Video

[jamminshield]

[The video feed shows what seems to be a small boy hanging around in his room. He waves energetically!]

Hey everyone! My name's Steven. Steven Universe! And I figured it was about time I did another one of these open message thingies. Since... it's been about a year since I got here. [He places a hand on his head and smiles meekly.] Time really flies, huh?

So I think we can all stand to get to know each other better and become friends and stuff! Plus Alice gave me an idea earlier this month... talking about people we miss from home. I know it can be tough stuff, but I think it'll really help to keep our memories of them clear! So let me get this ball rolling by talking about Lion! [With that, he holds up a drawing of a big pink lion.] I guess he's the mane event? ...That's right! Back home, I have a pet lion. He can be kinda difficult sometimes... a lot of the time... but he really loves me! He has special powers and a pocket dimension in his mane, too. [A beat.] I should probably also mention that I have powers too, 'cause I'm part-gem!

Now it's your turn! Tell me stuff about yourself, or people you know, or ask me questions about my stuff, or just turn in your applications for friendship. [A beat.] Orrr all of the above?

Comments

Video

[teamfun]

Well. I'd be lion if I said I wasn't impressed. I mean, I'm genuinely tickled pink by your friend there. He really sounds like the cat's pyjamas.

[Louis grins, firing some choice fingerguns at the screen. He'll be mostly avoiding the weird idea that a lion has a pocket dimension in his mane, because that's a little too high on the Insanity Scale for him to deal with in one sitting.]

Part-gem, huh? Does that mean you know Peridot?

[He takes a moment to ponder, because honestly he misses all his people back home. They're his family and he feels more than a touch guilty that he has a relatively easy life here while they're at best struggling to get by and are at worse super dead. ]

I got a lot of folks back home I miss. There's Violet! She's got this whole... angsty badass vibe thing going on. But she's one of my favourite people ever. She doesn't have magical hair though, which I realise now is a big tragedy.

[And because Louis will always tick 'all of the above'.]

ANYWAY totally down for turning in friendship applications, Dude. Sign me the heck up.

Video

[jamminshield]

[Steven spends some time giggling at his counter puns and then points some finger-guns at the feed.] Eyyyy, you've got jokes too! I've got a good feline about this!

[Then he nods eagerly.]

Oh, yep! We come from the same world! Orrr, I guess I should say the same universe, since I'm from Earth, and she's from Homeworld... Anyway, the point is we know each other and we're super great friends!

[And he listens attentively as he describes his friend.]

She sounds really cool! I bet she doesn't even need magical hair!

And consider yourself signed up! ...Orrr well, first I need a name to sign up!

Video

[teamfun]

[He grins, always pleased to make anyone laugh.] You better believe it!

So is she usually so...uh. [Anal.] Precise about things? And super blunt about well...everything to do with Wonderland? I got the feeling Triangles isn't really used to talking to people.

[IS SHE ALWAYS LIKE THIS?]

She doesn't, all she needs is her own guts and probably her hatchet.

[He grins, giving a little salute.]

Coolio. The name's Louis. Nice to meetcha.

Video

[jamminshield]

That... sounds like Peridot alright! [He says with a laugh.] You're right. She isn't super used to talking to normal humans. But she's learning! ...Bit by bit.

[And then he salutes right back.]

Welcome aboard, Mr. Louis! It's great to meet you too! It's time for this friendship to set sail!

Video

[teamfun]

I'm sure she'll get there eventually. Every conversation is practise, right?

I think this will be the greatest of voyages. Like those classy cruises, it'll be fancy and fun. Mostly fun.

[And because Peridot mostly confused him about this entire thing.]

So. Gem people, huh? Triangles just blurted a lot of science that didn't make much sense, honestly. What's it like?

video;

[eatsyourscience]

I have a bear that's my friend at home.

[A beat.]

Well, he was a bear. Or an empty bear suit. But then he manifested a human body, so now I guess he's more human than bear.

[jamminshield]

Oooh! That's... kinda weird, but in a cool way! Does your beary good friend have a name?

[eatsyourscience]

His name is Teddie. And also likes making bear puns.

[jamminshield]

I love him already! [Steven chimes excitedly.] I'd join his fan cub in a heartbeat!

Shockingly enough, video

[ssmisery]

[Lapis thinks about this. Defaulting to text is her habit in Wonderland, and not long ago she still probably would have done that as usual without putting much thought into the matter. But it is just a habit, and it's always felt a little awkward when it ends up applying to Steven. There's nothing stopping her from video chatting with him of all people, they did that on Earth just fine once she got used to it. Making exceptions for him is just par for the course anyway.

And then speaking of Earth, the people she misses... well, for the most part, they're here. That's not really a Wonderland thing in her case. But she chose not to tell Steven about her leaving before, and nothing has come up change that since, so she's not about to just up and honestly answer the prompt now.

Anyway, after almost two years here's Lapis's first video post ever, truly a feat befitting the special occasion. She's chilling on the roof and gives the presumed Steven behind the camera a smile.]

I didn't realize it'd been that long either... Or maybe that short. It seems like so much has happened.

Gasp!!

[jamminshield]

[It's nice to have a video chat with Lapis again! It reminds him of home. ...But with less Lion attacking laptops.]

Hey Lapis! [He chimes the greeting sweetly.] Yeah, it feels like just yesterday when I found you two in that weird bathhouse. ...And it also feels like it was a whole other life! Time can be really weird lile that.

Re: Gasp!!

[ssmisery]

[Now there's a trip down somewhat terrible memory lane.]

You know, I still don't get what that one was about. I mean, you missed the part where really annoying copies of ourselves attacked us, but why all the steam?

[jamminshield]

A-actually I did meet a copy of me too... [He says that quietly before quickly moving on, with more energy!] But the steam's a natural part of the bathhouse! Everyone has hot water running for the baths, so it makes lots of steam! And the steam itself can be really relaxing too!

[singloversing]

Friendship application? What would even be on that?

[He sounds more amused than anything though. Sometimes Steven really reminds him of what Greg might be like when he's a little older.

...But then it sinks it what Steven is showing him.]

Wait, wait. Hold on. You seriously have a lion?

[jamminshield]

Well probably your name, a statement of intention to be rad friends, maybe some references...! But you don't have to worry about the paperwork, Wirt. You're preapproved!

[Steven chuckles and nods at his response regarding Lion.] Yep! I would never be lyin' about Lion. Not even for the sake of a pun!

[singloversing]

I guess you wouldn't, since the pun happened anyway. [He did smile at it though, even if it was terrible.] I feel like I probably shouldn't be surprised. Your world is full of magical stuff, so...I guess in that context a magical lion wouldn't be so weird.

Is he really pink though? Or is that like, you taking artistic liberties?

[He could easily see Steven just coloring Lion pink because why not.]

[jamminshield]

Sometimes puns just happen! [He says with a chuckle and a shrug of his shoulders.]

He really is pink!! No artistic liberties here. Most of his fur's a bubblegum pink, while his mane's more of a... cotton candy pink? [After a beat, he does think to add:] ...I think it's my mom who made him that way.

video;

[efficacy]

[ There's so much to unpack in this post, but it's all kind of disarmingly cute. Pepper smiles; she doesn't get many opportunities back home to meet people made of such undisguised earnestness. ]

I don't think I've never heard of applications for friendship before. What's involved?

video;

[jamminshield]

I'm really glad you asked! Let's see... [Steven smiles and makes a big show of stroking his chin in deep thought.]

There's your name. That's the most important part! But some neat facts about you would be cool too, and information about anything you're allergic too, and what you like to do for fun! [A beat] A friendship resume and references are optional!

video;

[powerofmabel]

[hold on she'll get to the point in a minute, but first.]

Ahhhhh! He's so pink! His mane looks like it's made of cotton candy.

video;

[jamminshield]

[Mabel continues to have flawless tastes!]

I know, right?! It's a really comfy mane too, aaand also a portal to another dimension!

video;

[powerofmabel]

His hair is a portal to another dimension? Whaaaat? How does that work?

[She has no idea how she expects Steven to know the answer to that- he knows as much about science as she does, probably, but she's checking her own hair now- just in case.]

video;

[jamminshield]

[Steven gives a shrug.]

Beats me! ...Unless 'weird gem magic' counts as a 'how'? He can also shoot portals and sonic blasts out of his mouth. [A beat.] It was probably my mom who made him magical.

Slid Under Steven's Door (Not here)

[curiousher]

[Alice doesn't reply to the message, even though she's been mentioned by name in the post. However, at some point afterwards, Steven will find that someone slid a piece of paper under his door.

That piece of paper has a crayon drawing on it of a gray tabby cat, and it's labelled Dinah. ♥]

[jamminshield]

[Aw. How cute! Steven can guess who it's from. He looks it over with a smile and then hangs it on a wall. He also hangs up a note next to it, listing all the details Alice knew about Dinah. This could be a memory wall!]