#they got each other through Terzo’s passing

[bratty-metalhead]

Forever my favorite headcanon

Omega and Copia being besties is something so important to me

[da-rulah]

Rituale Septem - Day 2: Sloth

Pairing: (Phantom x f!reader)

Summary: With one sin down, your focus is on day two; the sin of sloth. Terzo sends his Ghouls to take care of your every need, so you don't have to lift a finger...

Rating: Mature, MDNI 18+

Word Count: 7.3k

Warnings: Male masturbation, soft dom (f), m sub, sort of a servant dynamic (but fully consensual), fingering, grinding, p in v sex, pulling out

AO3 Link | Series Masterlist

A/N: So, I became a Ghost fan in July, which means I don't know anything about Terzo era Ghouls and would have struggled hugely to write them. I'm aware that Swiss and Dew/Sodo were very briefly on stage with Terzo? (I think?) or at least had silver masks with Cardinal Copia like they do in this fic, but Phantom wouldn't have. Just, for arguments sake, picture them as 'trainee Ghouls', and so have all got silver masks. Thanks. Love ya.

Prev: Day 1 - Lust | Next: Day 3 - Gluttony

Terzo didn’t sleep well that night.  

You may have expected him to, spent and exhausted from your exploits together that afternoon but he was wide awake. His head swam with images of you, his cock thickening as he recounted the noises you’d made for him, the way you’d felt around him...  

Perhaps it was the pent up lust that had built whilst you had teased each other mercilessly that made his attraction to you so strong – he assumed it would pass, a minor infatuation as he had had many times before. He simply liked how you had fought back against his own teasing and come ready to seduce him right back, giving him a taste of his own medicine.  

This week of rituals with himself and whoever else was invited to play with you was the most fresh and exciting injection of vitality to his sex drive he noted in recent years. However, he knew that he couldn’t partake in every ritual each day of the week – he wasn’t the one who needed Lucifer’s guidance. That was you. He was simply a supporting role, but he did know that that first sin with you would not be his last this week.  

With his cock hard and aching beneath the silk sheets of his bedding, he grumbled in frustration as his mind swam with more images of taking you as he wished, giving you as much pleasure as you could take before finally giving in himself. He found himself wanting nothing more than to please you, to give you what you needed, to help you.  

Terzo’s bare hand snaked across his stomach, giving in to his needs and wrapping his fingers around the base of his solid length to pump himself in time with the footage replaying in his mind's eye of his deep thrusts inside you. He groaned and growled to himself in the darkness of his bedroom, blissfully recounting the memories of that afternoon.  

“Ohh, Principessa...” he whispered into the night, climax building embarrassingly fast, but he couldn’t help himself. Within just a few minutes, he was releasing a hurried and powerful load onto the hair across the expanse of his chest.  

‘Just an infatuation’, he told himself. ‘This, too, shall pass.’ 

October 26th  

You had every intention of getting up on time. You really did. But when your alarm had sounded, you’d perhaps smashed the snooze button a little too hard and rolled over into another light sleep that became a rather deep sleep. 

It was a pounding on your door that woke you – a strong knock, almost aggressive. You shot up from the bed in your nightdress, uncaring of your modesty when the only person you knew would be at your door knocking this angrily would be Secondo.  

You were late for work, judging by the sunlight that crept through the cracks of your curtains, and the October chill in the air of your humble little living quarters sent a chill washing over you when you’d peeled your bedsheets back. The knocking persisted, aggressive and loud; only Secondo would be this angry at your tardiness.  

As you reached the door that was still being pounded against by his angry fist, you stumbled and latched onto the handle, wrenching it open with a litany of apologies spilling frantically from your mouth. You were never late for Secondo. Just once was a potentially sackable offense. 

“Sister, calm down. I’m not Secondo...”  

When you rubbed the sleep from your eyes and actually looked at whoever was at the door, you realised that it indeed wasn’t Secondo at all. It was a ghoul, silver shining mask glinting as if just polished. 

One of the newer ones, only a few weeks into his role and still in his training phase. And here you were in a satin nightdress that did nothing to hide your pebbled nipples in the cold air of your room – and even behind his mask, you didn’t miss the way his eyes flicked down and widened when he noticed. Heat spread across your face in embarrassment, and you hid yourself behind the door, head poking from around the corner to talk to the ghoul.  

He shook his head as if to rid himself of the image before he continued.  

“Sorry, uh... Phantom, Sister. I’ve been sent by Papa?” he seemed just as confused as you did. 

“S-Secondo sent a ghoul for me?” Your stomach dropped, knowing that if he hadn’t come to get you himself it was because he was too busy to – because you weren’t there to help him with his workload. And he’d be more pissed than you imagined. “Shit!” 

“Oh, no! Sorry, I’m not... I wasn’t sent by Secondo, but Papa Terzo. He asked me to give you this?” he reached into the pocket of his trousers and handed you an envelope addressed to ‘Principessa’; his crest embedded in the wax seal on the back. Butterflies rammed your stomach lining as if they themselves were trying to get to the letter in his hand. You took it from him and ripped into it anxiously...  

Good morning, Principessa.  Did you sleep well last night? I certainly did not. Too much on my mind after yesterday... Each time I shut my eyes expecting the usual black void, all I could see was purple... I suppose you could say, I had my hands full most of the night. Imagine a wink, here.   I believe you will need your rest today, no? You seemed somewhat sleepy when I last saw you yesterday. I can’t imagine why... but I have arranged for you to have the day off. I have some rules for you to follow, however, and they MUST be followed.   1. You are not to lift a finger, all day. This includes walking, eating, drinking - anything. (I will only make exceptions for using the bathroom and breathing.)  2. Ghouls will be on hand to help you through the day. First, our newest Ghoul, Phantom, will be at your beck and call. Go easy on him, he’s a nuisance but he’s quite shy.  3. The Ghouls are there willingly to help you with ALL of your needs. They are consenting and on hand should you need... anything.  4. If you have any questions, you send them to me via. Ghoul. You do not leave your abode today, you stay put and enjoy your lazy day.   Break my rules, and the ritual is over. I will come and see you when I get a spare moment this evening.   Put my Ghouls to good use, Sorella.  Papa Emeritus III 

You looked over the cursive and furrowed your brows. His cheek shone through even in his handwriting, toying with you and clearly enjoying it. You did have to smirk a little that you’d made your way so far into his head that your choice of lingerie had haunted him as he’d tried to sleep. ‘Had my hands full most of the night’... Did he mean what you thought he meant?  

“So... you’re like, waiting on me?” you asked Phantom, who stood patiently waiting at your threshold.  

“I guess so. He told me to take care of every need that arose. I can't let you do anything yourself. He didn’t say why, but told me he’d send me to the ninth circle of hell for treachery if I failed...” he explained, scratching the back of his neck anxiously.  

“Oh... he wouldn’t do that, Phantom. Just so you know,” you tried to reassure him. 

“You didn’t see the look on his face...” he chuckled, absolutely no humour behind it. “Still, he gave me a choice and explained what today entailed. I agreed. So uh, anything you need, I’m at your service.”  

You wondered if he had deliberately emphasised part of that on purpose, sounding somewhat suggestive... And then it dawned on you.  

Papa was giving you an easy way to perform sin today.  

Sloth. 

“Well, I suppose you’d better come in then,” you smiled, opening the door and stepping away from it, modesty long forgotten. Phantom stepped inside, nervously ringing his hands and standing awkwardly in the cramped little living space between your couch and practically ancient TV set. You moved to sit on the couch, getting comfortable seeing as you were apparently confined to it for the day. 

“C-can I get you anything, sister?” he asked, eager to please already.  

“Uh... I haven’t had breakfast yet?” 

“On it!” he hurried, trotting into your little kitchenette, fishing through your fridge and cupboard to pull together ingredients to make you something from scratch, while you flicked on the TV to some pretentious morning show and kept an eye on the ghoul making a mess and a racket in your kitchen. 

Perhaps a day off, lounging around and not lifting a finger would be nice... 

Secondo was positively seething as he stomped into Terzo’s office, not bothering to knock and ignoring Sister Christine’s attempts to stall or calm him.  

“Ah, come on in, fratello,” Terzo invited with sarcasm dripping from every word and a smug smile on his painted face. 

“You gave my assistant the day off?! What right do you have? Do you know how much work I have to do?” he yelled, slamming his fist down on Terzo’s desk. “I think your title is going to your testone, fratellino (fat head, little brother)...” 

Terzo’s smug smile vanished and a look of vague annoyance took over as he rose from his chair, readying for confrontation. 

“And you seem to forget you lost yours,” he taunted. Secondo’s eyes widened before he grabbed the collar of his brother's shirt, pulling him far enough over the desk he could headbutt him if the need arose. 

“Attento a come parli (watch your mouth),” he warned through grit teeth. He pushed Terzo back and took a step away from the desk. “Sister ____ is my staff. You had no authority!” 

“Actually, I think you’ll find I do. I’m sure you’ll manage a singular day without her.”  

Secondo knew there was no use in arguing with his brother, both ridiculously stubborn men in their own right. He huffed and turned to leave, shoes clacking loudly on the stone flooring. 

“You work her too hard, fratello mio...” Terzo smirked. Secondo span on his heels, chewing the inside of his cheek to stop an onslaught of abuse from spilling from him like word vomit. 

“Me?! You insolent little shit. I’m sure you worked her harder than necessary yesterday,” he accused. “What, is she your next little fixation? Your new little prediletta (favourite)?” 

He couldn’t explain why, but Secondo’s insinuation that you were just another notch on his bedpost annoyed him more than being interrupted and screamed at in the first place. Sure, he had a reputation as a ladies’ man – and a man’s man too, for that matter – but perhaps it was merely Secondo’s tone that bothered him.  

“Perhaps, before you judge, you would care to ask why your assistant is suddenly spending time with me after very little interaction at all in the past sixteen years since she took her vows, hm?” 

Secondo laughed bitterly. “Please, do enlighten me!” 

Terzo stalled for a moment – he wasn’t sure you wanted anybody else knowing, much less your boss. But if he was being this much trouble on day two of the seven, he could get in the way and ruin your chances at completing the ritual at all. If Secondo knew, perhaps he would step back, and allow you your chance to find yourself at the end of these seven days... 

“She is performing a ritual. A very intense and laborious ritual. It takes place over seven days, and it must happen now, before All Hallow’s Eve.” 

Secondo’s brow furrowed and his eyes squinted in suspicion, curiously searching the archives in his mind full of rituals and spells he had learned over the years. And then it dawned on him... 

“Rituale Septem?” he barely whispered the name, shocked you would even attempt such a thing. He didn’t think you the type to be comfortable with such an extensive and invasive ritual. “Why would she need to speak with The Dark One?” 

“She feels lost, fratello. I’m trying to guide my flock back onto a path she is able to see for herself. Do you understand?” 

“Are you telling me she... is experiencing doubts?” For the first time in Satan knew how many years, Terzo saw hurt flash across his brother’s face. His hardened exterior was always a mask, that much was true, but the mention that perhaps the closest person he had to a friend in the ministry was doubting her position, doubting her faith... it stung him, and his mask slipped for just a moment. 

“It’s not personal, Secondo. We mustn’t take it as such. But yes, she is doubting Him. Is it not my job to attempt whatever necessary when she is so desperate to hear His voice?” 

Secondo thought for a moment, slowly sitting down in one of the chairs in front of Terzo’s desk.  

“Sì, sì... Non ne avevo idea (I had no idea)…" he sighed. “Why would she not feel she could come to me?” His genuine confusion and disappointment were clear in his voice. He knew his rituals so well, had the deepest knowledge of anyone in the Ministry. He could have helped you, surely? 

“Fratello, I mean no disrespect when I say this but... you are not the most emotionally available man to open up to, se sai cosa voglio dire (if you know what I mean). I believe she was worried you would be angry at her for her doubts,” Terzo explained, a gentility to his voice. He knew you meant more to Secondo than simply an employee. You don't work side by side with someone for six years and not develop some form of relationship.

Secondo’s mind ticked over, before he settled upon understanding rather than jumping straight into defensiveness. As much as he would like to, he couldn’t argue with that. Instead, he conceded, wanting nothing more than to help in any way he could. 

“What do you need from me?” His head snapped up to look at Terzo who stood watching in amazement at his change in demeanour.  

“Your co-operation,” he pleaded. “Today I’ve planned sloth for her. She must stay home and not lift a finger all day.” 

“Concordato (agreed). Anything else?” 

Terzo thought for a moment, going over the plans he had made for the week ahead to see if there was indeed anything Secondo could do.  

“Actually, sì... There is perhaps one particular sin you would be very useful for...” 

Your morning was, indeed, as lazy as Papa had intended for you. Phantom took three attempts to make an edible batch of pancakes since he categorically said no to every time you went to move from the couch and help him. He was right, of course. You had to stay put, but it wasn’t natural for you and it took fighting every natural instinct in your body not to help or tend to your needs yourself.  

He’d done everything for you that morning, carrying you if you needed to walk, spoon-feeding you like a roman emperor (although you’re sure Julius Caesar didn’t have to sit through three rounds of ‘here comes the choo-choo train’). It felt wrong, but wasn’t that entirely the point? Sinning.  

But you hadn’t expected it to feel so icky – icky being the only word appropriate for how the feeling of lording over someone as your servant made you feel a little drunk with power. And with Phantom so eager to please, running here, there and everywhere for you, you were fighting hard not to let the power go to your head.  

As the morning dragged on, you became increasingly aware of the fact he was here to tend to any need you had, mulling over how he had made it abundantly clear that he was here and willing. Well, you could tell that in his eagerness to please, rushing to your side whenever you needed something and going above and beyond to make you comfortable. He was being a good little servant, and a part of you was ready to test the waters, so to speak... 

“Phantom, would you do something for me?” you asked, to which his masked head snapped to you from where he sat watching daytime TV with you, and he nodded fervently. “I... could do with a bath... would you mind running one for me?”  

Even behind the silver eye holes you saw enough to see his eyes widen. “S-sure, yeah... Bubbles and stuff?” he asked.  

“Hmm,” you hummed, eyes fluttering closed as you imagined the warmth of aromatic waters submerging you, “please...”  

When you looked, Phantom’s jaw had gone slack, and the poor Ghoul was staring intently at you. He jumped up with a startling speed with a “yes, sister!” and scurried off into your bathroom where you heard the faucets squeaking in protest and a heavy flow of water hitting the tub’s surface. You smirked a little at his enthusiasm, playing with the lace hem of your nightdress you were yet to change out of. You watched in delight as he scurried in and out of your little apartment gathering supplies you didn’t have to hand from Papa Primo’s gardens and the store cupboards near the chapel.  

It took him 20 minutes before he was satisfied with the bath he’d drawn for you, stepping out of the bathroom and stopping in the doorway to announce it was ready. You began to stand, only to have him on his knees in front of you in a flash with a scream of “No! No...” and hands on your bare knees. He looked down at where his flesh had come into contact with your own and jumped back a little in shock.  

“I mean, I’ll... I have to carry you.” 

“Oh, of course. Silly me,” you smiled sweetly, as if this wasn’t exactly your plan – a power play. Because whether you saw it yet, or not, being waited on hand and foot, treated with respect that verged on worship was beginning to go to your head a little. 

He slipped his arms under your knees, the other around your back and lifted you effortlessly bridal style, carrying you to the bathroom where he sat you on the edge of the tub. Frankly, you couldn’t believe the effort he’d gone to... 

From Papa Primo’s stores, the water was filled with aromatic flowers and oils, bubbles stacked high at one end as steam rose from the surface. From the chapel’s store cupboards, the room was alight with black candles on every available surface, a soft warm glow flickering around the small room.  

“I’ll um, let you... undress,” he nodded shyly as your nightgown and stood, turning his back to you and averting his gaze from the steamed mirror for good measure. But you had other ideas... 

“Phantooooom,” you whined, “I don’t think I can. I’m not supposed to do anything today...”  

You saw his shoulders rise and fall in a deep breath, as if he were doing his best to remain composed, before he slowly turned around and nodded. He stepped towards you, hands trembling a little, as he knelt and began to push the hem of your nightdress up your thighs slowly. He seemed to be savouring the moment a little, maybe it was just nerves, but you could see him bite his lip the higher the satin rose.  

As it grazed over your hips, lifting up past your ass with a bit of a shuffle from you, you could hear the way he gulped, eyes trained on the skimpy panties you had underneath. His anguish only got worse when lifting higher, your bare breasts were exposed before him, and you raised your arms to allow him to easily remove the nightdress completely.  

You smiled at him softly, waiting for him to continue and giving him the green light to do so. He exhaled a breath he’d been holding, fingers curling into the hem of your panties at your hips where he began to drag them down your thighs. He refused to look at where he’d now exposed, a blush spreading across his face that he was grateful was hidden by his mask. He felt a sense of shame for being even remotely turned on by this, but the shame was so exciting. For him, and for you... 

To save him a little from combusting and leaving scorch marks on your bathroom floor, you crossed your legs in what could be considered a very seductive looking pose, and ran your fingers through the water behind you with a soft hum. 

“Is...is the temperature okay?” he asked, strictly looking only at your face and your face alone. 

“Perfect, thank you, Phantom,” you reached your dry hand to pinch gently and affectionately at his exposed chin. “Would you mind?” 

He shook his head, again moving to roll his shirt sleeves up his arms and lifting you bridal style, gently lowering you into the water. As you sank into the water in his arms, you let a satisfied little moan slip from your lips, and felt the way his arms tensed. Now fully bathed, he stood and wiped his forearms on a towel and went to exit the room, leaving you with privacy and giving him a chance to calm down and uh... soften up. 

So, when you stopped him, and asked him to sit with you because you “wanted someone to talk to”, he inwardly groaned and agreed. He was trying so desperately to avoid temptation, to only act on requests as Papa had told him to do.  

“You only do the things she asks of you, Phantom. You do not try to seduce her, hai capito? (understand)? You do not make any moves. You let her come to you, if she wishes. You respect her wishes, sì?” 

Of course, he’d respect your wishes. He would never do anything untoward, never push you or attempt to guide you to him. He was very much aware you held the power today and if he was being honest, he much preferred it that way. 

But you were making it so hard for him to remain professional when all he wanted was to beg and plead for you to let him take care of you.  

Especially when you asked him to wash you.  

He found himself on his knees beside the tub, carefully and slowly scrubbing at the expanse of your chest, watching the suds wash away and the shine of the water glinting in the candlelight on your skin. It was hypnotising, and your little moans of bliss were killing him slowly, like hands squeezing the life out him by the neck.  

You slipped down further into the tub, your legs bent and parting to make way for him to trail the washcloth between your thighs where a heat was blooming aside from the warmth of the water. He got the message, averting his eyes and running the washcloth over your core gently. You moaned again, this time a little louder at the pressure to where you needed it. Before he knew what he was doing, he was moaning too at the sound and the strain in his pants.  

His eyes shot open and his head snapped to stare at you, hand clutching the washcloth stilling in shock and fear. 

“I-I... Sister, I... I’m so sorr-” he began to apologise frantically, his hand started to retreat until you grabbed his wrist and stilled him.  

“Do you want to stop?” you asked him honestly, giving him an option to back out now if he wished.  

He shook his head. “I... want to please,” he admitted.  

Slowly, you let go of his wrist, laying back against the tub with eyes trained on his. Gradually his hand resumed, dragging the washcloth between your legs and sending a wave of pleasure through your body. You arched your back a little, eyes closing and lips parting.  

His movements remained slow, deliberate. He watched your face contort and your body writhe as the sensations built. On his knees, his own hips began to buck in search of some sort of pressure against his hidden erection. His spare hand groped and squeezed at himself, little grunts sounding every so often that made your lips quirk up into a smirk.  

“D-does it... feel okay?” he asked. The poor Ghoul beside the tub was struggling, and when you opened your eyes to look at him, a pang of lust speared its way through your chest. 

His lips were reddened and swollen, paint long gone from where he’d been biting at them. You could see his arm moving, but not where, and you drew your own conclusion that Phantom was in fact touching himself.  

“It feels amazing...” you purred, reaching a hand out to trace the metal of his mask down to his exposed chin, fingers wet and warm with bath water. “You’re doing so good, Phantom.”  

The whimper that came from the man in front of you was pathetic, but it made your walls clench around nothing. He liked that.  

Only then did you realise the details of the events leading to now. He wanted to please you, to bow to your every whim. He was whimpering just at making you feel good, and when you praised him? If that whimper was anything to go by, in tandem with the way his hips bucked into his own grasp, this was a man who liked being powerless to you.  

He liked being your servant.  

“Will you use your fingers, Phantom? I need more...” you asked. 

“Wh-whatever you need, sister...” He let go of the washcloth immediately, letting it float to the surface of the bath to be replaced by his fingers heading straight for your clit. You gasped at the contact, finally feeling the pressure you needed where he’d worked you up.  

The hand on his groin grasped his hard on tightly, staving off a premature climax that would surely embarrass him.  

His fingers circled your bundle of nerves with fervour, desperate to please and have you come undone. Ripples of ecstasy flowed through your body, moans and whines spilling freely from you. It was music to his ears, hearing how good he was making you feel. 

“I-inside, Phantom. Please,” you begged, parting your legs as wide as you could for him. He growled, the hand on his crotch gripping the edge of the bathtub as he leaned over you, dipping his fingers through your folds before easily slipping two inside of you. You cried out, feeling full and immediately alive with electricity jolting through your veins.  

You gripped onto the collar of his shirt, pulling him further over you as you writhed under him. His fingers curled and fucked into your heat, hitting where you needed him most.  

“Shit, just like that...” His movements weren’t particularly gentle, but the aggression wasn’t just pure aggression, but desperation. How badly he wanted to give you the pleasure you sought... 

When you looked over at him, you could see his hips bucking against nothing, hopelessly rutting into the air for any friction he could muster. From what you could see of his face, he looked wrecked. His lips were curled back over his teeth which grit together at the strain, his eyes wide and watery as if he would cry if you ever made him stop now. 

You felt sorry for him, chasing a high he wouldn’t get so long as he continued to fuck into the air like this. And who were you to deny him the same pleasure he was so eager to give you? 

“Ph-Phantom... look at me,” you tugged once at his collar, his eyes finding yours but hand never slowing. He could have cum just from the fucked out look on your face alone. “Will you... will you fuck me?” you asked breathlessly.  

His fingers rammed into you harder at the thought and you screamed out, pulling him towards you, your forehead clashing with the forehead of his mask. You stared darkly into his eyes.  

“If you want me to...” he growled, “Sathanas, tell me you want me to...” he begged. 

You pushed his arm away from your cunt and sat up onto your knees before leaning over the opposite end of the bathtub and arching your back, giving him an eyeful of your exposed cunt glistening in the candlelight as the bathwater sloshed and lapped at your skin. 

“Fuck me, Phantom...” you instructed. In a flash, the Ghoul stood and leapt into the tub, water and flower petals spilling over the sides and splashing to the floor. He was too far gone, too fucking desperate to even think about removing his clothes or boots and he cursed to himself when he realised what he’d done, but made no moves to rectify it – it was too late for that anyway.  

Instead, he knelt and unzipped the fly of his pants, pushed his suspenders off his shoulders and pushed them down with his underwear just enough for his length to spring free. He took a deep breath, steadying himself and slowly ran the head of his cock through your folds. His free hand came to rest on your hips, gently squeezing the flesh there and stroking his thumb over the skin. 

You waited patiently, letting him enjoy the moment as you relaxed in his hold, leaning lazily over the edge of the tub with your head on your arms. Slowly, he pushed himself inside you, a cracked groan leaving his throat with each inch that sank into you. Somehow, you felt warmer and wetter than the bathwater that surrounded his legs – and it felt glorious. 

His thrusts began slow, savouring the feeling as whimpers and shudders shook his body behind you. He got lost in his own pleasure for a moment before remembering you were his prime concern, your pleasure more important that his own. He wanted to be good for you, for you to tell him he was being good for you again.  

“Is this... oh fuck, is this okay?” he asked as he set his pace, fishing for compliments. He sounded like he was pleading with you, needily pleading for affirmations. 

“So good, Phantom... Such a good boy for me, hm?”  

The noise that erupted from the Ghoul behind you shocked even you, an involuntary cry that sparked him to rut his hips against you until the water around him splashed and sloshed around the pair of you, the sounds of wet skin slapping together ricocheting off the tiled walls of your bathroom. His pace was unforgiving, slamming over and over again into your g-spot and forcing cry after cry of pleasure to erupt from within you.  

His hand reached around you, coming to sit between your thighs as his fingers worked your clit, his chest – still covered by his now soaked shirt – resting against your back. Coupling Phantom’s hard work with the feeling of the warmth of the water and the aromatic floral scents you felt like you’d reached a type of bliss you’d only ever read about. Your eyes fluttered shut, teeth biting into the flesh of your arm where you lay on it to quiet your moans. 

Before long the heat in your abdomen grew, coil winding tightly and dangling you on the edge of climax while his cock and fingers worked so hard to tip you over. All you needed was a little bit of extra help – you needed to know what Phantom was thinking. 

“H-how does it feel, sweetie?” you asked him in your most condescending voice you could muster while he pounded into you. You felt his hand on your hip squeeze your flesh hard. 

“So good... you feel so good, sister.” 

“You’re being so good, Phantom. My good boy, hm?” you praised.  

“F-fuck, yes... your good boy. I’m... I’m your good boy,” he whined, affected by your praise more than you could have imagined. 

“Are you... gonna... make me cum, sweetie?” 

“Uh-huh... Yes, ma’am. Want you to cum so bad,” he admitted, “need it!” You were getting so close, that familiar feeling now right on the cusp of snapping. 

“What do you say then, sweetie?” you asked, hoping he’d catch on. And in his current state, his mind bent and broken and filled with nothing but his need to push you into climax before he could, he didn’t need to think. His answer was instinctual.  

“Please!” he yelled, “Please cum for me... N-need to feel you, need it... Please!”  

It was all you needed to send you into a spiral, the coil snapping and springing free as your orgasm washed over you faster than the sloshing water. Your walls tightened around him, cunt squeezing him so hard it was almost impossible to keep up his pace. Your pussy gushed around him, only noticeable in the rocky water by the sheer amount of it when the waves would subside before crashing against your skin with another thrust.  

Phantom lost his mind behind you, biting into his lip and doing his very best to keep up with you, fingers attacking your slit still while he slammed against you. The fog that had overtaken your mind as you came began to clear, the aftershocks powerful still with the way he continued to now chase his own release.  

“Y-your turn now, sweetie,” you coached him through it, giving him the encouragement he’d need to reach his own end now you were fully satiated. When you looked back at him, he looked like he was in pain, the way his eyes were screwed shut and his teeth were bared. “Will you cum for me?” 

“Fuck, can I, ma’am?” he asked, unable to look at you as he continued his thrusts.  

“Yes...” 

"Thank you, ma’am!” he roared, pulling his cock out from where he’d been buried inside you and jerking himself once, twice before spilling his load on the third across the swell of your ass. He fell over you, slipping from his position on his knees and relying on his arms to prop him up on the bathtub to stop him collapsing on top of you. 

The two of you stayed there for a moment, panting, trying to shake off the exhaustion. The water around you both calmed, gentle waves much lower than the water level had been when he’d lowered you into it...  

Eventually, you turned to lay on your back under him, letting the water cover your body but hiding nothing from him now that the bubbles had disappeared. You smiled up at him lazily, tired and satisfied.  

Phantom looked up and around him, then down at his soaked clothes and softening length. He started laughing, shaking his head in disbelief at his own stupidity. You joined him, pulling at the loose suspenders still clipped to the jeans that clung to his thighs as you laughed. 

Eventually he had climbed out of the tub, ringing out his clothes as best he could with them still clinging to him, and wrapped himself in a towel as he concealed himself. Without a change of clothes to hand, he’d have to remain damp.  

He carried you from the tub to your bedroom, clad in a towel yourself and helped you dry off, giving you a new set of loungewear to wear that wasn’t quite as tempting as your previous outfit – there was only so much he could take in one day – and carried you back to the living room, dampening you slightly again with his clothes.  

Just as he’d sat you down, there was a knock at the door. He moved to open it for you as you sat back and relaxed, revealing another two of the Ghouls in training, slightly more experienced than Phantom; Dewdrop and Swiss.  

Swiss cocked his head in confusion, looking Phantom up and down as he took in the clothes that still clung to him.  

“What the fuck happened to you?” he asked him, Dewdrop snickering and looking around him to wave at you. You waved back sheepishly, suddenly embarrassed that you’d have to explain... this. 

“I, um... fell in the bath,” he lied, scratching the back of his neck. “Actually, it’s still kind of a mess, I should, um... clean up the water,” he said, excusing himself to go mop up the excess water from the floor and return your bathroom to a somewhat untouched state. 

“Yeah, you go do that...” Swiss laughed, patting his wet shoulder as he left and stepping inside your apartment with Dewdrop close behind. “How are you, sister?” 

“Uh, yeah good. Relaxed,” you smiled at him as he sat beside you, Dewdrop hovering silently still after shutting your door. From the few weeks these newer Ghouls had been at the ministry, you’d spent a little more time around Swiss. He could do a bit of everything, and you often found him in places you were during your working hours, fetching things for Secondo. 

“I bet you are,” Swiss teased, looking to where the bathroom door lay open, candlelight still flickering. “Did we miss the fun?” Phantom’s head shot up from where he’d been mopping the floor and slammed the door shut with a swift kick. Swiss just laughed.  

“Well, I can’t deny we’re disappointed, Sister. I had hoped maybe he’d have saved a little of you for us,” he motioned to Dewdrop with a nod of his head, “but hey, if there’s anything we can do for you, we’re here. Papa was very clear in his instructions,” he shrugged, sitting back against the couch cushions.  

“Nothing right now, thanks. Just some trash TV,” you chuckled awkwardly.  

“Say no more,” Swiss snapped his fingers at Dewdrop who rolled his eyes and darted into your bedroom, coming back with a blanket and spare pillow for you to cosy yourself up with. He sat on the floor between you and Swiss, back against the couch.  

The day continued much like this. Phantom returned your bathroom to normality then sat himself on a chair in the corner, shy and embarrassed by Swiss’ constant teasing. You binge watched pointless shows and allowed Dewdrop to give you a foot massage, while Swiss worked some form of Black Magic in the kitchen to make the most artery-clogging, delicious ‘lazy-day extravaganza’ as he had put it. Finding yourself full of disgustingly good food and exhausted from the day, you easily drifted to sleep on the couch against Swiss’ shoulder.

Terzo had no idea what he would find when he knocked on your door that evening. Had his Ghouls done as asked? Had you wanted them to go as far as to please the Dark One and help you revel in sin past the laziness of being waited on?  

He was more than willing to step in if he had to; hoped for it, even. You’d been on his mind all fucking day, elements of your afternoon in his office replaying in his mind like a roll of film stuck in a projector. He wanted you again, couldn’t think of anything else as he’d tried so damn hard to get something, anything, done today. 

His knuckles rasped on your door sometime after 8pm, after his final meeting when he could finally scuttle off to find you. Dewdrop answered the door, bowing silently to his Papa and stepping aside to let him in. What he found, was Swiss laying out across the couch, Dewdrop moving to sit on the floor where he’d been all afternoon, and Phantom sat in a chair in the corner, unable to look him in the eye and shivering as if he were cold.  

And... was he damp? 

But you were nowhere in sight.  

“Where is Sorella _____?” he asked them. Swiss, who didn’t look up from the TV in front of him, answered.  

“Her bedroom, Papa. She was, uh...” he looked behind him at Phantom, who’s head hung in shame and arms crossed over his chest to make himself smaller, “quite exhausted after her bath today.” The smile on Swiss’ face – a shit-eating grin of straight lips and pearly teeth – as he looked at Papa told him enough.  

“You didn't think to undress yourself first, Ghoul?” he smirked, scoffing a little. Phantom stayed silent, humiliated. “Go, change. You’re shivering, stupido (stupid [playful]).” 

Phantom stood from the chair nodding, his damp jeans squeaking and sodden boots squelching and rushed past Papa in the doorway, closing the door behind him. Terzo couldn’t really blame him – he'd dive headfirst into a pit of boiling tar if it meant getting to spend another night wrapped up in you.  

In fact, he found himself incredibly disappointed that he wouldn’t get to revel in sin with you today, to let you lazily use him for your own pleasures as he had hoped tonight. He had instructed his Ghouls to take care of your needs, of course, but knowing that they had stirred up a small dose of an ugly emotion in him. Still, there were plenty more opportunities to explore that pleasure with you in the coming days, and he forced himself to think nothing more on the matter. 

Terzo made his way over to your bedroom door, quietly letting himself in and shutting it behind him. Your room was dark, dimly lit by a small lamp in the corner of the room. His eyes adjusted, and he saw you curled up in a ball under the covers, chest rising and falling softly as you slept. He smiled to himself, moving to sit at the edge of your bed, watching you in peace for a moment.  

Quietly, he removed the glove from his right hand, using his now bare fingers to gently move a strand of hair from your face and tuck it back, wanting nothing to obstruct your pretty face from him. Despite his gentility, you stirred with a soft hum and opened your eyes.  

“Papa?” you whispered, squinting at him in the darkness. 

“Buonasera, Principessa, (Good evening, Princess,)” he smiled, “I trust you have done absolutely niente (nothing) all day, sì?”  

You nodded sleepily, “Wasn’t allowed to walk two steps to go to the bathroom.” He chuckled at your incredulous tone – he figured someone as hard-working and self-sufficient as you would have trouble with today’s sin.  

“I hear you don’t need my help this evening, either?” he teased, his hand – which you hadn’t even registered was gloveless – pushed your hair back again. You were grateful for the darkness, hiding the blush forming on your cheeks. “Phantom was still damp when I arrived. Did that idiota really jump in clothed?” he laughed softly. 

You hid your face in your pillow, shy and flustered. “He was a bit excited...” you admitted, muffled by your pillow. Terzo cackled at that. 

“I can’t blame him...” he shrugged. “I shall leave you to sleep then, hm? Go cross Sloth off our little list?”  

You turned your head back, getting comfortable and ready to drift into sleep again. “Should I go back to work tomorrow?” you asked, stifling a yawn. 

“Please. I don’t think Secondo would allow me to keep all of my limbs if you didn’t show again...” he laughed, “but would you join me for dinner tomorrow, Principessa?” 

“Of course, Papa,” you agreed, already looking forward to spending more time with him.  

“Bene (good). Around 7:30pm, my quarters.” He stroked your hair as your eyes drifted closed, sitting with you as the claws of sleep dug themselves firmly back into you. “Buona notte, cara mia... (Goodnight, my dear...)” he whispered. 

The last thing you remembered before darkness took over, was the vague feeling of soft, pillowy lips pressing to your cheek. 

Prev: Day 1 - Lust | Next: Day 3 - Gluttony

A huge thank you to @her-satanic-wiles for beta reading, and @adinferix for fine tuning the Italian translations! 🖤

Tag list:

@call-me-little-sunshine84 @thew0man @zombiesnips-blog @ghuleh-recs @popiaswife @anamelessfool @enchantedbunny @haelithra @aslutforgreyhair @togetherasone @lilylovesdew @copias-sewer-rat @copiaspet622 @deetz-ghuleh @loudwombatmugkid @nimbusghoul @portaltothevoid @adinferix @angellayercake @sodoswitchimage @siouxbauhaus @lydz1977-blog @bitchywitchygardener @sacrificialsake @the-did-i-ask @ghostfangirlsweden @the-hole-in-terzos-shoe @copiasprincipessa @gothicwonderlust @ladymer @ghulehunknown @onlyhereforghost @solluna00 @nijiru

[skele-bunny]

ARUUUU water ghoul dew 🥺 water ghoul dewey talk pretty please gimme the droplet pleeeeease 🤲

FISHY TIME!!!!!! RRRAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Dew was the one who got Alpha into doing pushups with someone on his back. They had been roughhousing, and Dew managed to get on his back, just laughing up until Alpha pushed himself up. How Dewdrop clang so tightly each time Alpha did it, it just made him happy and low-key opened a new interest for him. He's also got into the habit of picking Dew up, kinda like how Delta does with Pebble. Was Dew's first topside as well, and his first mate!! While they don't renew their bond anymore, they still consider each other a mate unofficially. Alpha can't be around as much because of his sickness, but Dew always makes an attempt to see him as much as possible.

Delta had a really strong habit for otter holding Dewdrop when they swam together, and he didn't mind it. Just curled up wether floating or at the bottom of the lake resting so comfortably. They had a really strange relationship that went deeper than just mates, but didn't know how to label or process it. When Delta had his transition that went wacked, Dew felt like their connection had been severed so severely. Tried everything but nothing felt the same anymore. On a softer note, besides almost mauling each other first time they met, were super attached to the hips after. Two water ghouls in sync with their heat/rut is VERY loud and everyone had to deal with it LMAO. Always seen practicing together no matter what, and had to be in their own booth as when they'd sing, they'd cause too many accidents to those that passed by.

Sometimes when their schedules aligned, Dew and Pebble would sneak to the practice room and just run through setlists or simply have fun with their own sheet music they liked working on together. Pebble kept making the joke that they could pull of the two men in a trenchcoat trick and they attempted it once... Yeahh they ended up eating dirt when trying to go down stairs, but it was still funny to them wjsjdj. During swimming outings, they'd totem on Omega's shoulders and announced themselves as the kings of the lake. Of course until Omega decided it was time to flop backwards and make them all fall. Constantly seen curled up together during tour.

Aër was a strange one, to Dew. He never really talked or had much expression, but it was obvious when he'd get flustered easy. He'd just stare really hard whenever Dewdrop would talk to them, face turning red, and then quickly walk away. He figured out that, to spend time with Aër, it just had to be quiet. Maybe music, if he was lucky. Aër was really into knitting, so Dew would rest across the room reading a new book Papa had recommended him. A lot of their encounters were sexual, however. While Aër never really fucked Dew (he didn't with anyone), a LOT of toys were involved and it's the only times Aër would speak non-stop, saying things you'd never expect and it got Dew ALWAYS blushy and squirmy.

Before their relationship went sour, Omega was up there with Alpha. Dew would constantly peek into his study and quietly step in. It was a game to see if Omega could sense him or if he was too focused on his work. Scared him maybe 3 times, but usually before Dew could even get past the threshold; "Yes, little fish?" They read together a lot, and Dew would sometimes bring Omega agate from the lake with just the brightest smile and soso proud. There's be times Dew would lay on Omega's back and just ramble about whatever he wanted, as Omega enjoyed the pressure and always made for good company. Their tails always ended up intertwined.

Papa? PHEW. Could confuse them for siblings of you wanted to, sometimes. While Dew was quiet a lot, Terzo could very easily break that shell and they'd quickly match energy. Papa joined them for dinner one night, assisting to make it and he threw flour on Dew. Very quickly got a whole egg thrown back and a food war started until Alpha plucked both of them up, still attempting to throw jelly at each other while laughing. Terzo loOOVVED Dewdrop! Never seen him as an accident, "You were always meant to be my ghoul." Didn't like when higher-ups would bad talk him, and kept reminding that he was Papa and he wouldn't stand for his ghouls being mistreated. He'd give some of his old clothes to Dew that didn't fit anymore. Always made him SO happy.

[cowboyemeritus]

Day 25

Prompt: Religious

Pairing: Terzo/Reader

Tags: religious, rituals, infertility, some angst

Notes: "my ghostober entries will be 500 words or less"

oops

Neither of you are one for begging, but the cycle of disappointment has gone on long enough.

You’ve tried everything — taken every vitamin, fucked in every position, swallowed down every last one of Primo’s foul potions. You’ve plotted your cycle to the millisecond and yet each month you bleed. The moons pass, and you remain childless. 

This isn’t about the Clergy. What you’re doing is none of their business. You’re trying to start a family, not create an heir. That’s all either of you want. And because mortal instruments have failed, now you must seek infernal intervention.

The walls of the small, private chapel are lined with devotional candles, bathing the chamber in a soft, orange glow. It took ages to light them all, and your fingers throb, covered in small burns. This had better be worth it, you can’t help but think, quickly trying to push the ugly thought out of your mind. The scent of incense is heavy in the air. Normally a comfort, it does little to dispel the despair welling up in your heart. 

Despite the abundance of flame, the room is frigid. All ancient, weathered stone, it sucks up the heat like a vacuum. You might as well be adrift in space. As you kneel before the altar, naked skin covered in gooseflesh, you have to wonder just how many Prime Movers, desperate and barren, have been where you are now. What did they hope to achieve, and what did their efforts get them?

Considering that Terzo is here with you, surely that must mean they got their wish.

He is your only source of warmth. Shoulder to shoulder, he recites a prayer to Lilith, Mother of Demons, in a low voice, though you’re only half-listening. He’s been your rock, keeping you steady through every negative test and every bloody cramp, drying your tears and reassuring you that, no, this isn’t your fault, cuore mia. You can only hope he means that; Terzo always puts on a brave face, but as the prayer goes on you can’t help but notice how deflated, how defeated, he sounds.

He’s not wearing his paints tonight. The fact that he’s willing to cast his ego aside, to truly humble himself before the Old One, speaks volumes about how serious this is. As you try to focus on his voice, the words flowing out of him like water, a tightness builds in your chest. Before you know it, your eyes are stinging, a hot, bitter tear streaming down your cheek. It takes all your willpower to keep yourself still and not collapse into a pathetic, sobbing heap. You can’t afford to distract him.

“…To You, Dark Mistress, we offer up our bodies, so that they may become one flesh. With these words, and with these acts of devotion, we ask that our prayers be answered, that a new life be brought into world to one day exalt Your name.” There’s a moment of heavy silence. You sneak a glance over at Terzo, and find his eyes are squeezed shut. He has something to say to Her, something he doesn’t want you to hear. “Nema.”

“Nema,” you mumble. Another tear runs your face, dripping into your lap. You stare at the tiny droplet, its very existence mocking you. The quiet in the chapel is so overpowering that the minute sound it makes when it hits your skin is enough to grab Terzo’s attention.

“Oh, amore.” The dam finally breaks when he takes you into his arms. You sob into his chest, months of crushed hopes finally coming to a head.

“I’m scared,” you choke out, feeling like Lilith herself is squeezing your throat closed. “I’m so scared this won’t work.” He shakes his head, a hand coming up to gently pet your hair.

“It will work.” He sounds so sure. You know he’s had visions, glimpses of the future, but he has never divulged their contents to you. Long ago, you had to accept that’s between him and the Old One. “But we must have faith — in each other, and in the powers that be.” He takes a steadying breath, then sighs. “Why don’t we go to bed, try this another night?” The offer is tempting, but if this is destined to fail, you’d rather get it over with.

“No,” you say, sniffling. You’re not sure how much you believe him, but Terzo’s conviction is infectious. When he sets his mind to something, it’s impossible not to want to follow him. It’s one of the qualities that makes him such a compelling leader. And besides, he’s been strong for you; now, it’s time to repay the favor. You muster up all the courage left in your weary heart so that when you look him in the eyes, he knows you mean it. “I want to do this. Just needed to get that out of my system, I promise.” Terzo smiles softly, using his thumb to wipe away the last of your tears.

“Is it bad that I think you are beautiful when you cry?” You roll your eyes, though you can’t help but smile as well, that frigid lump of despair beginning to melt. Terzo gives you a chaste kiss, then looks you up and down. “Shall we begin?” Nervous butterflies flitter in your stomach, but you nod, swallowing down any remaining fear.

“Let’s make this damn baby already.” He laughs, the sound music to your ears.

“There’s my girl.” Terzo kisses you again, this time deeper and needier. It’s remarkable how quickly you go from a nervous wreck to a horny one, climbing into his lap and finding him already hard. Suddenly you feel warm all over. A switch has flipped, and the air around you is charged, crackling with an energy that definitely wasn’t there before.

Terzo reaches behind him, producing a small pot of black pigment. Ground charcoal and perfumed oil, it’s for ritual use only. He dips his index finger into the vessel, gathering some of the paint, then anoints you, marking your forehead with the inverted cross. The smell of ash and myrrh invades your senses and your heart swells, the familiar scent bringing you back to the night of your handfasting. It’s as if something is directing your thoughts, though, because all you can seem to recall is the time you and Terzo spent after the ceremony, thoroughly consummating your union.

You’re brought back to reality by him pressing the pot into your palm. Following the plan, you draw the sign on him as well. From there, your painstakingly crafted ritual devolves into roaming hands and frenzied kisses, the other steps falling by the wayside as you succumb to what you’re starting to suspect may be an outside influence. It doesn’t take long until you’re both good and ready. One hand supporting your back, Terzo takes himself in the other. Before you go any further, however, there is a moment of stillness. You look into his eyes, for a moment expecting hesitation, but find they are full of adoration.

“I love you,” he says. You need not be convinced. “No matter what, I will always love you.”

“I love you, too, Terz.” You place a kiss on the bridge of his nose. “We’ll make it work some-“

There’s an audible woosh. Starting at the far end of the chapel, the candles begin to go out, an invisible force sweeping over them. Mouth agape, you watch as the room falls into darkness. Both of you then look to the altar. All but three candles have been extinguished.

For the first time in a while, you feel hopeful.

[silverofthunder]

Hello 👋! For the request, could you write something about fist kiss with terzo x reader?

sorry this took a while! something sweet coming as it seems to be the only thing i can write about now. hope you enjoy! ❤️

◦ first kiss ◦

Terzo x GN Reader

content: 920 words, fluff, romance, SFW

You were getting ready for to spend the Friday evening alone, wearing your most comfortable pajamas and you had made a bowl of popcorn as you had planned on watching a movie. You sat onto your small couch and set the bowl beside you and picked up your laptop, opening it up. It took a while to find a movie that you felt like watching – this time you settled for romantic comedy as you wanted something a bit lighter.

You didn’t have high hopes for it but it was surprisingly good and you were about a half way through it when you heard a knock on the door. Sighing, you paused the movie and placed the laptop on the table, going then to open the door.

”I thought you would be away for the night.”

Terzo shook his head, grinning.

”Plans changed,” he answered, expression getting serious. ”Hope I didn’t mess up your plans.”

You shrugged.

”No, not at all. I was just watching a movie.”

”Oh, sounds great!” Terzo exclaimed and you couldn’t help but chuckle as the man walked inside. You closed the door and followed Terzo who was already heading to your couch. He snatched some popcorn from the bowl and stuffed them into his mouth as he sat down. You sat beside him, moving the bowl onto your lap.

”What were you watching?”

”Some romantic comedy,” you answered. ”It was quite fun actually. It’s about halfway through but if you want to, we can watch the rest together.”

Terzo looked thrilled at your suggestion, smiling widely at you and moving into a better position and then inviting you to lean against him. You smiled at him back, and put the movie running before snuggling against him. Terzo draped his arm around you and you hummed, happy that he had decided to come to see you.

You two had been seeing each other for a while but certain aspects were still missing before you could properly call you a couple. It wasn’t like you were feeling unsure of anything, no – you knew how you felt about Terzo and what you wanted but you weren’t sure if Terzo shared the your thoughts.

Terzo’s laughter pulled you back on earth and you looked at the screen of laptop, seeing the guy in the movie standing up after taking a dive into a fountain.

”What a way to make an impression on his love interest,” Terzo commented and you hummed, though you were a bit lost what had lead to that dive.

”Well, I guess love can make you do silly things,” you stated, grabbing some popcorn and putting them into your mouth, happily munching them. Then Terzo pressed his face against your hair and took a deep breath.

”Mmh, you’re right,” he spoke softly and you swallowed the popcorns, wondering his words. A moment of silence fell between you and it felt like something shifted during that moment. It was hard to focus on the movie again and eventually you gave up and moved yourself so that you could look at Terzo.

The soft, open look on his face and the slightly dreamy smile almost took your breath away and you just stared at him in awe, anticipation starting to bubble within you. You didn’t know how much time passed or which one of you did the first move but the next thing you realized was his face close to yours, his breath tickling you and then his lips pressed against yours.

The kiss was tentative, as if you both were afraid of something, and it tasted slightly of popcorn. Your heart was fluttering rapidly in your chest and as you eventually got more courage you deepened the kiss. Maybe it was a bit awkward but you didn’t care and neither did Terzo as he cupped your face with his hand, answering the kiss just as much enthusiasm.

It felt amazing. Like you had been waiting for this moment and maybe even pictured it so many times in your head but now that you actually experienced it, it was so much better. You almost didn’t want to break the kiss but as you needed some air, you had no other choice. As you pulled back, you met Terzo’s gaze, all happy and intense.

”So…” You tried to find the right words but they all seemed to have disappeared. Terzo chuckled, swiping your cheek with his thumb.

”Yeah…”

You shook your head, smiling, before dropping your head against Terzo’s chest and groaned in frustration. Why was it so hard to speak? Terzo let out a sigh, sliding his fingers into your hair and silence fell between you again.

A loud squeal made you both startled after a while and you both turned to look at the laptop screen. Apparently the main pair had gotten their happy ending and the people around them cheered. Then Terzo took a hold of your hand and your attention returned to him.

He looked like he wanted to say so much but apparently the words still failed him. You gave a light squeeze to his hand, taking a moment to prepare for your question.

”Does this mean that we’re now officially dating?”

Terzo beamed, nodding.

”Of course, tesoro.”

Your heart made a little jump at that, warmth spreading all over you and something seemed to click in place somewhere deep within you.

That had been all you needed to hear and you surged forward to hug Terzo as the end credits of the movie started running.

[pandasleepy07]

Ghostober - Day 12 [River]

"I just want a nice, easy life. What's wrong with that?"

WC: 1K

It was weird to have a new Papa, to have Ghouls switched around, following someone different. And weirder to be retired. Well at least for River. Lake was adjusting easily, having already dealt with a new Papa once before, and had taken to bouncing between playing pranks and watching the new summonings happen. Air and Alpha were normally busy, having been brought into Terzo’s ghouls, but the fire ghoul still made time for his packmates, claiming that nothing would break their bond, not even a new Papa. Omega was even busier than Alpha, helping Terzo constantly, whether it was with the new ghouls, or if it was explaining any mystery questions the Papa had, Omega was there. Earth was, well Earth, doing his own thing and keeping to himself. And River? He was struggling. He was used to his packmates being around all the time, used to the stupid things that they’d get into. He became quieter, often sitting at the window in the common room, staring outside blankly or sitting at the lake, on the dock, his feet in the water. 

So Alpha and Lake did the only reasonable thing they could think of, they started a prank war. Something that they knew River normally loved. They spent hours planning it, deciding to rack everyone’s brains for the pranks that River had played on the ghouls before reenacting them. They swapped the sugar and salt in the ghoul's kitchen, they created a soapy slip and slide in the Ministries hallway, they wrapped everything in his room with kitchen foil, they swapped out all the hand sanitizer with glue, they stabbed all the forks they could find in Primo's private garden and collected all of the photos that River had taken months ago of the ghouls sleeping in their rooms, spreading them on the kitchen island.

Once everything was set up, they called River to come downstairs from the common room. He had been sitting on the couch by the window again and it took a few shouts from Lake and one loud “River!” from Alpha to snap him out of his stupor. He came out into the hallway, still out of it, and immediately slipped, sliding a few feet and letting out a high squeak that sent a rumble of laughter through his two pack mates. He sat dumbfounded for a moment, before laughing softly as he struggled to stand up. He quickly found that it wasn’t worth it, and ended up just sliding himself across the hall to the stairs where he slid down those too. 

Alpha and Lake had huge grins on their faces when he finally got down to them. Lake handed him a towel so that he could wipe the suds off of his feet and pants. “That was beautiful,” Lake announced, patting his water brother on the shoulder with a proud smile.

“Proud of yourself?” River snorted, trying to dry off the best he could.

“Awww, come on! That was a classic!”

“How unoriginal.” 

Alpha shook his head at the two water ghouls. “I just wanted to know if you wanted some tea. Figured you might like something after a long week.”

River smiled at that. “I’d appreciate it.”

Alpha nodded and the three of them walked into the kitchen, River still snickering to himself. Alpha fixed some tea and passed a mug to River who walked over to the sugar and scooped a teaspoon into his tea, stirring it. He took a sip and spat it out, coughing. 

“What the hell? Is that… salt?”

Alpha chuckled and River's eyes narrowed as River grinned. “Let the prank wars begin! May the best ghoul win.”

The next week passed in a blur. Each ghoul falls for the other's prank. Lake used the hand sanitizer that he had filled with glue and had to go to Omega to get it sorted out. Omega couldn’t help a chuckle and called River and Alpha to the scene, allowing them to witness the stupidity of his actions before warning the new ghouls about the prank war happening through the walls of the Ministry. 

The longer the prank war drags on, the more they all lose energy. Looking over their shoulder every minute of the day was draining, and it hadn’t stopped. Not even when River put staining black paint in Terzo's room so when he tried to take off his paints that night he couldn’t at all.

River had come back from helping Lake teach the new water ghoul and headed straight for his room, walking past Alpha in the den. He closed the door behind him and climbed into his bed only to jump out of it, screaming a second later. Alpha and Lake burst into his room immediately, Lake looking confused and Alpha’s eyes dancing with laughter. River on the other hand had staggered away from his bed and sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, clearly overstimulated as tears clouded his eyes. 

Alpha’s lips that had started to twitch up, turned into a frown and he stepped forward, worry clinching his eyebrows. “River?”

"I just want a nice, easy life. What's wrong with that?" he cried, burying his head in his hands. 

Alpha and Lake shared uneasy glances as Lake moved toward the bed to investigate the prank that Alpha had clearly played. He pulled the sheets back to reveal a whole bunch of toads. 

“I thought that they’d remind you of home,” Alpha grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Frogs are freshwater, not toads,” Lake cried, throwing his hands up in a ‘what am I going to do with you?’ motion.

“Aren’t those frogs?”

“They’re toads, genius!”

A sob rips through River's throat, snapping the attention of both ghouls towards him. They lower their voices and walk over to him, sitting down on either side of him, and gently comforting him. 

“I’m sorry,” Alpha murmured, kicking his heat up a bit in an effort to soothe the water ghoul. “I thought that this would cheer you up a bit. The whole prank war was just to do that, but I think we’ve let it get too far out of hand.”

“Guilty as charged,” Lake mumbled. 

“I’m sorry,” River sobbed. “Everything is changing so much. It's too much. I barely get to see our pack together. It feels like everything is falling apart.”

๋࣭🕸🦇🕸๋࣭ ⭑Ghostober Masterlist 2024⭑ 🕸๋࣭ ⭑🦇🕸 ๋࣭

[miasmaghoul]

Favorite headcanon for every ghoul! Go!

Two each, one horny and one not!

Aether

Was deeply affected by Terzo's deposition, and as a result developed a distrust of the higher-ups in the church. Sister Imperator bears the brunt of his ire. He's very protective of Copia, and his retirement was predicated on the fact that it's become obvious that he won't be Papa much longer. He can't go through that pain again.

Huge into mindfuckery. Will use his magick to manipulate his partners in many ways, some much worse than others. You'd never guess it with his sweet demeanor, but just beneath the surface lies a truly depraved individual.

Dew

Never felt comfortable as a water ghoul, so when he was presented with the opportunity to transition to fire instead he leapt at the chance. It was incredibly hard on him, but he doesn't remember much besides the pain afterwards. Once it passed, he finally felt like he was settled in his skin. Like things were finally right.

He and Aether are deeply, incomparably connected. He's not sure how it happened, or when, but it's true. Dew would do anything for Aether, and Aether for him. They push each other's boundaries behind closed doors, far beyond anything they do with the rest of the pack. The few times Dew has had to call mayday have been with Aether. He only remembers one of them - Aether made sure of it.

Rain

Fascinated by human death. Has the highest body count of all the ghouls, uses his vessel's natural charm and good looks to his advantage in that regard. Lures siblings to the lake, the woods, the mountains, whatever he's in the mood for that day. Likes to play with his food, never makes it easy on them. Lives for the moment the light fades from his prey's eyes. Has an arrangement with Sister in regards to who and how often he hunts.

The most willing to experiment when it comes to kink, has the fewest hard limits of the ghouls. Basically down to try anything twice, and has helped awaken myriad kinks in the others. His favorite partner, though, is himself. He's a narcissist through and through, no one can get Rain off like Rain can.

Swiss

Two words: shadow magick. I hc him as a fire/earth hybrid, but he carries just enough quintessence within him to manipulate shadows. To melt into them and hide in plain sight. Swiss knows many things he shouldn't because of this. Thankfully he's very good at keeping secrets.

Has a different dynamic with everyone, and holds the title of switchiest ghoul. However, it's very, very hard for him to be truly submissive. He'll follow instruction, to be sure, but he always maintains some modicum of control over himself. The only ones who have managed to get Swiss into subspace are Aether and Cirrus, and he required a LOT of aftercare.

Mountain

I am a huge proponent of Mountain being able to grow things on his body. Flowers and other small plants, nothing major. Will grow fresh herbs on his head when he cooks, and if he sleeps really well he'll wake up patchy with moss and lichen. Has a plant associated with each member of his pack, and before he got a solid hold on his magick it was very easy to tell who he was thinking about by what sprouted up around his horns. He can control it for the most part now, but in moments of emotional intensity he sometimes loses his ability to keep it in check.

The subbiest. You wouldn't know it to look at him, but literally anyone can dom Mountain. He especially loves it when the smallest ghouls put him in his place. If he's in a more dominant role, it's because his partner requested it. He just wants them to be happy, to please them. Whatever it takes.

Aeon

He's not as new as people think, summoned before the beginning of the Imperatour and living in the lower levels of the abbey with the other service ghouls. Ended up becoming Aether's lead tech in short order, thanks to being a quintessence hybrid. His other element is fire, which made it hard for him to get close with Dew at first. They get there eventually.

Has a crazy intense breeding kink, and it goes both ways. The first time he takes a knot is accidental, and it really awakens something in him.

Cirrus

Has moderate OCD, which manifests itself in excessive organization and strict scheduling. This proves to be a huge asset when it comes to planning tours, Cirrus spending a lot of her time with Copia and Sister Imperator to help put together itineraries and book hotels. She also organizes the chore sheets for the ghouls, making sure everyone is put where they fit best.

Has a very hard time climaxing, even on her own. It takes a lot of work and focus, so she doesn't really try most of the time. She gains the most pleasure from working her partners over, from providing whatever it is they need to reach that peak. Defaults to hard dom, but is somewhat flexible.

Cumulus

Has what I affectionately call grandma hobbies. She crochets, knits, does cross stitch, puts together jigsaw puzzles and bakes with regularity. Has tons of creative energy and needs outlets for it. Also leads the abbey's choir. (Cirrus plays the organ.)

Obsessed with having her tits played with. Always wants them touched, kissed, licked and sucked on. It's her favorite, and few things get her wetter. One time Dew made her cum just by toying with her nipples, and it took her by such surprise that she cried.

Sunshine

ADHD personified, always full of energy and going a thousand miles an hour. She has more control over it than she lets on, but the others enjoy her playfulness and lack of inhibitions.

Huge exhibitionist, it's nearly impossible to keep her clothed. She'll be shirtless any time she's outside, basking in her namesake. Her pants most always follow, and more often then not she can be found naked as the day she was summoned up on the abbey's roof. Loves to fuck outside so she can be as loud and feral as she likes.

Aurora

Makes jewelry for the others - matching lockets for Cirrus and Cumulus, a fine silver ring patterned after fish scales for Rain, a bronze ear cuff decorated with small leaves for Mountain, a corded crystal pendant for Sunshine, a set of jewled horn charms for Swiss. She's proudest, though, of the simple pair of thin sterling chains she made for Dew and Aether. They wear them always.

ENORMOUS size queen. She's the tiniest now, even smaller than Dew, but the first cock she took was Mountain's. Cirrus had to buy a new toy for her strap just to please Aurora's insatiable need to be stretched. It's never enough.

[circle--of--confusion]

This Love is in Retrograde - Part 2

Chapter summary: Taking place after the ending of "The cardinal and the seamstress." Amelia is over Terzo's blatant flirting with siblings in front of her and confronts him about it. He asks to try again at being together and the question is, can Amelia allow herself the chance on herself again? Amelia ends up getting advice from a ghoul to help her see the light. Amelia is so stubborn, wow! lol

Author's note: Love confessions! More closet antics! Alex and Sarah from my other fic are here! cute Copia/Sarah moments! Ghouls! I attempted to write smut, It's my first time [hehe] so go easy on me. My song inspiration for this chapter was another Starset song "Earthrise" along with "Manifest" like part 1.

Paring: Terzo | Papa Emeritus III x OC Amelia

Chapter 2: AFTER

Words: 10.1k

Read on AO3

| Part 1 | Part 2 |

MASTERLIST

Tags: Explicit/MDNI; Angst; closet confessions; Terzo is a menace; love confessions; emotional sex; fluff; smut [vaginal fingering, hand jobs, vaginal sex]; google translated itallian

banner creds to @gothdaddyissues

It’s been another night of mental betrayal. Her brain keeps conjuring up memories of Terzo. The good, the bad, and the sexy. She walks like a zombie down the hallways, a giant thermos of black coffee in her hand as “breakfast”. Does Amelia like black coffee? No, she hates it. Copia’s suits are finished and now it’s time to measure the new ghouls he’s summoned. By the time she’s made it to the sewing studio, Sarah and Alex have already arrived. Copia must’ve walked with Sarah because he’s there and hasn’t left her yet.

She nods in their direction as she passes them after entering through the door but her greeting is ignored. They’re a picturesque portrayal of two sickeningly sweet lovebirds off in their own little world. Copia and Sarah barely have any space between them as they hold each other and whisper sweet-nothings.

Amelia thinks her eyes might fall out at the intense eye-roll she makes. She begins to ready her sewing area for the day once she’s at her desk.

Sarah giggles. “Copia, my love, I need to get to work.” Her hand travels up to the side of his face and her thumb stokes lovingly on his cheek.

“Sarah, dolcezza mia, amore mio. I will be desperately counting the minutes until I can be in your glorious, bewitching presence again.” He leans down for one final kiss but when Copia pulls back, Sarah pulls him back forward for another one.

Alex walks over to Amelia as she observes them from across the room. “Wow! They’re really uh, locked in.”

She nods. “Yep. Young love.” Amelia waves her hand in the air and then waves her finger. “But If I hear one more lovesick pet name, I’m stabbing someone with my knitting needles.” She aggressively points over to the couple.

Alex sighs. He notices the thermos. “This is going to be a long day.”

She looks over to Sarah and Copia. “I’m goin’ in.” Amelia walks up to them and she claps her hands. The two separate, startled. “Dracule. Please allow my assistant to assist me. Don’t you have work to do?”

Copia looks annoyed and rolls his eyes. “Yes, I have a meeting with il piccolo stronzo.”

Amelia’s eyebrows knit together. “What does Terzo need to talk to you about?”

“Music stuff. He wants to give me tour advice, I think.” Sarah frowns. He tisks and grabs Sarah’s hands. “Oh, that won’t be for a while, amore.”

Sarah nods her head. “I know, I know. Though I feel like I just got you. I don’t want to see you go off for months at a time and leave me all alone.”

Amelia feels like she’s having an out of body experience. “Yeah, starting a relationship at the beginning of an album cycle isn’t a wise decision.” she responds flatly.

Alex snorts obscenely loud. Amelia whips her head around and Alex sobers up. “Uh.” he coughs. “Yeah. Poor timing.”

“Okie-dokie. Well, I hope you have a wonderful day, dolcezza mia.” Copia kisses Sarah’s hairline. “And I hope my ghouls behave enough. My new multi-ghoul can be a bit feral.” He laughs nervously.

“Don’t worry, Vladdy, I’ll keep him in line if anything happens.” Amelia assures him.

Sarah bats her hand in the air. “We have your suits ready to go. I think I’ve managed to get out of The Gauntlet unscathed.”

Amelia chuckles lowly. “Sarah, if you think his suits were the entirety of The Gauntlet, you have a bigger storm coming.” Amelia laughs and Sarah yelps.

Shortly after Copia leaves the studio do the ghouls arrive. Six new ghouls and one returning. Dewdrop. But now with a different element. Wonder what the story is there. He stares at Amelia; his eyes are the only thing she can see behind the chrome that covers the rest of his face. His head tilts. He could probably say the same for me.

“OK!” she grabs the tape measure. “In order to make this morning go by as smoothly as possible, I will measure you each, one at a time. My assistant Sarah,” she points in her direction “Will be taking my notes.”

One of the ghouls pipes up, Swiss, she thinks? “What does he do?” His thumb points over to Alex.

“I’m the eye candy.” he smiles waves his fingers. Amelia grumbles at him and Alex rolls his eyes. “I’m the every-man. I repair, mend, sew, find shit we might need. I can do it all! I have some mending requests for the siblings that I’m working on today.”

The ghouls nod their head. A couple of them give a thumbs up. “Hey! You’re like me. The multi-ghoul.” Swiss smiles.

“Dew, I will assume nothing’s been altered? I doubt changing elements modified your body that drastically.” She walks over to the next ghoul. Amelia has to nod her head further back. Mountain. She calls to Sarah.“Sarah, get me the longer tape measure, please?”

The ghoul shrugs his shoulders.

“What’s the plan with the costumes? Are they the same as the previous era?” Rain asks while she measures them. “We were able to talk with the other Papa’s ghouls.”

Amelia shakes her head. “No, these will look different. I plan to have them look similar to Copia’s suits but with a few changes.”

“Could Copia ever help give input on the costumes?” Sarah asks.

“No.” Amelia tersely replies. The room falls silent. She tries to defend the reaction. “It would turn into a thing. Also, it’s one less item for him to worry about! It’s a win! And if he really, actually hated it, I would make changes.”

One by one, each ghoul is measured and documented. Once Amelia was done with a ghoul, they either stood on the side or went to chat with Alex; she saw a few phone numbers being swapped. The morning gets away from them and the afternoon is filled with the sounds of paper rustling and being cut to form the pattern pieces that will become their costumes.

Every now and then a sister or brother will visit to pick up the article of clothing that was dropped off to be fixed by Alex. On their way out, a couple siblings looked over to Amelia as she watched them come and go. They gave a knowing smile to her and instantly her memories of the past shove their way back to the front of her mind. The last sister to give her that look is long gone by now but Amelia’s brain has left the station for the day. 4:14pm. Stick a fork in me, I’m done!

“I don’t think I can do any more tracing and cutting. How about we all call it a day?” she stands up from her table and stretches. “Sarah.” she yawns. “Alex and I have a clergy meeting tomorrow. You’ll be on your own for the first couple hours.”

She nods. “Okay! That’s no problem. I’m almost done with these pieces and then I can start on cutting mockups.”

Amelia claps her hands together and then sits down. “Great! You two can go, I’ll lock up. I have a couple things to clean.”

Alex and Sarah file out to get dinner, Amelia stays for a moment in her chair. The room is totally silent, save for the hum of the fan in the corner. Even now, nearly two years after Amelia left Terzo do the siblings feel the need to remind her of it. The noise in her head is deafening and she leans over the table with her head in her hands. After all the time that’s passed, she’s reached past the point of tears. She’s now angry. He’s being more obvious about it. Why?

“Fuck this!” she stands, grabs her now empty thermos, and heads out to grab dinner before it’s too late.

There are two people talking down the hall, around the corner. Who could still be here at this time? She rounds the corner to find-

“Oh, Papa!” a sister giggles. They lean against the wall, her back to Amelia’s direction. Terzo on the opposite end faces towards her. He leans towards the sibling. His suit that she made looks immaculate on him, of course. A few strands hang loosely in front of his face and his skull paint doesn’t even look smudged at this point of the day. He’s as perfect as ever and it torments Amelia every time. It’s too late she thinks. Terzo doesn’t seem like he would want to talk to me now about how we left things. How I left things.

He could do with less blatant flirting in her vicinity, though. Amelia rolls her eyes dramatically. Oh papa! She mimes and theatrically moves her hands to her chest, rolling her eyes while she passes by the two.

Terzo’s eyes flick up to see her walking by before he looks back to the sister. His mouth turns up into a smirk. “And what time will your Papa need to come by tonight?”

Amelia schools her face to not react until she’s passed. Her hands ball into fists and she grits her jaw once they can’t see her anymore. il piccolo stronzo indeed.

◊◊◊◊◊

The next morning her and Alex pile into the meeting room with a few others; Papa Nihil, Sister Imperator, and Cardinal Copia included.

“Where is he?” Sister Imperator asks. “The meeting should’ve started thirty minutes ago!”

As if on cue, Terzo enters the room with a dramatic flourish. “Mi dispiace.” his face paint looks like it was applied in a rush. “My alarm didn’t go off on time.” He walks to his seat and sits down.

Sister Imperator stands. “Well, now that everyone is here, let’s begin.”

Sister drones on for most of the meeting about various clergy topics. She asks Copia about his songs and progress with the new ghouls. Amelia is asked on her costume plans. Sister then asks Terzo what he plans to do about the upcoming Black Mass and he takes a moment to respond. Because he’s asleep.

“Papa!” she slaps the table and his head falls forward before jerking up.

“Hu- what?” he blinks rapidly.

“The. Black. Mass. What are your plans?”

Amelia snorts to herself, badly concealing it. “Long night?” she condescends.

Terzo squints at her. “Thank you for the concern, Amelia.”

“Amelia…” Sister Imperator cuts in.

“It’s just,” Amelia continues “,so irresponsible! The rest of us were here on time. You showed up late. And now you fall asleep at the table?”

“Amelia!” she flinches. “You are dismissed.”

Her eyes go wide. “But Sister!” she defends. “I was trying to…”

“You failed. Now leave us.” Sister ordered. “You too, Alex. I have no need for the both of you two anymore.”

Amelia gets up with her tail between her legs. She walks out, Alex following closely behind her. “I’m so sorry.” he starts. “Amelia is just… on her period.” He cringes immediately, closing his eyes after he gets the door to the room closed behind him.

“Alex, what the fuck?” Amelia whisper-yells.

They walk down the hall to the sewing studio. “I should be asking the same.” he retorts. “You’ve never done that, ever.”

She sighs. “The siblings keep mocking me.” Alex raises an eyebrow. “They won, remember? In the fight between them and I for Terzo’s attention.”

“That doesn’t explain what just happened.” he shakes his head. “That was also two years ago and technically you surrendered.”

“No need to remind me.” she grumbles. Amelia takes a deep breath. “I was walking home last night after locking up and, well, I saw him and a sister talking.” Alex nods. “She was cute and giggly and I may have… mocked her as I was walking by.” She lowers her voice at the last bit.

“Amelia. How old are you again?” He scolds.

“I won’t justify that question with an answer.”

He sighs. “Well, you’re at least old enough to know better.”

“He was way worse! He said ‘when does Papa need to be there tonight?’ to her when he realized I was watching.” She huffs. “Prick.”

Alex groans. “I will admit, that is pretty prickish.”

Once they make it back to the studio, Sarah ambushes them at the door. Her phone is in her hands showing a recent text message, no doubt from Copia giving her the meeting info. “What happened?”

“More than I can possibly explain.” Amelia sighs.

◊◊◊◊◊

About half of the mockups are ready to be fit on the ghouls now. Alex, Sarah, and Amelia have all been wired in, focused on getting the mockups done in time. Throughout the two weeks of sewing, Amelia would mumble “Why did Copia have to summon so many ghouls?” while shaking her head and grumbling at the machine. For a handful of nights, the three of them would stay late into the evening to stay on track. Copia makes sure to pick Sarah up on their late nights. He dotes on his amore and asks if she needs anything and Amelia grumbles that it’s his fault they have to stay so late.

Mountain, Swiss, and Dew arrive one day to get fitted and it’s going well enough. Mountain’s pants need to be taken in slightly and she’s pinning in a couple areas when Sarah chuckles.

“What?” Amelia asks while she focuses on placing a pin.

“Oh, I remembered when you were fitting Copia’s suit and Papa Terzo walked in, complaining that you wouldn’t make his pants tighter.” she spoke. “And now it feels like you’re doing this to everyone else on purpose.”

There’s a knock on the studio door and in walks Terzo. “Hello?”

“Speak of the Devil.” She rolls her eyes.

He laughs dryly. “You flatter me, Amelia.”

“Oh my God.” She scoffs.

Terzo balks. “Lets not bring him into this.”

“Were you just waiting for your cue?” he holds up his hands in surrender. “Why are you here? We are a bit busy.”

“I need to talk to Alex about my shirt.” He defends.

Amelia is impatient. “Make it quick.”

The ghouls along with Alex and Sarah can sense the energy shift and the room is ominously silent for the rest of the session with the ghouls. Terzo speaks softly to Alex about getting a button on his cuff more secure and it’s fixed in a few minutes. Once he leaves, Amelia sighs with finality. Swiss, for the rest of the session has a curious look in his eyes. He whispers with Dew about something and Amelia can’t be bothered to eavesdrop.

Another afternoon goes buy for the sewists once the ghouls leave and at the end of the day, Alex and Sarah depart together for food while Amelia decides to finish a couple more seams and pattern adjustments. She finds a stopping point and locks up the studio to head home. Amelia turns down the hall and is met with the frustratingly handsome view of Terzo’s back; he’s leaning against the wall on his shoulder while he schmoozes to yet another sibling. A newly initiated brother of the clergy is hanging on Terzo’s every word. This is the last straw. The brother is caught off guard when his eyes land on Amelia’s vengeful expression while she grabs Terzo by the arm and walks, more like drags, him down the hall.

“Che diavolo stai facendo?”

Amelia pulls up to the all too familiar hall closet of the past and opens the door, gesturing to it. “Inside. Now.” She demands.

He looks at her with an unreadable expression, his paint not helping at all to give any hints, and walks in to the cramped space. Amelia follows in after him. She closes the door and turns on the light.

“What is your fucking problem?” She seethes.

Terzo is confused. He blinks and shakes his head. “My problem?” he spits out a chuckle and crosses his arms. “You are unbelievable.”

“Must you do that in my presence?” she gestures with her hand to the door.

“Are you shocked, jealous even that I’m using my free time on siblings and not on you?” he teases and tilts his head. “Did you think I was going to take up a vow of chastity when you left?” Terzo goads her.

“You never used to flaunt it in front of me until now.” her voice falters at the end. “It feels like you’re doing it on purpose.”

Terzo drops his arms and steps closer to Amelia. He points at her. “You left me, remember? I’ve been waiting and I may have begun to get a bit impatient in the recent weeks.”

It’s her turn to be confused now. “Waiting? Waiting for what?”

“For you to change your mind! For you to realize the incredibly foolish error you made when you left me that night!” He huffs.

Amelia puts her hands on her hips. “Because I’m a fucking idiot? I had my reasons, Papa.”

Terzo slaps his hands onto the shelves behind her, caging her in between his arms. Amelia flinches, her eyes flick to his and they’re on fire. She could swear his white eye was glowing. “No.” he growls. "I only ever wish to be Terzo to you, even if you’re mad at me. Please grant me at least this one request.” He asks, softly.

She nods her head rapidly and Terzo steps back to give her some space. “I had reasons for leaving that night and if I’d waited any longer, I would’ve been delaying the inevitable.” she replies softly. “Seeing how the siblings act smug around me, how I watch you indulge and flirt with the others… it confirms my fears. My reasons.”

“I understand your reasons, Amelia. I just also think at the time that they were silly.” she lets out a sarcastic laugh. His hands move to hold her face and he looks determinedly into her eyes. “When we were together, you were all I ever thought about. Because I love-“

“Please don’t finish that.” She interrupts. She’s getting choked up and he removes his hands from her face. “I’m not sure I can believe that it’s genuine when I hear them swoon about their mind-blowing nights with you.”

He knits his eyebrows together. “Tales of my sexual history the past couple years have been greatly exaggerated, Amelia.” He sounds annoyed.

“You haven’t done anything with them?” She asks.

“Well, no.” Amelia frowns. “But when I do, I keep it at arms’ length. I keep the paint on if I spend an evening with anyone. They get a night with Papa, no one else.” He says plainly.

“You’ve never…?”

He slowly raises his hand to cup her cheek. “I can’t bring myself to see anyone, to have anyone in the same way that we were. I would be wracked with guilt. To make love with someone, to lay myself bare in that way would feel like crossing a line.” Terzo once again holds Amelia’s face in his hands.

She can feel her eyes well with tears and his thumbs are ready to wipe any that fall. Amelia’s hands rise to hold his wrists in place and she closes her eyes. It’s not exactly what she’s wanted to hear, but it’s comforting in its own way. They stand like that for a moment, still and quiet. The sounds of their breaths fill the tiny closet as the seconds pass. They’ve released two years of pent-up frustration and now the adrenaline is gone.

“I’d like for us to begin anew.” he whispers. “The Cardinal is leading the band now and it’s only a matter of time before he is the next Papa of the Ministry. I will pass on the Papacy to him and then retire completely and I wish to spend the rest of my time with you by my side.” His thumb rubs softly on Amelia’s cheek.

“Terzo…” She finally says his name. Her voice cracks as she gets it out and her eyes open. He’s looking down at her with immense adoration and hope.

Terzo smiles wide. “Amelia.” he scans her face to figure out what she might say. His eyes linger on her down on her lips and on reflex, he leans forward.

The closet door opens to reveal a very confused and surprised ghoul. He’s one of Copia’s.

“Oh this isn’t the bathroom!” Swiss exclaims.

Terzo quickly removes himself from Amelia and steps back. One of his arms moves to sit behind his back and the other touches the back of his neck, his fingers brushing through the strands awkwardly.

“It’s uh. Down the hall after turning the corner. There should be a sign.” Amelia coughs out.

“Great. Thanks!” Swiss smiles wide enough his teeth show. He pats the doorknob. “You should probably lock it next time.” He laughs and closes the door to leave them alone.  

Terzo and Amelia stare at each other in bewilderment. Their faces crack into smiles and laughter fills the small room.

“Copia’s ghoul has excellent timing.” He remarks.

“Yep.” She emphasizes the P sound.

Terzo moves to stand closer in front of Amelia and he grabs her hands to hold in his. “What I said earlier, you don’t have to answer it right now. Only when you’re ready, please let me know.”

Amelia nods. “I will. I promise.”

“Good.” He nods back and brings her hands up to his mouth to kiss her knuckles.

◊◊◊◊◊

Amelia was so drained after the confrontation with Terzo that after taking something to-go from the dining hall, she fell asleep easily and slept like the dead. The pressure in the past two years was released and her chest doesn’t feel so tight. Her shoulders feel a bit lighter the following morning and the alarm sounding off doesn’t feel as dreadful. On her way to the studio after getting breakfast, she’s decided on coffee with cream and sugar. She decided to treat herself and chose a hazelnut flavoring. Terzo’s almost confession of love replays and his proposal to start again sits in her mind.

“Good morning, everyone!” she calls to the studio. Her voice is cheery; Sarah and Alex glance to each other and squint their eyes towards Amelia. She sits at her desk and begins writing her to-do list, listing the items she needs to complete for the day. Her phone chimes.

--------

[Do Not Pick Up] 8:00 am

Did you know there is a missing Stanley Cup game winning puck? In 2010, the NHL team that won the trophy in a thrilling game 6 was not able to find the puck that secured the victory. Even the FBI got involved but it still hasn’t been found.

[Do Not Pick Up] 8:02 am

I don’t want it to be radio silence between us anymore, not after yesterday. So here, have a mystery of the day.

--------

I should probably change Terzo’s contact in my phone now Amelia thinks.

--------

Amelia 8:03 am

How do I unsubscribe from these? ;)

--------

Terzo 8:04 am

I’m afraid that’s not an option, tesoro.

--------

She laughs and it makes her feel giddy.

“You seem… chipper this morning.” Alex calls to Amelia. “What are you smiling at?”

“I have uh, downloaded an app that gives a mystery of the day!” She lies, hoping her blush is concealed enough.

“Uh huh.” Alex nods. “Because I thought, well, I read something interesting from Swiss yesterday when he texted me and-“

“Since when are you on texting terms with the ghouls?” Amelia interrogates.

He sits up straighter in his seat. “I only text with Swiss from time to time!”

“Well you can tell your ghoulfriend that-“

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! He’s not my ghoulfriend. He is a ghoul… that I know.” Alex defends.

“What did he say?” Sarah interjects.

“He said that on his way to look for the bathroom - some of the halls are still a bit confusing for him - he opened a door to find Terzo and Amelia in a closet in a very intimate position.” Alex reveals.

She gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. “No!”

“We didn’t do anything! We were just talking and well…” Amelia doesn’t know how to end the sentence. We did almost kiss.

Sarah looks over to her. “Oh, and FYI, it’s not a good idea to fuck in that closet. The shelves aren’t great back support.” Sarah scrunches up her nose.

“We weren’t fu- wait, what?” Amelia looks taken aback. She and Alex stare at Sarah.

Sarah blushes and looks up at the ceiling. “Remember a few weeks ago when I was complaining about my lower back hurting and I said it was because of my period?”

Amelia and Alex let out an affirmative “Ooooh” sound. An awkward silence falls over the room, then, and the three them wordlessly return back to their work.

◊◊◊◊◊

--------

Terzo 8:45 am

In 2015 there was a high profile cheese slicer theft. The world’s most valuable slicer was stolen from the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. Worth $28,000, covered in diamonds, it was snatched from the basement archives. A reward of a fancy cheese basket and fondue set was presented to anyone who could come forward with substantial tips.

--------

Terzo 8:36 am

In mid-winter, 1931, a Swedish ship the “SS Baychimo” became trapped at sea from the ice along the Alaskan coast. The crew abandoned ship to find shelter nearby and when they went to return to the ship, it was gone. 38 years later the vessel was spotted 50 miles from where it was originally abandoned and by the time a crew could be gathered to bring it to shore, it disappeared again. To this day, no recovery has ever been made of the ghost ship.

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Terzo 8:27 am

For nearly 300 years, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey have been called the home of the New Jersey Devil. It’s described as a long-necked, two-legged creature with hooves and wings. Its alleged origins begin in 1735 when a local woman was pregnant with her 13th child and right before it was born, she proclaimed “Let this one be the Devil!” and once it was born it sprouted wings, hooves, and a tail. To this day no one has been able to provide concrete proof of its existence.

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Terzo 8:53 am

Shakespeare’s works will always remain a mystery, specifically in the lost play “Love’s Labor’s Won”, the long-held belief that it is the sequel to “Love’s Labor’s Lost.” It was first referenced by writer Sir Frances Meres as he wrote about the playwright’s works. Some believe it was an alternative title to “Love’s Labor’s Lost” but other believe it was a play in its own right. No evidence of the show has ever been found other than second-hand references.

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Amelia 8:56 am

Where are getting these? I’ve been wondering about it for the past week.

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Terzo 8:57 am

Primo’s idea. I was gifted a desk calendar of daily mysteries a year ago but never used it. I’ve been skipping around since there’s no point following the order.

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Amelia 9:00 am

Yeah that sounds like him.

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◊◊◊◊◊

One evening after dinner, Amelia walks to the library to check out their hobbies section. She heard from a sister who works there that they recently acquired knitting reference books. Library hours have been recently extended and many siblings have taken advantage to study ancient texts or chat quietly. Tonight, the space is buzzing with activity; siblings look through the shelves or lounge on the comfy couches. The new knitting book selections were fruitful and she found one on circle yoke sweaters that piqued her interest along with a book of Japanese knitting patterns. She passes by the sitting area on the way out and has to do a double-take.

She finds Terzo sitting in a plush chair with a book in his hands. He has one leg crossed over his other knee and he’s changed out of his regular suit but still he wears dark purple dress pants and a black button up. The top two buttons are undone and he is wearing his reading glasses. She’s never seen him in the Papal paint with the glasses on and it’s all a sight for her eyes. It’s almost too much for her. His eyes however haven’t noticed Amelia yet. He’s been preoccupied with a brother of sin who can’t tell that Terzo really just wants to get on with his book.

She can’t conceal her giggle in time and Terzo looks up, following the familiar sound. He locks eyes with her across the room and winks her. She blushes and hides the book in front of her face then brings it back down a few seconds later. He hasn’t looked away and Amelia can sense something deep in her heart once again. The long-lost sensation of fluttering butterflies up to her chest. She smiles to Terzo and walks off to check out her books. She can somehow feel his eyes on her and she’s testing all of her will power to not look back.

◊◊◊◊◊

Today the three sewists have finally met their threshold. Even Amelia cannot keep up with The Gauntlet and on a sunny Thursday Sarah, Alex, and Amelia take the day to rest and recharge.

She decides to walk in the courtyard for a bit to think. Their non-stop sewing marathon for the ghouls has prevented her from fully giving Terzo’s proposition a proper consideration and she wonders if fresh air will help to clear her mind. She talks to herself, gesturing wildly down a path and some siblings walk by her will funny looks. Yeah, that’s probably fair she thinks. Amelia finds a quieter, less populated section and sits down so she can think out loud in private.

“He doesn’t seem like he’s fully moved on.” she says to herself. “But would he really take another chance on me?”

“Would you?” a voice cuts in from further down the pathway.

“Dew? Am I interrupting something? Should I move?” Amelia calls out. He walks closer and sits down next to her on the bench.

“Not at all. Did I interrupt something?” Dew responds with a playful lilt in his voice. She can’t see his face due to the chrome mask but she can tell he’s smirking. 

“I’m just thinking out loud about something.” She sighs.

“I could tell.” he nods. “Well, don’t let me get in the way.” Dew leans back on the bench, threading his fingers together and leaning his head back in his hands. “So, Would you?”

“Would I what?” she asks.

“Would you take another chance on yourself?” He nods his head towards her.

She’s silent for a moment. “I’d like to say ‘yes’ but I’m not sure.”

“I don’t know what you two were for each other, but when you left, Terzo was a wreck for a long time.”

Amelia turns to look fully at Dew while he continues to look forward. “I didn’t know that.” she looks down at her hands in her lap. “He always seemed so put-together.”

Dew sighs through his nose. “Only for the clergy, never around us. Going on tour was one of the few ways he could feel normal even if he was playing a version of himself at times. When Terzo didn’t have any obligations, he became a recluse.”

Amelia breathes a deep sigh. “I’m an asshole.” She drops her head into her hands.

“No, you’re not.” Dew sits up straight and moves his head to face Amelia. His left hand pats her knee. “Humans are terrible with emotions. What is it you all like to use as an excuse? Fight or Flight?”

“I flew, I know, I know! But when he came home that night I… The paint on his mouth was smudged and he had kiss marks on his clothes!” she waves one of her hands in the air.

“He kept pushing the sister away but she was very persistent with Papa. One of us had to escort her out once she got to his neck.” he tilts his head to the side. “And if I remember correctly, his face paint was smudged from kissing foreheads all night. He kept professing that the only lips that would touch his from now on were yours.”

The entire night comes crashing down in Amelia’s mind. Her eyes feel misty and she sniffles. A tear sits dangerously close to falling down her cheek. “I didn’t know.” Amelia wipes at her eyes. “He said the kiss marks meant nothing to him and I didn’t even let him explain his mouth.”

“So, you accused him of infidelity and then didn’t let him defend himself?” he said incredulously. “You ghosted a man who looks at you like you hang the stars in the sky.”

“I couldn’t allow myself to believe that he could completely… love… me.” She almost cringes.

Dew chuckles and she swats at him. “Do you really think you are so awful? Terzo is flirty, sure, but he likes making people happy as Papa. Your happiness meant the world to him above all else.”

“I just didn’t see what was so special about me.” she looks down and picks at her fingernails. “I knew he cared about me like I cared about him but there was always a nagging thought in the back of my mind that he would meet someone so in awe of him and he’d forget about me.”

Dew chuckles. “Yeah, you’re not an asshole. You’re an idiot.” Amelia shoves him. “Hey!”

“I’m happy to hear that my inner turmoil is hilarious to you.” She deadpans.

He stands up and placed his hands behind his back. He tilts his head down to look at her and Amelia tilts her head to look up at him. “You need to tell him these things. I can’t tell you why he loved you so much but I know he did and it broke his heart every day when you were gone.”Amelia nods with determination and Dew turns to leave.

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Amelia: 5:45 pm

I’m ready to give you my answer.

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◊◊◊◊◊

The following evening Amelia takes careful, tentative steps to Terzo’s apartment. He’d asked for her to come have dinner with him while they talk. With shaky hands she takes a deep breath and then knocks on his door. After a few seconds, it opens to reveal him and he’s wearing a pair of black pants and a comfy dark green sweater; Terzo’s face is bare, free from any paint he’d worn that day. Her mind flashes back to the last time she’d seen his face that way. It was earlier in the night before it all went to hell two years ago.

“Ciao, Amelia.” He nearly whispers his hello. It feels like if he speaks any louder, she might run off.

“Hello.” She smiles. Terzo steps back to let her in and closes the door once she’s inside.

“Thank you for coming.” he glances at her outfit. He chose simple black jeans and a red button up blouse with bishop sleeves. She blushed slightly under his watchful eye. “You look beautiful as always.”

“Thank you.” She whispers. “You…too.”

Terzo gestures to the table he has set up. He guides Amelia to take a seat while he walks over to plate their meal for the night. “Fettuccine al Pomodoro. The tomatoes are fresh from Primo’s garden.” He smirks. “I got permission this time.”

Amelia laughs and he smiles wide at her reaction. “I’m sure he was happy you’d asked.”

He brings over their plates and then sits down across from her while they begin to eat their meal. The pair eat in silence, only occasional hums of approval or fork scratching sounds float into the room. He eats a few bites off of his plate but mostly watches Amelia as she savors hers. When they’re finished, he takes their plates and silverware to the sink and clears the table. Amelia gingerly rests her palms on the table, Terzo puts his elbow on the table to and rests his head in his hand. He looks at her expectantly.

Is he waiting for me to start? she thinks. “So, I came here tonight to give you my answer, Terzo.”

He nods his head softly. “And… what do you say?” He watches Amelia, almost pleading.

She lets out a deep breath. “I say yes.” He sits up straight in his chair. “Yes, I want to be with you. To try this again.”

“A-Amelia I am delighted to hear it.” Terzo scoots his chair to sit closer to Amelia. His knees bump into hers in his enthusiasm to be nearer to her.

“We need to talk first, though. I have some things I need to say.” She looks down at her lap.

He takes her hands into hers. “Whatever you have to say, please say it.”

“First, I want to say I’m sorry. I’ll say it as many times as I need to-” Terzo lightly squeezes her hands and it cuts off her train of thought.

“You don’t have to apologize for anything.”

“But I do. I acted out of fear. I didn’t let you defend yourself. I thought a sibling was finally able to woo you enough to convince you of my irrelevancy. I didn’t let you explain and I jumped to conclusions and left.” her voice shakes. She feels her eyes becoming misty. “I t-thought you’d finally found someone who was s-so amazed by who you were and that they’d become more interesting than me-” Amelia sniffles and a tear falls down her cheek. Terzo brings her in to his chest while his arms wrap around her back in a snug embrace.

“Amelia I wouldn’t, couldn’t ever think someone was more important than you.” His right hand moves up to stroke through her hair a few times. Amelia’s hands tentatively wrap around his waist and pulls him closer.

She sniffles again. “I couldn’t understand at the time, I still don’t really understand now, why you think I’m so special.”

He moves back to look at Amelia. “Can I tell you?” His thumbs softly wipe at the tears around her eyes. She nods. “Of everyone I’ve ever known in this ministry, you were like my one constant. My family, the Emeritus legacy, makes people treat me differently. Siblings think of me as this tantalizing higher power and the other Bishops and Cardinals try to suck up to me so when I became Papa, I don’t randomly fire them or relocate them.” he smiles. “Throughout the couple decades I’ve known you, every time I spoke with you, I was always some stronzo named ‘Terzo’ and I admired your consistency even when I technically should’ve corrected you at times. I can’t help but be attracted to how you didn’t give a shit about my title.”

“I don’t like putting people on pedestals.” Amelia squeak out. “Also, I’m pretty sure Sister Imperator would have the final say in any relocations anyway.”

“Probably.” he lifts her chin up. “Do you understand, now?” Terzo searches her eyes.

She nods. “I think so.” Amelia leans her forehead against Terzo’s and closes her eyes.

“When you left me that night,” Terzo begins, softly. “,it felt like a part of me left with you.” He pulls back from her forehead. “You are one of few people who know me this intimately. I was hurt, Amelia, that you would think of me so poorly.” It’s Terzo this time to look down at his hands.

She grabs his hands into her own, rubbing small circles on his palms. “I think… I just got caught up in everything, mentally. You always reassured me, and when we were around each other I was fine. I could feel your love even if we never spoke it. But then you had more obligations, more events that would take you from me.” she lets out a shaky breath. Terzo squeezes Amelia’s hands as a small reassurance. “And then there were the looks from the siblings. It’s like they were angry, Terzo. They acted like I took something from them.”

“It pains me to hear that they felt so entitled of me in that way. I had my moments of intense devotion from the siblings so to speak, but I wasn’t aware of the extent of their spite towards you.”

Her emotions get the best of her and she feels tears welling in her eyes again. “I tried to hide how it felt as much as I could. You genuinely care for the congregation and the funny thing is, in a way, I don’t blame them. I’d hear the stories of siblings spending a night with you after I left and below all of the gloating and bravado,” deep breath “,I could tell that it was still special for them. You are Papa and that means something in this ministry.”

He huffs. “I feel guilty now for my flaunting earlier and my rendezvous. I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head. “No, please don’t! I thought I was setting you free. I should be sorry that I couldn’t block out the noise and not let it get to me.” A small tear falls down her cheek. Amelia takes a deep breath to steady her nerves.

Terzo coos softly and wipes the wet streak from her cheek. “Oh, please no more tears, amore? We’ve shed enough of those for a lifetime.”

We? She looks into Terzo’s eyes and sitting this close, looking at him without the paint, she notices just how exhausted he looks. How many sleepless nights had she unknowingly given him? Amelia’s hand rises up to cup his face. Her thumb brushes lightly on his cheek and his eyes flutter shut. She grazes her thumb down to softly brush along his lower lip. Amelia tries to remember what Terzo’s lips felt like on hers but it feels like a faint memory at this point. He gasps lightly when he feels her remove her hand from his face.

“Amelia.” he whispers.

“Yes?”

“Can I kiss you?” He all but begs her.

Amelia nods her head and Terzo’s hands hold her face firmly. He kisses her like he hasn’t kissed anyone in a century. She’s almost overwhelmed at the way he pours his affection into her and Amelia’s hands go to rest on his shoulders for stability. Tired of leaning awkwardly, she lifts from her chair without breaking their kiss to straddle his lap. One of her hands slide up to thread her fingers in his hair. In her enthusiasm, she tugs lightly on the strands and he hums deep in his chest. Terzo smiles and Amelia can feel the way his lips perk up against hers.

Terzo’s hand starts a path from her waist down to Amelia’s lower back and he pulls her further into his lap. The passionate assault on each other’s mouths continues and now their tongues battle for dominance. Amelia’s arms around his head pull his face even closer to hers and she shifts in his lap to feel flush with his body. A matching set of satisfied hums are exchanged.

His hand moves once again, further down her body to grab at the curve of her bottom to give a light squeeze. His hips shift under her slightly and she begins to notice the growing bulge below in Terzo’s lap. The feeling stirs up a forgotten tingling sensation back in her lower stomach. She swivels her hips, grinding down lightly as a test and Terzo leans back, ending the kiss with a groan and breathy laugh. His eyes open and he smiles at Amelia who’s looking back with the same expression. She begins to look down and frown and he angles her chin to look back up at him.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.” he asks. Terzo’s hands rest on either side of her hips. “What’s going on inside your head?”

“I’m not sure if it’s wise to take things further tonight.” Her eyes dart around the room and she plays with the hair at the nape of his neck.

One of his palms rub softly on her side. “If you would like to stop, we can.”

“Here’s the thing: I don’t want to stop.” She admits, looking down sheepishly.

“Then we won’t.” Terzo smiles.

She nods and then they lean in for another round of kisses. After a moment, his restless hand slides under her shirt to move up and palm her chest and his mouth starts to kiss down her jaw to end on up on her neck. He squeezes lightly at her chest and Amelia whimpers into the air, pressing down on his lap which in turn earns a groan from Terzo. They’ve started grinding against each other at a slow, lazy pace while he bites at her neck, no doubt leaving a bruise for tomorrow. She can’t stand the teasing anymore after a while.

“Terzo.” She breathes.

He plants one last pronounced kiss to her neck before pulling back to at her. “Yes?” Terzo asks with half-lidded eyes and a smirk.

“Take me to bed.”

He smiles wide. They stand up from the chair and he takes her hand, placing a small kiss to her knuckles before leading the familiar path to his bedroom. The two stand on the side of his bed, holding hands, looking into each other’s eyes. Amelia nods quickly at Terzo and he raises his hands to begin unbuttoning her blouse. She watches him while his focus is trained on the small buttons and once the last one is released from its buttonhole, she helps to shrug the shirt off her shoulders and lets it fall to the floor beside her. Amelia’s hands grab at the hem of his sweater.

“Your turn.” She chuckles. He smiles and raises his arms for her to lift the garment away. She runs a hand down his soft chest hair and rests it on his hips. Her other hand’s fingers brush themselves through his hair, fixing it after it became disheveled when he took off his sweater. She pulls him in for a small kiss and Terzo’s hands rest on her shoulders.

He tugs on her bra strap and whispers into her lips. “We forgot something.” He smirks.

Amelia rolls her eyes and unclasp her bra before pulling it off, to follow the path her blouse took to sit on the floor. Now free of its confines, Terzo’s hands slide to fondle her chest. His thumb runs over one of her pebbling nipples and she gasps at the sensation. In retaliation, Amelia’s hand lowers to caress the prominent bulge poking at her hip. Terzo groans and he lets out a sigh. With a sudden urgency, her hands rush to the button on Terzo’s slacks and she expertly unbuttons them. Pulling the zipper down she pushes the pants down his legs and it gives some relief to Terzo’s sensitive, aching cock in his briefs. He loudly sighs into the room. Her pants are next to go and together they remove their underwear to end up fully exposed for each other now.

He leads her backwards to the edge of the bed and whispers in her ear for her to lay down against the pillows. Terzo is facing Amelia, lying beside her on his right side and he leans down to kiss her lips softly. His fingertips trace an invisible trail from her collar bone, down through her chest to her stomach. “Please, let me show you what you mean to me?” His fingers ghost down her stomach to her slightly spread open legs. He grabs at the soft flesh on the inside of her thigh and his thumb rubs small soothing circles.

Amelia nods her head. “Yes, please.” She breathes out. Her eyes close and his hand slides up her leg. She instinctively opens her legs wider to give Terzo better access and his fingers tentatively run along the enticingly slick lips between her legs; they both gasp in unison at the feeling. Terzo smiles, happy he can elicit such a reaction from her. Amelia is already sensitive from their kissing and grinding earlier and now just a feather-light swipe from his fingers is enough to have her squirming. He continues, slowly grazing his fingers from her lips to her clit, pressing down ever so slightly before moving back down. Amelia can’t help but fidget in her spot, gifting Terzo with small whimpers and mewls signaling her pleasure. She’s so wet, his fingers slide with barely any resistance.

She gasps when Terzo slowly inserts a finger at her entrance. She can feel the tight fluttering below becoming more intense and she’s close to falling over under his spell. After a short while, he pushes a second finger in, curling the digits and it’s all so much. Between his thumb slowly rubbing on her clit and the two fingers inside, she nearly yells to him. “Terzo I’m so,” she huffs “,close-“

“Please, amore, come for me.” He begs and she can’t help but comply.

One final curl from Terzo’s fingers cause Amelia to fall into her orgasm, sighing out ‘Terzo’s with a smile. He softly rubs her clit a few times as she rides out the high before slowly removing his hands from her pussy and licks her release from his fingers. She watches him as he closes his eyes and hums and savors the taste of her on his fingers. When she looks down, she realizes he hasn’t given himself any attention and his cock looking beautifully red and flushed, leaking at the tip. It’s standing at attention against his stomach, aching for some relief.

She leans her head up lock eyes with Terzo and he leans down to kiss her. She can taste some of the lingering essence of herself on Terzo’s tongue when they deepen the kiss. She pulls back slightly. “You look like you could use some help.” Amelia smirks.

Her hands move slowly to his tip, spreading some of his pre come with her thumb and he hisses, his head falling back. Terzo releases a soft whimper when she removes her hand for a moment to spit in it and then lowers it back down to wrap her hand around him. Using his own slick and her spit now, she gives small tugs, letting him savor the sensation. He’s rested his forehead against hers, moaning as she continues to pump his cock. More pre come starts to leak out and she collects it to give a better glide down his shaft. He rushes to stop Amelia before he can get too worked up.

“I won’t last very long if you keep going, Amelia.” He smiles awkwardly.

“I want you to feel good, too. That’s the point, Terzo.” She smiles.

He lifts his forehead away from hers. Terzo moves from his position on the bed beside her to leans his body over hers, settling between her legs. His hand rests on the side of her face. “Not if I plan to give you another orgasm with my cock.” He leans down to steal the gasp from her lips. Her hands fly to the back of his head, pulling him closer. He lines himself up with her entrance and slowly, he leans in, taking his time for them to get familiar with the stretch of her around him. He groans into her neck “You torture me, amore.”

She feels him push a little further more inside. “I can say - ah - the same about you right now.” The both let out a breathy chuckle. He leans up to kiss her fully while he pushes the last of his cock inside, buried to the hilt. He swallows her gasp and he lets Amelia settle into the feeling of being so full of him after being so long a part. Her hand moves to stroke his cheek and she nods slightly. “You can move now, Terzo.”

He shifts his hips, thrusting in and out at a slow pace. She soon starts to feel a familiar fluttery feeling deep below and Terzo smiles down at her. Her hips move with him to help form a steady rhythm. “Are you ready to come again so quickly, amore?”

“You feel so good.” She rolls her eyes when he gives a particularly deep thrust in that moment. “It’s hard to resi – oh just like that” She pants.

“I’m reaching my limit, Amelia. Are you almost there?” He asks, panting against her face.

She nods furiously. “Mhm. I’m close.” Her hand moves to rub over her clit while Terzo continues to thrust in and out in and out at a hurried pace. Terzo’s lips on hers, the delicious stretch from the feeling of him inside inside her and her fingers on her clit are all too overwhelming and it’s enough to have Amelia toppling over into her second orgasm of the night; it feels like all of her nerves are being stimulated at once. The convulsions of her inner walls around Terzo’s cock give enough for him to come soon after Amelia, filling her with his own release. They mouth at each other’s moans as the two ride out their highs before Terzo’s arms give out, his body settling onto her chest. He mouths a few kisses to her breast, over her heart. Amelia cards her fingers though his hair while they lay there, content, letting their breaths even out

Terzo slips out a short while later after he’s softened and he gets up to bring a wet washcloth over to clean Amelia and himself up. The two cuddle in silence for some time, his arm wraps around Amelia and she feels at peace, finally. Overcome with affection, she turns her body to look at Terzo, her hand comes to rest on the side of his face.

“I love you, Terzo.”  

He leans forward to kiss her lips, lingering there for a few seconds. He pulls back with a smile. “Ti amo, Amelia.”

◊◊◊◊◊

The next morning, Amelia is roused from her slumber when she feels the soft pecks on her shoulder down to her arm from the man behind her. Terzo notices her eyes are open. He tightens his arm around her and gives her a soft “Good morning, amore.” His voice is still gruff from sleep.

She sighs dramatically. “It would be if someone hadn’t woken me up.” Amelia turns around to face him.

Terzo smirks. He leans his lips down to stop at the corner of her mouth. “Mi dispiace! Would you prefer I stop?”

Amelia snorts and rolls over to her back. Terzo takes this as an opportunity to drape himself on top of her, kissing all of the newly exposed skin he couldn’t reach earlier. He kisses and nips from her mouth down to her chin. He moves further down to her collar bone, leaving a trail of wet kisses in his wake to the curved peak of her breast where he’s stopped for the time being. He rests his head in her chest and her fingers settle in his hair. She finds a small number of gray strands and Amelia thinks it makes him all the more beautiful.

“Making up for lost time?” She jests.

He raises onto his arm and moves back up Amelia’s body. “si, Amelia, and I fear I will not be able to let you leave this room as a result.” Terzo drapes his arm over her stomach and he plants a small kiss to the point at her shoulder.

She laughs and, in that moment, it sounds like music to Terzo’s ears. “I’m eventually going to have to go back to my job, Terzo.” She raises an eyebrow. “That includes leaving this room.”

He begins kissing down Amelia’s body once again. “I’ll have a sewing machine brought to my room.” He smiles into her stomach. His eyes flick up to hers.

Amelia can feel herself getting worked up and his watchful gaze below her isn’t helping. “I-We’ll have to eat!” She reasons. Terzo moves down to kiss the side of her hips and she squirms in her spot.

“I’ll have a ghoul bring us food when we get hungry.” He’s settled his body lower, between her legs. Terzo raises one of her thighs to pepper kisses on the inner flesh. “Because I am not going to spend another minute,” he kisses her thigh again and she sighs. “,where I’m not touching you or looking at your beautiful face.”

“How can I argue with that?” She breathes heavily from his adoration.

He laughs while he moves back up to lay down beside Amelia. “Somehow I believe you could.”

She scoffs.

They spend the rest of the morning in each other’s arms, catching up from the past two years or just simply existing with each other in silence. At some point Amelia decides she needs a shower and Terzo comes along to “help” her. After a very handsy, sudsy time in the shower, the couple emerge fresh and clean. She borrows a robe from Terzo until she can get some new clothes and lounges in the bed while he calls for a ghoul to bring him breakfast.

The ghoul arrives, Dew she thinks she hears, arriving and bringing in a package of food. She walks up to hear their conversation and catches Dew off guard.

“Well, when you said you needed me to bring food to your room, I was worried that you’d gone back into your old – Oh.” He stops when Amelia enters the room. “Ah. I see.”

Amelia blushes and looks down, crossing her arms over the robe. “Hey, Dew…”

His eyes flick between the two for a couple seconds. “Well, uh, let us know if you need more food later! I’m sure you two are famished.” Dew cackles.

Terzo shoos the fire ghoul away and closes the door behind him. He turns around and walks over to Amelia. “I have to admit, I am a bit hungry.”

◊◊◊◊◊

True to his word, Terzo didn’t let Amelia out of his sight for the entire weekend. They were holed up away in their own tender, affectionate world and come Monday morning the bubble was burst. He begrudgingly allowed Amelia to leave and go to work, lamenting how she was “so cruel to leave him all alone” as he reapplied his papal paint for his own work day.

She laughs as he clings to her body as she creeps closer to his door. Her hands grab at his waist and she leans into his ear. “Walk me to work?”

And that he does! They stride arm-in-arm from his room to the sewing studio, passing a few clergy members and siblings on the way. He gives a light squeeze to her arm at every person they pass as a small sign of reassurance and she for once doesn’t even think about anyone else in that moment besides the man lovingly holding her to him. Amelia looks over and kisses his cheek lightly once they reach the hall the studio resides.

She’s the last to arrive, Alex and Sarah having beat her to it. She figures that would be the case as Terzo nearly convinced her to play hooky but her brain decided to think rationally at the last minute.

“Well look who decided to show u-” Alex calls, stopping mid-sentence when he realizes Terzo is with Amelia. “Hello.” He says with a slightly smug expression.

Sarah and Copia, not having left yet, bow their head towards them. “Hello Papa.”

Terzo nods at them and then turns back to Amelia. He raises her hands to his lips to leave a lingering kiss to her knuckles. He leaves a black and white lip stain to her hand she giggles.

Alex dramatically rolls his eyes. “Not you too! Am I going to have to start bringing a spray bottle with me to work, now?”

“Is that how you speak to your Papa?” He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms. Amelia can tell he’s joking but with the paint on his face, it’s hard for others to tell.

“Well, I, uh. I’m so sorry your Eminence. I didn’t mean-“ Alex stumbles.

Terzo laughs and then waves a hand in the air. “I’m fucking with you. Though if you ruin my paint because of a spray bottle, we will have issues.”

“Yes. Of course.” Alex flashes an awkward smile and then turns to the work prepped on his desk.

Terzo smiles and looks back to Amelia one more time. His hand cups her cheek and he leans down to give her a deep, passionate kiss goodbye. Amelia’s hand threads her fingers through his hair and pulls him in deeper, not wanting to let him go.

“Ugh get a room, you two.” Copia pipes up. Sarah swats at his arm.

Amelia interrupts the kiss, much to Terzo’s dismay, to look pointedly at Copia. “Stones and glass houses, Copia.”

Terzo responds with a deep laugh and in that moment, Amelia thinks she wants to hear that for the rest of her life.

Also, FYI, I had a mystery of the day calendar last year and that's where I got the ones that were mentioned. lol. Thank you to all that have read, comented, liked, or kudo'd this, I appreciate it!

Translation:

- il picolo stronzo [the little asshole]

- Che diavolo stai facendo? [what the hell are you doing?]

- tesoro [treasure]

- Stronzo [asshole

- ti amo [I love you]

[cloudghoul32]

𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞- 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐈𝐈

Cardinal Copia x Female!Reader

Summary: Copia invites you to his room to show you his rats, but Terzo intervenes.

Word count: 1,475 words

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"What is this...?"

You opened your eyes, barely awake. There was something soft on your chest, something that definitely wasn't there before you fell asleep. You sat up, confused as hell, and looked down. There was a little brown rat there, still deep in its slumber. "Oh," you gasped. "hello there."

A lot of people would run away screaming. But you picked it up and caressed its fur gently as it slowly opened its eyes. "Hi baby," you cooed. The rat looked up at you and yawned. You giggled. Rats were so cute and you loved them ever since you could remember. But where did this rat come from?

You got out of bed, the small rodent in your hand, and got yourself ready for the day. Later, you headed downstairs to eat breakfast with the rest of the clergy. Siblings stared at you as you passed by them. What were you doing with a rat? There was only one person they knew who owned some of those...

Your cheeks were burning from all the attention you were getting. You were used to being ignored and not usually talked to. Now everyone was gaping at you and whispering things to each other.

Eventually you sat down at a table with your food and set the rat down. It sniffed around the empty table, nibbling at crumbs. You didn't even notice when someone sat at your table next to you, you were too busy watching the rat.

"Hello," the voice said. You turned and saw Copia sitting beside you, a warm smile on his face. You blushed and gave him some more room to accommodate. "Hello, Cardinal," you said, quite awkwardly. You spoke for a couple minutes before you remembered your rat. You looked around the table, but the rat wasn't there anymore. "Oh no," you gasped. "What's wrong?" Copia asked, but you didn't hear him. You even crawled under the table and searched for it. You knew you probably looked very stupid.

Copia stared at you blankly, confused. You climbed back up onto your seat. "Sorry. I... I think I've lost something," you said. You stood up and kept looking. "Ah, let me help you then," he said. You looked at him. He was so sweet and sincere. "Umm... sure. It's a rat," you said. Copia's eyes widened. "Oh? You have rats too?" he gasped. "No, no, no," you shook your head. "I just found one this morning, and I was keeping it until I wasn't paying attention and it just slipped away somewhere."

"Hold on," Copia stood up, towering over you a little bit. "I lost one this morning too. It is a brown one, si? Quello veramente piccolo?" You didn't really understand what he said, but the rat you found was definitely brown. "Yes, I think that's it," you said. "Oh no." Both of you made eye contact at the same time and giggled softly. "I guess you do have to help me after all. It's your rat."

You didn't even have time to eat your food. You were both desperately searching for the creature. Worry entered your mind. If you didn't find it soon, it would escape somewhere and if it ever made its way to where there's lots of food, there would be trouble. And there would only be one person to blame: Copia. And you didn't want your friend to get in trouble. He was still new to the clergy.

You were just about to give up when you heard someone scream from the other side of the dining hall. You and Copia immediately looked over to see what was going on. "There's a fucking rat!" the sister shouted. Copia grinned and turned to you. "I think that's our rat, no?"

You weaved through the crowd to get to the lady who had screamed. "Hi, hello, excuse me... sorry... I think that's mine," you said. The lady stared at you as if you were crazy. "Your rat? Why do you own rats?!" She seemed so disgusted. "Well, I'm sorry for what happened," you said, ignoring the question. You picked up the rat from the ground and held it in your hands. "Thank you for... finding it." You walked away to find Copia again, utter silence filling the hall.

𖤐𖤐𖤐

"Grazie mille, Sorella," Copia said as you placed the rat back in his hands. "You're welcome, Cardinal. I had no idea it was yours. I didn't know you had rats," you giggled. "Oh yes. Most people, eh, don't like them, so I don't show them much." Suddenly Copia's eyes lit up. He'd been wanting to show you his rats, and now was the perfect chance. "I know! Would you... ehm... like to come to my room? So I can show you my other rats, I mean," he said nervously. He was mentally preparing himself for you to reject his request.

"Of course! I love rats, after all," you said. Your words melted his heart and brought a smile to his face. "I'll meet you in my room later then, si?" he gave you a pat on your shoulder and skipped to his room. He was so happy. He'd made a new friend! Someone who actually believed in him and wanted the best for him! He could hardly believe his luck.

Later that evening, you arrived at his door. You knocked twice, and almost immediately he responded with "Come in, it's open!" You stepped in and a very good smell hit you. You couldn't remember what it was, but you liked it, and it made you feel comfortable and nostalgic. "Hello," you called. Copia stopped reading his book to look up at you. "Ah! Salve, Y/N!" he cheered, getting up from his chair and greeting you. "I can show you my rats now!"

The two of you spent the rest of the evening laughing and playing with his rats. "... the one you found, her name is Giulia, and she is my smallest one," he said, picking her up. "You've already met Y/N, hm," Copia whispered to her. The rat squeaked in return, gently nipping at the cardinal's gloved fingers. You watched as he spoke to his rats as if he could understand him, and they really seemed to. He was so good with his pets, you'd think he was some sort of disney princess or something.

"Since when did you start... um... collecting rats?" you asked, picking up a particularly soft one. Copia chuckled. "Ah, I've had rats since I was a child, cara," he said. "I've always liked them. Maybe that's why people treat me differently." He looked at his pets. "It started when I found one in my basement one time. I can still remember how I begged Seestor to let me keep it. It only got worse from then," he said , closing his eyes. "What, you found more?" You laughed. Copia nodded. "Si. It drove my brothers crazy."

Just then, the door opened and there stood Terzo, a smirk on his painted face. "Ah, Fratello. You've finally found a girlfriend, si?" he teased, making Copia blush profusely. "Shut up," he muttered, making you laugh. Terzo then turned to you. "Anyways. Primo wants your help in the garden. He said your presence... helps him feel a little less old, or... something. I don't know, he likes having you around." You felt flattered that the most important people in the clergy appreciated you. "Oh yeah, of course. I love helping Primo," you said, got up from your chair, said goodbye to the two brothers, and head to the garden.

Once you left, Copia let out a huff. "Why'd you do that, stronzo? We were actually having a good time," he growled. Terzo chuckled. "Well, you can't hog her all to yourself. Some of us want to be with her too," he said. Copia rolled his eyes. "Shut up," he said again.

"So you like her?" Terzo grinned, crossing his arms. Copia's blush became even darker. "I... I think so. But if you tell anyone, I... I'll... eh..." Copia failed to come up with a threatening enough punishment. He sighed. "Yes. I like her." Terzo nodded. "I knew it." He sat down in the chair next to Copia. Copia looked at his brother. "What are you doing? Don't you have to be working?" he asked. "Oh, I think you just want me gone, eh," Terzo laughed. "Can't I just be with you for a little while? Why can't we be more like brothers, Cardinale?" he said.

Copia sighed. "Fine. But promise me not to tell anyone about my... love interest, okay?" he said. His voice and expression was so serious Terzo was straining himself from bursting into laughter. "Okay," he agreed, and they proceeded to ignore each other again as Copia put on his glasses and continued reading his book.

___________________________

𖤐To be continued𖤐

[ask-sister-solaris]

Some hurt/comfort

“You were my only mistake”

Warnings: angst, hurt, mentions of abuse/SH, religious abuse.

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The sound of glass shattering filled the kitchen. A young girl, only 5-6 years old was stood in the kitchen trembling in fear. Her step-father had yelled at her because she had gotten up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water. That was it.

“Your a freak of nature do you understand!? Nobody’s eyes are naturally like yours! Your the spawn of Satan!”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she begged for his forgiveness. The mother came in and crossed her arms. She was no better, always taking the step fathers side.

“What did you twerp do now?”

The girl backed away from the broken glass and hiccuped. She hated it. She hated everything about this. Her mother saw the glass and her eyes filled with rage.

“You were my only mistake! Your father was a good for nothing satanist and so will you be unless we stomp it outta you”

The room went dark for the girl, when she woke up she was locked in her room, a tray with stale bread and a glass of obviously gone off milk on it was laid on her desk. She sat up and realized more crosses and been nailed up in her room. She looked down seeing the scars and bruises. She shook her head and got up. She didn’t wanna stay anymore. She grabbed her ladybug bag and packed the very little things she had.

Rather stupidly her mother and step father had forgotten to lock the window, so using all her strength she climbed down the drain pipe and began running. She didn’t know where she was going to go but she knew she had to get away. She reached the steps of what seemed to be a church, sitting down she hugged her knees and sniffled. Why her! She didn’t ask for different eyes! It was well into the night, and the halls of the church were quiet.

The girl got up as it began raining and went to the door, churches offered refuge right? Or they were suppose to. She knocked, shaking as the cold sunk through her young body. The door opened but nobody was there. She entered and looked around tears still flowing down her cheeks. It was surprisingly warm in the church, she made her way around eyes eventually clearing up.

She passed a doorway, which inside the room were two people. Both elderly one a man the other a woman. And both stood to find who was awake this late. The girl didn’t turn around but how skittish she was, it was obvious she was here for refuge.

Before either could say anything, she rounded the corner to the bedrooms. On each door there was a brass name plate with the name carved onto it. Primo, Secondo, Terzo, Copia, Nihil. The girl looked confused at the silly names but found an empty bedroom. She shut the door as quietly as she could and changed out of her damp clothes into her surprisingly still dry PJs.

She struggled but managed to get onto the bed and snuggle in the middle far from the sides. Despite it being a unknown place, she felt safer than she did back at her house.

When she woke up the next morning she was surrounded by…people…men…and a woman, she panicked slightly and pulled the covers closer to her. The men had their faces painted, in strange ways, was this a cult? Had she stumbled upon a cult.

“Ah Ragazza your awake thank Satanas”

The closest male to her, with slicked back dark hair, and eyes like…hers…she looked at the others, all had the same thing she had, one white eye. The men noticed her confusion and all introduced themselves, the woman stayed quiet.

“How did you get here ragazza?”

The man that introduced himself as Primo asked. He seemed the kindest and fatherly out of them. She looked down and fiddled with the blankets. Her tank top showed the scars, all the slurs carved into her arms. Crosses branded onto her back (only two though) all in the room felt sick to their stomach.

Terzo, the one who had said he was glad she was awake, sat on her bed and held her face gently. He seemed to recognize her. But from where.

“Who’s your mama Caro?”

She looked down then back at him, speaking her mothers name, Terzos eyes widening in surprised and shame. He had a child. The woman he had slept with didn’t bother tell him, he was a father.

“O…oh by Satanas…..”

Terzos brothers looked at him as he teared up, he had a daughter! Him! The one they teased about being a playboy and that he would never have a lover! He had a child. He took her into his arms gently and rubbed her back.

“Oh mio Satana..I’ll never leave you. Im so sorry she put you through all…this Mio figlio….Mio figlio”

Copia looked between the two and couldn’t help but smile slightly. Imperator gave a loud cough and everyone’s attention was on her.

“Well, now we know that Terzo has a child, why don’t we let the ghoulettes look after her hm? Clean her up and dress her and such?”

The brothers (and Nihil) all obliged, Terzo gave her a kiss on the forehead and smiled. He always wanted to be a dad, even when he was flirty and an playboy. He always wanted his own children to look after.

Later on, after she was all clean and bandages up, having had a hair cut she looked more presentable. She was dressed in practically a mini version of a Cardinal cassock. She was taken to Terzo, who was halfway through a meeting, and put on his lap. She looked up at her father, her eyes seemed brighter, happier.

“Ti amo papà”

She whispered and giggled causing Terzo to giggle. She was already picking up Italian, most likely from the ghoulettes teaching her while they pampered her.

“Ti amo a mio figlio”

“Terzo!”

“Apologize Imperator”

Fin

[rattleroze]

Bedwarmer

Rating: General Pairing: Terzo/Dewdrop Contains: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff Words: 1077

Below the cut or Read on Ao3

Dew was woken by his phone chirping at him from the nightstand.

Ideally, he would ignore it, at most reaching over to turn the ringer off before rolling over and going back to sleep. He wasn’t a fan of being woken up by anything, really, and anyone who knew him was aware of that. Even the occasional “U up?” text wasn’t alluring enough to drag him out of bed nine times out of ten. When Dew went to bed, it generally meant he was unavailable for the next 6 to 10 hours, with vanishingly few exceptions.

However.

Dew had a terrible habit of caring. Too much. It came with being the alpha, even if he was so detached from that title that it was essentially meaningless. He needed to take care of his pack.

And being his pack, most of them knew better than to text him in the middle of the night. Which meant it was either someone who didn’t, or it was important.

Either way, he could hardly stop himself from groping around on the nightstand until he found the offending device and squinted against the harsh light of the screen until he could make sense of the words on it. He sat up as soon as they swam into focus, suddenly feeling much more awake.

Three little words from Terzo. Are you awake?

Next to him, he could hear a tiny grumble from Sunshine as she protested the loss of his body heat and turned over to snuggle closer to Swiss and escape the disruptive light of the phone screen. Dew turned the brightness down as far as it would go and continued to stare at the message.

He could ignore it. Pretend he didn’t see it, that it hadn’t woken him at all and hope that whatever it was could wait until the morning. But Terzo didn’t text anyone, really. He certainly didn’t text Dew, either now or during his papacy, as was evidenced by their conversation history which could be generously described as sparse. If Terzo wanted to see him, he would typically just ask someone to pass on a message or otherwise make himself obvious somewhere where they were bound to run into each other. Or, on particularly strange occasions, Dew would seek him out on a hunch. He’d just get a feeling that pulled him to Terzo like a fish on a line.

And despite the obviousness of the message in front of him, Dew started to feel that tug in his gut.

Yeah was his reply. He rolled out of bed before he got another response, fumbling around for a pair of sweatpants on the floor on his way out into the common room.

The dorms were quiet, predictably, as he padded out into the corridor. His phone buzzed again in the pocket of the pants he was very quickly realizing were probably Sunny’s. Oh well. He cinched the drawstrings tighter to keep them from slipping off his skinny hips before checking the message.

Can I see you?

The tug got stronger, and Dew felt his brain frantically flipping through worst-case scenarios before he shook his head a little to disperse them. On my way, He texted instead, feet already carrying him automatically on the path to Terzo’s rooms.

There was almost no light shining through the glass of Terzo’s front door when he arrived, only moonlight from the balcony door dimly illuminating the living room. He crossed the room silently, pausing to listen outside the bedroom before knocking softly. “Terzo? It’s me,” He called, worrying for the handful of moments that passed before he heard a response

He found Terzo curled up on the couch in his bedroom, wrapped up in a blanket, watching the smoldering remains of a fire in the fireplace. He perked up slightly when Dew came in and shut the door behind him, but the emotion dominating his face seemed to be guilt.

“Hey,” He said softly. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Dew answered immediately, coming around the back of the couch to get a better look at his face, searching for illness or injury. Terzo tipped his head back against the couch, gazing up at him sadly. His face was damp with tears, and he looked exhausted. Dew swiped them away gently. “What’s wrong?”

Terzo sniffled, reaching up to cradle Dew’s face in his hands. They were cold and trembling. “Nothing really, I’m okay. Just had a stupid dream, that’s all.” He tried a laugh, but it didn’t sound right. Dew’s brow furrowed, and he covered Terzo’s hands with his own.

“You’re freezing. Let me help.”

Terzo scoffed, waving him away, but also made no move to stop him when Dew rounded the couch to put more wood on the fire, pulling it back to life with his element. He shifted his position to sit back against the arm of the couch, so Dew could settle between his legs with his head on his chest and bump up his body temperature to warm him even further. Terzo smiled softly at the scratchy little purr he let out, and resigned himself to petting through his beloved ghoul’s hair as he was all but forcefully cared for. He pressed a kiss between Dew’s horns, breathing in the now-familiar scent of woodsmoke and tobacco that stuck to him.

Dew was the first one to speak, after a long stretch of comfortable silence. “What was your dream about?” He asked, not bothering to lift his head until Terzo hadn’t answered for a few beats. He rested his chin on Terzo’s chest, gazing up at him with no urgency.

Terzo sighed softly, fingers absently tracing the sharper lines of Dew’s face– his cheekbones, his jawline, the ridge of his nose. Anything to avoid direct eye contact, however impossible it seemed in this position. “I lost you,” He said simply after what felt like an hour. It was the most bare-bones explanation of what his subconscious had decided to torture him with, but even so he could still feel another round of tears welling up. “I lost everything, and I had no idea what to do with myself.”

Dew nodded, smushing his face against Terzo’s chest again. His arms curled around his back tightly. “I’m not going anywhere,” He stated firmly, and Terzo couldn’t help but smile. He kissed Dew’s head again.

“You know I love you, don’t you?” He murmured. Dew nodded again.

“‘Course I do. I love you too.”

[wyvernet]

[ Earth + Omega + Terzo | SFW | Ghost Band ]

1,038 words / average read time ~ 4-5 minutes

+Terzomega shipping moment at the end <3 // i did not proofread so i apologize if there's any errors in it ^^ After a very long day, Omega would gently push the doors open to the garden within the Ministry and took in the smell of rain and plants that hit him almost as soon as he entered the large area. he'd take a couple small steps inside before closing the door.

Earth was laying down on a blanket, relaxing as he'd listen to the sounds of the world around him as well as the music he had playing from a small radio, his peace interrupted by the sound of footsteps calmly approaching. he'd glance back towards where he heard them, his eyes gleaming over the other before recognizing him, and smiling gently behind his mask.

the two wouldn't say anything to each other, seeing as how there was no need for greetings since they were friends at this point. Earth would relax back into his previous position as Omega would walk closer, his pace slowing as he got close to Earth, and started sinking to the ground.

with a heavy yet subtle sigh from Omega, he'd lay his heavy body down next to Earth on his blanket, since it was large enough to fit the both of them. without even really thinking about it, Omega would roll onto his side, his clawed hands reaching forward before pulling Earth against his body, not caring to explain as Earth would glance back at him upon this pull.

Omega would get comfortable against the earthly ghoul's body, nuzzling up against him as his arms would hug around his waist, his silvery mask resting between Earth's neck and shoulders as he used the other's body to block out the sunlight pouring in through the clear roof above.

Earth would smile a bit behind his own mask as Omega would get comfortable, indicating with his actions alone that he was just here to cuddle and relax. the way he'd stumble into the garden and the weight each step carried spoke for him, saying that he just needed some peace and quiet right about now…

Earth would dip his head a bit as he'd rest against the blanketed ground, feeling the vaguest vibrations against his back as Omega would begin to purr against the other, closing his eyes as he'd hone in on the pleased sound coming from the other ghoul.. Things were silent for a while as the two cuddled, with Earth enjoying how Omega was holding him so closely, holding him almost like a child would hold a stuffed animal while slipping into a dream state, making sure to keep whatever movements he made subtle and concise as to not disturb the resting ghoul, noticing how Omega was likely drifting off into sleep due to how his grip around Earth would loosen just a bit. an hour or so would pass before the peace was interrupted once again, Earth's ears twitching a bit as he'd gently lift his head, hearing the shuffling of small shoes walk along the garden's stone, mossy floor. he'd quietly watch as Terzo approached, seeming to be looking for his ghoul as his mismatched eyes would dart around the garden before settling on the two of them once he got close enough to see them, noticing how Omega was cuddling into Earth, with Earth now facing Omega and holding him close to his body as well, his legs wrapped around Omega's body since Omega's legs were bent and loosely wrapped around Earth's underside.

Terzo was planning on speaking normally, but upon seeing how peaceful Omega looked while asleep, decided to lower his volume before he even spoke, his voice falling into a whisper as he'd bend his knees to get down to the same level as the two of them, looking at Earth as he'd speak quietly.

"how long has he been here for..?" with Earth responding in kind, using as few words as necessary like he normally would. "hour.." Terzo would glance down at Omega for a few short moments before glaring back at the entrance to the garden,, he pondered for a bit before sighing gently to himself, crawling closer before resting his body against Omega's as comfortably as he can, given the position.

Earth would quietly look at him get comfortable, or well, try, before gently reaching a hand forward and grabbing Terzo's attention. he'd then offer a spot between the two ghouls via a gesture rather than words, and Terzo would pause for a moment, denying it but Earth could tell that he wanted to cuddle with the two of them, especially his beloved ghoul…

after a bit of pondering, Terzo would give into his desires and nodded, watching as Earth would scoot away from a drowsy Omega, who was being gently awoken due to all the movement of Terzo coming in between the two of them. his tail would curve curiously as he could feel his legs being moved into a less uptight position, feeling something slip between his legs while something else rested over his thigh.

he'd do his best to not let his curiosity get the best of him and kept his eyes shut, both so he can drift back off to sleep easily and so he doesn't let the two realize he'd been woken up by all the movement. Terzo would give a soft, one-note chuckle as he made the indication that Earth could get back to cuddling, making a vague surprised noise as he was gently crushed between the two massive ghouls…. or well, massive compared to him, anyways.. but regardless, he melted into their touch, resting his face just a little above Omega's chest as he'd cuddle against his ghoul, sandwiched between him and Earth, who was getting into a comfortable position against Terzo.

once all three of them got comfortable again, with Terzo ever so vaguely blushing as Omega would slide a large hand down and pull Terzo's waist right up against his own and Earth making sure he stayed there (albeit unknowingly), Terzo and Omega would gently drift off to sleep together, with Earth continuing to listen to the garden's sounds around him, as well as the gentle music playing from the radio.. it took a long while, but eventually Earth would fall asleep as well.. // haii,, Wyvern here, uhm. i have a discord server for this!! it's really rough around the edges but, go to "add new server" and put this in!! >>> CtuVbAmW5

[cowboyemeritus]

Il Suo Campione (Copia/Reader)

Chapter Seven

Series Masterlist

Summary: An exhibition match.

Warnings: violence, blood, descriptions of injury, gang violence, death

Read on AO3

Notes: i was originally going to have this chapter end somewhat differently but for the purposes of Plot changed my mind, so if parts are clunky... whoops. not sure how i feel about this one.

thanks again everyone! i'm glad y'all are enjoying the story so far. y'all are so sweet :)

feedback is always welcome!

Copia has the uncanny ability to get people to do what he wants. You probably wouldn’t be in this position if not. Maybe that white eye is magic, imbued with the power to bend others to his will. If that’s the case, then it’s no wonder the Emeritus Family has been able to carve out such a large slice of the city for themselves in only a few decades.

Whatever… gift Copia has, whether it be luck, natural charm, or some sort of animal magnetism, it’s at work tonight. The noise from the crowd is thunderous, bouncing off the walls of the old gym and magnifying to an almost intolerable degree. Based on the sound alone, this is for sure a new attendance record. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough to satisfy him for the night, regardless of the outcome of the fight.

He’s trying not to look nervous, leg bouncing as he sits on a folding chair nestled between his two brothers. You’re not the only one who notices. Secondo nudges Copia in the side, uttering something to him. One of the bookies passes by, obscuring your view so that you can’t read his lips. When Secondo looks back up, your eyes accidentally meet. A chill runs down your spine.

“He can be rather aggressive when he is upset about something,” Copia explained over breakfast after your trip to The Pinnacle. “I don’t know what set him off.”

You have to tear your gaze away from the second Emeritus brother, your skin crawling. Instead, you look to Copia. There’s still nervous tension on his face, but when he sees you he forces a smile, throwing you a little wave before sitting back in the chair and doing his best to look nonchalant.

“I promise you did nothing wrong, cara. You were perfect. Me?” He sighed, poking at a piece of pancake. “Do you think I sold them on it?”

The pressure is on, just as much for him as is it for you. Awkwardly, you wave back.

Terzo has been chatting with his guests, Cumulus and the silver-haired woman you saw dancing. Why either of them would want to be here is beyond you. His younger brother’s restlessness catches his attention. Seeing that Copia’s eyes are still on you, he turns and shoots you a wink. You cringe, the taste of licorice and bile burnt into your memory. Now, with three pairs of green and white eyes trained on you, you’re starting to feel a little uneasy.

The bell rings.

You’re half-listening to the announcer prattle on about this evening’s show, checking and double-checking your wraps to make sure they’re secured. When he steps back you know it’s time to go, rising from your seat in one of the corners, your opponent mirroring you. Through the building rush of adrenaline, you feel anxiety, like pins and needles, in your stomach. This woman is at least a head taller than you. Unlike legitimate boxing, there are no weight classes here. Although, as Copia says, it makes for a better show when the fighters are evenly matched, that isn’t always feasible. Sometimes, you just have to put your head down and fight whoever’s in front of you, even if it means getting your shit rocked.

This isn’t one of those times, though. Copia is counting on you tonight.

Your opponent is bouncing on the balls of her feet as you approach, the two of you sizing each other up. From between her raised fists you can sort of get a look at her, something you neglected to do before. She’s pretty in a rugged sort of way, with well-sculpted muscle and bronze skin like an well-polished statue. A valkyrie, versus the feral animal thing you’ve got going on. She looks down at you with sympathy, maybe even a little pity, in her eyes. Both of you know this match-up isn’t fair.

“No hard feelings, yeah?” You respond by throwing the first punch. She’s able to tilt her head to the side in time, the blow glancing off her cheek. Again you swipe at her, and this time she blocks you with a raised arm. When your fist connects, she doesn’t budge at all. She’s rock solid.

You dance around each other for the rest of the first round. Your opponent takes a few swings at you, but you’re able to dodge them. Still, her speed is worrisome. At the beginning of the second round you go to block a punch and her fist connects with your left wrist. Something pops. If it’s supposed to hurt, the pain is drowned out by the blood racing through your veins.

You certainly feel it the next time she gets you, socking you right in the eye with fifteen seconds left in the round. The full force of the impact is brutal, momentarily throwing you off balance. As you stumble she’s able to hit you twice more, each blow harder than the last. With the first punch you feel your teeth cut the inside of your cheek. When she hits you again you’re able to turn your head to the side, your brow ridge taking the brunt of it. The skin splits, and blood begins to pour down your face, hot and sticky. It gathers in the grooves around your already swelling eye, making it nearly impossible to see.

The round ends with a heavy, uneasy feeling settling into your gut. Even considering the size difference, you’re performing poorly. It’s not like you to be this jittery. Taking a short, life-giving sip of water, it does little to wash away the coppery taste in your mouth. As you’re catching your breath and trying to steel yourself, Copia ducks under the ropes, a washcloth in hand. You simultaneously wish he’d go away and wrap you his arms. You’re angry at him for putting you in this position, and yet you can’t help but want to please him. He needs you. It’s hard to look at him as he wipes away the blood gumming up your eye; he’s trying to play it off but you can tell by the slight scrunch of his eyebrows that he’s nervous. Neither of you say anything, and the break ends dreadfully soon.

You go into round three with a plan: evasion. Move around as much as possible and tire her out. Not a strategy you’d normally opt for, but these are desperate times. The bell chimes and she comes at you fast, leaving you scrambling to avoid her. When the opportunity presents itself you take it, ducking under her arm to hit her in the torso. Your wrist complains with each blow that lands but you ignore it, the rush starting to take over. Miraculously, you go to fake her out and she falls for it, giving you a clear shot. You deliver a vicious right hook to her face and her nose immediately begins gushing blood. She pays you back in kind almost instantly but you’re so caught up in a sense of smug satisfaction that it hardly fazes you.

All you needed to do was turn the gas on. This is fine, actually. You can do this.

You go blow-for-blow until the last thirty seconds of round four. The laceration on your eyebrow is still bleeding and no matter how many times you wipe the blood away, you end up blind in that eye. Both of you are sweaty and breathing hard, keen to make the other drop as soon as possible and finish this. You’re trying to focus on making that happen, planning your next strike, but it’s hard now that your vision has started to go double. The sense of urgency builds inside you, your heart hammering as you fight to control your breathing.

The mat beneath you is soaked with blood and sweat. Trying to evade one of your opponent’s blows, you step in one of the small puddles, your foot nearly sliding out from beneath you. It’s all the opportunity she needs. Before you can even raise a fist in defense she swings, catching you in the jaw. The roar of the crowd is only surpassed by the thump of your pulse. Like carrion birds, they can sense the end drawing near. Your vision narrows as you stumble, black spots dancing around the room.

The round is almost over. You can make it through this. You have to make it through this.

You’re off balance, swaying as you try and plant your feet again. The gym is spinning. If you could just lay down, even for a second, you’re certain you could make it stop. You don’t dare look at the time, not when your opponent is so close. Why won’t the round end already?

She steps towards you. You can see her clear as day, but your brain, fogged up, is light-years behind. By the time you register what’s going on, her fist is already coming at you. The best you can do is turn your head to the side. You can feel the nerves light up as she makes contact by your ear, but you’re already unconscious before the real pain sets in.

I am a fool. A miserable, pathetic fool.

The crowd goes wild as you crumple to the ground. Those who bet right scream with excitement, while others groan and hang their heads.

How could I do this?

When presented with the size difference between you and your opponent, Copia had turned his head. It didn’t matter. He thought — he knew — you would be victorious. You always are. And what a better way to win over his brothers than by taking down someone twice your size? Everyone loves an underdog.

Things had gotten off to a rocky start, but you were turning it around. What happened?

The count begins. Perhaps you’ll get up. It’s happened before, you rising like the dead to claim your rightful victory. It’s unlikely, given the way your body fell limp, like a rag-doll, but Copia clings to that hope nonetheless, riding the edge of his seat. If anyone can pull it off, it’s you. It’s his campionessa.

One, two, three-

“Come on, girl,” he hears Cumulus murmur. “Get up.”

Four, five, six-

“Get up!” From the seat next to him, Secondo scoffs.

Seven, eight, nine-

Terzo places a gentle hand on Copia’s shoulder.

Ten.

He sighs. “That is really too bad, fratellino.”

There’s a sinking feeling in Copia’s stomach, like he’s falling over the edge of some vast, inescapable chasm. Disappointed and more than a little regretful, he sits, overthinking, as the crowd begins to disperse. He can still salvage this, he just needs to-

“She’s still not moving,” Mist observes. Copia is torn away from his train of thought. In the ring, a small crowd is gathering around your prone form, more than a few people looking expectantly in his direction.

“Shit,” he mutters, immediately rising from his seat. “Shit.” Every atom of his being screams at him to run to you, but he knows he can’t. He has to maintain the usual illusion of calm and detachment. It’s a performance he puts on not only for his clients, but for himself. He settles for a hurried jog. His heart pounds, not from the exertion, but with fear at what he might find beyond the ropes.

What have I done?

You’re lying flat on your back. If not for the blood on your face, still gushing from your eyebrow, you could be asleep. The referee is trying, with no success, to rouse you, lightly tapping your cheek with a flattened hand. Your victorious opponent is surrounded by a gaggle of admirers, but observes out of the corner of her eye with clear concern. She’s more sportsmanlike than you, that’s for certain.

Copia comes to kneel by your side. He jostles you with a hand on your shoulder but still you remain unconscious. Anxiety, like a hot iron, pokes and prods the inside of his stomach.

“Dolcezza.” He shakes you again. “You have to get up.” For a moment he’s considering blowing the lid off this whole operation and calling for an ambulance but you groan, eyes cracking open. You squint hard under the old fluorescent lights, like you’re looking directly into the sun. “Oh, meno male.”

You perk up a little more at the sound of his voice. “Papa..?” The ref gives him a suspicious look but says nothing. Copia laughs, suddenly uncomfortable, pulling the washcloth out of his jacket pocket and dabbing at your bloodied face.

“I’m here,” he says, fighting the urge to go full mother hen. “You scared me, cara.” Your eyebrows scrunch together.

“Have to go to work,” you mutter weakly. “Where’s Mary?” There’s a pinprick of something in his chest — he doesn’t dare call it jealousy — at the mention of your brother, but it’s quickly drowned out by worry, bordering on panic. Not good. Not good at all. He scans the crowd of remaining spectators, knowing at least a few of his regulars are doctors. There are none that he recognizes, but he notices Aether placed tactically among the swarm, monitoring the flow of people. A paramedic in his past life, surely there must be something he can do for you. Copia is about to call for him when your opponent approaches. She’s got some welts on her face and twisted cotton balls stuffed in both nostrils, but otherwise looks to be in decent shape. She’s gotten off miraculously easy. He still thinks you could have beaten her.

“Is she okay?” The woman asks, a fearful edge to her voice. You jolt, grimacing as you try to get up. There’s a wild look in your eyes. Copia has to coax you to lay back down, one hand supporting your head, the other pushing down on your shoulder.

“Easy,” he warns. “The fight is over.” The look of confusion on your face transforms into something else. It’s a myriad of emotions: pain, anger, sadness, shame.

“I lost…” Copia nods. Your eyebrows knit even further together as you stare at the ceiling, unable to meet his gaze. “‘M sorry.”

It’s like his heart is being torn from his chest.

“I- No, dolcezza.” This is my fault. I made her do this. I put this pressure on her. “It’s okay.” It’s not entirely a lie. Not knowing what else to say and not having the bandwidth for it, he calls for Aether, shooing everyone else away. This has been enough of a spectacle already.

“Boss.” The large man gives Copia a nod as he ducks under the ropes. He kneels on your other side. “Hey, love.” Copia wants to reprimand him for calling you that, but lets it slide for now. “You got knocked about pretty hard. I’m just gonna check a few things, okay?” Using his thumb and forefinger, he pries one of your eyelids open. Your pupils are blown out, hardly dilating under the harsh light. You grunt, grabbing Aether’s wrist. He easily pries your fingers off, repeating the process with the other eye. It has the same reaction. “You know what day it is?”

“Thursday,” you mumble, sounding more with it and clearly irritated by Aether’s pestering. He nods in approval. Copia has never felt more useless in his life.

“Yeah, that’s it. Very good. Think you can sit up?” You nod, starting to rise from the filthy old mat. Before Aether can try, Copia places a hand on your back to support you the rest of the way up. Your right hand goes to your hairline, fingers massaging the area around your tight braids. The other arm hangs limp by your side. Aether gently picks it up, inspecting your wrist. It’s already deep purple and the shape of it is… wrong. He pokes at where a bone protrudes awkwardly under the skin and you frown at it. “I can pop it back in. ’S gonna hurt, though.”

You give him a skeptical look. “Do it.”

Terzo picks the perfect time to butt in. “Well, fratellino- Ahia!” He recoils as Aether manipulates the joint just right, the bone slipping back into its normal position with an audible crack. You remain unfazed other than a wince. Terzo blinks once, twice, before motioning Copia over. Hesitantly, he obeys, glancing worriedly over his shoulder at you as he heeds his brother’s call. Terzo leans against the ropes, looking up at him with a smug smile. Dread burrows into Copia’s stomach, clawing at his insides like a horde of starving rats.

“Let me guess: just a fluke?” Copia scowls down at his brother.

“As a matter of fact, it was.” He chooses not to mention his part in it. Terzo laughs.

“Always so serious. All of you.” At least he seems sober tonight. There’s a pause, Terzo glancing over to where Aether is triaging you. “I do not know what you see in the girl. No offense — we all have different tastes.” Copia scowls at him harder. Terzo makes a sweeping gesture around the room. “But, I can see the potential in all this.” Relief, like a tidal wave, crashes over him. He bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself from breaking out into an idiotic grin.

“Well, good,” is all he says.

“Secondo left already. He may need more convincing,” Terzo notes. “But I will work on him. Call it a favor, from me to you.”

“That’s fine.” Copia doesn’t like the idea of being indebted to his brother, but he can survive it if this works out.

Terzo claps Copia on the back. “We will be in touch. Go take care of your lady friend.” He’s going to protest the use of that vocabulary but before he can blink he’s gone, collecting his girls. He exchanges a few words with them, at which point Cumulus jogs over.

“We brought this,” she reaches into her purse and pulls out a bright orange sports drink, “for her.” Copia smiles. He goes to take it, grabbing one end, but she holds on tight to the other. Her eyes narrow. “You’re gonna take care of her, right, C?” It’s both a command and a threat. Gulping, he nods.

“Yes, ma’am.” Cumulus lets go of the bottle, smiling sweetly.

“Great! Thanks for having us!” She gives him a quick peck on the cheek before skipping away, turning and waving as she follows Terzo and Mist out the door.

Copia scratches the back of his head. “Yeesh…”

He’s in a much better mood as he returns to you, even when Aether tells him you’re concussed. You’re no longer confused and the cut on your eyebrow has stopped bleeding, but that frustrated, ashamed look in your eyes remains. He tells you the good news as he cleans the blood and sweat from your swollen face, and it seems to elevate your mood the slightest bit. Still dizzy, you lean against Copia for support as you file out of the old gym with the rest of the stragglers. Aether had offered to carry you, but you had politely refused, cheeks pink. Copia is relieved; he likes the weight of you on his arm — substantial, but not overly burdensome. It’s like you were made to be there. He’d be loathe to have anyone else squander that, even someone he trusts as deeply as Aether.

The street is dark and quiet, most of the buildings on it also abandoned. These are the times we live in, Copia thinks, eyes darting from one run-down storefront to the other. We all must steal to survive. That’s not important right now, though. Not when he’s one step closer to realizing his goal, to making the old man acknowledge what he’s done.

Tonight didn’t turn out exactly how he wanted, but this is still a victory. Copia decides he’s in a celebratory mood.

“Do you think you will be able to eat, cara? I was thinking about making-“

About ten yards down the street, a car explodes. The shockwave sends you both tumbling to the ground. Tiny pieces of debris pelt Copia’s back, and it’s only then that he realizes he’s thrown himself on top of you. His ears are ringing. Around you the scene descends into chaos, tires screeching as people begin to flee. The cops will undoubtedly be here soon. He looks down at you, knowing the fall couldn’t have been good for your head. You appear unharmed but are staring, wide-eyed, at a point behind him.

“Are you alright?” You don’t answer. Copia gets up and off of you, turning to see what it is you’re looking at. A man is lying on the scorched pavement, convulsing weakly. Based on the remaining scraps of clothes it’s Diego, one of the bookies longest in his employ. His body is covered in burns and he clutches at his throat, a large shard of glass jutting out between his fingers. Copia turns back to find you fixated on the dying man, eyes glazed over as you watch the lifeblood pour out of his neck. He goes to shake you, but thinks better of it. “Dolce-“

“We need to go,” Aether yells, running over to help you both up. You’re unable to rise to your feet until both men grab your arms and pull. The whole time you remain staring at Diego, who has now stopped moving, tripping over your feet as they drag you across the street to the vehicle you’d arrived in. Copia dives into the back seat with you, scrambling to buckle your seatbelt as Aether throws the already started car into drive. The wreck is in flames as he peels away. That thing had been Diego’s pride and joy. He was a good guy. A wife, a few kids; he was just another person trying to make ends meet.

Copia tries not to think about that, or about how his car was nearly identical to the vehicle you’re riding in right now.

[leah-halliwell92]

Marionette

Summary: The kidnapping of His Eminence Papa Emeritus III and essential calls are made.

Disclaimer: This book is rated 18+! If you are a minor DO NOT interact! Book contains depictions of violence, dismemberment, age gap relationship(s), and includes themes that revolve around religion and darker themes that maybe uncomfortable for some readers.

Chapter 1: The Kidnapping

Secondo stood by the door that led to Primo’s private garden arms crossed keeping guard and a somber eye on his family as they and their respective ghouls paid their respects to their husband, friend, and brother. He watched as Primo led a small service in honor of their fallen brother, Terzo’s wife, and Prime Mover Jenesis sitting between Rosie and Copia as she tried to keep a strong front as they laid Terzo to rest. He watched as their youngest brother fought to keep his tears at bay. And no matter how hard, bitter, or angry he may be, Secondo had a soft spot for his two youngest brothers. And now here he stood, witnessing the burial of one of them. He fought the urge to flee to his father’s office and confront him on what in Satana’s name he had been thinking in allowing such a thing to come to pass. How could he have allowed them to kill his own son? But he wasn’t a naive little boy anymore, he knew better. 

Special stood beside him offering his silent support and reassuring nod. Secondo didn’t know what reassurance he needed but nonetheless appreciated the ghoul’s efforts. 

“No one comes in,” he told the ghoul, voice gravely and deep in barely restrained grief.

Special nodded and took his place resisting the urge to sigh. He wished he could somehow comfort his charges but knew now was not the time.

Meanwhile, Secondon took a seat next to Copia offering his fratellino as much of his silent strength as he could while trying to keep himself afloat. Copia had yet to look up at anything but his fisted hand on his lap, while his other held onto Jenesis’ hand offering her all that he had in that gesture. Primo looked decades older than he should, though the eldest of their hellish foursome, he’d always kept himself healthy. It was a necessity in order to successfully raise two brothers and run the church.

The family ended their service and wandered back to Primo’s suit in the Papal wing. 

“How can we be sure it was him?” Copia quietly asked, no unkindly the disbelief and shock still very evident through his grief. 

“ Nostro Padre said there was physical proof delivered to the church,” Primo stated, voice bleak.

The family shuddered at the thought, each thinking around the same thing…a body part had been delivered.

In this case, Secondo thanked Satanas he had not decided on bursting through his father’s office. He had no idea what he would have actually doneshould the proof of his brother’s murder be present. 

Jenesis looked to her family, a hand firmly on her still flat tummy, and resolutely said, “She better keep her distance from me and mine or there will be consequences.”

Secondo had to give it to her, Jenesis had balls of bronze to openly declare anything against Sister Imperator. No matter how much they all knew she was at fault. Turning his gaze to Copia he noticed his fratellino’s shoulders drop further and his complexion pale even more at the possibility that his own mother could be behind this. He shared a look with Primo who took their baby brother aside. No sooner had this happened, Copia practically fell into their eldest brother’s embrace sobs shaking his wiry frame. The combined emotions of their brother’s murder on top of there being a very likely chance his mother was behind all of it too much for him to carry.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

Meanwhile a week prior in Sweden…

Omega sniffed at the air before taking to the shadows and following after the van they had shoved Terzo into. The faster he approached the van the clearer the argument the kidnappers were having got.

“Papa! That’s who we were sent out to fuck up!” Dickhead one yelled, incredulously, “For the love of everything that is unholy Sergio please tell me that you didn’t just accept a job to kill the fucking leader of our church!?”

Once the van slowed to a stop at a stop light, Omega used the shadows to sneak into the van. He saw Terzo bound and gagged on the bed of the van, a sigh of relief was quietly exhaled as he noticed that had been all that was done to Terzo.

“She said we’d be rewarded,” Sergio replied, voice shaky as the implications of what he’d agreed to do started setting in.

“We’d be ostracized and maybe even be executed, you moron!” Dickhead one yelled angrily, “Did you stop to think what the other Papas could do to us if they find out we did this to their brother?”

Sergio remained quiet and stepped on it once the light turned green. It had been late enough in the night that no one was out, giving them the advantage of stepping on it and getting out of the city.

“If you were going to step on it why even bother with the stop light?” Omega asked, voice cold as ice as he released Terzo from his bonds.

Luckily, they’d been far enough away from that city that when Sergio did push on the breaks nothing and no one was hurt…yet.

Omega growled ready to pounce.

“Omega stop,” Terzo spoke.

Though shaken to his core, the order was clear. Terzo the popstar had disappeared and in his place was Papa Emeritus III.

Dickhead One noticed the change and made quick work of opening the van.

“What are you doing Matthew!?” Sergio asked in disbelief.

“You agreed to this so-called job for me without thinking through anything,” Matthew stated, voice hard, “You took the easy way out thinking there would be glory behind taking down Papa. It would have made more sense for God himself to kill him than us. What in the seven hells were you even thinking Sergio!? Glory? Recognition? We’d finally found a home dammit!”

Omega watched as Matthew broke down, recognizing the heart that one had.

Through this tirade, Sergio stood still with a shame-filled resentful sneer on his face. Matthew stared at his brother embarrassment and shame riddled into one as he waited for his brother to say literally anything to justify the taking of a life.

“We wouldn’t have been nothing anymore man,” Sergio said through gritted teeth.

“Did you ever stop to think that I was happy doing what I was doing? No matter how big or small or insignificant you think it might have been I was happy just being a part of something?” Matthew asked, his voice thick with tears.

This clearly had not been something that Sergio had taken into consideration. The fool had been thinking of himself at that point in time and only included his brother to keep him close and share in the glory. But never had he ever thought that finding a place to call home and belonging would have been more than enough for Matthew to find peace.

Terzo and Omega watched the exchange with interest, Terzo feeling for the eldest of the two brothers as he saw true regret. Things could not just be left alone now though, answers were needed to make calculated plans come to fruition. 

“Who sent you?” He asked plainly.

“Sister Imperator,” Matthew answered directly, head bowed and hands balled into fists at his sides.

Sergio looked at his brother in shock, how could he give it all away just like that!?

Omega saw this and stepped in, “You’re dead anyway. You were going to die anyway and one way or another answers would have been obtained.”

Sergio swallowed heavily at this and remained silent.

“We don’t know why exactly, I swear,” Matthew continued, “My idiot brother took the job thinking he’d find glory in ending the line but as for the why on her part I, or we, don’t know.”

Terzo nodded at this and gave a thoughtful sigh.

“Boss, this means the end goal was for you to turn up dead or not turn up at all,” Omega pointed out, “This means that you need to make a full disappearing act sooner rather than later.”

Terzo nodded at his ghoul’s sage knowledge.

“Which means she’ll want proof of death,” Terzo added, an unidentifiable edge in his voice that put Omega on his own edge.

Without much warning, Terzo reached into the van, dug around until he found a small wood ax, and walked away until he came across a fallen log.

“Boss–” 

The trio of men looked on in horror as Terzo placed his empty hand on the log fingers spread as wide as they could go before relentlessly letting the ax fall.

The scream that was heard was deafening, the pain that it came laced in indescribable. And yet here was the proof of death needed for Terzo to make his escape.

“You do realize that no act can go unpunished, si?” He breathlessly asked the brothers, “Omega if you would.”

Matthew’s eyes widened at what the statement implied and nodded in understanding at what it meant. He’d threatened Papa’s life, there was no forgiving this.

“No please!” Begged Sergio as Omega drew him deeper and deeper into the tree line. 

Matthew’s lips quivered as he heard his brother’s screams as the ghoul ruthlessly ended his life.

Terzo meanwhile had taken what was left of his glove and covered the stump where his finger used to be.

“Do not mistake I left you alive as a mercy,” Terzo grimly stated, “Your punishment will be this, the death of your brother for his own actions. You are alive as a lesson, whether or not you learn it is not up to me.”

Matthew nodded regardless of the tears that fell from his eyes. 

“Take the finger,” Terzo ordered, “...and should Imperator ask what happened to your brother…”

The latter looked in the direction Omega went with the other man, Terzo’s comment revealing what it was Matthew was going to say upon returning to the States.

Omega returned, corpse thrown over his shoulder as he made his way back to the van.

They all piled into the van, Matthew on the wheel as Omega made quick work of tarping up Sergio’s body.

Matthew drove on hoping he’d wake from this living nightmare but knew the nightmare had only just begun.

/////

Let me know what ya’ll think! Tag list open and all feedback is welcome! Don't forget to comment, reblog, and do all them good things.

[hvnterzmoon]

MY DARLING

mushy May prompt day 29: reuniting

Megamount (Omega x Mountain) [mountaeth (Mountain x aether) sprinkled in]

Read it on AO3

The newest album had kicked off easily. The band had been on tour for months now, leaving some of the newly summoned and easily attached ghouls back at the ministry. Mostly that consisted of Mountain who found himself busying himself with work on the gardens and greenhouses. However, it never stopped him from remembering that they were all gone and he was alone when he crawled into Omega’s bed every night. Usually he would be warmed by Omega’s presence, sometimes Terzo as well or Alpha, or Terzo and Alpha and even Dew.

By the time the first two days were up Mountain had crawled right into Aether’s bed and slept there every night. Not to say that he didn’t love Aether already, but he missed Omega. He missed being held by Omega, nearly crushed to his chest but it didn’t matter cause he was comfortable and safe and warm.

He and Aether held each other and Mountain could tell Aether was aching to see Dew again. They were both aching for someone else while taking solace in one another. They got to know each other well over the weeks and then months that passed. Spending more time than ever together in ways neither of them had thought they would. But neither of them had a single complaint about it.

The last night however, it seemed Mountain couldn’t sleep. He was antsy, awaiting the bands arrival back at the ministry. Awaiting Omega’s arrival back to him. The rest of the band saw him day and night, got to be with him every waking moment and Mountain was stuck feeling their bond hundreds of thousands of miles away.

He missed him.

He didn’t have a time frame, let alone an estimate of when they would be home just that it was today. He paced the halls in the ghoul wing, knowing damn well he’d be scolded if he so much as stepped foot out the front doors to check. He watched the sun begin to rise through the windows, Aether waking up soon after and coaxing Mountain to breakfast.

They ate slowly, to drag the time by so that hopefully when they both looked up they would be met with two certain ghouls, but it didn’t work.

He tried to read, tried to do those crossword puzzles in the news paper that Secondo always showed them. He tried to practice but he kept fucking up. Eventually he gave up and planted himself firmly on the couch in the common room and stared at the clock.

Time ticked by, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, and he watched every minuscule movement of that stupid gold hand like a hawk. Aether joined him around 3:34 pm, with a half read book and a pair of mugs filled with coffee. Mountain took it gratefully and Aether started reading out loud. It didn’t matter that he was halfway through as Mountain wasn’t really listening.

Every little scuff of a sole against the marble outside the ghoul wing made Mountain’s ears perk up. He was stiff, tense where he sat and yet he drank his coffee. Aether always made them perfectly. Even Dew let him make her coffee.

Mountain finished his coffee at 3:47 and stole Aether’s. He didn’t complain.

Aether finished the book, one Mountain didn’t remember of the name of at 6:57 pm, with Mountain’s head in his lap. The earth ghoul was passed out. Crashing from his restless night and restless day. Aether ran his hand through the soft thick tresses of Mountain’s hair and turned on some music on his phone.

It was 7:06 when the door from the main ministry hall to the ghoul wing opened. Terzo and Dew were holding a loud conversation and Aether let out a shush loud enough that the two went dead silent immediately. The band shuffled in one by one, worn out, exhausted, and carrying two times more than they’d left with. Aether looked up at all of them and saw that one pair of eyes was latched onto Mountain in particular. The rest of them began taking their belongings to their rooms, moving as quietly as they could so as not to wake the sleeping giant.

Omega, however, set his things down and stepped toward them both as silent as a mouse. He crouched in front of Mountain, tilted his head slightly, and ran his hand over the side of Mountain’s face in a coaxing gesture. Mountain made a quiet noise of complaint in his sleep and Omega let out a soft laugh.

“Mountain…” Omega called in a soft sing-songy voice and Mountain’s brows furrowed.

“He didn’t sleep last night and was up all day.” Omega frowned at the information from Aether and nodded as he stood up.

“May I?” Omega asked gesturing to the sleeping Earth ghoul and Aether nodded. As tender of a moment as he would love to share with them he was just as antsy as Mountain. He was just better at hiding it. Omega swept down and slipped his arms under Mountain’s knees and then his back and lifted him up like he weighed nothing.

Mountain let out a quiet breath, eyes flicking open sleepily as Aether nearly darted off the couch toward Dew’s room.

“Wha-“

“Go back to sleep, Mount.” But he couldn’t now. He forced his eyes open and looked up at Omega his arms wrapping around the quintessence ghouls neck before he buried his nose into his shoulder.

“You’re back.”

“We are.”

“You’re back.” Omega rubbed his thumbs over Mountain’s leg where he held him, his fingers gripping onto Mountain’s side to keep him steady as he started toward his room. He felt Mountain’s lips leave soft kissed against his skin, Mountain’s fingers tangling in the hair at the base of his neck. There was a soft chuffing noise and he felt Mountain’s tongue dart out against his neck.

“Yes, my darling. I’m back.”

[cupfullofpapas]

1st place: Art + Short story

Prize #2 will be posted tomorrow Winner: @biximagyins

As the bells in the tower chimed each one counted down the hours of the day as the sun set turning the sky into a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, pinks, and purples most of the siblings had already retired to their dorm rooms One, however, was making his way down the hall heart pounding at the thoughts of what the evening would entail, he was so deep in thought that he hadn't even noticed the ghoulette stalking him through the hall, Divine Lust sneaked up on the sibling and grabbed his sides.

"Gotcha!!." Divine yelled scaring the sibling who almost jumped out of their skin hands clutched over his mouth to keep from making a loud noise as he scowled at the ghoulette. "Divine what the hell?!." He spoke in a hushed harsh whisper at the giggling female. "Oh lighten up Yin." She snickered her tail smacking his ass as she walked by making Yin grumble and rubbing his rear. "Where are you going it's getting late and you know Sister has me guard the Ministry at night." "I'm heading to the courtyard," Yin replied dusting his button-down and pants off then messing at his hair to try and get it the way he wanted. Divine stared before grabbing his wrists. "Please stop, your preening yourself like some horny ass peacock."

Yin deadpanned at her and rolled his eyes. "Divine, please I'm meeting up with- someone." "Oh? a crush?." "Uh… you could say that?." "You gonna fuck?." "Divine!." "What?! it is a perfectly reasonable question!"

Yin slapped his hand over his face with a sigh. "Sometimes I just can't with you." To that, he got a giggle from the hell beast. "Don't you have a nun to go scare?." "No, Sister told me to stay away from going near the church, which is weird cause that one guy always smells like cum." While she was talking Yin scurried off out into the courtyard closing the door with the quietest of clicks he couldn't let anyone know who he was to meet that night. Pushing some thick vines out of the way he had finally made it to the little hideaway now he just had to wait, it wouldn't take long before a pair of gloved hands covered his eyes, warm breath against the back of his ear. "Guess who amore." Came the sweet sultry voice of his Papa. "Someone who is going to get their butt kicked if they don't kiss me right now, Terzo." The Emeritus chuckled as he removed his hands from his love's eyes and walked around to face him, Yin's legs felt like noodles as soon as their eyes locked even more so when Terzo pulled him forward until their bodies were flush against one another their lips meeting.

Yes, the one he was meeting up with was none other than Papa Emeritus the Third, the two had been dating in secret for quite some time now Terzo was even in the process of making Yin a Cardinal to be his right-hand man not only to allow them to spend more time together but Yin had done the one thing that few ever could, earned Terzo's complete trust, Yin was also a diligent worker there had been several time Terzo had sent one of his ghouls to check up on the boy and the hell beast had found Yin face first asleep on papers, computer or a book but most importantly Yin loved him, not the man on stage, not Papa, him Terzo Emeritus the thought always almost moved the man to tears each time. Terzo had laid his Papal robe down on the soft grass laying together talking, holding each other while lips locked in passion-filled kisses.

As bodies grew warmer passions ran high as Yin and Terzo tangled together clothing stripped from their bodies as they moved in unison with each other every gasp and moan brought them closer until they came together Yins dripping down onto the Papal robe while Terzo's seed flooded into him in thick ropes collapsing onto his lovers back. Minutes passed as they enjoyed the warm afterglow of their lovemaking, Terzo finally rolling off of Yin who snuggled up to Terzo. "Mio caro, I could fall asleep right here." The Emeritus muttered leaning in to peck soft kisses on his lover's lips tasting the faint remnants of himself on them.

The rest of the night was filled with make-outs and gossip. "The sky is getting lighter," Yin spoke in a somber tone it always meant that they would have to go back and face reality. After a prolonged goodbye, they exited their secret love nest. "Oh, Amore hold on," Terzo spoke as he pulled his phone from his pocket keeping Yin close as he snapped a picture of them together.

"I needed a new phone background." With one final kiss, they parted ways both waiting, wanting, and counting down the minutes and hours until they could once again be in each other's arms. Bonus: No glasses