Housewarden of Octavinelle. He runs a cafe on campus and makes it a point to gather information in all forms. His benevolent demeanor belies an extremely calculating personality.
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Appearance
Azul is a fair-skinned young man of average height. He has short, wavy hair that's a cool light-gray color. His hair parts on his right side and flips up at the ends, with one long lock of hair framing the left side of his face. He also has an undercut. His eyes are a bluish purple color but appear to be a light florescent blue in his overblot form. A small beauty mark rests below his lip on the left side of his face. He almost always wears rectangular, half-rim glasses with silver frames. He is often shown with a modest smile and calculating gaze.
Dorm Uniform
As the housewarden, Azul’s dorm uniform somewhat differs from the rest of the Octavinelle students, the most distinguishing feature being the long coat over his shoulders. Azul also wears sharp, deep-purple eyeliner while in his dorm uniform. The uniform’s top consists of a black, double-breasted suit, a lavender-gray scarf, a button-up undershirt, and a bow tie. The uniform also comes with a black cummerbund and slacks, white gloves, and a black fedora.
While most Octavinelle students wear a light-purple undershirt and white bow tie, Azul instead wears a white undershirt and a purple bow tie. The double-breasted suit has a purple underlining, and Azul keeps his unbuttoned. His lavender-gray scarf drapes over both his shoulders and under the suit’s lapels. The scarf has fringed ends, with the symbol of Octavinelle printed on one end.
Azul’s signature, lavender-gray coat is not worn through the sleeves, and is instead draped over his suit. It reaches his knees in length, and has a purple underlining.
Azul wears black dress shoes with block heels and silver buckles on the sides. Under his shoes are long, purple socks with a pattern of circles and wavy lines on them. His white gloves are buttoned at the wrist. The black fedora has a lavender-gray band wrapped around it and tied with a neat bow, over which is a purple pin in the shape of a spiral seashell.
Personality
Azul is very well known around NRC not only as his status as housewarden of Octavinelle, but rumors float around about him capable of granting any wish one desires with the exchange of said person's most prided quality. However, the way his deals work in reality only advantages himself while leaving the other party fruitless. Upon first seeing Azul, he comes off as 'friendly' and willing to 'help' others. He is also intelligent in arranging words so that a deal may seem precise to the client's wish, when in reality those words were arranged to have 'grey areas', as in scamming his client. Azul is also known to be sly, being able to convince almost anyone to sign a contract with him. He is also seen to be skilled in every aspect.
However, when the truth is revealed in Book 3, turns out that Azul has been very insecure about himself, especially his "chubby" (said by Floyd) octopus form, as he's been bullied and socially isolated by the other mermaids. Although Azul was bullied for his sluggishness and ink-spewing tendencies as an octopus mermaid, he also realized the perks of his octopus-mer form at a young age. Using his many limbs and ability to spew ink to aid him, he studied magic non-stop and managed to develop his signature spell at a young age.
Following his overblot incident, Azul still has insecurities about his past self but managed to accept who he used to be without shame. In addition, he stopped tricking his customers. Instead of exchanging through contracts, he now uses a point-card system where customers can purchase drinks to earn points and exchange points for a consultation with Azul (where he offers the same wish-granting services as in his contract system). This reflects Azul's fondness for making money.[1]
Background
During Azul's youth, he was often made fun of and bullied by others for his appearance, resulting in his isolation from the rest of his peers. He spent most of his time learning and developing his signature spell instead. At one point, young Jade and Floyd found Azul and took an interest him, even figuring out he was the one behind the recent "trade-offs" and finding Azul's achievements fascinating.
Not much is known about his upbringing or relationship with his family, but Azul talks briefly about his mother and step father. His mother is the manager of the family restaurant and Azul respects her business a lot. She's also invested in Mostro Lounge. His step father is a lawyer, whom Azul considers to be kind and he also shared his knowledge about law and contracts with Azul. Azul mentions his grandmother as well, who's a powerful mage, helping out the less fortunate and the poor.[2]
Signature Spell
The song ceases, the sun sets. I extend my benevolent hand to you poor, unfortunate souls. Now, to business! It’s a Deal.
Azul Ashengrotto
His signature spell is called "It's A Deal" and it's a golden scroll.[3] As long as someone signs a contract with him, he’ll be able to confiscate one of the target’s abilities. If the target doesn’t fulfill the contract's conditions, they're bound to work under Azul indefinitely. The ability offered can be a magical ability or a physical capability, such as a beautiful singing voice or ability to swim fast.[4]
Azul is actually able to take a target's powers directly without using his contracts. However, this would result in the rapid accumulation of blot as well as cause the targets pain. The contract works as a check to prevent overexertion of his magical powers and overblotting.[5]
Trivia
- He knows how to play the piano, and was in a band with Jade (contrabass) and Floyd (drums) in middle school.[6]
- According to Floyd, his octopus form looks very squishy and delicious.[7]
- During the Beanfest event, Ruggie mentioned that Azul's flight technique was so desperate, that he couldn’t look at it.[8]
- He and the Leech twins didn't go home during the winter holidays in Book 4 because the ice that drifts in the Coral Sea makes it hard to swim.[9]
- Azul was chubby in the past and was also a crybaby.[7][4]
- He can utilize all 8 of his tentacles in addition to his hands to write.[4]
- Azul is based on Ursula, a villainous cecaelia sea witch, in The Little Mermaid (1989).
- "Azul" is the Spanish and Portuguese word for the color blue. "Ashen" of his surname refers to being pale grey in color; "grotto", a word for cave, references Ariel's secret grotto where she kept human artifacts and/or Ursula's cave where she conducted her business.
- Azul has a habits of collecting coins. He discovered his hobby when he was a child and he used to pick up some coins near a sunken ship.
- Azul doesn't enjoy having his picture taken.
