Later that evening, Steven found the Gems sitting on the porch, talking about it.
"I know Topaz is just playing her," said Amethyst. "She's just playing this game where she treats Peridot like garbage all she wants until Peridot says she's had enough and leaves, and then Topaz comes to her like some stupid puppy and begs her to come back, just like we saw today." She leaned forward. "Yeah, see if that doesn't happen again."
Pearl opened up. "I saw desperation in Topaz today. I'm not trying to defend her, but I've been down that road and it's very destructive. And for Peridot to give consent to that desperation? It's destructive in it's own right. They are two very different Gems. And not because they're two different types of Gems. Whether they're actually ignorant or they choose to have ignorance, I think they hurt one another without intending to."
Pearl leaned her cheek into her palm. "Or maybe they really have gotten to a point where they hate each other but haven't yet realized it themselves. And they simply stay together out of desperation. That's how destructive it can be."
"Despite that," said Garnet, "Peridot and Topaz want to be together. That much we can't change. They obviously have trouble communicating, and they'd sooner drop their frustrations with one another than face them and talk about them.
"Even as they've both risked much for one another since we've known them, I did think it odd that Topaz came here, in what she considers enemy territory, so soon after their incident. But, perhaps she was desperate, as you say.
"Whatever caused today to happen, we don't know what Peridot and Topaz are like when they are alone, and we can't just assume. But, I will say this: even if Peridot's and Topaz's relationship is unhealthy, especially for Peridot, even then there isn't much we can do. If Peridot is to understand that her relationship with Topaz has gone bad, then she will have to come to that conclusion herself. It can't be forced. But, we can help Peridot get to that conclusion, say, when she must come and stay with us again."
"I still say she will," said Amethyst.
The evening fall air was starting to get chilly.
"Garnet," asked Steven. "Do you think Topaz is a bad person?"
Garnet thought for a moment. Amethyst and Pearl awaited her response as well. "I believe that she believes that no one understands her or wants to understand her, when that's not true. And as an effect she shuns everyone. But, she also must come around to that herself. It can't be forced."
...