#i don't even hate steven universe

[queernobi]

The thing about the Diamonds in Steven Universe is that they really had the potential to be extremely compelling and interesting villains, and then they just. Weren't.

They had a few episodes where they got to be intimidating and badass genocidal dictators, and then they were just sad but cringy aunts whose genocidal past just. Doesn't matter, I guess?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not even necessarily against a story where there's inflated stakes like "my family is committing genocide" and there being a "redemption" that is less about the actually redeeming the character and more about progressing another character or completing that other character's arc (a la Darth Vader with Luke Skywalker), but like. You have to then try to make the stakes FEEL personal. And the Crewniverse really doesn't do that with the Diamonds.

I don't end up caring that Steven and the Diamonds are technically family because we get 145 episodes of the series where we understand them as genocidal dictators who are bent on destroying the planet, then 5 episodes dealing just with the fact the Steven's mom was actually a Diamond without thinking about the family tree, and THEN we only get 5 episodes acknowledging that, oh yeah, I guess the Diamonds are family too, so we have to help them settle their family issues!

If we take the example of Star Wars, we have a whole movie to reckon with the revelation that Darth Vader is Luke's father, and multiple (sometimes even heart-wrenching) moments with Luke grappling with this, from confronting Obi-Wan's ghost, to confronting Yoda, to even confronting Darth Vader himself. And even when other things are taking the focus, like rescuing Han or taking out Storm Troopers on Endor, it still figures heavily in the background, that Darth Vader is Luke's father, and nothing about this conflict can be the same for him (Luke).

We don't really get a lot of time to think about it with the Diamonds. It's just, "Oh yeah, these people suck," for 99% of the show, then suddenly it switches gears to be like, "no wait, but they're my FAMILY!!!!" and it never really has a chance to breathe or settle with the audience.

And no, this is not something that can be blamed on the show getting cancelled, because the redemption STILL could have had a lot of weight by, you know...letting the Diamonds actually get destroyed in the end! But of course that was never going to happen, so 🤷🏻

[dividedsoul]

LOVE YOUR DRAWINGS 🤍

Bellow with Pink interacting with her as their daughter.. something sweet (can’t take more pain w/ those three)

THANK YOU!!

ive always wondered how this conversation went

[asgardian--angels]

things I wish I could relive for the first time again:

that magical window where you finish a new piece of media, having watched/read it all by yourself with no fandom contact whatsoever, and you are just so happy about it, and full of interesting theories and takeaways, and just in love with it as a gorgeous piece of art.

because I swear to god as soon as you join the fandom for anything, you're bombarded with how you're supposed to view characters and their arcs, how you're supposed to morally and ethically judge the plot and the ways it apparently failed to present the right message, and if you don't you'll either be shunned for not sharing the popular headcanons or you'll be harassed for not criticizing the source material enough.

like how is it that the fans of a piece of media are also the ones being the most negative about it? If I like a show or a movie or a book, well, I liked it. That's kind of the point. I'm actually not here to tear it apart and talk about how it didn't live up to standards other people had! I enjoyed it for what it was, and forcing myself to find negative things to say about it doesn't actually bring me more enjoyment of it or reap any benefit to me. Fandom's a double-edged sword; you want to join a community to share your love for a piece of art, and the price you pay for a modicum of joy is a mountain of negativity. that's one main reason that I never engage with fandom until I'm completely done with a show, because if I was plugged into all of that commentary and discourse during the process, I'd be completely colored by how I'm expected to interpret everything this piece of art is presenting to me without being able to even form my own opinions.

[elwolfen]

God... Steven Universe is so good

[girltakovic]

me refraining from going on a tirade about how "freeze" and "fawn" aren't parasympathetic nerve responses every time i see that poll

[calypsolemon]

I'm curious what your thoughts are on the pink being overcooked and the bizarre idea of her that she was supposed to come out not as pink or red but white

ehh? I don't think any of that makes any sense. For one, why would White create a clone of herself like that, and could she even? It seems to me from the way she describes Pink and the other diamonds, that she views them as something like impurities or aspects she purged from herself, and while that's not entirely the case, I think it helps explain how gem production works in a "biological" sense. She also describes stretching her essence thin enough to control like, what, six? gems, as something she doesn't like to do, which tells me it's really something that isn't good for her to maintain for too long. So I assume to create another diamond of pure, unfiltered White light, would be to essentially put all of herself into another gem. And I don't see why she would bother to do any of that.

I also just think with how ableist gem society is, even if Pink was a red diamond that came out weird or something, I don't think she would have been allowed or expected to actually rule a colony or act as a diamond period. Gem society shatters gems that are born unable to fullfill their purpose. Especially back in Pink's time, when resources seemed abundant. White is way too much of a perfectionist control freak to let something like that pass imo.

No, really what makes the most sense to me, is that White created all the diamonds (and potentially, all of gem society) in an attempt to rid herself of emotions and personality quirks that she deemed imperfect, or hindering her in some way. All of them turned out exactly as intended, personality flaws and all, and so that White can control these "flaws" externally by discipline and force, rather than deal with them internally as part of her. This both aligns with what she says on the subject, and thematically coheres with the rest of the story, as it's the exact opposite purpose for Rose having Steven.

[usagifuyusummer]

Is this what you meant @jjimene123, on the Timmy Turner and Pink Diamond parallels lmao?

Been thinking abt this quote from end of an era!! It makes me THINK

[renthony]

I really have no patience for posts talking about "adults who only watch kids' cartoons," because, like...people accuse me of "only watching kids' cartoons," despite all evidence to the contrary. It doesn't matter how much I talk about other adult media I like, if I post too many things in a row about Steven Universe or The Dragon Prince or The Owl House, people come out of the goddamn woodwork to accuse me of "only watching kids' shows."

So I really can't take people seriously when they start talking about the supposed "problem" of "adults who only watch kids' shows." Are the "adults who only watch kids' cartoons" in the room with us right now, or are you basing your entire opinion of people solely on their fandom blog? Like, come on.

It makes me think of the couple years I spent volunteering in a school library. The librarian talked a lot about how it's hurtful to enforce "reading at grade-level" on every student with no nuance. Teachers would try to force their students to check out books "at proper grade-level," instead of letting students pick out whatever they wanted (even if it was "too easy"), and it resulted in a lot of students deciding books were boring, too hard, and only good for making them feel stupid. They started to hate reading entirely, because people constantly shut them down and told them they were stupid for not reading the right things. This was especially brutal on disabled students.

I personally apply the same philosophy to adults. You don't know what someone might struggle with, you don't know what someone's history is. You might think a piece of media is "too simple," but that's your experience and your opinion. People learn and grow and experience the world at different paces, and what seems to you like a "simplistic" piece of media may be the most complex, illuminating piece of media someone else has ever had the opportunity to experience. It doesn't make them "stupid" or "childish," and believing that it does is cruel and counterproductive. You cannot wield shame as a fucking cudgel if your goal is education, support, and helping people expand their horizons.

I don't think a culture of shame is helpful. I don't think a culture of "if you like 'childish' things, it means you're too stupid for anything else" is helpful. I don't think constantly making fun of children's media does anything other than demean people--and not just the people who enjoy it, but the people who make it, too.

[captainsweet]

I'm confused how me writing some request somehow ended up with most of the cast being dictators, a literal war happening, literal slavery and tons of racism, and so many other sucky things. But then again, they did request it to be Steven Universe based, so... What else do you expect.

[1-800-local-slut]

Hey bestie , I don't know if you've watched steven universe but I wanted to ask if you could please do a garnet inspired reader or pink diamond inspired reader for mark grayson . Imagine fusion happening between mark and reader . A whole new experience especially seeing a fusion dance .

Glowing Rock

Oooooo I love the way you think! Steven Universe used to be my shit fr, I used to watch that show day in day out like it was my job during COVID! I went the Pink Diamond route; I wasn't sure how I could write in a reader like Garnet because of her whole thing going on (I'm trying not to spoil it). Thank you for the request pookie, this is gonna be a short one!

I tried to capture the complexity of Pink Diamond and Greg here, she was very amused by Earth and by Greg as a human so I tried to sprinkle that in here as well :)

Warnings: none, Mark's a bad dancer, Mark is jelly for no reason, Amber mention because she's over hated, Mark has a therapist (he really needs one guys) and he goes Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's for two hours, can you guys tell I love writing yearning?, also the fusion is light skinned and I'm sure y'all know why

Note: I honestly feel like Mark would need a female therapist, he seems to have issues listening to men especially men with authority (Cecil and after his dad he does not trust men with power) and I feel like a woman who reminds him of his mother would help him so well

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"So, how was your weekend?"

Taking a deep breath, Mark inhaled, and his breath quivered on exhale.

"Painful."

"And why was it painful?" Dr. Dubois asked, looking at Mark with gentle eyes.

"Well. I saw her again. We all went out." Mark rubbed his eyes before he decided to lay back on the couch. His feet went up over the armrest and his head resting on a pillow

"To the club?"

"Yes."

"And what happened at the club that caused you to feel your weekend was painful? Did you get beat up?" Part of therapy was that his therapist knew he was Invincible. Which was great because Mark isn't saving the world, she is. All the times he's felt like quitting, Dr. Dubois was right there to help him remember why he started.

"Not this Saturday, probably gonna happen next week though. But something happened. Well, nothing actually happened but something happened."

"To you?" She coaxed gently. This always happened, when it came to his personal feelings the good Dr. Dubois always had to pull it out of him. Especially regarding girls but the six hundred dollars his mom pays for three sessions a week make it worth it for her.

"To me."

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

Just like that, he was right there back in the club. Recounting the events of his weekend to Dr. Dubois whose gray hair looked like an onion swirled into a bun on her head.

Back in the club he snuck into with his group of friends that you talked them into. The flashing lights, smell of drinks and smoke, and the slimy feeling filling his chest when he recalled everything perfectly.

Watching you tear up the dance floor with Amber was slowly killing him with jealousy. Gnawing through his chest, clawing at his heart and under his skin with no remorse. Mark really didn't need to be jealous. You two were dancing, nothing severe. Rhythmically twirling around one another, like birds in a dance you had known all your lives.

It got worse from there. In sync, you moved with Amber. Like you two had done this time and time again. Like a shared secret only the two of you had and decided the bond between you two didn't need to be secret anymore. Before there was a light different from the flashing lights of the club. And then there was a tall dark skinned black woman with pink curls and dark magenta eyes, dark lips that belonged to Amber and a belly gem that belonged to you. Even your outfits seemed to have equally divided, your white top with Amber's dark green skirt which did little against the height of your fusion, exposing most of your thighs. Mark felt like he just watched his crush and ex-girlfriend (now close friend) make out on the dance floor. The one place he couldn't join.

The dancing didn't stop. She danced alone now, with hair moving freely and laughing to herself. It was as if happiness turned into a person and was dancing around the room. Having conversation with the two women inside who communicated gleefully with one another about how much fun you were having together.

Since you came to Earth, Mark had learned some things about you. You have a giant rock stuck in what would be your belly button if you had one that you pull weapons from and the glows randomly that enables you to transform into different forms.

He learned that you loved cats, you thought babies were so interesting, you loved painting, knitting, you looked so beautiful laughing, you had a few curls that always seemed to escape whatever style you put your hair in, but Mark loved those stray curls. They were free, untamable. Like you. You also had three older sisters but weren't on the best of terms with them right now.

You loved to dance. You don't need to eat, you don't need to sleep, or drink water, or use the bathroom. He's seen you do it, mimic the basic functions of humans. He watched you quickly learn that you have no desire to digest food after giving you a pickle and quickly watching you frown in disgust. And mimicking passing it seemed to upset you further. And while it was funny to explain to you that he doesn't use the bathroom because he enjoys it but because he has too, or he'll get a bladder infection, it killed him to see you uncomfortable your first time using a toilet. Ultimately you just...exist.

But who was Mark to judge, he doesn't need to breath or eat often if he doesn't feel like it. He more so does it out of habit, growing up human and needing breakfast regularly or he'd be hangry by 9:30 AM.

But even though you didn't like eating or drinking anything, you did love everything on Earth. The people, the sights and smell. Above all you loved music. No matter how fast or slow, you loved it. You told him, if you had a heart or soul then music would be ingrained in it. And it showed by your dancing.

"Why didn't you go dance with her?" Dr. Dubois interjected while squinting her eyes. As if Mark didn't ask himself that a thousand times over. Hell, he even talked himself up to it, but the club was closing, and it was time to go.

"I'm not a good dancer." He bit out.

"But you went to a club?" A moment of silence passed, Mark looking at the doctor wondering if she was making a joke from his pain like he so often does. The doctor on the other hand looked slightly proud of herself and let out a laugh at her own joke. Then she cleared her throat.

“I’m sure she would appreciate your efforts.”

Mark thought it over for a moment. The deep amusement you took at him was not at all flattering. And it wasn’t great that you laughed at quite a few of his attempts to be smooth. Since the GDA came across you wandering Earth, everything was amusing to you. As if you were a kid seeing the world for the first time. The world colored your face with wonder every day you were here.

“I don’t want to be laughed at. Anyways, we’re in the club and she looks nice.”

An understatement. Your light pink curls flew free as you danced with Amber, the gem in your stomach shimmered and your white top stuck to your slightly sweaty (he didn’t know you could sweat) brown skin, your bright pink eyes seemed to call him as if to say, “come to me”. Well before you two were fused together. Do you know how bad it hurt when you two didn't separate by the time you left, even staying fused until Amber had to pee once you returned to the dorms, and you refused to use a toilet again? Mark has met hundreds of alien women; he’s never been so down bad in his entire life. And he dated Amber.

“And by the time we left, I felt…weird. Clammy.”

"Do you think she and Amber have something going on?"

"No."

Dr. Dubois gentle eyes urged him to go further.

"Amber has her boyfriend. And you know Amber and I are over, I'm over her by now. I think I'm jealous."

"And why do you think that? What did you have to be jealous over?" She led, urging Mark to put the pieces together or she would do it.

"I am...jealous, because I want to have that connection with her. But I was too scared to do it." And she smiled like Mark just hit the jackpot while Mark frowned deeply at his own feelings. He had no right to be jealous. Do you even understand the concept of jealousy?

“Hmmmm. Mark, I want you to try something. The next time you’re all together, I want you to imagine it’s just the two of you. She looks human. She acts human enough. Try treating her like a normal human girl, instead of treating her as if she’s a glowing space rock.”

"Hm."

Dr. Dubois smiled at him and then flipped a page in her notebook, freckled nose scrunching as she read her handwriting from last Friday's session.

"Now, let's move on. Have you been doing your creative writing?" And he hasn't. So, he rolled over onto his side and turned his back to the question. This much discussing his feelings slightly soured his mood.

"And why not?"

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Turns out, Mark can get drunk. He never thought to try, he kind of just assumed it wouldn't work. But being half viltrumite didn't turn off the part of his brain that had feelings OR the parts of his brain that were susceptible to drugs and alcohol. Although his body was burning through it fast, rushing to 'heal' him. But he doesn't want to heal. Not now. Not when the seventeen beers he had were helping him dance with you.

Even though he danced a like an unattended fire hose, you didn't care. You didn't give a damn, even goofily mimicking his dance leaving you two to laugh like fools while you danced alone away from the others.

The sunset on the beach bathed your skin in a gorgeous glow, the sand beneath your bare feet barely bothered you while water crashed onto your feet from the tide rolling in, and the white sun dress you wore twisted around you with each movement. The rest of your friends somewhere behind you, and Mark followed you on an impromptu game of tag far down the beach. As your two got further down the beach, he was also leaving his inhibitions behind him. He could still hear the music from speaker and before he knew it you two were in some silly dance together.

You looked...did you even have angels where you came from? You looked like an angel. But in one move, one second it all changed.

You two brushed past each other, gracefully and then you were both gone.

How could Mark even describe this feeling? It was like his brain melted, then expanded with another's feelings in there. He was himself. He was Mark. But he was also you. You, with all your thoughts and feelings. His heart was beating for the both of you. His lungs expanded and shrunk for him and you. You were one and the same. He was Mark Grayson, Invincible, and you were you. You and him, he and you. Together.

In what he thought was a delusion of his lovesick brain, he opened his eyes that he didn't realize he had shut. He looked down at his still feet. His feet and hands that were a light skinned color with nails painted the same baby pink color yours were. The water washed over his feet, but it felt foreign. The sensations weren't the same to him anymore. Nothing felt the same to him anymore.

He was taller as well. Something was...missing. And he was really hoping it wasn't what he thought it was.

"Mark?"

That came from inside his head. You were in his head. And this was no delusion. His own mouth opened and said his own name with a voice that sounded perfectly male and female.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay, Mark?" You, or he, or whatever he should call himself (?) at this point sounded worried.

Was Mark okay? The feeling of pure love, acceptance and understanding in his chest, the quiet in his mind for once, was Mark okay? He felt warm but not from the inside. From his one human heart that was beating for the two of you. Were the overwhelming feelings he felt purely his alone?

"I think so."

Slowly he willed the feet to move but instead fell onto the ass he was sharing. His bottom was never so thick before, so this really was not a dream. Without his command, the right arm went into a pocket and pulled out two phones. One placed on the sand, yours went to open the camera app.

Eyes that weren't yours or Mark's filled the camera. Shorter, very dark pink curls dusted the shared shoulders unlike your long and full head of curls that usually took up more space than your head. Dark brown eyes matched with thick lips and long lashes filled the camera. A strong jaw with round, feminine features that you possessed mixed perfectly with Marks, and the eyes were slanted, another feature from Mark's face.

Was this what your babies would look like all grown up?

"I'm not sure I could carry a human-viltrumite-gem baby. That may destroy me." The thick lips opened in the reflection; a feeling of awe filled the chest you shared. Along with embarrassment.

"I didn't mean to say that outloud."

"You didn't. I hear your thoughts. I feel your feelings." Normally this would be too weird for him. But when your finally one with the woman you love and also half drunk, also suddenly look gender neutral, you have bigger issues to worry about-

"You love me?"

Then his chest felt like velcro being torn off sneakers. The soul you both shared was being forcefully torn in half. You were back, Mark was back and the two of you tumbled onto the sand.

"No!"

"You love me!" The gem-human (he was never fully sure what you were) tackled him in a hug onto the sand.

"I heard it, I heard it in your thoughts! I felt it in here." You whispered excitedly in his ear and placing your hand on his chest over his fast-beating heart.

"No no no, go back. What just happened? What was that?!" Now it was too weird. It lasted about 45 seconds but Mark's brain was his own again and what was missing between his legs was back.

"We fused Mark! And I'm sorry, it was a total accident but Mark! This is great, don't you see?" He pushed back from you and you followed him through the sand on your knees, scooting towards him.

"See what?" He cried in a panic, his own brain working overtime with the thousands of questions he had while he tried to gain enough distance from you to formulate a sentence.

"You love me the way I love you! We can be together!" Everything stopped again, but not because you turned into one person.

"You love me?" The light in your eyes was no longer so intense, and you pushed off your hands and sat down next to Mark, pulling your knees to your chest.

"I do." You nodded, affirmatively.

"And you...you want to be with me?"

"I do!"

Oh. So those feelings weren't his alone.

Waves crashed; the sky darker now as seagulls cawed far away. In the distance he heard your friends laughing around the bonfire. No words were said, but you seemed to understand. You scooted closer to him, head resting on his shoulder. Could you hear how calm his heart now was?

“Soooo do you love me?” You asked, looking up at him with sparkling eyes and a bit of hope nestled deep inside.

"You know I do."

"Maybe I want to hear you say it." A cheeky smile crossed your features, he just noticed that you have another dimple then the one he usually sees. And he's spent hours studying your face. Was this one new? He knows you can change your appearance. But then again, he's never been this close to you.

He remembered the love. The understanding he felt when you two were one in the same. Mark has had multiple girlfriends and has still never felt anything like that. He loved you before, after that feeling he accepted he was screwed. It was over for him. It was over for him, because he knew he'd spend the rest of his life, all thousands of years searching for that feeling. But he could only get that from you. He only wanted that from you.

For once he realized something: you were a human girl in a way. You look human, and Mark was treating you as an object. Unattainable, shiny but he loved you. You have feelings, just as strong as his. You both looked at one another, as if clearly seeing each other for the first time in a long time. He saw you as more than a space girl who he loved and was a little ditzy. You were a person. A person who loves him.

You came to Earth, you wanted to be a human girl. You wanted to be a normal girl. You have normal, human emotions. Who was Mark to deny you reciprocation of a feeling he certainly had for you as well because he perceived you as more?

"I love you."

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Mark, sighed but it was a sigh of happiness. For once, he was happy to talk about his feelings. He was thrilled to walk into Dr. Dubois's office. For once his weekend wasn't painful mentally, emotionally, or physically. He felt warm still from seeing you this morning. Turns out you can fuse at other times, as well as mimic some other human parts.

"Mr.Grayson?" He fell out of his memories of cuddling with you and laughing over how scared you got when he described how throwing up felt to you and he promised you he would try not too (although he can't really control it) and was pulled back into his reminder that he was waiting to see his therapist.

"Dr. Dubois will see you now."

Rising to his feet, he began the familiar path to the door he entered regularly. It was late Monday afternoon, and Mark spent the entire weekend as relaxed as he's been in a while. He couldn't stop smiling as he stopped a bank robbery on Sunday.

Another superhero left another therapists office, in their civilian identity while sniffling and the corresponding doctor patting her on the back in an attempt of comfort.

He opened the door, pulling the knob and floating into the office.

“Good morning!”

“Well, you’re in a good mood Mark. It’s good to see you. Have a seat.” She grinned, happy to see one of her younger clients full of joy. It was a rare sight these days.

He found his usual seat, and laid back down. Feet going of the arm rest, head resting on a pillow.

She opened her notebook, clicking her pen and peering at Mark over her round glasses. She could read him like a book, and should be able too considering how much time they spend together.

"Did you try treating her like a normal girl?"

"Uh huh." Mark nodded with an almost cartoonishly wide grin. For the first time in a long time feeling like the weight of his feelings wasn't crushing him. With a proud smile, she rested her chin on her elbow. She wanted to hear about his recent success, not just analyze it.

“So, how was your weekend?”

[hyenabeanz]

if anyone needs an instant perspective check here, Jailbreak came out in March of 2015.

Same-sex marriage wasn't legal yet in all of the US when that episode aired. Most had only had it for a year or two.

Being serious, i don't think some younger animation fans do understand what the episode Jail Break episode really was.

Back in those years is it was more of a taboo thing to have LGBT+ couples in children/family animation. At best what you could do was making them hold hands in one second shot.

Then Jail Break aired, showing Ruby and Sapphire being open about their relationship and Garnet, being an allegory of LGBT+ relationship, singing a whole song about how she represents Ruby and Sapphire's love and kicking Jasper's butt in the process.

It showed that, yes, this is something you can potray in more family/children media and do something really cool with it. Like Jail Break on its own it is considered one of the best Steven Universe episodes.

Nowadays younger animation fans have more than two or three shows to choose from to watch that have LGBT+ representation or themes in them, but back then it was Steven Universe and one of the main reasons we got later shows being able to have this as part of their stories.

[spicy-apple-pie]

there's been a lot of Steven Universe on my tiktok recently, and I'm just remembering how much I love Pearl and Garnet. Don't get me wrong, I love amethyst, she was my favourite as a kid, but Pearl and Garnet are so amazing as caretakers for Steven. Especially Pearl, who goes from lowkey hating Steven to thinking of his as her own child (if she even can comprehend him as such). And Garnet, she's just the best because she's so calm and collected and always doing what's right for him. Like the episode when Steven is trying to give the gems a birthday party and ends up turning into an old man and starts dying. Garnet starts freaking out and that really is terrifying because up to that point, she's been the one with a head on her shoulders, so to see her fall apart like that... god I love that show it's so over hated.

[rosaq]

how I see pearlrose (it's one of my favorite ships and I promise this isn't hate):

rose and pearl were in love with each other but pearl wasn't in love with pink diamond, she was only in love with rose quartz. so pearl was in love with the parts of pink diamond that became more predominant when she turned into rose + that fed into the fantasy they created for themselves

see how in the gif below pearl sings "we became our fantasy" when pink turns into rose quartz? and her demeanor immediately changes when pink turns into rose. her smile widens and both of them hug each other and start holding hands + pearl starts blushing

I think this is intentional — just like in "a single pale rose" pearl and rose hug and hold hands but when rose turns into pink diamond, the physical intimacy stops. that's not to say they're uncomfortable with each other, only that rose quartz and pearl seem far closer and intimate. the very first time we see pearl talk to pink she still calls her "my diamond" (which is a title used with superiors) even though this scene takes place near the end of the war and pearl has been a rebel for more than one thousand years

now let's get into the batman and alfred/robin allegory:

Rebecca and Ian, while discussing Rose’s “Batcave,” brought up the scene when Pearl couldn’t talk about Rose’s full details during “Rose’s Scabbard.” Incidentally, yes, Pearl is Alfred if Alfred was in love with Batman. It’s very important to note that we’re talking about Batman here, NOT Bruce Wayne. She loves BATMAN. 

— Steven Universe Podcast, Volume 3, Episode 1

Rose plays Batman on the ground. Pearl is Robin (and Alfred).

— Steven Universe: End of an Era, page 77

so pink diamond = bruce wayne and rose quartz = batman; pearl = alfred and rebel pearl = robin. rebecca and ian seem to want to make it clear that pearl was only in love with rose (batman). and pearl also seems to see herself as two separate people: the servant and the rebel

it makes a lot of sense for pearl and rose to create an escapist fantasy for themselves on earth as a way to get away from their awful realities. the idea that their lives on homeworld were someone else's lives was something they both took comfort in

But I've been... imagining things, even when you haven't asked me to. I imagined that I ran away and met you here on Earth, a Rose Quartz. And I'm not yours, but, I make you so happy anyway! Isn't that ridiculous?! Tell me to stop! 

Rose: Please don't ever stop! 

—Pearl, Now We’re Only Falling Apart

and that was the fantasy: pearl was a rebel who ran away and met rose on earth. rose was made on earth. pearl's presence makes rose happy even though she doesn't belong to rose.

rose is delighted when pearl shares this with her bc she loves this fantasy just as much as pearl does (and also bc it made her realize that other gems, like pearl and garnet, want to escape homeworld. she realizes that she wants to fight for them). but obviously this fantasy is incompatible with their actual lives

later on pearl would also get caught up in the idea of being rose's knight. she romanticized the idea of putting rose above all else, even herself; she romanticized the idea of having a princess to save. so she put rose on a pedestal, not because rose was a diamond, but because of this fantasy she created for their relationship

This is an Ancient Sky Arena, Connie, where some of the first battles for Earth took place. It was here that I became familiar with the human concept of being a knight, completely dedicated to a person and a cause.

—Pearl, Sworn to the Sword

in this fantasy rose quartz can't be pink diamond. rose loathed herself so this suited her just fine: she wanted to be the rose quartz from this fantasy, the gem who was made on earth and was a compassionate leader and healed instead of destroying. she thinks pearl is right to love only rose quartz bc she thinks pink diamond is unlovable

let's take a look at the movie: at first amethyst and steven think rose quartz is the solution to getting pearl's memories back. so amethyst shape shifts into rose and sings for pearl, but pearl won't stop looking at greg throughout the entire scene. then they understand that they don't need rose to be around, they need greg to disappear. so steven fuses with greg and greg disappears into the fusion, allowing pearl to finally get her memories back. greg is pink and steg is rose. when greg (pink) disappears, pearl manages to look beyond her assigned duty

it's also worth noting that pearl wasn't the only one putting rose on a pedestal. rose put everyone around her on a pedestal, including pearl, because she thought they were all so much better than she could ever be. so while pearl saw rose as a sort of princess to be saved/protected, rose saw pearl as a superior and as someone who was so much better than herself

The fact that Rose says "my Pearl" to Pearl... A lot of people wonder, "oh, she belonged to Rose". No one calls their Pearl my Pearl, people only say that to their superiors. So there's actually a lot more going on in that scene.

—Rebecca Sugar, The Truth About Rose Quartz

but this whole fantasy thing was very unhealthy and meant they never dealt with how their actual roles in gem society affected their relationship. they wanted to sweep all the ugly parts under the rug and pretend it didn't exist—and it was so easy because only the two of them knew the truth and they were all too happy to feed into each other's fantasies. it created a communication barrier between them that made it extremely difficult for them to communicate and understand each other's low self worth and insecurities. pink's final order to pearl was a way to keep the fantasy going post-war which pretty much doomed them bc pearl was unable to talk about anything she went through and rose never opened up to anyone about her past. but they needed to talk about it to heal and move forward

I believe pearlrose is supposed to parallel rupphire in this sense: both are interclass gem relationships, but rupphire never ignored how their roles in gem society affected their relationship; so much so that by the end of the show garnet's main theme becomes "the truth" while pearlrose's main theme remains "the fantasy"

this fantasy only starts to fall apart when pearl manages to tell steven the truth about pink diamond: pearl finally has to confront the fact that rose quartz and pink diamond were the same person. by letting the fantasy go, pearl was able to address the unhealthy aspects of their relationship and understand her own repressed feelings + rose's struggles. only then is pearl able to start healing from everything that happened

[critical-espurr]

Hello, hi, I've decided I have more to say on this one, hope you don't mind.

Another reason it's incredibly difficult to take this stance from Lily seriously is that, if someone had a similar sort of deeply emotionally moving response she's describing here but it was due to an anime, manga, JRPG etc., she'd call them a weeb and imply they're a pervert of some sort. She probably does think that art can influence and deeply move people, but only the (few and far between) pieces of art that she personally has any respect for. As we know, she's disturbingly self-centered and self-absorbed like that. Rules for thee, not for she.

One of the pieces of fiction that not only still deeply emotionally moves me to this day but made me realize just how I had been harmed and wronged in the past is the anime she keeps mischaracterizing as a substanceless, violent abusefest between lesbians (not because she's actually seen it, mind -- she's super lying about that and I believe the old gossip blog has proof of that somewhere, proof I saw when Lily herself INITIALLY POSTED IT -- but because it inspired cartoons she doesn't like and that makes her incredibly mad for some reason.) We all know she wouldn't approach this the same way she does for the books that have supposedly moved her (and I say supposedly because, as mentioned by our good Gallade friend here, she's bragged about how she hasn't read anything for a time period that roughly makes up half of her total life so far.)

this is a deeply ironic point to make from the woman who, not that long ago, was bragging about never reading anything in the last 15 years. especifically because she thought everything sucked anyway.

or about how she never reads fanfiction outside of a very limited scope.

or how she claims artists wanting credit for their work are divas that should be doxxed and mocked for eternity.

or how they don't deserve any recognition at all as long LO deems they don't because she stole their work on a arbitrary timeframe.

because LO just has that much respect for art, right?

[skythealmighty]

gang ngl i miss object universe. i should rewatch it again and get way too emotionally attached to Ice Cream and Map

#rocket talk #i made fanart of them with a steven universe song once i'm unwell

(1 note)

🪟 im-not-electric Follow

why does gamey get to be on ii TWICE. who gave him permission

🪟 im-not-electric Follow

thanks for the suggestion @cabtube-truther

📟 knockoff-gameboy Follow

You don't hear PBSB complaining about this...

🪟 im-not-electric Follow

well they're in a show that's super popular

📟 knockoff-gameboy Follow

Yeah, and you're in one that got cancelled

🪟 im-not-electric Follow

shut up you didnt even finish season one

#just one more cameo mephone4 thats all i ask

(316 notes)

anonymous asked: not sure you're gonna want a cameo rn mephone is going Through it

🪟 im-not-electric Follow

hold on im not actually caught up lemme see

🪟 im-not-electric Follow

holy shit

#I TAKE IT BACK

(58 notes)

anonymous asked: omg fan pleaaaase marru me ill do anythinggg ❤❤❤🥵����🥵

💥 fans-fantastic-features Follow

hey @test-tubular just checking was i ever this weird

🧪 test-tubular Follow

Weird? Always. This weird? No.

💥 fans-fantastic-features Follow

COOL just checking anyway

no please stop sending me these

#fans fantastic asks #this is the least weird anon ask from i think this specific anon #ive blocked them but oh my god #NO!!!

(83 notes)

💥🔃 fans-fantastic-features Follow reblogged 4️⃣ four-therecord

2️⃣ hey-two Follow

Hello everyone!! 👋 Since I've gotten many an ask about my cheesecake recipe from previous TPOT episodes, I've decided to make a longpost and put it here for you all to use!! Feel free to use without credit but credit is still appreciated 😊

Keep reading

4️⃣ four-therecord Follow

i hate you

#so they ARE on here #followed both immediately #how did i not come across them earlier...

(2,613 notes)

💊 the-cringe-one Follow

Recovery across different universes, a scientific theory

(Full post below the cut)

((Thank you to @not-tally-hall for the testimony regarding the S*n!))

Keep reading

😎 the-chad-one Follow

boring 👎👎👎👎

💊 the-cringe-one Follow

Get off my post

⛳ bossy-bot Follow

This is incredibly fascinating and an enjoyable read! There are some points of debate I've brought up in DMs, but otherwise this is a very solid theory. Good job!

💊 the-cringe-one Follow

Thank you, that means a lot!!

#I follow your papers closely so hearing that coming from you is an honor #anyway back to my regularly scheduled nonsense

(13 notes)

🟧 julian-waiting Follow

Bonjour! J'ai découvert ce cite grâce à des vidéos amusantes

Je suis encore en train de m'habiteur à la société et je pense que c'est une bonne façon de me faire des amis! Enchanté de vous recontrer tous 😃

🥖 shut-up-about-boto Follow

bienvenue sur le site de l'enfer ! la plupart des gens ici ne parlent qu'anglais, vous pouvez donc m'envoyer un message si vous voulez parler à quelqu'un en français. je peux également vous montrer des endroits en ligne pour apprendre l'anglais

🟧 julian-waiting Follow

Cela signifierait beaucoup pour moi, merci

🥖 shut-up-about-boto Follow

bien sûr!

🍐 betterthanpearaib Follow

Baguette we all know you're not actually French you don't need to keep pretending 😒...

🥖 shut-up-about-boto Follow

K

(172 notes)

anonymous asked: your iconic quote from episode 10 has unfortunately become a vocal stim for me. please help, i'm suffering

🍿 stevecobseviltwin Follow

Hey? This is the funniest ask anyone's ever sent me. Can we make out behind a Denny's

#my condolences though oh my god 😭

(4 notes)

⚾️ take-me-out-to-theballgame Follow

Guys, this site is easy! Just watch

⚾️ take-me-out-to-theballgame Follow

Based ball? Based on what?

⚾️ take-me-out-to-theballgame Follow

#hey. are you doing okay

No

(42,526 notes)

🍐 betterthanpearaib Follow

Finally watched II! Good show. I want that twink OJ dead why is he like that

☝ i-date-iconic-posts Follow

Date of origin: November 2nd, 2020

🍐 betterthanpearaib Follow

I DIDNT MEAN IT I DIDNT MEAN IT I DIDNT MEAN JT I DIDNT

#😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

(26,942 notes)

🎒 liam-plecak Follow

Thanks everyone for the help so far! I'm not too much of a science nerd, unfortunately, @bossy-bot, so I didn't understand everything in the papers you sent me- but they still helped a ton! Especially the coding help. I was a telemarketer, not an IT person...

Now that I know what I'm doing, I have some free time. With some recommendations from @fans-fantastic-features:

If you have any other recommendations, just leave them in the comments. And please go and send help to @fire-cartoon-schtick while you're at it!

[oatmealaddiction]

Rant time, but like, people who complain about the diamonds in Steven Universe getting "redeemed" and "facing no consequences" like, why did you ever think the diamonds getting destroyed was on the table as an option? Why did everyone think the show was going to end with Steven fighting and killing the diamonds, or the universe dolling out some Hayes Code Karma Violence like a giant rock falling on them at the last second? Like I guess I understand the criticism in theory that Steven Universe's metaphor for the diamonds as toxic family members falls apart when you consider they're crimes as space monarchs doing a colonialism, but Steven isn't The Avatar. At no point in the show does he even have the power to doll out the punishment you guys want.

Steven *does* try to fight the diamonds, and he gets his ass kicked. He gets smashed under his own shield and knocked out. His mom forms an entire army to fight them and LOSES and has almost all of her friends corrupted by them. The Diamonds are bigger, badder and stronger than The Crystal Gems (kind of like how adults are bigger and stronger than children.) So instead, he reveals his identity as Pink and the Diamonds immediately stop trying to kill him and the show instead pivots to be about political diplomacy. He doesn't like the diamonds, by the time Future rolls around we find out that he hates them and has private thoughts about killing them even now that that they don't pose any threat. But during the show he's powerless and so instead, talking to them and trying to change their mind is just a practical option because fighting hasn't worked. Because in the real world, there are times you will be outmatched and violence won't be the answer—even if the people hurting you probably do deserve violence.

And the diamonds aren't "redeemed," they just change their mind. They just decide that they want to keep Pink in their lives, so they begin to take accountability and undo the damage that they caused with their war, and presumably will spend the next thousands of years of their lives dismantling their own empire. And again, Steven Universe Future discusses the discomfort and the downside of this approach, that even if it's better and harm is actively being undone, the diamonds can't resolve all the harm they've done and Steven largely doesn't feel like he's gotten justice for what they did to him and his mother—much less the universe. So I don't get where anyone gets off saying this story is irresponsible or saying you should just forgive bad people. I don't see that anywhere in the story. The theme of Universe has always been the necessity of change, and so it makes sense that the villains aren't forgiven or revealed to be good people—but that they just change.