She believes that. She can feel Lapis is being genuine, after all. But Lapis's opinion of her is only half the issue. The other half is that Peridot knows how erratically she's behaving, and she doesn't feel like she has any control over it.

The patting helps more than the words do. Peridot exhales, lightly nodding her head in affirmation. As she nods, she rumbles deep in her throat and pushes her gem against the palm of Lapis's hand, desperate for more contact from her.