Nautical Witchcore AU
Character A’s pirate crew wasn’t superstitious. They didn’t believe in the horseshoe on the mast, women being bad luck, or other nonsense -- pirates are only as solid as the mental fortitude between their eyes, so “get your shit together” (at least, that’s what the captain always said).
This thought process is exactly what made the captain’s decision to bring a witch aboard that much more confusing. When the crew asked them why the witch was there, the captain simply gazed onto the horizon and pursed their lips.
“I don’t believe in bullshit, but I do believe in men’s ability to fear it when it’s particularly convincing. What better way to scare off enemy ships than to make them think magic is on our side, whether it’s real or not?”