#once again- had a lot of fun rendering glitter & makeup

[nineinchclawz]

Backstage 💄✨

Contribution piece for @arakihorrorzine

Close-ups under the cut

[highqueenofelfhame]

25 Days of Christmas: Day Two.

Rowan and Aelin film a Yulemas music video - Rockband AU/ Heaven Knows.

Releasing a Yulemas cover and music video was all fun and games until the space they were renting out was freezing cold and all Aelin wore was a skimpy silk nightgown and a completely useless robe. Was it anything different than she would wear at home? No. But at least at home she could tumble in the sheets with someone else until she was sweating, or wrap herself in blankets to keep out the chill. In the middle of an open set, there was nothing to keep her warm, but she supposed the slight chatter to her teeth were better than sweating her makeup off in the video. 

Outside of the room that she was hiding away in, Rowan was looking rather toasty in a full flannel pajama set. He was also looking incredibly good, but Aelin wasn’t going to be the one to admit that. He had plenty of other people feeding into his ego, the man definitely didn’t needed her help. But still… he looked damn good, the red and green offsetting against his tanned skin too perfectly. Rowan had yet to lay eyes on her with her windblown, sex-mussed hair and outfit that she hoped on some level would render him speechless. 

Things had been awkward and tense to say the least. When Rowan had found her on the floor eight months ago, her vision clouded and body light and airy, he had purged the pills from her body by shoving his fingers down her throat. That part she didn’t really remember, more-so Fenrys remembered every second of Rowan yelling for her to stay awake, every second of Rowan’s fingers so far down Aelin’s throat that his fist was almost all the way in her mouth. The image, he’d told her, of her limp body managing to cough and throw up the contents of her stomach all over her and Rowan had been so disturbing that he’d taken to using Gavriel as a therapist. 

Rowan, however, seemed to avoid it entirely. They had hardly spoken, save for when discussing their duet of Baby, It’s Cold Outside, and listening to the concept for the music video. It would be teasing, and playful, and sexy - all things that people generally expected from Aelin and her band. 

When she walked out of the dressing room, fluffing up her messily curled hair and his eyes met hers, she didn’t miss the way his lips parted slightly and his eyes widened if only a little. Aelin hadn’t bothered to tie the robe so it was open, showing entirely too much skin. Much more skin of hers than Rowan had ever seen before. The cherry red nightgown itself stopped above mid-thigh, leaving plenty of freshly bronzed and shiny leg on full display. 

“Are we ready to get this over with?” She asked no one in particular with an icy bite to her voice. It didn’t take long for the video to get rolling, consisting of a lot of touching and almost kissing that was setting Aelin’s skin on fire. 

They started out by the Yulemas tree, teasing touches while they hung little ornaments high up on the branches. At one point he slid his hands down her sides and bunched her nightgown up at her hips only for her to spin away, just out of reach. 

This evening has been so very nice 

(I’ll hold your hands, I’ll hold your hands they’re just like ice.) 

Rowan caught her fingers and pulled her flush to his chest and they swayed together for a moment before she cheekily began to unbutton a few buttons, each of them mouthing the words to the sound. 

I ought to say, no, no, no sir (mind if I move in closer?)

At least I'm gonna say that I tried (what's the sense in hurting my pride?)

His mouth was grazing the corner of hers, their noses bumping together while he slowly pushed her robe down her arms and onto the floor. For a second it didn’t feel like there was a room of people watching. For a second, it felt like it was just Rowan and Aelin finally being together the way they both so craved. 

Gods, your lips look so delicious 

Rowan’s finger traced the shape of her mouth and she nipped at the pad of his fingertip. Someone called cut somewhere sometime later after what felt like hours of feeling each other up and partially undressing and rolling around in an uncomfortable bed together. 

Once everything was finished, Aelin tugged on tights, heels, and a fur jacket over the little red nightgown, fully prepared to make the journey home just like that. It would make it easy to fall into bed when she got home, but as she was leaving the set Rowan stopped her. 

“Ace?” She turned, a brow raised as she glanced up at the snow falling from the sky. In his hands was a small box that was wrapped absolutely horribly. You would think that someone so skilled with deft fingers would be able to wrap a gift better than what he had, but alas, he held out a lumpy present that she took carefully. It was the first time they had been alone since she’d almost killed herself by taking too many pills. 

“What’s this?” 

“Just open it,” he shrugged, sliding his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. Aelin chewed on her red lips for a minute before slicing through the paper with a sharp fingernail, handed the scrap of paper back to Rowan, and opened the box. 

It was a charm bracelet. The first charm was a little microphone with glittering black stones. The second was a little flame, definitely a nod to her fiery spirit and the nickname her mother called her that was nearly lost. The nickname that Rowan somehow knew something about. The third was a simple little snowflake with a stunning piece of moonstone at its center. Three charms for three months out of rehab. She found herself unable to help the way her throat choked up, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

“I’m proud of you, Fireheart,” he said softly, taking another step toward her. Carefully, so gently as though not to spook her, he brushed her hair back from her face and leaned in to rest her forehead against his. “We have a lot to talk about but I just…”

“Take me home,” she said, voice tired and thick with emotion that she couldn’t say. She couldn’t say it, but she could show it. Aelin could show him exactly what she felt with her body and kissed him to prove it. 

It was a lingering, long, and slow kiss that lasted forever but was too short all at the same time. When he pulled away and held her face in his hands she just shook her head and kissed him again, this time not letting him pull away. Her arms slipped around his neck and she held him close to her, gripping the bracelet so tightly in her fist she wouldn’t be surprised if the snowflake left behind little wounds. 

“Lets go,” he said softly, lacing their fingers and nodding down toward his car. Aelin merely nodded and followed, letting him kiss her one more time at the passenger door. “Happy Yulemas, love.

tags: @starseternalnighttriumphant @mariamuses @keshavomit @faefromthenorth @ifyouwouldseemysoul @murlymoo150 @faerie-queen-fireheart @impossiblescissorspeachpaper @feyre-therabeaux @runawayrowan @someonemagical @stormymeow @singme-t0sleep @tswaney17 @shyvioletcat @city-of-fae @kandasboi @mynewdreamwasyou @tangledraysofsunshine @aelin-is-my-heart @empire-of-wildfire @mynameiscelaenasardothien​ @myfeyrelady​ @schmlip-scribble​ @musicmaam​ @nalgenewhore​ @westofmoon​ @aaronwarnvrs @acourtofrowaelinandfeysand​ @im-not-rare-im-rarr​

[always5hineee]

Hell and Back - Chapter 2: Entry

Chapter warnings: Mild language

Word count: 1661

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       "So basically, I can have up to fifteen people." She explained. "And I figured you guys might want to help me out a bit?" Y/N was currently trying to explain the mysterious email she had received the night before, mentioning the opportunity for a wish and the potential group that she had in mind. The more people the better, right?

       "So you can wish for anything?" Sehun asked, leaning forward with an intrigued glint in his eyes.

       "I mean... yeah, it said that."

       "We could totally wish to be rich, then." Kris suggested.

       "Or famous!" Chanyeol added.

       "Guys." Suho held his hands out, quieting their overlapping suggestions. "We could get the band." The whole group went into what almost looked like a frenzy, Y/N watching it with a glossy stare. She hadn't mentioned yet that she'd already made her wish. She just needed their help.

       "This sounds awesome!" Tao cheered above the chatter, pumping a fist in a strange little dance. His and all the others' eyes were bright with excitement and hope, glittering with the promise of a better future. She didn't doubt that it was exactly the look that was on her face walking down the street the night before.

       How was she meant to crush their hopes on this? There wasn't really much she could do. Even if she could change her wish... would she want to? There were ways around it. She could say that it gave her a multiple choice, or that it just sensed her deepest desire. Better yet, maybe she could convince them that it was what they internally wanted, and the strange system just figured it out on their own.

       So now she was considering lying... Would it be worth it? For a power? She was conflicted beyond belief on it. It could change her life forever, make everything great, but... these were her best friends in the whole world. They were there for her even when she wasn't skilled, when she couldn't do what they could. They never made her feel worthless for it. How could she be expected to break the news to them now, though?

       As she considered her options, optimism already warping with worries, she heard a notification ring from her phone. She had all of her notifications turned off all the time- until last night. She had set her email notification to ring should something come in. Sure enough, the little envelope icon was glowing on the screen. Noticing it over her shoulder, Chen's face lit up.

       "Open it!" Hand shaking just slightly enough that she was the only one who noticed. Clicking into her phone after typing in her password. She moved to her inbox. Breath hitching, she recognized the clarity of the header. She felt a surge of heat as the large group of boys crowded around her, trying to see over each other to the tiny window.

       Pressing on the icon, the letter opened up, listing on in the same shimmery white script under the now slightly familiar elegant logo. The label at the top simply read Thank You. In the interest of her entire group of friends, she read it out loud.

       "You are allowed to enter up to fourteen teammates, providing for a fifteen-person team maximum. The signer of the initial email must be present for the start of the trials, but does not have to remain throughout the entire process. Please enter the names of those who wish to participate. After the details have been given, all will be given an opportunity to revoke their application. Looking around at them, she asked if they were all willing to participate.

       "This seems a little sketchy." Baekhyun said quietly. He hadn't really spoken up until this point, but he wasn't too excited at the prospect of some mysterious set of 'trials'. She had to admit that the word didn't sound the most pleasant.

       "Come on, we'll be able to pull out if we really want to." Lay nudged him. "Count me in! Seems like it could be fun!" Looking around, she saw the various nods and agreeing murmurs. Noting no objections, she wrote down all their full names. Clicking enter, it buffered, then switched screen.

       "Your wish has been ascertained."

       "You made a wish already?" Luhan asked, brows furrowing confusedly, wondering why she wouldn't have spoken up certain.

       "No, ascertained means to find something out. That insinuates that they picked it for us." Kyungsoo explained, Y/N breathing out in a quiet sigh of relief. She'd tell them eventually. Just... not now.  She continued reading to take their attention off of the tangent.

       "Your trials have now been activated." She read out. "An app request will be sent to your phone. To continue playing, accept the request and download the software. Follow the instructions from there. Thank you for your submission." Just as she hit the final 'enter' button, the email disappeared again, just as it had before.

       "Well..." Baekhyun noted. "That was... something."

       "Did you guys get the notification yet?" Lay asked, already pulling out his phone. After a few no's, Chen spoke up.

       "Wait, what is this?" Showing his phone to Kyungsoo, the man sighed. "That's an update notification from your settings app."

       "Oh... and that one?" Kyungsoo looked again.

       "Oh- now that's the notification." Lay ran over to look at it. Sure enough, he had received a generic notification that had the regular options of accept or deny. The simple black font asked, Allow dHJpYWxz to download and make changes to your device? Before Chen could even do anything, Lay groaned,

       "Aww, why did he get it first?" Reaching over his shoulder to tap 'accept'.

       "Hey!"

       "What? You were gonna do it anyway!" Sure enough, the notifications began popping up one everyone's phones. Once all the boys had accepted (some more excitedly than others), Y/N received a slightly different notification.

       All of your party has entered. Allow dHJpYWxz​​​​​​-party1​ to download and make changes to your device? Confused on the new wording, but unaware of a better option, she clicked accept as well, opening the app. Once her's was running, all the others began scrolling content across the screens. The app had the same sleek design as the email, featuring the black and silver color palette.

       The makeup of the app was very minimalistic. The homepage for the boys had four very distinct sections, each with a translucent color to separate it. The first was "Current Trial", second was "Completed Trials", the third was "Players", and the final was "Rules and Gameplay". Y/N's screen housed all of these, as well as another bar before rules titled "Abilities bar". Clicking through, everything seemed a bit bare, so she directed everyone a bit awkwardly.

       "Hey, we should probably read through the rules." They all agreed, clicking into the tab to skim the sheet as they took turns reading sections aloud.

       Welcome to the trials. You have all agreed to participate thus far. There are 100 rounds, each with a different goal that you will be given at the start of the round. There is no way to skip a round, and you will not be able to see rounds in advance. For every round, you will be given your goal. Some will include time limits or specific items you need to collect. In addition, for each round, one person will be prohibited from using their abilities. This will be non-negotiable, as you will find your powers rendered useless for the round.

       In all public trials, you are permitted to cause as much or as little of a scene as possible. You are not allowed to explain the trials to anyone, or you will be eliminated. You may not be caught by law enforcement, or you will be eliminated. You may not cheat, or you will be eliminated. Loopholes, however, are valid and could even be rewarded.

       At the start of every round, you will be given a chance to drop out. Each trial will have its own drop-out fee aside from Round 1. Your fee will be collected under any and all circumstances, so consider well before you choose to exit the trials. In the event of someone leaving the trials, they are not permitted to return, but the rest of the group remains unaffected. In the event that Player 1 leaves the trials, the remaining players will be given an additional trial to determine a new player 1.        

       To win, at least one person must complete all 100 trials successfully. In the event of a victor, a wish will be granted. Any questions may be asked through the Rules and Gameplay help bar. You will be answered in a timely manner. If you receive no response, your question may have been invalid, or there may be assistance on the way. At this time, if you wish to remove yourself from the trials, please go to the Current Trial page and follow the sequence. This will be accessible at all times.

       "This is... a lot to process." Kris said, rather obviously. Each of them was exploring the app curiously, most of the buttons inactive. Clicking into the Current Trial bar, she noted that the drop out button was indeed active. Underneath the big letters, "End Trials", there was a smaller script reading, Removal Fee: None. Next to the button, there was also a large "Begin" button. Looking at the others' screens, she noted that she was the only one who had it. She assumed that, as the so-called Player 1, she was in charge of deciding when the rounds began.

       "So... are we doing this thing?" Tao asked her, leaning forward to hover over her phone a bit.

       "If you all are ready." With sideways glances and nods from the group, she inhaled deeply, finger hovering over the screen. Finally, she worked up the courage and clicked it, lighting up the page.

       Trial 1: Start.

Go to Chapter 3