driftfleet | one ☂ rain, rain, go away...

Entry tags:

one ☂ rain, rain, go away...

Who: Lapis Lazuli & YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: S.S. Huntress
When: 1/10

[ VIDEO ]

[ The very second she wakes, the immediacy of how wrong this is crashes over her like a wave.

Lapis curls upright on a cot on the Marsiva, blinking and coughing - like she's been underwater for too long. Frantically, she reaches out for something that isn't there - a shackle. A connection she had been holding on to with all the strength she had, just moments ago -

She had lost it. She hadn't been strong enough.

She stumbles off the cot like she's still getting her land legs, and slowly moves out of the room, quickly casting glances around every corner as she moves down hallways. This doesn't look like a Homeworld ship, but...it has to be. She wasn't strong enough to stay fused with Jasper, and so she must have gotten free. She was probably hurting Steven right now, and Lapis had been taken prisoner again -

What's the point?

In front of a large window, she slumps down, arms winding around her knees. She her forehead against them until she can't see the harsh lights of the ship anymore. With that blocked out, there's just her, and the tumultuous ocean roiling inside of her. ]

[ ACTION ]

[ Soon enough, Lapis is shuttled off to the S.S. Huntress, and she enters the ship with all the reluctance in the world. She is not happy to be here. She barely minds the fact that she's been assigned to a Security position - rather, she avoids the armory entirely. She didn't ask for this. She didn't ask to come here, to be taken prisoner yet again by an organization she knew nothing about, but who would inevitably find some way to use her to their ends.

She doesn't want any of this.

And so as Lapis makes her way to the bunks, she starts pulling - only partly deliberately - on any liquids she passes. Someone using the toilet or shower may suddenly find the water fleeing upwards and out towards the Gem calling it to her. Water, tea, or any other drink may jump out of a cup or drink dispenser as she passes. She does this until she builds a small river down the hallway, barely glancing at anyone she passes unless - unless, they get a bit too close for comfort. ]

No! Just - just stay away from me!

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[ A...child. And a small one...even smaller than Steven. Would their captors stoop so low to bring someone even as young as this girl here?

But Lapis's righteous anger is doused when the girl speaks, not threatening her or trying to tell her what to do but offering to help her, even if she's mistaken what's happening.

Though she hardly budges, Lapis's tone is a shade gentler. ]

What are you... [ She shakes her head. ] No. I-I don't need your help. I won't cause you anything but trouble.

[Smaller than Steven, indeed! She looks like she's 8 or 9 — but she's 11. Promise. She's just an intense runt. She speaks very kindly, though, because she does understand that mindset. Some slaves are afraid to be helped, after all! But a little secret help is better than being flogged or left without a meal. That's not the case here, but... old habits.]

It's no trouble at all, miss! This is my job. I'm very quick at it.

It can be very overwhelming, coming here; I understand!

[ Lapis doesn't respond to offer of help, because she doesn't need help. Or...not the kind this child is offering, anyway.

Lapis pulls some of the murky water at her feet up off the floor, and it forms like frozen raindrops around her. ]

So am I. [ Though she's just a small thing, Lapis takes a careful step back. ] You - you shouldn't...I didn't come here. I was taken.

[ For her, this distinction is vitally important. ]

[Her eyes widen slightly. Is it... possible...?

She misunderstands entirely — she's already in some steep denial, really.]

Are you a slave, too? I-I'm from Mariejois! It's on the Red Line. Do you know...?

[ Her expression muddles with confusion, but one thing becomes clear to her with this girl's words - she's been brought here as a slave.

A prisoner, a slave...what difference did it make what they called themselves? It's all the same. It all meant they weren't free. ]

N-no, but I...[ No. She doesn't want to talk about Homeworld. ] This isn't the first time I've been taken like this. I have to stop it.

[Oh, um. She blinks, momentarily lost.

This person can't possibly be nobility, or a slave owner. She's too nervous, like someone who's just brought into an auction and has no clue what their life'll become — they just know it'll be awful. Still... isn't the first time?]

Oh! Do you mean you appeared on this ship?

We're all the same, then! But you're not a slave. I understand.

Nobody here will hurt you, though; I've met them all, and they've very nice!

[ She sounds so...sure about that. Children are like that, aren't they? Steven is. He believed in even the worst people.

She sound so sure that they're as nice as she believes, but Lapis can't be so sure herself. ]

I don't know anything about them. They don't know anything about me.

[ If they did, they wouldn't be so nice. That's how things usually go. ]

Th-then... trust me! I can tell you anything about me you'd like. Just ask away, and then you'll know things about me! And maybe someday I will know things about you, when you want. Would that make things easier?

[She's trying to be helpful!

... While mopping simultaneously.]

[ She's so...earnest. So open. So eager to show a kind hand.

Uncertain at such a display, Lapis can think of only one response. ]

...You don't need to keep doing that. [ She then starts to draw the water towards her off the floor, so the girl won't need to keep scrubbing it. ]

[Ah...!]

It's —

Oh, you're the one moving it! Ah, that's a nice trick. Are you a fishman? Or maybe someone like a fishman... You're very blue, so I thought maybe you were like them!

[She stops scrubbing, though. Good call, Lapis.]

A...fishman? [ She's never heard the term before, but she can be fairly certain that's not what she is. ]

No, I'm a Gem. I don't know what a fishman is. Do they...look like I do?

I see. I apologize deeply for mistaking you for a different species! Though I think the fishmen aren't as scary as most people believe. Some of the crew I was sailing with had blue skin l-like yourself.

[She smiles, a genuine one compared to the usual stiff and somewhat creepy one.]

They were going to take me home, to the island I was born on. I was away for a very long time, and I was very excited to go back... b-but it's okay! I'm happy to serve this fleet. I can do any work you'll like of me, if you want.

[ Oh, that smiles warms Lapis. This child...is entirely too charming.

She doesn't like where this is going. ]

You don't have to do anything for me. [ A pause. A question she's afraid to ask, because she's afraid to relate. ] Have you...been away from your home for a long time?

[ She knows the feeling. ]

[Oh, well...!]

Y-yes, miss. For many years now! I — was taken when I was very little and sold. I'm very lucky that I was able to get away and start the journey home, but... I suppose I am not quite as free as I hoped.

[It's a very sad thing, but her smile reflects none of that.

She can't afford to be sad, not in front of anyone but herself.]

[ So, she'd been a prisoner for a long time, too...even before coming here. Just like Lapis had been. ]

...I'm sorry. It's been a long time since I've been free, too.

[ Even when she'd made it back to Homeworld, her freedom hadn't really been hers. Not with Yellow Diamond "recruiting" her. ]

[She blinks, her smile — usually so forced and constant — fading.]

You were taken and kept against your will?

[She very much understands.]

[ A careful nod. ]

...Yes, I was. [ More than once. ] It's...no way to live a life, is it?

[She shakes her head, frowning a little.]

It's... If... If I'm honest, it's horrible.

I just wanted to go home. I always thought about home before I went to sleep, and when I woke up... I wouldn't be there. I'd just be... the slave girl...

[And every day, it hurt.]

Edited 2016-01-24 08:31 (UTC)

...I was trapped inside a mirror for a very long time.

[ Why is she telling her this? ]

I was all alone until...I made a friend. He set me free and I went by to my own planet, but when I got there, I was just captured again for what I knew about the Earth.

...I guess that doesn't matter much now, does it? Now we're here.

[She offers a more friendly and genuine sort of smile.]

Then we will be careful together, so we can keep from getting caught again!

My name is Koala. If you need anything, I can do whatever you ask!

[.......... She's still getting used to having personal freedoms, really.]

[ She can't quite bring herself to smile herself, but her eyes are soft, gentle. ]

I'm Lapis Lazuli. You don't need to do anything for me.

[ ...Except maybe be a kindred spirit. ]

[She brightens immediately; such a kind person.]

Thank you, Miss Lapis. I'll still be around if you need anything, anyway!

D-don't hesitate to ask!

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one ☂ rain, rain, go away...

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