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A religious gangster calls herself the Devil.

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Worlder What? Since: Jan, 2001
What?
#1: Nov 26th 2014 at 12:43:28 PM

I feel that this character trait has some potential to be fleshed out.

Basically, the Villain Protagonist is a criminal mastermind who occasionally refers to herself as the Devil, because of all the pain and suffering that she would inflict upon the world. Said criminal mastermind is also a somewhat devout Christian, who carries a Bible where ever she goes.

The thing I'm missing here is the "why". Why does this character have choose such a title despite being a person of faith?

So far I have something like Bruce Wayne adopting the bat-motif despite his fear of bats. But I'm not sure how well the audience would accept that explanation.

edited 26th Nov '14 12:44:30 PM by Worlder

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#2: Nov 26th 2014 at 12:56:53 PM

Another thing that comes to mind to me is a certain deliberate irony. After all, who believes in God more than the Devil himself (or herself, as the case may be)? Maybe she takes the name to intentionally mock Him.

Or, perhaps she's somewhat delusional and truly believes that she is the actual Devil. Alternately, maybe she thinks that she is as close to the true Devil as is likely to exist. Maybe anyone who's sufficiently evil can qualify as the Devil.

Or like you said, perhaps she just uses the name because she knows it's likely to scare the living hell out of people. You said she's a somewhat devout Christian - is her faith sincere, or just a facade?

(By the way, I quite like the idea. [tup])

edited 26th Nov '14 12:58:28 PM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Paradisesnake Since: Mar, 2012
#3: Nov 26th 2014 at 1:18:25 PM

Maybe this character identifies strongly with Lucifer's fate as a Fallen Angel. Maybe she thinks she's fallen from the grace of God and this in turn would justify in her mind all the evil she does (because if you're Satan, you're supposed to be evil, right?).

You could even combine this with R. Bluefish's second point and make her think she actually is the Devil.

edited 26th Nov '14 1:18:43 PM by Paradisesnake

Worlder What? Since: Jan, 2001
What?
#4: Nov 26th 2014 at 1:21:26 PM

She is sincere about her faith which just make the challenge of character writing more difficult and the end result more satisfying.

EDIT: She ain't insane. Because leaders who go mad quickly meet their demise in my story. My character accepts her ultimate fate with grace (and a smirk).

edited 26th Nov '14 1:24:10 PM by Worlder

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#5: Nov 26th 2014 at 3:03:04 PM

She could be going poetic about it and say the Devil has a function in this world, to tempt Man and oppose God, just as criminals have a role to play in society as opposite to cops.

A logic pathway akin to this (warning: spoilers for season 3 of Person of Interest)

edited 26th Nov '14 3:03:24 PM by Gaon

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Noaqiyeum Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they) from the gentle and welcoming dark (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
Trans Siberian Anarchestra (it/they)
#6: Nov 26th 2014 at 8:49:51 PM

There's a certain conception of the devil who does evil as a divine duty - so that good people may have the opportunity to resist temptation, and to be a dramatic warning against others who would do evil themselves. (I thought this was associated with Manichaeism, but I misremembered. I don't know which religion or heresy developed it.)

It's relatively mainstream, though, now that I think about it. A Devil who rules hell as a dictatorial warden is in a similar position.

edited 26th Nov '14 8:51:54 PM by Noaqiyeum

The Revolution Will Not Be Tropeable
Worlder What? Since: Jan, 2001
What?
#7: Nov 26th 2014 at 8:50:48 PM

I've been thinking about what this character would despise and I was thinking zealots and hypocrites.

People who claim they act in the interest of a greater good, but they are either taking extreme measures to achieve them or are just plain not practicing what they preach.

This character knows that she is not a good person towards a large portion of society and will never try to hide that fact. Those that served under her for many years also acknowledge they are not good people.

Aespai Chapter 1 (Discontinued) from Berkshire Since: Sep, 2014 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Chapter 1 (Discontinued)
#8: Nov 26th 2014 at 8:59:28 PM

1) She could have been raised to believe she was the Devil, and the Bible was written about her.

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Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#9: Nov 27th 2014 at 12:19:59 PM

To be faithful is different from adhering to that faith. Some people manage to acknowledge that difference in themselves; most just go around harassing people they think aren't faithful enough.

Nous restons ici.
nekomoon14 from Oakland, CA Since: Oct, 2010
#10: Nov 29th 2014 at 11:41:47 PM

She can THINK she is whatever she wants, but she can't BE a Christian and also believe she's the Devil. To be a Christian, she would have to believe that Jesus died to save her from the Devil, who is not only God's enemy but hers as well. She would HAVE to be insane to think of herself as the Devil and at the same time think it a good thing that God plans to throw her kingdom into the lake of fire after the final battle. She can't be both, unless you're gonna change the central doctrine of Christianity – and if you're gonna do that, you might as well not call it Christianity at all.

Level 3 Social Justice Necromancer. Chaotic Good.
dvorak The World's Least Powerful Man from Hiding in your shadow (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: love is a deadly lazer
The World's Least Powerful Man
#11: Nov 30th 2014 at 2:01:40 AM

"Truly, thou must have been wicked, else I would not have been sent to punish thee."

—Gengis Khan (attributed)

Now everyone pat me on the back and tell me how clever I am!
doorhandle Gork Side 4 Life from Space Australia! Since: Oct, 2010
#12: Dec 3rd 2014 at 12:35:27 AM

Perhaps she believes in god and hates the guy? She could be a devout Maltheist, who just so happens to have the target of her hate being the christian god.

nekomoon14 from Oakland, CA Since: Oct, 2010
#13: Dec 3rd 2014 at 2:47:34 AM

[up]That could work.

Or she could believe she's the devil as presented in the new testament (but she can't also be a Christian). Maybe she believes she was literally an angel once. What if she even (thought she) had memories of her former life.

Level 3 Social Justice Necromancer. Chaotic Good.
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