I wouldn't force you to, though I do miss seeing your lovely ink-like skin. Your eyes always shine just a bit brighter when you're in your natural form. They're quite fetching, you know.
[ As for the rest - ]
I was going to treat you to dinner first, of course.
How cruel of you. I am nothing if not sincere in my "flattery," as you put it. Setting that aside, is there a reason I should not want to take you out on a date? It has been a while since we've gotten out and a nice relaxing bath with oils and such seems to be a good way to pass the time.
[It occurs to Azul, faintly, that this is actually the second time recently that Jade has suggested having them do something like this here, whether it be wanting to go to the hot springs when they had first arrived, and now wanting to go to this place with its baths and pools.
Sure, Jade and other mers at school are very fond of swimming and being in the water as one may typically expect, but now he can't help but wonder suddenly if Jade misses their home in some way while they've been stuck in this place. If even just sitting in some bath-house makes whatever homesickness Jade may or may not have for their missing third of their trio, or their world a little more bearable for a short time. If Azul had any love for his own natural form and his true home of the sea, maybe he would have done the same thing in this place, honestly...
... Then again, this is Jade Leech we are talking about, where the more likely option is that this is something to kill his boredom with for a short time. And trying to find ways to nudge Azul eventually into some kind of embarrassing situation as his source of entertainment. Still...]
Have you already been there before, or will this be the first time you've gone?
[ Jade is absolutely not telling Azul that this is a dare. The truth is Jade doesn't NEED a dare to ask Azul out. It's just a convenient way to complete the dare while undermining someone else's intentions. ]
Periodically, of course. You know how much I enjoy being able to relax while in my natural form. The grottos are nice and open. Some are quite deep and it allows me to swim and stretch .
If I agree to this, you're paying for any possible expenses since this was your idea for a "date", and I stay in my human form. Absolutely no goading or trying to convince me otherwise to change into merform while we are there.
The fact that you have to state that so clearly ahead of time is hurtful. When have I ever asked you to shift forms in a place where others can see you?
A few months ago, when you first suggested going to the hot springs they had here.
[But then Azul had ended up going with the other option that was presented instead, which was... sex.
Now that he thinks about it, what does that say about him, that he made that choice over allowing or risking himself to be seen in his natural form? Maybe that's something that could be seen as a new level of self-hatred that... he is not quite sure how to feel about.]
Azul, I would have taken you to private baths. Not to mention, it was a part of the game. It wasn't a personal request, but a negotiation as part of the conditions for losing.
[It takes a moment before Azul responds again, because he is unable to come up with a counter argument... or rather he comes up with something else to say instead rather than acknowledge that he doesn't have a proper counter argument to any of that yet.]
I picked you because I wanted it to be you. If I were looking for just some random person to fulfill requirements then I could have selected someone else. Like Leona, for example.
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Wouldn't you know, there are pools and grottos there as well.
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I'm not switching back to merform for this.
[A pause, before he then seems to realize something.]
Why would you be concerned about having me "dress my best", when you are wanting to go visit a bath-house that would require removing one's clothes?
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Your eyes always shine just a bit brighter when you're in your natural form.
They're quite fetching, you know.
[ As for the rest - ]
I was going to treat you to dinner first, of course.
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[He refuses to let himself be fooled or take those words too seriously. It's just flattery. It has to be.]
Dinner is an expected part of a "date", I suppose.
Speaking of which, why do you want to go on a date with me there?
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Setting that aside, is there a reason I should not want to take you out on a date?
It has been a while since we've gotten out and a nice relaxing bath with oils and such seems to be a good way to pass the time.
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Sure, Jade and other mers at school are very fond of swimming and being in the water as one may typically expect, but now he can't help but wonder suddenly if Jade misses their home in some way while they've been stuck in this place. If even just sitting in some bath-house makes whatever homesickness Jade may or may not have for their missing third of their trio, or their world a little more bearable for a short time. If Azul had any love for his own natural form and his true home of the sea, maybe he would have done the same thing in this place, honestly...
... Then again, this is Jade Leech we are talking about, where the more likely option is that this is something to kill his boredom with for a short time. And trying to find ways to nudge Azul eventually into some kind of embarrassing situation as his source of entertainment. Still...]
Have you already been there before, or will this be the first time you've gone?
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Periodically, of course.
You know how much I enjoy being able to relax while in my natural form.
The grottos are nice and open.
Some are quite deep and it allows me to swim and stretch .
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You must like the place quite a bit, if you are wanting me to accompany you even when I won't be in merform with you there...
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If I agree to this, you're paying for any possible expenses since this was your idea for a "date", and I stay in my human form. Absolutely no goading or trying to convince me otherwise to change into merform while we are there.
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When have I ever asked you to shift forms in a place where others can see you?
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[But then Azul had ended up going with the other option that was presented instead, which was... sex.
Now that he thinks about it, what does that say about him, that he made that choice over allowing or risking himself to be seen in his natural form? Maybe that's something that could be seen as a new level of self-hatred that... he is not quite sure how to feel about.]
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Not to mention, it was a part of the game.
It wasn't a personal request, but a negotiation as part of the conditions for losing.
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... And this?
Is this part of a game too?
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If I were looking for just some random person to fulfill requirements then I could have selected someone else.
Like Leona, for example.
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Have you been intimate with Leona here once before already?
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Leona asked if I would mind if he was intimate with you.
I can only think that means he already has been.
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[Not that he can say he's even surprised that Jade dodged the question--that's practically as good as saying yes here.
That said...]
He actually asked you something like that?
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He did, yes.
Naturally, I told him that if he does anything I dislike, then I can't be held responsible for my response.
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Giving that kind of threat was entirely unnecessary, Jade. I can take care of myself.
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It's entirely necessary.
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You'll have to refresh my memory, because I don't quite recall agreeing with you on something like that...
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Business partners, that is.
[But the other kind of partners was never discussed as far as Azul is aware of...]
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Jade, you're being ridiculous.
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I'll pick you up at four.
We'll have dinner after.