Moonlight

Maybe when he passes Mountain in the hall, he stops him for a moment to stand up on his tiptoes and nuzzle up under his jaw. When he's in the library with Cirrus, he kicks his feet up in her lap while she's reading and can't properly cuddle. At mass, he holds Swiss' hand and twines their tails together while he closes his eyes and listens raptly to Papa preach.

What I (and my bestie!!!) think he likes best though is when he can listen to someone's heartbeat. Oh, how he loves to sprawl out on top of his beloved packmates, an ear pressed to a chest. The deep, resonant sound of their hearts pumping, the whooshing and rushing of blood... It soothes him like nothing else.

Maybe after his transition to fire he gets especially addicted to hearing his pack's hearts. He can't dive as deep or for as long as he could before, and snuggling up to someone's chest reminds him of being underwater... and it's so much warmer and cuddlier to hold his packmates than to hold his breath in the lake.

Swiss: Hearing -

He can hear through most walls.

He’s sensitive to loud noises but can listen to his packmates purring all day.

Music is a big part of his personality and no genre is off limits.

Mountain: Touch -

He’s obviously very grounded to the earth.

Rarely wears shoes but when he has to, the soles are the thinnest he can find.

Loves sandals.

He’s always in contact with one of his packmates and hates when he has to sleep alone.

Rain: Sight -

He’s been known to watch the bats up in the bell tower for hours. Just lying on his back, observing them come and go.

He has exceptional sight in and out of the water.

He gets mesmerized by his lover’s slightest movement and fixates on things no one else seems to notice.

Phantom: Taste -

He’s very sensitive to food texture and taste.

Was a picky eater when he first joined the pack but now he’ll put almost anything in his mouth.

If he likes something it’s a struggle to get him to eat anything else for like a week.

He made himself sick one summer when Mountain introduced him to the joys of strawberries.

He still likes them though.

Dewdrop: Smell -

Does the cat barf motion if there’s something he can’t stand.

Everyone thinks it’s hilarious but still takes pity on him.

He can smell if something is off in the fridge while it’s still closed.

He adores the winter months when woodsmoke fills the air around the Ministry.

His room is filled with scented candles and he adores the smell of fresh laundry.

He’s on anyone who’s freshly showered.

It's too big for him to wear, obviously, so Dew keeps it in his pocket. Uses it like a worry stone. But, just before it's time to start the first show, Dew realizes his uniform doesn't have pockets. It's embarassing, but he panics a little. Just a moment of overwhelm when the realization hits. Has to stop and catch his breath, swallow back the bile that rises in his throat.

Dew places that simple silver band on his vanity before he puts his helmet on, and just looking at it breaks his heart a little. The thought of leaving it behind hurts even more. Dew puts a hand on his chest, tries to center himself, and -

His necklace.

He feels it through his uniform, the press of the metal into his skin, and it feels like relief. Pulls down his balaclava so he can pull out the jewelry, and for the first time since Aether gifted it to him Dew unclasps the chain. Takes the necklace off just long enough to slide the ring on beside his pendant. He feels weirdly naked without it, hates having it off, and the second he secures it around his neck again he feels miles better.

sometimes cirrus asks mountain to help her shave. gives them a chance to spend some alone time together and catch up. slice of life & banter for a sleepy sunday.

words: 680

“Ah, there it is,” Mountain hums, running his thumb along the newly shaven patch of skin.

“There’s what?”

“Your cute little mole.”

“Oh,” Cirrus snorts, thwacking him with the end of her tail. 

Copia chasing after him in literal tears and throwing a shoe at him: Drop my baby!!

Rain: ….he’s not actually going to eat the rat is he?

Y'all ever think about Phantom being unphased by griminess when he's first summoned?

Or maybe not unphased, but he just doesn't make cleanliness a priority. Like this guy has been roaming the circles as best he can on his own, more concerned with finding food and shelter and the reluctant ally here and there than with personal hygiene.

Summoning as a general rule isn't a very tidy affair, so no one really notices that first day. Omega and Aether give him the typical, cursory wipedown to remove the worst of the summoning... goo... before bundling him up in soft, loose, flowy robes while his skin is still sensitive. And of course, when they show him where his room his, they introduce him to the baths and let him know he has the rest of the day to clean up and settle in.

Well, morning rolls around and Dew arrives to the breakfast table, ushering a very sleepy little quint along in front of him. Cirrus scolds him for so obviously waking him up before he was ready, but Phantom insists it's okay, please, I asked him to make sure I was awake for breakfast! Don't get angry at him!

And while Phantom explains that Dew stayed up late with him to help him find and organize snacks in his room, Cumulus comes to the table, yawning wide and clutching Aether's arm. She was so excited to greet Phantom and Aurora at their summonings, hugging them tight (despite the goo) and welcoming them into the fold. She's just as excited to see them at breakfast, purring and pressing a kiss into Aurora's hair first before shuffling over to do the same for Phantom.

He can't help but flinch a little as she approaches. Old habits die hard, and he immediately rushes to apologize when she stops in her tracks and frowns. But Cumulus is used to skittish ghouls - she typically accepts boundaries gracefully. No, what's caught her off guard is-

"Phantom, sweetheart, didn't Aether show you how the bath works?" Cumulus' voice is soft and warm, but she's got Aether pinned with a disappointed glare.

Phantom curls in on himself a little, squirming and wrapping his tail around his fingers. "He did... why?"

"Little bat, you've still got... goo... clumped in your hair. That can't feel very good."

And while Phantom is squirming and explaining himself, that he was focusing on getting used to his room, Cumulus starts looking him over more carefully.

She notices his claws, broken and jagged in some spots, dirt and goo clumped around them. Little scrapes, scratches, and bruises littering what little bit of his bare skin is exposed. Hair dry and frizzed up, with tangles and knots all around the base of his horns. And his horns... dried out, brittle, chunks missing near the ends.

Well, Cirrus doesn't call her Fussy Lussy for nothing.

"Oh darling, it's okay you didn't have time last night. I'll tell you what, I was going to have a little spa day today, I've got so many new things I want to try out. How about you come along with me and I'll help you figure out all the knobs in the tub and you can try out some of my soaps!"

Phantom looks a little wary and unsure as Cumulus extends her offer, maybe trying to figure out how to say no, until Aurora gasps and starts kicking her feet excitedly.

"Oh! Phantom! Cumulus helped me wash my hair last night and her soaps smell soooooo good! You're gonna love it!"

So, that's how Phantom ends up reclined neck-deep in deliciously warm bathwater not an hour later.

Cumulus is humming quietly, sitting next to him and lighting all the candles she lined up along the edge of the tub. "These candles are always here," she explains, "And the matches live in that jar tucked over there, so you can use these anytime you want if you like them, alright?"

Phantom just hums a little to let her know he's at least kind of listening. He rubs his toes through a little pile of what Cumulus called epsom salts, enjoying the way the grains crunch and swirl around his feet as they slowly dissolve. He can't remember being so comfortably warm and relaxed, maybe ever.

"Alright, sugar, I've got so many good things to try out. Are you ready?"

Phantom loses track of time quickly, but it must be hours that they soak together. Cumulus grooms him meticulously, and it stirs up achingly precious, half-lit memories from his kit days, when he still had his parents to look after him.

She scrubs his hair thoroughly with a sweet, sudsy shampoo. Her claws scratch deliciously over his scalp, sending goosebumps down his back. She works something called conditioner in next, using her fingers and a comb to tug and tease all the knots out of his hair. Not once does she pull hard enough to hurt.

She rubs a creamy, buttery substance between her palms until it melts into a sweet-scented oil. She massages it over his horns, cooing about how it's adding so much depth to their night-blue color. His claws are next, and Cumulus patiently explains what each of her little tools is for as she goes about trimming, filing, and oiling each one. She even rubs a cream into what she tells him are his cuticles, apparently to soften them or something.

She uses the softest cloth he's ever felt in his whole life ever to wash him thoroughly with a mouth-wateringly scented soap. She's thorough, getting behind his ears and between his toes. While she washes him, she tells him they should talk to Rain later about trimming up his hair so it doesn't fall in his eyes so much. She checks in with him constantly, asking if he's still okay with her washing him or if he'd like to take over.

Once they're out and dry, she helps him put on a creamy lotion before handing him big, soft clothes to pull on. She helps him roll the sleeves and cuff the pants, having stolen them from Swiss.

"He won't miss them, sweetie. That ghoul has the comfiest loungewear and he's always happy to share."

Cumulus insists that the most important part of their spa day is to immediately crawl into her nest to snack, snooze, and watch movies. It's called beauty rest for a reason, Phantom!

It's with a full belly and a clean, relaxed body that Phantom snuggles down under Cumulus' fresh, soft blankets and promptly passes out. It's the deepest, most restorative sleep he's had in ages.

Phantom who purrs at the smallest touches.

Phantom whose tail starts wagging like crazy at the mention of a cuddle pile.

Phantom who is so needy, yet so patient, that he'll follow somebody around a whole day just for an ounce of affection.

Phantom who sits under Copia's desk when he just wants company from Papa.

Phantom who drags his pack mates away any time there busy to curl up in a cozy spot.

Phantom who will use his quint powers to make his pack mates sleepy so they can nap together.