#can you get rid of eye bags with fillers

[whisperhushh]

To me, Poppy is gorgeous. Her singing is questionable and her actions too, but one thing I cannot deny is that she's very pretty. I don't think she ever got her nose done, it's just different contouring. She has a Roman nose almost, with the bump, which I appreciate her not doing anything to it. Usually when people get their noses done, it's to smoothen the bridge and make it smaller. If you look at her nose, you can also see its not really straight. I love that. It suits her well. She looks good. Her lips have always been the same shape to me and they look natural. If she did get botox ever, it would have to be very small amounts because when she screams and makes faces, her forehead has all the normal lines of facial expressions. In shows and photoshoots no, but the live performances yes. I also love that she has visible eye bags. I see them in real videos and even in VAN you could see them. People that tend to get a lot of work done always have fillers to get rid of eye bags. So I appreciate her for not doing that. She looks human and good. She got her boobs done, obviously, but even they're done so well. If she got anything done, it would have to be so minute to look this good, as in she didn't get work done like people think. And we have to remember the power of makeup. She does have a lot of that on, I will say, but I think it's the makeup that can make it seem like she did something. Just my observation. I also don't like talking shit about people's appearances. It's okay to convict of bad behavior, but judging others by looks is low .

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[litonlaser]

How to get rid of wrinkles around eyes? Which is better, laser or RF?

 The fine lines and wrinkles removal machines around the eyes include 1927 nm non-ablative fractional thulium laser, monopolar bipolar RF and IPL beauty machine.

Article source: https://www.litonlaser.com/how-to-get-rid-of-wrinkles-around-eyes/

We know that the skin around the eyes is the first part of the body to age and is also the most vulnerable part of the facial skin. In clinical use, have you ever used photoelectric beauty to improve fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes?

Compared with laser and radio frequency (RF), which one will have a better effect?

1. Causes and treatment of periocular wrinkles.

The eyes are the core area of ​​the face. With the increase of age, coupled with the influence of bad living habits such as staying up late, looking at mobile phones for a long time, and inadequate care, the eye area is the first part to show signs of aging.

The skin around the eyes is sensitive and fragile. The thickness of the eye skin is only 0.3-0.5mm, which is about 1/5-1/3 of the thickness of other parts of the face. It contains almost no sebaceous glands and sweat glands, and the blood vessels are extremely fine. There is little collagen and elastic fiber distribution in the eyes, and there is a lack of support from fat and muscle fibers. In addition, it must withstand about 10,000 high-intensity eyelid micro-movements and folding of various expressions every day, which is very easy to cause aging problems such as sagging, wrinkles, eye bags, and dark circles. The first wrinkle on the face usually starts from the eyes.

Symptoms: The skin around the eyes is dry, loose, and has no tension, with fine wrinkles arranged radially.

Causes: There are two main reasons for the aging of the skin around the eyes: one is the loss of collagen, and the other is the fracture of skin tissue. The tissue in the skin around the eyes is like the “rebar” in a building, and collagen is like “cement”. When the “rebar” collapses due to aging and cannot fix and support collagen, wrinkles, collapse, and sagging will appear around the eyes.

The periocular area is one of the thinnest parts of the human skin. Wrinkles in this area appear early. Genes, photoaging, hormones and environmental stress are the main causes. Unlike dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles refer to lines that are still visible when the face is expressionless. They are also called true wrinkles. Their causes are more complicated and difficult to treat. At present, the treatments for static wrinkles around the eyes include topical medications, chemical peels, injection fillers, botulinum toxin type A injections, laser and radio frequency treatments.

2. Can photoelectric beauty machines be used to treat wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes?

Let’s talk about the answer first. The answer is yes!

Take non-ablative fractional laser (1927 nm laser), radio frequency and the most commonly used intense pulsed light (IPL) as examples.

2.1 1927nm non-ablative fractional thulium laser for the treatment of periocular wrinkles.

1927nm thulium laser, non-ablative fractional laser treatment is a relatively effective treatment method for improving fine lines around the eyes. Its treatment principle is to cause the photothermal effect of the basal layer and dermis and the activation of skin stem cells induced by heat shock protein without peeling the epidermis, inducing wound healing response, increasing collagen production, and promoting collagen reorganization, thereby improving fine lines and relaxation around the eyes. This treatment method has a short recovery time and can accurately control the treatment depth to avoid excessive stimulation to the sensitive skin around the eyes. The effect is obvious after a course of treatment.

In one study, 24 patients were selected and received 1927nm non-ablative fractional laser treatment every two weeks for a total of five consecutive treatments. The biomechanical properties of the skin were measured using a dermaelastometer. Skin elasticity measurements were taken at three sites around the eye. Dermatometry analysis showed significant improvements in skin elasticity. The clinical results of the treatment were analyzed using photographic records, which showed a 47% reduction in the number and depth of eye wrinkles. It shows that 1927nm non-ablative fractional laser treatment is an effective method to reduce eye wrinkles and improve firmness.

2.2 RF for the treatment of periocular wrinkles.

Radio frequency (RF) is a high-frequency electromagnetic wave with a frequency of more than 10,000 times per second. It can act on the dermis and use the heat conduction effect of the high-frequency electric field to heat the dermis to 45-60 degrees, directly stimulating the collagen fibers and elastic fibers deep in the dermis to contract, regenerate and reorganize, thereby achieving the effect of tightening the skin and improving wrinkles with few adverse reactions.

2.3 IPL for the treatment of periocular wrinkles.

In terms of anti-aging around the eyes, IPL can act on the deep layers of the skin, promoting the regeneration and rearrangement of collagen, thereby improving the texture and elasticity of the skin around the eyes. It can also reduce dark circles and improve uneven eye skin tone. The advantage of IPL treatment is that it can treat a variety of problems around the eyes and achieve a comprehensive anti-aging effect.

3. Comparison of the treatment effects of different photoelectric beauty machines.

A study selected 71 patients, of which 24 patients were treated with 1927nm non-ablative fractional thulium laser every 2 weeks; 23 patients were treated with bipolar radiofrequency once a week; 24 patients were treated with IPL every 2 weeks. A total of 5 times were completed, and professional skin physiological testing equipment was used to evaluate changes in skin elasticity. Patients also filled out a questionnaire regarding their pre- and post-treatment outcomes.

The results showed that non-ablative fractional laser, bipolar radiofrequency and intense pulsed light treatments can improve skin elasticity.

Among them, the improvement percentage of R6 (note: it is an indicator of skin moisture content) parameter of non-ablative fractional laser treatment is the most significant, which is better than other methods (p<0.0001) (note: p value less than 0.05 means it is very effective), but There is no statistical significance between the efficacy of RF (radio frequency) and IPL (photorejuvenation).

Patient questionnaire results found that all three treatments could reduce the number and depth of wrinkles, but had no effect on other symptoms of skin aging, including periorbital pigment abnormalities, eye bags, dark circles and edema. All three technologies can improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles, but the most effective one is 1927 nm non-ablative fractional laser, followed by IPL, which is intense pulsed light therapy.

4. Conclusions on different beauty machines in reducing wrinkles around the eyes.

The skin around the eyes is thin. To avoid excessive thermal damage causing scars, pigmentation or local depression caused by apoptosis of fat cells, the appropriate treatment depth is the key to successful treatment.

Non-ablative fractional laser (1927nm thulium laser) can effectively improve periocular wrinkles and eyelid relaxation, and the effect is better than bipolar radiofrequency and IPL.

Bipolar radiofrequency is more suitable for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles in the elderly, and non-ablative fractional laser is recommended for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles in young patients.

5. FAQs about beauty equipment for reducing wrinkles around the eyes.

Q: Is radio frequency better than laser for wrinkle removal? Answer: For wrinkles on the face and body skin, monopolar RF is a very effective treatment method. If it is the removal of wrinkles around the eyes, the non-ablative fractional thulium laser is more effective.

Q: Which method is best for removing wrinkles under the eyes? Answer: 1927nm thulium laser. Because it is a non-ablative, safe and effective treatment to promote collagen regeneration in the under-eye area, the 1927nm thulium laser is very suitable for removing under-eye wrinkles.

Q: Which beauty machines can treat around the eyes? Answer: The area around the eyes is a very sensitive area of ​​human skin. Only RF and non-ablative 1927nm thulium laser can treat it.

Q: What are effective skin tightening treatments? Answer: In the beauty machine skin tightening treatment, the 6.78mhz monopolar RF machine anti-aging and the 1927nm fractional thulium laser non-ablative treatment are both effective and very safe beauty projects.

6. More information about eye wrinkle removal machine.

For the treatment of wrinkles around the eyes, beauty machine manufacturer Litonlaser has many products that can reduce and improve wrinkles around the eyes and under the eyes.

IPL intense pulsed light can be used for treatment of the eye area, but it needs to be set at a lower energy and wear an eye mask, otherwise the strong light of IPL will affect people’s eyes. The photothermal effect of IPL has a sufficient wavelength to reach the dermis and stimulate collagen production, thereby removing wrinkles around the eyes.

RF technology is widely used. In the field of beauty machines, it is often used to produce monopolar RF or bipolar RF. Monopolar RF is more prominent in treatment effect, and 6.78mhz monopolar RF is currently the most mainstream anti-aging frequency.

Non-ablative fractional laser, with 1927nm thulium laser being the best, is a relatively new beauty technology. Traditional thulium laser is mainly used in the urology system of medical hospitals, while 1927nm laser, because of its depth to the mesoderm (the boundary between the epidermis and dermis), can play a good role in the beauty of the skin, including the removal of wrinkles. It can also be treated with confidence for the eye area because it is a relatively safe non-ablative output method.

If you need these three beauty machines for removing wrinkles around the eyes, you can contact us at any time: 20 years of beauty machine manufacturer!

[enliwish]

Say Goodbye to Stretch Marks with Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches!

Introducing Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches - The Ultimate Solution for Smooth, Silky Skin

Are you tired of dealing with stretch marks, scars, and loose skin? Do you want to achieve smooth, silky skin without the need for invasive treatments or harsh chemicals? 

Look no further than Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches!

Each patch is made from 100% medical-grade silicone and can be used up to 30 times, making them a cost-effective and sustainable solution for achieving healthy, youthful-looking skin.

How do Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches work?

Our patches use scientifically-proven technology to lock in hydration and pull moisture from deep within the skin's layers, regulating collagen production and encouraging healing. 

This process not only reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars but also smooths out uneven skin tone and enhances skin appearance by increasing moisture levels.

What are you waiting for? Try Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches today!

Benefits of Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches

Regulates collagen production for smoother-looking skin

Enhances skin appearance by increasing skin moisture levels

Patches are reusable and can be worn 15-30 times

Dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic

Clinically proven to improve fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture

Clinical Results

A third-party clinical evaluation of 65 women found that our reusable silicone patches assisted with:

Visible improvement of fine lines & wrinkles around eyes - 83.87%

Visible improvement of fine lines & wrinkles around mouth - 77.42%

Visible improvement of fine lines & wrinkles around the forehead - 85.48%

Visible improvement of fine lines & wrinkles around the chest - 91.94%

Younger-looking skin - 87.10%

Smoother skin - 90.32%

Softer skin - 87.10%

The Power of Occlusion

Applying Enliwish silicone patches creates a microclimate that promotes occlusion, allowing extra moisture to penetrate deep into the skin. This process targets the layer of skin most prone to signs of aging and other factors, such as stretch marks and sun damage.

Occlusion benefits:

Smooths & softens fine lines & wrinkles

Treats & prevents stretch marks & scars

Reduces dark circles & puffiness around the eye area

Prevents sagging & wrinkles

Prevents the need for Botox, fillers, or laser resurfacing

Patch Care

To extend the life of your patches and ensure optimal performance, follow these simple steps:

Slowly peel patches off.

Rinse patches with warm water.

Remove any oils or fat from the patch 

Rinse again with warm water.

Allow to air dry.

Patches should be placed sticky side down onto the backing card and placed in a plastic bag with a resealable lid.

Get Rid of Stretch Marks for Good with Enliwish Silicone Patches

Do not let stretch marks and scars hold you back any longer! 

Try Enliwish Silicone Anti-Stretch Mark Patches today and experience the power of occlusion for yourself. 

With their reusable design and clinically proven effectiveness, these patches are a game-changer in the world of skincare.

[skintreatmentinindia]

How To Get Rid of Dark Circles Under the Eyes?

Dark circles under the eyes are a common concern nowadays. They are often associated with stress, lack of sleep, ageing, genetics, unhealthy diet, and a number of other causes. Dark circles, though, are not a medical concern for many individuals, but they can affect an individual’s quality of life. Many wonder if there are ways to eliminate dark circles under the eyes. Fortunately, yes, several options for dark circles treatment in Hyderabad are available that help minimise the appearance of dark circles effectively. 

What are the Treatment Options Available for Removing Dark Circles? 

Dr. Ravali Yalamanchili, a renowned dermatologist at Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic, recommends advanced procedures for treating dark circles. These include: 

1. Lasers

Expert dermatologists use lasers to treat periorbital hyperpigmentation or dark circles by destroying excessive melanin. Sessions are spaced a few weeks apart to get the desired results. 

2. Tear Trough Fillers

These injectable soft tissue fillers are made of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural, gel-like substance that works best to keep the skin hydrated. These fillers are administered in the under-eye area. This will plump the region and push up the under-eye skin away from the blood vessels located beneath the skin of the under-eye area. The effect of hyaluronic acid filler lasts for six months to a year. 

3. Chemical Peels

Individuals with hyperpigmented eye bags can be treated with gentle peels like glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and salicylic acid. These acids can enter the skin epidermis or the upper layers of the dermis, resulting in moderate skin shedding and chemical exfoliation.

Read More:- https://youtu.be/ov4TNg-vm6E 

Visit Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic To Get Dark Circles Treatment

Are you experiencing dark circles under the eyes and are looking for a permanent solution to get rid of it? Consult Dr. Ravali Yalamanchili, a leading dermatologist in Hyderabad, at Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic. The expert dermatologist will diagnose what is causing dark circles and recommend an effective treatment according to the severity of your condition and skin type. 

To treat your dark circles, visit Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic today and regain a refreshed, youthful look. Book an appointment now!

Original Source:- https://www.apsense.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-circles-under-the-eyes.html

[sharp-sight92]

Remove puffy eyes through simple lifestyle changes

You look tired! People who have puffy eyes can relate to this phrase. Puffiness makes you look tired, sleepy, and older. Get to know what causes puffy eyes or eye bags and how to get rid of them. Lack of sleep, stress, poor diet, and fatigue can give you puffiness, and dark circles in your eyes.  If the lifestyle changes don’t work on your bags under the eye, it can be a calling for you to see an eye specialist (Oculoplasty Surgeon) for your eyes. If you wish to visit an eye hospital for an eye exam, you can visit Sharp Sight Eye Hospital in Prayagrajfor a specialist advice.

Other than that a small lifestyle change can say bye to your puffiness. Relax! Bags under the eyes are completely normal and there is a range of treatments to get rid of them. Here are the effective 10 ways to remove puffiness.

1. Quit smoking

Besides causing circulatory problems, smoking can cause a thinning of the skin due to interference with blood circulation to the skin. The smoke rising from the cigarette can also aggravate the eyes and deplete the body of essential nutrients such as vitamin C which is essential in repairing skin.

2. Adequate sleep

One of the most effective ways to improve the appearance of under-eye bags is to watch the way an individual sleep.

3. Remove your makeup before going to bed

Leaving your eye makeup on can irritate your eyes, and sometimes it can block the oil glands of the eyes that are present in the inner lash line and get puffy. Always try to remove your makeup before going to bed.

4. Go slow with sodium

Salt is most often linked to high blood pressure, but very few know that all that sodium can cause fluid retention and lead to puffiness under the eyes. Avoid high-salty food and visit your physician.

5. Avoid Known Allergens

Keep a check on your allergy symptoms and avoid excessive eyelid rubbing. Avoid the things to consume that may cause allergies.

6. Get proper sleep

If you don't sleep properly, it can impact your eyes and vision. When it comes to under-eye bags/puffy eyes, the main reason can be improper sleep. One should always sleep at least 6-8 hours at night.

Here are a few medical options for under-eye bags:

If you’re fed up with puffy eyes and want to get rid of it. These are medical treatments that can eliminate bags under the eyes:

Filler: This treatment places a jelly-like substance where the eye’s area and cheek meet to create smooth skin. It is an injection and lasts for 6 to 12 months.

Surgical Option:

Blepharoplasty (of lower eyelid) is a procedure where the surgeon removes the fat under the skin. Mostly, patients get rid of under-eye bags for life through this procedure. But, an eye specialist is the only expert who can give you the right advice. Before taking any step ahead, you should always take advice from an expert.

If you are still dealing with puffy/dark circle eyes and want to get rid of them permanently, you should definitely see an eye specialist to check what is happening with your eyes. Puffy eyes may occur due to some health complications. If you’re planning to visit an eye hospital, consider Sharp Sight eye hospital in near me in Prayagraj to get the best treatment for all vision problems.

[skinbeautystore]

How to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags Permanently

How to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags Permanently Without Surgery

Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing those pesky under-eye bags staring back at you? Worry not, as non-surgical solutions exist to help you restore that youthful appearance. In this blog post, we’ll explore various treatments and at-home remedies on how to get rid of under-eye bags permanently without surgery. Get ready to rejuvenate your under-eye area and boost your confidence!

Key Takeaways

- Non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency skin tightening, laser resurfacing, and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. - Making positive lifestyle changes like proper sleep and hydration along with skincare products & sun protection can help maintain results. - Consulting a professional and setting realistic expectations is key to finding the most suitable treatment option for you!

Understanding Under Eye Bags

Under-eye bags can be a source of frustration for many, often making us appear tired or older than we actually are. They manifest as loose skin and pockets of fat in the lower eyelid area, giving a puffy appearance. While some may turn to surgery for a solution, others prefer to explore non-invasive treatments and home remedies that can also be effective in combating under-eye puffiness. A clear understanding of the underlying causes of under-eye bags and their effects on our appearance and well-being is essential for dealing with this common cosmetic concern. Common Causes of Under Eye Bags Several factors contribute to the development of under-eye bags, including: - Genetics - The natural aging process - Lifestyle choices - Certain medical conditions Genetically, some individuals may have a predisposition to dark circles and eye bags due to a natural accumulation of fat in the eyelids or their skin tone. Positive lifestyle choices, such as consuming a low salt diet, can help reduce inflammation and make the eyes appear less puffy. Quitting smoking can slow down the aging process, further reducing the appearance of eye bags. In some cases, medical conditions like renal disease, diabetes, and thyroid eye disease can also contribute to under-eye bags, but with the right treatment, their impact can be addressed. The Impact of Under Eye Bags Addressing under-eye bags can help alleviate discomfort, boost self-confidence, and may even help prevent medical issues. In rare cases, under-eye bags can become a medical concern, such as when they lead to the preservation of peripheral vision. The desire to reduce under-eye bags is not just about aesthetics; it’s also about improving one’s overall well-being and confidence. With the right treatment or lifestyle changes, you can effectively minimize the appearance of under-eye bags and enjoy a more refreshed and vibrant look.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Under Eye Bags

If you’re looking for non-surgical ways to tackle those bothersome under-eye bags, you’re in luck! Today, we have various non-invasive treatments such as radiofrequency skin tightening, laser resurfacing, and dermal fillers that can offer significant improvements in the appearance of the under-eye area. We will detail each of these prescription allergy medication treatments to aid you in making an informed decision. Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Radiofrequency skin tightening is a safe and noninvasive treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to firm sagging skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. By generating heat, this treatment can help you achieve a more youthful look. The heat from a radio-frequency device effectively tightens and lifts sagging skin, resulting in a reduction of under-eye bags. Aside from under-eye bags, radiofrequency skin tightening can also visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and scars. One such treatment, Morpheus8, uses radio-frequency energy delivered through micro-needling to stimulate collagen and elastin production, activating the body’s natural rejuvenation process and improving the look of under-eye bags. Laser Resurfacing Laser resurfacing is an exciting process that utilizes laser technology to remove damaged skin layers and promote collagen production, resulting in a smoother and firmer complexion around the eyes. This treatment can effectively reduce wrinkles, scars, uneven coloring, and other blemishes on the skin for a more youthful appearance. In comparison to chemical peels and cosmetic surgery, laser resurfacing offers a more targeted approach to skin rejuvenation. The recovery process after laser resurfacing can vary depending on the type of laser used and the area being treated. Generally, the skin may be slightly red and swollen for a few days, but it is expected to heal completely in several weeks. For people with brown or black skin, laser resurfacing has the potential to improve skin color and reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. Dermal Fillers Dermal fillers are injectable substances made of hyaluronic acid that can help improve the appearance of under-eye bags by adding volume to areas around the eyes. They can effectively fill in hollows, stimulate collagen production, and improve skin elasticity and firmness over time, allowing for a more youthful appearance. The advantages of eye fillers include noticeable improvement in appearance, significant reduction in puffiness caused by fluid retention, and minimizing the appearance of dark circles. Dermal fillers, combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, can further promote skin rejuvenation and enhance the results of your treatment by stimulating the regeneration of skin cells.

At-Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

While professional treatments can provide significant improvements, there are also several at-home remedies and lifestyle changes that can help you maintain and enhance the results. We will examine some of these remedies, such as: - Proper sleep and hydration - Cool compress and tea bags - Skincare products - Sun protection Proper Sleep and Hydration

Adequate sleep and hydration are vital in reducing the appearance of under-eye bags and promoting overall skin health. Aiming for about seven to eight hours of sleep every night can help you achieve a refreshed and revitalized look. Staying hydrated can help keep the eyes looking bright and vibrant. In addition to drinking plenty of water, reducing your salt intake can also aid in keeping your eyes and skin looking their best. Cold Compresses and Tea Bags

Applying cold compresses, under-eye masks, or tea bags to the under-eye area can help reduce puffiness and swelling. The cold temperature constricts the blood vessels and minimizes blood flow, causing the tissues to shrink and reducing puffiness. Tea bags, in particular, make for a wonderful temporary fix for under-eye bags. Simply steep them in hot water, cool them in the refrigerator, and apply them to the eyelids for a few minutes. This simple yet effective remedy can provide relief and a more refreshed appearance. Skincare Products and Sun Protection

Using skincare products containing: - Retinol, which diminishes wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles - Caffeine, which acts as a vasoconstrictor to reduce puffiness - Antioxidants, which can support healthy skin and reduce the look of under-eye bags can help improve the appearance of under-eye bags. Additionally, vitamins C, A, and E, along with antioxidants, can support healthy skin and further reduce the look of under-eye bags. Protecting your skin from sun damage is another crucial step in improving the appearance of under-eye bags and maintaining overall skin health. Sun exposure can help promote collagen production, which can help reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. Always wear sunscreen and consider using sunglasses or a hat for added protection.

Choosing the Right Treatment Option

Given the variety of treatment options and remedies available, the selection of the most suitable one for your specific needs and concerns becomes imperative. By consulting with a professional and setting realistic expectations, you can ensure that you select the best approach to reduce your under-eye bags and enhance your overall appearance. Consultation with a Professional Seeking advice from a skincare professional or medical expert is crucial in determining the most appropriate treatment option for your specific needs and concerns. They can assess your individual situation, discuss potential causes of your under-eye bags, and recommend the most suitable non-surgical treatments, at-home remedies, or lifestyle changes to address your concerns. During your consultation, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the available non-surgical treatment options, at-home remedies, and lifestyle changes that can help improve the appearance of under-eye bags. This will help you make an informed decision and feel confident in your chosen treatment plan. Setting Realistic Expectations Non-surgical treatments can significantly improve the appearance of under-eye bags, but keep in mind that results may vary based on individual factors, and complete removal of under-eye bags might not be achievable without surgical intervention. The best expectations for treating under-eye bags include noticeable improvement in appearance, a significant reduction in puffiness, and minimizing the appearance of dark circles. Keep in mind that some treatments may require multiple sessions to achieve the desired results, so patience and persistence are key.

Summary

In conclusion, under-eye bags don’t have to be a permanent fixture on your face. With a combination of non-surgical treatments, at-home remedies, and lifestyle changes, you can effectively reduce their appearance and restore a more youthful, vibrant look. By consulting with a professional and setting realistic expectations, you’ll be well on your way to banishing those pesky under-eye bags once and for all. It’s time to take action and reveal the refreshed, radiant you that’s been hiding beneath those bags!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Eye bags be removed without surgery? Yes, it is possible to remove eyebags without surgery - Endolift is a non-invasive laser treatment that can tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. Can lifestyle changes help reduce the appearance of under-eye bags? Yes, making healthy lifestyle changes such as getting adequate sleep, increasing hydration and reducing salt intake can all help reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. Will non-surgical treatments completely eliminate my under-eye bags? Non-surgical treatments can provide significant improvements, however complete elimination of under-eye bags may require surgery. Read the full article

[susu-0]

Say Goodbye to Eye Bags: Effective Tips for a Youthful Appearance

As we go through our daily routines, we often find ourselves struggling with the unsightly appearance of under-eye bags or puffiness. Eye bags can be a frustrating issue that affects both men and women, young and old. But what exactly are eye bags, what causes them, and how can we get rid of them?

Eye bags are the puffiness or swelling that occurs under our eyes, giving us a tired or aged appearance. While they can be a natural result of aging, there are several factors that can contribute to their development, including genetics, lack of sleep, stress, dehydration, allergies, and even poor diet.

So how can we combat this pesky problem? Here are some simple yet effective tips:

1.

Get plenty of sleep: A good night's rest is crucial for healthy-looking skin and can help reduce the appearance of eye bags. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

2.

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins from your body and keeps your skin looking fresh and youthful. Aim for 8 glasses of water a day.

3.

Reduce your salt intake: Too much salt can lead to water retention and puffiness around the eyes. Try to limit your intake of processed foods and opt for fresh, whole foods instead.

4.

Use a cold compress: Applying a cold compress, such as a chilled cucumber slice or cold tea bags, can help reduce swelling and inflammation around the eyes.

5.

Apply eye cream: Look for an eye cream that contains caffeine or vitamin K, as these ingredients can help reduce puffiness and dark circles.

6.

Use sunscreen: UV rays can damage the delicate skin around the eyes, making bags more prominent. Protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

7.

Consider medical treatments: In some cases, eye bags may be caused by underlying medical conditions that require treatment. Consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon for options such as fillers or surgery.

In conclusion, while eye bags can be a frustrating issue, there are several simple and effective ways to combat them. By taking care of your body, getting enough rest, and using the right products, you can keep your eyes looking youthful and refreshed.

[stella-888]

How Can I Get Rid of Dark Eye Circles?

What are possible treatments for dark under-eye circles?

Some remedies can address dark under-eye circles. If you are getting tired and insecure of them, a professional can help you eliminate them. These recommendations and remedies can be the following:

●     PRP therapy: Some clinics use your growth factors to treat dark under-eye. Your professional will draw blood, use a centrifuge to extract growth factors from it and then reinject it into your under-eye area. With it, expect thickening and tightening of wrinkly and crepey skin, improving the appearance of dark under the eyes. 

●     Laser therapy: Laser therapy involves using heat energy to vaporize damaged cells. The darker the pigment is, the more laser therapy targets it. The process may also encourage collagen formation. 

●     Fillers: Fillers containing hyaluronic acid are also an option to inject into the tissue under the eye by a specially trained healthcare provider. Fillers aid in alleviating volume loss under the eye, which causes dark circles. 

●     Chemical peels: A chemical peel is also a tool to lighten dark pigmentation under the eyes. According to sources, chemical peels include retinoic acid, glycolic acid, or hydroquinone. 

●     Blepharoplasty: In blepharoplasty, fat is surgically removed in a lower lid blepharoplasty by a plastic surgeon, dermatologic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon. This procedure can reduce the shadow cast by your eyelid, decreasing the appearance of dark circles. 

Tips to avoid growing dark under-eye circles

If you do not want these medical options, you can always opt for the natural ones. Here are some home remedies you can effortlessly try: 

●     Sleep: Sleep is the most effortless way to get rid of the dark under the eyes. As discussed earlier, lack of sleep is one of the most common reasons one suffers from darkness under the eyes. Ensure to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night while practicing good sleep hygiene. 

●     Tea bag: Several professionals suggest soaking tea bags, specifically caffeinated tea, and chilling them in the refrigerator for a few minutes. After five minutes, you must place the bag on each eye, remove them, and rinse the area with cold water. 

●     Elevation: You can try to use extra pillows under your head to lessen the puffiness of fluid bulging in your lower eyelids. 

●     Cold compress: Dilated blood vessels can cause the dark pigment under your eyes, but you can ease that with a cold compress because it causes blood vessels to constrict, thus lessening the dark circles. 

If you are ready to discuss your dark under-eye problems, Abilene Beauty Bus is here to help you out! We provide multiple options to help improve your undereye area.

Are you getting ready to reserve yourself a slot now? 

[howtodothis]

Can You Get Rid Of Eye Bags

Can You Get Rid Of Eye Bags

Take care of your allergies. There are numerous natural things you can do from eliminating some bad habits to at home remedies that can help reduce the appearance of bags under eyes. View Video For Can You Get Rid Of Eye Bags View Video Review 3 Exercise Routines To Get Rid Of Eyebags Eye Bag Removal At Home Eye Bags Treatment Eye Bags Eye Bags Makeupsave image The space under your eyes is…

[iridescent-petrichor]

the memories of a life i never lived, chapter three

Pairing: MCU!Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

Warnings: none?

Words: 1K

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

A/N: this chapter is mostly filler, so i was able to actually knock this out in a night, but the next one is where things really start ramping up!!

You were still scrolling through the texts between you and Peter when a hand waved in front of your face.

“Hello? Earth to Y/N.” Your head snapped up, blinking at Ned as he looked at you with a sheepish grin.

“Yeah, sorry. What’s up?” Shoving your phone in your pocket, you watched Ned cast a glance to MJ. They shared a look before MJ turned to you.

“This is exactly what your mom was talking about, you know.” She said, frowning. Your brows furrowed, confused. “Y/N, come on, you haven’t spoken a word since you sat down.”

“Yeah, what’s so interesting on your phone anyways?” Ned asked, leaning forward from his spot on the couch.

“Nothing.” You brushed him off, giving a light wave.

“Y/N,” MJ persisted. “You’ve barely been present for weeks now, Not only do you never see us but whenever you do it’s like you’re not even here!”

You frowned, looking to the ground. It was true, you knew it better than anyone. Ever since you fought with Spiderman a couple of months ago, you withdrew yourself almost entirely. For a moment you contemplate telling them about the whole situation. About your stolen memories, about the mysterious Peter Parker, about everything. But before you could open your mouth, Ned started to speak.

“Is this about your dad?” MJ swatted him, giving you a worried look.

“No.” You said simply, not looking at either of them. “But… whatever it is, it’s been killing me.”

Pulling your phone back out of your pocket, you saw a text.

Peter 💗💞💖💕💗💕💘💕💗💗

on my way.

“I’ll be okay, though. Things have been getting better.”

It wasn’t a complete lie, but the answer seemed to satisfy Ned and MJ nonetheless.

You couldn’t pry your eyes away from the text, forcing back the tears threatening to spill from your eyes. It was eating you up inside to have someone you had clearly cared so much for, but not being able to hold onto a single memory of.

“Anyways,” You cleared your throat, standing with a newfound fervor. You moved about the room, organizing random things in an attempt to get rid of the nervous energy that was overtaking you. “I have some stuff I have to get caught up on, maybe we can meet up later today?”

Your friends shared another look, not entirely buying your excuse, but reluctantly agreeing anyway. Ned stood up first, awkwardly shoving his hands in his pockets while MJ grabbed her messenger bag. You gave them a quick wave, smiling as they walked out into the elevator.

The second the door shut, you collapsed back onto the couch, exhaling sharply. You put your head in your hands, finally able to let yourself break down.

“Why don’t I know you anymore?”

The thought of losing so much knowledge of your own life absolutely terrified you, feeling like you were watching pieces of your own life as if it wasn’t your own. You sat back on the couch, covering your ears and squeezing your eyes shut, letting the tears stream down your face.

Over the course of your life, you’d gotten pretty good at tuning out the world around you. Having grown up in a building that was never really quiet as well as living through about a million alien attacks, you had to develop a coping mechanism somehow. It was especially helpful on nights when you just needed a moment to yourself if you ever even got one.

Tonight, however, it was only helpful for you to not hear the elevator door open. With your eyes still shut, you didn’t see the young boy rushing toward you. He put a hand on your shoulder, making your eyes snap open.

“Y/N!”

You jumped back, recoiling harshly into the couch until you realized who was standing before you.

“Peter…?”

Running on pure instinct, Peter pulled you close, holding you in a way that was so familiar it was almost comforting.

The two of you sat there in silence, finding comfort in each other for a moment before you stand up, shoving Peter away. As you stood, you missed the way Peter’s hands twitched, wanting nothing more than to have you in his arms again.

“Okay, Peter.” You spoke firmly, keeping your voice stronger than you felt. “Speak up. What the hell is going on with you?”

He stares at you for a moment, opening and closing his mouth, trying to find his words. “I-”

“And don’t you dare lie to me, Peter Parker, because it’ll just piss me off even more.” You marched away from him, trying to force yourself away from him to rid yourself of the butterflies in your stomach. Spinning around to face him, you point a finger at him accusingly. “Why can’t I remember you? Why can’t anyone remember you?”

“Y/N-”

“No, okay? Just-” You took a breath, running a hand over your face in frustration. “I asked my mom about you. She hasn’t even heard of you, you know. No one has heard of you. How come no one knows who you are? Not even my fucking AI knows who you are, which doesn’t make sense because according to the security footage, you’re here all the fucking time!”

He stood there for a moment, fighting back tears. You softened, guilty that you unloaded all of your anger at this poor kid who had already agreed to help you.

“I’m… sorry.” You muttered, wringing your hands together.

“It’s okay.” He said, though you cringed when you heard his voice crack just the slightest bit.

Slowly, you move back to the couch, gingerly taking a seat next to him.

“I wanted to tell you everything, honest. But… it’s more complicated than that.”

You looked at him, waiting with bated breath as he began to explain everything.

“Well, I guess I should start from the beginning. Do you remember Mysterio?”

[skintreatmentinindia]

Dark Circles After Pregnancy: How To Tackle Them 

Welcoming a new life is the most joyous yet transformative moment for many women. Though the journey is not easy, it is more of a rollercoaster ride that doesn’t end even after you give birth to your baby. You can notice the complications arising in the post-pregnancy period, also known as the postpartum phase. This phase can bring various changes into a woman’s body, both physically and mentally. Among changes, one common concern numerous women face is the development of dark circles under the eyes.

If you are looking for a way to get rid of dark circles under your eyes and searching for the top treatments for dark circles, you don’t have to go anywhere. This blog contains significant information on understanding the cause of dark circles and determining tips to tackle them taken from Dr. Ravali Yalamanchili, a dermatologist who provides effective dark circle treatment in Hyderabad at Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic. So, let’s get started! 

Understanding The Causes of Dark Circles 

Dehydration 

The demands of breastfeeding and caring for a baby need your constant attention and sometimes lead to dehydration, which can further lead to dark circles. Thus, staying well-hydrated is essential for skin health as it can contribute to a more radiant complexion.

Genetics 

Genetic factors are important in determining an individual’s sensitivity to dark circles. In many cases, it is seen that if dark circles run into an individual’s family, you become more prone to developing them. 

Lack of Sleep

Lack of sufficient sleep is a well-known contributor to dark circles. New mothers usually experience a disrupted sleep cycle due to the demands of caring for a newborn. The first step to removing dark circles is rest and reducing stress levels.

Hormonal Changes 

Pregnancy also triggers hormonal fluctuations, and postpartum hormonal changes can continue to affect your skin. These continuous shifts may often lead to changes in skin pigmentation and the development of dark circles. 

Tips to Tackle Dark Circles 

Some of the doctor-suggested easy tips you can follow to tackle dark circles are: 

Prioritize sleep

Stay hydrated

Cold compress

Take proper nutrition

Take breaks 

Consider professional treatments 

These tips can help to reduce your dark circles but they do not do magic. You have to wait for a while. Also, they do not guarantee the complete removal. For an immediate effect, it is suggested to seek out medical help. 

Treatment Options To Remove Dark Circles 

Tear trough Fillers 

The tear trough filler treatment works by adding volume to the depressed area under your eyes using a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler. Adding the required volume to the tear trough area fills it while reducing the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.

Lasers

Laser therapy treatments can help to reduce your dark circles by vaporizing damaged skin cells and targeting the darkened pigmented area under your eyes. This treatment can also stimulate new collagen production, leading to a more youthful look.

Chemical Peels 

New moms with hyperpigmented eye bags can use chemical peel treatment to remove dark circles. They are best treated with gentle peels like lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and salicylic acid. These acids are known to penetrate the skin epidermis or upper layers of the dermis, resulting in moderate skin shedding- a chemical exfoliation.

Final Take Away 

The postpartum period is a time of adjustment and many ups and downs. It is quite normal to experience change in your body. But developing dark circles to an extent is quite concerning. If you want to eliminate these dark circles immediately, you can consult a skilled dermatologist. 

One such doctor is Dr. Ravali Yalamanchili, the best dermatologist in Hyderabad. She is the founder and chief dermatologist at Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic. She has more than a decade of experience and has helped numerous people with their skin issues to feel confident and beautiful in their skin. To start your skin treatment you can book your appointment with Dr. Ravali Yalamanchili at Neya Dermatology & Aesthetics Clinic today!

Original Source:- https://www.backlinkget.com/blog/dark-circles-after-pregnancy-how-to-tackle-them/

[peakyscillian]

Treat you better | Cillian x Fem!Reader |

Summary: The aftermath of the cast party & night with Cillian. Warnings: Smut (not in this part), Language, Unhealthy relationship, mentions of abuse nothing graphic. Request: No Part: 3/? A/N: Just carrying on a story I thought would be a one shot then a 2 part now theres 3 parts? I can not be tamed! This is just a little filler part there will be a part 4.

Treat you better, 3

One Two Masterlist Cillian had dropped you off at your apartment, insisting he come in with you, but you had promised him it would be ok, Jude would be at work and you were just going to grab a few bits so you could stay with Cillian, until you had organised the locks being changed. He had reluctently left you with a quick kiss on the cheek, before heading up the path to your apartment block, Cillian waited until you were inside before he drove off. The sight before you made you stop in your tracks, your usually pristine apartment was trashed, photo frames smashed on the floor, tables turned over. You slowly made your way to the bedroom, your clothes were torn from the wardrobe, your bed unmade, make up smeared across the vanity, perfume bottles hurled across the room. You hadn't noticed the tears rolling down your cheeks until you let out a small sob, too shocked to process anything. ** Your head snapped round at the noise of the bathroom door clicking open, Jude walked out, your breath hitching in your throat. Your whole body went into panic mode, trying your hardest to make yourself move from the spot you were stuck on, if you left Cillian would be able to turn round and get you, but you couldn't move as you watched the anger in his eyes. "So she returns" he spat, stalking towards you. "I told you to get out" you whispered Jude smirked "When have I ever listened to you?" You were desperately trying to back away, but he was quick to grab you around your arm. Pushing your head to the side inspecting the marks Cillian had left on your neck. "So you really are a slut huh?" his face was close to yours, fingers pressing down on your already bruised jaw. You just nodded, you didn't want to argue, the pain was becoming unbearable, agreeing with him was the fastest way to get him to back off. "Acting like you're going to leave me, when in reality I'm the one who's going to leave you, for being such a dishonest girlfriend, I've got so many stories I could sell about you" He was still in your face, your arm was going numb under the pressure of his grasp. "Sell them, I don't care I just want you to leave" you pleaded, tears fall fast down your cheeks "No one will come near you ever again once they know all about you, that old guy you've been fucking will want to be rid of you in a flash" he pushed you backwards. You were too shocked to stop yourself from falling, the corner of your vanity catching the side of your face. You watched as he picked up the bags he'd already packed, turning back to look at you in disgust once more before he was gone, the door slamming behind him, you noticed the key sat on the bed at least he had the decency to leave it behind. **

You parked at the back of the studio, hoping you could make it to your trailer, text Bella your make up artist to come over before anyone spotted you. You jumped as you stepped into the trailer, Cillian was sat on the small sofa, he looked stressed, standing up as soon you entered. "I've been worried sick" he grabbed hold of your shoulders, inspecting your face, eyes instantly falling to the cut by your eye. "Did he do this?" he brows knotted together "He..he pushed me, I caught it on the vanity" you sighed, knowing you looked a mess, bruised and exhausted. Cillian sat you down on the sofa, kneeling in front of you "You should of called me" You nodded "I know, I didn't have the chance, I didn't know he was there, he trashed my apartment" you could feel the tears building again. Cillian's phone buzzed on the side, he clicked it off, focusing on you. "We'll sort it okay? don't stress. when have you got to be on set?" You looked at the clock, letting out a deep sigh your jaw and head were throbbing "Forty minutes, I need to call Bella in to fix this mess" you gestured to your face. Cillian shook his head "We're get Loz, she'll know what to do" he grabbed his phone, tapping out a message. Five minutes later Loz was in your trailer, Cillian explaining the situation, she was carefully applying make up to your face, in disbelief that someone would do this to you. "Jude said he would sell stories about me and I haven't ever done anything worth selling so I guess he's going to make up some lies and I don't want you all to think they're true and be disgusted by me" you were talking a mile a minute. Loz caught your eye in the mirror, Cillian was leaning against the dresser watching you "We wouldn't believe a word that would come out of his mouth" Loz confirmed, Cillian nodding in agreement. You smiled softly at them both, Cillian checking his watch "I've got to go to set" he lent down to kiss your forehead, Loz watching him carefully. "I'll come by and see you when I'm done here" you squeezed his bicep before he was out of the trailer. "He's smitten with you" she smirked, carefully covering your fresh cut. You bit at your lip "I think the feeling is mutual, but look at me I'm a mess" Loz rolled her eyes "Cillian isn't going to judge you based on this, he's not like that at all, he's just going to want you to be safe" You nodded thanking her for being so kind, she finished up your make up quickly, checking if there was anything else you needed before she was gone, to Sophie's trailer.

** Taglist. @missymurphy1985 @janelongxox @queenshelby @being-worthy@noctvrnalmoth @cloudofdisney @elenavampire21 @datewithgianni @magicalpieex @uchihacumdump @heidimoreton @vhscillian @otterly-fey

[cheekygreenty]

Little Witch- Part 11

The Darkling x Reader

I’m backkkkkkkkk besties 🥰🥰

The rest of the day was spent doused in the work the Darkling had given you earlier, so the time you would have spent otherwise mulling over his plans for the stag had to be pushed out of the way.

You had plenty of time left until the evening's dinner, where you would be formally announced as Deputy General to the Grisha of the Little Palace. You had already signed off on official letters to the camp commanders and First-Army leaders stating your position, but you doubted there would be any fuss from them.

Your own Grisha is who you had to be worried about. They didn't do well with change. Especially not when it came to a mysterious all-powerful Grisha coming and taking control of an army they'd never seen them be a part of before.

Nonetheless, this was happening whether they wanted it or not. Ravka needed to present a united front and adding another person to strengthen said front was essential. All you hoped for was a peaceful transition, no blood-baths. To hell if they whispered or rumored, you could handle that, you've been handling it.

You had a list of ever-changing priorities in your head, and on top of it was always Alina. You cared for your Grisha, no matter how much they hated you or how much you disliked them, and Alina wasn't any exception. You felt a pang of guilt flow through you at the thought of Aleksander using her against her better conscience but you shoved it away quickly. There was nothing you could do but talk to him and question him about the plan.

The plan. The stupid plan. You called it stupid because you didn't know anything about it and against your better judgment, it made you doubt his trust. Was it so bad, so cruel, that he couldn't tell me? Before you came to the Little Palace, you told yourself you wouldn't blindly trust anybody anymore. Aleksander had to be held to that standard too.

Your door was left slightly ajar, you were sick of the knocking at this point so when you heard a feminine voice call out your name you looked up instantly, ready to be hit with more reports.

'Ms.Y/L/N? I have been sent by the General to see if you wish to use any of my help' The red-haired Grisha looked at you with her bright blue eyes. Her white kefta pressed to perfection.

'You must be Genya' You stood up and welcomed her in.

'Sorry about the room, as you can see I don't have a proper desk yet' you laughed and watched her closely as she studied you. 'What do you do exactly? It's been years since I heard of a tailor and I've never had the pleasure to meet one.'

You noticed a look of surprise at your black kefta. If she had any questions, she most certainly didn't feel comfortable asking, he probably told her not to ask.

'I do all sorts of things, change the color of your hair, get rid of pesky scars, anything you don't like about yourself really..... well except your character, there's nothing anyone can do about that' She waved off and sat you down at your vanity, carefully pushing papers to one side.

'So? How about it?' She looked at you through the mirror and you pondered.

'Maybe the eye bags need to go?'

She nodded deeply, 'Definitely' you couldn't help but feel a little offended, but mostly amused.

'What do you propose then, Genya?'

'Hmmm, the eyebags for sure, put some color on your cheeks,-' She combed her hands through your hair and bit the inside of her cheek '-the hair needs something too, perhaps some shine?'

'Perhaps' You mused.

'I shall get to work then' she smiled.

****

After your pampering session with Genya and prying her open (more like soothing her) to talking about life at the Palaces and her life, you came to the conclusion that you would die for her. She was so kind and strong, no wonder she and Alina were always seen together, they were two peas in a pod. Her humor and wittiness, like yours, was refreshing, a breath of fresh air in the stiff and formal palace.

You didn't bother changing. The truth was you were tired already and a full day hadn't even passed of your new job. How did I do this for so many years? But still, you managed to put on your bravest smile and walk in the domed hall with your head held high and your black kefta on a show like a trophy.

Unlike the other time you and Aleksander dined together here, he was already sitting in his chair. Ivan was standing, ready to announce any war news and casualties. You could see Alina looking at you with a confused look on her face, but she still gave you a welcoming smile.

You sat down and cleared your throat in the deafening silence. Ivan began to speak but you heard none of it. Your head too full with thoughts on how this situation could go. You felt Aleksander move his hand to your thigh in a calming manner. You looked over to him and shot him a tight smile, before looking back to Ivan who was sitting down. Here goes nothing.

You stood up with Aleksander. The Grisha in the room couldn't understand what was going on, who was that person, wearing black nonetheless, sitting at the right side of the Darkling, on her own custom chair. The list of anomalies was never-ending.

He spoke first 'Today is a monumental day for the Second-Army, for all Grisha, for Ravka. Y/N Y/L/N has returned to the Little Palace and will be reprising her role of Deputy General, Second in Command of the Second Army.'

Nobody spoke but if looks could kill, I would be halfway into my grave by now.

'Ms. Y/L/N will play an essential part in our fight for freedom and justice. She is an outstanding leader, sometimes even better than I am, for she leads with compassion and understanding for all. She deserves nothing but the utmost respect and loyalty. If you for one second doubt her abilities, you might as well put cuffs around your own wrists, for disrespecting her is disrespect for me. I put my full faith in her.'

He turns to you and sits down, giving you all the attention.

'None of you will remember my reign as Deputy General, but I assure you I know what I am doing. The Little Palace and your lives are of most importance to me. I am here to protect and care for you, yes I will be giving commands, but rest be assured they are in your best interest.'

'I don't represent one order of Grisha, I represent and unite all of you-' You look towards the Etherialki '-I can summon the strongest of gales and light the Palace's fires-'

You turn your head toward the Materialki '-I can bend any metal, bleed fabric of its color-'

Your eyes meet Fedyor's '-I can soothe a heart and crush every bone in a body-'

You stand straighter '- and I can summon the shadows, call the darkness. With me at your side, I will make the Grisha kind loved once again, we will not be hunted or enslaved. Ravka's borders will be peaceful. I am putting my trust into each and every single one of you to help me achieve our utopia'

You sit back down and only then do you notice your shaking hands. You don't dare look up out of fear but a calming hand on your back almost forces you to. And you're glad because almost every Grisha in the room is looking, no, worshipping you. Their eyes glazed over and their mouths open in shock. Even Zoya looked astounded.

He leans in to whisper in your ear 'I'm so proud of you'

*****

You ate amongst the other Grisha that night, feeling a sense of belonging and confidence pulsing through you. It went down way better than you'd expected. Nobody threw a fit or tried your life. And you were happy. The sleep you had that night was the best you'd had in years.

The next morning, and the morning after that, was taken up entirely by work. Aleksander went away and so you were left with the runt of the jobs. But you had made yourself extremely comfortable in his quarters. At first, you only came to make use of the war room, then you sat at his desk to drink your tea and concentrate on work, and ultimately fell asleep in his bed, enclosed by his scent and those forgiving black sheets.

There was so much work to do and only so many hours in the day, and Aleksander decided to make life that much harder by renewing the search for Morozova's stag. You couldn't keep up.

You were waiting on a certain somebody. You had instructed the oprichniki to bring her here right after she was done with Baghra, no later. And so you stood there, inspecting the war table when a gentle knock echoed throughout the room.

'Come in'

'Deputy General' She addressed you with a curt nod.

'Please Alina, call me Y/N' you looked at her from your place at the table, hands resting on the map. She looked slightly uncomfortable but way less scrawny than when you'd first seen her. Her hair was filler and her skin glowed. She looked healthy now. Aleksander must see this too.

'I can see using your powers has affected you in more ways than one.'

'Oh-yes umm.. my appetite's grown so much since I got here it's rather funny' She was growing more comfortable.

'That's completely normal if you're using your powers more often' You smiled and walked around to her. 'I thought we could have a cup of tea or two, and you could tell me all about yourself Alina, and the things that are troubling you. I don't want you to feel like you're all alone in this place.'

'Dep- Y/N I assure you I am most certainly fine. There’s no need t-’

'I was once like you… and I can sense a troubled soul with my eyes closed.'

She stared at you with her defensive walls up, not letting any emotion slip though the cracks behind her eyes.

‘Alina… I mean you no harm. I’m just worried. Isn’t it nice to have someone worry for Alina and not the sun-summoner for a change?’ You cracked a sad smile and walked over to the tea the servants had brought.

‘Sugar?’

Part 12

Taglist (tell me if u want to be added!!)

@theonelittleone @searching-for-gallifrey @0-artemis @lostysworld @xceafh @fire-in-her-veinz @patdsinner33 @cleverzonkwombatsludge @wizardwheezes @aleksanderwh0r3 @tomhollandisabae @hotleaf-juice @justmesadgirl @exo-1204 @houseofdupree @oberonpascal @eireduchess

[imaginedisish]

Devil’s Advocate (Tenet) Neil x Reader

Chapter 2: I’ll Try Anything Once

A/N: Hi guys! So this sort of feels like a filler chapter, but I hope you still all enjoy it :) And ps...this chapter is based on I’ll Try Anything Once by Julian Casablancas (it’s derived from one of the Strokes’ demos I think)

Summary: You and Neil land in London to some majorly unfortunate circumstances that are too overwhelming for you to handle, but Neil is done letting you get hurt. 

Warnings: Death, guns, gunshot wounds, explosions, violence/murder (implied more or less), cursing, minor angst maybe, and yay fluff!

Word Count: 4,191

“Hey,” A voice whispers softly; the familiar sound encourages you to lift your eyelids. “(Y/N), we’re about to land,” The voice whispers again as you feel yourself slowly rocking back and forth. You groggily open your eyes. 

The cabin of the plane is dark except for a few scattered overhead reading lights. You notice that your head is still resting against Neil’s chest as his warm hold envelopes you, keeping you pressed tightly against him. A tickle twitches in your stomach as you feel the plane drop down closer to the ground. The tickle quickly turns to terror as you remember where you’re headed. You feel your heart rapidly beat in your chest. You take a deep breath, hoping to suppress your paralyzing fears of being back out in the field. 

Neil’s calming voice grounds you. “Are you alright?” He asks, his arms tightening around you. The airplane drops some more, causing the tickle in your stomach to continue. 

“I’m not sure,” You respond honestly as you try and swallow your fear in your throat. Of course, it doesn’t work. The airplane drops again, and you pull slightly away from Neil to look out the window. Lights twinkle below you, and you can see Heathrow Airport in the near distance. 

The seat creaks a bit as Neil moves closer to you. His cheek brushes up against yours as he peers out the window. His closeness was comforting. 

Neil sighs. “I know you don’t want to be here, (Y/N),” Neil says as his right arm wraps around your shoulders again, stealing your attention away from the lights of the towns below.  “But it’s going to be okay. We’ll get in, get what we need, get rid of who we don’t, and get out.” He shoots a smirk in your direction.

The plane grows even closer to the ground but the tickles disappear, and nausea fills your stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick,” You complain. Anxiety courses through your veins, worsening your current state. 

Neil, with his arm still around your shoulders, shakes his head and pulls you away from the window. “You’re not throwing up here,” He says, chuckling a bit. “Or I’ll be doubled over with you.” You find yourself laughing too, but it’s no surprise. That’s simply what Neil does to you. He makes everything seem like it could be…

Okay. 

You were too wrapped up in thoughts of Neil to notice when the wheels of the plane came crashing on the ground. The sound of skid marks screeching against the tarmac gave way for the anxiety to settle back down into your stomach. You shudder, imagining all the things that could go wrong. All the stupid little things that could go horribly, horribly wrong.

You watch as everyone begins to stand up from their seats, walking out into the aisle and grabbing their things from the overhead compartments. Neil gives you a final squeeze before letting go and following suit with the rest of the people on the plane. You look back out the window for a second, contemplating whether or not being in Tenet is worth it at all. There’s so much danger, so much death, so much fear. 

And my own father is the enemy, You think. 

“Are you ready, love?” Neil calls, breaking you out of your thoughts. 

You shrug and stand up from the seat, hunching over ever so slightly as to not smack your head against the ceiling. “I don’t think I’ll ever be, so I might as well just jump without looking, right?” 

Neil smiles sadly, almost as if to apologize. “Then I’ll be ready for you, and I’ll catch you when you fall.” 

Your heart flutters in your chest at his reassurance, despite the sardonic nature of your comment. “Neil I-,” You say, carefully stepping out into the aisle. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“Don’t thank me,” Neil starts, seemingly minimizing his ability to change your entire mood. “This is what friends are for.”

Right, friends. 

Neil guides you out of the plane and onto the bridge. After a short walk, you enter the airport. 

It’s a ghost town. Some people are sleeping, slumped over in uncomfortable, stiff chairs waiting for their flight. You had forgotten that the time had changed. You look down at your phone to see that your New York time zone has already been switched to London’s. 

3:56 AM

It only takes a few shuffles out to the main concourse for you to recognize how exhausted you are in spite of your ability to sleep on the plane. After all, that had been the most sleep you had gotten since the…accident. 

You and Neil walk in silence for a while. It isn’t an awkward silence. It’s the comfortable, relaxing kind. It’s the kind of silence shared by two people who don’t need to talk to share how much they enjoy the other’s company. You take in all the shops and food stores as an attempt to keep yourself distracted from the terror of the mission. 

You step onto an escalator, and your attention finally lands on Neil’s face. You had studied it a million times, as odd as that sounds, but you couldn’t help it. You liked looking at him. You liked getting confirmation that he was in fact real and was in fact with you. 

“Hey,” You finally speak up. “Aren’t we in your hometown now?”

You watch as Neil’s cheeks lift and the corners of his mouth turn up. “Yeah,” He says back. “I guess we are.” His eyes rest on yours for a second before they flicker down to your lips. It catches you off guard, but the moment is gone just as soon as it begins as you’re forced to step off the escalator. You enter the baggage claim area and head straight towards the exit of the airport. 

Conveniently waiting outside the doors is a black town car. You look to Neil, making sure it’s the right one. Neil nods, silently confirming that this is a part of the plan. You open the door and plop onto the seat. You hear Neil open and close the trunk before he takes his spot next to you in the car. 

“We live in a twilight world,” Neil says. But there’s no answer. 

You clear your throat nervously, reaching underneath your black, baggy, menswear dress pants, clutching onto the small revolver tied against your calf. “He said, we live in a twilight world.” 

There’s no answer again. You take the revolver out, aiming it at the man. You look over at Neil and notice that his shirt is undone; he had already taken his gun out. He always kept it under his shirt, attached to his chest. He hunches over, slowly moving towards the man through the center console. 

The man’s hat is titled over his forehead. Neil takes it off. 

Neil parts his lips. “Fuck,” His voice is shallow. “He’s dead. He’s got a bullet in the center of his forehead,” There’s a panic in Neil’s voice.  He looks up to the windshield, and you follow his gaze. There’s no point of entry, no shattered glass. 

“So someone else has already been here,” You remark. Neil’s eyes widen as he moves the man’s shirt over a bit. 

That’s when the light beeping noise starts. 

“SHIT!” Neil screams. “Get out of the car! NOW!” He opens the door on your side of the car and practically shoves you out. You stumble, barely able to catch your balance when your feet hit the ground. Neil sprints to the trunk, opening it up and grabbing the luggage. 

You follow behind him, tugging on his arm, trying to pull him away. “The luggage, really?” You shout in disbelief. 

Neil secures both bags in his right hand, and grabs your wrist with his left. You both break out into a sprint. “We need to take cover,” Neil says in between breaths, his eyes frantically searching around the taxi area. “Do you see-,”

BOOM!

“FUCK!” Neil yells, practically tripping over his feet as the concrete vibrates violently below. He catches his balance just before he can face plant into the ground.

The car explodes behind you. The heat of the flames radiate on your back. You don’t dare look behind you; you keep running. 

You and Neil finally reach a parking lot, and stop for a break.

“What the hell was that?” You whisper, angrily grabbing Neil by the collar and bringing him in between two minivans for cover, just in case anyone had followed you or was planning to attack. 

Neil grabs your waist in return, brining you even closer to him. Your breath hitches in your throat as you realize how close you are to him. “They must know we’re here,” Neil says. His eyes are still wide and his breathing is still heavy. 

“And the suitcases?” You question with heavy concern, and even frustration, in your voice. “Do you not have firefighters come into your elementary schools in England? Do you not get taught that stuff can be replaced and human beings can’t be?” Your whisper turns into more of an angry shout. 

Neil shakes his head in disapproval. “There are explosives in my suitcase, (Y/N). If they detonated we would be dead,” He says, panic still evident in his voice, and a bit of anger as well. 

You nod, loosening your grip on his collar. “I’m sorry I just,” You pause, knowing full well what had just come over you. “I just didn’t want anything to happen to you, that’s all.” You feel your eyes becoming glossy. This was the very thing you were afraid of. You were almost blown to bits, and worse than that, Neil could’ve died. The mission was already failing, and it hadn’t even truly started yet.

You shut your eyes tightly, and a few tears roll down your cheeks.

Neil swallows hard, his arms still resting on your waist. “No, I’m sorry. You didn’t know. I shouldn’t have jumped down your throat like that.” Neil pulls you into an embrace. 

“It’s okay,” You mumble quietly into his chest.

You let him hold you in silence for a few moments. You needed to process things. You needed to ground yourself. You needed this second with Neil. 

You feel yourself dozing off a bit in Neil’s arms. Visions of a bed with a plush comforter and satin sheets play over in your head. It had to be almost 4:30 in the morning at this point. 

“How are we going to get to the hotel?” You ask, longing for a good night’s sleep. “And what if they know what hotel we’re staying in?”

Neil pulls apart from you and reaches into his pocket to grab his phone. “I’ll call TP and figure out what we’re supposed to do.” Neil types in his passcode, presses on the screen a few times, and lifts his phone up to his ear. 

You look up into the night sky to distract yourself. The stars twinkle lightly, but there’s too much light pollution to get a good look. The cold wind nips at you roughly. You turn to face Neil. He’s pacing back and forth about twenty feet away from you. You try and tune into what he’s saying.

“They fucking know we’re here, what am I supposed to do?” The frustration in his voice is clear. He waits for a response. 

“Yeah, she’s alright I guess, but you shouldn’t have forced her out into the field this early,” He pauses again. “No I don’t care that you’re the boss, she wasn’t ready when she left this afternoon and she definitely isn’t ready now!”

Silence, and then another sentence. “No, I’m not letting my feelings get in the way, that’s not what this is.”

Feelings? 

“I mean of course it’s because I care about her, you know how I feel…” He trails off, and walks a bit farther away from you. What he says next, you can’t hear.

After a few seconds, he starts to walk back, still keeping a bit of a distance. “Alright, we’ll head over there now,” Neil looks up at you and winks, confirming that there’s some sort of plan set in place. 

Neil turns his back to you. “And I swear to God,” He whispers, thinking you can’t hear him, “If she dies, I’m going to kill you.” 

A shiver rolls down your spine at his words. You knew Neil cared about you, but you didn’t know he would threaten TP for you, even if it was just a sarcastic threat.

But this wasn’t a joke.  

“Yeah okay. Thanks,” Neil says finally. “Talk to you later.” He takes the phone away from his ear and presses the red button to hang up. He walks back over to you. You’re still overwhelmed by what Neil had said on the phone, but you push those thoughts to the back of your head.

You yawn listlessly. “So what’s going to happen?” You ask, ready to crash to the ground in exhaustion. 

Neil smiles. He picks up the luggage in his right hand again, and points to the other side of the parking lot. You notice a separate lot filled with rental cars. “TP put in a favor and we’re getting our own car. Looks like you’ll have to deal with my driving.” 

You can’t help but smile back at him. You didn’t mind Neil’s driving at all, to be honest. You felt safe when Neil drove. But then again, you felt safe with Neil no matter what he did. 

“It’s just on the other side of the lot,” Neil reassures. You roll your eyes at the thought of more walking, but you figured it may be a good time to talk about what you had just heard Neil say on the phone. 

Before you can think of something to say, Neil loops his left arm around your waist. His fingers settle on the exposed skin underneath your oversized blazer. Your nerves tingle underneath his touch, and any thoughts you had before disappear from your mind. 

After a few seconds, you force yourself to think back to the phone call. “Neil? Can I ask you something?” 

“Anything,” Neil says back, smiling down at you. 

“The phone call you just had, with TP,” You pause, trying to find the right words.

Neil shakes his head. “Whatever you heard, don’t worry about it, please. I know what I’m doing,” He pauses and pulls you closer to him. "You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be alright. ” You’re not entirely content with his answer, but it’s enough for now. 

After a five minute walk, you finally reach the rental lot. Neil walks over to the man inside of the tiny cube shaped building. You can’t hear what he’s saying, but a set of keys are exchanged, and Neil motions for you to follow him. You begrudgingly pick up your pace to catch up with him.

“What kind of car is it?” You ask. Neil presses the panic button once, and the headlights of a black, Porsche 911 flash across your face. 

You go to get into the car, approaching the door on your left hand side, forgetting you’re now in Europe. Neil smirks at you, grabs your hand, and brings you to the other side of the car. He sets the luggage down on the ground, and opens your door, letting you slip inside. Normally, you would have a cheeky response to Neil opening the door for you, but you were too tired now. Neil grabs the luggage, and walks around the other side of the car. He opens his door and puts the luggage in the back seat. 

Neil puts the key into the ignition and starts the car. He takes out his phone, and through your blurry vision, you watch as he slides his finger around. 

“What are you doing?” You ask. Your voice is barely above a whisper and it’s filled with tiredness. “Just drive,” You order sarcastically, nudging Neil with your elbow.  Your sarcasm melts away when you remember the gravity of the situation. “What if they’re already here? What if they’re looking for us?” 

Neil puts his phone in the cupholder, and rests his hand on your thigh. “I’m just setting up the GPS and choosing some music, love,” Neil says. “Take a deep breath. TP just arranged for us to stay at a different hotel, and he has eyes and ears everywhere. We’ll be alright.”

Ten decisions shape your life,

You’ll be aware of 5 about,

7 ways to go to school,

Either you’re noticed or left out.

“I love this song,” You say, struggling to keep your eyes open. 

“I know,” Neil says. “Try to sleep, I’ll wake you up when we get there.” His voice is calming, and you almost do as he says, but you remember where you are. You wanted to look at the city. You wanted to see it before all the chaos began. You had been to London plenty of times before, but leaving the United States still excited you, even though you were rarely there at all anymore.

When I said "I can see me in your eyes,”

You said "I can see you in my pants,”

That's not just friendship that's romance too.

You like music we can dance to.

The highway goes on for a while, looking reminiscent of highways in America. Grass and trees line the black concrete. There’s no light save for a few street lamps. Each time you start to doze off, you force yourself to wake up. The feeling of Neil’s thumb drawing circles on your thigh doesn’t make it too hard. 

Sit me down,

Shut me up,

I'll calm down,

And I'll get along with you.

The trees melt into industrial areas. Car dealerships, stores, apartments, hotels. And finally, after a few more minutes, you’ve hit Central London. The lights are bright and the buildings are beautiful. 

Don't don't don't don't it's not safe no more,

I've got to see you one more time.

Neil pulls into a parking garage and finds an open spot. “We’re here,” He says, squeezing your thigh lightly. 

You unbuckle your seat belt, carefully open the door, and slide out of the car. Neil grabs the two duffle bags and gets out after you. You head inside the hotel, and Neil checks in. He grabs the keycard and ushers you into the elevator. 

The second you enter the lift, worry fills Neil’s face. His brows furrow and he shuts his eyes as he lets his head hit the wall behind him. 

“Neil?” You ask. “What’s going on?” Maybe it was the jet lag, or maybe it was the exhaustion, but you feel more confident than usual. You step towards him and grab his hands in yours.

Neil takes a deep breath. “I’m so sorry we’re here,” He says, his eyes still closed, as if he’s too guilty to face you. “I didn’t want to do the mission yet. I really wanted to wait. I know you aren’t ready yet. I just-,” 

You wrap your arms around Neil, and hold him tightly against your body. “I’ll be alright Neil, I promise.” His arms wrap around your body in response. You pull away from him slightly, your heart beating rapidly in your chest. You look up into his eyes, down to his lips, and back into his eyes again. Neil brings his face closer to yours, so close that you can feel his breath against your lips. 

“(Y/N), I need to-,” 

The conversation is interrupted by the dinging of the elevator and the giggles of a drunken couple as they step inside. 

The woman speaks up. “Sssorry for interrupting, loves,” She slurs, cackling a bit. Her boyfriend joins in and cackles with her. Neil politely smiles and nods. He picks up the luggage yet again with one hand, grabbing your wrist with the other. He pulls you outside the elevator and into the hallway. 

Your heart is still beating wildly in your chest. “Neil, you had something you needed to say?”

But the moment is over. He shakes his head. “We can talk about it some other time, I don’t want to overwhelm you. Enough has happened tonight.” Your heart sinks in your chest. Neil swallows, glancing back over towards the elevator. “And those people seemed off. We should really get inside the room.” You nod, agreeing, and allow Neil to take hold of your hand and guide you down the hall to the suite.  

You finally approach the room. 

505. 

“This is us,” Neil says, setting the luggage on the ground to swipe the keycard. The door unlocks, and Neil press down on the handle. You enter the dully lit room, and immediately flop onto the king bed. Neil smirks at you from the doorway. 

He walks inside, and you sigh in relief. “This is so nice,” You murmur, sliding your black converse off your feet. You push yourself further onto the bed so that your head rests on a pillow. 

“We should probably shower,” Neil says, crossing the room. He places the duffle bags on the desk by the window. He takes his suit jacket off. 

You chuckle. “What, like, together?” You erupt into laughter. There was something about being so unbelievably tired and jet lagged that made you a completely different person. It was like being drunk. 

Neil shakes his head and smiles widely. “If that’s what you want,” He retorts.

Oh? Is he flirting with me? He can’t be.

“I-I think I’m t-too tired for a shower a-at all,” You stutter, not sure what else to say. 

“Me too,” Neil says. He begins to undo the buttons of his white dress shirt one by one. Suddenly, his chest is completely exposed. You feel heat rising to your cheeks. 

He undoes his belt, unzips his fly, and steps out of his trousers. He’s only wearing his boxers now. You had seen him like this a million times, but it still caught you by surprise. He walks over to the other side of the bed, grabs a pillow, and drops it on the ground. He grabs the throw blanket at the edge of the bed and drops it on the ground as well.

You furrow your brows, confused by his actions. “What are you doing?” You ask. 

Neil’s blue gaze meets yours. “Setting up camp,” He jokes, sending a smile your way.

You breathe deeply, still riding out on the confidence that being sleep deprived gave you. “Why don’t you sleep in the bed with me?” 

Neil inhales sharply. “I don’t want to bother you. You’re exhausted.”

“I think I’d sleep better if you were with me, actually.” You let the words come right out, no regrets. “You make me feel safe, Neil,” You confess. 

Neil smiles and bends down, grabbing the pillow and the blanket, placing them back on the bed. He lifts the covers and slides in. You get underneath the covers too. You don’t realize how close you are to Neil until you turn onto your side to face him. 

“I’m glad I make you feel safe, (Y/N),” Neil finally responds. Your heart feels like it might burst. You and Neil had shared a bed in the past, but you had only ever been this close inside of one a handful of times before. “You have no idea how much I care about you.”

“You have no idea how much I care about you, Neil,” You say. 

Neil pushes himself up a bit, and presses a kiss against your forehead. You’re stunned. “Goodnight, (Y/N),” Neil says, and he reaches over to turn off the lamp next to his nightstand. The room goes pitch black. 

“Goodnight, Neil,” You say. Neil turns over to the other side and you do the same. You stay like that for a few minutes, before tossing and turning a few times. Seconds ago you were comfortable, and now you weren’t. 

As you laid alone in your thoughts, your anxieties all began to flood back to you. How the fuck am I going to do this? How is this mission going to turn out? This is going to be absolutely impossible. What if something happens to Neil? Your mind races with thoughts. You turn a few more times before you feel a hand on your waist. 

“I thought you were exhausted,” Neil snickers. 

“I am but-,”

Neil cuts you off. “But that doesn’t stop your mind from racing?” 

You turn around to face him. “Unfortunately, no.”

Neil wraps his arms around you, and pulls you into his bare chest. “Is this okay?” He asks. 

“Y-yes,” You stutter, pressing your face into the center of his chest. 

And finally, for the first night in over a month, you were able to sleep, nightmare free. 

So why not try it all,

If you only remember it once?

Sit me down,

Shut me up,

I'll calm down,

And I'll get along with you.

>>>>>Chapter 3

[charincharge]

AN: Here’s the fourth and final installment of the Actress AU. It was ready much sooner than I anticipated! If you haven’t read the first three parts, you can find them below. I hope this is a satisfying conclusion for you all! xo.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Aelin squinted against a harsh white light, making her head throb. She went to rub the mascara from her sticky lashes, but her hand tugged painfully. She struggled to focus, her brain slowly catching up with her vision as she took in her stark surroundings.

Her breathing increased as she realized where she was.

She tugged her hand again, wincing as the tube under her skin pulled at the tape covering it. Another tube ran into two smaller ones, inserted into her nose, pushing a steady stream of cold air down her throat.

Despite the tubes in her nose, the overwhelming smell of lemon antiseptic pervaded her senses, and she struggled to swallow down the pool of saliva that formed in her mouth as nausea swirled around her stomach.

It clenched hard, and before she knew what was happening, she was on her side, a thin yellow stream of bile pouring from her mouth into a light pink tub placed in front of her face seemingly out of nowhere. It splashed gently, and Aelin recoiled from the smell, her body sweating and shaking with the effort it took to expel the disgusting substance.

“That’s it,” a woman’s soft voice cooed, rubbing at her back. “You’re okay, darling,” it repeated. Despite being unable to see who was touching her, Aelin relaxed into the woman’s hand as she finished throwing up.

She wiped at her mouth, wanting to get rid of the sour taste in her mouth and graciously accepted a small paper cup of water from another mystery person.

Aelin wiped at her eyes again and rolled onto her back into the lumpy pillow behind her head and finally looked around. The hospital room’s curtains had been drawn, letting early morning sunshine filter in, but it was no match for the harsh fluorescents which shone down on Aelin, making her sweat. Two nurses bustled around her, their light green scrubs swishing as they switched out her IV bag and adjusted the oxygen tank beside her.

“You gave everyone quite a scare, sweetheart” the dark-haired nurse said, smoothing Aelin’s hair away from her face. It crunched beneath her touch, still coated in layers of hairspray.

“What happened?” Aelin croaked. The last thing she remembered was being at the premiere party. But judging by the amount of sunlight streaming through the windows, that was hours ago.

“I’m going to grab the doctor, and she’ll explain everything,” the woman said, her even voice attempting to calm Aelin’s racing heart.

Her head pounded agonizingly as she attempted to nod, and the nurse frowned in understanding.

She shushed Aelin, who hadn’t even realized she’d started crying softly as she readjusted her pillows behind her, trying to make her more comfortable. But it was impossible. Every part of Aelin ached with discomfort.

A beautiful woman with long chestnut curls and caramel skin swept into the room, her dark eyes immediately going to Aelin as she introduced herself.

“Aelin,” she said with a professional nod. “I’m Doctor Towers, and I’ve been treating you since you came in last night.” She paused, taking a step closer. “Do you remember what happened?”

Aelin winced as she shook her head again.

“That’s okay,” Dr. Towers assured her. “You had an accidental overdose.” Aelin’s mouth gaped, opened and closing as she struggled to find the words, but the doctor continued. “You came in with cocaine and fentanyl in your system, which is unfortunately something I’ve been seeing more and more of.”

“Fentanyl?” Aelin asked, confused. She had no idea what that even was, and she certainly had no knowledge of taking it.

Dr. Towers narrowed her eyes. “You are extremely lucky to be alive right now. When your friend brought you in, you were completely nonresponsive.”

Aelin gasped. Fear and shame crashed down on her. She was sure this would be all over the gossip sites. She’d be written off as a party girl, instead of a serious budding actress. Everything she’d endured with Arobynn would be for nothing. Another tear fell down her cheek as the doctor explained her treatment.

“We administered Narcan, which is used to treat opioid overdose and were able to get you breathing again.”

“Opioid?”

The doctor pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “I’m going to assume you don’t know that your cocaine was cut with fentanyl. It’s been used more frequently as filler, but, as you experienced, it can have potentially fatal interactions.” She paused again. “As I said, you were extremely lucky.” Her face softened as Aelin wiped another tear away. “How are you feeling, physically?”

“Bad,” Aelin chuckled through her tears.

“I’ll bet.” Doctor Towers sighed and adjusted her clipboard. “You’re going to experience a lot of pain today. Your body is going through opioid withdrawal now, as well as cocaine. Plus, Narcan has a few side effects as well – stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, body aches. All sound about right?” Aelin nodded. “We’re going to keep you here to monitor your recovery for the next twelve hours. If you feel shortness of breath or like someone is suddenly sitting on your chest, call for a nurse immediately.”

“Okay,” Aelin said, her voice barely a whisper.

“Because of the events that led you here, you’re required to talk to a psychiatrist. She’s fantastic. Her name is Dr. Ytger, and she can help you decide what your next course of action should be.” Dr. Towers smiled, her seriousness dissolving slightly as her eyes warmed with kindness. “In the meantime, there are quite a few worried people, who have been waiting for you to wake up. If you feel up to it, they can come see you one-by-one.”

Aelin’s chest pounded uncomfortably. “There are people here?”

Dr. Towers’ smile widened as she nodded. “The man who brought you in has asked that he be first to see you.”

“Man?” Aelin rasped. She’d been so sure Manon would have been the one to take her to the hospital, hopefully fielding press the whole time.

Her breath caught as Dr. Towers’s eyes narrowed. “Tall, striking eyes. Pacing a hole in the waiting room carpet?”

Her breath picked up, and she struggled to calm herself as Arobynn’s faux-worried face appeared in her minds eye. She could only imagine how mad he was if he was forced to leave his own premiere party in an ambulance. Just the thought of his angry face was enough to have her feeling nauseous again. She was sure he was only here to protect his image. Heaven forbid his muse died.

“Do you not want to see him?” the doctor asked. “Aelin, if you’re in danger you can tell me. I can have the police here, and I will happily kick that green-eyed man to the curb.”

“Green?” Aelin’s head swirled. “Rowan brought me in? Not a man with red hair?”

The doctor shook her head. “No. No red-headed man.”

As relief flooded her body, she must have nodded because before she knew it, the doctor was exiting her room and returning with Rowan in tow.

Despite the pain that surged through her body, Aelin’s chest warmed at the sight of him. His tux was rumpled beyond belief, his sleeves pushed up to reveal his forearms, and dark purple circles on his skin contrasted with his red-rimmed eyes. He must have been here all night.

He perched himself at the edge of the hospital bed, careful to not brush against Aelin beneath the thin blue blanket, and the night came rushing back to her. The carpet, Rowan’s girlfriend, cocaine in the closet with Archer… She felt awful. She’d absolutely ruined Rowan’s night.

“I’m so glad to see those eyes open again,” he whispered, and Aelin could feel a soft pressure build at her throat. For a second, she was concerned it was the shortness of breath she was supposed to be looking out for, but as she took a deep breath, she couldn’t control the sob that escaped her lips.

Tears poured from her eyes, dripping in steady rivulets down her cheeks, down her chin and dripping onto her hospital gown in dark grey splotches as they mixed with her makeup.

Rowan tentatively raised his hand to her face and wiped at her tears, his thumb caressing her cheek with such a softness that it did nothing to abate her crying. Gods, she had missed his touch. She leaned her head into his hand and sighed, her breath shaking with her tears as they stared at each other in silence.

“I’m sorry,” Aelin whispered finally. She had to apologize to him for ruining his night. For bringing him here, for making him stay in the hospital for hours when he should have been celebrating his feature success.

His green eyes hardened as he spoke, though the soft caress of his thumb never ceased. “None of this is your fault, Aelin. None.”

“But, I ruined your big night, and…”

Rowan paused as he leaned forward, his lips pursing as he examined her face. “Baby,” he said so reverently that it nearly knocked her out. “You almost died, and you think I care about some fucking party?”

His fingers slid to her hair, crunching beneath his touch as Aelin tried not to cringe. She was a complete mess. A stupid, selfish mess. But she couldn’t imagine not wanting this, not wanting him. And she would take whatever he gave her.

“I swear I’m not an addict, I just really like the way cocaine smells.” She attempted to smile as tears formed in Rowan’s eyes.

“That is the worst joke I’ve ever heard,” he said, though he chuckled softly regardless of her inappropriate words. “And I know you’re not an addict,” he sighed. “That’s what I was trying to talk to you about last night. Why I wanted you to meet my—”

“Girlfriend?” Aelin’s heart sank as she remembered the circumstances that led to her latest brush with white dust. But Rowan’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“What? No,” he said, shaking his head. “My cousin.”

“Your cousin?” Aelin’s head was reeling. She was in too much pain and too exhausted for this kind of information. She was confused. Yet again.

“Tall? Blonde? Bright green eyes just like every Whitethorn? Walked the carpet with me?”

“Your cousin,” Aelin repeated. She tried to remember the beautiful blonde draped on Rowan’s arm, but she was nothing more than a hazy memory of blonde smiles and hurt feelings.

“She’s a reporter for The Terrasen Times,” he began. “She’s being doing a series of exposes on abusers in the film industry, and Aelin, she has enough to take Arobynn down.” He breathed in deeply, his bright eyes shining as they filled with tears. “I knew as soon as you kicked me out of your trailer that something had happened. But I didn’t get confirmation until I saw you at that press junket. You’re just the latest in a long line of young actresses emotionally abused and threatened and hooked on drugs to control them. I kept my distance because I didn’t want him to use me against you. But… I didn’t think…” His lip quivered as he fought with his tears. “Baby, I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you.”

“I don’t understand,” Aelin said, her mind swimming with his words but not really processing any of them.

“Four women came forward and are pressing charges against him, Aelin. The article went live last night.” Rowan’s eyes pierced through her as she inhaled a sharp breath. “He’s going to jail. He can’t touch you anymore.”

Months of frustration and fear and anger and shame and guilt released at Rowan’s words, and a fresh wave of tears poured down Aelin’s cheeks. Her body shook, as she felt herself freed from Arobynn’s vindictive grasp. Free. She couldn’t even imagine it.

She reached forward and buried her face into Rowan’s shoulder, letting his arms cradle her and soothe her pain. She inhaled deeply, wanting to immerse herself his scent, but all she could smell was stale alcohol and faint traces of vomit. The smell made her dizzy with nausea, and she soon pulled away to vomit into the bucket next to her bed.

She wiped at her face, black smudging against her skin as she pulled her hands away. “Well, that was romantic,” she laughed, though her tone was anything but humorous.

“Aelin,” Rowan murmured her name with a quiet exuberance. “I don’t care that you’ve been throwing up for hours,” he said seriously. “I love you, have been in love with you, since the first time I laid eyes on you almost a year ago, and I need to kiss you right now.” He smiled sweetly, and as he leaned in, Aelin could feel her heart stutter. “Is this romantic enough for you?” he asked, his lips merely a breath away from hers.

“I love you, too,” she replied. Her confession warmed her from the inside out as their matching smiles met in a soft kiss. His hands stroked the back of her neck, soothing her quivering muscles.

His lips pressed against hers again, seemingly unable to pull back, but Aelin felt her exhaustion catching up with her heavily beating heart all too soon. A large yawn escaped her lips, and Rowan pulled back, his hand trailing down her arm to her tube-laden hand and squeezing it gently.

“Sleep,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She squeezed his hand in return and pulled him toward her. “Come cuddle,” she asked with wide eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere, Aelin,” he replied seriously. “Not ever again.”

But despite his words, he climbed into the small cot with her, arms wrapped around her shoulders. And despite the sweat and the nausea and stomach pain, Aelin fell sleep peacefully for the first time in months.

~*~

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