#vhopen

Azrael left the bar, drink in hand, and made his way across the crowded event center. There were festivities going on all around him--music, dancing, drinking, talking, and laughing were just some of the things going on. There was also gambling tables set up on the far left side of the room, with people lined up left and right just hoping to get lucky. Those that preferred a guaranteed good time were crowded on the right, where a burlesque show was taking place. Loud, thumping, music streamed from speakers all around the room, but somehow Azrael didn't mind. His head was instead preoccupied with everything going on all around him; for the first time it seemed like Valhallow was really alive. 

Dressed in an all white suit and tie with a matching mask, Azrael's saintly attire was much different compared to the devilish things going on his mind. The chance to dress up and play pretend had been too much for him to deny. He thought that it would be fun to play like the good guy for the day, and even help him to take advantage of people. It was easier to trust a saint than a sinner, after all. Who knew what trouble he could cause behind the guise of a mask? The mischievousness of it all was too alluring for Azrael, although he would never normally attend such a function. 

He stalked over to the far right side of the room, peering through his mask at all of the dancers that modeled lingerie and their fancy dance moves on stage. Burlesque was always an art that Azrael enjoyed and appreciated, if only for his own selfish reasons. Assuredly, he took a seat in the second row, leaned back in his chair, and took a sip of his drink. Parties weren't so bad after all, at least when they came with perks like this one. The demon relaxed and watched. The time passed by pretty quickly, as he was enjoying himself more than he had in a while. Not even the loud music or the smell of all the inferior species surrounding him was enough to crush Azrael's mood. Then, just about the only thing that could take it away walked up to him, and the voice of someone that he recognized flooded his ears.