⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #2

[ringleaders]

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!↴ Or, more specifically, Lost Carnival's test drive meme! This is an opportunity to try out your characters in the setting before you apply, or to put together samples for characters you've never played before. There are going to be options for both new arrivals and veteran characters. Before we get started, let's lay down some details: You can read the full premise here. Reserves and Applications are both currently OPEN. You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. In the case of veteran characters, you will need to come up with an explanation of why they haven't been around the carnival recently. TDM threads can be used as game canon after the fact if both characters are accepted and the players agree to it. If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Treasurer and Acquisitioner are currently open. NEW RECRUITS↴ You gotta start somewhere, right? These prompts are for characters who are arriving in the carnival for the first time, and who are destined to sign a contract. How they go about that is up to you, but in the meantime they can enjoy the sights and sounds of something truly out of this world. Visitors to the carnival comes from many different worlds today, as the ringmaster casts out her recruitment lures. Will you become her most recent hire? ► ADMISSION FEES: After crossing into the carnival's realm and passing through the trees, most visitors will find themselves at the front gate - though not all choose to enter that way. If they enter legitimately, however, they will have to pass by a clerk who will trade admission and tickets for various attractions and rides in exchange for "anything of value." What is of value may seem highly subjective, and so some may struggle to produce payment at first, though in actuality the carnival will take anything from mundane currency to items of purely sentimental value. ► MIRROR MAZE: The mirror maze (pictured above) is a big attraction in the carnival, and stretches much further on the inside than it looks like it will on the outside. It's hard to get through, and what's more, after you've been in there for a while your reflections will start gaining a mind of their own - mostly in order to taunt and distract you with personal information. They don't know everything you know, but they know more than they should, and their mind games can be pretty hit or miss. ► GAMER'S CIRCLE: Almost all of the game booths are organized in a large ring around the Cookhouse, called Gamer's Circle. Your can play just about any carnival game you can imagine here, for a variety of prizes sometimes traditional, exotic, or outright magical. Dart tossing? Got it. That game with the water guns? Got it. Most of these booths are currently manned by humanoid spirits who look like they are made of smoke. If they can trick you into earning debt, they will. ► NOT YOUR WHEELHOUSE (NEW): Sometimes, even magical ferris wheels get stuck. The carnival's particular wheel is enchanted to create a particular out of this world experience - as you pass along the top, you feel as if they are so close to the sky that you can interact with the stars like baubles hanging above your head. Of course, the novelty probably wears off when the wheel is broken and you've been stuck enjoying the light show with some stranger for the last half hour. How are you going to pass the time? ► TRYING TO LEAF: No matter where you came from, you seemingly emerged from a forest. Obviously, to get back home you should be able to go back in the same direction, right? It turns out you can't. Worse, trying too hard to get through the wood will result in you getting lost, or turned back to the carnival. The trees here are not normal, and are varying levels of alien, including things like trees with glowing fruit or orange flowers that constantly burn like candles. ► WILD CARD: Anything else you can imagine in this setting! There are a lot of possibilities and you're free to explore them. Check out the rest of the game info or the locations page for additional inspiration. Want to make a starter with your character experiencing their first theoretical change? Go for it! VETERAN WORKERS↴ These prompts are tailored to the carnival's existing employees, the veterans. Odds are they've been here from somewhere between a few months and three years already, and know their way around the block. For them, this is just business as usual - and depending on their attitude towards their job, they may or may not contribute to a few people accidentally getting themselves a contract. Whatever you do, though, don't warn visitors away from the carnival - the ringmaster hates losing business like that. ► DO YOUR WORK: This one's pretty simple - just have your character doing whatever you'd like to have their job be! There is a big list of ideas over here, and you could use this to try things out with a character you intend to be a new arrival, as well. ► WILL O' WISPS: The ringmaster's will o' wisps have gotten free, and she's asked that everyone keep and eye out and help her reclaim them regardless of their official jobs. Wisps are small creatures that burn both hot and cold and comes in a few different variations of the same basic theme. Handling them physically (or psionically, or magically, for that matter) is difficult due to their near intangible nature. Touching and being around them can result in confusion and a sensation similar to being comfortably drunk. ► BREAK TIME: Whatever you were doing, it's break time! It's time for you to relax however you see fit. Do you enjoy some of the carnival attractions yourself, or is that old by now? Do you hang out in the Cookhouse to get a snack? Do you take a nap? Yolo, baby! ► RIDDLE GAME: For a bit of fun, the ringmaster has left a variety of locked chests around the worker areas of the carnival, each with instructions and a riddle written on their lids. The chest will accept three guesses from each worker before refusing to respond to them any further. If you guess the right answer, the chest will open and you will be rewarded with some manner of fun magical knick knack. If you've run out of guesses, maybe you can conspire with someone else and promise to split the prize? ► CAPTURE THE... EGG? (NEW): The Ringmaster likes to keep things exciting for her employees, and this time she's devices a game that mixes an Easter egg hunt with capture the flag. She's hidden various metallic "eggs" around the carnival that chime like bells when people get near, and divided participants into three teams (red, blue, yellow of course.) The carnival has been divided into three zones, and the objective is to gather as many eggs as possible for your team (three points for gold, two for silver, one for copper.) However, when you are in a zone that doesn't belong to your team, if they can snatch off your team flag they can take you to "jail" and confiscate any eggs you may be holding for their team. When in doubt, bullshit the rules! This is a prompt, after all. ► WILD CARD: Anything else you can imagine in this setting! There are a lot of possibilities and you're free to explore them. Check out the rest of the game info or the locations page for additional inspiration. Want to do a performance? Hang out in the Backyard? Choose whatever appeals!

Comments

[kingsroads]

Truth be told, they never interested me either. [ As Strange speaks, it's with the slight nostalgia of someone thinking about the past. ] The circus never came to the area around Ashfair and, when we lived in London, attending the circus was something neither Bell nor I ever bothered with.

[ But it's no good to dwell on the past. Not when there's hopefully such a bright future for him back home. ] I'm not sure how much of a new adventure this is for me. I can't say I've ever been here before, but meeting the Ringmaster...I have to admit, I've a little experience with matters like that.

[atouts]

[ Maybe a little worrisome, but he'll have to try harder to unnerve Childermass. ]

I was thinking more along the lines of breaking into houses and vanishing to hole up in Venice on a whim.

[ In any case, they've finally arrived at where he's been leading the way to this whole time. Generally referred to as the 'backyard' of the carnival, apart from everything else due to it being where the crew lives. There's no need for guests to be wandering back here, leaving it, thankfully, quieter for the time being. ]

Though speaking of Venice, [ Now that they're well away from the crowds, he'll stop and turn back towards Strange. ] What in the world have you done to yourself, man? We'd all heard rumors of madness, but I didn't care to believe it.

[ And yet it's difficult to ignore when confronted with him right here, up close. ]

[kingsroads]

[ Let's be real here, it's gonna take a lot to unnerve Childermass.

As they reach the backyard, Strange can't help but look around, eyes drawn to all the different aspects of the scenery, partly to look around and partly because ah. Childermass wishes to talk about madness. The elephant in the room, the fact that, try as he may (though he's certainly not trying) he can't really hide that glint of madness that sticks to his expression. ]

An old woman gave me the gift of madness after I turned her into a cat. [ Just said very matter-of-factly, and with a small hint of pride in his voice. But, Childermass deserves more of an explanation than that, and Strange isn't the sort to keep secrets. After a pause, he continues. ] When I visited the King of England, the man saw and spoke to a fairy in the room. While the fairy never showed himself to me, he verified his presence by spiriting away the King to God knows where—I brought him back, by the way. Obviously.

[ Strange continues talking, gesturing slightly with his hands as he does so. ] The King obviously has no magic and yet he talked to the fairy as if he was right in the room. He's not the only one, of course. There have been tales of other madmen seeing fairies. So I decided that if I were to summon one and make a bargain with it, I must turn myself mad.

[ And then Strange smiiiiiiles, that wide toothy smile of his that's varying shades of unhinged. ] It worked. I made myself mad and summoned a fairy, a gentleman with silvery hair. We had a lovely conversation about potential bargains.

[ But just one time. Because the going canon point is after he drunk some more crazy juice but before he talked to the gentleman the second time when EVERYTHING WENT TO SHIT. ]

It was when I attempted to summon him again that the Ringmaster showed herself and we made our bargain.

[atouts]

[ And Childermass is simply going to listen quietly and nod in the right places as he does, idly folding his hands behind his back as Strange goes on about cats, fairies, and kings. While it is somewhat refreshing that at least one magician isn't so prone to keeping secrets, he's not so sure this is a story he'd ever repeat to anyone else. It is, after all, quite mad.

Which was clearly the intent here, but still.

The mention of the gentleman with silvery hair does garner a uncertain look, though that's short-lived, though he won't say anything until he's brought his explanation to an end. ]

I... [ He what? How does one react to a friend going crazy on purpose? Mostly with a raise of his eyebrows and leaning back away some, as if taking a look at Strange in some new light. ] Can see why you'd think to do that, then. It certainly did work. [ More importantly, ] Is it permanent?

let's do the thing

[ravencrowned]

You won't find the Roads here.

[ that certainly is a thin, pale young man in dark clothes leaning against one of the mirrors with his arms folded. he wasn't there a moment ago, but then.. in this maze of mirrors, it's a simple matter to get turned around or sneak up on a body. what's probably more curious is the fact that he even knows the roads, and that he knew what strange was doing.

he pushes up off the glass--curiously silent now, the mirrors, as if they simply don't have any ammunition against this odd man--and crosses toward strange, then steps around him toward an opening in the reflections. ]

This way if you'd like to leave, Jonathan Strange. [ and he sure isn't waiting for you, man, so you'd better catch up. ]

[kingsroads]

[ It is quite mad, well no shit Childermass. Perhaps an equally mad thing is how Strange is perfectly content with watching Childermass as he leans away, looking at him in a new light. After all, the closest person to a friend he had in Venice was Flora, who had the benefit of not knowing him in England. How...confused? Disappointed? Resigned? Strange doesn't know, how something must English society be to see him like this.

As for the question, however, he shrugs. ] I doubt it. I've had to drink some of the tonic before each time I summoned a fairy. [ He just continues talking. Childermass'll get that the tonic is madness, right? Maybe? Who cares, he's smart, he'll catch on! ] Obviously I have no idea if these brief periods will have any long-term effect on my stability—after all, this is new territory, one that I doubt English magicians or the men at Bedlam would know how to navigate in the first place.

[empty_vessel]

"Ahh. I'm sorry. Thought you were another new face. Just started tonight myself. Haven't gotten an assignment yet, though. That'll probably be in the morning." That's a good way to explain the suit, right? A job interview? It makes more sense than what really happened, so let's go with it.

"I hope you're having a good time, though. And I really am sorry I thought you worked here." The smile turns a bit sheepish as he tries to apologize for his mistake.

sempai has finally noticed him

[kingsroads]

[ Strange turns to look at the new arrival. It's an odd picture because there's Strange, standing still, eyes wide as he listens to that young man talk. That young man who knows about the Roads. That young man who knows about his name. How on Earth did he know those?

Of course, not that he's connected the dots that this is the Raven King. The going theory is a fairy—after all, he's certain the Carnival is in Fairy itself. But it is quite interesting why the mirrors were silent when that young man was here—and why one only dares to whisper You are quite adept at destroying friendships when the young man's left.

Well forget this. It's like he snaps from calm to energetic in a moment's notice. With a bit of a jog, Strange runs towards the young man, catching up with him. He's a wild whirlwind of energy, hair going every which way, appearance disheveled due to madness. It only takes him a moment or so to catch up. Intently and forcefully, Strange asks, ]

How do you know about the Roads?

only bc strange would make a nuisance of himself otherwise

[ravencrowned]

How should I not know about them?

[ that.. doesn't answer the question, of course, but he doesn't seem inclined toward giving strange any other information for the moment, silent as he leads them confidently through the maze. either he's been through here a few times already, or he's just.. really good with mirrors.

when strange is probably just about a half-second from exploding with questions or energy or both, he finally makes a musing noise, a hand lifting and fingertips trailing along the mirrors as they pass them. ]

I created them, after all.

[ just like that, as if it's no matter at all, and as if he hasn't been gone three-hundred years and endlessly sought by anyone claiming the title 'magician'. (well, anyone except norrell, but he's complicated.) ] This place.. moves. Not the same way Fairy does. I had no need to build a path here, when all paths can and often do lead here.

[atouts]

[ Childermass wouldn't be the best reference for how English society may or may not think, although he could make a few educated guesses if asked. For only himself, he's not sure how to feel. Resigned would be a good word, though not one solely meant for Strange. Confused, not so much, as he can at least follow what's being said. Disappointed? Not so much, especially when, for him, it's months after all of this.

That it may not be permanent is, for now, a good enough answer for him, so he'll endure. If anything else had been expected, it may be disappointing, as he'll give one last nod and gesture for them to continue onward, through the trailers. ]

Well, unless you've brought your tonic along, [ Yes, he did catch that and he really, really hopes the answer is no. ] I'd say we're about to find out. Now, how in the world did you manage to turn someone into a cat?

[kingsroads]

I asked nicely. [ Did you expect an actual answer, Childermass? Because canon is vague and so is Strange. He can't help but give him a wry little smile, a sort of 'I am being a shit and I know it' kind of a smile. ] We had a trade. Her desire for mine. Her desire was to become a cat, mine was to become mad.

[ There's no answer on the tonic. It isn't here, but a small little petty part of Strange wants to make Childermass worry. After all, it is a bit fun. And besides, madness (or eventually the appearance of madness) might have it's uses. Best to keep this one close to the chest. ]

he is CAPTAIN nuisance, tyvm

[kingsroads]

[ How should he not know about them? What does he mean? Is he a fairy himself? Is he some other magician? Did he read about them in some book Norrell hadn't bought up? Is he some sort of other being entirely? Strange opens his mouth as if to ask, before the young man hushes him.

He created them. Then this must be the Raven King.

If Strange was fit to burst with questions before, he's definitely bursting with questions now. Really? How? Where has he been? Why is he here? Why has he shown himself in this different realm? Strange practically radiates excitement as he looks up at the man with an expression of awe and joy. The Raven King. Here.

Oh, won't Gilbert Norrell be horrifically annoyed, that small little vicious part of him thinks. But at the mention of paths, Strange frowns, keeping up with his pace as he asks, ]

I thought that I had summoned this place. Do you mean to say it might have summoned me?

[ He...doesn't really know what to think about that. ]

[atouts]

[ He had hoped. In vain, apparently. Usually his long-suffering looks were saved for Norrell, but Strange has just earned himself one. See, see, it's that kind of bullshit that disappoints him, not the madness part! ]

You asked. [ If this is how every answer to every question is going to be... ] How quaint.

[ The lack of answer regarding the tonic is noted, too, though he won't press about it. Habit will have him keeping an eye out instead, because it's not like it'd be the first time he's kept an eye on Strange. And thankfully they've finally reached where he was going, which gives him something else to think about over possibly shaking the other magician until he makes more sense.

It's his own trailer, although once he's opened the door it's clear it's not only his. There's a clear contrast between what must be his side (the small space that actually has order to it, mostly books, notebooks, and things to write with) and... the rest (seriously, he's stuck with The Doctor, just imagine how that is). ]

If you can find somewhere to sit, feel free to.

[ Might have to move whatever weird gadgets there are sprawled about for it, but there are places to sit, somewhere. ]

[kingsroads]

I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't ask.

[ Look at that smile, that is 100% "I am giving Childermass nothing but bullshit and enjoying it so much." Fun fact: Strange is a bit of an asshole!

And well hello there, Strange is instantly drawn over to the more erratic side of the trailer because madness is great for many things but not keeping your damn room clean. He is decidedly not sitting down. Instead, Strange is just fiddling with nearly everything as he flits around the Doctor's half. He can't help but meddle around, picking up various of the Doctor's gadgets and doodads as he tries to figure out just what the hell some of them are. ]

I didn't know we were given housemates. [ Because look at all of this. Childermass is totally living with somebody, and Strange has a sneaking suspicion it's not a lady friend. ] Yours seems...rather like someone who'd drive you as mad as I.

[ Because seriously, there is a very clear line of my space vs. your space ]

[atouts]

[ Yeah, if it had been a lady friend, no force in Heaven nor on Earth would have moved him to bring Strange over... But as that isn't the case, he's not going to go out of his way to stop Strange from sifting through the Doctor's stuff. ]

Oh? Really? You don't strike me as particularly gentleman-like right now. [ Fun fact number two: so is Childermass. If Strange wants to play that game, he'll soon find just how much salt this man can throw around. ] And try not to pick up anything with a trigger, if you would. I don't remember which of those contraptions explode on a whim.

[ No comment on whether or not his housemate is someone who would drive him mad. The answer is most certainly yes, he just isn't going to say so.

Anyway, while Strange fiddles around with, well, whatever any of that is, Childermass is moving on to the little kitchen space to start up a pot of tea, because of course he would. If there's anything this trailer stereotypically has well-stocked, it'd be tea. ]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange can't help but bark a laugh at Childermass's comment, giving him a little nod of agreement. Touche, friend. He isn't being gentleman-like in the slightest.

He continues to pick things up and set them down, giving each object a through examination but not really touching any buttons or triggers because hey, if Childermass says that something will explode, then he believes him. Strange's run of "let's pick up everything' is interrupted as he looks over at the lights...and the refrigerator...and various other technical devices that he knows aren't magic. ]

For a place that's as steeped in Faerie as this one, I expected it to be a bit more...magical. Tell me, do you have a mirror on you?

[tautness]

[ Barry...is still really confused. A little bit of panic flits across his face as he continues talking. ]

Wait, so the carnival's currently hiring? And you're working here? You look... [ there's a pause as he tries to think of a nice way to put this. ] uh, I don't mean to be rude but you look way too nice to be working in a carnival.

[atouts]

Appearances can be deceiving. [ Something Strange should already know. ] You'll find more than enough magic about as soon as you start looking for it.

[ And in spite of the 'modern' appearance, by future standards if not their own, Childermass has no doubt everything runs on magic all the same. It's the only thing that would make sense for such a place. Not thoughts he will share, however, as he suspects the other man will come to similar conclusions on his own.

Once he's sure the kettle is set to go, he'll turn back and look around the absolute near-disaster of the trailer. Mirror, mirror, he's sure they had a mirror-- ]

Somewhere. You may want to check under the Doctor's things. There's a chance he's attached it to some nonsense or other.

[kingsroads]

[ Appearances can be deceiving and that is entirely what Strange is about to realize (rerealize? Whatever). Because he starts rummaging through the Doctor's belongings (sorry Doctor), until he finds the mirror, which is attached to some other contraption that Strange hasn't the foggiest idea what it is. Who cares though! He doesn't need the other contraption in the first place!

There's a pause while Strange looks around for a seat. Yeah...what seat. Eventually he spots some free counter space which Childermass was probably using to set out the teacups but nope, now it is reserved for sitting. Strange just plops right on up on the counter as he traces a circle on the mirror, then traces it into thirds, muttering a spell all the while as he does so. If Childermass eavesdrops, it sounds an awful lot like a spell of revelation, but every now and then there's a different word or a different phrase used.

Eventually he's done muttering and hops right off the counter as he looks at the mirror and starts explaining. ]

A reworked spell of revelation: a spell to view something's inner workings. [ He turns the mirror on himself for a second, and it's a bit of a ghastly sight: the inner workings of people are bones and muscles. But, still holding the mirror, Strange scurries off towards various appliances, holding the mirror up over his shoulder and looking at the reflection...which looks quite normal. After all, what are the inner workings of something magical? Just magic.

He can't help but give Childermass a bit of a puffed up smile as he scurries back over to the other man, holding up the mirror so that both of them can peer into it and see the absolutely normal reflection of the refrigerator but the part wirey, part magical, part who the hell knows reflection of some poor abandoned Doctor contraption sitting on top of the refrigerator. ]

Enhancements my own, of course. One must learn how to improvise when they're bereft of books.

[empty_vessel]

"Yeah. Just got through the interview process." The smile gets a bit strained as Barry continues, though. The suit is about all he has, these days. But it's not forever, and starting over has to start with *starting*, sadly enough.

"It was a job interview, even if I overdressed." A shrug, and he's trying to brush it off, even if it's not that successful.

Lapis Lazuli | Steven Universe

[mirrortide]

[A:WHEN WILL MY REFLECTION SHOW WHO I AM INSIIIIDE]

Lapis isn't quite sure how it happened, how this happened, but there's one thing she knows for certain: She needs out. She needs away from this place. Or so she thinks. Her first instinct is to leave the way she came, but with so many reflections of herself staring back at her, she's not really sure where that is. And then they speak.

"Help me!" and "Let me out of here!", and "Please, someone! I'm trapped!" echo around her as other lapis lazulis face her, trapped. Trapped like she was, in a mirror, begging to get out. Needless to say the mind games the reflections are playing on her are working, and working quite well. "Hang on! I'll- I'll get you out! Where's your gem? There's so many of you- don't worry!" Her voice is tinged with panic as she absolutely claws against the glass, trying to find a seem to pull at, to free the other gems so obviously trapped in a mirror as well.

When that doesn't work, when the glass doesn't give, she resorts to more violent means. "I'll get your gem out, don't worry!" One by one, she'll shatter each mirror in a frenzy, until she manages to find where the other Lapis Lazuli gems are. Not that they're there.

[B: Water you doing?]

She sees the small stuffed toy, and she observes the game for a moment. The object is clearly to soak those little targets with water, and honestly that doesn't seem too hard. All she has to do is fill up the thing there until she wins, right? Not hard.

Lapis sends an absolute deluge onto the poor stall to fill up the targets, soaking just about everything completely with the exception of the prizes, undoubtedly damaging something with the force used. That doesn't seem to have stopped her though, and she turns to the shadowy, smokey humanoid thing. "I'll take that one."

Not only has she not actually paid, the damages alone must cost something here. Whoops.

Rizamelahim | Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (Player OC)

[stillremember]

I. Admission Fees

Riza had more than enough gil to get in, but she'd been trying to save up her money for months. She needed to get to Mount Kilanda, and the fare was not cheap, and she hadn't had an opportunity to sell of some of the loot and treasures she had gotten from fighting off monsters recently. The tall yuke had been holding up the line for some time, her crystal chalice tucked under her other arm, glowing faintly.

"I'm telling you, this is worth more than enough gil to get into a fair! This is an extremely valuable magical ingredient that's very difficult to obtain."

In her other hand a square of fabric lay open on her palm, containing what appeared to be a small blob of blue slime.

II. Not Your Wheelhouse

This wasn't exactly what she had been expecting from a ride like this, but it was nice to get the chance to stop and relax for once. When you spend almost all your time alone on the road, you learn to admire the scenery wherever you go, and the sky here was phenomenal.

"At least the view is nice." she comment to her temporary companion, chin propped on one hand with her helmet tilted towards the stars. The chalice on her lap gave off an eerie glow, seemingly reacting to the magic creating the illusion, the liquid inside sloshing about whenever she moved.

((OOC: A brief info post about Riza can be found here, including a link to her canon's wiki.))

REFLECTIONS

[starseedling]

It's not actually hard to hear the sounds of a ton of glass breaking within the walls of the mirror maze. Steven doesn't even work in this part of the carnival, but he can hear it just as he walks by. Nobody is usually manning the maze except for a sprite that wants admission. Workers don't need to pay for this stuff though, so he starts to enter without much hesitation.

"Hello?" he calls into the twisted corridors, his voice not carrying well with the mirrors in between. "Are you okay?!" Holy geez it sounds like someone is dying in here.

He rushes in deeper, seeing his own reflections start appearing around him. He knows these guys schtick already.

"What are you guys doing?!" he asks his own reflections.

"Not anything!" his reflection replies, crossing it's arms and looking annoyed. "Some blue girl is going nuts in here! Kind of funny, though..."

Blue girl...?

Steven turns from the mirror and starts moving faster. It isn't long until he starts seeing the shattered mirrors and fragments of a familiar gem.

"Lapis! Lapis Lapis Lapis stoooop!" he calls, running after her.

[mirrortide]

Lapis, thankfully, does stop when she hears Steven's voice. It's not for long though, because she honestly can't fathom why he'd be telling her to stop. Can't he hear the other lapis lazulis in trouble? They need help!

"Steven! You have to help me! I need- I can't find their gems! No matter how many I break there's nothing behind them! They have to be here somewhere! Help me free them!" Panic doesn't even begin to describe the state that Lapis is in mentally at the moment.

This time, Lapis smashes another mirror with her elbow.

[starseedling]

Ohhhh no this is worse than when she tried to free him from Skype by breaking Peridot's tablet. Seeing her so upset makes him feel pretty damn emotional in response, tears prickling in his eyes, and he rushes forward to embrace her, not knowing how else to deescalate this.

"It's okay! I promise it's okay. They're not real. They're not gem mirrors, they're something else."

He's not sure exactly what it is, but the reflections sure don't seem to mind doing their job.