Aww, I Think I Want One

A rough day

(mean, insulting, Kevin hates the ghouls)

Kevin hates the ghouls.

Not because he's afraid of them, no, on the contrary, you can't have less respect for them than Kevin. He just thinks they're annoying little beasts, like particularly vicious chihuahuas from hell.

Dewdrop, Phantom and Rain especially get on his nerves. Phantom because he's always clinging to Kevin like a leech. Dewdrop because he's a nasty little gremlin who just causes chaos that Kevin then has to clean up. And Rain isn't actually that bad but he isn't good at speaking human language that Kevin usually doesn't understand what the water ghoul is stammering anyway. Not that he would care anyway.

Well, Kevin could speak ghoulish if he wanted to, but in the end these pests would annoy him even more.

The worst is when he has to fix something in the ghoul wing. For example, the other day, when he just wanted to clean the clogged drain in the kitchen sink, he was surrounded by ghouls within a few minutes. They reminded him of a bunch of starving cats, the way they stalked around him and cast curious glances over his shoulder. Phantom was immediately glued to him again, practically tugging at Kevin's hair and clothes.

Then Aether, who kept his distance but intermittently gave advice that Kevin hadn't asked for.

"You should unscrew the drain pipe first" and "are you sure you've mixed the cleaning concentrate sufficiently? Otherwise it could damage the pipes."

Kevin wanted to hit Aether in the face. But instead he contented himself with glaring at the sink while he worked.

At one point he accidentally hit Rain's forehead with his knee because Rain was squeezing himself on the floor between him and the bucket that Kevin had used to catch all the muck from the drainpipe. With an annoyed look, Kevin noticed that the water ghoul had started collecting small pieces that had landed in the drainpipe from the bucket.

"Stop that! You're just making everything dirty," he growled as Rain pulled his hands back and placed a marble, dripping with dirt, on the ground. Rain just babbled incomprehensible things as he began to dig in the muck again. "Why are u so rude to Rainy?" whispered Phantom and came so close to Kevin that he felt the ghoul's warm breath brushing over his ear.

Kevin sighed with the burden of a man who would rather tend a sack full of fleas than a handful of ghouls. Why couldn't the clergy have chosen other demons? There were many species that were less unruly than ghouls. Kevin even had the feeling that ghouls not only enjoyed the chaos, but that they actually drew their energy from it. He had once expressed this thought to sister Imperator, but she had just laughed at him and said that he just had to learn to assert himself. That could only come from someone who didn't have to deal with these plagues on a daily basis.

Annoyed, Kevin stuck the spiral into the drain to push out the last bit of dirt, while at the same time swatting away Rain's fingers that had appeared on the edge of the sink.

Since Copia had risen to the top of the ministry and had a bit more say, Kevin was no longer even allowed to sprinkle holy water on the ghouls to keep them away. After all, that would hurt the ghouls, the youngest Emeterius brother had explained his decision. Simply ridiculous. When Kevin had started working for the clergy, ghouls had just been treated like ghouls. But since Copia had shown up here, Kevin had to treat these creatures as if they had more feelings than lust, hunger and thirst.

Finally, the resistance in the drain was released and with a slap, a pile of mud landed in the bucket. "Is that...sand?" asked Aether, astonished. Kevin shrugged his shoulders in resignation. "How do I fucking know what kind of crap you always pour down the drain?!" He pulled the spiral back and knelt under the sink to screw the pipe back on. Phantom also knelt down next to him and grabbed one of Kevin's long strands of hair to chew on. "I'm clearly not being paid well enough for this," the brown haired growled, shooing back first Phantom and then Rain, whose hand had already disappeared back into the bucket. Under the curious gaze of the ghouls, Kevin screwed the pipe back on, sat up with his aching back and picked up the bucket. "Would be nice if you could just stop breaking or clogging anything for more than three days," Kevin grumbled, looking sternly at Aether. The quint had spent the last few minutes watching with his hands on his hips and a critical expression. "I'm doing my best, but you know what they're like." Kevin only snorted in response. He watched as Aether disappeared into the living room before he turned to leave. The ghoul was talking to Kevin as if they were eye to eye. Kevin shook his head. Ghouls.

He was about to close the door behind him when Rain slithered through and tugged at his sleeve. His big blue eyes bored into his. "What?" Kevin asked slightly suprised.

Rain's mouth opened and closed a few times without any words coming out. Then, finally, when Kevin's already extremely thin thread of patience was about to snap, Rain managed to say a word. "Encore."

He had always thought that Rain simply didn't speak human language, but apparently the ghoul was just dumb. In a good-natured tone, as if he was talking to someone particularly retarded, Kevin replied. "I know you did a great job on the film. We're all very proud of you. But I," he pointed to himself, "have to go now," he pointed to the door. Rain tilted his head, confused.

He's probably doing this so that the few brain cells he has will slip into the same corner, Kevin thought spitefully.

The water ghoul tugged at his sleeve again, this time more frantically. "Encore! Encore! Encore! Dew!" Confused, Kevin turned around and froze. Dewdrop stood at the sink and calmly poured a thick liquid into it. Kevin now also noticed the penetrating smell of ammonia.

This fucking little shit poured wall paint into the sink.

Kevin just stared at him. The man was too stunned to even utter a word. He definitely needed a bottle of whiskey tonight. Better yet, two. And brandy. A lot of it.

Void I am asking you about Special Ghoul

Shout out to @floating--goblin for suffering Special brainrot with me :))

Special is, well…A special case.

He was the first multi. Not the first attempt, but the first to survive the process. Dozens before him, none of them made the cut. Succumbing to the elements, expiring during the process, too many failures to count. It’s a nasty, violent affair of conflicting elements never meant to mix together but they’re forced to. Mingling in his vessel with all the stability of a nuclear reactor rapidly approaching a meltdown. Barely kept from complete failure by the grace of some watchful force that seemed to enjoy his prolonged suffering. Special was never given a choice, he was always meant to become this thing.

While he was the first to make it out, he was hardly what the clergy would consider a success. Body mangled and abused, he’s forced to draw on the very things tearing him apart to prove himself at the well polished heels of a woman hardly interested in the display in front of her. Special tries. He reaches into himself and claws desperately at the flickering presence caught within the depths of his being. Pulling and ripping at his very atoms to prove his worth with all he could muster.

Not all of it stuck. Some elements were lost in the process. The only things he could find within himself were water and a horrific untamable flicker of quintessence. Special came up short. He didn’t meet the mark and the woman stared at him with such cold indifference he might as well have died in the process. A stain on the pentagram before her. She turned and Special felt his chilled heart leap up behind his teeth. He crawled after her like a dog for the chance to grovel for approval - approval he never knew he needed until she turned her back on him.

And a dog he was. Sister’s dog. Constantly seeking favor he will never find.

Bending beyond backwards for her, Special keeps his hands dirty and hers immaculate. There’s blood beneath his nails and viscera in his teeth all at her command. Devotion turned violent. Lethal. Special lurks the halls. He is what goes bump in the night. The shadow fueling ghost stories passed from sibling to sibling, what keeps toes behind the line. He is the unspoken consequence you never hope to face.

Years pass. Faces come and go. Power is passed along. She grows older and he stays the same. He never strays though. Disobedience was torn from his body the day she ordered him to be remade. To be reborn in the image she desired, and while he didn’t fit the picture, he still forced himself into the mold. Crammed himself to fit what she had hoped him to be but her glances continued to brush over him. It only makes him yearn for her attention all the more.

He never hesitates when she speaks in his direction. Even when she puts the syringe in his hand. Special is loyal. A good soldier that follows orders.

When it all burns down

When it all burns down

I will hold you close for the minute

For the minute

Just something I started before my break and finished while dealing with my feelings.

Cw: mountain's major depressive disorder, feeling like a burden, he's very brave though, cg omega, cg Rain, cg Dew

It's not surprising, not really, at least not to Dew. He'd noticed almost immediately, noting that the evenings were starting to get colder, that the days were slowly getting shorter. Mountain started sleeping more, which wasn't too unusual in the grand scheme of things…but it wasn't the right kind of sleep. It wasn't resting, it was hiding.

Dew recognized the dark shadows starting to form under his eyes, how they didn't light up when he saw Dew or Rain, how he poked at his food and shrugged instead of answering questions. He quietly brought it up to the pack, letting each of them know that Mountain was going to need a little extra help. They were all glad to do it, ready to help however they could.

He talks to Aether and Omega separately, keeping them informed of the shift in his moods. Omega schedules extra visits, making sure to prioritize him as he starts to slip.

Mountain knows he's doing it, at least when he's big. And he appreciates it…mostly. But there is still that voice that keeps telling him that this shouldn't be necessary, that Dew is getting tired of taking care of him, that he's too much work.

He wanders off after breakfast, keeps his head down and his shoulders slumped as if all the weight of the world is sitting on them. He should be heading to the greenhouse but he can't, it doesn't feel worth it. He wonders sometimes if the poisonous sadness in his veins would spill out through his fingertips and infect each plant and destroy each little leaf and petal.

He slithers under the covers and pulls them over his head to hide from the sun trying to reach through the curtains to touch his skin. He wants to change into something extra soft, something that might bring a little more comfort, he wants to reach for his stuffies on the other side of the bed, but the nasty voices in his head are already too loud and he convinces himself he doesn't deserve it.

He shouldn't be surprised when the door opens but he still holds his breath. He knows it's Dew, it wouldn't be anyone else.

The bed dips and he can feel the warmth of Dew's hand bleeding through the blanket. “I won't hover, but I will be checking in on you. I wanted to say I love you before I go help papa for a bit.”

He thinks he nods, he tries to at the very least and his heart jumps when Dew leans over and presses a kiss to his forehead still hidden beneath the blanket. “We're all here ok? No matter what your head is telling you. I'll check in soon.”

He feels Dew stand and move to the other side of the bed. “I'm leaving your phone right here next to you ok? We all have ours, text if you need anything, even if you just want to say hi. Now I need to go before papa or sister send a search party. I love you, get some rest.”

He knows Dew doesn't expect him to talk but Mountain wants him to know he appreciates him so he reaches his hand out from under the blanket and signs I love you back and Dew squeezes his fingers gently before he leaves.

He curls in on himself and shuts his eyes, hoping sleep might make him feel a little better.

It doesn't, not really and he wakes up little and completely swallowed by the hoodie he fell asleep in. He moves his arms to rub his eyes and feels his stuffies tucked around him and he knows that means Dew came by while he was sleeping. It should be comforting but it just makes him cry.

He's not sure how long he sits there before the door slowly opens. Mountain hides his face in Acker's squishy body, hiding his tears from whoever is checking on him.

The door shuts softly and he hears someone crossing the room and before he can even look up, he feels the calming effects of Omega's magic. “Hey amoruccio.”

His voice is soft like it is during their visits and Mountain peeks over his cow to look at him.

“How are you feeling?” Mountain shakes his head instead of answering. “That's ok. Do you want something cold to drink? Maybe just some ice cubes to chew on?”

He shakes his head again and sniffles until he feels Omega sitting close beside him. It takes him a while but eventually he leans against him. Omega doesn't talk right away, he just lets the little ghoul rest against him until the tears stop.

“Do you want to change into something that…fits? It looks like you're getting eaten up!”

It pulls just a tiny smile from him but Omega counts it as a win. The little ghoul nods and the quint goes off in search of his jammies, something soft and warm. Mountain stands to join him, pausing by the window when he sees Swiss heading to the greenhouse, Aurora and Phantom each holding one of his hands. He can see that Phantom is talking and Aurora has a pink watering can in her free hand.

Again, it should be comforting but it just makes him feel bad. They shouldn't have to do his work for him. Omega must feel the wave of emotions shift because he turns quickly and kneels in front of the little ghoul, following his eyes until he sees what he's looking at.

“What are you feeling?”

He sniffles, fingers squeezing the cuffs of the hoodie sleeves. “Bad. They-they…that's my job!”

“Yes, but you don't feel well right now, so they are helping. It's ok to have help, amorino, Phantom and Aether help me, Dew is helping Papa right now. You help the people you love.” He brushes away his tears. “Let's get you comfy ok?”

He holds one of Mountain's hands while he searches for something for him to wear. The little ghoul pauses when he sees the jammies, they were a gift from Rain, something he'd seen while he was out that made him think of Mountain.

“Père…”

“Do you want me to text him?” He pushes Mountain's hair back carefully, smiling when the little ghoul nods. “Ok, can you change or do you need help?”

“Help.”

Omega helps him out of the hoodie and into his jammies before helping him back up into the bed and texting Rain.

“He's on the way. When he gets here I'm going to get you a drink and a snack, I'd like you to at least try to get a little of both ok? You don't have to do all of it but a little something in your tummy is important.”

He doesn't really want to eat anything but he doesn't argue, he just wants Rain. The tears prick at his eyes again and it makes him tired, he doesn't like being sad like this when there's really nothing to even be sad about. It's exhausting trying to fight his brain.

Omega is rocking him and humming when Rain gets there, holding the little ghoul close to his chest.

Mountain turns his head when he realizes Rain's there, reaching for him with big tears rolling down his cheeks. “Père…”

He smiles sadly, reaching out and taking the little earth ghoul from Omega's arms. “Je suis ici.” (I'm here)

Mountain clings, face buried against Rain's neck, arms trembling as he holds onto him as tight as he can. Omega kisses the top of his head, letting Rain know he'll bring a snack up for Mountain before he goes back to work.

“Do you want to lay down or rock in the chair for a bit?”

Mountain points in the general direction of the chair and Rain smiles, wandering over and sitting down with the little ghoul on his lap. Mountain turns his head toward the window, watching outside while Rain starts to rock gently.

Rain feels him move his hand up to suck his thumb, his breathing slowing down into something soft and even.

“Do you want to talk?”

He shakes his head, watching the leaves dance with the soft breeze. Rain doesn't force it, he just kisses the top of his head and squeezes him a little tighter. He smiles at Omega when he brings a sippy cup of tea and some crackers for the little ghoul.

“If you need me just text. Anything at all ok?”

Mountain nods, a barely there motion but it's good enough. Rain runs his fingers through Mountain's hair while he helps him sip on his tea and he manages to get him to eat a few crackers before he falls back asleep.

He waits until he's sure Mountain is out deeply before he moves him onto the bed, wandering off to get a warm washcloth to clean the dried tears off his cheeks. He hates how he still looks uneasy even in his sleep but he's so proud of him for taking the help today.

He tosses the washcloth into the bathroom and joins the little ghoul on the bed, pulling the blanket up over him and making sure his stuffies are tucked in close to him. He runs his fingers through his hair, humming when the little ghoul whimpers in his sleep.

Dew slips in on his other side when he finishes with Copia, pressing a kiss between Mountain's horns. He snuggles closer in his sleep, scooting toward Dew and pressing his face against his chest.

“Ich liebe dich so sehr.” He whispers, wrapping his arms tighter around the little ghoul. (I love you so much)

Rain smiles at the two of them, the way Dew wraps protectively around Mountain, the way the little ghouls face relaxes when he hears Dews voice even though he's sleeping.

Dew reaches over and grabs Rain's hand, squeezing his fingers. “He's doing so much better.”

Rain squeezes back, bringing Dew's knuckles up to kiss. “He is. He's so brave about letting us help now.”

They drift into easy silence, listening to Mountain's steady breathing, both thinking about how proud they are of the brave little ghoul between them.

Mushy May Day 31: Looking at/Taking Pictures

The fridge in the den kitchen tells a lot of stories.

Thank you so so so much to @forlorn-crows for putting Mushy May together again this year, and to @ghuleh-recs for making us the dividers. Love you guys, cannot thank you enough. I had so much fun doing this again <3

Arguably, the kitchen is the central point in the entire ghoul den. It seems like someone's always there, cooking or cleaning or making a snack, coming in from the gardens or slipping out to have a smoke.

So naturally, it makes sense that the fridge is the pack corkboard. Magnets from just every stop the band's ever made cover the stainless steel, holding up shopping lists, reminders on bright colored sticky notes, a calendar, but most frequently, photos. Polaroids and glossy film and printed out on paper, the kitchen fridge is an amalgamation of the big moments and the little ones.

There's one right next to the freezer handle, a little blurry, out of focus. It shows the inside of the band tourbus, a soft purple blanket covering two sleeping forms. It's dark, but if you look close enough, you can make out Dew's spindly fingers, arm wrapped tight around Aeon's waist as he big spoons them. Rain had taken it, the first night they had shared a bunk, early into Aeon's first tour. It makes the little quint blush every time they see it, but the way their tail wags betrays any semblance of embarrassment.

There's one in the center of the fridge, a polaroid film, the flash bright and a little over exposed, two ghouls with their backs to the camera. Aurora is easily recognizable, her hot pink hair covering the bottom quarter of the image. Dew's in the background, sitting in Mountain's lap, a little out of focus as he throws up an As Above gesture. Rain's the star of the show though, his blue black waves pulled back into two French braids, decorated with clips and baubles and ribbons. Dew's hair is in a similar state. There's a caption written in Aether's blocky handwriting below it that reads "Playing Barbies."

A glossy 4 by 6 print is stuck to the fridge with a magnet shaped like a palm tree, from Cirrus's disposable camera. It's summertime at the Abbey, taken from the edge of the dock. Mist's perched on Alpha's shoulders, successfully shoving Dew from Swiss's shoulders in a game of chicken fight. She'd taken it at the perfect moment of realization, Dew's eyes wide in panic just as he tips backwards. They had all laughed when she had gotten the print developed, even as Dew grumbled. He couldn't hide the fond look on his face when it had been pinned up, though.

On the side of the fridge is a picture of Omega and Terzo, the big ghoul sprawled out in an armchair during one of the pack's frequent movie nights, Terzo practically in his lap, smudging paint against the side of Omega's neck. They both had passed out within the first half hour of a particularly loud action movie, much to the snickers of the pack.

There are several from the road, new scenery and places and tourist stops, a polaroid of Aurora proudly holding up a soft drink that's almost the size of her torso captioned "Baby's First Big Gulp." One of Aeon sticking their face through a cut out that makes them look like a video game character in some mall. Swiss giving Dew bunny ears while the fire ghoul takes a picture with Rain and Mountain. Cumulus floating on a blow up raft smuggled into a hotel pool. All three of the ghoulettes squeezed onto a greenroom couch in a way that cannot possibly be comfortable but they had sworn up and down that it was.

There are close to two dozen pictures with a similar set up, the entire band and crew all lined up on stage after the last show of a tour. The lineup changes and shifts, familiar faces running through several photographs, looking bone-deep exhausted but with grins on their faces, satisfied with a job well-done.

Aether approaches the fridge, a photo in hand, searching for an empty magnet. He finds one, chuckling as he grabs one shaped like a bat but in a hot pink plastic, pinning the picture front and center. It shows Aeon and Aurora, both ghouls grinning, wearing cheap plastic party hats, the elastic hooked under their chins. There's a cake on the table in front of them, a sparkler candle lit in the middle. There's words frosted on it, in red frosting in Mountain's loopy handwriting that proudly display "Happy First Summoning Day."

He sighs, smiling at the picture of his newest packmates, before his eyes drift up to a picture pinned to the top corner of the fridge. Aether always looks to it when he's in here, feels a warmth settle in his heart as he takes in the picture. He's memorized it, it will be seared into the back of his eyelids for the rest of his time Up Top and long after that.

It's him and Dew, standing at the front of the chapel, grasping each other's forearms as Copia wraps a multi colored cord around their wrists, the fondest smiles on each of their faces. The cord was a four stranded braid of ribbon, he remembers, purple and black and blue and orange. He remembers the warmth of Dew's hand on his arm, the glint of the gold jewelry in his ears, hair soft and falling over his shoulders, every inch the ghoul he had fallen in love with the moment he had arrived Up Top.

Aether smiles, running a finger along the edge of the photograph reverently, reaching up for the bunch of bananas on the top of the fridge, breaking one off and going to rejoin the pack with his snack.

Earrings

You forgot something and Papa punishes you. Which Papa, you ask? That is for you to decide. Could be considered a little naughty if you give it the bombastic side eye long enough.

So silent did my love enter the room that I did not know they were there until I felt the leather blindfold slip over my eyes.

“Quiet,” was the only word said.

A gentle but firm touch on my elbow let me know that I was required to stand. Knowing what was expected of me, I put my hands before me, tongue darting over my lips as I felt the bonds tighten around my wrists.

“Too tight?”

Of course I did not answer and only shook my head in reply.

“Good. Come with me”

Obedient, I took a step forward, and immediately ran into the coffee table. I had to bite back a curse that tried to escape from my lips.

“Oh, darling. Did that hurt?”

I nodded.

“We will have to see to that later,” my love told me as they took my bound wrists and led me from the room. I followed along, secure in knowing that my love would not allow any other harm to come to me except for what was administered by their own hand. And that thought had my mind racing. What was on the agenda? Feathers? A spanking? Clamps? Other toys? And what had I done to deserve this? I tried to think what I had done or forgotten…

Forgotten?

Shit.

I know.

Earrings. My love had wanted me to wear those earrings and of course I forgot.

Double shit.

I am so gonna get it. The thought did not frighten me in the least; in fact the mere thought of ‘punishment’ had me almost breathless in anticipation. Lost in my thoughts of spankings and toys, I stumbled as we came to a stop, in what we liked to call, ‘Our Special Room’, which was really nothing more than our bed chamber.

“Stay there,” was the command given to me. For a moment I thought of moving just to test the boundaries that had yet to be set. All thoughts stilled in my mind as I felt the cool metal of a blade pressed against my cheek. I repressed a shiver as the coolness slid across my face and down my throat, with the tip coming to rest just inside my blouse.

“How fond are you of this?”

Of course, I did not answer. I’d yet to be given the leave to do so.  

“You may answer.”

“It means nothing to me.”

“What a pity. I rather like this one on you,” my beloved said as they skimmed a finger across the front of my shirt. I shuddered as I felt the warmth of their skin seeping through the silk fabric. I ceased any movement as I felt the warmth be replaced by the coolness of metal.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Papa. Please remove this from me,” I gasped as the blade circled my nipple. For a moment the coldness was replaced by the warmth of my loves sweet mouth, causing the silky fabric to cling to my skin. Trembling with excitement, I held my breath as the blade sliced through the fabric. Goosebumps raced across exposed skin as I stood uncovered to his gaze.

He gently guided me to the bed and helped me to lay face down and with arms extended, hands grasping the bed post. The soft click of the padded hand cuffs had me squirming with excitement, knowing what was to come.

“Do you know why we are here?” he asked.

“The earrings I forgot to wear to the Ritual?”

A quick slap to my backside reminded me that I had not been given permission to speak.

“Yes, the earrings and if you continue to speak out of turn, I will have to do something about that.”

It was tempting to say something just to see what he would do, but I did not.

“Now, let’s begin,” and with that he brought his hand down across my backside.

~~**~~

The Nameless Ghoul stopped by Papa’s suite; his intention was to go over a few details of the upcoming Ritual with Papa.  His hand was raised to knock on the door when his supernatural hearing caught the sound of two people engaged in their own version of a Ritual. He listened for a moment before smiling to himself. Whatever he needed to discuss could wait until some other time.

as the drummer, i think mountain deserves to have his cunt smacked.

“As of today it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.” Feeling numb and sorry for all our trans, nonbinary, and otherwise gender diverse friends out there. I am sorry that America voted against you. Know you still have allies out there even if our President is a POS.

“Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission — defeating America’s enemies.” Are you sure those aren’t YOUR enemies?

Okay it was well past time to give Aether 🍌 his turn in the rainbow spotlight

Yay Rainbow Ghouls 🌈

❤️

🧡

💛

💚

💙

💜

🖤

⚪️

🌈

Ahhhh Aether might be my favorite maybe idk if you can tell… I really tried to love them all equally I swear!! But banana boy has stolen my heart 💛🥹

I hope you’re enjoying this still! Like last time, all photo credits go to their original owners, I just found them online