Petition for Red Diamond to have a Sauna!
Yellow has a steam room, and Blue has a whole bathing pool. Red should get a sauna to lounge in the dry heat like a cat.
Being perfectly honest, I vibe with the idea of Steven's first meeting with her being there by accident. Red Pearl got sidetracked and wasn't right by the door like she ought to be.
As a result, Steven meets the closest sibling Pink had while they are dozing with their back exposed to the door.
He doesn't pick up who she is initially from her size in comparison to the other Diamonds plus the sheers that are pearl-esq.
Red, hearing the door, assumes their pearl came to wake them and instead turns to see a stranger in human fashioned swim trunks.
That is, of course, when Steven sees the diamond-shaped irises and has to very quickly sputter apologies and explanations as to who he is. "I'm Steven, Pink Diamond was my mom, I'm on Homeworld for help from Yellow, Blue, and White, etc."
Red, rather than be affronted, takes in this new revelation: that there's a human in front of him, that he has a nephew of sorts.
"Son." Steven expects further explanation being needed about not being Pink in a new form, but Red just nods.
"Steven. I'm sorry we weren't acquainted properly when you arrived, but I only just returned myself a few days ago."
At this point rapid tip-tapping footsteps come barreling for the door and Red Pearl bursts in with an equally harried Crystal Gem Pearl. Red Pearl sheepishly tries to recreate the atmosphere she's supposed to uphold in public, but Red waves her off and makes to leave the Sauna.
"Good luck in your quest, Steven. White is a... difficult gem to get conversation from."
It's only after Red is gone that Steven informed Pearl that Red just accepted that this was their first meeting and that he wasn't Pink.
They also only realized later that Red never offered to help for all the amiability he presented.
I accept your petition for a sauna for Red Diamond!
(I hoped you didn’t mind the wait for the snippet!)
The pitter patter of Steven’s fleshy human feet slapping against the hard surface of the floor echoed through the hallway.
Steven knew he shouldn’t be walking away from where Pearl left him. But his curiosity kicked in when he saw the red door.
Unlike the hallways leading to the extraction chambers aka steam and pool room, the red hallway was not filled with walls of moving faces or eyes.
Instead of cold closed geometrics, it was lined up the warm organics he’s much more familiar with on Earth.
On both sides of the hallway, rainbow tinted windows rose high, stretching all the way up to the ceiling until they were connected.
Finger of lights stretched past the colourful glass, painting the floor with every hue.
Eventually, Steven came to the end.
Like the hallway, it was full of windows stretching upwards except this time it was to a massive 8 pointed star.
Unlike the other two extraction chambers there were no one waiting outside the door. Does that mean there was no one inside?
Steven was about to leave when he noticed a pale pink light shining. Looking down, he saw it was his Gem.
Steven walked closer to the door and the light grew brighter.
Curiousity peaked, Steven pressed his palm to the Diamond symbol.
Steam burst out as doors opened. Instinctively, Steven shut his eyes when he felt the brush of heat against his face.
Unlike the outside, the lighting was dim, gentle and soft, soothing to the eyes and relaxing the mind.
Steven’s head went left and right, observing how different this extraction chamber was from the other.
While not massive as the others, it was still pretty big. From what Steven could tell, the place was shaped closer to a cylinder, tall with no edges, than a regular room, having pointed corners.
Steven’s eyes caught sight of the upper wall. Carved into the stone itself, was a mural. Decorating it was the formed of different Gems, short stocky Rubies with their signature afro, slender elegant Pearls with their distinct beak like nose, towering Quartzes with wild manes, and much more.
Steven also noticed something. While most of the Gems were depicted with circles, squares or other shapes for their Gems, others had a familiar 8 pointed star he saw outside.
Steven flinched, nearly jumping out of his skin at the sudden voice.
Following the sound, Steven’s eyes drifted down. Under the mural, reclining on her side with their back face towards him, was a Gem.
It may have been dim but Steven could tell they were red like Ruby.
Fluffy curls, untamed and free, prevented Steven from seeing any clue from their face or upper back, but he could see most of the rest of them.
The Gem was very slender, not as thin as Pearl with her stick-like arms and legs or curvy as Amethyst with her thicker build. But something more… human adjacent.
To his surprise, their Gem was on their lower back and it was the same 8 pointed star he saw outside and on the mural.
Despite the dimness of the room, Steven could definitely tell because, like his own Gem, theirs too was glowing faintly in a pale red light.
Steven watched as the Gem stretched like a cat, arms above her head and her legs slightly raised, tensing slightly before relaxing.
“You’re awfully quiet today, Rivière—”
The Gem cut themselves off when she noticed Steven was there instead of who she was calling for.
In one second, her eyes went from half-lidded to wide to narrow upon seeing the intruder.
Steven stifled a gasp. The Gem’s eyes shone in the dark and made it easy to see their bright red eyes and diamond shaped pupils.
The red Gem blinked, no doubt dumbfounded by Steven’s exclamation.
Steven cringed, silently begging the newly revealed Diamond not to be offended.
Luckily for him, the Diamond didn’t seem to be angry or upset. Instead, she beckoned him closer and Steven could do nothing but comply.
The Diamond bent down and looked Steven over. Steven could feel sweat forming on his brow from how nervous he felt.
“I-I’m sorry for disturbing you earlier! I was going to leave but I got curious why my Gem was glowing!”
The Diamond’s eyes went lower to Steven’s stomach, looking at pink gem imbedded where his belly button should be.
Steven thought he’d have to explain who or what he was when the Diamond let out a small laugh and smiled at him.
“I see! How entertaining! I had heard Pink was back among us in an entirely new form but I never expected that “new form” to be a human child!”
Relieved, Steven nodded. “Yes, my name is Steven Universe and I’m Pink Diamond’s son. I’m actually here to get the other Diamonds’ help in convincing White Diamond to undo the damage done to the Gem on Earth.”
Steven was ready to explain what a son was or even to clarify his mission, when to his surprise, the Diamond merely nodded, no questions asked. Does she already know what a son is?
“Well met, Steven Universe. Convincing White is no easy feat, I’m sure you already know. So I bid you luck on your quest.
Oh! Where are my manners! I forgot to introduce myself! I am Red Diamond, Matriarch of the Red Court of the Great Diamond Authority…”
Steven nodded politely, hoping he looked convincing since he did not in fact know who the Gem was until he saw their eyes.
Red Diamond’s eyes turned into crescents. As her smile grew wider, Steven doubted he was convincing enough when his jaw dropped at their next sentence.
“…As the son of Pink Diamond, you can consider me your aunt as Pink and I are technically twins, having emerged from the ground at the same time.”
Steven’s mouth hung wide open as he stared at Red Diamond, his “aunt” and his Mom’s sort-of twin.
Before he can ask anything, the door opened again.
Steven looked over and saw Pearl arrive with another Pearl, both looking frantic.
Like the other Pearls, the new Pearl was the same color of their Diamond. Her skin was a pale red, looking like blushing flushed skin from an entire day on the beach.
She had identical features with the other Pearls, having a beak like nose and tiny frame, but instead of short straight hair, hers was long and wavy, neatly tucked in like some kind messy bun.
Instead of the bathing suit like leotards of the other Pearls, the Gem wore something closer to a backless bodysuit.
What caught Steven’s eye more was the star patterns on the Pearl’s face. The biggest star covered half her face and most of the eye on that side. There were smaller stars sprinkled around the big star, and with every move she made, the lines of the pattern shimmer like glitter and stardust.
Pearl, the one he knew, was quick to reach him and herd him out.
“Steven! I told you to stay put! Why did you wander off? And why are you in Red Diamond’s extraction chamber…”
As Steven was guided out, he looked back.
The red Pearl was bowing to Red Diamond, apologising for being late in arriving and that she’ll accept any punishment her Diamond choosez.
Steven hoped she wouldn’t be punished when he see Red Diamond merely flicked her Pearl’s forehead.
The Pearl covered her forehead, blushing red despite already being red, and puffed her cheeks.
Steven was relieved, seeing the friendly interaction.
Before he can turn forward, his eyes locked with Red Diamond’s. He saw her mouth something to him.
Hours later in his Mom’s old room, Steven realises that Red may have been friendly but she never said she’d help them.
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