Scene #4650: Flowery pools

Owner	Pose
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli was enjoying herself, quite immensely. Why? She had water. Lots of water. And it was safe, ehaling water that made her tingle all over and feel super duper good. She may have doodled things on Rose's statue. Words like 'Dork' and 'butt face' and 'war monger.'. But other than that it was still a nice place to be and she was laying out on the rocks besides the pool. Now, were she human, she'd be sun bathing. As it was, she was more just... kind of cuddled up on the ground and seemed to be imitating a cat of some sort. She didn't purr, though.
Rose Quartz	The warp pad activates in the distance, and Rose Quartz emerges from the light, carrying a small bubble between both hands. She seems anxious and excited all at the same time, and doesn't appear to notice Lapis acting like a cat. It would be adorable, but the tall gem woman has other things on her mind. "Just a little while longer," she says as she grows closer. Lapis could see through the bubble that rose is carrying some gem shards.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli looked up. "Hmmm? AHH!" Her eyes widened and she stood up quickly, her hands covering her mouth. "S-steven? Peridot? Pearl? Who is it? What happened?" Oh gosh she was out here and then what if they got attacked and crushed and she didn't save them and they needed her. Visions of Steven calling out for her flashed in her mind. She couldn't move, she couldn't think. all she could do was stare with wide eyed terror at the nameless, broken gem.
Rose Quartz	"Oh my! Lapis, I'm sorry I didn't know you were here or I would have said something. No, it's nobody you know, or at least, I don't think. But it's one of the gems that got shattered during the war. I've been picking over the battlefield to find every last fragment... And I've finally got enough to try and heal it before I bubble it away so that its mind can heal." she says, opening the top of the bubble and filling it with water from the fountain. She seals it up again and watches intently.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked a few times, staring at the gem. She hugged her knees to her chest, eying it. "And what if you missed one of them?" she asked, seeming a little curious before cocking her head to the side. "How long was it broken for? What if some of the pieces were... washed away?"
Rose Quartz	"That's why I haven't done it before now. I didn't want to risk missing any of it. But tiny fragments of dust are easily healed anyways. Steven told me about a time when Ame's gem got cracked. So thankfully, there's enough here to go on." she says as she watches the gem shards float around... They do start to drift closer to each other. "It will take time to tell," she says, sending the bubble back to the temple.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli gulped and moved a little closer. She stared at the gem, then the bubble. She quickly slid away, hugging her legs to her chest. "I... I see," she mumbled gently. "You can always.. I guess..." She stared at the ground. "Rose... I... I never meant to... I mean... when you... I-I was trying to stop Jasper. Because you were being dumb. I never meant for you to... I never would have hurt you in front of Steven like that." Oh, but if Steven hadn't been there...
Rose Quartz	"Lapis, I don't know you very well." Rose says, tilting her chin up a little and smiling her wonderful heartwarming smile. "But I would like to," she says. "You've been hurt, very badly, and I'm sorry if I had anything to do with it. You're a wonderful Gem, and Steven has already told me so much about you. You're kind, and generous, and you kept him safe when you could." she says, twirling a little. "There is a great deal of hurt in your heart and soul, and if you'll let me, I'll try to heal you as best I can. I won't force you, but I think that in time, you will heal. You've already started. If you weren't a good person, you would have been happy to see me hurt, even with Steven there. There is still love and goodness in you, no matter what you or jasper might say."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked and lowered her eyes. She buried her head in her knees. "I'm not good," she whispered softly. "When... when I watched you pop... i was happy. I felt... I was actually happy. I felt steven and pearl would be all mine. I-I didn't... think it for long. but..." She trailed off. "I could have stopped you from falling. I could have grabbed your gem. But I didn't. I told myself it all happened so fast, I just didn't react fast enough. But... I... I don't know if that's true. A part of me... it wanted to see you broken. To see you shattered."
Rose Quartz	"Oh My Lapis Lazuli. What happened to you?" she whispers, picking up the girl and holding her tightly. "It's alright. It is not evil to have bad thoughts and feelings. All that matters is that you recognize them." she says, stroking Lapis' hair. She sits on the edge of the fountain in a beam of sunlight. "I know how it feels. I know how strong it is when you have someone you want to go away."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli squeaked as she was picked up. "S-STOP! PUT ME DOWN! I'm sorry I won't do it again please," she screamed and begged, the water starting to rumble as her eyes went wide with fright. But then she realized she wasn't about to be popped like a grape and then relaxed. She gulped and looked down. "I... I don't want everyone to go away. I like... some people," she mumbled softly. "I just hate you..."
Rose Quartz	Rose lays down in the large fountain, letting Lapis use her like a raft. "I don't hate you. I want to understand you. I want to be your friend, because you're Steven's friend." she says, petting Lapis' hair gently in (what she hopes is) a soothing manner. "I know what happened during the war, and... I'm sorry. I never wanted anyone to be shattered, or cracked, or sealed away. But the life here is so wonderful... It deserves to be allowed to grow and flourish. And without the life on Earth, there would be no Steven... I wish I could help you understand that I'm different now."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli stared down at her, glaring. However, after a moment she looked off to the side. "I... I only ever saw yo fight. I was so scared of you," she muttered. "At... first when they found me. When Pearl found me... I was scared you'd realize what I was. That the great monster of earth would find me and... kill me." She paused. "Then you didn't. And then eventually... I wished you would. Because being shattered would have been better than... that. Just stopping existing..." She sighed. "She always talked about you. Always. Rose rose rose. all I ever heard. How you made her happy. Sad. How wonderful you were. The first time you two fused...."
Rose Quartz	Rose watches Lapis as they float around there, slowly. She thinks for a while, listening. "Well, history is written by the victors, and to them, I am a monster. I fought only as much as I needed to, and I hated every moment that I was required to take up arms against my kin." she murmurs. Drifting deep into thought, Rose Quartz frowns a little. "Lapis... Have you ever been in a fusion that wasn't forced on you?"
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked a few times and then gave a shudder. "Jasper... didn't... force it," she said softly. She then shook her head. "No. Peridot and I... we... tried a few times but we didn't... Peridot can't dance. She can barely walk."
Rose Quartz	Rose laughs a little, but shakes her head. "From what Steven told me, Jasper forced it on you, and then you took control." she says, hugging the little blue girl. "And you did the right thing, even if you didn't do it for the right reasons, you did the right thing." the big woman says, sitting up at the edge of the pond, Lapis in her lap. "Would you like to know what it's like? To be part of a fusion that isn't based on anger and mutal distrust? I'll let you drive, if you like, and you can see that I truly mean you no harm."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked a few times. Let her dr-- "NO!" she shrieked, shaking her head and hugging herself. "N0o no no no no no. I can't fuse with you. No. You don't, you have no idea what I'd do to you. I'd destroy you! I'd tear you apart! I'd hurt you and cut you and tear into you until there was nothing left!" Tears formed in her eyes. "Y-you don't know what I'm capable of. What I'm like. I-I can't, I can't be in control. Not of you. D-don't... don't tempt me with that. P-please. Please don't let me..."
Rose Quartz	"Oh Lapis... You won't. I know you won't. Believe me, I've seen the darkness in the hearts of men. I've read the alternate histories of our world." she says, standing up out of the water, swishing a little to dry herself off. "Even if you would, you won't. I trust you Lapis." she says, holding out a hand and starting to hum a little. "Please, won't you share this jam with me?" she asks, using one of Steven's favorites.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli gulped and slowly took the hand. "I... I don't... I don't know if I can," she said weakly. "If... if pearl finds out, she'll be mad." Not at Rose, though. Never at Rose. Only at Lapis. After all, Lapis was the monster. Lapis was the one who stole the ocean, who brought homeworld here, who had been trapped, alone, for thousands fo years.
Rose Quartz	Rose smiles as she starts to dance. It's a simple dance, designed for the partner to come in whenever they feel up to it. She lets Lapis lead the way, letting things go slowly, at their own pace. "You dance very well." she says with a smile as they begin. "Pearl needed a little push to understand the dancing."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli nodded, taking the other gem's hand. She nodded softly as they slowly began their dance. Slowly moved around. She was smaller, much smaller, so it was harder. Finally she formed her water wings and used them as hand extenders, allowing her to actually grip the larger woman. She was tense, at first, but slowly began to relax. She also was quite graceful, in many ways her dance was like pearls. Slow, gentle, spinning, maneuvering. Very calm and relaxed. In fact, after a few minutes she even smiled a little. As if she was enjoying herself. "This... this is nice," she said softly. Her friends weren't going to die this yime, yay!
Rose Quartz	"Just take your time. We don't even have to fuse if you don't want. Let's just dance for now," she says, concentrating a little. Her form shifts and shrinks down a little to make it easier for Lapis to concentrate on dancing and not on dancing WITH Rose. "Isn't it nice? I think it's nice to dance, even when there's no fusion or meaning behind it. The way our bodies move is marvelous."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli nodded and, after a few minutes, she relaxed a little more. Just... dancing was actually nice. She laid her head against Rose's chest and closed her eyes, letting the larger gem lead. She just followed along. It was oddly different here. Comforting. Once she said they didn't have to fuse, the threat, the forced, all of it just.... faded away. Now she just relaxed, a small smile on her lips as she felt the sway, their bodies moving with the soundless music.
Rose Quartz	Rose Quartz just dances, letting Lapis relax. It's nice, to dance with someone again. Her Pearl always wanted to fuse. This other Pearl always seemed to want to, but was scared to. It was rare, to just dance without expectations. She gives Lapis a little twirl, dipping her slightly before pulling her back up.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli locked up then. Panic began to rise in her and her eyes widened. She stared up at rose with fearful eyes. The dip. Jasper had dipped her before everything that happened. Then she'd-- And then nothing happened. There was no other dip. There was just a soft, gentle dance. Slowly the fear began to subside once again and she laid her head against the larger woman's chest a second time, a smile forming on her lips. "You're a wonderful dancer," she said softly. No expectations, no forcing. Just dancing. It was so silly, so... stupid. So... "Steven..." she whispered softly, her wings melting back into her body.
Rose Quartz	"Well, according to Steven, I'm part of him. It's no wonder that there are a few similarities. I am his mother... I guess? I'm from somewhat earlier in the timeline." she chuckles. "This unification is so confusion at times." She sways back and forth with Lapis, feeling the tension leave after the dipping. "Have you tried shape-shifting to Peridot's height? That might help if you try to fuse again."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blushed and then nodded. "I... I suppose. I've never really been... good at shapeshifting. I can alter my form a bit, but it's not like... you or Amethyst. Mostly it's just... well... more watery. Like my wings." She kept her head cradled against the other woman. "But I might try. I think... I think next time... I don't know. I'm just... scared. Peridot is so..." She tried thinking of the right word. "Fragile. I could break her with ease if I tried. I know I could. And... I'm scared a part of me wants to."
Rose Quartz	"We all have darker parts. Even I have done things I'm not proud of." she says, lifting Lapis by the waist in a slow turn. "And Peridot does seem... She's not fragile, but she's inexperienced. She's not as old as we are, and she hasn't seen as much. She tries to cover it up, but I can tell sometimes when I see her." Rose murmurs, setting Lapis on her feet again.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli nods. "Yeah. She is. She thinks she knows everything, but she really doesn't," she said with a little smile. "Still... she's so smart. And she knows Homeworld now better than any of us. When I was there, the things I saw... it was likea whole new world. A world I didn't belong anymore." She let herself sway with the other gem, like water, guided by the current. "But when... Steven is here... when I'm with him and... sometimes with PEridot... I feel... like everything will be okay. Like, thanks to them, even with Homeworld coming after us, we'll be fine..."
Rose Quartz	"You're like the water you control, Lapis." she says, holding Lapis at arms length for a slow, stately spin before bringing her back in close. "You will adapt. You will find a way. Believe me, I would find Homeworld as strange and bizarre as you now, after five thousand years and more away." Rose murmurs to the smaller girl. "You know what I think? I think you should trust those feelings. This will turn out alright eventually." she says, "There will be good things, and you deserve all the good things in the world."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli smiled, swirling slightly and the dress flowing around her. She smiled. An actual smile. And it spread all the way to her eyes before she was pulled back in. "Y-yeah. Peridot... well, she's a dope. But she's a silly, smart dope. She knows how to keep us safe, how to keep things from getting here. And... we have other worlds we can turn too. Right? So we're not alone." She actually nestled a little bit. "I... think I want to do this with Peridot. when she gets back. Dance. Just... dance. No fusion. No... fighting. Dance."
Rose Quartz	"That would be good. You can teach her how to dance, and then you'll be inventing yourselves together." she says, leading Lapis through a slightly more complex set of steps. "Have you talked to her about it?" she asks, stepping up the pace. "You... Err... Do you live together? Things have changed so much in the unification, I don't entirely understand who is from which timeline."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked. "No? I live here now. I don't know where Peridot lives. Why would we live together?" And a hundred shippers cried. "If she wants to live here, I suppose she can. There's plenty of room and it does get quiet. It'd be nice if we had power out here, too. I'm sure Peridot could figure it out."
Rose Quartz	"Ah, Steven was telling me about how in one of the timelines, you and Peridot live together in the old barn. It's so interesting, to see how things change with just a little nudge in one direction or the other," the big woman says as she pulls Lapis up into the fountain. For such a LARGE woman, she's unusually light on her feet as they dance across the surface of the water.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked a few times, her mouth falling open. "W-what? Why would I want to live in a barn? That seems so... stupid." she just looked confused. "But no, we don't live together. She hasn't expressed any desire to live with me and I frankly couldn't cxare less where she lives. She then paused and thought. "I think she lives in a bunker or some kind of space station. I've been thinking of moving to the moon." She barely noticed the shift, swirling around and enjoying the dance.
Pearl	Pearl emerges into the fountain area holding a cracked gem. This was supposed to be a quick in and out healing job, but instead she finds Rose ...and Lapis!? Dancing!? Her mouth just hangs open for a moment, and then her cheeks flush bright blue. "Oh.. OH! H-hello.." She almost fumbles and drops the gem (again!) "I didn't think anyone would be here! I'll just uhm.. dip this in the fountain and be on my way! You're obviously doing... things! And don't want to be disturbed."
Rose Quartz	Rose doesn't notice Pearl for several long moments, but as she does a turn with Lapis, she spies the other Gem. "Hello Pearl. Lapis and I were just having a conversation. What brings you out to the fountain at this time of the day or night?" she asks, having lost track of time in her dancing with Lapis. She holds lapis close, in case Pearl's arrival startles the other gemgirl.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli froze in place and then pulled away from Rose. Or rather, she tried to. Instead Rose held her in place. She instantly buried her head in the lasrger woman's... floatation devices and held her breath. "H-hi Pearl," she said fearfully. Oh gosh Pearl saw her dancing with Rose. Pearl was going to kill her. Was going to pop her and shatter her and now she was shaking. There was no way pearl would forgive this. she couldn't even hold back a fearful whimper as her slight worry began to spiral out of control into a bubble of anxiety and fear.
Pearl	Pearl's shaking a little too by now, and her eyes are starting to tear up a little, though she's trying hard not to show it. She just quietly moves to the pool to dip the gem in, "We tried to let Centipeedle out again. It.. it's didn't go well." She explains quietly, then starts to back slowly toward the exit.. It's like she's trying to leave quickly without looking like she's trying to leave quickly!"
Rose Quartz	Keeping Lapis in her lap is not difficult for Rose, hugging the poor thing. "Pearl, what's wrong? You look so sad. What happened? Did Steven get hurt? Did the Centipeedle hurt you?" she asks, face calm and placidly loving as it always seems to be.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli just closed her eyes, waiting for it. She was going to get screamed at. no, worse. Pearl would wait until they were alone. Probably break her then. Tell Steven it was an 'accident'. They'd believe her. After all, she was pearl. She'd NEVER hurt another gem like that. Right?
Steven Universe	And then the wwarp pad powers up with a beam of light, leaving Steven standing there peering around! Clearly he saw Pearl leaving and thought maybe he could catch up to her... "Pearl? Hey, I've been wondering where you've... been... lately?" He takes in the scene, Rose hugging an uncertain and skittish Lapis, Pearl somewhere between agony and maybe anger, like she sometimes got with his dad... "Oh, ummm, hi everybody." He sounds sort of uncertain and maybe a little quieter than usual himself.
Pearl	There's just no way Pearl can voice what she's feeling right now without hurting someone "Nothing's Wrong!" She says too quickly, almost shrieking the words. Fortunately she has the presence of mind to bubble her recently healed gem before it has a chance to reform, and sends it back to the temple. She looks a little relived to see Steven appear, walks up to him and puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder. She doesn't look all that sure of anything though. "It's fine Steven!" She says with a forced smile, "I just came hear to heal a cracked gem after a little accident in the basement. We should probably head home and leave Rose and Lapis be!"
Rose Quartz	"Steven, it's good to see you too. Won't the two of you join us? Lapis and I were just relaxing a little. A little dancing, nothing enormous. She just needed somegem to talk to. With everything she's been through lately, can you really blame her?" Rose says, smiling down at Lapis. "Don't be so afraid. It's just Pearl and Steven. Why don't you and Pearl dance while I dance with Steven? I think it would be a lovely way to connect with each other."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli slowly looked back to Pearl. A part of her wanted to stab the woman. Another wanted to comfort her. A third wanted to flee. And then she heard that voice. "Steven?" she asked softly. And then Rose said that. She locked up completely. "W-what? Dance with... Dance with PEARL?" she asked, agast. She stared at the white gem and a light hint of blue flooded her cheeks. "I... I can't. She... she wouldn't like a gem like me. She'd much rather.... she'd be much better dancing with you. I-I think... I think I-I'd best... just... just go." And there she was again. Trying to run away.
Steven Universe	Steven nods quietly, and starts from the warp pad toward Rose, pausing for a moment to speak quietly to Pearl as he passes. "Pearl... You should be honest with how you feel. Brutally honest even. It hurts more when you hold it in. I don't want you to have to hurt." There's something unsettling in his voice, his words, but it's just Steven, worried about people's feelings like always! He gives her a warm hug and approaches Lapis and Rose. "Hi Mom, hi Lapis! Mind if I... cut in?" He chuckles, offering both of them a hug too. "Lapis, please try not to be scared. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. I love all of you, and I will protect you all."
Pearl	Pearl looks thoughtfully at Steven, trying to decide if his suggestion is actually a good idea or not. It doesn't help that Rose's suggestion to switch dance partner's has left her even more confused. She'll have to talk this out with Rose later. In Private. She strokes Steven's hair for a moment and gives him a genuine smile, "It's not always that easy Steven." she says softly. As Steven goes to dance with Rise she locks eyes with Lapis, her gaze saying that they just need to get through one dance, and then they can go back to hating each other. She then leaps into the air, performs a beautiful, perfect Pirouette in the air, then lands on one foot next to Lapis, leaning over and extending a hand to the Blue Gem.
Rose Quartz	And Steven has Rose's attention. There's something off about her boy. What it is, she can't exactly tell... But it's like the Rose in him is trying to tell her something. She smiles warmly at him and pulls him into a cute little Tango, strutting along the surface of the water... With Steven's feet dangling in the air above it. "Hello Steven," she says, nuzzling his cheek a little. "How have you been?"
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli gulped and then there was Steven. And then Pearl. She pulled back a little, but then the gem held out her hand. Slowly. Timidly she took it. She then pushed in slightly, gently putting her hand to the small of Pearl's back. She looked worried, none the less she began to dance, gently at first, but soon if Pearl let her, she'd even take the lead. Guiding the gem about, holding her slightly to her, her hands almost possessive. If Pearl thought about it, she might even realize that this dance was a lot like the kind of dance she normally did. Except Lapis was trying to... well... be the leader. Allowing Pearl to be possessed... well, in the dance, at least. IT was easier than dancing with Rose, at least.
Steven Universe	Steven laughs brightly as his Mom swings him about in a fun, wild dance that leaves his head spinning just a little. He shrugs a little, as much as he can with his arms engaged in dance and smiles in a way that doesn't... quite... reach his eyes maybe. "I've been missing you all. Everyone's so busy, Connie has school and all that homework, even Dad's been weirdly busy with the car wash." He pauses as Rose spins him over the water and dips waaay back, the very top curls of his hair just touching the surface of the water. "But there are so many people in the unification, and they keep finding their way here. Did you know I accidentally fused with Toph a while ago? Now that was weird." If he were a little older, or maybe had any real skill at being manipulative, the topic shift might even seem like it wasn't intentional.
Pearl	Pearl begins in the lead, not out of rivalry but simply because she's taller,her choice being an elegant Ballroom Dance. Once she feels Lapis try to take the lead, she gives in and lets her have it, maybe she'll learn something about her from the way she dances? "So.. how have you been Lapis?" Shew asks awkwardly, "You're doing well I hope?" She trails off with a nervous giggle that she tries to suppress.
Rose Quartz	Rose Quartz dances with Steven a little, but eventually tires out. She sits down, with him in her lap, snoozing lightly as she watches Pearl and Lapis dancing slowly together, leaving Steven to watch, or even join in the dancing. "I'm sorry Steven honey. Mama just needs a little rest, okay?"
Steven Universe	Steven nods, taking Rose's hand and leading her gently back toward the warp pad if she'll stay awake long enough to go, not wanting to let go of her suddenly because of all the things he has been feeling lately, that is just about the best, most perfectly comforting feeling ever. "Let's both go rest. I'm tired too, and I like cuddling with you."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli nodded a little. "I... am doing better. I suppose. I ummmm... I'm sorry for dancing with Rose. I-I didn't want to. She made me. W-we weren't going to fuse, I swear. I wouldn't... fuse with her." She lowered her eyes, not mossing a step. She was completely different from the others, though. Her movements mirrored Pearls quite closely. Though being stuck in a mirror for a few thousand years only having one person to watch, well... it was no surprise. "I know if we did... I know..." She tightened up just a little, missing a step but quickly recovering. "I know how protective you are of her. How much you love her." There was a certain way to how she said 'her'. "And... I'm sorry I got her captured. Albeit temporarily..." And then they were alone. She eyed pearl a little nervously, afraid to stop the dance without permission.
Pearl	Pearl relaxes noticably once Rose and Stteven have gone. She looks at Lapis again and flushes for a moment, "We.. don't have to keep doing this is you don't want to?" She takes a breath adn a little of the hurt look comes back into her eyes. "What were you two doing here.. if you don't mind me asking?" Ammazingly her pain and anger don't seem to be directed at Lapis, somehow she just seems to know Rose was the instigator. She also seems to have let the subject of Rose's capture drop completely.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked and then. "She... she asked if I wanted to fuse. I just... I..." She trembled. "I can't fuse with her." she didn't stop dancing, though she didn't seem as focused on it. "I don't... I don't think I can... control myself. If I do... I think if I do... I'll want to hurt her. I just... I don't..." She shuddered. "I don't do well when I'm in control. When I'm... powerful.And if I do to her what I did to jasper... You'll..."
Pearl	Pearl lets out a relieved sigh. "II believe you Lapis.. I know what Rose can be like. But as difficult as that was for me to see she's right about one thing, Fusion can be a beautiful thing. You shouldn't be afraid of it. It's a completely different experience when both partners are willing and trust each other! You should talk to Garnet about it. She knows better than anyone!" She pauses the dance somewhat experimentally, seeing if Lapis wants to stop, "Now don't get me wrong, I'm still angry with you, but it wasn't about letting Rose get captured. She's gotten herself out of worse." She jabs the other gem in the ribs, "It's that you insist on running away from your problems! You need to start taking responsibility for your actions! It was a hard lesson for me, It was a hard lesson to teach Steven, but it's one we all need to learn!" She peers down at the other Gem.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked a few times, opening her mouth. She then looked away. "How can it possibly be beautiful. It's just... hurting someone else. Binding them... controlling them..." She slowed the dance in response, but didn't stop. "It's... easy for you. You at least... you wanted Rose. You always wanted Rose. Always loved her. Always wanted her..." She mumbled softly under her breath. "Never saw her as just a broken tool..." "At... at least when I run away no one gets hurt! When I... when I try to help just... bad things happen..."
Pearl	Pearl shakes her head, "In a proper fusion, you're both in control! How did Garnet put it? "You're not two people, and you're not one person, you're an experience! So make it a good one!" She manages to smile a little, "And it may seem that way, but you can hurt people far worse by running away! imagine if Steven realized there might be someone in that mirror, then got scared, dropped it on the beach and ran off?"
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli that made her freeze in place. Completely freeze in place. She shook in Pearl's arms, staring at her. "I... I think about that... that every day." She trembled. "W-whenever I close my eyes. I wonder... w-what could have happened. What would have happened. If he hadn't... if you had just... b-bubbled me. If you'd... if you'd never given me away... if you hadn't... if I hadn't..." She was shaking heavily now, almost falling over as she gripped the gem. Then... "Why did you give me away? Then?"
Pearl	Pearl knew that question was coming, but she has to stop and think for a long moment before she can answer, "Because I'm not Steven." She hangs her head as she speaks, "I didn't have the creativity or compassion to even consider the possibility that your mirror was anything other than a tool." She explains apologetically. "I don't think even Rose would have noticed on her own. But Steven, he's Rose, and yet he's so much more at the same time, He's a new kind of fusion that we didn't even know was possible."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli stared at Pearl, and then moved a little closer. "T-that's... not what I meant. Why did you toss me away? Had I not been good? Had I not been there every time you needed me? For six thousand years I was at your beck and call. And then you were just... just going to toss me away? Give me away? Like I was nothing? And then when the.... when they wanted to bubble me, you just... you wanted to, too?"
Pearl	"I thought I'd explained this already." Pearl sounds a little irritated now, but still very much remorseful. "We're used to any Gem we don't know trying to kill us. We've gotten used to poofing first and asking questions later!" She throws her hands up in the air, "When Greg needs to borrow a screwdriver I don't spend fifteen minutes saying goodbye to the screwdriver! I didn't know you were in there! I'M SORRY!"
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli froze then. "T-that's... that's all I was to you? A screw driver?" Aaaand now she was full on crying. "I-I thought... I... I..." She trembled. "Then why do you want to still poof me? I never... I never wanted any of this. Anything to happen to you." She hugged herself. "I can still see it. The way you look at me. The way you... talk to me. You hate me. You just look at me like I'm some kind of monster, something you need to destroy to protect Steven!" She screamed, the water bubbling. "That's all I ever am to you! A tool or a threat! Why? Why can't you ever look at me like... like you look at Rose or... or even Garnet? But your first instinct is always to draw a spear! To try to hurt me! To try and protect yourself from me! DO YOU REALLY THINK I'D EVER HURT YOU?! DO YOU REALLY THINK STEVEN WAS THE ONLY ONE I WAS PROTECTING FROM JASPER?!" she screamed that, the water around them suddenly erupting in a flurry, sending it cascading around them. She gasped and took a step back, looking around in horror as the water drippled around the. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't... I never meant to..."
Pearl	Pearl takes a step back as well, she can't help but look a little afraid at Lapis's sudden explosion of emotion, "Lapis! What!? I don't want to poof you! It's not like that anymore! You get on my nerves sometimes but so do Steven and Amethyst and half of the humans in this city!" She actually ends up sitting on the edge of the fountain despite the torrent of boiling water swirling around. She looks at Lapis dumfounded, "How can you feel that way..?" Her voice is almost numb "But you're right, I was terrible to you, for thousands of years! I treated you like you were nothing.. I didn't know any better! I.. I don't understand, You have every right to want to shatter me! How can you even look at me?"
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli stared at her, before taking a step back. The tears just kept flowing. "I... I don't know..." She finally fell to her knees. "I just... I just don't know. I want to hate you. I want to destroy you. I want to break you apart but... but..." She gave a soft whimper. "For six thousand years, you were my world. You were my everything, Pearl. I couldn't... I know to you, I was nothing but a tool. An object. A... a screw driver. But... but to me..." Her words went slow. "You... were the only light to the world I saw. You were my world. Every second I spent with you was... was bliss. It was time I wasn't... trapped. Wasn't alone. Even if... even if you never cared about me. Even if you never liked me..." She hugged herself and gave a whimper. "I just... can't... stop it. I want to hate you. I want to hate you so... so bad... but... I can't. Just... the thought of something happening to you... to you getting popped or... or hurt or... or even shattered. Just makes me... makes me want t-to shatter myself..." she said it so softly. "And I hate it and I hate you and you hate me and... and I swear I'd never hurt you. I'd never try to... try to hurt you..."
Pearl	"Lapis. I don't hate you." Pearl says as she slowly stands back up. Oh Stars, she's got to try to comfort her now. That's Steven or Rose's job! "I can't imagine what it was like being trapped for so long, but I do know what it's like to be a tool. I'm just a Pearl. I could never intentionally treat anyone else like that." She hesitantly offers a hand to Lapis, "I'm no good at this.. but.. what can I do? Is there anything I could ever to to make it up to you?" She falls silent for a moment then adds. "Also... could you put the water back in the fountain please?" She asks sheepishly.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli slowly reached out. The water slowly returned to it. She then grabbed her hand and looked up at her. "Pearl... I just... I just want you to look at me like... you look at Garnet and... and Rose. You aren't just a tool... Aren't just a pearl. I... I could make you strong. I could... make you secure... I could make you... confident... Everything you wanted. Everything... Rose wouldn't listen to you for... wouldn't... be there for you, for. I could have..." And then she stood up, pulled Pearl in, and kissed her. She saw it on camp pining hearts. And... maybe Ruby and Sapphire. Once.
Rose Quartz	Rose is lurking out of sight, hand over Steven's mouth. This is the best show she's seen in THOUSANDS of years. The drama. The Pathos. Rose was always a closet Soap Opera fan, and this is better than even the most gloriously camp episodes of the trashiest soap operas she's ever seen. She looks briefly down at Steven, gesturing for him to stay quiet as she peeks.
Steven Universe	Steven for his part is motionless, eyes unblinkingly wide. If anyone were to somehow draw their eyes away from the kiss, they might see hope and joy blooming in his eyes, some of that... weight... he's been carrying evaporating from his little round shoulders. He may be silent and unmoving, but he is also scquealing and running in circles on the inside. A tear drips down onto Rose's hand still covering his mouth. He has been moved to tears, not necessarily an abnormal thing, but still notable. Weirdly, he is reminded of the last of his clones kissing him and telling him to stay cool...
Pearl	Pearl's eyes go wide when she's pulled into the kiss. This is wrong! She suddenly realizes that Lapis is practically a stranger compared to how long she's known Rose. But if she just pulls away that would hurt Lapis even more! To make matters worse, She doesn't entirely want to pull away... She just lets Lapis hold her for what seems like an appropriate amount of time based on the TV shows she's seen. Otherwise they could literally kiss forever, neither of them needs to come up for air! Finally the nervousness build to a point where she needs to pull back. "Oh my! You certainly went native quickly!" Her cheeks have flushed so deeply blue you could swear she was changing color. "I.. I.. need to take this slow." She gasps. "I don't know you nearly as well as you know me.." Pearl looks like she's ready to cringe in preparation for another explosion of feelings from Lapis.
Peridot	Rose and Steven were very stealthy. But then, Peridot happened. The tactless little gem stomps past Rose and Steven clenching her tablet, looking down at with concentrated brows. "This is where you've all been! Geez, I've been out there for hours digging in the sand trying to find your automated turret system. I'm starting to think you clods don't have any turrets at all!" She chews her knuckle for a moment before her expression brightens. "Oh! Of course, They must be hidden in the statue somewhere, like in the eyes, or the palm of the hands. Yes, that's clever. I'll dig in there to see if I can find them." "As for weaponry, we're a little lacking in that department too. I mean yeah we have a few axes and swords but, these kind of things haven't been in play for thousands of years! We really need t update our arsenal, perhaps we could barter with some of the more advanced unified species and--." It's then that she looks up,, brows raised and looks left and right before focusing on Pearl and Lapis. She squints and points an ink pen in their direction. "What... are you two doing?"
Rose Quartz	"Noooooooo." Rose says. She dives for Peridot as the little gem stomps past. Everything seems to go into slow motion. She trips over Steven. Her hovering powers kick in. She goes sailing across the room, trying to grab Peridot on her way past. If she manages to catch the other gem, she'll tumble end over end towards the far door. "You're going to ruin everything."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli stared at her. "I... I don't... I didn't... t-the humans on the shows always did that after they... I thought... I was just... I..." She took a step back. "I just don't know, Pearl! i don't know what I'm doing or thinking or how I feel or... or any of that!" and then she was aware that PEridot was here. She turned. Looked to her. Then to PEarl. Then back to her. What did those humans always say? "W-wait, it's not what it looks like. We were... we were... Pearl what were we doing?" Then. "ROSE! STEVEN!" She shrieked. Aaaaand then the wings formed. And then Rose grabbed peridot. "H-HEY! PUT HER DOWN!" Lapis screamed and suddenly ALL the water in the fountain rose up in the air. Eep. Looks like a button was pushed.
Steven Universe	"Eeep!" Steven is tripped over and makes a startled sort of noise as he topples feet over teakettle, his bubble forming around him as a practiced reflex now. He rolls, rolls, suddenly dizzy and confused, until the bubble pops depositing him in the ground directly in front of Pearl and Lapis. He looks sheepishly up at them both for a moment, then promptly deposits his lunch on the ground. "Urgh..."
Pearl	Pearl is on top of the fountain now. How did she even get there? No one knows! "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE!?" She Shrieks. Pointing at everyone and everything accusingly. "We weren't doing anything! We were getting to know each other! Steven! What have I told you about eating before you go spinning!?" There's just so much going on now it's hard to keep track of it all! Okay, just focus on what's impportant and try to keep the subject of of herself and Lapis and everything will be fine! She leaps down from the top of the fountain to check on Steven. "Are you alright!? DDo we need to get you home?" She asks worriedly.
Rose Quartz	Setting Peridot down, Rose pouts. "Everything was going so WELL!" she complains. Lapis and Pearl were getting along. They were KISSING and talking about their feelings and having a real conversation!" she says, sighing deeply. "And no, we don't have any turrets. Do you really think we need them?" she asks Peridot.
Steven Universe	"Ooooh... I think I shouldn't have had the whole pizza... Sorry about that. I kinda didn't expect to come rolling in. I, um..." He whispers to Pearl, "I'm glad you and Lapis had a chance to talk. I've been worried about her." Absolutely no mention of kissing, clearly he didn't see a thing about that, nosirree! "Peridot, I haven't seen you around in a while, how are you doing?" Smooth, real smooth.
Peridot	Peridot spits out a mouthful of water after is set down by Rose. "Aw! My tablet!" She grumbles holding the device up. "Stupid earthling tech, it gets wet and it stops functioning! Your planet is like 90% water! Why wouldn't you water proof your devices!" She tosses it over her shoulder and shakes herself dry. "Are we just renacting camp pining hearts scenes? We have a war on our doorsteps and you're all down here doing... whatever.. -this- is!" she gestures broadly. "Yes we need turrets! A homeworld vessel showed up on our very door step. A homeworld gem came here un-challenged and left without a scratch! And this one isn't like me. I'm smart, reasonable and cautious. This one is a soldier, brash and reckless! Which wouldn't be a problem except that she has access to tech lightyears beyond what we have here." Her brows and she points her pen. "And before you say anything, I know light years is a measurement of distance, not time." "We need weapons! Defenses! A fence! Bombs! Blasters and traps!" She grins clenching her fist.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli eeped and droppd the water again. She looked between them, then Peridot, then Rose, then Steven. "I was... yes. We were... we were not doing anything in fact I was just about to leave. Yes, I was escap-- flee-- runn-- going. I was just going." She said before walking forward, grabbing Peridot's hand in a grip that would -break steel-(still gentler than Garnets) and made her way towards the teleporter. Except... getting there would require her to bypass Rose. She stopped when she realized the large woman was in the way. To go around her would require getting into... hugging range. "We can get turrets... somewhere else."
Rose Quartz	"Peridot. We have allies now. Countless other realities to aid us. Technology beyond our wildest dreams is at our finger-tips. Jasper was here. And left. Yes. It was a tough situation. But we handled it. You are far too paranoid my dear. If you stay so tense, you'll crack your own gem. And I know Pearl would be very sad if you had stress-cracks." she says in a firm, admonishing tone, like a mother scolding her child.
Pearl	"Peridot has a point!" Pearl offers, "We could go set the laser canons up on the beach? I know they're not up to current Homeworld standards but they'll do until we can find something better." Also it'll get Pearl out of this increasingly embarrasing situation! She gives Rose an odd look. "I wouldn't be that upset! I mean ah.. she's an ally and all but.. Well you know!"
Steven Universe	Steven stands near the mess he made, watching Lapis and Pearl both close back up with a sort of sad look, but he doesn't know what to do about it. In fact, he's wondering if his words earlier were helpful at all, but he's just a kid, really... He doesn't have any answers to help the adults with problems not even they can figure out. "Ummm, I'll go get some paper towels or something..."
Peridot	"Hang on, Lazuli." Peridot digs her heels in, pulling back against Lapis. "This is important, and I rarely get all of you in the same room." "Paranoia kept me alive." Peridot answers matter of factly. "And it will continue to keep me alive while our defensive measures remain so..." She searches for the right word. "Lack-a-daisy." She clasp her hands behind her back. "I like you, Quartz. And I acknowledge the impressive feats you've accompliced as the leader of the rebellion. But with all due respect, you've been out of the game for quite a long time. And in the time between, you've spent a large part of it probably singing and crying." "I'm far more familiar with Homeworlds armada, and what it's capable of. If you aren't afraid, it's because you don't know what's coming. I do." Peridot nods at Pearl. "Even Pearl agrees. And, I agree, having allies is a boon; but we would be foolish to leave our survival purely in the hands of non-gems. We need to beef up our perimeter. And we need leadership capable of preparing for the very modern threat we're looking at."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli blinked and then froze in place. Sure turned to Peridot and her wings began to wilt. "W-what? But... but..." Her voice got small and frightened, her hand letting Peridot's go. She took a step away from Peridot. "You... you told me we were safe. You... you promised me. You promised that your defenses could keep us safe." She was shaking now, her arms around herself. "You... you swore to me. I thought... I thought we..." She stepped back away from peridot. Towards pearl. She then realized where she was going, then looking back to rose. Then Peridot, rose, pearl. Finally, her wings formed and she turned, leaping into the air and, well, fleeing.
Peridot	"That's what I'm doing!" Peridot answers in an exasperated tone looking towards Lapis as she flees. Then she rubs her hand over her face. "It's not instant, but at least I'm working towards it! Ugh, great, now I have to deal with this too!" She points her finger at Rose. "Get your act together. I'm preparing a six point audit of our defensive systems. if it's not up to par, we're going to have words. We're crystal gems! Not slacker gems." And with that, Peridot followed after Lapis.