#mintea arts

Nihil: Air/Water Multi (until the failed transition)

Born into a higher ranking family in hell, Nihil has always been the black sheep of his family. His lineage has served Satan and the throne for eons, but he never really lived up to his father’s expectations. He’s found by Sister after being cast out, and desperate to reclaim some of his honor, begs her to take him with her to the surface. Taking pity on him, (and seeing the perfect ghoul for her to manipulate) she agrees. He, Sister, and Psaltarian form a tight knit pack.

Still a stickler for tradition! Sometimes he fears that’s all he has left. The moment Secondo was born there was no doubt in his mind who his favorite son was. His little guppy is his best friend, and the two were two peas in a pod for a very, very long time. Swimming with Secondo in the lakes of hell are some of his fondest memories.

Air is his primary element and culture, but Nihil has one hell of a siren song on him. It’s been his undoing on more than one occasion, he often doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

Covered in short soft fur, with little bursts of fluffy feathers on his ears, elbows and shoulders. His fins were sharper. Almost everything was burned away in the failed transition ritual. His horns cracked and fell off, and his tail was so terribly mangled most of it had to be amputated. His gills charred and closed. This irreparably damaged his relationship with not only Secondo, but all of his sons. Primo angry that once again he had to step up to do what Nihil should’ve, Secondo angry because his father removed any and all commonalities they had, and Terzo would only take on his brothers’ pain and grief, and become angry that Nihil did that to them.

Sister Imperator: Fire/Quint Multi

Imp is one of the highest ranking ghouls in all of hell. She was an advisor before taking a leadership role, and was summoned by Satan himself to embark on an unholy mission on the surface. She is calculating, every step she’s ever taken has brought her here, and nothing will get in her way of spreading His message.

Or so she thought. Nihil was not her first choice, really. But it had to be someone. And he was swayed so easily, it would make her job that much easier. She and Psalitarian agreed on the end that he was perfect.

And then she realized she was falling for him. What started as manipulative seduction was quickly turning into real, true affection. It throws her for a loop at first, knocks her off kilter enough that all of a sudden they have a relationship, a real one. And one she’s fiercely possessive over.

When the events at Whisky A Go Goat happen, it takes everything in her to not burn the whole stupid bar down and spit on the ashes. She’s angry, of course she is, but as pathetic as Nihil’s groveling is she can’t help herself. Copia’s (and his twin’s) conception throws her for another loop, and both kits are sent back to hell, raised in separate families and in ignorance. Copia himself was raised by a fire pack, chosen by Imp herself, but none of them really know where he came from. It hurts her to send her sons away, and in her grief she isolates. That’s where Nihil’s failed transition comes in, and she realizes she can’t count on anyone but herself. At least Primo seems promising.

Is genuinely a good Mother Superior. She cares for mankind, in a slightly twisted way. Belief and awe give power, and as the ministry grows, so does Sister’s reputation. The humans of the abbey, her abbey, are under her protection. The outsiders…not so much. She doesn’t take kindly to disrespect, and the humans that she keeps close, (and one…special ghoul) are loyal to a fault. You make an enemy of one, you make an enemy of them all.

Has no fur. Her fingers and feet are blackened, like ash. Her horns and paw pads glow an eerie green. Fire is her primary element and culture. Can change her form to become pure light, a trait Copia inherited, often looking little a wisp of green flame. In the early days of the ministry, she and Psaltarian would hunt in the woods together, and Satan help any poor soul that was led astray by flickering colored lights after dark.

“Alright! Alright, what’d you wanna show me, pup?” Secondo takes his hand in both of his, kicking his little feet and flicking his tail to try and pull him through the water. Nihil kicks his own feet to help push them forward, and the blinding smile his gets makes affection swell in his chest.

“I found it the other day! Come on Papa!” Secondo leads them along, through the weeds and the fish that don’t pay either of them any attention. He takes them deeper, still holding tight to his father’s hand. Eventually they come to a rock outcropping, and for a moment Secondo seems to disappear between them. Nihil waits a moment until his head pokes out. “In here Papa!” The multi ghoul does his best to follow, watching as the kit swims through a little opening. Nihil takes a deep breath, and after a moment of figuring out the best way to wiggle himself inside, manages to pop his upper half through, and then the rest of him. “Look!!”

All along the walls are large clusters of shiny, colorful eggs. “Holy shit.” Nihil whispers, eyes wide.

“Can we eat ‘em?!” Secondo swims back up to him, tugging at his hand. “I wanted to try one but I thought it would be more fun to share!!”

Nihil hums, pushing up off the lake floor to get a closer look at one of the clusters. “Well, I don’t think they’re ghoul eggs, but they’re still pretty big for a fish. Whatever laid them must be massive.”

“Do you think we can hunt it?” When Nihil turns back Secondo’s eyes are glittering with excitement. He laughs. “Maybe, maybe not with our bare hands though. Could be dangerous. In the meantime…” He looks around for a moment, squinting a bit as he scans the murky water. When he sees nothing he nods. “I think these’ll taste damn good don’t think? Grab a few, guppy! Let’s bring ‘em back!” Secondo grins, sharp teeth on full display as he pulls two eggs from the wall and swims out. Nihil is able to grab a handful, pushing them through the rock opening before wriggling back out. Secondo is just about to swim back to shore when Nihil curls his tail around his. “Now wait a second, pup, don’t you want first taste? This was your find after all.” Secondo chirps and nods.

“Can- can we share one?” He asks, and Nihil grins.

“Sure, pup. Of course we can.” The two of them settle on the lake floor, sitting with the eggs in their laps. Nihil shows him how to use his claws to cut an opening in the outside and suck the insides out. Secondo purrs loudly, water rippling around him from the vibrations. He’s already starting to grow past the point where Nihil can teach him, Secondo is already swimming better than him, already more in tune with the water than he is. But unlike Primo, Secondo still wants his attention, his time. And Satan below Secondo reminds him so much of himself it’s insane. His own kit is his best friend. Not that Nihil would have it any other way.

“Here Papa, you have the rest.” Eyes soft, Nihil takes the egg from Secondo’s hands and takes a taste for himself.

“Oh shit that’s pretty good. Thank you, pup.”

Secondo trills, eyes glittering as his tail thumps a few times. “Shame you threw this all away.”

“Huh?” Nihil furrows his brow, tilting his head.

The smile suddenly drops from Secondo’s face, eyes turning glassy. “I mean, you could’ve had this forever. But no, you can’t help yourself can you? Have to ruin everything you touch? I hate you now. I hate you. I hate you-”

Nihil jerks up with a gasp, drenched in sweat with a hand clutching his chest. There are tears silently streaking down his face as he pants in the dark, limbs tangled up in his sheets. The sun hasn’t even begun to rise yet, and his back is already complaining from the sudden movement. Nihil tries to lay back down as his mind races, foggy eyes staring at the ceiling as what’s left of his tail thrashes. Memories come back to him, of the pits, of his son, of the affection they shared that no longer exists.