IC CONTACT

[mirrortide]

✆CHANNEL FREQUENCY: 124.96350
DESCRIPTION: Lapis doesn't really like this radio. It makes her think there's someone inside of it every time it goes off.

✉MAIL BOX LOCATION: Mailbox on Door
DESCRIPTION: Mail will probably not be read. Or it will be read and not be responded to. Worst case scenario it's responded to and you cant read it because Gem writing is completely incomprehensible. You're better off just yelling at her in person for whatever she's done.

Comments

[mirrortide]

[And Lapis looks up from her, yeah, you guessed it, hammock to look at Peridot quizzically.]

We're talking right now.

[What's with that face...]

[periphrasing]

I mean about something potentially serious, not just idle chit chat!

[mirrortide]

We're still talking, right now. [Lapis replies, expression falling considerably. Whatever this is she has a feeling she'd really rather not hear it?

Like, really rather not hear it.]

[periphrasing]

[Lapis you are not helping her anxiety.]

Right, well. Do you remember how you told me that you saw Nightshade back in the Athenaeum, and we weren't sure whether that was real or some sort of book illusion? And then I wanted to tell security about it, and you, uh, strongly encouraged me to lie and say that I was the one who saw her? I think that lie might be catching up to us now, and I'm not really sure how to handle it.

[mirrortide]

Catching up... how?

[Like, give her something to work with here, thanks??? Please?]

[periphrasing]

Well. Lambert just called me on the radio...

[She's using a really forcibly calm tone of voice, trying to keep from raising a panic.]

It turns out that, one of the other summer fae was apparently... Looking for you! By name. Saying that you had expressed interest in defecting. And now Lambert wants to know why that might be.

[mirrortide]

Because I don't particularly like it here, honestly. And if he has any other questions, he can ask them to my face.

[periphrasing]

[Peridot stares at her, dumbfounded.]

B-but-- You'll get in trouble! And that doesn't even start to explain why a fae you've never even met knew your name in the first place!

[mirrortide]

It's not like I've made it any big secret that I don't like it here, Peridot.

[Like, she's been public about it enough times?]

Whose the fae that knows me anyway?

[periphrasing]

[Lapis that DOESN'T HELP HER WITH WHAT HER MAIN CONCERN IS HERE. But also Peridot is a weenie, so she just droops her ears and drops it for the moment.]

Ignatius. He's the one that we're uhhh. Holding prisoner right now....

[mirrortide]

I have no idea who that is, honestly.

[Like? She's never even heard of him.]

And what's the the point of keeping him prisoner? [Why not just execute him...]

[periphrasing]

It's complicated.

[Even just saying that much, seems to exhaust her.]

And that's not the point, anyway! The point is-- How am I supposed to explain any of this without Lambert knowing that I lied to him?

[mirrortide]

I don't know! [You're asking the wrong gem, Peridot! Lapis doesn't fix problems! She runs away fro them! Or makes more!] I just want to be left out of it!

[periphrasing]

I don't know if you can be at this point! The only explanation I can see here is that my theory that the Nightshade you encountered was actually real, and she was the one who told Ignatius who you were!

[mirrortide]

I don't know, Peridot! I don't know what you want me to say! [Like, it's clear that she's probably not going to be able to talk Peridot out of it in the long run, even if she desperately wants to?]

[periphrasing]

[At this point Peridot is forced to stop and ask herself: What DOES she want Lapis to say? That she's sorry? That she'll come clean and talk to Lambert for her? Maybe that she has some sort of brilliant idea for a lie Peridot can use which will make everything else make sense?

None of these options are particularly likely. And, more importantly, Peridot realizes none of them are fair to Lapis. Her friend had asked her to keep her safe from all this by keeping her out of it, and Peridot is failing really hard at that right now by dropping this in her lap.

She looks really distressed for one moment... and then she represses it with well-practiced ease, taking on a calm (if slightly shaken) expression.]

Nothing. You're right, I-- I don't want you to worry. Forget I said anything, I'll figure something out.

[mirrortide]

[Lapis does none of those things that Peridot might think that she wants her to do. Instead, she breathes out a heavy noise, shoulders slumping.]

Thanks. Sorry, Peridot. I know I'm not any help.

[periphrasing]

Well... Maybe not in this particular instance, no.

[She'll admit that much.]

It's okay, though. I'll think of SOMETHING to tell him. It'll be fine.