Note: Takes place on the morning of "Too Short to Ride"; the day after "Mr. Greg"; and two days after "Drop Beat Dad"
Throughout her life, Uma's come to expect plenty of curveballs, of which (surprisingly) having a Gem in the family only accounted for 30 percent.
Hence why when she went out front to sweep, she never batted an eye at the sight of Lapis Lazuli standing stiff and awkward right before the shop's main door, the blue stone's right hand posed in midair from an aborted attempt to knock.
Trying hard to hide her bright blue blush at the near déjà vu of this reencounter, Lapis crossed her arms as she avoided the human's inquisitive eyes. "Is Amber home?" She winced at the forced politeness in her voice and glanced at Uma, who stared back curiously. "My roommate's preoccupied."
"Because Steven invited her to his house."
Lapis hunched her shoulders with a light scowl, thrown off by Uma's deduction. Already she could tell coming here would be a bad idea, just as she expected. She still couldn't believe she came here per Peridot's suggestion.
You could visit Amber and her familial unit at their seed-bearing facility! Since the matriarch seems quite fond of you, getting an audience with your friend should be simple.
As much as Lapis would rather not take advice from someone of a Gem type reputed for social ineptitude, she could not deny that Uma had indeed taken a liking to her. Why, the water stone could not fathom. Plus, she didn't want to give Steven (and maybe Peridot) a reason to worry either, much less the two younger Gems using some 'grand scheme' to get the hydromancer and Amber to talk to each other.
Relatively speaking, Lapis hoped this way of confrontation would be less painful. So far, no good.
A broom handle from behind nudging her into the building broke Lapis out of her reverie, eyes widening as though she were about to face off against the entire Diamond Authority instead of just one common Gem.
Except this isn't just one common Gem. This is Amber.
So why not fly away? It worked perfectly before.
Why rush into the agony of reliving the whole emotional trauma that led her and Amber to their respective fates? Lapis could stall until she thought up better plan to face this part of her past. What was one more Earth day in a Gem's life?
Why even bother at all? Amber found herself a decent life among these humans; what right did Lapis have to soil it with bad memories?
Then she remembered.
YOU NEVER CARED, DID YOU?!
After a rueful sigh, Lapis turned and backhanded the handle away, Uma not fazed by the action at all much to Water Witch's decreasing disappointment. Steeling her resolve, arms crossed over her petite chest, the azure stone strode into the center of the shop with nothing short of determination.
Only for said determination to dwindle once she realized one tiny detail: she never planned what to say to Amber. Frack.
Unfortunately, Uma left no more time for thought once she whistled clear and loud, Lapis casting a sideways glare at her in return. The grandmother simply stood by with her usual dreamy smile, hands clasped in front of herself, while Lapis mustered all willpower to remain neutral in expression, hoping her nervousness would—
"She was afraid to see you, too."
Lapis stiffened, anger flashing for a hot second, only to sag seconds later. Of course she was. How could she not be?
"I suspect she blames herself for what happened," Uma continued as though her visitor initiated conversation, "More than necessary in my opinion."
Ugh, Lapis realized with a wince, did I really speak that out loud?
Oh, how she wanted to slap her own self. As that action would only paint her as crazy, she settled for facepalming her mouth instead. Actually, now that Lapis considered the response, Uma sounded like she had more than a general knowledge of the reasons behind Amber's unease.
Drawing the hand away, Lapis cast a subtle yet curious glance at her company in wonder. Just how much did this old lady know about—?
The pat-pat of paws against the floor announced Amber's arrival moments before the golden canine appeared, trotting out the back entrance of the room, some weird apparatus hanging around her furry neck. What did Steven call that device—headphones?
When Lapis looked to Uma in hopes the old woman might have something useful to say—she was the 'matriarch' of this place after all—surprise, surprise, the elder no longer stood beside her but now out front, sweeping like she intended. How the old lady managed to get out there without ringing the bell, who knew?
Swallowing up a curse, Lapis forced a meager smile and wave, uttering the most elegant response she could formulate.
"Hey."
After a few blinks, Amber smiled in return then stepped aside and gestured a forepaw like a butler, welcoming her visitor into the rest of the house. Lapis tightened her arms around herself before sauntering past her host, pausing on the threshold to observe the layout.
The hallway had three paths of entry: one into the backroom, the stairs to the upper level, and a wider one to the right that the stairs led straight into, revealing a spacious room.
Here she first noted the same white walls as the shop; a floor of polished wooden planks; a dark red sofa standing against the back wall; and a small mahogany wood table in front of said sofa. The wall to Lapis' left comprised of (from closest to farthest) a large gold-rimmed window with dark brown shades; a door the same ivory hue as the one in the front; a black electric fireplace with various decorations above; and a pair of bookshelves. The right side, meanwhile, sectioned off into a kitchen by way of an oak counter with a dark brown top. Finally, the wall to her immediate left had a silver plasma screen and matching stand.
Stepping further in, Lapis noticed a large blue leather-bound book sitting atop the table, open to a random yellowed page, Amber's usual notebook and pencil beside it. Out of curiosity, she drew closer to the piece of literature and let her eyes skim over a random line.
"The human condition is such that pain and effort are not just symptoms which can be removed without changing life itself; they are the modes in which life itself, together with the necessity to which it is bound, makes itself felt. For mortals, the easy life of the gods would be a lifeless life."
Narrowing her eyes, Lapis attempted to discern the words until the smoosh of cushions moments later drew her attention to Amber. Back in molehog form, the yellow Gem now sat on the couch in an easy recline, clawed hands on her fuzzy belly, as her dark eyes regarded the other stone with eager curiosity as though awaiting a response.
Suddenly, the nature of the text dawned on Lapis; her eyebrow cocked once she also realized the direction Amber wished to take this conversation. The blue rock shrugged her lithe shoulders, almost apologetic, before she proceeded to examine the room.
"I've never been one for philosophy."
She had no qualms with thinking; however 'thinking for thinking's sake' never appealed to her like it did to most other Gems in Blue Diamond's court. The pursuit just seemed futile in her opinion.
Besides, the physical world was far more interesting.
Speaking of which, Lapis realized that several of the items along the walls resembled parts from certain non-human Earth species (feathers and claws). In fact, they appeared to be crafts, all well fashioned as evidenced by the solid coloring and structures.
Except for one pendant hanging right in the middle of the assortment above the fireplace: brown twine looped to a pink diamond bordered by a crayon drawing of blue and brown triangles surrounding an unconnected square of black squiggly lines. Within said lines sat a simple brown geometric drawing of a bear and a fat yellow crescent on each side, the open ends facing away from the animal.
Fingering the object in question, Lapis realized the diamond to be paper, only affirming the object's simplicity. "This looks like something I'd expect Steven to make." In spite of the plain tone, her eyes softened at the thought of her little half-Gem friend. She turned to Amber. "Did someone his age make this?"
Amber did not respond immediately, only gestured Lapis to bring the item to her. After the other Gem complied, Amber took the pendant with utmost care and regarded it with fondness, eyes twinkling as though she held the universe's greatest treasure.
Only when she placed the accessory on her neck did she finally take up her notebook and pencil.
Kurtis made this for Mother's Day when he was almost as old as Steven. I'm fairly certain he got inspiration from a website. He's self-sufficient like that.
The heartfelt pride in Amber's words could not be more apparent. Lapis tried to ignore how it inexplicably made her metaphorical stomach twist, even while she returned to her seat with an empathetic smile, knees curled up to her face and arms balanced atop them. Her eyes trailed down from the pendant to the molehog's gemstone.
"So...how come you can coexist so well with humans?" From her memories of what she could see and hear from within the mirror, Lapis gathered that the 'monsters' were mentally fractured Gems, their violent tendencies due to the pain and confusion brought about by their distortion.
So what made this fuzzball next to her so different?
Amber fixed Lapis with a hesitant stare, a moment of deliberation before she sighed at last.
Rose had a theory that my interactions with humans reestablished my functionality as an Amber. The species and my Gem type do share a few behavioral similarities.
"But you're still two completely different species," Lapis counter-argued, "And I'm pretty sure there's no safe way you two could have tested her theory." Rose cared far too much for humans to risk that, after all; Amber as well.
The molehog, as if reading the ocean bender's mind, threw her hands up in exasperation.
Thus the dead end I've been dealing with all these centuries. And I couldn't go to the others for help either. Otherwise—the yellow Gem blew a raspberry as she slapped her hands together. The visual's meaning was not lost on Lapis.
"But you had to have known you'd need to come to them eventually. You're only one Gem."
At this point, Amber's face became downcast while her eyes grew misty, that tentative light back again. Lapis' face contorted in concern...only for it to double when Amber's eyes darkened.
Rose did something behind my back. I called her out on it, but—the corrupted Gem's resolute expression crumbled into regret—my words might have been harsher than they should have been.
Lapis hardened her face, torn between annoyance and sympathy at her friend's lament towards the Rebellion leader. Such softheartedness was one of the qualities that made the aquatic Gem both appreciative of and frustrated by folks like Amber and Steven.
"So? She hid something from you even when she was supposed to help you." the hydromancer asserted as her feet returned to the floor, tone soft yet fierce in Amber's defense. "You had every right to say whatever you said. Besides, someone had to knock her down a few pegs."
Lapis then turned away with a downward scowl, mumbling, "It's not like she ever cared about other Gems to begin with."
Silence reigned afterwards. How long, Lapis could not tell, but after a while the lack of response got to her and before she could help herself, curiosity dragged her attention back to Amber, whose face held not the slightest trace of resentment or even anger. If anything, the fuzzy electroball remained composed as ever as she wrote down her next response.
The sight nearly led Lapis to ask why the absence of outrage, of incensed demands to take her words about Rose back. Instead she remained quiet, wanting to gauge Amber's reply and fully comprehend where her friend stood.
Rose made plenty of mistakes; she had plenty, PLENTY, of flaws, but she never stopped caring about our fellow Gems, no matter which side they fought for. Next to her love for this planet, their plight was part of the reason she rebelled in the first place.
Right as Lapis opened her mouth to launch another verbal comeback, Amber flipped to the next page, her next statements prepared beforehand.
The others told me what happened to you after you know what. Homeworld's done just as much wrong unto you as the Crystal Gems have. Neither side's completely innocent or completely guilty, especially in war.
Lapis shut up hard after reading this, dumbstruck not just by the valid argument but by how Amber seemed to perfectly predict her retort. Jaw set, she stared at her open hands with longing. Her voice came out as fragile as a faint breeze.
"Was Homeworld really that broken back then?"
Amber rubbed the back of her neck, pensive, eyes regarding Lapis with sad understanding. Every society's broken in some way.
"The real test lies in whether a society can compensate for its brokenness," Lapis reiterated in a monotone tone that did nothing to hide her microscopic smirk at Amber's flattered expression. "One of your favorite quotes if I remember right."
War wasn't the only option the Diamonds could have taken, but then again you know how they are about their authority. It's even in their title for stars' sake!
"The Diamonds were kind of big-headed, weren't they? At least Rose Quartz wasn't conceited enough to name the rebellion after herself."
Now that would have truly been ridiculous. Wait—Lapis creased her eyebrows once she noticed—why was Amber sidling her eyes back and forth as if deciding the best way to break the news?
The writing came hurried and awkward. Would you believe me if I said Pearl actually suggested that at one point?
...
SNRRRRRK!
Lapis bent over laughing so hard it's a miracle she didn't poof, surprised yet somehow also not at the thought of Pearl voicing such an idea. Amber only beamed with both pride and relief that she got a positive rise out of the other Gem.
Eventually the aqua alien settled down, and lounged back in a similar fashion to Amber. Her eyes went downcast again, only this time without the despair she'd known for so long. "I still don't know how I feel about this place, but...even if I'll always miss my old home, at least I have the chance to make a new one here."
With a hopeful smile, she turned to her companion. "That is, if you don't mind helping me out. Or, well, helping Steven and the others with helping me out."
No need to write this time; Amber gave her the grandest smile her snout could allow.
Feeling lighter, Lapis pointed back to the crafts. "So all those things on the wall. What's so important about them?"
Instead of waiting this time, Lapis looked over Amber's shoulder as the molehog wrote.
They're items we've either made or received from Uma's side of the family over the years. They're one of the ways she and Kurtis maintain their heritage as Lenni Lenape, a group of humans who live north of here. They'd lose their identity as a people if they didn't.
Something in Lapis cringed, except not in a way that made her illusory skin crawl.
I'm Lapis Lazuli and you can't keep me trapped here anymore!
More like the awe from when Steven freed her from the mirror, only bittersweet.
Did you even wonder who I used to be?
And within that awe, a flash of something between anger and pity sprouted within, nourished by a sudden thought that hit too close to home. Her eyes narrowed, the familiar urge to ball her petite hands into fists resisted. Instead she stood up and went back to the crafts before Amber could catch her countenance.
Silence passed for who knew how long before Lapis' voice resurfaced, soft to the point of almost being inaudible. "Have people tried to do that to them?"
The shadows in Amber's eyes as she nodded weighed with something heavy and bleak.
Yes. The Lenape were fortunate because I stuck around long enough to be a sort of legend, even outside the tribe. Plus I may or may not have sabotaged contracts outsiders tried to make with them.
Lapis tilted her head ever so slightly, noting the word 'fortunate'. "But outsiders still managed to do it to others."
Sorrow and regret streaked across Amber's eyes. We Gems are capable of many things. Omnipresence is not one of them. Not that the others tried particularly hard.
Ah, if Lapis recalled correctly from the countless times Pearl used the mirror, the conversations she overheard insinuated the Crystal Gems' drive to stay detached from humans despite their vow to protect them in the first place. If not for her emergent feelings for these 'tribes', the irony would have made Lapis scoff in derision.
Perhaps part of her still was.
As for the other part, she couldn't say. Never in her millennia of existence did Lapis Lazuli ever entertain the possibility of having a feeling in common with a few members of such a short-living race.
The context, she knew even with her limited knowledge of these people, had to be different.
But I'll never find out by just living my days out in the barn, will I?
"Hey Amber," from the wall she plucked off a monochrome bandolier bag whose leaf designs caught her interest, "What else do the Lenni Lenape have as part of their identity?"
No need to turn around to know the Steven-like sparkles emerging in Amber's eyes. The sound of the molehog bouncing up and down in her seat gave hint enough.
For starters, bags like the one in your hands relayed agreements and messages between tribes through the design. If the belt was white with black interwoven like that one—
Note: Because Lapis being interested in Native American cultures makes too much sense to me.