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Trey needed a “respectable” job on his file so he could move. He met a Demon named Randy, a branch manager at the investment firm. Randy arranged him a one year contract as an “accountant”. Trey hated the job because of his Demon co-workers. I mean, imagine having to deal with Jude for 8 hours everyday. And he’s just one of them. Additionally, his job was entirely unimportant. In a email addressed to Oliver called “Bored”, he confides in Oliver that his work is pointless because nobody actually reads his reports at all. At the end of the game and the official start of Oliver’s employment, Trey leaves for good.

I imagine for Trey, he also had the power fantasy of being an attractive man in a suit and tie, working a hot-shot job at an investment firm. Instead, he had to endure the most demeaning and humiliating year of his life. Not only was he bullied at work, some of the staff knew about his cam-work. And then to top it all off, Brax happens. If you know you know.

Demons > Ghouls > Sirens > Zombies

Pros and cons are of social benefits

Demons

Make up most of the government, white-collar jobs, police force, and general positions of power.

Pros: Seen as strong, natural born leaders. Legally favoured. Safest to be.

Cons: Seen as liars, aggressive and loud, schemers, and emotionally unintelligent(by other monsters).

Ghouls

Make up most positions that are well respected, but not high positions of power. Examples include scientists, medical professionals, mid-tier universities professors, tech, etc.

Pros: Seen as hardworking, independent and dedicated to their cause/craft

Cons: Seen as obsessive, tunnel-visioned, and “not mentally there”

Sirens

Make up most pink-collared jobs, as well as media jobs(actors/actresses,singers, models, influencers)

Pros: Seen as beautiful, caring, elegant, and accommodating.

Cons: Seen as weak-minded, unskilled, and objects of sexual desire.

Zombies

Make up most blue-collared jobs and most can’t afford post secondary-education.

Pros: The most common monster, especially in rural areas

Ghouls are cold blooded and cool to the touch. They also aren’t affected by cold temperatures. They only need 4 hours of sleep and are natural night-owls. However, they are susceptible to long and deep states of shock, desensitization, and derealization from trauma. They are often labeled as day-dreamers and tend to have fixations.

Brett boarded the plane for the twelve-hour flight and made his way down the aisle. When he reached his seat, he was momentarily disappointed at not getting a Siren to sit beside. The window seat was occupied by a young Demon man wearing a crisp dress shirt and tailored pants. Brett glanced down at his own outfit: sweatpants and a sweater. Far more comfortable for a long flight, he thought.

The man looked up and smiled. Brett returned it politely before sitting down and pulling out his book.

“Trail Life,” the man read off the cover. “What’s it about?”

“Travelling. Camping.”

“Non-fiction?” He raised a brow. “Smart guy.”

“Not really,” Brett said. “Not many people read non-fiction anymore. Everyone’s on their phones.”

“You like the outdoors?”

“Yeah. I camp and hike all the time. It’s refreshing to get away from… the city commotion.”

The man’s face lit up. “I feel the same way. Sometimes I just want to disappear into the woods and do my own thing. Back to the basics. I try to surround myself with nature as much as I can.”

Brett smiled, genuinely this time. “Yeah. Exactly.”

“I wouldn’t want to go alone though. I like company,” the man added. “But I don’t have many friends in the city. I skipped uni and went straight to work. It’s hard to make friends that way.”

“I get that,” Brett said. “I’m between terms at college, so I’ve just been working these past few months. I try, but I can’t make friends at work. Honestly, they’re all-”

“Insufferable,” they said in unison.

“Yeeaaah,” the man laughed. “I had a feeling we’d get along. Name’s Jude, by the way.” He extended a hand and Brett shook it.

“I’m Brett. You live in Grodo City?”

“Yeah,” Jude said.

“I’ll take you on a hike some weekend.” Brett replied.

“I’d love that.” Jude grinned and reached into his pocket, pulling out a business card. “Here. Take my number. I promise I’m not trying to sell you anything.” He winked. “You couldn’t afford me anyway.”

Brett stared at the card longer than necessary, caught off guard by the comment. He took it and gave Jude a tight smile. “Sure.”

He was absolutely not calling him.

“So,” Brett said after a moment, “what’s your job?”

“Financial investment advisor. Private firm.”

“I see,” Brett replied.

“I’m guessing you work at a call center,” Jude continued. “Or maybe food delivery?”

Brett scoffed.

“What? Is that bad?” Jude’s smile faltered, looking confused.

“I’m going to use the bathroom,” Brett smiled.

Inside the bathroom, Brett gripped the edges of the sink and stared at his reflection. “Young. Arrogant. Spoiled rich kid who probably got his hotshot job through daddy.” He thought to himself. When Brett returned to his seat, a Siren flight attendant was passing by with food and snacks. Brett asked for a cookie and coffee. Jude ordered wine and a full meal kit.

“For my friend as well,” he added, lightly tapping the back of his hand against Brett’s chest. The flight attendant nodded and moved on before Brett could object.

“My treat,” Jude said. “And my apology for offending you earlier.”

“You didn’t offend me,” Brett replied plainly.

“Good.” He smiled.

“Why did you book economy instead of business class?” Brett asked.

“Last-minute flight,” Jude sighed. “Didn’t have a choice.”

“Bummer.”

“Right? Economy is garbage; there’s barely any leg room.” Jude groaned. He glanced toward the flight attendant once she was out of earshot, and lowered his voice. “She’s got a nice rack.”

Brett frowned. “Keep that to yourself.”

“You’re thinking it too,” Jude said, grinning wider. “You totally are.”

“I’m not.” Brett glared at him. “You’re gross, man.”

“You’re just mad that you wouldn’t be able to afford her.”

“What?!”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” Jude lifted his hands in surrender. “Chill out.”

The flight attendant soon returned, setting two glasses of wine and a meal kit on their trays, as well as a coffee and cookie for Brett. Jude immediately began complaining about how unappetizing the meal kit looked, and how tiny the tray table in front of him was. Brett ignored him, a headache brewing.

Jenny collided with someone outside the subway station as she ran around a corner. “Kyaaa!” she yelped, stumbling backward and landing on her knees as her books scattered across the floor.

“What the fuck?!” Rowan exclaimed.

Jenny looked up, eyes wide then immediately dulled with disappointment. Not a hot Siren businessman. In fact, the opposite: a Demon woman in a bright blue mini-skirt and matching low-cut top. She scrambled to gather her things; her voice lowering an octave.

“Sorry,” she said softly, avoiding her gaze.

Something about it, the shy posture and the avoidant gaze hit Rowan unexpectedly. It reminded her of Lumi.

“No. I’ve got it,” she said, crouching to pick up one of the fallen books. She glanced at the cover, a finance book, then back at her. “Are you a student?”

Jenny blinked, tilting her head. “No. I graduated recently! I’m an intern at Reeves Capital.”

Rowan straightened. She knew about the investment firm. It was a cutthroat workplace. Lumi’s boyfriend worked there. How the hell did this meek Demon girl get the job?

She scoffed. “You shouldn’t be this clumsy working at a place like that. You’re lucky I’m not your boss or something. Be more car-”

“Shut up!! I gotta go or I’ll be late!” Jenny exclaimed, yanking the book out of Rowan’s hand. Rowan looked up, shocked. Jenny had already picked up the rest of the books and held them between her shoulder and hip like they weighed nothing.

But before she could run off, Rowan grabbed the back of her sweater and yanked her back, hard.

“What did you just say to me?”

Jenny turned slowly. Her eyes were wide, empty, and she stared at Rowan in silence for several seconds.

“AHHH! SOMEBODY HELP ME! HELP ME!” Jenny screeched.

Demons are power-hungry, which makes romantic relationships with each other very difficult. As much as they hate other monsters, they hate the opposite Demon gender slightly more. Because of this, they have the highest divorce and domestic violence rates due to power-struggles. It comes to no surprise then, that Demons typically go for Ghoul or (especially)Siren partners. However, this is usually short term as they still prefer their children be fully Demon.

Rowan has said her least favourite monsters are Demon men because they are controlling. But within her own relationships, she expects essentially complete servitude(as per her relationship contract.

Jude’s parents are divorced due to power imbalance in their marriage. His father had promised an equal partnership if they had kids, assuring Jude’s mother that if she stayed home to raise the children, he would be just as involved. Instead, she gave up her career as a marine engineer to care for Jude and Ripley while he became increasingly consumed by his work as an attorney, prioritizing being the breadwinner and advancing his career. In doing so, he became largely absent to his wife and kids.

Over time, she grew resentful and exhausted, grieving the career she had sacrificed. Despite her repeated pleas, he refused to help her. When she suggested hiring a nanny to ease her burden, he dismissed the idea, insisting that their children needed a mother. Her final breaking point came during yet another argument about helping with the kids and chores, where he admitted that he didn’t want to give up his “freedom”.

She divorced him soon after, and in a moment of bitterness, suggested putting Jude and Ripley up for adoption. Horrified, he took custody of the children, yet even then, he remained largely absent from their lives.

This has affected Jude and Ripley very differently. Jude being the older sibling, witnessed his parents fighting constantly and despised his mother for lashing out at his dad all the time. He cares deeply about his father’s opinion of him, and has sworn to become ultra wealthy by the age of 30 to be seen as worthy.

Ripley however, hates her father. She misses her mother and constantly criticizes him being absent, being a corrupt attorney, and favouring Jude over her. Her father, now too tired to argue, completely ignores her and delegates Jude to take care of her(like driving her to school, cooking, teaching her basic life skills,etc). Although Jude feels burdened by this, he does feel a sense of pride over being a “provider”.

Fun fact, before the Lumi comic I had briefly started one of Ripley and Jude. It was one of three comics I wanted to make after Lumi’s(Trey, Oliver and Ripley). But now I’m making another game so I have very little time for comics.

“My Siren Co-worker Manipulated Me to Fall in Love with Him part 34:

Today was… very inappropriate…

Trey didn’t speak to me at all today. Not even a glance. Everything was normal until after lunch break. I was just standing by the water fountain minding my business, until he decided to make a move on me.

He tapped me on the shoulder from behind and said “Excuse me,” before moving past me.

???There was def enough space for him to just move by me, but he still CHOSE to say “excuse me” and he CHOSE to touch my shoulder. He just wanted an excuse to touch me. He’s probably smiling in his office, thinking he’s so sly. What a pervert! He’s just like Ross from the book I’m reading. Pretending to act all cool and avoidant but deep down he’s obsessed… “

Rowan is a Demon. Common traits associated with being a Demon include low empathy, low agreeableness, and a high level of aggression. Ironically, Rowan tends to avoid these very traits. In fact, her least favourite type of monster is Demon men. This makes it understandable that she would be drawn to someone like Lumi, who is agreeable, empathetic, and friendly. These qualities are not only typical of Sirens but also essential for their survival in a harsh world that was not made for them.

This is where Rowan’s lack of empathy clashes with Lumi. She doesn’t understand why Lumi is so non-confrontational. For Rowan, being blunt might lead to a dirty look or worse case losing a friend. For Lumi, it could mean getting seriously hurt. When Lumi says she’s scared of making Brett angry, she never explains why, but some viewers can infer(especially from the bus stop scene) that she fears he might become violent.

Additionally, Rowan simultaneously believes that Lumi is too naive to make proper decisions and that she shares equal/ if not more responsibility for the consequences of said decisions. The term “decision” here is important because she views Lumi getting sexually harassed/potentially getting assaulted as a decision that Lumi contributes to.

“You didn’t say no? That’s kinda on you.”

“A Siren girl agrees to go into a man’s room alone at a party. You know what happens next.”

In Rowan’s eyes. Lumi doesn’t just get mistreated, she “allows” herself to get mistreated. Rowan harbours the same kind of sentiment to herself. She described herself being manipulated by her previous relationship as her being foolish. And that she “will never be a fool again”. In the same way, she feels a certain responsibility for how men treat her.

When Lumi asks why Rowan thinks Nile would want to take advantage of Lumi at the party she says, “That’s who you attract, guys who know that you won’t defend yourself.” This is true of course, because Rowan is one of them. When Lumi argues back, she is shocked that she is being stood up to. So shocked in fact, that she is in denial that Lumi made the decision to, blaming the alcohol before calling her hysterical.

However, Rowan does care about Lumi. She is being truthful when she says that she just wants to protect her. Deep down Rowan is a lonely person. She wants a connection and she wants to be respected. And when Rowan realizes that Lumi is ready to let her go, she is willing to break her own code of honesty.

“Do you think that I can protect myself?” Lumi asks.

“….I do.” Rowan replies reluctantly.

But did she lie out of care for Lumi‘s feelings? Or did she lie in a selfish attempt to stop Lumi from abandoning her? Either way, her lie gives Lumi the final bit of courage to stand up for herself in the future. Because for once, and even if it’s artificial, Rowan believes in her. And to be believed is all Lumi wanted.

Brax: Being lobotomized makes life real easy. They never think.

Trey: They have a horrible life. But that’s what happens when you’re literally a rotting corpse.

Jude: Absolutely not. Zombies are treated sooooo unfairly.

Lumi: …

Do you like Zombies?

Brax: fuck no

Trey: No.

Jude: Absolutely! They’re green just like matcha 😋

Lumi: Sometimes.

Have you ever thought about being a Zombie?

Brax: fuck no

Trey: I’d never want to be something so disgusting.

Jude: Uhhhh not really, I’m good.

Sirens have it harder in life

Jude: Sirens have it tough for sure! I can’t imagine being physically and emotionally weaker than the majority of the population.

Brett: Sirens have it significantly easier in life but they won’t actually acknowledge it.

Do you like Sirens

Jude: I love Sirens! They are my favourite species.

Brett: I mean, I like them as much as any other species.

Have you ever thought about being a Siren

Jude: Do l look like a bottom to you?

I walk in for my 7PM shift and nothing’s done. Dishes are piled up, floors are filthy, and none of the prep is touched. I was already having a bad day so this really pissed me off. Nile's already there, just standing around like it's not his job. I end up doing it because he half-asses everything. Drives me nuts. He never puts the bottles back after making drinks, and when I call it out, he calls me “anal” for giving a damn. Says, “I don’t get paid enough to clean,” while he racks in three times my tips just for existing. Sirens, man.

Then this one Demon comes in. Snaps his fingers at me during a rush. “What’s good here?” He says. I give him the look; the one that says try that again and see what happens. He doesn’t take the hint. They never do.

“Long Island is popular here,” I say.

“Ok well I don’t like that,” he says.

“Ok well go fuck yourself” is what I wanted to say.

I just smile. I- oh whatever. These idiots shouldn’t even take up my head space. I have the weekend to look ahead to. I’ll take a hike, order some food, smoke some weed. It’s fine.

“We got this cute little zombie assistant recently and Brax is obsessed with bullying him. He is so miserable and loves the power trip it’s so funny and pathetic. I meean, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I like it too. Oliver is just so agreeable. He’s almost as fun as Trey. No actually scratch that. Trey is definitely the most fun. He takes everything so seriously it’s so freaking funny. Like he gets so angry over my jokes as if I kicked his dog. I mean-I’d definitely do that if given the chance(I’m kidding I love dogs), but he just gets sooo butthurt like calm the hell down. I love him though. It’s all love.”

“It’s crazy like a couple decades ago you couldn’t look anybody up. Now I can like, just find out about anybody. I know so much about random stranger’s lives and it’s so interesting to just observe! I looked up my boyfriend’s rude co-worker Brax the other day and found a bunch of photos of him on his Instagram. It was private but I requested to follow from a spam account and he actually accepted!