Two: Shorty Squad
Peridot paced.
She knew it was illogical and objectively irrational, but she felt as if there was something bubbling inside of her. Fizzy, like those 'sodas' Steven enjoyed drinking, and Amethyst enjoyed shaking so that they would explode in his face. Peridot recognized this bubbling sensation as 'nervousness', and considered just how much she detested the feeling.
"So?" she demanded, turning to her friends. "Tell me what you think!"
Steven and Amethyst pulled the items out of the box Peridot had carefully wrapped.
"They're yo-yos?" Steven asked, as Amethyst pulled experimentally on a string.
Smiles were spreading across both of their faces. The fizzling nervousness gave way immediately to relief.
"YES!" Peridot cried. "I had promised to make one for you both a significant time ago, but I became... distracted with other projects, but also determined to make it as high quality as possible! I grew concerned you would not want them so late!
"I utilized the developmental delay to implement a number of exciting features, however! These yo-yos' small size and lack of blunt-force is compensated by greater versatility and speed! I have installed control panels in the handles that allow the user to activate a number of different functionalities. The first button triggers sharp blades to emerge, the second administers an electric shock, and the third activates an immediate high-velocity recoil!
"Additionally, they have many aesthetically pleasing features! They are in pink and purple— your favourite colors, naturally. For the third, I considered using a flame pattern, since in Steven's words, they paradoxically 'just make everything cooler', but I did not know Amethyst's opinion on the design. Instead, I settled on a color I knew you both would appreciate: green! A marker of your best friend, me! If I you enjoy them, then on the next model, perhaps I can incorporate flames—"
Peridot was cut off, knocked back by a sudden purple explosion.
She had not had time to reorient herself before she was lifted in the air. There was a surge of panic until she realized she had been lifted into a giant, three-armed hug from Smoky Quartz.
The sensation was surprisingly, but not altogether unpleasant, or even unfamiliar.
"I love them, Dot!" the fusion cried. "Best yo-yo ever!" Smoky smirked. "Well, second best. Hard to beat my own."
"Yes, well." Peridot tried to puff out her chest. "We would need to perform some empirical testing to verify such a claim."
"Oh, like a competition?" Smoky Quartz laughed. They dropped Peridot to the ground. With a flash of light, they were holding four yo-yos: their own summoned one, and Peridot's three gifts. "You are on."
