shellphones | video

Type: Video
Sender ID: Khalid |

deepstar
To: General
Subject: Hatching Time
Warnings: None

[ Initially, only Claude's face appears on the feed, alongside is wyvern. She is resting her chin on his shoulder and that hand of his is giving her a pat pat pat. So much patting. ]

I'm sure you all remember me talking about this several moons ago, but hey! The time finally came. I was starting to get a little worried, considering I have no clue what the incubation time for wyvern eggs are here. Everything went smoothly though, I promise. They actually hatched a few days ago, but I wanted to give them some time.

[ Now the video feed shifts, away from Khalid and Azita, and onto the little baby wyverns. Special guest star Leona is also present, already holding a small lizard in his arms. Seems like it's already attached. There's another one, in Claude's arm. ]

Leona and I are going to be co-parenting these kids for a little while so -

[ Unfortunately, Claude gets cut off. With Leona shoving the man's face, ears folded back. ]

Don't say it like that.

[ Too bad Khalid is unbothered, catching Leona's hand and winking. ]

Sorry, gorgeous. I meant co-parenting the hatchlings. [ Another laugh and moving right along. He's looking at the camera once more, ignoring the grumbling from behind him. ] As you all can probably tell, one little one is spoken for. I don't know about this one, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Ironic that they'd hatch while we're having issues with wild wyverns.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh, he...isn't too surprised by the sudden filter. It has him raising a brow, though there's a brief glance back at Khalid before he looks back at the shellphone. The question, however, has him giving a low hum.

Thinking. Considering.]

If I said I wasn't, what would you do?

[Because despite his words, he is happy. Or as happy as this moody lion can be. Softer around the edges that he normally isn't.]

[Ain't that the million dollar question... it takes a moment before Azul answers.]

... I would probably do what I've always done: offer a helping hand if you are in need of one.

[Then again, that hand isn't always just a hand when it comes to Azul--Leona of all people would know that more often than not, that hand is holding a contract waiting for a signature first before it will ever actually reach in to pull someone out of the depths of their unhappiness and misfortune.

... And Azul is self-aware of that too, so he adds--]

For you, I'll even waive the usual fee this time. I'll consider your honesty on this particular topic enough of a fair exchange this time.

[And yet, Azul himself still isn't being particularly honest giving that as his excuse instead of the usual sly demands for compensation, is he? But saying that he's been thinking about how he actually wants Leona to be happy lately, without demanding something in return like always... he can't quite get those exact words to leave his mouth so easily. Because he might end up saying a lot more than that if he isn't careful.]

[Huh, isn't that something to hear?

Leona knows better than anyone here that Azul isn't the type of person who'd give out freebies. The octopus has managed to rack up an impressive amounts of debts to Leona since he's gotten here that he's actually surprised he won't be trying to take some kind of advantage of it.

On the other hand, there's something unsaid in Azul's words that has him tilting his head.]

How kind of you.

[A low hum.]

I'll have to keep that in mind for the future. Who knows if things will change in the future.

[its true that Azul doesn't typically offer freebies but to be fair, Azul is getting something out of this already in exchange for even making that offer, namely the confirmation that Leona is in fact apparently happy in this place right now. Happy with his silly dumb dragon thats clinging on to him, happy with Khalid-san by his side... but then...

"Who knows if things will change in the future."

And for the briefest of seconds, of all the things Leona could have said in response, Azul really wishes that Leona had not said that. Because, even if only for one second, it allowed Azul to even consider the possibility of something that he had been about to accept as unattainable, to consider a future where Leona is suddenly no longer content with what he has and actually reaches out to Azul to take that "helping hand" in his own...

... and Azul finds he hates himself for it, for even allowing such a petty, envious, selfish thought that almost feels like a disgusting form of hope to spring to mind at what would otherwise be a rather shrug-worthy statement. In fact... it even scares him a little.

Azul is greedy and can be rather cold when it comes to his opinions on certain matters--hell, he's taken advantage of other people with these exact emotions before, even calling the legend that his people are so fond of regarding the mermaid princess and everything she wanted and felt as "naive"... and yet, here he is, acting and feeling like those same idiots who were desperate and hopeful enough to actually turn to a witch like him and sell their voice or hair just to get the person they wanted the most to notice them...]

[... and then he seems to realize that he's been rather quiet for more than a minute, and thus between one blink and the next, Azul hums as if he had merely been lost in absent thought rather than thinking about something so dire. He's rather glad he had been wearing his hat and had kept it at an angle that helps hide most of his expressions today.]

Well, putting the future aside, it sounds like you won't be needing my particular services here right this moment.

[And he sincerely, genuinely wants it stays that way, despite where his train of thought prior had tried to lead and tempt him down the path of. Azul Ashengrotto may be greedy, but he refuses to become the kind of weak, pathetic person poisoned by the desire to break up someone else's relationship just because he's, what, jealous? When Azul doesn't even know what exactly he even wants for himself by comparison here in the event if he had succeeded in doing something petty like that to them? That's lame.

And he's supposed to be--no, he is better than that.]

Edited 2025-07-31 22:03 (UTC)

[The silence is telling enough. While Leona wouldn't really pride himself in knowing Azul enough to be able to tell what's bothering him, he can be rather good at reading people. Azul, despite his bravado, can be a rather open book as well. It makes him wonder if the younger man is even aware that his actions give him away more than words ever could.

Such as hiding his face with his hat even at an angle.

But Leona isn't going to touch that. Not now, possibly not ever. It's irrelevant. Both of them know better than to touch such a sensitive subject, especially like this. Especially if certain thoughts begin to spiral in a dangerous way.]

Fortunately, I don't. Though, if you're eager for some kind of work, babysitting is on the table.

[Unfortunately, Azul doesn't seem to realize just how easily he's being read here. That his posturing and pretending that nothing is bothering him is not really all that effective right now.

Instead...]

Babysitting? ... Oh, are you trying to push the duties of taking care of your little companion there off on me now?

Do you really see me as being some kind of caretaker?

[He's sure Azul knows how he can be with Cheka if the octopus cares enough to dig that deep.]

No, but given how often I have had heard about your nephew trying to come visit you at school? Apparently you're doing something right that makes you likable in that regard...

[Azul vaguely recalls those two first years from Heartslabyuul asking him for help with Cheka once, before they both quickly backed out upon realizing that Azul certainly wasn't going to help for free. Or maybe it had to do with the very threatening aura the octatrio had at the time...]

[He can't help but make a face at the mention of Cheka.]

That brat's got a few screws loose.

[He doesn't really miss that hyperactive ball of of a kid running around.]

[That gets a laugh out of Azul here in response.]

Goodness, that's a rather harsh way of talking about him... surely you don't really mean that?

I wonder about that.

[~~Book 7 definitely had some ideas as to what Leona thought about his nephew.~~]

[haha yeah... yeah...]

Well regardless, since it already seems to like you, I'm sure you'll find a way to manage with wrangling your little dragon friend there... probably.

[wow, thanks for the vote of confidence, Azul...]

Gee, thanks.

[A very dry and lazy drawl. He's not feeling the confidence.]

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