Chapter Text
Mostro Lounge always has a string of customers eager to relax in the lounge with a refreshing beverage. Despite Octavinelle’s infamous reputation, the lounge was an ideal place to study, relax, or to hang out with fellow classmates.
Yes, that was the main attraction at the lounge. It wasn’t the contracts Azul likes to openly brag about. Jade knew as well as Azul that there were few students willing to pay the price for the favors they asked for. Few would venture into the back room and risk losing it all.
Most who did venture the risk had simple enough requests. Help with homework, love questions, or petty squabbles with the person asking for revenge. The student body was predictable, there were few requests that gave Azul trouble and even fewer that required more effort than they were worth.
While many sought for Azul’s aid, there were few who had anything of value for the trouble they brought to the table.
Yet, the gold bracelets jingling on sun-kissed skin only spoke words of profit. The heir of the richest family alive is talking animatedly across the table from Azul and Jade.
“Since you, Jade and Floyd helped Jamil and I out, that’d you’d be happy to help! I mean, helping people is your whole business so I thought, ‘oh! I should go to Azul for help!’”
Azul seems to be paying careful attention to Kalim’s words, but Jade can easily see what’s under that surface. Azul was calculating what the best approach was to maximize his profits, almost with a malicious glee.
“Of course, I would be more than happy to help a dear friend in need.” Azul folds his hands together, a sweet smile adorned on his face, “Tell me what it is you need, and I’ll do my best to help you.”
“Thank you!” Kalim exclaims, sunshine practically radiating off the boy, “I wanted to ask you for help with rekindling my friendship with Jamil. “I realize that... I’m not very observant.” Kalim’s smile dims, “Jamil may not be a good person but I still hurt him without realizing it.” His fingers twiddle with the gold bracelets on his wrists, “But you noticed immediately what I was doing wrong!” Kalim slams his hands on the table in his excitement, and he leans forward on the table, “Plus you like Jamil, so I thought you’d want to help!”
If Azul wasn't already eager to sign a deal with Kalim, this would have cinched it. Azul is near obsessed with Jamil, to the point Azul would have been willing to sign one of his own nefarious deals himself if it meant he could get Jamil to be with him.
“Then you seek my consultation services!” Azul proclaims, his excitement showing through, “That is more than reasonable enough. In return... I only ask that sign a contract that states you help me out sometime in the future.”
Instead of nodding with a dumb smile on his face, Kalim hesitates, “Ah... I can’t really do that...”
Azul is unfazed, and he shakes his head sternly, leaning back in his seat with a sigh.
“That’s unfortunate. I run a business here, and it’s simply procedure to have the contract written out and signed. Without that much, I can’t help you.”
Azul said those words as if he couldn’t really care less whether they signed a deal or not. By drawing the line very clearly in the start of the negotiations, it leaves the other person floundering to try and get an edge back in making a deal before Azul forces them to leave. Jade knows the truth though. Azul would have chopped off his own hand if it meant he could get a favor from Kalim.
Kalim smiles apologetically, “Jamil really drilled it into me to never sign deals with anyone... Oh! I know! I’ll just order some curry from your cafe, I’m sure Jamil would at least talk to me then!” Kalim stands from the chair, readying to pay for a meal.
Jade tries to suppress a grin as Azul’s face fall in clear disappointment. Rare is the case where someone would refuse to make a deal after coming to Azul.
“Wait.” Azul interrupts, “I have no doubt your friendship with Jamil is strong, however this is a special circumstance. It is in the spirit of the Sea Witch to share benevolence with those who need help. I am sure there is more we can do.” Azul places the gilded contract onto the table, pushing it towards Kalim, “The terms are quite straighforward, all I ask is—”
Kalim shakes his head again, “ No, I really can’t sign anything. Jamil really made it clear I should never sign anything unless he checks it over.”
Jade chuckles, enjoying the way Azul’s smile becomes more and more strained.
The Asim heir is truly full of surprises. For Kalim’s supposedly naive nature, there’s still some basic sense that’s been drilled into him. Undoubtedly by Jamil, but it is still a surprise.
“I can explain every detail of what the contract says and what it means.” Azul offers, “The only things I wish from you is that you give me two weeks, time and information to talk to Jamil, and a trinket from your storage room to decorate the lounge.”
Jade blinks, and then quickly turns his eyes to the contract.
True enough, there is only a brief mention of the Asim family’s wealth. A single treasure worth at least 1% of the Scarabia dorm storage room’s total wealth. Instead most of it seems to be centered around Kalim telling Azul information about Jamil. Things about his past, any current troubles, his dreams, aspirations and other ridiculous things.
Jade nearly scoffs. It’s so poorly thought out, unlike the genius businessman Azul usually is. Nearly everything here could easily be obtained without a contract. Kalim practically gave away half of his treasure on a daily whim. The only catch in this contract is that Azul isn’t actually promising to fix Kalim’s friendship with Jamil.
What did Azul really think would happen? That Jamil wouldn’t find out about this entire scheme? That all the information Azul got from Kalim about Jamil would make up for Azul’s poor social skills?
Azul really is an idiot when it comes to making friends.
Jade steps in, placing a hand on Azul’s shoulder, “I apologize for interrupting your discussion, but I believe a verbal agreement should be more than enough, as this is a simply a friend helping a friend.”
Kalim’s smile returns immediately, “Oh! Then you’ll help me out?”
“Of course.” Jade smiles, “Azul wants to help you out, and in return all he really wanted was for you to help him become closer with Jamil.”
“You mean Azul wants to be Jamil’s friend?” Kalim asks innocently, blind to the murderous look Azul shoots at Jade.
Azul clears his throat, “For the record, I simply have a passing interest in Jamil due to his hidden genius. I’m a businessman first and foremost, and I simply believe Jamil’s intellect could be a valuable asset.”
Kalim grins, “Well why didn’t you say so sooner!” he exclaims, completely ignoring Azul’s backtracking, “I would have been happy to help with that way sooner if you just told me that!”
At those words, Azul is suddenly smiling again, pleasant and businesslike.
“Wonderful. Then please sign here.”
“I told you, I can’t.”
Azul face reverts back to a frown,
“It’s just a part of the business.” Azul insists, “You see—”
Jade squeezes Azul's shoulder, earning a glare from Azul, “Kalim has firmly stated he will not sign a contract, however I believe a verbal promise is fairly secure considering he is not the kind of person to turn back on his word.”
Azul puts the contract aside, narrowing his eyes at Jade.
“I do not accept anything without a signed contract.” he says, directing his words to Jade, “On the other hand, if you want to meddle, then that is between you and Kalim.”
“How cold. I thought you would be eager to reassure Jamil while I aid Kalim in his endeavor to mend their friendship.”
Azul’s eye twitches, before he mutters, “I never stated I would not help, only that I offer no guarantees without the backing of a contract.”
“So—” Kalim interrupts, “You’ll help out?”
“I will talk to Jamil and see if I can ease his mind.” Azul states confidently, any grievances hidden by a plastic smile “It is really only a matter of time before you and him are friends again. I likely won’t even have to do anything for that to happen.”
Kalim jumps up from his seat, beaming, he grabs Azul’s hand and shakes it happily, “Thank you! I don’t know why Jamil says your untrustworthy, you’re actually really nice!”
Azul pulls his hand back, his customer-service smile plastered on his face, “Thank you. If we are done talking business, would you like to enjoy a drink from the Mostro Lounge menu?”
Kalim shakes his head, already out of his chair, “I’m fine! I actually have to run to the Pop-Culture Club meeting! So I’ll see you later in class!”
Azul folds his hands together, smiling sweetly, “Take care of yourself until then.”
Kalim then waves goodbye. Jade holds open the door for him as he leaves, shutting the doors tightly the second Kalim is out.
Jade turns on his feet, ready to speak his mind with Azul without any eavesdroppers.
“My, my. I’ve never seen you create such a foolish contract before. Not only had you failed to get him to sign, but I had expected you to abuse Kalim’s naivety to rob him blind. Instead you attempted to push forth tactics that obviously would not work.”
Azul scowls, “I didn’t think he’d be that stubborn! I thought I would at least get some benefits from a contract but that failed miserably.” He rests his head in his hands with a groan, “It’s obvious there’s no way to actually mend their relationship because there never was a friendship to begin with. Jamil despises Kalim and yet he has to stay with that fool because of wealth.”
Jade doesn’t answer. Oh dear. Azul has let jealousy blind his normally sound mind. Jamil kept too much hidden to know anything for sure. However it seems Azul has already jumped to a few conclusions about Jamil and his feelings without enough information.
“Azul, while I am sure you would be a great friend to Jamil, you shouldn’t dismiss their relationship so quickly. While we know Jamil is bitter due to the power dynamics in play, we do not know yet if Jamil actually dislikes Kalim as a person, or if he hates the restrictions that were foisted onto him.”
“Really.” Azul deadpans, “You think Jamil plotted that entire scheme to overthrow Kalim, but still deep down, cares about him?” Azul scoffs, “Please. Jamil is simply biding his time with that idiot. He simply can’t comprehend the possibility of partnering up with someone who is equal, like me, after spending so long in the shadows.”
“No. I am fairly certain he is avoiding you because you are trying to forcefully pry open secrets from a man who keeps his secrets sealed tighter than a buried clam.”
“And why do you think that is? He had to hide his thoughts and feelings lest he experience harsh repercussions.” His expression darkens, and a scowl forms on his face, “At least, not unless before putting proper preparations in place.”
Jade sighs. There he goes again, projecting his own experiences onto Jamil again... Jade will hold his tongue for now. He wants to see how all that plays out later.
“It almost sounds as if you wish Jamil succeeded in his ploy to become Housewarden.”
“Of course not. If he had succeeded then it would have become impossible to recruit him into Octavinelle.”
Ah. Of course. He should have known. Azul plans long-term.
“I see. Then what approach should we take with the deal with Kalim? I assume you’ve thought up of a scheme to eventually secure that outcome, correct?”
“It’s only a matter of time. We don’t have to do anything.”
Jade blinks.
“Azul, correct me if I’m mistaken, but do you not intend to uphold your deal with Kalim?”
“Of course not! You think he could help us when he can’t even help himself? I only offered a contract because I figured it’d be easy to get some extra benefits, but he signed nothing!”
“While you have no plans to uphold the agreement, I feel otherwise. I am curious to see how Scarabia fares due to recent circumstances and will not refuse a front row seat to the show.”
“Do whatever you like. As long as you show up to your shifts I don’t care what you get up to your free time.”
“Thank you.” Jade turns to leave, but stops, unable to resist one last jab, “In the meantime, I wish you the best of luck in courting Jamil.”
Jade closes the door as Azul sputters a protest.
Even now, Kalim felt it was his responsibility to mend the friendship that Jamil had trampled upon so maliciously. Ironically, it is only because of Kalim’s boundless kindness that Jamil hasn’t been expelled, or punished by the law for endangering a family member with major political power.
How far does that kindness go? Is it really possible for someone to be so pure, or is it motivated by something uglier, such as desperation or loneliness?
Jade smiles.
For now, he shall take his seat in the audience to witness this play. The stage is already set, all that remains to be seen is how the tragedy unfolds.