The Love Hypothesis (2/22) - Stephen Strange X Reader
Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is a PhD student who wants to prove to her best friend that she has moved on and dating. With no way to prove it, she kisses the first man she sees, which ends up being none other than Dr. Strange, known as one of the most unapproachable and critical professors in the university.
A/N: AU! Stephen Strange is a Professor/Doctor at Columbia University and reader is a Ph.D. student (Reader - 28, Stephen - 34). Credits to Ali Hazelwood for the original story. This work is a piece of fiction. I have no ownership over anything, this is ff.
Pairing: Stephen Strange X FEM! Reader
Word Count: 4.5K
Series Masterlist
Y/N was a devoted third-year biology graduate, just as aspiring as another student among Columbia's illustrious cohort of Ph.D. students. It was a wonder she had only interacted with Stephen Strange on this occasion, despite his reputation within Columbia 's own biology department. Maybe that was a part of luck that worked in her favour, something that died on that Night.
A thought crossed her mind that she was fairly sure of - he wouldn't be bothered, nor interested enough to file a report on her. He didn't know of her and it was highly unlikely - she hoped this hunch was leaning towards correct, unless in the case where she was dead wrong and expecting a letter in her mail. In that event, she would be pleading guilty.
Alas, she had bigger things to focus on - like the neurobiology class she promised to TA for the semester, which was starting in two weeks. Or the fact, her project was reaching a dire point where she needed a rich lab to continue her research. Scrolling through he emails, considering all forms of work to pay it off until she came across an email in her inbox. A response from a Harvard professor
Subject: Pancreatic Cancer Screening Project
Y/N,
Your project sounds promising. I'll be visiting Columbia university in about two weeks. Why don't we chat then?
Cheers,
T P
Tom Pierce, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences, Harvard University
Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the email, slowing down to a slow skipping as she processed it. After months of trying, she finally had a response and from Harvard?
This was a good sign, right?
Forming her response, she sent him a detailed proposal of her proposal involving blood biomarkers and the list of her peer reviewed journals. If she was able to get in touch with a specialised cancer researcher at Harvard, this would be big for her project.
Heading for the break room with slightly lifted spirits, she pushed through the doors, only to in shock at the person standing in front of her.
"Natasha! You scared the shit out of me."
"Y/N." Her voice was low as she said her name, testing the waters. She never said her name like that. It was off-putting.
"How are you-"
"The other night." Natasha's face was serious as she stared at Y/N with an uncertainty painted on her features.
"-doing?" She cursed herself internally. This was not going as she planned.
"Dr. Strange."
She paused, "Yeah?"
Natasha stared at her, "Dr. Stephen. Strange."
She averted her gaze, "What about him?"
"I saw you together."
"Oh, really?" Y/N sounded surprised, putting off the fact she had seen Natasha.
"Yes. Here in the department."
"Oh, uh, I didn't see you, otherwise I would have said hi."
"Y/n/n. I saw you. With Strange. You know I saw you and I know you know that I saw you. That's why you've been avoiding me."
"I haven't been avoiding you. I've just been busy." She apologized.
Natasha gave her a 'bullshit' look that actually sent her heart rate spiking.
"You haven't responded to any of my texts in two days. We usually text every few hours."
"Something is up with my phone. The battery is gone. I've been too busy to fix it."
"Busy?" Her eyebrows raised, "Like too busy kissing Strange?" She pursued her lips.
Her eyes widened significantly, "You saw that..." Her voice trailed off, clutching the mug in her hand tightly.
"It was the strangest kiss I've ever seen. Pun, not intended. It was bizarre, no offence, Y/N."
Calm, just stay calm. She steadied her shaky hands.
"I don't know, I'd say there are a lot of weirder kisses. Like-take the upside-down Spiderman kiss-"
Natasha cut her off, "Y/n/n, you said you were on a date that night..." She slowly leaned in, "You're not dating Strange, are you?"
If Y/N admitted right now to Natasha that it was all fake and that she did it for her - all so she would go on a date with Steve, she there was a chance she might not trust her again. She wanted the best for Natasha, because she was the person that finally made her feel not so alone in this world. They'd been friends since first year undergrad and that meant a lot of time and understanding. And so, she did the right thing and moved along with her plan.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that we tell each other everything, we talk every day and suddenly your ghosting me? You've never mentioned Strange before and now you're seeing him and I have no clue about it. It's a bit-I don't know...shocking to me." She sighed, "You know his reputation, right? Is this a joke? Do you have a brain tumour? Do I have a brain tumour?"
Y/N sighed. This was the problem with lying, you always had to cover your previous lies with more carefully constructed tales. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she stared at Natasha, unsure of what to say-
"Hey,"
The voice was deep, a low register in her ears as she turned to look at Dr. Stephen Strange standing at her side. The more stunning observation was the feeling of his hand on the small of her back. Her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as she turned her neck to look at him, "Oh. Uh, hey,"
"Is everything okay?" He was talking to her in a low voice, almost as if they were alone and Natasha wasn't standing right there.
"Yeah." She nodded, "Yeah, everything is great. Natasha and I were just...chatting about our weekends." Causing Stephen to look at Natasha and acknowledge that she was there, nodding to her briefly. His hand slid lower to rest on her waist, but she wasn't sure from another perspective what that looked like.
"Nice to meet you, Natasha. I've heard a lot about you." Damn, how was he so good at this? So good at lying?
"It's nice to meet you too." Natasha looked shocked, covering it with a slight smile, "Um, I'm just about to leave so I'll see you later, Y/n/n. I'll text you..."
She was gone from sight before Y/N could form the words, leaving her with Stephen Strange and his hand that pressed into her waist.
"Is everything okay?" He repeated now that they were alone.
"Yes," she stared at him, unsure of exactly what just happened. "Yeah, I just..." Her face twisted in confusion.
"Thank you." She said, finally turning to face him.
"You're welcome."
"Did you hear what she said, about Friday?"
"Yes. That's why I..." He nodded, retracting his hand from her waist.
She nodded, "I also couldn't help but notice the lack of letter in my mail. No visit from the FBI either within the past seventy-two hours."
His lips twisted into a smirk, "Is that so?"
"Makes me think that maybe you haven't filed that Title IX complaint. Even though it's in your rights and I should probably stop talking right now. So thank you...for stepping in. You saved me a lot of trouble."
Stephen stared at her, unsure of her statement with a look he wore in seminars and workshops when people mixed up theory and hypothesis. "You shouldn’t need someone to step in for you."
Y/N felt herself stiffen, "Not as if I asked for you to do anything. I was handling it myself-"
"And I could tell it was going excellently." He deadpanned, "You shouldn't need to fabricate lies about your relationship status." He continued, "Especially not so that your friend and your ex can be together guilt-free. That isn't how friendship works."
So he had been listening.
"It's not like that." He raised an eyebrow in response.
"It isn't." She narrowed her eyes. "Steve was never my boyfriend and Natasha didn't ask me to do any of this. I'm not a victim in this...I just want her to be happy."
"At your own expense?" He replied, "By lying to her?"
"Well...she thinks we're dating."
"Wasn't that the point?"
"Yeah." She took a sip from her mug, the coffee now a lukewarm, "I'm Y/N Y/L/N, by the way. In case you were still looking to submit that complaint. I'm a Ph.D. student in Dr Xavier's lab-"
He cut her off, "-I know who you are."
She was stumped, staring at him for a moment, trying to imagine him rummaging through student profiles to find her. "Okay."
"I'm Stephen. Strange. I'm faculty in-"
She all but laughed in his face until she noticed his confused expression and paused to explain. "I'm sorry. I know who you are too, Dr. Strange."
"You should probably call me Stephen too."
Her eyebrows raised, "Oh, no. I couldn't." Grad couldn't call faculty by their first names, it was not supposed to be like that.
"If Natasha happens to be around." He continued.
"Oh, yes. That makes sense." She agreed, "I hadn't thought of that. If it's okay with you. I'm gonna head home, because this whole thing has been kind of stressful.
He nodded, "I'll walk you to your car."
"I think I'll be okay."
"In case Natasha is still around."
It was a kind offer, she was surprised. It didn't fit the so-called reputation everyone had denoted the Dr. "Thanks, but it's okay. I'll be fine."
He continued, "I'd feel better if you let me walk you to your car."
She mustered a smile, "I don't have a car." I'm a grad student living on campus and studying full-time, I can't afford one on less than thirty-thousand a year.
"Do you take the bus?"
"I bike. It's just at the entrance of the building."
He paused, opening his mouth and closing it. Y/N was late before she realised, she was staring at those lips. The lips she had kissed.
"There are no bike lanes around."
She shrugged, "I like to live dangerously. I have a helmet."
Setting her mug down, she turned to leave "I'll, uh, see you around."
He sighed, "Yeah. Okay."
***
"Is this a prank? Are you pranking me to get back at me for something? Where are the cameras?"
"It's not a prank. There are no cameras." Y/N adjusted the strap of her bag, "Although, speaking of cameras, you look good, especially for seven-thirty in the morning."
"Thanks. Last night, I did one of those face masks you bought me and I got a new mascara." Before she could ask, Y/N nodded in understanding. Steve and Natasha worked on the same floor, making the chances of them interacting much higher. She hid a smile.
"Okay. So if this isn't a prank, then there must be some other reason I'm missing."
"Oh my god, are you in trouble? Do you need help because I have ties with law enforcement and-"
"Natasha." She gripped her shoulders, "I am fine. I'm not in trouble. I just went out on a single date with Strange."
Natasha's face scrunched, dragging her friend to sit on a bench, "Do you remember last semester when you were sick and I nursed you back to health?"
"Yes, I remember it vividly."
"Well, that's a reminder that I am here for you. No matter how many gross things I need to get through to make sure you're okay."
"Thanks, Nat. Not for the slightly insulting comment, but the support is much appreciated."
"We're a team. You and I. And Sam, when he's not so focused on other things. So is Strange secretly an alien infiltrating humanity or-"
"Oh, my god! It was one date!"
"I'm just confused. I'm trying to understand." Natasha pleaded.
"I know but-there isn't anything to understand, Nat. I went out with the guy once."
"But, why? You're beautiful and smart and you have excellent taste in movies, why would you go out with Stephen Strange?"
She was stumped for an answer, "Because...he's nice."
"Nice? Stephen 'ass' Strange?"
"Yeah...he's nice and kind...and he understands me." Natasha raised her eyebrows in disbelief, "He's a nice asshole."
"Okay, so you went from dating someone amazing like Steve to going out with Stephen Strange."
Perfect. This was the opening she needed to move onto the next subject
"I did, and happily because Steve and I never clicked. I never cared about him that way. It wasn't difficult to move on. Which is why, Nat, you should accept his offer and go out with him. I know you like him and I'm so sure or his feelings for you. You should do it for yourself. You deserve it."
"I don't know. Maybe..." Until her phone beeped, "Crap. I've got a mentoring meeting and I need to run two assays. Want to meet for lunch?"
"Can't. I have a TA meeting." Y/N smiled, "Why don't you see if Steve is free?"
Before she left, Nat turned once more with her bag in hand, "Is he blackmailing you?"
A laugh bubbled from her throat, "What?"
"Is Strange blackmailing you? Does he know that you're weird and you're always freakishly cold?"
"What? No. He is not blackmailing me." She shook her head.
"Okay." Nat raised her hands in defence, "I had to check."
"It's flattering you think Strange would go to these lengths to get me to date him."
"You're beautiful and smart. Anyone would be lucky to have the privilege, Y/n/n."
***
Steve was acting weird around Y/N that day when she finally walked into the boarding room. He looked at her from his desk three, maybe five times. This was more attention he paid to her than when they were dating. Looking back at her email, she forwarded the response to meet up with Dr. Pierce to chat about her screening project.
Eventually, another fourth year walked in and sat next to Steve, whispering and looking over at her table. She paid no attention, focusing on the timely response from Dr Pierce, informing her he was on sabbatical for the moment and was in fact, going to be there in a few days to talk with a Columbia collaborator. She had a few days to convince this Professor of her project and it's significance. No pressure.
Suddenly looking up, she sensed more eyes on her and recognised the group eyeing her on the spot. A seventh year she had never talked to before spoke up, "Hi, Y/N."
"Hi," she replied, unsure of the attention.
"How are you?"
"Great,"
"That's good." He muttered.
"And you?" Trying to appear normal
"Good."
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he walked off toward. Things got weirder from there - namely when Dr. Xavier appeared and asked her if there was anything she wanted to tell her. Another grad let her use the PCR machine first, people literally opening doors for her. It was a day taking a disturbing turn.
"You sneaky woman." Sam muttered, "I've been trying to contact you all day."
"What for?" she looked up from her bench, “I forgot my phone at home."
"I cannot believe it." he shook his head.
"Believe what?"
"Believe you."
Her eyes narrowed, “What are you talking about exactly?"
"I didn't believe it at first. I thought we were close friends." he crossed his arms.
"We are." she nodded, but he continued in spite of this.
"Good friends."
"Sam, is there a reason for this?"
"Clearly we aren't friends then if I had to hear it from Stella, who heard it from Jess, who heard it from Steve, who heard it from Natasha-"
"Hear what?"
"I'm done. I'm changing my Netflix password. You can fend for yourself."
"Sam, what did you hear?"
"That you're dating Stephen Strange."
Oh no.
***
Y/n had never stepped foot in Strange 's lab before but today would be different as she pushed the doors open and eyes fell on her. She stiffened and found him, awkwardly moving inside.
"May I speak with you in private for a moment, Dr. Strange? It's important." She smiled weakly. He nodded, handing back the paper to his student and lead her into an empty office.
"Everyone knows." She blurted out.
"Are you okay?"
She shook her head, running a hand down her face, "Nevermind that. Everyone knows. About us."
"Us?"
"Yes. Us. Dating-not that we are, but Natasha clearly believed so and she told Steve, who told everyone. Now everyone knows, but there isn't anything to actually know. As you and I...know."
"...when you say everyone?"
"I mean everyone. Those people. The other grads. Cherie, the department secretary. She totally knows. Dr. Xavier. They all think I'm dating a professor."
"I see."
"I'm sorry this happened. I wasn't thinking and now we're in this- I just don't know why Steve would tell everyone."
"Why wouldn't he?"
"What do you mean?"
"A grad student dating a faculty member seems like an interesting piece of information to share." he gestured. "It's no wonder he talked."
"It isn't that interesting, per say. Why would he be interested?"
"Someone told me gossip in this department is the worst." He pointed out, a hint of a smirk.
"Alright, alright. Point taken, Dr."
"This is-a mess. We need to do something before-" she paused, "We need to tell people it's not true. Except they'll think I'm crazy or they won't believe it and then-"
"What would Natasha and what’s-his-face do, huh?" His expression hardened.
"What?" She breathed.
"What would they do if they found out? Won't they feel bad you lied to them about dating if they were together?"
"Maybe," she shook her head, "I don't know."
"Are you going to tell her the truth?"
"I don't know. I can't. Not now." She looked at him, "Maybe we can tell people I broke up with you."
"Flattering." He lifted his brows.
"Fine. You broke up with me." She offered.
"Because that sounds credible." He replied drily. She wasn't sure what to take from that.
"Mutual breakup?"
"Sounds good." He nodded, folding his hands.
"Really? Great-"
"We could ask Cherie to put in the department announcements and everyone should know soon." He smiled, tilting his head.
"Huh?" She paused, standing in front of him.
"A public announcement would be better, no?"
She huffed, "Okay, fine."
He studied her with a calm look that stumped her; far from the expectations she drew from Stephen 'Ass' Strange. "If what bothers you is that people are talking about you dating a professor, the damage is already done. Telling people otherwise won't change what they think."
Y/N clicked her tongue against her teeth and held her arms to herself in exhaustion. "Okay. If you have any better idea of how to fix this, I'm all ears-"
"You could let them think what they want."
She wasn't so sure she heard him correctly.
"You can let people go on thinking we're dating. It solves your problem and you don't have much to lose..."
Y/N raised her eyebrows in response, "From a reputation standpoint, things cannot get any worse from here on out."
She was completely out of her depths.
"Seems like a win-win to me."
It seemed more like a lose-lose, really.
"For how long?"
"Whatever works best, I guess."
Her eyes narrowed in confusion, "Are you not...I don't know, married or something?"
He must have been in his thirties. He has a fantastic job, clearly smart and attractive looking. He was also built. Yeah, he could be moody and a bit critical, but a lot of women could look past that. Some might even like that.
"My wife and twins won't mind."
Her eyes but bulged out of her head at his comment. Something twisted in her stomach, threatening to throw up everything from her body. A wave of heat passed over her as she watched him. "Oh my god -"
"Kidding-"
"I had no idea-"
"Y/N, I was joking. I'm not married. No kids either."
Her eyes hardened, "Dr. Strange, that is not something to joke about-"
He interrupted her, yet again, "You should really start calling me Stephen. Only normal for people who are dating." He wore a sweet smile in response. Sweet smile twisted with mischief, that was for sure.
"What do you get out of this?"
It was his turn to be confused, "Out of what?"
Y/N paused in thought, studying Stranger's face before it crossed her mind. Stephen watched her tilt her head and a snort left her. "Pretending to date me. What's in it for you?"
She watched as Stephen opened his mouth and for a moment it looked as if he was going to actually say something of importance before he averted his eyes and leaned against the desk. "It would help you out." He sighed, "I also have my own reasons."
"And what are those?"
He was curt, "Reasons."
"If it's criminal, I'd rather not be involved if that can be helped."
He smiled in that way that sent her heart skipping a beat, "It's not."
A huff left her mouth as she scrutinized him for answers, "If you don't tell me, I'll just assume you're affiliated with something nefarious. Like arson. Or kidnapping."
He appeared focused, watching her as a beat passed between them with each tap against his bicep. He stared for a moment longer before he relented, "If I tell you, not a word can leave this room."
"I think we can agree that nothing said in this room can ever be repeated for a number of reasons." She relaxed her face, sensing the tension lingering there.
"Point taken." He agreed, pausing for a second before he sighed, "Okay. I'm considered a flight risk."
"Flight risk? Are you planning on travelling or-So it is something criminal?" She moved slightly forward, crossing her arms.
"What? No. The department suspects I'm making plans to leave Columbia and move to another institution. Normally, I wouldn't be bothered by this sort of thing, but the university has decided to freeze my funds."
Realisation washed over her, "Oh. Can they?"
"Up to a third of them. The reasoning is that they don't want to fund research and further the career of someone they believe is going to leave."
"But if it's only a third, surely-"
"It's millions of dollars. Money I had marked for projects I planned to finish within the next year. Here. Which means I need those funds soon."
Finally, it all made sense.
"Why do they think you'll leave?"
"There's a number of things. The most relevant? I was awarded a grant a few weeks ago - a very large one - with a scientist from another institution. They've tried to recruit me many times and Columbia sees the collaboration as an indicator of my willingness to accept." He continued, "More generally? I've been made aware that appearances matter to the department, seeing my lack of roots as a want to flee Columbia."
"Roots?"
"Most grads will be done in the year. I have no family here. No wife. No children. I'm currently renting and I...I'd have to buy a house to convince the department otherwise. Being in a relationship...that would really help."
"Alright." She nodded, gesturing, "All of that made sense, but have you considered getting a real girlfriend?"
"Have you considered getting a real date?"
She halted, nodding "Touché."
Y/N could have laughed at the situation as the man she should have been frightened of, or at least put off by, was now the only person who knew of her worst mistake. It was intimidating, but also liberating now to at least know of an equal opportunity here.
"It would be complicated."
"What would be?"
"Pretending to be a couple." she clarified.
"It would be complicated to make people believe we are dating?" he pressed his lips together.
"It would be difficult to make it convincing for a long period."
"It'll be fine as long as you say hi to me in the hallways and stop calling me Dr. Strange."
"People who are dating don't just say hi to each other." She argued.
"And what do people that are dating do, exactly?"
Okay, so maybe she wasn't an expert on the topic, but she was dedicated and determined, if anything. A bookworm and a lover of romance, so the fictional world would have to do. They had things in common, what with being in the same department and academia.
"They do activities together. Like going to the movies, having picnics and getting dinner."
"You could just tell Natasha we went to see a movie. Sounds like she would take care of the rest and let everyone know."
"Actually, it was Steve. Let's agree to blame Steve for everything." She blinked, relaxing her hands on her hips, "People who date talk - they know things about each other and they hug. They kiss."
Stephen, leaned against that desk with his arms crossed against his chest in that way that flexed his arms, pressed his lips together to hide something. "We could never do that."
A heat flushed over as her mouth fell agape, looking to the back of the room. She could feel his gaze on her and she sighed, an apology dying in her throat. "Glad to know my embarrassment is amusing to you."
"I wouldn't say you are 'amusing'."
"No, but you are enjoying this." She concluded.
"To a certain degree."
Her eyebrows raised, hiding her flush behind a blank expression, lest she fall over from an unassuming tease or remark.
A worn laugh left her as she sighed, falling into her hands as she rubbed her eyes tiredly, "This is the worst."
Stephen was smiling, it was cute and revealed dimples. It made him more handsome. "Yep."
"And it's my fault." she trailed off, closing her eyes.
"Pretty much. Although I'll admit, I did kind of encourage Natasha yesterday. But yeah, it is mostly your fault."
Her eyes widened as she suddenly thought of something, "Wait, isn't there an issue with you being faculty and me being a graduate student?"
He tilted his head, the smile leaving as he thought over it, "It wouldn't look great but there shouldn't be an issue since I have no authority over you. I can ask around."
It was an epically bad idea, but after the mistake she made and the lie, it would be messier than what this entitled. "Is it alright if I think it over?"
"Of course." He replied calmly. His tone was stumped her yet again, unlike the Professor many had told her about.
Before leaving, she turned to him "And thank you, for understanding. And for offering, Stephen." His name came out like an afterthought as she tried it out.
"No problem, Y/N." Slightly smiling at the end as she took her leave.
TAGS:
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Smol's Demonverse: How The Hell Does Hell Work?
Hello, this is the post with my outline of different demon types in my Demonverse plus a basic idea on how Hell works! Now admittedly, it may not be the most original or polished thing; this is basically my playground where I plonk any OC designs that aren't fandom related or connected to my Big Project/any potential projects in the future. Edits may be made, but for now, this is the basic gist of it. Should also give you an idea for what I mean when I talk about Viceroys and stuff in my OC ref sheets! It's going under a read more because fuck me there's a lot to get through. Enjoy <3
How The Hell Does Hell Work?
Hell is where sinners go when they die. That much is obvious. But what constitutes a “sinner”? There’s a surprising amount of wiggle room in terms of how much ‘sin’ someone can commit and still go to Heaven. It’s a matter of a) intention, and b) consequence. How much malice is behind an action and how large the impact of the action all adds up in the end. So, say someone found the cure for syphilis and pancreatic cancer, should be a one way ticket to Heaven, right? However, if they found these cures whilst trying to find a way to eradicate autism and gay people or then patented their treatments to sell them at extortionate prices, then you’re headed Down There. Similarly, someone who ends up poisoning a bunch of children because they, say, tried to make some delicious cakes and sweets for the kids and had no idea that a certain ingredient was toxic or something the kids were allergic to, and felt genuine remorse for their actions, it’s not actually a guaranteed trip to Hell (although those consequences must be paid for. Maybe some Celestial Community Service).
Even then, there’s some confusion. If Hell is meant to punish sinners, then does that make demons good? Again, not so simple. Lest we forget, temptation is a big part of things. It’s easy to be good if the option to be bad has simply never presented itself in your life, so a true test of character is to be presented with the sinful option, and see how one handles it. Again, does this make the demon offering temptation a good person who wants to aid in your personal growth? Not necessarily.
There are several types of residents in Hell, which can be classified as follows:
Sinners
Sinners are people from Earth who have died and gone to Hell. Mortal souls. When one arrives in Hell, most tend to experience some change in their appearance, influenced by their life, their reason for being here, and their beliefs. One thing that always happens for some reason, is that they end up with three fingers as opposed to the normal four. No one is entirely sure why this happens. Other changes often involve skin changing to pure white, black, or some other colour, changes in eye and hair colour, as well as hair length. Some people gain wings, tails, horns are also incredibly common but a rare few end up without. Some gain more animalistic qualities such as claws, fangs, tails, animal legs, even full anthropomorphisation.
When a Sinner arrives in Hell, they are often brought to a Higher Demon and assigned living space. Life in Hell is similar to life on Earth, in that there are cities and towns full of businesses and restaurants and the like, but everything is run by the worst people humanity has witnessed. It’s a tough life to be certain, made even worse by the assigned torture. The Boss quite quickly figured out that torture is much more effective when the victims are given a break. So, a schedule is laid out; sinners are allowed time to settle into their new life, until at some point another demon will come and collect them for a certain amount of torturing, before being let go, and the process repeats itself. Some of the Higher Ups have found that they needn’t bother torturing everyone, as it turns out a lot of Sinners will gladly hurt each other for free. However, nothing quite beats a paid professional, and so, certain Sinners are offered official work in Hell, either paperwork and classification, or torture, or temptation.
They’ve also been placed into different Districts, usually based around their main Sin/crime, although there can be some overlap as people are rarely guilty of just one Sin. Another method, therefore, is to place them in a neighbourhood surrounded by fellow Sinners, say, those who mostly committed Greed, but then a professional from the Lust district will come collect them for torture at some point. Honestly, just living another life surrounded by reminders of yourself is hell enough for some.
Embodiments/Overlords
Embodiments are Hell-born demons or spirits that were incarnated as mortals to become the embodiment of a certain sin. These are the ones who get to run their own little areas in their Districts, similar to a crime family (except for Narcolep, he has others do it for him). They don’t run the entire area, they report to Higher Ups, but they hold a lot of power over the lower demons. Funnily enough, in the Lust District, more Succubi, aka Tempters, are Overlords than Embodiments (I guess people respond better to a sexy demon than a slobbering incel who’s never seen a tit that wasn’t from anime)
Tempters
Tempters are often Hell-born demons whose purpose is to tempt mortals into sin and see if they can bring them over to the Dark Side, but mortal souls can also apply for such a role. They’re similar to Embodiments as chances are, they indulged in a particular Sin so much that they’d love to do it as their job. These have their own subroles, the most well-known being Succubi/Incubi and Dealmakers.
Succubi
Followers of Lust, these Hellborn demons rely on either being summoned to Earth by mortals messing with dark magic for a quick lay, or make their way to Earth to tempt mortals personally, getting them to sign over the soul in exchange for carnal pleasure. The latter is more challenging but therefore sometimes seen as more ‘fun’. The most powerful Succubus is known as Demistress, with her six daughters destined to follow in her steps. Succubi feed upon the carnal energy of their claims, but when it’s time to collect the soul, it’s either a matter of the mortal dying naturally or having agreed upon a certain timeframe for their soul to be collected, at which point, the soul descends to Hell, and the Succubus who claimed it has personal control/say over it. This often amounts to being the one to torture their claim, or continue their carnal relationship in Hell. Many Succubi and Incubi have gotten themselves some nice little harems from this.
Dealmakers
These demons have the qualifications to go to Earth and forge contracts with mortals and claim a soul for their District. They’re often independent contractors, and set up shop on Earth rather than residing in Hell, though some don’t mind the commute. They’re often known as Crossroads Demons, but can decide their base of operations for themselves, so long as they report to their Viceroy or Overlord. They often vary in power levels, with former mortal souls starting out naturally weaker than Hellborn Dealmakers, but build their way up by claiming and punishing souls (and making some deals with demons more powerful than themselves).
Summonables
These are demons who have a licence to respond to summons from humans. They tend to pay a fee to trademark their own sigil/ritual which can then be published in books by professionals. Summonables tend to have specialised in a type of magic to fill their own niche gaps in the markets. Many Succubi are unsurprisingly Summonables.
Haunters
These are what you likely think of when you hear the word ‘demon’. Hellborn creatures more beast-like than other Hellborns, they do not want to punish the truly evil or lure people into temptation out of spite or fun, they’re much simpler than that; they are evil. They’re bound by certain rules like all demons, but for the most part, these are the monsters mortals tell stories about. Creatures that simply want to kill and maim because they want to kill and maim, they tend not to even care where their murdered souls end up or even having control over them. Mischievous, cruel, and bloodthirsty, other demons prefer to keep their distance, and the Haunters are fine with this.
Tormentors
These are the demons who are tasked with torturing Sinners. Either Hell-born or hired Sinners who torment others to avoid it happening to themselves, and are often also Dealmakers or Succubi. They are given a select number of souls they are tasked with punishing to meet a quota. Honestly, it’s half torture but also half paperwork describing how/why they’ve punished a soul a certain way. These are smaller in number and often directly serve Overlords and Viceroys, and are therefore some of the most feared demons in Hell. In terms of political power however, they rank quite lowly, as they are pretty much thugs and secretaries.
The Viceroys
These are the Higher Ups who carry out the orders and wishes of the Deadly Sins. They allow the Overlords their territories within their own, truly ruling their District Sections. They keep the denizens of Hell in line, therefore hold the most power behind the Sins and Lucifer himself. The Viceroys are a mix of demons who want to build up their District populations and those who want humans to stop sinning and see those down in Hell as truly deserving of punishment. This can lead to disputes amongst themselves and their Overlords, although the most common point of contention is whose boss has more claim over a soul (as in, what was their main sin)
The Gula Five
The most powerful of the Viceroys. The five forms of Gluttony with the most control over their District, all of them working together better than the other Viceroys, although they do get along with a fair few of them as well as the Sins themselves.
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