rafayel's beloved pearl 🦢࣪🌕 ִֶָ☾.

https://x.com/Love_Deepspace/status/2088101497800376663?s=20

The trailer's beautiful. Rafayel's beautiful. The battle mechanics is lovely. I would be all over this... IF ONLY INFOLD DIDN'T FUCKING THROWN ANOTHER LI UNDER TYE BUS AGAIN 😡😡😡😡😡

Pissed is an understatement. How am I supposed to enjoy this without the crushing knowledge of what inflop did to Valko?! Were Valko not been cancelled, we could've had it all. And now we're getting a beautiful part of Rafayel's story in the form of myths while the game is still broken!

On the good side (and at the risk of sounding like an anti), the fact that Rafayel's myths would potentially tank due to the boycott makes me feel hopeful. Like yeah, not even your shiniest of toys would heal the trust you broke infold.

Hello! I hope you can forgive me for taking so long to write this (I promise I was working on this my entire train ride home). Hope you like this 💐💐

Sharing is Caring - Rafayel x reader/MC

Tags: fluff, mild angst, light banter, yearning Rafayel 💜

Rafayel had always been someone who is used to keeping things to himself. Or so people thought.

But the young artist couldn't quite explain his neeed to share everything that he is with this one special person who'd understand him completely and the accompanying fear of being misunderstood that still keeps him inside his shell.

But that all changed when he met you. His cutest cutie, his sweet darling, his beloved bride whom he'd loved across centuries.

He didn't hold back. He'd text you at the most random hours, waking you up at 3 in the morning just to show you a funny meme that made him laugh. Or you'd get a message marked as "SUPER IMPORTANT, TREAT AS EMERGENCY!!!" and it'll be a picture of two same colours with the artist asking your opinion on which is better ("they're both purple raf" "NO THEY ARE NOT! I'm offended you even say that cutie that electric violet could never hold a candle to freshly prepared tyrian purple-" "THEN WHY ARE YOU THE LITERAL ARTIST ASKING ME THESE YOU KNOW I CANNOT SEE THE SAME COLOURS AS YOU!" "CUTIE HOW COULD YOU NOT HELP ME YOU WANT ME DEAD HUH (⁠ᗒ⁠ᗩ⁠ᗕ⁠)").

Honestly, there was no winning with Rafayel when he gets like this.

But the truth was this - from the most mundane things to the most serious of things, you were the only person privvy to the most intimate of Rafayel's thoughts.

And it didn't stop just there. As your relationship slowly proggressed further, there were a whole lot of things that Rafayel had shared oh-so-casually with you.

It started with small things - tickets to his exhibitions, invites to random outings to the beach or this restaurant that caught his eyes, buying meals. Y'know, normal things that acquaintances or friends do to each other.

Then he started to give you his cards and his car keys, making you question reality. The first time he had casually thrown his keys at you, you were too stunned to catch it. It had hit you square in the chest, and you had only caught it in the end because you were terrified of letting the remote control key of his very luxurious and very expensive car fall to the floor (you still hadn't forgiven him for recording you as you fumbled with the key for two whole minutes, laughing himself to tears at the sight of your panic).

But you knew he was serious about you when you were sketching peacefully in one of the comfy armchairs in Rafayel's place. Thomas had come over to talk to Rafayel about one of his exhibitions, and had almost screamed from terror at the sight of his precious drafting pencil held in between your teeth as you frowned at the sketchbook. You could only gape at Thomas as he recounted how the first and only time he'd dared to use Rafayel's priced tool, he'd been given a look so scary that Thomas had sworn then and there never to touch the genius artist's art supplies.

And now, as you cuddle with your boyfriend on your shared bed and watch him peel oranges carefully before hand feeding you each piece, your heart fills with warmth as you recollect every small interactions over the past weeks.

"You really like sharing, huh?" You ask with a smile as you meet his eyes when he feeds you another slice.

Rafayel's eyes twinkle softly. "You noticed, cutie?"

"Hard not to when we do everything together," you laugh lightly. That got a chuckle out of him before he pulled you closer and nuzzled into your shoulder. There was a comfortable silence between you two, so you didn't really expect Rafayel to break it.

"I've always dreamt of sharing the world's beauty with the one I love, cutie." His voice was so soft, the only reason you were able to hear him was because you were so close. His expression was bittersweet as he looked at the plate of fruit in his lap.

"I… I've always wanted to bring you to Lemuria, y'know, since when we were kids." You felt your heart lurch at the mention of the little pocket of happiness you'd shared together as children, something you had forgotten. Rafayel doesn't give you time to feel guilty though. "Since I knew you were the one, I wanted nothing more than to give you everything. Show you around the acropolis. Swim with you across the seven seas. Even play with the jellyfishes and starfishes that you would find adorable." Your heart hurts with every word. It was a sort of pain that only comes with the realisation of being seen entirely by the person you loved the most.

"And then, my dreams dissolved like sandcastles in the wind." You knew he was referring to the day when humans came for Lemuria and destroyed Whalefall City. He was forced to flee for his life, live amongst humans and build himself back up, brick by brick. Rafayel didn't linger on it too much, however.

"All the riches, all the fame, all of it… it felt empty without having someone by my side to share it. Someone who'd be by my side forever." His way he looked at you was unmistakable. He clearly saw the life of his dreams when he gazed into your eyes.

"Cutie, I'm beyond grateful that you're in my life," he murmured, cupping your face in his hands gently, like he was holding a rare flower. "Every time your eyes brighten when I let you in, you… you make me want to share everything with you."

⊹ ࣪ ˖ hesitant! reader where you are afraid to show too much attention to your new boyfriend because of bad past experiences of being called too much and clingy.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ afraid of showing how much you like being pampered by him, being taken out to dinners, being provided with touches, terms of endearment, and reassurance without having to ask for it.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ afraid to show how much you like him, getting anxiety from the thought of your gifts being lame, or your cooking/baking not being up to his liking.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ afraid to reach out to touch him, hold his hand, or hug him like you yearn to do everyday. when he's just talking, showing you his interests, or when he's so deep into painting and you miss him.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ boyfriend! rafayel who gradually starts to notice something more complicated is going on.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ his eyes drifting down to your twitching fingers. the way your eyes refuse to meet him after asking to go out for a walk. the way your hand-holding lasts for about a minute before you hesitantly let go.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ at first he thought you were shy, and that you needed time to get used to the displays of affection. but the more time passed, the more he noticed how little you initiated first.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ the more he realised the expression of your face was surprise before settling into fondness, the more internally agitated he became. where did this insecurity come from?

⊹ ࣪ ˖ so he did everything he could to get you to touch him.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he nuzzled your wrist, placing kisses on your skin.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he brought your hand up to his chin, making you squeeze his cheek with a beautiful little laugh.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he leaned down to nuzzle your nose, voice light yet intimate, a whisper that made blood rush to your neck and head.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he complained, clinging into you so hard you almost could feel his desperation for closeness.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he always sought out your attention. when he was in exhibitions, when he was away in verona, when he had to take a long trip to france for artist meetings. he called, texted, send you pictures, sent you actual poems, little sketches, photos of something that reminded him of you, eyeshadow and lipstick shades that would compliment your skin, accessories to decorate your head/hair with.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ and oh... how much he loved seeing you unravel like a beautiful peony.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ and oh... he's in big trouble.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ you felt so reassured in yourself and in your love that you simply forgot completely how you two have started.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he loved when you sought him out in the middle of the day, telling him about your day in work, the cute little kitten you saw while passing the park, the view of the sea in the harbour, how your friends made you laugh.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ you took hold of his hand, swinging them around. your laughter meant everything to him when he started swinging them with you.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he adored when you peppered his face with kisses, growing red in the face.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ he took you out to dinner, giving you a small bouquet of your favourite flower(s), adoring how your eyes immediately lit up like fairy lights. how you brought out your camera to take a picture of you two with the bouquet - something that hangs on your pin-board above your desk till this day.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ but all above, he loves when you kiss him gently, again, and again, and again. he shudders when he pulls away and you chase after him, eyes half-lidded with passion. he adores when you accept his affection with open arms, not dodging, but melting into it in a way that had his heart racing.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ rafayel adores the attention you give him, he craves it like his being craves the sea. he wants to give it back ten times fold, shower you with everything he could possibly give until he has everything in his arms. you won't ever question if you're being underappreciated ever again --- not with an artist who has made you the center of his world.

just the two of you, alone. moments like these happens all the time, especially with rafayel. you can't escape from him, not that you would want to anyway. no matter how busy work becomes for you both, no matter how hectic life turns, you know without doubt that rafayel will find time to see you, to hear you, to talk to you. it doesn't matter how far, he'll make it happen.

and he has proven you to be a man that keeps his words and promises, through and through. and even if rafayel spends 24 hours with you, from morning til night, sunday to saturday ; it is never enough for him. he is a greedy, insatiable, selfish man. he wants you all the time.

he wants to hear you talk about your day, about your feelings, about something stupid that made you crash out. he wants to watch you doomscroll on your phone, laughing at stupid videos. he wants to cuddle and wrap you in his arms, his precious little pearl. he wants to caress your waist, your thighs, your arms, your hair, your face -- gods, if he could glue himself to you, he would.

he wants to cook, to eat with you. whenever you get ready, rafayel just absolutely melts every single time. his mind is rambling with thoughts of how lucky he is to have you, of how beautiful your curves are, how ravishing your thighs look, how your skin feels so soft and molds perfectly in his big, graceful painter's hands.

you are his muse, his canvas, his art. and rafayel means it every time. his heart never fails to feel the same intensity as the beginning. and rafayel will never get sick of reminding you of how perfect you fit with him. he'll repeat a thousand times a day if needed, about how he'd die for you.

and the worst thing is, rafayel knows this isn't love. it can't be love -- love is too small and minimal of a word to describe what he feels towards you. rafayel doesn't just want to take care of you, to protect and cherish you. no.

he wants more. it goes beyond bare necessities of life. rafayel needs you like his lungs needs air. his skin just doesn't feel right, if you aren't touching him. his mind can't focus, if your eyes aren't on him. he becomes irrationally impatient with others, if he can't stare at you, at your soft and plump chest. and every time you aren't in his line of sight, he can practically feel his heart breaking, tearing.

rafayel doesn't just simply love you. he is obsessed. a completely obsessed and addicted man. so when you ask him if he would still love you after gaining weight, or going on a diet, or having stretch marks, or pimples -- whatever insecurities, it feels like a stab right in his heart. it wouldn't be love if rafayel only loved your physique. it's not just about the stretch marks, the curves, the bones, the fat -- it's about how you mold perfectly with him.

this is giving little mermaid haha 🐟

smitten! sea god! rafayel is so so adorable! he's utterly, irrevocably in love with you and he doesn't know what to do!

he'd been watching you from afar, sparkly blue eyes shining out the waters just the slightest smidge, face flustered so red he'd resemble a roasted fish

he'd collect all sorts of shells and conches and leave them for you on the shore (he'd glare daggers at the other humans who dare take your treasure 🔥)

and the first time you two interacted, he'd shrunk his godly self into a human-sized mermaid body, approaching you carefully! you'd be so fascinating with him (not yet in love, cause who is this guy?) that you'd try to touch him...

he'd almost combust at your touch, at the way your curious yet delicate hand caressed his tail, his scales... his beautiful face 🥺

The words are akin to a man slamming a gun down unto the table and leaving everyone sat around it speechless. Even the wind outside the studio goes still, the calming waves lapping softly against the shore now coming slow and almost still.

"No you're not." Valko replies instantly, and Rafayel, who had dropped his brush, nods fervently while going to pick it up.

You smirk to yourself as you reply, "Yes I am."

"Mm no you're not." Rafayel is the one to reply to you this time, shaking his head firmly on the matter. Clearly his word was law, why couldn't you see that?

Their firm refusal doesn't impede your mischief, as you cross your arms, a twinkle in your eyes. "But I might."

Two voices echo back to you in unison, "You're not."

🌷 NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR

Fishwolf let's get it !!!

This is all because these last few days I've been thinking of having a cat again sigh

RAFAYEL and VALKO → Parallels & Antiparallels