07 | video

[oceanthief]

[it's quite late at night when this video goes up. there's no thematic reason for the timing - Lapis has simply been up here alone with her thoughts for quite a while at this point, and only now collected herself enough to feel strong enough for social interaction.

when the feed clicks on to show where 'here' is, it's easy to understand the sentiment. the camera displays the dazzling expanse of the galaxy from an up close and personal angle, bobbing gently up and down to the beat of unseen wings. it's quiet for a time, in the velvety way only space can provide, before her voice cuts through it.]

We don't make patterns out of stars where I'm from - we don't even really name them. It's just sorted by cut and facet, so that you can find things as efficiently as possible.

...I guess if we had to stare up at the same sky every night for thousands of years it might've been different.

[the camera swings slightly to focus in on a cluster of stars which ought to be familiar to any resident of earth, even with the uncharacteristic closeup.]

Apparently humans call that one Scorpius? They think it used to be some kind of big monster until it got in a fight. [she pauses for a moment, a little uncertain.] I'm not really sure any of them know what stars are actually made of.

[Lapis flits the camera around to showcase a few more constellations: Libra, Centaurus, Lupus... it's difficult to tell whether she's doing it for the viewers at home or simply her own amusement, but it's beautiful all the same.]

You have to travel a lot further out than most people realize to lose shapes like that. There's nowhere in this system that you could look from and not know where you are; wherever you go, you can always find your way back.

There are places in other worlds that just don't exist here, though. Do you think there's anything left at the end of those paths?

[there's clearly something aside from galactic scenery weighing on Lapis' mind, but she keeps whatever's prompted this trip to herself. after another panoramic view of the stars, she wordlessly clicks the feed off.]

Comments

[oceanthief]

Oh, no, I just meant the stars. I don't really care what anyone thinks they look like.

[helpline]

Well that's a pity. The pictures are the best part.

[ paaaause ]

Wait, what d'you mean you can go look for yourself?

[oceanthief]

Did you...really not notice where I was?

[she turns the camera to face herself now - and, yep, she is totally out in space herself. without any sort of protective gear, no less. nice.]

[helpline]

[ he straight up didn't! Sorry Lapis, you're dealing with an alien who's occasionally VERY OBLIVIOUS. ]

Well that's not fair. How come you get fancy breathe in space powers?

[oceanthief]

[THIS IS WHY YOU WILL NEVER BE HER FAVORITE ALIEN]

I'm not breathing.

[helpline]

[ paaaaaaaaaaaaaaause ]

You know that makes a lot more sense now.

[oceanthief]

Well...yeah. Not everything has to be complicated.

[helpline]

But some things should be. I like complicated much more than simple.

[oceanthief]

That's probably because you've been here for a while.

['here' meaning an earth of any kind. she can tell because he looks literally like a human despite not being one.]

[helpline]

D'you mean 'earth here' or 'this timeframe here'?

[ still gotta specify that, lapis, time travel's involved ]

[oceanthief]

Either is fine.

[time travel on earth is still earth.]

[helpline]

I think I've been in this timeframe longer than I've been on Earth. Maybe. Skaro was confusing.

[oceanthief]

Time travel's like that. It why we don't really use it very much anymore.

[helpline]

Pity. The confusing part's the best part of it.

[oceanthief]

Not really.

[helpline]

Says you.

[oceanthief]

...yeah.

[who else could say it here? it's just them talking????]

[helpline]

[ this is just gonna be two blunt aliens not really understanding each other ]

How far away in space can you go anyway? If I give you some coordinates, can you check to see what's there?

[oceanthief]

[you bet it is.]

It's not like I get tired or anything; I can go as far as I need to. How far are the coordinates?

[she's emotionally in a place where she wouldn't mind disappearing into the vast blackness of space for a week or two, but it seems prudent to check all the same.]

[helpline]

[ And insert a set of coordinates that's straight up in a different galaxy! Yeah, it would definitely be disappearing into the vast blackness of space for a week or so. ]

You don't have to if you don't want to. I know it's a bit far our.

[oceanthief]

It's not really that bad.

[considering it took her a little under a week to reach Homeworld from earth, which is ridiculously far out, this is more of a leisurely space stroll than anything else. however -]

I have some things I need to do this week, so I'll probably go the week after.

[helpline]

I've got all the time in the world. Take however long you need.

[ the coordinates he gave her were the coordinates for Gallifrey back in his world...whiiiiich isn't here, as it doesn't exist back in this universe. c: Congrats Lapis, you get to cement the Doctor's disappointment. ]

[oceanthief]

[hey, why should Lapis be the only person disappointed with the current affairs of this world's space setup? spread the lack of love.]

Do you need me to do anything when I get there, or is just showing up fine?

[helpline]

[ time for the 'aliens get drunk because this universe's space is stupid' club. ]

Just check to make certain there's a planet there and, if there is, that the planet's habitable.

[oceanthief]

[can gems even get drunk? this is a children's show so I don't actually know the answer to this]

Habitable for what?

[there is an enormous difference between what Homeworld and an organic's idea of 'fit for life' is.]