Later that day, in Steven's home. Steven is in front of his television watching a rerun of Crying Breakfast Friends. Peridot, still bruised up, is sitting on the couch typing away on Steven's cell phone. Lapis is sitting next to her, twiddling her thumbs and looking around.

"Are you sure we can be here?" Lapis asks as she looks around the living room. "I mean... Strategizing in the temple when Pearl is kind of on the other side?"

"Kind of?" Peridot responds with minor irritation and not looking up from the phone. "We are clearly at odds with her."

Lapis frowns and with a huff, she pokes a bruise on Peridot's arm.

"Ow!" Peridot screams as she drops Steven's phone. She glares at Lapis. Lapis just smiles mischievously.

"Its alright." Steven says as he looks down at the two gems. "The others are on a mission, and this is as much your home as it is ours."

"Then why are we still stationed at the barn?" Peridot mutters irritatedly under her breath. Lapis not so subtly elbows Peridot in the bruise. "Ow!"

Lapis looks up at Steven and smiles. Steven smiles back and jumps. Lapis catches him in her lap. "So, what's up Dot?" Steven asks.

"Well, Steven," Peridot says in that tone of voice that means a long winded explanation is coming, "the day of the debate is approaching quickly, and we don't have the capabilities to be everywhere and campaign all the time. We have missions and various other tasks to perform, so we're going to advertise."

"You mean like on television?" Steven asks, all starry-eyed.

"Yes. Like television." Peridot states. "However, unlike our competitor, we can't afford the outrageous amounts of money that the television station requires for their services. Dad said that he didn't have any funds to spare, I am not asking Pearl, and going door to door didn't help at all..."

"They thought she was selling cookies!" Lapis says with a giggle. Steven laughs as well.

"... Anyway..." Peridot continues as she cleared her throat with a cough. "Since we cannot afford a scheduled time block, I figured that we'd let the local community do it for us. I am currently in contact with the superintendent of Connie's school. They have an event this evening called a 'Junior Tech Expo' and I made a deal!" Peridot says full of boastful pride. "I proposed that Lazuli be a special guest at the event, and he agreed! All I have to do is babysit his daughters during the event."

"That's... Good..." Steven says with uncertainty, his imagination running rampant with the dozens of ways that Peridot babysitting could and most likely would go wrong.

Lapis looks at Peridot in shock before grinning widely. "Peri... That's a great idea!" Lapis says with joy. "I knew you had one in that massive mess of hair!"

Lapis ruffles Peridot's hair as Peridot lets out an irritated groan at Lapis's backhanded compliment, but the praise still feels good.

Later that evening...

Lapis lands in front of the home of the superintendent. In her arms is Peridot, clutching desperately around Lapis's waist.

"I had no idea you were afraid of heights, Peri!" Lapis says with a laugh.

"I am not!" Peridot yells as she distances herself from Lapis. "You dropped me! Twice!"

"The first time was an accident." Lapis aplogizes.

"And the second?" Peridot asks with comtempt.

Lapis just smiles innocently, and Peridot groans. The door then opens as an older, balding man walks out.

"Ah. You're here!" The man says as he fixes his tie. "Alexis and Amanda are in the kitchen currently eating dinner. All you have to do is watch over them, make sure they don't get into any trouble, and that they go to bed at ten... No later."

"Uh, sure!" Peridot says confused. "Ten what?"

The man laughs. "Sense of humor! I like it!" He looks around for a car and sees none. "I see you two walked here. Allow me to offer you a ride." The man says with a smile as he offers Lapis a gentlemanly arm.

Lapis awkwardly accepts and gets led to the black hummer in the parking lot. She waves goodbye to Peridot as the car drives off. Peridot waves back with a forced smile.

"Well, lets get this over wi- GAH!" Peridot lets out a gasp of shock when she turns around and is greeted by two identical little girls, maybe a head's height smaller than Peridot. Both have long brown hair and green eyes. They stare up at her with unsettling gazes.

"Looks like we have a new friend, Amanda." Says one.

"It looks like it, Alexis." Says the other.

"Uhm... Helllllooo..." Peridot says timidly with an awkward wave.

The two girls look at each other and then back to Peridot with smiles that send chills down Peridot's spine. Each one grabs one of Peridot's hands and leads her into the house. Peridot gulps as she enters the house, the door closing slowly behind her. "H-how did that door c-close?"

Later, at the tech expo...

Lapis is glad that the expo is finally starting. The superintendent hadn't left her side since they arrived. It was uncomfortable to say the least. Now she is sitting on the the stage with a few other people she didn't know, and he is behind the podium talking to the crowd. Lapis lets her mind wander as the superintendent spoke.

"But before we officially start the festivities," the superintendent continues, "lets first welcome our guest of honor, candidate Lapis Lazuli!" The crowd gives Lapis a round of applause. She smiles and waves. "Isn't she just charming? Please. Come up to the podium and start this event off right!"

Lapis gets up and walks towards the podium. The superintendent moves only a little bit to the left. Lapis not so gently pushes him further away. "Uhm... Hello." Lapis says with a nervous swallow as the crowd is still having their own miniature conversations. "As your superintendent said, I'm Lapis Lazuli. I'm running for mayor of Beach City." She pauses a moment and then continues. "Technology is an important part of life, and it changes so quickly that... If you're gone, for any bit of time, then you're lost... Its frightening. Its lonely." The crowd goes dead silent. "I... I don't know much about this kind of thing. I don't know what Instabook is or how the internet can have walls... But I see you all here, celebrating your interests, your passions. Technology may change, but that type of bond stays strong. You are all here, together. So have some fun!"

The crowd gives Lapis a round of applause and cheers. Lapis smiles and bows her head politely. She steps away from the podium, and she and the other guests join in with the crowd.

((Is it obvious that I like horror movies? No? Ok.

Lapis is clearly not in her element (worst pun yet! woo!) but seems to be doing very well. Peridot... Not so much... But atleast she got screen time this chapter, unlike another character we all know... *Dewey's crying in a corner* But Dewey and Pearl will be back in the near future and have plans of their own!

I was asked by my roommate why I have these little "Write Asides" at the end of each chapter... I don't know... I just like doing it... Maybe I should move this to my tumblr? That could work... I dunno... PM me if you have any opinions one way or another on this topic.))