Showers
[The scene opens with a shot of the evening sky before panning down from a cliffside, a lone figure walking along the otherwise lonely beach. The figure is revealed to be Lapis Lazuli as she stops and sits on the sand, looking out towards the ocean. A light breeze hangs in the air with nothing but the sand and sea for company]
Lapis: Ironic, isn't it…?
[Lapis thinks to herself, the beach is a particular place for her to visit whenever she needed some time to herself, being close to the water and all…of course, for as much as the ocean connected with her, it also had the tendency to remind her of…less than pleasurable events. She looks down at the water lapping on the shore, lightly at first…until feeling a chill as it splashes against her feet]
Lapis: Vrrrrrrrrrr, need to back up a bit…
[Lapis moves away from the water before she bumps into something. She pauses, there wasn't a rock behind her…she looks back and sees something she didn't expect…nor hoped to expect]
Jasper: Hey…
Lapis: [flatly] Hey…
[Lapis stands up, her face looking soured]
Lapis: You know if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were stalking me.
Jasper: I'd hardly call it stalking, more like-
Lapis: Stalking?
Jasper: See, that's why, you'd never let me get a word in edgewise.
Lapis: [sighs] What do you want, Jasper?
Jasper: What, we can't have a normal conversation together? Don't tell me you're still hung up on that.
Lapis: So what if I am, I have no obligation to forget about it, and neither do you.
Jasper: It's been ages since then, I'd have thought you would have moved on from then.
Lapis: To an extent, you're not wrong, but I don't see why you need to follow me everywhere I go.
Jasper: Who said I was following you, last I checked, we haven't spoken since the fire, the same one I rescued you from.
Lapis: Do not hold that over my head, I saw what you did, but I'm not required to do as you please.
Jasper: I'm not even asking much, like a simple 'thank you' would suffice.
Lapis: You know what would also suffice, taking back what happened, oh wait, we can't do that, now can we?
Jasper: UGH, will you stop reminding me, I was there, we were literally together when it happened!
Lapis: Yeah, and you didn't show any regret for it, just 'I learned how good fusion is, let's fuse again to charge my power craze!'
Jasper: Hey, I know I screwed up with that one, I've learned since then, why can't you see that?!
Lapis: Because it took you this long to acknowledge it?! I don't owe you anything, we spend so much time apart and then you just expect me to take you back in open arms?! NO, can't you see I want to forget that, forget ALL of it!
Jasper: Fuck's sake, I'm not the same person as I was back then! If I could take it back, I would!
Lapis: Well, you can't! And now we're both living with that ordeal and you think if you save me, that we could start anew, we could put the past behind us…
Jasper: I'm not asking us to fuse again, is that all you think I want from you?!
Lapis: It's all you wanted from me, you thought I was into that shit, that I liked being Malachite?! Well, I…
[Lapis hisses as she shuts her eyes, sprouting her wings and taking off into the sky]
Jasper: Lapis!
[Jasper reaches out as the clouds above begin to overtake her, cutting back to Lapis who still has her eyes shut before opening them to half-lids]
Lapis: You wouldn't understand…
[Lapis touches onto the ground as thunder sounds above her…the rain gently starting to drip as she solemnly walks through the street. The rain has gotten heavier as she begins to run, panting as tears begin to stream down her face. She reaches a lone phone booth and shelters herself in it, leaning against the wall]
Lapis: …Damn it, god damn it!
[Lapis pounds her hand against the wall before slipping down to the floor, her hands in her eyes as she begins to sob]
Lapis: To think I have the gall…the gall…
[Lapis goes back to sobbing as the rain continues to pelt outside the phone booth, no one else is out on the streets, only the lamposts provide light to the damp roads. The blue gem tries to stand up as she reaches for the phone, dialing in a number and waiting for a response]
Peridot: [on the other end] Hello?
Lapis: Peridot…?
Peridot: Oh, hey, Lapis, good to see ya', I was just working on a new meep-morp and-
Lapis: Yes, yes, that, that's nice, that's…nice…
Peridot: Sorry, got a little excited there, how are you doing…Lapis…Lapis?
Lapis: Can I stay with you?
Peridot: Oh, well, sure, you can come over, is everything alright?
Lapis: Hmmmmmmmmm…
Peridot: Um…Lapis? Lap-
[Lapis hangs up the phone before pressing her to it]
Lapis: God, I'm so pathetic…
[A loud boom of thunder rumbles outside the booth before it cuts to a knock at the door. Peridot goes to open it, revealing a soaking wet Lapis on the other end, still looking miserable as ever]
Peridot: Oh my god, Lapis! C'mon, come in, come in!
[Peridot pulls Lapis inside and shuts the door as the two enter the living room]
Peridot: Here, take a seat…you don't look so good…
Lapis: [flatly] Noooooooo, what gave it away…?
Peridot: Well, I just…did something happen?
Lapis: …Yes.
Peridot: Do you…wanna talk about it?
Lapis: …No.
Peridot: Oh…do you need something, eat, drink…?
Lapis: …Sure.
Peridot: Okay…anything specific?
Lapis: …Got any water?
Peridot: Oh, sure, just hang on for a sec…
[Peridot goes into the kitchen to pour a glass of water before returning to the living room, handing Lapis the glass]
Peridot: Here…
[Lapis silently takes the glass and drinks before setting it down on the table]
Peridot: Better?
Lapis: …A little.
Peridot: So…you wanna talk at all, or…?
Lapis: It's…complicated…
Peridot: I see…well, we don't have to talk or anything, we can just…sit here, ya' know…?
[Lapis looks out the window, the rain pelting against it outside as a crack of thunder rumbles. She sighs before turning back to Peridot]
Lapis: I've been running away from it for so long…even now, I can't move on…
Peridot: Um…what exactly are you referring to…wait, this isn't something I did, is it?
Lapis: Well…not exactly…you didn't see it…but…you remember Malachite?
Peridot: Well…you told me about it…I'm sorry you had to go through it…
Lapis: That's the thing…I resent what happened, I wanted no part of it, I never wanted to be fused in the first place and…and yet…I liked it…it was so…wrong, but it also felt so…right…when we were together, two gems as one…the endurance…the stress…the pain…it was like nothing I'd ever felt before…she wanted power…I held both of us down…heh…hehe…I relished in keeping her as mine, she wouldn't let me, I wouldn't let her go, all that back and forth, it was so toxic and yet so exhilarating...and every time I look at her…I'm reminded of that…that filth…that creation that shouldn't have been…a reminder of my sick and twisted desires…heeeeeehehehe, and you know what's funny? I was made out as some hapless victim, I was just helpess when…I knew what I was doing…and Jasper knew, she knew…I didn't let her forget it, and I'm never letting myself forget it…
[By this point, tears have begun to well up in Lapis' eyes once more as Peridot continues to listen, disturbed by the blue gem's tone, her shifting of a scowl to a grin to a scowl again, her hair becoming more disheveled]
…and that's why I snapped, I fucked snapped…because I can't get over it…even when she's not done anything to me…I keep shunning her because when you've seen the shit I've gone through…you don't forget…you never forget…maybe I'm just nuts, maybe I'm just so used to being a victim that I think I have the gall to act like I'm better than her…even when I'm the one acting like a bitch…
[At that moment, Lapis dashes toward the bathroom, leaving Peridot stunned, slamming the door shut and leaping into the shower, turning the water on instantly and leaning against the wall…Peridot cautiously steps behind the bathroom door, hearing a mix of sobbing and laughing coming from the other side, accompanied by the sound of water hitting the floor]
Lapis: Aaaaaaaaaaaah…haha, haaaaaaaah…
Peridot: L…Lapis…?
[The scene cuts back to Lapis sliding down to the floor, her expression looking broken as she lets the water trickle down her. It then cuts to a flash of lightning as a lone figure stands on the pier amidst the empty harbor. The close-up reveals Jasper, standing in the middle of the downpour as it continues to fall on her, the orange gem's long white hair soaked and water dripping down her face and body. She grips onto the railing as another boom of thunder sounds, gritting her teeth]
Jasper: RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
[Jasper pounds her fists on the concrete as a bolt of lightning flashes, looking up, her expression a mix of anger and desperation]
Jasper: FUCKING DAMN IT! Why can't I just…why can't I just have something go right for once…am I just meant to suffer eternally…I've hurt…and been hurt…look at me…so pathetic…it's what I deserve…no one to turn to…not even after…
[Jasper tries to prevent a tear escaping her eye, but it falls anyway]
Stop! STOP IT! You're stronger than that! You can…
[Another flash of lightning happens overhead]
…be alone…
[The shot pans out to showcase Jasper's solitude in the ongoing storm, no one else is around, no person, train, or boat…just her…]
[The scene cuts back to Lapis finally stepping out from the shower, looking herself in the mirror]
Lapis: [sighs] Pathetic…
[She opens the door to see Peridot having sat on the other side as she were expecting her]
Peridot: Lapis…are you…okay now…?
[Lapis says nothing, she just walks by the green gem, into the living room and flops on the couch. Peridot watches on, feeling helpless in this situation]
Peridot: What am I gonna do…what can I do…?
[Hesitantly, Peridot tries to approach Lapis, not sure of how to comfort her…until it comes to her…Peridot sits on the other end of the couch, putting a hand down to Lapis' back and rubbing it gently…the blue gem turns her head to see it]
Lapis: Wha…?
Peridot: It's okay…I'm here…honestly, I don't think you're…well, a bitch…we've all done things we're not proud of…I would know, and while I've not gone through…quite the things you have…I can sympathize…I'll stick by you…whatever you need…
[Peridot gives a kind smile, Lapis doesn't quite smile back, but her expression suggests appreciation, letting the green gem continue to rub her back as she finally settles down]
Lapis: Perhaps…I needed that…and I need to do…what needs to be done…
The scene cuts to outside the window as the storm continues before it transitions to the next day. The storm has passed, but clouds still hang in the air. Peridot and Lapis are shown leaving the building]
Lapis: Um…thank you…for letting me stay the night…
Peridot: Of course, anything for you.
Lapis: Yeah…
Peridot: You gonna be alright…?
Lapis: …Can you come with me? I think I'll prefer having some company…
Peridot: Oh, sure, whatever you want…you planned on going somewhere?
Lapis: …I think I wanna go visit the harbor.
Peridot: Then let's go…
[The scene cuts to the two gems walking alongside the quay, Lapis looking out towards the ocean with a sigh]
Lapis: You know…it's peaceful at least…
[Lapis turns her head and in the distance, not too far from where she and Peridot are standing is Jasper, laying down on a bench sideways. An awkward silence ensues as they don't move…until Lapis slowly makes her way over to the orange gem, her eyes staring aimlessly as another person steps in front of her]
Peridot: Oh my…
Lapis: You've really hit rock bottom, haven't you?
Jasper: Not like you look any better…
Lapis: I would argue that, but…[sighs]...I'd just look like a hypocrite…did you spend the night like this…?
Jasper: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…
Lapis: …I'll take that as a yes…it was a rough night for me as well…though I guess…I had someone beside me at least…
[Lapis looks back at Peridot who has cautiously moved forward, looking unsure between her and Jasper]
Jasper: Nothing new…at least people give a damn about you…can hardly say the same for myself…
Lapis: Perhaps, you could see it that way…however, it'd be unfair to keep you in this position…especially given…our history…we've both hurt…and been hurt…we know it…and…we should at least try…to repair the damage…
[Lapis puts her hand on Jasper's, the latter's eyes widening in shock]
You shouldn't have to feel solely responsible…I might have run away before…suppressed what I was truly thinking…but now…while we may be on thin ice, I don't want to suffer anymore…and I don't want you to suffer anymore…
Jasper: I…Lapis…
Lapis: Shhhhh…it might be a journey…but if we're going to move forward, better late than never…so…what do you say…?
[Silence hovers over the two gems, Peridot watching in equally awkward silence as Jasper looks at Lapis and then at her hand…before she puts her own on the blue gem's]
Jasper: I'm in…
[Lapis nods as the shot pans out from the three in their current positions]
Character Guide:
Lapis Lazuli, Peridot, Jasper - Steven Universe