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chairteeth · 1 year ago

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“Touka, Nemu, and the White Walls”

*deep breath* Hear Me Out. I’m sure you are by now familiar with my screaming of aaaaa the word soulmate was made for them (whether platonic or romantic is up to you), when it comes to Touka and Nemu. However! I must now try to articulate, based on the limited information available to us, exactly what happened during the early stages of Touka and Nemu’s relationship and how their bond developed. I will not touch on Ui too much though (there is another essay for that). So, informal essay under the cut!

Touka and Nemu have been bound together since the hospital, because they found in each other what they’d been craving for so long: an equal. They are each other’s equals in ways Ui just can’t manage, even back then. After a baptism by fire in every way, their bond only strengthened until it got to where it is today. But, I want to take a look at the roots of this connection. Before the Wings of the Magius. Before Kyubey.

First things first: these girls do not trust adults. They don’t fear them, mind you. But they also don’t trust them. This is a trait Alina shares with them, and a trait many child prodigies come to share. They’re cynical because of their trauma, but also wary of how they are exploited and condescended. They have learned not to trust adults specifically because of their alien treatment, and that extends to children slowly during their time at the hospital. They’re misunderstood, sometimes ridiculed, isolated without choice. They decide to own that isolation, because it can’t hurt them if they own it, but it gets to them.

Touka takes it as a challenge, wants to prove she isn’t weak, and thus acts superior. Nemu tries to brush past it, and falls into spirals of patterns and thought processes when she tries to figure out if there’s something wrong with her (beyond her being different), considering the way the others act. And they both cope via the amazingly healthy method we call repression. We see glimpses of this throughout, for instance in TouNemu’s Christmas MGS. Even when they’re mad at each other and Ui isn’t involved, Touka still ultimately sits next to Nemu, talks to her, and goes as far as to request an answer (which Nemu who is not in the greatest mood and it’s her fault has not given, she has been quiet the entire time). It’s interesting to note about that MGS that from that point on, every “sorry” and “thank you” has come easy to them, when they’ve had to use the words. You will notice that Touka in particular easily apologizes to and thanks Nemu, but doesn’t really say it to anyone else most of the time (examples are in her own MGS when she’s ranting at Nemu on their way I assume home from Fendt Hope while they’re alone together and she apologizes for being angry, that whole scene is going to be analyzed at a later date. Another specific example is in Arc 2, when Touka asks Nemu to fetch something for her while they’re trying to unlock Ryo’s phone, then apologizes when Nemu gets back because she didn’t need it after all.)

They’re drawn to each other initially because they’re finally understood. They’re not turned away, but argued with as equals, listened to, not placated but confronted instead. They're giving each other what they’ve so desperately craved from the beginning. And there’s a beatific solace to knowing there is nothing wrong with you, and even if there is, fuck it all because you’re not the only one that’s wrong. Because you’re not alone anymore.

This specifically ties into Nemu even more because Nemu is painfully starved for affection. For meaningful connection. For home. For, as Shizuku may put it, a place to belong. Touka has her father, and while he can’t exactly understand Touka the way Nemu can, I’m sure Nemu has been jealous/bitter at some point due to Touka having a loving, affectionate parental figure. Her personal memoria is very on the nose about what she wants most, as is her MGS, but especially the personal memoria. To quote it directly: “What was I hoping for? What did I want? A newly released novel? An out-of-print book that sounded interesting? New clothes for a change of image? No, no, no. Those are all wrong. I just want to be told I’m loved. It’s so close and yet so far. That is all I want.”

The tie to Touka here is a little different. She did not have very many options. I’m sure that deep down, Touka is aware of what would have happened to her if she hadn’t found Nemu in time. Lost to madness when her masks begin to crack, her life falling apart, becoming one with her masks to the point she loses sight of who she started out as… Rotting inside the mask. Though in her case, she’s well-off enough that she could plausibly just be a hermit. For a time. Until the loneliness began to eat away at her. Touka’s main connection before Nemu (and before Ui) was her father, and her father is a good man, he tries to be there for her and actually be a parent despite his busy schedule (looking at you, Hiiragi family. If the Tamaki parents can spare a few minutes to video call their hospitalized child, you can too), but she doesn’t guard him like she guards her astronomy knowledge, she doesn’t guard him like she guards Nemu.

Look, it’s subtler in the hospital era than it is later down the line, but. These two are so ridiculously devoted to each other that it makes me completely unhinged. They act as one, without doubt, without fear (you don’t just agree to die with someone you don’t feel strongly about and bind your own life to, but I will scream about that in the post-Arc 1 essay). This started all the way back in the hospital. Though, there’s multiple things I have yet to address… The resentment has its own essay, but let’s talk about anger for a moment.

Touka is the one more known for her anger. For both of them, there’s different kinds of anger they hold. Touka is just easier to talk about. Most of her anger is toward society and the people around her (no one in particular, just People™, the people that get to be “normal” and have things), and anger at Nemu’s family. The reason that last thing is an entire category is because it shapes her relationship with Nemu. Touka cares more about Nemu than Nemu does about herself, and the anger towards her family is a key point in their relationship and how she treats Nemu—it’s one of the things that make her protective of Nemu. That anger in turn fuels her anger towards society as well. She expressed in the third episode of her MGS how she feels like the world has done nothing but take things away from her for her entire life, therefore she shouldn’t have to share, shouldn’t have to give the world anything (she has grown from this and I will talk about it in my Arc 2 essays). And yet, most of Touka’s anger, especially towards society, is subconscious. I don’t think she learns to recognize and articulate it until a lot later in life, at least. And where her anger is a fiery pit… Nemu’s is resigned and flickering embers.

Nemu has taken so much hurt that the part of her that defends her is barely holding on. She is starkly aware and somewhat articulate about why she has resentment and anger towards society, but she doesn’t seem to hold much of it towards her family. I’d say she much more wishes she knew them enough to be angry at them. She’s just tired. She’s used to it, it’s “fine” and not their fault. Nemu also feels like she has a muted anger bubbling underneath her skin, toward herself. Maybe cursing her illness that prevented her from being part of her family. Maybe because she takes on blame and guilt to relieve others, it becomes second nature, and she hates part of herself for it. Her anger still tries to defend her, but enough repression and it kind of shuts up. It’s emotionally draining. Nemu has this tendency to overthink stuff a lot more than Touka, she’s more introspective and philosophical about everything. That is both good and bad, because while reflecting on events is a good thing, the conclusions a child like her may take from it may not be. Her one respite that makes her feel understood and alive? Touka.

Now, I know I have tunnel vision, and I know that my otp blinds makes me fixate on specifically these two, but I do have to talk about Ui and Iroha a little more. Mainly Ui. Their connections are different. Iroha and Ui represent secure attachments. People that, although they know they can’t match or understand them, will be there for them. Constant exposure to Ui in particular was important in mitigating that anger towards others, and it was good for the other two’s self-worth and sense of self. As we have seen many times, especially at first, this manifested in them essentially resource guarding like dogs who have been starving in the streets their entire lives and finally get to have food. That was, until they realized two things. One was that they could share. Another was that there was meaningful connection to be found in each other too, and that Ui was not their only definitive source of kindness and comfort. Touka specifically has a thing about being kind. As per her flower field memoria: “The end of the universe brings the dark and vast eternal world of time to my tiny little cramped world. The end of the universe also creates the flow of time. I don't care if my brain cells overheat, I want to know everything. I will cherish what I learn, and it will make me a kinder person.”

Touka wants to be kind. Ui, and by extension Iroha, preach by practice. They don’t scold her and tell her to just be nicer (well, usually). They are genuinely kind people, and Touka looks up to that. She and Nemu both do, though with Touka it’s a lot more blatant because it’s often harder for her to be kind—I interpret Touka as naturally having low empathy, which is not a bad thing or a thing to be pitied, but instead something that can become a strength. Unfortunately, it can also result in severe struggles, socially speaking, and Touka isn’t in the best position to have those, because people’s reactions to her just make her feel more alienated (which, again, she tries to take pride in as a defense mechanism) and more justified in her anger and resentment. Still, Touka is trying. The erasure of Iroha and Ui from her memories, and the fact that she had Nemu, made her close off into this mentality of “it’ll be okay as long as we have each other, everyone else can rot.” In a way, at least. Deep down, though, Touka still wants to be good. Wants to save magical girls. Because she sees herself in magical girls and their struggles. Magical girls are isolated, alienated from society by their very nature. Just like her. And it’s unfair that their struggles are not seen or heard, never recognized. They are never given a helping hand. On top of that, they live on a timer. Just like her back in the hospital.

Nemu wants to rest. To let down her guard and not be hurt, for once. She wants a home, somewhere or someone who will make her a priority. She has never been a priority. To anyone. That’s why it’s upsetting to her at first, who should be the calmer one, when Ui “chooses Touka over her” or otherwise elects to do something else that has nothing to do with her. She takes it personally. Nonetheless, she sees the way Iroha and Ui act, and she wishes she could be like them. Nemu thinks her feelings are ugly, something to be hidden away, and has gotten used to bottling them up, coping through writing and hopefully through nothing else. Touka becomes a sort of shelter. Someone so very similar to her, despite their differences. Someone who also hides their feelings. Both of them say at the end of Christmas String that they admire Ui because they can’t copy her, can’t copy the way she’s always happy to help others, but that is a direct contradiction of their own actions in that very event. I won’t expand on it here, but Nemu might be more aware than Touka about some of these issues. Nemu actively expresses her feelings about magical girls as a group in her MGS, and it’s not all that dissimilar from Touka’s own reasoning for wanting to save them. She wants magical girls to be recognized, she wants people to know them. Sounds awfully similar to herself wanting to be known, doesn’t it?

Lastly, I want to look at something that should’ve been The First Sign and ties into certain points I made about Touka in another essay (“The Many Masks of Touka Satomi”). Nemu’s writing. Touka starts out downright loathing it, though I assume this must’ve been mostly the product of jealousy (over Ui) at the time. By the time we get to the hospital episode of Nemu’s MGS, however, Touka has made and manages a website for Nemu, including contact information. Let me break that down for you. Nemu would never ask Touka to do something like this, and judging by her reaction to the part we see, she really did not. Which means Touka, of her own will, brought it up and offered to do it. Why? Why, especially in the hospital era? This is one of many instances where the game simply drops a piece of information like an anvil on my foot and refuses to elaborate, thus leaving me to froth at the mouth until I manage to articulate my thoughts. Allow me to go on a giant website tangent and give you an overview of the sheer work Touka just, did for Nemu of her own volition and then continued to do from that point on (warning, this is going to end in me gushing about how much these two care about each other):

First, the planning and conceptualization stage, which is arguably the easiest and I assume was just a bunch of lengthy conversations between Touka and Nemu. They’re excellent at planning things together, as we have seen multiple times in the story, so planning the content structure and layout would have also been simple. Then there’s domain name and hosting. Touka would’ve had to choose and register a domain name, then either select a reliable web hosting service to store the website files or somehow do it herself (it’s Touka, she will find a way). Next up, website design and development, which is arguably also “simple” in the sense that “all you have to do” is design the website’s layout, color scheme, and overall aesthetics. Who knows how these two did that.

The development part was on Touka entirely, since that’s where you have to use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and potentially a content management system but I’m not sure how exactly Touka would go about it (if she makes something she will make something she can brag about and be proud of). Of course this is also the phase where you integrate necessary features like a contact form or whatever Touka did to put Nemu’s email there (that she is apparently also in charge of, since she was able to check the emails and I doubt Nemu wants to deal with that, though she was upset that Touka added this without consulting her for a moment, which is an interesting decision). Content creation would then fall to Nemu, though she writes by hand so Touka would have to digitize every single page. And! Search engine optimization! This includes keyword research, on-page SEO, and setting up meta tags. This is a job that in real life that can be extremely lucrative.

It’s not over because we also happen to know that Nemu makes “more than enough” from ad revenue alone on that website. So that means Touka set up ad revenue streams for this and took care of the monetization aspect which may have included a couple of illegalities (because they’re minors). After that would be thoroughly testing the website’s functionality, including navigation, forms, and any interactive elements, then the launch itself, which is uploading the website files to the hosting server and configuring domain settings to point to the hosting server. This doesn’t take into account whatever marketing/promotion Touka did to get the word out so quickly and successfully that the numbers would climb the way they did in the scene we saw.

BUT IT DOESN’T END THERE. A website requires regular maintenance, and Touka would’ve also had to implement security measures to protect against threats like hacking or malware and regularly back up the website to prevent data loss. I think she probably mostly ignored legal considerations because this is Touka we’re talking about, but she also set up analytics tools to track visitor behavior and website performance, that’s what I assume we were seeing in that one scene. Touka “we’re not friends” Satomi, everybody.

WHICH BRINGS. ME. TO. Touka apparently just, manually transcribes the handwritten manuscripts herself. And not only does she not get annoyed, angry, or tired over any of this, she gets worried that Nemu might find it a pain to double check that Touka read her handwriting correctly. Once the initial transcription is done (which you can imagine takes quite a bit of time and dedication), it’s time to proofread and compare it to the original manuscript, make corrections and adjustments as needed, then apply structural markup to the digital text (this means adding tags to indicate elements like headings, paragraphs, annotations, and more), and create a detailed record of metadata for each manuscript. This is kinda tied to the website but also, accessibility considerations. Touka with all of her medical knowledge and living in a hospital her whole life would be familiar with this, but it’s still more work. I also figure she took care of the copyright part for Nemu.

Okay, okay, I’m done now, I promise. But. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Touka knows how much writing means to Nemu and look at what she does for her! I was going to explode if I didn’t draw attention to this piece of info that is so easy to brush off. In total, the initial work for this could range from approximately 220 to 355+ hours. I will have to just go before I get even more unhinged about them. Next essay will take a while longer to come out, since I do have other stuff to write. Nishi out!

#magia record #essay #touka satomi #nemu hiiragi #I'M SORRY IT'S ME AGAIN

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crmsnmth · 7 months ago

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Memoria Infinita

My dreams come wrapped in saran wrap so they can be kept fresh as they repeat themselves an endless loop, infinity in memory You can run, but you'll never outrun yourself When bad dreams have bad dreams and the spiral pulls me deeper into it's twisted grip Gnarled fingers dig deep into the soft flesh of my arm I am made of wax

My dreams crawl ontop of each other turning the wettest of dreams into the most terrifying nightmares The dream world changes from color and monotone So often you can't figure out the changes Stomp your feet off beat with the band A soundtrack of snarling rebellion in spiked hair and spiked clothes It hurts even more when your saviour lets you down

Fall asleep again. An endless loop, infinity in memory

I don't want to see myself die every time I fall asleep

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macravishedbymactavish · 2 years ago

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Pro Memoria (COD x GN! Reader)

TW for This is going to hurt.

...actual TW for major character death, likely militarily inaccuracies. No named characters/specific details, so this can be applied to anyone in the COD universe

| Blog HQ | Modern Warfare 2 Masterlist | Ghosts Masterlist |

The timer in the corner glaringly obvious, ticking down time faster than your feet would have ever been able to carry you. Ticking down your time until you opened a new chapter.

One more...permanent.

"Enough staring, get over here" he whispered, knowing your brain was spiraling. Focusing on the fear, the loss, the could've been. All the people you wouldn't get to say goodbye to, all the experiences you wouldn't have.

Sucking in a deep breath, you stepped into his awaiting arms. Wrapping yourselves in one another, your head resting on his chest, hearing his erratic heartbeat.

He was terrified too.

"This is so clichè" you mumbled, heart filling with love momentarily as his chest rumbled with laughter. The feeling soon passing when the main power cut off, the room now being illuminated by flashing lights. A screeching sound from the alarm going off causing you to jump.

It's happening any time now...

"Focus on me" you glanced up, throat tight as he spoke:

"I love you"

"As I love you"

The break in your voices, the tears falling down your cheeks. Both of you silently thanking whoever was listening that at least you had each other in these final moments.

Feeling his hands on either side of your face, covering your ears he pulled you in for a kiss. Both of you memorizing the other, and pouring as much love into the moment as possible until the end.

Op 0117 - Mission Successful. 2 KIA

The remote detonation system went down. To complete the mission, keep the public safe and neutralize our threat; manual detonation was required. What our intel failed to inform us prior to this mission was the manual detonation system has a maximum timer of 3 minutes. Which was not nearly enough time to set it and escape. We thank them for their service and sacrifice.

Taglist: @bloodonmyhands-1221 @v1naco @ai-luni

#call of duty ghosts #call of duty modern warfare 2 #logan walker #keegan p russ #logan walker x reader #david hesh walker #simon ghost riley #cod mw2 #john soap mactavish #keegan p russ x reader #david hesh walker x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #john soap mctavish x reader #captain john price x reader #captain john price #kyle gaz garrick x reader #kyle gaz garrick

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incorrect-ceaseless-watcher · 1 year ago

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idk how many of you are into the band ghost but I seriously feel like I need to create some crossover content because it's just too perfect. most of these are just based off lyrics don't hate me

TMA entities as Ghost songs.

the eye: watcher in the sky

the buried: ghuleh/ zombie queen

the spiral: secular haze

the slaughter: twenties

the vast: life eternal

the web: faith

the hunt: hunter's moon

the dark: deus in absentia

the corruption: rats

the lonely: call me little sunshine

the stranger: I'm a marionette

the end: pro memoria

the desolation: from the pinnacle to the pit

the extinction: year zero

#the magnus archives #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #tma #elias bouchard #cardinal copia #ghost band #papa iv #copia #the band ghost #ghost bc #tma ghost crossover #incorrect ceaseless watcher #incorrect tma

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rayneing-on-your-parade · 5 months ago

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My Projects

I have a variety of fanfic and original content projects out in the wild, so here's a masterlist of all of them:

Original Works

Slowly Unspooling - A queer horror audiodrama about follows Kai as they try to figure out the reason behind some cassette tapes that showed up one day.

@solitudeseventhorizon - An upcoming queer horror sci fi following Eli after their ship encountered an anomaly, leaving them the only survivor

Long list of Fanworks under the break

Fanworks

The Magnus Archives

Completed:

I Know the Kindest Thing is to Leave you Alone - Elias Bouchard/Peter Lukas - (Teen) - James Wright is getting old and wants to retire. Elias Bouchard is in a new relationship. Jonah Magnus is upset Elias isn't taking care of his Lukas, so he rushes to take over.

Sunshine - Eric Delano/Michael Shelley - (General) - Written for In Memoria by Behold_me - After Eric disappears one day, Michael has to raise Gerry, but doesn't know how to.

A Past Worth Fighting For - Jonathan Sims/Gerry Delano - (Teen) - The first part of my Rise and Fall series, All about Jon and Gerry growing up together

Delirious Desires - Gerard Keay/Michael - (Explicit) - A spiral!gerry ending, where Michael sends Gerry to the hospital on accident, and thinks the worst. That leads it to the archives to deal with a bigger problem.

The Desolation - Gerard Keay & Jude Perry - (explicit for graphic violence) - Part of my entity swap Gerry series. When Jude Perry shows up and takes a liking to Gerry, one can only guess at the shenanigans the two will get into. Soon she keeps showing up and offers a way out for him, if he only asks.

Ghost of Our Fears - Martin Blackwood/Jonathan Sims - (General) - Somewhere else, Jon broke the promise of together. Martin clung as long as he could. But a ghost can only hang on so long.

Come Back to Me - Elias Bouchard/Peter Lukas and Mordechai Lukas/Jonah Magnus - (Explicit) - Elias Bouchard has a yearly meeting with a Lukas to maintain a contract he had with Mordechai Lukas over a century ago. But he wasn't expecting Mordechai to be the one to walk in saying his name was Peter Lukas.

Gerry's Gener Grief - (General) - Part of Rise and Fall - Growing up, Gerry was only ever allowed to be what Mary wanted him to be. Now with Michael and Eric taking care of him, he's realizing that's not what all he's limited to. Starting with his gender.

Arrows in a Quiver - Martin Blackwood/Gerard Keay - (General) - Also part of Rise and Fall - Martin is questioning his romantic orientation and Gerry has some strong opinions on gatekeeping

The Archivist's Statements - Martin Blackwood/Jonathan Sims - (General) - Jon always has a tape recorder on hand, what if he took advantage of that and used it as an audio diary since he can just talk without thinking?

The Benefits of Fingers in Your Hair - Michael Shelley/Gerard Keay - Gerry and Michael embark on a journey of love, trust, and overcoming the shadows of their pasts. Together, they find solace in each other's arms, cherishing the simple moments of dyeing hair and sharing tender kisses. In a world filled with uncertainty, Gerry and Michael have discovered a love that can withstand any darkness.

Whispers of the Woods - Martin Blackwood/Jonathan Sims, Gerard Keay/Michael - (Mature) - Jon, the reclusive forest witch, used to offer answers to visitors seeking knowledge before he cut off all ties. When Martin is sent by his mother years later to receive one of Jon's famous answers he gets lost. However, guided by a mysterious stranger, he arrives at Jon's tower, and their encounter sets in motion a series of curious events, including a deepening friendship, an unexpected disappearance, and a tangled web of secrets.

Not Yet/Love Run - Gerard Keay/Michael Shelley, Gerard Keay/Michael - (Explicit) - Gerry's relationship with Michael hasn't been all sunshine and roses. No matter how hard he tries to make it. So he's not surprised when Michael comes home one day and kicks him out. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Whispered Affection - Gerard Keay/Jonathan Sims - (Explicit) - Part of Rise and Fall - On the first day Jon and Gerry's new relationship as a married couple, Jon can't help but feel anxious over what is being missed. Gerry is very willing to give Jon anything he wants.

How to Live Again - Gerry Delano/Jon Sims, Martin Blackwood/Jonathan Sims, Jonathan Sims/Tim Stoker, Martin Blackwood & Gerry Delano - (Mature) - The main fic of my Rise and Fall series - Jon wakes up in the year 2022 in a bed that is not his own. And more surprisingly, it's not Martin curled up next to him. Jon has a fight with what was done, and the fact that he lived through it and Martin is no where to be found. Gerry has to come to terms with the fact that their husband is gone and the man in his place has no recollection of them. Martin is nowhere to be found and doesn't want to be found.

In Progress:

Still You Call Yourself my Friend - Martin/Jon/Tim&Sasha (Polychives) - (Mature) - After Jane Prentiss's attack on the archives and everything goes back mostly to normal, its the polychive's date night but sasha isn't showing up. Jon admits he's having some concerns over Sasha's attitude since the attack and soon they realize something is wrong. The three boyfriends have to work together with growing suspicions and hostility to try to save their relationship and their girlfriend's life

Sunday Dinner - Gerard Keay/Michael, Gerard Keay & Everyone - (Mature) - After Mary dies Gerry is left alone and the Avatars can't have this boy who learned to read on Leitners be free roaming. So now they're his family.

The End - Gerard Keay/Jonathan Sims/Martin Blackwood - (Mature) - Part of my Gerry entity swap Series - Gerry gets a Leitner at age 6 to keep him busy while Mary works on a business deal. Little did she know that it would set him on a path that would change his life for good

Twisted Up in You - Eric Delano/Michael - (Explicit) - 25 years ago, Eric tried to leave the institute and failed. Mary decided she had no need for him anymore and tried to kill him for it, but he managed to get away, leaving Gerry behind. Eventually he fell in love with his coworker, Michael Shelley. Then he heard the news of Mary's death, and got his child, now an adult, back. It seemed his life was finally perfect. So when Gertrude Robinson brought Michael along on a trip to Russia and came back alone, he knew better than to be surprised. And if a yellow door is stalking him, whats one more thing to add to the list?

Something Just Like This - Eric Delano/Michael Shelley, Eric Delano & Elias Bouchard - (Explicit) - Eric is Gerry's perfect dad, he tends to his every need and never even considers asking Mary to do anything. So when she volunteers one night Gerry wakes up from a night terror Eric is relieved, it allows him to stay in bed just a little longer before seeing if his boy needs him. What he doesn't expect is for the Eye to feed him what Mary is truly planning on doing. So after taking Gerry and running, he ends up in the Archives, trying to find where is safe from Mary finding and finishing her plan.

The Mistholme Museum of Mystery Morbidity and Mortality

Completed

Corrupted Programming - (Teen) - Cw Suicidal Ideation - Guide goes on another Retrieval Mission through the glassways. It isn't really interested after Raptor Team. Head of Retrieval notices.

Guide's Holiday - Audio Tour Guide & The Clockwork Mother - (General) - The worst is past; everything is back to how it should be in the museum. So why does Guide still feel like this? The Curator notices and calls it to their office.

In Progress

Road Trips to the Finish Line - Amina & The Audio Tour Guide - (Teen) - Amina "kidnaps" Guide, and they go on a road trip. Where ever Guide wants she takes it. They find a few interesting things along the way and meet up with a few old friends.

Echoes of Forgotten Tales - (Teen) - The doors of Mistholme Museum have remained sealed until three friends stumble upon a forgotten entrance. Inside, they encounter fragmented guides with unique personalities, each holding secrets of the museum's past. As they navigate through its exhibits, facing challenges and uncovering truths, they must decide whether to save the museum from chaos and confront the enigmatic figures who now control it.

A Ghost in the Machine - Gerard Keay/The Audio Tour Guide - (Mature) - A TMA and Mistholme crossover - While the staff here at Mistholme Museum of Mystery Morbidity and Mortality do their absolute best to ensure the safety of all visitors, accidents can happen. The museum is not liable for any injury, death, or unfortunate feelings for podcast characters that hold so much gender in them that may occur during your visit. AKA Elias Bouchard has a new exhibit for the Mistholme Museum of Mystery, Morbidity, and Mortality. A gift for an old friend. Wherein Guide meets another "not quite person" person, and learns another emotion it had not considered an option for itself. But that person does not want to be an option after the Archivist promised to destroy them.

Your Tour Through the Mistholme Museum of Mystery Morbidity and Mortality - (Teen) - A collection of Exhibit Fics, all with the same patron

Blackrock Chronicles

The Magic Within - Rythian & Zoey - (Teen) - In the bustling corridors of high school, Rythian navigates a world that despises his magic. When newcomer Zoey arrives, possessing her own unique abilities, they form an unlikely bond amid bullying and prejudice. Together, they confront their hidden powers in a thrilling tale of magic, courage, and acceptance.

Destroyer of Worlds - Rythian/Zoey - (Teen) - The end is coming, and Rythian can feel it in every shadow that looms over his world. With the relentless endermen attacks escalating, he struggles to protect his beloved Zoey and keep his deepest fears at bay. But when a dire mission forces him to leave her side, Rythian's resolve is tested like never before.

Sanctuary Reforged - Rythian/Zoey - A year after a nuclear blast shattered their world, Zoey and her mechanical arm have found refuge in the desert town of Crooked Caber. As whispers of survival and rebuilding fill the air, a voice from the past brings scientist Duncan to Rythian’s doorstep, dragging secrets and old allies along. Reunions are fraught with tension and betrayal as Zoey’s miraculous survival is unveiled to her grieving friends.

Chronicles of Remembrance - Zoey/Rythian - Zoey works to defuse the nukes, but makes a mistake. Her last thoughts are of Rythian, though her next are not.

The Magic of Harmony - Zoey/Rythian - After the rebellion's tumult, Rythian crafts magical rings for Zoey, seeking to bring her joy amidst chaos.

#slowlyunspooling #the magnus archives #blackrock chronicles #the mistholme museum #original works #fanworks #teaholding #doorkeay #eric delano #Michael Shelley #jonah magnus #jonathan sims #Gerard Keay #elias bouchard #zoeya proasheck #rythian enderborn #aspen writes

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memorabilia-memoria · 2 years ago

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Spiral-ing

Hometown, février 2023

#photography #photographie #france #hometown #escalier #stairs #walls #buildings #cityscape #spirale #memoria #memorabilia

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astrxlfinale · 6 months ago

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"I would have thought you returned home with the rest, Caelus."

It is neither accusation nor condemning, the Navigator need not turn around to know who it is that treads upon her shadow. To be apart of the Astral Express is to be seen and known by its Navigator. That should she wished every step taken is seen in advance, the decisions that lead up to them privy.

But there is no need for her to know such, ones autonomy warrents Himeko to look away the mundane. Wherre that gentle guiding hand is not needed she will not offer it and allow them weather uncharted seas with their own map and compass.

This too is one such example of freedom.

Ember eyes continue to stare starward, looking towards where the depths of the Dream reef meets the shore of the Penacony born of a cancer. It is by the Watchmaker's side that the woman once stood previously, pressing something cherished into the hands of a dream that has long turned to seafoam.

'Well met, Mikhail. The Trailblaze continues on to continue upon the ground work you have left behind.'

Its odd to be upon this end, to see what and who is left behind. It leaves her with a strange listlessness in need of quiet contemplation. Yet that time has come to an end it seemed.

"Rather rude to sneak upon a lady, no?"

He hadn't expected to catch the rhythm of flames by the dreamy ocean side. It was a land where the borders were bound, only outside influences of powerful wills and Memoria coalescing into the valued in between. Being met with Himeko's words had given him pause, and once again, there's this measure of distance that presents itself before him.

Out of reach. Yet at the same time, finding a way to keep close.

"Welcome the unexpected. These shoes of mine aren't feeling tired just yet." Caelus draws as a measured response, daring to take those steps forward. Within moments he'd be situated by the side of the Astral Navigator. A fair share of distance apart, yet, shoulder to shoulder they would stand as a somber and warm weight permeates the atmosphere. Within his own soul, it simply isn't the measure of loss that could be felt rippling in Dreamflux Reef.

What surges in the mind of the Trailblazer is how a treasured Nameless remolded the torch. How to this day, so many of them are carrying it through various mediums, physical, spiritual, in measures and means unique only to their particular universe. Never before could he imagine that loss could leave such a sublime measure of warmth.

Even if he's never been able to share a single, proper word with the one known Mikhail Char Legwork, Penacony's very own Watchmaker.

Someone who wove together every fragment of time Asdana needed.

"I certainly don't mind compensating if I've been too daring. ..But, I'd like to consider us Trailblazers, just traversing through old paths left behind."

"A little inspiration for something new."

A gentle flow of Imaginary energy would bring forth a familiar article into his grip. Even this very fabric, an old Navigator's hat held the intent to guide, and to be a force that traverses alongside them with each step. All he holds in his hand is merely a beacon.

For the true flame that's known as The Watchermaker's Legacy is a force that's spiraled all throughout Asdana. A lie and a legend, the perfect ingredients to weave together great darkness and the greatest hope within.

Even now, Caelus can't help but draw a smile at the sheer moxie of it all.

"I've found myself roaming the streets here now days.. More and more. All just to take in a feeling that the glamor Penacony really made me come to miss. In my eyes, the roots of it all is a hell lot more interesting."

The Journey. Never was it about the destination from the beginning.

Acheron's words about Endings still hold as a thoughtful chime in his mind.

Never does he take that moment to turn towards Himeko. For the time, he'd join where those ember eyes of her's focus, the golden magnanimity of his own being no different as he holds a simple thought.

"Himeko? What do you see out there right now?"

@chasersglow

#chasersglow #| Shuttle Mail #A shared moment of paying respects #A moment he simply wants to let be

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marshmallowsqoosh · 2 years ago

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[Ghost (Band) | Absolution Absentia]

Fandom: Ghost (Band) Title (and AO3): Absolution Absentia CW: Minor depictions of (magical) violence Lesser Warnings: headcanon heavy, not beta read, ghouls are hellsent beings and have magick, author uses Sodo instead of Dew, life/death/resurrection meta, kinda blasphemous tbh ♠ Eventual Terzo/Omega; mentions of Aether/Sodo ♠

Summary: Five years doesn't feel quite so long until you really try to think about it. The media doesn't think so, most of the church still doesn't think so, and Copia, and his Ghouls… perhaps thought this was behind them, finally.

In the same verse as Pro Memoria, so events from there will be referenced :3

Still don’t have a beta, so if you spot any errors/odd spots, lemme know!

extras. Status: 1 / ? Word Count: 8098

♥ [Absolution Absentia] ♥

Copia turns in early for the evening, stifling a yawn behind one hand and making an idle wave towards his Ghouls, with the other, once he's assured they all put their masks up for the night.

"I trust all of you to leave the Ministry grounds in one piece, if you go through with this vigil." He pauses on his way to the stairs, tipping his head. "Light an extra three candles for me, if you would."

He thinks Aether assures him they will; but, Sodo's already tugged on his arm and all of them take off outside. The weather… had been clear. It's as good a night as any to do a vigil for the lost, they'll be busy soon enough and he's not entirely sure they'll have time the day that marks the death of the brothers. He wants to go out to the vigil with them, but… he's so tired. He just needs to rest. Maybe he'll finally sleep through the paralysis demons.

There is some satisfaction—some minor hope—that perhaps he won't and this time… this time Aether or Swiss or Mountain or—well. Any of his Ghouls. None of them will be nearby to ease the panic. Maybe it will finally take him.

Maybe he wants it to.

♥

"Should we really be leaving him alone?"

Aether tips his head in Swiss' direction, still being pulled along by Sodo having a grip around his arm and tugging on him to try keeping up with Rain and Mountain. He uses the moment of distraction—Sodo looking back, eyes narrowed and ears already slanting, suspiciously—to work his arm free and give the Fire Ghoul a gentle push after the others. "We'll catch up. Everything's fine."

"You're absolute shit at lying, I hope you know that." Still, he doesn't wait long after that, already running to catch up with Rain. The peace only lasts for so long—Mountain manages to get out of the way when Stratus dives at the trio from the side; she only knocks Rain and Sodo over, but it's enough to steal all of their candles to add to her own hoard and take off for the outdoor oratory. Cirrus and Cumulus take a calmer pace, following the larger group and he sees Cirrus constantly looking up towards the sky. Aether follows the look a few times—it still looks clear, but… that didn't mean much. Not when an Air Ghoul was concerned.

His attention finally goes back to Swiss when he gets elbowed in the side and he releases a slow, deep breath. "If one of us stayed, no one would want to do this. You know that, I know that. I think they do, too." Sodo does. Rain probably does, he's already falling into the yearly routine that fell around the brothers' deaths. … He's certain all of them know. Stratus might not, but she knows enough that they're coming up on something important to the others and doing her best to be supportive, even if it means being a little extra chaotic to keep things from spiraling too far down the darker paths.

"... I guess so." Swiss still crosses his arms. Aether's not surprised when he pulls a second Grucifix out of his shirt to fiddle with. Still stained with void. Lightly scuffed, from its original owner and Swiss' own worrying at it. "Something's coming. Same as it did for… for them. … How are we supposed to do any better than they did?"

Aether doesn't have an answer.

Even if he did, he doubts he would have been able to provide said answer; because a split second later, Stratus runs by him again, back towards the Ministry. With… Sodo over her shoulder. Swiss is staring, too, clearly confused.

"Wh—?"

"Back inside!" Cirrus doesn't raise her voice often. Cumulus is yelling after Mountain and Rain—well. After Rain, who simply runs towards the cemetery, without stopping. Mountain waves back at them, already chasing the other Ghoul down and trying to trap him or trip him by pulling up slabs of the ground that Rain simply jumps or allows himself to liquify just long enough to avoid being trapped and escape through the cracks. He stumbles a few times, but it doesn't stop him and, in turn, doesn't stop Mountain.

Aether's never had a reason to argue with Cirrus and—despite looking like he wants to help Mountain—Swiss doesn't argue, either. They break into a sprint, easily catching up with the Ghoulettes. They've just hit the stairs when a shattering rumble of thunder rolls over the grounds—loud enough and strong enough that the building trembles and the power flickers. They're barely inside, hands covering their ears, desperately—all of them cover their ears, even the Ghouls that simply roam the Ministry at night—when a torrential downpour begins from nowhere and overlapping crackle of lightning floods the brief power outage in white light and a much louder rumble of thunder drowns out the wailing screeches of the labour Ghouls in the lobby.

The power comes back on almost immediately and when Aether looks up, he sees most of the band Ghouls huddled together. Stratus crouched down in a ball with both arms over her head and her tail coiled tight to her body; Sodo isn't tucked quite as tightly as she is, but he's still covering his ears and breathing a lot heavier than he should be, when he'd been carried in and hadn't been running himself. It isn't exertion, though; it's definitely fear and he doesn't fight, for once, when Cirrus curls over him, pulling him close and muttering quiet assurances to him in the same manner that Cumulus offers Stratus, gently trying to coax her out of the tight ball she's huddled down in. Swiss is still next to him, crouched down himself and taking deep, stuttering breaths.

It still takes a few seconds longer to uncover his ears and look back out the door they just ran through. It's harder to track the others in heavy weather but he can… kind of tell Mountain's still chasing Rain down. That isn't what pulls his attention, though. Something else—something… someone else that he can't quite put a finger on—

He jumps when he feels someone grab his wrist and, when he looks back, Sodo has both hands tight around his wrist, looking up with his lips set in a thin line and his brows furrowed tightly. Scared. Not of the storm or the fact Aether almost walked back out into it; but the same way everyone else is. Scared of… something else. Swiss rubs, gingerly, at his chest, like he's trying to soothe an ache and Aether realises he feels the amplified fear from the others. Maybe not in the same, suffocating manner Aether does; but, enough for discomfort

"Should we… go help Mounty…? I can't imagine anyone actually slept through that, we sh—"

"What on Earth did you lot do!?!"

They all jump—Sodo's tail tip and horn tips actually burst into flame and Aether's pretty sure his hands only stay out because he's still clinging. The contact still burns, but he doesn't combust, at least and Aether's able to shush him, gently, by reaching up with his free hand to cover the flames on his horns, one at a time, until they extinguish. Copia looks frazzled, still dressed in his clothes from the upper clergy meeting, still in full papal makeup. Worrisome, but Aether just tells himself it hasn't been that long.

"We—nothing? I don't think it was any of us. … Cirrus?" The Ghoulette shakes her head, firmly; Cumulus mimics the motion when he casts her a glance and Stratus hasn't quite unfurled herself from where she's now tucked against Cumulus for protection and comfort.

"A storm like that does not simp…ly… … where are Mountain and Rain?"

As if on cue, Mountain finally gets inside and kicks the doors shut behind him—probably harder than he intends to—with Rain over his shoulder, struggling to get down. They're both soaked and Mountain looks… somewhere between pissed—which is alarming, in and of itself—and… terrified. It's hard to see the secondary emotion, as he grinds his teeth together and finally manages to set Rain down so Swiss can help calm him down.

He doesn't say anything, just points, insistently, back to the outside, frazzled and at a loss for words and just steadily getting more worked up as he becomes aware of the attention on him. Mountain just sulks a few feet away before he drops down to the tips of his fingers and toes and shakes off, sending water in every which direction and only just missing everyone else. Sodo finally, slowly, detaches his claws from Aether's wrist and shuffles over, carefully heating himself up so the water evaporates and dries as he walks over the wet spots and soon standing close to Mountain in some vain attempt to at least dry his clothes.

Aether's attention finally goes back to Copia when he hears a slow exhale and sees the man rubbing at his eyes. "Well, you're all inside, at least." He looks exhausted when his hand drops back to his side and he goes to kneel with Rain and Swiss, putting a hand on the Ghoul's head in an attempt to calm him faster. At the very least, Rain does still and works on slow, deep breathing and leaning into the way Copia pets his hair down. "You should have come inside with the others."

"Especially as you should have been just as attune to it as we were." Cirrus doesn't sound impressed. Annoyed, almost. "You're lucky neither of you were struck by the lightning!"

Copia frowns, worry hitting hard enough that Aether has to shake off so he doesn't recoil.

"Can you be struck by lightning—?"

"Air… and Water Ghouls are susceptible, yes. Some Earth Ghouls." The feeling is back. Discomfort but not as familiar as the band. Not foreign though. He can hear the others talking and Copia scolding Rain… or maybe trying to get answers. It sounds so far away, though—

"Aeth?"

Sodo sounds a little closer and he uses that to try and focus. On trying to offer a grin that even he can tell is unsteady. "Just… reelin' still. You okay?"

Sodo doesn't believe him. He knows he doesn't, in the way his ears twitch and he looks down. The way his tail is limp but giving periodic flickers. He finally pulls Aether over to Mountain, away from the others. If any of them notice, they don't say anything. Mountain's still on the floor, but at least sitting, legs crossed and arms resting limp on his thighs, palms up so he's staring at them.

He doesn't… feel distressed, though; neither does Rain, he realises, in those few seconds and looks between the two. Rain feels… upset. Frustrated and agitated as he's crowded, even when Cirrus gently ushers Stratus and Cumulus a bit further back and Swiss moves back a little so it's only Copia really focused on him.

Mountain feels… dazed. Scared and hopeful. Numb. Not exactly something Aether wants to be able to feel, but he does his best not to be too obvious about his own discomfort.

Sodo finally releases the grip he has on Aether's arm, hands clasped behind his back the way he's been taught to keep from fidgeting too restlessly.

"Mounty…? Think you can tell Aeth what you told me?"

Sodo generally had a pretty quiet voice away from the stage, but this is soft, even for him. He looks perplexed. Sympathetic, when Mountain starts to tense up, lips pressed in a thin line, and shaking his head. Aether kneels and slowly reaches out, waiting to see if Mountain recoils from the prospect of touch before slowly resting a hand on the hollow of his wrist.

"Lemme help, Mounty. What happened?"

"I—the first flood of light, I saw—I think I saw—but it couldn't have been—?" His breathing picks up and a subtle rumble starts to spread along the floor as he does. Enough to get everyone else's attention and he pulls his legs up, tucking them tight to his body, one arm firmly around his legs and the other knotting back in his hair as he tries to make himself breathe deeper. Slower. To calm down. "Nothing was there. Nothing was there, it's just because of the time. It's just time, it happens every year, nothing's there—"

He lets Mountain work on calming down, careful not to make contact again until he's given a sign he can. Mountain's tail writhes before it finally reaches out to coil around where Aether's hand is still kind of hovering from holding his wrist and only then does he reach out to rub Mountain's shoulder to try helping even a little bit. He looks back—Copia and Swiss aren't having any better luck with Rain. If anything he looks more overwhelmed by the extra attention… so, he looks up at Sodo, who's… staring at the doors.

"Sodo—"

"It stopped storming." His ears twitch, nose wrinkling. "… Still raining, though. … You really shouldn't go by yourself."

"I wasn't going to—?" Sodo gives him a look and Aether doesn't bother trying to finish the half-assed attempt to lie. "Okay, I was, but—"

"I'll go." Aether glances towards Mountain. He still looks… upset. He still feels upset. But, he manages to get to his feet, unsteady, and helps Aether back up. "… Papa should probably come, too. … I caught Rain on the edge of the old grounds. … The lightning hit the crypt."

"It hit where!?"

Aether doesn't get a chance to process or even tell Mountain to keep his voice down. Copia's voice goes shrill and everyone but Mountain and Sodo jumps. Sodo's tail lashes—Aether catches it before the spade hits him and lets it go just as quickly—but he doesn't react pass that. Mountain just shrugs a little.

"It didn't cause a fire. One of the pillars might need mending but… it's somewhere to start." He's talking more to Aether, probably hoping he can feel… something from that general direction. Or feel nothing, probably. They all want it to be nothing… and Aether would love to tell them it's nothing.

He wants to say it's nothing, even as the familiar presence lingers on the fringes of his attention—distracting and damning, when he can't place it as easily as he would like.

"... Should we really take Papa if we don't know what it is?" Admitting it is something makes the atmosphere heavy; but, a moment later Copia's already opening the door and beckoning for the two.

"The sooner we check, the sooner the night continues. … If anyone comes down to check on things, tell them we'll be back."

Anyone. They all know he means Imperator and Nihil. Swiss wrinkles his nose, already knowing he's the one that's going to be dealing with the pair. Sodo follows them outside and simply sits on the steps, just shy of being in the steady downpour. Not a storm but still hard to see through. Still enough to be uncomfortable for a Fire Ghoul.

Aether leans down to kiss both horns—the right one and then a softer kiss on the jagged edge of the left one. "We'll be back soon."

"Better be." Sodo pulls his legs up, arms crossed on top and chin resting on his arms. His eyes glow harsher for a moment, almost in threat, before he relaxes and lets out a slow exhale of smoke that coils around him like a blanket. "You better be."

Aether doesn't bother with any empty affirmations—he knows Sodo isn't going to believe words—and just gives his ear the smallest tweak, reveling in the small twitch and short attempt at a smile, before he runs to catch up with Mountain and Copia. They should probably work fast, their summoner shouldn't be in the rain for too long. Not when it's still cold out. Not cold enough to be sleet or hail, but cold enough that the grounds will probably be frosted in the morning, if the rain ever does stop in full.

There's a pretty obvious path of unsettled land where Mountain had been trying to catch Rain—patterns and cracks in the grass that don't quite meld back together because of the water between them, where he tried to flatten the ground he'd pulled up. Careful to avoid graves and headstones as they get to the fringes of the cemetery, but still there. Part of the fence is warped and Aether would almost find it amusing, if not for the situation. He still raises a brow at it and glances at the other Ghoul who pointedly looks away… only for a split second though.

He stops, a bit abruptly, when he puts his hand on one of the fence posts, forcing Aether and Copia to stop, too, just to see whatever he does.

Most of the fence is warped from the ground shifting. Because of Mountain. Easy to fix once the ground dries, no damage to the actual fence or gate. The post he stops on, though, has something… dark on it.

Hard to see, at first, against the black metal and everything being wet. But, when he pulls his hand away, there's something… thick on his hand and Aether sees his body give a short, shuddering convulsion before he's desperately trying to wipe his hand on a cleaner part of the fence. Aether manages to catch his wrist, using his own sleeve to clean off… what he soon realises is… void? It has the same consistency and definitely explains why Mountain looks like he's going to be sick.

"If you need to go back inside…"

"No—I mean—it's not that—not… not just that." He doesn't try to touch the post again; so, Aether does. There's more of someone's void. He'd almost assume Rain caught himself during the chase and simply cut his hand or arm on the post. But, as he finally wipes the last little blob of void up, he realises it's… burnt? Something's burned straight into the metal post, causing it to catch the void more efficiently. Like a barb pulled from flesh.

He grabs Mountain's hand, just to be sure it isn't his—is relieved he doesn't find anything more than a surface scratch on his palm, which is probably what even got his attention in the first place.

"... Papa, you should probably go back inside."

"You know I'll be expected to have answers." Copia points out; his voice is unsteady as he tries not to chatter in the cold of the rain. "The crypt isn't much further. Just let me see how bad the damage is and I'll go back inside—"

Please, help…

Aether's ears perk up. Even as he sees Mountain backing up and clamp his hands down over his ears, Aether doesn't register danger. He still gets around Copia—instinct, as much as lingering fear of not being able to help Terzo when he was pulled off stage, kicking in immediately—but he doesn't… feel threatened. The voice doesn't cause a visceral reaction for him, even as he swears he recognises it. Copia does; Aether sees his legs nearly give out, sees the man only just barely catch himself on the fence. Mountain recovers enough to catch him before that unsteady structure nearly gives up; but they react to… whoever.

Help us—help—?

He finally finds the source of the voice and just feels. Confused for probably a solid minute. It's definitely a Ghoul. Formless and little more than shadow. Barely manifested, but enough to have a defined shape and horns. A whisp of a tail. The rain sloughs off some of the void, making it smaller… but, the Ghoul also just… looks small. Purple glows against the void in the general area of a face. Purple that flickers between bright and dim, a gentle gold glowing in the left eye.

Mounty… help…

Scared. The other Ghoul sounds desperate—hopeless and helpless but too afraid to get closer—and Mountain feels terrified. He can hear the stuttered breathing behind him—short and heavy and struggling—and Copia… Copia feels numb now.

It's making it harder to focus than Aether's used to as he tries not to get distracted by the tightness in his own chest that threatens to choke him from the other two.

Before he can finally work past that to try getting even a little more information—help with what, help who, there's clearly only one so why us—Mountain finally recovers and moves around him. Unsteady and just barely not tripping over himself, even when it's a simply pace—the same as walking down the streets.

"Mountain—" He wants to tell him to be careful. But, Mountain's already put both hands on the Ghoul's shoulders and a stuttering exhale that could almost be a sob escapes.

"Spesh—Special, you're actually—it's you, right?"

Special. Aether's ears perk up as he finally figures out the horrible feeling from the lobby. Special always felt different but that wasn't what got his attention. The other feeling—the one on the tip of his tongue—is still in his periphery. He just chose to ignore it because they were already heading towards it, he would've found out eventually.

But if it's not Special—

"Aether!"

Compulsion doesn't hit him, even when Copia tries to call him back. He hears Mountain panic—he doesn't look back to see why he nearly chokes on Special's name, only because a moment later the Earth Ghoul has caught up to him. Scared but not terrified. Scared and something just shy of determined. Desperate for answers.

They get to the old crypt just as Special steps out of the shadows and promptly collapses against the heavy doors, struggling to hold himself together. The lightning definitely hit the crypt; part of it is cracked and crumbling, one of the pillars is little more than debris. Two of the three candles have gone out… and it's perhaps alarming that even one of them is still lit, because Aether can't remember the last time someone came to check on this particular corner of the cemetery.

Another barely manifested void is pulling, vainly, at the doors to the crypt, trying to get claws between to tear them open or simply become a void and slink through the cracks. Special catches his arm to get him to stop, ears flickering as he trills and chirps up at the bigger Ghoul. Who finally turns, shoulders and chest heaving with the effort to hold together, just as much as struggling against a door that Ghouls aren't meant to come in contact with.

Gold eyes narrow at the pair; a deep, rumbling growl starts to emit from the Ghoul's chest, tail lashing in agitation, even as he pushes Special back, as though to shield him from the pair.

Aether does his best not to appear confrontational, making sure Omega can see his hands. "Papa isn't far behind us. He can open the crypt."

Both Ghouls look confused and it's as Copia catches up to them, finally… that he realises he should have worded that differently.

He's glad Mountain reacts as quickly as he does. The second Aether realises Omega and Special both tense up, Mountain's already moved around him, quickly trapping Omega's hands and legs in surrounding debris and earth, as best he can, without damaging the crypt further. In his weakened state it… does hold him; but, even in those moments, Aether can tell that Omega's pulling himself together, the gold spreading from his eyes to the rest of his body like veins and solidifying his form that much quicker. It shouldn't be possible without a summoner, but they also shouldn't be here without a summoner—

"Aeth, forget Omega for a—keep Special away from him!"

Special's still annoyingly fast. Aether manages to catch him when he tries to get around Mountain—easily avoiding the slabs of stone and obsidian—and he might feel bad when he throws the Ghoul back to keep him away. Special hits the crypt and lands in a heap, struggling to push himself back up. But it's only for a split second.

His body mimics the veins—purple, instead of gold—only to shift to red as his hands and tail catch fire, even in the rain. Even as it causes smoke to rise from his void, the fire spreads until Mountain manages to knock him over, the two tumbling and scrabbling—clawing, biting, weaponising their tails; no more magick, though—for the upper hand until Mountain finally manages to get his arms under Special's, holding him clean off the ground. His right hand keeps Special's head pushed forward, so he can't headbutt back to get loose. His left covers Special's left eye. "I don't want to make this worse—you wanted help, let us help—"

Aether catches Omega when he finally breaks free of the makeshift restraints and the two end up locked claw in claw. Aether grinds his teeth together, cursing the Ministry making them wear shoes when he can't get purchase to maintain his ground, when Omega can dig his claws in. He was already an unknown—never one to engage in the combat training and really only getting involved when it was necessary because Alpha and Special were getting out of hand. Likewise, Mountain always made it… pretty clear that Special was always toying with them when he helped during combat training. Never actually taking anything seriously because there had been… incidents, when he got over zealous.

As suddenly as the aggression starts—and they're both about at their proper size, Aether realises—it's gone and both snap their attention to the crypt. Copia backs away from the door, quickly. Omega gets away first, wrenching his hands free from Aether's grip and disappearing inside. Special writhes and thrashes until he manages to tilt his head just enough that he can bite down on the hand that was covering his eye—earning a startled curse when Mountain finally releases him—and follows Omega as soon as he hits the ground.

Mountain's still grumbling a curse as he rejoins Aether, hand up to his mouth like he can make it stop bleeding faster if he holds it in his mouth. Aether's shoulders heave a little and he turns a wary look towards Copia. "I… I should have worded that better, I think…? Is—is it… why would they even want in there, just because a Ghoul found their way out of Hell doesn't mean… mean that…"

Of course, the moment he decides it's impossible, he ends up needing to eat the words.

They still haven't fully manifested—more shadow and void than actual Ghoul, despite being their proper size—but they're solid enough to take up on either side of what should be a corpse. Omega leaning over so he's even a little bit less intimidating; Special's the same height, pressed close and clinging.

The mitre's been forgotten in the coffin, but Terzo doesn't look to care. He looks… dazed. Confused. Scared. Omega trills, quietly, at him, drawing attention to himself. It's almost concerning that Terzo shies away, weight more heavily leaning into his left, where Special's taken up helping. Terzo's hand covers his; three claws on his glove are missing, two of the finger tips completely bare of fabric, taking the physical, human nail, with it.

He doesn't cover Omega's hand with the other, just pulls his arms tighter to his body, squeezing Special's hand with what appears to be as much strength as he can muster. He doesn't pull away from Omega, though—he doesn't fight the hand on his arm or shoulder, even as he doesn't quite lean into him.

Special finally looks over at them, his form starting to settle, the splotches of human skin start to reappear against his void, and he finds his voice before the others, allowing Omega to try keeping Terzo calm with soft words.

"Inside. Cold and wet. They need to be dry and warm. Now."

He doesn't leave room to argue, even as they refuse to move any further. Not until Copia finally turns his back and they can keep a wary eye on him. Not until Aether and Mountain exchange looks and follow at their summoner's back, tension and awareness prickling up their spines as the three take up the rear. It's a dangerous place to be; but they have to hope that the desire to stay with Terzo will keep them from trying to attack Copia again.

They know it'll more than likely keep Special at bay—Terzo always came first, for him—but Omega… Aether maybe always thought Omega was the more level-headed. Now he's running through worried scenarios of the older Ghoul deciding that eliminating a perceived threat is more efficient than simply waiting for a threat to present itself.

But, he still hopes that things will hold together… at least until Terzo is somewhere dry, warm, and in clothes that aren't weighing down on him in the rain. And that maybe… that will be enough to placate both of them.

Sodo's waiting on the steps, still. His ears perk and he's standing the second he sees Copia; he looks hopeful… until he finally gets a look around Aether and Swiss and his expression falls, form starting to wisp and destabilize until he shakes off and looks between Copia, Aether, and Mountain like they'll have an answer.

"Wh… how?"

"We aren't sure, yet, tizzone." Copia sighs and gives Sodo's shoulder a gentle push to turn him and nudge him back towards the doors into the Ministry. "The ground floor meeting lobby should be open. Go get a fire going… take Rain with you, Mountain and Special might need treatment. … It may be best if the others retire for the evening, I need to.. go find Sister and Papa Nihil."

Sodo nods a little, just to show he understands; Mountain and Aether mimic the gesture, but Aether's attention is also on the way Terzo flinches back—runs into Omega in the process-—and simply pulls his arms tighter to his body, even when the Ghoul murmurs gentle assurances that he's safe. Special's eyes narrow, briefly, and he presses closer to his human; but, he doesn't respond beyond that.

Once more, the pair wait until everyone else is walking before they finally follow.

There's a short commotion when they enter the lobby; Swiss starts to ask for clarification, only for his mouth to snap shut. Cirrus only observes for a moment before she glances at Aether; it only takes an exchanged look for her to start ushering Cumulus and Stratus towards the stairs and muttering for Swiss to follow. She does have to give him a gentle tug to get his attention and for him to listen; but, they've soon disappeared up the stairs, with Copia close behind to hopefully find dry clothes before he reports to the rest of the upper clergy.

Aether nudges Mountain ahead so he's at the front and leading the small group to the designated lobby. It makes him painstakingly aware of Omega's attention following him… but, rather him than Mountain.

Sodo's elbow deep in the fireplace, when they open the door to the lobby. Grumbling to himself as he claws and prods at the kindling; his tail is wound up and around his hair, keeping it pulled back and out of the way as he's working, until he's finally satisfied with the steady fire. He doesn't fight Rain running both hands down his arms, even when the contact sizzles and makes both of them hiss, just to make sure the fire is out and doesn't risk spreading. Once they're both sure he's been put out, completely, he gets around Mountain and pushes up against Aether, insistently looking for comfort and assurance, while his attention stays glued on the trio.

Rain finally turns in those moments, likely only intending to ask what happened—Aether can't imagine Sodo managed to tell him anything, except that he needed to stay—and for a few solid seconds, he just stands there, mouth slightly open from his initial question and voice lost. His form ripples, for the briefest moment, like he's seriously considering liquifying to escape the situation so he can process. But, he finally notices Mountain's shirt is torn—that spots on his arm and face and torso are still healing, where Special managed to get his claws and fangs or his tail managed to cut.

"What—oh, Leviathan's grace, what did you do!?"

Aether expects some kind of reaction. Terzo flinches a little; but it isn't… fear. He doesn't think so, anyways, because neither of the Ghouls respond the way they did to Imperator and Nihil being mentioned. Special's right hand comes up from Terzo's shoulder, gently covering his ear and pulling him closer so he's pressed a bit more to Special's shoulder—both ears are covered and Aether simply blinks at them.

"He's… reacting to sound?" It makes… some kind of sense. In the same moment he realises they aren't leading Terzo to the fire and shakes his head, sharply, quickly getting out of their way—pulls Sodo along, in the process—so they can pass without having to get too close to Aether or Sodo. "Rain, can you and Mountain back up a little? I—we know it's… it's really weird and a lot right now, but try to keep your voice down, okay?"

"I—oh! I'm—I'm so sorry, I didn't—of course." Rain's ears twitch, rapidly a few times, in embarrassment and he simply ducks his head as Mountain gives him a gentle push away from the fireplace.

It still takes a few seconds longer, both of the era three Ghouls watching them closely, but they do finally pull Terzo forward, gently. Omega finally stands back, letting Special help their summoner lower to his knees as close to the fire as they dare, and helping him hold his arms out to try warming up even a little bit. Letting Special pull gently at the torn gloves and push the soaked sleeves of his vestment back. He finally looks up at Omega, worriedly.

"He can't stay in these—I mean he… he feels fine, but…? Humans can't stay in wet clothes, he's going to get sick."

"You two are going to need clothes and masks, too." Mountain offers, probably to keep from focusing on Rain washing over his wounds so his void will heal faster. "We don't care, trust us. But if we want to appease the upper clergy even a little bit… just to make this a little bit painless?"

Neither of them look concerned for themselves and Mountain's definitely right; Aether hadn't even thought of the shadow forms being inappropriate until just then. Omega finally nods after a moment.

"I know you're right. If… if one of you could find Terzo something first, though… Special has a point, we don't know what condition his health is in. He's always had a weaker constitution and yet… I think I can safely say both of us feel fine."

Even though we shouldn't hangs, unspoken, in the air and Sodo finally wriggles free of the arm Aether had wrapped around his waist. He still looks confused and a little scared but… better, as he processes and realises they aren't being hostile.

"The infirmary has extra cassocks, would that work?"

"For the time. Thank you, Sodo." His ears perk up; the recognition seems to dispel the last bit of uncertainty. At least for him and Omega offers a quiet laugh. "Our memories have remained in tact. We apologise for the scare we seem to have caused—"

"—You apologise—" Special sounds annoyed. "Unless you're only talking about the Ghouls, I'm not apologising for anything."

His attention is quickly drawn back to Terzo as the cold apparently starts to set in. Or… perhaps something worse. A shudder wracks his body and he pulls his arms back to himself, tight to his chest like he's trying to subdue pain. His left hand goes to his neck, pressing firmly, at the same moment Omega and Special both recoil. Special only lets it distract him for a moment before he pulls Terzo's hand down—moving it so it's with his right hand—and wraps both arms around him, firmly, trying to blanket him in his void.

Omega lets out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders and neck until the moment apparently passes and tries again.

"Don't mind Special. But… please, the cassocks will do for now."

Special grumbles what might be an apology aimed at Sodo, but he doesn't take his attention off Terzo this time. Sodo just nods, maybe a little confused again—Aether's… not sure he really understands how Quintessence reacts to their summoner; he's not about to fill in those details, either. Not where either of the older Ghouls can hear him, anyways—but, still pauses.

"What about masks, though…? I know Special can wear the same thing Terzo does and you probably fit the way Aeth does, but…? You either need to mask or finish manifest—can you manifest? Wait, how are you even—?"

"In due time." Omega tries to cut the increasing questions off as gently as possible. He looks back at Special, then down at himself. "You're right, though, I… can't seem to stabilize any further past this. Our contracts are in tact and bound to Terzo, but I don't believe he's in any condition to set them in a mask."

"A blank mask should work. … I think. … The era two Water Ghoul mentioned it, once." Rain shrugs a little when attention shifts to him. He's finished healing Mountain and he's definitely looking better. The only injury still closing is where Special managed to bite down on his shoulder and take a small chunk of void; but, even that's nearly closed in full. "It's still better if Terzo sets the mask, but it… it should let you at least solidify."

"... Ah, like The Archivist and Librarians. Any spare masks will do. … I suppose the era three masks were all destroyed?"

Aether nods a little and catches Sodo before he runs off. "See if there's any from era four. Era five might… be a bit much."

He can't remember it too well but he has… some memory of Special absolutely loathing when things had to much going on. Sodo seems to remember it, too, because he nods pretty quickly to show he understands and disappears out the door. Omega looks curious, attention returning to Aether once the door's closed.

"Era five?"

"Our… uniforms changed when P—when… Copia…" He doesn’t want another fight. Thankfully, Omega seems to catch on, quickly, and clears his throat, hastily, in what could almost be an apology.

"Ah. Our—… Special."

"Still not sorry." He pauses, looking down at where Terzo's attention is still fixed on the fire. Still dazed, still quiet, still… almost like waking up. "… A little sorry."

That seems to be the only confirmation he really needs. "We should have… registered what you meant far quicker. Copia did ascend, then?"

"Yeah… a… a few days after…" Do they remember dying? They have to remember they died, they knew their summoner was in the crypt, so they have to remember how they got there, right?

"I suspect the announcement was the same day. … What an unfortunate way to mark the occasion. … None of you were harmed, I hope. I know a good number of you were with the others."

It's only then Aether realises that… well. Really registers that it's only Omega and Special. Even as he tries, now, to search out any other presence he shouldn't feel, it's… only them.

"I… went to keep Copia from getting involved." His attention goes over to where Mountain and Rain have chosen to remain quiet. Rain's hands press tight to his stomach as he forces himself to take deep, slow breaths. Mountain just hugs himself as tight as he can, attention fixed firmly on the floor. "… Harmed, maybe not. But…"

Omega finally looks over and his posture relaxes a little bit. Softer, more understanding. He thinks there may be an apology forming; but, just as quickly as he's relaxed, he's back on guard—alert and tense, which makes Aether tense up—when Sodo hurries in and closes the door and… locks it?

"Papa's keeping them busy on the stairs, I know he saw me, I think they might've, too, though."

He's glad Omega figures out what Sodo means, when the clothes, and what looks like a few towels, are pushed into his arms and he just nods, kneeling down with Special and passing him one of the smaller cassocks and trying to get Terzo's attention.

None of them really hear what he says—attention already warily on the door in case they need to be an extra distraction—but a moment later, the soft hum of a mask being set fills the room. It's just barely stopped when the door rattles and Omega is the one that answers, easily passing Aether and Sodo with only a glance to apologise, and opens the door before it's rattled again.

Thankfully just seeing him seems to quell any urge that Imperator or Nihil may have to berate the Ghouls for locking the door and he'd swear Copia looks ready to faint, given how quickly the little bit of colour in his face drains. He's dried off at least and dressed in his casual sweats, so that's… one less thing to for Aether to worry about.

"Our most sincere apologies, we were in the process of changing. We still are, so let's make this quick, shall we?"

Still polite. But not leaving much room to argue. He stands aside, tipping his head as he's expected to, and allows the three entrance before he quickly rejoins Special, acting as one more barrier between their summoner and the other humans. Mountain and Rain move up to Sodo and Aether, apparently getting the same idea that there needs to be a barrier.

"So… you were not exaggerating the situation, after all." Imperator sounds… shockingly perplexed. For normally being so in control, it's almost terrifying that she is the one confused, for once. Nihil's attention stays past them; Aether's pretty sure he's looking past the other Ghouls, as well and is just focused on one of his sons being back.

"I would not exaggerate this. … But I do agree with Omega, we should hurry this along so they can see to Terzo more efficiently than in a lobby."

"Then perhaps you should have suggested elsewhere." Nihil doesn't miss a beat and it's an effort—on all of their parts, Aether knows—for any of the Ghouls to bite back the urge to growl at the man. He feels Sodo's tail give an annoyed lash behind them and Mountain's lips curl back with a barely repressed snarl. Rain's expression is narrowed, but he manages to maintain himself, at least.

"It was more sensible to keep him on the ground floor." It takes Aether a moment to find his civil voice; but, he's glad he manages and Copia spares him a grateful look. "They're all tired and in weakened states, even Omega and Special. If a Ghoul is, their summoner is in worse condition. We could have just waited until morning to tell you and tended to him instead."

They should have. They all know they should have. But, it has the desired effect as Imperator releases a slow, forced exhale through her nose, pinching at the bridge.

"This is a situation that needs to be dealt with immediately, so I will… concede, for the moment. Emeritus."

When there isn't at least an acknowledging hum, when the humans all furrow their brows in various degrees of confusion—Copia looks more confused than anything, while Nihil looks worried and Imperator simply looks more annoyed than she did a moment ago—the Ghouls all exchange wary looks before finally turning back to the trio. Omega doesn't seem willing to turn his back on Imperator or Nihil—right now, Aether's just glad he doesn't immediately try to attack Copia again—but Special's expression furrows, too, and he finally, eventually tears his attention away from the humans, a concerned trill escaping his throat.

Terzo hasn't looked away from the fire. He's looking… a little more awake, but still… worried.

"Terzo?"

No answer. Terzo… definitely reacted to Rain raising his voice earlier. Special makes a distressed noise and reaches back to pull on Omega's tail, clearly hoping he'll have more luck. It takes a moment longer but Omega does eventually turn and kneel down, reaching out to put a hand on Terzo's arm to try getting his attention.

"Valentino—?"

The word's barely left his mouth; the second he so much as brushes his fingers against Terzo's arm, he finally looks over and nearly falls over himself backing away from the two. Both Ghouls recoil. Special actually curls in on himself, both hands tight over his chest and his entire body heaving as he struggles to breathe. Mountain immediately kneels down with him, running a hand up his back and trying to get him to sit up.

Aether feels panic and fear from the Earth Ghoul and… something foreign being fed to him through Special. Stronger panic, definitely, but it isn't… Mountain or Special's. Omega manages to stay standing, but he still has one hand to his chest, the other against the nearest wall, claws digging desperately for purchase to stay standing. His eyes are squeezed shut and he's clearly forcing himself to take deep, slow breaths.

Rain starts to walk towards the human—maybe Terzo did get hurt at some point—but almost immediately freezes when he simply backs up further and a distressed whine escapes Special as he tucks himself into a tighter ball and Omega nearly keels over. It's literally only the grip he has on the wall—claws puncturing and tearing through—that's keeping him standing.

"Papa, you… might want to try, instead…" Aether cautiously edges towards Omega, leaning up against his side to help him stand and glances over at Mountain still trying to comfort Special as best he can, even when all he can do is run a hand up his back and try to talk to him.

Copia doesn't look thrilled by the idea; but, he does step around the Ghouls—mindful not to walk to quickly—and waits until Terzo's attention is on him to finally kneel down and offers an unsteady smile.

"You're… safe, now, Terzo. … Are you alright?"

Terzo stares at him, brows furrowed tightly and chest heaving with the unsteady breathing as he slowly calms down. For a long moment, his attention is fixed on Copia's mouth, his own moving, wordlessly, like he's trying to copy the motion and struggling to actually do so. It isn't… too surprising, really; he's been dead for five years, after all. As much as anything else makes sense, relearning his body makes the most sense.

"I-I'm—" He startles—surprise takes his expression, followed quickly by pain and one hand going pressing to his throat. "I… am not sure… where? I am… or… who… any of… you are… who am I?"

His volume is inconsistent—never more than a conversational tone but frequently too quiet, like he can't actually tell how quiet he is. Or maybe it does sound too loud to him. The words slur between languages, making it a little hard to follow. But… coherent enough that once Copia does figure out what he's said, he feels something cold plummet in his gut and slowly turns back to the others.

He finds Special and Omega first and something akin to fear gnaws at him. He can't imagine they'll take the news well; but, he looks past them, up to Imperator and Nihil and feels his mouth go dry. His tongue darts out a few times, wetting his lip in a desperate attempt to distract himself and work up the nerve to answer.

"I—he doesn't… know you're talking to him. He doesn't…" He looks back, almost desperate to hope this is some elaborate and cruel prank. That he's still angry about retirement, about being replaced, about dying, about being beheaded—he's just angry and this is a terrible prank.

But Terzo just stares at him, still confused.

"He doesn't know us."

#sqooshy writes #ghost fanfiction #ghost band #terzomega #Terzo x Omega #Rating: Teen #cw: violence #headcanon heavy #papa emeritus iii #Omega Ghoul #special ghoul #aether ghoul #mountain ghoul #fic: absolution absentia

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