[she picks up the mug, cradling it between her hands as she takes a sniff. it smells so nice. . . she doesn't know why she finds the smell of fire smoke so soothing, but. . . she does]
. . . I told you about the alien army trying to take over the planet. I grew up with them. I didn't know anything about the outside world because they kept the training recruits sequestered at home base.
They told us we were fighting the "Princess Rebellion" in order to free our planet from their evil control and save the entire world. But. . . I always knew that was a lie.
They were just power-hungry, bloodthirsty, and eager to crush anyone who stood in their way.
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divineimpulse) wrote2021-06-14 01:31 pm
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. . . I don't know anything about tea? We didn't have tea in the Horde.
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I never had tea until I went to the Monastery, either.
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[someone. . . like her? though there's something else in that statement that piques her interest]
What's a monastery?
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It's also where the Officer's Academy I taught at is.
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That sounds like a military training post.
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So... something like that.
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Like the Horde.
[she says quietly, without any accusations]
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What's the Horde?
Is that where you grew up?
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An alien army trying to take over the entire planet.
It's based out of a place called the Fright Zone. And yeah; that's where I grew up.
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Those names seem rather intimidating.
[but it was good of her to shareโthat has to be reciprocal, in her experience.]
I grew up as a mercenary from the time I was born.
[as she speaks, she withdraws the teabags from both mugs, and sets one mug in front of catra.]
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So a lot of fighting for you too, huh.
[a different kind of fighting, but still]
I feel like that explains a lot about you.
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My Father was a mercenary, so I was, too.
I can't remember a time I wasn't holding a weapon in my hand.
[so, yeah. a lot of explanation.
she sips the smoky tea, and lets out a little satisfied breath. good stuff.]
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That must be why you're so hard to read.
I can't ever tell what you're really thinking.
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I've been told that I've always been that way.
Some people don't like it.
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It doesn't really matter what other people think. It's just who you are, right?
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[Byleth gifts Catra a little smile.]
What about you? Tell me about your life.
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. . . I told you about the alien army trying to take over the planet. I grew up with them. I didn't know anything about the outside world because they kept the training recruits sequestered at home base.
They told us we were fighting the "Princess Rebellion" in order to free our planet from their evil control and save the entire world. But. . . I always knew that was a lie.
They were just power-hungry, bloodthirsty, and eager to crush anyone who stood in their way.
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she nods as catra speaks, face softening, but not pitying.]
So you've undergone a lot of pressure, and come out the other side as the stronger person.
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[ah. . .???]
[?????]
Uh-- [she doesn't really feel like she's stronger, but. . .]
I mean-- yeah, of course. I'm tough as nails, you know? You gotta be when you're in the Horde.
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[sips tea]
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[SLURPS TEA. . . and doesn't respond! she looks a little uncertain, actually]
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byleth cocks her head slightly, the visual expression of a question mark.]
You don't think so?
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I always thought I was strong. And maybe I was, but never in the ways that really mattered.
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Everyone is strong in different ways. That's what makes us unique.
Perhaps you discovered a part of yourself you never knew was as strong as it was.
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It feels a little more like I found out I was weak all along.
[is she going to provide context for any of this?? no?? okay Catra]
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