Chapter Text
There are times in Jamil Viper's life where he thinks he is cursed. Often those times come early in the morning when he wakes up and is reminded of the list of things he has to do for Kalim and then again when he is reminded of the list of things he doesn't 'have' to do but if he doesn't do them it will be a disaster. That's normal level cursed. High tier cursed instances are, for example: Floyd's expression changing from bored to gleeful during a basketball game, any food with dates, and Azul Ashengrotto approaching him with purpose.
Jamil is certain he's being cursed by a higher power as he watches not only Azul look quite self satisfied but Ortho Shroud leaning in to whisper to the Octavinville Housewarden but then Azul abruptly turns and strides towards Jamil.
"I don't want — "
"I know of the perfect internship opportunity for you."
They speak at the same time, Jamil ready to refuse whatever scheme Azul might throw his way and Azul with the tone of a used broom salesman who's caught an easy mark. His words do send Jamil into a pause, though. (Despite his blustering and the apprehension he has with Azul making any kind of offer, it is patently false to say he doesn't trust Azul to some extent. He's well aware of Azul's strengths and his ploys and the shared experience of both Overblotting and if pressed Jamil would have to admit that they are essentially friends. Not that either would say that. Absolutely intolerable to hear those words aloud.)
"Sorry, come again?" Jamil has to restart his entire train of thought as his scripted refusal dies in the face of 'perfect internship opportunity' being thrown at him. Azul is one of the few people at NRC who are aware of the fact that Jamil is looking for internships that are not back home at the Scalding Sands. Kalim has one under his father all set up, business and trade and irrigation assets. If anything Jamil had expected Azul to ask Jamil for some kind of in on Kalim's internship, the Scalding Sands is quite a profitable trade avenue after all.
"The perfect internship opportunity. Of course, I will require a finder's fee — "
"Only if I commit, otherwise you get nothing." Also, as much as Jamil hates it, Azul's tips tend to be quality. That's part of why they're cursed. He can practically hear Jade and Floyd, 'I believe this is where we say Jamil-san took the bait.' 'Ehhh, Sea Snake really is easy, isn't he?' To which Jamil would have to retort that he hates owing Azul but he doesn't mind paying the correct amount for a good opportunity. Scarabia's thoughtfulness is of course a trait he embodies.
"Of course, of course. See, I had been working on an ironclad NDA with Ortho," and Azul tilts his head towards the younger Shroud, who seems to be out of ear shot but Jamil knows better than to believe that ("It's easy to listen in anywhere on campus that I want to! My brother made sure that not only do I have state of the art microphones and speakers but I can also hack into the campus system if needed!") especially when Ortho waves at them. He looks way too cheerful. "To what purpose you may ask? Well, I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear but Idia-san has opened STYX up for interns. For as advanced as they are, their legal needed so much help and who better to lend assistance than an old school friend of theirs? Naturally, I charged for my services but you'll find the NDA has no flaws, no drop of water could escape."
The pieces fall into place for Jamil before Azul even finishes speaking. STYX, which Jamil knows unfortunately better than most people, had been forced to become public knowledge not only after the whole 'blow up part of NRC and kidnap people' but also 'interfere with Malleus Draconia putting the entire world to sleep', is still quite secretive. There are rumors that it's some kind of government black ops or some kind of superhero organization or even just a villain cabal full of blot mafia or whatnot.
He can't let the conversation lull because there's no way he's going to let Azul think he's in control of the discussion so Jamil smoothly gets out: "Isn't he still the assistant director?"
"As far as I can tell he's already started taking over much of the headquarters responsibilities. Apparently, STYX has been quite busy as of late. Something about the rise in Overblots, really tragic, how could that happen...But you know, no one expects it to be a popular internship request. After all, given both the location and the grades and talent needed to be accepted? I'd say the chances are only one student could make it, if that. They would have to exceed all expectations."
What is worse than Azul's scheming encouragement — and that irks Jamil to no end, when the Housewarden urges people into situations for his own profit — is when Azul is being earnestly supportive. Something about it makes him feel like he's seeing something he shouldn't, or knowing Azul in a way that might make him admit with his mouth words they were friends.
"Are you saying you don't think I can?"
"I'm merely saying that the prestigious opportunity to be STYX's first intern is going to be competitive and whoever gets it will have to be prepared for an entire school year of essentially isolation." Azul practically winks.
It isn't the same as traveling, and a lot of people might say it's the opposite. He remembers the sterile and oppressive walls when they were taken to STYX before. But he does also remember the small sliver of artificial sun and the silence (even amongst the grumbling of the Housewardens) that were absent of Kalim. The constant pressure of 'if something happens to Kalim back at school it's my fault' had weighed on him but a tiny, tiny part of him had also thought: this part of being kidnapped and held against my will isn't so bad. Of course, the rest of it had been bad. But the last time he'd simply had time to himself and been by himself was so far away from where he is now. Even after everything, with how hard Kalim tried and how much better they were when it came to speaking with each other, some inevitabilities never changed. Jamil's parents were forever under the shadow of Kalim's parents and Jamil's path in life had already been set in stone from before he had been born. Recently, Najima had told him in a phone conversation: 'do you remember when you used to...' and then trailed off, because neither of them could, actually. The moments of when they had been younger and had small moments to themselves away from their duties had vanished from time and also memory.
Jamil would like time, simply, to remember who he was outside of simply being attached to Kalim.