Man, thinking about all the 'Lapidot' fics I've scrolled through over the years, there's definitely a pattern. A huge chunk of them are slice-of-life fluff pieces set after 'Change Your Mind,' exploring them just living together in Little Homeworld. It's like the fandom collectively decided they've earned a quiet, domestic life after all the space drama. You get tons of stories about Peridot trying to understand Earth customs through her tablet while Lapis just vibes, making little water sculptures or being slightly bemused by it all. The conflict, if there's any, is super low-stakes—Peridot overcomplicating a simple task, Lapis having a minor moment of insecurity about her past.
Then you've got the heavier branch, which are the fusion fics. That's where writers really dig into the emotional mechanics of their relationship, using the metaphor of fusion to explore trust and vulnerability. These often involve Lapis reluctantly agreeing to try fusing again, with Peridot patiently guiding her through it, emphasizing communication over force. It's a direct response to canon trauma, and you can tell the writers are using it to process themes of recovery and consent, which feels meaningful.
A less common but fascinating theme is the 'reverse redemption' or 'Galactic Gems' AU, where they never defect. Maybe Lapis never gets trapped in the mirror, or Peridot remains a loyal Homeworld technician. Stories like that pit them against the Crystal Gems, exploring their dynamic as antagonists bound by duty or a shared, coldly logical worldview. It's a cool 'what if' that highlights how much their characters were shaped by their choices on Earth.