ok so I had this idea about reader who is Azul's S/O, and since they have different norms and stuff in the sea, reader introduces him to what making out is? I dreamed this up and thought it would be kinda funny because we see that the social norms and everything in the sea is pretty different than above ground
Azul Ashengrotto
At the beginning of your relationship, Azul would be really shy about any kind of affection.
Affection would definitely not be something he was used to before.
Because of his past, it would take Azul a while to believe that someone truly loves him.
Oh Azul is not really aware of human's ways of showing closeness to each other.
This came up one evening when you and Azul were spending time alone.
Explaining the whole concept to him would be a bit strange.
How can you even explain something like that?
However, you should try to explain and when explaining doesn't help it would be time to try practice.
Azul definitely blushed easily.
He would really enjoy this new attention.
Your lips are so soft and he feels comfortable in your hug.
You are so special and precious to him~
The moment you had would be over far too quickly.
110% sure either Jade or Floyd will interrupt you lol
If you are interested, Azul would be happy to share with you information on how merfolks express intimacy.
ive had this idea.. say that mc is extremely good at spell drive like has amazing technique and power (almost on par with malleus) but since they’re in ramshackle, crowley let’s them pick which dorm they want to represent. how would the dorm leaders try and appeal and try to get you on their team? this can be any dorm leaders you want!! ty!
› ..[name] aka the best student in the school loses 90 years off of their life <3 gn reader. — this is so cool! tysm for the request
LEONA.
yk damn well he’d want you on his team
the second he hears that (honestly probably from grim or crowley or whatever) that ur close to malleus’ level?? bros hatching a plan already
said plan is going up to you and forcing asking you to be on savanaclaw’s team, dw he will ask nicely (spoiler he wont)
bro would probably be too scary to say no to. tbh im speaking from myself but he would just scare you into playing smh like hello leona be nice ;(
honestly hed probably just make ruggie ask and since its someone who isnt leona u’d say yes bc its not leona 😊 so u join either because of intimidation or just someone asking who isnt the dorm leader
KALIM, JAMIL.
tbh i think it wouldve been jamil’s idea
or just the dorm collectively agreeing that they’d have a chance to win
oh [name] is on par with malleus?? guess we have a new teammate 😊 not only for that tho dw theyre probably the only ones that actually like you
anyways it would be mean to say no to kalim hence why he asked. personally. this was all jamil’s plan bc he knows no one can say no to him because why would u hurt his feelings?????? thats just mean [name] 😐
god i sound like im babying him but i am not. in general no i dont wanna make him disappointed okay i would feel too guilty so you would be too
in conclusion youd join bc no one wants the best twst character to be disappointed 😪
AZUL.
i forgot if their dorm competes LMAO
but anyways in this they do and by the minute youre done talking youre playing with octavinelle bc theres no way hes not convincing you
mf is standing behind you with jade and floyd after they overhear ‘powerful’ and ‘choose’
i dont even know how but its probably just the shadiest bet sugarcoated in a way you absolutely cannot refuse. they have the worst blackmail too or smth. oh you ate worms as a kid? everyone’s gonna know if you disagree.
they even tell you ‘nd ur just like ‘how did you find out abt that????’
note i did not eat worms as a child that was my cousin
anyways your best best is joining azul if you cherish your ego and or reputation 😭
hi hi ! i was wondering what it would be like taking care of baby azul ? kinda like a spin off to the fic you wrote about a baby azul appearing , but just a day with him ? ty !
So cute! A day with little baby Azul would be so much fun.
GN! Reader, Fluff, Toddler Azul
Baby Azul is incredibly clingy. Even when you get up to go to the bathroom he wants to toddle after you (Or I guess squirm, if he's in his mer-form.) He's always got a hand or a tentacle on your arm, or he's seated in your lap at the table while he colors or plays with some little plastic toys of sea creatures. He puts his hand out just for you to hold it a lot. Once he finally takes it back he seems to regret his decision and silently asks for your hand again.
Even when upset, Azul is a very quiet little kid who tends to curl up in on himself rather than pitch a huge fit. He's more likely to quietly hide somewhere with big fat tears silently rolling down his cheeks as he sulks, so be sure to keep an eye on him if you think he seems a bit upset.
Loves his little snacks and sweets during snack time. Little Azul is completely enamored by the fish-shaped cheddar crackers you've supplied for his snack, making them swim around before finally gobbling them up. He's a bit of a picky eater when it comes to fruits and vegetables though, so you have to do the same thing to get him to eat those.
Bath time is another one where he's incredibly well behaved! He loves the bubbles in the bath, and he'll line up all his plastic bath toys on the edge of the tub to make sure each one gets a chance to be played with. Once he's in though, he absolutely doesn't want to get out. You can either bribe him with promises of a treat or reward, or just scoop him up and watch the waterworks, your choice.
If you read something for him, especially if he's laying down or snuggled in your lap, he knocks out in an instant. He falls right to sleep, chubby cheek squashed against your arm as he drools, little hands fisting the fabric of your sleeve so you couldn't even hope to set him down. He's a light sleeper anyway, so even if you did try to set him down he'd probably pop back awake again.
requests are open (but slow); send me a prompt and a character
the trick and the trade
azul ashengrotto; 2,176 words; angst, one-sided love, i make some assumptions on how reader/yuu gets back to their world towards the end that's prob not gonna be "canon compliant" but whatever lol
one. the first time he hears your voice, he thinks he’s never wanted to steal something so much — to take it in his hands, to have it for himself. the first time he hears your voice, he wants to drown in it, and it’s a strange thing — for someone like him to wish for a drowning. the first time he hears your voice, he thinks he finally understands why sailors might toss themselves into the heartbreak sea for just one more note of that deathly siren song —
the first time he hears your voice, it’s in the courtyard, after lunch, in the heart of summer when it’s much too hot to sit inside and still too hot to sit outside, but at least out here, there might be the hint of a breeze to ease the thick, oppressive heat, and he thinks that your voice sounds like jumping into a pool or a lake or maybe diving headfirst into an entire ocean on a day like this — a day that is too much air and sun and not enough water —
he lets himself sink into it; he lets himself breathe.
later, in alchemy class, he almost musters up the courage to talk to you but he doesn’t. because you’re laughing with ace and deuce is leaning over to frown at something in your cauldron before reaching over to point at a line in a textbook and the way his arm brushes yours makes azul’s chest feel tight in ways he does not have words to describe.
“ne… whatcha staring at that little starfish for?” floyd’s voice is silken by azul’s ear, and even after all this time, it still catches him off guard.
“what? i — i’m not — i’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” azul adjusts his glasses and looks back down at his own cauldron, which is simmering in the precise shade of light blue that the textbook had described.
“hmmm…” jade’s grin is nothing short of predatory as he cocks his head, his eyes slingshotting from azul’s face to the trio across the room, blissful and oblivious and azul thinks that perhaps he needs to expand his friend group if these are his two best friends.
he adjusts his glasses and clear his throat before throwing himself back into the assignment, blatantly ignoring jade’s and floyd’s pointed jibes for the entire rest of alchemy class.
two. his luck runs out quick, however, and the next day, he finds himself paired up with you in flying class, with professor vargas blowing out your ears over “hover time” and “flying formations”. but you flash him a bright grin as you shuffle over with your broomstick, looking a little embarrassed.
“hi — sorry about this,” you say, motioning to the broom and then the space between you both.
azul blinks, uncomprehending, before he realizes what you mean. ah, but of course, you can’t do magic, and flying class is one of the few places that magic is absolutely necessary. still, he can’t help the heat that washes into his cheeks as he makes a point to sigh, shaking his head as nonchalantly as he can.
“don’t worry,” he finds himself saying, “i’ve got enough magic for the both of us.”
you laugh then, and it’s a beautiful sound. and azul has to bite his lips to stop himself from asking if you’d be willing to trade it for something — anything that you wanted, really, because he’d be willing to make that trade. for the slightest bit of your voice, your laughter, the sound of it enchanting, the kind of magic that he has no name for, something as ancient as the flow of time or the gravity of the universe.
“great! then… i’ll be in your care,” you bow your head and azul feels his heart stumble in his chest. silently, he thanks the sea witch that he’s not in his octopus form because he’s certain he would’ve made a fool of himself by spilling in all over the place, but here on land, it’s much easier to keep a hold on himself.
and hold onto himself he does, because the next moment, you’re climbing onto the broom behind him and wrapping your arms around his middle.
“be sure to hold on tight!” professor vargas winks at you both, rather comically, from the edge of the field.
you let out another breathy laugh, much too close to his ear, sending shivers skittering up his spine as you gently hook your chin over his shoulder.
“don’t let me fall,” you say, and though your voice is teasing, he can feel it in the way you press yourself to him, in the way you grip him just a little bit too tight. because right, he thinks, there’s no way you’re not afraid. after all, your world doesn’t have magic, so flying must seem just as terrifying to you as he does to him.
and he’s never been great shakes at flying because creatures of the sea just aren’t meant to be up in the air like that but here and now, he finds himself bending over his broomstick, more determined than he’s ever been.
“scared?” you ask, your voice just another facet of the wind as he braces himself and takes a deep, steadying breath.
he chuckles, glancing over his shoulder at you with a smile that he hopes is somewhat reassuring.
“terrified,” he admits, “i — i’ve never been great at this.”
you shift your arms and hold him all the tighter.
“it’s okay, we’ll figure it out together.”
three. he invites you to the mostro lounge a week later, feeling more out of his depths than he’s ever felt in his own damn dorm, and the stupid eel twins are enjoying this way too much but —
azul sits, readjusting his glasses for the umpteenth time.
“it’s just a — a friendly drink! nothing more — nothing less.”
“ah… but i bet you’d like it to be more than that, hm?” floyd asks, grinning wide enough to split his cheeks, his eyes glimmering beneath a the rim of his hat like sunken treasure. jade is standing a bit further off, but looking no less smug and intrigued.
“to borrow floyd’s words… couldn’t you just… give her a squeeze?”
azul shoots them both a half-hearted glare.
“no! i can’t j-just give them a squeeze — it’s highly inappropriate to participate i-in that kind behavior without consulting the other party and —“
“hehhhh? but i mean… don’t you just want her voice in a bottle?” floyd asks, cocking his head to one side.
“or perhaps… a seashell?” jade adds, cocking his head to the other.
azul sputters as he looks between the two before deflating.
“w-well yes, but… i… i like it’s current vessel just as well. no… no reason to remove it from — and it’s not like i can give them magic… even the dark mirror said it couldn’t sense any magic from them so i doubt anything i could do would —“
“but there’s gotta be something else they want, right? maybe… we can help them find a way to go home?” jade offers, ever the sane entity.
azul scowls even harder, “hm… but if they were to leave then their voice would go with them… no?”
“heh…. not if you take it first…” floyd drapes himself across one of the plush loveseats in azul’s office even as azul heaves a deep sigh.
“no — no, i — i simply invited them because i thought they’d enjoy having a drink at our esteemed mostro lounge. their — their time here is limited, so i wanted to give them some good memories to bring with them when they…” but even as he trails off, he can taste the truth in his own words, bittersweet as they are.
“uwahhhh… you’re getting sentimental in your old age, dormleader,” floyd says, exchanging a look with his twin brother that is more weighted than either of them would like to admit.
“oh shut up and just come help me prepare for opening,” azul snaps, standing up and making for the door. the twins heave a single collective sigh before following after him, wondering just how difficult this is all going to be.
four. months later, when you do finally find a way home, azul is there to see you off. you’d grown closer since your first ever flying lesson together, and you’d spent many a night in the mostro lounge, chatting over drinks and snacks, bickering over theories about all the different universes that might be out there, all the different worlds that might exist — the ones with magic and the ones without.
why, you might actually consider him a friend now.
“i’m… really gonna miss you guys,” you say, looking around at everyone gathered around you in the entrance hall, your bag over your shoulder, grim trying to stifle his cries in ace’s pantleg. even malleus has shown up, towering above everyone else, keeping quiet but his presence felt nevertheless.
“we’ll miss you too,” deuce says, reaching out to pull you in for a long hug, followed by ace.
headmaster crowley gives you a wide, almost animatic sort of grin, his bird’s mask firm as ever, “please, my dear prefect, feel free to come back and visit any time. because i’m nothing if not magnanimous, you see. i shall allow it, nay — even recommend it! your presence has been integral to the growth of our students here at night raven college and —“
“thanks, headmaster, i’ll take you up on that,” you say, cutting him off before he can really get started, and eventually, azul find himself facing you, your smile so close and yet much too far away.
“it was really nice hanging out with you and the twins… tell them i say bye, okay?”
“of course! i’ll pass on your tidings. they wished to be here, but someone must look after the lounge — you understand.”
you laugh, nodding, “of course i do.”
azul allows himself a soft smile as you pull him into a hug, holding him for a beat longer than everyone else before letting him go. he tries his best to remind his body that he does indeed know how to breathe on land, because for a moment, he was afraid he might’ve forgotten.
“alright, i’ll see you all… when i see you!” you say, giving everyone one last wave before stepping through the glowing mirror propped up on a classroom chair. for a moment, the entire room is filled with a blinding light, and then — just like that — you’re gone.
five. that night, azul makes his way back to his own dorm in a strange kind of haze, the campus of night raven college somehow a strange, and unfamiliar landscape, the shape and scope of it changed by your absence.
in his office, he digs out a tiny silver shell held on a length of silk; he stares at it for four seconds before flipping it open. from inside, echoes out the looped sound of your faint laughter, and then the sound of ace’s voice, and then grim’s.
“ah… what did you give them for that little trinket, hm?” floyd asks, leaning over the length of the desk to peer at the shell in azul’s hand.
azul laughs, a soft, sad, hollow sort of sound, shaking his head.
“nothing. they… they gave it to me as a holiday gift…”
“hm… how generous of them,” jade muses, materializing on his other side.
“i — i don’t even know how they — well, one of them must’ve gotten idia to help them or something but…” azul opens the shell again; your voice rings out, laughing, laughing, laughing…
“ne… can i ask you something personal?” floyd says, blinking slowly at azul from over the table, no longer smiling.
azul shrugs, “i suppose. what do you want to know?”
“if you could trade something to get the back… what would you give?”
at this, azul looks up, and there’s something so deep and dark in the depths of his eyes that neither of the twins dares to say a single word. they’ve seen enough darkness from the unrelenting sea to know heartbreak when it’s laid at their feet.
azul bites his lips before looking away, clapping the shell shut in their palm, squeezing it tight, so tight that for a moment, they all think it’s going to break.
but then, azul just sighs, letting his head drop as he opens up the shell again to let your voice ring out through the room.
summary - after holding many failed interviews to see who's qualified to become azul's partner for a party, jade and floyd decide to choose you as their last option.
genre - fluff and a little angst on the way!
warnings - grim, deuce, and ace slapping you back to reality LOL
the twins hopelessly sighed after going through each pages with the list of azul's supposed-to-be partners for the formal event that his parents are hosting. azul gave a favor to the twins to find him a potential partner for his parents' event. he couldn't bear to see disappointment on their faces if azul doesn't bring over his partner.
azul had about at least thirty failed interviews for the potential partners. most of it was considered a fail because azul gained no interest all. and the least of it was the person not showing an intrest towards azul.
floyd had already become tired. "well jade, looks like we can't find anyone now." he sighs while putting away the papers. "we've called in almost everyone here in this list and azul just decides to throw them out." he complains to jade while showing him the paper with the list of people.
"there's still happens to be chance floyd." jade tells floyd making him surprised in reaction. "really jade? who is this person gonna be?" floyd curiously asked jade who knew of an idea. "they are not on the paper floyd. unlike people we know from outside, it's rather someone we know here in this school." jade answers.
floyd widens his eyes in surprise. he wanted to know who this person was. "is it someone from this dorm jade?" he asks as jade shook his head in response.
"no floyd. do should i give you a hint with regards to this person that i suggest for azul." he tells floyd as he nodded. "sure sure! let's hear it from your big brain now jade!" floyd was excited to hear about jade's idea. jade lets out a chuckle before saying a word.
"it's someone from the ramshackle dorm." floyd did not expect for that kind of response coming out of jade's mouth. "huh?" he says with a confused look on his face. "but there's only two people on that dorm. shrimpy and that sealie." he tells jade. "correct, i suggest that we take in mc as azul's potential partner." jade says. "seeing as we do not have anyone to call over for azul, mc is now our last choice."
floyd didn't give a second to think about it. he immediately agreed with jade's idea. "okay, that sounds good!" jade nods at floyd's reponse to his suggestion.
"i didn't even think of mc until you said so, jade." he also adds. jade was glad to hear it from floyd. "i had already planned them as our last choice if the list of people were to become failed results." he mentions to floyd. "what, so you're saying you already thought of mc in the first place?." jade nods at his question. "the prefect shall be a big help to azul as well." he adds.
"we made the right choice!" floyd smirked. "indeed." he nodded at his response. they looked at each other sharing snickered laughs when they've finally figured out an answer to their problem.
jade then stopped as he wanted to say something. "i do think mc is the right one for azul, out of all the people he had been with." he says. "but why didn't you put little shrimpy on the list first?" floyd asks another question. "i wanted to see how the other people would act around azul. but to my expectations, i was wrong." he answered.
"azul would've been happy if shrimpy was first in line." floyd stated which made jade suddenly curious to what he means by that. "should you give an explaination as to why azul would be pleased?" he asks floyd. "it's simple. he likes shrimpy!" floyd lets out a beamed smile.
"i need another proper explaination to what you said there, floyd." jade was still confused. "i have never recall a time wherein azul sublty showed that has a possible romantic liking towards mc." he sounded very lost in this topic as he had no idea of anything except for floyd.
"those two would always argue during mid-lectures that it would cause a distraction to the class." jade nods while he understood floyd's explaining. "i wouldn't call it a distraction. more like an entertainment since it was SO much better listening to them pointlessly arguing on something rather than a boring old repeated discussion." jade now finally understood his point.
"from what i've gotten in your statement, you're saying that their dynamics are like rivals but on a romantic level. correct?" he nods at his question.
"yep! i even overheard azul muttering "what would i do if i was mc?" while he was doing homework alone in his room." he also adds on. "oh and the day after that, azul approached me to ask a question that had something to do with thinking about someone very often. and since i'm no expert at that, i didn't help him out. that really did looked like he had a crush on mc." those were all the insights floyd has explained to him.
jade has now finally got the answer he was looking for. "azul is so head-over-heels over shrimpy!!!" he cooed in reaction. "you did happen to coincidentally think of mc for azul's partner." jade stated. "yeah, but like what you said. i wanted to see how the others would act around azul. but that made me forgot about mc after a while." floyd responds as jade lets out a nod.
"it's now settled. we shall call over mc to the longue tomorrow." jade suggests. "OKIE DOKIE!" floyd happily answers back.
"but i should have you reminded that you ought to not hint on mc that the person is azul." jade gives out a reminder to floyd as he nodded. "yes, i won't blow the cover." he responded. now that they've finished planning for azul's last potential partner, they called it a day to go back working at the longue.
it was now lunchbreak. the time where grim had awaited for. he had also fell asleep during lectures and he was on the verge of being in trouble if you didn't attempt to wake him up at that time. "about time, i'm starving!" grim groans in hunger. "you felt sleepy a while ago and now you're hungry?" you asked the cat. "well, that's basically why i was hungry. i was sleepy!" you rolled your eyes at his response.
the both of you proceeded to the food section to grab food then find a seat afterwards. "this omelette is gonna be so yummy, i just know it!" grim was salivating at the food on his plate. you sighed in hopes of grim not causing a scene as he eats because he's dead hungry.
"dig in now, grim. you don't want to catch me stealing your food, right?" you teased letting out a smirk. grim was not amused with your little joke back there. "don't you dare lay a hand on my food, mc!" he drags his plate an inch away from you. you let out a sigh again after seeing grim who was aggressively eating after his long starvation. ace and deuce couldn't sit with you both because they grim had told you they had extended classes.
as soon as you were about to eat your food, you heard your name that's been called infront of you. you looked up to see who it was. grim did not seem very happy to see them at all. "shrimpy and sealie! hello there!" floyd greets the both of you first before jade. "ahhh, you stupid eels! what made you feel the need to interupt our eating time?!" grim was annoyed to see their sudden presence.
"calm down sealie. we're not here to chit chat with you." he shoots a glare at the annoyed grim making him startled as he was intimidated.
"pardon us for interupting you both without a notice. we are only here to speak with you mc with regards about something." jade informs the both of you. "hear that sealie? we're not here to do bad business." floyd tells grim but he still doubted it.
"me?" you asked for confirmation. "yes mc, meet us at the longue after class!" floyd says but you were still in confusion. "but what's your reason to call me over for?" you asked the twins.
"if it has something to do with the octo azul's scheming tricks, i will burn the three of you down!" grim warns them. "i'm guessing you guys still haven't learnt from that incident one time."
the twins gave a laugh in response. "oh no, we don't do such a thing like that anymore. am i right floyd?" he asks floyd as he nodded in response. "yep, we don't do that anymore!" he says. "now, moving on about the topic. mc we request you to be someone's date for their upcoming party." you gave a shocked reaction to what jade have said to you. it happened too suddenly.
"uhm, a date? you're setting me up on a blind date?" you asked floyd. "you could say that it's a blind date. the person had called you over to the longue for the blind date." you gave an unsure impression at first, but now you felt tempted to accept it since you were curious to see who your date was. you hoped to the great sevens that it wasn't azul.
"this smells fishy. are you really gonna say yes at this scheming kinda behavior?" grim whispers to you but you ignored him and immediately accepted the offer. "yes, i'd be glad to come over for this blind date." you answered without having to think about it.
grim was shocked at your straightforward response. he gasps loudly. "HUHHHHH?! ARE YOU THAT STUPID MC?" he curses at you but you kept a straight face being unbothered by grim. floyd and jade lets out a smile at your answer.
"very well." jade replied. "yay!" floyd cheered in reponse. "don't forget to come over, okay?" he reminds you again. then he leans in closer to you whispering out something with a serious tone in his voice. "you'll be in great trouble if you do forget it." he pulls away. floyd gives you a wave in goodbye before he walked away leaving with jade.
now that they were gone, you can tell grim was mad as you turned to look at him. "you really did never learn, huh?" grim shook his head letting out a 'tsk tsk'. under his mouth. you could only shrug in response. ace and deuce had finally appeared after their extended classes were over.
"hey guys, sorry we were a bit late." ace apologizes. the two of them sat down, placing their plates on the table. "it's a good thing you guys are here on a perfect timing." grim stated. "why so, grim?" deuce wonders. you wanted to shut grim's mouth but you were too late. "well you see here, mc fell for the twin eels' scheming deal."
ace and deuce gasped in shock. "MC, YOU WHAT?" deuce furiously reacted. "did you not remembered what happened last time when we were involved with them?!" ace also said. "but guys!-" as you were about to explain your side, grim butted in again with his annoying antics. "which is why we exactly need to give mc a reality check."
the three of them glance at you with a smug look. "yes, a perfect slap back to reality." deuce cracks the both of his fisted hands. "ooh, my hundred thousand page book is gonna come in handy." ace lets out a book in his hand. you were now fed up with their reactions.
"JUST HEAR ME OUT FOR ONE SECOND GUYS!" you raised your voice at them making them stop. "they told me it was a blind date. of course i'd take the offer cause it's not something shady." the three still weren't okay with your response.
ace rolled his eyes. "who knew you were a hopelessly in love kinda person." ace responded with a sarcastic tone. "i hope they set me up with vil." you said something out of the blue which made them cringe for a second.
"like you'd ever have a chance with him!" deuce lets out a laugh. "now this tells me that you really do need some reality check, mc." ace points out. "YEAH! LET'S SLAP MC BACK TO THEIR SENSES!" grim suggested. the three began to chaotically mess around with you. you wanted to stop them from their actions but they weren't listening to you.
you had now arrived at the mostro longue by jade and floyd's request. the place was crowded as always. you went around to find one of the twins and to your surprise, floyd had approached you first. "mc, welcome!" he greets you. "and you arrived early too, that's even good!" floyd also added. "so, where's this person i'm supposed to be with for the blind date?" you asked floyd. "oh, shrimpy is so excited huh? follow me to the room." floyd says as you agreed to follow him.
the room just so happens to be the vip room. you already knew how this was gonna escalate. floyd opens the door for you and as you entered inside, you saw jade standing beside azul. he glances at you with a reaction that seemed like he was disappointed. "hm, i see how this is." he adjusts his glasses. "out of all the living beings here in this surface, it had to be YOU?!" his eyes widened with anger.
you rolled your eyes at azul who was very not happy to see you. you returned the same energy back to him. "that's funny because i had thought of the same thing too." you responded with sarcasm. you faced azul while crossing your arms with a big smugged look on your face. "you're not the only one here that's mad azul. i'm not happy to see you as well." azul lets out a 'tch' as he was not amused to see you at his presence.
the twins were watching you both carefully observing from a distance. "it do seems that you are right, floyd. watching them argue at a distance is intriguing yet entertaining." jade whispers to floyd who was beside him. "it's fun to watch them fight. this date will surely make azul fall for mc harder." he lets out a silent laugh.
"because of your failed dates, you weren't able to find a partner for this party you're invited in?" you asked azul while raising a brow at him. "look at you foolishly talking as if you know a thing or two. mind your words." he gritted his teeth.
"huh? i was only curious." you tell the annoyed azul. "i deserve to know right, cause i'm YOUR date?" those words were enough to make azul's face become flustered.
"mc, if you keep up with this ridiculous antics of yours on the day of the party, i will make you work for the longue until the end of the school year." azul warns you with the angry look on his face. you nodded as an answer.
"i'll be serious azul, i assure you. i won't cause a scene at your party, trust me." you let out a smirk to your reponse. you proudly answered back azul with pure sarcasm. "since you say so, i hope you do keep your promise." to your surprise, azul responded back with the same energy.
he walks away from you then began to go over the papers on his desk. "i thought this was gonna be a date? this rather looks like a negotiation." azul was once again annoyed with you. he turns to look at you.
"i've already came to a decision that i would rather not hold a date with you unlike the rest, because you're the only person i have bad connections with." you nodded as an answer. "okay." azul wasn't expecting for that kind of response but he brushes it off.
"now listen here, mc. this is how the party will execute." you let out a nod to let him know that you're listening. "the party will happen underwater as my parents will be present there. i shall give you another spare of my potion to breathe underwater." he explains. "and if you have concerns with that, i give you my permission to refuse to my offer-"
you stopped him from talking. "why would i refuse?" you asked him. "i only wanted to make sure." he says. "i'm guessing that you have decided to be my date for the party." you nodded at his statement.
"what time is the party?" you asked him. "it starts at eight in the evening. i expect you to be ready an hour before the time." he answers. "and what about my clothes? i don't own any formal clothes and obviously the people would be weirded if i showed up in my uniform."
"i already have that taken care of mc. your clothes will be sent outside your dorm." azul answers. "be sure to arrive to the longue at exactly ten minutes before the starting time. i will be the one to pick you up for the party." everything had now been settled for tomorrow's party.
"will sure do." you tell azul. "now, off you go. i've had enough of seeing your presence with my own eyes." azul says as he walks back to his desk. "me too. it's a good thing we ended early. see you tomorrow night, azul." you waved goodbye at floyd before leaving the longue then head back to the ramshackle dorm.
the twins approached closer to azul who was covering his face from embrassment because of his encounter with you. "azul's face is now red!" floyd points it out making azul even more embarassed. "quiet down, floyd!" he yells. "i can tell you're excited to see mc with the clothes you planned for them." floyd lets out a laugh as jade follows along. "you're so gonna drool over them!" azul decides to shut floyd's loud and nosey mouth. "i said to quiet down, floyd!"
as you went back to the dorms, grim stood infront of you ready to bomboard you with questions about your situation in the mostro longue. "so, how did your blind date go?" he asks you, wanting to be updated with your business. "was your blind date with vil like you expected?" you ignored grim's questions which made him offended since you didn't answer."oi, tell me who it is now!" you finally decided to tell him in order to make him shut up.
"it's with azul." you finally spat out. grim didn't say anything for a second until he starts to rage. "AZUL?!" he angrily exclaims. "WHY DID YOU EVEN AGREE TO IT?!" he starts to jump on you and you failed to yank him off.
"if you end up going on a risky contract with him, just know that i'm not helping you. i've already warned you from the start." he warns you. "grim, relax." you rolled your eyes at the grim who was still clinging at your back. "he didn't even planned a contract in the first place!"
grim still did not pay attention to you. "sounds like pure delusion to me." grim angrily said. "you really do need a slap to get you back to reality." you already knew how this was gonna go. you were met with grim smacking a book at your head.
tomorrow has now passed it was the day of the party. you went outside to check if the box of clothes have arrived just like azul promised. you looked down at the doorstep and saw the box. you took the box inside and you headed to your room.
as you opened the box, you saw a note that caught your attention. the note was written out "for you my love" with a heart doodle and kissy faces of two people. you let out a laugh as you found it funny. you weren't easily fooled since you knew that the handwriting belonged to floyd's. he wanted to trick you into thinking azul wrote that.
you started to change into your clothes. you observed that it had a nice and smooth clothing which made you comfortable. you looked into the mirror to get yourself ready. then grim comes into the room without a notice. "MC!-" he then notices your outfit. "wow, where'd you even get all those clothes?" grim asks. "azul prepared it for me." you answered. grim was surprised to know about that. "wow, despite the jerk he is, he still is a kind one." he stated.
"i better be going now grim. take care." grim was shocked to see you leave without him. "you're not gonna bring me?" he asks. "it's a date grim! i don't want any thirdwheel to pester us over!" you told him.
as you were about to head outside the dorm, grim stops you in your way."please bring me with you, mc! you can just hide me in a shoulder bag." he suggests while going over the closet to grab a bag to hand to you. "don't worry, i fit in this bag."
you still weren't convinced to bring grim with you. "please mc? you might need a wingman too and that's me!" he says. "i won't cause any trouble i promise!" since grim was already getting on your nerves, you had no choice but to bring you with him incase any trouble goes down. "fine. get in the bag." you opened the bag for grim.
he cheers in response while getting on the bag. "YAY! FREE FOOD!" you weren't surprised to know that grim only wants to be in the party for the food. "the party is gonna happen underwater. azul had already gave me potions so we gotta share." grim nods. "copy that!"
you entered the mostro longue to meet up with azul like you guys planned yesterday. as you began to approach near azul, he notices you and suddenly became unusually quiet. "azul?" you asked him but he still didn't give out an answer. you saw that his cheeks became a bit red. "azul, what happen to our schedule about leaving early?" you snapped him out of his senses.
"oh, right. my apologies. let us now go, mc." he tells you. you and azul then began to leave the dorms to head underwater. "mc, may i ask why you brought a shoulder bag with you?" he asks about the bag that contained grim inside. "oh, i need it for emergencies and such." you answered him. "don't tell me this bag will not look appealing to the guests on the party." you said with annoyance. "how harsh of you, i didn't even mention any of that!" he lets out a scoff at you after.
azul waited for you to finish drinking your potion. you only drank half of it and placed it at the bag afterwards. the potion still did work. azul didn't seem to have notice that since you were entirely covered the small tube with your hands. you and azul began to enter underwater.
the party had escalated well. you get to meet up with his family and they were happy to see you. after having a conversation with his parents, you decided to be excused for a bit. you sneaked in for dessert on the table and you placed it inside grim's back. you hurriedly head back so that no one would suspect a thing. grim was probably inside the bag having a hard time eating because you filled in so much food.
as you went back to where you last saw azul staying in, he was no longer there. you glanced around the area to see if he was there. you didn't want to ask his parents since it would make you get in trouble. you swam up to a balcony when you saw a familiar figure with your own eyes. it was definetly azul.
"what are you doing here?" you asked him. "didn't i tell you to not go around places until i go back?" he spits back. you were not in the mood for that as well. "azul, i'm serious. why are you here? does it have something to do with me?" azul shook his head. "no, mc. i would rather not talk about it. i'd rather prefer if you wait for me there once i have finished isolating myself here." that made you worry. this was the first time azul acted like this towards you.
"actually, i do want to consider that you stay here with me for a while." you were shocked to hear those words to comue out from him. "if it's enough to make you feel fine, then sure." you sat beside him while watching the people on a very far distance below.
"azul, if you’re annoyed with me just say it-” azul interupts you mid sentence. "it's not that reason, mc. i just seem to struggle with receprocating my feelings for a certain person." you had a surprised reaction. "this is the first time i've stressed over something related to this." he finally said something. you were curious to know who this possible person could be that he's thinking about.
"right in the middle of a party?" you shouldn't have blurted that out. "sorry, that was blunt of me." you apologized to azul. he lets out a chuckle slowly fading away from his gloomy mood.
"i have to admit, mc." he lets out his hand, intertwining it with your hand. "we may have a strong hatred for each other, but there are these traits of yours that i find likeable where it reaches to the point that i slowly start to-"
the both of you were interupted with a loud scream that came out of your bag. grim fell off your bag along with the food you gave him. "GRIM?!" azul was shocked to see him.
"the bag had so much food! i couldn't even breathe properly!" he complains. you and azul let out a sigh at grim's actions. you hate to admit that he did a cockblock with you and azul. "did i interupt you guys with your kissy-kissy time? i apologize if i did, this bag is just so-"
"i understand grim. though you did actually interupted us." azul sighed. "i said i was sorry." grim said while munching on his food. you rolled your eyes at the way grim apologized because it didn't sound sincere. "hey look, they're having a dance party!" grim looks down at the people who were on their way to dance.
"you go there first, grim. we'll catch up." you told him. "heck yeah! i heard they offer their special quality food to the person who dances great." grim had already swam off to catch up with the crowd.
"i see you brought grim with you. that explains the shoulder bag." azul pointed it out. "yeah, he was too annoying. sorry for not telling you so sooner." azul didn't mind at all. "i'm not bothered at all, so worry not." he assures you.
you looked at each other for a while to admire each other's faces. then azul looked away as he got too flustered. "i-i'm sorry-" you laughed in response. "you silly, it's fine." you told him. the two of you heard grim's loud voices coming from down the area.
"do you think we should check up on grim?" you ask azul. he nods as an answer. "sure, let's head off now." he grabs your hand once again intertwining it with yours. you both headed off the balcony to catch up on the party.
The impulse that is me trying to get over my fear of acceptance and I'm doing it by requesting some delicious angst/lh ily sherbet-nee. May I request 💧 4. “Before you go. Was there something I could’ve said to make your heartbeat better?” with Azul :)
Storm to Weather
Author’s Note: RRAS BUNSO, MY CHOLD Ooooo! Angst! Hehehe. Time to pull out all the stops. I’ve wanted to write some reader x Azul angst, too but haven’t had a good idea for it, thus explaining it being so late. ( ; - ; ) also reader isn't Yuu/Mc
Trigger Warnings: no fluff, only Angst :)c
Word Count: 1.9k
Summary: It wasn’t a secret you and Azul hated each other. From differences in moral codes, mental processing, and overall demeanor. You were polar opposites, yet one day, Azul noticed the stoic expression you proudly wore breaks ever so slightly. He graciously takes notes of this and asks what plagues you so. After a bizarre, rare heart-to-heart, weeks later, word had it you left for your world. A flurry of emotions overcome him. Was it really hate that he felt for you?
Azul Ashengrotto tiredly walks through the institution’s hallways, books in hand, walking to his last class of the day. The carpeted floors muffle the gentle click of his dress shoes. Azul straightened his posture and pushed up his glasses. Today was a long day, even though he had to admit that. Perhaps it’s because he had Professor Vargas’ class at the crack of dawn for his first period, or maybe the fact Floyd was in his ‘good moods.’ The taller eelmer pestered everyone he crossed paths with, making some of their peers complain to the Octavinelle leader.
One more class to get over, then time to open the Mostro Lounge for business. In the corner of his gaze, he saw a familiar figure sitting alone on a bench, looking rather odd if he did say so himself. It wasn’t a common occurrence to see you alone and in a somewhat melancholy manner too. What a rare instance this is undoubted, Azul thought to himself.
Despite how incredibly rocky your relationship was now, it wasn’t always like that before. Azul would constantly pester you with his underhanded methods of ‘kindly’ offering a way to lift your sorrows and grant you a wish; all you need to do is to tell him.
But that was until your fights over before the second year ensued. Your masks of poise and elegance immediately dropped when you got used to Twisted Wonderland and Night Raven College. You never grasped how he'd be so vindictive and calculating with his intelligence. You'd admit he was brilliant, to a scary degree, but the reasons and his lack of… well moral sense made it hard for you even to stand his discussions in class.
He never thought he’d hate you so much for meddling in his plans. You were just an annoyance jabbing into his snarky remarks in and out of classes. Azul never gave you much thought initially because who would? You weren't spectacular. You didn't have anything that Azul could use for his benefit. You had no form of identification, no unspeakable riches, or a royal lineage. No magic, only a pest that bothered and messed with his plans.
You didn’t see eye to eye, and honestly, in some way, you liked that you had people who didn’t care for you and vice versa. In your mind, it made you all the more humbled instead of an egotistical person, grounding you to reality. He made no effort to understand you personally and had no motive unless you had something, but today Ashengrotto made an exception. People merely suffering are the types he can easily manipulate to his will. He had no problem using his sharp tongue to bind you to his contracts. If he could say so himself, you did look like you needed some of his merciful benevolence.
The silver-haired man ignored the odd feeling that seemingly weighed on his heart. He deduces it to be a strange bundle of nerves alongside wanting to scout out what ailed you. He’d no doubt face cold-shoulder scolding on your part, but it was worth a shot to show and act the part of utter kindness. His legs carried him to the front of the wooden bench you sat on, his blue eyes glinted with faux compassion, his icy cold logic turning the wheels in his head, running through possible ways to reel in another poor soul.
Azul opened his mouth and spoke with his usual politeness, yet still, it had hints of backhandedness. His lips curl into his well-crafted smile. “Dear me, what seems to plague you? It's not normal seeing someone like you so mournful. What seems to be the problem, and if you need, I'd love to be a shoulder to lean on.”
A steady, deep breath through your nose as you don't spare him even a glance, only moving your unreadable gaze to the large pearl white clouds that crowded the blue sky. You ignore him, too, absorbed into your thoughts, and quite frankly, you didn’t want to deal with him right now. Azul felt a little vein pop up on his forehead. You blatantly ignored the questioning second year, but he didn’t let it show as he gently prodded the student. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to get one of the more wary students to reveal any of their secrets. The second year gently pressed onward but in a little sterner tone.
“May I sit beside you? Is there something on your mind that I can help you with? I'm delighted to help, you need only ask.” The logical man asked his rhetorical question as he scanned your face, trying to gauge any reaction to your forlorn visage. He was greeted with nothing, not a disgusting side-eyed glance toward him or a subtle note of compliance.
It unnerved him, with how hollow you acted towards him, not even a glance or a sign of acknowledgment. Perhaps you finally had enough of him and his antics to ignore him? He meant so little to you now that you work as if he's nothing to you? Why did that sting him so much? Ah. It must be his pride. Yes. It's definitely his pride that hurts. It can’t be anything else.
An irritated sigh leaves his lips, his exasperation covering Azul’s wary, pipped curiosity. You gently pat the lone bench for him to sit down, scooting further away. You still had that odd look on your face, and the Octopus merman sat down, albeit slowly. You felt Azul’s quizzical gaze, and another heavy sigh rolls from your lips. Why were you about to talk to him? Why did you even tell him to sit down? Was it because you felt that much at a loss to reveal a sliver of what Azul thrived on? It didn’t matter, actually, about what he’d do because this piece of cryptic information wouldn’t be deemed beneficial anymore after you take your leave of Twisted Wonderland.
It shocked you down to your very core when Crowley came bounding to you saying that he, after many trials and errors, finally! Finally, found a way to send you back home. How strange, that word lifted your anxiety and sorrow, yet, why did it fill you with a storm welling inside you? You asked the Dean to give you a few weeks, despite how you desired to return home; ironically, you loved this place too, its people, its lore, and you got used to calling Twisted Wonderland your temporary home. You never thought the enigmatic headmaster would find a spell or portal to transport you back. It tore at your heart, but you can’t help but bitterly laugh at your predicament, straight out of some piece of fiction.
You already knew your answer, but you wanted to savor this world for a few more weeks before you bid farewell to only your closest confidants. It would hurt them, yes, but they didn't realize how it hurt seeing your friends have a family, friends, a world they knew to live in; you allowed yourself to enact your first and final selfish wish.
You wanted to go home; you had people waiting for you; you had family and friends you wanted to grow up with and your way of life. But with a beautiful twist, as your stay got prolonged, you made friends, made memories, and had a lot of bumps in the road, but you treasured this place too. That’s why you’d write personalized letters to your friends and ask them to send you off.
Out of the shroud of your chaotic thoughts, you turn your body to the end of the bench’s handrail. You prop your arm on the cold metal to look at Azul last time. He was undoubtedly busy in the coming weeks, and to be quite honest. You weren’t sure how you felt about him. It was complicated. Perhaps it’s an odd mix of admiration for how he is now and hate for his glaring flaws. But looking at the well-dressed man now, a faint smile paints your lips.
“Say Azul? How do you deal with the aftermath of a storm at Sea?”
Your question and nonchalant yet melancholic posture threw him for a loop. His eyes widen, and his mouth is slightly agape. He shakes his surprise, gathering his thoughts as he presses his glasses further up his nose. Azul hastily answers the somewhat out-of-the-blue question. It felt like a red flag, as funny as it is. Were you planning something, or were you genuinely curious about life at sea? Perhaps you got spurred on by the large rain clouds that gathered in the distance? So many questions but so few answers popped into his mind.
“E-excuse me,” Azul utters out as he forms his words. He continues as you look on with interest. “Well, it depends on where the merpeople you’re asking live. Deep sea merfolk like myself don’t feel such a difference like the rain or thunder like surface dwellers. There are times when the currents are too strong, meaning food becomes scarce in certain parts. But others that reside closer to the surface may build shelters or swim to the depths. It all rather depends.”
A smooth knowledgable delivery as he glances towards your face again. What a fitting way for him to answer, you thought to yourself. Azul takes in that look is still plastered on your face as you thoughtfully nod at his answer. It still was unnerving, but perhaps that odd question was a gateway. He ignored the feeling bubbling in his chest the longer he felt he should ask more questions. Why did he care all of a sudden about your well-being? No matter, by some urge that before he could stop, he told you a story.
“There was a horrible storm where I was from when I was little; some of the people that lived further up north had to skip school for fear of the winds above carrying the frost and more dangerous waves. Many people had to stay in their homes for days, only rarely going out for food. The aftermath of that storm made people wary of the sea’s currents. On rare occasions, some got trapped in the depths and never escaped. I didn't go to school for a while after that storm, but that didn't mean I stopped my studies.”
While Azul was vague, it still dumbfounded him that he'd be this open to someone he hated, but perhaps that's what was needed to break through and wrap you around his finger. The clouds above you hung over the school, blanketing the atmosphere in dim light as some students could be heard in the distance.
“I'm sorry. I didn't know it was a,” You pause, gathering your thoughts as you find the words, “different world down there. Where I'm from, we did the same, for the school part, I mean. But flooding wasn't uncommon either. Depending on how bad the storm was, we’d have school canceled to help our families or something else. But thank you, Azul, for answering my questions, and I'm sorry for the rambles. I'll be going now.”
Rising from the bench, you gave him a bittersweet smile and left him still wondering if there was something it made you feel better; that look on your face was haunting in a sense.
It's been about two weeks since you and he had that peculiar interaction, and he couldn’t get it out of his head. Everything felt strange like you were giving him a sign of something upcoming.
“Did you hear? Kelpy left.” Floyd sadly stated at lunch as he placed his tray on the table.
You left Twisted Wonderland. So that’s why your friends had less spark in them. They were heartbroken. But why did his heart ache even more knowing he didn't even say goodbye?
"Arithmancy." They said, smiling as their housemates nodded eagerly. It made sense that others in the house centered around intelligence were appreciative of their love for the math-based subject.
"Excellent! Malleus and Shroud can help you around, then!" Rook said cheerfully, gesturing to the still kind of intimidating upperclassman. Malleus nodded and glanced around for Idia, who was long gone. He shrugged and went back to eating his breakfast, the rest of the students doing the same. The prefect finished their breakfast and grabbed their bag, glancing over their timetable again to ensure they knew the classroom. Malleus stood with them, offering to show them to the classroom and holding his arm out for them in a 'gentlemanly' manner.
Arriving at the small Arithmancy classroom, the prefect glanced around nervously. There were two or three other Ravenclaws in the front, but that appeared to be it. Choosing to sit in the back row, they set their stuff down quietly before organizing their note papers. The professor was notoriously skilled, having made multiple breakthroughs in the last decade or two, so the prefect was understandably nervous. Malleus sat in the same row, right next to the prefect.
Other students eventually filed in; most were Ravenclaws, but Idia didn't seem to have shown up justyet. A Hufflepuff with white hair entered shortly afterwards, heading immediately to sit next to Malleus. he glanced at the prefect and nodded to them, smiling slightly. The prefect remembered Sebek mentioning his brother was in Arithmancy. Maybe that was him? Shortly afterward, a sophisticated looking Slytherin sat in the row in front of the prefect, glancing at them and nodding to them in recognition. He seemed organized, pulling out a completed sheet of notes on the first few chapters of the textbook.
Right before the class was supposed to start, a final student stumbled into the classroom, his long blue hair tied behind him as his wide eyes scanned around for a free seat in the back. The prefect recognized him immediately, smiling at Idia and waving subtly. Idia smiled nervously back, and immediately sat down in the same back row as the other three students already there, just at the opposite end. The professor entered and immediately started writing equations on the board, discussing the concepts of spell creation and how to apply theory to practice.
After a very long lecture, the professor revealed that students would be required to pick a homework partner who would check over their work. The students groaned and quickly shuffled around to look for a partner. Glancing around, the prefect felt nerves run through them, knowing only two people in the class. Deciding to ask their fellow Ravenclaws or one of the people that they'd at least made eye contact with, they headed to their first choice...
