fierling

[fierling]

A gift for @aldbooks for the ACOTAR Gift Exchange 2024

Rating: E/NSFW Status: WIP, Chapter 7/10 Summary: "One thing was clear to her about this predicament: Lucien was furious."

An enchanted pair of handcuffs. A prank gone wrong. A bottle of whiskey. This was turning out to be the most awkward Winter Solstice for Elain and Lucien yet.

Chapter 7: Liquid Gold - Read on AO3

Start at the beginning | Elucien Masterlist

Chapter 7 Snippet:

Her heart thundered in her chest, each step that they climbed filling her belly with butterflies, fluttering with anticipation of what would come. One would think after sharing a bed with him, she would feel less nervous about doing it again, but last night she still had her walls firmly in place. It only took a day in his presence to thoroughly tear them down, and their proximity had only made her desire to touch him grow. She was sure as soon as the moment presented to her, she would let go, finally allowing the current of the bond sweep her away. She knew that she was the master of their distance. It was a trust that Lucien carefully cultivated between them for years, allowing her to lead their interactions. For a while, she worried that he had lost interest in her, growing tired of her hesitance. But the more they spent time together, the more she could see that Lucien was good at being what she needed him to be. And in that time she needed a patient male. Tonight, however, she was done with patience.

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Two questions that have lingered for me recently: 1) Mor saying (and I’m paraphrasing without the book right in front of me) “he’s not ready yet either, no many how many presents he brings” … how do you envision Sarah writing Lucien in the next book as “not ready” ?

And 2) How spicy do you think Elucien’s book will be? I feel like ACOSF was so spicy since Cassian and Nesta were hooking up before they worked through their emotional issues… I don’t see her writing Lucien and Elain doing this (or at least not to the extent of Cassian and Nesta), so I wonder how she will write in the spice (though I’m equally excited and looking forward to the yearning we will get).

I think "he's not ready" is going to be multi-layered for Lucien. I don't think he can truly move forward until he lets go of his guilt from Jesminda's death. Where he can finally come to the realization that she'd want happiness for him and that she would want him to let go of her memory to allow himself to love Elain fully. I imagine there's a bit of that going on for him, where he is so drawn to Elain but he also beats himself up for it every single time when he text suggests he vowed to himself to never fall for anyone after Jesminda. I also think he's afraid to let himself truly go after Elain because of what happened to Jesminda. He knows that anything he cares for becomes a target for Beron and his brothers and I think that's another reason he keeps his distance. The more distance between them the safer he probably believes she'll be. As a final point, I think he doesn't feel worthy of her. If we think back to ACOMAF when he said to Feyre, "isn't that what all human women wish for? A handsome faerie lord to wed and shower them with riches for their rest of their lives?" Then in ACOWAR his emotions reflect sadness over how he once thought life in Tamlin's court would be like what it is with the IC in Velaris. Lucien has a huge scar down his face, a missing eye (so there may be some self-consciousness going on for him especially when she is the most beautiful female he'd ever seen), he has no court or true home to provide, and while I imagine he isn't suffering from real financial hardship, he also doesn't have an estate or family jewels / crowns to offer her. When you think of everything Lucien has gone and is going through, what reason would he have to purse Elain right now? How he feels for her would not take precedence over fear for her safety and the guilt that he doesn't deserve her.

Writing all of this makes me realize how deep Elucien's story would be, where both characters have pounds and pounds of baggage to overcome as it relates to their past. They need to shed their previous lives so that they can become who it's clear they're meant to be but in order to do that they need to break the chains of their past, something they are both struggling with. As far as spice, I imagine it's not going to be spice as a means to avoid dealing with their trauma the way we saw with Nesta. It's either going to be a slow burn then a burning down the house kind of intensity (Autumn Court males and all that plus I have no doubt Elain is the furthest thing from shy in that area - being polite in proper company is not the same thing as how someone behaves behind closed doors) or it's possible we'll see spice earlier on for the sake of restoring Spring (if they were to participate in Calanmai) where neither can deny the intensity of their physical draw to one another any longer after the fact though Elain pretends it had no effect on her which causes Sarah to bring out flirty Lucien in an effort to get her to admit the truth.

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The High Lord of Day

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Looking so fashionable! ✨

@elucienweekofficial Day 7: Free day

Elain and Lucien looking ritzy in the 1920s

Art by me (@clarafae)

A big thanks to @fierling for your art tips this week! 😁

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The Prythian Historical Society presents: Masquerade

For @elucienweekofficial Day 7: Free day

"In those moments alone, as my fingers trace freckles from cheek to collarbone, or as I watch the way starlight dances across skin, I marvel at how one can feel such intimacy, but also such great distance." — Colin Bridgerton

We hope you have your masks and dancing shoes on for our biggest collab yet! This has been in the works for months and we hope you love it as much as we do!

Artists:

Line art and creative direction: @jadedbugart

Background, lighting effects (and sparkles): @olenvasynyt

Elucien: @works-of-heart / vaella.arts

Background dancers: @bonecarversbestie

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Day 6: Growth

for @elucienweekofficial

Art Credit: demiepie (commissioned by me)

Sarah: That reminds me! Lucien and Elain would go to London and tour through the gardens before making their way out to the countryside. They are pretty much happy to be out in nature the most.

Interview with Modernbookfae

I got to my feet, but Lucien remained sitting on the blanket and lifted the bottle of wine in salute. He took a slug from it as he sprawled on his back and gazed at the green canopy.

ACOTAR

“These bulbs,” Elain said, pointing with a gloved hand to a cluster of purple-and-white flowers, “came all the way from the tulip fields of the continent. Father promised that next spring he’ll take me to see them. He claims that for mile after mile, there’s nothing but these flowers.” She patted the rich, dark soil. The little garden beneath the window was hers: every bloom and shrub had been picked and planted by her hand; she would allow no one else to care for it.

ACOTAR

Thank you to demiepie for creating how I would love Elain and Lucien’s book to end, in the tulip fields she was so excited to visit, as Lucien fulfills the final promise her father made to his favorite daughter. SJM said there is a great deal of growth and tension ahead for Elain and Lucien. She had pins of Elain and Lucien imagery before they were deleted after ACOSF. SJM has talked about Elain and Lucien and, even when asked, said she thought the original pairings still held after discussing future plans. Her latest release included a lot of canon about how enduring the mating bond is, which Elain and Lucien share. I can’t wait to see what she has imagined them doing and how she foresaw their relationship blossoming before gifting them the endgame she usually reserves for her couples at the end of their journey.

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@elucienweekofficial Day 5 - Daylight ☀️🌷🌸🪻🌿🦊

”What can I get you, Elain?”

”Sunshine.”

This is a collab with @clarafae who drew the beautiful lineart. ❤️

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@elucienweekofficial Day 4: New beginnings.

These days, Elain struggles to tie her own shoes.

Art by me (@clarafae)

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Elucien Week Day 3: Exploration 🌷 @elucienweekofficial

As Sarah herself said, Lucien and Elain would love to be out in nature the most.

I like to imagine the two of them exploring EVERY garden possible, whether in other courts or on the countryside

Thank you @/ohma4y_for this beautiful piece!

Please do not repost without permission.

[fierling]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMK9ZEigwTp/?igsh=bDdrd3NpY3Zrb3M2

Happy @elucienweekofficial!! @kt-reads-things @norabraveseeker and @lulufoxlainfawn and I worked with @thesleepingfoxy for this commission!! And we are so excited with how it turned out!!

Elucien and Lucien, exploring London just like Sarah said they’d do on their honeymoon!

[fierling]

"Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind." —The Princess Bride

Collab with @jadedbugart —honestly one of my favorite JadedBlob™ collabs to date

I have been working on this drawing of Elain and Lucien as Buttercup and Westley for almost 9 months (read: painting, hating it, starting it over, repeat) And this morning when I hit my breaking point with it, Jade swooped in and rescued it with collage magic and I am eternally grateful. 🩷

For @elucienweekofficial Day 3: Exploration

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@elucienweekofficial Day Two — Regency

One of mine and @oristian biggest theories is that Elain and Lucien will become High King and High Queen of Prythian.

Elain Archeron, the gentle dreamer with a hopeful soul, someone who sees good in everyone and in everything. The Seer with the ability to see the future of her kingdom. The socialite who can charm any ballroom, any crowd, and can use her words to convince any one of anything. Observant and dedicated to others, even at the expense of her own wellbeing. The Cauldron’s favorite. The future High Queen.

Lucien Vanserra, the child of two Courts, but a male with ties in plenty more. Emissary and courtier, a wealth of knowledge is bestowed upon him from years of traveling, of mingling, and of exploring the Courts of Prythian. Ties to the future King and Queen (Jurian and Vassa) of the mortal lands, so a hand in diplomacy between fae and mortal (a bridge of peace). A male who faced danger more than once and walked away with scars. A male with the ability to both see magic, but also to cleave it. The future High King. Elain and Lucien will become a formidable pair; lovers, not fighters, and just.

(Ft. A little surprise from Elain’s visions)

ART CREDIT amiranaval

COMMISSIONED BY @oristian @goghwilde

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST

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@elucienweekofficial Day Three — Exploration

Our resident adventurers basking in the early morning light, cloaked in their natural element, and relishing in such fine company—together, as the author has promised.

I see their story taking us far and wide around both Prythian and the mortal lands, but it is the quiet moments that they spend together, earning trust and saying sweet nothings to one another, that is going to be cherished so dearly. The story of two strangers developing into friends and surely into lovers, all the while leaving their mark across the world.

ART CREDIT tpiola_

COMMISSIONED BY @oristian @goghwilde

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST

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Submission for @elucienweekofficial #2 Regency!!

Elain and Lucien, sneaking away for a moment before they have to meet with others. I need the longing, the passion, the need and want these two have!

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day 2: regency a stroll by the sea @elucienweekofficial 🌊

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Day Two: Regency

For @elucienweekofficial

Artist Credit: Vor Kvasir (commissioned by me)

But I tried to smile, if only for Elain, who flitted about the room, personally greeting each guest and dancing with all their important sons.

ACOTAR

He assured me that he hated the gatherings as much as I did, and that Lucien was the only one who really enjoyed himself

ACOMAF

“She didn’t used to be that way.” Nesta swirled her glass of amber liquid. “She loved balls and parties.” The words hung unspoken. But you and your court dragged us into this world. Took that joy away from her.

ACOFAS

To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I would like to thank Vor Kvasir for creating this piece for me. I imagined DJ Helion taking over the booth at Nessian's reception and calling all the mated couples to the dance floor, giving Elain and Lucien a chance for that first real moment together. Or maybe, since SJM has established how popular dancing is in the fae courts, like when Nesta danced with Eris to ease his tensions with the Night Court, Elain and Lucien might find themselves on a dance floor in the Spring Court or the Autumn Court instead. The accidental brush of his hand beneath her bust, the way her fingers flex against his shoulder, how enjoyment slowly seeps in from their movements and somehow the conversation slips into something that almost feels like flirting.

[fierling]

hi everyone!! i'm very happy you've all enjoyed my elucien pregame this year! i loved doing this and it truly was the most fun i've had in a while, so let's finish it off in style today!!

i present the final boss of sketch-a-day, or day #1 mates: 🌈 rainbow elucien 🌈