meadowlarklogs | but you'll fight and you'll make it through

[ A young blonde girl of no more than seven or eight stands in the middle of a chamber dressed in a uniform that suggests a military cadet in training. She stands at attention, hands behind her back, and more still than any child should be capable of. A figure floats outside the door, silent and menacing.

She's looking right at you, eyes darting between you and the door. ]

You should go before she comes in. It's gonna be bad.

Edited 2020-10-20 03:41 (UTC)

[ This doesn't bode well, even before the child speaks. Wash wasn't a child soldier, but he knows what their lives were like. He's served with plenty, heard the stories. He glances over his shoulder at the shadowed figure, then back at the child -- he's been through enough shared dreams to know what they feel like, to know that they probably have some time if he intervenes here. To know that maybe he can change things, just this once, just in this memory. ]

What happened?

I made a mistake. I was s'posed t' be better at everything, but Catra's so fast sometimes...

[ Still, Adora doesn't move. She stands right on her spot, wringing her hands together. ]

She's gonna be so mad at me. But if I try to make her not mad at me, she'll be even madder at Catra...

[ The figure doesn't move, either -- Wash has the feeling that his presence is holding her off, so he keeps talking. Asks the question that he probably shouldn't. ]

What does she do when she's mad?

She gets really mean to Catra. Calls her names or shocks her. It's...it's not so bad compared to that.

[ But that's Catra. It's not Catra facing that dark, shadowy figure down right now. ]

She's gonna be disappointed in me. 'Cause she's making me the best so I can't mess up. If I mess up, I'm useless, and-- and I can't be useless cause I'm lucky she gave me a purpose. That's what she's gonna say. And I'm gonna have to train more even though I do more than everyone else already.

[ Well that's not quite what Wash was thinking would happen (he imagined something more akin to Catra's treatment and is putting a pin in that because he knows Catra) but is abuse anyway. Telling a child they're useless? That they're lucky to be forced into this kind of life? He scowls, then catches his expression and schools it away, not wanting the girl to think it's at her. ]

She won't while I'm here. All anyone can ever do is their best, if you overtrain it's actually a detriment because you exhaust yourself.

[ Little Adora shakes her head. ]

If I'm not the best, she'll get mad at Catra. I have to the best ever.

[ The classrooms you find yourself in can barely be called that. There is nothing warm or kind about this place, nothing that speaks of a nurturing environment for learning. The walls are metal and bare expect for illegible posters, a sickly green glow cast by the lights.

You sit at a desk, something akin to a tablet in front of you.

On it, there is only one question, with a blinking line waiting for you to type in an answer: ]

What do you wish for?

[ This interior is so familiar to Catra, she doesn't even blink. This could be something from out of her own dreams. She frowns at the question, displeased. ]

This again.

[ Catra stares at the screen for a long time, thinking. She types in several answers, but she hits backspace halfway through and doesn't hit enter on any of them. ]

I want the Horde to

I want to rule the

I wish Shadow Weaver had never

I wish I had never

I wish Adora was in lo ]

[ After backspacing a lot, finally she settles on: ]

I wish I'd left the Horde with Adora years ago.

[ only the message changes. ]

INCORRECT.

Try again.

What?!

[ Catra's voice screeches as she smashes her fists on the keyboard. ]

What do you mean, incorrect?!

Edited 2020-10-22 08:07 (UTC)

[ For a moment, the text from the beginning reappears and it seems like it might stay that way, typing cursor blinking and it awaits an answer.

Then, as Catra smashes the keyboard, it changes: ]

It is not for you to decide.

Please make your selection:

> Try again?
> New Question

What do you mean, not for me to decide. Who else is supposed to decide?!

[ She growls in frustration at the thing before hitting "New Question." ]

Edited 2020-10-23 03:18 (UTC)

Do you believe you are worthy of love?

...

[ Catra stares at the prompt for a long time. A very long time.

Before finally she inputs-- ]

No.

INCORRECT ANSWER.

That is not for you to decide.
That is not for you to decide.
Ý̢͞͞ơ̶ų͘͜͠'̸͝r̛ę̵̷́͡ ҉͝͏ẁ̢̡͢͢r̕͞ò͢͟҉n͠
That is not for you to decide.
Ý̢͞͞ơ̶ų͘͜͠'̸͝r̛ę̵̷́͡ ҉͝͏ẁ̢̡͢͢r̕͞ò͢͟҉n͠g̷̨̡͜͡,̴̨̨̕ ̢͘͠I̴̢͘͢͡
That is not for you to decide.
That is not for you to decide.
That is not for you to decide.
Ý̢͞͞ơ̶ų͘͜͠'̸͝r̛ę̵̷́͡ ҉͝͏ẁ̢̡͢͢r̕͞ò͢͟҉n͠g̷̨̡͜͡,̴̨̨̕ ̢͘͠I̴̢͘͢͡ ̷̀l
That is not for you to decide.
Ý̢͞͞ơ̶ų͘͜͠'̸͝r̛ę̵̷́͡ ҉͝͏ẁ̢̡͢͢r̕͞ò͢͟҉n͠g̷̨̡͜͡,̴̨̨̕ ̢͘͠I̴̢͘͢͡ ̷̀l҉̸̨͢͠o͞

[ The screen glitches out before going dark, the lights in the classroom shutting off, leaving the room completely in the dark.

And then suddenly, Catra finds herself underneath a sky full of stars that seems to stretch endlessly, perched on a tree branch. Adora sits beside her, a small container of sushi cradled in her lap. ]

--are called constellations. They make pictures out of the stars. Did you know that?

Wha--

[ Catra takes a step back from the glitching tablet, then looks around in alarm as the scenery abruptly changes. ]

--Adora?!

[ She has just enough awareness to register that this is Fucking Weird instead of going along with it as you do in Dream Logic, but not enough to realise yet that they're in a dream.

Hang on. This seems familiar. Why does it seem so familiar...? ]

Yeah, I knew that already. What's going on--?

We're looking at the stars? Did you want to go find a spot to camp already?

[ She holds out the small container of sushi toward her. ]

At least finish your sushi first so it doesn't go bad.

... Oh. ... Right. Yeah, of course.

[ She takes the sushi, a little stunned. ]

... Man, you won't believe this, but I'm getting the weirdest sense of deja vu right now.

That's because we've been here before. It's one of my favorites.

[ She reaches over to steal a piece of the sushi, continuing on like she never said anything. ]

I bet we can find somewhere good to camp that's not too wet. A tent would be better, but I like the idea of falling asleep under the stars.

... Just the two of us, yeah?

Of course. There's no one else I'd rather be here with.

... Really? I mean--

You wouldn't rather... I don't know. Hang out with-- with Sparkles, or...

[ Catra trails off, looking awkward. ]

No. There's no one I'd rather be here with than you.

[ Just as Adora reaches out to touch Catra's face, in the span of a blink, the scene changes.

This time they're in the bunks of the simulated barracks, tucked into together with Adora giggling drunkenly, playing with Catra's ears. ]

Heh, you do like me.

[ The room you find yourself in is beyond luxurious, a waterfall flowing off to the side. There's a door leading to a balcony outside that's been left open, and the sound of birds and people's chatter floats in.

The haze that laid over the room last time isn't present. There's nothing strange or foreboding about the area. If anything, it seems almost unbelievably peaceful.

Without any warning, the bed splits open, sending feathers scattering. Most are white, but as they rain down, a few colors are mixed in, as if asking to be caught:

Purple, red, gold, and pink. ]

[ There's nothing intense in this dream. Just another of Adora's occasional nice ones, the ones that dig deep into her happiest thoughts, the things she wishes for but could never let herself think.

Adora lies half-slumped into the couch, looking relaxed for once in her life, cheek resting on the head of Glimmer, tucked into her side and asleep on her shoulder. Across her lap lies Catra, kitten snoring and out like a light.

Somehow, it looks like there's room on the couch to join, if you're inclined. ]

[ Glimmer only becomes dimly aware of the dream at first. It's so similar to just sleeping that at first she thinks she's still in her bed. Eyes flutter briefly, enough to let her know that she is on the now familiar couch in the tiny living space of their shared apartment. There's a moment where she shifts slightly, then stills. She doesn't want to disturb the others. She can see Catra sleeping across Adora's lap and there is a deep sense of calm. Of rightness. This is how things could be. Or no... This is how things should be.

Glimmer smiles. ]

I like this.

[ Her voice is soft. Barely a whisper. One hand lifts, as I'd to rest in Catra's mane of hair. Its a dream, of course. Or at least, the fuzzy quality of the moment disarms the usual caution Glimmer would have about invading Catra's personal space. Gently, she strokes behind one of Catra's ears as she murmurs to Adora again. ]

You're comfy.

[ Adora only moves to shift enough to bring Glimmer in closer to her, eyes still closed as she just...relaxes. ]

If you scratch her ears, she'll purr.

I always thought she'd like. Bite me.

[ A faint giggle in the warm, cozy atmosphere of the tiny apartment. This doesn't feel real. But it also does? It's strange. Carefully, she scratches behind one ear of the dream Catra, her own eyes heavy and barely open. Even within the dream, staying awake seems difficult. ]

[ the dream Catra starts purring like a little motor, drawing a laugh from Adora. ]

Try being her chew toy as a kitten.

This one time...

[ Glimmer smiles at the memory. It's weird that it's a fond one. ]

We had captured her and Bow couldn't keep her quiet because she kept biting him.

That sounds like Catra.

[ Adora's hand joins Glimmers, petting the catgirl's hair instead. ]

It'd be nice if it could always be like this.

[ Glimmer's smile falters, then slowly turns into something a little sadder. A little more resigned. ]

This is just a dream, isn't it?

Edited 2020-10-25 04:46 (UTC)

Why would it be a dream?

[ Adora's only come to awareness of her shared dreams once and it was necessary to push her into the realization. Now, she just wants to enjoy the peace of it. ]

Are you still sleepy?

I dunno. Maybe it just feels that way because Catra usually gets really angry if I get in her personal space? She's way cuter when she's sleeping.

[ Glimmer leaves that thought behind. Better to just focus on now, right? ]

A little bit. But I'm really enjoying just sitting here with you.

Me too. It's...perfect.

[ She nuzzles into Glimmer's hair with a content sigh. ]

I always wanted you too to get along. You're so alike.

[ Glimmer laughs quietly. ]

You know... six months ago I would have told you that you were crazy for saying that. But the more time I've been around her... the more I can see it.

[ She sighs, rests her head onto Adora's shoulder. ]

If she'd have come with you, I'm sure we'd have been friends. If she didn't claw my face off for smiling at you.

[ she releases Catra's hair to run her hand through Glimmer's instead, gentle and affectionate. ]

I think you'd be better friends than either of you expected. Poor Bow, though. I wonder if he could keep up?

[ Glimmer lets herself rest there for a moment, then turns her head to press a kiss against Adora's cheek with equal affection. ]

He'd be fine. I think you're underestimating him.

[ /// ]

I miss him.

[ Glimmer squeezes in closer to Adora. As if that's possible. ]

Yeah. I... I miss him too.

Edited 2020-11-23 18:35 (UTC)

Don't worry, we'll see him again. I'll make sure of it. Okay?

We'll make sure of it.

but you'll fight and you'll make it through

1. you'll better and you'll be smarter, more grown up, and a better daughter

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2. to the cries and wails of the valley below

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3. you'll laugh and embrace your friends

4. you're weak but not giving in

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