video; un: padlocks

[enblightened]

I have made my warning to a handful of you before, but there are many that I've yet to meet. And so, this is primarily to those who do not know me.

I am something to be wary of. 'Tis not meant as a threat, but a matter of what I am. Call it what you shall, be it a curse or condition, but the brand on my head is not for display only. Many would call me an abomination where I am from, and it is not far from the truth.

I fight back the instincts of a demon inside of me. I hold it back by whatever means I am able, with my will and the bonds I take with me. With years of practice, I am typically able to hold it back, but there can never be a promise of my willpower. If there comes a time in which this beast emerges and I transform, I do not expect mercy on my behalf.

I understand that there are some with a similar situation as myself, or that you have experienced enough horrors to be prepared for it. Making demands of a person is impossible, I know that, but I want to be clear that I am a thing to be careful with.

...Thank you for listening. Be well, friends and strangers alike.

Comments

[imaglyphwitch]

A lot of us come from some crazy situations, so we're used to worse!

Oh, I can handle myself. I'm an aspiring witch, so I have my ways. Personally, I'd be more interested in finding out about you anyway. It must have been awful having that brand on your head like that, and being ostracized. I know I wouldn't like it.

[enblightened]

So that it seems. Perhaps it is my will that is in question.

A young witch, then. So many young people with powerful aspirations. Good.

I will not sugarcoat it. It was... difficult. Strenuous. Much was out of my control. Despite everything, I am better here than I have been otherwise.

[imaglyphwitch]

It's possible. You can already tell people are less judgy about that, as far as the Sleepers are concerned. The townies are probably more fearful of blood corruption.

Yup, that's right! Granted, my teacher isn't around anymore but luckily there are always other people to learn from!

Glad to hear it. It doesn't look like they treated you too well back where you're from.

[enblightened]

As it seems. I've encountered another sorceress here some days ago. I have no doubt you have many others to learn from.

It's... a complicated thing. I cannot entirely begrudge those afraid of me. My captors, on the other hand, I've no lost love for.

[imaglyphwitch]

There's a few of them, aren't there? I don't think I've even met them all!

I'd agree with you there, but you still deserve a degree of help and understanding. After all, you have to live with the demon being in you, and that's a pretty hard burden to bear.

[enblightened]

For many, they thought that it was due to sin. For others, I was a lost cause. If anything, I'm simply fortunate to have so many who welcome me here despite it all.

[imaglyphwitch]

It would be awful for people to do otherwise? No one can know another person's story if they don't ask it, right? To just assume things because of a mark, or because the conclusion is you're somehow just evil on your own, that's just dehumanizing.

You should be judged on who you are as a person, not for your branding or because of a thing you can't control. In my world, people who judge that way tend to really be the ones that make things worse for others.