No bright lights here. No hiding imperfections (or at least not for long). No orchestrated beauty that leaked off the dailies and onto their skin like so much fairy dust.

OMG, that is so wonderful. It's like the essence of Lotrips.
Every now and then I vow to start a little collection of amazing lines from fic - if I ever get around to it, this one is jumping right in and jostling successfully for a comfy space. :-)