#midwest emo ghouls au

[autumnblooms]

“I’m so lucky I get to come home to you”

A little midwest emo RainDrop for today. I pictured this as Dew and Rain coming home tipsy and giggly from a late game night at Mountain and Swiss’ place, kissing and stumbling back onto the bed as they try to lose their shoes~

#cozy vibes for your October weekend 🖤 #the band ghost #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #nameless ghouls #my art #ghost band #midwest emo ghouls au

[pyrefection]

Rain in rain :)

Midwest Emo???

#ghost band #nameless ghouls #rain fanart #rain ghoul #ghost #nameless ghoul #ghoul #rain #rain ghost #rain rain #pyre art #midwest emo ghouls au

[midnight-moth]

Ok I fell asleep for like an hour and woke up with massive Midwest emo ghouls au brainworm. Need to expel before sleep. There probably so many typos.

Mist - owner of local record shop. Makes all of the ladies who walk in the door feel like queens and makes condescending music bros shrivel.

Aurora - works at small cafe across the street. Amazing work ethic, short temper. Trying to find her place in the world as well as within a band that contains several very large personalities.

Mist comes in every day, wallet chain and massive key ring jangling in harmony with the brass bell hanging over the door. Orders a pour over every time, not because it tastes better. They really can’t tell the difference.

But because it takes longer. So they can admire Aurora’s deft hands stacking paper cups, refilling the sugar dispenser, smacking the side of the bean grinder to dislodge whatever’s stuck in there.

Aurora gives her a large. But she only charges her for a small. Slips her a cookie or a muffin cause it’s a funny shape, no one will buy it, it’s a day old (even though it tastes pretty damn fresh to Mist.)

Eventually she stops making excuses when she slides the brown paper bag across the counter, cause she’s too busy burying her blush when Mist reaches for it and grazes the top of her hand with their calloused finger tops, conditioned by steel core and round wire.

Aurora finds herself wanting to take a walk outside on her break. No longer content to put her headphones on and take a nap on top of a few sacks of coffee beans. Because Zeph frowns on that just a little.

She finds herself strolling past the window of the record shop, watching Mist prop up new releases against the window. At first they wave, but then y hey beckon.

The crisp chill in the air is a plausible excuse as to why the apples of Auroras cheeks are still so persistently red.

Mist asks if Aurora has a record player. And she does of course. “Have you listened to this?” Mist asks, plucking a record from beneath the counter.

Aurora hesitated, and admits, “No, I haven’t.” Aurora admonishes the fact that she hasn’t been in this world for very long at all and she’s a little bit intimidated by the seemingly vast and endless array for artists and genres.

“Take it for a spin. Let me know what you think.” Mist pushes the record across the gouged counter where various employees in the past 3 decades have carved their initials and perhaps some unsavory phrases.

“Oh, well, I don’t - we’ll - this is embarrassing. But I’m on sort of a tight budget.” The admission forms a hairline crack in her heart, and she isn’t sure why. Maybe Aurora simply does not want to refuse anything Mist has to offer.

“Don’t worry about that, you can bring it back later.” Sensing the hesitation in Aurora as her hand hovers over the record, they push it into her hand with a wink.

It’s so warm in there, Aurora can’t blame the chill and so she buried her face in her scarf and says “thanks, I’ve gotta get back. But, thank you. I’m so - I’ll - excited to listen.” She cringes inwardly and her feet stumble although not as much as her words as she heads for the exit.

She finished the rest of her shift, looking at her backpack with x-ray vision, as if she can see the record inside with Mist’s fingerprints all over it along with whatever she felt when she listened to it.

She kneels on the floor as in front of her stereo as soon as she gets home. Shoes and coat, scarf, lunch bag, all abandoned behind her like a trail of breadcrumbs.

GLORIA, G-L-O-R-I-A.

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine

Meltin' in a pot of thieves

Wild card up my sleeve

Thick heart of stone

My sins my own

They belong to me, me

People say "beware!"

But I don't care

The words are just

Rules and regulations to me, me

She’s vaguely aware of the dull throb in her knees and despite how loud she has the music cranked she’s kneeling on the floor practically pressing her ear to the speaker.

Her voice is loud and infectious, the words are irreverent and rebellious. She’s already hooked. And she flips the vinyl over 4 times before the gnawing in her stomach forces her to trudge to the kitchen and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Normally a creature of habit, and a neat one at that, the plate doesn’t make it to the sink and the knife sticks to the counter, laden with jam, and there are crumbs on the floor. She doesn’t care.

She tries to go bed early because she has the opening shift. But that contralto voice is ringing in her mind and her feet are dancing under the covers.

She crawls to work and his through the motions, but she finds she’s less tired than expected. Still high on the energy of what she considers truly powerful. It’s like a talisman, no one can fuck with her today. She can’t help but occasionally run her fingers over the record, safely stowed under the counter to return to its owner.

When Mist arrives, they grins like a shark once they hears what’s playing over the shop’s speakers.

Counting the time, then you came to my room

And you whispered to me and we took the big plunge

And oh you were so good, oh, you were so fine

And I gotta tell the world that I make her mine, make her mine

Make her mine, make her mine, make her mine, make her mine

G-l-o-are-i-a, Gloria, G-l-o-are-i-a, Gloria, G-l-o-are-i-a, Gloria

G-l-o-are-i-a, Gloria

Aurora can’t even be bothered to feel shame as she shouts the newly memorized lyrics at the top of her lungs while preparing Mist’s pour over.

“So I guess you liked it?”

“You could say that.” Aurora is surprised that she can manage to say something remotely intelligible. She pulls the record out from under the register to slide back over the counter.

“No, keep it for now. But come by later. I think I have something else you’d like.”

Aurora is inclined to believe them. She takes the record back and in exchange slides over a brown craft paper bag. It feels heavier than usual.

When Mist dumps their belongings on the counter and flicks on the lights, they open it and sees it contains two cookies. And they are not deformed in the slightest.

Aurora comes in on her lunch, on a breeze that smells like roasted coffee and sandalwood. And she returns, with another record under her arm.

Zeph cannot find it within himself to chide her for being late. Nor will he for the days and weeks to come. When her 30 minute lunch break turns into 40 minutes. 45 minutes. 55 minutes.

Because an education in feminist proto-punk cannot be rushed. Nor can her deep dive into the riot grrl movement. Nor can love, Zeph knows that better than anyone.

#please tell me you see my vision #there is so so so so much more I have to say #aurora has to be well versed in all of the feminist music movements #that is why she takes no shit on stage #that is why she takes up space and demands attention #because she is talented and because she fucking can #did I mention I love her #I have been rolling around many ideas about her in her head #I myself do not possess very much femininity and it made me scared to write female characters #but I can see myself here #aurora ghoulette #mist ghoulette #midwest emo ghouls au #midnight moth writes

[cheerycherrycandy-resurrected]

New in Town

ok one last thing for the midwest emo ghouls since i was on a work trip last week and apparently wrote almost 1300 words on Phantom's arrival in town when i was bored in seminars (i don't think anyone's told that story so far?). one day i'll learn my lesson on handwriting in a notebook bc writing it up was a struggle

Rating: general words: ~1300 cw:

Phantom stumbled into town on a Wednesday. As he stepped off the bus and landed in a puddle he wondered, not for the first time, if moving here had been a mistake. First of all, it was raining. He didn’t know why this surprised him, as it was approaching the Yuletide season in the sleepy Midwestern town he was hoping to call home. Secondly, he was cold. There was a biting wind blowing the rain straight into his face, and within seconds of stepping off the bus he was shivering and soaked to his skin. He hoisted his lone duffle bag onto his shoulder, and gripped his guitar case tightly. He could do this.

Squinting through the downpour and tossing his hair out of his eyes, he tried to get his bearings. He was supposed to be meeting someone in a Waffle House to collect the keys for the cheap and dingy bedsit he’d seen advertised online, that definitely wasn’t haunted (the irony of Phantom moving in wasn’t lost on him). He spotted the glowing lights a block down and across the road, and stepped out into the street.

When Phantom regained consciousness, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d gone and died already. That would be just his luck, on his first day of his new life. Although if he was dead, he wasn’t sure why he was met by a golden haired angel staring down at him. He was quite sure the door to that afterlife closed to him long ago.

Taking stock of the rest of his senses, he tried to make sense of where he was now. Still cold, still wet, and now also sore. On the ground. That felt more like what he should expect from the check-in desk in purgatory. His ears were ringing, the whoosh of static simultaneously deafening and silent.

The Angel had a panicked look on their face, slowly dissolving into one of anguish. Tears on their elegant cheekbones now mixing with the rain still falling. Raining, still? Phantom thought to himself. He guessed there were worse eternal punishments than a perpetual downpour though.

The static in his ears grew louder, and he started to pick out the sounds of someone crying out for help. The… Angel? … screaming? That seemed wrong. So did the way their golden halo of hair was staring to stick to their face in limp, wet clumps. Their voice sounded coarse, rasping, nothing like the pealing bells of a heavenly choir, unless said choir was in the habit of chain-smoking.

And the plaid. Phantom was pretty sure no angel wore flannel, in any century.

His brain gradually coming back online, Phantom began to suspect he was still alive after all. In fact, he had the distinct impression that he was both alive, and barely a foot away from where he had been walking before. Although he was horizontal now, prostrate on the wet asphalt in the shadow of a beat-up sedan.

Phantom was jolted out of his thoughts by the Possibly-Not-Angel, their sodden hair whipping around their face as they turned to yell towards the car, the source of the rumbling still echoing in his head.

“Rain!”

No shit. Thought Phantom. He was still coming to terms with not being dead, but even he could tell it was still pouring.

A second face loomed over Phantom. This one he was sure wasn’t an angel, despite their beauty and the intensity of the stare in their unblinking blue eyes. Angels didn’t wear beanies.

“What do we do Rain? Is he dead?”

“No, look at his eyes, he’s waking up.”

Phantom blinked up at the increasingly bedraggled pair, and tried to move his limbs. He was bruised, but pretty sure nothing was broken. The second voice spoke again, the sound smooth and melodic like a flowing river.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you until you were right in front of us. Are you alright?”

Despite how level their voice was, it was clear from the rapid rise and fall of their chest they were no less distraught than their now clearly human counterpart.

“Hi?” croaked Phantom, making to sit up. Two pairs of hands reached out immediately to support him, as he slowly pulled himself into a sitting position. Now he was feeling more lucid, he realised the pooled rain on the ground had seeped uncomfortably through his jeans, and he was colder than ever. Phantom clutched at the hand offered in front of him, the warmth making him gasp, before grasping it tighter as his frigid fingers absorbed the heat and he felt sensation returning to them. Cooler hands supported him from behind as he staggered shakily to his feet.

“C’mon, let’s get you out of the road”, the warm-handed stranger gently started steering him towards the kerb. The other bent down to grab Phantom’s bag and guitar, and together they herded him out of the road and into the relative shelter of the bus stop.

“Where are you hurt? Should we take you to the ER?”

“I- I’m alright I think.” Phantom smiled weakly, siting down on the bench and trying not to wince at the feel of the bruises forming across his side. Luckily ghouls healed quickly, he was sure he would be fine again after a day or so.

“Can we give you a lift somewhere?” asked the taller of the pair, gesturing towards the car still idling at the roadside with the doors flung open.

“I don’t really have anywhere to go yet, I’m new here. I just got off the bus.” Phantom waved a hand in the direction of the Waffle House in the distance “I’m supposed to be meeting someone to get an apartment key”.

“You have friends here?”

Phantom shook his head, looking up nervously through his eyelashes. “Looking for a fresh start.”

“Oh! Rain was in your position a few years ago!” interjects the other, “I’m Dewdrop.” He shook the hand Phantom was still gripping like a lifeline in a facsimile of a handshake. “I preach at the chapel out the west side of town. If you’re looking to get to know people here I promise we’re very welcoming.”

As he speaks, Phantom spots the upside down cross hanging from a rosary around Dewdrop’s neck and smiles shyly at him “I’d like that.”

Juggling Phantom’s bag and guitar to extend a hand to him, while snaking an arm around Dewdrop’s waist, the taller stranger still standing over Phantom waits for him to drop Dewdrop’s hand before introducing themself.

“Rain. Dew’s husband. I hope you settle in well, there’s a strong community here, particularly through the church.” He offers with a carefully measured smile back at Phantom. “You're sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Phantom could already feel the acute sting of his injuries dissipating. He hoists himself back to his feet, and reached to take his guitar and duffle bag from Rain. He sent a silent prayer below that he had worn his bag on his left shoulder; both he and his guitar had somehow escaped mostly unscathed.

“Will we see you on Sunday?” asked Dewdrop, as he and Rain began heading back to their car.

“I’ll be there” Phantom nodded, Dewdrop’s answering grin making him more sure of this than any other decision he’d made in his move here so far.

“See you there then.” Just before getting into the vehicle, Dew leaned over to gently tap Phantom on the horns, which must have fallen unglamoured while he was unconscious. He smirked up at Phantom, with a conspiratorial look on his face.

“Might want to put these away in the meantime though.”

#this was such a fun creative outlet maybe the list of a dozen non-midwest-emo fic ideas might get written finally #midwest emo ghouls au #midwest emo ghouls <3 #phantom ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #the band ghost #ghost fanfiction #em writes #the band ghost fanfiction

[everybodyshusband]

i am a midwest emo ghouls au enthusiast first and a human being second

#husband rambles #midwest emo ghouls au #if you saw me go through the entire tag uhhhh no you didn’t skdjfjdkdj

[bloodfin]

✭・.・✫

Rain Ghoul x Dewdrop Ghoul, Midwest Emo Ghouls AU

Rated: T

Word Count: 2.978k

Summary: Set in the Midwestern Emo Ghouls AU, Rain and Dew are trying to enjoy a nice game of pool when a preacher from a few towns over barges in and makes an unscrupulous bet. Rain teaches him a thing or two :)

Warnings/Tags: boys in love; possessive behavior (mildish, they just started dating like two weeks ago who can blame them), suggestive themes, implied/referenced cheating (NOT between raindrop!! the other guy in here is just a capital J Jerk), no beta we die like nihil, background ghouls/relationships

Author’s Note: *smacks fic* you can fit so much lore in here! i had a couple (literal) fever dreams about this raindrop fic after getting covid from a post-christmas pool hall expedition so..... the brainrot is incurable. enjoy, be well, and share what you can! special thanks to @herbal-quintessence for chatting with me about the AU and making me feel so welcome to share a few thoughts about them

additional disclaimer: this is about literal demons straight from hell and has absolutely nothing to do with the actual band members of Ghost

read on AO3

Dew looks like he's glowing in the off-yellow lights that hang from the ceiling, his soft blonde hair glimmering while his head is tossed back in laughter. He had just sent another pool ball over the edge of the table, caught by Rain's quick reflexes before it could clatter to the ground.

“You know,” he smiled, rolling the striped ball back onto the worn green wool, “I thought you were kidding when you said you couldn't play pool.”

Dew laughed again.

“I didn't say I couldn't play, I said I was the worst.”

Rain chuckled, turning towards the bar.

“Hey Rory, can we get another round please? I'm gonna need it.”

“Two old fashioneds, one with extra cherries, coming right up.”

She smiled as Rain nodded, her bubblegum pink hair the brightest thing in the old bar.

“Fritter still on business?”

Dew had joined Rain's side, lacing their fingers together as Aurora mixed their drinks.

“Yeah, might just buy him out at this point. If I do that though, y'all will be saying goodbye to those old tables and icky lights. We need some color in here!”

She giggled as she added more cherries than were necessary to Rain's glass, setting them on the bar while he slid her a crisp bill.

They spent a bit of time at Cinders now that they were together together and Rain felt like he didn't have to worry about the cute bartender as much. As it turns out, he never really had to worry at all. Aurora was bubbly and flirty with everyone, and dating Swiss and Mountain, which his brain often forgot to remind him of in his moments of late night jealousy.

When Ifrit bought Cinders he didn't do much, just changed the name and a few lightbulbs. A few bar signs here, moved the pool tables there, but never quite got around to fixing the crack in the window above the heavy wooden door.

“Humans won't come by as often if it looks a bit run down,” he had shrugged, and no one could argue when they all knew he was right.

But sometimes he was wrong.

Rain was trying to show Dew how to properly rack the balls, a task he was certain could've been easier if Dew didn't make rack and ball jokes every three seconds.

“It's too easy,” Dew chortled, watching Rain's shoulders flex under his flannel as he rolled the triangular rack across the play field.

Rain was about to make a comment back about Dew being easy when the cold wind kicked in through the open door, a stranger walking into the beat up bar. Aurora greeted him pleasantly enough as Swiss stared him down from the shadows of a back table.

Mist and Zephyr looked over from their perch at a hightop, the man's human scent slowly filling the room. Rain and Dew shrugged it off, figuring he'd have a beer or two and be on his way. On the off chance a human did stumble into the bar, they typically had enough intuition to sense that something was just a little ‘off’ and never stayed long.

They instead went back to their game, chalking up their cues and chatting about nothing. Rain insisted Dew break this time, encouraging him with a good natured pat to the back before digging out one of the cherries in his glass and popping it in his mouth.

He watched Dew bend at the waist and carefully hold the cue between his fingers, his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth in concentration.He settled his weight in his hips, mostly for Rain’s benefit but also because he thought it might help - breathed deeply, and struck the cue ball dead on.

His face broke into a huge grin when he watched the striped and solid balls roll around the table, four of them reaching the rails. Rain wiped cherry juice onto the bottom corner of his flannel before wrapping his hand around Dew’s shoulder, congratulating him with a little check of his own hips.

“I did that!” Dew was still smiling, overjoyed that all the balls stayed on the table this time, and he nailed a legal break.

“You did,” Rain smiled, faltering a touch when the man at the bar slid down to the corner, a little too close to be casual.

“Have a good teacher,” Dew purred, oblivious to the way the human was looking up and down his lithe body, eyes pausing a bit too long on the ripped back pocket of his skintight jeans.

“That was a great break for someone learning,” the stranger interjected, hand tight around his glass of pale beer.

Dew’s face was neutral, while Rain felt the corner of his lip start to quiver with a scowl.

“Thanks,” Dew said, snaking his fingers into the hand Rain held behind his back.

The man then turned to Rain, head tilted with a question. “Best way to learn is to watch a game, right? I’m a bit out of practice, but we could make a quickie of it.”

It was Rain’s turn to study the human, his neatly cropped hair and groomed stubble. He saw the imprint on his left hand, faded skin where a wedding band should be. Rain knew exactly what he was after, and there was no way he was going to get it. He squeezed Dew’s fingers before letting them go, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Sure. Keep this break, or start over?”

The man looked down the table, taking in the position of each ball.

“Well, he seems so proud. Let’s keep his work. I’m Michael, by the way, I preach a few towns over. Was driving through and needed a little break.”

Typical.

“I’m Damon,” Dew piped up, returning his cue to the stand and grabbing his drink before dragging a bar stool over so he could watch. “And this is… Richard.”

Rain turned to glance at him snickering into his glass, a perfect eyebrow nearly hitting his hairline. “Richard?” he mouthed silently, and Dew shrugged, feigning innocence and fishing the cherry out of his glass.

“Well Richard,” the human smiled, far past typical politeness, “why don’t we make the game a little more interesting for Damon, since he’s learning and all?”

Rain turned his attention back to the man, looking him up and down again.

“Depends. What do you want if you win?”

The man hummed, pretending to think about it, even though everyone in the small room could smell his intention from the moment he slunk down the bar.

“Perhaps I could buy that pretty little thing you’re with a drink or two, and then we’ll see where the night goes.”

Rain turned his head towards Dew, making sure the trail of purple Dew left up his neck that morning was visible under the bar lights. Dew shrugged, fully knowing Rain has never lost a game of pool in his entire time topside.

“Well, he seems alright with that.”

The man hummed, pleased. “And if you win?”

“I’ll come up with something reasonable, I’m sure.” Rain offered, his siren charm seeping out.

Filled with false confidence the man offered his sweaty palm in agreement, which Rain begrudgingly shook. He waited until the man had turned to wipe his palm hard against the front of his pants, shaking his head at Dew’s near silent laugh.

“Guests first,” Rain said with a tight smile, gesturing at the field.

Michael shrugged and lined up behind the cue ball, a loud snap echoing in the bar. The purple striped ball rolled into the corner pocket, and the man had the common sense to look surprised by sinking his first shot.

“Can’t believe that went in!”

Rain stifled his eye roll. It was an easy shot, Dew probably could have made it with the right encouragement.

Rain gestured for him to go again, watching him call a complicated show-off shot that the guy would most likely miss. He wanted to bounce off the rail and sink the striped orange ball, but shrugged it off when he scratched instead. Michael wandered his way over to Dew, pushing what would be considered a polite distance.

“That was a scratch, since I pocketed the cue ball. Now Richy here gets the ball in hand, and can shoot from wherever he wants.”

Dew had to take a deep breath through his nose, fighting every instinct he had to make a comment about how Rain was very familiar with the concept. Only a few weeks had passed since they decided to step across the friendship barrier and into something more, so, one could say that they’ve been making up for lost time.

Instead Dew focused on the way Rain walked around the table, rolling the white ball in his large hand. Dew could tell he was showing off a bit, his slender fingers wrapped around the cue, the way he appraised the table, surely making whatever secret calculations he always made when lining up for his shots. So it was a surprise then, when Rain paused next to Dew, taking a sip of Dew’s drink before nodding his head towards the table.

“Which ball should I sink?”

Dew hummed, tapping his fingers on his thigh.

“Well, he’s stripes so you want the solid ones. Mmm,” Dew paused, scanning the table. “Maybe the orange one?”

He pointed at the ball already on the edge of the far pocket, and Rain nodded in agreement.

“Good choice, he should be embarrassed if he doesn’t nail that,” Michael smiled, squeezing Dew’s shoulder.

Rain bristled as he dropped the cue ball onto the table, making a show of lining himself up.He could just rip Michael’s arm off his body, but embarrassing him felt more fun.Dew was watching, intently, the way he flexed his fingers around the stick, loosening his grip as he rolled his wrist to line himself up. The path to the ball he was taking was unnecessarily difficult, so he called the shot out loud to make sure the intention was clear. Dew watched him breathe and settle his hips, eyes following the snap to watch the orange ball tip into its named pocket.

Dew smiled, nodding in encouragement as Rain studied the play field once more. He could watch this all day, the way his eyes traced the paths of possibility across the field, trying to determine the quickest way to win. Rain often pulled at his lower lip when he was concentrating and it was cuter with his fangs, but was still adorable now. He watched him tip his head, no doubt showing off the line of bruises that ran the column of his neck, and much, much lower.

Dew had to snap himself out of it before he did something regrettable, settling back into the bar stool and finishing his drink.

“Oh, I’ll take that for you,” Michael offered, letting his fingers touch Dew’s for longer than necessary before he turned to the bar.

“What a gentleman,” Dew mumbled, watching Rain’s eyes get darker with each passing moment. He blew him a quick kiss, watching Rain catch it before pretending to lick his palm, running it along the stick a few times before Michael turned back around.

Rain smirked, finding a shot that nearly mimicked Michael’s failed attempt from before. Dew watched him nod to himself, using his long pointer finger to plot the course he needed to take. He moved around the table, gripping the edge, getting himself lined up in confirmation.

“Yeah, blue, left center pocket.”

Michael scoffed, and Dew shoved his hands under his thighs to keep his claws from coming out. He loved the way Rain’s brows furrowed as he breathed into the shot, aiming true. One cue ball, off the rail, skirting by the eight to tap the blue exactly where it needed to go, left center pocket. When Rain stood he ran his hand through his ruffled hair, eyeing the table for his next call.

“You’re pretty good there,” Michael said low, taking a long drink of his beer.

“Didn’t say I wasn’t,” Rain stated blandly, sipping his own drink. Dew swore he could see Rain’s skin burning from across the table, knowing he didn’t like how close this human was standing, although he couldn’t blame him. He knew Rain could end the game in six more shots, but he also knew that sometimes, Rain liked to play with his food.

It was on his next shot that Rain missed, purposely, as far as Dew could tell, leaving the cue ball in a difficult position for Michael to make any shots. Rain shrugged and slipped another cherry into his mouth, chewing slowly while making his way back to Dew’s side.

“You’re so hot,” Dew whispered, leaning into Rain.

Rain hummed, pulling another cherry from the glass and pressing it to Dew’s lips. He parted happily, chewing the sweet fruit with a smile. Really, how many had Aurora put in there? Dew took the glass from Rain’s hand and swirled his finger around the ice cube, licking it clean while Mitch or whatever his name was tried to work out a shot.

“Got me cornered here bud,” Michael joked, looking over his shoulder to find Rain shrugging nonchalantly.

“Not like I could do that on purpose.”

Dew bit back a snicker and Rain moved to lean on the table, knuckles pressing into the wood. Michael was taking aim, grumbling under his breath when he landed a solid ball into a nearby pocket.

Rain smiled and made quick work of a stripe. “Gotta keep it fair, yeah?”

Dew watched him wait patiently while Michael pocketed another ball before missing on his second shot, giving the field back to Rain.

Rain made quick work of two more shots, missing the third when his hand slipped watching Michael rest his palm on Dew's knee. A deep rumble filled his chest and the bar, a low enough frequency that the human never would have heard it.

Dew moved in his chair, crossing one knee over the other, sagging with relief when Michael pulled his hand away. Rain quickly returned to his side, resting the cool weight of his palm on Dew's warm thigh. It grounded both of them, let them breathe in each other's calming scents while Michael tried, and failed, to sink another shot.

How he thought he would ever win a pool bet was beyond Rain, but he supposed he could briefly admire the man's audacity. Only humans were so bold.

“You wanna get out of here?” Rain asked Dew quietly, fingers playing with the corner of his flannel.

Dew nodded, briefly leaning his head on Rain's shoulder with an affectionate rumble.

Rain returned to the table, shifting his weight between his legs while he studied.

“Red ball, left corner,” Rain stated, clicking his stick against the table.

Michael scoffed. “From where?”

Rain looked at him sideways.

“My apologies. Red ball, left corner, double bank from right and far center rails.”

“Sure, bud.”

Rain winked at him, settling into position. And when the cue ball followed his exact path and tipped the red ball in, Rain was certain he could have sunk the eight into Michael's mouth next with how far it was hanging open.

Rain flipped his hair to the side as lined up for his last shot, and Dew couldn't help but lick his lips at the sight of his bruised skin. It was far from the first time he saw it that night, but every time he caught sight of the marks his stomach filled with butterflies, a reminder that Rain was his.

His.

He turned his attention back to the game to watch Rain call his final shot, sinking the eight ball with a frightening level of precision. When he stood the human offered him a few claps, nodding up and down.

“Figure out what you want? Since you won and all.”

Dew could hear that the man was a little bitter, his prospects blown by his incredibly hot boyfriend's hidden talent for pool.

Rain set his cue on the stand and turned, appearing to be deep in thought. When he breathed in Dew felt the air change, suddenly chilly as he sucked in warm moisture coming from the radiators.

“I want you to run,” Rain smiled, slowly letting small parts of his glamor drop away, the tips of his fangs falling first.

Michael stammered.

“You want me to… what?”

Rain leaned over the pool table, braced by his hands. His fangs were fully showing now, and his horns were visible in the shadow he cast against the wall. The air around the table got colder and colder, Rain absorbing the warmth with every breath. .

“You heard me. Run.”

Michael screeched out to the Christian god before turning and bolting out of the bar, Rain and Dew nearly doubling in laughter at the sounds of his car peeling away.

“That was mean, Rainy,” Aurora laughed from the bar, drying glasses and setting them on the shelf.

“Maybe he'll think twice next time.”

Dew hummed, hopping down from his chair to press into Rain's back, his arms wrapped around him in a firm hug.

Rain squeezed his hand over Dew's.

“Richard, huh?”

“Yeah, you know the nickname for Richard right?”

Rain stared ahead blankly, having a feeling he was about to be the butt of another one of Dew's jokes.

He snickered, resting his head on Rain's back.

“Dick.”

“You're insufferable,” Rain sighed, long suffering though good natured. “Let's go home.”

“I know. I love you too.”

They left hand in hand, giggling the whole way back to Dew's place, promises made between them to call a realtor in the morning and to finish packing.

Rain's apartment wasn't going to list itself, and the town could always use a few more ghouls.

#raindrop #midwest emo ghouls au #rain ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #the band ghost fanfic #i know there are many other midwest emo ghoul au enjoyers out there so i hope this finds you because tagging people directly scares me <3 #is my little brainworm that phantom moves in to rain's old apartment?? absolutely yes #midwest emo ghouls

[jazz-bazz]

Hey Bex!

Any favorite ghoul head cannons you have or ones someone else wrote?

🦦 - I mean obviously it's me 🤣

first of all, this hasnt left my mind but demigirl cumulus by yami @rainyhoursinhell , mindblowing and truly a lightbulb moment, and ofc tattoo artist rain has their own section in my brain

and bcs im in exam seasons now, i keep coming back to nuclear scientist dewdrop thoughts… wish he could teach me these things bout atoms and shit 🥴

imps! sprites! by @thelampisaflashlight and @mac-and-thefox respectively, so cuteeee, i am very much a sucker for tiny cute things

anytime @littlemoon-beam sprinkle in something non english always scratches my brain

kitty dew and otter rain and puppy mountain and friends, ALSO FENNEC FOX and the floof (have i mentioned i love floof) by @sphylor

and fuck ive spent most of the time writing this draft scrolling my blog but i forgot who wrote the ballet au rain and dew i am sorry but i love it 🖤

and i am curious about midwest emos too!

and the victorian vampire au @webbyghoul and i keep talking about, my darling feral murder ghouls 🥰

pls tell me if you dont wanna be tagged

#mina #ghost hc

[autumnblooms]

“Just colleagues…friends…nothing more”

I’m back with more midwest emo ghouls, this time with some Dew/Aeon cuddling, possibly after their first time together. Both feeling so at peace after finally breaking the tension that’s been lingering for months, but also laughing at themselves for the cliche of falling for their coworker and trying not to think about what they’ll tell Rain or how dynamics might change at Mass

#sorry I couldn’t resist adding the angst in there #this is me trying to contribute with story but all I can ever picture is little vignettes #🤷 #I am an illustrator not a writer #midwest emo ghouls au #my art #dewdrop ghoul #aeon ghoul #phantom ghoul #the band ghost #nameless ghouls #ghost band

[autumnblooms]

Am I too late to join the the kissy prompt game? If I'm not can I please ask for number 3 with a couple of the midwest emo ghouls? (dealers choice ofc)

How about some domestic Aeon/Dew 🖤

#thanks for being patient with me! #I’m gonna slowly work through more requests this weekend #probably won’t be able to animate the rest though since I have a bunch to do 😅 #the band ghost #my art #dewdrop ghoul #aeon ghoul #phantom ghoul #midwest emo ghouls au #ghost band #nameless ghouls

[autumnblooms]

Posting a messy sketch now in case I abandon this too 🥲 Midwest emo ghouls AU: Farmer Swiss and nursery/hardware store owner Mountain

Small text for @herbal-quintessence and @mac-and-thefox cause I think this may apply to your interests <3

Edit: I forgot their fucking tails 🤦

#i like where this is going #just need to keep the motivation to clean it up #I’m a sucker for cowboy ghouls #the band ghost #midwest emo ghouls au #my art #nameless ghouls #mountain ghoul #swiss ghoul #ghost band

[autumnblooms]

Cause you are water twelve feet deep, and I am boots made of concrete

#midwest emo ghouls! #I have mixed feelings about this one but I needed to move on #I like the drawing #I like the direction the background is going #not thrilled with the shading #but 🤷‍♀️ #the band ghost #my art #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #midwest emo ghouls au #ghost band #nameless ghouls

[autumnblooms]

@crimsonclergy & @herbal-quintessence the Pastor!Dew got a bit angsty 😅

The night before Dew’s first sermon as the church’s new pastor, Rain walks into their bedroom to find Dew hunched over the edge of the bed, shoulders shaking softly as he thumbs his rosary. As he kneels down behind him, he can hear Dew whispering a prayer with each pass of a bead, asking the Dark Lord to guide him with His wisdom. Rain just wraps Dew in his arms without saying a word, kissing his shoulder and joining his heart in his prayers.

#inspired by crim’s post about pious dew praying over the edge of his bed #that was such a vivid picture in my mind #I might clean this up and color it eventually #my art #the band ghost #nameless ghouls #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #ghost band #midwest emo ghouls au

[autumnblooms]

It’s finally done!

Dew’s rosary, done in black agate and larvikite (and I still need to pick some yarn for Rain’s wool ring)

@herbal-quintessence @crimsonclergy @high-imperatrix

#herb I do love your idea of worn wooden beads #but I had already bought the stone ones 😅 #might need to fix the pendant down the road cause it keeps twisting #but I’m pretty happy with it #the band ghost #midwest emo ghouls au

[cheerycherrycandy-resurrected]

Midwest emo ghouls au wip to try and hold myself accountable to finish this and I’m quite proud of how Phantom turned out

#midwest emo ghouls au #phantom ghoul #omg making an actual post not just yelling incoherently in other peoples tags is scary

[autumnblooms]

imagine midwest emo ghouls au where mountain and swiss are boy scout troop leaders ahahbdbesn

Oh my god anon your MIND!! I love this! I can just picture them taking a group of little eight year olds (boys and girls, humans and ghouls of course) out to the woods to teach them about nature, and survival, and sing campfire songs. But because the Boy Scouts are notoriously Christian, this is the Ghoul Scouts and they sing songs about Satan and they have cute little black sashes with like, “ritual fire crafting” and “communing with spirits” badges.

Mountain is great with the kids. He takes them and their ideas very seriously. Swiss is great with them too, but he’s like the fun uncle that ends up joining the kids in their pranks until he gets caught by Mountain and just gives him a big sheepish grin.

On camping trips they always stay up well past the last kid to go to sleep, to keep the fire going and make sure they all get to sleep okay. More often than not though they end up having to shush the giggling little faces spying on them from their tent flap as they kiss by the fire.

#I’m so in love with the mental picture of cute little satanic kids in their scouts uniforms! #like cult of the lamb vibes kind of #midwest emo ghouls au #mountain ghoul #swiss ghoul #the band ghost

[cheerycherrycandy-resurrected]

What if we kissed in the Maize Maze?

Ok so I wanted to start posting my Soulmates AU for Raindrop month, but writing for my Medieval one is going waay better than planned and it's confusing me to have 2 separate backstories in my head at once, so while I still have *checks calendar* 5 DAYS, here's a little stand-alone ficlet!

What if we kissed in the Maize Maze? A Midwest Emo Ghouls AU ficlet

Rating: T Content: fluff, literally that's it just fluff Words: 615

Lots of love to @alwaysjustmina for organizing this month again this year, I love any excuse to write about our soggy boys!! 🌦️🖤

hello @revengeghoulette, here is your summons as promised!! 🫡

Read below, or on AO3!

Haymaking season was coming to an end, and Swiss, Mountain and all the ghouls who pitched in to help were looking forward to a well-deserved break. To celebrate the end of the season, Swiss had built a maze out of hay bales for the children and kits of the town, as well as some of the more enthusiastic adults.

The whole community had come together to put on a party at the ghouls' farm. Mountain and his colleagues from the hardware store had built fairground games, Dew had dragged the church's speakers down on a trailer and was playing records Mist had brought from her shop. Aurora's cafe had a small pop-up, and Cirrus had brought a vat of apple cider, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, for the younger guests. Cumulus was in her element, her little face-painting stall attracting such a sizeable queue that Sunshine had jumped in to help out. Phantom was taking his new role as Youth Pastor – and more recently Sunday School teacher – very seriously, replacing her in supervising a very intense game of tag. While Mountain minded the hay maze, Swiss was giving rides on the haycart he had hitched to the back of his tractor, driving the children and kits up and down the field in the warm afternoon sunshine.

After closing time, once the families had gone home, the ghouls had the place to themselves without getting in the way of the fun of the younger members of the community. Rain and Dew were the last ones left inside the maze. Aurora and Mist had quickly disappeared somewhere together, Sunny, Cirrus and Cumulus were deep into their mission of finishing off the cider now that their responsibilities were over, the three of them covered in rainbow paint and body glitter.

Dewdrop and Rain walked hand in hand through the maze, quietly drinking in each other’s company in the balmy evening air. Making it to the centre of the maze they sat down on a bale, surrounded by golden walls on all sides as the amber glow of sunset spread across the sky. Dew leaned his head on Rain’s shoulder, utterly content in the moment.

“It’s beautiful.” Rain commented, as they watched the play of colours around them. “Just like you.”

Dew turned his face to bury it in Rain’s neck, bashful.

“You are, and I’m so proud of you, taking over from Aeth like you did. You’re doing such a great job, love! Look at how the town and harvest are flourishing. I’m honoured to call you my husband.”

Never one to take compliments well, Dew redirected Rain’s affections by capturing his lips in a searing kiss. The pair lost themselves in each other, the cooling temperatures went unnoticed past the warmth of their bodies, the slight prickliness of the hay nothing compared to the soft slide of their lips.

By the time they came up for air, Dew having squirmed his way into Rain’s lap, the sky was glowing a deep russet colour. From outside the maze, they could hear the sounds of the others packing up to leave.

“Alright lovebirds, time to come out or I’ll send the dogs in!” they heard Swiss call. The pair only giggled, Rain placing feather-light kisses across Dew’s cheekbones while he blushed the colour of the sky.

“You don’t have a dog!” Dew hollered back as he struggled to hold in his giggles.

“Hi Dewy.” deadpanned Mountain.

Eventually, Dew and Rain managed to find their way out of the maze, neither wanting to be found and carried out by the giant earth ghoul.

“Nice straw hat, Rain.” smirked Swiss, “although normally you weave it into itself, not directly into your hair!”

#I’m tweaking the timeline slightly to have Phantom in town closer to Dew’s element transition shhh! #raindrop month #raindrop april #raindrop #midwest emo ghouls au #rain ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #the band ghost #ghost fanfiction #nameless ghouls #em writes