Here's a prompt, Ivlis and Rieta cuddling on a cool night.
For most people, a cool night would be somewhat pleasant, perhaps even requiring a blanket, or a fireplace if one was feeling particularly chilly. But for flame demons, the cold felt much more out of their comfort zone, given that the temperatures they were all accustomed to were the sweltering heat of Ivlis’ flame hell.
Even being exempt from this, as a genie, Rieta was always more than happy to use the situation to her advantage whenever she could, claiming that it was her job as the flame devil’s personal attendant to make sure that his comfort was assured whenever possible. With Ivlis laying against her, she slowly, affectionately brushed her hands through his hair, having offered her body heat to essentially act as a source of warmth for him while the ambient temperature was still low. Ironic, given that from her perspective he was the warmest presence in the room, acting as a space heater in and of himself despite her being tasked with helping him keep warm.
“Why are you so good to me...?” The question from Ivlis was asked without shifting their current cuddled position, just a momentary curiosity crossing his mind as they laid together platonically on this cold night. She was always so attentive to him, no matter the situation, more than any normal lackey would have been, and she didn’t even have the excuse of being one of his flame demons.
Rieta paused for a few moments before answering in a soft and caring tone. “Because you are my lord, Ivlis, and I value you most of all. Your happiness is my happiness, and I will do all in my power to bring that happiness about.” Not the most eloquent of confessions, and she was painfully aware that he would be too dense to realize her true meaning as he had missed it so many times before, but being able to comfort him like this on the cold winter evenings was more than enough for that not to matter to her.
“Mm...” Ivlis closed his eyes as he nodded, seeming to think over her words for a long few moments, though what it could have been about was something Rieta could only give her wildest guesses to.
Some may have called him airheaded, but she would never stoop to insults like that. It was one of his charms, enigmatic in a way, if she couldn’t discern what he was thinking just from looking. As opposed to Emalf or Poemi, who wore their emotions on their sleeves more or less at all times, which Rieta had more than enough of in daily life.
The two of them resumed their silence together, simply living in the comforting moment between a grueling past and an uncertain future, content to be in each others’ embrace while they still could be. Rieta’s was the most comforting touch he’d felt in far too long, and the flame devil was perfectly happy letting her cuddle him for as long as necessary. The night was long and cold, seemingly endless with great swaths of darkness to endure, but regardless of what may happen, the least Rieta could say is that she would do her best to be there for her lord Ivlis.
