#jungle moon pink diamond

[fae-sodapop]

🌸Jungle Moon Pink Diamond my beloved🌸

Another screenshot edit w/ the pink diamond from Jungle Moon, I have so many ideas for her I practically have an AU for her already. Additionally I gave yellow a design that looks like her teaser/promo from 2015(?)ish.

Alt & original

Design reference images under cut

[rosaq]

I like the idea of pink diamond symbolizing a disabled adult instead of a child. she needed guidance and accommodations but instead she was abused, neglected and infantilized

in "a tale of steven" she's described by white diamond as "impossible to understand, impossible to ignore and impossible to control." during the jungle moon flashback she seems to not know stuff she's supposed to know as a diamond — at first she just keeps repeating yellow's words:

YD: I'm commanding the drop ships to colonize this planet.

PD: I wanna command a drop ship!

YD: Well, when you have your own colony you can command whatever you want.

PD: I want a colony!

shortly after this bit of dialogue yellow opens up a panel in which a drop ship can be seen. even though pink just asked to command one, she still asks yellow "what is this?". yellow says she's contacting the leader of the fleet and pink tells her to let her do it instead — and proceeds to start smashing the panel randomly. it seems like she doesn't know what she's doing.

rose told greg that gems burst out of the ground already knowing what they're supposed to be; unlike other gems, pink seems to have emerged lacking knowledge about her duties as a diamond. she needed guidance and accomodations not bc she was child but bc she was different from her fellow diamonds.

spinel said that "pink wanted a colony, more than anything". I don't think she was fixated on the idea of having a colony because she was a spoiled child who felt entitled to it but bc she was a disabled adult who wanted to be seen as an equal. pink thought she would no longer be mistreated by her family and would gain the independence she craved if only they'd let her fulfil her diamond duties.

[joowee-feftynn]

felt like making some fanart for an old au i used to be suuuper invested in. this is @gems-of-jungle-moon's post-corruption pink diamond, and she's a cutie :3

+ bonus doodle

[novantinuum]

[Updated 1/6/25]

I've written a kinda ridiculous amount of content for this fandom at this point, so this post is intended as a fun way to organize all that content on this blog. I'll update this post periodically as I share more works.

Most of my works are gen fic- with a heavy focus on character study and "bridging the gaps" of canon with lil bonus scenes of what I feel certain characters might've been up to in between episodes. However, I do on occasion enjoy exploring a few different relationship dynamics... and actual ratings for my stories vary.

Ratings and pairings will be listed on this masterpost, as well as any particularly vital content warnings. For more thorough content warnings, please reference the tags on the linked AO3 listings.

~~~

Multichapter AUs:

Crack The Paragon Series

Series Summary:

In the wake of an ill-fated discovery, Steven vies to pick up all the pieces. The Gems are in turmoil: Pearl can’t speak the truth, Garnet chose to separate, and Amethyst's confidence has hit rock bottom. Somehow, his mom is Pink Diamond. But what exactly does that mean for him? Why did his mom really choose to fake-shatter herself and obscure her identity? With the very foundation of his home life shifting around him, can Steven ever hope to find answers on his own? Or will his growing obsession with seeking this truth ultimately crack his world all over again? Canon divergent as of season 3 episode 20, Bismuth.

Stories:

Crack the Paragon- 70,705 words, 14/41 chapters. Rated T. Light Steven/Connie.

In another world, he doesn't have his mother's sword or shield to hide behind when Bismuth lands her strike. The bubble pops. Steven falls apart.

Content warning: Major character injury.

Everything Is Different Now- 1,014 words. Rated G.

After her unfortunate exile, Bismuth returns to her forge to work, and to reflect on her mistakes.

Seeing Pink- 2,475 words. Rated G.

Following a video call with Connie, Steven reacts to the discovery that... his eyes aren’t always human anymore.

Misalignment- 16,680 words, 20/? chapters. Rated T.

His family’s not present the third time he runs away... They never see the creature he becomes. Early corruption AU.

Content warning: Minor body horror.

Hollowed Moon- 8,046 words, 14/? chapters. Rated T.

Stevonnie doesn't crash the Star Skipper onto that jungle moon. Instead, they crash on a craggy fragment of rock suspended thousands of miles away from its associated colony, long forgotten. On that lonely hunk of rock is a domed garden. And standing in that garden, just as lifeless seeming as the rest of it, is a pink Gem.

~~~

Other AU/Non-Canon Works:

For the purpose of organization, this section contains two fics that have since had elements of it debunked by Steven Universe: Future. However, said fics were written to be "canon compliant" at the time of posting... thus, on AO3, they still are listed within my "canon compliant" series.

Shattering Atlas- 4,274 words. Rated T.

A boy can only carry an entire galaxy upon his back for so long before the weight of it all finally becomes too much. (Written about the Corrupted Steven Theory, long before SUF's airing.)

Content warning: Depression, body horror.

The Price of Freedom- 791 words. Rated T.

Even while sightless, even when she only exists as thin fingers of light rapidly spreading outwards from her gem, Rose can sense that something is deeply, dreadfully wrong. Written for Whumptober 2020, Day 1: Waking up restrained.

Bi the Way...- 2,886 words. Rated T. Steven/Connie.

Connie has a question, and also something to say.

(Originally written to be canon compliant after the movie, debunked by Steven and Connie not officially getting together until the end of Steven Universe: Future.)

Errands- 3,034 words. Rated T.

Steven has an endless stream of items on his to-do list, so many that he often forgets to properly take care of himself in between. Sneaking off into the woods on the daily to vent out his repressed emotions is merely one of them.

(Originally written to fit between Snow Day and Little Graduation, but the back half of Steven Universe: Future strongly suggested that Steven did not visit Jasper in between the events of Little Homeschool and Fragments, thus I consider it debunked.)

A Blissful Crossroads- 1,742 words. Rated T. Stevencest.

“No, no, please— Steven, it’s not ‘nothing,’ I’m curious, now.” Tone bursting with genuine warmth, he plants a singular hand on his shoulder, trying to coax him to open up again. “I genuinely want to know.” And stars, is the sheer, uncharacteristic vulnerability glistening within his dear friend’s warm brown irises when next he opens his mouth almost enough to scramble the very code of his core-most being. “You sure about that, Flower Boy?” _ A holiday gift fic inspired by the story "Drift Together," in which Steven and his Gem- Floret- are split at birth and live entirely separate lives before ultimately reuniting in high school.

tether me close and promise you'll linger- 2,139 words. Rated T. Steven/Connie.

“Happy New Year, sweetheart,” she whispers, her breath tickling against his beard. And in response, his brow creases inwards so sharply that it’s all but impossible to ignore the building tension behind his eyes, the stressful specter of a migraine yet to come. “Stars… it’s that time already—?” - A holiday gift fic inspired by characters in the AU comic “Walk the Line.”

~~~

Canon Compliant Works:

This part of the list contains almost everything within my "Brandishing the Star: A Crystal Gem's Guide to the Universe" fic series on AO3. Fics are listed chronologically.

Tipping Point- 1,104 words. Rated G.

Garnet helps remind Rose of what she's fighting for.

New Star- 1,321 words. Rated G.

Organic life is a fragile, fickle thing. This much is true. What's also true is how the death and resurrection of a humble lion was enough to make Rose Quartz re-conceptualize everything.

On the Origin of Hybrids- 1,684 words. Rated G.

The question— incomplete, and yet bursting with long-held curiosity— emerges from thin air while he’s about to tuck Steven into bed in the back of the van one night. In retrospect, no parenting book could’ve ever prepared him for this one.

His Shield- 334 words. Rated G.

Greg attempts to comfort his son during a thunderstorm.

Donut Debrief- 1,578 words. Rated G.

And like a burst of sunshine emerging from between the murky grey clouds, the young boy swings the door open wide, face alight with a level of enthusiasm that before, she didn’t even think was humanly possible on an overcast Monday morning. Two days after their disastrous island adventure, Sadie and Steven talk about regrets, making amends, and discover something they have in common with each other.

Autumn Bliss- 546 words. Rated G. Light Steven/Connie.

Is there any better way to spend a crisp autumn day than playing around in piles of leaves? Written for Connvember, day 1.

Alienation- 1,151 words. Rated G.

“But... I’m human,” he whispers to himself, the words tasting more like a desperate plea for belief on his tongue. “Or at least, part human. Right?” - An awkward interaction with his dad and Connie leads Steven to realize that he's now too Gem to all the humans in his life.

Ramen Soup For the Soul- 263 words. Rated G.

Steven and Connie noisily slurp some soup at the dinner table.

Creative Outlet- 837 words. Rated G.

“Log date, 7 14 9. “Today, the hybrid creature Steven attempted to further secure my loyalty by introducing me to a concept he calls... ‘music.’

Taste of Ordinary- 12,756 words. 2/3 chapters. Rated G. Light Steven/Connie.

"Connie, can we talk?" When a much needed moonlight conversation with his best friend turns into an attempted (and failed) "spring break" from all his responsibilities as a half-Gem, Steven must finally come to terms with the full truth of his heritage and all six thousand years of its consequences. Takes place between The Question and Made of Honor.

Outer Strife- 4,282 words. Rated T.

Connie clenches her fists at her sides, envisioning a world where she still feels the safe, comforting weight of Rose’s sword strapped upon her back. But instead, it’s the Crystal Gems’ darkest, most forlorn hour... and she’s absolutely useless to them. Is there anything she can do to aid them in this struggle, anything at all? (Or: the beach fight in Reunited, but from Connie's POV.)

Content warning: Panic attacks

Ballroom Etiquette- 2,809 words. Rated G.

As much as it pains him to admit it amidst all the boring protocol, Pearl is absolutely right. There’s no room for imperfection at a Homeworld Ball. In which Steven is publicly introduced to the Gems of Homeworld as Pink Diamond, and he experiences the first true stage fright of his life.

Finally Free- 1,653 words. Rated G.

Lapis genuinely doesn’t know how many hours (Days? Months? Years?) have passed when light finally graces her eyes once again.

Vulnerable- 730 words. Rated G.

Three words. Three little words, and the intergalactic conflict he‘d been training his whole childhood to defend against was over. But the hurt... he's not sure the hurt will ever go away.

Fifteen- 1,607 words. Rated G.

Every year, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Pearl runs away.

Cycles- 1,216 words. Rated G.

Amidst their danger-fraught mission to retrieve Pyrope and Demantoid's prisms, Pearl and Steven take a much needed break.

Freedom to Dance- 382 words. Rated G.

Stevonnie celebrates the first anniversary of Era 3 with their friends and reflects on how Homeworld has already changed.

Stardust- 618 words. Rated G.

White Diamond is testing out new terms of endearment. But no matter White’s intention with this little nickname, Steven doesn’t want it.

Contact- 16,002 words. 4/4 chapters. Rated T.

The first (and with any luck, only) time it happens, he’s almost 16.

Content warning: Major character injury.

Disconnected- 993 words. Rated T.

���What’s going on—?” he croaks to absolutely no one (weakened, vulnerable, alone, pathetic—), a jolt of fresh panic surging through his entire system. He��s never seen a gem flicker before. He has no idea what this means.

The Shatter Wish- 1,045 words. Rated T.

You’re 16 years and 2 months old (give or take a few days) when you finally realize you want to die. - (Steven's POV, second person)

Content warning: Depression, suicidal ideation.

Second Skin- 9,272 words. 12/12 chapters. Rated T.

Steven can’t help but dread the undefined cocktail of emotions that trigger this newest power... 12 shorts, each delving into Steven’s developing opinions and feelings about his “pink mode” in SUF.

Content warning: Light self harm, panic attacks

The Brother on the Other Side- 2,978 words. Rated T.

Lars has no idea what he was expecting the moment Steven texted him in the middle of the night to ask if he could come over, but being immediately tackled in an intense vice-grip of a hug the second he opened the door probably wasn’t it.

White Noise- 1,766 words. Rated T.

In which Steven opens up to Peridot a little about his anxieties surrounding his recent “pink episodes.” Peridot thinks she can help him determine the root cause of this problem, but Steven— marooned amidst age-old insecurities and his fears of hurting those he loves— still isn’t convinced he wants anyone’s help.

Content warning: Panic attacks

Like Clockwork- 509 words. Rated T.

Connie's got mountains of studying to do. (It's not just an excuse to avoid reminders of old traumas, of course it's not! Everything's fine.)

Fight the Future- 3,604 words. Rated T.

She’s poofed, he repeats to himself like a dying man’s mantra. She’s poofed. She’s stuck in the rubble, but she’s only poofed. She’s fine, and I’m fine, a-and— Above the scars of Steven's wreckage, thunder claps like mighty titans colliding in the heavens. (Or: what happens in the moments after Steven and Jasper's rematch.)

Oceans- 5,358 words. 6/6 chapters. Rated T.

Her fingers clutch onto the folds of his blanket with a protective fervor, but they’re still trembling. Stars, they’re trembling. Wordlessly, he understands. His are too. - A series of shorts detailing what might've happened in the moments after I Am My Monster, told from six different points of view.

Memoir of the Marks Unseen- 6,786 words. Rated T. Light Steven/Connie.

Steven’s messy self-corruption has scarred him in a manner that transcends the mere physical. Battling through suffocating waves of self-loathing and relapse, the path towards healing and acceptance is set to be his most challenging venture yet… but in a unexpected twist of fate, he eventually comes to find a cathartic solace in the tangible marks left behind.

Content warning: Depression, light body horror.

Intake- 6,427 words. 2/2 chapters. Rated T.

Steven fills out an important form.

Content warning: Depression, suicidal ideation.

Fear of Falling Apart- 1,961 words. Rated T.

Maybe it’s a bit selfish to wish for conflict in a time of relative peace, but right now Connie would give anything to face an opponent she could physically fight. A battle she could win. Because the fact of the matter is, no matter how stubbornly she might try, there’s no way she can fight off Steven’s inner demons for him. - In which Connie receives a panicked midnight phone call, and rushes to Beach City with Lion to try and help.

Content warning: Light body horror.

Ticklish- 2,675 words. Rated T. Steven/Connie.

In which Connie’s subconscious, innocent touch helps Steven realize just how nice the sensation of gentle fingertips gliding across the surface of one’s gem can be.

No Escape From the Weather- 5,756 words. Rated T.

Amidst an unusually stormy late summer’s day, Steven finally amasses the courage to confide in his dad about one of his greatest traumas.

Content warning: Panic attacks

Just a Little Something- 1,486 words. Rated T. Steven/Connie.

Steven surprises Connie with a handmade gift. Written for Glow Week 2024, for the prompt "Casual or Surprise."

(Our) Shadows Before the Dawn- 957 words. Rated T. Steven/Connie.

It's their nights that are the most difficult.

Content warning: Panic attacks

Advocate- 5,472 words. Rated T.

There’s more to this story, Lars can feel it brimming in his very bones. He can feel it squirming around in the tangled coils of his guts, a primal, virulent rot that threatens to consume him from the inside out. Something is off with Steven, something is distinctly wrong. And oh, does he hate being right. - When an unexpected visitor tumbles through the magic portal in his hair long after hours, breathless and bright pink, Lars must amass the courage to weather one of the most difficult conversations of his life.

Content warning: Depression, mentioned suicide attempt, panic attacks.

Tides of Renewal- 2,559 words. Rated T.

Now twenty years old and living on the other side of the country, Steven spends his morning relaxing on the beach, musing about his past, and having a chat with his dad.

Nightlight- 1,364 words. Rated T. Steven/Connie.

“So, wait— what you’re saying is that you want me… to glow for you—?” - In which a drowsy, throwaway comment inspires Steven to— fueled by Connie’s implicit trust and encouragement— test the very limits of his self-restraint.

~~~

OC Works:

This subsection is the home for any fics I post in my post-canon OC-centric series, "Echoes of Chalcedony." It follows the story of a young half-Gem named Jean Maverick and their journey towards learning about the Gem side of their heritage.

First Impressions- 11,026 words. 3/4 chapters. Rated T.

A young human-Gem hybrid- a soul yet unknown to the rest of the Crystal Gems- takes their first brave steps towards greeting their heritage firsthand.

~~~

NSFW Works:

Fics in this section will be posted on my NSFW AO3 alt, Astraliies. I personally consider some of them "canon" to my own extended fic universe, but they will not be sorted as official entries in my "Brandishing the Star" series due to rating.

It Takes Two- 2,865 words. Rated M. Steven/Connie.

It’s possible. The timing lines up. What Connie fears is one hundred percent possible. The problem is, a potential pregnancy this early into their relationship was absolutely not in their plans.

Content warning: Contains frank discussion of underage sex. Connie is 17.

knowing, loving, being- 21,450 words. 3/4 chapters. Rated E. Stevencest, Steven/Connie.

A uniquely charged encounter in Rose’s Room forces Steven to contend with matters of attraction and desire he never could have predicted for himself. To what extreme is he willing to journey in fulfilling these burgeoning fantasies? And in what ways will such an experience forever transform him? (One thing’s for sure, though… once Connie’s brought into the loop, the most intimate dynamics of their marriage will never be the same.)

Content warning: Selfcest, explicit sexual content

Love Handles- 7,178 words. Rated E. Steven/Connie.

In which a stray, innocuous comment from Connie pushes Steven to dedicate the bulk of his free time to ‘getting into shape.’ But when new stressors rise to challenge him, he begins to struggle to maintain this leaner, more muscular form for her. Not only that, but is this even the kind of body he desires for himself in the first place?

Content warning: Explicit sexual content, feeding kink

[ndotmov]

My Rose Quartz / Pink Diamond defense Initially a sociology report

@pearlhoardingdragon - since you wanted to know what I wrote for my Uni sociology class based on my previous post, here ya go:

"From Abused to “Abuser”: An Analysis of Pink Diamond from a Sociological Perspective

DISCLAIMER: While the fact that the Diamonds received a redemption arc, despite being intergalactic dictators, is a major gripe with fans (including myself) of Steven Universe, storyboard artist Hilary Florido stated in a podcast that the depiction of the Diamond Authority was suppose to be more akin to a "conservative rule-following family…” (Steven Universe Podcast, Volume 3, Episode 2 [EXTRACT▶], source). For the sake of the paper, I will be discussing the Diamond family dynamic from a “conservative rule-following family” standpoint and not from a corrupt Institutional perspective.

No matter what social, economic, or political background a person comes from, if they experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), they will develop some form(s) of trauma. Sometimes, victims of abuse, no matter the intent, harm others because of unhealed trauma, low-self esteem, and unhealthy survival habits. The case can be made for Pink Diamond (Rose Quartz), the deuteragonist of Steven Universe by Rebecca Sugar (she/they). Steven Universe is the story of the titular character, Steven Universe’s adventures on Earth as he fights monsters alongside the Crystal Gems. Gems are a sexless but female-presenting, alien race known for colonizing planets in their solar system and are ruled under “The Great Diamond Authority”, which consists of White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Blue Diamond, and formerly Pink Diamond. Steven is the son of Pink Diamond (known as Rose Quartz) and throughout the show, we see Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz’s character develop backwards; the more Steven learns about the true identity of his mother, the more he is determined to no longer be like her, but to be better than her, to which Pink Diamond herself wanted for Steven to be. Because of this backwards development, many viewers misunderstand the complexities of Pink Diamond’s character and how she is neither evil nor good. However, despite her desire for breaking the generational cycle of abuse, Pink unintentionally is a part of the unhealthy Relationship Spectrum and inflicts trauma onto others due to her unhealed ACEs. While she may appear as an “abuser” to some, Pink Diamond is an example of a character defined by self-surveillance to the point of traumatizing others because she had a poor relationship with herself.

While the Diamonds had cared for and loved Pink, they were more concerned about maintaining their society’s status quo than understanding Pink, which led to Pink’s ACEs. Pink Diamond is undeniably a victim of Family Violence and power over relationships. The first instance of abuse we see Pink endure is in Jungle Moon when Pink Diamond is with Yellow Diamond and demands for a colony of her own, much like a child demanding for a new toy. She tells Yellow Diamond, a mother figure, that she deserves to have a colony like the rest of the Diamonds because she is just as important as them, but to her dismay, Yellow grabs her arm and tells her to act as expected of her. Yellow’s condescension is felt again in Familiar when Steven tries challenging Yellow into self-reflection, to which the former waves off Steven’s concerns and claims how “[Pink] always…[had]...a knack for making [others] laugh” and how Pink is “almost worth the trouble”, displaying a history of disregard and belittling towards Pink. Fans of the show often like to suggest that Blue Diamond is the “nicest” of the Authority, and perhaps a saving grace in Pink’s abuse, because of her explicit mourning for Pink when she thought Pink had been shattered, but fans fail to recognize that Blue Diamond was just as abusive as her counterparts because she actively upheld their family’s conservatism. As seen in Together Alone and Change Your Mind, whenever Pink acted in a way that was considered “unruly” by her parents, or the Diamond Authority’s standards, she would be thrown into an almost-windowless tower for long periods of time to “reflect” on her behavior. Due to the need that gems have for light, doing this would be akin to depriving a child of food as a punishment. As well, isolating a child only instills distrust in others, and the ability to be vulnerable with others is slowly diminished as the child matures. Pink Diamond had no support system and through deep-rooted memory, we see that it was Blue Diamond who would enter the tower and gaslight Pink Diamond for her “immature” behavior. Another instance we see her criticize Pink is in Can’t Go Back, in which Steven witnesses Blue Diamond scorn Pink Diamond for coming up with “excuses” for why she did not want to complete the colonization of Earth after begging for one for so long. While it seems Yellow and Blue Diamond are emotionally dismissive towards Pink, their acts of emotional negligence are overshadowed by White Diamond’s attitude towards Pink. In regards to White Diamond, we get subtle hints as to how White Diamond treated Pink in Legs from Here to Homeworld and Change Your Mind, when White Diamond senses Steven is back on Homeworld (their gem society), she brings him to her. Steven attempts to converse with White, but is constantly interrupted and condescendingly questioned if he “got everything out of [his] system”. Furthermore, White’s disdain for Pink is revealed in Change Your Mind when she admits that Pink is the part of her “she always wants to repress”. In this scenario, White Diamond’s language is reminiscent of a mother who sees too many of the features she dislikes about herself in Pink, and as a result, this bitterness leads to generational trauma and a lack of support for Pink Diamond’s upbringing. By the examples we’ve seen, whenever Pink Diamond tried advocating for herself, she was immediately shut down. 

This self-advocacy worsens when Pink Diamond assumes the form of Rose Quartz to momentarily experience life on Earth and soon recognizes that her initial colonization of the planet is taking life away, instead of creating something from nothing. As Pink Diamond, she tries turning towards Yellow and Blue Diamond for support, but the two turn their backs on Pink Diamond, causing her to resort to extreme measures for the sake of attention–starting a civil war. Pink Diamond’s sense of entitlement comes from a place of insecurity and neglect because in Familiar, prior to receiving a colony, Pink’s only role was to entertain (hence her jester-like outfit) and throw extravagant parties for the other diamond’s accomplishments. This example of self-surveillance established a deep level of resentment and insecurity towards her place in society because she had no accomplishments of her own, nor respect from her family, therefore is the reason why Pink Diamond begged for a colony of her own–she thought owning a colony would garner the respect and attention she’s been denied her whole life, and as such, did not consider the consequences of her actions. As Rose Quartz, however, Pink began to view life from a different perspective as she experienced new situations–like Garnet’s fusion in The Answer. 

In The Answer, we see Pink Diamond as Rose Quartz realize that the people around her experience sonder (e.g., Garnet who is composed of Ruby and Sapphire’s desire to live their lives together), causing her to shift her mission in protecting life on Earth to advocating for gems’ freedom to self-express, which is her genuine attempt at trying to break generational trauma by establishing something new. However, her method was extremely selfish because even though she lacked the proper support from the Diamonds, Pink Diamond still incited a civil war in order to protect her creation, causing numerous casualties, including those that she loved. This callous, unhealed nature displays an unspoken justification that some abuse victims that experience emotional dysregulation have: “I am hurt so everything else does not matter”. But below the surface of Pink’s selfishness lies self-hatred, to which is the true reason as to why she started a civil war; often ACEs create internalized narratives of being the abuser, causing self-blame to turn into self-hatred. Rose Quartz hated herself so much that she literally and metaphorically waged war on herself in order to be detached from her childhood trauma and subsequently, old identity. This harm towards herself extends towards others as she becomes a self-fulling prophecy of abuse, starting with her Pearls.

Before it was revealed that the Crystal Gem, Pearl was Pink Diamond’s Pearl, Pink Diamond had Pink Pearl. As briefly shown in Together Alone, Pink Pearl was Pink’s first servant. Pink Diamond did not view her Pearls as such and would often seek personal advice from them, which went against her status as a Diamond. However, while Pink Diamond was kind to her first Pearl, she would often have unchecked temper tantrums, to the point of one day physically lashing out at Pink Pearl because she was denied a colony (Volleyball, Steven Universe). The event was so traumatic to both Pink Diamond and Pink Pearl that we see a shift in attitude and appearance (respectively), with subtle hints as to how the Diamonds would weaponize Pink Diamond’s behavior against her—Blue Diamond threatening to “take away her new Pearl” in Change Your Mind, a classic example of authoritative abuse. Pink Diamond is afraid of treating her new Pearl like an individual for a while as she is fearful of repeating her past mistakes, but is given the opportunity to when she assumes the identity of Rose Quartz, an identity that was presented to her by Pearl (Now We’re Only Falling Apart). The two were intoxicated by this new form as it allowed Pink Diamond to escape her responsibilities. Her escapist behavior is most prominently seen in her relationship with Greg in We Need to Talk .

The episode We Need to Talk highlights Rose Quartz’s inability to view others as equals because of her identity issues. Rose first meets Greg in Story for Steven, and the two are enamored with each other and develop a superficial relationship. As stated by Pearl in We Need to Talk, Greg is one of many humans Rose has “played” with and like a phase, she’ll be over him eventually because he is ultimately not a gem and cannot “fuse” with her. While harsh, Pearl’s words are later confirmed to be true as Greg tries to deeply connect with Rose, but his attempt is laughed off with a “You’re a human…that’s not a problem, I love humans, you’re all so funny…”. From this line, we see that Greg is just another part of Rose’s escapist fantasy–at this point, she is free from the Diamonds and living out her life with her newly found family in Beach City. Rose truly loves Greg, but does not understand relationships with others beyond a surface level; when Greg challenges Rose to talk to him like a “real person”, Rose is stunned and admits she’s “not a real person”. For so long, Rose has relied on others for advice (the Diamonds; Pearl, and Garnet with her future vision and wisdom as mentioned in the episode and in Now We’re only Falling Apart) that she lacked confidence within herself, hence why she was taken aback by Greg’s confrontation. For the first time, someone made Rose look introspectively, which is healthy boundary setting, but unfortunately, when Rose begins to question herself and recognize her past wrongdoings, Greg admits in Steven’s Dream that he told her that what matters is who she is now, which is not unsound advice, but did not allow for Rose to continue taking personal accountability for the pain she’s inflicted.

 Given the fact that Rose Quartz is an escapist identity Pink Diamond assumed, a small portion of her still cared for the Diamonds, which ultimately caused the fallout between her and a trusted friend–Bismuth. Before Amethyst joined the Crystal Gems, Bismuth was a prominent member of Rose’s entourage. Bismuth, like many gems, was fed into this master narrative of the Diamond Authority without questioning Rose Quartz herself. Eager to end the war and tear down their oppressive establishment, Bismuth presented Rose the “Breaking Point”, which was a weapon meant to shatter the Diamonds; it was viewed as a “radical solution” and because Rose still felt an instinctual and complicated attachment to the Diamonds, as seen in victims of childhood trauma, she fought Bismuth and “bubbled” her, vowing to never speak of her again (until Bismuth was unbubbled by Steven in Bismuth). Silencing Bismuth was one of Rose’s/Pink’s worst moments and does qualify her under the abusive category because she deceived Bismuth, and the rest of the Crystal Gems, on who she really was. The argument for her abusive behavior is added onto when looking at the case of Spinel.

First debuting in the Steven Universe Movie, Spinel was made to be Pink Diamond’s coping mechanism, but as we know in Week 12: Interpersonal Violence, not all coping mechanisms are effective. Shortly after harming Pink Pearl and before receiving a colony, Pink Diamond fell into a depressive episode. Instead of assisting Pink in managing her emotions, the Diamonds gave her a Spinel, or an entertainer, as a gift. For a while, Pink enjoyed Spinel’s company, but had little regard for her, as eventually Pink received her own colony and new Pearl, causing her to only consider her own emotions and momentarily conform as a ruler as a means of survival and satisfying the desires of her parents (again, whenever she attempted to self-express, she was thrown into an almost-windowless tower or berated). Pink Diamond did not want to outright hurt Spinel, so she tricked the unknowing gem into “playing a game” for 6,000 years, or the entirety of Steven Universe post-Pink Diamond’s “shattering”. This abandonment was prior to Pink Diamond witnessing Garnet’s fusion in The Answer, so she truly believed gems other than Diamonds had no intellect or free will, aside from their basic programming. Despite Pink’s desire to spare Spinel from harm, and belief that Spinel could not be harmed, Spinel developed severe abandonment and attachment issues, vowing to harm the Earth and kill Steven. Eventually, Steven learns to understand Spinel’s backstory and talk out the situation (his main go-to method of healing and resolving conflict), which in itself magnifies the major issue fans have with Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz: they believe Rose Quartz created Steven as her scapegoat, which couldn’t be further from the truth..

Yes, throughout the events of Steven Universe, Steven unjustly had to deal with the repercussions of Pink Diamond’s actions, almost to the point of death on several occasions, but to say that fixing her mistakes was Steven’s purpose misconstrues who Rose Quartz became and why she had Steven in the first place. From what we know in Greg the Babysitter, Rose Quartz loved humans and envied their ability to change and grow up; she believed that was the greatest power of all. In both a selfish and selfless act, Rose gave up her physical form so that she could make something new and good out of her life on Earth. Given her lack of confidence in herself and self-hatred, Rose truly believed Steven could love her family in a way in which she never knew how because he was a “fresh start”. Rose would not have had steven if she knew the threat of Homeworld and the Diamonds was still imminent, hence her decision to settle down with Greg and record Steven a loving goodbye message in Lion 3: Straight to Video. We can also cite Rose’s consciousness as evidence that she did not have Steven so she could avoid her problems; in Storm in the Room, Steven challenges the contentious belief of Rose having him so he can deal with her problems. Because Rose gave up her physical form, but not consciousness, she was able to manifest to Steven in their room and rejected his insecurities by affirming that she did love him as everything in her tape to Steven was true. While I personally don’t agree with Steven accepting the fact that he does have to deal with her issues, it goes along with the show’s underlying theme of attempting to break the generational trauma cycle. Regardless of whether or not Steven was born, we see in The Return, The Cluster, and Reunited, the Diamonds were planning on destroying Earth from the inside out with a planted time bomb deep within the Earth’s mantle, and if that failed to work, personally deal with the remaining gems themselves. In this case, because Steven was unlike his mother and focused on confronting his issues head on, valued self-love and established healthy boundaries, he was able to save Earth and dismantle the Diamond Authority and their imperialist empire, something Pink Diamond was unable to do in her lifetime. 

To conclude, Pink Diamond was a deeply flawed individual that was an unintentional, self-fulfilling prophecy; she harmed the ones she cared for, but had done so in a way that evades responsibility and accountability–assuming a new identity. Her careless and inconsiderate nature formed because of the ACEs she had endured from the Diamond Authority, resulting in a deep level of self-hatred that fueled a civil war between her people and family. Not to mention, her unfinished business unjustly transferred onto Steven, but to her credit, Rose truly did not anticipate her past coming back to Steven–she did not anticipate much of the future without seeking advice from others. While her troubled upbringing is an explanation as to why Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz lied to and inflicted pain on others, including herself, it is not an excuse. Even though Pink Diamond was struggling to voice herself to the Diamonds, she could have taken accountability by being open about her past with the Crystal Gems before having Steven. However, despite her unhealthy behavior, Pink Diamond was not an active abuser as we must consider the entire context. Pink Diamond most closely resembles an unhealed victim of ACEs that struggled with identity issues, self-worth, and unhealthy views of the world around her, but tried handling the situations in her life the ways she knew how. 

Sources: 

(the rest of the sources were for my assignment and relating to my school)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zqn56rVWAoy-UjwDDSWrk-ydTmvNFJri2mitK2kQg9U/edit - Hilary Florido quote source."

[diegosouzalions]

Diego, para você, que outra teoria você acha que as diamantes crescem? Aquela teoria que elas crescem conforme colonizam nunca foi realmente confirmada (mas faz bastante sentido), mas você acredita em outra?

Eu estou meio a meio nessa teoria, o que me faz acreditar que as Diamonds crescem são de acordo com que os episódios vão passando

Em "Jungle Moon", por exemplo, mostra que Pink tinha a mesma altura que a Stevonnie

Também é notável que Yellow ficou maior comparada a altura que teve na sua estreia

Eu sei que podem ser erros, mas eu ainda gosto de pensar nessa possibilidade (e seria uma boa alternativa para a crewniverse justificar os erros, caso forem)

[introvert-celeste]

Unpopular opinion but I would have liked to see more of Pink Diamond at her brattiest, like the memory of her and Yellow from Jungle Moon.

[thewoollyviking]

Ok, I saw another post that basically compared Rose to Omniman again and it’s still bothering me that crap like that keeps showing up.

But I think I wanna channel my annoyance into a post because of something I wanna bring up.

You see, the big thing that bothers me about this comparison is that Rose… is not some “true believer” in Homeworld’s supremacy or vision for the universe like Omniman initially is of the Viltrumite Empire.

Seriously, I encourage you! Go back and watch any episode that showed Rose when she was still Pink Diamond. Is there ever a moment where she says something that comes off as reinforced propaganda?

Like is there a moment where she’s like “White has some really great ideas for this new colony!” or anything about serving Homeworld?

There really isn’t. Is there?

Part of it ties into my theory that Rose is most certainly neurodivergent and that one of the ways it’s showing itself is by way of Rose feeling removed from the social norms.

In fact, Rose doesn’t seem to hold really any value in the typical Homeworld customs…

For instance, remember in “Now We’re Only Falling Apart”? Rose describes the salute that Pearl and basically call gems must greet their Diamond with as being “dumb” and is elated to be in a situation where she doesn’t have tk

And in “Jungle Moon”, she seems to be completely naive to how a Diamond is meant to organize the formation of a colony.

There’s also her reaction to the truth regarding how colonies affect their host planets.

“We aren’t creating life from nothing, we’re taking life and leaving nothing behind.”

Rose was never conditioned to see organic life as something lesser. Something that is deeply entrenched in White’s mind.

i imagine that was likely what made Rose such a hassle for the Diamonds. Because she didn’t pop out of the ground with the same knowledge or biases that they shared.

And they clearly didn’t even want to bother teaching her, as seen with Yellow. As if she’s looking to Rose and thinking “you should just KNOW this!” and getting angry over this little Off-Color Diamond for not being just like her.

Rose never saw herself as some champion for Homeworld or White’s vision. And her desire to have a colony was only out of the belief that having one would mean the Diamonds might treat her like a person instead of an annoying pet.

So with all that being said, I think it’s really reductive to compare her to somebody who was so dogmatically devoted to their empire that they nearly beat their son to death.

I don’t care if it’s for a stupid meme, I don’t care if you think it’s funny. It literally misses the point for why Rose DIDN’T end up like that and it’s really fucking annoying because I feel like this fandumb is getting their impression of Rose entirely from memes like this without ever watching an episode of the show.

[sullina]

it's been idek how many years (10ish?) and I'm still in absolute awe at how they decided to do the "Rose was Pink Diamond" reveal

They could've done it in a less convoluted way by something like Pearl, instead of saying it, just drawing or writing it on paper (if that would've even been a possible workaround to PDs command), but instead they decided to peel back the layers that are Pearls past, quite literally, and how Pearl felt about Rose in every memory Steven went through.

Pearl loved Rose and was dependent on her. Not just emotionally, but also on a deeper level. On homeworld, a pearls purpose is solely to serve other gems, not to be in charge of anything, least of all themselves.

At first, out Pearl was the same, but Pink Diamond was the one who was different, treating a simple pearl as a person, not like a glorified secretary.

Pink Diamond herself was also different, obviously. At first, she wanted to be like the other diamonds: equal to them and in charge of her own colony, for them to stop treating her like a little kid.

But as soon as she got that, she realized that "wait... this is not what i wanted...". I don't remember which episode it's from, but the whole reason Pink Diamond was so excited to have her own colony is because they were "creating life from nothing", until she realized that what they were actually doing was "taking life, and leaving nothing behind".

Pink Diamond didn't want a soulless army that followed her every command. She wanted real connections with others. Any gem that wasn't a diamond would give her the same, soulless "yes, my diamond" if she were to so much as look at them, and the diamonds themselves often disregarded anything she did as childish antics and often punished her when she didn't behave like they thought a diamon a should behave (mainly regal and soulless).

In just about every single flashback we see of Pink Diamond and the other diamonds, the interaction is bad in some way.

On the jungle moon, Pink just wanted to hang out with Yellow, have some fun, but Yellow pushed her aside like she was a child. Pink blew a fuse and insisted she was a diamond too. Upon Yellow telling her to "act like it", Pink stomped off and smashed a glass panel, where we can then see just how angry she was.

Then, when Pink finally got the earth as her first colony, after deciding that she didn't want to hollow it out and leave it a barren wasteland, Blue and Yellow insisted she finish was she started, not listening to her at all. Instead, they built a human zoo. Blue even told Pink she didn't have to do anything, just exist, and the colony would be finished. (Hence why Pink decided to make it look like she was shattered. It's not that she ran away, really, it's that this was the only way to do what she wanted, which was to save the earth and live on it, with Pearl, and all the humans, who weren't absolutely subservient to her)

Then in the last season, we see Blue actually imprison Pink for releasing some centipede things at one of her balls. Steven and Connie were only imprisoned for a few days, but who knows for how long Pink was imprisoned at a time? The diamonds are nigh-timeless beings, Pink could've been imprisoned for several years, decades, centuries, maybe even millenia at a time. Just existing in a dark room, in total isolation, for the sole crime of not fitting the mold that was picked out for her.

Being a diamond was just... not in Pinks nature. Running a colony was apparently just sitting around and doing a whole bunch of nothing, but that wasn't Pinks style.

She wanted to go down to earth, see her own colony with her own eyes. But that's not what a diamond should do, and i can imagine that Pink thought Blue and Yellow would take her colony away as soon as they got to know that she wasn't behaving properly (like a diamond), and probably punish her again.

But instead of being on her own, she now had a pearl. Our Pearl, who was "supposed to make her happy" (in Pearls own words), and how do you make a diamond who doesn't want to be a diamond happy? You help her not be a diamond!

Pink became not-a-diamond for the first time, and also for the first time, had a real interaction with another gem. That little "welcome to earth!" she said to that one quartz soldier was such a small thing, but to Pink, it was probably the first interaction with another gem as an equal.

And by equal, i mean something that didn't have to listen to her, and that she didn't have to listen to. They were all diamonds, but Blue and Yellow could still tell her "no" and punish her. All other gems were subservient to her as a diamond, saluting to her and ending every sentence with a "yes, my/pink diamond".

Pink Diamond could not be happy, be it as Pink or as a diamond.

Of course she would leave Blue and Yellow and White to go and be with Pearl, a gem considered so low in the gem hierarchy that many considered them to be glorified decorations (mentioned by Peridot when they conceptualized the drill).

Pink Diamond, now Rose Quartz, broke out of the mold she could never fit, and so inspired Pearl to do the same. As much as she could, anyway, with Pink Rose still being there.

In the movie, when Pearl and the others were reset by Spinels rejuvenator, we see Pearl take on the same form she had in the flashback on the moon base where her and Pink went down to earth for the first time.

It's possible that Pink Diamond was the first and only gem that Pearl has ever served. And with gems not having a natural end of life (shattering isn't a natural end, it's murder), it's possible that pearls are only "deployed", so to speak, for one gem given specifically to them. They're not "reused", to hopefully make it more understandable.

Meaning, Pink Diamond and then Rose Quartz, was the only gem Pearl had ever known on a more intimate level, and likely built her entire personal identity around her.

So when Rose decided to have a baby, Pearl was utterly distraught, not only because Pearl loved her, but because Rose was also her entire reason to exist, her entire life was centered around Rose.

Pearl asking "What am I going to do without her?" under tears was not just her being sad she would lose someone she loved, but also in a more literal sense. Pearl didn't know who she was outside of Rose, because she straight up just wasn't someone. Without Rose, Pearl was little more than a pearl without a master, without a reason for existing.

Rose having a baby wouldn't have been possible if the diamonds hadn't retaliated against Rose and the rebellion (thus leaving the earth alone in the belief that there were no more rebels), if Pearl hadn't taken on Roses form to shatter Pink Diamond, if Pearl hadn't agreed to Roses plan, if- if Pearl had never fallen for her diamond.

In the scene where Pearl, as Rose, shatters Pink diamond, Pearl is crying.

Pink is no more.

Pearl shattered her.

The one who came back was no longer Pink, but Rose.

Everything would be different.

And perhaps it was.

But in the end, Pearl only swapped one master for another.

Pearls purpose was still the same, to make Pink Rose happy, except this time the command came from herself instead of another diamond. Pearls existence was still centered around Pink Rose. She bore another name and purpose, but it was still the same gem.

But when Rose had a baby and Steven was born, that is when Pink Rose finally and truly died. There was no turning back. Steven was Steven, not just another form of Pink Diamond or Rose.

Rose was gone.

And who was Pearl without Rose?

[realpinkdiamondsstuff]

Imagine being told for all your life, by the people that you love and look up to, that every gem has a purpose they were specifically created for, that they had to fulfill in order to live in society, and those who didnt were worthless, because all your worth is tied into you doing your job. And these people who told you that are the same as you: you are next to them on murals, on emblems, gems bow to you like they do to them. And so, you start to really want to do their job, because they are like you, and you want to impress them and recieve their validation. Not only that, but you want to simply do your job, as you were created to do, you have to fulfill your purpose. But you can't do it, they wont let you, because you're too little, too lighthearted, too naive, and soon you learn how little they truly think of you. You can only smile and wave and look pretty and hold little princess balls, for basically forever. You soon learn that you dont matter, and you cant do anything. This truly drives home how Pink self hatred probably started, as she was constantly in this state of limbo where she was treated like a diamond by everybody else, so no emotional intimacy, but she wasnt actually a diamond, because no one would give her the chance to grow and act like one, so she'd feel useless and a waste of space. Thinking like this, the scene on Jungle Moon with Yellow truly hurts more(I'm just as important as you! Then why don't you act like it, Pink?). Thats why also, as soon as she started the Rebellion, she told people that they were more than what they were created for, as she'd been trapped in that cage herself. And its important to remember this, as capytalism ties our worth to our productivity. Send post

[fae-sodapop]

Manifesting Pink diamond from Jungle Moon, I love her so much.

Screenshot edit! Going to be honest got a bit lazy with the background---

Don't ask me why I latched on to her so much, I'm not sure. I like her color palette w/ the softer pinks.

[rosaq]

When I think of Pink and Rose, I always sort of thought of her as a cautionary tale about what can happen when you have really dangerously low self esteem. And also the environment that can create that situation and the toxicity that can emerge from that environment.

—Rebecca Sugar, Q&A The Art of Steven Universe

[Image description] Five gifs of Steven Universe scenes lined up one after another.

The first gif is a close-up of Rose Quartz’s face from the episode “Now We are Only Falling Apart”. She seems sorrowful and her eyes glisten as she speaks. The yellow subtitles say: “When I think of Pink and Rose,”

The second gif shows Pink Diamond’s profile side with her head down. It’s the from episode “Can’t Go Back”. Only her dark outline is visible against a very light background; there are no details, she’s merely a shadow. She raises her head and opens her mouth to say something, looking up to Blue Diamond. Blue is out of frame. She immediately interrupts Pink by lifting her much larger hand in front of Pink’s face, which is the only visible part of Blue’s body (her hand is twice as big as Pink’s face). Pink pauses and lowers her head again, looking down at the ground. The yellow subtitles say: “I always sort of thought of her as a cautionary tale”

The third gif is from “Change Your Mind”. It shows Pink Diamond looking up to someone who’s beyond the frame. She’s in the tower the Diamonds would lock her in when they wanted to punish her. Her facial expression is sad, regretful. She lowers her head and closes her eyes. A single tear falls from her right eye. She opens her eyes again, looking down at the ground. The subtitles say: “about what can happen when you have really dangerously low self esteem.”

The fourth gif shows Stevonnie dressed in Pink Diamond’s clothes in the episode “Together Alone”. One of Yellow Diamond’s hand hold them by the middle of their body, lifting them up from the ground and taking them out of frame. The frame goes black and then the shape of light pouring out of a opening door is visible on the ground. Stevonnie is brusquely thrown on said ground. The subtitles say: “And also the environment that can create that situation”

The fifth gif starts with a close-up of Stevonnie’s hand in the “Jungle Moon” flashback. There is a mirror in front of them and their reflection shows Pink Diamond instead of Stevonnie. Their hand is clenched in fist as it trembles. Then the frames pulls out to show Pink’s reflection in the mirror in its entirety; at first, her face is shadowed. She pulls her arm back and punches the mirror, shattering her own reflection. Her face becomes visible: her teeth is bared in a snarl and her brows are furrowed in anger. It’s an ugly, raw expression. The subtitles say: “and the toxicity that can emerge from that environment.” [End ID]

[mayamidnightmelody]

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars twinkle like distant diamonds and the void of space is a canvas of infinite possibilities, a lone rocket ship glides silently. Its sleek, silver hull reflects the glow of a nearby moon, casting an ethereal light over an alien landscape below. This is a place where adventure thrives and danger lurks in every shadow.

Captain Jack Daniels, a seasoned astronaut, crouched behind a cluster of alien mushrooms, his ray gun aimed steadily at a formidable foe. His space suit, a pristine white accented with dark straps and equipment, clung to his muscular frame, designed for both protection and mobility. The suit’s material, stretched taut across his body, emphasized his athletic build. Through the transparent visor of his helmet, his eyes, sharp and focused, tracked the movements of the reptilian behemoth before him.

The creature was a sight to behold: a towering, dinosaur-like alien with blue, spotted skin that shimmered under the moonlight. Its red eyes glowed with a menacing intelligence, and its maw opened to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. Draped in a regal red robe adorned with golden accessories, the alien exuded an air of barbaric nobility, a king in its own right.

In one of its massive, clawed hands, it held Lieutenant Sarah Blake, a fellow astronaut. Her own white space suit was dirtied from the struggle, but her spirit remained unbroken. She kicked and struggled, her eyes filled with defiance, even as the alien aimed its own ray gun at Captain Daniels. Her suit, too, was impossibly tight, outlining every curve of her body and highlighting her strength and determination.

Lying prone in the foreground, another figure added to the drama. Clad in a golden bikini and skirt that sparkled against her tan skin, the woman appeared to be a captive or perhaps a recent victim of the alien’s wrath. Her long, red hair spread out like a halo around her head, and her expressive eyes flicked between the battling forces, hope mingled with fear. Her near-nudity, a stark contrast to the high-tech gear of the astronauts, added a layer of sensuality and vulnerability to the scene.

“Hold on, Sarah!” Captain Daniels shouted, his voice steady despite the tension. He adjusted his grip on the ray gun, taking careful aim at the alien’s weapon.

The alien hissed, its eyes narrowing as it shifted its gaze between its captives and the determined astronaut. It bared its teeth in a grimace, revealing more of its terrifying fangs, and tightened its grip on Sarah. The tension was palpable, a high-stakes standoff in an alien jungle filled with towering, pink-flowered trees and bioluminescent fungi.

Above them, the sky was a tapestry of celestial wonders. A massive moon, pockmarked with craters, dominated the horizon, while countless stars dotted the blackness. Among them, strange, colorful planets hung like ornaments, adding to the surreal beauty of the scene.

A silver rocket ship, sleek and futuristic, hovered in the distance, tethered to one of the pink-flowering trees. It was a beacon of hope and a reminder of the technological marvels that had brought the astronauts to this alien world.

In a sudden burst of movement, Captain Daniels fired his ray gun. The beam of energy sizzled through the air, striking the alien’s weapon with pinpoint accuracy. Sparks flew, and the creature roared in pain and fury, dropping its gun and loosening its grip on Sarah.

Seizing the moment, Sarah wrenched herself free and landed a swift kick to the alien’s midsection. She somersaulted away, rolling to safety beside Captain Daniels. Together, they trained their weapons on the now weaponless alien, ready for whatever came next.

“Nice shot,” Sarah panted, her breath coming in quick bursts. Captain Daniels flashed a brief, tense smile.

“Let’s get back to the ship,” he replied, keeping his eyes on the alien, which was now retreating, nursing its wounded pride and weapon. “We’ve got what we came for.”

The two astronauts moved quickly, helping the woman in the golden bikini to her feet. She was shaky but unharmed, and she clung to Sarah as they made their way toward the waiting rocket ship.

As they hurried through the alien jungle, Sarah noticed the woman’s delicate condition. Her attire, or lack thereof, was not suitable for the harsh environment. Without hesitation, Sarah offered her own jacket, providing some modesty and protection.

Al Williamson and the Raypunk Genre This tale, filled with daring heroes, menacing aliens, and exotic worlds, is the essence of raypunk—a subgenre of science fiction that captures the retro-futuristic visions of the mid-20th century. Raypunk stories are characterized by their imaginative and often whimsical depictions of advanced technology, space travel, and alien encounters, all infused with a nostalgic charm. Raypunk and planetary romance frequently feature tropes such as daring rescues of damsels in distress, sensuous elements, and the ever-present danger and excitement of alien worlds. The aesthetic is heavily influenced by the pulp magazines and early comic books of the time, with an emphasis on vibrant colors, dramatic action, and exotic settings. Al Williamson, the artist behind the scene described above, was a master of this genre. Known for his detailed and expressive illustrations, Williamson’s work often blended realism with the fantastical, making him a perfect fit for raypunk. His dynamic compositions, meticulous attention to detail, and strong sense of storytelling brought these otherworldly adventures to life. Williamson’s art was heavily influenced by the pulp magazines, early comic books, and serial films of his time. His illustrations defined the visual language of raypunk, influencing not only comic books but also films and television. Through his work, Williamson captured the excitement and wonder of space exploration, the thrill of encountering the unknown, and the timeless appeal of heroic adventure. In conclusion, Al Williamson’s raypunk artwork is a vivid reminder of a genre that continues to inspire and captivate. His illustrations are more than just pictures—they are stories that transport us to distant worlds, invite us to join daring adventures, and remind us of the boundless possibilities of the imagination. The sensuality, the peril, and the tight suits are all part of a tapestry that celebrates both the human form and the extraordinary potential of futuristic storytelling.

[faelapis]

man. jungle moon was so robbed at the emmys. but you have to watch the show to get it, yknow? once you see it as the incredible gut-punch kickstarting the pink diamond arc with all its symbolism, especially regarding the universality of parent-child conflict beyond being a "human" or "gem" or both. im still kinda stunned it didnt win. at least the background artist won.

[soups-princess]

i remember laughing the first time i heard the “rose quartz is pink diamond theory”

i adored the girl who told me about it & so i didn’t really say anything in response, i.e., how i felt about it. i didn’t believe her, but cool theory, you know?

bismuth didn’t exactly address the theory, but it kind of gave me closure. i was extra confident in the fact that it just wasn’t true. she said that rose was made on earth. without actually saying, “rose wasn’t pink diamond” it was kind of like a “hey, there’s no reason to think that she is.” then, there was your mother & mine where people were like, is there anything we need to know? if there’s something we need to know, this conversation will definitely clear things up. i thought it did. that lasted just a few episodes.

but then time went on & i kept thinking back to the theory. mind you, i didn’t think rose was pink until i actually saw it with my own eyes, but i became aware of some of the hints and i thought i was going crazy for thinking those were hints. things were like that for awhile, which was absolutely okay to me. reveals like that take some time. & that’s okay. i was in no rush to get to a single pale rose. heck, i needed some time to mentally prepare myself for the possibility (which i thought was very unlikely). if i had found out within like, a week of even hearing the idea, i’d be so, so nervous.

i think i was also just scared of what might happen if it was true. if rose was pink. not that i didn’t like pink. i loved pink since jungle moon, but i was so scared that the reveal would potentially hurt rose’s character. and i loved her character. i was scared of how things might change, how one of my favourite dynamics ever might change. she’s so special to me, and what if there’s drama? i felt like i’d… lose her, possibly. of course, there were some difficult moments but at the end of the day, i love rose and pink and the depth it adds to her story. i still had rose, but now i also had something else, and that something else took time to process but it was never ever a bad thing, it was just a different and special thing.

i don’t know that girl anymore. she was from my middle school; she had dyed purple hair and glasses and she was very good at writing. i got shy to talk to her and even be close friends with her because she was just so cool. she was one of those nerdy kids who’s also really cool and confident? anyway, she’s probably laughing at me now. i had no idea that her crazy theory would be correct.

[kitakami-kid]

wish i had the time, skill, and equipment to animate. i wanna animate kieran over that steven universe scene where pink diamond punches a mirror in jungle moon