In a magic/cyberpunk dystopia ruled by four sorceress queens the listener was just a regular person trying to get by. Unfortunately a renegade witch needed some help, and didn't take no for an answer.

A few years later the dystopia is gone. The world is healing. The listener has a better job and a larger shop. One night there's a knock on the door, a familiar face has come around for a visit.

Sequel to this: https://www.reddit.com/r/ASMRScriptHaven/comments/y7psfp/f4a_mutated_cyborg_witch_forces_a_mechanic_to/

Distant prequel here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ASMRScriptHaven/comments/1206chh/f4m_trying_to_break_your_deal_with_a_witch/

Archive: https://www.reddit.com/r/ASMRScriptHaven/comments/x9hb9v/script_archive/

Cyborg witches agree, the best way to avoid dystopia is to swing by my Ko-Fi!:https://ko-fi.com/timeraft

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Dialogue in plain text

SFX in bold

Context in italics

Bold italics indicate context that changes the audio

The witch knocks on a glass door to a small cybernetics shop. She’s changed a lot since the last audio. Most of her implants are gone along with her arm, replaced with scars. She's wearing a “spring outfit” , a sundress and a big floppy hat that hides her snake hair. Their voice is calmer and more nervous

Hey, are you still open? I know it's late.

Can I come in?

You have a really nice shop here. It's very homey. A lot bigger than your old one

I’m sorry but do you maybe remember me?

I don't know if you recognize me. It was dark and I- well I was probably really frightening to look at.

About five years ago I broke into your garage and forced you to repair my cybernetics. I threatened you with violence if you didn't comply. You remember me now?

Let me officially introduce myself. My name is Janet, Janet Farsons.

Laughs

I know that's not a very “magical” name, but I was the witch from that night.

I’m in the city to testify at the tribunals for the old regime and I saw an ad for your CO-OP on the tram. It had the faces of some of the technicians and one was you. I remembered your face from that night.

I used that spell I put on you to track you down. Do you remember? The one that warns me if you’re in danger. I know that's really weird but I

-I wanted to see you again.

This place is really nice, did you grow up in this neighborhood?

That's nice, it suits you. This city is so beautiful, I never realized that when I was stationed here. The way the city lights reflect in the bay, The dark blue and purple tint of the street lights, the fact that no matter where I am I can hear music off in the distance. It all gives me chills. I’ve been trying to get the courage to go out on the town one night.

I was born in a small fortress city in the northern plains. It was always too cold. I never liked it there. It wasn't alive, like it is here. Everyone there hated everyone else.

I’m sorry, you didn't ask for my life story. I came here because I wanted to apologize.

I broke into your house and threatened you. I wasn’t who I am today. I was a dangerous person. I don't think I would have killed you, but something like turning you into stone or taking your voice away forever.

Guilty pause

Those were things I was legitimately considering.

I was desperate and hurt, and I acted like a feral animal. I did terrible things that night, both before and after I arrived at your place. That militia guard who was on the corner that night- I’ve heard he was a violent mean man who abused his power, but I can't justify what I did to him. I wasn't kidding about the fates worse than death.

That night you showed me kindness I didn't deserve. I had no right to extort you like I did. I’m really truly sorry, but I know that doesn't mean anything.

Is there anything I can do to make amends?

Heh, yes I suppose I can sit for a while. You’re a good person, lending an ear to somebody like me.

Pulls the chair out and sits at the bench.

I didn't run away because I was rebellious minded or anything. For the most part I was a model soldier. It was just….

Well it was just that. I got attached to a unit of conscripts that were very young. They were basically children. The officer told them I’d keep them safe, but I couldn't. We got wiped out. I only survived out of luck.

Then a few days later they took me, and attached me to another unit. They were even younger. I was going to be leading literal children to their deaths. They gave the same speech about how I’d keep them safe, but it was obviously a death run mission. I couldn't take it.

I snapped right there. I killed the officers on the spot. Then I fought my way out of the base like some kind of animal. The curse of Pallas activated, but well being a gorgon just made my job easier. I tore through the place like a storm, anybody that had the power to stop me was out on the frontlines.

I found a cell of rebels outside of the base and hid with them for a while.

A guy from the underground managed to give me some more implants to keep the curse under control, but then the security witches found us before he could finish. They killed him but I managed to escape.

I suppose I'm good at that, surviving stuff that kills everyone around me.

pause

After I left you I jumped the city walls and found my way to the castaways. They were closer to the city than I had thought. The war was going way worse than even I realized. I turned myself in and offered them all the info I had. I thought they would just kill me, but they took me away and gave me medical attention. They found some alternate force that can break curses without magic, that's how they’d made so much progress. I spent the last months of the war in physical therapy.

I’ve been getting counseling too, I’m slowly becoming human again. My therapist told me not to see it in those terms, but that's what it feels like.

Have you been ok? Since that day?

I see your curse mark is gone. I’m glad. Did it ever get activated?

yes

And did you do what I told you?

Good.

My curse is gone too if you hadn’t noticed. My eyes don't turn people into stone anymore. And my skin isn't always breaking out in scales. I kept the snakes though.

They laugh and take off their hat revealing that they still have hissing snakes in their hair.

I got a little attached. I got used to being able to use them to look behind my head. And well, I mean they’re kinda cute right?

I even named them.

They excitedly show them off but get embarrassed halfway through.

This one is Damien, this one is Clara, Then we got Sharon, Carter , Tony and….

Sorry I got all rambly.

I usually hide them in public though. Sometimes I get self-conscious. This is actually the first time I felt ok wearing a dress. Normally I hide the scars from my old implants.

Do you like it? I really like the flowers.

Thanks, I do genuinely feel really pretty today. I haven't felt this way in a long time.

It's amazing how much everything has changed since that night isn't it? It seemed like the four queens were unstoppable, like they’d be around forever. And now it seems like it was just a bad dream.

Once they led armies, ruled by decree, some of us even worshiped them, but nobody walks under their banners anymore. Like the wind just blew them away. Two died in the war, one committed suicide to avoid capture and the last is on trial.

Your old boss, the queen of cups.

I’m a witness at the trial. I saw her at the stand yesterday. She was a mess, she’d obviously been crying and seemed completely bewildered by everything. It was pathetic. I can't believe we lived in such fear of somebody like that. She gave a whole spiel about her time in the old days, what led her to develop that lust for power.

A real sob story, but I saw her for real. She’s just empty, a shell of a person burned out by a lust for power. It chills me. I always thought there’d be some big epic confrontation y’know?

They talk about dystopias, but they never mention what comes after. What kind of world do we make now? Can we avoid the mistakes of the past?

I suppose that's out of my hands, er hand I suppose.

I was wondering. Do you have any cybernetic arms for sale? They confiscated mine after the hostilities ended.

I want something simple and industrial, nothing fancy. Do you perhaps have anything on hand? I promise I’ll pay this time!

Listener shuffles around and gets a couple out

That's a pretty good selection.

Hmmm let's try……

That one

With help from the listener they put it on (Electrical sounds) They try it out and seem to like it

Not bad, not bad. It kind of reminds me of my old one….

Panicking (The arm triggered some bad memories.)

Take it off, take it off! Oh my god please take it off!

They do so the speaker slowly recovers

I’m so sorry I’m so sorry

I guess I wasn't ready. Having the arm back took me back to a place I didn't want to go.

I’m sorry I should leave. I’m probably bringing you someplace bad too.

No I don't really know where I’m going, I’ll probably go back to the room the tribunal put me up in.

No, I mean I don't have a curfew or anything. I already testified why?

Well yeah I do want to explore the city, are you offering to show me around?

Are you sure? Like sure sure?

Alright let's go. Let me remove that tracking spell first though. Let me touch your face.

You want to keep it? What? Why?

Heh, it wouldn't make me feel safe personally, but if it makes you feel ok then who am I to judge.

Come here, let me recharge it.

They kiss the listener on the cheek.

Can you take me somewhere really tranquil? Someplace that has a really good view? Someplace where I can just have one moment of perfect peace?

Door opens they leave together

Thank you. For everything.