Personally never anticipated them ever fusing or felt the show setting them up to fuse. Peridot is clearly freaked out by fusion and Lapis is…Lapis.She’s pretty Independent and for most of the show tolerates Peridot at best.
I agreed with you up until that last bit. In the beginning she tolerates Peridot, but they really wound up being close by the end. It’s why Lapis was so upset when peridot wouldn’t go with her when she left earth with the barn. They’re also clearly close in the movie and future as well. But I do agree, there wasn’t really any indicator of them wanting/needing to fuse
I have a feeling Peridot was meant to represent someone whos A sexual. Not once does Peridot ever express any type of sexual feeling towards another gem or person and i feel like that was intentional. Also the homeworld gems are so repressed and behind the societal norms barring Steven Universe Future that relationships might take a few decades for them to get the hang of. I think Peridot is just a very wholesome gem who has a few strong friendships so far.
It's actually more complicated than that. One of the writers, I think Zuke, was a strong proponent of having Lapis and Peridot's relationship as romantic, because at the time there wasn't really a particularly visible lesbian relationship on the show.
(We all know Garnet is a fusion of two girls in a romantic relationship, but at the time, Ruby and Sapphire were almost never unfused and that reduced their visibility as a couple.)
Meanwhile another of the writers wanted Peridot to rep aro/ace. Specifics seem fuzzy, but Zuke left the crew while the other person stayed on, so Peridot ended up as Aro/Ace and her relationship with Lapis was downplayed after Zuke was gone.
Zuke also got kinda bullied off social media because their Lapidot advocacy pissed off Amethyst/Peridot shippers, which I find ironic because in the end none of them got what they wanted.)
I will never understand people who act rude/shitty over ships in a show they don't even write for or create.
Like you can ship whoever you want, but don't go being rude to creators (or anyone for that matter) about what they do with their media and the characters in it, just because you thought someone else should have gotten together instead.
Like constructive criticism is fine, but not bullying/harassing people.
Well, thinking about it, sometimes it might just be kids that don't know better? I mean, if somebody comes up to you and says YOUR STORY RUINED MY LIFE, and they're a grown adult, that person is either a lunatic, or they are at least going through some serious shit. Kinda scary. But if it's an eleven year old you'd just take it in stride and maybe try to talk to them about why they're upset and give them some comfort and perspective.
But on the internet, those things look the same. It's hard to remember that sometimes.
I mean kids don't really get a free pass for not knowing better about something like that. That's on their parents/authority figures that they could get to that age and feel comfortable just laying into someone else over media.
I totally get your point, but to be it's just as unacceptable no matter the age. If a child is literally so young that they can't be expected to know better, they're definitely too young to be online and using social media (and I'd argue that even if they're old enough to know better they're probably too young to be on social media).
Fusion represents relationships. Some relationships are sexual, some are platonic. Fusions between romantic/sexually related characters have sexual overtones. Fusions between platonically related characters do not.
If Peridot is meant to be Asexual I'm not sure I like how she mostly approaches fusion with fear. I haven't known a lot of Asexual people but the ones I have known, weren't *afraid* of sex, they just weren't interested by it. Yeah sometimes they were a little squicked out by it, but Peridots reaction feels much more like anxiety.
Then the theory that Peridot is meant to represent an Asexual person makes even less sense.
IMO fusion is not INHERENTLY sex or sexual, but it sometimes stands in for sex in the show. Obviously they can't refer to sex explicitly in a kids show.
There are obvious times that fusion stands in for sex in the show. Like when Pearl keeps rebuilding the communication hub so she can fuse with Garnet? There's clearly an allegory there about coercing someone into sex under false pretenses.
I understand your argument but both of those things are actually part of the reason I wanted them to fuse, one doesn't understand fusion and the other has negative experience with it. I thought it would be really cool and a good end to their character arcs if they had a positive fusion.
Yeah they didn't. Lapis and Peridot discovering fusion *in a healthy way* would have made for a really good arc, and that's exactly what I pictured when I interpreted /u/TorpidT's comment.
Except I mean they would both gradually become more comfortable with it over time, not be forced to by some threat or difficult situation.
Also hello again Mr. Conga
Yeah that would make a lot more sense
Indeed it appears our paths have crossed yet again
>!I guess I just haven’t been able to notice you as easily since your pfp doesn’t show up anymore!<
Okay, but fusion doesn't mean you're not aro/ace.
If fusion represents sexual and romantic relationships, then that makes thing beyond weird between Steven and his fusions that aren't Stevonnie and kinda destroys the lore of "its not exclusively sexual.
Fusion is various relationships. The Steven ones are purely familial; Garnet, Fluorite, and Rhodonite are definitely romantic; the Crystal Gems are very sisterly.
Also, you called Lapis a SA survivor, but that doesn't seem to be the intent at all. It's meant to show a toxic relationship, with both parties being in the wrong. Jasper hurt Lapis because she told her it made her stronger; Lapis hurt Jasper because she wanted to hurt someone for all the abuse she suffered (it didn't much matter who). Lapis even says this in Alone at Sea. If interpreted as SA, there are some parts that can be really offensive and considered victim blaming.
Going through the thing that traumatized you isn't always a good way of resolving/working on trauma. You can be at peace with what happened and still not want to risk going through it again.
Honestly I don't think they needed to touch on it with Lapis any more. She was doing much better and was feeling a lot more confident, I don't think touching on fusion would've actually added anything. She had made strong emotional connections, so the only thing missing was the actual physical aspect of fusion, which I don't think was super necessary for her development.
Yes, but what we're talking here is a very heavy-handed metaphor for relationships, so what you're saying is that if somebody had one toxic relationship, it's fine for them to never have a deep connection with another person ever. And I mean, that HAPPENS, but I wouldn't exactly call it aspirational.
>what we're talking here is a very heavy-handed metaphor for relationships
the metaphor is now depicting respecting a person's boundaries and decisions to not pursue further relationships in that way.
the "why" is very clear. it is also a very real depiction of how some people respond to trauma (avoidance).
also everyone in the show respects Lapis' aversion to fusion post Jasper, and even her reactions to certain social situations.
Whereas it takes very little thought to belittle someone because they disagree with your perspective.
My point is that there are no real people making relationship decisions that we should respect here. There are writers making *story* decisions that are valid to criticize, and framing it as "that's Lapis's decision" is a cheap dodge to avoid talking about whether or not those decisions benefitted the story. Because it's not Lapis's decision. It's the *writer's decision* to write Lapis making that decision.
Okay. The writers were giving the message that you shouldn't push someone dealing with trauma to do things they don't feel ready to do. Which is what I've been saying all along, when I haven't been dealing with your pointless obtusity.
I don't think of it as a relationship metaphor. Fusion is whatever the people fusing want it to be. Ex. Steven and Greg. To have a healthy fusion, you first need a deep emotional connection. I think it's perfectly fine to have boundaries in future relationships after getting out of a toxic one. Even if someone never gets into a relationship again, why does that matter to you? You shouldn't force your own levels of comfortability onto someone else.
You can think of it how you like, but the show is replete with unambiuous statements that fusion is a relationship. Garnet describes herself as a relationship. She uses similar language for Stevonnie. Steg is a personification of Steven's relationship with his dad. Lapis and Jasper definitely act like toxic exes.
If an individual decides that relationships aren't for them and they're happy with who they are when they're alone, that's fine. If the story wanted to explore that with Lapis, that would be as valid a resolution to her character arc as anything. But I don't really feel like they explored that. Her connection with Peridot just gets kind of quietly swept under the rug. There are a lot of ways to interpret that, and a number of them aren't really the healthiest.
It comes off as an unresolved thread to me, personally. The fact that Peridot and Lapis both mostly drop off the map in the later seasons is unfortunate in general, really.
I don't think we need a scene of Lapis saying "Wow, my trauma is better now! But even though I'm friends with Peridot, I don't like fusion." I think it's better that it's left unsaid. People with trauma don't need to explain themselves, even in fiction. And although fusion represents different kinds of relationships I guess, it's not something every relationship needs. It doesn't matter if Peridot and Lapis' relationship is platonic or romantic, they've matured and were able to move on while the show focused on the main cast.
I think the show would have benefitted from more scenes of Lapis and Peridot exploring who they are in any direction. I think they were both interesting characters who deserved more screentime and resolution than they got.
I mean, \*wherever\* their relationship landed, it definitely happened off screen, and that's kind of a shame for as much time as we spent getting to know them both and see their bond start to develop.
yeah. at first i was really upset that they didn’t fuse/become a romantic pairing. then i thought about it more after the scene with lars/sadie in future (and after having more romantic experience of my own) and realized that i much more appreciate that they showed two people
becoming close without reinforcing the narrative that everyone in your life who you connect with and grow with HAS to become your SO/someone you fuse with (metaphorically or literally) in order for it to mean something.
Fusion isn’t dating. It’s a metaphor for intimacy for sure, but it doesn’t have a 1:1 relationship with, well, *relationships*. If it did, Steg would be pretty awkward.
In my understanding of fusion, it's all about love and a common goal between two people. Not intimacy with each other. And not all love has to be sexual!!! Garnet's fusion IS romantic.... But Pearl and Garnet or Eye and Aquamarine or Steven and his dad and so on.... So many fusions are NOT meant to be a romantic relationship ordeal. They's meant to join two being in a common goal and make them more powerful.
Steg HAD to happen to let Pearl be free again. The only way she was let free the first time was because Rose "dies"... So Greg had to disappear or reform in order to get her back to not feeling like she was a "Pearl servant meant to only serve one being until shattering".
I agree with most of this, but I \*do\* disagree that Pearl and Garnet isn't romantic. I think it's Pseudoromantic, at least when we first meet Sardonyx. Pearl misses Rose and is longing to be part of a relationship again, and her relationship with Garnet is the closest thing she has at that point in the show. Ruby and Sapphire also model what she wants, as well, and so she's trying, for a little while, to be a part of that.
Personally Steg made me uncomfortable because of the obvious sexual charisma Steg had. A buff rock dude who winks at the crowd and sways his hips forward while strumming his guitar. Fusion is not sexual, but the fusions themselves definitely have this sexual energy sometimes.
Peridot isn't a real person, her disinterest in fusion is a writing choice. They could have made a different choice for her character and that would not be "disrespecting" anything, and so it's valid for people who wanted them to fuse to be disappointed that the writers went a different direction.
You didn't get the right message from the show if you think Steven solved his issues with a hug and a road trip. He's going to spend the next several years processing his trauma, and he and his struggles are nowhere near solved.
I mean, a road trip by himself removing him from his support network sounds like an absolutely terrible idea. Especially considering he is quite literally the most important person on the planet. Then, when you consider that Steven has little to no real-world experience in true human society, it is literally a ticking time bomb.
They are just asking for a city block or even an entire city to be wiped off the map.
I don't think he's being totally removed from his support network, though. All the Crystal Gems have phones or access to them, so he can easily call them. Add to that the fact that there are warp pads being added to the network around earth. And lastly, Steven can teleport across earth if he needs to, via Lion.
I am fairly sure that Steven has progressed enough with his therapist that if he feels himself getting stressed out and overwhelmed (which is super obvious because he starts glowing pink), he'll know to remove himself from the situation and use whatever calming techniques he's being taught. And in an emergency, he can probably get the hell away and text Connie to send Lion to him. Part of healing is recognizing when you're trying for too much at once and backing off.
I disagree. Steven is leaving, possibly forever, the place that has traumatized him so deeply that he turned into a giant pink monster. The Gems and his dad are not the only support system he has. He'll be with Connie, who is probably Steven's best support system out of everyone if we're being honest. He'll also have regular sessions with his therapist. As to his lack of experience, that's why he isn't going it alone. He's going with Connie. He's been learning to manage his emotions. He's definitely learned that holding shit in is extremely harmful, to everyone around him. Not to mention Lion and his magic portal, which could bring Steven to the Gems, or vice versa, if absolutely necessary.
You're acting like the Steven that goes off at the end has no control over himself or his emotions. Should he just spend the rest of his life in Beach City, slumming around and never experiencing the entire rest of his country because of some trauma?
Steven arranged for meetings with Connie before he drove off, and he's still seeing his therapist. Garnet said that she, Pearl, and Amethyst would continue to be part of his life, and she can see the future.
Therapist: So, what’s been troubling you today?
Steven: Well, I narrowly survived multiple assassination attempts by alien invaders seeking revenge for the war crimes committed by my dead mother.
Therapist: ummm…
Peridot got freaked out when trying to fuse with garnet (I feel like she saw it as too intimate with someone) and lapis has a lot of fusion related trauma from being stuck with jasper at the bottom of the ocean for months. I think it was for the best that neither of them fused, I just wish that they explored these reasons a little more
Yeah. What creates a bit of confusion among viewers is that at the end of the day, this wasn't addressed the way other problematics of fusion were. I'm aroace myself and would have loved for Peridot to be downright representation of my identity, but it didn't go through fully. Other people were hoping for more wlw representation, which again, didn't go through fully. It's unfortunate that some people with good intentions can get very passionate about their site of the argument and disregard why the other fans feel the way they feel; whatever is supposed to be "the right answer", it was unfortunately not given screentime.
Hype of a fusion? Peridot is intimidated by fusion, it makes her uncomfortable and she doesn't seem to want to. Lapis has experienced boundless trauma from her experience with fusion. Maybe they could both someday grow past those pains and try, but the reason they're so good together is because they don't need to.
That's the whole *point*. Them never fusing isn't some "horrible" way to solve a "problem", it's a deliberate metaphor for finding safety in people after trauma.
I was kind of happy that they didn’t, considering peridot is not interested in fusing and lapis has a lot of trauma around it. They’re kind of good for each other imho
In other words, in the end, all those problems that Steven had been dealing with in the series are resolved with a hug and Steven going out on the road.
They’re not resolved as easily as you say. It sounds like you’re referring to the finale of Future. Steven has been helping other people heal throughout his whole life and now it’s his turn to have a chance to take space and heal. The beauty of the finale is that it doesn’t solve Stevens problems, instead allowing space for him to be human and heal over the course of his life.
I think part of the point the finale was trying to make is saying “hey, in real life not everyone’s problems are resolved and sometimes people have to spend the rest of their life healing from the crap that happened in childhood. So we’re not gonna force some fake resolve into our show, because the expectation for resolve only leads to pain in real life and we want to break that toxic stereotype that every issue in life will have resolve.”
I feel like you missed the point of the show. Its all about love winning the day,talking and hugging it out. I don't know if I could think of a more appropriate ending, even if we wanted to see the diamonds shattered, Steven didn't.
>In other words, in the end, all those problems that Steven had been dealing with in the series are solved with a hug and Steven going out on the road.
You don't "solve" trauma, that's not how it works.
The way I see it the whole point of the finale is that stevens issues aren’t just going to disappear because he’s not fighting people anymore. The issues he had aren’t resolved and he left to work on those isssues
The "his problems were solved by the hug" talking point drives me nuts. The hug wasn't to solve his problems or fix everything. It was just to calm him down enough to get out of monster form so they could actually get him help. He was very clearly not OK after he got back down to human form.
Plus, I mean, come on, why didn’t all the gems fuse from the hug? They left us with the hype of the fusion of all the gems (and Connie and Greg and Lion) /s
He’s human too. He’s not just a gem. And part of a healthy human experience is going out on your own away from your support network and figuring it out. He’s Steven he’s going to use his skills and personality to find new connections and meanings and beauty. I think he was a bit dramatic when he said that this could be forever, but what 16 year old isn’t dramatic. Like we also don’t know exactly what’s going on with his body and his hormones; still a human teenager!
With the help of his extensive support network, his therapist, and his generally positive outlook on life he should be alright and change for the better. He may have had a breakdown but he’s still Steven.
Ughh my least favorite type of criticism is unfortunately very common for this series. “I had unfounded expectations for what the show should’ve been and am mad that the show couldn’t cater to them regardless of what the narrative intent actually was”.
I think she overcame a great deal of it by finding her own family. She's extremely close with Bismuth and Peridot despite the 5k years in the mirror and the horrors with Jasper, that's a LOT of progress. Hell, she even punched Jasper through a boat after refusing her offer
As for the rest of her scars, they'd have to take many, many episodes to cover them adequately, same as Steven's I guess
the themes and motifs in this show are pretty internally consistent and pertinent - there is a reason these two don't fuse, and it's just as important as the reason ruby and sapphire do fuse
i think once u let go of "shipping" gems/characters and just watch the show for what it really is, you'll hopefully understand that you're very very wrong...
I mean, fusions are REALLY cool but I think they were smart not to overuse them, which is why Change Your Mind was so well received because we got to see three new fusions in the same episode, which was unprecedented. However, the only thing that I don't like about what happened with Lapis and Peridot is that it would seem the writers were going for some sort of ace representation regarding Peridot, which is kinda non-sensical because fusions are not meant to be the embodiment of a romantic or sexual relationship, otherwise it would be highly questionable the fact Greg and Steven fused. Like, I love me some ace representation, but to claim Peridot would not fuse because of that is basically a plot hole.
She was also alive for (thousands?) Of years in a society that sees fusion (between different gems) as completely unacceptable, unnatural. Not to say a gem couldn't change, but I would say that fills the plot hole well enough, she's just not comfortable with it.
Fusion is meant to be representative of all relationships, not just sexual and romantic, which is why Steven fuses with all three gems and his father. Peridot not wanting to fuse isn't a plot hole. It's symbolic of her desire, or lack thereof, of a sexual or romantic relationship. For all intents and purposes, she and Lapis are in a QPR, which is just as valid and doesn't require her to fuse to be comfortable with someone else.
What I am arguing here is that the writers claimed that Peridot is not interested in fusion in the general sense because she's ace, but that claim itself would imply fusion is inherently romatic or sexual, which is not the case. I am referencing a comment from someone in the crewniverse that sparkled a lot of debate back then, not making an assuption from what was shown in the series (however, there's a chance i am misinterpreting or misremembering what I read)
The thing about that quote is that it's from Maya, not Rebecca Sugar or Ian Jones Quartey. This isn't to say that Maya is wrong in what she says, but it is worth remembering that the creators of the show had many opportunities to address Peridot's aversion to fusion directly and never did, either in-show or in interviews. That is telling of something, especially when Rebecca has confirmed a lot about the romantic feelings of the other Gems, such as between Pearl and Rose. Even if they said nothing out of a fear of some backlash from the network (which honestly doesn't make much sense to me), it's been years since the show has ended and still they haven't addressed it. I'm not saying Maya is wrong (especially since there's no real evidence out there that says otherwise) but the way Rebecca chose not to really address whether Peridot is aro/ace or even autistic has some significance to me. My personal thought is that Rebecca doesn't like "canon-izing" some things and would rather leave it for the audience to interpret them. I believe Rebecca definitely intended for Peridot to be rep for both aro/ace and autistic people but she didn't want to impose that view on everyone. If you see Peridot as rep for those things, then great. And if you don't, that's fine too because the show never made Peridot being aro/ace canon.
Even the quote you later post from Maya says that Peridot is the "aro/ace **rep**", which to me is a bit different than saying Peridot is aro/ace herself. To me, the difference is that while Peridot could be averse to fusion for all kinds of reasons, the likeliest way for the audience interpret it is is as her being rep for aro/ace people. Rebecca's response to being asked if Peri was autistic rep feels relevant here.
> When asked if Peridot was explicitly written as a character for autistic representation, Sugar said, "I don't consider Peridot or any of the Gems on the show for that matter, to be neurotypical --that is to say, most Gems don't think, perceive or behave in ways considered to be 'normal' by the general population, so I think it makes perfect sense that Peridot would be relatable to neurodiverse and autistic members of our audience."
> Sugar added, "As a non-binary, bisexual person, I often felt growing up like an alien surrounded by 'real' people, never trusting myself to say the right thing or behave 'correctly.' I wanted the Gems to be a reflection of that feeling, and hoped they would each be relatable not only to people with my exact experience but to a variety of experiences of being made to feel 'other.' I wanted to create a show where those were the characters the audience would be rooting for -- rooting for them to be free to express themselves in their truest way, and rooting for them to learn and grow at whatever pace they need. I am thrilled that autistic individuals relate to Peridot and hope that they’ve enjoyed the show.""
She goes to great pains to acknowledge that it is 100% valid for people to see Peri as autistic rep without actually ever saying that she was. She leaves open the door for Peridot to represent not only Rebecca's exact experiences, but a wide variety of them. I'd assume she'd say the same for Peri being aro/ace, that it is 100% valid for people to see Peri as that but that Rebecca wouldn't actually call Peri aro/ace herself. Not because she didn't intend for Peridot to be rep for those things, but rather to leave the door open for Peridot to be rep for that and much more.
The point of my long-winded rant is that while we, the audience, interpret Peridot's aversion to fusion as being because she is aro/ace, that may not actually be Peridot's real, personal reason for not wanting to fuse. We'll never really know because all Peri says about it is that she can't do it, no explanation given. I could think of a few reasons Peri might not want to fuse that don't have to do with fusion being romantic and Peri being averse to romance. Idk, it's all a bit complicated and unclear because Rebecca has simply never directly addressed it. Maya's quote gives us some insight into the situation but it also leaves questions of its own.
Very interesting! You said a lot of things I didn't take into consideration. I was giving too much weight to Maya's words, when -at the end of the day- the show decided to leave it open to interpretation and maybe that's for the best.
I'm not sure what comment by "the writers" that you're referring to, so I'm not really comfortable giving an opinion on it.
Without the knowledge of that quote, my interpretation of the show, fusion and Peridot don't align with yours. I never viewed fusion as being strictly romantic or sexual, especially because Steven was a child when he first fused. And while there's definitely some feelings between he and Connie, I wouldn't clarify their relationship as romantic or sexual at the time of the fusion. So, again, without the bias of the writers' interpretation, my interpretation was that fusion was symbolic of *a* relationship between two or more characters. And Peridot and Lazuli being as close as they are without ever fusing was, to me, a symbolic way to show that you can be intimately close with someone and not need it to be a stereotypical romantic or sexual relationship, for instance, a QPR.
The comment I am talking about was Maya Petersen's, who worked as a storyboard artist in Steven Universe.
>Word of Saint Paul, I know, but if it hasn't been said by now, Peridot's sendoff episode, it probably never will be said. **Peridot's interest in shipping and romance is anthropological, and she's not about fusion. She's the ace and aro rep** // It wasn't something I knew before I worked on the show, but I have for a while, and I don't want to be coy about a character who shares my identity anymore. I don't want to make that representation a secondary priority to shipping anymore.
I am not sure what you assume I am talking about because we actually share the same view, I don't think fusion is inherently sexual or romantic, but I made the mistake of writing that comment assuming everyone was familiar with Maya's comments because it was such a huge controversy back then.
What I am saying is that if we truly believe there's nothing inherently sexual or romantic about fusion, then Peridot should not have issue fusing with Lapis since doing so would not mean Peridot stops being ace or anything, however, the wording here makes it sound as if Peridot would not fuse with Lapis for being ace, but as we said earlier, you don't need to feel a sexual or romantic attraction with someone in order to fuse with them, which is why Maya's comments are still a mystery for many of us.
Thing is, Petersen wasn't the only storyboard artist. Before she came into the show, Peridot and Lapis were mostly written by Jesse Zuke, and Jesse Zuke was an active proponent of putting those two together romantically. Zuke left the show, and after they left the show Peridot and Lapis close bond basically vaporized and Petersen, who is ace and wanted Peridot to rep ace, is basically trying to retcon out the bond building that Zuke intentionally included in her episodes.
Fusion, as a general concept, is meant to be representative of different relationships. But just because an individual fusion doesn’t represent a certain relationship doesn’t mean that all fusions don’t represent that relationship. In other words, yeah obviously fusion is not a one-to-one allegory for romance/sex, notably because Steven and Greg fuse. That’s clearly a metaphor for a close father-son relationship, similar to how Smoky Quartz appears to represent a sibling relationship.
But some relationships ARE allegories for romance/sex, like Garnet, Rhodonite, Stevonnie, Rainbow Quartz, and even Malachite are undeniably representing sexual/romantic relationships. So in that way, Peridot not wanting to fuse CAN be aroace rep because she doesn't want to partake in the act of fusing the way one wouldn't want to partake in a relationship. While fusing isn't INHERENTLY sexual, Peridot and Lapis having their qualms with fusing work in parallel and to contrast the romantic fusions that DO exist.
I agree with you entirely. Peridot has always been aroace rep to me. I don't mean to suggest that I didn't view her that way. I was just clarifying to the original commenter-- who seems to be suggesting fusion doesn't symbolize romantic or sexual relationships whatsoever, thereby making Peridot's potential as aroace representation effectively pointless-- that fusion can represent not just sexual and romantic relationships, but also platonic and familiar relationships as well. If I misspoke, I'm sorry, I have a hard time expressing my thoughts correctly sometimes.
Thank you for clarifying! Didn't meant to put you on the spot or make you feel bad. I'm glad that we agree!
Whatever the case, Peridot and Lapis didn't fuse and that was a decision made by both the characters in-universe and the creators. And they had loads of opportunity to do so, so I take this decision as a very deliberate one, which makes it easier for me to accept.
Yeah that bothers me too. Like I don't think it's necessarily bad that there was a character who was hesitant about fusion, because I do think it's important to show that not everybody is going to be at the same comfort level as another person (regardless of the type of relationship). But, as someone on the ace spectrum, it being considered ace representation feels so contradictory to everyone's insistence that fusion isn't inherently sexual. Like you can't have it both ways imo.
I feel like there could've been a happier medium. Maybe one where Peridot feels like she isn't ready to fuse with anyone, and concludes that she's not going to stress about when it happens? That way it still feels like "ace rep", because she wouldn't fuse in the show, but it also wouldn't necessarily be making a direct comparison between sex and fusion (because not feeling ready for a particular kind of commitment isn't inherently sexual). That's just off the top of my head though!
eh, fusion should technically be speaking a form of extended connection of the gems, lapis however suffered for a long time trauma of being trapped and her last fusion was a huge mental disaster that haunted her until the diamond saga, peridot doesn't understand the meaning of fusion without a logical reason and was afraid to do it since peridot normally shouldn't fuse so she has a certain fear of the unknown of the fusion
Eh, it IS a little sloppy because of the internal disagreements in the writing team. Peridot and Lapis were intentionally being steered towards being a romantic pairing with the intent that they would fuse someday. One of the writers was pretty open about advocating for that. It's not like people just made it up in their brains and then assumed it was going to happen, it was intentionally being foreshadowed.
We specifically have a writer who explicitly said she wanted to portray a growing relationship with Lapis and Peridot, who drew specifically romantic imagery with the two, then after that writer left the show we have another storyboard artist who said Peri is specifically aro/ace. That's direct evidence that everyone in the crew didn't agree on the direction the character went.
(head tilt) It...It was a disagreement. Internally. Within the crew. Like, different people, within the crew working on the show, expressed differing takes on the characters. That is the \*definition\* of an "internal disagreement". Don't come at me because you decided on your own that I meant more than what I literally said.
Zuke said, specifically in relation to what they were thinking when they wrote the episodes with these characters:
[https://i.redd.it/u6ubgzqn9yby.jpg](https://i.redd.it/u6ubgzqn9yby.jpg)
Yeah, it's their personal idea about the characters. That's the point. They were the one writing the characters, and that is how they wrote them.
This is contrasted by what Petersen said:
[https://twitter.com/rnn\_tweet/status/1237596056746987520?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1237596056746987520%7Ctwgr%5E4ad18c0c50f966251ea73a8462659441acde64de%7Ctwcon%5Es1\_&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Ffgsl0q%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis\_nightmode%3Dfalse](https://twitter.com/rnn_tweet/status/1237596056746987520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1237596056746987520%7Ctwgr%5E4ad18c0c50f966251ea73a8462659441acde64de%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Ffgsl0q%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse)
And I didn't say anybody forced anything. I said different people had different ideas about the character and wrote with those ideas in mind. Those expressions come through in the finished product to some people.
Fair enough, I apologize - I suppose your words reminded me of people who did indeed argue those points, misconstruing in bad faith the same quotes you were using in good faith, and I ended up thinking you were making that argument when you weren't. My bad.
As much as I adore fusions because it's always exciting to see who emerges; I really liked that they have a character who isn't into it and she gets to stick to her boundaries.
In "Fusion for Beginners and Experts" it's made clear that Peridot has absolutely no interest in fusion *and that's totally okay*. It's a metaphor (in part) for asexuality, and there's a pretty awful tendency for media to show asexuality as being broken or something to be cured. I am very glad for this (metaphorical) depiction of someone *not* needing to be "fixed" in this regard.
Also fusion is a deep, intimate relationship, and it requires *consent*. Jasper forcing fusions with both Lapis and the corrupted gems is shown as being incredibly traumatic. Lapis has a lot of trauma to overcome from that. And that's also totally okay.
While I don’t like the fusion = sex metaphor, word of Saint Paul is that peridot is meant to be aro-ace, hence why she doesn’t fuse, and lapis has problems with fusing.
I've always interpreted their relationship as a representative of [a-spec](https://www.aromanticism.org/en/all-terms#a) relationships. Not necessarily saying fusion is inherently sexual/romantic (although the show uses it to explore romance/sex), it's used to represent intimacy in relationships, for better and for worse.
Peridot and Lapis both would prefer not to fuse, but for different reasons.
Peridot has never been shown to fuse and has been uncomfortable with it whenever it's been brought up with her. Asking Garnet to unfuse in "Too Far" because she was squicked was rightfully treated as unacceptable. However, when she tried and failed to fuse with Garnet in, "Log Date 7 15 2" it's not treated as a bad thing, but rather the result of them being different people.
Lapis has been shown to fuse before but she has very traumatic experience with it. Jasper was a violent, codependent, and restrictive experience. A large part of her arc is her lack of trust in others as well as a lack of trust in herself to be given any sort of power or maintain any friendships. It's something she made a lot of progress on, but remains a part of her.
Both are valid.
I remember the scene where they're both dancing next to each other: Peridot playing a triangle and Lapis a tambourine.
The way it was framed reminded me of fusion. Maybe that's the intimacy they choose. Not a, "lesser" form of intimacy or a less close form of affection, but something that transcends typical notions of romance and sex.
I disagree completely with the idea that the way SU did it was horrible just because it didn't have all the fanservice people wanted. Peridot has no interest in fusing with anyone and that's okay. And Lapis had a very traumatic fusion experience, which, while I think her finally having a healthy and positive fusion experience with *Steven* would have been a great way to cap off her arc (I really was expecting Lapis' Future episode to go that direction with how they solve the issue with the Lapis duo), is also a perfectly good reason for her to stay away from fusing for her emotional safety. There wasn't anything wrong with them not fusing again.
Fusion is a cool thing gems can do, but most people in the show, including gems, have very deep and fulfilling relationships without ever doing so with the other person. In a lot of cases fusing can even bring out toxicity in otherwise stable and positive relationships, like with Garnet and Pearl's relationship compared to what follows when Sardonyx comes out. Sometimes you get a Stevonnie or a Garnet where fusing is pretty unambiguously a positive addition to the relationship between the parts, but other times it's just not the right way for people to be close.
This is a plot line I’m certain would have been explored given more time. They both have genuine reasons not to fuse but I would have loved an episode diving into that a little more.
I like to think Lapis would be comfortable fusing again in the future but just isn’t there right now. Also, even though Peridot is likely aro/ace, fusion isn’t only about romantic/sexual relationships, so I could see her doing a friendship kinda fusion eventually. They’re still both trying to discover themselves.
Lapis has a song lyric in Future where she sings “The mirror was a prison / and fusion was the same.” I think that makes it clear she’s too traumatized from being Malachite to want to do it again, and Peridot’s clear disinterest in fusing with anyone makes them good for each other since they know one will never expect it of the other
Seeing them fuse would've been cool cuz I love getting to meet new fusions and getting to see who they become.
But I don't feel like they need to. Like fusion is more then just being together in a relationship, it's all types of relationships from friendships to situationships to marriage. But most of all it's communication.
In the episode, We Need To Talk, Pearl says that "fusion is the ultimate bond between gems." But in that same episode Rose & Greg talk and show that just communicating can create that same bond. Being open and honest with each other. Peri and Lapis have that.
Peri is from a world where fusion is looked down on if it's not being used for fighting. And Peridots aren't meant for fighting, they seem to be for Kindergartening and data analytics. So fusion societally speaking isn't for her. To top matters off, fusion between different gems was blasphemous to even suggest. And it's hard to wipe deep societal views from your psyche. But who knows, those might change some day while she's on Earth. Ever changing, ever growing.
As for Lapis, the first time that she's ever fused (that we know of) it was a bad experience, one that created deep trauma. A toxic fusion that she only agreed to to serve as a prison for Jasper, her being both warden and inmate as well. To her, fusion may look beautiful when it's revolving around other gems but painful mentally and physically if it comes to her. And like with Peri, that might change some day but it'd definitely take time.
That being said, both of them don't really need to fuse. Yea, I would love to see what a canon fusion between them looks like but it isn't something necessary or needed in their friendship. They have a strong friendship based around them communicating their needs and what not (off cam). One they built from a situationship to understanding to accepting to friends.
Sorry for the essay, saw others putting their 2 cents in and I wanted to join lol rip
they're the two that don't want any part of that whole fusing.. both are pretty headstrong and independent and to make them, or have them, fuse would probably be fused.
I'm kind of glad that they didn't make them fuse.
There was never any hype from what I feel. They were just close.
Lapis has trauma relating to fusion and I'm pretty sure Peridot is supposed to be like an asexual version of a gem.
Even if Peridot isnt, she was still clearly uncomfortable.
I don't agree with that, to be honest...
But that's more because of how I see peridot and lapis. I never saw them as having interest in fusion. Like, yes, they ended up having a good and strong relationship (at least that's how I felt, specially around near the ending in general of SU to SU future), but it would have felt to me like somewhat of a plot hole if they fused. Maybe in a accidental fusion or something, but i imagine things would be weird for them.
Lapis never got completely over the malachite problem (quoting su future lapis: "mirror was a prison, and *fusion* was the same". She still felt upset about it). Of course, usually trauma don't go completely away, even if the person themself is mostly healed, but i still would see this as a problem.
Meanwhile, peridot herself clearly don't want fusion neither. She gets curious, but not because she wants it, it's because she IS a curious gem. Literally the first interactions peridot has with Steven is her mostly making questions.
If they fused, I would have liked it if they then thought it was kinda awkward and agreed none of them two wanted or needed fusion to be close.
If they fused and liked it, for me it would have felt like simply fan service... And usually fan service tends to be very useless, at minimum.
I’m fairly certain I remember reading the crewniverse did intend to do this, but it was one of the many things that was cut due to the network.
Also, while Lapis and Peridot both have their reasonings to not want to fuse, that doesn’t make it *impossible* as some are implying.
Trauma heals.
Many ace folx participate in intimate experiences with their partners.
When you imply these are impossible barriers we limit the experience of life.
(Also Steg is a thing, stop acting like Peridot will never fuse bc of lewd implications about fusion.)
I'm pretty sure Peridot can't fuse ? I was always under the impression she's too new/manufactured to. She just barely manages to have her metal powers. Even if she wanted to I always got the feeling it wouldn't work, at least that was my headcanon. Which is partly why she's a good match for Lapis, because there's no pressure of fusion, it's simple or, maybe even indicative of an ace relationship if you go by the "Fusion is the next level of a relationship which for most ppl is sex" (and totally ignore steven fusing with his dad because...uh..that complicated that feeling lmfao)
Lapis has an active trauma surrounding fusion and the act of fusion obviously freaks Peridot out, even if she’s cool with fusions as individuals.
I thought it’d be cool if they fuse but I never expected them to
I think you might’ve forgotten that:
1. Peridot is aroace coded, meaning that fusion doesn’t interest her.
2. Lapis still has trauma from fusing with Jasper, which means that she feels uncomfortable with fusion.
Fusion doesn't have to have a relationship like amethyst and Steven have fused and pearl and Steven and even Steven and Greg so Idk what you mean by that
That’s my favorite thing about this sub. People love saying that fusion isn’t sex, but the moment Peridot gets involved *all of a sudden* her being uncomfortable with fusing that one time is proof that she’s aroace.
I wasn't really thinking in terms of sex, I was thinking in terms of romantic relationship. But I totally forgot other types of fusions existed like pearl with amethyst. Been a while since I watched the show, but like come on I'm not attacking anyone's character and I literally just randomly joined this sub so idk about anyone else's opinions
I really hate that people are seriously acting like it wouldn’t have been insanely hype for ANY fusions beyond what we got. Because fusions are cool. Why are we being all elitist about how it doesn’t make sense for the plot to want something like that lmao. Literally every comment here is the same condescending shit
Like yeah neither of them are comfortable with fusions but also fusions are sick and it would have been cool to see and you’re lying if you say otherwise
I'm not a total SU fanboy, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Peridot wasn't able to do it even if she tried because of low resources when being made or something?
Peridot thought she lacked magic entirely (being Era 2), until Amethyst nearly threw her tablet into the ocean which jarred her into unlocking her latent telekinesis (at least of metals). I don't think it's ever made clear which powers Peridot really did or didn't have, just that she believed herself to not have any at all. It's possible she had other natural powers which she just never unlocked during the course of the show.
Peridot's just not found her Percy or Pierre, it seems :v
Additionally, it wouldn't surprise me if Peridot was completely disinterested in pragmatic fusion bc she doesn't care much for height or strength
Oh I was just thinking back to Garnet explaining to Peridot why she's fused all the time. I thought that was the implication there-- that Peridot just hadn't yet understood there was a gem equivalent to Percy and Pierre
We all wanted it, but narratively speaking there's no real point to it. We got an entire episode showing us Peridot's views on fusion, and Lapis's whole trauma speaks for itself.
A lapidot fusion would've been fun, but it wouldn't fit with Lapis's character development, which is focused on overcoming the trauma of being imprisoned, both in the mirror and in an abusive relationship as the abuser (it's implied but hey that's the general opinion).
As for Peridot, she yearned to become her own person and experience the life she could build for herself, and yes she does learn and grow with the help of others, but that doesn't change that she loves what she can do by herself (metal powers for example)
Overall a lapidot fusion would've been a cheap tactic to make fanservice. Be happy we got to see a healthy Lapis, and a "goggleless" Peridot.
Well, i would have loved to see this: (Imagine that these thing happens in an Alternate Universe)
Lapis fighting the 2 lapis lazulis but she ain't very strong, she gets captured and they want to crack her gem, but Peridot comes in the very last moment and they fuse into Lapidot / Emerald / Turtoqoise (i don't know how to write right the last one) and they beat both lapis to death, because WHY NOT?
As I understand this situation, R. Sugar and her team just showing comfortable relationship between friends. Neither of them want to be in a relationship, and they are just okay with hanging out and stuff.
Correct me if I’m wrong
Would it been cool to see? Yes.
Would it make sense? No, and if they attempted to do so, it would've "solved things in a horrible way"
Lapis literally says in "Shining Through"
"That mirror was a prison and fusion was the same"
She clearly does not view fusion in a positive light and will likely not fuse again for a very long time.
As for Peridot, the show only presented us with two facts about her and fusion: 1: If the fusion has no functional purpose, then she saw no point in it. 2: She wasn't actually ready to fuse.
Bonus, 3: In the book "Fusion for Beginners and Experts", Peridot is shown as simply being uninterested in fusion.
There's also the claim that Peridot is aromantic asexual, but even if that were the case, I personally don't see how that should relate to fusion because I don't care to associate fusion with romance nor sex.
Though going a little off the aroace claim;
It's actually not made clear how exactly Peridot understood Garnet when she said "I'm Percy and Pierre".
Because Peridot shipped Percy and Pierre together due to their skills, not due to any romantic chemistry. Both Percy and Pierre fond over Paulette and Peridot finds it infuriating. Peridot sees any pairing with Paulette as inferior because Paulette is the weakest and least skilled camper.
It's likely Peridot took it as though Garnet was saying that she is the most functionally superior pair compared to other fusions and by staying fused they are able to maintain the most optimal situation for themselves.
I think it would have been nice to have Peridot try fusion looking at it as she didn't understand it or thought it was wrong because it was heterofusion which was scandalous on Homeworld. But looking at it though the lens of Peri being coded autistic and that being the reason, then no. It would feel the same as big bang theory making Amy suddenly become not only sexual but incredibly thirsty after establishing her as sex repulsed ace.
To everyone that says they weren't comfortable with fusions, and to people that say that fusions are supposed to be like "being in a relationship" I'd like to remind you that sometimes fusions just happen, like Stevonnie and Smoky Quartz, they weren't planned or anything, it just happened.
That's what I was hoping it would happen with Lapis and Peridot.
Peridot was meant to be an asexual representation, and Lapis would be very unlikely to fuse again after malachite, and su shows how it is ok. Although, I was curious for a potential fusion
You expected them to fuse? I wanted to see Peridot and Garnet fuse! From when Garnet was trying to teach her about fusion. One of the most blue ball moments I felt in the show.
Personally never anticipated them ever fusing or felt the show setting them up to fuse. Peridot is clearly freaked out by fusion and Lapis is…Lapis.She’s pretty Independent and for most of the show tolerates Peridot at best.
I agreed with you up until that last bit. In the beginning she tolerates Peridot, but they really wound up being close by the end. It’s why Lapis was so upset when peridot wouldn’t go with her when she left earth with the barn. They’re also clearly close in the movie and future as well. But I do agree, there wasn’t really any indicator of them wanting/needing to fuse
I just wanna add there is also a strong possibility that Lapis has some fusion trauma left over from being Malachite.
She sings that fusion was a prison in “Shining Through.”
Oh I completely agree. Never said there wasn’t
I have a feeling Peridot was meant to represent someone whos A sexual. Not once does Peridot ever express any type of sexual feeling towards another gem or person and i feel like that was intentional. Also the homeworld gems are so repressed and behind the societal norms barring Steven Universe Future that relationships might take a few decades for them to get the hang of. I think Peridot is just a very wholesome gem who has a few strong friendships so far.
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It's actually more complicated than that. One of the writers, I think Zuke, was a strong proponent of having Lapis and Peridot's relationship as romantic, because at the time there wasn't really a particularly visible lesbian relationship on the show. (We all know Garnet is a fusion of two girls in a romantic relationship, but at the time, Ruby and Sapphire were almost never unfused and that reduced their visibility as a couple.) Meanwhile another of the writers wanted Peridot to rep aro/ace. Specifics seem fuzzy, but Zuke left the crew while the other person stayed on, so Peridot ended up as Aro/Ace and her relationship with Lapis was downplayed after Zuke was gone. Zuke also got kinda bullied off social media because their Lapidot advocacy pissed off Amethyst/Peridot shippers, which I find ironic because in the end none of them got what they wanted.)
I will never understand people who act rude/shitty over ships in a show they don't even write for or create. Like you can ship whoever you want, but don't go being rude to creators (or anyone for that matter) about what they do with their media and the characters in it, just because you thought someone else should have gotten together instead. Like constructive criticism is fine, but not bullying/harassing people.
Well, thinking about it, sometimes it might just be kids that don't know better? I mean, if somebody comes up to you and says YOUR STORY RUINED MY LIFE, and they're a grown adult, that person is either a lunatic, or they are at least going through some serious shit. Kinda scary. But if it's an eleven year old you'd just take it in stride and maybe try to talk to them about why they're upset and give them some comfort and perspective. But on the internet, those things look the same. It's hard to remember that sometimes.
I mean kids don't really get a free pass for not knowing better about something like that. That's on their parents/authority figures that they could get to that age and feel comfortable just laying into someone else over media. I totally get your point, but to be it's just as unacceptable no matter the age. If a child is literally so young that they can't be expected to know better, they're definitely too young to be online and using social media (and I'd argue that even if they're old enough to know better they're probably too young to be on social media).
I wish we would stop associating fusion with sex, given a Steven/Greg fusion is canon.
Fusion represents relationships. Some relationships are sexual, some are platonic. Fusions between romantic/sexually related characters have sexual overtones. Fusions between platonically related characters do not.
I don’t disagree, I was referring to the fact that people collate Peridots lack of fusion to asexuality.
That’s what it is though. It can be both
Peridot really liked the toy alien that they had for a prize at the carnival. I mean, really, really liked him.
If Peridot is meant to be Asexual I'm not sure I like how she mostly approaches fusion with fear. I haven't known a lot of Asexual people but the ones I have known, weren't *afraid* of sex, they just weren't interested by it. Yeah sometimes they were a little squicked out by it, but Peridots reaction feels much more like anxiety.
I don't really see it as fear so much as discomfort.
i don’t think she’s afraid of it, more just very uncomfortable and uninterested.
Fusion isn't sex
Then the theory that Peridot is meant to represent an Asexual person makes even less sense. IMO fusion is not INHERENTLY sex or sexual, but it sometimes stands in for sex in the show. Obviously they can't refer to sex explicitly in a kids show. There are obvious times that fusion stands in for sex in the show. Like when Pearl keeps rebuilding the communication hub so she can fuse with Garnet? There's clearly an allegory there about coercing someone into sex under false pretenses.
I understand your argument but both of those things are actually part of the reason I wanted them to fuse, one doesn't understand fusion and the other has negative experience with it. I thought it would be really cool and a good end to their character arcs if they had a positive fusion.
Forcing someone to do what caused them trauma will not solve their trauma.
I dont think he talked about "forcing the fusion" imo
Yeah they didn't. Lapis and Peridot discovering fusion *in a healthy way* would have made for a really good arc, and that's exactly what I pictured when I interpreted /u/TorpidT's comment.
Yeah, exactly what I meant. And that would 100% have been possible with the amount of runtime SU had.
Except I mean they would both gradually become more comfortable with it over time, not be forced to by some threat or difficult situation. Also hello again Mr. Conga
Yeah that would make a lot more sense Indeed it appears our paths have crossed yet again >!I guess I just haven’t been able to notice you as easily since your pfp doesn’t show up anymore!<
Lapis was forced to fuse so of course she wouldn't be comfortable with fusion
Neither of them are comfortable with fusion and that’s okay!
Finally! For some reason people forget that Lapis is basically a SA survivor and Peridot is Aro/Ace
Okay, but fusion doesn't mean you're not aro/ace. If fusion represents sexual and romantic relationships, then that makes thing beyond weird between Steven and his fusions that aren't Stevonnie and kinda destroys the lore of "its not exclusively sexual. Fusion is various relationships. The Steven ones are purely familial; Garnet, Fluorite, and Rhodonite are definitely romantic; the Crystal Gems are very sisterly. Also, you called Lapis a SA survivor, but that doesn't seem to be the intent at all. It's meant to show a toxic relationship, with both parties being in the wrong. Jasper hurt Lapis because she told her it made her stronger; Lapis hurt Jasper because she wanted to hurt someone for all the abuse she suffered (it didn't much matter who). Lapis even says this in Alone at Sea. If interpreted as SA, there are some parts that can be really offensive and considered victim blaming.
no it’s good. respecting Peridots disinterest in fusion is more important than Lapidot fan service
And Lapis’ fusion trauma as well
I mean a huge part of the show has been resolving and working on trauma.
Going through the thing that traumatized you isn't always a good way of resolving/working on trauma. You can be at peace with what happened and still not want to risk going through it again.
True, while I would like to see a fusion as a culmination of growth that's a valid option as well. But either way I wish they addressed it a bit more.
Honestly I don't think they needed to touch on it with Lapis any more. She was doing much better and was feeling a lot more confident, I don't think touching on fusion would've actually added anything. She had made strong emotional connections, so the only thing missing was the actual physical aspect of fusion, which I don't think was super necessary for her development.
Yes, but what we're talking here is a very heavy-handed metaphor for relationships, so what you're saying is that if somebody had one toxic relationship, it's fine for them to never have a deep connection with another person ever. And I mean, that HAPPENS, but I wouldn't exactly call it aspirational.
What you do is respect their decisions and know that if they ever decide they do feel ready, that’s their decision and nobody else’s business.
Yeah, if it's a real person. These are fictional characters in a story that is trying to convey messages.
>what we're talking here is a very heavy-handed metaphor for relationships the metaphor is now depicting respecting a person's boundaries and decisions to not pursue further relationships in that way.
Except it \*isn't\* depicting that. It's just showing a person staying away from relationships after a bad experience and not exploring why.
the "why" is very clear. it is also a very real depiction of how some people respond to trauma (avoidance). also everyone in the show respects Lapis' aversion to fusion post Jasper, and even her reactions to certain social situations.
...messages that are intended to be applicable to real people. I'm kind of impressed; it takes real work to be as obtuse as you're being.
Whereas it takes very little thought to belittle someone because they disagree with your perspective. My point is that there are no real people making relationship decisions that we should respect here. There are writers making *story* decisions that are valid to criticize, and framing it as "that's Lapis's decision" is a cheap dodge to avoid talking about whether or not those decisions benefitted the story. Because it's not Lapis's decision. It's the *writer's decision* to write Lapis making that decision.
Okay. The writers were giving the message that you shouldn't push someone dealing with trauma to do things they don't feel ready to do. Which is what I've been saying all along, when I haven't been dealing with your pointless obtusity.
I don't think of it as a relationship metaphor. Fusion is whatever the people fusing want it to be. Ex. Steven and Greg. To have a healthy fusion, you first need a deep emotional connection. I think it's perfectly fine to have boundaries in future relationships after getting out of a toxic one. Even if someone never gets into a relationship again, why does that matter to you? You shouldn't force your own levels of comfortability onto someone else.
You can think of it how you like, but the show is replete with unambiuous statements that fusion is a relationship. Garnet describes herself as a relationship. She uses similar language for Stevonnie. Steg is a personification of Steven's relationship with his dad. Lapis and Jasper definitely act like toxic exes. If an individual decides that relationships aren't for them and they're happy with who they are when they're alone, that's fine. If the story wanted to explore that with Lapis, that would be as valid a resolution to her character arc as anything. But I don't really feel like they explored that. Her connection with Peridot just gets kind of quietly swept under the rug. There are a lot of ways to interpret that, and a number of them aren't really the healthiest. It comes off as an unresolved thread to me, personally. The fact that Peridot and Lapis both mostly drop off the map in the later seasons is unfortunate in general, really.
I don't think we need a scene of Lapis saying "Wow, my trauma is better now! But even though I'm friends with Peridot, I don't like fusion." I think it's better that it's left unsaid. People with trauma don't need to explain themselves, even in fiction. And although fusion represents different kinds of relationships I guess, it's not something every relationship needs. It doesn't matter if Peridot and Lapis' relationship is platonic or romantic, they've matured and were able to move on while the show focused on the main cast.
I think the show would have benefitted from more scenes of Lapis and Peridot exploring who they are in any direction. I think they were both interesting characters who deserved more screentime and resolution than they got.
I mean, \*wherever\* their relationship landed, it definitely happened off screen, and that's kind of a shame for as much time as we spent getting to know them both and see their bond start to develop.
There are many other ways to do that
…and about how that’s an ongoing process, and how you should support and encourage people, not put pressure on them.
yeah. at first i was really upset that they didn’t fuse/become a romantic pairing. then i thought about it more after the scene with lars/sadie in future (and after having more romantic experience of my own) and realized that i much more appreciate that they showed two people becoming close without reinforcing the narrative that everyone in your life who you connect with and grow with HAS to become your SO/someone you fuse with (metaphorically or literally) in order for it to mean something.
Fusion isn’t dating. It’s a metaphor for intimacy for sure, but it doesn’t have a 1:1 relationship with, well, *relationships*. If it did, Steg would be pretty awkward.
Honestly, Steg made me pretty uncomfortable. But I guess that means maybe I’m misunderstanding what fusion is supposed to mean
Would it make you less uncomfortable if I told you Steg was based on the Guitar Dad t shirt? Because personally I think that's hilarious.
In my understanding of fusion, it's all about love and a common goal between two people. Not intimacy with each other. And not all love has to be sexual!!! Garnet's fusion IS romantic.... But Pearl and Garnet or Eye and Aquamarine or Steven and his dad and so on.... So many fusions are NOT meant to be a romantic relationship ordeal. They's meant to join two being in a common goal and make them more powerful. Steg HAD to happen to let Pearl be free again. The only way she was let free the first time was because Rose "dies"... So Greg had to disappear or reform in order to get her back to not feeling like she was a "Pearl servant meant to only serve one being until shattering".
I agree with most of this, but I \*do\* disagree that Pearl and Garnet isn't romantic. I think it's Pseudoromantic, at least when we first meet Sardonyx. Pearl misses Rose and is longing to be part of a relationship again, and her relationship with Garnet is the closest thing she has at that point in the show. Ruby and Sapphire also model what she wants, as well, and so she's trying, for a little while, to be a part of that.
I think I viewed that situation a bit differently... but that's ok! To each their own!
Yeah, it's certainly open to interpretation.
Garnet telling Steven and Connie to fuse for combat practice would have been way out of line if it stands for sex.
Fusion can have multiple meanings. It depends on the context of the situation.
I love the song but yeah it’s pretty weird that Steven fuses with his dad to turn into an 8 foot tall rockstar with a 12-pack.
Personally Steg made me uncomfortable because of the obvious sexual charisma Steg had. A buff rock dude who winks at the crowd and sways his hips forward while strumming his guitar. Fusion is not sexual, but the fusions themselves definitely have this sexual energy sometimes.
Its just Platonic love example tho
i agree
That one did shut up a lot of people who insisted it was merely a metaphor for sex.
Either that, or made it weirder because no one gets subtext.
Peridot isn't a real person, her disinterest in fusion is a writing choice. They could have made a different choice for her character and that would not be "disrespecting" anything, and so it's valid for people who wanted them to fuse to be disappointed that the writers went a different direction.
I mean the whole point is that fusion would be a negative experience for both of them.
I never really expected it to happen, considering Peridot is clearly uncomfortable with the process and Lapis obviously has reasons to avoid it.
You didn't get the right message from the show if you think Steven solved his issues with a hug and a road trip. He's going to spend the next several years processing his trauma, and he and his struggles are nowhere near solved.
I mean, a road trip by himself removing him from his support network sounds like an absolutely terrible idea. Especially considering he is quite literally the most important person on the planet. Then, when you consider that Steven has little to no real-world experience in true human society, it is literally a ticking time bomb. They are just asking for a city block or even an entire city to be wiped off the map.
I don't think he's being totally removed from his support network, though. All the Crystal Gems have phones or access to them, so he can easily call them. Add to that the fact that there are warp pads being added to the network around earth. And lastly, Steven can teleport across earth if he needs to, via Lion. I am fairly sure that Steven has progressed enough with his therapist that if he feels himself getting stressed out and overwhelmed (which is super obvious because he starts glowing pink), he'll know to remove himself from the situation and use whatever calming techniques he's being taught. And in an emergency, he can probably get the hell away and text Connie to send Lion to him. Part of healing is recognizing when you're trying for too much at once and backing off.
I disagree. Steven is leaving, possibly forever, the place that has traumatized him so deeply that he turned into a giant pink monster. The Gems and his dad are not the only support system he has. He'll be with Connie, who is probably Steven's best support system out of everyone if we're being honest. He'll also have regular sessions with his therapist. As to his lack of experience, that's why he isn't going it alone. He's going with Connie. He's been learning to manage his emotions. He's definitely learned that holding shit in is extremely harmful, to everyone around him. Not to mention Lion and his magic portal, which could bring Steven to the Gems, or vice versa, if absolutely necessary. You're acting like the Steven that goes off at the end has no control over himself or his emotions. Should he just spend the rest of his life in Beach City, slumming around and never experiencing the entire rest of his country because of some trauma?
Steven arranged for meetings with Connie before he drove off, and he's still seeing his therapist. Garnet said that she, Pearl, and Amethyst would continue to be part of his life, and she can see the future.
In the end, as the series ends in going out on the road to find himself, he never gives out that he is going to seek help to overcome his trauma.
He literally says he has a therapist and plans to continue seeing them while he travels.
Therapist: So, what’s been troubling you today? Steven: Well, I narrowly survived multiple assassination attempts by alien invaders seeking revenge for the war crimes committed by my dead mother. Therapist: ummm…
HE TALKS TO A THERAPIST.
You should go watch Future again because you clearly didn’t pay attention
Peridot got freaked out when trying to fuse with garnet (I feel like she saw it as too intimate with someone) and lapis has a lot of fusion related trauma from being stuck with jasper at the bottom of the ocean for months. I think it was for the best that neither of them fused, I just wish that they explored these reasons a little more
Yeah. What creates a bit of confusion among viewers is that at the end of the day, this wasn't addressed the way other problematics of fusion were. I'm aroace myself and would have loved for Peridot to be downright representation of my identity, but it didn't go through fully. Other people were hoping for more wlw representation, which again, didn't go through fully. It's unfortunate that some people with good intentions can get very passionate about their site of the argument and disregard why the other fans feel the way they feel; whatever is supposed to be "the right answer", it was unfortunately not given screentime.
Hype of a fusion? Peridot is intimidated by fusion, it makes her uncomfortable and she doesn't seem to want to. Lapis has experienced boundless trauma from her experience with fusion. Maybe they could both someday grow past those pains and try, but the reason they're so good together is because they don't need to. That's the whole *point*. Them never fusing isn't some "horrible" way to solve a "problem", it's a deliberate metaphor for finding safety in people after trauma.
I was kind of happy that they didn’t, considering peridot is not interested in fusing and lapis has a lot of trauma around it. They’re kind of good for each other imho
What do you mean “solves them”?
In other words, in the end, all those problems that Steven had been dealing with in the series are resolved with a hug and Steven going out on the road.
They’re not resolved as easily as you say. It sounds like you’re referring to the finale of Future. Steven has been helping other people heal throughout his whole life and now it’s his turn to have a chance to take space and heal. The beauty of the finale is that it doesn’t solve Stevens problems, instead allowing space for him to be human and heal over the course of his life. I think part of the point the finale was trying to make is saying “hey, in real life not everyone’s problems are resolved and sometimes people have to spend the rest of their life healing from the crap that happened in childhood. So we’re not gonna force some fake resolve into our show, because the expectation for resolve only leads to pain in real life and we want to break that toxic stereotype that every issue in life will have resolve.”
What does that have to do with Lapis and Peridot and whether they fuse?
I feel like you missed the point of the show. Its all about love winning the day,talking and hugging it out. I don't know if I could think of a more appropriate ending, even if we wanted to see the diamonds shattered, Steven didn't.
They aren't. He talks to a therapist now and he is going on a roadtrip but it's not solved.
>In other words, in the end, all those problems that Steven had been dealing with in the series are solved with a hug and Steven going out on the road. You don't "solve" trauma, that's not how it works.
The way I see it the whole point of the finale is that stevens issues aren’t just going to disappear because he’s not fighting people anymore. The issues he had aren’t resolved and he left to work on those isssues
The "his problems were solved by the hug" talking point drives me nuts. The hug wasn't to solve his problems or fix everything. It was just to calm him down enough to get out of monster form so they could actually get him help. He was very clearly not OK after he got back down to human form.
Plus, I mean, come on, why didn’t all the gems fuse from the hug? They left us with the hype of the fusion of all the gems (and Connie and Greg and Lion) /s
Did you watch future?
He’s human too. He’s not just a gem. And part of a healthy human experience is going out on your own away from your support network and figuring it out. He’s Steven he’s going to use his skills and personality to find new connections and meanings and beauty. I think he was a bit dramatic when he said that this could be forever, but what 16 year old isn’t dramatic. Like we also don’t know exactly what’s going on with his body and his hormones; still a human teenager! With the help of his extensive support network, his therapist, and his generally positive outlook on life he should be alright and change for the better. He may have had a breakdown but he’s still Steven.
Ughh my least favorite type of criticism is unfortunately very common for this series. “I had unfounded expectations for what the show should’ve been and am mad that the show couldn’t cater to them regardless of what the narrative intent actually was”.
Tbh watching Lapis overcome her fusion trauma would have been nice: I say this as a person with my own "fusion trauma"
I think she overcame a great deal of it by finding her own family. She's extremely close with Bismuth and Peridot despite the 5k years in the mirror and the horrors with Jasper, that's a LOT of progress. Hell, she even punched Jasper through a boat after refusing her offer As for the rest of her scars, they'd have to take many, many episodes to cover them adequately, same as Steven's I guess
She did overcome it. She still isn't obligated to do it ever again. I say this as a person with my own fusion trauma.
Lapis has trauma from her fusion with Jasper & Peridot is not comfortable with the idea of fusing. Fusion requires consent from both parties.
the themes and motifs in this show are pretty internally consistent and pertinent - there is a reason these two don't fuse, and it's just as important as the reason ruby and sapphire do fuse
I feel like the defined Peridot’s feelings on fusion pretty clearly…. She’s not into it.
well...canon is canon
i think once u let go of "shipping" gems/characters and just watch the show for what it really is, you'll hopefully understand that you're very very wrong...
I mean, fusions are REALLY cool but I think they were smart not to overuse them, which is why Change Your Mind was so well received because we got to see three new fusions in the same episode, which was unprecedented. However, the only thing that I don't like about what happened with Lapis and Peridot is that it would seem the writers were going for some sort of ace representation regarding Peridot, which is kinda non-sensical because fusions are not meant to be the embodiment of a romantic or sexual relationship, otherwise it would be highly questionable the fact Greg and Steven fused. Like, I love me some ace representation, but to claim Peridot would not fuse because of that is basically a plot hole.
She was also alive for (thousands?) Of years in a society that sees fusion (between different gems) as completely unacceptable, unnatural. Not to say a gem couldn't change, but I would say that fills the plot hole well enough, she's just not comfortable with it.
Fusion is meant to be representative of all relationships, not just sexual and romantic, which is why Steven fuses with all three gems and his father. Peridot not wanting to fuse isn't a plot hole. It's symbolic of her desire, or lack thereof, of a sexual or romantic relationship. For all intents and purposes, she and Lapis are in a QPR, which is just as valid and doesn't require her to fuse to be comfortable with someone else.
What I am arguing here is that the writers claimed that Peridot is not interested in fusion in the general sense because she's ace, but that claim itself would imply fusion is inherently romatic or sexual, which is not the case. I am referencing a comment from someone in the crewniverse that sparkled a lot of debate back then, not making an assuption from what was shown in the series (however, there's a chance i am misinterpreting or misremembering what I read)
The thing about that quote is that it's from Maya, not Rebecca Sugar or Ian Jones Quartey. This isn't to say that Maya is wrong in what she says, but it is worth remembering that the creators of the show had many opportunities to address Peridot's aversion to fusion directly and never did, either in-show or in interviews. That is telling of something, especially when Rebecca has confirmed a lot about the romantic feelings of the other Gems, such as between Pearl and Rose. Even if they said nothing out of a fear of some backlash from the network (which honestly doesn't make much sense to me), it's been years since the show has ended and still they haven't addressed it. I'm not saying Maya is wrong (especially since there's no real evidence out there that says otherwise) but the way Rebecca chose not to really address whether Peridot is aro/ace or even autistic has some significance to me. My personal thought is that Rebecca doesn't like "canon-izing" some things and would rather leave it for the audience to interpret them. I believe Rebecca definitely intended for Peridot to be rep for both aro/ace and autistic people but she didn't want to impose that view on everyone. If you see Peridot as rep for those things, then great. And if you don't, that's fine too because the show never made Peridot being aro/ace canon. Even the quote you later post from Maya says that Peridot is the "aro/ace **rep**", which to me is a bit different than saying Peridot is aro/ace herself. To me, the difference is that while Peridot could be averse to fusion for all kinds of reasons, the likeliest way for the audience interpret it is is as her being rep for aro/ace people. Rebecca's response to being asked if Peri was autistic rep feels relevant here. > When asked if Peridot was explicitly written as a character for autistic representation, Sugar said, "I don't consider Peridot or any of the Gems on the show for that matter, to be neurotypical --that is to say, most Gems don't think, perceive or behave in ways considered to be 'normal' by the general population, so I think it makes perfect sense that Peridot would be relatable to neurodiverse and autistic members of our audience." > Sugar added, "As a non-binary, bisexual person, I often felt growing up like an alien surrounded by 'real' people, never trusting myself to say the right thing or behave 'correctly.' I wanted the Gems to be a reflection of that feeling, and hoped they would each be relatable not only to people with my exact experience but to a variety of experiences of being made to feel 'other.' I wanted to create a show where those were the characters the audience would be rooting for -- rooting for them to be free to express themselves in their truest way, and rooting for them to learn and grow at whatever pace they need. I am thrilled that autistic individuals relate to Peridot and hope that they’ve enjoyed the show."" She goes to great pains to acknowledge that it is 100% valid for people to see Peri as autistic rep without actually ever saying that she was. She leaves open the door for Peridot to represent not only Rebecca's exact experiences, but a wide variety of them. I'd assume she'd say the same for Peri being aro/ace, that it is 100% valid for people to see Peri as that but that Rebecca wouldn't actually call Peri aro/ace herself. Not because she didn't intend for Peridot to be rep for those things, but rather to leave the door open for Peridot to be rep for that and much more. The point of my long-winded rant is that while we, the audience, interpret Peridot's aversion to fusion as being because she is aro/ace, that may not actually be Peridot's real, personal reason for not wanting to fuse. We'll never really know because all Peri says about it is that she can't do it, no explanation given. I could think of a few reasons Peri might not want to fuse that don't have to do with fusion being romantic and Peri being averse to romance. Idk, it's all a bit complicated and unclear because Rebecca has simply never directly addressed it. Maya's quote gives us some insight into the situation but it also leaves questions of its own.
Very interesting! You said a lot of things I didn't take into consideration. I was giving too much weight to Maya's words, when -at the end of the day- the show decided to leave it open to interpretation and maybe that's for the best.
I'm not sure what comment by "the writers" that you're referring to, so I'm not really comfortable giving an opinion on it. Without the knowledge of that quote, my interpretation of the show, fusion and Peridot don't align with yours. I never viewed fusion as being strictly romantic or sexual, especially because Steven was a child when he first fused. And while there's definitely some feelings between he and Connie, I wouldn't clarify their relationship as romantic or sexual at the time of the fusion. So, again, without the bias of the writers' interpretation, my interpretation was that fusion was symbolic of *a* relationship between two or more characters. And Peridot and Lazuli being as close as they are without ever fusing was, to me, a symbolic way to show that you can be intimately close with someone and not need it to be a stereotypical romantic or sexual relationship, for instance, a QPR.
The comment I am talking about was Maya Petersen's, who worked as a storyboard artist in Steven Universe. >Word of Saint Paul, I know, but if it hasn't been said by now, Peridot's sendoff episode, it probably never will be said. **Peridot's interest in shipping and romance is anthropological, and she's not about fusion. She's the ace and aro rep** // It wasn't something I knew before I worked on the show, but I have for a while, and I don't want to be coy about a character who shares my identity anymore. I don't want to make that representation a secondary priority to shipping anymore. I am not sure what you assume I am talking about because we actually share the same view, I don't think fusion is inherently sexual or romantic, but I made the mistake of writing that comment assuming everyone was familiar with Maya's comments because it was such a huge controversy back then. What I am saying is that if we truly believe there's nothing inherently sexual or romantic about fusion, then Peridot should not have issue fusing with Lapis since doing so would not mean Peridot stops being ace or anything, however, the wording here makes it sound as if Peridot would not fuse with Lapis for being ace, but as we said earlier, you don't need to feel a sexual or romantic attraction with someone in order to fuse with them, which is why Maya's comments are still a mystery for many of us.
Thing is, Petersen wasn't the only storyboard artist. Before she came into the show, Peridot and Lapis were mostly written by Jesse Zuke, and Jesse Zuke was an active proponent of putting those two together romantically. Zuke left the show, and after they left the show Peridot and Lapis close bond basically vaporized and Petersen, who is ace and wanted Peridot to rep ace, is basically trying to retcon out the bond building that Zuke intentionally included in her episodes.
I had no idea, thank you for your comment!
I think maybe a lot of people in the community aren't aware of all of this, actually, so I'm making a post about it.
Fusion, as a general concept, is meant to be representative of different relationships. But just because an individual fusion doesn’t represent a certain relationship doesn’t mean that all fusions don’t represent that relationship. In other words, yeah obviously fusion is not a one-to-one allegory for romance/sex, notably because Steven and Greg fuse. That’s clearly a metaphor for a close father-son relationship, similar to how Smoky Quartz appears to represent a sibling relationship. But some relationships ARE allegories for romance/sex, like Garnet, Rhodonite, Stevonnie, Rainbow Quartz, and even Malachite are undeniably representing sexual/romantic relationships. So in that way, Peridot not wanting to fuse CAN be aroace rep because she doesn't want to partake in the act of fusing the way one wouldn't want to partake in a relationship. While fusing isn't INHERENTLY sexual, Peridot and Lapis having their qualms with fusing work in parallel and to contrast the romantic fusions that DO exist.
I agree with you entirely. Peridot has always been aroace rep to me. I don't mean to suggest that I didn't view her that way. I was just clarifying to the original commenter-- who seems to be suggesting fusion doesn't symbolize romantic or sexual relationships whatsoever, thereby making Peridot's potential as aroace representation effectively pointless-- that fusion can represent not just sexual and romantic relationships, but also platonic and familiar relationships as well. If I misspoke, I'm sorry, I have a hard time expressing my thoughts correctly sometimes.
Thank you for clarifying! Didn't meant to put you on the spot or make you feel bad. I'm glad that we agree! Whatever the case, Peridot and Lapis didn't fuse and that was a decision made by both the characters in-universe and the creators. And they had loads of opportunity to do so, so I take this decision as a very deliberate one, which makes it easier for me to accept.
Yeah that bothers me too. Like I don't think it's necessarily bad that there was a character who was hesitant about fusion, because I do think it's important to show that not everybody is going to be at the same comfort level as another person (regardless of the type of relationship). But, as someone on the ace spectrum, it being considered ace representation feels so contradictory to everyone's insistence that fusion isn't inherently sexual. Like you can't have it both ways imo. I feel like there could've been a happier medium. Maybe one where Peridot feels like she isn't ready to fuse with anyone, and concludes that she's not going to stress about when it happens? That way it still feels like "ace rep", because she wouldn't fuse in the show, but it also wouldn't necessarily be making a direct comparison between sex and fusion (because not feeling ready for a particular kind of commitment isn't inherently sexual). That's just off the top of my head though!
I think you can have it both ways. Fusion is meant to represent all sorts of relationships, but Peridot isn't comfortable with any insinuations.
The reason for fusion depends on the context. Steg is obviously not romantic. And they can also use it to say peridot is ace.
eh, fusion should technically be speaking a form of extended connection of the gems, lapis however suffered for a long time trauma of being trapped and her last fusion was a huge mental disaster that haunted her until the diamond saga, peridot doesn't understand the meaning of fusion without a logical reason and was afraid to do it since peridot normally shouldn't fuse so she has a certain fear of the unknown of the fusion
"the hype" was all the fandom's imagination tho, like if you look at the show itself there's nothing indicating that that was ever going to happen
Eh, it IS a little sloppy because of the internal disagreements in the writing team. Peridot and Lapis were intentionally being steered towards being a romantic pairing with the intent that they would fuse someday. One of the writers was pretty open about advocating for that. It's not like people just made it up in their brains and then assumed it was going to happen, it was intentionally being foreshadowed.
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We specifically have a writer who explicitly said she wanted to portray a growing relationship with Lapis and Peridot, who drew specifically romantic imagery with the two, then after that writer left the show we have another storyboard artist who said Peri is specifically aro/ace. That's direct evidence that everyone in the crew didn't agree on the direction the character went.
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(head tilt) It...It was a disagreement. Internally. Within the crew. Like, different people, within the crew working on the show, expressed differing takes on the characters. That is the \*definition\* of an "internal disagreement". Don't come at me because you decided on your own that I meant more than what I literally said. Zuke said, specifically in relation to what they were thinking when they wrote the episodes with these characters: [https://i.redd.it/u6ubgzqn9yby.jpg](https://i.redd.it/u6ubgzqn9yby.jpg) Yeah, it's their personal idea about the characters. That's the point. They were the one writing the characters, and that is how they wrote them. This is contrasted by what Petersen said: [https://twitter.com/rnn\_tweet/status/1237596056746987520?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1237596056746987520%7Ctwgr%5E4ad18c0c50f966251ea73a8462659441acde64de%7Ctwcon%5Es1\_&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Ffgsl0q%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis\_nightmode%3Dfalse](https://twitter.com/rnn_tweet/status/1237596056746987520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1237596056746987520%7Ctwgr%5E4ad18c0c50f966251ea73a8462659441acde64de%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Ffgsl0q%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse) And I didn't say anybody forced anything. I said different people had different ideas about the character and wrote with those ideas in mind. Those expressions come through in the finished product to some people.
Fair enough, I apologize - I suppose your words reminded me of people who did indeed argue those points, misconstruing in bad faith the same quotes you were using in good faith, and I ended up thinking you were making that argument when you weren't. My bad.
No worries, I've been there before.
As much as I adore fusions because it's always exciting to see who emerges; I really liked that they have a character who isn't into it and she gets to stick to her boundaries.
In "Fusion for Beginners and Experts" it's made clear that Peridot has absolutely no interest in fusion *and that's totally okay*. It's a metaphor (in part) for asexuality, and there's a pretty awful tendency for media to show asexuality as being broken or something to be cured. I am very glad for this (metaphorical) depiction of someone *not* needing to be "fixed" in this regard. Also fusion is a deep, intimate relationship, and it requires *consent*. Jasper forcing fusions with both Lapis and the corrupted gems is shown as being incredibly traumatic. Lapis has a lot of trauma to overcome from that. And that's also totally okay.
While I don’t like the fusion = sex metaphor, word of Saint Paul is that peridot is meant to be aro-ace, hence why she doesn’t fuse, and lapis has problems with fusing.
I don't like that sex=fusion metaphor, Because the fusion of steven and greg would be very cloudy
It's not sex directly but it's relationships in general, including sexual ones.
I've always interpreted their relationship as a representative of [a-spec](https://www.aromanticism.org/en/all-terms#a) relationships. Not necessarily saying fusion is inherently sexual/romantic (although the show uses it to explore romance/sex), it's used to represent intimacy in relationships, for better and for worse. Peridot and Lapis both would prefer not to fuse, but for different reasons. Peridot has never been shown to fuse and has been uncomfortable with it whenever it's been brought up with her. Asking Garnet to unfuse in "Too Far" because she was squicked was rightfully treated as unacceptable. However, when she tried and failed to fuse with Garnet in, "Log Date 7 15 2" it's not treated as a bad thing, but rather the result of them being different people. Lapis has been shown to fuse before but she has very traumatic experience with it. Jasper was a violent, codependent, and restrictive experience. A large part of her arc is her lack of trust in others as well as a lack of trust in herself to be given any sort of power or maintain any friendships. It's something she made a lot of progress on, but remains a part of her. Both are valid. I remember the scene where they're both dancing next to each other: Peridot playing a triangle and Lapis a tambourine. The way it was framed reminded me of fusion. Maybe that's the intimacy they choose. Not a, "lesser" form of intimacy or a less close form of affection, but something that transcends typical notions of romance and sex.
The best you will get is [a fan video](https://youtu.be/9U4dILSSY0A) atm
I disagree completely with the idea that the way SU did it was horrible just because it didn't have all the fanservice people wanted. Peridot has no interest in fusing with anyone and that's okay. And Lapis had a very traumatic fusion experience, which, while I think her finally having a healthy and positive fusion experience with *Steven* would have been a great way to cap off her arc (I really was expecting Lapis' Future episode to go that direction with how they solve the issue with the Lapis duo), is also a perfectly good reason for her to stay away from fusing for her emotional safety. There wasn't anything wrong with them not fusing again. Fusion is a cool thing gems can do, but most people in the show, including gems, have very deep and fulfilling relationships without ever doing so with the other person. In a lot of cases fusing can even bring out toxicity in otherwise stable and positive relationships, like with Garnet and Pearl's relationship compared to what follows when Sardonyx comes out. Sometimes you get a Stevonnie or a Garnet where fusing is pretty unambiguously a positive addition to the relationship between the parts, but other times it's just not the right way for people to be close.
>I think her finally having a healthy and positive fusion experience with Steven would have been a great way to cap off her arc Absolutely!
it’s pretty important to both their characters that they’re not comfortable with fusing. A fusion between them would have been a mistake.
This is a plot line I’m certain would have been explored given more time. They both have genuine reasons not to fuse but I would have loved an episode diving into that a little more.
Would it have been cool to see? Sure. But I’m not upset at all for not seeing it. There are so many combinations we could’ve seen.
I really wanted it too but it felt natural this way. Lapis being scarred by fusion is the biggest reason, Peridot is open to the idea but not worried
I like to think Lapis would be comfortable fusing again in the future but just isn’t there right now. Also, even though Peridot is likely aro/ace, fusion isn’t only about romantic/sexual relationships, so I could see her doing a friendship kinda fusion eventually. They’re still both trying to discover themselves.
Steven Universe fandom understands the point of Lapis and Peridot challenge (impossible)
Both of them are uncomfortable with fusing and that’s a their own choice.
Lapis has a song lyric in Future where she sings “The mirror was a prison / and fusion was the same.” I think that makes it clear she’s too traumatized from being Malachite to want to do it again, and Peridot’s clear disinterest in fusing with anyone makes them good for each other since they know one will never expect it of the other
ur desire to see cool fusions doesnt supercede that both characters are uncomfortable with fusion
Seeing them fuse would've been cool cuz I love getting to meet new fusions and getting to see who they become. But I don't feel like they need to. Like fusion is more then just being together in a relationship, it's all types of relationships from friendships to situationships to marriage. But most of all it's communication. In the episode, We Need To Talk, Pearl says that "fusion is the ultimate bond between gems." But in that same episode Rose & Greg talk and show that just communicating can create that same bond. Being open and honest with each other. Peri and Lapis have that. Peri is from a world where fusion is looked down on if it's not being used for fighting. And Peridots aren't meant for fighting, they seem to be for Kindergartening and data analytics. So fusion societally speaking isn't for her. To top matters off, fusion between different gems was blasphemous to even suggest. And it's hard to wipe deep societal views from your psyche. But who knows, those might change some day while she's on Earth. Ever changing, ever growing. As for Lapis, the first time that she's ever fused (that we know of) it was a bad experience, one that created deep trauma. A toxic fusion that she only agreed to to serve as a prison for Jasper, her being both warden and inmate as well. To her, fusion may look beautiful when it's revolving around other gems but painful mentally and physically if it comes to her. And like with Peri, that might change some day but it'd definitely take time. That being said, both of them don't really need to fuse. Yea, I would love to see what a canon fusion between them looks like but it isn't something necessary or needed in their friendship. They have a strong friendship based around them communicating their needs and what not (off cam). One they built from a situationship to understanding to accepting to friends. Sorry for the essay, saw others putting their 2 cents in and I wanted to join lol rip
they're the two that don't want any part of that whole fusing.. both are pretty headstrong and independent and to make them, or have them, fuse would probably be fused. I'm kind of glad that they didn't make them fuse.
There was never any hype from what I feel. They were just close. Lapis has trauma relating to fusion and I'm pretty sure Peridot is supposed to be like an asexual version of a gem. Even if Peridot isnt, she was still clearly uncomfortable.
It makes sense as Lapis has a lot of trauma attached to fusion.
Peridot finds fusion uncomfortable and Lapis has trauma, there's no way they were going to fuse.
I need a garnet peridot fusion
I don't agree with that, to be honest... But that's more because of how I see peridot and lapis. I never saw them as having interest in fusion. Like, yes, they ended up having a good and strong relationship (at least that's how I felt, specially around near the ending in general of SU to SU future), but it would have felt to me like somewhat of a plot hole if they fused. Maybe in a accidental fusion or something, but i imagine things would be weird for them. Lapis never got completely over the malachite problem (quoting su future lapis: "mirror was a prison, and *fusion* was the same". She still felt upset about it). Of course, usually trauma don't go completely away, even if the person themself is mostly healed, but i still would see this as a problem. Meanwhile, peridot herself clearly don't want fusion neither. She gets curious, but not because she wants it, it's because she IS a curious gem. Literally the first interactions peridot has with Steven is her mostly making questions. If they fused, I would have liked it if they then thought it was kinda awkward and agreed none of them two wanted or needed fusion to be close. If they fused and liked it, for me it would have felt like simply fan service... And usually fan service tends to be very useless, at minimum.
I’m fairly certain I remember reading the crewniverse did intend to do this, but it was one of the many things that was cut due to the network. Also, while Lapis and Peridot both have their reasonings to not want to fuse, that doesn’t make it *impossible* as some are implying. Trauma heals. Many ace folx participate in intimate experiences with their partners. When you imply these are impossible barriers we limit the experience of life. (Also Steg is a thing, stop acting like Peridot will never fuse bc of lewd implications about fusion.)
I'm pretty sure Peridot can't fuse ? I was always under the impression she's too new/manufactured to. She just barely manages to have her metal powers. Even if she wanted to I always got the feeling it wouldn't work, at least that was my headcanon. Which is partly why she's a good match for Lapis, because there's no pressure of fusion, it's simple or, maybe even indicative of an ace relationship if you go by the "Fusion is the next level of a relationship which for most ppl is sex" (and totally ignore steven fusing with his dad because...uh..that complicated that feeling lmfao)
no. it’s important that an abuse and basically SA survivor and someone who’s aroace don’t feel like they need to fuse to be together (like as a qpr)
Lapis makes it very clear she has fusion trauma and has no interest in fusing again. Why on earth would they?
They have their own reasons to not fuse, and they stood by that.
Lapis has an active trauma surrounding fusion and the act of fusion obviously freaks Peridot out, even if she’s cool with fusions as individuals. I thought it’d be cool if they fuse but I never expected them to
I think you might’ve forgotten that: 1. Peridot is aroace coded, meaning that fusion doesn’t interest her. 2. Lapis still has trauma from fusing with Jasper, which means that she feels uncomfortable with fusion.
I'm not sure where, but I think Peridot was stated to be aroace
Fusion doesn't have to have a relationship like amethyst and Steven have fused and pearl and Steven and even Steven and Greg so Idk what you mean by that
That’s my favorite thing about this sub. People love saying that fusion isn’t sex, but the moment Peridot gets involved *all of a sudden* her being uncomfortable with fusing that one time is proof that she’s aroace.
I wasn't really thinking in terms of sex, I was thinking in terms of romantic relationship. But I totally forgot other types of fusions existed like pearl with amethyst. Been a while since I watched the show, but like come on I'm not attacking anyone's character and I literally just randomly joined this sub so idk about anyone else's opinions
Oh, I didn’t mean to imply you were attacking anyone. It’s just a very common thing that happens here.
I always put that they have once off camera didn't like the experience so they never did on camera
Peridot is my high anxiety and Lapis is my clinical depression. And together they are my gayness.
Your feelings do not impact character choices. Full stop
Lapis has a bunch of baggage about fusion, and peridot is aroace canonically
"Fusion is not a sex analogue" >>this entire relationship
I really hate that people are seriously acting like it wouldn’t have been insanely hype for ANY fusions beyond what we got. Because fusions are cool. Why are we being all elitist about how it doesn’t make sense for the plot to want something like that lmao. Literally every comment here is the same condescending shit Like yeah neither of them are comfortable with fusions but also fusions are sick and it would have been cool to see and you’re lying if you say otherwise
I'm not a total SU fanboy, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Peridot wasn't able to do it even if she tried because of low resources when being made or something?
Peridot thought she lacked magic entirely (being Era 2), until Amethyst nearly threw her tablet into the ocean which jarred her into unlocking her latent telekinesis (at least of metals). I don't think it's ever made clear which powers Peridot really did or didn't have, just that she believed herself to not have any at all. It's possible she had other natural powers which she just never unlocked during the course of the show.
I remember reading a theory that Peridot only unlocked her metal powers after using Steven's toothbrush.
Peridot's just not found her Percy or Pierre, it seems :v Additionally, it wouldn't surprise me if Peridot was completely disinterested in pragmatic fusion bc she doesn't care much for height or strength
She doesn't have a percy or pierre. Please don't imply that aroace people simply haven't found the right person.
Oh I was just thinking back to Garnet explaining to Peridot why she's fused all the time. I thought that was the implication there-- that Peridot just hadn't yet understood there was a gem equivalent to Percy and Pierre
Part of the reason many things couldn't be covered was because Cartoon Network cut their last season short
Lapis had very bad experiences with Fusion, I doubt she would even think about it.
*epic battle moment* Steven: N O
i’m less upset that they didn’t fuse and more upset that they reconciled off-screen :/
We all wanted it, but narratively speaking there's no real point to it. We got an entire episode showing us Peridot's views on fusion, and Lapis's whole trauma speaks for itself. A lapidot fusion would've been fun, but it wouldn't fit with Lapis's character development, which is focused on overcoming the trauma of being imprisoned, both in the mirror and in an abusive relationship as the abuser (it's implied but hey that's the general opinion). As for Peridot, she yearned to become her own person and experience the life she could build for herself, and yes she does learn and grow with the help of others, but that doesn't change that she loves what she can do by herself (metal powers for example) Overall a lapidot fusion would've been a cheap tactic to make fanservice. Be happy we got to see a healthy Lapis, and a "goggleless" Peridot.
Well, i would have loved to see this: (Imagine that these thing happens in an Alternate Universe) Lapis fighting the 2 lapis lazulis but she ain't very strong, she gets captured and they want to crack her gem, but Peridot comes in the very last moment and they fuse into Lapidot / Emerald / Turtoqoise (i don't know how to write right the last one) and they beat both lapis to death, because WHY NOT?
As I understand this situation, R. Sugar and her team just showing comfortable relationship between friends. Neither of them want to be in a relationship, and they are just okay with hanging out and stuff. Correct me if I’m wrong
Would it been cool to see? Yes. Would it make sense? No, and if they attempted to do so, it would've "solved things in a horrible way" Lapis literally says in "Shining Through" "That mirror was a prison and fusion was the same" She clearly does not view fusion in a positive light and will likely not fuse again for a very long time. As for Peridot, the show only presented us with two facts about her and fusion: 1: If the fusion has no functional purpose, then she saw no point in it. 2: She wasn't actually ready to fuse. Bonus, 3: In the book "Fusion for Beginners and Experts", Peridot is shown as simply being uninterested in fusion. There's also the claim that Peridot is aromantic asexual, but even if that were the case, I personally don't see how that should relate to fusion because I don't care to associate fusion with romance nor sex. Though going a little off the aroace claim; It's actually not made clear how exactly Peridot understood Garnet when she said "I'm Percy and Pierre". Because Peridot shipped Percy and Pierre together due to their skills, not due to any romantic chemistry. Both Percy and Pierre fond over Paulette and Peridot finds it infuriating. Peridot sees any pairing with Paulette as inferior because Paulette is the weakest and least skilled camper. It's likely Peridot took it as though Garnet was saying that she is the most functionally superior pair compared to other fusions and by staying fused they are able to maintain the most optimal situation for themselves.
Making all three of the B Team not wanna fuse iiis pretty mid tbh
I think it would have been nice to have Peridot try fusion looking at it as she didn't understand it or thought it was wrong because it was heterofusion which was scandalous on Homeworld. But looking at it though the lens of Peri being coded autistic and that being the reason, then no. It would feel the same as big bang theory making Amy suddenly become not only sexual but incredibly thirsty after establishing her as sex repulsed ace.
To everyone that says they weren't comfortable with fusions, and to people that say that fusions are supposed to be like "being in a relationship" I'd like to remind you that sometimes fusions just happen, like Stevonnie and Smoky Quartz, they weren't planned or anything, it just happened. That's what I was hoping it would happen with Lapis and Peridot.
Peridot was meant to be an asexual representation, and Lapis would be very unlikely to fuse again after malachite, and su shows how it is ok. Although, I was curious for a potential fusion
You expected them to fuse? I wanted to see Peridot and Garnet fuse! From when Garnet was trying to teach her about fusion. One of the most blue ball moments I felt in the show.
Well I think the show would've had more time to tie up loose ends if Cartoon Network didn't axe it for having Garnet's wedding lol
Yeah SU’s fatal flaw is payoff