In book 3, Quartzsona probably saw Azul's photo and went "oh, I'm grey too!! we can be grey together" and Azul latched onto that a little but not in a romantic way but in like "oh, I guess we are alike."
And during the museum scene, he probably felt the same for Yuu because they also are different from everyone else. So he's having thay realization like "oh, Ramshackle is pretty different from everyone else. Like me."
Quartzsona at the beginning never understood the concept of sleeping so she would just like never sleep 😭😭😭 it wasn't until Grim kept complaining and Yuu got tired of her watching them sleep at night that she finally learned and grew the urge to sleep
a/n: HAPPY BIRHTDAY QUARTZ @quartztwst !!!!!!!1 I wanted it to be longer IM SORYYRYYYYYYYYY..!!!!!1 IVE FAILED OYOUUUUUUU
tags: @oya-oya-okay @itstiredtime @lilstrawberryghost
words: 663
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Edit: there was a glitch and it copy pasted twice for some reason? had to fix it
Quartz had been expecting pearls. Or a smug lecture. Or maybe even Azul dragging her through some prim and proper high-end restaurant where she’d have to sit with her back straight for three hours.
What she hadn’t expected was ramen.
“You?” Quartz blinked, staring up at Azul, who stood outside the hole-in-the-wall shop with her hood drawn, curls tucked back neatly, and a faintly nervous look about her. “Taking me for ramen? What happened to your five-course meals and gold-plated forks?”
Azul sniffed and adjusted her glasses, voice airy. “It’s your birthday. You like ramen. I am… willing to indulge the common cuisine for your sake. Think of it as an extravagant sacrifice.”
Quartz grinned wide, stepping forward until she was almost nose-to-nose with her. “Aw. You do listen.”
A faint pink colored Azul’s cheeks. She cleared her throat and opened the shop door with a graceful wave. “Come in before I change my mind.”
The shop smelled of soy broth and sizzling pork, loud chatter filling the air. It was a far cry from Octavinelle’s polished lounges, but Quartz thought it was perfect. They slid into a booth by the foggy window—Azul perching with the posture of a queen even in a vinyl seat, Quartz sprawling like she owned the place.
When the steaming bowls arrived, stacked with noodles, pork belly, bamboo shoots, and glowing soft-boiled eggs, Quartz clapped her hands together like a kid at a festival.
“Best. Birthday. Ever.”
Azul arched a brow, already reaching for her chopsticks with practiced elegance. “We haven’t even begun eating.”
“Doesn’t matter. The thought counts. You, slumming it with me like a commoner? Priceless.”
“Must you phrase it like that?” Azul muttered, but her lips twitched.
Quartz leaned in, chopsticks hovering over her bowl. “Must you be adorable when you’re flustered?”
Azul coughed into her hand, busying herself with stirring noodles. “…Happy birthday, Quartz.”
They ate. Quartz slurped loudly, gleefully breaking all etiquette rules. Azul, dainty as ever, twirled her noodles with surgical precision. Quartz made a point of leaning closer and slurping directly in her ear until Azul’s eyebrow twitched.
When a splash of broth landed across Quartz’s cheek, Azul sighed in that long-suffering way of hers. She plucked a napkin from the holder and leaned across the table, gently wiping Quartz’s face.
“Hopeless,” Azul murmured.
Quartz’s grin softened, eyes lingering on Azul’s careful expression. “And yet you still put up with me. Who’s really hopeless here?”
Azul didn’t answer, though her cheeks warmed again.
By the time they finished, Quartz was slumped back with a satisfied groan, one hand on her stomach. “Okay, okay—you win. That was incredible. Better than all your overpriced menus.”
“Blasphemy,” Azul said dryly, though she looked faintly pleased.
Outside, the night air was cool. Street lanterns glowed faintly, steam still clinging to their hair and clothes. Quartz stretched, humming. “Thanks, Miss Sea Witch. You made today really special.”
Azul’s gaze flicked sideways, a secretive little smile forming. “…Don’t expect me to do this every year.”
“Oh, I will,” Quartz said instantly, bumping her shoulder against Azul’s. “With extra noodles.”
Azul sighed, shaking her head. But instead of walking away, she slipped a hand into her cloak pocket and pulled out a small velvet pouch.
“What’s this?” Quartz asked, eyes lighting up.
“Your actual gift,” Azul said, trying for nonchalance. “I wasn’t about to let ramen be the highlight.”
Quartz opened it to reveal a delicate silver hairpin—its top shaped like a seashell, inlaid with a single tiny pearl.
Quartz blinked, then looked up. “…Azul, it’s beautiful.”
“Practical, too. You’re always complaining about your hair falling into your face. Consider it… a strategic investment in my sanity.” Azul smirked faintly.
Quartz laughed, holding the pin like treasure. “You’re ridiculous. But…” She reached over and slipped her arm through Azul’s. “Best birthday. Ever.”
Azul didn’t reply, but her hand lingered against Quartz’s arm a little longer than necessary, her smile faint but genuine as they walked into the night.
quartz when she pins the hairpin on SHE HAS NEVER SHOWN HER OTHER EYE HELP
HAUIREHTUHREH THANK YOUUU ur so talented Athena WAWAWAWWAAAA ❤️🩷🩷🩷🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷 Miss Azul is so shy AND CUTEE SJHDA i really love how you describe how different and how much of silly opposites they are with Miss Azul’s proper posture when sitting while Quartzsona does her own thing UGHUAIHREAGHIRUUIH Miss Azul scolding Quartzsona but yet soft and loving im gonna EAT HER SHE’S GONNA GET EATEN
I love ur Azul writings so much thank you for writing about quartz and azul like 3 three times siugdflkaj.kl you’re geninuely so talented and so generous for like WRITING SO MUCH?? 3 oneshots are a lot to me EVEN THAT ONE I REQUESTED WITH THE REMARRIED FEM AZUL omg i love that one 🩷🩷