Azul and Jamil

Jamil and Azul’s relationship seems one-sided. Azul describes Jamil as “demure and poised”, saying that “he hardly ever ventures opinions of his own” (Azul and Jamil are in the same homeroom).

When, post-overblot, Jamil finally tells Kalim what it is he thinks of him (“thoughtless, sloppy, idiotic, clumsy, ludicrously oblivious, arrogant, indelicate, pampered little rich boy”), Azul responds “I like the authentic Jamil much more…I’ve been curious about you ever since we were freshmen. You did a bit too good of a job avoiding the spotlight. It backfired and piqued my interest.”

He continues with, “I think you’d get along far better with someone like me than with Kalim…Care to transfer to Octavinelle? You could join forces with me and make a name for yourself”.

Jamil responds, “Not on your life…I will be perfectly content never being friends with you, Azul.”

When Azul feigns hypnosis and claims he can “remember all the secrets of the people I made contracts with”, Jamil responds with “What a twisted collection. I can see I made the right call not making friends with you”, implying that he has always been actively avoiding Azul.

Azul seems undeterred, however, saying “I’ve added a new trust to my secret collection today, so I’ll call it even.” Floyd follows with, “Your secret collection of other people’s weaknesses, you mean.”

Jamil and Azul overlap again in Floyd’s ceremonial robes vignette where Azul appears to “watch the proceedings” as “Kalim evidently begged (Floyd) to join their band as a substitute”. Azul correctly predicts that Floyd would ruin the event.

At the end of the vignette, he reveals that the real reason he came was to aid Jamil in explaining the mess to the headmage. Jamil observes, “And yet I doubt you offer your services for free. Beset once again with the usual flimflam.”

We also see Azul offer to guide Jamil around the Coral Sea and serve as a judge for Jamil during a Culinary Crucible event. Jamil is not pleased (“Of all the people who could’ve judged my food, it had to be you. I see you still love the sound of your own voice. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can leave.”), but Azul compliments him eagerly on his cooking.

Azul offers Jamil a job in the Mostro Lounge kitchen, to which Jamil again responds, “NOT YOUR LIFE”.

Jamil’s labwear vignette beings with Azul assuring Riddle that he and Jamil’s “deep and enduring bond as classmates brought us together”, but Jamil corrects him with “We just happened to run into each other”. Riddle says that the day’s lab exercise is tricky, but Azul says he suspects Jamil will have no trouble as he has “always admired your work…Scarabia is lucky to have a vice housewarden as competent as you.”

Azul points out how Jamil is suspiciously “middle-of-the-road” in everything he does, but he “can respect a man who doesn’t tip his hand. If anything, that makes you more trustworthy than idiots who blurt out everything on their mind.”

Jamil reflects that “Azul has such a way of sussing out the truths people prefer to keep hidden.”

Azul ultimately blackmails Jamil into revealing the secret of the potion, observing, “I get the feeling that you and I could do some wonderful business together”. Jamil responds with “Funny. I feel the exact opposite.”