Seriously, Look At Those Hands

Mushy May 2024

Day 10- Quiet Nights

I played it a little loose with the concept of the prompt, but it still fits and overall is something I enjoyed writing :)

Rating: G

Characters: Sunshine and Zephyr, background Ifrit and Swiss

Words: ~1.1k

Summary: Shortly before her summoning, Sunshine gets worried about how being summoned topside and having the latent fire magic inside of her activated will change the air element she already has. Some late evening meetings with some ghouls recently returned to the pit alleviate her concerns.

Involves my personal headcannon that while hybrid ghouls are born as such, multi ghouls are made so

Thanks to @forlorn-crows for organizing and @ghuleh-recs for the great dividers ♡

Already, Sunny can feel the pull. The humans of the ministry might not know yet, but she has been told by the Dark Lord himself that she will be the next ghoul summoned by the satanic ministry. In three short months by topside calculations, she will be summoned.

This time is different though, a direct blessing from Him to strengthen the fire element within her. She has always felt its potential, but once she goes topside she will be both air and fire. A true multi ghoul. The prospect is exciting, everything she could ever ask for, but nerve-racking all the same. What if she learns to love the fire too much, forsaking the air element she has known her whole life? What if in order to strengthen the one element the other weakens?

These and various other questions have been blazing through her mind ever since she got the news, a wildfire of worry charring any other line of thought caught in its way.

The answer to her worries comes in the form of a resource she didn’t even know existed, the previous band ghouls. Getting an introduction to Zephyr and Ifrit was simple enough, news of returning ghouls travels fast and why not set up a dinner meeting for them and the new kid to chat.

Sunny sees the meeting with the ghouls for the perfect opportunity that it is, exactly the chance she needed to quell all her worries about being topside and her latent fire element.

She has always been extremely direct and voices her concerns to the two ghouls almost immediately, before the hellish vintage Zephyr picked out has even finished being poured.

She carefully notes the roaring laugh this pulls from the fire ghoul and the fond exasperated sigh from the air ghoul.

“Told you she wasn’t worried about the fire part, this is all on you my dear” Ifrit teases, pouring a little extra wine into Zephyrs goblet with a knowing look.

The plan gets worked out quickly leaving lots of time to chat and get to know one another. Each night leading up to her summoning Sunny will meet up with Zephyr and work on meditations to better connect her to her air magic. In addition, every other evening she will meet with Ifrit briefly to go over fire ghoul things. Just because it’s not her present concern doesn’t mean it won’t come in handy and Ifrit is historically eager to help anyways.

The meetings with Ifrit are raucous and energetic, freeing in a way she didn’t know was possible. The meditations with Zephyr are magical in multiple senses of the word.

As in tune with her magic as Sunny previously thought she was, it quickly becomes clear how much more she could improve.

Zephyr's techniques tend to be a mixture of focused meditation and light yoga, after which she swears she can sense the ambient magic swirling on the breeze around her.

There’s a closeness that grows in the silence. The shared concentration and mirrored movements accompanied by the soft sounds of air rustling the plants around them imprints upon Sunshine a feeling of having the air ghoul’s soul laid bare and hers revealed in turn. These moments together quickly become the highlight of her day, and something she knows will be missed terribly once she is summoned.

Halfway through her summoning countdown she meets up with Zephyr but something feels different. The older ghoul is holding back, but this time she doesn’t push, willing to let the conversation topics float along however Zephyr sees fit.

After several minutes she finally hears it, that same resigned sigh from the night they met.

Still, she waits patiently. A light smile and a turn of the head as encouragement to spur Zephyr to speak on whatever is weighing his mind without pressuring him. It works perfectly.

“If it helps at all, you won’t be the only multi ghoul up there. I hope that you find kinship with them,” he starts, nerves seeping into his normal light demeanor. “The method I want to show you tonight is something I made with said multi ghoul. There are parts specific to a multi-element aptitude, which I do not possess, but I hope I can explain clearly enough for you to understand.”

Sunshine works through the movements slowly, a drawing of pure elemental power into the body and a push down towards the ground to expel any other random magic within. It makes her veins feel like they are sparkling in an intoxicating way.

She frowns a little noticing there doesn’t seem to be as strong of an effect on Zephyr, but shakes it off choosing to enjoy the time with her new friend.

Night after night the two have dinner, joyous swapping of stories without a care in the world, followed by quiet purposeful meditations. Before they know it though, it is the eve of Sunny’s planned summoning.

Zephyr, Ifrit, and her have one final dinner together to celebrate the short friendship that they have fostered. The two older ghouls insist that they will see her again and cannot wait to hear about all the fun she will get up to. They both pass her along a few messages for ghouls on the surface, and leave her to prepare for the following day.

As she moves through the magical exercises on her own that night she feels at peace, bolstered to tackle whatever being topside will throw at her.

~~~

The summoning is chaotic as always, but overall goes uncharacteristically smooth. Sunny takes to her new element with gusto, the time spent with Ifrit more than paying off.

Everything is definitely still an adjustment for her with many new places and faces, but there are a few people in particular she is on the lookout for as the day moves along.

Late in the evening after all the chaos calms down, she sets out to wander the grounds and find a nice spot to meditate and reconcile both the elements inside her. From a distance she spots a lovely looking clear patch in a garden and makes her way over to it.

In the center of the clear patch stands a tall ghoul, performing movements that at this point are as much a part of her as anything else. A calm breath in, a forceful one out. A purposeful sway to facilitate the movement of ambient elemental energy. Leaning back on a bench nearby is a skeptical looking Ghoulette, looking on and heckling him as she corrects his form.

A hopeful smile creeps its way onto Sunny’s face and with a confident stride she bounds over to the meditating ghoul, hand outstretched.

“Hi, I’m Sunny and I bet you must be Swiss, Zephyr and Ifrit have told me so much about you. Mind if I join in?”

Mushy May 2024

Day 2- Lake Night Snacks

Rating: G

Pairing: Cumulus & Rain

Words: 591

Thank you to @forlorn-crows for organizing the event once again ♡

Divider by @ghuleh-recs

There’s a high chance the loud noises and faint smell of bacon coming from the kitchen is purposefully trying to tempt somebody out, but Cumulus has been tossing and turning so long that she really doesn’t care. It only takes about 20 seconds before she’s throwing on a robe and slippers and setting down the hall in search of a distraction.

There’s a faint discontent noise from down the hall that she immediately clocks as belonging to Rain, bringing a soft smile to her face. It is so rare that she gets time alone with the water ghoul, the two of them often getting snagged by somebody else. This chance for the two of them to hang out alone is beyond overdue.

Before heading to bed she had noticed how beautiful the moon was shining on the lake, streaks of captivating pale blue light rippling with the shifting surface of the water. It had almost convinced her to head down, so it makes sense that Rain ended up there. Odds are he got carried away and only wandered back in.

As she rounds the corner to the kitchen, she can’t help but take a moment to appreciate the darling look of concentration on Rain’s face as he carefully pours batter onto a griddle in slow deliberate shapes.

“3am seems a bit early for breakfast” she teases, hopping up to sit on the counter opposite the griddle.

“It’s not so much early for breakfast, but late for dinner really. Got caught up at the bottom of the lake enjoying the moonlight, when I realized I was starving. Nobody else was up, but I had a feeling the extras wouldn’t go to waste” he yawns out in response, flipping a pancake onto the empty plate next to Cumulus.

“Hmmm you have always been perfect tempting, and I am here now so it’s a fair assumption.”

Cumulus smiles at the heart shaped pancake before picking it up, ripping it and handing one half to the water ghoul. She takes a quick moment to reunite the heart in a cheers motion and pops the treat into her mouth.

“Mmmm, it might be the late hour but that’s beyond amazing”

“Sunny and I have been working on incorporating fruit puree into the batter” Rain beams, sighing contently as he eats his own half.

“Mmm I love that y’all found an excuse to do something together that doesn’t end in tracking water everywhere”

Rain attempts to fake looking hurt at the insinuation that Sunshine and him are anything but well behaved, but it only lasts about 3 seconds before he dissolves into giggles.

“Yeah alright, well maybe you and I will have to scheme up some trouble to make up for it.” he lilts, following the air ghoulettes eyeline to the bacon beside him and handing her a piece.

The two go back and forth trading jokes and enjoying the alone time as Rain finishes up cooking. Eventually they hear a telltale groan of Mountain stretching as he shambles down the hallway to start his early day and make sure to leave the plates of food where he will see them.

They quietly scamper off to the patio to leave him to his routine, and make plans to meet up for some less elaborate late night snack and overall shenanigans on a semi-regular basis.

The next time the moon gets that particular irresistible shine to it Cumulus knows she’ll get alone time with her favorite water ghoul once again. This time she doesn’t even attempt to sleep, knowing the anticipation would keep her up anyways.

Nothing like cracking open a cold one by the pool after a long day at work

Holy shit Papa 🤭

I really wanted to do something involving all the papas and on a whim decided it was scenery painting time featuring their respective color themes! This was really fun to work on but a LOT of work, I hope you guys all enjoy them! :)

ID in ALT text; Photo ref credits under the cut!

Photos Referenced:

"The Devil's Eclipse right above a church" by Peter Wienerroither

"Iceland Church" by Remo Daut

"Val Gardena Dolomites, Italy" via anonymous uploader to Peakpx (unfortunately, the uploader seems to have sold rights to a domain and I could not find their name)

"Villa Monastero, Italy" by sae_snaps on instagram

Prompt #1000

"Then why did you even come along?"

"Because someone has to save your ass if this inevitably goes wrong."

𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘛𝘦𝘯: 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴

Rating: G Pairing: Mountain/Aether with brief appearances by Dew and Rain. Words: 750ish Using this one as an excuse to talk about the abbey library (since I wrote this while at the library it seems fitting). Mushy May brought to you by @forlorn-crows Divider by @ghuleh-recs

Aether loves the library after dark. When it’s been deserted by the day staff. Lights turned low. Doors left closed, but unlocked. He lets himself in after long shifts at the infirmary and wanders the stacks. It’s a way to decompress. Not that there is that much stress at the infirmary these days. Mostly he deals with colds, flus, sprains, stitches, the occasional baby. There was a time when trauma seemed to live in those walls. Where he would go in knowing he’d come home bloody. 

But lately, things have calmed down. Evened out. He likes it. He likes the abbey quiet and stable. He knows it won’t last forever–can’t. That something will happen, another power shift, and the whole place will turn itself upside down again. 

He’ll haunt the library then too.

He walks the whole library before he even thinks about a book. Weaving in between the tall shelves. Climbing the narrow stairs to the fiction section, lofted above stacks and stacks and stacks of history texts and dusty books about summonings. 

He looks down over the library, it’s dark wood, and vaulted ceilings, and plush victorian era couches. He turns and plunges deeper into the stacks. Dragging his fingers over the spines of new fantasy books preferred by Rain, and the romances Cumulus and Sunshine read voraciously. He browses Dew’s horror section–in case there’s something new he should bring home to the fire ghoul. Glances at the young adult section that Aurora has devoured since she got here. 

He snags a historical fiction for himself, and presses onward into the darkness. There’s a nook, Dew found it years ago, tucked away behind this section. A set of winding stairs hidden behind a wall panel. Aether touches two fingers to the section of wall and it clicks, and pops out, swinging on invisible hinges. 

He steps into the stairwell and tugs it closed behind him. There’s light coming from above. The faint glow of the fairy lights he and Cirrus hung right after Dew found this spot. He follows that glow up the steep stairs and emerges into a small comfortable room. More of an attic than anything else–but transformed into something cozy. There’s a big window in the gable, flooding the room with moonlight. It’s warm and quiet, and not empty. 

Mountain’s seated on one of the many floor pillows. A blanket curled up around his shoulders, back to the wall, horns just barely brushing the peaked ceiling. He’s fully absorbed in a book that Aether recognizes as one of Rain’s favorites. Not a usual pick for the earth ghoul. 

Mountain looks up at him as Aether gets closer. He smiles, it’s warm and sleepy. He pats the pillow next to him. 

“Did you just get off work?” 

Aether nods, dropping down next to Mountain. Shifting so their thighs touch from hip to knee. 

“What are you doing up?” Aether leans his head into Mountain’s shoulder. Mountain reaches up and scratches his fingers through Aether’s hair. Soothing fingers rubbing soft circles above his ear.

“Didn’t realize what time it was–got caught up.” 

“Thought you didn’t like fiction.” 

Mountain huffs out a little laugh. “Yeah, guess I was wrong. Rain has good taste.” 

“He does,” Aether agrees. Settling in, he grabs a blanket of his own and opens his book. One he’s been meaning to read for a while.  “You hanging out for a while?” 

Aether doesn’t mind being here alone, but sometimes–especially tonight–the company sounds nice. Mountain’s ground presence sets him at ease like nothing else, he wants to drown in it. 

Mountain nods. “Got 100 pages left–I need to finish it. And then there’s the sequel.” Mountain holds up another thick paperback. 

Aether smiles, he leans his head a little deeper into Mountain’s shoulder and cracks his book. They fall into companionable silence, soft breathing turning into subtle purrs as the night wears on and the moon sets. 

In the morning, when Dew comes looking for them–he finds them curled up together. Books drooping from their hands. Covered in the same blanket, heads tilted together. The room filled with soft snores.  He takes a picture before he retreats. Sending it to Rain who’s out searching the greenhouse for signs of Mountain.

Found them he sends with the picture.

Adorable Rain responds seconds later.

Dew smiles at the sleeping ghouls in front of them, then turns away. He pads quietly down the stairs and closes the door softly behind him, and goes to finish making breakfast. They’ll emerge when they’re ready–but until then, Dew is more than happy to let them rest–they deserve it.

Can you hear me now?

Mushy May Day Ten - Quiet Nights

Ship: Swiss/Phantom

Notes: Watching fireflies. I had a silly thought about what if Phantom’s freckles could glow in the dark. Prompt list by @forlorn-crows. See prompt list here

Word Count:  406

Read on AO3 or below the cut

“Whatcha thinking about Bug?” Swiss ruffles Phantom’s hair to get the younger ghoul’s attention. They’re both sitting out on the lawn watching the sun go down when Swiss notices that Phantom has zoned out.

“Do you think the deep sea creatures get lonely down there?”

Swiss laughs, caught off guard. “What?”

“You know, the bathypelagic zone where it’s really dark. Do you think they get lonely?”

“You’ve been watching sea documentaries with Rain again haven't you? I mean, probably not. They probably like it down there. Plus they’ve got that glowy thing they can do-”

“Bioluminescence!” Phantom says proudly.

“Yeah! They can use that to find each other.”

Phantom seems to consider this for a moment before blurting out, “Fireflies!”

“Hmm? Yeah fireflies can glow too.”

“No, fireflies!” Phantom points at the air in front of them until Swiss chuckles in understanding.

“Ahh. I hadn't realized they’d come out yet. It’s still a bit early in the season.”

They sit in silence for a while watching the glowing insects flash their lights like little twinkling stars. Swiss is pretty sure Phantom has started to stare off into space again when he chirps,

“I can glow too.”

He says it so casually that Swiss is sure he misheard.

“You sure can Bug, my little star.”

Only when he sees Phantom grinning at him from his peripheral does he turn his head.

“Holy shit.”

Phantom can in fact glow. More specifically his freckles are lit up, dotting his face in little sparks of light. They cross his face and bare shoulders, exposed by the tank top he stole from Swiss, like constellations. His vitiligo backdrops the lights like a swirling nebula.

“Have you always been able to do this?” Swiss asks, a little incredulous.

“Yeah.” Phantom shrugs.

“And you just now thought to mention it?”

Phantom shrugs again.

“You’re just full of surprises, my little lightning bug.”

He pulls the quintessence ghoul close and kisses each of the freckles on his nearest cheek. When Phantom giggles and presents the other side of his face, Swiss kisses him there too. After, Swiss squints.

“I think I missed one.”

“Where…oh!”

Swiss cups Phantom's chin to pull him close and kisses the freckle on his bottom lip.

Phantom blushes, and his glowing freckles twinkle. “I think you missed another one.” He points to the purse of his lips and smiles shyly.

“Well I can’t forget that one can I?” Swiss grins.

Dude, I still sleep on, not in, a waterbed.

I just had this thought about Swiss buying Rain a water bed, full excitement he wants this surprise to be GREAT.

And he sets it up and Rain is like “But how do I get IN the water?”

Swiss is stumped. He didn’t think that far. How DO you get into the water?!

Aether is looking on astounded by the failure of their shared brain cell.

Two weeks later Dew comes home with a family sized blow up swimming pool for Rains room and saves the day. (He decided not to mention he made the exact same mistake when he was newly summoned)

Oh my fucking GOD. I'm dying. Poor Rain, so appreciative but just standing there poking at the bed like "cool, how do I get in?" And poor Swiss just so confused. Searching for some kind of hole Rain can fit through to get in. Because he didn't think this through AT ALL and doesn't want to admit it. And Aether like..."you lay on it not in it" Cut to Rain going: "well that's stupid, why would you call it a water bed if you can't be in the water?" Thank satan for Dew (and his past mistakes).