What should have been a simple life in the desert sand and stars becomes anything but. Haunted by dreams of a life of violence, and seeking answers as to why, Peridot and her friends find themselves caught in an ancient battle between Light and Dark...and find that the cost of being a soldier is higher than they might have ever thought.
Peridot: I will! Speaking of butts, does this dress make my butt look fat?
Fern: Uh...no? Skinny as a rail.
Citrine: Peri...
Peridot: Oh, Mom...I'll be okay. Really, I will be!
Citrine: ....I know, I just...*sigh* I worry too much sometimes, you know that.
Fern: And we still love you anyway. But we can't--
Fern/Peridot: --let fear rule our lives.
Citrine: *laughing sigh* You two...okay. Okay. Just...one more minute like this?
Peridot: Five more minutes. I love you both.
Fern/Citrine: We love you, too.
Later...
Peridot: Uniform looks good on you.
Celestial: Feels...icky, though. Knowing what we know, it just...ugh.
Peridot: Maybe you're the one who should have gotten a different internship.
Celestial: Heh, too late for that now. Dad's already here.
Peridot: ...are you gonna be okay?
Celestial: Who, me? Pff. He can be annoying but he won't try and off me or anything. I think.
Peridot: Cel.
Celestial: I'll be fine.
Celestial: You just keep your distance from Parsley, okay? And keep your phone on. I'm just a call away.
Peridot: I know, babe. I know.
Celestial: ...well, here we go.
Peridot: Morning, Detective Peak.
Frosted: *grunt*
Frosted: Celestial you're with me.
Celestial: Yes sir.
Peridot: W-well, have a good day?
Frosted: *grunt*
Celestial: You too.
Peridot: Love you.
Celestial: Love you. Stay safe.
Holiday: Can I help you?
Peridot: Peridot Crystal, here for the internship.
Holiday: Oh thank the Watcher. That room is a mess! If you'll come with me, please?
Peridot: Lead the way.
Parsley: Watch where you're going!
Holiday: Excuse me--this way, Miss Crystal.
Parsley: You--
Peridot: Parsley.
Parsley: You hold on a second!
Parsley: I don't know what you're trying to pull, Crystal, but this is my space. I'll be the one in charge someday real soon, not you! So you'd better mind your place.
Peridot: My place?
Peridot: My place is where I want it to be, not where you tell me to go. So I'm only going to say this once: stay out of my way, and I stay out of yours. Got it?
Parsley: ....
Peridot: Got it?!
Parsley: ...got it.
Peridot: Good. Now, I'm going to go to work. Some of us can't coast by on our Daddy's name and rep, Herb.
Holiday: Everything alright?
Peridot: Yes, ma'am. Just...laying some ground rules.
Holiday: About time someone did. Now, here's your assignment for the...month.
Peridot: The filing room?
Holiday: Where everything is out of order in a dozen different ways. Coffee's there, bathroom's there, we need them in chronological order. ...Good luck.
Later...
Peridot: ....every one of these burglaries was overseen by Officer, now Detective, Peak. Geez...Cel wasn't kidding that his Dad's involved.
Peridot: Which makes sense but...wait, Mom doesn't have these...are they ahead of schedule?
Basil: How's it going in here?
Peridot: *gasp* Mayor Herb! You startled me, sir--it's...well, it's going. I'm up to about ten years ago so far.
Basil: Good to know! Ah, here it is. The Strudelville report.
Peridot: ...the?
Basil: Ha, a long and complicated story, I assure you. So, how are you settling in? Parsley was...quite surprised to see you.
Peridot: Oh, that...well, I've learned a lot so far, but it's really just sorting reports, sir. It's not difficult.
Basil: No? My son made it seem like the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Peridot: Parsley is...more athletically inclined, sir.
Basil: *chuckle* So he is. I don't know where he gets that from, to be honest with you. Are you two friends? He speaks of you often, Miss...
Peridot: ...Crystal. Peridot Crystal. And no, we're not. He's...we run in different circles.
Basil: You're trying to be polite about something, aren't you?
Peridot: I. Yes, sir, I am. I don't like to badmouth people, especially to their own parents.
Basil: meaning Parsley's done something worth badmouthing him over. *sigh* Alright, lay it on me. What's he done now?
Peridot: ...he's...a rather big bully, sir. Doesn't seem to liked Mixed berries or those from other planets. He claims you'll exile all of them to another world if you make Minister.
Basil: I...see.
Peridot: ...is that politician speak or you being honest, Mister Mayor?
Basil: *laugh* You are your mother's daughter. That's my honesty talking--all people are of the same value to me.
Peridot: ...that's good to hear. Thank you, sir.
Basil: Of course. Ah, a question, if I may? That necklace, where did you get it?
Peridot: It was a gift, from a friend.
Basil: Well, it's quite beautiful. ...Really, Miss Crystal, you don't have to be so nervous! I'm sure your mother's told you what a brat I was when we were children, but those were different times. I've learned since then.
Peridot: She wasn't happy about my working here, sir. I'm not sure she'll believe me if I tell her that.
Basil: Then perhaps don't? *chuckle* I can't blame her for still thinking I'm a complete berryhole, but I'm doing my best for my people. That's enough, isn't it?
Peridot: Yes sir. It is.
Basil: Good, good! Now, I'll let you get back to work.
Basil: There's quite a lot of files in here to sort!
Peridot: *groaning laugh* Yes there are.
That evening...
Basil: I told you to be subtle! What part of shouting my plans to the rooftops is subtle?!
Parsley: She was--she didn't believe a word of it!
Basil: She doesn't have to! But now she knows it's at least an idea and she'll see it coming! *frustrated shout* We were supposed to catch her off-guard!
Parsley: I can take her. She's not that tough.
Basil: She's a Guardian, you fool! They train to kill monsters--a thing like you wouldn't stand a chance!
Parsley: ....so I need to get stronger.
Basil: There is no time for that. The Thunder Moon is in three days. No...follow her. Get her alone tonight. If you can't do that....
Parsley: ...father?
Basil: If you can't do that, things will have to get complicated.
Parsley: They won't. I'll get her. How intact do you want her?
Basil: Alive.
Basil: The rest I'll leave up to you. *snort* How have you let yourself be bested by some filthy mixed berry, I will never understand! Your mother and I taught you better than that.
Parsley: ....
Basil: Get it done, boy.
Parsley: ...yes sir.
A bit later...
*contented chatter*
*contented chatter*
Citrine: ...so, how was your first day?
Peridot: Eh, nothing major. Parsley's being a douche, but I spent the whole time in the filing room so we didn't cross paths much.
Citrine: Well that's good, at least. Anything interesting in there?
Peridot: A half dozen robberies that aren't on your board. All from the last three months.
Citrine: That's. ...concerning. What was taken? Was it said?
Citrine: Frosted Peak is involved? *low whistle* Not great...Caly's stories....how that boy came outta that man, I will never know.
Peridot: He's his mother's boy, that's how.
Peridot: Oh, and I met the Mayor. He came in while I was working and--
Citrine: Whoa whoa whoa, hold up. You met Basil? In person?
Peridot: Yeah, it was fine. He was pretty polite.
Citrine: Of course he was! He's a liar--ooh I can't believe I didn't think he wouldn't go looking for you! We have the same last name he wants to finish what he started!
Peridot: mom it's not like that--
Citrine: I don't care what he's actually after--no, I'm calling Principal Heart first thing in the morning and you're getting off that internship!
Peridot: What? No! No, that's my choice, not yours!
Citrine: No, I won't have you that close to Basil. I won't, and that's final!
Peridot: ....
Peridot: Screw this.
*plates rattle*
Peridot: I'm going for a walk. I can do that, can't I?
Citrine: Peri, I didn't mean it like that!
Peridot: No, it's pretty clear you think I'm still some little kid who can't be trusted to make her own decisions. Well, newsflash: I'm seventeen, not seven. I know what I'm doing.
Nova: Peri, kiddo, calm down...
Fern: Sweetie, no one is saying that we don't trust you!
Calcite: ...no, I'm with Peri on this; you're not saying it in so many words, but the implications are there. Why? What's got you both so rattled?
Peridot: Do you want to tell them? Or should I?
Citrine: Peridot--
Peridot: Guess I will: Mom's robbery case is supposed to be for a great big summoning ritual and apparently Basil's the one behind it. Frosted Peak is also involved and there's nothing any of you can do to stop it.
Citrine: Peridot!
Peridot: I'm going for a walk. I have my phone.
Citrine: Peridot, hold on, we need to talk about this!
Peridot: ....
Citrine: Peridot Spring Crystal, what have you gone and gotten yourself into? If Frosted is involved, is Celestial? Answer me!
Peridot: ...you'd never believe me if I told you. You don't trust me, so why would you trust my word?
Citrine: *gasp*
Peridot: I. am going. for a walk. Don't wait up.
Citrine: Peri, I...I didn't...
Citrine: Peri!
Fern: babe, let her go. I'll call Cel to go after her. Just...give her some space.
Fern: We've got a lot to talk about in the meantime.
*door opens, slams closed*
Peridot: You were following me the whole way here.
Celestial: I was. You okay?
Peridot: No. She treats me like I'm made of glass or something...like I can't even handle the idea of bigots and bullies and just...ugh.
Celestial: Scoot over.
Celestial: You know she's just worried.
Peridot: I know! I just can't stand it. I get that it's a big mess and none of us have all the pieces, but...I just wish she'd trust me to know what I'm doing...
Celestial: She doesn't know you know what you're doing, though. We've kept this whole mess a secret as best we can.
Peridot: ...I...may have blown the lid on that. Earlier.
Celestial: *snort* Figured.
Celestial: You kinda run your mouth when you get mad.
Peridot: Well excuse me for not....oh no.
Celestial: Babe?
Peridot: ...I'm...going to have to explain to her how I know all this stuff. How I learned it.
Celestial: It's okay.
Peridot: What?
Celestial: It's okay.
Peridot: But...she'll tell your Mom about it. Get the Hunters involved.
Celestial: I was going to tell Mom in the morning anyway. This has gotten too big, and we've only got three days left until the Thunder Moon. If we don't do something soon, we won't have a chance.
Celestial: This is too big for just us, Per. It's time they know.
Peridot: ...just like that?
Celestial: Just like that. They can't help if they don't have all the pieces, and I get the feeling there's plenty they haven't told us, too. We can't do this without what they know.
Peridot: ...you're right.
Peridot: You're right, I just...Watcher, I am not looking forward to this conversation.
Celestial: I can have it with you, if you want? ...If your Mom lets me back in the house....
Peridot: No. No, I need to do this myself. I need to get her to tell me the truth...which means I need to do the same. *sigh* I'm so grounded.
Celestial: I'll come sneak in your window to visit.
Peridot: *snort* You're gonna have to. *sigh* What a mess...
Celestial: Hey. It'll be okay. I promise, it'll work out.
Peridot: You don't know that.
Celestial: no, but I do know that everything works out right in the end. And, if it doesn't?
Peridot: yeah?
Celestial: If it doesn't work out alright, it's not the end.
Peridot: Spouting wisdom again, hero boy.
Celestial: *laugh* Come on. Let me take you home.
A bit later...
Peridot: Are you sure you don't want to come inside?
Celestial: Nah. You gotta sort this out with your Mom. You don't need me hanging around for it.
Peridot: I'll always need you.
Celestial: Need's a strong word. You'll be fine. Hey, come on. She's your Mom, Peri, she's not gonna hurt you.
Peridot: No, I know, but yelling still sucks...*sigh* Right. Time to face the music.
Celestial: It'll be fine. I promise.
Peridot: Because if it's not it's not the end?
Celestial: Exactly. Just talk to her--you two want the same thing, so it'll work out somehow. Be honest, okay? Give her the whole truth.
Peridot: The whole truth? Even the parts about what you've done?
Celestial: Well, yeah. We can't undo them, so...she may as well know.
Peridot: ...Are you sure? There's no undoing once she knows.
Celestial: I'm sure. Now quit stalling.
Peridot: I'm not stalling, I'm--mm.
Peridot: ...you're being really romantic all of a sudden, Cel. Are you...
Celestial: What, I can't spoil my girlfriend with kisses? *chuckle* Relax, babe.
Peridot: You just said everything's gonna be fine.
Celestial: And it will be. I meant keep me in the loop.
Peridot: Oh...yeah, I can...I can do that.
Celestial: *chuckle* G'night, Per.
Peridot: G'night.
Peridot: ....okay *deep breath* I can do this. I can do this.
*door opens*
Citrine: Welcome back.
Peridot: I....guess we should talk, huh.
Citrine: Yeah.
Peridot: Ma? Grampop and Grandad?
Citrine: They went to bed already. Sit down.
Peridot: ...yes ma'am.
Citrine: A summoning ritual. How did you even know...How did you even know about those kinds of things?
Peridot: be surprised what you can find on the internet.
Citrine: No, that is the last thing that surprises me.
Peridot: Um...we're not--Cel and me--we're not entirely sure what the ritual's for, but for it to be this big...does the name Obscuro mean anything to you?
Citrine: ...yes. Yes it does. I...you think that's who the ritual is for?
Peridot: That's what Cel thinks his dad and Basil think it's for, yeah. He...hasn't been wrong yet, Mom.
Citrine: Of course it's those two. *aggravated sigh* So long as there are children in the direct line...great. Just...great.
Peridot: ...Mom, who...what is Obscuro, really?
Citrine: The way I was told? he's the incarnation of all malice and hatred in all the worlds. Something like that would be right up Basil's alley.
Peridot: ...and...you need something special to finish the summoning, don't you. Someone?
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