A Party in the Shallow Lands (Shadow Hand)

The floor was pure polished obsidian, which contrasted with the off-white pillars holding up the stained glass ceiling. Tables made of diamonds glowed with the seemingly divine food that graced them. Unearthly fruit, shape-shifting pastries, and meat of bizarre creatures were served as the main meal, although special dishes would be prepared for those on certain diets. Chandeliers floated in the air, and many guests would swear they were actually miniature stars. It was possible. Many things were possible here in the higher planes. Specifically, this was the Shallow Brigade Citadel, the home of Shivering Jemmy.

The guests who attended this odd social event had transcended the mortal realm. They were walking, talking, and breathing in 5 dimensions. This was the realm of the abstracts, and many such beings greeted the guests from earth with a polite, though occasionally false, smile.

Most of the children of Chaos were in attendance, including many Lords of Chaos. Mordru, the most powerful sorcerer in the universe, was not present, but that was to be expected. He had never been one for social events. Mr. Keeper, an old bald man who had surprisingly worn a tuxedo instead of his typical robe, was laughing loudly and telling stories about Jemmy's childhood. Jemmy would glare at him from time to time, but the old man never got the hint.

"Mistress Jemmy," said one of the female attendants, dressed in a formal, yet optimized purple dress. The look on her face suggested that she feared Jemmy more than anything. "Shall we have Lord Keeper removed?"

Jemmy, the small shivering child, shrugged. She was dressed up in a formal pink ball gown and was holding a matching balloon, purely for effect. This was her natural plane, so she needed no such anchor to bind her here as she did when on Earth. However, she had become quite used to having a balloon at her side. Her time on Earth had spoiled her, though. She had forgotten how annoying old Uncle Keeper could be. "No. Don't bother. If he wants to stay, he'll just kill you." Jemmy herself might be able to tangle with the likes of Keeper's god-like powers, but her sibling servants were not so blessed. They would be torn apart in a moment by the Lord of Chaos.

The attendant smiled and bowed to the little princess. "As you wish, Mistress."

Jemmy looked around for any sign of her parents. Delirium rarely attended such events, and it was unheard of for Chaos to show his face.

"Well," Jemmy said to her guests from Earth, the few people that she actually felt she could fully trust here. "What do you think of my home?"

As Jemmy would ask how the others felt about her home it would be clear that all people who said they were going to attend were infount of her well all but Kallie. Kallie mangaed to get destracted and wonder off from the group while Jemmy was talking to someone else. Although Kallie couldn't be seen with the group she would most definetly be heard laughing at Lord keepers stories about Jemmy. Kallie figured if she was there se would have the most fun possible and right now it seemed to be listening to Lord keepers stories.

Kallie wore a dark blue with white triming poofy strapless dress that only managed to reach down to her mid thigh. kallie held a glass of wine in one hand even though she was 4 years away from earths legal drinking age. Even though Kallie wasn't a lord of anything or a deamon she still managed to fit in the smal group that stood listening to Lord Keepers stories. Acashinaly she would add in a side coment that just added more laughter from the started off laughter.

Rock Star ran over to listen to the old man's stories. Traitor. But Jemmy couldn't be too mad. It was a party, after all. She decided to try to have more fun herself.

"Ambition, 3. You of all people should understand this. Sure, I could sit here at home and be waited on hand and foot, but what would the fun be in that? Everyone feels the need to accomplish something." She took a small glass of grape juice and sipped. "Besides, I do have problems that I need to fix. My going to Earth is a part of that."

A new song started playing and Jemmy smiled. It was a slow waltz. She looked at 3. Even when he wasn't a cat, she still thought he was cute. "Would you dance with me, 3?"

Kallie laughed and listened to the stories and turned after feeling a tap on her sholder. Kallie turned around to see a hansome young man standing there and seemed to be around her age. He wore the usual black tux and had super dark black hair his eyes were black where it should be white and light blue coloring where the usual color was. He bow to Kallie holding out his hand.

"Would you care to dance?"

Kallie smiled and put her wine on a table grabing his hand.

"I'd love to"

He lead Kallie out to the dance floor and they did the waltz. Kallie didn't have any clue who this guy was but she didn't care and figured these partys were ment for meeting new people anyways. The waltz wasn't really Kallies thing but she figured dancing is still dancing.

To say Joe was out of his element was the understatement of the year. Out of his usual comfortable attire of his black hoodie and jeans, he now sported a nicely pressed rented black tuxedo especially for the occasion. He had always had a secret displeasure for wearing such attire however. It limited his movement and made him feel like a good looking sausage.

But speaking of food...

There was a shmorgishborg of food oddities that he could only marvel at with hungry eyes and agape mouth. The rest of the Shallow Brigade Citadel was easy more worthy of his gawking at but for someone who has been adhering to a strict diet to maintain his boxing weight, all of the delicacies looked ever so scrumptious.

His attention turned to Jemmy when she asked how he and her guests liked her home. "This place is magnificent, Jemmy. I don't know why you woul-" before he could finish his sentence she had been swept across the the room to the dance floor by a very pale individual. He assumed he and The very loud young lady were associates of Jemmy like him.

Grabbing what he hoped was water from one of the wandering waiters, his attention was fixated on Thr33 and Jemmy move gracefully about the obsidian floor as if they were professional. He was awfully good on his feet, especially with a small child that he dwarfed almost twice over.

Taking a sip of his drink, he began to realize that he still knew almost nothing about Jemmy and her plans of human extermination beyond what he learned at their last encounter, which was minimal. He also wanted to know who exactly these two others were and what their affiliation to his 'friend' Jemmy was. But his wallflower tendancies began to overcome him and he delegated himself to one of the beautiful white pillars for the time being.

3 was a very graceful dancer. Jemmy was genuinely impressed. Most people found her constant shivering distasteful, but it didn't slow 3 down at all. As they waltzed around the room, 3 started asking questions. He wanted to know more about her.

"How old am I?" Jemmy had to think about that one. She was younger than some abstracts, and older than others. She thought she could remember the day Death was born, but she could be mistaken. How much time had passed since the universe had been formed?

"I haven't been counting my birthdays lately," she said with some guilt in her voice. "A thousand years? A million years? I'm not quite sure. But you are correct, I am not a mere child. I am whatever age I choose to be. Enemies underestimate me when I look innocent, so this is my favorite age to be. I haven't always looked like this, though. My childhood was quite violent. When I was growing up I tried to look as big and strong as I could. I wanted to be in charge of all my siblings, and now I am. They fear me now, but I don't think they like me all that much. They're always afraid that I'll eat them or something. It wasn't until I found the Lords of Chaos that I actually found some equals."

Jemmy tried to think of more to say. As a Shallow, there really wasn't that much to say. "I really like making people feel hopeless and frantic. I also like being a Lord of Chaos. It makes me feel important. We can't do a whole lot now, though. Otherwise those mean Lords of Order will try to beat us up again. How about you, 3? How old are you?"

The man that had asked Kallie to dance smiled as the moved gracefully across the floor. He twirled her then dipped her down and back up again. As they moved it almost seemed like they were competing with each other to see who was better at dancing.

”So may I ask what your name is?”

”Well that information should stay a secret. For now call me Blue. What is your name?”

”Rock Star.”

”Come now that can't be your real name.”

”Oh its not I just thought it was only fair that you got a fake name since I did.”

Blue smiled at her as they continued to dance.

”Fair enough.”

They continued to dance passing by Jemmy and 3. Kallie didn't seem to notice them but blue did do a small glance at Jemmy as they passed by them almost like he was keeping an eye on her. Kallie didn't really notice him looking at Jemmy but they still continued dance going back to dance like they were competing with each other.

Admittedly it was absurd for Caesar to don evening wear. He was, and still classed himself, an animal. Not to mention he found clothes to be clunky and impractical. It was certainly beyond his understanding the difference between a smart suit and pyjamas. Yet Jemmy had made this occasion's importance quite clear. Caesar had gone to effort on her behalf. He wore a collar. A small brown band with a golden tag on it that said 'CAESAR'. He even had a small flower carnation attached to the thing. Add a touch of class, as the humans put it.

And so it came to pass that they journeyed to the Shadow Lands. Ever quietened in the face of intrigue, Caesar literally hadn't said a word all night (day? was their such things here). The simian was just so overawed. Beings of incomprehensible form, like Jemmy herself, filled the stage with their tantalising presence. He found himself staring at them as much as they stared back. Meats had even been procured from the table, not because Caesar ate any, but because he was absolutely mystified by its origins. If ever he held this same fascination with the fruit, the monkey would starve.

But at last the inquisitive mind finished sniffing at the unidentified foods, and narrowed his attentions on the obvious mysteries. His own company. This all, and Thr33 included, could be explained by magic. To Caesar this was the same as saying they were explained by 'nothing at all, so stop trying'. Yet these others that Jemmy surrounded herself with. The vocal woman and the timid human. They may yet prove to be analysable.

Ceasing his chance, Caesar chucked his uneaten meat away and circled round on the male. A crash of glasses could be heard in the meat's wake, but the monkey had paid it no mind. He approached from the back of the pillar, and then leapt up against it, holding on with an awkward full-spread hug. From his new position, that was a slight bit less comfortable than he'd like, Caesar addressed the man, "You seem... ill at ease. Out of place." The monkey then proceeded to eat his own flower decoration. Tide him over until he had time to inspect the fruits.

Olivia had to admit. She felt sorta kinda pretty, of course that didn't help how shy she was. She hand brought her weapons. Doing so sounded like a futile effort in the face of, well, whoever these people? Things? Monsters? Anyways, she hadn't bothered bringing anything with her other than a new red dress, easily stolen with her power. So she sat far away from the dancing, talking, food. At her own table.

Typically she was already shy around strangers, but these strangers were special, hundred, thousands of years old? It was just a bit intimidating, even for her. The usually stubborn and aggressive assassin. She watched as her team mates danced and wandered about. Looked like they were having fun. Cursing her own personality she began to stand up but quickly stopped and sat back down. She was fine here, no need to embarrass herself. She was fine at dancing but there wasn't really anyone to dance with anyways. Olivia let her eyes wander and loom over all the guests. She shouldn't have came, she wasn't going to do anything.

((her dress

Spoiler:

Jemmy frowned. Olivia was just sitting there, alone. She was here to show that Jemmy could make good friends. Interesting friends. If her guests simply sat around and looked bored, Jemmy would never hear the end of it from old Keeper.

As 3 and Jemmy passed by where Caesar and Joe were standing, Jemmy leaned towards them. "One of you guys ask Olivia to dance." She pointed her head towards the girl for extra effect.

An attendant in a white dress ran up to Jemmy. "Did you say something, your majesty?"

Jemmy's eyes glowed orange for a second. "I wasn't talking to you." Were this not a party, Jemmy would have considered eating one of the foolish attendant's limbs for making such a mistake. But the guests would be disturbed by such a thing, so Jemmy contained herself. As the attendant apologized and ran away, Jemmy's eyes returned to blue.

Kallie was continuing to dance with Blue like they were competing to see who was the better dancer. She had never really danced with anyone before without them being controlled by her music before. Kallie smiled as she began to talk.

”Your not to bad of a dance blue.”

”Why thank you your not such a horrible dancer either”

They both smiled as the music continued on. As they danced they would look like they were going to start attacking one and other once the music ended but to them this was just a regular dance.

”So you came as Jemmy's guest I see what exactly are you two her miss Rock star?”

”Most would call me a slave or servant but considering she lets me do what I want most of the time and pays me I like to think of her as an employer.”

”Well that’s interesting maybe you could think about working for me some time I would pay you Handsomely.”

”sorry my I'm a one employer girl. I'd offer my services after I finish my servitude with Jemmy but ours is more of a life time deal and I'm only mortal.”

”What a shame, never the less we should make this time of what we have of this party last then.”

They then began to dance a little faster almost competing with the music now and now not with each other that much.

Joe could hear a voice that he assumed was addressing him, as he was pretty ill at ease as the person speaking to him blatently pointed out. He looked side to side to find the source of the voice to find nothing. He then proceeded to peer around the ivory pillar to no avail. Now slightly frustrated he returned his original spot scratching his head in confusion.

With no options left he looked up meet someone more out of plac than he. A monkey. He took a small leap bak in surprise. Simians were the last thing he was expecting to see in this mansion. Somebody had to be playing a joke on him. He couldn't bring himself to believe that a monkey was speaking to him. Or that a monkey could speak at all.

Although he probably needed to have a more open mind. He was far, far, FAR away from his hometown and he had already seen things far stranger. But still... It was a talking monkey. Not wanting to be impolite though he figured he should say something to him instead of gawking.

"Um... Yeah... Parties aint my thing." he rubbed his arm nervously but still kept eye contact with Ceasar. "So... Uh... You're a monkey..."

But of course to add to the awkwardness of his situation, Jemmy decided to dance over and instruct the two of them to dance with a young woman in a red dress. He was hoping that to avoid dancing tonight, but it was slowly beginning to seem like a pipe dream. Jemmy was gone before he could object, leaving him with Caesar once again.

"So would you like to ask the lady or should I?" he asked Caesar, looking in his direction again, but he still felt strange talking to a monkey.