As it turns out, Connie had a long day herself. The Mahesweran household was still filled with mourning so she decided to use productivity to pass the time and help ease her aching heart. She left for the library as early as possible and spent the entire day reading up common funeral customs, some basic thanatology and a bit of philosophy here and there to add some variety. By the time her epic study session ended, it was mid-afternoon and her parents had come to pick her up.
With her cramming complete, she only had to be driven out of town where her parents, who were asking few questions being too wrapped up in their own problems, planned to pick her up around nightfall. Connie left from the country road and began the walk to the DeMayo family barn where her invites to the funeral were waiting.
As usual, the barn was overrun with the paraphernalia collected by her fellow Crystal Temps Lapis Lazuli and Peridot. She found the former ice skating in the small pool outside out of boredom with a pleasant smile on her face. She was excited that her power to freeze had grown, but her concentration snapped upon seeing her former teammate.
"Connie?!..." Lapis sputtered as the ice instantly melted under her feet. Her wings sprouted on instinct and prevented her from losing grace.
"Sorry Lapis! Did I startle you?"
"Yeah, but it's no big deal. I was bored anyway. What brings you around here?"
"I need to temporarily reform the Crystal Temps for a special assignment."
"Really?! What's the assignment?" asked Lapis who had been dying for something to do that did not involve farming or soap operas
"Let's find Peridot first. Then I'll give you both the briefing."
Eager for something new, Lapis hoisted the young girl on her back and took off at a low glide searching the fields for her barn-mate. Sure enough, the two found Peridot picking a row of carrots from the ground with the utmost care. Their beloved pet Pumpkin was sleeping next to the basket of picked vegetables he was most likely ordered to guard. The two landed just behind her causing the minute Gem to scramble and drop one of her precious crops.
"NO! My darling little fruitage! Lapis, how many times have I told you-"
"Remember me, Peridot?" Connie interrupted the Gem with a hug before she could build up enough steam for one of her infamous tantrums.
"Connie! How could I plausibly forget the human who kept the Crystal Temps from falling apart at are most dire moment?"
"We wouldn't have blown up if you just took off those dumb sunglasses…"
"Nevertheless, that is in the past." grumbled Peridot "What business do you have here at our quaint dwelling?"
"She's got a special mission for the Crystal Temps!" squeaked Lapis in a rare moment of glee.
"You don't say! I suspected the Crystal Gems would require our special talents once more? What are we dealing with? Homeworld invaders? Rogue corrupted Gems? Top-secret space exploration?!"
"Steven needs your help planning a funeral for his mom."
"A what?" the two Gems said in confused unison.
"Basically it's a ceremony where humans celebrate the life of someone who just died. The deceased's loved ones all gather to remember their family or friend and how they were in life."
"Intriguing. That sounds completely at odds with any Gem outlook. As soon as a Gem outlives their usefulness or diverges from their designated function, they are shunned at best and shattered at worst!" squirmed Peridot.
"I like it already." smirked Lapis "But wait, how can we help? We barely know anything about humans to begin with much less some big ceremony."
"All I need from you two is to make a sort of coffin for the event. It's a long box made to keep the body in, but we'll just use it for formalities. If you could, add some flourishes that Rose Quartz would have liked."
"So we just have to make a box? That sounds pretty easy…" said Lapis
"Hold on there, Lazuli. Rose Quartz? Leader of the rebellion Rose Quartz?! The one who shattered Pink Diamond Rose Quartz? That's whose fun-ah-rale this is?!" screamed Peridot
"Yep. Steven and the Crystal Gems have been really torn up about her for a long time and Steven thought this would be a great way to relieve some tension. I told him you two could take care of it and he's got enough on his plate already so-"
"Say no more. We shall take on this unique venture and construct a so-called 'coffin' for this death ceremony on one non-negotiable condition."
"If you want to act like Garnet then the answer is no!" rebutted Connie.
"Negatory, although that is tempting…"
"Then what it is?"
"I would like to attend this ceremony for myself. Being an honorary member of the Crystal Gems and possessing a growing curiosity to observe this planet's diversiform traditions, I theorize this would be an exceptional learning experience."
"Really?" said an astonished Connie and Lapis
"Indeed. In addition to these curiosities, I have little knowledge of Steven's 'mother' outside of Gem reports declaring that a rogue Rose Quartz somehow shattered a Diamond. The story has befuddled Gems for centuries so getting a personal opportunity to investigate the cause of this uprising sounds too beneficial to pass up."
"Peridot, that's all very astute. I'm sure Steven would appreciate the company."
"Then it's set. Lapis, you stay here and watch the barn. I should return with my research-"
"What, you expect me to stay here by myself? I'm already bored as it is and as adorable as Pumpkin is, he gets tiring after too long."
Lapis picked the wrong time to make that comment since their beloved gourd-dog had just woken up. Their chipper companion was rather upset by her critique and ran out of the field and back to the barn. Lapis covered her mouth in shame while Peridot began slowly clapping adding to the tension.
"Uhh Lapis… you can come too if you'd like…" suggested Connie meekly.
"I'd think that would be for the best. Besides if I'm gonna help make this thing you are gonna need someone to keep Peridot in… check…" she continued before realizing the Gem in question was continuing her condescending applause.
"Since WHEN did you get so good at sarcasm?!" Lapis snapped.
"Spend enough time on the Internet. It'll be one of the first lessons you learn," responded Peridot
"Okay then I'm going home now. You two should drop by the temple to get started on that project." Connie said as she began heading back to her family car.
"Affirmative. The Crystal Temps shall succeed on this assignment even if it takes us years!" exclaimed Peridot.
"The funeral is in two-and-a-half days." deadpanned Connie.
"Oh… Then we'll succeed before then regardless. Come Lapis, let's warp to the Temple and begin our mission!" said Peridot as she charged to the warp pad outside the barn. The more conserved Gem calmly walked behind her companion until they reached the pad and beamed away in a column of light. Connie caught sight of their departure and smiled knowing she had done all she could to help Steven. Besides that, he would now have two extra souls to comfort him in case any of the other Gems got too overwhelmed with their own issues.