[upcycle] inbox

[swordjock]

placeholder! (i mean you can use it i just haven't made it look nice yet)

for the record: adora uses the username grayskull on the network, and can be reached at that id. assume all replies come from the same unless stated otherwise. she makes no effort to hide her identity in the slightest, so feel free to handwave knowing it's her.

Comments

[usurpurr]

[Almost as soon as Adora states the contents of her note, Catra's looking up from her small comms screen - where she has a blank comment box open, herself - and she looks...

...well, perturbed. And then annoyed, to cover that up.]

You didn't tell me you got a note.

[Which is weird. Adora tells her everything. Or she's supposed to, anyway, but over the last few days it seems like more and more things have been slipping her mind.]

[swordjock]

[ Adora grimaces; guiltily tucking the note back into a pocket of her belt as she averts her gaze. ]

... It's not important. If they aren't interested in She-Ra, then they obviously don't know much about her. [ She sighs. ] I didn't want to worry you.

[usurpurr]

[Catra doesn't look any more impressed when she watches Adora tuck the note away, eyes flicking over the winged buckle on her belt that she'd also neglected to tell Catra about, before returning to scowling at her. Don't you dare make Catra admit in words that she worries about you, Adora.]

Yeah, 'cause everything else around here is so relaxing. [--it is, actually. Weird stuff and crazy stories and stars aside, the short time they've been here has been without a doubt, the happiest in Catra's life. Freedom suits her, even if it's subjective freedom on a spooky island.] I don't get why you wouldn't just tell me about it. I would've told you if I got something that creepy.

[swordjock]

I mean... it's better than the Fright Zone, right?

[ Maybe not Bright Moon, but she keeps that part to herself. It has to be an improvement for Catra over living in fear of Shadow Weaver, or Hordak, and maybe that's why Adora's been so accepting of things, even if it's a downgrade for her personally. (Well. More of a sidegrade. She misses Bow, and Glimmer, and all her other friends, but having Catra sitting in the same room as her again makes it hard to complain about anything. Even being kidnapped, or waking up with spooky notes in her hand.) ]

Even if I told you, there's no way to figure out who wrote it. I already checked for hidden messages, or anything else suspicious. [ She shrugs. ] They probably got me mixed up with someone else. This is all just a big misunderstanding.

[usurpurr]

Of course it's better than the Fright Zone. [Catra scoffs.] It's not like it's hard to beat that place.

[Where it's just training and orders and ration bars and the same things, day after day after day after day. Loud sirens waking you up, cold showers numbing you, and beds so stiff Catra's sure they could be used as cover from enemy fire.

Catra likes their bouncy mattress and the warm rays of sunlight (--that's another weird thing, the sun) that peek through their window, and she likes falling asleep on the same bed as Adora without caring what it's going to look like to anyone else. All the privacy and freedom of movement they were going to be allowed as field operatives, all the luxuries Adora's status as Force Captain was going to get them, they've got now; and then even more on top of that. And they don't even have to work for it!

So, yeah. It's better than the Fright Zone. Catra will put up with whatever this island wants to throw at them, as long as it doesn't take those bits of enjoyment away.

All of that does nothing to minimize her bad mood in the moment, of course. She might be enjoying every day a lot more now, but Catra's still Catra, and she's as prickly as ever.]

Did you even read it? They said they're interested in you, Adora. And that they cared even before you became a Princess!

[does she really not get this???]

They've been watching you, for -- who knows how long. [And Catra, by virtue of association.] You don't think that's something you should've told me about?

[swordjock]

Of course I read it, Catra. That's why I know it's a mistake.

[ And honestly? She's getting tired of feeling watched. Light Hope had said the same thing, about watching her since she was an infant, but at least that made sense (in a creepy kind of way), because she'd been waiting for the new She-Ra. Not for Adora in particular, but someone with the ability to balance the planet. Adora just happened to be the one chosen by the sword, or appointed by it, or whatever. ]

Without She-Ra, I'm just another Horde soldier. A good one, but nothing special. [ She tries to smirk, but it doesn't come close to reaching her eyes. Being a good Horde soldier isn't something she's taken pride in for a long time. ] Shadow Weaver only cared because she could use me. The moment I disobeyed her, she would have moved on to someone else. I'm not falling for that again.

[usurpurr]

[No. Adora is wrong. There has to be something special about her. Why else has she always been Shadow Weaver's favourite? Catra's never even stood a chance of gaining recognition as long as Adora's been around, because there's something about her that just -- drags people in. It makes everyone else seem invisible, because your eyes are too busy lingering on her to realize there's anybody else around.

But she can't say that.]

What kind of idiots are you taking these people for? [Instead, she's arguing with her with a great deal of exasperation. Anything else means admitting that she, too, sometimes gets caught up in all the things that make Adora Adora.] They've told you they're interested in you. What other proof do you need?

[swordjock]

There is no proof. Anyone could have written that message. ... Okay, maybe not anyone, but I haven't been hiding, or keeping She-Ra a secret. And I'm not gonna start, either.

[ She-Ra's too strong, too useful, too... liked. It's strange, how much Adora feels like she needs her. Apparently she can't function without the crushing weight of responsibility on her shoulders, even if it's self-inflicted at times.

Truth be told, the note did make her paranoid, in the same way seeing a stray shadow out of the corner of her eye still does, but she's wary of having these kinds of talks with Catra. From her perspective, Adora's only been She-Ra for days, not months, and it'd be too easy to let something slip about Bright Moon, or Light Hope, or that the two of them are supposed to be enemies. (But, she's not lying about being nothing special on her own. If 'they' really are interested in her, it's only because of the sword, and she keeps that thing in reach at all times.) ]

Anyway, you know about it now. Stop acting like it's a problem.

text;

[sassery]

ring ring ring ring
calling for one chokeholder by the name of adora
pick up weirdo

[He's asking to be thrown to the ground at this point.]

[swordjock]

[ GOD. At least she knows exactly who this is from the attitude alone. ]

Ugh, did you have to bring that up again? I said I was sorry.

[sassery]

look i had to get your attention somehow
dw about it
anyway
whats your opinion on exploring?

[swordjock]

It's important for a soldier to know the terrain they'll be fighting on. Catra and I scouted the woods when we got here, but we didn't find much. Just... normal tree stuff.

Has something changed?

[sassery]

got a letter a few days after my arrival here
and it asked me to fix the lighthouse
was wondering if youd tag along
i have a few other people coming
might not hurt to just watch each others backs yknow?

[swordjock]

Oh, like a quest? I'm great at quests!

[ ... Wait. That's not a proper response.

grayskull is typing... ]

What I MEANT to say is that I'll definitely be there. And also, thank you for asking me. It's sweet of you to look out for everyone.

1/3

[sassery]

ig?
tho now that you mention it it kinda IS like one
huh
im down

[Adora you're reminding him of video games he plays sometimes.]

[sassery]

[..................what even is this with being nice, he doesn't know how to take it. Stop calling him out he's not nice he's a shitposterrrrrrrr

Internal reeeeeeeee'ing intensifies for a second before he replies.]

[sassery]

ok but im not sweet
im just taking precautions or w/e
last thing i want is to get my ass or anyone else chased by a spooky ghost or something

[Are we quietly tsun at this...? Yeah, maybe, shut up.]

Just MINDING HER OWN BUSINESS (cottages)

[sinistramanus]

[In some ways, this had been hell. In others, it wasn't terrible, all considered.]

[She'd never given much thought to the concept of an afterlife. The here and now was always so much more important, until... well, this was it. Or as close to one as she was getting, it seems.]

[Gardening was a much better way to pass death. If only she could do so in peace.]

[How long had this been going on? An hour? She was content to ignore it for a time, but...]

Adora. If you have something to say, say it.

[Shadow Weaver doesn't look up from the series of starter pots she's packing soil and seeds into, and surely her ward could hear her through the cracked window. She still wore bandages about her face—wrapped correctly, thank you, those and the cheap pair of sunglasses from the market serving as a substitute for her mask.]

[swordjock]

[ It's ridiculous, really, the amount of time she's spent watching this woman just... exist. At this point, Adora almost wishes Shadow Weaver would do something suspicious, so she wouldn't feel like she's wasting her time. But what choice does she have? She needs to know what she's up to, even if it's nothing at all. Because it won't always be nothing. Sooner or later, she'll show her evil, evil hand, and Adora will be there to stop her.

Even if she's already been busted. ]

Shadow Weaver. [ Adora huffs in retort, still unused to addressing the other woman so brusquely outside of combat. Giving up on hiding, she stands up straight; ignoring the painful crick in her back as she adopts a more familiar soldier's posture. ] It took you a while to notice me. You've gotten sloppy without Hordak breathing down your neck.

[ Because more than being caught, it's the nonchalance that bothers her — like Shadow Weaver knew she was there the whole time, and didn't find her worth addressing. There's no way that's true, though. Shadow Weaver couldn't just ignore someone like her.

Her eyes narrow as she peers through the window, getting a good look at Shadow Weaver's setup for the first time. ]

What are you even doing in there? Are those poisonous? [ She half laughs, half sneers. ] Of course. You can't take down She-Ra by force, so you're going to try and poison me instead. I knew we couldn't trust you.

[sinistramanus]

Have I? [She responds drolly. SW could burst the girl's bubble. Could mention that her scores in infiltration simulations had been much better than this. But, for now, she supposed it was much better if the girl was so utterly obvious if this was going to be a trend in the future.]

I'm afraid you're going to be sorely disappointed. This is ginger, Adora. It is quite beneficial to one's health.

[Or, will be ginger, anyway. It has a long ways to go. SW gently slides this pot aside and grabs another, starting on the next.]

[swordjock]

[ She snorts, feeling her anxiety spike along with her anger. ] Oh, you wanna play dumb? That's fine. I'm fine. We're all fine.

But you know, I bet you're really missing the Black Garnet right about now. Must be harder to hurt people without that kind of power.

[ If she sounds bitter... she is. What happened to Glimmer is still on her mind, along with her inability to do anything about it, and she wants some way to guarantee it won't happen again. Not to her, not to Catra, not to anyone else. ]

I think it's time we had a talk. [ About Catra, mostly, but she doesn't say that. ] And you're going to tell me the truth, or I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of person you are. I'm giving you a chance, Shadow Weaver. Don't make me regret it.

[sinistramanus]

[Oh, but how sore of a point the Black Garnet still was. She missed direly that near infinite well of power crackling through her veins, and often wondered what it would be like now, without those fits that had cursed her health.]

[But for now, Shadow Weaver merely narrowed her eyes, unseen behind the sunglasses. ]

Your time away must have softened your memory, Adora. I do not take kindly to threats. Do not mistake my tolerance for pacivity.

[But then her severe tone his gone, replaced with something too pleasant to be genuine as her attention turns back to the potting soil.] But you're one to talk of telling the truth, aren't you...?

[swordjock]

So what? I'm not scared of you.

[ She says, and almost believes. She's stronger than Shadow Weaver now, she's sure of it, but what about Catra? Her housemates, her friends? Shadow Weaver knows the best way to keep Adora in line is through the people around her; that's why she dangled Catra's safety over her head for all those years, like her best friend's life was a string that could be cut at the first sign of Adora's disobedience. The first sign of her being a failure, anything but the golden child she was expected to be.

It could happen here, too. She can't be with Catra all the time, and it wouldn't take long for something to happen. Would take even less time to hurt someone else. Already, there's a threat behind her words, and Adora opens her mouth with a denial on her tongue, then closes it again, her glare boring into the back of Shadow Weaver's head. ]

... We're not having this conversation where other people can hear. [ Especially when Catra's followed her before. It's a risk, stepping into what passes for the sorcerer's workshop, but Adora draws some confidence from the weight of the sword strapped to her back. ] If you don't have anything to hide, let me in.

[sinistramanus]

The front door has been open this entire time.

[Shadow Weaver doesn't hesitate, turn around, or even glance over her shoulder. The subtle emphasis on front door implied she wouldn't put it past Adora to crawl through the window.]

un: devilbreaker

[sassery]

hey
adora?
you there?

[Someone's concerned about you, Adora, since Admin pointed out what kind of person you are. Please answer him, please please please he doesn't want to have to chase after you and possibly kick down your door.]