Greg's New Clothes

Whenever Peridot saw Steven's father she noticed how old and tattered Greg's appearance modifiers were. When she asked Pearl about it. The pale gem answered that Greg's money was being used to support Steven and that Greg really didn't have money to buy new clothes.

"But that hardly seems fair. In his own way Greg is contributing yet he has no adequate shelter or appearance modifiers," observed Peridot.

"Peridot you must accept this. It's just our way," said Pearl.

"You mean it's Earth's way. Well it's not Homeworld's way and I intend to do something about it," announced Peridot.

For the next few days Steven observed Peridot behaving strangely. The green gem was secretive. Whenever she wasn't working on the drill she was holed up in the loft of the barn. Peridot also seemed to have gone native, proudly wearing the "shirts" she found at the barn instead of her jumpsuit. Afraid that she was planning something crazy like contacting Homeworld again Steven went up to the loft.

"Steven you startled me," said Peridot as she hastily hid something.

"Just wanted to see what you were doing," said the boy as he tried to look behind her.

"Well don't it's a surprise," said Peridot.

"No another sandwich I hope," laughed Steven.

"Believe it or not I have the capacity to learn. I talked with Dr. Maheswaran extensively on human physiology and there is no way that this could harm a human."

"Still I'd like to see."

"Steven no. Look I realize I may have made some mistakes in the past but I need you to trust me. Besides it isn't for you. Just trust me please."

He looked into her face and saw the earnest expression there. Peridot had been trying so hard to fit in with the gems and life on Earth. Yes, she made mistakes but she learned from them and continued to make great strides. Peridot was also trying to reach out in a sincere effort to make friendships.

"Okay I trust you but one more thing. Bikinis are something to be worn at the beach not while working on the drill."

Peridot squealed kissing him on the cheek. Steven felt very warm and climbed back down. As Peridot watched him walk unsteadily away she smirked to herself. No bikinis weren't the best thing to wear to work but they sure were the right thing to wear to catch a paramour.

A few days later Peridot was back to wearing her old clothes. She came down from the loft carrying proudly a package.

"Steven can you contact your father for me. I have something for him," she said.

"You mean all this time you've been working on a present for my Dad? Oh Peridot that's so sweet," Steven hugged the girl.

"Stop it," Peridot said not meaning it. "This is merely payment for his lessons on how to avoid manslaughter."

When Peridot presented her gift to Steven's father she found herself in a bone crushing bear hug. The human lifted Peridot off feet and shook her. The experience was not pleasant.

"A gift for me? Thank you Peridot, what is it?" said Greg.

"Allow me to demonstrate. What you have here is a symbiote cloned from my own stock. It is an energy based organism that responds to the thoughts and needs of its wearer," said Peridot. She morphed her clothes into various shapes from bikini to overalls to a floor length ball gown. "Your symbiote will allow you to dress in any style of clothing as desired or needed from a fetching swimsuit to a snow suit. You will always be warm or reasonably cool with this thing. Now let me just help you put it on."

Greg yelped as the thing on the box crawled up his arm and spread all over his body. He could hear his son shouting as the thing covered his face.

"Mr. Universe, I need you to calm down. This thing will not kill you. It will respond to your thoughts now order it away from your face. Good, now think of an outfit any outfit. The symbiote should mold itself right onto your body. Excellent remember the shoes. Now you're done."

Steven looked at his father. There was his Dad wearing his regular clothes of tank top and cutoffs over a green tuxedo. Father and son couldn't help but laugh.

"What's going on?" asked Greg.

"Your symbiote melds directly with your skin and it's green because it's made from my symbiote," stated Peridot.

"So are you telling other than your symbiotes you and the gems are actually naked," said Greg incredulously.

"No, no the gems have much better shapeshifting powers than me. I'm the only one with a symbiote."

Greg's eyes bulged, "Good to know."

Peridot proceeded to instruct the aging rocker and carwash owner on the care and maintenance of his symbiote. "First off never strain the symbiote. No crazy shaping montages and it needs about needs eight hours of rest a day. Secondly when not in use, place the symbiote in the light box for feeding. Thirdly never wear your symbiote while asleep, it may react to your subconscious. And finally keep your thoughts and emotions in check no vivid daydreaming."

"So with this thing I can wear anything," asked Greg with stars in his eyes.

"Yes anything," replied Peridot.

As they watched Greg leave in his van, Steven turned to Peridot. "That's a very nice thing you did for Dad but why didn't you make something like that for me?"

"Steven your father is an adult. He would be more likely to have the self-discipline to handle a symbiote."

"Whoo hoo Look at me! I'm Spiderman," shouted Greg as he swung from tree to tree with his symbiote.

The man was having the time of his life but less than two hours later the symbiote fell off his body and the middle aged man came crashing to the ground. As he limped away back to his van he was grateful that he was still wearing his underwear.

After that Greg was far more careful with what he did. Still he loved strutting about the town as the best dressed if not greenest man in town. The town also noticed his new confidence. Business picked up and he even went on a few dates. Then he broke another of Peridot's rules.

It was an unseasonably cold night when Greg was getting ready for bed. As he looked in the van for extra blankets he noticed how tattered his pajamas were. There was no way that these would keep him warm tonight. It was late and all the shops were closed so he couldn't get a new set. Smiling to himself he morphed his symbiote into a pair ultra-warm pajamas. He curled up in his bed secure in the knowledge that he was too tired to dream tonight.

The next morning, he woke up naked on top of the water tower. Greg cringed as what seemed like the entire town laughed and pointed at him. Geez he could see the entire town from here and the entire town could see him. As he waited for help he searched for his symbiote. When he found it, the thing was limp and lifeless. There was no way he could wear it today.

Help came in the form of a helicopter shaped Amethyst. Inside was a rather irate Peridot. As she pulled him into the cab she looked at him crossly.

"You've been wearing the symbiote while asleep haven't you?" the technician accused.

From then on, Greg was much more careful with his new toy. The regular bedtimes enforced by the symbiote also made him healthier as result. It all too soon ended one warm sunny afternoon.

Looking back nobody could have blamed Greg for losing control. Any father would have but any father did not wear a potentially deadly weapon. Steven and Greg were just walking down the boardwalk laughing and joking after buying some ice cream cones. Thanks to the drill they hadn't seen each other in a long time. While Steven as walking backwards, telling his father about his latest adventures the mayor's van turned a corner and hit Steven. The boy screamed and lay curled up on the ground. Greg rushed in and cradled his son.

"Dad I think something's broken," said Steven with tears in his eyes.

The mayor with his big stupid megaphone shouted at Steven, "Hey carwash kid you and your Dad should watch were you're going."

"What are you doing driving on the boardwalk?" said Greg the fury showing in his voice. Did he seem a little larger?

"I'm the mayor, I'm more important than regular people," stated Dewey.

"You hurt Steven. I'll kill yooou," screamed Greg.

The symbiote responded to Greg's needs perfectly. It covered Steven's father completely. In place of his face a pair of huge gaping jaws appeared. Greg still held Steven in his human arms but he so wanted to kill Dewey he formed an extra pair of arms that reached out and strangled the stupid self-important man. As Greg throttled the mayor the police and security tried prize away from the mayor but Greg's symbiote formed extra arms that swatted them away.

They were about to shoot the man when a purple helicopter flew overhead and out jumped Garnet, Pearl and Peridot. Garnet had on his gauntlets, and Pearl had her spear ready while Amethyst reformed into a humanoid and landed.

"Greg what are you doing?" demanded Garnet.

"Dewey hurt my boy," snarled Greg.

"Steven," cried Peridot as she rushed towards the boy.

Pearl shooed the crowds away as Amethyst tried prying Greg's symbiote arms off of the mayor. Garnet inched closer to the man.

"Greg, you need to let the mayor go," said Garnet firmly.

"No that idiot must pay, I'm-" the man was cut off as Peridot jabbed him with a taser. As the aging rocker shuddered and jerked, his symbiote twisted and writhed letting go of the mayor and falling into a green puddle. Greg fell sideways onto the ground. The mayor smirked thinking himself having a lucky escape. Amethyst disagreed, the enraged gem started throttling the mayor herself.

"Amethyst no," pleaded Pearl. "That'll be your third strike."

The purple gems eyes widened and she let Dewey go. The mayor landed with a thud.

"I myself have no crime record." Pearl snarled as she punched Dewey.

The crowd stared slack jawed at the scene. Steven tentatively stood up. Filled with relief Peridot kissed Steven.

"Well don't just stand there you clods somebody call a medical transport," ordered the green gem.

Moments later the ambulance carted Greg away as Steven and Peridot watched holding hands. The entire symbiote fiasco was a mess.

"You ah didn't give away another symbiote did you?" asked Steven nervously.

"Well I did give one to Dr. Maheswaran but she seems to be behaving much more maturely," replied Peridot.

In a forest just off of Beach City, Priyanka Maheswaran was having the time of her life. She was dressed in a green leather corset and sandals. She ran through the forest with a bright green sword slashing and chopping defenseless greenery.

"Woo hoo Look at me! I'm a warrior princess," cried Priyanka.