"What'd you call this again?" Abraham asked with his mouth so full of food, that small bits fell out of his mouth as he spoke.

"Oh, you like it?" Will chuckled. "It's a mini meatloaf my mom used to make."

Abraham stuffed a couple more of the small meat mounds covered in a thick red sauce into his mouth. He didn't even take off the cupcake wrappers they were sitting in before he threw them into his already full mouth.

Will smiled genuinely as Abraham struggled to swallow the excess of food he had gluttonously shoved into his maw. After almost a full minute of struggling to swallow, he finally managed to get it down.

"Ah," Abraham sighed contentedly before he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Simple name, but I'm guessing it fits the ingredient list, huh?"

Will laughed. "Well, you got me there. The most complicated part is the sauce, and that's pretty much just ketchup and brown sugar."

"Bonding, are we?" Stoor asked as he loomed over the two of them. "Ah, you brought those miniature meatloafs again?"

Will nodded. "They were a hit last time, so I figured why mess with a good thing, right?"

"Well, I didn't know things would be so fancy," The enormous worm chuckled. "I mean, I just brought some hotdogs. Though I figure that's not so bad. I've bratwurst after all!"

Will chuckled politely while Abraham seemed to stare off into the distance.

Meanwhile, Azrail was leaning against a wall that was being framed for construction while near the smiling man.

"So, these are more of your guests?" Azrail asked.

He just smiled broader in response.

"And they brought this ridiculously large amount of alcohol?"

The smiling man actually turned to Azrail and seemed to look him up and down slowly. Almost like a leopard studying a wounded gazelle. "No, this is all from my personal stash. All made here too. Sourced locally, I believe they say."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Ah yes, from the mysterious original builders of this place?"

"I think that's better left a surprise for you to discover on your own."

Azrail seemed to mull over those words with a frown as he looked around. The previously abandoned place was now abuzz with activity. There were hundreds of people and monsters all around.

Some were talking amongst one another. Others were partying. Several gathered around the jukebox as Harold tried to enjoy himself in his own way while also keeping them in line. The majority though were building structures. Repairing the broken-down building and constructing several other small structures.

It was like they were setting up for some sort of festival. There was even a massive stage. But what seemed to grab Azrail's attention the most was a massive hangman's platform. They even had a trap door halfway finished.

And not only did the smiling man bring back most of the barrels he had gotten from Ted and the others over their time there, but there was a long line of folding tables laden with food. A potluck of star-crossed cultures with food of all different sights, tastes, and smells.

Somehow, the smells never mixed. They fought back and forth to gain territory, but you could only ever smell one dish at a time.

And the vast groups of people reflected the variety of dishes. Monstrous creatures, like Stoor with fairly normal looking humans. Although, no one really looked quite as normal as Will. Everyone else had at least something weird about them. A horn, a stone arm, a third eye, and many others.

The hollow king had stuck to his spot and was surrounded by a moderately large group. They all had various pipes, rolls, and bongs. There was even a hookah. Many of them sat in a similar position to him between smoking various strange smelling herbs that sparkled like starlight.

There was definitely a specific smell to the smoke, but it always seemed just out of reach. Like something you could almost remember, but just couldn't get closer than the tip of your tongue.

"Hey, Adargon, did you hear?" Stoor called out from over the crowds as he made his way towards an empty pool currently under construction.

The fish man was lying on his back in the middle of the setting concrete. "Huh?" He asked as he sat up and the chunky material slopped off of his back. It was like it couldn't attach to his shiny skin as it slid off completely.

"Gzemnid brought a case of updog to try."

"What's updog?"

"Nothing much, what's up with you?" Stoor chuckled.

It took a moment, but the joke seemed to finally connect with Adargon, and he smiled as he shook his head. "Dude, that was a bad one."

"You should've heard my others then, because I didn't bring any updog, I Bratwurst!"

Adargon paused to think about what Stoor said again, before he scoffed. "Dude..."

Stoor seemed absolutely pleased with himself. "Will thought that one wasn't half bad, I'll have you know."

"He was just trying to be polite," Adargon sighed as he tried to hide his smile.

"Well, guess that's that for my nap then," he added as he got all the way up, and the concrete slid off of him.

He ran a hand back over his head and slicked his lure back. Then he slid around the concrete on his webbed feet to smooth out the indent he had left a moment ago.

"So, why did you really..."

A scream erupted, and the two of them turned their heads towards the noise. Adargon immediately leaped out of the pool and rushed towards the noise. Stoor paused in shock for a moment, before he too slowly made his way over.

A man's head, covered in green petals rolled on the ground with a shocked expression on his face. Azrail stood there with a sad look on his face as his hand gripped the blackened throat of the now headless body.

The smiling man tilted his head inquisitively as people gather around.

"I'm a patient man, but when I say that I need answers, I mean it." Azrail said calmly as he looked genuinely sad while he watched the severed head roll around. "I hope that's clear to you now, but tragically, I foresee this being only the beginning of a tedious battle."