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This was probably the best – and worst – idea Rielle has ever had ever since he got his legs for the first time. Even after walking around for 2 whole years, these limbs would still make him trip and fall, especially if he wore something that covered his vision of where his feet were going — which unsurprisingly is what’s happening right now.
The main point is, he has to be as sneaky as he can. No tripping allowed, and no embarrassing himself either. The ginger is standing on somewhere he knew he shouldn’t be, the great ol’ Night Raven College, the place where everyone that wants his guts for whatever reason studies. But that does not matter to him, and it won’t as long as he can see the person he’s been aching to see for so long.
Azul Ashengrotto, his old classmate from elementary and middle school, and the one he’s had a fall for ever since he first saw him shine under the sunrays that bathed through the thin barrier of water. Those beautiful tentacles, the chubby face, his curvy pale hair… Everything was so beautiful for the prince that he was astounded when he knew about Azul’s habit of hiding himself because of the bullying he’d suffer at the hands of other merfolks. That always made Rielle’s blood boil. The prince couldn’t understand how someone as handsome as the octo-merfolk suffered over his appearance. If he had the chance, Rielle wouldn’t think twice in protecting him from those stupid bullies from their class and prove how much they were wrong about Azul’s appearance.
— Stop thinking of that, Rielle! That won’t help now… — The ginger found himself muttering a bit out loud, immediately shoving his hand in front of his mouth in order to shut him up. Ah... he still has to learn how to control his excitement in times like these… Minhaj had already advised him before going all the way over to NRC, and if he ever got caught and used as a prisoner, the moment he got liberated the housewarden of dunasmina would have him in a plate like a seafood dish.
With quick steps, he made his way to the mirror that led to Octavinelle. He heard that name roll off Azul’s mouth once when talking to the twin eels, something about a lounge and food being served even without the most helpful servers there. The other seemed like such a hard worker, thinking about his restaurant even when out of the perimeters of it… Rielle can’t believe he got to finally meet with him again! It’s so incredible, he’s so curious to know what his old classmate has gone through! The prince can’t wait any longer to meet his own prince, the one he wishes to hold hands with forever.
Passing through the mirror with a bit of hesitance and eagerness, Rielle’s eyes clocked the large building without a second thought. It was beautiful, surely something Azul would have control over. It was just his face! Pillars grew from the rocks that formed the stairs to the entrance and to the side was a huge one that looked like a long lost coliseum, wrapped in a carefully carved octopus tentacle, with something that felt like a shell on top. Every piece of the structure seemed to impress the prince even more. Sure, he’s seen all sorts of noble constructions and plans for prettier statues, but this feels… better. Maybe because it’s Azul, in some way. Even if the octo-merfolk is not the Sea Witch himself, all these octopus-themed constructions must have made him feel right at home. As if, for once in his life, there was someone out there that understood him and his appearance.
Enough thinking and appreciating, there’s something way better for him to appreciate the moment he presses his feet on the floors of Octavinelle’s main building. Rielle wonders as he passes by the door, making little to no noise (why was it even open at these hours? It’s late at night, no one should leave their dorm’s main door open!), or as little as he possibly can. How does Azul dress himself to sleep? Is it comfortable, like a sweatshirt and sweatpants, or something more elegant looking? He’s even more excited now, holding his squeaks of joy to himself as his plan to get to the other’s room kept replaying in his head like a broken record.
— It’s simple! I’ll sneak in there, talk to Azul and then leave! — His voice was as cheerful as ever, eyes shining bright like two diamonds under sunlight, making Minhaj flinch and cover his eyes, as if looking at Rielle’s own would turn him blind.
— Sure. Go on. But if you get caught and Ambrose gets on our necks because of you- your family will have to change who’s their next-in-line prince. — Minhaj’s voice passed with worry, disappointment and certainty that this dumb plan from the prince of Coral Sea would be broken in a few minutes as soon as he stepped over the NRC. Although he was right, the native from the Scorching Sands didn’t talk about it any further. If Rielle wanted to see that octopus so badly, he could go for it by himself. As long as it’s not dragging him with it, it’ll be fine.
Easier said than done — the prince ran to him the moment he had come to the doubt of what to wear. For sure he couldn’t sneak in anywhere with his usual clothing, no, it was way too shiny and way too colourful. It had to be something that even if he was caught, if no one took a better glance at him, would never know it was the housewarden to a dorm from RSA. And with that, Minhaj had to style his hair in a bun (Great Sevens is that hair difficult to manage!) and gave him clothes that seemed akin to what NRC students used at the opening ceremony. Black cloth hugged his body loosely, purple and gold adornments circling the outfit as the hood covered his bright red hair.
Now, in front of Azul’s room, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. Every part of his body ached to knock lightly on that door, to open it and have his doubts about how the other was dressed, or if his hair was as messy as Rielle’s own every day now that he was preparing to sleep. Although, his mind went blank. The whole plan, step by step, that had been so carefully covered on his head all day, had just suddenly vanished. As if his grip on it had loosened and it got carried away with the wind.
As if hearing his thoughts from inside the room, the door opened and the bright blue eyes that once found themselves unfocused and lost in thoughts traveled up to see that Azul was standing right in front of him, arms crossed and face tired, already without his glasses. The same composed but slightly irritated expression he always had was more prominent now that he seemed more comfortable, as if the change of clothes softened his usually quadratic edges. His hair fell perfectly against his right eye, making his vision partly covered while the other fought against sleep and looked to the prince with half-lidded eyes.
— What is it that you wished to discuss with me that’s so important that you just had to hold me back from resting? — Azul whispered, sounding not totally angry at the other merfolk, but still pissed over the fact that his sleep routine had been disturbed by the (stupid) prince. Rielle caught the glimpse of a roll in his eyes, but his own were much more focused in taking in his handsome appearance. The soft lightning in the room helped him look even softer than when they were kids and Azul found himself under the strokes of sunrays. After taking a good look at the outfit (and making a mental note to treat himself for being partially right about the robe), Rielle finally came back to check how Azul was piercing his icy blue eyes against his skin.
— A-ah, sorry about that. I just wanted to talk to you, that’s all! — The white-haired boy raised an eyebrow at that. — I’m serious, I wanted to have a normal talk with you! — Rielle reassured, cracking that shiny smile against his nervous face. At the very least, it seemed to convince Azul enough for him to make space so that the prince could wiggle himself through the space between the doorframe and Azul’s figure.
Taking a better look at the contents inside the other’s room, Rielle couldn’t help but notice the decoration. Bottles on top of the wardrobe, glass globes holding the figures of plants and some alive creatures and the vault he used as a bedside table. Unique choices, just like Azul would ever do. Slowly, as he took his time to observe every single detail as if his life depended on carving every corner of the room inside his mind, the ginger’s eyes fell on the huge bed situated in the middle of the room. It seemed comfortable, squishy, and a great place to rest your back after a long day of work.
From the door (that was now closed, Azul was quick to buy them privacy), the octo-merfolk leaned against the wooden furniture as his eyes observed Rielle’s move like a spy watching its target. Every glance that the prince took inside his room was followed to the second by Azul’s own gaze, meticulously managing to control what the merman was seeing as he stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, like he was waiting for the other to guide him where he could sit or if he could sit somewhere. Like he was training a puppy, Azul walked over to his bed and laid himself back to where he was before the (not very) unwelcome intrusion from the RSA student. Patting the place by his side, the prince was quite fast to sit beside him, crossing his legs and looking all excited about just being there.
— Start talking about whatever you want to say. I’ll listen. — He waved his hand, giving the signal so that the ginger could finally start spilling his joyful words all over the tired Azul.
In just a few minutes, the white-haired boy had already closed his eyes, feigning he was asleep even though every new word that Rielle formed was being very well heard and registered in his mind. Well, probably not all of them since the prince talked as fast as Idia, but maybe that’s something that’s changeable through audiophonology? Who cares, it’s not like Rielle would ever go with him to an audiophonology consult just because Azul thinks he talks too-
— I missed you. —
- What?
— Huh? — Azul opened one of his eyes lazily, furrowing his eyebrows as he directed his gaze to Rielle, who now seemed hyper-aware of what he just said by the way his cheeks were becoming far redder than they naturally are.
— I said I missed you. You know, I always appreciated your knowledge back then – when we were in elementary school. Your tentacles are just so cool and you always seemed so intelligent! I got nervous trying to think of a way of talking to you, I thought I would just mess it all up and you’d laugh about me forever. Though, in middle school, things changed. You were far more nervous than I could ever be, and I was always circled to the neck with people who made fun of you. I was scared that if I ever got close to you, they would just bully you right in front of me and you’d hate me forever for bringing them directly to torment you. — His voice shook slightly, trying to take the emotions he so deeply kept to himself for years without crying over it. Despite trying, Azul could still see the beads of tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes, the bright red hair glowing because of the soft light coming from the window.
Hearing those words, coming directly out of the prince’s mouth, made him wonder what could’ve happened if Rielle fought off the fear of being a burden to him. Maybe he wouldn’t be this manipulative, maybe he wouldn’t have made his unique spell into something so foul, maybe he wouldn’t have problems with his weight… the changes were uncountable, each one leading into three new others that Azul couldn’t help but wish were true.
In an impulsive thought, Azul wrapped his arms around Rielle’s waist, bringing him indirectly closer so that he could faintly bury his face in the copycat of the NRC ceremonial robe. — You’re an idiot. — He muttered, voice muffled against the fabric as he couldn’t let pass the scent of saltwater coming from the prince. It smelled so good… if they were friends since childhood, would Azul also be able to have this smell? Maybe he would’ve been pampered from the start.
All the prince did was let out a giggle that was so characteristically him Azul could never hear it on someone else other than Rielle. — I know! That’s what makes you bear with me, right? — The octo-merfolk could basically hear his smile through his voice, and he had to curse out his heart for doing a little jump.
— I won’t comment on that. —
— Then it’s a yes for me! —