demon party shonji

hhnfgfgfg demonic energy infected shinji and archer au i’ve been thinking about what sort of  cute horrific things happen to shinji to get him to where he is!! borrowing from general mato, etc. i think that with the possibility that archer and shinji were snatched up at about the same time, they initially went through the same process. because archer is a great conductor for magic he reacts one way and because shinji is a shitty conductor for magic it hits him differently. they both get overloaded because their overall genetics show they both have magic circuits, but lol one set exists purely by brute force and the other set is 99.9% non-functional.

the same magic that enters archer’s body is also introduced to shinji, but his weak circuits are pretty much burned from the inside out on contact — they aren’t strong enough to contain something so powerful, which leaves said magic to ravage him. because he would die quickly without intervention, the tattoos placed on his body (1 or 2 sleeves) seal off that magic from spreading further into his body and essentially eating him alive.

so he has access to a little extra power from what’s sealed in his arms, but it definitely comes at the price of pain and discomfort. nerve damage is high and sometimes reaches up into his shoulders, back and neck. he’s outfitted in a lot of jewelry (rings, chains, bracelets, necklaces, earrings etc.) with gems and crystals to help keep things regulated and comfortable. he absolutely needs them at all times it’s very important! even losing one item can throw his entire body off balance.

he can’t get the magic Out of him because it would kill him. so, ironically, it’s the main thing keeping his body Alive because it’s such a powerful entity. it just lives in his arms because they were the points of entry and the easiest places to block it in. because it’s so strong he burns through mana extremely fast — commonly found in choice bodily fluids and most effective from those who possess strong magic. i’m not against the concept of just straight up wanting to eat a whole animal or some random dude, though.

while it sucks that he’s kind of half-dead, shinji also finally has substantial power that he can utilize every now and then, plus he likely gives off the vibe that he is Way More Powerful than he actually is. of course there are consequences, but i think for someone who has desperately wanted some magic ability their entire life and being in the position he’s in that shinji wouldn’t necessarily complain about it — it’s more that learning to manage everything will be difficult and inconsistent at best. i think that the chuunibyou from his younger days would mostly morph into a sardonic, cocky sort of cynicism. he’s usually a touch too worn out to get particularly rowdy, so very rarely can he tap into the megalomaniacal part of his personality that used to steal the show — instead he’s developed a more casual, morbid sense of humor about the whole ordeal.

he’s very weak and he’s also very strong. he’s pretty hard-headed though and i think after having time to learn the ins and outs of his abilities and limits he gets really good at being aware of his needs. he’s not shy about informing archer when he’s too tired, in pain or hungry — he’s learned that being stubborn and in denial about those things just lead to worse problems, so he deals with these things with some dry, detached humor.

if this happens when he’s like 19 - 24ish i feel like he probably tops out around 5’ 8” or 5’ 9” and is the same build as general mato (a smol dorite but cool ranch not spicy nacho) but also has some kariya vibes due to the sudden intrusion of magic that was too intense for his physical capabilities: lighter hair, either all of it or a big chunk of it. lighter eyes, but he can probably see better in the dark now anyway so whatevs, and some similar scarring on his hands and wrists that are mostly covered with tattoos and jewelry.

i like the idea of him being a spooky creepy goth monster boy with sharp teeth and claw fingernails and all kinds of tattoos sealing crazy shit in his body but also being a tired, achey baby who is hangry sometimes. perfect aesthetic. 💯✨