revivalproject | [Open] With All The Force Of A Great Typhoon

WHO: Lauri-Ell, Open
WHERE: Civics Center Gym and Training Rooms
WHAT: Feeling weak post storm and trying to fix that with workouts, come join her!
WHEN: Late February (before realizing the Tony/Beck mess)
WARNINGS: None

The storm had come and gone, and never before had Lauri-Ell, Kree Accuser and royal Bodyguard, ever felt so powerless. Her hammer had been useless, the Agrii weapons had not functioned, and when she needed it most, the strength she had thought so core to who she was had even failed. There was only, in her opinion, one reasonable response to the situation.

Become stronger. Be better able to protect those who would have need of her.

Patrols were abandoned right now, in favor of rising with the dawn, eating, and returning to the training space.

"You must be stronger, to protect him," she reminded herself as she entered and moved right to the weight lifting gear.

Her attention was almost completely taken by the work, but not so deep that she would fail to notice someone entering. At least, provided the person wasn't trying to stay hidden. Otherwise she might not notice them over the low grunts that came with her lifting the heaviest weights she had available.

"I," she panted and lifted the insanely heavy weights on the bench, punctuating each word with a lift, "Will. Be. Better."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, that's worrying. She will have to see if someone with medical will look after Catra for her.

"I was not being weird. I was lifting weights."

"I. Will. Be. Better," Catra imitated dramatically, lifting mock weights over head and then giggling. It was the first laugh she'd had in a while.

"What was that? Seriously?"

Oh. Lauri blushed at that, the skin on her cheeks going a deeper shade of blue.

"The storm was... unpleasant. It diminished me. I believe I shall have to grow stronger. If it diminishes what it is to be a Kree warrior, and I become better, then being diminished will leave me at a higher level."

Oh. Oh Catra looked triumphant at getting Lauri-Ell to blush, but before she could poke fun she found herself distracted by just how familiar those words felt.

Her tail swished slowly, and she frowned, not loving that insight. "...You're all ready like...the strongest person here, do you really have to show us up even more?" she muttered playfully.

"I do not believe I am," she answered. And she seemed so sad. "So many things have happened, and I have failed to protect anyone. I keep the monsters away, but I wonder if I have not been wasting my efforts here."

"Lady, have you seen you?" Catra asked, giving her a pointed once over. "And who said you have to protect anyone? Let them look after themselves, you look after you," she added with a shrug.

"There are not many reflective surfaces here in sufficient condition to serve as a mirror," Lauri answered with a shrug.

Who said? She shakes her head.

"Who says you must have a tail? No one. It is just part of you. As protecting is part of me. It was what I was made to be. A warrior, a soldier. I don't like war though. Protecting, though... that I can do."

Damn Lauri-Ell, you need to stop being so relatable.

Catra kicked absently at the floor. "Yeah it's not...as fun as it seems at first," she agreed, not fully understanding Lauri's point, but trying. "But...I mean, no one is here to tell you what to do anymore. And there's no war. Not really. You can do whatever you want."

What are they if not able to relate to each other for the experiences they have had?

"Then can you not also do what you wish? Can we not change to become people we want to be instead of what we were made to be?"

She blinked, and frowned in consideration before shrugging a shoulder. "I...think maybe it's too late for me," she admitted, "I hurt too many people."

Oh, that is simple. She reaches out and puts a hand on Catra's shoulder.

"No, it's not too late. While perhaps you can never earn salvation in the eyes of people who you have wronged before, you can live your life making the best choices and help you might offer to the rest of the world. Outrunning your sins is not possible. But that does not prevent you from doing good."

"Well I'm pretty sure I wrong my entire planet, so..." she grumbled, but there was an appreciative half smile at the touch.

"I did a good thing once. Felt pretty good," she admitted.

"Then it will take a very long life and many good acts before you come to terms with you," Lauri-Ell suggested. But she says it with the faith that Catra will achieve it.

"What's the good thing you did?"

"I saved Adora's stupid friend," she said, but their was a faint smirk that showed maybe she didn't dislike the friend as much as the words suggested. "Told Adora I was sorry..."

She pressed her lips together and shrugged.

"So who are you so concerned about protecting?"

Adora. The one she had mentioned before. Lauri-Ell remembered the name but... But nothing more than that. Someone from home then. Someone Catra was friends with.

"I am sure she was glad for it. And I wish to protect William."

"The Princess guy?" she asked, Princess (for her), being synonymous with a magic user.

"I mean...he seems fine? So...job accomplished?"

"Prince-Consort," Lauri-Ell corrected immediately. He is decidedly male thank you.

"And while he is fine at this point, I must be strong enough to protect him."

"Sure, whatever." Whatever you called a boy princess.

"And who says?" she asked, "Can't he look after himself?"

"Of course he can," Lauri answers, sounding half offended at the idea that William might not be able to. "However, we have chosen to protect each other, and I am unable to protect him properly."

And she would hate to not keep her oath.

[Open] With All The Force Of A Great Typhoon

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