Graven

> *"Am I being stupid if I say I just wanna make you happy?"*
>
>
>
>
>
>

## Storyline

The Listener is woken up by their demon boyfriend because he wants them to get the latest issue of One Piece manga before they sell out. He's too self-conscious to get it himself because his demonic horns and ears attract attention when they try to spend time together as a couple.

He reminisces on how they first met: a soul-retrieval that made him feel happier than his life as an archdemon. Now that he's their boyfriend he enjoys human things like anime, manga, D&D, video games, and other nerdy things.

Since he's moved to the human realm he hasn't been able to do much since he's waiting for official documents to be sent by the Underworld. Though he's looking forward to starting shapeshifting lessons, he shares the bad news that his graduation from Nightmare High doesn't count and he'll have to get a human education to qualify for human work.

He's optimistic about starting his life as a human but still worried that he embarrasses the Listener when they're together in public. He doesn't want the world to treat them differently because they're in a demon/human relationship. The Listener reassures him that they make him happy and he lets go of his anxieties, inviting his partner to a breakfast date.

Graven surprises the Listener on Valentine's Day as his way of thanking them for helping him pick a human college and living quarters. He later confesses that he's grateful for, in general, letting him be their boyfriend. His initial plan of preparing an Underworld breakfast in bed didn't work so he's planned a series of surprises to celebrate. His first surprise is a necklace with a protection charm on it for them to wear while he's away at college. The second surprise is a magical mark he puts on the Listener's hand in the shape of his family's crest, to remember him by and to mark them as his. He urges them to get out of bed so they can spend the day together.

In a later installment, the Listener is helping Graven move into his new place at college. Though he's excited to see some of his old things, like his old armor, he's more excited about his new life from the Dungeons and Dragons club to the scent of overriding helplessness. He takes off his human-looking glamour and preens a little, confessing that since their first talk he's grown more confident about his appearance.

He surprises them with a gift, a set of rings that link the wearers empathically when they think of each other. It's his way of staying connected while they manage a long distance relationship. Though he's anxious and starts to take it back as "too much" the Listener loves it and he's relieved. He declares that even though being apart from them will be difficult he trusts that their love for each other will pull them through. He's especially earnest in telling the Listener that he loves them and that he will always be thinking of them.

The demon suggests for the Listener to stay over and spend time with him instead of taking the long trip back home. The Listener agrees and they start to unpack his things together.

When college is cancelled, Graven returns to the Listener, sneaking into their place, waking them up. He apologizes for doing so and so late but he's just traveled for five hours and asks to be let into bed. The Listener allows it and he takes off his human glamor before joining them, sighing with relief. He confesses he's missed them while he's been away but it makes seeing them once more all the sweeter.

The Listener asks how he's finding college and he tells them about how much he likes the Dungeons and Dragons club (despite there not being any real dungeons or dragons) and how difficult writing essays is but seeing them has made his day. He's been worrying about them while at college, something The Listener seems surprised about, and he admits it's because they're his favorite human in addition to being his partner.

Graven offers to make breakfast in bed the following morning (and not burn down the kitchen) and teases them with an additional surprise. After some cuddle negotiation he asks if they would like to adopt a hellhound puppy with him and makes a case for it, saying that it would be good for them since he doesn't know how long he'll be staying with them this time around. He saw a news segment on the Infernal News Network about them and says that hundreds of puppies are abandoned every year and isn't that sad? The Listener agrees to adopt one with him and he gets excited about the prospect of getting maybe an entire litter of hellhound puppies; it wouldn't be so bad since most of their place is fireproofed.

With that settled, he tells the Listener to go to sleep and that he loves them, assuring that he'll keep them safe from any monsters hiding under the bed.

Graven and the Listener prepare for a trip to the Underworld though the demon asks his partner if they're certain they really want to go. Though the Listener says that they are sure about the trip he worries that the underworld will be a little too much for them. After a bit he admits what he's really worried about: the Listener will have to meet his parents. He promised to introduce them to the person he's going to spend his eternity with. He knows that this is a big step in their relationship and he wants to be sure that they, a human, are comfortable with it.

The Listener asks what his parents are like and he describes them. His mother is an infernal judge who places humans where they should go in the afterlife based on their crimes (choices include the Lake of Fire, Room of Annoyance, and The Doctor's Office That Never Calls Your Name). His father makes Bad Ideas, planting impulsive thoughts in people's heads. They are upstanding citizens of hellish society and Graven's nervous that they might not accept his relationship with a mortal, though he's quick to reiterate that he loves the Listener to hell and back. They reply that they don't care what his parents might think of them which bolsters the demon's mood. He gets excited again to bring the first mortal to the underworld since "that Dante guy" and opens a portal to the underworld. The Listener takes his hand and they walk through together,

## Personality

As an archdemon, Graven held a position of power in the Underworld creating mayhem and destruction. However, he found that life unfulfilling after centuries and has since found a new joy in life after meeting the Listener. Old habits die hard though. Even though he's initially self-conscious about his demonic appearance he refuses to alter it until he can get a glamor since his big horns are a symbol of how powerful he is. He has a tendency to monologue and defaults to a demon's concept of morality, which includes casual beheadings as a sign of affection.

He's kind of a dork for being an all-powerful demon. He tends to talk around a subject before getting to the point, embarrassed to talk about his real feelings. His demonic habit of monologuing can come off as goofy when he tries to do the same thing with a human perspective. He depends on the Listener to help him adjust to his new home in and feels more confident after they confirm that they like his demonic appearance. He's uncomfortable with getting extra attention because of his horns and ears and feels like he embarrasses the Listener when it happens. He's concerned that they'll be negatively perceived for being in a relationship with him, though the exact reason is unclear. In the final audio we learn that he has the same worry when he has to introduce them to his parents, though he is more worried on their behalf as a human meeting

Graven is happier being in a relationship with the Listener than being a powerful demon in the Underworld and works hard to overcome the culture shock of living in a world that's not built for him. Throughout his audios he expresses a deep love for the Listener that makes the culture shock worthwhile, repeatedly saying that he loves them and that they have given his life a new meaning. Though he is confident in the strength of their relationship he's still protective of them in every sense of the word. He worries about their physical and emotional well-being and has given gifts to ensure that they'll be protected while he's separated from them. He knows that being with them has made him a more confident person and he's positive that he wants to sped the rest of his demonic life with them.

## Trivia

### Graven

* 300-800 years old and a powerful demon with big horns, pointed ears, and a fetching tail. The horns are big enough to get caught in lighting fixtures.
* One Piece is his favorite anime.
* Calls the Listener "babe".
* Thinks that one can "win" Valentine's Day.
* Forgot that D&D and Dungeons and Dragons mean the same thing between episode 1 and 3. He's been dealing with a lot, okay?
* Needed his partner's help with nearly every aspect of human life as certain things, like glamor application, have become more regulated.
* He's friends with his DM and promised to pull some strings if he goes "downstairs".
* Likes cuddles and hellhound puppies.
* Things he used to do in the Underworld:
	+ Work for Malror Neverember as his "Blade"
	+ Crush souls
	+ Drain the life force from the spirits of the damned
	+ Send legions to obliterate his enemies in a rain of hellfire, scorching the earth for generations
	+ Send the object of his affection their enemies' heads and fight for them in the blood pits
	+ Have a dungeon and a dragon

* The best hotel in the Underworld is next to a lake of fire with a great view to watch people be judged. There is also a spa.

### The Listener

* A nerdy human.
* Patient and understanding, constantly reminds their boyfriend that things in the human realm don't work the way he's used to.
* Prefers their boyfriend's demonic appearance over his human glamor.
* Has no problems dating an older guy.

### Fan Theories

* This takes place in the "real world", albeit one where summoning demons is normal.
* This takes place in the distant future of Sarrus, explaining why there's already a set process to integrate demons with the human world. Humans also don't seem to find his demonic appearance that unusual, suggesting that demons (or the physical traits of a demon) are a common sight in the world.
* The ring he gave the Listener was as good as an engagement ring in the Underworld, he just didn't tell the Listener. No, he probably wouldn't lie about something as important as that but don't tell me you didn't hear a proposal when he was explaining what it was for.

## Audio References

All audios can be found in the **Demon Boyfriend** playlist here.

1. ↑ Waking Up to Your Nerdy Demon Boyfriend
2. ↑ Demon Boyfriend Makes You His
3. ↑ Nerdy Demon Boyfriend Misses You
4. ↑ Falling Asleep With Your Demon Boyfriend
5. ↑  Demon Boyfriend Takes You To The Underworld
6. ↑ Oujidere Demon Prince Takes a Servant