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aemiron-main · 2 years ago

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realization about eddie’s death

ok so remember when the duffers/st team said that eddie’s death would have major implications/effects for s5? this might be a stretch but i think those implications could actually tie into a.) gay mike reveal and b.) mike getting vecna’d in some way (not necessarily in the typical way but yknow). i’ve talked abt this in other posts, which i cant find rn so im gonna explain it again, but mike’s feelings for eddie are also paralled to his feelings for will via the soundtrack and the video store movie poster choices.

long story short: in s3 and s4, the video store posters each represent a character. Mike’s poster is “coca cola kid,” but WILL’S is “teen wolf,” and the character parallels will in many ways, especially in the way that being a werewolf is DIRECTLY paralleled to being gay in the movie, like the main character literally ‘comes out’ as a werewolf and his friend is like ‘are you gonna tell me you’re a fag?’ and the main character is like ‘no im a werewolf actually.’ so, how does this tie to eddie? teen wolf. teenage werewolf. ‘i was a teenage werewolf’ by the cramps is one of the songs that plays during eddie’s cafeteria scene. but the other song that plays is ‘fever,’ also by the cramps. imo, ‘fever’ is about mike’s crush towards eddie, esp considering the lyrics about love and kissing that play during scenes with mike and eddie specifically, demonstrating that attraction, but then ‘teenage werewolf’ links that attraction to Will, too, and how mike feels the same way about Will that he does about Eddie- caveat, Mike is not ‘in love’ with eddie, but IS with Will, but ‘feels the same way,’ simply in terms of being attracted to both of them/thinking gay thoughts LMAO. plus, there’s also a MOVIE called ‘i was a teenage werewolf,’ just like the song, and just like how teen wolf is a movie.

and so, i think that the feelings of attraction are shared but also therefore that the feeling of GUILT about both will and eddie is also going to be shared. not just guilt for being interested in will/eddie/guilt for being gay. i don’t think that’s enough for mike to come out/be targeted by vecna and possibly OUTED, something i also talked about in this post in terms of why mike likely wont admit his sexuality and may end up being outed and how that ties into a mike fake death.

anway, it’s not just guilt over mike’s feeling for will and eddie or his guilt for being gay because imo that’s not quite enough for vecna to end him: it’s guilt over eddie and will’s disappearances and deaths too. think about it. two people that mike had gay feelings for. both having died/disappeared due to the upside down. troy’s comments about ‘fairyland’ and tying the deaths of people like will and eddie to queerness. mike, who has enough evidence from lonnie and the bullying to suspect that WILL was gay, and in mikes mind maybe could’ve been targeted for that gayness outside of mike’s feelings for him- but mike doesn’t have much reason to suspect that EDDIE was gay/queer. So, in mike’s mind, if being targeted/killed by the UD is associated with queerness, then where does the queerness come in? oh right. from mike’s crush on him. it’s mike’s fault, in mike’s mind. Mike, finding out about Eddie’s death in s5, trying to talk with Dustin and Lucas about it, and Dustin’s guilt because he was THERE, trying to save Eddie, and Dustin and Lucas not understanding why Mike seems to feel so guilty, and Mike can’t say it, can’t explain his guilt, so it just festers inside of him just like it did for Max and Fred.

Vecna’s victims all seem to have some sort of guilt, but the way that vecna approaches people like Fred and Max, who have guilt related to somebody’s death is actually different from the way that he approaches people like Chrissy, who don’t have that guilt related to somebody’s death (and we don’t see his interactions with Patrick, but we do see that Patrick’s guilt/suicidality is tied to disappointing his family and his father’s abuse towards him, rather than towards having been responsible for anyone’s death) When it comes to Chrissy, he talks about just bringing her suffering to an end. He says “don’t cry, Chrissy. It’s time for your suffering to end.” When it comes to Max and Fred, though? To Fred, Vecna just says “I want you to join me.” To Max, Vecna says “Time for you to join me.”

People who have guilt about somebody’s death get ‘asked’ to join Henry, but he’s not really asking, he’s TELLING, he’s saying that he wants fred to join him, that it’s TIME for max to join him. And I think that Mike is going to be one of those people, and that Henry is going to ask mike to ‘join him,’ and how that ties into something else I talked abt in this post about how I think that we’re going to get a scene where mike ‘chooses’ to die, so that his suicidality is narratively tied up without having to show him making a typical non supernatural active suicide attempt, and so that Mike gets to fulfill his hero complex. It seems like a choice for Mike, like he’s getting ASKED to join henry, but it’s not really a choice at all, it’s the illusion of choice. Which ties into something I’ve also talked about in regards to mike being suicidal but also pushed towards that suicidality by the actions and attitudes of his family + by the homophobic rhetoric he’s internalized + by the bullying. It’s like how he makes the CHOICE to step off of the cliff in s1, but he’s verbally pushed towards making that choice by the bullies, it’s like the bullies irl who bully queer people to the point of suicide instead of actively murdering them. We also see a LOT of the red-blue light imagery around mike specifically during the hellfire game: the same red-blue light imagery that we see in eddie’s trailer, and specifically behind eddie, actually, the night that chrissy dies. But why am I bringing this up if i’m saying that Mike is going to get attacked in a different way than Chrissy was/that chrissy’s isnt tied to somebody’s death and Mike’s is? Because it’s an EDDIE death flag, not a chrissy one. Chrissy was already screwed by the time we see those red and blue lights in the trailer, and we see them RIGHT behind Eddie’s head specifically. And so, Mike having that same pattern of lights behind HIS head during the hellfire game? Not only is it a mike death flag tied to Vecna, but it’s a mike death flag tied to EDDIE, the same death flag as eddie, which doesnt mean that he’ll die in the same WAY as eddie, but instead, that Mike’s death will be tied to eddie’s somehow, which fits in with what i’ve said about mike’s guilt about eddie’s death and the links to other deaths + mike’s queerness/feelings for both eddie and will. It’s also interesting to me that Barb got killed by Henry, but Nancy did not. In terms of queerness, Barb was the one with a crush on Nancy, and it got her killed/targeted by Henry. Mike had a crush on eddie/is in love with Will, and so it may very well result in the same thing, in terms of Henry attacking Mike.

and again, like i talked about in this post, mike is linked to will’s disappearance via his queerness in terms of being the ‘other queer’ that troy talks about and how the other queer is also henry, yes, but its also mike, and how the ‘flying around in fairyland with all the other fairies’ scene serves to demonstrate that the reason that mike is tied to will’s disappearance via the ‘other queer’ comment and how the bullies start targeting mike right after they talk about the ‘other queer’ and how the scene finally focuses on mike after that to, isnt because mike is the other who kidnapped will, but rather, because he’s also queer. the ‘other fairies’ comment serves to expand the idea of ‘other queer’ beyond Henry, and into people like Barb, too, with the ‘other fairies,’ comment, which means that Mike can be included in ‘other queer/other fairies’ and paralelled to that without ONLY being paralleled to henry bc again the point isnt ‘mike kidnapped will/is like henry,’ the point is ‘mike is also queer.’ As well, with that inital parallel between mike and henry both being the “other queer,” it narratively ties mike to a sense of responsibility/guilt for will’s disappearance, esp since it was mike’s house that Will left, even though it wasn’t his fault. So, Mike’s queerness is tied to will’s disappearance already via Troy’s dialogue choices and the choices of focusing on Mike in those scenes every single time that ‘other queer’ or ‘other fairies’ is brought up. like it doesn’t even focus on mike’s reaction when troy says that will is dead during the first homophobic bullying scene (the one where mike gets pushed), but it DOES focus on mike IMMEDIATELY after queerness is brought into the conversation. again i go into this in way more depth in that linked post. So my point is: there’s already an existing narrative link between mike’s queerness and will’s disappearance and a sense of guilt. And I think that the same is going to apply to Eddie after Mike finds out about Eddie’s death. And like I talked about in one of the posts I linked, Mike imo is more likely to be outed than to come out on his own terms I think, esp in regards to the themes of his character and his queerness and what his character represents in those regards. So, Vecna attacking Mike based not just on his feelings for Will, but instead his queerness as a whole + a mike fake death? It addresses Mike’s suicidality, it addresses Mike’s sexuality outside of Will, which ties into gay mike and the milkvan breakup and into Byler getting together, but does it in a way where Byler getting together isn’t JUST tethered to the revelation of Mike’s sexuality and instead gets to stand on its own and be about Mike and Will’s love as individuals instead of just ‘oh yeah mike is gay and hes getting with will because will now knows mike’s gay despite the unresolved interpersonal tension between them regardless of sexuality’. Like again- Mike being queer IS paralleled to the cause of Will’s death/disappearance during those death scenes in S1. The ties are there, not just to Will’s queerness playing a role in his vanishing, but MIKE’S too, with him being featured as soon as the ‘other queer’ is mentioned, or the ‘other fairies,’ are mentioned, and how using both ‘other queer’ and ‘other fairies’ means that mike isn’t SOLELY paralled to henry/his queerness isn’t SOLELY tied to will’s vanishing, but it is tied to it in ADDITION to being tied to the ‘other fairies’ and positioning Mike alongside the victims (like barb and will) instead of just positioning him alongside henry (the other queer comment and the framing of mike immediately after that’s said and how it ties him to henry/ties mike’s queerness to will’s disappearance).

(obviously mikes feelings for will are way way deeper than his ones for eddie and he just had a crush on eddie but still.) Anyway! Much to think about.

#stranger things #st analysis #mike's mental health #gay mike wheeler #byler analysis #mike gets vecna'd #max mayfield ref #eddie munson ref #fred benson ref #chrissy cunningham ref #mike's crush on eddie #st i was a teenage werewolf by the cramps #st fever by the cramps #st soudtrack #st music #troy ref #barb holland ref #Patrick McKinney ref #st bullies

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samkee00 · 3 years ago

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She-Ra Spoilers Ahead!!!

I just finished She-Ra and the Princesses of Power so I figured I’d slap down a few of my immediate thoughts. I’m not a great writer and I don’t always know how to put my thoughts into words, but I wanted to try.

- I got Catradora spoiled for me early on, so I looked at a lot of their interactions through a lens of that being the end result. For the first few seasons, I was like “that shouldn’t happen, this relationship is too riddled with trauma and abuse to end up healthy”. Between now and then, though, I’ve seen/read several things on seeing characters as parts of a story instead of as “real” people. Catra’s arc and her relationship with Adora are obviously much faster-paced “recoveries” than would (healthily) happen in real life, but that’s an artifact of the medium. The messages of the story still come through clearly, and the fact that there are things that need to heal is pointedly noted. Basically, I guess what I’m saying is “I ship it”.

- Catra and Adora’s reaction to Shadowweaver’s sacrifice felt really notably real and genuine to me. I feel like this is a part where some people might say “she was horrible to them, especially Catra. Why would they care?” without stopping to think about what she was to them. From what we see, she’s effectively their only parental figure growing up, someone whose affection and approval they, or at least Catra, desperately worked for. Unfortunately, being abused doesn’t always stop you from loving someone. It can make you feel like you aren’t doing enough for the person you love, like you could be better. I’m not a fan of the “redeems self, dies” trope, but Shadowweaver’s end felt like less of a redemption and more of an apology. I think it works. I do question why they couldn’t all go into the passageway and then have her block it off, but whatever, Plot

- Still really disappointed with the relative lack of general worldbuilding throughout the show, especially the first three, maybe even four!!! out of five seasons. Background characters only existed in places to move the plot along, when I really feel like they should’ve also been there to provide atmosphere and tell us about the world. There were tons of different races depicted throughout the show, and none of them (IIRC) were ever given a name. For most kingdoms and the Fright Zone, we never really even saw the citizenry. Catra, Scorpia?, and I guess Swiftwind were the only non-extremely human adjacent, non-horde clone people who were really given any role. Rogelio barely counts, he was played off as a joke (like I complained about before).

- Wish we would’ve gotten a bit more epilogue, or at least were shown more of the characters we’ve met at the end. Kyle, Rogelio, and Lonnie especially come to mind. We got a whole episode about them, they left the Fright Zone, and then..... nothing, really.

- I REALLY shouldn’t want Hordak to actually have a happy ending with Entrapta... Like I mentioned earlier with Catradora, there is a ton of trauma and abuse involved, and obviously he committed so many atrocities of his own volition and with no remorse, and has done almost nothing to redeem himself. but they’re so cute........ this is such a stupid point and I realize I just said a lot to say I think Catradora is justified while I have NO reasoning or excuse for this. The show just (obviously intentionally) played them up to be cute with each other!!! Really though, if they make another season or an extended epilogue or something, I do hope Hordak is shown as being punished for and atoning for all the incredibly bad shit he’s done. Shadowweaver got out of it by dying. Hordak needs to work for his forgiveness, or at least his freedom.

#long post #she-ra #she ra #she ra and the princesses of power #she ra spoilers #spoilers #she-ra spoilers #catradora #if I missed things or fucked up details don't kill me lmao

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ectonurites · 4 years ago

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i’ve recently had a major epiphany but i have no clue if it’s accurate.... i feel like people sometimes say that tim was “made to be robin” and that’s why he can’t move on and then everyone’s like “yeah dude so were the first two”, so i think why that is is bc tim wasn’t really set up to be anybody else until red robin began?....like dick and bruce fought and so did jason and bruce while they were still robin but tim didn’t really. fight? like that? like the major fight i can think of is his 16th birthday and as far as i can recall that was just pretty much smoothed over by the end of the arc? (i could be totally wrong i read this like last year) but in rr tim is fighting with dick about being robin and what the next step is, which he didn’t really do with bruce in the same kind of all-out argument way. like even damian and steph had their own conflicts with bruce, and dc didn’t really have that much trouble shuffling them out of the mantle.... i guess tim just needs to start yelling at bruce to get to age past 17..... anyways i could be completely off base here and forgetting something major so sry for the essay

LMAO no need to be sorry, I get that logic!! I definitely think that plays a part of it.

My personal take is that the biggest factor in Tim’s current perma-Robin state is just how bad the reboot fucked with things. Because before the New 52, Tim as Red Robin like... it was way more distinct from the Robin role than it is now! He had an actual reason he had to stop being Robin (Damian becoming Robin, thus Tim getting booted from the role), like the previous Robins had had reasons to stop (Dick getting fired, Jason dying, and also Steph was fired) and he was trying to re-establish himself and figure out who he was separately, and he was like... doing it! He was making his own base, he had his own kinda connections of people outside just the immediate fam (Lonnie, Pru, Tam his social relationship kinda fell apart with but work wise she was still there) he was still trying to figure out the direction at the very end, sure, but he wasn’t stagnant how he is now. He was very clearly on the path to grow into his own thing but it just got cut short.

When the New 52 first happened they had established that ‘Red Robin’ had been what he was first, that he hadn’t even actually been Robin originally! That he chose to go by ‘Red Robin’ out of respect for the Robin role having died with Jason (until Damian came along), that was the reasoning they gave. Even though Rebirth fixed this and re-established Tim having been Robin before Red Robin, the damage was still kinda done, because the New 52 treating Red Robin like that kinda... turned Red Robin into really just being Robin 2 instead of how in the pre-reboot world it had been something Tim was making into it’s own independent role. And then with the memory resurfacing things and the YJ relaunch they just straight up were like ‘fuck it its Robin time’ with him again, which I totally understood bc it made sense for a YJ nostalgia thing, but like, putting him back like that as a ‘forever’ thing just... not only is it making him stagnant it arguably borders on pushing him backwards as a character.

Which is why I think at this point he needs a new separate identity, because Red Robin is too directly tied to the Robin role now, way more than it had been before the New 52. And if he just stays in this Robin/Red Robin zone, nothings gonna... happen with him. He is not going to develop more, DC doesn’t know what to do with him there because while yes with a lot of roles there can be multiple people having it, if one Robin has an ongoing solo they’re probably not gonna be promoting much with a second Robin too. He needs a new identity to find a more unique space in the family for himself. And, based on the description for his Urban Legends story, “seeking a new purpose” feels like they could be starting to finally set this up.

Drake was the right kind of idea, just with a stupid name and a not great costume, but honestly the bigger problem with it was there wasn’t a real motivation for it beyond ‘evil earth-3 me said this thing.. ooooo’ like that’s not... quite enough. I think I’d agree that a conflict either with Bruce or someone else in the fam would be a much better source of that motivation, like, it needs to be something where he feels pushed to the point that he can’t be Robin/a Robin equivalent anymore, either by choice or because he got fired or something. It definitely could be something more internal, but it just would need to be handled better than the Drake thing was LMAO.

idk if that makes sense in response to what you said, but I def don’t think you’re wrong or anything, that definitely plays a part in this. I think just... in general... DC is kinda lost on what to do with Tim right now and I really hope they figure it out soon.

#sorry i am RAMBLING #im headachey and just talking <3 #sam talks about tim too much #long post #Anonymous

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kaypeace21 · 5 years ago

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Do you have any meta/theory on the significance of the cleric/paladin d&d characters vs wizard/dungeon master. Is maybe one more Will and Mike's relationship and the other their role in the story as a whole? Sorry if you already mentioned this and this is redundant

Yeah, I’ve talked about it before. But why not talk about it again? It’s been a while- and Will’s recently published journal (plus st tweets) added more to this symbolism

The Duffers used Will and Mike’s d&d classes to say they’re soulmates! XD

Will in all 3 seasons identifies as a wizard- he even writes on the mixtape he makes “will the wise- wizard mix” (which is a different class than clerics). Even in s1 Will’s castle byer’s password was “rhadaghast” a lothr wizard.

But in s2 Mike (the paladin) says that Will is a cleric. Meaning this reflects how Mike (alone) actually feels about Will. In d&d, they have similar moral values, powers, and generally need and depend on each other in the lore of d&d. Mike says Will is a cleric,despite Will still identifying as a wizard in s3, since it shows how deeply Mike actually feels about Will.

It shows he views Will as one of the only people who understands him and views him as a his moral compass

“ strength of conviction gave many paladins a sense of common fellowship but did not always endear them to others. In many cases, paladins did not get along quite as well with other non-paladin adventurers, with the exception of clerics with similar beliefs.”

“A Paladin tries to hold to the highest standards of conduct, but even the most virtuous Paladin is fallible. Sometimes the heat of emotion causes a Paladin to transgress his or her oath (of honesty, courage, compassion, honor ,and duty). A paladin who has broken a vow typically seeks absolution from a cleric who shares his or her faith or from another paladin of the same order…

“The paladin might spend an all-night vigil in prayer as a sign of penitence, or undertake a fast or similar act of self-denial.”

“After a rite of confession and forgiveness, the paladin starts fresh.”

“Using the ‘lay on hands’ power, paladins can grant their comrades (or themselves) additional resilience with a touch of their hands and a short prayer, though they must give their own strength to do so.”

And Mike calls El a “mage” which wasn’t even a class in D&D (in the 80s)- A line he says to Max about zoomer (who he doesn’t like) …so… how much do you want to bet Mike was the one who made him and Will matching by giving him and Will “lawful good” (since this is writen in his starter kit). And he already ignored the fact Will is a wizard.

But in Will’s recently published cannon journal he also does this- he keeps Lucas (Ranger) , Dustin (Bard) and his own character (a wizard) …but he changes Mike to a cleric !!!

Because Clerics have the strongest of healing abilities

Mike thinks Will brings out the best in him. And Will thinks Mike as someone who helps him heal. So they both call each other clerics.

D&D also represents their romantic relationship

when they fight in s3 Mike says “I’m not trying to be a jerk. We’re not kids anymore. I mean…what did you think? That we’d never get girlfriends. Play games for the rest of our lives?” And the truth is that’s actually what Mike wants- which is why he was upset about Will trying to give away the d&d game . And why he still has all of Will’s d&d pictures on his basement’s wall (which he’s kept on his wall for years- despite removing the old poster from the wall). And during Hopper’s speech, when it pans to Mike , Hopper says “I miss playing games every night.”

* He also caresses Will’s d&d drawing- when he thinks he’s dead- and has a binder filled with every d&d drawing Will has ever given him.

In the first ep - Will admits he rolls a 7 (since he couldn’t lie to Mike)- and in the last ep of s1 (they show us Mike smiling at Will right before Will rolls a 14- since they’re 7s together.) Mike even apologizes to EL saying “sorry I sound like a 7 year old.” When talking about how all 3 can play with toys & right after talking about Will visiting to play. and mentions Will’s rolls as a way to convince Lucas to help him look for him.And Mike even mentions Will rolls as a way to convince Lucas to help him look for him in the first ep.

Mike in the last ep in s1 ,writes a d&d story for Will. in ep one Will tells Mike “it was a 7, the demogorgan it got me.”At the end of the season Mike writes a whole story of him and his friends killing a 7 headed monster, and showing the decapitated head of the monster to king Tristan (Will). Similar to how at the hospital he tells Will to not worry cause “it’s dead now”. This is right after Will rolls a 14 (cause Mike and Will are 7s together). And Mike who is a fan of starwars has King Tristan give them medals after killing the monster. Cause he wants Will/king tristan (instead of Leia -a girl) to present him with medals and be his romantic love interest (and praise him for being a hero)…

In the pilot, they even say Will uses d&d to “escape” his insecurities about his sexuality “like mike” & Mike uses d&d to “escape” his insecurities about not having a gf. * And no, dustin & Lucas didn’t use d&d to “escape” anything- in the pilot script.

Mike angrily yells “El’s not stupid. It’s not my fault you don’t like girls” to himself- cause Will hit a nerve when saying mileven was ruining their friendship - because a part of Mike is trying to use El to put distance between him and Will . Dustin in s1 foreshadows the fight, saying “all you want to do is spent time with her… and you know it and he knows it. And nobody says anything until you’re yelling at eachother like goblins with intelligence scores of zero.” (Another d&d ref/ ‘love makes you stupid’ ref.).

And also, maybe a part of him resents how Will is making him feel. So he says this whole speech , in the garage, to himself - to keep his romantic feelings for Will under control ( expecting Will to agree with the heteronormative statement). Which is why he was so shocked when Will (who he assumes is straight) and he expects would agree - instead says “yeah, I guess I did. I really did.” (about never getting gfs but instead being together for the rest of their lives).

And the “crazy together” scene (which is romantic since both Mike & Flo both equate love making you ‘crazy’. Flo says “ only love makes you crazy and that damn stupid”). And the ‘crazy together’ scene also has a zoom-in on Mike’s d&d game.

(x)(x)

Mike and Will both love each other (and El is just confused). He wants to be with Will- but he’s scared. The Hopper dialogue even says “Lately, I feel like you’re pulling away from me or something? I miss playing board games every night.” Mike was upset when Will gives the game up- but Will says “I’ll just play with yours when I come back… if we still want to play?” In other words- the ball is in Mike’s court- if he wants Will, he has to initiate it. Because Will assumes he was “stupid” to think he had a chance. Mike is also acting “stupid” because he’s pushing away Will despite loving him, and hurting him in the process (the opposite of a cleric).

But Mike in s4 will admit his feelings to Will… since after Will says this line, Mike asks

“Yeah, but what happens if you want to join another party? ” (find someone else (‘another’) before that- the other ‘species’, or just someone else: girl, guy or otherwise?”

But Will decides to make himself vulnerable and just be honest, and shyly admits “Not possible” (much to Mike’s happiness)

so yes- this tweet is about byler

They even answered the question of ‘what makes Mike crazy’ with one’ joke’ response - of Will asking about d&d. And in a separate post made fun of mileven by ending it with “can we just play d&d?”

And when, Mike and Will open up to each other about their mental-health issues, that’s when they both agree that no matter what they’ll be together- “crazy together”. It’s a double entendre - they’re crazy cause they’re in love- but also “crazy” and will be “together” to help each other through their issues. This theme is double-downed on in Will’s cannon journal (where it’s established “crazy together” is shown to be Mike & Will’s thing- not mileven’s). As Mike tells Will to tell him when he’s having ptsd episodes since- they're “crazy together”.

*Will draws Mike’s d&d character next to the sticky-note. And we also see throughout Will’s whole journal- Mike’s d&d character is always by Will’s (d&d character’s side). And on the cover of his journal Will ONLY draws his and Mike’s character- cause they’re “crazy together”.

Mike specifically says to get him when he’s having ptsd episodes about the mf (which represent Will’s se*ually abusive father- theory here/ here).

That’s what love is - like Flo said only love makes you “crazy” and “stupid” and this is only applicable to byler. Mike and Will love and bring out the best in each other- heal each other. Being “crazy together” to Mike is about being selfless and wanting the best for you partner’s happiness no matter what- with mileven it was simply a way to excuse his poor behavior to El (under the guise of ‘love’).

For all the supernatural stuff to stop , Will has to face his trauma and heal. This involves having a strong support (of friends and family) and Will learning to not hate himself any longer, because of his past abuse and sexuality. And to stop correlating his love (for Mike) with his past abuse/trauma (represented by the monsters. And Mike and Will have to embrace their love for each other. And let go of their shame. When Will ‘dies’ in s1, Mike hugs his mom ,and Heroes plays, and the lyrics are “and we kiss as though nothing could fall and the shame… was on the other side.” In s1 the term “other side” was used to describe the upside down. So it’s saying Will’s shame relating to Lonnie will eventually be on the other side, and so Mike and Will kiss ‘as though nothing could fall’. In Will’s journal he even draws Mike’s d&d character again with the caption “never Kenny Roggers”. This is because Jonathan asks ‘who would you rather be friends with David bowie or Kenny roggers?”. And Heroes was originally sung by David Bowie- making the byler hint of this being ‘their song’, more apparent. The cannon Will-comic is even titled the “other side” and Mike is on the opposite end (‘the other side’ waiting for Will who is trapped in the upside down looking up at the imposing figure of the demogorgan). The demorgogan in blue light and mike in opposing red light. The monsters Will created are based on the d&d game and his prior abuse at the hands of lonnie. But byler’s love is also represented by d&d- and thus the only way to stop it.

gif credit: cath-avery

#byler #byeler

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housebutchvee · 4 years ago

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She-Ra HvZ AU

So, years back, in college, I used to play Humans vs Zombies (think tag with nerf guns and incredibly problematic for other reasons). Twice a year, we’d get a few hundred people together on campus to play this week long game. It would start with one zombie, and that would escalate quickly to dozens as the hunting began. Humans can ‘stun’ a zombie for five minutes by hitting them with a nerf dart or a balled up CLEAN sock. Zombies infect humans by tagging them. We played in between classes, all over campus, but indoors was safe as well as *most* dorms.

So here we go:

Adora - that one human who gets *way* too into the game - she has holsters for all her blasters, extra darts for any human who asks, and she’s the one all the freshman call when they’re stuck in a building surrounded by a group of zombies. She doesn’t get turned until extraction (the last day of the game) when she sacrifices herself to get others to the safe zone. She dies by Catra.

Catra - Lead Zombie, patient zero, she initially joined to fuck with Adora, but enjoys leading hordes of zombies way too much, she even gets Scorpia to do zombie make-up on her face. She maintains the consistent record of highest kill count by a *wide* margin.

Glimmer - that one human who doesn’t use any nerf blasters - just balled up socks. She is considered a ninja by all the zombies - no one knows how she gets from building to building on campus when every door is guarded by the horde and the buildings have no indoor connections. She only gets turned bc Bow does and she gets fed up having to spend all her time with him indoors and wants to actually hang out for real.

Bow - Only uses the nerf bow & arrows - even though they are shit, but he is inexplicably good with them - like way faster at reloading than even most automatic nerf guns. Despite it being moderately illegal according to the games rules, he builds his own nerf arrows that are varyingly effective. He gets turned when one of them doesn’t quite work out and everyone isn’t quite sure if the shower of nerf darts actually hits the zombie. He agrees to be turned because he doesn’t want to argue/ruin the zombie’s day.

Perfuma - Med Zombie, she gets turned on the first night so that she can bring her first aid kit to anyone playing who gets hurt. “You can stun me but let me see that injury.” Will mom you. She also has a stock of water and vegan food bars. During missions, she is an absolute terror who will hunt down every human she can. Has the second highest kill count, besides Catra, despite not hunting any other time.

Sea Hawk - banned from playing after the one time he broke a window and nearly set a dorm on fire (based on a true story, we had to pay for the damages).

Mermista - “what’s the point in playing if you aren’t going to brazenly walk across campus” is her moto. She has not been turned once while doing so, even during the middle of the day which is peak hunting hours.

Frosta - no chill, she runs straight at any zombie she sees and - since most zombies are expecting to do the hunting and not be hunted - she terrifies the entire horde. Has started challenging individual zombies to “thunderdome” (she gets one dart in her blaster vs one zombie). She wins several of these matches, and only gets taken down when Catra agrees to duel her.

Entrapta - spends most of the game building ridiculously modded nerf guns - half of them are high powered automatic blasters and the others are ridiculously small blasters that can fit in a pocket. She almost never gets turned because she hyperfocuses on building cool guns for the entire game and only shows up for extraction on the final day. All the zombies fear her inventions and are forced to let her into extraction without a fight lest they *all* be stunned and can’t hunt any other humans while they wait to respawn.

Scorpia - is terrible with nerf guns (even when Entrapta gives her one of the ‘mega’ guns that are bigger and easier to handle) but loves playing as a zombie - she gives hugs to anyone who is turned and immediately welcomes them into the horde (especially new players who are often upset that they get turned so early). Low kill count for zombies, but she doesn’t care.

Huntara - Sports jock who’s part of a frat and gets ‘hazed’ into joining the game as a freshmen. Years later, she’s still playing because she gets super into playing as a zombie and because she can outrun almost any human she finds. She generally maintains the third highest kill count but she can’t play in every game because her sports schedule is too demanding.

Micah - Resident Advisor & professor but gets super into the game and being all ‘tactical’ with nerf guns. Usually gets turned pretty quickly (See below) but also enjoys hanging out with all of his students as a zombie too. He progressively shows up later to his own classes that he teaches and spends the first ten minutes trying to convince his students to play the game. Everyone loves him and he’s also the faculty sponsor for the club. Regularly brings pizza and other foods to the missions so all the students can eat something.

Angella - Also a Resident Advisor who routinely puts a hit out on Micah so he’ll stop playing the game and come help her with groceries and the other chores he hasn’t done because he’s been too focused on the game (Also based on a true story).

Double Trouble - Mod who’s tasked with ‘keeping the balance’ (i.e. making sure there’s enough humans to make the missions and game fun, but not too few zombies that they feel left out and can’t tag anyone). When the balance is off, they orchestrate elaborate plans to make sure there’s an additional confrontation or two between humans and zombies so that everyone ends up having fun and the zombie numbers get to grow a little. They love their job, but almost no one knows that they are a mod bc they hardly play in person.

Lonnie, Rogellio, and Kyle - The Mod team. They’re almost never seen playing (similar to DT) because they’re locked in a library cubicle answering emails all day about “where do I go to sign up?” and “Can I still play if I sign up late?” When not answering emails, players often hang out nearby just to chill with them. (Also true, I did this for two years and never left the cubicle except to go to classes).

Netossa and Spineralla - the grad students who still play. They’re the pair who you call when you need help getting anywhere (especially off campus and especially late at night). Not the best at surviving, but everyone knows and looks up to them because they’ve been playing for years. They also have a car and regularly use it to drive supplies to and from missions to help out the mod team.

Hordak - disgruntled grad student who posts online about how terrible the game is and how the players are so loud and obnoxious but he’s secretly mad that no one in his program will play the game with him. Except…

Wrong Hordak - younger sibling to Hordak who’s still in undergrad and just wants to hang out with their older brother. “Hello Zombies, let us bask in the glory of Zombie Prime”. The horde doesn’t need a mega phone because they have WH.

Shadow Weaver - Buzzkill Admin. Hates the game and is always trying to find ways to shut it down for minor infractions The Mod Team technically reports to her but they all ignore her emails and just send them to Angella and Micah instead.

Additional note: Bow, Frosta, and Mermista have each camped out in a campus building overnight (dodging security) in order to avoid having to fight the zombies to get out. Frosta and Mermista, because they have no chill (and Mermista cares about not being turned *way* too much). And Bow because Glimmer was trying to sick the horde on him one time despite not being a zombie herself.

@ohgodthepink thank you for coming down this rabbit hole with me

#spop #she-ra #she-ra HvZ

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blackrosesfanfic · 4 years ago

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Chapter 234

Amber

Chris kisses my neck. "Trey a fucking dumbass."

"For doing what he should have been doing?" I snap.

"How is it going to help their relationship? I don't see nothing positive from this."

April comes up. "Both of you should be ashamed of yourself."

"Who? I don't have nothing to do with fucking Trey. He his own man."

"What are you talking about?" April snaps. "I find out from Joyce who not even here that you are expecting? Not even worth a bitch just to let you know there's something you don't know even though you in the next room."

"Ma?" Chris says standing up. "I told you in the kitchen about the drone."

She pushes him away. "You told me about a message in a bottle and how you have more confidence in your ability to be in a relationship."

"No, Ma. I said Amber confused me by not putting the message... okay maybe I changed the subject."

"Right... after you got a damn text message then started talking about your relationship."

Chris tries to hug her again. "You can be the first to see the ultrasound."

She snatches it from him as he takes it out of his phone case. He chuckles and comes back to the chair. I guess she was taking the picture. She comes back hugging me.

"We will talk later." April says in my ear then kiss my cheek. "Congratulations. Yes Chris I agree with you now."

"I thought you did before." He snaps.

She chuckles. "I lied."

He sucks his teeth. She walks away. This man is only upset for 2 seconds after she leaves. He turns around into my face.

"I feel obligated to get Trey and Cammie where we are in our relationship. I wish he didn't turn that phone in. We could have burned it together. He could have just given it to April. She is credible."

"Chris won't you go find them and see how they are handling it. Just stop talking about it."

He exhales. "Their shit is... I'm leaving out in the morning to do a show."

I grab his face. "I know."

"I want to marry you before the baby comes."

"MiMi and Devin's wedding, Trey and Cammie's anniversary, holidays then baby. No time."

He sucks his teeth. "If you really feeling me then we can go to Vegas tonight. Everybody here."

"If you really feeling me then I only plan on getting married once and I be dammed if it's at a tacky ass shotgun ass pussy rankin ass Elvis motel. Fuck out of here. You are Chris Brown. You fucking spending money on me the first time. So shut up. If I'm feeling you… Gotdamn, it fucking don't matter now cause I'm having your child. You fucking stuck, whether it be tomorrow or next year."

"Damn." Alex says leaning away from us. "Fuck all that shit."

Chris chuckles but doesn't say anything. I'm not telling him again why the wedding can't be sooner than planned. Now he has to wait 8 months. Still puts him at next year. I'm not rushing this anymore than what it already is. Something gonna be in my control. I push him off of me.

"You have nothing to say?"

"That's the surest I ever heard you talk about our future. I don't have shit to say."

Alex laughs. "Really? I always wondered if it's the power of pussy."

Chris looks at her. "What's your fucking problem? Why you always putting negative shit in the air? Nobody even talking to you."

"Oh, do you own me? Shit not free, huh?"

"Her voice fucking irritates me." Chris hisses.

"She does that on purpose." Jamaal says. "Irritate people to avoid connecting with people. It's what she does to her parents."

Chris nods. "And you listen to that shit?"

"You respond to it?" Jamaal shrugs.

"Okay."

"Fuck you, Jamaal." Alex says standing up and walking away.

I sigh and get up off of the chair. I don't feel like fucking fixing other people's shit. I've got my own fucking venting I want to do. Jamaal touches my arm stopping me from going after Alex.

He smiles softly. "I got it."

"Good cause she needs a man to fix her daddy issues." Chris says.

"I'm going to find something to eat that's not on a stick."

Chris sits up straight. "We can order something. I don't think we have anything."

"I'll find my own food, Chris." I say with a smile.

"Okay."

Cammie

"Tremaine?"

"In here baby." Ma says. My mother.

I shake my head. What? I walk into her bedroom. Lane and Trey are stretched out on the floor sleep. Lane had a damn pacifier in his mouth. I take it out. He opens his eyes frowning at me. I stand up straight looking at him. He smiles at me then looks towards the bed at Mama.

"What's this game y'all playing?" I snap.

"He wants to be my baby instead of my big boy. He likes to keep games going. He might be good at acting. You should try it. Since he will be famous anyway."

I shrug a bit and get on the bed where Caden is. He opens his eyes then makes a pouting face. My baby is so damn fake. I leave him there then look towards my mother. She is standing in the closet stacking up folded clothes.

"I never thought about how much my family needed you in their lives." I say after Lane goes up to her and lays his head on her hip. "Why is Trey in here on the floor?"

"They were fighting over the pacifier." Ma giggles. "Ready to be grandma big boy?"

Lane hugs her thigh. "Yes."

She kneels down picking him up. "Oh boy, so heavy."

"What did you do with Shy's bad butt?"

"Her grandmother has her in Columbia until I get back." She rolls her eyes. "I have never been good at discipline. I should have spanked that girl's mama. Thank God for your sweet grandmother and her rules. I think you have a beautiful family."

Caden kicks his feet towards me trying his best to reach me. I stand up then notice that Ma already had stuff to change his diaper on the bed. I climb into the bed to get closer to him.

"I have been fighting like the plague trying to get this family."

"And get ready to fight more. Baby, there is nothing easy about a marriage to a public figure. You have to remind them that they normal. Your husband don't know his mouth from his hand."

I shrug. "I guess."

"I didn't care for him before I came this week. I should have been talked with him." She says lying Lane on the bed. He was sleep again. "He cares so much about you."

"It's easy to forget that."

She sits on the bed. "He thinks I made you pick Chemistry. Cammie you know I wanted nothing more than for you to get a degree that would set you apart from most women. You were already good at dancing. You didn't need school for that."

"Yeah, I know."

"Then why do you have these people thinking I never supported you?"

I shrug. I continue changing Caden's diaper.

"You know I was at every ballot recital. Ready with my needle and thread because your chubby butt was gonna bust out of that tutu."

"Yeah."

"You know I'm a classical music lover. All that sexy booty shaking hip hop."

"Cause you don't know how to shake nothing."

She chuckles a bit. "Your daddy loved calling me white girl. I can't help I wasn't exposed to it until college. Then I went too far too fast."

"In college?" I ask looking at her.

"You are grown now so I can tell you. My friend Janette had me wide open. One night I woke up in the school mascot uniform. You know it was the 70s early 80s. Drugs, sex, and no care. I feel like if I hadn't met your father I wouldn't have known who Chubby's father was. My judgement sober had started to shift to who cares. I had to change gears. Go back to how I was raised."

I just look at her. She chuckles a bit taking Lane's pants off.

"Sometimes things take you away from who you are." She says like she lost in thought. The conversation dies. Or I thought it did. She looks at me. "You liked your stepfather. He never tried to touch you or anything did he?"

I make my eyes big. "No."

She blows. "I didn't think so. He really does love you and Chubby. I should call him Rollie. Anyway, he loves you and Rollie. Only if it's because he loves me. He does like to be included. He loved fighting with you, probably misses it. At least you two had some interaction."

I start crying. She doesn't notice at first until I try to hold it in. It doesn't work at all. I never thought about whether or not me being distant cause them to be sad. I didn't think they cared. I thought they would be happy not to have to worry about me. I don't know where any of those ideas came from.

"I didn't mean to make you cry, Baby. I don't know." She says putting her hand on my leg. "I don't know anything unless you tell me. I'm not supermom. I'm a bit self absorbed and... spoiled as Kenny would say. Again I was raised that way. It's hard to correct things as an adult. Most times I just don't want to. You know?"

I jump. Someone had touched my back. It was Trey. He sits down on the bed then reach around me and put Caden's diaper on. I had abandoned everything with my tears. I don't remember the last time my mother and I talked. I don't even know who this is talking to me. She never talked so much shit about herself. Took blame for being caught up in her own shit.

"I feel you on that. Being a responsible adult is stressful." Trey says. "Jayla?"

I just look at him. He nods his head. I don't know what he talking about. Caden starts crying like Trey had done something to him. Trey gently calms him down. Trey was actually the distraction in this conversation. Now I don't feel like crying.

"Tremaine?" I blow. "I shouldn't have let everyone think my mother was this witch that ruined my dream."

"Yeah." Trey says like he suddenly remembered. "I found that out myself."

Ma chuckles a bit. "All of those times we forced her out of the car was not to punish her."

"What was it for Mom?" I snap.

"I never... you wouldn't tell me." She says. "Lonnie finally just said let her transfer closer. If it means she will get out of this car when we drop her off. You were just fine catching the bus then it slowly got harder."

Trey looks at me. "When did you try to find out? On the way to drop her off? With Lonnie?"

"Most times I was at the church and she was with her grandmother until it was time to take her back. Really the only time we had."

"That's where the story came from. You didn't have time. You were asking about something personal in public."

"In public? It was..." she covers her mouth. "Something happened at school? I asked you when we were alone? I tried to find out... Was it when you were in the hospital? You told me you passed out from drinking. How was I supposed to put it together that something more serious happened? Gotdamn it Jayla. You know if I knew anything happened to you I would have turned that college upside down." She stands up then she puts her hands on her hips. "Jayla, what happened?"

I shake my head.

Trey sighs. "Jayla no. You can't shut down again, Baby."

"I didn't want it to be a big deal."

"You didn't want it at all, Jayla." Trey says putting Caden in my arms. "You would want to know if someone hurt your child. She wants to know if someone hurt her child."

Ma spins around the room. "I knew it was that damn Rashad. So arrogant and ready for the world to kiss his ass."

"It wasn't him." I say rocking Caden. "His friends drugged me."

"Nothing they haven't done in the past. You weren't the first girl he ever had around his friends. What were their names?"

I furrow my eyebrows at her. "No. Why? It doesn't matter, Ma."

She blows. "I feel like I need to do something."

"Well run down the beach screaming." I say wiping my face. "It's been years. I don't want my name in nothing."

"I will walk fast very angrily down the beach. Punch a few sand dunes." She says grabbing her phone and walking out.

I sit there stuck. What just happened? I feel numb. I don't feel like nothing. It seems as though that went completely wrong. Nothing like I imagined. Why does she feel like she need to do something? Would that something not be to just hug me? Or try to... I don't know but it's awkward now. Sitting here. Frozen. Going down memory lane. Alone. Again.

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ramblings-of-a-mad-cat · 5 years ago

Note

How do you feel about Catra, Shadow Weaver, and Hordak? I know you said you find SW interesting but like on a scale how redeemable do you think these characters are. Ive seen a lot of infighting in the fandom cause some people love one and hate another and I just figured you would approach the topic nicely

Oh damn, happy to respond! (Under the cut because I don’t know how to shut up.)

I think I’ve seen some of the posts that you’re talking about, and my friend did tell me that there was apparently tension between Entrapdak and Catradora shippers for that very reason. Still, I should start off by saying that the only character who is probably completely irredeemable is Horde Prime. And knowing this show, they’ll find a way to humanize even him if they are so inclined. The great thing about She-Ra is that there aren’t so much heroes and villains as there are complicated people. Undertale is the same way. This might sound weird, but I legitimately hope Horde Prime does get humanized, because otherwise it’s just way too easy for all of the characters to band together and take him out for a happy ending. This show has never had a character that was pure evil before, know what I mean?

With that in mind...let’s talk about Hordak.

I know, I know...before Horde Prime was known to us...Hordak basically was Horde Prime. That’s the role he played in the show, and it’s not like he isn’t guilty of countless war crimes. He’s a conqueror, and yeah, conquerors should not get off scot-free. But...Hordak is also clearly an abuse victim. That doesn’t excuse him from what he’s done, but I can’t just ignore it. He was so eager to get back to Horde Prime, so determined to please him and prove himself to his “big brother.” and the moment that they’re reunited? We see what a nightmare it is for Hordak, see him get mentally violated and brain-washed. This can’t be the first time it’s happened, and yet all Hordak wanted was to return to Horde Prime. This man is so sheltered and so emotionally stunted in relationships, that I doubt he understands the full ramifications of his actions. He certainly doesn’t understand that he’s in abusive relationship. Hordak is just doing what he knows. He could learn better, if he learns to accept what a monster Horde Prime is. (But first he’ll need to break from the conditioning.)

I genuinely like how it took Entrapta, a character who isn’t really loyal to either side, to reach out to him and help him understand how it feels for a person to care about him, and not fear him even when he tries to be intimidating. And whether or not you ship them, (I do, I admit it) Hordak clearly has feelings for her and that guides his character in Season 4. I don’t know if Adora and the others will agree to take him in...but Entrapta will remember the bond they had. I just feel so bad for this guy, even if he has killed countless innocents. My philosophy about redeeming villains is very much a pragmatic one...will Hordak’s redemption spit in the face of all his victims? Perhaps. Will it bring them back to life? No. But neither will executing him or throwing him in prison. If he can heal, if he can learn better, and do better...why should we waste that growth? Why shouldn’t he be allowed the chance to make up for what he’s done? It seems to me like there is everything to be gained, and nothing to be lost, in letting him redeem himself.

Of course, there are many types of crimes...let’s move on to Shadow Weaver.

....She’s a child abuser. Plain and simple. That is a hard pill to swallow, that is a very difficult thing for me to look past. I don’t think I can do it. The way she treated Catra, the way it’s ruined Catra and Adora’s relationship...it’s unspeakable. She manipulates Catra one last time and leaves her high and dry so she can escape and go to Bright Moon...whereupon, she starts grooming Glimmer the same way she did Micah. I know it seems silly to be more upset about child abuse than what probably amounts to genocide on Hordak’s part...but part of it is how relatable the crimes are. There’s a reason most Harry Potter fans hate Umbridge more than Voldemort. Most people don’t know a mass-murderer, and excusing a character like Hordak won’t change their perspective on murder being wrong. But plenty of people might know an abuser, and abusers thrive on a culture that blames victims and downplays the effects of abuse, or otherwise excuses those responsible. We need to get better about sending the message that abuse is real, and wrong. But the great thing about She-Ra is that it depicts the cycle, from Shadow Weaver to Catra. If Catra is redeemable, why not Shadow Weaver?

And here’s the thing...I’m not saying she isn’t redeemable. Just that I don’t expect this show to fully redeem her, and I’m 100% behind that outcome. She could be allowed to live in peace with the other characters, her victims might forgive or at least tolerate her. (Especially if she wins over Micah again.) But even if I find her genuinely compelling...I’m not seeing too many outcomes where she would deserve this mercy. Shadow Weaver has done terrible, selfish things, and her only loyalties seem to lie with knowledge and power. She’s completely unrepentant, and while she acknowledges that she was “hard on Catra” she also refuses to apologize. Shadow Weaver strikes me very much as a kind of “no regrets” type of person. But she also has a fascination with power, and any time she sees a youngin’ with a lot of potential, (Micah, Adora) she seeks to train them. Considering how poor her record is...she needs to stop doing this. I might be inclined to forgive Shadow Weaver, if she acknowledges her own short-comings, apologizes to the people she’s hurt, and realizes that looking after children is not something she’s cut out to do.

Finally, there’s Catra.

In many ways, she’s my favorite character. (Though I also might go with Glimmer.) The story is largely centered around Catra’s journey alongside Adora’s...she might as well be a secondary protagonist. What’s more, she’s a character who we basically know is going to get redeemed, Noelle has all but told us that it’s going to happen. I’m fine with her getting redeemed but so help me god if she dies in the process....if any aspiring writers are reading this, please stop killing your villains to complete their redemption arcs. Let them enjoy being redeemed. Please. Anyway, where was I? Ah that’s right, Catra. There have been times that I was beyond frustrated with her because she was purposefully choosing to be “evil” as Double Trouble lampshades at the end of Season 4. By the time she opened up the Portal, after sentencing Entrapta to die, nearly dooming the entire world, causing Angela’s death, and despite it all she still blamed Adora even though she only did all of this because she wanted to beat Adora...yeah, I was really running out of patience for Catra. And even now, I can’t really bring myself to agree with the fans as they draw parallels between Catra opening the Portal and Glimmer activating the Heart of Etheria. I’m sure this was intentional, too. The echoing of two characters dooming everyone through an impulsive, reckless choice. However...as I said, Catra was pretty much going off the deep end when she opened the Portal. She just wanted to stick it to Adora. I realize I may be biased as a Glimmer stan, but Glimmer was at least trying to defeat the Horde. Her intentions, however misguided, were noble. She thought she was doing the right thing. Catra just didn’t care.

All this, and you might think I’m Anti-Catra, that I await her inevitable redemption with gritted teeth. But that’s not true at all. Catra is a character who is her own worst enemy, and characters like that have a knack for winning my sympathy. She continues to dig herself into a deeper hole and hurts those around her in the process. Part of her journey is realizing that and presumably working to change it. This is why I love how distant she becomes from Lonnie and the others in S4. Why I love Double Trouble betraying and completely shutting her down with their monologue about her. Why I cheered louder than you can imagine at “You’re a bad friend.” Because it was such an amazing crossroads in the development of both Scorpia and Catra’s characters. To be clear, I love these moments not because I dislike Catra, but because I genuinely like her as a character, and Catra as a “good guy” is a lot of fun. I don’t know how many people remember what it was like in the first episode when Catra and Adora were still besties, but it was just generally fun. I miss that dynamic. I want Catra to learn from her mistakes. Because I rambled on about the terrible things Shadow Weaver has done, and onscreen those were primarily done to Catra. She’s a character that I am rooting for one-hundred percent. A character who is almost a deconstruction of the tired writing trope “They had a hard childhood, and now that you know that, they are redeemed.” Catra turns that on it’s head. “Promise” is one of my favorite episodes for this very reason. Few moments have gotten me as choked up as Adora saying that she thought Catra didn’t care about being Force Captain, and Catra exploding with “Well I was lying, obviously!” It was a reveal that I genuinely didn’t see coming, but it makes so much sense, and demonstrates how much Catra has sacrificed for Adora and how much that weighs on her every time she makes a villainous decision.

TL;DR: I am one-hundred percent on board with Catra and Hordak redemption, and tentatively on board with Shadow Weaver redemption.

#She-Ra #She-Ra Netflix #SPOP Catra #SPOP Hordak #SPOP Shadow Weaver #Character Analysis

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jeserai · 5 years ago

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burnt sugar (4/8)

And Catra has dealt with all kinds of people in her life, but she has never, never had anyone so simply listen to her, trust her, and believe in her. For a moment, Catra wonders if that’s what she’s missed out on all her life—if people just trust and believe without a moment’s thought—or if that’s just the way Adora works.

Catra figures the glass of wine she’d already had is the reason that she feels like she’s buzzing as she leads Adora through the bar and up the stairs. Adora’s hand is held tight in hers despite the lack of crowd around them, but Catra feels good like this, and Adora doesn’t pull away, so she doesn’t let go. Adora is silent until they get to the table, her eyes roaming the room in obvious shock and delight. For a moment, Catra is confused, and then she remembers: Adora comes from a completely different world from her, one where places like the Crimson Waste are seen as a luxury, not a standard.

Honestly, her wide-eyed amazement is...kind of cute. Catra laughs a little under her breath and brushes passed Adora to pull her chair out; when Adora looks at her, Catra bows and gives her a wry little grin. “Your chair,” she says, reveling in the way Adora’s cheeks pinken.

Before Adora sits, she glances down at herself, tugging at the shoulders of her shirt as if embarrassed by how low it dips. “Leave it, princess,” Catra says, and though Adora is looking at her, confused, Catra means it, just like she meant what she said earlier: Adora looks good like this. Her hair has been freed from its rigid ponytail and instead sits atop her head in an artfully messy bun, a few locks framing and softening her face, and Catra knows she’s going to be stealing Adora’s loosely tucked in button up and pants ensemble.

“You don’t think it looks weird?”

“It looks amazing,” Catra says, and she is just as surprised as Adora by how much she means it. But the soft smile she receives and the way Adora’s shoulders relax as her self-consciousness begins to fade is so, so worth it, and Catra has to bite the inside of her lip hard to keep from smiling back.

Because this is just business.

“Anyway, I figured you didn’t drink, but I ordered us wine anyway.” Catra says briskly as she sits. She takes another sip of the wine and tries not to choke on a laugh as Adora’s nose wrinkles—and god, how can even that be endearing? “Okay, so I’ll have wine. I’ve already ordered my usual for us both, but it’s fine if you don’t like it.”

“It should be fine, I can eat anything.” But Adora still picks up the menu to skim it, her eyes going almost comically wide as she sees the prices. Before she can begin to protest, Catra reaches out, tapping her finger against the top of the menu to get Adora’s attention.

“Hey. I’ve got it, okay? If you want something, just...pick something you think you’ll like, and don’t worry about anything else.”

Adora chews at her lower lip again, looking at Catra hard for a long few moments. Whatever she’s looking for, she must find, because she takes a deep breath and then nods, again tucking the wavy strands of hair framing her face behind her ears. “I guess I’m ready then?”

Obediently, Catra flags the nearest server down, propping her chin on one hand to watch Adora as she orders. Entrapta must seriously be rubbing off on her, because Catra finds herself noticing more and more little details about Adora in those moments: how often she bites and licks at her lip, the way she blinks too fast and too often when the server asks her a clarifying question, the dimple that winks out when she smiles in thanks. How she’s been sitting ramrod straight ever since they got to their table, the way her fingers flutter to the shoulders of her shirt before falling to her lap again, how when she glances at Catra now, her gaze rests just to the left of her.

And when the server leaves, Catra traces her finger against the rim of her wine glass, waiting for a moment for Adora to speak. She doesn’t, so Catra asks, “What happened?”

Adora jumps a little, again looking at that spot just to the left of Catra’s shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“You’re nervous. You’re doing that thing with your hair, and you keep biting your lip, and you won’t even look at me.” True to her observation, Adora’s gaze has fallen to the tabletop, and Catra sighs. “So what happened?”

“Why didn’t you tell me who you are?” Adora blurts out. She immediately looks guilty, brows furrowing further when Catra scoffs.

“Because I didn’t want this to happen. People always act differently when they find out.”

“Why?”

And that’s— “That’s not quite a first date question, princess.”

For the first time since they sat down, Adora looks at her—really looks at her. And then their eye contact breaks, and Adora nods, absently 9tucking her hair back again with one hand. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I’ll wait, as long as it takes—if you want to tell me, anyway.”

“Okay, princess. Tell me something about you then.”

And Adora does. She tells Catra about her best friends, about her grandmother, about the classes she’s taking. She’s majoring in psychology, and wants to be a therapist so she can help kids in high school and college, because it’s such a vulnerable time for them—and here, her voice breaks and Catra knows there’s a deeper story than that, so she changes the subject. She asks about fencing, and finds out that Adora has been fencing since she was a kid, and that she loves it. She’s helpless to succumb to Adora’s smile, and all it takes is one pleading look for Catra to spill out all the dumb little bits and pieces of her childhood that she can stand to think about.

She tells Adora about her shithead foster brother (but she doesn’t say that, all she tells Adora about are the times when they used to tolerate each other) and about growing up with Entrapta, the two of them quite literally crawling around the inner workings of the Horde Headquarters. She tells Adora about all the times they’d get in trouble for finding their way into the vent ducts, and about how boring being homeschooled was, and about how she made a game of terrorizing all of the maids and teachers until they quit.

She’s definitely glossing over the gritty details, but Adora doesn’t deserve to have all of Catra’s shit dumped on her at once, and honestly, for what is probably the first time ever, Catra actually wants to tell someone all of the deepest, darkest things that have happened to her—and she’s not even drunk.

All conversation dies as the food comes; Adora ends up inhaling the penne alla moscato despite Catra’s teasing about the wine in it, and she hesitantly asks if they can get another serving for Lonnie. (And when Adora says that, Catra almost spits out her wine. But she agrees, because it’s Adora.) Catra knows that Adora wants to order dessert by the way her eyes keep flitting to the dessert menu, but before Adora can open her mouth to ask, Catra stands, comes around the side of the table, and offers Adora her hand. Adora takes it, confused, but she smiles bright and radiant when Catra explains, “The dessert here isn’t as good as the dinner, trust me. We can go somewhere else, your pick.”

And that is how they end up walking to a little diner on the corner of two relatively empty streets. Apparently, Adora is friends with the owners: she waves Catra towards a booth in the back and then stays up at the counter, talking to the one that had introduced herself as Netossa. When Adora comes back, she’s smiling, but the tips of her ears are bright red, and Catra very pointedly does not comment on what she’d managed to overhear of Adora’s conversation.

“So, what do they have here, princess?”

Adora rolls her eyes, but there is only fondness in her voice when she answers, “Spinerella and Netossa are like...you know those friends that are so close to your family that you call them family?” Catra doesn’t, but she nods anyway. “They’re like my cousins. Or, Glimmer’s, but—we’re all close enough that I call them my cousins. Anyway, they’re giving us milkshakes on the house, which is what I wanted you to try anyway. Everything here is great though, and handmade too. It takes longer, but I think it’s worth it. I...I hope you like it.”

The sudden quietness to Adora’s voice makes Catra freeze, look up. And as she watches Adora watch her, Catra realizes. This isn’t just dessert, this is Adora bringing Catra in close, showing her a hidden part of herself. She said it herself, that these are her cousins, her family. And that’s—

“I will,” she blurts out. And that doesn’t feel like enough, but Adora’s cheeks are as red as her ears now as she nods. She looks like she wants to say something else, but she stays silent, her smile soft and her gaze fixed on the tabletop.

Catra nudges one of Adora’s knees with her foot to get her attention; when Adora glances up, she says, “I wanted to take you out instead, so you could see how...formal this will be. Have you ever danced before—something proper, like a waltz?”

Adora shakes her head, and that wide-eyed look of shock comes back. “Something proper—formal? A waltz?”

“What a shame, I guess I’ll just have to teach you. When are you free?”

As if emboldened by Catra’s playful tone, Adora rests her chin on her hand, watching Catra with a raised brow and a wicked grin settled on her lips. “Why Catra,” she asks, “are you asking me on a date?”

Only now does Catra let a grin mirroring Adora’s split her lips, and she can already tell that Adora is beginning to regret her teasing. “Would you say yes If I were?”

Adora opens her mouth to answer, something like relief and disappointment flashing across her expression when she spots Netossa coming out with their milkshakes. She throws Adora a very obvious wink and as she sets their milkshakes down, says, “Adora, come back sooner next time—and feel free to bring your girlfriend too!”

Adora makes a very interesting, very high pitched sound in response, and Catra leans forward to rest her hand on top of Adora’s as she responds. “She will; you’ll definitely be seeing a lot of us.”

Again comes that strangled noise, and Catra gives first Adora, then Netossa her most saccharine smile. Adora turns her hand over as if on autopilot to lace their fingers together, then promptly hides her face in her free hand as Netossa laughs and walks away. It’s endearing, how easy Adora is, and Catra takes careful note of the resurgence of Adora’s blushing before schooling her expression into something more neutral.

“Girlfriend, huh?”

“So they asked who you were, and if you were my girlfriend, so I may have told them that we’re dating? I panicked, okay? Stop laughing!”

Catra covers her heart with her free hand, drawing back in mock surprise as she says, “I would never laugh at my girlfriend! I’m offended you even brought it up, you know how much I—care about you.”

If Adora notices the way Catra trips up over her words, she doesn’t elaborate; she just smiles gently and drags her milkshake towards herself. It’s huge, a monster of a milkshake, topped with licorice, strawberries and even a doughnut.

“This is...interesting.”

“Ella is practically dessert psychic,” Adora agrees, very sagely, “I guarantee you’ll love it.”

She looks so serious that Catra has to cough to keep from laughing, but as she watches Adora carefully free the doughnut from her milkshake, she kind of...has to agree. Because Adora’s milkshake is bright and bold, full of so many sweet, sugary things, and that’s...very Adora. And Catra doesn’t even like chocolate that much, but when she takes a careful sip, she finds that her own milkshake is bitter beneath the sweetness.

And that’s...kind of fitting.

“Okay, I guess I’ll give her this one.”

“Right?”

“It’s alright,” Catra mutters. Adora rolls her eyes and waves for Catra to slide the milkshake over, her nose wrinkling as she takes a sip.

“It’s too bitter—but I guess you like it like that?”

“I’m not big on sweets,” Catra shrugs, “never really have been. And no, I won’t try yours, it looks too sweet.”

Adora looks as if Catra has just insulted her very sense of being, so Catra heaves a sigh and leans in to try it. And she’s right; the milkshake is far too sweet on her tongue, but so is Adora’s smile, and that’s—

“Anyway,” Catra shoves the thought away, forcing herself away from Adora to start, “the dinner is in a month, at Horde HQ. It’ll be pretty formal, but you don’t have to do much, just show up on my arm and look pretty. Since, you know, you are my girlfriend.”

“Ha ha, shut up,” Adora mutters, casting Catra a glare that is largely ineffective due to the soft smile on her lips.

“But really, you just have to...show up with me. We’ll eat some, dance a bit, socialize—small talk with the suits. My—Weaver said if I didn’t find someone respectable to go with this year, she’d pick someone for me. Since, y’know. I’m old enough to inherit the family business and all of that crap. But anyway—yeah. That’s pretty much it.”

“What about outfits? I don’t really…”

“We’ll go shopping whenever you’re free. But there’s time until then—I’m more concerned with you learning how to waltz, at least.”

Adora hums and nods. Catra watches her dip one of the plump strawberries in milkshake and lick it clean before speaking again. “That sounds good. I can send you my schedule later, but I can make time—”

“It’s okay, princess. Maybe I’ll just show up again, and you’ll just have to come with me.”

“You know,” Adora says slowly, “I don’t think I’d mind that.”

Catra returns to her milkshake to try to keep the flustered smile from her lips.

Over the next two weeks, Adora inserts herself into Catra’s life almost effortlessly. If they’re not texting or on the phone with each other, Catra is wherever Adora is; waiting outside the gym after fencing practice, sitting in the booth furthest to the door with a coffee and her laptop while Adora bustles around Bright Moon, draped over the length of the couch with her head pillowed in Adora’s lap as she studies.

And despite the glares Adora’s roommate gives her, and the rather invasive questions Entrapta has begun to ask about her and Adora’s relationship, Catra really likes this. She likes how easily she and Adora read each other now, and she likes texting Adora during shitty board meetings, and she likes when Adora falls asleep while they’re on the phone, mostly because she gets to tease her about it once she wakes up.

She likes going out with Adora and treating her and her team to dinner after they win meets, and she likes the way Adora has her order memorized and ready when she gets to Bright Moon, and she loves that Adora always curls into her and lets her trace idle circles against her hip or thigh.

Eventually that word always comes up again—girlfriend—and they both ignore it except to tease each other, because they’re not dating. They’ve established an easy sort of cover story though, one that started with Adora saying, “I met Catra at Bright Moon a while ago, but I only just got the courage to talk to her, and here we are,” with an easy smile, and has now developed into a full-blown story about how Catra would flirt with Adora, who was too oblivious to notice until Catra point blank gave her her number.

Adora’s even getting the hang of dancing; whenever Adora tries on a new gown, they’ll practice waltzing for a few passes, spinning until Catra has a giddy, blushing, laughing Adora in her arms.

And it’s...nice.

Until—

Adora (8:03pm): catra

Adora (8:03pm): [missed call]

Adora (8:04pm): [missed call]

Adora (8:04pm): plscome quick

(last | next)

#she ra #shera #catradora #my writing #happy birthday to our favorite bastard cat #burnt sugar

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hitchell-mope · 5 years ago

Text

(First film. Prologue. Instead of an iPad activated by Mal, Jay is in a white void room dressed for the coronation his hands are glowing brightest gold with magic)

Jay: once upon a time, well, two decades ago. The town loony’s daughter. Married the accursed beast. Of course he wasn’t a beast when they tied the knot (his magic creates images of the story as he tells it) true loves kiss solves everything. They had no honeymoon. Instead. Adam brought the kingdoms together and became the king of the United States of Auradon. And guess what he did? (Chuckles darkly) the overly shaved bastard pooled together his resources and magic. And engaged in necromancy, bringing back all the villains (passing by a line of said villains) you know the usual suspects, crown head, dragon lady, the psychotic furrier and my father. The mad genie. (He pauses in front of Jafar’s frozen form). Along with many many others who died in their stories. The “heroes”, for want of a better word, brought them all back. Along with the sidekicks and basically anyone who didntbfir in their perfect widdle bubble. To add insult to injury. The barrier they put up around the prison prevented them leaving even though the god of the dead were among the throngs punished. Can’t get out with out the fairy godmothers wand you see. There’s also no WiFi. So the days and nights are positively tedious. So it left them with nothing to do but procreate. How did they think villains would tear their own offspring when they’ve tried to murder innocents on multiple occasions. Needless to say their absolutely shit as parents. So we try to stay away as much as we can. Form gangs. Safety in numbers. It helps when you can turn some creepy old man who’s looking at your friend inside out with a snap of your fingers. You’ll meet more of us soon. But for now (he walks up to Ben’s portrait) you get to see the oh so handsome prince fight on our behalf against his nimrod of a father to give us basic human rights. See you soon

(His body glows completely gold and he disappears in a flash of light. Ben’s portrait is zoomed in on and changes to him rushing down a hallway with Doug)

Ben: oh darn we’re late

Doug: it’s alright. It’s not like they can start the meeting without you. You did call it after all

Ben: good point. Ohhhh if this doesn’t work I swear I’m holing myself up in my room with teenage dirtbag on repeat for a week

Doug: it’ll work

Ben: oh I hope so

(They burst into the meeting room. Several adults turn to look at him. Ben looks like he might pass out)

Ben: heh hhhhhhhhi heh heh

(He falls backwards but Doug catches him)

Doug: sorry about that but it was a long walk

Belle: it’s ok Doug. There was more then enough tea.

Adam: son.

Ben: mom. Pop. Uhhhh

Leah: Benjamin will this take long. I’m sure Audrey is waiting for you

Ben: pardon.

Leah: I’ve set reservations at a What was it Aurora?

Aurora: Burger King mommie. I suggested it.

Leah: why?

Belle (every fibre of her being fighting to not roll her eyes): anyway. Ben. What is it you wanted to talk to us about.

Ben: uh. Heh heh. As you all know I’m going to be king in a few months.

Adam: and we couldn’t be prouder

Leah: Audrey is so looking forward to your coronation then there’s the cotillion and we all know what comes after.

Snow: your majesty’s. Please. Let Ben speak. The poor child looks as though he might faint. Hello Doug dear

Doug: hi aunt Snow.

Snow: carry on Ben dear

Ben (slightly less nervous now): thank you your highness. As I was saying. I’m going to be king in a few months and I needed to decide on my first proclamation. And I’ve finally thought of one-hang on. Where are mr and Mrs Dearly

Beast: who?

Snow: the ones with all the delightful doggies

Leah: mutts. They are mutts. Who need to be shot

Aurora: I’m sorry for her. She’s recently been taken ill and hasn’t been quite the same since

Belle: she broke a leg coming back from a hunting trip. That is no excuse for her god awful behaviour

Leah: whatever do you mean?

Belle: I’d tell you. But then we’d be here forever

(Ben stays standing there unsure of what to do)

Doug: I think it may be time for Ben to say his piece yes?

Belle, Aurora and Snow: yes.

Doug: thank you. Carry on Ben

Adam: why are you here.

Doug: pardon?

Leah: yes Adam. I would like to know as well. Why are you here. Whoever you are

Doug: ah ha ooh boy. I’m Doug. Ben’s future major-domo. I’ve been in his class since pre-K.

(Leah just stares blankly at him)

Doug (long suffering sigh): my father is dopey the dwarf. Diamond miner. Made Audrey’s tennis bracelet

Leah: oh yes. So why are you in a meeting meant for royalty

Ben: IWANTTOBRINGCHILDRENOVERFROMTHEISLANDOFTHELOST

(All adults are silent. The the Dearly’s burst in)

Anita: we are so sorry we’re late. BB-8 got hold of my patent leather pumps and why does it feel like death warmed up

Belle: Ben. I’m. I’m

Leah: appalled. And so is everyone else. You have have something to do with this don’t you dwarf?

Doug (under his breath): that didn’t take long

Adam: this. Really. This is your first proclamation? Of all things

Leah (damn near hysterical): why not just tax the rich!

Aladdin: oh shut up you old bitch. Go on Ben

Ben: thank you. Al

Leah: you will address the sultan by his proper title you little bollocks

Belle: ok that’s it. Get out you psychotic old biddy

(Leah gasps dramatically)

Belle: Lumiere would you please?

Lumiere: of course ma’am

(He physically drags Leah from the room)

Jasmine: I’m assuming that us being here has something to do with what children you are picking

Ben: I

Doug (not willing to let Ben take the blame if it all goes wrong): we

Ben (immensely grateful): we, thank you Doug, looked through records and dossiers and found the first four, of many, we’d like to bring over.

Belle (encouragingly): go on dear

Ben (more firmly): the children of, Jafar, Cruella De Vil, Queen Grimhilde. And Maleficent

(From the hallway Leah lets out a hysterical screech. Belle throws a stress ball at the door to shut her up. The rest remain silent)

Roger: they, they uh. Oh my god.

Adam (trying to regain control of the situation): Dearly calm down. It’s not as bad as you believe

Anita (laughing hollowly): not bad. N. Not bad. How can it not be bad. Cruella De Vil has a child!

Aurora: oh those poor dears

Snow: stepmother has a baby? I’m a sister. No. Wait. They wouldn’t be fathers.

Phillip: how old are they.

Adam: it matters not how old they are

Aladdin, Roger and Phillip: THE HELL IT DOESN’T

Phillip: TWENTY YEARS. I SLAYED THE DRAGON. YOU BROUGHT HER BACK. AND NOW WE FIND OUT SHE HAS A CHILD. Oh my god!

Snow: I feel sick.

Adam: now look what you’ve done Ben.

Aurora: Ben didn’t engage in necromancy and bring people who have hurt us back from the dead, dump them on an island that we can all see from our windows. And leave them to raise children. I for one commend him on wanting to try and do what’s right by those that we have left to squander.

Ben: thank you Aurora

Belle: when do you plan on bringing them over dear?

Ben: about that.

(Aladdin laughs. Well. Cackles is more like it)

Jasmine: today?

Ben: yes. At least. I hope so.

Anita: pardon dear?

Doug: we don’t know what their parents are like. If they are like the sultan and her husband or if they are like

Phillip (looking directly at Adam): I completely understand. It’s just

Aurora: we’re going on vacation to Malta. Right after this meeting in fact. So

Ben: no matter how much you want to meet Maleficent’s child. You can’t.

Aurora: if it helps. Audrey will be here I’m sure she’ll support you in your des... (Belle gives her a withering stare) yeah I know.

Ben: I told her last month, when I came up with the idea in fact

Phillip: and

Ben: she laughed me off. Then made me take her shopping.

Doug: if it helps Lonnie Jane fairy godmother and I are 100% behind him king Phillip

Phillip: it does actually Doug. Thank you

Ben: dad. Just hear me out. Every time I look out there over the water I feel like we abandoned them.

Adam: then close the drapes

Leah (from the hallway): hear hear

Belle: SHUDDIT

Aladdin: I for one love the idea. I look forward to meeting them.

Ben: thank you sir

Belle: when do we expect them

Ben: this afternoon. Hopefully.

Belle: and I’m assuming you’ve had this set up for a while

Doug: fairy godmother had helps us get everything ready.

Belle: that’s good. I suggest we adjourn this meeting so Ben can put the finishing touches on the task.

(Everyone leaves the room. Ben and Doug stay behind with Belle)

Ben: thanks mom

Doug: thank you your majesty

Belle: you’re welcome boys. Remember. My door is always open

(All three leave and go their separate ways. The boys head to Ben’s room where two girls are waiting)

Lonnie: well?

Ben: mom’s on board

Lonnie: and your dad?

Doug: who gives a shit what he thinks?

Lonnie: true.

Ben: thank you. All three of you. I couldn’t have done it without you all

Jane: you didn’t need me.

Ben: I did. Your my friends. I can hardly do anything without you guys

Lonnie: well there are a couple of things you need to do with our us. Exams for instance

Doug: thank god you said exams

Jane: uh oh

Ben: what?

Jane: 3...2...1...

(Another girl throws open the door and walks in like she owns the place)

Doug (aside to Jane): you have to teach me that

Jane: it’s magic. You can’t learn it. I don’t even want it.

Audrey: of course you don’t

#disney descendants #zendaya!mal #jay son of jafar #ben florian #anti leah descendants #belle descendants #anti beast descendants #snow white descendants

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princessofgayskull · 5 years ago

Text

dude, I think Thor just wing-manned you

A Catradora gym au for the She Ra Pride Exchange! @spop-pride-exchange

Summary: Catra just wanted to work out. Catra just wanted to bet the crap out of a punching bag before she had to teach yoga. She wasn’t expecting to come into the gym she worked at only to be nagged by her boss and then be approached by a strange dude who “supposedly” looks like Thor. And she doesn’t want to go out with his lesbian sister.

aka, when the God of Thunder/Lesbians is around, lightning strikes twice.

word count: 7.5k

read on ao3: x

dedicated to (and there was a little bit of a mixup so I’m just gonna go for it): @sweetlykissedadora - a lovely mutual, and @sweetlykissed just in case ;)

sfw, but warning for cursing

story under the cut!

“Ugh, Leon, you call that hit?”

“You call that keeping the fucking bag still, Ramon?” Whipping the stray curls catching the sweat on her face back, Catra bounced on her heels and curled her fingers deeper into the cotton tape coating her palms before throwing another punch. Her fist met hardened and coarse material, pain exploding in her knuckles and riveting down her arm as she threw another one with the other arm, and another, and another. Breathing in, she savored the rush despite the soreness settling into her shoulders and let herself fall into a pattern.

“Damn Catra, I’ve never seen you this sloppy.” Lonnie laughed as the punching bag rattled underneath her gloved grip. “You need to call it quits after twenty minutes?”

“You know for a personal trainer, you fucking suck.” Catra’s knuckles collided with swaying material ( keep the dumb thing still, Lonnie) again with a whap!

“I didn’t say I was your personal trainer, Leon.” she chuckled.

Catra rolled her eyes and stepped away from the bag, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her form may have been sloppy today- not that she was going to admit that- but Lonnie’s salty insults were so much sloppier. Hands falling to her knees, Catra took advantage of her lazy taunts to catch her breath. “Doesn’t mean you get to screw with me- or is that just something you do with all your clients?”

“Well my clients sure as hell aren’t as sloppy as you. You look like an old lady who just tried to go up a flight of stairs. You need your walker, Catra?”

“Fuck you Lonnie.” Catra panted as her arms wobbled and her grip on her knees tightened. Okay, maybe she would admit- when no one was looking or listening or could perceive her in any way- that she was new to this. Never before in her life had she cared whether or not she could throw a “proper” punch, not when it landed whatever pervert or bigot or combo of the two was stalking her in the hospital with a broken and bloodied nose.

Catra was fine with her preferred methods of expunging all her pent up anger: running until she vomited or dancing until she tore something. Course’ her professional boxing roommate and her room mate’s MMA fighter to be didn’t give a flying fuck about that and after two years of listening to Scorpia and Lonnie critique her “strength work” Catra doubled down and hit the punching bag, literally, before she hit one of them.

Scorpia had been the only person Catra trusted to instruct her with all this punching crap, cause despite being the assistant manager at the gym and a personal trainer, Catra trusted Lonnie just about as far she could throw her. Plus Scorpia was a gentle giant, praised for her soft yet constructive teaching style; after years as a gymnast, Catra was so fucking down with abusive critique and was ready to try the opposite.

When Catra walked into The Horde, their gym, forty five minutes ago to squeeze in a short lesson with Scorpia before her class that evening, she was met with Lonnie stacking branded water bottles at the front desk and the news that Scorpia had to rush back to their apartment because Entrapta set it on fire, or flooded it, or something . Honestly Catra zoned out after that to whack her head on the front desk and send Lonnie’s precious water bottle tower tumbling down.

Wrapping her hands with her teeth and fishing in her bag for her bluetooth headphones (cause fuck airpods) , Catra walked over anyway to the worn down Everlast in the sketchier part of the gym, hellbent on beating it for a while to Halsey’s new song. She’d done this with Scorpia enough times to know how to hit a dumb leather bag by herself. Except Lonnie didn’t think so, ‘cause apparently she decided she had nothing better to do than to abandon her shift at the desk and come nag the hell out of Catra.

“I don’t need your help.” Catra sneered as the sharp, familiar pain in her lungs began to subside, using her shoulder to shove the massive bag into Lonnie just to catch her off her guard and off her footing. Course she had to dodge. That no fun bitch.

“Yeah, it doesn’t look like that.” Lonnie crossed her arms and clicked her tongue. “You sure Scorpia’s teaching you right? ‘Cause I’m starting to think she’s being too soft on you-”

“You tell her that then. She’s your girlfriend, not mine, Ramon.” Muscles straining in protest, Catra pushed herself off her knees and brought her fists back up. Ugh, how much longer was Lonnie gonna make her do this? At this rate she was gonna kill her arms before her class, which meant she’d have to strangle Lonnie with her fucking feet. Afterall, it was just as easy as using her hands. Because Catra was flexible like that.

“Look, your problem isn’t your speed, your arc is too wide- here, let me show you,” Coming around to Catra’s side, Lonnie put her arms up in position and just barely whisked Catra’s nose- “WATCH IT!”- as she made a sizeable indent in the punching bag.

“Get it?”

Catra rolled her eyes. No she did not get it. The only thing she got was how dumb this shit was. Really, she had to know how to throw a punch? None of these doofuses could even touch their toes, but Catra had to know the right way to hit something so she wasn’t the embarrassment of the gym? What a fucking scam. “Yeah, it’s much clearer now. You’re such a good teacher. Scorpia is such a lucky woman.”

“Just hit the damn bag, Princess Sarcasm.”

Wham!

It was a good four or five minutes of Catra bouncing back and forth on her feet and driving her fist at leather she imagined to be the ugly ass face a certain former bitchy gymnastic coach before Lonnie gave up drilling holes into her form with bored eyes and chimed in with more cryptic advice. “Wow you suck at this. Were you watching my demonstration?”

“Ugh,” Catra threw her sore hands up. “yes, I watched your ‘demonstration.’ Don’t give me that look! It’s not like I’m Kyle, okay? Flinging my arms around like some incel spaz? No! And you- you suck at training! Seriously, is there no one else in this dumb building who can ‘help’ me?”

“Nah, Rogelio is re-cleaning locker rooms cause Kyle ‘cleaned’ them yesterday, so you’re stuck with me. I can go get the incel spaz himself if you want-”

“No!” Catra blurted out way too damn loud, turning the attention of everyone working out to her. Damn it. “You sic’ing Kyle on me is worse than having to do this for another thirty minutes.” Or an hour. Or two. Or forever.

“Yeah, you’d probably just end up hitting him.” Lonnie nodded, grinning at the prospect of watching their co-worker get the crap beat out of him via Catra. Grabbing her water bottle from where it lay on the floor, Catra nodded as she took an extremely lady like gulp, letting the water that didn’t find her mouth travel down her neck and into her cleavage, enjoying the cool feeling as she reminisced about giving Kyle a black eye. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time she’d almost ripped him in half; failure to properly mop (seriously, what kind of fuckboy couldn’t even mop right?) the studio she was for a Zumba class she was subbing in for led to her falling less than spectacularly on her ass in front of a classroom of judgemental rich white woman; Not that those women would ever dare look at her wrong again after that class, ‘cause they all got the pleasure of watching Catra drag Kyle into the studio by his ear and then twist his limbs in ways only hers were practiced to bend. Rogelio was pissed. He stared her down after the class dispersed, all with vouchers for a free guest. No words were needed between them. All he had to do was glare at her as long as it took to send uncomfortable chills of guilt down Catra’s spine straight to her stomach.

So, Catra swallowed her pride, grumbled as she got some ice from the employee break room, and handed it to Kyle with a tight lipped apology (she never got one, by the way, for the giant pile of water her left for her to dance straight into) and it had abso-fucking-lutely nothing to do with the fact that Rogelio could use his leverage with Octavia to get her fired.

Thinking back to Rogelio’s massive overreaction to the last time she dared mess with Kyle, Catra blanched in the moment and full on choked on her water. “Please don’t tell Rogelio I called his boyfriend an incel spaz.” she said, coughing up water violently between words while Lonnie threw her head back and fuckinng cackled.

“As funny as that would be to watch, I need you working here ‘cause I don’t know anyone else who can teach chair yoga.” Lonnie leaned into the bag after her obnoxious as hell laughter finally died down.

Running her tongue over her teeth, Catra soaked in the vindication. It wasn’t every day Lonnie could admit that Catra paid the bills at The Horde, ‘cause all anybody else could do was lift weights. Her skills were un-fucking-paralleled around here. “Speaking of chair yoga, how much fucking longer do I have punch this dumb bag ‘cause unlike you infelixable meatheads, I need every part of my body to teach-”

“Oh shit! There he is!” Lonnie didn’t just interrupt Catra’s super justified question, she did so by swinging the wholeass punching bag into Catra’s body.

“Fuck! What the hell Lonnie?”

Catra stumbled to get back on her feet as the bag creaked, swinging back and forth, but Lonnie didn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. She just kept staring off into the distance with eyes sparkling and her mouth slightly agape. Letting out a dramatic, yet still unheard sigh, Catra made a big display out waving her hand in front of Lonnie’s face and asking, “Uh, what are you staring at?”

“He’s back! That guy I was telling you about!” Lonnie snapped out of her stupor long enough to explain what the hell was going on. Catra followed her direct line of sight only to find herself staring at just another muscley guy lifting weights and breathing in that awful, inefficient way that made her want to puke her guts out. All these ‘My Body is a Temple idiots’ but they treat their lungs like shit? Ugh, gross. Shuddering at the sound of another heaved groaned, Catra turned away from the weight section as the clang! of the bar hitting metal hit her ears. God, this is why she had her headphones in all the fucking time in the land of Grunt Central Station.

Catra put on a bored stare (it wasn’t hard around these idiots.) “So?”

If Catra was being completely honest, when Lonnie talked she did everything in her power to drown her out, so she actually had no memory of talking about tall, blond, and average straining under his weights over on the opposite side of the gym. Lonnie just wanted to talk about gym stuff like schedules or memberships or how Catra was not supposed to be looking on the local shelter’s adoption site at cats.

Or she wanted to talk about Scorpia because that’s how people in relationships operated. But the Scorpia talk made Catra want to scream, vomit, and tear her god damn curls out all at once; as begrudgingly happy as she was forcing herself to be for her friend and co-worker, their dopey, sappy relationship was a walking, annoying reminder that no woman would ever love a BPD nightmare like Catra and that she was going to die angry and alone, like everybody said she would. Sue her for tuning her boss out and missing the story about this random and fascinating stranger who looked like everyone else in their gym. Seriously, minus the affront to God that was Kyle and the occasional twunks in her yoga classes, there was not a single man in this building that did not have the same basic, boring-ass physique.

“Don’t you think he looks like Thor?” Lonnie waved her hand toward the weights like she was imitating Kyle that one time he accidentally did coke.

Thor? What? What the fuck, how much of that dumb conversation did I miss? “That depends, which one is Thor? God Lonnie, how many times to I have to tell you that I don’t give a fuck about the Avengers or the MCU or whatever it’s called!” Now that was a conversation Catra remembered, because they had had it a million times.

Lonnie and Scorpia were movie people; they loved to watch and marathon and discuss and dress up as characters. It was lucky they’d found each other, ‘cause Catra on the other hand, couldn’t care physically give a damn. She just couldn’t sit through them without almost dying of boredom. But since Lonnie and Scorpia started “going steady” as Scorpia so gag-inducingly put it, Lonnie would crash their apartment, kick Catra off the TV while criticizing her for watching only one thing ever (“I can’t help it if every TV show except Bob’s Burgers is moronic, okay?”) and put on some stupid movie.

If Catra could stomach it- the movie, the Scorpia and Lonnie, the Entrapta whispering notes in her phone like it was recorder, she would stay and watch, reveling in how her dumb comments pissed everyone else in the apartment off. Most of the time though she gave up before Scorpia finished burning popcorn in their microwave and went for a run/hang out with all the outdoor cats in their neighborhood. Lonnie and Scorpia, to gear up for that Endgame movie, had been streaming all twenty something gross Marvel movies for the past couple of weekends, so suffice to say Catra hadn’t spent a lot of time in her own freaking home. Catra couldn’t help it if she felt the need to be an asshole about the whole MCU thing; it was her TV and her living room too.

“Thor is the one with the hammer. Blond hair, chiseled jaw, played by Chris Hemsworth? Jesus, Leon you been living under a rock?” Lonnie lifted a judgey eyebrow at her and Catra rolled her eyes so far back in her head they almost got stuck. Well I definitely haven’t been living in my own damn apartment with you around all the time!

“Don’t they all look like that and have some stupid weapon or something?” snorted Catra as she reveled in Lonnie’s frustrated expression. Served her right. Catra was talking to the same woman who called her a nerd for three weeks after she’d memorized all 84 asanas.

This time Lonnie got to have a grand eyeroll. “You watched Ragnarok with us! The third one?” Of what? “You said you liked actually liked it and weren’t just saying that to make Scorpia feel better.” When Catra just blinked at her, fully enjoying Lonnie’s frustration- that’s what you get for not letting me punch shit in peace- Lonnie threw her hands up. “It’s the Thor movie with Cate Blanchett. Remember? You wouldn’t shut up about how hot she was? God, that was annoying.”

“Oh please, it’s not like you weren’t right there agreeing with me or talking about how you wanted the girl with a sword to step on you.” Catra took another swig of her water.

“No, that was still you Catra.” Lonnie shot back, “You’re the one with that weird fantasy about women with swords.”

“They’re hot, Ramon! Fucking sue me!” Catra brushed the comment off as she threw her head back, her tied back curls bouncing off the damp skin of her neck, throwing her water bottle back down on the ground. At least Lonnie wasn’t still riding her ass about her form anymore (she could thank Thor over there for distracting the trainer) and Catra’s near dead arms could just hang limp at her sides. Ugh, tonight’s class was going to be a bitch.

“Tessa Thompson can get it, don’t get me wrong- uh! You got me off topic! Damn it, Thor got up. Where’d he go? Hey, what do you think he was benching?” Lonnie swung around the bag straight into Catra’s face trying to look around for where this mystery man might have gone off to. Probably the water fountain, duh. Or a shower. Lonnie wouldn’t follow him in there, would she? Nah, she’d just throw Rogelio in there while she made Catra clean all Thor’s gross smelly sweat off the equipment.

Catra scoffed and pushed Lonnie back. “Like I care what “Thor” was benching. And if you’re so interested in this guy, why don’t you just look him up in the system?”

“Ugh, I can’t do that! Octavia says it’s illegal or some shit.” Lonnie sighed, earning a bewildered what-the-fuck look from her co-worker. “Rogelio and I tried to look up this chick who looked like Brie Larson in the system. Octavia found out and said it’s some kind of violation of privacy, which I do not get cause this is a gym! There’s no privacy here! I literally watch people take off their shoes and socks on in the freaking lobby almost every day. Disgusting freaks.”

“Ugh, why would you bring that up?” Now Catra was really going to throw up now. Like projectile vomit, blow chunks straight onto Lonnie. That brings back memories of gymnastics.

“Damn it! I really wanted to get a picture with him and rub it in Kyle’s face that I met Chris Hemsworth! What, he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference!” Lonnie protested when Catra sent her a smug look and snorted again.

“Whatever, Lonnie, he’ll probably be back tomorrow because he’s obviously a basic dudebro with nothing better to do than stare at his muscles the mirror all day, so you can probably just save your groveling until then.” Catra stuck her tongue out, leaning in to turn the mockery up to 11, before a dangerous thought flashed in her mind. One about how much Lonnie gushed over 80’s action figure’s muscles, something she did not normally do unless that muscled specimen was her girlfriend. “Ramon, you better not be going behind Scorpia’s back with this Thor douchebag,” Catra flashed her abnormally sharp incisors at the fitness trainer, “‘cause if you do anything to hurt her, I will fucking dismantle you in your damn sleep! I swear to fucking God you will wake up burning in insense and gasoline and tied up in every fucking yoga mat I can find-”

“Jesus, Catra!” Lonnie shouted, straight up pushing Catra into the bag as she went deeper and deeper off the crazy, neverending deep end of hers. “I’m not cheating on Scorpia! I just wanted a picture with the God of Lesbians, that’s all! Well, a false god ‘cause I don’t really think that was Chris Hemsworth. Guess I’m just gonna have to wait for our Comic Con roadtrip up to San Diego.”

“Lonnie, could you do me the amazing favor of standing here and then staying absolutely fucking still so I can hit you, instead of this emotionless sack of leather?” Lonnie’s dumb story about their Comic Con trip- like Catra needed anymore reminding of that- shut up anymore dangerous thoughts about cheating or affairs or exercise equipment that was flammable. On a second, more rational thought, Catra doubted Lonnie would be the kind of person to cheat. Yeah, she annoyed the crap out of Catra, but she took Scorpia as she was, something not a lot of people even tried, not because she pitied her or had some nasty ulterior motive, but because she legitimately enjoyed spending time with her. And like Catra, Lonnie hated pretty much everybody else.

Catra doubted she’d ever find something like Lonnie and Scorpia had. Lightening only struck once, and this time it struck two people that weren’t her. Well deserving people, but still, it fucking sucked. Ugh, she was gonna die alone. Her hypothetical cats were all gonna fucking eat her.

“Ugh, Leon, you’re no fun! Why can’t you appreciate how cool it is that a fake Thor is coming to our gym?”

“Because that’s literally the lamest sentence I’ve ever fucking heard and I am a bartender who has to teach yoga because I still can’t make my damn rent!” No longer were any of these gym rats allowed to give her shit about that when they were stalking celebrity look-a-likes in their free time.

The next time Lonnie or Rogelio or Octavia or Kyle, if that vaping asshole had a deathwish, brought up how she’s actually a giant softie ‘cause she liked doing yoga- something Scorpia recommended she start in place of therapy (none of them could afford it) after she the epic mental breakdown of the century her senior year of college and set Coach Weaver’s car on fire, as well as a bunch of other shit- she was going to bend herself into a flawless handstand, ask them if they’d stalked Chris Evans yet, and walk away, backwards, on her hands sticking her tongue out.

“Pfft, it’s not lame.” scoffed Lonnie. “You just don’t know how to have fun. Is there a yoga pose that will get that stick out of your ass?”

“Why, so I can shove it up yours? Seriously, how the hell is watching random people exercise fun?” Catra practically screamed, running her nails down her face like she was trying to claw all her skin off.

Lonnie crossed her arms and planted her feet, 100% committed to her stupid crusade at this point. “It’s not a random guy! I’m talking the fake God of Lesbians! That’s basically your whole religion, Catra! Hey, maybe he can help you get a girlfriend since you’re always bitching about being alone and all.”

“What?” Catra squealed with as much indignation as possible. How dare Lonnie bring up the harrowing fact that she was single and refused to mingle ‘cause that was fucking gross and picky as hell and also a nightmare of a human being “I don’t need anything from the crusty ass, dick for brains, piece of-”

“Uh, Hello?”

Shit!

Whirling around straight into Lonnie at the sound of an unfamiliar masculine voice, Catra tried to keep the fuck together when she realized who had audacity to approach her while her back was turned. Are you fucking kidding me? Tall, blond, and basic had decided to make a surprise appearance just to scare the shit out of her, sweat drenched towel draped over his moist Nike shirt and airpods in hand.

Catra did her best not to visibly gag; whether it was the musky smell (why did she work at a gym again?) or his pit stains about to make her barf water and stomach acid at his feet was completely lost on her. Despite the kind-of-sort-of friendly smile on his face and his relaxed posture, all Catra could do was stare at his extended hand like it was the deepest offense in the world.

“Hey, you’re Catra, right?”

“Uh-”

“Yeah, this is Catra.” When Catra turned her head to look at Lonnie, she was met with a traitorous smirk and devious eyes that said this is what you get for talking shit about the fake God of Lesbians! How dare you besmirch our lord and savior!? For a split second, Catra wondered if Fake Thor might enjoy watching her murder her boss in cold blood.

“I’m Adam.” Fake Thor introduced himself and once again, pushed his hand forward. Ballsy, considering the daggers Catra was staring into his empty skull. Oh, she could take this ‘Adam’ down in three fucking seconds; less, if he did what Catra thought he was about to do. Okay, what’s it going to be, Mr. Bimbo? You came over to ask me to come look at your collection of Dave Matthews vinyls in your Star Wars theme man cave or invite me to happy hour at a dirty TGI Friday’s? Ugh, these fucking meatheads are so predictable they take all the fun out of it.

Catra yawned and leaned back into her hips. “Okay?” At that moment she swore she heard Lonnie’s jaw drop. Oh, this? This was fucking sweet. Lonnie stalks him all day- possibly for longer than a week just to get a stupid picture with someone who wasn’t even who they thought he was- and he approaches Catra instead. Lonnie’s precious God of Lesbians picked a whole ass, different lesbian- to be a disgusting, horny man with, but still, Catra was going to be rubbing it in her dumb face that she got to turn fake Thor down, not any of these other lame idiots!

“You teach the yoga flow class right?” he flashed a perfect smile at her and Catra, miffed he wasn’t reading the do-not-fuck-with-me vibe she was oh so famous for, swallowed and showed him the canines in her own mouth. Why was he asking her about a class? There was no way ‘Adam’ had ever stretched into any warrior pose ever without pulling something. And Catra would have remembered him sauntering into the studio and knocking everything and everyone over with his giant, sweaty body.

“Yeah? Why do ask?” Catra glanced down at her fingernails. This was taking too long.

“Um, so I haven’t taken it,” yeah, that much was obvious, “but my twin sister has a couple times.” Adam- and Lonnie- perked up at the mention of his sister. Oh my God. That must be where this dull, useless conversation was going at a snail’s pace towards.

“She’s actually taken a couple of your classes, like restorative yoga and another one that escapes me, oof that’s embarrassing.” Everything, from the carefree movements of his shoulders to the wild gesturing of his hands, plus his chill tone, showed Catra that he was just gonna go ahead and act like they were close friends. What the hell is his game here? Catra wondered.

“Sorry about that. I don’t know if you know her, she usually stays in the back ‘cause she’s not very good and she has like, a perfectionist problem. And an anxiety problem. That’s why she’s taking yoga in the first place, you know, to be less high strung. Anyways, got a little off track there, but I wanted to tell you that she thinks you’re a really great teacher.” Adam broke his spiel off there with a wink.

What the HELL does that mean? Catra curled her fingers into tight fists. To keep from indenting Adam’s perfect jawline or to indent Adam’s jawline, she had no fucking idea.

While she was trying to keep her own sneaker out of this strange guy’s ass, Catra tried to think back to her classes the past few weeks ad searched her memory for a woman that looked like him. A blonde, young woman in the back. There was no way, Adam was fucking with her. Catra definitely remembered blue eyes that deep and the kindest smile that made her forget that the world was a fucking cruel and intent on killing her.

Adam, hellbent on screwing with her more, then way to casually added, “She talks about you a lot, whenever she gets out of class. I think she kinda has thing for you.”

Of course Lonnie- who was still just standing there for some reason- just had to burst out laughing and then scramble to turn that noise into a cough before a) Adam and his flawless eyebrows suspected anything, and b) Catra kicked her in the shin and earned a disappointed lecture from Scorpia for hurting her “Lonnie-Boo.”

“Anyways…” Adam continued, narrowing those baby blue eyes of his before relaxing into that annoyingly cordial posture, “I overheard you guys mentioning you were lesbians? I mean, I wasn’t eavesdropping but-”

“We were just being loud, we get it a lot.” Uh, no we don’t! This is fucking weird! Catra indulged her panicked thoughts as Lonnie cut Adam off. Then, to take things to an even weirder level, Lonnie leaned her way and whispered “Oh my God, Catra, he is the God of Lesbians.”

“Well, Adora- my sister- she’s also a lesbian. And- and she’s single.” Catra sunk her teeth into her bottom lip. How were Lonnie and Adam both looking at her with the same eager as fuck expression? And how could she knock both of them unconscious at the same time? And god fucking damn it! Why couldn’t Catra remember this angelic, goddess, gay twin of his?

“She had a friend emergency today, but she usually works out the same time as me. She’ll be here tomorrow.”

Lonnie just had to speak up, she just had too. Because the universe hated Catra and took every opportunity to make her life shitty. “Oh? I think Catra will be here the same time tomorrow too.”

What. The. Actual. FUCK?!!?

“Awesome!” Adam gave a little fist pump. “I gotta go, but it was nice meeting you, Catra. And uh, you too.” He finger gunned in Lonnie’s direction as he pirouetted on his sneakers, walking backwards towards the exist. Mouths agape, Catra and Lonnie watched him stick his airpods back in and jog out the sliding doors, like this was just another normal day at The Horde.

The fake God of Lesbians left behind the most fucking awkward silence between Catra and her boss/improtu and unwanted personal trainer. They must’ve stood there in disbelief for at least three minutes, the only sounds of people working out behind them Catra wanted to speak- she really did before Lonnie started talking some serious bullshit- but no matter how many she played recent events in her head could Catra come up with anything to say other than "Uh, what the fuck just happened?”

“Dude,” Lonnie smacked her arm and cackled, “I think Those just wingmanned you!”

“So are you gonna do it?”

“Uh, do what?”

“Work out with the the God of Lesbian’s gay twin sister?”

“Leave me alone, Lonnie.” Catra whined into her hands.

“Woah, woah, woah, wait- the God of Lesbians? You mean Thor? He doesn’t have a twin sister.” Scorpia interjected. Ugh, when did she get here? “I mean, recently in the comic books the mantle of Thor has been given to a woman, but I don’t think Marvel has confirmed her sexuality.”

Fuck me. Catra couldn’t even get a moments peace after her studio class that her co-workers always seemed to forget included her bending over a fucking chair in multiple, unnatural ways for a whole hour. Probably because none of these asshats could do it or even bothered to try. Legs pulsing with pain, she slammed her yoga mat down on the Welcome Center desk and stole Rogelio’s empty chair five minutes after she dismissed everyone in her class.

Rogelio could stare her down all he wanted when he got back, Catra didn’t care at this point. She just wanted to fucking rest before she had to get her aching body out of the chair and go work the closing shift serving alcohol she couldn’t even drink (dumb stabilizing meds) at Erelandia but Lonnie was, apparently, not going to drop this whole idiotic Thor-thing. Didn’t help that Catra’s brain hadn’t dropped the topic either; she was completely spaced out trying to teach, too busy scanning the attendees for a familiar hot blonde.

It also didn’t help that Scorpia was also here, probably to pick up her loud mouth girlfriend.

As Catra moaned into her hands again, she heard a fucking weasel pop out of nowhere and loudly insist “They didn’t make Thor a woman!”

“Uh, yeah they did, Kyle.” Lonnie countered back without missing a beat. Catra looked up only to open her eyes to the horrifying sight that not only had Kyle shown up, but Rogelio was there too nodding in agreement with Scorpia and Lonnie. Great. Now everyone was here.

Channeling his inner asshole, Kyle demanded to know “How would they even do that?”

“She was given the hammer, Kyle!” Scorpia said, like it was obvious. “Whoever holds melnor, mielnar, mjiler-”

“Take your time, babe.” Lonnie rubbed her girlfriends arm as her face scrunched up trying to pronounce whatever stupid name Thor’s hammer. Just to show what she thought of the whole conversation, Catra let out a long, and loud, dramatic sigh.

“Millie…your?”

“No you guys,” Oh so now Lonnie was going to elaborate. “not the real Thor!”

“Melanin?”

“Uh, duh, he’s not real.”

“Shut the fuck up Kyle.”

“Melon baller?”

“I’m talking about that guy who looks like Thor. You know the one that’s been coming to our gym for awhile?” Lonnie clarifications sent a ripple of “ohhhhs” through the group. “Turns out his name is Adam, and he has a twin sister! He wants to set Catra up!”

A sudden force over took Catra and almost threw her out of the chair the second Lonnie finally shut her blabbermouth. One minute Catra was fine, she was relaxed if not irritated with her choice of friends, the next minute she was being suffocated by Scorpia’s giant mutant arms. “Oh Catra, this is amazing news!”

“GET…offme!”

Scorpia ignored the squealing and squirming, taking the obnoxious show of friendship up an unnecessary notch by rocking her limp body back and forth. “You have finally have someone to go out with! And she’s probably hot if she’s related to Thor!”

“Fake Thor.” coughed Lonnie as a reminder.

“We can finally go on double dates-”

“Auggh!” Catra twisted Scorpia’s arm over her, “I’m not going out with Not Thor’s gay sister!”

Scorpia’s face fell into that pout that always made Catra feel like she’d punched in the stomach. “What- why not?”

“‘Cause she’s not real, duh! ” Catra threw her hands up, her curls flying everywhere around her head like a crazed halo. Look, Catra understood that she was suspicious to the point of like, actual paranoia, and that it just came with her brand of crazy, but she also knew when someone was flat out manipulating her, i.e. lying straight to her face. She’d only dealt with it her entire gymnastics career.

Adam didn’t show picture and only said his sister’s name once. Catra, whose studio was full of wall to wall mirrors that allowed her to seeeverything, would’ve remembered a stunning lesbian copy of him. This was bullshit, is what it was.

“What’s her name again?” from across the desk, Kyle asked with piqued interest.

“Adora, or some other obviously made up name.” Catra rolled her eyes so far back in her head it hurt, “God, he didn’t even try-”

“Found her.”

“WHAT?” In a quick and graceful blur, Catra, Lonnie, and Scorpia rushed over to the other end of the desk were Rogelio was bunched over Kyle typing into the computer.

“Yeah, Adora Smith.” Kyle shrugged, pointing to the monitor where Adam’s sister’s information was pulled up in their membership database. “It looks like she mostly comes as a guest with Adam for the past few weeks- huh, Adam’s last name is Walker, what do you guys think that’s about? Oh, here’s her picture.”

Kyle didn’t have to gesture to the screen. Catra was already staring. Fuck, she’s gorgeous. And so his twin. Piercing blue eyes, blonde ponytail, amazing flawless skin. Stunning, warm smile that almost Catra melt right into a puddle right then and there. Pull it together, Leon! Try not to act like you’d throw all these people under an actual bus just to get to know her.

“Not my type, but she’s pretty.” commented Lonnie.

Pretty? She’s the reason faces were invented, you idiot!

“Well, that’s relief-”

“Oh my God, shut up Scorpia, I remember her!” throwing her hand back, Catra’s hand met Scorpia’s boobs- Catra was aiming for her mouth, wasn’t her fault her room mate was 6’2”- and pushed Kyle out of the seat and onto the floor, making Rogelio squeal in horror. “Remember, Adam said she was taking some of my classes but that’s why I thought it was total bull, ‘cause of course I would have remembered her!”

Catra gestured wildly as Scorpia and Lonnie raised their eyebrows in tandem. “But Adam was right, she was in the back and I remember ‘cause she kept needing extra help. She was like a baby penguin trying to learn how to walk! Like she fell on her fucking face, twice. It was awesome!”

“Well it sounds like she made an impression.” Lonnie smirked and Scorpia didn’t even wait a beat to pile on.

“Yeah, Catra! Dumb blondes, that’s totally your type! You should go out with her! Hey, I bet she needs some one on one help.”

“Not gonna happen.” throwing up her defenses without a second thought, Catra hissed back at her friends.

“‘Cause you’re a chicken?” Lonnie raised her eyebrow, just asking to be decked in the jaw. What a perfect opportunity to see if Catra’s training had come through.

“No, ‘cause-” I’m unstable. I’m fucking insane, medically speaking. I’m good at like, one thing. And, oh don’t forget, I’m completely, totally unlovable. “Uh, whatever, you guys probably don’t even care,” she muttered the last part under her breath, just in case Scorpia heard and made a big deal out of proving her wrong.

“Okay well, I’m gonna need you to come in around three tomorrow. Kyle’s calling in sick with mono again, that dumbass.” Lonnie sighed, leaning onto the desk.

“I am? I’m what?” blubbered Kyle as Rogelio pulled him off the floor.

Three? That’s around the time I came in today- ARE YOU SHITTING ME? “Seriously? Fuck you, Lonnie!”

“Melvin-jorge. That’s it!”

“I cannot believe you, Adam!”

After dragging her ass to the gym at exactly three p.m- because she fully believed Lonnie would have her fired and banned from the building if she didn’t at least strike up some form of conversation with this girl- Catra was trying her best not to think about twins or Thor or whatever disaster was about to go down as she halfassed wiped down equipment when she heard Adora walk in. At least she assumed it was Adora; she wasn’t sure who else would yelling Adam’s name randomly with like, that much annoyance.

“Oh c’mon, don’t be like that Adora!”

Oh, so it was Adora. Having a full on argument with her twin brother in the middle of their gym. Catra resisted the tormenting desire to turn around and forced her focus to the wipes crumpling in her hand as she ran them down leather seat of their ergometer. Don’t, don’t, don’t don’t you fucking turn around and stare like a creep Catra Maria Leon!

“We’ve talked about this,” wow, she sounds pissed. That’s hot. “You can’t go around setting me up with random woman you think is gay! Not every girl at a gym is gay, Adam!”

Having to literally sink her teeth into her tongue, Catra stifled a laugh. So Adora was upset about this whole thing too? Guess they had that in common.

“Catra is a lesbian! She was yelling about it with her trainer!” Adam insisted.

This is what I get for not keeping my fucking mouth shut. At least he didn’t bring up how we called him Thor and Fake Thor over and over and over again.

“Plus, you have a thing for her Adora. I know because you wouldn’t shut up about how pretty and smoking hot she was and how she smells like cinnamon! That’s way too much detail for me!”

The more Adam described how Adora had described her, the more Catra’s face was overcome with a tingling heat that spread from her face, to her neck, to her chest. Still, she refused to turn around. Even if she dying, dying to see the look on Adora’s face.

“By the way, how many times did you fall in class? Like seven times? Klutz.”

Adora scoff echoed all through the gym. “I’m not the klutz, you’re the klutz! And by the way, I didn’t fall on accident, my balance is impeccable! Coach Hordak once made me bounce a soccer ball on my head for a mile! And, get this, I did it for two! That’s how good my balance is!”

She was falling… on purpose?

“Did that man ever let you sleep?”

“No, he didn’t, and you know what, I’m not gonna let you sleep either after this! And you are so uninvited to Best Friend Squad Netflix nights!” Catra heard a whack! and Adam yelp.

“Glimmer will invite me back! And you have to get back out there, Adora! It’s been, what, like a year and a half since you and Serenia broke up?”

This time, Catra let herself turn around. Okay, she moved her neck to the side like three inches. Part of her was curious to see if they’d seen her. The other part of her just wanted to stare in wonder at Adora for pretty much the rest of her life.

“Ugh, don’t bring that up, this is not about that!” With every word Adora yelled at her twin, Catra came closer to making that 180 that would allow her to see the two of them. And for them to see her. “This about you being weird and just going up to random people to see if they wanna go out with me!”

“Look she’s right over there, why don’t you just go talk to her? Because I don’t think your face can take much more damage from you falling down in yoga , Adora.” Damn, Adam. Maybe I should introduce you to Lonnie ‘cause you’d be great friends. I kinda wanna be friends, what the hell?

At this point, Catra didn’t know what else to do with her body but stand there with her hip cocked and her arms crossed, an amused smirk on her face. Didn’t matter that her neck and chest were still on fire and her heart was beating like she’d just run a fucking mile.

Adora looked away from her brother, only to catch Catra’s waiting eyes, and given the way she squeaked, threw her hands in her face, and walked/tumbled back towards her brother, Catra maybe got the vibe she wasn’t expecting her to be literally right there.

“Hey, Adora.” Catra gave a little sultry wave, the corner of her mouth upturned, unsure of what the hell had just come over her. Seriously, was she fucking possessed? Or was Adora just so freaking cute and so much better in person that she could ever imagine and was maybe, maybe worth taking a chance on? Also, the chance to embarrass her just to see her face turn red was something Catra couldn’t resist .

A panicked whine slipped from Adora’s lips as she bumped into Adam’s shoulder. “I hate you, I hate you, and I wish we’d stayed separated.”

“Yeah, yeah, hate you too. Now go get her chief.” Catra didn’t see what happened next coming. But she should have, given that mischievous sparkles Adam got in his eyes. The next thing she knew, Adora was shrieking, Catra blinked, and then fell to the ground as a body slammed into her. Holy shit! Catra’s teeth caught her tongue as she hit concrete hard, pain exploding through her sore body. What the FUCK just happened?

When Catra opened her eyes, a nasty cocktail of shock and pain paralyzing her muscles from making any kind of move, she looked down to find Adora exactly in her lap, muttering “Ow, my ass.”

“Uh…”

Adora’s own shocking blue eyes flew open and in them, Catra could see the exact second she put everything together in that pretty little head of hers. “Oh, oh! I’m sorry, I- that was, ah man.” she scrambled away, out of Catra’s lap- hey, wait!- and let out another embarrassed whine.

Lifting her head up to glare at the ceiling, Adora whispered, “I hate you Adam.” before taking a deep breath. “I- hi, I’m, um, Adora.” she stuttered, blush overtaking her pale skin. Catra smiled. Oh, she was cute.

“Catra.”

“Yeah, I know I’ve been taking your classes- I, uh” Adora’s closed her mouth and fiddled with her fingers as she bit back a smile. A really beautiful smile. “I’m sorry, I’m really bad at this.”

Snorting, Catra added. “Trust me, you’re not the only one who’s totally out of her comfort zone right now.”

“Do you wanna just work out? Like together?” she asked, bright smile still on her face. Getting up on one knee, Adora extended a hand.

“Yes!” Catra replied way too quickly, having to slap on a less desperate as fuck approach, “I mean, yeah I’d like that.”

As Adora led her to the treadmills, Catra heard Adam claim in victory, “Yes! My work here is done. Oh man, where did my airpods go?”

Catra stifled a laugh. Some God of Lesbians/thunder. Hmm, thunder right and storms and shit? Catra thought to herself as Adora started going on about how annoying and intrusive Adam could just generally be, maybe with him around, lightning can strike the same place twice.

Thank you so much for reading! I hoped you enjoyed it Lily! Likes and REBLOGS are always appreciated!

and once again, thank you to those you organized this event! Happy Pride!

#spop pride exchange #spop #catradora #sweetlykissedadora #gym au #sconnie #catra x adora #scorpia x lonnie

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thetimelordbatgirl · 5 years ago

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Random scattered thoughts about D3 under the cut

*The fact that everyone has basically abandoned Audrey though......where goodness doesn't get better? More like 'we'll abandon you once your dumped by our king and also rub it in your face that you couldn't hold a prince like your mother could'- also Audrey knows about the love spell and WHY Mal did it, but if that's the, case then everyone knows and still doesn't care that Mal did that- like the one person with brain cells is Audrey and shes the villain of this movie.

*Queen of Mean is a bop though- its one of the only valid songs in this movie, but also with the evil laughter almost that could be heard BEFORE Audrey puts on the crown, it makes me wonder if they planned to have Audrey be possessed after all.

*One Kiss is literally just gay panic the song, no I don't take arguments its literally Evie in gay panic mode and its Disney having to do that one heterosexual song to remind us that no, only heterosexual couples are valid in this universe- also despite dating for three years, Evie struggles to tell Doug she loves him and even doesn't believe her true loves kiss wont work???? WOW- can we say, clearly goals to have a relationship where bae stalks you originally and you struggle to tell him you love him after three years of dating and after sharing a cottage with him?

*Night Falls is a cool song, but I love how as soon as Uma tries to lead, Mal gets bitchy and acts like she can lead a sword fight better then a pirate captain could- like, mal chill, your not queen yet.

*Mal as Hades daughter.......lemme just uh, stress that's the worst twist in history, literally over-powers Mal once more with now god blood- and Do What You Gotta Do is literally daddy issues the song, and despite having the same parenting as Maleficent with how he neglected Mal basically, Hades is somehow the better parent?? HOW?! Also its never showed how Mal learnt this information.....did Disney forget to write that in or- and of course, Mal must be the only VK of the core four with a good parent- cause of course, Mal must have everything as always.

*Audrey singing Happy Birthday while cursing the party and singing 'dear jane' while smiling evilly......can we just uh say, she at least got down with the aesthetic of being a villain?

*Oh yeah, speaking of villains- despite being promoted as villains, Hades does nothing basically besides drain Mal of her magic and all 'evil' scenes from trailer is just him doing random shit or good shit, while Uma is more of a anti-hero while Celia is kinda just there doing scamming and such- Audrey was the only accurate villain to promotion and even then she only got one trailer.

*My Once Upon A Time is literally Pity Me the song and Mal even sings at the end about reaching greatness and such- Jay, Evie, Carlos and Ben got stonned for this shit.

*Also yes, they literally stonned Ben, Carlos, Jay and Evie cause only Mal can take part in final fight.

*ALSO- MAL LIED- like, girl literally lied to her friends about the isle barrier and didn't tell them she was going to seal it up, and when confronted about it, she acts like she had no choice when she MADE the decision on her own and then after friends get stonned, she goes into pity song mode and doesn't suffer much consequences for the lie afterwards.

*Audrey saying to Mal though about the love spell and how its a touching story for the grandkids.......grandkids in the future felt that burn.

*Mal is cursed into a old hag and Ben into a beast......except Mals curse wears off under the barrier while Bens is soon enough fixed by Jane blasting enchanted lake at him- just......cant have true love fix curses like they do in the movies, nah, that means our couple being true love.

*Audrey nearly fucking dies- thanks plot for nearly killing the WOC princess.

*"Mal came through"- yeah, after planning to seal up the barrier and abandon every kid on the isle basically- but its okay they didn't know so its okay, TIME TO CELEBRATE MAL AGAIN-

*Lady Tremaine's character is fucking weird- in descendants 2 they say shes not a good grandma, but here she is?! Can Disney make up their mind on how the characters are written?!

*Celia and her relationship with her father though is precious, y'all can fight me on it.

*Mal literally saying she has to be queen of the isle as well- one, excuse you that's Uma's title and two, the isle IS apart of Auradon and is a PRISON, then again, descendants 2 forgot this detail when trying to act like being from a place where VKs are abused by their parents is something you cant ignore so why am I not surprised Descendants 3 is continuing that trend.

*Mal is drained of her magic but this isn't even explored cause she gets it back when Hades gives her the ember- so guess we cant even see Mal be forced to fight a battle without magic.

*Also Hades gives Mal the ember at the end for good- BUT WHAT WILL SHE DO WITH IT?! Its probably gonna go in the museum lol- so he basically lost his weapon as well.

*The Smee twins are also precious, and the fact that Smee cares about them is adorable- plus Smee is kinda accurate in design so.

*Jay being a big brother to all....precious- but also hes clearly gay for Gil sorry don't make the rules.

*Carlos and Jane must be protected from the plot.

*Evie's plot is good as well, but her whole 'struggling to say I love you to doug' is still bullshit plot.

*Doug is as boring as ever- next.

*Uma is a queen as always- her boys were so happy to see her again and she looked so happy to see them as well, let alone seeing the sun finally when the barrier fell at the end.

*Which brings me to uh, the ending.....THEY TORE DOWN THE BARRIER- like, the entire Isle is free now, not just the VKs but also villains- VILLAINS WHO IN FIRST MOVIE WANTED REVENGE- villains who will likely hurt their kids in Auradon still and villains who will likely not want to play peaceful and happy families- I thought Mal knew how villains worked, but she thinks villains will wanna play good guys? What happened to 'your parents cant reach you here' in film 1? NOW THEY CAN- Jasmine already fucking calling bullshit if Jafar thinks he can roam free.

*Hades at the end.......uggghhhh- Mal as his kid still makes no sense and never will and we get it, protective dad joke- WE GET IT- god, those jokes tire me sometimes.

*Disney really better not be acting like they deserve an award for that Hades and Mal twist- everyone saw it coming, you gave it away with Mal's hair and the teaser trailer- which is also never explained in D3 so lol.

*Disney: *doesn't have Lonnie being mentioned at all* Lonnie: "Am I a joke to you?"

*Chads weak as always- again, next.

*Audrey does get a apology finally but um, it took THREE YEARS to do so! Y'all asked for her revenge! Like, I love Ben but who the fuck says to a pissed off person that's about to curse you and your trying to talk them out of it, "I'll forgive you" like- DUDE NO-

*VK Day is still bullshit and that's just facts- also I love how they like I wish we could take you all- WHY. CANT. YOU?! You have power to take them all of it! But you DONT! In fact, Mal later decides to seal up the barrier at one point meaning she had to abandon the VKs there and even prevent Celia from seeing her dad again! So guess she forgot the VKs and was like 'yeah seal that fucker up cause Hades stole my magic'.

*Mal needing cheering in final fight......yayyy- I didn't need anymore reminders this was a Mal movie.

*Remember when HSM3 at least felt connected to the prior movies? D3 doesn't even FEEL connected- your expected to read books that may not stand a chance at getting mentioned- also had a entire different thing with Mal's dad but Disney erased that despite connecting the books each time they said to read a book before seeing the film- and in D3, a lot of shit just feels separate to the previous two- let alone the major time skip making it harder to connect- with Young Justice, while timeskips happen you still get hints at what happened inbetween those timeskips- but with D3? None is mentioned- so your left with this as the last movie and yeah, its just messy really.

*Well at least Huma won- we got one good ship in this movie at least- too bad its surrounded by a mess.

*Thank fuck there's no more descendants movies after this- sure, its sad and descendants still has a place with me- well with the aspects I like/the characters I like- but at the same time, a fourth descendants would be disrespectful to Cameron Boyce, the only Carlos really and of course, considering how messy D3 was and how Mal centred it became, a fourth movie really is not in the future- its sad I know, but at the same time, at least descendants can live on in fandom.

#disney descendants #descendants #descendants 3 #d3 spoilers #descendants 3 spoilers #descendants spoilers #please be aware its not my overall review #this is just random and not formed properly #but yeah uh i'll take huma celia Audrey and the smee twins and that's it #also carlos parts cause I treasure them really #but everything else is a mess really

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shera-dnd · 6 years ago

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Master of Cruelties

I just spent almost 3 hours writing this angsty mess (that is somehow 12k words long) and I feel like I fucked things up tremendously at some point, but I want to post it anyway

Disclaimer: Things will get spicy and things will get angsty and I’m not responsible if you start crying or if you hate me for this

onward with the pain

The Princesses of Power campaign had been rough for Catra and Adora. They normally used the game nights as date nights. A way of showing affection in a more elaborate way, through their characters, but all their characters have been showing in Etheria was aggression and pain. Now, at least, the first campaign was behind them and Catra could finally relax at home with her girlfriend.

She was standing by Adora’s bike, waiting for girlfriend. When Adora showed up she looked worried and Catra was immediately put on edge by that “Hey, Adora, is everything ok?” She stepped forward to hold Adora’s hand.

“I was gonna ask you the same thing” Catra was very confused by that statement and it must have shown in her face “It’s just that the way your character’s been acting reminds me a lot of...you know”

That was an odd way of phrasing it. What was her character doing that- Oh no “No no no” Catra sputtered “It’s nothing like that. That shit is all in the past now”

Adora didn’t seen relieved at all by this “It’s just that you acting out all that stuff just…”

“Brings back some bad memories. I get it” Catra pulled her closer “I thought we had put that shit behind for good, but if you want I can just talk to GM and change my character a bit”

“You don’t have to, but please talk to me if things like that start happening again for real” Adora gave her a quick kiss for reassurance “Now let’s go home”

~~~

Catra was enjoying kicking everyone’s ass with her beautiful commander, Alesha, as she usually did late night at the Moon Opal. She had just wiped the floor with some dumbass newcomer who underestimated her, when three of her friends approached her, looking very conspicuous.

Glimmer, Bow and Perfuma all looked like they wanted to talk to her, but didn’t know how to approach her, like she might bite their heads off if they got too close. As much as she enjoyed being feared by her peers, this was was getting tiresome so she just called out “What are you nerds doing?”

The way Glimmer jumped after hearing her voice made Catra giggle a bit, but that died out as she noticed how serious all of them looked “What? Am I scaring away the clientele again?”

“No no no” Bow said defensively.

“It’s just that you and Adora have been looking very tired lately” Perfuma continued. Oh god, could they get on with it already?

Glimmer was either really good at really Catra’s expression or her nerves just couldn’t handle more than 3 seconds of her death stare, for she simply blurted “We overheard you talking to Adora last week”

Catra just sighed and started shuffling Alesha “You guys up for some MTG?” she casually asked.

“We actually just wanted to know if things were ok with you two” Bow answered

“Things have been fantastic between me and Adora, but I know you dumbasses are gonna spend the next month torturing yourselves about all the vague shit we said” She put her deck down “So we can talk while we play”

Glimmer and Bow both looked unsure about playing a match with her involved, but Perfuma was almost jumpy, she wanted to be sure Catra was ok and she knew she could take her on “Do you wanna hear the story or not?” Catra spat out.

The two seemed to give in and Perfuma rushed for her spare decks. When everyone was set up Catra drew her seven cards and started talking “So do you remember the closet incident?”

Glimmer rolled her eyes “I try to forget it”

Catra just laughed at her reaction “What if I told you that was not the first time we did that? That was just the first time you caught us” She casually played out her turn as everyone just stared at her “Plains, sol ring, chrome mox imprinting dreadbore, Alesha, go”

“Don’t you just chrome mox me” Glimmer almost shouted and Angella shushed her from the other side of the store “What do you mean by that? How long had you been ending arguments by making out?”

“About a month” She said nonchalantly

“But you only knew each other for two months by then” Bow pointed out

“So what?” Catra shrugged “Did you really think it would take that long for us to start hate fucking each other?”

“You did what?!” this time the three of them shouted and they all got shushed by Angela

Catra sighed “Just let me tell the story, ok?”

~~~

Catra’s apartment was empty for the night as Lonnie, her roommate, was away for some music festival or whatever and this meant Catra could practice with her own favorite instrument: Adora’s screams. She did not care about her neighbors, she just wanted to have lots of angry sex and forget about all her problems.

She was just warming up when Adora just pushed her away “We can’t keep doing this” she said breathlessly.

“What? Your friend catches you in the act once and you chicken out?” Catra mocked.

“No” Adora said, in a more assertive tone this time “We can’t just keep ending every argument with sex and pretend that fixes anything”

“Who said anything about fixing shit?”

Adora was taken aback by that comment “Is this all you want?”

“Duh, that is all we’ve been doing since we met” Seriously, how was Adora not grasping that “We don’t make up, we make out. How did you expect anything else from this?”

Adora looked sad for a split second, before turning to cold anger “I’m done with this” She got up and started picking her stuff “If you ever want a real relationship you know where to find me”

Catra took a moment to process what had just happened. Did she just leave? That was not supposed to happen. Angry Adora was supposed to pin her down and have her way with her, not just get up and leave.

~~~

“Alesha brings back the entombed Master of Cruelties and that is GG, Bow” Catra announced.

Everyone looked stunned for a second. Perfuma seemed to be the first to recover her composure “I’m sorry, Catra, but that was simply awful of you”

“The way I treated Adora or killing Bow on turn two?” Catra asked, mostly just to rub it in that she killed Bow on turn two.

“Both” Bow exclaimed “Seriously, why would you say any of that?”

“Oh, you know how I was back then. Always acting angry and pissing off the people around me so I could avoid dealing with my own emotions” She hopped her nonchalant act was holding up, because talking about all of this was bringing back some old feelings she would rather keep dead and buried.

“Was?” Glimmer asked jokingly, but one stare from Catra was enough for her to back down with the teasing “Sorry, but how exactly did you fix that?”

“I did something I swore I would never do” Catra straightened her posture “I apologized”

~~~

One week. Catra could not believe it took only one week for her to give in. Adora was just some random girl she met at the store, she should not be reacting like this. Who was she kidding? She could say that shit all she wanted, that wouldn’t change the truth and it would only make things harder. God damn her stupid pride.

She gesture for Adora to follow her outside the store and she waited. Every fiber of her body telling her to abort mission and run, but there was still something inside her that needed this to happen. She didn’t know what part of her she hated the most.

When Adora showed up she didn’t look angry or sad, she was impassive and Catra didn’t know how to deal with impassive. They took a quick and silent ride to Catra’s apartment and just sat there in her room. Catra trying to gather her courage and Adora waiting for her to say something.

“I’m sorry” The words felt like teeth being pulled out “I shouldn’t have said all that shit. You mean much more to me than all of that and I’ll try to make this shit work, ok?”

Adora remained impassive and Catra felt like her stare would burn her to a pile of shame and ash. Every second of silence was more excruciating than the last. Catra would say anything if it meant having Adora react in any way.

“Why?” Adora asked. Catra was dumbfounded for a moment. There were plenty of different whys for this particular situation “If you really didn’t mean it, why did you say any of that?”

“Because I’m a huge mess that doesn’t know how to deal with her own feelings” She didn’t even think, she just blurted out her answer “Is that what you want to hear?”

“No” Adora let the word hang in the air for a moment “I have to know why you feel like this. If we are gonna have a relationship we need to deal with that” Catra was divided between feeling relief for Adora finally showing some emotion or complete and utter despair at the idea of having to delve into that mess.

She started tapping her foot, feeling nervous as she tried to put all her feelings into words. After some thinking she sighed “You know that look on your face when you start talking about stuff you like? How you get all cheerful and you feel like you can forget about the world, because all that matters is that one silly hobby you wanna talk about?” Catra gave her a weak smile “That was probably why I started having a crush on you. Like, you were so happy that it was impossible not to be happy too and how do you not get a crush on a girl that looks like that when she talks about her hobbies. All you can think is ‘damn, if I got her to talk like that about me I would be the happiest girl alive’”

Catra chuckled “Well, I never got to be like that. Every time I talked about anything I cared I had to justify it, every time I said I liked something I had to prove it, every time I played a game I had to be the best at it. If I didn’t no one would take me seriously and I would just be another fake nerd girl. I’m only as good at magic as I am today, because the only way people would believe I wasn’t just lucky is if I never lost, and then I just move here, find the Moon Opal and find you and suddenly all the shit I went through was for nothing. You get to be nerdy, you get to like things and have fun with them, you get to be gay and no one fucking questions it and suddenly all the things I fucking love about you start making me feel worse and worse. Why do you get to do all that and I don’t? Why did so many people hate me and hurt me, but you get to just live your goddamn life? I wanted to hate you, to hurt you, but I just fucking can’t”

~~~

“Please, tell me the crying is because of the story” Catra sighed “I told you not to kill the Master of Cruelties, Glimmer, it’s not my fault if you got killed two turns later”

Oh god, all three of them were crying now “Catra, we love you so much” Bow moved to hug her and she quickly pushed him away, but Perfuma and Glimmer took advantage of her distraction and hugged her too. Great, now she was being crushed by three crying nerds. Why were her friends like this?

“Can we please get back to the game? I still have to kill Perfuma” They slowly returned to their sits, but she could’ve sworn she caught Castaspella snapping a picture before they let go of her.

Glimmer wiped away her tears “Ok, what did you guys do after all that?”

“We avoided each other for another week” Catra could see the ‘What?!’ coming, so she just raised her hand to stop them “We agreed that we needed to think about things and that spending time together would only make things worse. All things considered I would probably do exactly what my Princesses of Power character did and things would go to shit”

The three collectively let out a sigh of relief. Perfuma drew her next card and cheerfully announced “Merciless Eviction, targeting creatures” Catra cursed under her breath “And what did you do after that week?”

“Well, we met at my apartment again and we had an incredibly sappy moment talking about all the things we learned about ourselves and how we now trusted each other and then we did what any reasonable adult women would do in a moment like that and just fell asleep while hugging and crying” All of them moved to say something again “None of you can judge me and you know it” They all put their hands down and looked expectantly at her to continue “The next morning I taught her how to play magic, she sucked at it and we just laughed at that together. She looked so happy for losing that I just had to kiss her and we agreed that was our real first kiss”

Bow made a sound that could only be described as a pterodactyl screeching “You two are so adorable. I thought I couldn’t love the two of you any more than I already did”

Glimmer just nodded at that “I’m just surprised you managed to deal with all that in just two weeks”

Catra laughed at that, a lot “Oh no no no” she tried her best to regain her composure “We had to deal with ghosts of that shit for like a year. Why do you think I still refer to my childhood as my ‘vaguely tragic backstory’? But we haven’t had to deal with any of that for years now. That is why my P.o.P. character borrows so much from that drama, I just felt that shit was far enough in our past that we wouldn’t feel bad for using it on a character, but I guess I messed that up too”

“Well, I’m glad you two worked things out in the end, but speaking of losing at magic” Perfuma smiled at her “Sorin’s Vengeance triggering Sanguine Bond, I win”

“Oh fuck me”

#dnd!au #sad #real fucking sad #lots of swearing #catradora #I'm sorry for the random people from the catradora tag #random mtg references #that turn two kill is completely doable #look it up

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