I wanna talk about this for a minute. Connie has repeatedly shown that she is serious about being there for Steven and holding up her part of their “us.” Now, it’s easy to be all talk and say you’ll be there for someone, but then flake when it’s most important.
When Steven tried to pull a tragic hero and kick her out of his life to protect her, she muscled her way back in and told him she CHOSE to be part of his universe.
Not too long after that, Connie expressed interest in learning to sword-fight because she wanted to be with Steven and fight with him instead of feeling like a burden. She wanted to do her part, and was willing to put herself in harm’s way and spend her time and energy learning a dangerous skill so she can share some of the weight he carries.
Connie’s been envisioning the rest of her life as part of Steven’s life, and that’s hard for her as a human who knows she is not really part of the Gem world. It was disturbing and disappointing for her to find out she isn’t going to “grow up with” Steven the way she would if he were aging typically. But what did she do when things got weird and he turned back into a baby after trying to fake it for her? She took it in stride and made it clear she’d be there for him in an appropriate fashion.
Since then, she’s participated in sword training, fused with Steven to learn combat as Stevonnie, and has faced Jasper in combat–not to mention she’s been willing to help Steven carry some of the psychological burdens that sometimes threaten to overwhelm him.
And then when Homeworld came for them, Connie remained with him throughout the battle, tried to talk him into staying strong and suggested fusing so they could beat Topaz and escape the ship, but Steven was too in his own head and trying to carry his mother’s crimes without her help. He gave himself up to Homeworld and ignored the bond they’d built, the promises they’d made. And when he returned, Steven appeared to have no idea what he’d done.
Connie REALLY MEANT IT. She wasn’t kidding when she told Steven she would fight by his side, and she was incredibly hurt that he tried to do it without her. Connie had already shown him complete willingness to work together, to stand with him and for him, only to find that he thought he needed to stand ahead of her and bear the brunt. She’d promised him and meant it, while he’d promised her and in the heat of the moment, he proved he didn’t mean it.
Some people thought the arc dealing with Steven and Connie’s estrangement went on too long, but for something this deep, I think it was necessary. And after they reconcile and establish that Connie will always be included in these situations, something happens that must’ve rattled them both to the core. They embarked on a space adventure and got marooned on an alien moon.
This could have been a disaster. Stevonnie stayed fused throughout the Jungle Moon situation and even through the weirdness of a disturbing Diamond dream–and it would have been understandable if Connie got spooked after this experience. It’s all fine and good to say you’ll always be with someone and never abandon them, but then something like THIS happens where you could die light years away from your family and never see home again, and, you know, well … maybe you get cold feet. Maybe you start to rethink the immense gravity of this situation and wonder if you really ought to have promised yourself to something so much bigger than yourself, something you have so little control over, something that paints a target right on your face.
Not Connie.
She meant it. 100%.
She went after BLUE DIAMOND in battle, without backup.
And then she packed her bags and went into space AGAIN with Steven, having no idea if she’d be able to return, having personally seen how hopeless and scary it can get out there. She hugged her parents and went with Steven. TO HOMEWORLD.
Connie has bravery, conviction, commitment, and loyalty far beyond what someone could normally expect from a friend. She blows me away so hard and I can’t wait to see her relationship with Steven continue to blossom. I hope Steven can truly appreciate what he has in her.
Stressed, Depressed, and Story Obsessed 