This Has ANGST! Only Slight But It's There!

I wanted to go a bit deeper into both the fact Dew WAS a water ghoul and that Copia is part of their pack.

This has ANGST! Only slight but it's there!

CW for a brief mention of blood

Dew was never really close to his first Papa, Terzo.

So-- seeing the others be heartbroken, distraught, ruined by the fact Terzo is gone was a foreign feeling for him. He couldn't help his pack-- what was left at least-- recover or relate to their pain.

He essentially decided to cast himself away from both Aether and Mountain for a while. At least until they felt ready to interact with him-- because they understood he didn't quite understand their feelings about the whole thing.

That was years ago now.

The clergy needed a new front man. A new voice. A new face.

A new Papa.

When Dew first met Copia. He saw him as this nerdy, awkward, clumsy, weirdo who tried too hard to fit in with everyone in the ministry and make Sister proud.

He didn't trust the new Papa. Thought for sure he'd sink this ship as quickly as it took off from its damaged docks.

Copia, however.. showed interest in the spicy fire ghoul.

He had heard of the painful transition the ghoul went through. How it had thrown him to the wolves. How it had made him change so fast he got whiplash.

Copia couldn't help but relate to that.

So when one night he heard quiet whimpers and growls in the practice room. He recognized them immediately as Dews.

He remembers opening the door slowly and quietly. Remembers seeing Dew on his knees, his guitar on the floor in front of him. Spots of blood smeared on the white face of it.

Dew had gotten frustrated. Felt like he couldn't do anything right. Like his ship was sinking and he'd be sent back to the pit because he couldn't control his element right still, he couldn't control himself right.

He couldn't do anything right.

Dew never noticed the satanic Pope walking over to him. Barely noticed when he had knelt down and sat by Dews side.

He did notice when Copia wrapped his arms around him. In a warm, strong embrace.

That was the first time Dew let his walls down around the man.

It would not be his last.