I meant more the lack of doors. Watching people while they sleep is just... bleh. But the viewports aren't cool, either. I already got yelled at for putting paper over mine.
[Maybe she'll just jam it shut and file a maintenance report.
There's a slight smile at their antics. Man, they really were comfortable around each other. She's not used to seeing Catra quite like this. Unguarded and relaxed. It's cute. But saying that right now feels like it's just begging for attention, so she'll just sit on that observation for a bit.]
[ Adora starts to laugh and then she's kissed. She takes a moment and then breaks away, shooting Tenten a little smile and a shrug. ]
I don't understand why they want to watch us all the time. Even the Horde wasn't that worried about observing us every waking moment. They're obsessed.
Having a door again is nice, even with the stupid window they can open in it.
[ Catra's tail flicks out and brushes along Tenten's arm, almost affectionate. If it's intentional, anyway. She nuzzles at Adora again for a moment, then pushes herself away and sprawls over to drop her head into Tenten's lap. She's draped over both girls now, full of lazy contentment. ]
Yeah. They're idiots. Weirdo idiots. You think they'd realize that if they treated us like people they'd have an easier time getting cooperation.
[ Catra has never cooperated a day in her life, that is a lie. ]
The Horde probably wasn't afraid of you. Jorgmund's terrified of us.
I mean, they're not wrong to be. Once you figure out the weaknesses of those gun things, the only thing keeping us from a hostile takeover is the zaps.
[Tenten reaches down, stroking Catra's hair. This is fine. This is gonna be normal. She's not gonna wake up disappointed. It's all good.]
At least now I can relax a bit while I sleep. This past while's been rough. I can't keep my transformation up while I'm asleep and I've been having to wake up whenever someone walks by my room.
...Ah. She said too much. She reaches up with a hand, glancing away and rubbing the back of her neck.]
I, uh. Remember when Jorgmund said I wasn't worth the medical resources? Some things never really healed right after Rose Tattoo. Closer none of it. But I don't want people treating me with... Pity or anything like that. So I've been using a, uh. A ninja technique to hide the damage.
[She stiffens a little. It's never just-hugs. Right. Being hugged.]
It's not-I mean. You know I'd be getting babied by, like, Bunny and Robbie.
[Gently, she disentangles herself. Not a rejection, but... It's not the moment. It feels too much like an instant pity reaction, coupled with the look]
If you can heal me, that's great. But even like this I. I'm capable, you know? I'm not-
[She gestures with her hands, trying to find a way to articulate 'a hindrance' in a way that feels honest. It's not coming up.]
Yeah, I know what you mean. You're still... you. You can still do everything you've always done and you don't want people to treat you like you're going to shatter if you stumble or something, right?
[ She's seen this before. Experienced it. ]
Yeah. That's... I get it. If you don't want to, it's fine. I just figured that if it might help, I'd offer. So... no pressure, OK?
[ Catra still seems put off by this whole thing. She crosses her arms tight across her chest, frowning deeply. ]
Like, no pressure. But also... I think you shouldn't be afraid to be a little vulnerable. It was one of those things that held me back for a really long time. I still struggle with it, sometimes.
[ Catra heaves a sigh. ]
Just tell people to fuck off if they treat you differently.
[She nods. Adora's got it, it sounds like. And there's too many people on the Rig who, if they knew how bad off she really was, would treat her like an invalid. Never mind that she'd been going harder than most of them since she was twelve years old.]
I won't turn it down or anything, it's just...
[Being vulnerable ran counter to what a ninja was. They persevered. There was a whole code about it, thanks to the Second Hokage. But, as much as she wants to argue, Adora's holding out a golden thread. It probably won't work, this wound is months old by now. Even Tsunade probably couldn't fix it.
But wasn't it worth a shot?]
There's 'vulnerable' and there's living like I've been doing. Do you think it'll work, Adora? You saw what I was like.
It... might? I don't know, honestly. Being here has done some weird things to my powers.
[ She frowns and flexes her hands, staring down at them for a long moment. ]
...it stopped Catra from dying. Maybe it'll fix scarring? But I can't... I can't say for sure. All I can do is try. I want to be able to tell you that I know it will work, but... we're not on Etheria.
[She sighs, then puts her hands together, fingers forming a little symbol. There's the puff of smoke that signifies her spells activating or deactivating and-there she is. Much like the last time they saw her, exposed muscle and bone covered by a leathery, semi-transparent layer of dried fascia that's cracked and raw on the joints of her fingers, her wrist, and where she talks. And a dark pit where her left eye ought to be. Blissfully, everything else is covered by her jumpsuit.
It's not even scarring. There's no skin to scar. Jorgmund didn't even bother putting a synthetic patch on there, just bandages and painkillers.]
You wouldn't advertise this. You've heard what Jorgmund's workers say, what Kokichi said when he first came here.
[Tenten liked to think that the reason Catra didn't step in was the idea that she'd get in too much trouble for mauling the creep.]
I've never tried to be [weak] vulnerable before. Even if I had, there's vulnerable and then there's...
[ Adora just stares for a long moment and then there's something incredibly angry in her eyes. Something that goes beyond just hurt - it's a righteous, hurt of anger and it almost feels like it's going to come bursting out of her at the seams unless she does something. ]
Did they try to fix you? Or did they just slap some bandages on you and call it day?
[ She's on her feet, pulling away from the cuddle pile for a moment. ]
They could've done something-!
[ And then - For the honor of Grayskull!
She-ra stands there in all of her radiant glory, glowing with an inner light. ]
[ Catra can't stop her reaction. It's not that she wants to make Tenten feel self-conscious. It's just a shock to see normal Tenten and then all of a sudden the horrid scar tissue on display. Catra sits up, mouth agape. She reaches out and gently touches a hand against Tenten's good cheek. ]
They--They just left you like this?
[ Her voice, like Adora's, is filled with a sharp anger. Indignant, righteous, wrathful. She'd wanted to gut Kokichi. And whoever had made cracks about Tenten on that anonymous post, but it had been too much trouble trying to figure who on the rig would say it. She leans forward and tugs Tenten into a fierce hug. ]
Let Adora try. She--well, she basically brought me back from the dead, once.
Got it in one. Like they said, not worth the financial strain.
[Yeah, she'd figured that, for all their talk, they'd be horrified. She glances away at Catra's reaction, mistakingly figuring it for a flinch away, but-
There's still an embrace. And the light of She-Ra. Just for her, this time. A part of her wants to be cruel, cutting, demand why Adora hadn't done this earlier, for her and Setsuna. But the answer's simple. Adora didn't know she could, not until Rose went after Catra.
Sitting on the ground, held by Catra, and nose-to-thigh with the second mightiest blonde she knows, she kinda feels better already.
Tenten holds Catra with her good arm. Her bad, though, reaches up to She-Ra. She doesn't quite succeed at keeping the hopeful expression off of her face, or at least the half that isn't a cruel mockery of one.]
[ Adora watches them both, her brow furrowed, expression set and grim. Then she slowly kneels and reaches out to take Tenten's hand and then her forearm. Her bright blue eyes close and she concentrates on feeling the magic run out of her and into Tenten, willing it to help. To do something. To ease her friend's pain.
There's a pit in her stomach when she thinks about it failing.
She tries anyway, because it's what she does. She pushes and she pushes and there's a glow that surrounds them both now, growing and growing- ]
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[ Adora sighs. ]
...hot shower sounds great, too, honestly.
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[ Catra laughs out loud, covering her eyes with one hand as she giggles. As the laughter quiets, she lets out a purr. ]
Dunno why they thought we deserved it. Must have been Setsuna. Point is, you can always come shower in my room.
[ That is a heaping helping of innuendo right there. ]
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[Just saying.]
You might wanna warn Setsuna if you two plan on using up all the hot water.
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[ It flies right over her head. This time. ]
And I'm not going to use all of it - just enough of it to clean myself!
[ Adora... ]
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[ Then Adora speaks and Catra breaks down into giggles. She leans over toward a Adora, shaking with laughter. ]
You're such an idiot. I love you.
[ That said, she plants a lingering kiss on Adora's lips. ]
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[Maybe she'll just jam it shut and file a maintenance report.
There's a slight smile at their antics. Man, they really were comfortable around each other. She's not used to seeing Catra quite like this. Unguarded and relaxed. It's cute. But saying that right now feels like it's just begging for attention, so she'll just sit on that observation for a bit.]
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[ Adora starts to laugh and then she's kissed. She takes a moment and then breaks away, shooting Tenten a little smile and a shrug. ]
I don't understand why they want to watch us all the time. Even the Horde wasn't that worried about observing us every waking moment. They're obsessed.
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[ Catra's tail flicks out and brushes along Tenten's arm, almost affectionate. If it's intentional, anyway. She nuzzles at Adora again for a moment, then pushes herself away and sprawls over to drop her head into Tenten's lap. She's draped over both girls now, full of lazy contentment. ]
Yeah. They're idiots. Weirdo idiots. You think they'd realize that if they treated us like people they'd have an easier time getting cooperation.
[ Catra has never cooperated a day in her life, that is a lie. ]
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I mean, they're not wrong to be. Once you figure out the weaknesses of those gun things, the only thing keeping us from a hostile takeover is the zaps.
[Tenten reaches down, stroking Catra's hair. This is fine. This is gonna be normal. She's not gonna wake up disappointed. It's all good.]
At least now I can relax a bit while I sleep. This past while's been rough. I can't keep my transformation up while I'm asleep and I've been having to wake up whenever someone walks by my room.
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[ Adora kinda half-laughs as she leans over to pat Tenten on the shoulder. ]
When I got to Brightmoon I slept with a knife under my pillow for a long time.
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[ Catra seems surprised by the revelation, but her attention settles more fully on Tenten. She peers up at her, head tilting. ]
Why do you need to keep your transformation up?
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[What? Knives were cute.
...Ah. She said too much. She reaches up with a hand, glancing away and rubbing the back of her neck.]
I, uh. Remember when Jorgmund said I wasn't worth the medical resources? Some things never really healed right after Rose Tattoo. Closer none of it. But I don't want people treating me with... Pity or anything like that. So I've been using a, uh. A ninja technique to hide the damage.
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[ She mimes a knife-fighting motion and then pauses, staring at Tenten for a long moment, mouth hanging half-open. ]
Tenten... [ She leans over to wrap an arm around her in a little side hug. ]
It's not about pity - or it never would be - we wouldn't want that. But - maybe I can help a little? I do have some of my healing power left.
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[ Catra's hand comes up and squeezes as Tenten's shoulder. ]
No one should make you feel like that. We care about you--no matter what kind of injuries you've had or what's happened to you.
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It's not-I mean. You know I'd be getting babied by, like, Bunny and Robbie.
[Gently, she disentangles herself. Not a rejection, but... It's not the moment. It feels too much like an instant pity reaction, coupled with the look]
If you can heal me, that's great. But even like this I. I'm capable, you know? I'm not-
[She gestures with her hands, trying to find a way to articulate 'a hindrance' in a way that feels honest. It's not coming up.]
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[ Adora seems to get it and she nods. ]
Yeah, I know what you mean. You're still... you. You can still do everything you've always done and you don't want people to treat you like you're going to shatter if you stumble or something, right?
[ She's seen this before. Experienced it. ]
Yeah. That's... I get it. If you don't want to, it's fine. I just figured that if it might help, I'd offer. So... no pressure, OK?
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[ Catra still seems put off by this whole thing. She crosses her arms tight across her chest, frowning deeply. ]
Like, no pressure. But also... I think you shouldn't be afraid to be a little vulnerable. It was one of those things that held me back for a really long time. I still struggle with it, sometimes.
[ Catra heaves a sigh. ]
Just tell people to fuck off if they treat you differently.
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I won't turn it down or anything, it's just...
[Being vulnerable ran counter to what a ninja was. They persevered. There was a whole code about it, thanks to the Second Hokage. But, as much as she wants to argue, Adora's holding out a golden thread. It probably won't work, this wound is months old by now. Even Tsunade probably couldn't fix it.
But wasn't it worth a shot?]
There's 'vulnerable' and there's living like I've been doing. Do you think it'll work, Adora? You saw what I was like.
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[ She frowns and flexes her hands, staring down at them for a long moment. ]
...it stopped Catra from dying. Maybe it'll fix scarring? But I can't... I can't say for sure. All I can do is try. I want to be able to tell you that I know it will work, but... we're not on Etheria.
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[ Catra mutters. ]
But I'm not gonna tell you how to live your life.
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[She sighs, then puts her hands together, fingers forming a little symbol. There's the puff of smoke that signifies her spells activating or deactivating and-there she is. Much like the last time they saw her, exposed muscle and bone covered by a leathery, semi-transparent layer of dried fascia that's cracked and raw on the joints of her fingers, her wrist, and where she talks. And a dark pit where her left eye ought to be. Blissfully, everything else is covered by her jumpsuit.
It's not even scarring. There's no skin to scar. Jorgmund didn't even bother putting a synthetic patch on there, just bandages and painkillers.]
You wouldn't advertise this. You've heard what Jorgmund's workers say, what Kokichi said when he first came here.
[Tenten liked to think that the reason Catra didn't step in was the idea that she'd get in too much trouble for mauling the creep.]
I've never tried to be [weak] vulnerable before. Even if I had, there's vulnerable and then there's...
[She just kinda gestures at herself.]
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Did they try to fix you? Or did they just slap some bandages on you and call it day?
[ She's on her feet, pulling away from the cuddle pile for a moment. ]
They could've done something-!
[ And then - For the honor of Grayskull!
She-ra stands there in all of her radiant glory, glowing with an inner light. ]
I'm going to try.
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They--They just left you like this?
[ Her voice, like Adora's, is filled with a sharp anger. Indignant, righteous, wrathful. She'd wanted to gut Kokichi. And whoever had made cracks about Tenten on that anonymous post, but it had been too much trouble trying to figure who on the rig would say it. She leans forward and tugs Tenten into a fierce hug. ]
Let Adora try. She--well, she basically brought me back from the dead, once.
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[Yeah, she'd figured that, for all their talk, they'd be horrified. She glances away at Catra's reaction, mistakingly figuring it for a flinch away, but-
There's still an embrace. And the light of She-Ra. Just for her, this time. A part of her wants to be cruel, cutting, demand why Adora hadn't done this earlier, for her and Setsuna. But the answer's simple. Adora didn't know she could, not until Rose went after Catra.
Sitting on the ground, held by Catra, and nose-to-thigh with the second mightiest blonde she knows, she kinda feels better already.
Tenten holds Catra with her good arm. Her bad, though, reaches up to She-Ra. She doesn't quite succeed at keeping the hopeful expression off of her face, or at least the half that isn't a cruel mockery of one.]
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There's a pit in her stomach when she thinks about it failing.
She tries anyway, because it's what she does. She pushes and she pushes and there's a glow that surrounds them both now, growing and growing- ]
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