idolpro | 531 Monstrosity & Morality: Dividing Lines of the Self and Other, Section 3

"Ohhhhhh that's really smart—wait, you're not going to eviscerate us, right?" She pauses. "But we really like you, so I don't think so."

As a beast I can't make promises, but in all likelihood if I haven't done it by this point I never will.

"I'm glad. Are you really a beast, though? You don't look like one."

This beast devoured a small human girl about your age from the inside so it could wear her shape and trick others into thinking it's a human, too. In a cruel twist of Fate, this place has trapped it in this shape except under very specific circumstances.

"...what do you look like regularly, then?"

There's a little fear in her eyes, but also, like—the anticipation of "is it cool."

Powers are on, by the way.

Perhaps you'll have the chance to see before I finish this assignment. For now, I have to stay clearheaded. Our rather annoying defacer of literature is being even more irksome this time around.

"Okay! Let's get it done!" She makes a very serious face. "We'll stop them."

You said there are no circumstances where you'd think there was nothing you could do for love, but there are plenty of things you wouldn't, you proud bastard. She'd give you everything, and you could say she did, and what did you do for her, really?

Without even quite giving it any thought this beast can already supply "saved her life" and "bore the guilt of giving her something she desperately wanted", but I think everyone here is aware this isn't really about that. This beast does not particularly care to questions posed in bad faith, so all that really needs to be said is that no relationship (whether it is one of friendship, romance, or tutelage) demands exact equivalence; only that all parties involved give what they have agreed to give while allowing for all other parties to end the relationship with no issue if they so desire.

You know, you surround yourself with a whole lot of people who want to put you on a pedestal. Doesn't that make you wonder if you're doing it on purpose?

Ah, yes. The grandest of crimes; desiring to be loved. A ditch will be dug for those who primarily associate with those who enjoy their existence right next to the grave reserved for tyrants.

Sarcasm aside, she clearly does wonder. And with that in mind, if she is not using the pedestal to extort those who placed her there, what does it matter if it is indeed purposeful?

"Mm... I think that's good. Although, I wonder... who's writing the red words, anyway? Maybe they're jealous?"

The emotion seems closer to loathing than jealousy.

"Hmmmm..." She makes a thoughtful frown. "Maybe... I guess we do have a lot of enemies."

Self-loathing has not occurred to her whatsoever.

You do, that's true. Some closer than one might think possible, but we all do have our demons.

Shall we continue on?

"Yeah! Let's go." She nods, solemnly. "There's a lot of things to see, here... it's a lot more than I thought there would be."

Really, now? I think I'd expected about this much.

[ handhold handhold whee ]

531 Monstrosity & Morality: Dividing Lines of the Self and Other, Section 3

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