#that is just haunted and possessed by The Curse (Diavolo)

[deceitful-darlings]

Who said we don't want screaming? Give full rant pls

Ok, like I said in my shorter post, even without the yandereness it was a weak event for me, in fact those few possessive lines were actually the best bit. This wasn’t a yandere event and I won’t treat it as such, so I’m not let down by that because honestly every app is a let down in that department, but god damn this was just a bad event.

This was HALLOWEEN. A time for spooks, scares, terror, and tension! And this was being held in the fucking devildom, literally the PERFECT place for shit to go down. This event, to me, was the ideal one to remind viewers that the devildom isn’t a place to be messed with.

Back in season 1 the whole reason everything in the story started with Mammon being assigned to protect MC specifically because of how dangerous the devildom is, especially to humans, and season 3 reiterated that there are demons who don’t agree with the mixing of the worlds, hell even Belphie did to begin with! The app as a whole seems to have swept the whole thing under the rug, happily forgetting that Lucifer threatened MC’s life in season 1 and that Belphie ACTUALLY murdered this timeline’s MC before the whole Barbatos time switching shenanigans.

That’s why it felt like a let down to me, this was the perfect opportunity to highlight this attitude in the devildom, and remind readers exactly how strong the demons they have under their control are, but every single one was solved in one part, they’ve done 3 episode events before, why couldn’t this be one? Not only that, they wasted like 10 episodes doing completely unnecessary introductions to the haunted houses that the reader then goes to later anyway, it’s just more wasted time! There was so little time spent actually dealing with the curse that there was no time for any amount of tension! And then to finish it off with it all just being Mammon’s fault for owing a witch money again?! At that point I nearly threw my phone at the wall. I know there’s a limit to how graphic/scary things can be made, but this was all in all a pathetic event with no scares whatsoever, they were going in at a disadvantage because we knew that MC was in no real danger anyway, and they didn’t make up for that, they even ruined the threat of Lucifer not being able to overcome the curse in the unlocks let ending, which was one of the few things it had going for it! This was a curse so strong even THE Lucifer couldn’t fight against it! That in itself makes it a bigger threat! Then I unlocked the other storyline and that threat was gone quicker than me in a social situation.

There were so many other ways they could’ve gone with the event, a bunch of cursed masks was a promising story! Things I may have done with it:

1) Make the masks interfere with the pacts - The pacts are kind of a catch all power, it makes MC a strong character, but only through the ability of the brothers. Having a moment where they tried to command a brother and it not work would’ve been a stark reminder that against them, MC really isn’t strong, even at the end of season 3 they’ve only just become a sorcerer, sometimes the story lets up forget just how weak they are in comparison.

2) Have MC actually be caught by a brother - In a similar vein to above, this would act not only as a reminder of MC’s weakness in comparison to the demons, but how strong the brothers are. They’re played a lot for shits and giggles, but these guys are some of the strongest demons to exist, and yet somehow MC outran all of them because...reasons? Had they been caught and nearly killed, only being saved by one of the others, it would’ve been a nice reminder.

3) Had the reason for the curse be something other than fucking Mammon - I get it. Haha, Mammon owes everyone money, how hilarious. But what about using this as a chance to remind players that there are more than just the brothers, Diavolo and Barbatos, all of whom like them, but that there are other demons in this world who hate them simply by the virtue of being human? We really haven’t seen much of the devildom outside of the brothers, only hints. This would’ve been a perfect opportunity to show: Hey, this place is actually really dangerous for humans! Aren’t you lucky you’re protected! Because frankly, MC is lucky and very protected, especially in the earlier seasons when they had even less magic. I dunno, maybe a demon getting hold of the masks and placing some kind of curse on them that gives a pull to humans? As someone who wants to see MC actually involved in more shit, having them be an unintentional instigator to the issue would’ve been scary! Imagine getting to the end of the event only to find out that MC purchased these cursed masks and left them there because of another curse having been placed on them to get them to deliver them to the brothers specifically to get themself killed all because demons don’t approve of Diavolo’s exchange programme? Something? ANYTHING other than haha Mammon’s fault!

[rabbithub]

Haunted Painting!AU: Day 4

(Oh? I make Diavolo have empathy? I make Diavolo have empathy like the doggo? Oh! Oh! Jail for author! Jail for author for one thousand years!

Also, (artist almost dies rip))

"First, you have to find five treasures." Diavolo explained. "You know what these treasures are."

"...Vanitas, right?" You ask. "I read up on those-"

Your phone buzzes. You know your devilish muse doesn't mind you looking at your phone at this point.

-

[Owner][Day 4]

'Vanita paintings are a style of still life paintings that represent the emptiness of life. These motifs may seem mundane, but can mean something profound. Many of these motifs have many interpretations, but I have a few examples.'

'A musical instrument (i.e. trumpet) means transience of life.'

'A candle or lamp represents life's fleeting length.'

'A book or scroll means the futility of earthly knowledge.'

'A crown or jewel means vanity of wealth.'

'Lastly, a skull may mean mortality or death.'

'Ah... I'm a fra id I am to o la te, m y sp iri t is at ex ha u st ed. He ru le s ov er de a th as the re ap er hi ms e lf, an d no ne ca n be st hi m at hi s ga me.'

'I wi ll at th e le as t gi ve hi m a pl ac e in my ga ll er y af t er a ll th is. An ar t is t sh ou ld fi nd h im th er e.'

'Ye s, my bo y. I ha ve a ni ce, da rk ro om f or yo u.'

[Landlord][Day 1]

'I don't know what possessed me. I took it.'

'I ended up here, in this familiar studio. Where I found this painting. I'm in a nightmare.'

'So why did I take it? Will I see my family again? He whispers to me, perhaps confusing me for the woman who's studio I plundered the painting from. Please, lord. Forgive me. I wish I had paid mind to my art lessons.'

-

You put your phone away and set to work. You go back to your room to sketch the lamp, but decided to take it with you as well when you finished. "It might come in handy." You muse, exiting the room.

You sketched a crown hidden in the vines, the trumpet held by a cherub, and a skull on a shelf in the studio. You notice a person shaped stain below the easel, but broke focus away to go through a door.

The room is dark, and you can't see. "Wait, my soul lights up when I paint, right?" You ask yourself. "Then I can use that to light the lamp." Gathering your soul onto the brush, you light the lamp. You feel a little weak and your chest hurts a little, but you can see better. There's a diary in the fireplace, and you sketch it before picking it up.

...There's a missing spot there? You set your dimming lamp to see frames of almost similar paintings, with a empty space between them.

You phone buzzes...

-

No matter how many I paint, nothing compares to him, nothing is his equal.

My time is running thin, please paint him before my time runs out.

-

You rush out before the light fades, the door slamming shut behind you. "I...I found all five." You say, turning to face Diavolo.

"...your face looks pale." He states. "What happened in that-"

"It's-" You sigh as you cut him off, looking down. "It's not really important right now." When you look up again, the canvas showed his feet.

"Put everything you gathered on the bed." He says, that worried tone still in his voice. "I'll let you choose the colors this time."

You raise the paintbrush, your soul alighting it...

-

Somehow, you felt an ache in your heart. Something didn't feel right...

You have been calling all morning, but your sister is not answering. You thought she overslept, and started to do your laundry.

Quickly, you reached your car and drove to the hospital.

-

You finish painting the motifs, trembling; you picked gold for the trumpet and crown, purple for the book, and red for the lamp and skull.

"Bene." Diavolo answers. "Take a short break while I prepare."

"O-okay." You respond, stepping away from the canvas and sitting down. You realized that you were feeling drained- perhaps painting was draining you life away? 'I'm not going down without a fight.' You tell yourself, looking up as you see Diavolo with the motifs surrounding him.

"I will hide one of the treasures, and you will paint it here." He explains as you stand up. "Shall we begin?"

You step up to the canvas, nodding. "Yes." You answer. "Let's."

-

You hold back from speeding as you drive to the hospital, the feeling growing worse and worse. You have to get there as quickly as possible. "Hang on, sis." You say under your breath. "I'm coming."

-

You pant growing more exhausted. The first round was over. You watch as Diavolo looks you over. "We've only just started." He says, his voice soft with concern.

"I'm getting tired." You say, looking at your phone.

-

[Researcher][Day 4]

'I've heard of spirits going into the possessions they loved in life- I've collected a good number of these items, as a matter of fact. Perhaps these motifs appear due to being a manifestation of his memories, and I'm starting to realize-'

'Of course! This may have to do with the painting's painting as well! But where is her presence in all this? My body is getting weak from all this?'

'Somehow, my soul is stronger than my body is... I have a feeling the black splotch might have to do with the artist. I will rest for now, but whoever is next might be able to lift this curse. Maybe I'll wake up again, one way or another.'

-

The dying text looked different this time, not glitchy but... Different. "You know, the others haven't been able you live through this." You answer. "You'll live forever, but I can't." Your voice sounded resigned, making Diavolo stare at you with indifference-

No. This wasn't indifference, it is concern. He seems to shake it off. "... let's begin the next round." He said, sounding... remorseful?

You nod, lifting your alighted brush.

-

You burst through the hospital doors to the receptionist's desk, rattling off you were a relative and your sister's room number. The receptionist calms you down and says she'll talk to the doctor.

You sit in the waiting room, nervous. You felt like throwing up, but you hadn't eaten anything. It felt like forever until you saw a chaplain approached you. You heart drops.

You barely process the events; you were explained what had happened, you were taken to your sister's bedside where she was covered with a white sheet, and found yourself outside the room, blindsided. You notice-

It's him. You have a suspicion about it as he seems to weep openly to the doctors, but as he looked over to you, he smirked.

When there was a quiet moment with just the two of you, you whisper; "Why?"

He- the bastard that your sister was like once in love with until she realized what a monster he was, is still smirking as he gives his answer:

"If I can't have her, no one can."

-

You almost collapse, almost exhausted. Your brush is dimly lit, earning you a concerned look from Diavolo. "Well, it's over for me." You say, your tone somewhat defiant. "You won- I'm sorry you're nowhere close to finished."

He looks at you, his arrogant look seemingly to have faded. "You... You're not giving up this easily, are you?" He asks.

"I wouldn't if it wasn't for my body." You answer, focusing on the inky, body shaped stain on the floor. "My only other regret is that sister is going to be sad seeing me so soon- oh well, I guess it's a win either way."

"..." Diavolo doesn't say anything, for a moment. "You and a couple others listened to me- and you never gave up. You remind me of another artist, she seemed to be as morose as you. I wonder where she went..."

Your phone buzzes. "I think I know." You answer, knowing that soon after, you'd join your sister...

-

'My fellow artist? Will you listen? Will you let me regale you a tale of this portrait of mine, of the vivid, horrible week we spent together, and our'

-

"No."

No? You look up, seeing Diavolo holding a skull with a dim flame in it; the flame growing brighter. "I'm not letting you die like this, with neither of our ends of this unfulfilled." He says, his eyes full of angry tears. "We're going back to the beginning."

You were confused; he was trying to torment you the past few days, and now he was trying to save you?! "Just rest now." He said, eyes defiant to your possible death. "I will fix this."

You pass out as you hear a woman's voice speak;

"...and of her final days...?"