RP:Falling Stars & Fresh Starts
Summary: Someone gets asked to the witch's ball.
( The best part is at the end! )
Sandy Beach
You stand upon the stretch of sandy land, entitled 'Sandy Beach' by those who know it. Obviously a popular locale, multiple youths of Cenril wander about, socializing amongst themselves in simple, near-bare uniform. A man-crafted barrier of stone hedging works around the sandy lot of shore, standing at about four feet tall and a foot in width. The entire beach forms a 'C' shape, opening east to the sea, probably much of the reason why it'd be famous in Cenril. Skirting the barrier, the beach continues on north and south. A note is here.
Irenic had been cast from the library again as it was coming to a close so late in the evening and he trailed his way down the streets of Cenril towards the beach. Pausing a moment in the street where he kissed her and even though he's spend the past week in the library filling his head with information, he couldn't keep her from his mind. He finds himself at the beach to relax and possibly take a dip so he removes his thin black v necked sweater exposing tawny skin decorated with an intricate tattoo pattern across his torso; the dark ink dipping and rising with every hill and valley his muscles creased into that skin. He started to work on he laces of is boots after stretching out those marvelous ivory wings to allow that salty breeze run through the hair and feathers of him.
Valrae headed on to the beach, over sized bag slung over her shoulder, with a frown on her lips. Her hair was left free to flow down her back in long waves of honey and gold under her big floppy beach hat. This one was a sunset orange with pretty yellow bow wrapped around it. Her black bathing suit top was a series of clever and intricate lines of fabric that covered all the importing things and managed to look daring without having to sacrifice too much modesty. The back was left open around the delicate lines of the moon tattoo that rested between her shoulder blades. The skirt she'd worn over her bottoms was long, high-waisted, and a sheer sky blue that boasted the outlines of her tanned legs. Val had spotted the Avian while he was removing the shirt and stopped her walk towards him to watch with dark eyes. She couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips, the slight rise in her heart beat at the sight of him. "Hey handsome, what else are you gonna take off for me?" She teased, closing the sand between them with a few short steps.
Irenic managed to get one boot off by the time Valrae made her way over to him and her words earned a short chuckle, "You flirt!" His bi colored eyes set upon her after his tease and the flattered grin was wiped from those scarred lips and replaced with one in awe. "U-um... H-heyyy." He cleared his throat as for the first time he's felt a loss for words and he started to feel his cheeks warm up more than usual. Quickly he gathered himself, "You want a show?" That devious smirk was back, exposing white, but slightly crowded teeth as his hands teased his belt buckle with a hip movement; of course tensing those abdomen muscles to cut deeper valleys in his decorated skin. His wings fold in close while he turns his back on her, spanning them out once more to show of his well toned derrière; pushing it out a little and swaying from side to side before he bends over to... Only unlace his other boot and slip it off. He turns to look upon her once more and couldn't help but laugh at his 'strip tease' joke, "Satisfied?" He would wink at her before closing the distance between them and curving his body and wings around her in an embrace, hugs from tall guys are the best... Or so I'm told.
Valrae wasn't sure what his reaction to her had meant. The witch found herself looking over her appearance in self-consciousness before falling back on the nervous habit of tucking her hair behind her hear. But he was moving on, teasing her right back, so she gave him a sunny smile and said, "Sure!" Val clapped and made the appropriate 'wooh!' sounds while he gave her a little dance. She was laughing by the time he removed his boot, though she hadn't failed to appreciate the man's figure or his marvelous wings. The woman found herself wrapped in the avian's arms and wings as she grinned up at him and she returned the hug with a happy smile. Hugs from tall handsome avians were definitely the best. The salt and sand scents faded away to the earthy smell of lavender and dragon's blood tree sap, her favorites. It was always surprising and strange, in a good way, to find the scent that reminded her of home and magic. "Fancy meeting you here," She said after they moved apart. Val dropped her bag into the sand after fishing a wide towel the color of fresh plums out of it. She did her best to spread it out over the sand before stopping to smile at Irenic again. "You don't mind me joining, do you?" The sea breeze sent her bright hair and gossamer blue skirt dancing in the wind.
Irenic felt confident in his composure now he can comfortably say, "You look great by the way," which would give her a hint to his befuddled reaction a moment ago. He would help her spread her towel on the sand still offering a hint of warmth from the descending sun and a soft grin was offered to Valrae from scarred lips, "Yeah, fancy meeting me here." A slight chuckle followed as he's been spending spare time in Cenril in hopes of bumping into her once more, worked half the time. "Well, they were closing up the library and they kicked me out." His gaze danced slowly upon her form and the aura around her which his brown sightless eye picks up on, "Of course I don't." His hand reaches up to scratch at a closing bite wound on his neck, vampire bite, but he stops himself knowing it's nearly healed this time and doesn’t want to disrupt it. Dropping his hand and slipping it into the pocket of his black pants he starts to meander closer to the water, "I was actually going to take a quick swim?" His head motions to the direction, causing a few pesky graying hairs to fall into his view.
Valrae gave him a shy smile and touched her hair again. "Thanks," She said sheepishly. The witch took off her bright hat and tucked it under her bag. She glanced up at him to give him a curious look, not understand the reason for the laugh, before standing again. She laughed and gave him a knowing smile. "Ah, you're not a true scholar until you've been kicked out of a few libraries." Val joked. The woman's mossy green gaze followed his hand to the mark on his neck. Her smile gave way to her curious expression but she only looked back to into his unique eyes and kept her questions to herself. "Great minds think a like," She said. "I love swimming around this time. You get to cool off and watch the sun set all at the same time." As she spoke, she wiggled out of the bright skirt and folded it before bending to place it near her hat and bag. "Strange question, maybe rude because I don't know the rules about asking these kinds of things.." She straightened and walked closer to him and the water. "But how does the water affect your wings?"
Irenic shrinks the distance between them as he always does to drape a tattooed arm around her shoulders and a wing to follow, the velvety touch brushing up against her exposed skin. "Yes, yes. I agree." He shakes her head at her mention of feeling rude, "No, no. You can ask me anything, a curious mind is a healthy one." He lets out a soft chuckle and she may notice how he failed to take off his trousers, maybe something he's self conscious about. "Well, they will just be wet. I wont fly until they dry most of the way, but it's easy to dry them." As they continue to venture deeper into the waters his arm frees her and his wings fold closely to his form. The slight chill to the water causes those muscles on his torso and arms to tense a little further, in turn, rippling creases in between every one. The water seeming to darken every intricate line to his tattoo making it appear alive on his torso area, climbing up to those broad shoulders, then down again to decorate his biceps until it finally tapers off around the base of his neck and the start of his forearms. She's probably never seen the full extent of that tattoo and how it hints at nobility, but that it's possibly a cover-up job as the eyes might catch the area on his left pectoral; it's darker and a bit different - passible though. "So, do you have any other questions for me that you thought would be rude?" He asks her with a half-hearted grin on his lips.
Valrae smiled up at Irenic and tried to ignore the goose bumps that appeared from the unfamiliar sensation of his wings against her skin. She didn't think too hard on his decision to leave on his pants. Maybe he hadn't thought to wear anything underneath them? Maybe he was self conscious about his legs? Whatever the case it wasn't her business. The farther they waded into the water the more they separated, and eventually the witch had moved ahead of him to turn and face him as she walked backward. They were deep enough that some of her golden hair was floating around her hips in the salty water. Her dark eyes followed the lines and details of his tattoo curiously before they settled back on his face. "Actually... Two things." She walked backward, going deeper into the sea, while dragging her finger tips over the surface of the water and smiling teasingly at him. She stopped when the water was on the dip of her waist. "First. I bet you have a pretty interesting story to go with the ink you've got." Her hair was all floating around her, darkening in the water to match the color of warm honey. The confident, teasing smile turned sheepish. "Secondly... I was wondering if you were ever going to kiss me again."
Irenic shortened his long stride to match her own in the water and where the water came to her waist it was probably still just above his hips, teasing at the V his muscles formed there. He nods at her inquiry, bicolored eyes forcing their gaze to the tattoo, "You know, I wish I did… But according to a vision Artia had, this tattoo was created to cover up this one," His finger pokes into the flesh of his left peck, "Apparently it was a tattoo that held a monstrous meaning… I got the larger, more intricate one to fake nobility… I guess the land I come from - the more elaborate and massive your ink is, the more noble. I don't remember why I needed to do this or when and I don't remember getting it done, but it does look pretty sweet." He chuckles in that low gruff tone, which is still surprising for someone who had all of their memories wiped clean for he appeared to have no care to remember. Her second 'thing' was surprising, not visibly so, "As for your second query..." He spoke a little softer while the waters were shifted from between them and his hands placed gently on the sides of her face. Irenic's thumbs caress adoringly against her cheeks while looking down at her and he starts to relax down into the water to make up for the height difference, a bit - only until his face was mere centimeters from her own, "How does now sound?" He would connect their lips smooching softly at first, leaving the whisper of a smack, breaking the kiss for a moment and placing his brow on her's to ask breathlessly, "Any other questions? I am an open book for you, Valrae." He would shift one of his hands to submerge itself into the softness of her honey colored hair while those scarred lips steal a longer, eye closing, foot popping, passionate kiss.
Valrae had nodded along to his story, her eyes admiring the detail and artistry of it while she listened, and smiled bright at him when he finish. Everything she was about to say tumbled out her mind as he closed the space between them. The way he looked at her, with those remarkable eyes of his, had butterflies rioting in her stomach. His face slowly became more level with hers and they kissed. They remained close for the seconds afterward and her hands moved to settle on his chest, palms flat. They were so close, she was surrounded by him and the sea, and the woman was too breathlessly entranced to answer. Luckily, she didn't need to because he was kissing her again. The avian's hands found their way into her hair while her own went up, her arms moving to rest on his shoulders, fingers to lace together behind his neck. She returned the toe curling kiss ardently. It was intoxicating, the way being with him made her feel. They were kissing openly in the sea. No secrets, no hiding, no one to hurt. She felt wild and beautiful and absolutely free. When they finally pulled back for air Valrae found herself blinking her forest green eyes at him. Again she was struck with the urge to match the shade of those bi-colored eyes with her paints. Especially the way they looked in the dying sunlight. She gave him a sweet smile. "I wonder if I could paint you? Your eyes... They're beautiful. I've never seen anything like it."
Irenic had removed his hands from her face and hair to hold her around her waist when she held him at his neck, wrapping both muscular around her, but not too tightly. They were slowly drifting further into the sea and he was able to stand once more still holding her close, their skin to skin contact causing his heart to thump a little harder for it was new and exciting in its taboo. His gaze never pulling away from her own as her words caused a bashful smirk, "Paint me, huh? I'd be honored, but I think this is just a ruse so you can stare at me some more," his tease followed another short chuckle, "I would love that, actually… It's a, uh, funny story about the brown one." He realized they were a bit too far from shore at this point and she wouldn't be able to touch the bottom. Unsure if she was a good swimmer or not he was not willing to chance it, so he casually spanned open his wings in the water and relaxed back into them with her atop him. The wings acting like a floating device while his legs gently peddled them back to the safe shore while he told her the tale, "My master was actually blind when she raised me from the dead. I don't know how long she lived without sight, but along the way someone made it so her eyes saw traces of magic, in turn she can see whenever she used magic on and what it bounced off of… Like sonar." They were back at where they were before and he released her to stand in the waters once more, "So, she asked me to give her one of my eyes… I said yes, so I can't even see out of this one," he ended, pointing to said eye.
Valrae had let herself be taken father out to sea without showing any signs of concern or protest. She was an excellent swimmer. She'd spent over half of her childhood on a beach or in the water trying to keep away from her bully of an older brother. He couldn't swim and hated sand so it was of the utmost importance for her to learn as quickly as she could. Or die trying. She was grinning up at him, laughing at his teasing, and if he didn't protest she wiggled so that her long legs wrapped around his waist. "Sure, I do like looking at you. It's not my fault you're one of the most marvelous things I've ever had my eyes on." She was still smiling but there was seriousness in her tone. When he moved back, taking her with him, she let out a feminine squeal and braced her hands on his chest. It was a little disconcerting to be what amounted to straddling him in the ocean. She looked down at him, wet waves of dark gold spilling over her tan shoulders to curtain around her heart shaped face, and blushed. Her girlish smile turned curious and contemplative as she listened to the story of how his eyes came to be so unique. "Can you see my magic then?" She asked thoughtfully, leaning a little closer. "What does it look like? Could you tell me?"
Irenic really thought nothing of how they looked to others floating about like that in the ocean and he tried to hide his blush she earned from him by dipping his head back into the water and smoothing it back. Irenic nodded at her question and answered, "Yeah let me see." He places a couple steps of water between them and let his mismatched eyes take her in, "Hmm…" He was thinking how to describe it, possibly taking a little longer than usual just looking at her as if trying to imprint every detail of her in his mind. "There is this sort of aura." He motioned his hands around her as if he was touching it, "It changes at times… Sometimes, at first, it's a bluish color which seems like you are sad, but eventually - after we talk for a while… It changes to a brilliant deep red almost burgundy." He was close once more and found himself twirling one of her golden tendrils around his long slender finger. "Does that make any sense to you?" Those mismatched eyes seek out to connect into her own mossy green ones and scarred brow quirking up in his question. After a moment passes of just starring at her features his seeing eye catches something marvelous in the sky, a meteor shower, or shooting stars soaring above them in the most wondrous fashion.
Valrae went very still in his contemplation of her. She didn't even notice she'd stop breathing until she moved to tuck her damp hair back nervously and she exhaled a shaking breath. Beads of salty ocean water slid down her sunkissed skin. She had a jagged white scar over her hip bone that curved toward her belly button that she covered truly without realizing what she was doing. The witch listened intently as he spoke, tilting her head curiously when he said blue, smiling when he moved on to the red. "Lucky me, that's my favorite color." They were close again but her smile still didn't seem to reach her eyes. Now she was thinking about someone else. Someone she hadn't let herself think about after the Big Scene that had happened in the middle of the night at her place. Her aura was probably blue again. "It makes a lot of sense." She finally said, looking up at him to nod. "I feel more like me and happy with you." The light in her peripherals had her looking sky ward. An awe filled sigh tumbled passed her lips. "Beautiful." She said breathlessly.
Irenic glanced quickly at was she was covering up and offered an understanding smirk as he too had many scars of which he has no memory of acquiring, but he accepted all of them, just as he did with her. His warm touch would find that hand she was trying to cover herself up with and hold her hand. His brow quirked with how fast her mood seemed to change, "Is everything alright?" He shook his head before kissing her forehead, "Scratch that. Everything will be alright." If she let him take her by the hand he would try and run with her, or trot more like it. Reaching her towel on the beach he handed it to her, "Wrap up." He kindly commanded while he stepped back, flapping his wings a few times without lift off so they dried quicker. Once Valrae was wrapped up in her towel nice and warm he would eliminate any distance between them once more, "How bout he get a good view?" He leans down to her and offers a quick smooch.
Valrae was surprised and embarrassed that he'd noticed her subconscious covering of her scar. She gave him an apologetic smile and let him mover her hand away from it. The kiss that he planted on her forehead did wonders to improve her melancholic mood. She felt so safe and small with just one little gesture. His sudden movement had her laughing and struggling to keep up right and close to him. As they splashed through the surf she laughed the whole way and tried to ask what had gotten into him between her giggles. She took her towel and started to dry her legs, moving up to her stomach, her arms, and then her long hair before wrapping it around herself. A bright smile bloomed on her face. "Yes please!" She exclaimed, finally following his line of thought, hopping a little in joy. He gave her another kiss and even though it was quick it had her stomach jumping with excitement.
Irenic kissed her longer and harder this time just like the first time in wrapping his arms securely around her towel clad self and up into the night skies they go. He whispered to her, "Lets find a nice roof top… Tallest one you see." Once she would point one out he would dip and dive then climb until they reached the peak, holding her there and helping her turn herself towards the show until her legs felt solid again then it was her choice to stay wrapped up in his arms or not, maybe have a seat on the roof - next to him or between his legs he would oblige. Keeping his wings about her so she stayed warm, "Magnificent… So, I don't have any cool stores about my scars… How did you get the one here." A soft caress would motion over her towel where he saw the one on her abdomen, "Scars are cool, own it." He would wink at her in hopes of liberating her self consciousness about it.
Valrae :: Their last kiss managed to erase the intrusive, painful thoughts of her past and she managed to enjoy the ride. It was so exhilarating, so indescribable to be in the air. She would never get over the feeling. Once she picked a pot and they landed Valrae settled herself between his legs and pulled her own close to her. She wrapped her arms around them and rested both of her elbows on her knees, then her chin in both hands. She felt his touch near her scar and shrugged half halfheartedly with her dark eyes still on the sky. "When I was younger and lived on the streets, my brother would bully me into pick pocketing drunkards for him. He said a little girl getting caught would be more likely to get sympathy..." She paused, the memories of a time she'd left mostly forgotten flooding her mind. The stench of rot and decay under the dock they'd called home. The smell of beer and other spirits on the breath of the men she'd been forced to steal from. The look of madness in her brothers eyes when he'd used the poorly fashioned knife on her when she protested one too many times one bitterly cold night. "He was wrong, I was a pitiful pick pocket, and I was tired of getting knocked around for it. When I decided I didn't want to anymore this was his way of changing my mind." Val gave another shrug, as if she wasn't concerned with it... And she wasn't, if she didn't look at it too closely.
Irenic would lean into her and rest his head on her shoulder to listen to her story while watching the wonder before them, "That’s a good story and a good memory because now you know you are stronger for it… I can see it." He breathed in her sent for a moment, she always smells like warm sands and the ocean, "I think you are good at stealing… You steal me away from Lady Dragana all the time." He kissed the side of her head covered in her hair, "It is a beautiful reminder that you are a survivor and I am not sure how you come to trust people so quickly after that, but look where it got you now." He isn’t even sure where he got that optimism and wisdom from, but he just went with it as his own troubles melt away into the background for now. As usual there is not judgment in his voice for her only acceptance as he knows he too has a shadowed past.
Valrae relaxed into him and let his warmth steady her. The deep tone of his voice echoed in her chest, his words made her feel less alone. Less ashamed. She gave him a small laugh. "Not to the point of getting you into any trouble, I hope." She said as he pressed a kiss on her temple. "Actually," She paused, considered her words before exhaling and continuing, "I think it's because of my brother, his name is Alec by the way, that I'm not afraid of the world. He was always so bitter, so angry at the world because of the life we had. He cursed the whole world, he cursed me, he cursed the gods. In his mind it had to some ones fault and some one had to pay. Anyone who had more than us, and that wasn't hard to do, was a selfish bastard and deserved to pay..." It was quiet for a moment again as she watched the lights in the sky. They were a stunning reminder of all the beauty in the world. All the good Alec refused to see and actively sought to destroy. "I never want to be bitter. I never want to take a moment for granted." She turned to look at him. "Like being here with you. Making new memories."
Irenic held her a little tighter as she talked, he wouldn't know it or realize it, but it's cathartic in a way to let out all of that of which has built up inside. "I don't believe bitterness will ever be an issue for you, Valrae… You shine to brightly." He motions to the stars before them, "Just like this." When she turns to him now he only as a soft grin for her and a reply, "And I like being here with you." His lips inch close to her own again, "To new memories." One of his hands nestles itself up into her hair and his thumb gently caresses her jawline while his bicolored gaze settles on her lips until they close when their lips touch. Slow and subtle his upper lip planted flush on her's and the bottom lip landed perfectly between her own as if fitting like a key and she might feel his heart thumb just a little faster, just a little harder in this precious moment. This was something he wanted to remember and cling onto.
Valrae felt safe and comfortable and oddly more free for having told him. It was strange. No one had ever asked her about her own past and she'd never had a chance to tell anyone else of it. It had felt like such a close kept, shameful secret that having another know it and seem so unworried was beyond words. She was so moved she couldn't speak, only swipe absently at a tear that slipped down her cheek. She didn't really know why she was crying. They kissed again and still the familiar jump of excitement filled her. Kissing him felt like getting ready to dive off of a cliff, or looking down at the ground while they were flying, like she was getting ready for a fall. She was quickly growing to adore the way his hand moved to her hair and the way they seemed to fit so perfectly together when they kiss. When they finally managed to pull away from each other she rested back onto him with a happy smile. "I'm really glad we keep running into each other. Maybe sometimes it wont be a happy accident?"
Irenic smirked this time to himself as he knew it wasn't an accident, he would purposely spend his free time in Cenril so he could see her again. "That would be nice…" He remembers an announcement of sorts that he had meant to ask her about, maybe he read it in a posting, "Have you heard about this witches ball going on in a week?" He leaned into her again and rested his head on her shoulder, speaking softly into her honey colored hair. It was so soft and the smell was something he wanted to experience all the time… He would allow her to answer the question and not matter the answer he would mention, "I heard its witches only," he lies, but cutely. "I was hoping a certain… Enchanting witch would ask me. I don't know if you know her, short, blonde, wickedly pretty, goes by the name Valrae?" His chuckle was low and short as he was sure he could win her over after placing a gentle smooch on her exposed sun kissed shoulder, "Would you put in a good word for me? I mean… I promise it will be a great time, I clean up pretty well." He was sure she remembered his attire from when they were at Mrs Mallards.
Valrae's face was tilted upward as she watched the lights in the sky. It felt like she was coming up for air after being underwater for too long, like seeing the first watery beam of sunlight after the destruction of a storm... Or more accurately how one feels the first good day after a long illness. A little bruised, seriously tired, but recovering. With Irenic wrapped around her she was warm, dry, and for the first time in a long time felt happiness without the high price of guilt to pay for it. His deep voice pulled her from her internal contemplation and had her blinking back into the moment. "Oh, yeah." She said after her mind caught up with the conversation, "I did but... I don't know if I'll go. Orphan girl, fancy party?" She gave a humorless laugh. "I mean, I know how to behave but I've never really done things like that before." A second of sadness stabbed through her heart when she assumed he was thinking of someone else, until he clarified and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. Val wiggled until she was half way facing him and gave him a playful swat. "Jerk." She laughed. After a moment the smile slowly faded from her lips. "Do you really want to go? With me?"
Irenic's grin was wide with the playful swat and he offered a soft tickle to her sides in return, nothing extreme - they are still on a roof and all. "Of course I do, if you will have me." His expression leveled with her own, "Valrae, I don't care if we go in rags as just being able to show you off will be enough thrill for me... Plus, I've never been to one before either so I will be just as improper and ill mannered as you. Lastly, behaving is overrated." That devious smirk shown as he trusts she knows how to conduct herself, but that was beside the point. "Maybe you can be my first dance?" There was a seriousness about that as he doesn't remember all the etiquette training he had before his memory wiped. He allows an appropriate amount of silence as his gaze looks back out at the meteor shower, "So, what do you say?" His entire light-hearted-ness on he subject wasn't pressuring, just pure honesty and willingness to experience more with her.
Valrae could only blink at Irenic for a long while. He couldn't have possibly known that was the exact right thing to say. He couldn't have known those very words were the ones she needed to hear because she hadn't known herself. Because she couldn't quite put all the turbulent and grateful emotions she was feeling into words, the witch simply leaned up to press a trail of soft, sweet kisses along his jaw before finishing by a quick peck on the lips. "I would be honored to be your first dance." She finally said, her voice an emotion filled whisper. She turned around fully, sitting on her knees before him, with her face tilted upward to gaze into those bi-colored eyes. "I'd love to go with you."
Irenic allowed his attention to be set on Valrae instead of the falling stars, unable to move them from her. He had no idea what words to say prematurely, he was just going with it. The kisses surprised him and he felt his cheeks aflame when she did as he was having those excited feelings in the pit of his stomach for the first time. He cleared his throat softly. "Then it's settled! Lady Valrae and Sir Irenic will attend the witches ball.... As a quite dashing pair!" His tone was a mocking one of a snooty noble before that smirk widened as he was careful in choosing his words for he knew she wasn't ready to label anything. His gaze still fixated on the true beauty before him against the backdrop of the stars and his hands found her own to pull her in close for another kiss. Pulling her further he would let go of her hands and wrap his arms around her waist once more and just talk the rest of the night away, about the stars and their names.
~A couple nights later ~
Large Inn
Cenril's inn is well known for its hospitality and friendly, open staff. The owners themselves, a great bear of a man and his ample wife, greet all guests, leading them either to the cozy cafe in the northern section, or to one of their rented rooms as they extol the value of each. The room to the west is a mere three gold while the more exclusive far north room will cost five gold.
Irenic :: The staff of the Large Inn in Cenril had someone waiting to catch Valrae before she retired to her room and once they did one of the younger female ones would giggle as she brought the news of a box being left for Valrae, "I say, the man who dropped this off had to be heaven sent, he was so good looking... Besides all the scars of course... And those unsettling eyes... Here you are." She would hand a thin but wide black box to her which was accented in an emerald & black ribbon and a note atop it.
"Valrae, I don't care what you wear, but I saw this and thought of you if you would like to adorn it for the ball. Sincerely, Edlin."
Inside the box would be one of the most elegant velvet dressed made in Hollow with a ruby necklace to match and a single bleeding-heart flower at the bottom with the note "Hope you like it, xoxo"
Valrae ||When Valrae had finally slipped into the inn, thoroughly soaked from the sudden downpour that she'd gotten caught in on her way home from Sage, she was in a foul mood. The witch had been greeted by a familiar and matronly woman who scolded her in broken common and helped her towel off her hair and soaking basket of herbs. She was uncharacteristically ill tempered with her, and less that gentle as she worked, and kept giving Valrae a stern, side-eyed frown. Confused, Val gave the woman a pout and asked her what she was so upset about. It was then that one of the younger workers, the pretty half-elf who helped welcome guests, gave her the elegant box and explanation. She knew immediately who the girl was talking about and couldn't help the smile that sprung to her lips. Her foul mood completely dissipated. This only served to further deepen her motherly maid's frown and accentuate the lines of age on her disapproving face. Her smile dissipated. "We've be over this, Maude," She all but pleaded in an equally broken attempt at the maid's own language. "He doesn't want me... And I am okay with that." The moment the words left her lips, it surprised her to find them to be true. Maude must have seen the revelation in her dark eyes, because her aged face softened to a melancholic smile. Relenting, the maid tsk, tsk'ed her and made encouraging noises as Valrae gushed her excitement all the way back to her room. Once she was inside, and Maude was satisfied after having seen her into dry clothes and was starting a fire in her hearth, she sat the box on her bed and read the note. Her stomach did little flip of excitement and she sat the note aside carefully to finally open the box. Her hand went to her mouth. "Oh Maude, come look!" She finally exclaimed. Val had never owned a dress so fine! The women oohed and ahhed over it for a while before the witch finally gave into Maude's demands and put herself in it. She stood in front of the elegant floor length mirror after she'd gotten into it and the maid had done some quick but clever styling of her golden hair that left it up and away from her face. The woman she saw looking back at her was still so surprising. In her mind, Valrae was still the dirty, emaciated street urchin she had been for her all of her life. The woman in mirror before her was another being entirely with her healthy, curved and clean body poured into one of the most stunning dresses she'd put her eyes on. The fine, stunningly red velvet was luxurious and clinging like a caress against her skin. The neck line was straight and high, the sleeves hugged her arms and stopped perfectly at her wrists, and the helm line left a smallest of elegant trains behind her. The plunging back started just below her lower back in a drape of scarlet velvet that beautifully showcasing the tanned, delicate curves of her back and the dark filigree lines of the crescent moon tattoo resting between her shoulder blades. The jewelry he'd been so generous in giving her sparkled and flashed in the fire and candle light in a way that perfectly accompanied the brilliance of the dress. Her motherly maid stopped her fussing to press a worn hand over her heart. "You are most beautiful."