Work Text:
If he was being honest with himself... Patroclus felt like shit, really. He has a cold, and as he lies shirtless on his bed, he has been reflecting on how life at Night Raven College wasn't exactly what he planned it to be. It beats being with his biological father, that's for sure, but life in Octavinelle is... difficult. Housewarden Azul would make all the freshmen, Patroclus included, work hard for free at the Monstro Lounge without fail after classes, and Jade and Floyd would run them through the wringer, which leaves him without much motivation to do anything. Life outside the dorm is... slightly better. Sebek, or "Wave-maker," is too loud but keeps to himself. Deuce, "Brightsword," is very stupid, but he always tries his best . Ace, "Bouldy," should learn to have some tact, and then there is... "Stranger ", or rather; Achilles.
Patroclus isn't sure how to make heads or tails of the jock. Arrogant beyond belief, he has a nasty temper and a penchant for fighting, and then there is how obnoxious he gets when Patroclus himself gets close, always trying to vie for his attention. But on the other hand, he is extremely friendly, surprisingly smart, his smile is as radiant as the sun, and the obnoxiously earnest way he always tries to get Patroclus' attention by doing something stupid, outright flirting, or by calling him Skops... it makes Patroclus feel a certain way. Still, he would prefer if Achilles called him by his actual name most of the time. "Patroclus" is not an easy name to say ; he is acutely aware of it, but the way it rolls off Achilles' tongue, "Pa-tro-clus, " makes Patroclus feel oddly at ease. It feels like the melody of a lyre, each string strung with surgical precision to elicit the best sound possible. Ignihyde dorm, Achilles' dorm, isn't known for siring outgoing students. Almost all of the men sorted into the dorm that embodies the King of the Underworld's spirit of diligence are known for being socially inept, if not antisocial, and tend to be downers. Achilles' friend, Sirius, "Psyche" (or "Yuu", if Patroclus goes by Ace's stupid nickname), fits the bill even when he is magicless, always close by with that wolf beastman, Jack, or gripping that cat, Grim, like some plush toy. Achilles... is not like that. He is extremely extroverted, always talking with somebody, looking for a fight, socializing, showing off his magic or athletic skills; he is always surrounded by people. If Odysseus' account is right, it has always been like this ever since he was a kid. Always the life of the party, of the crowd, always unashamed of being himself... what Patroclus would have given to have seen that. Out of curiosity, more than anything.
Growing up, Patroclus himself did not have many friends. Hell, he never really had time to take root. He spent about ten years before his biological father decided he was a disappointment, as he had not manifested magic like himself, and thus was abandoned in all but name. The one who took him in, a horse beastman - Chiron -was his true father as far as Patroclus was concerned. As it turned out, Patroclus was simply a late bloomer, and under Chiron, under Dad 's tutelage, he learned quite a lot of healing magic and even made a friend, Briseis. She is magicless but didn't let that pull her down, and more than once she was the reason Patroclus learned a new spell or two... he misses her. They hadn't talked ever since Patroclus himself was invited to NRC, while Briseis was sent to Fleur City for reasons Patroclus isn't quite sure of. But he's going off on a tangent. The point is that life is strange, but at least Patroclus can say he is alone, with nobody to bother him in his most vulnerable moments.—
— “Hey, Owlfishhhhh. Are you still there?”
Scratch that, he can’t have anything good or sacred anymore!!!
— “....Yes, Floyd. What do you want?” Patroclus screamed, groggy, into the door. His head rings as he does, much to his discomfort
— “Aww, little owlfish is truly sick~” Floyd said, whimsically so..and on a dime, his tone became stone-cold “Azul said you have to work today. Get up before I get in there to squeeze you”
Patroclus sighs. Even from behind the closed door, he knows better than to test Floyd and his mood swings. He had seen him “squeeze” the freshmen and even some juniors that are on the slacker side of things, and is not a pretty sight. But still, STILL!
— “You have to be kidding. I told Azul I am sick already. I can’t even speak loudly. Much less se..ser-ACHOO!” Patroclus groans, cleaning his runny nose with one arm. He is a mess “See? Floyd…please”
— “About that” Floyd continued, his tone more neutral “One of your friends, redtail surgeonfish, came by looking for you. Jade told him you were sick and Azul convinced him to work your shift. You have to coach them~”
Patroclus facepalms, he can even hear Floyd’s smile. Right now, he wishes he had no friends. Worst is that he can’t even curse the culprit properly because of Floyd’s stupid marinelife nicknames!
— “Ok…I will do” Patroclus grumbled “Just tell them I-”
— “Oh no, he is already here. Have to go, bye owlfish~”
Patroclus can hear the sounds of steps getting farther and farther into the hallway…well, at least he is with a more sensible person now
— “...gimme a minute. I will just get dressed”
Patroclus started walking towards his drawer. Sure he wants to make whoever made him go to the monstro lounge pay, but he isn’t that much of an asshole as to make them wait more than necessary….and neither is the person in question, as the door swung open, at the tune of a voice Patroclus knows all too well by now…and one that in retrospect, should had expected
— “Hey skops, I came to…damn, you really look like shit” Achilles said, with all the elegance of someone that just kicked down a door can muster “A cold?”.
Patroclus takes a deep breath before turning to face the jock. He wants to scream at him so badly….but just a glance of that handsome face of his and that lopsided, goofy grin of his, the one he makes when he knows he did something stupid but is nonetheless daring Patroclus to get mad at him…makes it very hard to do so. He knows better than to fall into his games.
— “...yes, Stranger” Patroclus managed to say, his tone incredibly dry “Why are you here?
— “Professor Trein assigned us both together for a project and you didn’t came, so i came all the way here and Jade told me you were sick, so here I am” Achilles puffed his chest, clearly proud of himself “So, I will do all your work on the monstro lounge today. Floyd said Azul was likely to use it to make you work more tomorrow, and I can’t have that”
Patroclus wants to fucking dive into his bed. WHY IS HE LIKE THIS?!?!? FLOYD, YOU ARE A DEAD MAN!!!
— “Cool” Patroclus finally said. Thankfully, the fever is doing wonders masking his flusterment “well, in that case, I will just get dressed and we can get going”
— “You sure? I think those shorts would attract the clientelle”
Patroclus raises him an eyebrow, and looks down….right. Patroclus forgot today he was wearing his lucky boxers, something of a joke parting gift from Briseis, but ones he ended up liking all the same. A pair of indigo boxers with a horseshoe pattern. On any other day or with any other person, he would had been mortified, but between the cold, the time and that it is Achilles, his apathy takes hold, not exactly bothered
— “Why? You want a pair?”
— “If you are offering” Achilles smirked “I had certainly seen worse. Odysseus has a drawer full of these”
— “You are a weird one stranger” Patroclus said, a small smile creeping into his face despite himself
— “I will take that as a compliment" Achilles puffs his chest, rather proud, but he always keeps looking at Patroclus with implicit care, his eyes gleaming with endearment
—”You are hopeless” Patroclus grinned and then started walking toward the drawer, …and then, the universe decided to punish him for the hubris on some past life
Patroclus stepped in a can, most likely one belonging to his roommate, who drinks energy drinks like water. And indeed, Patroclus resigned to his fate, as he starts falling into what is likely going to be a slightly painful, but mostly humiliating…until Achilles breaks his fall, grabbing him by his shoulders
— “Woah, careful where you walk” Achilles said, his tone devoid of any cheekiness, but rather just concerned “You ok? You didn’t sprain anything?”
— “No…no I am ok. I am just sluggish when I am sick” Patroclus up to Achilles…and can help but smile “Thanks”
— “Any time” Achilles gave Patroclus a smile of his own. Not daring, not arrogant, not proud…just a genuinely content smile, one Patroclus wouldn’t mind seeing every day
***
— “Floyd, why is Asphaleios even here? Wasn’t Pelides enough as it is?” Azul massages the temple of his nose, already quite aware shenanigans are about to ensure
— “I thought redtail surgeonfish would work better with owlfish next to him. He looked so worried, and it was bringing my mood” Floyd responded, slouching on a table, a toothy, lazy grin on his face…and this is when Azul understood this was one of Floyd’s many whims
Azul simply sighs and gives Floyd the ok to proceed. Once he gets going, there is no way to stop him, and he would be lying if he wasn’t curious about this relationship himself, mainly on how unlikely they are. Achilles is your typical jock: Strong, cocky, seemingly stupid yet stubborn. Patroclus meanwhile is largely apathetic about most things and goes with the flow, a bit of a downer but well educated and incredibly helpful. Most of the reviews he had had from guests had been nothing but encouraging and grateful of Patroclus’ seemingly polite and kind, if awkward and high-strung, demeanor when dealing with clients, while, at least at a glance, while Achilles seems friendly to Azul, one can never know. At least today, Patroclus’ job was on bartending, so surely a few cups and drinks won’t lead to much shenanigans.
***
Shenanigans started the moment Azul left.
As it turns out, putting someone like Achilles next to Floyd and a bunch of expensive alcohol was bound to cause at least some chaos, and indeed, Patroclus just observes as Floyd and Achilles start mixing drinks as if they were mad scientists, all with two shit-eating grins on their faces. Jade, perhaps unsurprisingly, doesn't do much to stop either the freshman or his own twin brother, as he just watches whatever unholy concoctions the pair creates with a serene smirk on his lips. Patroclus himself doesn't do much, being a bit too sick to even raise his voice, and even if he could, he doesn't really feel like making a fuss about a few drink mixes . Some of the drinks were relatively minor issues, like, say, making a by-the-book Ouzo Lemonade or a Sangria with a bit too much syrup in it. However, as the pair continues going forward, they get excited. At first, it was whatever, using basil instead of mint in mojitos, a Mastiha Margarita with an ungodly amount of tequila, ice cubes made out of coffee... and then they started going off. Rum mixed with a mango and curry infusion, boiled wine in a teapot, whiskey with bacon syrup. And that's before they decided to start casting spells and adding potionology ingredients into the mix. A drink that keeps mixing itself over and over, flower-shaped ice cubes, a Bloody Mary that tastes like actual blood, a rainbow cocktail that looks more like a lava lamp than a drink for consumption - you name it. Patroclus is even sure they managed to sneak in Nightshade and Mandrake. He was somewhat impressed by Achilles' sheer depravity and skills in spellcasting, and he would be lying if he also didn ' t have to look away every so often, as the jock kept doing very flashy tricks with Floyd. Some ended up looking slick ; others ended in absolute disaster, but Achilles always kept that damn megawatt smile all the same, the same one that makes Patroclus' heart flutter for some reason. The weird experiments also led to a fig-based cocktail that Floyd considered adding to the menu after some modifications, which, given how moody and fussy Floyd can be, is a damn good achievement.
A few of Patroclus’ own fellow dormmates end up being victims of the impromptu chemistry experiments, being pulled in either by Achilles’ carefree charisma or Floyd’s insistence. Some drinks end up gloriously delicious, others you would wish you were in Tartarus instead. Yet somehow, they all laugh it up at the end.
— “Hey, Skops, drink this” Patroclus heard Achilles’ voice behind him. He just sighs…really, is he gonna pull him into this?
— “Stranger, I am not drinking alcohol when sick”
— “Who said anything about alcohol? I am not stupid”
Patroclus turns back…and there lies Achilles holding a teacup
— “Oh..”
— “Oh indeed, you dumbass” Achilles smirks as he puts the cup on the table “Is honey-sweetened ginger tea. Floyd said it would help with your cold”
— “Huh…never thought he would had it on him” Patroclus takes the cup near his lips. The steam alone does wonders with his runny nose “...Thanks, Achilles. For coming here. For everything”
— “Any time, Patroclus” Achilles said, sitting next to him. His gaze has softened immensely, his irises glow with a gentle tone of orange, and for once, he is able to simply stand still.
“Pa-tro-clus”...yes, it still sounds divine when Achilles says it. He takes a small sip...it feels warm, it tastes sweet, and everything is quiet. Patroclus doesn´t wants this to end. Not now, no ever
In the distance, the twins observe the pair. Jade with curiosity, Floyd with a lazy smirk
— “Floyd, any reason you lied to Achilles about what Azul would do with Patroclus?”
— “Eh, was bored.” Floyd simply shrugs “Besides, redtail surgeonfish looked interesting, and messing with Owlfish is always fun. He could loosen up more. Was worth having him around”
Jade nods, not exactly surprised. His brother has always been more intelligent than given credit, and does knows how to rack up a good scheme if he feels like it or when something strikes his fancy. At least it was fairly low stakes.
———————————————
Azul was far from amused. Countless reports of mild alcohol poisoning, 2 broken chairs, what seems to be some noise complaints ... .Someone is going to pay for this. And thankfully, it doesn’t take much to know who is responsible for this.
Floyd is his own issue, Azul in part is responsible for his lot, as he has known of the wilder Leech twin’s more whimsical nature beforehand. Achilles, on the other hand ... .Azul has plans for him. He had heard that, in spite of the ruckus, he was nonetheless popular with the clientele over how easy it was to talk to him. Perhaps…