#a-morality

Prompt 1

Setting: Witch World

Character: Tokinome or Sagan.

The Witch World was cast in its usual burnt golden hue, despite the sun being high in the sky. Lobco had been here on a number of occasions and with the exception of when she, with her former master, had visited during night time, this world was always cast in that golden glow. She wondered why that was. Was it merely coincidence? It was hard to tell time when one was world hopping and typically their visits were quick and filled with busywork that distracted her from such trivial thoughts. At the end of the day, it probably was mere coincidence, and if not what difference did it really make?

Yet these days her mind wandered so often.  Her contract with Chlomaki was over. She had managed to slip out from Hijoushiki's hold. Here she was in the Witch World still too afraid to return home. Perhaps one day when she could be certain that he wasn't searching for her.

For now she would just try to make her way on her own. Chlomaki had shown her some kindness in offering to teleport her back to the sea, but Lobco had instead chosen to come here. It was a place that would be very difficult for anyone not a witch, nor a familiar to one, to reach. It was much safer here than any other she could think to go to, but she also felt rather out of place. She was no longer a familiar, and what little magic she had was certainly not enough to categorize her as a witch.

Which meant she could help but shake this feeling like she was intruding. Logically she knew that no one cared and that she was far from the only one in a similar position but still.

It was hard not to feel that way...nor to shake the feelings of loneliness off.

With a sigh she pushed herself off the bridge she’d been looking out over and finished making her way towards the guild. It was a rather convenient place she hadn’t known of until recently--meant specifically for hired hands. Not quite mercenaries but something akin to that--perhaps apprentices or familiars in training? People would turn in applications with their skill sets, and witches would take them on for single jobs. From what she had heard often contracts were made via this system. The shrimp had no intention of starting something so serious after having just voided one with Chlomaki, but she needed to make money some way. The cushion she had built up for herself over the years wasn’t going to last forever, and she needed some way of staying here permanently until she found some other solution.

Figured out what she wanted to do with her life.

She had gotten notification that someone had wanted to meet with her, thus she finished on her trek over.

Once she checked in at the registry she made her way to the room where her client was waiting.

“Hello.” She closed the door behind her and gave a deep bow. “My name is Lobco.”

Prompt 2

Setting: Satanick’s Castle? Wherever Roc lives?

Character: Roc

Lobco had never had any illusions about the surface. She knew even before leaving the sea that it was a very different sort of world, but even she hadn’t been prepared. It wasn’t only a matter of it being dangerous, but also that there was a completely different ethical code up here. Perhaps it was because of how much more resilient demons and vampires were in comparison to animal folks, perhaps it was because of some innate instinct within them, but life carried little value here and most were only in it for themselves.

It was hard for her to understand.

She didn’t understand the lust for fighting, killing and torture. She didn’t understand the obsession with sex and getting it no matter what the cost.

Acts done out of self defense or out of some other survival instinct were significantly more understandable but people here did all this because they found it...fun.

It was fun. It was fun to them. Creating these videos with Hidou where he would torture and kill angels was fun for Roc. Fifteen minutes in she had completely checked out. Her body had broken into a cold sweat, her stomach had churned and her eyes became unfocused.  It was over now but she was still hearing the screaming in her mind. Her heart was beating in her chest and all her focus was simply on trying to move on from those images and sounds. Her fingers dug deep into her arms as she wrapped them around herself.

“How.”

No, that wasn’t what she wanted to ask. How could you do that was a futile question. He could because he wanted to, simple as that.

“What do you get out of all this, Hijoushiki? I don’t get it. Was does this do for you that you can’t  get elsewhere?”

Partly she asked because even this, however horrible his answer may be would be a welcome distraction from what she had witnessed. Partly she asked perhaps because some part of her felt if she understood a little...maybe. Maybe she could find some way to get him to stop?