NOTES: Contains very mild innuendo. (Probably not even worth a warning, to be fair)
Chapter 6
Steven was in his car, driving. The Dondai Supremo is a used compact car that his father purchased, using a fraction of the ten million dollars from his contract with Marty, an old partner in the music business. That was a while ago now but Steven loved the car. The car is a 2-door 1980s hatchback. Greg added a sticker on one of the back windows long ago, reading "dad on board," which is stuck over the top of another sticker reading "!USED!". The car's interior has five seats, a radio, and a tape deck. Steven would describe it as an amalgamation of several 1980s Japanese compact cars. Overall its design can be directly connected to the Mk. I or II Volkswagen Golf GTI, but relevant to the Toyota reference, it's closer to the hatchback body of the AE86's successor, the AE82 Corolla. The fender flares and black bumpers would suggest major styling cues from early marks of the Volkswagen Golf. Interior shots reveal inspiration from the fourth generation Honda Civic, which is widely known as a popular tuning car. The car's AC controls and tape deck draw direct influence…but it's the simple things that Steven likes about. A tape deck is all he needs and if the car can get to A to B, then that's all that matters. Even with the money he was earning, why swap it for something to…gadgetry.
Steven loved this car and listening to music through a cassette player was a joy and this helped knowing he was going to see Spinel.
Soon, Steven parked his white car near the front of the building…and every time he visited Spinel he'd always have a present, which was mainly food but this was something different, something special. Something that might them both…problem is, when Steven had a whacky idea, he'd usually forget about the consequences or how difficult a situation can be without thinking or discussing it with anyone…Steven was more pro-active and just let life run its course. Afteral, planning is good an' all…but there was nothing wrong with being spontaneous and that usually gave out the best results.
He had a small box in his hand which was wrapped in red paper, with white binds around it, with a bow on top. This was a special gift for Spinel…but before he could give it to her, he had to discuss it with Peridot. The happy go-lucky young man could've spoken to Peridot yesterday…but she had a…"meeting"…with Lapis. He knew Peridot probably wouldn't agree with his oddball idea…but whatever her negative thoughts were, he'd be in the complete opposite.
He was eager and excited to give his gift to Spinel and just skip the discussion with Peridot altogether but in his heart and mind, it was the right thing to do.
He locked his car and proceeded to walk inside the huge building.
He walked confidently to Peridot's office and saw Lapis walk out of it, her hair was a little messy. Steven had a cheeky grin and was surprised Lapis didn't spot him coming closer to the door, as she was just sitting down at her desk.
STEVEN: Hi, Lapis.
LAPIS: (Startled) Oh! (Hand on her heart, laughing slightly) Oh, you scared me.
STEVEN: That's strange. You don't seem to be the highly-strung type.
LAPIS: (Trying to sort her hair out) No…you just…uh, you just scared me, that's all. I didn't see you.
Steven knew he was being nosy but he found it interesting about Lapis and Peridot's relationship.
STEVEN: Had another meeting with Peridot…?
LAPIS: (Blushes but smiles) Mm-hmm. Yes.
STEVEN: With the door locked?
LAPIS: I always make sure the door is locked. (Leans forward and whispers) I know all her weak spots.
STEVEN: Oh…(Wasn't sure how to respond to that) That's great. I'm really glad you two are getting along. (Changes the subject slightly) Tell me, Lapis…why don't you two go on a date? I mean, like, go to the restaurant or someplace where it's just you two?
LAPIS: (Bows her head slightly) She…doesn't want a lot of people knowing. She doesn't want this place to tarnish her reputation.
STEVEN: Well then, the more the merrier to have fun elsewhere than the work place.
LAPIS: It's…just the spare of the moment thing. We ignore the worries around us when we are one.
STEVEN: Well, I think it'll do you some good if you spread your love for each other elsewhere. Even on a date night.
LAPIS: I would love that.
STEVEN: (Nods) Right, cool, uh anyway…I take it Peridot's in.
LAPIS: Yes. (Steven was about to walk in)…Oh and um…(Steven stops and looks at Lapis, who was brushing brightly, more than ever)…uh, ignore the s-substance on the desk…unless she cleaned it up.
STEVEN: Knocked over a glass, eh?
LAPIS: (Blinks) Y-Yeah…you could say that…
Steven knew what Lapis was talking about and though he was going in a room that had been fornicated, he still found it sweet that Lapis and Peridot were a couple. He didn't knock on the door, as he wanted to get Peridot off guard…as he opened the door, Peridot was sitting down, aside from the messy hair and a cloth on the desk that had clearly been used to clean…you wouldn't think the room had been used. Peridot straightened herself up…and noticed the little wrapped present in his hand. Peridot dusted herself.
STEVEN: Getting a lot done, are we? (Chuckles)
PERIDOT: (Sighs) It'd be pointless lying to you, wouldn't it?
STEVEN: Pretty much, yeah.
PERIDOT: (Sighs again) Lapis…she, she drives me crazy…in a good way, of course. She's just so…spontaneous. She's so…daring. Just seeing her makes me…(Blushing)…*ahem*, well anyway…I'm sure you don't want to hear that sort of stuff.
STEVEN: I don't mind. I think it's great that you two are…you know, at that stage.
PERIDOT: (Changes the subject quickly and sits down) So, I guess you're here to see Spinel again.
STEVEN: Yep.
PERIDOT: (Points at the gift) I see once again you've got her something. Even though I told you not to bring anything in.
STEVEN: This is different. It isn't food.
PERIDOT: That doesn't matter. Might I remind you that she is dangerous. (Sighs) I seem to remind you every day you're here. Nonetheless, you can't bring her anything else anymore. Any item could be used as a weapon, or even harm herself. She's going to be here for a long time.
STEVEN: (Sits down, slowly) Actually…that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
PERIDOT: Oh, yes?
STEVEN: (Leans back into the chair) Yeeeah, uh…I believe she doesn't need to be here anymore.
Peridot blinks, looking at Steven dumbfound…and yet curious to his mad suggestion.
PERIDOT: We are talking about the same person, aren't we? We are talking about Spinel…?
STEVEN: Yes.
PERIDOT: Right…because for a minute there, I thought you said, and I quote: "I believe she doesn't need to be here anymore". That's it, right, that's what you said…?
STEVEN: Yes.
PERIDOT: (Takes her glasses off) Are you crazy…?
STEVEN: Actually, my mind and psyche are very aware that the notion is, indeed, crazy. However, I'm fully confident of what I said.
PERIDOT: Riiiiight. (Puts her glasses back on) Now, when you mean "she doesn't need to be here anymore", the place where we keep dangerous people, you're saying that she should be released back into the world…the society. Am I correct…?
STEVEN: Yep.
PERIDOT: Steven, she's only been here for about nine days, barely over a week-
STEVEN: (Interrupts) two days over a week, so it's not "Barely"…
Peridot growled at being interrupted.
PERIDOT: What I'm trying to say is, she hasn't been here long enough to be assessed. Tests take days even weeks to get results and not to mention the months of rehabilitation of the mind. She still has tendencies of violence, something that will not go away quite soon. It would be misconducted if we were to let her out early, since she can hurt someone else again. You realise causing grievous bodily harm on another fellow human is a crime, don't you?
STEVEN: Yes, I do.
PERIDOT: Good. Glad that's establish. Sometimes I do wonder if you're a doctor at all.
STEVEN: I agree, what she did was awful to the victims…but…that wasn't "her".
PERIDOT: The more reasoning she is here, Dr Universe and not in a prison. At least here she can get the help she needs.
STEVEN: (Slight pause) How often do you see her?
PERIDOT: Well, what does that mat-
STEVEN: (Interrupts, slightly higher tone) How…often do you see her?
PERIDOT: (Huffs) Is there a point to this question?
STEVEN: Depends on the answer.
PERIDOT: Well…I…(Shakes her head slightly)…I try my best to see everyone…
STEVEN: And is there a number of how many times you do this?
PERIDOT: Dr Universe, there are hundreds of patients here. I can only get through so many. She has only been here for nine days and yet within that time I can assure you that she is not ready to be back with society. That is a fact!
Steven knew he wasn't getting anywhere with Peridot, even if the facts were there, he needed to find a way to persuade her.
STEVEN: If you have barely seen her, then how can you know? A police report, fine, okay, it doesn't look good…but I believe she can't get better here. (Points) And I never said to release her into society straight away…she'll have to stay somewhere that isn't prison like.
Peridot leans back into her chair. Steven was always stubborn and sometimes his stubbornness would bring out the best results…but Peridot knows she was right about this…this person was unhinged and even though Steven has seen the reports, he hasn't seen Spinel at her worst. Peridot then remembered. She leaned forward and went to access something on her computer.
PERIDOT: You know we have cameras in the rooms, right?
STEVEN: Yes, you've told me.
PERIDOT: Oh, good…you remembered that part. (Peridot types very quickly on the keyboard and then uses her fingers for the touch screen access of video footage) I want you to see this. (Turns the screen around for Steven to see)…and tell me, if she's ready to leave here. This was before you came in.
Steven rolled his eyes but looked at the monitor anyway. It was paused before Peridot pressed play. Spinel was sitting at her table, eating some breakfast that the institution provided, eating away normally, taking a last bite. She then walked over to the door and slide the metal tray through the hatch at the bottom of the door…and then she sat back down, facing the door, looking eager. Steven didn't see any problem. (Remember, Steven can't see her reflection since the evil Spinel was just in her head)
From the monitor: Spinel shook her head…for no reason and just started to talk randomly.
SPINEL: (Oddly positive but talks to herself) Nope.
SPINEL: (Weak smile) No…he doesn't…
Who was she talking to? Steven took a correct guess that it was her other personality.
Spinel keeps her mouth closed, tightening her lips and shaking her head.
Spinel starts to shake down her body.
Spinel bows her head, trying her very best to ignore the voices in her head.
Spinel then puts her head in her hands.
SPINEL: STOP IT!
Peridot was growing confident that she was right about this patient, as Steven just watched, way to focus on Spinel's self-talking. He was getting upset…
SPINEL: NO!
Her eyes start to produce some tears, she was about to cry, as the only words coming from Spinel were just hers…
SPINEL: JUST…LEAVE ME ALONE!
SPINEL: WHY?
SPINEL: Go away!
SPINEL: I SAID, GO AWAY!
Spinel's outburst makes her stand up and grabs hold of the chair…the chair seemed to be as light as a feather, as her adrenaline flowed through her body and she chucked the chair against the wall…making a sound crash and breaking into a few pieces. Spinel panted and groaned…as she went over to a mirror. She then ran over to the sink and turned the cold tap on and clasp a bit of water in her hand and then splash it over her face… Spinel breathed heavily…and then looked in the mirror
Spinel stepped back in fright…
Steven knew she was talking to her other side, even if they couldn't see it…she looked like she was starting to have a conversation with the mirror…and obliviously couldn't see what Spinel was seeing. Spinel started to shake, as she stepped forward to the mirror…
SPINEL: You're…(Points at the mirror)…you're just in my head, this…t-this isn't real…
SPINEL: Why can't you just…LEAVE ME ALONE?
Spinel looks up at the camera's gasping…
This made Steven a little teary-eyed, helpless to what he was looking at.
Spinel then looked back at her reflection. Spinel was shaking with worry.
From the point of view, it looked like Spinel was having a conversation with no one, since she was the only one talking.
SPINEL: (Crying) What do you want?
SPINEL: No, you're not…
SPINEL: (Sobs) No…
SPINEL: What do you mean?
SPINEL: NO, HE DIDN'T!
SPINEL: NO…HE WAS TRYING TO HELP ME!
SPINEL: He was trying to help me…and w-when I couldn't open up…he…he apologised…
Steven could tell she was reacting to something, as if her reflection WAS talking to her, judging by her shaking and body language.
Spinel then looked at her reflection, looking more worried and breathing heavily.
SPINEL: The…kiss…?
At this point, Steven blushed. While it looked like Spinel was reminiscing.
SPINEL: I did like the kiss…
Steven didn't want to see anymore…he got Peridot's point.
STEVEN: (Sighs lightly) Okay, I've seen enough.
Peridot nodded and turned the monitor away from Steven, who leaned back into the chair again. Peridot could see that Steven was upset, as he wiped his near flooded tears from his eyes. Peridot handed him a tissue…which he acceptingly took.
PERIDOT: I know that was upsetting for you, Steven. But you now see, don't you? Whether she was talking to someone in her head or to herself…a person like that cannot be roaming the streets. A person like Spinel can harm someone again…it would not be justified to release her just yet. (Steven rubs his eyes and Peridot was hoping this was getting through to him) As a doctor yourself…you should know this. To request a release is…madness.
STEVEN: (A little frustrated) I never said to release her onto the streets…
PERIDOT: Then what's the point of letting her leave here…? Where will she go?
Steven's heart started to race…as he looked back on the kiss, that he truly thought was a mistake but in actual fact, Spinel liked it…as he repeated her sentence in his head
I did like the kiss…
I did like the kiss…
I did like the kiss…
Even though this was an idea he was going through with, it only made his decision even easier…now that he knew Spinel liked his action of locking lips and passing on what could only be described as…love. it was an overreaction but that's all he could think of.
STEVEN: (Chuckles and whispers to himself) Huh. Ha. She like the kiss…
PERIDOT: Excuse me…?
STEVEN: (Takes a deep breathe, knowing Peridot's reaction) She'll live with me. (Peridot pauses and just stares at Steven, frowning at him) I'll look after her. I'll care for her. Staying here will do her no good…but I believe in her and I believe in myself that I can fix her…at my home, where she'll be safe. She'll be safe and loved, just how a beautiful creature like her, should be…
…
End of Chapter.
NOTES: I know the story seems a little unrealistic with its situation but it is afteral a fanfiction and ridiculousness is my kind of thing.
Also, thank you so much for the Favs and alerts.