I N C U B I
The typical Keyhole Incubi averages 45 kg (100 lb) and 167 cm (5’6 ft). Though weight and height vary greatly, they are typically smaller than the average human. Their size is mainly dependent on their estrogen and testosterone levels, but can still vary otherwise.
Incubi horns vary in shape, length, and texture, but the typical Keyhole Incubi has two black horns on either side of their head. They are made of bone with a thick layer of keratin covering them. Longer and wider horns are directly connected to high amounts of testosterone, while smaller and thinner horns are correlated to higher amounts of estrogen. This has unfortunately led to an unspoken social hierarchy with many smaller horned Incubi considered ‘weak’ (see social structure). Horns start growing a year after birth, stopping as puberty ends and do not grow back if broken.
The hair of the Keyhole Incubi varies length, style, and color. Colors can vary from bright and unnatural to something found in humans.
The eyes of the Incubi are commonly a single bright or pastel color, but can vary between Incubi. The sclera is typically white with the pupil being round and black. If the Incubi is fusioned, the eyes will be the same color they were before the fusioning process but also mixed with the human’s natural eye color. The patterns are random, from each eye being a different color to stripes, fading, and spotted.
The average Incubi ears are 5.08 cm (2 in) in length and come to a point at the helix (excluding Lop Incubi). They lay flat against the head but can be exaggerated in drawings by pointing outwards. Most Incubi ears point straight backwards, but some can be more tilted downwards.
The fur of the Incubus covers the whole body and can vary in texture. It can be any colors, excluding pure black and pure white. A fusioned Incubi has the same fur color before fusioning but is also mixed with a fur color that matches the tone of the human’s. The patterns are random, from stripes to fading to spotted.
The Incubi tail is thin with a small to large size tuft of hair at the end. The tuft is typically long and thin or short and fluffy, also varying in texture. Their tail is resemblant of a jerboa’s but has the flexibility of a monkey’s.
Keyhole Incubi also express how they are feeling through their tail. They can wag it when excited and the tuft puffs when frightened. They wrap their tail around an appendage of their partner as a sign of affection, also doing this with their children. They also wrap their tail around their own appendages, typically the leg, as a form of comfort. Their tail can also wrap around inanimate objects when they are bored or feeling restless.
The typical Keyhole is a shaped hole located anywhere on the body that only a fusioned Incubi has. It is exposed at all times, never covered with clothing, accessories, etc. Having the Keyhole covered for long periods of time will cause the Incubi great pain and eventual death. When the Incubi takes on his human form, the Keyhole turns into a tattoo. An Incubi can only have a keyhole if they are fusioned.
Paw pads are not common, but some Incubi may have toe beans and paw pads. Paw pads only occur on the feet and they tend to walk more on their toes.
The Keyhole Incubi has blue to black colored blood. This affects the color of their flesh, mouth, organs, and skin.
Keyhole Incubi age two times faster than an average human, but also has double the life span. A 24 -year-old Incubi would actually be 12 in human years. The typical lifespan of an Incubi is 210 years old, but can be cut short by diseases and accidents.
The Short Hair Incubi is one of the most common subspecies, defined by their short fur on their body. The fur can vary in texture. They also have the typical Incubi traits of horns, fluffy tipped tail, pointed ears, and colorful eyes.
The Angora Incubi is very similar and common to the Short Hair Incubi except having long fur covering their body. The fur can vary in thickness and texture from Incubi to Incubi but is typically 3.81 cm (1 ½ in.) in length or longer. They also give birth to litters, having 4-8 at a time. Angora Incubi typically live in cooler climates but can be found all over TFS. They also have the typical Incubi traits of horns, fluffy tipped tail, pointed ears, and colorful eyes.
The Sphynx Incubi is a common type of Incubi having no fur and only skin. They are usually a bluish color due to their blood being blue. They are prone to sunburns during the summer and typically wear heavy clothing during the winter months to avoid frostbite. Not only do they not have fur, but their tail tips are also bare and just end in a stub. Sphynx Incubi typically live in hotter climates but can be found all over TFS. They also have the typical Incubi traits of horns, pointed ears, and colorful eyes.
The Lop Incubi is a common type of Incubi with long, ‘floppy’ ears. Resembling rabbits, their ears fall just past their shoulders, covered in short hair and rounded. They also have the typical Incubi traits of horns, fluffy tipped tail, short fur, and colorful eyes.
The Keyhole Incubi is primarily omnivorous, eating a wide variety of meats, vegetables, and fruits, prepared or raw. The pickiness of Incubi varies from person to person, some eating pretty much anything to others keeping to a strict diet. Some eat with dietary restrictions, (ie vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, lactose-free) either by personal choice or because of allergies.
A very controversial topic in The Flip Side universe is the consumption of human flesh. Keyhole Incubi consider it a delicacy and usually can’t resist the urge if offered, not even affected by their stance on the topic. Though it is a difficult item to acquire, it is commonly found in the back market.
The consumption and killing of humans is illegal in The Flip Side, anyone caught doing so will be charged and be sentenced to jail time. Some are torn on the topic, with many supporting the law and keeping it illegal, but there is a small group of demons wanting to legalize the practice. Some stand by its ‘health benefits’, though this is unsupported by professionals, while others see no need to conserve the human population.
Keyhole Incubi are typically very social creatures, keeping in large groups of usually other Keyhole Incubi or Succubi. They are very family orientated and tend to keep friends very close. There are outliers, some Incubi becoming recluse and pulling away from society.
Horn size is an unspoken social structure within the Keyhole Incubi and Succubi community. Incubi with thicker and taller horns are considered to be more powerful and masculine compared to their smaller horned counterparts. Though many don’t go by this old way of thinking it is still rooted deep in their culture, making them unconsciously judge each other.
The horns are a very important part of Incubi culture. One display of this is horn painting. Horn painting is done at important events like weddings, but can even be done for parties. An Incubi family is represented by two colors, these colors being anything but black. The parents and children of the family will paint their horns with the same colors, using it as a crest of sorts. Once the child of an Incubi is married, they will then choose one of their colors, and one of their partners, to make their own family colors. This will then be passed down to their children and will be mixed again once they are married.
All Keyhole Incubi are hermaphrodites, the majority going by the pronouns he/him. Incubi with higher amounts of estrogen have smaller horns and are typically shorter. Some males have a higher chance of getting pregnant compared to other, higher estrogen and progesterone levels raise the chance. They can also randomly give birth to Succubi if mated with another Incubi, but at a very low percentage.
Reproducing with a species outside of your own is sometimes looked down upon, even though crossbreeds are extremely rare. Mixed couples are still frowned upon by an older demographic of demons.
Keyhole Incubi are typically peaceful demons, their social nature making them fairly friendly. They do tend to manipulate some gullible demons, Syrens especially. Otherwise they get along very well with the others, having no social grudges besides Titocons.
The relationship between Titocons and Keyhole Incubi is rocky at best. Titocons tend to view Incubi as ‘prey’ and constantly look down upon them. It is not uncommon for a Titocon to kill an Incubi, their aggressive nature clashes greatly with the teasing personality of an Incubi.
The species of The Other Side tend to look down on those in The Flip side. Though they rarely interact, some TFS species not even knowing they exist, it never seems to end well. To the angels, all demons are the same, including Incubi. Some may consider them worse than average demons because of their manipulative nature.
Though Incubi may fuse with humans, they don't have the best relationship. Many humans tend to look down on Incubi, seeing them as ‘lowlifes’ and ‘worthless’. Few humans have sympathy for these demons, seeing them as equals rather than pests. There are human organized groups labelled ‘Demon Hunters’, people that go searching specifically to destroy demons. The Keyhole Incubi’s only defense from humans are their human form, so convincing that they can walk around The Corporeal with little suspicion.
Fusioning is a transformation that happens between a human and an Incubi. When transformed, the Incubi will have patterned fur, a hole in their body in the shape of a keyhole, as well as mixed colored eyes.
Keyhole Incubi first travel to The Corporeal by going to the ‘hub’ located in each of the major cities. Once through, they are unable to return until they have fused with a human. They take on their human forms to travel around undetected. Their skin tone is the same tone as their fur, with darker fur having darker skin and lighter fur having lighter skin. Their hair changes to something more natural but their eyes stay the same (with the Keyhole turning into a tattoo if they have one prior).
They then have to create an emotional bond with a human. This can be obtained either by caring for the human as well or manipulating the human into caring for them. The bond has to be very strong for the fusioning process to work. The human has to then die; the incubi then gaining their Keyhole mark, colored fur, and also the power to produce fire. They also gain the human’s knowledge and skills as well as the ability to create portals to and from The Flip Side and The Corporeal.