#catra ain't leaving

[manic-sapphic]

one of the scenes at the heart

between adora and catra that absolutely makes me feel like the earth is giving way underfoot - every damn time i've watched it.

initially, it seems to me like adora reads catra's "no" as the beginning of catra trying to talk her out of it again, but catra quickly clarifies. she's not going anywhere, no matter what happens. cause if it doesn't work and everything ends, there's no where else catra would rather be. and if it does work but is going to destroy adora, catra's honestly probably more than willing to have it - and likely is even hoping it will - destroy her too, if she's by adora's side.

cause sure, maybe catra tried to leave in the middle of the night after adora took the failsafe, feeling like, once again, adora was choosing to leave her behind- only in a far more heartbreaking and permanent way. and even after melog reads that bitch and bucks her off to give her a good lil shock to her system and tries to push her to go back, she refuses. but then melog tackles her to the ground and gets her to let some real feelings out - says them, even if just to melog - still something she'd never have done before. give her true feelings a voice and let them exist. let them be real & fully accepted that they are.

which we all know is immediately followed by a clone appearing, melog cloaking them both just in time. but once they follow and catra realizes prime's found a way to go after the heart sooner than expected and is undertaking that endeavor at that very moment - all the uncertainty, her insecurities, her reflex to suppress her feelings for adora due to the emotions triggered by her abandonment issues & sw meddling - all go out the fucking window. she hops on melog and they rush back to warn adora. but of course she's already headed to the heart - somewhere i'm sure, given the circumstances with prime infecting the planet - catra knows is bound to be dangerous for adora to be.

so catra sees her only way to get there in time, and takes the hand of the last person she'd ever want to, and goes to find adora.

and after everything that happened between going to look for adora and reaching the heart together, only to find she couldn't transform and had no hope of surviving it - catra refuses to leave when adora tells her to get as far away as she can, hoping it would keep catra safe. but if i was catra, i'd be thinking "don't you fuckin tell me to go away - if you get to choose to stay down here, so do i." which is kinda how i read her refusal to leave.

and i think maybe it's part of why adora doesn't protest. but also, i think she realizes it would be a waste of breath in her fragile state - catra's not going anywhere no matter what she says. and honestly, watching the tears that stream down adora's face when catra says she's staying with her no matter what - i think that's what adora really wanted anyway. it wasn't about having someone with her so she wouldn't be alone - she wanted catra with her. but likely felt it would be too selfish to say.

luckily, catra saved her the trouble of having to. cause catra finally realized that whether adora wants to leave or stay, no matter the situation, she can always choose to stay with adora, so long as she wants catra there. no pride in the way, nothing petty left to prove, no more interest in winning. where adora goes, even if it's into the abyss, catra wants to choose to stay by her side from now on, where ever that might lead. cause that's where she's always wanted to be.

just as catra says to glimmer and bow when she runs into them after appearing w shadow weaver, she'll stay and find her cause she "can't lose her again." which, to me, means - if it comes down to it, and adora does go - catra wants to go with her.

[antispopausandstuff]

test design for a new OC - Vivian

.

"though you look alike, you're nothing like her, are you?"

"....."

.

[ EDIT - i actually don't like this drawing, but i drew this at 2 am w/ insomnia brain, so it gets a pass, i guess. ]

Vivian may look familiar, and that is because she's Catra's twin sister. and, despite how she looks, they're not identical twins. she is the older twin.

and don't let her looks fool you, she can be just as ferocious as her sister, if not more so, if you teeter her over the edge. Catra certainly has and Vivian hasn't regret her actions so far.

here's some trivial information on my character and some info-nuggets of her story.

taller than Catra

MtF lesbian ( the entire family is of women )

is from the Crimson Waste

is a scrapper

has shorter claws than Catra does ( retracts them )

despite the image above, she's very upfront and bordering on aggressive with her thoughts and feelings ( she's also buff )

doesn't like Scorpia

gets into fights with Catra almost daily ( physical or otherwise )

was brought in via arrest, but was eventually forced to work for the Horde in order to live

has lost two lives ( one by Catra, one by Hordak )

Vivian would be introduced somewhere around s1-s2, i think. she doesn't get along with her twin at all, and most of that is because Catra doesn't care for her bio-family, when Vivian had practically dropped everything and everyone to see her.

for a while, people confuse her for Catra ( esp Adora ), and gets personally attacked a few times. after, like, the third time, she changes her appearance enough for people to tell the differences and to stop attacking her for things her sister did.

here's her first meeting with Adora ( text ):

Adora - ! Catra.

Vivian - [ holding a drink that's definitely not for children or for her ] 'M not her. Thought you two grew up together.

Adora - ...So, what, you're her sister or something?

Vivian - By blood. By every other definition, she's nothing to me.

Adora - ... Are you...okay?

Vivian - Why do you care? [ takes a swig ] Ain't you on the good side?

Adora - Yes, but... ! Wait, the good side? So, you know what the Horde's doing too?

Vivian - Obviously.

Adora - Then why are you with them?

Vivian - Last I checked, that's none of your business. [ curls up ] Either kill me or leave me alone.

Adora - ...You're not going to do anything?

Vivian - I'm 'off-duty'. There's nothing for me to do.

Adora - ... Okay. Um... I can't just leave you here, though.

Vivan - Then I'll leave. Unless you wanna stop me. [ gets up and walks away ] What's your name...? Oh, right. [ looks back ] Bye, Adora.

Adora - ! [ tries not to shudder as she leaves ] ...Bye.

very awkward, very weird, Adora probably shouldn't have let her get away, but that's a consequence for future Adora and Vivian. maybe. if any consequence ever happens, hehe.

there's Vivian, short-form.

orphan that struggles with death and abandonment.

drinks when she shouldn't.

is very angry and upset.

and absolutely hates her sister.

i wonder what will become of her 🤔

[aprillikesthings]

I think I finally have the energy for more rewatch

We're on the home stretch now folks

*cries*

s5 ep9 An Ill Wind

Me when I started doing this nearly two months ago: oh my god I can't do this for every episode it'll take me MONTHS to watch them all I want is to refresh my memory of the show enough to write my damn fic

Me now, having done this for Yes, Every Fucking Episode: I'm not ready for the show to be over ;_; Also I am devastatingly obsessed with Catra and learned I have a specific kink I didn't know the name of before and I keep practicing eyeliner like every night so I can cosplay Catra :D

ahahahah oh god

also from here on out I am going to not read the synopses

(I didn't do that for most of the episodes anyway tbh)

Glimmer can teleport relatively far distances with multiple people again but Catra is NOT a fan

also they're toUCHING

Adora, looking into the woods: hey come look at this

Catra: *still suppressing puking from some form of motion sickness caused by teleportation*

oh they find the empty torn up camp

Glimmer: maybe they went to Bright Moon or Mystacor? Catra: dude you know they could all be chipped so maybe we should be careful Glimmer: oh you don't trust princesses? Adora: Catra's right Catra: *grins in satisfaction*

just look at her

the fuckin. lack of subtlety here. as always. *chef's kiss*

("ugh they didn't HAVE to be so obvious don't you think it's Too Much" listen I've literally seen people who've watched Arcane be surprised to find out that people are shipping Vi and Caitlyn. "Really? I didn't think that was romantic." You didn't? Did we watch the same fucking show??? The one where those two have romantic tension so thick you could carve it with a KNIFE? The one where they had an overdramatic breakup scene in the rain even tho they hadn't kissed or anything? The one where they lay on Caitlyn's bed and talked about Vi's past while making significant eye contact and holding hands and Caitlyn pet Vi's face? That scene where they hug on the bridge and Vi does that like, face pet thing before walking off and they're clearly both in AGONY at being separated?! Are you really that fucking oblivious??? Jesus H Christ. Yes She-Ra made it SUPER OBVIOUS because some people are BAD AT PICKING UP THIS SHIT also She-Ra is aimed at kids and they haven't learned subtlety. Arcane was aimed at adults.)

no really I've seen people express surprise that people think they're going to be a couple. when that ^ was after they'd known each other like two hours

(seriously tho, if you can handle violence (there's a LOT ngl, it is not a show for kids) then you should watch Arcane, the people who make it have made it pretty clear that it's gonna be canon, and the next season is out in November; but also leaving shipping aside it's just REALLY, REALLY GOOD)

ANYWAY back to other animated lesbians

lol Glimmer teleports them all again without warning and Catra really does look like she's gonna hurl

And Erelandia ain't looking so good, oops

(but also yes Adora helped Catra up again)

intro is the same as the last episode

AHAHAH a dozen planets are rebelling against Horde Prime he's so pissed. And they apparently all mention She-Ra

yeah I am again surprised at how much of the actual plot I forgot lol (but I remembered that Glimmer liked to sneak into the kitchen to eat cake with her hands. Y'know. Important things.)

given his tiny facial reactions I think that's Hordak-Hordak. Our Hordak. Not the Wrong Hordak. I think.

once again I ask myself: where did y'all get those outfits

Entrapta teaches Wrong Hordak how to wink and it's so cute. I also love that she explains what it means--because I'm sure she had to consciously learn it, too: "It signals unspoken intent behind my words. In this case, our mutual deception of the Horde. Now you try."

awww

but yeah everyone in town is terrified and won't talk to them, and especially doesn't want to talk about any princesses

"should I buy property here?"

"...go team."

C'MON THAT WAS FUNNY, GUYS

Also, note to self, Melog definitely understands human speech--they split up, Catra is told to stick with Entrapta and Melog (and Catra frowns at this, just barely) and Adora tells Melog to keep them safe and it does a little noise of affirmation. (wait is Melog a he or a she or a they?)(fan wiki says it's an it but dang I feel weird using "it")

Okay so the scene where Glimmer, Adora, and Bow hide in a shop and then end up arguing with the shopkeeper is like, fascinating on multiple levels

Because on the one hand: I can't blame the townspeople for just keeping their head down and trying to get out alive. On the other hand, reporting them to the Horde isn't cool; they could just pretend not to be suspicious of these guys; there are in fact lots of places on the spectrum between "actively collaborating with one's oppressors" and "mounting a full-scale armed rebellion."

But on the other other hand I also think it's interesting that Adora's the only one of the three who's like "nah dude just let these people live their lives omg," something about Adora having lived in an oppressive environment for her whole childhood maybe

poor Adora someone get her an ibuprofen

Anyway Spinerella found them ack

Also Melog steals an apple for Catra, just magically takes it from someone's basket and into Catra's hand, which implies they're communicating non-verbally more than just moods, though I suppose "hungry, that apple looks good" is a mood

speaking of things that would make ANYone motion sick--

(Adora is saying it) Catra's right there, dude. You spent the last four seasons fighting her. lol.

Oh I paused it too soon lol Catra says this line:

LOLOL

Back on Horde Prime's ship, Hordak keeps looking at the chip thing Entrapta gave him and gets caught by Prime, whoopsie

oh hey, lore: Horde Prime can't access ALL the memories in his previous bodies without going into them, and he keeps his old bodies around in that green goo, that's fucking weird and gross, anyway he plugs a connection into his old body

Horde Prime: "The First Ones sought a new source of power of ancient worlds. Why? Why bend themselves to the whims of magic and myth?"

Poor Hordak has flashbacks to Entrapta and the Fright Zone. Mostly Entrapta. Including a moment of her looking at him fondly--I think it's the moment when she says "Imperfection is beautiful."

Horde Prime: "The fools took their secrets with them when they died. But I will find another way."

(I've seen a fan discussion suggest that there aren't actually any First Ones left--that when Light Hope made it so Adora came through the portal, the portal itself went back in time. I like that explanation in part because it means in my fic I don't have to figure out why Adora doesn't go looking for her birth family. Which tbh most fic-writers don't worry about anyway lol.)

Back with the rebellion, poor Catra is once again trying not to lose her lunch because they've all teleported.

And Netossa is like WTF IS THAT BITCH DOING HERE

Melog doesn't like that

Adora: "It's a long story, but she's with us now" Netossa: "...really??" (Catra in the background: hisses)

BAHAHA and then Netossa spots Wrong Hordak and they have to explain, no that one's with us, too 😬

But yeah p much the entire rebellion has been chipped except like Netossa and Perfuma

Adora and Bow have a guilt trip about having been gone for so long (...to rescue the queen! and also Catra)

and Catra's remembering what it's like to be chipped :(

Glimmer gives them all a ra-ra little speech

Adora just makes the sword appear in her hand without transforming lol that's cool

but they're doing the "I'm in" "yeah me too!" thing and

like, on dates?

(lol)

yayyy

Anyway the team heads back to Erelandia and starts kicking some ass

there's a great moment when Catra's like "you go deal with Spinnerella we'll take care of the bots" and Adora says "be careful" and Catra grins and says "always am!" like ma'am that is a LIE

Spinnerella is torturing some poor villager, and Netossa is worried her wife isn't still "in there"

Adora would know. From literal, personal experience. ;_;

She transforms into She-Ra and Netossa literally does a whistle of appreciation and says, "New look?" and She-Ra grins back. And somehow that is, like. Super queer. Like literally just one lesbian to another, in a flirty-but-not kinda way. Like I have *had* those interactions, where the underlying meaning is "I know we're each in a relationship, so I'm not actually hitting on you; but as one queer woman to another I want you to know that I see what you're putting out there and I like it." It's one of the best things??????

Netossa gives a little speech to Spinnerella about how she loves her and Spinnerella actually comes back for a few seconds ;_; but then she's gone again, but She-Ra and Netossa convince her to disappear for a while at least? And the locals rejoice.

And Catra would know. ;_; (She rubs the back of her neck after saying this.)

Anyway word gets back to Horde Prime that She-Ra is back on Etheria :D and he's so fucking pissed he's going to go there

...and Hordak spends a long moment looking at that chip from Entrapta again

They go to where the rebellion is actually hiding out, Glimmer and Catra recognize it

and I'M BLANKING ON WHY THEY'RE REACTING THIS WAY HELP seriously I have spent like ten minutes trying to figure it out, I don't think they talked about it while on Horde Prime's ship? Fuck!! IF YOU KNOW PLZ TELL ME

Any Perfuma ties them up and makes sure they're not chipped and then it's Happy Reunion Time with everyone :D

Adora to Catra: it's time for you to meet everyone Catra: are you sure??

I got that one without trying I didn't know it was coming lololol I was trying to get a shot of Catra looking hopeful

poor thing

Adora: long story but she's with us now!!!

Adora (well, as She-Ra) gives them all a little pep talk

ANNND EPISODE OVER

and I don't have time to do another one tonight and I won't have time tomorrow until like after 6:30pm aaaaaaugh

ON THE UPSIDE I only work two days this upcoming week.

Because it's Holy Week. I'm going to be in church like every day starting Wednesday and twice a couple of days ahahaha including an hour in the middle of the night on Thursday.

It is DEEPLY HILARIOUS to me that I'm going to end up watching the last episodes of She-Ra mere days before Easter. Like I literally have four left. Assuming I watch one tomorrow, I could end up watching the next one Tuesday night and watching the last two BEFORE GOING TO CHURCH ON WEDNESDAY how tf am I gonna focus for SHIT lolol

[citrusdyke]

Just finished episode 10 of She-Ra and I’ve gotta say. Catra Rights

[perfectlynormalcatra]

Do you think about how s1 - s4 Catra isn't willing to admit she has feelings unless she's using it against other people. in Flutterina when she says "You're good enough at hurting your friends without my help" immediately followed by using electrocution and saying "I got the idea from shadow weaver" when she tells glimmer "you think she's not going to leave you behind too?" In Promise when she goes from "Pfsh I don't miss you! Get over yourself!" to "Bye Adora. I really am going to miss you." besides the fact that she's a gayass cat, she doesn't choose to say that for any reason besides knowing it will hurt adora. bitch you have problems we ain't even ever heard of

[katra-applesauce]

Forever our Guiding Star Chapter 3: On the Edge

Cover art by Daffstark

Content Warning for mild or implied mention of blood and Injury, suicidal ideation and self harm “We are just here for the sword, just leave and we won't go after you,” Adora opens, warding the intruders off before anyone can make a move. Catra can hardly see the reason for it. These two freaks are hardly soldier material. While they’ve had some sense of conflict resolution beaten into them in the Horde (nobody should fight a losing battle, duh), this isn’t a situation demanding for it. “You can't have the sword,” the shrill girl throws back, assuming a pompous stance before adding, “the Whispering Woods are rebel territory, which means the sword is rebel property and you are trespassing. If you surrender peacefully —” Catra cuts her off, “Yeah, that ain't happening, glitter gnome.” She’d be damned to miss an opportunity for some good old psychological warfare. “Silence, Horde scum!” Glitter Gnome replies with a furious yell, visibly shaking. Baited, hooked and caught. Catra snorts at the effect of her words, writing a mental note for later. Someone’s got some insecurities worth exploiting. “I've had enough of this,” Catra declares before confirming with her better half, “Adora?” Catra cracks her knuckles while keeping the opponents squarely in focus, her left ear twitching in anticipation of the response. “Same, let's do this.”

Keep reading In which Glimmer is being insufferable and does the big heist. Catra calls Glimmer names and flies too close to the sun. Adora plays whack-a-mole and makes an important discovery. And Bow? Bow is just Bow <3

[the-darkness-does-not-bargain]

I have to agree with you, I don't like Catdora myself. I'm not even a huge fan of the show but I have been watching it. Haven't watch the 5th yet but seen the other seasons. Catra never felt like Adora's friend, let alone a lover and worse she abuses people who try to help her just for the sake to be better than Adora. That ain't love! That's a psycho! I get we need LGBT+ representation in media but we need HEALTHY LGBT+ representation. Not abusive!

My thoughts exactly! Adora deserved better! And, quite frankly, so did Catra. She deserved a better and more fleshed out redemption.

If it had been up to me, they would have reunited and worked together to defeat Horde Prime, Catra would apologize for her actions, they might even have that one kiss everyone keeps posting, BUT. But, after the dust settled, with Prime and Shadow Weaver dead and Etheria poised to start healing from the war, Adora and Catra would sit down and have a long, honest conversation, where they would dive into everything that happened and deal with the fallout of their relationship. Adora would say something like, "I still really care about you and I want you to be happy, but I can't put myself in a situation where you could hurt me again. I don't think we can be together."

And Catra, gifted with the great and heavy blessings of perspective and self-awareness, would say, "I think you're right. I really want to be with you, but I'm not sure that would be good for either of us. There's too much between us, and I'm scared that I might suddenly fall back into being that horrible, broken person who hurt you. So, yeah, I don't think we should be together either."

And then they would hug because they still love each other despite everything, and later on Catra would announce her plans to leave for the Crimson Waste with Lonnie, Kyle, Rogelio, and Huntara, to start over.

And in the epilogue, we see Adora happily dating a 7ft. tall beautiful hulk of a woman with biceps as wide as watermelons, and Catra is happy and healthy, running a sanctuary for the victims of the war in the Waste.

Think about how much better that would have been! Think about what a good message that would have sent! Ugh, it drives me crazy imagining it!

[rahleeyah]

idk if you've watched the she-ra reboot, but every time i think about catra's speech at the end i lose it a bit because it reminds me so much of elliot and olivia like-

(context-less spoilers ahead ofc)

catra: i've got you. i'm not letting go. don't you get it? i love you. i always have. so please, just this once, stay... stay

i can't stop screaming skjlhfdk

damn if that ain't olivia benson tho everybody always leaves and elliot has left her twice now please just stay just this once stay catch me crying into my la croix over this

[manic-sapphic]

uggghh dude in spop s5e6 'taking control' tho

when adora basically tells catra "look ok fine, we're removing the chip forsure cause if we don't, i know horde prime will inevitably find you eventually and tbh i just dunno if i can live w worrying about that ok but also afterwards, if you really wanna be dropped off on the next planet - then alright i guess."

just omfg tho, the fact that what finally snaps catra in half but in regards to breaking her walls down i guess - what gets this gurl to finally be vulnerable w adora after all this time - what leaves her feeling absolutely defeated but in doing so, also forces her to give in and just fucking say how she feels/what she wants - something adora kinda needs tbh as the emotionally oblivious (but also very lovable) dummy she can often be - is simply just adora saying "you'll never have to see me again."

cause like, same as adora couldn't fucking handle fathoming losing catra for life when she thought she was straight gonna die in her arms during save the cat - catra couldn't conceive of an existence that didn't include adora in some way either. i mean, imo it's even why catra kept her close as an enemy in their time at odds w each other lol (aside from s4 when she thinks adora hates her now and will forever)

i think it's in the og script for save the cat - something i def rec looking up if you haven't read it btw - before bringing out catra, prime says something to adora along the lines of,

"of course. you're catra. bitter enemies, and yet, the two of you can never seem to stay away from from each other, can you?"

(ps i truly despise the way prime says catra's name tbh like it makes me so angry esp in his interactions mentioning her to adora before she comes out in save the cat.. like w this kinda condescending, mocking inflection. i fucking hate him so much lmao but i also know ain't no one tryna argue w me on that lol)

holy shit tho fr i get the decision to opt outta prime being the one to tell adora that she broke catra's heart - so much more weighted coming to adora from catra herself tbh. but there's another line i kinda woulda liked to see make it to the screen that also really got to me from the og script, it's something like "you used to talk of ruling the world together. up on that little spot on the roof that only you knew about. then you left... you broke her heart. you always wanted more... but all she ever wanted was you."

like honestly dude, if that minus the broke heart part - given as a line to catra later on in the ep instead - had actually been included in save the cat... hahaha omg idk if i coulda survived it tbh lol

and like just dude.. it's hard to fully fathom how fucking difficult it prob was for catra in that moment to swallow her pride, shut up the dumb neg self-talk in her head, and grab adora's hand before she could walk away. and omg, so so the most vulnerable moment we've yet to see for catra, aside from i guess maybe in the Promise ep where light hope fucks w both their heads so hard that catra does legit cry in front of adora -

[kekeslider]

I'm confused about something and wanted to know your take on it. In season 5 Catra leaves the group after Adora decides to sacrifice herself. She says to Adora "this is what you'll always choose" and "I'm not staying here to watch" or smtg like that. But then she says to Melog that she ain't going back cuz Adora "chose Shadow Weaver". So, did she leave cuz she didn't want to see Adora sacrificing herself, or cuz she felt that Adora would never choose her? I didn't really understand the reaction

I would have to actually rewatch the last few episodes to really answer this confidently, but I simply don’t have time to do that now. I’ll take a swing at it anyway going off memory

First answer, and the easiest I think, is that a person can have more than one motivation for something. It’s not necessarily either/or. Maybe Catra leaves because she feels betrayed by Adora supposedly choosing SW AND she doesn’t want to watch Adora sacrifice herself again

But the more complete answer I think is that those are kind of the same thing. I think in Catra’s mind, Adora choosing shadow weaver, or more precisely, Adora choosing to do what sw is saying she should do, is the same thing as sacrificing herself, because it kind of is. SW wanted Adora to give herself up to save the rest of the planet, and Adora has a problem with self sacrifice probably because sw raised her that way, as the perfect soldier. So from Catra’s perspective, Adora choosing to sacrifice herself for the greater good is choosing to fall in line with the way shadow weaver raised her, to always choose to give herself for the cause, to never let petty things like love, especially for Catra, get in the way of that. They’re one in the same. Adora chooses shadow weaver, chooses to give up her own life, and therefore chooses not to live on with catra. I think Catra initially saying she wouldn’t stay to watch Adora die was kind of the less personal way of expressing her issue with it, but her saying that adora “doesn’t want [her]” and chose shadow weaver over her is the more honest, personal way to express it

[spop-incorrect-quotes]

Adora: I'm the best She-Ra! Yes, it's true, I am! I'm the best She-Ra in all of the land!

Adora: I fuckin' hate it!

Adora: These women won't leave me alone! If I don't answer the phone, they come and break into my damn home! Sayin'-

Glimmer, holding a gun at Adora: "Girl, we need that sword right now!"

Catra, holding a gun to her own head: "Get that sword on out!"

Glimmer and Catra: "We ain't fuckin' around!

Adora: I say, "Ladies, I'm flattered, but it's She-Ra you're after. But I ain't afraid to fight you-" then they hit me with a tranq dart.

Adora: Thursdays, am I right?

Adora: [passes out]

[bow-woahh]

SPOP S4 info (2)

Everything I've found out part 2:

THIS CHARACTER IS CALLED DOUBLE TROUBLE AND THEY'RE NON BINARY

Tweets about the panel:

SCORPIA HAS HER OWN EP!!

(I bet she's gonna get over Catra this season, maybe go after Entrapta)

Adora leaves the rebellion for a bit????

THIS SMART INTELLECTUAL FIGURED THIS ONE OUT SO GET READY LADS

BOYS NIGHT OUT EPISODE JUST LIKE THE GIRLS NIGHT IN STAN!!

THE SLOWBURNNN IS WELL AND TRULY UPON US OMDSSS

(Aimee said it herself too sooOo)

Aimee (Adora's VA) — Probably about Adora figuring more about her past, whilst still being in the war and grieving Angella ++ CATRADORA BABY

Karen (Glimmer's VA) — Taking over her mum's throne. Ouch. Possibly being influenced by SW?

Lauren (Scorpia's VA) — REALISING CATRA AIN'T GOOD FOR HER AND FINDING ENTRAPTA (maybe, hopefully???) Basically SLAYING

AJ (Catra's VA) — taking over and turning the Horde around and not causing mass destruction and devastation? (I hope that's the case but my girl is UNPREDICTABLE)

Anyway I'm not sure who wanted or needed this but, I had to channel my energy somewhere SO YEAH

[onethousandrbirds]

me: *mouth full of gummi butterflies* y'know, i'm honestly surprised that we've come this far in she-ra and catra still hasn't gone full starscream on hordak yet

brain: huh?

me: like, as in trying to usurp him.

brain: *takes a sip of tea* oh. that's obvious. catra has a pathological need to prove herself to those who have wronged or doubted her--see all of her interactions with shadow weaver in season one and two for example--and taking over the horde doesn't prove to hordak that she's good enough because doing so would leave him literally unable to validate her and would leave the victory feeling hollow. thus the only way for catra to get what she wants--acknowledgement and validation from those that hate and dismiss her--is to stay in the toxic spaces where she is continually belittled and demeaned.

brain: *imitating scorpia* say it ain't so, wildcat!

[manic-sapphic]

from the fanfic "Don't Go" - Annacharlier

"Adora's heart is pounding. She doesn't want to leave Catra alone. She doesn't want to let her out of her sight ever again. She wants to lie down on the mattress next to her and pull her against her chest and stroke her hair until she falls asleep, she wants to be there if Catra has a nightmare or tries to hurt herself again, she wants to wrap Catra in her arms and absorb her into her chest where she'll be safe and never feel pain or fear again."

i think what really kills me the most about the excerpt above is that, to me, it seems that what adora is describing wanting to do for catra, is what a person would feel for someone with whom they're deeply in love. but adora's been conditioned to serve, to sacrifice, to protect. she'll throw herself down into shadows, unsure of how far down she'll even fall, for catra. but she can't say she loves her.

i don't think she understands what her feelings are, she just knows that they're there. and so, in my mind, this innate desire to keep catra safe and protect her is the best way she can explain that feeling to herself, without being able to wrap her mind around what it really is at its core.

until she does. and thinks it's too late to ever tell catra or have the time w her she realizes she wants when she lets her own walls down in the crystal castle (catra ain't the only one w walls, adora's just tend to box her in rather than keep people out) and she can't help returning an affectionate, gentle touch from catra, even though she knows it's not real. cause maybe that'll be the only way she ever gets to experience it. and then, it ends as unexpectedly as catra appeared. and she's gone - still gone.

until she's not.

damnit dude fujvsjndkscj