I Like Your Writing A Lot. The Kaeya Diluc One Has Really Impressed Me,, I Hope To Write Like You Some
i like your writing a lot. the kaeya diluc one has really impressed me,, i hope to write like you some day
Oh, thank you for your kind words!
However, I believe - no, I know - that there is still a long way to get myself to the point where I would like myself to be. And I think you should be aiming higher as well!
I wish us both good luck and having fun with writing, Anon! ⭐
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More Posts from Harfanfare
Good things come to those who wait until midnight...
harfanfare · haru · idia shroud's ladylove · writer · twst and khr are messing with my heart since · · · forever · · ·
Status: Requests are closed, because Haru is crying over unanswered asks.
Requested: How to win a heart of: Lilia Vanrouge? Jade Leech? Ruggie Bucchi? Ace Trappola? Cater Diamond? Idia Shroud?
(masterlist under the cut!)
◇ ──── How to win a heart of series ──── ◇
Leona Kingscholar
Malleus Draconia
Floyd Leech
Jamil Viper
Riddle Rosehearts
Rook Hunt
Azul Ashengrotto
Trey Clover
Jack Howl
Vil Schoenheit
Epel Felmier
◇ ──── Twisted Wonderland ──── ◇
Unique Kisses: Heartslabyul! Savanaclaw! Octavinelle! Scarabia! Pomefiore! Ignihyde! Diasomnia! Rollo, Che'nya, Neige! Honest Fellow!
The ball at NRC || Vice dorm leaders
When your Prince Charming arrives || First Years
Pomegranate Rule || Idia Shroud
Snow White and Juliet || Neige Leblanche
Dense in love || Vil x Oblivious?Reader
Rhythm || Rollo Flamme
◇ ──── Genshin Impact ──── ◇
Target: Tartaglia „Childe” || Childe x Reader
Business Meeting || Hu Tao x Reader
Glaze Lilies || Aether x Reader
Heart Competition || Kaeya x Reader and Diluc x Reader
kofi · · · ?
How to win a heart of Jamil Viper?
1. Don’t be a typical hero(ine).
Contrary to the popular romance trope, tripping over the air to land on a certain cool-looking boy, and dropping all carried things, wouldn’t make Jamil fall for you. Instead, just falling because of you and sharply crashing with a floor would make him rather cautious around you and keeping a distance whether he has anything in his hands.
Believe him or not, he doesn’t need another ditsy and erratic person around him—like a certain leader from a certain dorm, who happens to create a mess anytime, anywhere.
So, let someone else be the protagonist of the story.
In that situation, you may be a side character that gets its way through obstacles and classic borders of story scheme and is much more interesting than the main persona.
That’s how you get his attention.
2. Be a help.
Oh, a person that would help him with his chores means to him much more than gold. Sometimes.
“Can I help you anyhow?” you asked when Jamil was going to the kitchen after a daily training with the rest of the dorm. He lifted his eyebrow, waiting for further explanation. “I mean with cleaning or something.”
Jamil glanced at you, not sure about your intentions.
Who would like to do something to help without having something in return? With only your will? No, it doesn’t work well in the same sentence.
But some help would be great. So, he just needs to keep sure that he won’t fall into any trap for letting you help, yes?
“Sure,” he said casually, not letting his face nor voice reveal any of his thoughts he run into. “[Name], right? Could you bring and clean the dishes from longue?”
And you helped. You really helped him a lot, staying over two hours till everything was shimmering with cleanliness and your abrupt desire to clean something and be more useful, burned out.
“Thank you for your help,” Jamil said, after correcting the last cushion in the Scarabia’s longue. You flashed him a smile. “But why, if I can ask, did you offer it in the first place?”
He got a quick response in form of a shrug.
“I... don’t really know,” you admitted, glancing at him. “...But you don’t complain, no?”
3. Be his dish taster.
“The way to a one's heart is through his stomach.”
“Try it,” Jamil handed you a spoon filled with some kind of stew. You consentaneously your opened mouth and drank all content of the spoon. Your mouth filled with many flavours and you couldn’t be sure if you ever ate that good combination in your life. “How was that?”
“Excellent as always.”
You said it all sincerely and maybe would have asked for seconds, if not the fact that Jamil already turned his back to you and got back to pots. He took another spoon and tried the dish himself, clicked his tongue and added more salt.
Once again, he turned to you and handed you a spoon.
“And how was that now?”
“Excellent as always,” you chuckled as he frowned at you.
“Don’t you think that you should add more words to your dictionary? You say the same thing on every dish,” once he said that you finished drying the last plate and preparing silverware for today’s fiesta.
“Don’t you think that I won’t be able to eat anything at the party when I will eat enough of your cooking now to write a poem about each of your culinary masterpieces?” Jamil chuckled slightly at your words.
“So, you don’t want any more?” he teased, but inside he was really flushed. Praises or cajolery, it all makes his heart skip a beat.
Finally, there was someone who appreciated all work he’s done.
4. Distract Kalim from him.
“You really shouldn’t go there,” you said, your voice as serious as you could keep it. “I mean, what if there is a monster who wants to kidnap you?”
Kalim cocked his head a little, considering your words. After a while, he nodded, fully convinced by your argument.
“You’re right,” he said. “I will warn others about this..!”
Kalim turned on his heel and spotted some people returning from morning classes. He ran to them, greeting them and walking with them as he tried to introduce the situation.
Still not believing Kalim fall for your words, you were standing alone in the centre of the corridor, a bit dumbstruck to discover the excuse Jamil came up with work.
“...Are you sure, you don’t want to tell him that some student’s from other dorm are here?” you asked as if saying to yourself your thoughts aloud.
But there was someone, someone who was hiding behind a big potted palm. He only gave you thumbs up as a preventative measure if there was still a chance that Kalim didn’t just dash through the halls to talk with some dorm students.
Jamil only looked at you and mouthed “No. Party. Today.” and quietly shifted to the corner, where the wall hid him and he could finally get up.
Mission accomplished.
5. Get rid of bugs for him.
“[Name],” Jamil called out to you, bursting through the door to your room. He looked very pale and panic was staying still in his eyes. “Would you be so kind to... deal with an intruder?”
You frowned a little before biting back a sigh. At first, you were concerned. Even Kalim getting in a serious mess didn’t make him react that seriously. But then you remembered that there was one thing that could make Jamil call you out of nowhere, acting like in an emergency. Emergency only in eyes of few.
Bugs.
Jamil never admitted to you that he is scared of them, but every time you brought up the topis, he snapped his fingers at it, saying that insects just aren’t his favourite kind of animal.
“Hmm~ Maybe after I finish this chapter,” you said, conspicuously turning a page of the book you were reading and with all your will trying not to smile nor to look at the wincing expression Jamil was wearing.
“[Name],” he said, his voice shaking with anger or frustration. “Go there right now or I will make sure you won’t get today’s dinner.”
...No dinner?
“Yes, mum,” you said putting the textbook aside and getting up from the comfortable couch.
Of all people, Jamil is probably the only one—well, maybe also Trey—that could make those words sound dangerous. Like, no dinner made by the best chef in Scarabia? It would be pure agony.
6. Have competitions.
“Aren’t you a little too good in this game?” you asked, regretfully placing pieces of the game back to the initial places.
He gave you a smile that slowly turned into a smirk, as you groaned at the next round you have lost. You flopped on the big pillow, all your will to play destroyed, as you sank between really cosy material.
“I told you I won’t give you a head start,” Jamil said, his steady voice mixed with amusement. “You even told me that you don’t want me to go easy on you before the game started.”
“Too bad,” you clicked your tongue at his response. “I was sure that after watching you play with Kalim, I remembered your tactics.”
You’ve watched at least eight rounds of Jamil and Kalim playing this game, and when it was coming to end, you were almost sure you understood and remembered the technique he was using in certain situations.
But, to your disappointment, it looked like he – even without using any of his tricky cards in his sleeve – was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, because, after three moves, you knew that probably all three were wrong when the opponent was Jamil.
“You gained nothing by it. Of course, I lost to him or... there would be a trouble,” he exclaimed. “You are different.”
“Oh, thank you. I can lose but he can’t, huh?” you frowned at him as he almost choked on the surprise he felt by hearing your response.
“...Yeah, that’s it. Just it.”
7. Have study sessions together.
“One class had a test before us,” you said scrolling through your class chat group. “They said that there wasn’t any question about these dates.”
Jamil scribbled down years of the most important magic wars, from time to time looking at you who were listing some test exercises and feeling somehow unmotivated to even properly open a history book.
Your notebook was lying in front of you, today’s lesson topic on the top of the page and many detailed doodles on its margin.
Once again... what was the unit you are having an exam about?
“It doesn’t mean, we won’t get a question about that,” Jamil tried to convince you, sliding textbook your way. “Now, read that aloud, while I prepare notes.”
You blinked twice as if woken up from daydreaming. Were you daydreaming?
“Are you sure..? I mean, all I will do is reading. Wouldn’t you rather want us to read it silently and then share our notes after this?”
“Don’t think about it much. I really like your voice,” he said it so thoughtlessly you weren’t sure if said it as an unarguable fact or just his smooth talker abilities were showing off, “and gave me your notes for the last exam so we’re even. And you won’t do any good notes when you’re sulking over this exam like that.”
8. Remind him to take breaks.
“You won’t get out of here,” you exclaimed spreading your arms as shielding a door from him. “Not a chance.”
Jamil stood a feet next to you, grimace stretching on his lips as he knew what’s coming up.
“I have to go, [Name].”
He tried to get through you, lightly removing you of his way. He wasn’t a fan of using force on anyone, and he was a hater of using force on you.
Much more than a speakable argument, you were pushing each other closer or further from the door, having a staring contest and reciting all the things he had done in the past two days; except for his daily duties and with the upcoming birthday party of few students of Scarabia who happen to have a celebration in the same day, the number of tasks he was given was overwhelming.
“Stop it!” you protested, trying to push him back. “I am seriously worried about you! Please... take a break.”
Every time he was coming closer to the exit, you stepped back, blocking his way, bumping into him and having to try again.
“You know I have a lot of work to do,” he said, finally stepping back and giving you a break from trying to separate him from the door. “I can’t just give up all my duties, even if I would love a break.”
“I can do it for you,” you quickly offered. “But please, now, go to sleep and don’t you dare touch anything related to school or cleaning.”
...What a weird request.
When was the last time anyone told him to take a break?
He doesn’t remember.
But now, he can say it was recently, all thanks to you.
9. Promise.
It was really hard for him once all his hard work to keep a high position within the dorm students suddenly dropped after his overblot accident.
“[Name]...”
However, the thing he regretted the most was hurting you. Taking the whole dorm under his unique magic spell, the hypnosis also affected you, making you another servant of his. Even you weren’t the one he ordered a lot, you felt betrayed that even the friendship you two developed didn’t stop him from overblotting.
And if he knew that you would avoid him like fire after the accident, he would probably hesitate a lot.
His throat tightened as he saw you one day in the corridor, looking somehow lonely and tired. He dashed to you, beseeching you to talk to him.
“Sorry for asking, but, Jamil, you don’t hate me, right?” you asked with a pain in your voice. You couldn’t even look at his face, feeling the incomprehensible weight in your gaze. “I mean... Do you only act in front of me friendly? ...Like... with Kalim..?”
“No, no, no,” he protested quickly, making it almost sound like a plea. He gently grabbed your hands, praying that you won’t harshly jerk them back because of him. “I don’t hate you. I really like you. I mean every word I said to you.”
The feeling of release struck you like thunder, you took a big breath, your eyes watering. You slowly reached for his touch, finally ending in a hug.
Jamil ran his fingers through your hair, smelling a familiar, reassuring scent of yours. After a while, he whispered a question.
“So... could you please not avoid me anymore? I know it will be hard to bring up the same relationship we had, but... could you give me a second chance?”
“Okay. But under one condition,” you said, slightly backing off from him. Before he could wonder about the term you would require from him, you finished your thought. “You must be honest with me. I... don’t know what will I do if it all turned to be a play...”
“I will,” he replied, putting his whole heart in these two words. “I will always be honest with you. And won’t ever use my unique magic on you.”
You looked up at him, a small smile starting to rise and heart-throbbing more wilder with his words. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
10. Make him confess.
“What are you doing this weekend?”
Jamil appeared in front of you, almost like popping out of nowhere, as you were done with today’s lessons and slowly heading to your dorm. He caught up with you, changing his pace to match yours.
“I have no plans. I will be probably sleeping or something,” you answered honestly, shrugging and reminding yourself that you should finally hang out with some people from your class to make sure your social life isn’t all over dead.
You were walking in quietly before Jamil broke silence and spoke up again.
“Would you like to go somewhere?” he asked his voice only giving a hint of nervousness—it was nothing compared to the stress he felt inside. It was just a “yes or no” question, he knew that he will meet in future many amazing people like you and shouldn’t be stressed, but having someone so dear to him being asked for a meeting where he will try to finally out find his feeling... it is stressful.
“Hehe~ what, are you asking me on the date?” you teased, but much more than mocking, you were hoping for an answer. For the honest answer, he promised you.
“...And what if I am?” he asked, his voice a bit hushed, but steady.
You felt how heat was coming all the way up to your cheeks, although you tried your best not to let anything more, as if a blush wasn’t obvious enough, know how excited and spellbound you are.
“Then, your wish is my command.”
Hu Tao x Reader || Business meeting
You woke up in a coffin. Again.
You racked your semi-conscious brain and put your hands to the top wall. With all your strength, you pushed the heavy oak lid up, and it wasn't until the deaf knock convinced you that your efforts weren’t in vain.
You closed your eyes when the bright sun struck your eyes. You felt like a vampire taken straight out of romanticism, but after a quick blinking, you got used to the brightness in the room.
"Hey, hey!” you were greeted by a joyful voice as you sat down. "Did you sleep well?"
You looked at Hu Tao, who as usual was dressed in her dark, official outfit. She tied her hair in two ponytails, and put her hat on her head, even if you two were in a room that always was more likely to not have sunlight than it was.
She bowed over the coffin and let you lean against her arm as you stand up.
"Like a dead," you replied with a heavy sigh. You could only guess that you fell asleep while working and by this, you exposed yourself to tricks from Hu Tao. By these pranks, workers either quickly quitted their job, or gained resistance to all obstacles and every joke "funny-until-you-are-victim".
She sent you a snappy smile.
"Excellent. Because today we have a small corporate mission!”
Hu Tao has not particularly given you time to prepare.
Less than ten minutes after she disappeared from the vestibule, you were able to dress up for work, wash your face and correct your hair before she showed up again.
You've put up several posters promoting the wangsheng funeral parlor (which will be taken off again by the guards within hours), and palm business cards off on several passersby until you reached a remote building where a young woman was waiting for you.
She quickly signed some of the papers Hu Tao brought with her and promised to come to her in person later, to complete the formalities related to her cousin's death.
Hu Tao was far more relaxed after you left that house.
In the jumps she walked past you, wandering through the uncrowded streets, energetically talking about everything and nothing. Sometimes she got lost in her thoughts for a moment and smiled at her own ideas, which you started asking her about.
"Hehe~ Everything that's going on in my head is a mystery," she gently tapped her fingers about the roundabout of her hat.
As you passed restaurants and food stalls, you were overwhelmed by the smell of all the Liyue delicacies.
Something twisted in your stomach.
On a par with the loud sound your belly made, you realized that you ate nothing today. You left so quickly that you forgot about breakfast. Ha, you couldn't even drink anything!
"Ho, ho," Hu Tao sighed theatrically. "I see that we have to stop and eat something.”
You burned with a juicy blush.
"A-ah, no, no," you protested quickly. "Let's finish what we have to do first. I'll eat something when we're done with work.”
"Come on, it’s my treat!" she clung to your arm and forced you to follow her. "Or rather... I haven't had the opportunity to have someone as my official taster for a long time!”
You found yourselves in the kitchen.
Hu Tao, almost all in the flour, which she had been brushing off from her dark outfit for the last fifteen minutes, took the dumplings out of the oven. She had to be inspired by a dish from Wanmin Restaurant, but she made them far quicker than anyone else who ever prepared dumplings.
Several of them were put on a plate and with a loud "bon appétit!", she placed them in front of you.
"They look... suspicious,” you glanced at the dumpling and came to the conclusion that they all look... very pale, even for a dumpling.
"I'd like to say you don't have to eat it. But I want you to try them," she used the chopsticks to pick up a dumpling from the plate and pressed it into your mouth. She covered them with her hand so that you wouldn't spit it out and watch as you chewed her culinary work precariously. "And how is it?"
You grunted when you felt how an extremely slippery dumpling was being swallowed by you.
Although you could not say that it was so bad.
Something just... was off. Maybe not enough spices? Or some strange ingredient in the stuffing?
"It's good," you replied. "I guess.”
"You sound very convincing," she said, giggling quietly. She seemed very proud of these dumplings. "I see that cooking is another of my hidden talents.”
You didn't answer, but you smiled gently.
Being indifferent while spending some time with her was... impossible.
On the table was placed a pot of hot black tea.
In addition to decorative cups with patterns that evoke plum flowers, the pile of cards grew on the countertop every minute. Soon Hu Tao threw the last card she had in her hands and smiled triumphantly.
"I won!" she scooped the cards off the table and deftly began to shuffle them. A few of them fell out of her hands, but she quickly collected them and began handing them out between the two of you.
This was the eighth round of the card game she presented to you less than two hours ago. Throughout the game she seemed to give you forums, but as soon as you got to the end, she showed her mastery skills and within minutes made up for what you collected the whole twenty minutes.
Although you'd like to win with her, you were not particularly angry with that. Because you two were talking a lot, you mostly didn't notice the key moves you could make. It wasn't until you put another card down that you noticed your mistake, and Hu Tao, with a too-sweet and teasing smile, reminded you that you can't undo your moves.
What a stupid game.
With resignation, you have brought together a newly shuffled card tray.
"So that's what your corporate meetings look like, hmm?" You asked, propping up your chin with your hand and browsing through your new options.
"That’s weird to call date a business meeting," she replied, throwing another card on the table.
"Huh?" you shivered, almost biting your tongue in surprise. "So, it was a date?"
"Wasn’t it?" she said surprised. "Don't think I treat every employee like that. You are the exception," she hesitated, and for the first time in a long time raised her eyes from above the cards and looked at you. You couldn't tell what feelings were painted on her face. Gratitude? Joy? Love? In any case, it made you feel such strange, pleasant warmth... “But if so... How about another "corporate meeting", [Name]? You know, you have to take care of your customers, but you need to take care of your loyal employees even more.”
You were sure she had invented it just now, but...
"I shouldn't say no to my boss, shouldn't I?" you answered with a smile that she returned with big grin.
"Surely!"
Hey hey! Is the request still open? If it is, can I request for How To Win A Heart Of Azul? I really love your fanfics!
How to win a heart of Azul Ashengrotto?
a/n: I gave the reader a job — since I can’t see Crowley organizing and checking any documents he’s responsible for, the burden of dealing with NRC organization plans will fall upon you, a very competent human being.
Also, I am terribly sorry, anon, for the long wait... A really long wait.
1. Decline an offer.
„Is that a no?” Azul's hand drops a little before he shifts the contract he laid out on the table a few centimetres back.
"Does it sound like a yes?" Your reply makes Octavinalle leader retreat and sit back in his armchair. His brows bend in a subtle frown and you can almost see how he bites the back of his cheek, not to retort quickly. "Of course, it's a no! These terms are obviously ridiculous, and, what you probably didn't expect, I can read discerningly."
Azul would have doubted that statement two minutes ago when you first entered his office.
In awe, gaping at each decoration in this stunning room, he couldn't help but recognize that the intimidation of Octavinalle greatness and the stressful situation you have fallen into was having a big impact on your sense.
What he didn’t know was that it didn’t mess up your mind and ability to think clearly as much as he hoped.
To his surprise, you could actually read and think. Such uncommon talents between anyone, who Azul wanted to force a contract, once they entered Octavinelle grounds.
"Well then," Azul starts again. He almost can't resist adjusting his shirt cuff, but it would make him seem nervous. Is he nervous? "We can surely negotiate. From me, I can guarantee you having any request done if it’s in my power. Also, until the end of this semester, every day, you won’t have to pay for one item on your menu. Does it satisfy you? I think it is equal,"—if not more, his tone suggests,—"a glance at the plans for next school event Principal Crowley entrusted you."
The word spreads quickly or Azul Ashengrotto knows too much. Perhaps both—the fact that Crowley suddenly conscripted the organizing committee in the shape of you and one student from Ignihyde is a too big piece of information to keep for yourself.
Winning some kind of contest—what the contest was about? Azul tries to recall your profile he studied yesterday's evening. Creative thinking...? Art of manipulation? Getting on the nerves of Octavinalle students?—with your fellow Ignihyde colleague made you in charge of planning new events on the school's behalf. No one knew much, but from the brief introduction to the school's new year events, there was no one in the school whose interest wasn't picked by any of the festivals.
There is no doubt the events will interest many people outside of NRC.
And that's why Azul must have the plans.
"Forget it," you say curtly, getting up from your chair. You spare Azul last glance, just to see how his hands subtly shake in the irregular rhythm of frustration throbbing in his veins. A trace of a reluctant smile appears on your lips and Azul's expression goes blank for a second. "This time, you will have to try a little bit harder to get what you want."
2. Start a war.
Azul takes pride in touting people to sign a contract.
Most students of the campus, plenty visitors during NRC's events, commoners, royals... And it is usually them craving the opportunity. Not vice-versa.
“What is that you want?”
You don’t have to turn around to know who has been searching for you all day. Messages from your friends that Azul Ashengrotto was asking about your whereabouts, made you almost avoid him, just to irritate him more.
“I wish for love,” you turn on a heel to face him. The sigh that escapes his lips slowly makes you stop batting your eyelashes theatrically. “Joking. That's pretty cliché thing to say, you know?”
Azul lifts one unimpressed eyebrow. “What is it?” He repeats his question.
Finally, you fall quiet and he takes the silence as you ponder. “Hmm... I don't know. This trade can get any of my wishes to come true after all, no?”
“...You will know where you'll find me if you find your answer.”
3. Love the food.
“Here again, [Name]?”
The question welcomes you the moment you enter Mostro Lounge. You raise your hand as a quick “hello” before making your way to him.
There aren’t many students in the lounge, and that’s most likely because of the hour; it isn’t either early or late, and people just started to get hungry. It makes the atmosphere special with only a few tables being occupied and just by quiet people.
You can hear a jazz beat that always fades when people gather here at the evening hour.
“Don’t judge me,” a subtle smile plays on your lips as you sit next to him. Some days Azul just goes to Mostro Lounge (probably to collect information; people are often really cheery to share their thoughts and gossips once the food is served), and you just happen to join him.
Giving him the hope to get some news from you is a very tempting hobby you can’t deny yourself.
“I could never,” states Azul, politely shifting some documents to another side of the table. He doesn’t bother to hide them at all since you will be the one checking these in Crowley's place.
“Are you also taking guilty pleasure from eating sweets?” Azul jerks his head at you with emotion you can’t describe as surprise or shame. Perhaps both, but the latter is still increasing as Azul registers his reaction.
Your lips curve in a teasing grin.
“Wh- What?” Azul breathes the question at last, just after other Octavinalle student served your ordered drink. You are delighted whenever he’s in distress. Unwittingly playing with the straw, there is a noticeable shade of smugness on your smile. “No. I’m not that type of person you’re thinking of.”
“Yeah, right,” you take a sip of your drink, throwing Azul an unimpressed look. His papers are completely forgotten as other arguments form in his head. “Good luck with convincing yourself.”
4. Don't get manipulated.
Good luck.
5. Befriend Leech twins.
"Nee~ Shrimpy~ Entertain me!" Floyd’s wails ring in your ears, as his thoughts are roaming through the room for the sixth time.
You exhale deeply. He is being difficult on purpose.
"I don’t really want to," you say resolutely, which doesn't stop Floyd's whines. His complaints lack, however, amusement from before and you start expecting the moment when his mood will snap. Before that could happen, a polite chuckle from behind makes you shift your attention to another Leech twin.
“Floyd and I were hoping that you will have a better idea to spend an enjoyable break,” Jade comments, and all you can do is give him a flat stare. When Leech twins suddenly try to get close to you, how could you not get suspicious?
The question is, are they doing it at Azul’s request?
“Well, what do you want to do?” At your question, Jade, without any special inquiries, looks at his brother who gives you a little hum in response.
“Do you wanna play a prank on Azul~?” Floyd asks. There is no threat in his voice, but you can feel being tested.
...But who are you to refuse to investigate Azul’s weakness with his close acquaintances?
“Sure.”
“I will join as well,” Jade says, a professional camera in his hands. The little mushroom sign on it tells you that it’s part of the club's equipment. “Azul’s reactions are too valuable to have not been saved in a photo.”
“It will serve as a blackmailing material, won’t it?”
“It will.”
6. Avoid PE together.
He opens the door.
"And what you might be doing here?" Azul shudders from surprise, and his head snaps in your direction. You wave in his direction and observe how his muscles relax once he recognized a familiar face.
You couldn’t blame him for his reaction. School’s storage filled with all necessary items for PE lessons is not popular enough for two people to meet up. Especially, if the said lesson hasn’t even started.
"...I don’t know,” he answers carefully and tries not to make any unnatural moves as his eyes scan your silhouette. Judging from your sporty attire and a broom that was unceremoniously tucked into the corner of the room, you were prepared for the next PE lesson. “And what are you doing here?”
“I don’t know!” A lot of frustration was put into your words. You pinch your nose to collect your thoughts, feeling a headache already forming at the back of your head. Your gaze returns to Azul. “...But I know that I don’t want to attend Mr Vargas’ special lessons.”
“That makes us two,” he says and crunches next to you. You couldn’t help but smile subtly at the thought that these words were his most sincere expression since your first talk.
“Right... Don’t you have any dorm-related duties that you can use as an excuse?” You ask, and his eyes flash at you, stars of sudden amusement making them twinkle. He clearly remembered something. Seizing a great opportunity, you decide to take it. “I can be your assistant! The idea was mine, and I am terrified about Vargas’ new tutoring program.”
“...I guess it’s fair enough.” He feigns the resigned sigh, and you reach your hand to help him stand up. Unconsciously noting that your hand is much warmer than his, he accepts it. “Let’s go.”
7. Be a help.
When Jade told him there is someone who would like to work half-time at Octavinelle, Azul didn’t expect them to be you. Don’t you already have a lot of work from Crowley? Better question: why? Do you urgently need money for something?
He decided to ask. “Will you be working for money? I believe it’s not a friendly help.”
There is a lot of lethargy in his voice, although his attention is fully focused on you. His eyes scan your appearance but find no sign of something going wrong. At least, at first glance, you seem healthy and well.
He lets out his breath now, hesitantly noting how stiff he has been since you walked in.
"I guess so," you give him an informative nod. “I am short on cash right now.”
“Why?” You give him a shrug as an answer. It always seems like you have less money than you think you have. There is a note of worry in his voice and it makes you somehow pleased. “Are you having financial problems?”
“Well, it’s good to have an additional coin in your pocket,” you chuckle. “People say that money can’t buy happiness, but you all Octavinelle students, are pretty hyped in general, you know?”
You can see how Azul holds back to roll his eyes.
“I think we are having a bad influence on you, [Name].” He adjusted his glasses, but blue eyes never left yours. He only breaks eye contact to search for a contract. “Either way, welcome. Jade will assign you your tasks for the next month.”
8. Remind him of his worth.
There will always be bad days in your life. In Azul’s too.
“Sorry for my appearance...” were Azul’s first words once you meet him at Mostro Longue, and by that, you already know that something is wrong.
Your brows furrow in concern, as you take a seat next to him.
There is only a menu at the table, no papers related to work are in plain sight. There is no particular reason for you two to meet up, but none of you points it out. The silence between you two would be comfortable if Azul wasn’t creating a depressing aura around himself.
“You look as always,” you start slowly, weighing your words. From the empty shade in Azul’s eyes, you read that this conversation enters a minefield where a bad word can lead to ruin. “Well... Are you going to order yourself anything?”
One just exploded.
“You-! You don’t understand—!” He raises his tone, students from the next table subtly start listening in. Sharply, in rigid movements, he leans on the table and hides his face in gloved hands. His tone is much more lowered, barely louder than a whisper. “I can’t! I really can’t... I can’t let myself get out of shape again, because I...”
He falls silent and you take a moment to form a sentence before speaking up.
“I don’t know,” you say in the most soothing voice you can bring up. At first, you aren’t sure if he listens to you. “But if you need someone to tell you how awesome you are, I can introduce you to my friends. Do you know what they told me? That you’re ‘a handsome gentleman, who knows his business. Maybe it’s a little embellished description.” The indifference was harder to keep up with increasing difficulty. “They never signed a contract with you, however, and I would say in addition that you can be a bit too stingy in terms of money.”
Azul was now sitting properly. Except for some paleness on his face (but it could just be light), he didn’t look as if he just had a breakdown. A momentary breakdown, but still...
Trying not to notice his gaze that is inexplicably stuck to you, your hand goes to the menu and shifts it closer. Only after briefly glancing over the list of desserts and drinks, do you dare to look up at him again.
“Besides, people who aren’t afraid to eat in front of people are hot,” you gesture generally around Mostro Longue. Most students here wasn’t afraid to order whatever they wanted and food filling their plates was a measurement of their palate, confidence (or indifference) and budget. “And that all food is waiting for you. And, Azul, you have impeccable taste in picking out treats.”
“...Allow me, then,” he takes a menu from you. He is really grateful for the blue lights in here, that mix up with the red on his cheeks. Just after receiving your order, he clears his throat, focusing your attention on himself and plates full of ice cream in front of you. “...If I will gain weight, you will have to join me at my training.”
You take a spoonful of your ice cream, winking at him when you catch his gaze. “Deal.”
9. Give him hope.
“I will sign the contract,” you told him. “I will be at Octavinelle in the evening, so wait for me.”
He has no idea what to think.
He should be excited, shouldn’t he? Then, what’s wrong? Why something is eating him from inside? What is eating him from inside?
After all, he will finally have the plans. It won’t probably put much pressure on you from Crowley that will forgive you this time (since you do a great job). But other dorm students? Won’t they know about the deal? Will they start to mistreat you?
Something twists in Azul’s stomach.
“...I should worry about whatever I will have to trade for the plans...” He tries to shift his attention. It doesn’t work as he is antsier than a few minutes ago. Being in his office isn’t calming at all peace that haunts the room doesn’t distract him from unpleasant thoughts.
He sighs with frustration. He can’t even relax.
“There are few hours left...”
10. Have him indebted and at your mercy.
“Won’t you be in trouble because of this deal?” He asks the moment you enter his office. You smile at the question and reply just after taking a seat in front of his desk.
“I asked my friend about it and they said that only Octavinelle is so fixated on this event,” you admit. So you also thought about other dorms, Azul notes. “There is no big loss for me.”
“I assume you came with an offer.” His tone is business-like. It does not fit his eyes with the voice, as they give you an impression of everything that Azul tries to hide at the moment; a little bit nervous, mostly concerned and quite... lonely?
You lower your gaze.
“I ask for a favour in exchange.”
“And what it might be?” Azul asks. “I can’t give you money if that’s what you-”
“Go on a proper date with me.”
“-ask for.” A moment of silence stretches through the room. Does he have auditory hallucinations? Is he dreaming? What? What? “What?”
“Will you go— on a date— with me-?” You ask slowly, but there isn’t as much confidence in your voice as before. The words catch up in your throat and with Azul’s shocked and confused eyes on yourself, you start to have second thoughts. You lower your lashes. “If you don’t want to, just say no, and I will think of something else. I think, however, it’s a pretty good deal for you,”
“No! I mean, yes!” He says in an indifferent-feigned tone and your eyes don’t fail to let go of his blue ones. Crimson colours burst on his cheeks. “Yes, well, I agree.” He repeats. “I agree.”