Xibalba

[Umbra of Chaos]

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?"

[Kotomine_Rin]

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.

[Umbra of Chaos]

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."

[Kotomine_Rin]

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.

[Umbra of Chaos]

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."

[Kotomine_Rin]

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?"

[Umbra of Chaos]

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.

[Kotomine_Rin]

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.

[Umbra of Chaos]

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.

[Kotomine_Rin]

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.

[Umbra of Chaos]

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.

[Kotomine_Rin]

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.

[Umbra of Chaos]

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.

[Kotomine_Rin]

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.

[Aiden]

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.