#the blues devil

Chapter 20 is finally up and it is here! Happy May Day everyone!!!

- Angel Skwisgaar who is angry that he technically can't actually create things or have a free will spitefully turns himself into a 'human' and lives on Earth in an attempt to fugue out things like ability to produce original content.

- While there, he meets a very confusing demon Toki, who's here after running from Hell when his family tried to put him into the 9th circle for 'treachery' (read: not being able to be a cruel and vicious killer 24/7) for all eternity.

- Toki technically has free will, but no real experiences with the world around him or any world that isn't whichever one of the circles he's been shoved into for a supposed crime of being hungry when not fed for centuries, or crying from pain, or just because his family is utterly convinced he deserves it for some reason or another. Skiwsgaar, however, knows literally nothing about Toki's past beyond him being a demon, and is mad as hell that this yutz gets to have creativity and he doesn't.

- Cue a lot of Skwisgaar 'creating' songs based on algorithms of past music (like a computer) and Toki adding small tweaks/finishing touches so the song is more 'human'. Toki always plays rhythm/backup.

- The exchange Toki demands for bringing Skwisgaar's songs to life is that he is given protection and a room with food and crash courses in how to interact with the world around him.

- Their appearances are based off of human media because Skwisgaar wanted an appealing vessel and Toki found a form that was inconspicuous to normal people but cute to himself. Among other details, Skwisgaar hides that he actually has six wings and technically eyes all over his skin. Toki's nails are made of actual metal and has wolf-like legs when he's not pretending to be human.

- Eventually Skwisgaar's songs begin to have more of a real voice to them and Toki befriends all of the local strays. Their interactions turn from begrudged cooperation to easy friendship and bickering. Skwisgaar will occasionally stroke Toki's fluffy legs and soft hair. Toki makes sure that Skwisgaar's small circle of reminders of his true home stays spotless no matter what.

- Over time it becomes increasingly clear that neither of them is really able to go back to their og home and they're both a little too human now. Skwisgaar gets writers block because that's the price for creativity. Toki is increasingly prone to being hurt by misunderstandings now that he lets himself be vulnerable.

- They work their shit out with more and more time and some help. Cue talking about trauma and dealing with Toki's family occasionally turning up in places and Skwisgaar struggling to choose between morality as it was in heaven and morality as it is here.

- Along the way they run into former angel-turned-devil-turned-this-guy Pickles who didn't mean to get Adam and Eve banished from Eden, ahnestley, he was just high as all fuck and wanted to eat apples with company for once. Pickles introduces them to 'Be Not Afraid, Scratch That, Be Afraid, I Fucking Rule' Nathan, a defector of the demonic side and big fan of yelling and reminiscing about how great the day of creating the animals was (got banished for trying to improve the frogs). Along with them is Murderface the 'Don't Fucking Aschk' angel who got to smite people a whole lot before it was realized that he's a little too sadistic and creepy about it, and therefore chucked out from heaven.

- Keeping the entire ragtag crew together/not exorcised is semi-Satanic ex-Satanist-priest Charles (with his Masters in law, minor in theology, and actual religion as more of a 'buddhism but with murder' thing), there's-no-such-thing-as-angels-or-demons-or-magic Abigail, and Richard 'Will believe in any god or devil in exchange for job' Knubbler.

- The group of five becomes more famous with time thanks to the human trio. Charles is in charge of mostly the legal and theological side of things while Abigail takes over business contracts and publicity. Knubbler is mostly just working as their sound engineer but now and then he's in charge of helping Charles decipher incomprehensible prophecies.

- All of them let parts of their true forms out on stage. Abigail has released multiple statements saying the band will not be revealing their special effects and makeup secrets, so stop fucking asking.

- Melmord shows up for all of five minutes before Charles 'accidentally' traps him in one of his occult charm things, which he then gifts to Abigail. She's more than ok with the idea of her rival being trapped in a small rock set in metal forever. That's what he fucking gets for trying to steal her job.

- They do eventually let him out after realizing that Melmord has tangential connections to the Blues Devil and technically they're not allowed to harm him long-term. BD appears to the producer trio in a cloud of smoke, hands Abigail a skull with emeralds for eyes in exchange for getting his servant back, and turns himself and Melmord into crows for their exit. Abigail continues to deny the existence of magic and magical beings.

- Charles gives up on getting her to believe after this. As far as he's concerned, any human that can negotiate with the literal devil while having no magic or supernatural power assisting her gets to not believe in the devil. It's a fair deal.

- Abigail and Pickles become pretty fast friends and even though she turns him down early on, they stay close and are usually arguing over really weird philosophical and ethical ideas together.