So can you explain the whole situation with Azul and Rielle? Was he like Azul’s main bully? He acts like puppy dog excited to see him owner
Hmmmm… as far as I can tell, Rielle was somewhat of a “friend” to Azul, and I don’t know why he always acts very kind around Rielle. I might need to ask the both of them.
tags/warnings: jade leech x reader (it's complicated), gn!reader, reader is yuu.
a/n: I'll add more tags/ warnings as I go. You guys can suggest them to me as well. It's been a while since I start writing again. I have also started the tag list. Please let me know if you guys want to be added to it. Thank you and enjoy!
taglist: @marina27826123
The last bell had rung only a few minutes ago. Students poured out of the classrooms in loose streams, conversations echoing beneath the stone arches as they drifted toward their dorms, clubs, or evening jobs. The warm glow of enchanted lamps embraced the stone walls. Beyond the tall arched windows, the setting sun bathed the sky in shades of amber and orange.
“Shrimpy~”
A sing-song voice cut through the chatter filling the corridor. Floyd called out to the small back in front of him. The prefect turned at the familiar voice. From down the corridor, a tall figure wove effortlessly through the crowd. Students stepped aside almost unconsciously, leaving space for the eel as he sauntered toward the prefect, his teal head swaying side to side with each lazy wave.
“Senior Floyd. Fancy seeing you here.”
Floyd slipped one hand into his pocket and finally caught up in three long strides.
“I normally walk this way~”
“Do you?”
The prefect titled their head to the side looking up at the eel. Floyd smiled in return. He then glanced around.
“Eh~? You’re not with Crabby, Mackarel, or Sealy…?”
The prefect sighed, their shoulders dropping considerably. Then lifted the folders in their arm to show the eel in front of them.
"Professor Trein needed these documents delivered. The three of them suddenly remembered they had... somewhere else to be."
“Hehe. Sounds like 'em.”
The conversation should have ended there. The Prefect continued down the corridor, adjusting the stack of folders as it shifted against their arm. A second pair of footsteps echoed beside their own, matching their pace with surprising consistency. The prefect expected the second pair of footsteps to disappear on their own; however, the moment never quite arrived. After a while, unable to ignore it any longer, they glanced to the side.
“Senior, what are you doing?”
“Walking~”
“Right.”
A comfortable silence settled between the two of them. A rare occasion. Students passed by in both directions. A pair of first-years hurried past clutching textbooks. Someone farther ahead complained loudly about homework. Another pair of students passed by them animatedly discussed a movie. Somewhere farther down the corridor, Floyd’s attention drifted briefly over the crowd. Olive green and amber eyes lingered just for a second.
“"Heh~?"
The sound was so soft the prefect almost missed it.
"What?"
"Hm?"
"You made that noise. The ‘something is interesting noise.’”
"Did I?"
"...You did."
“Nothin’.”
Floyd looked ahead again as though whatever had caught his attention had already ceased to matter. The two continued to walk for a while. Silence had never been exactly Floyd’s strong point.
"Shrimpy."
"Hm?"
"We've got a shift together this afternoon."
"I remember."
"Good."
"Why?"
"So you don't disappear."
The Prefect blinked. They looked at Floyd as if they had just heard the most ridiculous accusation imaginable. The prefect slowly raised the stack of folders again, shaking it as if to make a statement.
"I'm delivering paperwork."
"I know."
"You're weird."
"I've heard that."
The corners of Floyd's mouth lifted.
"Hehehe. So 're you."
They continued toward Professor Trein's office. The last ray of sunlight shone through the arches casting long shadows on their path. Several paces behind the pair, unnoticed by the prefect, someone slowed. Their eyes followed the prefect then drifted to the towering Leech walking casually beside them. Their shoulders stiffened. After a moment's hesitation, they quietly slipped into a different corridor instead.
---//---
The dinner rush arrived faster than anyone expected. Within minutes, the reservation list doubled. Conversations rose to a steady hum mixing with the soft clicking of porcelains. Servers passed by each other exchanging hushed apologies and directions. The kitchen bell rang every so often as dishes after dishes of steaming dishes were carried out.
"Party of two."
"This way, please."
At the host podium, the prefect diligently leading groups of guests toward empty tables. Before they could take a breather, another table was cleared out. Azul had just roll out a new seating policy – “reduce guest wait times by seating parties as soon as suitable tables become available" – or so he said. Since the new policy emphasized minimizing wait times above all else, the prefect found themself grabbing the first available table without a second thought.
"Party of four. This way, please."
"Reservation for Cay—Cay..."
The Prefect looked up from the reservation book and caught a glimpse of a familiar head of orange hair waiting patiently near the entrance. They offered him a quick smile.
"Hi, Senior Cater. Just one moment, please. I'll be right back with you."
"No worries~ Take your time."
The prefect guided the group of four to their table, set the menus before them, wished them an enjoyable evening, then returned to the host stand before the next reservation could be called. The prefect moved continuously between the entrance and dining room. Another reservation. Another seating.
From across the room, Jade quietly watched the prefect as they move groups and groups of customers. His gaze followed the prefect from the host stand to the dining room. Every so often, his attention lingered on the seating chart before sweeping back across the dining room. Still, he offered no correction. Only the occasional nod.
The line steadily disappeared. Guests hardly waited. Tables filled one after another. Everything moved exactly as Azul's new seating policy intended, or so the prefect thought.
"...Shrimpy."
"Hm?"
The prefect continued writing the next reservation.
"...Shrimpy."
"Yes?!"
Unbeknown to them, Floyd had arrived at their side. He pointed dramatically across the lounge.
"WHY ARE THEY ALL MINE?"
The prefect blinked.
They followed Floyd’s finger toward his section. Every table was filled. Every chair was occupied. They looked farther across the lounge. Two other servers lingered near half-empty sections, waiting for their next table.
"...Oops."
"SHRIMPY."
Jade happened to pass behind the host stand.
"Efficient work."
"JADE."
"Yes?"
"SHE GAVE ME EVERY CUSTOMER."
Jade stopped. He looked at the floor plan. Then at the occupied tables. Then back to the host stand. He offered the prefect a small, almost sympathetic smile.
"...Indeed. You followed Azul’s order, yes?”
“Completely.”
Floyd pointed at himself.
"THEN WHY AM I DYING?"
Jade smiled. Without another word, he reached over the reservation chart and slid a single marker from Floyd's section to another server's.
"You followed the policy correctly.”
“I did?”
“JADE!”
"However, policies tell you what to prioritize. Experience tells you what you overlooked."
Jade nodded toward Floyd. The eel grumpily returned to his section.
“Observe”
The Prefect leaned closer. Jade pointed toward the dining room. Floyd had just finished taking an order. Before he could turn away and put it in for the kitchen. A customer from the table behind him attracted his attention. Then, another customer from the table beside him held up the bill.
“Imagine you are Floyd, which table should have your attention?”
His finger tapped the emptier side of the floor plan.
"Balance."
The Prefect stared at the dining room.
"..."
"...Oh."
Jade simply smiled. The lesson was over. Across the room, Floyd was balancing four drink trays while a customer waved for the check.
"HELP."
The Prefect immediately hurried over.
"...Sorry."
"Too late."
"I'll take table nine."
"Hehehe."
"You better."
---//---
The rest of the shift ended quite peaceful. The bustling sound of talks and laughter were replaced with soft murmurs and occasional whisper. The Prefect waved goodbye to the last departing staff member. Azul and Jade had long disappeared behind the door of the VIP room. The soft jazz filled the dimly lit lounge, filling in the spaces the diner crowd had left behind. Across the dining room, Floyd was sprawled face-down across one of the lounge sofas. From this distance, the Prefect couldn't make out Floyd's expression. They weren't particularly eager to find out, either. Instead, the prefect focused on wiping down the remaining tables, one after another.
“Shrimpy.”
Floyd voice cut through the anticipating silence between them. The prefect jolted, their shoulders tensed up. There was no drawn-out laugh this time. No playful sing-song teasing.
“Yes?!”
They turned toward the source. Floyd already sat up leaning against the back of the sofa, eyeing the prefect, a smile visible on his lips. The prefect offered an awkward smile. The two had been on quite good terms, or as good as Floyd allowed it to be. Their little table-for-song exchanges had become something of a routine. Floyd accepted often enough, though whether he enjoyed the songs or simply found the bargaining entertaining was difficult to tell.
“You flooded my section.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I thought my legs would fall out~”
“I apologize.”
“What are ya gonna do about it? ~”
Floyd asked tilting his head, still grinning like a Chesire cat. Ironically, the image would have been quite adorable had the eel didn’t have previous records of “misconduct.”
“Ya better think of something good or Imma gonna squeeze ya real tight~”
“A song?”
“Don't feel like it today~"
“A story?”
“We did that last shift~”
Prefect sighed at the eel in front of them. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the eel relished every failed attempt at negotiation. With another quiet sigh, they set the cleaning rag on the nearest table and walked toward him. The eel raised his eyebrows, smile a little wider.
“Heh?~”
The prefect stopped short in front of Floyd, standing in between the eels outstretched legs. Close enough that, should Floyd decide to, he could easily reach out and pull them into one of his infamous squeezes. The prefect leaned down, revealing both hands in front of Floyd’s face. They pressed them together. Then with a quick flick, their thumb appeared to be split into two.
“Boom, my thumb is detached.”
The Prefect held the impossible gap for a heartbeat before pushing their hands back together.
“And now it’s back.”
The clapped their hands with confidence.
“Magic.”
The tiny performance repeated once more. All the while, Floyd was sitting there. His grin slowly disappeared. His mouth hung open just enough to suggest his brain had temporarily stopped keeping up with the conversation.
“Pft.”
The sound escaped before either of them seemed prepared for it. Then, a loud laugh boomed across the room.
“HAHAHHAHAHAH!”
Floyd doubled over, clutching his stomach as laughter echoed through the otherwise quiet lounge. The Prefect took two cautious steps backward, just in case.
“What was that shrimpy~?”
“Ya weird. Hahahaha!”
“So, I’ve been told.”
The Prefect let out a quiet sigh. Floyd was laughing now, the sound carrying easily through the nearly empty Lounge. For a few moments, nothing competed with it but the soft jazz drifting from the speakers. The VIP room remained closed. Then Floyd stopped. He leaned forward before pushing himself to his feet. Slowly, he closed the distance between them, his mismatched eyes never once leaving the Prefect.
“So, are we good?”
“Hm~?”
“The eel’s eyebrows raised again.
“In addition,..”
“Heh?~”
“As peace offering, I’ll make senior Floyd a drink from my world.”
Floyd went silent still staring down at the prefect.
“I’m really sorry senior Floyd.”
The Prefect let out a soft sigh. Floyd's grin lingered. Earlier that evening, Jade had spent an unusual amount of time lingering near the host stand, his attention drifting toward the seating chart whenever the Prefect wasn't looking. The smile he'd worn then was the same one he wore whenever he found something particularly interesting. The Prefect, however, seemed entirely unaware of it.
They stood there with their shoulders slightly hunched, apologizing as though the evening had been theirs alone to ruin. Throughout closing, they had glanced toward Floyd's section more than once while wiping tables. Each time their eyes lingered for only a heartbeat before returning to the cloth in their hands. Flooded sections were hardly a rare occurrence at Mostro Lounge. Whether caused by an unexpectedly busy evening or one of Jade's less charitable moments, Floyd had survived plenty of them before.
This one, however, seemed to trouble the Prefect far more than it troubled him.
“Okay~”
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"..."
"Shrimpy owes me a drink now. I should get ya indebt more~”
