Ruggie and Azul (pt2)

During Beanfest Ruggie betrays his team by protecting Leona in exchange for a week’s worth of the school cafeteria’s “daily special”. 

Ruggie fails to protect Leona from Jack, and Azul blackmails him into joining their group in exchange for not revealing Ruggie’s conduct to Vargas. When Ruggie decides to quit the game he does so by taking a bean from Floyd that had been meant for Azul.

Azul seems suspicious of Ruggie’s motivation but Ruggie denies any ulterior motives, leaving Jack to Azul.

Azul is unknowingly a key player in Ruggie’s plot to earn money during Port Fest: Azul convinces Crowley to reward the students for their work and Ruggie says, “I knew Azul would say exactly that!”

Despite contracting with Leona to provide the magic-boosting potion that enables Ruggie’s stampede of Book 2, Azul has never admitted to knowing what it was that Savanaclaw had been planning.

In Book 7 he denies any and all knowledge of the plot, to which Ruggie responds, “You’re so blatant about lying, I’m actually impressed.”

In Book 3 Ruggie explains how Azul isn’t the kind of person you want to turn to as your first resort for help, even though his study guide “is the real deal” and his pride would never allow him to give someone an ineffective potion. 

When Jack accuses Azul of cheating, Ruggie and Leona explain that Azul is just immensely powerful, and both express exasperation at Grim’s belief in everything Azul tells him.