Your voice,

[mirrortide]

Who: Lapis Lazuli & Various
When: April Dream Event!
Where: , various memories!
What: Backdated meetings & Memory share!
Warnings: Various Trauma's and not so traumas!

Closed & open prompts below. hmu through PM or at yakule!

Comments

backdated, closed to peridot & lorenz

[mirrortide]

[It's a little nervewracking, the decision to bring Peridot to here place of residence, where she knows Lorenz is right now, because... Well, she's just always been a flighty gem to begin with, and right now she's thinking that maybe she should have at least messaged him and informed him what she was doing? But it's too late, because she's already at the front door, opening it.

She really needs to think ahead, and not get so caught up on the feeling of elation of having Peridot here, which is now quickly drowned by the fact that Peridot is here and so is Lorenz, and she still feels weird about it for a reason she really can't place.

(It's because she wants both of their approval, though maybe Peridot's moreso than his.)

Lapis gives a quick, lopsided smile to the smaller Gem before calling out into the house:]

Lorenz? Are you here?

[bergamotrose]

[Lorenz noted the distinct feelings of warmth coming from Lapis' side of their connection all day. It was a pleasant surprise that had Lorenz feeling hopeful that his peculiar friend was starting to move forward in her adjustment to their shared circumstances, and that perhaps he wouldn't have to worry about her so much. While he was well aware that Lapis could more than take care of herself, Lorenz worried after her emotional well-being with the fastidious care of a doting relative. He couldn't help it; fussing was in his nature.]

You know very well that I'm here, Lapis.

[Lorenz called from the nearby kitchen. With his sleeves rolled up and his hair pulled back from his face in a simple tie hanging from the side, He was clearly planning on a low-key afternoon over tea. Stepping out with hooves that clacked on the hard floors, announcing his entry, Lorenz peeked through the door--

and stopped, bewilderment written on his face.]

...Apologies. I didn't realize you had company.

[Sure, the company was green, but Lapis herself was blue. Lorenz himself was fairly purple, so he had no right to express any judgement.]

[alienwear]

[This whole thing is really weird and nerve-wracking for Peridot, too. It's strange to be back in Aefenglom, and stranger yet to be going back to a different house than the one she'd left behind. Hell, the last time she was here, she'd been caught up in that whole mess with those anti-mirrorbound sadists....

The disparity between 'then' and 'now' would be hard to reconcile with, if her thoughts weren't thoroughly occupied elsewhere. Right now she's EXCLUSIVELY thinking about Lapis, and about the conversation they'd had back in the dreamscape. They're girlfriends now! Or uh, at least, they're in SOME kind of romantic relationship? That whole thing is ALSO very weird and confusing. Delightful! But confusing. And now they're going to meet this Lorenz guy, who is apparently someone who's really important to Lapis romantically as well? And Peridot's REALLY unsure on how to feel about that...

The whole way there, she's been fretting about meeting him. Too bad for her, first impressions are happening now, whether she's ready for them or not. Lorenz happens to pop out and spot them both juuuuust as Peridot is mid nervous tongue flick. Surprised by his appearance, she goes stiff and pauses for a second, with the appendage stuck part way out between her lips in a tiny forked 'blep'. She stares for half a beat, until her brain catches up with her and she awkwardly retracts her tongue into her mouth where it belongs.

Peridot looks up at Lapis for confirmation and points a clawed finger at Lorenz.]

This is him?

[As if that wasn't obvious.]

[mirrortide]

[Oh. Fantastic. Lapis doesn't say anything until Peridot speaks, too busy looking back and forth between them with an edge of nervousness colouring her emotions.

So she just nods, ever so slowly.]

Uh. Yeah. This is... him. [She confirms, before looking at Lorenz to explain what's going on.]

Um. This is Peridot, Lorenz. I told you about her before. She's... someone very important to me. [She says, stressing the important part in an unfortunately obvious way.] And... I was really hoping that she could stay here with me- us. Especially since all her plants are here too. And Pumpkin.

[bergamotrose]

[It was quite the proposition to make so suddenly, and it was one that Lorenz had not yet prepared himself for. Lapis had only been at this address for about a month; they had only bonded a few weeks before that. There had been no time to prepare.]

It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Peridot. It's a shame we couldn't meet before this, but perhaps we can make up for lost opportunities now.

[He smiled, lowering his head in a short bow and offering a hand to shake.]

Lapis... Given the situation, I do not mind Peridot staying here. But, are the both of you comfortable with that arrangement?

[It was an honest question. He had no idea what the nature of their relationship was, nor what they did together when they were alone. A part of Lorenz, knowing how relatively delicate he was compared to a pair of Gems, even wondered if he would get in the way simply by being present in the shared space with them.]

[alienwear]

[Peridot shakes his hand, albeit a bit awkwardly. She's somewhat distracted after the mention of Pumpkin, briefly searching the immediate surroundings for her with ears lifted. Pumpkin had originally come through the mirror with her, but did not arrive with her this time. It hadn't really occurred to Peridot that she might have been here with Lapis this whole time.

Boy, that sure is an awkward question though! How does she answer honestly?]

Mmmm... Saying that I'm 'comfortable' with the idea would definitely be stretching the definition of the word.

[JUST BEING HONEST.]

I am fine with it though. If things get too weird I can always just move back to my old house. Assuming it's still there and in one piece.

[For all she knows Eren might've burned it down by now. Not that... Doing that would be in line with the Eren that Peridot knows, but, MONSTER INSTINCTS, WHO CAN SAY.]

Edelgard

[mirrortide]

((All I wanna do, is throw a barn into, a giant woman.

Memory ends with Lapis getting her form dissipated by Yellow Diamond. Which does happen to look like getting murdered with a large bolt of lightning.))

[unyieldingmarch]

[This is. A lot. This is a whole lot. Edelgard watches the memory without saying a word, just...staring...bewildered at it as it happens. Most of it makes sense, but there are a lot of strange people, mostly. And bright flashy lights and...]

...You're very brave.

[That's about all she can think to say.]

[mirrortide]

[Well... she can't deny it was pretty brave, but also...]

It was a brave act. I wouldn't say I was brave.

[She was terrified. Still is, on more than a few levels and she knows. It's a work in progress.]

[unyieldingmarch]

Why would you say that?

[Edelgard can't actually fathom anyone standing up for a friend like that...of doing that and not feeling brave.]

[mirrortide]

Because I should have been there to begin with. Not shown up after.

After running away. Twice, at that. Sure, things worked out for the better, but what if they hadn't? It's something she still thinks about, sometimes.]

[unyieldingmarch]

It takes bravery to overcome trepidation. You were there when it counted.

[That...undoes...some of the sour taste Lapis had left in her mouth.]

I'd say you saved your friends. Am I missing some context that provides evidence to the contrary?

Felix

[mirrortide]

((She's a Riptide Queen and she's, SUPER MEAN.

Memory ends with Lapis absconding into space, because no one wants to deal with the faster than light gem travel through the galaxy.))

[finesseblade]

[ This uncontrolled anger is familiar in a way—something he's seen before back home, dozens of times from Dimitri. This isn't as personal, because he doesn't know her as well, but it still fills him with a bitter disgust.

His mouth twists into a grimace, and he turns on his heel, shining water splashing beneath his boots. He folds his arms.

She's bonded to someone Felix may be starting to consider a friend, and that's enough cause for concern. ]

All that violence, and for what? Does Lorenz know about this?

[mirrortide]

[It's just a memory, though not exactly a pleasant one.]

That violence was justified after being kept a prisoner for thousands of years. [She says, extremely defensively, since she's been put on edge now.

Sure, she feels differently now, but that doesn't make what happened sting less.]

And don't bring him into this.

[finesseblade]

[ Felix scoffs. Unfortunately, he's never been one to spare anyone's feelings from a tongue-lashing when he feels it's been earned. ]

A couple of children didn't hold you prisoner.

[ But they'd almost died for it anyway. Felix folds his arms, one ear twitching irritably. ]

Is it really so strange to you that I might be concerned about Lorenz here? Or, hell, what about Sylvain?

[ Yeah he's not unaware of what happened there. He's Bonded to Sylvain, after all. ]

[mirrortide]

I didn't even know what a child was. All I saw was more enemies helping the same gems that held me prisoner for thousands of years. [Organic or not, it hadn't mattered. Though, she'd held a far less than favourable opinion on organic life back then too.

But, she's snappish too, from bad feelings about the entire thing that have set her on edge. Still, she doesn't actively defend what she did, she knows it was wrong now, and... she'd like to think she's changed, but she isn't sure enough to bring it up.]

What do you plan on doing about it then? It's not like I haven't told Lorenz. [No details, just that she's not good, though she's sure he saw that when Peridot had gotten captured.]

[finesseblade]

[ Felix watches her for a long moment, head tilted to one side, eyes narrowed and appraising. He's figured out enough from their brief encounters to know that she's solid rock, which means he also knows his blade would likely bounce right off her.

Not that he was considering going straight to blades, here.

After a moment, he simply shrugs. ]

Me? Nothing.

[ Easy man to satisfy—she's told him all he needed to know already in one sentence. ]

So long as Lorenz knows—and so long as you're not trying to drown anyone else on my watch—it's not my problem.

Peridot

[mirrortide]

((We've reached critical gay pining

Memory ends with Lapis absconding again. I know you know the episode.))

Sylvain

[mirrortide]

((Lapis has issues letting go.

Memory ends with Lapis absolutely physically beating the shit out of Jasper in the mental scape and enjoying it. Which goes on for months.))

Lorenz

[mirrortide]

((Super Watermelon Island

Though Lorenz might be disoriented, as Lapis's memory is split between Her own point of view in their mentalscape, Jasper's point of view in their mentalscape, and Malachite's point of view of the island and fight, which Lapis and Jasper also share.))

[bergamotrose]

[The scene that played out within the mindscape was dizzying-- so much so that Lorenz had difficulty keeping matters straight. Squeezing his eyes tight against the onslaught, he fought to make sense of all of the inexplicable details.

Besides the horrific duality in consciousness that was Malachite, Lorenz came out with only one detail clearly: Gems truly were more powerful than he had ever imagined.]

Lapis... where ever you are... I'm here if you want to talk.

[It was like a fever dream. He had no idea what else to say.]

[mirrortide]

[The flashes of emotion, anger, hurt, fear, betrayal, power. It's a tumultuous storm of negativity, centered on Lapis, centered on Jasper. It's dizzying enough for Lapis, the Lapis who isn't changed by water to Jasper, to navigate through as just a memory, but hearing Lorenz' voice-

There's regret in a surge too. She's told him, but she hadn't- couldn't show him it either. Couldn't put words in to explain the actions, the razor sharp satisfaction of having a Gem as perfect as Jasper kneeling and cowed under her power. But her dreamself is scuffed as well from the constant struggle. Of months bound to a Quartz like Jasper, of their constant fights.]

Lorenz! Get- Get out of here! You shouldn't be here!

[There's panic in her voice, and even if she can't anymore, this is a dream, and instinct is loud, and her wings flair out.]

[bergamotrose]

But-- Lapis?

[Lorenz took a step back, brows lifting in surprise both at Lapis' behavior and the sheer intensity of the emotions he felt from the Gem. The depths were the same as what he had witnessed in January, amid the ruins of the burnt buildings-- but seeing it in her eyes and feeling his heart shake in his chest in responce to the torrent of sentiments that weren't his own was utterly foreign.

Stilling himself, he stared squarely into Lapis' eyes and turned away.]

...It's neither of our choice to be here right now,

[He said quietly, respecting her privacy while he faced the opposite direction.]

No one will be hurt tonight-- but we can leave if that's what you wish.

[mirrortide]

[Her wings flare out wider at his words, even as he turns away from her, from the sight of Jasper and herself attacking each other, and there's a bolt of indignation at that too, because she's just a mess to begin with right now.

His quiet words are lost on her, over the sound of water and of blows connecting with simulated flesh, of taunting and jeering, of begging and pleading coming from the other two Gems, and the faint, rustling bubble of a small consciousness that threatens to become it's own, but never does.

Lapis has to shake her head to try and clear it over the haze of the memory and feelings of fusion. It's overwhelming; even if it's a memory, she can recall the feelings perfectly, and make them her own.]

Don't. [She starts, seething at first, before she shakes her head, then clutches it, because she knows that's not the emotion she's supposed to be having at him. He's not Jasper.

He's nothing like her. He's nothing like her either, or Malachite, but she's struggling right now.]