|| - Personality - ||

Tigel sort of has three personalities, in a way. His mannerisms tend to fall into three different categories: what he's like when he's around Seems, what he's like when he's around Zhirael, and what he's like when neither of the two are around.

When Tigel is around Seems - which he is the vast majority of the time - Tigel is courageous, bold, and hot-blooded. He's a fearless detective who never leaves a case unsolved! His one-liners and other witty quips never end! He really, really wants Seems to feel secure in that she's done a good job in making him happy. He doesn't want her to worry. He wants her to be happy and have fun, and faking it has kind of helped him out, anyway.

Around Zhirael, Tigel becomes dark and acerbic. Tigel's dislike and distrust of his employer becomes plainly obvious. He speaks almost solely in sarcasm and spite. He's gradually toning himself down as Zhirael makes his lack of malicious intent more clear, but it's a very slow process.

...Of course, if Seems is around when he's by Zhirael, he's begrudgingly cooperative. He can't let her know why he hates Zhirael so much.

When neither Seems nor Zhirael is around, Tigel tends to be relatively quiet and reserved. His weariness is obvious and it doesn't take much more effort to see his stress.

|| - Backstory - ||

[[ cw: death/drowning, abuse, transphobia, implied sexual assault. he has had a time ]]

Around a year before his birth, Tigel's older sister, Maria, died via drowning. His mother became desperate to have another daughter, and much to her relief her next child was designated female at birth.

From early on it was clear she intended Tigel to replace Maria, going so far as to give him the same name as her. She was extremely protective of him and coached him to be just like Maria, verbally and occasionally physically abusing him when he failed to live up to her image. Tigel's older brother grew envious of him for taking their mother away from him and mistreated him as well, leaving him with little room to breathe. Unable to handle his wife any longer, Tigel's father left the family before Tigel even started school and never looked back.

By the time Tigel reached middle school, his gender dysphoria was obvious and neither his mother or brother approved. His mother in particular insisted he was just confused, attempting to set him up with any boy his age she could find and sometimes even giving Tigel's brother money so he could pay off boys at school to pay "extra attention" to Tigel. With just a little push, his mother was sure Tigel would come to realize that he really was a straight girl, just like Maria was!

When Tigel didn't show any signs of realizing he was wrong and his mother was right (and in fact only became more distraught), his mother sent him to an elite all-girl high school. Here he absorbed himself in his studies, hoping no one would look at him if he was busy and that, if he managed to distance himself enough, he'd be able to escape.

He shared a dorm with a girl who called herself Seems, whose openness, respect for others, friendliness, and surprising lack of distressing opinions drew him unexpectedly close. He didn't really intend for it to happen, but somehow she wound up becoming his anchor and the only earnest friend he ever really had.

By the time graduation came around, the two were dating and intended on attending a university as far away from their families as physically possible. As soon as he was able to, he ran away with Seems, changed his name, and never looked back.

In college he searched for something that appealed to him, something that really mattered, but every field he looked into was too small. What he really wanted was to be able to bring justice to others, but matters of "justice" were strictly governed by angels. Psychology and sociology? Also carefully regulated. It was important that humans not get too many ideas. Religion, maybe even philosophy? Can't let them know too much there, either.

In the end, Tigel wound up with loads of student debt and little to show for it, working several jobs at once just to try and stay alive. He attempted to run a detective agency on the side, but that was something already unheard of enough as is; without the proper funding nor enough time dedicated to it, his efforts were mostly worthless.

He and Seems got their big break one day when - struggling to get out of unemployment - an on-and-off investigation led them to a certain suspicious hospital.

Things didn't go too well. In short, Seems didn't make it and Tigel had no idea how he managed to escape with any part of him intact. By complete coincidence he, on his way to the hospital while completely in denial of Seems' obvious death, managed to get into a minor accident with Bonnie.

Through Bonnie Tigel met Demon Lord Zhirael and wasted no time in offering his soul for Seems' revival - though with the condition that she not remember she died and that she not be told that Tigel gave up his soul. After all, if she knew, she would do anything to save him. She would've torn out one of her eyes on the spot, ripped her soul right out of her chest - and Tigel couldn't live with that. He had already caused her enough stress throughout their lives, given her enough burdens to bear. He couldn't let her sacrifice herself for him any longer.

For better or worse, Zhirael unexpectedly offered him a deal. Tigel would serve him with his detective work - there were a few mysteries he needed to have solved - and maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to work his soul off. And, of course, he'd be payed handsomely.

Not looking forward to eternal damnation and in desperate need of employment anyway, Tigel begrudgingly accepted and found himself becoming entangled in a conspiracy against Heaven's rule...

|| - Powers/Abilities - ||

Despite having sold his soul to a Demon Lord, Tigel is lacking in any inhuman powers or traits. He's a quick thinker, a skilled runner, and an excellent shot, but nothing particularly inhuman or otherwise notable.

...Though his resilience is kind of astonishing. He's alarmingly good at not dying.