Absent Writer Doll

Freedom.

"When you're ready, give this number a call. I'll take you to someone who can help."

The hunter turns and leaves.

The doll continues to sob.

And...

Quietly...

Then loudly...

It begins to sob.

"You might not like it at first. But you'll learn that this is better. I promise."

The hunter ruffles the doll's hair.

Then tosses down a card.

Its corner stains red.

"If you're not sure where to go, I can take you to someone who will help. There are a bunch of ex-dolls - you're not the only one, not with all the new anti-maj tech nowadays."

The doll presses the witch's hand to its forehead.

"You can stay here if you want. Or find a new home away from all of this trauma. But you're free."

The doll picks up the witch's hand.

"I... I..."

"Sir?"

The hunter rips their blade out of the witch.

"Oh. You're awake."

The doll rushes to the witch's side.

His chest doesn't move.

"You're free now."

The doll looks up at the hunter.

Then back down at the witch.

"I... I didn't... I don't..."

this one is glad that this story could reach yuriboyfriends!

"Can I at least pat your head?"

The doll considers for a moment.

And then...

"That's okay. Go ahead."

And so the witch pats the doll's head!

Yielding a smile!

"Want a hug?"

The doll turns its head toward its witch.

""Not particularly."

"That's okay."

Silence passes between the two for a moment.

"Are you okay?"

The witch turns her head towards her doll.

"Could be better, could be worse."

The doll hugs the witch.

"This one is here for you all the same."

The witch returns the embrace.

"Thank you..."

Like a cry in the night.

A lamplight in the dark.

Starlight in the sky.

Despite everything...

Her work shines through.

A witch!

She wants to write a story!

And so she does!

Not too long, not too short -

Tho it's admittedly a short story, just like most of her other works -

She's proud of it all the same.

"Don't touch my Witch."

The first barrier shatters.

And the hunter closes in.

The witch laughs.

Quietly.

The hunter raises their sword.

And -

Finds themself impaled.

They turn their head.

To see the doll.

The barrier pushes back the hunter's blade, even as it begins to crack.

"But I'd do anything for my doll."

Another barrier behind the hunter.

"And if that means getting up when I shouldn't?"

The two come together.

"That's an easy choice."

A witch.

She crawls back to her feet as the hunter approaches her doll.

They turn.

"You should've just stayed down."

And they rush her -

Only to be stopped by a barrier.

"Maybe."

=====

Inspired by Io!

So much that she adored and loves and cherishes it, that she doesn't ever want to let it go.

She smiles to herself.

She's lucky.

She wasn't looking for a doll. She never expected to have a doll.

And then, all at once, without realizing it, she had made one.

A wonderful little thing that was devoted to her through and through.

And now she can't imagine her life without it.

A witch.

She doesn't know what she's going to write today.

And, so often, she ends up writing a story that she didn't predict how she would write.

Going from aimless to... Not aimless over the course of her writing.

Perhaps that reminds her of how she got her doll.

nonetheless, this one is grateful for Flyer's words!

this one is indeed lucky awawa this one wishes Flyer every happiness too!

♥

Perhaps Verity is right! this one didn't think of it this way! this one really like this idea!

♥

But it makes her smile.

So often it makes her smile.

How lucky she feels to have such a wonderful life partner.

She rubs her eyes.

Back to work.

The small efforts in washing dishes, cleaning the house...

Working alongside her doll to make their lives better, step by step.

She looks at her doll.

Focused in its task, it doesn't notice her.

A witch that doesn't use magic.

She hasn't in years.

It's not that she can't, it's just...

She's happy with what she already has.

She's happy with doing things by hand.

this one adores Flyer's way with words.

time, indeed, has dullen that blade. even if, on occasion, it still cuts.

this one is lucky to be surrounded by entities that love and cherish it. they have and continue to help this one heal.

this one is lucky.

this one hopes it continues to get better! may those adventures be kind!

A doll.

A doll that is loved.

Even if, on occasion, it doubts that it is.

It has reason to doubt that it is.

Sometimes it's easier to doubt whether it's loved.

But it is loved.

And cherished and adored and beloved and everything.

A doll that is loved through and through.

kindred spirit.

Nuclear Bob isn't alone. this one, too, still has dreams of beloved entities that it has lost.

this one hopes that the pain lessens with time.

perhaps it is this one's duty, too, to carry the past. even if there are times when it will yearn for that past, even if it is stuck in that past, even if it will always hurt.

alas.

all musing aside, this is a wonderful story. this one is glad that EEE_V wrote it awawa