#jasperial

Before her eyes, the one gem who had always toted herself asstrong, unbreakable in the eyes of everyone was twisting and distorting beforeher.  The once strong gem, the decoratedwar hero, the brutal fighting force was slowly being overcome with greenspikes, twisting and contorting…just like those who had suffered the diamond’swrath on that fated day…

 The day that she would never forget.

 The day that she couldn’t forget no matter how much shetried to purge it into the darkest depths of her mind.

 Pearl felt helpless to do anything.  What COULD she even do at a moment likethis?  No one even knew how to healcorruption.  Even if she wanted to, therewas no way to stop this.  Jasper wasdoomed to the same fate as gems like Centipeedle, and there was nothing shecould do about it.

 Once again, she was useless.

 Once again, nothing more than a bystander, too weak to aidsomeone she had grown fond of.  

Once again, someone she cared deeply about was slipping fromher arms.

“E-excuse me. I j-just need to-” She yelped aloud when her plan to squeeze past was thwarted by a heavy hand pushing her back against a wall. “Awww don't leave so soon, little pearl~” The soldier purred as she advanced on her prey, “The least you could do after making me follow you for so long is let me have my fun with you.”

It really did feel bad coming back here... Lapis didn’t know why she would subject herself to such misery, yet here she was. It felt wrong. So much was missing from the place she once called home. It didn’t even seem like a safe place anymore. Just a large scar across her conscience. It was like looking at a faded photograph... You can’t quite see exactly what happened, but the memory is still there somewhere, the shattered fragments of the glass that once held it together letting the whole thing fall to pieces. The barn was gone, thanks to her, Peridot, Pumpkin as well as the happy life they’d managed to snag for a few moments. 

Of course Lapis blamed herself, how could she not? The life she could have had with Peridot and Steven was ruined all because panic overtook her so many times. She didn’t know why she thought she could ever be happy. Her paranoia and fear kept her from what she wanted repeatedly before, why did she expect anything different now? 

Returning to Earth was a mistake, and she knew it. It was like toying with a cracked gem, even if she knew it would hurt her she continued to do it over and over, as if she was addicted to making herself feel terrible for what happened. She wanted to feel guilty. She knew she deserved it.

As she knelt by what had been the small lake Peridot once created to make her feel at home, she brushed her fingertips against the grass. Even with how long ago it had happened, there were still large patches where the blades had been ripped from the earth. A visual scar to match the one she felt inside.

Hearing heavy footsteps she turned to look over her shoulder, instantly getting to her feet as she met the gaze of-

[ ::💧:: ]   “JASPER?”

She tried to keep her voice from wavering, her physical form instantly trembling as just SEEING the large gem brought forth images and emotions of the past.

[ ::💧:: ]   “What are you even doing here? Why are you still on Earth?!” 

Lapis demanded, trying to force herself to fly away, knowing this could only end badly, but finding her feet stuck to the ground. She was paralyzed, unable to move from where she stood right before Jasper.

[ ::💧:: ]   “What-Whatever you want I’m not... I can’t help you! I don’t know what you’re looking for but I can’t-I won’t...” 

jasperial:

She had been marooned on Earth for what felt like eons. Thrown around, imprisoned, defeated… her ego had seen no rest when it came to beatings. But, she somehow came to know those who were previously her enemies. A strange kinship resonated between her and the others. But Pearl she understood best. Fighting for someone she loved without fail. And when the odds were stacked against her, she still made it her mission to be victorious and never give in. Jasper could respect that. She did the same.

After some time, Jasper began to want to show how she had adapted to Earth. She was perfect, and could mold to any environment perfectly. At least, that was what she thought.

Jasper put her hands on her hips, looking down at Pearl. She had tried to dress differently in an attempt to impress the other gem even further. But.. Jasper raised an eyebrow in response to Pearl’s hesitation on that specific word.

“Not impressed? Huh. You only like quartzes when they’re dressed more feminine.” She attempted to fix her tie haphazardly, but ended up only making it more crooked. Homeworld attire was so much simpler.

Over time, Jasper had come to be someone who had meaning to her.  She went from a violent, forceful person driven to insanity by her desire to be stronger to someone she could lean on.  Jasper seemed to be so many things that she was not – someone deemed perfect, someone strong, someone who seemed as if she had always known what to do. However, even someone as strong as the quartz had feelings of sorrow, loneliness and grief.   They had both lost people they loved, whether it was in the name of war or love. It was something they were able to bond over, something they could relate to despite their two different natures, their two different castes.

 Sure, Jasper was a little…rough around the edges, but there was always room for improvement and Pearl wanted to show her that there was so much more to a gem than their position, than the mold homeworld made for them, than the ultimate strength she so desired as a soldier.

 Pearl once again felt herself flush at that comment.  She hadn’t said anything about what she had preferred at all!  Mixed emotions swam around within her at those words.  There Jasper went, AGAIN with the insinuations on what she liked in quartz gems.

 “That isn’t what I meant at all! I didn’t say that I preferred feminine quartz.” Then she thought about the large opening in that sentence that allowed Jasper to dig at her again. “I didn’t say I preferred anyone. Can’t I be shocked that someone like you would dress so formally? It isn’t like you showed up with Peridot dressed to go ballroom dancing.”

 All around her, everything seemed frigid and industrial.  Metal touched her form and only brought the gem’s focus more into the reality of the situation. Round, blue eyes glanced across the tiny space she had been enclosed in.  Coming back to such…discomforts made her recall the gravity of her situation.  All around her, the steel walls offered no comfort, looming down upon her as if to cast her into eternal judgment.  Across from her, a deadly luminescent shield that promised pain to her if she even dare touch it.

 She was alone, and who knew where the other crystal gems…and most of all – Steven had gone to. Were they all in separate cells? Could they with Jasper or Peridot?  Just thinking about such things slammed her brain with panic and anxiety.  It was more than an unsavory situation, and all she was left with were scenarios cultivated by her own mind and the distant sound of muffled singing to face.

 However, that would soon be replaced with a more ominous sound – that of large feet slamming against the metallic floors as someone grew ever closer.  It couldn’t have been Peridot, they were far too heavy.  It had to be…Jasper.  The very thought of such an intimidating gem made her shrink back a little. Jasper wasn’t playing around and Pearl would give her no further reason to act antagonistic towards her, even she knew that facing off against her in this state and alone on top of that would only get her poofed.

 Slowly, her tiny cell was overcome with a massive shadow as the sound of shoes reverberated in her ears. It was as if she could feel the raw power emanating from this gemstone.

‘Just walk past.  Just walk past. Nothing to see here.’

“You say that, while YOU’RE the one who can’t even manage your one task! Don’t disgrace me with that comparison. You are nothing like me.” She watched Pearl’s placement of her weapon carefully. It was casual. She likely wouldn’t have enough time to efficiently retaliate. She decided to distract Pearl just a moment longer, laughing at her talk of fusion.

“Isn’t that what you rejects do? You all fuse because you’re pebbles on your own. You had a mangled fusion on your side, so I decided it was time to force you gems to play fair.”

“Oh I wouldn’t DREAM of putting us on the same level! I have more class than to lower myself to that level!”

 To think that Jasper would even make such a statement! She was surely above some violent heathen who talked more with her fists than she used her voice.  Her kind may be regarded as nothing but pets on Homeworld but she would never even WANT to imagine belonging to someone like her.  She’d rather shatter herself than even entertain the idea.

Idk it’s funny so I’m sharing.

"Alright! I'll do it!" Pearl proclaimed as if it was some grandiose event for her to buy some juice.  She walked into the establishment, purchased two cans of juice and came back out, handing one to Jasper. "Here! This is...well, it's juice. Humans drink it...somehow."

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:20 PM

 Jasper took the small can, holding it in her palm. “So... there’s stuff inside?”

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:21 PM

"Supposedly," Pearl placed a hand under her chin, examining it. "I see the humans tip it up to their faces to extract it but when I did it, nothing came out.  So I was doing something wrong."

They are so stupid I hate them

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:22 PM

“I see...” Jasper examined the can closely. “So... they must have to puncture it to get inside. Right?”

THEY ARE

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:23 PM

"I would assume but with what?  Wouldn't they have given us an extraction tool-" She cut herself off, as if to come to a revelation.  "I know!" She pointed her finger into the air and took off back towards the big donut. "I'll be back!"

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:24 PM

Jasper sighed, yelling back. “Don’t take too long this time!” While Pearl was gone, she inspected the tab at the top of the can.

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:25 PM

Pearl came back after a few moments with a straw, a plastic fork and a plastic spoon. "Here! These must be the extraction tools!"

I hate her

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:26 PM

Jasper shook her head. “No, no. I’ve figured it out.”

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:26 PM

"Why didn't I think of this before? I am a GENUIS!" Pearl sang out the last word as she shoved the spoon into the soda can so hard the end of it breaks off and bounces off Jasper's face.

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:28 PM

Jasper deadpanned, blinking at Pearl but saying nothing.

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:29 PM

"Ehehehe....oops."

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:29 PM

Jasper held up her can. “Are you ready to see how its really done?”

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:30 PM

"You found the extraction tool?" Pearl blinked, amazed at the other gem's ingenuity.

OH WELL, PLOTHOLE!-Today at 9:30 PM

“Nope.” Jasper suddenly crushed the can in her hand, juice exploding everywhere. Including on Pearl

.I HATE THEMWHY AM I LAUGHING MY ASS OFF RIGHT NOW

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way-Today at 9:32 PM