i got inspired by the domestic fluffy vibe so I wrote a little thingiee for them underneath!
"You coming to bed, fishie?"
Ciella huffed, crossing her arms as she walked towards him. She was already wearing her pajamas, a light purple set that she kept in Rafayel's place for when she stayed the night. Her frown turned into a small, annoyed pout that he always loved to tease her for.
"Huh?" Rafayel blinked twice, forcing his attention away from cobalt blue and to the familiar voice calling for him. He'd been painting for...well, he'd been painting for a while. In a very uncomfortable position, with very bad lighting, because the natural sunlight coming from the window had been perfect, but after the sun fully settled he was too in the zone to get up and turn on the lights.
"Don't huh me. I asked if you're coming to bed." She stepped besides him, tilting her head. Rafayel recognized the tone switch immediately; there weren't many steps to go from gentle girlfriend to angry girlfriend, and specially not if said girlfriend was Ciella.
"Ah..." He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her grey eyes. "I...You know I've been struggling with this piece for days, cutie, and I just got the colors right—"
Ciella's eyes narrowed. Rafayel gulped. "Okay. Okay, yeah, you're right." He sighed, accepting defeat and putting the palette down. "I'll keep going tomorrow, I suppose... It'll be harder to get you to stop frowning at me than getting the right shade again, anyway."
"That's very wise of you," Ciella said as her pout melted into a satisfied smile. "Hurry up, I need my merman heater with me." She turned in her heels and walked towards the bedroom with a lazy sauntering pace, smiling to herself as she heard steps behind her following.
Soon enough, his arms were wrapped around her waist in his usual clingy style. "Merman heater coming along," he hummed low, resting his chin on her shoulder and letting out a small, dramatic sigh. "I can't believe it, you just want me for my warmth. And here I thought you loved me..."
"Yeah, you're right, I only want you for that." Ciella didn't fight the amused smile that bloomed on her face as she met his dramatics with sarcasm. She turned in his arms, already expecting to find a pout in his lips, and kissed his sulk away with a quick, innocent peck. Up this close, she could see the faint bags under his eyes — a reminder of a sleeping schedule that had been thoroughly wrecked for the past few days that she wasn't there to remind him of the time. "But you'd fall apart without me," She said, one hand coming up to cradle his face. "So we're even. Both using each other."
Rafayel leaned into her touch instinctively, like a sunflower turning towards the sunlight, but his expression stayed stubbornly grumpy. "...How romantic of you." He rolled his eyes and pulled her closer, returning her earlier favor and smooching all over her face, because Rafayel was never satisfied with just one little peck.
He loosened his grip slightly, only to gently take her wrist and guide her hand away from his face, just enough to press a quick kiss to the inside of her wrist.
As he peppered her face with kisses, Ciella barely noticed that he was lifting her until she was standing in her tiptoes. "Okay, okay— Enough!" She tried to push him back, unable to hide the laughter in her voice. Her hand went to his face to shove him back, managing to create some small but solid space between their faces. Rafayel let her push him reluctantly and sighed; half dramatic,half lovesick.
rafayel complimenting ciella: ur eyes are like a storm seen from under the sea, ur freckles are the most beatiful constellations, ur scars are like ripples of seafoam meeting the shore~
ciella complimenting rafayel: *one long, silent look from head to toes* ...raw.
Ciella was born and raised in the n109 zone, the darkest corner of Linkon. A ruthless place where the only law is survival of the fittest, Ciella never knew a day of peace since she was born. Her mom was very young when she was born (very early 20s) and she didn't meet her dad until her late teens - she really wishes she hadn't met him at all.
Her mom found herself in a constant depressive state, not being able to take care of Ciella nor herself. She wasn't negligent out of malice, just lack of energy to be better. Ciella noticed very early in her life that her mom was vulnerable, and her protective tendencies started there. For example, she's a very tidy person because she used to clean their (small) place since her mom wouldn't have the energy to do it herself, and if Ciella didn't take it into her hands they'd ed up living in filth.
As a child, Ciella tended to be either apathetic and not talk to people, or have aggressive tendencies, arguing or fighting with other kids. Like a nervous dog, she'd growl and bite and scratch if someone got to close, gaining fame for being avoidant and dangerous - turning people away from her.
She'd never spend time at home if possible, usually in wastelands or hidden abandoned areas where she wouldn't have to worry about people..though wanderers were a bigger threat that, at her young age, she was unaware of/naive about.
At age 11 she has an almost deathly incident with a wanderer, she manages to get off by a hair and that's when she wins her first battle scar; a long claw mark under her right rib. Needless to say she stopped going to that place (she learnt why they're called no-hunt zones).
When her mom dies at age 17, her father briefly appears in her life to supposedly take care of her, but honestly she thinks she would've done way better on her own. Cold, distant, the relationship with him is awkward at first glance and filled with resentment that's barely hidden. She tries to avoid him as much as possible, but they do end up arguing a lot, not throwing hands but like...barely. At 18 she finally runs away, decided that if she does have a life purpose? She won't find it in the n109.
Starting her new life in Linkon, she's instantly drawn to the hunter association. Protecting people and possibly dying (a meaningful death)? That's just perfect for the traumatized adrenaline junkie! She works hard to get to the place she's in now, though it's almost as if she's moving on autopilot during these first years of independence. No friends, no relationships, just mindlessly moving forward, not like chasing a goal but diligently walking the path to the fate she thinks is hers: Protect until her body gives up.
...That of course is until a certain artist swims over and ruins every single self-sacrificing plan she had. But that's for another post u3u
pre-relationship ciella staring at him with the most pathetic yearning expression while he's yapping and the second he turns back she immediately forces a rbf
little context i just came up with for this below nyehehehe
That's why the rumor was such a surprise.
There's always a rumor going around in campus, and the latest victim has been the handsome, young professor Qi from Art and Humanities. Everyone that attended his class had walked out charmed by his personality and passion for his field and, even if they didn't admit it openly, most his students were a little in love with him. But of course, no one would dare to make a move. For someone so charming, he seemed rather cold when it didn't came to art.
First, an anonymous comment on the school gossip's forum. "I think I saw Mr. Qi with a girl in the cafeteria! Brown hair, shoulder length. Does anyone know who it could be?"
____
Then people started paying attention. Turning their heads when the professor walked, gracefully as always, to see if there was anyone waiting for him at the end of the hall. But the mysterious brown-haired girl was never on sight, at least not in obvious places.
"...What grade did you get, Ciella?"
"Yeah, me too. Mr Qi is so strict when it comes to grading..."
"Uh," Ciella looked down at her assignment, a really bad lighting study, and the grade that she definitely hadn't earned. It was like the paper was mocking her, a written reminder of her... unconventional methods. She covered it with her hand, turning to her classmate with a tight smile. "Barely enough to pass."
"Sure he is," She nodded, the lie leaving a bitter aftertaste in her tongue, a taste she carried with her all day.
Ciella gasped softly when she found herself trapped against the bookshelf, her encager moving gracefully, yet deliberate. She didn't turn around, didn't need to — the scent of his cologne invaded her nostrils in a much more subtle greeting.
___
"Preparing for the exam?" His voice was a low purr, only for her to hear. Reaching out with his free hand, Rafayel traced the spine of the book she was holding, slowly as if he was reading it with his fingertips.
Ciella didn't answer right away. She closed the book, cradling it to her chest instead. "If you keep this up, they're gonna find out." She didn't dance around it; the warning was clear, direct, too aware of the rumors breathing down their necks to play around much more. She could almost feel the people's gaze on them, waiting for them to lower their guards like predators.
"...Talk?"
"Mm..." Rafayel's hand came to rest on her hip, crouching slightly so his chin would rest on her shoulder, shamelessly affectionate, yet covering her entirely with his body. He wasn't stupid.
"Smart girl. Why don't I take you out of here then? In my office, I want to talk with you."
Rafayel smirked, his fingers curling on her hip and squeezing lightly, letting go after a second and leaving the ghost of his touch on her skin.
