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azul is convinced he's figured you out within the first week of knowing you. you're kind, hardworking, dependable, and somehow willing to help complete strangers with absolutely no expectation of reward. from his perspective, the conclusion is obvious. you're the type of person people take advantage of. the type of person who gives too much and asks for too little. it's a pattern he's seen countless times before. unfortunately for him, that assumption lasts exactly until the first time he attempts to hand you a contract.

the document is perfectly respectable. mostly. there are one or two clauses hidden among the fine print that heavily favor him, but that's simply good business. at least, it is until the contract finds its way back onto his desk covered in annotations. every loophole has been highlighted. every questionable clause has been circled. several sections contain neatly written notes explaining exactly why they're unfair. azul spends a concerning amount of time staring at the pages before slowly looking up at you. you blink back at him completely innocently. when he asks if you actually read the entire thing, you look genuinely confused by the question. of course you did. why wouldn't you? the resulting silence is one of the most humbling experiences of his life.

from that point onward, azul finds himself increasingly fascinated by you. the more he observes, the less sense you make. you spend your free time helping people with assignments. you volunteer whenever someone needs assistance. you offer support without being asked and rarely accept anything in return. it should irritate him. from a purely practical standpoint, it's terribly inefficient. yet every time he waits for you to reveal some hidden motive, he's disappointed. there isn't one. you're simply kind. genuinely, frustratingly kind. the concept bothers him far more than he'd ever admit. azul has spent most of his life viewing relationships through the lens of exchange. everything has a price. everything has value. every interaction is a transaction in one way or another. yet you continue helping people even when there's nothing to gain from it. the more he thinks about it, the more impossible it seems.

what truly throws him off balance, however, is how you treat him. not azul ashengrotto, housewarden of octavinelle. not azul ashengrotto, successful businessman. just azul. when he says something clever, you acknowledge it. when he works hard, you praise him for it. when he's being dramatic, you tell him he's being dramatic. most importantly, when he's being ridiculous, you refuse to indulge him. the first time you catch him trying to work through exhaustion, you're completely unimpressed by his excuses. he insists that he has responsibilities. you point out that he hasn't taken a proper break in hours. he argues that his workload is important. you respond by taking the paperwork out of his hands. the look of betrayal on his face is almost impressive. the fact that he actually listens when you tell him to rest is even more shocking.

the thing azul never expects is how easy it becomes to be around you. most people either fear him, admire him, or want something from him. sometimes all three. you don't seem interested in any of that. you aren't intimidated by his reputation. you aren't dazzled by his accomplishments. you certainly aren't impressed by his attempts to manipulate a conversation in his favor. if anything, you seem to enjoy catching him in the act. more than once he's tried steering a discussion toward a deal that clearly benefits him, only for you to immediately call him out on it. the first few times are embarrassing. after a while, they become strangely comforting. there's something reassuring about knowing you see through him and stay anyway.

over time, azul begins noticing things about you as well. the way you throw yourself into helping others without hesitation. the way you somehow manage to remember everyone's problems while ignoring your own. the way you're always willing to lend a hand, even when you're clearly exhausted. he starts recognizing a familiar pattern. for all your intelligence, you're terrible at taking care of yourself. whenever someone needs help, you're there. whenever you're the one struggling, suddenly it's not important. azul finds the hypocrisy deeply irritating. the first time he catches you skipping meals because you're busy helping someone else, he lectures you for nearly twenty minutes. you retaliate by reminding him of the time he worked himself nearly sick trying to manage the lounge. the argument ends in a draw.

somewhere along the way, admiration becomes affection. azul isn't entirely sure when it happens. perhaps it's during one of your countless debates. perhaps it's when you casually stand up for him during a conversation and act as though it's the most natural thing in the world. perhaps it's the realization that you've never once looked at him with disappointment when he stumbles. whatever the reason, he eventually finds himself staring at you more often than necessary. thinking about you more often than necessary. worrying about you far more than necessary.