#all catra wanted was for adora to stay and for adora to need her

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

toxic relationships: intentional vs romanticized

i want to talk about what makes a toxic ship intentional and what makes it romanticized, since a lot of spop fans claim that “of course Adora and Catra's relationship is toxic, they were enemies and they had a rough childhood”. however, it's clear that the writers of spop themselves don't consider this relationship toxic, or if they do, they think that the toxicity is sexy or romantic.

for comparison, let's take Jasper and Lapis from Steven Universe. this was a ship that was clearly written to be unhealthy. these were two characters who did not like each other in the slightest, who both had their own share of trauma that they never worked through and decided to form a fusion instead.

Jasper tries to coerce Lapis into forming a fusion with her, in order to help her defeat the Crystal Gems. Lapis is unwilling at first but later, she relents. whether she did this out of fear or because of her own anger towards the Crystal Gems is unclear at first.

Fusions in SU are a good way of visualising the nature of a relationship. if a relationship is healthy and stable, the fusion is stronger and can stay fused for longer periods of time. if the relationship is unhealthy, toxic or unstable, the fusion might break apart easily or have trouble functioning as one body.

fusions aren't strictly a romantic thing either, there had been a couple of platonic fusions in the series too, like Smoky Quartz or Steg. suffice to say, it was just a creative way to explore different dynamics between different people.

as expected, Lapis's and Jasper's fusion was not stable or healthy in the slightest. Malachite was the biggest fusion we had seen at that point in the series, and she looked more monstrous and unhinged than any of the other fusions we had seen prior.

it is at this point that Lapis reveals that she was just trying to keep Steven safe by fusing with Jasper and forcing the fusion to stay underwater with her.

even right after this scene, it's clear that the writers wrote Malachite as an intentional toxic ship because Garnet immediately remarks that those two gems were “not good for each other”.

after an undetermined period of time where Malachite stayed fused, and while Jasper got more and more angry and vengeful, Lapis got more and more exhausted of holding the fusion together; the Crystal Gems finally succeed in making the two unfuse.

there is some nuance to this ship too, because there wasn't just one person at fault. while Jasper was physically stronger than Lapis and she was the one who initially coerced Lapis into fusing with her, Lapis herself admits that she used their relationship to take out all of her anger and frustration. she admits to hurting Jasper in the process.

Lapis also admits that she misses Jasper, a sentiment that Jasper also seems to share as she tracks down Lapis to ask her to fuse with her again, promising that it would be better this time.

this is not uncommon in toxic relationships where the individuals get so used to the toxicity that they feel empty without each other. they would rather be in an unhealthy but familiar relationship than be alone. and this is the first time i've seen this sentiment be portrayed so realistically in a show. the fact that you can get away from someone who hurt you and still miss them and want them back is something that needs to be talked about.

Lapis does eventually reject Jasper's offer, saying that their relationship wasn't healthy. while i do have problems with how they suddenly made Lapis the victim afterwards (and her whole arc as a whole), i still think SU handled this ship really well.

it was an introspect into a toxic relationship, without romanticizing or sexualizing it, and without justifying Lapis's or Jasper's actions, even though they were both sympathetic characters on their own. they do kind of gloss over Lapis's role in this relationship later on, which i wasn't fond of but in the end, they made the right decision to not let this ship be canon.

this is how toxic relationships should be explored in media. without bias, without excusing or justifying a person's actions. whether the ship separates in the end or not is the writer's wish, but the framing is important.

whereas c//a is framed in a way that expects us to sympathize with Catra, to excuse her actions and to root for her to get with Adora. like Malachite, c//a was not healthy for Catra or Adora (although the conflict there was definitely more one-sided) but the writers of spop seems to think that a vague apology is enough for them to get into a stable relationship.

if you frame toxic behaviour as cute or romantic, your audience is going to accept that. fiction does greatly impact reality. and considering that spop is quote-unquote “a kid's show”, they have a responsibility to not send the wrong message to thousands of impressionable children.

this turned into more of an SU analysis than an SPOP critique post lol but since y'all already know why c//a is not like malachite, i trust i don't have to write more about that.

#lapis and peridot also had an unhealthy and emotionally abusive relationship #and while i hated how they never held lapis accountable for her actions #i'm glad they didn't make that ship canon either #long post #steven universe #steven universe meta #su meta #su #lapis lazuli #jasper #lapis x jasper #malachite #spop critical #spop salt #spop criticism #spop discourse #spop #she ra #anti spop #anti catra #anti catradora #anti c//a #antic//a #anticatra #anticatradora #tw abuse #tw toxic relationship #i also want to point out the language used in su vs the language used in spop #su clearly states that lapis's and jasper's relationship was unhealthy and that they were not good for each other #while spop uses vague terms like “catra is mean” “catra is a bad friend” or “adora's and catra's relationship is complicated”

[thedelusionreaderbitch]

Poly! Catradora x gn! Reader - Triumph from a shadow (PRIDE 2023)

A/n: Here is the first installment to the fics of pride 2023! (This is also old, so don't expect the writing to be stellar!)

Summary: You've always been a third wheel to Adora and Catra, even when you stayed with Catra in the horde. You've been over shadowed by the two of them your whole life and you're okay with that. You've seen what power can do to people, but your destiny isn't okay with it, and neither is your feelings.

Warnings: panic attacks, ptsd from the horde prolly, mild violence, death swearing, low self esteem, abandonment issues, crying, unrequited love, I think that's it? You have been warned!

The three P's:

[Pov: 2nd person][Pronouns used: you/your][Pairings: romantic! Catradora x reader, platonic! glimmer x reader, platonic! bow x reader, platonic! Entrapta x reader]

You've been a third wheel to Catra's and Adora's relationship from the beginning. Even in the horde when you had decided to stay with Catra to keep her safe she was still obsessed with Adora. When you had defected the horde because you saw what Catra was doing to herself and not only could you not watch her do it, you felt like you were only encouraging it.

While you came back to Brightmoon and tried to help Adora and the rest of the Princess's everything had spiraled and eventually Adora couldn't just ignore her feelings for Catra and you were left alone.

Unlike Catra and Adora, you can ignore you feelings, because you know they're unrequited, you take one look at the way they look at each and whatever hope in you dies. They've never looked at you like that before.

We're you really that hard to love?

As you were on the ship - Darla, with the "best friend squad" and Entrapta you're eternally grateful Glimmer had suggested you come, because you didn't want to be on Etheria. Not really, you would have been useless, and even though when you look around at all these people who are so strong you know you're out of place. At least you were with the people you longed to be with the most.

Which, is a different kind of torture all on it's own.

On the couch in the control area of the ship tears come to your eyes as Darla is on autopilot for a planet called Nyxion, it's believed that the people there are called Nyx. Though you haven't gotten a transmission back after you guys had tried to send one to them.

Sniffles are heard throughout the room as you try desperately not to cry, you couldn't cry not only would it probably wake somebody up, it would only prove your weakness.

Although it seemed like someone was already awake because you heard footsteps from behind you as someone place's a hand on your shoulder.

"Y/n?"

It's Adora, you would know that happy, soft voice from anywhere.

More footsteps erupt from behind the two of you and another hand is placed on your other shoulder and you know it's Catra from the claws that slightly dig into you in worry.

"Are you okay?" Catra's soothing, hard voice, whispers and the urge to burst out into tears gets even harder to ignore.

You close your eyes and sigh, "I'm fine, you guys should go back to sleep. I know you need your rest."

Adora laughs quietly and wraps her arms around you and leans in so her head is against your shoulder, while Catra leaps gracefully into your lap and places her hands over Adora's.

"You're always putting others before yourself, just relax for a second." Catra's voice surrounds you.

"We're here for you." Adora says warmly. "We'll always be."

"What?" Your breathe out as your mind starts getting flashes of your memories from your childhood at the horde.

"Ya, we made a promise clumsy." Catra grins up slyly at you.

"Adora! Catra!" Your child self yells out excitedly for the two of them.

"We're over here clumsy!" Catra screeches at you as she and Adora wave you over to them. Of course you come barreling towards them knocking you guys all down.

"Nice work clumsy!" Catra snaps at you as she helps Adora up leaving you on your own.

"Sorry I was just excited." You say dejectedly, taking sudden interest with the floor below you.

"It's okay." Adora offers. "We're really excited to see you too!"

Looking up you see Adora nearly jumping up and down she's so happy and you see Catra soften her glare towards you and it almost turns into a smile.

"Where were you guys?" You question tilting your head to the side to observe how Catra grips onto Adora's arm.

"With Shadow Weaver." Catra murmurs fearfully, and shudders as she says her Shadow Weavers name.

Scrunching your nose you shake your little head.

"Shadow weaver doesn't like me."

Which wasn't entirely true, she had avoided you at all costs sure, but she hadn't yelled or screamed at you. Not like she did everyone else, she even sometimes would yell at Adora. But never you, it was like she admired you, or perhaps the truth is she was afraid of you. Of what you didn't know. All you know now looking back on it, is that Shadow weaver for some reason was afraid of you.

Adora shrugs and walks up to you and grabs you by your shoulders.

"That doesn't mean we can't be friends!"

As you shake your head the younger Catra comes up from behind you and wraps her arms around your torso (a little possessively) and cuddles you from behind.

"I'm just scared you'll forget about me, and leave me..." You trail off but Catra finishes the sentence for you. "Alone?"

You nod your head sadly.

"Hey." Adora squeezes onto your shoulders.

"We're here for you." She says quietly like it's the most important secret in the world, to say that she and Catra won't leave you. "We'll always be."

"What?" Your younger self thinks out loud.

"We're making a promise clumsy." Catra says affectionately.

Abruptly you pull away from the two of them and stand up.

You couldn't do this, you couldn't just stay in their embrace like you when you guys were young. You are young no longer, and no longer are your feels platonic and free. They are love and caged, and enraged because of it. The love you feel, would only hurt them.

"I can't-" You break off the beginning of your sentence and you nearly start to cry. "I can't do this again."

The two of them stand up and Adora stands in front of you, as Catra stands behind you.

"Y/n, we just want to help." Adora says gently and tries to take your hand in hers but you pull away before you can.

"Just leave, leave me be."

Adora looks at you clearly hurt by your actions and words, as Catra, being as protective over her girlfriend as she is gets a little bit angry.

"Fine, we'll leave you to wallow alone then! If you don't want us, we'll leave!"

Catra takes Adora's hand, and although Adora probably isn't very happy with Catra's choice of words but she doesn't protest when she leads both of them out of the control room. Away from you.

"No, wait-"

"We've tried Y/n, but we can't wait around for you while you push us away." Adora says quietly and her words stab you straight through the heart and they kick at your delicate walls. They come crumbling down around you as you collapse into sobs.

"Wait! Please!" Your voice borders on hysterical "I'm sorry I'll-" This time you cut yourself off as your own voice gets taken over by the cries that erupt from your throat uncontrollably. Cries that have been waiting a long time to be let out.

In seconds Catra is in front of you taking your face in her beautifully dangerous hands and moves your head so you're looking up at her.

"Hey, hey, hey." Adora's voice comes from behind Catra. "You're okay." Adora says while Catra says at the same time; "You're with us."

"We won't leave you alone." Catra whispers into your ear.

"We promise." Adora says as she takes your hands into hers and places it over her heart.

"Am I-" Your voice is hoarse, and still riddled with hiccups as tears still run down your face. Yet it isn't as hysterical and out of control as before.

"Am I hard to love?"

It's silent for a second before Adora shakes her head. "Y/n, I'm not sure we totally understand." She tells you lightly.

"Am I hard to love." Your voice is like a scorching fire. "Because you guys have never loved me, not once. Not even when I love you guys so much it hurts to be around you. So tell me, am I just that impossible. That unlovable." Your voice is hard and both of them look at you with surprised faces and while Darla starts beeping, alerting everyone that you've reached your destination.

Glimmer, Bow, and Entrapta come through as the ship starts opening it's doors and ramps to the ground as you rip yourself away from Catra and Adora. While you go to join Glimmer, and Bow who look at you with matching concerned expressions.

"Don't ask." You grit out as you wipe the rest of the tears from your face.

"Are you-" Bow starts, trying not to freak out.

"I said don't."

Everyone is quiet as you guys take in the seemingly abandoned planet.

It's primary colors are black, and different shades of grey, as vines twist across the ground and trees hang over your heads. Yet there's a certain beauty to the darkness. When the light hits the right parts of the dark vines and trees they glow an almost rainbow color.

In the distance there's a structure that looks vaguely like a broken down temple. You feel a pull towards it, and you know you guys have to head over there if you want any answers.

"We should head over to that temple over there." You raise your voice and there's no response from anyone, everyone is just stays extremely quiet, keeping their heads down. You want to scream in anger, at least it would break the heavy tension in the room.

Finally the tenison is broken by Entrapta (bless her heart) as she shakes her head full of purple hair.

"I'll just stay over here I think! But I still want to know what's happening soooo..."

She hands everyone small little body camera's and you can't help but smile at her. She really is a genius beyond compare.

"I can also speak through them and if you want to try and get my attention just say my name!" She says excitedly, bouncing up and down.

"Thanks Entrapta." You nod your head towards her, as everyone puts on the body cams.

Catra slyly glares at Entrapta as she harshly grabs onto your hand and starts leading the group towards the temple.

"What the fuck was that!" You scowl at Catra passive-aggressive behavior.

She doesn't say anything but she doesn't let you go either. If anything, she grips onto you harder as you feel her claws dig into your wrist.

Taking your other hand, Adora grips onto it like it's her last life-line before she's pulled into the sea.

They don't say anything at all, the only words that are exchanged are from Glimmer and Bow who are desperately trying to fill the awkward silence.

"Y/n." Adora starts. "We just wanted to say-"

You cut her off by shaking both their hands off not wanting to hear their ultimate rejection.

Just in time before the two girlfriends can say anything else, the temple stands before the five of you.

It's black like the trees and the vines, and it looks old. Nevertheless it's beautiful with some dark crystals and symbols engraved into the black stone. Although it feels like the temple is missing something.

You feel like you're in a trance as you walk through the entryway as the others follow behind you.

"Uh, guys?" Entrapta's voice comes through the devices.

"If you guys go straight it will lead you to a power source that may or may not be magical. And it may or may have been barred off from the planet for a long time and if you guys don't unlock it from it's cage it will make the planet below up in... 30 minutes."

Immediately, everyone starts running furiously forward trying to get to the center as fast as possible.

Running up next to Glimmer you jog beside her contemplating on asking her your question wondering if she'll actually say yes but... If you don't say anything you'll never know.

"Glimmer." You brush your hand against her arm to get her attention.

"Can you teleport me to the center."

"But I can't teleport everyone?" She questions you, eyebrows frowned.

"I know." You whisper as you don't really want the others to hear. "I just want you teleport me, just me. I just have a feeling to this place, a connection I think."

Glimmer stops and observes you before nodding her head. Out of everyone, Glimmer was the one to go with problems like these. The other person might have been Adora but you didn't want to talk to her right now and she had a tendency to freak out over your safety. Not that Glimmer didn't, but she wasn't dramatic like Adora, nor would she be irrational.

"Okay."

In a second she takes your arm and you're teleported into the center of the temple.

Glimmer teleports out quickly as to not worry the others and probably to leave you alone here. She would understand, you would think.

In the center of the... center you suppose, is a beam of magic that's red, and black light with a grey magic barrier surrounding it.

Looking closer you realize it must be dark magic.

Taking a closer look at the walls around you, you realize that these aren't random symbols, they were writings, and you could read them.

Memories from the past flash through your mind forcefully as you read them.

People that were born from dark magic, normal, happy, magic users who used it for good. They were shunned from outside planets but the queens did not tell their people to resent them, they told them they just didn't understand them.

The queens were powerful and together they birthed a child from the magic, but before they could raise them Horde Prime came and obliterated their people. In a rush they had contained it's magic making so only one person could contain all the magic. Dark magic would always stay on this planet but it needed someone to stick to.

They created a safety guard on the place so if anyone came inside they would have to fight an large three headed dog.

As Prime came closer the two queens kissed their baby on the head goodbye with tears in their eyes as they did what they couldn't do for their people.

Save them.

So they sent the baby away with a spell, sending the child through darkness hoping praying they would end up somewhere safe. And that child you - had ended up right into Shadow weavers arms.

Then Prime killed the queens.

You fell to the ground your head pounding at your heart yearning.

You knew what you had to do, you had to go inside the beam of magic and absorb it's magic's power before it teared the planet apart.

Getting up you start to trek forward before four hands firmly pull you back.

"What are you doing!" Adora yells at you.

"The magic is restless, someone needs to absorb it so it doesn't tear the planet apart!"

"It's dark magic! You won't survive!" Catra screams down at you as her iron hold on you becomes even stronger.

"Yes, I will." You say calmly, the tone of your voice surprises everyone.

"You don't know that!" Adora cries out. "I'm going to do it, She-ra can do take it!"

Instantly Catra lets you go when she hears Adora's words.

"No you will not!"

In the distance you hear a growl and the ground shakes beneath you and you know you've run out of time.

Dodging She-ra and Catra, you sprint up to the magic and you hesitant slightly.

What if it didn't accept you? What if your moms had it made for someone else?

"Y/n!" Everyone screams for you to stand back, and the rational part of your brain is agreeing with them. Really, you didn't know what you were dealing with, but the pull you feel here is undeniable.

You've never been one for rational decisions anyways.

"I love you." You declare to Catra and Adora before taking a step into the dark.

It envelopes you wholly, it's long black inky arms seeks entry into your body, it doesn't hurt. This much magic going into your body should hurt, but maybe it's had a place there all along.

You're lifted into the air and you feel the darkness seep into you, and you welcome it like an old friend. More memories of your moms, of your people are filtered through your brain, even that you don't stop. This is where you were meant to be, what you've been meaning to become.

You feel every last drop of the magic inside of you yet you don't come down. What happens if you just stayed there? Could you be able to learn more about your people, why would you ever need to come down? Down there is so confusing, and horrible, terrible things have happened down there.

However the shouts of Adora and Catra fill your ears, their pleas for you to come back to them are desperate. Then you hear Adora turn into She-ra but she's not trying to "save" you, you don't think Catra would let her, no there must be something attacking them.

The three headed dog.

Opening suddenly your eyes are filled with black as you descend down, while around you your body is glowing. You can feel every shadow across the universe, and all the secrets of every individual.

You stand in front of your friends and you send an inky black barrier to cover them with just the flick of your hand as the dogs snarls and howls at you. He's a afraid, not of you but of being alone, yet he feels like he has to fulfill his purpose.

"I remember you." You whisper. "Mom used to play fetch with you outside the temple, and mama would watch from the sidelines, claiming she didn't like you."

You tilt your head to the side and the three headed dog does the same, as if he too, is starting to recognize you.

"But she gave you your name, Spot right? And she was the one who would pet you in the middle of the night."

Spot howls and runs at you as he nuzzles your neck, and cuddles you. Slobber must have been all over you.

Giggling the barrier separating you, with your friends dissipates as your eyes slowly fade back to their natural color, of course with a dark tint that wasn't quite there before.

"Y/n!" Adora runs up behind you as she pulls you into a hug.

"I thought I had lost you!" She exclaims.

"We, thought we had lost you." Catra comes in front of you, and takes your hands into hers.

"You almost did, it showed me so many memories of me, my moms, and my people. I didn't want to leave, even when the magic had transferred over to me entirely." You sigh a bit shyly.

"What made you come back?" Glimmer is behind you in a spark, but you knew she would end up there - her shadow was there before she was. So you didn't flinch or jump at the sound of her voice.

"Well I didn't want you guys to hurt Spot." You pet the ginormous three headed dog, you joke with a sarcastic tone at the end. Yet you pause before what you're going to say next. Did you have to courage to tell them outright when you weren't in distress?

Still, as you observe Adora and Catra you think maybe it's them who have to say it to you, or break it to you that they didn't love you.

"My friends." You reply, "All of you, I thought Spot was going to go after you guys (it's what he was trained to do after all) and just knowing that anyone of you could die... I just knew I couldn't stay there forever, not while you guys were suffering."

"OH!" Bow screeches. "Best friend squad!" And he pulls you all into a big hug as Entrapta agree's from the cameras.

"How did you know about any of this..." Adore trails off as everything soon gets quieter at her question.

Chuckling you take Catra's and Adora's hands into your as you wink at Bow and Glimmer. "I'll tell you all on the way and maybe on the ship. Quite frankly it's a long story!"

____________

After you had told your story to them, Glimmer had informed you that you would have to start training with your newfound magical powers. Even if she still sounded a little uncomfortable at the prospect of dark magic, you had told her that you were basically a vessel made to hold dark magic, and control it. There was no corrupting you, plus your people and parents had never been corrupted.

Catra and Adora had been acting weirdly around you, to say the least. You would do something you would normally do and they would have matching bright faces. Along with the fact that the three of you still haven't spoke about you confessing your love for them... Twice.

"Well this is a familiar setting." Catra speaks from behind you in the control room, while everyone else are in their respective rooms.

You can feel Adora's shadow also coming to the control room a bit farther down the hall then Catra. Without turning around you call out to her;

"Hello Adora."

"Oh crap! That's like super scary!" She yells as she jogs up to the couch where Catra now is laying her head inside your lap.

"That's the point Adora." You snicker but there's definitely a teasing tone to your voice.

She comes up behind you and somehow slides in behind you so her arms are warped around you, and your back is flushed against her chest.

There's silence for a while, for long time. It's not awkward or bad, it's actually pretty great as you cuddle the two of them.

"Y/n?" Adora's voice comes out a bit croaky.

"Yes?"

"We love, you like a lot."

"I know."

Catra sits up and slides into your lap. "If you were any other person right now I would slap you."

Giggling you run an hand through her hair. "I think- I think even I deserve love. Whether it be platonic or romantic."

"Hey Y/n." Adora whispers as her lips touch the shell of your ear.

"You aren't hard to love."

Catra kisses your cheek and smiles down at you, it's that smile you know not many people other than Adora and now you have seen.

"You never were."

Words 3774

-thedelusionreaderbitch

She-ra taglist: No one yet!

#adora x reader #adora #catra #catra x reader #catradora #catradora x reader #poly! catradora x gn! reader #poly! catradora x reader #delusion writes #spop #spop x you #she ra fanfic #she ra #entrapta #glimmer #bow #she ra and the princess of power #she ra and the princesses of power #pride 2023 #poly #polyamory #lgbt #queer #queer writing #fics of pride 2023 #pride #gay pride

[theonlypterydactyl]

Catra, the realistic abused child

Shadow Weaver gives Catra her view of the world and Catra becomes an outlet for her shame and self-hate. Love is weakness and weakness isn't allowed. Love is finite.

When Adora leaves Catra's sense of safety is shattered. Adora was the person who protected her and gave her value. If Adora is gone what value does Catra have? So, Catra has to prove herself. If she never needed Adora her betrayal can't hurt.

Catra's story is about protecting the little girl who didn't know the cruelness of the world, who was innocent. She does everything to protect her, even if that means pushing everyone away. So, she's cold and cruel to Scorpio who wants to give her the closeness she needs. But, Catra is a walking paradox, she craves connection, but closeness is a precursor to pain.

Adora is begging her to come with her, and Catra doesn't. It would've saved a lot of time and pain, but going with Adora means that she would have to accept the word of two complete strangers. Adora chose the two strangers over her. When Catra sees that She-Ra is Adora this proves to her how meaningless Catra is and how great Adora is.

To Catra familiarity and power mean safety. If she's at the top no one can hurt her. So, she takes on Shadow Weaver's role to feel safe. But, it stops working. She is tortured by Horak and sent to the Crimson Waste to die.

In the Crimson Waste Catra changes. Just a short amount of time away from the place where she's been abused and traumatized she's nicer towards Scorpia and more playful. When she captures Adora and finds out that Shadow Weaver went to Brightmoon, to Adora. Adora is greater than Catra even if she defected. She's still the golden child.

She has tunnel vision. There is only one thing that will match the amount of pain that she is feeling. She pulls the lever, knowing full well that everything will change.

Everything is how is should be. Adora is Force Captain and Catra isn't in charge. Shadow Weaver is kind. But, no matter how much Catra tried to make her stay, Adora was bound to leave anyway. With nothing left to lose she lets herself and the world burn.

Catra comes back to her addictive patterns full force. It's easier to hide from the pain that to confront it. Her treatment of Scorpia is reflected in if love comes to easily it isn't worth something.

In Corridors we see Catra and Adora as children. Adora is friends with Lonnie. Catra thinks that Adora is going to leave her and be with Lonnie all the time, because to her love is finite. Catra loses value to Adora because there is this other person she has to compete with and Catra isn’t deserving of love. She goes and talks with Glimmer and they start talking about Adora. Catra realizes that maybe Adora didn’t leave for power and glory, maybe she loves Glimmer, and maybe, just maybe, she loved Catra as well. Maybe it’s too late, but Catra gains this new clarity and wants to do one good thing in her life. She saves Glimmer and expects to die at the hands of Horde Prime and she’s okay with it. There is nothing left for her. The only person who cared about her was Adora and she left for bigger and better things and better connections.

Adora comes back for her. Catra has two options, accept Adora’s forgiveness or be dumped on a planet and die. But, her forgiveness is what cuts through. Adora is the only person who has seen both her pain and the person beneath it, so if Adora can forgive her maybe Catra is forgivable?

The addictive cycles are far from broken. She’s actively trying to be a better person. But, she falls back on old patterns when she is scared. It is easier to accept hate than it is to accept love that can be taken away. To Catra love is finite.

But, she stands up to Shadow Weaver for her and Adora. But, Adora is manipulated by Shadow Weaver takes the Failsafe and sacrifices herself. Catra is trying to protect Adora from her own self destructive behaviors, but it doesn’t work. Adora still is determined to sacrifice herself for the sake of Etheria.

She's scared and and runs away. She can't watch Adora sacrifice herself. Catra asks Adora what she wants, maybe just maybe she wants her, but that would be too far fetched, right?

At the Heart of Etheria, Catra goes back for Adora. She stays by her side as she is willing to give up her life for everyone on Etheria. Without expecting any reciprocation, Catra tells Adora that she is loved.

Catra’s story is realistic childhood abuse and trauma. It isn’t romanticized with these vulnerable, meek victims. Her story is messy and violent and ugly, as it should be. But, the solution is just as simple as it sounds. Change. Trauma brain relies on patterns and predictability. In Corridors, Catra is looking down two hallways. A light one and a dark one. The light could be symbolized by Horde Prime’s “light”. He enlightens these worlds and makes them better. This “light” is what strips them of their identity. The light is what strips Catra of her identity. The dark corridor could represent the choice of the unknown, the change that the unknown will bring, or the dark where Catra would hide in order to get away from everything, the dark where Adora willingly sat with her. This change is what led her to breaking the cycle of a trauma mindset and allowed her to accept Adora’s forgiveness. Catra’s character arc isn’t one of linear growth, it rises and it falls because she’s human. Unlearning the familiar cycles is hard and you’re going to fall back on them because familiarity is safety, but acknowledging and pushing past those lows is what leads towards a better tomorrow.

(my own interpretations backed up five by five takes)

#she ra #catradora #gay #lgbtq #trauma #breaking the cycle #betrayal #love #sapphic #catra #forgiveness #change #finite #safety #familiarity

[spopsalt]

It's so fucked up that glimmadora is considered boring and not interested enough compared to c//a all because of the toxicity that c//a has

Like??? In Adora's experience, she deserves a partner like Glimmer (whether it actually be her or someone similar to her)

Glimmer treats her with the upmost kindness, giving her a safe space to be herself and be alone whenever she needs to, and helping her with her problems through the healthiest ways possible

Catra has literally physically abused, fed Adora's guilt complex/suicidal ideations, and tried to guilt trip Adora back multiple times just so Catra can have someone who'll do as Catra says, not what Adora wants

Catra never actually loved Adora, Glimmer did (and Bow did, too, but it was more platonic)

Yes exactly! Catra is horrible to Adora but according to season 5 it's Adora's fault because why didn't she stay in her toxic environment and protect her toxic catgirl sister? She left Catra! (Despite her inviting Catra to go with her right after she left the horde and then asking her to come with her again 2 more times and Catra saying no to each one) And according to the spop fandom Glimmer is a horrible monster becaue she was a bad friend to Adora for part of season 4 and like no other season- Did the spop forget the Glimmer's mom just died because of Catra and Glimmer was struggling under the weight of being queen? She also geuinely apologized to Adora for being a bad friend and even when they left off on bad terms Glimmer still cried and begged for Adora's life, meanwhile Catra didn't even say anything, if Glimmer hadn't stepped in Adora would be dead. Then right after that scene they insisted that Catra was the one who loved Adora. What?

#spop criticism #spop discourse #spop crit #anti c//a #anti catra #anti catradora #anti spop #spop critical #antic//a #spop salt

[fany-the-bunny]

One of the things that made me completly depise She-Ra and the Catradora ship is the absurd gaslight the writers do to make us care about Catra.

Catradora was a pretty wild shio to say the least, i could never predict where exactly the writers were going for with them but everything was leading to Catra becoming an awful person. She abuses, manipulates, gaslight and hurts Adora multiple times without feeling a bit of remorse about it, and many people try to justify like Catra was only doing it because Adora left or she was doing it because they're enemies, but i don't think "they're enemies and she's in emotional distress" is a good enough reason to beat up a childhood friend/crush, especially if you're doing that for a ideology that yourself assumed to be evil. Another thing that people say to justify Catra is the fact that she was emotionally abused and the one person that loved her leaving was the final straw but that alone doesn't justify, first we need to remember that Adora was also abused as a child by SW and second being abused doesn't justify abusing other people, especially if is the only person that actually seems to care about you. Another thing i get a lot is how Catra viewd the Rebellion as any better than the Horde which is why she didn't left like Adora, but even if she didn't liked the Rebellion why would she stay with the Horde? She herself admit they're bad people and one of the things she says to Adora on the first episode is how she wants to conquer the world with her.

The truth is, Catra was always like that. She was a problematic child that grew up to be an evil person, she's a toxic friend, an abuser and an awful person. There's no justification on her being like that, NOTHING justifys her treatment of Adora and doesn't matter how you try to internelized, there's no salvation for Catra and the fact that the writers try to make us care about her and cheer for her is disgusting.

If you ever come across someone like Catra, cut contact with that person imediatly for your own sake

Edit: oh boy, that sure escalated quickly huh? So much hate and yet none of you tried actually defending the show or countering my argument, ya'll just went to personally attack me as if that would do anything? If you don't like the post just ignore it, is not that hard there's plenty of positive She Ra content you could see instead. Is just my opinion after all, and please stop coming at me saying that i stan groomers or something, cause that's not truth and is something very serious for you to be playing around like that

#anti catradora #anti catra #spop critical #spop critisism #she ra

[baggebythesea]

She-Ra cast as drinking buddies

Adora - She's great. Friendly and eager and up for anything. Hope you like to talk about horses, though. Try to keep her away from arm wrestling or that's what you're doing the rest of the evening.

Glimmer - She's an angry drunk. Or a happy drunk. Or a crying drunk. Or she challenges everyone in the bar on dart. Whatever she does, she'll do it with a hundred percent intensity. If someone picks a fight with you, you'll have to hold her back before she smashes a bottle and cuts a bitch.

Bow - He's everyones bestest buddie. He will pay for the drinks, listen to your rants, hold up your head over the toilet and help rain in Glimmer.

Catra - She's really guarded at first, but when the inhibitions drops either the claws or the tears come out. Step very carefully around her. Also, if she wants to have your jacket, it's her jacket now.

Scorpia - She's a delight. Friendly and considerate and a good listener. Although there is this feeling that she has some stuff of her own she's just dying to talk to someone about… if you open the floodgates, be prepared for a lot of tears and to listen for the next few hours.

Entrapta - Let's be honest - she won't listen to a word you say and she'll most likely have dismantled the beer pump and invented a new kind of drink before the evening is over, but you won't be bored.

Mermista - Surprisingly good company, once you get past the attitude. Keeps the drinks coming and have some good stories between all the 'Uuuuuughs'.

Sea Hawk - Life of the party. Shanties and drinks and arm wrestling. It's fun to have fun with frieeeeeends. Will probably have set something on fire and got you kicked out (unrelated incidents) before the evening is over, and never shuts up about Mermiiiiiiiista.

Swift Wind (did someone say Swift Wind?) - Pair him with Adora or Sea Hawk and no net amount of brain cells will have been added to the party. Up for anything and a good sport, though. Expect singing.

Perfuma - Friendly and considerate and works really hard to be a good listener, but if you just want a drink and some chit-chats rather than a group therapy session she's a bit too much. Try to appeal to her inner theatre kid to channel her energies into something more entertaining.

Netossa - PUT THE JÄGERMEISTER AWAY! EVERYTHING DOESN'T NEED TO BE A COMPETITION!

Spinnerella - The team mom makes sure everyone has a good time and stays hydrated.

Frosta - Thinks it's super unfair that she isn't allowed to drink. Still, if you get her to settle down in the juice bar she can be tons of fun.

Castaspella - Fruit drinks and party hats for everyone! Better step up your game, because everyone's friendly wine aunt won't let anyone be bored.

Shadow Weaver - The drinks are bad and the atmosphere is worse and you are beneath her notice. If you can get through her barrage of insults and appeal to her pride, she has the best stories though. Don't expect to come out of it unscarred.

Hordak - He will sit stiff, uncomfortable and completely silent for three drinks, and then he will speak in monotone voice with increasing amount of rage about the injustices he has suffered. Someone might die before the night is over, but it will sure be memorable

Horde Prime - Wonderful company - if your idea of a good time is hearing a narcisist yap on about himself and demand your constant attention. Otherwise, prepare to have a lousy time. Don't leave your drinks alone with him at any time.

Wrong Hordak - LOOK BROTHER, I'M PARTAKING! chugs beer LOOK, BROTHER! DO YOU SEE ME PARTAKE?

Imp - WHO LET THAT LITTLE SHIT INTO THE BAR? Good luck catching him when he zooms around the ceiling.

Emily - I'll be honest, I didn't know robots could drink. Neither did I know they can DISCO, but Emily proves me wrong on both counts.

Angella - Good luck getting her to settle down and relax. No, Angella, the fact that you heard a siren doesn't mean Glimmer has set something on fire (we hope, at least). Has no idea how the social codes are supposed to work, but likes to feel included.

Micah - At home in any company and a great listener. If you're lucky you'll get some stories out of him that will start with "Oh, it's nothing special. We all have that evil teacher that tricked you into helping her kill the entire senior faculty, right?" and spirals from there.

Juliet - The royal guard is never off duty. She might haul you off to cool down if you get too rowdy, but that's it.

Rogelio - Great listener, but not that good a conversationalist.

Kyle - Goddamit, Kyle!

Lonnie - Yes, Lonnie, you can drink more than me. Yes, Lonnie, you can arm wrestle me. No, Lonnie, I wasn't trying to start any shit with Kyle. Sorry, Lonnie, I'll stay out of your way.

Double Trouble - "Hey, you know what would be REALLY funny. If you distract the bartender, I'll… do a thing. No, don't worry about it. Just a thing. It will be funny."

Huntara - Two rules in the Crimson Waste, where one is not to disturb her as she drinks. If you're on her in-list, prepare to have a good time. If you're not, step carefully around her.

Tung Lashor - Sometimes all you want is someone to chug beer and shout the refrains to some stupid songs with. Just keep him away from cats.

Octavia - You know what, better keep her away from cats as well.

#spop

[cirusthecitrus]

Can I ask Entrapta and Hordak for the character ask meme?

First impression: with Entrapta, she caught my eye even before the show premiered, when I saw the promo art. I fell in love with her design right away, though i didn't care much for her character at first, just didn't get the hype. It is only after she showed her vulnerable side, when she thought her friends abandoned her (but we knew it was not true!), thats when I got invested. Tuned in for the drama, stayed for the purble mad scientist

Same with Hordak. Didn't care for the character, loved the design. And I loved it specifically because he looked similar to the demon characters from my original story I was working on with a friend at the time. The long pointy ears, the nose, the glowing eyes, the clawed hands and sharp teeth, they also have wings just like Imp!

Oh and I always loved his relationship with Imp, it was so fun to watch these two interact :3

Impression now: to me personally Entrapta and Hordak are the real heart of the show. They are both integral to the story, they're interesting and fun in their own ways and their relationship is simply the best thing the show has to offer. Plus their personal journeys are so exquisitly tragic, love me some good angst

They're both my lil scrunklies, my beloved chew toys, one of my fave evil power couples. Though I gravitate more towards Hordak, he got that melancholic sad doe eyes rizz. And older brother issues (hes just like me fr🤝)

Favorite moment: oof but there are so many. 'Imperfection is beautiful' and 'I am Hordak' are obviously in my top 5, but I also want to mention some other ones

From entrapdak scenes - the one where they chat while sitting on Hordak's throne, the one where Hordak protects Entrapta from the portal explosion and the iconic "What have you done to me?" scene

As for their personal moments, I still giggle at Entrapta's "Do I need to explain math to you?🤨", also I can't get over her soft hum and lil smile when she remembers her lab partner in the portal reality

And with Hordak, again, love all the scenes where he's so casually adorable with Imp, also s4 moments when he's being obsessed with Entrapta (can't deside between the blushing scene and the 'crying over her' scene)

Idea for a story: For Entrapta I've been thinking about an au where she gets consumed by the Island before her friends find her, turning into this scary powerful monster who still has some of her free will. And she either escapes the island herself, becoming a threat to both the Horde and the rebellion (but eventually she and Hordak save each other with the power of love~), or she stays on BI and has this emotional fight with Adora and Bow where she gets to voice all her fears and grievances, but in the end gets defeated and comforted

For Hordak I have this idea about him meeting another clone with the same defect as him. Maybe he was just fresh out of a pod, and his condition only took a toll on him after the fall of Prime. I imagine Hordak being so gentle and protective of him, giving him all the love and understanding + recourses he was deprived of. I also imagine him finally not feeling so alinated when he's around his own kind, like a black sheep among his "perfect" able bodied brothers, because now he knows he's not the only one

Unpopular opinion: Entrapta's trauma should've been treated more seriously and not forgotten right after the Beast Island episode. S5 felt like s4 events were erased from everyone's memory. Also, it should've affected Entrapta more. Again, where are the conflicted feelings towards Hordak? It was never established that she found out the truth about her exile, that Hordak was lied to and had no idea about it. And where are the conflicted feelings towards Catra? The more I think about it, the more I hate that dumb apology and the fact that it was enough for Entrapta to forgive her, after everything Catra did to her and her loved ones

With Hordak... those are not quite common, but it is still tiring to see some fandom opinions where ppl critique this version of Hordak by calling him a loser and a lame villain/character, because he's not "badass" and "threatening" enough and is bad at his job as the leader of the Horde. Cause like... that's the point. Hordak was bad at this because he was not suited for this role, he is not a leader and thats not bad/contradicting writing, thats just his character trait. He was only trying to mimic the only role model he ever had in his life, trying to fit into Prime's shoes and obviously failing at it, because he's not Prime. He was also programmed to be an obedient slave with no wants or ambitions, not a dominant power hungry ruler, and I can only imagine what it took him to become as powerful and threatening as he is in the show. He did not belong on that throne, not because he's incompetent/useless or stupid or a bad warlord, but because choosing to become Lord Hordak, choosing to go all this way to try and prove himself worthy to his uncaring god was,on itself, his biggest mistake, not the right path for him. The Etherian Horde is like that because it's existence was a mistake

Favorite relationship: romantic? with each other. Platonic? Also with each other, but also -

For Entrapta - her friendship with Adora and Wrongie (also Scorpia, but only pre s5 Scorpia, like girl what happened...)

For Hordak - his bond with Imp and his relationship with Horde Prime (i just love how tragic and messed up it is okay?)

Favorite headcanon: idk if a have a favorite, there are all sorts of hcs, so i'll just focus on a random one I like

I do find the idea of Hordak being creeped out and lowkey haunted by Entrapta's cat painting hilarious, but I also like to think that the cat was her real pet, maybe a childhood pet even, and by keeping the painting she honors the memory of her old friend

#thank you for the ask! #ask memes #hordak #entrapta #entrapdak #spop #shera #ramblings #spop meta

[anti-spop]

i know spop ruined s4 with s5, but there's smth honestly satisfying about the ppl around catra as they realize they don't owe her anything.

adora at this point is not even trying to reason with catra. adora is done, has been done since the ending of s3. hell, she nearly almost kills catra without any remorse (and i'll admit it, even as someone who doesn't hate catra... i honestly felt proud *prepares for c//a stans to want my head off*)

scorpia tries to be good for catra, only to realize that catra "doesn't care. she hurts people to get her way". even scorpia, the person who firmly believed catra was misunderstood and needed a friend, finally came to terms with how toxic catra is. and scorpia leaves, and she's right for leaving. it's too bad the show paints adora in a bad light for leaving the horde, but at the very least they don't do that with scorpia in s5, iirc.

this one is a minor detail, and while i have my grievances with lonnie (and rogelio) and how the show handled the horde trio, i like that they leave the horde too, and they're also justified. and even though lonnie sees through catra's breakdown and would've probably stayed to help, catra pushed her away. neither lonnie, kyle or rogelio try to do the emotional labor for catra. they decide to stick with each other instead.

yes, it's clear the show wants you to sympathize with catra, and i personally think it works in this season. but the characters listed here are still valid for not staying with her. catra pushed everyone away. yes, she was traumatized and all, but she's the one who caused her own loneliness in this situation. i rlly hoped for a well-written, uneasy redemption for catra in s5.

but yeah... we all know how that ended up.

#i post #spop critical

[yourfellowhuman07]

Alliances of the Heart

A She-Ra: Princess of Power 2018 fanfiction

For centuries, the All Princess Ball has been a time for the nobility of Etheria to let loose. Flaunting their power, prestige, and fashion for all to see. The ball had always been politically neutral, but, as tension from the war rises, not everyone is so keen to forget what happens beyond the walls of Castle Chill.

Lord Hordak, along with Princess Scorpia and Force Captian Catra, have come to the party to make alliances and find out everything there is to know about their enemies. Careful to not arouse the suspicion of the Princess Alliance.

Princess Entrapta, being the scientist she is, decides to come to the party to decode the secrets of body language, despite getting the same data from every other party she has ever attended.

When the two rulers cross paths, their plans flip on their heads as the two grow closer. Now it is up to Catra and Scorpia to push the two together as Adora and Glimmer stick their noses where they do not belong.

________________

Chapter 10: The Right Step

Adora joined the party right as the doors opened, her eyes zeroing in on Frosta, who sat on her throne. Fighting her impulses, Adora stayed with the ranks of the crowd and surveyed the endless sea of partygoers. Despite entering with Perfuma, Bow quickly joined Glimmer’s side while Perfuma left to join her other friends. Sweet Bee was still melancholy, while the Star Sisters left a trail of giggles behind them. Catra and Scorpia were still upholding their air of friendliness (Adora was still convinced they were up to something). Also, she noticed Mermista and Sea Hawk were nowhere to be found.

Then Adora, unfortunately, noticed Hordak entering, and annoyance washed over her. Hordak had won over Entrapta, and Adora was still bitter and baffled Entrapta would ever want to join his side, but it didn’t matter now. Adora had a mission, and it will not be hindered by one warlord.

___________

Hordak had entered the ballroom, looking like a lost puppy as he searched for Princess Entrapta.

After careful observation, he deemed the princess late and told himself that was fine. To pass the time, he checked in with Catra and Scorpia.

“Have you learned anything new?” Hordak, who was already sipping on a glass of wine, asked.

“Huh,” Catra looked up at the warlord with a slightly apathetic expression, “Oh, nothing much, just useless gossip.”

Hordak’s face was pulled into a tight line. Despite the welcomed distraction Princess Entrapta provided, Hordak still wanted his original plans carried out. Also, Hordak didn't appreciate how flippantly Catra had started to regard him.

“Sorry, Lord Hordak.” Scorpia, who was still firm in her respect, commented.

“Never mind that,” the volume of Hordak’s voice dropped, “go after some of the other princesses and government officials who are not in the Alliance. We need as many people on our side as we can get.”

“What about,” Catra mused, glancing over to Frosta.

“No,” Hordak replied firmly. “Frosta is strict about Prom etiquette, and if she suspects we are trying to convert her, she could throw us out of the party entirely.”

The two Force Captains gave the warlord a short nod.

Across the ballroom, another set of doors opened, letting in Princess Entrapta. At the sight, Hordak’s posture straightened and his ears perked in attention.

But, Hordak’s attention dissipated as he picked up the sound of his Force Captains whispering and giggling to each other.

“What?” Hordak questions defensively, while his ears flicked downward.

“Oh nothing,” Catra sighed and began to pull Scorpia away. “You can return to your princess, Lord Hordak.”

“We’ll take care of everything!” Scorpia shouted as she and Catra disappeared into the glittering crowd.

Hordak rolled his eyes and brushed off his embarrassment as he walked toward the princess, placing down his glass while adjusting his cape and hair along the way.

When Hordak got close enough to fully see the princess, he was floored. His first observation was she was wearing the coat, despite the heat of the castle. Then he took in the rest of her ensemble. Instead of her usual overalls, she wore beige trousers, and white ballet flats replaced her work boots. Most interesting was the fact she had her hair in a high ponytail and her bangs were pushed up and hung over a pair of red-lens goggles.

The two finally took their places next to each other while Hordak attempted to calm his nerves.

“Hi, Hordak!” Entrapta greeted, as jovial as ever.

“Good evening, princess.” Hordak gave her a small bow. “I see you received your gift.”

“Yeah, I love it! It’s so versatile and comfy!” She gushed as she hugged herself and the coat. “This is the best gift anyone has ever gotten me.” She assured, a warm smile spreading across her face.

A warm feeling bloomed in Hordak’s chest, which was evident by the pink lightly dusting Hordak’s cheeks and ears. He cleared his throat, simultaneously trying to calm down the beating in his chest and ripping his eyes from Entrapta’s sparkling ones.

“Would you,” Hordak mused as his heart finally steadied, “like to return to the gardens?” Hordak offered his arm to the princess, which she gladly took.

“Of course!” Entrapta exclaimed as she began to drag away Hordak. “I’ve already thought of  87 design ideas for those bots you were talking about!”

“Sounds delightful.”

The pair made their way to the gardens through a corridor Entrapta had found on her way to the party (while Hordak tried to hide his embarrassment of not finding this earlier).

__________________

An hour passed and Adora finally found an opening to talk to Frosta. She was standing next to a snack table with no guards around her. Now, Adora just needs to approach her correctly.

It was evident Frosta was a stickler for Princess Prom rules and etiquette, so recruiting her wouldn’t be possible until after the event had ended. Instead, Adora focused on befriending and gaining her trust first, then slowly introducing her to the rest of the Alliance. When she is on their side personally, it should be easier to get her on their side politically. Also, if they were successful, perhaps some of the smaller kingdoms would follow Frosta’s lead.

It was a (hopefully) fool-proof plan.

Adora approached the table, hoping she appeared casual. She poured herself a glass of punch and gave it a sip, savoring the sweet drink. She pretended to innocently look around until Frosta locked eyes with her.

“Good evening, revered hostess.” Adora gave a short, yet firm, bow.

“Adora,” she replied with a regal yet dismissive tone. “Are you enjoying the festivities?” She asked, plucking a strawberry off the table.

“Of course, your highness.” Adora could feel her hands get clammy as an awkward tension started to form. “I would just like to say sorry for disrespecting you and the rules of Princess Prom. It was improper of me and I regret every moment of it.” Adora gave another bow as her nervous eyes were trained on Frosta’s expression.

“Apology accepted,” Frosta assured, lifting the weight on Adora’s shoulders. “This party puts me in an awkward place in terms of keeping to the rules, and I need to be firm and fair to all guests. Besides, this is your first ball, correct?”

“I understand, and yes, it is.”

“Then you have slight leeway.” Frosta paused, thinking about her next move. “I am not ignorant, Adora. I know, as a child ruler, I am in a precarious position. Many people expect little of me, so I need to keep a firm grip to command respect. I especially can’t have people causing problems at my first ball,” Frosta explained, her eyes keeping an unyielding gaze on Adora.

“I understand, hostess.”

“Good,” Frosta replied with a nod. “Walk with me.” Frosta began to move, waving at Adora to follow her.

The two walked across the floor and up the stairs to the second level of the ballroom, stopping infront of the railing.

“While, on the surface, this can be seen as just another party, this represents something bigger.” Frosta gestured toward the crowd. “It is the representation of peace between our nations and a chance for us to see our countries are not just masses of land, but people with thoughts and feelings.” Frosta turned to face Adora directly. “I know it is the sacred duty of She-Ra to protect our planet, but I can not afford to rattle the foundations of this event.” Frosta sighed. “I can’t stop you from thinking about or watching the members of the Horde, but just try to keep it under wraps.”

“As you command, revered hostess.” Adora gave her final bow, and the two went their separate ways.

___________

When she got out of sight, Adora took a deep breath and leaned against a wall.

Not 100% how she hoped it would pan out, but it was a step in the right direction.

#hordak #spop #entrapta #entrapdak #she ra #hyperfixation #fanfic #spop fanfic #shera #adora #frosta #princess prom

[smut-slut69]

Mommy

Kinkotober 2023|Day 5 ~ Mommy Kink

Words: 1.6k

Pairing: Adora x Catra

“Adora”

“Yes Mommy”

“You’ve been a naughty girl today”

“I know mommy, ”Adora said.

“Do you know what bad girls get”

Adora nodded.

“And what is that”

“Punishment,” Adora said.

“Then come here”

Adora crawled over to where Catra sat. Knowingly lying across the feline’s plump thighs. She sighed as she felt warm fingers trail themselves against the backs of Adora’s thighs. Massaging the area and nearly hitting Adora where she wanted it most.

“God baby, you are drenched. You liked being a bad girl, didn't you” Catra said.

Adora nodded. “Too bad naughty girls don’t get rewarded. You’ll have to earn it if you want Mommy to take care of that for you. Okay, baby?”Catra spoke.

“Yes, mommy,” Adora spoke.

“Good girl, you know your colors right?” Catra questioned.

“Yes, mommy, red for stop, yellow for slow down, and green for keep going” Adora recited.

Adora was rewarded with a firm squeeze of her backside. “Good girl”.

Then came the punishment. The first slap was unexpected and made Adora moan. It was hard on her ass. The stinging feeling stayed there as the spanking continued.

“You’re not counting baby, that's five more for you,” Catra said, landing another hit on the blonde's fat ass.

“S-Sorry mommy, Three” Adora stuttered.

Another slap to her ass. “Four”.

Then another, harder one on her other cheek. “F-five” She stuttered.

“Six” She moaned as another strike was delivered.

“Seven, ”She said once again as the 3rd to last strike to her ass was given.

“Fuck, eight” she screamed as Catra landed and hard strike on her ass.

“Oh fuck, Nine” Adora moaned.

“Ten,” Adora said for the last time. Catra’s last smack came lightly as to soothe the blonde's red ass. Catra admired the sight in front of her. Enjoying the sight of the blonde ass red with her hand print.

“Good girl, take your punishment so well,” Catra praised.

Adora moaned at the words. “But, you were so bratty earlier. Maybe you don’t deserve to cum for mommy,” Catra said, making the blonde's excited moans turned to desperate whimpers.

“Please mommy, I’ll be good,” Adora pleaded.

“Too Late Princess, turn on your stomach and spread your legs for mommy,” Catra commanded.

Adora listened. She spread her legs and let Catra get a full view of the mess between her legs. Her pussy was soaked, her juices leaking through her panties and onto the bed. Catra smiled. Slowly unbuttoning her top and then taking off her pants. Relishing at the look in Adora’s eyes when a huge strapon bounced free from Catra’s pants.

Catra crawled over Adora’s body, strapon dragging over the girl's sensitive pussy. A moan came from her. Catra left hot, open mouthed kisses over Adora’s jaw, leading down to her neck. Sucking and licking at the area. Leaving purple marks all over the pale skin. She moved back up to give Adora a wet kiss, the blonde hands placing themselves in Catra’s brown hair. The brunette moved to Adora’s ear, whispering, “Don’t you dare cum baby. Or you won’t get to feel mommy’s cock”.

Adora whimpered as Catra moved away. The feeling of Catra’s lips trailing back down Adora’s neck, moving to her boobs. Kissing over the flesh. Massaging them with her hands and licking over Adora’s nipples. She continued down the blonde's stomach until she got to her unbelievably wet panties.

She hooked her fingers into the drenched fabric and pulled it off of Adora. Eyes now transfixed on the blonde’s beautiful pussy. So wet and so ready for whatever Catra gave her. Clit peeking out from its hood. Without warning, Catra’s warm tongue slid through Adora’s folds. Drinking up the blonde’s impossibly wet folds. Adora moaned at the feeling, heat pulsating in hopes of feeling more. But Catra’s teasing was always relentless. Tongue swirling and licking everywhere but where the blonde needed her most.

The teasing was Adora’s least favorite part. She could feel her pussy needing Catra’s tongue more and more. To the point where she couldn’t bear it anymore. “Mommy, please, please, '' Adora begged.

Of course, who was Catra to deny her baby girl what she wanted? So the brunette moved her ministrations up to her clit. Bringing her tongue to lick at Adora’s clit.

“Fuck” Adora Screamed.

The feeling was heavenly. She could feel her Mommy’s tongue swirling over her clit. She was being given so much attention that it was almost overwhelming. How could she possibly not cum when she had the most skilled tongue sucking her.

“Mommy, You're gonna make me cum soon” Adora grunted as repeated swipes were made over her sensitive clit.

Catra made no attempt to move, instead, increasing her licking and moving on to sucking Adora’s clit.

“Fuck, Mommy I’m gonna cum. You're going to make me cum ”Adora moaned.

But Catra’s licking never stopped. Instead moving to sucking and flicking her tongue over the bud. Adora was at her limit. Trying with all her might not to cum from all her mommy was giving her.

“Fuck mommy, I’m cumming” Adora said, just before she reached her breaking point. But before she could, Catra moved her mouth away. Denying the girl of her orgasm. Leaving the blonde girl completely unsatisfied.

Adora whimpered as the brunette's head moved farther away. “Good girl, I think you deserve Mommy’s cock now. And This time, you can cum on my cock as much as you want. ”Catra said.

Adora watched intently as Catra ran a finger through her sensitive folds, her pussy twitching at the sensation. Catra used Adora’s juices to lube up her strap before standing in front of Adora’s ready entrance. Catra took a hold of Adora’s ankles and held them up. Enjoying how her pussy was scrunched up between her legs. Squeezing more of her liquids out of her. Catra lifted her cock up to Adora’s entrance and pushed her wide tip in. Moaning at the sight of the fat cock trying to fit into the blonde’s tight pussy. Slowly sinking her thick cock deeper, and deeper into Adora’s willing heat. Adora’s mouth formed a pleasured O, and her eyebrows furrowed. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

“Good girl,” Catra praised.

“Look at you, taking mommy’s cock so well. You’re doing so good” She said. Adora moaned at the words. Moans got even louder as Catra bottomed out.

Then came slow, steady thrusts. Catras' long cock hit every place Adora needed to be hit. The tip of the strap slid over her g-spot every time Catra fucked into her and it was driving Adora crazy. If only Catra would go faster.

“Mommy, Mommy faster please” Adora begged breathlessly.

“Only because you asked nicely, princess,” Catra said.

Adora couldn’t think after that. Too lost in the blissful feeling of Catra fucking into her faster than before. The sounds the two were making were absolutely obscene. Adora’s wet pussy makes Catra able to go faster easily. Adora was moaning like crazy. Feeling her orgasm build up in her stomach. Just waiting to be released.

And with a few more thrusts into Adora, the girl came. Her pussy quivered from the sensation of Catra’s thrusts not ceasing their earth-shattering pace. Instead speeding up. Fucking the girl harder than before, making a scream leave the blonde’s mouth

Catra’s lithe hand trailed down Adora’s legs to her exposed hood. Hovering over the sensitive nerve before circling it with her finger. Roughly rubbing it while pounding into her. Adora was screaming, her voice hoarse from all her moaning. The feeling of all this right after her orgasm was too much. So as the waves of her second orgasm came Catra pulled out of the blonde. Admiring how a squirt of her juices followed her cock. Settling down between the blonde’s quivering legs to clean her up. She swiped her tongue through the blonde's sensitive folds. Drinking up all her juices.

But Catra got carried away, licking back up to Adora’s still quaking clit and leaving harsh licks over it. Adora’s back arched at the sensation, fingers finding their way to Catra’s head. Unsure whether to push her away from her clit or push her closer. Ultimately Adora just let her hands rest there as she let her mommy suck her clit once again. The feeling of her clit beiing overstimulated even more than it already was such a torturous yet wonderful feeling.

Catra closed her mouth around Adora’s clit. And sucked. That was all it took for Adora to cum for the third time, pussy pulsating and squirting juices uncontrollably as her pussy was still being licked by her Mommy. Making her feel impossibly good yet so sensitive. The sensation was almost unbearable. Long fingers slid their way into Adora’s shopping entrance. Catra’s long fingers curled into the blonde g-spot not stopping their ministrations on Adora’s clit.

Adora felt as if she was on fire. She was so hot, so full, so satisfied, so wet. Everything was so overwhelming she could barely feel her 4th orgasm wash over her.

Catra on the other hand definitely could feel a rush of liquid over her mouth and hands. But that didn’t stop her. She was planning on continuing until she heard a weak voice say, “Yellow”.

Catra slowed down her tongue and fingers. Slurping up the last bits of Adora’s cum. She crawled back up on the bed. Sitting next to her fucked out baby. She held her closer, whispering sweet praises into her ears until the exhausted girl fell asleep. Soon, joining her in her slumber.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes. Hope you enjoyed!

#adora x catra #adora shera #she ra catra #catradora #spop catra #adora x catra smut

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

so i just found some old interviews of spop, especially ones after the finale, and i just wanted to dissect some of the interesting parts:

the crew themselves keep reinforcing the idea that only catra saw adora for who she is, when the show itself says otherwise multiple times. catra, who mocked adora for never being a true hero, who kept hurting adora because she resented her for being she-ra, who kept saying that adora has a hero complex and that she is full of herself. that catra “motivated and inspired” adora?

“i wanted their romance to be the central arc”

this explains everything. the fact that they took an existing show with an intriguing fantasy world and so much potential and then reduced it to “cute lesbians kiss haha”. if you're gonna write a show about romance, do that. you don't have to butcher an already existing series for that.

“it reveals how that arc has been built”

what arc? is the arc we're talking about in the same room as us? because from what i can see, they put in zero effort to make c//a's development even halfway coherent. catgirl tortures hero for four seasons, gets saved by said hero and joins the good guys, continues torturing hero. how is that an arc?

so.. they have the right idea here. catra and adora did indeed need to take their time away from each other and deal with their problems. but did they? adora came close to building her self-esteem and realizing that she didn't have to take responsibility for everything around her. but then all that was reversed in s5 when she was forced into a relationship with the same person who ruined her sense of self-worth in the first place.

catra.. doesn't even try. the closest she got to moving on from her past was during her time in the crimson waste but then she ends up spiralling even deeper into toxicity, adding more and more into her list of crimes. in s5, she is shown to reflect on her relationship with adora but does she learn anything from it? nope. she continues abusing and berating adora, she continues giving adora mixed signals and relying on adora to do all the work in the relationship.

so the crew seemingly had the right idea (although i'd say they still shouldn't get into a relationship, even after they've worked on their issues) but never followed through. instead they gave us a lazy and rushed redemption, where the wrongdoer never works on their flaws and instead puts all the blame on their partner. amazing.

so nate himself admits that not all of catra's actions were justified. but then, why does the show try to justify them? why does the show justify catra abusing adora by implying that it's because adora abandoned her? why does the show justify all of catra's toxic and abusive behaviour by blaming it solely on shadow weaver? if catra's actions cannot be justified, the narrative should keep her accountable, which they don't.

secondly, i'll try not to assume the worst of nate's personality from what he said, and just get to the important part.

“It's other people's decision to forgive you, that's not a given, but also there are ways for you to fix what's broken. You have to work hard to prove yourself again, you have to actually actively fix what's done, it's not as simple as a sacrifice.”

i'm so confused. the way nate says it, you'd think he applied all of this to catra's arc. but he didn't. “it's not as simple as a sacrifice” but a sacrifice was all it took for catra to be forgiven by her victims. she doesn't work on herself, her apologies were shallow, and she continues repeating the same mistakes. “it's other people's decision to forgive you” yet every single character forgives catra immediately and none of them are allowed to stay mad at her.

how could you write such a bad redemption and then talk about it as if it had all the details and nuance it was lacking? again, when speaking, nate seems to have the right idea of how to write a redemption arc. why did they fumble so badly when it came to actually executing it in the story? the only answer i can think of is that none of the writers in the crew are good at writing.

#spop critical #spop #spop salt #spop criticism #spop discourse #she ra #anti catradora #anti catra #anti c//a #anti spop #antic//a #anticatra #anticatradora

[n7punk]

As Many Lives As It Takes (To Be With You) - Interlude: Three Years Ago

This is an interlude/short companion fic for As Many Lives As It Takes (To Be With You), my Nine Lives AU. It's set three years before the main fic.

Main fic on AO3. Pairing: Catradora. Chapters: 3/? (probably 8-ish total). Word count: currently 17k. Rating: T.

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Interlude Summary: At nineteen, Catra finally accepts help, even if opening up to Scorpia feels like it might kill her. At least it wouldn't stick. Word count: 3.7k. Intended Order: After Chapter 3 (after Chapter 2 is fine too). Notes: This is "skippable" considering it wasn’t in the original outline, but I wrote it on a whim and liked it, so have it over here. The real chapter four will be back in present day and up in a day or two. (Reblogs are off because I don't want this further removed from the context of the original fic, where it won't make sense).

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Interlude: Three Years Ago

It’s warm by the stove, far warmer than Catra has been since the summer gave way to fall and then winter. Sometimes she curses Bright Moon for having a full season’s cycle. Other times she knows that it’s better than the constant heat or cold some other places have to deal with. The rain from being off the coast is a lot to contend with, though.

Catra stays on the opposite side of town from Bright Moon Bay if she can help it — the last thing she needs is to drown, again — but the tropical storm that blew in took the rain to her. Absently, she reaches up and scrunches her hand into her short hair. For being a pixie cut, it holds a lot of moisture, and water runs down her fingers. It’s worse than her clothes sometimes, especially right now when she has at least changed out of her top. She feels uncomfortable in the loose uniform shirt she is wearing over the pants she wrung out in the bathroom and then put back on, but it’s nice to have something dry on.

Catra huddles closer to the stove, hoping its warmth can work into her bones before the scorpioni slowly moving around the kitchen decides she’s done and heads home. Catra isn’t eager to go back out into the rain, but any time away from the downpour is worth it. It has to be for her to come inside like this. It always makes her feel cagey. She has stayed in shelters before, but they scare her, maybe even more than this small kitchen filled with the smell of baking does. Shelters felt like a place where people would look for her. No one would ever picture Catra of all people here, bedraggled on the floor of a small kitchen filled with cutesy pink things.

“Scorpia! Anyone come in yet?” Rose says, brightly, looking up from whatever she is brewing on one of the freestanding stovetops. Catra flinches as the younger of the women becomes visible, shuffling through the open doorway to the shop. No, they haven’t. Catra’s hearing is on overdrive trying to find the threats that surely must be lurking under the stacks of teacups. No one who had anywhere to go would be stupid enough to be out in this weather. Scorpia shakes her head, throwing her mom a smile.

“I put a notecard on the counter to yell to the back in case someone does come and we don’t hear them, but I doubt anyone is out.” Well, that’s the first smart thing Scorpia has said. “We should probably head out if there’s a lull. Otherwise I think we might end up stormed in. Mom’ll be so worried.” Make that two things, even if this one makes her ears pin back. Heading out means sending Catra out.

It will be miserable, but at least she’ll be out in the open again. Safe. She guesses. Nowhere feels safe with this storm all around them.

Rose sighs.

“We can once I finish prepping things for tomorrow. I don’t think it’s going to let up. If it looks like it’s about to get worse, then we should head home, but for now let’s just wait it out,” she agrees. Scorpia nods, her whole body bouncing with the motion.

Adora used to do that, Catra’s mind reminds her. Traitor.

As if she can hear her, Scorpia turns her attention on Catra. Catra shrinks back despite how she hates showing fear. She just wants to ball up here and sleep forever. Lay down a blanket and it would be perfect. No one would be stupid enough to let some random homeless person sleep in their family shop — she can’t believe Scorpia even came out to the alley when the storm started and invited her in, much less that she accepted — but it’s a nice fantasy.

She’s only entertaining it because she hates being wet. It reminds her of-

Fuck, does she have no options that don’t tug at one of her traumas? Outside is open and “safe” — except for how it’s definitely fucking not, even on an average day — being indoors is being trapped, being in the rain is drowning again, and she’s left with nothing. At least the stove is warm. Scorpia doesn’t take her tail tightly wrapping around her ankles for the hint that it is and shuffles closer. She stays out of striking distance even with her stinger, but Catra feels a growl rising in her throat and quickly looks away.

She’s only proving that they should tell her to go, but instead Scorpia just sits down on the floor with her for some reason.

“Quite the storm, huh? Like being inside a washing machine. Just woooosh,” Scorpia seems to mime clothes spinning around in a washing cycle by circling her pincers in front of her. Something in Catra feels warm. The stove is working, then. She grunts an acknowledgment. Speaking words is risky. She has learned to spit teeth at any who approach her, but she has to hold her tongue when someone is there to help. It stings her pride, but she wouldn’t have made it this long if she hadn’t learned to take some kindness. Scorpia gave her more of it than she deserved already when she let her in. The least she can do is not snap at her.

And listen to her ramble, apparently, because she goes, “Oh, this one time…” and then she’s off telling the story of how they got stuck in an awful storm like this while driving between towns and thought their car was going to get swept away. Catra grunts occasionally and shuffles to readjust her position so the other side of her can get more warmth before something she can’t feel starts getting burned. Scorpia’s story peters out around the time Catra is readjusting her arm, maneuvering it with her left hand and tucking it into her lap a couple of different ways before she finds something that she thinks works.

She can feel Scorpia staring. She can even see it out of her periphery. It doesn’t feel predatory or anything, like she’s cataloguing her weakness, but Catra still pulls her lip back to show her fangs. She doesn’t know why she bothers when Scorpia’s stinger could take her out before she even got close enough to land a hit, but Scorpia raises her pincers in surrender.

“Sorry, I’m not trying to be rude! It’s not my business. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do? I don’t know if a sling would help or…” She trails off, already looking around the kitchen as if she will magically see a medical station appear. Catra finally speaks just because she thinks Scorpia is five seconds away from standing and rushing around to find something. Tracking her all over the restaurant again is going to start wearing on her nerves.

“It’s paralyzed. Nothing is going to make it better,” Catra grits back. She can tell Rose is listening, even if she isn’t looking at her. Rose seems just as nice as her daughter, but they could both be deceiving her. Catra is almost sold on Scorpia. Rose… Well, Rose doesn’t directly remind her of anyone she already trusts, so she’s on thin ice. That might as well be the Catra equivalent of a golden pedestal, though.

“A sling could keep it from getting in the way!” Scorpia pipes up, like Catra hasn’t thought of that. She has tried, once or twice, with an improvised scarf or something. It actually just puts her arm in the way and makes her feel more helplessness. It certainly makes her look it.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt, anyway,” she mutters back. Except when people touch it, she doesn’t add. That doesn’t happen a lot unless someone happens to bump into her, so it might as well not be weakness. She shifts to tuck in her arm a little more, like hiding it from view will change the subject. Scorpia just keeps looking at her.

“If you want to talk about it-” Catra growls, “-not that I’m asking! We’re going to be here a while is all, and… I get the feeling you’ve never talked about it. Talking about things usually makes me feel better. Sometimes my roommate will just sit and listen to me while I unload and it helps a lot even without her talking back or even looking at me,” Scorpia hurries to placate her before losing the plot. Catra grumbles, tucking her face down into her arms. Yeah, she doesn’t think talking is going to be anything like that for her.

She doesn’t usually even acknowledge it’s paralyzed. She has had to say it a few times, but the closest she has ever come to addressing anything that happened was when she ran into her old classmate, and even thinking about that makes her throat tight. The way he looked at her- How is she ever supposed to tell someone what happened when she’s just opening herself up to that? Scorpia isn’t looking at her with sick fascination, though. Her eyes are just big and soft, like A-

“I fell,” Catra replies, cutting that thought off before it can finish. Watching Scorpia light up when she realizes that she’s telling her and then her expression fall as she remembers what they’re talking about is kind of funny. Scorpia always seems so open and warm. The light in her heart felt near blinding the first few weeks that Catra ran into her. Okay, maybe she just reminded her of someone and it felt like someone pulling her ribs out of her chest when she looked at her.

“That’s, uh, quite the fall. I’m really sorry about that, Wildcat,” Scorpia says. Catra feels something that might be a trill rise in her chest and swallows it down, tucking in a little tighter. She didn’t realize she was starting to uncurl. It’s just a stupid nickname, she doesn’t know why it makes her feel anything. It isn’t even a nickname, just what Scorpia started calling her when Catra wouldn’t give her a name at first. She knows it now, and her moms use it, but Scorpia still calls her Wildcat. No matter what, Scorpia keeps trying.

She doesn’t know why. Catra knows their family helps out other people who come around here – that’s how she found out about them in the first place – and yet Scorpia latched onto her for some reason and seems determined to fix her. Maybe she’s the most broken person that comes around. Maybe Scorpia isn’t used to people not immediately loving her. Maybe Catra is just her age. For some reason, she keeps trying to get Catra to open up to her.

I get the feeling you’ve never talked about it before. Is that all it takes? To look at her, see she’s alone, and want to fix that? Why? She has been alone for years. No one has ever really tried to help before. Give her a few dollars here, let her sneak into the bathrooms there, but in general, she has been by herself. Not that she has ever asked for help, but why would she do that? They wouldn’t give it to her.

Most people wouldn’t, anyway. Most people wouldn’t get hissed and snarled at and still come running to the back door to hand out food and try to make small talk while claws were flashed at them. Not that Catra ever raised her hand in a real threat at Scorpia, but she has certainly prepped her claws when Scorpia looked like she might get closer or got too chummy. Catra doesn’t know why she’s still trying, still being nice when Catra has never shown that kind of grace back. Adora’s mom used to talk about putting back out into the world what you wanted to be given. Catra has only ever given back what she got.

And right now, she isn’t even doing that. She wraps her tail tightly around herself and runs her fingers down her arm. Her fur is completely dry there. She probably showed it to the oven too long.

“I can’t feel it except when other people touch it. And then it just hurts,” Catra murmurs. She doesn’t know why. She just told Scorpia how to hurt her with explicit instructions, but all Scorpia does is nod with a sympathetic look on her face.

“Is that… normal for paralysis? Is that what phantom pain is?” Scorpia asks. Catra actually laughs, a dark chuckle that feels foreign in her chest. Yeah, big Adora energ-

She clears her throat.

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s just a me thing,” she replies. Scorpia looks concerned and it makes Catra’s chest hurt, but for once, it kind of feels good? She’s used to hollowness, or angry buzzing, or bitter regret, but this feels more like stepping outside for the first time on a cold night, a shock to her system and tightness in her lungs. Eventually the numbness sets in, but in this moment? It feels good.

There’s a warm oven right next to her. Frostbite doesn’t have to creep into her fingers.

“That doesn’t sound good. When was the last time you saw a doctor? I know it’s probably hard to, but there has to be a free clinic or something, right?” Scorpia asks. Catra snorts, her hand still on her arm. She squeezes. She doesn’t really know why. It’s lax beneath her fingers, no muscles flexing to harden it.

“Never,” she replies. Rose stops pretending to be busy, freezing as Scorpia’s jaw drops. Suddenly self-conscious, Catra hunches her shoulders. “I was- I was homeless right after- Actually because of-” She cuts off. She doesn’t owe them an explanation. So why does she feel like she should have one? Why are tears burning at the back of her eyes?

She doesn’t want a doctor. She knows this. Any time she gets near a medical professional, it’s dangerous and panics her. How much could they suspect this long after the fall, though, when everything would be healed over? When she can just tell them whatever she wants about what happened? They wouldn’t be able to help, she always tells herself, and she’s right, but the fantasy of someone being able to is so alluring. A fantasy of being cared for, and things getting better, and more warm ovens while she’s at it.

“I- You need to. I know you probably can’t afford it, but it can’t be that expensive, right? Just for an appointment?” Scorpia asks, twisting around to look at her mom as she asks. Her mom turns around and looks just as stressed. Catra’s throat tightens. No. No, she can’t even let them suggest spending their money on something that would never help.

“No. Once it’s paralyzed there’s nothing you can really do. Any money I’ve ever had has been better served going towards food, or new clothes, or a room for the night. Things that keep me alive,” Catra replies, shaking her head. Food, clothes, things they’ve already done for her. They don’t need to do more.

She isn’t expecting Rose to turn to her, looking like she is about to cry.

“You’re so young. How did this happen to you?” she asks, her tone distraught enough for Catra to know it isn’t a real question, just internal horror making itself known, but still her mouth opens and closes a few times.

There are tears in her eyes. That realization is the last wall crumbling down as she buries her face in her knees and allows herself to cry for the first time in a long, long time.

--

Catra hasn’t really been in a car in the last three years. Scorpia doesn’t question it when she curls up in the backseat, dripping again from the rain that came down on them as they made the run from the shop to the car. Catra is still wearing the employee t-shirt, her bag that never leaves her side on the floor of the car beside her. Rose said her clothes were still soaked and Scorpia could just wash the shirt and bring it back when it was time.

Catra isn’t sure when is going to be the time. She isn’t sure where they’re going really, or how long she’s supposed to stay there, or how long she’s going to stay there, but she’s so exhausted that she just couldn’t fight it or find a reason to say no when Scorpia offered for her to stay with her while she got herself sorted out. She thinks the offer is a few days, with the condition that she actually do something about improving her life.

She isn’t sure where to start. She isn’t sure she’s ready to start. But she is sure she’s tired of this. If she walks away from this opportunity, she isn’t likely to ever get another one, or at least not one as kind as this. She doesn’t know there could be someone kinder after she cried on their floor for two hours and unloaded horrific shit on them as she went through what she could – first the fall, and then the homelessness, and then further back with the “near” drowning, and by then they got the picture but they still flinched when she mentioned the window, and Rose was crying as hard as she was when she talked about Weaver.

She doesn’t know why they let her do that. She depressed them, she knows, but instead of telling her it was time to go, they started workshopping solutions together, looking at her for input and approval while she just sat there, stunned.

Her toe claws flex against the floor of the car and she watches them almost snag on the car mats. She doesn’t trust this, but she has lived every day of the last three years in fear anyway. Might as well be indoors while she stews in her discomfort, right? As long as they’re willing to offer it. If this can last just long enough for her to get in a program or something like they suggested, maybe she can get somewhere that she trusts is safe. She’s scared to exist again, but she keeps telling herself it has been three years. She has the paralysis to show as “proof” of injury from the accident. She can sell this lie. She had it half-formed in her mind already, from times when she has had to brush up against the story before, but she put together something coherent on the floor of that shop, she thinks.

They offered her a home, so apparently it was good enough. She just has to hope that whatever government employee gets saddled with her case thinks so too.

She tenses when they finally park. Scorpia’s apartment block is pretty big, but nondescript. She can’t really tell what it’s going to be like from the lobby or hallway, but when Scorpia opens the door for her, the apartment is in good shape. Nothing fancy or expensive except maybe the TV, but nothing is broken or stained at first glance, and they have enough furniture to fill out the space. The couch looks like it will probably be the most comfortable place she has slept since last winter, so she doesn’t really care what Scorpia’s roommate is like as long as she doesn’t try to make her leave.

“Entrapta! We’re home! I brought a friend,” Scorpia calls, her booming voice forcing Catra to pin her ears back. Friend is a bit of a stretch, but it seems to interest Entrapta enough for her to emerge from down the hall after a few moments. She cocks her head as Scorpia busies herself with closing the door and putting away her shoes. Catra considers waving and ends up grimacing instead as she drops her bag from her shoulder and cautiously bends to set it beside where Scorpia put her shoes. The thing is filthy.

Catra straightens up and leaps in the air when she turns around and finds the girl with pigtails right behind her. She hisses, her tail shot straight out and her fur fluffing up, but Entrapta doesn’t even look at Catra’s claws snapping out and her left hand stiffening into an attack position, she just bends way too close to inspect Catra’s arm, which obviously swung as she moved.

“Fascinating! How long has it been like that? Can you feel it?” Entrapta asks, pulling a fucking wrench out of her pocket. Scorpia steps up beside Catra on her left, waving her pincers a little frantically.

“Entrapta, you can’t ask that! It’s rude!” Scorpia tries to stop her. Entrapta looks up, blinking at her. Scorpia throws Catra an apologetic look. “Sorry, she really doesn’t mean anything by it, she just doesn’t interact with a lot of people-”

Then Entrapta touches Catra’s arm. She screams into her teeth, buckling until one of Scorpia’s pincers catches her on her left side and she manages to stumble onto her feet again. Entrapta watches her with fascination.

It isn’t a great first meeting.

#amlait #writing tag #fic extra #ficmeta #tbh im still undecided on sharing it this way so like. this is where it is for now #it may remain here forever. it may not. but it was not part of My Vision(TM) for the fic #and felt like it pulled it down as part of the main thing so. over here #no one look at my indecision just take the sad words #people who mostly post fic on tumblr how the hell do you format #this is hell #okay i've futzed with this for too long just fucking take it

[artistic-argonian]

So I watched season 2 of She-Ra today and I need to talk about this.

Of course, some spoilers for She-Ra season 2 below the cut. I don't intend to make many posts like this, if any more at all, but I almost cried at a cartoon today and it caught me off guard so here we are writing an essay.

So, as you've read in the title I binged the entire second season today and I knew this show would get me emotional and hit hard going in, but one thing I did NOT expect was to find myself getting emotional this early on due to relating so hard to a character, that being the (so far) best girl: Scorpia.

Ever since her introduction I've loved Scorpia as a character, I've always been a fan of gentle giants who are super friendly but also can kick ass when necessary, and I enjoy her dynamic with Catra and the other Horde soldiers. I like how despite working with the villains she tries to be a good friend and be there for people she cares about, and when I got to the episode, "White Out", I got hit by an unexpected brick of relatability right in the feels.

In the episode we see how Scorpia tries and fails to bond with Catra, who's not too interested as she focuses on the mission and her own emotional baggage, which results in her becoming insecure about their relationship. Later on when she's stuck with Adora, she's jealous and frustrated by how well the latter knows Catra with the two having grown up together in The Horde, feeling that she can't compete with that. She wants Catra to lower her guard and let her in but it's not happening no matter what she does. She loves her and wants her to know she's there for her, but feels like she can't have the kind of connection Adora had with her. This is further explored in her conversation with Sea Hawk, who's got similar issues with feeling insecure in his own relationship with Mermista.

It was during this scene that I found myself actually getting teary-eyed and audibly saying to myself, "Why do I relate so much to this? I didn't expect to feel this way about a frickin' scorpion lady!" And the reason why is because, though not to the same extent or in exactly the same way (I read it as Scorpia possibly having a crush on Catra as well,) in some ways I've been where she is in that scene emotionally. I've had times where I've felt like I want to be close with someone and be there for them, but also like I can't compare to other people in their lives who've been around longer than me. And while I didn't and don't feel neglected like Scorpia does, I'm someone who is (or at least tries to be) very loyal to my friends, and makes an effort to let them know how much I appreciate them whenever I get the opportunity. Though I sometimes worry that because of who I am, it's not enough.

I've had times where I've seen mutual friends who've known each other for a long time (longer than they've known me) interacting and thinking, "God I want to be like that with them," but 1: I'm too shy and 2: I've not known them long enough in comparison to feel like I can, like my bond with them obviously can't be the same. I've had times where I've wanted to be close to people and learn about/get to know them but then worried about rushing or coming across as clingy or overbearing. I want people to be comfortable with me just like I am with them; to be their rock. But then feel like I'm crazy for that, especially if it's over a relatively short amount of time. Like, of course I can't expect that from anyone, nor should I. And so the line, "I can't compete with that... No matter what I do, I can't seem to break down her walls. You two... Even when you're trying to kill each other you can tell there's a real bond there." really struck a chord with me.

But, much like Scorpia in the episode, despite all that, I don't give up. When I care about someone, I'll stay by their side no matter what. Because they matter to me, and as long as I can do anything to help, even if it's just reaching out when I see a friend having a hard time and letting them know I'm there, then I'll do whatever I can and let them know how much they matter. Because that's who I am.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk about how a goofy buff lady with claws almost made me cry.

#she ra #she ra spoilers #scorpia #Holy shit this got long I'm sorry. #Everything I write unintentionally becomes a novel I swear.

[spopsalt]

I want to talk about this one scene in "Promise"

It incapsulates a lot of toxicity in just one scene, it needs to get talked about more.

Not understanding that honest and respectful communication can solve issues

blaming Adora for leaving her toxic environment because she should've stayed to protect her abusive catgirl sister

Catra outright rejecting going with Adora (apparently this never happened though because they still say Adora left Catra after that)

Adora attempting to apologize to Catra despite not doing anything wrong and Catra being downright cruel to Adora and not apologizing for doing so afterward (For the 4868576857685th time)

Tell me why did Adora need to be the one to save Catra to "make up" for leaving her? (Despite her leaving the horde, not Catra) That's all I needed to say, so much toxicity in this one scene, isn't Catradora so healthy?

#anti spop #anti c//a #spop critical #spop salt #spop criticism #anti catradora #anti catra #spop discourse

[tippenfunkaport]

Regrettably, Friendship is Magic (an SPOP Equestria Girls AU)

For today's prompt of Inspired By a Movie and, yes, I posted this on Discord once but I never shared it on here so let me live.

ok so Catra pulls the lever for the portal except instead of the normal portal reality, it puts her into Etheria High, a normal high school the sword comes with her, turns into a keychain

she runs into Adora, who does not know her, the two of them hit it off pretty well and Catra thinks, hey, awesome! I have Adora back, we get to start over, this is perfect!

except literally everyone else from the alliance?

HATES each other

and Catra's like, whatever, not my problem if Adora's new annoying friends hate each other, i got mine

except Adora is plagued by headaches and nightmares that Catra realizes are real Etheria, reality being ripped apart by opening the portal

if she wants to be happy with Adora in this world, she needs to close the portal in the other world… and she figures she'll just stay on this side, avoid all her problems, since there doesn't seem to be a Catra in this dimension

she seeks out entrapta re: the portal situation and together they realize they need magic to close the portal, a ton of it luckily, lots of the students at this school have latent magic ability (the princesses, obvs) but it's dormant so they can't use it until they activate it

hmm, activate it how?

Catra thinks about Battle of Bright Moon how the alliance was glowing when they worked together and realizes, to her abject horror, that friendship is magic

so if she wants to save this Adora and keep this new perfect life… she's going to have to get all of Adora's old friends to be friends with each other again

ughhhh

so she starts working on everyone and trying to get them to get along, getting Glimmer and Frosta to bond, Entrapta and Bow to be buddies instead of rivals, Perfuma and Mermista to stop fighting, wastes many hours trying to get Mermista to stop hating Sea Hawk only to realize they are just Like That

along the way becomes better friends and Scorpia and Entrapta than she was back home and realizes that's part of it too

finally, much like in the portal, she realizes that Glimmer and Bow are the key to it for Adora and she needs to get the best friend squad to be besties again… but the problem is that Glimmer and Bow can't stand each other

so Catra, hating her life, sets out to befriend the two of them to try to get them to realize how much they have in common until she locks them closet together and says they aren't allowed to leave until they are best friends

comic antics ensue

Finally she gets the two of them to realize they are destined to be besties, gets Adora into the mix, figures she needs to just step back and let this BFS thing happen and is surprised when they include her and, wow, this kind of fits really well, all four of them like this. Weird.

So now everyone in the alliance are friends like they are supposed to be and the magic works and they can close the portal but Catra realizes she can't stay here. That even though things with this Adora are great, it doesn't feel real or earned without their shared history. She can't just run from her problems, she needs to go back and make amends. So she says goodbye to everyone, horrified to learn she has actually started to care about all these annoying people, and goes back to Etheria with the plan to make things right and end the war

meanwhile, back in the other world, Adora is sad bc she has her friends now but her life still feels incomplete bc she lost Catra… but then Entrapta mentions they are getting a transfer student from Horde Academy next week, someone named Elizabeth Meowmeow who looks a lot like… you guessed it

The End

#spop #shera #she ra #mlp fim #equestria girls #mlp #my little pony friendship is magic #catra #catradora #adora #mlp au #MAYbe I'll Make This #au

[aprillikesthings]

okay okay okay I have time for one episode tonight

s5 ep6 taking control

The ship is malfunctioning, Entrapta is working on it with Wrong Hordak's help

poor Adora

(also I did reread Nate's fic last night and like, I know teeechnically it's not canon because it's not in the show and I don't think he ever officially admitted it was his fic? but also it is canon. And boy does it make this sorta light-hearted scene more serious.)

OH GOD I'M DYING

Bow: "How did you turn into She-Ra without the sword?"

GIRLY like yes obviously it's wild that you can do it without the sword, but ALSO you can admit to them that it was because you were that upset about Catra.

Like the people who are suddenly able to lift a car because their loved one is trapped under it.

...."come out"

heh

oh see that's easy you just have to make Adora think Catra is almost dead

Glimmer: "The important thing is she was there when your friends needed her!"

He's not...wrong...

Also Horde Prime knows where they are, dun dun dunnnnn, roll intro (which hasn't changed yet but I'm watching it)

poor bb

yeah that's horrifying

oh right this part is literally in Nate's fic

Adora keeps coming back to check on her, and Catra feigns sleep every time. She doesn’t touch the water bottle even though her dry throat aches, because then Adora would know that she had been awake. But eventually, she slips into shallow dreams again — the green fluid, Prime’s smirk, the pain, his voice — and that’s when Adora happens to check in on her again. At the sound of the door Catra sits bolt upright, her heart pounding out of her chest and a terrified scream bursting from her mouth before she can choke it down. And just like that, her cover’s blown. And Adora’s looking at her with that same stupid, hopeful look, like Catra hasn’t spent years trying to burn her and everything she loved. And she can’t stand it.

So Catra does what she always does. She retreats behind her walls, lashes out, needles Adora where she knows it stings the most. It’s what she is. She’s an animal, nothing more than base instincts and rotten heart, just as everyone has always said she was. She’s poison, she’s fire, she’s broken glass, and all she knows how to do is hurt and be hurt in turn.

okay this reminds me of this post tho

okay back to serious

the line delivery here is so good but also 😭

Catra's split-second look of disbelief before it turns back to hard anger, aaugh

ppl do not (usually) change over night

WAHHHH

Adora leaves, angry, and something in Catra, some small childish piece that somehow hasn’t been completely stamped out, wants to call after her, wants to run after her into the bright hallway. She doesn’t. She stays in the dark. She doesn’t know how to leave it.

*cries*

Anyway back on Etheria, they're playing games to keep Frosta entertained and also AN ON SCREEN LESBIAN KISS

Apparently it was the combination of the previous episode and this one that made the first people to watch this season realize "oh we're going to get an actual catradora kiss. on screen. aren't we."

(I remember the day before Netflix dropped the episodes, with everyone I knew on social media basically doing a "will they or won't they." I'm Fandom Old and just kept reminding myself that if they didn't get a kiss or a love confession it was either for good story reasons (Catra was still doing bad shit at the end of s4!) or because the showrunners were forbidden from doing it. But man I was online intentionally spoiling myself as soon as I could. I HAD TO KNOW, but Daci and I watched it like a day later)

Okay so this is part of why I struggle to get how multiple years passed as the show goes on--why is Frosta still like. Eleven.

Glimmer is holding up a box that looks like the ancient sugar Madame Razz used to make pie. Which was also on this ship now that I think about it? That's. Thousand-year-old sugar.

But also

Adora: "After everything we've been through she's still a stubborn brat!!" Glimmer: "This is Catra we're talking about. Did you think she was just instantly going to become a totally different person?"

yeah Adora thought Catra would be grateful and like....lol no

that apron says "kiss the cook" unless someone convinces me otherwise

Also the Horde is following them

awwww another little she-ra doll :( anyway everyone's being weird and creepy

flying through an asteroid field is Entrapta's idea of a great time

BUT HORDE'S SHIPS FOUND THEM and getting banged around made Catra have flashes D:

They've been tracing Catra's neck chip

okay but that's not actually Catra's fault

Yeah I remember this part of the plot 😬

YUP

But yeah Adora drags Entrapta into Catra's room and she does NOT react well, which uhhhh makes sense given her and Entrapta's last interaction

but yeah the phrase "cornered animal" comes to mind

a cat at the vet's office with a "sedate first" sticker on her file

Entrapta's confusion is so genuine. She also sounds a little hurt tbh

i mean yeah that about covers it

well now I'm thinking of a fic I've read

AND I'VE HIT THE IMAGE LIMIT what timing lol okay hold on

#april rewatches spop #taking control