879/Decision Time, Princess

Decision Time, Princess
Date of Scene:	11 December 2023
Location:	Botanical Gardens
Synopsis:	Catra and Sailor Moon have a run in at the Botanical Gardens. Things don't go the way they think they will.
Cast of Characters:	Catra, Usagi Tsukino

---

Catra has posed:
It's getting late in the evening, but that hasn't stopped people from coming to the Botanical Gardens -- even though they're going to close soon. Certainly that doesn't stop people who want to see the place in the evening, or teenagers who want to get that stolen rose for the old legend. Certainly it doesn't stop Catra, who goes where she wants, when she wants, and is only just vaguely aware of things like rules.

Or more accurately, she only vaguely cares.

Right now the feline, disguised by the Rachel Miller illusion, stands near the Koi ponds, watching the fish swim around. She's got her hands in her pockets and her hoodie drawn up over her head, and you don't need particularly good hearing to know that she's got the music on her earbuds turned up excessively loud -- and of course, it's Marilyn Manson.

...We pack demolition
We can't pack emotion
Dynamite, we just might
So blow us a kiss, blow us a kiss
Blow us a kiss and we'll blow you to pieces

Amongst the white roses, a single black rose has emerged, with its thorns slowly spreading to other plants nearby. It's been sipping energy from passers-by all day long, and it's growing in size, though to the untrained it really isn't noticeable as anything but a rose, oddly out of place for its color but otherwise unremarkable compared to the others. To those initiated, it gives off a steadily growing signature of dark energy.

We're killin' strangers
We're killin' strangers
We're killin' strangers so we
don't kill the ones that we love

Catra glances over her shoulder, looking towards the rose, right where she left it in the morning. She's never been any closer to it than she's needed to be to keep it safe, but so far nobody has interfered with it. Still, its been sucking up energy all day long, it's bound to attract attention sooner or later. Time to cut and run?

Nah.

The feline tires of the Marilyn Manson and pulls out her phone, stopping the music as she scrolls through her music library, looking for something else to drown the world out with. Even if it is starting to get quiet around here.

It's not quiet enough.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Given the state of things - especially the countdown to the end of things that is this whole week - it's probably not such a big surprise that Usagi Tsukino is trying to get her spirits up with a trip to see the botanical gardens. She hasn't been in a long time, but the roses are supposed to be amazing - and they remind her of Hematite.

Of Mamoru Chiba.

Given the everything, it's probably also not such a big surprise that Luna is with her, hidden in her backpack (cats were most definitely not allowed). Not that that's stopping the cat from speaking.

"The roses are not the most important thing for you to see today, Usagi-chan! I told you, there's something wrong here - a dark signature -"

"I heard you the first three times Luna, I'm going, aren't I?! You said it was somewhere around here, and we're getting somewhere!"

Alright, maybe there was one more reason that Usagi was at the botanical gardens. She's wandering a path close to the roses, not quite there yet, but closing in, meandering path and all. No one's screaming or fainting or flying into a rage, so even though she's sure Luna is right - she's also pretty sure it's not that bad.

Right?

Catra has posed:
Catra scrolls through the list of albums; nothing really speaks to her, in the moment. At least, nothing that she's listened to so far. Might as well try something new? And, there it is; an album called Abyss, by a band called Unleash the Archers. Haven't tried them before. She queus it up, and the first song starts out with a rather gentle, instrumental sequence.

Well, it's a change.

Catra looks back down at the Koi, and then steps back, bringing her gaze up to scan the gardens around her. The flower is getting full, so she reasons she might as well collect it before it... overflows, as it were. It's a comparatively small amount of energy, really, but it was gotten with comparatively small effort, too. She heads towards the creation while the music finally gets to the lyrics.

Wandering a waking dream while reaching for the light
As the day falls over into night
Centuries like flowing streams as years go rushing by
Waiting in the dark for afterlife

Catra's almost there, when she spots Usagi. At first it doesn't really register, it's not like there's any shortage of girls wandering around here. ...Except she recognizes this one. From where?

Oh, right, the one outside the donut stand who loaned some pen or something to someone else. The person who cooks stuff. Catra recalls trying to swipe it, basically just to be a jerk, and it not going super well.

Abruptly, she realizes she's stopped walking, and is standing there glaring suspiciously in Usagi's direction. Has she been clocked in return? Oh well, too late now, she just resumes her stride towards the rose.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
She's not been clocked - Usagi did stop walking, but only because she spotted them - the roses, from across the path, and they were breathtaking. Red roses, pink roses, yellow ones, and a brilliant spread of white roses...

But the one that caught her eye was the black rose. Unlike the others, this singular rose was the absence of color, a void made lush with the way light bouncd against petals, and the bloom was rich and large, almost as pretty as the roses she had seen Hematite make, the roses she had seen blossom into his hands as weapons.

It made her think of him. Everything made her think of him, honestly, but this rose especially, especially made her think of him.

"It would look better mixed with the red ones," she mumbles to herself, and walks towards it.

You're not supposed to touch the flowers, and she won't. She won't! But -

"Usagi-chan," Luna hisses, suddenly, "We're getting closer to the source of that darkness! You've got to find a spot to hide and transform!"

"What? But there's nothing here! There's just roses - and -"

Oh no.

There's someone else striding for the rose too, and she forces a smile, turning to see - hey, doesn't she recognize that face? But from where?

"That rose sure is pretty, don't you think?"

Catra has posed:
With how loudly Catra's music is blasting in her ears, it's a wonder she hears Usagi at all -- but she does, as she bears down purposefully on the rose. The black rose in particular, of course, brushing past Usagi with a bit of shoulder-contact on that way.

"Yeah it's great," she mutters impatiently as she straight up ignores the sign telling you not to step off the path, and just goes straight for the plant. And she's right about to pick it, too, when she pauses and glances over her shoulder at Usagi.

What actually happens when she *picks* the rose? Nobody really talked about that part. Is it just going to behave itself like an ordinary rose, or will it crackle ominously with dark energy or turn the nearest dweeb into a Youma or something? Catra isn't sure, so for the moment she just stands there.

"What?" she asks, turning down the volume on her music just a bit. "I'm pickin' a flower, is that okay by you or do you wanna record me for security or something?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The shoulder contact is enough to jolt her, and the voice is more memorable than the face, because unlike the face, the voice didn't really change.

"You! You're - you're that girl! Who tried to steal my pen!"

That meant this was probably a plot for evil, right?!

Wait, no, that didn't make any sense at all. Just because she was a nekomimi pen thief didn't make her a bad guy, right?

Luna is being quiet now, tense in Usagi's bag, but her fur is bristling and her ears are pricked - there's something she doesn't like about the scent of that other person.

"You're not supposed to pick the flowers - and that one looks special, so you definitely shouldn't pick it!"

Usagi is striding forward, nervously glancing around for security as she walks off the path too.

Catra has posed:
"it *is* special, and I *am* picking it, and if you don't want to leave here dentally challenged you're gonna stay out of the way," Catra snaps back. That being said, Usagi is now definitely in the way. And it's not like Catra is in any way averse to shoving someone, she just doesn't want to make a scene just yet.

Just her luck that she'd be *almost finished* and someone would show up and make things difficult. Why can't anything ever be easy? Sometimes she'd really just like something to go smooth, without would-be heroes showing up to ruin her plans.

It's not like she was shooting anyone with one of those pureheart stealing rifles.

"Seriously, why is there *always* someone in the way?" the feline growls. She thumbs off her music and stuffs the earbuds in her pocket. "Can't just have one easy evening..."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Dentally - you mean my teeth?!" Eep! Usagi claps a hand over her mouth, eyeing the girl with sudden wariness. "Look! We can talk about this!"

Can they? This rose was definitely part of an evil plot, but - there aren't people screaming and passing out everywhere. They're just - they're just - walking. Maybe a little sluggishly. But...

"I mean what's that flower doing, anyway? It's just pretty, right?"

She's inching away - she absolutely remembers those claws, and how mad she'd been about the tail thing, and suddenly, she doesn't want to be too close out of henshin...

Catra has posed:
"It's *mine*." It isn't really, it belongs to Obsidian. "And it doesn't *do* anything, it's just a flower." Also obvious nonsense, it's obviously got something to do with dark energy. "And it works slow so it's taken all day, and I've been standing here babysitting it the whole time, and I'm hungry and bored and pissed off."

As Usagi is inching away, Catra inches to the side, casually filling the space that's being left behind so she can get herself closer to said flower. Still, she's not close enough to just grab it quiet yet, not without making some kind of five for it, and that would be undignified.

"And yeah, teeth, that's what 'dental' means. Look, I don't think you know me very well, but I'm not a nice person, so you probably don't want to get mixed up in anything unless you're secretly a lot tougher than you look, alright princess?"

Elsewhere in the park, the population is decreasing; it's not quite closing time yet, but it's close, and security has been gently ushering people towards the exits.

Not over here though. Is it the veil? Or maybe the flower? Who knows.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"If it was just a flower, it wouldn't really work -" she probably shouldn't point out the obvious lies but, come on, what else is she supposed to do? She definitely isn't going to jump for that flower - no thanks, she likes having teeth!

"...how good are you at that whole, teleporting thing?"

She's asked, but she's also inched back towards the rosebushes - there's going to be some scratches if she dives back into those bushes, but there's also a path there, and -

"You know, I'm going to go get security after all -!"

There's a small gap in the rose bushes, and Usagi has a jacket on. She's got no choice, right? She trusts her sleeves to protect her, and they don't let her down; as far as Catra will be concerned, she's watched an interfering busybody run off into the rosebushes rather than fight her. It might feel satisfying. It definitely gives her enough time to get the rose.

But just two minutes later, she's interrupted again. This time, with real trouble.

"How dare you use that rose as a weapon! Turning a symbol of love into a force of evil is just - unacceptable! I, Sailor Moon, will not let this stand!"

Catra has posed:
Oh good, the annoying twerp left. Catra watches her go, rolling her eyes as she dives into the bushes. "Yeah sure, go get security," she sighs, exasperated. "Do I ever miss the Horde," she adds. And she's just about to pick the flower, when she's interrupted... again.

By none other than Sailor Moon.

Catra looks up with absolute outrage at being interupted again, which lasts for just long enough for her to drop her illusion; the visage of Rachel Miller fades away, and remaining is the tan, feline countenace of the real person underneath. In place of the hoodie she's dressed in a tight jumpsuit with jeans and a leather jacket overtop, albeit with her hands still showed in her pockets.

"What the hell are you doing still -- Ohhhhh." She perks her eyebrows as she realizes. Sailor Moon is standing here. "Sailor *Moon*," she continues, as her tone shifts from anger to sweet, poisoned honey.

"Right, right, I was warned about you. You're the one who goes around disintigrating people if they disagree with you. ...I'm supposed to call for backup if I see you, but maybe if you behave yourself I won't."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Ugh, of course even this girl knows about that! Even the nekomimi knows about that frame job! Sailor Moon is tempted to stomp her foot in utter annoyance, but she doesn't, instead holding her pose in utter defiance of that poisoned honey voice, even as she flinches at the accusation.

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Catra Applesauce Meowmeow."

Full Name, delivered in a voice filled with parts annoyance and disappointment. Adora had been a font of information about Catra, and knowing that this is her friend's girl - that this is the person her friend cares so much about - well, she doesn't want to fight her! Especially if she's going to call for back up! Especially if she thinks Sailor Moon is going to kill her!

"What are you going to do with that flower, and all those people's energy?"

Honestly? She's just guessing right now, assuming the rose has been stealing energy, because well... what other plans do the bad guys even have?

Catra has posed:
"Oh I'm not going to call for backup." Catra shrugs her shoulders, as she starts a slow, meandering prowl around Sailor Moon. "I-- Wait, how do you know all *that?*" Her eyes narrow as she regards Usagi, and she snorts. "Great, you're another one of Adora's groupies. Just like on Etheria, she surrounds herself with every girl with either a high-pitched voice, difficulty concentrating, or mommy issues that she can find."

The feline sighs, and inclines her head towards the flower. "It just sips a little energy from everyone who comes close to it. That's all. It's not like they can't spare it." She shrugs, "I'm going to take it back to Obsidian, and they can do whatever they want with it. I'll probably get a bonus." She stuffs one hand into a jacket pocket, and withdraws what looks like a katana handle, just without the blade, which she holds loosely at her side.

"So what'll it be, girl who disintigrates people?" The poisoned honey returns, along with a sudden smile. "Am I walking out of here with that rose? Or are you going to stop me?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"I didn't even disintegrate that girl, I tried to save her! And it's not my fault I have trouble concentrating!"

Those two things probably shouldn't be said in that same breath, but hey, she stopped posing, right? She pouts, frowning at Catra. "She really likes you, you know? I'm not her groupie or anything, I'm her friend, and she told me your name because she likes you."

And she never, ever stops talking about how much she likes her, at least from what Usagi's seen, and honestly? It's not like she can judge.

The thing is - she should probably fight her. It's not a good idea, to let people just steal energy, and the people who had their energy stolen would probably like it back, but also -

Isn't this better than shooting out Pure Heart Crystals? Should they... encourage this kind of thing? Kinder, nicer ways of... hurting people?

It feels bad to even think about it, but if they can't stop them all the time -

"Would you do this more, if I let you go? Things like this, with the rose, where you steal energy and no one gets hurt?"

Catra has posed:
"I do what Obsidian tells me to do," Catra replies. She glances at the rose, then back at Sailor Moon.

"Yeah, sure. Adora likes me so much she abandoned me when I needed her most, replaced me with a new set of friends, and then tore down absolutely everything we'd built together. Sure, sounds like she likes me loads, I'm so flattered. You should be careful, maybe someday she'll tear down everything you care about too. She even convinced *Shadow Weaver* to switch sides."

The angry feline's voice steadily loses its honeyed tone, laying bare the poison more and more as she speaks. She plays with the sword handle in her hand, as she glances at the flower once more.

"Oh, people got hurt." She gestures towards the rose, "Just... not in ways they'll really notice. They might feel sick tonight. Maybe be irritable tomorrow. I don't know. Nothing fatal." She shrugs. "I can't promise anything, if Obsidian tells me to go shoot a rocket launcher at a bank tomorrow, that's what I'll do." Well, when she gets around to it, anyway.

"Decision time, princess." She flicks the sword handle, and a manifestation of purple energy coalesces into a faintly glowing, curved sword blade, which Catra brandishes and then shifts to hold behind her back. "You gonna give me that flower, and let me walk out of here? ...Or do we find out what happens when your life is on the line?" She quirks her lips up at the corner. "Maybe you're strong enough to do what Adora can't... but I doubt it. For what it's worth I think you're telling the truth about the Witch."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Even if it's not what you want to do?" Why would anyone do that? Why let someone else - something else - have that much control?

She doesn't understand.

What she does, kind of, understand, is that hurt undercurrent in Catra's voice. Even if she wasn't there, and even if she only got the story from Adora spilling her whole life story over the course of a bus ride, obviously aching and needing to get it in words - and here's Catra, doing the same thing. Hurting. Talking, even to someone she doesn't like.

Abandoned.

It honestly feels a little like it would be bullying her, to take the rose. But all those people -

"That... doesn't sound very nice of her. I guess I'd find it hard to believe someone cared too." Her voice is quiet, small, as she looks at Catra, then squares her shoulders.

"You can't just hurt people because you're hurt. But... you didn't hurt people as much as you could have. Is that condescending? I don't want to be condescending! I just - you know what? After all the people who keep... almost killing people to just get what they want, seeing you make plans that aren't about taking everything someone has is... actually pretty nice?"

There's nothing in her hands. No Moon Stick. No threat.

Thanks for believing in me, Catra. I tried to save that girl. And I'm not going to do worse by you than I did by her."

Which means that -

Despite everything, she turns her head. Looks towards the exit.

"You should try and get more of your team to do stuff like this, instead."

Catra has posed:
Catra's eyebrows rise, as things take an... unexpected turn. So they're not going to fight? Even after all of Catra's threats and posturing? She watches Sailor Moon suspiciously, waiting for it all to be a big trick to get her to lower her guard. Waiting for it all to be just a trick to get an opening to hurt her. Hurt her real bad.

Maybe it isn't.

Catra slinks up to the rose, with her ears trained on Usagi even in the spare moments where she isn't watching. She flicks the sword out and severs the stem of the rose, catching the blossom with her other hand as it falls.

"Nobody controls me," she mutters. "I do what they want because it's what I *want* to do. I told you." She clutches the rose protectively.

"I'm *NOT* nice."

Catra shakes her head, "Nobody else at Obsidian does what I say. I'm not Force Captain here. Next time you see me I'll probably be tearing up a city block or something. You really shouldn't let me go."

But it seems like she is doing nonetheless. Catra rests the blade of her sword on her shoulder, walking in a wide arc around Sailor Moon to get to the path.

"But hey. Thanks for making this easy. Don't expect things to be this easy always -- next time I see you, I'm calling for backup like I was told. You should probably do the same."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"You don't have to be nice. I know a lot of people who aren't really nice. You still... you didn't do a good thing, I guess, because like you said, people got hurt, but you could have done a lot worse, and you didn't. That was pretty cool of you."

She watches Catra with the rose, the snipped stem, the patch of emptiness where the black had splashed against the white roses, the patch of dark against her hand where the petals spill out over her fingers, her fur.

"I think I should. Even if you do something bad, later, that's later, not now. Now, you haven't done anything that deserves a fight, you know?"

She stole energy from people, but they're still running around. They'll have a bad day, maybe, and that's... that's the worst it will be.

Still, she actually sloppily salutes Catra as she goes by, inspired by one too many video games and the mention of a Force Captain, whatever that is?

"Next time, we do what we're supposed to do, maybe. Or maybe we get mochinuts."

Catra has posed:
Catra skirts around Usagi, watching her suspiciously all the while. She clutches the rose protectively, and hasn't put away the sword yet, either.

"I've done lots of things that deserve a fight," the feline replies sullenly. "All I do is hurt people. And I'll keep on hurting people until someone stops me." She backs off a step, once she's gotten back properly onto the path, still regarding Sailor Moon almost without blinking.

"I don't know what it is you're thinking about me, or what Adora told you, but whatever it is... either way, it's wrong. Don't let your guard down around me, or you're going to get badly, badly hurt. Ask Adora what happened to Etheria -- and then after she's done telling you whatever nonsense she's got herself convinced of, you should know that I broke it. The whole planet. And it's my fault."

Catra's eyes narrow, as she backs off another step. "Take care of yourself... until next time."

And with that the feline turns and dashes off; she doesn't drop to all fours given that she's carrying things, but she sprints off at a fast pace nonetheless, leaving Usagi standing there alone. (Well, other than Luna.)