Eclipsed-Moons

So many eyes followed you - hungry, covetous, and far from innocent. Their gazes lacked honor, their intentions anything but pure. But Ashengrotto saw it all, and he would not allow such creatures to linger near what was his. Let him take care of you, handle those who dare imagine they could ever compare to him. For Azul knew -  without arrogance, but with certainty - that none of them would ever be honored to touch you. None of them would ever come close to knowing the depth of what you shared, the intimacy that bloomed quietly but completely between you and him. He smiled as his eyes traced the delicate curves of your form, laid bare, naked before him. You tried, shyly, to hide yourself, but Azul gently captured your hands, refusing to let you retreat. "There’s no need to hide from me…". He understood shame very well - however, you were just too perfect.

His lips trailed from your mouth to the delicate slope of your neck, lingering there like a prayer whispered in devotion - or obsession. His hands ghosted over your skin  as though he feared you might disappear if he didn’t memorize every inch. But beneath the softness, there was hunger - raw, ravenous, brutal. He had waited so long… too long. And now, you were finally his. The moment he had craved with a patience that bordered on madness had arrived: to become one with you, to bind your soul to his in the most intimate, irreversible way. It was no longer just a fantasy. It was a divine defilement, the most exquisite sin. And he knew that no one else had touched you. No one else had tasted what was meant only for him. That untouched part of you… that sacred, unspoiled purity… it drove him mad with longing. Could you blame him? Could you fault him for wanting to ruin you beautifully, completely? To mark you so thoroughly that no man would ever dare dream of you again? Your breath caught as his lips descended lower, until he buried himself where you were most vulnerable. There, he worshiped you not like a saint, but like a sinner. There, he found his own sanctuary.

His tongue moved with slow precision - each motion claiming over what he now considered entirely his. That hidden, delicate place  never meant for anyone but him. You were his forbidden fruit, ripe and trembling beneath his touch, and now, at last, he was tasting the sweetness he’d longed for in silence. Your body betrayed you with each shiver, each stifled sound, and Azul watched, studied every twitch and every gasp. Those soft, broken moans you tried to bite back only made his hunger strong. Did you still not understand? There was no need to hide from him. He wanted those sounds - he needed them. He absolutely needed to hear you fall apart so completely, to consume every single moan that escaped from your lips and rebuild you - shaped only for him and the shape of his own dick. Every sigh, every desperate movement etched deeper into his soul. And with the flick of his tongue, he dragged you closer to the edge, refusing to let you fall until it was on his terms.

The friction - once overwhelming - now felt like a mere tease, a spark too small to match the inferno building within you. Your body pulsed, slick and desperate, aching for more - and Azul saw it all. Every quiver, every helpless twitch under his touch, every moan - it delighted him. With a soft hum of approval, he deepened his focus, tongue moving faster now, no longer teasing, but demanding your own climax. He played with that sensitive spot with a deliberate and practiced ease, motions coaxing your body closer to the edge as his fingers joined the symphony, sliding into you with precision and purpose. And when you finally reached your peak, trembling and breathless, that lewd, broken moan slipping past your lips like a confession, Azul paused only to drink in the sight of you.

Completely undone. Beautifully vulnerable. His.

But this was only the beginning. With careful movements, he stood, peeling away his clothes with a quiet elegance, as though unveiling something sacred. His body, pale and lithe, now bared to the moonlight - after years, he finally carried his body with no shame, only pride. Azul approached you again, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as he hovered over your weakened form. But before he could press further, before lust could reclaim him, he leaned in and kissed you. It wasn’t hurried. It wasn’t greedy. It felt so genuine… Like he was savouring a dessert served by the gods. You kissed him eagerly, letting your lips linger against his in a quiet echo of all that had passed between you. When the kiss faded, your eyes met his. Those eyes… Something in them made you want to trust him completely. To hand over the pieces of yourself you’d never dared to share.

Finally, he slipped inside you - slowly, deeply - until there was no space left between you, no breath unshared. The heat of your body enveloped him like a silken trap and Azul let out a low, strangled breath, his entire frame trembling with the force of restraint. He had imagined this moment too many times, dreamed of the feeling of being joined with you so intimately it nearly drove him mad. And now… now it was real. The warmth, the tightness, the sheer rightness of your body accepting him - it was more than he’d prepared for and there was no going back. His movements started slow, but with every thrust, control frayed at the edges. He wanted to savor this, to make it last - to carve it into both your bodies as something unforgettable. But the way you gripped him, the way your body trembled beneath his… it was taking control from his sick mind way too quickly.

You clenched the sheets, lips parted in gasping moans as you tried to surrender to the pleasure and not the ache that lingered in your core. The sting was real - but so was the overwhelming sensation swallowing it whole. Little by little, the discomfort faded, replaced by a tide of ecstasy that dragged you deeper with each thrust. Your moans rose unbidden now and Azul soaked in them like a man starved. You were no longer trying to hide your beauty - you were his. The bed creaked beneath you, the room filled with the sound of skin and heavy breathing. The male’s eyes never left yours, even as sweat clung to his skin, even as his pace grew faster, deeper.

Azul was drunk, utterly intoxicated. Not with wine, not with beer, but with you. With the heat of your body around him, the sounds spilling from your lips, the way your soul seemed to tremble beneath his every thrust. He was high on lust, yes - but beneath that was something far more potent, maybe even selfish. Pride. No contract had been signed tonight/ no ink, no parchment. And yet, this moment, this act between you was more binding than any formal agreement. Flesh to flesh, soul to soul - this was the true seal, the mark that couldn’t be broken. And even if your heart someday strayed, even if your voice no longer whispered his name with affection, it wouldn’t matter. Because you could never take this from him. No one else would ever touch you like this for the first time. That memory was eternal. His claim was eternal. And if he had to earn your love over and over again, he would. With grand gestures, glittering jewels, silken clothes, whispered promises… or with this - you beneath him, gasping, breaking.

That thought - the twisted fantasy of you loving him again because of how well he could make you feel - sent a wave of heat crashing through his body. His pace grew faster, harsher, more desperate, as if trying to mold your body to his, as if he could burn this memory into your skin. He felt you tightening around him, your breath hitching, your thighs beginning to tremble. He knew you were close and the knowledge snapped the last thread of composure he had left. He moved frantically now, chasing your climax like it was the answer to everything, and, when you finally cried out his name, back arching, mouth open in a moan that echoed like a confession, he followed - falling with you into sin and painting your insides with that beautiful white fluid. He held you tightly as he spilled into you, burying his face in your neck with a groan that trembled like a vow - because what could possibly be more romantic than losing yourself completely inside the one you swore you’d never let go?

To love truly is to offer your heart not merely to the polished mask worn in daylight, but to the trembling wretch that crawls through moonlight - naked in their shame, monstrous in their truth. Love does not choose the parts adorned in grace. It kneels before the wounds. It clasps the ruin to its chest and whispers prayers of love. And there Azul was - no longer cloaked in illusions or sweet deceptions, but unveiled, dreadful and divine. His tentacles coiled like obsidian serpents around him, glistening wet and alive, crowned by the unmistakable form of a merman from some deep abyss. It should have been terrifying. It should have been repulsed. But you could not tear your gaze away. He was not grotesque - he was sublime.

Something stirred in you. Not fear. Never fear. But something holy. As though you were standing before a ruin of stained glass, shattered by storms yet still catching the dying light in haunting color. You saw him and, in that terrible stillness between heartbeats, your soul yearned to worship him. Because love is not blind. Love is not ignorant. It sees the beast beneath the skin, the blood behind the smile, the trembling beneath the pride. And still it stays. Still it touches. Still it calls the monster beautiful.

His tentacles curled around you with delicacy - like vines unsure if they were worthy of entwining the bloom they longed for. It was as if he feared that one wrong movement might shatter something divine. And then - you pressed your lips, tender and aching, to the very limbs he once deemed ugly. Azul’s breath caught. Your gaze, luminous and adoring, looked upon him not with fear or pity - but with a yearning so profound it bordered on worship. It was not a demand, but a plea: Let me love you. Let me show you the devotion no soul before dared to give.

His hearts thundered, erratic and wild, echoing through the cavern of his chest like waves crashing in stormlight. For a moment, he was no longer the Dorm Leader, the cunning business man, the cruel witch of the sea. He was that small, trembling boy again - shy and soft and aching with the belief that love was something meant for others. That he was unworthy. But then you stepped closer.

Without flinching, you reached up to his towering form, so much larger, so much more than human - and you kissed his jaw, soft as a flower. Slowly, lovingly, you traced a path along his cold, silken skin - rising toward his lips. In your arms, between kisses and pleas, Azul felt something like never before.

He felt loved.

He kissed you back, slowly at first - like he was lost in a dream he would never wish to wake up from. He had seen your body before, yes. You had seen his as well - your eyes having traced the lines of his bare human form with soft familiarity. But this was different. This was not the skin he wore among men. As you stepped closer to his true form - this divine, dreadful shape shaped by the sea - Azul felt a tremor ripple through him. How strange, he thought, that one could feel virginal again in the arms of a beloved.

There was nothing impure in your touch. Nothing vulgar in your gaze. And yet, it felt like a sacred sin - to be seen like this, to be touched like this, while cloaked in the full truth of what he was. It wasn’t shameful, not anymore. It was a terror of being known so completely… and still loved. But he did not let his fear surface.

Instead, his tentacles rose with uncertainty, slipping beneath the fabric of your uniform like waves slipping past a shoreline. They caressed your body - they adored, learned and memorized it. Where his fingers could not go, the soft suction of his limbs kissed your skin - leaving behind small, tender marks that would blossom like violets upon your flesh. The sensation was strange, unfamiliar… otherworldly. And though it startled you at first, the touch was not cruel. There was affection in every motion - delicate, unhurried. The suction cups pressed little oaths against your body, like a lover writing poetry in bruises too soft to hurt.

A soft, breathless giggle blossomed from your lips - like a bell chiming through the quiet evening - as you felt one of his tentacles, bold yet uncertain, reach beneath your skirt. It froze there, suddenly still, as if Azul himself had just realized what his own body had done. Embarrassment pulsed through him like a tide, and the limb recoiled, shivering with restraint. But you did not laugh at him. You did not scold or shrink away. Instead, you looked at him - just like a siren, as a lover gazing upon something too dearly to refuse. You reached out, gently resting your hand upon one of the cooler, glistening limbs, and guided it back to your skin.

You did not hide. You did not flinch. You invited him to explore the sacred landscape of your body - the valleys, the curves, the heat of skin and bone beneath soft cloth. You bared yourself in the name of lust, love and devotion. To let someone touch you is to offer trust. To let them know you is to offer your soul.

Azul, ever the cunning man of bargains and gain, had never tasted a reward so priceless as this. And in truth, he would have been a fool to deny such a gift. With a growing hunger for tasting this delicious meal right in front of him, he accepted. His limbs returned to you, no longer unsure - they moved like ink in paper, tracing every inch of your form as though reading scripture from your flesh. His touch was not rough, not greedy… but curious, adoring, awestruck. And you worshipped him in silence, not with words, but with devotion pressed into his skin. And beneath it all, your heart beat was steady and unafraid - because even as he held you like a storm might hold a flame, you knew: Azul Ashengrotto would never let it go out.

Two of his limbs cradled you with care, anchoring you in a sea of sensation, while another pair ventured higher, curling beneath the thin fabric of your shirt to press against the softness of your chest. They squeezed them, not harshly, but as if they were mapping the places where your heartbeat sang the loudest. And then - lower still - one final limb found its way beneath your skirt, gliding between your thighs. There, in that sacred place, it circled slowly over the delicate pearl of your pleasure, drawing patterns with devastating precision. Each touch sent shivers through you, divine and maddening, as though he was casting spells into your flesh.

It was almost absurd - how the boy who once stammered at your gaze, afraid to even brush your hand, was now so daring… no longer hesitant, no longer unsure, Azul gave himself to your pleasure with the devotion of a penitent sinner at the altar - eager, desperate to please, to learn the verses of your body like sacred sculptures.

Your voice broke into moans - soft at first - his name escaping your lips like melody. The syllables rose like a song from deep within your chest, stitched with praise, with longing, with surrender. You whispered to him between gasps, fully built on desire: “More… show me more. Ruin me, if you must… just don’t stop.”

And so he did. Another tentacle joined the play, moving with care, slipping into your warmth, careful not to rush, not to overwhelm… yet aching to know you from the inside out. It found a home within you, offering shivers that made your breath catch, all while the other never ceased its tender circles over your swollen clit. The two moved in divine tandem - one fucking your tight cunt, the other caressing - as if his very soul had been split into these limbs just to adore you more completely.

You could do nothing but surrender. Pleasure drowned your thoughts like seawater in your lungs. It was relentless, each motion carved into the center of your being like a psalm of love and desire. The world narrowed to the feel of him: the glide, the pull, the pressure building in waves that threatened to crash and break you upon their altar. You were unraveling, and yet, in the chaos of sensation, something tender bloomed inside your chest: love - true, burning, consuming.

How cherished you felt. Not as something to conquer or possess, but as something to honor. And through the haze of heat, your heart ached to give something back. To remind him - your Azul - of how beautiful he was. Of how his merman form was not something to be hidden in shame, but something to be worshipped in its full majesty. He was a wonder. A cathedral beneath the sea. A living myth whose touch brought you to the edge of divinity.

You wanted to say it. To praise him. To thank him. To press your love against every crack he had once tried to seal in silence. But your voice had drowned.

All you could do was cry his name again and again - a broken, blissful thanks offered from lips parted in ecstasy. Drool slipped down your chin, your body arching into every motion as he played you like a sacred instrument, tuned perfectly to his touch. And in those syllables, he heard everything. He felt it in the way your limbs trembled, in your gaze through your haze. He saw your soul laid bare before him fully open… and he knew: no pearl in the ocean, no treasure in the depths could rival this moment.

He did not stop. His rhythm remained steady, tentacles moving without stopping for even a second, drawing pleasure from your body like a prayer drawn from flesh. And then, it came. Your climax bloomed from within like a storm breaking open the clouded sky. It was not loud, not wild, but quiet… intimate. A soft cry slipped from your lips, sweet and trembling, your limbs trembling in his hold as the world seemed to shatter and remold itself around your pleasure. You looked up at him, flushed and tear-glazed, wearing a smile so delicate, so pathetic in its adoration, that it made him seem all the more divine.

You looked like a soul undone, ruined by love, rebuilt by desire.

Foothill Town and Night Raven College jointly presents: “Rediscover the local area’s charm points!” Select an outfit that catches your eye from one of the options provided by the town’s tailor, and showcase a place on the island you’d recommend. The long-standing pâtisserie, Bonbon Recette, will also have a birthday cake prepared for you. Please, we hope you have a spectacular birthday on Sage’s Island!

[Main Street]

Azul: I see you'll be accompanying me as my assistant today. [Yuu]-san, I look forward to working with you.

[Yuu nods]

Azul: This shoot is a golden opportunity for my name to spread among the good townfolk. It absolutely must go off without a hitch…!

Azul: Now then, let us be off to select my outfit of the day. If you see any good garments, do make sure to bring them to my attention.

[Sewing Room]

Azul: Just as I had learned in my research beforehand, there does seem to be quite a vast array. While the collection does seem to favor a more formal look…

Azul: Even similar articles of clothing could end up evoking completely different styles simply based on the color and material choice.

Azul: When doing business, I tend to deliberately select a more intellectual and composed style…

Azul: However, today's target audience is the student body. Perhaps I should select a more casual outfit.

Azul: Do I have specific preferences when it comes to fashion? Well yes, of course. They do say that 80% of all first impressions are formed by appearance.

Azul: I would say I am most particular about keeping myself looking tidy. I do my utmost to now give off any slovenly impressions.

Azul: Besides that… I also prefer to emphasize the beauty in my silhouette. Based on everything I just provided, could I hear your opinions?

[Yuu nods]

Azul: First, I'd like to select an outer layer that would provide the overall impression I would be going for… Which one do you think suits me best?

1. What about a simple long jacket?

Azul: Heheh, thank you for the wonderful suggestion. The golden embroidery on the cuff is very charming. Azul: The little chocolate-shaped buttons also have a bit of whimsy to them. I like it. I'll go with this.

2. Go with the super fabulously glitzy prince-like jacket!

Azul: This looks… [Yuu]-san, do I truly look superficial enough to wear something like this? Azul: Oh dear, I'm hurt… Therefore, I'll have to ask you to select something even better for my attire.

Azul: I've finished changing. What do you think?

Azul: Oh, I see you noticed my glasses are different. How observant of you. Now I am glad that I brought these along.

Azul: I took into account that I would be pairing it with a more formal attire, I selected a design with a more retro feel.

Azul: That should be enough for my appearance. We should head into town right away. The true event begins now.

[Sage‘s Island – Foothill Town]

Azul: Foothill Town… Recently it's become a sight so familiar that I think it's forever burned into my mind.

Azul: There were many possible candidates for my showcase location, so I went to each place countless times while attempting to make my decision.

Azul: I thoroughly vetted everything, so this shoot should go smoothly. I will provide you with any necessary direction, don't worry.

1. You came by so many times just for this showcase filming…? 2. Do you not normally come into town?

Azul: Of course, I do go to town for my own matters as well. Not only does it provide a good change of pace, but it is essential for information gathering.

Azul: This past weekend, I went into a café, for example.

Azul: The coffee cup I was given had a design that tickled my fancy, so afterwards I immediately headed into a general store to peruse their selections...

Azul: There, I spotted a rather nice picture frame and started imagining what sort of art would suit it…

Azul: I ended up looking through art catalogues at the bookstore before heading back to campus. It ended up being a fulfilling day that gave me new ideas for the Lounge.

Azul: …It feels as though I am working even on my days off? I suppose so… After all, I do consider it somewhat like a hobby as well.

Azul: Even now, I can't help but think that the display in the window of the general store is easy to browse and makes for good inspira… tion…?

Silver: Zzz… Zzz…

Azul: It looks to me like there is someone asleep on the bench in front of the general store, despite the chilly weather… Eh, [Yuu]-san, you see him too?

[Yuu nods]

Silver: Zzz… Zzz…

Azul: Which must mean that I am not seeing things. Although I wouldn't've minded if I had been.

Azul: …Silver-san. Good morning… GOOD MORNING!

Silver: …Hmm, Azul? And [Yuu], too. Oh, thank you for waking me up, I appreciate it.

Silver: …Is that the outfit what they provided for showcasing and filming a location in town?

Azul: Yes, very astute of you. We came across you on our way to our shoot location.

Silver: I see. I apologize for interrupting your journey. It may not be much in the ways of an apology, but please allow me to be of assistance.

Azul: Ehh? You're willing to help…?

Azul: ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T MIND～!? I accept. More hands make light work. Please, join us.

Silver: Right. Feel free to ask me for whatever help you may need.

[Sage‘s Island – Foothill Town]

Roll camera!

Azul: "My name is Azul Ashengrotto. I am a sophomore at Night Raven College."

Azul: "I serve as the Housewarden of Octavinelle, the dorm based on the Sea Witch's spirit of benevolence. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Azul: "The place I would like to showcase today is an essential facility that provides indispensable support to all those living on this island."

Azul: "I also have the pleasure of making frequent visits, myself. The location in question is… THE SAGE'S ISLAND TOWN HALL!

Silver: The town hall, hm.

Azul: "I shall be covering the facilities and services that they provide which are quite beneficial, but are not commonly known. I do hope they will be of use."

Azul: …That should be it for the opening shot. Silver-san, [Yuu]-san, your thoughts?

Silver: I don't know anything about the town hall… So this was educational. You truly know your stuff, Azul.

Azul: It's only natural to do research into the available infrastructure where you'd be living for quite some time. Now then, let us head into the building.

―Sage's Island・Town Hall

Azul: We are starting here in the lobby. Everyone, have you checked the neighborhood council's notice board?

Silver: The notice board…? This must be it. There seems to be all sorts of fliers posted here.

Azul: That's correct. For example… Right here there is an emergency response drill notice.

Azul: Now then, Silver-san and [Yuu]-san, what comes to mind when you see this flier?

Silver: Well, I would keep my schedule open so that I would be able to participate. …What about you, [Yuu]?

[Yuu answers]

Azul: …I see. Thank you, the both of you.

Azul: Just as you said, Silver-san, the primary purpose of this flier is most likely to disseminate information on the date and time of the drill.

Azul: However, we cannot forget this: Behind this simple notice is the heartfelt thoughts of the island's council for the citizens of this town…

Silver: WHA…!

Silver: That's amazing, Azul… Even though it isn't written on the paper itself, you've grasped the true feelings of the people who posted it!

Azul: …Heh. Heheh. Well, of course! Absolutely!

Azul: My word, Silver-san, you truly understand me! I am now more than ever pleased that we brought you along!

Azul: [Yuu]-san, did you capture that exchange between us on film properly? If it's necessary, we can re-enact it once more…

[Yuu nods]

Azul: Good, you did record it all. This absolutely must be a part of the video… After all, it's wonderfully honest feedback from a fellow classmate!

Silver: I'm not sure I understand… But I'm glad it made you happy, Azul.

Azul: Ahem. Shall we return to filming?

Azul: Anyone is allowed to utilize this notice board. You'll find various requests, like those searching for someone to adopt a cat, or help find a lost item.

Azul: However, there may be those who wish for a consult, but do not wish to make it known to the public, is there not?

Azul: If you ever find yourself in such a predicament, please reach out and contact me, Azul Ashengrotto!

Azul: From business advice to romantic troubles, I will provide assistance with the highest confidentiality. For a reasonable fee, of course.

Silver: You're looking out for both the staff here, as well as the everyday person… You're a kind soul. How splendid.

Azul: Heheh. Oh, a kind soul, and splendid, you say? Silver-san, you truly speak with such straightforward honesty!

[Sage‘s Island – Bonbon Recette]

Silver: Is it truly alright for me to accompany the two of you to this patisserie as well?

Azul: Absolutely. We won't be able to finish off the cake provided to us with just the two of us…

Azul: And you were a wonderful help as well, Silver-san. Please, stay with us until the end.

Silver: In that case, I'll gladly join.

Silver: My apologize, I'd completely forgotten to give you your well wishes. Happy Birthday, Azul.

1. Happy Birthday! 2. The cake looks really delicious!

Azul: Thank you very much. Now then, I suppose I should try these special-made bonbon chocolates.

Azul: Oh, this flavor…! They must have used extremely high-quality cacao beans. The taste of these ingredients are on a whole other level.

Azul: Come now, you two. Please enjoy these sweets with me.

Jade is wiping the sweat off of his face in the locker rooms when one of his Octavinelle classmates approaches him. “Hey, Azul’s calling for you,” he says. “He’s by the gates right now.”

“Oh?” Jade looks up in confusion. “I thought Floyd was supposed to be with him right now.”

“Well, he’s not there now,” the classmate replies while scratching his head. “They need more backup and Azul’s calling for you.” 

“Ah, I see.” He smiles. “I shall be there, then.”

The classmate leaves the locker rooms, leaving Jade all by himself. The rest of the class has already left, eager for lunch. 

Jade slows down in cleaning himself up.

Azul’s name brings back a rip that’s been tearing at his heart. It burns in the way that electricity probably burns, maybe to a lesser degree: his body stops working the way it usually does, and his chest still reels from a shock of pain. It’s not physical by any means, though by the Sea Witch, he wishes it was. It would have been so much easier to deal with. He’d be shipped to the best hospital, all bills easily paid for, and he’d be recovering well back in Octavinelle. Or if he dies, then that is that. No more pain to feel.

No, it’s a harder kind of pain. It’s the kind of pain that makes him want to tear flesh and bone with teeth and claws, the kind of hurt that urges him to destroy a ship, the kind of ache that makes him want to burn his already burning eyes. It’s the kind of pain that won’t go away even if he does all three.

Jade breathes in. Hold it. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe in… breathe out…

He cannot afford to lose himself now, whether by wrath or by tears. 

He packs his bags, changes back to his uniform, and leaves the lockers. His light footsteps are overshadowed by the sounds of enthusiastic jogs to the cafeteria in the corridors. Jade takes a moment to breathe in the afternoon sunny air, letting out a bit more of his worries out of his lungs before he walks down the stairs and through Main Street. 

And soon, he finds himself nearing the tall gates of the school, where a group of students are gathered around large boxes. 

It annoys Jade that the gleam of silver hair stirs mixed emotions. On one hand, his troubles are dashed completely from seeing the very person he keeps close. On the other hand, it is the same person who’s making him go through hell.

He swiftly shifts his focus to the situation in front of him. Some of the other boxes should have been on the way to the Mostro Lounge by this time, yet there are still several of them that the other Octavinelle students have to carry. It isn’t surprising—after all, they decided to upgrade a few things, in preparation for the next dorm leader. Supplies that a simple run to Sam’s shop won’t cover, no matter how much he claims to have it all in stock. 

“Be extra careful with that. That tableware costs us quite a fortune.” Standing by the boxes with a clipboard resting on his arm, Azul watches his dorm mates as he writes notes on the clipboard. He has his dorm leader facade on, serious and stern, but even from a distance, Jade can see his slightly nervous gaze towards the supplies. 

As another pair leaves with a heavy box, Azul looks at them before his eyes fall on him. “Jade, good you made it on time.”

“Hello, Azul,” Jade greets. “I thought that Floyd was supposed to help with the supplies.”

“Well, he’s not here now,” Azul answers, frowning from annoyance. “I was wondering if you had any idea as to where he is right now.”

“I don’t. His history class should have ended 10 minutes ago.” 

“Hmph, nevermind. We need to get all of this into the lounge.” He gestures to the boxes. “All the boxes are complete, and we’ll do a final count of all the supplies once everything has been moved there.”

“I see.” Jade nods. “Will you need me to assist you?”

“No, you may enjoy your lunch break after helping us move these boxes,” Azul answers. “I’ll be making my next successor do that. It’s a part of his learning, after all.” 

“Ah. I see.” 

It annoys him to feel that same shock of hurt returning to his chest. 

A bemused look crosses Azul’s face. “Does that offend you,” he teases. “I never took you for one to be tilted by that.”

Jade blinks. “Why Azul, whatever makes you think I’d be offended over that?” He smiles, with a bit more effort than he’s used to. “You must be imagining things from how little rest you have in passing on your position to the little siren.”

“You exaggerate.” He keeps his clipboard and pen into his bag. “We need to move. Jade, carry that box over there.” He points to one of the smaller boxes, marked with the word FRAGILE, and picks up another box. 

And wordlessly, Jade follows, carrying a box that must contain brand new tea sets. New tea sets that remind him that a new dorm leader and manager of the Mostro Lounge will take over. 

That his term and Azul’s will end because they’ll move up to 4th year and go their separate ways. 

Jade resists the urge to break them. He’ll carry these then find Floyd. 

Back at home, the schools of fish would band together, staying close until Floyd swam past them, splitting their perfect formation. Together, apart. Together, apart. 

Together. Apart.

Separation was not new to Floyd at all. In an “eat or be eaten” world, fish and merfolk alike live with the thought that the people closest to them may be gone the next day. Floyd has hunted before, has fought before. He’s even the one who said goodbye to his parents when leaving for Night Raven College.

But he said goodbye with the promise of seeing them again after school is done. 

He stares down at the river that runs below the bridge. This spot is rarely ever frequented by students at lunchtime, if only because everyone else is either eating in the canteen, having meetings, or just being with friends, and the bridge is on the other path away from the Hall of Mirrors. Besides Octavinelle, it feels the closest to home on this campus: here, he can watch the current flow, and the fish that live below its clean stream. 

Home, huh? Floyd wonders if home will still feel like home once he returns from Night Raven College. 

It will be the same dark passageways and bioluminescent lights, the same faces but all grown up. Except that he isn’t a child that can pick fights with anyone and nab their scales as a prize, he is to be stuck with running the family business of making deals, expanding connections, beating up people who betray their trust. Pretty much like what he already does with Azul now. 

Except that the boss that would stand with him and Jade is not Azul at all. 

The fish in the river swim with no obstacle in their path. They may split apart to avoid the occasional rock, but they would be together again. Together, apart. Together. In the small space that they share, there is no vast ocean that opens up new paths for them to split ways. Not until they swim down the cliff and into the open sea. 

Floyd has never envied river dwellers until now. 

Jade walks behind Azul going to Mostro Lounge. It’s something of a routine that started in Night Raven College. When Azul walks, he and Floyd follow him from behind. He doesn’t remember how or when it started. Probably started to make Azul’s image look powerful: he is in the front, wearing a coat that imposes authority, and Jade and Floyd standing at the back makes him look almost impossible to touch. 

Regardless of the hows or the whys, it’s a position that has always given him comfort. From behind, Jade can watch Azul. He can see if Azul is pleased with something by the bounce in his step, or if he’s pissed by the clack of his heels. And from the front, Azul can’t read Jade since he’s always looking forward, and that lets Jade startle him with a random brutal teasing remark. 

Right now, though, he wishes to not look at Azul. 

Azul appears to be beaming, and Jade knows exactly why. He’s found the perfect successor for not only leadership of Octavinelle but also manager for his prized restaurant. He’s gotten accepted in all the places he applied for his internship. 

He’s gotten accepted already into the university that he aims to go to.

Jade vividly remembers the way Azul grinned from ear to ear when he received the email. He remembers the audible, “Yes! Yes, I got in!” that almost sounded teary-eyed. He remembers Floyd saying that they should celebrate over some drinks. He remembers smiling to the best of his abilities while saying congratulations for being accepted. 

That was two weeks ago. He’s said many fake things in his life, and he would never say sorry for them. But until now, the heartless congratulations weighs heavily in his conscience. 

It’s simple, really: Azul has been working hard all his life to achieve his dreams. And Jade was there to witness the journey, from the ideas to the headaches to the defeats to the victories. It’s a huge milestone for Azul to get to stay on land and study in a place where he feels he will thrive. So it’s unfair really, to not be able to celebrate such an achievement happily. 

And yet, Jade can’t bring himself to. 

Their relationship started as something transactional. Tweels keep his secrets, Azul lets them in his plans. Tweels support him, Azul entertains them. And if Azul fails to entertain, then they will drop him like plastic to the chute. There and done. That’s supposed to be their relationship. 

So why then does it hurt to hear that Azul got accepted? Why does it hurt to think about how in a few months, he won’t see Azul as much as the present? Why does it hurt to think about the uncertainty of when they will see each other again? 

“Jade, you can put down the box over there.”

Jade blinks. He’s at Mostro Lounge. Has he been so deep in thought that he didn’t realize when he arrived?

Schooling his expression, he puts down the box on the counter that Azul gestures to, unaware of the concerned expression on Azul’s face. 

Floyd doesn’t know when he started staring into nothingness to gaze at memories, but he’s now seeing the stone stage from middle school, where his younger self is playing drums to his brother’s bass and someone’s piano. 

He remembers, he was getting irritated with the piano melody, and at the time he couldn’t pinpoint why, except that it lacked something. Now that he thinks about it, it’s because that pianist’s playing had no life. No vigor, no passion, just technique that wouldn’t get anyone dancing. “Next,” he had said and stopped playing. The pianist was protesting. Floyd forgot what he said, just that he protested that he wasn’t done playing, but he didn’t care enough to hear about it.

“Everyone sucks, Jade,” he threw his sticks to the ground. “No one’s good enough to be part of our band. Let’s just go.” And he and Jade—who was bigger than him at the time—left the small auditorium of their school. And it’s a blur, Floyd doesn’t remember why he and Jade didn’t go home right away, but he remembers very well the syncopated melodies coming from the piano they forgot to close. 

And he remembers the gasp he made, the way his heart was stirred from how alive the music sounded. 

And he remembers how quickly he swam back inside to see who’s playing, and his wide-eyed gaze when he spotted the familiar octopus.

“Hey hey, that was so cool,” he said to the flustered Azul. “Play some more, play some more!” 

“Huh? No way, I have to go soon!”

But he didn’t let him go. He insisted he play the piano as he picked up his sticks and played a beat. “Come on, just one song! Then you can go!”

And he started his beat. And when it was just him for a long moment, Floyd had wondered if Azul left. But the sound of an E minor reached his ears, and the next moment, Azul’s playing was matching to the beat of the drums. And his music had heart. It had spirit, it had technique, it had passion. 

And the best part? Azul matched his rhythm when nobody else did. 

“I knew I’d find you here, Floyd.”

Eyes turning away from his reflection in the water, Floyd looks up to the face that he’s known since birth. Jade, impeccably presentable despite having PE class earlier, walks towards Floyd, leaning on the railing of the bridge he stands on. But he does not go near him. 

“What do you want,” Floyd asks. 

“We had a new batch of supplies arrive at the Lounge today,” Jade answers. “You were supposed to help out with the unpacking.”

He only answers with a curt hum before turning back to the water below. 

He hears a sigh. And footsteps approaching.

“You’re thinking about last last week, aren’t you?”

Floyd turns again to Jade. He’s by the bridge railing now, same side as him, but he continues to keep a respectable distance. Jade doesn’t look at him directly either, his gaze directed at the horizon ahead of them. 

He’s thinking about it too.

“Yeah, you could say that,” he answers. “It’s just, really ass, y’know?”

Floyd believes that in spite of their identical genetics, they are two people with different identities, dreams, and beliefs. And don’t get him wrong, it is a lot better that way to have individuality. But deep down, there is a comfort knowing that Jade probably feels the same feeling that leaves Floyd dizzy with frustration, that binds his chest with a mix of anger and sadness. And Sea Witch knows, Floyd needs that comfort now. 

“‘Ass’, you say,” Jade repeats. “Tell me about it.” 

A beat of silence passes between them. 

“It’s just that. It takes half a fish brain to know that Azul’s got grand plans after graduation. Get into the best business school, build his own corporation, build another company, and a third company. And I’ve known this for Sea Witch knows how long, and it was all fine, I didn’t care that much, but then…”

“...But then the letter came in.” Jade fills in. 

“Yeah,” Floyd emphatically answers. “That damned acceptance letter from whosit business university came in. Like, I don’t know why, but it just made everything feel… real. That Azul’s really gonna go somewhere else. And I hate that it’s been hitting me like this for the last two weeks. I can’t focus well, I’m pissed off, Trein’s told me off about sleeping. It’s so ass.”

The silent air between the twins weighs heavier. Floyd’s eyes briefly look at the fish in the river again—the damned fish that he wants to throw a rock at so they separate too—before he turns to Jade. “How ‘bout you? Was it also the letter?”

Jade doesn’t answer right away. Floyd understands; in moments like these, Jade hesitates to speak his mind, even to him. It’s part of their nature to be cowardly, after all, just that Jade exhibits it more between the two of them. 

“... Somehow, yes, but if I were to think about it… it’s actually been a while now,” he finally answers.

“Eh? Really?”

“I knew down the line that there would be farewells to be made,” Jade says. “Like you said, Azul has already made plans for himself, and he invests in those plans, years in advance. But there’s always that part of me that wonders… if there’s space for us in those plans.” 

Floyd finds himself inhaling sharply at those words. 

“I see his goals coming to fruition, and it pains me to say that I can’t even properly support him. The letter, the new supplies, the little siren he’s going to appoint… they’re all reminders that it will all change.” Jade smiles, but in pain. “Azul won’t be the dorm leader, I won’t be the vice leader, and we won’t do the things we used to do. And we won’t see each other until perhaps the next VDC. And when we graduate… would he call an end to our agreements? Would we grow so busy that we become strangers again? We would always say that our relationship is merely transactional and that we would leave him if we get bored, but…”

Jade stops, and the air weighs even heavier. Floyd feels taken back to the first day on land, when breathing with lungs felt heavy and difficult. 

Suddenly, Jade laughs. “What clownfish have we become?”

Floyd too joins his twin in mirth. “Can’t help it, Azul makes me feel understood.”

He raises a brow. “Is it gonna be about the first time you played together with him?”

“I mean, it’s how it started,” he answers. He doesn’t realize the small smile that settles on his face as he remembers once more. “Like, back then, everyone just kinda avoided, y’know? And that’s fine, at least, I thought it was. ‘Twas fun and all to be intimidating. But no matter what I’d do, Azul always matches me. He knows exactly what to play to my rhythm. And even in how we work, he knows what’s the stuff I’d like to do or the stuff I’d do well in. It just feels nice.”

It feels too nice. 

Too nice that if it disappears, it will leave his heart bound tightly by melancholy. 

“…Hey, I can’t be the only sappy one here.” Floyd eyes Jade. “C’mon Jade, share too what’s made you appreciate Azul.”

“I already shared a lot earlier,” Jade says defensively.

“Heyyy, be fair at least. I know you have your own thing.”

“What else is there to say? You already said everything.”

“Liar. I know how you started reading your books more after meeting him.” 

“So? Those were lessons that we had to learn as well.”

“Uh huh sure. Then explain why you’ve only gotten better in everything you do after meeting Azul.”

Jade glares at him. 

Floyd grins in response. “Gotcha.”

A beat of silence, then Jade sighs. “If he makes you feel understood, then he makes me feel capable.”

“How so?”

“One reason.” He puts up one free hand, with one finger up. “He’s demanding.”

Floyd chuckles. “That’s an understatement.”

“You’re right.” Jade grins, teeth flashing. “He’s exigent. Making us run around the school to do 5 things at once, on top of schoolwork. Even before NRC, he was just like that. I assumed he was insane. Until now, I still think he’s insane.”

“You say that, but you don’t look like you’re complaining at all.”

“Because thanks to that, I wasn’t pretending to be good at something anymore.” His next smile is closed. Softer. “I went from barely comprehending a textbook and barely lifting a seashell with my magic to understanding contract language and unlocking my unique ability. He made me do things, and I planned to just make someone else do it and pretend it was me.” 

“Ohhh.” Floyd’s eyes widened with remembrance. “And then he caught you.”

“Yes.” Jade shakes his head at the thought. “And I was expecting him to laugh at me, but he didn’t. All he did was sigh and teach me. Magic, studies, law, something about the way he taught those things clicked something in me. And even the things that he didn’t teach but always talked about, like culinary and how people behave, I was able to absorb things and got better. Dare I say,” a smirk forms on his face, “I’m better than Azul in some things.”

“Like flight class.” Floyd grins.

“Like flight class,” Jade repeats smugly. 

And they stop talking. Jade turns his gaze to the distant horizon, looking at something farther than the blue of the sky. Meanwhile, Floyd glances back at the river. He understands that Jade is done talking personal. But it’s fine for him. He can almost hear the unspoken thoughts. Once Azul leaves, who’s going to be the pianist in their little band that makes their every day exciting? Once Azul leaves, who’s going to tell them that they can do it? 

Once Azul leaves, who’s going to understand them?

“So this is where you two are.”

Simultaneously, Floyd and Jade whip their heads around. Floyd swears his heart almost leapt to his chest when he saw those familiar blue eyes. 

One hand in his pocket, Azul stands on the threshold of the bridge. He and Jade fully turn around as he walks towards them until he’s directly in front of both of them. 

“Hello, Azul,” Jade greets, like the conversation a while ago never happened. “How was teaching your next successor what he has to do?”

“Went well,” he answers. “His prior experiences already reassure me, but he’s also demonstrated that he knows what he’s doing. Currently, he and our other dorm mates are taking care of the supplies.”

“Weird that you’re not being so strict, considering how much you value your restaurant,” Floyd comments. “You’re not even gonna be there to make sure nothing’s going wrong?”

“I trust that things are going well with my new successor in charge. I’ve taught him very well enough,” Azul says. “But more importantly… I have matters to discuss with the both of you.”

He turns his head to look at Jade. “Jade, you’ve been out of focus lately. Just a while ago, when you were bringing the box of teacups to the lounge, you were so deep in thought, you didn’t look like you were aware of where you were going. And even during work hours, you haven’t been as sharp as you usually are. A few professors have commented on your slouched posture as well.”

Jade’s eyes widen in surprise. 

“And Floyd.” Azul turns to look at Floyd. “Professors have reported to me that you’ve either been asleep during lectures or interrupting class with an outburst. You’ve also been moodier than usual, and it shows in your cooking and your behavior. I’ve heard a few students rant about you in group projects.”

Floyd briefly remembers the group mate that approached him earlier. 

“So what are you getting at exactly, Azul,” Jade asks. “Even we have our off days as well.”

Azul casts him a pointed look. “Off days for two weeks straight.” 

He receives no quip in reply. 

He crosses his arms. “Jade, Floyd.” His neutral serious tone changes. It quivers slightly. He’s worried. “I know you two well enough that there’s something going on. Is there something that happened?”

Floyd looks away. Jade does as well.

Floyd hates the concern in his tone. It makes him want to break. It makes him want to be upfront about his feelings and how it’s been bothering him. 

But how can someone like him really tell someone like Azul that you’re afraid to lose him somehow? How can he retract all the times he said that their relationship is all transaction and no emotional connection? How do you even start bearing something so vulnerable? 

They must be the same questions that Jade is grappling with now. Jade, who’s usually good at worming his way out of any conversation, has nothing to say to leave this topic. 

Azul sighs, breaking the long silence. “Is this something that has to do with me?”

The twins stiffen. 

Floyd can feel Azul’s gaze towards him. 

A tense moment passes. 

“... I had a feeling.”

He finally looks at him but in confusion. Jade is also facing him with wide eyes. 

Azul exhales through his nose. “You don’t have to tell me anything about what you’re feeling right now. If at all.” He turns around, preparing to leave. His head is bowed down, not letting either twin see his expression. “But I just want to let you know, I’m always here if you need me. Not just for this, but for anything, even if in the future.”

Floyd’s breath hitches.

“Do you… really mean that?” Jade asks, almost meekly.

Azul looks at Jade in puzzlement. “Why wouldn’t I? You two have been with me for all these years, even in my weakest hours. It’s not like I’m going to leave you even after we graduate.”

“Really,” Floyd asks. “Even when you get really busy with university and we’re running our family business?”

“Well, I won’t deny that we will be busy,” he answers. “But I’m not letting go of you two just because of that. You know me too well, after all. And you’ve supported me all these years, it would be embarrassing to leave that unpaid.”

“You mean that?”

“Have I ever broken a promise? If you want, I can even put that on a contract and have you sign it.”

In one single breath, the binding sadness and worry that tightened Floyd’s chest leaves. 

Without thinking, he moves towards Azul and wraps his arms around his slim frame. He ignores the surprised gasp as he buries his face on his shoulder. His breathing feels lighter than it has ever been the past two weeks. 

He feels Jade joining in, hugging Azul from the other side and burying his face on the other shoulder. His breathing sounds even to any person, but to Floyd, he can hear a slight quiver, like Jade is trying to hold back tears. 

“Is… is this what it’s been all about, all this time,” Azul finally asks. His hands move to pat their heads, a motion that always comforted the twins. “You two are strange for worrying about this type of thing.” 

So many eyes followed you - hungry, covetous, and far from innocent. Their gazes lacked honor, their intentions anything but pure. But Ashengrotto saw it all, and he would not allow such creatures to linger near what was his. Let him take care of you, handle those who dare imagine they could ever compare to him. For Azul knew -  without arrogance, but with certainty - that none of them would ever be honored to touch you. None of them would ever come close to knowing the depth of what you shared, the intimacy that bloomed quietly but completely between you and him. He smiled as his eyes traced the delicate curves of your form, laid bare, naked before him. You tried, shyly, to hide yourself, but Azul gently captured your hands, refusing to let you retreat. "There’s no need to hide from me…". He understood shame very well - however, you were just too perfect.

His lips trailed from your mouth to the delicate slope of your neck, lingering there like a prayer whispered in devotion - or obsession. His hands ghosted over your skin  as though he feared you might disappear if he didn’t memorize every inch. But beneath the softness, there was hunger - raw, ravenous, brutal. He had waited so long… too long. And now, you were finally his. The moment he had craved with a patience that bordered on madness had arrived: to become one with you, to bind your soul to his in the most intimate, irreversible way. It was no longer just a fantasy. It was a divine defilement, the most exquisite sin. And he knew that no one else had touched you. No one else had tasted what was meant only for him. That untouched part of you… that sacred, unspoiled purity… it drove him mad with longing. Could you blame him? Could you fault him for wanting to ruin you beautifully, completely? To mark you so thoroughly that no man would ever dare dream of you again? Your breath caught as his lips descended lower, until he buried himself where you were most vulnerable. There, he worshiped you not like a saint, but like a sinner. There, he found his own sanctuary.

His tongue moved with slow precision - each motion claiming over what he now considered entirely his. That hidden, delicate place  never meant for anyone but him. You were his forbidden fruit, ripe and trembling beneath his touch, and now, at last, he was tasting the sweetness he’d longed for in silence. Your body betrayed you with each shiver, each stifled sound, and Azul watched, studied every twitch and every gasp. Those soft, broken moans you tried to bite back only made his hunger strong. Did you still not understand? There was no need to hide from him. He wanted those sounds - he needed them. He absolutely needed to hear you fall apart so completely, to consume every single moan that escaped from your lips and rebuild you - shaped only for him and the shape of his own dick. Every sigh, every desperate movement etched deeper into his soul. And with the flick of his tongue, he dragged you closer to the edge, refusing to let you fall until it was on his terms.

The friction - once overwhelming - now felt like a mere tease, a spark too small to match the inferno building within you. Your body pulsed, slick and desperate, aching for more - and Azul saw it all. Every quiver, every helpless twitch under his touch, every moan - it delighted him. With a soft hum of approval, he deepened his focus, tongue moving faster now, no longer teasing, but demanding your own climax. He played with that sensitive spot with a deliberate and practiced ease, motions coaxing your body closer to the edge as his fingers joined the symphony, sliding into you with precision and purpose. And when you finally reached your peak, trembling and breathless, that lewd, broken moan slipping past your lips like a confession, Azul paused only to drink in the sight of you.

Completely undone. Beautifully vulnerable. His.

But this was only the beginning. With careful movements, he stood, peeling away his clothes with a quiet elegance, as though unveiling something sacred. His body, pale and lithe, now bared to the moonlight - after years, he finally carried his body with no shame, only pride. Azul approached you again, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as he hovered over your weakened form. But before he could press further, before lust could reclaim him, he leaned in and kissed you. It wasn’t hurried. It wasn’t greedy. It felt so genuine… Like he was savouring a dessert served by the gods. You kissed him eagerly, letting your lips linger against his in a quiet echo of all that had passed between you. When the kiss faded, your eyes met his. Those eyes… Something in them made you want to trust him completely. To hand over the pieces of yourself you’d never dared to share.

Finally, he slipped inside you - slowly, deeply - until there was no space left between you, no breath unshared. The heat of your body enveloped him like a silken trap and Azul let out a low, strangled breath, his entire frame trembling with the force of restraint. He had imagined this moment too many times, dreamed of the feeling of being joined with you so intimately it nearly drove him mad. And now… now it was real. The warmth, the tightness, the sheer rightness of your body accepting him - it was more than he’d prepared for and there was no going back. His movements started slow, but with every thrust, control frayed at the edges. He wanted to savor this, to make it last - to carve it into both your bodies as something unforgettable. But the way you gripped him, the way your body trembled beneath his… it was taking control from his sick mind way too quickly.

You clenched the sheets, lips parted in gasping moans as you tried to surrender to the pleasure and not the ache that lingered in your core. The sting was real - but so was the overwhelming sensation swallowing it whole. Little by little, the discomfort faded, replaced by a tide of ecstasy that dragged you deeper with each thrust. Your moans rose unbidden now and Azul soaked in them like a man starved. You were no longer trying to hide your beauty - you were his. The bed creaked beneath you, the room filled with the sound of skin and heavy breathing. The male’s eyes never left yours, even as sweat clung to his skin, even as his pace grew faster, deeper.

Azul was drunk, utterly intoxicated. Not with wine, not with beer, but with you. With the heat of your body around him, the sounds spilling from your lips, the way your soul seemed to tremble beneath his every thrust. He was high on lust, yes - but beneath that was something far more potent, maybe even selfish. Pride. No contract had been signed tonight/ no ink, no parchment. And yet, this moment, this act between you was more binding than any formal agreement. Flesh to flesh, soul to soul - this was the true seal, the mark that couldn’t be broken. And even if your heart someday strayed, even if your voice no longer whispered his name with affection, it wouldn’t matter. Because you could never take this from him. No one else would ever touch you like this for the first time. That memory was eternal. His claim was eternal. And if he had to earn your love over and over again, he would. With grand gestures, glittering jewels, silken clothes, whispered promises… or with this - you beneath him, gasping, breaking.

That thought - the twisted fantasy of you loving him again because of how well he could make you feel - sent a wave of heat crashing through his body. His pace grew faster, harsher, more desperate, as if trying to mold your body to his, as if he could burn this memory into your skin. He felt you tightening around him, your breath hitching, your thighs beginning to tremble. He knew you were close and the knowledge snapped the last thread of composure he had left. He moved frantically now, chasing your climax like it was the answer to everything, and, when you finally cried out his name, back arching, mouth open in a moan that echoed like a confession, he followed - falling with you into sin and painting your insides with that beautiful white fluid. He held you tightly as he spilled into you, burying his face in your neck with a groan that trembled like a vow - because what could possibly be more romantic than losing yourself completely inside the one you swore you’d never let go?