deernet | video; un: padlocks

I have made my warning to a handful of you before, but there are many that I've yet to meet. And so, this is primarily to those who do not know me.

I am something to be wary of. 'Tis not meant as a threat, but a matter of what I am. Call it what you shall, be it a curse or condition, but the brand on my head is not for display only. Many would call me an abomination where I am from, and it is not far from the truth.

I fight back the instincts of a demon inside of me. I hold it back by whatever means I am able, with my will and the bonds I take with me. With years of practice, I am typically able to hold it back, but there can never be a promise of my willpower. If there comes a time in which this beast emerges and I transform, I do not expect mercy on my behalf.

I understand that there are some with a similar situation as myself, or that you have experienced enough horrors to be prepared for it. Making demands of a person is impossible, I know that, but I want to be clear that I am a thing to be careful with.

...Thank you for listening. Be well, friends and strangers alike.

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How strange. I don't suppose you've a preference between here or there?

[He shrugs.]

I've only been here a few months. The place seems decent, but I'm sure we just haven't hit the big atrocities yet. The people are worth a lot, though. Good to have some community support.

A fair point. Eventually, the dam will burst, as it were. But I find that you're correct, that this community is strong.

It will manage.

Nice to have more than just Sleepers looking out for each other, for once.

I find that others underestimate what strength can be found in such people. Even if they are but humble workers attempting to get by.

Unity is that much better to fight against other more horrifying things.

That's true.

[.....]

Is there anything special that has to happen, if things...go bad with you? Holy water or something?

If you seek a shortcut to put the beast down, I am afraid there is no secret. ...Though it, not unlike me, enjoys music. So I suppose you could attempt that.

Otherwise, no. Nothing I could name.

Just checking. Every world's idea of "demon" is different - I've run into a few others now, and none of them were quite the same. Seems easier when they come with cartoon weaknesses like that...

[Not that he's out to just murder every demon, obviously, but some of them just cause problems.]

Either that or someone asks if I am a werewolf. I'd never heard the term til recently.

Ha! Oh, those aren't real where I'm from. Just some human myth. Guess I can see where they're coming from, but we had a few demon possessions back in Deerington, it happens.

[And one that's like very definitely ongoing right now, but Michael ain't throwing Paimon under the bus.]

And what are you, if I may? You say "human myth", and inquire so deeply on demons.

It's not meant as accusatory. Just a matter of curiosity.

[Ah. Yeah, he definitely did say that. Well, it's not a secret, and although Michael feels it may not be great in this specific circumstance, that makes it all the more important to not be weird and shady about it.]

I'm a demon. Not one that can possess people, but I...have tried to step in, when other demons cause problems. Back in Deerington, mostly.

[He was basically never successful, but we don't gotta talk about that!]

Ah. I see.

You appear quite amicable toward humanity regardless. Demons so rarely would communicate freely with anyone where I'm from.

Yeah. Demons are usually like that. I mean, a lot of my kind interacts with dead humans a lot, since we work in their afterlife...but they are dicks about it. I sort of...

[He weighs his words for a moment, before settling on:]

...defected, a few centuries back. Long story.

Oh.

[The reaction is soft, and for a moment Bigby looks thoughtful. This is something he didn't anticipate in a realm of possibility, but then... truly, anything is possible when so many people from different worlds are here.]

It's actually a bit inspiring to know a demon is able to change.

Hm. I mean, in theory, any being with thought and free will is capable of change. In practice...

[Shrug. Yeah, you're right.]

I think there's a few reasons. For my kind, of course. Can't claim to be an expert on all demons everywhere.

I suppose not. Honestly, it'd never occurred to me til now that I ought to consider such demons.

But it is inspiring, actually.

...well. That's...good.

[He guesses? It makes him feel a little awkward to be labeled like that - it's hardly as though he hasn't done a bunch of bad shit, too. But...well, it isn't worth getting into.]

Anything's possible, out there. I've met some decent angels, even! [he's joking but also heeeeeeeeeeeee's kinda not]

[There's a scoff, then a pause.]

...Wait. Angels are real?

I suppose anything is possible here, but it never seemed more than a tale of comfort for children.

Don't get too excited. They don't do much.

[Just immediately dropping his attempt to be reasonable towards angels from other worlds! But...well, we ain't talkin' about them.]

As far as I'm concerned, it's just a similar species to mine. My world's not one of those where angels become demons when they sin or something like that, we just are what we are.

Odd, but interesting nonetheless, in a way. At least from the perspective of someone whose realm never had angels.

What roles did both demons and angels play where you are from? Even if angels did so little.

Well - I should say first that these are roles we gave ourselves, for the most part. There wasn't any God handing things down. This was all set up via committee, when humans started showing up.

But generally, angels were responsible for running the Good Place - heaven - and for advocating for humans in afterlife affairs. Demons ran the Bad Place...still do, actually, and they advocated against humans. We've also got some neutral immortals, like the Judge and the accountants. They don't take sides in all of that, but they do have their own roles.

The angels weren't doing any advocating. They weren't running the Good Place very well either, but the advocating was the main issue. If they weren't doing that, there just wasn't anyone looking out for humans at all. That's how you get literally everyone sent to Hell.

The afterlife where you are from sounds terribly... bureaucratic. As if the struggle for man on the living plane was not difficult enough.

Yeah, it's not great. Getting better, overall, but the bureaucracy's still there. I was spending a lot of time in meetings.

video; un: padlocks

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