[Video/Action] The Return

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[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

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[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. ]

[agemofchange]

[After giving that violet a big kiss...]

Oh, so that's what you mean! [He says with a sheepish chuckle as he rubs at his head.]

Well, I could spit on them, but that would look mean. I might as well help them get better in a gentle way! [Her voice does sound familiar, so he glances back towards her.] You're... Ange, right?

[entreats]

Yeah.

[ She nods, not seeming too surprised by him recognizing her, despite him not immediately registering in her own mind in turn. ]

And you.. [ Ange pauses, like she's trying to recall a name, but.. nope, apparently that's not happening. This is what happens when you're not exactly socially capable, there's oddly few names you remember. Clearly that just means she has to pretend like she was never trying to remember whether or not she knows his name to begin with. ] ..'ve been here before.

[ Smooth, Ange. ]

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I sure have been! [He responds enthusiastically as he climbs to his feet and dusts himself off. The flower bed seems fine enough for now! He doesn't seem to mind her awkward pause or what it implies.]

It's me, Steven Universe. Iiii think we met that one time when we thought we were in the afterlife? You really loved your cat!

[entreats]

[ That detail seems to do a lot more to find the appropriate memory of when she met him. Because the cat thing? That was ridiculous.

Ange's expression says as much. She looks like she just smelled something really disgusting. ]

Right. The cat. [ Why is this her life. ] I'm actually not that much of a cat person, so I guess we'll have to make an entirely new first impression of each other now.

[agemofchange]

[He smiles mischievously and shrugs in response.]

I guess they don't always cat-ch on with everybody! [Then he chortles a little before he goes on.]

Alright, alright. Let's make this an official first meeting now. [He waves happily.] Hi there! I'm Steven Quartz Universe, and I just kissed a bunch of flowers back to life! Pleased to meet you! [He tentatively extends a hand for a handshake.]

[entreats]

[ This is definitely getting progressively more ridiculous. But Ange wouldn't be Ange if she didn't somehow just end up rolling with said ridiculousness regardless. So after a moment she ends up grabbing the hand anyway while maanging to let out only a small sigh. ]

I'm Ange Ushiromiya, and I actually don't really like cats all that much. [ If they have to share a random fact about themselves!! ]

I'd say it's nice to meet you [ see, she's even trying to be polite.. trying! ] but I'm pretty sure most people would be better off just being home.

[agemofchange]

[Steven chuckles a little, while giving a hearty handshake.]

Well, yeah. At the end of the day, home's really where I want to be. But that doesn't make meeting new people any less nice! I'm happy to meet or re-meet you either way, Ange. ...I hope Wonderland hasn't been too hard on you!

[entreats]

It's actually been better than back home for me in some ways, believe it or not.

[ Not that it's very difficult for any place to be better than where she came from. In fact, it's such a low bar that even "hey look random dinosaurs and zombies, enjoy!" Wonderland is managing to pass it. ]

.. Will you be okay here though? [ He's obviously still younger than her, even if he's not some super small child. ] Or do you have some secret magical superpowers?

[ Listen, that's most of the population here, she would not be surprised. ]

[agemofchange]

Oh. [He frowns, thrown off to hear Wonderland coming out on top over her home world. He hopes things aren't too bad for her back home...] W-well then, I'm glad this place is good for you!

[And then, he shakes his head.]

Sorry, no secret magical superpowers here. [He then smiles cheekily and chuckles.] Just ones that I'm very open about! You don't have to worry, Ange. I have enough powers going on to take care of myself.

[entreats]

I'm not worried.

[ Without missing a single beat. Hell, she almost cuts him off before he's even done talking, like she just has to make sure this much is clear that desperately. Ange? Nice? Worrying about others? Clearly all of it is false!

(She's not very convincing.) ]

I'm just making sure you aren't going to cause unnecessary trouble for the rest of us. [ Clearly that's all! ]

[agemofchange]

[Steven chuckles at her denial, and he smiles wryly. It doesn't seem like she's quite convinced him.]

Suuure you're not! [He says with his arms crossed.] Orrr you're just trying to deny an unnecessarily awesome friendship!

[entreats]

[ Oh boy.

One of these types.

Granted, in the long run it's definitely better for Ange when other people force friendship upon her, since she never grants it herself that easily otherwise, but in the short term all she can truly think is "oh boy". ]

Isn't it a little early to call it "awesome" already?

[agemofchange]

I dunno. [He mildly shrugs his shoulders.] I have a good feeling about this one! It'll be fine, Ange. Just let the friendship train go a-chugging along!

[entreats]

Fine.

[ She feels like resisting isn't going to do much here anyway. Might as well just.. unenthusiastically go along with the stream, right? ]

Let's just make sure it doesn't chug right off a cliff.

[agemofchange]

[Steven chuckles and bats a hand at the air.]

Aw, we don't have to worry about that. ...I can float, and also make a protective bubble!

[entreats]

[ A protective bubble? Not the kind of power she expected, but then again, maybe it does kind of suit him from what she's seen so far.

In fact.. well, he made some of those corny puns before, so look, Ange will put some effort into this.. "friendship train" here as well. ]

To suit your bubbly personality? [ It lacks the impact though when she says it with her kind of face.. ]

[agemofchange]

[A grin spreads across Steven's face in response to that joke.]

You got jokes! [He declares happily.] And you're bringing 'em out just in our second first conversation! See? I think we're off to a great start, Ange!

[entreats]

Just don't expect too much more where that came from.

[ Unless it's deadpan jokes. Those are the ones she's got in spades. But at least him looking so happy kind of makes that pun feel worth it.

Just slightly. ]

I'll see you around then, Steven.

[agemofchange]

Understood! You don't have to worry about bursting my bubble if you hold back on the jokes! [He says with a wink. You brought this upon yourself, Ange.]

Seeya, Ange! It was really great meeting you again!

[entreats]

[ She totally brought this upon herself. The way she sighs even seems to acknowledge as much - she's just resigned to it now. ]

Yeah. Sure.

[ Not the most enthusiastic way to say bye, but there's some good intentions behind it! Mostly! It's just hard for Ange to display it on the outside.

With a slight wave of her hand, she continues her walk. ]

[agemofchange]

[Blame your fate! Steven waves enthusiastically at her as she leaves, even if she isn't looking. He'll keep it up until he's out of sight... and then it's time to make sure there aren't any other flowers in need of mouth-to-mouth!]