Chapter Text
Peridot had reformed, and despite everything, Connie was looking forward to having her own bed again at some point in the near future. And in returning to school. Plus, there was today’s adventure to look forward to, which promised a minimal amount of Diamonds and/or far-ranging negative consequences and/or emotional whiplash.
Having long since decided that she was very tired of all three of those things, Connie was particularly excited about that last bit. And so before long, she found herself dressed with her adventure bag on her back, walking through town just as the late-February sunrise was beginning to crest the horizon.
“Connie!” called a familiar-yet-unfamiliar voice on her walk. She was just passing the Big Donut and paused in time to see Lars outside it, looking decidedly un-Lars-ly. He was smiling at her, for one thing, which was by itself strange enough to make her wonder if he’d finally snapped entirely.
He’d let down his hair a bit since the last time she’d seen him, going from a mohawk to keeping only half his head shaved, and allowing his hair to droop down over the other side. His work uniform looked like it had actually been washed recently, which was its own kind of marvel from someone who seemed to resent his own existence.
Connie approached when he waved her over to the front of the donut store, albeit somewhat reluctantly. Something was off. She had never known Lars to have a good day, nevermind a good… whatever-this-was. Except for his ear gauges, he was barely recognizable.
“Lars,” she said, then paused and searched for a followup remark. “You’re… up early.” Which was true, considering the Boardwalk had only been bathed in the sunrise about one minute prior.
“Free donut day,” Lars said simply and breezily, and gestured to the sign in the window advertising as such before twirling the keys in the front door. It was a minor act of will for Connie not to go insubstantial and check out his mindscape, just in case. This was anomalous. Lars didn’t do cheerful. Possibilities ranged from unexpected possession by Rose Quartz, somehow, all the way to a body-double spy planted by Homeworld forces.
“You can hang out if you want - first ones will be out in a few minutes!” said the affront against nature as he stepped inside.
Connie paused for a moment to consider that her current train of thought was toeing Ronaldo territory, but couldn’t shake the feeling. She followed him inside as the newly-refurbished store’s lights came on. A potential free donut was an acceptable pretense, but actually, she just had to know more.
“Where’s Sadie?” the investigator asked, and set down her bag at the table. She also unzipped her jacket slightly, just in case a sword was warranted. She didn’t think a sword would be warranted, but every part of her inner Jasper was warning her about constant vigilance in the face of unknowns, helped along by an only slightly quieter inner Lapis and Peridot saying that anomalous behavior was dangerous behavior.
Lars was already behind the counter, turning on the electronics. Empty cabinets were gleaming under the morning light, along with the store interior - it looked as though almost everything in the building had been replaced since January. “Oh, she’s still in bed,” he replied. “Turns out she’s always hated opening, she’s just done it so I would show up. But I like to make the donuts, so…”
He paused, reflecting on this, and Connie tensed just in case she’d somehow triggered an activation codeword or something.
“Did you know I like to cook?” he asked her, and then continued working.
“No…” Connie said, slowly and carefully.
But Lars only chuckled. “I can’t believe I used to be scared of what people would think about that.” He muttered something more under his breath that sounded a little less cheery, but Connie didn’t catch it. It was accompanied by a bemused, slightly-disappointed head shake a moment later, before he walked into the back.
“So where’s, uh, Lapis?” he called. The question was accompanied by some clattering, then a hum as a commercial oven began to preheat.
Connie took a moment to assign a halfway-offhand thought about Homeworld spies a higher probability, and dodged the question. “She’s… around.”
More clattering as other commercial bakeware was brought to life. “Well tell her to come in! Corporate spent a ton renovating the store and gave Sadie and I raises, and she’s, like, 20% of our income!”
This was too weird. Part of Connie wanted to march into the back room and demand to know what was going on that this face stealer thought it could just waltz into Beach City and replace it’s premiere angst-driven donut boy. Her inner Jasper and Lapis approved of this idea, albeit for different reasons. Her inner Peridot was impartial.
It was only her much-abused notions of common sense that stopped her - Steven had been out of bed when she’d left his house, and a little bit sulky. The school bus was visiting Beach City Proper again, and he would soon be riding it, since non-emergency, non-essential Crystalline Gem exemptions required 24 hours’ notice and his parents were adamant that he at least go to Budwick High sometimes.
Still, though, that was the obvious choice. As DoppelLars continued to bustle about in the little building’s kitchen (tweeting and a rustling cage announced the awakening of the store’s powdered-sugar canary, and he’d begun to exchange morning pleasantries with it), Connie withdrew her phone.
CoMa: Lars is acting weird.
StUn: Weird how?
CoMa: Happy.
StUn: That’s weird?
CoMa: It’s LARS.
StUn: Fair point.
StUn: :( just remembered free donut day. Want!
Connie frowned at his frowny face. Apparently she hadn’t adequately communicated the dire seriousness of her situation. A minor reprimand was stymied only by the appearance of further ellipsis.
StUn: Tell him I said hi! I think he and Sadie are dating now!
StUn: Oh, maybe they’re getting married!
StUn: If they are make sure he invites me! I want to help plan the wedding!
StUn: Get me a donut! Later, I mean. Because school. >:(
CoMa: I’ll try to come by for lunch. No promises, though.
Putting her phone back in her pocket, Connie looked up to see that Lars was already carrying out the first pan of donuts. Several minutes had passed - it was almost the store’s opening time, though nobody seemed to be waiting outside. Connie had never known much of the town to be early risers.
“Chocolate!” he said with a flourish, and deposited the pan behind the counter’s fresh glass. “And this one is for me,” he added, and withdrew the most appealing of the bunch.
“So… what’s been up with you?” Connie asked tentatively. “You look… different.”
Lars smiled at her with a cheek full of donut. “Antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, and ignoring my parents. Been spending a lot of time with Sadie and that’s helped. Did you know we’re gonna try living together? Get away from her mom and my… ugh” He paused, gulped, and rolled his eyes. “Parents, y’know? My business is my business.”
Connie nodded. She knew approximately nothing about Lars’s home life, though his parents pressuring him into something would’ve explained a lot. Then she watched as he reached down to bag up a donut for her, as well. The sense of unease was settling down within her, and being helped along by the scent of fresh baked goods.
“Glad it’s working out,” she said awkwardly.
“Yeah, that and - do you know Dr. Brooks? Steven recommended her to me a few months ago and that’s helped too.”
“Yeah, I, uh, I see her too,” Connie admitted.
Lars nodded. “Cool. Well, I’ve got to finish opening up. Enjoy your donut, Connie. See you around.”
Connie nodded and walked towards the door in a daze. She almost forgot her adventure pack on the table. The store bell chimed as she exited, and she could already hear Lars busying himself in the kitchen again.
That had been… weird.
Her sudden, dire realization that she was potentially the new angstiest person in town was offset a bit by her first bite into the donut. It was good.