She just hesitates for a moment more, and then she nods a little.]
Okay... okay.
Then... I guess--
Catra and I have always been really close. She was my first friend. We were going to stay together forever, and see life together outside of the Horde.
[...]
But... something happened to me to ruin that. I--I say "ruin", but it's really probably one of the best things that could've ever happened to me.
But I left the Horde because of it, and I left Catra.
[And Adora's really not too sure anymore that there'll be anything left of her after, but aside from a small wave of exhausted sadness, she doesn't say that.]
Catra hates it though. I can't... really blame her, either. She thinks I'm choosing She-ra over her.
Are you? [this is a genuine question, because the she-ra thing is a lot different than his own stuff but he's trying to put pieces together.]
I think...wanting to make sure the world is safe is just part of a bigger plan. It's hard to be with someone if you're worried about things being dangerous and losing them, right?
[Adora rubs at her face with a sigh, shoulders slumping.]
I'm not doing it because I want to, not really. Just... She-ra's special. I can't just run away from that either.
I want to protect everyone. I don't want Catra or anyone else to get hurt again.
[... Which is part of the problem, of course. She hasn't forgotten the way Catra puffed up and hissed, "Why do you always think you have to do everything on your own?!"
But... doesn't she?]
But that's why... it's complicated. Being with Catra right now.
[there's a moment where he's finishing his pastry and seems to be doing this thinky-thoughts contemplation thing.]
...when Yamato and I were eleven, we and a few of our friends were sent to the digital world. After we were there for a while, we were told it was because we were chosen, and as chosen children we were the only people who could help save the digital world and earth. It's been like that ever since. Every time something goes wrong in the digital world, we're the only ones who can step in and fix it. We're the only people who can save our own world, too, when the digital world problems start coming to earth.
[...] I want to protect everyone, too, and it's not like we can just stop being who we are or doing what the world needs from us. But at the same time...I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to at least tell Catra how much she means to you? Even with everything that's going on, this is still kind of a break from things back home.
So if you're both here together, doesn't it make sense to try and work stuff out while you have time?
We, uh...we were just finishing a battle back home before we got here. [so yes.]
But yeah. I get it. It's frustrating because you don't always want to, but you have to. But you don't want to of it as having to do it because you know you're the only one who can, so you still choose what's right.
[...there's a shrug.] I think it's more unfair not to tell her at all while you can, Adora. And I wouldn't think of it as getting her hopes up. It's just...something to look forward to for when it's all over. Even if it takes a while, at least you'll both know and you'll have something else worth fighting for. Right?
And you're not? [CATRADORA IS A LOT IN GENERAL he has. seen and heard things. but he settles a little and grins slightly. sympathetically, maybe.] It does. But that's why you find the people who will still be there when your destiny's fulfilled and hang on to them. Right?
I never said that. I'm... definitely aware that I can be, uh. Also a lot.
[She's a mess sometimes. But... well. The sympathy makes her smile a bit, and she leans over to knock shoulders with him.]
You're right though. I... hope that when everything's done, and that whole destiny thing is fulfilled... we can both just be with the people who make us happy.
listen. he's also highly Aware that he relates more to adora than catra so it's fine.]
It's not like it's really a bad thing. [but...he hums a little at that anyway.] I think we can be. Whoever they are. Even if destiny takes a while, I don't think there's anything wrong with adding to your own destiny either.
[...]
Yamato usually gets pretty pissed at me, too, for my own decisions. Like I'm putting the team before myself. And maybe I am. So I get that it's hard but...[he shrugs. never mind he ran out of wisdom, this is just a bunch of him going "same hat but also."] You've got time here to yourself.
[Knowing what I know now, this thread is even funnier.
But Adora just snorts softly at that, but she looks gently amused and quietly peaceful.]
Just talking about it like this is kinda helping already, y'know? I've... never been able to really talk about it with anyone before this.
So... thanks. I really... really hope it works out for you too. Any time you wanna talk about it, I'm here too. After all, I feel like we both kinda... get it.
Yeah? [the way he says it seems to imply that he can relate and also that he's glad he was able to help even a little bit at all.] We can talk about it whenever you want. I think I get it probably a little more than I thought I did.
[there's a pause.] I think things will be fine. We just have to keep being there for each other and the people who matter. We can't go wrong there.
You're a really good guy, Taichi. I think with you around, everyone will be able to... y'know, not give up. Keep on moving forward, even when things are hard.
I'm really glad for that! I know you make me feel better anyway.
That makes two of us, you know? If we both stick together I think we can really help everybody until we can get out of here. But let me take care of some things while you focus on yourself for a little while. Deal?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[She pauses to take another bite, radiating sheepishness.]
It's a really complicated story, though. Is that okay?
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[he does not clarify that catra also gave him a tiny bit of context and also maybe yelled at him so he has an Idea. these are adora hours.]
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She just hesitates for a moment more, and then she nods a little.]
Okay... okay.
Then... I guess--
Catra and I have always been really close. She was my first friend. We were going to stay together forever, and see life together outside of the Horde.
[...]
But... something happened to me to ruin that. I--I say "ruin", but it's really probably one of the best things that could've ever happened to me.
But I left the Horde because of it, and I left Catra.
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The She-ra thing, right? Your destiny.
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[Adora closes her eyes for a moment at that, and when she opens them again, it's to look at the pastry in her hands.
... Destiny's a pretty crappy word, she can't help but think.]
She-ra has to save Etheria, no matter what. They need her.
[Not Adora, but She-ra.]
... So what I want doesn't always really matter.
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...and until everybody in Etheria's safe, the world needs She-ra to do the hard work before even thinking about taking a break. Right?
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[And Adora's really not too sure anymore that there'll be anything left of her after, but aside from a small wave of exhausted sadness, she doesn't say that.]
Catra hates it though. I can't... really blame her, either. She thinks I'm choosing She-ra over her.
[A beat, and Adora frowns tightly.]
I mean... I guess I kind of am.
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I think...wanting to make sure the world is safe is just part of a bigger plan. It's hard to be with someone if you're worried about things being dangerous and losing them, right?
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[Adora rubs at her face with a sigh, shoulders slumping.]
I'm not doing it because I want to, not really. Just... She-ra's special. I can't just run away from that either.
I want to protect everyone. I don't want Catra or anyone else to get hurt again.
[... Which is part of the problem, of course. She hasn't forgotten the way Catra puffed up and hissed, "Why do you always think you have to do everything on your own?!"
But... doesn't she?]
But that's why... it's complicated. Being with Catra right now.
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...when Yamato and I were eleven, we and a few of our friends were sent to the digital world. After we were there for a while, we were told it was because we were chosen, and as chosen children we were the only people who could help save the digital world and earth. It's been like that ever since. Every time something goes wrong in the digital world, we're the only ones who can step in and fix it. We're the only people who can save our own world, too, when the digital world problems start coming to earth.
[...] I want to protect everyone, too, and it's not like we can just stop being who we are or doing what the world needs from us. But at the same time...I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to at least tell Catra how much she means to you? Even with everything that's going on, this is still kind of a break from things back home.
So if you're both here together, doesn't it make sense to try and work stuff out while you have time?
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[She frowns a little, but it's more contemplative than anything.]
So you get it then. You know how it feels.
[How much it sucks, sometimes, to be considered "destined".]
And... yeah, I guess that does make sense. You don't think... it's unfair? To get her hopes up when we still have to go back to--that?
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But yeah. I get it. It's frustrating because you don't always want to, but you have to. But you don't want to of it as having to do it because you know you're the only one who can, so you still choose what's right.
[...there's a shrug.] I think it's more unfair not to tell her at all while you can, Adora. And I wouldn't think of it as getting her hopes up. It's just...something to look forward to for when it's all over. Even if it takes a while, at least you'll both know and you'll have something else worth fighting for. Right?
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[WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING.
We can go back to Catra, pls hold.]
You've been dealing with that all on your own even with all of this going on?
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I mean we won. Everything's over for now, so it didn't seem like it was worth mentioning.
[it just means that they've both been stressed about the aftermath instead. it's fine.]
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You're... so much. [SO!! MUCH!!] This "destiny" thing really messes people up, doesn't it?
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And you're not? [CATRADORA IS A LOT IN GENERAL he has. seen and heard things. but he settles a little and grins slightly. sympathetically, maybe.] It does. But that's why you find the people who will still be there when your destiny's fulfilled and hang on to them. Right?
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She rolls her eyes, but fondly.]
I never said that. I'm... definitely aware that I can be, uh. Also a lot.
[She's a mess sometimes. But... well. The sympathy makes her smile a bit, and she leans over to knock shoulders with him.]
You're right though. I... hope that when everything's done, and that whole destiny thing is fulfilled... we can both just be with the people who make us happy.
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listen. he's also highly Aware that he relates more to adora than catra so it's fine.]
It's not like it's really a bad thing. [but...he hums a little at that anyway.] I think we can be. Whoever they are. Even if destiny takes a while, I don't think there's anything wrong with adding to your own destiny either.
[...]
Yamato usually gets pretty pissed at me, too, for my own decisions. Like I'm putting the team before myself. And maybe I am. So I get that it's hard but...[he shrugs. never mind he ran out of wisdom, this is just a bunch of him going "same hat but also."] You've got time here to yourself.
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But Adora just snorts softly at that, but she looks gently amused and quietly peaceful.]
Just talking about it like this is kinda helping already, y'know? I've... never been able to really talk about it with anyone before this.
So... thanks. I really... really hope it works out for you too. Any time you wanna talk about it, I'm here too. After all, I feel like we both kinda... get it.
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Yeah? [the way he says it seems to imply that he can relate and also that he's glad he was able to help even a little bit at all.] We can talk about it whenever you want. I think I get it probably a little more than I thought I did.
[there's a pause.] I think things will be fine. We just have to keep being there for each other and the people who matter. We can't go wrong there.
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I'm really glad for that! I know you make me feel better anyway.
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