How to recreate this glowing distorted letter effect in Photoshop?

Hi everyone,

I came across this visual (attached) featuring a stacked “R” and “D” with a really striking glow and distortion effect — almost like the letters are lit from within, with a smoky or liquid-like blur in between. The glow seems soft yet intense, and there’s a smooth transition where the two letters almost merge through light and shadow.

I’d love to recreate this kind of effect in Adobe Photoshop (or After Effects if that’s better). Could anyone point me in the right direction? I’m especially curious about:

• The glowing aura around the letters

• The misty/smoky blending between characters

• Any distortion or displacement techniques that could help achieve the “melting” transition

• Thanks in advance for any advice or tutorials you can recommend!