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PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS Season 1, 2023-

"Sunlight Here and Shadows There"

This one ended up being much longer than most of the other epilogues, but I suppose I had a lot to say about the kittens. I've always been really fond of their designs and personalities, so I wanted to dig into what they might do when they grow up. They occupied an interesting place in the story - more of plot devices than characters, putting pressure on the rest of the characters whether it was about who'd they mate with someday or how to feed them properly. I like em a lot!

From this issue on, I'll be disusing the tag "bluebellkit" and replacing it with "sky", although it'll still be available for old posts. Please only refer to Sky with that name and he/him pronouns!

This title is from Jerome Bixby's story "It's a Good Life" - my all time favorite sci-fi short story: “He had made rocks and trees and bushes and caves, and sunlight here and shadows there, because he had felt in all the tiny minds around the desire - or instinctive want - for this kind of resting place, and that kind of mating place, and this kind of place to play, and that kind of home.”

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I'm back from the dead with some Fiddleford angst! This literally took me over ten hours but I'm actually really happy with how it turned out so it's worth it lol

“To Love an Aswang”

The bells were ringing too the day I met her. The first time I met her, it was a cloudy day and I had just come from mass, passing by some carts that sold food outside the old church. She was sitting behind the cart that sold fried potatoes on a skewer, and she eyed each person that passed by with interest, her silky voice calling out, “Ale, ale, bili kayo oh.” I stopped in front of her cart and bought two of the food she was selling. While we waited for the potatoes to fry, I casually made small talk with her.

“Ate, do you always sell here?” I asked.

She smile a tiny smile before answering, “Not always. Every other day and only before the sun goes down. At night, I head home.”

“Do you live near here?”

“Yes, I do.”

Once the potatoes were done, she put them in a brown paper bag and I gave her twenty pesos. Before I went on my way, I ventured on another question, not thinking much of it as I asked it. “Do you do this for a living or is this just a side job?”

She answered, “It’s more of a side job. After all, I have other means of getting my food. This just covers some of my other expenses.”

I gave a non-committal answer and proceeded to walk away when she said it.

“I’m an aswang.”

I didn’t think much of it, and I just thought it was the silly rambling of a creative woman with a quirky sense of humour.

I had started going to church in the mornings before I work at the nearest bank, and just as she said, the woman was there every other day, but never outside the church at night once I began my walk home after a long day at work. Every time I saw her, I bought some of her potatoes and talked with her, slowly beginning an odd friendship.

We chatted about anything and everything, except for each other’s personal lives. I regaled her with tales of my co-workers, occasionally complaining about them on a particularly harrowing day, and I shared with her my musings about life in general. She never asks about church, and I don’t say anything about it either. On the other hand, she tells me of silly adventures she has while selling the potatoes and of customers that particularly caught her eye. She once told me about this pregnant lady who reeked of perfume, that it hurt her nose and probably did the opposite of beckoning others to her. She told the story with a laugh, saying that perfume was meant to enhance and not to soak. We talked about anything and everything, Anna and I.

She said it again one day. “You know, I’m an aswang.”

I laughed at that and said, “Sure. You’re an aswang and you fly around at night looking for babies to devour.” I kept laughing.

She answered quite seriously, “Exactly.”

That was when I felt an odd chill run down my spine. I tried to cover up the following awkward silence with a cough and a shaky question. “If you really are one, why would you tell me?”

She shrugged at that and said, “You deserve to know, You’re not like other humans. Here you go.” She then handed me my usual brown bag of fried potatoes and I hesitantly began my walk to work, all the while turning over in my head what she said.

The next time I saw her, we spent a good deal of time discussing about trivial things, as if the past conversation never happened. It felt normal. Just two friends chatting about anything and everything. But then I worked up the courage to bring it up. “So you really are an aswang?”

I told myself I didn’t believe her, that I was just playing along to hear more of what she has to say. She was eccentric, that’s for sure.

“Mhm,” she chirped, turning over the skewers to let the other side of the potatoes fry. “I do eat babies, but only the unborn ones. I don’t like them outside their mother’s bellies. Too big to eat and less tasty. Not to mention that it makes more of a mess than when they’re inside waiting to be sucked out.”

I shuddered at her nonchalance and the graphic details of her supposed eating habits. “So you’re evil then?”

She gave an irritated click of her tongue at that. “Evil, you say? What exactly is evil? I am an aswang and you are a human. We are different. So I eat unborn babies. Is that evil? You eat unborn duck embryo, is that evil? It simply is the way it is. I may not know much but even I know about the food chain.”

“But you take the babies from their mothers. Who could do such a thing?”

She smiled meanly at that. “Careful, my dear. You’re about to venture into a question I don’t think you’re prepared to hear the answer to.”

I stopped at that, and for a few moments the only sounds were the chattering of other people outside the church and the sizzling of the frying oil. “I guess you’re right,” I said.

“But tell me,” I continued, “do you hate humans?”

She gave another annoyed grunt, rolling her eyes at the same time. “Hating humans would imply I have any sort of feeling toward them. Humans to me are nothing but a source of my food and my income.” She nodded toward a couple who stopped by in front of the cart next to me to buy Anna’s goods. They left, and Anna continued, “It’s like if I asked you, do you hate ducks because you eat balut? I have a certain apathy toward humanity, if that’s what you mean.”

Her answers were as eccentric as she was; as absurd as the notion that she was an aswang as she said. Still, I let the concept settle into my mind, no matter how uneasy it made me. “Well, what about me?”

“What about you?” she asked.

I didn’t know what came over me, but as I looked into Anna’s eyes, I felt a sort of calm and peace, even though she kept claiming she was this dangerous powerful creature that I didn’t believe in. I asked her quietly, “Do you feel nothing toward me?”

That’s when she stopped turning over the potato skewers to really look at me. Her eyes shone under the shade of the umbrella on her cart, and her shoulders sagged in a strange resignation before answering, “I guess not. You are my friend, after all.”

Friend. Her answer surprised me very much. Did this woman, who claimed she was an aswang, really consider me as a friend? A human and an aswang as friends was almost as laughable as me believing in the idea itself. But still, something in me was touched. If this beautiful woman was really an aswang, a more powerful creature than me, her choosing to befriend me was a feat in itself that touched me in no other way that my normal friendships did. I remembered all the conversations we’ve ever had here, about anything and everything, about life and its adventures… She made me rethink everything I knew before. Before I met her.

“You still don’t believe me, do you?” she asked once again.

I gave a shuddering breath, placing a hand on her cart to steady myself. “If I do believe you, that creatures like aswang exist and you are one of them, how can we be friends, Anna?”

“Is being an aswang really that bad?” Anna answered quietly. She resumed cooking her potatoes and serving one or two customers that stopped by.

“I am terrified, Anna. Frankly, I am. You eat unborn babies. You are a creature of the night.”

She did not like what I said. She stood up abruptly, her arms falling to her sides in annoyance. “This again? You have nothing to fear from me! Humanity is a much more terrifying evil than I can ever be! I’m still me, dear. Why would being an aswang change that?”

We didn’t say anything for a while. She scared me that day. I looked at the old looming church while feeling her glare. Her glare held no malice, only annoyance and a flash of pain. Still, she scared me.

“What if I had a baby and you ate it before it even got to live outside the womb? What then, Anna? I don’t think I’d ever be able to bear that. If you were really an aswang, why would you befriend me? Why?”

She sat back down, her beautiful face scrunched up in…pain? She wiped her tears, and she said quietly, “Do you really think I would do that to you? To you? You are different from all other humans. You are different from me, and yet…I have grown to love you despite our short time. I have grown to love you. Tell me, am I really as terrible as you think I am? Am I evil for being different than you?”

“Anna,” I said. “How can you love me? How can I love you?”

She didn’t answer. She never did. I left to go to work, and when I was on my way home that day with the moon already peeking out in the sky, she was gone. She never appeared again. Some days, when I pass by where her cart used to be and hear the ringing of the bells, I remember her silky voice and all the stories we used to tell each other. I would think of our last conversation and ask myself, “What is love? And what is evil?”

I still don’t have an answer.

“Let’s pretend that the giant sky serpent who roamed the ancient sky regurgitates the six moons it has consumed one by one ; that the first man and woman refused to devour the forbidden. That we existed before we were two boys banished from paradise, before humanity defied the gods, before mythology was passed by tongue in front of the dying embers of firelight, before creation and chaos, before sin, before I met the boy with eyes that retold the same old story of men who succumbed to the desire for tragedy; foreshadowing our fates, before I loved him. And there was nothing but light in the vastness of existence. Tonight, I will devour him in the dark; not for sin nor for defiance, but like the legend of the bakunawa: to devour the last moon in infinite cycles for millennia to come, to quench the hunger and yearning for the light that resides in him.”

— “Bakunawa ” (via floralbruisesx)

hiii!! i just recently discovered ur blog and absolutely love your writing style :D can i request octatrio unexpectedly breaking out of their usual public image to be an extra soft and loving bf + reactions of people around them cause they don't see them being that type of bf <3333 gn reader !!

is everything alright? ↬ Summary: Maintaining a certain image of oneself in public requires sacrificing some things, including the comfort of love.

↬ Tags: hurt/comfort (except for floyd’s part), fluff

↬ Characters: Azul Ashengrotto, Jade Leech, Floyd Leech

↬ Note: i’m so sorry it took so long, and i’m so sorry it ended up being kind of angsty. *pained smile* i’ll start writing shorter stuff based on how many characters there are instead! the jade favoritism is strong in this one, though.

Azul Ashengrotto

↬ Azul likes to keep his image impeccable. He's meticulous and thorough to a fault, and that apparently affects the way he treats you as well. In private, you can expect to be lavished with high-quality food, or multiple praises. The most valuable of all would be his time, attention, and trust. He would agree to a cuddling session if you asked for it despite being flustered for the first few minutes or so. He would humor your attempts at conversation despite having to split his focus between you and paperwork.

↬ All in all, he's attentive, loving, and respectful. Except he's not like this in public, where every move he makes is calculated. The feeling of being scrutinized has stuck with him throughout childhood until now, and you're one of the people who have to pay the price. You're understanding, of course. You can only dream of returning the love he's shown you a hundredfold, but you still find yourself craving for his touch every now and then. Given his importance to you, it's only natural.

↬ When you bring it up with him, he apologizes and says it's… unbecoming of him to participate in such acts where others can see. He follows it up with reassurances of spending more time with you to make up for it, and you understand. Reading between the lines tells you of his discomfort just as much. Still, you can't help but feel a little hollow after his explanation, but you don't act on it. You could never bring yourself to put your needs above his.

↬ There are other, more pressing matters to attend to as well, like the pop quiz in Alchemy, the homework deadline that you apparently forgot about, and the difficult exercises Coach Vargas made your class do. They pile up on you as your mood sours further into the day. At this point, not even Azul can help you while you pointedly ignore him. You just want a hug, damn it! You can't force him into one, though, and all you can do is give him a tense smile before getting ready for your next class.

↬ It continues until the next day, and that's when you feel a hand on your arm just as you're about to leave. You can see the worry on Azul's face through the cracks in his composure, but he stays quiet until he finally clears his throat. You’ve always known him as smooth, but his cheeks redden as he moves close to you.

↬ “Good afternoon, my dear,” he murmurs the last part low enough only for you to hear, but your eyes widen nonetheless. He pauses for another while before asking, “Is there anything you may need? Or have I done something to offend you?”

↬ “Oh, Azul,” you sigh immediately when you hear his concern. In your attempt to take care of your tasks, you’ve forgotten to give him some attention, too. Maybe this could be your chance at letting him hug you? “A hug would sound nice right now… but that could wait until later, when we’re in private.”

↬ You don’t tease him for too long, quickly following your request with reassurance, but what you don’t expect is for him to comply. The hug is awkward and stiff, and people are starting to whisper, but he lets it last for as long as you want. It’s a far cry from how comfortable and clingy he is with you when you’re alone. Still, you hug him back, giggling from how fuzzy you feel. 

↬ You have some mercy on him, though, and you let go of him when you’re sure you have the energy to get through the day. The other students look at you with their mouths agape, but Azul only has his eyes trained on you. He looks so cute and you want to kiss him so bad, but you know he’s not ready for that yet. Instead, you take his hands in yours and squeeze them.

↬ “Thank you for that,” you whisper, and everything’s okay.

Jade Leech

↬ Everyone knows of the Leech twins. Jade is the more rational one of the two, as most would say, and is generally more pleasant yet still more unnerving than his brother. If you play your cards right, then you would never have to deal with him. The general consensus is that he’s intimidating, and you should avoid Jade as much as possible.

↬ But you’ve gotten over all of that, and now you’re one of the people who have earned beyond his tolerance. You’re clingy like Floyd when you’re in private together—hugging and surprising him from behind like a koala, or staying close to him when he’s busy. He never quite reciprocates, but his quiet chuckles and watchful, protective eyes are more than enough for you.

↬ It has never been a problem, or at least, you think it hasn’t. All it takes for you is to see a couple holding hands, happily walking side by side while on an obvious date. Yet here you are, on a supply run for Mostro Lounge that Jade sent you on. When he issued you the task, he hadn’t even offered to come with you! It plants the seeds of doubt in your heart, and you turn your head away from the couple before you start to feel bitter.

↬ Your mind wanders back to what everyone has said about Jade. It’s no secret that he harbors a dangerous side to him, one that toys with people’s emotions until he gets what they need from him. It’s a slippery slope, but you can’t help wondering if you’ve fallen prey to his whims. Are you there to entertain him, or just as an extra hand around the Lounge? Is he going to discard you when he thinks you’ve exhausted your worth?

↬ The downward spiral consumes you faster than you’d like to admit, and you find yourself straying away from him for the time being. Maintaining your composure around him is hard when you’re still unsure of what your relationship means to him, what you mean to him. What has made you giddy before is starting to feel hazy and suffocating and cold now, as though you’re submerged underwater without any chance to breathe.

↬ Your behavior doesn’t escape Jade’s attention. Nothing ever does, but you think that he doesn’t care enough to do anything to remedy it. After all, your constant avoidance must have started to bore him. You think that this is the end, and though the very thought of breaking up with him twists your heart with pain, you will yourself to concede. That’s what you get for ignoring everyone’s words, for staying blind to the warning signs when—

↬ “There you are, my dear,” Jade’s voice breaks you out of your trance. You turn your head so fast that it might’ve given you whiplash, but nothing else seems to matter as he cradles your cheek in his palm. “I thought that maybe you'd forgotten about your promise to create a new blend of tea for the Lounge with me.”

↬  At this moment, you truly lose your composure. Tears bead at the corners of your eyes instead of any anger. Loud, shameful sobs wrack your body, drawing the other students’ attention to the two of you. Some are starting to murmur, and a few of them shake their heads in pity, but the rest are unsurprised. Nothing good can ever come from a Leech twin looking for someone.

↬ Jade, however, is completely taken by surprise. Yes, he has suspected you of avoiding him due to an unseen yet sudden reason, but this? He schools his features into something more placid before approaching you, gently as if you’re a wounded animal. It fails, but when you try to squirm away from him, you find yourself cornered between him and a wall.

↬ “My dear,” he reiterates. When you don’t respond, he takes it upon himself to shelter you from the uninvited audience. Though he looks calm on the outside, he’s already trying to find answers. He wants to send the others a glare, but his focus is solely on you for now. With a tentative hand hovering above your waist, he speaks again. “Oh my, has someone made the mistake of hurting you?”

↬ You choose to concede, muffling your cries into his clothes as he presses his hand against the small of your back. The two of you are hidden from everyone else, but it doesn’t take too much to know what you’re doing. You wrap your arms around him, blinking away your tears as he whispers reassuring words to you. There’s still a lot to unpack between the two of you, but for now, you’re content with this.

Floyd Leech

↬ Floyd, whether you’re close to him or not, will get physical with you. It only makes sense for his behavior to amplify tenfold whenever he’s around you, but his touches are laced with something else. You accept them wholeheartedly, returning his hugs and squeezes whenever you can. 

↬ It’s a common sight to see the two of you attached at the hip around the campus. No matter who’s around, or what’s happening, you always gravitate towards each other. Sometimes, you make the first move and surprise him with a hug, and he’d always accept. Your receptiveness to him matches his energy, and it only makes him want to hug you tighter and never let you go.

↬ His brother tells you about the tenderness Floyd displays only scarcely, seen in the way he visits you or him in your classrooms to chat. Or in the way he shields you from the sharp edges of doors and tables with his hand. Or in the way he pulls you closer to him when the hallways get a little crowded (not that he needs it; the students always give you a wide berth whenever he’s passing by). 

↬ They’re all the subtle things, the ones no one would really notice unless they were looking for them. But you do, and you love them all. It’d be selfish to ask for more, especially when you know how fickle your boyfriend can get. You make sure to respect his boundaries and mood swings when they do happen, but he always goes back to you in the end. However, another side of you wants to tease his loyalty to you for a bit.

↬ At first, you ask him to accompany you to places. Sam’s shop, the cafeteria, the botanical garden—everywhere. He calls it an adventure with you, but you know the gears are already turning in his head with each place you go to. Though all of his remarks are playful and teasing, you can hear the suspicion in them. You try to assuage them with words of affirmation, but you know he still thinks something is up.

↬ The next thing you make him do is show him things you want to do, whether it be through private messages on Magicam or hinting at him in person. You send him pictures of cute cafes on the app, telling him “how wonderful it would be to have a date here.” You’re also starting to feel bad for him at this point, and though you want to tell him the truth behind your actions, you don’t need to.

↬ The charade doesn’t last too long, with him pouting when you arrive at the Octavinelle dorm. The dorm’s lounge isn’t too full with people, but the others scamper to somewhere else when you and Floyd arrive. The only ones left are the ones who don’t care enough to run, making brief eye contact with you before looking away. Your boyfriend drags you to one of the couches and effectively pins you down to them.

↬ “Angelfish, I’m starting to wonder if you’re trying to tell me something,” Floyd says with a dangerous glint to his eyes. You’re certain that he could never hurt you, but you still throw your hands up in defeat and sigh. 

↬ “I just wanted to tease you for a bit, Floyd,” you tell him. Your hands itch to hug him, but you peer at the couches behind him and see some students glaring at your brazen position. Instead, you keep your arms to yourself and attempt to gently guide him off you. As expected, he doesn’t budge until you explain better. “... or maybe I just wanted you to be more, uh, lovey-dovey with me.”

↬ You quickly mutter the last part, but your boyfriend hears you loud and clear. The doubt on his face clears up, replaced by enthusiasm, as he tackles you onto the couch. Instead of moving back to his room, you seem to have exacerbated the situation. Azul would surely scold the two of you later for being so bold in a public space, but you can’t defend yourself against the onslaught of kisses Floyd peppers on you. 

↬ “You should have just told me, Angelfish!” he says, cradling your cheek in his palm before slotting his lips against yours. A student from the lounge makes a choked sound, reminding you once again that you aren’t the only people here, but Floyd continues with his ministrations. “Were my squeezes not enough? Did you want me to mark you up for all the world to see, too?”

↬ “W-Wait, Floyd, not here!”

【 a day i can't forget 】

author's note: BACK WITH AN OCTATRIYUU FIC !! long time no them <33 this'll be kinda weird to explain, but in the octatriyuu universe, this comes after my two previous octatriyuu fics + the unwritten sequel to "three's a crowd". so if they seem closer, that's why ! it's bc they spent a lotta time around each other. nonetheless, i hope you enjoy !!

characters: gn! yuu, azul ashengrotto, floyd leech, jade leech, jamil viper, kalim al asim, grim

warning: book 4 ending spoilers + vague descriptions of being dragged into water

word count: 4.8k words (we love ~5k of octatriyuu content)

tags: octatriyuu woo, oasis retreat !!, octa gets yuu to swim without manipulation (NOT CLICKBAIT), a pinch of jealousy, jamil knows, lifeguard azul >:D, eelform tweels aka pool noodle bois, pranks (affectionate), it's literally them messing around jsdkjs

[ or read it on ao3 ]

This was not where Yuu was expecting to be after that grueling fight. After Jamil's overblot was over and done with, Kalim had the sudden idea to host a party, which— thinking about it now— was a very Kalim-like decision.

He had Oasis Maker-ed the small oasis into a full-blown lake and now, everyone was enjoying a little bit of time out in the sun. It was a welcome change from their strict schedule under the hypnotized Kalim's tyranny. Jamil had calmed down from his, ahem, outburst and he was now cooking various meats on a grill. And Grim had seated himself in the vicinity of where the food was placed.

With that, Yuu thought that this would be the time for them to relax too. Keyword thought in the past tense. Because as soon as they tried to sit down in one of the lounge chairs Kalim had so nicely pulled out, they were being picked up by the arms.

"Wh–"

"Shrimpy! Don't tell me you're gonna be boring like Azul and just sit~" Floyd was grinning brightly, his hands wrapped around their right arm. "Let's take a swim!"

Shit. They had almost forgotten that the trouble trio was here. That meant that to their left was...

"Floyd is correct, Yuu-san," Jade, who gave them his most innocent eye smile— one that no one should ever trust— "It would be wise to take advantage of this situation. Besides, when else will we have the opportunity to indulge in swimming in an oasis?"

"You really are horrible senpais," Yuu grumbled as they swung their legs in vain. Damn the both of them for being so tall. "I want to rest. My legs feel like they'll fall off any second, and- Wait a second, why are you carrying me closer to the edge of the oasis-!"

Yuu started to struggle as soon as the Leeches were calf-deep in water, "Pause! Wait!! I don't- I didn't bring a change of clothes with me-"

There was a chorus of laughter from the both of them before Jade spoke, "My, it's amusing to think that wet clothes would stop us."

"He's right, he's right~" Floyd giggled. "We learned to dry clothes off in land boot camp, so why'd it be a problem?"

They screeched when they felt the water licking at their ankles, "Stop, wait, okay, I'll swim with you guys! Just get me a swimming suit, please!" They desperately wrapped their legs around Jade's waist, narrowly missing the water by a hairsbreadth.

"It's a deal," They said in unison before smiling at them.

"Honestly, you three," They felt a surge of magic envelop them before they were floating through the air; back over to the shore where Azul was standing. "I told you two to wait while I fetch a swimming suit for them. And don't tell me you fell for their tricks again."

"Try getting picked up like a cat by them, senpai," Yuu sighed deeply, grabbing the swimsuit. "I'm not tall enough, nor do I have the magic to get away."

"Maybe if you didn't show them such an, mm, amusing reaction, let's say, they wouldn't tease you so openly," Azul was definitely hiding a smirk behind his carefully placed hand. The bastard. "Now go ahead and change. Or would you like me to give you some more incentive?"

"Seven's above, you three are annoying," Yuu muttered to themself.

They looked down at the swimsuit before looking up at the trio's expectant gazes. They wanted them to swim? Okay. Fine. As long as no one made them do laps, they could still laze around in the water. (Or so they hoped.)

As they were walking to the changing tent, they spotted Jamil watching them from where he was still manning the grill. There was this bluntly amused look on his face as they came over.

"Jamil-senpai, were you watching me the whole time?"

"I mean after you yelled out like that?" Jamil shrugged. "Who wasn't watching?"

"And you did nothing to save me?" Yuu gasped; mock-scanadalized. "Seriously though, I could've used the help."

"Look," Jamil said as he expertly flipped the patties into their buns. "Why would I help the very person who single-handedly ruined all my plans?" He held out a burger for them to take– and they had to admit, it looked better than any restaurant burger that they had ever had.

Yuu paused for a moment before accepting the burger, "Y'know I said this before, but you really are evil on the inside."

"Shrim~py!"

The taller eel suddenly draped himself over them, knocking them right into the table, "You're takin' too long!"

"Floyd," Yuu said after straightening themself out. Thank the Seven the burger didn't fly out of their hands. It would've been trouble if any of it hit Jamil.

Jamil hissed, "Floyd. I want you nowhere near the grill."

"I know, I know," Floyd's tone was light but there was something in his eyes that made Yuu think twice about pushing him off. "What were you talking 'bout to Sea Snake, Shrimpy? Somethin' fun?"

"Nothing much," Yuu brandished the burger half-heartedly. "He was just giving me one of these."

"Eh? Was it specially made for Shrimpy?" The pressure Floyd put on their shoulders increased slightly, to their annoyance.

"Well, no, he was making them for everyone, but–"

"Just to clarify," Jamil interrupted, holding up his spatula. "I have no intention on being friends with you from now on, Prefect. In fact, I find you annoying."

"Gee, thanks, no one asked," They said sarcastically at the out-of-nowhere comment. Yet there was no returning jab from either party. Instead, when they glanced up, Floyd seemed to be having an intense stare-off with Jamil.

He must've seen something that he agreed with because he beamed after breaking the eye contact, "Alright~ I believe you, Sea Snake."

Floyd then bent down, grabbing their wrist and taking the biggest bite Yuu had seen a human— or, well, an eelmer, in Floyd's case— ever take. Nonetheless, almost all of it was gone; fallen victim to the sharpness of Floyd's teeth.

"Just...just have the rest," Yuu said dejectedly, holding the burger up to Floyd's awaiting mouth. "Yeah, I wasn't hungry at all."

They felt a few stares being directed at them so they looked over to see Jade and Azul looking in their direction too. There was something steely in their gaze but as soon as they caught them, they both smiled brightly, having the audacity to even wave at them.

"Great Seven, I almost feel sorry for you," Jamil muttered, before turning back to prepare more food.

"What's that supposed to mean?" As soon as the question was out of their mouth, Floyd seized them by the shoulders. "I was still talking to him, Floy-"

"Nah, nah," Floyd's laughter echoed closely in their ears. "Sea Snake's just bein' funny. Don't worry your pretty little head over it, Shrimpy!" They were very eagerly led towards the changing tents, which Floyd kicked open before they stepped in. "C'mon~ I'll be waiting for you right outside."

"You better not peek," Yuu stared warily at him as they secured the tent flap.

"Mmm, I won't," Floyd's tone shifted to a serious one. "Respecting people's privacy's something Azul told me to do. Unless, they don't respect ours, ehe~"

Yuu sighed before changing into the suit. It looked more like a wet suit, which was probably for the best considering how much...sand there was. They were still deep within a desert after all.

"I'm done," Yuu announced before opening the tent flap. What surprised them was the absence of Floyd— and the presence of Jade, instead.

"My, that was very prompt," Jade held out a shirt in his hands. "I prepared this for you."

"A shirt?" Yuu took the shirt. It was a simple black shirt a few sizes too big for them.

"Mm, yes," Jade held a hand to his chest. "I noticed your, ah, preference for looser clothing. So I took the liberty to prepare this shirt for you. It's plain black because Floyd often disagrees with my fashion choices, so I thought the simpler the better."

Yuu blinked for a moment, clutching the shirt closer to their chest, "Thanks Jade-senpai. That's...really thoughtful of you." It was. They meant it.

They almost forgot that throughout the few months that they've been acquainted, they did take care of them when it mattered. Despite the dubious methods that they employed, there was still a modicum of attentiveness they held towards them. Like they knew that they couldn't treat them quite as roughly as they treated each other. As they slipped on the shirt over their wetsuit, they made a mental note to make a gift to thank them when they got back to Ramshackle.

Jade's eyes widened slightly, before those mismatched eyes curved once more, "With pleasure. Now let's not keep them waiting for too long, lest Floyd decides on a more explosive entrance into the water."

"Right," Yuu walked alongside him to the edge of the water. Floyd waved from inside the lake, already comfortably milling around in his eel form.

"Then excuse me for a moment," Jade said before walking off towards the bushes; no doubt getting ready to slip into the water.

A sharp whistling sound managed to make them flinch. They looked up to see Azul sitting on what looked like a lifeguard's chair. He had certainly dressed the part, with the hat and sunglasses perched on his head.

"No diving by the shallow end of the pool– er, lakeside!" Azul shouted into a megaphone, his voice carrying over the sound of Kalim's lively music.

"Are you supposed to be the lifeguard?" Yuu asked as they made their way over to the chair.

"Ahem," Azul cleared his throat, dropping the megaphone beside him. "Actually, it was–"

"I asked him to do it!" Kalim appeared out of nowhere, wrapping an arm around their shoulder. "I asked Azul 'cause, y'know, he's the best mage here. So I figured he could save anyone from drowning in a jiffy." They shuffled a bit in Kalim's hold, still not accustomed to his overly-friendly behavior.

"Are you going for a swim too?" Kalim said, finally taking note of their appearance. "That's great! I hope you have a great time."

"Kalim-san," Azul called out, pushing up his glasses. "I'm sure the Prefect would appreciate it if you'd take a step back." Always the perceptive one, Azul was. They shot him a quick glance before sending a tentative smile toward Kalim.

"Oh. Whoops! My bad," Kalim wheeled himself backward. "I'm still...working on that part, haha..."

"It's okay," They gave the Scarabia Housewarden a pat on the arm. "As you said, you're working on it. I'm gonna take a dip now."

"If you're drowning give a shout," Azul let slip a soft laugh. "Maybe saving your life will let me bind you into a more...lasting contract, fufufu~"

"Senpai, that is the worst thing I've heard come out of your mouth in a while," They sighed. "As long as you don't purposefully cause an accident, then do your worst."

Yuu stepped into the water then. The water was cool, lapping at their ankles from the furious movements of the other Scarabia student's activities. They saw everything, from beach— or should it be called desert— volleyball, to people outright just splashing each other with water.

Then they felt something yank at their ankle. Yuu slipped, dragged through the water to who-knows-where, all while sputtering in an attempt to breathe.

Fear flared inside their chest for a moment before clarity hit them. There were only two people that would do this. Surely this was the work of one of the tweels. They clamped their mouth shut, blinking their eyes to adjust their vision to being underwater.

Yuu was met with Floyd's saccharine grin, his claw-like hand firmly wrapped around their ankle. Of course it was him. A well-placed kick to his shoulder and Floyd finally relented, bringing them back to the surface.

"Ahaha~!" They could barely hear the ringing of Floyd's laughter through their water-clogged ears. "You shoulda seen the look on your face, Shrimpy! You looked real scared!"

They felt another set of hands grasp their shoulders, half-turning to see Jade there, "Floyd, that was dangerous." Yuu would've seconded the statement if they weren't so busy hacking up leftover water from their lungs.

"Eh~" Floyd scratched at his earfins. "But I made sure the Little Shrimp didn't drown, right?"

"Still," Yuu said when they finally managed to catch their breath. "That was a zero out of ten experience. Please don't do it again." They tried to calm down their heart as they searched Floyd's expression for any signs of remorse. There was a slight frown on his face. Clearly, he was thinking about his actions; or so they hoped.

There was a clawed hand on their cheek, patting lightly to soothe them, "Since Shrimpy asked so nicely, I won't. And 'm sorry. Besides, scaring's only fun one time anyway. Imma go over there now, be right back!" And with a twist of his tail, Floyd speeded off towards where some Scarabia students were tussling in the water.

A sigh tickled their ear and, oh yeah. Jade was still there. "I apologize for his behavior," Jade said, letting their back meet his slippery chest. "Here, why don't I assist you in relaxing?"

Yuu snorted, "No offense, Jade-senpai, but it's not like you can brew me tea out here."

There was a slight chuckle before Jade slowly drifted further to the middle of the lake, "Don't worry. I will be right here next to you, so please do not be so tense." They nodded slightly, leaning back against his front.

It was nice. They could hear Jade's faint humming, and the sound of what they assumed was his teeth or vocal cords clicking lightly. They noticed that their voices sounded slightly distorted, their vocal cords different in their eel forms. The water, and the way Jade gently guided them around...it was all a nice reprieve from all the noise and excitement Scarabia brought about.

One that came to an abrupt end as soon as Yuu heard an all-too-familiar scream, "HENCHMAAAAN!!" Their head snapped up immediately, following Grim's shouting to where he was struggling inside of a net. How he got there was a mystery but they couldn’t help but gape at the sight.

"He is fine," Jade said before adding. "In fact, it seems Azul has saved him." They looked closely at the scene and found that, yes that was Azul Ashengrotto holding on to the net's pole.

"Sevens, I can never catch a break, can I?" Yuu muttered before patting Jade's shoulders. "Could you take me there, senpai?"

"I can't refuse such a polite request from my suffering kouhai," Jade said with an edge of teasing in his voice. They held on tight to Jade's shoulders as they felt his tail flexing, pushing them closer to where Grim was causing a scene.

They arrived just in time to see Azul dumping Grim unceremoniously onto a beach towel. Azul unsuccessfully shielded himself from the water as Grim shook himself off. They murmured a small thanks to Jade before walking over to their troublesome little monster.

"Henchman!" Grim wailed, launching himself at them. "They told me I couldn't eat anymore! They were chasing me out of the food table." His little ears drooped, the fire in them out because he was so thoroughly drenched. He really did look like a wet cat.

"Well...how much did you eat?" Yuu asked, stroking the top of his head.

"Kalim said I could have as much as I wanted so..." Grim pouted. "I had five ribs, three burgers, two chicken breasts, six chicken wings, and-"

"And?" Yuu interrupted, raising a brow. "There's more?"

Grim's ears seemed to droop even more, "The Great Grim wants to grow, y'know!"

"But I told you to eat in moderation," Yuu reminded, ruffling the monster's head. "Now what did we agree on?"

"...After I finish one dish I wait for five minutes before getting another dish to eat," Grim said miserably. He was dry enough now that his ears were able to fire up again, but it still didn't make him any less hilarious to look at.

As Grim meandered back to the food tables, Yuu turned to the other person that was patiently waiting for them with an amicable smile on his face.

"I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me," He said, fluttering his lashes and putting on a show. "And after I worked so hard to save Grim-san."

"I assume you want compensation?" Yuu glanced over at the unabashed gleam in his eyes. "Okay. Follow me." For once, they had a plan. They saw the tweels watching them curiously from the corner of their eye; looking like a pair of crocodiles stalking their prey.

They got as close to the water as they dared, and seeing the relaxed way Azul held himself, they knew he wasn't expecting anything. Yuu positioned him so his back was to the water.

"So?" Azul placed a hand on his chest. "What kind of compensation are you going to–"

Yuu chose that moment to tackle him, sending both of them tumbling right into the shallows. They made sure to roll slightly, to lessen the impact on Azul. But he still struggled under them, and they had to grab at his lapels to make sure he wasn't drowning.

Blinking the water out of their eyes, they were met with Azul's face centimeters away from theirs. His mouth was agape, silvery hair hanging in drenched strands. They could vaguely hear the sound of Jade and Floyd's laughter mingling and mixing with the sound of Azul's harsh breaths.

"I...hate you." And his glasses chose that moment to fully slip off his nose, landing in the water with a soft splash. They threw their head back then, a loud cackle leaving their lips. Azul was still mumbling complaints as they felt something wrap around their ankle and tug.

"Shrimpy~ Man, that was great!" Floyd appeared, giggles still leaving his lips. "Azul's always so on guard, how'd you do it? Teach me, teach me!"

"I think you've been spending a little too much time with Floyd," Azul muttered venomously. "He's starting to rub off on you."

Yuu just patted his shoulder, "If they got me to swim it's only fair that I get you to join me too."

"Fufufu~ It was an equal exchange of sorts," Jade said slyly. "Those are the kind of deals you claim favor, right Azul?"

"Sevens, that is not what this is and— would you get off me already?" Azul said, his voice strung high from the...stress? Or was it the fact that he realized they were practically sprawled on his torso? Azul always reacted unpredictably to physical contact, so they took that as their cue to roll over.

"Don't be too angry," Yuu said, feeling Floyd's tail tugging them yet again. "You're an exemplary mage, right? You know exactly what spell to use to dry yourself off."

"...Just because you compliment me and your words have some merit to them doesn't mean I'll forgive you so easily," Azul tilted his glasses, finding no dry surfaces to wipe them on before giving up and folding them.

"Let's just enjoy it before you do go and dry off," Yuu suggested, wading deeper into the water. "How about a race? Two against two?"

"Oooh! I wanna be with Little Shrimp this time!" Floyd cheered, raising his hand. "Since, y'know, you got to play with them before, Jade."

"Don't go thinking me and Azul will go easy on you both, fufufu~" There was a predatory glint in Jade's eyes; begetting a flash of sharp teeth.

"I still have plenty of magic in me," Azul said, fake saccharine dripping from his mouth. "I hope that your ducking skills are as good as your tackling skills, Prefect."

Yuu shot him a small smile at that, patting Floyd's shoulders, "Let's go kick their asses, my trusty steed."

And when Floyd responded with a little "yeehaw" Yuu thought that maybe this wasn't so bad. Being dragged into relaxing this way wasn't the most horrible thing they've experienced. Sure, future-Yuu was going to have to deal with the added muscle pain of trying to avoid Azul's well-aimed water spells, but hey. That was for future them to worry about.

For now, their priorities were to enjoy the day to the fullest. For now, it was enough to wash away their worries with petty jabs and the sound of laughter. After all, this day was shaping up into a day they would never forget.

[ omake : a prolonged fascination ]

It was a slow day at Mostro Lounge. And a slow day at the lounge meant that there were three usually-busy people idling around. Azul has resigned himself to his desk, a stack of documents that need his signature to the side as he rhythmically tapped his pen on the table. It wasn't the most exciting work since it had nothing to do with amassing wealth, but it was necessary for the lounge.

Meanwhile, Jade had a stack of nature magazines next to him. They were no doubt filled to the brim with knowledge of land plants that he could potentially stuff into their dinners for the next few weeks. He was boasting about a trip to the mountains again in a couple of days.

And Floyd? Floyd was in a bad mood. Usually that would entail chaos for the other two, but he wasn't in an irritated bad mood, he was just...in a lethargic bad mood. Bored without any idea of what could potentially cheer him up. Thus there he laid, looking like a puddle of melted eel on the couch.

So the three looked up almost immediately when the door to the VIP room opened sans knocking. The head of one Ramshackle Prefect popped into the room, "Hey. Can I come in, or is this a bad time?"

Floyd was the first to react, groaning and melding even further with the couch, "Go away, Shrimpy. 'M not feeling like eating shrimp right now." Then Floyd threw one of the pillows in Azul's general direction, "'N the pen tapping's gotta stop before I bite you, Azul."

"I didn't- I wasn't offering in the first place," Yuu walked into the room, and already the lackadaisical mood was beginning to shift. "Anyway, I can't stay for long so let's make this quick." They sat down next to Jade, pulling out a paper bag, and consequently piquing Azul's interest. And he was kind of distracted after dodging that pillow Floyd threw, so he made his way over to the couch.

"What may that be?" Jade asked, putting down his magazine.

"Oh, it's just something," They shook the bag, letting the insides clink around. "C'mon, Floyd. Sit up for a second." Floyd let out a long whine before shifting so his face was turned towards where they were, cheek squished against the leather.

"I...wanted to thank you for saving me from the...incident over winter break," Yuu said carefully, and the three merpeople couldn't help but note the slight fidget of their fingers as they spoke. "You really didn't have to care, but, well you did, and you guys put yourself in danger too back there so..."

"Well if you'd like to compensate," Azul's silky tone made them flinch slightly. "I can think of numerous different contracts that could have your name on them."

There was an instant shift in their demeanor, and Azul noted the way their shoulders relaxed slightly when they spoke again, "Sevens, I knew this was a bad idea." Jade looked knowingly over at Azul, who was smiling lightly at his successful effort to relax them.

"Hey. Just get on with it already," Floyd griped, making grabby hands at the bag. "Wanna see what's in the bag." And that was the Schodinger's cat wasn't it? The little unassuming paper bag that supposedly held something inside that was for the three of them.

"Okay, geez, here," Yuu relinquished their grip on the bag, handing it to Floyd. "I made it myself, so don't you dare laugh."

Jade and Azul, though curious, simply kept watch over Floyd's reactions. And when Floyd's eyes widened, a smile suffusing his previously unsatisfied expression, it only enticed their fascination with what was in the bag.

"Little Shrimp this is like, hella dope," Floyd cheered, rummaging in the bag and pulling out a mug that had an eel painted on it. "Lookit. It's handsome like me."

The Prefect groaned as Floyd held it up towards the light, "Don't do that, ugh- Okay, I'm leaving."

They tried to stand up, but Jade had a firm grasp on their shoulder, "And where will you be running off to?"

"Jade's right, wouldn't you like to see our reactions to such a heartfelt gift?" Azul challenged and the frown that they pulled only served to make Jade chuckle.

"It's none of your business where I have to go," Yuu stood— successfully this time. "You guys...have fun with that. No refunds, no compensations, okay?" They were out of the door in seconds, with a "see you later" on the tip of their tongue.

"What else is there in the bag?" Jade asked, as Floyd was very thoroughly inspecting the painted eel with a wide grin on his face. He pulled out two more identical mugs, one with another eel and the other an octopus.

"Look, look~" Floyd cheered, falling onto the couch next to Jade. "Mine has a lil basketball and it has my sick shoes too!"

"It appears that mine has a terrarium accompanying the eel," Jade noted, gloved fingers gliding over the ceramic. "Oh, and of course there are some fungi."

"How quaint," Azul couldn't resist the soft smile that tugged on his lips. "It seems my octopus is holding on to a golden contract. And there seems to be coins all around them."

"Mmm?" Floyd tilted his head, hand still stuck into the bag. "Oh, there's sumn else."

It was a note, hastily scribbled in now-familiar handwriting that read:

To the three it may concern,

You guys aren't half bad to have on my side, and it's been nice working with you minus all the teasing and pranks. I'm looking forward to what trouble and fun you will bring along with you for the rest of the year.

So thank you. I mean it.

Yuu

The three looked amongst themselves, a feeling of acute warmth settling over them like a blanket. Floyd immediately stood up— but not before gently settling his mug onto the table.

"Where are you going, Floyd?" Jade called out as Floyd swung open the door.

"Gotta go squeeze Shrimpy now~" Floyd said resolutely. "You comin' with?"

Jade made an affirmative noise, "Sure, I'll accompany you to see Yuu-san. I have a few choice words I'd like to say to them."

"Let's make a field trip out of it. After all, the Lounge seems to be having a slow day," Azul said, his smile slipping from soft to sly in a matter of seconds. "It would be best if we brought a housewarming gift if we were to visit the Ramshackle dorms."

"Then," Jade brought a hand to his chest. "I shall go grab-"

"No," Floyd and Azul said simultaneously.

"No way 'm letting you poison Shrimpy with mushrooms," Floyd stuck out his tongue. "Imma get them some of that seaweed jerky we made."

"Oh, and do grab the tester desserts we made a few days ago," Azul called out after the taller. "Now then, let me lock up the vaults and put away the papers."

"I shall inform the staff that we will be leaving," Jade said before picking up the bag. "What should we do with the mugs..?"

Azul paused as he was straightening his papers, "Well...get those to our kitchens. Put them in the hidden shelves I had installed. It would be troublesome if our staff got their hands on it."

"Right away."

As they set off on their own devices they all couldn't help but smile slightly. It would always be amusing how they never seemed to stop surprising them. Well now it was their turn to show them how much they meant to them. A show of gratitude for a show of gratitude. That was definitely a good enough excuse to go bother them, right? 

A lull in the day may just turn as eventful as this one did. And they had one little Prefect to thank for that.

helloooo thank you for enjoying the oasis swimming mischief-making :D !!

if you'd like to see more octatriyuu, check out his own brand of comfort or three's a crowd ! and check out my masterlists for more writing <33

Haytham Kenway

"You will become a symbol to those who survive. Hope. Knowledge. Determination. You will inspire them to rebuild, to thrive once more. ... For now, you must follow."