Scene IX - Homely Feeling.

Sorry about the 1 day delay! Monday this week was murder (Too hot, massive migraine, made a mistake going to train because it added nausea to the mix) and I ended up forgetting. So here you guys have it, only, ya know, one day late.

Also I do have the sheets for Mario and Rocio, but I wanted to touch a few things up and I don't have the energy. So they'll be up next week before the next scene alongside the 'Bloodline' data and all that.

Sue me, we all have shitty days \o3o/.

Takes place in: Month I - Day 11.

It was weird.

No, not the coffee. Though Rosie would gladly admit she disliked it when compared to tea. Drinking it was more to do with her being courteous than anything else.

But after yesterday's rollercoaster? It was weird to feel so… perky. Rosie could get used to it. And she could get used to the smell coming from the kitchen when food was being prepared, more so now that it was coating everything after food had been delivered and enjoyed. It was not one of her own recipes, with the right kind of meat, but she welcomed it anyway. It felt like ages since she had someone cook something for her outside of her outings to a restaurant or the like.

Rosie only came knocking to ask for Enrique, honest. She didn't expect his father, Mario, to be so eager to have her for lunch. And, for once, that hadn't been a foreboding invitation! Although Rocio would've preferred it be her children coming over and for a moment Rosie had expected the woman to indeed try to put her in a pot. Not for food of course, more like Rosie knew at least one person in the family that did not despise her, but Rocio did *not* trust Rosie.

She respected that. The woman had a good head on her shoulders.

But speaking of her children? Apparently that wasn't going to be the case. Both young men had opted to make something to go and keep up with the little village's construction. It was true what Javier had said: He couldn't keep quiet, and apparently his brother was the same way. Very good indeed, but it did make Rosie wait a bit more than she wanted.

Though the food helped.

Eggs and potatoes in green sauce. First time Rosie had been served such a thing. Far from her usual food to be true, but an interesting experience. And apparently there were quite a few ways to prepare it! Every household had their own way in the family to boot. Rosie would be lying if she said she wasn't interested in seeing how the other families under her wing would serve that particular piece.

But that was just the first dish to be placed in front of the Overlord. Homemade chicken nuggets (Or, well, as close to chicken as hellborn fowl could get. Although the mortals assured Rosie it didn't taste that different), fries, homemade garlic bread and a spanish potato omelet (Also called tortilla, like the ones from Mexico, but vastly different indeed) to top it off.

The amount was not exactly strange or excessive, if you consider that the Caballeros were the largest of the humans living here. They were also the strongest. Their bodies burned through this with ease, and, to be quite frank here, Rosie found the flavors to be beyond agreeable as she ate. So was she complaining? Only about the attempt from Mario to give her as much as the family usually ate. She was watching her figure for Satan's sake! But she would gladly admit it was damn tasty. She almost didn't miss the feeling of bones crunching as she chewed or the coppery taste of fresh blood!

Almost.

"I must admit." Rosie took a napkin to clean her mouth, a feeling of warmth filling her just like her own cooking did at home. "I was dubious at first. I haven't eaten cooking from Earth in so long… I barely go there for business nowadays, and at best I get some local tea."

Rocio, sitting at Rosie's left, had a stoic, but not unhappy or unpleasant, expression as she spoke. "Did what could. Ingredients are… different."

Yes. Rocio was still very much unsure about demonkin. It didn't help that the curse had sped up understanding of English as Nathaniel's blessing went away, but speaking it was a bit harder for many in the family. Well, not 'many', just most of them didn't care for English and it showed.

The feeling was clear though. Rocio was proud of what she had achieved. Many things were close to, but not similar, to the things found on Earth. And it was clear most in the family had poured their heart into making their traditional cooking survive the small, but still noticeable, change in their lifestyle.

"And you did splendidly, I have to say." Rosie praised, and not without reason. "I may grow lazy if you all invite me over to eat whenever I come around." The Overlord chuckled, Mario did so too. Rocio not so much. Still, Rosie wasn't going to allow others to shoulder the weight of anything she had to do. Not again. Or, at least, not now. "But I have to admit I really had only wanted to meet with your children. I hadn't expected them to be so active that they would miss such a feast."

"Feast." Mario snorted. "This is a normal lunch." The man smirked as he fished for his phone. Searching for a particular image for a minute took longer in Rosie's mind, but then he showed her the photo. "THIS is a feast."

Rosie's eyes widened. She saw the whole family sitting together at a U shaped table. More than thirty souls all together with a massive spread of food that would make anyone's mouth water. From simple soup to mutton, various fish and other products of the sea, from shellfish to spider crabs and more. More of those tortillas, three different croquette spreads, homemade pudding (scorpionfish pudding, coffee pudding and two other types she couldn't identify right away) of different kinds and much more that Rosie couldn't tell right off the bat because she just got lost on it all.

All of that together with so many faces and smiles, at least in most cases.

Rocio gave a simple nod as she kept eating at a polite and slow pace. "Christmas celebration."

"Yeah, a couple years ago." Mario put the phone away. He was far less gentle as he devoured his own food. He was also much more apt with English, Rosie had found out. "I am sure most of us wouldn't mind if you wanted to join this year too, Rosie."

Rosie was sincerely touched at the invitation. It would be nice. She had grown far too used to her days alone at night.

Sadly Rosie had to say things as they were. "I'd love to. But… this year's Christmas may give us very few reasons to celebrate."

The mood became somber right away. It didn't last, but Rosie knew she had touched a nerve for obvious reasons.

"Perhaps." Rocio admitted. This was another thing that made her uncomfortable. That Heaven was going to punish her for something outside of her control? It felt as if most of her life had been a lie. "But… You welcome."

That… was admittedly more than Rosie expected from the woman. Perhaps it was her vengeful side, but Rosie found it heartwarming that Rocio was, at least, on board with the demon that owned her nephew's soul. Or, well, 'partly'. Rocio was at least clearly willing to give her time and a chance.

It was still a step in the right direction nonetheless.

"Well I… am surprised indeed." And Rosie was. It was also threatening to tear her mask apart. But this was less of a shock than yesterday's mess. "Now I feel bad about coming over."

Mario looked at Rosie with curiosity. "Why?"

The Overlord grimace. "It… I wanted to summon your son Enrique, as well as Gonzalo and Carlos, to come and see how the Tithe works."

It was clear on Mario's face that he caught on the undertone Rosie had. "Is it… bad?"

"A way for my Cannibals to have fresh food regularly." Rosie knew this would not end well. But sooner or later the family had to learn. "Many of the souls I own, the Sinners, want little. Money, usually, as well as a level of protection. A way to get that from me is offering not just their souls, their power, so I can keep my little piece of Hell safe, but taking part in the Tithe so I don't ask anything else of them."

Rocio was now clearly nervous. "What Tithe be?"

"Remember that common knowledge we imparted on you? That Sinners are immortal and can regenerate even when there is nothing left so long as no angelic weapon is used to end them?" Both husband and wife nodded, with Rocio clearly gulping at the thought of what this meant. "The Tithe is simply the day of the month when we can get most of those Sinners together. We get them prepared… and we butcher them."

There went the day. Luckily for all involved, Mario had an iron stomach and he made sure Rocio didn't empty hers.

At least the revelation went better than Rosie expected. Hopefully that'd be the same with everyone else.

Now, seeing the thing in person? Rosie had a feeling it wouldn't end as well.