#how Cardinal Copia became Papa IV

[cannibal-rat]

Carved (Day 6)

[her-satanic-wiles]

October 1st

Pegging, Papa Emeritus IV x Reader

Masterlist

Words: 2.2k.

Warnings: Pegging; established relationship; praise kink; anal fingering (m receiving); anal sex (m receiving); fellatio; use of sex toys; sub!Copia; soft dom!Reader (but you’re still a little mean to him); gender neutral!reader (but reader does have a vulva); mild humiliation kink; hella fluffy because Copia deserves the world; premature ejaculation; overstimulation; tears; happy ending.

🔞 MDNI 🔞

It didn’t take much to get him all worked up. Depending on the kind of day he’d had, it could just even be a look that got Copia ready and waiting for you to do whatever you wanted. He was an easy mother fucker, especially for the right mother - or rather - person.

Which is how he ended up spread-eagle on his bed, one of his pillows in his mouth as your fingers went deep inside his tight hole. His cock was rock hard and bounced a little every time you touched a sensitive spot and made his hips buck. Although his eyes remained tightly closed and that was something you couldn’t abide by. Not only was he keeping his desperate whimpers to a minimum, he refused to let you see the needy look on his face. You tutted and removed your fingers from him.

Immediately, his lids opened in terror and his gaze snapped to you. “No! Per favore! Don’t stop, ti scongiuro!” In his need, he sat up and began peppering kisses all over your face. “Amore mio, per favore non fermarti. I need more, please.”

“But your eyes were closed, baby.” You responded, your tone somewhat condescending especially for a man twice your age. “You were quiet. I didn’t think you were enjoying it.”

His kisses became more ferocious but his hands were clinging onto your neck. “Non è vero! It’s not true. I love it. Ti amo. Please, dolcezza. Please give me more.” This was so far from the Papa you’d grown to know - this was exactly how the Cardinal acted. Touch starved and desperate. Yet here was the head of the Satanic Church fumbling his words and begging for release.

He sounded like he was on the verge of tears. While he was still sat up a little, you moved your hand sneakily towards his hole and began rubbing over it once more. This earned you a loud yet surprised moan. With a little extra lube, you slid a third finger in and felt one of his hands clasp your forearm. He wasn’t whimpering as much, but he was breathing heavily, as though he were trying to stave off an impending orgasm.

Taunting your Papa was the most fun thing to do, especially when he was all spread out in front of you at your complete and total mercy. He didn’t expect anything from you, especially when you were knuckle deep inside of him. So when you leaned forward and ran your tongue up his cock from base to tip, he screamed and bucked again. “Merda.” He whined. “What are you try-trying to do to your Papa? Do you want to kill me, dolcezza?”

You chuckled a small, evil laugh before responding. “Of course not, Papa. But when you look so deliciously tempting, I can’t help myself.” Finding that spot inside of him now that you had three fingers working at him was easy. Combine that with what your mouth was doing and he was convinced he was going to have a heart attack. Your mouth, now quiet had taken the entire head of his cock into your mouth, and was gently sucking on it.

“Amore mio, if you keep doing this Papa will not last.”

You removed your lips from him and looked up at him through your eyelashes. “You don’t want to cum?”

“I do!”

“In my mouth?”

He shook his head so you stopped moving your fingers. “NO!” He replied when he realised what you were doing. You continued your ministrations, rewarding him for his words.

“On my fingers?”

“No, dolcezza, please.”

“Well, where would you like to cum, Papa?” Calling him Papa while he was submitting to you felt criminal. Papa was for the strongest of leaders, Papa was for the leaders who bent others into submission. Papa wasn’t for the shy, clumsy and awkward men who willingly spread themselves for their partners. But here yours was - ready, willing, waiting, and humiliated beyond satisfaction.

“Non farmi dire questo.” His hands now were covering his face in embarrassment.

“I can’t make you feel good if you don’t tell me where you want to cum.”

He muffled something only his hands caught. So you gently prized them apart gently with your free hand to see his bright red face, and his bottom lip stuck between his teeth. “Tell me, my love. Where do you want to cum?”

He took in a deep breath. “On your cock!” He exclaimed quickly.

“Good boy.” Your praise affected him more than he would like to say, but his hole clenched around your fingers as it registered in his brain. “Do you think you’re ready for it?”

“Sì.”

You kissed his lips softly before pulling your fingers out of him. He whined into your mouth at the lost of you, and as you tried to break the kiss he kept following you. He was clingier than usual. “I won’t go far, precious. I promise.” You said when your lips were finally free.

He chased you to the edge of the bed and watched you strap yourself into the harness. His hands were aching to get hold of you again, but knew he needed to be patient for you. You went to the bedside drawer and pulled out one of the dildos you’d both selected online months prior, and his eyes were completely fixated on it as you attached it to the harness. It wasn’t overwhelmingly big, but big enough that it would stretch him out more than your fingers would.

Knowing how clingy he was feeling, you went straight back to him and immediately wrapped him in your arms, his head falling on your chest. His hands gripped your waist tightly as he took in your scent. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” He said.

“Do you think you can lube it up for me?” He nodded and leaned across to the bedside table to grab the lube and poured some onto the toy. “Make sure you get it nice and wet for me, yeah?”

He nodded again. Both of you were transfixed by his hand touching the dildo, wrapping around it and spreading the lube up and down as though he were stroking a real cock. You were both silent as you listened to the squelching of the liquid in between his hands as he rubbed, losing his mind to the thought of it finally entering him. As soon as he thought it was ready, he nodded and lay back eagerly. His legs spread once again, and you watched him deposit the leftover lubricant into his waiting and stretched hole. You waited until his hand was removed before you climbed over him.

You kissed his sensitive neck, and travelled all the way up to his mouth, where you gave him a deep and gentle kiss - another touch that made him whimper. He bucked up one final time, and groaned at the feeling of his cock rubbing against yours.

“I’m ready, amore mio. Per favore. I need it.”

You lined yourself up with his waiting hole. “Tell me when you need to stop, okay?”

“Okay.”

As you breached his walls, his mouth fell open in an ‘o’ shape, his eyes widened and his eyebrows raised. You were slow with your movements, almost maddeningly so, and his hands flew to your biceps and gripped tightly. “Oh shit!” he exclaimed, a lot more loudly than he intended.

You stopped. “Are you okay?”

He could barely breathe. “It feels incredible.” He propped himself up enough to reach your cheeks and began kissing you again. “More. More, please.”

You obliged and continued to push into him until the dildo was all the way inside him. He kept kissing you as you paused, waiting for him to get accustomed to the feeling. He, on the other hand, had different ideas. As he was kissing you, he also began to slowly rock up and down, feeling your cock move inside of him. “I take it you want me to move, hm?”

“Please!” He begged.

And so, you did. Gently at first so you didn’t hurt him, but as his moans became louder, you understood he was ready for a bit more handling. So, your thrusts got faster and faster.

Until you watched him spasm beneath you, his breath knocked out of him and his mouth wide open. You looked between you to where you were connected, and watched as the remains of his seed spilled out of him. Much faster than both of you had hoped, but he was so worked up you were surprised he lasted that long.

“I’m sorry.” He repeated that over and over again, tears forming in his eyes from his overwhelming emotions.

You were still inside him. “Can you give me one more, Copia?”

He seemed shocked at the sudden use of his name. He thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Words, please.”

“Yes, amore mio. I can give you one more.”

“Good boy.”

He keened at your praise but hissed when you pulled out. You were gentle, tentative, but you wanted to wreck him a little more. So, when you were sure he could take it, you didn’t hold back.

His grip on your arm returned but this time much harder, fingernails digging in and holding on for dear life. Your thrusts were almost brutal, but you knew he was living for it. Each one punctuated with his sounds - whether they were outright overstimulated screams, chokes, or even the sound of his hole sucking the toy back in. He was practically singing. Your moans would occasionally join the cacophony of sounds, not because you were feeling particularly good, but because you knew he appreciated them.

You stopped once more to pull out and hear his groans of disappointment. “I want you to ride me,” you told him, “let me see you take my cock.”

Copia gulped but nodded. He had never allowed himself to be so exposed before, and he certainly had never been the top in this position. He felt himself getting shy again, and if it wasn’t you he wouldn’t even attempt it. With a hiss, he climbed onto you and lowered himself down. His cock was red and angry, and dried cum stained his stomach from his first orgasm and had been forgotten about until just then. He looked positively sinful, sweaty and blushing red.

In order to help him find a rhythm, you held onto his hands and pinned your elbows to the bed, giving him the leverage he needed to work his hips over the dildo, expletives in Italian being mumbled in between his whimpers. Once he found a rhythm and forgot how exposed he was, he let your hands go and began bouncing on his own, using you to get himself off. Your hands were now free, and one clutched onto his bouncing cock and begin to stroke it.

“Tell me how you feel, Papa.”

“Si se-sente bene.”

“Bene?” Your voice was back to condescending. “Only bene? Poor Papa, struggling to pull a decent sentence together.”

“I-”

“You’re so tight and desperate for cock, aren’t you, Papa?” He nodded emphatically. “Do you feel good riding me like this? Taking me for your own pleasure?”

“Dolcezza, per favore!”

“What, Papa? What do you want?”

“I need more.”

“More what?”

“Y-your hand… please.” You stopped stroking his cock. “No! You can’t do this - your - Your hand, stroke my cock, please!” Your hand gripped him again. “Tighter, please.” You obliged now that he was using his words. “Merda! F-feels good. So good. I can’t stop.” He was riding you harder now, his own words egging him on and sending him closer and closer to the edge.

“Do you want to cum, Papa?”

“Sì.”

“Cum for me, Papa. Cum all over me.”

Sure enough, his second orgasm spilled from him. His hips twitched erratically as he covered you in his seed, gasping for air as though he was suffocating. He couldn’t make any noise even if he wanted to - he couldn’t even hear you talking him through it. All he could feel was your tight hand wrapped around his sensitivity and still pumping him until he was completely spent. Not to mention the dildo still in his hole, keeping still while he wiggled and providing him with aftershocks that could bring his sanity crumbling down. He collapsed onto you, completely unable to move himself, and it fell upon you to make him come back to reality.

You stroked his hair and kept talking him through it, waiting until his ears stopped ringing enough to listen to your instructions. Eventually, he came to, and lay on his side after he’d painfully dragged himself off of you and waited for you to remove the harness and come back.

His eyes were closed from exhaustion and he jumped in surprise when he felt your hand on his thigh. “I’m sorry, I have to clean you up.”

“Va bene. Grazie, amore mio.” His voice was weak, but there was a lazy smile on his face.

As soon as you were finished, you came back to bed and wrapped him in your arms. “You were so good for me, Copia.”

He moved his head level to you. “You’re always good to me.”

Previous Day ⛧ Next Day

[ask-the-clergy-bc]

Could I please request headcanons of the papas with an S/O they've recently gotten together with where the S/O is very touch starved but unsure how to initiate any kind of touching/physical affection?

Done and Done! Please Enjoy! :)

GN Reader

Papas with a new Touch Starved S/O Who Can’t Initiate Physical Contact

Papa Nihil: He doesn’t want to come off rude, but the Grandpapa isn’t shy to directly ask you what’s wrong. He noticed that you’ve been together a short time but you don’t seem interested in hugs or cuddles. Which is FINE with him, he just wants you to be honest with him. Does it make you uncomfortable? Does he smell bad? Is he too pushy? Truthfully, you are thankful that he brought it up first. You were happy to sit Nihil down and explain why you have difficulty making first moves. He listens intently and is happy you told him. Nihil emphasizes that there isn’t anything you can’t tell him! He then asks if you would prefer he regularly start with touches, and you happily agree! This works splendidly for you as you get more comfortable asking for more.

Papa I: It was one of the first things he noticed about you, back when you were both a casual fling. The way you would nervously shuffle while casting hungry glances at him. Papa realized that you might have been shy, so he was happy to take the lead. He’d always make time to lift his arm up and watch as you eagerly clung to his side. Or how calm and content you were when you’d walk with your arms intertwined. Papa has never really broached the subject. You both seemed content with the arrangement. Though one day he did off-handedly mention you were allowed to touch him first. You felt a bit embarrassed, but the conversation lead to a talk about your needs and wants. Now you both have non-verbal cues established for when you need touch. It’s been bliss ever since!

Papa II: He immediately picked up something was off when you both first became an item, he just couldn’t figure out what. Papa was a touch surprised you didn’t climb all over him like some of his past flings. At first he thought you were just being respectful of his space. But he caught onto your longing looks whenever you thought he wasn’t paying attention. Papa put it to the test one day when he carefully wrapped his arms around you. You practically melted in his embrace and buried your face in his neck. Papa chuckled and started to rub your back, feeling how much you needed this. “Oh little one, you do know you can always ask for your Papa’s affection. Yes?” It was an awkward conversation after, on your part, but you were grateful for it. Papa isn’t a clingy man, but for you he is happy to be more physically available.

Papa III: You don’t have to wait long to get what you want. Papa is a VERY physically affectionate partner. Not just with bedroom needs, but basic acts of physical intimacy. He is most comforted when you two are making contact of some kind. He loves hand holding, playing with hair, snuggles, random hugs, and just using any excuse he can to lean on you. He noticed very early that you never really initiated these small acts yet were famished for any attention! It’s during one of your many cuddle sessions does he finally bring it up. He assures you he doesn’t mind, but are you wanting him to initiate more often? You eventually have a nice conversation where you open up about how hard it is for you to ask for this kind of thing… he’s always happy to indulge you! He also grins so big later in your relationship when you make the first move. He’s so proud of you!

Papa IV/Cardinal Copia: you both were at an awkward impasse. Copia is just like you. He CRAVES physical affection and praise… but he has to be in the mood to come onto you first. Which he does regularly, but you noticed that he increasingly looks uncomfortable trying to touch you. When you finally ask why he looks scared to hold your hand he breaks down and admits that he’s trying to respect your boundaries. After talking you discover that this entire time Copia thought you were touch OPPOSED! He has been navigating your relationship thinking you were not into small acts of physical affection. Poor guy, you practically laughed in his face when he told you that! But it was actually you laughing in relief. It lent to your much needed conversation about what you both wanted in the future.

[crowberry62]

How the Papas deal w/ a fallen angel joining the clergy? 🥺🥺🥺

How the Papas deal with a fallen angel joining the clergy

Papa nihil

It’s not unheard of but it’s rare

Most fallen angels that join the try their best to hide the fact that they were an angel

He won’t ask how they ended up falling

But he will ask about heaven and if you’ve met any demons before they became demons

He tells them about human emotions and human sin

He treats them like a child( one that he would actually take care of)

Papa “primo” emeritus i

He is very excited to say the least

Like his father he won’t push them to talk about your fall or what cause your fall

He is the papa that’s closest to demons

He often summons them for help( seeing as how the ghouls are lower powered demons, he’s the one who summons them the most often)

He offers to bring in a demon to help you through the transformation as the fall can be painful and traumatic.

He gives the new member of the clergy different healing remedies 

Papa “secendo” emeritus ii

He’s skeptical to say the least

My headcanon is that his mother had past trouble with a extreme Christian group that pushed her to the clergy (because y’know angst)

So he does not trust them a bit

He try’s to avoid the fallen angel as much as possible

He might try and be kind

He does this by bringing them books and items that relate to satanism and/or demons

He could grow to be friends with them

Papa “Terzo” emeritus iii

Ooh boy

He’s happy to show them all about human emotion and human sin

HE’S TRY’IN TO FUCK

Maybe even date….?

He finds them super pretty

He’s going to be as flirty as possible

He’s a big simp for the new clergy member

Cardinal Copia/ Papa emeritus iv

So nervous

He wants to make a good impression

He wants them to be heavily part of the ghost project

If they have visible wings he goes 😍

He shows them his rats

He’s also just as horny as Terzo

He finds them very pretty

-brother corvid

[ghulehcirice]

Papa Emeritus Headcanons

Primo

- I love the idea of Primo having had a secret prime mover whom he had a child with. Not wanting either of them to be used by the ministry like him and his own mother, he had to say goodbye to the love of his life. He wrote a song for her, he listens to it when he needs that comfort.

- No one really knows why this old man loves gardening so much. If you as him he’ll tell you it must have passed down to him from his mother. But that doesn’t explain the area of his garden that no one is allowed in..

- He doesn’t let many people help with the garden, just one or two ghouls to water the plants, and a few siblings of sun to help transporting the fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables to the Ministries Kitchen.

- Primo is one of those stubborn old men, he likes having his freedom. Hardly uses the walker which Sister Imperator insists he uses.

- Primo has a bit of a soft spot for the children of the Ministry just like brothers, he designated a little spot in his garden for any children who may need some quiet time.

- Primo has been know to have another soft spot for some of the trans and non binary siblings of sin. He has a calming tea for dysphoria that he doesn’t distribute via the kitchen, rather he keeps in safe in the greenhouse stored in its walls. He only allows those who need it, the location.

Secondo

- No matter how scary this man looks, kids fucking love him. No one’s really sure why but if the Papas are attending an event where there are children, most of them will rush for Papa Emeritus II. Not that he seems to mind that much.

- Secondo has a poodle, fight me.

- I’m sorry but if no one else will say it, I will. This motherfucker drips in that “scary trans man” juice.

- He was the entire reason Primo began keeping the tea blend.

- Secondo has had to surgery but still wears his binder. If you don’t remind him to take it off, he will wear it until his nipples fall off.

- Despite all of that work Secondo has Moobs. The amount of times he has had people accidentally run into them is astounding.

- If you’re dating, He treats you like absolute ROYALTY. We all know what a party animal this guy is, but if you asked him to stop he would. This man is WHIPPED (honestly they all are)

Terzo

- Need I say this again? FRUITY.

- I don’t think anyone will fight me on this one, but there ain’t no way there wasn’t A FEW hookups between him and Omega. Maybe the others if he was feeling extra.

- Many people think Terzo was the first to actually treat the ghouls well but I don’t think that’s true. I like to think they’ve always been treated well but they weren’t really acknowledged by the public until Terzo.

- We all know Terzos rebellious but ive never heard anyone talk about this man probably got so many tattoos !! Secondo has some too, but he likes keeping them a surprise ;)

- Probably has a lot of stupid, small ones. Dates from his many nights drunk and playing truth or dare.

- Can’t tell me this man didn’t try and convince Copia into getting a tattoo when they were younger, eventually he relented and Copia picked. Terzo now has a little rat face on his rib cage.

- Despite how flirty Terzo shows himself to be, he can really be a good shoulder to cry on. Not to mention how good his hugs are.

Copia

- Oh rat man. When he first started being groomed for papacy, he was petrified. Sure he had been Employee of the Month many times, and Papa Nihils right hand many moons ago he was scared.

- He knew how beloved the papas before him were, and he couldn’t help but think little old Cardi C would never live up to them.

- No matter how much ~~His Mother~~ Sister Imperator said he deserved this just like they did.

- And thus Copia had to find his place in the ministry once again.

- It was almost refreshing for him at the same time, once he became papa he could shed from what everyone had known him as ever since he stopped wearing a sisters habit and begun wearing a Cardinals Cassock. He would be that shy little kid anymore. He was Papa Emeritus IV.

- The past papas took to him rather quickly, Terzo almost not recognizing Copia from their younger days.

- Primo gave him access to the tea hidden away in the green house, helping to make him a glass as the poor man scrambled to try and help the old man

- Secondo seemed as stoic as he was, but he seen himself in Copia. He gave him a few nudges and shoves without really letting anyone realize it.

[leezlelatch]

Happy Anniversary, Papa

It’s three years to the day since Copia became Papa, and you want to do something nice to show him he’s appreciated.

You gently squeeze the piping bag, adding the last few touches of blue icing to the cake, extra careful not to smudge a single swirl. You bite your lip and hold your breath, then will your hands not to shake. Finally, you let out a relieved sigh, standing back with a hand on your hip to look over your work.

A sheet cake, chocolate, with homemade buttercream icing bearing the words “Happy Anniversary, Papa” looks resplendent in the blues and golds of Copia’s papal colors. You’re sure your mouths and teeth will be stained by the end of it, and only if Copia likes it. You hope Copia likes it.

March 3, 2023. Copia’s three year anniversary of being Papa, the leader of the Ministry, the Antipope. You close your eyes and smile for a moment, remembering the day the white suited Cardinal became Papa Emeritus IV. His eyes shown that night with the promise of a bright future, and since then, Copia has come such a long way, ushering in a new, free era of the Ministry in the Dark Lord’s name.

Copia deserves the world. And while you and Terzo have a surprise party set up later, you want to do a little something yourself for the man you are hopelessly in love with. The man who shows you everyday that you are worthy of love, affection, understanding, and happiness. He is your happiness.

Putting down the piping bag, you carefully put the cake in a plastic snap-on container that one would usually see cakes in at the grocery. Actually, it is from a cake bought at the grocery store, cleaned and repurposed. When you were looking for ideas on what to put your cake in, Swiss bought a cake, ate it, and graciously handed over the container. Whatever works, works. But honestly, the image of the smiling Ghoul standing menacingly in your local grocery holding a cake had you giggling for hours.

You step over to a decorative mirror hanging on the wall in the living area of your shared suite and smooth away any flyaway hairs, adjusting your top and anxiously staring at your reflection. You want this day to be so good for your Copia. He needs to know how much you appreciate him. His time, dedication, his love. Three whole years of running this show, and as exhausted as he is, and you know your Popia is so tired, he manages to put on a smile every single day. Even now, he’s sitting in his office, likely buried under mountains of paperwork.

You pick up the cake and carefully leave the suite, wandering down the many corridors of the Ministry toward the Upper Clergy offices. You smile and nod at the Siblings you see passing by who dip their heads respectfully in return, which is something you will never get used to. As you pass the single oak door that used to be Copia’s office as Cardinal, you smile at it like an old friend before continuing on to the large double doors at the end of the hall.

You knock softly, staring at the cake as you balance it with one hand before returning both to it, squinting at the cake to make sure it hadn’t moved, or been disrupted.

“Eh…it’s open!” You hear Copia’s flustered, accented voice call out.

Opening the door with as little movement as possible, you slip inside, shutting it quietly behind you to smile at the man seated behind his desk. Copia sits back, his chair twisted to the side so he can comfortably cross his legs. He has a piece of paper in one hand, gazing at it with a furrowed brow. You move forward until you stop at the edge of his desk.

“Hi, Popia!” You say happily, your little nickname making the corners of his lips jump before he glances up at you.

“Amore,” he greets, putting down the paper with a sigh. “Do you need something?”

His less than enthusiastic greeting dulls your smile, but you hold out the cake, tilting it forward a little so he can see it in full.

“Happy Papa Anniversary! I baked it just for you. Thank you so much for all that you do.”

You put it down and slide it across the desk toward him, clasping your hands together in front of you. Copia stares down at it for several seconds before letting out a harsh breath, bending his elbow to rest his face in his hand. You freeze, the smile fully slipping from your lips, and you stare at him with rising dread as he hides his eyes, head tilted down.

“I’m sorry…Copia. I…”

“Am I a good Papa, amore? Do I even deserve this?” His quiet, pained voice interrupts your frenzied thoughts.

You close your eyes and take a breath, willing your heart to stop racing in your chest. Oh, Copia. You lean your hip against the edge, running your fingers through his hair, vaguely noting that it was starting to get long.

“Copia. I need you to look at me when I say this,” you tell him.

He swallows, and shifts, looking up at you with such lost, wet eyes. You make a small noise and cup his face, running your thumbs across his cheeks, uncaring of his paints. Copia needs you right now.

“I can’t imagine how difficult this job is. I can’t imagine what any of this work on your desk is. What you have to give every single day to take care of the whole congregation. The sacrifices you have to make to ensure we are happy and healthy and free. But you do it. And you do it without complaint. You do it with a smile and a wink and a silly joke. You make sure to love us to the best of your ability in your words at Mass, and through your actions here at home, and out on tour with the Ghost Project. I am so proud of you. Primo is so proud of you. Secondo is so proud of you. Terzo is so proud of you. We love you so much. You deserve to be celebrated because yes, my love, you are an amazing Papa.”

Copia stares at you for several moments before his expression shatters. He lets out a single, low sob and buries his face in your stomach, his shoulders shaking as he lets out weeks? Months? Three years of pent up frustration, worry, and self-doubt. You hold onto him, soothingly scratching his scalp, your fingers moving from his hair to his cheeks to any part of him you can reach as he smears black and white all over the front of your sweater.

“I love you, Copia. I love you,” you say softly to him, just whispering your love to him over and over. Letting him know you’re there, and letting him know that it’s okay to cry.

Copia sniffles loudly, a honking noise that makes you smile as he pulls back enough to look up at you, his eyes so puffy and face a mess. He is the loveliest thing you have ever seen.

“I want to be strong for you,” he whispers brokenly.

“You don’t have to be all the time, Copia. If there’s anyone in the world you can be vulnerable with, it’s me. It doesn’t mean you aren’t strong, it just means you have someone to lean on when the load gets too heavy,” you kiss his forehead gently.

“I love you. So much. Amore mio. So much. Sometimes I need to be reminded that I’m not alone anymore, forgive your Papa,” he smiles up at you, his bottom lip trembling a little.

“That’s right. You’re my Papa. My wonderful Papa. And I’ll happily spend the rest of my life reminding you of that. I love you too.”

Copia clears his throat and wipes his eyes, huffing out a laugh at the smeared black on his fingers. He blinks a few times and then refocuses on the cake, a tender “aww” leaving his lips as he reads over the text.

“Thank you, baby,” he says sweetly, wrapping an arm around your waist to pull you into his lap. “My dolce made something dolce?” He laughs at his own joke, a cute little “hehe.”

“Mhm,” you grin. “It’s chocolate. Just for my Popia.”

He nuzzles into your cheek, giving you several nipping kisses until you’re giggling, “You’ll help me eat it, yeah?” He says.

"Copia, I've been dying to shove my face into it all day."

"I know something else you can shove your face into," he wiggles his eyebrows.

You roll your eyes and place a sound kiss to his lips.

"Happy Anniversary, Papa."

[canarycolemine]

Vignettes of Paradise

Vignette III

Pairing: Papa Emeritus IV x Original Female Character

Summary: Copia gazed up at his official portrait, how lonely it looks without his love. His love, however, is in quite the sour mood. Even if she doesn’t see it, his love for her is always visible.

Warning: slightly suggestive material

AO3 Link!

Copia had treasured watching the sunset from his luxurious office. A far cry from the cramped office from his Cardinal days. Designed to his humble preferences, with small luxuries - dark, oak wood and rich brown leather couches, chairs, and royal blue curtains, pillows and accents throughout the room. Over the beautiful dark fireplace, his portrait commanded the room.

He objected to his portrait being in his office, something about seeing himself constantly, watching over his actions felt like vanity and generally unnerving. However, the upper clergy reminded him that, indeed, vanity is a sin. In case he forgot what sort of church he was leading.

As he gazed at the portrait, he longed for the day when the painting came down and updated.

How beautiful the portrait would be once his Evie joined him. Could the artist capture the way the sun shined in her eyes - showing the complexities of her eyes? Would it catch the perpetual flush to her cheeks? Oh how he hoped they would.

One day, he would not be worried about his visage watching his work; his lover would watch over him.

Lost in thought at the portrait, Evie stormed into the room, immediately alerting Copia that something was wrong. How sweet she normally was, now utterly grumpy!

Her nose scrunched as she planted herself on Copia’s couch. Copia had learned better than to comment on how adorable she looked when she was mad. Still, though, her sour mood worried him.

“My love, what’s wrong?” He asked, sitting next to her.

“Oh!! I’m so mad!” She started. “And no advice right now, I just need to be heard.”

“You have my word, tell Papa what’s wrong.”

“All day long! People have been staring at me! At the infirmary people would not look me in the eyes, but they wouldn’t stop staring at me! It was infuriating. And when I talked to Diana, she did it too.” She began, already raising her voice.

“I asked her, ‘what, do I have something on my face?’ And she was like, ‘nope, not at all, Evie.’ And then she laughed. I was just so busy, I had no time to think, but every time I spoke to someone or walked past someone, they would just stare at me. Then they would start giggling and someone said, ‘hey Evie, how’s old Papa doing?’ What does that have to do with my face!”

“Evie…” Copia began to interject.

“No, I’m not done.” She said, smiling only a flash, reassuring him that she was certainly not frustrated with the aforementioned Papa! “And I love you so very much, obviously, but I would hate to think that people think I get everything I want here just because we’re, you know, boyfriendgirlfriend.”

“Oh amore! That is not true!”

“How do I know that, I can’t ever tell what people are thinking. And why do they see my face and immediately think of you!”

“Perhaps, ah sorry, are you ready for the advice?” Copia hesistated.

“Maybe, but what could you say that would help me understand what people are thinking?”

“Eh, maybe I could show you?”

Copia grabbed her hand, hoisting her up, as they headed to their shared bedroom. Evie had a confused expression at the sudden change of scenery.

“Copia, why are we going over to the bedroom?” Evie became even more confused, convinced that fucking would not really help her mood.

“No more words, amore. Just follow me.”

He led her to the en-suite bathroom, guiding her, holding her hand.

Before they stepped much further into the bathroom, he paused, turning to her.

“I know why the siblings were staring at you all day. And it’s not because of your radiant beauty, although it stops me dead in my tracks. It is not because we are involved, and certainly, you are not given any advantages simply because of that. You work very hard, Evie, do not discredit yourself.”

A pout grew on her face, as her eyes began to well. He gently guided her into the room, turning her towards the mirror. Evie half expected a lesson in self-love. But as she began to take in her reflection, she saw the two of them. She was still dining her habit and veil, but she took in her face.

Her eyes immediately followed to her forehead.

“Oh.” She quietly said. Her expression changed suddenly.

Squarely on her forehead, a prominent black kiss mark was unmissable.

“Oh.” She repeated.

She recalled Copia kissing her forehead this morning; she was running late and left just as Copia was finishing his paints for the day.

Copia was sure that Evie would eventually wipe away the mark. But alas, here it remained, a half a day later. In pristine condition. She didn’t even notice it.

“Oh, I am not very smart, copia.”

“Ah, of course you are, my Evie! You have said it before, you have book smarts and maybe less of the street smarts.”

Evie giggled for the first time in hours.

“Perhaps when we make our clergy portrait, you can have a little kissy mark on your forehead, then, too, heh?”

“Oh you wouldn’t dare!” She teased back.

That evening, Copia ensured that she had plenty of matching kiss marks all over her body.

[madangel19]

Ok. How many people are in Ghost? And do people know what they look like without the masks?

Is Papa (?) Pope (?) same person??? Same mask ? different names?

Oh man, there are a lot of people in Ghost, but currently, there are nine members of the band. Eight ghouls and Papa Emeritus IV. There have been many others, mostly those who played the ghouls, but they usually leave on their own terms.

For a long time, people didn't know what the band members looked like beneath their masks. They wanted to remain anonymous, but that didn't last long so now people know what they all look like under the mask.

All of the Papas are played by the same man, Tobias Forge, who wears a different mask for each character. Here's Tender Father below. He's a mad talented genius :D

Onto the Papas! There are four of them and each album has a different Papa as the lead. All of them are brothers with their father being this old fart, Papa Nihil.

He's the only Papa that's not played by Tobias Forge. I'll get back to him a little later.

This here is Papa 1, also known as Primo. He's the first Papa and he's also an old fart. All of them are old farts, but Primo is the second oldest fart behind Nihil.

I honestly don't know much about him, but Ghost started out with him with the album, OpusEponymous. He's crusty and dusty lookin, but the fans still love him. Also, the fandom has collectively agreed that he loves gardening due to a very good cosplayer playing around in a garden.

Next up is Papa 2, also known as Secondo. He looks like an older Pitbull when not in makeup (that's still a mask :'D)

He's the bone daddy and he's pretty intimidating with that stare. He was the frontman for the album, Infestissumam, which fucking slaps holy shit. I highly recommend that one.

Next up is Terzo, who quickly became a fan favorite as Ghost started getting more popular. Lord almighty, this man has most everyone in the fandom acting up. He's horny on main almost 24/7 and it shows lol

With their Grammy hit, Cirice, came the most wanted experience by many ghost fans: Being picked by Papa Emeritus if you're near the stage so he can serenade you and give your hand a smooch. Lord, I'd die on the spot. The charisma is dripping from those gifs, good lord almighty I think I need to fan myself lol

He was behind the Meliora album where it focused less on the devil, which was focused on in the other albums, and more on worshipping the self. The ministry didn't like this and Terzo ended up getting dragged off stage and eventually killed along with Primo and Secondo. Very sad :(, but next up is when things get very good :D

Before Terzo was killed off, we were introduced to Cardinal Copia

He is also a fan favorite and he became the frontman for the Prequelle album once Terzo and the others were killed off. It's very likely that he is also an Emeritus due to Papa Nihil hooking up with Sister Imperator when they were younger.

Anyway, back to Copia. Nihil didn't want Copia leading the band because he wasn't a part of the bloodline, but Sister said he was very good at his job as Cardinal and him having the second most employee of the month achievements convinced Papa Nihil to let Copia lead the band. Nihil wanted to lead, but he's an extra old fart and the band needed someone a bit younger.

So Copia became the frontman and he was goofy, sexy and fabulous!

He wore a lot of tight-ass clothes and he liked to ride around on a lil tricycle both off and on stage. He's the rat daddy :3

And then, everything changed when Papa Nihil died on stage and Copai just rolled out on his lil trike in this video where he became the new Papa. Warning, this video is loud, but it's mostly due to this one guy losing his shit

So, Cardi C turned into Papa Emeritus IV and he's the current Papa right now and I adore him :')

Also, with Cardi becoming Papa, he got plastic surgery (new mask), so he looks a lot different now without makeup. Still love him tho :')

So, Copia is still the frontman and he's on two albums: Prequelle and Impera (which fucking slaps). It's also very likely that he's gonna get killed off at the end of this upcoming summer tour due to this video

The fandom is scared for Copia because we have no idea what's going to go down on 9/11 and 9/12. Those are their last two shows of the tour and no filming from the crowd is allowed, so something big is gonna happen. I don't want rat daddy to die :'D

Anyway, thank you so much for the ask about Ghost! There's a lot of lore, but this pretty much sums it up for the Papas. The ghouls are totally different story since there's so many of them :'D

There are a lot of other explanation vids online you can check out if you want to look more into them

[cardinal-copia-popia]

I'm With You Always (Papa IV x Female Reader)

Like I said in that last Terzo fic I posted, I wanted to write something for Copia involving his possible demise, but I didn't want to think about it, and I couldn't come up with a good plot. Well. With the help of my ghestie @copiousloverofcopia I managed to come up with something.

This is largely inspired by the short movie The Evil Clergyman, at least the first half of it, and I've included some of the lines from it.

I also listened to the theme from the movie while I wrote, so if you'd like to also listen while you read...

Also here on AO3

NSFW below the cut

This was not supposed to happen. He assured you it would not. Promised. And you believed him. How could you not? How could you not believe the promises he whispered against your skin as his fingers and mouth brought you over the edge again and again?

But there he was, laying before the altar in the glass coffin you so dreaded seeing, grieved long before this day of seeing your lover in one of them.

You had avoided this for as long as you could. You did not even go to the funeral. How in the world were you supposed to face this, face the sight of him? He broke his promise, broke your heart, and broke you. But after nearly two weeks, the thought of never seeing him again became unbearable. You decided you had to make peace with his memory, no matter how much it hurt.

So that was where you found yourself, in front of his coffin, in front of him. He looked just the same as the last time you saw him, still in his papal paint, chasuble, and miter. You should have noticed the difference in him that dreaded night, but he did not want you to see. He wanted you to go on believing he would be fine. But it was a lie. It was all a lie.

You hated him in your grief, so much so in that moment that you stalked up to the coffin, angry tears in your eyes, and hit the glass top. It only made a dull thud, and your lover remained still and peaceful within. 

“How dare you,” you hissed. Your vision was so blurry with tears that you could not make him out anymore. “How dare you leave me after you promised!” The hate gave way to despair as your tears choked you and poured down your cheeks. “You promised me you’d be safe!” you sobbed, half lying over the top of the coffin, your fingers stroking over the cool glass directly above his face. “You promised…. I love you so much, Copia….”

You completely broke down after that, hard, body-wracking sobs leaving you, finally letting all of the grief you had felt over the past two weeks spill forth. If only Copia had not remained so still and cold in his glass coffin beneath you…

Somehow, once you had no more tears to shed, you managed to stumble back to the papal suite, thankfully not running into anyone. You felt numb and exhausted now. You just wanted to curl up in his bed — in your bed — and fall asleep surrounded by his scent that you hoped would never fade.

You stopped by the balcony window, staring out at the fading sunlight, wondering if you would ever feel whole again. You had been with Copia since he was Cardinal. It had taken a while, but the two of you eventually managed to admit your feelings. It was not until the night he ascended that you made love for the first time. After that, the two of you could not get enough of one another. The papal suite became your sanctuary, and his bed your place of worship. Copia always made you feel like a goddess, and you assured him that he was meant to be Papa. The heights of pleasure you brought each other to were unmatched. No one would ever love you the way he did. You did not want anyone else but Copia. He was inextricably bound to you, heart, body, soul, everything.

But now that was gone. He was gone. The suite that had once been filled with the warmth of love was now cold and empty. But even so, you could not bare to leave it yet. Occasionally, you could still feel Copia’s presence, and that was enough to draw you back.

Like right now. You rubbed your arms, feeling a slight chill go over you. If you did not know you were alone in the room, you might have thought someone was watching you. But the window overlooked a grassy field, and you could see no one. Just as you had been for the past two weeks, you were entirely alone. Alone. The thought made you sniff back the tears you felt once again threatening.

“Amore, please don’t cry.”

You froze, immediately recognizing the voice, though your mind would not accept it. The window was not open, but the whispered words sounded like they floated in on a breeze.

“Amore,” it came again, a bit louder this time.

“C-Copia?” you murmured, turning slowly to look around the room.

It was empty, just as you knew it would be. But now you were certain there was another presence there. You could feel the change in the air.

The voice spoke again, this time your name. It was a caress to your ear, bringing about a fresh wave of tears. You were shivering now, honestly feeling a little scared.

“Copia, is it you?” you asked, your voice wavering.

“Sì, amore mio, it is me. You visited me, and then you left…. Why?”

You took a few steps away from the window, still looking around for the source of the voice. Surely, this was your mind playing tricks on you, or could someone really be so cruel as to do this to you?

“I had to see you. Just one more time to— to say goodbye.”

Before you could say any more, there was suddenly a solid presence at your back and a pair of arms wrapped around you. You gasped as gloved hands slid up your stomach to restlessly knead and grope at your breasts. The touch was so achingly familiar that your grief was supplanted by desire. Your hands covered the gloved ones as if the touch was not enough proof that they were real.

“You would give up on me so easily, amore?” the voice asked, a warm breath on the back of your neck. 

A hand then moved up to your neck to caress the skin there. You always loved the feeling of the leather gloves against your skin…. The hand then moved to your cheek.

“You’re dead,” you whispered, turning into the warm touch. “Aren’t you?”

“Could a dead man do this?” the voice breathed, the hands caressing your breasts again. You moaned, arching into the touch. “Could a dead man make you feel this way, amore? The way I always used to make you feel?”

“Copia.”

The voice moaned quietly, and you could have sworn you felt lips press against the side of your neck.

“How?” you breathed.

“Am I alive?” A hand slid into your shirt, pushing past your bra to get directly at your breast, making you moan breathily again. The voice chuckled. “Am I? Alive?”

And then, just as suddenly as the presence and arms and hands appeared, they disappeared. You gasped, this time from the sudden cold you felt at no longer being surrounded by the familiar warmth, and spun around only to find no one there. You were losing your mind; you had to be. There was no other explanation. 

There was no way you could stay the night there now. You had to get out.

With one last glance at the window, you took a few hurried steps forward—

—and abruptly stopped when a figure appeared in front of you. You gaped, staring unbelieving at the man standing there. Copia, in his papal paint, smiled at you; the warmth in his eyes would have been your undoing had you not been so shocked to see him.

“Copia?”

“Hi,” he said, his smile widening a bit.

You blinked a few times, so sure your eyes were playing tricks on you. “Is it really you?”

He pulled the glove off his left hand and held it up, still smiling and looking at you in that way only he could, like you meant the absolute world to him. Hesitantly, with a shaky hand, you reached up and slid your hand into his. Fresh tears stung your eyes as you felt the warmth of his skin against your own. You nearly broke down again as Copia wrapped his fingers around yours, humming, and brought your hand up to kiss the back of it.

You whimpered and moved forward, touching your forehead to his. “Copia.”

Copia let go of your hand and wrapped his arms around you, his lips now finding your cheek. “I missed you, amore mio,” he murmured.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” you cried, melting into his embrace and tangling your fingers in his hair to keep him close. He felt so warm, so alive…. 

He brought his hands up to your face and left a trail of kisses along your cheek. “I was waiting for you to visit me. And then you did, but you left before I could get to you.”

You breathed his name again as though if you said it enough, it would help your brain understand what was going on. Your lips met his briefly in a barely there kiss. “I don’t….” Another brief kiss. “I don’t understand.”

Copia gazed at you for a second before finally sealing his lips over yours in a proper, full kiss, stealing your breath away. If this was a dream, you never wanted to wake up. He pulled you tight to him, leaving no doubt in your mind that he was real. His hands roamed over you again, but not so frantically as before. He tugged at your clothes, slowly undressing you. You did the same to him, unbuttoning the alb he usually wore under his chasuble, revealing his bare chest beneath.

You moaned into the kiss as you touched his skin, felt the rise and fall of his chest as he gasped against your lips, obviously just as thrilled to feel your hands on him again.

“Please help me understand, Copia.”

His hands rested on your hips, his lips brushing along your cheek again to catch the tears that fell. “Did you really think I would leave you? After the promise I made? I’m with you always, amore mio.”

“But you died. You were killed onstage in front of the whole world. There was no doubt—”

Copia covered your lips with his fingers and took your other hand to press against his chest, right over his heart. “Do I feel alive to you?”

You nodded, looking down at his chest. You pushed the alb aside so you could see his tattoo, and without thinking, you leaned forward and kissed it. Copia murmured your name, drawing your attention again.

“Kiss me,” he whispered. 

You did, kissing his lips gently and continuing to undress him, pushing his alb off and letting it fall to the floor. He finished undressing you as well, the feeling of his hands on you once more making you shiver with want. He had you completely undressed while you were still fumbling with his belt, your hands trembling. He then grabbed your hand and kissed your palm down to your wrist.

“Tell me you want me again, amore mio.”

“I want you, Copia,” you sighed. “I want you to love me again. Please, I want to feel whole again.”

Copia turned you and guided you back to the bed, following you down as you lay back on the rich, blue sheets. He unbuttoned and unzipped his pants as he went, the sound of the zipper sending an aching throb through you. “I always love you. You know this, tesoro. Always.”

He kissed you again and hummed as your bare torsos touched and your hands ran over his back. You could not get enough of the feeling of his skin under your hands.

"And I will make you feel whole again," he breathed against your heated skin as he kissed down your neck to your breasts. The whisper of his skin along yours as he moved lower made you shiver. "How often have I worshiped you in this bed, amore?"

He covered your breasts with his hands again and kissed down between them to your stomach.

"Always."

Copia hummed. "Sì," he said with a growl in his voice as he reached the apex of your thighs and lifted your legs over his shoulders. “Your body is my religion.”

You threw your head back and cried out as his lips met your intimate flesh, his tongue immediately finding your clit. Your fingers tangled in his hair while his splayed across your lower back that was arched up off the bed.

He lapped and sucked at your folds, driving you to heights of pleasure as only he could. And once he had two fingers buried within your dripping core, it did not take long before you were cumming for him.

As you were coming down, you briefly worried he might disappear, that all of this had been a dream your grief-ridden mind had conjured up to help you cope with the loss. But Copia was above you again, kissing your lips, and you could taste yourself on him.

It was not enough; you needed more proof. He let you roll him onto his back easily enough, his hands immediately moving to your hips to hold you tight against him as you continued to kiss, your tongues tangled together.

Your fingers stroked over his shoulders and down his chest, carding through the hair there. Again, you were reminded of how alive he felt.

"I love you, tesoro mio," he whispered.

"And I love you," you whispered back, moving to kiss his neck. The paint on and around his lips was smeared, and as you kissed down his neck, you left faint black and white smudges from where the paint had transferred to you. "I want to return the favor," you murmured, kissing down his chest.

Copia hummed, stroking his fingers through your hair, a smile in his voice. “Kiss me like you used to, amore mio.”

You smiled, too, and withdrew his cock from his pants. Copia moaned and lifted his hips into your touch, prompting you to lick the tip of his cock, lapping up the precum beaded there. He sighed your name as you wrapped your lips around him. The heat, the rigidness, the taste, and the smell of him all seemed real enough. He was just as perfect as you remembered.

How could this be a dream if it felt so real?

And Copia's responses to your ministrations were real enough as well. The way his fingers grasped your hair as you sucked on him, drawing out one of those deliciously broken moans from him.

You were lost enough in him that you were a bit surprised when Copia pulled you off of him and, in the next instant, had you pinned under him again, his cock slowly pushing into you. You both moaned raggedly. The delicious stretch of him filling you once more, of becoming one with him again, made you cling to him tightly, refusing to ever let him go.

"Oh, dolcezza, you take me so well," he moaned when he was fully seated within you.

You whined, desperate for him to start moving. Thankfully, he did, and despite the desperateness, you both felt, he was determined to make this last.

Copia fucked you slowly with one hand holding onto the headboard, his mouth against yours though not quite pressing into a kiss, each snap of his hips deliberate. He would withdraw slowly before quickly sheathing himself with you again. Each thrust seemed to steal your breath away.

He made you fall apart that way, his name tearing from your lips, before he had you on top of him, encouraging you to ride him, to use him for your own pleasure. And you did. You moved with abandon while Copia’s hand drifted between your hips and your breasts, kneading and squeezing your flesh. 

Just like all of the nights you had spent with him before, the moans and sighs and cries and scent of your lovemaking filled the room. He did as he said. He made you feel whole again. 

When Copia finally let himself go, he was sitting up, arms wrapped tightly around you as his cock kicked, filling you with hot ropes of his cum. That felt real, too, as did the pleasant ache between your legs when he eventually let you go. He only did so long enough for you both to rest and recoup before he was on you again, his lip sealed over yours.

It was well into the wee hours of the morning when you could take no more. You rested on top of him, half propped up on a pile of pillows, your arms and legs tangled with his. The sheet was half across you and partially on the floor, but the pair of you were too boneless at the moment to do anything about it. Besides, Copia was warm enough that you did not need it. You were not about to let him go anyway.

That fear you felt before — that now that this was over, he would disappear — came back. Fresh tears filled your eyes at the thought. All of it was too good to be true. As soon as you fell asleep, he would be gone, and you would wake up in a cold, empty bed.

Copia must have felt your tears on his chest, for he gently pushed you away to look at your face. “You are crying, amore. Why?”

"Please don't leave me again," you whispered brokenly, tears slipping down your cheeks.

Copia kissed them away, his hands tenderly holding your face. "Never, amore mio. I never left you in the first place. I have always been here, and I always will be. You know this. You know it in here," he said, lowering a hand to press over your heart. "I promised you, tesoro mio, I'm with you always, and I meant it."

You sniffed and nodded. "I believe you."

He smiled and pulled you back into his arms. You fell asleep that night, safe in his embrace, surrounded by his warmth and scent. It did not matter how he was here, only that he was.

The next morning, as you strolled through the garden, the first time you had in two weeks, each faint breeze that brushed your cheek was his hand, and the rustle of the leaves was his laugh.

You paused in front of a giant oak tree, the same one you and Copia had your first date under, and later made love for the first time. To your surprise, you did not feel sad, especially not when you felt a hand slip into yours. You looked up into Copia's smiling face.

You both moved in tandem, his hand coming up to caress your cheek as your lips met tenderly.

He was here with you, just as he promised he would be.

Always.

[herashifts]

WHATS UR GHOST DR LIKE?

AAAAAAAAAA FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE YOU THANK YOU FOR ASKING !!!! I MADE A TIKTOK EXPLAINING THE BASICS HERE, BUT THIS IS AN EXCUSE TO RAMBLE ABOUT MY HYPERFIXATION SO I'LL PUT IT BELOW THE CUT

Ok so basically, it's is a combination of a bookstore owner DR and a DR where the lore of the band Ghost is real! So, the band itself has its own lore, like I mentioned, and its whole deal is that it is part of a (fictional!) Satanic church. (It's theistic Satanism, unlike the Satanic Temple in this reality, which doesn't actually worship Satan.) The lead singer of the band is the head of this church and has the rank of Papa (it's Italian for "Pope"), while the instrumentalists/backup singers are called Nameless Ghouls, or just Ghouls. The ghouls are demons summoned from Hell to serve the church. Fans have named the ghouls because Papa only ever introduces them as "Ghoul" onstage gjkfhbkjf

ANYWAY. The current Papa in this reality is Papa Emeritus IV, originally introduced as Cardinal Copia! (He got promoted hdfgjdhkf) Copia's my s/o! He's the love of my life, the other half of my soul, my everything. Copia, despite being a Cardinal in the Church of Satan, is an awkward doofus with anxiety and I absolutely adore him. He's just so hdjghdfkghfd <3333333 This is him:

Papa Emeritus I, II, and III are his brothers, but they don't know they're related yet. Papa Nihil is their dad, and all four of them are half brothers bc Nihil wasn't one for being faithful :')))) I can get more into the rest of the Satanic Panic's family tree later if you want me to, but to save time here, I'll hold off for now 🥰

Moving on, when I first shift to my DR, it will be when Copia is still a Cardinal and Papa Emeritus III (aka Terzo, the bisexual disaster himself) is still Papa. I have recently inherited a witchy bookshop ("The Witch's Inkwell") near the church's HQ, called the Ministry. Copia, being the world's biggest nerd, is going to swing by because he knew the previous owner, my uncle, and wanted to go shopping for new books. Instead, he sees me! That's how we meet, and thus begins a slow burn romance full of mutual pining and idiots in love. Copia's ghouls (the ones that he personally summoned from Hell) and Terzo are also probably going to try and parent trap us, so sjghkdfhg OH! Here's what some of Copia's ghouls look like for context asjdshjfkdhf

The ghouls themselves are feral little beasties but we love em <3

...Wow I really went into all this without really talking about myself huh 💀💀💀 Okie dokie then 😭😭😭 My name is Aoibhe (pronounced "EE-vuh," it's Irish fkjjdhgk) and I grew up in Bristol, only to move to Grimsbury when I inherited the shop! In my DR, Ireland was never conquered or colonized, and it has a royal family as famous as the British one. My family is actually distantly related to the Irish crown, too! I actually wrote a lot about the Irish royal family and how they fought off invaders, but the sparknotes version is that the people who would unite the island and lead the fight against those who would conquer it had a form of pyrokinesis! Over time, this ability became rarer and rarer until it vanished entirely, fading into legend. That is, of course, until my brother and I were born ;) So yeah I have fire powers fhjkghfdhf (I know it's cringe but I'm having fun, so let me live 😂😂😂)

So yeah! That's the basics dgjdhfkghd If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask!!! I love talking about this DR!!! <3333

@florashifting 💕💕💕

[catboy-joyfriend]

i know jack shit about ghost music or characters but inform me on blorbos from ur bands

OK SO FIRST OF ALL ^. okok i think im just gonna kinda dump info and characters and stuff. SO.

In actuality Ghost started releasing music in I think 2010, but in the lore they've existed since the 60s. Basically the premise is that the clergy, which is basically the satanic church and is like. parallel reverse christianity. uses Ghost as a way to spread the word of Satan and convert people etc. the role of Papa Emeritus is like the antipope basically, the first of which we know of being Papa Nihil/Papa Emeritus 0 who was Papa in the 60s!

hes old now go peepaw. The EP Seven Inches of Satanic Panic, which has Kiss The Go-Goat and Mary on a Cross is supposed to be a rerelease of songs from when he was Papa Emeritus ! also hes dead but they revive him onstage during rituals (ghost concerts r called rituals 👍) so he can play the sax. again, go peepaw. The rest of the Papas are his sons ! (except MAYBE Papa iv depending on which theory ur going on.)

Ghost in the lore stopped making music after Papa Nihil's era because the world "wasn't ready for Ghost" iirc, and as of 2010 when the band actually started making music irl Papa Emeritus I (or Primo as some fans call him :3), Papa Nihil's oldest son, became the frontman for the band :D. I dont have much to say about him lol, he released the album Opus Eponymous. Peepaw 2. Also the only one without a custom made mask iirc. He served as Papa until 2012 when he was retired by the clergy for not spreading the word of Satan good enough lol

Papa Emeritus II !! Aka Secondo. Old man but moving out of Peepaw territory. He was Papa from 2012-2015 , and released the album Infestussumam. They made a documentary web series called Papaganda which is pretty much about how much of a slut this dude is. also they showed his dick in a music video one time. He was also retired by the clergy for not doing a good enough job

PAPA III MY LOVE PAPA III. or Terzo. Papa III is the youngest of Papa Nihil's confirmed sons, and was active as Papa from 2015-2017 and released the Meliora album. He's the first of the Papas to perform in an outfit other than his papal regalia, and was dragged offstage at the end of one ritual, I believe because he had become too focused on himself rather than the mission of the clergy. This is when Papa Nihil was officially introduced. Primo, Secondo, and Terzo were then killed by the clergy in 2018.

Cardinal Copia was introduced in 2018 and became the new frontman of the band after the deaths of the previous ones. He is the first non-Papa front man, and was noted to not be of the bloodline, although it is possible he is still the son of Papa Nihil, as Nihil's lover Sister Imperator is shown to be pregnant in the Kiss the Go-Goat music video, which lines up when he likely would have been born, and Imperator is heavily implied to be his mother (even nearly saying so in the video Tomb It May Concern ("As your m- as someone who loves you")) Though it is entirely possible he could be like the antichrist or something & it could be a virgin mary kinda situation cuz there's evidence for that too. He released the album Prequelle :) He's very silly very awkward (tho much more confident and charismatic onstage) & everyone decided he loves rats because. he released the song Rats. woo!

Cardinal Copia rose to the papacy as Papa Emeritus IV in 2020, and released the Impera album !! :D Some people also like to call him Popia but I tend to just call him Papa IV, or still just Copia. Like Terzo, he tends to not perform in non-papal outfits like this blue jacket or bat wings etc. He has the most outfit variation out of all the papas, something thats carried over from the prequelle era when he was a cardinal. His face looks different, which in reality was because his mask was changed, but character-wise they explained it by giving him plastic surgery. He is the currently active Papa and everyone is absolutely terrified that hes gonna die soon god bless. Hes my wife my babygirl mwah

All Papas are played by the actual frontman Tobias Forge in different masks except I think young Nihil who's only in music videos

There's more stuff I could go into like the nameless ghouls and Sister Imperator but I am ! Almost out of image space in this post lol.

[ask-the-clergy-bc]

Hc of the papas with an assassin s/o would be an interesting thing to see! Bonus points if at some point they tried to assassinate them!

The Papa's with an Assassin S/O

This one actually made me laugh! XD Also for context, these are literally demon blooded Popes so you failed each time.

Papa Nihil: No one has ever accused Nihil of being stupid... but sometimes he does questionable things. Because he can't think of something more sexy and attractive than having an assassin partner! ESPECIALLY one that has tried to (unsuccessfully) kill him. The fact you tried (and actively did so for months) was the ultimate form of flirting. He loves strong, dangerous partners so you are a walking fantasy to him. The more you tried to come after him the more you realized that he was charming in an annoying way. Hitting on you no matter what method you tried. You couldn't just get rid of him. But hey, doesn't stop you from trying! If anything, you know how much he loves your attempts. Nihil also likes to teases you about your inability to kill him. "Maybe next time, amore!"

Papa I: You're not the first person to try and kill him, and you won't be the last. Papa has gotten very good at defending himself against potential dangers. Imagine your surprise when you failed and ended up being interrogated by Papa and his ghouls. Papa was... very reasonable. He had a way of getting information out of you without much force. You ended up more interested in the old man than anticipated. After a few hours of talking you ended up being converted to the Church of Emeritus. Now you serve as the official Ministry Assassin, and your connections back to your previous work has been invaluable! As for you and Papa? It turns out you have a lot more in common than you anticipated!

Papa II: Your mission failed immediately the first time you tried to take out Papa. You've never failed, but then again, you've never had an old skeleton man put you through an entire wooden desk. Neither of you are sure how the relationship came to be. For a long time it was just one failed assassination of him after another. You didn't even care about your client, you were more mad you couldn't get rid of this one old man! But slowly it became more of a game that you both enjoyed. Truthfully, the two of you don't really HAVE a traditional relationship... if you can even call it one. But it is filled with passion and mutual respect. You're as close as you two can be, even though you both sleep with a dagger under your pillow.

Papa III: In your exciting career you've seen a lot of interesting marks. It was rare they spoke to you before the end, and usually it was a lot of begging or bartering. But Papa was the first one to TALK his way out of you doing your job. You weren't sure what made you listen and even hear him out. But he was utterly captivating the way he charmed you into letting down your defenses. What was supposed to be a quick job turned into a dinner date. And then another. And another. And soon you were moved in and active in Ministry life. Papa practically acts like you aren't one of the most deadly people in the room. He's much more interested in your stories than anything!

Papa IV/Cardinal Copia: After scoping out the target you were sure this would be one of the easiest marks. The man was awkward and practically spineless! You were sure once you got past his weird masked guards you were good to go! What you didn't expect was that this weird little man, who slept with a lava lamp night light, was so good at fighting back! More than good. You were disarmed and pinned by a frantic Copia in under ten minutes of sneaking up on him. You both kept awkward eye contact as you both struggled to catch your breath. The fourth emeritus just sniffed before laughing. "you uh... looking for a new job?" To say the least, you have been inseparable since.

[thatth1ng]

My Dear PAPA EMERITUS IV Won't Die!

I've heard the theory that the coin on the newst ghost album foreshadows how papa copia will die, betrayed and backstabed. And while I'm not going to explain that theory here, the important part is most people think my beloved will die.

But I don't think so

Ever since I heard the theory I've gone through the 5 stages of greaf and now I can see clearly. Here is my reasons for why he won't die and what I think will happen.

Every papa has gotten replaced for a good reason,

Papa 1 was far too old and obscure to carry on

Papa 2 did carry the band to the heights they dreamed of

Papa 3 did launch the band into main stream but lost sight of the church

So sister brought in fresh blood, someone who hadent grown up with the lavish lifestyle of being part of the bloodline, and insted worked for the clergy from the pit to the pinnical, proving his dedication to the case. Then as cardinal he went on the ultimate tour named death and releasing prequel, proving once again he was up for the task. Now as papa ghost is more popular than ever before, with special thanks to "Mary on a Cross" a song only popular thanks to Cardnal Copia. My point is that with sisters backing and dedication to the clergy, there would be no motive to replace him.

With this being the most popular point of ghosts history, a lot of new fans would also be baffled if they replaced beloved papa 4. But I dout ghost would stop tradition for the sake of new fans,

My real biggest point of evidence to support that papa copia won't be offed is that there are too many open plot lines with him. Not only is he the best Papa in eyes of the clergy and me, he also is the most story driven, with his story introducing papa nil and now his wonderful audition tapes sent off to Hollywood we have to see what happens next.

The tldr of this is there is no story or real world motive to kill papa 4. But I don't think that will stop him from being replaced.

So it got me thinking what would happen story wise to need a new papa, and that to me, is if papa 4 compleats his arc by Joining The Clergy. By this I mean if as sister imperators favourite and as the best papa objectively, if he got a promotion and became a sort of papa nihl figure, a past papa to guide them, but this time he is successfull and knows what makes a good band and leader.

I imagen his send off would be simaler to papa 1s send off, but this time insted of being descared he goes to a high position. From cardnal to clergy. This way we could continue his story and maby we would get a new Papa from outside the clergy. Copias prodigy.

Either that or papa 1s child.

[self-shipping-chaos]

Info about Samael

Fandom/ships with: Ghost (band), Cardinal Copia/Papa Emeritus IV, Father Jim DeFroque

Backstory: Samael was born into a Christian home, as they grew up they began feeling as though their existence was unacceptable. They found solace with the Ghost project and sought to join the church to feel a sense of belonging. It was Cardinal Copia that helped with their conversion, especially once he returned from tour. Things went well until one night Samael had been tasked by the other siblings of sin to investigate odd sounds heard just outside the ministry. This led to Samael being mauled by a werewolf, they only survived thanks to Copia and his ghouls intervening after hearing the screams and some of the other siblings of sin commenting on how Samael should've known better than to leave the ministry halls during a full moon. Copia helped them get to the medical wing, not knowing they'd been infected until the following night when he recognized the beginning signs of a transformation. From here it became a secret between the two, Samael visiting Copia every month for a few nights during the full moon where he keeps them safe and unable to harm anyone, much to the entertainment of the same siblings of sin that sent Samael to the werewolf in the first place who don't know what all happened. Unknown to Samael, Copia uses this time to subtly train them to go to him about anything and everything in the hopes that they'll exclusively trust him.

[electronikmilk]

Papa’s Punishment

alternative title: Accidentally Fucking Around and Finding Out

ive been working on this for so long and im sick of lookin at it

rating: explicit/nsfw

Copia x f reader 

contains: dom copia, possible abuse of power, spanking, and pet play. 

You had dozed, then awakened to find that you were still bound in Copia's ornate bed-chamber deep within the abbey walls. 

No, he wasn't Copia anymore. He was Papa now. And you had to address him as such when he wore the paint. That was what he said when he had his Ghouls drag you into his chamber after you had called him the silly little nickname that the other sisters called him behind his back as a joke. Ratman. It was innocent enough since he was fond of the small rodents, or so you thought. Copia's face had grown dark as soon as you uttered it, and it frightened you enough to fall silent after a fit of giggles. Then he reached out and gripped your chin tight before leaning close to address you. 

"Mm. Funny." He said in a way that sounded like he didn't find it funny at all and glared down at you, "It is bold of you to be disrespectful to your Papa when he wears the paint. And that is all I will be to you now. I'm not Copia, not Cardinal, and especially not Ratman. I am Papa, and I will not accept any other title, sister. Perhaps a little lesson is in order so you will remember this." 

Before you could say anything, Copia snapped his fingers, and that was when his two Ghouls surrounded you, grabbed you by the arms, and marched down the halls with you in tow. Everyone within the corridors stopped and watched as the Ghouls dragged you along. Two sisters from the convent whispered to each other and turned their gazes away as if they might be taken away at any second too. They knew where you were going, and it was sure as hell somewhere they didn't want to be, for it was a place of great shame and mystery. You let your head drop in humiliation before your peers, not standing the way they saw you. It was a relief when you finally arrived at Copia's chamber and were taken inside. You said nothing to the Ghouls as they fastened leather cuffs around your ankles, then bound your hands over your head with silk rope. 

"Sorry, sister," One of them had said. They removed the coif and veil of your habit, then pulled out the pins that held your hair in place so that it fell loose, "We're just following Papa's orders. I'm sure you understand."

All you gave them was a contemptuous look until they left. 

You had struggled against your restraints until you eventually gave up, falling asleep despite your buttocks pushing against the hard stone wall behind you. How long had that been? There was no clock or window in the room, so it was hard for you to tell. Perhaps a few hours. Long enough for you to wake up with a sore neck, anyway. The room itself lay in shadow and unbroken stillness. You winced as you turned your head to look around the room. The only illumination offered to you was from a small antique lamp on an ink-stained writing desk in the corner. The dim light threw long uneven shadows on the high arched ceiling above. A king-sized bed sat against the wall opposite you with a canopy bed frame draped with black cloth. It made it look like a dark, cavernous mouth that was ready to swallow you whole. A tall mahogany bookshelf containing several taxidermied rats positioned in various poses stood near the door. You made a face at the furry ornaments. It was definitely Copia's room. 

Your stomach growled, and the sound of it in the stillness of the room made it seem more like a lion's roar. How long Copia planned to keep you in here and what his intentions were, you didn't know for sure. You just hoped he wouldn't starve you. The thought sent a sudden jolt of panic through you; your mind flashed images of you left to rot in a cell in the abbey basement. You knew that the cells had been abandoned for centuries, just collecting dust and acting as storage for Yuletide decorations. But Copia had changed since he finally became Papa Emeritus IV. You had always thought him awkward as a Cardinal, sometimes even amusing in his antics, but he was always just that: awkward, no one to be scared of. It was a curious and abrupt transformation; He held his head high now, and his stride was no longer unsure or clumsy. When he wore the paint, he had an air of authority, of strength and pride no one knew he had. He wanted respect, and he demanded it among the clergy with an iron fist. Everyone was to address him as Papa only and woe unto anyone who didn't comply. At first, you had to admit his newfound confidence in his power was something to admire, covet even. That is until the sisters of the order were no longer safe from his wrath, then it became something to be feared. Copia had forgiven slips of the tongue and had given warnings that he said he would only offer once. If it happened again, however, there would be a severe punishment to follow.  

Sister Claire was the first to be punished. Claire had always been hotheaded and often butted heads with her superiors for the sake of her own amusement. She had been no different with Copia two months ago. On your way to your weekly duty to clean the chapel, you stumbled upon Copia, two Nameless Ghouls, and Claire in the middle of the empty hall. You seemed to go unnoticed by all four. Curious, you slipped into one of the corridor's alcoves and peeked around the corner, as not to be seen. As you listened closely, you caught the tail end of a heated argument over the state of the abbey's gardens. Claire was on a tirade, ranting about how Copia's lack of dedication to employing a proper gardener made the grounds look like it was in shambles. She had addressed the new Papa as Cardinal several times, much to Copia's irritation. The former Cardinal stood back with folded arms and a frown while the hot-blooded sister babbled on about how this needed attention and how that needed fixing. She addressed him incorrectly the entire time. It amazed you how bullheaded Claire could be. 

"Cara," Copia finally interrupted after Claire had called him Cardinal for the fifth time, his voice becoming stern. "I understand that you're upset, but I have made it more than clear that everyone within this church is to call me Papa. And frankly, I will not tolerate your blatant disregard for my rules." 

"Don't you 'Cara' me!" Sister Claire shot back, " And I'll call you Papa when I'm damn well good and ready. But until then, I think I'll keep calling you Cardinal, Cardinal." 

"Basta! Enough!" Copia shouted suddenly, grabbed Claire by the wrist, and dragged her behind him as he headed further down the hall, luckily away from your direction. "I have been patient with you, sister, with all of you. But no more!"

Claire resisted, trying to wrench from his grasp and yelling at him to let her go. Copia ignored this and tugged her along anyway. When she started cursing and slapping at him, Copia gestured for a Ghoul to take her about the waist and carry her. Claire shrieked like a banshee and kicked her legs in the air when she was lifted. Copia gave the Ghoul a sharp command for them to silence her, and the Ghoul clapped a hand over Claire's mouth, muffling the scream as they hauled her away. You watched the whole display in shock, unable to move or look away. When all four of them disappeared around a corner, you crept out from your hiding place on shaky legs. You quickly made your way to the chapel without encountering anyone else, and it was a relief to you. You tried to put what you saw out of your head, but as you tended to your regular duties, the sound of Claire's screams resonated in your head. 

You didn't see Sister Claire again until late into the evening. She seemed no worse for wear, having neither a bruise nor scratch on her. But she was timid, quiet, and obedient, you noticed when Sister Imperator asked her to sweep and wash the floor, which she almost scurried to do. When the other sisters asked her where she had been, Claire just shook her head frantically. Her pretty face grew red, and a look of shame and fear that concerned you twisted her features. 

"I can't tell you!" was all she said and nothing more. 

It wasn't too long until other insubordinate sisters fell victim to Copia's fury. Each one disappeared into his chambers for hours at a time, and when they were set free, none of them spoke of what they went through. You could only speculate, and what you brewed up in your head terrified you. All manner of dark medieval tortures often raced by: pears of anguish, iron chairs, Spanish donkeys, breast rippers, and thumbscrews. You knew all of that was impossible, however. None of the other sisters had a mark on them when they returned; they barely even a hair out of place, so what kind of punishment was wicked enough to force them all into silence? Whatever it was, you tried so hard to avoid it. You never spoke out of turn, tended to your duties without complaint, you even baked a cake for Copia on his birthday. But despite all your effort, misfortune still befell you over a joke that wasn't even that funny. Your throat tightened as tears began to prickle behind your eyes, and you dreaded what kind of torment waited for you in this dark room. 

You were almost lost in your contemplation of it all when you heard the heavy wooden door open. You saw the tall, lean figure of Copia enter the room and close the door behind him, a plate of food in one hand and a blood-red velvet bag in the other. He almost seemed like a specter, dressed in a figure-hugging black suit --the one that you said he looked handsome in to gain his favor. His face was bare of paint, save for his eyes. He had lined them with black, smudged eyeliner, making his mismatched gaze smoldering and intense. 

He made his way to you with both items in hand. He stayed back a few feet, the velvet bag swinging slightly at his side. The faint aroma of roasted chicken found your nose, and the delectable smell of it made your mouth water. Copia gazed at you with narrow eyes, his expression unreadable. You lowered your eyes and sucked in a breath, petrified of what was to come. You waited for yelling, cursing, for the food to be thrown at you, anything, but Copia just muttered something under his breath, went to place the plate and bag on the bed, then returned to undo all your restraints. You stood there free with stiff, aching arms. You wanted to stretch them but didn't dare make any movement that Copia might disapprove of. You kept your eyes down, only bringing them up once to see Copia sit on the edge of the bed with the plate in his lap, then darting them back to the floor. You felt the subtle pressure of his gaze on you for what seemed like a long time. 

"Come here." Copia finally broke the silence.

You obeyed and took a tentative step forward. 

"No." He said sharply, making you freeze, "On your hands and knees. Crawl to me." 

Your head jerked up, eyes wide in shocked disbelief. Your breathing hitched, and your heart started to hammer. You hesitated, and Copia frowned at you. He raised his gloved hands and slapped them together once, hard. It sounded like the cracking of a whip in the quiet. "Now, sister." 

You let out a little yelp and dropped to your knees. You hurried as you crawled over to Copia, stopping just before his feet. He gave a hum of satisfaction.

"Ah, excellent. You're obedient. That is good, my dear. It will make your ordeal go more smoothly." 

Ordeal. The word made you shudder. 

"But first, you must be hungry, si? You've been waiting here a long time."

Your stomach let out another grumble. You said nothing. You kept your eyes fixed on the glossy leather of Copa's black shoes as your apprehension deepened. You didn't want to look up at him; all at once, he seemed large, mighty, and terrible, like he could crush you underneath those patent leather soles if he so desired. He could make you suffer, and no one would witness it. It was just you and Copia. You and Papa.

"Say 'yes, Papa' or 'no, Papa,'" Copia said. "And I'm sure I don't need to tell you to be respectful." 

"I...I-" You stammered, then you swallowed hard, trying to compose yourself, "Yes, Papa." 

"Good girl." He said. "Now, kneel up and look at me." 

You did as commanded, and you realized as you looked up at him that you were crying. Through the blur of tears, you saw Copia's hand reach for your face. You flinched a little, then relaxed when you only felt the fingers wipe away your tears and smooth your hair back almost affectionately.

"Oh, come now. I have not been mean just yet, my dear. Don't cry." He soothed, "There will be plenty of time for that later, but if you're well behaved and do what I say, Papa will be gentle with you. Do you understand?" 

You nodded, sniffling and letting Copia caress your face. It comforted you, if only a little bit.

"Answer me properly,"

"Yes, Papa. I understand." You said.

"Very good, very good," Copia said. He leaned down and pressed his lips to your forehead before letting you eat the slices of succulent chicken breast on the plate with your hands. After you finished, he took a sprig of green grapes and fed them to you one at a time. He watched in obvious amusement when you spat the seeds into your hand and timidly discarded them onto the plate, careful of every move you made. When he got to the last three, he took one and held it up just out of your reach. He smiled when you blinked up at him, confused. 

"Up, cara," He said, "Show me a trick." 

You bit your lip, blushing, and again, you hesitated. You shook your head before you realized what a mistake it was. Immediately, Copia took the plate, set it aside, and then gathered you up to toss you over his lap so that your legs dangled over the floor. You gasped in surprise and fear when he flipped your skirt to expose your panties. When you felt the sting of his gloved hand spank you hard, you couldn't help but let out a cry. One great slap after another fell on your buttocks, sounding thunderous in your ears. You heard yourself taking in sharp gasps of pain with each strike. His hand seemed solid and heavy like a paddle as it spanked you, over and over, hitting you on the right cheek, then the left, and then covering your thighs with smacks while your ass stung and throbbed. You clenched your teeth to stifle your cries, and when you tried in vain to wiggle away, Copia held you in place and rewarded you with more vigorous blows, swift ones that whipped you like a strap. And soon, you realized you were becoming frantic, tears streaming down your cheeks. You tried to be still, but your body squirmed and writhed of its own accord. Now Copia worked only the backs of your thighs, where the punishing hand lingered and struck hard until you were sure that the flesh there was red and inflamed. 

"Papa, please!" You finally wailed and broke into choking sobs.

The blows stopped. You didn't move. You just shut your eyes and wept as Copia's hand now moved along your buttocks languidly. He stroked your thighs as if to soothe them.

"Now, do you see why I ask you to do as I say?" Copia crooned, "I can be cruel, sister. Much more than this, I assure you. The other sisters know what I can do, especially Sister Claire. She knows the worst of it. Lucifer's name, she was like a devil herself, all teeth and claws until I tamed her. The other Papas have spoilt her and the others rotten. Not just the sisters, but the brothers, too, and the priests, the bishops. They all have little to no manners, no respect. So I have to take it upon myself to teach them." 

You shook against his legs as he told you this. He rubbed little circles in the small of your back, then he squeezed your buttocks, sending a rush of sensation along your body that made you flush. You thought of poor Sister Claire and what she must have gone through that was enough to break her. Vivid images of whipping belts, heavy wooden paddles, and flesh crisscrossed with angry welts made your stomach sink, so you stopped. 

'I have to be good.' You thought. It was better to surrender than suffer the same fate as the others, better to leave with your good reputation with Copia intact. After all, he said he would be gentle if you obeyed, and you decided you would. You hoped he would keep his word, and you let your body slacken in resignation.   

"I like to play games with them." Copia continued, "I like to order them around the room, fetching whatever I throw for them because it pleases me or whatever else suits my mood. Sometimes I even strap them down and use the paddle. But I never hurt them, not severely. I happen to be a reasonable man, after all. Oh, but that would be too hard for you, wouldn't it? You're too sweet for the paddle, too soft. It's just a pity you disobey me, call me names. Do you think yourself too good to call me by my proper title, sister? Too good to follow my direction?" His hand tightened threateningly on your thigh, then you felt it leave your skin, and you were terrified he might spank you again. 

"No, Papa," You said in a panicked whisper. 

"Do I need to punish you like the others?" 

"No, Papa. I'll be good, I promise." 

"Yes," Copia sighed, his hand now playing with your hair instead of punishing you, "You will be perfect for me, won't you?"

"Yes, Papa." 

"Good."

Copia pulled you back up and set you on the floor. You had stopped crying, though your lips still trembled. You knelt there and awaited his command. Again, he took a grape and held it up for you. This time you didn't hesitate to take it from his fingers with your mouth. He held the next one high enough to make you raise yourself up on your heels to get it. He then tossed the last grape into the air, over your head so that it bounced and rolled a few feet away when it hit the floor. 

"Fetch, little puppy." He commanded, a smirk playing on his lips. 

You obeyed shyly. When you crawled back and dropped it into Copia's open hand, he let out a hearty laugh. 

"You're easy to train." He said and popped the fruit into your mouth, "Perhaps I should make you my little pet when we're finished here." 

You didn't really want to eat it, but you did anyway, seeds and all. Copia beamed at you, his smile genuinely kind. 

"Lovely, my dear." He whispered, his voice low and sweet. Then he gathered you in his arms once more and kissed you deeply. It sent a shock through you, settling into a knot in your stomach that made you shiver against your will. Copia kissed the smoothness of your forehead, kissed your soft hairline, your eyelids, and the tip of your nose. They were tender, gentle, like butterflies that brushed against your skin with their silky wings, and you lifted your head to receive them. He kissed your cheeks, then returned to your parted lips. You let out little sighs as he kissed you despite your fear, which now melted away a little bit as your body seemed to soften all over. Copia moved and rose to stand, pulling you up with him into his embrace. He pulled you closer to his body once you were steady on your feet; his kisses left your face to explore along your jaw and the line of your throat. His slim arms were surprisingly strong as they held you, and his lips were soft. They tickled against the sensitive skin of your neck as they trailed down. His hands started to roam your body, stroking your hips, groping at your ass and the backs of your thighs. It sent delightful shivers along your skin and down your spine. It made you feel weak, dissolving, aroused. Any fear you felt a minute ago faded into a haze of sudden lust. You couldn't stop yourself from throwing your arms around his neck and moaning. The action made the kisses harder, more fervent. When you felt Copia open his mouth to bite you here and there as if to taste you, you whimpered, and your body melted all the more. You felt your breasts against his chest, and you wanted to press them to him harder. You almost did when Copia pulled away, slipping out of your arms. The loss of sensation was nearly gutting.

You stood there dazed, swaying, and taking in uneven breaths. Copia's own breath came heavy and deep as he straightened his clothes to disengage himself. You could see his arousal through the tightness of his pants, and you bit your lip. If only your punishment could be just this, but you knew it wouldn't be. Copia appeared to be fighting to contain himself, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Once he was composed, he let out a quiet laugh. It was almost musical in its softness. Your body burned as you watched him, aroused but at the same time fearful of punishment. You would do anything to please him, to keep him gentle like this, so you waited.  

"Pardon me, cara. You gave in much faster than I anticipated, and I almost lost myself." Copia said, catching you in his gaze again. His lips spread slowly into a grin when he observed you flushed with desire. "And still, you wait for my command. I admit I didn't quite expect you to be as obedient as you are, and I would reward you, but I want to play one of my games with you first." 

Before you could protest, he took the velvet bag off the bed, opened it, and plunged his hand inside. He pulled out a spiked leather collar that looked like it was meant for a large dog. A black leash was affixed to it. You felt your breath leave you when Copia undid the collar and eyed you with a deliberate leer. You swallowed, then lifted your head so that Copia could fasten it onto you. He shook his head.

"Not yet." He said, "Take off your clothes." 

Your face burned as you obeyed. You took a few steps back and hurried to shed your dress, slip, shoes, and stockings, but you hesitated yet again once you were in your bra and panties. You felt so naked already, so vulnerable. You didn't know if you could bear it to be completely nude. You tried to shield yourself by bringing your hands up and wringing them. It did little to conceal you. Seeing this, Copia approached and kissed your temple. 

"You can keep them on. Now, my little puppy..." He buckled the collar to fit snuggly around your neck and left the leash dangling between your breasts. "You have been very, very good so far, apart from your little slip of decorum, but I want to see just how obedient you can be. You know a well-trained dog always follows its master's commands, yes?" 

An icy prickle crawled up your spine, sending shivers through your arms and making your heart clench in your chest before hammering hard again. 

"Yes, Papa..." You said as expected though uncertainty and fear laced your voice. Copia rubbed your shoulders, his hands firm and soothing at the same time. His touch made you feel almost woozy, dreamy even in your unease. 

"I will make it simple: Tonight, you're my pet, sister, and I am your master. As your master, I will give you commands, and you will do them as perfectly as possible to please me. Do what I tell you, and you will be rewarded. Disobey, and you will be punished. Ah, don't be afraid; I don't think you will disappoint me much, but..." Then he pressed closer to you, leaning in close to your ear so that you felt his breath caress your skin, "I confess I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy spanking that plump bottom of yours." His hand slid down and grabbed your ass before giving it a playful swat. You blushed. You felt the arousal rise in your core again. It flooded in, threatened to sweep you away in its erotic current, and you lowered your head, overcome by shyness. Copia lifted your chin and shook his head at you again.

"No. None of that." He admonished, "I want you to keep your gaze up and your manner attentive. And don't hide your body. I have been fair enough to let you keep your underwear on. Now let me see you." He took both your wrists and forced them down to your sides, then prodded your shoulders so that you straightened your back. You stood erect and grew embarrassed now that your posture didn't hide you. Copia nodded in approval, "Yes, much better."

His eyes roamed up and down your body, taking every inch of you in. You wanted so desperately to cover your stomach, your chest, to tear off the collar. Of course, you didn't dare any of it. You couldn't imagine what he would do to you if you were foolish enough to disobey him again; you didn't even want to think about it. 

For a moment, Copia seemed to be thinking, then he smiled. His eyes gleamed like gems in the lamplight. He took the leash and wrapped it around his hand a few times to make it short.

"Clasp your hands behind your back and keep them there. And open your legs wider." He said, then nudged your feet apart until they lined up with your shoulders. You kept your hands behind your back as commanded. It was worse than keeping your hands at your sides. This position arched your body a little more and forced your breasts out. You felt dreadfully exposed, and what was even more excruciating was having your legs apart. But what could you do other than what was commanded? Could Copia be so cruel as to punish you even if you threw yourself at his feet and begged for his mercy? You weren't sure, and you didn't want to risk it. He would have his way, and there was nothing you could do about it. Then you wondered, did you even mind? The pleasure that had built now ebbed away slightly, but it wasn't far from reaching you again. If Copia touched you, it would surely wash over you again. Part of you wanted to drench yourself in that pleasure, to swim and melt in it completely. A corner in your mind wished with all your might that Copia would let you; the rational part of you recoiled at your desire, it being so undignified and sudden. You tried to let your head drop a little, and immediately Copia pulled the leash up with a quick tug that snapped it back in position.

"I said to keep your head up," He said, his voice low, menacing. His hand didn't drop or loosen the leash, so your head remained up. "I will not tell you again, sister. Now be still and don't move until I tell you to."

Copia gazed down at you with such ferocity that you stood rigid and kept your lips pressed together tight. The new Papa was frightening looking but very handsome in the dim light that made his face angular, his eyes even more smoldering. You marvelled at him for a moment, then with a shock, you felt Copia's free hand on you. You felt his fingers trail down the side of your neck and down to your breasts. He grabbed at your right breast, cupping it as if to feel its weight, then kneaded it slowly until it sent shivers through you. His thumb brushed over your now hardening nipple through the material of your bra. He did the same with your left. He then imprisoned the nipple and squeezed it rhythmically between his fingers before reaching for the other to give it the same treatment. A rush of shameful pleasure shot through you and settled between your legs, making your sex grow warm as if it could also blush, and you held back a moan with great effort. Copia pulled on the leash, making you lean slightly closer to him. 

"Kiss me," He whispered. As soon as he commanded, you moved to catch his lips in a deep kiss almost too quickly, still keeping your hands behind your back. Copia sucked at your mouth, then opened it with his tongue as his hand went between your open legs and, without warning, stroked your sex through your panties. You uttered a sharp cry against Copia's lips before you could stop yourself. Your body immediately acknowledged him with a twitch of your hips and a soft discharge of fluids while you struggled to swallow another moan. You squirmed, resisting the urge to close your legs with everything you had. Copia broke away from your lips to kiss your earlobe, then he nibbled at it as his hand continued to stroke you. His fingers moved in slow circles now, pressed harder until they found the sensitive mound of your clitoris through the moistening cloth. You gave a soft, open-mouthed gasp and your hips jerked forward in supplication. You wanted to grind yourself on his fingers, rock your hips for more, but the sheer gracelessness of it seemed too much for you. Besides, you weren't sure if it was something he would approve of or chastise, so you stayed as still as you could, your legs starting to shake under your weight. Copia pulled back and smiled at your flushing face, then pulled the crotch of your panties to the side and glided two of his gloved fingers along the delicate folds of your labia. The fingers teased at the moist lips and continued to massage your clit in more circles, even slower ones that drew out the sensation. Breathy moans spilled from your lips. The pleasure washed through you, mounting and mounting as he worked you. Beneath your ecstasy, you felt a twinge of embarrassment at how quickly you had become wet for him. It was forgotten in an instant once Copia slid a finger inside you, then a second. You shuddered and cried aloud. Your sex quivered at the sudden penetration, and your cry melted into a long, low moan. Copia kissed the corner of your mouth.

"That's it," Copia said softly, pulling his fingers out, then sliding them back in slowly. Then again and again. "Don't resist me. Be a good girl for your Papa." 

Your hips moved forward at the sound of his voice. Once so frightening, but now smooth and rich as velvet. He was so close to you now, and for the first time, you could smell his cologne. It was warm, spicy, and delicious to you, almost intoxicating. Your eyes stared through heavy lids at Copia's lips. They were full yet strong, set into a faint smile that struck at a cord of desire in you that made the penetration even more pleasurable. You wanted to kiss and kiss those lips until you had your fill. You felt your sex start to throb, and you began to gasp, but before it became too much for you, Copia dropped the leash, withdrew his fingers, and pushed you back, that seductive little smile still there. You let out a disappointed moan that would have been humiliating had you done it to anyone else. 

"That's enough for now," Copia said, "Get down on your knees." 

Your mind whirled as you let yourself float down until you sat on your heels on the floor, your legs still slightly apart. Your thighs trembled under you, and your throbbing craved relief. You kept your hands behind your back. You feared that if you let them fall to your sides, you would lose control and throw yourself at Copia in desperation. The only thing you allowed yourself to do was writhe, clasping your hands as tight as possible. You felt the wetness of your sex between your legs, sticky, slick, and hot. 

You let out a sigh, looking up at Copia, your lips parted, your body wanting more.  He snapped his fingers and pointed to the floor.

"All fours." He ordered.

You fell onto your hands and knees. You arched your back, your buttocks lifted as if to be presented. Your body tingled in arousal at doing so, knowing that Copia could see you doing it. You wiggled your hips a little bit, and you were shocked at your own boldness. 

'Fuck it, I don't care. I don't care.' You thought.

Copia stepped forward, a low chuckle rumbling in his throat. 

"Good girl," He said, and he crouched down to take a closer look at you, "Does my little puppy want more?" 

"Yes, Papa." You said softly, "Please." 

"Then I think you should clean up the mess you made." Copia held up the hand that touched you. The gloved fingers were still glistening with your juices. He touched them to your lips, and you took them into your mouth without a thought. You sucked on them, letting your tongue swirl around the digits. The taste of leather and your own fluids mixed with your saliva, and when Copia pulled them away, you swallowed. The flavor lingered, both tantalizing and odd to you. 

Copia stood and made an airy gesture to your bottom.

"Wag your hips for me." He said, and he laughed when he saw your face go red, "It's no use being shy now, sister. Unless you want me to take my belt off and make good use of it. You don't want that, do you?"

Your breath caught in your throat. You shook your head. 

"That's what I thought. Now, put your face to the floor and swing those hips." 

Your face flamed as you lowered it until you all but kissed the floor, your ass high up in the air. You churned your hips and hoped it was pleasing. You felt Copia take the leash from the floor and give it a quick tug. 

"Faster. Arch your back more."

You lowered as you were told to do and arched your back almost uncomfortably, your cheek sealed to the floor. A groan escaped you at the touch of the cold stone on your chest. Then in utter submission, any sense of pride, if there was indeed any in the first place, left you, and you wagged your buttocks back and forth like an excited dog wagging its tail for its master. Above you, you heard the creak of the bedsprings as Copia sat. You felt another tug on the leash, and you lifted your head. Copia sat back on the bed with his legs spread apart, the bulge of his erection in full view. Your sex seemed to swell at the sight of it. 

"You please me very well, sister," Copia said. He tugged on the leash again to bring you forward. "No more playing. Come here, let Papa reward you." 

"Papa..." You whispered. You hurried to him on your hands and knees. You kissed the tops of his shoes on an impulse, then his ankles. Copia didn't protest, so you kissed his knees and dared to run your hands along his inner thighs and kiss them as well. His thighs were rather shapely and solid under his clothes, pleasant to touch. When your hand rubbed over his groin, Copia let out a soft moan. Encouraged, you leaned over and kissed the waist of his pants, still rubbing the bulging sex. 

"Undo them." Copia's hand stroked your hair.

You didn't hesitate to undo the button and zipper of his pants. And now you were staring at his cock through his boxers, a small wet spot formed on the dark cloth. Again, you leaned down, placing a little kiss there, then you darted your tongue out and licked it. The hard cock twitched in its prison as if it asked to be free. You looked up at Copia with lustful, inquiring eyes, and you were delighted when he nodded at you. 

"Yes, cara. You can touch it." 

You pulled the elastic fabric down until his cock sprung free from its confinement. It stood tall and thick. A bead of clear fluid seeped from the tip, and you stared at it, surprised by its length and size. You took it in your hand, stroked it, felt its hardness and warmth. You couldn't help but wonder if the others knew Copia was quite well-endowed. You caressed the shaft up and down, tightening your hand every so often at the base of Copia's cock. Copia moaned as you did so, his head lolling back slightly. Your heart fluttered in your chest. It felt good to know that you gave him pleasure, that you pleased him enough to avoid his wrath and to even reward you. What an honor this must have been! A ripple of relaxation washed over you. You closed your eyes and took the tip of the cock into your mouth, suckling on it before taking it deeper in.

Copia gasped above you and bucked his hips. The action drove the shaft even deeper into your mouth, and you sucked on it hard, bobbing your head with a steady rhythm. It nudged the back of your throat, droplets of salty liquid mixed with the taste of his skin. Copia's thighs shivered, and his breath quickened. You moaned as you continued to push up and down on his cock until his hips started to shake. 

"Fuck, sister," Copia grunted, "That's enough!"

He grabbed your hair and pulled your head away. He didn't pull you hard enough to hurt, but you still gasped once you felt the fingers grip your hair. When he released you, he motioned for you to stand. You obeyed.

"Take everything off and lay on the bed." He told you, almost breathless. 

The collar was the first to go; you unbuckled it and threw it aside, happy to be rid of the awful thing. You unclasped your bra and let it slip from your shoulders. Though the air was cool on your now naked breasts, your nipples grew hot and erect. A sudden, inexplicable desire to entice Copa came to you as you lowered and stepped out of your panties. 

'Do it.' Your lust-clouded mind ordered you, and you did. 

When you straightened, you locked eyes with Copia as you ran your hands over your breasts, pushing them together and biting your lip. A dark look flickered across Copia's face, and he stood with a low growl. He snatched your upper arm and yanked you to him. 

"You dare tease me in my own room after I've given you an order?" He hissed, then gave a wicked smile, "You must like being punished, sister. But we will save that for another time." 

He turned to fling you down onto the bed. You fell back onto the mattress; the sheets and coverlet were soft and plush underneath you. You had little time to enjoy it before Copia descended on you with rough kisses, his hips grinding against yours, his cock prodding at your thigh. His hand grabbed and kneaded your breast hard. But you wanted him so badly that you scarcely noticed how tight his fingers dug into your flesh. He then gave it a cruel slap that drew a loud moan from you. It was an exciting mix of pain and pleasure, and you wanted more.

"Again." You pleaded. You arched your back to offer your chest to him, and you wrapped your legs around his hips. Copia rose from his kisses. It was his turn to lock eyes with you as he lifted his hand and struck you again, just a little bit harder than the first time. You whimpered and squirmed underneath him. Copia positioned and moved his hips so that the shaft of his cock rubbed along your slick pubic lips, grazing your sensitive, engorged clitoris. You strained against him, tried to rock your hips to feel more of that rigid member. Copia looked amused by your torment. 

"Tell me what you want." He leaned down again and sucked at your nipples, bit at them playfully with his teeth. Your hands went to cradled his head to you, little sighs and moans leaving you unrestrained. 

"Fuck me." You murmured into his hair. 

As soon as the words left your mouth, Copia rose, brought his cock to your opening, then drove it into you in one fluid motion. You cried out. Your head fell back, and your body seemed to explode in pleasure. His cock was a thick, piercing thing inside you, bathing in your juices as he drew back and plunged into you. His thrusts were brutal, delivered in almost snapping motions that made the bedsprings creak under you. You heard yourself unleash loud, guttural moans with each solid thrust, wholly overcome by denied passion. Copia buried his face in your neck, his breath making the skin hot as he panted. The agonizing pleasure rose in your core, swelling, ready to erupt in a shower of sparks behind your skull, in your loins. Then all at once, your wet sex tightened around Copia and throbbed violently until you were all but screaming in ecstasy. You clutched Copia while the spasms rolled through you, and you let your legs spread wide, allowing Copia to slam into you unhindered until he also gave a small cry and shuddered above you. Hot, gushing fluid flowed into you and lay you back with your chest heaving in gasps. 

Copia pulled out and collapsed beside you. You turned on your side to face him; his features were soft-looking, almost angelic in their exhaustion. His eyes drooped closed, his forehead glistened with sweat. You brushed his disheveled hair back, leaned close, and kissed his brow, tasting the saltiness on your lips before pulling away. Copia opened his eyes, gazed at you lovingly, then took you and cradled you to his chest. The fabric of his suit felt luxurious on your naked skin in the afterglow, and you snuggled close to it, sighing. You both stayed that way for a few minutes, with Copia threading his fingers through your hair. You yawned, and your eyes started to feel heavy.

"We can't fall asleep," Copia said, shaking you a bit to rouse you, "I've kept you here long enough, and the other sisters must be out of their minds with worry by now." 

"Yes, Papa." You nodded, sat up, and winced a little. Your privates ached from their hard riding. You tried to hide it, only making a slight noise in your throat. It seemed you couldn't fool Copia, however. He also got up and rubbed your lower back, kissing your cheek.

"Was Papa too rough with you, cara?" He asked. You shook your head. 

"No, Papa, I'll be fine. It'll pass." You reassured him. 

"Alright, but I will have Cirrus check on you later tonight anyway," He patted your hip, "And what happened here must be a secret. You know this, right? Otherwise, I'd have to gag you and march you through the grounds. It's a little, eh, display, you could say, that I've come up with to officially demonstrate my authority to the others. I have yet to put it into practice, and It'd be unfortunate to have you be its first victim." 

You bowed your head, not in fear, but again in reassurance.

"Yes, Papa. I won't tell anyone." You said obediently. You crawled out of bed and gathered your clothes. Copia zipped and buttoned up his pants, then stood as well and straightened his hair. 

"Good. Now, get dressed and get back to the convent. Tell the Ghouls to run you a bath when you get there. Say it's my orders, and they'll do it." 

"Okay." A bath sounded lovely to you as you redressed. If only Copia could join you...

"And sister," Copia's voice came low, playful. You turned, and you saw his eyes gleam at you. Your pulse quickened.

"Yes, Papa?" You asked.

"Don't forget that I said I would save your other punishment for next time." He winked at you, and your heart soared. 

"I won't." You smiled. 

"Good girl."

You bid him good night, then left his chamber, secretly hoping that that time would be soon.

[tisthenightofthewitch]

Ghost / Tobias Forge: “We're going to keep on changing the set a little bit throughout the tour cycle. More than we ever did before.”

In 2018, Ghost fans were introduced to Prequelle, which brought with it some inspirations that were clearly more 80s oriented. Totally uninhibited, Tobias Forge, mastermind with his thousand-stringed bow, brought us tasty melodies that took us back to the best of AOR while maintaining the mystical identity of a band that fascinates more and more with each release. COVID-19 would unfortunately delay the continuation of the adventures of Cardinal Copia who became Papa Emeritus IV (Tobias’ on-stage alter-ego) in the meantime. Impera, a new, slightly heavier release, but also a worthy sequel to Prequelle, arrived just in time for the resumption of live concerts. Here we discuss the new album and upcoming tour with Tobias Forge.

Hello Tobias, how are you? How are you feeling three days before starting the Impera Tour in Manchester?

Hello! Right now, I’m still in Sweden. One of the reasons why I’m still here is because of the same old story we’ve heard over the past couple of years: COVID. Everything is very dependent on traveling, of course, and transport. With all those delays, all our gear has been traveling since we stopped the US tour at the beginning of March, it’s just arrived in the UK like today or something like that...

I guess it’s complicated to schedule everything the way you want it. But we’re curious, will this tour be reminiscent of what you did after Prequelle? ?

I’m not gonna lie, everything is very late. Our teams are working over there to get everything in order. The show we will play during the Impera Tour will be slightly shorter compared to the Prequelle era. At this period of time we were playing two and a half hours with an intermission. For this tour, this is going to be more an hour and a half or something like that. It will match with the shows that we did in the U.S. in January, February, March, but longer.

Impera is an album we can easily imagine being played in its entirety in concert. Have you considered doing this?

Well, at some point maybe, but not right now. I can't really say why we didn't choose to do that. Let’s say I think we are not ready to do that yet. We needed to be a little bit more to the point. Honestly, between the U.S. tour and this tour, we just haven't. We live on so many places on the Earth, we didn't have any opportunity to sort of reconfigure everything from the ground up to something completely different. But in the future we might, because, you know, what you will see during the European tour is not going to be the same thing that you will see later in the year and next year. We're going to keep on changing the set a little bit throughout the tour cycle. More than we ever did before.

Hunter’s Moon is the first song we heard from Impera at the end of 2021. We knew it was part of the Halloween Kills movie, but in your mind, was this song always meant for Impera?

Not initially when we started recording in 2018. Hunter's Moon was meant to be a separate track, but I wasn't satisfied with the result. I found the one that we sent off to the film company not to be to my liking. So I wanted to remake it for the album because it felt like a strong song to be part of an album as well. Of course, being part of an album is a bigger thing, but I figured that Hunter’s Moon was just too good to be just buried someplace out there. I needed to fix it. The only way to get my version out was to have it on the album. It’s that upbeat sort of poppy track that I had in my head and wanted for Impera.

Does Impera look and sound like what you had in mind a couple of years ago when you started planning the album?

It's very much like working on a movie. You can have a script, you can have a story, etc… But at the end of the day, everything is based on the takes, the actors and the circumstances. I really think it’s the same for an album and the tracks in it. You can have an idea for years that you stick to, but the record is never made until you're in the last stage of recording because you are always messing with stuff in it; a word, a note or a song. For as long as you're recording it, it can never be 100% planned. When I say that I already know what the plan is for an album, it’s really just about the concept and everything around that.

Is that the case for whatever is coming after Impera?

I have a very, very clear concept of what I want the next record to be. I know the title. I know what the lyrics will be about and what kind of song titles I want. I know how I want to progress from this live show we have, and you will see in Paris in the next live show what we're going to do in 2024 and the major differences between the two. I have a road map of the land I want to conquer, but I don't know exactly how I will. (laughs)

Can you tell us more about the Papa Emeritus statue we see on Impera’s cover? It seems that it’s perhaps incomplete/unfinished.

The idea for the statue is that it is still being built. If you fold out the full cover, you’ll see the poor, quiet industrial city outside looking up to the big, enormous building that is the church of the state, in which all the gold in the country has been invested in order to make a huge statue of the dictator. All the necessary materials for it have been sucked out of the rest of the country.

The message couldn’t be clearer!

It was important for it not to be finished. If you look closely at the statue, you see how extremely small the people around are compared to the gigantic work. It takes an enormous amount of wealth and manpower in order to finish that statue. And it might never get finished.

Can you tell us more about the guitars in Impera? Have you changed something in the writing and recording process compared to Prequelle?

First of all, I really want to say that the amount of guitars is identical between Prequelle and Impera. I had recorded all the guitars for all the demos and the pre-production for all the songs. But as we were going into the recording process one thing you can do with the modern days of recording equipment is use all the demo tracks. It would have saved an awful lot of time to do it. Using all those guitars that had already been recorded, it’s a dream. They were recorded at various times throughout the writing and the demo process, which was over the course of a year and a half, basically. So, unfortunately, if you listened to the demos, the guitars would sound different from a verse to a chorus depending on the period of time it was recorded. It was weird, and it was almost impossible to use them. We needed to re-record them, and in the six months where I could have done that, I needed to do a lot of other stuff.

I guess it’s time to talk about Fredrik Åkesson’s (Guitar/Opeth) collaboration with you on Impera.

We needed to have someone who can read and track all the guitars in the blink of an eye. Fredrik is phenomenal at not only playing guitars, but also sort of mimicking. He likes playing for hours and hours every day. He's a good friend of mine and we live close to each other. That's another thing… you know, usually, when everything in the world works normally, despite the fact that we both live in Stockholm, Opeth are usually out on tour when I'm home and when I'm on tour, they’re home. So we barely see each other. But during COVID, of course, one of the big benefits was that everybody was around and people needed things to do. It was very much a friendly like: “Hey, do you want to come in and do something funny? Oh, and please have a look at solos while you're at it and make them sound a little bit better”. (laughs)

During the last show of the Prequelle era, Cardinal Copia became Papa Emeritus IV. Had you always planned for him to become the fourth Papa?

As I always said, we needed to see his journey as Cardinal Copia to see if he deserved to become the next Papa. I guess he succeeded!

He seemed a little bit off in the Chapter 10 video that was released, perhaps even a little bit sad. Is he okay?

I really hope so...

Qobuz.com