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He always felt like he was meant for something more. From when he was a boy, looking at Papa Nihil’s work, to being a Cardinal looking at his friends rise up to Papal glory, he always felt there was something more planned for him. When he became Papa Emeritus IV and donned his makeup and Papal robes, he expected that urge to be satisfied, what greater honour could he receive? He was Papa and front man of the Ghost project. But there was always something more.
Maybe it was his parents. As much as he pretended not to know, he was proud to know that Sister and Nihil had once shared a loving and unholy bond, and that bond produced him. His mother had always paved the way for him. Sister Imperator had given him the best tutelage an “orphan” in the Ministry could ever ask for. Not even those creepy twins that Papa Nihil loved so much could receive a finer education in the Dark Gospels. Copia always passed on his knowledge to his friend, Calvaria as he was officially part of The Bloodline and needed that knowledge more than Copia did, although Calvaria would now be forever known as Papa Emeritus III. When Copia found out that Calvaria had been killed, along with his two elder brothers, Copia’s world stopped. Cal had been one of his best friends growing up as they weren’t too far in age, only a few months apart. But of course Cal’s father would provide his bloodline with their own private education, doting on his progeny relentlessly. Copia had been close to all three of the brothers but him and Calvaria had got along particularly well.
The eldest, Tenebris, watched over Copia frequently with dark intrigue, Copia never understood why when he was younger, but now he was more knowledgable. Tenebris acted liked the silent older brother that he was to Copia and somehow figured out the truth before his own father. He was particularly gifted in interpreting the gospels and, quite literally, listening to the Devil on his shoulder. In that regard, he was a perfect Papa, always putting their Dark Lord before anything, but Sister was not impressed by his “slow” progress in the restart of the Ghost project. When Debellator was instated as Papa Emeritus II, he helped launch the project even further with his classic rock star attitude. While he didn’t always take his duties seriously, he was a good Papa for the Ghost project. Debel was the second son, he never expected to be Papa when Mr. Unholy himself was his elder brother. He didn’t take his tutelage seriously and when it came time for him to be named Papa, he was caught off-guard. Too stuck in his ways to change to Sister’s impossible standards and so Nihil took Calvaria and tutored him to Hell and back so that he had the chance to be the best Papa possible. Copia didn’t see him much in those last few months of Debel’s run.
Copia was backstage for Cal’s debut and said many a dark prayer for him, donning Cal’s redesigned Grucifix on a rosary. He’d repair Cal’s robes and helped paint his eye makeup, watching it dry. Cal was always like a brother to him and Copia would never let him down or betray him. Copia, of course, had imagined himself as Papa but he knew Cal loved and suited the role too much, he was so dedicated to it that Copia would never dream of taking it from him. Copia will never forget Calvaria excitedly running to his room in the Ministry with more stories of mischief and fun from tours and performances.
Anyone in the Ministry would be lying if they said they had never imagined themselves as Papa, what colour would their robes be, what would their makeup look like, what would they write songs and albums about. But few would dare speak it out loud. While the Ministry didn’t have sins like sacrilege or heresy, in fact those are somewhat endorsed, talking about any Papa that wasn’t the current Papa certainly came close. It was as if you wanted that Papa gone, as if he wasn’t good enough, and only Sister could make that judgment, and her temper was not to be played with. That’s why Copia was particularly shocked one evening when he was a teen when he was asked that somewhat forbidden question,
“Would you like to be Papa, C?”
Copia stared blankly in shock as a return, he felt a strange burning up his back, like something was trying to break free, probably just embarrassment.
“Come on,” Sister implored, “I know you have. I saw you and Calvaria sketching Papal robes the other day in the gardens after your lesson. Would you want to be Papa one day?”
Copia sheepishly nodded his head, “It must be a trick question.” He thought to himself, “Some gas or fume gone to her head, or why else would she ask this?”
“It’s only natural, my dear boy. We all have our idols.”
Copia sat up, knowing by her tone that he wasn’t about to be lectured, “I want blue robes, I think. And my makeup would be more simple and slightly geometric, so it is obviously a skull but it would be more interesting, more striking.”
Sister smiled seeing her son take such interests in their Ministry. Although she could never admit it out loud, she was the proudest mother that ever was.
Copia looked back at all the moments in his childhood that had been preparing him for this moment. He had summoned his first Ghoul at 12, the youngest ever recorded, wrote his first song at 23 as an homage to how he had hoped his parents had met and fell in love, he named it Dance Macabre, it wouldn’t be released until he was in his forties but he was still proud of it. Sister had also laid some important seeds. Even before he was Cardinal she gave him the white eye that was a hallmark of a Papa in the Ministry, she gave him lavish rooms practically let him have free rein of the Ministry grounds, she had him spectate rituals and services that usually only highest members of the Clergy partook in and she always highlighted the importance of their work. To free all from religious ethics forced upon them by tyrannical rulers that didn’t understand the importance of individuality. She always seemed to know something more, from her adamant instructions that Copia be illustrated with wings and pointed ears on merchandise for the Ghost project, to his suits and robes somehow be made already for him, she was always one trick ahead.
This moment was important, he had stepped on stage as Cardinal for the last time, the Unholy Nuns transformed him into Papa Emeritus IV on stage, something never done before in public. And now, he would emerge for the first time, on his own tour as Papa. He reflected some more and felt that burning in his back again, “Probably nerves.” he muttered. He thought of Tenebris, Debellator and, of course, Calvaria. He thought of their bodies coming on tour for all to see. He thought of their Ghouls who were banished back to Hell with no warning, no goodbyes or chances to get their few belongings. Copia looks to his own Ghouls and Ghoulettes and swore in the name of Satan Himself that he would treat his Ghouls right and wouldn’t let anything happen to them.
They were supposed to be nameless but in a band where anonymity is focal, he encouraged names so they did not lose themselves. He designed masks where his Ghouls’ real horns came through the mask, Sodo’s white horns gleamed through and matched his white Stratocaster, as did Mountain’s half-black-half-white horns, Rain was still regrowing his right horn, and Cumulus no longer had to hide her longer curved horns under the smaller masks they had last time.
“Five minutes, Papa.” A crew member said and Papa nodded, knowing it was time to go. He took his place behind the white curtain and waited for his Imperium to start, then it would turn into Kaisarion and then it would be a blur until their bow at the end. Finding his Papa would be a combination of all that came before him, Nihil’s charm, Tenebris’ knowledge and respect of the dark forces, Debellator’s sexual rock ‘n’ roll nature and Calvaria, Cal’s with him always, always. Copia longed for Cal to be able to watch his Rituals, see what he had brought as Papa and how much people still love him and his brothers. When they died Sister had told him that “This is the moment of just letting go” so he would focus on his new duties. But he would always call out that name, in hopes he would return in a spectral manner like Nihil but maybe the light down below is simply darker as he had always preferred. Copia had Cal’s Grucifix on his Cardinal robes for a while but now as Papa he had to design his own.
Sodo had now started playing Kaisarion, and he knew it was time to find Papa IV, maybe that burning in his back was Papa, his true form, waiting to come out and wow the world with what he can do. That is the something more he was crafted in Hell for. Maybe by Satan himself. Maybe he will bring what Sister has fought for all these years, peace brought by their darkness. That is what he was meant for. That was his something more.