Close-Reads

(I am trying very hard to take better care of myself, I promise! And thank you for caring)

I agree! And I touched on it briefly in this post that it seems a waste of precious time to poof each and every gem after the fall of Pink Diamond. For one, there were war and post-war efforts that needed tending to. And it’s odd that Homeworld, which has characterised itself as very utilitarian, would make a big deal about outfit changes when we see gems supposedly low on the social ladder like the Ruby Squad have unique and individual markers on their outfits.

In that regard I would say that the “clothes” we see are just extensions of that physical projection, like a second skin. The logical extension of this argument would be that gems don’t even really feel the “need” to have clothes on for modesty the way people now do, but it’s built into their programming to have a layer over their bodies for protective purposes in battle and the like.

And notice how Pearl changes her clothes in Space Race and Back to the Barn easily. In Beach Party the three CGs change their clothes and are able to sustain it an entire party. It shows that the energy requirement to maintain one’s clothes is less than that of shapeshifting.

I’d say that regenerations serve the functional purpose of physical recovery. Gems poof when their physical forms have taken significant damage. Regeneration would help in making their forms more ideal so as to prevent future damage in the same way or even just to mend the damage already done. It is of the utmost importance that the core physical form is stable, which was the message that Reformed was trying to explain.

So clothes probably don’t fall under that category because they’re just a layer over the core physical form. It’s like how dyeing one’s hair doesn’t really change the thickness, curling, or length of it.

And speaking of the Diamond symbol, you’re right in saying that Ruby just plain never had one from her first appearance. On the other hand, Pearl still keeps the PD symbol on her spacesuit even though she’s had multiple opportunities not to wear it anymore. That speaks of a more personal than physical response to certain events when it comes to clothes. It would explain the differences in the Ruby Squad’s clothes as well.

Rose Quartzes, designed as fighters, likely did not pop out of the ground in gowns. So you’re absolutely right in pointing out that it’s odd for Rose to be wearing such a thing. As an aside, it’s a testament to how much Rose has changed, even though she herself continues to insist that gems can’t change and don’t grow.

Right! That’s why I’m not hinging everything on Peridot’s even being able to fuse or change her regenerated forms. Both those things require moving around the light particles that make up the physical form of the gem, and Peridot doesn’t seem to be able to do that because she can’t shape shift.

The counter-argument here is that Connie, who can’t shape shift, can fuse, which means at the least, one person who can freely move around their matter is needed for fusion to work.

But I think it would be fine if Peridot can’t “edit” her form. First, because Peridot herself doesn’t completely shun Homeworld. In Gem Drill, she says, “It’s hard not to have feelings about where you came from.” And she’s not angry. She’s genuinely sad, the way Rose, Pearl, and Lapis are sad that they completely cut ties with Homeworld. For her to replace every indicator she was from Homeworld with Earth and Crystal Gem markers would mean she’s completely throwing out who she was. And we know that’s not the case. She’s growing, not rewriting her identity.

Second, Peridot is the first gem who is taken with “Appearance modifiers that aren’t melded to your body!” 

It would be an interesting way to culminate her love of Earth clothing if her “star” came in the form of something she put on. 

Engaging your second idea, if Peridot can’t fuse, then it serves as an emphasis that fusion isn’t the culmination of a good relationship. Everyone engages in their relationships differently, and this would be a nice way to present that.