I am once again here to share enderman quint ghoul thoughts.
I've spoken about them teleporting around, skimmed around the eye contact bit, but never mentioned their thoughts on water. The reaction honestly depends on the ghoul. Aether is relatively ok with it unless it surprises him, like if it starts raining unexpectedly, he'll freak. Phantom hates water, though. It's a massive sensory thing for him. To get him clean, it takes at least 2 water ghouls and some kind of distraction, like a video playing, specifically a baby sensory video. Omega tolerates water, that's all, not really a big deal for him at any point. Swiss is a multi ghoul but he can still be included because multi. He's pretty ok with water most of the time, but like Aether, if it surprises him, he loses it and becomes a lot more like phantom. The multi ghoulettes are pretty similar to Swiss with this.
For the eye contact bit, that also depends on the ghoul. Omega avoids eye contact, but he won't go all enderman on you if he has to make eye contact. Aether is alright with it. He's grown used to it from working with so many people and being pressured into making it by unknowing people. Swiss fucking loves eye contact, that fucker will stare into your soul if you give him the chance. Phantom, though, he hates it. It's distressing for him. He'll panic and try to get away if you force him to make eye contact. It's intimidating. It feels too personal, he feels judged, like they're witnessing his soul, so he panics. Sunshine, once again similar to Swiss, loves eye contact. She loves eyes, and she'd probably steal eyes if it was socially acceptable. Aurora is a more tame version of phantom with eye contact, she hates it, so much but she'll try to stay calm and remove herself from the situation but if she can't then she'll lose it and freak.
Enderman take blocks something, quint ghouls aren't much different there. You can't really take blocks like an enderman irl, so they pinch small objects, usually nothing that would seriously inconvenience someone. Usually, it's a pen or a rock they find on the ground, sometimes it's a discarded phone, it'll get back to its owner eventually. Everyone learnt the hard way not to leave important things around in case a quint ghoul finds it and pinches it. They don't usually realise they've taken anything, though. It's totally subconscious. They don't typically realise till either someone points it out or they get back to their room and empty their pockets.
Hiiii!! I love all of your fics, especially the way you write Swiss 😌😌😌
If you want to, could I ask for some fluffy Swiss content, just literally anything where he gets some kind of comfort lols!
Hell yeah, fluffy Swiss content. This does have a little bit of my personal lore for him that he doesn't go by Swiss until most of the way through his first tour, but that gets resolved fairly quickly.
About 1.4k of Aether and Mountain putting together Swiss's first summoning day present.
divider by @ghuleh-recs <3
The new multi-ghoul isn't as slick as he thinks he is, Aether notes. He sees the way his eyes trail when they pass by the jewelry stores on the off days spent exploring. How he locks on longingly at the delicate gold earrings and cuffs, shakes his head and moves on.
Aether pulls Mountain aside halfway through the tour, the Cardinal discussing something animatedly with the multi-ghoul.
"Do you see it, Mount?" Aether says, voice not quite a whisper. Mountain hums as he glances up from his book, shifting in his seat next to him. "Multi keeps looking like he wants them, but he never gets any."
"Right. He's not adorned, though I've seen he has the piercings for it," the earth ghoul says. He nudges one of his antlers against Aether's pronged horn. "I mean, Frit's pierced six ways to Sunday and he wears a couple rings in his braid. And if he came through a fire portal and survived, Multi might be the same way. Might be a fire ghoul thing."
"Wonder what happened to his jewelry, then," Aether says, not glancing up. From where he's talking to the Cardinal, he looks back at the two of them, gold eyes glinting. "He'd look good in it. Gold would be a good color on him."
Mountain agrees with a low hum. "I will keep it in mind. You want me to get the others involved?"
"Ooh, good idea. Keep it on the down low, though. I don't know how Multi'll react if we just. Spring this on him, you know?"
"Absolutely," Mountain agrees, turning a page with a rustle.
They spread the message to the others, Cirrus and Cumulus turning to each other with delighted grins, Rain and Dew nodding at each other, determined. It's slow going as to not arouse suspicion, but one by one, each ghoul slips aside to buy jewelry, various charms and rings, all in gold.
During that time, the multi-ghoul comes to the rest of the pack, a little skittish and completely out of character. "Figured it out," he breathes, scuffing his spat-covered shoe against the carpet of a green room in some venue. "I heard some of the humans calling me something and I want it to be mine. My name's Swiss."
Aether grins, grabs his shoulder kindly. "It's very nice to meet you, Swiss. Welcome to the pack again."
Swiss smiles, that blinding thing that has the full force of the sun behind it. The tour gets easier, now that he's coming into himself, exponentially more confident Up Top. But he still stares longingly when he thinks the rest of the ghouls aren't looking. Aether and Mountain share a knowing glance, knocking their shoulders together.
The tour ends a few days from the first anniversary of Swiss's summoning. Aether slips into each ghoul's room, cautiously collecting each offering. But even with his caution, the Cardinal pulls him aside.
"I hear you are collecting jewelry, eh?" Copia says, mismatched eyes scanning over Aether's face.
Copia nods and reaches into a pocket he didn't notice in his cassock. When he pulls his hand out, there's the glint of gold in the palm of his leather gloved-hand. "I would like to add to your collection. My own sort of welcome, si?"
Aether swallows, smiling. "Thank you, Cardinal."
"Ah, don't mention it," he grins, a little sheepishly. "Cannot have him think I am leaving him out, no?"
"Never," Aether says, reaching out to accept the earrings from him. As he gets a better look, his breath hitches at the sight of two delicately wrought gold grucifixes on French hooks, a tiny, sparkling ruby in the center of each inverted cross. "Cardinal. Thank you."
Aether makes sure he catches Swiss alone on his summoning day after dinner. Mountain's made a cake, and Dew had lit the candle in the center. The flame had glinted in his eyes, reflecting the glee there as he glanced throughout the pack, grinning.
Aether takes Swiss by the bicep as he heads out of the kitchen, Rain shooing him away from the dishes. He's gentle, knowing that Swiss is still a little bit jumpy and prone to snapping. But as it stands, Swiss just turns to face him with a question in his expression.
"We have something for you, Swiss," he says, voice low and even as he leads the multi ghoul to the common room. "The entire pack's been working on this for months, but don't feel that you have to accept it, okay?"
Swiss makes a questioning noise in the back of his throat as he lets himself be led by the bigger ghoul. Aether sits them both on one of the loveseats, opening the drawer on the end table and pulling out a package wrapped in tissue paper. He hands it to Swiss.
"For me?"
"Yes," Aether says. "We all pitched in for a summoning day gift."
Swiss takes a deep breath, trying to subtly rub his eye before he starts to unwrap it. The gold glints in his lap, and he covers his mouth with a big hand as he takes it in. "You- you got me-?" He can't finish his sentence.
Aether carefully sets his hand between Swiss's shoulderblades. "We noticed your piercings, and how you didn't wear any jewelry in them. The fire ghoul who used to be in our pack, Ifrit, wore a lot in the Prince's name. And since we know you came through a fire portal, we thought you might like some adornment."
"I- I'm not-" Swiss looks up, and Aether feels a horrified pit sink into his stomach at the distraught look on his face. His gold eyes are wet and red-rimmed. "I haven't- I haven't worn adornment for Him in- since my-" He cuts himself off, and Aether knows better than to push.
"You don't have to for our sake, though," Aether assures.
"No!" Swiss says, a little louder than he must mean, because he shrinks back a little bit. "I mean. I want to. Makes me a part of the pack officially. And if I'm serving Him, I may as well look it."
Aether smiles kindly, hand rubbing a small circle over his spine. "May I?" Aether asks, reaching for the pile of jewelry in his lap. Swiss nods and passes it over before sliding off of the loveseat. He sits himself between Aether's spread thighs.
He winds a cuff decorated like sprawling leaves and vines around one of his locs, threads a golden cloud charm through the end of another. A pair of studs shaped like suns go through a set of piercings in his cartilage, and the teardrop shaped ones go through the holes next to them. Aether shows him each piece, letting him decide if and where he wants it. Slowly, Aether adorns him with every piece of jewelry the pack had squirreled away, hoops and studs and dangling charms in elemental symbols and sigils, all glinting gold against his warm gray skin and dark hair.
All that's left are the grucifixes, and Aether gently shows them to Swiss, the inset rubies glinting in the warm lamplight. There's a long silence, and Aether worries that he might have offended him in some way.
"Yes," Swiss breathes. He tenses a moment before craning his neck to look up at Aether over his shoulder. "Actually, will you let me put them in?"
"Of course." He carefully puts the earrings into Swiss's palm. Aether pretends he can't hear as Swiss starts to whisper to himself as he threads each earring into the lowest piercing on each lobe. Tone quiet, reverent. His own soft prayer to the Prince Below.
It takes a moment, but Swiss eventually takes a deep breath and looks up. "Show me what it looks like?" he asks hopefully.
Aether stands and pulls Swiss to his feet. The two of them head to one of their bathrooms, and Swiss grins in the mirror over the sink. Aether's only known him for a year, and this is the first time he's seen him wearing jewelry, but he knows.
Aether smiles back at him. Swiss looks more like himself than he ever has.
Phantom: I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack, and I brought you something.
Copia: Oh cool, that's so swe- Phantom what is this?
Phantom: A baby duck!
Copia: I hope you don't mind me asking but WHY DID YOU BRING A BABY DUCK????
Phantom: I told you I was going to the store and when I asked you what you wanted you said surprise me.
Copia: ...
Phantom, beaming: Are you surprised???
Tags: AU; Cowboy!Swiss x Barmaid!Mountain, Transfeminine Mountain, Fluff, Look Into the Future, Happy Ending
Once a year, they pack their bags, visit different places, sleep cuddled up together under the night sky or in a falling-apart cabin in the woods. Every year it’s different, they always end up wherever their feet—or rather their horses’ hooves—have carried them.
Playlist here. / Chapter 1 here or on AO3.
Read chapter 15 under the cut or on AO3.
Swiss and Mounty have been living together as a married couple for a few years. Their happiness never fades; when they argue, they make up in a matter of minutes. They made a promise to each other to never leave anything unsaid.
Swiss works with Dewdrop now, helping the man with things that used to cause him to overdo it; Rain and Phantom are eternally grateful for that. Dewdrop is, too, even though he isn’t one to admit having needed that help. Swiss is as happy as ever, being able to spend so much time with horses, side by side with one of his friends.
Mounty and Swiss have routines, both content finally being able to just live, without worrying about…anything, really. Once a year, they pack their bags, hop up on Monty and Taika and spend two weeks on the road. They visit Swiss’ old hometown, then.
Sunshine’s grave.
When they get back in the saddle after a few hours of something that never gets easier for the man, they don’t head back straight to Sundown. They visit different places, sleep cuddled up together under the night sky or in a falling-apart cabin in the woods. Every year it’s different and they look forward to their annual journeys for months; planning, but not really. After all, they always end up wherever their feet—or rather their horses’ hooves—have carried them.
Their life is beautiful.
Yet another day they wake up tangled in each other’s arms as the first rays of a morning sun shine through the curtains to bathe their room in light. They stretch and kiss and murmur sweet words and hold onto each other some more before they, inevitably, have to get up and ready for the day. They get dressed—stealing some more kisses whenever they can—and soon enough end up down in the saloon eating breakfast together.
“I’m going to pick up your gift from Cumulus later,” Mounty announces. Swiss nearly forgot about the dress he commissioned the tailoress to make for his wife. It’s been a while, but Cumulus’ works are worth any and all amounts of both money and time.
“Oh, is that so?” Swiss smirks, unable to keep his mind from conjuring up an image of Mounty in the dress, of how gorgeous she’ll look. “You gonna wear it for me tonight, sweetheart?”
“We’ll see,” she bats her eyelashes at the man; the image of innocence, even though they both very well know it’ll take no more than one sway of her hips in it to get the cowboy worked up. Or a neckline set strategically low.
“A tease, that one,” Swiss mutters to himself, shaking his head as Mounty giggles and returns to her breakfast. Both their plates are clean in no time and the man is kissing his wife one last time before he leaves for work. “I love you, girl.”
“I love you, too, cowboy,” she whispers into his mouth and only then lets him leave.
It’s a few hours before Mounty can leave the saloon herself and go pick her dress up and her excitement only makes it feel longer. The moment the clock strikes five, she’s all but running out of the door to barge through the one of Cumulus’ workshop.
“Hi!” she calls out and the tailoress appears two seconds later.
“I see you’re looking forward to slipping into your new dress, aren’t you?” she teases.
“Sorry, I’m just–you know,” Mounty waves her hands around as if it’s supposed to clear things up for the other woman, “I like…I just like feeling pretty.”
“My dear, you are pretty,” Cumulus pokes her chest with a manicured finger. “You don’t need no fancy clothes for that!”
Mounty can only blush and look down onto the floor. The other woman giggles, “But, when your man offers to get you some, never decline.”
It’s the barmaid’s turn to laugh as Cumulus leaves to fetch the dress. Mounty gasps once she drops it in her lap.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Mounty whispers as she fawns over the softness of the fabric in her hands.
“Thank me later,” the tailoress chuckles, “go try it on, girl!”
The barmaid sends her one more thankful smile before taking off. She runs back to her place, unable to change fast enough. The dress is beautiful, Cumulus really outdid herself this time. Well, maybe Mounty’s wedding dress could be considered a bigger achievement, but this one is a close second.
Mounty gasps once she’s fully dressed and looks at herself in the mirror.
The dress is double-layered. The first one starts on the top with a pearly white linen undershirt—short fluffy sleeves that rest low on her arms, leaving her shoulders bare—and goes down to Mounty’s ankles, making a beautifully embroidered hem dance around her feet. The corset of the dress—with golden lace on the front—looks solid, but it’s exceptionally soft. It’s light green with colorful flowers embroidered all over. The top layer of the skirt part is dark red, nearly burnt umber; it’s pleated and the pleats are crowded, but it’s not heavy. Quite the opposite, actually, it’s so light it makes the barmaid want to do nothing but jump and twirl around just to watch it spin.
All the shades of green and bright and dark red that dominate the dress make everything that’s beautiful about Mounty pop. It works perfectly with her eyes, hair and complexion, Cumulus really is an artist. She wonders how much of the concept was Swiss, though. Maybe it’s him that’s a secret fashion genius.
After a while of simply checking out the dress’ every single detail, Mounty smooths it down and leaves for the saloon. She’s careful around the bar, not wanting to risk dirtying her new dress; she only wipes random shelves with a dry piece of cloth, moving some glasses and bottles around only to busy herself as she waits for her husband to return.
Soon enough the batwing doors of the bar open with a squeal and Swiss walks in. A huge grin grows on his face the moment he lays his eyes on his breathtaking wife.
“Anything to drink for you?” Mounty asks, smiling at the man with nothing but adoration in her eyes. He simply stares at her, still in denial of how lucky he got.
“Well, ain’t ya a pretty thing?”
–––––––The End.–––––––
And...here it is. Swiss and Mounty's wedding was a definite end of the cowboy's old life and all the chaos and pain. He's been through so much that living all boring and slow with his wife for all the years to come is exactly what he wants, and Mounty's happy to give him just that.
I hope you enjoyed, thank you for all the nice words and support you've shown me and this story along the way. Special thanks to @jazz-bazz whose commission started it all, Sundown wouldn't have happened without you <3
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