#just a dude!ghost

[snootlestheangel]

Cheers to the Unknown Pt.3

Monster/cryptid au ft. Just A Dude!Ghost; canon-divergent, alternate universe. More details here (parts are not a coherent story necessarily just scenarios as they come to me !subject to change!;all tagged under "cheers to the unknown") TW: some body horror (ie eating things you should NOT eat); language

More of Ghost interacting with Lightning Nymph!Soap for the first time

The first time Ghost ever felt any fear when interacting or being in the presence of a monster was with Soap, only a few days after they had met. They had just gotten back from blowing the oil rig, and the way the Scot kept fidgeting had started to make Ghost nervous. He first tried to brush it off as some inhuman creature trait he didn't understand, but he never could be certain. After all, he had never been told what exactly Soap is.

Ghost is confident that if he had known what Soap is sooner, he would not have been afraid.

It had all happened so fast.

First, the vehicles were stopped. Alejandro seemed rather annoyed, but with a small sniff, he recognized the anxiety welling up in Soap. Ghost knew Alejandro to be a werewolf before they had even landed in Las Almas, and he was vaguely aware of their ability to smell more complicated things like emotions.

Ghost didn't miss the way Soap's fingers crackled as he rubbed them together.

They filed out of the truck, only to be confronted by Graves. Tension quickly filled the humid air as Alejandro and Graves argued. Every hair on Ghost's body stood on end as Soap stepped forward to snap at the American. The tingling sensation that accompanied didn't go unnoticed by anyone present, and it left a nauseating knot in Ghost's stomach. He looked at Soap, hoping the man could give him some sign that he doesn't need to be afraid, that he shouldn't be afraid. But he doesn't get that.

He instead got a glimpse of bright shocks running through Soap's mohawk before all hell broke loose. A gun had been fired, and before Ghost knew it, he was looking over to see Soap on the ground, the pain on his face giving away that he had been the one shot. Ghost assumed he had blacked out a bit as the need to survive took over.

He doesn't remember much after that.

Ghost couldn't help the shaky breath that left him after hearing the deep rumble of Soap's voice crackle through his earpiece. Even now, Ghost is afraid. No longer because of Soap, but for Soap.

Johnny can get hurt.

Ghost's new mantra. There was something so intimidating about the sergeant, something so ethereal it made Ghost believe he was the furthest thing from human to ever exist. But, he was clearly wrong. If Johnny can bleed, can be hurt, then he can be killed. And if he can be killed, then that blood is on Ghost's hands.

Ghost kept himself alive, kept himself moving forward, closer to Johnny. It seemed every step was agony. Luckily, the banter he found himself engaging in with Soap helped ground him. There were definitely times where Ghost could tell that Soap was injured. The way he'd drift off towards the end of a sentence, the times he'd take a second too long before answering, the occasional heaving breaths; all signs he was injured.

But then there were the times Soap seemed to be just fine, perfectly healthy and a bit manic.

Ghost never wanted to acknowledge how those moments always occurred after bright, showy flashes of lightning.

Then they were back together, racing away in a stolen truck. The ride to the safehouse started out loud; gunshots ringing all around them as Ghost frantically tried to get them the hell out of there. Eventually, they were no longer being pursued, and Soap was able to turn and sit in the seat properly. Ghost glanced at him as he let out a wince, his left arm darting up to his right.

"We'll get your arm looked at soon, Johnny." Ghost said quietly, and Soap hummed in response. Ghost swore he could feel the vibrations of the hum, but shrugged it off as adrenaline. They rode quietly until they made it to the safehouse, and Ghost allowed Soap to take the lead when heading inside.

"Something's here." Soap had whispered to him after brushing his fingers against the fuse box outside, but Ghost kept his concerns to himself. He especially didn't like the use of 'something', as it implied that whatever was inside was not human and posed a higher threat to the pair.

After giving each other heart attacks, Rudy explained how he got out of the Vaquero compound safely. He and Ghost exchanged pieces of information while Soap wandered off to the side of the room, clearly looking for something. Ghost hadn't realized the sergeant was acting oddly until Rudy leaned slightly to frown at him, and Ghost followed his gaze. Soap was currently prying a hole into the wall, albeit struggling due to his injury.

"You okay, hermano?" Rudy asked, but Soap didn't respond. He finished his supposed task, letting out a sigh of relief as he grabbed a few wires from inside the wall and pulled on them. Neither Rudy nor Ghost were prepared for him to strip the rubber cover off and bite down hard onto the copper inside. Loud sparking shot through the room and through them, leaving Ghost shaking just slightly. A nearby lamp, despite being off, blew its bulb.

"Soap, what the fuck?" Ghost snapped, not aware of how shaky his voice was. Soap looked over at them, the wires still in his mouth, barely muffling the crackles of energy. Rudy stared at him with a slightly agape mouth, clearly disturbed even despite knowing Soap is a fellow inhuman. Soap doesn't say anything, just stares at them as if he hadn't understood what Ghost had said.

"Um, Soap? Are you okay?" Rudy asked, and the Scot slightly cocked his head before his expression darkened and he looked back to Ghost. If Ghost hadn't just survived the horrors of being hunted by Shadow Company with him, he would have been convinced that Soap was ready to kill him.

"'Mere." Is all Soap said, gesturing vaguely at Ghost. Traitors. Ghost snapped at himself as his legs shook and he unsteadily made his way over. Soap watched him, blue eyes literally glowing in the darkness. His expression wasn't the usual peace and energy Ghost had grown fond off, but rather sour and filled with rage. Ghost anxiously sat beside Soap at his direction, and once again was overwhelmed with the feeling of being too close to a lightning strike for it to be safe.

"Fucker poisoned me." Soap snarled around the wires still in his mouth, and Ghost finally noticed he had been sucking on them like they were straws. He looked down at Soap as he turned, and soon the problem was evident. Soap's right arm, close to his shoulder, bore a gunshot wound, and the wound was surrounded by black bruising that dripped away like veins. Ghost swallowed past the metallic taste building in the back of his throat, past the tightness in his chest, as he reached out towards Soap with shaky hands.

Soap watched him from the corner of his eye, intense blue nearly blinding to look at, judging him as he quietly worked on getting the pieces of bullet out of his arm. Rudy took the first and largest chunk after Ghost set it down, sniffing it slightly after cleaning it of blood.

"Fiberglass is your weakness?" Rudy asked, and Soap grunted again. For a moment, it seemed Soap didn't recognize the word, or at least needed to connect it to something else to remember what fiberglass was.

"'S nae a conductor." Soap grumbled, and Ghost let out a breath as he removed the final piece. Soap looked at him again, this time a bit brighter than before. Ghost instantly knew Soap could sense his fear, sense the pounding of his heart, and wanted to do his best to assure Ghost he's not a threat.

"Thanks, Lt. Ah'll be back to mahself soon, dinnae worry." Soap muttered, clearly forcing a smile onto his face in hopes of calming Ghost. Ghost nodded softly, standing perhaps a bit too quick as he busied himself with cleaning up after the emergency procedure.

"So, you are acting weird because fiberglass isn't a conductor?" Rudy asked, clearly still just as confused about the sergeant's odd behavior.

"Aye. It's an insulator. I'm pure energy. No' a good match." Soap snapped back, and suddenly everything made a lot more sense. Ghost had even compared standing by him like the sensation one would get before getting struck by lightning. It was fitting, as the truth often can be. His usual personality had been tainted by an insulator, and it made sense, Ghost supposed. Something that would limit or damage Ghost's natural functioning like blood flow is certain to do the same, maybe not quite as drastic, but alas he is only human. He's learned that monsters and such tend to be a lot more dramatic about pain and injury. He guessed it's because they often cannot be harmed like humans can.

"I'm bloody steamin' over the fact that he knew. Graves knows mah weakness, but he shouldn't. He's a blabbering eejit an' he's nae supposed teh have access to information like that." Soap broke the silence rather suddenly. Ghost turned to look at him, and the fear he had felt earlier slowly slipped away as he took in the look on Soap's face. It was a mixture of rage and hurt, but somewhere deep in it all, there was a level of fear one would expect to see from a little child. Ghost took a deep breath as he watched Soap wrap his arms around his legs.

He was terrified.

"Soap, what are you?" Ghost asked, and the Scot snapped his head up to stare at him. He said something, a word Ghost never heard and wouldn't recognize. Rudy was equally confused, and so Soap cleared his throat and tried again.

"Lightning Nymph. What I said is the real word, but I forgot no one knows it anymore." Soap drifted off at the end of his sentence, brow furrowing in thought.

"You've been around a while, haven't you, Johnny?" Ghost asked, and Soap nodded, still keeping his eyes on the floor this time.

"Mah parents finally agreed to getting out into the world a bit more. My kind aren't exactly easy teh find these days. Much less one like me." It hurt Ghost to hear how quiet Soap spoke, but he also understood something. He understood what it was like to be different, cast out and regarded with trepidation.

Simon Riley may be human, but Ghost isn't assumed to be the same.

"One like you?" Rudy asked and Soap once again nodded.

"Aye, being of lightning was already rare. Ahm sure ahm the only one left." Soap seemingly disappeared into himself as he sank further against the wall, still occasionally drawing more energy from the wires he had exposed. Now, Ghost understood why he saw so much fear in Soap's eyes: he's new to the modern world, a rarity in every sense of the word. His fear is rooted deep, from a time long before Ghost, long before Simon Riley.

"So, how would Graves know that information? About what you are and how to hurt you?" Rudy asked, and Soap shook his head.

"Ah dinnae ken. Ah've never had somethin' like tha' happen before." Soap whispered, and Ghost found himself next to the nymph without realizing it.

"We've got your back, Johnny. Don't you worry." He muttered, and Soap's expression softened as he stared back, almost reading into Ghost's very being.

"Thanks, Lt." He whispered back, punctuating his statement with a gentle punch to Ghost's shoulder.

"FUCK!" Ghost shouted as a rather painful shock coursed through him at the contact. Soap immediately erupted into laughter, falling over away from Ghost as his shoulders shook.

"Oh, ahm sorry! I dinnae do it on purpose, I swear!" Soap exclaimed between bouts of laughter as Ghost kicked at him.

"Glad to have you back, Johnny." He mumbled once Soap calmed.

"Glad to be back."

Taglist (want added?): @tacticaltaxonomist @cthulhusstepmom @cathnoneofyourbusiness @thorougly-melted-brains @sp4z-4tt4ck @49saltpeppershakers @bluebrryice

[chloesimaginationthings]

“Cassidy, stop doing the FNAF golden Freddy pose”

[bribinart]

this guy am i right

[starry-bi-sky]

don't you want to be a cult leader? - danyal al ghul au

this is mostly a joke post but i thought it was funny and had to share so--

his first mistake was, obviously, inheriting his father's inability to see an injustice and stand still. -- actually, danyal's first mistake was his lair being so big. a mountainous island with a large temple in the center resembling his old home in Nanda Parbat? With sprawling foliage and rivers and streams and waterfalls galore? What was he going to do with all that space? Let it go to waste? He had plants there! Native trees of the ghost zone growing from the soil! He couldn't let it all be left unchecked!

So naturally after helping a fellow teenage assassin ghost -- who he later learns is named Akihiko, -- from Walker of all people, he sent them over to hang low at his lair until it was safe enough for them to wander around the Zone. Walker couldn't get through Danyal's astrofield if his life depended on it, and trust him -- he's tried. Danny was clearing out debris from his stupid transport vans for weeks.

Honestly it wasn't so bad, he and Aki really quickly became fast friends and Danny loves having a sparring partner close to his level again -- he hasn't had this much fun fighting since he left the League. Aki was very dedicated and levelheaded, the both of them clicked really well because of it.

Nonono, the real trouble began after Danyal met some long-passed League members and allowed them to come join his island as well. Apparently they had made a few enemies of the zone, and maybe Danyal still felt some loyalty to the League. He couldn't just let them be left to rot. Their zealotry could be overlooked so long as they kept it contained and helped him take care of his island.

And it.. snowballs from there? He meets a teen squire aptly calling himself Ambroise -- whether that was his living name or not is yet to be seen -- who died during feudal france, who is just about as dramatic and passionate as every french stereotype makes them out to be. He calls Danyal "my moon and great muse" -- which is both flattering and little uncomfortable, but Danyal's grown up in the League as the Grandson of the Demon Head, he is used to mild worship. he passes it off as nothing more, nothing less. -- and while his energy is overwhelming on the worst of days, he helps Danny draw out of his shell more in ways that Sam and Tucker still struggle with.

Him and Aki butt heads a lot, but the two seem to hold the other in at least some positive regard, so Danny doesn't worry too much about them fighting while he's gone. It only becomes a mild issue when Aki also begins calling Danny "my moon". It's a little sweet, so Danyal brushes it off.

Then he takes in a troupe of ghosts some time after he defeats Pariah Dark and they begin calling him "great one" just as the yetis do in the far frozen. This is where he meets the twins -- a pair of sibling ghosts who call themselves Trixie and Missy (short for Trick and Mislead) -- who aren't quite as passionate as Ambroise but more energetic than Aki. Eventually they also start calling Danyal "my moon" and attach themselves to his hip, even within the living. They like to hide in his shadow and cause trouble for the rest of the students. He makes sure they don't hurt anyone.

He's pretty sure Aki is jealous, same with Ambroise, but he can't be too certain other than the fact that they become much more lingering (re: clingy) whenever he visits the island.. Something he's trying to do much more often these days due to the increasing amount of people living there now. Since when did he become so popular?

Then there's Pēnelópeia from the Greater Athens, who ran away from home and joined his Island after he ran into her while she was being chased by Skulker -- and he's pretty sure the reason was because of her chimeric appearance. Her strange eyes and mismatched wings and lion's tail and talons. She assimilates into his friend group very easily, she gets along well with Ambroise and Trixie and Danny usually finds the three of them climbing the trees to pluck the most fruit from the top. They can fly and he knows it, but they prefer to climb.

Then finally there's silent poet Akkara who comes from ancient mesopotamia, who gets along most with Aki -- which is no surprise there considering their similar personality dispositions. he watches Aki and Danyal fight each other and leaves comments on this or that that he notices. He writes Danyal poems on clay tablets and leaves them by his room.

They're one big mismatched group of outcasts, and Danny's got the other ghosts on his island to tend to, because they're living on his island and he wants to be hospitable even if he struggles with that. But he spends the most of his time with them.

Sam and Tucker are making fun of him. Tucker jokingly tells him 'careful Danny, at this rate you're gonna start a cult'. Danny really wishes he had taken that joke more seriously.

He just. keeps. collecting people. Wayward souls lost in the zone, looking for shelter or refuge from something or other -- whether that be another hostile ghost, or a past afterlife, or just a purpose. Danyal finds them, he takes them in, offers them a place on his island until they are ready to leave. Many seldom do. He's not complaining -- he has the space, and it feels like it's only ever growing.

His close friends, his "inner circle" as he's heard the others call them, keep insistently calling him "my moon". He starts calling them his stars, because then it only feels fair. They're his stars, this is his constellation. It becomes a thing; little star halos begin forming behind their heads, picking them out from the rest. He loves them so much, it's hard to place. Sam and Tucker are also his stars, but they reside in the living realm, they're his tie to Life. Meanwhile, his friends here know what it's like to be dead, and sometimes its nice to relate.

Those living on his island keep calling him "Great One" and he's beginning to notice zealotry in their care for his island. He really, deeply appreciates it. His close friends gain nicknames -- as his stars, it's only natural for him to pick them out from the cluster in the skies. Akihiko, his Sirius and bright star. Trix and Missy, Castor and Pollux, the twins and troublemakers. Ambroise, his zealous Antares and close friend. Penelopeia, chimeric and loyal Vega. And Akkara, his Arcturus and strength.

It's ridiculous how long it takes for him to notice; he is, of course, a deadly trained assassin. He is meant to be observant -- and normally he is! But somehow this becomes a blind spot. One that becomes too big to be dealt with by the time he realizes it.

He should've noticed when Aki, his Sirius, stood beside him one day while Danyal looked over his island and saw the sprawling spirits carrying on about their afterlife and bowing to him as they saw him, and said: "I looked down into the depths when I met you; I couldn't measure it." They aren't one for flowing prose, it took him so off guard he was silent for over a minute before he finally spoke.

Danyal should've recognized devotion for what it is, and yet he didn't. He should've recognized it when Antares began spouting praises about him, crowing about his radiance and resplendence to the heavens. He just brushed it off as Ambroise being Ambroise. He should've recognized it when Trix and Missy nearly broke Dash's leg after he knocked Danyal's books out of his hands, he excused it as them being protective. Of them coming from times where such violence may have been customary -- after all, that's what he used to be like. What he was still like, sometimes, when his emotions nearly got the better of him.

He should've noticed it when the people living on his island followed his word like gospel, looked at him like he hung the stars in the sky. When his friends gifted him a shawl with the moon phases delicately embroidered into it, with silver, shimmering thread and moving stars lovingly stitched into it. Their constellations seen clear as day in the dark fabric. When he found small shrines dedicated to him -- but they lacked any image of him beyond stones carved to look like moons, so he ignored it. When the religious imagery began popping up.

He really, really should've noticed it when a bunch of cultists accidentally summoned Antares, and Antares had turned to him when he arrived and called them heretics. But he was so centered on the fact that they had kidnapped one of his stars, that he hadn't paid much attention to what Ambroise had said.

Sages say that faith is blind, they should also say faith in you is even blinder.

It really only hits him one afternoon while he's sitting in Sam's room studying with Tucker, Missy and Trixie lounging at his feet, Aki sat on his right, Penelopeia braiding his hair, Ambroise draped against him, and Akkara lurking over him. Its one of the rare few times they're all in one room together.

It hits him like a bolt of lightning. He looks up from his textbook. "Oh Ancients," he says in no amounting shock. Everyone looks up to him.

"I've become my grandfather."

[lancteu]

this has drained me of my will to live

[pure-oddity]

Kyle as a boyfriend is reeeeaaall nice.

He's a recon guy, he does his research. First few dates he says enough to keep the conversation going but he's focused on listening, watching, observing.

He sees how you eat, how you talk, how you walk, fuck he's cataloging how you sit. And he's comprehending what you say, actively filing things away. All these little gold nuggets of info.

So that when date 3 or 4 comes around youre left stuttering and bashful as all hell because you've never had a guy put in so much fucking effort? Like:

You need him to be direct? "I'm looking for something long-term, marriage - preferably within 2 years but I can be flexible. Do you wanna talk about how you feel regarding children and see if we align?"

Want him to show that he thinks of you even ehen you arent around? "Hey I'm back, I know you like the pubs wings so I grabbed you a box, had to fight the boys off it."

Want him to pull his weight and be an active equal partner? "Hey I just finished grabbing the groceries, I grabbed stuff for a new recipe - did you want me to grab anything special on my way out?" Or "Hey hand me any cups you've got I'm about to do the dishes, let me finish that and I'll seperate my clothes so you can do the laundry."

He's just...so fucking capable and genuinely wants the relationship to work and be successful. He takes pride in keeping a happy home and an even happier significant other.

Yall have long talks about the distance and strain his job causes. Very good with check-ins to make sure you aren't feeling neglected and he's not feeling lonely or overly stressed.

Communication and observation KING.

And he's loving!! He's a forhead kisses, gotta be touching you at night, walks on the outside of the sidewalk kinda guy! He'll link pinkies while yall walk, randomly lean over to kiss you "cause I(he) wanted to" with the cutest little smile. Sets up photoshoots for holidays and special events so he can have pictures of the two of yall (sends his family Christmas cards of yall).

Pet names include: love, baby, sweetheart, doll

[rinriniisthekatch]

This was not in Dick's plans today. Seriously, it was his one day off and all he wanted to do was bug the shit out of Jay and relax in the comfort of his own home before heading to the manor and practically beg for Alf's good food.

All Dick got was being kidnapped with another person and Riddler's goons. No blindfolds, hands cuffed and tied with a rope. Wow, they really didn't want them to escape today. It's time to just wait for his brothers... maybe B, too.

"So, is Fashion Disaster #3 gonna do something with us, or are we just sitting here to look like two pretty birds?" Dick didn't recognize the voice, but he did snort.

"Quiet." One of the goons demanded as he hit the other guy in the face with the gun.

"You know, you told me to talk once, and now you're telling me to shut up? How does that work? Cause I can totally make an echo." Oh god, this civilian is taunting the goons. Sir, we are still tied, and they can kill us.

Is he... he is! He's humming, Baby Shark! OK Dick, don't laugh. Don't laugh. Hold it in. You can do it. Fuck. No, he can't. Dick took a deep breath as he attempted to regulate his breathing to not laugh at all. Cause, oh my god, this guy is making him want to laugh!

"So... how's it going? Besides being tied up like a domninatrix waiting for us to loosen up." Dick looked at the other guy. He was cute and fucking hilarious. Warm ice blue eyes and shaggy crow black hair.

"Oh, you know hanging out. Trying not to die from laughter. Could be worse." Dick grinned.

"See! That's what I'm saying...! People need to loosen up around here. How do you feel like breaking out?" The smirk on the other man's face screamed menace.

This is the type of person who Dick watches out for while being a cop. The other guy gave him a look. He had said that aloud. Whelp. Too late now.

"Bro. My record is clean-ish. But like sometimes my family is all kind of crazies. Mad scientists types. Genetics, y'know?" Dick still didn't know this man's name.

Dick cackled, "You're a scientist?"

The other man smiled widely, "Engineer for WE actually." Dick noticed the man's hands were free now. The cuffs and rope weren't cut, but he somehow got out anyway.

"Oh, really? How long have you been working at WE?"

"Hey! I said, be quiet! Now, shut up and stop talking!"

The smaller man huffed, proceeded to grab the goon by the gun, flip him forward, and then kicked him in the face, knocking him out.

Dick blinked, "How..? Wha-"

"Like I asked, do you wanna break out? I'll forgive you for being a cop and a date?"

Yeah... "You know what, why not?"

[temeyes]

//i wont say (im in love) plays in the background//

[radiance1]

The Justice League have a problem, one that needs some level of knowledge and expertise of a being from the Infinite Realms to give them a better chance of actually solving this problem.

However.

Every ghost they have summoned, without fail, took one look at Constantine. Squinted (yes, squinted). Then decided to go back to where they came without a word.

This. Would have been useful, nice even. If it was a situation where they needed the summoned being of a cult to head back to where they came without a fight.

But alas, that is not what is happening.

The Justice League, obviously, ask him why the ghosts keep fleeing back to their Realm at the sight of him, but Constantine can't answer because he genuinely has no idea why they keep leaving when getting a proper look at him.

So they keep trying and they do find some success in it. They summoned a boy, most likely older than he physically looks yet it still puts some of them off because of, well.

You know.

A boy with white hair and toxic green eyes. The boy stops short, as if not expecting to be randomly transported to somewhere else, takes a look around the room, then the Justice League. His eyes settle on one person.

Constantine, in particular.

He squints (Why do all of them squint? Nobody knows) and then a sudden looking of realization passes on his face. Different from the looks of vague fear and genuinely want to not involve themselves any further, his face held slight disgust and a heavy amount of disappointment.

Thankfully, he didn't leave immediately after that.

Constantine asks what's with the look on the ghost boy's face, the ghost boy in question squints even further. Stares at Constantine for a moment or two, buries his face in his hands and brings his knees to his hand and groans out.

"He could've done so much better."

[sydneighsays]

Colored version of my Gerry design~

Jon's an awkward picture taker, change my mind

They'd be great friends if he wasn't dead. God I wish we had more time with him.

[snootlestheangel]

Cheers to the Unknown Pt.5

Monster/cryptid au ft. Just A Dude!Ghost; canon-divergent, alternate universe. More details here (parts are not a coherent story necessarily just scenarios as they come to me !subject to change!;all tagged under "cheers to the unknown") TW: language; little bit of self-deprecation (again)

Siren!Gaz Helping Ghost Get Some Much Needed Sleep

Ghost and Soap had been dating for almost a month when the sergeant and Captain Price were sent out for an operation that would take roughly a week. Ghost was fine with it, he never put up a fight and helped send them on their way.

But Gaz knew better. Gaz was ready to strangle the human if he didn't fix his sour mood and soon. Ghost had spent the better part of the last five days snapping at everyone and being generally just grumpier than normal. Gaz knew it was a lack of sleep; he had learned through Soap how surprisingly touchy Ghost was, especially at night.

Despite how fed up Gaz was getting, he never dared to intervene. Sure, he possessed the ability to easily put the lieutenant to sleep, but he never dreamed of using his abilities on Ghost. He knew Ghost had been betrayed by people he trusted, had been hurt in horrible ways by those very people, and Gaz never wanted to be the same. He stayed back, kept his distance and waited for Soap to get back so he could convince the human that he still very much needs to sleep.

What Gaz was not expecting was for Ghost to approach him on the sixth night of Soap's absence. He was not expecting Ghost to ask to speak to him, and so Gaz maintained a bit of distance between himself and Ghost as he was led down the halls to a location he didn't expect to be taken to. Gaz's eyes widened as he realized they were just down the hall from Ghost's private quarters that he and Soap shared. Soap's room was filled with exposed wires, far too dangerous for a human, and was often referred to as his recharge station. So it was safe to say Gaz was a bit nervous when he realized where Ghost was taking him.

"You alright, mate?" He asked as he gently bumped Ghost's shoulder with his nose. Ghost grunted before he opened his door and practically shoved the siren inside.

"Hey, whoa-" Gaz started as he turned to face Ghost again, but he didn't get to finish his statement as Ghost closed the door a bit forcefully.

"Sing me to sleep." Ghost said, and Gaz finally understood what Soap meant by blue-screening. Gaz had never been so thrown off guard before, and he couldn't think of a proper response other than awkward stuttering.

"Sing. Me. To. Sleep." Ghost forced out, and Gaz closed his mouth, hesitancy clear. Ghost seemed to notice, however, as his shoulders suddenly sagged and he now appeared as tired as he was. Ghost reached up and pulled off his mask, the lack of it making him look rather distraught.

"Please." He added with a whisper, and the soft sound hit Gaz harder than he expected it to. He had never seen Ghost so... vulnerable before, and it was a strange experience. Gaz let out a sigh as he stepped closer to Ghost, placing his hands on his shoulders where they meet his neck.

"Thank you for trusting me." Gaz whispered as Ghost's tired eyes found Gaz's. The man nodded, quickly avoiding eye contact.

"Like it's hard." Ghost mumbled back, and Gaz forced back the scoff. He knew what Ghost meant; that Gaz is easy to trust and that has nothing to do with his being a Siren. But Gaz knew. Gaz knew that humans never trusted Sirens, never have and probably never will. But of course, Ghost noticed Gaz's internal conflict as his gaze suddenly darkened.

"My trust in you has nothing to do with you being a siren, Gaz. I trust you because you're loyal, you're intelligent, and kind, and a bit of an ass. I trust you because you're trustworthy. Nothing you can do will change the fact I trust you. Understood?" Ghost said strongly, his eyes narrowed down at Gaz as he spoke. Gaz took a deep breath before nodding.

"Understood."

"Gaz." Ghost clearly wasn't convinced. Gaz shrugged, trying to ignore the knot in his throat.

"I just don't want you getting hurt cause of my voice." Gaz whispered as he stared down at his feet. He didn't even look up when he saw Ghost's covered feet step into view.

"I wouldn't ask you to put me to sleep with your voice if I didn't trust it, now would I?" Ghost whispered back, and Gaz took another shaky breath. Ghost was right; if his voice was a problem, he never would have asked for this.

"Okay. But I'm not singing, that's stupid." Gaz said before he turned and headed towards Ghost's bed. He grunted as Ghost suddenly collapsed on top of him, but he didn't mind. Gaz did shift a bit so Ghost was more against his side than directly on top, but made sure Ghost knew he was comfortable. Several minutes passed as Gaz quietly hummed and scratched Ghost's head, and after a certain point, Gaz was confident the lieutenant had fallen asleep.

"Hey, Gaz?" And he's still awake. Was Ghost really this bad at sleeping or is Gaz really that bad at humming a fucking lullaby?

"Yeah?" Gaz decided not to bring up the fact Ghost was still awake, mostly for his own sanity.

"You remember the day Soap asked me out?" Ghost asked, and Gaz relaxed a bit at hearing the sleep already clinging to the man's voice.

"Yes?" Gaz answered, suddenly unsure of where Ghost could be going with this.

"I heard you two talking. About me. Johnny already knows." Oh. That was definitely not the confession Gaz expected, but he also wasn't confident the man was about to spill his guts and confess his love for Gaz. He remained quiet as Ghost snuggled closer to Gaz, his nose tucked safely into the crook of Gaz's neck.

"We shoulda said something sooner. We kinda like ya." Ghost mumbled, and before Gaz could finish processing the statement, the former was already snoring softly. Gaz let out a soft gasp as he hugged Ghost a bit tighter, taking a moment to rub his nose into the soft blond hair of Ghost's head.

"I figured." Gaz whispered before relaxing into the pillows and falling asleep with Ghost.

~~~~~

Soap needed a recharge by the time he and Price got back. His first stop was his own quarters, where he spent half an hour idly chewing on an exposed wire. It was still rather early for Ghost to be awake, and seeing as Soap didn't really need to sleep, he didn't want to disturb the human. Especially considering he'd have to deal with said human's temper the rest of the day.

Once he decided he could get away with accidentally waking Ghost and not have it lead to dealing with a grumpy man, Soap left his room. It was a short walk down a few halls before he reached the lieutenant's room. He opened the door as quietly as possible, but nearly let all the effort into sneaking around go to waste.

He managed to stop himself before gasping loudly upon seeing Ghost curled into Gaz's side, both deeply asleep. Soap smiled and fought down his excitement as he moved closer to the bed.

"Sh, go back teh sleep, Dove." Soap whispered as Gaz opened his eyes and began to stir a bit. The siren slowly blinked at him before nodding.

"Does this mean I can stay?" Gaz mumbled, and despite the simple question, Soap understood it to apply to their relationship. Soap let out a small chuckle as he kissed Gaz's nose, earning a sleepy smile.

"Of course. We'd be lost without you." Soap mumbled before placing another kiss on Gaz's nose and one on Ghost's temple. He crammed himself into the small space between Ghost and the wall, perfectly content to lie there the whole day.

No one needed to know Ghost had been awake for the whole thing. He was living a life he never thought, never dared to dream of having.

Safe, content, and so effortlessly loved between the two most incredible, handsome men he's ever known.

Taglist (want added?): @tacticaltaxonomist @cthulhusstepmom @cathnoneofyourbusiness @thorougly-melted-brains @sp4z-4tt4ck @49saltpeppershakers @bluebrryice

[voiider]

I need codependent Danny/Jason as a little treat (for me) and I love the idea of them having some sort of instant connection the moment they meet (bc ghost stuff idk)

Danny who's been dropped in Gotham with no way home (alt universe??) and he's been here for 36 hours and having a Very bad time senses a liminal being and immediately latches onto them heedless of the fact that his new best friend is shooting at some seedy guys in an alley and goes off about how stressed he is and how he can't make it back to the ghost zone and what a bad day he's been having (and it's important to note Danny is a littol ghost boy literally hanging off of Jason's neck as he floats aimlessly) and Jason is like "who are you??" And Danny is like "oh sorry I'm Danny lol" and then just continues lamenting his woes

And honestly ? This might as well happen. Nothing about this Danny guy(is he human?) gives Jason a bad vibe and tbh he's never felt more calm and level headed before so he just keeps up his usual Red Hood patrol and doesn't even think about it when he heads back to a safehouse and feeds Danny dinner (breakfast) before crashing for half the day

The only thing I actually need is Jason meeting up with the bats for some sort of Intel meeting and they're like "uhhh who's that" and Jason is like "that's Danny." And does not elaborate (very ".... What do you have there?" "A smoothie" vibes)

And it takes them a while to realize that these two have known each other for less than 12 hours and are literally attached at the hip

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 254

So. Danny might have accidentally become a bit of a cryptid. He didn’t mean to, but he’d become a bit nocturnal- like many an Amity Parker- and it wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t be bothered to make sound when he was tired. Or pretend to breathe or, okay, he could see why he kept freaking people out at the grocery store he kept going to. 

But it wasn’t his fault! He has to get food too! And really is it anyone else’s business? Seriously he thought that people wouldn’t be so surprised with how much magic is everywhere. Like you’d think they’d never seen someone who wasn’t fully human before or something. 

Oh great, there’s a journalist at the grocery store now- he’s going to ignore that and finish his shopping and then continue his online work. Ooh, and eat icecream. He deserves it for potentially putting up with this. 

Oh, it’s a little baby reporter, first couple of article thing. Adorable. 

[zillychu]

Consider this: ghosts are actually exactly what the Fentons think they are.

They're snapshots of a longing so strong, unfinished business so deep it reaches out beyond life. Lingers just a bit longer. And if it happens to meet a dense cloud of ectoplasm (invisible to the naked eye, but omnipresent even in the mortal realm), it coalesces. The ectoplasm fits into the shape of it. Which, when the desire is strong enough, it's got a rough idea of its self-image. This tends to mean a more humanoid figure, though it's more often warped in some way–a self-reflection, skewed by said desire. The warping varies on the dead soul’s perception of themselves, the intensity of their desire, how much time passed after death, and how much ectoplasm was present.

In short… no matter how “normal" a ghost looks or acts, it really, truly isn't human. It's animated ectoplasm with a single goal: an obsession. Nothing else. They're more akin to plants than animals, following a single drive with no emotion. They react to stimuli, recognize threats (including other ghosts), and can even imitate human speech and mannerisms to obtain fulfillment of their obsession.

Not “evil" by any stretch, but they're entirely driven by instinct. A tree doesn't pause to consider the rocks it breaks with its roots. A cordyceps doesn't torture its host for fun, or kill with malice. It just does. It follows code in its DNA to survive and multiply–And ghosts just follow the code in its ectoplasm to fulfill its obsession. The more powerful a ghost, the better it's able to overcome obstacles preventing this–whether through brute force, or manipulation. This power is always directly proportional to the amount of ectoplasm present at the time of formation, and how much time passed since death.

What then, does this mean for Danny? Danny, who's previously come to the conclusion that he's only half-ghost, which surely explains how he retained his mind? His independent thoughts and emotions?

What does this mean for Phantom, who experienced an entire world’s worth of ectoplasm condensed as a singularity, at the exact time of his death? Whose strength only grows and begins to exceed every limit they previously thought possible?

If a ghost was as strong as him… could it mimic a human perfectly? Down to a molecular level?

Could it, in its desire to fill an obsession… trick its own fake mind into thinking it was still human? Or half-ghost?

[vwoop-prince]

YJ S3 Dick, still in the midst of his fever dream, hides underneath the 'souvenir' instead of behind some boxes, and accidentally opens the airlock trying to take care of the Parademons. The others get it to close... but not before Nightwing is thrown into space.

There, he stares at the ship holding his friends and mentors. There, he wishes more than anything that he can, somehow, survive. There, he tries to live, if only so his family don't have to bury him like Jason.

There, Nightwing dies, wanting to save everyone, even with the cold seeping into his bones far too quickly for a regular section of space.

Then, Dick opens his eyes to... Earth? There's a little house, and grass, and trees, but there's a bubble of green over it all. Outside of that green was an entire castle, one that looked like it should have far more support beams than it does for even a hope that it stays standing.

And the sky was swirling shades of that same green. It makes him think of Lazarus.

"Well, that's something you don't see every day." He whips his head behind him, a bit too fast for Earth's atmosphere, but it doesn't hurt him. Past the bubble of green was a blue-skinned adult in purple robes, the insides of a grandfather-clock fitted inside their torso, and a black staff with a stopwatch on its top. Beside them was a man with snow white hair, glowing green eyes, a crown of frozen fire dancing above his head, and the most galaxy-like cloak Dick's ever seen clasped to his shoulders. He's wearing... a hazmat suit? Maybe? The twinkling stars and odd lighting of wherever he is were giving him a bit of a headache.

But in front of those two, within this bubble, was...

"DICK!" Wally shouted with unrestrained glee, a blur overtaking his spot for barely a heartbeat before Dick's stuck in a crushing hug that he reciprocates once his brain stops feeling like its melting.

He doesn't know how long it took for them to calm down, but the man with the crown spoke up after a time, as Wally was still wiping their faces free of tears. "Welcome to the Infinite Realms, Nightwing." Dick barely even registered that he was still wearing his suit, but now it felt suffocating. "I suppose you're the one Clockwork was holding out for; There shouldn't've been enough Ectoplasm around you to form a Ghost, and your physical body's still in space. I can see why you like this one, though, Clockie," he states flippantly, turning to his companion. Almost like he didn't expect Dick to pay too close attention to what he was saying.

"Either way, there's two options for you." The man didn't let Dick swallow his tears and question anything. Dick's not sure if he's grateful or not. "First: Stay in the Realms permanently. You'll see Kid Flash whenever you want and learn to be a Ghost with the denizens of the Realms. Maybe find your parents."

"But..." Dick pulls away from Wally, keeping him at arms length, eyes flitting between them. The two outside the bubble were distinctly... ghost-like, so the mentions of 'Ghosts' make sense. But Wally looked... alive. A bit pale, a bit thin... but alive. Dick can't see any of his own skin to see if it was blue or tinted that way, but the Nightwing symbol on his chest kept flickering between its own blue and this 'Realms' green. "But--What about the others? What about you? Why can't you come home?" The last two, he focuses on Wally, because now he can feel a heartbeat beneath his gloves. Wally's alive. He's alive.

His friend just shrugs. "Something about their portals not fit for the living? I'm meant to wait for someone to figure out a permanent portal, but they won't tell me how long that'll take." Wally glares at the... 'Ghosts'? There was a heat to it, but it also seemed like this was a well-worn argument.

"The permanent portal was always an 'if', Wallace West. And that is entirely dependent on if Richard Grayson takes the second option," the clock Ghost--Clockwork?--speaks up. But instead of the adult Dick was expecting, there was an elderly Ghost in their place. Still with the time motif. Was that... more literal than Dick took it?

"Yes, the second option..." The crowned man glares daggers at Clockwork. The temperature dips below comfortable. Dick tries to blink the spaceship and stars out of his sight, withdrawing his arms from Wally to try and warm himself. Tries to remember he's not in space. "The second option is that you return to your body... changed. You'll be able to protect Earth better, stay with your alive family, save the Lost Ones... for a price."

Dick doesn't know if he should ignore the plural in 'Lost Ones'. He doesn't know if he's reading too much into how, in this Realm, apparently only his parents were able to be found. Where's Jason? He doesn't dare hope, but...

"What's the price?"

The man smiles and a ring of blue forms around his waist. It splits in two and travels up and down his body, replacing the cloak and whatever clothes he was actually wearing with a NASA shirt, worn jeans, and red sneakers actually duct taped together. The blue tint to his otherwise tan skin fades completely. His hair turns black. His eyes turn blue.

He was like a taller, slightly slimmer, way hotter version of Bruce.

The man walks through the bubble, but doesn't disturb the grass beneath his feet. "You become the Ghost King's vassal." Dick flinches away and almost hides behind Wally. "Not my idea! But, well... it is either this, or your permanent death."

"What does becoming a vassal do to him?" Wally asks, gently trying to stop Dick from breaking his ribs with how tightly he was hugging himself. Does he even have ribs?

"He gains my powers. Ice, electricity, invisibility, intangibility, flight... He becomes a Halfa. He becomes what I was, in life. Just... needing to make offerings to me, now and then. Something like that, at least. I give him powers, he gives me a chunk of, I don't know, chocolate once a week. Like a warlock."

Wally keeps talking to the man, keeps getting information that he knows he should pay attention to, but something in his chest screams to accept this deal, and he can't focus on anything else.

Nightwing can protect. He can return to life and go back to Blüdhaven, be the Vigilante they need. He can visit Gotham every now and then, help with cases and stop criminals from harming others. He can see his brother. He can see his friends. He can eat Alfred's cookies, and have little get-togethers with Babs and the Team--hell, he can argue with Bruce.

And all he has to do is... give an offering to this guy? The Ghost King? Every once in a while?

"There's no other price?" The King turns his attention to Dick. His eyes had shifted to a blue-green that almost hypnotize him. The green swirls, the blue forms and melts like snowflakes, and he can't look away.

He takes another step forward and Wally steps to the side. There was familiarity between them. Wally deferred to him. Dick can't quite tell why. Though, with how Wally hasn't once looked at Clockwork, maybe it's because he's... grounded? Are all speedsters in trouble with, what, the Ghost of Time? That... actually makes perfect sense.

"I'll be honest, Nightwing: You've impressed me." The weight behind the King's words lifts the ones that've been on his shoulders since he was nine. "You remind me of myself. Maybe, if I wasn't a Halfa... If I had a mentor... I could've been like you.

"Despite Clockwork's insistence over the years that I get back in touch with the living, I've held off. When he eventually suggested that I help create another Halfa, I locked him in his tower for twenty years. I didn't want anyone to go through what I had. But, now... I see that you won't. You can't. Even if you hide this deal--our shared powers... You'll still have people by your side. Strong people. Smart people. You can already handle yourself. And I'd love to see what you can do--who you can save--with my help."

There was maybe two inches between their faces when the King finishes speaking. Dick roves his eyes across the other's face, trying to find the common and familiar ticks that show lies and deceit and manipulation. All he finds is sincerity and genuine care.

Wally plays with his fingers from the corner of his eye, gaze hopeful as he looks between the two of them. Wally, who was alive and breathing and able to leave if he accepts. Eventually. Somehow.

Dick Grayson sends a quiet apology to his parents and hopes they will forgive him for being a little bit selfish.

"I accept."

He flings his eyes open. Above him, domino mask too wobbly to be properly secured anymore, was Robin crying and begging him to wake up. His hands were sloppily placed over his heart. Batman was trying to drag him away, the firm set of his jaw screaming grief.

Nightwing gasps once he registers his lungs burning.

There's a large cacophony of noise, multiple bright suits and people hounding over him, and the distinct artificial taste of slightly-too-much oxygen that the ship with the Parademons had. That he flew out of and died. He was still too cold.

Someone moves their arm beneath his knees and shoulder and Dick passes out.

(Dick 'Nightwing' Grayson dies in space. Ghost King Danny Phantom likes this too-human Hero. They split their souls in half, take one piece of the others, and all they know is that Phantom is now Nightwing's Patron Deity. Danny uses ice, for electricity killed him. Dick uses electricity, for ice killed him. They are opposites, and yet so incredibly similar. Clockwork was looking forward to when Danny starts putting off his paperwork to hang out with his new 'friend'.)

[finemealprompt]

DP x DC Prompt #15

Danny didn't realize not everyone sees ghosts. That when the portal had opened, it has released so much radiation everyone in the town had been affected. He just thought everyone could see ghosts.

In the aftermath of a battle with the League, one of his rogue's decided it was a perfect opportunity to show up and cause Danny problems.

He was confused why Superman restricted him mid-fight. Superman was ... asking him if he was okay? And why he was shooting at the air and talking to nobody?

Now, how did Danny explain to them that he was fighting ghosts they couldn't see without revealing his halfa status.