this is what he looks like when he thinks he’s being elegant and aloof

This is something I was inspired to write from seeing this beautiful piece by @daikonfarmer !

Canvas of Memories

The studio smelled of paint, turpentine, and something uniquely him—salt and the faintest trace of sea breeze, though the ocean was miles away.

You watched Rafayel from where you perched on the oversized couch, sipping on a cold drink while he stood in front of his latest work, shirt half-unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, dark curls a mess from where he’d run his hands through them in frustration.

“You’re staring again.”

Your lips quirked. “It’s not my fault you paint like you’re making love to the canvas.”

Rafayel stilled, then shot you a sideways glance, his mouth twitching into a smirk. “Is that so?”

“Mhm.” You stretched lazily, eyes locked onto the large painting before you. “What’s this one about, anyway?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a step back, rubbing his jaw, gaze dark with something unreadable.

The painting was breathtaking—a vast ocean under a twilight sky, waves crashing wildly, but in the center stood a woman.

Her back was to the viewer, but you could feel the weight of longing in every brushstroke. Her gown clung to her figure, flowing like water, her hair lifted by the wind. But it wasn’t just the technique that made your breath catch—it was something familiar about her.

“She looks like me.”

Rafayel inhaled deeply, as if he had been waiting for you to notice.

“She is you.”

A strange shiver ran down your spine.

“I don’t remember posing for this.”

“You didn’t.”

He turned to you fully now, leaning against the edge of his worktable, arms crossed over his sculpted chest. His gaze never wavered, but there was something heavy in it—like he was waiting for you to catch up to a secret he had known for far too long.

“You said it was just a story,” you murmured, eyes flickering back to the painting.

“Maybe.” His voice was lower now, silk and shadows. “Or maybe you’ve forgotten.”

You swallowed, suddenly too warm. Rafayel had always been intense, but this? This felt like standing at the edge of something you weren’t ready to see.

“Okay, cryptic artist man,” you tried to joke, forcing lightness into your tone. “Let’s say I ‘forgot.’ Forgot what, exactly?”

A pause. Then, softly—

“That you once loved me enough to defy the gods.”

Your stomach dropped.

“Rafayel—”

He pushed off the table, crossing the space between you in a few slow, deliberate steps. His fingers brushed your cheek, tilting your chin up until your breath hitched.

“You look at me like a stranger,” he murmured, his lips barely inches from yours, “but I have spent lifetimes remembering you.”

Your heart was a wild thing in your chest, but before you could form a thought—before you could run—he kissed you.

It wasn’t sweet.

It was desperate.

Like a man tasting something stolen, like an artist afraid his masterpiece might disappear if he didn’t hold onto it tight enough. His hands cradled your face, his body pressing flush against yours, heat rolling off him in waves.

Your fingers found their way into his hair, pulling, making him groan against your lips. He deepened the kiss, and for a moment, for a single, breathless second—

A flash.

The ocean.

A wedding beneath a storm-lit sky.

Your hands in his.

“Say you’ll find me again.”

You gasped, breaking the kiss, stumbling back.

“What was that?” Your voice shook.

Rafayel stared at you, his breathing uneven, his own shock mirroring yours. He reached out, hesitated, then let his hand drop.

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

You could still feel the phantom waves, the taste of salt and lightning.

“Tell me I’m crazy,” you whispered.

His smirk was sad this time. “I wish I could.”

And just like that, the past you had forgotten began to paint itself back into your mind—

Stroke by stroke.

LaDs Theory:

Chronological order of Memories - Rafayel

This is just my personal assumption - feel free to comment. Also I will update with upcoming Cards, take a look a the original post to make sure to see the latest update. 🩷

Made a complete picture, followed by several parts of the timeline. Please let me know, if something is unreadable.

Hiiii sooo I've been very busy lately because... I'm participating to the SVSSS Big Bang for the very first time! @svsssbigbang

I'm illustrating @adventure-waffles's fic, alongside @dustmeadowx and Qiye. A SVSSS x Night at the Museum AU! Check it out when it comes out, everyone's done an amazing job for it!

I think the funniest thing about the scum villain community (after the creatures) is that before we started calling it jiuyuan, the ship name was shencest. Not because shen yuan and shen jiu are related in any way, but because no one could decide if the ship was selfcest or not

I'm too late, but happy birthday, sqq💚

on a side-quest with the king !

some more Moshang ^^