video; cw: very sad child, possibly mentions of child abuse

[plentystrong]

[ This is not quite the Catra you know. Mostly, she's not wearing her mask, which means wild bangs are hanging into a younger-looking, more freckled face. Her expression is excited, but also... shy? ]

Uh, so, I got a message from the government, and it says it's my birthday!

[ Catra's Shadow talks a mile an hour, nearly tripping over her own words. ]

Will someone please celebrate with me? I've never had a birthday before. It sounds like a really special day. I don't wanna be alone on my birthday!

I never wanna be alone anymore.

[ She balls her hands into fists. ]

PleasepleasepleasepleasePLEASE?

Comments

voice

[adamantlyardent]

[what.................................................what is she looking at here. how-- how is one supposed to address? this? distress??]

...O-okay? I mean--I never expected you to be the sort to be invested in such a thing. To this...extreme...

voice

[plentystrong]

[ Concerned: ]

It's extreme? Is it too much? Am I too much?

video;

[redcosmedic]

Funny, I wouldn't have pinned you as the begging type.

It's a good look for you.

video;

[plentystrong]

[ As it happens, Actual Catra just entered the room. She observes her shadow, and before she can really register what's going on, she hears the familiar smarmy voice from the communicator held by her younger self.

She zooms over there and rips it out of her Shadow's hands. ]

What did you say?

[permavoice]

[heartstings]

'Fraid you might be too young for the kind of parties I usually throw.

[plentystrong]

Really? But whyyy?

[anormie]

Sure! I'll help you celebrate. I'm good at celebrating! How old are you now?

[plentystrong]

YAY!!!

[ Shadow!Catra jumps up and down ecstatically. ]

Uhm. I don't know? It didn't say.

Video

[swordsense]

[Adora has to replay the video at least four times. Four...times...before she is able to vocalize a response.]

...I will. Absolutely.

W-Where do you want to go? I'll take you wherever you want.

[Holy shit what is this.]

Video

[plentystrong]

ADORA!

[ Jumping up and down in excitement. Then she halts and puts a finger to her lip, brow knit up in contemplation. ]

Uhhh. I don't know. Skate park? Climbing? Ice cream!!

( video | un: bow )

[squadgoal]

[ . . . uh. ]

Are you . . . okay?

. . . You're not dying, are you?

video

[plentystrong]

No, I'm super alive!

I might die of loneliness though, if someone doesn't play with me!

[video]

[hordinglife]

...Did this birthday message come with any...weird stuff?

[Because something is seriously wrong with Catra. So wrong Lonnie feels like she's staring at a pod person. Did the government do something to her?]

[video]

[plentystrong]

No? I didn't see any?

Text |

[privatepurchases]

[Wow. This post hits home a bit.]

What's a birthday?

[plentystrong]

It's the day you were born? I think? Which doesn't make sense because you only get born once -- but everyone here says it's super special and there's parties and snacks and friendship!

[harvesthoney]

Happy birthday!

If you come down to the diner, you can have a slice of cake. No charge.

[plentystrong]

I get cake? Wow, birthdays are awesome! Can every day be my birthday?

Voice

[by_candlelight]

[ This was.. Very weird. She didn't know Catra very well, but even she knew something was off. Ruby wasn't going to deny the chance to find out what. ]

Hey. You alright? And sure. I don't think I could put together a party or anything on such notice, but I can totally hang out.

Voice

[plentystrong]

I'm so alone, except for the meeeeaaaan other Catra. Can you come by?

[kamala_khan]

I'll celebrate with you. Where are you?

[plentystrong]

Oh, will you, will you, will you?

I'm at home!

[marxionette]

The day you were born is a really special day. [ says the clone who still hasn't picked one. ] Happy Birthday! I can keep you company.

[plentystrong]

Really? Will you?

What's your name? I'm Catra!

Video

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Well, she sounds...different. Adam immediately recognizes her - it's hard not to, as there isn't exactly an abundance of cat people around -, though she seems a lot more approachable now.]

Happy Birthday.

You really never had a birthday before?

Video

[plentystrong]

Nope, never! We don't have those in the Fright Zone.