Welcome back, friends. I'm gonna try to make this as long as I can to make up for no updates.
Chapter Twelve: Costume Mania with the Troublesome Two (aka why Lapis and Peridot can no longer watch Alex)
Steven and the Gems were going to be very busy that afternoon. Between four missions, they didn't think they would be up to watching a puppy. Lapis and Peridot offered to look after her.
"Be VERY careful with her," Steven had instructed them. "If you need anything, text Connie. She could probably help."
Alexandrite sat in front of Lapis and Peridot's TV, seemingly interested in what was playing while Lapis and Peridot were sitting on their new sofa. Camp Pining Hearts wasn't on just yet, but there were advertisements of steak restaurants playing.
"I don't know how she can stand to watch this garbage," Peridot said impressively. "I mean, I don't like food. But she's so interested."
"Well, it would make sense," Lapis commented while reading a book titled "All About Dogs". Steven had let them borrow his copy.
"Keep researching," Peridot said. "I may as well." Before she could start Googling anything, Alexandrite had bounded into her lap, knocking the tablet away from her hands. She gave Peridot a friendly lick.
Lapis just laughed, and Peridot groaned in response.
"What kinds of things do they like to do?" Peridot asked, staring at Alex. "Well, they love to get exercise, and play." Lapis smiled at the puppy.
Alex sighed, and plopped herself onto the ground. Peridot grabbed her tablet and took a photo of Alex. "Do you know what would be a great idea?" Peridot asked Lapis, stroking Alex's head gently.
"What?" Lapis replied absentmindedly.
"A fashion show…with pictures!" Peridot squealed.
"Isn't that a bit girly?" Lapis responded.
"Well, maybe a bit too much for my taste. But imagine how cute it would be."
"Hmm, well, try it then."
Peridot began to dig in the craft box they'd received from Pearl. She dug out sewing needles, a sewing machine, handfuls of fabric, markers and sharpies, pencils and measuring tools, little wigs and little dresses.
"Where'd you get THOSE?" Lapis squinted at the little dresses. She did not recall Pearl giving them little dresses.
"Don't worry about it," Peridot said, smiling. "It's fashionista time, baby!"
Lapis cringed slightly, but then slid a bookmark into her book and set it down to join her. Tons of costume materials were sprawled all over the floor, where Alex had been sitting.
Right as they got started decorating the wigs and little dresses and cloths, Camp Pining Hearts suddenly came on TV. They basically combined the design of the outfits belonging to Percy and Pierre, which Peridot had kept Lapis up all night ranting about.
Alex sat patiently while they measured, sewed and sketched. In the end, she looked like a huge mess. It was indescribable.
Peridot snapped about fifty pictures and uploaded them to her PicTalk, which had gotten a lot of views.
Hours later, when Steven arrived to pick Alex up, he marveled at the mess they had made. He stared at Alex's new look.
"Thanks for watching her, you guys," Steven said. "I wish I could give you both something in return." "We don't need anything, thank you, Steven," Lapis said sweetly. "Do you want your book back?"
"Only if you've finished it. Don't worry if you didn't, return it when you can." He smiled at them, but he just couldn't keep his eyes off of Alex's…look.
"Do you want your wigs and little outfits back, before I leave…?" he asked awkwardly. "She can keep them!" Peridot replied cheerfully.
"Okay!" Steven replied, and then walked Alex back to the Temple.
When he got inside, Alex had been quite the show. Pearl and Garnet could only stare and blubber a bit, and Amethyst was so into it, that she gave Alex accessories. Steven just laughed a bit, and then got Alex out of her outfit.
And that is why Lapis and Peridot can't watch Alex anytime soon.
