Gabriel showed up again.
"How are you doing today?"
"Quite well, Rose."
He didn't seem to have any bad blood despite what I proclaimed about the Ruler.
"I actually have a message from the Ruler."
"What is it about?"
"He's holding a gala. As a minor relief from the war."
"Does that mean?"
"Yes, Lucifer and the Author were also invited."
"Maybe I could actually meet the man,"
"I doubt he would come in his actual body, but he would be too occupied to try anything, besides accepting the invite cements a contract that you can not attack one another, army or not, until the gala is over."
"Any other terms to the contract?"
"No, here is the actual contract. Holding it is not an acceptance, so don't worry."
I read through the contract and saw no foul play.
"Sure, why not, it could be fun."
[A contract has been made. Terms: You may not attack Lucifer, the Ruler, or the Author, directly or indirectly (Ie: Through your army) until the completion of the contract. Contract completion requirements: Completion of the Supreme Faction Gala.]
"Any specifics?"
"You have a plus one."
"Nice. Now I need to decide who I'm taking."
"Also, you need to dress formally."
"Wonderful, I actually have a dress I was trying to find an excuse to wear. Bought it more than a year ago."
Gabriel blinked.
"That's surprising."
"You do realize that I used to be a princess of the dragon kingdom, right? I do know formality."
"Well, lets hope you remember it."
"Don't worry."
"Also… what is that?"
He pointed at Asmodeus and Hades who were having a drink at the bar.
"That is a bartender's table, a bartender's table is a place where the bartender prepares drinks to serve to the paying customers."
I smirked at him, and he grimaced.
Amy also groaned.
"Did you seriously just go Glamrock Freddy on him?"
I smirked.
"I mean the two sitting at the bartender's table."
"Oh, that's Asmodeus and Hades."
"I know that. Why and how are they here?"
"When I went to Hell they swore loyalty to me, so I got a third ultimate, and with that I could summon both of them to the living world."
"And how are they… angel? Are they angels?"
"Since the Ruler clearly wouldn't give them grace back, I crafted a grace based off of my own power, and they now look like that."
Gabriel blinked before sighing.
Then his blade was at my throat before anyone else could flinch, but I didn't need too.
"Ah ah ah~ No attacking. And if you want me to stop doing things that you don't like, then you can get lost. I'm also the leader of a faction, and I'm not going to be pushed around because you want me to be."
He growled, but the contract prevented his hand from moving further.
"The fact that the Ruler deigned to invite me means that I was correct, your boss also sees me as a threat. So, mess off. You did your duty and delivered the invite."
I smiled.
"You have no more business here."
A portal to Heaven opened behind him, causing him to look in shock.
"Go on, tell the Ruler that I accepted. Now I need time to prep."
Gabriel shook with anger but entered the portal anyways. As it closed, he glared at my smirking face.
"And stop making new mechanics too. You have no ri-"
I shut the portal.
"Dooon't care."
Everyone just gaped at me.
"Did… did you just sass an archangel?"
"Yep. Silas, could I have my usual?"
"Sure, why not?"
I sat at my table and Darsen sat down.
"You really like angering powerful beings don't you."
"Eh, it's almost a hobby at this point. It's especially funny when they know they can't do anything about it."
"I suppose…"
He sighed.
"Well, who are you gonna invite?"
"I don't actually know. I'd say it's between you and Dallel."
"I know why Dallel, but why me?"
"Because you're cool, and you're a lot less likely to give a death glare to anyone who dances with me."
"*Snrk* That's true, but I say you should go with Dallel."
"Alright."
"Yeah, we're cool, but you don't really bring your bro to a gala."
I snickered.
"I suppose not."
"Do you actually have a dress?"
"Yep, bought it in Dracion when I was doing diplomacy for the battle between shards."
"Heh, that would be interesting to see."
"What, me in a dress?"
"Yep. I already pity the men in that party."
Then he snickered.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
He looked at me, then started full out laughing.
"HEY!"
_
"Woah…"
I came out of my room in the dress. Thalia looked at me and started crying.
"She looks so esteemed."
Elren was angry.
"Isn't there a bit much?"
Then he did a sporadic gesture.
"It's a dress, not a tunic. Calm down."
He grimaced but kept quiet.
Dallel was in a classic suit. It was hard to find a suit that could fit him, but the dragonkin tailor in Dracion has one in stock.
My dress was a crimson red with a partial open back. It flowed down to my knees with silk and was embroidered with gold. It was quite queenly, but it lacked frills that would have made it bad. It was smooth and ran cleanly.
We stood at the hub waiting for the portal to appear, then it did. An angel stepped out and said,
"I am here to escort Ms. Hood and her plus one."
"Hello."
The angel looked at me and gulped, but he gestured to follow him and entered the portal trying to ignore Dallel, Jalad, and Elren's death glares.
We entered.