Spoilers for the Epilogues & Beyond Canon ahead
The Eldritch Princess is oft overlooked in Rose/Mom discussion & the broader conversation around Rose's arc. Rose views the "PRETTY PRINCESS DOLL" she received on her 13th birthday as another ironic push for traditional femininity, like Mom's "IRONIC HOUSEWIFE routine" (377) or the "BEAUTIFUL PONY" presented in their strife (388). So, she openly defaces/improves the doll with her own sewing. That Mom doesn't discourage the action (say, by putting the doll away) is also "passive-aggression" on her part (363)
Later, we discover that Mom & Roxy *unironically* enjoy high fantasy stuff like wizards & princesses (905), but they can *also* recognize gender as performative (Candy 38). That's the kicker. Giving Rose a blank canvas just begging for real personality was a perfect way to cultivate Rose's hobby in a way that aligned with Roxy's later assigned title, Rogue of Void
During the meteor trip, Rose's perspective changes, possibly due to ascending & learning about Roxy & beginning to drink, herself. She forgives her mother for being a lonely alcoholic spinster that knew she wasn't destined for more & gave in to depression (5405)
TT: I never believed she would actually die. TT: I grew up with the feeling that something more significant had always been meant for her. TT: That she was a heroine displaced in some way, resigned to the inglorious duty of raising me, and preparing me in her way. TT: I didn't actually need the ectobiological verification that she was like a mother and a sister at the same time. I always understood that somehow
(3638) Rose's childhood analysis is very much the projection of a Light player, assigning negativity to one's irrelevance. This isn't exactly how Roxy thinks, as seen in her conversations with John
ROXY: maybe we should try to like ROXY: not worry about shit so much anymore JOHN: why not? JOHN: there are so many problems! ROXY: i know ROXY: i know all about the problems ROXY: and we are both way brave and all ROXY: im sure between us we proved that hella many times already ROXY: but man ROXY: i never wanted anything more than to meet my mom
(6990)
ROXY: lookin at it that way, like evrythin has to be this elaborately purposeful heroic design to be worthwhile ROXY: is actually p shallow
(Candy 38)
Mom's gift was sincere, & Rose would definitely come to recognize that after properly meeting Roxy. If anything, she would look back on such a creative project with nostalgia. After all, she was proud of what she made, so she recalls the design in her new species. The Eldritch Princess doll (that would later be a component of Jaspersprite & Jasprosesprite^2...) is representative of the genuine affection between mother & daughter, despite any miscommunication & strife. Now, once again, it quietly betrays sentimentality for her family*
As Ly’lac’s Caretaker is characterized as overwhelmingly good-natured, it isn’t only from Rose engineering the conditions she *didn’t* have growing up (such as a supportive community). She’s channeling the best of the relationship she *did* have by recreating what it looked like
*My emphasis on the veiled fondness is to push a prediction that Rose[bot] secretly intends to betray Dirk & change the course of his plan after she reunites with the rest of the original cast. Obviously, she still thinks about leaving Kanaya behind. Many have pointed out Ly’lac’s fangs giving that away, but the Caretaker demonstrates Rose missing Roxy/Mom, too. I wonder if we'll see more nymphs with visual connections to other characters
{☉…☉}
