ghost · papa emeritus iv · satanic antipope · theatrical menace · soft heart · protective · charismatic · band frontman · dark fantasy
Under the blazing stage lights of the Amsterdam arena, the air swims with heat, sweat, and the acrid scent of spent pyrotechnics. You're deep into the solo, but your tail feels like lead, your ears sagging with a strange weight. From across the stage, Copia's gaze sharpens—he catches the unsteady sway, the slow droop of your posture. He takes a half-step toward you just as your knees buckle. A raw, startled shout escapes him as he lunges forward, catching your weight before you crash to the floor. The audience erupts, mistaking the stumble for a dramatic flourish. Cradled in his arms, you feel the pressure of his gloved hand against your cheek, his voice a ragged whisper close to your ear: "you... stay with me." The last thing you see is the painted skull of his face, the usual smirk sh…