#poll propaganda

There had to be something he was doing wrong. What that slight could possibly be, however, Azul had no clue. He tried just about everything—Offering beneficial contracts, flowers... Hades, he’d even tried music! But every attempt to earn your affection had gotten him nowhere. 

You sneered at every offer. Handed the flowers off to Grim. Put earbuds in over the music.  

Azul was at his wit’s end here. And he hated it. Being in love was painful enough. To be losing at the game was even worse. 

All he wanted was to move on. You were a hopeless cause, so he should just cut his losses and pretend he never felt this way about you to begin with. But every time you sauntered into the lounge, laughing, teasing, cheerfully sipping on your favorite drink while doing your classwork, he was painfully reminded why he adored you so. 

Your voice was gentle. Even at your loudest, he wanted to listen to you speak for hours. He normally loathed being the subject of jokes, but he could accept your taunts. They were playful challenges, each demanding him to answer, and the longer he could talk to you, the better. He had your orders memorized, even going so far as to prepare your drink in advance, as you usually came to the lounge at the same time each day. 

“I just don’t understand,” Azul sighed, leaning back in his chair and spinning a pen between his fingers. 

“Understand what?” Jade asked, leaning against Azul’s desk. He looked up at him, giving a sly smirk that Azul had long sense come to dread. “This wouldn’t happen to be about our dear Prefect, would it?” 

An image of you flashed through is mind, and Azul’s fidgeting stilled for a brief moment before he recovered. “What? No, of course not. My apologies, I’m simply... Thinking out loud.” 

“Thinking about Shrimpy~?” Floyd teased, looming over Azul’s right shoulder before slinking to the other side of his desk, mirroring his brother.  

“No!” Azul huffed, shooing them both away from his desk and pulling out a folder of unfinished papers. “Besides, they’ve made very clear they want nothing to do with me.” 

Floyd snorted in response. “Yeah, and that sure does bother you, doesn’t it?”  

Before Azul could begin to defend himself, Jade chimed in, adding, “Perhaps that’s all just an act. Surely you, of all people, should see through such a flimsy scheme, yes?” He suggested it so matter of fact, leaving no room to argue.  

But argue Azul would, nevertheless. “Exactly, I’d know. I’m no fool.” 

The twins both looked up at each other, sneering.  

This was going to be a long day, wasn’t it? 

“For a self-proclaimed expert in these matters, you sure seem to miss all the signs,” Jade chided, getting closer to Azul’s face. He refused to move backwards, but he desperately wanted to retreat into the quiet darkness of underneath his desk. 

“What in Seven’s name are you talking about?!” He exclaimed.  

Floyd shook his head. “Man, you’re so boring... Just talk to Shrimpy, won’t ’cha?” 

“Or better yet, let us talk to them,” Jade rested his chin in his hand, which was perched against all of Azul’s nicely organized paperwork. “We’ll handle--” 

“Absolutely not! And move your arm!” Azul pulled his folders away. He’d just work on them later.  

“Awww, you’re no fun,” Floyd whined, standing up and slinking to the door. “But really though, Shrimpy’s out in the lobby. And they were looking for you~!” 

Azul’s posture stiffened. You? Waiting for him? At this hour? He checked his watch to ensure he wasn’t running behind or something of the like. No, you had come to the lounge early. “You should have said that in the first place,” he huffed, standing up. “Instead of fooling about.” 

Floyd rolled his eyes, pushing the VIP room door open with his foot. “Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?”  

Jade picked up Azul’s folders. “I can work on these, while you’re busy.” 

“No, I’ll finish them myself. Thank you very much,” Azul chided, following Floyd out the door. “Just get back to work.” 

Jade trailed behind, clearly just wanting to enjoy whatever show was about to occur.  

As Floyd said, you sat in a booth nestled against the glass walls of the lounge, ignoring your surroundings to study a fish swimming in circles about a single patch of corals. It was pitiful, watching the poor thing wander aimlessly, and Azul couldn’t help but wonder if you saw him the same way. Just a pathetic creature with no purpose but circling the same object.  

He stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Can I get you something?” He asked.  

You didn’t look at him right away. He shifted his weight awkwardly. He hated this suffocating feeling. When you finally looked up at him, your eyes narrowed, a look of pure distaste on your face. Azul looked away. He felt small, and embarrassed, and all he really wanted to do was curl up somewhere dark far away from your scrutiny.  

“Nah, I’m just getting some work done,” you replied, pulling out a notebook and pencil. You knew well the lounge rules—That an order had to be placed to stay on the property—But wanted to test the waters. 

Azul nodded. “... That’s good,” he said. 

“Seriously? You’re just gonna let me?” You laughed, propping your elbows up on the table. “You’ve gone all soft, Azul! What happened to the guy who had me put to work for the crime of waiting too long to meet with you?”  

He fixed his glasses, looking for something to do with his hands while staying as “calm and collected” as possible. What was he supposed to do here? What was the move? Did you want him to lash out? Or let it go? 

It felt like everyone was playing a game he never got the rules for, and he was left just trying to play it right.  

Before he could even decide on a response, Floyd slid up to the table. Azul flinched—He hadn’t even noticed Floyd approaching. 

“Here ya go, Shrimpy! Your usual,” he chirped, holding out a tray with your favorite order... And a second glass, which he handed to Azul. “And for you, that nasty zero-sugar stuff you always drink for some reason.” 

Azul didn’t grab the glass. “Floyd, what are you doing?” 

You hesitantly reached out and lifted the Dr. Pepper off the tray, setting it down on the table without drinking it. “Y-Yeah, Floyd, I didn’t even order.” 

Floyd rolled his eyes, pushing Azul’s drink against his chest and forcing him to grab it. “Yeah, but you’re always here all the time, so I assumed you wanted something,” his eyes narrowed as he grinned, head tilted to the side as he looked down at you. “Unless you have a reason to be here besides orderin’.”  

“Floyd-” Azul tried to interrupt, but you cut him off. 

“A-Absolutely not!” You stumbled, cheeks turning a coral pink. “Or I mean... I’m studying! That’s all! Don’t need anything else!”  

Wait, were you blushing? Azul stared in disbelief as you sheepishly looked up at him before staring at the fizzy drink in front of you.  

“Oh yeaaaah?” Floyd pushed Azul into the chair across from yours without a second thought, making Azul spill a few drops from his glass onto his uniform.  

He’d be upset, if he wasn’t so distracted.  

You kept looking at him, and looking away, and... Well, now, you almost looked angry.  

And, embarrassingly, Azul found he adored that expression on you. The way your eyebrows crinkled together, and your lips turned into an annoyed pout was adorable, whether he liked it or not.  

“Because Shrimpy, I’m starting to think maaaybe you’re here for something else,” Floyd teased. “Like seeing a certain Azul over here--” 

“Oh Floyd, just go away!” You snapped, covering your face with your textbook. “No one asked. I’m trying to study!”  

Floyd huffed in annoyance before giving Azul a snide grin before sauntering off.  

A minute of awkward silence passed. 

“... My apologies,” Azul finally said, reaching out to lower the book before pulling his hand away and folding it in his lap. “For interrupting your work.” 

You ignored him for another moment before setting the textbook down and slowly taking a sip of the drink. For once, you didn’t look at him with contempt, at least for a little bit. 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Can you leave me alone now?” You mumbled, voice lacking the usual sting.  

Azul smiled. He was maybe starting to get the hang of this.