Opus Eponymous

4. Elizabeth

Elizabeth, in the chasm where was my soul...

They sat and waited for sleep to arrive. The cold room was full of other people chosen for a special opportunity the Clergy had offered to them all. X was among them.

The room was full of other beds. There were 6 beds in each room at a part in the official home where they Clergy members lived.

They were by a window and turned to look out it, hoping that would bring some comfort. They stared for about a minute when a black figure appeared on the other side. A familiar shape. Two familiar masked peered in. Eyes glowing.

Rain and Sodo. They opened the window and held a finger over their mouth while moving it. They stepped out of the window and closed it.

"How the hell did you get to this idea. I'm flattered that you like me that much, but I didn't know you were that clingy."

"We're not clingy! We just missed you." Rain said.

"Come on, how about we go to the fair now!" Sodo asked.

"Sodo, I swear you're like a fucking child. We need to give you your own stage of shame. Anyways. Let's get down and don't you know about the Ghoul meeting in the practice room. They're coming."

"Oh that shit. Yeah. Alright. Let's go!"

"Wait, stop stop stop. Why am I going to a Ghoul meeting."

"Don't worry. You'll just be there because everyone's going to be there for a lot longer we just are required to do like 5 every year and it's better to get this one out of the way."

"Alright. Now lets go. I have a feeling we need to cage Aether for a bit though. I think big jumpy man wont like that we brought them."

"Whatever, let him be caged."

"Ruthless, but okay."

The walk down the halls was spent more recklessly than they would have done, but it seemed to have worked before so they went with it.

"Hey everyone! We brought someone so I think Aether needs to be put in a kennel. Swiss' too small to do shit, but I think we may need duck tape."

"Genuinely or kidding?" A Ghoulette giggled.

"Hey! Don't you dare get near me with that God worshiping silver painful shit ever again!" Swiss shouted.

"Not genuinely. Get thunder thighs to hold Swiss' tiny ass though. Maybe get Mountain to grab onto Aether a little."

"Just fucking open the door. They're restrained." A Ghoul called. Rain opened the door and stood in front of X to make sure they wouldn't yell for a moment and then stepped into the room.

"You brought a human down here?" A Ghoulette asked.

"Yes, yes we did."

"Well why the fuck did you do that!?" Aether called struggling against Mountain's long ass arms gripping his hands. Swiss was silent and had his head tilted to the side like a dog.

"Because I have a very good feeling that X may or may not have the ability to be a Ghoul or Ghoulette or whatever."

"Why?"

"Here, everyone who isn't Mountain and Aether come and look. Look at those eyes. And their hands."

"Excuse me, I have a question for X." Cirrus asked holding her hand in the air.

"Yes Cirrus?"

"What do we call you by, because I don't want to fuck it up." She asked.

"They/them, thanks for asking."

"Okay, but you all look at these hands, and look at Rain's. They are the fucking same. Water Ghoul grippers, and their eyes glow in the moment's ours do." Sodo said gripping both our hands.

"Have you tried giving them a mask?"

"No... but that's what we want to try. We want to see if it fits."

"But what instrument would they play? Are they considered a Ghoul or Ghoulette?"

"I already know how to play guitar."

"Oh! Maybe they could be a step in Ghoul! One that plays if another is sick! We haven't had one in a while. Or they could do guitar and be all over. Just walk and help the sound. Or vocals."

"Well, go get the fucking mask. And I have a good feeling even if they aren't a Ghoul, I have a good feeling about them being down here. Maybe if they aren't a Ghoul they could patch up all of you boys' fingers when you manage to hurt yourselves."

Sodo excitedly yanked them to a closet. "Here here here." Sodo said, handing over the shining piece of metal.

They took it and ran their finger over it smoothly. It seemed precious and pristine with some form of power sitting in the tough shape. They held in on their face and secured it in place.

Some odd thing started to happen. Their vision seemed to adjust to the mask and they were able to see in it with no problem.

"Can you see it?" Swiss asked

"See through it surprisingly well? Yeah."

"Is it comfortable?" Sodo chimed in.

"Yeah, feels like it was made for me."

"Oh my Satan. Another thing to deal with here?!" Aether called from across the room followed by a thump and everyone's heads turning. He was now on the floor and Mountain sat on him.

"Sorry, my arms were exhausted."

"Move on, everyone." Rain called everyone back to focus. "So, what do you all think?"

"I think that we give them a cowbell."

"Swiss!" Cirrus slapped him on the arm.

"Ow! Cirrus! Why are your hands so strong?"

"Cirrus, what did you do to the little ass?"

"Shut the fuck up Aether!"

"No he seems calm. Let him up." Sodo said.

Aether stood from having Mountain on him and breathed deeply. "Okay, that wasn't as bad as when Cirrus did it. Cirrus is so mean to me."

"Yeah yeah, shush Aether. Anyways. Don't you think they look amazing with it!" Sodo said, smiling.

"I guess. They kinda look like one even without the clothes."

"Well I think I know that we've got ourselves a wonderful new Ghoul!" Sodo jumped. "We've got to go show Papa!"

"Papa is probably asleep. And Papa Nihil will have a heart attack if you sneak in his office. Let's just take them to Sodo's room, since Sodo likes them so much, and they sleep there and in the morning we show Papa."

"Papa has given us permission to wake him during meetings between us all. It's in the rules. I'm telling him wether you like it or not. And maybe it's a good idea to not have all of us stomping around right now." Sodo said. "Come on, lets show him!"

They both raced up the stairs and down the halls.