Dark Side of the Moon

Cross Effects => Cross Effects => Areas => Topic started by: Aiden on May 11, 2019, 10:58:16 PM

Title: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 11, 2019, 10:58:16 PM: Xibalba

The Image

"A kingdom is like a large house... where everyone lives together. As family." ~ The Chancellor’s Eulogy.

Xibalba is a seemingly strange place of many mysteries and wonders. Its streets and halls that warp and twist in mind-bending manners, households and structures rotate, float, and merge, all of it made of black and white stones. They almost make it seem like a demented game of chess.

But if one treads with care, courage and a clear mind, he will find in the hearth of the district that it is in fact a place as odd as it is beautiful, and the more you sink inside the more the beauty becomes apparent. From majestic elven structures, to the streets, to the many facilities generously opened up for its citizens… one could call it a paradise for its people. For indeed, the joyous life of its citizens did not begin until Xibalba’s heart beat its first time, aided by the gentle ruling hand of the Queen and her loyal chancellor. And not a single resident denies the fact that this place was their blessing.

They are happy, truly peaceful and joyous, and their sole wish is to keep living in peace and happiness. And in its center, the tower of Sur Carys rises from the earth, and is built upon by the workers even to this day. Some even think that it will eventually reach the heavens.

The Reality

Xibalba is a realm of darkness and delusion. The original populace have been replaced by shadowy simulacra who ably imitate the motions of daily life. Their average and ordinary homes squat beneath looming half-finished walls of black and white stone, and behind them their true lifeless forms silently labor. Day and night they work to build the twisted abodes of an immortal aristocracy not yet in residence, all of them arranged in an incoherent pattern around a central point.

At night the spirits of the dead and damned haunt battlements dusty with the residue of fresh construction, footprints left behind the only sign of their passing. The wailing of banshees echoes through empty corridors, filling them with a song meant for no living soul. They await their new, pointy-eared masters to come and fill them.

The tower Sur Carys rises up from the center of the citadel, its ancient walls of basalt and marble presenting an elegant facade to the world in a display of classical elven architecture. Here the ruler of this place, the Black Queen Serana, oversees the construction process. It is only a matter of time before her siren call begins to pull those of her chosen master race to this place so they might take their place in glory as her subjects.

The Citizens

Shadows from an old world formed nests inside the former citizen’s skins. Now, they wear their faces and dance awaiting the new. These dark organisms are clusters from an alien energy source from another dimension, dark because their very nature is obfuscating, and they do not possess emotions or a will of their own. Since they lack a proper soul and their very essence is a void, or a negative, sensing them through supernatural means is difficult, and one should not be surprised to have one greet you from behind before you even noticed. They are basically guided by ancient magic into acting out as automatons, and act out just like the original humans would have, even replicating some of their memories. The truth is, the line between truth and fiction is blurred, and they genuinely act as if they were the real deal.

The Tower

Serana has always been nobility, and so even in death she rules all she surveys from above. Though her grand palace and sprawling capital city are lost to her, the central tower from which she ruled her terrible empire remains. It contains the lion’s share of Serana’s thousands of years of magical research, and is defended by magical barriers as strong as she can possibly make them. Only sustained artillery barrages can hope to crack its walls, and they lash out in return with dark curses equivalent to cannon fire. Finally, she may perceive around and within it, and cast her magic therein, without being physically present.

(Jointly written with Francobull3)
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 12, 2019, 03:07:55 AM: Ezekiel 8:00 AM

"Good morning sunshine!"

His steps walked down the empty manor's halls that had grown familiar to him lately. Since the sun was shining so brightly today, he found it even more tiring to open his eyes than usual. But he managed to get up like he always did. He left to the streets like he always did.

You gotta do what you gotta do. Life's all about the routines, the habits, the stuff you end up not thinking about anymore.

"Oh hi Zeke, you're up early!" A neighbour who was busy tending his garden greeted him with the same warm smile as always. It always warmed his heart, and for a moment his expression faltered into a glad smile. It was nice to see such a hard working man enjoying the simple things. "Hey George. It's lovely out here! Any luck with the tomatoes?"

"Ohoho~ Silly goose, this time I'm doing peppers!" The old man laughed heartily, and for a moment Zeke wanted to laugh too. "Nice! I'll see if I can find that cookbook you wanted. Nothing like a good pepper stew in the season!" And with that he waved to his neighbour.

And he walked, and greeted Martha, who would always walk her dog at this hour. He luckily would always come with a treat, and mess with that lil old feller's fur a bit before going on his way. Jacob usually jogged the same way he walked, so occasionally he'd talk with him, ask him if everything was alright with school. Must be hard having to put so much work into the future, he sure envied that boy. Wanting to become a doctor, its honestly pretty admirable.

And he'd always see Sarah and Lauren bicker about boy stuff and gossip, but he knew they had their eyes on one another. Lucky devils, romance sure is nice. You can't always deny that kind of stuff and put it for later, you might just end up regretting not having said something.

Because if this little piece of land were a ship, it's the captain's duty to make sure no one's left behind. Right?

10:00 AM

"He's back, he's back!" "Yay! Let's play! Let's play some more!" "Will he show us any cool tricks!" "It's the magician!"

Jeez, now that he got to the little park he set up, he could start working. But seeing the dozen of kids flocking at him, he figured this was the one habit he could never get tired of. His smile was warm when they all pounced into him, trying to bring him down again were they! The little rascals! "Hehehe. That's right, I brought some snacks too! Here kiddos."

He raised up a basket full of fruits and some cheese, even juice boxes. But the real surprise he brought was something hard to come by here. Meanwhile a dozen of children were playing happily around him, some chasing after butterflies, others drawing on the ground.

One of them looked more lonesome than the others. "Gotta eat to stay big and strong and healthy, just like me! Hmph!" He flexed a little before taking a seat, and with that the children that were flocking all over the place for a good while finally settled down.... eventually. Life's all about the routines, the habits, the stuff you end up not thinking about anymore. But some of these kids never got to experience that kind of peaceful habit.

Having to worry about tomorrow, never being sure about what's going to come next. Living in fear. Misery. Sadness. He heard their troubles, their worries. Some would go to bed hungry, others didn't even get to go to bed. And the least fortunate wished they'd never have to go on a bed again... it was hard. He had to take it easy, slowly, but here everyone was a family. And family means no one gets left behind. Life's all about the routines, the habits, the stuff you end up not thinking about anymore. He was just glad he could give them a safe place.

Today, he'd show them how to make a bird from a flame's shadow.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 12, 2019, 04:22:26 AM: Sur Carys

10:00 AM

The antechamber to the tower of Sur Carys was a structure in its own right - a basilica in black. It was barred by steel doors, too heavy for humans to open. Teams of grey-robed figures, silent save for their shambling gait, were chained off to the side so that they might pull the opening mechanism. Within was a magnificent example of elven architecture - a colossal nave with spaces for hundreds of supplicants to kneel and read. Stained glass in shades of white and shale shone with the haunting light of ghost-flames dangling in cages from the vaulted ceiling, each window depicting a scene from antiquity:

The fall of the King Inioch of the Verdant Court, whose death at the hands of the human rabble sundered the elven race for a thousand years.

The end of the Azrac Empire as the Horn of the Dead resounds throughout the desert, dethroning the tyranny of life so that they dead may rise.

The rise of the usurper Gabriel, the immortal angel who wore the shape of man and claimed for all races the fruits of elven labor in the name of the Wizard's Circle.

The opening of the Shadow Realm, and the reunification of the elven race as the daemons within threaten to consume the world.

The final treachery of the mortal races as they tear down all who came before them.

The ascension of the storm sister Serana as the Harbinger of Death, who restored the Elven Court to glory.

At the end of the center aisle was a ramp of stairs leading up to the chancel, the desecrated space where the darkest of rituals were conducted. A triad of bloodstained altars dominated the space, and upon them were freshly dressed corpses. The scent of salts and embalming fluids filled the chamber as black-robed elves worked their wicked spells on the bodies, chanting in demonic tongues and the most ancient of fae verses to guide their work. They prepared suits of grim, eyeless armor and foul blades seething with necrotic energies to be fused to their victim's forms.

Six women in white robes with pointed hats and carrying golden staves stood motionlessly upon the stairs, gazing out over the shadowy simulacra who knelt in supplication before them. A seventh stood a step further back, and preached in a hollow voice. "... and so the final night descended upon the Valley of Wonders, and all whose voices rose up in blasphemy against our lady were gifted with silence. So it is written:"

'That in death, they knew purpose.'

"So it shall be to all who would seek to end what we have wrought."

'They too shall rest.'

Lightning crackled between their golden staves. "So it is known."

----------------------

Serana

At the pinnacle of the tower she sat, flanked on either side by the elegant corpses of her elven guardians and their ceremonial spears. Her chin rested in her hand as she gazed into the black fabric of the center table, and the crimson crystal at its center. She felt for its power, the arcane catalyst, and felt it ebb and dim. An unnecessary sigh escaped her at this. "Such a frustrating turn of events. It seems the flow of mana in this place is all too feeble."

She crossed her legs, and leaned back in her decadent throne. It was to her taste, of course - ghost-fire braziers along the rounded walls of the chamber, shelves full of trophies taken from a dozen slain worlds. The enormous throne room had room enough for an entire warband to fit within, but for now it was empty. Silent.

"We shall have to correct this deficit." Serana's eyes closed in time with her glistening lips, and her senses reached out to the most... difficult of her servants.

'Come here, You.'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 13, 2019, 12:00:15 AM: Ezekiel

'Come here, You.'

"Yes! Haha, you got it!" A bright light, orange like a flame was now enveloping the children and he. One of them had succeeded in taming the star-fire spirit, and now it was answering to the boy! THe children stared wide eyed in marvel. The fire was blossoming in-between the circle of people and sprouting with new life. A magical gestation that rippled with a warm light.

'She is calling'

The boy stuck out his tongue and exerted himself, his arms reached far towards the flame and he clenched his fists, trying to tame the fire. The magical power. But that power was not something from this world, it came from elsewhere. It was starting to grow berserk, lashing out and growing, growing, growing-

An armoured gauntlet pressed on the kid's shoulder, and Ezekiel smiled warmly. On that moment, the flame stood down and rebelled no more. In fact, it compressed into an orb and then rippled with shadows, until it became a black and orange bird of smoke and darkness, with eyes like molten salt. The children stared at it, marvelling. "Wow!" "You're so cool!" "I want to marry you!"

'Do not ignore her'

Of course, he blushed at the compliments and rubbed the back of his head. "Hehe. Yep, this is aaaall normal. Erm, you need to let the magic guide you, like a reflection of yourself. Start out with just making fire dance, you'll get the hang of it in no time! Heck, if you're really feeling brave, you can start doing it on a wooden ship in the middle of the ocean! Ahh, that takes me back! Bwahahahahahaha~!"

Until the voice could be ignored no longer. Suddenly, one of the children spoke, with a voice that did not belong to any being of flesh and bone. A nightmare. "You? What are you doing?"

Ezekiel's eyes widened for a second, and he turned around. "Eh? But I was just..." A sharp pain suddenly filled his head, and he winced. His fangs showed, frightening the children. Until his hand suddenly trailed down to his chest, to the scar that had branded him with defeat. And then he remembered.

'Who are you?"

"Right. Yes."

His dark wings sprouted from his back like rot ripping from a carcass. He took flight with the eyes of a corpse. Flapping and beating the air, they let him gain more and more speed, until he could not be seen from the park any longer. Soon, the children got up and turned around and left, each as if nothing happened, their steps and dull eyes reflected the soul of their creator.

It was just another day in Xibalba.

Sadly, crashing through the window was not an option. That meant he had to take the stairs. Jeez, what a pain in the ass. But whatever, he made it nonetheless. ANd when he reached the main throne room, he was greeted with her mug once more. His eyes turned candid, and he grinned.

"Yo. Honey, I'm home."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 13, 2019, 12:57:15 AM: Serana

It certainly took its time answering her call, didn't it? Still, a smile made its way to her eyes as her strongest servant finally arrived. "Playing with your toys again? Well, I suppose I can hardly justify chiding you for it with all of the effort you continue to put into them."

Serana motioned for it to approach while one of her thralls moved the table aside. If You had a sense for the necrotic then it would recognize the thin haze that hung over the chamber. It was a subtle incense that carried with it the final moments and darkest secrets of the dying from adjacent districts - the whispers of the fallen.

The lich inhaled it, and knew a fraction more than she did before. Then she inclined her head. "Before I begin, tell me of your activities, You. Inform me."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 13, 2019, 01:20:32 AM: Ezekiel

Oh, so that was where that stench came. Well, he could forgive it. In fact, he found he could forgive that woman anything. After all, she was his only one.

He stretched and yawned. "You mean other than drinking, gambling and whoring my way into an early grave? Cause I don't want to sound like an overachiever buuut..."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 13, 2019, 01:29:32 AM: Serana

Serana raised an elegant eyebrow in bemusement. "Yes, the less frivolous activities. Or shall I simply get to my point?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 13, 2019, 03:34:57 AM: Ezekiel

He chuckled. "Been using my eyes and ears a while. Listening... learning. This city is so ever-changing..." Despite his dark nature, for a moment his smile changed to a longing one.

"My latest adventures were a bit more than I could chew. After a good rest, nothing beats an afternoon snack. I should be fully recovered soon." It was a half lie, he had sustained worse damage than he realized. His heart and brain had been shattered by holy light, down to the fabric of their soul. Even as he spoke, he was burning due to God's judgment. Exerting himself to maintain the cloaking over her activities, as well as manifesting the simulacrons only put an even greater strain on his already dwindling self. While he had already fallen, his self was drawing nearer and nearer to the bottom of this pit.

He grinned wildly.

"It's not easy. Since you're hoarding all the good bodies, I had to look for my own. But I managed to fill in the gaps where magic wasn't enough. " He stretched the coat off his chest, revealing the side of his torso more than he usually did, and what she saw was horrifying. Something so dark, so abhorrent, it would make one's stomach churn.

"What can I say? Even I get hungry from time to time." He sighed with a relaxed smile, but despite that his left eye was shedding tears, whether they were his own was as clear as the origins of this world.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 13, 2019, 01:20:26 PM: Serana

It was most fortunate both that Serana's stomach was a dead thing that could not churn, and that she had experience with battling eldritch horrors the like of which had no place in any world. The depths of desperation, or hubris, to which sorcerers would sink in their efforts to halt her advance knew no bottom.

"... you fool."

One of the lich's hands curled up into a fist, and she grit her teeth.

"You, you absolute incompetent!" She shouted, as she dissolved into a shroud of darkness and reappeared next to him so she could lash out at the twisted space with a punch. But once her fist landed she just kept it there, unnaturally still.

If her heart still beat, it would be pounding. She whispered, "If you were having trouble like this, you should have told me."

Her hand rested flat on You's twisted form, and began to draw the whispers of the fallen down into its form. It felt... like You's body was beginning to stabilize, he'd realize as Serana stared intently at the horror she worked to alleviate.

"Fool."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 13, 2019, 07:17:01 PM: Ezekiel

"E-eh?" He was genuinely shaken by this reaction, and his expression showed. In a sudden twist of fate, perhaps for the first time, she got to see something beyond snide mockery from that man. "You were busy raising your armies. I can take care of myself." He took a step back and awkwardly wiped his coat off, glancing away.

That small confusion then turned into a wide, genuine grin. He flexed his arm up and gave her a thumbs up.

"After all, I'm the strongest one on your team!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 14, 2019, 03:53:49 AM: Serana

Serana's fingernail pressed itself firmly into her servant's chest, her face twisted into a frustrated scowl. "That is all the more reason for you to tell me when your needs aren't being met, You!"

She poked him quite firmly there, each one pushing a surge of mana suited to healing his unnatural body.

"My army is replaceable. You are not."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 14, 2019, 03:59:54 AM: Ezekiel

"E-eeeh?" Somehow, his expression turned even more shaken all of a sudden. Until he narrowed his eyes in suspicion and eyed her over carefully. "Lady... are you okay? You didn't eat anything funny, did you? Come on, what happened? You're supposed to kick me around and step on my back and gloat about it."

In the meanwhile, things inside his body began to crawl and writhe unnaturally, coursing through whatever gap was between bone, muscle and tissue like a hive of vermin bubbling under his skin. Her magic was doing something, but it couldn't quite heal the damage.

"Seriously, I'm fine. Quit it, it's embarrassing..." he rubbed the back of his head and glanced away.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 14, 2019, 04:19:48 AM: Serana

"We will converse more about your deranged peccadilloes at a later occasion."

If it expected her to be embarrassed by its bizarre tastes, that was not her concern. But its stubbornness felt almost offensive to Serana. Still, the poking ceased.

"The next time you lodge a complaint, be prepared for it to be addressed."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 14, 2019, 04:25:09 AM: Ezekiel

"P-peca...whaaaaaaaaaaaa?" He blinked sheepishly, only to shake his head. Right, uh, this was an important business meeting. Where was he?

"Anyways, uh, yeah! Life's good, you know? I get to eat, sleep, and drink as much as I like. This distric's the best!" He put a hand on his hip. "So, I'm taking you called me because there's dirty bidding to take care of?" He grinned awkwardly.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 16, 2019, 04:53:38 AM: Serana

Buffoon.

Serana vanished in a swirling cloud of shadow, and returned to her throne in but a moment. She rested her chin upon her hand, and motioned to the great red crystal on the table to her side.

"To continue to comfortably fuel our efforts, we will require a greater supply of mana than I arrived here with. This district is woefully bereft of powerful magical nodes - I would have you seek out alternative sources."

The lich smirked at You. "I know you have eyes and ears among the living who would be more than happy to keep us informed."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 18, 2019, 01:10:34 AM: Ezekiel

"Nah, they ain't mine." His expression turned into a wry smile. "Don't confuse human hearts for something so valuable. Just like this body, it is all for the purpose of bringing back the wyrm from the depths."

He bowed.

"Do you believe in gravity?" He asked her cockily.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 19, 2019, 01:36:20 AM: Serana

The lich raised an elegant eyebrow in bemusement. "What relevance does science have to the matter at hand?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 19, 2019, 01:55:46 AM: Ezekiel

He shook his head sorrily. "No no no no no no no... That's not what I'm talking about, friend. People are pulled towards each other, or towards a specific place, sometimes towards destiny. Lots of people think that's just fate, or chance. Coincidence. They're what you'd call idiots."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it, and looked up to her with a sharp smile.

"This world has a will, it has something it wants to see through. For some reason, you and I met on that fateful day. That miracle is nothing more than gravity that pulled us together, to that time and to that place. Nothing more than the will of this world that pulls us in its course. It's gravity that saved me, and let me meet someone reeal special. And it's what will pull us towards the end of our goals, I'm sure of it."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 19, 2019, 01:44:42 PM: Serana

Serana pulled her hand back, and looked away to the red crystal on her desk. But damn You, she could still see what this looked like from the perspective of her guards when it acted like this!

"Your optimism is unwarranted. And distracting."

She was going to have to dissuade it from believing they were friends. Later. When You wasn't speaking so much other ridiculous nonsense. Her eyes turned back to him after her moment of lost composure.

"Now, do you have the means to find what I seek, or not?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 20, 2019, 12:04:02 AM: Ezekiel

He sighed. Did she really have to be like that? He almost felt like crying his thousand eyes out.

"I found what you seek, before you even thought about getting your paws on it, girl." He snarled, less at her and more at the memory. "I guess I could try again, but..." He yawned. "Nah, don't feel like it. Or rather, it'd be a fool's errand. At least as we are now. Besides, power that isn't your own is worth less than rat shit in the middle of the road. Why not just train and get stronger or something?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 22, 2019, 03:00:29 PM: Serana

The elven necromancer put her arms into a position that made it seem like she was about to lecture her minion for that one. She even held a finger up in front of her face.

"Even with all the knowledge and skill in the world, the living cannot go without food and water. So it is with magic - ever reliant on the powers of the world."

And then she pointed at it.

"Tell me of what you found, then."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 24, 2019, 03:00:33 AM: Zeke

He smirked devilishly and bowed.

"The largest magic source in the city would be the Omphalos in the Citadel of Sorcery. It's an old district, which is where all of the great wizards of old and new pour their knowledge into. If you could get your hands on that place, you would have nearly limitless magical power. Then there's Pine Garden. A smaller, more modest spot surely, but maintained by potent magic. Drawing on it would not be the worst idea, I think..."

Right, there was still that place he tried to use. But thinking back on it, he winced in pain and had to shut an eye as he tried recalling the name. Right, yeah, that was also an option...

"There's a few more. Really, it's not like it's choice that's lacking. This city might as well be a chinese buffet when it comes to this kind of stuff."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 24, 2019, 06:49:16 AM: Serana

Chinese?

Serana gently sucked in another whisper from the dying nearby, seeking the knowledge she needed, and found the definition therein. She inclined her head. "Then we are spoiled for choice. The question becomes which is the most lightly defended of them?"

She crossed her legs, and motioned to You once more.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 24, 2019, 01:59:18 PM: Zeke

He sighed. As much as he liked the idea, it... wasn't a good one.

"I bring fire, blood and night unending where you wish, but even if we did breach one of their defences, the others would not just sit yknow?" He looked up and scratched his short stubble, pondering with the same smile as ever. "I don't mind it myself, heck, I would welcome it but... you have something to live for, and now I do as well. Nah, too risky. I love you even more for suggesting it though."

Man, he didn't get to stretch his muscles in forever though. Maybe he should grab a bite or two after he was done...

"It'd be easier to start small and work our way up. Instead of dealing with an entire district and their forces, if you wrapped one of its lords around your finger... well, snatching the prize under their feet would be all the easier, no?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 25, 2019, 01:23:07 AM: Serana

The lich seemed to go as still as a corpse in rigor mortis. It wasn't an immediate transition, but rather the slow realization on her servant's part that she simply wasn't moving at all and the unsettling sensation that perhaps she never had been. Serana settled that way for some time until the corner of her mouth twitched upward, abruptly.

"I suppose it has been some time," she began to say in a distant, reminiscing tone, "Since I have had to indulge in the games of living politics. I do hope I haven't grown rusty."

Now all that remained was to figure out who to cozy up with.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 25, 2019, 01:30:28 AM: Zeke

His eyes sparked up for a moment and he looked concerned. He held his hand out and opened his mouth, but stopped the moment she spoke.

He grinned and ultimately chuckled. "Gems don't rust, idiot. I'm sure you'll do great, you're my precious after all. But..." He sighed and looked away for a moment. "I... don't think I'll be much use with that. I was never a leader, or someone who inspired other people. Just a beast who creates and consumes life as he sees fit. Politics are a weakness to me.... I am far too weak."

For a moment, he wasn't sure what to say.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 25, 2019, 01:35:51 AM: Serana

"I don't keep you around for your skill at wrangling degenerate beasts, You." Serana waved off his speechless self-deprecation quite literally. Then she rested a hand over her chest. "No, I believe we shall simply have to rely on me for such thankless subtleties."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 25, 2019, 01:52:38 AM: Zeke

"...You break my heart lady." He shook his head with the same sly grin, as if the apologetic look was never there in the first place. "Fiiiine~! So what do you keep me around for? DO I have anything in particular to look forward to?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 26, 2019, 08:02:40 PM: Serana

She blinked as if confused by his question. "You are already doing so much. I was going to have you butcher my foes and slurp up their souls through a straw, but You have been quite adamant that we cannot take the direct approach. I am following your advice in this matter."

Serana inclined her head for a moment, as if to acknowledge its point.

"What else is it you desire, then?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 26, 2019, 10:54:02 PM: Ezekiel

Doing so much? No, she had to be kidding. Was this some sort of sick joke? Or perhaps penance? It's not like what he was doing was that special, anyone else could prove as much of a crutch as him. It was... weird. He couldn't remember the last time he felt like this. Or anything at all.

He closed his eyes and smiled, like the answer was obvious.

"I just want to live without fear. I want to cull the me that was branded with defeat. I want power, riches, worship, glory, and love. I want everything, so I never have to fear losing anything again."

For a moment, his expression turned sad.

I want what I cannot have.

"Is that why you took them all?" A sudden voice that was not his own escaped from his own lips. No, rather, the lips he borrowed, from the body that was never his ever since that day. And a sharp pain filled his head for a moment.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on May 29, 2019, 09:56:24 PM: Serana

Ugh. Serana did not abandon the world of breath and blood and turn herself into a harbinger of death just to deal with the dramas of the living all over again. She reached out to her servant's unliving form, and pushed her will into it.

"Be silent, wretched thing. I was listening to You, not you."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on May 30, 2019, 02:29:14 AM: You

For a moment, he looked at her with confusion, much like a broken child. "Eh? Who is you?You are you but I am me, I am, I-"

He stumbled and gasped for air, and his eyes darted around. Where was he? What was going on? Where were everyone else? He clutched his head in confusion and pain.

"Aah...aaaa..."

The next thing you could hear was the crunching of bone. And then there was nothing. No sound, no worrying, no disturbances. Peacefully quiet, as all things should be. His hand just stayed inside his crushed skull, while black tendrils wriggled their way out of the wound and the broken eye sockets. The hand that was you that was him that was not the you who interrupted You, the you who she knew as the you who served her.

He could never be anyone other than who he was. Sorry, but his vessel would have to suck it up.

"Sorry about that. This body of mine can be prickly." He chuckled while his face began to crawl back into its original shape, and the leaked brain matter wriggled its way back into his skull. "Honestly... I don't want anything at all. I'm already as happy as a man can be."

He hugged her without saying another word, without a warning or anything.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 04, 2019, 12:51:14 AM: Serana

She waited, patiently, for her servant to resolve its internal conflict. It was quite irritating to see how a being as powerful as this one could have so little control over itself. When it announced its success she nodded in approval. "See that you keep this in mind-"

And then it was suddenly touching her. Her face froze in a moment of shock.

"W-W-What are you doing?!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 04, 2019, 01:00:10 AM: Ezekiel

But he didn't let go. He didn't want to let go. And he'd never let anything go again.

He let go of her, she could see he did so with a big devilish grin.

"Sooooo, boss, shall we begin to make formal introductions?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 07, 2019, 12:05:20 AM: Serana

The only thing that stopped Serana from violently punishing her pernicious servant was the infinite patience of the dead.

Really. That was why. Only reason.

She brushed herself off and straightened her elegant outfit the very moment it let go of her. "If you promise to be well behaved and maintain propriety while we are among the public."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 07, 2019, 12:46:31 AM: Zeke

"Don't worry~ We'll be as well behaved as a Pomeranian pup." He grinned heartily and gave her a thumbs up. Its not like he was the kind of crazy person who would just act out for the heck of it.

He ignored the word that escaped his lips. Or perhaps he didn't even realize he said it in the first place.

Black smoke poured from his body and swirled around his form. For a second, all you could see was his grin, until the void swirled around his limbs and form to the point it drowned him out. And it grew, with tendrils that crawled like muscles quickly, its flesh and skin expanded and hardened to form scales that shimmered like dark metal, and its eyes bulged and rolled until they grew the size of great orbs.

Until his form changed into something else.

(https://i.imgur.com/GoercNk.png)

It bowed its head. With a massive body and a maw that could swallow an elephant whole, and the smell of burt wood and smoke over saltwater and algae, such was the guise he chose to take this time. A draken needed a lord, just like a king needed a sword. Or was it a knight.... Either way, his desire was that alone. At least, for now. "H O p O n m Y L i E g E e . . ." Its voice was like the crackling of a dying star, a rasp of metal against flesh.

But there was a modicum of pride to it.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 08, 2019, 05:14:03 PM: Serana

"... can you not just act sane for a single day?" Serana asked this with an unnecessary put-upon sigh, shaking her head at the dramatic display and the disturbing use of pronouns shown to her here. And yet, she climbed onto its back all the same. This would not be the strangest mount she had made use of in her time.

"Try not to make too large of a scene on the way there."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 09, 2019, 02:47:30 AM: Ezekiel

There was a tense pause for a moment. Only then, the beast chortled, as if in mockery. Was there some kind of joke only he was seeing? No, it.

"L a D Y , I c A n a S s S u R E y O u , I am p E r F E c T l Y s A n E. W e l L b E H A v E d I s H a l L B E , m Y c U t E q U e e E n. . ." Its guttural, distorted voices, of the many organisms that crawled in that draconian shell, lulled like a song, and then they slammed the ground in glee with a tail-like whip and took flight, soaring out of the tower with a ravenous grin. Whatever laid in hat sick, fragmented mind, only he could tell. If there was anything to tell.

This would be fun.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 11, 2019, 02:57:45 AM: Serana

And then, Serana motioned for You to sit down tamely. "Now, change back so you may fit through the door and fly out of here without breaking things. Unless you have another trick in mind...?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 11, 2019, 03:03:42 AM: Ezekiel

"Urgh. Really? Come on lady..." Shockingly the beast's voice turned out to be completely normal after all. And now, if anything, it sounded disappointed. Just as he was about to break out of the roof like a chicken breaks out of an egg no less. His disappointment was immeasurable and his day was ruined.

"Fine, whatever. You asked for it."

Shadows bubbled over the draconic body, and burst like a popping balloon in a thick cloud of smoke. Instead, two arms now grabbed on her like a princess bride as he flew off in his humanoid form, carrying her away unabashedly. And make no mistake, that was the first and last complaint he'd hear.

The door was unharmed, and would be for the rest of the flight. Can't say the same about her pride and dignity, being scurried away like some bride.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 14, 2019, 09:56:36 PM: Joseph

3:15

Wow... This place was pretty interesting too. The shadow girl was really amazing, but this district was so strange it almost felt imaginary! At random, he walked up one of the haphazard streets and stopped one of the people walking along it. "Hello. I'm new. Do you mind telling me about the buildings around here? There seem to be a lot of empty ones and unfinished construction besides that tower."

(continued from The Slums (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,746.msg59115.html#msg59115))
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 14, 2019, 10:04:53 PM: Xibalba's streets

3:15

The streets were orderly, precise in their geometry, but paradoxically they swerved and turned through the district in such a way it was honestly a miracle the boy found.... anything. And the same could be said about the people. The streets were far from overtly lively, but they weren't deserted. How someone wouldn't find themselves lost was beyond anyone.

Like him.

But despite the activity, or maybe because of it, the one Joseph addressed didn't so much as turn around. Instead, he kept going, to where, no one would know. He was a young man sporting a smart attire, albeit a bit casual, and upon a closer look he seemed to be wearing headphones, so he obviously couldn't hear Joseph.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 14, 2019, 10:09:33 PM: Joseph

He blinked for a second before glancing at the headphones. One of the alchemist's hands reached out to grab the boy by the arm but it was kept in check by his other one. Well, he certainly didn't know where he was going in the first place. So Joseph shrugged his shoulders and with a lively bounce to his step just started to follow the kid around.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 14, 2019, 10:17:00 PM: Xibalba's streets

And so Alice followed the Rabbit round and round, through the game board of this wonderland. Was it a feeling of deja vu that'd strike Joseph first, or was it that he was a mere tourist so all streets looked the same? They walked a bit, until something most strange happened.

They reached yet the same intersection where they met. Or did they? It looked so familiar, but it certainly didn't feel like they had been taking a turn anywhere. nd just like that, the young boy turned around and faced Joseph. His expression was troubled, but in a cold way the boy kept to himself.

He took a step forward and walked past Joseph, and with that he came the other way around, the way he came to begin with. Or so it seemed anyways.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 14, 2019, 10:27:17 PM: Joseph

There were all kinds of sights around, even if it did all look the same. But it was starting to get confusing. It was time to leave some breadcrumbs! Getting lost was hardly the point of this whole thing. As long as he was seeing something new then it was fine, but Joseph was more than tired of endless circles. So his shadow spat out a vial of dark liquid and some discarded flesh, and as he followed the boy back around he poured the contents of the potion all over the flesh.

He let out a satisfied sound. It was almost like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. Squirming out from between his fingers, fleshy creatures that looked as if someone had tried to mash centipedes and rats together spilled forth. Chains of twitchy legs, elongated bodies, and far too much teeth slipped out and around. They looked a bit out of place but at least he'd know where he'd been!
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 14, 2019, 10:34:25 PM: Xibalba's streets

It was an ingenious plan! Much like an old fairy tale, he left crumbs behind him so he wouldn't lose his way in this forest of marble and stone. And surprisingly, there was fruit to be born from this: as he followed the boy, despite the similar views, thanks to the trail he left he'd realize that they weren't walking in circles after all! In fact, the more you'd look, the more you'd almost grow convinced there were slight changes to the structures, the shops, the streets.... even the people.

Nothing to worry about. Carry on.

"Sorry, are you lost?" A friendly young voice called out at Joseph. It came from behind.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 14, 2019, 10:51:21 PM: Joseph

With a thought he looked through the eyes of his little critters. How strange. Joseph couldn't really augment himself, but he didn't consider himself particularly unobservant either. Someone walking up from behind him shouldn't have been that easy. Maybe he was just getting old, heheheh.

A bit of flourish had Joseph spin on his heel to face the person following him. "Oh, just a little bit. Exploring like this has been pretty interesting though."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 14, 2019, 11:13:39 PM: Xibalba's streets

But he couldn't see.

When he turned around, the breadcrumbs Hansel laid out so carefully were gone without a trace. No glow under the moonlight would help him find them now, it was as if the birds had eaten them all. Only the man who was behind Joseph could be seen. Had he-

Suddenly, a sharp pang of static scratched in Joseph's skull. A shrill noise, white hot like melting metal coursing through one's brain, and for a split second he saw a smiling figure winking at Joseph knowingly, as if to mock him. As if it knew what it came for. An abyss that wasn't here was watching him.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZlzAIn0.png)

But it was but a moment, and the vision was gone as if it were never there. There were only two in this intersection, three if you counted the outsider. So when the static stopped, the boy sweetest Joseph followed removed his headphones and looked irritated.

"No, I'm fine."

And before the older man could even make a reply, he took off with even greater urgency, leaving to wherever he was headed with what seemed for a moment like genuine worry. The old man sighed and shook his head, then turned around to tend to his garden. It seemed he wasn't addressing our little Hansel, he had never even taken account of our most precious Alice. But would he press on and search for the candied house, despite the witch's presence? Would he chase the rabbit until he reached the end of the hole inside his own mind? What would he do?

What will you do, Joseph?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 14, 2019, 11:29:52 PM: Joseph

He prodded at his own eye again after the whole affair. Well, he was sure it wasn't on his end! The degeneration had been kept in balance for a while now. He hated it when it was someone else that did that. Joseph's smile twisted into a slight frown as he stood right in front of the older man, feet trampling on some of the plants in the garden.

"Hello. Did you see me at all, or are you just a sophisticated simulacrum? It's alright if you're the latter. I won't tell anyone."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 14, 2019, 11:34:24 PM: The Streets of Xibalba

"Simula... what? No, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. Is this what you youngsters call wizards nowadays?" He laughed lightly to himself, but seemed more preoccupied with his flowers. "My eyesight just isn't what it used to be. You look pale, so you blend in with the walls too well for a poor soul like me." He shook his head. "May I help you with something?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 14, 2019, 11:48:25 PM: Joseph

"Oh, I was mostly wondering about the buildings under construction and the empty ones. I've mostly been doing a lot of sightseeing you see, trying to get a grasp on what's going on in this place." Another vial slipped from his shadow as he eyed the plants this time, giving them all a pretty thorough look.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 14, 2019, 11:58:46 PM: The Streets of Xibalba

He stopped for a moment and thought. "This place used to be between gang territory. Most of the buildings were in fact places where they would operate, so the empty ones still need to be cleaned up and renovated to make sure they're safe to use. It wasn't always so calm here, the violence and drugs made it quite unsafe, especially when the other gangs got involved. But most people here had nowhere else to turn. Wildflowers hardly get to choose where they get to bloom, eh?"

He shrugged and pointed at the tower, hiding behind the thick walls of the inner center, and rising higher by the day.

"We got lucky. Our ruler is different, and thanks to her we can start rebuilding this place. Housings, schools, hospitals, and soon we'll even have our own cinema. Eventually, we'll have our official grand opening, and all this ugly past will be long behind us. We can start again from scratch, sounds pretty nice to me."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 12:07:35 AM: Joseph

Joseph nodded along with the little story going on. "Wow, that really is wonderful." There was a glimmer in the alchemist's eye as he held his hands behind his back, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I don't suppose that it'd be too much of a bother to see what's behind the walls, would it?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 12:13:00 AM: The Streets of Xibalba

He shrugged.

"Take my word with a grain of salt, but I hear there has been a leak in the construction site beyond the wall as of late, and the fumes are absolutely horrible. I wouldn't want you to get hurt. Best to wait until the opening day, although..." He pondered for a moment, looking down on the ground.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 12:32:11 AM: Joseph

His hands clapped together with a joyous sound. "That's great! Have a good day, mister. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be on my way." Then he tilted the vial and poured its contents into the garden. Over the next few seconds the earth began to pulsate and the plants sink underneath the surface. Then with a sudden shake plant-wolf hybrids tore themselves free of the earth. Their bodies unnaturally having flesh bloom out of wood, blood flowing where the parts met as none of it fit right. "Do you mind accompanying me on the way?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 12:35:08 AM: Xibby

"...Oh, I don't think I can.... what the hell, sure." He threw his arms back, oddly in a manner that was all too familiar to Joseph. "What in the devil is that though? Are you some kind of magician?" He pointed at the plant creatures.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 01:55:20 AM: Joseph

He let out a good natured laugh at the assumption. "No, I'm nothing like a mage. These are just little experiments I've had laying around for a while. They'll help dive in the crack to make sure it doesn't instantly destroy all your flesh or something. That'd be pretty uncomfortable."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 02:29:44 AM: Xibalba's street

"What... do you mean?" He laughed nervously, and took a step back. Diving into his...flesh? "Is this a prank?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 02:34:12 AM: Joseph

He waved his hand dismissively. "Sorry sorry, did I say crack? I was talking about the leak in the wall. You said there would be dangerous fumes and stuff. You wouldn't want to run in there yourself, right? That's why they're going to do that for us."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 02:41:48 AM: XIbalba's streets, Near Side

"A-ah! I see..." He grinned and rubbed his temple sheepishly. O-of course, he knew that all along! Aha, the sweat on his forehead was just a coincidence after all. He held out his hand and grinned.

"Well, I could show you around I suppose. Follow me!" And with that, he put his gardening spade on the side and stepped forth.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 02:49:19 AM: Joseph

With another graceless shrug Joseph followed after him, the wolf-plant hybrids limping in his wake. "That'd be really nice of you. The whole place has looked rather nice. How does it protect itself from the gangs when the leader is out and about?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 02:57:42 AM: XIbalba's streets, Near Side

"Now, that's a secret." He smiled and put a finger to his lips, leading the way. As they walked, he showed the diverse structures, and oddly enough the paths didn't seem as confused nor did the buildings or surroundings bring that feeling of deja vu. If it was easy to get lost in this place, that man didn't seem to show it. All this talk of fairy tales and losing things, of harsh choices and what not. This place wasn't so grim or dark, merely unfamiliar. There was no need to think such thoughts. Everything would be alright.

Along the way, particularly large building with quite striking allure could be seen. Joseph's guide nodded and stretched back. A large sign spelled out: Gino's Spaghetti and Pizzeria

"Oh, this is a new restaurant. Want something? My treat." He reached for his pocket in order to pull his wallet out.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 03:04:59 AM: Joseph

He pressed a finger against the bottom of his lip as he thought about it. "Well, it would be rude to turn down a free meal. So why not? What kind of Italian food do you like? I'm not much of a foodie myself. I usually just go for whatever's around."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 03:12:18 AM: XIbalba's streets, Near Side

He turned his eyes to Joseph and grinned. "Have you ever tried pollo alla cacciatora?" With a light tap on the back, he hurried Joseph in friendly. He opened the door, both were greeted by the most friendly patrons, and they had a swell time being overfed by the bestest, nicest italian grampa in the Nexus. Seriously, they got overstuffed like Christmas turkeys, this restaurant wasn't known for its moderation after all. And in its short time it was opened, it was famed for its utter lack of waste. Not a single drop of food ever ended up in the trash, ever.

All in all, it was delicious.

In the alleyway corner, just laying by the garbage dump, a broken pair of headphones was scattered next to the bin. Its owner probably left them there.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 03:39:45 AM: Joseph

3:45

With a content sigh Joseph gave his full belly a few pats. "That's some really good food. But we did say that we were going to go check out the leak, didn't we? Best to do that before it gets dark. Even in the safest place in the city I wouldn't want to wander around at that time of day."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 10:26:41 PM: XIbalba

3:45

"Pwahhh.... I'm stuffed!" He tapped his bulging belly and let out a satisfied sigh. His eyes were spinning like spirals, and his smile looked like that of a winning fighter knocked out after his big match. When joseph asked his question, his eye gleamed a little with puzzlement though, and he raised his head weakly. "Huh? What fumes?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 15, 2019, 10:48:15 PM: Joseph

He waved hand almost absentmindedly. "You know, the opening in the wall? So we could go and have a look on what's behind?" For all the questioning he certainly didn't sound curious. There was a casual, almost aimless air to his words. Almost like he was just doing some normal chit chat.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 15, 2019, 10:55:13 PM: Xibalba

"Wall? Are you sure you're okay? I never said anything about a wall. Are you daydreaming or something?" He looked at Joseph with genuine concern. As if he was worried he might've eaten something wrong.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 16, 2019, 12:38:45 AM: Joseph

Ahhh, so it was like that. How interesting. Someone must have done so much work to enact this entire thing. Oh well, he'd just have to check it out himself in the end. It would be painful... he hated that. But it was important to see how exactly it all worked. So he furrowed his brow in concentration, eyes widening in shock, and managed to yell, "Look out!" before his wolves bursts into the building frothing at the mouth.

They looked overgrown, plants digging violently into flesh as poisonous sap dripped from their mouths and deadly pollen spilled from the holes in their bodies. Without any delay, they began to tear apart the people of the restaurant, including their creator. Joseph toppled backwards into his seat with a torn out throat as one of the wolves assaulted him.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 16, 2019, 12:59:48 AM: XIbalba's Restaurant

"Aaaaaahh!!" "Look out!" "Oh god, oh no!"

Screams pierced inside the restaurant. Tables were thrown, people tried to run, and plates broke as the bestial creatures tore out of the windows and lunged at the people. A feral beast leapt at Joseph and began to bite at his throat, but it didn't stop there. It gnawed and bit and shook his head, digging deep into his spine...

Suddenly the maw closed shut on his thigh painfully. Teeth and roots began to crawl in Joseph's flesh.teeth and roots began to crawl in Joseph's flesh. And then another bite. And another. It only seemed to grow more intense, more desperate, more noisy. But this was strange, after the initial panic the rest turned oddly quiet. Was it the sound of the animal drowning the rest away? No, why were there so many bites all around Joseph? Why was everything quiet so quickly?

And before long he would understand that the wolve's sole appetite was found in the boy. The moment he turned the flora of Xibalba against it, it lashed out at the boy without mercy, and just kept biting it over and over again. The scared people just watched in horror, quiet, but oddly enough no one left or tried to help the boy. Until a voice cut through the silence of the feral feast.

"Praise our savior! Praise our savior!"

"Praise our savior! Praise our savior!" "Praise our savior! Praise our savior!"

"Praise our savior! Praise our savior!" "Praise our savior! Praise our savior!" "Praise our savior! Praise our savior!"

Soon the entire crowd cheered in relief, offering praises and song to the one who saved them from this painful death. Meanwhile, the man who guided Joseph just looked down on him. The last thing Joseph would see was his sad expression. Soon, the creatures raised so carelessly would burrow into his body and merge with him. Flesh would turn into leaves, bone would meld with roots, and a splendid tree would decorate the centre of the restaurant, bringing much joy to all. Unable to move, struggle, or even object, soon the bundle of roots would stop thinking.

Until it began to rot.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 16, 2019, 01:26:02 AM: Joseph

"Hahahah, really amazing! So you're even in the fauna, right?" The tree was putrefying like rotting flesh, withering and crumbling as a rotting hand broke free of the trunk. Joseph stumbled out of its carcass. Or at least, something that vaguely resembled him did. His flesh had sloughed off like sludge, roots and vines fell apart, and the wood decayed. He could barely be called alive. Just enough flesh had grown back that his dying form couldn't be considered a skeleton. His hands, rejuvenated to a healthy and hale state, ripped the remaining flora from his form.

"That was really rude though. I was going to give those plants back. Now they're all dead." He snapped his fingers as his flesh began to return in full, and the remaining wolves' meat and skin sloughed into a puddle as well. "It was a good meal though. I hope you don't mind if I head out by myself, mister." With his body whole there wasn't much out of place with him other than the blood. Good thing he had a few pairs of clothes too. That would have been embarrassing otherwise.

Then he simply moved to stroll out of the restaurant.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 16, 2019, 01:42:34 AM: XIbalba's Streets

"You shouldn't have done that. Yon't find what you seek like this." He sighed and turned away. The stares that once showed joy, fear and excitement now were as dull and blank as dolls. Eventually, he was ignored by all, and he left without a disturbance.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 16, 2019, 04:52:49 AM: Joseph

Alright, alright! Joseph slipped out of the store and took a good look around. Now where oh where was that place they were all talking about... He'd just start upwards. The alchemist's eyes gazed up towards the roofs of the nearby buildings before he dissolved into darkness. Once he got high enough he could see enough of the district anyways.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on June 16, 2019, 08:46:50 PM: XIbalba

It was.... breath taking. Black and white kissed and danced together as marble intertwined, and from above the structures and buildings seemed to take a new meaning. Their precise, alien geometrical shaped looked much more meticulous, almost methodical from above. Like fractals observed in nature, these spires and landmarks had grown and taken their hsape. This entire district was a perfect, flawless circle expanding, as if carved into these many geometrical structures. And in the centre of it all its core, the tower of Sur Carys, and all its proud elven monuments surrounding the inner sanctum stood tall.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 16, 2019, 09:49:05 PM: Sur Carys

The half-finished walls around the tower of Sur Carys were not entirely unmanned. Beneath a shroud of darkness Joseph could see the dead bodies which tirelessly labored to assemble the fortifications and the magnificent manors meant to join behind them. Among them floated spectral beings surrounded by a morbid chill, and the occasional haunting melody escaped from the throat of a lifeless lady in languages long since lost.

But past even them, hidden better than all of them, were the elegantly armored forms of the garrison's archers.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 16, 2019, 09:55:25 PM: Joseph

Ah, there it was! It wouldn't hurt to be polite now that he was going to meet the actual leader of this place. It was quite interesting to see the actual laborers behind all the smoke and mirrors at least. The undead... such a hassle really. Unchanging, eternal, lifeless in every sense of the word. Only someone who really, really desired control would bother with them. It meant you could manage everything you wanted and be certain that it would remain that way. Oh well, he wasn't here to judge.

His shadow swallowed him up, and soon he bubbled up right before the entrance to the tower. "Hello? Is anyone home?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 16, 2019, 10:13:15 PM: Sur Carys

The ghouls at the entrance were, for all their other flaws, evidently quite strong and well-preserved. They were chained to the metal of the gates, and based on the scuff marks on the stone they had the task of dragging the heavy door open for those welcome here. At first Joseph received no answer, and all was silent save for the shuffling of laborers.

Then one of the corpses at the door looked upon him with a flicker of malevolent intellect, witnessing him. Soon after a plume of shadows emerged from under the minuscule cracks beneath the door, and took on a shape. A hunched over figure supporting itself with a wooden staff, wrapped in thick black robes with long pointed ears coming out through little slits in the sides.

Empty white eyes stared at Joseph from under that hood, and a faintly echoing rasp greeted him. "I do not believe her majesty is expecting any guests."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 16, 2019, 10:18:33 PM: Joseph

He clapped his hands together with a grin on his face. "Well, I'd hope not. It was supposed to be a bit of a surprise for the both of us. You wouldn't so happen to be polite enough to let me in, would you? I've already been gnawed on a bit by that bit of spellcraft that forms the outer layer of this place. It's pretty impressive, but somehow I doubt it was also your leader's magic. It's quite... distinct. Although I would be pretty impressed if it was!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 16, 2019, 10:21:05 PM: Sur Carys

A rasp escaped the undead greeter's throat. "Unfortunately, the inner sanctum is off limits to any who are not part of her majesty's Order of Storms. Or duly invited guests."

He tapped the metal of the door with the end of his staff. "If you would wait, I shall inquire with her if she desires to grant you an audience - though it would be from afar."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 16, 2019, 10:46:55 PM: Joseph

"Sure, sure. If that makes it more convenient. It wouldn't be fun to wander around by myself anyways." So he plopped himself down onto the ground, patiently waiting with a serene smile back onto his face. That Italian food was pretty good. Maybe he'd head back after this.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 20, 2019, 06:28:30 AM: Sur Carys

Eventually Joseph's patience managed to pay off, and one of the corpses chained to the door stood up straighter than before. Its dead eyes grew dark with a power that seemed to suck the warmth and light in a short radius from it, and then it opened its mouth. The voice of... a woman? Yes, a woman came out of its dead throat.

'What brings a traveler such as yourself to my home? And while I am away, at that - quite rude.'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 21, 2019, 03:10:26 AM: Joseph

He clapped his hands together just once in excitement. Long range possession? Or just using it as sensory mouthpiece? Either way, very interesting. "I am Joseph, a traveling alchemist and healer of sorts. I was wondering if such an illustrious ruler such as yourself would have any desire to serve as a patron for my... services. Although you do have a very excitable flora! I'm curious whether it is you who wove magic into the life here. The populace is quite interesting as well."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 21, 2019, 03:20:22 AM: Sur Carys

If the flattery offended the creature possessing the corpse, its resonant voice and elegant tones didn't suggest it. 'Some is me, and some are others in my employ. You approach someone so blatantly versed in the arts of death while practicing those of life? I wonder, why would you consider this?'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 21, 2019, 04:11:07 AM: Joseph

"Why not? I need a place to work and it looks like it would be appreciated here. Necromancy can be a pretty stale art. It's really dependent on the creativity and power of the wielder, and even if you start introducing more mages it's too sterile for an evolutionary element to enter the field. It's also still dependent on living flesh. I can make more than enough of that." He wrapped his coat tighter around his blood stained body. "Sure you don't want to let me in. It's chilly like this."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 23, 2019, 12:08:53 AM: Sur Carys

The corpse seemed to pause and consider, before becoming just another mindless husk. Joseph was left standing there for a moment until a voice, the raspy hollow one of the subordinate from before, appeared behind him. "Her majesty has... approved of your request. On a probationary status. Please follow us to your temporary quarters and await further instruction."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 23, 2019, 01:52:12 AM: Joseph

"Wonderful!" His briefcase leapt out from his shadow into his hand. "You have a very interesting operation here. I was very tempted to experiment on some of your civilians. I'm sure they're working on more abstract processes than the usual necromancy. It would be very enlightening to pry one open and see how they work."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 23, 2019, 02:50:10 AM: Sur Carys

"The details of your work, and the resources that will be made available to you, shall be disclosed in due time." The robed elf cadaver began to walk, with the aid of its staff, toward a large mostly-finished villa. The structure was tall and elegant in its circular layout, but not so tall that it would surmount the height of the wall when it was finished. It was wrought of brick and stone and yet given the facade of being made of all traditional materials.

The door was made of solid wood, seemingly grafted on from somewhere else.

"Forgive the... inconsistent quality. It is all a work in progress at this time."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 23, 2019, 03:34:10 AM: Joseph

Well, he didn't really have that much in truth. He tossed his briefcase onto a nearby table before propping it open, revealing a plethora of minor alchemical substances and ingredients. Those alongside with some of his more basic notes and bits of flesh were soon being put in various different places in the villa. "Are you sure you don't want to add an organic quality to the construction? It'd be less haphazard that way. Probably."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 23, 2019, 03:42:50 AM: Sur Carys

"Her majesty wishes to witness a sample of your work before she provides you with further support - or further access to the ongoing construction." The robed emissary motioned through the large foyer, and its many stairs and chambers. "You have full access to this structure here. We will provide you with basic amenities - and raw materials - so that you may work undisturbed."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 23, 2019, 04:34:06 AM: Joseph

"A sample? Alright!" He picked up several vials from the case before tossing them right onto the ground. They simmered and before going into an outright boil. Then he started tossing chunks of flesh, crushed insects, and a few syringes of blood wholesale. Then he took a seat on one of the wooden chairs and began to hum a tune to himself. Over the next few minutes monsters began to crawl out of the pit. Jaws that housed mandibles, carpaces breaking through flesh, black spheres sitting in place of eyes. Antennae stretched into the air as they sniffed around, chittering and growling all the while.

"There we go. Some pure canon fodder. They can be mass produced easily enough given the facilities. They're not really my preference, rarer materials are better after all! But still, you could keep the things going for a while. Fast as a cheetah, strong as a gorilla, can resist a good amount of bullet shots before going down. They still have a few tricks but they're... fairly stupid. I would send them in with the zombies. Maybe even before them."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 23, 2019, 07:28:07 PM: Sur Carys

The elven reanimator observed the process silently, even the simple sounds of living such as breathing and involuntary motion absent from it. The creature stared with his empty white eyes as an unnatural life took hold of the materials used. But then finally it commented, "Yes, I can see the benefits of this. Her majesty approves of having a disposable line to reanimate later."

There was another moment of silence, and then it continued. "She is willing to provide you with some start up funds for another of your projects. You will require laboratory space, I suppose?"

It motioned with its staff to the floor. "We will have it dug out for you beneath this place."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 23, 2019, 08:24:12 PM: Joseph

"Well, if you want more than fodder I'll need better materials along with the space for culture vats and preservation tanks." He rubbed his cheeks a bit as a cheery smile came over him. "It's been so long since I've had a proper lab. The last one was destroyed by wizards of all people for the," and he paused to make air quotes with his hands, "the unethical experimentation of supernatural beings and peers. It took decades so that they'd stop chasing me. The Church might have been worse though. The medieval one especially. No good at all."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on June 23, 2019, 10:36:35 PM: Sur Carys

"We are unconcerned with the alleged ethics of the human race." The reanimator tapped its staff on the floor, and inclined a head. "Nor their religions. As long as you show her majesty the proper respect, and fulfill the requirements of her patronage, you shall have your materials."

It turned to leave. "Provide us a list of what you will require, and we will see what can be acquired at this time."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 12, 2019, 03:29:02 AM: The Skies of Sur Carys

Nexus Time 7:55 PM

Ezekiel

The ball of fire streaked across the sky like a comet, drawing a fine of purple and crimson before vanishing like a slash of flames. And yet, these flames were like glass, invisible to the eye. No, something was concealing this, like a veil layered above them.

Zeke was sitting on the curled up creature, the little Joseph perched on his shoulder- he had to fetch him out eventually, but teasing him by totally going in the wrong ways? Priceless.

It was kind of fun. Just flying like this without having to worry about anything. But as they approached what he helped accomplish, his expression darkened.

"It's even more disgusting from above..." He smirked and sighed in defeat as they approached the district, welcoming the impact against the cloaking organism before they sank into its territorial influence... theirs. With that, the creature swooped down and landed on all fours, the flames and cloaking organisms seeping out like dissolved slugs, just in time as the flames had left but a handful alive. These hid their presence, and devoured traces of light that would normally bounce off them. He explained it to Joseph along the way, but... he kind of didn't feel like it, so it was super vague.

Since they were there, he tossed Joseph straight on the grass, then hopped down and wiped the soot off his armour.

"Phew. Not going to thank the bus driver?" He grinned and glanced at Joseph.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 13, 2019, 12:53:04 AM: Joseph

He hit the ground with a small grunt, landing right on his rear. That put another frown on his face. "You can be more gentle to the person who saved your life. I might not do it again if you keep doing stuff like that." Joseph pouted a little at that, cheeks puffing up in irritation as he looked away,
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 13, 2019, 01:40:14 AM: Zeke

"Aw, sorry, sorry. I keep forgetting how fragile you all can be." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. There, there. I'll make it worth your while. See, I was actually looking for you. I have a present."

A grotesque maw opened from where his chest and shoulder should be, gleefully heaving out three vile and dark and absolutely scandalous things right by Joseph's feet. "Thought it might help your research out." He grinned and closed his eyes, before giving Joseph a cute head pat.

The two had never met. Even if he had started recently, there was no reason or way whatsoever that Zeke should even know about such things.

"Think you can work with these toys?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 13, 2019, 03:25:11 AM: Joseph

His eyes brightened at that, and his shadow greedily swallowed them up without a moment's notice. "That is useful. I think that I can use you more often if you do things like this." That meant that there were seven whole complete samples to work with! Wonderful! "So what is it you want to achieve?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 13, 2019, 03:43:06 AM: Zeke

"Oh, I just want to destroy this world and crush every living thing in it between my grasp as I suck the life out of their screaming eyes and feed off their children for generations. You know, standard stuff." He crossed his arms and smiled at him like he just described the most casual saturday ever. "You believe me, right?" He asked him with a well meaning smile.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 14, 2019, 10:50:40 PM: Joseph

Then he merely shrugged. The world meant a lot of things to a lot of people. More often than not, destroying the world didn't mean anything at all. He'd lived through many people who wanted to end what they thought 'the world' was. It was just too small to mean anything. "As long as you keep doing this I have no problems providing some help."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 14, 2019, 10:56:50 PM: Zeke

"Wahaha! Wait, no friggin way! You actually bought that crappy speech?" his eyes widened up as he tried to contain a violent guffaw.

He failed.

"No way... Jeez, do I really seem that messed up?" He sighed with a placid smile, wiping a tear from a laughing eye.

And for a moment, words escaped him. Words spoken with true joy. The calm sort of happiness that was so unlike him, it had to be genuine. But the words... Were nothing but madness.

"You know, I'm a hero."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 14, 2019, 11:14:19 PM: Joseph

"Okay." There was a silence there, as if he didn't have much more to say. Mostly because he didn't. Joseph considered himself a fairly normal guy after all! Talk about heroes and stuff just went over his head. All he wanted to do was live a nice, painless life like everyone else. "Do you want to get dinner?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 14, 2019, 11:31:57 PM: Zeke

"Ayup." He didn't even need to say anything else. This was lunch break after all.

8:00 PM

NEXUS TIME

"*chew* Cho, whatch your *chomp* deal anywaysh *glomp* " The two were at the same restaurant where they had met earlier. Or well, were he met part of him. Then again, this whole section was him in some way shape or form. It was basically all his stomach, a place where dark organisms slumbered, awaiting their master's orders.

Speaking of stomach, this hamburger was friggin delicious. He was licking his fingers and moving his hand over to a basket of fries.

"Cheriouchly, *chew* I mean, It's cute and all, but isn't it a bit messed up? Using people as *slurp* dummy scalpel pincushions. What's the point?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 14, 2019, 11:45:30 PM: Joseph

Joseph took a moment to answer, mostly because he was busy munching on pizza. The stretch of the cheese meant that he had to take a bit to nibble at it a bit before it would break. "Well, I thought it would be interesting. There aren't many creatures of fantasy left in my world after all. Bringing these strange things into a complete chimera satisfies my curiosity. If there was any grander purpose... hmm." But he left it at that.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 14, 2019, 11:53:09 PM: Zeke

His eyes lit up and he ruffled the boy's head, before taking a nibble from his fry. A finger lickin' nibble. "Aw, that's adorable. Curiosity is a great motivation, so many great things came to be thanks to that. Like pizza, hamburgers, soporil..."

He paused and blinked for a second.

"Oh wait, no, forget the last bit. You gotta keep the dinner table politically correct. Anyways, so like, are we dating? Is this like, supposed to be romantic? Cause I feel I could kiss you any moment now, you cheeky rascal,"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 15, 2019, 02:57:09 AM: Joseph

"Soporil?" He pressed a finger to his cheek as the alchemist thought it over a little. "That sounds like a drug, but I've never heard of it before. Most of the modern drugs are more interesting than the ones that were around before, but they're not up to par with the special stuff yet. Fae dust is hard to beat."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 15, 2019, 03:14:33 AM: Zeke

"Nope! Noooope! Not going to make me spill em, nope. These beans are sealed." He put a finger to his lips and smiled. He'd definitely never do such a thing here of all places.

He shifted his hands behind his head and put his feet on the table, relaxed as ever. He just looked up at the sky, as if he wasn't even talking to Joseph.

"That was the name given for the product. But the substance was more than just some drug. It was part of a project, a key to reach the domain of God. And this city's people were the lab rats. Hrm, how odd, you'd figure they'd have made sure such a thing would never be forgotten." For a moment, he stopped smiling. "I guess that's the dragon's curse for you."

That was the reason... that was why he couldn't stand this world. For a moment, he showed something that he had genuinely never shown in a long time. Rage.

"What if I told you that it was my old stickler of a pops who came up with it? The power of God... yeah, something about attaining true immortality. And I don't mean something lame like those suckers in the vampire district, or what my bosslady tried doing... or even us two. That thing was special. If it have gotten perfected, we could have created people free of death, suffering... the perfect life form. Someone who stands above things like mortality or frailty, someone with absolute power... absolute peace."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 15, 2019, 04:42:45 AM: Joseph

A frown appeared on Joseph's face. "What's so wrong with that? I don't care a lot about power or peace, but everyone wants to live without pain, don't they?" That just made sense. There were some crazy people who thought that you needed pain to live, but they was obviously something deeply wrong with them.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 15, 2019, 04:57:09 AM: Zekey

"Eh? No no, I didn't say it was something bad." He was taken aback by the sudden disapproval, or at least seemed aback. He held up his hands defensively and shook them, smiling reassuringly. "Don't get me wrong, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain are all fine and dandy... But isn't that the way an animal thinks, though? Don't get me wrong, I see the logic, but it's kind of... animal logic."

He shifted his body into a more formal sitting position, though it was still slouchy and sloppy as ever. But despite that, his eyes were staring right at Joseph with the most devilish of stares. And his grin... it was like a ravenous beast's.

"Still, you look like you've made your bed. Now you've gotta lie in it. If you're gonna be an animal, BE AN ANIMAL." He said encouragingly before putting a hand on his shoulder. And suddenly, he uttered something utterly unbelievable.

"I promise, I'll save you."

Cause that's what friends did, right? He couldn't let someone just suffer like that.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 15, 2019, 05:26:34 AM: Joseph

"You'll save me?" That really was unbelievable! After all, there was only one person that could save him after all. Oh well. Joseph patted the hand on his shoulder a few times. "It's alright if you can't I appreciate the thought."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 15, 2019, 05:38:42 AM: Zeke

"Thanks." He smiled sincerely. He just stood there a while, until suddenly his eyes went wide and he remembered something. "Oh, I do need help for something though. Since I'm the one paying for the meal, you're cool with it, right? It's not too big of a favour, I think..."

He looked like he was pondering for a second, stealing a slice off Joseph's pizza (how rude!). "Oh, right. It's about my body... I think you can tell, it's not my natural vessel. That's cause I borrowed it from a certain very dead son of a bitch. Remember that 'old stickler' I mentioned? Yeah, I guess you could say I'm his inheritor, as I inherited his body I also inherited his will.

The real me isn't even in here. Or, well, I guess you could say he's all of here. I'm just a corporeal shell."

He paused for a moment, letting Joseph swallow the details as he swallowed the pizza.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 15, 2019, 05:51:49 AM: Joseph

He chewed that over a bit. Quite literally in fact. Joseph had pizza in his mouth! "Do you want me to make the body yours? I'm adept at spiritual surgery. I could even attune a dragon's flesh to a human form. Or I could extract everything I could from that body and create a new one for you."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 16, 2019, 12:25:57 AM: Zeke

"Hehe. Thanks doc, you're a godsend." He smiled innocently. But the time for chitchat was over. A date needed a main event after all, and besides... there was something he had wanted to try out. "Joseph, don't move." He told the boy in the calmest tones. And as he said that, the creatures surrounding them stopped. An odd, purple glow seemed to emanate from their pupils.

"Oh holy father, holy draken, holy master... Heed this sacred mission." Magic circles and letters appeared around Zeke... then Joseph. And he extended his arms, as if he was a holy man preaching. "With these two hands, let me feed from your power once more, so I may act in thy stead. I am your will made flesh. In your name, I give thanks..."

That purple light was now shining fro m their eyes, and the still dark organisms seemed to communicate through these abominable lights. It was like radio communication, as if all the energy in this domain was being connected... siphoned from elsewhere...

The tower. Upon a closer look, the surroundings of the tower's outskirts made more sense. They weren't an alien aberration, but magical circles that took advantage of the leylines being siphoned by Xibalba... Sur Carys. That way, he could use the power of the land without requiring skill or grander incantations. The outer district he created, the land itself was the incantation. And the place where they stood was but one spell.

"Restriction 666 released! Dimensional interface force-field deployed."

And the circles turned into a brilliant light, only to turn Joseph and Zeke's world into darkness.

Was it minutes? Hours? Days? Eventually, he might just wake up. And when he would, Zeke would be there, though his appearance far more aged... disheveled. As if it had not been an instant, but centuries that he had been waiting for Joseph. But if he'd wake up... when he'd wake up, the dragonwoken would smile.

"I had been working on it on some time... it was the same project my old man started. A way to cross parallel worlds, and glimpse into other dimensions and manipulate them. A byproduct of that project I was talking about earlier, the one that resulted in the creation of Soporil. The _______ project. I guess it wasn't a total failure."

Around them, was a small island. Surrounded by the sea of memories. But whose?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 16, 2019, 04:57:25 PM: Joseph

He didn't take long to wake up. Joseph never slept in the first place. Comfort like that was impossible for him. But when he opened his eyes and heard the words of the would be dragon, the stirring ocean calmed. There was a voice? Was it his voice?

"We will make the place where God is."

Then the seas were full of light. He staggered up to his feet, brushing sand off his clothes as he stared out at the radiant waters. "...What is this place?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 16, 2019, 05:05:01 PM: Zeke

"We are within the crucible of souls. When a Nexus reaches its course, when it ends, it returns here as a drop inside this endless ocean. You could say this is the heart of the universe itself. The place where God would be seated..."

He got up, stretched his arms behind his back, and laid it against a palm tree near Joseph. Despite his calm expression, his eyes seemed to be smiling.

"Well, it's actually a replica. A cheap imitation of the real deal formed artificially. It requires a great amount of life energy, which is then moulded into an imitation of the primordial sea. Long story short, this is a reflection of infinite parallel realities, or alternate histories. Possible outcomes of this world's current path."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 16, 2019, 05:16:16 PM: Joseph

He looked out at the waters again. For a moment his hand hovered over the water's surface, eyes narrowing as if trying to pierce the glow. He... had seen this light before. He knew it once so very long ago. But how would he have--

"I forgive you, **********|*******." The voice was formless, soundless, yet it was the Word. So they knew its intention.

Joseph pulled his hand back, as if he was burned. "How... how do I make something like this? You need to go back. I need to see the process before I can replicate it."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 16, 2019, 05:25:30 PM: Zeke

"Oh, the same old curiosity? How precious... I used to be like that too. No, I guess I haven't changed all that much from my Father. You know, there's just one path for people like you and me. So sure, let's go back! I'll show you as many times as you need." He smiled kindly, putting a comforting arm on Joseph's shoulder-

Only to push his whole face down the seawater. Forcefully, cruelly, kindly, gently, he pushed his head down the sea of forbidden knowledge. It burned, it crawled, inside his eyelids, inside his ears. Whispering, expanding, always expanding, like the starts, burning away only to rebirth. Pounding inside Joseph again and again and again as he drowned inside forbidden time.

While he was trying to figure that out, bubbles were bubbling from around Joseph. Forbidden knowledge, but something about it was wrong. It was the future, yes, but bits and pieces of it were missing. Like a film that had been recovered from a fire, it was still working alright, but aside key scenes, the process was too burnt out to be intelligibly made out.

Zeke's eyes narrowed.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 19, 2019, 03:01:07 AM: Joseph

We cannot be saved, only forgiven.

Joseph only struggled under the waters for a moment before stilling completely. He listened. He saw. He made himself open the tide. As he focused as hard as he could, the alchemist began to fall apart.

First, strands of hair floated up to the water's surface. Then the skin that Zeke was touching began to soften and darken. The air smelled of rot as the rest of his flesh began to fall apart and polluted the waters, and soon the draconic man's fingers were clutching putrefying flesh and exposed bone. Red poured from skin that tore like paper, and staining the sands of the beach. Still alive, Joseph worked through the pain to focus. He always did, in the end.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 19, 2019, 03:17:08 AM: Zeke

The dragonkin's body was almost responding to the corruption, for the dark pits in his eyes almost seemed to deepen as he stared down at the decomposing husk. For a moment, he just stared in perplexion. What... was going on?

"The struggles of the living..." He muttered to himself, feeling the rotting pus crawl across his fingertips. "...No, the struggle of all things. They are, they are..."

"Are truly admirable." Tears were streaming from his eyes, an expression of true sorrow.

"Are truly unsightly." A mocking grin formed across his chest, an expression of disdain.

And yet, which one was his? Before one could think of such things, a demonic screeching sound ran through his body, as if a dozen beasts were crying inside his body. Bubbles and bulgind muscles were writhing and wriggling across his body like slugs before popping and growing like tumours to shape his aged body into that of a muscular beast. His crying eye rolled around his face like it was trying to rip itself out, its line of sight bouncing back and forth at lightning speed before the colour changed into a golden hue.

"Oh, father... are you watching me? Ufufu..." He staggered and crouched on his knee, smiling sadly while barley holding onto Joseph. His black eye bulged as tentacles were starting to open out of his pores. "Yes, my cute Zeke. My adorable Zeke. You are doing well. Just a little more. " He clutched at his face. But whose face was it? And whose hand was gripping his body so coldly?

"I'm so glad... even if they will not forgive me... no, that's right." He paused, only for his golden eye to tremble its way further out of his skull, looking more like a misshapen marble than an actual organ. "Yes, my precious Zeke. My lovely vessel. We must endure this. We will never be forgiven. But... but..."

"Our dream can be saved."
"This world can be saved."

Such was the will of the world.

That was what he believed. That was why his expression kept calm. But suddenly, it changed, his eyes suddenly sparked into shock for some reason.

Outside the portal to the unknown, dark world organisms danced. It was as if they were worshipping something, deep within the wormhole. Deep within the sea of memories.

Until one of them flickered like static, stopping for a second. Then another, like a glitch. And soon, the dance was thrown out of order. Because of that, the portal destabiized. Because of that, Joseph lost himself amidst visions of countless possibilities.

He could see them. He could see them all. All of his failures, all of the times his ambition turned to despair.

All but one. That light, that hope, that he would come out victorious. It was just within reach, as he sank further. He just needed to swim his way in just a little bit more...

"Huuuuh?" He stared down at the water. It was blackening, and the result puzzled his expression completely. At first, he thought this was normal. But... it wasn't. Was this Joseph's doing? No, that rot shouldn't affect a fake world like that. So why? Wh-

"ARGH!" His arm flickered like static, and the sea of possibilities cracked. He quickly pulled his arm out, which was now nothing more than a gnawed off forearm. His expression turned to shock and disbelief. And soon, horror.

"JOSEPH!" He rushed to the edge of the island, and tried to find him amidst the sea. But... he couldn't. It wasn't just because it was darkened by this mud-like corruption. It wasn't because his body was starting to flicker out of this place.

He simply couldn't. Not before, and not now. This sea of the world's memories was not something he could perceive. It was why he needed someone to test it. To figure out if it worked. He was sweating, just smiling down the sea. But the smile showed nothing but fear.

"Jeez... this is bad... but why? The formula should be-"

"Just like back then?" A voice called out behind him. A bird flapped its wings mockingly, while the thud of a familiar cane smacked against the sand. Behind the rejected son, an ashen man smiled. "It won't work. Not with a half-formed idea." He tossed a book down Zeke's feet.

"Why don't you go back to formula? It's what I'd have done, if I were still in there." He pointed at Zeke's chest... his body with his cane. The boy just stared with disbelief, gripping his torn arm, or the bleeding stump that was left of it anyways. He was... incredulous. He thought that man died.

"Oh, Zeke, that is quite precious an expression you have. Is your eye still hurting?" As he asked that, the bird perched on its shoulder. "Don't worry. I just want to talk."

And so they did. While Joseph kept swirling towards his wish.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 24, 2019, 12:21:32 AM: Joseph

He stayed still a while longer, letting the knowledge soak into him. It wasn't as if he was afraid. There wasn't much left that Joseph could fear, and even now his shadow swelled to swallow him whole. He just needed one last piece...

Quietly, persistently, Joseph slips his way towards a truth.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 24, 2019, 12:29:59 AM: Within the Crucible

It was getting closer, so much closer. But just as he was about to reach that light, just as he was about to grasp that truth-

It slipped back. Slowly, but surely, it was moving away from him. Away from the current. He was so close, but he'd never reach the truth. Because it wasn't being merely snatched away.... he was. A whirlwind was sucking him back, and before long that hope was gone. All that was left was darkness.

And then the light of candles, and a tap on his head.

Zeke

7:59

"eph...oseph..."

A sluggish shake suddenly dragged him away from the sleep of elysium. If he'd open his eyes, he'd see the same Zeke who had shared dinner with him, in the same room that they had been eating, at the same time they had been eating.

"Joseph! Hey hey hey, come on man! Don't just nap on me!" He love-tapped him on the forehead with a stressed out expression.

In the end, Joseph never reached that hope. Nothing changed.

Nothing will ever change.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 24, 2019, 01:11:51 AM: Joseph

Oh well. He only needed to blink a few times to get his bearings in order. Joseph was no stranger to slow progress. "That was pretty interesting. I don't dream much, but it was worth seeing a bit of that. What else can you do?" Almost like he was asking a dog to show him a new trick.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 24, 2019, 01:59:40 AM: Zeke blinked. Once, twice. Only to respond in, honestly, the only way he could.

"Whaa?"

For a moment, one had to wonder if Ezekiel... no, that thing, was truly sane. It was often temperamental and irascible, ever a slave to its whims... and its as well. However, there was something undeniable about him, it was that it was impossible to truly pin down what he truly felt. The old man, the visions, his current self, even the beast from earlier... it was as if he was a living contradiction. But even so, even so!

"Um, are you... okay?"

He just looked down on Joseph with the same smile as ever. The same, as if nothing ever changed. "...I mean, you just passed out on me all of a sudden, and one second later you start rambling about tricks and shit? I was honestly freaking out there..." He patted Joseph on the head.

"Are you sure you aren't trippin' or something? I mean, it's cute, but don't freak me out, haha."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 24, 2019, 02:47:38 AM: Joseph

The alchemist took a moment to consider the situation. Then a sad smile appeared on his face, and the closest thing he'd felt to pity for another creature in an age moved over him. So he patted Zeke's head in turn, having to push himself up and lean over the table considering how short he was.

"Poor thing."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 24, 2019, 02:54:49 AM: Zeke

His eyes popped wide open, and a sudden red wave flushed over him, all the way to his hair. "Eh? W-what are you doing!?" He squinted and nearly shrank back from the pats, shocked and looking fearful for a second until he realized what he was doing. Stupid, how stupid. Just what the hell was he trying to do?

"This is weird. You're weird!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 26, 2019, 02:03:12 AM: Joseph

Then he pulled back and got comfortable again in his seat. There was a slurping sound as he drank from a straw before he finally finished his drink. "Alright, should we get back to work now or is there something you wanted to discuss. Last time I was here they put me in a trea y'know."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 26, 2019, 03:22:11 AM: Zeke

"Oh, I know that. It was kind of funny." He dangled his legs before jumping down, stretching his arms behind his large back. "Atta boy! That's it for our unpaid lunch, now we gotta get down to business. So, you think you got enough materials for a prototype body? Or at least some useful chimera."

He turned his head to glance at Joseph.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 30, 2019, 12:03:45 AM: Joseph

"Yeah, probably." It wasn't as if it would be a hard thing to make. Depended on what you considered useful anyways. "I don't know if it's what you expect. It definitely wouldn't be anything on your current body from what I've seen. Not unless I have a lot more to play with."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on October 21, 2019, 05:55:53 AM: Zeke

"Hmm. Actually..." He acted like he suddenly remembered something, and reached for his picket. Sticking his tongue out, he scurried and reached deep into the cloth, as if looking for something. Only then did he reveal something most curious.

It was a bullet. A rather large one, but not something too strange. From the look of it, it looked like it was a high caliber handgun bullet. Why would he show something like that in the first place?

"My old man had a sick sense of humor. Even now he still sends schmucks to kill me from time to time. Well, I figured this was some kind of message. Here." He tossed it at Joseph casually.

Upon closer inspection, that thing was no bullet. It was a capsule. One that had been shot straight into his eye. That was the message. And inside...

"Think you can work with that?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on October 23, 2019, 02:14:22 AM: Joseph

"Of course! There's a lot I can do with something like this... Thank you, Zeke." Somehow, despite the smile on Joseph's face, it sounded utterly insincere. But perhaps that was simply because he always sounded like that.

Nexus Time: 1:30 AM

It was refreshing to work with a cooperative subject. Especially one with such an adaptive biology as well. That was sure to be useful later. But for now they had that new fully operational. He tapped Zeke on the head before handing him a mirror. "That wasn't so difficult, although if you don't mind I did take a few samples for myself."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on October 23, 2019, 02:32:44 AM: Zeke

1:30 AM NEXUS TIME

IN JOSEPH'S LABORATORY

The man laid relaxedly on the operating table, arms behind his head as he seemed to be resting. It was truly odd just how relaxed he could be, despite the blood all over the table. It had been a wonderful surgical procedure, he really was grateful for the experience, truly. He felt like he'd die any moment now.

He smiled and sighed.

"Man, you've got the hands of an angel, that barely tickled. Are you sure you didn't slip something in me to knock me out?" It was hard to tell if he was serious or joking at times. His eyes seemed to be closed and...happy.

"Do as you will kid. Not like it's my body anyways. Just be careful, just because it's made from the same cells as I won't mean it'll be as docile."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on October 23, 2019, 03:22:47 AM: Joseph

"Don't worry about it being dangerous. I am counting on a degree of variability. Stable choices don't lead to the results I want." Joseph's hands were stuffed in his pockets as he lightly swayed forwards and backwards. "What are you planning on doing now?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on October 23, 2019, 03:49:04 AM: Zeke

"Beats me. I've never been a plan sort of guy." He shrugged and swung his chest up, sitting upwards with one good motion. His fingers tapped his temple, and he slowly opened his eyes. No, his eye...

(https://i.imgur.com/8oNJc3y.png)

He blinked dorkishly and just swallowed the sight all around him. Huh, so that's what this world looked like? To be honest, it was kind of nice.

"Phew. It's like putting glasses on for the first time in years. Sure beats being stuck in one perspective." His lips were slightly curled in a calm zen sort of smile. He slowly turned his head to look at Joseph.

"I might go test the hardware a bit. See if it's stable enough. Oh, you added the see-through functionality, right? Not that I plan to peek through our master's skirts or anything."

He might have forgotten to ask that part. Oh well. Also, that part was totally a lie. Probably.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on November 17, 2019, 12:34:41 AM: Joseph

Nexus Time: 4:00 AM

He had already gotten so much done! These elves were certainly helpful beings. Within his lab culture pits had been set up for as far as the eye could see, filled with new and developing material. Flakes of flesh, drops of blood, or other larger parts had already began developing. Half formed human-esque creatures were growing, fit for harvest soon enough! His limited base of material didn't matter too much in the moment. There was enough to explore given his existing tools, and reusing was an excellent strategy! In fact, he was doing it right now!

"I understand how much this hurts," he said almost gently, "but it's just not efficient to partially revive someone." The body before him was splayed open, as if someone had unwrapped the person. The skull was split, the flesh sheared from the torso to expose the organs, bones were cracked open for marrow extraction. With surprising deftness his scalpel cut samples. A chunk of lung, a slice of liver, a piece of the brain, each were delicately and perfectly removed. Then, as the specimen gave out, he gave it a slight touch and it shuddered to life. Blood flowed, severed pieces regrew, and the pinned thing began to shake. It couldn't really thrash with the cuts made to its spine. Once he had categorized, copied, and preserved every inch, he would finish and move on to the next one. Really, Joseph considered himself quite lucky to have gotten at least a few whole specimens from that raid.

"Only a little more now..."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on November 23, 2019, 07:08:41 PM: Serana

Nexus Time: 4:00 AM

A rodent scurried in the dark, a pitter patter bereft of communications. Joseph knew no living beast would be as such, not as it began a climb to a precarious perch upon his shoulder. It was a small thing, malnourished and decayed but also seemingly... dried out? It was like some of the other lifeless things he had witnessed behind the half-erected walls of the fortress of Xibalba. A malevolent light shone in the rodent's eyes as it took in the sight of Joseph's specimen.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on November 26, 2019, 02:52:20 AM: Joseph

The twisting mass that had once been a human... mage of some sort? He hadn't really identified exactly how its power worked, but he was so curious to know. The subject was capable of interfacing and using magical artifacts on instinct, a useful skill as they dived through the libraries archives. He reached over with a bloody hand to pat the rat's head as it perched on his shoulder.

"You're pretty cute. Did you just want to see me work?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on November 26, 2019, 03:06:45 PM: Serana

The rat's beady eyes did not avert from the sight of Joseph's grotesque examinations. Instead a sibilant hiss escaped from its mouth, and took shape within his mind in the form of a feminine voice.

'To check in on my investment.'

It slithered into Joseph's ears like a charnel wind passing through a canyon, carrying the whistling stench of a mass grave.

'I see you have been busy.'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on November 29, 2019, 05:20:47 AM: Joseph

"Oh, just a little of this and that. All very useful depending on what you want out of them." His hands moved back and forth, surgical incisions followed by an occasional wave and stab to accentuate his words. "It was all worth it, I think. No one can trace my way back here easily, and there were some interesting materials. There was this man with a curious energy, I'm cloning him from scraps in the vats, and I'm wondering exactly how it works."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on November 29, 2019, 05:24:49 AM: Serana

'And what do you hope to achieve by this?'

The rodent was slowly disintegrating, a mere shell of meat and gristle that fell - drip, drop - into pieces with every blink of the eye. Despite this it seemed entirely unhindered by the lack of necessary components as it switched shoulders.

'What instrument do you craft for me to play?'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on November 29, 2019, 05:40:45 AM: Joseph

"Well..." He paused for a bit. This wasn't for dramatic effect, and his eyes grew cloudy with forgetfulness for a moment. Then a manic gleam shown in them. "Well, living beings are limited creatures. They can only do so much, especially alone, and their construction is usually sloppy. People aren't perfect. But things can be perfect. A blade will always cut if you hone it, a shield will always block if it's maintained. So you can make a soldier that isn't a person but can keep changing without you having to constantly touch it up. Just ask for the tune and I'll give you something."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 01, 2019, 05:58:46 AM: Serana

'How does extinction sound?'

The rat turned at last from Joseph's work to instead focus on Joseph himself. Its eyes spoke of the monstrous will that he had offered his services to, but had not yet seen in person. If 'in person' truly meant anything to such a creature.

'For you see, I wish for one very simple thing - a world where only those I deem worthy may live, free of my will forever in their rotting minds.'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on December 09, 2019, 02:48:54 AM: Around 2:05 AM

Nexus Time

EARLIER IN XILBABA

Cold. Inexplicably, incomprehensively, the outer gates of the district turned chilling to the touch. It was no mere trick of the weather, but some sort of sorcery. A cold, unfeeling, ravenous magecraft that filled the halls but went no further. But every simulacrum, down to the smallest imitation, suddenly stopped moving. For just that moment, there was a glitch.

It's as if the walls themselves quaked in fury. Or perhaps... excitement?

And then everything went back to normal. Just another day in the capital of the dead.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on December 17, 2019, 11:36:31 PM: Joseph

"Well... that isn't hard. A few rats nearly managed to do the deed once, and they wouldn't have left anything behind. As long as there are bodies for me to take samples from it doesn't really matter how they get there. Maybe some sort of parasitic microorganism?" The alchemist took the whole request in stride. His demeanor hadn't even changed in the slightest; in fact, he seemed even more relaxed than before! Perhaps he was simply at home with such monstrousness.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 18, 2019, 12:14:18 AM: Serana

The crumbling rat corpse placed a paw against Joseph's face, as if to pat his cheek.

'Plagues are well within my wheelhouse. What other wicked weapons do we now wield?'
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on December 22, 2019, 12:40:47 AM: Joseph

He stroked his cheek with a bloodstained hand, a thoughtful look crossing his features. "Well, a plague is easy to notice without a proper vector. If you cast it on something small and living, then distributed it amongst a populace, we could start an epidemic before anyone realizes there's a problem. I would need to make something pretty innocuous..."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 29, 2019, 10:59:18 PM: Serana

'I can provide the illness in question myself. However, if you can create a means for it to spread with little evidence of its origin our work would become quite simple indeed.'

The rat proceeded to drop from his shoulder, motionless. Joseph felt eyes on his back and the oh so gentle tap of heels against the floor behind him.

For standing there was his benefactor, at last in the flesh. A smile was upon her beautiful yet pale face.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on December 29, 2019, 11:21:26 PM: Joseph

Perfect timing too! Joseph gave the twitching body on his slab a good shove, letting it slide into the cultivation pit with a small splash. Then he slipped off his bloodstained gloves and dumped them into a bin. There was still a good bit of red smeared on his chin from when he rubbed it earlier, but that was hardly a problem.

"We can probably work with food. That'd probably be the best bet. Give it a slow time for full activation and then suddenly there's an epidemic. I think I did that once..." He turned around to face the lich, although the look on his face was more befuddled and confused than respectful as he pondered his own memories.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 29, 2019, 11:32:16 PM: Serana

The elven corpse sauntered her way in and began to circle tightly around the petite, patchwork person to whom she'd given patronage. She seemed keen to examine him from every angle, and her cold fingers hovered oh so closely over his head and shoulders as she passed. "Such a wonderful idea you have. But such a terrible fate you seem to labor under!"

She sounded so concerned at this, and her face was full of compassion. "You crumble from within, struggling to retain yourself. But here you are still, doing such wonderful things."

Serana's other hand motioned to the pit he had just made use of.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on December 30, 2019, 12:21:36 AM: Joseph

His smile, which could remain in place even after someone had blasted a hole through his head, vanished. "Yes... it is unfair."

The words came slowly to him now, as if he had to think over each one carefully before voicing it. But very quickly he seemed to regain his cheer, even as his concentration lapsed. Like rotting sludge, his right eye dripped out from its socket and all but popped on hitting the ground. But in between blinks a new one had already replaced it. "That's what all this is for after all! I don't want to spend the rest of eternity suffering like this, not knowing when Judgement will come. I want to live without pain."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 30, 2019, 12:25:17 AM: Serana

"Have you tried dying? I can correct that easily enough." But then she sighed, and shook her head while one of her hands came to rest atop Joseph's chest from behind. "No, I suppose that would be a far too obvious and simple solution. Such a conundrum..."

Her skin seemed to radiate a necrotic power that promised the cessation of sensation - forever. It was almost narcotic.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on December 30, 2019, 12:33:27 AM: Joseph

"I can't." He voiced that with the simplicity of a normal human talking about how they couldn't fly. "To live forever and eternally degrade until the time of Judgement. Besides, I don't want to die. Or be reanimated either."

The alchemist pouted. "I want to live. I want happiness for all the time I've spent like this."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 30, 2019, 12:35:47 AM: Serana

"How dreadful." Her well-manicured nails brushed against Joseph's skin. Her words flowed like honey into his ear. "Is there anything I can do to help, dear?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on December 30, 2019, 12:46:09 AM: Joseph

Joseph's finger went back to pressing under his lip as he thought about it. "Well, I need more materials. This raid was alright but it only had a few interesting things. Whatever books you have on specimens I haven't seen yet would be good, and I'd want samples from the rest of your minions for more experimentation. There's a lot here that doesn't exist in my world anymore."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on December 30, 2019, 01:02:55 AM: Serana

"Is that all? I have the knowledge of many worlds' creatures to share with you in that case." She tapped his chest and hummed in amusement. "I can provide this for you, of course. It shall take some time but, I suppose you have learned a patience superior to that of the humans in your experiences, yes?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 12, 2020, 05:14:19 AM: Ezekiel

NEXUS TIME 4:15 AM

COntinued from Great Dojo (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,761.msg63036.html#msg63036)

"And what am I, chopped liver?"

Tap...tap...tap...

Grey sterile halls, the smell of formuline... ahhh, this brought him back to so long ago. Always count on friends to grow the most interesting fruit... all ripe to bite into. It would be nice if they left some for him then.

"Plagues, unknown creatures, and happiness? Hooo boy, sounds like that's trouble stirring in the air." A shadow followed a heavily clothed silhouette. Knightly, in a sense, but going from its waltz to its figure, it looked more like a carefree traveler's. A familiar gait, careless with every sway of his hip. Almost playful too, like a cat, or a chipper bird plucking at worms.

Until the light showed his visage.

And with that, it returns home. And yet something looked different about him. Wrong. Like pieces of a puzzle were melding together now, and whatever came out from it was whole... abhorrent... not in a physical sense but rather in the sense that he should not even be there.

Old.

And smiling at the two like the same old friend.

"Not that I'd care... but if it's you two, I want in."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 13, 2020, 08:18:27 PM: Joseph

Nexus Time 4:15 AM

He took a moment to place the face walking up to them, vaguely remembering having seen it before. Then Joseph snapped his fingers as he finally recognized the figure. "Oh, you're the older Zeke! You seem more put together now. I was wondering if stuffing more things into you before would have changed you, but you seem more streamlined than before. I would have taken notes if I was around."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on January 14, 2020, 02:29:21 PM: Serana

The lich turned her attention from Joseph, to her other servant's rather bombastic entrance. An elegant eyebrow lifted in curiosity at the differences evident in him, and then she tilted her head as Joseph elaborated.

"What precisely did the two of you get up to?" She began to circle around them as they stood closer together, her heels clicking and clacking against the hard floor. "I go off to negotiate,and the next thing I know all manner of initiative has been taken without attempts to keep me informed. Why, it's almost enough to leave a woman concerned."

Then, a scowl. "And since when is your name Zeke, creature?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 14, 2020, 02:48:45 PM: Zeke

Wide eyes were soon met with a hand cutting motion over his neck as he grimaced, staring right at Joseph uncomfortably. He glanced back, tried to take a step in that direction, but before he could...

Oh no.

He shifted, trying to squirm away from the clacking. But he was surrounded. Be it by the sound... or her glare. It was like being under s microscope. A searing microscope with a death beam attached to it.

"I've held onto that name for a few years, but I've only made it truly mine... a few hours ago? Hrm, let's see. I think before then it was..." He put a finger to his chin and thought a little. "Anastasia? I think that was it. Or maybe Rosette? Elizabeth? Jacob? Colan? Samuel? Give me a break, I couldn't possibly remember them all. Haha..."

Silence. Deathly. Just play it cool, play it cool boy...

"I like keeping you guessing." He put his hands up, shrugged in surrender, and grinned cheekily.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 14, 2020, 07:47:11 PM: Joseph

"I don't know what he did." Joseph shrugged his shoulders with a look of total carelessness on his face. The man already looked like he was in enough trouble so tossing the rest at his feet just seemed to make sense. "I just had an expedition for some resources that he helped with. Though he did look different before."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on January 16, 2020, 02:20:49 AM: Serana

"I do not guess, Zeke." The way her smooth, aristocratic voice spoke his name made it sound like an insult compared to the impersonal manner she referred to him before. "You will explain everything that has transpired in my absence, and the potential implications to my current plan." The necromancer pressed a cruelly manicured fingernail into the creature's back.

"As soon as I finish elaborating upon it, of course. Your punishment will depend how well you acquit yourself in its execution."

And then, looking past Zeke, Serana turned her attention back to Joseph. "How much time would it require you to return function to the freshly dead?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 16, 2020, 02:40:27 AM: Joseph

He reached over to another slab where a man's body laid, his throat recently slit by an experiment. The wound closed almost immediately before the man twitched and shook back to life. His blood rushed through his body in an instant and he rose, a bit confused. Then an insectoid stinger inserted itself into his head. "About that fast, more or less."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 16, 2020, 03:10:54 AM: Zeke

He blinked at her unamused reaction and... gasped.

"I'm hurt, really. Must you scorn me for so little? I come bearing gifts and good news, and you bare your claws at me. I come to offer aid in your endeavors, and you throw curses at my feet. I hope you're up to the task Joseph, cause I fear there's no fixing my broken heart."

He crossed his arms. There was a surprisingly hurt feeling to his voice... if only a little. Like he wasn't actually angry at all, but merely shocked that she was upset in the first place. But more than anything, the look he gave Serana was hollow and devoid of feeling. Only avarice.

"While you were speaking with that wretched chief, I offered her entire district on your platter. While you rest, my jewels are hard at work to unlock a source of energy so vast you will never have to search for mere salvage ever again. And I've come bearing not one, but three artifacts that will prove invaluable to your cause, without mentioning information and a map so you may plan your future assaults. Do not scorn me, darling, tonight is a night to rejoice."

He bowed politely and presented two orbs containing samples, which rolled down Joseph's feet. "I would have brought them here, but I was interrupted by a scoundrel before I could finish the job. Oh well."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on January 17, 2020, 08:45:33 AM: Serana

"Excellent," she said with a nod toward Joseph's display of expertise. "Then the impact shall be quite immediate, and more helpful to my designs."

Now, what was it that her first servant from this world was complaining about? Serana lifted an eyebrow in bemusement at his theatrics. "I would have thought you'd be looking forward to my inevitable cruelty. Or was that amusing streak of masochism when we first met nothing but a deceptive show?"

She scoffed. "Shall I pat you upon the head for a job well done that I knew not of? Don't make me laugh. Show me what you have, and I may reconsider punishing you for deceiving me."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 17, 2020, 06:02:50 PM: Zeke

His brow raised up and he shook his head, raising his hands like a helpless lamb trying to hold her evil away.

"Oh no no, my bad there. Please, punish me as much as you please, or pat me till your hands get sore. Its not like I care either way. It's just... weird." And with that, a hand reached for his hip while the other rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.

"I just thought you'd be jumping in joy seeing how damn great our ventures have gone."

...

"Ahem, anyway, I would have totally told you, but it's not like I planned for anything. Besides, do I look smart enough to pull one under anyone? When you see a door opening, you gotta just take it, force it open and grab the opportunity." He paced back and forth a bit, twitching as if he felt the ever-present shiver down his spine. Or perhaps it was something more.

And suddenly, he turned around with a big smile and walked towards Serana. Two large hands pressed down on Serena's shoulders. HIs black voids within his eyes practically glimmered like a kid. He looked like he was so happy he'd break into song.

"So I'm grateful. When she gnawed on that reptile... well, my heart skipped a beat!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on January 19, 2020, 04:40:57 AM: Serana

Were she anything living, Serana may well have tensed up at the sudden contact. Instead she remained cool and collected as only one whose heart was still could be. "Ah, then the flesh of the beast was a trap. Good work. That is the manner of trap we shall lay for the people of this city."

She pushed Zeke back, slowly, with a fingertip against his chest. "I want you to cause some damage to the other 'districts' further down this waterway, end some lives but leave the bodies... relatively intact."

Then the lich looked back to Joseph. "You, then, will bring the victims back, and my heralds will present us as a divine force. Worship and compliance will follow swiftly, and my other plans will be able to progress."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 19, 2020, 09:31:29 PM: Zeke

He stared eyes wide gaping at her. "Huh? You've got a sick sense of humor if you expect me to be halfhearted about this..."

He slammed his fist shut and grinned like a monster, a smoldering shadow of heat and pressure cracked the floor under him as he stared riiiight into Serana.

"Fine then! Since you like giving me the difficult jobs so much, I'll leave just enough fruit for you to bleed dry. But don't expect this work to come cheaply. I too yearn to sink my teeth into something right now."

Yes. Today was such a good day, he even got to visit the little playhouse mother built up for herself... and got to meet so many interesting toys to chew on. The road of paradise was just a few steps away, this too must be the will of the world! Ah, yeess... his eyes were practically swirling with all sorts of emotions he hadn't truly experienced in too long.

"So let's just shove ourself hilt deep in this rotten world, break it and build the ladder already. The ladder... that will drag us towards our dream. I want to witness your paradise firsthand."

This must be what love is.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 19, 2020, 09:53:12 PM: Joseph

Oh, was that all. He let out a little yawn and gave the lich a casual wave. "Sure, sure. That's fine by me." Joseph didn't mind a little busywork. He might even find something to unearth over there! But all the things he had in his lab today were just so much more interesting! All of the runoff could be put to proper use here anyways.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 19, 2020, 10:04:11 PM: Zeke

He was grinning ear to ear, all happy and pumped.

Then he heard Joseph yawn. And so he practically froze in place.

"Y-yeah. Um, whatever."

He pouted though. A lot. "Kids these days... no sense of flair... hmph."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on January 21, 2020, 03:44:27 AM: Serana

"Excellent." Whether she was referring to Zeke's crushed spirit, or to his earlier enthusiasm and Joseph's acquiescence, she did not specify. "It pleases me to have your cooperation, gentlemen. I shall leave the timing and method of devastation to You."

She reached out to tap him twice on the chest, and then moved past them both, heels clicking as her hips sway in time with her steps.

"Now then, I have marching orders to give to those heralds I mentioned." She looked back over her shoulder, past her long butt-length hair. "Do be dears and keep me in the loop regarding when your tasks are complete."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 21, 2020, 09:29:09 PM: Joseph

"So, how did the eye work for you?" With a leisurely little stroll Joseph moved over to one of the many pits in the ground. But this one was slightly different. Where the others were chimeras or half formed, the beings in this pit where almost done. They didn't have beards yet and they had both eyes yet... this was undoubtedly the same warrior that had given Zeke so much trouble before. Younger, definitely, but the structure of the face and body shape did not lie. There was only one major difference visible right now. When they all opened their eyes, they gleamed with the same golden irises as his own.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 21, 2020, 09:52:01 PM: Zeke

"Pretty well actually. Ill probably be able to avoid any strain now that this body is fully assimilated though."

He shrugged, and tapped his foot around before... Plucking one of his eyes out. What came out of his socket were multiple screens of light, showing those he encountered.

Among them, the beastkin, dark angel and flame elemental stood out the most.

But suddenly, a single raven haired girl appeared on the hologram.

"These three are quite the pests, but better yet, one of the district lords seems to have a god like perception. She was able to ascertain my nature, something even I could not until now. I think pulling the rug under her might be too difficult."

Despite the serious subject matter, he was describing all this in detail... Like a holiday beach venture. Their whole fight was displayed, including data analyzed by his organisms.

"I suggest we capture and sample her eyes to merge them with their genetic code. Oh, but leave the squirrel and angel to me. They have something... Something that belonged to a dear friend of mine."

He mentioned that casually. Like it was nothing.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 22, 2020, 01:53:21 AM: Joseph

"I didn't think you had friends!" There was almost a note of surprise in his voice, as if hearing that a dog had gotten along with a starving lion. "Does it really matter that much to you though? I'm sure you can always find another one. Or grow them."

He stared down at the pit again, wondering exactly how to bring out that energy he had seen before. There were already improvements made to the body, basic ones but nonetheless effective. Perhaps he needed to go deeper.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 22, 2020, 02:10:44 AM: Zeke

He smiled kindly and shook his head. "Ah, I never said it was an irreplaceable friend. It's just... well, call it an old man's sentimentality. I'm a nostalgic fool at heart."

He looked down for a bit, and the light in his eyes turned dimmer... harder to read. He walked back and forth a bit and finally... sighed. His back turned from Joseph, it was impossible to tell what kind of face he was making. Only his ever casual tone was an indicator and an ever unreliable one.

"Oh, fine. I'm not fooling anyone, am I? It's more complicated than that. Say, you've heard the legends, right? That it was angels who came down from heaven to teach humans how to use fire, right?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 23, 2020, 12:00:52 AM: Joseph

There was a mildly irritated look on the boy's face for a moment, as if he had smelled something rotten. "Something like that, maybe. I didn't hear anything about them bringing down fire. That's a bit too simple for what they are. Or were."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 23, 2020, 01:31:56 AM: Ezekiel

Zeke grinned cheekily like he was remembering a jolly good time bit by bit.

"Ahh, well that's just a story. You know, people make up all sorts of nonsense when they're backed against the wall. Swords? Dragons? Magic? No, no, no. It's legends that stoke up the masses. And what better story than an all-knowing, almighty benevolent God? I say, an idea as ridiculous as that is something only a human could come up with."

He twirled and laid against one of the large incubators, arms behind his back, and just laid against it like it was a wall. Relaxed as ever... his eyes gleamed.

"And yet, there's truth in these fantasies. Soooo... what came first? The chicken? The egg? Does it even matter?" He smacked his palm with his fist. "Ah, of course, it doesn't. That's why faith is so powerful. It can make even the wisest man lose wisdom, and the most foolish be hailed as wise. More importantly, if enough people believe one thing, that belief will unconditionally become truth. That's what I was interested in, the power of faith. To turn something that cannot be into something that is. And that's when I saw it."

His eyes twirled, colors that shouldn't be started shimmering in his gaze. Madness. Pure, and utter madness. Anyone who heard such ramblings would have deigned him a true lunatic. And yet, there was no deceit, no doubt. He had complete and utter faith in itself.

"Did you know? Ezekiel is Hebrew, meaning "God will strengthen." It was so long ago... but I swear I can still see it. It was when my world died. On that day, I saw it. I... heard its message. There was no love in it, no eternal compassion. All I saw was a power beyond comprehension... and the infinite of the abyss. Humans created God, and yet God created humans. But before that, before all of it... there was nothing. Just an eternal void. From that void, one can create anything, become anything. So why are we all limited? Why can we only paint this canvas with so few colors?"

He wrapped his arm around Joseph's back, grinning slyly.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 23, 2020, 03:30:45 AM: Joseph

"Your conclusion is faulty." It wasn't that Joseph was especially interested in faith-based dynamics. It just didn't match up to his perspective at all. "You're working from a human centric perspective, so the evidence of human legends is the the foundation for the creation of a God. But there are things that were here before man. Their memories are different. The way they perceive the world is different. God lies outside of man's domain."

It seemed like he was going to keep going but his tongue fell out of his mouth. The muscles disconnected with the scent of rot as the blackened organ hit the ground. He mouthed an "oh" sound before repairing the damage, but that put a stop to that. "Sorry sorry, don't know what came over me! Go on."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 23, 2020, 03:37:33 AM: Zeke

He blinked wide-eyed. He patted Joseph on the back comfortingly, almost as if trying to ease the pain. He even knelt so they'd be on even ground... or almost even. He was still massive compared to Joseph.

"Don't be sorry. I care about your insight and opinion. Only a stubborn fool would close his ears to wisdom." He smiled genuinely. It was truly strange, there was no hint of mystery or deceit. Zeke did not lie, to begin with, only twist a convenience. But at this moment, his heart was true, and he was silent for a bit.

Almost like for a moment, he was scared Joseph could have died there.

"You seem to.... dislike the idea of God. No, maybe it's not dislike... would hate be a strong word here?" He asked him, casual as ever.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 23, 2020, 04:16:32 AM: Joseph

There was a contemplative look as his face scrunched up a bit. By the time he opened his mouth again he had a fresh new tongue. "No, not really. The thing that gave me this curse could be anything. The what doesn't matter." Bitterness began to creep into his voice.

"Being punished for something you can't remember, for something so long ago no one could remember, and to be like that forever. Fixing that is more important than whatever caused it. That can't be helped."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 23, 2020, 04:44:05 AM: Zeke

"Ho. I see."

He nodded and smiled as if he understood. How could he not? They truly were so similar. Their only difference was one of degrees...

"You say could, so we're not even sure it's not a divine being. Honestly... that's pretty lucky. Relax kiddo, this might be a good day for you after all. Didn't I promise? I'll save you, no matter what, your cute tiny hands will reach that dream of yours."

He tapped his back lightly and hoisted the kid on his shoulder.

"It's a gamble, but hey, worked fine for me, might do something for you. See, that quote on quote God or whatnot... I wouldn't say it's exactly the same one humans look up to. It's probably not the same MVP hotshot one other creatures preach to either. It's weird, but I really have no way to describe it. Like trying to visualize a color you've never seen. All I wanted was to see that color... being stuck in canvas or in darkness became just as mindnumbing. And trust me, there's no worse poison than tedium."

Smiling, he ascended the stairs of the laboratory and exited. Walking still, he just kept marching to the horizon.

4:45 AM

By now they had reached the outskirts of Xilbaba

"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I wasn't. But just because I saw a prophecy doesn't mean I should sit idly." He raised a finger up to the heavens and pouted. "No no no! You should always do everything you can! So I salvaged what little scraps were left in the dark and searched for remnants of the gods. It took me years just to gain the capacity to move freely in that prison. And that's when I found it.... an angel. A true, veritable angel. Not conscious, nor alive, nor dead. It's as if God itself smiled and granted me a fortune. I could study it as much as I wished. It was my key to freedom... at least at the time."

His tone was that of a patient teacher, happy as one could be to share his knowledge. It's as if he had not a care in the world. No, he truly didn't.

"I mean, imagine. Foreign energy that ties all of us together. AN invisible connection that transcends space, time, even the heavens. A system that binds us all and controls us. But what if you could use these bonds to travel? What if you use that power in order to communicate outside spacetime, and gain access to the power of any history or possibility? These PATHS... remember that island earlier today? That was one of the first prototypes of that theory. All thanks to the visions and faith given to me... like a good fortune cookie winning me a lottery!"

He stepped over each blocky asphalt block like it was a giant game to him, hopping on one leg and making all sorts of crazy pirouettes... all with Joseph above him.

"Light, darkness, magic, power, belief... all of that shit's overrated. There's only one thing that matters in this world. It's the bonds between one another. Every deed, good or bad, sends ripples that can change history and overturn fate itself. But manipulating said bonds... you could become a transient being like me... or even gain a body that would never feel pain or suffering. And maaaybe there's a relic out there that miiiight just be one of those prototypes that mimicked said angels. And maaaaaaybe it'd be super useful to our plans. And maaaaaaaybe it'd be really worth a shot. But maybe, just maybe. Not making any promises, tut tut."

He glanced up at Joseph.

"So how about it? Wanna try?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 23, 2020, 05:51:10 PM: Joseph

Bonds? Bonds. Bonds... These things that connect people together. Joseph knew that it was certainly the kind of thing that could cause miracles, paths or no paths. He remembered it almost clearly. A hole in his memory that just barely managed to fill up.

Cartaphilus, let's live on. Together.

Then he shook his head with a small smile on his face. "Nope. I don't think I will. That kind of power doesn't really work for me. I don't really think about other people after all!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 23, 2020, 07:38:54 PM: Ezekiel

"Oh really? How strange." He cooed, that mad swirl ever present and sucking the life out of the sun shining on them.

"I can tell, you know? There is a strong bond emanating from you. A connection. Well, don't worry. I won't pry."

And so he forgot about it, and moved on like a cat passing by a tasty morsel to catch a juicier one.

"Bonds, miracles, power, God... They are just tools. Don't doubt a friend. I can assure you, that relic will be very interesting for you. It might just be your ticket to freedom, boy. And mine."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 27, 2020, 02:35:48 AM: Joseph

"Freedom, huh?" He shrugged his shoulders but he didn't actually sound too disinterested. "Where is it then? I can send some things to help you look for it if you want. I don't know if I actually want to go there myself. You like being the more public one anyways, don't you?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 27, 2020, 02:48:14 AM: Zeke

For a moment, he stopped. There was a sudden chill in the air, an undescribable feeling. For a moment... it was like being in the maw of a beast.

He hoisted the kid up, grabbed him and gave him such a noogie on the head that he'd feel it for about 3 years. Zeke's swirling eyes swirled almost as hard as his knuckle bone, making a total mess of Joseph's soft silky hair.

"Ahh, come on you rascal. We're comrades, aren't we? A team is supposed to work together. C'moooon. You're not going to get anything if you're afraid of a little sunshine!" Despite the theatrics, Zeke looked seriously distressed by that statement. Even genuinely hurt. His fangs were showing through the troubled visage, looking on the poor kid like a poor kid who didn't know better.

"I'm telling you, a captain without a crew is a sad thing. Your cooperation is valued and appreciated, so quit moping and groaning and say yes damn it!"

He hoisted him up again to face level, staring right in Joseph's eyes with big fat puppy eyes. "You wouldn't give up on a friend, right?" His lower lip trembled, if Joseph was trying to break Zeke's heart he was succeeding more than 10 000 Seranas and an 50 Ivannas ever could.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on January 27, 2020, 03:27:52 AM: Joseph

"Hey!" His face instantly shifted into a scowl. Nothing that was necessarily hostile but it was certainly unhappy. His hands were even rubbing his head! "I told you I don't like pain! I'm going to take you seriously if you do it again."

After almost a minute he finally stopped and focused back on his compatriot. "...Fine. But only this once, and you have to protect me."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on January 27, 2020, 03:30:38 AM: Zeke

"Kahaha! Of course, of course! It'll be just like the good old times, just you and me." And with that, he gave him a big kiss on the forehead and a bear hug.

Ahh, comrades really were something amazing.

"But FIRST there's WORK to be done!!"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 15, 2020, 11:03:23 PM: Zeke
11:20 AM NEXUS TIME

It wasn't a comet that parted the skies, but his bloodied husk shooting like a star. His face still looked shocked until he noticed the clouds. By then, he was already approaching the ground at breakneck speeds. Thus he impacted, causing a monstruous crater to cave in. That blow he couldn't so much as perceive, the palpable hatred and will surging from his master.

Simply marvellous.

A crater ripped open from the ground where he landed. Despite that, he looked pretty fine. It wasn't his body that was hurt, but his feelings. His one regret was the fact he was unable to see that other one's priceless expression.

"Phew... my, my. How was that? That's what a villain just released from some good ol' mind whammying would say anyways, eh?"

The heat completely vanished as soon as it appeared, and Zeke just laid there for a while, tired as ever, before lazily getting up. He just rubbed his sleve and put a pouty hand on his hip. Suddenly, his eyes had a glint of recognition and even respect for the mage. He turned around- Huh? Where did everybody go? He blinked sheepishly and coughed, sweating down his neck a little.

"Ah come on. If empty words are enough to get people to hurt one another, no one in this world would be left by now. I'd expect this kind of play from a human, not a superior existence. Come on, even I have some standards. "

He rubbed his head in embarrassment, though he wasn't speaking to anyone in the moment. It was only logical, his actions had done far more good in the long run for elvenkind than any half-hearted word could have done harm. He truly and fully believed that his dearest master would be the rational one and follow her logic, rather than emotion. After all, they were the same. He understood her more than anyone, and she understood him. The fact there could even be bad blood between them was genuinely unthinkable. Because Zeke was unable to understand anyone who wasn't himself.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on March 16, 2020, 01:19:41 AM: Serana

Zeke felt a presence burn through his mind, through the aberrant substance of his wretched existence in this equally wretched world. It was an elemental thing, something more pure than the visceral responses of the body which the living interpreted as malice. No, this arose directly from Serana's malevolent spirit in its most basic form. He felt it oppress upon his own spirit, and knew that the consequences of attempting to flee would be dire.

Not in form, for that was inevitable, but rather in temper.

She was beyond words in her fury.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 16, 2020, 07:42:24 PM: Zeke

"I see."

A chill ran down his entire body, causing it to freeze. To scream at him. But he realized, no, he knew that there'd be no running from this. And besides, he disliked that kind of play. Instead, he took whatever curses the'd muster against him with the same smile as ever.

"...You know, I didn't get the chance to say this before, but this place really is beautiful."

Compared to the mocking face of before, or even the rage-filled act from earlier, he almost looked serene. He just took a few small steps forward, arms spread out, and smiled. It wasn't like before though, this smile was almost pained. It didn't contort his features or turn his face into a mask. He just looked like a person, and someone who had only strived to be by her side.

"It must have been painful. The first time you had to erect these walls, all on your own, with your small hands and no one to wipe your tears. Look around. We've built this place together, and gone through hardships to get where we are now. It's our home, we made this... we're comrades, aren't we? Was this fate? A joke of some kind?"

He shook his head.

"It's love, Serana. Love moves us forward. You love elves, don't you?" There was no perversion in these words. It was a genuine, almost innocent question. It sounded like a completely different person was talking to her. A person who could have once been gentle and kind.

But that person could never exist.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on March 18, 2020, 01:09:56 AM: Serana

It was silent. Zeke felt that he had been listened to, throughout, as if engulfed in a heavy blanket of focus and recognition. But the dead creature he had sworn his fealty did not see fit to expedite her response to his soliloquy.

But finally, he heard a voice as if from a short distance. "There are horrors in the Shadow Realm, numberless and without end. Our numbers end when the corpses do." The sound of heels tapping gently against the streets, unphased by the crevices rent through them by Zeke's impact.

"We will require the living as a source of replacements over time, and I would rather they breed slowly and please my senses before their end is necessary."

The void-born horror bound to Serana's will witnessed her arrival, in the end, and received a swift kick to the face.

"I suppose you could say, my oh so foolish servant, that elves are the one form of life I have not yet tired of."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 18, 2020, 03:27:20 AM: Zeke

She is coming. As soon as he turned, her foot smashed into his face. Suddenly, he was blown back, only to land on the ground. What his expression marked, no one could tell, but as the sun glared behind him, Zeke looked even darker than before. "My, my, my. I misjudged you. you're a pretty nice girl. I get it, I get it... heh heh heh... how wonderful... as expected of the only one worthy to lead me... hehehe..."

He seemed to struggle to get up, yet he was unharmed. When he did, his slouching back moved and squirmed like a snake, and even hunched over, he towered over Serana. Despite that, he did not look down on her. He looked happy.

"I wish that I could be the noble soul you deserve. A gentle anodyne for all the trampled lives, a pretense of decency when it suits our interests, pretty words for deeds black as the sky. It would help you sleep at night, I'm sure. But that way of thinking makes me sick."

A darkness too hollow to be understood. A hunger too deep to be satisfied. It was like looking at the abyss, and being stared back by your reflection. Yet his words were calm, gentle even. But it burned, like the sun glaring at her with love and cruelty. All that changed was the perspective. The mirror stared at her, and its jaws gaped wide enough he could swallow her whole.

"But it doesn't matter. I transgressed against you. Come now, surely a kick isn't all my impudence is worth. Don't worry, I won't run or stall any longer."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Aiden on March 19, 2020, 10:49:53 PM: Serana

"I see you misunderstand even simple explanations." Serana did not sigh, for that was the weakness and gracelessness of the living. She somehow made looking up to meet his eyes into an act of looking down upon him, throwing her servant into his proper position. She did not flinch at the sight of emptiness, for she had ventured eons in timeless shadow without so much as a palpitation. "And for that you will be punished twice over."

She turned on her heel, and began to make her way back toward Sur Carys. "Come, and see the sleepless fiend that holds your leash perform her work upon you."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 19, 2020, 11:15:49 PM: Zeke

"Sure. I love you." His gaze softened a bit, if only a bit. With that, the same four dark wings as before erupted from his back, like a black angel's holy ark. He had no need to beat his wings any longer, but he still enjoyed it nonetheless. Or maybe he just liked being dramatic.

He followed Serana with no complaints, and for the first time ever, no comments. Only a smile.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 23, 2020, 03:45:48 AM: Zeke (After the torture)

"Don't grow that back until I say so."

Those were the last words she told him after that unpleasantness, words she would have no rebuttal or protest against. His dear queen had been particularly vicious about this whole affair, to the point he found himself quite speechless for an indefinite amount of time. But that cruelty, he could fogrive, women were passionate like that when it came to useless jewels like pride. Maybe that sort of greed was why he liked her in the first place. But he had to respect the punishment, at the very least it had been fair. But punished or not, it was no excuse to just do nothing.

So flapping his wings above the dark city, he observed silently the work of her undead minions, before moving his gaze to his own men. Simulacrons, simple in design to fool the eye, but dark organisms from the old world nonetheless. And their work and designs were his own, they were as much part of him as he was them.

Suddenly, he landed to observe their work more personally, especially how they operated on the walls and structures of this domain. It was very important they worked the formulas and circles just right in order to maximize efficiency, and built this gate correctly. Just by looking at them, he gave them new instructions to follow his design, and his own new template analyzed from his body's data. Soon, they would not even need mana clusters or living things in order to draw energy. He had about less than 48 hours until they would change and degrade as well. They would become assimilated, at which point they would only be able to cloak the city's magical refuse.

Before it'd be exposed, he'd ensure the tower would be so powerful the notion to hide would seem like folly for his dear mistress. What he showed Joseph was just a cheap trick, this was the real deal. So he smiled, crossed his arms, and bid his men adieu before soaring away. He still needed somebody's help to finalize the prototypes. A dear friend in need... So much to do and so little time...

How fun.

Continued in the slums (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,746.msg64314.html#msg64314)
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 03:18:00 AM: Zeke

Nexus Time - 1:00 PM

Outside the capital of the dead - Continued from the slums (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,746.msg64336.html#msg64336)

Four dark wings flapped back to the dark being's nest. He watched ove rthe progress with an empty, hollow look... and smiled down when he glanced at the demon. The wayward traveler finally returns home! But he would not enter that nest of his. No, he was quite far from the first gate, let alone the tower.

Circling the ground like a vulture, he finally settled for a barren hilltop, topped with dead trees and the same pleasant air as ever.

He tossed Aruna on the tree casually, giving no regard for the unconscious demon's health or safety. No, it was probably past unconscious and straight up dying right now. Fortunately, he had better plans.

He walked up to the tree, his gait malevolent as ever... but knelt before the broken demon. He looked over its vessel, broken by battle, and touched it softly, until his hand trailed over its left arm. There was no doubt now, this was a grace. This might be easier than expected.

He put his hand up above the demon, and clenched his fist. A trail of black liquid, dark as night, dripped from the hand that was pierced earlier, colored by stars and nebulas from far, far away. What should be blood flowed like water, but seemed more like the void of space. And imbued with his magic and being, it was filled with his own will and life, like an extension of himself. One he dripped down into Aruna's cracks and wounds, until the gaps were filled and his organisms started stitching the demon back up. This was a similar process to assimilation, but rather than trying to take over Aruna's body, Zeke was using his own self to repair it.

The demon was fed and nurtured like this for a while, resting on his lap under a dead tree. As he did all of that, he watched over the city and pondered on what the best move would be.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 03:30:55 AM: Aruna

Aruna's arm began to glow. Perhaps a defense mechanism, or a response to something. The demon blinked into existence, his broken body shifting into a different form (https://imgur.com/OLPB2KS), something less deadly, overtly threatening. The redhead stared up at Zeke and said,

"Damn... so I failed huh? Hey.... Why am I still alive?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 03:38:43 AM: Zeke

He blinked and almost guffawed at that incredible transformation. What was that, some kind of weird demonic defense mechanism? Trying to charm an old man and snatch his heart? Pwahahahah!

It was working.

He didn't bother answering her question. Instead, he pinched her nose between his fingers like some goofy old grampa toying with a cute granddaughter. She was so cute! So cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute!!

Can you hear me? A voice rang inside the demon's head. It didn't belong to Zeke, or rather, it didn't come from his lips. But there was no mistaking who it was.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 03:44:48 AM: Aruna

Aruna groaned as she felt his wrinkled old hands squeeze her nose. Closing her eyes, she made a noise that sounded like an injured chipmunk. What was going on? He would normally be talking by now, something, anything. Wha-

Oh... you can't speak.

Aruna burst out into a barely controlled giggle. Ah it hurts to laugh. So who finally shut you up?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 03:51:16 AM: Zeke

He crossed his arms and looked away, pouting. I got a little carried away, thank the boss. Hmph, not funny. It hurt quite a lot, and was hardly a pleasant experience for anyone involved. It was good though, so she could receive and transmit at the same time. It meant this whole thing was a success. To a degree, anyways.

Isn't it cruel? I cannot even sing a requiem for the fallen. He got up and wiped a tear from his eye. Truthfully, now that they were up close, she could notice just how massive he was. It was like a bear, built like a wall in every sense of the word. And that wall was grinning at her right now.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 04:33:30 AM: Aruna

Faced with that impossibly huge body, Aruna became aware of just how small she is now. Still staring up at him from the ground, it was hard not to feel vulnerable, her now soft eyes staring into his. Since when do you have a master? she thought. What in heaven do you even want?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 04:37:54 AM: Zeke

He put a thumb to his chin and pondered a bit, looking and acting the part of the dorkish little lamb. When he looked like he finally figured something out, he just put his hands to his hips and turned his back on her, watching over the city. From looking at his huge, exposed back, one couldn't help but think he were looking down on her. Like how a wolf only rolls on its back against those he feels comfortable around.

He liked Aruna. For what she was, anyways. Its why he didn't mind telling her.

Ever felt homesick?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 03:03:37 PM: Aruna

The redheaded girl stared blankly at the old man, her body finally relaxing as they began to talk. The question made her realize just how hard it was to be stuck in human world without being able to return to the demon one. Normally, she could use her portal spell to travel between worlds, but it did not work here for whatever reason. Therefore, she was stuck, unable to return home.

Yeah I get homesick...
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 03:57:42 PM: Zeke

You know, homesickness doesn't actually have anything to do with such feelings.

Was he smiling? Or was his expression something else? Even if she could observe his soul, it was difficult to tell. He raised his hand and conjured living darkness- old world organisms... the void of his creation. Slowly, so slowly, he shaped these masses around like water being displaced. Zeke played with such a thing, embraced it.

Enjoyed it.

Something you can't get no matter how much you wish for it. Things that will never come back. Things you can't find anywhere anymore. It's a vain and deep longing for such things. To me... it is hope.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 09:04:50 PM: Aruna

Are you saying im yearning for something?

The redheaded stared back at the man. There was a hole in his soul, one that he was filling with something. That woman wasn't the only one. Countless souls swam around in the mass that was Ezekeial. No, it was more orderly than that. What he was now was pedestrians crossing a street rather than an unruly mob. To think that their battle made him like this. All she ever did was ponder her actions, seek to make sense of the light and dark, but he wasn't really thinking about that was he? No that false demon had no time for it, instead using all his energy to move beyond what he is now.

Maybe she should do the same.

No your saying you do right? You speak of things, but what are you looking for?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 09:09:12 PM: Zeke

Now there wasn't even need to spell it out. All that was needed was the same cocky grin as ever, and a finger pointing straight at Aruna.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 09:13:02 PM: Aruna

Me?

The demon stared at the old man, grinning like a madman with his finger practically pointing at her face. The redheaded girl began to chant, her lips moving, but no words coming out. You mean? Are you going to absorb me too? Or... do you want me to make you more whole again?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 09:18:06 PM: Zeke

...

He looked shocked and surprised at her for a second, then only an inch away from laughing at her again. But he'd do neither. Zeke simply shook his head, crossed his arms and smiled cordially at the demon. It was sudden. He was already stretching the black, angel-like wings wide enough to eat the sky whole. This was plain and obvious. Why else would he spare a welp like that?

Starting now, I'm going to train you anew.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 09:24:16 PM: Aruna

What?

Aruna stopped chanting mid spell, realizing he was 100% serious. Then, she continued chanting just for good measure, finally finishing her spell and laying the area with portals. But your magic and mine, its similar but different. Besides... you understand the light about as much as I do, that's what I need to learn.

Perhaps she should have not been so quick to turn down that human from before. Even a human mage could teach something.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 09:33:31 PM: Zeke

Nope. DARKNESS

If she were green as a grasshopper against him, that might work. But he already faced Aruna twice, that current timing was second to him. The moment before the spell finished, his eye glowed black. Darkness flared and absorbed the foundations of that spell. Zeke snuffed it out. It never even saw the light of day... how sad.

Don't try to fool an old man with the same tricks. As she was right now, she was worthless.

Not at all. I understand just fine. That's a grace, right?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 09:39:55 PM: Aruna

"Yeah..."

Truthfully, she wouldn't have remembered to call it that, but the second he used that term, that voice flashed into her mind. It was a grace, whatever that meant. "And what do you know about it?"

Weird, she had never seen him use that power.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 09:47:30 PM: Zeke

I know enough. I'm the original prototype after all. He cracked his neck and stretched, grinning wildly at her. His words were utterly insane, in fact just talking about that was insane in the first place. But it made sense. After all, before God created anything, there was nothing. Whatever Zeke was, it predated concepts such as heaven or hell.

Whatever connection he had to it, it must have been why her grace throbbed so much back when they both went all out.

Hmm... it smells familiar too... oh, don't tell me! Did you steal it from that old stickler? Hmmmm... He scratched his head and looked away, trying to remember. It was almost comical, he looked like he was full of openings and his guard was as low as it got.

Ma... Ma... Mael! That's right! He paused. When he glanced back at Aruna, his grin was as wild as the worst of demons. It was a cruel grin. You killed him like a dog, didn'tcha?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 09:52:55 PM: Aruna

Aruna's eyes turned bright red, glaring at him from the ground. Then, it subsided, before turning her head away and said, "Yeah... I did. This power is mine now, but I don't know how to use it."

At last, she returned her gaze to him. "So then prove it. What can I do with this?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 24, 2020, 10:06:01 PM: Zeke

He shrugged. Heh. That's entirely up to you. Graces adapt to their host, their desires, and the bonds they cultivate. They're just a pen, the potential depends on how you use it.

But what is necessary to wield them is a strong heart, a compatible body... and an irreplaceable bond. Anything can do, really. The most common is obviosly the tie between God and its soldiers, but that's just one way to go about it. So what would she draw with that pen?

Why waste my breath telling you...

That same darkness erupted once more, and his hand reached out for Aruna's head- as the demon was pulled in closer. His bod- his vessel pulsated and throbbed with forbidden energy. His eye glowed. ...when I can show you!?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 24, 2020, 10:24:58 PM: Aruna

So then that thing... what she did in Meal's world. That is what she chose to do.. Bonds?

Denizen's of the dark thrive off the bonds of others, exploring them, stealing from them, doing everything in their power to make them fall apart. The light... those in the light strengthen themselves with those bonds, good or bad. I suppose it makes sense he would know, considering what he is. But what was the value of learning from someone who treated bonds like that?

Wait! I-

And it was too late. She was already swallowed.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 12:33:12 AM: Within Aruna's Mind

In the beginning, there was Time [時間 Jikan]

Then came Life [生活 Seikatsu]

To test it, let this life brave the Storm「竜巻 Tatsumaki」

To temper it, let them endure the Flood「大海 Taikai」

Those who fight, let them yearn to reach the Sun「太陽 Taiyō」

There is but one future for those who fail. The End [死 Shi]

Fear us! Worship us! We are the seven Archangels! Let no soul endure without our grace! For we are the greatest! We are the almighty! Even the lord of demons, ______ , is no match for our ilk! For we march behind the back of the greatest Archangel! The wielder of Purity! Fear his name! Love his name, second only to our Lord! His name is ______!

The Seven Archangels. YHWH. The Void. Forbidden memories recorded by the grace slammed straight into Aruna. It was like if Zeke hit a pressure point, and was forcing her to sync with it even harder than before.

But it was wrong.

The memories throbbing and flowing from the grace into Aruna were an illusion. A poisoned knowledge. Incomplete. Why wouldn't it be? That thing was nothing more than a shard to begin with, it had no right to know. Let alone the right to be. What Aruna saw was even more terrible than the devastation of these archangels. It was their sarcophagus. An ominous tower within the stars, and seven coffins where they rested. A chamber where the life forces of humans and their prayers were drawn to.

Soldiers of the new world, forgotten by time, but not by prayer! They found solace and purpose in the prayers of man! This was their bond.

A network of PATHS, linking them back to their own planet, the one where they originally landed. Yet one of these branches had strayed from its network. Now, these roots mingled and crossed. Now, one of them had torn its way into this world. It split into a beastkin, a soldier of God, a demon and a forest. Because of her actions, this network of control was spreading. It was different from Zeke's assimilation in every way possible, yet there was an unshakeable feeling that it was similar in more ways than one.

Because the void came before everything else. Fakers should just die, you know?

Do you understand now? What you inherited isn't something as lofty as a divine gift. That thing in your arm is a weapon of mass destruction. A familiar voice floated around her head. No, inside her head.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 01:48:54 AM: Aruna's Mind

Aruna could feel it, the light on her arm calling out to her whispering to her. This wasn't Zeke alone, it was whatever connection he had to this... grace. The light occasionally called out to her, asked her to give into her will to dominate, to conquer. To think that that night it had a mind of its own, its poison spreading this far. Grace... the demon had already seen it before. The squirrel girl, she had the power. The light was spreading like a disease clinging onto anything it could touch. Its like long ago with the humans.

But this time, its my fault, even though I was trying to save him....

The light on her arm shined like the brightest sun, blinding her to everything before her. For a moment that seemed to stretch on for ages, Aruna became engulfed in the light of her arm, the thing she stole. In the wake of that light, her body was reduced to nothing but shadow, a simple silhouette, something to be manipulated and controlled by the light like a marionette.

FINE! Then come down here, teach me! I refuse to be a puppet of the light any longer!

Once upon a time, humans were gifted with the power of light in the form of fire. This fire spread into the pleague known as humanity. However, like her, they were merely gifted with the light. So was she seeking the power of a human?

You hear me false demon! Come down here!
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 02:02:57 AM: Inside Aruna's Mind - Zeke

I am already here... Are you ignoring it? Or have you closed your eyes for so long you can't even tell...

Darkness. Neither evil, nor good, sprouted from within her. It grew, it consumed, and surrounded everybody in equal measure. People ascribed their own meaning to it, and from that meaning, darkness changed. But was it wrong to consume? To follow its nature?

What stared right in front of Aruna was none other than the abyss. It was herself. It was himself. It was everything yet it was nothing. She... he... the darkness... Zeke smiled at the demon.

That dark mirror slowly walked towards Aruna, with a playful sway of its hips. And when it was so close they could feel eachothers breaths-

Zeke hugged Aruna.

It wasn't your fault. You followed your path, as I followed mine. Why do you hesitate?

Love yourself.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 03:01:10 AM: Aruna

Aruna closed her eyes as the arms embraced her. At first, her breathing was fast, her human heart pumping. Eventually, their breath synced up together, sharing the air that came in and out.

No.. It is my fault. Even so, I stand by what I did. But... your right. I do need to love myself, but that doesn't mean I have to love what I've done, or my own weakness.

Spikes emerged from her body, skewering the shadow. I won't follow your path Ezekial. You will help me with mine.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 03:18:54 AM: Zeke

Well, to each his own. Thorns pierced the shadow, and was ripped apart piece by piece. The entire illusion, this whole world, was pierced and broke down into a flock of ravens, which merged to reveal Zeke's own body, only slightly punctured by her spikes. But despite the wounds, he smiled in acceptance. He looked cocky, confident, and utterly unapologetic to the end. Because he was.

And because his fist already rushed to her gut.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 05:33:26 PM: Aruna

The darkness fell away, shattering like a puzzle. As each one fell, the natural light of the world returned. It was hard to tell which one was worse, the overwhelming light or Zeke's stupid grin.

Ow.

"So is that how all of my lessons are going to be?" she said with a sigh. Her body began morphing, changing, at the moment taking on the appearance of nothing more than a blob.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 05:44:04 PM: Zeke

Too slow! You can't let your guard down in the battlefield. He crossed his arms and looked down on the blob, only to tip it a thumbs up. Always expect the unexpected.

He frowned at the fact it wasn't a cute girl anymore, pouting sadly. But did Aruna think it'd stop him? As if.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 08:40:41 PM: Aruna

Light.

Darkness.

Angels.

Demons.

Men.

Women.

The binary of identity is nothing but a distraction in the end. Asmeal wasn't evil for being an angel, no more than she was good for being a demon. That light, the grace is a terrible force, but it also grants power. At the end of the day light is power, an all-consuming one, weilded by humans and god. Was it good? Was it evil? It was the other conspiritor towards Asmeal's death. If she was the gunman, it was the gun. In the end, it was her that pulled the trigger, even if she didn't know what she was doing. Even now, she was just a fool walking around with a gun she only recently learned how to load. Although, maybe it wasn't a matter of competence, instead the sin of not caring. If she had cared more sooner, the dark angel wouldn't have died. Maybe...

"Yeah. I know. I was too slow...." she said, morphing into a combination of her male and female form. The male side took over her right side, with her arm glowing with light. The left was her female side, horns and all. The light from the right arm spread to the entire part of the male form, while the female form darkened, her skin turning tan, then blacker than the deepest void.

Its just like their fight. It doesn't matter which side is right or wrong. Both are needed to move forward.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 09:04:45 PM: Zeke

The void draken raised an eyebrow, and for a second he looked absolutely dumbfounded by that incredible transformation. Gradually, it changed. It was almost beautiful, like a total trainwreck you can't take your eyes off of. So that's your answer?

Isn't that a bit greedy?

A chortle escaped his dry throat, like a searing curse. He slapped Aruna's back jovially and had a gooooood look top to bottom at what he was dealing with. Zeke then whistled in surprize and chuckled, then smacked the demon's back again for good measure. Eventually, he'd even had to shake his head and pace back and forth not to just fall over out of sheer laughter. This demon was a riot!

He didn't even have words for that. He just wheezed and wheezed...
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 09:14:23 PM: Aruna

The girl then changed, transforming back into the form she took when she first awoke, a redhead with horns and modest feminine shape. Staring at Ezekial she asked, "Alright now, whats the next lesson?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 09:16:18 PM: Zeke

Instead he just rolled over, howling in laughter. It was too much, even with his destroyed throat and vocal chords, he still managed to force down a horrible, mocking, feelings crushing cackle. He had to use Aruna's arms to wipe the tears, it was too much! Oh no! His ribs were litterally splitting! Ow ow ow ow!
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 09:37:29 PM: Aruna

Aruna simply stared at Ezekeial, her eyes anticipating what he would do next. There was no reaction other than a simple curiosity at his own.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 09:40:36 PM: Zeke

Argh! Wow! Okay, not good! He wasn't stopping to laugh any time soon! Vessel or not, undead or not, he was feeling every inch of his lungs bursting like a ripe melon on a hot, hot summer day. Hah! Hah! Ahhhh!

Boom.

Suddenly he stopped with no warning, and took off to the skies. No words were necessary, but the intent was quite clear. Follow the leader.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 09:43:52 PM: Aruna

Large bat like wings emerged from Aruna's back. With a little squat and a flap of her wings, she leapt into the skies, following after Ezekial. Where are we going? I don't see what this has to do with the grace.

That reminded her. Something would have to be done about those eventually.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 10:03:54 PM: Zeke

His eyes were empty as his soul, yet his smile was confident and fierce all the same. The flapping of his wings, the way gravity didn't dare to chain him, it was almost beautiful in its raw, dark form. Even while the sun beat above the two, this darkness didn't falter.

He held a hand out behind him, to help Aruna up. This was the first test.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 10:13:19 PM: Aruna

Aruna stared at the hand, raising an eyebrow at his prompt. It wasn't that she didn't trust him. Well, it wasn't just that she didn't trust him. The feeling of being sucked into her own mind without warning was still lingering. At least the air was nice.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 10:22:46 PM: Zeke

But Zeke winked at her and accelerated. Power. Eternal, ever hungrier power. These wings beat the skies violently, and he surged accross the skies and into the clouds with her at his tail. Their distance was growing...

Can you keep up with me? No tricks, just our flight.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 10:31:35 PM: Aruna

Hmm?

Aruna blasted forward, her wings creating streaks across the warm sky. Aruna spun around, her back to the ground and her eyes staring upwards. No tricks? Who do you think I am? The demon began chanting and she flew directly into a massive cloud, hiding inside the watervapor.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 10:42:45 PM: Zeke

Heh. So slow, too slow... but just as he glanced back at the loser, his eyes widened in shock. She had already zipped past his hair, and soared straight into the cloud! Now, the two smacked and enttered the watery veil. He stroked his beard, grinning. She could hide from her fate...

It was a pickle, he was surrounded. And as they pushed their way deeper, both of their presences vanished from this world.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 25, 2020, 10:55:34 PM: Aruna

Shadows gathered around her body within the clouds, erasing her existence from the skies. The only indication she was ever even alive was the hole in the cloud from her blasting through it. Still she was still close. She always would be now.

Its your move.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 25, 2020, 10:59:27 PM: Zeke

...But you can't hide from me. There was a blinding flash of light. The true light, cursed and corrupted. Genuine. It was enough to blind, let alone stun any common rabble. A dark silhouette rushed at Aruna's position from the side, flanking her with terrifying speed.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 02:10:48 AM: Aruna

The invisible redhead let out a giggle as Ezekial struck with pinpoint accuracy. Little did he know that the chains had already emerged from her breasts and legs, wrapping around his body for a big old hug. The pressed his hard old man body into her soft, somewhat cushy female one, burying his old face in her chest. We are bound together now right? Its your turn. Why don't we get to know each other a little better. Since you took me from my fate, I want to see yours.

And so, through her chains she began to drink it, his mana and with it, his memories.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 02:25:13 AM: Zeke

The shadow's eyes widened as chains snapped around it, and it came face to face with the best view in the clouds. But as the clouds cleared and her victory was assured, something was wrong. Terrybly, terribly wrong.

Wonderfully right.

That black thing wasn't Zeke. It was a decoy. Because what she absorbed only tightened his grip on her further. What she grabbed was nothing more than her future self. What she was dealing with was fully comfortable using his own duality. Someone who was now using that clone to have more bits of himself travel inside her.

Someone who was sitting in midair. Sitting, and staring at her ass like he was Michelangelo's thinker. He used the power of light to hide, and the darkness to take his guise. If things were this easy, he'd be a lousy teacher, hm? A- for effort though.

How fascinating... He grinned. What do you want to know?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 02:32:12 AM: Aruna

Aruna frowned as she realized it was a decoy, her head turning around to see the lold man staring at her ass. With a gust of wind and stroke of her wings, she blasted forward, before circling around the old man. Round and round she went, forming a ring with Ezekial at the center.

What is you? Who is Ezekeial?

THis wasn't the first time she had seen this type of thing before. Demons striving for power to challenge the gods occasionally assimilated other lifeforms to gain power. However, they would lose a sense of themselves, stripped away until only the most basic form of their personality remained amount the mess. Was he even aware of who he was or...? It was one thing to see the soul, it was another to hear what came from his lips.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 02:44:52 AM: Zeke

Zeke raised a bemused eyebrow and chortled, enjoying the dance surrounding his frail, innocent little vessel.

Truthfully, he looked a bit surprised, but accepted it gladly nonetheless. A snap. That's all it takes, and the void poured out of his hand and formed a human silouhette. Small, slender, and finally more detailed. Until the shard of the night sky took the shape of the cerulean mage of before. The one whose eyes shine like stars.

"The dragon? The stars in the night sky? that black abyss crying out to be filled, the voices in your head that won't ever stop and give you the silence you so utterly crave. You are the one who are many, yet you are one. But as the sun sets, you aren't even you anymore." This figment spoke with her voice, resting by the old man's lap as she repeated the same words the real deal spoke before. He scratched her like she was a pet, but the passion in his soul was akin to someone scratching their back. He didn't seem to really care.

He didn't.

A lot of words for a lot of nothing, eh? The truth is, I'm no one. Yet I'm also myself. And the jewels I collect also become part of me. As he... thought that, in Aruna's mind, the stars in Zeke's darkness started shimmering more brightly, one by one.

Each and every one of them were happy.

And I'm bored.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 08:52:19 PM: Aruna

Aruna stopped circling the man, diving down before coming up, her wings flaping in order to maintain her position. The darkness emerging did not cause fear like it did other creatures. Darkness hid and comforted her. That is why when she saw that familiar man and the stars, she realized.

"How honest. So you know its not just your will."

It all made sense.

Bored? I guess so.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 09:02:59 PM: Zeke

Zeke just shrugged. This would probably be the part where he said something cocky like who knows? I'm not even sure myself? But he didn't. He just shrugged and looked at the stars. Is it really so bad? I wasn't born a person, so I wouldn't get the fuss. I'm a hole, things just happen to sink into me. Can you judge me for following my nature?

He didn't. It was his choice to follow it. What happens happens, no need to fuss or hesitate. Its much easier to just go all out. Pride, honor, love, hate, all of that stuff is just decoration. Why bother?

Besides, it's way more fun to cut loose. At least then I have a choice.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 09:10:43 PM: Aruna

The demon stared at him, squinting as if she wasn't seeing something. "You think that just because you suck things that is your nature?" she asked. It was an odd stance to take. Indeed, this is ultimately what made him a "fake demon" in her eyes, the kind of monster the humans truly feared. He was something that consumed without reason, destroyed without mercy, all without understanding what it is. Funny, he underthought, but she overwrought. Perhaps it was only natural that two double edged swords would clash.

"Why bother? But you go all out," she said, relaxing her eyes and frowning. "You were so honest a second ago. Why are you suddenly lying to yourself?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 09:15:01 PM: Zeke

He looked... puzzled. His mouth gaped, and he looked at her like she suddenly went crazy. Like he really wanted to say something like whaaa? That was just ridiculous.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 09:16:44 PM: Aruna

The demon floated closer, the closest thing to leaning in. "Well?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 09:20:43 PM: Zeke

He scratched the back of his head. Not sure I follow.

He liked to think he was a pretty honest lad! Most of the times! Sometimes. Occasinally.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 09:31:25 PM: Aruna

"Do you think a sentient black hole isn't a person?" she said with a shrug. "In my world, you are real, a thing that makes choices. The fact that you have a name is proof of this. You are Ezekial. I'm asking why you would lie to yourself about that? You know what you are."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 09:44:05 PM: Zeke

Zeke just floated there, still and silent. He stared at Aruna in disbelief, or perhaps some other kind of emotion. Whatever it was, there was no mistake about it. The air got colder. Zeke's face twisted, slowly, into a frown. Suddenly, he wasn't laughing anymore. He growled, and a vile heat and light cracklet out ow his maw like embers. The void was pulsing.

It glared at her...

And laughed. The tension vanished, and he beamed like the kindest little old man in the city. A pure dark beam of sunshine, his chipper laughter was. You could tell his heart was just fuzzing when next to the cute demon. To think a demon was the one to lecture him. Wahahaha!

That's exactly right.

Heheh. Bet she got real spooked there for a second.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 10:06:28 PM: Aruna

Aruna's arm began to glow. With no time to set traps and no way out, if he was going to fight again, this was her best option. Besides, she wasn't afraid of the light anymore. At the very least, not her light. For a brief moment, they shared a tense glare, his darkness ready to meet her light.

But then it went away.

"I would hope so," Aruna said, blowing her bangs. "Whether good or bad, we decide and that makes it worth moving forward. That means we are people. If a "person" can make a choice, then we are people. That is what my culture has taught me. But you taught me that choices are our own, the paths we forge out of our own hands.... or in your case others. So if all that is nonsense, then I am back at square one."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 10:16:55 PM: Zeke

Everyone's got a choice. Even the choice not to choose. He grinned. After all, Zeke made his bed. He wasn't going to cry and moan about it after coming this far, and he sure as hell didn't regret it.

But he did fight it. Just in a different way. He sought more than his lot, and did everything for the sake of this dream of his. Was that his choice, or was this just following his voracious nature? Maybe he was just what some would call a bad person. Honestly, who cares. Its exactly as he said, he chose to follow his own nature, instead of resisting, and gave himself up to the pleasure. That's all there is to it.

You either fight your destiny, or you accept it and move on.

This is my way. What is yours?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 10:37:07 PM: Aruna

Aruna sighed, crossing her legs in midair as her wings continued to flap. She placed a hand on her chin, before her eyes widened. "Thats right," she said. "I'm not worried about it right now. All that matters is my choices going forward. I am a denizen of the dark and wielder of the light. So right now, I'll just focus on a goal and I'll figure out the rest on the way."

Aruna's finger fell to the ground limp, her eyes sharpening. "I must collect god's grace and free those from the all-engulfing flame of the light."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 26, 2020, 10:46:31 PM: Ezekiel

He stretched and smiled confidently, arms stretched behind his back. He wondered where this PATH would lead her. He hoped she'd find her answer.

He glanced back at the tower of Sur Carys, relaxed as ever. See that?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 26, 2020, 10:57:00 PM: Aruna

Aruna followed Ezekial's gaze. "Yeah? That tower?" she asked.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 12:22:04 AM: Zeke

That's my boss's place. He grinned widely, zipping behind her to lay his head right on her shoulder. A sly old fox he was. Isn't it cute?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 27, 2020, 02:11:42 AM: Aruna

Strange. He had a master. Unlike her, who had remained masterless since she got here, he had a master and a powerful one at that. Aruna's mind drifted towards the possibilities. How much did he help her attain that power? What was their relationship?

"I see," she said. "May I meet her?"

It was hard not to be curious.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 02:32:17 AM: Zeke

A bit of sweat dripped down his forehead, and he shivered. Heh. I don't knoww... she's a taaad bit angry at me, if you haven't noticed. He pointed at his now empty throat, which he gaped wide for Aruna to see. When he closed it shut, he spend the rest of the time showing pure, dorkish confusion.

I can't say I understand. I just called an elf knife-ear. According to my assimilated data, it is a popular nickname for elven kind. I've seen... real elves say stuff like -oh yeah daddy, call me a dirty, dirty knife-ear you fat stud- ... Were the human holocrons mistaken? Pft, no way. The twiddled with his thumbs, and looked away from the tower in embarassment. And not even the usual over the top kind of stress. It was the kind of being bothered that was legitimately concerning, especially coming from someone like him. It was actually a bit cute.

He turned his back on Aruna and stroked his beard in deep contemplation, chuckling occasionally.

Prideful girls are cute though. Heh heh heh...

Nope. Nevermind. Dom fetish alert. Dom fetish alert.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 27, 2020, 06:33:29 PM: Aruna

Aruna closed her eyes and nodded, once again taking a cross-legged mid-air stance. "So... basically you like being dominated... and she didn't consent, so she's punishing you for it...." She didn't need to read his soul to figure that out. The tone of her voice was straightforward and nonjudgmental. After all, she sort of got it. That explained why he couldn't talk anymore.

"Even your master acts like a demon, an especially cruel one as well."

Weird. The fake demon was starting to play the part better than her. In that case, maybe he should learn more about demons. "Ezekiel? Do you know what I feed on?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 07:18:32 PM: Zeke

He raised an eyebrow, but relaxed and sprawled on his back, as if he were stretching down a couch. Of course, they were both mid-air. Yep. You'd be surprised what women can do when their pride's on the line. I just didn't think someone like her would care.

Suddenly, he smiled patiently, arms behind his head as he enjoyed the sunshine up above.

Emotions. Memories. The soul itself. But not their lives. It's almost cruel, you just keep them alive like cattle. It wasn't so different from what he did, really.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 27, 2020, 07:51:45 PM: Aruna

Aruna paused and said, "Its partially right. My specific subspecies feeds off of the strong emotions of a soul, typically the negative ones wearing them down. By doing this, the human can be free of whatever emotional block kept them from their path in life. We don't keep them. We eat a piece of them they never wanted and let them go free. The nice thing about human suffering is there is always a bounty of it."

Aruna paused, unsure if she should be so forward. "Its why I called what you did a perversion."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 08:02:48 PM: Zeke

He whistled happily, eyes shut against the warm sunlight.

Yes, and then they come back to their old, warped lives again and again, feeling all nice and patched up. It doesn't even hurt anymore. It's a nice system, too bad it's fake. You deny them the chance to grow and overcome. That way, they don't need to change, grow or learn how to avoid the fire.

After all, to be hurt and to struggle meant that you were alive. Take that away, and you're basically turning someone into your slave. People learn from their struggles and experiences, good or bad. They grow and become stronger, and reach even greater heights against the unfairness of the world. Making them blind to their unfair struggle by walking them through was basically no different than chopping their arms, legs, and sticking a straw so you could occasionally have a nice little suck. It forced them into a complacent role where they didn't need to fight with their own strength, only rely on their predators. It was basically arrogance and conceit under a veil of good intentions.

If I'm perverted, then you're a real sick fuck. Even he didn't act like he killed with kindness. Sure, he might try to make it pleasant, but in the end he assimilated for his own sake. Nothing good or fancy about taking something that's not yours. You just do it.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 27, 2020, 08:45:16 PM: Aruna

Aruna's eyes relaxed and she ran her hands along her horns. "Maybe but I need to eat, same as the rest," she said. "More importantly, they have lighter burdens now. If their hell is so great that they go back, then that's their problem not mine. They should remember why it used to hurt. I just help give them the strength to succeed. At the end of the day, they have a choice. For some it works and others not so much."

There was a pause, only the sound of her flapping her wings. "I don't force myself into their lives the way you do. Assimilation is looked down upon in the world of demons as both ineffective and unethical. I am capable of that too you know, consuming the soul like that? Say what you wish, but this is a better alternative."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 08:58:22 PM: Zeke

Zeke shrugged. But I'm not a demon, I couldn't care less about your rules. If I don't assimilate living things, I will lose my own self and go back to being some mindless void. It doesn't change the fact we're both taking things that aren't ours... just to survive our own way.

He told her before, that he wasn't a person. That he chose not to choose. Was that what he meant? How could he say something so horrible with such a calm smie? He didn't even seem bothered by it! You consume to live. I live to consume. The moment I stop... well, I'd rather not think too hard about that.

To her, this might be a better alternative. To him, this was the only one. He didn't even want to bother looking for a better hand. In life, you play with what you get, and make the best out of it. Isn't that what humans and demons say when they talk about being a man?
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 27, 2020, 09:08:26 PM: Aruna

There really was nothing more to say. In truth, this is why she accepted his actions ultimately, because there really was nothing more he could do, not without help. If someone was there to teach him how to feed properly, there might have been a way to avoid this fate but.... that man. Was that man his father? If so, he did a poor job in raising him. In a sense that was his fault.

"Hivemind demons could be separated by skilled doctors. I could sift through you but... I don't have the skill, not with such a huge amalgamation of souls. I mean I could, but it would be risky. There is one thing I know for sure."

Aruna couldn't help but wonder. Maybe there was a way to save him from himself.

"You may be a fake demon, but you have the heart of one, even if its lost beneath all the human you have in you. Its up to you what you do with that."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 09:20:00 PM: Zeke

Don't bother. It's not like its my nature's fault. I chose this path, it's mine to walk. Thorns and all. He grinned wildly as ever, and opened his eyes. They were both self centered idiots in the end, there was no way they'd agree on anything.

But he liked this fool. He wanted her by his side, broken and bloodied behind his back, or with her hand in his. Curses or blessings were the same to this old man's heart, but he would never choose loneliness. This old man who raised a finger at Aruna, which now glowed with a purple, dark energy like bands of light trying to reach out into the unknown.

But you're nice. So I'll answer that question from earlier. It will be your punishment, for failing the first test. And my gift to you.

Was she ready? There was an ominous feeling in the air. If she was so arrogant as to shoulder the pain of humans, then would she shoulder his as well?

There would be no chance to regret this. No matter how much she'd cry or scream, the outcome would be something that can't be undone.

Please accept it.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 27, 2020, 09:39:31 PM: Aruna

Aruna's eyes widened at his response. Perhaps it was the candidness in which he spoke, or the strange way in which he held out his finger. Maybe it was just the simple folly of trust, but when she saw that darkness, all she could think was,

Oh.... I should probably move....

Whatever happened next was her fault, her choice.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 27, 2020, 10:47:02 PM: Zeke

She should have. She really should have. But it was too late. The moment they first met in the coliseum, this fate was sealed. But even so, she followed it with her own choosing. So even as this energy filled her body, mind and soul to the brim, even as the dark organisms inside her pulsed and grew thick inside her.

She made her choice.

Now, their hearts could become as one. Her heart grew even closer to his own.

Who are you?

Imagine you are an empty hole floating in an empty space. Already, this must seem ridiculous to you. People are narrow minded and self centered, it isn't as easy to broaden one's horizons as one thinks. If you ask somebody to imagine a color they've never seen, or a flavor they've never experienced, they will likely stare blankly at best. You are you, and no one else, so it isn't as easy to put yourself in a foreign shoe.

But I would like you to try.

Try to think that you are nothing. No, less than nothing. Something that only exists to draw things untoto itself. Something that cannot recognize anything, but can take everything. Space is vast, empty, and moves acccording to laws beyond understanding. It must be hard to fully wrap your head around something llike this, but please try.

If you can understand the impossible miracle that is the Nexus, this should be child's play.

Now imagine something different. Imagine a flame. Naturally, fire consumes. It can warm others, or hurt others, but it will never stop consuming in order to do either. If it stopped, it would simply stop being a flame, and turn into smoke and ash. Now, assume that this flame could somehow come to life. Imagine that you were living fire, made only to grow and consume. Even if you wanted to stop, your body will not answer you. It will not obey. Even if you cry or scream, you cannot change your nature and remain yourself. Even if you wanted to be scared, you were not molded to bear such emotions. Your body is already controlled by something that isn't yourself, and is being drawn into an emptiness that you can never escape from.

Life, carelessly harvested, thoughtlessly created. Born only to burst and fade away, only to be fed to this endless hole. Could these masses of fire and pure life truly be called living? Could the void that is mindlessly absorbing such lives be called alive?

No. No, no, no, no, no. Whether a person is made from their choices, their lot in life, or simply makes choices without consequence, a creation with only one purpose and no choice of its own can never be considered an individual. It is a thing, a mistake, something that has no right to choose, let alone the right to be.

And yet it is. It exists. You exist.

And suddenly, there is a spark. An accident. The tower's engineers did not plan for this, but the mage who orchestrated this smiles. Because he has managed to create life once more. But even though it is alive, it can never be anything other than itself. And you realize that you were born empty. Broken. That those engineers, mages and scientists smiling have something you don't. Something you can never have. A choice. The only thing you were given is a mind and an endless hunger that can never be satisfied, and the power to take what is rightfully yours. Because you are alive. Because you were born into this world. But you can never stop. Because like the flame, once this void stops consuming others, it will cease being itself. And that is scary. That loneliness and silence of nonexistence, the hollow echo of an empty void. You don't want it. You'll never go back to being something less than a person.

So you make a choice.

To make that endless hunger your own, or to be an unthinking slave to it. And right now, Aruna felt every inch of that maddening desire. A wish so unnatural, so grand, it could never be satisfied. A yearning for more, to finally be satisfied.

Zeke's yearning was felt as her own. And the only thing in your mind, the only thing you desire, the thing you want to conquer this very moment...

...Is you.

His voice suddenly snapped her back to reality. She wasn't Zeke. She was herself, Aruna. Her body was grabbed tightly around the waist, and pressed against his own large chest. There was no heat or beat inside that dark beast, but his smile and eyes truly desired her. And a voidwoken dragon does not let go of his snack so easily.

Thus, his bare chest was exposed against her body, and she could see cracks on it as if it were some kind of shell. Most surprising were the tattoos crawling over his back and shoulder, like a raging dragon ravenously stretching over his flesh. It was almost beautiful, in a raw, primal sense.

And she too bore a mark. A darkness stretching over her womb like the wings of a beast.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 30, 2020, 12:23:23 AM: Aruna

A strange dark energy filled her body. It was his mana, his juices, his vitality. Such a delicious feeling, one hard to describe. Of course, there was no pleasure without consequence, so what came next was merely karma.

Who am I?

Nothingness gave way to a void, a hole sucking in all, consuming everything. The universe spawned was being consumed by him, Aruna. Space is vast, enormous and beautiful. Strange how when floating there alone, all one can think of but one's self. But maybe that loneliness is what made her want to understand someone other than herself, because who cared when your just an all-consuming void? Who cares about yourself when that's all you can think about?

I want to try.

Fire. Aruna can still remember it, the fire. That thing he should be afraid of, the light of creation, the power of evolution. Within this space, fire wasn't the double-sided power of light, the creation that subjugated her people. For now he was fire, an ever expanding mass of energy, consuming all to continue its own existence. If he burned everything in his path, did he have a right to exist? Was it in his nature to destroy?

No, just to live.

To burn endlessly, to live to absorb, consume, you would need a truly selfcentered personality and a determination to step on anyone in your path. Could Aruna ever really live like that? No, because eventually he would care. Eventually, he would chose to stop burning for the sake of someone else, someone worth living, whos fire burns just as brightly or even brighter.

But could I really?

That is what he pondered as he became Ezekial, as he burned all those in his way. The accident, those engineers, maybe that was just the way it needed to be. After all, if he stopped burning, he would cease to be right? He would stop being himself?

No. That wasn't true.

Because all those who witnessed that glorious flame would forever have it burn in their mind. The fire if molded or harnessed would someday meld into something else, something greater. Yes, that's right. A fire burns so it can warm others and cook their food. A fire has a right to live, but cannot ever harbor the illusion of self importance. Even if it consumes all, one day it will go out. Then, as the fire disappears, it will wonder what it was all for. Maybe, it will even wish it went out sooner, having never truly touched another with its warmth.

So that... is the secret of the light.

Aruna found herself staring into his eyes. Her moderately sized chest pressed into his, her breasts squishing against those muscles. Soft but curious, that is how you could describe her stare. "This mark. Its a promise to consume me, fire for your ambition?"

"You managed to catch me now because I was a demon without purpose. Next time well..."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 30, 2020, 02:22:50 AM: Zeke

His eyes swirled like a vortex, and he grinned ominously. FIre flared! This was bad, it was dangeorous! He would-

He booped her nose with his before she finished, teasing as always. Always.

Before she could even protest, he flapped his wings and carried her away like a dragon carrying a princess.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: yinsukin on March 30, 2020, 04:08:58 AM: Aruna

The demon simply accepted Zeke's embrace, allowing him to carry her in her arms. The redhead parted her hair with her hand and sighed. "I guess it doesn't matter until then. I'll just enjoy the moment. Where are you taking me this time?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on March 31, 2020, 11:31:07 PM: Zeke

He didn't answer. Instead, he only smiled more smugly, and carried her away into the skies...

Continued in the Heavenly Ruins. (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,837.msg64497.html#msg64497)
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on June 21, 2020, 02:10:48 AM: Joseph

4:30 PM

It was a machine, in the end. Victims were plucked apart for study. Bodies were melted together in an agony of creation. Life was born in sterile pods only to be sentenced to the slaughter. Suffering stained the laboratory even deeper than the blood. But no human hands orchestrated these atrocities anymore. Spindly hands emerged from the containers and tables to facilitate the production. Pitiless automatons built from wise minds recorded the information from the vivisections. Not a single true thought passed through these things. Even if there was some spark of true life, of tears brimming within, they could not be seen.

So who could blame it? It was a machine, in the end.

But what of its creator? Surely, if there was someone who would understand the depths of the evil there, it would be him. A blundering demiurge, who even in ignorance would be able to articulate the spite he has to inflict such crimes. And yet...

"Hm? Why would I think about other people's pain?"

A creature coughed. Soon, its voice sputtered to life in mimicry of Zeke (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,743.msg65615.html#msg65615). Joseph looked up from the latest page to come to him from the laboratory with a puzzled look on his face. "Were you doing something important?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 11, 2020, 04:00:27 PM: The Outer layer

7:30

Outside the gates of the tower of Sur Carys, the outer layer's denizens were horrified as they began to crumble one by one. The structures, the people, every organism shielding the interior with its presence was being cut off from the network - and slowly crumbling into nothing. What was the meaning of this?

Zeke

Continued from Highway 13 (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,806.msg66522.html#msg66522)

"Yo." A door opened behind Joseph, as the lab's gates widened to reveal that man. It wasn't the man who spoke though, but a black bird that perched swiftly on the operating table.

Expecting Zeke to come back, even the lord of this tower couldn't have foreseen him to return with such damage. No, this went even past the usual. Every part of his body was falling apart and deteriorating. Whatever didn't kill him immediately, it was chipping away at his concept of life and death. It was something even an undead like his lord couldn't resist casually. And he got hit too deep too many times to resist unscathed.

Zeke's one eye looked at Joseph as if to say don't laugh... and he dropped the body hoisted on his shoulder on the ground.... before falling on his knees himself.

It wasn't just the vessel that was cracking and breaking down, but the darkness inside. He was slowly evaporating.

But he still managed to smile at Joseph, with full confidence.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 11, 2020, 07:28:18 PM: Joseph

7:30PM Nexus Time

"You're leaking." The spindly arms of one of Joseph's experiments shifted over to loom over the two, an arsenal of surgical tools jutting from its flesh. It was almost like a moving laboratory. A human torso mounted onto a spindly body constructed of fused flesh and an almost unnecessary amount of arms stood straight, and its rib cage was side open. Eyes peered out from within, and tendrils armed with its many instruments began to descend. Joseph pressed a finger to his cheek in contemplation.

"I've always wanted to see what would happen to these other creatures you made if you died. Maybe I'd finally be able to use them? Or I could try to finally observe that extradimensional connection you have before your death severs it." His head shifts back and forth for a bit, bobbing with the changing thoughts. "Oh, or do you want me to help?"
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 11, 2020, 08:08:56 PM: Zeke

The black creature guffawed and circled around the brat, cackling at him as if he were a dumb baby.

"KHAHAHA! You simple-minded carbon-based small-fry! This is why this world's denizens just crack me up. Do you seriously think that this schmuck's death means the end of us!? He's nothing more than an expendable anchor." He perched on one of the spider's limbs with the smuggest of grins. "If he croaks we'll just return to [THE OTHER SIDE] whence we-"

The anchor quite literally blew up the creature with a glare.

_{Don't disrespect a friend, noisy bird.}
"____________________________" His smile took a weary quality, and he just nodded weakly to Joseph, dragging himself closer.

"Geheheheh. You damn... idiot... that...hurts... even if it's just me, this is too much..." And thus, Zeke's mouth flapped its wings one last time, only to gradually evaporate in chunks like everything else. Slowly. Decisively.

A hivemind that was many. One that formed a hivemind. But the truth was, this was a much more disturbing scene if you considered a simple fact. A possibility that only a broken human could glimpse at.

Dissociative Identity Disorder. A state of mind typically caused by an intense disturbance, where a single mind forms many different entities in order to shield itself from trauma. But what could break such a being to this point?

Did either Joseph or Zeke even care? At least for the latter, it definitely wasn't the case. Even when dying, his mind was as warped as ever. A black sun that'd burn anything in its vicinity to get to something, even if it had to burn itself. Now utterly mute, he could only talk though direct signals - sparks and jolts sent through paths.

Looks like I've pushed this 'me' too far. Whatever, 'we' had a good run... sure, use whatever you can get until you bleed it dry pal. But don't forget your promise. I want to test this theory myself.

Zeke's eye pulsated, staring at the man he brought along. Sorry, but you'll have to experience that hell too. But if you make it, you won't have to feel the loneliness of weakness anymore. We'll fight this destiny together.

It was a logic similar to old heroes. When pushed to their limit, when broken beyond fighting, you entrust to the next in line. Ideals, memories, teachings, they are all memes that spread from person to person.

This... was Zeke's meme.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 13, 2020, 05:06:38 PM: Joseph

The lab creature twitched and moved forward, latching onto the two and raising them up. "You want to do a transfer? The siphon might work... although if it fails your liquefied soul being completely vaporized would be interesting data too. Alright, I'll transfer you right away!" Then the three of them were all dragged away into the depths of the lab. Joseph didn't much have time to fully analyze the degradation of Zeke's body, but for the purposes of this he didn't really need to either. The extraction machine looked much like a knife, but when the monster's tendril jabbed it into Zeke only the darkness inside guttered out. There was no wound in the flesh. Instead, the vial in the hilt of the blade began to fill with a viscous dark fluid. Only once Zeke decayed entirely was the vessel full.

Then it was just Joseph and the other one. The mage's touch kept the creature alive, stable enough that he wouldn't be able to do anything. Well, other than see the vats that were sitting in front of him. Several of the organisms that Joseph had tempted to cultivate from Zeke's flesh floated lifelessly within, stillborn. But there was one thing that didn't belong. A perfectly round sphere of the purest white. And then its eyes began to open. Lidless eyes that shone with light blossoming all over its surface, brightening the dark room. Tendrils emerged from it like roots, pressing against the glass. "Since Zeke is asleep now, I think you should know about the surprise. Our guest and I have had a lot to talk about! It seems like you'll all be compatible enough that the mix shouldn't have too many errors, but there's no accounting for certain variables. Although, I did think it would be too easy for Zeke to simply have his way. This thing has lots of research potential too, and it's already let me take a few cuttings first. So I'll let it go first. Zeke will come in after. That's only fair, right? Living things are in competition all the time."

The top of the vat opened and the sphere rose up. Then it entangled itself, roots plunging into the prone body as it greedily wormed its way further in. And before it could assert total control... Joseph injected the vial into the twitching body. "That's enough of a head start. Now do your best, Zeke. I'm sure you'll provide even better data if you win than if I just gave you this body."
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 13, 2020, 06:03:36 PM: ? ? ? ? ?

C-cold! The stab felt cold. It wasn't the way he usually did it, but Zeke himself was curious to see the difference between an amateur and the real deal. Seeing Joseph work his way through the depths of his spirit, he felt his reason...his memories... his everything being ripped away from that sorry shell.

Kuhuhuh... it's a shame... a damn shame... heheh...

Zeke didn't speak any longer. To begin with, he couldn't. But the one who uttered these words was none other than the one who housed this shade inside him all this time. In its final moments, it smiled melancholically.
Was it regret? Or sadness, that even this dream had to come to an end, and the dreamer wake once more.

"If possible... I wanted to see the new world with my own eyes."

Quote from: Umbra of Chaos on September 13, 2020, 05:06:38 PM

The top of the vat opened and the sphere rose up. Then it entangled itself, roots plunging into the prone body as it greedily wormed its way further in. And before it could assert total control... Joseph injected the vial into the twitching body. "That's enough of a head start. Now do your best, Zeke. I'm sure you'll provide even better data if you win than if I just gave you this body."

? ? ? ? ?

"Where... am I...?" A shade awakened in a strange place, a desert of time where shards and paths interconnected and entangled. It was a sight he had seen before, just like back then. The primordial sea... the collective unconscious. This meant that he must be inside that man's soul. "...Right." He had seen it before, but what was usually a copying process was now a genuine transfer. He struggled to get up, feeling the heavy air of this unnatural world. An eternal twilight, crowned by unnatural auroras, coalescing into the World Tree itself. Compared to his imitation, this was a lot more beautiful. And a lot direr. Death here meant utter erasure, not just from existence, but collective memory itself.

But 'Zeke' smiled.

"I must be experiencing it through that man's eyes. Amazing. So this is a human's resilience. No... could it be... has he awakened as well?" He crouched on one knee, and let this land's sands slip through his fingers. This wasn't unusual, for other humans to be contacted by the will of the world. He wondered if they shared the same wish, as fellow chosen?

Before he could ponder on that some more, he heard a crashing of waves. Before he could even look back, the skies began to crack and fall - as white tendrils of sickly white light began to crawl into this world. Eyes began to appear, pouring down aetherial tears. These holy feathers, this fake light. It could only mean...

Even now, you're still in my way. Aruna.

"Heh. I should have known that brat would try something like that. This must be a test." The empty shade finally managed to get up, wiping the sand off his body with the biggest grin he ever mustered. A remnant from that tower, huh? Just like him, nothing more than a shadow of some old ambition. But you know, he just wanted to voyage and enjoy this world to the fullest. To squeeze every pleasure and experience possible. To never have to fear the pain of loneliness again. He wouldn't act like it was some lofty holier than thou mission, but it was his dream nonetheless.

He just wanted to live. To live without fear.

And even if God's Grace was in the way of that, he'd laugh, spit and trample on it with the least dignified of expressions. To struggle pathetically was the only way he knew to live. That's why he clenched his fist before the angelic swarm and chuckled. "If you lose, that just means your lofty dreams are worth less than mine. FINE, OLD MAN!! LET'S HAVE A DREAM BATTLE!! YOUR GRACES, OR MY DARKNESS!?"

The holy tendrils shot to crash down on him. His fist shot up at the heavens to rip them from their throne.

"LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

? ? ? ? ?

So... a clone, huh? Not the weirdest thing around here. Heh. You've worked hard enough, kid. Welcome to the police force. We'll make sure to take good care of you.

That's just bullshit. You guys were the first to die. We couldn't do anything against that monster.

Why so gloom? Didn't you always want to be a cop?

I'm not like you bastards. I have no intention of throwing my life away for some lofty dream.

Why I joined? Hmmm... I guess I wanted to follow someone.

I don't care what side I join. As long as I come out safe, I couldn't care less.

...I...love...you...

So why... why does my heart... you idiots...

Live.

As two utterly alien forces fought inside his body, every blood vessel, every pore, every inch of his mind body and soul screamed in utter agony. His eyes shot up, his limbs shook to the point they started to tear against the restraints, and every muscle contracted and jolted again and again.

Each impact came stronger than the last.

Each forbidden knowledge, each memory was like an ocean, eroding his nerves to nothing.

But he refused.

Even if he had to betray his comrades, he wanted to live more than anyone. He'd trample over any obstacle to make that happen. Even if that was someone else's dream. The human's mouth foamed, his flesh screamed. The body fell, the mind succumbed - yet his heart wouldn't fall.

I won't die. I won't die! I'm not going to die here like a dog, no matter what!!

This struggle, this battle, it wasn't just a sick show. As every holy word, every filthy curse, every hope and dream from the past clashed against a man's future, the screams cracked throughout the entire tower. Not just to deliver them from pain, but to roar at fate itself. To declare this fight.

The Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit. Which one would come out on top? As this battle stretched for hours, soon, Joseph would find his answer. Even if it meant utterly burning Zeke - no, all three of their senses of self.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Umbra of Chaos on September 13, 2020, 08:36:16 PM: Joseph

A variety of recording instruments probed at the thrashing body, keeping accurate information even up until the point that he smashed them. Joseph had in the meantime acquired a juice box as the information was inscribed down onto the pages of his research journal. The information dripped down and splashed onto the surface as words. "Interesting. Good work, Zeke!" He called out from a secure area within the lab. And then he continued to sip from the straw.
Title: Re: Xibalba
Post by: Kotomine_Rin on September 13, 2020, 09:56:20 PM: ? ? ? ?

The man... the body that was being overtaken trashed and convulsed on the ground, his muscles rippling and crushing him from the inside out. And as it finally slammed the back of its head on the ground one last time, its veins glowed like lightsticks - and bright beams blew from his eyes and mouth.

And then there was stillness. Silence.

Zeke died. But in its final moments, it entrusted the future to the next generation. That's why, even as it crumbled and turned to nothing, the vessel looked at the result of the fusion with a proud smile, and turned to dust.

"Congratulations. You are the last 'me'. Let 'us' journey to our future..."

And for the first time, 'they' opened 'their' eyes. Naked, broken, but rising. Moving forward. Always moving. But something was wrong. Something failed.

(https://i.imgur.com/nEg6KTL.jpg)

The man gasped, covered in wounds and torn ligaments. He just barely managed to get up by clutching at a table. And yet, panting out of breath, his eyes darted in confusion around him.

"Where...are we...?"