#Terzo x alessandra

[captaingrebelguf]

Dark Baptism

Okey dokey! We're here again. Back to fuel the two-person fandom-beast created by the incredible: @copiousloverofcopia. <3

Ren, you deserve this because of doing that thing that you did for me. Thank you, my sweet. xoxoxo

Mrs. Prime Mover Sister Alessandra borrowed from Prime Mover Ren and her series, Tied as One Eternally. Please read. It's life changing. And Ren is the best. Anything you click on written by her will instantly make your day better and leave you beyond flustered.

Oh yeah, some minor NSFW themes below. And a happy Imbolc to those who celly. Onwards!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, so awhile, awhile back……

“Come on, hustle, hustle!” Liz encouraged Alé as they squeezed through groups of excited, chattering siblings.

“Liz, we don’t need to be weird about it! It’s okay if I miss out on this sign up!” Alessandra griped as her wrist was limply strung along by her dearest friend. 

After being at the Ministry for almost a year, Alessandra had admitted she was ready to have her previous faith washed away and be born again as a Child of Lucifer. Unfortunately, these types of baptisms were held quite irregularly (as it depended on the interest from the novices). So when Alessandra had overheard Sibling Margeaux mentioning a few other newcomers gaining interest, she knew she had to jump on it. She was ready to commit her life to the Ministry, her new chosen family, and The Dark One.

Elizabet continued to drag Alé along to their destination: Primo coming hot off the pulpit. The oldest of the Emeritus brothers was coming down the steps to greet a few siblings vying for his attention after his sermon today. 

Today, Primo had preached about the upcoming Imbolc holiday; he spoke about how the weeks ahead would be addressing the proper ways to prepare, purify, and heal in this life as the first of February drew near. He closed with reminding the masses before him in the pews that the more popular holiday, Lupercalia, followed closely behind and as always the Clergy would be putting on the regular shenanigans. 

“Papa!” Liz called out, waving down Primo.

Primo gave the young women a soft smile as he motioned them in, “Sister Elizabet, Sister Alessandra, unblessed be.”

“Beautiful sermon today, Papa,” Liz beamed, Alessandra agreeing beside her. Liz grabbed Alé’s arm and nudged her to Primo, “Papa, we were hoping to catch you in regards to the upcoming unbaptisms; Alé wants in! So how does she sign up? “

“Thanks, mom,” Alé gave an unamused glare to her friend, being perfectly able to speak for herself as needed.

“Is this right, Sister Alessandra? You’re wanting to cast off your former affiliations and join us for good, eh?” Primo gave her a wink as he held out his gloved hand for her. Primo had taken a shine to this girl; he had been complimenting her addition to their sect for months now. 

Alé clung to his hand, nodding and looking deep into his mismatched eyes, “It is, Papa. I’ve already dedicated my life to Satan, but this feels right. It’s what I need to do. I’d be honored to have you absolve me of my past indoctrinations-- if there’s still room...” 

“Nonsense, Sorella, it would be my onore,” Primo beamed, his old eyes shining, “I will remember to add you to my list and Brother Garrett, who is coordinating this for us, will reach out to you with further instructions next week.”

“Thank you so much, Papa, this truly means everything to me,” Alé expressed her gratitude. Out of the corner of her eye, she finally caught sight of him: Primo’s terror of a brother. Alé could see the younger of Primo’s two attending cardinals sitting in the center pew with his legs obnoxiously stretched out and arms casually draped over the back of the bench.

Terzo was turned from her slightly, coolly chatting up a Brother of Sin he caught the attention of behind him. Terzo’s gloved fingers toyed with one of the gold buttons on his stark, black cassock laying everything he had on this poor soul. Alessandra couldn’t hear their conversation, but the playboy must have said something ridiculous because the blonde man he spoke to was doubled over, waving him off. Terzo looked beyond amused; a large cheeky grin took over his expression as he tucked a stray piece of hair back into its place. Alé couldn’t help but frown watching the disgusting display.

Alessandra quickly averted her eyes back to Primo, “Papa, it feels silly to ask, but can you promise it’ll be you performing my unbaptism? I really feel… the most comfortable with you.”

“My child, I may be getting a little aged, and I may not have many more February dips in my near future, but I can promise you unless our Dark Lord Satanas speaks against it, I shall be there to welcome you back into our arms from their lies.”

“And your cardinals can't do baptisms, is that right?" Alé pressed, looking for a little more solid confirmation. From her peripheral, she could see Cardinal Terzo motioning out the doors as he proceeded to stand and shake out his cassock. He gave a wink to the enamored Brother of Sin as he began to make his leave from the chapel. The Brother followed closely behind him. 

Primo placed his hands on Alé’s shoulders, speaking directly to her while regaining her attention, “Dolcezza, sÌ, my fratellinos are able to absolve a being from their previous religions as matured cardinals now. But, nothing would happen to make me miss out on your liberation." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few weeks later…

Terzo closed his eyes as he listened to the thrum of his lover’s heart. Omega’s tail still wrapped around Terzo’s thigh, the smell of their sweat still heavy in the air. The large ghoul tipped Terzo’s chin up to gently nip at the Cardinal’s jawline, teasing his claws down Terzo's chest earning a small moan from his lover.

“Amore,” Terzo sighed breathlessly, rubbing his hands through his hair in his post-orgasmic haze, “Don't think this means I want anything to change, but I have to tell you: I probably won't be able to sit on my ass for the rest of the week… “

Omega snorted against Terzo’s hair, “Didn't hear you complaining just a little bit ago."

“No, and you won't! I'm happy, I'm just a little red. And sore. Bruised..." the smaller man lamented, arms and legs still tangled around the ashen-colored, muscled limbs of his partner. 

The ghoul continued to breath softly, a subdued purr coming from deep in his chest. He took the hand of his human lover and brushed his calloused fingers over the future Papa’s deep maroon nail polish. The Quintessential ghoul nuzzled his face against Terzo’s palm.  

Terzo closed his eyes, biting his lip as he wiggled up to lock lips with Omega. Terzo felt his skin flush as his cock weakly kicked back to life; Omega could smell the instant change as he licked his own lips. 

“On your knees, Cardinal," Omega grunted out as he began to rise above the clergyman. He felt his heavy cock start to twitch again as the animalistic urge to breed his partner rose from deep down in his gut. 

"Anything for you, caro mio,” Terzo purred, rolling himself onto his stomach and pressing up to position himself on his hands and knees before the large ghoul; his reddened ass presented to the ghoul on full display. Omega smirked at the large hand-sized welts left all over his lover. Terzo loved walking around with hickeys, bruises, marks, anything souvenirs to remind him of his lovers; Omega was always more than happy to oblige and frequently went above and beyond. Terzo dipped down to encourage Omega to grab at his hips, when he caught a fleeting glance of the alarm clock on the side table. Terzo felt a boulder drop to the pit of his stomach as all the color drained from his face. 

“Oh fuck! Cazzo, merde, ass, shit!" Terzo exclaimed as he threw himself from the bed. His leg got caught up in the expensive woven sheets as he tumbled face first into the ground, "Shitty, ass, shit! Cazzo!“

“Where in the hell do you think you're going!?" Omega growled, his nose wrinkling back as he snarled at his partner. He crawled toward the smaller man, watching as Terzo agonizingly tore through the heap of clothes they made on the floor as he tried to smooth down his tangled mess of hair. 

“Primo was feeling unwell last night and was debating if he should proceed with the ehh…  dunking activities today," Terzo quickly attempted to mime as he tried to shake the debris off his wrinkled, black slacks, "Secondo and I agreed to pick up his duties today if he was still sickly. And I was supposed to meet with them roughly 45 minutes ago to discuss who is doing what.”

Omega’s frown melted into a soft smirk, man would absolutely lose his head if it wasn't already attached. Terzo whipped on the pair of dressy, violet socks with a secret message on the bottoms that suggested the reader to go give themselves a happy ending. Terzo threw his cassock over his head and finished redoing the buttons on his chest, promising he'd make this and more up to his beloved ghoul a little later. The two shared one more passionate kiss before Terzo ran out of the bedroom, barely closing the door to Omega’s room, as he began to sprint down the hall.

“Stronzino!" A deep voice shouted from his left..

Terzo stopped dead in his tracks, spinning in his heel to face his older-ish brother, he gave Secondo a grimace and a small guilty wave, “Hi." 

“Don't you fucking ‘hi’ me. Do you know how long we foolishly waited thinking you would actually show up?"

Terzo pinched the bridge of his nose and tilted his head down to receive his verbal punishment; audibly sighing as Cardinal Secondo continued to berate him. 

"And now we're already late,” Secondo turned and began storming away from his younger brother, "I'll just do everything myself. Primo will deal with you later.”

"Don't be that way,” Terzo begged, trailing closely behind the balding cardinal, grabbing at his brother’s sleeve. Secondo slapped away his younger brother’s hands.

"What were you doing? Or dare I ask who?” he glowered at his brother from the corner of his eye as the two descended down the Ministry's main stairwell. 

Terzo gave his brother a guilty grin and shrugged it off, waving his delicate, gloved hand at him, "Non importa.”

“Coglione, I'm becoming awfully tired of your bullshit. You better not still be pulling this when you're acting as my Cardinal, or I swear to Lucifer-"

“Yes, yes, yes," the shorter ministry official agreed, cutting him off, “I know your feelings. I'm aware! You’ve made yourself very clear. Don't get off track. Come sta Primo?"

“Potrebbe essere morto, per quanto ti importa!"

Terzo rolled his eyes as he tried to not let his brother's crotchety mood damper his spirits. The two continued out the doors and down the path to the ministry’s private access to a body of water. Terzo patted his pockets down, lifting up his cassock to access his cognac-brown, cigarette case in his pants. He quickly opened the pouch and nudged at his brother again. Secondo whipped around to glare down at his brother, hovering nearly an entire foot over him.

“Peace offering," Terzo explained, motioning at the new import of Sicilian cigarillos he had pulled a few strings for. He wasn't above getting on his knees to get what he really wanted. 

Secondo stopped in his tracks to gently pluck a cigarette. He tossed it between his lips and cocked an eyebrow at his brother as he sarcastically mimicked a lighter. Terzo sighed as he stashed away the leather case and returned with a novelty lighter adorned with breasts. 

“In Satanas’ name… " Second began to chide, not sure whether to be proud or disappointed in his brother's taste in torches. Terzo held the open flame up for his brother to light up; he tutted his tongue as he removed the lighter and tossed it back into his pocket. 

“Don't judge how I do shit and I won't judge the piss poor life choices you make, cocca di papà," Terzo teased, before Secondo began the descent again.

Secondo stared vacantly ahead, choosing to focus on the calm water instead of the overwhelming urge to slap the shit out of his incompetent younger brother. Secondo aggressively motioned towards the water, before passing the cigarillo to Terzo, “You want to do this shit or do I have to?"

The two stood side by side in front of the small man-made lake (really a pond) made years ago; it was there before Terzo and Secondo had been relocated to this sect. Many rituals had been performed on these shores, the magickal aspects of the water used in many many spells in their youth. Many warm, summer nights had also been spent disrobed with their own respective partners in the lake. Terzo inhaled the smoke before pushing it out of his nostrils, “I don't do cold."

“As future Papa-'' Secondo began lecturing, pointing a finger between Terzo’s eyes. 

Terzo uncrossed his eyes as he batted away the finger, “Fine! Sasso, carta, forbici?"

Secondo grabbed the cigarillo back taking a few seconds to inhale, before casually flicking ash at his brother. He tossed the cigarette back between his lips as he held his hands out at the ready to win, “Bene." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brother Garrett hurriedly made his way down to where the two brothers were seated side-by-side on a log near the shore. Terzo and Secondo seemed engrossed in their own discussions as they passed the small remainder of a cigarillo back and forth, murmuring to each other. 

“Cardinals?” Garrett called out, alerting them of his presence. Terzo turned over his shoulder and gave the sibling a wave, before turning back to his “older” brother and finishing his train of thought.

"I do think it would be a brilliant idea. You're just jealous you don't have the charisma to pull it off.”

“I'm warning you: neither Imperator or Nihil would find the charm in a kazoo," Secondo waved his brother off, chuckling as he rose to his feet before changing the topic, “Good morning, Brother Garrett.”

“Good morning, Cardinal Secondo, Cardinal Terzo. I was just finishing meeting with Papa to go over the last minute additions to today. It appears we have seven siblings all looking to be unbaptized today. Did we decide who will be performing their ceremonies?” Garrett cheerfully smiled at the two dark-haired men.

“Secondo lost fair and square,” Terzo teased, pleased he wouldn’t have to go into the pond. He still couldn’t help but be nosy, as he held out his hand for the clipboard nestled in Garret’s arm, “Per favore, may I see the list?”

Garrett turned to Secondo, preparing him for how the morning would pan out and going over other small, last minute details. Terzo skimmed the names of siblings, making mental ‘tick’ marks behind the ones who had accompanied him back to his quarters at one point or another. He couldn’t help but feel a tasteless sense of pride, thinking he was the reason all these siblings would want to convert to their side.

Terzo’s breath hitched as he looked at the final name written in Primo’s beautiful calligraphy, before speaking up, “Garrett, is this the final list?”

Garrett quickly nodded to Terzo before focusing back to debriefing Secondo.

Terzo continued to stare at the name before interrupting again, “Secondo, you need to trade me.”

“Sei un rompicoglioni. Stronzo, what are you going on about now? Quit interrupting!” Secondo hissed, squeezing his eyes shut asking himself silently, how they were related.

“I need you to trade me spots. I’ll do the baptisms and you can do confessional later,” Terzo hurriedly explained, excessively flailing his hands around to emphasize his point.

“I thought fair is fair?” Secondo evilly smiled at him, crossing his arms.

Terzo sighed exasperatedly, “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Just switch with me.”

Secondo glared at Terzo, not quite sure what he was up to.

“Secondo, per favore.”

“Qualsiasi,” Secondo gave in, rolling his eyes, confused, but nonetheless thrilled he wouldn’t have to go into the water.

“Oh! Fantastico!” Terzo exclaimed, throwing his arms around his stoic brother, who stiffened at his touch, ���Grazie mille! Sono elettrizzato!”

Terzo couldn’t contain his enthusiasm as he planted a loud kiss on his brother’s cheek. Secondo indignantly tossed off his brother before wiping away Terzo’s black lipstick

“I’m going to go change!” Terzo yelled over his shoulder as he sprinted back towards the ministry’s ground.

“He’s going to be late…” Garrett whispered, begging Secondo to do something.

Secondo defeatedly shook his head, watching his brother fade out of view, “There’s no reasoning with that one.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two brothers politely greeted the siblings on Primo’s list as they approached them at the shore. Terzo seemed to grow antsier with each sibling he welcomed, continuously searching. Terzo, the Leo he was, had changed into a stark white vest and slacks with a pale lilac, twill dress shirt underneath. His look was completed with dark Ray Bans tucked behind his ears and bare feet with his manicured toenails painted fuschia.

“What are you looking for?” Secondo grumbled, annoyed with his brother’s lack of attention span.

“No one, I’m just eager to get this over with,” Terzo lied, shutting out his brother’s nagging. He began to check his pockets, removing his sunglasses, lighter, and smokes for safekeeping with Secondo.

Ten minutes into the allotted start time, she appeared to him. She was a vision in her white, lace-trimmed gown and her dark curls bouncing wildly. Her friend was close on her trail as the two women continued at break-neck speed to the meeting spot.

Terzo felt the world slow down and the only soundtrack was his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Sister Alessandra was without a doubt one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen in his life. Her strong, well-vocalized disdain for Terzo only made him want her more.

“Oh, ho, ho! Look who showed up!” Terzo gave her a disgustingly excited smile as he opened his arms for her. He could see her winded expression drop flat off her face as she stared at him in shock.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Alé hissed quietly to Liz as they slowly walked to Secondo’s side, away from Terzo. Alé brushed her fingers through her hair as she began to weave her locks into a braid, so it’d be a little more manageable in the water.

As Brother Garrett began to welcome the group and explain how the morning was going to go, Terzo, not one to shy away from awkward situations (or at least giving an attempt to make them even more uncomfortable for the other party), casually walked to the other side of his brother to stand by Alé. He gave her another warm smile and a wink as he nodded his head to her, “Sister Alessandra.”

“Cardinal.”

“How are yo--”

“Where is Primo?” Alé cut him off, not wanting to waste any energy on this trash.

“He’s fallen sick,” Terzo answered her, trying not to dwell on his own hurt feelings, “He’s starting to feel better, but there’s no way we will allow him to do anything outside; especially in this swamp. So Cardinal Secondo and I were called in as replacements to basically Ghostbust the Christ out of you all.”

Alessandra turned her back to Terzo and dug her nails into Liz’s arm, she lowered her voice so Terzo wouldn’t eavesdrop, “I’m not doing this.”

“Oh come on!” Liz groaned, “Just get it over with! You said something in your gut told you to do this, so what does it matter who does it?!”

“I know, but I already feel off about this and I’m not letting him touch me.”

Terzo leaned over to the two ladies angrily whispering at each other and also added in a hushed tone, “I think you’re making a bigger deal out of this than you think.”

“I do not need your input; also quit spying on me!” Alé hissed back at him, “How do I request Cardinal Secondo to perform my unbaptism?”

“You don’t,” Terzo sneered at her, “We already rock, paper, scissored it. Decision is final, Sorella. And clearly I came out on top.”

He gave her another toothy smile as his eyes took her in from head to toe. Alessandra wanted to puke in her mouth. This man was such a waste of her time. The more she learned about him, the more confident she was in her analysis: he was a slut and a moron.

“You’re not as funny as you think you are,” Alé glared at him, crossing her arms, and attempting to shut him out.

Terzo chuckled, clasping his hands behind his back, “Denial is not just a river in--”

“--and Cardinal Terzo, with that, we’re ready when you are,” Brother Garrett interrupted the future Papa with an oblivious smile.

Terzo masked his annoyance and gave Alessandra another wink, “We shall continue this. See you in a minute, dolce.”

Alé felt her stomach churn as she watched the walking headache give the rest of the group a big smile as he took the hand of the first sibling and escorted them out into the chilly water. 

She should have run.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All the other six siblings that had chosen to be religiously freed today had beautiful, private unbaptisms with the future Papa. One-by-one, Terzo had taken them out into the frigid pond and released them from their prior torment in such an intimate ceremony. No one could hear his words from the shores; odd for the usually boisterous man. 

From watching his face, you could tell he was taking this very seriously. Alessandra had thought a few times she saw him tear up as the sibling thanked him profusely after he had drenched them. Maybe she had judged him too harshly at their first encounter. He may have a few general character flaws, but seeing him like this had Alé reconsidering a lot. Plus he did look even more handsome in white. The classic dark eye makeup around his eyes, his upper lip crispy painted black, framed by his shaggy locks, Alé’s eyes darted to the floor as she noticed Terzo watching her and giving her a mischievous smile. 

“Pronta, Sorella?” Cardinal Terzo held out his hand for her, still grinning. His crisp white slacks were beyond waterlogged and his purple boxers could be seen from miles away. He might as well not even be wearing pants. Alé’s eyes dropped to his chest; a delicate golden Grucifix peered out from his unbuttoned cotton shirt. She felt her breath hitch as she finally took in his chest hair; her eyes began to wander again along his exposed arms, swearing she could see tattoo ink coming from under the cuffs of his shirt. As outgoing as Terzo was, he did keep his own life rather private. Other than the ongoing rumors of how well-endowed he was and his unmatchable stamina, Alé realized she hadn’t heard much else about this mysterious, cocky bastard. As far as she was concerned, his only hobbies were cream pies and sucking dick in the confession booths. 

Alé frowned and hesitated before going against her gut and taking the man’s hand. He was surprisingly warm, despite his damp hand. She almost considered moving closer to steal more of his body heat. Terzo gave her a gentle, comforting squeeze as they began to head deeper into the water. 

“It’s actually quite cold… I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long,” Alé spoke softly, making nervous, but polite conversation with the religious figure head.

“Eh. Cold yes; only thing I have to gripe about right now is the fantastic shrinkage I’m experiencing right now. Just don’t look down too long for it, I promise I do have a lot more going on than what you can see,” Terzo rambled on, trying not to chuckle at the horrified look on Alé’s face.

“You’re a pig,” Alé gasped, halting in her steps, stopping Terzo with her. She shook her hand to free herself from his touch, as if he were a disease, “I don't think I want to do this anymore." 

“Oh, come now,” Terzo chided, trying to gently encourage her onwards, “I was merely teasing, Sorella! I’ll tone it down.”

“I cannot believe that out of all the Ministry officials who could be doing this, I’m stuck here with you!” Alessandra glared at him, starting to lose her patience. The freezing water was doing no favors.

“Stuck with me?!” Terzo feigned horror, “You should be so lucky, Sorella!”

“Can we just get this over with?” Alé crossed her arms. She shouldn’t have let Liz talk her into doing this with the younger cardinal. She should have waited for Primo. She should have ran screaming as soon as she saw Terzo’s devilish smirk, “I thought this day was going to be a lot more meaningful, but this is clearly just a joke to you. I bet you’re going to dazzle them as Papa.”

“Huh.. I apologize, I took this maybe too far; we can fix this,” Terzo spoke a little more seriously than what Alessandra was expecting from him, “Pronta?”

“Yes, Cardinal,” Alé affirmatively nodded her head, glad he seemed to have moved onto business, still weary he might pull something again. She couldn't let her guard down around him. 

Terzo gently cleared his throat before speaking so only the two of them could hear, “Welcome, Sister Alessandra. Today, you and I gather to embark on a journey of healing from the wounds of a religious trauma. The undoing of a dedication to a religion you did not consent to. A reversal of spiritual decisions you made without clarity, reclaiming your personal power and finding solace within. Are you ready to proceed? “Yes,” Alé whispered in a hushed tone, finding herself unable to look away from his gaze; she let her arms uncross and fall to her sides.

“This act represents the release of the harmful teachings and reclamation of your own truth. Release the pain and wounds caused by religious trauma. Reclaim your power and define your own path. You are no longer bound by the chains of religious trauma. Embrace your strength, reliance, and the beauty of your unique journey,” Terzo prayed over her.

The butterflies in Alessandra’s stomach were out of control. Her heart was racing. She wanted to get closer to him. She could hear each purposeful breath he took between sentences. She could see his pupils dilate wide as he made unwavering eye contact with her; unable to look away from his Satan-given eye. She could smell his cologne overwhelming her senses. She felt her heart skip a few beats as she reached out for the dark clergyman and he firmly grasped her hand in return. With the warmth and energy that surged between them as they entwined their fingers, she could have sworn there were electrical currents in the tiny pond.

“Sister Alessandra, take a moment to reflect on your newfound freedom and the inner strength that resides within you. Today, we have taken a significant step towards healing from your religious trauma. As you move forward, remember,” Terzo paused for a second, finding himself unable to look anywhere but into her hazel eyes. He tried to shake himself from his trance as he continued, softening his tone, taking time to enunciate his words, “You are deserving of love, acceptance, and the freedom to shape your own path. May this ritual serve as a reminder of your own resilience and the power of reclaiming your own truth!” 

Alessandra looked deeply into his eyes as they shared a soft smile. It was only them in the world at that moment. A shepherd and his newly found lamb. Alé leaned into Terzo as he respectfully wrapped his arm around her waist, she felt at ease letting him handle her so intimately. 

“All bonds of servitude have been broken. Power and agency have been restored. Thyself is thy master. Hail Satan!” Terzo grinned as he felt Alé’s suddenly shoulders sag and a heavy, invisible burden seemed to remove itself from her. She stared at him wordlessly, seemingly hypnotized. Terzo cleared his throat, “You ready for a dip, sis?”

“No funny business,” Alessandra whispered, eyes pleading to him. She couldn’t help but look at his soft lips, failing to use every ounce of strength inside her to avoid thinking about kissing him.

“None,” Terzo crossed his heart, “Unless you have also felt the encouragement from The Dark One here with us and are also so inclined for another kiss…”

Alessandra stiffened against his touch, shaking herself out of this trance. What the actual hell was wrong with this man? And how was he also feeling this!? Did this lech hex her!? Alessandra shoved his arm off from around her waist as she stabbed a threatening finger into his chest, “I promise, I will drown you here in front of your family and followers. Don’t tempt me. Keep your hands off me.”

“You keep saying that, but how am I supposed to complete your upbaptism if I can’t touch you?” Terzo grinned cheekily, cocking his weight to one hip, as he laughed at her.

Alé huffed and rubbed her face in annoyance, “You are so unbelievably annoying.”

“Signora, I am a man of the cloth, I have a little more restraint than you seem to give me credit for!”

“Oh because the bullshit you pulled at Yule was you showing restraint?!” she scoffed, hesitant to go back to the dark-haired man.

Ave Satanas. What a spitfire, he thought to himself. Terzo itched at his chin before offering Alé his hand again, losing patience, freezing to the bone, and wishing to just get this over with. Alessandra took his hand and walked into his embrace again as she let him begin to gently lower her backwards into the water. One arm still around her waist and the other firmly clasped to hers, with her hands clinging to him for dear life. 

Terzo paused as he looked down at the beautiful woman in front of him. Her full lips and dark, feathered eyelashes. Her gorgeous raven hair tied off to the side in an extravagant braid as the February sun bounced off the gold flecks in her eyes. He should have stopped there, but his eyes couldn’t stop wandering as he craned to peer through the white cotton gown at her ample bosom.

Alessandra had been transfixed in his green and white gaze; she found herself lost, yet so comforted. Something about him seemed to call to her. As she blinked, she noticed he had broken eye contact and was obviously staring at her breasts.

“So tell me, Cardinal,” Alé interrupted his x-ray advances before continuing her wicked thought, “That night I rejected you… did you have to go home empty handed? Or did Omega take pity on you as he always does and take you to bed like the whore you are?”

Terzo’s eyes widened, not believing what he just heard. I think I might be in love with this woman. He had been halfway to dipping her in the water, the ends of her hair barely submerged, when he quickly released his grasp on her. Alessandra crashed back into the icy water with a shriek. She gasped for air as she tried to find her balance, stumbling again over a sunken log and falling into the water again.

Terzo’s mind buzzed with white static as couldn’t help but feel slightly childish for what he had done. He pushed air out of his mouth before working up the courage to hold out his hand to her, “Sorella, I’m so sorry. My hands slipped!”

Alé’s assessment was confirmed: he was a slut, a moron, and a liar. She hesitated before taking his hand, second guessing her actions. Terzo gave her one quick apologetic smile before she yanked his arm past her, causing Terzo to lose his balance and also fall face-first into the lake.

Terzo pulled his head up from under the water, sputtering and shaking his hair like a dog. He blew a string of snot out of his nose before looking back at the fiery woman, he absentmindedly checked his ear piercings and fixed the chained Grucifix that hung from his left lobe. He sighed and found himself drawn to the damp, furious goddess next to him. 

“Alright. Fair is fair, sister. I apologize for accidentally dropping you,” Terzo managed to pull himself back up, laughing as he held out his palms to her in an effort for peace, “No funny business. Serio.”

“I cannot believe this," Alé murmured to herself as she saw Cardinal Secondo angrily waving them down from the shore with a furious expression on his face.

“Cardinal!" Secondo shouted in a very stormy tone, “Have you lost your mind!?"

Terzo began to scoff before being cut off by his brother again.

“Quit flirting with each other. It's freezing, everyone else is trying to go inside, you've prolonged this enough," Secondo seethed. 

“We are not flirting!” Terzo and Alé balked, loudly talking over each other to try and explain their actions.

“I don't care! Terzo, help the sister up and finish your job."

Terzo noisily sighed as he turned to Alessandra, “At least we knocked the Jesus out of you, eh, Sorella? “

He bowed forward to take her hand to help her out of the lake. Alé slapped his outstretched palm away, “I am perfectly capable of managing myself. Now did you successfully unbaptize me or are you still just fucking around?”

As Terzo opened his mouth armed with a sarcastic comment, his eyes drifted to her heaving chest as she lifted herself back upright from the water. Her large breasts were drenched, white gown clinging to them leaving very little to the imagination. Terzo felt his jaw slacken a little wider. 

Cazzo. I think I am in love, echoing in his brain. He suddenly became hyper aware of his erection pressing through his wet bottoms. He slowly began to wade backwards into deeper water, waving Alessandra towards the shore, “Eh, go on ahead, Sister. We’re all good here.”

Alessandra’s jaw dropped, did he have a boner!? This couldn’t have gone any worse. Her gown dragged against her in the water as she tried to jog back onto land. Liz had a towel opened wide and quickly embraced Alé in a bear hug.

“I need a drink,” Alé uttered from inside the towel, begging to forget this entire experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shortly after, the crowd had begun to disperse leaving the Cardinals by themselves. Secondo stared wordlessly at his younger brother as Terzo trudged up from the lake, readjusting his cock in his trousers. His eye paint was smeared down his cheeks and soaked from head to toe, but he sported the biggest shit eating grin on his messy face.

“Primo is going to rip you apart for this one, fratellino,” Secondo shook his head, arms still crossed over his chest, “Is that why you chose to punish her? Because Primo has taken to her and she wants absolutely nothing to do with you? Are you are feeling jealous?”

Terzo shrugged noncommittally, still smiling as he threw a towel over his head, “I did what I had to.”

“I hope it was worth it.”

Terzo nodded, drying off his face, “Absolutamente. Now, if you don’t mind, I left a rather large ghoul alone in a bed and I think it’s high time I go see to him.”

“I’m keeping these as emotional reimbursement for you making me hear that,” Secondo crossly replied, wagging the case of cigars and busty lighter at him.

Terzo chuckled as he walked past his brother, “Fair is fair, fratello.”

Translations: 

Onore -- Honor

Non importa -- It does not matter.

Come sta Primo? -- How is Primo?

Potrebbe essere morto, per quanto ti importa! -- He could be dead for all you care!

Cocca di papà -- Apple of Father's eye, Daddy’s girl

Sasso, carta, forbici? -- Rock, paper, scissors?

Sei un rompicoglioni -- You're a pain in the ass

Qualsiasi -- Whatever

Grazie mille! Sono elettrizzato! -- Thank you so much! I’m delighted/thrilled!

[copiousloverofcopia]

So there's the videos of family responding poorly to pregnancy announcements, right? The disappointed grandparent or even more upset older children? Would that ever happen with Terzo and Alé? Their older kids having a melt down or even Secondo being horrified? Or would it all just be joyous news? lol

I have been promising to do SOMETHING for you lol and then stuff keeps happening!!

lol anyways here is a little something you asked for love, and I hope you enjoy this small snippet, a mini fic reaction of them finding out about Terzo and Alessandra's 3rd baby!

The Greatest Honor

Terzo and Alessandra have some news to share with the rest of the Emeritus family, though not everyone is excited.

Also available HERE on AO3!

Read below the cut!

Secondo let out an exasperated sigh as he hung up the phone. Rolling his head from side to side, listening to the cracking of his bones. Cursing his age felt in them as he headed into the main hall, his course set for Terzo’s office. The old man, muttering to himself how this little “meeting”, called in the middle of his morning prayers, had better be for something good.

“I'm here. Now what is this all about. Some of us have things to do.” Secondo blurted out as he swung the door open. The man had barely crossed an inch over the threshold and was already trying to hurry things along. 

“Come sit down you old fool so we can all talk.” Terzo chided, rolling his eyes. Secondo approached, taking a seat beside Primo and Copia at Terzo’s desk.

"You're looking rather cheery this morning." Primo teased as Secondo settled into his designated chair. Clearing his throat and crossing one leg over the other. His irritation, worn plainly in his demeanor. 

"So?" Copia asked, decidedly more excited than the others of what was to come. Terzo held up a finger as he pulled open his office drawer, revealing a small envelope.

"Here." He said handing it over for Copia to open. The current Papa worked carefully to open it. 

"Is this?" Copia said, his eyes widening as he removed the contents inside—an ultrasound photo. 

"Alessandra and I are expecting another child." Terzo beamed. Prideful and content and so very excited to be adding to his brood. Copia smiled ear to ear, delighting in the news along with Primo. Secondo, however, raised his brow in judgment. 

“Terzo when the old man told you to sire an heir, he didn't mean an entire convocation.” Secondo snarked, eliciting a quick wack to his bald head from Primo’s hand.  "Stronzo." Secondo said, sneering over to him.

“Papa, how can you say such a thing? Terzo This is wonderful news…more little ones to fawn over.” Copia smiled, just as excited as Terzo at the news. Primo too was joyful at the news. Already imagining teaching the little one the ins and outs of the garden. Assigning them their own plot to tend to once they came of age. That being said he wasn't above giving Terzo his own bit of good-natured teasing.

“You do know how this keeps happening, don’t you fratellino?” Primo asked, sending Terzo a wink. Just as he was about to answer, Alé arrived, bringing Mena and Dante in tow.

“Well hello.” she said as Mena and Dante ran from out her side. Mena, heading directly to her father and little Dante, climbing up on Copia’s lap. 

“Oh mio Dante, stai crescendo così in fretta.” Copia said, hugging him tightly. “I am so excited for you Ragazzino!” Dante, looking over to his father in confusion as Alessandra reached Terzo and Mena behind the desk.

“I see you’ve told them.” she smiled, giving Terzo a kiss. The two of them, still so sickeningly in love as Terzo’s fingertips brushed against the still inconspicuous bump of his Prime Mover’s belly.  

“Sí, though not everyone shares our excitement.” Terzo chuckled, motioning towards Secondo.

“Excitement about what Papa?” asked Mena as she tugged against the bottom of his jacket. Terzo squatted down beside her, wanting to meet her on her level. 

“Mena, dolcezza—Your mother and I…we are going to have another baby. You are going to be a big sister again.” he explained, waiting for his daughter's confusion to turn into elation. Instead Terzo was surprised, along with the others, when her face contorted. Tears, spilling down her cheeks as she brought her hands to her eyes.  

"But I don't wanna have another baby!" She cried. Her face, turning red as Dante played completely unbothered in Copia's lap. 

"Glad I'm not the only one." Secondo said snarkily. Alessandra, snapping a murderous look in his direction. Terzo felt for her. Though he was not the oldest child, he knew what it was like to have many siblings. The endless fighting and vying for attention. It could be a lot for anyone to deal with. 

"Oh…mia principessa. It will be alright." Terzo assured her, picking his little girl up and holding her close in his arms. She was so sweet and beautiful, but also so willful—just like her mother. His heart pained seeing her this way.

"Might I?" Primo began, rising up from his chair and taking the empty spot alongside his brother and niece. Terzo shifted so that Mena might see him better. Wiping her eyes of the tears she couldn't help but shed.

"Zio…" she sniffled, holding her arms out for Primo to take her. Primo smiled, giving her a kiss on her round little cheek. His niece, wrapping her arms around him tightly as her tears slowly began to subside.

"Listen piccola. I too am the oldest sibling." He began as Mena raised her head up from the comfort of his shoulder to look at him.

"You are?"

"I am…and you know what?" Primo continued. His voice, so soothing and calm. 

"What?" Mena asked, sniffing back once more.

"It is the greatest honor that I have ever had." Primo told her. Mena seemed to understand, while it wasn't easy it was something she would do with pride, love, and understanding. Wanting to be just like her Zio Primo.

"Thank you Zio. I will do my best." Mena smiled, squeezing Primo with her little arms.

"That's my dolcezza. Now if you ever need some advice or even a break from your siblings you come tell Zio Primo, sí?" 

"Sí…" Mena replied, as Primo set her down. Mena, quickly going to hug first her mother and then father before staring up at them. "I'm sorry Daddy. I will be a good big sister I promise." She said looking back at Primo who gave her a wink.

"I know you will." Terzo praised, giving her a small kiss atop her head before he set her back down. Mena and Dante, quickly taking off from the office full speed as Copia delightfully tagged along behind them.

"Maybe I should tell you that you'll be a good zio…might help improve your mood." Primo chuckled as he placed his hand on Secondo's shoulder. The room, roaring with laughter from Terzo, Alé, Primo, and surprisingly—even Secondo. 

Notes:

Oh mio Dante, stai crescendo così in fretta.- Oh my Dante, you are growing so fast.

Ragazzino- Little buddy

Dolcezza- honey, sweetheart

mia principessa- my princess

Piccola- little one

[copiousloverofcopia]

😭🎉 I love it! Thank you Tami 💖

Commission for my lovely @copiousloverofcopia made especially for her fanfic❤❤❤

Here's the link!

[cristinacusani]

Il mio lavoro Ritorni è parte di Sciame Project.

Il progetto nasce dall’esposizione annuale d’arte contemporanea Lucisorgenti, iniziativa ideata nel 2008 da Franco Troiani a sostegno dei giovani artisti, la cui X edizione è stata interrotta a causa del terremoto che ha colpito il centro Italia nel 2016.

SciameProject, fondato da Miriam Montani, è una pagina web, una raccolta di pensieri e opere di oltre cento partecipanti tra artisti, curatori, critici, operatori culturali e voci sul territorio.

Impermanenza, Memoria, Abitare, Disabitare, Radicamento, Sradicamento e Motus sono le tematiche affrontate, scandagliate dal terremoto come causa ed effetto. SciameProject si pone come contributo immateriale per far rigermogliare la materia ceduta, in un momento in cui ci troviamo nel punto di scegliere se disabitare la terra o radicarci ancora, con tutte le forze sensibili.

Sciameproject è:

Fabio Giorgi Alberti, Marta Allegri, Francesco Amato, Bruno Amplatz, Marco Andrighetto, Claudia Angrisani, Daniela Ardiri, Alexo Athanasios, Sara Baggini, Giulia Maria Belli, Stefano Baldinelli, Rob Van Den Berg, Elisa Bertaglia, Bianco-Valente, Marta Bichisao, Jaspal Birdi, Sofia Bonato, Federico Borroni, Thomas Braida, Giovanni Sartoti Braido, Gianluca Brando, Annarosa Buttarelli, Alessandra Caccia, Gruppo Cairn, Cristina Calderoni, Riccardo Caldura, Simone Cametti, Chiara Campanile, Tiziano Campi, Lucilla Candeloro, Francesco Capponi, Daniele Capra, Sauro Cardinali, Simone Carraro, Tommaso Ceccanti, Giorgia Cereda, Francesco Ciavaglioli, Adelaide Cioni, Nicola Cisternino, Luca Clabot, Jonathan Colombo, Irene Sofia Comi, Isabel Consigliere, Corale, Cristina Cusani, Gabriella Dalesio, Maria Elisa D’Andrea, Emanuele De Donno, Matilde Di Pietropaolo, Maurizio Donzelli, Simone Doria, Arthur Duff, Léa Dumayet, Chiara Enzo, Tommaso Faraci, Silvia Faresin, Diana Ferrara, Giulia Filippi, Penzo+Fiore, Danilo Fiorucci, Roberta Franchetto, Enej Gala, Benedetta Galli, Elisa Gambino, Maria Luigia Giuffrè, Maddalena Granziera, Aldo Grazzi, Gabriele Grones, Silvia Hell, Interno3, Myriam Laplante, Virginia Di Lazzaro, Iva Lulashi, Annamaria Maccapani, Rita Mandolini, Valerio Magrelli, Fabio Mariani, Luca Marignoni, Nereo Marulli, Alice Mazzarella, Stefania Mazzola, Vittoria Mazzoni, Cecilia Metelli, Leila Mirzakhani, Montanari Testoni Norcia-Cascia, Miriam Montani, Jessica Moroni, Francesca Mussi, Aran Ndimurwanko, Valerio Niccacci, Matteo Nuti, Laura Omacini, Mattia Pajè, Monica Palma, Valeria Palombini, Federica Partinico, Laura P, Ugo Piccioni, Mary Pola, Gianluca Quaglia, Emanuele Resce, Sofia Ricciardi, Paolo Romani, Maria Diletta Rondoni, Marco Rossetti, Antonio Rossi, Elisa Rossi, Marotta & Russo, Giulia Sacchetto, Carlo Sala, Gabriele Salvaterra, Matilde Sambo, Michele Santi, Thomas Scalco, Sa Paradura (fotografie di Massimo Chiappini, testo di Alessia Nicoletti), Sachi Satomi, Carlo Scarpa, Catia Schievano, Alice Schivardi, Davide Serpetti, Nicolò Masiero Sgrinzatto, Hsing-Chun Shih, Davide Silvioli,Thoms Soardi, Meri Tancredi, Sio Takahaschi, Eva Chiara Trevisan, Cristina Treppo, Carmine Tornincasa, Franco Troiani, Sacha Turchi, Matteo Valerio, Silvia Vendramel, Alberto Venturini, Matteo Vettorello, Luigi Viola, Medina Zabo, Andreas Zampella, Vincenzo Zancana, Karin Zrinjski.

In occasione del terzo anniversario del terremoto che ha colpito il centro Italia, il 30 ottobre 2019  SciameProject è ospite al MACRO ASILO per una presentazione e talk con i partecipanti presenti.

Programma della giornata:

10.00 – 10.30: colazione di benvenuto

10.30- 10.50/11.00: introduzione del progetto e degli artisti che prenderanno parola, verrà inoltre annunciato il preludio di un nuovo progetto all’interno di SciameProject (“Sciame Mobile Residence”, ideato insieme a Athanasios Stefano Alexo, Stella Stefani, Karin Zrinjskj, Vincenzo Zancana, Andreas Zampella).

11.00- 13.00 Talk con: Elisa Bertaglia (artista), Jaspal Birdi (artista), Alessandra Caccia (artista), Isabel Consigliere (artista), Cristina Cusani (artista), Emanuele de Donno (curatore, autore, editore Viaindustriae), Giulia Filippi (artista), Maddalena Granziera (artista), Gabriele Grones (artista) Myriam Laplante (artista), Rita Mandolini (artista), Fabio Mariani (artista), Alice Mazzarella (artista), #VittoriaMazzoni (artista), Mary Pola (artista), Francesca Mussi (artista), Matteo Nuti (artista), Gianluca Quaglia (artista), Emanuele Resce (artisti), Davide Serpetti (artista), Comitato Sa Paradura (Cascia), Davide Silvioli (curatore), Franco Troiani (artista), Luigi Viola (artista), Medina Zabo (artista), Vincenzo Zancana (artista).

INFO

Museo Macro Asilo

Via Nizza, Roma

30 ottobre 2019 H 10-13

[captaingrebelguf]

I Can Do Better

Ciao, ciao, ciao. Life is too short; so I've brought another drabble to the two (maybe three or four?) party fan club that I am still dragging my sweet, patient @copiousloverofcopia along with me. Sorry, girl. lol <3

Once again dicking around in the magical AU that came from the mind of the ever lovely: @copiousloverofcopia.

Mrs. Prime Mover Sister Alessandra borrowed from Prime Mover Ren and her series, Tied as One Eternally. Please read. It's life changing. And Ren is the best. Anything you click on written by her will instantly make your day better and leave you beyond flustered. Ayyyoooo!

Be well, be good to each other, and happy Thursday, my dudes.

-----------

Okay. So, this takes place a way a way back...

Terzo handed his radiant, exhausted, (and kind of sweaty) Prime Mover a plastic cup full of ice chips. 

Alessandra stared dumbfoundedly at her husband as if he had three heads; hesitating to take the ice, “Terz… I said--”

“I have Omega and Alpha headed out to go get the shawarma order, it's not something the kitchen could handle,” Terzo cut her off, scrunching his nose at her and placing the cup at her bedside, “Paziente, Mama.”

Alé groaned, letting her head fall back against the mountain of pillows fluffed up behind her, “I’m not going to make it."  

Terzo smiled brightly as he brought his lips to give her a chaste kiss on her forehead, “Soon, cara, soon. You’re strong as hell, Alessandra; this is a cakewalk.”

“You have no idea,” Alessandra sighed in agreement before a yawn slipped out; she looked down at the hour-old infant bundled in her arms. Dante Alessandro Emeritus, their second child, their first son; already had his parents wrapped around all his ten fingers. His button nose was the spitting imitation of Mena’s as a baby. His tufts of soft, ebony-hued hair were already a mess. Dante had Terzo’s full lips and matching eye colors. Alessandra couldn’t see much of herself in their newest addition, but she knew their son was going to be one handsome bastard. Just like his Papa.

“I’m starving,” Alé pouted, stretching her achy back as she gave her husband pouty eyes. Terzo gave her an apologetic smile, biting his tongue before he let himself foolishly mention something else she could put in her mouth.

“Don’t,” Alé warned sternly; knowing exactly where his train of thought was going, “I am in no mood for your jokes.”

“I wasn’t!” Terzo lied, laughing as he stroked his wife’s untamed curls. Alé scoffed, rightfully not believing him. 

“You really are amazing, cara,” Terzo murmured, taking in his strong-willed Prime Mover holding their child at her breast. He lowered his gaze to their son, ‘Satanas, did they make great looking kids.’

Alé smiled tiredly from her cot in the ministry’s infirmary, proudly taking the compliment. Once they had made it from Dante’s impromptu birth suite in the hallway, the nursing staff quickly threw together a temporary private room for the family. Alessandra and Dante had both been fully checked out and given the ‘all clear’ by the physician. Terzo silently watched everything from Alé’s side, slightly shell-shocked as the adrenaline died down.

“He’s pretty handsome, huh?” she whispered still in a happy dopamine-filled daze; her heart couldn’t feel more full looking between a father and his son, “I wonder if you looked like this when you were born..”

Terzo smiled sadly; he couldn't help but instantly think of his own childhood, his own mother. He turned his head away from Alé. She continued to coo over their son, laughing to herself, “Just imagine: now you get to be tormented the same way you punished Primo all those years. What goes around, comes around, Terz.”

Terzo didn’t reply, the fears he’d been suppressing over the last nine months all hit him at once. The memories of his miserable childhood seeped back in as he tried to focus on anything else in the room. Traumatically losing his own mother. Being shipped across the country from one sect to another, before finally arriving at the ministry as a young child. And then immediately being tossed aside by Nihil; already having been inconvenienced enough to have a third unwanted child dropped on his doorstep. Terzo never forgot that dejected, hollow feeling from the man who was supposed to care and love for him.

Terzo held out for longer than he would ever admit waiting for Nihil to see him as his son; waiting for him to be proud. Terzo remembered all the times he had been caught in the middle of Nihil's drunken rage; being screamed at and having items thrown at him. He remembered the silent car rides growing up where Nihil couldn't even pretend to be interested in his own sons' lives. Or Nihil disappearing for months on end on drug benders. The cigarette ashes being flicked at him if he ever said the wrong thing at the wrong time. The public monologues of what a disappointment Terzo was to him.

Terzo looked up at the ceiling and turned his body away from his partner and child, pleading with himself to think of anything else. But the ‘what ifs’ kept circling back. What if this was his future? What if he ended following his own disappointing father’s footsteps and let his own kids down? What if he ended up being a failure?

“Terz?” Alé asked, looking away from the infant only to be met with her husband's back side; realizing he had gotten strangely quiet. He had his arms folded snugly at his chest and stood as straight as an arrow. She saw his shoulders sag down as he took a ragged, calming breath.

“Terzo, what is going on?” Alé pressed again, more worry evident in her voice, “What’s wrong?”

He slowly turned around, avoiding eye contact, mustering up a smile for her sake. Alé could see the misty look in his eyes and held her hand out to her partner, “Terzo, what’s wrong?”

He sniffled and let out a short laugh, he took his wife’s hand, giving it three squeezes, “I’m sorry, cara mia. Everything seems to have caught up to me all at once. I'm just emotional.”

Alé rubbed her thumb over his knuckles soothingly, smiling softly, “I knew you couldn’t be that calm, cool, and collected.”

Terzo chuckled, waving her off, trying to shrug off the conversation, “Sadly: no. Fake it until you make it. I’ll be fine, amore. Promise."

“Well, that's a lie. If you don’t talk to me right now, I swear to Lucifer you will never see me naked again,” Alessandra warned, trying to get her husband to crack. She raised an eyebrow at him as she waited for his response.

Terzo laughed as he dropped himself down into the folding chair the staff had pulled out for him next to Alé’s cot, “Eh. You got me. It’s just been a lot--”

Dante interrupted their conversation with a few snuffles and coos sounding like it might lead into a good cry. Alessandra smiled down at her first son; she gently clutched him closer to her chest, swaying him. She couldn’t believe he was finally here, still thanking Lucifer all went well. Terzo looked away from the infant, choosing instead to stare into the space in front of him as he debated about how to go about this conversation.

Alessandra interrupted his thoughts, “I just realized: Terzo, I’ve been hogging the baby, why don’t you hold him?”

“No, no, cara,” Terzo woke out of his trance and shook his head, trying to lighten the mood, “You’ve earned this, you did all the hard work. You keep the fresh baby.”

Alé rolled her eyes at him, scoffing as she started to move the infant from her chest, trying to swiftly pass him off to Terzo before little Dante started to stir again, “No one likes a martyr, Papa." 

Terzo’s arms remained firmly crossed and unmoving over his chest, “Alé…”

“Why don’t you want to hold your son?” Alé sternly questioned, before slightly grinning and teasing him, “Don't pull a Nihil." 

Terzo pursed his lips, feeling the knot in his throat forming again. Alé immediately regretted her words, knowing she had struck a nerve. She moved Dante back into one arm and with her free hand she reached to rub her husband’s arm, “I'm sorry. That wasn't funny. I didn't mean it like that…" 

“Alessandra,” he finally sputtered, speaking a mile a minute, “I’m so scared this will be different and I won’t have the same bond I have with Mena. What if Dante is like me and he’s a stronzetto? What if I yell at him? What if he hates me? What if I don't have the patience for him? I… I can’t be like Nihil.”

“You’re not!” Alé exclaimed, grasping his hand, giving it a gentle, but firm shake, “You are nothing like him. You are an incredible father, Terzo. I don’t know how many more people you need to hear this from. You are the best father I could ask for for our children. You’re a little… much at times, but you are everything Mena and Dante deserve from a dad. You are nothing like him in the ways where it matters. Why didn’t you bring this up earlier? You promised me no more secrets, Terz. We're in this together." 

Terzo tipped forward and buried his head in his hands, “I don’t have a good excuse. I know you’ve been struggling and worried about having two kids and I refused to add more undue stress to your plate. And… I waited too long to bring this up…”

She reached out and rubbed circles on his back, “My sweet idiot. You are nothing like Nihil. The fact that you’re even having these thoughts is asinine.” 

Terzo didn’t reply at first. He began to open his mouth and then it felt like there was an elephant’s foot on his chest crushing all the air out, “What if I do treat Dante like how Nihil treated me and Primo and Secondo?”

“Again: you won’t,” Alé replied, completely dismissing the idea, “You’re better than that, Terz. After everything he put you through, you know what to do and what not to do. Look at Mena. I think we’re doing a pretty damn good job with her! A little spoiled, no thanks to you, but I think we’re doing well.”

Terzo smiled up at his wife, sniffling as he carefully dabbed at the black smudging around his eyes, “Time will tell… But I can’t stop thinking about it. Every night before bed. Every morning I wake. When there’s a quiet moment in my office. Every time I'm tucking Mena into bed. What if I become my father?”

“Terzo,” Alessandra scolded, “You will never become Nihil, you care too much. You're a good man. Now stop being a fool and hold your son.”

Terzo sat up and shook his head, “I’m not ready. Not yet.”

Alé disappointedly sat back, holding the newborn baby tightly to her, “I didn’t realize you were this upset about it, Terzo.”

“Eh, the paperwork, the Papa duties shit, chasing Mena around, and courting you all day are pretty good distractions. As I said: I know you had enough to worry about already,” Terzo admitted to his partner. He looked over at his son as his thoughts began to swarm his mind again.

‘I have a son’ kept reverberating in his brain. He couldn’t believe it, after nine long months, he was finally here. And Terzo was able to be there for Alé the entire pregnancy this time around. He was there for all the milestones: every ultrasound, the first hiccups, the first movements, being there to massage out any and every cramp she had, playing him music (Meliora being the first album once they were convinced the unborn child could hear), the midnight cravings, being there to help Alé with her birth plan (a sad waste of time looking back on it now), and especially feeling his son respond and move when he sang to him. Terzo loved every second of it. Their son was worth it all. Dante wriggled against his mother, making tiny huffing noises; unable to fathom how loved he was already.

“I can't believe he's already here,” Terzo murmured, trying to change the subject, he was hypnotized by the small creature, “I’m sorry for dumping this on you… it should be a happy time... and-- I'm sorry, amata.”

Alé smirked, still watching their son with his Emeritus-colored eyes, sleepily looking up at her, “You’ll learn this soon, Dante. Your Papa makes bad choices; just really, really poor choices and he’s a damned fool. I think he's just scared of you overthrowing him. But believe me, he will grow on you after a while.”

Terzo scoffed as he briefly stood from his seat to kiss Alé’s flushed forehead, “You’re something else, dolce.”

“You’re something special, too. You're a good man. You're a great father. Stop doubting yourself; there's a reason I keep you around and let you knock me up," Alessandra teased, trying to lighten the mood, “I think being retired has made you soft. What happened to the arrogant, self-righteous Papa with an ego so large, it could barely fit through the door.”

Terzo stuck his tongue in his cheek and folded his hands behind his head, laid back as much as he could in the plastic seat, “I’ll show you large.”

“There he is,” Alé giggled, shaking her head. She stroked Dante’s cheek, softening her voice, “These kids have no idea how lucky they are to have a role model as compassionate, empathetic, supportive, and courageous as you.”

“Ah, tesoro, you’re making me blush,” Terzo fanned his face, finding himself unable to pull away from her loving gaze, “Thank you for the pep talk.”

“I mean, do you think Nihil was even present for any of your guys being born? Let alone delivering a baby! You’ve already surpassed him in “dad-ing”. None of this would have been possible without you, again, Dr. Papa Emeritus the Third,” Ale cackled, tossing her head back, gently rousing Dante again.

“Okay, circling back to that,” Terzo began ramping up for his spiel with wide eyes, already waving his arms wildly, “We’re choosing a date for you to be induced next time. Because I’m not doing this any more!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry the problem you helped create is inconvenient for you!” Alessandra mocked, still laughing to herself. 

“It’s not the birth, it's the fact that you keep having me on the receiving end. You know my track record, Alessandra! I’m going to drop the next one!”

“In the name of Lucifer,” Alé groaned quietly as her laughter ceased, wiping at her eyes, “There is not going to be a ‘next one’.”

Terzo’s well-prepared, crude response was interrupted by a soft knock at the door, “We will follow up on this later.”

"There is nothing to discuss!" Alé scoffed as Terzo sarcastically nodded in agreement as he stood.

Once he reached the entryway, he opened the door to see his two older brothers, and there excitedly hanging onto Zio Secondo was Terzo’s perfect daughter.

“Tesoro! Complimenti, Mena! You’re a big sister!” Terzo cried out, holding out his arms to his daughter; both just as equally excited to see each other. Mena almost threw herself out of Secondo’s hold as she eagerly stretched out her arms to her father.

Secondo handed his niece off into her father’s embrace, “We heard congratulations are in order, eh?”

“She did it again, Alé was an absolute macchina. A whole even 8lbs and a whopping 20.6 inches. Maybe the generational stature curse will skip him!” Terzo teased as he shook his ‘older’ brother's hands while balancing Mena on his hip.

Secondo peered past the dim glow of the room, studying his brother’s face. He looked down on him, momentarily lowering his sunglasses, “Perché stai piangendo?” 

Terzo waved him off as he continued to rock his daughter before changing the subject, “I assume you’ve heard where he made his entry?”

“We are aware. Sister Imperator is already there assessing the damage. She’s furious, Terzo. If only you could hear the screeches coming out of her mouth. She’s already roped in as many of the nosy ghouls and siblings loitering around to help facilitate clean-up,” Secondo chuckled, already so proud of his nephew and his excellent choice in timing; already sticking it to Sister. He carefully extracted a wrapped Cuban cigar from the pocket of his onyx suit and handed it to Terzo, “Congratulazioni, fratello.”

“Lo apprezzo molto. Grazie, fratello,” Terzo replied, touched by the gesture before tucking it safely into his breast pocket. Secondo gave him a brotherly pat on the shoulder as he stepped aside for Primo.

“We didn’t want to intrude, but our nipote had been asking nonstop about you two; she is aware her brother has arrived. She’s been insistent on finding her Mama and Papa,” Primo explained from the doorway.

“Thank you for babysitting her, ti devo,” the new father expressed his gratitude as Primo enveloped both him and his daughter into a bear hug. The lingering smell of warm sun beamed off Primo’s button-up shirt, he must have been out gardening when he heard the news. The familiar, comforting aroma lifting a weight off his soul. 

“Non c'è di che,” Primo replied softly as he stepped back from the embrace, “Well, we’ve done our parts. We will let you four have your family time, please let us know if you need anything else. We’re here for you.”

“Nonsense!” Terzo insisted, “You are family, too. Let me check with the mama.”

“Only if it’s not intruding,” Secondo reminded him, before shuffling his hands together, “But… we are excited to meet our nephew.”

“You should be, he’s a looker. He’s going to be something special, just like his big sister,” Terzo beamed at his daughter, receiving a shy giggle in return. He held up a finger as he and Mena headed behind the privacy curtain to see Alé and Dante,  “Aspetta un po’!”

“Mama!” Mena squealed as soon as she laid eyes on her mother in the bed; noting something bundled and stirring in her arms. She began to try and wiggle herself free from Terzo’s hold to run to Alé’s bedside. Terzo clung onto the toddler and fought her tiny iron fists squeezing out of his arms. They had wanted the meeting of the siblings to be a little more controlled and calm. Terzo was insistent on this. From all the books he had devoured over the past nine months, trying to fully prepare himself this time around, he had some idea what he was doing; surprising even himself.

“Oh, my Mena!” Alé’s eyes began to mist up at the sight of her first born, remembering bringing Mena home for the first time years before, “I’m so happy to see you, I’ve missed you, baby.”

“Missed you, too, Mama,” Mena dittoed. She whined against her father, trying to bend herself backwards out of his arms.

“Mena, aspetta, per favore,” Terzo struggled out, beginning to lose hold over his incredibly strong child, “Alé, amore, are you willing to see ai ragazzi? You don’t have to if you’re not up to it.”

“Of course!” Alessandra warmly welcomed the visitation as she sat herself up and pulled her robe back over her chest and shoulders, regaining a little modesty before receiving her brothers-in-law.

Terzo winked at her as he obviously captured one more mental image of her exposed breasts. Alessandra scoffed in disgust at her partner and rolled her eyes, patting down her hair as he turned away to gather their guests.

“Alright, gentlemen,” Terzo excitedly began, waving them into the nurse’s room, “Let’s go say hello!”

The group headed past the curtain to be met with the glowing vision of Prime Mover Alessandra and her newborn son. The exhaustion was still evident on her beautiful face as she happily greeted her guests. She shifted Dante in her arms to allow the older Emerituses a quick peek. Primo and Secondo cooed afar at the newborn as they seated themselves in the other pair of fold out chairs; letting Mena and her new brother have their moment.

Terzo mentally prepared himself, asking his daughter, “Tesoro, are you ready to meet your fratellino?”

“Yes!” Mena whispered excitedly, desperate to get into her mother’s arms.

Terzo and Mena approached Alé and Dante in the bed as Mena began to take in the view of her new sibling. 

“Hi, baby,” Alessandra cooed to her first born. Terzo leaned in to allow Mena to give her a kiss. Alessandra couldn’t believe it seeing her children before her; they had two kids now. Two. She couldn’t comprehend how she had agreed to this again. But she took faith in her husband’s reaffirming words: they’d figure it out and they’d be fine, “Mena, this is your brother, this is Dante.”

The four sat in a brief silence allowing Mena to adjust and take everything in. Terzo hugged Mena a little tighter, drawing her attention to her father, "What do you think, tesoro?”

“He’s hairy,” Mena stared at the newborn intently, taking in all his features.

“He… he is a little hairy… isn’t he?” Terzo hesitantly agreed with his oldest, the books did not prepare him for this scenario, “You too had a lot of hair when you were born, stellina.”

“I remember,” Mena nodded stoically. Terzo and Alé glanced at each other and shared a skeptical, but confused look.

“Eh, right,” Terzo broke the silence, “Do you want to say hello to him, Mena?”

“Ok,” the eldest Emeritus heir nodded slowly; still a little skeptical of the new human nestled in her mother’s arms.

Terzo lowered their daughter onto the bed next to Alé and Dante. Terzo fluffed up a pillow behind her to give her a little extra support. Mena burrowed against her mother, clinging to her arm, but still kept a curious eye on her newborn brother.

“He isn’t scary, I promise,” Alé empathetically whispered to her daughter, “You can get closer to look at him.”

Mena sat up, her small hands still firmly planted on her mother’s arm for security. She peered down at Dante’s face. Alé shifted her arms to move Dante closer to his sibling, he lightly stirred before silently yawning; his eyes still adjusting to his new environment.

“Hi, Dante,” Mena tilted her head, giving her new sibling an unsure, but welcoming smile. Mena cautiously reached a hand out to touch the blanket he was wrapped up in, seeming to relax a little more against her mom. Her little brother tried to focus on her face as she looked down on him. She squinted, inspecting the newborn before whispering for just Alé to hear, “He has my eyes.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Ale laughed quietly at the innocent revelation, stroking her daughter’s curls, “Don’t you think he looks like Daddy?”

Mena glanced back to observe her father before turning back to her brother, shrugging, “I guess.”

“What do you think, my love? How does it feel to have a little brother so far?” Alé smiled, pressing her lips to her daughter’s crown.

" He's okay…” Mena agreed, taking in her sibling's features before nodding assuredly to herself, "He's gonna be trouble.”

The room erupted in laughter at her statement. Primo gave Terzo a stern, knowing nod, remembering just how much trouble Terzo truly was as a child.

"I'm glad he gets your seal of approval!” Terzo teased smirking at his daughter. Relieved the meeting of the two seemed to be going well.

“Do you want to hold him, Mena?" Alessandra offered.

Mena nodded softly as her mother carefully placed Dante into her tiny, outstretched arms. Terzo's hands waiting on the side of the bed to catch him if Mena lost interest; as he had witnessed her doing with her baby dolls before dropping them to the floor.

“See?" Alessandra began, beaming down at the two humans she created, “Holding a baby isn't that scary, Terzo." 

“I don't need your merde," Terzo jokingly muttered in a hushed tone, glowering at her while trying to mask his amusement at her taunts.

“I'm only teasing, my love," Alé winked, wrapping her arm around their daughter and resting her cheek on her head, “Mena, tell your Papa it isn't scary to hold him." 

“You held me, why don’t you hold Dante?” Mena innocently asked, not taking her eyes away from Dante’s face. She seemed to be entranced by the baby as she gently held onto his small hand; taking in all of his features and the strange noises he made.

"That's not fair," Terzo chided Alé for using his daughter against him, clenching his jaw through a tense smile. She flashed a wicked smile at him and a wink.

"You haven't held your own son, yet?” Secondo piped up, joining in on the gentle hen-pecking of his younger brother, "Why won't you hold the baby, Terzo? You are scared, aren't you? Might drop him, mani di ricotta?”

"Stai zitto, testa di minchia,” Terzo seethed at his brother, glaring daggers. Primo gently nudged the middle Emeritus brother, breaking up their spat. Primo could read Terzo like a book and this wasn't the right time; his little brother was more tense than usual.

Primo rose from the seating in the infirmary room and made his way silently to his family. He rested a hand on Terzo's shoulder as he peered at the newest arrival.

“You’re doing so well, tesoro,” Primo complimented Mena, “You’re already such a good big sister.”

“Grazie,” Mena grinned up at her beloved uncle before returning to coo at her little brother.

"He truly is the spitting image of you, Terzo. At least from the few pictures your mama had of you when you arrived here,” Primo recollected, softly smiling as he basked in the glow radiating from the family snuggled on the bed.

“Bah, how would you remember that?” Terzo scoffed at his brother, wrapping his arm around him, patting his back. Primo leaned into the sideways hug, returning the embrace.

"You really would be surprised by all that I remember,” he smiled at his younger brother, tapping at his temple. He leaned close and spoke in a hushed, reassuring tone, "Sei dieci volte più padre per loro di quanto lo sia mai stato per noi. Non avere preoccupazioni." 

Terzo’s eyes widened as his hand clasped over his heart, “Cazzo stregone. Esci dalla mio mente.”

Primo chuckled as he gave his brother another pat on the back, "I know you fairly well, stronzo. Now get that garbage off your mind and celebrate the arrival of your son.”

“Ave Satanas. Grazie, fratello," Terzo shook his head in disbelief. 

“Sí, sí. Go tend to your tua moglie," Primo gestured forward.

Terzo gave his brother's arm a thankful squeeze as he turned his attention back to Alé and their kids. He lowered back down onto the chair, eye-height with Mena, “Tutto bene?”

“Sí!" Mena asserted, “He's very interesting." 

Terzo nodded, pretending to understand, “You're telling me he's not too bad to hold, eh?" 

Mena nodded vigorously as if she were an expert now, “Oh yes, he's a good baby." 

“Alright, Terzo broke the brief silence, clearing his throat. He held his arms out towards his son, “I’m ready for a turn then.”

Notes:

Paziente -- Patience Stronzetto -- Little asshole Complimenti/Congratulazioni -- Congratulations Macchina -- Machine Perché stai piangendo? -- Why were you weeping? Lo apprezzo molto -- I appreciate it Nipote - neice Ti devo -- I owe you Non c'è di che -- Don’t mention it Aspetta un po’ -- Wait a second Ai ragazzi -- the boys Stellina -- little star Mani di ricotta -- butterfingers Testa di minchia -- dickhead Sei dieci volte più padre per loro di quanto lo sia mai stato per noi. Non avere preoccupazioni.-- You are ten times more of a father to them than he ever was to us. Don't have worries. Cazzo stregone. Esci dalla mio mente. -- Fucking witch. Get out of my head. Tua moglie -- Your wife Tutto bene? - All good?

[copiousloverofcopia]

Here is a new fic commission just in time for Christmas with a few more to come!!!!

Starting things off with some Terzo and Alessandra from my fic Tied as One Eternally for the lovely @captaingrebelguf!!!

Merry Christmas my love and I hope you all enjoy!

Commissions are OPEN, please see pinned post for Carrd info!

That Night Under the Mistletoe

During the Annual Yule Ball, Cardinal Terzo Emeritus spends the night listless until he sees Alessandra, one of the new Sisters of Sin.

If you have not read the fic this is a sequel for, please start there from the link above. Also available HERE on AO3!

Read more below the cut!

It was a long time ago now. A time when the champagne bubbles danced within glasses and the joyous music hummed blissfully in the air. The winter solstice celebrations were nearing their end and it was the Ministry's annual Yule Ball. Each of the siblings and ghouls, merry and gluttonous, as Lucifer intended. All the while truly appreciating the abundance that his dark grace had bestowed upon them during the year. 

Cardinal Terzo sat at the front table of the Hall. Positioned alongside his most trusted ghoul, Omega, and trying desperately to drown out the sound of Secondo gloating. His brother, insistent on droning on and on that he soon would become Papa. Terzo did his best to ignore him, mindlessly tracing his fingers along the edge of his glass and letting out a sigh. Wondering to himself if he was to be Omega again or if he would spend the evening alone.

He found himself scanning the room. Unable to appreciate the bright lights and happy faces. The beautiful decorations and whimsical party before him. Feeling empty as the night carried on. Just as he resolved himself to an early turn in, he saw her. The mysterious and willful Alessandra. A newer Sister of Sin from the most recent group of novitiates. She was surrounded by the rest of the crowd, yet somehow seemed as if she were by herself. The rest of them, only a blur with her silhouette against the bright lights—calling to him.  

She was breathtaking in a short, golden liquid knit dress. Dripping in sparkle and cinched at her waist. Her long dark curls, bouncing with each step and every curve on display. Smiling brightly as she worked the room with ease. The Cardinal was instantly smitten.

“Something on your mind.” Omega asked, nudging Terzo out of his thoughts. Noticing that he was obviously distracted. 

“Just admiring the view.” he mused, Omega following his line of sight to the sister. Rolling his eyes and twitching his tail in response. Terzo was intrigued by her, adjusting himself in his seat as he was visibly happy to see her. 

“If you’re so interested”, the ghoul jabbed, taking note of the visible swelling in Terzo’s pants, “why don't you go talk to her?” 

“You know what? That sounds like a great idea.” Terzo smirked, rising from his chair and practically hopping over the table to go greet her. Primo watched, glancing over to Omega and shaking his head. Secondo, only now stopping his monologue as Terzo took off across the room. 

“Where’s he off to?” he asked, having been completely aloof. Primo placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. Giving him a look that implied they both knew where he was going and why. 

“He’s trying to find himself a good time...but I have a feeling it’s not going to go well.” Primo sighed, Secondo nodding and returning to his rambling. 

By the time he reached her, she was by the entryway doors. Ready to leave for the night and return to the solitude of her room. Just as Alé set foot on the threshold, Terzo brought himself between her and the exit. His abruptness was jarring, catching her off guard.

“Oh…I’m sorry Cardinal.” she responded, minding her manners. Knowing all too well that his intrusion in her space was anything accidental. Still, she would be expected to show respect with him as a member of the high clergy.

“No…no sorella. I apologize for startling you. You see I had noticed you from across the room and well I couldn’t help but come over to say hello.” he responded. The famous Emeritus charm oozing from every pore. His smile, mischievous like the Cheshire cat’s grin. Alessandra immediately recognized he was up to no good, but it didn’t help that he was also so incredibly handsome.  

She had been made well aware of him. The Cardinal’s reputation was one of legend within not only the Abbey but the whole of the Ministry. A man whose ability to charm someone out of their pants, was matched only by his proclivity to hop from one person to the next. Seemingly allergic to commitment, but somehow so convincing that he had been able to have his pick of anyone, siblings of sin and ghouls alike. 

Terzo, known for having a string of broken hearts in his wake. It was for that very reason Alessandra had been actively avoiding him. Unsure if her resolve would be enough to prevent her from suffering the same fate. Despite that, now they were face to face and there was nowhere to escape. His mismatched eyes, captivating as they stared deeply into hers. 

“Well now that you have, I’m sorry but I think I should go. I think I may have had a bit too much champagne.” she laughed nervously, hoping that her excuse would be enough for him to let it go. It was true, he was hard to resist even for someone as levelheaded and firm as her. Terzo smiled, closing the space between them. Coming closer and closer, forcing Alessandra to back up against the door frame. Trying her best to avoid the press of his body against her. 

“No need to be shy, sorella.” he said, glancing upward and noting the fortuitous placement of mistletoe. Alessandra looked up, her heart beating fast within her chest as she too caught sight of it. “Would you do your Cardinal the honor of a small kiss…we are under the mistletoe after all.” he reasoned.

His eyes had turned soft, unlike the lecherous gaze she had expected of him. What a clever disguise , Alé thought to herself. He was a notorious playboy, and she knew no matter how innocent and sweet those eyes looked now, succumbing to them meant she’d end up a notch on his belt and a story shared with the ghouls. But they were oh so enticing, Alé forced herself to divert her eyes, only worsening the situation when she found herself staring down at his pouty lips. Despite her better judgment, she began to cave. Closing her eyes before him. 

“Just this once.” she whispered, waiting for the press of his lips against hers. Terzo quickly grabbed hold of her hips and tried to kiss her. Unable to hold himself back from his passionate and lustful desires. His hands filled with the curves of Alessandra’s rear end just before a swift smack to the face. 

“You bastard!” she barked, eyes wide open and jaw clenched in anger. How dare he try to man handle me like that , she thought to herself. Steaming hot inside as Terzo’s arrogance once again had gotten the better of him.

“Aww come on sorella, don’t be like that.” he whined. Watching Alessandra’s face flush red. Doing everything in her power to restrain herself from slapping him again.  

“Get bent, you letch.” she snapped, shoving past him and heading down the main hall, towards the siblings’ wing. Terzo stood in the doorway. His hand held gently against the tender flesh of his cheek. The sting of Alé’s touch, still burning there.  

“Struck out?” laughed Omega as he approached. Relishing the humor of such a rare sight to see. 

“Seems that way, but you never know.” he winked as the two of them watched Alessandra disappear up the stairs. 

------------------Many years later…-------------------------------

The lights were tickling quietly on the Yule tree. Terzo, mesmerized by them as the memory of that night lingered on his thoughts. Though it had been many years, there were times when it felt like just yesterday—just the two of them beneath the mistletoe. Things have changed so much since then.

This year they had declined attending the Yule party. Choosing instead to enjoy the soft echoes of celebrations in the distance as their little family got nestled in for the night. It was hours ago when their oldest children, Mena and Dante had fallen asleep. Snuggled up against their father after a long day of wreaking havoc, as small children often do. Terzo and Alessandra’s newborn daughter, Luciana, too was slumbering away peacefully in her mother’s arms. 

Alessandra inhaled deeply. Enjoying the quiet moment shared between them, and the scent of pine that filled the air, when she noticed Terzo smiling beside her. Watching the lights on the tree. “What are you thinking about?” she asked him, resting her head on his shoulder while they listened to the cracking of the warm fire beside them in the Papal suite. 

“I was remembering that first Yule after you arrived.”

“Oh?” Alé laughed, remembering all too well how things had played out that night. “Yeah…that seems like a dream now, doesn't it?” she asked him. Both of them, watching little Luci wiggling around in her swaddle.  

“What we have now, is the dream.” he smirked, Alessandra perking up an eyebrow at him.

“You were something else then and you’re something else now.” she chuckled to herself, completely amused by his cheesy and yet still very romantic charm. Even after all this time. 

“Who knows what could have been had you only kissed me then, that night under the mistletoe.” 

“Hmm…” Alé hummed before kissing her husband. Both of them, careful not to wake the kids, “Guess we’ll never know.”

[captaingrebelguf]

Yule Tidings

Okey dokey, well I found myself with some time on my hands this weekend unexpectedly. So what else does a few glasses of wine lead to? 🍷

It leads to me slamming out a Christmas story for my ghestie, @copiousloverofcopia. Because she's a delight and she makes my life better. ❤️

🎄 Merry Ghristmas, girlfriend.🎄

------------------------------------------

Sister Alessandra and her and Terzo's brood borrowed from Prime Mover Ren and her series, Tied as One Eternally. Please read it. Multiple times. Or read ANYTHING she makes. It'll warm your dark lil soul. 💜

------------------------------------------

So. A few weeks back, the night before Luciana was born…

...

Terzo’s hands hovered protectively around over his daughter’s as she used a wooden match to light the long, pale candles driven into the oak log. 

“Ben fatto, mia figlia. Brava!” Terzo smiled, blowing out the match before kissing Mena’s cheek. 

The family’s yule log was now lit and seated in front of a frosted window. The glow of the festive stump and their newly-decorated Yule tree illuminated the Papal suite. 

Terzo promised to give his wife a day to herself and he had made good on his word. He woke, fed, and dressed the two kids and whisked them outside on an adventure with Zio ‘Peemo’. They had scavenged the forest to gather foragable materials to decorate an altar. Alessandra tiredly beamed at her family from the couch. Her “quiet” day had consisted of a nap, an overdue date with a few hours of Hulu, and indulging in the many holiday treats Primo was handing off to his dear, exhausted cognata daily. Frank Sinatra droned on in the background. The fireplace crackled and a simmer pot courtesy of Primo was bubbling on the stove; the smell of clove and bergamot wafted through the flat. A plate of frosted cookies remained half eaten on the coffee table. 

Primo suggested frosting cookies as a way to entertain the children to give Alé some much-needed alone time. Copia tagged along once he had gotten wind of cookies being mentioned. He and Terzo had been more than happy to help frost their own versions of cookies. Primo helped his brother’s children decorate trees adorned with pentagrams and demon-esque snowmen. Alessandra was less than amused to find the cookies her husband made specifically for her were just well-endowed gingerbread people with very poorly done corpse paint to resemble his own.

Mena jumped up onto the couch and threw her arms around her mom’s neck. Dante yawned as he snuggled closer to his mother; the excitement of the day beginning to wear on the interim youngest Emeritus. Mena sunk down to be at eye level with Alé’s bump.

“Okay, Luci, we have everything decorated for you. So we’re ready for you now!” Mena pleaded with her unborn sibling.

“Sadly, it doesn’t quite work that way,” Alessandra lamented giving her stomach a gentle rub, pulling her oldest daughter in for a hug.

“Well, she’ll be here sooner or later,” Terzo chimed in, pouring himself a refill of the leftover vin brulé he had pilfered from Primo’s quarters. Terzo sipped on his drink before turning back to his family, “Or else she’s going to share a birthday with a certain leper-groping, carpenter hippie.”

“Uh, we’re getting into overtime as it is here,” Alessandra interrupted, “She better be out well before the 25th…”

“I mean, Alé, unless you could try to keep her in until the, eh, 25th? We could use her as an anti-Christ figure against the Church!” Terzo rambled on. Alé shook her head, refusing to participate in her husband’s chaos.

“Luci is not going to be the anti-Christ,” Mena stated matter of factly. Alé’s eyebrows shot up as she turned to look at their oldest.

Terzo paused and raised his eyebrow at his daughter. He hesitated, but he had to know, “What makes you say that, topolina?”

Mena coyly smiled at her father and buried her face into his mother’s side, becoming bashful all of a sudden. Terzo’s expression pulled into a frown as he shook his head at his daughter, muttering to himself, “Stregallina pazza..”

“It’s getting pretty late, little ones,” Alé pointed out, kissing the top of her daughter’s head, motioning to the clock above the fireplace. Alé leaned back and peered over to Dante. The young boy had been watching the candle flames bounce from the adorned yule log, but as soon as he caught his mother’s gaze, he clamped his eyelids shut. Alessandra chuckled and gave him a gentle shake, “Dante, are you already asleep?”

“Yes,” Dante insisted, without opening his eyes as he fought off a smile. He rolled away from his mother as she began to tousle his hair up; he buried his face into the couch cushions. 

Terzo smirked as he snatched the pillow up from under his son’s head and gently bopped him in the back with the decorative cushion, “You sleep talk now, too, eh? Piccolo bugiardo.”

Dante giggled as he attempted to protect himself from the leisurely blows Terzo continued to pelt him with as he sipped away at his drink. Terzo finished his drink and set the glass back down on the table as he took the pillow and lovingly squished it against Dante’s face one more time. He clicked his tongue at his offspring, motioning between them both, “You heard your mama. Bed time.”

“I’m not tired,” Mena replied, suppressing a yawn. Dante had quieted down again, breathing softly, still buried beneath the throw pillow.

“Yes, I know. It’s amazing how you’re never tired,” Terzo admitted defeatedly as he shifted his weight to his hip, placing his hands on his waist. He furrowed his brow as he looked at Mena; his daughter maintained unbreaking, pleading eye contact. Terzo couldn’t help but cave. If anyone else said it, he’d beat their ass; but he was without question, a complete pushover for his precious daughter. 

“Ay, fine, why not go find the new book Zio Copia got for you and show your fratellino before bed?” Terzo suggested. He heard his wife cough and pat at her throat.

“ahHEM--weak--hhem.”

Terzo snapped his attention to glare daggers at his wife. Alé chewed on her lips to keep from laughing-- hoping to not pee herself. Before he could start his thought, his daughter’s cries interrupted him. 

“Yes!” Mena screeched enthusiastically as she leapt up from the couch, jostling Dante awake again, “And then after we read the book maybe we can get a rat for Yule, Papa??”

“No rats!” Terzo exclaimed, wide-eyed, putting his hands up to silence his daughter as she began to ramble to her father at a mile a minute. Damn his fratellino; filling his children’s minds with ratto thoughts.

“Papa!” Mena pleaded, her expression mimicking her father’s pout. Terzo felt his eyelid twitch.

“No. Rats.” Terzo insisted as he pointed towards Mena’s bedroom, “Sbrigati.”

Mena let out a heavy sigh as she marched towards her room, Dante quietly slid off the couch and bobbled after his sister. The two shuffled to the older one’s room where they could talk about maybe having Zio talk to their papa about a new pet.

“Why are you so opposed to this? Didn’t you boys have pets growing up?” Alessandra pried as she dropped her hands behind her in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure from her back. The ache today was no joke and she couldn’t wait to be done with this whole pregnancy.

Terzo huffed as he sunk down into the couch next to his partner, “Well yes, occasionally, the ones we’d find outside… the snakes.. The lizard.. The frogs.. but Primo always made us return them. But I also didn’t find myself with a wife and three children back then. Back then I had time for additional commitments! I refuse to take care of anything else at this time. Do you want to do it? Manage all of us plus a furry stronzo?!”

Alessandra smirked, choosing not to answer her husband. She adjusted herself to rest her head against his chest; Terzo gathered her legs and dropped them over his lap so he could massage her swollen calves. Alessandra moaned a little louder than she had planned as her head lolled back against the couch’s armrest.

“Prometto, when they’re out of my home, they can have as many disease-ridden burdens as they can handle,” Terzo clucked his tongue as he mimed circles around his head, “I have enough disease-ridden, snot burdens as it is.”

She frowned as she held out the back of her palm in an attempt to touch his forehead. Terzo awkwardly strained over for his wife to feel his skin. Most things ended up being a group effort for the past few weeks, “You do feel warm. Maybe you have thee crud.”

“Are you surprised? Alé, I feel like it's every other two weeks one of us is sick because of the two mostriciattoli,” Terzo stared incredulously at his wife as he continued .

Alé rolled her eyes as she let herself sink further into the couch. She winced as she felt the dull cramping in her back again. 

“Are you alright, amore?” Terzo questioned. Alessandra let out a sharp breath, holding her side.

“She’s definitely down in the right spot, that’s for sure,” Alé wrinkled her nose, clenching her jaw. Terzo’s mouth formed a tight line as he reached a hand over to place against her firm stomach.  He paused for a moment, considering his words before continuing.

“Well after the week you’ve had on your hands and knees begging for my cock, I had hoped that would help get something moving,” his concerned expression turning into a mischievous grin, gently patting her belly.

“Get your hands off me,” Alessandra hissed at him, batting his hands away from her. She attempted to pull her legs away, but Terzo held on, keeping her in place.

“I can bring a lot to the table, dolce,” Terzo purred, capturing her hand. He gently lifted her fingers and brought them to his lips; placing a chaste kiss. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, eliciting a giggle in response.

“Yes, Terzo, believe me, I’m very aware. Sometimes too much,” she laughed motioning with her free hand to her stomach. He smirked before leaning forward to kiss her belly. Alé cupped his cheek and gave him a content smile. Terzo softened his gaze as he locked eyes with her. Alé’s breath hitched as she suddenly felt her husband crush his lips against hers. Alé let out a soft moan as she felt her husband’s hands wriggle down the front of her robe and cup at her enlarged breast. Terzo continued to nip and bite at her neck as he rolled her nipple between his fingers. Alé wanted this so badly, but the kids were too close and knew a book wouldn’t keep them busy long enough.

“Hey!” Alé interjected against her husband’s fervent kisses, she gently placed her palm against his chest to snap him out of this state, “Hey, keep it in your pants, Papa! This one would be hard to play off in front of them.”

Terzo blinked back, trying to change gears wasn’t so easy when his Prime Mover looked like this. He felt slightly light-headed as he sat back against the couch with his cock straining against the confines of his slacks. He willed the blood to continue to circulate to other parts of his body. 

“Mi dispiace…” he cleared his throat and let out a long, frustrated sigh, “Alé, when you are like this, something takes over my mind, and I can’t think straight around you.”

“Well, I am flattered, but I’m also exhausted and like you said, you already had a good run this week.”

Terzo sighed, trying to focus on anything other than her breasts, his eyes flitted to the side table momentarily before changing his tone, “You know… I was only trying to add on a second early yule gift for my bellissima Prime Mover.”

Alé glowered at him. The emotional whiplash this man gave her sometimes made her question if it was worth it, “Second gift what!? Terzo, we said no gifts for each other this year. PERIOD.”

“It’s not a gift, per se!” Terzo argued, backsliding. 

“Listen to me, I have very little patience right now for you. You bring me cookies with massive, very graphic dicks on them. You massage my legs to just cop a feel--”

“I most certai--”

“Ah!” Alessandra cut him off and continued, “You beat our son!”

Terzo broke out into a shit-eating grin and laughed boisterously, “Please, like you wouldn’t smack the shit out of that little cattivello with a pillow if you had the chance!”

Alé’s serious face broke and she giggled, giving her husband a gentle shove, “You know what Primo told me? Dante pulls the same shit you and Secondo put that poor man through! So this IS actually all your fault that he’s like this. This is just generational karma!”

“That chiacchierone is nothing but a gossip! Stop talking about me behind my back with my fratello!” Terzo scoffed, waving his wife off, still chuckling to himself.

“You know I only agreed to marry you because it would get me closer to Primo,” Alé teased, scratching her nails down Terzo’s arm, Terzo rolling his eyes at her comment. The two lovers sat in comfortable silence taking in the disarray of their festively decorated home. This many years later, neither of them could still fathom this is where their path would take them.

“Eh, so, I did get you… a something,” Terzo finally admitted, fiddling around with his golden wedding ring, avoiding his wife’s accusatory gaze. Alé softly, but deliberately, punched him square in the shoulder.

“God. Damn. You,” Alessandra’s stare could have turned her husband into a Medusa-esque statue, “And I mean that, Terzo! We said no gifts! You make me look bad because I am capable of following rules!”

Terzo winked at her, rubbing his shoulder, as he leaned back behind the couch, snagging a small black box from the side table she hadn’t noticed before. He held the gift out to her; it was adorned with a dried orange and a cinnamon stick

“You bastard,” she grumbled, crossing her arms. Terzo placed the small box on top of her stomach. Alessandra huffed, jiggling the box.

“Consider our daughter in there your gift to me,” Terzo added, giving her leg a gentle squeeze.

“Oh you’re damn right she is!” Alé interjected as she felt their unborn child wedge her foot into her ribcage. The more she thought about it, the less bad she felt. Terzo wasn’t the one who was going to have to push another one of his big-headed children out from his crotch in the upcoming days. This was the least he could do for her. She lifted the giftbox and removed the ribbon fastening on the lid. Alessandra lifted the lid to reveal a delicate, gold, three moon pendant with a sizeable amethyst affixed to it. Her jaw dropped as she gaped at the necklace.

“Jesus Christ.”

“He had nothing to do with this one either, my love,” Terzo chuckled. He brushed a strand of Alé’s beautiful hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. Alessandra stared at the jewelry, feeling every emotion all at once. Terzo continued, “I felt this was only fitting. Something nice for the woman who is graciously making me a father for the third time. Grazie, mia dea oscura. Grazie di tutto.”

“Oh Terzo,” Alé sniffed, “This is too much…”

“It is just barely the start, amore,” Terzo hummed, “After all you’ve done for me; with me. You deserve the world, vita mia. Thank you doesn’t seem to cut it.”

Alessandra chuckled as she handed her husband the jewelry to safely place on the table next to his crude gingerbread persons, “Alright, help me up. I’m going to start a bath, you get the kids into bed, then meet me back at the tub. I think you’ve earned one more round to really get something moving here.”

Terzo stared wide-eyed at his wife, in complete disbelief his plan had worked, “Ave Satanas.”

“Come on, cowboy,” Alé rubbed her hand against the length of his hardening cock, she leaned over to him as she pointed a stern finger in his face, as she mocked, “Sbrigati, eh?”

Terzo sucked his teeth, ignoring the piss poor imitation of himself his wife had just pulled on him, as he quickly sprung to his feet to assist Alé. As he helped her up, he pulled her straight into his embrace. He began planting small kisses over her face and neck, “Grazie mille. You will not regret this, Sorella!”

“Last chance, though, mister,” Alé warned him as she pulled away from his arms. Terzo hurriedly began snuffing out candles and grabbing dishes to leave in the kitchenette for later. She winked at him as she waddled down to their bathroom to go make good on her proposition. 

Translations: 

Ben fatto, mia figlia -- Well done, my girl

Stregallina pazza -- Crazy little witch

Piccolo bugiardo -- Little liar

Sbrigati -- Hurry up

Mostriciattoli -- Little monsters

Cattivello -- trouble-maker

Chiacchierone -- Chatterbox

Grazie, mia dea oscura -- Thank you, my dark goddess

Grazie di tutto -- Thank you for everything

[captaingrebelguf]

Nightmares

Alrighty. Finally had some time to myself today and felt a little creative. So, I decided to dabble a little with @copiousloverofcopia 's characters. Again.

Sister Alessandra and her and Terzo's brood borrowed from Prime Mover Ren and her series, Tied as One Eternally. Please read it. Or read literally anything she makes. It's a delight. <3

Enjoy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Papaaaaaa,” a soft voice whispered into the pitch black Papal suite. The moonless night poured into the dark room through the gap of the curtains.

The voice spoke out a little louder, but still in the same hushed tone, “Papaaaaaaaaaa.”

Terzo shot up from his pillows with a start. He jumped again once he saw the outline of a small figure, launching himself back into his sleeping Prime Mover. He gaped at the shadow and clutched his chest, “Cazzo empio!”

“Terzo, what the fuck are you doing!?” Alessandra startled awake, pushing herself up as quickly as she could and flipped on the light on her bedside table. She held a protective hand over her belly as she squinted her eyes to see their young daughter come into view. Mena’s eyes were red-rimmed as she sniffled at the side of her father’s bed. Her dark curls were a mess as always as she looked into her father’s eyes; her lower lip began quivering again as the tears started to descend.

“Satanas!” Terzo exclaimed as he quickly moved to sweep the child into his embrace. He pulled their firstborn into his lap and embraced her tightly, whispering comforting words to her. Mena wrapped her small arms around her father’s torso as she continued to bawl. Terzo felt his heart breaking as he felt her warm tears against his chest. 

After a few moments, Mena began to quiet down, her sobs turning into small hiccups. Alé rubbed their daughter’s back as she continued to cling to her father. Terzo proceeded to take deep, calming breaths to try and have his daughter mimic the action.

“Filomena, cosa c'è che non va?” Terzo murmured against his daughter’s hair, he gently rocked her side to side, kissing the crown of her head.

Mena began to open her mouth before letting out another gasping sob as she pressed herself tighter into her father’s arms. 

“What happened, bambina?” Terzo asked again, attempting to pull her off him, craning his neck to look down into her tear-filled eyes. 

“I had a nightmare,” Mena choked out, still weeping into her father’s chest.

“Oh, Mena,” Alé hummed, rubbing circles on her back.

Terzo clicked his tongue and gave Alessandra an empathetic look, he sighed and lifted his daughter’s chin to meet her gaze, “Everything is okay now, piccola. It was only a nightmare and nothing can hurt you now.”

“It wasn’t hurting me!” Mena insisted, looking very seriously into her father’s mismatched eyes.

“What do you mean, bambina?”

“We were down in the yard  and then we found Zio Primo, Zio Secondo, and Zio Copia laying down and they weren’t moving and they all looked hurt. Then it started raining really hard and there was lightning and thunder and we were all running away; you, me, Mama, Dante, and Luci. Then the sky opened up and a monster came down from the clouds with a big sword. It was so dark and we couldn’t see anything anymore and we were so scared, Papa. You got in front of all of us to protect us from the monster and then the monster cut your head off with the knife and you died,” Mena sobbed uncontrollably. 

Terzo stared in absolute horror at his daughter as she continued to weep. He slowly looked over at Alessandra as he mouthed, ‘what the fuck?’ 

Alé pressed her flattened palm to her lips to hide her smirk. She continued to try and soothe their upset child, “Mena, it was a bad dream. All your zios are fine. Your Papa is perfectly fine, he’s right here, see?”

Terzo still had an alarmed look on his face as Alé looked back up to him as she lowered her voice so only Terzo could hear, “And he still has his head. Unfortunately.”

Terzo’s brow furrowed as he stared at her wife with repugnance in his eyes. He pursed his lips as he continued to sway with Mena in his arms, “I’m right here, Mena. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”

“You can’t die,” Mena begged her father.

“I’m not planning on it,” Terzo affirmed, “And even then, many, many, many years from now, when I do die, I’ll come back as a ghost. And then even as a ghost, I’ll never leave you. I will always be with you, Mena. At least I think so.”

Their daughter seemed to accept that answer before burying her face back against Terzo’s frame. Alé stroked Mena’s hair as their oldest child’s eyelids began to droop. Mena let out a few more whimpers before she finally went back to sleep in Terzo’s arms. Terzo looked down at his child, making sure she was asleep. 

“She’s asleep,” Alé confirmed to Terzo. Terzo nodded and took a few moments of silence.

“Alessandra, what the fuck was that?!” Terzo quietly shouted.

“Terz, it was just a dream,” Alé chuckled, rolling her eyes at her husband, “You know she has an overactive imagination. She is your daughter, you know.”

“Who the hell is speaking to my bambinos about chopping off heads!?” Terzo sputtered, “Especially my head!? And then my fratellos? What the hell is that about!?”

“You sure it isn’t just the tasteful wall decor all around the Ministry? The tapestries with people being stabbed? Hearts ripped out? People being eaten? And the blood. So much blood.”

“I mean…”

“Go to put Mena back to bed and then you go back to bed,” Alé mumbled, struggling to roll herself back over to her side with her back facing Terzo.

“Alé, I know it’s late…. but what if Mena has powers…”

“Terzo. No. Go the fuck to sleep,” Alessandra scolded him without turning to face him.

Terzo paused for a second longer staring down at his sleeping child’s sweet face. He could only hope his wife was wrong and their beautiful child wasn’t some harbinger of death. He smiled gently at his daughter and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Even if she was being given visions of a nightmarish apocalypse, he couldn’t help but feel pride that it would happen to his daughter. He shifted Mena over his shoulder and walked her back to her own bedroom, where she would have peaceful dreams the rest of the night.

Translations:

Cazzo empio!-- Unholy fuck!

Cosa c'è che non va?-- What’s wrong?

[copiousloverofcopia]

It's ya girl with another 🍃 thought. As I'm cleaning and blasting music, I can't help but think of Terzo serenading belty 80's ballads to his PM. He's not a bad housewife: he folds laundry, he cleans counters, and puts away dishes; but then grabs the salad tongs and uses them as a microphone to serenade his beloved. Yes, he even does it to his brothers (mostly Secondo, whom he *loves* to torment) if they're nearby.

Thanks for listening. 😘

I love this. Secondo would absolutely hate it lololol.

This kinda shit is why Ale has gotten pregnant so much. How can you resist that sweet, handsome, quirky yet charming shit lol

[copiousloverofcopia]

Prime Mover Ren, I have a desire for more short, one-shots of Terzo as a daddy. 💕

Ask and you shall receive Ghestie (even if it takes me forever to do it cause #primemover) lol

Anyways this little drabble was actually inspired by the Ministry BBQ art by @beepophobia and in honor of Father's Day!

So Happy Father's Day to all the Papas out there and HERE WE GO!

Terzo's Day

Also available HERE on AO3!

SFW below the cut!

The air was thick with sweet smell smoke and delicious shimmering meat. The sounds of laughter and small children playing, surrounded the Abbey grounds. As the afternoon sun shined brightly upon them, Terzo sat on one of the many picnic benches wearing a gray tank top to keep cool as he sucked back on a can of Peroni Nastro Azzurro—quenching his thirst. He was enjoying the day, his family close at hand and a happiness in his soul he could not find the words to describe.

"Fratello the grigliata mista di carne is gonna burn." he jabbed, watching his brother with Mr. Saltarian at the grill. Secondo was sensitive when it came to his cooking skills and Terzo’s playful commentary had definitely struck a nerve. Secondo starred up into his brows. Regaining composure before deciding to respond.  

"Cazzo, you keep your comments to yourself. I can handle the meat." he replied, balancing the cigarillo in his lip. Terzo shot back a wide-spread mischievous grin. Secondo, instantly regretting the way he phrased his words before Terzo blurted out his response. 

"Oh I bet!" Terzo laughed, dodging the ketchup bottle that caming flying across the table at him. Mr. Saltarian shaking his head at the juvenile antics of these supposed, “Heads of the Church”. A little bit of sibling rivalry and some good natured ribbing was par for the course at any Ministry barbeque. Today’s carnivore culinary exploration however was special. A celebration in honor of Father’s day and Terzo was determined to enjoy every minute of it.

The clergy, siblings, and ghouls all had gathered with their families in abundance. The Abbey grounds, almost faire like in its jubilance and brimming activity. It was on days like this when the full community of the Abbey came together in something other than prayers and rituals. Something other than their commits to Lucifer in which to allow themselves a moment of respite.  

Terzo was grateful, acknowledging that he had everything to celebrate. His beautiful Prime Mover Alessandra, was carrying their third child in her womb. Only days away from welcoming another yet Emeritus into his brood. Terzo, fully determined to populate the world with his unholy spawn. 

Two of which, Filomena and Dante, were gleefully running around with the ghoul kits as the grownups were preparing lunch. Terzo and his brothers had all huddled together at the grill. All of them bickering as to the right way to prepare the feast, a pastime that was one of the simplest pleasures.

It wasn’t that long ago that Terzo’s regard for Father’s day was barely a footnote to be mentioned. Every year the same unenthusiastic celebrations as he actively avoided fatherhood. While he and his brother’s were close, Nihil wasn’t exactly the type of father figure to be celebrated and so for all the years leading up to Alé, the day was nothing but monotonous and draining. Terzo, counting down the minutes until he no longer had to pretend to care about Nihil. 

Now this day was for him. He was now a father to be celebrated, a fact sometimes he still had trouble wrapping his head around. Terzo smiled as he watched those around him. Nihil was pouting that Secondo had shoved him off the grill, while Sister Imperator, in her new wide brimmed hat and back dress, consoled him. Secretly giving Secondo a thumbs up as they’d managed to evade Nihil’s poor cooking. 

Terzo caught sight of Copia, his best friend and their new reigning Papa. He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off as he dashed back and forth, grabbing all the things forgotten inside. Copia’s people-pleasing at an all time high during things like this. Terzo couldn't help but smile at him as he passed, buns in head and an anxious look on his face. 

Then Terzo set his sights on Primo. His eldest brother seemed at first to be content. Enjoying the outdoors even more so than normal—if that was physically possible. But underneath Terzo sensed something—a quiet sadness behind that old worn smile. 

Terzo placed his hand over Primo’s, catching his brother’s attention as he scooted up closer to the table, leaning over to speak. “You alright old man?” Terzo asked him. Primo at first said nothing, letting out a sigh as he continued to watch the activity around him. Taking a moment before his eyes met with Terzo’s across the table. 

“I will be…Fratellino…” Primo began, Terzo now concerned. The hint of melancholy in his voice and the painted smile seemed to be holding back something that Terzo had never recalled seeing with Primo before—pain.

“Si? What is wrong?” he asked him. Primo got quiet, clearing his throat and nodding as the siblings and ghouls passed by their table. Terzo knew that he was stepping into unfamiliar territory but he had to know. 

“Just promise me that you will never take what you have for granted.” Primo said quietly, his tone and demeanor betraying him. Allowing Terzo to see that there was more unsaid but that Primo couldn’t muster to speak. 

“Primo?” Terzo proceeded with caution. 

“Promise me that you will always honor Alessandra and love and cherish every child she bears you. That you won’t take for granted the blessings Satanas has given you—or you may end up an old bitter man like me.” Primo said with a smile. Terzo smiled back at him, it was evident then that while Primo had lived a long life, he had missed out on things—things for which he now had regrets. Terzo squeezed his hand tightly, struggling himself to maintain his composure as he spoke again.

“I promise fratello—I promise.” Just then little Mena came dashing up to the table. Her purple sundress, completely soaked and the curls of her dark hair dripping wet. 

“Dad!” she cried, “...Dante won’t stop squirting me with the water guns! I have asked him to stop but he won’t!” Terzo pivoted around on his bench, looking over to see his very guilty looking son staring back at him. Terzo allowed Menta to take his place as he stood. 

“Piccolo uomo, vieni qui dal tuo Papa.” he commanded Dante. His little boy was the spitting image of him, a mess of hair and a charming smile. He approached his father like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs. His hands suspiciously hidden behind his back. 

“Yes Daddy?” Dante asked. His voice, sweet and his face adorned with the softest, round cheeks that Lucifer himself would be unable to resist pinching. Terzo dropped to his knees before him, bringing himself eye level with his son.

“Dante…sii serio piccolo. Have you been spraying your sister with the water again?” he asked him. Dante shook his head no, adamant that he hadn’t done anything wrong. It was then Terzo could see Alessandra coming up from behind them. Holding a pair of soft towels and a look of exhaustion spread across her beautiful face. 

Just as she reached them, Secondo called out that the food was done and the whole of the Abbey came running up from all around them. “Sorry I have been trying to keep up with them but it’s getting a bit hard.” she smiled standing before Terzo. He smiled back up at her, placing his hand on her belly and feeling their child kicking away inside her. 

“I can only imagine amore…but It seems we have a problem.” he said, sending her a wink.

“Oh, is that so?” Alé laughed. Mena stood up beside her father, still dripping as Terzo explained. 

“Si, apparently there is someone who looks exactly like Dante spraying Mena with a water gun.”

“Ah I see, what a weird coincidence. You see I seem to recall letting Dante and Phil’s nits get the water guns out from the green house.” Alé laughed again.

“Indeed.” Terzo replied, listening to Primo holding back his laughter from behind him. “Now Dante…are you sure that it wasn’t you?” 

“Yes.” Dante proclaimed. Alé raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to be honest with his dad as she knew the truth. And even more importantly she could see something Terzo could not. 

“You’re being too hard on the boy.” Primo commented, Terzo turning to face his brother before Dante spoke. 

“Daddy?” 

“Yes Dant—-” Terzo shouted as he was hit full force in the face with a cold stream of water. The likes of which was powered by the pair of water guns that Dante had hidden behind his back. Instantly Primo and Alessandra burst out in laughter. Watching as Terzo panicked a moment before opening his eyes and flipping back his dampened hair from his face. As his vision came into focus, he watched as his mischievous little boy ran off laughing with Mena trailing not far behind him.

Terzo turned back to face Primo, “Still have regrets?” he chuckled, the face paint running down his face. Primo nodded and smiled, Terzo was a lucky man and even though it wasn’t always easy he loved being a father to his children. He loved them more than life itself and that while it wasn’t always perfect it was his. And today was his day.

Notes: grigliata mista di carne -popular Italian barbecue dish of mixed grilled meats Piccolo uomo, vieni qui dal tuo papà- Little man, come here to your Papa. sii serio piccolo- be serious little one

[copiousloverofcopia]

💌💗VALENTINES LETTERS💗💌

More amazing Valentine Letters!

Thank you to everyone who commissioned me for them! Also, I will only be sharing the ones I was given consent for so thank you to those who were ok with the share!

Here is the next one for my wonderful friend @captaingrebelguf featuring her favorite pairing, Terzo and his Prime Mover (my OC) Alessandra!

If you want to read their story there is a whole lot of fics based on them starting with Tied as One Eternally. Other follow ups can be found on my pinned post under Terzo!

(see below for clear letter content)

Amore,

I hope this letter finds you well, and I apologize for not sending it sooner. I know you have spent the day watching over the little ones and are probably exhausted, but I implore you to do me a favor. Ask Primo to watch them for when I get out of the office—I promise you won't regret it. You see, I have been sitting here all afternoon having to listen to Copia drone on and on about some stronzata with the tour all I can think about is you. 

How velvety and slick your folds felt against my tongue as you roll your hips to match with my rhythm. Fuck—I can taste you even now. Dripping as I come up to suck on your clit. Your body, quickly succumbing and drenching me. Only too happy to be devouring you so intensely that I cover your shaking thighs in my paints. 

Oh dolce Lucifero all'Inferno, how badly I wish right now that I was pounding away inside that beautiful pussy of yours. Fucking you so hard from behind that you bruise. Screaming and moaning in delight. Your hair, tangling within my fingers as your ass rebounds over and over again off my lap. Feeling how beautifully you pulse and purr as you start to cum. My name, spilling from your lips as you squeeze my cock so tightly inside you. I won’t be able to help myself you know?

Filling you so full of my seed. Putting it right where it belongs, packed tightly against your womb. Have you dripping with me for days. My scent all over you—letting all the ghouls know just who you belong to. 

Speaking of which, we can invite Omega if you want. I can tell that our new Papa’s anecdotes have damn near put him to sleep too. Maybe we can liven the day up for him as well, si? Anyways amore mio, see you soon. And Alessandra let’s meet in the office, for old times sake. 

Love your Husband,

Papa Emeritus III (Terzo)

Notes: 

Stronzata-Bullshit

Dolce Lucifero all'Inferno- Sweet Lucifer in Hell

Amore mio- my love

[copiousloverofcopia]

Okay. Hi. It's-a me. ✨

I can't get Mena having special powers out of my noggin. (Thanks for that, Ren.)

But now I'm also picturing Terzo's family around their breakfast nook-thing and Mena stops mid-sentence, turns her focus to an empty space in the room, and just starts a new full-on conversation with apparently no one. I think Terzo would be terrified. Proud, but terrified.

#MediumMena

Listen Mena is very special ok 😜

That specialness might make an appearance in the next Terzo x Alessandra fic I write. 💗

[copiousloverofcopia]

*retching noises* any more Terzo and his PM lined up? 🙃

Of course I have some coming up!

There is a Cardinal Terzo request I am working on which will take place BEFORE Alessandra becomes his Prime Mover and gives a little insight to how much Terzo had a thing for her before things turned out the way they did.

Also, they are still awaiting baby number 3! So, we have that fic coming too! 🥰

To everyone else, if you haven't read it yet this comes from Tied as One Eternally

[copiousloverofcopia]

Love your Prime Mover stories. 😍 Which couple is your favorite?❤️

OMG THIS QUESTION....😵😵😵😵 It's so hard to answer!!!

lolol

If I HAVE to chose one, I guess it would have to be Terzo and Alessandra from, Tied As One Eternally.

Thats because their relationship and how they interact in general is very similar to my husband and I lolol 😅

[copiousloverofcopia]

Valentine's Day/Lupercalia letters from Papa!

This one is for @captaingrebelguf and a bit different because this is from Terzo to Alessandra from my original fic, Tied as One Eternally.

Definitely NSFW below the cut

Commissions are still open. Please see pinned post for carrd information!

Alessandra,

I hope this gets to you ok. I sent Mena off with it to give it to you, but you know how distracted she gets. I actually had another version written out already once, but Dante decided that it would look better covered in macaroni. How could I send you this note with macaroni all over it? 

Lucifero, giuro che questi ragazzi mi faranno morire prematuramente. But of course I wouldn't have it any other way and speaking of that, how is my baby? Her and her mother well I hope? I was thinking, I know you have your heart set on Luciana for the name since it was your grandmother’s and you know, you're right that's what we should call her. I can name the next one si?  

I got you a little something for Lupercalia amore, that crimson red mermaid number you were eyeing at the boutique. I know I know you said that you think your belly looks too big. But you couldn't be more wrong. My beautiful, strong, sweet Alé. 

You know I must say again, and I know that you get tired of hearing it, but seeing you walking around with that little bump. The swell of our child growing inside you—cara mia it makes me crazy. And in that dress, the red silk clinging to your body. Lucifer help me, it will take everything I have not to make love to you right there where you stand. 

I would have you in front of this entire congregation. Taste you, fill you, have you carry me inside you if you weren't already. I want tonight to be special, I have gotten Omega to agree to watch the little ones while we enjoy the festivities. No worries we made a deal, I will owe him one. Tonight cara is for just us, oh and well little Luciana. See you at ceremonies.

And please wear the dress, si?     

Your Husband

Notes:

Lucifero, giuro che questi ragazzi mi faranno morire prematuramente- Lucifer, I swear these kids are going to put me in an early grave.

[captaingrebelguf]

Lupercalia

Felt like making a little Lupercalia fluff drabble based on some of PM Ren's recent stories (with the little time I have for anything). Dedicated to: @copiousloverofcopia <3 Thanks for enabling me and letting me fangirl until I want to put myself out of my misery.

Sister Alessandra borrowed from Prime Mover Ren and her series, Tied as One Eternally. Please read. It's a delight.

Any who. Slight NSFW underway.

-----------

“What color did you want, signorino?” Terzo questioned his son without looking up from applying the dark wine polish to Mena’s nails.

“Yellow!” Dante cheered, bouncing on the couch beside his sister. Terzo nodded in agreement, hunched over on the ottoman in the parlor. He was performing last minute manicures before the family made their way to the first night of Lupercalia feasting. 

Mena gave her brother a stern side-glance as she felt herself being shaken by her younger brother’s recoil, her father struggling to keep the paint on her petite nails. Without moving his head, Terzo lifted his eyes to look at his son. Dante’s hazel and white eyes met his father’s gaze as he plopped back down on the couch.

“Grazie,” Mena and Terzo replied in unison. Terzo smirked at his daughter before returning back to the last two nails. Dante let out a long sigh as he dramatically submerged himself back into the couch. At two-years-old, Dante’s overacting could almost match his father’s at this point.

Alé poked her head out of their bedroom,”Terz, you’re watching the time?”

“Sì, cara mia,” Terzo affirmed, looking over Mena’s finished nails, “We’re just doing our finishing touches out here.”

“Great, thank you. Can you give me a zip when you have a second, please?” Alessandra asked as she dipped back into the bedroom to finish getting ready. 

After Terzo finished Dante’s nails, he instructed his two offspring to sit with their hands flat out on the table to dry. He turned the TV on to distract them and to hopefully keep more nail polish off their furniture. Terzo gave his children one more glance over his shoulder before heading into the main bedroom. 

Alessandra gave her husband a small smile in the mirror. She had her back to him, sitting at their shared vanity, zipper still waiting at the ready. Now in her final trimester of pregnancy, she had taken some encouragement from Terzo to not wear her comfort clothes: an oversized hoodie and stretchy pants. Instead they compromised on a dark amethyst Grecian gown; perfectly hugging all her curves. She had pinned her hair to one side, allowing some free tresses to trail over her exposed shoulders. Terzo gave her a mischievous grin as he closed the bedroom door behind him.

“Oh no, absolutely not!” Alé whipped around in the seat with a stern finger out and pointing at him. 

Terzo ignored her as he dropped to his knees and continued the crawl towards his partner. Once he reached her feet, he raked his fingers over her thighs, eliciting a quiet moan from Alé. She let an exasperated sigh out as he wrapped his lips around her pointed finger, gently sucking it. Alé smirked at him as she pulled her finger from his mouth with a pop.

“Amore, we’re doing so well on time. And look: I’m dressed, my face is painted, the children are ready to go…” Terzo moved his hands down to grab at her ample thighs, giving her a suggestive grin, “Shouldn’t we reward good behavior?”

“Yes, we should reward you for not making us late like you do every time,” Alessandra rolled her eyes as he continued to try to massage her ass, “But it’ll have to be afterwards.”

“Cara mia,” Terzo whined, grabbing her wrist and bringing the inside of it to his lips. His eyes full of lust as he gently nipped at her pulse point. “Sai che lo vuoi tanto quanto me…”

“You’re going to ruin your lips. And you’ve got fuzzy shit all over your pants now,” Alessandra sniped, proud of herself for keeping her resolve, despite the heat growing between her legs.

Terzo accepted defeat as he sat back on his heels and dramatically dropped her wrist, “Fine.”

Alé tucked a stray hair behind Terzo’s ear as she leaned forward to kiss his temple, “Now help me into this dress.”

Terzo stood before his wife, adjusting his semi-erect cock, briefly dusting at the debris on his slacks, and held out his hand to help her up. Alessandra graciously took her husband’s hand as she ascended in front of him. He gave her a playful grin as he lifted her hand above her head to twirl her away from him towards the mirror.

“Look at how beautiful you are, cara,” Terzo gushed as he left a trail of kisses along her exposed back and shoulders, making sure to casually graze his erection against her ass. He moved the zipper to close the back of her dress before letting his hands fall to her belly. His lips caressed along her neck, leading to her jawline, “La mia dea empia.”

“Mhmm,” Alé patronized, leaning her head back to rest against her husband’s. The door handle jiggled and they both quickly turned around to face the door.

“I locked it this time,” Terzo muttered.

“Wow, really going for those brownie points today,” Alessandra retorted. Terzo gave her a nonchalant shrug. 

“Papa! Dante smeared his nails and then he tried to fix them!” Filomena yelled from the other side of the door. 

Terzo scrunched his nose up as his eyes drifted to the ceiling. Alé stared dumbfoundedly at her husband as she tore open the bedroom door to go assess the damage their youngest had made.

“Is it bad?” Terzo asked his daughter, gaze still averted to the ceiling. Alessandra in the background trying to keep her calm in the other room; lamenting about the couch, the blankets, the coffee table, the rug, and Dante’s nice clothes.

“It’s bad,” Mena nodded.

“Ah. So much for being on time.”

--------------------------------------------------------

After a brief spot cleaning of the parlor, followed by scrubbing Dante clean and changed, then preceded by a volcanic tantrum when Terzo informed his son they didn’t have time to redo his nails, the family was headed down to join the festivities. Terzo held the morose Dante in his arms with Alessandra and Mena trailing behind them.

“Guarda, Dante, that’s where you were born!” Terzo teased his son in his arms, little Dante’s eyes still red and puffy. He motioned to the area in the hallway where Alessandra had given birth to their son.

“Terzo!” Alé reprimanded her husband, giving him a hasty slap to his rear, “You really don’t need to point that out every damn time we walk down the hall.”

They entered the banquet hall hastily, taking in all the sights and sounds. Terzo locked eyes with his two brothers across the hall as he gave an apologetic grimace. Primo smiled at his younger brother, while Secondo shook his head and turned away to continue his conversation with the sister to his left.

“About time you showed up!” Elizabet teased her best friend, double-fisting two full wine glasses, as she approached the family. She awkwardly curtsied at the former Papa, clearly haven taken full advantage of the open bar situation. Despite Terzo and Alé having been together for over five years, Liz still couldn’t help the innocent crush she held for Papa Emeritus III. Terzo awkwardly gave her a half bow back, holding back a smirk.

“Don’t start, Liz,” Alessandra warned, raising a hand to stop her friend from continuing. Alé’s once pristine dress now had a few smudged blotches of yellow nail polish from wrangling Dante as well as a few slowly drying wet spots from the impromptu scrub session.

“You look like you could use a drink,” Liz replied, holding out one of her full wine glasses to Alé. Alé blankly stared at her friend, trying to let what she had said sink in, Liz still smiling brightly and insisting her to take the glass.

Alé poked at her round stomach, “Maybe no?”

“Oh shit, right!” Liz quickly pulled the wine glass back to her own chest, “I forgot! I’m sorry! Do you want water!?”

“I’m fine for now,” Alessandra shook her head and smirked; her dearest confidant had a heart of gold, but was a little dim at times.

Sister Zoe, one of Liz's assistants hurried over to the group, she grabbed at Liz's arm and gently tugged at her, "Sorry to interrupt, Papa Copia's ghouls just knocked down one of the banquet tables. I could use reinforcements. Aether has started throwing food."

Alé shooed her friend away to go attend to the brewing chaos. She turned back to her family and patted Mena's raven hair, "Satan help her." 

Terzo clicked his tongue in acknowledgement, "Poor girl needs all the help she can get."

Near the bar, some of the other ghouls were circled up watching Mist and Dew race to chug Smirnoff Ices-- no one ever claimed they were a classy bunch. The ghouls clapped and cheered watching the two smaller ghouls race to down the bottles. Omega locked eyes with Terzo, as he leaned back and nudged Alpha in the ribs beside him. Some of the group separated from the bar and dashed to meet their Papa and his family. 

Omega took Mena’s hand and gave her a twirl to show off her dress, “You’re gonna give your Papa a run for his money, little one.”

Terzo furrowed his brow as he handed Dante off to Alpha; Dante immediately trying to reach for the ghoul’s horns. Earth picked at a yellow remnant of dried paint in the boy's hair.

“She’s almost prettier than you, boss,” Alpha grinned underneath his mask as he played keep away from the young boy in his arms.

“Watch it, ghoul,” Terzo muttered, trying to hide his smile. He couldn’t conceal the pride he had for his children.

“Mama, can I go watch Auntie Liz fight  Aeth?" Mena asked, excitedly pulling at her mother's hand. They looked over to the banquet table where Aether stood, two handfuls of cake held proudly above his head as he threatened to decorate Rain, who had stepped in to help clean up. Liz was attempting to grab at his arms as she tried to call Copia over to calm his ghouls. 

Alé chewed at the inside of her cheek,"Alpha, will you go with her? Please don't let her ruin her outfit. Please don’t let them throw anything either…" 

"Roger that, cap," Alpha saluted Alé, "Let's go, kids. Rain needs our help." 

Omega stayed back with the pair as they watched the other ghouls scamper off with the two young Emeritus children. The three sat in a comfortable silence as the music and laughter of the party buzzed around them. Terzo ghosted his fingertips against the ghoul’s thigh, as he stood with his other arm wrapped around his wife’s hips. 

Alé suddenly placed her hand to her stomach. Terzo immediately picked up on it and gave her a skeptical glance, “Please don’t tell me that was a contraction.”

“Your daughter has hiccups,” Alé scoffed. Terzo smirked at her as he placed his palm to the apex of her belly to feel the movement.

“So it could be any day now?” Omega inquired, .

“Hopefully just a few more weeks before we meet our bambino,” Terzo smiled proudly.

“Bambina,” Alé insisted.

“Alessandra, I’m telling you--”

“Boss, it’s a girl,” Omega blurted out. 

Alé’s eyebrows raised as she stared at the ghoul, she quickly turned back to Terzo.

“No,” Terzo gaped as he stared incredulously at the two of them.

“I did tell you she was a girl,” Alessandra grinned at him, nudging him in the ribs, “I gave you enough chances to catch on.”

“You knew!?,” Terzo gawked at his wife as she gave him a coy smile, “How long have you known!?”

“Months now…” Alessandra replied sheepishly, running her nails along Terzo’s forearm, “I couldn't help but ask them..”

Omega avoided Terzo’s gaze, as he now stared daggers at the ghoul. Omega clicked his tongue as he started to motion back towards the bar, “I’m gonna go now. Papa. Prime Mover. Happy Lupercalia.”

Terzo sighed once the ghoul had slunk off. He turned back to his wife and gave her a small pout, “I thought we were going to be surprised this time.”

“Terz,” Alé laughed softly, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her ample breast into him, “We can be surprised next time. I just couldn’t help but ask him.”

“Fine,” Terzo droned off, finding himself unable to maintain eye contact with his partner, being distracted by the sight of her cleavage taunting him.

“I will make it up to you, Papa,” Alessandra purred into his ear.

“Ah?” Terzo hummed, pulling her closer into him. Alessandra felt her cheeks begin to flush as his cock twitched against her. He caressed his hands down her back to grab onto her ass, not caring who might see, “Are you busy, Sorella?”

Alé chewed at her lower lip before giving him a cheshire cat smile, “I could be convinced…”

Terzo gave her rear a pat before collecting her hand and eagerly pulling her back out of the great hall. He gave her a mischievous smile as he led her into one of the storage closets near the party.

“You’re kidding me,” Alé groaned as she was pulled into the ill-lit room. Her husband immediately began grabbing at her breasts, slowly pushing her back against the wall.

“This is just an appetizer, amore,” Terzo begged her, “I have to go show you off a little bit at the festivities and then you’ll get your main course followed by so many desserts later tonight…”

“And how are you not going to ruin your makeup?” she snarked back.

Terzo began pulling his gloves off, grinding his cock against her (the best he could with the swell of their child in the way), dramatically waggling his fingers in her face “I have fingers, sì?”

He gave her a quick peck on the lips as he began gathering up her gown. Alessandra let out a breathy moan as he slipped his fingers past her underwear to meet with her slick folds.

“Just make it quick,” Alé panted, grabbing onto his shoulders for stability as he pushed his fingers into her cunt.

“Faccio quello che mi pare.”

Translations:

Signorino -- young man

Sai che lo vuoi tanto quanto me. -- You know you want this as much as I do.

La mia dea empia -- My unholy goddess

Guarda! -- Look!

Faccio quello che mi pare -- I do what I want.