interstellar5555 | Standing in the middle of the room screaming

Entry tags:

Standing in the middle of the room screaming

Who: Garnet
What: Garnet's life is becoming progressively worse and better simultaneously
When: Third week of March
Where: See prompts
Warnings: Some mentions of bad things and body horror

Cosmic Indulgence suites; Monday

[Hands and hands. Grabbing, holding, grabbing, grabbing--

Its alive. Its dead. Its what's left of friends and family. But its mixed with others not from that world. She can hear Nariko's cries, Rich's begging, among the moans of cracked gems. And Steven...Steven...

help me help me Garnet Garnet why did you LET THIS HAPPEN--

A hand grabbed her shoulder, and she woke up with a startled scream. Only to see Page shake her.

A dream. A nightmare. But also a memory. It only gets worse as Page speaks:

'The boss wants to see you'.

Its not what she thinks. Its worse. Its much worse. And this afternoon she's sitting on the couch, staring at the floor, boxes piling up in and around her room. She's not sure where Steven is, right now. She's heard rumors he went to Virgo - rumors he's still here - but somehow she hasn't been able to find him. If its not bad timing, then...then what if...what if...

Something's happened. Its clear something's happened. The question is asking Garnet what this is all about.]

Through the city; Tuesday through Friday

[Posters all over the city have popped up; the success of Heterochromia is a reason to celebrate. Its put the musical scene on fire, and Pride Records is going to celebrate by making a special junket for the people who matter. If you know the right people - or can afford the insanely expensive tickets - you too can attend the Five Years Festival, a one-night-only standing room party with Cosmic Indulgence performing their best. Then, after the main show, sign ups will happen for a karaoke duet contest. The winners will receive a special edition of the album, signed by Garnet of Cosmic Indulgence.

The other's names are oddly downplayed. Its almost as if Garnet was the main event as opposed to the entire band. Its strange. Its simultaneously coinciding with rumors that Garnet's success is causing her to consider a solo career - but those are just rumors, right?

Why not ask her herself? She's right there, across the way. She's looking at one of the promotion posters, and also, like she could use someone to talk to.]

CliniQal/House; Saturday night/Sunday morning

[This is it, the Five Years Festival. If you know someone, or can afford the tickets, you're cordially invited to the show. And what a show it is - with the way Garnet is rocking out, one could be mistaken in thinking there is nothing wrong, that she's enjoying her time in the limelight more than ever. And then there's the karaoke after - Garnet is cool with singing with whoever wants to singer with her. Otherwise, she'll sit back and watch as others duet with her.

Afterwards - at 4am - if you're up for it, if she knows you. Garnet will slip a note into your hands. Housewarming Party, Meet Me At The Stretch Bus. Those who meet her at the bus will get a leisurely, pectacular drive to the beach, where they can watch night turned to twilight, and then sunrise. Then, they will be ushered to a beautiful beach house, nestled near a small cliff. Drinks are provided, as are some bite-sized delicacies. Those who want to crash will have plenty of space to do so.

Throughout it, Garnet will do her best at playing house mistress. However, there will be times when she can be found on the house deck, staring out into the sea, her fingers trailing across the glass.]

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[Definitely not a reaction she was expecting. As Garnet's hands suddenly lunge towards her, her eyes startle to enormous proportions, and her feet go skimming several steps backward in the sand. The ocean water surges suddenly, crashing upward near Garnet's ankles, leaving behind a swirling filigree of silver even as it recedes.]

[It's not a good beginning.]

Don't touch me.

[Suddenly Lapis' voice is too high, too sharp in her own mouth; the words are spit out -- a warning.]

You won't touch me!

[There's fear in the words just as much as fury. The two battle for control, wrestle for dominance. Part of her would very much like to let them go -- let them take themselves out on this woman, this Gem, for all she's done, even if she (Garnet) doesn't remember any of it. That this woman would try to touch her, would dare to ask for anything . . .]

[So easy just to let go . . .]

[Another breath. One. Two. Her arms wrap around herself, hold herself tightly -- try to reassure her, to subdue the tremors that run through her too-thin frame.]

[Standing there, she tries to remember Steven's face. To hold it in her mind.]

...I-I...

[Garnet also shrinks back. It hadn't been purposeful, but seeing the strange surge...she's more scared now than before.]

I'm sorry. I just...please. Don't...calling him that...its a bad idea. Please.

[Fear.]

[There's open fear in the woman's face, unmistakable.]

[Fear.]

[. . . Of her?]

[She, Lapis, should be the one afraid. Not Garnet, cringing as though expecting a strike. It's not even false . . . that expression in the other's face, it could only be genuine.]

[Couldn't it?]

[It's another blow to her paradigm. . . . She's had so many of those lately.]

[She still holds herself, her shoulders tight, her hands clenched around her upper arms. Still breathes unsteadily.]

[But holds her space. Holds the ground between them both. Pressing her eyes shut, she fights for some measure of composure.]

Why?

If someone heard . . . I'm risking me.

You risk him.

[Her breath quickens.]

Don't you see? He already...he's got to be Tiger right now. Out here, we have to play for our fans! We have to make the music we feel, in our hearts...

[This is not the centered, decisive Garnet that Lapis has seen before. So far, aside from the burst of fury that Garnet showed earlier . . . this is a shell. Worn. Almost . . . defeated.]

He needs to be himself. [This assertion is absolutely firm.] He needs to remember. And so do you.

Otherwise . . . that's how you die. Both of you. In a way worse than anything they could do to you.

You forget, and you're no better than something they put on display. A doll. A music box.

An object.

Edited 2016-03-29 22:52 (UTC)

I already forgot.

[She looks away, at this. Almost ashamed. Almost. She can hear her mind scoff, what could this girl know about imprisonment, the way that Santiago can initiate?]

I'm already a music box. At the very least, I can keep Tiger alive, and healthy.

[She stares back at the other Gem for that. For a long moment she's still and silent, only staring back across the space between them.]

If you think you'll keep him alive by forgetting . . . you won't.

You know what they do. Even more than I do. They kidnap people from their worlds. They steal their memories. They'll steal a child, crack his gem . . .

Anyone willing to do all that . . . they're willing to kill. And you know it.

He knows that too. You're not even protecting him from that. He knows it; he told me in his dream and cried from fear.

You're not saving him. Not fighting back, you're condemning him to die.

[She turns away, unable to look at Lapis. She knows this. Of course she does. But the fear instilled in her by the brainwashing, the influence of her growing fame, tells her that fighting back is futile. Stupid. Destructive. Its Lesedi Santiago, and the only way to guarantee anyone's safety is to sing. To play.]

And if I fight back, he will die instantly, as punishment.

What I'm doing...as long as I play, there's a chance he can still stay alive.

If I protect him as you should be, he has a better chance of staying alive.

[She doesn't even consider the words, snapping them out.]

Maybe you're right. Maybe the best thing you can do is to stay out of my way.

[That hits a nerve. There's a glower, a small shadow of the Garnet that once was, as she hisses her words out.]

Who...who are you to say those things, and how the hell do you plan on doing that!? You don't know anything about the labels. You claim you know what they can do, but you don't. They will eat you alive before you got out of the elevator with him! You'll be erased! It will be like...like you never were!

[The next time you say you're just a music box, rest assured, Lapis will be mushing this moment in your face. You're there, even for just a flicker -- a reminder of the person she both needs and hates.]

I'll do whatever I need to do.

At least I'll still have been the person I was supposed to be.

Instead of just afraid.

Edited 2016-04-12 02:09 (UTC)

I don't even know the person I'm supposed to be. Much less who you are.

[Thank you for the reminder, Lapis.]

How do you know me?

[They're certainly at an impasse when it comes to Steven. She's not sure how much she wants to give at this point. Not sure if Garnet is trustworthy, and doubtful that the information would even calm the woman down. . . . And of course there's the question of how much she cares by now. Garnet didn't have strong points going for her from the beginning. This blind faith, this adherence to what her captors require in the twisted hope that it will save Steven . . .]

[It's disgusting. This woman, this Gem will be a prisoner without even fighting.]

[There's not a small part of Lapis that tells her that this is what Garnet deserves. It's only fitting that this is how Garnet should end -- captive and blind and belittled . . . everything that Lapis was sentenced to.]

[It's also so disgusting a fate that she hates the idea of another life ending that way.]

[Both feelings combat for dominance in her mind.]

With everything you've done, with everything you've said . . . how can I trust that you won't just hand everything over to them?

Edited 2016-04-12 20:47 (UTC)

...I'd never betray Steven. Ever.

[It seemed to be the only thing she's certain of. Yet at the accusing tone of her question, even Garnet finds she can't be so sure of that anymore.

[Not betraying Steven doesn't mean that Garnet won't betray her. Lapis knows this.]

Remember if you risk me . . . I'll make sure to risk you. Anything I tell you now . . . I'm sure they'll be glad to take it out of you.

[Reaching up, she tugs her shrug down around her shoulders, twisting so that the gem in her back is exposed, brilliant blue.]

I'm like you. Like him. [Her eyes are still flat.] We're both from the same world.

Thousands of years ago, there was a war. I was trapped. You and the others . . . you kept me, even though you would have known I was there. You left me there, trapped, in the mirror. You would have kept me there . . . except Steven fought for me. He let me out.

[Her eyes narrow.] When it comes to even talking to you now . . . I'm not doing it for you. He loves you.

I'm doing this for him.

Edited 2016-04-14 17:43 (UTC)

We...

[What.

There's a look of sorrow as she looks down. She really doesn't remember this.]

A war...was...that why we fought?

[She sees that look, but it's only because Garnet doesn't remember. Garnet isn't truly sorry. The other Gem would attack Lapis in her right mind. The sorrow means nothing.]

We weren't on the same side. Your side was led by a rebel. Mine was led by the Homeworld.

I didn't care. You could have had it if you wanted -- the Earth. But it didn't get to be my choice.

And apparently, that didn't matter.

So, you were on Homeworld's side.

[...If the Homeworld is where Gems came from...back where she remembered coming from...]

What was Homeworld like?

Edited 2016-04-14 20:33 (UTC)

[Of all the questions she could have asked, that's the one she wants? Lapis tries not to betray any surprise.]

Far more advanced than Earth. Gems were colonizing the universe when the Earth didn't even have humans, under the leadership of the Diamonds. We would take planets, grow new Gems, re-form the world to fit our needs.

[Her eyes shift away.] Homeworld itself . . . I can only tell you how it was. It . . . changed. Everything was different when I went home.

Neither of you have been home in thousands of years anyway.

...I only remember that we were fighting. Not why.

...

[Wait a second.]

Neither of us have?

The rebels, Rose Quartz . . . they had different ideals. They didn't want the Earth destroyed by the Gems. They felt like there was something worth saving.

[She's not sure how to take the next part.]

Yes.

...There is. There always was, I bet. And there especially is now.

~~[Steven.]~~

Is...is it well-known, then? About us?

[~~Yes, Steven.~~]

[Lapis frowns slightly at the question.]

It's not hard to tell. For anyone looking at you.

Any Gem, anyway.

There are no other Gems like you. And no one has more than one gem except fusions.

I'm the only one like me?

[She holds herself, at this. Of course. It makes sense. Why would there be others like her? Everyone from Homeworld had been disgusted in that memory from when they met. Then after?

Of course.]

And...what about him?

Steven is . . .

[She frowns, brow furrowing. Is there any real explanation for what Steven is? He's human . . . but he's a Gem. Does that mean he's a fusion? Half? Or something else?]

. . . He's Steven. [This is the only worthwhile explanation in the end. In the face of defied logic, Steven has to be accepted for who and what he is. Standard rules don't apply.]

I don't know how he happened. I don't know how he exists.

[She just knows that she needs his small light. Without it, something will cease.]

Greg is his father. His mother . . . there shouldn't be one, not the way Gems come to exist.

But he does.

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twoscompany - 2016-04-20 01:50 (UTC) - Expand

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