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“Absolutely not.”
That’s about the answer Azul was expecting. Afterall, this was a rather fantastical business idea and there was very little hope Jamil would actually agree. Yet, there still remained hope.
“I figured you would say that Jamil, but it isn’t your carpet. Kalim, think about it. Everyone in the school being able to fly into the sky! You’d be rewarding the students you love so dearly, giving them all the best night of their lives.”
Azul currently sat in front of Jamil and Kalim, as he gave them what he believed would be a lucrative business deal. They were recently expected to get a full week of clear and cold nights, so Azul came up with the idea to have a magic carpet rental system of sorts.
One of the Scarabia boys would fly one or two people up to the sky for an hour, leading to beautifully scenic moments and charming dates. And of course, a lot of money.
He knew Jamil wouldn’t go for it, it was far too dangerous of a risk. Yet his point rings true, it is not Jamil’s carpet. It’s Kalim’s, someone who was far easier to convince into a deal.
“I don’t know Azul—“
“Truly give it some thought Kalim. Do you really want to deprive the people of what could be a beautiful experience?” Kalim shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“The answer was no, Azul. Take it and leave.”
“Respectfully,” Azul only offered Jamil a glance, “this is Kalim’s decision to make and I have yet to hear him say no.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you're trying.” Jamil said in a quiet rumble, glaring at Azul while the mer only smiled sweetly. Jamil decided to change tactics. “Kalim, you’ve got to say no.”
“Jamil—“
“It is far too dangerous. Flying students into the sky at night, over and over again? Besides the Magic Carpet is a family heirloom, do you really want to risk someone damaging it?”
“Well of course not! But—“
“If I may interject,” Azul piped up, leaning slightly to regain both the boy's focus— and Jamil’s ire. “There would be no dangers to the rug, or Kalim.”
“Magic carpet.” Jamil deadpanned.
“Nuance. Either way we will ensure Kalim has the utmost safety while handling customers, and that said customers will be proper while taking this chance of a lifetime.” Azul gave a little laugh, “I believe Floyd would be glad to accept that job.”
“And how are you sure Floyd isn’t going to be the one messing up the carpet?”
“I have my ways, he does work for me after all.”
“Yeah I don’t trust your ‘ways’. Can you just leave already?”
“Did I mention the considerable cut of the profits we will offer you both?”
“Did you forget Kalim’s family is rich? He doesn’t need it.”
“But you might.”
“Seven, why are you so insistent—“
“Okay! Enough of the arguing, please!” Kalim clapped both his hands together, refocusing the attention onto him. Azul smiled and nodded towards the Asim heir, as to say ‘please continue talking.’
“I’m sorry Azul, but I have to side with Jamil on this one.”
“Kalim—“
“It’s not that I don’t want people to experience the magic of my magic carpet, but it really isn’t feasible. Jamil’s right that it is a family heirloom so I have to take care of it. If I don’t, it’ll probably just stress Jamil out even more. Besides I don’t really think the carpet would like to work all that much in one night, especially if we’re getting paid and it’s not.”
That’s…fair. Azul knew that of all the treasures Kalim inherited from his very wealthy father, the magic carpet was his favorite. Besides he hadn’t actually taken into account that the glorified rug had sentience. And he was most certainly not paying a piece of floor decoration.
Oh well, Azul knew it was a long-shot anyway.
“Besides, people have their own brooms to go flying with.” Of course Jamil had to get in the last word.
And well, Azul couldn’t just let that happen. “If you could just reconsider—“
“But!” Kalim stopped Azul before he and Jamil could begin bickering again. “I also think it’s weird you’re being so insistent on this.”
“I’m just being a good businessman.” Azul smiled, he was glad people recognized his determination. It was one of his favorite qualities about himself.
“No, no I think there’s more to it.” Kalim broke into a bright and blinding smile. “You wanna ride on the carpet, don’t you?!”
Azul straightened up his posture, suddenly wishing that he left earlier. “Oh, no, I can assure you I do not.”
“Yes, yes you do! Oh I can tell you do!” Kalim stood up and grabbed Azul’s forearms to help him up as well. “Why don’t we go take it on a flight right now? It’s superrrrr fun, and there’s no better time like the present.”
“You know what, I actually think I have some dorm things to attend to right now…”
“The flight won’t take long I promise!” Kalim was still dragging Azul
“Kamil, seriously—“
“Weren’t you just saying how you had so much time? I think going for a ride on the magic carpet is a great idea.” Jamil started standing up with a shit-eating grin on his face.
That absolutely traitor.
“See, even Jamil thinks it’s a good idea! Comeon, let’s goooooo!”
Azul got dragged by Kalim out of the Scarabia lounge into the hallway, heading towards the treasury room. Jamil caught up with the two of them and whispered to Azul, “Suffer.”
He’s going to murder him. Scarabia will need a new vice-housewarden, Kalim will need a new chef/poison taster, and the twins will need someone new to tease Azul over. Jamil is dead.
Right as Kalim whistled for the carpet when they got near the treasury room, a Scarabia student ran up to the trio. “Housewarden, Vice-housewarden!”
“What is it?” Jamil’s deadpan strikes again!
“Some people are fighting, and uh, well we tried to stop them but—“
“You need help, got it, fine. Show me where they are—“
“No!” Kalim shouted, and everyone paused. “No, let me handle it, I can do it! They’re my dorm members, I can break up a fight no issue.”
“Kalim, no. Also in case you forgot you currently have a guest.” Jamil gestured to Azul. Damn, he was kind of hoping they’d forget about him.
“Kalim, yes. I can handle it, I promise.”
“I believe Kalim is more than capable of breaking up a squabble between students.” Azul also believed he did not need to go on that decorated rug today. Or ever.
“Exactly, see! Azul believes in me! Besides you can just take him out on the carpet.”
“Wait what—“
“That is not what I meant—“
“Bye!!! Lead the way to the fight!” And suddenly Kalim was racing off to go play knight for a group of students. He’ll likely not get hurt. Probably. There’s a chance.
Jamil sighed and pinched his nose, reminding Azul of his presence there. “If he gets hurt, I’m going to kill him.” Azul doesn’t think the esteemed vice-housewarden remembered Azul’s.
“Well,” he cleared his throat. “Do not feel required to fly me on a carpet, I am more than happy to go about my day—“
“Oh hell no. After that stunt you pulled earlier, your definitely getting on that carpet.” Great, now Jamil is dragging him. Just fan-fucking-tastic.
☙⁂✰✪✰⁂❧
“Jamil, I’m seriously not getting on that thing.”
Azul and Jamil stood outside the Scarabia dorm. Well, no that wasn’t true. Azul was standing, Jamil was sitting on that floating death contraption using it to hover a few feet above the ground.
“Come on, it's really not that bad.”
“It will be if I fall.”
“Then don’t fall.” Jamil laughs, “Just relax would you? You’ll be fine, actually it’d probably do you some good.”
“What do you mean?”
“The magic carpet is safer than a broom.” Jamil explained. “It’s bigger and more flexible, so you don’t have to worry about balance as much. Plus, you aren’t the one steering, I am. If you get used to being in the air while on this thing,” he patted the rug, “then you might feel a little more comfortable on a broom.”
“…still…” Azul spoke a little quieter.
“You fly a broom everyday in flight class, this is no different.”
“I barely fly a broom. As in I never get it more than two feet off the ground.”
“Azul.”
“Jamil.”
Azul was shaking.. He couldn’t help the fact he was hesitant. It wasn’t as if he was afraid, because he wasn’t. It’s just Azul hasn’t even had legs for a full two years yet. He can barely walk properly, Being able to conquer the skies is not at the top of his priority list.
Like, ever.
Jamil sighed, noticing Azul’s hesitation. He crouched at the edge of the carpet and extended his hand outward as an invitation. “Comeon, do you trust me?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me?”
Azul locked his eyes on Jamil’s hand, slowly placing his own on top of it, “Against my better judgment,” he looked up at the vice, “I do.”
Jamil smiled sweet and soft at Azul as he pulled the other up. Azul couldn’t fully understand why that made his stomach turn slightly, a strange but fuzzy feeling.
He blamed it on the rug.
Speaking of that, Jamil tapped the rug and it soared, quickly and swiftly. Azul, unprepared and terrified, clawed into Jamil’s shoulder. He gripped the man with an intensity he didn’t even know he had, squeezing eyes shut and just near hiding against the vice.
“Ja-mil! I’m very suddenly regretting trusting you! You didn’t even warn me!” Azul’s voice came out more of a terrified squeak than the reprimanding tone he intended.
Of course, Jamil only laughed. The audacity of this man. He placed a hand over one of Azul’s still viciously gripping his shoulder and started rubbing it soothingly. “Hold on for just one more second, Kay?”
Azul felt the carpet start to slow down and Jamil pat his hands. “Comeon, open your eyes.”
“Fuck no.”
“Believe me on this one, you’re not gonna wanna miss this.”
“You’re going to drop me. I’m going to fall”
“Neither I nor the carpet are going to let you fall, just look.”
Jamil grabbed Azul’s hand firmly and squeezed, as if he was trying to transfer some confidence or something. Okay, fine, it worked. He pulled his head back a little and looked at Jamil, who gave him a small smile, a nod, and another hand squeeze.
Okay, moment of truth.
He pulled his torso back, straightening his posture and looked ahead.
Wow…
Just like the forecast said, the sky was completely clear. Azul hadn’t visited Scarabia straight after school and their conversation ran long, so by this point it was also sunset. The bright colors melted along the horizon, the sun sinking into the vast desert as if to say ‘goodbye for now’. He could see over the top of the dorm, in fact he could even see the oasis that he and the others frequented during winter break. The palm trees swayed lightly with the breeze, the same breeze blowing cool air directly on Azul’s neck and tossing up his hair.
He could understand why Floyd worked so hard to use his broom now. Why so many students look forward to flight lessons while he dreaded them.
It’s beautiful up here.
“It is, isn’t it.” Jamil let out a small huff, reminding Azul of his presence.
“Ah forgive me,” Azul could feel his cheeks heating up. “I hadn’t realized I said that aloud.”
“Figured. You look quite…enthralled with the sunset.”
Azul hummed. “Just because it is gorgeous does not mean being in the sky isn’t still terrifying.”
At that Jamil snorted. “Okay, sure scaredy cat.”
“All I’m saying is we are not birds!”
“We’re not fish either yet we still swim.”
“I’m literally an octopus.”
Jamil blinked a few times, “…well, still not a fish.”
Azul let out a hearty laugh, tugging slightly on his and Jamil’s still contented hands. He flipped his own over, interlacing their fingers and settling them in between one another. Jamil looked away but didn’t take his hand back.
“…You’re so weird.” Jamil mumbled, his head turned away from Azul resting on his other hand.
“You were the one who just said I shouldn’t swim because I’m an octo-mer and not a fish. I think right now you're the weird one.”
“…Shut up, annoying ass.” Azul laughed lightly again. After that he was content to look up at the sky and watch all of the vibrant colors bleed into one another, like a sweet song and dance practiced over the course of eons.
“You know,” Jamil starts after a moment, “I’ve been seen this sunset hundreds of times, been on this carpet thousands.”
“Yeah?”
“But never once is it any less beautiful.” Azul turned to look at Jamil. His eyes were glowing, hat blowing back slightly. He looked…at peace. At peace and gorgeous.
Having crushes was never a good thing, and Azul knew by now that was the only way to explain his complicated feelings towards the Sacrabia student. Normally he wouldn’t indulge, use it as a moment to teach discipline to himself and only ever bring up business or try to convert him to Octavinelle. Every once in a while however, he gives his mental stamina a break, existing in his own feelings a bit. Let himself breathe. Today is one of those days.
“No?” Azul asked, prompting Jamil to continue speaking while not even looking at the sky anymore.
“Not a single time.” His crush sighs dreamily. “No matter what the circumstances are. Even if I begged Kalim to not ride this thing, if it was too dangerous or I had way too many things to be stressed about. I don’t think I could ever get sick of this. Or never appreciate it.”
Azul smiled. “I know how you feel.”
Jamil turned back to him with excitement in his eyes, then realized Azul hadn’t even been looking at the damn say. He shoved the latter's shoulder slightly. “You fucker, you weren’t even looking at the sky.”
Azul let out a strained laugh, a little unsteady after being hit while in the sky. “Oh I didn’t mean this. The sky is beautiful and all, yes, but we are still on a magic floating carpet awaiting the timely plummet to our deaths.”
“You are such a freak.”
“So you’ve said.”
“No, like why am I even talking to you. How am I entertaining this?”
“I meant,” Azul emphasized the last word, hopefully to get the conversation back on track. “I just have similar feelings that you have towards the sky, just towards other things. Things I will never be sick of.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
Oh, well, Jamil wasn’t supposed to ask that question. Azul said that thinking of Jamil himself, but he can’t exactly say Jamil to the man himself.
“Oh…ah…well, you know.”
“No I don’t. I have some guesses but I don’t know exactly. I told you about the sky—“
“I was fully aware of the sky before today—“
“I told you about how I feel towards the sky. Now you have to share. Go on.”
Azul was stuck. He didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t completely incriminate him in some way shape or form. He couldn’t say Jamil, but saying anything other than the truth would surely make Jamil suspicious. He’s smart like that. On top of that, the man kept leaning closer, leaving Azul very little room to actually think.
Just as he was about to formulate an answer, Azul’s phone rang sharp and loud through their manufactured silence. Jamil leaned back, nodding his head towards Azul’s pocket telling him to answer.
Azul pulled out the phone and saw it was Jade who called. He answered.
“What is it?”
“Oh my. Well you sure have been out late.” Azul could hear Jade's smile behind his teasing tone.
“Not really, and I informed you I had errands to run. Now what is it?”
“Truly, I had to wonder whether or not you’d even answer.”
“Jade.”
Jade let out a polite laugh. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop.”
“Great, now what do you want?”
“As much as I hate to interrupt your…errands, we need you back at the lounge. Now.”
“Why what happened?”
“Nothing too awful, we just need you here”
“Can’t you handle it?”
“No, and yes, I tried.”
“Is it Floyd, is he in a mood again?”
“Believe it or not he’s behaving today. Something to do with Riddle I believe. Either way he is why I was able to step away and call you.”
“Alright, I'll see you soon. Again, apologies for interrupting you, and send Jamil my regards as well.”
Azul could hear the laugh in Jade’s voice at that last part and promptly hung up, refusing to give him the satisfaction of being answered.
He turned towards Jamil with a sad smile. “Apologies, that was—“
“Jade, right? Calling about how you’re needed at the lounge right now?”
“How did you—“
“I overheard parts of your conversation, it wasn’t difficult to guess.” Jamil yanked his hand away from Azul’s like it was starting to burn.
“Jamil—“
“We should head back down, you need to leave so…”
Azul stayed silent for a moment and studied Jamil. He knew why he himself didn’t want to leave, but why was Jamil seemingly irritated now too? “I do apologize for needing to leave so suddenly.” Time to place that all-star discipline back on. “Although at this hour it is best I get out of your hair anyway.”
“Right…yeah, you're right. I need to check on Kalim anyway.”
Jamil steered the carpet far down through the now dark sky, diving back towards the ground. Azul squeezed his eyes shut again but did not grab onto Jamil this time, not allowing himself to and possibly be distracted from his true responsibilities. Instead, he balled his hands into the seven-forsaken rug.
When they reached close enough to the ground to only hover slightly above it, Azul scrambled off as quickly as he could, gladly getting off that waiting death trap.
At that point Kalim bounded back, both Jamil and Azul catching him as he came running close. “Hey guys! I saw you coming down! That was a quick trip, wasn’t it?”
“Not really,” Jamil hopped off the carpet, “we watched the whole sunset up there.”
“Yeah but you could’ve stayed longer…”
Jamil pressed his lips together, still looking slightly bitter. “Azul’s got responsibilities at the lounge. Jade called and said he required him for something.”
“As I told Jamil, apologies for leaving so abruptly.”
“Oh.” Kalim said, a look of sadness passed by on his face, as if he were hoping for a different outcome. “Well, if you gotta go I guess…”
“Besides,” Jamil interrupted, “I had to make sure you didn’t die.”
“It was just a small squabble between first years Jamil, I’m fineeeee.” Kalim was full on pouting, which made chuckle.
“Well, as entertaining as this is, I do have to leave. So have a goodnight you two.” He turned to leave.
“Wait, Azul.” Jamil stopped him dead in his tracks. “I had a question.”
“What is it?”
“Are you… still afraid of flying?” Something about the way Jamil said that made Azul think it was not the original question he had wanted to ask. Either way, he didn’t have the time nor mental capacity to push. Instead he took a second to think of an answer.
“I wasn't ‘afraid of flying’ to begin with.” Both Jamil and Kalim snorted, making Azul glare at them. “I just heavily despised it. Which I still do.”
Jamil looked away with an unreadable expression, which made something in Azul’s heart twist. “But…this wasn’t an entirely unenjoyable experience.”
“No?” Even though Jamil asked the question, Kalim perked up like a kid on Christmas. Though Azul had to admit Jamil seemed somewhat happy with that answer.
“Do not get me wrong, I still hate flying of any sort. But the rug—er carpet, was…fun. I won’t be seeking either of you out for another ride anytime soon, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it either.” Jamil smiled to himself, seemingly satisfied with that answer, “Hence why I believe the carpet rides would make an excellent attraction—“
“No.” Jamil said, loudly enough to completely cut off Azul, but not entirely cruelly. “No Magic carpet rides to students. Shoulda known you’d still turn this into a shady business deal.”
“There is no deal,” Azul smiled, “at least not yet.”
“Not ever.” Jamil emphasized while Azul just laughed.
“You know, Jamil, we should go on a magic carpet ride!” Kalim said, obviously holding that in for a while.
“No Kalim, it’s getting too dark and could be too dangerous, you know–”
“I for one,” Azul chimed in, a smug grin on his face, “think that is a marvelous idea.” Jamil glared at him
“See, even Azul thinks so!”
“No, Kalim, it’s not, he’s just saying that to because–”
“Don’t let him fool you, Kalim.” Azul kept his smug smile, he wasn’t done yet. “He loves going on those carpet rides, he told me himself.”
“He did?!” Kalim’s eyes were filled with stars.
“Yep!”
“Oh now we have to go Jamil! Come on, it’ll be fun!”
Jamil was still fully glaring at Azul, to which he just mouthed ‘suffer’ topped with a wide smile.
Jamil pinched the bridge of his nose, “Ugh, fine, get on.” Both Scarabia boys climbing onto the carpet which was still hovering over the floor.
“I do hope you two have a good time, but I really do have to go. So while it’s been fun, I’ll be off.”
“Oh okay! Bye Azul!” Kalim called off as Azul walked out, Jamil was presumably waving, but Azul had his back turned. “Oh and come by anytime if you wanna go on another Magic Carpet Ride!”
He might just take Kalim up on that offer. Maybe. Probably not. Flying still scares the shit outta him.