thesketcherlass:

secularsalvation:

thesketcherlass: This was originally going to my submission for the “Opal”-prompt over on the 60 minute SU challenge, but the lineart ended up taking all 60 minutes and the idea was just too close to my heart for me to leave it there. I’m going to shove it in the tag anyway, just because I would never have gotten around to do it without the added motivation of the challenge and I’ve seen others admit to not sticking to the 60 minute rule so what the heckles eh God, I love this and I’m about to tangent about a cartoon, but oh well. I love opal and the artist who made this pretty much put the entire reason why right here. Pearl and amethyst are such perfect complements to each other. Each of them is deeply suffering emotionally. Both of them have issues with their own self esteem with Pearl believing she was not good enough to help Rose Quartz save the world and with Amethyst believing that because she was made in the kindergarten, she is a monster. Each of them goes to an extreme in order to cope with those feelings of inadequacy. Pearl is controlling and uptight, while amethyst chooses to be laid-back and care-free to feel at peace. They could each learn from each other. When gems fuse, it seems that the more balanced they are, the more in line their physical forms are. Garnet, who is made of two gems in almost perfect balance, has only an extra eye, and appears to be a regular gem. Sugilite, on the other hand, who is totally unbalanced has five eyes and appears quite unnatural, as does the jasper-lapis fusion, who looked overall quite like a demon. Opal only has one different feature: Extra arms. Pearl and amethyst have what the other needs and so they fuse together beautifully. But it is because they share the same pain that they can do so. I’m not sure. I just love their characters and the emotional development theyve had throughout the show.

My thoughts exactly. The two of them would compliment each other perfectly, just like Opal is a nearly perfect, if only they had the emotional energy to try to understand one another’s coping mechanisms. But they don’t, and it’s ruining the connection they undoubtedly once had. I really hope they’ll continue to work on their problems as the show goes on, they have so much potential.

Also, side-note, look at the differences in personality between the base gems and their fusion. Pearl and Amethyst are both emotionally troubled in their own ways, they’re both stubborn and selfish, and set in their ways - but Opal brings out the best in them. She’s warm, patient and very genuine, reassuring Steven that she’s still the people he knows and loves by singing his own song back to him, which is something neither Pearl or Amethyst would have the confidence to do (Pearl wouldn’t have the emotional know-how to understand that such a simple thing would sooth him, Amethyst would be too worried about coming of as soft or sentimental, afraid of appearing weak). Opal is Amethyst’s natural empathy and people skills combined with Pearl’s self control and carefulness, resulting in a gentle, warm and even more motherly figure.

If the two just sat down and listened to one another, the same way they’re forced to work together as Opal, they could learn so much from one another. They have the ability to make or break each other and the suspense is killing me.