Drowning Ruby

Our Lake and Braided Cords

"Lapis...what is this?" A duck was sunning itself in the pond, bill occasionally moving down to dunk itself underwater in hopes of catching food. Ruby found herself enamoured by it.

"It's...actually, I'm not actually sure." Peridot, the usual solution to unknowns due to her curiosity, was nowhere to be found; probably dragging in some scrap she found in the field again. Lapis' gaze became drawn in by the feathered-creature as well, both of them following it in a simple silence. The red gem then seemed to grasp the inspiration needed, making her way towards it with easy steps before letting her finger dip into the pool. It rippled and the duck, seeing the situation brewing, was quick to abandon ship; Ruby was disappointed but still just as entrance as it took flight. She found herself following it in the sky, and back to the lake, by the meadow, it flew, far into the wilderness where her and Lapis (who had followed along) now found themselves in; a familiar scene to both.

It was their spot, to get away from...stuff. Mostly it was used as a quiet place when the noise got bothersome enough to Lapis that she noticed the uncomfortable aura about the ruby (as she often failed to address those as negatives). As far as Ruby could tell, she never would dislike company...yet her body-language told different tales at certain times; when memories blurred with reality and everything seemed dark despite the daylight. Sometimes they'd just come because it was beautiful and no one expected a freshwater lake to even exist near an ocean, nor in a forest. It wasn't big, merely a puddle compared to most bodies of water but the caution tape and stories of 'magic moss' kept people away; it wasn't like they went in the water anyway. Ruby watched as the duck flew off after a brief stop at the bank, putting her hand out to touch the pink flowers growing by the sand. She breathed in, then out, casting her gaze at the blue gem besides her for a moment with a look of content that was easily matched.

She giggled, no real reason coming to mind for it...just this moment seemed funny to her. It was so quiet, a complete difference to what her life had always been with her squad, in training, everything… Yet here, on this planet, she could simply sit if she wanted to, watch the butterflies flutter and land on her nose and on the hair of a sleeping Lapis. Her own heart fluttered as the sound of nothing echoed like music, a blush rising to her cheeks as she miffed the quiet with little breaths of laughter. Accompaniment joined it, Lapis choosing to chime in without a need for comment or a question of what they were even doing. So this is bliss…? The question sounded in her mind without even using a thought as the two seemed to converse without word or gaze. It's been a crazy six months they've had, most of Ruby's life had already been spent here, in this confusing place called Earth, and in the company of some pretty great friends.

She had, indeed, made up a corner of her own. She'd found an old couch and quickly grew attached to the feel of the soft objects in comparison the the usually harsh lines of Homeworld technology. Soon she'd made up a collection of bits and bobs she's scavenged from various pieces of furniture; as well as a gifted animal that was stuffed to the brim with it. At first the animal had been strange to Ruby, the fact that something used for sleeping could be shaped like a living being. Over time, however, it had grown on her and became a prominent part of her corner (which seemed to be getting bigger every week as more and more things were pushed elsewhere by Peridot in an effort to give Ruby her space). It was the little things that pleased her too, like watching the sun rise as listening to an explanation as she was used to not knowing much; it had just been a few too many unknowns at first… Now that time felt almost like a bad dream despite the obvious notion of it only being a short time prior; only half an Earth's year.

"I wanna go swimming…" Her own voice cut through her thoughts with the unstated request for Lapis to join her.

"Need me to hold you up again?" The blue gem responded, jokingly. Ruby sank like a stone the first time she'd tried and Lapis had gotten endless amounts of amusement from the confusion as bubbles came from her mouth.

"I got it this time!" Ruby shouted, determined in her ways as she jumped, immediately falling to the bottom. "Oh come on!" A watery shout sounded. Lapis was now laughing hysterically, leaving Ruby with a flustered smile and a heated face; had she been an earlier generation it was likely no water would be left at that point… Her hands went to her face in a silent question as she sat at the bottom, watching the blue gem languidly float without even trying with a frustration well known to them both.

In a mere moment, Lapis is diving, holding a breath she doesn't need just for the sake of feeling alive. Her hands grasp the ruby's upper arms and lift her up with a grace only she could possess. Ruby's eyes stared in wonder as they lifted further and further from the ground, a bit of jealousy burning the back of her throat that Lapis always seemed to know what to do herself. It was the same for Peridot, at least that's what she had told her, when she'd depended on technology and thought herself worthless without it. Now she could be her own person in a way the red gem never could since, after all, she was useless without others to help her.

"Hey," The bluenette started, "Something wrong?"

"I don't know, it's like…" She struggled to find the words, "I guess it's strange...even now, I don't know how you guys do it, it's amazing."

"I...I'm still like that sometimes…"

"You still…?"

"Yeah, all the time, this planet is weird...and, at first, only brought back bad memories; now going back to Homeworld does that…" She paused, letting out a breathy laugh, "Its almost funny, how everything...changed, so quickly." Ruby nodded, looking back down at the lake, it reflected the coming stars and setting sun with a beautiful light that had her pulling a notebook from her belt. Steven had gifted it her after she'd told him about how different everything looked, that she'd like to...make something like herself; add to the world.

"I see," Lapis let out a laugh as the gem she was holding awkwardly held the pencil and roughly sketched the scene with carefully practiced lines, "Prefer the notebook, huh? My company not enough?" She teased.

"Wha- What?! No!" A blush coated her cheeks as she put away her finished sketch with a huff, crossing her arms over her chest. The belt was new too, she'd figured it had been time for a change in outfit, a skirt now overlapping shorts to match the rest of the short dress. She swung her legs as they simply floated, still content with the feel of the swishing, burgundy fabric as she fiddled with the bracelets on her wrists. They had been made from little bits of string after a book on weaving had been gifted to her; she had already made one for everyone. Speaking of everyone, the meeting had been shaky but...she could relate to the Crystal Gems in a way; emotionally. Quick friends were made between her and the Barnies (though Pumpkin took a bit longer) and while she didn't get the others in the same way it was still a nice little bond they established through mutually enjoyed hobbies that Ruby discovered everyday.

"I made you a new one." Ruby pulled the bracelet free from the bag at her belt (also holding her notebook, pencil, string, scissors, and a disposable camera). It was a light blue with little bits of pink and purple showing through in accompaniment with stripes of a pretty light-green. It was the blue gem's turn to blush as she awkwardly looked at it with a sense of great happiness that someone had taken the time. She went to reach for it without thinking, Ruby sliding from her grasp in a terrifying moment as she fell through open air; suddenly feeling a sort of undecided terror. Because she was happy Lapis had liked it but at the same time feeling a sort of betrayal and fear as she was let go.

"Whhhhhoa!"

"Ruby!" They were high. Neither was sure if it was a blessing or a curse; nor were they sure what would happen if she reached the bottom. Maybe it would ruin the trust they had- they didn't know. This the main motivation for the dive the blue gem then made, reaching out her hand as Ruby sank like a stone, just like in the water. They each reached, falling faster and faster until- hand meets hand as faces each have equal relief as Ruby slows and they both remain just a few meters above the pond. They just wait there, panting, until a laugh sounds through from them both at the absurdity of the situation; acting as though it were life and death, the fact that they'd gotten into this by exchanging a bracelet. Giggles mixed together as a beautiful light shone through as their mutual feelings melded into one another with a shining revelation that left them both glowing. It was then that eyes opened in confusion as only one voice was left in the crowd and the feeling of falling came once more until water caught them in its grasp.

"I...what?" Charoite asked in a voice unrecognised, bubbles pouring from their mouth as they began looking down their- her new self. Freckles marking each grays purple arm with darker spots and lighter, frosted swirls of violet and white. The fabric of the skirt floated in double-layered ruffles that gave off the appearance of a jellyfish as colored fabric moved about in an odd synchronization with the multi-colored and layered bracelets on her wrists; everything seemed to be a darkened shade of purple but them (which remained in various shade of blue and red). Her feet remained bare, a fact not strange as neither of them opted for footwear since Ruby's change of wardrobe. Charoite was tall, in a way one was unused to but also shorter than another's preference; a mishmash of feelings and comfortable discomfort. Limbs moved in the liquid, the purple gem taking the time to adjust to the heavy and lighter feelings of limbs and the odd look to them.

Without another word she calmly walked to the edge and broke the surface, water dripping off shoulder-length, puffy hair. Her reflection told the truest tale, freckled face and two sets of eyes (one smaller than the other, making a crescent on the outer side). Her hair's strands were oddly shaped, some smoother than others and many chunks an oddly bluer or more red shade. That's when the panic began. Hands moving to cup her oddly similar yet different face that was not as it was supposed to be? Her fingers moved about rosy, freckled cheeks and fingered the edge of an extra eye as each pair widened around pink and deep blue irises. Tips of the digits moving to dig into the skin and insure it was real, that this was real despite all the evidence trumping the absurdity; in another moment a scream echoed for miles without interruption.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

I was surprised to notice that I hadn't marked 'complete' when posting the previous chapter, quite a few people asked for a continuation so I decided to continue for another chapter; planning on three but I may go past that if I don't feel the ending is sufficient. Updates will not come every week like with The Reason I Run as this is part of the supplementary work that I write when a chapter is finished and I still have the time or didn't have time to post it the day before (lest we have another 'chapter 11 incident' on our hands).

Fusion design inspired by Luma (at manuh dot bsqe)'s design