video; post-Babadook.

[heterochrocatic]

Oh for ████'s sake.

[ Catra is usually kinda grumpy, but this post is extra grumpy. ]

I go through all that ████ and I still get dropped back here. ████ you, you ███holes.

[ Catra does not look much physically changed, oddly, but there's been a shift in her bearing and the way she holds herself. Kinda subtle, but it's there. ]

Comments

[71lines]

Uh?

[Eloquent.]

[heterochrocatic]

...I'm gone for a few months and that's all I get?

[ Catra has not, in fact, been gone for a few months. You probably just saw her in the cafeteria or something a few minutes ago. ]

[71lines]

Months? Hey, are you feeling okay?

[She frowns, leaning in to inspect the screen.]

I just walked by you on my way out from lunch.

[This isn't another imposter situation, is it? Was Catra the imposter the first time around? To find out the answer to THAT, keep an eye on the Babadon't plot! But she's no imposter this time.]

[heterochrocatic]

What? I was--I was back home. On Horde Prime's ship, we--

[ She clutches at her head for a moment, squeezes her eyes shut and takes a few deep breaths. ]

That doesn't make sense. I was in space for a while, we had to travel back to Etheria, we fought Horde Prime. That can't have happened in a few minutes!

[71lines]

I'm pretty sure I'd remember if you vanished for that long. You're important around here, after all.

[She's gonna be messing with her comm stealthily, shooting messages to Adora and Setsuna.]

[heterochrocatic]

Ha. Maybe to some of you.

[ Did Catra... crack a smile? What? ]

I can remember all of it...

[ She frowns and reaches back to touch the back of her neck, then shudders. ]

[71lines]

[Whoops, there's alarm bells. Catra's smiling. In public.

Get there faster, Adora.]

Maybe you ought to be sitting down? If you did fight the prime Horde guys, ending up back here is...

[A shock?]

[passifloraincarnata]

[Setsuna blinks.]

... you left?! ... but you're back?!?! How?

[heterochrocatic]

I was back on Horde Prime's ship and then Etheria. I know it sounds crazy, but I was. I... I didn't remember the Rig while I was there but I can remember the rest of it now.

[ Catra sounds confused now, uncertain. ]

We just freed Etheria!

[passifloraincarnata]

[Setsuna takes in a breath. First that "Babadon't", then she only just avoided not being okayed out of the hospital because of the stunt she pulled while trying to outmaneuver the "Babadon't", now this. It would feel overwhelming if it didn't almost feel like a nostalgic reminder of being home, instead. She calms herself some, tries to clear her head.]

I mean - you freed your home, that's ... really fantastic news. But you're sure you left? I'm not about to start mistrusting you, it's just ... terrifying to contemplate what that means.

[heterochrocatic]

I thought I left. It was like I was there!

[passifloraincarnata]

Is there a way you could find out if you weren't?

Did you pick up any scars, or recent enough injuries, that you wouldn't have had before you "left"?

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra reaches up to touch the back of her neck and flinches. ]

...Yeah. Yeah I have a mark from something that happened.

[passifloraincarnata]

[Setsuna winces at that. She clearly hit a nerve, and a pang of guilt runs from her heart to head like an electric current at the thought.]

Do you ...

Will you let me see if it's still there, for you?

TEXT; LOCKED TO SETSUNA

[71lines]

Careful. She might be sick.

text

[passifloraincarnata]

What do you mean, sick?

[71lines]

She's smiling. In public.

[passifloraincarnata]

Tenten, I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this. But Catra's always been able to smile.

[princesspower]

Uh, Catra? Are you OK?

[heterochrocatic]

Adora! You're still here? Or... you're back?

[ She frowns. ]

We were on Etheria.

[princesspower]

Wait, we were?

[heterochrocatic]

Are you telling me you don't remember this at all?

[ Trust Adora to forget their whole conversation in the Heart. ]

[princesspower]

I... don't.

[ She sounds pained. ]

I just remember being on the Rig.

[heterochrocatic]

Oh.

[ Catra just looks stricken by the revelation. ]

I... This isn't fair. They can't just do this to people!

[princesspower]

Catra-! It's going to be OK! I promise!