Papa IV x(implied) Witch!reader
SUMMARY: myths have always circulated the ministry but copia only really believes in one about a witch
Warning: talk of death and dying copia being lowkey a hopeless romantic,
(Before I disappeared off the face of the earth, I really wanted to write some sort of eternal lovers/rediscovered lovers, and now, hahaha, now I have the chance! does this fit lore? No, i dont think so, but Baba booie, also if this does good, feel free to request past Papa versions of this)
Didn't have the motivation to finish this completely but New ghost song made me wanna post so
The rumors started with the very first Emtertis who led the clergy and a witch who acompinied him. Of course, it was implied that the reason for his life cycle ending was due to their relationship. He fell in love with the witch, neglecting his duties to the church for her, leading to both their executions. The witch forced to watch her lover die infront of her as she was later burned at the steak. It was speculated that before the witch died she swore to return in the next life to right the wrongs and help and guide the next papa to come. This was known as the night of the witch.
Copia had heard this story more than once through his life. It was one he found particularly amusing, even partaking in the witches ritual every year. He liked to say he didn't believe in it. However, even he knew that every now and then, some heart-felt message would slip through the cracks in the form of a song a song dedicated to one of his brothers' former "dark muse"
It started with Elizabeth inspiring his eldest brother through opus and upon his passing she was over come with grief and passed along side him. No one really knew her, where she came from or when her and Primo got together.
When Secondo rose to power, he met his, he kept their relationship more private it was rumored amongst the ghouls at the time that not only was she Elizabeth back from the dead to be reunited with an emeritus.but Zombie Queen was about her. In the end, they met the same fate as the two before them.
And of course, it was no secret that Terzo was a ladies' man, to say the least. But when he met cirice, things were different. The rumors were still prevalent she was the reincarnate of the last here to help spread the message and inspire terzo. Of course, like Primo. There was no denying it when Cirice was written who it was for. She passed before terzos...unfortunate passing.
There was no denying each woman's feeling for each papa, and no doubt the feeling was returned. In copias mind, it was clear the night of the witch wasn't just a silly myth. It was no coincidence that his three formers would all happen to meet a beautiful woman who helped him through his life cycle.
The myth did end up growing a few years before primos rule. It grew into a holiday of sorts where everyone would come together in the ballroom in a masquerade style party. The night was mainly an excuse to gourge yourself on wine and food and to dance your cares away. For some, it was an excuse to try and make a pass at the current papa. By playing into the myth by claiming they were the witch. The night ended, usually with a senseless ritual said to "raise the dead".
Copia did actually enjoy the festivities for those exact reasons and would offten find hinself wondering if maybe he'd get a muse now that he was Papa, the ministry could be lonely, and he wondered what it was like to have the company of someone else. He wanted to feel what it was like to love someone so much that they inspired music within you, even if it was for a short time before his time passed.
As the night approached, he felt an eerie air surrounding him. He tossed and turned at night, and when he was awake and walking through the ministry, he felt eyes on him
"I've been having these dreams." Copia opened up to sister imperator in the ball room just before their patrons arrived for the festivities She hummed in response as he followed her through the large room, checking over everything, making sure it was adequate. "Of a woman... they feel like memories... I can't quite make her out, but I can feel her presence. I can see...her eyes they're familiar, they know me." Copia said.
"Cardi..your just letting the day get to you." She said, waving his woes off.
"Cardi, relax it's was just a dream, now let's get ready guests will be arriving soon."
A storm brewed outside lighting stuck lighting up the room as he left to get himself ready.
It was a perfect night to raise the dead.
Guests arrived in varying costumes and masks, arms full of gifts and offerings they would throw into a large pile. Usually, the ghouls would go through it at the end of the night, taking whatever treasures their heart desired.
Lightning stuck outside, and the rain began to pour down hard the people inside laughing carelessly with each other, unaware of the outside world.
All while in the grave yard just outside the earth moved split as a hand pushed through the soil, reaching around aimlessly, attempting to gain its baring to lift the body it was attached to out of the ground.
Your body snapped and cracked into place as you pushed the dirt from off of you and, as you clawed at the growned, pulling yourself up from the damp soil. Your head swelled as you rose to your feet. You couldn't grasp a single, though. Not of who you were or where. Your head was filled with fog and hushed whispering voices chattering about something you couldn't make out. If you could think straight or even at all, you'd assumed you'd been dead for years.
You look up through the gaps in the trees above you at the full moon, peeking out from the storm clouds as the rain came down on your face washing the dirt from your dress and skin.you closed your eyes at the rain hit you Breathing in the night air.
Despite all this, you knew one thing.
You where hunting for something.
You couldn't pull who from the tangle mess in your brain, but you knew you'd know for certain when you found them your heart ached for them.Your feet walked with a mind of their own as you seemingly aimlessly wandered out of the graveyard to the ministry that stood tall the tip of it peeking through the trees. It called to you.
Copia found himself bored at the event, his thoughts wondering to his dreams. Even as patrons of the church came to engage in conversation with him, he couldn't focus on it. He was haunted by the dream all night. He nodded thoughtless as a sister of sin confessed something to him that he couldn't focus on when he noticed the lights flickering as new body step into the room.
You found a sense of relief and familiarity wash over you as you stepped into the ministry the ballroom alive and well with church patrons a sight you remembered well as you scanned the room finding a pile of offering laid in a neat pile across the room from where you stood above it a picture of you with a face you hadn't owned in years.
Your eyes scanned the room in awe, white nightgown making you glow in the sea of dark clothed parties goer. Copias eyes locked onto you. You were like a spirit that had wondered in. Your eyes finally landed on him, tilting your head in curiosity at him. He brushed off the girl talking to him, staring at you he felt drawn to you like his feet had a mind of their own.
A couple tried to escape the crowd, cut in front of him as they passed he realized you were gone from the spot where you were in. He spotted you again, ducking between people. Your eyes never seeming to leave his.
You were toying with him in a game of cat and mouse. He found him self giddy with anticipation spinning around the room trying to find you The two of you engaged in your own dance around eachother through the crowd as he tried to reach you only for you to be pulled away unexpectedly He stopped when you seemed to vanish into thin air.
"Do I look like your girlfriend?" You voice startling him from behind. A slight giggle present after he jumped.
"Eh no no...sorry! you just seem so familiar." He said embarrassed as you seemed to circle him his body following you, entranced by you.
"I don't look like a ghost, do I?" You asked, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. "Si..." He said, shaking his head and realizing what he said. "I mean No!"
You laughed a low, cool tone. "Care to dance?" You extended a hand to him. His hand slid into yours without a second thought. Even through his gloves, he could feel how cold your hands were. You pulled him into the crowd of people. He was completely bewitched by you as you led the dance. "Who..are you again?..I feel as if we've met before."
"You don't know yet?" You tilted your head, your hand sliding from his shoulder to the nape of his neck playing with his hair. Your eyes slid up to meet his."After all this is my party." It was the first time he'd gotten a really good look at your eyes.
His eyes widened with realization.
"I've been dreaming of you.I feel like I've known you my whole life."
"In a sense you have, I've known you a very long time,.. I know you very well, copia...I've waited so long to get to you.." You said whispering so only he could hear as you reached up to brush some of his hair away. He felt his heart leap into his throat, and it began to pound loudly it was the only sound he could hear besides your voice.
"Are you really real?" He asked he still couldn't wrap his head around the stories being true and you still seemed like a ghost to him.
You nodded slowly. "I'm here for you, copia." You leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "See, I'm real." His lips tingled. It was like he was like he was floating as you pulled him from the noise filled room into the hall. "We have much to discuss my dear."
