Theme 8

Heyo, time to do this again. Theme 8 (in my case 7), the last project where new characters are being introduced, showcases two military operatives that are barely ever apart. The girl is Elara Valentine, and the guy is Mercer Rawson. She's a timid and shy warrant officer who acts as Mercer's personal subordinate in times of peace, and he's a confident and proud second lieutenant and womanizer. Elara has a complex where she feels the need to impress or otherwise make Mercer notice her above the other girls he meets with, because she digs him. Also she has no self-esteem and needs consoling words and approval from others in order to not feel like crap. But mostly the liking him thing.

I tried something different with the background, having a good amount acrylic and the rest watered-down tissue paper and watercolor to get the texture stuffs. I will add the quote, which is Mercer saying "You know, it'd do you good to start making your own cocoa. 'Cuz someday I won't be around and you'll be off doing amazing things!" So Mercer does give Elara consoling words and advice, and believes in her wholeheartedly, but she almost never takes it to heart because he's never noticed the fact that she likes him.  

Anyway. First off, I wanted to put steam coming out of the coffee/cocoa mug in Elara's hand. Should I use watered-down acrylic or charcoal? And secondly, which places need more values?

Also what color should the quote be; because it might alternate between black and white depending on what the background behind it is and that might jar some people.