As someone who is close in skin tone to both Mammon and Simeon...
...my skin color does not instantly become equivalent to that of an undercooked hot dog under direct light. I also do not morph into a soggy piece of tissue during the winter. In fact, it's very obvious that despite the lighting or change of season, I'm still very much so, a Black person and I don't think there's any excuse you can give for what the artist of that particular SSR card did that isn't "light washing" (I prefer to use that term instead, considering it's not their race being lifted, but their skin tone, so "white washing," at least to me, isn't an appropriate term).
And while I'm at it, I also would like to point out the underlying layer of anti Blackness present when discussing both characters. This isn't to say that Mammon and Simeon are Black, but I've noticed that when dealing with characters who are Ambiguously Brown, the argument that they are everything else but a person of African descent is very common (for example, Michiko from Michiko to Hatchin). And despite none of the characters having canon races besides angel and demon, that hasn't stopped people from their own interpretations (and if you're going to create characters that have a "human form," this becomes even more... questionable).
And don't even get me started on Diavolo, that would be an entirely different rant that many people have already brought up (such as why does his skin get darker in demon form, yet lighter in his human form? Or why despite the other characters having demon forms, none of them go through a similar "unique" change in their appearance? Why is darker skin always associated with evilness, etc.)?
Anyway, I just felt the need to bring this up. I know such conversations can be tiring, and as much as I'd love to escape into my favorite fandom and pretend these things don't exist, the issue with skin color in Obey Me! is a consistent problem with their artists, so much to the point where when a new character with brown skin is introduced (such as Mephistopheles and Raphael) I can only wait and then cry for when their skin color is inevitably changed to that of a blank Microsoft Word document.
People really downplay colorism and racism because they really don't understand how big a thing it is in Asia--and the way in which colorism/racism can manifest. Those changes in skin tone are a big deal.
Diavolo's ambiguously brown bullshit has annoyed me from the start. Either give him the lighter skin or the darker skin. Don't give me 'friendly human light' and 'evil demon dark'.
I don't even understand how people don't understand that Diavolo's demon form being darker, and Diavolo's oni costume being darker, stem from colorist viewpoints, whether they were intentional or subconscious choices. (Seriously, why the fuck would a costume change his skin color?)
And OM's devs continuing to commission artists that lighten skin tones is so frustrating. I had the same exact thought when I saw Mephistopheles. I'm not looking forward to seeing him lightwashed (I like that term btw I think I'll start using it).
And don't get me started on the MOC anime archetypes that Mammon and Simeon fall into. Ugh.
Just finished Shiraishi’s route and I’m genuinely MIND BOGGLED that anyone could like this absolute piece of shit??? What the fuck was that story??? I’m legitimately angry I had to spend so much time reading that FUCKING YOU AND EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU SHIRAISHI #antishiraishicoalition
COLLAR X MALICE TIME BABYYYYYYY I was gonna do Piofiore but my Bf voted for CXM due to the FUCKED up story concept (and the art just screams psychological damage which is WHAT I PLAY THESE GAMES FOOORRRRR)
not to be basic but 😳 do you have any thoughts on the demon brothers courting MC? Like any specific Devildom culture aspects that come into play? (Maybe something SUPER important that MC writes off as “oh huh. wonder why my ~friend~ is all nervous today”.) wink wink romantic demon tension wink wink.
Apologies for the long wait on this but YES, we love thinking about Devildom culture(s) and possible traditions, and courting ones are certainly fun to imagine!
We've come up with a handful here (plus a special bonus at the end), so we hope you enjoy them!!
(You can see a follow-up of mini-stories with the characters we missed here!)
DEVILDOM COURTING
Sharing Bloodseed Fruit
There are a few different kinds of fruits in the Devildom that can have romantic meanings when shared with someone you're interested in.
Bloodseed fruits, which vaguely resemble human-world dragonfruits on the outside and pomegranates on the inside, are the most popular of these by far.
The number of seeds you each eat is meant to be representative of how long you will stay in love with one another.
The average bloodseed fruit has around 1,000 seeds in it, with especially large ones able to have up to 1,500 seeds.
Which of course means the demon brothers and royals aren't going to settle for anything less than the largest ones they can possibly find to share with you.
Favored by: Diavolo, Lucifer, Beelzebub
It's not uncommon for Diavolo to invite you over for tea. Today, however, you've scarcely seen any sign of his loyal butler, aside from a single moment where he delivered both tea and a much smaller plate of sweets than usual.
"Does Barbatos have a lot going on today?" you wonder aloud.
"Oh, no," Diavolo laughs. "He's keeping his distance today out of respect for me. You see, I invited you over for...something rather special."
He takes your hand then and places a massive, spiky-looking fruit onto it. "I suppose you wouldn't be familiar with this, but this is a bloodseed fruit. They're rather rare, but we have a legend here in the Devildom that lovers who share one will stay in love for how many seeds they each eat," he explains. "And so, MC...would you do me the honor of sharing this with me?"
Matching Makeup
In the Devildom, there are certain patterns that one paints on their face that are based on their yearnings or desires, or signify something about the wearer.
These looks are usually only worn for special occasions -- and there is one event in particular where if you wear a certain matching makeup look with another, it signifies being together.
The Bacchanal of Illumination is a special time in the Devildom, where a variety of colorful demonic flora bloom and glow with an ethereal light once every few centuries.
Since ancient times, it has been customary to celebrate the three day window in which these flowers bloom with great revelry, parties thrown throughout, and imbibing an intoxicating drink created from the sap found in these flowers from past seasons.
It is considered good luck if a couple finds a flower in these fields the exact shade of the makeup they are wearing, signifying a healthy and long relationship.
Favored by: Lucifer, Asmodeus, Barbatos
"There we go, now we match!" Asmodeus giggles with delight, finishing the last flick of makeup over your cheek before turning you around to his mirror with a flourish. "Let's go show the others, hm, darling?"
You nod enthusiastically, excited to head out for this festival that everyone has been talking about lately. You've hardly taken two steps into the common room, however, before the rest of the brothers alternately gasp and/or pounce on the Avatar of Lust.
"ASMO, WHAT THE FUCK!" Mammon shouts. "Why the fuck does MC have that makeup, you bastard --"
"Because they're mine, of course," Asmo just grins back cheekily, draping himself possessively all over your shoulders. "Should have done it yourself if you wanted them!"
Offering a Passiflora Hellbloom
Purple and white with a crown of barb-like vines around a protruding spike ending in an eye-like orb, these Devildom flowers can look quite bizarre to humans at first glance.
However, if offered to a love interest, they represent passion, affection, sweetness -- and agony, if the recipient refuses it.
You see, giving a single flower of this kind to someone is seen as equivalent to asking them to be in a relationship with you, and accepting the flower is to accept the relationship.
The giver can also cast a spell before giving it, where if accepted, the flower will then actually undergo a second blooming where it sheds the vines, and the spike opens up into a set of brilliant petals.
Favored by: Mammon, Diavolo, Leviathan
"Ahhhh, that was fun!" you exclaim with a stretch, ready to head to bed after a long night of gaming with Leviathan. "It's late though, I should probably get to sleep. Good night, Levi!"
"A-a-ah, MC, wait!!" he calls out to you just before you reach his door, his voice unintentionally almost a shout with nervousness. "Wait, I have something for you." He pulls a long, thin stem of a bizarre-looking flower from somewhere in his room and thrusts it towards you.
"Oh, what a...nice flower," you smile politely, taking it from his hands.
"Y-you'll really take it?! I know you probably don't want this from me, but you'll really accept it?" His words are gushing out with excitement.
In his excitement, sadly, he forgets to tell you what the flower actually means. But Asmo will be sure to tell you when he sees it in your room tomorrow.
Passing a Red Candle
Candles can often be symbolic in magic, and the Devildom is no exception.
Red candles, in particular, are known for representing the fire of love and passion.
For this reason, when a demon gives someone a red candle, it's akin to a confession -- essentially, they are "giving the fire of their love" to another.
The House of Lamentation, by the way, has a lot of red candles that just happen to be sitting around all the time...
Favored by: Lucifer, Leviathan, Satan
"Oh, Lucifer, perfect timing," you say as he enters the dimly lit library. You quickly thrust the plate of the red candle you were holding into his hands, explaining, "Would you hold this for me for a sec? I'm trying to get this book out, but it's so firmly wedged in here, it's a bit stuck, and I didn't want to put the candle somewhere where it could fall over."
The barest hint of a blush crosses his expression before it's quickly replaced with a mischievous smirk.
"Oh? MC, you ought to be careful who you give a candle like this to in the Devildom," he murmurs, placing a finger under your chin to turn your gaze back to him. "Or I'll have to take this as a sign you mean to surrender yourself to me."
Written Story
For demons, giving someone their grimoire is the ultimate sign of trust, as it is akin to surrendering complete power to that person.
Long ago, demons sometimes actually gifted each other their grimoires as part of marriage ceremonies, though it has generally fallen out of practice at this point.
However, the sentiment of the act is still quite popular, and as a symbolic equivalent, nowadays demons will sometimes write down a story from their life as a gift to their beloved.
Especially popular is for couples to choose a story about each other, such as when they met, a special date, etc.
Favored by: Satan, Belphegor, Barbatos
Come up to the attic, the text you get reads. I have something for you.
Even after everything, it's still one of Belphegor's favorite places to nap. You gently push open the door, half expecting him to already be asleep, but even though he's sitting comfortably on the bed, he's definitely awake and looks uncharacteristically nervous.
"What's up, Belphie?" you ask, taking a seat next to him.
"I told you, I have something for you." He passes you an envelope patterned like the worn cover of an old leather-bound book.
Inside, there's a single slip of paper, with just a short handwritten story describing the night he made the pact with you. You tilt your head at him with some confusion. "Thanks...? It's very sweet, but...what's this for?"
"Trust." A small smile tugs at his mouth, though he himself hardly even notices. "I told you I believe actions speak louder than words, didn't I? So here it is. All of my trust."
Gifted Locket
A much more direct way of courtship, some demons have partaken in the tradition of gifting a locket to their intended partner.
While this might sound rather ordinary on the surface, there is something particularly special about these lockets -- they are imbued with a special, intimate magic.
When one opens the locket, it pulses with the other's heartbeat -- mirroring it in real time.
It also feels warm, as if you are holding the other's hand instead of the locket.
Favored by: Mammon, Beelzebub, Belphegor
Beelzebub has never really been one to particularly fuss about with over-the-top romantic gestures, but with his brothers all fighting over you all the time, he wants to do something to express his feelings to you too.
"I wanted to give this to you," he says sweetly, handing you a lovely red jewelry box.
Inside, you find a beautiful, intricately designed locket, and to your surprise, it quickly warms in your hand when you click it open. And even more surprisingly, it begins pulsing as well.
He holds his hands over yours, mirroring the warmth from the locket. "So you can hold my hand any time you want," he explains with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Beel. It's wonderful." You rest your head against his chest, feeling how the rhythm of the locket perfectly matches the reassuring, steady beat of his heart.
The Boutonniere's Challenge
At high-class Devildom weddings, it's common practice to serve something called a boutonniere elixir, a special kind of sparkling demonus with a single flower floating atop.
On its own, the drink tastes somewhat plain, much like any other kind of sparkling demonus.
However, if two individuals hold the chalice at the same time, even for just a moment, the cup reacts by warming up to represent the strength of their connection -- the hotter it becomes, the better a match they are.
The demonus inside, in turn, also transforms, lighting up and bubbling over, and becomes infused with the taste of the flower inside.
It is considered incredible good luck for both the pair and the marrying couple when a chalice of boutonniere elixir is spilled from the abrupt searing heat.
However, due to the pain of burning their hands on the goblet, it is often referred to as the "Boutonniere's Challenge."
Favored by: Satan, Asmodeus, Barbatos
"What a beautiful wedding!" you remark, clinking your glass against those of the others around you.
Just then, someone bumps your arm, causing the cup to start to slip from your fingers when one pristine butler quickly rushes to catch it. But, at the sudden feeling of searing heat against your fingertips and blinding light against your eyes, it only serves to make both of you drop it. "Ow!" you cry.
To your utter confusion, this somehow sends a wave of applause rippling through the entire wedding crowd.
With an apologetic smile, Barbatos takes your hand and pulls you towards him, completely ignoring the fallen chalice. "My apologies, MC, I should have been more careful, but it would appear that the cups think we're a good match. Now...let me heal that burn on your fingertips. Perhaps with a kiss?"
BONUS: Ceremonial Proposal Knives
When one wants to propose in the Devildom, they do so with beautiful, intricate ceremonial knives.
At the base of the blade, the proposing demon inscribes their personal sigil on one side and the intended recipient's sigil on the other, making each knife unique to the pair.
The handles, which can be made of various magical materials -- bone, onyx, gold, the wood of a special tree, etc. -- are personalized with engravings.
These engravings can tell a small story, or just be very symbolic of the relationship the involved parties share.
What makes these knives most special of all is that it is customary to infuse a part of oneself into the knife -- whether it be a feather, a scale, their venom, or blood, they are giving a part of themself to you.
If the recipient chooses to accept, the two of them hold hands over the blade, cutting their palms open to form a blood pact in the shared wounds.
The shared blood then seeps into the blade, imbuing it with both their magical energies.
A female Mc making friends with a group of friendly succubi/girl demons, and whenever they come over to hang out or have a sleepover, none of the brothers are allowed anywhere near Mcs room. Of course that's not going to stop any of them. Mammon will try to get in the room, and when that doesn't work they'll resort to trying to listen through the wall to see what Mc has to say about them,to no avail. The only one that successfully infiltrates the sleepover is Beel, who wasn't even trying.And that's because he knocked on the door and went, "Can I have some of the pizza you guys ordered?" 🥺 and then they let him in.
Beel comes out the room hours later with sparkly nails,a bowl of popcorn, and smelling like strawberries. When his brothers bombard him with questions, Beel says he can't tell them anything because the girls swore him to secrecy and that they won't share their snacks with him at the next sleepover if he tells them.
