With Ifrit retiring to do solely Ministry work, combined with the summoning of a new water ghoul, Dewdrop knew he'd need to step up into Ifrit's old role. He just wasn't anticipating how much the element change would hurt. Not even just physically, though the pains of the ritual itself were beyond horrific, but mentally.
The ghoul didn't recognize himself whatsoever. His muted gray-blue skin had lightened to a pale color, his long, dark hair shifting to blond. His eyes, previously a deep, calm cerulean much like his old element, were now an intense crimson. His gills had closed, reduced to nothing but dark scars raked across each side of his neck. He felt like a stranger, staring at the reflection of this chaotic, rough fire ghoul that was so far removed from who he used to be.
Dew missed the water, every utterance of his name - Dewdrop - being a stark reminder that his element was torn from him for the sake of the band. The lake behind the Ministry no longer felt the same. No sense of connection, of home, of peace washed over him when he gazed at it anymore. The ghoul was hit with an odd sense of isolation, unable to bring himself to go any further than ankle-deep in the slow, gentle waves of the water.
His new abilities were a struggle. His manipulation of fire came with a heightened temper, a new tendency to snap at the other ghouls that was somewhat unique to the element. His anger at his element change often manifested in his powers, sparks flying from his fingertips when he lost his temper.
Fire was so much harder to control than he had ever imagined, nothing like the calm, harmonious connection he felt whenever he worked with the water, its power flowing through him like a calm stream. Fire was unpredictable, chaotic, prone to getting out of hand if not kept under tight control. Most other fire ghouls had mastered it, working in tandem with their fire. Dewdrop looked at them in pure shame, envious of their seemingly effortless control over their element. They had a whole lifetime to understand fire, Dew only given a few days.
The worst part was the reactions of the other ghouls. He felt his chest being torn apart every time he saw the slightest flash of fear in his bandmates' eyes, startled only for a moment when Dew's anger led to small flames lapping at his hands. Like they thought he'd hurt them. As if they were scared of him.
Dewdrop felt like a monster in every sense of the word.
Mountain making breakfast in the morning and he didn’t bother putting a shirt on and that little bit of tummy hanging over the waistband of his pajama pants and and and
Thinking about Mountain feeling the shifting of the seasons better than anyone else in the Ministry. Being an earth ghoul, he feels it in his core, treating nature's cycle with a type of reverence the other elements don't fully grasp. He decorates his antlers for Mabon, little dried colorful leaves strewn across the tines. He can sense the thinning of the veil in a way the others cannot as the weeks draw closer to Samhain.
Rain pelted the ornate stained glass windows of the Ministry, the halls quiet and filled with the hazy scent of incense. It was a calm and gentle afternoon in the Ministry, the muffled sound of raindrops from the storm outside adding to the tranquility.
With purpose in your steps, you headed to the stairwell leading to the ground floor of the Ministry, your hand gripping the rail as you descened the spiraling stone staircase. There was much to do, a sink full of dishes waiting for you in the Ministry's kitchen.
The afternoon's serenity didn't last long, harshly interrupted by your foot missing one of the steps. With a gasp, you frantically attempted to cling to the handrail, the act proving to be in vain as you hit the base of the stairs with a loud thump.
Dazed, you shakily hoisted yourself upwards, your banged-up knees and scraped hands weakly attempting to hold up your body. With a huff, you rose to your feet, only for your right ankle to crumple under the weight, a lighting bolt of pain shooting through your leg. As you pulled your black dress aside to expose your legs, your gaze drifted to your ankle, now beginning to swell and change to different shades of purple and blue. The throbbing pain brought tears to your eyes, choking back a sob as you shakily examined your almost certainly broken ankle. Your palms stung and knees burned, the prickling pain of the bleeding scrapes adding to your panic.
Your gaze snapped to the door of the stairwell as it creaked open, a slender figure slipping through the doorway. Dewdrop froze, one hand still on the doorknob, crimson eyes wide as he stared down at your trembling figure on the floor.
"Y/N...?" the fire ghoul softly murmured, brushing a lock of his long, blond hair out of his eyes as he knelt beside you. "Y/N, what happened...?"
You were almost too upset to speak, looking away from the blood trickling down your knees as you met Dewdrop's gaze, his likeness blurry from the tears welling up in your eyes.
"F-Fell," you managed to choke out, lip trembling as you spoke. "M-my ankle-"
At your words, Dewdrop glanced at your swelling, discolored ankle, gasping at the ghastly sight. His pointed ears lowered, tail drooping.
"Can you stand?" Dewdrop asked, his tone gentle and laced with care as his clawed hands softly squeezed your shoulders, his thumb tracing slow circles on the fabric of your dress. He let out a soft huff when you shook your head in response, hot tears spilling down your red cheeks. "...Alright. Let's get you to the infirmary."
The fire ghoul's strong arms wrapped around you, lifting you upwards. One of his hands rested gingerly on the back of your head, the other tight around you as he started down the hallways, making a beeline for the Ministry's infirmary. Your face stayed firmly buried in Dewdrop's shoulder, your body trembling and wracked with sobs as you clung to the ghoul's frame.
"Aeth?" the fire ghoul called out as he pushed the infirmary door open, frantically looking around for the quintessence ghoul. "A-Aeth, where are you-"
The tall, stocky quintessence ghoul poked his head out from behind one of the white walls of the infirmary, cocking an eyebrow when he saw Dewdrop protectively holding onto you.
"...Dew? What's up?" Aether asked, worry seeping into his tone as he took in the scene before him.
"Y/N, she- she fell- I found her at the bottom of the stairs- her ankle-" the fire ghoul began to ramble, clearly a bit frazzled. Aether exhaled slowly through his nose, resting a large hand on his shoulder.
"I'll take a look at her. It'll be alright," the quintessence ghoul murmured, his tone soft and gentle, care shining in his purple eyes as he squeezed the fire ghoul's shoulder. Dewdrop nodded, shifting a bit as he allowed Aether to take you from his arms. Aether had a very calming aura to him, his caring demeanor soothing the fire ghoul's anxiety a tad. Dewdrop let out a slow, deep breath, watching as Aether escorted you into an empty bed in the infirmary.
"Slipped on the staircase, hm?" Aether purred as he carried you, his grip on you gentle and warm, voice smooth and soothing. You let out a shaky whimper in response, nodding your head, your forehead pressed against the ghoul's broad shoulders.
The quintessence ghoul huffed as he laid you across the infirmary bed, his focus shifting to your swollen ankle. A second quintessence ghoul poked his head into the room, lankier than Aether, his hair black and shaggy. Aether lifted his head, meeting Phantom's gaze, waving the ghoul in before going back to examining your ankle. Phantom knelt at your bedside, the ghoul's claws slowly running through your hair as he examined the scrapes on your palms.
"...Dew just brought her in. He said she slipped on the stairs...definitely an ankle fracture," Aether said, beginning to fill the smaller quintessence ghoul in on the situation. Phantom nodded in response to the ghoul's words, his expression sympathetic. Phantom delicately took hold of your hand, careful not to nick the raw skin as he assessed the damage.
"Minor abrasions on her palms and knees," Phantom replied, one hand still buried in your hair, his claws moving in a slow, repetitive motion as he continued to examine you. "That ankle looks bad, though. Tell Omega we need to get it x-rayed - this might require surgery."
As if you weren't panicked enough, Phantom uttering the word "surgery" sent a wave of fear coursing through your body. Your chest tightened, your heart rate spiking as a million different scenarios raced through your mind, your brain flipping through them at lightning speed. You already didn't like the infirmary, and even the gentle demeanors of the quintessence ghouls weren't enough to soothe your fear of surgery. With wide and frightened eyes, you looked up at Phantom, silently pleading with him - to do what, exactly, you weren't sure. You just knew you were terrified.
Phantom picked up on the pure terror radiating from you almost immediately, his amethyst eyes softening.
"Aw, hey..." the quintessence ghoul began to speak, his claws still continuing the slow, steady, back-and-forth motion as they combed through your hair. "No need to worry. We'll take great care of you, alright?"
Phantom's voice was soothing and warm, as it always was, but this did little to quell your racing mind.
"B-But-"
"Shhh," Phantom cut you off, offering you a gentle smile. "It'll be okay. Take some deep breaths for me, okay? In and out..."
Your chest was rising and falling at a rapid rate as you struggled to slow your breathing. You forced an unsteady breath through your nose, holding it for a moment, before exhaling through your mouth. Phantom's smile remained on his face, his tail swaying slowly behind him as he listened to your breathing begin to calm.
"That's better," Phantom said, a low purr beginning to rumble in the ghoul's chest. "I promise we'll take care of you."
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