a jamiazu crumb... I really love that azul is only mentioning jamil here, instead of just saying "the others" or even mentioning ruggie 😭 azul has one priority when it comes to people, and it is jamil viper
I also want to mention, he and lilia got into a little trouble because their styles don't gel well together (lilia is more of a "charge in first" kind of guy). and I'm not saying this wouldn't have happened if he was paired with jamil, but I'm not not saying that. book 6 does come to mind—the scene where idia says that azul and jamil have very similar approaches to fighting (“calm and efficient, or maybe just stalling and using people as shields”). which could mean nothing. or it could mean that their inevitable collaboration has been written in the stars.
crying. it's just jamil and company to him. jamil et al. oh azul...
it really does feel like every book since jamil's overblot foreshadows their working together. there's azul insisting they'd be so good together in book 4 ("How about it? ... You could join forces with me and make a name for yourself.") and 5 ("Octavinelle's doors are always open to you."). then idia in book six, as you mentioned. then jamil in azul's dream in book 7 and the aftermath:
Azul: Ah, what a pity. I was quite looking forward to fighting alongside you, Jamil.
Jamil: Hmph. It's not like this is farewell forever.
which is also interesting because it's the first time jamil doesn't go NOT ON YOUR LIFE! NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY NOT! and instead resigns himself to the fact that azul will be in his life. and even teasingly encourages him. then in 7.5 they have a conversation where jamil admits to their similarities ("you can relate, right?")....
I don't know about written in the stars, but I would certainly say written in the story. Shipping goggles completely off, this is just textbook foreshadowing. These two have been established foils for years and every story they inch closer to working together. They work towards a common goal in books 6 and 7, they have a conversation that completely redefines their relationship and what it represents (7.5), and then they're working towards a common goal again. I am never counting on the authors of Twisted Wonderland to carry their literary devices through, but all the times I thought they dropped the ball I've been proven wrong by the sheer length of their narrative. The point is, they have to work together eventually. Its been a loose thread for years. It's pivotal to their characters. Now is the perfect time to resolve it.