It isn't too long before things fall back into a standard, but from that point on there's a noticeable shift. Steven talks into the mirror more often, gladly describing what Lars and Sadie were up to at the Big Donut, or the high score he got at Funland Arcade, or the pack of sea monkeys he ordered and really hopes comes soon.
Greg, by contrast, pulls back a little. It's harder for him to be frank and open when he thinks a stranger could be listening.
"Aaaall right. Last trip. You good?"
"Yep!" Steven holds the last bubbles gingerly. It's been a long day of back and forth, carrying them carefully into the temple to clear up some space in the van. Only two have been left untouched, one blue and the other red, with a deep crack over its surface.
"All righty. I'll order you up a reward pizza, but don't rush the last job for it."
Steven laughs a little, but doesn't move as Greg turns to try and organize his music again. "...Um, Dad?" His father turns back, surprised by the tenderness in his voice. "I was thinking... is it okay if I spend tonight in the temple?"
Greg stares. "I... uh. Well..." He scratches his neck. "Sure, I guess. You uh... you remember what happened when you slept in your mom's room, though...?"
He shudders. "I know. But Amethyst's room has lots of futons and couches and stuff, it's pretty comfy once you get used to the smell, and I thought it'd..." He flushes. "I thought it might just, you know, be cool."
"...Sure. Yeah, if that's what you want. Um, you go ahead with those bubbles, I'll bring your pack up to the door later. You still want me to order that pizza?"
"That's okay. I've got a sandwich. ...Thanks, Dad."
Steven leaves, and the sun's not long after. The van's a lot darker, with nearly all the bubbles gone. A lot emptier. Greg stretches out in the van, unsure what to do with himself. He picks at a few notes on his guitar, but no melody starts to form. Eventually, he looks up at the two remaining gems hovering overhead.
"Boy, I wish you guys were here. You'd know what he needs." He huffs a small breath. "Bet the house'd be done by now, too. I'd be more used to nights like this, huh?" He picks a few more tuneless strings. "I'm sorry, Garnet. I... I'm really trying. I'm not like you, though, I... I'm just a human."
For a while the van is silent, aside from the occasional plunking note. When Greg glances up again, he blinks. Adjusted to the dark, he can see his dim reflection from across the van.
"Ooh boy. When did we get so old." He stares for a moment, before leaning in and pulling the mirror out, rubbing at his face. "Hey, what about you? You think he's holding up okay?" He chews his lip. "I know he's putting on a brave face for me, but... he talks to you. What do you think?"
He stares into the mirror. He's not sure what he's hoping for. He doesn't know that anyone's listening, or even cares, or would even bother to ease his fears, or thinks he deserves to have his fears eased. In the end, he just looks foolish, looking to anything for advice.
Finally Greg sighs, and rubs at his eyes. "Ah, hell with it. I'm gonna order that pizza."
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Greg, by contrast, pulls back a little. It's harder for him to be frank and open when he thinks a stranger could be listening.
"Aaaall right. Last trip. You good?"
"Yep!" Steven holds the last bubbles gingerly. It's been a long day of back and forth, carrying them carefully into the temple to clear up some space in the van. Only two have been left untouched, one blue and the other red, with a deep crack over its surface.
"All righty. I'll order you up a reward pizza, but don't rush the last job for it."
Steven laughs a little, but doesn't move as Greg turns to try and organize his music again. "...Um, Dad?" His father turns back, surprised by the tenderness in his voice. "I was thinking... is it okay if I spend tonight in the temple?"
Greg stares. "I... uh. Well..." He scratches his neck. "Sure, I guess. You uh... you remember what happened when you slept in your mom's room, though...?"
He shudders. "I know. But Amethyst's room has lots of futons and couches and stuff, it's pretty comfy once you get used to the smell, and I thought it'd..." He flushes. "I thought it might just, you know, be cool."
"...Sure. Yeah, if that's what you want. Um, you go ahead with those bubbles, I'll bring your pack up to the door later. You still want me to order that pizza?"
"That's okay. I've got a sandwich. ...Thanks, Dad."
Steven leaves, and the sun's not long after. The van's a lot darker, with nearly all the bubbles gone. A lot emptier. Greg stretches out in the van, unsure what to do with himself. He picks at a few notes on his guitar, but no melody starts to form. Eventually, he looks up at the two remaining gems hovering overhead.
"Boy, I wish you guys were here. You'd know what he needs." He huffs a small breath. "Bet the house'd be done by now, too. I'd be more used to nights like this, huh?" He picks a few more tuneless strings. "I'm sorry, Garnet. I... I'm really trying. I'm not like you, though, I... I'm just a human."
For a while the van is silent, aside from the occasional plunking note. When Greg glances up again, he blinks. Adjusted to the dark, he can see his dim reflection from across the van.
"Ooh boy. When did we get so old." He stares for a moment, before leaning in and pulling the mirror out, rubbing at his face. "Hey, what about you? You think he's holding up okay?" He chews his lip. "I know he's putting on a brave face for me, but... he talks to you. What do you think?"
He stares into the mirror. He's not sure what he's hoping for. He doesn't know that anyone's listening, or even cares, or would even bother to ease his fears, or thinks he deserves to have his fears eased. In the end, he just looks foolish, looking to anything for advice.
Finally Greg sighs, and rubs at his eyes. "Ah, hell with it. I'm gonna order that pizza."