[ wherever hiro is, innocently living his life after That Fucking Trial, there Catra suddenly is, crouched on top of a counter or something equally ridiculous because she's a Cat And She Likes To Feel Tall
[Well that's fine because Hiro's in /spins wheel no he's in the goddamn lab where else would he be? He walks in, but he's not expecting a cat to be lurking. He jumps just slightly, turning around to look at her and grinning just slightly.]
Catra. Hey. [He blinks as he observes her for a moment.] Were...you waiting for me?
Yeah, I figured I'd find you here if I waited long enough. [ well, him or any of the other gaggles of nerds that passes by here ] How was your first taste of this mess?
You could've kept bringing it up right until the very end and I'm pretty sure there's people who wouldn't listen to you. People were starting to panic the less time we had. [Sigh.]
...you don't really think it's going to be like this every week, do you?
[ but since she guesses it might not be what he means: ]
But the death? Yeah. [ it's blunt, but catra's not the kind to mince words. she picks at her own claws, casual. ] Those "gods" can talk about how they don't want actions like that all they want... They set up that entire trial system before the game even started. They knew this was going to happen.
If they already knew then what's the point of even playing? If they already have an outcome in mind, it's like they don't even really need us.
[This is bullshit.] It's just gonna freak everybody out, make everyone paranoid of everybody else and then we're...what, stuck until everybody's revived at the end? It's stupid.
I'm pretty sure making everybody freak out and paranoid was the point. [ she pokes him on the forehead with the tip of her claw for Emphasis ] And yeah. It's stupid. But remember what I said when this whole thing started? Manipulating us, using us... They've got an outcome in mind, sure, but each and every one of them has the outcome of themselves winning. The only difference between any of them is some are more open about how it's gonna go down.
[ catra is just. cynical hiro. sorry. she's saying this all idly, like it doesn't bother her ]
We're nothing but game pieces to them. Yeah, they want us on their side... but for their own gain. That's the kind of place we're in.
[jfklsa bats her hand away?? Catra no, he's trying!!] I know, I know, I remember that. But have you met with any of the gods? I'm not sure some of them would know how to manipulate their way out of a paper bag.
[It's fine, he prefers cynicism because it's a little more realistic.]
Then...shouldn't we be figuring out how to swing this back to our own gain?
Sure. They don't have to be good at it to do it anyway. [ wow that's sounding bitter for some reason. she looks away ] You don't even need bad intentions.
[ OKAY MOVING ON ]
Anyway... If you want to swing this back to your own gain, you just have to figure out what it is you want out of this... and which god will work best for you to get that.
...I need a guarantee that my wish will come true, or I'm going to get millions of people killed. [May as well be up front about that.] And where I'm at right now? Not happening.
Yikes. [ regardless. ] So... what you need to do is figure out which god is more likely to win... and what you'd be willing to do for that. [ ominous. ] You know how people are willing to play the game now.
Are...you asking if I'm going to be willing to kill someone? [What else could she be asking?] I'm working on finding a new god first and then...I dunno. I'll figure out the rest after that. If I align with someone who has enough people maybe it won't come to that.
Not necessarily. [ she shrugs ] I'm asking what your limits are. Other people won't have a problem with it... Obviously. But you should align with whatever god you're willing to deal doing the dirty work for, so.
[ that's ... not as horrible as it could be for catra. ]
Mine, obviously. But I've got a bias. [ catra's been very open about, y'know. wanting to win. ] If you're willing to do whatever it takes? Keep away from the gods who'd talk a big game about wanting peace and love. They'd never back you up if you did make the effort. People like that, who can't appreciate your work? They aren't worth following.
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saturday, week 1
and also scare people ]
Hey Hiro.
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Catra. Hey. [He blinks as he observes her for a moment.] Were...you waiting for me?
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Yeah, I figured I'd find you here if I waited long enough. [ well, him or any of the other gaggles of nerds that passes by here ] How was your first taste of this mess?
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I'm thinking I could do without it, but I'm also thinking we have a ton of people who don't know how to focus on the bigger picture.
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[ why were they all...... like that ]
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...you don't really think it's going to be like this every week, do you?
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[ but since she guesses it might not be what he means: ]
But the death? Yeah. [ it's blunt, but catra's not the kind to mince words. she picks at her own claws, casual. ] Those "gods" can talk about how they don't want actions like that all they want... They set up that entire trial system before the game even started. They knew this was going to happen.
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[This is bullshit.] It's just gonna freak everybody out, make everyone paranoid of everybody else and then we're...what, stuck until everybody's revived at the end? It's stupid.
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[ catra is just. cynical hiro. sorry. she's saying this all idly, like it doesn't bother her ]
We're nothing but game pieces to them. Yeah, they want us on their side... but for their own gain. That's the kind of place we're in.
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[It's fine, he prefers cynicism because it's a little more realistic.]
Then...shouldn't we be figuring out how to swing this back to our own gain?
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[ OKAY MOVING ON ]
Anyway... If you want to swing this back to your own gain, you just have to figure out what it is you want out of this... and which god will work best for you to get that.
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Yikes. [ regardless. ] So... what you need to do is figure out which god is more likely to win... and what you'd be willing to do for that. [ ominous. ] You know how people are willing to play the game now.
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[ that's ... not as horrible as it could be for catra. ]
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Okay...so let's say I'm godshopping a little. What would you recommend if I said that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win?
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Mine, obviously. But I've got a bias. [ catra's been very open about, y'know. wanting to win. ] If you're willing to do whatever it takes? Keep away from the gods who'd talk a big game about wanting peace and love. They'd never back you up if you did make the effort. People like that, who can't appreciate your work? They aren't worth following.
[ this is a hellish convo. ]
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[ she's. pessimistic. ]
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