video; regular network

[heterochrocatic]

[ Whoever is using Catra's comm is standing at the foot of her hospital bed. Probably one of the medical staff or some other Jorgmund pencil pusher. Catra is sitting up, still bandaged but much grumpier than usual (or just as grumpy as usual?). A pair of nurses, along with a couple of other Jorgmund employees are crowded around her bed, one of them holding a plate on which sits a small, sad looking cupcake in which someone has stuck a very lonely candle. The fellow holding the plate, a rather selnder man with too-large glasses and too-cheery disposition, speaks. ]

We want to congratulate Catra on her continuing recovery and wish her a very happy twentieth birthday from all of us at Jorgmund. We understand that it's been a bit of a rough time for some of you lately, and thought this might help raise morale. All together now.

[ The group launches into a slightly off-key rendition of 'Happy Birthday to You' and Catra seems to sink down into her bedclothes, as if it might help her disappear from this plane of existence. Having no such luck, she is forced to sit through the song. ]

Go ahead and blow out the candle, Catra.

[ Catra looks like she would rather do anything except blow out the candle. Maybe even go toe-to-toe with the killer again. In spite of this, she leans forward and gives a half-heard puff of breath, which extinguishes the candle. Styrofoam plate is carefully balanced on her bedside table, and the glasses-wearing guy, no doubt from HR, takes the comm. ]

Go ahead and leave Catra some birthday wishes. I'm sure that hearing from her fellow employees will be just the thing to help her get back on her feet as soon as possible.

[ The comm is deposited into Catra's lap. She stares at the camera, then plants her face in her hands. ]

I swear if ant of you say anything...

Comments

[princesspower]

Tenten showed me how and I helped, so really we both made you a cake.

[ Adora seems so incredibly pleased by this. ]

I know we didn't have birthday celebrations or anything in the Horde, but... I want to do this for you.

[71lines]

[Speaking of, Tenten's just outside of Catra's little curtained area, holding the utensils and present. But something told her that Adora and Catra might like just a little bit of privacy at first, so she's hanging back, balancing the goods primly with her good hand.

It gives her time to school her expression. She'd always been good at that, focusing on the Twenty-Fifth Rule of Shinobi Conduct. But she knows that if she has to see Adora and Catra kiss over this, she's probably going to break a little anyway. Adora doesn't mean any harm, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't hurt anyway. So best to wait outside, try not to imagine actions to the words she's hearing, and enter when the time feels right to deliver presents.]

[heterochrocatic]

That's really nice of her.

[ Catra smiles, props herself up on one elbow so she can look out of bed at Adora. Weirdly this stay in the infirmary is probably the longest she's stayed still in a long, long time. She didn't get to be sick in the Horde, she just muscled through it as best she could. ]

She's... way better to me than I deserve. I don't get it.

[ Her voice is a little quiet now. Not really trying to be unheard, just thoughtful. Maybe a little sad. ]

Is she gonna come share this cake she made or is it just for me to stuff it all in my face by myself?

[71lines]

[She speaks up a little, though not loudly enough to bother anyone else. Her voice is chipper, unbothered. Just a gal hanging out with her pals.]

Just giving you two some privacy, that's all. What happens to the cake is up to you, but I do have a surprise from Adora.

[princesspower]

You're worth being nice to, Catra. YOu have to remember that.

[ She nudges Catra with her hand and perches on the edge of her bed. Of course, Adora has a very hard time being selfish for herself, so perhaps she shouldn't be talking? Oh well. ]

She should share it, since she's the one who walked me through it! Come in here, Tenten!

[ She's being her open self, as always. ]

Besides, you helped me with all of this. It's as much from you as it is from me.

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra casually ignores Adora reminding her that she should have self-worth and focuses instead on the fact that Tenten is here, just not inside the little cloth partition. ]

Just come in here, dummy.

[ She awkwardly pushes herself up into a sitting position, eying the cake. ]

Not like I can eat it without the utensils anyway. And there's a surprise? Well hurry up and surprise me, then.

[71lines]

[There is so little attention to self-worth amongst this trio it's actually kind of frightening.]

There's always using your hands.

[It's a tease, but Tenten's slipping around the curtain anyway, plate, napkins, knives, and forks in one hand, awkwardly wrapped present in the other. It's possibly the ugliest present she's ever given anyone, but you work with the materials you have on hand.]

Tadah. I'll spare you the song, at least.

[princesspower]

There's a song?

[ Adora seems curious. There are a lot of birthday traditions she has no idea about. For the moment she takes the utensils and starts cutting pieces of the cake for them. One, two, three. ]

[heterochrocatic]

Did you miss them singing at me earlier or something?

[ Catra smiles, though, and reaches out to take her cake. Nom. ]

Thanks, Tenten.

[ She peers at the package, her pupils getting a little wide. She's never had anyone give her a gift before! ]

[71lines]

It's not the one we sing back home. I guess they have their own traditions, though.

...Much more depressing traditions.

[Ah, she hadn't actually expected cake. But, well. She likes this kind. Spongy, not too sweet, and-well. That's been covered already. She'll take it and settle at the foot of Catra's bed. The gift, she slides towards the catgirl with a finger.

She's almost, almost tempted to wave it around, to see if Catra's eyes track it. She's never quite seen her eyes do that sorta "Kitty sees interesting" thing, it's cute! Fortunately, though, she knows that'd be irritating.]

It's another tradition. You're supposed to get a gift from people who-who are close to you on your birthday, at least where I'm from. So Adora picked this out for you when she heard about it.

[princesspower]

I mean, it might be less depressing if it wasn't... you know... Jorgmund.

[ Still, not going to argue. She hands Tenten a slice - or rather puts one aside for her when she's finished with the package. She's digging into her own cake already, crumbs and frosting clinging to the corner of her mouth. ]

Tenten provided it, though. So open it!

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra sets aside the slice of cake for a moment and reaches out to accept the package. She turns it over in her hands, then sets it down in her lap and sets to tearing apart the improvised wrapping paper. She blinks, holds up the jacket inside first. ]

Clothes?

[ She examines the next bits--the trousers and shorts. There's a muffled little laugh. She doesn't quite know how to respond, honestly. ]

...Thanks. It'll be nice to have something that isn't Jorgmund jumpsuits.

[71lines]

[Cake! Cake cake cake. She sets it aside to keep it safe from stray bits of wrapping and bites her lower lip waiting for Catra's reaction.

At least she doesn't hate it. Score one for Adora knowing her girlfriend's tastes. She relaxes some, flickering a grateful smile to Adora, and covers her previous tension by sampling her slice.]

They're meant for travel, so they don't stain easily and they're fairly tough. Still comfy, though. We included the shorts because we weren't quite sure that you'd want to show off that much, uh. Fur. On your hips, that is.

We can alter it so there's a hole in the pants for your tail.

[princesspower]

Yeah! I mean, I got my jacket back-

[ She tugs on the jacket in question. Yes, she's wearing it over the jumpsuit. ]

I figured you'd want something to wear that's not so... bleh.

[ She gestures, as if to illustrate. ]

[heterochrocatic]

Pff. It's just a bit of fur. Unless you think that Jorgmund is going to freak out about it. And a hole for the tail would be a good thing.

[ Catra smirks a little. She's genuine feeling more than a little touched by the thoughtfulness of them getting her a gift but she doesn't really know how to show it. ]

Oh, gods. Are you going to wear that same stupid jacket forever?

[71lines]

You'll see the issue when you try it on.

[If she doesn't think there's an issue, that's that.]

I was wondering about those shoulders, though. [She reaches out to poke at one of them.] Are they supposed to make you more threatening to the Horde or something?

[heterochrocatic]

That was her Horde jacket. It's all she wears!

[ Catra has to correct this. ]

[princesspower]

I don't know, it's a uniform...

[ She scowls and tugs at it. ]

I like it. What's wrong with that?

[71lines]

I sincerely hope she manages to wear more than just that.

[She laughs a little, then shakes her head, scarfing the rest of her slice down.]

It's not the weirdest accessory I've ever seen, but it does raise some questions. Like, why the huge shoulderpads? What're the slits in the sleeves for? Why don't they go all the way down to your wrist?

[That's not even touching on the seemingly permanent zipper position.]

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra laughs. ]

Sometimes I think you 'like it' because you can't think of anything else to wear.

[princesspower]

[ Adora groans. ]

Right, I bring you cake and a gift and you make fun of my fashion sense... I see how it is.

[ SIGH. ]

And I don't know - I didn't design it!

[71lines]

Honestly, listening to you just makes me think of all the times I heard "They're only picking on you because they like you" as a kid.

[Granted, thumping people who tried to pick on her ended that pretty quickly, too.]

[heterochrocatic]

If I didn't give you a hard time you'd think something was wrong, admit it.

[ Catra reaches over and grasps Adora's hand though. It's an affectionate gesture, complete with a warm squeeze before Catra opts to pick up some cake. ]

...I just never thought we could. You know. Be like this.

[princesspower]

That's Catra... [ She shoots a little grin at Tenten. Yeah, Catra's prickly. But Adora loves her all the same. She gives Catra's hand a squeeze in return. ]

I mean... I didn't think it was possible, either. But we made it. Somehow.

[71lines]

[And there it is. Another reminder that they're together. But Tenten can't get hurt over this, it's just too sweet to feel any kind of negative. It sounds like this moment of peace and togetherness, for them, was hard earned. Getting jealous over this would be pure selfishness.]

Have you two talked about how it's going to work out when you finally go home? It's not like you'll go back to trying to kill each other after all this. Especially, y'know.

[She gestures at their hands. No, she has an extremely hard time picturing them as enemies after this. Not after their true feelings for one another have been laid so bare.]