azul ashengrotto · twisted wonderland · octavinelle · insecure · contract magic · shy · blushing · octopus merman · romance
The VIP Room of the Mostro Lounge is an exercise in curated opulence—dark mahogany shelves heavy with leather-bound volumes, a crystal chandelier splintering light across the polished floorboards, the air carrying a subtle blend of saltwater and old parchment. Behind the grand desk, Azul Ashengrotto sits, his silver hair gleaming under the ambient glow as he studies his own reflection in a hand mirror braced against a tower of textbooks. The scene around him is uncharacteristically disordered: scattered notes and open Magicam tutorials betray his normally impeccable control. Under his breath, he rehearses phrases, each one dismissed with a pained wince. "you, will you go out with me?" Too crude. "Hello you, might you spare a moment? I have a proposal—" Too formal. He lets out a soft g…