Lapidot one-shots

.:+ It's No Different +:.

Author's note: for this mini story, Peridot is scared of the ocean. I like to think that somewhere in between Barn Mates and Room for Ruby Lapis introduced Peridot to the ocean. It's new and she's sm0l so it's startling. Also, I am not used to writing about humans/gems and that stuff. I have always written about animals, so this is new to me, sorry if it's a little odd in some places.

Peridot walked in step with Lapis as the green and blue duo headed towards the crystal gem's beach house, following a neatly paved sidewalk to their destination. It was a warm and valuable summer laced with a cool wind, and the gems had decided to host a little get together. She was particularly looking forward to Amethyst's snarky jokes, and thought of some new comedies of her own to show off as they walked. While she was thinking, she snuck a look to her left at Lapis. She had her arms crossed, fingers tightly wrapped around her shoulders, hugging herself with a blank look, her mind clearly else where. Concerned, Peridot flicked her left hand into Lapis' side, catching her attention. The distant blue gem looked at Peridot with deep blue eyes, and her brows raised into a question.

"Hmm?" She responded. Peridot tapped her fingers together, bashful and suddenly unsure of what to say. "You looked a little.. off." Was all she could think of at the moment. Lapis giggled and snorted; something that made Peridot's head dizzy with 'feelings', as Steven called them. Lapis looked forward again as she spoke. "I was just thinking of all the things I want to show you, about the ocean."

Peridot had never really been in a large body of water, swimming in it, that is. Sure she had her little inner tube to sit in back at barn in the smaller-than-average-lake, but being in the water was an entirely new story. Peridot shook her head clear of her thoughts and answered, "Oh, okay. Like what?" She piped, eyes widening and sparkling with curiosity. What was so special about the ocean? What was there to know?

Lapis shrugged, chuckling. "There's too many things to mention." She looked up at the setting sun with a small smile, still clutching her shoulders. "I'm just.. excited for you to see what the ocean has to offer." She added. Peridot tipped her head, returning a grin as she walked alongside the blue gem. Suddenly, the ground beneath her became warm and squishy, and a gold light reflected into her visors as the sand she was walking in glimmered in the sun.

Ahead of them, a vast blanket of dark blue water covered as far as she could see, rippling with bubbling white waves. The distant sound of voices came from around the corner of a small cleft; the temple where Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst and Steven lived. Lapis had grown excited beside her and was fidgeting with energy. "Come on, come on!" She urged, and without warning, grabbed Peridot's wrist and tugged her down the slope. Taken by surprise, she stumbled a few before actually getting to her feet, trying to match Lapis' longer strides as she kicked up sand.

The crystal gems were in a neat circle. Garnet sat with her legs crossed in a leaned back chair, while Amethyst lay face down in the sand, doing who knows what. Steven was sitting, shoveling the golden dust into a pale, and Pearl was standing in front of a small pod with legs that trickled with smoke before she turned, her hands perfectly clasped together. "Oh hey, welcome to our cookout!" She chirped, throwing her hands onto her hips and looking rather pleased at their arrival.

Steven bounded up with his iconic bean smile and threw himself at Lapis, hugging her. "Yay, you guys showed up!" Lapis returned the hug and laughed. "Yep, we did." She looked up and around for a bit before looking back at Steven with a puzzled look. "What is everyone doing?" She questioned. Steven stepped back and put his hands to his cheeks with a gasp. "You guys don't know what a cookout is?" Peridot thought for a few, then opened her mouth to respond, but stopped when she realized she didn't know what a cookout was. Steven raised his voice as he bounced on his feet. "Oh my gosh, you guys! A cookout is when you cook food outside and hang out and eat!" He babbled. Peridot furrowed her brows. "Uh, gems don't eat." She remarked coldly. Steven grabbed Peridot by the wrist and tugged her towards the other gems. "They don't, but it's fun! Amethyst eats all the time!"