#wrath and greed do this and it looks so uncomfortable

[waitineedaname]

would it be weird if I made a post rating shoe choices in fma based on functionality

[bloodynectarine]

Boiling point

After weeks of holding himself together and setting clear boundaries, only for them to be broken over and over again, MC snaps.

tags. male mc, post-lesson 16, belphie is his own trigger warning, angst, ptsd, mild violence, hurt and comfort.

notes. i don't want therapy, i want revenge. everyone got over belphie killing us way too quickly, and i find it frustrating. you know what would be really fun? to punch belphie. love him, but the amount of serotonin he would bring into my life if i could just… punch him once. a boy can dream.

Dying and somehow living to tell the tale was not exactly in your plans when you decided to help the demon stuck in the attic.

Sure, you knew it was dangerous and sure, you understood it was a gamble. But you never quite got that your life was at stake until you felt Belphegor's cold grip around your neck and your vision started to get fuzzy at the edges.

Oh, you thought, with startling clarity.

I'm going to die.

You may still be here, but no, you did not survive Belphegor's wrath and hurt. The sensation of phantom hands pressing down your throat never quite left you.

And Belphegor is nothing but a cruel reminder of the night you died.

First, comes the terror. Even with the pact to protect you, in the days following the event, you can't help but freeze every time Belphegor is in the same room.

As you get used to his presence around the House of Lamentation, as he insists in siting next to you during breakfast and in holding your arm on your way to class, the terror slowly subsides, opening way for a different, less familiar feeling.

Annoyance. Anger. Borderline rage.

Who does he think he is?

Who does he think we are? Best friends, family?

“Belphegor…”, you call for the demon that's already laying on top of your lap, with a tense smile hanging from your lips.

This week's movie night was held in your room. It was one of the rare occasions in which all the inhabitants of the House of Lamentation were present. Even Lucifer is here, looking comically out of place, regal and all seriousness, as if he were in the middle of a meeting and not watching a three-hour-long romance anime film.

Mammon got off from his “rightful place” (“DIBS”, the demon of greed shouted as soon as you sat down, throwing himself across your lap), to rip the remote control out of Levi's hands, who kept rewinding the same scene over and over again (“It's really important for the plot!!!”).

And in the middle of the squabble, Belphegor appeared out of nowhere to climb into your lap, and just. Cuddle.

At your call, he looks up and blinks lazily at you, with his big eyes and his messy bedhead. And the image should be endearing, really, but your chest feels cold, and you can feel your limbs locking in place. You feel trapped, uncomfortable. Ah, it's fear.

“I need. A bit of space. Could you sit somewhere else?”, you manage to let out, and your voice is the only sound in the room. Quarrel and movie long-forgotten, everyone is watching the two of you. Beel was the one who took over and put the film on pause.

Belphegor blinks the drowsiness out of his eyes. His brow furrows, just a little, and if anything, he looks put off by the question, a little lost.

“I don't want to sit anywhere else. I know Mammon was here just seconds ago, but I'm a better cuddle-partner than him anyway. You can ask anyone.”

And he doesn't move. He lays his head against your chest with a yawn.

“I don't…” want to be close to you. You stop yourself from uttering those words, mindful and considerate, truly doing your best. You don't want to lie either, so you decide to play around with the phrasing. “I'd rather you gave Mammon his place back. Or, you know what? I can change seats myself.”

Your tone is as lighthearted as you can manage, and you start to get up from the couch, with Asmo, who's sitting next to you, moving out of the way to give you the space that you need. The space you very specifically asked for.

But Belphegor's weight is heavy against you and traps you in place. Not only that, but his hand reaches for your arm and pulls, looking at you with the same bewildered expression as before, genuinely confused. When you fall against the couch, still under him, you're reminded of how strong he is. Of how weak you're in comparison.

“Oi, Belphie. No one is better at cuddles than me”, says Mammon after a too long pause. “And of course he wants to be with the great Mammon, everyone does. Now move, we still have, like, two hours left of the movie and if we don't finish it tonight, Levi is going to complain all week.”

Levi, who would normally jump into the conversation to defend himself, is barely visible, half hidden between Beel and Satan. His eyes dart between you and the hand that's holding your arm.

“Well, we are already so comfy, so I won't get up”, you wonder who “we” is. Belphegor talks lazily and moves the hand that isn't holding you in a dismissing manner, as if this was not more than a bothersome request, interrupting his nap for nothing.

Your teeth grind together, and there it is, once again. The ugly pressure that holds your gut in a tight grip, the heavy discomfort in your throat. Once foreign, but now you can tell it apart so easily. Anger.

“Belphegor. You heard him already.” This time, Lucifer is the one talking, and he sighs as he gets up, coming closer in an attempt to pry him away from you.

“Oh, please.” Belphegor rolls his eyes, clearly irked by Lucifer's intervention. “We are okay. Right?”, he looks back at you, and this time around his voice is filled with doubt, bordering hopeful, searching for something in your eyes.

“We aren't.” At last, you say it, flatly, and it comes out sharper than you intended, if the way Belphegor flinches and Asmo whimpers is any indication. You're tired, what little patience you have left is quickly running out thanks to the stubborn remarks and your words falling on deaf ears. “Let me move.”

The demon on your lap has the gall to look affronted, hurt. His bewildered expression does nothing more than increase the feeling already boiling deep within you. You can feel Satan's eyes boring in your cheek, but you refuse to look at him.

“Hey… Relax”, Belphegor mutters, now looking a little concerned too. For you. He's worried about you, and yet he still won't get up. “Are you okay? What's wrong?”

What's wrong.

What's wrong?

You're so taken aback by the question that by the time you react, his hand is already on its way to hold your cheek.

The most violent of flashbacks comes through you, a whiplash that hits you with the force of a truck. His handprints on your neck, trying to catch your breath, feeling cold all over, with the only warmth coming from your own blood ringing loudly in your ears, flowing right next to his voice, so full of hatred.

You can't freeze this time around, you need to move, you need to run, you need to do something, anythi--

“Belphie, I don't think you sh--” Satan tries to warn him, but it's too late.

By the time Belphegors fingertips touch your cheek (and this time they're warm, not dead-cold, you notice with surprise) your fist is already hitting against his nose, punching him right in the middle of his face, with a force you didn't even knew you had in you.

Not that you've ever done it before, but you can imagine this is what it feels like to hit a wall. Your hand hurts and goes numb.

The impact pushes Belphegor against the cushions, his hands flying to cover his nose. And any other day it would have been impossible, your punch would never land (he's that much faster, that much stronger), but right now he was so worried about you, so desperate to stick by you. His guard was as down as it will ever be.

His nose is bleeding, you notice, at the same time as Asmo gets up with a gasp. Levi shrieks in the background, and Mammon let's out this weird noise, a mix between one of his “Oi”, your name, and a scream.

Everything stands still, and, to your credit, you're just a shocked as everyone else.

With the punch, all anger has left your body, and now you're just a bunch of nerves, looking at Belphegor with big eyes. Belphegor looks back at you, so shocked, and you suddenly feel like crying. Oh, how much you hate being an angry-crier.

Satan is the one that breaks the silence, with a heavy sigh. “Told you so.”

Beel comes next, taking two steps in your direction but stopping when you raise your palm. You're trembling, but you come close to Belphegor all the same, refusing to back down.

“Asshole.” It's the first thing you say, and defying the impossible, Belphegor's eyes grow even wider as you tower over him, kneeling on the couch.

“Are you deaf? Wasn't I clear enough? Loud enough?”, and when you raise your fist in the air, Lucifer approaches, but all you do is gently punch Belphegor's chest. Again and again. “I told you to move. Several times. And still, you didn't. I was… I was dying of fear, and you weren't moving.”

“You, inconsiderate shit.” Punch. “You, deaf moron.” Punch.

“You… Stubborn cow.”

Belphegor has let the blood simply flow across his face, and now he's kneeling in front of you, holding his own hands, the same surprised look on his face.

And that's that.

You let your arms fall with a groan and simply sigh. For Diavolo, violence really isn't for you, you are so tired.

“S-Should we separate them?” Levi asks in a trembling voice, frantically waving his hands, unable to decide whether to approach or flee.

“No. He has more to say.” Satan gently holds Levi's wrists, and waits.

That's when you realize that yes, you got more to say. In fact, you've had something to say for way too long, and now you're dying to get it off your chest.

“I gave you my trust, and I knew I was being childish and reckless in doing so, but all I wanted was to help. I cried for you, I felt for you, and I did everything I could to be by your side even though all I had to offer was just. Just me. Mortal, human. And in response, you killed me.” Belphegor recoils at your words, but you go on.

“It hurt. It still hurts, even now. Sometimes I see you and all I can think about is your betrayal.”

Belphegor looks down, biting his lips, in silence. You can see his hands shaking, and you remember your talk under the stars, his eagerness when he offered you a pact. When he gave you the control you needed. His hands were shaking back then, too.

With a groan, you reach out to hold his chin, lifting his face. You take the long sleeve of your pajamas and begin to wipe the blood running down his chin, across his lips. Slowly, with care.

Your fingers run through his hair just to be able to look directly into his eyes. He looks anxious, fearful, and you know that your next words have the power to break or mend his heart.

So you decide to, once more, open yours and leave the rest in his hands.

“I don't hate you. And this isn't me cutting our ties. I understand your pain, I really do. Please, understand mine.”

Your thumb caresses over his forehead. Carefully, gently.

“I need time. I'll let you know when I'm ready.”

Belphegor inhales and exhales deeply, holding your gaze. Slowly, but surely, he takes your hand between his, from his forehead to his lips, leaving the lightest of kisses against your palm. You feel the pact mark that binds you together tremble and sing.

“I'm sorry. For the pain, for my insistence, I just… Wanted to be close. I need to be close. I'll wait for you.”

Straightforward as ever. But you are struck by the sincerity in his voice, in his eyes, and this time around it takes you no more than a second to nod.

“Right. Be good and wait for me.”

Unable to resist, you pat his head, just as you would to a small, rebellious child. He's the baby of the family, after all. He groans, and you laugh, feeling so much lighter. And unbelievably tired.

By the time you remember that you're not alone in the room and turn around to placate the others, you make eye contact with Satan.

He's looking prouder than ever, the little smile on his lips telling enough. “Go on”

The brothers needed no further prompting to launch themselves at the two of you, a jumble of limbs and shrill voices.

“MC, that was, as usual, reckless. From now on, fist fights are forbidden in and out of the house. Evade further conflicts.”

“B-But wasn't MC so cool?!?! Belphie is so much stronger, but he was down with one punch! W-way too op, MC!!”

“Oi! Human, how dumb can ya be?! Tell me before you go around punchin' demons, I can punch them for ya!”

“I knew you were good at controlling your anger, but I never imagined that much. You are full of surprises.”

“Belphie, gosh, your clinginess finally got you in trouble, mh? Your surprised face was so cute! Do you need concealer?”

“Belphie, does it hurt? Do you need ice? We have popsicles in the freezer… Wait, I ate them all yesterday, sorry Belphie… Do you want me to go and buy more? MC, which flavor would you like?”

“We are good, Beel.” Belphegor answers, still looking at you. “Right?”

You laugh at his not-so-subtle search for assurance, and your chest feels astonishingly full. “We will be, for sure.”

Movie night turns right into a sleepover after that, as every single one of the demon brothers refuses to leave your room. Lucifer might roll his eyes, but he still settles on your couch, right next to Satan.

And for the first time in weeks, you're able to close your eyes and rest, feeling safe and at home.

ao3 ― writing tag

[bingliu-week]

Bingliu Week '24 Prompts and Rules

Text version of prompts and rules under the cut! We're so excited to see what you come up with - and look out for some more surprises coming soon!

Prompts

day 1. lust/chastity

wifeplots | the demon lord's prize

on the Bai Zhan training grounds

"not in front of-!"

2. gluttony/honor

teeth | switching roles

on opposite sides

"we can't..."

3. greed/sacrifice

possessiveness | scars

on a stormy night

"i'm only doing this for him"

4. sloth/persistence

amnesia | the five years

in another time and place

"i'll keep coming back"

5. wrath/mercy

fighting for dominance | wound treating

in the depths

"i never thought i'd see you like this"

6. envy/loyalty

arranged marriage | royalty

at the water's edge

"i won't let you do this"

7. pride/reverence

shizun and disciple | love languages

in a moment of peace

"respect your shishu"

8. free day

blood | fake relationship

in the bamboo house

"why won't you look at me"

Rules

use any combination of prompts …or none at all! The prompts are just there for inspiration-create whatever your heart desires.

polyshipping is a-ok As long as Bingliu is the focus, polyamory and any background ships are fine.

any universe, any version of Bingliu Bingge and PIDW!LQG? Bingmei AND Bingge and SVSSS!LQG? Anything goes!

be 18+ to post nsfw This should hopefully go without saying.

any works created by you are eligible As long as it's yours and not created using AI tools, we're happy to share any form of creative content, including reposts of older works or continuations of WIPs.

tag possible triggers/squicks We're not here to stifle anyone's creativity, but if you're creating a work with themes that some might be uncomfortable encountering, please make sure to tag them and be specific-we won't be able to share works that aren't properly tagged. This includes, but is not limited to: Genderbend/Cisswap/Rule 63 Omegaverse/A/B/O Dub/non-con Underage Any "extreme" kinks, gore, and other tropes that are generally considered "Dead Dove"

[redhoodinternaldialectical]

The lantern corps vex me so fuckin greatly because they sound, on paper, like an AMAZING narrative vehicle, like holy shit yes!! Give me a set of super powers that corrospond to emotions!! With green will being courage, the mix between blue compassion and yellow fear!!!

And red can be anger so that you can get lots of stories about the complex nature of rage with it's pros and- sorry what was that? All the red lanterns are evil? Like all of them? Even the adorable kitty cat? They're not fit for a story using them to show the value of anger as an important part of the human experience? Mentally tracked and dominated cult doing Atrocitus' bidding?

Uh, well that's disappointing, what's Orange then? Greed? Also pure evil? Strange choice but okay...

Yellow is fear, right cool, so we can have things about overcoming fear? Yes? Awesome, good- oh wait there's massive implications here that the emotion itself is an inherently evil corrupting force. Well. I guess at least there's some stories that do something good with it.

Green Will, again, pretty great as long as we have that courage bit in there. Strong stuff over all, but kinda... Lacking in a lot of areas that interest me specifically.

Indigo Tribe, compassion, love it. Kinda sad it seems like not much has been done with them.

Star Sapphires are love... Sure I guess, little close to Indigo but- oh what's that? They're a near non-entity set of purely female characters that are weirdly sexual in a way that is unmistakably a result of systemic misogyny in the comic book industry? Wow. Uh. Okay. Don't like that.

Black is death, oohh neat! A combo of all the other emotions in order to produce grief? A complex exploration of the ever shifting nature of dealing with the sort of loss and mortality all people- oh they're all evil again. Anti-life equation. I see. Maybe this one's on me a lil bit for expecting anything better.

White lanterns of life. Look my goth little heart was never gonna like this one, that's just how it is!

And like the other main reading of it that I know of is that they're actually the Seven Deadly Sins

Red - Wrath

Orange - Greed + Gluttony

Yellow - Pride + Envy

Star Sapphires - Lust

Green - the willpower to deny the sins and remain virtuous

And this one... Tracks both better and worse and is basically garbage if you don't believe that the seven deadly sins are... Ya'know. Deadly. Or bad at all.

It's like they're SO CLOSE to being something I would desperately love to write about, but all of them fuckin fail at reflecting the parts of what each ring is about that actually interest me.

I would LOVE to slap a red ring on Jason except that 98% percent of the canon makes that fucking untenable.

And I dunno I just feel bad scrapping literally all of the lore out of the damn things just to make them work the way I want them to? Maybe I should make the fuckin Kiln Corps with fancy necklaces of emotional super powers lol

Anyways, please feel free to ignore my bitching and moaning, this is very much a bunch of my idiosyncratic personal preferences grinding against this uncomfortably

[miko32]

Born into the Seven Ruler's of Devildom

I was isekai'd to a world in a book. The title was "Kristin in the Harem of the Seven Demon Lords." Like its title, a human named Kristin was brought to Devildom against her will and had to survive through the temptation of the seven demon lords, who were brothers and avatars of the seven sins.

The seventh brother, Belphegor, the Avatar of Sloth.

The sixth brother, Beelzebub, the Avatar of Gluttony.

The fifth brother, Asmodeus, the Avatar of Lust.

The fourth brother, Satan, the Avatar of Wrath.

The third brother, Leviathan, the Avatar of Envy.

The second brother, Mammon, the Avatar of Greed.

The first brother, Lucifer, the fallen angel, the Avatar of Pride. My father. The one who succeeded in seducing the human Kristin and impregnating her.

I was in shambles with the ending. Lucifer had kicked Kristin out, banished to the swamp and died giving birth. The baby survived and was named Leilel by Kristin, and that baby is me.

I'm Leilel Morningstar, the child of Lucifer.

Chapter List

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Tag List

@f0uerleafedcl0ver , @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf

Chapter 7 --- The Demon Brothers

"Agh! I lost!" Levi exclaimed to his PSP.

"Yo! Lami! Hurry up!" Mammon called out.

I clicked my tongue. My feet are sore for standing in line too long. Walking back with my hands full with three lunch trays, trying to keep them balance. I must look ridicilous.

The good news is, Mammon hasn't figured me out. On the other hand, he's making me his lunch errand. At least they didn't order Carina to do so. They must be trying to gain her favors before dropping her off like garbage. That'll probably happen in a month or less.

I almost wobble at my feet as I arrived at their table. "Here's your TBL sandwich," I said to Mammon and Carina sitting side by side. Carina said her thanks. "Rainbow pizza?" I asked Leviathan who is sitting across, responded with a quick nod. I glared and put his rainbow pizza down. I sat down beside Carina.

I had hot spice slappy dragon meat. I savored my food, not feeling hungry. It was so uncomfortable to be sitting between two demons who hurt my mom and would do the same to me. My stomach was in knots, and I would've thrown up if I could.

"Agh!" Levi banged his PSP down. I almost choke when he fixes his gaze on me. "What's the swamp demon doing here?"

Excuse me? Who brought your pizza, sir? I kept my thoughts to myself and resumed eating.

“Levi! Don’t call her that; her name is Lami!” Carina scolded.

"Hah! Bet you she���s a normie," Levi says, taking a bite of his pizza, his eyes narrowing like a snake as if I'm the most disgusting thing in the world. "All normies look the same, boring."

I clench my hand. Leviathan is an avatar of envy, with a sharp tongue like a snake that would make a prideful man belittle themselves in a minute. He did the same with Kristin, just because she's a 'normie'. The first time they met, he was all mocking and saying mean words to her.

"Do you realize what just happened? Mammon sacrificed you to get away from me! Agh! Can't believe Diavolo let a dumb human live with us!

"Don't follow me! What would happen if someone saw me with YOU! A human who doesn't even look like an otaku, a DISGUSTING NORMIE!"

Leviathan pushes Kristin, his demon strength making her fly across the entrance.

*BANG!*

"KUGH!" Kristin's back hits the door, enough to knock the wind out of her lungs as she coughs from the impact.

Since then, Kristin had always questioned her self-worth, going as far as becoming an otaku like Leviathan by watching one of his favorite shows, The Seven Lords. In later chapters, Kristin gets to know the author that made Leviathan so jealous that he attacked her.

"I won't stand for this!" Leviathan mumbled, his eyes slinted behind his overgrown purple hair. "All you did was stay up one night marathon-ing the DVDs. And YOU'RE the bigger TSL fan than me?!"

An orange glow blasted through the room, causing Kristin to blink her eyes for a moment to see Leviathan in his demon form.

"I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIIIIS!!!" Leviathan's scream shook the room. Kristin was frightened and turned her back away.

Kristin shouted, "Mammon, hel—agh!" She felt her foot caught in something scaly. It was Leviathan's tail. Kristin screamed and she heard Mammon laughing.

"Come on, human, run! Try getting out of there! Ehehe," Mammon taunted, enjoying an ice cream with his brother Beelzebub.

I stared on my food as I went back to reality. Everytime I see the brothers, I can only remember the bad stuff.

Carina once again tried to defend me. “I’m sure Lami knows a bit of anime. Do you, Lami?” she asked, smiling brightly at me.

I looked away, ignoring her. Carina let out an ‘ah!’ of surprise. Leviathan laughed. “Ahaha! Knew it, I can smell a normie from a mile away.”

Ignore, ignore, just ignore it, Leilel.

“Shut up, Levi.” Mammon complains. “It’s not like Lucifer told ya to keep an eye on these two."

I choked on my meat, gasping for breath. "Ugh! Kogh! Uhuk! UHUK! UHUK!"

“Lami! Are you okay?” Carina asked, and I felt her patting my back.

"Oi, oi! Stop with the coughing! It's noisy!" Mammon complained.

I reach for my glass of water and drink. I gasped in relief, then I looked at Mammon in disbelief. "What-what do you mean by that?"

Mammon raised an eyebrow, leaning back with his arms behind his head. "Just making sure you're not the kind of demon who'll bring trouble for Lord Diavolo.”

I blinked confused. Then, I looked at Carina. Her eyes wide, playing with her fingers. “Oh, um, maybe it's because the other day we were discussing how Mephi-hmp!” Mammon closed her mouth with his palm. But I was sure she was saying Mephistopheles' name. Is this about the Cerberus Breeding warehouse? Was Lucifer suspicious?

"Hey." Mammon called, standing up from his chair and looming over me. I sat back in my chair, gulping down my throat. "If you do something suspicious," he chuckled, his voice low, carrying a hint of threat. "Things will get ugly, newbie."

I felt cold sweat on my forehead. My head was shouting for comfort. Don't worry, don't be afraid. It's alright. They don’t know.

Mammon sat back with a smirk. "Got it, newbie?" he asked, his teeth flashing. I gave a quick nod.

"Well, well, greeting my lords~"

I turned toward the voice. My eyes widened at the group of demons. Behind them was the demon who attacked me last night. I looked away, head down. My hands on my lap and their trembling. My whole body went to shut down.

"What do you want?" I hear Mammon asked the group.

"Nothing from you, Mammon. We just need to talk with this newbie,"

I felt someone touch my shoulder. I stood up from my chair, distancing myself. The group followed me.

"Whoa, hey, no need to be scared, newbie," the leader chuckled. "Just want to talk after what you did to my friend here." He pointed to the demon at the back, the one who attack me. He chuckled and licked his lips.

A chill ran down my spine as I stood frozen, like a deer caught in the headlights. The demon must have brought a group because it didn't expect my magic last night. I didn't even know how to use it, and now facing a group? What a coward.

"U-um, what-what do you want with my friend?" Carina asked, looking frightened at the group. The demons just glared down at her, the immense stare terrified her, and she bowed her head down. I glanced at Mammon and Levi, looking disinterested at us.

Of course. No one in this school will defend me. I'm only a new demon with no title, money, or name. I grabbed my wrist with Mephistopheles' seal on it. I don't know if it'll work, but I have to try.

“Fuck off.” Mammon suddenly stood from his chair, blocking the leader from me. My jaw dropped.

“Mammon.” The leader hissed.

"I said fuck off!" Mammon suddenly shout. "Lucifer asked me to keep an eye on her, and that's what I'll do until he's bored!"

Is that really a valid reason? What's wrong with him?

The group leader glared at me but decided not to fight it. "Very well." He luft his hand in surrender, turned back to his friend, and they were arguing.

I gulped. I'm sure they wouldn't let me go this easy. I want to go back to the swamp, now.

"Mammon!" Carina exclaimed, standing from her chair and hugging Mammon's upper hand. "That was amazing; did you do that for me~~?"

My jaw drop again. What the hell? What is she doing?! What the hell is she talking?! 

"Argh! Let go of me, human!" Mammon glared, pulling her arm and made her sit back in her chair. She let out a loud 'uf!', staring up at Mammon with disbelief. I rolled my eyes at the girl. What is she thinking? Did she really think Mammon did it for her sake? Really.

Though I don't know why Mammon defended me with such a weak excuse. If he wants to watch me, he doesn't need to do this. Then another surprise happens,

“Hey, wait a minute!” Mammon called for the demons again. He pointed to the demon who molested me. “What happened with you and the newbie?”

The demon in question stepped out of the group and yelled. “That bitch attacked me! In RAD’s dorm! She needs to be punished!”

The crowd began talking behind me. I could hear them snickering, cursing me.

What's worse was Carina staring up at me with disbelief and asking. "Lami, what did you do?"

My eyes widened at her question. The demon who molested me told her lies. That I attacked him first after coming back from detention. I clenched my hand, anger filled me. But my tounge felt like being held back, I can’t talk. What’s wrong with me?

The demons murmuring behind me getting louder and pressuring me. As if I'm the guilty demon. Hah.

“Oi, is this demon sayin' true?”

I look up at Mammon, the demon who asked me, the only one who seems to see through all this nonsense and genuinely inquire. Somehow, I summon a little strength to shake my head. But that's just it. He probably doesn't believe me anyway.

“Huh! I ain't lying!” the demon reached his hand toward me. My body can't move, I didn't do anything but stare at his disgusting hand.

BANG!

My eyes widened and I gasp. The demon face was shoved into the table, destroying it, with Mammon’s hand holding him down.

"KYAAA!!"

“Aaargh!!! WHAT ARE YOU…?!”

"Shut up." Mammon pressed the demon’s head, and he whimpered. His so-called friend stood still, looking amused. They seem to only care about their own amusement.

Levi snickered at the sight. “Mammon, Lucifer gonna be mad at you for destroying another RAD property~~”

“Whatever. This guy tryin’ to molest her, even Asmo hates this kind of thing.”

I blinked at his claim. No way. He's lying. Asmodeous is an avatar of lust. I've read all kinds of humiliation and harassment he did to Kristin. There's this one scene where Mammon and Asmo went out shopping, and he made Kristin run half-naked in the store. It was so embarrassing when I read that part.

"Ma-Mammon!" Carina stood from her chair, touching Mammon's shoulder. "Let's-let's all calm down-"

"Get away, human!" Mammon shouted at her, Carina stepped back. Then Mammon looked at me. “Oi. Ya wanna do something about this guy?”

My eyes widened, and I looked down at the demon, immobilized and weak. I absolutely have no idea why Mammon is helping me, serving me the demon who abused me, haunted me all day, on a silver platter. A new sensation overwhelms me. Shivers run down my spine as I look down at the demon. I no longer feel fear. But a chance, sweet chance of revenge.

“I have an idea.” I reached for the demon. He struggled for a bit, Mammon crashed his head again. The table could split. Suddenly Carina grabbed my wrist, I gasped and looked at her wide-eyed.

Her eyes were begging, telling me. "Lami, no."

I narrowed my eyes on her. How dare she? How dare this human say no, when she had no idea what I have been through. I pulled my hand away, but Carina wouldn't let me go. I had to slap her hand away with my other arm, telling her to back off. Carina looked at me as if I'm the most evil creature in the world. Well, I am half-demon. So may as well act like one.

I put my hands over his head and chanted a cursed spell. A purple glow flowed from my hand to the demon's head, Mammon let him go, letting him fall to the floor. He wheezed, shouting at me. “What did you do??”

I stood still and watched as it unfolded. The demon started to shake uncontrollably, terror settling in his eyes. Then he grunted, his cheek bubbling, holding on to his stomach. He threw up.

“Iuuu!” Mammon stepped away, kicking his shoe off.

The demon crawled in his vomit, looking wide-eyes at me with fear. He gasp, wobbling to stand on his feet and ran for the hills. I smirked and looked over at his friends. They just watch me, surprised.

One demon chuckled, saying, "Nice show, newbie," then turned their back and went their way, not caring for the demon I cursed. They must've followed him just to get a show of him torturing a low-born demon like I am.

I exhaled and sat down, exhausted. At the same time, I was satisfied. I chuckled and shook my head. I never felt this way over someone’s misfortune. Could it be genetic?

“What did you do to him?” Leviathan asked.

I looked at Leviathan and answered proudly. “Reverse trauma spell.”

Leviathan snorted. “Wow, Satan must’ve loved to see that.”

Ah man, did his genetic satanic pass through me?

"How could you do that?"

I heard Carina say that to me. I was going to reprimand her when I felt something hit me on the side of my head. "Ouw!"

It was Mammon who karate-chopped me. "What are you doing? Clean this mess and get me some water!" I blinked as his reversed attitude. "Black soda! My mouth's all dry defending you, so get moving!"

Ah, now this is the Mammon I know. I sigh and stand up again. "Yes, sir," I saluted and went away to clean the vomit and get Mammon’s soda.

End of Leilel's POV

Mammon watched the newbie walk away. Carina remained silent. Then Levi spoke. "You know, she's not her."

Carina looked up, wondering what he meant. She glanced over at Mammon, who was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. "I know that," he replied.

Levi frowned and cross his hands. "You know you haven't paid me back!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Leilel's POV

Just two more days until the weekend. I'll be home in the swamp, in the cabin with my Blops. I can't wait to vent to them all that happened: the anxiety, Mephistopheles, the demon who almost molested me, then I cursed him (Green and Blue will be so proud). And Mammon.

It just happened yesterday. It doesn't make sense for Mammon to defend me. There must be a reason. I did a little pry on him. Maybe he does know I'm Leilel and is trying to capture my heart. But all I got was a scold.

"Cause Lucifer told me to keep an eye on ya!" Mammon shouted, his finger poking my nose. "I only got two eyes for this stupid human and you! So don't trouble me, newbie!"

Then he ordered me to get another wolf sandwich. I had to wait in line and get into another fight for the sandwich again. My left shoulder is bruising.

Carina didn't talk to me after that. She didn't even look at me until we parted ways. I didn't care. As long as she leaves me alone, that's fine. If she wants to play saint in hell, that's her decision. I'm not here to be a saint; I'm here to escape. And I'm gonna make it.

I stop in front of my next class for the day, curse class. I gulp down my throat. The teacher for this class, was the fourth Lord, Satan. Words from the novel came into my mind.

“I will not help you!” Kristin argued. As soon as the words came out, a thunder-like sound inside the room made her scream.

Satan, the avatar of wrath, turned into his demon form. His face was full of anger. “You can't seriously reject me? You, a Human... REJECT ME?!”

In that scene, Satan was attempting to strike a deal with Kristin that would annoy Lucifer. This, of course, put Kristin in a tight spot. She went to his bedroom to refuse. Satan, as the demon of wrath, naturally grew angry and cursed her with pain every time she refused.

Her body jolted with electricity, rattling her bones and making her head spin and heavy. Kristin tried to breathe, but the magic seemed to restrict her lungs as well. She fell to the floor of Satan's room.

Satan loomed over her, a scowl on his face. No matter how painful it was, she still refused. Satan gritted his teeth. "Listen well, human! If you dare to say that you won't make a deal with me again, you'll pay for it with your-"

The door slammed, and Kristin found a tall man standing in her way. Lucifer. "Enough, Satan," Lucifer snapped his fingers, lifting all the curses within Kristin. She breathed deeply into her lungs. She stayed on the floor as Lucifer blocked her with his cape. "Kristin is our guest, whom Diavolo invited as part of our exchange program. I won't permit you to lay a hand on our exchange student."

"You-you'd actually step in to defend a human?! I had no idea you were such a sweetheart!!!"

I think after that, Lucifer and Satan somehow switch souls in their bodies? I don't remember. But I do remember the arc of this novel. Kristin made a bond with Lucifer, thinking that he might be genuine in her life. When he had other plans for her. Satan was only a minion in Lucifer’s plan to seduce Kristin. How come every time she’s in trouble, Lucifer was always there?

Satan is a demon who enjoys finding someone interested to play with before he devours them, much like a cat. All I need to do is stay low, keep everything to myself, and avoid standing out in his class. Easy peasy.

Maybe I said it too quick.

"Hi Lami!" Carina waved her hand at me.

I almost bit my tounge. Why is she here, acting like that? Not to mention sitting behind her are, Leviathan and the Gluttony demon, Beelzelbub!

"Hey, let me introduce you to the second student exchange, Mathieu!" she points to the pale boy with glasses. He yelped when I was only staring at him. Carina patted his back, convincing him to introduce himself.

"Hel-hello, you-you're Lami, yes?" Mathieu asked, fingers trembling as he fixed his glasses. I nodded, and he shrieked like a girl. It's understandable; he must be so frightened to be between demons. Mathieu gulped down his throat, sighing. "I'm Mathieu Winthrop, I'm actually a professor in the human world."

"Oh? What did you teach?" I asked.

"Eheheh, you'll be surprised," Leviathan suddenly said, who is sitting behind Carina. "Say it, Math."

Mathieu gulped down his throat. "Anthropology in... Religion,"

I blinked, a bit surprised. "Wow,"

"Despite his field, Mathiue didn't believe we were real." Beel said. My mouth open in 'oh'.

"LOL! LOL! I should've recorded your face the first time you arrive, you kept saying, 'this isn't real, this isn't reaaaaaaal! AHAHAH!" Leviathan laugh his eyes welled up with tears.

"Yeah, you were so pathetic back then," Beel comment with a straight face.

Mathiue bite his lower lips with wet eyes, holding back his cries. "I-I only want to get my third degree through this school so I... I didn't think..." Mathieu's lips trembled. I looked at him, feeling sympathetic.

Yeah, he's never gonna get that third degree. Just dead, probably, if the demon brothers are feeling merciful.

"Awww, come now, Mathieu." Carina stroked his back. "We're only going to be here for a year! Didn't you say you'll get a far deep research about demons? It's enough to get a quick thesis for your third degree in the human world,"

If you survive. I kept the thought to myself.

"Anyway, Lami, since you're so kind, maybe you can help Mathieu with an interview on how you've been living as the lowest demon in this realm."

My eyes widened at her statement. That's mocking, right? I glanced over at Leviathan, who was snickering in delight, while Beelzelbub just... stared. The novel mentioned he lacks expression. Carina smiled at me as if she didn't realize how insulting her words were. Is this what she's doing now, playing the mean girl? I stared at her, realizing what she truly is.

A bitch.

"Hey."

I turned around, and there at the teacher table, was Satan. "Class is about to start; take your seat." He gestured to the available seat. I nodded and sat the furthest away from Carina and the others.

"Alright, class," Satan began. "Since we have two humans present, I will explain a basic curse. All curses have the same qualifications, but different requirements in terms of the type of spell you're performing, the magical power you possess, and most importantly, how creative your mind is."

Satan continued his lecture as I mindlessly wrote in my notebook.

"Um, um, Lord Satan?" Mathieu ask a question. "What is this type of spell, Liliam?"

"Ah, Liliam, is Devildom's most ancient language," Satan explained. "It's another qualification to perform a curse. Whether or not you possess mana, you'll be able to create a powerful spell. Even breaking it requires speaking the language. Using Liliam could also enable you to control low-born demons and ghosts."

"Can you speak Liliam, Satan?"

"Of course I can. After all, the language of Liliam is something that cannot be taught. It is gifted directly by the heirs of Devildom."

"Oh yeah... that was after the Demon King assigned our sins, right?" Beel said.

"LOL! LOL! We don't even use it that much!" Leviathan exclaim. "What a useless language, hah!"

A few demons glared at Leviathan, but didn't say a word. Satan scowl at Leviathan, shook his head and continued. "All Seven Lords can speak Liliam. In addition to us, there's Barbatos, Mephistopheles, and of course, Lord Diavolo. No other demons can speak Liliam except us. Unless, of course, Lord Diavolo, as the heir of Devildom, decides to gift the language to a demon."

"Why is that?" Carina asked.

"The language Liliam was a weapon language used to fight the angels back when the demons were at war. The old Kings of Devildom gifted this language to the demons they deemed as loyal to the crown. Those who would continue to protect Devildom and its Royal Demons."

"Wow, so the demon king knew you would protect Devildom! So cool!" Carina exclaimed, clapping. I rolled my eyes in the back.

"Now, I would like to show you how we demonstrate curses. Since you two don't posses magic, Beel and Leviathan will show you. Beel, you'll pair with Mathiue and Carina with Leviathan." Satan gave a smile at Mathiue. "Don't eat him, Beel."

"Eeek!"

"Sure, I'll try."

"Le-le-let me be with Leviathan! PLEASE!"

I shook my head. Typical Satan to frighten his victim.

"And Lami!" I almost snap my quill as Satan called my name. "Why don't you come here in front of the class, I would like to see your magic."

My heart beating out of its ribcage, sweet forming on my forehead. Damn it! Why did he choose me?! "Ah, its-its not that great, I am only a demon from the swamp,"

"That's not what I saw when you cursed that demon from yesterday." Satan said and the whole classroom murmered.

Damn it. Did he saw that? Shit. I should've refrain myself. I had no choice and stand from my chair to the front chair.

Satan then tells Mathiue and Carina to find basic spell from their book. "Lami will too, then, we'll have a curse battle!" The students suddenly roars excited, like monkeys cheering for a banana.

"Hah? You want us to have a battle with this low-demon?" Leviathan asked.

"Yeah, she seem really weak,"

I frown and clench my hand at my side.

"That will depends with Mathiue and Carina, since you two will be assisting Levi and Beel. Make sure to find spell that isn't enough to kill her." Satan smirked at me, earning a chuckled from the students as they look at me pity.

Fuck you, Satan.

Satan clap his hand. "Chop, chop! Time start now!"

Satan gave us thirty minutes to prepare ourself. Then the classroom was shifted with two tables facing each other. A few different items on our table. The items are objects we're going to curse. I faced Mathiue and Beel first.

Mathiue push his glasses, pointing to my table. "Hear me, the-the eraser rests in that table..." Mathiue look at his book again. "May you... be cursed in the manner I desire!"

...

The classroom was quite. A demon yawns loudly.

"Be-Beel! Curse that eraser!"

"Nani?"

"Should-shouldn't you do as I say?"

Satan sighed, slapping his forehead. "Mathiue, you need to tell Beel what you desire from the eraser. Even if you perform the spell, he can't read your minds."

"Huh? Oh, um, uhh..."

"My turn," I spoke, and Mathiue gasped. "Each contestant gets their turn every time they cast their spell. So it's my turn!" Mathiue choked on his words. Satan and Beel didn't protest as I raised my hand. "Hear me, poisonous apple princess standing before me, pop!"

I snapped my fingers, and the apple exploded into mush, hitting Mathiue in the face and covering him in puree. He then dropped to the floor, asleep.

"DING! DING! The unexpected winneeeer! Lami!" Leviathan exclaimed like a football announcer. I smiled proudly while the whole class groaned disappointedly.

"Wow, that was quick," Satan said.

"The important thing in performing a curse is how creative your mind is," I repeated the words from Satan's lecture. Satan nodded, impressed.

"Me! Me! It's my turn!" Carina exclaimed, pulling Leviathan with her, while Beel took passed out Mathiue away. Carina whispered to Levi, his eyes widening in surprise. Carina smiled and pointed at me. "Heed my calls, I command the cape on Lami's shoulder!"

Leviathan made a gesture with his hand, and the red cape on my left shoulder moved, pulling me into a twirl. I was unprepared as my body followed my cape and tripped over my feet. "Wow!" I fell onto my knees, and the whole classroom laughed.

Satan clapped his hands. "Well done, Carina."

"Thank you, Satan."

I groaned on the floor, looking under Carina's table at her fancy black shoes. I smirked at an idea. Without standing up, I called out, "Heed my calls, I command Carina's shoes to DANCE TAP!"

Carina yelped as her feet were swept up in a whirlwind of motion. Her legs moved in a loud tap, tap, tap, spinning and twirling her in perfect harmony as her upper body tried to keep up.

"Agh! Help me!" Carina yelled, while the demons just laughed at her. I shamelessly smiled at her suffering. "Levi! Help! Eek!"

"What do you want me to do?" Leviathan asked, his face bored, arms crossed.

Satan chuckled. "Carina, you need to reverse the spell. Just say the command word to stop your shoes." Carina huffed as her feet jumped, and she almost stumbled. I rolled my eyes. If Carina stopped the spell, it would be my turn to cast the next curse. I'd win this easily and quickly.

Carina struggled to look into her books, urging Leviathan to prepare himself. He rolled his eyes, holding up a finger. Carina exclaimed, "Hear me, body and soul of the demon before me, reveal nothing but the TRUTH!"

Leviathan pointed his finger and cursed me. I gasped, closing my mouth.

"Oh wow, a curse command! Good job, Carina!" Satan complimented. "A curse that is placed within a body can only be reversed by the caster, so Lami can't reverse it or wait until the spell subsides."

...What.the.fuck.

Fuck! Why did she choose this spell?! If I remember correctly, this kind of spell lasts at least five minutes. I can't do that! What if they ask about my origin?! I would spill everything, including my relationship with Lucifer! Damn it!

"Aha! Now this is my favorite part, Lami!" Leviathan called out, while Carina still tap-danced. "What are your most embarrassing moments?"

I shook my head, but my hand released my mouth, and I exclaimed, "I once walked in on the library owner, Melril, doing it with another demon from behind, and I passed out for a week!" I gasped and closed my mouth again.

The whole class laughed, and I felt a red-hot embarrassment creeping up my neck. Oh no, Melril's gonna kill me.

"Pfft! Haha! You passed out?! LOL, last time I walked in on that, I didn't come out of my room for a year!"

Satan grimaced, eyebrows knitting together in a frown. "Yes, yes, we know that, Levi."

"Ah, was it that time when Lucifer and Kri-"

"SHUT UP, BEEL!" Satan and Leviathan shouted.

"CAN SOMEONE HELP ME!" Carina pleaded as she continued her tap dance. She fell out of exhaustion, sprawled on the floor as her feet continued moving in a frenzied dance.

I glared at her. She deserved this. It's my turn, and I cast a spell on myself. "I command my body, mind, and soul to keep silent." My lips closed together tightly, as if being sewn shut. I wouldn't be able to cast my next spell, but I'd rather lose this than lose my life.

"Aww... no fun," Leviathan blow his mouth, and I glared. Was this his doing just to make me spill my most embarrassed moments?

FUCK.YOU. LEVIATHAN.

Then, the moment I'd been waiting for arrived—the bell rang.

RRRIIING!

YES! Thank you, LORD!

"Alright, I guess that's enough for today," Satan said, raising his finger and looking at Mathiue, who had just woken up. "Mathiue, since I'm kind, I'll show you how the Liliam language works." Satan smirk as he turned to both Carina and me. "Jeheyegeys!"

Instantly, the curses placed on me and Carina lifted with just a simple word. I exhaled, relieved that the truth curse was gone.

"Lami," Satan called, and I flinched. He smile with his eyes closed. "Arrange the seats back. Even though you defeated Mathiue and Carina, they don't have the strength to do so." He pointed to Carina passed out. Mathiue was holding his ears with a pale face. Of course, Satan didn't warn that when a human hears Liliam, it could hurt them.

I frowned but nodded my head. The rest of the students left for the next period. I stood at my table, waiting for everyone to clear out, including the demon lords and the exchange humans. I heard Leviathan taking Methiue to the infirmary and that's it.

When the classroom was empty, I let out a long sigh, my legs trembling; I could fall at any moment. At least I survived for today. That's all I need to care about for now. I turned my back to the tables to arrange them back.

"So, Lami," I turned around, eyes wide at Satan leaning on the doorframe. I thought I saw him leave! "You quite have the talent for cursing, huh?"

I gulped, gripping my hand on the table. "Just a few, to protect myself." My mouth felt dry. I imagine the scene he electrocuted Kristin. Shiver of fear ran down on my spine. As long as I obeyed, he wouldn't do anything, right?

I hear Satan chuckled. "No need to be frightened. I'm just fascinated that a low demon like yourself has talents."

I nodded, quickly continued my work. I needed to get this done.

"By the way, were you the one who gave Mephistopheles the whereabouts of the Cerberus Breeding warehouse?"

"Yes," I gasped and closed my mouth. Why did I tell him that? I was going to say no, but my mouth came out... Wait, was the truth curse still on me? I turned around and shivered. Satan smile stretched like a sinister, radiating chilling aura that sent shiver down my spine.

"Oh? So, you did, Aha ha ha." Satan laughed, hand over his chin. "Good thing I suggested to Carina that spell."

It was HIS doing?! Oh no. How? When?! My mind went blank, my feet moved to the door. I grabbed the handle, and it was locked. I held my breath, heart beating fast with fear. I back tremble as I felt Satan's stare with malevolence.

“Lami,”

Satan was whispering in my ear. I crashed into the doors. Since when did he approach me? Satan smile with his eyes closed. Something dark looming over jhis face. My heart thudded heavily in my chest. I knew then, his going to make me spill out every secret I had. My real identity, my name, my blood relation.

My Blops.

“Why are you so scared? I’m only curious.”

I look away, unable to look at him anymore. No, no, no! Please.

Satan stared at me with a frown. “Lami, are you-”

NO!! Someone help me!

BAM!

We both looked over to the open door. I gasped. It was Mephistopheles.

Mephisto eyes are on me, offering his gloved hand. “Lami,” he whispered my name so sweetly. All I saw was Mephisto, my savior, and I jumped into his arms.

"Lami?"

I realized Carina was waiting outside the class. Then Mephistopheles pulled me to hide behind him.

“Satan, you’re a demon lord, isn’t it petty to bully a lower demon like her?”

"Bully?" Carina asked Satan, leaning on the doorframe. Satan glared at Carina to back down, she lower her head.

“A lower demon?" Satan chuckled with a sneer, turning toward Mephisto. “I’m only curious about this newbie who has information regarding the Cerberus Breeding.”

Mephistopheles looked down at me, no expression. But I felt like he was disappointed in me. I looked down at the floor, ashamed of myself.

“Lami,” Satan called me again, and I cowered, looking over Mephisto's hand. Satan gave me a smile. “I am curious as to what knowledge you hold.”

I just stared at him, shivers running down all over my body. I felt like passing out right there in the hallway. Then I felt Mephistopheles grab my hand tightly, pulling me with him.

“We'll be on our way," Mephistopheles said. I followed him and never looked back. I was afraid if I did, Satan would be able to read my deepest, darkest secret.

[alexeeeeeeeeeee]

Lesson One | Welcome to Devildom!

| 1 | Royal Academy of Diavolo

'Where am I...?'

…

In a dream.

Because there was no other reasonable explanation for the fact that Goh was currently standing dumbfounded in a huge medieval-looking courtroom, being stared at by several men claiming to be demons.

'Demons. Ha.'

Was this a joke? Was he high? Even though he didn’t remember ever taking that kind of substance in his short life, maybe the stifling air of his small room in the university residence had made him dizzy enough to hallucinate things...

''... though we just call it RAD. You're standing inside the assembly hall, the very heart of RAD. This is where we officers of the student council hold our meetings and conduct our business.''

'Officers of... the student council? Is this a school?'

Goh had barely registered one piece of information that ten others popped up and assailed him with nonsense. A demon realm? A prince? What was his name again? Diavolo? One of the other men present explaining to him that Goh had been summoned into the Devildom as an exchange student aiming to complete an exchange program between a Celestial Realm and the human world? A man who actually happened to be Lucifer, Avatar of Pride?

'What the... Wait no, don't come any closer!... Stop talking already... A YEAR!?'

Oh, and now Lucifer (?) was handing him what looked an awful lot like an iPhone − a... D.D.D.? − and was informing him that it would be used to communicate with them and to invoke magic cards via a magic virtual book that would allow him to fight against other demons to strengthen his soul.

'Please, Goh, just wake up already... all this seems way to lucid for me to be reassured that nothing's real.'

...

Looked after by the Avatar of Greed, Lucifer's (?) brother?

Why didn't it sound promising?...

| 2 | The Seven Brothers

''So, what business does a human got with THE Mammon?''

''You'll... apparently be in charge of me from now on.''

''No way! There's nothin' in it for me.''

Great.

So one of the little brothers of Lucifer (?) had already some beef against him because his older brother obliged him to take care of the human.

The three other men in the courtroom were apparently also siblings of Lucifer (?), the gorgeous champagne-haired being the Avatar of Lust, Asmodeus (?); the passive-aggressive blond, the Avatar of Wrath, Satan (?); the giant and hungry redhead, the Avatar of Gluttony, Beelzebub (?).

'Aren’t Lucifer and Satan supposed to be the same being? Also, those Avatar Lords seem to embody the seven deadly sins, which means there must be two other brothers for envy and sloth…'

Goh had a really hard time trying to correctly understand the situation, and he was still not completly sure whether all this circus was reality, but since taking the phone − the D.D.D. −, he had this uncomfortable feeling that he might not be dreaming.

After all, the device felt pretty real to him.

Heavy, even.

As the presence of the five men (?) around him. He didn't feel extremely safe with them near him, even though Diavolo said that the brothers were going to protect him of potential demons disagreeing with the prince who might try something against him to screw things up.

Thus, Goh would have to live with them in the House of Lamentation.

And thus, Goh needed to collect as much informations as he could. Because if this interdimensional exchange program was his new life − for a whole year −, he needed to be prepared.

Had to be prepared.

Otherwise, there was a possibility that he could never be able to return to his normal life.

And maybe that the courtroom door presently opening would be one of the first danger that he would need to be aware of.

| 3 | Mammon, Avatar of Greed

Goh was so screwed.

He was definitely not dreaming.

The rush of fear that he felt as Mammon approched him and grabbed his shirt before ordering to give him all his money was way to real to only be a construction of his imagination.

Goh tried hard not to show any emotion, like he'd been doing since he'd become aware of his surroundings, as the tan-skinned and silver-haired demon was threatening to eat him right in front of his face, but it was a bit difficult when a fiery blue-green gaze and a hot breath were assailing him.

He got even more convinced that all what was happening was reality when Lucifer hit Mammon hard enough to let go and to cause him and the human he has been holding to stumble a few steps from the shock of the impact.

At this, Goh couldn't help but surreptitiously widen his eyes, momentarily stunned by the raw strength the demon was capable of displaying.

'I'm going to die. Protected? Hell, those brothers will be the cause of my death!'

Even though he had just been kind of attacked − technically, the demon hadn’t touch him −, the human felt a little confused when Satan revealed that Mammon really only cared about the money of someone, not the someone in question, because the bad feeling that was swarming tirelessly in the depths of his gut seemed to lighten a little when Goh's shaken mind had witnessed Mammon's reaction to Asmodeus' derogatory remark : the Avatar of Greed hadn't respond by making use of this threatening aura that Lucifer and Satan had released a little earlier when the latter was presented.

Even though the silver-haired demon obviously cared a lot about money − Satan called it ''grimm'', right? −, the human was able to perceive that he was also capable of restraint.

From the way Mammon's brothers − minus Beelzebub − insulted him without flinching, Goh deduced that this was the usual way of treating the second eldest.

Second eldest who, if one followed a logic of power scale, must have been the second strongest of the siblings, just after Lucifer.

At second glance, Mammon appeared to be a free spirit, thus explaining why he didn't look eager to personally take care of Goh during his stay in the Devildom, but maybe he was really not the worst protector that could be.

'I guess he looks more reasonable and sincere than Satan, Asmodeus or Lucifer... As for Beelzebub, I think that if I don't touch his food, he should leave me alone. Maybe I can survive this... I just have to not get involved in things that don't concern me and I should be fine. I think... I hope.'

''Alright, human, listen up. As much as I don't want to look after you, I've got no choice. So in return, you better make sure you don't cause me any trouble, got it?''

A bit calmer than five minutes ago, Goh took a few seconds to size up his interlocutor, the demon's blue-green eyes glinting mostly with annoyance and resignation, but also with a spark that he could describe as curiosity.

Relaxing his imperturbable expression a little, Goh nodded, thus sealing their future collaboration.

| 4 | Good Luck

''Humans, angels, demons, I imagine a universe where each accepts the other. Where we are brought together as friends. This is my dream, and I'm asking you to be the foundation for it.''

'Talking about an utopia...'

It wasn't like Goh was mad at them for kidnapping him without any warning only to throw him into this whole new and dangerous world, no : he was just internally furious and worried and so, so lost.

He was just a random university student, with common short and messy brown hair and even more common chocolate brown eyes. He wasn't tall, nor was he small, he wasn't particularly fit − just the right healthy shape to make his body work.

He was a nobody amongst nobodies.

Not even thirty minutes ago, he had been in his campus dorm, reading an anthropology book while trying to not suffocate from the late summer heat − nothing that was most normal and banal in his eyes.

But now...

The human let out a soft, tired sigh, a certain weight hunching his shoulders forward as Mammon guided him out of the room.

Even when he was little, Hugo Yatsurugi had never been the type of boy who believed in fairy tales or monsters under the bed. No, he had always been a down-to-earth, very curious child.

The mysteries of the world had fascinated him for a long time now, and it was human beings that had particularly caught his attention.

After all, what a strange creature this abstract life form was. Coming from the hominid family, humans had progressed from primate to the modern individual that they now boast of having reached in approximately seven million years. A lot of work and transformations to proclaim themselves master of the Earth.

Younger, the brunette had always wondered how the human mind developed and how it was really made. It was his curiosity about psychology and anthropological behavior that led him to study history and observe people. This was how he discovered his ''passion''.

Analyze, decode, then try to help if he could.

Neither Goh nor those around him understood why he had fallen for such a hobby. After all, as a kid, he hadn't been the most sociable of the classes he had been through, content to stay away.

But he seemed to always have had a soft spot for human beings in general. Even though the young man knew full well that the world he lived in was doomed to destruction because of human impetuosity and stupidity, he wanted to be able to relieve his specie of the scourge with which it had burdened itself.

As a human himself, Goh had come to believe that nothing and no one could dethrone the superpredator that they were. Obviously, he'd been wrong all along. Angels and demons now had to be added to the balance.

And this reversal of forces changed absolutely everything.

Especially for someone as realist as Goh.

As the human was crossing a paved street, he took advantage of the fact that Mammon was walking a few steps ahead grumbling under his breath, to allow genuine surprise to appear on his face when a bracelet adorned with a pendant representing Capricorn came to life with a will of his own and wanted to follow him, simply held back by the turnstile on which it was attached.

When the brunette was suddenly called − summoned? − to the council room of RAD, he felt immensely scared and confused, thinking he was going crazy.

Now, he just felt concerned, anxious.

And the fact that he only felt like that not even an hour after this whole traumatic experience and discovery destabilised him even more.

Taking his eyes off the rustic decor of the shops and restaurants − taverns? − of the Devildom, Goh let his blunt gaze land on the demon before him and frowned softly as his heart skipped an uneasy beat.

'Why does it feel like a... déjà-vu?'

| 5 | The House of Lamentation

Goh expected that the residence of the seven brothers would be able to accommodate him and them, but he didn't think that the house would actually be a mansion.

Huge, noble and austere, the old building seemed to have two floors, although the human managed to distinguish a third which must served as an attic. Several lights were on, informing the brunette of the presence of someone inside. Probably the two brothers who had not been present during the small welcome assembly.

''That rotten bastard... Does he really think he can scare me into doin' whatever he wants?''

'Ah, so he was complaining all along...'

Mammon suddenly turned around, almost making the young man who was following him trip.

''Just so we're clear... it's not like I can't say no to Lucifer, okay? I only agreed to babysit you because, um... Well you know, because... uh...''

'Because...?'

''Anyway, it doesn't matter! Just don't go thinking that I'm scared of Lucifer or anything! Because I'm not!''

''I know.''

It wasn't the first time the student had faced people like the Avatar of Greed, those who turned a blind eye and said the complete opposite of what they thought to keep face. The best way to ensure that a conversation went well with this type of person was to go their way.

Delighted that their interlocutor was of the same opinion, they would automatically be more at ease.

''... Oh. Okay then, as long as we've got that straight.''

Goh was treated to a discreet glance that he could have missed if he hadn't been so attentive and observant by nature. Just after, Mammon turned around and pulled down the handle of the large double doors.

''... Ugh, whatever. Let's move on.''

An imperceptible smile stretched Goh's lips for the first time since he was in the Devildom. He was happy to have managed to understand part of the behavior of his protector in such a short time.

It could be useful to him later.

Following the demon and leaving the darkness of the night for the light of the residence, astonishment quickly took place on the young man's face as the entrance hall presented itself to him.

Listening absently to Mammon while detailing the place, he learned that the House of Lamentation was actually a dormitory reserved for members of the student council − minus Diavolo, who had his own castle − and that others like it existed all around RAD. From what the human understood, the student council acted as a sort of Congress.

As to whether the power of Diavolo and the brothers extended beyond the academy, the brunette suspected that it was the case, if only with the title of crown prince of Diavolo.

'Which means that these guys are really big shots here...'

''Hey, don't just stand there with you jaw open. Hurry up, or I'm gonna leave ya behind.''

The student noticed with surprise that his inspection of the entrance hall had absorbed him more than he would have expected, Mammon having had time to start taking the corridor which led to the rest of the ground floor.

It's while joining him at a small trot that Goh's chocolate eyes were attracted by a bulletin board where several sheets of part-time job offers were pinned.

''If there's something you wanna ask me, you'd best do it now.''

''What are your hobbies?''

The young man wanted to see if the question would destabilize him. Testing his reactions was a good way to establish the limits that should not be crossed to avoid really annoying him by accident. In addition, it would allow him to better understand the character who would serve as his bodyguard for the coming year.

''Hobbies? Pff, I don't have any... Wait, how about this : I like taking it easy, laughing, and having fun! That's my hobby! Eh, though I guess that's more like a 'lifestyle' than a hobby, huh?''

Maybe it was because of his cooperative reactions, but the human didn't expected the tan-skinned demon to be this easy to talk to.

At first glance, the brunette only saw the snappish character of the Avatar Lord − the fact that his first gesture was to grab him by the collar perhaps had something to do with it −, but when Mammon appeared comfortable in a situation, it seemed easier for him to express his true feelings.

''Anyway, I was actually asking if you had questions about life here at the dorm. I don't get why you wanna talk about me...''

'I don't know when I'll be able to know more about you, or if I'll be able to. I can learn about the Devildom whenever I want.'

''But I'm gonna give you a piece of advice, so listen up.''

The silver-haired stopped moving forward and Goh had all the difficulty in the world to stop to avoid hitting him. His chocolate irises were suddenly anchored in the blue-green eyes of his interlocutor and the serious and harsh look that the demon gave him made him swallow in spite of himself.

Their involuntary proximity already made him insecure, and the fact that Mammon began to tap his chest with his index finger, as one did when one wanted to threaten someone, did not help to calm his growing anxiety.

''If you wanna survive even a day here in the Devildom, you'd better listen real close to what I'm about to say. If it ever looks like a demon is about to attack you... run away.''

Lowering his arm, the Avatar of Greed turned again to resume walking, apparently not noticing the stress he had just put the human through.

''Either that, or die.''

Slightly frowning, the brunette couldn't help but think that this advice was worth gold.

Of course, here, he was just a weak human at the mercy of an entire country filled with seemingly man-eating demons.

No way he would do otherwise.

''How about this? I vote for you to die, Mammon.''

'... Huh?'

| 6 | Leviathan, Avatar of Envy

COMING SOON...

| 7 | The Tale of the Seven Lords

COMING SOON...

__________________ 🕯 __________________

[stories-and-chaos]

Tarnished pt 32

[Helluva Boss AU where Blitzø’s childhood theft from Stolas’ palace is discovered and major consequences ensue for everyone involved.]

[Part 32/?? Word count: 978]

—————

Blitzø waited for Barb after group therapy as usual, iced coffees ready. His twin had been quieter when they met up after the Harvest Moon Festival and he was worrying that he’d fucked things up again. How he didn’t know but that didn’t stop the anxiety. His leg wouldn’t stop jiggling unless he focused on staying still. But when he did that his tail whipped wildly instead. Eventually he started pacing around their usual bench as he tried to keep the thoughts of fucking up creep into his head. They had barely rebuilding their relationship and the idea of Barb hating him again was terrifying.

“You good Blitzø?” Barb’s question made him yelp and jump into the air, landing on all fours in a defensive crouch.

“Fucknuggets Barb! Gimme some warning before you spook me like that!” Indignant, Blitzø straightened up and dusted off his jacket.

His twin, the brat that she was, just laughed at him. “Not my fault you can’t pay attention. How the fuck do you play bodyguard when you’re that oblivious?”

Blitzø glared at her as he held out her coffee. She was joking around with him, which eased some of his nerves. “Hey, I’m super fucking focused when I’m working. Not working, so I don’t gotta be crazy alert.”

Barb waved a dismissive hand as she sipped the drink. “Ah, that’s the good stuff. Better than the artificial sweetener crap they make in Greed. Though they make a fucking awesome hot black coffee that’ll wake up exterminated Sinners.” She took a lounging seat on the bench, gesturing for her brother to join her.

He did so, his stiff posture a sharp contrast to her relaxation. She raised an eyebrow at how rigidly uncomfortable he looked. “Seriously, you good there Blitzø?”

Best to get this over with. Though her being pissed off at him seemed less and less likely. “You’ve been super quiet lately so I keep thinking I fucked up somewhere.”

“Ha! Blitzø, you really think I wouldn’t say to your face if you had? We’re doing okay so far, but I’m not gonna let you off the hook for any fuckups.” Her bluntness made him sigh in relief. “Just had something on my mind. But maybe you can help with that. Make up for your mopeyness.”

He agreed to try, feeling all his muscles go to jelly now that he knew she didn’t hate him again. Barb was quiet for a few moments, drinking her coffee as her eyes looked into nothingness. She pulled out a small notebook, scraps of papers stuck between the pages. After she flipped through a few pages to get her thoughts in order, she looked into the distance again.

“How hard is it to get angelic weaponry?” was her surprising question. At Blitzø’s confused look she elaborated. “I’ve never seen any until recently. I thought they were pretty pricey…”

“Pricey is an understatement. Stolas’ sperm donor passed down at least one blessed knife to him.” He rubbed his neck, trying not to remember that night. “There’s Carmine, an Overlord that deals in the stuff but it comes from what Exterminators leave behind. I hear it’s a pain in the ass to remake angelic steel into guns and bullets without offing yourself. So yeah, shit’s expensive. Why’d you ask? I can’t get you any, if that’s what you’re hoping for. I don’t even have any and that’s with access to Floof’s money.”

Barb’s face twisted into a scowl as the implications of an imp owning more than one blessed weapon sank in. No ranch hand needed that sort of firepower. And she highly doubted ranching would pay for that. “Not for me dumbass, what would I use it for?” She flipped to her sketches of Striker’s pistols and knife grip. “That imp from Wrath, Striker? He’s got at least a blessed knife and two pistols.” Barb handed the notebook to her twin adding, “don’t you dare flip through it.”

Blitzø, about to do just that, froze with a guilty expression. He confined himself to just the open pages. The wing motif on the gun grips definitely looked like Carmine weaponry. Moxxie would know for sure. His employee could probably tell him the caliber, production run, and all sorts of useless information from the decal alone.

“How’d you find this out? I didn’t see anything like this on him at the festival.” And if Striker had these during the Harvest Moon, he'd have been a major threat to Stolas. Blitzø had a chilling realization that he hadn’t been as proactive a bodyguard as he needed to be.

“I got a couple glimpses of the knife during the Pain Games. A cowboy with angelic steel seemed fishy so I went out with him. We fucked and I saw the guns in his jacket.”

Blitzø gave her an approving nod and a fist bump. “He’s pretty hot, possibility of hit man aside. Nice score sis.” With her permission, he took a picture of the pages using his phone. “And yeah, doing ranch work in Wrath can’t afford these. If he’s packing these at public festivals and date nights, who knows what he’s up to.”

Standing up, he handed Barb her notebook. “Hey. Uh… thanks. For… finding this out. You stuck your neck out for me. So, yeah…” Blitzø trailed off, mentally kicking himself for the awkwardness of his thanks.

“You’re welcome.” Barb tossed their coffee cups before giving him a light punch. “I just got my brother back. No one else gets to fuck with you. Doesn’t make up for the mediocre lay, but whatcha gonna do?”

Blitzø punched her back. “How about we get Loona and Dina and I treat you to dinner? Your pick.”

“Oooo, there’s a place that makes a ‘better than sex’ cake a couple blocks down. Get a couple blowjob shots, I think that’ll cover things.”

—————

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[thevampiricnihal]

Nihal’s Seven Deadly Sins

Because even “good girls” can sometimes be “bad”.

Pride:

“From Mlle de Courton, who began, ’but my child, please, consider…’ to Şayeste and Nesrin who murmured their approval as they passed her, everyone was a witness to her injustices; seeing the girls siding with her gave an even meaner aspect to her behaviour, and she was disgusted to see herself sunk to their level.”

(Chapter 13) (italics mine)

Greed:

“‘I will admit,’ she said. ‘I think there may be one reason to become a bride: jewels!.. You don’t know, papa, how I was growing giddy with my tears, that day. It was as if all of the diamonds, emeralds, rubies were entering my veins, and making me dizzy. Everyone was wearing them…’ Then, blushing a little to cover the embarrassment of this confession, she was gazing at her father with smiling eyes, and saying, ‘in particular there was someone, you know who, who was wearing a set of emeralds…’” (…)

“One morning, Nihal entered her father’s study laughing, half-concealing a small piece of paper in her hand. Bihter was dusting the pictures on the wall with a little feather duster. Nihal drew close to her father, still laughing, and showed him the piece of paper from afar, then she withdrew it, as if afraid that it would be snatched up.

‘What is that, Nihal?’

Nihal flung her arms wide open. ‘An enormous bill,’ she said.

Now Adnan Bey was laughing, too. Nihal had come to ask for money. She explained the matter to her father. They had done this together with Mademoiselle. There were so many things — little Nihal had so many wants. She looked at the paper and counted them off on the fingers of her father’s hand, folding them one by one. First, there were shoes to be bought, one; her gloves had burst, they were to purchase those, two… The shopping list was growing. Nihal, with the sauciness particular to children who were not accustomed to having their wishes refused, was saying, ‘see? There are enough things to merit stealing a fiver from your wallet.’”

(Chapter 13) (italics mine)

Sloth:

“Mlle de Courton was made uncomfortable most of all by this. She could not be successful in making Nihal write out her grammar or to play exercises on the piano for half an hour straight. The lessons were always composed of parts fragmented by interruptions.”

(Chapter 3)

Wrath:

“No words came out of her mouth, but she was glaring at Bihter with a hatred that was hot with the fire of her rage. Suddenly, she burst out, ‘but you, why are you interfering, if you please? Doubtless you tricked Bülent with your lying smiles… There, you are laughing again, but I know now, do you understand, I know your smiles, there is something poisonous in them. Those around you are all poisoned by you. Bülent was sent to school because of you, that child was cast aside for you, and now he is thrown out of his sister’s room too. Where are you throwing him? In the selamlık? [9]

Bihter was listening with a pained smile. ‘Aren’t you being unfair, Nihal?’ she said in a quiet voice. ‘Why are you talking in a way that you will regret in five minutes? Think, Nihal! Bülent could not sleep in your room anymore. It would be contrary to custom.’

‘No,’ Nihal was exclaiming. ‘Lies! You’re lying!’

Her thin, feeble body was shaking uncontrollably, her lips had gone white, there was a catch, a screeching whistling in her voice. ‘These are all done for no reason but to torment me, do you understand? To torment this girl who is now unwanted in this house. Only confess, why are you trying to hide it? You want to separate me from everyone, to leave me all alone, that is what you have been trying to do since you arrived.’

Bihter was pale, biting her lips as she listened. She had never seen Nihal in such a state, she had turned into a spiteful girl, talking in a voice hoarse with rage, without thinking, without wishing to listen to anything that was said.

Suddenly, she drew even closer to Bihter. ‘What were you saying a moment ago?’ she asked. ‘You are mistaken. I only regret the things I haven’t said to you until now. I never loved you, I could not love you. I hate you, do you hear? Nothing but hate!’”

(Chapter 13) (italics mine)

Gluttony:

“As if being loved as much as she was did not satisfy her soul, she would become a pestering child in order to be loved even more.”

(Chapter 3)

Lust:

“As Behlül had leaned in to speak, his breath had stroked Nihal’s cheek with a warm touch, for a second only. Nihal, for the first time, drew back with an involuntary nervous recoil. A feeling peculiar to young girls who see, in a brief flash of understanding, that their identities have evolved into womanhood, had frightened her. With a slight blush, she laughed as she replied.”

(Chapter 17)

Envy:

“Bihter was standing before her mirror, taking out her jewels. Following her marriage, Adnan Bey had gifted her a delicious emerald set that she had not yet found an opportunity to wear. Nihal had not seen it, but had heard about it from the girls. How much had they said it was? It had been bought for a price that the servants thought extravagant. Nihal had only a pair of earrings in her ears, each with a small stone at the centre surrounded by tiny pearls. Many times she had intended to ask Bihter to see the emeralds, but every time the fear of appearing jealous had prevented her.

Doubtless she was jealous, not only of these, but of the smallest things which crushed her wretched soul in perpetual torments. Nihal had come to know the feeling well. What made her jealous was not the things themselves, but their meaning, yes, that her father forgot her and thought always of this woman.

Today, when for the first time in her life she was happy with the excitement of attending a wedding, something snapped inside her at the sight of the red velvet box that Bihter had left unopened on a couch.

Now Adnan Bey was opening the box, and showing a piece that could be used as both a brooch and a comb, was asking Bihter, ‘are you going to put it in your hair, my love?’

Nihal escaped.”

(Chapter 12) (italics mine)

This was surprisingly easy to make.

@struttingstreets @the-mad-woman-in-the-attic @princesssarisa

[honey-minded-hivemind]

To hellborn and sinners. Fallen Angel! Is the scariest thing in Heck. They have the demonic powers of the first resident and ruler of Heck, the primordial powers of an ancient Angel, and the political power of a strong monarch. Reader could obliterate everyone in heck if so desired.

Luckily. Reader doesn't and is actually a pretty good ruler, so citizens respect the crap out of them.

The yans get to see that while getting a tour of Hell.

The adults, for once in their long lives, don't have any duties to attend to, so they just.. follow reader around. Reader figures they might as well attend to their societal and business duties while showing everyone around, since Pentagram City isn't the best first impression of Heck.

First they have a meeting with the Wrath's Farmer's Union. Everyone bows, curtsies, and kneels at reader and kisses their chubby little hand. They insist on calling them "Your Majesty" and other titles even when Reader tells them their name is just fine.

Then, they attend a show in Greed, where they are given a private box with the best view. Imps and succubi can be seen staring and snapping photos of Reader to post to Penstagram, bragging that everyone who bought the more expensive evening tickets missed out on watching the show with the Ruler of Heck themselves!

Lunch is in Gluttony, where Reader needs a booster seat to reach their food. While the yans coo and pinch their cheeks, the imp water politely says nothing and gets a giant tip.

The afternoon is spent checking up on the theme park Reader set up. The teens insist on riding every ride, and everyone is ecstatic to find they have a Build-a-Reader store in the park, where you can build a plush version of Reader and put cute little outfits of them. (Reader sheepishly admits the outfits are based off the ones in their closets and the girls now want a fashion show when they get home)

Everything is great until they have a meeting with the overlords in Pentagram City. The yans immediately notice Reader is on guard now.

The overlords are just so slimy! When the imps in wrath kissed their hand and kneeled, Reader helped them up and told them it was unnecessary. The overlords get a cold stare as they try to brownnose their way into Reader's favor, since they know they will never be as powerful. Having Reader as a potential ally is the next best thing!

The yans are glad when the meeting is over.

They're so relieved when Reader ends the meeting, quickly excusing themself and giving a quick praise of, "Good job, my dears, excellent work, now its back to the grind, isn't it, toodles~!"

The platonic yans don't think they've seen Reader move so fast or look so uncomfortable. This IS their realm, and so far everyone respects them, fears them, bows and shakes in awe and astonishment! But those overlords were so, so... slimy! Gross! Creepy! No wonder Reader wanted to leave as soon they entered the room!

The teens try to distract Reader by doing a fashion show, watching as Reader shows off their vast collection of ballgowns, tuxedos, business suits, sweaters, crop tops, bedazzled jeans, high heels, flats, tennis shoes, boots, gloves, earrings, necklaces, brooches, rings, anything and everything! The teens ooo and aah each time they see a new outfit, every time Reader flutters around or starts on their small catwalk. A few of the teens ask to get matching outfits with Reader, which leads to...

A SHOPPING SPREE!

And Reader goes all out!

The teens want a specific color of blouse? Dear tailor, please make one, please! There will be a handsome tip as well~! Oh, you like that particular sweater? Bodyguard, please get seven of them, all in a different color of the rainbow! Thank you, good boy/girl/being! Extra hugs for you! Someone wants to have a custom ring made? Aaaah, yes! We would like rubies, please, set in a gold band, in a little heart shape, and with their name engraved on the inside! Here's about... hmmm... will twenty-thousand gold coins with Reader's royal symbol cover the cost? No? Let's add a few hellfire diamonds and emeralds of envy to the pot, and that should cover any extra fees~!

By the time the teens and Reader are done, Reader is getting them all a whole dozen coffee drinks from Moondoes to top their trip off, and then they're heading back, riding in a bright red limo and eating a few pastries from Reader's favorite little shop!

The adults are... shocked, that Reader does so well. This is their little baby, their doll, and they're doing so well down here! They're so proud!!! And they're so worried! At least everyone, even the most unsavory individuals, know to respect Reader! As they should! They're one of the first seraphim! An angel of Heaven! Their pride and joy and jewel!

The teens are just glad Reader does so well for themself, and decide to roll with whatever happens. If Reader says they can go see a show, then they're going! If Reader wants to go out for dinner, okay, where? Reader wants to take a nap? Can they sleep with them, too? Pretty please? They're just so cute!!! Even their little Build-a-Reader's aren't quite enough compared to the real thing, even though they're beautiful and very well-made!

(They all got an outfit that matched one of Reader's. Not to mention they now are known as Reader's closest friends! Well, okay, their fallen angel friends! And with them around, they're gonna have the best time ever!) (They can just never, ever, never ever ever, go to the Lust Ring. Because Reader said so-)

[lucifer-misadventures-au]

What does Arthur think of each of the Seven Deathly Sins?

He adores them just as much as he adores Lucifer! He doesn't see them often aside from meetings but he often call or text them just to catch up, same with his cousins, they're all like best friends that stick together even if apart.

Satan and Asmodeus are his favorite number one Uncles for a couple of reasons, Satan because despite being literal sin of wrath, he's calm and collected and really mature and he often look after Luci and the other sins despite being parents themselves, you can't just choose between being a brother or being a father, he goes with both and Arthur admires him for that! Plus, Satan gives him the most brutal training aside from Luci because Arthur wants a challenge and a way to overcome a near death situation, sounds pretty reckless and suicidal but to be fair Arthur is secretly a sadist behind the cold gentleman aristocrat demeanor, so he sees it as a thrill rather a terrifying situation now with Asmodeus, Arthur admires him for despite being deemed as the weakest sin when it comes to raw strength, he's actually the most intelligent when it comes to strategies in the battlefield and undercover infiltration tasks, he's also a really fun Uncle plus he doesn't make little to know sexual jokes or comments when it comes to family so he's safe from being uncomfortable by him, Asmodeus even taught Arthur how to flirt and seduce an enemy into submission when he needs to infiltrate someplace, since to the sin of lust himself, his oldest nephew tends to hold a very strong and unbreakable dominance, something Luci doesn't have within him and he wants Arthur to use it as an advantage, since Arthur was taught by Ozzie how to Flirt and seduce, any Demon would fall for him instantly with just a wink and a pick up line.

(Also in this blog Satan and Asmodeus are twins)

Beelzebub is the fun aunt for Arthur as he enjoys her parties despite what his reputation back in the pride ring, he likes to unwind and go wild with his family, he would often go do drinking competitions with Beelzebub's son AKA his 5th cousin(we'll get to named next time), sometimes he wins, sometimes he lose, sometimes it was a tie, either way, he would have fun and that's all that matters to him.

Mammon here in the blog is a lot different from the canon one, he's the sin of greed, yes, though he doesn't treat his employees like moneymakers and he does care for his siblings, his child, and his nephews and nieces, especially Arthur, his way of caring for his family is spoiling them rotten by giving them anything and everything they wanted that they lay their eyes upon, he could sense that they are interested and want something, so he buys it! Mammon knows how much Arthur likes to read and study magic as well as practicing magic, so if he saw Arthur eyeing on a spell book or magic equipment he goes "Dear nephew, you want that? Don't worry Uncle Ammon will buy it for you!" and he does, no discount no change, he buys them in full exact price! Arthur thought it's sweet that his Uncle would do such things and he wants to do something in return for it but Mammon often refuse, he doesn't expect anything in return anyway all he cares about was his family being satisfied with everything and anything they desire

Leviathan now Arthur does get along very well, they both really love studying magic and creating spells along with Levi's daughter AKA Arthur's 2nd second cousin. They often hang out in the sin of envy's office studying, reading, and creating spells and if one of the spells failed and exploded, they'll just laugh out loud and thought it was funny and then they'll try again.

Belphegor now Arthur sees her as a very chill aunt with a cool side underneath her tired demeanour, he would visit her hospital along with Luci either just to hang out or review some medicines, Bel would teach Arthur the ways of healing and how it is important on the battlefield whether it is on yourself or your comrades, plus, she makes really good sweet tea, lemon cookies and ice cream! All to satisfy Arthur and Luci's sweet tooth~.

So, yeah! In conclusion, the sins are great siblings to each other and to Luci as well as great uncles and aunts to Arthur and he's loves them to bits! No one can replace them! Not even Luci's former siblings back in heaven

[delusionalwings]

― synopsis -> when you say that you hate him

― characters -> simeon, barbatos, solomon

― gender neutral reader

― headcanons

levi, satan, asmo ver

SIMEON

The serene smile never leaves his face even as the warmth receeds. Surprise is the first emotion he feels which is quickly replaced by wrath. Do you have any idea what he did for you? That demon prince could have corrupted you at any moment. Then you wouldn't have known hatred, felt any emotion, or had the ability to say something so cruel so casually. Is this the gratitude he gets for trying to protect you?

No matter. The greatest love stories have begun with hatred or so literature has proven to him time and time again. He will continue to hope and you will look at your saviour daily till you learn the proper way to worship him.

BARBATOS

How wilful of you to show your true colors so soon! He's intelligent so he doesn't expect any emotion other than hatred but given your disadvantage, you should be more reserved. Had his betrayal not taught you well? Could you have ever expected him of all people to abduct you so, to nurture these feelings for you?

Don't worry, little lamb. He's not cross with you; his greed will accept any and all emotion that you wish to give him. There's time for everything to morph into love. He'll enjoy the process, in the closed quarters with you. With his patience, he is willing to see you start to love him.

SOLOMON

"Whaa-? Oh, you wound me, my sweet little disciple!" he moans dramatically.

Inching uncomfortably close to you, he dons an expression of sadness with a hand over his heart, "Oh tell me you're only jesting! How am to live like this?"

"Live with my hatred, Solomon." you say flatly, your eyes staring daggers at him. It would have been better if he had just looked hurt. But no, he has to make a mockery of everything - even your fear and discomfort.

"Haha surely. That will be an interesting life we define together, beloved."

And like that, your hope dies a little.

[drhu0806]

1. "That was good work"

Fandom - Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (fanfiction) Content warnings - none Pairing: Woljif x Knight Commander

Eighty, ninety, and… one hundred!

Woljif, with a flourish, artfully juggles the last stack of gold pieces before neatly grouping them together and adding them to a nearby small pile of gold. He eyes his handiwork with an air of smugness and barely concealed greed. For some reason, the chief entrusted him of all people to organize and properly count their gathered spoils from their recent battles. He assumes it’s meant for communal party funds, but he can’t help himself as his gaze roams for the umpteenth time over the stacks of coins. He’d be quick, he thinks to himself. No one’s watching, no one would see, there wouldn’t be anything wrong with swiping a little extra for himself, surely. After all, he’s out here risking his life every day saving the world or whatever it is they’re doing, he deserves that much, doesn’t he?

The sound of footsteps from behind rouses him from his thoughts. Ollerus greets him with a friendly expression, something the thiefling still hasn’t gotten used to. He’s used to mistrust, he’s used to disdain and contempt, indifference at best, but the way the chief looks at him doesn’t fit any of those categories. He doesn’t know what to make of it, what to make of her.

“Hey, Chief. Got it all counted up for ya, all neat and tidy!” he gestures at the pile of money.

She nods as he recounts the exact amount, carefully pushing it into a small bag of holding. “Great. Thanks for being so quick.” Ollerus looks up at him and smiles, something that sends an uncomfortable flutter through his stomach. “I appreciate you taking the time to go through all those chests we found. That was good work, Woljif. You’re really thorough.”

His chest swells with pride. “Of course, Chief! I know what I’m doing! You’ve got one of the best with you, just point me at a lock and I can have it open in no time.” Winking, he continues, in a quieter yet more conspiratorial tone, “And you know, if you need help with other things involving gold, keep me in mind, hm? If it’s you, I’m sure I can get you a great cut.”

It’s a pitch he’s used a thousand times, for “allies” and targets alike. But for some reason… This time he wants her to actually believe him. He wants her to believe that he’s worth something, that he can succeed where he says he can. Woljif has never particularly cared what people think of him, not for a long time anyhow, not when he knows so many make up their minds the moment they lay eyes on him for the first time. So it confuses him, why all of sudden he cares what she thinks.

Ollerus chuckles. “Sure, I’ll keep you in mind.” As she tightens the mouth around her money pouch, he notices a small amount of gold leftover that hadn’t been collected. He’s about to say something—he worked hard to count all of that properly, for gods’ sake—she gives him a wink and takes his hand, placing the remaining coin in his palm.

“Let’s call it a little commissioner’s fee, for you,” she answers in response to the unspoken question in his eyes. “For all your hard work.”

Woljif is almost sure she’s teasing him, but she makes no move to take back what she gave, bidding him goodbye as she attends to other matters. Bewildered, he pockets the gold, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and returns to his personal setup in camp. Before he joined this crazy crusade, he would be gleeful over what he would have perceived as a small con, thinking of the next opportunity when he can swipe a bit more from the top.

But all he can think about is the way she touched him, where she held his hand in his, and how that hand tenderly burns for the rest of the night for it.

[dianethepisceswitch]

The Seven Deadly Sins

This post will contain spoilers for all of Twisted Wonderland, including the main books, events, and cards may be referenced. This is your only warning.

For those who are unacquainted with the concept of the seven deadly sins, let me explain briefly.

The seven deadly sins are basically sins that you should never commit/act upon. Acting upon them can "inspire further sin". These sins include pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. There were two sins that were removed from this list, vainglory and acedia.

Pride is basically like having a big ego and being full of yourself.

"consciousness of one's own dignity"

Vainglory is just being prideful and bragging

inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity.

They're pretty much the same thing, so they got lumped in together.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Greed:

"intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food"

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Lust:

"very strong sexual desire"

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Envy is just being jealous, to put it simply

"a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck."

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Gluttony is being a fatass eating a lot of food(me)

"habitual greed or excess in eating."

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Wrath is extreme anger

"an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat."

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Sloth:

"reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness."

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

The 8th sin, acedia, is:

"spiritual or mental sloth; apathy."

I did a bit of extra reading on this one, and it pretty much sounds like depression.

"a state of listlessness or torpor, of not caring or not being concerned with one's position or condition in the world. In ancient Greece akidía literally meant an inert state without pain or care...In modern times it has been taken up by literary figures and connected to depression."

If you take a moment to think about it, you can see how these sins can connect to certain characters.

Riddle is wrath, this one is obvious. Riddle has a reputation for being easily angered, so him representing the sin of wrath makes the most sense.

Leona is sloth. He's lazy. It's obvious he does care about things, but he doesn't care enough to make an effort. He also displays the sin of pride, though I feel like sloth is a better choice because his laziness is more apparent as opposed to his pride.

Azul is greed. C'mon, he's completely capitalist. He's greedy in two ways. One, his money. That's one of the most important things to him, hence why he buys ingredients "for the low low price of free", according to Jade. Two, his power. It's clear that he values his power above all else, which is why he goes completely insane once Leona destroys his golden contracts.

Jamil is envy. He's envious of Kalim, not because of his status, but more so his lifestyle. Kalim will get praised and thanked for doing the bare minimum, whereas Jamil could plan a whole banquet and not get a single thanks. No praise or gratitude for anything he does, because it all goes to Kalim. I was going to put lust, because of Jafar, but I'm going to try and keep my reasoning strictly canon to Twisted Wonderland.

Vil is pride. Vil is very prideful when it comes to himself, and Rook and Vil's other fans aren't helping. Vil has high self-esteem, which is good. However, assuming you watched chapter 5, you would've seen what happened when someone hurts his pride. He goes "evil berserker mode". When his pride gets hurt, bad things happen. If you look at the song lyrics of "Absolutely Beautiful"(a banger btw), this point becomes much more clear as well. He puts himself above others, and views himself as more important.

Idia is acedia. It's really obvious Idia has depression. Given his backstory and the way he acts, it would be weird if he didn't. Just like Leona, you can tell he cares, but he just can't bring himself to care, physically or mentally. He stays in his room, refuses to socialize, and if he has to attend class, he just goes via tablet. This is clearly depression, and remember, depression is pretty much acedia.

Malleus is lust. Ok, hear me out. It could happen. I know I put the definition up top, but technically it's possible to lust for someone or something non-sexually.

"In fact, sometimes lust has nothing to do with sexual desire. It can be “intense enthusiasm; zest,” which is closer to its earlier meanings of “pleasure,” “delight” and “inclination.”"

So it would be possible for Malleus to be lusting for Yuu, in a friendship way. Or perhaps Aniplex will cater to the simps and make it sexual, though I doubt it.

Grim is gluttony. I feel the prologue monster was either overblot Grim, or foreshadowing to overblot Grim. Either way, Grim is a glutton, he LOVES food. If he can eat it, he will. Blot stones, grass, etc.

[broodwolf221]

Happy Friday! How about "You've been lying to me this whole time" from the Hiding prompts - for maybeeeee solas/mythal if you wanna go real messy hehe. Have fun!!

ough this was a good one. love the potential drama and angst with these two <3 @dadrunkwriting 865 words notes: arlathan era, spoilers for trespasser cws: mentions of slavery, adultery sortaaaa (re: marriage of convenience/sociocultural standards allowing for this, but could be read as adultery and might make some ppl uncomfortable)

“Solas,” her voice was colder by far than he was used to and he tensed as he turned to face her, noting the clear wrath upon her face. He wanted to shrink away from that heat, that fury, but forced himself to hold his ground.

So. He was discovered.

It was inevitable.

“Mythal,” he replied simply, without the usual obeisance. Her fury seemed to falter for a brief moment before it was restored in full, searching his face. His bare face.

“Dread Wolf,” she snarled and he nodded once, short and sharp. “You have been lying to me—to all of us!—this whole time!” He nodded again. There was no defense. “You lied in our court. Lied about who you were—about what you were. Then you lied to me!” Her rage shifted briefly to grief before she smothered the weakness.

“I had to.”

Her laugh was cold, sharp, and mirthless. But she didn’t close the distance—didn’t attack him. She could, but she didn’t. “You had to? Had to do what, Dread Wolf? Warm my bed under false pretenses? Worm your way into our court so you could betray us effectively?”

“I tried to reach you!” He snapped, surprising himself with the surge of his anger. “I tried to talk! You all decried me a naive fool, would never bend your almighty ears to listen to sense, so mired in your petty greed—”

“How dare you—”

“—slaughtering innocents to make your grand showpieces—”

“—you will be silent—”

“—and courting war!”

They were both breathing hard by the time he yelled the last, some of the distance closed between them. He did not know which of them had moved forward. Perhaps both.

He was the first to bend. Not to break, but he did not want her as an enemy. And he did not know what she wanted. “Mythal,” he forced his voice to soften, forced his rage aside. She narrowed her eyes at him but did not interrupt. “You can join me. You can be on the right side of history. You have listened to me for years—do you think I am a fool? Do you think I am wrong?”

“This is our reality, Solas.” Her rage had fled her, sorrow replacing it. “What am I to do? Slaughter my husband, my children? They will not join. They will not listen.”

“You can change their minds—” She raised a hand and this time he obeyed, falling silent.

“I cannot.” She said it with a deep assurance. “They are already suspicious,” she admitted and he frowned, surprised. “They think you are corrupting me. They were willing to look away when I took a slave to my bedchambers, but they see in me a new weakness they can exploit.”

“They seek to usurp you?” He asked quietly and she nodded.

“Andruil has become... strange. Her journeys are poisoning her. Dirthamen and Falon’din care for none but each other. Ghilan’nain is Andruil’s pet. Sylaise and June are obsessed with their crafts and care nothing for politics, not to usurp nor to defend.”

“Elgar’nan?”

“Elgar’nan... will not tolerate any sign of weakness.” She folded her arms across her chest, meeting his eyes. “I cannot join you.”

“I understand,” he said, and he meant it. There was a deep grief that lay between them, a boundary that could not be crossed, but... “I must ask one thing.” She nodded almost imperceptibly, but it was still permission. “All else aside, would you join me? Would you fight for a better world? One without war, without slaves, without the deaths?”

“How am I to answer that, Solas?” She replied, sounding the closest to helpless he’d ever heard her. “If the world was different, if I was different, what would I do? Think of what you are asking me.”

“I just—” he bit his tongue and shook his head. “You are right. It does not matter.”

“It changes nothing.”

“Indeed.”

“So... this is it.”

“So it seems.”

“Solas.” He met her eyes, allowed her to close the distance between them. There was a chance that she would strike him, but he did not believe she would—although magic crackled just under his skin regardless. She felt it, of course, and smiled wanly. “Wise,” she murmured, almost to herself, “and cautious. You always were. Tell me one thing.” He nodded—he would, if he could. “What is your name?”

He smiled—a good question.

“I am Wisdom,” he answered her, “and I am the Dread Wolf, and I am Solas, all.”

“Wisdom,” she mused aloud, reaching up to stroke his cheek. “I see.” She bent forward and kissed him, and although he did not release the magic he kissed her back. When she pulled away she looked at him as if trying to commit him to memory. “I will do what I can to stall them,” she told him softly, “but they will come to slaughter you. Be on your guard, my little pride.” With that she stepped away and he remained, watching as she walked back towards Arlathan, the distance growing between them with each step. Becoming something permanent.

At last he turned away and went to his people.

[abigailspinach]

“Do you understand what it means to be a saint?” Cazaril cleared his throat uncomfortably. “You must be very virtuous, I suppose.” “No, in fact. One need not be good. Or even nice.” Umegat looked wry of a sudden. “Grant you, once one experiences…what one experiences, one’s tastes change. Material ambition seems immaterial. Greed, pride, vanity, wrath, just grow too dull to bother with.” “Lust?” Umegat brightened. “Lust, I’m happy to say, seems largely unaffected. Or perhaps I might grant, love. For the cruelty and selfishness that make lust vile become tedious. But personally, I think it is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one’s god.” Umegat emptied his cup. “The gods love their great-souled men and women as an artist loves fine marble, but the issue isn’t virtue. It is will. Which is chisel and hammer.” ― Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion

[ask-ryder-emerson-lotf]

Rambling post! I’ve had uh…MANY….Of the littluns (and Simon) ask about my…uh….what do you call them? Pairings! Yeah! Those! So I’ll be talking about them!

Ralph and Jack: They’re sort of…annoying. I find them a little goofy though! Their silly banter is entertaining.

Jack and Roger: I don’t think Roger’s a very good influence…He’s been allowing Jack to have violent thoughts about hurting the pigs on the island and I just don’t like that…Jack’s been obsessed with hunting.

Ralph and Simon: Simon actually asked me about what I think about him and Ralph! Don’t tell him, but…I believe Ralph thinks he’s annoying. He’s overly clingy towards Ralph. He’s desperate for Golden Boy’s attention and uh…well…I think they’d be good friends if Ralph would be nicer!

Roger and Simon: I think they’d be good friends! Maybe Simon can calm Roger’s…violent tendencies. And maybe Roger can make Simon more uh…assertive! He needs it. They’re both really quiet and I think they’d bond over that factor.

Maurice and Sam:…..Not sure!…Maurice is secretly a nice person, I can feel it. He just tries to goof around and gets shouted at for it. Sam and Eric are both very silly. I think Sam is a good friend for Maurice! They can be silly and goofy together!

Hmm….Not sure about anybody else. I don’t think the boys like each other all that much. They sure look up to me though! They don’t pay much attention to the sins though.

….Maybe I can give a little insight on my thoughts on them, too!

Sloth: I met him first and I think he’s very nice! Even though he’s kinda a liability because he falls asleep on me. I could be walking in the forest with him, and he would fall asleep in front of me and trip me. It’s quite annoying at times. But he’s a good friend!

Lust: He’s…ahem. Well! Very pretty looking! I will say that! I thought he was a girl at first. I think he secretly has some sort of inner turmoil going on about that. He’s very nice to me, maybe even a little too much. I’m getting very annoyed when he decides to basically hog the lagoon all day. It’s not like I can’t bathe in front of someone, it’s just I DON’T want to. Not around him. I get…Uncomfortable.

Wrath: I…I’m scared of him sometimes. He tries to hype up Jack whenever they go hunting and that annoys the hell out of me. I don’t think he’s a very…good person. He’s better than some of them, I suppose. Maybe I need to talk to him some more…

Gluttony: He’s actually pretty nice! He eats the unripe berries for me and Sloth to eat the more ripe ones. He’s very sweet and considerate! Although he complains about being hungry a lot. I think he’s joking about it though, y’know, because all we have are fish, pigs and berries to eat. Not much of a choice, huh?

Envy: Quite an odd guy…He kinda just looks around and listens. He reminds me of Simon, but if he tried harder to speak up. Nobody but me and some of the biguns listen to his suggestions on what to do with the island, though. I feel a little bad for him.

Pride: Very egotistical. He tries too hard to impress. I don’t really like him. I think he either gets too much attention at home or too little…I can’t tell.

Greed: As his nickname or…Well…Maybe it’s his real name? I’m not sure. They all told me these “sin” names and acted like it was their real names….Anyways, he’s very greedy for attention and affection from people. He’s overwhelming…I think he’s trying to hurt everyone on this island with his…toxicity. I hate him. I don’t hate easily. Dislike? Sure. But hate? Never. Unless you’re like the scum of the Earth. I truly believe that he is. He has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I’m pretty sure he’s hurting Envy somehow. I’m not sure, it’s just a…personal belief.

(Sins belong to @lord-of-the-bundle-of-sticks)