Azul and Idia

Azul potentially met Idia for the first time after visiting the boardgame club in his first year, during which it seems they became close enough for Azul for invite Idia to Mostro Lounge at the start of his second year to celebrate them both becoming Housewardens.

Idia seems more comfortable around Azul that the majority of the rest of the cast, complimenting his outfit sincerely during Vargas Camp and thanking him at the end after hearing how Azul pulled through for the boardgame club in his absence.

Idia has also shared music by his favorite idol group with Azul, though Azul says, “You mean those 10 CDs you bought for the purchase bonus, then subsequently shoved in my arms?”

When Idia needs help with performance maintenance on Ortho, he goes to Azul. Azul explains, “He just doesn’t have many friends. I imagine it took a lot of courage on his part just to approach me,” but he is trying to convince Grim to help them at the time and it is a little unclear how sincere he was being.

It seems that Idia also then lets Azul keep a part that they remove from Ortho’s gear, which Ortho describes as expensive enough to buy enough tuna cans to fill a gymnasium, though Azul says that is nothing compared to how much he will be receiving for it.

When a meteor shower starts during the Starsending event Azul says, “It has to be Idia’s doing. There’s no other explanation. It’s a crime to hold such an astonishing show without charging any money!”

Azul did not know that Idia had a connection to STYX (“I would have tried harder to get him in my debt!”) and mistakenly assumes that Idia will release them, but otherwise the two characters seem to know each other fairly well, translating for each other in two different situations: When Idia fails to explain to Grim why it is he needs help with maintenance on Ortho it is Azul who steps in to explain what Idia is trying to say, and when Azul’s chess analogy confuses other students during Glorious Masquerade it is Idia to steps in to explain what it is that Azul means for them to do.

At the end of Book 7 it is Azul who realizes that the fate of the world is hinging on Idia being able to carry heavy equipment across campus (Ortho: “Well, um…”), in a problem that is solved by Idia taking a blastcycle to the battle against Malleus.

Idia says that Azul is “too spooky” for him during Beanfest, while Azul similarly says Idia is “weirding (him) out” during Vargas Camp.

With the revelation that Eliza has chosen Idia as her perfect prince during the Phantom Bride event Azul laughs aloud with the rest of the students: “Of all the times for Idia to choose to emerge from his cave. Hilariou—I mean, how unfortunate for him.”

Azul says he finds it “rather concerning” when Idia disappears during Vargas Camp, and though he adds, “I must ensure he makes up for every second he spent not working,” a board game club member tells Vil, “Azul’s on edge because Idia disappeared.”

After Azul and Vil compare information about the missing Idia and Ortho they conclude that the two brothers are intentionally skipping out on work (Grim: “Vil and Azul are seriously ticked off…”).

They opt to not try and find the two and Azul says, “I would sooner get in front of things by turning them in and emphasizing that we upheld our responsibilities,” so that they will not look “guilty by association,” and that is exactly what he does, telling Vargas, “I’m just so ashamed that one of our own would do such a thing!,” while the rest of the boardgame club looks on (“Uh, sure…”).

After Vargas dismisses the topic Azul says he is “much less concerned” and “It’s his problem now.”

Much like the rest of the overblotter group Azul refuses to be intimidated by Idia during Book 6, demanding a newspaper and refusing to let him “slink away” without resolving any of their concerns.

After Azul is certain he sees a gargoyle move in the bell tower of Glorious Masquerade he is teased by Malleus and Idia both (“Are you sure you’re not delirious, Azul?”), getting his revenge when it is revealed that the gargoyles of the tower are animate (“There, you see? I was right, and you were wrong”).

During the battle against Rollo, Malleus has Idia take Azul to safety to confront Rollo on his own.

Azul and Idia bicker regularly during Glorious Masquerade, with Azul telling Idia to collapse somewhere useful and Idia teasing Azul about using the excuse of being a mermaid to explain away his poor stamina (Azul: “Now you want to get catty with me? Careful, I give as good as I take.” – Idia: “Hey, you trolled me first. And I’m p. sure l’d destroy you in a real debate.”)

Azul also insists that Idia take part in the fight against the firelotuses after doing so himself, “You won’t sell anyone on the idea of you coasting by without lifting a finger. And even if you could, you wouldn’t sell ME on it!” (Malleus: “What would you be in the market for in that scenario?” – Idia: “Probs some shady deal where he rakes it in by conning multiple distributors.”)

During the NBC event Idia comments that the mayor of Halloweentown “takes the phrase ‘two-faced’ to the next level,” which “reminds (him) of someone…” to which Azul responds, “I trust that sidelong snipe wasn’t aimed at me, was it?” (Mayor: “NOOO! Stop fightiling!”)

They also bicker together during Vargas Camp, and after Idia has spent hours doing squats Azul seems to intentionally dust off his legs (“You knew…that my legs are in agony from those squats…didn’t you?!”)

When Idia appeals to Azul for help during Phantom Bride, saying, “Aren’t we Board Game Club buddies?!,” Azul responds, “…I can’t see through all my tears of joy. My heartfelt congratulations. I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful wedding!”

After Vil and Leona accuse Idia of trying to sacrifice them to Eliza to save himself Azul observes, “It would appear he has so little to say in his defense, he’s resorted to high-pitched squealing.” 

At the end of Book 6 Idia shares that he will likely not be returning to NRC, and Azul reminds him that the CHARON “rudely interrupted” their game of chess, which he claims he had been winning (Idia: “I was definitely winning. Could you NOT rewrite history here?”).

When they arrive in Jack’s dream of Book 7 Idia teases Azul about his dream of being “a sports club’s star player” who yells out “a doofy finisher move name with a straight face.” When he says, “if you want proof, look no further than a certain sports star’s autograph right here on the back of my tablet…” Azul immediately tries to wipe it off (Idia: “Could you please not scrub my tablet to the point it generates heat?!”).

Idia teases Azul again about his dream later on, saying, “Shouldn’t you be a billion times better than this? You’re Azul Ashengrotto, the guardian of the Golden Tridents. Have you forgotten your patented Kraken Shot? If you don’t use it now, when WILL you?!”

Azul counters with “You should at least be able to pull off a power play or two,” but Idia responds, “I’m fulfilling the exact role I laid out for myself earlier,” and Sebek interjects, telling them to stop bickering.

When Jack refuses to believe that Azul is his real self and not a creation of darkness Idia says, “Maybe if you weren’t so sus all the time,” to which Azul responds, “Ortho, where’s the power button on this tablet? I’d like to turn it off now,” and Idia also teases Azul about his sudden willingness to eat doughnuts in Ruggie’s dream once it is revealed that the calories will not translate to the real world.

When Jade encourages Azul to recite Idia’s incantation to change into his overblot form Azul is reluctant, but he ultimately concedes, saying, “If I let this embarrass me, I’ll play right into Idia’s hands.”

During the Halloween event at NRC Idia decides he would rather shut down Ignihyde’s section than misrepresent a favorite movie to campus visitors, but Azul refuses to allow it, saying, “Jade and I both know just how much work Idia’s put in as a management committee member. He went above and beyond! To simply cast it all aside would be such a wa–ah, that is, it would be utterly heartbreaking.”

Azul questions Idia’s devotion as a fan of the movie, successfully motivating Idia to keep the show going. It is then that Azul’s own motivation is revealed: Idia bowing out of the event would have wasted money spent on printing out brochures that Azul intended to sell to campus visitors (Ortho: “Now I see why you were so hung up on Halloween as a group experience”).

During Spectral Soiree Azul is possessed by a ghost who sees no point in bothering with “needless exertion” and lies down in a hallway rather than deal with the “hassle” of staying on his feet. Ortho says, “It’s almost like he’s doing an Idia impression.”