rondezview | I see now, clear and free

[Floyd and Jade don't stop her from running off, so Evangeline will be free to chase the retreating tendril. There's no other students around either, for that matter, something that Eva might notice eventually, but for the time being when she turns the corner...

That is definitely an octomer crouched down at the bottom of the aquarium here. This area is kept dark, but they can still be seen having bent over, inspecting something shiny in the sand below. Their back is to the glass, bare save for what looks like some black spiraling shapes like tattoos on their skin, but it shouldn't take a genius to guess who they are from the back, given the color of their hair that they still have in this form.]

[Oh, oh, oh. Evangeline covers her mouth with her hand to muffle what would probably have been a delighted squeak. Her face is bright pink, and she's bouncing a little on her feet.

If there wasn't that 'don't knock on the glass' sign, she might try to get Azul's attention. He still might overhear her, depending on how well her happy sigh carries:]

He's gorgeous.

[It looks like he doesn't hear her at all, actually. Either the glass is thick enough to make whatever noise or words she says obsolete, or he's too distracted with whatever he's looking at here to notice.

Jade and Floyd for some reason are standing back rather than coming close, despite the fact that they should have caught up with her by now. But she might be too distracted to notice that just yet while she's busy watching Azul.

Eventually it becomes obvious what it is he's looking at as he holds something up in front of him, squinting at it. A coin, maybe? Did someone drop loose change in the aquarium or something?]

[Jade and Floyd who? Sorry, guys, she'll remember you exist in a minute.

Is there a way to get into the aquarium from here, because if there is she's absolutely taking a drink of that potion and Going For It.

.....you really shouldn't litter in the aquarium, that's so rude. Even if it is money.]

[There is! It's to the left right over here... which Jade and Floyd are standing in front of, blocking.]

"Hmm? Going somewhere, Anglerfishie?"

[...Hmm.]

I would very much like to go in there and tell Azul to his face that he's absolutely beautiful. Is that an issue?

"Well, you would need this potion here for you to be able to breathe in there..."

"... and we still haven't discussed payment for it yet."

[They glance in the direction of where Azul is, checking to see if he's still distracted, before they speak again.]

"You understand, right?"

"Nothing in life comes free, after all."

...............

I'm assuming from the fact that Azul is right there that it's not sexual favors? So you're going to have to be a little more explicit.

[Is Azul into voyeurism. She wouldn't judge, but it would be surprising.]

"Geez, what a bold thing to suggest, Anglerfishie! Do you really think we're the type to extort people like that?"

"However, since you brought it up..."

[Jade is no longer smiling, giving Eva a far more critical look than he has before.]

"... We would prefer that you don't allow Azul to hear that you even suggested that to begin with."

[...do you want her answer to that question because it's less about you and more about her]

I wasn't going to tell him. So what are you after, if it's not that and not money?

[There's a long pause, and then Floyd says--]

"Out of curiosity, what is your opinion of Azul anyway? I mean, aside from how delectably squishy his octopus form is."

[Can you maybe not describe your friend like that, Floyd??]

[Evangeline had been getting a little tense, but at the question she relaxes and smiles.]

I really like him. He's brilliant, works hard at everything he does, and I look forward to talking to him every day at the Lounge. It seems like he doesn't realize how many people care about him, and I wish I could convince him... He's very, very cute, but even if he wasn't he'd still be my favorite person here. Even if this deal doesn't work out - I'm really glad I met him.

[There's no evasiveness, no hint of anything she might be hiding. This is her honest and unfiltered opinion.]

"Aww! Well, isn't that nice to hear..."

[And then they both grin, sharp and feral as Jade says--]

"... but how can we be absolutely sure that you're not just saying that because you want to get down and dirty with him? Or that you'll move on to someone else more monstrous once you've grown bored of him?"

Because you'll kill me if I hurt him, obviously? Do you need that in writing?

[Like. Why is this a question.]

"As a matter of fact..."

[Jade has actually whipped out paper and pen.]

"... we would prefer it if you did make that official in writing."

[... Well alright then.]

Oh, alright.

The undersigned agrees that if she emotionally wounds Azul Ashengrotto, Jade Leech and Floyd Leech are allowed to murder her, with no attempted self-defense. Evangeline

[...She has very nice handwriting. And didn't hesitate at all to write that out and sign it.]

Are we good?

"Hmm... should we add a clause about physically wounding him, Floyd?"

"No, Azul can take care of himself on that regard. He might even like it."

[He says with a teasing grin, before his attention drifts towards the glass and very suddenly shouts loudly, accompanied by a foot kicked against the glass--]

"Hey Azul, what do you think? Would you say that you're a masochist, or a sadist?"

[And that's when it seems the subject of the contract jolts, attention snapped away from what they were looking at as they turn to look at their audience. Their gaze snaps to Floyd first, irritated at being bothered by whatever nonsense their cohort is suddenly wanting his attention for... but then he realizes that there's a third person here, and his gaze falls onto Evangeline.

There's a long pause of staring in alarm... and then quite suddenly, there's a huge cloud of black ink that billows up around him, and when it clears, a glimpse of Azul can be seen running--or well, swimming--away to hide.]

[...Oh. Hm. Didn't like that expression on his face.]

Can I go after him now, please?

[Jade holds out the potion once he's pocketed the "contract"...]

"Very well. Remember, this potion doesn't last forever, so you'll need to make sure not to be stuck underwater when it wears off."

"Until then, we'll catch up with you guys later--good luck, Anglerfishie~!"

[Floyd says, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture--hurry up and get out of here, Eva.]

Alright, thanks! See you later!

[Evangeline takes large swig of the potion, sets it down where she can retrieve it later - her bikini doesn't exactly have pockets - and heads into the aquarium.

Her swimming is solidly Okay, but that's all it really needs to be - she isn't trying to impress anyone here. Also she doesn't know how to dive into water silently, so she would've alerted Azul of her presence anyway.

Speaking of. She's looking for where he could be hiding in the direction he swam off.]

Azul? Where'd you disappear to?

[Azul's not a master hider, honestly, because thanks to whatever cloud of ink still lingers in the water, she'll eventually be able to find what appears to be an octopus pot turned over on it's side. A few tentacles are, at first, still visible, but then at the sound of her voice, they quickly pull themselves further inside, blocking the entrance so that he can continue to hide out of view.]

[Oh, there you are. Evangeline floats over to the octopus pot, setting a hand on its side but not peeking in just yet.]

There you are. Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you, I just got kind of distracted? Mostly by you being gorgeous, but still. My bad.

[At first, there's still no response. Long enough that maybe he's playing the "if I stay quiet, maybe she'll get bored of me and leave" strategy.

However, at the compliment, a slight shift can be heard inside, indicating that he is in fact listening rather than ignoring her, but otherwise he still doesn't come out of hiding or say anything just yet.]

...Okay, so normally I would be one hundred percent on board with waiting until you were comfortable coming out? Because I don't want to push your boundaries too much. But this potion does have a time limit, so I am probably going to continue talking about how hot you are until you come out to make me shut up.

Or just yell at me from in there, I guess, if you're really uncomfortable? But for what it's worth, I think you're really, really handsome and anyone who thinks otherwise is obviously blind.

... Are you sure that it's not something wrong with your eyes?

[Comes the surly response, finally. At least it doesn't sound like he's been crying while in his hiding spot, even if his voice is a little rougher than usual.]

Maybe you're the one whose blind to the obvious here.

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