Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“AETHER!” Copia all but screeched. The heavy doors to the very entrance of the ghouls den slamming unceremoniously against the thick walls. The ghouls had their own section of the ministry, split off from the garden and well enclosed even in the extensive outdoor areas past the ghouls usual rooms, nothing walked through those big doors that at least one of the ghouls didn’t know about.

“AETHER!” Copia scrambled frantically, he needed to find him, but he wasn’t familiar with the ghoul den.

Dewdrop was at his side in less than a minute, the early riser. The Fire ghoul looked at Copia perplexed.

“Papa? What’s going on?” Dew placed a hand on the frazzled Papa’s shoulder. Panic flickered like a flame in his gut at the way Copia was screaming and multiple of the other ghouls were beginning to filter in to check out the ruckus.

“Dewdrop where is Aether I must find him- The elders they- have you seen him?” Copia clutched onto Dew, searching his face frantically. The panic in Dew’s gut roared, the elders were never good news, and he hadn’t seen his mate this morning having assumed the other ghoul had a late night at the infirmary and was sleeping in for once. It had only been a few days since the elders had called for Sunny, there’s no way they’d take Aether too.

“What did the elders do Copia?” Dew all but growled, gripping the Papa’s wrists where they were clutched in his shirt.

Copia sputtered through his panic, Dew’s ferocity making it worse.

“They- this morning I received a memo that I was needed for a summoning ritual- for my new Quintessence ghoul and-“ Copia fumbled.

Dew stopped listening. Quintessence ghouls were the rarest kind, and the most powerful but as a result the ministry only allowed one full quintessence ghoul to be utilized for any Papa due to their power, if they found that ghoul to be not useful or even worse rebellious-

“They’re sending Aether to the pits!” Dew thinks it was Rain that voiced the realization, but he couldn’t confirm as he was already sprinting down the hallway to Aether’s room. It was fine, Aether would still be asleep and they’d have time to get Papa to reason with the elders and stop this mess-

“Aether!” Dew called out as he opened the door.

Even the fire running through his veins froze as he found Aether’s bedroom empty. The entire room still, too still. Dew barely registered the other ghouls crowding around behind him to look before he tore off in the direction of the doors. He could still stop this. He ran like hell.

Chaos.

It’s all chaos.

Dewdrop tears through the hallway like a homing missile. Tunnel vision. He can barely make out his pack mates around him, running just as furiously out of their den, not bothering with avoiding the siblings of sin roaming the grounds of the ministry.

He knew coming back to the ministry right before another tour was too good to be true. He thought he’d get time to relax, to be with his pack and how stable everything was for once.

But then Sunny had left with a tearful goodbye and Aurora had been summoned in her place.

But then Copia had busted through the doors of their den this morning. Calling for Aether.

Aether.

Dewdrop was running on what was basically instinct, remembering the way to the room they’d said goodbye to Sunny and welcomed Aurora in. It was the first time he’d been in that room since his summon despite having lost so many pack members before, seared into his brain was the memory of his lost pack mates. He didn’t get this luxury to save them, to say goodbye, they were culled for their rebellion.

The ghouls pounded on the door to the summoning hall, Copia sidestepping Dew’s irate kicks to unlock it with his key ring. Copia took the lead down the narrow hallway and Dew anxiously ran behind him. They were in time he was still here Dew could feel it-

Copia flung open the door.

“Priests stop this at once!” Copia yelled, but as Dew burst into the room he could only stand frozen as the last glimpse of his beloved Aether disappeared into the circular void in the floor, his dark purple horns vanishing into the dark before the hole was instantly swallowed up. Dew didn’t even get to see his eyes.

That was it, that was all the last look he got at his Aether. Aether who had been with him through the culling of their pack mates and their original papa, through Copia’s rise to power, through Dew’s elemental change. He was gone.

One of the priests spoke up through the stunned silence.

“Papa Emeritus IV, good your here, We can begin the summoning of the new ghoul immediately. I’m sure you read in the memo but this new quintessence ghoul has been handpicked for us to form for his powerful gifts.”

Dew could feel the rage burning in his veins, an uncomfortable itch that he’d never gotten used to after his elemental change. So that was it. They’d been watching and waiting for a Quintessence ghoul they deemed better than Aether, more powerful. The other ghouls around him were stunned, silent tears falling from Rain, Cirrus and Cumulus looked horrified while their newest Aurora looked confused, Swiss was enraged, and Mountain looked on with the sadness of a ghoul who’d lost before.

Copia stuttered for a moment, he had formed a bond with Aether, the bond between a Papa and their quintessence ghoul was a strong one regardless of its form. The Papa looked on the verge of tears.

“Papa please, the ritual won’t hold forever and we’ve been waiting for the materials to summon this prized ghoul for a long time. So much so we’ve decided to call him Aeon.” The priest threw a grucifx at Copia, one of the ritualistic ones used to call a ghouls soul from the pits and pledge it to his or her Papa.

Copia looked at his despondent ghouls sadly, before back at the grucifix. He held it up as the Priests circled and began the ritual.

Dew looked around the room, frozen in place as no one seemed to know what to do. Was there anything they could do? Aether was gone.

As the priests chanted the signature void of milky stars and darkness began to open in the floor, the summoning associated with a quintessence ghoul.

Why did this have to happen now? Dew was just getting comfortable. Just beginning to enjoy everything again.

The outline of blinding white began to take the shape of a ghoul. It was all too much he had no time to process he couldn’t breathe. Dew looked away from the ritual and locked eyes with the head priest, if this motherfucker could take him away, he could bring him back right?

Dew lunged at the priest before he even registered or thought through his own plan.

“GIVE HIM BACK!” Dew screamed, digging his clawed hands into the man’s shoulders, causing him to drop his grucfix and stutter the chant with a shout of pain. The circle on the floor let out a celestial noise, the shape morphing from a perfect circle to an amalgamation of shapes, the milky stars blurring.

Dew growled as he was dragged off of the priest by Mountain and Swiss restraining him. The priest immediately picked up his grucfix and resumed the chant, restoring the ritual.

“Let me go!” Dew kicked and screamed against his captors, feeling utterly betrayed.

“We know Dew, but you’ll get yourself and the new ghoul killed by interfering like this.” Mountains deep and sorrowful yet calm voice was by Dew’s ear.

Fuck that! They could bring Aether back if he could just get over there! They already had the portal open!

He kicked and screamed for them to bring him back, but no sooner had it started the summoning ritual was over and a new ghoul lay on the floor unconscious, white smoke coming off in wisps from his body.

His body- what was wrong with him?

Dew paused his fight to get a better look at the new ghoul, the priests started whispering among themselves about what had happened.

“The portal wasn’t stable for just a few moments, is that all it took?” One of them murmured.

A normal quintessence ghoul was like Aether and before him Omega, strongly built and larger in size than an average ghoul, their skin was supposed to be a solid shade of purplish grey with white hair, their horns held swirling patterns of dark purple and stars, and depending on where and from what in hell their energy was pulled from they had either solid black or solid white eyes.

This ghoul was… different. He was small, his grey-purple skin interrupted by patches of white and dark purple lichtenberg patterns traced down his spine, his hair was dark purple with streaks of and splotches of white, his horns were chaotically patterned. The most intriguing part was his face, a white splotch took up a large portion of the right side of his face around his eye and what should have been solid colored skin was freckled with dark purple matching the patterns on his back.

Everyone in the room looked upon this strange summon.

“Well his appearance is certainly not of standard, it is but a phantom of our hopes but our materials are exhausted, we must hope this new ghoul has great power. We leave you Papa to acquaint this new ghoul as we report this incident to Sister, inform us of its development.” The high priest delivers before ushering the other priests out of the room.

The New Ghoul stirred slightly, and Copia immediately sank to his knees next to it.

“Oh my child, I am so sorry…” Copia murmured as he placed a hand on the ghouls head.

Dewdrop sunk to the floor, dragging Mountain down with him by sheer force of will. Aether was gone. He wasn’t coming back.

Chapter Text

Cold.

It was colder than hell here, wherever here was.

They’d spent so long drifting around down there without a real form. Quintessence ghouls weren’t born like the others, they were created by an abundance of energy. Rare naturally, but able to be created by something with enough power. They drifted around without a form until they got powerful enough to make one or someone summoned them.

The last thing they remembered was existing in the pits alone, drifting as they were given different things to “power their innate abilities”. They didn’t know what that meant, but they hadn’t been given anything before so they absorbed it blindly. Then something had shifted, there was another ghoul with them, a bigger quintessence ghoul made of the same energy as them who had a real shape and looked at their small amalgamation of a form with a smile “Take care of them.” the ghoul had uttered before their very soul began to shake.

They felt something warm on their head, a hand?

Blinking open their eyes was a chore, and even when they accomplished it the lights were blinding, they had to fight to focus their eyes on the man kneeling in front of them.

“Hello little one, I am Papa Copia.” Copia introduced, giving them a sad smile. Why was he sad? They were supposed to be a gift were they not? They couldn’t remember. Not even their own name if they had one. They blinked down at their own body, marveling at the different patterns and colors branching out across their skin. They’d never had a fully physical form before, it felt weird. Like everything that had once flowed through them like water pooled in their head instead.

Copia seemed to understand their plight and ruffled their hair a little.

“We are going to call you Phantom okay? Pay no mind to anyone who uses that against you.” Copia muttered seriously. Was that right? Something told them that wasn’t what was originally planned for them.

Phantom gave a tiny nod. It was overwhelming, the sense of loss in this room. Phantom had always been able to sense living things emotions as if they were their own. Their eyes drifted to the ghouls behind Copia, all looking at them with different emotions.

Phantom locked eyes with a small Fire ghoul. Fire ghoul? It was weird, Phantom could sense the other ghoul’s element but the appearance of the ghoul was strange. He had faded scars on his neck reminiscent of a water ghouls, his horns weren’t the right curved shape of a fire ghouls (even though one was broken), and the way his element flared through him was unnatural, Phantom could feel it. They tilted their head at the ghoul.

The Fire ghoul let out a growl of anger, wrenching himself out of the grip of an Earth ghoul. Phantom felt the outburst like someone had just pointed a flamethrower at them.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? They replaced Aether with a fucking runt!” The Fire ghoul yelled. Phantom flinched at the loud sound, was he talking about them? Replaced?

“Dewdrop it’s not his fault-“ Copia began, reaching to place a hand on his Fire- Dewdrop. Dewdrop slapped the hand away with a growl, narrowing his gaze back to Phantom. Phantom flinched from the pure intensity, the emotion radiating off of this ghoul burning him as if it was real fire.

Phantom blinked confusedly, why did this ghoul- Dewdrop hate him?

Dewdrop scoffed and stormed out of the room.

“I’ll see to him. The rest of you, help this new ghoul. Be kind.” Copia sighed heavily, bowing before he left the room with much more dignity.

Phantom’s head was spinning, so much had happened, they could feel so much upset and it was nauseating on top of being in a real body for the first time. Their identity was jumbled, they couldn’t tell which emotions were their own and which were invasions of the beings around them.

“Hello!” A small ghoulette with colorful hair took up their vision.

Phantom startled a little, their new tail hitting against their arm as they pulled back. This ghoulette didn’t seem to have the aura of loss to her instead radiating curiosity into Phantom’s mind.

“H-hi?” Phantom squeaked, using their voice for the first time. This made the ghoulette grin.

“I’m Aurora, don’t worry! I just got here a few days ago myself.” Aurora wagged her spaded tail a little, standing and offering Phantom a hand. Phantom took it hesitantly and stumbled a little as they were pulled to their feet, very aware of how exposed they were and felt in front of the gaze of the other ghouls.

“Well Cumulus and I have our hands full with showing Aurora her elements and practice, we have no idea about guitar ghouls or quintessence. One of you is going to have to step up.” Phantom could hear a taller Air ghoulette with greyish-green skin telling the Earth ghoul from before.

Were they arguing about Phantom?

The Earth Ghoul sighed, looking over to a teary water ghoul and an angry looking multi ghoul contemplatively.

Phantom didn’t realize they were gripping onto Auroras jacket until she laid a comforting hand over their own. They smiled worriedly at her and she gave them a big grin in response.

The Earth Ghoul stood to his full height and Phantom was intimidated immediately. The ghoul was easily the biggest he’d ever seen with antlers for horns that just made him look taller. He approached and Phantom cowered a little.

The ghoul seemed to notice and crouched to their level.

“I’m Mountain. Sorry about all of this, I’ll show you to your room for now.”

Phantom nodded nervously at Mountains words, Aurora nudged them forwards nodding encouragingly as Mountain turned to walked out of the room.

Phantom followed shakily, stealing one last glance at the rest of the ghouls and finding no other offers of introduction.

The walk to the room was in silence, Phantom filling the time nervously by taking in his surroundings, the hall they were summoned from, the intricate garden and architecture surrounding it, the big doors to what they assumed was the ghoul den. It was all fascinating if not a little overwhelming. They tried not to focus on the frustration radiating off of Mountain.

When they arrived at the room Mountain let Phantom in, standing at the doorway.

“I’d recommend staying here for awhile, get comfortable. We’ll figure out what to do about you.” Mountain nodded in goodbye before closing the door.

Phantom tilted their head, all the emotion they got from Mountain was conflicted, but not hostile. Why was their summoning such a controversy?

Speaking of the summoning Phantom felt extremely dizzy now that they were alone. Their skin and bones uncomfortable in their new form, the lines zig zagging across their flesh throbbing vaguely. Phantom groaned a little rubbing at their head before stumbling over to the bed in the middle of the room and immediately climbing under the covers.

They couldn’t control their power in this physical form, the energy flowing through their veins from their element felt like too much and it absorbed the emotion of the beings they’d come into contact with since their summon too well. Dewdrops rage felt itchy on their skin, the loss of something or someone felt like a weight tied to their chest. Phantom screwed their eyes up tight and curled into a ball.

Chapter Text

“I know it is inconvenient. But please you all.” Copia sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as he addressed his ghouls in front of him.

“Inconvenient? He replaced Aether!” Dewdrop growled.

“Enough with that Dew! We all miss him! It wasn’t Phantom’s fault!” Aurora lashed her tail back and forth, the usually bubbly ghoulette now agitated.

Dew rounded on her, shoving his face into hers as he growled, smoke billowing from his mouth.

“Don’t fucking act like you know anything about it. You’ve been here for two days. You’re just lucky Sunny got to say goodbye so the ghoulettes don’t hate your fucking guts.”

Cirrus shoved Dewdrop back from Aurora, stepping in front of her as her tail lashed and she looked down at Dew.

“Not another word.” The air ghoulette’s tone was full of warning.

Dew huffed out smoke but didn’t challenge her further.

“Ghouls!” Copia stood, commanding attention with a voice he didn’t use often, not even when he was trying to wrangle them on stage.

“I am being serious. No harm will come to this ghoul while I make the journey to Sister Imperator.” Copia looked them all over firmly. Most of them nodded, eyes down like scolded children. Dewdrop rolled his eyes at them. No harm would come to Phantom, because Dewdrop wasn’t going to lift a claw to help him.

When Copia left, the Ghouls stood in silence for a second.

“What do we do about him?” Rain asked quietly, the water ghouls ears flicking.

“I say we leave him alone. He’ll figure it out.” Dew scoffed.

Mountain stretched, his joints popping from pure frustration with his smaller pack mate at this point. He understood Dew, looking at Phantom produced a pang of uncomfortable loss for him too, but the young quintessence ghoul hadn’t asked for any of this.

Rain and Swiss didn’t offer anything up. Rain was almost as sad as Dew was angry about Aether’s departure and Swiss was angry at the ministry sticking their noses into their personal lives.

“I don’t want to be forced to accept this new ghoul when the ministry specifically made him to replace Aether.” Swiss spoke seriously, defiant more than angry at the new ghoul.

Mountains tail flicked, that was a good point, he could understand why all of the other ghouls were so hesitant to interact with the new ghoul, knowing that he was made for the ministry’s wishes specifically. Mountain groaned frustratedly.

“I’ll bring him his food. No one has to do anything yet but he needs to start training soon. So one of you needs to step up.” Mountain glanced between Swiss, Dew, and Rain.

The three ghouls just stared back at him, none of them offering anything.

——

Being topside sucked. Phantom had decided. Sure being just an amalgamation of energy without a name wasn’t great but at least he wasn’t overwhelmed consistently. Before all of the emotion and energy that flowed into him would just flow back out, now Phantom had no idea how to filter out the emotions of anyone who got too close and distinguish them from his own.

So he stayed in his room, it wasn’t like any of the others were offering to teach him anything about life topside anyways. He learned that he was a “he” from hearing Dew and Aurora arguing in the hall the one time he did try to venture out. Phantom didn’t care, he felt about as right as “they” did anyways, he was more concerned about the way that they spoke about him.

They didn’t mean to be an issue, they felt really bad about it actually. The loss radiating from the others had something to do with him. He felt bad that he had to learn how to be a ghoul more than a new summon like Aurora, all because he was a quintessence ghoul. It would be better if he avoided what were supposed to be his packmates, wouldn’t it?

A knock at his door roused him from his session of staring at the ceiling and he looked up. He could sense Mountain before the bigger ghoul even opened the door. They had a system, Mountain opened the door, handed them food, and usually talked to them at least a little.

Phantom scampered over, his tail wagging slightly. They couldn’t fight the tiny bit of hope that sparked whenever that door was opened.

“We’re trying chicken nuggets today. Did the strawberries go down okay?” Mountain stepped into the room, handing a paper bag to Phantom.

Phantom nodded enthusiastically.

“Didn’t make me nauseous at all! I think they are my favorite!”

Mountain gave a small smile at the quint, but Phantom could feel that there was still sadness everytime the Earth ghoul looked at him. Mountain ruffled the smaller ghoul’s hair.

“I’m glad, but you’ve only tried around four foods so far, I don’t think you can pick a favorite yet.” Mountain chuckled.

“Mountain…?” Phantom began, his tail slowing slightly. “Would it be better if I went back to the pit?”

Mountain looked down at the ghoul sadly, he took a moment to answer. “No, It wouldn’t.”

Phantom nodded solemnly and didn’t press it further, but he could tell. He could feel Mountain lying to him. It made his skin prickle under the surface with something akin to rot.

“One of the other guitar ghouls will come to start showing you around eventually.” Mountain told him, turning around to leave. Phantom nodded again, but something new was brewing inside of him. The first emotion they could tell was their own.

“You say that every time.” Phantom stated, his annoyance showing through in his tone. It shocked Mountain, he hadn’t seen the new ghoul display anything but curiosity or slight sadness, they could tell things were off then.

“I can tell when you lie, and that when you look at me you pity me. I can’t tell them apart from my own view of myself. Don’t lie to me anymore, it doesn’t help.” Phantom didn’t sound angry, and that might have been the worst part. The young ghoul just took his food and retreated to his bed.

Mountain looked after them, contemplating. He looked around the room, it was kind of sad. Phantom had been here for four days and was regulated to eating new food with no new decorations, belongings, or even clothes. Phantom still wore just the basic shirt and shorts that he was given by a sibling of sin upon his summoning and even then the second time Mountain had brought Phantom food he had to teach them how to put on a shirt around their horns. Usually new ghouls would spend all of their time with their new pack, being taught the ways of topside life and figuring out their place in the pack.

Mountain sighed heavily.

“I won’t.” He responded before leaving the room.

This isn’t what Aether would have wanted, the thought hit Mountain so hard he felt guilty. He hadn’t stuck around for more than a few minutes each time he visited Phantom, and none of the others had even tried. The ghoulettes reasoned that they didn’t know anything about guitar and had Aurora to worry about, Rain and Dew were still grieving Aether too hard to even acknowledge mention of Phantoms name, Aurora wanted to but was kept busy with her own training, and Swiss…

Mountain turned his direction towards Swiss’s door knocking harshly.

Swiss opened it and tilted his head, the multi ghoul usually seeking out Mountain, not the other way around.

“Mount? What’s up?”

Mountain entered his room and sat so he could be on Swiss’s level.

“It’s about Phantom.” Mountain started, Swiss didn’t immediately shut him down which was a good thing.

“What about them?”

“Can you visit them?” Mountain knew this was where the protest would start.

Swiss flicked his tail, sighing.

“I don’t want to be forced by the ministry to do anything Mount.” Swiss reminded him evenly.

“Swiss it’s not for the ministry. I know you hate being a pawn to them more than anyone but I promise you this isn’t because of them. I’m the only one who’s even been to see Phantom since he was summoned, he’s lonely, he didn’t ask for this and he thinks everyone hates him.” Mountain sighed, trying his best to get through to Swiss.

Swiss looked at Mountain, his eyebrows raising a tad. Mountain nods.

“They told me they couldn’t tell how we feel about them apart from their own emotions. No one’s even gifted them with any decorations or anything.” Mountain continued, looking at the floor.

“I know i’m guilty of not wanting to get attached either but please Swiss, this isn’t what Aeth would’ve wanted.” Mountain looked up at Swiss, a pleading expression.

Swiss looked back at Mountain, something resolving in the Multi ghouls eyes as he sat across from Mountain, rubbing a hand across his face.

“You’re right Mount. It isn’t the little guys fault, and Dewdrop fucked up his summon, he probably will need more support especially as a quintessence ghoul.” Swiss sighed, his dark red tail flicking behind him.

“I’ll visit the squirt.”

——

Phantom was roused from a half-nap by a knock at his door. Huh? Mountain had already brought him food today, his chicken nuggets lay half eaten on the table next to his bed. He didn’t really feel like eating with the disgusting feeling still bubbling under his skin. The ghoul standing outside of his door wasn’t Mountian though, Phantom’s ability gave Phantom a feeling that was much more energetic than Mountains lumbering self.

Phantom slowly approached the door, cracking it open. The multi ghoul- he thinks Mountain had called him Swiss in one of their talks- stood outside his door, grinning with all his teeth.

“Hey there! I’m Swiss, sorry I haven’t gotten around to coming by sooner.”

Phantom averted his eyes from the intenseness that Swiss radiated, it wasn’t bad, just overwhelming.

“Hi…” Phantom murmured, stepping back from the door to let Swiss in. Swiss sauntered in easily, throwing a bag on Phantoms bed before sitting down. Phantom peered at the bag inquisitively, tilting his head as he inspected it. Swiss chuckled deeply.

“Just some gifts, bug.”

Phantom looked up at him, keeping the head tilt as his purple and white tail swished behind him.

“Why?” Phantom murmured.

Swiss smiled at him, but Phantom didn’t sense any sadness behind it.

“Because you’re new bug, and you need stuff to get settled in.” Swiss explained, rummaging through the bag and tossing out some plastic colorful bags.

“Those are candies.”

Swiss threw out a few different objects.
“These are just for your room.”

Swiss tossed a pile of cloth onto Phantoms bed.

“And I got you some new clothes! Sorry if any of it is stuff you don’t like, I don’t know what your preferences are yet.”

Phantom wagged his tail, his eyes darting between all of the stuff excitedly. He shook his head vigorously.
“I love them!”

Swiss grinned again, laying back on Phantoms bed with his arms behind his head.

“I’m gonna keep calling you bug because of your big eyes but do you mind the name Phantom? I don’t think anyone ever actually asked you what you wanted to be called.” Swiss angles his head towards Phantom, raising an eyebrow.

Phantom secretly wondered why his eyes were the thing Swiss chose to comment on but he nodded anyways.

“Phantom’s good! I don’t think that was supposed to be my name but I like it!”

Swiss chuckled at his response patting the bed next to him to signal Phantom to sit among his new gifts.

“And you don’t mind he?”

Phantom shrugged.

“I don’t really care, both they and he feel fine.”

Swiss nodded, sitting up to hand Phantom some of the clothes he brought.

“Why don’t I teach you how to use the shower? I know ghouls don’t have that in the pits.” Swiss stood and stretched, extending a hand to Phantom to help them up. Phantom pulled themself up before laughing a little. “And if I remember correctly I don’t think pure quintessence ghouls usually have a form until they’re much older?”

“Well I was just kind of energy in the pits, sure I know what stuff is because I could sense other ghouls and what they do, but i’ve never experienced it for myself until I came here!” Phantom rambled like that was the most common experience ever and Swiss nodded, right, a quintessence ghoul.

“Explains why you stink.” Swiss grinned, tugging on Phantom’s ear to tease him. Phantom grumbled half-heartedly, but he could tell Swiss was being nothing but playful.

Swiss made quick work of showing Phantom how to use the shower and how to get clean using the ministry provided soaps and shampoos, then stood outside the curtain as the Quintessence ghoul figured it out for himself.

Phantom was curious about all the different scents and a little overwhelmed by the constant stream of water over his body and especially the branching figures on his skin, but he powered through, not wanting to bother Swiss like a kit.

Swiss wrapped him in a towel when he stepped out and allowed Phantom to dry himself, the smaller ghoul shaking like a dog when he was done which made Swiss chuckle. Swiss motioned to the clothes on the counter with his tail.

“Get changed, I’ll be outside the bathroom.” He nodded before he left.

Phantom inspected the clothes, they were clearly Swiss’s based on scent. He held up one of the shirts, it had a decal on the front with a word Phantom didn’t understand and a picture of what looked to be Papa Copia at a table with a skull behind him. Phantom pulled it on over his horns, it was a little too big but comfy so he wasn’t complaining. The black sweatpants Swiss gave him suffered the same fate, but after a few tries Phantom was able to tie the string on them so they didn’t fall. His tail swished excitedly as he looked in the mirror.

Phantom walked out of the bathroom, bouncing his step a little which made Swiss smile.

“Thought you’d like those, how about you come check out the decorations I brought you bug?” Swiss motioned to the pile of miscellaneous objects and Phantom immediately started to pick each one out. There was a poster with constellations on it, what looked to be a moon lamp with different settings, a dark blue blanket, and a bat stuffed animal. Phantom took a particular liking to the last one, placing it between his pillows before sticking the poster to the wall and placing the lamp on his bedside table. Swiss watched him with a small smile, the bigger ghoul taking it upon himself to put Phantoms new clothes in his dresser and place the snacks he’d bought on top of it.

When Swiss turned back around he was startled by Phantom almost tackling him with a hug.

“Thank you Swiss! I don’t know if Mountain put you up to this but thank you so much…” Phantom looked up at him from where he was hugging with a grin.

Swiss looked at the Quintessence ghoul, his big white eyes and splotchy hair and face. He felt guilty for leaving them alone for so long, they were just a pawn like him, they didn’t ask for this. Swiss grinned and hugged Phantom back harder.

“No problem bug.”

Phantom laughed, the air being squeezed out of him.

“This is my first hug!” Phantom wagged his tail. Swiss laughed and squeezed him, lifting him off the ground about an inch and swaying him back and forth before putting him down.

“Glad to be the first, bug.”