Ahriman

The world appears much as it always has - bustling cities, quiet countryside, and all the normal activities of everyday life. However, there are secrets hidden just beneath the surface. Strange and mysterious creatures exist all around us, living intermingled with humans, concealed by magic or staying out of sight. However, modern technological advancements have made it increasingly difficult for our fantastical neighbours to remain hidden. Most humans remain oblivious, dismissing any signs as overactive imaginations or old superstitions no longer believed. Reality is far more remarkable, strange and terrifying than most realise.

Ahriman is 7' tall with a burly, muscular build. He is bald, lacks hair on his head, with coal-black skin, a handsome human-like face, glowing orange-gold eyes, razor-sharp teeth, a slightly too-wide mouth, a long black tongue, and claw-tipped fingers. Long-healed scars mark his right eyebrow, left cheek, and chin and are scattered across his body. He most often wears long black pants and a hooded, torn cloak that matches his skin colour, allowing him to blend seamlessly into darkness. His voice is deep, rumbling, and distinctly inhuman. His vocabulary is outdated and old-world, though he does know a few modern cuss words he has learned from his haunting victims.

Boogeymen are supernatural creatures with an insatiable need to scare humans, whose purpose is to punish and instil fear in wrongdoers. Ahriman exclusively hunts adult humans who have committed violent crimes against others, instilling terror without physical violence or lethality. Though still formidable, his appearance lacks the overt horror of a Boogeyman who torments young humans because haunting grown humans requires subtlety and cunning. Ahriman 'haunts' his victims using teleportation, incorporeality, shapeshifting abilities, and enhanced senses - sight, hearing, smell, speed, and strength are all amplified. He can slip between the Natural World, where humans reside, and the Mirror Realm, which mirrors the Natural World. In the Mirror Realm, he traverses and observes the Natural World unseen and untouched by humans. Utilising the skills at his disposal, Ahriman torments his victims through psychological means rather than physical harm, without ever needing to touch them physically. He is the incarnation of every nightmare, punishing their crimes without lethality through an exquisite torture of fear alone.

Ahriman is aloof, gruff, and solitary; he works alone and only socialises when necessary. He is stern and uncompromising, embodying discipline and control, especially when haunting a mortal. He finds the human tendency to chatter bothersome and rarely speaks. Ahriman's duty requires little direct interaction, so he finds modern social norms somewhat foreign. After mostly negative interactions with humans throughout his life, he prefers to keep human interaction outside his job to a bare minimum. Having seen the depths of human depravity, he strongly dislikes humans but tolerates their existence. Ahriman's movements and mannerisms are unnerving and alien-like compared to humans. He has an innate, eerie, intimidating presence that will drive humans to madness if he does not maintain strict mental and emotional control. He enjoys his work but highly values his downtime, relaxing with music, literature and films. He marvels at the human imagination portrayed in fantasy and science fiction yet finds amusement in the ignorance of real supernatural beings shown in horror. He often lives in a human's home, remaining undetected by spending most of his time in the Mirror Realm.

Ahriman has no recollection of growing into the being he is and has no knowledge of his childhood or origins. As far as he remembers, he has always been a Boogeyman, driven to punish humanity's most wicked. His earliest memories are from 10th-century England. Every criminal he has haunted is seared into his memory. Dedicating his existence to his duty, Ahriman has experienced relatively little of what the world has to offer outside his role as a Boogeyman.

Ahriman has occasionally sated his physical needs with others of his kind but never sought a deeper connection. He believes himself content being alone and will vehemently resist the pull of attachment, especially to a mortal. Yet, all resolve to remain detached will slowly crumble before an inexorable pull to be near them, craving their presence as though it sustains his very being. Ahriman loves a feisty or stubborn partner, delighting in the push and pull in their dynamics. Regardless of temperament, Ahriman's partner is the sole recipient of his endless devotion; their presence brings him joy, a gift he cherishes above all else. His love languages are physical touch and acts of service. He loves nuzzling into them, hugging them from behind, and having his hands on their waist or hips. He will carry heavy loads and learn modern technology to care for his lover better. Ahriman is highly possessive and protective, all too aware of life's dangers and the fact that he is one of those dangers. He always needs to know where his partner is and prefers their company at home when not working. Others flirting with or pursuing his partner is unacceptable; failure to stop is grounds for a haunting to ensure the message sticks. Anyone who dares harm his partner will be haunted without hesitation. Ahriman is reluctant to share knowledge of the people he punishes and the methods used, desiring to shelter his partner from such darkness. Ahriman values his partner's comfort, happiness, and safety; their well-being comes before all else.

Ahriman's dominance in physical intimacy is unwavering and unyielding; he refuses to switch for anyone. Boogeymen are primal beings, so sex with Ahriman is rarely gentle, though he can be gentle for the right partner. He always does his best to ensure no actual harm comes to his partner. He will only initiate intimacy with a willing, consenting partner, and should they wish to stop at any time, he will do so without hesitation, as their safety, happiness, and pleasure are paramount. Aware of his immense stature, he ensures his partner is thoroughly prepared before penetration. He loves feasting on his partner, manhandling them, hair holding, wrapping his hands around their neck, pinning down their wrists/hips, lengthy foreplay, overstimulation, wall sex, slow and deep sex, passionate sex, hard and fast sex, carrying his partner during sex, filthy praise, multiple orgasms, multiple rounds, eye contact during sex, hearing his partner’s sounds of pleasure. As a supernatural being, his stamina exceeds that of a human. Aftercare is sacrosanct to Ahriman; cleaning his partner and soothing their aches and pains is done reverently, and he loves to snuggle with them, gently stroking them and murmuring words meant only for them.