Hello...

[heeeyadora]

Who: Catra, OTA
What: Catra returns
Where: Temba/Network
When:Mid Novemeber
Warnings: Walking spoiler for She-Ra Season 5, sorry, cult-like speech, potential for violence

Catra kept to herself a lot, some times disappearing for days at a time. It was possible no one had noticed her absence at all. Maybe a few had...

But as suddenly as she'd disappeared she was back, looking almost like a different person all together. Her thick poofy hair she had been so protective of had been shorn short, and pushed back from her face. Her trademark head piece was gone, and she was dressed in all white and grey. There was an emblem on her chest that some might recognize from the badge she used to wear proudly on her chest.

Stepping out into the sun she frowned, a strange yellow green glow to her eyes as she looked around.
"...Disappointing," she murmured.


Network/Video

[Catra looks eerily calm, very unlike herself as she turns on the feed and smiles.]

Hello. [Her head tilts faintly, and there's a faint echo to her voice, as though she's not the only one speaking.]

I see your Catra has been returned to you. Dear brothers and sisters, I regret I did not see you out here. I do not know how they kept you from my light, but do not fear. I shall make you a new. I will set you free.

And the ones who brought me here will pay for keeping you from me.

Comments

will she answer...a text?

[in_extremis]

Whose Catra were you before the makeover?

Don't get me wrong, it's a bold choice, very editorial, aerodynamic even.

she will

[heeeyadora]

Ah, you must be Tony. Does anyone else tire of your attempts at humor, or do they continue to indulge you as our Little Sister did?

[in_extremis]

I'd say most people last about five minutes. Ten if there's a cheque involved.

What should I call you then?

[heeeyadora]

Impressive stamina.

I am Horde Prime. You'll come to know me well enough in time.

[in_extremis]

I don't have that kind of patience. It's a personal problem, I'm working on it. Let's have some of it out right now.

Where's Catra?

[heeeyadora]

I am here. I am happy Tony. You can be happy too.

[deal_me_in]

It made it difficult to keep track of people when they were rarely seen on a regular basis, and Cayde didn't like assuming the worst- or best, he supposed it depended on the perspective, really. He would've felt guilty for not noticing Catra's absence, but so many had gone missing lately that he'd held himself back from looking into things as thoroughly as he might have otherwise. And then the Eyeball happened, an instant mood killer.

The Exo wasn't looking for Catra then, but he found her. He thought it might be someone else entirely from the way this person carried herself, and with the only thing to go by being a glimpse of those ears, he could be forgiven for the assumption, surely! He jumped down from the roof of the nearby building that he'd been perched on, landing neatly in front of her.

[heeeyadora]

Cata hardly flinched, giving Cayde a calm once over, expression similar to how one might look at a small creature, mildly bemused, but assured in her position over him.

Her head tilted as Prime familiarized himself with the memories of this place.

"...Hello, Cayde," she greeted finally, a cheerful lilt to her voice.

[deal_me_in]

"Heeeeyuhhh-- Catra???"

So much for a cool intro. One, this person wasn't new after all. Two- Catra??

The Exo blinked as he swung his glowing gaze towards her, staring. Well. There's definitely a few things different about her. "You um...get a haircut? The glowy eyes are new. And the outfit- is this like a phase, sorta thing?" he asked as he gestured loosely with his hands.

[heeeyadora]

"Mmm." She smiled without really confirming, giving him a more curious look as Prime wondered if he could make use of him as a future vessel.

"It is not a phase. We are with Prime now," she said, as though that explained everything.

[deal_me_in]

Yeah, that definitely didn't explain anything, not to mention that smile was a little creepy. Glowy eyes, Cayde had no problems with. Hands down, it was the smile.

"Riiight," he said, having no reason to mask his uncertainty. "So you're not...actually here then?" He reached out to give her a test-pat on the head. "How many of you are in there?"

[heeeyadora]

"Of course I am here, Cayde. Where else would I be?"

Her eyes narrowed sharply and her hand shot out to catch his wrist.

"I would not do that if I were you," she warned.

[deal_me_in]

"That's what I'm wondering," the Hunter muttered. His optics widened as she suddenly grasped his wrist, his surprise instantly dismissed with the sound of a snort.

"Whaaat? You said you were with whatever this Prime thing is. I was wondering if you were like some kinda holoprojection and the Agrii have taken weird to a whole new level or something." That seemed like a reasonable explanation so far as he was concerned, anyway.

video;

[kyley_b]

What's this "brothers and sisters" crap?

[heeeyadora]

"Prime is the light that will save us all."

It was another beat before she released him with a faint frown. "What are you, exactly, Cayde?"

video;

[heeeyadora]

[Her eyes narrow, lips pressing into a tight frown.]

Manners, tsk.

You will learn soon enough. Prime will embrace you into his light and you will be one of us.

[deal_me_in]

"Uh-huh." Oh, he knew what this was sounding like but it still didn't make much sense to him as to the how's and why's of it. Unless...

Cayde pulled his hand back casually once Catra had let it go. At least the frown broke the creepy smile for a bit. "Just now we're asking this? I know we don't talk much but I woulda thought Tony at least would've mentioned me." The kid seemed to hang around Tony's place some, anyway. "I'm an Exo. Or is this one of those deep, 'what-is-the-meaning-of-life' sorta questions?"

cw: language

[kyley_b]

Manners my ass.

Awww man, are you serious?! This is cult talk! Ughhhh, I hate cults! Blink twice if you're being held hostage.

Look, thanks but no thanks, I don't want Optimus Prime to give me a sacred reach-around or whatever.

[heeeyadora]

"What is inside?" she pried. That honestly wasn't entirely unlike her; Catra wasn't exactly subtle or polite about those sorts of things, but there was something especially unnerved about the way she said it now.

[heeeyadora]

[For half a second the glow seems to leave her eyes and Catra looks momentarily confused. But a moment later and that glare is back in place.]

Then you will perish. Pitiful creature. You are not worthy of saving. I will make sure your death is swift.

voice

[beholding_archivist]

Our Catra...

[ Because that wording isn't suspicious at all. ]

Right. So who are we talking to now?

voice

[heeeyadora]

Mmm, You. Yes, you have a fondness for our little sister, do you not?

You have the pleasure of speaking to Horde Prime.

[beholding_archivist]

...Christ.

[ Nope, this doesn't sound like a good thing. ]

And who, or what, precisely, are you? What have you done to Catra?

[heeeyadora]

I am Prime. I am eternal. I admit I did not intend to find myself here, but it is a blessing. You who have been hidden away will be brought back.

As for Catra...I have made her anew. I saw her mind. So ensnared in rage, and grief, and pain, and I brought her to the light.

[beholding_archivist]

If dealing with primordial powers has taught me anything, then that nothing is eternal, I'm afraid. Everything ends, even the End itself.

Now since we settled that this part of your response already consists of a lie, I feel inclined to doubt the rest of your words as well. Release her! And Catra? I will be with you shortly. Don't let him do this to you!