video; you're a shining star. that is what you are.

[slapfight]

 [when the camera comes on, the world is treated to a close up of Peridot's face.]

So that event was a complete nightmare, like almost all of them, but something good did come out of it. Look!

[she pulls back the camera to showcase that her bodysuit now looks more like this.] It's official! I'm a real Crystal Gem now. It took me a few days to decide how I wanted to reconfigure my appearance modifiers after my form was destabilized, but I think I have it just the way I want it.

[she's so excited that she doesn't seem to care that (a. barely anyone will know what she's talking about and (b. that her bodysuit didn't even change THAT MUCH.

in the middle of her preening, there's a chittering sound and a flutter of wings and Peridot looks up abruptly.] ....Oh that reminds me. 

[she moves the camera so it's pointing at a cluster of bats that are taking up residents in the rafters of her barn-room. she lowers her voice conspiratorially.] These weird featherless birds won't stop following me. [she turns the camera to face her again- extreme close up style] How do I make them go away? I've tried everything! I've even thrown rocks at them, and they just won't leave.

Comments

1/2 (not here)

[brainmeme]

[Ugh. God. Amethyst has no business responding to Peridot, or appreciating her new form, or talking to her at all. She was so messed up when she was a Lost One, so caught up in everything that sucks, and she attacked people she kind of likes.

And poofed Peridot, who she kind of likes a lot.

She doesn't respond to the entry for a bit, and starts stress eating some candy from a bowl in the hallway, frowning at Peridot's new look on her phone. Man, she looks cool.]

video (is here)

[brainmeme]

[She looks...

Good?

Suddenly, the stress eating seems to work all too well. Instead of wanting to avoid Peridot, looking at her makes Amethyst really, really want to talk to her.

So she responds, grin on her face as if she wasn't just messed up about anything.]

Lookin' good, Per. I guess we should call you Perihot now.

[slapfight]

Why thank you, Amethyst. [what is this feeling so sudden and new... okay it's not new, amethyst has a habit of making her turn colors and start sweating gayly.

and even though she expected things to be MUCH more awkward after the whole poofing, this is better. much better. they can avoid this together! in fact, to prove she's okay with it, she'll just....

put her foot in her mouth.]

And just think I couldn't've done it without you!

video;

[mviw]

[Oh wow, he's fairly certain he knows who this is and he is very excited to meet her.]

Those birds are actually not birds! They're bats. They belong to a different classification of Earth animal.

You must be Peridot!

video;

[slapfight]

They're annoying.

[wait. her ego senses are tingling.]

...Yes, I'm Peridot. I take it you've heard of my greatness.

video;

[mviw]

I have! But, not much, sadly. I've met Pearl and Amethyst already but I've wanted to meet all the Gems. I'm Dr. Stanford Pines, from Earth, Dimension 46'\.

video;

[heroica]

[ Robyn has only spoken to Peridot once, and over text, but the device signature (which she has finally sort-of figured out) tells her who is broadcasting. Also, a friend of Alistair's is a friend of hers, so... ]

They aren't birds, actually. Those are bats. They... won't hurt you, I think, but I can try and help you get rid of them if you'd like.

[ If anything, the dog might chase them away. ]

video;

[slapfight]

Yes! Yes. That's perfect. You can give them someone else to annoy.

[whether they'll hurt her or not is of no consequence. THEY WON'T LEAVE.]

video;

[heroica]

To annoy? [ She laughs lightly. ] All right, I think I can live with that. I'll be there soon. ... Ah - Which room are you in?

[video]

[miss_brilliant]

[Amanda had been meaning to ask Peridot more questions about her species, but the events--especially that last one--derailed her a bit. She's glad for the distraction now.

She's actually smiling genuinely, albeit with a curious look in her eyes, when she turns on her feed]

Destabilization of any kind generally wouldn't mean anything good in my work, but I'm guessing it had some positive...side effects for you?

[she has a feeling it's skirting close to her concerns about her own state of being, but she can't keep avoiding that. Well, she could but it probably won't work well]

[video]

[slapfight]

[Peridot beams] Our bodies are just hard light projections manifested by our gems. If we're damaged too severely, we just retreat back into our gems to repair ourselves and make small changes. Like this! [she jerks her thumb at her star.] Brilliant, isn't it?

[heh heh. rock puns.]

[video]

[miss_brilliant]

Oh!

[Amanda tilts her head slightly, as she puzzles it out.

She laughs, catching the pun]

It is. [and she thinks she might actually be a little jealous, considering] Is this the first time you've ever had to do that?

video

[determinedest]

Did you...did you get poofed?

[They're doing their best to remember the proper gem terminology here. But THEY DID IT. And they look appropriately worried.]

video

[slapfight]

[NO DON'T FOCUS ON THAT PART]

It... wasn't really a big deal, honestly.

video

[determinedest]

Did it hurt?

[TOO LATE YOU ARE DOING THEM A CONCERN]

video;

[reverseengineer]

What were you before?

[Pidge isn't that informed on the subtleties of gem culture. As far as she knew, Peridot was already a gem. The difference the word crystal makes to the fact is unclear to her.]

video;

[slapfight]

A... gem loyal to Homeworld and her Diamond.

[flatly as if this... answers the question. she's still learning nuance here, pidge.]

Nah let's go with [Video] too!.

[doorkey]

Oh! Those look like bats. [ Whew, and they don't have scottish terrier bodies! Good. The small girl with a blue bob, still wearing a Halloween fall fairy costume, squint at her screen.]

Um, Mmmm- Maybe they're fruit bats, and think your hair is, uh...

I mean, they're not biting you, right? They're not vampire bats? You could lure them away with something to eat. Fruit, or some species eat bugs? I saw that on a nature program once.

Your room's got the kind of places they like to hang out, though, up on the beams?

[Video]

[slapfight]

[all she takes out of that is..]

Fruit! Of course. Why didn't I think of that before?

[and she lays the communicator down and retreats to her closet. the screen is still pointed in a direction where you can see and hear her when she returns with

a fucking watermelon.] Frisk and Chara taught me about this. Now if I can just...

[she tries to lift the watermelon over her head to toss it and only ends up toppling over backwards. the watermelon hits her head on, smashes, and the bats delightedly swarm her to partake of the delicious melon-y goodness while the poor gem shrieks.

and all of this broadcasted live for your enjoyment, coraline.]

video;

[plutonicideals]

I have no idea what you just said, but you look really, really good!

Also if you leave them alone they'll leave you alone and it'll be okay.

video;

[slapfight]

I know. [PREENS.

she shoots a look at the bats] But they're so unnerving...

[video forever]

[drummeintheface]

Be careful! Those bats might drink your blooood! Bleh! Bleh!

[Aren't you glad you got a hold of Greg in between pumpkinings?]

[slapfight]

[she legitimately gasps before it occurs to her that... this doesn't apply to her.]

My body is a hard light manifestation by my gem. I don't have blood.

shuffles in late | video;

[thecourier]

Hey, look at you. Nice suit, 'Dot.

[It's a small change, but for someone used to noticing the small things, it's not too hard to see it. He doesn't know what it means, but it seems important.

And then...]

Huh. Y've got bats. Bit smaller than what 'm used to, but def'nitely bats. They don't like water, but they shouldn't hurt y'.

[slapfight]

[preens] I've really, really outdone myself. And to think this is the first time I've reformed with any kind of major change.

[oh right.. the bats. she glowers at them.] I think they like the rafters...