"Pearl." Peridot says, blatantly trying to keep her composure. "Can I speak with you in private."

"Of course." Pearl says with a sly grin as if to egg on Peridot. "Over there should be good."

The two walk down to the pier in forced silence. Not even a second after they had reached the pier and were out of hearing range of the boardwalk, Peridot breaks the silence.

"What're you doing!?" Peridot yells with her hands up in the air.

"I'm helping a friend." Pearl says with a smile.

"You're aiding the enemy!" Peridot yells back.

"Enemy? That's a little harsh, isn't it Peridot?" Pearl comments, her voice dripping with smugness. "Its almost like. No. It couldn't be. Are you scared?"

"Scared!? Of what!?" Peridot asks in a mix of anger and confusion.

"Of losing." Pearl says tauntingly.

Peridot's arms fall to her side as she stares slack jawed at Pearl. Slowly she starts to giggle before breaking into full out laughter. "... Oh, I get it now!... That's what this is about." Peridot says in between bursts of laughter. "You're jealous!"

"Jealous!?" Pearl yells. "Of you!?"

"Well, yeah." Peridot says as she stops laughing and wipes tears from under her eyes. "You're jealous that Lazuli came to me for help! Its adorable!"

"Adorable!?" Pearl groans in anger. "I'll show you-"

"Though its understandable." Peridot says with a cocky shrug as she cuts Pearl off and continues the onsalught. "I mean. You've been on Earth alot longer than me and yet, Lazuli sees me as the expert... It must sting." Peridot laughs.

Pearl groans in frustration. "Of all the conceited- Do you even know what you're doing!?" Pearl yells out.

"Well yeah." Peridot says as she begins counting off on her fingers. "I'm assisting a close friend. I'm toppling a neglectful regime. And currently, I've turned this battle of wits in my favor."

Peridot grins brightly. Pearl looks like she's about to rip her hair out in frustration before she closes her eyes and lets out a deep breath. She can't let Peridot get under her skin. She can't give her that kind of advantage this early on, so Pearl decides to go for a different approach.

"Peridot." Pearl says as she gets down on one knee and meets Peridot at eye level with a smile. "I'll admit it. I was a tiny bit... distraught. When you proclaimed to be Lapis's campaign manager." She puts a calm hand on Peridot's shoulder. "But trust me. Bragging rights isn't worth what could happen in the long run if we get too involved. You're better than this."

Peridot was shocked to hear Pearl bring up bragging rights, but she couldn't deny it. She knows all to well that if her help did get Lapis into office, she would tell all who would listen. And since she couldn't deny Pearl's comment, Peridot simply chooses to ignore it.

"Pearl." Peridot says in a deadpan tone. "Don't patronize me."

Pearl's smile fades as she stands up with a huff. She turns away from Peridot and crosses her arms. "It appears that I can't dissuade you." Pearl says.

"Ha! Not even close!" Peridot says with gusto.

"Very well then," Pearl says as she smiles and glances back at Peridot, "May the better gem win."

"Oh she will." Peridot says with a cocky smile.

Meanwhile, at the fry shop, Lapis is talking with Mr. Fryman.

"What does this have to do with my question?" Lapis says as she picks a fry out of the cup in front of her and inspects it.

"How can you claim to support local business if you've never eaten my fries?" Fryman says as he crosses his arms.

"Good point..." Lapis says as she slowly brings the fry up to her nose and smells it. It doesn't smell bad. In fact, it smells good. But she's never eaten anything before. She opens her mouth and with trembling hands puts the fry in her mouth. She closes her mouth and slowly begins chewing. It doesn't taste bad, but she still has to force herself to actually swallow the fry. She just stares down at the fries and looks pleadingly back at Mr. Fryman.

"You don't like my fries?" Fryman asks with concern.

"Its not that! The fry had a good taste." Lapis says apologetically. "Its just that..." She sighs. "We gems aren't like humans. We don't need to eat... And honestly... I think its... Uncomfortable..."

"Hey, hey." Fryman says apologetically as he takes the fries back. "It's alright. You don't have to eat the rest."

"Really?" Lapis asks relieved and smiling.

"Yeah. You tried and that's all that matters." Fryman replies. "Trust me. I know what its like being forced to do something you don't wanna do. I pay taxes." Fryman laughs at his own joke. Lapis, however, takes it seriously.

"What are these taxes?" Lapis asks.

As Mr. Fryman tries to explain taxes as clearly as possible to the confused Lapis, Mayor Dewey looks on from a distance. He had just finished his speech and had caught Lapis's blue figure out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't hear what the two of them were talking about, but it made him think. Dewey puts his megaphone away and gets into his election mobile.

"I wonder what they're talking about?" Dewey asks aloud and to himself. "I wonder if its anything important? Maybe she's just going through the rounds like I am? Or maybe she's just talking..."

Dewey lets out a sigh, and Pearl gets into the van.

"What's wrong?" Pearl asks when she sees Dewey's distressed expression.

"I was just thinking." Dewey says with a sigh. "You know... I've been mayor a long time, and I still don't know the fry vendor's name."

((Sorry its been awhile folks. Every so often life throws a curve ball. But back to the task at hand... I like fries, especially waffle fries... But I don't really see Lapis being a fan of food... Garnet eats sometimes. Amethyst... Eats everything. But I just don't see Lapis enjoying it. but yeah. Lapis tried a fry and is getting a crash course in economics. Peridot and Pearl have their own thing going on... And Dewey... Finally I got around showing a bit more Dewey... Woo?))