A Lack Of Engagement Pt. 3: It Gets Worse

This is the scariest thing I've seen today

Smth about copia literally being the metaphor for death on a pale white horse who brings hell with him is so funny. Like have you seen this dude

---

Born to be

Zeph finds a certain fire ghoul in the kitchen. (post-transition)

Characters: Zephyr, Dewdrop Word count: 586

“Dew?” Zephyr walked into the kitchen, leaning heavily on their cane. It was late already; the moon had long risen, but they were thirsty and, even though everything hurt, they didn’t want to ask someone to fetch them something.

The ghoul that sat on the countertop was a surprise, though; a bag of Cheetos in his lap. His transition had been four days ago, but Omega and especially Aether insisted on keeping him in the infirmary for another week, just to make sure everything was truly alright.

“Zeph!” Dewdrop had at least the decency to look caught. He was wearing a way too big shirt, the smell of Aether wafting over to the air ghoul, and they gave the other an amused look but said nothing about the fact that Dew had escaped the infirmary.

The taller grabbed themself a cup and groaned at the motion, as the pain in their back got worse from it.

“You need some help?” the smaller ghoul asked and already stood up to take the cup. “Tea?”

Zeph let out a sigh, but nodded and moved over to sit at the table, while the ghoul poured water into the cup and then took some tea from a box. But instead of heating it up in the microwave, he sat down next to Zeph, his tail swinging. Both hands wrapped around the cup, the water began to heat up, and the grin on Dew’s face was straight up adorable.

“Thank you,” Zephyr took the tea and watched the smaller ghoul with a soft look. It had been long since they saw Dewdrop that happy; his whole aura had changed. His tail never stopped swinging, and he looked like he was completely at ease with himself.

“So I take Aeth doesn’t know you are here?” The air ghoul chuckled, and the guilty expression he got as an answer. “I won’t tell him.”

“Thanks,” Dew tilted his head to the side, the smile not vanishing from his face.

“You fell good, hmm?” they asked him then, but it was more of a statement than a question.

“Very,” Dew answered. “I feel fantastic!”

Zephyr gave him a nod. “I get what you mean. It’s great to be yourself, to feel like you’re finally yourself…”

The fire ghoul grinned a bit, his hands fidgeting as he avoided eye contact. His cheeks flushed from excitement.

“I just… I don’t know how to describe it. But I feel so much better, so much more comfortable,” he tried to explain. “It’s like my whole me is finally me and the stuff I can do now! It’s so cool!”

The air ghoul felt their heart melting for their pack mate. He seemed so innocent like that, as if he had always been a fire ghoul, always been that joyful. But the moment was destroyed as their knee decided to send a new rush of pain through their leg, and they felt kind of guilty for ruining Dew’s mood with it.

“Can I?” Dew asked instead, the happiness not disappearing. He had his hands raised and Zeph understood what he meant.

“You can.”

They sat like that for another hour, Dew’s hand caressing the spots that were hurting the most, heating them up, soothing the pain. Zephyr watched his face most of the time, how he concentrated not to make it too hot and to keep the heat constant. And three things were for sure: Dewdrop was happy, he was complete, and he was born to be a fire ghoul.

__________________ i don't like it again, but idc

reblogs would be appreciated nonetheless

---

Mushy May, Day 5 (Animals) - Menagerie of the Damned

Inspired by Mushy May prompts by the fab @forlorn-crows. I'm a day late with this one but I'm a good Satanist and never follow the rules anyway...Also on my Ao3!

If you've ever been told it's "just a pet", Papa Primo has your back!

***

He had been sitting forlornly on the hard, wooden bench since the meeting ended. He should move really. His ass had gone distinctly numb and such a public display of weakness wasn’t fitting for someone who was about to become the figurehead of the global Satanic Clergy. He knew he must look a sight, his face blotchy and as red as his scarlet cassock. And yet his grief kept him here, weighed down like a stone in the stream of busy people moving along the corridor.

“We must say goodbye and I do not think I know how to, little one,” Copiah sniffed, wiping away a stray tear with the end of his fascia and absently scratching between the ears of the nut-brown rat in his lap.

He knew Sister Imperator was right of course. The logistics of the tour would be complicated enough without having to factor in transporting Eliza with them; the hotels and tour buses they must use would see her as vermin, not as the beloved pet she was. And she was getting old, it wouldn’t really be fair on her.

The bench shifting next to him roused him from his musings, making him startle until he looked, bleary-eyed, into the kind face of his oldest brother, Primo.

“I never did care much for this hallway,” the retired Papa groaned as he stretched out his legs in front of him. “Too drafty. Which is probably not good for the little one, eh?” He held his hand out towards the rat, who cautiously climbed into his and regarded him with twitching whiskers.

“I don’t know that there is any place good for her anymore. I must find her a new home but…who will want her? She is not so young anymore…Who can I trust to take care of her?” Copia replied, attempting to disguise the way his voice cracked by clearing his throat. “Sorry, I…I am being silly.”

Primo nodded thoughtfully as he stroked the rat with a single finger. Eventually, he placed the creature on Copia’s shoulder and heaved himself to his feet with a huff. “I may have a solution. Come.”

The older man had started to head off down the corridor before Copia had a chance to ask a question or compose his tear-stained state. Sure, now he can be sprightly he grumbled to himself, struggling to catch him up down the corridor.

They walked through the endless, labyrinthine corridors until Primo led them out into the gardens, past the greenhouses where Copia assumed the man spent most of his retirement. He hadn’t seen this dark, tucked-away section of the grounds before though. When they reached a gate set into some tall hedges, he gave Eliza a fond pat to soothe himself as much as to reassure her, and finally interrupted his brother’s contented humming. It sounded suspiciously like All Things Bright and Beautiful. “Where are we going?”

Primo beamed as he opened the gate and waved for Copia to enter.

His eyes widened as he gazed at the scene before him. A huge circular space; a stunning meadow flower bed at the centre and outlined by ornate aviaries filled with plants and shrubs. The roof of each structure was the green hue of oxidised copper and reminded Copia of the gothic bandstands he’d seen in older parks. They even had the pre-requisite spooky ravens and crows scattered around their wrought gables. Some had open mesh walls while others were enclosed by glass or blacked out entirely.

“I do not know when this structure was first built. Probably back when collecting animals was fashionable. Humans have always sought animals – especially birds – a symbol of status. Of power,” Primo hummed as he started to walk a lazy circuit, stopping to peer in at the two barn owls perched in a distant corner of the first aviary. Copia placed a protective hand over Eliza, but the birds merely ruffled their feathers sleepily and resumed their daytime slumber. “I restored this place, but like our Abbey, I aimed to offer sanctuary to all who needed it. Especially those who’ve been harmed by our ridiculous superstitions.”  

“So, it’s like a menagerie of the damned?” Copia murmured, walking further along and taking in more owls, ravens and a raptor didn’t recognise. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he caught the amber gaze of a fox before it darted into the greenery.

His older brother chuckled. “You could say that I suppose. We leave the hatches open to allow the birds and bats to fly free. I think you’ll be more interested in what’s at the other end though,” he nodded for him to follow towards the enclosed area on the other side of the circle.

The balmy warmth hit them the moment the door opened. A Sister of Sin looked up and smiled, apparently in the middle of cleaning out a huge stack of cages where a dozen or so mice happily scampered about. “Sister Frances,” he nodded kindly.

After sitting subdued on his shoulder, Eliza suddenly perked up and began chittering loudly in Copia’s ear. He soon saw why. At the other side of the former aviary was a huge enclosure, filled with toys, scattered bedding and the curious faces of three other rats. “Oh!” he gasped, unable to resist moving towards them.

Sister Frances followed, opening the front and allowing the three of them to skitter up her arm, where they peered curiously at newcomers. “Cannoli, Cornetto and Confetti. Papa always did have a sweet tooth,” she grinned up at Primo before returning her attention to the rat on Copia’s shoulder. “And who is this?”

“A new resident, perhaps,” Primo said placing a hand on Copia’s other shoulder. “If you are happy for Eliza to come here, it would be our privilege to care for her. And you’re welcome to come and see her at any time.”

Copia’s momentary delight in the rats evaporated into the muggy heat of the small building and he felt his expression pinch again. His treacherous tears spilled down his cheeks before he could stop them. “Sorry,” he mumbled, averting his gaze away from Primo and the Sister. “You must think I’m a pathetic fool.”

“Of course not,” Sister Frances murmured kindly, holding out her arm for Eliza to climb up so she could sniff at the other rats. “It’s always hard to say goodbye.”

“Indeed, fratellino,” Primo sighed. “You think you are being silly but let me tell you…not so far away we have a space where we lay departed souls to rest and there are plenty of our animal friends there. Terzo’s cat, Morpheus for one. Even Secondo’s snake. He dug the grave himself. We are not Catholics; we do not deny our animal friends a soul. If you love another living being there is nothing trivial about that love, si?”

Copia nodded with a hiccup, watching as the Sister placed the rats in the enclosure. He managed a watery smile as the three of them showed Eliza around the toys and feeding stations, like little realtors bragging about a property’s granite countertops and fitted wardrobes. “She looks like she fits right in,” he mused.

“She does. She’s very welcome. And we will take excellent care of here, fratellino, I promise you.”

---

Mushy may prompt list by the wonderful @forlorn-crows

Divider by the lovely @ghuleh-recs

(also if you haven't checked out @autumnblooms art, you should! Their Phantom/Aeon/bug is always the way I picture him in my head 🖤🖤🖤)

Day 15: painting on each other. Swiss/Aeon

Swiss sits back, glancing down at the bare expanse of Aeon's back. He's settled across the back of his thighs, the Quint stripped down to nothing, the warm spring sun peeking through the curtains, wanting a chance to taste the nighttime sky for himself.

Swiss dips his finger into the gold paint beside him, shifting his hips to reach the base of Aeon's neck, the little starburst mark that trickles down into galaxies. Swiss knows them all, has traced every single inch of him, had tasted each one.

He watches Aeon smile when he touches him, when he paints down along his spine, leaving the knobby path to the side, to trail over a light patch, to add color, his color, to Aeon's body.

Swiss bites his lip when he thinks about it, how he likes to believe Lucifer left spots blank on Aeon simply so Swiss could fill the space, so he could blend into him, to mark him as his, a claim so beautiful it belonged in a museum.

He traces his lightning, the electric storm that surges through his veins, decorates the midnight sky of Aeons back, bolts of lightning to bring out the starlight freckles. He weaves delicate trails like his smoke, little wisps to curl around and connect the constellations.

Aeon glances back over his shoulder, a little smirk pulling at his lips. "I'm chilly."

He knows he's not, knows he's burning hot but he's hungry for touch and Swiss would never deny a request from Aeon's lips. He presses forward, plants his chest against Aeon's back, the still wet paint smearing between them, two canvases making one masterpiece.

"Better?" He kisses his shoulder, tastes gold paint and lightning and starlight and Aeon.

He wiggles until Swiss let's him turn over, until they are chest to chest, neither caring about the paint on the sheets. It doesn't matter when Aeon can feel Swiss' heart against his, when he can feel each breath add a little more color to his skin. He glances down, looks along the line of the bodies pressed together, the way the paint looks on him versus how it looks on Swiss.

Colors, their colors, blended and beautiful, swirling together like the knots that weave their souls.

He smiles and kisses him, watches color flood Swiss cheeks, watches the gold of his eyes fill with fire.

"I am now."

---

I was thinking about Ifrit earlier. He seems like the prideful type to never admit he's sick until he's on the verge of falling over.

What if he got that sick and middle Swiss was the one to find him, curled up in bed and miserable? He gets Ifrit comfortable and goes to get Omega to help.

Just an idea I've had floating around, you don't have to write anything, I just often get inspired by your work!

- 🌈

I know this took forever, hope it's ok! Just a small thing

Cw: sick Ifrit, body aches

Ifrit groans and adjusts his pillows again, punching them a few times for good measure before flopping bonelessly against the too warm pillows. He's miserable, he's never sick and now he is and he's miserable.

He can't breathe through his nose and his head feels stuffy and it hurts, his eyes are heavy but he can't sleep, and somehow every single part of his body has decided to hurt. Not to mention the rib rattling cough…

He could text Aether or Omega to come just help him sleep but if he's sick he's sure the Sisters and the siblings are all worse off so the infirmary will be busy. He hopes Dew's ok, hopes that this wave of sickness will decide to be merciful and skip over him.

Ifrit would take every bug that entered the Abbey if it meant Dew never got sick again.

He wallows and tries to think about anything else, literally anything but his head hurts so bad that thinking is hard. He reaches for his phone, tired of suffering for no reason but he knocks it off the side table.

“Really? You can't just cooperate with me?” He whines and he knows he's being ridiculous but he's not used to this! He's hanging off the bed when the door opens.

“Uh…Frit?”

He hears Swiss' small voice, the confusion and concern clear in his tone. Ifrit pulls himself back up slowly, trying not to focus on how much the room is spinning now.

“Hey Furtună…what's up?” (Storm)

“You ok? You don't look so good.”

He tries to force a smile. “I'm ok, just picked up a bug.”

Swiss cocks his head and moves into the room, stopping right next to the bed. He puts the back of his hand against his forehead and frowns.

“You're cold like Dew gets.”

“I don't feel cold.”

“Yeah I know, it's just how you fire ghouls are.” He shrugs. “Did you take medicine yet?”

Ifrit shakes his head, amused and impressed with how quick the little ghoul jumps into action. He watches him pull out his phone and type a message with his tongue poking out, focusing hard on his spelling.

“Aether's gonna be here soon. I'll be right back!”

“Swiss you don't-” But he's already gone, running down the hall. Ifrit laughs despite the pain in his head and throat, grateful for the little multi ghoul.

It takes Aether a bit to get there and Ifrits head and body hurt worse by the time he does. He's quick to soothe the pain, chasing it away and leaving a gentle sleepy haze in its place.

“Rest, I'll come back soon to check in.” He kisses Ifrits forehead and it says a lot about his current condition that he doesn't say something witty about it.

The fuzzy feeling slowly starts to fade as soon as Aether leaves but Ifrit’s sure it'll last a while, at least until he checks in again.

It's quiet and he thinks he might be able to sleep if he really tries…but the door opens again and Swiss backs in slowly. When he turns, Ifrit sees a tray in his hands stacked with snacks and drinks and tissues.

“I got you stuff to make you feel better, Mountain helped but then Dew sneezed so he panicked.” He rolls his gold eyes. “He's not even sick, he just stuck his face in the fuzzy yarn basket and it tickled his nose!”

Ifrit laughs a little at that mental image. “Thank you Swiss, you didn't have to do all this.”

He shrugs like it's nothing. “I wanted to, I like helping.”

Ifrit takes the tray from him when he's close, setting it on his lap and taking his hand.

“Thank you, Furtună, I really appreciate this.”

He ducks his head shyly and shrugs again. “S’ok. I'll go so you can rest!”

“You don't have to, I just don't want you getting sick.”

“It's ok, I'll go make sure Mountain didn't have a heart attack over a sneeze. But I'll come back to take out dirty dishes and I have my phone!”

He bounces out of the room and Ifrit laughs again, Swiss’ energy filling the room with an easy peace, something buzzing and happy. He looks around the tray, finding soup and crackers, one of the honey suckers they give the little ones for sore throats, a cup of tea and a glass of ginger ale. He also notes the handful of chocolate chips Swiss added.

It's thoughtful, touching and once again Ifrit is struck with just how grateful he is. He doesn't finish everything but the tea and the sucker help and before long his eyes are starting to shut.

He hears the door open quietly and Swiss tiptoeing across the room to grab the old dishes. He hears him set something down before he tugs the blankets up over Ifrits shoulder.

“Feel better, Frit.” He leaves just as quietly as he arrived.

Ifrit cracks his eyes open to find another steaming mug of tea and a few more suckers. He smiles and makes a plan to come up with something special to do just for the caring little ghoul.

He shuts his eyes again, it's going to be great….but he needs to rest first.

---

Such a cat 😺

PHANTOM OH MY GOD BABY WHAT ARE YOU DOING

---

Vote because Project 2025 is dangerous to you and all those you love

You guys realize this means we ALL have to vote now. No "don't wanna vote biden" excuses now- if we don't vote our rights are going to be taken away.

---

80,000 year comet

---

MASTERLIST v2.0

Here is the up to date list of my work, including links to the stories on my AO3 page

All of my works are 18+ and most contain NSFW themes.

There is probably something for everyone here - epic sagas, small multi chapter fics, oneshots, ghouls, demons, witches, angels, Papas, smut, fluff, intricate world building, smut, heartbreak, tragedy, soul bonding, angst, smut...

You get the idea.

I've tried to put my own spin on the lore of the Ghost universe by mixing the ghouls and the Papas with my own original characters, and stitching it all together to create a huge multiverse.

Essence of Quinn is my main WIP right now. 535k words, 230+ chapters; the glue that binds all my worlds together (it's also the most commented on fic under the Ghost Sweden Band tag and the second longest Ghost band fic on AO3).

Masterlist below:

ESSENCE OF QUINN

537k words (ongoing)

MxM, FxM

OC ghoul x OC ghoul

Secondo, original ghoul characters and actual ghoul characters

A child of Fate, a slave to destiny.

Quinn is a quintessence ghoul with a tragic and traumatic past who is cursed with visions. He's summoned to Earth to work with the Clergy. Epicness and spice ensues.

NAMELESS GHOUL

132k words (complete with occasional updates)

FxM

OC ghoul x Sunshine

Papa IV, Secondo, current ghouls

A ghoul is summoned illegally and enslaved by a rogue sect of the Clergy.

BLACKENED FEATHERS

92k words (complete)

FxM

Omega x OFC

Terzo, Alpha and the rest of the papas and ghouls along with some originals.

Heaven and Hell collide, but who will come out on top?

BURNING FOR YOU

15k words (ongoing)

FxM

Alpha ghoul x OC ghoulette

Papa IV, Terzo, Secondo and all of the ghouls and original character ghouls.

Fire ghoul Alpha has got impulse control and anger issues. He finds himself falling for an off limits water ghoulette with scary guard dog bodyguards. Biker ghoul fun and smut ensues.

UNHOLY COMMUNION

20k words (complete)

FxM, FxMxM, FxMulti

OC fire ghoul x OC Sister of Sin

Evil Secondo AU, dark smut

Secondo and his ghouls pay a visit to a small rural abbey to perform mass. A Sister gets up close and very personal with his mysterious fire ghoul.

MUSHY MAY 2024

5.6k words (ongoing)

MxM, various

Secondo, Phantom ghoul, Aether ghoul, Dewdrop ghoul, Alpha ghoul, Omega ghoul, various originals

Ficlets using Forlorn-Crows' Mushy May challenge prompts

THE GLOVES STAY ON

2k words (ongoing)

FxMxM

Terzo x Omega x Sister of Sin

A Sister Of Sin is left hanging and at the mercy of Terzo and his ghoul.

Alternative title: Fucked by Terzomega.

KINKTOBER 2023

17k words (complete)

FxM, MxM, Multi

Various characters

A collection of short fics based on Kinktober 2023 prompts.

QUAIR ONESHOTS

5k words (ongoing)

MxM

Original ghoul Quinn x Original ghoul Air

Sometimes I get smut ideas that will have no context for the main story of Essence of Quinn, so I will put them here when the mood takes me.

The first one is a bonus Quair chapter from my Kinktober 2023, but more original stuff will be added soon.

SECOND CHANCES

2k words (ongoing)

FxM

Secondo x OFC

Secondo has been alone for many years since tragic events took the love of his life from him. He's spent a big chunk of that time living up to the playboy image that others have, but behind the persona he feels so, so lonely.

When one of his ghouls is badly injured, Secondo must work closely with the Abbey's head physician, Astrid, to try and save him. He enjoys the challenges set by her fierce intellect and finds himself reluctantly falling for her charms.

Can the old playboy find it in himself to give love a second chance? The only thing standing in his way is himself.

GO WITH THE FLOW

5.6k words, ongoing

FxM

OC earth ghoul x OFC

Secondo's earth ghoul has never been interested in humans before. He's the biggest ghoul at the Abbey and he steers clear of them because he's always been told how fragile they are.

Everything changes though when he meets Zoe, a human who supplies the Clergy with their ritual ingredients and supplies. His seer packmate lets slip that Zoe might just be his mate and it all goes downhill from there.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

1.5k words, ongoing

Special ghoul x Mist ghoulette

Terzo's ghoulette Mist lost her potential mate Special thirteen years ago under tragic circumstances. Just lately though, she's convinced herself that she's seen him around the Abbey.

With the help of her packmate and good friend Alpha she tries to piece together what's going on.

It's All Hallows Eve and the veil between worlds is thin. Will Mist finally get to say goodbye to her lost love? Or will her heart get broken all over again? Anything can happen on Halloween 👻

Anyway, check out my page and see if anything catches your eye. As always, be mindful of the AO3 tags. Thanks for reading 🖤

---

Great, now I'm gonna be staring at every pic from now on to try and see the mesh part of the mask.

Fuck. Look at the EYES