Azul Mermaid

We receive a lot of information about mermaids and the Coral Sea in general from Azul, who says that, while they have “quite a bit of diversity in (their) natures and backgrounds,” possibly not as much as can be found amongst Sunset Savanna’s best people.

During the Nightmare Before Christmas event Leona, Jade and Azul discover that Sunset Savanna and the Coral Sea have a children’s song in common. Azul is surprised, saying that he had assumed that their cultures were “wildly different,” and Leona responds, “Part of the Savanna is coastal. It’d make sense if the song came from that area.”

Azul is not amused by Leona making the “sweeping generalization” all have the same tastes (“Some merfolk can’t sing, while others just don’t like to”), but Jade responds, “Though technically speaking, Leona’s not wrong. I’ve hardly ever seen merfolk who actively dislike music,” and says, “music is the most popular form of entertainment under the sea.”

In another scene Azul explains, “In the sea we call home, music is an essential part of crafting a proper atmosphere. Whether it’s relishing the sea itself, conveying love between paramours, or enjoying an event…We all express things through the songs we sing.”

Azul says that he never used pillows in the Coral Sea, saying, “Much of the time l’d settle into the hollows of large seashells and conches. After all, soft mattresses and pillows aren’t a thing under the sea,” and comments on the convenience of public transit on land.

Azul says that children don’t use building blocks under the sea, as “wood doesn’t tend to last long underwater.” He explains, “We do have study aids made from shells, though.”

In Book 4 Azul says that, as mermaids, he, Jade and Floyd “have some innate cold resistance.” He observes that he does not require the hood of his Vargas Camp outfit, as it is for cold or rainy weather (“As someone who grew up in an extremely frigid part of the ocean, I hardly need that kind of protection”), but he is willing to “abide by land customs.”

Azul explains that things can smell completely different under the sea and, when he first came up on land, he “had to stop and smell everything (he) saw.”

Azul wears cologne, saying it is one of his favorite parts of living on land (“So I’m a bit particular about it”).

During his fifth birthday vignette we see him choose a fragrance for the day:

“As for what fragrance to use…With today’s promotion, I’m sure I’ll find myself in the halls at some point. I should put on something subtle. All right, I’ll use this cologne with herbal notes that l’ve been fond of lately. Not too cloying or strong… And the herbal scent is a pleasant reminder that I’m on land.”

Jade, Floyd and Azul received their transmutation potions free of charge to enable them to live on land, with Jade explaining that they trained in how to walk on two feet and took classes about living above water.

Floyd explains, “It’s a boardin’ school. Lasts a whole month.”

We get more information about their transformation potions from Riddle, who explains,

“Transformation potions are special. They require government authorization and specialist supervision. Only medical mages can issue prescriptions for them. And licensed potion pharmacists are the only ones who can formulate them…Those who take them undergo major physiological changes. So treating injuries of such individuals requires more care. It’s actually illegal to practice medicine on them without a specialist license.”

When asked if his transformation potion won’t suddenly wear off n Tartarus Azul explains,

“Not so long as I take it as prescribed. It used to be that one dose would maintain a transformation for three days max…But with recent advancements in the field, transformations can last anywhere from a week to 10 days. The potions aren’t exactly tasty, so I appreciate having to take fewer doses overall.”

Azul says that Floyd will sometimes forget to take his potion and mention his ears turning into fins or his fingers growing webbing, so it seems that a mermaid neglecting their transformation potion results in their mermaid traits returning gradually rather than all at once.

Azul says that using full-body transformation spells or potions requires registering with the Bureau of Magic and receiving special permission to do so.

Azul also describes the school that he, Jade and Floyd attended prior to NRC, saying that he was skeptical of the organization giving out “hard to come by” potions free of charge:

“I insisted it was too good to be true. There had to be a catch. But I couldn’t find one, no matter how deep I dug. Apparently someone set up the whole thing just out of the goodness of her heart. I imagine that land-aspiring merfolk are few and far between, so even with a high cost per person, they can afford it without going bankrupt. I put in an application there as soon as I got accepted into Night Raven College.”

Azul says that the organization was delighted to accept him, Jade and Floyd into their school as they want more mermaids to use their services so that they can spread the goodwill of their founder:

“They’re extremely eager about it. They go on about how kindness gives rise to more kindness, and how that concept is the pride of the Sunshine Lands. Hah! Hilarious. You can’t make this stuff up.”

Riddle is surprised to learn that the organization is in the Sunshine Lands, not the Coral Sea, and Azul explains that it was founded by a mermaid princess.

Riddle says that he has read the story in a history book, explaining, “Back when there weren’t any formal relations between land and sea folk, a prince of the Sunshine Lands wedded a princess from the Coral Sea. And the Sunshine Lands have maintained friendly relations with merfolk ever since.”

Azul responds, “Would you believe that the entire organization is run by volunteers? Historic or no, it’s full of complete saps. I mean, I am grateful for it since I’m availing myself of their services.”

Azul says that he has trouble differentiating between most furry, four-legged animals (thought when he is unable to identify a hyena in Ruggie’s dream, Ortho assures him that there isn’t one).

During the NBC event Azul is skeptical about Zero actually being a dog, and he is again suspicious about Stitch being a dog, as Floyd claims.

Jade appears to misidentify a cat as a dog during the Eternity Float event, but it is somewhat unclear if he was being sincere (Malleus: “He’s making a mockery of us”).

Azul is an octopus mermaid, but refuses to change out of his human form even under the ocean in Book 3. He explains, “Betentacled mermen like myself aren’t common around these parts,” and that he doesn’t want to attract any “undue attention,” but he also expresses a reluctance to revert during Vargas Camp, saying that he prefers not to take his mer-form if he can help it.

Azul is apparently not a very fast swimmer in his mer-form but he impresses Ace with how fast he can swim as a human. 

Azul says that “Octopuses are sensitive and wary by nature,” explaining why he is unable to sleep after his and Riddle’s first meeting with the Titan in Book 6, but after their second fight he falls asleep leaning against Riddle (Riddle: “Whatever happened to octopuses being wary and sensitive by nature? I thought you couldn’t fall asleep in a place like this”).

Azul says “Dark, confined spaces are soothing to me. That’s why I like clothes with hoods,” and while he hadn’t been looking forward to sleeping in a tent during Vargas Camp he found it to be “pleasantly dark and snug inside.”

Azul tells Vil, “I tend to feel more at ease when the lights are low,” and he tells Riddle, “I was raised in the deep sea. I’m right at home in the darkness.”

He also says that he does not handle bustling places very well, but it is maybe unclear if this is an octopus trait or just a personal preference.

Azul saves Riddle from a phantom dropping down upon them from the ceiling in Tartarus by kicking him out of danger, and Riddle is not amused.

Azul says, “Sorry, octopus habits are hard to break. I meant to reach out an arm, but I inadvertently used my leg instead.” (Riddle later gets his revenge, kicking Azul to safety.)

During an evaluation of the second-year Housewardens Leona says, “Azul’s got maneuvers for days, just like an octopus should. He’s a quick thinker and knows how to put himself in an advantageous position. He probably struggled a lot adapting to life on land, but he sees that as a strength.” 

Riddle comments on how living one’s whole life transformed must have its drawbacks but Azul responds, “I was prepared for some hardship when I decided to come on land. And I wouldn’t say it’s a huge drawback.”

During Glorious Masquerade Azul claims that he does not lack stamina, he merely has a harder time moving on his feet than humans, to which Idia responds, “Must be nice being a merman. It gives you the perfect excuse in times like these!”

When asked to participate in the Fairy Gala event Azul responds, “While l’ve put a great deal of effort into adapting, I’ve still lived on land a relatively short time. And when I get nervous, I sometimes have trouble walking… Oh dear, I’m feeling a bit weak-kneed even now.”

When Azul becomes “a bit out of breath” during the Halloween party of Spectral Soiree he explains, “I’m not accustomed to dancing on land,” though he is “fairy certain” that he at least has a better sense of rhythm than Riddle.

During Vargas Camp Azul says, “Don’t expect a merman to run,” and during Book 6 he says that, as a mermaid, blastcycles are even more foreign to him than brooms.

On the subjcet of flight Azul says, “It’s only been a little over a year since I began walking on land. I should be applauded for that! And yet now you’re asking me to fly? What an utterly ludicrous demand.”

Azul says that the first thing he ate on land was grilled meat and fish, roasted over charcoal. 

It seems that Azul, Jade and Floyd all have “quite glossy” skin in their human forms (according to Vil).

Azul says he finds the “sweating phenomenon” to be “revolting,” so it is possible that he does not sweat in his mermaid form. Learning that humans cannot survive on seawater he comments, “Why must human bodies be so inconvenient?”

It seems Azul saw people surfing for the first time in the Sunshine Lands rather than in his home of the Coral Sea, and during Tapis Rouge he says he had never seen a water tower before, as they have no use for them under the sea.