No, don't stop me. I'm gonna say it...
I genuinely enjoy Raphael.
Like, do you understand how easily he could become a caricature? Devils are so overdone in modern media in the worst way. Their entire schtick is that evil is attractive because of its very forbidden nature. So devils are portrayed as conventionally attractive-- Hello, Tom Ellis.
And while Raphael is undeniably charming, he has features I would consider an acquired taste. He's not overtly flashy in his clothing choice as a human. He's theatrical, yes. Dramatic, most assuredly. And yet, not as over the top as Astarion, I would deign to venture.
But when you start reading his diaries and notes and bits he intended for his eyes only and quickly realize- it's not an act! He genuinely believes in these things. He honest to gods speaks the same way in his internal monologue. He honestly believes he is that mf.
My favorite were the corrupting of Hope scrolls. And keep in mind, her sister Korilla was the one writing these down. She sat there through all of it. The coaxing. The dirty limericks. Gods, how fucking awkward...to be the fly on those impeccably detailed walls.
And despite all of his peacocking, he's really quite subdued about it at times. Like the chess match with Mol. That genuinely startled me to come around the corner at the Last Light and find him there with her. I have never felt my mom senses triggered harder by a game. I immediately wanted to be like "No. Get away from him." Because it's like, "Yeah, as an adult, I can find your attempts to corrupt me laughable because I know what I'm about, but the minute you start making deals with children? Now I'm not laughing anymore. Now the wizard's gonna have to get involved so that the bard doesn't burn the inn down."
And yet, he's the one that 'saved' her when she got kidnapped.
What is your game, devil? What are you playing at? Because you know I can't honestly let you keep her contract and yet you've not actually acted against my interests. In fact, to an extent, they're rather aligned. And he helped Astarion with his scars. What, out of the goodness of his black heart? And still, his charity does have a limit...
And playing as a bard, I'm not above a bit of my own deception. I think it's to be expected when the fate of the world is on the line. (I'm not a bloody Paladin, for Gith's sake.) But while he withholds information sometimes for his own ends, he's always honest if you're direct with him.