Ghosts'Ghoul Gang

Hunt pt 2

Most of the ghouls were already in the common area of the basement, only a couple were out of sight in their bedrooms. About half an hour before 3 in the morning a few ghouls rose to get those who were missing, Mountain went to fetch Swiss, and Sodo started for Phantom's door. The fire ghoul swore his footsteps were too loud though maybe that could've been his own ears, he raised his hand to knock twice, waiting when he heard footsteps approaching from behind the door.

"What." Phantom asked flatly, though no actual heat was behind his word.

So Sodo forgave him this once for the attitude, moving on to say " Papa will be down soon, you should come and wait with us."

The little fire ghoul looked at Phantom, noting the way the younger shook like a leaf, how unamused and empty the purple eyes looked. Phantom looked past Sodo's shoulder, perhaps seeing Swiss being coaxed out of his room, and relented with a sigh.

"I'll get my boots." Phantom grumbled.

He left his door open as he went to grab his boots stood by his nightstand, closed and locked his door, then followed Sodo back to the common area. Swiss didn't look like he'd slept any, but at least he was okay going back into his room now, his paranoia seemed to be letting up on him. Phantom sat on the couch to put his shoes on, so Sodo sat on the arm on the couch, counting heads to confirm everyone was here save the Cardinal.

As he sat, Sodo listened to the various conversations around the room, but most of them were talking about the same topic. The star event of the evening, the Hunt, how perfect tonight's conditions were, the excitement of a new area with new people, and Cirrus answered Aurora's occasional questions. While the new ghoulette was still part of the conversation, Sodo saw the apparent struggle tucked behind her mask on her readable face.

For six of the ghouls who have been top bound for a while the symptoms they were feeling now weren't as awful as they once felt, though they were better acclimated. For Cirrus, Cumulus, Mountain, Rain, Sodo, and Swiss they could go through the motions of day to day feeling a simple headache, or an itch that they could never scratch away; or more simply a hunger they couldn't satisfy no matter what they ate. They were small tedious feelings that wouldn't go away, something that made it hard to sit still and made them easily irritable.

For Aurora and Phantom - new ghouls who have yet to feed top side- they felt it worse than everyone else. They'd feel the hunger pains like being sick. From trembling to nausea, to mood swings, or being very distant. Where they sat now, Aurora was doing surprisingly well compared to Phantom's more expected struggle.

Phantom had a hard time looking like he was paying any attention to the conversations around him, his shaking was more pronounced now as he tried to tie his boot laces. Sodo couldn't see past Phantom's mask, but he was certain the younger one was experiencing cold sweats, maybe a headache or that itch.

But Aurora, once again, still played an active role in the conversation. Granted, she was less of her poppy personality, her reaction time was slower, and she had less to include. But she leaned into and mirrored the ghouls excitement and anticipation for the night, she was good at masking her deeper discomfort.

"I like the doors." Cirrus commented, "It feels nice to finally not have to sneak around the Sisters while coming in and out- especially on Hunt nights."

"It makes it feel like less of a 'bad thing' we're doing." Swiss agreed.

"Did you see much of the new city coming in?" Mountain asked, "I don't remember."

"It's not much different," Cumulus said, " just bigger."

"I'm excited." Aurora said dully.

"I'm hungry." Sodo added.