#copia angst

[helloitsmaplesyrup]

Hi

How do you think Copia felt watching them load up the tour busses without him? Do you think he felt the same way he did back when he was newly a Cardinal, that he didn’t belong and wasn’t good enough to be on stage.

Do you think he watched as they loaded Sister Imperators glass coffin into the bus or do you think he had to look away.

[twistedandcruel]

Do you ever think about Nihil forgetting Copia's name and calling him Quarto, or are you normal?

[miriena]

If we're sticking with the twin theory: Since new Papa looks younger, does that mean Copia isn't as old as we think and stress literally aged him :(

[fandom-heartrender]

Do you think copia enjoys being Frater Imperator?

Frater Imperator Headcannon

No. He misses the spotlight and his ghouls, he’s overjoyed to be alive and not like his brothers but he still doesn’t like it. He is still being controlled by Imperator and as much as he loves his mamma he is frustrated that no one trusts him or lets him in on plans. Some of his ghouls where sent back down to the ghoul pit and the others tour in the band so he rarely sees them, he outranks all his former friends so he feels more alone than he ever did as papa or cardinal. The only part he likes is that his new room has a door and space for a massive rat cage.

[portaltothevoid]

hypothetically….

what if… there was an enemies to lovers, slow burn, mafia au fic… the ghafia, if you will… starring (dark) copia… what if i discovered the canon fact of copia having a gun… and i took that and ran.

and, hypothetically of course, there was an OC named arianna diodati who’s copia’s (very catholic) rival’s daughter… and he uses her as a bargaining chip to get what he wants…

and, also hypothetically, he becomes hellbent on corrupting her catholic ways….

then what if i told you… this was coming soon, very soon and there’s a teaser below the cut… 👀

and…. maybe…. chapters 1 & 2 of “God Called In Sick Today” can be found right here

trigger warnings for series include (but won’t be limited to): angst, abusive relationship, violence, gun use, kidnapping, blood, religious trauma, corruption kink, eventual smut, enemies to lovers, slow burn, dark romance

~~~~~~

Arianna never liked the Emeritus family. In fact, she borderline hated them with their menacingly painted faces and blasphemous way of life. She never quite understood how they rose to rival that of her family. Perhaps they really did make a deal with the devil.

“I’m going to grab a drink,” she said quietly. Alessio just waved her off, her father already in a passionate discussion regarding something she could care less about.

She made her way to the bar, getting the attention of one of the bartenders. “Your usual, Ms. Diodati?”

“Yes, please,” she smiled.

It wasn’t long until she felt a pair of eyes on her from the other end of the bar. She looked up to see Copia, the ringleader of the Satanic circus, staring her down like a hunter watching its prey. It sent a shiver down her spine, but all he saw was the scowl that encapsulated her face. That only made him smirk at her.

She rolled her eyes in disgust, looking away from him. Out of the corner of her eye, though, when she knew his attention was back on someone that wasn’t her, she couldn’t help herself from taking in his appearance. She hated to admit, he looked… elegant. His burgundy pants were impossibly tight in all the right ways. It pained her to acknowledge the way they perfectly hugged his thighs. He had foregone his suit jacket, leaving just his matching burgundy vest and black dress shirt and tie. His sleeves were rolled up and she could see his muscles flex as he grabbed his drink.

Her eyes lingered for a few seconds too long. This time, he caught her watching him. His mouth curled up again into a sly half-smile as he took a drink. His dichromatic eyes never left her. The instant her drink hit the counter, she brought it to her lips and weaved her way through everyone back to Alessio in hopes of putting distance between her and whatever exchange had just taken place.

~~~~~~

thoughts? if this sounds like something you’d want to dive into… let me know in a comment you want to be added to the tag list!

[the-did-i-ask]

Misinterpreted Ritual

Papa Emeritus IV (Copia) x Ghoul reader

A/N: Thanks to @earthry for the amazing Idea!!!! Also, let it be known this has no real tie to any real form of satanism or pagan religions, this is a fan fic for characters from a band!

Warnings: ANGSTTTTTT, unrequited love, mild violence, language, google translated Italian, there is a little hint of NSFW in here but no real descriptions of body just a noise! So like 16+ for a rating

~~

Ghouls were not that different from humans. After all you used to be them. But there are always some key differences between the two. First and most notably is that all ghouls are connected to one or more elements. Because of their death and their personality, the difference in elements can vary based on ghoul to ghoul. No one truly knows why this is, but it has been widely accepted through out history and research. Secondly, physically they’re stronger, faster and more durable, and mentally they’re more in tuned to everything going on around them, no matter what. Many believe this is because they have seen the great beyond and are now more advanced than what the human mind can comprehend. And Third, Ghouls become attached very, very easily. 

You were the newest one to be summoned to the Ministry. Your horns were average height, and the morphed into a dark mossy green on the tips, signaling your deeper connection with the earth. Your fangs were smaller, showing your lack of maturity in the ranks, and you tail wasn’t fully developed, but in time that would change, and you would gain your respect amongst your people in the ministry. You were not allowed to see who summoned you, for they did not want a bond formed. It could be dangerous not only to you, but to the person who was being bonded with. So you were quickly blindfolded and brought to the den of the ghouls. 

As you were slowly accepted into the pack of Ghouls, you were treated fairly. Now that doesn’t mean gently, but fairly. The Ghouls did not care about gender or height or sexuality. If you were a ghoul, that is what you were, and nothing would change that. So as you started to develop you music talents as well as your physical attributes, you were let out into the ministry more and more. The fear of you bonding with a human became less and less likely as you matured more and more around the ghouls. And finally, one day as you were walking around the Abbey, you met the infamous Papa Emeritus the Fourth, or Popia as the ghouls liked to call him. 

When he saw you, he immediately walked over to you, his multi colored eyes shown with kindness as he opened both arms to you in a hug. 

“Why hello there!” He said, his accent making you quirk into a smile. He sounded funny, but not in a way someone would make fun of him for it, but just in an interesting sort of way. 

“Hello!” You weren’t yet accustomed to the way humans interacted, but it all felt mildly familiar. A smile, a greeting, and a friendly gesture. This all seemed to be going well. You had been told that he was the one who had summoned you, just like all the Papa’s before had summoned Ghouls. So meeting him like he had met all the others didn’t seem like it was that special, that big of a deal, until he touched your horns. 

He ran his gloved hands along their ridges, feeling all the way up to the tip, making you shiver. 

“I have never seen such intricate designs piccolo demone!” He said, pushing his thumb slowly against the base of your horns. All you could do was nod, afraid that if you opened your mouth a whimper would spill out. You didn’t know that your Papa was so affectionate. Only the other Ghouls did this to each other, a sign of affection, a sign of love, of a bond. 

He pulled his hands away, grasping them upon your shoulders, and giving you a smile, before bidding farewell and heading off on his way. But not before he said,

“If you should need anything, I will be in my office, ready to assist.” And with that he walked away. You let in a sharp inhale. An invitation. To you alone. You were doing the one thing you shouldn’t have. Bonding. 

~~~~~~~

Through the next few weeks you would visit Copia once or twice a week, and every time, he would happily talk with you. You would chat for hours, or sometimes you would just sit on his office couch and read, curled up like a cat. Copia would look over every once in awhile and smile at you, making you blush a bit. He would chuckle at the sight, but return to his work. 

When you had to practice in the music room, he would make sure to check in with you, make sure that you were adjusting nicely, and compliment your voice and musical skill. You would always nod and thank him, before turning around to hide your blush. 

Copia of course didn’t know what he was doing. You were just like another ghoul to him. Sure he was a bit more touchy with you, but you seemed to like the affection and the attention, so he gladly gave it. He didn’t mind giving it as he also liked affection. To him, when he would touch your horns, it was a sign of friendship, off innocent interest in another species, of fun. But to you, oh you were swooning more and more everyday. 

The other ghouls were starting to see it as well. The way you began to reject their affection, their touch, their innocent attempts to re-establish a bond between you and the pack. But you began to reject it. No longer coming to their after concert “Rituals”, or to cuddle piles. Instead you looked as if you were... saving yourself for someone. This worried them. A ghoul was not supposed to bond with anyone outside the pack, nor did any of them really want to. Humans could be cruel, vile, touchy things. Ghouls understood each other, so why would you be bonding with someone else? 

~~~~~~~~

After about six months, you decided that now was the time. You had fully bonded with Copia, now all that was left was for him to say it, for him to accept you as his. You were nervous, but you knew he loved you. After all, he imprinted on you. He touched your horns, invited you to his personal quarters, shared with you his desires in life. You had laid you feeling out in the open and he accepted them with open arms. You were ready for this and you didn’t care what anyone else said. 

So, walking to his office, and knocking you fully expected to be let in as you always were. What you were not expecting was to hear, a woman moaning from behind the door, moaning for your Copia, and he was answering her pleas. 

Your heart began to rapidly beat, you could hear it in your ears as you cheeks became wet from tears. Your head was going fuzzy as your throat closed up. You couldn’t breath. You weren’t dying but it felt like your heart was being ripped out of your chest and being stomped on as you heard the woman from inside the room grow louder. You could barely stand, so how you made it away to the den was beyond you. 

You slammed the door behind you, and as the ghouls surrounded you, protecting you from the outside world, you knew only one thing. 

The Ghouls were right. Humans are vile, cruel, vessels of lies. Who use you to gain the sense of power, and then throw you away like garbage one they’ve reached the threshold of their limits. They paid no mind to anyone but themselves, and as you shook with sobs, and as the other ghouls huddled around you in comfort, you vowed never to trust a human ever again.

[bloodyyconverse]

So like I personally believe Copia was horrified that his brothers died and he didn't want any part of it, nor was he approached about it, but like I've been considering the interpretation of the magazine photo where Copia himself beheaded Terzo.

(For context, Imperator is a full antagonist in our timeline because we love a spiteful bitch)

Copia has to do it and he's looking at his big brother, his closest friend, kneeling there before him and he feels the blade in his hands and he keeps making eye contact with Terzo and he can't.

If he does, he wakes up every single night in a cold sweat, if not just fucking screaming. Once during a ritual, years down the line, he can feel the warm blood soaking his sleeves and he almost passes out on stage. The ghouls recognize that distant look, the way his voice starts shaking and he glances toward his water and quintessence ghouls in a silent plea through cloudy eyes. It was in the middle of Mummy Dust this time. He could smell Terzo's blood again.

If he doesn't, he is intensely scolded by Imperator and she kills Terzo herself. She never lets C live it down, and he still has to live with the visual and the nightmares.

He can't ever get over Terzo quietly muttering that it isnt your fault, Copia, I dont blame you, you're not a bad person, we love you, Cardinal, I'm so sorry, as if he werent the one on death's doorstep.

Rain has found Copia sobbing at 2 am before because he dreamt of Terzo comforting him again.

[whenthehammerissquare]

Thinking about how all Copia wanted as a Cardinal was to be respected. He told himself that if he was in power, he wouldn't let others be belittled for their eccentricities and encourage everyone to be as genuine as possible. Even after he became Terzo's replacement, he stayed true to himself, hoping this would be the first step to reforming that harmful mindset. But as Nihil's health declined and Sister Imperator insinuated that he could be the next to ascend to papacy, Copia changed little bits about himself to be a more desirable candidate. He wanted that power to do good and figured a little bit of change wouldn't hurt if that meant he could help others.

After he became Papa, however, the pressure of adhering to the precedent his predecessors set was far more powerful than he could have imagined. Primo had and unmatched pious devotion to the Clergy and the Ghost project in general. Secondo had an intimidating stage presence that could suck the air out of the room with a single glance. Terzo was an expert at engaging the crowd, drawing in an audience like no Papa ever had before. Copia felt as if he was lacking. Many saw him as a great performer, yes, but under qualified, with no niche other than being the "weird" one. He was the first Papa to not be of the Emeritus bloodline, according to Nihil anyway. Nearly everyone else knew that Copia was a bastard. A son whose father never accepted him, because doing so would mean accepting his failures as a partner. Once Nihil was dead, however, Copia (endorsed by Sister, of course) had no issue airing out Nihil's dirty laundry. He embraced being an Emeritus, but as he did so, he felt aspects of himself fall away.

A new name. A new wardrobe. A new face.

What happened to the Cardinal? What happened to the self-made man who managed to ascend the ranks of the Ministry without any blood ties? What happened to the man that could prove that even someone as awkward as he was could have a measure of authority? Was he even himself anymore? Was this new power he wielded making him forget why he even wanted it in the first place? Was his goal of acceptance being consumed by blind ambition?

This realization made him desperately cling to anything that connected him to his past. Juice boxes. Video games. Tricycle rides around the Ministry. Anything he could do that would have gotten him criticized for being childish. He was still the same Copia, right?