( with careful strokes, catra rakes her claws through his hair to start taming it into a neat low ponytail. distantly, she remembers having done this countless times before. who had she done this for? she isn't sure, her memory still feels fuzzy and out of reach.
his hair is still damp enough to use some of the strands as a make-shift hairtie, wrapping them around the base of the ponytail to secure it in place. )
None of that makes any sense. Is your. . . group or whatever better than them then?
[The words come out before he thinks to stop them. Then it’s too late. Because it’s what he is, isn’t it. He closes his eyes and lets himself speak.]
…I remember there was corruption in their ranks. It led to,
[He stares off as the memories rise like sparks from a fire he can’t see. A flame he knows. But it’s elusive.] Their hands being tied. Politics.
There’s something there that makes it all make sense but I can’t remember. [The words come out quietly and he starts to move as if to shake his head then stops, settling.]
What is it when you feel like you need to remember but you don’t want to?
Necessary, huh? You don't think they see you as replaceable?
( almost half muttered. she doesn't fully understand what diluc is trying to tell her, not with so many pieces missing, but she thinks that she gets the gist. and that's how it is, isn't it? thinking you're a necessary evil.
she hopes it made a difference.
then she snorts. )
Like this, probably.
( then she waves a hand before finishing up with his ponytail. )
( nestled into the palms of her hands, the squid seems to respond to the sounds of both of their voices. it wiggles against her hands, the motion of it causing small ripples against the surface of the water. )
There's a whole new place for you to see.
( it takes a couple more minutes, a little longer of listening to both diluc and catra, before the squid finally starts to change shape. there is nothing pretty or graceful about it—in fact, catra thinks the whole thing looks pretty disgusting—but gradually the squid transforms itself into a very large and very alien cat.
melog looks to catra first and meows. then to diluc.
'thank you'. the words echo within him, voiceless, but the sentiment still expressed. )
[His eyes widen at the words in his head then sweeps into a bow. It’s an elegant sweep over his arm with his hand pressed to his heart.] It was my pleasure.
[He says then settles, something softer about him. He’s tired and this tugs at old memories that are slowly fitting themselves into place. He hadn’t wanted to remember but he knew he had to.]
I think we should head into the city. They’re offering us Sleepers clothing and food.
( melog meows, soft and low, in response to diluc. while communication is something of a tricky thing for them, there were always certain things that were just simply universal. gratitude is one of those things.
catra doesn't turn away from them, focusing on rubbing her fingers over their fur. carefully, carefully, she's making sure that everything feels right. had melog been changed by it like the rest of them? is everything in place?
for a second, she glances over at diluc. )
You think that's going to be safe? There's no reason for them to extend that kind of goodwill to us.
( it's really starting to look like she is going to run the risk of talking in circles with scorpia about this. in the past, she might have just told her to drop it or otherwise tried to aggressively force the conversation where she wanted it to go. however, scorpia isn't her subordinate anymore and she needs to be respectful of that.
they're friends. and a different level of respect is required between friends. she's sure of that much. )
If it bothers you that much, you can look at me later.
( a small concession. not that it mattered. scorpia would definitely forget about it if they kept talking long enough and that's what catra is banking on. she isn't exactly the most focused sometimes.
catra looks over scorpia's face, or as best she can from her position. )
[Scorpia often does end up accepting compromises when it comes to Catra. Many times they could be disappointing ones, but this seems more acceptable to Scorpia. They just have to talk, and then she can give Catra's wounds a look. It actually feels significant for Catra to offer that much. So a light smile comes to her face as she accepts that.]
I would very much like to do that. Thank you.
[She knows it's not easy for Catra to offer that much, so it feels significant. It also means Catra extending her some trust. It doesn't have the same effect as it would have in the past, but it does help her to feel a bit better about the situation.
With that, Scorpia knows she should give some trust too. She loosens her hold on Catra as she glances downward.]
I don't know if it's 'wrong', but it's new and definitely weird. When I got pinched by a crab before, I saw that my blood is... it's kinda blue now. And when it comes out? It freezes up. It's like I have some kinda... icy blood! [That's what they should call it!]
it's weird. this isn't the first time that she's heard about something like this, but it feels all the more troubling when it's scorpia. is this supposed to be normal? is this supposed to happen? catra's own blood didn't look right either and it smelled—
she feels a little anxious. )
Yea, I've seen that. It's—I dunno.
( she tries to sound normal about it, but doesn't quite pull it off. )
( the following twenty minutes feels like one of the longest stretches of time in catra's life. not only is she stuck clinging against the mast, but the whole show that this girl is putting on has not only managed to not dissuade the pirates from attempting to fight her, but has encouraged them to erupt from the ship's framework in droves. the supply of them feels endless, a constant stream of shambling, hulking brutes that have a mind only for violence.
much like this stupid girl.
some of the pirates aren't entirely content to charge blindly towards her, instead scaling up the mast to try to swipe at catra's legs for what she imagines they assume to be an easier meal. it's infuriating, but unavoidable to keep herself from getting involved. she's forced to join the fray, to punch, kick, and bite her way through all of the pirates who decide she's a much better target. all while still trying to keep her grasp on the squid she'd picked up in the ocean.
honestly, she's never going to forgive this idiot for this.
when it is all over, and eventually it is, catra flings a fishing net over the other girl in a fit of fury. )
Are you done? Did you it get it out of your system, you idiot? Can we just go the shore already?
i'm on mobile so i'm gonna assume they're something gay
[She doesn't react except to blink once, twice, then tiredly pull part of the net off the tiller before it can tangle in the spokes. The rest stays draped over her hunched, lanky frame as she sits quietly on rough wood, soaked in blood and gore. There was supposed to be something after a fight like this, the wholesale slaughter of your enemies: triumph and fulfillment, grim satisfaction. But now all her savage anger, all her righteous hate is gone and nothing has replaced it. Hollow, Lys stares straight ahead, hearing Catra's snarling jibes as though they were both deep underwater.]
( all but hissed out in her frustration and anger. she gesticulates wildly with her hands as she speaks as if it were stupid for this girl to even ask that of her. of course she wasn't going to just abandon her and leave her to a possible fate of getting eaten by cannibalistic pirates. that's not the person she is trying to be—not that this stupid wolf-girl had been making it easy for her.
her feet stomp against the wooden deck as she approaches, moving to reach out to tangle her claws into some of the netting. she gives it a tug, letting it gather against the girl's side. )
I don't care how confident you are in whatever you got going on here, but you're coming with me. I am going to get you to safety whether you like it or not.
You'd have to be stupid to think so. Peaceful places don't greet you with pirates that try to eat your flesh.
( for once, she agrees. it would be insane to think that they'd been brought somewhere peaceful and safe. this place has made no secrets of what it is and it's only been just a few hours. like where they were before, things were going to be violent and more than a little strange. )
Or whatever was going on with those crabs.
( she flaps her hand. it's an accidental admission that she didn't encounter the crabs, only pirates. )
I think some of the other. . . what is it "Sleepers"? "Dreamers"? Or whatever they're called have already died trying to make it to shore.
( which she is basing on some of the limp squid bodies she'd seen against the ocean shore. )
With the tone of this boardwalk, it's surprising they didn't get us little hats like "yay, you made it!".
( although it could maybe be argued that they basically were with the offerings of fun, free food and what was basically just costume wear. might not be as direct, but mocking all the same. )
Yea, lucky. You get to be here with the rest of us.
( with any luck, this will still manage to work out somewhat in her favour. their favour. whatever. she flexes her fingers, letting her claws extend enough to be used as a makeshift lockpick. she's had to do this more times than she can count, but usually it's for fun. not for. . . well, whatever this is. survival. )
Let's get started.
( she says as a verbal warning as she moves to the lock. she presses her hand against the bars, getting a steady grip as she gets to work. she just needs no one to come poking their stupid nose around while the two of them escape.
for a minute or two at least. pink hair can handle that much, right? )
[she caught sight of the woman doing that and nodded once. So, the cat had claws and knew how to use them? Good. It made her think of a few faunus she'd worked with. Some of them could be damned good at what they did.
Neo kept one hand out, near to Catra's shoulder while she listened very carefully. She heard the tumblers starting to move, one after another. Little creaks, little turns. For the moment there was nobody. With any luck it would stay that way, but she was ready with an illusory trick if need be.]
( for as easy as lockpicking is for catra, it isn't nearly as quick of a process as she would like for it to be. the first time with a new lock always took a few minutes before she could figure out the pins and cylinders or the correct placement to unlock. those few minutes always felt like they stretched into eternity.
right now is no different.
in the distance, there are sounds of footsteps and the grumbles of two complaining pirates. )
( she hisses out, incredulous. she knows that this girl cannot be serious. absolutely cannot be seriously implying that she decided to poison the ice cream herself. there were so many logical fallacies that she wonders for half a second if the other girl had done it instead.
no, no, that's stupid. this girl is stupid. )
I don't even know what it is! How could I possibly be the one to poison it?
( she flaps her hands around wildly. )
And whose first thought would be to start poisoning food after getting their teeth kicked in by pirates anyway?
So you say, but maybe you're lying. "I have cat ears and I don't know what ice cream is! You should try it first!"
[ Clarisse is almost to the point of laughing about how worked up Catra's getting over the whole stupid thing, but then, a couple seconds late, she processes the second thing Catra said. Pirates kicking her teeth in. ]
What are you talking about? I didn't see any pirates. Only those mutant crabs. [ It's really not fair. She would have much rather fought pirates than dealt with those nasty things. ]
Hey, hey! Are you mental? What part do you think is the lie?
( she bites back, voice raising. unfortunately, she is all too easy to rile up. she is very close to pulling on her own ears as if it would give more sensible weight to her argument.
she pauses when the subject starts to change somewhat, pressing a hand to her cheek. )
They were grabbing some of us out of the ocean before we got to shore. You know, to eat.
( oh. they chained him. that gives her some pause. why had they bothered to chain him and not her? did she seem like she was too out of it to even bother? or was the reasoning more insulting than that? she isn't sure she wants to know. )
Come closer. I have a job for you, but you can't do it with these on.
( she beckons him closer. he's not useful in chains. )
[Faolan raises an eyebrow -- did she miss the part about where he had explained the bit about the chains? But he pushes himself upright and moves closer nonetheless, the chains rattling uncomfortably as he moves.
He can feel a trickle of blood running down his forehead from where they got a blow in. That had been why they'd chained him up, after all. He hadn't exactly come quietly into the cells, certainly not as quietly as they would have preferred. He's spent enough time in a prison back home not to want to repeat the circumstances if he has any say in the matter.]
( as soon as he is within reach, catra shifts the squid underneath her arms and extends her hands forward. her fingers slide along the metal cuffs, feeling for the indent where the key is meant to be inserted. she flexes her fingers carefully once she finds it, letting her claws extend, before dipping them into the keyhole.
she doesn't bother to answer his question, not when it's this obvious. )
Don't watch me. Keep your eyes forward. Look for anyone approaching.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
TDM | EVENTS
TDM ◆ AUGUST 2021
◆ diluc (part 1)
( with careful strokes, catra rakes her claws through his hair to start taming it into a neat low ponytail. distantly, she remembers having done this countless times before. who had she done this for? she isn't sure, her memory still feels fuzzy and out of reach.
his hair is still damp enough to use some of the strands as a make-shift hairtie, wrapping them around the base of the ponytail to secure it in place. )
None of that makes any sense. Is your. . . group or whatever better than them then?
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[The words come out before he thinks to stop them. Then it’s too late. Because it’s what he is, isn’t it. He closes his eyes and lets himself speak.]
…I remember there was corruption in their ranks. It led to,
[He stares off as the memories rise like sparks from a fire he can’t see. A flame he knows. But it’s elusive.] Their hands being tied. Politics.
There’s something there that makes it all make sense but I can’t remember. [The words come out quietly and he starts to move as if to shake his head then stops, settling.]
What is it when you feel like you need to remember but you don’t want to?
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( almost half muttered. she doesn't fully understand what diluc is trying to tell her, not with so many pieces missing, but she thinks that she gets the gist. and that's how it is, isn't it? thinking you're a necessary evil.
she hopes it made a difference.
then she snorts. )
Like this, probably.
( then she waves a hand before finishing up with his ponytail. )
Always one thing after another, I guess.
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Aaand a wrap I think
◆ diluc (part 2)
( nestled into the palms of her hands, the squid seems to respond to the sounds of both of their voices. it wiggles against her hands, the motion of it causing small ripples against the surface of the water. )
There's a whole new place for you to see.
( it takes a couple more minutes, a little longer of listening to both diluc and catra, before the squid finally starts to change shape. there is nothing pretty or graceful about it—in fact, catra thinks the whole thing looks pretty disgusting—but gradually the squid transforms itself into a very large and very alien cat.
melog looks to catra first and meows. then to diluc.
'thank you'. the words echo within him, voiceless, but the sentiment still expressed. )
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[He says then settles, something softer about him. He’s tired and this tugs at old memories that are slowly fitting themselves into place. He hadn’t wanted to remember but he knew he had to.]
I think we should head into the city. They’re offering us Sleepers clothing and food.
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catra doesn't turn away from them, focusing on rubbing her fingers over their fur. carefully, carefully, she's making sure that everything feels right. had melog been changed by it like the rest of them? is everything in place?
for a second, she glances over at diluc. )
You think that's going to be safe? There's no reason for them to extend that kind of goodwill to us.
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Aaand another wrap
◆ scorpia
( it's really starting to look like she is going to run the risk of talking in circles with scorpia about this. in the past, she might have just told her to drop it or otherwise tried to aggressively force the conversation where she wanted it to go. however, scorpia isn't her subordinate anymore and she needs to be respectful of that.
they're friends. and a different level of respect is required between friends. she's sure of that much. )
If it bothers you that much, you can look at me later.
( a small concession. not that it mattered. scorpia would definitely forget about it if they kept talking long enough and that's what catra is banking on. she isn't exactly the most focused sometimes.
catra looks over scorpia's face, or as best she can from her position. )
What do you mean? What's wrong with your blood?
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I would very much like to do that. Thank you.
[She knows it's not easy for Catra to offer that much, so it feels significant. It also means Catra extending her some trust. It doesn't have the same effect as it would have in the past, but it does help her to feel a bit better about the situation.
With that, Scorpia knows she should give some trust too. She loosens her hold on Catra as she glances downward.]
I don't know if it's 'wrong', but it's new and definitely weird. When I got pinched by a crab before, I saw that my blood is... it's kinda blue now. And when it comes out? It freezes up. It's like I have some kinda... icy blood! [That's what they should call it!]
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it's weird. this isn't the first time that she's heard about something like this, but it feels all the more troubling when it's scorpia. is this supposed to be normal? is this supposed to happen? catra's own blood didn't look right either and it smelled—
she feels a little anxious. )
Yea, I've seen that. It's—I dunno.
( she tries to sound normal about it, but doesn't quite pull it off. )
Does it hurt?
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◆ lys (worst icon keywords here)
( the following twenty minutes feels like one of the longest stretches of time in catra's life. not only is she stuck clinging against the mast, but the whole show that this girl is putting on has not only managed to not dissuade the pirates from attempting to fight her, but has encouraged them to erupt from the ship's framework in droves. the supply of them feels endless, a constant stream of shambling, hulking brutes that have a mind only for violence.
much like this stupid girl.
some of the pirates aren't entirely content to charge blindly towards her, instead scaling up the mast to try to swipe at catra's legs for what she imagines they assume to be an easier meal. it's infuriating, but unavoidable to keep herself from getting involved. she's forced to join the fray, to punch, kick, and bite her way through all of the pirates who decide she's a much better target. all while still trying to keep her grasp on the squid she'd picked up in the ocean.
honestly, she's never going to forgive this idiot for this.
when it is all over, and eventually it is, catra flings a fishing net over the other girl in a fit of fury. )
Are you done? Did you it get it out of your system, you idiot? Can we just go the shore already?
i'm on mobile so i'm gonna assume they're something gay
You should've taken the lifeboat.
"don't you want to go feral for once?"
( all but hissed out in her frustration and anger. she gesticulates wildly with her hands as she speaks as if it were stupid for this girl to even ask that of her. of course she wasn't going to just abandon her and leave her to a possible fate of getting eaten by cannibalistic pirates. that's not the person she is trying to be—not that this stupid wolf-girl had been making it easy for her.
her feet stomp against the wooden deck as she approaches, moving to reach out to tangle her claws into some of the netting. she gives it a tug, letting it gather against the girl's side. )
I don't care how confident you are in whatever you got going on here, but you're coming with me. I am going to get you to safety whether you like it or not.
that counts
cw: discussion of suicide
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◆ anduin
You'd have to be stupid to think so. Peaceful places don't greet you with pirates that try to eat your flesh.
( for once, she agrees. it would be insane to think that they'd been brought somewhere peaceful and safe. this place has made no secrets of what it is and it's only been just a few hours. like where they were before, things were going to be violent and more than a little strange. )
Or whatever was going on with those crabs.
( she flaps her hand. it's an accidental admission that she didn't encounter the crabs, only pirates. )
I think some of the other. . . what is it "Sleepers"? "Dreamers"? Or whatever they're called have already died trying to make it to shore.
( which she is basing on some of the limp squid bodies she'd seen against the ocean shore. )
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Both the pirates eating flesh and the people dying trying to make it to shore. ]
I tried to save as many as I could, but...
[ He trails off, fingers tightening into the strap of his bag again. Maybe he should have gone back out. Maybe he could have saved more. ]
I suppose I was lucky.
[ The flat tone of his voice says he isn't feeling that lucky. ]
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( although it could maybe be argued that they basically were with the offerings of fun, free food and what was basically just costume wear. might not be as direct, but mocking all the same. )
Yea, lucky. You get to be here with the rest of us.
◆ neopolitan
( with any luck, this will still manage to work out somewhat in her favour. their favour. whatever. she flexes her fingers, letting her claws extend enough to be used as a makeshift lockpick. she's had to do this more times than she can count, but usually it's for fun. not for. . . well, whatever this is. survival. )
Let's get started.
( she says as a verbal warning as she moves to the lock. she presses her hand against the bars, getting a steady grip as she gets to work. she just needs no one to come poking their stupid nose around while the two of them escape.
for a minute or two at least. pink hair can handle that much, right? )
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Neo kept one hand out, near to Catra's shoulder while she listened very carefully. She heard the tumblers starting to move, one after another. Little creaks, little turns. For the moment there was nobody. With any luck it would stay that way, but she was ready with an illusory trick if need be.]
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right now is no different.
in the distance, there are sounds of footsteps and the grumbles of two complaining pirates. )
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◆ clarisse
What!
( she hisses out, incredulous. she knows that this girl cannot be serious. absolutely cannot be seriously implying that she decided to poison the ice cream herself. there were so many logical fallacies that she wonders for half a second if the other girl had done it instead.
no, no, that's stupid. this girl is stupid. )
I don't even know what it is! How could I possibly be the one to poison it?
( she flaps her hands around wildly. )
And whose first thought would be to start poisoning food after getting their teeth kicked in by pirates anyway?
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[ Clarisse is almost to the point of laughing about how worked up Catra's getting over the whole stupid thing, but then, a couple seconds late, she processes the second thing Catra said. Pirates kicking her teeth in. ]
What are you talking about? I didn't see any pirates. Only those mutant crabs. [ It's really not fair. She would have much rather fought pirates than dealt with those nasty things. ]
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( she bites back, voice raising. unfortunately, she is all too easy to rile up. she is very close to pulling on her own ears as if it would give more sensible weight to her argument.
she pauses when the subject starts to change somewhat, pressing a hand to her cheek. )
They were grabbing some of us out of the ocean before we got to shore. You know, to eat.
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◆ faolan
( oh. they chained him. that gives her some pause. why had they bothered to chain him and not her? did she seem like she was too out of it to even bother? or was the reasoning more insulting than that? she isn't sure she wants to know. )
Come closer. I have a job for you, but you can't do it with these on.
( she beckons him closer. he's not useful in chains. )
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He can feel a trickle of blood running down his forehead from where they got a blow in. That had been why they'd chained him up, after all. He hadn't exactly come quietly into the cells, certainly not as quietly as they would have preferred. He's spent enough time in a prison back home not to want to repeat the circumstances if he has any say in the matter.]
How do you propose that we get them off, then?
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she doesn't bother to answer his question, not when it's this obvious. )
Don't watch me. Keep your eyes forward. Look for anyone approaching.
( this isn't always the quickest process. )
You hit the rocks or did you fight?
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