Azul and Floyd

The Stitch event possibly provides an opportunity to show how Azul and Floyd interact with one another outside of their roles at NRC: the two characters seem to act comfortably around/accustomed to one another (Azul: “Floyd, let’s do the usual”), casually complimenting each other after a fight.

When the other students compliment Floyd on his cooking, however, and Floyd tells Azul, “You could learn a thing or two from them,” Azul asks, “I could shower you with compliments all day, but is that actually what you want?,” and Floyd responds, “On second thought, having you act like that would just creep me out. You go ahead and do your usual thing.”

In Book 4 Floyd contracts with Azul, surrendering his unique magic in exchange for a deeper voice. It is Azul who insists on tearing up their contract and returning Floyd’s UM (Floyd: “But I liked being all baritone”), and when Jade says that he could never make a contract with Azul due to the risk of Azul never returning his UM Floyd responds, “Yeah, I wouldn’t put that past him.” (Azul: “I’m standing right here, for the record.”)

In a flashback we learn that Riddle sent Floyd flying through the air during orientation in their first year. Jamil says that he doubts anyone in the second-year class could forget the scene from that day, with Azul acting like he’d never seen Floyd before in his life.

When Floyd considered skipping the Beanfest event Azul admits that it would be beneficial to him, as a member of the opposing team, but also warns Floyd that doing so will hurt his grade. Rather than encourage him to try his best, however, or leave him to the consequences of his choice, Azul recommends that he attend roll-call for the class credit and then go hide.

Floyd is not pleased by Azul going to Fleur City without him (Azul: “By all means, cry about it”), accusing the system of being rigged. Azul responds, “The headmage is all about appearances. He’s undoubtedly champing at the bit to flaunt Night Raven College’s superiority…Which means you and I had highly different odds of winning the draw.” (Floyd: “That smug look on your face is gettin’ on my nerves…”)

When Floyd threatens to damage the lounge while Azul is away Azul promises to bring him back stories to keep him “suitably entertained,” which apparently convinces Floyd to behave, though he says, “The stories better be completely true, or you’re gonna get the squeeze of your life.”

The dream-Azul of Floyd’s dream is extremely successful, with Floyd explaining, “I figured there were entertaining people up on land. Kinds you wouldn’t find under the sea. But they’re all so weak. Just a buncha small fry not even worth botherin’ with. And they all get suckered by Azul, hook, line, and sinker. He’s got so many anemones at this point, he doesn’t even need more. We had a second and third Mostro Lounge branch open in no time flat…”

Azul elects to take the Master Chef course to gain experience after an unnamed, “moody” member of Mostro Lounge’s staff who was likely Floyd tells him, “You can’t even cook and you wanna tell me how to do my job?! You’re full of it!”

While Azul claims that he normally “wouldn’t let an emotional outburst get under (his) skin,” at the end of the event he declares, “If I can keep improving my skills, no one will be able to say I’m ‘full of it’ ever again!,” and the ghost chef observes, “You said that comment didn’t bother you before, yet something tells me it’s what’s truly driving you.”

Azul arranges “all the necessary ingredients” for Floyd to teach his tsum how to cook during the Tsumsted event, but Floyd is not amused.

During Beanfest it is revealed that Jade anticipated Azul’s plan and laid a false trail to himself to distract from his team’s final attack for the harp, with Azul realizing that Jade’s long-range weapon isn’t loaded. Azul explains to Trey that “Floyd is actually the easier of the two to deal with on many levels, since his nature is far more obvious than Jade’s,” and when we see Floyd also run out of ammunition he does not form a strategy or plan any misdirection like Jade, but instead goes after his target—the already eliminated Jamil—with physical violence, instead. 

After subduing Floyd Azul reflects, “I can’t believe BOTH of you challenged me to battle with empty bean blasters, just in different ways.”

In a vignette Vil enters into a contract with Azul for a toner that surpasses the capabilities of Vil’s own. It is Floyd who points out that Azul is “loads more squishy in your octopus form,” and then Floyd who becomes the source of Vil’s moisturizer when Jade and Azul wrong him out “like a dirty mop.” 

Floyd says, “I’m telling you now, I’m never doing that again!,” but Azul assures him that the next “donor” will be selected via coin toss. (Floyd: “You even listening to me?”)

Floyd tells Ortho about a time he decided to hydro-dip one of Azul’s hats without his knowing, resulting in Azul becoming upset with him for ruining the design. Undeterred, Floyd says, “Next fun idea I get, you better believe I’m tryin’ it out on Azul.”

When Floyd’s tsum latches onto Azul’s hand “with all the might its tiny form can muster” Floyd says, “Oh yeah, might wanna watch for that. Dude’ll put the squeeze on you at the drop of a hat.” Azul asks, “Why didn’t you warn me?!,” and Floyd responds, “You didn’t ask.”

When the conditions of Vargas Camp are revealed to the arts club students Lilia observes, “It seems most of the sports club people chose to forego sharing details for their own amusement.” Speaking of Floyd, Azul says, “That wretched snake!”

When asked what he hopes to do in the next year Floyd says, “I wanna do whatever I want whenever I want without anyone complainin’ about it,” and when Ortho asks if he normally gets a lot of complaints from people Floyd responds, “Azul mainly. He’s always naggin’ me over every little thing.”

Ruggie successfully uses the potential of Azul getting angry at Floyd as leverage to get Floyd to finish out his shift at Mostro Lounge instead of skipping work, saying, “If you go back to the dorm now, Azul’s gonna chew you out later, don’t you think?” Floyd asks, “Would he?,” and Ruggie reminds him of a time that Azul made him sit perfectly upright for, like, HOURS as punishment.” Floyd concedes to finishing out his shift and Ruggie observes, “A free spirit he may be, but I guess even Floyd bows down to Azul.”

We have seen multiple examples of Floyd not wanting Azul to get angry with him, which we see happen in Book 3 when Floyd accidentally redirects a magical attack onto Azul’s safe, and Azul is not pleased.

Azul says, “Floyd’s capriciousness is wearying, but he always comes through when he’s needed most,” and he is often seen accommodating Azul.

During Tsumsted Floyd plays a dice-based boardgame with Azul and the Azul-tsum and Floyd says, “So basically, we’re playin’ like normal?,” so it is possible that he is accustomed to being a boardgame partner for Azul. 

Floyd suggests that, “Since this is a competitive game, how’s about we think up a dare for the loser?,” and Azul agrees. While Floyd seems to enjoy himself Azul ultimately wins, but we possibly do not learn if the dare that Floyd proposed ever came into play.

After a contractee is revealed to have been intentionally avoiding Azul’s summons Azul calls Floyd, saying, “Wring him out with all your heart,” which Floyd seems to enjoy.

Floyd reluctantly follows Azul’s instructions to retire from surfing when the sun sets during the Stitch event. Floyd has Azul teach him how to make sparklers.

Despite growing bored with searching for a book in the library on Azul’s orders Azul says that Floyd is not allowed to stop searching until they find what it is they are looking for, and Floyd reluctantly obeys.

On the subject of why he is (sometimes) willing to do as Azul says even when he doesn’t want to, Floyd explains, “Let’s say there’s these guys who l’ve known for ages, and they always come up with rad ideas…Even if whenever I say I’m in they saddle me with some annoying job, which is totally lame, the results are always cool, so l’m a little more willing to put up with lame stuff.”

For all that Floyd will follow Azul’s orders against his own preferences upon occasion, in he will also sometimes refuse to do as he is told. Azul explains that he has repeatedly warned Floyd to “stop messing about with (his) painstakingly-selected dishware before the whole collection is broken,” to no avail.

Floyd says, “Azul won’t stop getting on my case about ironing my shirt. Like, who cares as long as I can wear it?,” so there is a possibility that he ignores the request.

When Azul asks Floyd to help prepare for the orientation for new Octavinelle students Floyd responds, “Can’t be bothered,” when Azul instructs him surrender Stitch to Gantu, Floyd refuses outright, and when Azul sends Floyd after Grim’s group in Book 3 Floyd again refuses. 

Floyd gets tired of his job selling drinks during the culture fair of Book 5, and when Azul orders him to return to his post he refuses to do so (“The Floyd Café is closed for business today”).

In addition to supporting Azul’s plot of Book 4, when Azul reassures the group of the Stitch event that he will help them off the deserted island depending upon what they are willing to offer him, Floyd follows with, “You might even have to work for us for the rest of your lives.” Azul says that he is willing to take present circumstances into account, and “offer a contract wherein they’ll do whatever I say for one single week once we’re back at school,” to which Floyd responds, “Dang, Azul, that’s super generous! Talk about a good deal.”

The rest of the group is not amused.

When Ace asks a question about heating things up under the sea that Floyd cannot answer, Floyd’s first response is to go to Azul.

Floyd seems to hold a high opinion of Azul’s power: when Jade describes hypnosis magic as requiring “a far higher degree of skill and magical power than its bodily counterpart. Which means very few magicians are capable of using it,” Floyd says, “You gotta have skills and power on par with Azul for that.”

When CHARON invade the school in Book 6 Azul’s first response is to stand his ground, but he surrenders according to Idia’s advice. Floyd is suspicious of Azul not putting up a fight, saying, “Azul’s the type to go down swingin’.” After Azul returns Floyd asks, “Did you just curb stomp those jerks and come back on your own?” (Azul: “There was a little more to it than that, but essentially, yes.”)

In Book 7 Floyd says, “Azul’s real dependable when he’s on your side, but he’s a royal pain when he ain’t,” and compliments his overblot appearance, saying, “I can’t get over how rad and super strong you look in that form, Azul!”