It was partially frustrating and partially intriguing and somehow a small whisper inside of me seemed to like it. Of course that was ridiculous. I wasn't supposed to like anything that wasn't related to work. I wasn't supposed to like anything, period. But I do like Lapis, part of me was saying. The rest of my mind beat back the dissonant voice. No I don't. Yes I do. No I don't. I don't dislike her, is what I said, but I don't LIKE her. Yes I do. The more time went by, though, the more I wanted to believe the voice that said that I do like Lapis. That maybe, just maybe, it wasn't so bad.

Enough of this! I need to focus on my work. I need to forget about Lapis. Maybe I should think of her as Lazuli. No, that wouldn't help. I was seated in my chair in the control room, as usual. I'll just keep my thoughts on my report to Yellow Diamond. That was my task: record a message to Yellow Diamond, telling her any information she didn't already know and updating the status of my mission.

"Log date: 4928." I hurriedly planned my words, flattened my tone, and set a neutral expression. "This is the third week of my interstellar journey. All is progressing as planned. The prisoner, Lapis Lazuli, has been cooperative. I have interrogated her and found out some information about the Crystal Gems. It's not very relevant to the mission, unfortunately, since we may not run into them at all. As for the mission – checking on the Cluster – I am researching methods which could potentially enhance productivity in this task. I will update my log if any changes occur in the situation. Peridot, Facet Five, end log."

That done, I sent it off to Yellow Diamond and took a deep breath. Finished. But I couldn't go back to Lapis now. Oh, that's right – Lapis asked me for a timekeeper. I'd spend my time constructing one; it wasn't a difficult project and I had plenty of materials. Besides, it would take long enough that I could take it to Lapis right away and not be suspiciously late or early. This was shaping to be a pretty good day.

[Lapis' POV]

It was silent. The sort of silence that fills your head and buzzes in your ear and keeps you from thinking and drives you crazy. I felt like shouting and screaming and punching something because I was trapped, as I had been nearly constantly for five millennia... but at the same time I knew that it was hopeless, that I couldn't escape. My own words taunted me as I remembered what I had said to the Crystal Gems before I fled into the sea. "I am Lapis Lazuli, and you can't keep me trapped here any more!" Yeah, right. And then a few days later, here I was, trapped again. I sighed and resisted the urge to be violent. It wouldn't do me any good. When I beat the anger down, hopelessness washed over me in a sudden wave.

I needed a distraction and I needed one now. I had danced, before, just to keep my mind off my situation. It had helped for a while, although I had felt very awkward at first. But I didn't feel like dancing now. I'm so pathetic. No matter how I try I can't stand up for myself. My eyes blurred and filled with tears, but I didn't want to cry.

Wait. This is water. I can control it. Although it's not enough water to do anything... but I can play with it. I shaped the water from my tears into a ball and left it floating in front of me. This'll work... Until Peridot comes... I sighed, and quickly pushed Peridot out of my mind. I wouldn't think about that now. Just this water. Water. Water.