1st Gem [Video]

[lionrider]

[The screen fuzzes a little and is out of focus before Steven appears]

Uhh... Is this thing on? Can you hear me? [rubs the back of his head] I'mmm gonna assume you can hear me. So, I saw your presentation and everything but I can't say I understand all of it... Not that it wasn't really good it's just when weird things happen to me it's...

not quite this weird.

[coughs into his hand]

Annyway the point is I was wondering if anyone saw my friends. Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl! I've drawn pictures of them...

[there's a shift of the camera and he points it at the sand where there are awkward but reasonably good drawings of them]

Ooor Peridot or Lapis. Or a warp pad [more drawings]

[the camera focuses back on him]

Or my lion... That didn't turn out so well but he looks like, you know, a lion. Only he's pink and very friendly.

[nod nod]


If you have let me know. If not uh... hi... I'm...Steven I guess.

Comments

[youfool]

[Ted tries for something sympathetic. He looks youngish.]

Hello, Steven. I'm Ted. May I ask how old you are?

I have heard of one Ms. Peridot. Green, perhaps, and a touch prickly?

[lionrider]

Hi, Ted. I'm fourteen! [hands on his hips. He's kind of proud of this without knowing why]

Aww yeah that's Peridot! [laughs] But she stopped being prickly so I wonder why she's mad right now.

[well he'd find out when he saw her]

Do you know where she is?

[youfool]

[Young enough for the children's home, then! Unless he's one of those bratty, independent types. Unless he's one of those inspiringly independent types...y'know it's probably easier to just ask]

Ah, reasonably young. Well, standard procedure for those under sixteen is to escort ones such as yourself to our ersatz orphanage, of sorts, in Genessia. Would you like me to take you there?

Heh, she has? That's good news. I think coming here so unexpectedly, as most do, rattled her some. She had...dubious plans aborted, which might have been the cause of her annoyance. Maybe seeing a familiar face would alleviate her otherworldly anxiety.

I can't say I know her residence, though I could ask. [Then again, the one and only time they'd spoke Ted sorta tricked her into going on a botched dating thingamajig, so she might not be glad to see him.]

[lionrider]

Uhh no thanks. I'd better stay where the others can find me easier...

[he's not really sure about this orphanage business. He's not an orphan for one]

Anyway I'm pretty good at being independent and responsible.

[He was used to being left alone for hours at a time!]

Yeaahhh she's probably not happy at missing her episodes of Camp Lonely Hearts...

[he's not entirely sure what dubious plans she would have but maybe it had something to do with some new art piece]

If you could ask that'd be great!

[youfool]

[Uh oh. Maybe he didn't grasp the situation he's in. How to say this gently...]

The others? Whom do you mean?

Heh, she didn't strike me as the type to enjoy television. Or...much of anything, to be honest. Good to know she's not how she presents. Well, I've just sent her a message informing her of your arrival. Here's hoping she gets in touch soon.

Video

[imaginationswoes]

I haven't seen them but they might show up.

[Airy smiles at the screen.]

I'm Airy. It's nice to meet you Steve.

[lionrider]

Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. [shows again] Really? She doesn't seem to enjoy anything? Wow this trip must have really done something. Ahh... But maybe she'll be okay.

[he just has to find her is all]

Yeah I hope so too...

Ah, hey, sooo like this may sound weird but work with me here... [awkward pause] Whaaat were you doing just before you showed up here?

Video

[lionrider]

That's okay! They'll probably show up. If you knew them you'd know how they worry.

[and they do... a lot... unless they got distracted with something important... but he's pretty sure they won't be this time]

Hi Airy! You have a necklace, too! [he's proud of having paid attention that much] I guess you blew in from out of town, too, huh?

Video

[imaginationswoes]

I understand. I make my friends worry a lot too.

[More than she likes anyway.]

Yeah. [She laughs.] I was living in New York before here.

Video

[lionrider]

Newww Yorrrrkkkk... [he thinks... and thinks more. Has he ever heard of a New York? Or even an old York?

Survey says...nope]

Where's that?

[youfool]

[Now comes the bad news]

Er, I hate to be the bearer of bad--or at least unusual--news, but you may be here for a good while, Steven. This place is something of a home away from home. By that I mean the ones you knew may not show up at all.

Don't misunderstand! I don't mean anything despairing by it. Just that you may have to get used to a lot of strangers in a strange land for an indeterminate amount of time. If we're talking about the same Peridot--and I suppose we are, if a little estranged--, then you're fortunate in having a familiar face here with you. Most don't have that luxury.

Heh, what I was doing? Goodness, it's been almost two years now...I think I was reading in my dorm, but that's just an educated guess. I hardly remember the particulars before my own arrival.

[lionrider]

Oh.... [well... it's not great news.

No wait it's horrible news! Two years?]

I can't be here two years! They're going to freak out! Dad's going to freak out! Connie....

I've got to get home before two years!

There's gotta be somewhere I can go or someone to talk to!

[youfool]

Don't worry! Current theory is that time has stopped in your current world. So if, er, when you return, it'll be as though you've never left, and can pick up where you've left off. So there's no need to fret about worried friends or parents.

Video

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy smiles.]

It's on the east coast... you might come from a place without one.

[She's seen some pretty weird things here.]

[lionrider]

Aw man... I know all about time... There's not a time thing involved is there? That always gets screwy...

[and he's not into poofing himself again... even if it turned out well in the end]

It's not great where I left off either. Geeze... [rubs the back of his neck] I don't know how to get out of this one...

So...what if I do stay here two years... will I be different when I go back?

[youfool]

Heh, hard to say, though I empathize. I've heard one or two time stories from others, and it is, indeed, bewildering.

Nor can I say what the return will be like, for I take it none of us have done so yet. Or, if we have, the return was one-way, and none can tell. It seems to be the kind of story where the characters keep pouring in, but the end will be one grand, sweeping gesture for everyone.

Of course, that's just the feeling I get.

Video

[lionrider]

No way! I live on an East Coast, too! Beach City! That's so awesome. Maybe we live close by?

[lionrider]

Aww man.

[he seems to mope for a bit then sucks in a breath and puts his hands on his hips]

I'll just have to make the best of it! [until he can find something else to do]

Ted! Point me to the nearest Donut Shop! Please!

[youfool]

Hah, there's the spirit! [So suddenly enthused he can't help but oblige the sudden request]

It's, er...you know, I'm not sure we have anything like that. Nothing remarkable, anyway. Ah, maybe you'll like [Insert generic donut shop here; nothing on the Setting page so far]. Never been myself, but it ought to serve. [Come to think of it, Steven's a rarity for being perhaps the first overweight person he's seen taken...ever. Maybe it's for things like this, but he can hardly blame someone for wanting comfort food now of all times.]

To get there you just follow here and...actually, are you familiar with the map functions of your phone? If not, it's...[Insert techno-tutorial here too].

Let me know if you reconsider the children's home. You're on the older side of it, but it's a pleasant place for settling in, and safer on the whole.

Video

[imaginationswoes]

It's possible. I don't... get out much.

[Living underground sucks.]

[lionrider]

Uhhhh... [yeaah he's a bit boggled by the instructions] Buut it's just like a GPS right? So no problem! I am allll over that! [taps around and...]

There we go! I think.

[he's pretty sure]

Sure, I'll think about it. But I'm not a child you know! I'm an adolescent!

[and this couldn't be too hard could it?]

Thanks for your help!

Video

[lionrider]

I feel that. I didn't get out a lot back in the day... but then I got stronger and could handle all sorts of missions!

[and he's proud of that. Though... this last one...]

I guess that's not the same as your situation, though.

[youfool]

You're very welcome; let me know if you should ever have use of me again.

Video

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy scratches her nose.]

Well... I'm getting stronger.

[There is a learning curve when you don't have a teacher right?]

Who knows, it might me similar.

Video

[despairing_hope]

I never thought to ask if there were people I knew here.

Well, I guess the possibility isn't zero. I hope you're able to reunite with your friends.