#vanito

A smile, brief it may be while a grunt of approval for the lightkeeper.

“Be... careful... out there.”

“It's not my first time, but you know...”

A quick glance. The hallways were empty, no cameras on sight or anyone who might try to pry out of curiosity. Ceto leaned closer and placed a tentative, small kiss just at the edge of Vanilla's lips. The mechanic stiffened.

What an awkward thing to do. Both of them were still getting used to this affection, both willing to try until they found something that could call it as their own way of showing love to one another.

“Happy?” Ceto looked away, a blush creeping out from her bandages, up to her cheeks. Red like her eyes.

The mechanic nodded, hands intertwined with the other. They stood there in silence. Her hand traced the scars then fingers pressed against Ceto's wrist for her pulse.

thump. thump. thump. thump.

The thrumming heart beat—oh, it became a bit faster. Vanilla's hand continued to wander. The brand new bandages that she wrapped this afternoon, caressing the scars on Ceto's shoulder and finally two fingers pressed gently on Ceto's neck.

The lighthouse keeper leaned against the touch. Eyes fluttered shut. Vanilla's hand was cold, her heart beat always at a constant rhythm like a ticking clock even if she became flustered, angry or not. Steadfast and unwavering.

Ceto's hand wandered, feeling where the skin and metal meets on her neck. It was cold, smooth and electrifying if she poked at specific edges. No words needed, they don't need to or rather, both knew that's where they always failed at with all the experiments they did together.

They soaked up each other's presence, warmth and heartbeat. Silence wasn't suffocating anymore for Ceto; warmth wasn't just a fire anymore for Vanilla. Finally, a person—not an illusion from the past or future nor a tide crawler anymore.

Ceto was the first one to pull away, coughing to keep her heartbeat in check. Vanilla stopped herself from chasing after her. They still have work to do and the time they have, their break was almost up.

“I'll see you in the early morning, as usual. Don't wait for me.” Ceto huffed, wearing back her jacket, smoothing out any creases and folds.

“I'll... always... wait... for you.” Vanilla affirmed and placed a small hedgehog made of scrap metal on Ceto's palm. “For... company... think... of me?”

Ceto held up the hedgehog close to her face. How could someone bend a metal for such a small little figurine? A thought she always had, but this was Vanilla.

“I always do.” And placed the hedgehog in her breast pocket. Its presence felt heavy, but comforting. “I'll be leaving now...”

Vanilla cupped Ceto's cheeks and pressed a quick kiss on her lips. Eyes wide in surprise, blinking rapidly to process it all. It was soft, slightly chapped, and a taste of oil but it wasn't that bad.

“My turn... to try... it.” The mechanic chuckled.

Oh there goes Ceto's heart leaping and doing a somersault. Face hardened to keep her emotions in check, but Vanilla's smile seemed to grow. Of course she can hear it, just as she can hear her heartbeat.

“Hmph, we shall do it again... later.” She quickly turned away, almost stopping and heading towards the exit.

“I'll... see you...” Vanilla waved goodbye, and placed her hand where her heart lies.

Rendezvous done.

Time Check: 10:45 PM

Wait for the sunrise. Wait for Ceto.

Additional characters: -50% (It can change depending on the character) _________________________________________

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The price includes an uncolored background, or if you prefer, you can send your own. I'll send one or two updates, so I can change what you might want me to change. I usually finish commissions within a week. _________________________________________

And biggest thanks for my beloved friend always helping and supporting me! @sir-crocodile-slut​

I also make animations and animatics.

So if you’re interested we can talk about it, but I won’t make more than 1 minute long animation! This link is my Youtube channel, you can see my animations there. For more information DM me! We will talk about the prices and everything.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Vk0LYLI3StVNhFOMKtxdA

Or comics!

Here are some previous commissions I’ve made:

Stars covered every inch of the sky and the North Star lost to the sea of its milky white. A full moon tonight. The clock strikes 12.

5 hours till the next sunrise.

Time ticked and marched forward like her heart. Vanilla turned towards the desk. The cup half empty. The crackers were reduced to crumbs. Her scent lingered in the air—metallic and sea salt. No need to wait. The sun will rise again for a new day. It will greet her with warmth and gentleness just as always.

Footsteps echoed at a distance. Heavy and sure. Vanilla stood up from her seat and went outside. The moonlight cascaded over the figure who walked near the shore. Blue hair, black coat and eyes red like crimson—the sun is here, her sun.

“Hey,” Ceto stopped in front of her. Stiffly, hands that couldn't sit still. A comb through her hair, a gentle scratch on her bandages, or fiddling with the hem of her coat's sleeves.

“You’re early…” Vanilla reached out, right hand hovering just above Ceto’s chest. The lightkeeper stepped closer.

Warm, beating and true.

“I am.” Ceto placed her hand atop of Vanilla’s. “Chief told me I should take a break, can you believe her?”

“I do…”

Ceto scoffed. “It was rhetorical.”

The mechanic’s hand—fingertips traced over a scar. A new scab, still fresh. “You’re… hurt?”

“Just a small incident. No need to fret over it.”

Vanilla hummed in thought but tugged Ceto back to the light house, back to their home. However, home is wherever her sun is. This place is only temporary and time will erode it like everything else. But Ceto is true; a brief presence that became permanent.

“Sit…”

Ceto sat down near the windowsill. Vanilla gathered up the medical supplies, old and new but still usable.

“How much… does it hurt?” She carefully removed the bandages. Dispose it all beside her, and then unwind the new ones.

Ceto huffed, and looked away with a frown. “It's the same. I'm still alive, aren't I?”

“But… your injury—”

“Look at me.” Ceto pointed at her scars. “I’ll be fine, I survived.”

Vanilla stilled for a moment. Her gaze settled over the years-old injury that littered Ceto’s skin. Some were deep and jagged, then others were shallow and a clean cut. Every wound had a story to tell like the new one across Ceto’s arm up to her shoulder. She resumed cleaning the wound first, then bandaged it with much care and attention. Ceto pursed her lips together, and tensed at the sting of the alcohol or was it because of Vanilla’s lingering touch?

“Please… value your life… a little more…” Vanilla finished patching her up, but her hand stayed over the wounded area. “I’d be lonely… without you… here…”

Why must her sun bleed so much? Why must her sun go through so much pain and misery? She glared at the rancor blade. Its voice already silent and controlled like Chief said, but influence never went away with just a snap. It could still be there waiting for the right moment to strike.

Vanilla tilted Ceto’s chin to face her. A tentative small kiss just at the edge of her lips. A small reassurance that someone cared for her, not just Chief or any sinner who merely values her for her skills and for what she could offer–someone who loves her just the way she is.

All broken and wounded parts just like her.

“You have other people, I’m not the only one in your life.” Ceto remarked but leaned closer to Vanilla for more. Head on her shoulder. ”They’ll keep you company more than me.”

“But.. I want you… only you..”

Silence. Nothing but the crash of the ocean wave as their sound and their mingling breaths together as one. Vanilla held her close, kissed the top of her head and guided the lightkeeper to their bed. A simple mattress on the floor, thin sheets and blankets, but the cold was a friend to them. They have each other to keep themselves warm. The first to lay down was Ceto, her eyes still were glassy but never once she looked away from Vanilla. Arms spread wide to welcome her as the immortal sinner lay atop of her. Ear on her chest—hear the gentle beat of her heart; a proof that her sun is truly here.

“Do you really mean that?” Ceto asked in a quiet voice, almost fragile and bewildered.

“Why… would.. I lie?” She looked at her, eyes filled with honesty. “I like… love… your presence…”

Leaning close, closer until their nose brushed against each other, closer until their lips finally meet. Awkward, slow and sloppy, but she neither cared of it—both of them were. Hands intertwined together, one feared this would be their last, and the other hopeful this connection would be the anchor through the storm. Breathless sighs, a mumble of soft praises and a quiet ask for more.

Trace each scar with her fingertips, her lips, her tongue—Ceto’s heart spiked, thrummed louder in Vanilla’s ear. What an interesting reaction. In the dim light, her sun glowed a deeper shade of red, mouth agape, both of them couldn't believe it.

“Too much?” Vanilla asked, rising up to meet her gaze.

Ceto gulped, shooked her head. Words stuck at the back of her throat. Eyes blinking rapidly like her breath. “Just new, I suppose…”

“Do you want… to continue?” She tucked a stray hair away. The once blazing anger became warmer on her touch. “I can… wait…”

“Yeah, maybe next time, if it's alright.”

“Of course…” A chaste kiss just at the top of Ceto’s head. “I will… always… wait…”

And so, the night come to a quiet close. Ceto lie awake for who knows how long, count until she fall asleep—she never make it past a hundred ever since Vanilla showed up. While for the Immortal sinner, ever a fortress and still like a machine waiting for an order held Ceto as if her life depends on it; maybe it was.

The sun will rise again for tomorrow, and her sun already safe in her arms.

How did they meet and fall in love? Simple, Vanilla provided all the materials and her expertise to fix up the lighthouses. Yes Ceto can do it too, but having another person reliable as Vanilla near the vicinity??? It made everything better much to her disgruntled few encounters.

They don't really necessary talk as much, they're more of act of service people and it both work wonders for them. They'll quietly do their own thing, there's still a bit of distance. A few quick words like: “wrench?” “top shelf, left side, beside of a worn out canister.” “thanks.”

Ceto is slightly unnerved with how Vanilla speak at first. Literally thinking she was some sea creature if not for all the metal parts and pieces.

BONUS: Ceto is terrified at Shin.

The moment they become comfortable with touch, literally inseparable. They will find any moments to hold each other's hands, their cheek, anything. They will take turns lying atop of one another.

At first, it felt weird holding each other's hands. Literally think slow burn warming up on the thought of holding someone without any reason other than to feel them. Ceto would always be the first one to always initiate in this.

Vanilla liked listening to heartbeat so she always have her hand on Ceto's wrist, neck or gently pressed against her chest if she can.

Ceto doesn't particular care what she specifically likes, but she liked the warmth (even though Vanilla is cold to everyone else, she refused to believe so)

The first one who actually confessed was Vanilla. Literally made a flower of metal scraps and food (because she know and learn it's the quickest way to someone's heart)

Vanilla will always wait for Ceto before she actually sleeps. One of the few things they always argue over, but Vanilla always reasoned: “It might be the last time I would see you"

Vanilla HC: She's still terrified everything that she'll find herself back in the outpost the moment she sleeps. Seeing Ceto again and the sunrise meant time move on and march forward)

Yes Chief did bandaged Ceto before, but out of everyone in the bureau, Vanilla is one of the few people who she let her bandages be changed. She considered it as a very intimate act.

No, they haven't done it. They're content with the affection as it. Neutral view on sex itself, but if it comes up then it comes—however, they don't seek it out.

It's customary for them to have early morning walk along the beach/to see the sunrise.

Vanilla wears Ceto's jacket alot. She worries Vanilla gets cold with what she wears as her top.

You would never catch them in a social event, they will do everything, especially Ceto to avoid it

They hide their relationship because they're not actually sure what to call it and they don't want to be tease endlessly by the other sinners (though they already know but they don't want to call it out or else Ceto is gonna get their heads, metaphorically).

As Milly said to them "love is love, you'd do anything for that person." so they just accept their relationship is just that; They'd do anything for each other. They still try to experiment which one they like or be comfortable with.

When there were moments the rancor gets too much for Ceto, Vanilla would hold her down, literally hug her with her arms and her mechanical ones too to calm Ceto. This get her injured a few times which also led to some arguments. They just don't want the other to be hurt...

Vanilla taught Ceto gardening, just like Ceto taught her to fish.

I think that's pretty much of what I can think of, for now. It's just a scene here and there. I like to think they already talked each other's past and they find it amusing and a coincidence that they have similar-ish experience. Vanilla definitely couldn't believe Ceto is literally 41 years old.

“You're... older than me?”

“How old do you think I am?”

“Perhaps... mid 20's or... 30's as they say...”

“Does it make you uncomfortable? I heard some people don't like a huge age-gap in their relationship.”

“You are... still... you, correct? Then I don't see... any problem with... what we have...”

And they cuddle, snuggle near the fireplace. They have so many days they just... there. Doing 'nothing', but knowing they're alive, here and the other still breathing. It's just them spending time, not actually 'nothing.'