With the weather outside frightful and tensions rising, Steven shines in raising their spirits up...with a little help from a certain room.
Steven couldn't help but feel off in a sense, but couldn't explain or put it into exact detail. Was it the cold weather? Or the strange noises he'd been hearing over the last few nights?
Integration was hard work, but worth it. Pearl and Garnet helped him out, detailing each gems original purpose. He spent the time asking them on what they'd like to do or where they'd like to be. But as the weather changed, it become more important to find them homes. Luckily enough, they were able to find them places to stay. Whether they fitted in well in certain environments like caves, mountains or forests and teaching them on understanding human culture and nuance. Steven pledged his services to make sure everyone was happy and healthy. But it'd been too long since they had a party. A day to grasp for themselves and to celebrate recent achievements, no matter how small or large they were. If there was much to learn from his mother, was that they should encourage progress with a dance or song.
Days like this, hanging with his family, he lived for. Where he could just enjoy being there, being with his dad, Connie, Pearl, Garnet and...
Amethyst barged into the house with Dori and shook the snow off their backs, much to the annoyance of Pearl who copped slops of it on her and told them off. Next came in Snow with Peridot and Lapis who then slammed the door shut. They looked exhausted, but the one who disturbed him the most was Snow, who looked like she hadn't slept for an eternity, with hollow eyes and a gaped mouth as she stared at the floorboards. Amethyst shapeshifted back to her normal form, as the rest of the group just stared at her.
Steven wondered, as he looked at everyone in the room, if Snow knew that all eyes were on her. He approached her, with her eyes tracking him as he did so, almost creeping him out.
"They're here." Snow told him.
"The Lillim...they're on Earth..."
The story of the infectious Dark monsters...they were true?
"Milky...I heard her voice...but...I need to know where she is. She'll know what to do."
Steven moved as Garnet approached her.
"We can't. Not in this weather." The fusion explained.
"Snow, it'll be okay..."
Snow remained silent all the while. He'd never seen her this scared before. But a face like hers...Steven was reminded of Pearls reactions to the past. Snow was stuck in it. He lead her to sit down, her eyes drilled to the floor, remaining still as Dori brushed herself against her partners hand. It must have been horrible enough to twist her emotions like this. Pearl sat on the chair next to her, holding her hand.
"I'm sorry to bring this down on you all like that." Snow said, as her eyes were just staring in the middle of the table, unable to look anyone in the eye. Steven watched as she forced a smile and formed fists with both hands, then slammed them on her legs.
"I am my own Snow Quartz. A sturdy curator...that has fears for her livelihood and of the people she has discovered. It would be awful to break down...it wouldn't matter if it was down to the last of our line, our legacy is to preserve and share our knowledge to the day of our own shattering, but to tell you what I know...will lead my mind into places it never wanted to revisit. Milky was the best of us. I must learn from her example."
This Milky sounded dear to Snow. Steven took another seat as he sat next to her other side, having an idea to help cheer her up, plus help find out a way to find her gem friend.
"You know her better than any of us. You know what she was like. Is there anything that she taught you that kind of stuck with you?" Steven asked her.
A finger popped to the lips as Snow wrestled her mind with this question.
"Milky taught us much. Snow Quartzes often fall into the trap of adapting too much into the wrong concept, so Milky would always keep recording her thoughts and often leaving them into what we call a Thought Marker. It's usually undetected to the naked eye, but when played, it projects a unique spectrum of light and sound that can only be activated using a gems own light source." Snow explained.
Peridot, being Peridot, barged in, knowing exactly what she was talking about.
"Ooo yes. Developed by White Diamonds Court several thousand years ago! I've seen a few around, but could never properly activate them. They could be only be activated by the gem who created it, for obvious security measures. But you might be able to." The Green gem revealed.
This widened Snow's eyes.
"Oh? Where did you see it?" She pleaded.
Peridot rubbed her hands and giggled.
"I'll be right back!" She said, before she ran off to the Warp Pad and disappeared.
While Steven didn't want Snow to feel awful as she did, the story about the Lillim did spook him slightly. Seeing them for real, was a wonder if it would strike fear in him instantly. So many times he'd underestimated the danger that certain forces brought. While he came out mostly unscathed (most of the time), it took a while, until the original incident in space with the ship hand to nail down the severity of it all.
Ignorant at the sliver of his life, the bulk contained the insight required to set it right. It was a guessing game after that, throwing in what he knew and what he knew in his heart was right. That seeing Snow like this was akin to seeing Pearl's state post-gem war.
"Oh stars, I'm so embarrassed..." She said, leaning over and shoving her face into her hand.
"I thought I was over it."
Steven and Pearl looked at one another.
"It's not uncommon to feel that way." Pearl said, smiling at him as she rested her hand on Snow's shoulder.
"I mean, traumatized by war...and telling yourself that it's all in the past. But the past creeps up on you...and it can hurt."
That much Steven could agree with. Pearl could relate to that better than anybody.
"I know." Snow acknowledged halfheartedly.
"I need to face such fears one step at a time. But not when the cause of that fear is so readily present. If you understood the consequences of that, you'd be better prepared."
Peridot soon returned, excitedly porting in from the Warp Pad, holding a black, pearlescent sphere in her hand as he scurried back to Snow.
"Here it is!" She announced.
She handed the sphere to Snow who cradled it in her hands, scanning the device promptly. Steven wasn't sure what to expect, but for Snow's sake he hoped she would get some kind of closure. But she kinda just stared at it for a few moments, not attempting to open it until Peridot opened her mouth, forcing Pearl to shush her, waiting for the white gem to unravel its mysteries. Steven patiently waited until Snow was ready to do it.
"Here goes." Said Snow. She lifted the sphere up slightly. The gem on her forehead started to glow, as a beam of light shot forth, encapsulating the sphere entirely.
The sphere then levitated from Snow's hands and moved into the middle of the room, with Amethyst and Connie, who'd been silently watching from afar, jumping onto the couch as the Sphere moved its pieces around until it turned bright. The light moved and shifted before a form came before them. Another gem with Snow's figure came into place, her hair short, straight with a cut fringe. Her gem was located on her chest and had huge black pointed shoulders that were just short of looking like spikes, other than those features, she looked identical to their Snow Quartz. White eyes and black lips.
"Snow Quartz Facet-1MKZ Cut-7LT. Report Code SF-1R. Earth is a beautiful planet. Shame about its future. But I've been ordered to observe its potential in the development of the new Kindergartens for Pink Diamonds first colony! How exciting! I've set up my lab to scan out the areas just brimming with materials to construct some of the finest gem the empire has ever seen! I've got one area in my sights for potential incubation's. My previous successes with White Diamonds colonies have placed their faith in me to oversee development with future Snow Quartzes. I will not fail them. 7LT, reporting out."
The sphere closed, before Snow got up to retrieve it.
"I remember her. Though I only saw her a handful of times, transmitting data to the Moon Base via comm lines." Pearl revealed.
"Me too, throughout the colonization process." Lapis said.
Snow grinned warmly as she hugged the sphere.
"Milky used to talk about how she thought of us as her children. It was amusing, but made us swear not to call her mother." She said, fondly.
Mother...that was cute. Milky already understood the concept of moms and dads. She must have met humans like his mom did.
"You loved her didn't you?" Steven wondered with a hopeful expression, his eyes gleaming on how much fun they must have had together.
Snow sighed.
"We all did. I know Pinks influence on our gem line did sprout us on the borderline quite a bit. But our job often let us into seclusion, to do our own thing out of the Diamonds eyes as long as we were consistent with our work." She explained.
A kinda free Gem. How remarkable. They were themselves out of earshot, for which Steven would think a lot of the other gems would love to have if given the chance.
Knowing what his mom was like, it wouldn't have surprised Steven to think that it was she who let them do their own thing...be themselves and to be who they desire to be. He was a hard earned believer.
"Wow...you'd have to be real sneaky like to make sure you didn't get caught." Steven commented.
The tall Quartz chuckled.
"Many close calls, I'm sure." She said, she then frowned.
"The Lillim Wars happened a few hundred years after the Rebellion. Many gems, not only our own but other lines suffered horrible fates. The planet itself was brimming with resources in great abundance and the Diamonds weren't going to let it out of their hands that easily. It was a colony belonging to Blue Diamond who needed us to scan the planet to find ways to get rid of the organics that were there. The Lillim were not organic but we were meant to find out what they were and their weaknesses. Milky lead the charge and a large contingency contributed by our Diamond constituents. It..."
Steven could sense the overwhelming urge to cry coming from her. The story she told before was heroic, but it may have been a part of it, one of the only good parts to a depressing tale.
"You worry Earth is gonna fall down the same rabbit hole?" Greg wondered.
Snow shook her head.
"I refuse to let it fall the same way. We won against them once, we can do so again!" She called out.
In Steven's mind, Snow wanted to be strong for others, like himself. He appreciated that, but he wanted to let her voice her fears, that it was okay to feel that way. The way she'd talked about the Lillim to them, it became clear to him that her urgency reminded him of how Lapis used to be. If they were a Diamond level threat, then they would have to deal with them one way or another.
He had to cheer her up, get her relaxed and to get to know her better than the stories she told. He held the desire to find out what Snow really enjoyed in life. He sat on the couch with Connie, as they both talked about it. Maybe they should, for this one night, have fun with music and dancing. Connie had agreed with him as he got up and huddled with the other gems, as Snow spoke with Peridot and Lapis.
"A party? Well, I don't know if we have the room...not to mention the resources." Pearl said, a bit apprehensive on the idea.
It didn't matter to him. Although Amethyst had a grin from ear to ear.
"Hey I still have party stuff in my room somewhere." She exclaimed.
Steven looked at Garnet for her opinion and insight on the matter. She looked around the room at each individual, then gave Steven the thumbs up.
"It'd be good to let loose. It's been a while since we had thrown one down." The Fusion told him.
The young halfgem couldn't contain his excitement as he hugged her.
"Thanks Garnet!" He exclaimed with glee.
He wanted to to invite everyone, then almost forgot about Bismuth, who hadn't even met Snow yet. More and more ideas poured into his head. With this many people, they needed somewhere large enough, somewhere where they had everything they needed...then, on cue, the Gem Door opened.
Rose's Room. Perfect.
He took Amethyst with him as they prepared everything they needed. Of course Pearl would be worried about about using that particular room for a party, as she looked on with an anxious expression, but Garnet assured her that it was just as good as anything else they needed.
"Hang tight, we'll be right back."
They spent the next...goodness knows amount of time shaping the pink, fluffy room into a giant, lit up, square shaped dance floor. Amethyst had her laptop on a large, black stage with gigantic speakers as per her request to Steven who pulled all stops to get this where he wanted it to be. Amethyst enjoyed it immensely shapeshifting into Sour Cream briefly to humor Steven as he laughed, knowing he was the perfect DJ for the job if they could hire him.
"I always wanted to try deejaying." Amethyst commented.
"With all the wooping and beeping..."
Once they were organised and ready, Steven called Pearl over, telling her to get everyone in there. He watched on as Connie took hold of Snow's hand and took her inside.
Steven went back on inside too, observing everyone who was there, including Bismuth and Biggs, as well as Lion and Cat Steven. Dori had gone in ahead of Snow and just started at Lion. For what ever reason. But he was desperately clinging on to the look on Snow's face as she entered as she held hands with Connie, who had to make sure she was alright.
There was that vibe that Snow didn't like big crowds and was glad Connie was there to help her out. If Steven could praise Connie more than he needed to, he knew she had a power to encourage people to be themselves. Seeing Snow read the dragon story at the Book Club session and her passion for stories lead Steven to get the idea she was much more than she made herself out to be.
Even if Steven dreamed about darkness and static, he felt the way to shake off the shackles of the pressures everyone felt, was to allow them peace through laughter and dancing. It was last minute but with all the lights and the music and the beauty and colour of the world he created for them, the pink, fluffy backdrop of warmth and soft clouds. It made him feel good to help out like that. He created a few chairs, allowing a few of the gems to sit, even his dad, even if they weren't dancing. He went to go sit next to Greg, who was feeling a bit awkward.
"I bet mom let you in here lots of times." Steven assumed.
Greg scratched his head.
"Not really." He said.
"I had no business being in her personal space. Unless she asked me specifically. She said these rooms were made to allow each gem their own room to breath...metaphorically speaking."
But he's let others in here on the rare occasion. Although not all experiences were pleasant, he's had enough of those to warrant enough control to keep it tame. Sort of.
"I...did make a copy of her...in her one time. I knew she wasn't real. But it felt...real enough." Steven revealed, which stunned his dad.
"What? How did you do that?" Greg wondered.
Steven smiled, blushing slightly.
"The room lets me create what ever I want. To a limited extent." He informed.
Greg gave off sweat as Steven felt him becoming a bit uncomfortable. He wondered if summoning her here would help him. Or hurt him. Knowing his reaction to when Amethyst shapeshifted into her, on how much that pained him to see her do that.
"I know you're not a fan of all this magic gem stuff. If you ever want me to create her again, I'd be more than happy to." Steven told him.
He then noticed Greg's eyes were on something else. Steven followed his trail, seeing Snow Quartz and Connie on the other side of the dance floor on a different set of chairs.
"No it's okay. Appreciate the offer Steven." Greg replied. His stare was vacant but oddly fixated on Snow for a while too.
"When you're older, you'll know when to hold on to certain things...then learn when to let them go."
It reminded him of another lesson his dad told him, but Steven didn't realize he'd been staring at Connie in the meantime.
"What happens when you get a mixed bag of feelings... Not certain if you should...do anything with them at all. Not if to let them go, but to...try and understand them?" Steven asked him. Muddled feelings came and went for a variety of large and small issues. Sorting through the most complicated required a large amount of mental effort. Others did require him to ask for advice.
"I don't blame you for having that kind of problem, kiddo. You're at an age where you're gonna develop somewhere between the minor and the surreal emotions. And they're most likely always going to be about people. People you once had positive or negative relations with. You would have experienced this already. But it will come to a point where, unfortunately it gets worse and you're gonna have problems making practical decisions, ones with logical outcomes verses those you feel so strongly for that your choices will fall into a chaotic trap." Greg answered.
Sounded like...being a child.
"I'm sure that's a common issue even now." Steven said.
Greg sighed.
"Uhhh how can I put it...adults are just big kids with larger responsibilities...they're just older and...seeing the world with an aged mind. Days go past faster because you've seen it all before. New and exciting experiences are few and far in between. What you've faced in a few years, would be leagues away from what anyone else has gone through, even me, in the longer time that they've been alive. But it doesn't mean they are valued less in that circumstance...it just means you bring to the table what someone else can't. And vice versa." He said.
Hence the importance of working together as a team made them much stronger.
"However there will be a time where it might just be the two of you working out the same problem together because neither of you have gone through it before. You might ask for help, but you will find yourself in a position where it can only be solved by yourselves."
Hence why Steven would go to different people for different advice.
"I used to worry about getting it wrong. But that's part of...growing up...right?" Steven continued to question.
Greg smiled, looking at Steven as he ruffled his hair.
"Absolutely. I mean, getting it right is half the battle. You'll figure out what's going to work and what's not by simply trying. I'm sure the gems have the same issues. They just might not admit it." His dad said.
But that didn't answer his previous question.
"So...what if its a feeling you're trying to understand? Do I have to work that out on my own or can I ask for help?" Steven said.
Greg appeared deep in thought, staring at all the others across the floor. The music bounced and was heavy in bass, sending the vibrations through the floor.
"Of course you can ask. I had that issue with your mother." Greg stated.
"Working out your feelings at your age, the edge of puberty is...or can be felt as a huge undertaking. I'm not sure with your part gem nature mixed in with your human biology if there's gonna be unforeseeable developments. I mean, uh...well, I can only guide with what humans go through. Whether or not that's gonna apply to you remains to be seen."
It made Steven worry about if he's going to go through the same thing as everyone else. Especially Connie. Trying to look older for her didn't work. So he had to let nature take it's course, acknowledging the future's not always gonna be swayed with Garnet's future vision. By saying what he had to say now, felt like he had to validate his own correlated problems with him. Yes he is himself. But what will become of that self as time goes by? It's not going to always obey to what his desires were, like this room did.
It's happened before. A lot.
"But you can ask. Never be afraid to, Steven. I have...an idea of what this is all about. Connie right?"
Steven gulped, his mouth forcing itself shut as he felt his cheeks heat up like a stove as sweat poured down his forehead.
Greg just smiled. He didn't laugh or balk at the sight.
"Kinda..." Steven croaked. He...did he...was it that obvious?
Greg edged his seat closer to his son as he wrapped his arm around him and leaned over.
"You're in touch with your emotions...a fact everybody knows." He muttered.
"But people can see if you're not yourself. In moments where you've fallen so deep that words often don't make sense. You love playing Cupid yet, for one who embraces it, you trip over the moment you find yourself in it, your wings no longer in sync, so to speak."
Nothing wrong with that. His relationship with Connie was stable as is and they could feel comfortable around one another. But recently, his mind had been playing tricks on him. He sunk in his chair slightly.
"Steven...you'll know when the time is right to act on it. Just...be natural. You just be you. Connie will appreciate it. She's also human. Humans can get unspoken hints, unlike gems."
That thought amused him though of how true that was, but then he noticed his dad looking at Snow again, who was standing and chatting with Bismuth and Biggs.
"You're right Dad. I'll let her know...when we both know. I think?" Steven stated, although he thought he sounded confident...until that last part. His dad didn't respond, as his stare returned blank but with his mouth slightly agape, his eyes watching Snow's every move.
"For now...we're gonna dance. You should dance too."
Greg froze, then gave off a nervous laugh.
"I uhhh...I'll pass..." His dad said, not feeling up to it.
It annoyed Steven slightly, then he recalled his words, as he motioned towards Snow.
"You said it yourself." He pointed out.
"You learn when to hold onto certain things...and when to let them go."
Greg blinked, stunned from being smacked in the face with his own words.
"I get how you'll always love mom. Nothing will take that away from you." Steven continued as he took his dads words to heart.
"But don't lock everything away for her sake. You have time to form new experiences."
Greg, then looked away, despondent. Steven only wanted the best for the man who helped him become who he was today and if that was to ignite a passionate spark in his heart again then so be it. It took to Steven practically dragging him on the dance floor to get him to even move his feet. He cried to Steven to stop pulling him so hard as they approached Connie and Snow who were still speaking to Jasper and Biggs. Steven then looked at Connie, as they gave each other a fist bump.
"Oh hi Steven!" Connie said excitedly.
"You ready to get this party started?"
Indeed he was, though he had to make sure his dad did what he was told.
"I'm always ready." Steven said, ever so boldly.
"Is Snow?"
Connie then giggled, with Steven whispering into her ear as Connie blushed and nodded.
"Oh Steven of course...but she said she's never danced in front of people before. Only watching human dance in videos." Connie told him.
That reminded Steven of the first time they fused. Connie had grown so much since then and he trusted her to take what ever lead was required.
"Perhaps we might need to give her a demonstration?" Steven said with a smirk.
Steven wholly agreed to this. They had to take this slow as Steven approached DJ Ammy on the stage and told her on choosing a series of upbeat trance and house songs that allowed them to dance freely and feel the sound under their feet, then put on something slow straight after, to allow for...well, she knew. Amethyst winked at him as she tapped away on the laptop. The lights flashed around them as the song changed.
Steven then jumped back on the dance floor as he danced away with Connie, doing their own thing. They were soon joined by the others...except Snow and Greg. He loved seeing everyone enjoying themselves, but really wanted to jam with the two who really needed to let themselves go wild. He listened in to their subtle conversation as Connie asked Steven on what they should do.
"Give them a minute to sort themselves out." He suggested. Adults could be weird, but they were really just older children as his dad said.
Connie relented to Steven's suggestion, with Steven getting that she and Snow had a unique bond and would relate to Snow better than he could. Or if they broke each others shell, they'd allow themselves to shine. They both deserved it. He saw them just stand there for a moment, then they muttered to each other, as Steven witnessed their lips moving. A slight laugh gave Steven hope, as they then appeared bashful towards one another...until...
Dori had taken Snow's cloak off her as Peridot took her hand and pushed her onto the dance floor as Lion pushed Greg on there as well, with Steven using the room to create a tux for his dad. The room was still as they could see Snow's whole body. The usual Quartz soldier bulk with black, pointed shoulders, standard uniform with a black belt around her waist, black sleeve gloves not unlike garnets and faded grey legs that fell into boots. Her face blushed a furious blue as she didn't know what to do with herself. Steven was tempted to go and dance, until she took a stand as she stomped her foot, her face scrunched up as she fought with herself.
"A fear extended to means of only losing transgressions, means a battle worth fighting." Snow to said to herself before closing her eyes and embracing the music into her aura.
Amethyst donned a massive grim as the song changed, as a circle was formed around Snow as she started to move on her own. She rose her arms, swirling them up as the song faded in. Her hands glided her against body in a slow fashion, before she spread her arms as the bass dropped, pumping her body and her waist. It went from smooth and graceful to quick, using all her limbs and clicking her fingers to the songs beat. Steven felt hands on shoulders, noticing Pearl's head as she muttered into his ear.
"Your dad is enjoying the show." She said, nudging towards him in the crowd, his jaw practically on the floor, amazed at Snow's movements. Steven couldn't help but feel giddy about.
Garnet joined her shortly after. If anyone could move their hips, it definitely was her. They mimicked movements in sync, before their dancing was like they were swimming against a hidden tide, gliding around one another. The crowd cheered on as Steven saw the most beautiful smile and laugh that Snow had ever given. Even seeing Garnet there being with her to give her that much needed breath of confidence. They twirled around as Lapis and Peridot came in as well, holding hands with one another. Then Connie took Steven, with the look on her face was like that which she had given to him on Homeworld, where it became that beacon in a very dark place.
They went to his dad, who stood there like a lost soul. It was then Connie quickly changed to collect Greg who still hadn't felt comfortable. In Steven's mind, his dad couldn't deny dancing forever. Steven went to go dance with Pearl, as they watched her take him towards Snow, changing partners so quickly that Greg didn't even grasp on what was going on until he saw Connie with Garnet and he found himself in Snow's glowing presence as Connie winked at him.
"Hello again." Greg said to her.
"Ah...sir..I mean, Greg..." She responded, happy to see him there.
"If I can guess, they planned this."
Greg just laughed, although with a hint of anxiety in his tone.
"They mean well...uh...I'm too old for this." He complained.
Snow's movements made him go silent again, pumping it like the cool kids. Greg struggled to keep up, but it didn't look like he cared. The music faded, as the keys of a piano came from the speakers, with a near halt to their rhythm.
"Now this...wait, what?"
The whole bunch of them exchanged partners, as Steven and Connie held each others and started to waltz around the room. Bismuth and Biggs started to do it as well, then it was Peridot and Lapis, then Pearl and Garnet.
"Please tell me you know how to do this. I'd hate to embarrass you." Greg stated.
Snow looked at the couples swirling around her.
"I'm a quick learner." Snow told him.
Steven had his eye on them both as they clasped hands. He couldn't have been happier for his dad to at least allow somebody to make him...feel good.
"Steven..." Connie interrupted.
He looked at her, before they almost tripped. Connie rolled her eyes as she caught him. They laughed it up, as they quickly got back into it. Though, staring into Connie's eyes for that brief moment, instilled his heart with a heavy weight, as he subconsciously wished her in a dress as she suddenly poofed into a turquoise gown, much to her surprise.
"Uhh...tada?" Steven said, trying to gather his words together lightly.
Connie just laughed.
"It's perfect." She said with a blush on her face. Steven didn't realize he started to frown until she pointed it out.
"What's wrong?"
His mind wandered back into the dreams again. The dreams he didn't tell another, single soul about. Funny thing, dreaming. This room was the embodiment of lucid dreaming, but much nicer to dream about the things he wanted, instead of the visions of the dormant chaos that would follow. Not to say he couldn't control his powers, but the dreams would come to him to warn of danger and at one point he thought he was his mothers way of trying to talk to him, not unlike Lapis when she was attached to the mirror.
But now, he couldn't stand the static that screeched into his ears, seeing Connie on the beach but being unable to understand a word she was saying. He wondered if he should talk to someone about it and what it meant. He took consideration to his family, but the only one he'd relate to would be Garnet...but he hadn't yet to rack up the nerve. And tell Connie, strong, beautiful Connie in front of him, constantly fretting over his well being when he didn't want her to shoulder such an abstract creation.
He created all of this as a distraction to his own thoughts. He wanted to think about it and confront it, but how could he, if he had no clue as to what it was trying to get across. Talking to his dad didn't help, although now he knows his son has feelings for his best friend. Steven was no good at being subtle when he was forced to. Oh well. But it did allow Steven to see how his dad looked at Snow, seeing them with one another, seeing both of his newest friend and best dad together gave Steven the idea for him to start making new friends. Gem or not, he needed someone to at least talk to. Adult stuff could be complex and Steven could get why he wouldn't talk to him about certain things. If he had someone he could relate to, he could finally open up and accept life again.
Love was a powerful force. It was knowing how to use it was the most difficult part.
"I know everyone needed a break from it all. I mean, we've been working hard over the last few months...but with Snow telling us about this...threat...I had to make sure everyone was going to be okay...sounds like the Lillim aren't gonna be like anything else we've faced." He said.
Connie marshaled her thoughts.
"Are you really worried about it?" She asked.
Steven nodded.
"Kinda. I think..." He murmured.
Perhaps he should be honest. She'll understand.
"My powers are trying to connect to something out there. But all they reach is darkness...and a load of white noise."
Connie looked to side, parceling ideas around in her head.
"Really? You...you too?" She said in response, as if relieved that she wasn't the only one feeling that way.
He was a bit surprised to hear that as well.
"I...I mean, I've been having odd dreams as well. Almost the same even." Connie told him.
Strange. It wasn't just him then. He'd have to talk to Snow about it. Whether or not the Lillim had the ability to infiltrate their minds...now that was a scary thought. Her face turned serious as she stared him down.
"That means we'll need to be extra careful. We don't know exactly how powerful they are but going from Snow's telling, they just might be."
Steven nodded in agreement. Deep down, he couldn't shake off this feeling that something horrible was about to happen. He wanted to relax and he could feign it. But then he noticed Connie down in the dumps too, seeing how she appeared like she was leagues away in her own mind.
"You're really scared aren't you?" Steven asked.
A sigh escaped her, as she tried to smile for him.
"A little. I just keep...thinking that we'll be fine. But there's always that wiggle room for doubt." She said.
The rest of the night went smoothly. Steven wouldn't have minded to do it again sometime. He would have thought his mother, a real party gem, would have done the same thing back in the day. At least this one didn't end in disaster.
He waited until everyone was out before they cleaned up, with Connie's dress and Gregs tux vanishing as they left. Steven was the last one out, as he could see darkness outside, with the blizzards howling all the while. Tomorrow should be a better day.
He hoped.