[Video/Action] The Return

[agemofchange]

[Action]

[Steven finds himself quite literally dropped back into Wonderland.

Specifically, he falls into a patch of flowers in the garden. He quickly panics as he notices the flowers he's inadvertantly crushed.]

Whoops! I- I got this! [With that, he starts to... kiss each crushed flower individually. But with each kiss, there's a sparkling effect, and the flower is restored back to perfect condition.

After a few of those, he freezes up as it finally hits him.]

...Wonderland. I'm back in Wonderland!

[One can find him while he's fixing up those flowers in the garden, or while he's on his way back to the mansion in search of his friends.]

[Video]

[And eventually he'll make contact over the network. He beams at the video feed and speaks.]

Hello, Wonderland? This is Steven... Steven Universe! Remember me? Because I sure remember you! [A confused blink.] Am I supposed to remember you? ...Well, I do anyway! I guess I'm here again. It's... kinda been a few years for me back home, since the time that I was last here. Anyone know how long I've been gone in Wonderland time? What's been happening - solve any more mysteries? How... has everyone been doing, in general? I'm - okay, I wish I was back home, but it's still nice to be here!

Comments

( video )

[idolings]

Hello Steven. From what I've been told, people have been remembering their memories of their previous time here in Wonderland, myself included.

[ As much as she wants to say 'don't worry' she's still confused and a bit concerned on the whole matter. ]

It's nice to meet you, though. I don't believe we met last time I was here but my name is Sayaka Maizono.

( video )

[agemofchange]

So it's not just me then. That is weird... but I guess I've seen weirder. Do you know if there's any reason why it's happening, or... is just happening?

[He shrugs meekly.]

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've never met you before. It's good to meet you, Sayaka! How's... Wonderland been? [How does one talk casually in a place like this.]

( video )

[idolings]

I'm sorry but I'm afraid I don't. From what people have told me, it's a recent thing that started happening to people who come back.

[ She's still not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. ]

Wonderland has been... alright so far. It's the same as I remembered. I've been back for about a little over a week and so far there hasn't been any events yet.

( video )

[agemofchange]

Huh! Sounds like Wonderland's really starting to change things up! I'm glad you haven't had to deal with an event yet.

But since this is Wonderland, it shouldn't be long until one comes along. ...Unless that changed too!

TEXT

[tetractys]

WELL WELL WELL, JUST IN TIME FOR THE FIREWORKS! ALL THIS IS LEADING UP TO SOMETHING, IF YOU ASK ME.

TEXT

[agemofchange]

I do love fireworks! But I have a feeling you don't mean the literal kind. :P

So you think something big's gonna happen? Like what?

TEXT

[tetractys]

I COULD INVOLVE EXPLOSIVES!

LAST WE CHECKED IN ON QUEENIE, SHE'S GOT ALL THREE VORPAL ITEMS! AND THE JABBERWOCK IS ALIVE! THEY'RE GOING TO CLASH, AND WE'RE SCREWED EITHER WAY IT ENDS IF YOU ASK ME!

Video

[teamfun]

[Holy shit, Steven has a neck!!!]

Steve-O! You're back! I mean... I'm pretty sure things are going to hell in a handbasket pretty damn quickly so you've probably come back at the worst time, but it's still pretty fucking awesome to see you.

You got bigger! Peri didn't mention that part. [Because of course she didn't. ]

Video

[agemofchange]

[NECK HAS BEEN DISCOVERED]

Louis!! [He cries out excitedly, a bright smile on his face. It feels like forever since I've seen him.] It's so great to see you again! [Then, carrying the same tone over:] But the timing sounds so much less great!

[He blinks as he thinks over the last things he said.]

Yep, I'm finally a growing boy! Wait, what about Peridot?

Video

[teamfun]

[He's so proud of you and your neck, Buddy!]

Likewise! You, Good Sir, have been very much missed. And I guess puberty had to catch up to you eventually.

[He snorts.]

She came back from home not too long ago- talked about you guys winning that battle against Homeworld and whatnot. She didn't mention you'd got older.

action

[honeybadgered]

[Gabby hasn't been here very long, so this is her first time running into Steven. She gives him a very skeptical look as she watches him.]

Are you... making out with flowers?

action

[agemofchange]

[He looks up sheepishly.]

Wh-what? No, it's more like feel-better kisses! See? [He pecks one crumpled daisy, which sparkles as it returns to its original glory. Totally normal!]

action

[honeybadgered]

Oh. Cool.

[Gabby leans in to examine the flower.]

Does that work on everything?

video

[choosetruth]

We found a third side of Wonderland and learned how the White Queen died. Welcome back.

[Her voice is so deadpan it's hard to tell if she's being serious or not.]

video

[agemofchange]

[He does recognize George - that news petson! Serious or not, it's a lot to take in.]

Wait, what? Y-you mean that for real? [He knew that something weird had happened with the White Queen disappearing, but not that she was... gone...]

video

[choosetruth]

I’m not really known for my hilarious jokes.

[Yes, she means it for real.]

And the White Queen we thought had returned was actually the Jabberwock in disguise. So that’s not going to completely fuck us over or anything.

action;

[entreats]

[ Weird things happen in Wonderland. For example, you could be out, just taking an innocent walk through the gardens, only to spot someone kissing flowers.

Sounds like the usual. Sure, it's Ange's specialty to permanently keep her face in lineface mode, but even if she wasn't as good at it as she is, she'd probably still not react much after stopping and looking at Steven. ]

Are you feeling lonely?

[ Be nice to the kid, Ange... ]

action;

[agemofchange]

Huh? [He responds obliviously, while smooching some daffodils back to life.]

Nope, no loneliness here! I mean, it's only a matter of time until I miss my friends and family who aren't here. But for now, I think I'm good.

[The tall boi then spots a violet that's in really rough shape. He puckers up for this one!]

[entreats]

[ She opens her mouth, as if to say something.. but then just keeps quiet and watches him go for that violet instead. Her gaze is still kind of sceptical though. ]

I.. was talking about the thing with the flowers. [ She then finally says after a moment or two. ] Is that really the only way you know how to heal them?

[ Can't people just.. use their hands or something? Ange doesn't know how healing is supposed to work, but if it's a thing he can apparently do that easily, surely there must be a better way. ]

video; 1/2

[slapfight]

[IT'S LAPIS AND PERIDOT. Well, mostly Peridot because if Lapis squeezes in too tightly, she'll lose an eye to her visor.]

Steven! You're back! You've missed so much.

and 2/2

[ssmisery]

[It's true, Peridot's face is a weapon now, not that Lapis minds. She could make it work if she wanted; navigating around the hair has given her a lot of practice.]

And you remember. I'm sorry it took you again, but it's so good to see you.

[This is already a much more earnestly happy greeting than he got first time around. Maybe until Peridot learns he's out of the Shorty Squad.]

[agemofchange]

[Lapis has heeded the proper ad-visory. As for Steven, he smiles brightly to see the two of them again.]

Peridot! Lapis! Oh great, you're still here! ...Well, not great that you're still stuck here, but yes great that I'm happy to see you! [He shrugs.] You know how it is.

...Sooo a lot happened while I was gone?

[He'll never leave the Shorty Squad in his heart.]

[video]

[powerofmabel]

WHOA. Steven! Lookin' sharp, my man. Are you taller? It's hard to see over the phone, but you definitely have a taller vibe. And your voice is deeper than Dipper's now!

[It's really not. They have the same range. Don't be mean, Mabel.]

[video]

[agemofchange]

Mabel!! [He calls out happily.]

Thanks! I guess I might've grown an inch or two, or maybe a lot more than that! [He holds the camera out a little bit to give a better sense of his height. He's a tiny little cartoon boy no more! Also, neck.]

It's really great to see you again! How've you been?

[powerofmabel]

[SO MUCH NECK.]

Great! Grunkle Ford's here, so we got the whole Pines family back! [And then her glee dissipates a bit] ...Bill's also here, but he's apparently on his best behavior, but if you see a yellow triangle guy... Yeah. Don't shake his hand or make any deals or have any serious conversations with him. It's better not to tempt fate, y'know?