huh

as happy as i am that my guy pulled through AGAIN (in a pvp match again scott no less) i am absolutely gutted we didnt get a treebark finale. red winter redemption and all. id pay popcorn money for that

Or if some of it had been their fault, but at least on purpose. That the blood on their hands was taken properly. Intention to run counter to guilt; letting the loss of her lives mean something.

Or if all of it had been their fault. If all of it rested on their shoulders, in their hands. If she could haunt them clean. A concrete target for this pain, even if it was only themselves. The chance to be in debt and therefore to work towards clearing it, by winning it all.

Or if it was only ever an accident. If there could be sympathy found from without, in knowing that none other than them had truly meant her harm. That they all could properly mourn the loss of one beloved to all, as much as to the two of them.

Grian and Gem stare at the water cascading down the hillside, standing in the shadow of the cobbled crescent moon. None of that is the case.

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Gem is someone who's been treated as a bloody weapon and has a habit of treating others the same way. especially if they too have some sort of reputation as a bloodthirsty monster. (hint hint Scarlet Pearl)

She is respected the longer she holds this status as a formidable enemy and nothing more so she keeps up that appearance. Gem has friends, people who genuinely care for her, but still, so many connections start from people just wanting to be on her good side, not trying to get to know her.

Maybe it would be easier to connect if Gem stopped feeding her reputation, but she can't do that now. This who she is, this is why people respect her, this is why people like her at all. She cant stop that, she cant lose control of how people precieve her. Gem has been given a simple role to play, a fighter, a gladiator, a weapon, everyone has shaped their opinions of her based on that role. So that means that as long as she continues playing it, she can know exactly what they think of her.

Gem has very big problems with control, with knowing whats happening, with having the upper hand over any situation and over the people around her. Once i sort out her backstory ill probably give some sort of big traumatizing event to give a little explation of all this, some sort of large denial of her agenecy that led her here. Or maybe i wont. Maybe she's born with it maybe it's a defense mechanism.

I think by Past Life Gem's been trying to break free from the weapon mold but still always subconciously falling into it out of habit. And this team doesn't help. Gem and Pearl were both only searched out by Grian for his team because of their skills in past seasons. And I think Gem leaving Pearl behind in the villies is kind of that defense mechanism thing. Her and Pearl were both chosen for this team rather than choosing it themselves, they were both seperated from their identities in favor of past actions that frame them as violent fighters more so than people.

Gem had lost control over her team and over her framing, and in an almost instinctual attempt to regain it, she pushed Pearl out, pushed Pearl lower. She has to be above someone, afterall. This is harmful to Pearl, obviously, and Gem and Grian would have to do a lot to ever make up for it (and i dont think they will. at least not in the actual season. I might write a thing of them trying to work it out tho)

Gem wants Scarlet Pearl. Because everything she's heard about Scarlet Pearl has been how people describe her. She wants someone like her, what she doesn't realize, is that Pearl's already like her, and that she's reinforcing the same rumours she's come to hate about herself. A visious violent beast. That's all they'll ever be. Isn't it?

I know Mumbo has a Computer Science degree.

That's not to say Pearl fully deserved the level of hostility she got from Gem, because she didn't really. Gem and Pearl both made their choices in Secret Life, to stay with their teams, and, well, Scar was part of Pearl's team (as of that very moment, at least). Pearl can't be blamed for fighting with her teammate.

However.

I think a lot of people fail to see the Secret Life finale from Gem's perspective. Fail to see the tragedy and injustice of it.

Gem was one of the strongest players in the server until, suddenly, halfway through the finale, she and her entire team were debilitated to the point where they basically had no chance. Gem had to watch one of her teammates die, had to kill the other herself for a chance at victory, and then was ganged up on two against one by two people who were already far healthier than she was at that point.

Pearl didn't technically do anything wrong, per say, but it's also not unreasonable that Gem would feel like she was robbed. Not on the grounds of loyalty (although her connection with pearl is probably why these feelings fixated so heavily on pearl), but on the grounds of respect and dignity.

There's a reason the main thing Gem wanted from Pearl during Wild Life was a fair one on one fight, and a reason it felt like an insult that Pearl refused to give it to her (there's also something to be said for how this directly mirrors pearl wanting a fair fight with scott, but that's another conversation)

I just don't think Gem was "wrong"- although the way she expressed her feelings to Pearl was likely unfair- or just being "petty". Gem's feelings with complicated and based on very understandable trauma, which Pearl did contribute to, even if Gem was unfair to put the full weight of blame onto Pearl and act with so much hostility toward her.

His middle name is Scott

'Scott' is fairly close to how you pronounce his demonic/draconic/etc. name; the fact that it sounds like a common overworld name is a coincidence

Impulse also hails from Scottland

Impulse had to pay to get into the band; his version of 'scot' is referring to the payment/taxes/etc. definition of the word (as used in the phrase 'scot-free')

He actually has nothing in common with the name at all. Gem and Scott just liked the band name Gem & the Scotts because it sounded cool. Impulse thought it was hilarious because it meant everyone got confused as to why he was one of "the Scotts"

We know Skizz sometimes changes people's nicknames (eg calling Gem "Gemmy" now instead of "Gemstone"). So what if Impulse was his first nickname and Skizz later changed it to Dimple-Dop? With the name Impulse sticking for everyone else

Now look at the end of Impulse's name. He has the letters "SV" at the end

SV are his initials

I may be stupid.