Chapter Text
A light was on in the Octavinell Housewarden’s room. It was common for a workaholic like him to stay up late, but instead of the sound of writing pen, there were clumsy footsteps. Azul paced in circles, sighing from time to time.
Finally, he tapped his foot and sat down on the bed.
The time has come.
Azul has been struggling a while. And it was very irritating. It interfered a lot. Who knew that falling in love with one nerd could ruin his perfect sleep schedule and fill his life with unnecessary stress. Thinking about him before going to bed and worrying before the meeting was counterproductive.
However, even the excitement of meeting him seemed like nothing in front of the wave of satisfaction of being around him.
Because it’s comfortable, okay? Idia is never out of his comfort zone, so it makes sense that he succeeded in maintaining it. It's nice to spend time with him sometimes.
However, it's time to end it.
They have a meeting at the board game club tomorrow and octomer feels like he needs to get rid of this burden as soon as possible.
So all Azul has to do is come straight and get rejected.
Azul needs to get rid of this headache. He just needs to confess and get rejected. Which is easy, given the nature of Idia. He himself referred to romantic relationships as a problem and seemed happy that it would not affect him, also according to him.
Azul should not flatter himself with hopes for a relationship. He doesn't really need them. They will distract from work.
His well-adjusted schedule is already suffering from a slight infatuation. And it'll suffer even more if Azul spends time dating after work.
Speak out and get rejected, it's nothing much.
Just casually confess to the person who doesn't like you in this way, but so that not affect your friendship.
Just don't make him leave you, after your clumsy confession.
Nothing much! After all, if you repeat one thing many times, you will be able to believe in it.
Damn it! Azul was never a fan of affirmations.
When he needs something, he makes a careful plan. He won't stoop to lowering his standards to do something so rash. It's not his style.
Not like it's his style to makes plans in which his offers are rejected, but Azul prefers not to think about this.
He seems to have been sitting at the table for quite some time, writing down idea after idea, only to cross them all out in a moment. Azul was engrossed in the process for a while, but a knock on the door made him shrink back in his chair with more fright than he would have liked. Lack of sleep prevents him from making reasonable decisions...
"Azul? a familiar hoarse voice calls out to him. Azul tries to get up from his seat, but feels weak in his legs. His mind races as he saunters to the door.
"Floyd?”
"Mm, why aren't you sleeping?" Floyd puts his hand behind his neck, barely opening his sleepy eyes.
“I was going to, I just had to write something down urgently, " Azul say aloud, already hating himself for this decision. He definitely will have headache tomorrow. He should get this over with as quickly as possible.
“Did something happen?" Floyd opens his eyes and looks curiously at Azul.
"Nothing special. Like I said, I was just about to go to bed, so please."Azul grabs the handle and almost closes the door. Almost, because Floyd gets in the way.
“That's what people usually say when they hide something interesting. I can't sleep now until I know."The eel enters the room despite the houseearden’s protests. His bright yellow eye full with curiosity.
”Floyd, " says Azul reproachfully, crossing his arms. Luckily for him, Floyd's expression changes from happy to disappointed as soon as he sees the desk full of scribbled papers.
” Tch, " Floyd clicks loudly, rolling his eyes. "Bo~oring," he says, drawing out the vowels childlike.
"Like I said, it's nothing special." Azul nods at the door.
"For real? You work in the lounge to come to room and..” Floyd takes a moment to hold the sheet up to his face. After running his eyes over, he suddenly exclaims. “What?! What's that?”
"My notes?"Azul snorts unworthily and furrows his brows. He was too tired to deal with Floyd. Although the whole situation is rather awkward and Azul feels the blood rush to his cheeks. Which only makes harder to keep his posture.
“Are you making plans for confession? Really? Even for that, you need a plan? Hahaha” malicious laughter rang out in the room.
"Floyd out! "Azul's patience has run out, as well as his strength to hold on. He pushes Floyd roughly out of the room, putting his weight on top of him. Normally, this wouldn't work. Floyd was unbearably stubborn and difficult to influence. However, today the eel succumbed. Floyd quickened his pace as he walked back to his room.
All that remained was to turn off the lights, go to bed, and hope that Floyd would be wise enough to keep this information to himself. It's hard to get him to tell you something, but when he's in a good mood, he often gives away secrets. Not too serious, of course, or Azul wouldn't be working with him, but still secrets.
He would definitely tell Jade the very first chance he got.
This can't be fixed.
They do what they want, not that Azul cares that much...
Azul curls up, pulling his limbs in close. Fortunately, he fell asleep before he has time to overthink everything. Fortunately, he falls asleep faster than he can process his worries.
***
Azul wakes up to the alarm clock.
The human spine cracks as Azul arches his back. Even sleeping on dry land has to be different, although his bed is quite nice, he wouldn't mind staying for a few more minutes...
With a heavy sigh that Azul is glad no one will hear, he gets out of bed and cleans himself up. One of the advantages of being a prefect was having a private bathroom. It was small but contained a comfortable sink, a shower stall that octomer considers an insult, and a cabinet currently filled with many jars.
Out of habit, Azul takes out several jars at once, including someone else's, because—
Someone knocks twice on the door.
They're already here.
Azul silently looks at the door, assessing the situation.
Octomer isn't eager to meet their appraising gaze right now, and he looks terrible. But kicking them out would be too rude. Muttering under his breath that he is generously sharing his prefect privileges so that his dormmates won't rebel, Azul opens the door for them.
“Good morning, Azul."Jade greetings with right arm and pressed to his chest with that little smile of his.
” Morning~ " mumbles Floyd as he falls into the tub first thing.
“Good morning." Azul says without much enthusiasm, also heading for the bathroom.
The first five minutes pass quietly. Everyone is silent, probably because they need to brush their teeth and can't say anything physically, but there's hope, right? When Azul starts washing his face and Floyd brushes the mess on the head, Jade decides to speak up.
"So.. What do we think about Idia? Jade tilts his head to the side and smiles a little, not grinning, but not hiding the desire to”attack".
And so it begins...
“What do we think about Idia?”
"That's what I said, right?”
Floyd also decides to participate in the dialogue. "Well, I can suggest that he's a good partner”" He pauses dramatically. "A business partner, of course.”
Both eels look at each other and smile as if they've heard the funniest thing in the world. Azul has to disagree.
"It will be difficult to do business with Idia”" Azul shrugged off.
"My my, you must need him for other reasons. How foolish of me to think otherwise” Jade smiles, showing his fangs. He place his hand under his chin.
“Don’t you wanna share your plans with us, boss? We would help with plea~sure" Floyd stretches the vowels teasingly.
Azul rolls his eyes. He knew it would happen. The beginning of the day was not very good, but now? Twins really has an amazing talent for ruining everything...
Which might be actually what Azul wants..?
In fact, if he wants to sabotage the confession, he should definitely go to the twins.
Jade is incredible skilful at provoking people, and Floyd is.. well, Floyd.
"Maybe it wouldn't hurt” Azul says, laughing at his own joke.
He hears a thud as the comb slips from Floyd's hand. Floyd himself stupidly opens his mouth in shock. Jade doesn't look any better, blinking his eyes wide in disbelief.
Azul lets out a malicious laugh. Their reactions are really funny.
His hands dip into the jar of cream, and he goes on with his daily routine.
“How would you confess to someone you like?” His face probably tinged pink, but a layer of cream slightly masks the colour.
"You're desperate, aren't you?" Floyd says with utter seriousness, tilting his head in question.
"Wha— No!"Azul immediately turns red and all his former calmness is gone.
"It's worse than we thought” Jade wipes away a nonexistent tear. His crude parody of pity gets on Azul's nerves.
These eels are insufferable!
”Hehehe " Floyd laughs and smiles proudly. “It's simple, Azul, provoke him until you have all his attention and confess!
“I'm not sure this tactic works, Floyd. If it didn't work on one houswarden, I doubt it will work on the other.” His brother comments with a grin.
"Shut up, you're just saying that because you're jealous. Nobody wants a freak like you anyway.” Floyd puts his arm around Azul's shoulder and sticks out his tongue.
Azul chuckles just at the thought. ”Indeed, " Azul throws up his hands. “I hope this stays this way. Watching this poor, miserable soul pine after Jade will be tragic” He says with feigned sympathy.
"You are so cruel.” Jade puts a hand to his chest, though there's still a faint smile on his face.
Azul rolls his eyes and finishes applying the cream. He wipes his hands and hurries to get dressed. Before leaving, he tells Jade and Floyd to keep an eye on the Lounge for the evening. Then he quickly leaves the room. Even looking at their faces, he's sure they're smiling broadly.
***
The day goes surprisingly well. There's nothing special on today schedule, an ordinary Thursday. And even with little sleep, he's generally holding up well, and his grades are as high as ever.
He spent a productive day at the Lounge. If all goes well, their profits will increase by 3% next week. After finishing almost all the business for today and saying goodbye to the last visitor of the VIP room, Azul is going to the board games club.
After a quick clother changing he leaves the dorm. The walk across the campus feels weird. He had walked this same path many times before, but today he was overcome by this unpleasant feeling.
Anxiety...
He's unfortunately well acquainted with that feeling, but it's definitely out of place right now. Seriously, he just goes to the club as usual. Well, maybe he'll try to confess to Idia, which is "unusual," but... It'll just be something stupid. He'll do something foolish, and quicly forget about it. That's just Floyd's style if he's going to follow his advice. He lets out a heavy sigh and quickens his pace. Finally reaching the clubroom, he opens the door and his gaze sweeps across room.
Idia is in the corner. He's sitting with his back to the entrance, wearing a huge hoodie and a hood pulled up over his head.
What did Floyd say? "Provoke Idia and then confess?" Azul can try it. A little sabotage to get rejected, but without it actually affecting him.
Azul smiles slightly and walks over to Idia. He greets him politely and takes his seat facing him. Idia greets him quietly.
“You're choosing a game today, right? What's there?”
“Uno” Idia answers briefly, pointing to the deck of cards on the table.
"Seriously? That's a kids' game." Azul raises an eyebrow and looks at his clubmate with barely concealed irritation. When Azul had first joined the club, he'd heard more than a few snickers about not even knowing how to play 'kids' games'. Including from Idia himself because it never occurred to that 'bright mind' that a human paper card game would be unfamiliar to merfolks. "Oh, I see, Idia. You've finally realized you can't beat me at strategy games and decided to try something new".
"Bold words for someone who's going to lose today." Idia replied with a toothy grin.
If Idia was bothered by that, it meant the plan was working wasn't that what Floyd was going for with his "courting" approach? Actually, Azul didn't even know what was supposed to happen, but at least he'd gotten some kind of reaction.
"Don't overstimate yourself, Idia” Azul teases.
"I’m not. Btw it’ll be an uno dlc" Idia pulls a block of blank cards and two markers from his club bag. How dramatic of him to hide them away. At least he's having fun, judging by the crooked smile. “ We'll add some custom cards"
"Custom?"
"You know, those memes with crazy 'do something or draw 25 cards'?" Noticing that Azul didn't react at all, Idia's mood shifted instantly he started speaking much faster, his words becoming garbled. "Don't? Nevermind. WhydoIaskanyway. Forgetitall."
"Wow, we haven't even started and you're already giving up." Azul said, clearly unimpressed.
Idia huffs in annoyance and continues explaining. "The rules are like regular Uno, except you can add extras with the blank cards like ‘do something or draw a card,' 'players swap cards,' or something like that." A smile spreads across Azul's face, and Idia quickly adds, "Within reason, I mean!"
"Yeah, yeah, who do you take me for? Simple tricks, I got it. How many cards are we playing with?"
"We can start with 5 and add more as we go."
"Deal." Idia counts out 5 cards, hands them to Azul, and takes his own.
For a while, they both sit in silence, filling their cards. Idia lets out a laugh that sounds more like a wheeze as he writes his down. He had a chance to think his ideas through better, so Azul shouldn't fall behind either.
As soon as Azul finishes his last card, Idia shuffles the deck.
The game begins.
Azul has 7 cards in his hand. A green Skip, a green 3, a red 5, a blue 7 and +2, yellow 9 and Reverse.
On the table lies a green 5, which Azul covers with a Skip and immediately follows with a 3. Now he's down to five cards in hand.
Idia rolls his eyes. Isn't he just amusing?
The blue-haired one puts down a green +2.
Azul decides to draw two cards and continue the game. One of the two cards turns out to be a green 7, which he plays, leaving him with a red 6.
Idia lays down a red 9.
Azul prepares his two red cards, and in the end, they both trade numbers.
Azul discards a 6.
Idia plays a +2.
This time, Azul is ready to match him and puts a +2 on top.
"Poor soul~" Azul says as Idia draws four cards into his hand.
For a while, they simply trade numbers back and forth. This is actually kind of boring...? Maybe that's why no one plays this? 10 added cards is a small investment.
Idia drops a combo of green Skip and two Reverses, but that doesn't stop Azul from cheerfully shouting "Uno," left with a blue 7.
Until Idia plays the first added card: "Draw 2 cards until you roll a 6 on a die." This jerk!
"This is a card game, there shouldn't be dice in it!"
"Idk, Azul. Maybe we can end the match if you admit defeat?" Idia smiles and spreads his hands.
"Tch. You're insufferable, you know?"
"SSR troublemaker says..."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing!" Idia reverts back to his anxious self.
Azul opens the drawer where club members keep spare dice and pulls one out.
Azul rolls — and gets a "1."
Under Idia's laughter, he draws two cards.
Azul rolls again — "2."
"Only four rolls left."
"Shut up!" Azul isn't offended, honestly. It's just that there's something about that smug smile that ignites a desire in him to grind his opponent into the dirt.
Okay, maybe he's a little offended.
Azul draws two more cards and makes his best roll — "6" finally comes up!
With a joyful look, Azul plays a freshly drawn "Draw 4"and even though it's not much, it doesn't stop him from adding: "Evening the odds."
To his misfortune, Idia puts another "Draw 4" on top.
"Poor soul~" he returns with a grin.
Idia is left with two cards in hand, while Azul already has thirteen.
The game clearly ends not in his favor.
Azul stares coldly at the deck. The sting of defeat burns him from the inside.
Well, if Idia decided to play dirty, then Azul should too. He takes 8 blank cards for himself and tosses the same amount to Idia.
If we're talking about things Idia is bad at, social interaction seems like a fitting choice. He eagerly writes down seemingly everyday tasks that are sure to cause horror on the blue-haired boy's face.
Despite there being more cards to fill out, they write down the conditions much faster this time. This time, Azul shuffles the deck
When dealing, Azul immediately gets one of the special cards. “Call the first person in your contacts (who isn't a family member) and tell them you want to meet up or draw 10”
Not bad.
Otherwise, he has nothing special on his hands, one yellow +2, red and blue Skip, red 3 and 7 and a yellow 3.
The first move for Idia is blue 3.
Azul play a red 3.
Red 5.
Red 7.
Red +2.
Azul draws two cards. Red 9 and yellow 8. He puts down his 9.
Idia throws a green 9.
The color of which Azula has not been since the beginning of the game. A good reason to use a special card.
"Call the first person in your contacts (who isn't a family member) and tell them you want to meet up or draw 10 cards" is on the table.
"That's harsh" Idia groans.
"If the action is too difficult, you can always just draw cards."
"Huh." With cartoonish disgust, Idia looks at his phone, picks it up, and opens his contacts.
Suddenly, his mood shifts, and he grins, shoving the screen into Azul's face.
On the screen is the contact list:
Ortho (expected)
Azul (Oh. Well then. Maybe he shouldn't have bet too much on this card, considering Idia doesn't really talk to anyone.)
Riddle (More precisely, a massive number of missed calls from him)
Chief Engineer (Isn't that his mother? More formal than you'd expect from Idia.)
Cater (Which is far more surprising)
He must have said the last name out loud, because Idia says, "The same class," as explanation.
"BTW," Idia takes the phone. "I'm dying to C U," he says before Azul's phone even starts ringing.
"Fine," Azul exhales. "Yellow."
The game continues.
Idia plays a yellow 0.
Azul responds with a +2.
Idia draws two cards and plays a yellow 2.
Yellow 3.
Idia plays a special card.
"Give your opponent a compliment every time you have fewer than 3 cards, or draw 1 card."
This was actually one of the cards Azul created. However it shouldn't be a problem.
"Oh, and green colour," unlike this.
Azul has to draw 2 cards to finally get a green. Luckily for him, it's a red +2 and green +2.
Azul groups his cards together. He plays the green +2.
"You have very beautiful eyes, Idia, bright like amber," he says in a sickly sweet voice.
Idia purses his lips and sighs. He quickly plays a +2 in response.
"Idia really catches the eye" Azul plays a red +2.
"Yeah, yeah, I don't need a reminder." Idia draws cards and plays a +4. "Yellow."
Azul has to draw 4 cards: Yellow 3, red 8, green Skip and green 4.
"Idia is so cute when he blushes." Azul plays the yellow 3.
"Hey! What's your game? You definitely have more than three cards!" Idia shouts. If it weren't for the pink streaks? Flames? In his hair, his embarrassment might have gone unnoticed.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Can't I sincerely compliment my dear friend?" Perhaps there's a mischievous spark in his eyes, or even sincerity, it's hard to tell from how Idia is studying him, but after a few seconds, he calms down.
Idia plays a green 3.
"Idia has beautiful hair." Green Skip. Azul immediately follows with a blue Skip. "It's even more beautiful when it turns pink." He plays a red Skip. "I admire you."
Idia's eyes dart back and forth, and his hair continues to turn pink. That moment of confusion is enough for Azul to shout a victorious "Uno" and finish the game by laying down a red 8.
"YOU! Scheming bastard!" Idia jumps up from the table. His hair shifts to a fiery red, like actual flames.
"Huh? As I recall, you made me compliment you, Idia." A triumphant smile adorns Azul's face.
"Tch." The grating of sharp teeth can be heard. "Rematch," he says and throws down another 8 cards.
Azul seizes this opportunity and adds far more cards to his arsenal.
Not much time passes before they start another match.
This time, Azul has a red 7 and 3, yellow 9 and 8, blue +2, green Reverse, and Wild. During the deal, Azul didn't get a single special card, despite there being more of them in the deck now.
On the table lies a red 1, which Azul covers with a 7.
Idia plays a red 5.
Red 3.
Idia draws 2 cards before putting down a red 9.
Azul plays a yellow 9.
Yellow 0.
A yellow 8 drops onto the table. Azul can't help but smile as he watches Idia draw a card.
Idia clicks his tongue and plays a special card.
"Correctly name a land animal shown to you by your opponent. Draw 2 cards for each animal you fail to guess."
Azul frowns as he watches Idia fiddle with his phone to show the first picture.
In the first image, a small animal is visible. Its body is elongated and brown, with a white collar. It has short legs and a tail about half the length of its body.
Azul has absolutely no idea what that is...
"A cat?"
"A marten." Idia swipes the picture away to show that the search query really was marten. Azul has to draw cards—a green 4 and a blue 3.
In the second image presented by Idia, a fat animal with tiny legs is shown. It has thick dark fur and a strange nose.
"A dog?"
"That's a boar, lawl!" Idia exclaims with a crooked grin. "It'll take ages." Azul clicks his tongue and draws another card a yellow 8 and a red 0.
In the third image, a large gray animal is depicted. Its open mouth reveals fangs, indicating it's a predator. It has long legs and a rather long fluffy tail.
Azul wants to say it's a dog, but could it really be a dog? It must be someone else.
"You’d know that one, if I not overstimate you" Idia taunts him.
“A dog?” He finally says.
"Whee hee, fr? That's a wolf! Is 'dog' the only animal you know?"
"Obviously not."
"Oh, sry. Dog and cat are the only animals you know." Idia's face twists into a gloating grin.
Azul rolls his eyes. He'll definitely get revenge, he tells himself. He draws two more cards—a yellow 1 and a special one: "Tell about 10 of your accomplishments or draw 25 cards." An amusing card—his perfect chance to turn the tables.
Idia shows his phone again. This time, it depicts a large horned animal, but what catches Azul's attention is a pop-up notification with a photo of a black cat with golden eyes, captioned below: "Lucius is lying on the bench with me. Jealous?" Azul can't pass up this chance and taps on the message.
"A cat."
"Ur total noob fr."
"What do you mean? It's Trein's cat."
"Huh? It's a deer." Idia turns the screen toward himself and freezes. "You weren't supposed to gss tht."
"But I did. You can't say I didn't guess it this time, right?"
"Fine." Idia says with a displeased face. And adds quietly, "Sleazy."
Perhaps Azul should thank Ortho sometime later.
But back to the uno game. "Color?”
"Blue”
Azul puts down his blue 3.
Idia goes blue 8.
Blue +2.
Idia responds with a blue +2.
Azul takes the cards. Red 3, yellow +2, Reverse and blue 5. He immediately plays a 5.
Green 5.
Green 4.
Green 9.
Green Reverse. Right after it is a yellow Reverse and a yellow +2.
Idia takes two cards and plays a yellow Skip, then a green Skip, and finally a green 0. Left with only one card, he shouts " Uno”
And then Azul finally finds the perfect use for his special card.
"Tell about 10 of your accomplishments or draw 25 cards" lies on the table.
"Azul, u can't do that! It's too OP!"
"You were the one who brought up the 'do something or draw 25,' weren't you?" Azul can only shrug and throw him a meaningful glance.
"Ergh... okay." Idia slumps and bites his lip.
"So, how have you been doing? You definitely have something to share, right?"
"I fixed some parts in Ortho's new gear." Idia says calmly, but he keeps his eyes down, avoiding Azul's face.
"Great. That's the first one."
"Ughh... I cleared all those stuck Housewarden tasks."
"Good. It's the second" None of what Azul says sounds mocking or insulting, but Idia still slides down the wall anyway.
"I speedrun Dark Souls... does that count?"
"If you think it's an achievement, why not?"
"Next is..." Idia lowered his head and thought hard. He tilted his head to the side and said with doubt, "I cleared getting the Premo comeback merch mission...?"
"That would be the fourth, right?"
"Ahhh. Stop it, plss," Idia cried. "Just finish me." His head drops onto the table.
"Are you sure? You'll have to draw cards then." Azul plastered on his business smile. He can already taste victory.
Idia draws 25 cards with a face expressing exhaustion and contempt.
"Color?" Idia says through gritted teeth.
"Yellow."
Idia plays a +2.
Azul draws 2 cards yellow 3 and blue +2. Then plays a yellow 8.
Idia plays yellow 2.
Yellow 1
Yellow 3.
Red 3.
Idia plays another red +2.
Azul draws two cards again. He gets a red +2 and a blue Skip. On his turn, he discards a red 0.
Red 3.
Red +2.
Green +2.
Blue +2.
Idia freezes for a second.
"Struggling much?"
"Jerk," Idia says and draws another 6 cards. Something about his irritated expression is amusing.
He tries to play a special card: "Name one of your clubmates or draw 10 cards."
Unfortunately for Azul, this is no challenge at all. He scans the room and extends his hand toward an Octavinelle student on the other side of the room. "Attin," he says with confidence.
Idia sighs and throws a couple of glances at the student, trying not to draw attention.
"Want to check?"
"No," Idia answers hastily, and Azul can only laugh. Well, if Idia thinks he knows every person in the room, so be it.
"Color?"
"Green."
Azul draws a card and surprisingly luck is on his side. He plays a green 7.
Idia plays a green Skip. Then he seems to discard another 3 Skips. He watches Azul's face carefully and decides to put down a blue 9.
Oh, what a miscalculation. Azul plays a blue Skip and shouts "Uno," finishing the game with a Wild. It took longer than he expected, but that only makes the taste of victory sweeter. Even if it was predetermined from the very beginning.
"Hahaha." The octopus can't hold back his laughter. Idia looks irritated, and there's enough adrenaline in Azul's blood for him to say, "It's always fun playing with you. I really love you, Idia." Azul says it with a sincere smile, imitating Floyd. Azul can finally get this over with.
"Hey, I'm p. sure there're more of your cards than mine, I’m calling hacks”
Huh?
What kind of reaction is that...?
This isn't even a rejection, but those words make Azul's throat sting.
How is he even supposed to respond to that?
He's definitely not repeating his attempt, at least not right now. That would be stupid.
Azul quickly gathers the cards into a stack and places them on the table. "It's getting pretty late, and I'd like to check on Mostro Lounge before closing, so if you'll excuse me."
"Oh, so you do che—"
Azul can't even say anything in response and just stares Idia straight in the eyes. He must look irritated, because Idia loses all his confidence and hunches over, trying to make himself smaller.
After a few moments, Azul repeats, "I need to visit Mostro Lounge," and leaves without looking back.
He walks down the hallway with a bitter feeling. With that same bitter feeling, he enters the Lounge, then his office.
Left alone, he finally allows himself a heavy sigh and buries his face in his hands.
Azul doesn't want to think about what he said, but he can't stop thinking about it. It's uncomfortable.
Azul can't believe he actually said that out loud. The way the octomer left so hastily was also terrible. What will they think of him now?
Again, he wasn't even rejected, but that somehow only felt more insulting. Idia didn't react because he didn't understand? Yes, that must be it.
Floyd wasn't a suitable example, he should have expected that. Floyd doesn't even call people by their names, and his speech often confuses land-dwellers.
He'll consider another option later.
Azul sits down at his desk and immerses himself in work. His heart feels too heavy, and the rustle of paper has always calmed him down. As long as he's counting profits, he won't have to worry about anything else.