A Night to Remember

job:

Lineage: Azurius gains +5,000 Jewel
Obviously, we're using WC method... since the job doesn't offer any other way

Code:

<div align="center"><div style="width:400px;"><table><tbody><tr><td><div style="width:400px;float:left;"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Q80uwJA.jpg?1"style="max-width:100%;"></div></td></tr><tr><td><div style="background-color:#000000;padding:10px;font:11px georgia;color:#ffffff;text-align:justify;"><div style="height:20px;width:20px;background-color:#cc0000;padding:10px 5px 0px 5px;margin:0px 6px 3px 0px;float:left;color:#f8f8f8;text-align:center;">[size=18]?[/size]</div>[size=13]

[/size]<div style="padding:15px;"><div style="width:80px;background-color:#cc0000;padding:5px;font:8px georgia;color:#f8f8f8;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:30px;float:left;">[size=13]WORDS[/size]</div><div style="width:180px;background-color:#cc0000;padding:5px;font:8px georgia;color:#f8f8f8;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px;margin-bottom:5px;float:left;">[size=13]TAG[/size]</div>
</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="width:400px;text-align:center;font:10px georgia;">credit to <a href="http://adoxographyv2.boards.net/user/15">nat</a> of adoxography and <a href="http://gangnam-style.proboards.com/user/4292">gangnam style</a>.</div></div></div>

She smiled and nodded vigorously, it had been a while since she had gone to a ball. She went to plenty in her youth, but none she had honestly enjoyed. The dresses had been to tight, the men had been to grabby and the party had always been boring. She had always ended sneaking away off the balcony, climbing down the ivy vines, ripping her dress and scuffing her shoes in the process and running away to the beach; where the guards would always find her.

She took Azurius' hand as he took her to the large ship. Minstrel, she had never been there but had been told it was quite a lovely spot. She was also quite relieved they were supplying clothing, she had very little formal wear; at least, that that would suit a ball. She smiled and followed him to the ship, where a few maids and butlers were waiting.

"Thank you for this Azure! I'm sure it will be just amazing!"

Before Azurius had left she grabbed his sleeve, tugging him down to whisper something "Please do not feel offended by the way they speak to you. It happens, they are loyal to those with money, and those who don't, well, they do not treat kindly. Please forgive them because they do not know you well...." She whispered, before giving him a quick peck on the cheek then leaving him to the hands of the maid. She turned back to the man.

"Thank you, I am honoured to be at your master's ball tonight, this interaction between my island and his home town will by much needed in Alyssum." She said easily, as she had said to so many people before. She then followed the man to a large room; many maids were lined up, there was a bath tub, rows of gowns, a vanity with all sorts of makeup. She sighed. She supposed Azurius wasn't to use to this treatment either, not as much as she was. The maids were quick to help her out of her dress and into the bath, where all the prepping began.

Elaine exited the room fully dressed in the gown that was supplied for her; she never was a fan of red; but the dress was scarlet and extremely well fitted; hair done up with a few roses braided in her and there. She walked highly, picking up her dress to be sure she did not trip over it. The butler pulled out the chair, she sat down, "Ça va être tout, merci, vien nous cherchions quand nous somme au Minstrel." She spoke rapidly as the butler bowed and walked out, leaving them with their food. As soon as Azurius said what he did she began to laugh. "I take it then you got the treatment as well, Hm? Well, to force maids not to do their job is disrespectful; you just let them do as they please. It is less work for you in the long run." She chuckled and picked up a spoon to eat her soup.

"The first time is always quite unnerving, but the good thing is they do not care what you look like. And yes; they do tend to pack quite a bit of strength. It comes with the job, especially when they deal with people like you. Who tend to want to do things on their own." She smirked and and let out a sigh, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

(Gown-> https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c6/ce/f2/c6cef2281d046382086ee178d424b199.jpg )

She was startled with the screaming, she started to get up and give the two some privacy when Suriel called to her. She asked her a question that made her heart heavy, save Azurius? Or kill him and get it all back. Her family, her friends, the village, no mark, no worries. All she had to do was kill him. All she had to do would be to kill him. She looked over to Suriel, she had a napkin in her hand, twisting it slightly. "I......I would do everything in power to save him. The holy army itself would have to get through me to get to him. I'd give it all up, every ounce of magic I have in my body if that assured his safety. I would never let him die, not even if it meant everything would be back to the way it was. I regret the things I've done, I've killed and stolen, I've been banished and pushed aside. But if that hadn't happened, I never would have learnt all this magic, I never would have found my resolve. I never would have met Azurius or gone on all those amazing adventures. Azurius is the reason I am who I am today; the reason I was able to forgive myself, to save myself." She said, looking over to the door he had just stormed out of, she was concerned about the mark as well.

"I would do anything and everything it took to save him. Even if that meant.....even if it meant losing myself in the process!" She said firmly.

She smiled into his chest, she knew there must have been a reason Suriel was like this. She assumed it was something grave but never asked, as an invasion of privacy. Now she knew, the real reason, and all her attacks, her threats, they were all warranted. Suriel was only looking out for Azurius, not wanting to go through the same pain she did. She pulled away, one hand on the side of his face, smiling up at him. "She asked me, if I would rather fight for your life, or kill you and regain everything I had ever lost. And I will tell you the same answer I told her. I would fight for you. I would fight all of heaven and hell if I had to." She rocked slightly on the bed, pushing her hair from her face, "But, and bear with me. I would rather you, forget about me; then lose your wings. Please don't fight me on this, humans are fragile Az, we break, and we cry. We lie and steal and cheat. We are nothing compared to angels. And Az, we die so easily, and once we do, that's it for us; there is no coming back from it. It's done." She said, while saying this small speech, she had said it to carefully portray the fact that she knew his feelings toward her. "It would hurt, I won't lie. I don't know what would happen if you forfeit love; if you were to, forfeit me I suppose. But I want nothing more than for you to be safe Azurius, and I don't want to get in the way of your safety." She murmured, dropping her hand from his face, she took his hand in her's. She leaned in close, a few inches apart. "So forget about me." She whispered softly, before dropping his hand and moving away from him.

She was on the other side of the door, hands covering her mouth, holding back the sobs that clawed their way up her throat. Tears were streaming down her face as she heard the sound of broken glass and she wanted nothing more than to run into the room and tell him how much she loved him. Yet the minute that the words would leave her mouth; she knew that whoever Azurius was loyal to would come for him and make him forfeit his wings. Who knows what would happen then? She took off sprinting down the hall, back into the dining area where Suriel was.

"I am sorry Suriel, I broke the promise I made to you, I broke his heart.....I have to keep him safe....I didn't have a choice....."She sobbed to the angel, she had no idea what Suriel would do next, she swallowed her tears and looked up at her, "I love him Suriel...." She admitted, her makeup streaking her face, "But if he knew.....what would they do to him?? What would happen??" She sobbed harder.

Elaine panicked. She ran down the same hallways as Suriel, only to see him. It was all her fault. The mark did something that she thought would not had been possible, it had taken over an angel. The mark was almost covering his whole body and the minute it did she would lose him forever. She watched as he threw her against the wall, she didn't dare get up. Elaine didn't blame her, this was all her fault, even worse, the mark was being pulled to its other half. Elaine took a deep breath. "Azurius, look at me." That caught his attention. She knew she should be the last person to speak to him, but she could make it better; she had to try. "Listen to me, you have to fight it. This is what it wants Azure, this is what it wants from you. I know this is my fault, I know that this is all my doing. But Azurius; I've known for a while; I've known how you feel about me. Suriel told me what would happen if you ever said it to aloud. You'd get your wings taken away. And maybe you do, maybe you decide to tell me and they try to take you away but I swear, I swear I'd never let them. I would fight. And you have to fight too." She took a step forward, with every step the mark burnt her body even more.

"Az....I know you want to give up. I know how it feels to want to give in. But I am here, I am here and I won't let you give in. Because....I love you too, Azurius." She smiled as the mark climbed up her shoulders, "we're partners right? And if you die, then who would I protect, right?" She prayed that some of the words, any of the words she spoke got to him. If they didn't she would have to draw her sword in attempt to bring him back in a rather harsh way.

"SURIEL!!" Elaine screamed, running over to her, narrowly avoiding Azurius' attack. "I-I can bring him back.....it won't be easy, but I can do it." She said as she stood up, "I'm sorry love, it's for your own good." She whispered, she smiled up at him as a blinding white light filled the hall. When it dimmed down, Elaine was covered in swirling marks like Azurius; but also armor.The type that she had spoken about when she was able to use the mark, Heavens' Armor. She knew she could only hold this form for so long; before the mark ether consumed her or she passes out from magic loss. In her hand she held the broad sword Azurius had given her on one of their first missions.

"I really am sorry about this...." She whispered before shooting forward, sword pointing straight for his stomach

(New Armor -> https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/62/56/f3/6256f3b24e68ff72a69dcc77d5895b18.jpg )

She smiled as the sword pierced his stomach, it had worked, her plan had worked. she looked over at Suriel before she dissapeared, "I know dear, but this was the only way." A magic circle appeared where the wound was, she shook her head and laughed, "I knew this would be to much for you, so I am taking it back." She said, if her plan was right, if this would work; he'd be free from the mark and she still wouldn't have to take on the burden. The mark, following the path of the magic circle, slowly moved away from his body, before it could creep up the sword and on to her body; she released it; trapping it within the sword. She pulled it from his body and dropped it on the ground, the sword was completely black now.

She called to the butlers to help get him back to his room, where she cleaned him up, stitched the wound, and left him to sleep; sitting on a chair beside his bed.

She smiled when he woke up, glad he remembered nothing, no doubt later on either her of Suriel would tell him what happened. But not tonight, maybe leave it for another day, he would never have to worry about the mark ever again either. Which was nice, her's was still a bit agitated, it took a lot of strength the subdue it and she was exhausted. Yet she still smiled, nodding happily and greeting Azure's old friend. He was quite happy she was a West, telling her he was honoured. She followed the two men inside, still in awe of the giant castle. They were joined by many more people inside; Elaine was thankful she had time to clean up, even though there was still some of Suriel's blood on her arms, staining it slightly.

"It's beautiful.She smiled up at Azure

Elaine herself was pulled out on to the dance floor, by a random man. She had to admit that he was pretty handsome; he was kind and forgave Elaine for the fact that she hadn't danced like this in a long time.
"Your name is well known Ms. West. You are particularly known for your fall from grace ever so recently, not to mention....your other; incident." The man smirked, pulling her close to him so she couldn't move.
"How do you-?" She mumbled, trying to pull away slightly.
"Interesting company by the way; didn't take a Lady to be a fan of angels. Especially one like him." He smiled, chuckling in her ear. She pulled away abruptly; giving a sheepish look.
"I....need air." She grinned to the crowd, before making her way out to the balcony. These events were always filled with weirdos. Creepy people who knew more about her than she knew about herself.

Outside she gripped the railing tightly, shaking her head; this was one of the many reasons sh didn't like galas. Everyone knew her, everyone held her so high and it made feel uncomfortable.

Elaine smiled when he asked for a dance, thankfully she had escaped the clutter of the ballroom, and the open fresh space of the balcony was quite secluded. They began to dance and Azurius' began to thank her, making some sort of lead away to what she knew would come next. "I didn't have much of a choice....the thought of losing you, it was to much." She said softly. She looked over when a slightly drunk enough woman made her way towards them, her heart dropped slightly; upset that the moment would soon be ruined, when Suriel appeared from no where, picking the woman up and leaving, giving Elaine a fleeting wink, she smiled greatly in return. Maybe Suriel wasn't so bad after all....

She was quite confused when he stopped dancing and asked her to close her eyes. She complied, there was a brief few seconds where she could hear her heart pounding in her ears. Then, he was kissing her. Her eyes opened slightly and her first reaction; for a split second was to move away, just as she had done with Suriel. Instead, she moved forward; wrapping her arms around his neck and standing up on her toes. When they broke apart she laughed lightly, "I've definitively, been waiting for that." She smiled widely, dropping back down on to her feet, her arms loose to her sides. "But won't you get in trouble....? For loving a human? You could lose everything." She whispered, leaning up against him slightly. She feared that he would get revoked of his status, or like her, get thrown aside due to something she had no control over.