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[Evangeline is visibly surprised, as the student starts to sweat.]

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.]

[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.]

Edited 2022-05-18 20:58 (UTC)

"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..."

I don't want an apology from him.

[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.

[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.]

Edited 2022-05-18 21:32 (UTC)

[That student is Out Of Here as fast as possible. He may be more scared of Eva than Jade, but he's still pretty scared of Jade.

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.

Oh... thank you.

[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?

... Is it really?

[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.]

Oh, yeah, I could get like a five-course meal here for the price of one dish.

[...wait that's not the point.]

I'm pretty used to it, but it means a lot to me that you'd stick up for me. My hero, Azul ♥

[She smooches his cheek. Mwa.]

[Aww--Azul's face turns a slight pink at that.]

It means a lot to me to try to ensure your happiness and well-being, Eva. I'm more than happy to be your hero any time you need me.

[And vice versa, as Eva is certainly his hero in various ways too.]

You always are.

[Everything about him makes him wonderful, in her eyes.

She lowers her voice, just in case other customers are trying to listen in.]

I'd tell you how I'd like to reward you for defending my honor, but I think that would qualify as workplace harassment. Why don't you come to my room after you're done today?

[Eva oh my god--it takes Azul a minute to respond to that eloquently.]

I--yes? I mean, of course, I'd be more than happy to pay you a visit today after work.

[Though good lord how is he supposed to concentrate on work after hearing her say something like that??]

Great! I'll see you later, then.

[And she's off, humming cheerfully and probably aware that he's going to be flustered for the rest of work now.

When he does come to visit her later that evening, she opens the door dressed... well, dressed.]

Come in, come in. How was work?

[Her room has a few more personal effects than her office - the scythe is still leaning against the wall ready to be used, but there's also some photographs lined up on her dresser. And a very comfy-looking bed.]

[He is indeed flustered for the rest of the work day--he hides it well enough, sure, except from Jade and Floyd who know him too well and can tell that his thoughts are definitely elsewhere instead of on work.

And even seeing Eva does not grant him any reprieve from being flustered apparently, when he sees what she's wearing. Thankfully, (or maybe not so depending on how you wanna look at it), he is being a gentlemen that doesn't stare for too long at her chest in response to it, quick to make sure his gaze goes back to Eva's face when he steps inside, taking in her room for a moment as he speaks.]

It was busy, as to be expected. However, I was able to take care of business on time, and everything should be ready for tomorrow when we open again.

[buddy she did not put on this dress for you to NOT look at her chest]

That's good to hear. That means you're all mine for the rest of the night, right? Nowhere else to be?

[He may not have been staring at her chest, but he does reach out now to grasp one of her hands in-between both of his own, offering a smile.]

Yes, that's right. So tell me, what would you like to do during the time we have here together?

[Such a gentleman. She smiles a sweet, adoring smile, and leads him by the hands to the bed.

As soon as he sits down, she deposits herself directly into his lap.]

Well, I was thinking I would seduce you, if that's okay?

[For a second, he's momentarily flustered, his gaze definitely returning back to her chest again thanks to the way she sits down in his lap here, but after a moment, he manages a slight smirk.]

Is that so? Then let's see just how you plan to go about doing that.

Tease.

[She looks... momentarily embarrassed, though it's definitely not the position that's doing it. Or the way she shrugs one of the straps of her dress halfway down her shoulder.]

I know you like the whole clever and subtle approach, but I'm not really good at that kind of thing. Especially after having a couple hours to fantasize about all the things I want to do to you, I'm more of a direct kind of person?

Which is to say: I really like you, and I want to make you feel good. May I, please?

[His eyes track the movement of the strap of her dress being shrugged down before he turns his attention back to Eva. Upon hearing her words, his smirk becomes a little softer again, more fond than teasing.]

Please. I'd... I'd really like that.

Great!

[And she shrugs the rest of the way out of her dress, letting it pool around her on the bed.]

For the record, when your girlfriend tells you that she wants to reward you later, and then invites you into her room wearing a really low-cut dress, she wants you to look.

[Not that she's making it easy for him to do that, since she leans in for a deep kiss right after. He's allowed to do more than look, though.]

Oh, I'm aware.

[He was both trying to be gentleman, and maybe teasing her a little by not looking right away. But now he definitely can't avoid doing so, or at least not at first with the brief glance he does get of her body before she kisses him. He closes his eyes and returns the kiss as best as he can, bringing his hands to her cheeks.

At first, his touch is gentle, simply holding her there as his thumbs brush along the skin, before his hands finally drift downward, his fingers slow and careful before they end up at her sides. Not touching her breasts just yet, but his fingers do trace random patterns where they are currently sitting, light and teasing.]

[She makes a pleased vocalization into the kiss as he touches her gently, and her own hands find their way to his shirt to work the buttons open. It's hardly fair if she's the only one naked.]

You haven't told me how I look yet, you know. [A mischievous murmur against his lips, before she presses a kiss to the side of his neck.]

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