User blog comment:A Nerdy Princess/Bubbline/@comment-5242921-20121209152432

I understand where you're coming from, and this could be a possibility (I am pretty sure most Bubbliners recognise that it could have been a deep friendship), but I don't see how one possibility rules out another.

Allow me to go through what we see with these two:

In Go With Me, PB and Marcie had already split up. PB became easily agitated around Marceline. It's hinted Marcie did something to piss PB off before. They start off with that frenemy feel.

Note what this episode is about - Marceline and Jake giving advice to Finn on how to court PB. Of course, Marceline's advice turns out to be utterly terrible, but it's open to debate as to why - was she trying to seek revenge on PB? Or was it just how Marceline would like to be treated herself? Then again, Marceline isn't unintelligent, and she's bound to know PB's actual likes and hates - it's much more likely the former. And thus, Marcie uses Finn as a tool of revenge, encouraging him to physically harm the Princess.

This was the FIRST time we saw them interact.

The SECOND time we saw them interact is the most major occasion - Marceline follows around Finn, Jake and PB as they try to regain their possessions from the Door Lord.

Marceline's presence, once again, agitates PB to no end. What exactly is it that drives PB up the wall about her?

And then we get Just Your Problem - Marceline goes into full trolling mode after PB pisses her off with her attitude.

The lines in Just Your Problem could translate VERY, VERY easily into a break-up song. Do not deny that - it would actually make more sense as a breakup song than as a lost friendship song. Am I not sweet enough for you? and Sorry I don't treat you like you're perfect make sense.

There's also I'm gonna drink the red from your pretty pink face. Come on, you cannot tell me we WOULDN'T have interpreted that as a kiss or a complimentary taunt. And anyway, PB lampshaded it - Marceline, that's too distasteful!

Then they are all still very agitated around each other, and there is all sorts of blushing and embarrassment... big moment 2 arises with I never said you had to be perfect! when it sounds very much like they're talking about more than the present occasion, and this could slide into the Warm Bath View of relationships, how idealism is making us less satisfied with romantic relationships since we are expecting more.

So, Marcie spits on PB, PB flips her crap, everyone goes home and Marceline is actually in TEARS. Neither PB nor Marcie have ever been seen to flip out like this before.

And then we have the song Finn sings, and PB and Marcie are looking at each other like I know you're mad but let's make up just for now.

And then - finally - the tshirt.

Princess Bubblegum has never shown before or since any emotion ranging outside of anger, concern or apathy - at least, not more than once in What Have You Done? where she burst into tears our of guilt. My theory for this is that she's kind of closed herself off in this area, so as not to interfere with responsibility and judgement.

But, when she sees the tshirt, she blushes - there are some emotions going on there we've never seen before. It means a lot to me. We have NEVER seen PB be so possessive of an item - which is fair enough, because it's the most valuable item she owns. Moreso than her crown. HER CROWN! HER POWER GEM! SHE CARES ABOUT IT MORE THAN THAT!

So, yes, pretty darn shippy, I'd say.