Blitz and Jim cautiously entered the enormous entryway to the Safi Country Club as others walked past them, with various looks of disgust and annoyance. Hushed whispers filling the air around them, so thick you could choke on it. “As excessive as always...” Jim mumbled.

Blitz smiled, grabbing onto his arm. “Do you even know what that word means, Jimmy?”

Yeah, Jim, do ya?

Fuck you. He said, while awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. “I used it right didn’t I?” And then after a pause. “...didn’t I?”

Blitz opened her mouth for a response but was interrupted by a high pitched squeal right before she was struck by the color yellow.

“Hey, Daisy.” Jim said, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing servant.

The yellow streak helped Blitz up and grinned at Jim, “Hey guys! Blitz your dress is SOOO pretty!” Daisy said, barely containing herself, bobbing up and down. She wore a bright yellow ball gown with a silk scarf wrapped down her arms. Each of her finger and toe nails were a different shade of the rainbow. She was shorter than Jim, which in itself is an achievement, had long red hair in braids with yellow flowers going past her waist, and her face was covered in freckles.

“Thanks, Daisy, your hair is so cute!” Blitz smiled.

“Yeah looks almost as good as Eddy’s did last week.” Jim chuckled.

“Ohmygosh that was SOOO mean but also SOOO funny!” She giggled. “Thanks again for that picture Jim that was SOOO thoughtful!!”

“Course, Daisy.”

“OH!” Daisy, jumped, remembering the reason she came over. She grabbed both of Blitz hands and began jumping up and down. “I HAVE to show you this WOOONDERFUL little pond they have on the green! You’ll LOOOVE it! It’s like a miniature little Swan Lake scene!”

Blitz’s eyes went wide, “That sounds really cute, I have to see it and get pictures for the set guys. They’ll have an aneurysm if I don’t.”

Jim frowned. “What’s the green?”

Blitz looked at him in disbelief. “It's what they call the golf course. God you’re lucky you’re pretty.!”

“Why didn’t you just say golf course...” Jim mumbled to himself.

Daisy smiled during the exchange, and knocked her head to the side as she addressed Jim. “Do you mind if I steal her away for a second? I know it’s date night and all and I should REALLLY get back to Eddy, BUUUUT-”

Jim cut her off, waiving. “Yeah yeah. Go on.”

The two girls squeal in excitement and darted off to the back of the country club.

Jim shook his head, hands on hips. “I don’t get nerds.”

“Looks like they’re having fun.” Eddy said, walking up from behind Jim.

                       They’re batshit.

Haha, yeah...

                       That wasn’t supposed to be endearing.

“So we allowed to smoke wherever, or...” Jim asked, pulling out a box of matches and a pack of smokes from his jacket.

“Sorry, Jim. Designated places outside. Can’t smoke in a public building.” Eddy said, grabbing Jim’s matches from him and motioning for him to follow.

“Goddamn liberals!” Jim said, jokingly shaking his fist at the sky.

Eddy laughed. “Yeah something like that. Come on.”

The two walked onto a nearby balcony overlooking the green. It was spotted with fancy outdoor tables and various other groups and couples who were all, strangely, trying very hard ignoring a boy in a disheveled tux, a Red Sox baseball cap white hair, was walking on the railing. As we exited the country club, he did a backflip, landing gracefully on his feet, before doing a cartwheel, pushing off with his hands, flipping forward in the air, and landing in a sitting position, his hands holding him up off the railing, before unceremoniously planting himself on the railing, kicking his feet off the side.

                             Who the fuck...

“Oh crap.” Eddy mumbled, before turning to Jim. “Alright. So be very careful around this guy.”

“Why?” Jim said, half smiling, looking over Eddy’s shoulder. The boy had sat down on the railing now, and was kicking his feet over the side. “He looks like a laugh.”

“You’ll see.” Eddy said, as he started walking over. “I’ll try and get this over with fast.”

“I recognize that voice!” The boy said loudly, craning backwards, to watch us approach. “Marhabaan, mudif karima!” he grinned.

“You know I don’t speak arabic, Scott.” Eddy said, awkwardly.

“Ah well, maybe one day you’ll surprise me.” this Scott said, sitting back up, before raising himself with his arms, and backflipping to a standing position in front of us, holding his arms out proudly. “Thanks for hosting the shindig by the way. The estate was getting suffocating since they restricted my uh...walking around privileges. Think they’re scared I’ll run off before the wedding.”

Bit young to be getten married, don’t ya think? Jim said, eyeing the boy with new curiosity.

They’re rich people, dumbass. 

-I answered, looking around, bored.

“I’m sure my father is happy that you could make it. Is...is The Honorable Justice, Mr. Dawson here as well?” Eddy coughed.

Justice Dawson?!

Like, the head one?

Scott laughed at that. “Nah, he’s far too busy doing...something.” He said, waving his arm dismissively. “I’m sure it's very relevant and very important and most definitely make the news and that I care very much about the issue. So he sent me, Richard, and Miranda instead.”

“Ah...” Eddy hesitated. “And where would they be?”

“Helheim hvis jeg bryr meg.” Scott shrugged dismissively, looking towards the green with a scowl.

Our eyes widened. The fuck was that?

A deathwish.

“So...” Jim started.

“Please don’t.” Eddy mumbled.

“What’s the future king of Camelot doing carten around cult shite and spitten out banned languages?” Scott turned back at us with new interest, smiling slightly. His eyes darted over Jim, quickly taking him in.

“Scott.” Eddy said, voice straining, as politely as possible. “Allow me to introduce my guest...”

“Nah thanks. Think I’ll introduce him to me myself.” He said, pointing to Jim. “I’m guessing....James McAllister.”

What the fuck! Jim shouted, eyes snapping to Eddy, then back to Scott, hand almost jerking to the cold piece of metal we hid behind our back.

                      Jim, get us gone now. 

-I hiss, looking around. 

                      Rich fuck’s a freak. We need an out.

Yeah fuck off. We can’t just dart. Jim said, regaining his outward composure as we did somersaults in our head.

Jim. Check his eyes.

-I said, amazed. 

What is he, shattered?

I have no idea...

In the crazy pink eyes of the heretic, right around his pupil, was a perfect dark orange circle. It was the exact same color as the orange in every shattered we'd ever met but this was...different. 

“How on earth do you know that?” Eddy asked, failing to pick up on the same details as us. Survival skills not nearly as refined.

Scott looked over and chuckled, pulling out his phone. “Your security guards were using a tablet to check the guest list.” he said, flipping through his apps. Finding what he was looking for, he showed us the screen. On it for just a moment was a smiley face showing off a row of teeth with two Xs for eyes, before opening up to a Safi Industries web browser. “Your security sucks diiiiick.”

Alright we need to think. 

-I said, scanning him hard. 

Figure out what we’re dealen' with.

He looks in shape, but not ready to fight.

No visible weapons. But he’s a heretic. Something from the north Plus whatever the shite with his eyes means. Be careful Jim.

“Penny for your thoughts, Mr. McAllister?” Scott said, cutting us back to reality.

“Hmm?” Jim fumbled, as I hissed in annoyance. “Sorry...I was-”

“Don’t worry, I get it.” Scott smiled, helpfully. “Not everyday you meet a pagan, right?”

You don’t even know. 

-I say, feeling the weight of the ring around our neck.

Does he think we care?

He just gave us an out.

Jim smiled as Eddy gave us a curious side glance, “Guess you’re right. So what made you wanna lead a life of watchen your back, waiten for Inquisitors to burn ya and nail ya to a cross?”

Smoooooth.

Scott gave us a polite smile, but his eye twitched. We hit a nerve, that much was obvious. So he does sweat.

“A very strict mother.” He said, curtly. “Started off innocent enough, as far as rebellious phases go. But I don’t know.” He sighed, holding up the pendant around his neck, gingerly in his hand. “Something about it just...spoke to me.”

Right. Okay. 

-I said, eyeing the weirdo. 

This is the part where we back away slowly.