Fragrant Dream

Short Summary: Rafayel gifts the Protagonist a perfume that triggers a vivid dream where she’s a sea witch and he’s a merman sacrificing everything to become human for her. Upon waking, their real-world chemistry mirrors the dream’s longing, blurring fantasy and reality.

Timeline Notes:

Event	Timeframe & Notes
Protagonist receives Rafayel’s perfume gift from his collab (Your Fragrance)	Present day (real world); they are close, possibly dating (implied by intimacy and spare key access).
Dream begins: Protagonist as the "Witch of the Deep Sea"	Dream sequence (fantasy); Rafayel is a merman seeking a potion to become human.
Rafayel reveals his beloved is the Protagonist	Dream climax; Protagonist realizes she’s the one he loves, not a human princess.
Protagonist wakes up	Returns to reality; Rafayel is by her bedside, teasing but concerned.
Post-dream interaction	Reality; playful, intimate banter suggests established romantic tension.

Key Lore Information:

Relationship:
- Rafayel finds a spare key to her place;
Dream (possible au or past life):
- Identity & Memory: Protagonist forgets her past (as Rafayel’s love) in the dream, paralleling real-world emotional barriers.
- Sacrifice: Rafayel willingly gives up immortality, his scale, and blood for love.

Full Transcript

Protagonist: What could Rafayel have possibly sent over at this hour...

Rafayel: Did you get the gift? It's an exclusive perfume from that collaboration series we talked about, the one that's not available to the general public. Take it as a token of my gratitude for being my plus one.

I plop onto the bed and open the carefully wrapped gift box.

A bottle of dark blue perfume sits quietly in the box, its name inscribed on a small silver-plated card.

Protagonist: Enchanted Sea At Night... Wasn't this the scent from before?

My mind can't help but drift back to that morning when an intoxicating scent permeated the air and lingered between us.

Protagonist: ...It can't be. I remember they threw away the sample!

I fan my slightly heated cheeks before finally opening the perfume bottle.

Protagonist: It's a little bitter. Like fermented aquatic plants... That's it.

I give the area near my bed a couple more spritzes, letting the scent envelop me.

Protagonist: It's easy to dream about the person who gave this to me when I receive it before bed.