[Azul is willing to let her lead in this regard, at least for now. He matches her pace, trying to return the kiss with his own amount of affection that he holds for her as his tentacles gently brush against her skin in a loose hold to keep her close to him while they kiss.
He'll worry later about anyone coming across them, for now he's not particularly interested in stopping anytime soon.]
[People know better than to come to this part of the aquarium, right? It's fine, this practically doesn't count as PDA.
She wraps her arms around him in turn, holding him close. There's not a lot of distance between them, so if her chest brushes against his... uh, sorry?]
You're so cute. [Murmured against his lips before she kisses him again.]
[The only reason he stutters is because he's noticed her chest against his own, but at least he has enough class to not point this out. And besides, he isn't really complaining about that. Not one bit.]
Oh! Why didn't you say something about this sooner!?
[Please for the love of God do not drown--Azul may not be the fastest swimmer among his peers, but he is quick to start swimming upward, pulling Eva along so that they can reach the surface before the potion runs out. Thankfully, they'll arrive just in time before Eva will end up with any water in her lungs when there shouldn't be...
... and upon reaching the surface, they greeted by two familiar eels who are grinning ear to ear from where they're casually sitting at the edge of the pool. 'Sup lovebirds, are you two having a good time.]
Uh, well... I'm not that opposed to picking back up where we left off...
[But then he points at the twins.]
Provided that you two go find somewhere else to make yourselves more useful.
[That gets a laugh out of Floyd.]
"Wow, so harsh Azul~! There's no need to shoo us away like a bunch of pesky betta fish, you know--I mean, I could think of something "useful" to do right here if I just--"
Leave, now.
"If you insist. Come, Floyd, let's give them their privacy for now."
[And there they go, Jade ushering Floyd along rather than lingering behind any longer.]
[Word travels fast in Night Raven College, especially with something as juicy as the Octavinelle prefect going out with A Girl. Of course, most people who care about that kind of thing kind of had an idea before, what with Evangeline showing up at the lounge literally every night, but it being official is still exciting.
Mostly.
It's a couple of days afterward that a Heartslaybul student in the same year as Azul flags him down at the Lounge.]
Are you really going out with the guest lecturer?
[Evangeline, of course, is here like usual. She's a couple tables over, and suddenly looks Incredibly Tired, but not surprised.]
[Azul glances in the direction of Eva's table, and while he has a sneaking suspicion that this is a conversation he isn't going to enjoy partaking in, he manages to keep his tone even regardless, smiling in a manner that appears polite since this is a customer of his.]
Yes, I am. Happily, I might add. Do you have a problem with that?
That's a bad idea. [It sounds like genuine concern, which may be worse than if it wasn't, really.] You must not've heard much about the Backstreets in the ocean, but the people who live there aren't safe. It's full of criminals and cannibals and crazy people. You're going to get hurt or worse.
[Evangeline doesn't say anything, or meet Azul's gaze. She's valiantly trying to focus on a spot on her plate and not look like she's paying any attention to them.]
[Somehow, Azul manages to actually keep a smile plastered on his face as he proceeds to respond--]
Even if that turned out to be true, my dear Eva is not one of those people. I fully believe that she is a wonderful partner worthy of my affection... or... are you saying that you don't trust my decisions, my dear esteemed customer of the Mostro Lounge?
[He says, leaning forward toward them with that same smile, but the tone of his words definitely is more barbed, a subtle reminder of where they are and who this person is speaking with right now.]
[They are not here yet, but Azul doesn't necessarily need them there to get his point across so much, he thinks.]
And I certainly appreciate your desire to be helpful, but I assure you, I don't need it. Especially when it's inaccurate advice to be giving, when my partner is none of the things you insinuated. As such, I believe an apology is owed in exchange for not throwing you out for saying such rude things about someone that I, the owner of this Lounge, care about... you agree, don't you?
[The student does look at Evangeline then. She almost wishes he hadn't - there's the expression of someone who was just told to apologize to a slug before he tries to mask it (poorly).
He looks at Azul, then Evangeline, then comes to a decision.]
No.
[He slaps his payment on the table - he might have too much pride to apologize to a rat of the Backstreets but he's not stupid enough to stiff Azul on his check - and immediately tries to book it out of the lounge.]
"No"? Well, isn't that a shame, that it had to come to this...
[He'll give the guy credit for not being so stupid as to not pay, which Azul picks up from the table and begins to count the bills to himself casually, as if nothing is amiss. This probably allows the student to think that they've paid the proper fee to allow them an escape, but then...]
"Oh my, where are you going? Aren't you forgetting something?"
"If I understand correctly, I believe our boss never said anything about simply leaving being allowed in order to get out of offering an apology to our esteemed guest. He merely only said that you wouldn't be 'thrown out' if you did."
[Jade and Floyd have appeared, barring the student from leaving. They smile, each putting a hand on the students shoulders...]
"Which, I believe that means..."
"... there's no restriction Azul has given yet on what WE can do to you instead of just 'throwing' you out..."
[They glance in her direction for a moment--or rather, the twins do. Azul hasn't looked up at all from counting the bills to make sure that this is the correct amount for the students order when he speaks.]
She's right, unfortunately. An apology is worthless if it isn't sincere. As such, there's no point in getting one out of him now. And he's settled his bill for his meal, nor does he have any other outstanding debts with me that he owes. As far as I am concerned, I have no further need of his presence either.
[A pause, as he pockets the money... and then--]
But, if you two have something else you'd like to discuss with him, outside of Octavinelle, then who am I to stop you? I'd hate to let him be under the mistaken impression that you two are just my lackeys only acting on my behalf, rather than having your own thoughts on the matter. Feel free to give him your own honest, unfiltered opinions the next time you share a class with him, for all I care.
[Oh, that gets the twins humming in consideration.]
"Hey, Jade, don't you share a class with this guy? He kind of looks familiar..."
"You may be right about that, Floyd. Perhaps if we're lucky, he'll be my next partner on the upcoming group project..."
"Well, aren't you lucky! Guess we'd better send you on your way then so that you can prepare for that, betta fish~!"
[They let go of the student's shoulders now, waving their fingers casually to send him off and let him make a proper break for it now.
Sorry Eva, but fish mafia is still a bunch of vindictive bastards sometimes.]
[He manages a more genuine smile upon having Eva by his side, before he then momentarily frowns.]
I'm sorry that you had to hear that. I know it's probably not something new to you, dealing with this particular sort, but it's still distasteful having people like that speak about you regardless. Even if some of them won't properly apologize, I'm not keen to let them think they can get away with having that kind of attitude in a place of business like mine.
[Or, you know, in general where Azul can do something about it.]
I either get that kind of attitude or just pity from the students from the City's upper class here, yeah. And there aren't any students from the Backstreets.
None of what he said is wrong in a general sense. Even if I'm not any of those things myself, they're all pretty common. ...Except the cannibalism, that stuff's super expensive?
[Why the fuck is human meat so expen--wait, no, this is not the topic to discuss here.]
I mean, even then, it's still incredibly rude to make those kind of assumptions when they don't even know you as a person. It's infuriating.
[In a way, it reminds Azul of his own childhood of being bullied for being an octomer and all the assumptions the other merkids had about what that entailed.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
He'll worry later about anyone coming across them, for now he's not particularly interested in stopping anytime soon.]
no subject
She wraps her arms around him in turn, holding him close. There's not a lot of distance between them, so if her chest brushes against his... uh, sorry?]
You're so cute. [Murmured against his lips before she kisses him again.]
no subject
[The only reason he stutters is because he's noticed her chest against his own, but at least he has enough class to not point this out. And besides, he isn't really complaining about that. Not one bit.]
1/2
no subject
Potions run low at the worst times, I swear. Surface with me? [She takes his hand and squeezes it.]
no subject
[Please for the love of God do not drown--Azul may not be the fastest swimmer among his peers, but he is quick to start swimming upward, pulling Eva along so that they can reach the surface before the potion runs out. Thankfully, they'll arrive just in time before Eva will end up with any water in her lungs when there shouldn't be...
... and upon reaching the surface, they greeted by two familiar eels who are grinning ear to ear from where they're casually sitting at the edge of the pool. 'Sup lovebirds, are you two having a good time.]
no subject
Evangeline isn't particularly surprised to see them, and after she takes a second to catch her breath.]
Well, I guess there goes the illusion of privacy. Hi, you two.
no subject
How long have you two been here?!
"Oh, not long."
"I'd say right around the time you practically begged Anglerfishie to kiss you when she asked if she could--"
I did not beg.
[Azul folds his arms across his chest, rolling his eyes at that. But hey, at least they had the decency to not mention the crying from earlier.]
no subject
[Flirting in front of the tweels. They've already seen them make out, it's fine? It's fine.]
I guess that means we're done for right now?
no subject
[But then he points at the twins.]
Provided that you two go find somewhere else to make yourselves more useful.
[That gets a laugh out of Floyd.]
"Wow, so harsh Azul~! There's no need to shoo us away like a bunch of pesky betta fish, you know--I mean, I could think of something "useful" to do right here if I just--"
Leave, now.
"If you insist. Come, Floyd, let's give them their privacy for now."
[And there they go, Jade ushering Floyd along rather than lingering behind any longer.]
no subject
I'll have to thank them for the potion later. [But first things first: more kisses.]
timeskip
Mostly.
It's a couple of days afterward that a Heartslaybul student in the same year as Azul flags him down at the Lounge.]
Are you really going out with the guest lecturer?
[Evangeline, of course, is here like usual. She's a couple tables over, and suddenly looks Incredibly Tired, but not surprised.]
no subject
Yes, I am. Happily, I might add. Do you have a problem with that?
no subject
[Evangeline doesn't say anything, or meet Azul's gaze. She's valiantly trying to focus on a spot on her plate and not look like she's paying any attention to them.]
no subject
Even if that turned out to be true, my dear Eva is not one of those people. I fully believe that she is a wonderful partner worthy of my affection... or... are you saying that you don't trust my decisions, my dear esteemed customer of the Mostro Lounge?
[He says, leaning forward toward them with that same smile, but the tone of his words definitely is more barbed, a subtle reminder of where they are and who this person is speaking with right now.]
no subject
I-I mean... Just trying to be helpful, that's all...
[He starts glancing around to see if Floyd and Jade are in the area, although he hasn't looked at Evangeline once and still doesn't.]
no subject
And I certainly appreciate your desire to be helpful, but I assure you, I don't need it. Especially when it's inaccurate advice to be giving, when my partner is none of the things you insinuated. As such, I believe an apology is owed in exchange for not throwing you out for saying such rude things about someone that I, the owner of this Lounge, care about... you agree, don't you?
no subject
He looks at Azul, then Evangeline, then comes to a decision.]
No.
[He slaps his payment on the table - he might have too much pride to apologize to a rat of the Backstreets but he's not stupid enough to stiff Azul on his check - and immediately tries to book it out of the lounge.]
no subject
[He'll give the guy credit for not being so stupid as to not pay, which Azul picks up from the table and begins to count the bills to himself casually, as if nothing is amiss. This probably allows the student to think that they've paid the proper fee to allow them an escape, but then...]
"Oh my, where are you going? Aren't you forgetting something?"
"If I understand correctly, I believe our boss never said anything about simply leaving being allowed in order to get out of offering an apology to our esteemed guest. He merely only said that you wouldn't be 'thrown out' if you did."
[Jade and Floyd have appeared, barring the student from leaving. They smile, each putting a hand on the students shoulders...]
"Which, I believe that means..."
"... there's no restriction Azul has given yet on what WE can do to you instead of just 'throwing' you out..."
no subject
[This is the first Evangeline speaks up.]
Even if you scare him into apologizing, he's not going to mean a word of it. Just let him go.
no subject
She's right, unfortunately. An apology is worthless if it isn't sincere. As such, there's no point in getting one out of him now. And he's settled his bill for his meal, nor does he have any other outstanding debts with me that he owes. As far as I am concerned, I have no further need of his presence either.
[A pause, as he pockets the money... and then--]
But, if you two have something else you'd like to discuss with him, outside of Octavinelle, then who am I to stop you? I'd hate to let him be under the mistaken impression that you two are just my lackeys only acting on my behalf, rather than having your own thoughts on the matter. Feel free to give him your own honest, unfiltered opinions the next time you share a class with him, for all I care.
[Oh, that gets the twins humming in consideration.]
"Hey, Jade, don't you share a class with this guy? He kind of looks familiar..."
"You may be right about that, Floyd. Perhaps if we're lucky, he'll be my next partner on the upcoming group project..."
"Well, aren't you lucky! Guess we'd better send you on your way then so that you can prepare for that, betta fish~!"
[They let go of the student's shoulders now, waving their fingers casually to send him off and let him make a proper break for it now.
Sorry Eva, but fish mafia is still a bunch of vindictive bastards sometimes.]
no subject
Evangeline puts down the payment for her own bill, then gets up and goes to slip an arm gently around Azul's side.]
You were really cool, just now. And really, really sweet to me.
no subject
[He manages a more genuine smile upon having Eva by his side, before he then momentarily frowns.]
I'm sorry that you had to hear that. I know it's probably not something new to you, dealing with this particular sort, but it's still distasteful having people like that speak about you regardless. Even if some of them won't properly apologize, I'm not keen to let them think they can get away with having that kind of attitude in a place of business like mine.
[Or, you know, in general where Azul can do something about it.]
no subject
None of what he said is wrong in a general sense. Even if I'm not any of those things myself, they're all pretty common. ...Except the cannibalism, that stuff's super expensive?
no subject
[Why the fuck is human meat so expen--wait, no, this is not the topic to discuss here.]
I mean, even then, it's still incredibly rude to make those kind of assumptions when they don't even know you as a person. It's infuriating.
[In a way, it reminds Azul of his own childhood of being bullied for being an octomer and all the assumptions the other merkids had about what that entailed.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)