《Red Dust and Red Strings》


 Chapter 1: Yuu

    "What do you want from me? Jewels? Potions? Information? Ask me."


    Yuu could feel it through his fingers, in his pulse. He didn''t just want her to ask. He needed it.


    _____________________________________________________________________


    Yuu''s roommate from her first year at NRC/Ramshackle has been gone a year now, participating in the Atlantican Exchange Program. The first Yuu hears from her is when a wedding invitation arrives on her doorstep announcing the union between her roommate, and the heir of the largest potion ingredients syndicate in Atlantica. Yuu attends the wedding for her friend, but for Azul Ashengrotto? In the midst of the wedding scandal, this is an opportunity for Azul to repair relations with the groom¡ªhis cousin. It''s not every day after all, that a merman in his position chooses to marry, and even rarer, chooses a human.


    Unfortunately for Azul, the prankster bride plants a handkerchief of Red Dust on Yuu. Through her, Azul is exposed to a substance designed to reveal secrets. Against Madam Ashengrotto''s wishes, Yuu and Azul find themselves pulled together by the residual effect of what happens at the wedding, far sooner than either are ready for. Both are unwittingly tied up in a spicy new scandal of their own¡ªthis time under the scrutiny of more than just a party.


    ______________________________________________________________________


    Chapter 1


    Yuu


    It was the most expensive invitation Yuu had ever seen: merfolk-made paper¡ªmuch heavier than parchment or cardstock¡ªand the lettering was inlaid, rather than written on the fibers, with real mother-of pearl.


    ¡®To Yuu, Head of Ramshackle House,¡¯ it read.


    Varun Banejaw Weds Malory Jean


    Join us as Varun Banejaw, son of Cetus and Silastia Banejaw, and Malory, daughter of the Jean family, pledge their love before the gathering of kin, coral, and current.


    ? Date: The Last Quarter Moon of the Coral Bloom, at the Evening Neap Tide


    ? Location: Banejaw Grotto, beneath the Pearl Arch


    Come adorned in the colors of the deep, respecting both human and mer traditions.


    Permits two guests.


    She turned the paper over. Then turned it over again. A brisk morning breeze threatened to take the envelope from her as she gripped the cover of the dilapidated mailbox that had rusted itself onto the outer wall of Ramshackle. A smaller note flipped out of the envelope in the wind. Yuu only just managed to catch it.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    This one was written by hand, on fluorescent pink A4, and she would know Mallory¡¯s handwriting anywhere.


    Hi, Yuu!


    The hardest part of the Atlantican Exchange program has been not being able to call and give you updates. I miss NRC. I miss Ramshackle. I miss YOU!


    Anyway, all the updates I have for you would fill a novel, but here¡¯s the ¡®back-of-the-cover¡¯ summary¡­The family hosting magical organic chemistry exchanges had a son. The son had eyes. And he saw me. And now we¡¯re getting hitched!


    Yuu sighed at the paper in her hand. She could read Malory¡¯s excitement by the way the paper nearly tore the page at some sentences, and the careless way she¡¯d started crossing her ¡®t¡¯s. Heart fluttering oddly, she continued reading.


    We¡¯re not doing a lot of the human traditions. No bachelor/ettes. No tupperware. No showers. (It¡¯s wet enough down here, anyway.) One thing I am keeping is that, well, I don¡¯t really have a bridal party, but you¡¯re the closest thing to a sister I¡¯ve got. If we can survive the ghosts of Ramshackle for a year together, then we can do a wedding, right?


    I have a seat saved for you next to me at the bridal table. Bring a plus-one if you have one. (Do you have one, now? I mean, it¡¯d serve me right for not updating you¡­) Wear whatever you want. You and Varun are really the only ones I need next to me to make the day go well.


    (Please PLEASE come. Some of the ¡®people¡¯ on the Banejaw guest list terrify me.)


    All my love,


    Mallory


    Yuu wrapped her jacket tighter around her, clutching at her scarf. She read the note. Then the invitation. Then the note again. Mallory was the least impulsive person she knew. Everything about her was ¡®even,¡¯ from her temperament to her handwriting to her flawlessly-level haircut. A year was long enough to have found true love, certainly. It was very like Mallory to make her event as no-fuss as possible. It seemed the whole thing had been planned by her fiance¡¯s family. Still, there was a scent, a feel of ¡®otherness¡¯ about the invitation in her hands that set her teeth on edge.


    ¡°Human! Why ya just standing around? My ear fires are gonna go out, it¡¯s so cold out here!¡± Grim yowled from around her ankles.


    Yuu tore her attention from the invitation, and tucked it into her bag before her little charge decided to warm himself up by setting it on fire.


    ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll carry you.¡± She offered a hand.


    Grim did a little happy dance, and heeled up on her boot.


    ¡°Finally! You¡¯ve recognized my greatness! The honor of carrying the Great Grim!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m carrying you because when your fur gets wet, you drip on my desk¡ªplease don¡¯t set my hair on fire,¡± she groaned, setting off for the Magical Linguistics building. Three years, and NRC was finally letting her specialize.


    ¡°Complain complain,¡± he grumbled into her shoulder. ¡°When¡¯s lunch again?¡±


    ¡°Same time as every day, but this time you¡¯re on your own. We¡¯re going to class, and then I¡¯m going to the lounge.¡±


    ¡°What, for fancy food? I¡¯m coming.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m getting answers, not food. Save me a sandwich?¡± she asked breezily. ¡°Unless you know what a Coral Bloom Moon is, or an Evening Neap Tide?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re pastries. One¡¯s a mooncake, and the other one¡¯s an alcohol cake,¡± Grim responded with the authority of a professor. ¡°Oooh, I love cake! When¡¯s lunch again?¡±


    Yuu sighed, shivering all the way to class, where yet another envelope waited in her desk.

 Chapter 2: Azul

Chapter 2


    Azul


    Jade. Please help me.¡±


    ¡°We?¡±


    fish, and you¡¯re the driest piece of toast I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    professional.¡±


    ¡°Jade,¡± Azul hissed in warning.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

 Chapter 3: Yuu

    Chapter 3


    Yuu


    Yuu knocked on the door to Azul¡¯s private office on the penthouse floor of Mostro Lounge exactly two minutes earlier than his note had requested. Then, after a whole minute of silence from within the room, she knocked again.


    ¡°Strange,¡± she muttered. ¡°Never seen him late before¡­¡±


    Then, with the intention to leave her own note on his desk before looking for him, she pushed the door open, only to find him sitting there at his desk, as usual, behind a mountain of papers. Merfolk-made, parchment, A4, and a scrubby sort of material made in Savannaclaw. He had it all.


    She cleared her throat. He didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°I thought I told you to get out,¡± he grumbled from between his fingers.


    ¡°Well, make up your mind, Zul,¡± she said, more cheekily than intended. ¡°I have it in writing that you wanted me here.¡±


    Azul snapped upright so quickly his glasses fell halfway off his face.


    ¡°Yuu,¡± he breathed, ¡°I¡ªI apologize. I thought you were¡ªI didn¡¯t think it was you. Is it time already? I was just¡ªjust¡ª¡±


    Yuu laughed. It was rare to see Azul Ashengrotto as anything other than pristine, so when he had a rare moment of being flustered, it certainly stood out. Azul was one of the school¡¯s top students, and at the same time somehow managed to run a business, keep up with his schoolwork, head his dormitory, and by the looks of him and his flawless, smooth skin, got enough sleep. It was like the man had eight arms. Seeing him like this, so obviously nervous, he suddenly felt so much more human, and she forgot for a moment that he was a merman like the rest of the members of his dorm.


    Before Yuu had stepped into his office, she¡¯d been a bundle of nerves over talking with him alone. When she¡¯d read his request to meet, it had seemed so formal¡ªso stiff, which was why the questions had been circulating in her head since she¡¯d found his note.


    Have I offended him somehow?


    Is this a reprimand? An interrogation? A confession?


    That last one was extremely unlikely, but he couldn¡¯t have been more vague in the request to meet.


    Perhaps that was merfolk tradition? Give as little information as possible?


    Her exasperation with the entire arrangement was how she found herself in his sleek, probably dubiously acquired office not an hour later¡ªteasing him.


    ¡°I was kidding,¡± she said, hands up in a placating gesture. ¡°But, if this really is a bad time, I can always come back later. Or you can just call m¡ª?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Azul snapped, too quickly, launching himself from his chair in his effort to keep her. He was halfway around his desk before he seemed to realize the behavior was unusual, and slipped back into his normal composure.


    ¡°No?¡± she blinked, surprised.


    He cleared his throat, shoving his glasses back up his nose, knocking off his hat in the process. As it hit the floor, his white hair spilled out in soft waves styled to give a sleek, polished look; however, his stiff posture and wrinkled jacket ruined the effect somewhat.


    He cleared his throat.


    ¡°No,¡± he repeated far more calmly, plastic placidity quickly replacing his earlier lack of candor. ¡°Please stay.¡±


    He cleared his throat again.


    ¡°I find myself today in¡­an odd sort of predicament. I¡ªah¡ªeurgh, this is going badly already. I could truly use your help, Yuu.¡±


    Despite his calm expression, she could already sense the slight bite behind his tone.


    So that was why he was so uncomfortable. Azul Ashengrotto was used to people coming to him for help. When he needed something himself, he had an endless network of students who owed him favors to call on. The question was, what on earth he could want from her that a network of magic students


    ¡°I¡¯ll always help a friend,¡± she said, trying hard to keep the laugh out of her voice. ¡°¡ªif it¡¯s within reason.¡±


    He stared at her, not seeming to notice his fallen hat, nor even the way his white and blue collar had managed to turn itself crookedly on his neck.


    ¡°Yuu¡­we are friends, yes?¡± He asked the question like he¡¯d been rehearsing it in his head, and scowled like it hadn¡¯t come out quite right.


    She raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Azul, you¡¯ve known me for three years.¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± he said, although by his expression, he clearly didn¡¯t think that was telling at all.


    ¡°I do consider you a friend, at least,¡± she sighed at last, taking the seat across from his without invitation. He took her cue, and reluctantly sank into his own. ¡°The thing is, I don¡¯t think you go through something as traumatic as an overblot with someone, or a complete memory loss, or a world-change, or three years of study without being¡­well, if not friends, then at least¡­connected?¡±


    He cringed when she mentioned the overblot, but when he realized that most of the instances she¡¯d listed were her own experience, seemed to soften a little.


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t really considered it like that,¡± he said diplomatically. ¡°I am somewhat ashamed to admit, I hadn¡¯t considered most of what you¡¯ve been¡ªerm¡­.¡±


    He trailed off, however, and never finished that thought. She continued.


    ¡°We¡¯re also on a first name-basis, and you¡¯ve been responding to a nickname for months,¡± she pointed out before he could descend too far into his musings.


    ¡°Is that what that is?¡± he asked, appearing truly baffled. ¡°I¡¯d thought the name was simply cumbersome.¡±


    ¡°Yep!¡± she said, a cheeky grin returning. ¡°Friends, Zul?¡±


    Azul steepled his fingers under chin. ¡°Yes¡­yes. I suppose we are.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, friend,¡± she said, no longer holding back the mischief. ¡°Since we¡¯re established, could I offer you a smidgen of advice?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± he groaned, leaning back in his chair. ¡°This meeting is already an absolute disaster.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not absolute yet,¡± she teased. ¡°You know, Zul, when you meet with friends, you don¡¯t need to send paper invitations and drink vouchers. You can call me. You can text me. You can say something when you¡¯re passing in the hall.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I have your number¡­¡± he said vaguely.


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°You have the number of everyone in this school.¡±


    His plastic smile didn¡¯t shift, but he shifted in his chair uncomfortably.


    ¡°Am I to take it that¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you permission,¡± she interrupted, taking pity on him. She leaned forward in her chair, parallel now, to him. ¡°So, what can a magicless, studentless, connectionless dorm head do for you today?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t exactly call you without connection,¡± Azul muttered under his breath.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Was that it, then? He wanted her to ask a favor from someone else?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Before she had to ask, however, Azul rummaged at his chair¡¯s side, and from his briefcase, pulled a familiar white-and-pearescent invitation, which he set in front of her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve received an invitation to an event, and I find myself in need of a companion.¡±


    She stifled an unladylike snort. ¡°A companion?¡±


    He pushed up his glasses, though they no longer needed adjusting.


    ¡°My connections have informed me that attending with a companion will make me more approachable at the event. My family has a¡ªa well-known reputation at these sorts of things.¡±


    ¡°You need a date to the wedding so that the other guests don¡¯t think you¡¯ll bite their heads off?¡± she joked, but if possible, he paled even more than he already was. ¡°I¡¯m kidding,¡± she rushed. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll go with you. Actually, I was hoping to ask you a bit more about it, myself.¡±


    She pulled out her own invitation, and laid it next to his.


    ¡°How in the depths did you manage to get one of these?¡± he demanded, his mage stone flashing in his front pocket.


    She held up her hands. ¡°I¡¯m at the bridal table with Mal.¡±


    Azul¡¯s jaw opened and close several times. ¡°You¡¯re at the bridal table? You¡ªwhy?¡±


    She examined the dark wood trimmings on the ceiling around the office bookshelves in an attempt to hide an eyeroll.


    ¡°Did you even look at the bride¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°Is this the other student from Ramshackle last year? I confess, that after the over¡ªerm, your first year at NRC¡ªI was a bit detached from everyone outside of my own dormitory. There was business to rebuild. Trust to regain¡ª¡±


    ¡°A thirty foot glass wall to repair?¡± she asked blithely.


    He nodded. ¡°That.¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± she gushed, before he could pull back into whatever tension he thought there had been between them, ¡°I¡¯m so relieved you¡¯re going. I thought I wouldn¡¯t know anyone there but Mal, and I don¡¯t know what any of the traditions there are. Or etiquette. Or even what this date and time mean! And, I mean, I doubt I can just magi-map my way there. It looks like something you have to just¡­know.¡±


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s not plotted on magi-map, it¡¯s¡ªYou¡¯ve never heard of the Pearl Arch?¡± Azul exclaimed, before he could stop himself.


    She crossed her legs over the velvet in her chair and cocked her head at him. ¡°Three years ago, I hadn¡¯t even heard of NRC, remember? I take it you know?¡±


    Azul ran his fingers through his hair.


    ¡°The event is mixed-species, so I doubt you¡¯ll offend anyone,¡± he said at last. ¡°And as the Bride¡¯s representative¡ªit¡¯s quite the honor. You will be playing the part of the Bride¡¯s Head-of-House. Apropo, as you were her dorm leader, but the position is typically filled by the matriarch of the family line.¡±


    Yuu threw her hands in the air. ¡°Now that she definitely didn¡¯t mention in her note¡ªand I¡¯d call that a crucial detail!¡±


    ¡°She is the bride¡­lots of things going on this week, I imagine.¡±


    ¡°This week?¡± Yuu deadpanned.


    ¡°The happy day will occur in the evening, between seven and nine on Friday.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s three days away?¡±


    ¡°Three days is the usual notice for merfolk,¡± Azul explained quickly, watching Yuu¡¯s face heat up. ¡°It¡¯s standard for contracts, deadlines, notices¡ª¡±


    ¡°And weddings?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware that humans usually give several months¡¯ notice for such an event, however¡ª¡±


    Yuu found herself kneading her forehead, and leaning heavily on one arm of the chair. ¡°However, she¡¯s not marrying a human,¡± she completed for him. ¡°Great. Just great. And what is the head of her matriarchal line supposed to wear to this sort of thing?¡±


    Azul cocked a brow. ¡°You are the human representative. Those traditions should be in your repertoire.¡±


    Yuu groaned. ¡°Well for us, usually the bride at least assigns a color. And it¡¯s usually anything but white. And of course, Mal¡¯s putting me at the head table without even telling me that.¡±


    ¡°The bride assigns colors?¡± Azul asked, mildly interested. ¡°What other duties does one usually fill?¡±


    ¡°The women in the bridal party usually buy the bride a new set of tupperware. And maybe cooking knives. And clothing.¡±


    ¡°Clothing?¡± he prompted.


    ¡°Erm, sexual clothing. Anyway,¡± Yuu rushed on, not wanting to dwell on THAT topic with Azul. ¡°Do mermaids not get assigned colors?¡±


    Azul shook his head once more, and though he seemed confused, mercifully didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    ¡°Mermaids are assigned their own scale colors at birth, I suppose. They are born or hatch with them. It is both expensive and magically intensive to change it, although that could become easier in future¡­¡±


    ¡°Thanks for telling me the time,¡± Yuu exhaled deeply. She wanted very much to know why some mermaids hatched, and some didn¡¯t, but discussing merfolk birthing practices with Azul didn¡¯t seem like the right call, either. ¡°You never did say: is the Banejaw Lagoon far from here?¡±


    ¡°Banejaw Grotto,¡± Azul corrected patiently, though he still looked scandalized at the question. ¡°Under the Atlantican Pearl Arch. And it doesn¡¯t matter how far it is. I imagine the Banejaw family will have set up mirror transport for anyone in possession of one of these invitations.¡±


    Yuu¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Just how powerful is this family Mal¡¯s marrying?¡±


    Azul made a show of stacking the papers in front of him, though they were already as perfectly aligned as they would be.


    ¡°Oh, they are quite influential. Enough to give my own mother, and the Leech¡¯s parents healthy competition this past decade. Enough to give anyone competition, actually.¡±


    ¡°And the groom, is he decent? Or do you think he¡¯s just singing Mallory the siren song of success to get her to marry him?¡±


    That sent Azul sighing into the back of his seat.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen or spoken to Varun in many years, but when I did know him¡­.he seemed like the sincere sort. You never know, though, with the Banejaws. They always seem to be something.¡±


    There was a touch of bitterness in the way he said it, and Yuu wanted to ask more, but there were more pressing things to decide¡ªand she¡¯d have plenty of time the night of to question him more thoroughly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you here then, after your shift. Is five okay? I¡¯d like to be early enough to help Mal if she needs it.¡±


    Azul nodded, looking more relieved than he¡¯d been their entire conversation, though whether that was because it was ending, or if he was simply glad to have ¡®a companion,¡¯ as he¡¯d put it, she couldn¡¯t say.


    ¡°I, myself, wouldn¡¯t mind being early enough to greet certain guests,¡± Azul answer vaguely.


    The memory of Mal¡¯s note flashed in her head. ¡®Some of the Banejaw guests terrify me,¡¯ she¡¯d written. That was another thing she¡¯d have to ask him about closer to the event. Until then, it wasn¡¯t about her own concerns. It was about Mal, and digging up what on earth she was going to need at this thing.


    ¡°Good,¡± Yuu said quickly, wondering how much longer Grim could be without her without causing destruction. ¡°And what will you be wearing? If I don¡¯t have a color, we might as well match.¡±


    Azul blinked.


    ¡°Is that a human tradition?¡± he asked.


    She nodded, smirking.


    ¡°It¡¯s custom for ¡®companions,¡¯ who go to ¡®events¡¯ together to wear the same color. So what are you?¡± she asked, realizing.


    Yuu had sort of seen Azul in his merman form when he¡¯d overblotted, but she¡¯d been too far away to see anything but corruption, dying magic, and broken glass. Now that she thought about it, NRC was a quick bus ride from the beach, but she¡¯d never even seen Azul near the water. She cocked her head, examining him. His hair was a perfect silver white, with touches of blue. So were his eyes.


    ¡°Are you blue?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I am not exactly a merman,¡± he admitted uncomfortably. ¡°I am cecaelian, which means that if I were blue, I would be extremely poisonous, and probably hunted for sport.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± she stared, not sure if he was joking. ¡°Then what color are you?¡±


    ¡°Okay?¡± he asked, regarding her as though she¡¯d just sprouted a second head. ¡°Just¡­okay?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± she huffed, getting impatient. ¡°I¡¯m really just happy to be going with someone I know. Who knows people. Who knows the traditions. I don¡¯t think I could ask for better.¡±


    He stared as though she had sprouted a third head.


    ¡°Eurgh, Azul! I need to get back to Grim. We only have three days! Give me a color, and I will be here and ready before five.¡±


    ¡°Black,¡± he said flatly, surprising her. ¡°Since we evidently can¡¯t wear white, it¡¯s elegant enough for these sorts of things, and we¡¯ll both do fine with it.¡±


    ¡°Black,¡± she repeated. ¡°It¡¯s a little strange for a human wedding, but at least it¡¯ll be easy to find. Wonderful.¡±


    Somewhere below them, a glass shattered¡ªa typical sound for a drink restaurant, but it was a stark reminder that she¡¯d left Grim practically unsupervised, and she didn¡¯t exactly trust Ace and Deuce with the job. She stood.


    ¡°If you have time before then, would you message me? I¡¯d like to know more about what usually happens at these things¡­ and Mal¡¯s worried about the guest list, but she couldn¡¯t have possibly been more vague.¡±


    Azul nodded as she collected her bag, invitation, and checked around the seat to make sure she hadn¡¯t left anything. Her nerves returned somewhat as he scrutinized her movements, studying her closely enough that she felt like she was some new specimen he¡¯d been assigned in one of Professor Divus¡¯ hundreds of petri dishes.


    ¡°I will try, but I warn you my schedule might not open up until late at night. And you should perhaps know me a bit better¡­ some of the ¡®guests¡¯ that Miss Jean mentioned might have questions for you, and I¡¯d rather you hear the stranger things from me.¡±


    That made her pause. She glanced up at him as she rose from her chair, unable to stop the smirk


    ¡°I do know you, Zul,¡± she said, the nickname sounding heavier in her mouth now that he¡¯d acknowledged it, but she was determined to press on, anyway. ¡°I know that you work yourself to the point of breaking, that you have some strange vendetta against all things chicken, octopus, or crustacean, and I know all about your potioneering through last year. Mallory was obsessed. At one point there, you probably could have gotten her to marry you.¡±


    She laughed at the stunned look on his face.


    ¡°Still kidding. Don¡¯t worry too much about the questions. I¡¯m not the sort to believe crazy rumors from strangers¡­But if you thought you had any mystique, Zul, you should know¡­your vice house warden posts your schedule on the back of the office door.¡±


    Surprising herself, she winked at him over her shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to say. Your hat¡¯s on the floor.¡±


    With that, she escaped through the office door, leaving Azul looking downright disheveled.

 Chapter 4: Azul

    Chapter 4


    Azul


    It could have gone worse, the rational side of Azul, which sounded like suspiciously like Jade, chimed in his head.


    ¡°It. Could. Have gone. Better,¡± Azul growled, snatching up his hat from the floor, where it had apparently been his entire meeting with Yuu.


    ¡°Talking to yourself, Boss? Know what they say about people who do that¡­.¡± Floyd smarmed his way into the room, poorly timed, as per usual.


    Azul tapped his schedule open on his phone, ensuring there was definitely something he needed to get to that was more important than eviscerating the eel.


    Not a thing, he realized in surprise. Yuu is efficient. He had at least ten minutes before Lethal Botany.


    ¡°Floyd,¡± Azul clipped, preparing to leave. ¡°We find ourselves in need of a wedding gift. A Grand one.¡±


    ¡°You say Grand like it has a capital ¡®g,¡¯¡± Floyd said suspiciously.


    ¡°Because it does. Find something rare. And useful. And pretty.¡±


    ¡°And Grand?¡± Floyd put the ¡®g¡¯ in air quotes.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Azul approved. ¡°And do not bring me a piano. It should be something tasteful, moderately expensive, and something that a young wedded couple can actually use.¡±


    Floyd smirked. ¡°Why, Boss? Got nuptial plans the rest of us aren¡¯t aware of? I didn¡¯t know you and Yuu¡ª¡±


    ¡°Button it, Floyd. Jade will fill you in. I¡¯m off to learn how not to kill things with plants¡­or the reverse¡­.as needed.¡±


    Floyd held up his hands in surrender. ¡°Have it your way, Boss! Online purchase okay?¡±


    Azul groaned. ¡°No time. It will have to be something close to home. See what we have in the room of confiscated goods.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, somebody¡¯s losing an heirloom today?¡±


    ¡°Just look,¡± Azul snapped, on the way out of the room.


    The day passed in a flood of appointments, hurriedly rescheduled meetings, and coursework. By the end of the day, Azul had swallowed a mountain of information, and put out a mountain of orders, and yet, his suit was unprepared, the wedding gift was still unselected, and he had no idea how they would meet the month¡¯s quota, much less get the bad publicity offline before the eyes of the underwater world were once again on his business.


    He prepared for bed in the usual way, retiring late, but despite his desperate need for rest, sleep refused to penetrate through his mental wall of stress.


    Staring at the canopy of his four-poster bed, a ¡®ding¡¯ sounded from his phone. Floyd and Jade knew not to message him at this hour unless a truly dire emergency was occurring. Curious, he peered at the screen in the dark.


    Yuu had sent him a little video of a sheep-herder trying to corral cats with a stage hook.


    After some pause, and a small smile, he responded.


    Azul: You¡¯re up late. Was that meant to come to me?


    Yuu: It¡¯s how I feel about the next three days. Too much to get done.


    Azul: I admit, I¡¯m also starting to see why human weddings have more of an advance.


    Yuu: Mhm.


    She followed that with another message containing a picture of a young man being trampled by cats.


    Relatable, he thought.


    Azul: I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. What is tupperware?


    Yuu: Durable containers. And, no. If she¡¯s going to do this to me last notice, I¡¯m going to get her something with more personality.


    Azul: Such as?


    Yuu: I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know where they¡¯re going to live, so anything I think of seems useless. And then I thought of the things I WANT to give her, and they all just seemed¡­. Inappropriate.


    Azul: Such as?


    Yuu: A picture of me for their family wall? A saucy apron? A large supply of lemons and butter?


    Azul snorted, his fingers already flying over the keys.


    Azul: All entertaining, but definitely all declarations of war. Especially that last one.


    Yuu: Well, what are you getting them, o scheming overlord? A monogrammed breadpan?


    Azul: That¡¯s privileged information.


    Yuu: Meaning you haven¡¯t picked one yet.


    Azul: Meaning I am still considering my many options.


    Yuu: You could give them a contract disguised as a gift.


    Azul: Funny.


    Yuu: I really am. So. Formal wear, you said? Do you think anyone will notice if I just show up in my dorm uniform?


    Azul: Yes. Me. I will notice. And I will personally throw you out.


    Yuu: How cruel. Here, I thought you were the spirit of hospitality.


    Azul: Wear some kind of dress, Yuu. But you should also be prepared to get wet.


    Yuu: Formal gowns don¡¯t come in swimsuit versions, but my emotions are prepared.


    Azul: Well we¡¯d hate to get your emotions wet.


    Yuu: What are YOU wearing, then?


    Azul: I have options, but I¡¯m concerned my impeccable taste may intimidate the other guests.


    Yuu: Azul. Just wear a suit. You have several.


    Azul: Exactly. Should I go for ¡°respectable businessman¡± or ¡°mysterious gentleman with questionable motives?¡±


    Yuu: Considering how you claim people feel about you being there, I¡¯d go with ¡°trying his best not to get thrown out.¡±


    Azul: The grey one, it is.


    Yuu: Bravo. We¡¯ll be decently dressed. We¡¯ll be on best behavior. What could go wrong?


    Azul: Define ¡°best.¡±


    Yuu: Azul.


    Azul: Fine, fine. No trouble.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Azul: ...Unless someone else starts it. ??


    Yuu sent a laughing emoji, and eventually, her texts slowed until they stopped. To Azul''s surprise, he found himself¡­relaxing? It had happened quicker than usual, but already, he felt the lethargy of the day creeping through his limbs, and the stress of the endless to do¡¯s were seeming less daunting. Before he could do anything more that he might have done before sleeping¡ªchecking his investments, researching stocks, reviewing notes and schedules, his eyes had closed.


    *


    The following day, only two days until the wedding, Azul threw himself into his coursework with abandon. It was preposterous how much effort him leaving for a single evening was creating for him. Jade, efficient as usual, had already procured a hacker skilled enough to take down any bad publicity online, but Floyd¡¯s lewd foodie photos had spread quite far, and the timetable was going to be tight. His classes went perfectly as usual, his marks as high as they could be, to the hundredth percentile. The Mostro lounge required cleaning, which he and his eight arms assisted with when his shift came to call. Azul was worth five workers in the kitchen when things got busy, but it cost him just as much energy.


    He missed lunch on purpose to stay ahead, and began researching the guest list to the wedding that the hacker had also acquired for him.


    It was an auspicious list, to be sure. Potions dealers, ingredient shippers, and even the farmers themselves had been invited. The entire Banejaw family, his mother, half of the noble class in Atlantica, and even the leech twins¡¯ parents were due to be present.


    He meticulously memorized every face and name that he could. This was going to me the networking event of the year. Perhaps his mother had been right to encourage him to have an escort. He would look suspicious mingling with that many professionals alone.


    When the lunch rush at the Mostro lounge died down, he was served with news that not one, but three of the appliances in the lounge kitchens had failed. Any free time he was due to have¡ªwhich was none at all¡ªwas taken while he dismantled and fixed them himself.


    By the time evening rolled around, Azul was well and truly exhausted. His body had nothing left to give. He ate the first food he¡¯d had that day without tasting it, his body hardly able to move, and his mind still racing over names and faces. Overwhelmed and aching, he found himself reaching for his phone, to mitigate yet another problem.


    Azul: It¡¯s come to my mind an answer to one of your questions back in my office.


    Yuu: Yes?


    Azul: I¡¯ve recalled some¡­.differences between our traditions. Human vs. Merfolk.


    Yuu: I¡¯m all ears.


    Azul: A proper merfolk wedding will involve the exchange of enchanted seashells instead of rings.


    Yuu: Oh? And what do these enchanted seashells do?


    Azul: They carry the voice of your beloved. When held to your ear, you¡¯ll always hear them.


    Yuu: Okay, that¡¯s actually kinda sweet.


    Azul: Of course, if the relationship ends poorly, the shell is ceremoniously crushed to sever the bond.


    Yuu: Aaand there it is. The built-in divorce feature.


    Azul: Wouldn¡¯t you like that? Instead of paperwork, you just dramatically smash something.


    Yuu: You¡¯re not wrong. That does sound satisfying.


    Azul: Exactly.


    Yuu: Still, I can¡¯t imagine you wanting your voice trapped in a shell for someone.


    Azul: Oh, certainly not. If someone wanted to hear my voice constantly, I¡¯d expect a proper contract and compensation.


    Yuu: Azul, you win.


    Azul: I usually do, but at what, exactly?


    Yuu: That is the least romantic thing I have ever heard from anyone. I¡¯m floored. I¡¯m stunned. My flabbers are GHASTED.


    Azul: I didn¡¯t understand all of those euphemisms, but I¡¯m taking it as a compliment.


    Azul: So you know what to expect, a sea witch usually blesses the wedding to ensure prosperity.


    Yuu: Let me guess¡ªyou played that role once, didn¡¯t you?


    Azul: Twice.


    Yuu: And let me guess again¡ªyou charged them.


    Azul: Obviously.


    Yuu: I knew it. You are exactly the type to look a couple in the eye, tell them, ¡°Your love will be eternal,¡± and then charge them a month¡¯s salary.


    Azul: *Oh, please. I wouldn¡¯t be so cheap.


    Yuu: So this wedding will likely have a very expensive, very wordy sea witch.


    Azul: Most likely.


    Yuu: Were you going to warn me of anything else? Or is everything else the same?


    Azul: Ah, yes. You might want to avoid eating too much at this wedding.


    Yuu: You might feel like skipping meals is a fast track to success, Azul, but you¡¯d be hard-pressed to keep me from dinner.


    Azul: Wedding feasts are enchanted. The more you eat, the more likely you are to get caught in the couple¡¯s love magic.


    Yuu: Mallory wouldn¡¯t¡­.actually, she would.


    Yuu: Hang on, are you making that up?


    Azul: Am I?


    Azul: Believe what you will. But if you suddenly find yourself flinging advances at the nearest merman.


    Yuu: Nah, I¡¯m safe. If that were real, you¡¯d be out here buying enchanted catering services for business purposes.


    Azul: ¡­Now that IS an idea.


    Yuu: Besides. I trust you to keep me from anything magically toxic.


    Azul: Me? Why?


    Yuu: You¡¯re my date. So guess who the nearest merman is?


    Azul: Point spectacularly taken.


    Yuu: Rude.


    Azul leaned back from his phone and tapped at the screen some more, waiting, until another text from Yuu pinged in.


    Yuu: I promise not to embarrass us both and fling myself at any present merman. If I do, I expect you to physically restrain me, and drag me from the event, with my hearty consent. Yes?


    Azul: I¡¯d rather it not come to that.


    Yuu: What? And I thought it sounded so fun. So classy. Definitely good for my reputation.


    Azul: Shall I keep telling you what to expect?


    Yuu: Sorry. Please. Carry on.


    Azul: Another thing: some merfolk cultures require the betrothed to complete a trial together before the ceremony. A test of survival and teamwork.


    Yuu: "swim across dangerous waters, fight a sea beast, endure the crushing depths¡±


    Azul: More or less. It ensures the pair can rely on each other in the worst conditions.


    Yuu: And if they fail?


    Azul: Then clearly, they weren¡¯t meant to be.


    Yuu: Wow, okay. Imagine planning a whole wedding, sending out invitations, and then finding out last minute you failed the pre-marriage boss fight.


    Azul: To be fair, your traditions seem equally tedious. Walking down aisles, standing in front of an audience, the speeches¡­


    Yuu: Which one sounds worse: an hour-long ceremony, or an underwater trial of death?


    Azul: ¡­It depends on the guest list.


    Yuu: ¡­


    Yuu: I think you have a point. Speaking of which, why is Mal terrified of the guest list?


    Azul: It is quite vast.


    Yuu: I¡¯ll be asking you more about that later. Alright, what¡¯s the mer-version of the bouquet toss?


    Azul: The couple releases a school of enchanted fish into the crowd.


    Yuu: And?


    Azul: Whoever catches the flashiest one is next to be married.


    Yuu: Wait¡ªso your people are out here diving after fish in the middle of a wedding?


    Azul: Correct.


    Yuu: That sounds so chaotic.


    Azul: It¡¯s a good way to test one¡¯s reflexes. And commitment.


    Yuu: So if you just stand back and don¡¯t try at all, it means you¡¯re safe?


    Azul: In theory. But the couple might take pity and throw one directly at you.


    Yuu: Suddenly, I like this tradition. What happens to the person who catches the ugliest fish?


    Azul: So glad you asked. That person has to kiss the ugliest person in the room.


    Yuu: Now I KNOW you¡¯re lying.


    Azul: Am I? Try it. :)


    Azul: Another tradition: after the wedding, the couple must depart dramatically. The grander the exit, the more prosperous their union will be.


    Yuu: I¡¯m almost afraid to ask.


    Azul: Oh, the usual. A sea chariot pulled by dolphins. Vanishing into the depths amidst a cloud of bioluminescent plankton. Being carried away by a tidal current.


    Yuu: You¡¯re telling me merfolk will just¡ª yeet themselves into the waves and let the ocean decide their honeymoon?


    Azul: Essentially, yes.


    Yuu: That is the most chaotic thing I¡¯ve ever heard.


    Azul: It¡¯s meant to symbolize trust in the tides of fate.


    Yuu: It sounds like a fast track to drowning.


    Azul: If you drown, then clearly the marriage wasn¡¯t meant to last.


    Yuu: What are the chances that Mallory, a very human woman, survives her own wedding?


    Azul: She is your friend. You tell me.


    Yuu: Those poor waves won¡¯t know what hit them.


    Azul¡¯s attention was yanked discourteously from his phone when Floyd came bursting into the room.


    ¡°Boss!¡± he declared, presenting Azul with a lumpy item under a sheet. ¡°I¡¯ve found the perfect wedding present!


    He whipped the fabric off with flair as he presented the item.


    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Azul groaned.


    ¡°A monogrammed breadpan!¡±

 Chapter 5: Yuu

    Chapter 5


    The Day Before the Wedding


    Azul: Is it customary for the maid of honor to attend alone?


    Yuu: Not necessarily.


    Azul: Interesting. So you could have brought a date, then?


    Yuu: I am. YOU asked me. Why?


    Azul: Just curious.


    ¡°Hey, human, aren¡¯t you going to that fancy fish event tomorrow?¡± Grim whined, sauntering into Yuu¡¯s bedroom.


    ¡°Hi Grim! Hey, what do you think of my dress?¡± Yuu greeted from in front of the mirror.


    ¡°It¡¯s a dress. It¡¯s black¡­.is there something wrong with it?¡± Grim sniffed at the hem of her black gown suspiciously.


    ¡°I really hope not,¡± Yuu said, glaring at her reflection. The dress was simple enough. Long. A little sparkly. Practically sleeved. She wouldn¡¯t be taking any attention away from the bride in this.


    ¡°I wanna go,¡± Grim said imperiously. ¡°Take me.¡±


    Yuu sighed, regarding the little feline demon. If he went, there would be trouble. Trouble like cake smashing, and champagne glasses flying, and possibly setting the fountains on fire like he¡¯d managed to do in NRC square last week.


    ¡°You could go¡­¡± Yuu said, thinking on her feet. ¡°But all the food¡¯s been enchanted to be practically inedible. And there are going to be hours of speeches where it¡¯s not even allowed.¡±


    ¡°Are you kiddin¡¯ me?¡± Grim yowled. ¡°I take it back. You sit through the speeches. But bring me back some tuna.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t have tuna,¡± Yuu lied. ¡°I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re even going to have cake. It¡¯s a merman wedding, remember? Seaweed only.¡±


    ¡°Eurgh,¡± Grim moaned. ¡°Then why¡¯s Mal even going?¡±


    ¡°Well, she needs to do it to get married.¡±


    ¡°Yikes.¡± Grim announced. I¡¯m out!¡±


    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll leave you with some tuna when I¡¯m gone. And I bet Ace and Deuce would love some gaming if you think that¡¯s better than speeches.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sold! Plus one someone else, Yuu!¡±


    ¡°I actually am¡ªhang on. My plus one might actually be¡­bakcing out!?¡± she snatched up her phone again, panicked.


    Yuu: Oh no¡­ Azul, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting cold feet the day before?


    Azul: Of course not.


    Yuu: Phew. I didn¡¯t mean to accuse. It didn¡¯t seem in character for you anyway. There¡¯s just been¡­ a lot.


    Azul: Strange how you claim to know me, yet I know so little about you.


    Yuu: Are you bored, Azul?


    Azul: Do I have to be bored to have a chat with a friend.


    Yuu: Well?


    Azul: I¡¯m in a meeting with the vice house wardens discussing the terms for turf restoration on the spelldrive fields.


    Yuu: That¡¯s mind-numbing. You might as well watch grass grow. Why are they making you do this? Jade¡¯s busy?


    Azul: Jade is otherwise occupied.


    Azul: When Crowley pipes down, that is exactly the question I plan to ask.


    Yuu smiled at her phone, imagining Azul pinning Crowley into the sort of political corner he always did, probably with questions like ¡®shouldn¡¯t This have already been taken care of?¡¯ and ¡®Why do we pay tuition when the school¡¯s maintenance falls to the students? And the best of them all: Why wasn¡¯t this meeting an EMAIL?


    ¡°Hey, human,¡± Grim¡¯s voice brought her back into the room. ¡°You¡¯ve been¡­ looking at your phone weird lately.¡±


    Yuu blinked down at him. ¡°I have?¡±


    Grim nodded, yawned, and then draped himself over her sofa.


    ¡°Yep. Weird things with your mouth. You sick or something?¡±


    ¡°No, just busy. And, one of my friends has more of a sense of humor than I thought.¡±


    ¡°Blah blah¡­what¡¯s so funny when there isn¡¯t any tuna?¡±


    ¡°Give me a few minutes and we¡¯ll go for dinner, okay?¡±


    ¡°Nyah! That¡¯s all I needed to hear! I¡¯ll be by the door.¡±


    She sighed, looking back down at her phone.


    Azul: Twenty questions? What¡¯s Yuu actually like?


    Yuu: There¡¯s really nothing to know¡­.well, not beyond what you know from knowing me for three years.


    Azul: Impossible. You¡¯re the ¡®maid of honor,¡¯ as they call it. You clearly have connections.


    Yuu: Or, even without a history, I¡¯m just very likable.


    Azul: Debatable.


    Yuu: Rude.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Azul: Enlighten me, then. Where did you grow up?


    Yuu: A normal town. With normal things.


    Azul: How informative. ?? Favorite food?


    Yuu: Anything that isn¡¯t a contractual trap.


    Azul: Now that¡¯s just unfair.


    Yuu: Oh, like your ¡°not telling¡± earlier?


    Azul: Tch.


    Yuu: See? You don¡¯t like it either.


    Azul: I was only saying it was Strange that you didn¡¯t already have a date, considering how ¡°likable¡± you claim to be.


    Yuu: Oh, so now I¡¯m likable?


    Azul: I never said you weren¡¯t.


    Yuu: You heavily implied it.


    Azul: But I never confirmed it.


    Yuu: And yet you¡¯re still talking to me. A win. :) I¡¯m more interesting than field turf.


    Azul: Perhaps I enjoy a challenge.


    Yuu: Is that why you asked me to this wedding? It occurs to me that you didn¡¯t know I was already going when you asked. Just think. We could have had a normal evening. You conniving your way into the good graces of the potions dealers (Mal texted me the list.) Me enjoying the enchanted and probably cursed sushi¡­. Good times. Why didn¡¯t you ask a mermaid? Aren¡¯t there a bunch of them in Octavinelle dorm? Some probably have family there.


    Azul: Hah. As if anyone would willingly accompany the ¡°unwanted guest.¡±


    Yuu: I dunno. You might have convinced some poor soul.


    Azul: No one as entertaining as you, I¡¯m afraid.


    Yuu: Very good save.


    Azul: Serious question: what does the esteemed maid of honor do for fun?


    Yuu: And a good deflection, too! But you¡¯re pinned, so I do feel for you.


    Yuu: I Work. Sleep. Occasionally suffer.


    Azul: Charming. Truly.


    Yuu: What? Not all of us get to build empires of morally questionable business ventures.


    Azul: It¡¯s not morally questionable if it¡¯s legal.


    Yuu: My morals are freed. Get ready for the rival lounge at Ramshackle.


    Azul: Avoiding the question, are we? You must do something in your free time.


    Yuu: Fine. I read. Sometimes.


    Azul: Oh? And what riveting literature holds your interest? Economic theory? Strategic warfare? Perhaps a biography of some tragic historical figure?


    Yuu: Why do you assume I have the same tastes as you?


    Azul: Because I can¡¯t imagine you reading something lighthearted.


    Yuu: I like fiction. With¡­.good subplots.


    Azul: Example?


    Yuu: ¡­No.


    Azul: Scandalous.


    Yuu: You¡¯ll never know.


    Azul: Ah, but I am a businessman, Yuu. And I always get what I want.


    Yuu: Not always, if I recall.


    Azul: It is but an eventuality. You underestimate my patience.


    Yuu: And you underestimate my ability to be vague. ??


    Yuu: Truly, you would be an interesting companion to any event. Why not ask the mermaids? I¡¯m curious.


    Azul: As I said before¡­ scurrilous rumors have been spread about my family, perpetuated by a noxious bunch of crustaceans.


    Yuu: Lousy bottom-feeders.


    Azul: EXACTLY.


    Yuu: What are they really hiding in those adorable little shells?


    Azul: Are you¡­ mocking me?


    Yuu: I would never. But I would definitely hope you know that I¡¯m not the sort of person to believe a crab¡¯s word over yours.


    Azul: That is¡­ somewhat comforting, I suppose.


    Yuu: Even if it¡¯s cute.


    Azul: Crabs are NOT cute.


    Yuu: I¡¯ve never met a crab. Will you introduce me?


    Azul: No.


    Yuu: Would it tell me that the restaurant I now frequent is served by possible man-eating eels and dubiously contracted slave workers?


    Azul: I do PAY them, Yuu.


    Yuu: With benefits?


    Azul: Money IS a benefit.


    Yuu: That sounds like something a crab would say.


    Yuu: ¡­Everything going well in the meeting? It¡¯s been a few minutes.


    Azul: Congratulations. I have publicly laughed at the headmaster, and Octavinelle is officially in charge of the turf replacement.


    Yuu: EXCELLENT!


    Azul: Do you enjoy making my life difficult?


    Yuu: I enjoy keeping you on your toes. There¡¯s a difference.?? I have a proposition. Get a wad of ocean plastic. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll hear about some while we¡¯re at the wedding. Then have it toted in and hire the spinners to make turf grass out of it. (Free material, as well.) Borrow Vil¡¯s long-lasting charms and voila! The next field-turf meeting will be well after you¡¯ve graduated.


    Yuu: ¡ª It would also have the added benefit that whoever you¡¯ve removed the plastic from (territory-wise) will now owe you a sizeable favor.


    Azul: Perhaps you have a future in business after all.


    Yuu: I¡¯m not just a pretty face. Voila! Now, you have a business ¡®in¡¯ with some lucky sucker at the wedding.


    Yuu: And also the prettiest date.


    Azul: Smart and humble. How lucky of me. I take it you found suitable clothing?


    Yuu: I did. Did you ever manage to find a gift for the wedding?


    Azul: Of sorts¡­it¡¯s certainly not my best work, but late notice and all that.


    Yuu: Same. I ended up making something.


    Azul: Oh?


    Yuu: I can show you tomorrow, if you¡¯re on time.


    Azul: I always am.


    Yuu: I know. ??


    Yuu changed out of her dress and rushed downstairs, where Grim was waiting, very impatiently.


    ¡°Took you long enough, human. How long does it take to change a dress?¡±


    ¡°Long time,¡± Yuu said with a grave nod. ¡°Ever tried one on?¡±


    ¡°Eurgh! Nuffa that! You said we were getting dinner!¡±


    ¡°We are! How about¡­. The chicken place? It¡¯s next to a store I need to go to. Finishing touches for tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. As long as we hurry, but for the life of me, I can¡¯t see why you¡¯re so excited about that thing.¡±

 Chapter 6: Yuu/Azul

    Chapter 6


    The Wedding


    The morning of the wedding day dragged through time like tar. Yuu found herself counting the seconds during her morning classes, and she could have sworn that the second hand in every classroom at NRC had gone sticky. And made of lead. Possibly even disconnected from the timepieces completely, as the hour hands refused to move at all. After what felt like a week in the morning classes, she rushed back to Grim, dropped him off at Heartslabyul for games and enough sugary snacks to kill a herd of flamingos.


    Using the makeup forced on her by Vil the year previous, and the curling iron she¡¯d purchased the night before, she was ready and off for Octavinelle a half hour early, anxious to get to mal, and curious at what she would find once she arrived.


    *


    It was thirty minutes before he had to be ready to leave with Yuu, and Azul had only just finished getting dressed for the wedding when an emergency in the lounge demanded his attention.


    ¡°Why does it matter if the blenders have combusted?¡± he demanded of Jade, who, yet again, failed to be able to fix the appliances on his own. ¡°If they are broken, they are simply broken. I¡¯ll fix them when I return, the Mostro lounge is closed for the night!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, we still have stragglers on the dining floor,¡± Jade said, in his ever-present calm.


    ¡°They¡¯re not the only ones. Got a new one in¡ªhey, Shrimpy, is that YOU?¡± Floyd yelled way too loudly. ¡°Come and look, y¡¯all; Shrimpy is lookin¡¯ FINE!¡±


    ¡°Stop harassing the customers, Floyd!¡± Azul barked. ¡°Yuu isn¡¯t due here for another half hour.¡±


    Yuu stepped around the front counter, and scooped up a tray. Falling into step with Jade, she helped him bus some of the last few tables.


    ¡°Thanks, Yuu,¡± Jade said sincerely. ¡°It appears the Boss has been in a bit of a mood.¡±


    ¡°What was that, Jade?¡± Azul huffed, stepping out of the kitchen. It was rare that Jade mocked him to the customers, but he certainly wasn¡¯t going to let it stand.


    He wore a gray suit, and had chosen to go without a hat. Azul was always well-groomed, so for him, this was nothing out of the ordinary.


    ¡°Your date has arrived,¡± Jade said, and Yuu thought she detected a hint of sarcasm in his tone.


    ¡°Dishes coming through!¡± she announced pleasantly, squeezing past him.


    He almost didn¡¯t let her through, not because he didn¡¯t trust her, but simply because he didn¡¯t recognize her. Yuu was well-groomed as well, but her grooming focused more on the practical, than the flashy, dramatic, or beautiful like those in Pomfiore. This evening, however, in a dark gown that reached the floor, she had managed all three.


    It was probably for the best that he didn¡¯t say anything as she walked by, carrying a mountain of dishes in each arm. If he had, it might have come out wrong, like ¡°who are you,¡± ¡°what are you doing in my kitchen,¡± and ¡°are you sure you¡¯re my date for the evening?¡±


    Swallowing, Azul, Jade, and Floyd put the rest of the service floor to rights, dismissing themselves at last as the end shift gained control.


    When Yuu came out of the kitchens, she was flushed, but still put together.


    ¡°Hi Azul!¡± she said cheerily, joining them in the foyer. ¡°Jade! Floyd! Good to see you both.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Shrimpy! You¡¯re looking good enough to eat tonight! Wanna come somewhere with me?¡±


    Traitor, Azul nearly snarled. First the bread pan, and now threatening to take his escort. Floyd really was lucky he was irreplaceable. The man even had the gall to toss him a wink over Yuu¡¯s head.


    ¡°You look quite beautiful tonight, Miss Yuu,¡± Jade added smoothly.


    ¡°Thank you both!¡± Yuu actually laughed. ¡°I¡¯m just hoping it lasts through the mirror travel. Speaking of which,¡± Yuu turned to address him now, forcing him to smooth his scowl, ¡°Where is the mirror we¡¯ll be taking? We just need the invitations, and then¡­we go?¡±


    Azul nodded, grateful for the change of subject.


    ¡°The Octavinelle mirror is down the hall from the main building. We can go now and be there at five on the dot.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡± she said, seemingly unaware of the faces Jade and Floyd were making behind her. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    *


    Yuu was entirely aware of the faces that Floyd and Jade were pulling at Azul just behind her line of sight.


    Boys, she groaned internally, welcoming wholeheartedly the arm that Azul offered her as an escape.


    She took it, immediately disoriented by something about Azul that she¡¯d never noticed.


    ¡°You smell like¡­cedar? A tree? A land tree?¡± she gaped, open-mouthed.


    Azul actually rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Is there any other kind of tree, Yuu?¡±


    Yuu glanced back at Floyd and Jade. ¡°Is there?¡±


    In her grasp, Azul sighed. ¡°I¡¯m a merman. What did you expect me to smell like?¡± he asked, exasperated.


    She shrugged. ¡°Butter and lemon?¡±


    Somewhere behind them, Floyd choked on his drink, and Jade suspiciously hid his face behind one of the photos he was busy taking down.


    ¡°Marvelous,¡± Azul drawled. ¡°Ramshackle has a resident comedian.¡±


    ¡°I perform to a full house,¡± she deadpanned. ¡°So, the mirror?¡±


    She watched Azul pull himself back into composure. ¡°This way.¡±


    The travel mirror was the size of a wall, and more ornate than anything she¡¯d expect to find in a palace. Its border was wrought silver, and covered in tentacle and scale designs set with pearls.


    Azul pulled his invitation away from his side at the same time as Yuu gripped hers.


    ¡°Just in case¡­How soon after the ceremony is it socially acceptable to leave?¡± Azul asked tepidly.


    She nudged him playfully. ¡°Why? Got somewhere to be?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± he said matter-of-factly. ¡°Just weighing my options in case the crowd turns on me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re paranoid.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m prepared,¡± he rebuffed.


    ¡°You¡¯re going with a guest specifically requested by the bride. I won¡¯t let anything eat you,¡± she teased. ¡°Besides, if you leave too early, I will tell people you got scared and ran away.¡±


    The corner of his mouth quirked in a smile. ¡°¡­You are truly ruthless.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Shall we?¡± she offered.


    And they stepped through.


    Travel by mirror felt like getting sucked into a wall of jelly, and then spat out again, but at least it didn¡¯t ruin her hair. Yuu and Azul stepped out into the Banejaw Lagoon, beneath the Pearl Arch, and suddenly, Yuu understood why Azul was surprised she hadn¡¯t heard of it.


    The Pearl Arch was just that¡ªan enormous pearl archway spanning the entryway over a circle of free-standing mirrors, from which guests were already arriving. The grotto itself stood as a mouthway to a gorgeous lagoon, where the sun had just begun to set, and a magically warm breeze heated a posh circle of tastefully decorated tables. In place of a ballroom, a giant pool separated the lower tables from the bridal head table, where Yuu spotted¡ª


    ¡°Mal!¡±


    Ignoring decorum, Yuu unhooked herself from Azul¡¯s arm and hurried forward, hardly aware of Azul trailing behind, until she reached her friend.


    ¡°Mallory, you owe me a story, and you look absolutely beautiful,¡± Yuu cried, throwing her arms around Mallory Jean, her former roommate, who was standing near the head table, a vision in white. Yuu couldn¡¯t help laughing. ¡°You picked a mermaid dress?¡±


    ¡°It seemed like it fit the occasion,¡± Mallory laughed into Yuu¡¯s hair. ¡°It¡¯s been too long. Hang on, is that Azul Ashengrotto you came with?¡±


    Mallory glanced behind Yuu¡¯s shoulder, where Azul was still making his way to the table.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuu nodded. ¡°Yeah, since I didn¡¯t know how to decode the invitation, he helped, and it turned out he was going, too. How does it feel to have Azul as a cousin-in-law?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s Varun¡¯s cousin?¡± Mallory was genuinely surprised.


    ¡°On his father¡¯s side,¡± Yuu nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I bet the guest list ou¡¯ve had to memorize is enormous.¡±


    Mallory sighed. ¡°It is. And so¡¯s Varun¡¯s family, apparently.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m excited to meet this Varun. What¡¯s he like?¡±


    Mallory gave Yuu the smirkiest smirk since the expression was invented. ¡°Well, he¡¯s a tiger-fish, for starters.¡±


    Yuu snorted. ¡°Right. Got time for details?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the bride. I can do whatever I want.¡±


    Mallory lapsed into an embellished and romantic tale of her ¡®tiger-fish¡¯ that had Yuu giggling behind a napkin for a full fifteen minutes.


    ¡°Mal, you¡¯re making my eyeliner run!¡± Yuu gasped, when Mal finally came up for breath from the tale. ¡°He asked you out by bringing you a bunch of urchins? The one thing in the whole wide ocean you¡¯re allergic to, and he picks those?¡±


    ¡°He nearly killed me,¡± Mal whispered conspiratorially.


    ¡°Bet you got him back tenfold.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m about to¡­¡± Mal whispered behind her own napkin. ¡°I¡¯ve been designing something new. Gonna try it tonight, actually. Hey, how¡¯s MY eyeliner.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± Yuu said, setting about fixing it. ¡°You¡¯ve been designing something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Malory said around the napkin. ¡°Ever heard of the red string of fate? It¡¯s¡­ a more proactive version.¡±


    Yuu was about to ask more, but as she¡¯d nearly finished with the makeup, Azul cleared his throat behind them.


    ¡°May I join you?¡± he asked politely.


    ¡°Sure thing, cousin!¡± Mal winked at him. ¡°Nice choice of date, I have to say.¡±


    ¡°Yes, extremely serendipitous,¡± Azul agreed, taking the seat next to Yuu¡¯s.


    ¡°Did you make her sign a contract for it?¡± Mal asked cheekily.


    Yuu burst out laughing.


    ¡°Of course no¡ª¡± Azul tried to correct quickly.


    ¡°He nearly did,¡± Yuu interjected.


    Azul sighed, shaking his head at them both. ¡°I do have some class, Yuu¡­ I should also congratulate you, soon-to-be cousin. You make a beautiful bride.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Relax, Azul.¡± Mallory smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯m happy to have two friends at my table. It¡¯s not like I have any family to call on from my side. I guess you get to represent both. You absolutely belong here.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªthank you, Mallory. I can call you that, yes?¡± Azul said, looking oddly touched.


    ¡°Mal, please,¡± she corrected quickly. ¡°Oh, I have to get going. The ceremony¡¯s about to start. No worries, though. I told Varun that if it lasts longer than ten minutes, I¡¯m jumping ship.¡±


    ¡°You are the coolest bride in the world,¡± Yuu said in awe. ¡°Teach me your ways.¡±


    ¡°Do I NEED to?¡± Mal snarked back at her.


    Yuu held up her hands. ¡°I take it all back. Teach me nothing. I¡¯m an empty shell.¡±


    ¡°I missed you,¡± Mal said, giggling as she left.


    ¡°She seems happy¡­¡± Yuu said, watching her leave. ¡°I just wish I¡¯d have gotten to live with her longer.¡±


    ¡°Life has a way of throwing you surprises,¡± Azul said, placatingly.


    She glanced at him.


    ¡°This for example,¡± he said, gesturing to the place set before him. ¡°Me sitting at the bridal table of a Banejaw wedding¡­and not even on a serving plate.¡±


    Yuu laughed, elbowing him in the side. ¡°You¡¯re not THAT unlikeable, Azul. Speaking of which, don¡¯t you have people to mingle with? Those look like Jade and Floyd¡¯s parents down there!¡±


    Yuu smiled, sending them a shy wave.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them since parent-teacher conferences. I doubt they remember me,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll greet them later,¡± Azul promised. ¡°For now, I do believe Mallory was being serious about her ceremony. Look there.¡±


    But what Yuu saw, was brewing trouble.


    ¡°Hang on. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    It took Yuu all of three minutes to determine the situation, and she was back to Azul before he could get up from the table.


    ¡°Well?¡± he asked smoothly.


    ¡°One of the guests arrived tipsy and spilled something on Mal¡¯s dress, the groom is missing a shoe and is insisting that they aren¡¯t actually necessary, and someone forgot to bring the rings because apparently¡­those also aren¡¯t necessary under the sea?¡±


    Azul stared at her as though she had just otld him the moon was falling.


    ¡°¡­Are you certain this is a wedding and not a tragedy in three acts?¡±


    ¡°I thought something like this would happen.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here with me. What exactly do you expect me to do about it?¡± he asked, cutting to the chase.


    ¡°You always have a plan.¡±


    ¡°Flattering. But I do believe this falls outside my usual domain.¡±


    ¡°Azul.¡±


    She could tell that he didn¡¯t want to get involved. Getting involved meant risk. Exposure. People. However, after a short breath, he agreed.


    ¡°Fine. I may have an emergency stain-removal method. As for the rings¡­ well, you¡¯ll just have to owe me for that one.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± she gasped, as he left the table, and headed for the pavilion where Mallory and Varun stood, in heated conversation with a large ample-waisted sea witch.


    Not one to stand around, Yuu followed.


    ¡°I have officially been designated "person-who-fixes-everyone''s-problems,¡± she panted, not five minutes later, when, together with Azul, everything had been put to rights.


    ¡°A less prestigious title than Maid-of-honor,¡± Azul remarked, flicking imaginary dust from the cuff of his jacket sleeve. She was exhausted. He looked like he¡¯d just dealt with a particularly customer at the lounge and come out on top. ¡°Do you at least get paid?¡±


    Yuu nodded, leaning on him briefly as she adjusted a shoe.


    ¡°In stress and gray hairs.¡±


    ¡°Tempting offer, but I think I¡¯ll pass,¡± he said, lending her a hand for support. His fingers lingered on hers a moment longer than was necessary, bringing her attention back up to his face.


    ¡°Of course you¡¯ll pass. Your hair is already gray.¡±


    ¡°It is not gray¡ª¡± he started indignantly, before the ceremonial music started, and all rose as Mallory walked down the shortest wedding aisle that Yuu had ever been privileged to witness.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°She took three steps,¡± muttered Azul.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    The happy couple stepped up to each other. Varun was handsome, in a traditional sense, and his suit was nothing but the best. His cheeks had actual tiger-stripes on them, which Yuu could only imagine Mallory finding forever amusing. Her friend really was happy, smiling and tearing up at all the right moments. The wedding ceremony really was over and blessed by the sea witch in ten minutes, but with what was said, it was perfectly ¡®Mal.¡¯


    ¡°Wow, those vows were really something,¡± Yuu wondered as the ceremony closed.


    ¡°I suppose. A bit¡­ dramatic, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Yuu shot him a sideways glance. ¡°I would¡¯ve thought you liked grand declarations.¡±


    ¡°I prefer promises that aren¡¯t made in front of a hundred people crying into handkerchiefs.¡±


    ¡°It was lovely.¡± Yuu smiled. ¡°Very her.¡±


    ¡°LADIES AND GENTLEFISH! If you would take your places on the ballroom floor for the sealing song!!!¡± the seawitch announced from the altar.


    Azul sighed. ¡°It appears there¡¯s a mandatory dance.¡±


    Yuu hummed. ¡°How tragic.¡±


    Azul was already standing with the rest of the guests, ready to file forward.


    ¡°Truly. The question is, who is going to rescue me from this predicament?¡±


    Was he¡­teasing her? In person?


    She took his hand. ¡°It¡¯s almost as though there¡¯s a purpose to bringing a date to these things.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. You spare me from an overeager partner, and I ensure you don¡¯t end up with a questionable one.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound so¡­ transactional,¡± she sighed, letting him guide her to one of the only dry-land dancing areas. The rest seemed quite eager to head down into the pool, where, formal gowns and all, the music began.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Azul corrected, once they were facing each other. ¡°Yuu, would you do me the great honor of allowing me this dance?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°That was a little more sarcastic than it needed to be, but I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    The ceremony was certainly efficient. The couple was already dancing to the song under the pearl archway, the lyrics spilling over the crowd like a spell.


    ¡°What are they saying?¡± Yuu asked, swaying in Azul¡¯s arms to the tune. There wasn¡¯t much room for dancing, and Yuu was just find with that. Even so, she was hardly surprised that Azul was a skilled leader.


    ¡°A proper wedding is sealed with an ancient siren¡¯s song, ensuring harmony in the couple¡¯s union,¡± Azul explained.


    ¡°That sounds beautiful.¡±


    ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°And I assume the lyrics are meaningful and poetic?¡± she said, prompting a translation.


    Azul was oddly reticent to share, not meeting her eyes as they swayed. But of course he was. Azul was always¡­at odds when it came to physical contact.


    ¡°Deeply so,¡± he informed her vaguely.


    ¡°You won¡¯t translate it for me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he said blandly. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because the translation doesn¡¯t come across directly, and therefore has to be sung.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t sing?¡±


    He looked at her then, smirking. ¡°I refuse to sing for free.¡±


    Shaking her head, Yuu put her hand on his chest in shock, glaring at his tie.


    He was as surprised as he was exasperated, but he didn¡¯t stop her.


    ¡°What are you doing, Yuu?¡±


    ¡°Checking to make sure you¡¯re not having a coronary. Was that an actual joke?¡±


    He sighed, pulling them away from a tall, half-transformed couple swaying beside them, gills still clamped behind their ears.


    ¡°I do have a sense of humor, Yuu.¡±


    ¡°I was just checking¡ªhang on.¡± She gasped. ¡°Do you have¡­two heartbeats?¡±


    ¡°Three, actually. But only in my true form. Frankly, I don¡¯t know how you humans make do with just two¡ª¡±


    She leaned back to properly see his face. He was being serious.


    ¡°THREE?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re surprised.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s not the sort of thing you just¡­find out,¡± she spluttered.


    He gave a posh sort of shrug. ¡°You never asked.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. How could I forget to quiz my date about his number of vital organs. The naivete is killing me. Next time, I¡¯ll go into the date making sure he has both kidneys too, just in case.¡±


    ¡°If you do, you have an excellent chance of making your date feel like a black market target.¡±


    ¡°To think, I left my coolers of ice at home,¡± she shot back.


    ¡°Funny,¡± he remarked, cocking a brow. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not Floyd disguised as Yuu?¡±


    ¡°Ha. If I were Floyd, I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised, I think. Is that a common thing for merfolk?¡± she asked, genuinely curious.


    ¡°Quite uncommon,¡± he said. ¡°Having two or more rows of teeth, however¡ªvery common.¡±


    ¡°You have twice the teeth, too?¡±


    ¡°Yuu,¡± he scolded. ¡°Have you ever even looked at me? What do you think?¡±


    So, she really looked. From his white hair, to the matching light glint on his glasses, and his eyes in the color parrot-fish blue. She took in his amused scowl, wondering at how a scowl could ever look amused, and decided that it was probably one of the more genuine expressions he¡¯d given her. Letting the silvery music slide over them, she just¡­looked, until he said:


    ¡°Of course, if you you were FLoyd, you¡¯d probably be threatening to eat me by now, too, if I bored you.¡±


    The comment caught her so off guard, she laughed, too loudly, right in his face.


    ¡°I have a policy against eating friends,¡± she said too quickly. ¡°I mean, I¡¯d never eat you. I mean¡ª¡±


    She realized what it sounded like too late, and a hard blush caught up to her face before her brain could connect with her mouth and give it the command to stop talking.


    ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s not that I¡¯m trying to insult the way you taste. I¡¯m sure you taste fine. You¡¯re probably¡ª¡±


    It was his turn to go a little pink.


    ¡°Oh man¡­ can we please pretend I didn¡¯t say any of that? Let¡¯s go back to the song lyrics.¡±


    ¡°Ironically, those are about¡­um¡­tasting, as well.¡±


    She groaned, letting her head fall into his chest where she didn¡¯t have to look at him, until, she realized, that was another of the worser options. She straightened comically fast, nearly knocking into his glasses as she did so.


    ¡°So!¡± she said, falsely bright. ¡°How does a pearl arch that big happen, anyway? Is it alchemically designed? I don¡¯t see any pearls like that happening naturally.¡±


    ¡°I believe the Banejaw family trained a pack of oysters to have a ¡®taste¡¯ for a particular type of rock, and then just let them loose,¡± Azul said, watching her amusedly.


    ¡°Wow. He does have a sense of humor,¡± Yuu muttered, glaring. ¡°And it¡¯s vicious.¡±


    ¡°I thought the joke was more than tasteful,¡± he said, heaving a dramatic sigh.


    ¡°Please¡­please make it stop,¡± she begged.


    ¡°I¡¯d be willing to negotiate terms,¡± he responded, smirking wider.


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± she said dryly. ¡°You stop, and I won¡¯t break any of your toes during this dance.¡±


    ¡°And she says I¡¯m the vicious one,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Unfortunately, you shouldn¡¯t make any threats you can¡¯t keep.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to rejoin the bridal party at the high table,¡± Azul said, a little quieter.


    Yuu looked around. The song was already over, and the rest of the couples were shuffling off to their seats. There was no reason for her to be standing as close to Azul as she was, and yet, she¡¯d hardly notice the time passing.


    He cleared his throat politely.


    ¡°Right,¡± she agreed, pulling away from him to stand at an equally polite distance.


    The conversation they¡¯d been having had brought them nearly nose to nose,  and he was still holding her hand, as though leading, though there was nowhere to lead. Quickly, she slipped away from him, and let him lead the way back to their positions next to Mal.


    The sea witch stepped up to the podium, jowels wobbling, an announced in his blubbery tone, ¡°LADIES AND GENTLEFISH! Presenting the new couple, Varun and Mallory BANEJAW!¡±


    The crowd, including Yuu and Azul, erupted in applause, polite at first, and dissolving into whoops and hollers when Varun swept Mallory in for a kiss.


    It was in that moment, watching Varrun with Mallory that gave Yuu a window into their relationship, far more than the dramatic vows and bowing. Varrun very obviously loved her friend. He didn¡¯t give into the more crude suggestions from the wedding crowd for attention. Instead, he presented Mallory like his treasure. Like his prize. Like someone he truly, and genuinely admired and planned on keeping. Yuu¡¯s eyes misted at that kiss, wondering, oh-so briefly, what it would be like to find the thing that she and Mallory had lost when they¡¯d come to this world¡ªa family.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Azul¡¯s voice rumbled low in her ear, muffled somewhat by the cheerful din.


    Yuu nodded, unsure of what to say. She wasn¡¯t crying. She wasn¡¯t even tearing up¡ªyet. She¡¯d also been facing away from him. Even so, he¡¯d noticed her shift in mood, and had already produced a silvery handkerchief from a suit pocket.


    She almost laughed, but was afraid it would turn into a sob.


    Of course he has handkerchiefs, she thought.


    Accepting it without looking at him, she cheered as loudly as the rest when Mallory and Varrun sat next to them, and beckoned for the wedding feast to be served.


    Under the table, Mallory reached for Yuu¡¯s hand, and squeezed it. She glanced over, very briefly, and Yuu managed a smile before Mal looked back to her guests, and to the mountain of steamed salmon and tuna headed their way.


    Yuu wanted to say something.


    You were beautiful up there. I¡¯m so happy for you. This is everything I wanted for you.


    But all that came out was:


    ¡°That was great, Mal,¡± in her softest, smallest voice.


    Then, before there was any room for commentary, the speeches began¡ªall from the Banejaw family. Luckily for Yuu, Mal hadn¡¯t decided to put her on the spot. Instead they sat together, the fingers of her right hand in Mal¡¯s, and Azul¡¯s handkerchief in the other. Memories of their second year at NRC flashing through Yuu¡¯s head, wondering how things had gone so very differently for them both.


    As one of the more comedic speeches from one of Varrun¡¯s schoolmates waxed on, Mal leaned over to whisper.


    ¡°I have something for you,¡± Mal hissed cheekily.


    If they¡¯d been anywhere else but under the scrutiny of hundreds of guests, Yuu would have snorted.


    ¡°You¡¯re the bride. I¡¯m supposed to give things to you,¡± Yuu hissed back. ¡°And you¡­.will probably like what I brought. Just don¡¯t open it until I¡¯m far, far away.¡±


    ¡°That good huh,¡± Mal snickered under her hand, disguising it as a reaction to the speech.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s good,¡± Yuu promised. ¡°Varrun¡¯s gonna love it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m taking it with me, then,¡± whispered Mal.


    ¡°What, you¡¯re not just gonna yeet yourself into the waves? No luggage? Let the ocean take you?¡±


    ¡°Varrun wanted to.¡±


    ¡°Show off,¡± Yuu whispered half-heartedly.


    ¡°You dunno the half of it,¡± Mal agreed vehemently. ¡°And you¡¯re distracting me. I have something for you. Just¡­. Careful when you open yours, too, kay?¡±


    ¡°Is it explosive?¡± Yuu asked.


    It was a fair question. Mal had nearly blown up Ramshackle just doing potions homework.


    ¡°Well that would have been a good idea,¡± Mal teased. ¡°Remember when I said I¡¯ve been working on something? With the red string?¡±


    ¡°You turned destiny into a potions ingredient? Did you bottle a love potion, too?¡±


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t real.¡±


    ¡°Yet.¡±


    ¡°Yet,¡± Mal agreed.


    ¡°I was kidding. What does it do?¡±


    ¡°It just helps you¡­. Find things,¡± said Mal, smiling wider than she should. ¡°You might see it work tonight. And then you¡¯ll know how to use it later.¡±


    ¡°No instructions?¡±


    ¡°No fun.¡± Mal cut off as the speech ended, though not before putting a small, wadded-up handkerchief into her hand, and withdrawing with Varrun to go and mingle.


    Not before she left, a corner of the handkerchief opened, and spilled bright crimson dust onto Yuu¡¯s and Malory¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Careful, you¡¯re gonna get this stuff on your dress!¡± Yuu gasped, but Mal was already gone.


    ¡°What a mess.¡±

 Chapter 7: Yuu

    Yuu froze, hand covered in red dust¡ªright next to a white tablecloth, hand holding a white handkerchief, and surrounded by white decorations. She tried in vain to scrub it away with Azul¡¯s kerchief. Opening her mouth to ask him if he knew how to get red stains out as well, she found him already gone, mingling easily with the other guests. He was standing in a circle not too far off from the ballroom pool, where several guests and diners had already congregated. She watched his cool, collected smile as he presented some sort of anecdote to a slender woman with green hair, and a boisterous man whose arm was still a monstrous crab claw. They laughed at whatever he was saying, trying to keep him in their own circle before he moved on to someone else.


    ¡°Silly thing,¡± she muttered, watching him go. ¡°He was so worried he¡¯d be hated¡­¡±


    Clearly, though, nearly everyone wanted to know the two strangers who had been posted as the bride¡¯s very small party, and Azul was using that fact to his maximum advantage.


    As Yuu watched his movements, she was careless about the cloth of red powder still on her lap, and an errant breeze sent some of it puffing into her face. She coughed hard.


    ¡°This stuff gets everywhere!¡± she growled, tying it up properly, and stuffing it into her purse. ¡°Was Mal trying to ruin her dress!?¡±


    Grateful to be wearing black, Yuu wrapped her hand in Azul¡¯s handkerchief, and, unsure of how much of the stuff had blown into her face, went to find her date, the only person here who could help her with it.


    She stepped away from the bridal table, and made her way to the lower guest seating, weaving between guests. A blue and white-haired woman, flirting with a human shopkeep. A human shopkeep flirting with a red-haired mermaid who peered up at him from the side of the pool. Several people with the same tiger-striped markings on their cheeks as the groom milled across her path, all clad in finely tailored dresses and suits.


    Azul had been at the far end of the pool earlier, but now, with the shifting of the crowd, Yuu found herself struggling to spot one head of white hair in a sea of color.


    As she walked, she began to notice something odd¡ªshe wasn¡¯t the only one who had been stained by red. In fact, several guests had little red marks on wrists, inner arms, or even faces. As she made her way to the far ballroom floor, there were even guests who had streaks of the stuff, looking around as though hunting for something. For some reason, Yuu did not want to be seen by them, and hurried her steps.


    There, at the long end of the pool, she saw the source of the red dust. Waiters had stationed little pots of the stuff for guests to dip their fingers into. She was close enough to smell the stuff, its scent unfamiliar¡ªearthy, with a sharp tang of crushed kelp and something metallic.


    Was this some mermaid tradition?


    She promised herself that she would ask Azul when she found him, and got the stuff off of herself.


    At last, she spotted him, speaking in hushed tones with a tall, angular man, whom Yuu recognized immediately as Floyd and Jade¡¯s father. He stood to the corner, avoiding anyone marked in red, and Jade¡¯s father was one of the few who wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Azul!¡± she called, making her way to him. ¡°And Mr. Leech,¡± she greeted with a friendly smile.


    ¡°Yuu,¡± Mr. Leech¡¯s answering grin was mercurial, slippery, and as usual, entirely unreadable. The man put even Azul to shame. ¡°How nice to see you here¡­looking for someone?¡±


    There was a meaning that she couldn¡¯t quite decipher in his tone, so she answered honestly.


    ¡°Just Azul,¡± she said brightly. ¡°Mal spilled¡­something on me. I bet it¡¯s all over my face. I was just hoping you knew how to get it off? How bad is it?¡±


    Her question was addressed to Azul, but it was Mr. Leech who laughed.


    ¡°Now, that does sound like young Mallory. Your friend has, shall we say, made quite a splash in business down below.¡±


    Yuu¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Already? I guess Mal never was one to waste time.¡±


    ¡°Certainly not,¡± Mr. Leech agreed. ¡°Well, it seems I need to leave you two to your plight. Best of luck to you, Yuu.¡±


    ¡°Have a lovely evening, Mr. Leech,¡± Yuu said in parting, before rounding on Azul. ¡°What on earth was that about? Actually, don¡¯t tell me yet. Do I look like a tomato? Mal put this dust on me, and a breeze took it up to my face. I bet I look like a berry sneezed on me.¡±


    Azul tutted. ¡°Such a visual.¡±


    And then, he actually looked at her.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± he said, examining her face.


    ¡°I¡¯ve probably ruined your handkerchief trying to get it off,¡± Yuu said apologetically.


    ¡°Keep it,¡± Azul said, hardly keeping the disgust from his tone. ¡°Why in the trenches did you touch the stuff in the first place? You don¡¯t actually believe what they¡¯ve been saying about this dust?¡±


    ¡°What have they been saying?¡± Yuu asked, frustrated. ¡°And, please, Azul, do you know how to get it off or not?¡±


    Azul scowled, glancing around them, and eventually snatched a cloth napkin off of a table. He poured someone¡¯s nearly empty champagne glass on it, and began dabbing at her face.


    ¡°Is it working?¡± Yuu asked quickly.


    ¡°Alcohol is supposed to remove it. Or make it worse¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°Wow. So helpful,¡± she grumbled under his fingertips, but let him work on her face all the same.


    ¡°That¡­ that is the best I can do.¡± he said at last. ¡°No one will notice, at least.¡±


    She sighed in relief, touching his hand. ¡°Thanks. Really. You are a fantastic date. So¡­ did you make any friends? Find anyone who needs a garbage patch removed?¡±


    ¡°Yes, actually,¡± Azul smoothed down the front of his shirt, looking pleased. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to find¡ªfind¡­¡±


    ¡°Find?¡± Yuu prompted, cocking her head.


    Azul¡¯s eyes had suddenly lost focus, and he was blinking rapidly, looking from her, down to her hand which had just brushed his. It wasn¡¯t until she followed his gaze that Yuu realized the hand she¡¯d touched was the one wrapped in his handkerchief, which had long fallen away. Her hand, still stained with red, had marked his skin as well.


    ¡°Azul? Hey, Azul, are you¡­ are you okay?¡±


    Azul was staring at his hands, clenching and unclenching them like he¡¯d never seen them before¡ªlike they weren¡¯t his own.


    His eyes traveled up to the room, visibly dialating as he searched the guests, the bride, the groom, his relatives, before finally landing on her. His dilated again, this time the other way, and they didn¡¯t look like his, anymore. The color was the same, to be sure, but his pupils had elongated, like they were pulling apart.


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± he said in the same level timbre as before, but his throat was dryer, and he still hadn¡¯t lowered his hand from hers.


    He reached for her, fingertips just brushing her wrist where the powder had spilled, and though it had done nothing before, where his skin made contact with hers and the dust, it reacted. The dust flared with a sensation she¡¯d only ever experienced secondhand¡ªfrom the backlash of magical duels when she¡¯d gotten too close, from the contact of healing saves and potions. It was a magical residue of some kind, but she was unfamiliar with this flavor of it. This stuff wasn¡¯t hurting her, but all the same, it burned.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to Mal,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll find out¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know what it is,¡± Azul said, in that same tone, without a trace of his usual sarcasm.


    ¡°You do?¡±


    She gasped, unbidden, when his fingers slipped higher over her wrist, wrapping around her hand as he leaned closer. His skin was cool, soothing the burning, and at the same time, making it worse. She made to move away from him, but a row of chairs blocked her from behind, and with Azul in front, she was boxed in. He, usually so gentlemanly, wasn¡¯t moving. Instead, he stared at her as though he hardly recognized her, intently, and searching, and as though there were several choice things he¡¯d like to say.


    ¡°Just¡ªjust tell me, then. Is it hurting you? Does it make you¡­ drunk, or something?¡± She cast a furtive glance at the pool. ¡°You sound like you need water.¡±


    ¡°You really didn¡¯t know,¡± he muttered.


    Then, he tore his gaze from her, slowly, and deliberately, as though it hurt him to do so.


    Now, she was truly frustrated.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t know what, Azul?¡±


    But he never had the chance to answer, because at that moment, they were interrupted by a new voice.


    ¡°Indeed, Azul. Know what?¡±


    The woman who approached their table had a deep and warm voice¡ªit was the kind of voice that should be on husky midnight specials, belonging to rich five-time widows, or fortune tellers with a mysterious past.


    Azul¡¯s snapped up quickly, as though by force of habit, and he drew himself back to his full height as he addressed the woman.


    ¡°Mother,¡± he greeted. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would attend after¡­¡± he trailed off at her sharp look.


    Mother? Yuu straightened her own spine as well.


    Madam Ashengrotto¡¯s dress was the blue of deep waters, skirts swirling about her ankles as though she was used to taking up far more space than she was. Her jewelry was tasteful, and practically dripped each syllable of the word ¡®expensive.¡¯ Now that she knew the relation, it was easy for Yuu to see that this was Azul¡¯s mother. They shared the same pale, violet skin, white hair, and dissecting gaze. She was a slightly heavier-set woman, commanding every inch of herself with pristine elegance.


    ¡°Azul, my baby! I am always in a position to show my support to my family,¡± she emphasized the last word, managing to sound at the same time both poignant and condescending. Her gaze drifted, ever so briefly, over Yuu, but in that brief glance, Yuu had the feeling the woman had seen more than she should. ¡°And I see you¡¯ve come following my instructions¡ªalbeit barely.¡±


    Yuu bristled. She was never one to be anything less than human, but it sounded an awful lot like, to this woman, that was a very bad thing.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce Yuu, of Ramshackle house,¡± Azul presented evenly, if a little stiffly. ¡°She is the personal guest of the bride, and her familial representative.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet the mother of my friend, Madam Ashengrotto,¡± Yuu voiced, cursing herself for her own stiffness. ¡°I would shake your hand, but Mal¡¯s gotten some of her makeup on my wrist, and I¡¯d stain your dress.¡±


    Yuu held up one hand apologetically, hoping the red powder would excuse some of the courtesy here, but instead, Madam Ashengrotto hissed at the sight of it¡ªnot the hiss of an elderly lady. It was an actual, guttural, animal hiss that would have put the evilest swan to shame.


    Yuu cringed at the sound, and expected Azul to as well, but his usual diplomatic suavete had evaporated with his voice. In one neat sidestep, Azul placed himself between herself and his mother, teeth bared, answering with a hiss of his own.


    It was a sound she¡¯d never heard from him.


    Evidently, neither had his mother, who immediately adopted the sort of shocked expression usually worn by fileted fish that ended their lives stuffed with lemon. That expression, however, was gone in an instant.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, anger gone. If anything, it had been replaced with cold concern. ¡°I see. You need water. Now. And you¡ª¡± she addressed Yuu, ¡°¡ªif you are indeed his friend, then you will perform your duties to the bride as needed¡ªstaying as far away from my son the rest of the evening¡­perhaps longer.¡±


    And then, Madame Ashengrotto simply turned and left them, without a backward glance to her son, or herself.


    ¡°You snarled at your mum!¡± Yuu scolded, the moment Azul¡¯s glamorous mother had disappeared back into the seething mass of guests. ¡°What the hell is this stuff?¡±


    Once more, Azul refused to look at her. He seemed to be composing himself, and doing badly. Without the distraction of his mother, he¡¯d gone back to glaring at the guests.


    ¡°Right, right,¡± Yuu shook her head, feeling like a Grade-A Jerk. ¡°You need water. Now. Come on.¡±


    She took his hand, pulling him without looking at him toward the pool¡ªthe only source of water in the room, noticing on the way that she wasn¡¯t the only one, now, with red-stained skin. As they walked past the throng of chatting guests, tables, and at last, the few dancers who had chosen to keep their feet on the dry ground around the pool, she noticed several of the louder guests¡ªthe boastful kind¡ªand the flirtatious guests¡ªthe drunken kind¡ªtapping their fingers into tiny bowls of the red at the base of the bridal table. Little red dust fingerprints were spreading among the guests, some of which were pulling each other away from the main rabble.


    Transformed mermaids, and regular ones in the pool alike, flirted heavily with men who wore the red dust, tugging them away into secluded corners. Yuu grimaced.


    What was this stuff?


    As she dragged Azul toward the pool, she noticed Mal across the way, returned to her perch at the bridal table, now contently curled into her husband¡¯s side, and pretending not to watch her.


    Yuu didn¡¯t have time to worry about that, however. Before Azul could argue; before he could start complaining about his dry-clean-onlies, and before he could begin haranguing her about returning to whatever duties Mal might have in store for her, they reached the pool, and she pushed him in.


    Azul landed with a shocked splash next to several pairs of dancers¡ªsome human, and some merfolk, all treading water gracefully to the music. Azul¡¯s head went under as easily as if he¡¯d walked from one room to the next, staring up at her with his first breath of the cool water like he¡¯d breathed his first in ages.


    Intending to march straight up to Mal and demand what new drug she was using on her guests, Yuu was stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder. Whirling stiffly to get a better view, she was greeted by the sight of the groom¡¯s father, his stripey scales slashed over his jaws as he stood before her, half-transformed.


    ¡°Rude not to join your dance partner,¡± he said, smiling through pointed teeth. ¡°In you go!¡±


    Before she could argue, or complain about her dry-clean-onlies, Yuu was pushed right in after Azul, landing nearly on top of him in her imbalance.


    To her horror, his clothing had started to dissolve, along with his shoes and feet. Panicking, Yuu wasn¡¯t sure whether this magic pool differentiated between merfolk and humans, and wasn¡¯t about to risk her own dress dissolving. Unfortunately, panic is never the way to handle water. Before she could so much as turn around, her skirt had tangled tightly around her ankles, wet and weighted, and pulling downward.


    Before her head could go under, Azul grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her into himself, stabilizing them both.


    ¡°Calm,¡± he said in her ear. ¡°If you thrash like that, you really will drown¡ªas if this wedding didn¡¯t already have enough scandal surrounding it. It¡¯d be selfish to take the limelight like that.¡±


    She grabbed his shoulders through his soggy suit jacket as he turned her around, and posed them like any of the other couples, floating about their watery dancing in the pool. Yuu quickly decided that she liked traditional ballroom floors much better than this.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she breathed sincerely. ¡°Can you get me out of here before my skirt disappears, too?¡±


    Azul was breathing hard over her head.


    ¡°Too? Ah¡­¡±


    His voice was less hazy, and his vision less wandering, but his shoes had disappeared into the water, and even as he tried to move them to a more secluded area of the pool, his suit trousers were washing away as well¡ªbut so were his human legs.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Yuu couldn¡¯t stop watching.


    The muscles of his calves and thighs unfurled away into the water, replaced before her eyes like a heat-shimmer with reaching, curling black tentacles, three times his legs¡¯ original length. Eight limbs replaced two, and she could see why he¡¯d avoided the other couples. Azul¡¯s mer-form was easily the largest in the pool. He was flexible. He was flawlessly balanced in the water, but despite having every advantage on her weak swimming, he was huge.


    The hum of the music over the water dance floor waved itself back into her senses as the  transformation of his lower half completed, and at the same time, any of the couples around them who noticed what he was began to give them a wider berth. Aware of the eyes on them, and now less afraid of falling under the surface, she finally managed to look back at his face, only to find that it wasn¡¯t just his lower half that had changed.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± she found herself whispering the same words that he had before.


    A violet hue had crept through his coloring, everywhere but his eyes, which no longer had the pupils of a human. His pupils had flattened out, meeting her gaze unblinkingly. His hair had hardly suffered from the dunking. If anything, in her opinion, it looked better, weighted back along his neck¡­which was no longer bound in the color of a suit jacket and shirt.


    His upper clothing had dissolved as well, replaced by a sleek, black patterning that spanned from the cuffs of his wrists to his neck, where the only real clothing remained. His dark suit had been replaced with a high collar, letting the skin of his neck plunge almost to his navel. He was a vaudeville villain, in every right, and somehow, managed to make the look come across entirely serious.


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    Something large and lithe brushed her ankles, and she jumped hard.


    ¡°It¡¯s just me,¡± he said evenly, as though he was trying to soothe a wounded animal. ¡°I¡¯m untangling your dress so you can move. I¡­I did warn you, if you recall.¡±


    ¡°You did,¡± she said, her voice weaker than she liked.


    One of Azul¡¯s long black tentacles undid the knot she¡¯d gotten herself into, and drifted away with practiced efficiency. She cleared her throat as his tentacle finished its chore, and then retreated once more to Azul holding himself as far from her as he could without dropping her.


    ¡°You did,¡± she said again, stronger. ¡°And, do you mind not pushing me away? Even when it¡¯s untangled, I¡¯m not sure I can swim well in this.¡±


    He stared at her a moment, unbelieving.


    ¡°You were right, for the record,¡± she said tremulously. ¡°I¡¯m getting a swimsuit dress next time. For sure.¡±


    He barked a surprised laugh.


    ¡°Of course I was right. Do you see anyone else drowning on the dance floor?¡±


    Yuu had the good grace to blush.


    ¡°I¡¯m not drowning. You¡¯ve got me, right?¡± She curled her fingers a little more securely over his shoulders, and he didn¡¯t resist when she swam closer¡ªenough to at least look like they were dancing, although Azul still refused to move. He was also looking at her, again, like she was slightly off her rocker, and she couldn¡¯t for the life of her fathom why.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± she demanded bluntly, inches from his nose.


    ¡°Like what?¡± he asked, cool breath fanning over her face. He smelled like the seaside air¡ªnot the salty, fishy kind, but the kind you catch in the morning right before the tide changes. He smelled like newly washed-in sand, and ozone, and magic.


    ¡°You¡¯re a little close,¡± he said, looking profoundly uncomfortable.


    ¡°Oh!¡± She leaned back quickly, realizing too late for any proper sense of etiquette that she¡¯d closed what was left of the gap between them down to the last inch. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, I just, um, I¡¯m not sure what that was. I was going to say, you were looking at me like I was insane, but, after doing that, I guess¡­I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ve lost the high ground¡­..¡±


    He said nothing, gaze unwavering.


    ¡°This is a disaster, isn¡¯t it. Are there stairs out of here? Maybe you could just¡­ throw me overboard?¡± she suggested.


    He snorted, breaking the tension. ¡°I¡¯m fairly sure that¡¯s not how it works, and I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve done anything that warrants abandoning at sea.¡±


    She blanched. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that was an option.¡±


    That time, he truly laughed.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t. And, I¡¯m only looking at you the way anyone would look at someone trying to get close to a live cecaelian. Transformed. While in the water.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m terrifying.¡±


    It was her turn to laugh. ¡°You really are. Any minute now, you¡¯re going to try and sell me a wageless shift at the lounge like it¡¯s the next golden grail.¡±


    He glared.


    ¡°You fold your socks and carry handkerchiefs, Azul. Forgive me if I¡¯m not trembling at the sight of you.¡±


    ¡°I am not that unfair,¡± he exclaimed indignantly, discomfort all but forgotten.


    ¡°Are you saying you wouldn¡¯t let people work there for free?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect anything for free,¡± he huffed.


    ¡°Right. And that stunt you pulled with the anemones, that was just plain generous.¡±


    He growled under his breath, sending the nearest mermaid skittering for the opposite edge. Yuu couldn¡¯t stifle her smirk.


    ¡°Do that again. You might scare a goldfish.¡±


    ¡°A goldfish?¡± he groaned, rolling his eyes, ¡°Really, Yuu?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± she admitted with a shrug that nearly brushed his chest. ¡°She was bigger than a goldfish. By at least two inches.¡±


    ¡°If anyone overhears you, you¡¯re going to get us thrown out.¡±


    She winked. ¡°They¡¯d have to get close to you, first.¡±


    It was true, the circle around them in the pool was getting wider. So much so, that they were beginning to have their own corner to themselves.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯re feeling better,¡± she said, seriousness returning. ¡°Are you feeling alright, Azul?¡±


    He nodded stiffly. ¡°I am fine. It was a momentary lapse, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. I was¡­worried,¡± she said sincerely.


    ¡°Many thanks, but you do know your friend. I don¡¯t believe she would serve anything that would do true harm.¡±


    ¡°You say that¡­¡± Yuu grumbled.


    They spent a moment in silence, drifting in the water. To Yuu¡¯s relief, the red on her hand had washed away somewhat. It was sticky stuff, but at least some good had come of getting pushed in here.


    ¡°So,¡± she said, after Azul¡¯s attention returned to her, ¡°why are people giving us so much space in here? I mean, you¡¯re massive, Azul, but we don¡¯t really need it.¡±


    He arched his high, pointed chin over her, at a level above the water she couldn¡¯t hope to reach with her water-weighted dress.


    ¡°Because each and every merman and maid in this pool believes that my kind is capable of eating them at the first sign of vulnerability.¡±


    She snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t even like sushi.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Indeed, but the rumors revolving around my mother claim that she ate my father after his disappearance.¡±


    Yuu was laughing loudly before she realized that there was no levity in his expression.


    ¡°You¡¯re not joking. Well?¡± her voice lilted in genuine curiosity. ¡°Did she?¡±


    He spluttered in indignation. Tentacles agitating the water beneath them.


    ¡°Of course not! He ran off with a human. On land.¡±


    She ¡®hm¡¯ed¡¯ in quiet understanding.


    ¡°Those human relations. It seems like they don¡¯t cause much but trouble for the Atlantican world. Mallory did say that there might be some¡­trouble from the guests over her being human.¡±


    ¡°You hardly know the half of it,¡± he huffed. ¡°However, things are already so mixed, any prejudices are largely hypocritical. As for myself, I wouldn¡¯t mind staying out of the water the rest of my life.¡±


    Yuu was baffled. She truly couldn¡¯t understand why someone who could do what Azul did would ignore so much of what he was. Or why anyone would want to. The sea was dangerous, and overly political, but¡­where wasn¡¯t?


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked bluntly.


    ¡°Truly?¡± he swung her to the side, suddenly, when a particularly drunken couple¡ªtoo drunk to care if there was a giant octopus in the water¡ªhustled past them, giggling and bumping into surfaces that were hardly there, as they did.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to know,¡± Yuu insisted, from the protective ledge beneath his chin. When he responded, he didn¡¯t have to look at her to do so.


    ¡°I would give many things not to be¡­this,¡± he gestured down at himself, holding her waist close as though they were dancing, although he was really just keeping her from sinking.


    ¡°Why?¡± she repeated.


    ¡°Cecaelia are shunned by other merfolk. Reviled. We may be strong, but we are heavy, cumbersome, and slow. In the natural order, our source-species relies on ambush to catch its prey, but they themselves are often caught by humans who can power-walk across a tidepool. We are a strong species, but a vulnerable one in many ways. At least on land, there are more equalizers. More¡­ tools.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, still pressed underneath them. They were closer, to be sure, but it felt safer, somehow, not to have her face read when they spoke. He must have felt the same, because he made not attempt to shift them.


    ¡°So if I power-walk across the lounge, I¡¯ll catch you?¡±


    ¡°Yuu.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re certainly not doing badly on land. Your prey still comes to you in a sense, I suppose,¡± she laughed softly. ¡°I have to say though, it seems a waste not to prize your species more¡­¡±


    He snorted softly into her hair. ¡°You would be the first to think so.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not from this world¡­but as a magicless student in a magic-filled world, I don¡¯t often have to differentiate between danger levels. There simply is, and there isn¡¯t. But you are my friend. And as for species¡­ I can still recognize beauty when I see it. I¡¯d wager not many humans have seen anything like you.¡±


    Reaching up, she flicked his nose without looking, earning a tiny hiss from him, which promptly died in his throat.


    ¡°The dust,¡± he said stiffly. ¡°It¡¯s still on your hands.¡±


    She looked. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t it washed off?¡±


    ¡°The strings of fate don¡¯t simply wash off,¡± he said bluntly.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t string. It¡¯s dust. It should have been gone the moment I fell in.¡±


    ¡°You should know, I suppose¡­¡± he said, his voice constricting.


    ¡°Ah, yes.¡± She maneuvered her head enough to face him again, and it occurred to her once more, how close they were in the water. But he was no longer looking at her. In fact, he seemed to be struggling to look anywhere but. ¡°What is this dust? Why did Mal put out pots of the stuff?¡±


    ¡°The red string of fate is a sacred object,¡± Azul grit out, and this close to him, she could see the morphed points of his teeth. Interesting.


    ¡°Red string of fate. That exists?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°And the Banejaw family has discovered not only how to source it, but has apparently decided to refine it into dust for those who want to search for¡ªah¡­how to put this. The string of fate pulls us to enemies fated to cross our paths. Friends. Partners. They have not, as I take it, actually tested it as widely as it should have been for side-effects.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Yuu said flatly. ¡°No Food and Drug Administration in the ocean.¡±


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    ¡°Suddenly, I can see why Mallory is marrying him,¡± she said. ¡°She puts the find-your-worst-enemy dust in the wedding party and sits back to watch the show. I love her, but¡­ well, that¡¯s exactly the sort of thing she¡¯d do.¡±


    ¡°Your friend may have put another agent in the dust. I cannot tell. I can only tell that it influences instinct.¡±


    ¡°Instinct?¡±


    ¡°Look around us,¡± Azul instructed.


    The lagoon around them was a bit raucous, but nothing Yuu hadn¡¯t seen at any party with alcohol. Groups of mermaids frolicked beneath the waters, pulling tails, and snatching human guests¡¯ shoes if they¡¯d been foolish enough to wear them in. There were plenty, however, as she¡¯d seen before, who had pulled off into quiet corners. Some conversed. Some borderline shouted at each other. Others¡­. Yuu quickly looked away.


    ¡°Mated pairs like Varun and Mallory happen so quickly because for mermen, bonds don¡¯t form over time. They simply are. Relationships come into being and begin making demands. It¡¯s because of this that many simply don¡¯t understand the idea of a human ¡®courting period,¡¯ or even ¡®long-term notice¡ª¡¯ although in my opinion, taking time to ¡®read the contract,¡¯ so to speak, is a point in human traditions¡¯ favor.¡±


    ¡°So the fact that so many pairs are around us means¡­¡±


    ¡°Several of these ¡®pairings¡¯ came into existence tonight. It¡¯s likely that they will owe the bride and groom favors for making the introduction so easy. Being from the Banejaw family, I doubt Varun will waste much time in collecting those favors. It¡¯s a pattern of efficiency.¡±


    ¡°To force pairs?¡±


    ¡°To help them recognize potential relations faster. Weddings like this are actually quite rare in the oceans. Fortunately, that¡¯s not at all how things work for my species, or I likely would have been tied to the depths somehow by my mother¡¯s machinations years ago.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said this helped you find enemies.¡±


    ¡°More than enemies,¡± he said, a wealth of insinuation in his tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure your employees are greatly relieved,¡± she deadpanned.


    ¡°I would appreciate, however, if you kept anything dusted of yours away from me once we¡¯re out of the water. It¡¯s already difficult to¡ª¡± with that, Azul quickly closed his mouth.


    ¡°Am I heavy?¡± She asked quickly, misunderstanding. ¡°I¡¯m soaked, so, probably. And you¡¯ve already kept us up for the whole song. More than one song? It¡¯s hard to tell with this selection.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± he hummed noncommittally. ¡°As I said, I¡¯m fine, but you¡­ shouldn¡¯t you be checking on the bride?¡±


    She shook her head, groaning inwardly. Mal had probably loved watching this exchange, but that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t still want answers.


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Could you help me find the stairs¡­? How long is this wedding supposed to go?¡± she asked tiredly.


    ¡°Too long,¡± he practically hissed, but just then, as if summoned, the waiters surrounding the bridal table, and at each of the food stations ceased their service, and produced bells from suit pockets, filling the air with a tolling, ringing.


    ¡°Hear ye, hear ye! The sun has set!¡± the head butler announced, as everyone, the music, and the bell-ringers fell silent.


    ¡°Are those¡­ dolphins?¡± Yuu whispered, still tucked beneath Azul¡¯s chin.


    There was something comforting about the light fading over the lagoon. Azul seemed less self-conscious about the people surrounding them as his dark tentacles faded into the blackness of the water. She found herself pulling back underneath his chin as a a large magical wave arced from the surrounding sea and connected with the lagoon. The dorsal fins of what she very much hoped were dolphins rode the wave up to the base of the pool in front of the wedding table, and Mallory and Varun, without so much as bidding their guests goodbye, were already clambering on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe those are dolphins,¡± Azul said quietly, his voice rumbling through her skull.


    ¡°So dramatic,¡± Yuu mumbled into his neck, still clinging to his shoulders, as the wave, which had hardly made contact with the lagoon, reversed its current, sweeping Mallory, Varun, and the two not-dolphins with it.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t even take luggage,¡± she said aloud.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be met with an entourage down below.¡±


    ¡°And she can breathe?¡±


    She felt Azul¡¯s soft laughter, and he reshifted his arms around her for ease of carrying.


    ¡°If she hasn¡¯t learned to breathe underwater in last year she¡¯s been living in Atlantica, then there¡¯s no helping her now.¡±


    ¡°Was your collar always this high?¡± Yuu said, tracing the line of the collar, the lone piece of clothing the pool had seen fit to let him keep. The back of it went all the way to the top of his neck, and the front tapered down so sharply at the front of his neck that all that was visible of his violet-tinged skin was a few inches of taught tendon in the middle.


    ¡°The magic loves its drama,¡± Azul said simply.


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    ¡°Yuu, would you like to get out?¡± Azul said stiffly.


    Yuu pulled her fingers back from his collar like she¡¯d been stung.


    What are you thinking, Yuu? Pull yourself together! she scolded herself. What was she doing? Azul didn¡¯t need this. He was there as her friend, and he¡¯d been downright helpful until she¡¯d put the enemy dust on his skin. Now, she was fingering his collar, and holding herself against him in the water like a drowning victim. If she had any shame, she should be mortified.


    Trying to summon up the correct amount of embarrassment¡ªthat didn¡¯t seem willing to come, at present¡ªshe nodded, leaning away as surreptitiously as she could manage.


    Then, she gasped, as Azul arced them both out of the water, setting her on the ground, standing¡ªand HE was standing, right next to her.


    ¡°You can walk on those?¡± she heard herself say before she could stop her mouth.


    ¡°I am one of the few species who can walk on land, Azul said, standing a little taller than his human legs usually let him.


    ¡°Amazing. That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s really incredible,¡± she blurted.


    He stared, silently before responding. ¡°That¡¯s going to take getting used to¡­ Didn¡¯t you come with a purse?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s by my seat. This way.¡± She walked back to the table, him wading on his many feet beside her. It was far easier this time to cut through the crowd. Again, no one seemed to want to get near the giant octopus.


    ¡°That is so convenient,¡± she muttered once they¡¯d collected her things.


    ¡°Call it what you want,¡± Azul said blandly.


    ¡°The rest are changing back,¡± she looked around at the rest of the partygoers stepping out of the pool. And they¡¯re dry? ¡°Why not you?¡±


    ¡°Because the rest brought changing potions, intending to dance in enchanted water. I hadn¡¯t exactly planned to get in.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± she realized. ¡°Oh, that was¡­ that was absolutely my fault. Sorry for that.¡±


    He merely shrugged. ¡°It was better than the alternative.¡±


    What the alternative was, she didn¡¯t ask. This, at least, was enough to bring up the requisite social embarrassment.


    ¡°I really am sorry. I didn¡¯t know what ti was, I promise. I still don¡¯t really, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no matter,¡± he said stiffly. ¡°At this rate, the mirror will be swamped with outgoing guests for some time.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong. Already, the throngs were heading for the mirror portal. If their entry had been accompanied by other guests incoming an hour early, then¡ª


    ¡°It¡¯s probably going to be an hour before we can leave. At least there are still places to wait. Are you going to dry out?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine for several hours out of water; however¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll sit by the pool,¡± she decided for them. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to tell Jade and Floyd the reason they have to run the lounge themselves for the rest of their time at the academy is because I let you turn into an octopus raisin.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Azul murmured, for once, not arguing.


    He was no longer looking at her, either, and she could only assume that the dust, the wedding, and the transformation had all taken a toll on him.


    She offered a hand to help him back down from the upper table setting, though he hardly needed it. The man had a longer reach than she did, and she ended up relying on him on the dark steps. Together, they sat peaceably on the side of the darkening pool. He, sinking most of himself into the water immediately. She was already wet, and the breeze was starting to push a chill over the lagoon.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Azul asked suddenly, ans she gripped the sides of her skirt.


    ¡°The guests are mostly gone,¡± she reported matter-of-factly. ¡°And I¡¯m a better swimmer when I¡¯m not in heels and my clothing isn¡¯t trying to drown me.¡±


    As she talked, she pulled the fabric apart, ripping it up to her thighs, and knotting the skirt so that she could actually move. Azul watched in morbid fascination as she hopped into the water, laughing and pushing herself deeper in.


    ¡°You¡¯re the fish!¡± she laughed. ¡°Are you coming? I think we have time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dark,¡± he pointed out unhelpfully. ¡°You¡¯re going to drown.¡±


    ¡°The stars are coming out. You¡¯re here. I¡¯m not going to drown.¡±


    ¡°I charge for life-guarding services,¡± he shot back, as though he couldn¡¯t stop himself. ¡°I¡ªthat is to say¡ª¡±


    She laughed hard, feeling carefree for the first time that night.


    ¡°And yet,¡± she said, swimming up to the curve of where his knees would have been. ¡°And yet, I don¡¯t think even you would charge for services rendered on a date. Come on, Azul. No more giggling mermaids. No more skittish goldfish. When was the last time you had an hour to just¡­be?¡±


    He sighed, letting her pull him into the water, and despite his size, made far less of a splash than she had.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a fish, Yuu,¡± he grumbled warily.


    ¡°I know. You¡¯re a workaholic octopus who really needs a break,¡± she said, tugging him farther out into the water.


    ¡°You are a terrible swimmer,¡± he grumbled as soon as she was out there. ¡°I¡¯m a bad swimmer, and you¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are NOT a bad swimmer,¡± she argued hotly. ¡°You grew up in the water. It¡¯s literally your air.¡±


    ¡°Air is my air, Yuu,¡± he said, and though he didn¡¯t swim any closer, he was close enough that one of his tentacles wrapped around her middle, and hoisted her a little higher in the water. ¡°And you¡¯re making me nervous.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think anything could make you nervous,¡± she said.


    ¡°I was quite nervous in coming here tonight, if you recall.¡±


    ¡°So nervous that you managed to talk to half the wedding guests, and strike deals with at least a few of them?¡±


    ¡°It helped¡­¡± he admitted at last, floating next to her in the warm water, and still holding her aloft. ¡°It helped that you put me on the high table. There was certainly no end of curiosity¡­¡±


    ¡°You were family to the groom and friend to the bride,¡± Yuu pointed out.


    ¡°Both positions are tenuous.¡±


    Yuu huffed a half-laugh, unable to believe her ears.


    ¡°Family is never tenuous. That¡¯s what makes it family. Like them or not. Hate them or not. They are yours.¡±


    Azul seemed taken aback.


    ¡°Does that matter?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, just as hotly, moving closer to him in the water. ¡°Yes, it does. Because even if you never see them, even if they are apart from you, none of us is completely disconnected.¡±


    ¡°What was your family like?¡± he asked suddenly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember them perfectly. The mirror between our worlds fuzzes some of those memories¡­¡± she said with a shrug, ¡°but what I do remember, I live with every day. As I¡¯m sure you do. Your mother seemed¡­ protective.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly one word for it,¡± Azul said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me about it,¡± Yuu said quickly, sensing his discomfort. ¡°But, thanks for keeping me from getting cursed earlier.¡±


    ¡°It would be poor form to let my date get cursed,¡± he said, a little more gently.


    ¡°I suppose I owe you for that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s rude to charge for services rendered on a date.¡±


    She laughed, dispelling any leftover tension between them. She reached through the water for his shoulders again, although he seemed reluctant to let her out of his longer limbed grip.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to drown, Azul. Believe it or not, this is just how humans swim.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve still seen better,¡± Azul huffed.


    She reached up and tapped his cheek petulantly.


    ¡°I¡¯m flattered.¡±


    ¡°Yuu,¡± Azul hissed suddenly. ¡°Yuu, did you¡­ touch anything with dust?¡±


    Yuu¡¯s thoughts flew to her purse, which still contained Mallory¡¯s ¡®gift.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­not sure,¡± she said, wary of the heavy grit to his tone. ¡°Why, we¡¯re in water aren¡¯t we? Aren¡¯t you¡­¡±


    Azul took a deep breath, put his hands on her waist, and pushed her back from himself, as though it cost him a great effort to do so.


    ¡°I¡¯ll swim away, if you¡¯d rather¡ª¡± she started.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he hissed again. ¡°Don¡¯t, just¡­ just give me a moment.¡±


    Yuu recalled what he¡¯d said. Red Dust acted one way on merfolk, but on cecaelia? What did it do?


    ¡°You said it made you act on instinct?¡± she said quietly, leaning in to see his face. Her voice trembled as she asked: ¡°So it makes you want to¡­what? Fight me? Eat me?¡±


    ¡°Something¡ª¡± he breathed hard, letting his forehead fall onto hers. His white hair tangled with her damp, brown ones, and she got an up close view of his eyes, slitted and dilated, roving her face and searching. Breathing her in. ¡°¡ªSomething like that.¡±


    The dusted place on his cheek brushed hers, and her breath stuttered. The sensation was different than before. Heady, warm, and pulling her forward. Right into him.

 Chapter 8: Azul

    Ever since the dreaded Red Dust had been served throughout the wedding party, Azul knew that his business dealings would have to be cut short. All around him, merfolk and humans alike were losing themselves. He watched as a notoriously ruthless crab-kin formed a scandalous liaison with the daughter of a noble catfish family famous for their exports of krill. The crab-kin made an absolute fool of himself in front of several potential bounty-hunters, and hardly even minded when the giggling little duchess, or whoever she was, fell right into step with him.


    Across from the pool, a married couple of thirty years witnessed their son swear a duel-date with a rival meant to be his superior on an employer contract they¡¯d only just negotiated. Lower-class farmers cavorted with higher class kingpins. It was social chaos.


    Members of the Banejaw family themselves were the only ones who never touched the red dust, and Azul, sensing a means of self-preservation, did the same¡­until Yuu found him, and was still in control of herself to want to rid herself of the stuff.


    He should have run. He should have left in the next mirror. But, he hadn¡¯t, and he¡¯d helped her, believing foolishly that even if the rumors were true, that someone who touched the red dust would find fated persons, it wouldn¡¯t work on himself. And he had been right, it certainly hadn¡¯t worked as it had on the other merfolk. Instead, when Yuu touched him, he¡¯d felt¡­life.


    In the last hour, Azul had felt every bit of his natural senses come firing to the forefront of his tired person. The world was clearer. He had more perfect control of his limbs, his senses, his ability to simply see! For a few precious moments, he possessed a clarity, a wakefulness, that he hadn¡¯t felt in years.


    Then, as he searched the part, elated that none of them were somehow primordially destined to cross paths with him, he¡¯d reveled in the fact that his future would be entirely of his own making. That glorious sensation of freedom and control had taken him over so completely, that he realized the only thing he didn¡¯t control, was Yuu.


    Because when he¡¯d looked at Yuu, she was bright, too. In fact, she was the brightest thing, the brightest person at this event, and suddenly nothing looked, smelled, or felt better than that soft tingling he¡¯d felt along her skin. Before he realized what he was doing, he¡¯d tried to pull himself to her, and it was only when he¡¯d looked away that the feeling had lessened, and at last, when she¡¯d submerged him in water, there was more of him to spread the dust¡¯s effects out. He¡¯d been in control¡ªhe was always in control, until she touched him again.


    Damnable fool, you are, Azul, he scolded himself.


    Because he had behaved like a fool, and instead of pushing her away, as self-preservation demanded, he¡¯d brought her closer. Because Yuu had been the bright spot in his stress-filled haze for the last few days¡ªdays that had felt like weeks. She was here, making him feel wanted in a crowd full of people who avoided even looking at him. She was here, making him a curiosity instead of a spectacle. She was here, insisting that he belonged.


    It was a novel feeling for him, to be so wanted, and of course, he dismissed it outright until she¡¯d talked about his family¡ªthe girl who hardly remembered her own¡ªas though it was something valuable. She¡¯d shown concern, when in truth, she should be fleeing from himself, a dangerous creature that was losing his self-control.


    Wake up, Azul! Where are your manners? he practically screamed at himself as she tugged him closer in the waters of the peaceful lagoon, no longer surrounded by giggling, chattering, mumbling crowds.


    ¡°I¡¯ll swim away, if you¡¯d rather¡ª¡± she offered quietly.


    The cool evening air blew over his face, and it should have soothed him, but Azul only felt the tingling burn of where her dust-coated fingers touched his cheek, and the cheeky breeze that spread the sensation down his neck and exposed torso. It was agony.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± the dust hissed for him. If she swam away, he would pursue, and even on his cumbersome tentacles, he was faster than her skinny little human legs.  ¡°Don¡¯t, just¡­ just give me a moment.¡±


    He could get this under control. He¡¯d been controlling himself for so long¡­but that was the problem, wasn¡¯t it?


    So she didn¡¯t swim away, but she didn¡¯t stay put, either.


    ¡°You said it made you act on instinct?¡± she said quietly, leaning in to see his face. She peered up at him from just below his chin, the breeze carrying her scent to him on the soft evening air. It was lovely, floral and sweet. A comforting scent, not a riling one.


    ¡°So it makes you want to¡­what? Fight me? Eat me?¡± she asked.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    He should have laughed. Fight her? But that last one sounded¡­somewhat closer to the truth.


    ¡°Something¡ª¡± he breathed hard, letting his forehead fall onto hers.


    Move away, a voice in his head, growing more distant, insisted. Oh, but it was so peaceful, so satisfying to be this close to another person.


    ¡°¡ªSomething like that,¡± he said, taking in every inch of her skin, glowing in the winking starlight.


    This was enough. He could be content with this, he lied to himself.


    Then, Yuu did something that utterly shocked him, that would later make him doubt if the dust had truly only been formulated to work on merfolk.


    She pulled herself up and into him, her mouth brushing his, infinitesimally briefly.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    He said aloud, the surprise and longing jumping from his chest like a living thing.


    And suddenly, the peaceful nearness he¡¯d enjoyed a second ago was nowhere near enough. He didn¡¯t have to do more than lift his chin to connect their kiss again.


    The feeling that coursed through his mouth and into his limbs at the contact was¡­exquisite.


    Hands already around her waist, he secured her there in the water, kissing her slowly, every taste satisfying the heated burn that crept along his skin where she touched. At the same time, some distant voice in his head was screaming at him to stop, that something should, would go wrong, and yet every heartbeat of indulgence pushed him farther from remembering why.


    Then, he felt her kiss him back, and the last shreds of doubt he had so carefully manufactured over the years fled him like so many sardines before a beast of the hunt. She was responding to him¡ªhim! And oh, he wanted her to feel what he did. He wanted her to writhe; to want; to sing! He could hardly remember his own name, until she said it against his lips, setting his marine blood on fire¡ªand oh, how good it felt to finally burn for something tangible.


    Azul had spent years chasing prey that didn¡¯t exist. A higher profit margin. Grades. Respect¡ªephemeral, meaningless things that could never last. He could never touch them. He would never hold them. He would never keep them. This, however. This feeling was something that he could keep, and he dove into it to the beat of every bit of charged instinct in his person.


    He pulled her face along his own, pressing his mouth into every crevice she would let him reach, and with every touch, his merman senses returned to him in the rush of his blood. His scent sharpened, telling him everything about her that he couldn¡¯t see in the dim lighting. The soaps she used, the perfume she wore, and where. The pull of her breath, and at last, setting his teeth on edge, the evidence of her body¡¯s response to his.


    He felt his eyes change and sharpen, blurred not by the absence of his glasses, but by the absence of water. Even without it, however, he could see details in her skin, and hazy, half-shut eyes that he¡¯d never noticed before. The length of her lashes, the gray specks in her irises, the hot flush creeping down her neck.


    It occurred to him, distantly, that the Yuu he knew should be resisting this sort of bold advance. He very nearly pulled back to ask, but that burning, seeping feeling in his limbs angrily demanded the opposite.


    That feeling bloomed like a red cloud in his stomach, searing his insides.


    He was starving for her.


    With a groan, under the last of his willpower to stay gentle, he pulled her waist against his body, his lower tentacles curling their way down her legs, sending him sensations from areas across her thighs and behind her knees he¡¯d never dreamed of feeling so heavenly.


    Suddenly, he understood why his cousin had chosen the mate he had. Humans had novelties to offer that mermaids never could. This human was beating her way into his veins by the second, humming her way along his senses, and into the kiss that finally landed deep into her mouth.


    She made a sound into that kiss that sent bubbles fleeing through the last of the thoughts in his head.


    He pulled her in tighter, and she sighed.


    It was a beautiful sound. Better than undines. Better than sirens. Better than any singer in his fuzzy recollections. He repeated the motion, and her arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers singed their way through his hair. His limbs moved them both, without conscious command to where he could anchor them to the poolside wall, pressing their bodies tighter together¡ªand making it easier to keep her head above the water.


    She raked her fingers down his scalp, and he snarled, changing the kiss from something gentle, to something deep, hard, and faster-paced. The answering sound from Yuu¡¯s throat only encouraged him. His tentacles curled further up her legs, wrapping all the way to her thighs.


    Azul felt the want spike, in both of their veins, but he was not all gone. He wasn¡¯t all fool, either. Everything in him wanted this to last, and the rushing in his limbs agreed with his head that he would do anything to keep himself from losing this¡ªfrom losing Yuu. It was truly a miracle that he was still able to form words, much less pull away from her mouth long enough to say them. He trailed the kisses down her jaw as he said the words that had to be said.


    "What do you want from me? Jewels? Potions? Information? Ask me,¡± he demanded against her skin. Because if she didn¡¯t need anything from him, then this was a contract he could never make.