Silence reigned over Mostro Lounge. It was well past closing time, and the once bustling restaurant was now empty and lifeless.
The light shining from the glass bordering the area cast a ghostly aquamarine hue over the polished wooden tables and floor, and the leather of the couches.
The neon pink, purple and blue lights danced beautifully alongside the aquatic colours, decorating the Lounge and giving it an almost ethereal feeling.
Finn Clearcove sat on one of the couches, hat and scarf placed neatly next to him, and watched the grand array of fish swimming about just beyond the glass.
It was so nice to do this after work. Sit down, rleax, and enjoy the peace. It brought about a feeling of nostalgia, brinnging him back to old times.
Surrounded by water, the current rippling his hair, the comfort of the pressure of the depths as he moved along the ocean floor. Hiding in the seaweed, chasing crabs, helping his father hunt and prep meat to sell to the Ashengrottos… a simple, but pleasant life.
The quiet was something to savour, as things were going to get loud for his birthday tomorrow.
“Still awake, I see?” Finn jolted and snapped out of his trance, spinning around to be met with the sight of Jade Leech smiling at him, sharp teeth barely visible through his lips.
“J-Jade- My apologies I-” “No need to apologise~” Jade purred. “I am simply here to let you know that I will be locking up soon. It would be rather unfortunate if you were trapped in here.”
“Ah…” Finn flushed. “Um, thank you. Sorry, I… I get distracted by the scenery.” Jade’s smile widened just a fraction. “I know. I’ve seen you here many many times. You look so… at peace.”
“Well… yes, you could say that.” Finn giggled nervously. “It reminds me of home.” “Ah yes.” Jade hummed. “You lived in rhe neighbourhood. Your father was the butcher. It’s a shame, you were always so shy. We could never find you in the kelp forest.” “That was kinda the plan…” Finn mumbled.
He was playing with his hands and staring at his lap with flushed cheeks. How cute.
A moment of silence reigned, until the moray eel had an idea.
“Come.” Jade extended a hand. “I would like to show you something.” One year ago, Finn would have fled for his damn life ar such an offer, but now… now he knew Jade a little better. They were not simply peers. They were… friends. He knew Jade had no ill intentions. Towards him at least.
Finn took his hand and allowed himself to be led closer to the glass. “Look.” Jade pointed, and Finn had to squint and strain his already sore eyes.
He followed the direction of Jade’s finger. Past the fish, past the kelp, past the rocks and the shrimp and the coral.
There.
There was a cave. And deep within the blackness of that cave was a light. An aquamarine and green light.
Finn was not unfamiliar with bioluminescence. Hell, he was bioluminescent due to a type of algae he ate. But the shape looked odd…
It took a minute or two to click.
“Are those… mushrooms?” Jade nodded. “Indeed. After many months of hard work, I managed to cultivate a species of mushroom that cam grow underwater. Of course, neither Azul nor Floyd would let me display them, so I hid them in that cave for me to look at.” He looked at Finn. “You are the only person to know about this.”
Both a statement and a warning. Finn knew better than to tattle anyways. “Of course.” He had no idea what else to say. It was a little awkward. Luckily, Jade was there to save the day.
“Oh. I must say.” He said, changing the subject. “I must thank you for getting that little piece of information. It helped us find the student who’s been cheating the system Azul worked oh so hard to make. You’re getting close to earning Employee Of The Month.”
“O-Oh. That.” Not quite what he was expecting, but Finn laughed anyway. “Thank you. For such a proud student, he sure caved in easy to the forgettable bartender.” His lips curled up just a fraction, revealing his own pointed teeth, and as such his cute mask slipped. “It was quite… funny.”
“Mm, I can imagine.” Jade moved Finn’s hair out of eyes and stared into those gorgeous aquamarine irises. Irises that glinted with slightly sadistic glee.
As adorable as Finn was, one did not get into Octavinelle without the dorm traits, and the little cookie cutter shark was as sly as they come. His birthday was sure to bring more customers.
“Ah, yes, before I forget.” Jade handed Finn a small woden box. “This is for your birthday tomorrow. Do not open it until you wake up. As much as I’d love for you to receive it during your party, this is something more… private.” He did not elaborate further.
Finn nodded slowly. “Alright then.” He held onto the box carefully and checked his watch. “Oh my! I need to get to bed! I’m sorry, goodnight, Jade!”
Watching he small mer scramble for the exit and handle the box like glass, Jade a smile. A soft, genuine smile.
Finn’s eyes slowly fluttered open as sunlight filtering in through the window forced him awake. He met out a little groan and covered his face with his pillow.
It was his birthday.
He was not against birthdays, but at NRC, they unfortunately meant interacting with a person who was going to interview him and then shove a pie in his face.
Not a very pleasant experience at all.
Just as the dread started to settle in, he remembered the box.
Finn sat up and gently took it into his hands. There was no telling what would be inside. This was Jade Leech, after all.
He delicately hooked his fingers under the lid and lifted it off, scared to even scuff it.
Finn looked into the box and let out a cry of surprise as he picked up what was inside.
A necklace.
A nautilis shell necklace to be precise.
It was the most beautiful shell Finn had ever seen.
Blues and golds of various shades decorated it, and it wasn’t painted on. This seashell was real. Colourful and fully intact, it was a true rarity.
After taking a moment to process it’s beauty, Finn’s face exploded into a rose red as he realised what had just happened.
He had received a courting gift from Jade Leech.
……………………………………………………………………….
A/N: So yeah I hc that merfolk give jewellery/shells as gifts to show they wish to date.
Okay so here it is! The first part of my rewrite! Dear Riddle is catching feelings…
Going… Going…Gone (Part One)
When Riddle Rosehearts first met Floyd Leech, he never once thought they would be even remotely compatible.
That overly tall moray eel had caused a scene at the Entrance Ceremony and then- after Riddle tried to scold him- chased him down, calling him by that wretched nickname for the sake of amusement.
That eccentric, unpredictable fool drove Riddle insane. The nicknames, the reasing, the random compliments… he hated it.
He hated rulebreakers, and he hated Floyd.
But then he overblotted.
<p>It was the shellshock of his life.</p>
The realisation that he was wrong was like being crushed by an anvil.
Everything he had veen raised to believe was thrown out the window. He had to do a lot of self reflection while in recovery.
Riddle’s first step was learning to control his temper.
He was- to be frank- disgusted with his past self’s behaviour. Taking his own dorm student’s magic for a small rule break, leading them to suffer in class, and then punishing them for suffering in class.
Riddle couldn’t believe had been so close-minded.
Ever since that day, he had begun working on how he reacted.
Whenever he felt that familiar rage begin to bubble, insread of screaming and throwing magic around, Riddle simply closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
It had helped make life so much less stressful.
This newly discovered patience drove Riddle to realise that Floyd had been purposefully trying get a rise out of him. He was too angry to notice in the past.
So now, instead of flying into a rage, Riddle responded with a calm indifference. The utter confusion on Floyd’s face he first time he did it was halirous.
“Ne ne, are you broken, Goldfishie? You’re all calm.” “Really now?”
Of course, this only deterred Floyd momentarily. He took Riddle’s new sanity meter as a challenge amd tried even harder to test his patience.
As annoyed as he was, Riddle soon found himself shooting playful remarks back, and thus began their almost daily banter.
After a while, Riddle began to find their shenanigans oddly… enjoyable, and began actively seeking out Floyd to spend time with him, and even help him focus more at school.
And so with that, their srange acquaintanceship slowly developed into an odd sort of friendship.
Riddle found comfort in Floyd’s presence. The utter chaotic madness that always seemed to follow the eel was something he could look forward to everyday.
It left other students utterly baffled, but Riddle didn’t care what they thought. Through Floyd, he learnt that he didn’t have to defend himself at every odd look or curious whisper. It really brought him peaceof mind.
Floyd was, surprisingly, a good friend.
But then something changed.
Riddle had no idea when it started but Floyd’s presence began to made him feel… sick. At least that’s what it seemed like.
His skin got so warm and red. He felt so dizzy. When he looked into those beautiful mismatched eyes his breath caught in his throat and heart began beating so fast he feared it may jump out his chest.
Surely these were the symptoms of some kind of sickness? But if so, then why did this only happen around Floyd?
Riddle decided to ask his dear childhood friend for advice. He had been interacting with people for far longer than he had, after all.
When he finally got around to it, he didn’t expect Trey to gape in shock as his glasses slid down his nose.
What? What is it?“ Trey only continued to gape. "Are you- are you serious?” Riddle nodded. “I would not make this up, Trey. Why, is something wrong? It it that bad?’ Trey shook his head. "No, of course not Riddle! It’s just surprising, is all.” “What is?”
Trey chuckled “You get all warm around him right?” “Yes.” ‘Your heart beats faster?“ "Yes?” “All these feelings, you know what they mean?” “Of course not! That’s why I’m asking you!” Trey smiled and fixed his glasses before looking Riddle in the eyes.
“You have a crush, Riddle. On Floyd Leech. You like him romantically.”
“HAH-?!”
That was the second bombshell that year. Not as great as the first one, mind you, but it was quite a shock.
Floyd. Floyd, of all people? No way.
Even after they became friends, Riddle always thought someone a little more… refined would catch his fancy.
Yet another thing to be wrong about, he supposed.
Sitting with this new revelation was difficult for Riddle. It was something so entirely new that he had no hope of knowing what he was doing.
So he was now left with important question he did not have the answer to.
What now?
……………………………………………………………………….
A/N: Aaand here is the first part! I think it’s way better and much more worth the read hahaha. @ramshell hopefully this an improvement.
I’ve decided that I’m not happy with how “Going Going Gone” turned out, so I will be rewriting it and separating it into different parts. Hopefully it will turn out actually decent this time.
Crewel: Humour does not exist in my classroom. Fun died a long time ago.
……………………………….
Riddle: My mother says I’m unlikely to grow past this point.
Floyd: That’s sad. Imagine being stuck the way you are as a teenager forever, no chance of growing. No chance of changing perspective. You’re just… stuck.
Riddle:I-
Riddle: Did you just make an existential crisis out of my height?
Floyd:
Floyd: Yeah I guess I did.
……………………………….
Trein: It’s nowhere near Friday, stop acting so happy.
……………………………….
Deuce: Damn I really wanna punch a baby chick- wait no-
Ace: Deuce the fu-
Deuce: Hug I meant hug!
Ace: How did you-
Deuce: Mental autocorrect
……………………………….
A/N: Here’s a bit of everyday chaos from my school! First one was my English teacher(again), the second one was an interaction between my friend and my short self, the third one was a random teacher passing by my class joking around while waiting for permission to enter our classroom, and the last one is an interaction made up based off the quote of my friend. “Mental autocorrect” lol
Floyd and Jade Leech got a long just fine, thank you very much.
Many people assumed that becuase they were so different, there was no way they should like each other, but they didn’t know anything did they?
They were always in their own little world, searching for amusement and living their lives to the fullest.
Of course, that did not mean they had no sibling rivalry. Sure, they weren’t quite as dramatic or aggressive about it as others, but it was there.
They would often challenge each other, wether it be on races or competitions. Eventually, after they went from two to three, poor Azul would become the judge.
Cooking competitions became a given the moment they started planning for the Mostro Lounge, and since they were both damn good in the kitchen, Azul would have to sit through scarfing down extra calories while two sets of eyes watched him eagerly.
Today was one such day. The Mostro Lounge kitchen was filled with steam, delicious smells, the sounds of pots and pans and cutlery, and Floyd and Jade exchanging light banter.
“If you think Azul wants to even seeanother mushroom, you’ve already lost, Jade!”
Jade’s lip curled at his twin’s comment as he focused on his frying pan. “Funny of you to say that when there’s a 50% chance of you getting bored and withdrawing, meaning I win by default.”
“Oh put a can in it.” Snapped Floyd, keeping his eyes trained on his work station. “You know there’s a waaay lower chance than that!”
“If you say so, brother dear~”
Azul sat awkwardly at a nearby counter, carefully watching them cook. One had to be careful with these two. Sea Witch knows what kinds of things they could be putting in what they were making.
Jade was making stuff normally enough but Floyd… he was cooking well…. but now he was haphazardly throwing things in.
They momentarily paused to grin at him and he gulped.
What were they going to feed him
Two dishes were placed in front of Azul Ashengrotto.
A mushroom risotto, made by Jade.
And
A pork cutlet bowl, made by Floyd.
“Go on.” Said Jade.
“Try it.” Said Floyd.“
Their wide smiles creeped the octopus out.
Nervously, Azul reached for Jade’s dish first, making Jade smirk and Floyd huff.
Carefully, he took a bite.
Swallowing, is eyes widened. It was… better than expected. Bursting with flavours that made his tongue happy, and made his belly delighted. Luckily, mushrooms were healthy.
Azul intended to say it was satisfactory but… "It’s wonderful.” He blurted. “ Even the mushrooms.” Jade’s smirk got bigger and his eyes widened. “What did you put in there?”
Jade hummed. “Oh, simply a truth serum. I want to win fair and square after all.” Floyd scoffed. “Hey! I can win easily!” “Are you sure~? Those ingredients of yours didn’t look like they belonged in a pork cutlet bowl. "Shut up!”
Unfortunately, Jade was right. The pork cutlet bowl did not look like pork cutlet bowl at all. Floyd most likely got fed up with following the recipe and threw random things in.
Azul sighed in a breath and raised the food to his mouth. Floyd’s gaze was intimidating and clearly impatient, so he shoved it in and swallowed.
It tasted good.
And then it didn’t.
Azul gagged and spat out what remained, shaking his head and coughing. “That was-” He downed his entire glass of water. “That we disgusting, what the hell, Floyd?! Jade wins, now I need go bleach my tastebuds!”
Floyd frowned and Jade chuckled. “I win again~Though you did show more restraint than last time. Dare I say you enjoy cooking?”
Floyd huffed and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, what of it? It just isn’t as boring as I thought.”
“Hmmm. Interesting.”
Floyd’s eyes widened at the tone and wording. “Oh hell no! No creepy examinations, thanks! Anyways, this is boring, I want a rematch!”
Jade smiled.
“Challenge accepted. But I believe we will have to wait for Azul to finish… bleaching his tastebuds.”
……………………………………………………………………….
A/N: Day three at last! I apologise for any mistakes, it’s late and I need sleep, I’ll fix it tomorrow! @bakujho Here you are also sorry if this doesn’t count as rivalry aight I’m going to bed, goodnight.
To those who haven’t interacted with me before, I hope you guys don’t mind me tagging you! Believe it or not, I’ve actually sent asks to you guys with my main blog… (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Thanks for the tag!
They were always in their own little world, searching for amusement and living their lives to the fullest.
His idol. His example. Everything he wanted to be. He stuck by her values and did everything he knew she would approve of. That’s just how he was.
Jade and Floyd did not share his passion, however they still held her in high regard, and as a trio they made sure their dorm did so as well.
Azul was quite excited this term, as for history they were covering the Sea Witch. He wanted to see what the land dwellers had to say about her.
Would they agree with her views? Would they understand her? Would they be inspired by her, as he was?
Well… yes… but something was wrong.
Azul thought he was hearing things at first, but there were so many false facts and inconsistencies.
Had they never read a history book from the Coral Sea?
It was… wrong! At first nothing seemed too off- an odd description here, a strange comment there- but then it was… just not right!
Azul raised his hand. “Professor?” Trein nodded. “Yes, Mister Ashengrotto?” “In this textbook we are told the Sea Witch was exiled from the palace. But in the history we were taught in the Coral Sea that never happened. She simply moved to expand her connections.”
Trein stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” Azul nodded. “Indeed. Have no other Coral Sea natives pointed this out?”
The elderly Professor shook his slowly. “No. Are you sure that is what you were told Mister Ashengrotto?” “Yes.” Azul answered without hesitation. All that time spent frivolously studying the Sea Witch had not gone to waste. “I can even ask to have a history book sent here. I can show you.”
Trein looked to be at a loss for words. “I will… have to ask Crowley about this. Of course, he most likely won’t do anything, but after that I can at least talk to the education department. How odd.”
Azul would be lying if said his mood hand’t soured. Then again, he had noticed these inconsistencies before, though not just Coral Sea history, so during lunch he asked Jade and Floyd if they noticed anything weird.
“Well…” Said Jade. “Riddle-san was speaking with me regarding the things he had been taught about the Coral Sea, and was utterly flabbergasted when I corrected him.”
Floyd leaned back and sighed. “According to a Savanclaw guy, there were some issues with the history of the King of Beasts.” “And I heard Lilia-san talking about how wrong the history books were.”
Azul blinked. “For such a highly regarded school you would think they would check what they’re putting in the history books.” He stood up and straightened his tie.
“Lilia always scored the highest in history without fail and is always very knowledgeable. I am willing to risk debt to find an answer to this debacle.”
He walked away, leaving Floydand Jade to share a look. “He’s really pissed, huh?” “Indeed…”
“Lilia-senpai. Good afternoon.” Azul greeted. Lilia turned, a look of interest sparking in his eyes. “Why if it isn’t Azul Ashengrotto! What can I do for you, young man?”
“I have noticed many inaccuracies regarding the history of the Coral Sea.” Said Azul. “You are very strong in history, and have noticed inaccuracies yourself. Do you have any idea why there are so many differences and mistakes?”
“Ah, thirsty for knowledge I see!” The third year looked very happy. “Well, there’s not much that can be done to change it, but as they say- history is always written by the victor.”
Azul was didn’t know how to answer that. “But… there was no conflict?” He said, puzzled. “There was no victor. The mermaid princess asked to be given legs by the Sea Witch so she could be with her human love, and the wish was granted for a price. That’s all that happened.”
Lilia’s smile changed slightly, and there was a distant look in his eyes suddenly. “Oh my is that what they’re telling you…” He murmured absentl, before snapping back.
“Ah well, perhaps there was some miscommunication! An error in translation! Young people get confused so easily, you know! Ah, there’s the bell! Now shoo, be on your way!”
Azul was still reeling from the mixed message he was given. He nodded slowly, smiling a little. “Of course. Good day, Lilia-senpai.”
He made his way back to Jade and Floyd, unsure of what to make of the short. conversation.
“So?” They both looked at him curiously. “What did he say?”
Azul stared at them.
“I have no idea.”
……………………………………………………………………….
A/N: Day two is here! Loosely ispired by the time my History teacher disgressed a bit and talked about how during one of the battles in our history, the two sides still argue about who won and who lost to this day.
@bakujho Here you go. Idk how I never realised you and jhoudiey were blogs of the same person-
A new day. A new term. A new opportunity for profit. That’s how Azul always saw the first day back at school after the holidays. Of course, it always started out being seated in the Mirror Chamber at Night Raven College, but he could handle an hour or so of sitting.
While usually Azul had no reason to be on edge at an assembly, Crowley’s proud grin set off every warning bell he had. Oh this better not be like his last idea to mix classes together…
“…And so, I hope you all had a brilliant holiday! Now that’s done, I have an announcement to make!” Crowley clapped his hands together, beaming in excitement. “After careful consideration I have come up with the most brilliant plan for students to mingle and get along, and even adapt to a new environment.”
There were a series of whispers and Crowley cleared his throat.
“I have decided to initiate a dorm exchange program!”
The whispers changed to shouts and hollers of protest and he frowned.
“Oh relax it’s like a student exchange program, but with dorms. I just know you’ll enjoy it! There will be a slip of paper handed to you after the assembly to indicate where you’ll be staying. Dorm leaders will become the dorm leader of the dorm they’re transferred too. If there’s more than one dorm leader, sort that out amongst yourselves. See? I am granting opportunity to you all. Watashi yasashi no de!”
Azul’s lips quirked. True. This isa brilliant opportunity. Inside information on other dorms. What secrets does Heartslabyul hold? Or Pomefiore? Or Scarabia?
The sharp grin remained on his face throughout the rest of the assembly as he sat there, plotting. So many ideas and plans~
Finally the assembly came to a close and Azul was practically floating out the door, dreaming of all the secrets he would expose and souls and blackmail he could collect.
Ah, there was Crewel with the papers for Octavinelle.
“Thank you, Professor.” Azul took the piece of paper he was handed with a smug grin, eagerly opening it to see his where he would stay for the entire term.
“…SAVANACLAW?!”
Azul’s smirk had long since been replaced with an unhappy scowl by the time he made it back to Octavinelle to get his bags.
“Savanaclaw?! Seriously?! That dorm of boneheads?!”
Jade sighed from his right. “I have Scarabia. Fascinating dorm, not good for a merman.” “At least you didn’t get put in the dorm for muscled, thickheaded sports-obsessed-” “I think you just hate the fact that you’re most likely going to have to run.” “Shut up.”
From his left, Floyd giggled. “I got Pomefiore!” He exclaimed, completely ignoring their conversation. “Ehehee it’s gonna be so much fun! Aaall the new fishies to squeeze and fun to be had!”
Jade and Azul exchanged a look.
“He’s going to be tearing his hair out with frustration after ten minutes there.”
Ah well, there’s nothing they could do but march onwards. Maybe.
Or Azul could just ask Jade to shoot him.
Day two of being in Savanclaw and Azul wasnothaving a fun time. It was so hot and everyone was so loud and brutish all the time it drove him insane. At least he could take quick dips in the pool at night.
Azul sighed as he… observed the magishift match. The scorching heat was making him dizzy, and it didn’t help that he had been requested to keep track of the players and evaluate them.
Like he knew anything about sports.
Leona- who had been switched to Heartslabyul- apparently never did anything so they were quite happy to have a hard working dorm leader.
However that was the limt of their respect, as they weren’t above making condescending remarks about his lack of muscle and overall fitness.
It reminded Azul a little too much about his past bullies.
Finally the match was over and he was ready to flee whena couple shouts caught his attention. “Yo! Octo!”
Azul sighed. He really didn’t like them, but luckily with this particular group it was clear the lights were not all on upstairs. Easy prey.
“Yes?” Azul asked through clenched teet. The leader of the little circle- a lion like Leona- puffed out his chest. “Any chance you’re gonna pay us back for being so hospitable to ya? You’re literally a fish out of water hahaha!”
Azul sighed, a smirk finding it’s way to his lips. “Halirous. However, should you not be payingmeback? I have been treating you all so well. I’ve even solved some problems you’ve been having long term. I do need payment~”
The boys stopped and looked at each other in surprise, then looked back at Azul as if he had grown two heads. “Hah??? But you’re the dorm leader! You’re supposedto fix the problems!”
Azul shrugged. “It’s not my dorm, technically. And nothing was making me help you, therefore you owe me. I also can certainly say that by your own logic you owe my Lounge and dorm for being so kind.”
They made an attempt to protest but faltered. “Yeah… Well…”
“So we owe each other.” Said Azul, grinning widely. He clapped his hands. “I’m sure we can sort out a contract for the terms!”
He began to lead them inside, going on about the possibilities, not once shutting up. On the inside however, he was a little nervous. Jade and Floyd were not here in case things got nasty. He’d have to brace himself.
What were they doing anyway?
Floyd groaned. He regretted being happy about being in this stupid dorm. The were so many rules, and they weren’t even fun like Goldfishie’s.
Everyone was so obsessed with appearances and beauty. It was exhausting. At least they made cool poisons.
“Floyd! Comb your hair! Fix your uniform! You are in Pomefiore for the Queen’s sake!”
Floyd groaned. He’d rather rip all his hair out than comb it. Ugh, and he’d have to smear that face mask on before bed. “Stupid dorm. I don’t know why Betta puts these rules in…” He mumbled.
“FLOYD!’
"I’m on it, jeez…”
What were Azul and Jade doing right now?
Jade was, actually, having a far better time than the other two. Scarabia was very nice, and he had the opportunity to try many new foods and make newvictimsacquaintances.
However, the only issue was the heat.
Jade would often overheat- much to the worry of his dorm mates- and end up momentarily returning to Octavinelle for the pools or taking an ice bath.
Luckily, he had a good handle on things, and had an enjoyable time acting as vice dorm leader.
“Oh my~” Jade took a sniff of the curry. “This is… wonderful.” The first year beamed. “Thank you, Jade-senpai! It’s a traditional dish from back home!” Jade filed that away in his mind. He knew Azul would be all over things like this.
“Oya, how interesting.”
Oh, he felt the heat getting to him again. Everything was getting fuzzy and his head hurt. Ah well.
How were Floyd and Azul doing?
At the end of the term, the three returned to Octavinelle and almost cried from happiness.
They never thought they’d miss their dorm this much.
Azul was happy to be surrounded by cunning and quiet students.
Floyd was happy to be around people not nagging him about lotions and face masks.
Jade was happy to not have any chance of passing out.
Azul collapsed inside the empty Mostro Lounge after spending hours analyzing every nook and cranny to make sure his precious restaurant hadn’t been accidentally ruined by Kalim.
Luckily, everything was untouched, so now he could unwind and- most importantly- complain.
“If I ever see another Savanaclaw student again I am going to fillet myself. I can only handle so many work outs. And ugh, it was so hot too.”
Floyd scoffed. “You think you have it bad? I’ve been using so much cosmetic stuff I’ve got a new layer of skin! I don’t even need it, I’m and eel! All those obsessive beauty pageants there freak me out!”
“My my.” Jade chuckled. “It seems you both had a terrible time. How unfortunate.”
Floyd looked at him. “And you? What happened in Scarabia?” Jade smiled.
“It was very pleasant. I had four cases of heatstroke.”
“WHAT?!”
Azul scrambled up from the couch and felt his forehead. “Are you alright?!” Floyd frowned. “How are you not at the hospital wing?”
Jade shrugged his shoulders. “Luck, I suppose. And of course the kindness of the students there. I believe I gave them quite a scare.”
“Yeah no shit! You need to see the nurse!” Floyd shrieked. “You were becoming a fried eel! That’s dangerous!”
“And ironically, I still had a far better time than the two of you.”
“Shut up and go to the hospital wing, Jade!”
……………………………………………………………………….
A/N: And here’s the first entry of Mermay. Jade is surprisingly chill with the fact that is almost died four times but hey life is life ig.
@jhoudiey I’m not sure if we can tag you or not but heereee!
Finally, this poor cookie is getting an actual bio. Meet Finn Clearcove, the shy but sly Octavinelle second year attending NRC. I have not given him a unique magic yet because that takes brain cells I am currently lacking in (though it may have something to do with disappearing/blending in ig???), he keeps itnsecret anyways haha. Right so his bio is below. Enjoy!
Bio:
Name:Finn Clearcove
Age:17
Birthday:30 December
Species:Cookie cutter shark mer
Height:156cm
Dominant Hand: He’s ambidextrous :)
Family:His father, his younger sister, and older brother
Homeland:The Coral Sea (though he lives a little further away from the town/city due to his father owning a small piece of farmland.)
Other Names: Little cookie/cookie cutter-chan, courtesy of Floyd.
Personality:Finn is introverted. Not to the extent of Idia, but he is uncomfortable with crowds and conversation. However, he is sneaky, so when it’s needed, he can hide his discomfort. He’s the same size as Epel, is quiet, and not too noticeable, so often people don’t really think about what they’re telling the waiter/bartender, so his sadistic side really comes out when they realise they’ve spilled their guts and the look to see sharp teeth gleaming in a smile. He can easily manipulate conversations, and never reveals what he truly thinks to others, unless it’s for someone he likes or for good reason.
Description:Finn is small and frail. Well, he looksfrail but appearances can be deceiving. He’s thin and pale. His eyes are aquamarine in colour. His hair is seaweed green, short and fluffy, with turquoise bangs and streaks. His teeth are sharp, but more jagged and uneven the the tweels. In his mer form, his skin is seafoam green, but his fins, scales, and tail are seaweed green with haphazard turquoise patches. It helps him blend in. Due to a type of shrimp he eats food, he’s bioluminescent as well.
School:
Dorm:Octavinelle
Class:C
Year/Grade:Second year/sophomore
Club:Well, he didn’t see the point in clubs. He also knew there would be too many people, and also people didn’t like. But then he saw Gargoyle Research Society on the listand his exact reaction was: “wtf is that???” And that alone made him join because few things make him react that way.
Best subjects: Ancient curses and art
Preferences:
Hobbies:Reading, playing saxophone (he found one as a kid and now he’s obsessed), cooking, and most of all- painting
Pet Peeves: People who are vain and full of themselves (Vil + like 90% of NRC), people who see themselves above others (Riddle + Vil + like 90% of NRC) and being looked down on for his size.
Favourite Food: Chocolate mousse. He likes it so much it’s concerning.
Least Favourite Food: Chicken. He doesn’t know why, he just hates it.
Talent:Musical instruments
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A/N: Here’s Finn! Shark boi ehe. Also is just me, or does the Coral Sea seem to have a very strong music curriculum?
I unfortunately can’t do requests atm due to time constriants, however I can answer questions or small interactions with my twst ocs Finn and Quinn. Anything goes, have fun!
The Coral Sea was a dangerous place. It was not for the weak or faint of heart. Nor was it for loners.
Under the icy depths of the sea, there was strength in numbers. Even if there were only two of you, you had am advantage.
Family works in tandem with this fact. Families were well coordinated and tightly knit, very rarely interacting with each other or getting involved in their private business.
Family businesses were common, since often you could trust no one else with your work. Some were ordinary, some were shady. Overall it didn’t matter. Your family was everything.
The Leech clan’s front was simple trade of valuable goods. So innocent. But if you dared to dig deeper, things would get much more complicated.
Simple trade does not make your name feared and respected.
Jade and Floyd Leech were definitely going to inherit the business. Their parents had not planned for twins, but it was a pleasant surprise nevertheless.
While Jade always seemed like the best candidate and the most reliable, he and Floyd are a pair. Separating them is a bad idea.
The Ashengrotto clan were restaurateurs. Mrs Ashengrotto ran one of the most famous restaurants under the sea. Her second husband was the Leech clan’s lawyer, and they were both well respected.
Azul Ashengrotto took after his mother and opened his own restaurant at his college. But he also used the knowledge from his step father to his advantage.
He was only seventeen, but business was was booming. With the help of Jade and Floyd, he lured in many poor unfortunate souls. He had an extraordinary amount of power.
The Clearcove clan were the merfolk equivalent of butchers. They lived on the edge of the city, hunting prey and prepping meat to sell to the Ashengrottos, Leeches, and other families.
Mr Clearcove was in charge of their small business. His husband had worked with with the Leeches before he died, and so he himself got a lot of support from Mrs Leech, a good friend.
Their family had a middle ground. They weren’t famous or rich or influential, but they were feared and respected for their species and connections.
Finn was the middle child, so it was more likely that his oldest sibling would be taking over their father’s work when he retired, so he was left to do his own thing.
Finn had a passion for art and music. Not only did he assist in the design of Mostro Lounge, but he also performed in the evenings, playing e such as the saxophone, piano, clarinet, and so on.
Fast forward five years.
Azul had opened a new and improved Mostro Lounge to the public in a seaside city. It quickly gained popularity and became one of the most famous restaurants in Twisted Wonderland.
Jade had taken over the Leech business and- while expanding in their trade of rare mushrooms- formed a partnership with Azul and sponsored Mostro Lounge frequently.
While Floyd handled the grittier bits of Jade’s work, he ended up working at Mostro Lounge too, as the head chef. It turned out he had quite a passion for food.
Finn was Jade’s fiance, land often assisted him and Floyd in their “work”. He had also become a musician, and continued with performing at the Mostro Lounge.
They four of them were a well-oiled machine, working together perfectly. One might even say they were… a family.
They were tightly knit, and did not appreciate outsiders getting involved in their business.
“ My my~” Said Azul, smiling at his newest client. “In trouble with the Leech clan, are you? Whatever did you do~?”
His client- a leader of a small gang, though he wasmore of a wannabe than anything- squirmed in his seat. “I stole a bunch of their stuff! Look, I know it sounds stupid, but they were planning on cheating me out on an important deal!”
“Really now? How unfortunate.” Azul tapped his fingers on his cane. “I can’t help but wonder why you came to me. I work with the Leeches after. What can you even give me in return, if I help you?”
They gnashed their teeth, frowning. “No one else would help. Listen, I know you went to school with the brothers ‘n all, but really, who’s to say they won’t cut you out of a deal too? They’re nothing but cheating bastards. My businesses is much more reliable. If you get the Leech twins off my back, I can be your new and much more profitable partner.”
Azul’s lips curled into a thin smile. “Hmm. Very tempting.” A lie. Azul knew this person was as reliable as Floyd in a bad mood.
“Alright. I’ll take you up on that offer. But first I need to ask you a question.” “Yes?” “You didn’t just steal cargo, did you?” Their eyes widened, and they looked almost offended.
“What?!”
“A mer with a reputation such as yours wouldn’t settle with something as petty as stealing cargo. I’ve heard many a tale about your methods. Tell me the truth, and I promise your life will be smooth sailing from here.
They shifted, going quiet before repenting. "I nabbed the parasite.” They mumbled. “…What?” They shrugged their shoulders. “I was caught by their Cookie Cutter when I broke in.” “Clearcove?” “Yeah. He’s a pretty big asset and seems real close to Jade Leech. I thought I could use him as leverage. Getting him wasn’t that hard. I’m a stonefish, you see. Ah, don’t worry, he’s not dead.”
Azul’s already cold blood froze. This… mangy street gangster took Finn? Nevermind revenge, he mustbe suicidal to do something as stupid as that. Who in their right mind would try that?
Azul straightened up and stared at his client for a minute or two. Not saying a word. Debating. Debating. Debating…
“I believe I’ve heard enough.” He said finally, and -as if on cue- two sets of laughs echoed throughout the room. One low and malicious, the other high-pitched and maniacal.
The client paled.
“Oya, so that’s what happened to my dear Finn~?”
“Ne, you’re got guts, hurting 'im like that.”
Two voices penetrated the sudden silence. The owners of said voices stepped out of the shadows of the room, joining Azul’s side.
“Y'know it was a pretty stupid move to come to Azul for help.” “You should know we are more than simply old schoolmates. Besides, both Floyd and Finn work here.”
The mer gulped. “Well I… just thought that was a part of your… your partnership.”
“So you’re stupid.”
They bristled at Floyd’s comment. “No! I am an incredibly competent-” “Ne, looking at your mess of a 'business’ at the moment, that’s pretty doubtful.” “Look I-”
Jade cut him off with a loud sigh and a shake of his head. “You’re very disappointing, I just say. Stealing whar was going to be a wedding gift, sabotaging our shipments, kidnapping my fiance, and now trying to trick poor Azio into betraying us.”
He clicked his tongue, looking the stonefish up and down with distaste. “You truly seem to be making a habit of meddling in family business.”
Azul chuckled. “You poor unfortunate soul. You’ve swum right into the shark’s den. Speaking of which…” He exchanged a look with the two moray eels. “You better tell us where you put ourshark.”
When the client didn’t say anything, Jade leaned forward and smiled, revealing every sharp tooth poking out from his gums. “I advise you to tell the truth. I would hate to force it out of you.”
They glared and Jade sighed. “Shock The Heart. Where is Finn and our cargo?” They squirmed and gasped, eyes bulging. “Down at the d-docks. Warehouse 16!”
“Mmm, thank you. Floyd, squeeze him all you like.” “Hahahahaha! Yes! Yes! C'mere, little fry!’
"No wait! I- Shit- stop! Why me?!Youbroke the damn deal!”
Floyd’s head tilted. “It’s your fault. We warned your before.”
“Don’t get involved in our family business…”
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A/N: I am… so late. I apologise haha. Anyways, I looked at this and thought: Well what about both family business (the business the family runs)andfamily business (the private family matters or events) so I had fun with that. @bakujho Here you go!
A story in which anemone Ace meets Finn, and proceeds to overestimate his chances of getting him to do him a favour.
The Quiet Octavinelle Second Year
Ace didn’t know why he thought making a contract with Azul was a good idea.
He had Trey. And Cater. Hell, even Riddle! They could’ve explained all the things he didn’t understand!
However, Ace was so prideful that he went and made a deal with the scummiest student in Night Raven College.
So instead of just ask for help, he traded his freedom for study notes, and because he couldn’t fulfill the contract, he was… an anemone.
Pride really does goeth before the fall.
Being an anemone sucked so bad. What’s worse, Deuce was there too. Really, he must be in hell.
Mostro Lounge was so nice. But the owner wasn’t. Oh yeah he was great to the Octavinelle students, but the anemones might as well have been puppets.
Overworked, hungry and tired were going to be Ace’s three moods for the the rest of his school life.
And afraid. That too.
Azul was pretty scary, but he had nothing on Jade and Floyd.
Those overly tall eels were going to be the death of Ace. Floyd loved pushing him around and harshly tugging on his anemone, mocking him and laughing like the lunatic he was.
Jade… Jade would watch in sick amusement and send Ace a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Thinly veiled threats and chilling warnings would even leave that otherwise modest mouth. Sometimes he would “accidentally” handle the redhead too hard.
These two were why Ace dreaded coming to work. They were also why he almost burst into tears of relief when Azul informed him that he would be working with someone else on the Sunday night shift.
“R-Really?! You’re serious?!” Ace tried to control his responses as much as possible. Being alone with Azul was both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, the twins weren’t here to make him shit himself. On the other hand, there was a chance Azul would twist his words around and make his current position even worse.
Luckily, instead of any of that, Azul simply pushed his glasses up his nose. “Floyd doesn’t want to work tonight and Jade is currently on one of his trips in the mountains. Sundays nights are very slow, so I only need a few of you on duty.”
“Oh I understand.” Ace tried very hard to keep the delighted smile off his face. “But since they aren’t here, who’s going to be doing the uh… monitoring?” Ace hated the monitoring, but he really didn’t want to screw up and not have someone else to blame.
Azul smiled. “You will have Finn Clearcove monitoring you. He is a very capable student.”
Okay. Ace had no idea who that was.
“Who?” “Finn Clearcove. A second year such as myself. He is not one for socialising, I’m afraid. That’s why you likely haven’t seen him. Finn, come get your anemone.”
The door to the VIP opened with a groaning creak, and in walked Finn Clearcove.
He was… smaller than Ace imagined. Perhaps he was just too used to tall Octavinelle students.
Finn nodded at Azul and gestured for Ace to follow him, walking out the door.
Huh. He never even said a word. Ace was a little weirded out by the silence, but it was a nice change to the obnoxious people he dealt with so often.
They arrived in the kitchen. Aah so they would be cooking. Well, not Ace. Ace honestly just handed ingredients over to the people who were actually cooking or did the dishes.
“You’re on dish duty.” Said Finn, pointing at the sink. His voice was soft, but still pierced the air with its clarity. “Please be gentle with the glass.” He pulled out a pair of earphones and put them, fiddling with his phone a bit before packing in it in his pocket. Huh. Ace didn’t know that was allowed.
Nevermind that, this was an opportunity to carry out his plan to gain an ally in this hellhole! Finn seemed to give off neutral vibes. He wa quiet, too. Plus Ace is taller, he’s got a little leverage.
Ace is a fool
But first Ace would watch Finn. Just to see the type of person he was dealing with. Octavinelle was known for its two-faced dorm students, after all.
Finn was… hard to read. He wasn’t stone-faced, but he had an almost vacant, dreamy expression on his face as he cooked, swaying side to side to the music he was listening to.
He didn’t seem to like eye contact, preferring to keep his gaze away from people. That was fine. Ace didn’t need to be staring into eyeballs to talk to people.
Finn would mumble to himself sometimes. Often about the food, repeating the order or the ingredients, sometimes about the music. All Ace could pick up was a muttered; “crescendo” or “A sharp” or occasionally “piano in the background…”
The other Octavinelle students seemed to be used to it, simply thanking Finn when he handed them a full plate of food and avoided their eyes.
He didn’t seem malicious at all. Simply quiet and a little bit shy. Ace would be embarrassed too if he was that small.
Yeah, he seemed like the type to be able to be trusted with helping Ace out. Maybe telling Ace how to find some loopholes in Azul’s stupidly strict rules.
During their break, Ace decided to go up to Finn, who was leaning over the bar counter.
Yes, he was still wearing the earphones and looking at his phone while taking a sip of his mocktail, but a little social interaction won’t kill him.
“Hey.” Ace greeted. Finn didn’t hear him, instead looking up from his phone and gazing at the fish beyond the glass walls of the Lounge.
“Hey!” Ace tried again, a little louder. Finn was listening to some kind of jazz, judging by the name of the artist that showed on his phone, and had it on loud.
“Hellooooo.” Ace waved his hand on front of his face. “Earth to Finn! Take those out will ya? I’m talkin’ to you!”
Finn stopped and grabbed Ace’s wrist, then put down his phone. He pulled out his earphones and turned to face him… and Ace’s stomach dropped.
Turquoise eyes stared into his soul through fluffy green and aquamarine hair. It was freaky. Like he was reading Ace’s thoughts.
A frown etched onto Finn’s face and he huffed. “Earphones are usually sign that people want to talk, you know.” He said, tapping his fingers impatiently against the counter and sending him a tight-lipped smile. “What can I do for you?”
Not a very good start, but Ace took a deep breath and continued on with his “plan”. “Look uh- Finn, right? You seem like a nice guy.” “Really?” “Yeah! I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind doin’ me a favour?”
Finn tilted his head. “What exactly?” Ace scratched the back of his head and let out the saddest sigh he could muster. “With Azul and my anemone. You’re in good turns with him, right? Maybe you could put in a word for me. Maybe you could even get rid of this thing!” Ace poked the anemone on his head for affect. “C'mon, help a guy out! I’m a fellow student!”
Finn stared at Ace in complete silence. His smile widened just a bit, and a soft chuckle resonated from his throat. Ace frowned. “What’s so funny?!” He simply got another chuckle in response. “Mister Trappola, I am one year your senior. I advise watch your casualness with me.” “Ahaha yes. Apologies, Clearcove-senpai.”
Finn let out a little sigh. “Thank you. Now about that request of yours. Do you really think I’ll just ‘do you a favour’? Hmm?” Ace froze. “Uh- well-” “Do you not know our dorm motto? 'If you want to cross the bridge, you’ll have to pay the toll’. What exactly could you do for me?”
“Uh…” Ace furiously racked his brain. Shit shit shit, he didn’t expect this response. “Uh… um… oh! Clover-senpai makes great desserts! You could get a supply for free till the end of your time at NRC!”
Finn paused. “Chocolate mousse?” He asked.
Ace stopped. Okay so technically Trey did not make those kinds of desserts, but a little white lie wouldn’t hurt. Besides, Trey could just learn how to make it. He nodded. “Y-Yeah! Mousse! Chocolate mousse! All the chocolate mousse you could ever want!”
Finn hummed, placing a hand on his chin and staring past Ace.. “It would be tempting…” He murmured, before returning his gaze to the redhead. “If you weren’t lying through your teeth.”
O h c r a p
Ace started panicking. Finn saw straight through him. Shit he was screwed. “Wait- I’m sorry- we can just- just ask Trey to learn how to make it- Or I-I can give you my skill at sports skills? Uh my uh my-”
Finn let out another sigh. “Mister Trappola, I am not Azul, you cannot give me one of your abilities. However, I will be bringing this up with Jade and Floyd. They won’t be happy to hear you disappointed me so, while trying to use me to get out of your current situation nonetheless.”
Shitshitshitshitshitshitshit-
“No! Please No!” This was backfiring so badly. “C'mon you can’t do that- look, if you don’t tell them I’ll… I’ll…” Ace was scrambling, desperate for a chance to prevent the twins getting involved. In a last-ditch effort to save himself, he took a page from Deuce’s history book.
“I’ll fight you!” He exclaimed, going rimrod straight and puffing out his chest to try look bigger. Finn was already he size of Epel, anyways. Ace had a good change of overpowering him, and it wasn’t like Finn was anything like Riddle.“I’ll pummel you so bad you won’t be recognisable anymore! Your tiny self won’t stand a chance!”
Finn’s eyes widened just a fraction, and he stared at Ace mild surprise. “Is that so…” He whispered, looking at the floor.
His lips curled upwards, and he let out a little giggle. “Oh I’d like to see you try.”
Ace’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Hah?” Finn raised his head to look at him again. He giggled once more, tilting his head. He slowly curled his lips back into the widest smile he could muster and opened his jaw.
Ace’s blood froze.
The sight washorrifying
Sharp teeth filled his mouth, and it was nothing like Jade and Floyd’s. Their teeth were fairly small, and were actually not so bad to look at.
Not Finn’s.
Finn’s was like mutated shark teeth.
Ace backed away and Finn laughed. “What? I thought you were going to pound me? Why the change of heart?” Each tooth gleamed in the light as he spoke. “Don’t tell me I’m scaring you now?”
He took a step closer.
Ace paled and opened his mouth to respond, interrupted only by a few customers and some other staff members walking in.
“Please just get back to work, and don’t do this again.” Said Finn, hiding his teeth and speaking a little softer now. “You’ve wasted my social battery and it’s my turn to wait the tables.” He pointed to the kitchen. “Dishes duty. And you’ll be cleaning the tables and floor after we close. Get to it.”
He downed the rest of his mocktail, turned around and walked away, leaving Ace to try figure out what had just happened.
“…I’m never voluntarily talking to an Octavinelle student ever again.”
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A/N: Welp I think Ace just shit himself but it’s fiineee. We get Finn content lol. Also Ace is an asshole and I love him.
