#by fragile i mean ferns

[sweater-equestrian]

todays hell project: dismantle this to reseal the edges and make it water tight

[somestorythoughts]

Back on my Eldritch Jedi Bullshit

Thinking about eldritch Jedi/Force-Users but not all Jedi. And on the one hand, Anakin being born of the Force and being unbelievably eldritch is good and I like it but on the other hand, Anakin being very powerful but not Eldritch unlike some other Jedi is very funny. See here for a very good version of that.

So some of the Jedi are eldritch. There are faces in their shadows, true faces that aren't silhouettes. There are sunrises and storms and flowers in their eyes. There are more teeth in their mouths than there should be, longer tongues, Power in their voices thrumming along the beats of your heart. There are thorns sprouting from their collarbones, leaves from the gaps in their exoskeletons, ferns from between their feathers. There is sunlight, fire, plasma burning and glowing in their veins, light that can darken into poison, poison that can be purified into sunlight once again. Because Falling doesn't mean you stop burning.

It's tucked away, out of sight. Restrained, much like their emotions. Because when your power reacts to your emotions and you can crush tanks with your mind, it's not physically hard to crush people. They're so much more fragile. The Jedi don't preach self-control for shits and giggles. Sometimes, great power comes with the responsibility not to use it.

And being eldritch it isn't about how powerful you are, though there's some correlation. It's about the way the Force interacts with you. It's the difference between being a channel for the Force and being the Force made flesh.

It's also not something you talk about much in the Temple. It's not exactly a secret, but it's not really the subject of gossip and to people who don't share those traits, it tends to be described as "improving control of one's emotions/relation to the Force." It's personal. Like recognizes like, and padawans with that type of connection tend to get Master's with the same connection. That relationship to the Force makes it easier to lash out, and that's not good for anyone.

It doesn't help that some planets are already leery of regular Jedi. they Really Don't Like the eldritch ones. So over time, this connection became something that was touched on in The Force 101 classes and then not discussed much outside of it by people who DON'T have that connection. Qui-Gon didn't have it, neither did Dooku. Obi-wan doesn't have it, though he knows of it. Anakin Skywalker, as powerful as he is, didn't have it.

Ahsoka Tano does.

Like recognizes like, and most eldritch Force Users know another when they see them. The Jedi make a point, not only of assigning those padawans to similar masters but of taking in those younglings even if they're a bit older than usual. But sometimes, someone just get missed. Sometimes no one sees a youngling's extra teeth, sometimes there aren't any eldritch Jedi in the creche when nightmares scrape the walls, sometimes that connection to the Force is just quiet. Sometimes, that connection to the Force isn't noticed before a Padawan is assigned a Master. Had he known, Yoda would never have assigned Ahsoka to Anakin.

This isn't a slight against Anakin, to be clear. There's advantages to making sure that padawans have masters who know how to help them with their brand of weird Force shenanigans, or at the very least, are regularly meeting with Masters that can help. In normal times, Ahsoka's eldritchness would probably have been noticed within a couple years (if you don't know how to restrain it, it will eventually start showing more) and then she and Anakin would have been introduced to some Eldritch Jedi who would assist with the training. But this isn't normal times. So none of the Jedi notice.

Plo or Obi-Wan could have. Plo's eldritch, and he cares about Ahsoka, but so much of their communication over the war was done over comms. Obi-Wan, having grown up with Quinlan Vos, thinks he knows what eldritch Force Sensitivity looks like and to be fair, if he wasn't distracted by the war he probably would have noticed. But war is Extremely Distracting and Ahsoka's connection is quieter than Quinlan's. He, and Plo, are distracted, and so so tired. So they miss the changing teeth, the periodic gleam in her shadow, the marching beat under her words when on the battlefield that beats in sync with the troopers' boots. And Anakin? He means well and he's trying, but he doesn't know that this is a thing to look for and he can be a bit oblivious.

You know who does notice? The clones. In particular, Kix.

Most all the clones are hypervigilant, thank you Kamino trauma. So they pay A Lot of attention to anything that registers as potentially threatening, even subconsiously. Ahsoka's a kid and they grow to trust her quickly, but there was a time when she was a new inexperienced commanding officer. And after that they were helping to teach her and look out for Threats to the Little Sister, so they were very observant where Ahsoka was concerned.

They don't know enough about Torgurta or Jedi to know what's normal for one, but they do notice the things that don't stay constant. The way her shadow changes, the way her teeth and hands sometimes change shape. Things that are rare in sentients.

Things Ahsoka has started to notice, and worry about.

Kix meanwhile, is a medic who just got an adolescent Togruta put under his care and he has no idea how to take care of her. The Kaminoans weren't told that the medics would be responsible for the jedi (one of those little details that was never clarified and caused confusion in the beginning) so they trained the medics to take care of the other clones and gave them access to some basic medical info for other species for emergency measures. So almost all of Kix's medical knowledge is specifically How to Treat Injuries and Illnesses in Male Humans; Children to Young Adults. Sure, there's overlap, but not enough.

(Yes, the medics do have a private chat where they trade tips and resources and vent about their respective dumbasses. It's a multipurpose chat.)

So he does a lot of research to make sure he can treat Ahsoka properly when she's inevitably injured. He notices things that Do Not Line Up and with Ahsoka's permission reaches out to the Jedi healers.

Now, if eyes might start hovering around your patients when you're doing surgery, that's valuable information to know. So all of the healers know about the eldritchness. They're able to tell Kix and Ahsoka what's going on.

And where it goes from there? I can't say. I can tell you one thing for sure, Mortis undoubtedly makes it WORSE.

[flowers-of-april]

april showers bring may flowers: prompt list

I wanted to make a flower-based April writing prompt challenge, so I did. Flower meanings are sourced from this book on flower meanings

PROMPT LIST 1: Daisy: Innocence 2: Lilac: First Love/Reminiscence 3: Violet: Modesty 4: Anemone: Forsaken Love 5: Oleander: Caution 6: Honeysuckle: Devotion 7: Poppy: Eternal Sleep 8: Laurel: Glory/Victory/Success 9: Orchid: Elegance/Beauty 10: Petunia: Anger/Resentment 11: Iris: Valour 12: Heather: Luck/Protection 13: Fern: Magic/Secrecy 14: Oak: Bravery 15: Tulip: Love Declaration 16: Magnolia: Dignity 17: Pansy: You Occupy My Thoughts 18: Lavender: Distrust 19: Mistletoe: Surmounting Difficulties 20: Queen Anne's Lace: Sanctuary 21: Protea: Transformation 22: Myrtle: Love 23: Hyacinth: Please Forgive Me 24: Nettle: Cruelty 25: Hemlock: Death 26: Dandelion: Divination/Fortune-Telling 27: Mint: Consolation 28: Jasmine: Amiability/Cheerfulness 29: Rue: Regret 30: Lily of the Valley: Return of Happiness

ALTERNATIVE PROMPTS Bouquet 1: Apology Hyacinth: Forgiveness Bluebell: Humility Peony: Bashfulness Olive Branch: Asking for Peace Bouquet 2: Courting Blush Roses: Blossoming Romance Cornflower: Hope in Love Sweet William: Gallantry Honeysuckle: Devoted Affection Bouquet 3: Marriage Roses: True Love Ivy: Fidelity Myrtle: Hope/Love Dahlia: Commitment/Eternal Love Bouquet 4: Bitter Ends Datura: Deceitful Charms Tansy: Hostility Thistle: Misanthropy Wormwood: Bitterness Bouquet 5: Regret & Sorrow Asphodel: Regrets to the Grave Azalea: Fragility Snowdrop: Consolation/Hope Rue: Regret Willow: Mourning

The only 'rule' is to please have fun. You may tag "flowersofapril2024," if you'd like, and I'll reblog anything I see. If you feel like filling these prompts on AO3 then "Flowers of April" or "Flowers of April 2024" would be a suitable tag. You may also submit to the FlowersofApril2024 collection on AO3

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in March 2024 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Shift: A Memoir of Identity and Other Illusions - Penny Guisinger 🧡 Tempting Olivia - Clare Ashton 💛 Monilinia - Free Mints 💚 Guillaume - Aurora Dimitre 💙 The Marble Queen - Anna Kopp & Gabrielle Kari 💜 The Baker & the Bard - Fern Haught ❤️ Rainbow! - Sunny & Gloom 🧡 The Safe Zone - Amy Marsden 💛 The Weavers of Alamaxa - Hadeer Elsbai 💙 The No-Girlfriend Rule - Christen Randall 💜 A Different Kind of Brave by Lee Wind 🌈 Cirque du Slay - Rob Osler ❤️ Wizard’s Debt - Niranjan 🧡 One Last Breath - Ginny Myers Sain 💛 Nothing Special - Katie Cook 💚 I Feel Awful, Thanks - Lara Pickle 💙 The Tower - Flora Carr 💜 Be the Sea - Clara Ward ❤️ What Grows in the Dark - Jaq Evans 🧡 Heirs of Bone and Sea - Kay Adams 💛 The Haunting of Velkwood - Gwendolyn Kiste 💙 Thunder Song - Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe 💜 Mona of the Manor - Armistead Maupin 🌈 Like Happiness - Ursula Villarreal-Moura

❤️ Ellipses - Vanessa Lawrence 🧡 Saint, Sorrow, Sinner - Freydís Moon 💛 Blood & Brujas - Mikayla D. Hornedo 💚 Infinity Kings - Adam Silvera 💙 Really Cute People - Markus Harwood-Jones 💜 How You Were Born - Kate Cayley ❤️ These Bodies Between Us - Sarah Van Name 🧡 Icarus - K. Ancrum 💛 The Emperor and the Endless Palace - Justinian Huang 💙 How Not to Date an Angel - Lana Kole 💜 Enemy Colours - R.M. Olson 🌈 Broken Parts Included - Alyson Root

❤️ Who's Afraid of Gender? - Judith Butler 🧡 The Duke’s Cowboy - Andrew Grey 💛 The Secret Something - Emily Wright 💚 Colstead & Andie - Olivia Janae 💙 Play It Again, Ma’am - Sienna Waters 💜 Love Is…? - K.J. Wrights ❤️ Welcome to Forever - Nathan Tavares 🧡 Just Another Epic Love Poem - Parisa Akhbari 💛 The Phoenix Bride - Natasha Siegel 💙 These Letters End in Tears - Musih Tedji Xaviere 💜 Truly Home - J.J. Hale 🌈 Monster Mixer - Robin Jo Margaret

❤️ The House of Hidden Meanings - RuPaul 🧡 Promised to the Queen - Barbara Winkes 💛 A Conclave of Crimson - Nicole Eigener & Beverley Lee 💚 A Hunt of Blood and Iron - Cara Nox 💙 The Fealty of Monsters - Ladz 💜 Ariel Crashes a Train - Olivia A. Cole ❤️ Those Beyond the Wall - Micaiah Johnson 🧡 Dancing Toward Stardust - Julia Underwood 💛 Heir to Dreams & Darkness - Ben Alderson 💙 Comet Cruise - Niska Morrow 💜 Dead Girls Walking - Sami Ellis 🌈 Blackout - Carlos E. Rivera

❤️ Monster Crush - Erin Ellie Franey 🧡 Blessed Water - Margot Douaihy 💛 These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart - Izzy Wasserstein 💚 Kiss of Seduction - Rawnie Sabor 💙 Sunbringer - Hannah Kaner 💜 Evacuation to Love - C.A. Popovich ❤️ Sin - Brooke Matthews 🧡 Falls from Grace - Ruby Landers 💛 Lean in to Love - Catherine Lane 💙 A Small Apocalypse - Laura Chow Reeve 💜 Cascade Failure - L.M. Sagas 🌈 The Mars House - Natasha Pulley

❤️ All This Time - Sage Donnell 🧡 The Romance Lovers Book Club - MA Binfield 💛 View from the Top - Morgan Adams 💚 Number Call - Nagisa Furuya 💙 Crossing Bridges - Chelsey Lynford 💜 The Boyfriend Subscription - Steven Salvatore ❤️ Love the World or Get Killed Trying - Alvina Chamberland 🧡 Synthetic Sea - Franklyn S. Newton 💛 The Prince & His Stolen Groom - J.E. Ridge 💙 Chrysalis and Requiem - Quinton Li 💜 Where Sleeping Girls Lie - Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 🌈 A Botanical Daughter - Noah Medlock

❤️ Wednesday Nights - by Donna Jay 🧡 The Woods All Black - Lee Mandelo 💛 Song of the Huntress - Lucy Holland 💚 Rainbow Black - Maggie Thrash 💙 Spirits & Sunflowers - A.D. Armistead & Austin Daniel 💜 Floating Hotel - Grace Curtis ❤️ Far From Camelot - Rylee Hale 🧡 This Way to Change - Jezz Chung 💛 Mexican Bird - Luis Lopez-Maldonado 💙 Android Affection: Unveiling - Beau Van Dalen 💜 Welcome to the Damned - Astraea Long 🌈 She Came for Blood - Darva Green

❤️ Cover Story - Rachel Lacey 🧡 The Poisons We Drink - Bethany Baptiste 💛 The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist - Sophie Gonzales 💚 In Walked Trouble - Dana Hawkins 💙 Never Leave, Never Lie - Thea Verdone 💜 Guardian: Zhen Hun - Priest ❤️ All the World Beside - Garrard Conley 🧡 Rainbows, Unicorns, and Triangles - Jessica Kingsley Publishers 💛 The Feast Makers - H.A. Clarke 💙 Synthetic Sea - Franklyn S. Newton 💜 All the Painted Stars - Emma Denny 🌈 A Hard Sell - Jennifer Moffatt

[justpeaxchy]

The Discovery

A/n: So, I originally was almost done writing this when I wanted to change the music I was listening to rq, meaning I had to switch my tabs, and Tumblr decided to not save my draft 🥸?(It hasn't done that before I literally did it so many times when writing this lol.) I had to write it all over again. Hopefully this came out how I wanted it to because I was really liking how it was going.

Warnings: Mentions of being wounded, being taken by a dragon, other than that it should be good.

Hiccup x !Fem oc!

Next chapter,

Fire encompassed the isle of Berk, bringing smoke along with it, as the cries of vikings alerting one another filled the air. Dragons and disaster had become a nearly normal expectation for those inhabiting Berk, though it was by no means pleasant.

One, perhaps two, young vikings seemed out of place even in the midst of such chaos. Their small frames could barely be seen through the surrounding smoke that began to cover the island like mist. Their footsteps barely reached their own ears as they ran deeper into the forest of the outskirts of Berk, farther away from the "main attractions."

"Haddock, what do you think you're doing?" Evelynn, the other young viking, spat out harshly, pushing away any remaining ferns and leaves in her way. The path ahead of her was already bumpy, but the moon only provided so much light that she could barely see her hands in front of her own face.

"Evelynn, I already told you! I just need to get this shot. Then, this dragon can help me get everything I ever wanted." Hiccup, the short and skinny "viking" she was following quickly answered her, not slowing down his pace as he hauled his “new invention" towards the place he planned on taking down the night fury everyone was trying to avoid.

He quickly glanced back at the girl chasing after him, concerned for her safety as she nearly tripped on a tree root that stuck out from the ground, but the adrenaline quickening his body to keep running was taking over his mind as he continued rushing towards the destined area.

She knew that she didn't have to, but when she caught Hiccup running towards the area where most vikings weren't at, Evelynn felt the need to make sure he didn't accidentally fall off a cliff to his death. She struggled to see his already fragile figure as he darted past every bush and obstacle before she found herself tripping over another tree root that caught her off guard.

Within the first few seconds she had, she quickly put her hands out to at least shield her face from the fall, her head nearly missing the ground. "Hiccup, you'll pay for this...!" Evelynn muttered, crumpling up the rough patch of grass underneath her fingers. She hadn't yet noticed the other pair of footsteps approaching her, too focused on the amount of pain creeping up on her leg. It felt like a chore just trying to stand as she leaned against the tree she fell on, her eyes scanning the area around her.

If it weren't for a quick glance in the direction, Evelynn wouldn't have noticed the movement against a nearby bush, as if someone or something had walked through it. She, however, found no culprit for it to be so. She knew the unsaid rules of a viking: never be scared, always show that you're strong and tough even when you're not - but the feeling of uneasiness started to fill her in a way she couldn't ignore it.

Her head turned back to the direction where she and Hiccup came from, the village still on fire as vikings struggled to put out the fires that dangerously swept across most of the land. Once again, something caught her attention, stirring her away from looking at the place she called home, having heard a stick being crushed before seeing a large figure approach her from the darkness, the threatening growl it gave shook Evelynn to her core. Suddenly, the pain in her leg was as if it was never there as fear started to cloud her mind, seeing this dragon supposedly come out of thin air.

The white scales of the beast before her glimmered in the little moonlight that was provided, its color standing out in the midst of the gloomy forest as a dangerous confidence radiated from its eyes. Evelynn felt her breath hitch as she held out her hand in front of her, trying to put some distance between her and the beast. Its steps were ordered as if it had finally caught its prey and the young girl knew she wouldn't be escaping anytime soon.

It was as if all the training on how to be a viking was blotted out of her mind as she took a few shaking steps backwards. Bravery was something she was starting to be known for in Berk, but with the white-scaled dragon approaching her, Evelynn couldn't find it in herself to fake that anymore.

Despite knowing the danger this creature carried, she couldn't help but let her gaze travel across the whole dragon. She acknowledged that, if what she learned over the years was correct, night furies were supposed to be dark, if not darker, than the midnight sky above her. The one approaching her, however, was practically glowing white as its eyes narrowed at Evelynn. The beast seemed to notice that she wasn't attempting to bring any harm to it either, making its nose twitch in confusion.

She found herself in a daze as her eyes stared right back into the eyes of the dragon before her. They were swirling with a shade of green remarkable to the forest around them both, not noticing the explosion that had just occurred on another house, making the shouts of vikings become even louder. Evelynn didn't seem to notice; all of her senses were focused on the large creature who was also intently gazing at her. She noticed its eyes widen ever so slightly with curiosity now that it realized she wasn't doing anything. The dragon's tail swayed to the left, then to the right, as it continued to make cautious and calming steps towards the shaking girl.

Evelynn thought she heard her name be called, but it was like her ears went deaf for the mere moment of looking at the small spikes that decorated the dragon, soon leaving her to be entranced by the slight glimmer its scales brought. Her hand no longer trembled dramatically as it did when she first laid eyes on the beast before her as she slowed down her steps, which made the dragon do the same.

"Evelynn!" The sound of leaves being ruffled and a pair of footsteps coming in her direction finally snapped her out of whatever daze she was put in and she quickly turned her head to see her father rushing to the spot she stood in. Her heart began to beat faster than it already was, worry paralyzing her for a moment before she held out her hand, signaling for him to stop.

"Dad! Wait!" The dragon, sensing her distress and fear, although misinterpreting it, lowly growled and spread out its wings, hovering over Evelynn to grab her by her small shoulders. Her father yelled, his battle axe ready in hand as he tried to get to his daughter.

Evelynn had felt pain before, yes, but when the dragon had hauled her up in the air with it, its claws had sunken into her skin more than what she was comfortable with, leaving her with an agonizing stinging sensation throughout her whole body. She struggled against the grip of the beast that was now bringing her higher up in the air, making it impossible for her to even try and jump off.

"Dad!" Evelynn cried out to her father, tears brimming her eyes as she saw her father still running to her. The last thing she saw before her vision went black, was the look of fear and grief in his eyes as she was carried off, as if she had already died in front of his face.

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Hiccup had been called many things in his life, he was "anything but a dragon killer" as his father, Stoick, had put it. He found himself sticking to that phrase even now as the chief of Berk stood before him on the ship that gently swayed to the waves of the ocean below them.

The enemy they were facing this time around was stubborn and "couldn't be reasoned with." Hiccup didn't seem to mind it as he mounted Toothless, seeing the frustration and worry his father's eyes held. The story of Drago hadn't discouraged him from still trying to change his mind once he found him, even though almost everyone doubted his intentions.

"This is what I'm good at. A-and if I can change your mind, I can change his too." Hiccup gazed at his father, pleadingly and silently asking him to let him carry out his plan. "C'mon." He quickly motioned to Toothless as they flew off the ship, leaving the questioning gazes of his family behind.

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If Hiccup had been in any other situation, he would've considered the view to be breathtaking. Toothless steadily flew above the clouds, which illuminated a soft orange glow from the setting sun before them. It was quiet, nothing bothered them, and it was supposed to be a peaceful moment.

The thoughts of Drago and his father, Berk, the dragons, and every other thing that made him angry seemed to fill his mind, leaving him no room to calm down. Not having the strength to hold all of his emotions inside anymore, Hiccup vainly punched the air, yelling out in frustration as he fell back on his dragon.

Toothless voiced his concerns with a confused grumble as Hiccup weakly patted him near his wing. "Don't worry, bud. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." His gaze fixed on the sky above them, trying to calm himself down as the night fury glanced below them, seeing a strange figure approaching. He cautiously growled, simultaneously letting Hiccup know something was happening.

Though his view was focused on what was above him, he still could make out a figure coming to his vision and he groaned in annoyance, sitting up as he waved his hands in anger, "Oh, c'mon dad, really?" Both he and Toothless flinched as they saw the stranger hovering in the clouds with them, quickly realizing that it wasn't anyone he knew.

Hiccup couldn't find the words to speak as the figure slowly descended back into the clouds below them, leaving another eery silence in the air. "Okay, no sudden moves.." His hand found its way to Toothless' head as he scanned their surroundings, his nerves spiking as he found nothing.

The quietness was soon interrupted as Toothless' abruptly stopped mid-flight as another dragon soared above them, its size intimidatingly larger than the night fury. Hiccup could do nothing but watch as the stranger encircled them, standing confidently on the dragon who roared at them as if to warn them not to do anything. It wasn't as if they could anyway, the clouds started to rise up like smoke due to the constant flapping of the dragon's wings, making it difficult to see anything but what was in front of them.

He didn't see it at first, but when Hiccup heard another roar from a different dragon, he glanced at the second figure who appeared from the clouds, the white-scaled dragon sticking out in the midst of the orange glow that surrounded them all. In a mere moment, he felt his breath hitch. If his eyes weren't lying to him, that looked very similar to the night fury he rode, the one he thought to be the only one left in existence. Only, this one was the complete opposite to the name of "night" fury. Its pale white scales glistened in the sunlight as its eyes narrowed at the young chief-to-be.

"Hold on, hold on!" Hiccup didn't have time to register that the first stranger had waved their staff, signalling for more dragons he didn't know was coming. His gaze finally settled on the stranger who was occupying the white night fury, seeing that they had on armor of some sorts with the same color as the dragon, their mask hiding any clue of who they might be.

Toothless had been too focused on the threat in front of them to notice the ones quickly approaching from behind, as he noticed a second too late, the dragon swiftly picking up Hiccup in its paws as he cried out in distress.

"Toothless!" Hiccup could only watch as his dragon helplessly fell to the ice-cold depths below them, the water growing closer to the night fury with each passing second. Worry gripped his heart as Toothless fell beneath the ice that covered a certain part of the waters, his eyes brimming with tears as he knew that his dragon would drown on his own.

He hadn't noticed the rider on the white night fury stand up just as the other one had, pity starting to fill her as she watched the young man struggle against the grip of the dragon who began to carry him to their base. She knew other dragons would come for the night fury, but she still couldn't help and glance at the other stranger, knowing she would understand what she was thinking.

The only response she got was another wave of their staff as they all began to fly towards their destination. The rider offered one more glance towards the night fury who struggled against the waves of the water. She knew that the ice wouldn't be any help with its struggle, but she counted on the dragons who would soon bring him where they wished, which was to safety.

"Hey! You left my dragon back there! He can't fly on his own, he'll drown!" Hiccup tried wriggling out of the grip of the one who carried him through the fog that suddenly surrounded them as he kept trying to see if Toothless was at least alive.

The strangers gave no response, still steadily flying to wherever they were taking him. The white night fury glided faster ahead of the first stranger, now leading them to a cave covered in dangerous spikes of ice, as they suddenly disappeared with a blast similar to Toothless'. Hiccup's heart raced with a continuous fear as they dove into the darker regions of the cave and finally let him go, rolling on the floor as he got up as quickly as possible.

"Hey! We have to head back for my dragon..!" He didn't fully care that he was surrounded by a whole group of other ones at the moment, his mind solely focused on getting Toothless' back alive.

As he continued to look around for the two strangers in hopes that they would have a change of heart, a dragon had come too close for his liking as he stumbled back. The gears in his mind shifted to the part he knew best as he quickly grabbed Inferno, slowly waving it in a circular motion as the dragons became entranced by it. After a few seconds of success, one of the dragons seemed to challenge Hiccup, showing itself uninterested in the flames, as he began to encircle himself with the gas the sword carried. A small spark went off, lightening the area around him for a moment before he reached out one of his hands towards a dragon, their eyes wide in wonder.

He hadn't noticed the stranger who was observing the whole scene behind him as they suddenly swung their staff, making it rattle as a distant roaring could be heard, making Hiccup turn around to find Toothless being dropped on the ground beside him. Nothing but relief filled him as he ran towards his dragon as he shouted, "Toothless!"

The night fury looked weary as he stood up, gently rubbing his head against Hiccup who embraced him as much as he could. "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay. I'm glad to see you too, bud. You really had me worried there.." His hands gently rubbed his dragon's head, turning to face the stranger. "Who.. are you? Where is your...friend?" He said as he couldn't find the second person anywhere in sight. "Are you Drago, uh, Bludvist..?"

The stranger said nothing as they glanced at the dragons behind them, slightly shaking their staff once more as it rattled while they opened their mouths. Flames of fire started to light up the room as Hiccup scanned them all, noticing they were only using it as a light while the stranger started to step towards him. Hiccup felt Toothless wrap his tail around him as the stranger boldly approached the night fury as they lowered themselves to the floor, dropping their staff and shield as he wondered if he should allow Toothless to attack this person or not. He didn't have to make that choice, apparently, as his dragon suddenly fell on his back, purring in delight as the stranger gently glided their hand along his chin while still trying to reach Hiccup.

"Gee, thanks." Once again struggling to find the words to speak, all he could do was try and avoid the hand that was reaching up to his face, uncomfortable at the short amount of distance he and the stranger had before he heard them gasp underneath their mask, quickly recoiling their hand as they knelt on the ground.

"Hiccup..?" The voice spoke as she lifted her mask off, revealing an older woman with similar features that he carried. Confusion was plastered over Hiccup's face as he narrowed his eyes at her. "C-could it be? After all of these years.." She paused, her eyes slightly widening as if fully realizing the situation she was in. "How is this possible..?"

Hiccup stuttered as he tried to make reason for what was happening, "Uhm, should I - should I know you..?" He carefully watched her as she sighed, her shoulder slumping slightly and her gaze locking onto the floor as she considered her answer.

"No... you were only a babe.. and Ev-" She hesitated, catching herself as she shook her head lightly before slowly finding Hiccup's eyes once more, who managed to catch the mess up in her sentence. "But a mother never forgets.."

Silence clung to the air before Hiccup's breath got caught in his throat as his eyes widened as if he were about to scream. Thankfully, the woman held out her hand, gently shushing him not to make any sudden noise or movements for the sake of the dragons. She glanced to the direction she originally sat, finally seeing a small glimpse of the other rider that disappeared. She knew that she was there the whole time, but what made her want to be invisible with her dragon was something she couldn't figure out.

Knowing she probably didn't want to be seen still, she quickly motioned to Hiccup, who was still struggling not to choke on his own shock. "Come..!"

She swiftly left in a different direction, making Hiccup staggering to catch up to her as Toothless sniffed the air, his eyes going to a corner in the room. His eyes widened in curiosity as he found the white "night" fury carefully standing next to another stranger who still had their mask on. When they noticed his gaze they quickly ran in a different direction, making Toothless start to go after them before Hiccup called him.

"Toothless! C'mon, bud! We need to go!" The shock in his voice could still be heard even to the dragon as he bolted after Hiccup, forgetting about his original intention.

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"That was a close one, Aurora... Too close." The girl muttered underneath her mask as she watched Toothless run off in the direction Hiccup had run with his newly discovered mother. The dragon beside her grumbled with curiosity as she wanted to go with them too. She watched with wide eyes as the rider took off her mask, revealing slightly messy light brown hair that cascaded just below her shoulders.

"I'm not ready to face him again just yet.." Evelynn mumbled, gently patting her dragons head with worry filling her eyes.

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A/n: FINALLY! Tumblr kept trying to delete this over and over but I finally finished it. It came out nearly the same, I think, to how I was writing it. Hopefully The links to the songs worked as well. The next part will be out soon! <3

{P.S., it's just the beginning chapter so I know you had to read the lore part first but trust me it's gonna get good.}

[interdimensionalpancakes]

frieren: the power of bonds through the ages

I love how peaceful this show feels. There's no shouting, there's no inner monologue during battle scenes. it's quiet, peaceful, mature and introspective.

This is easily the best show I've seen in a while.

frieren is all about bonds through a perspective of someone immortal. On the outside, being immortal doesn't warrant change, but this show challenges that notion, with frieren changing her views on life through her bonds with others. At first, she's an apathetic figure who only knows life as a recluse or battling demons, but through the love of her friends in the hero party/ her new friends Fern/ Stark, she is able to grow emotionally, seeking a life that is filled with adventure beyond her slow paced life beforehand.

Her journey to understand the fragility of life compared to her immortal and long life is why I think it's the best anime of spring 2024. So many people in her life left her tokens as a symbol of enduring and endearing love so she would never forget her humanity in her lengthy life:

himmel: he created statues of him everywhere they went so she won't forget that she was loved/ so she wouldn't be lonely when he's gone and that he loved her beyond death. He knew he couldn't be with her for a fraction of her life, since a 100 years for her is like a month of something, but the statues outlived him and it was a way for him to be with her if she ever felt lonely. Sad that he never believed that he left a lasting impact on her though, when he basically shaped the person she is today. T-T

heiter/ eisen: founded pupils to accompany frieren now that they are too old to go on adventures with her.

flamme: left her a last token to talk to the dead, knowing that one day she would come to terms with the relationships she forged in life and give her a second chance to talk to the dead/ say things she couldn't say when they were alive.

In a way, they never left the living. Even if they're all gone, Frieren will never forget about them and their impact on her.

The feels are strong with this show. I don't even mind waiting two years for the next season if it means the next season will have the same animation and writing caliber.

P.S. demons in this show are the antithesis of frieren who struggles to express typical human affection gestures, demon words are empty, survivalist and insincere. Whereas Frieren is always sincere, seeks for the best outcome that will save the most lives and are full of heart for the people around her.

Even if she has a solitary personality, she ended up forming strong bonds with the people around her because she truly seeks nothing from life than the simple pleasures like finding grimoires and the adventures. That's why all of her memories are hardly action packed, they're memories of the simple, quiet moments talking to her friends, watching meteor showers and stuff. And that's how life should be: simple and spent with the people you love.

[geniusphilester]

a plant-specific plant skit reaction, from my sister

i am not a plant person, but i live with a lot of plants because i live with my sister, who is a plant person and active hobbyist! she watched the plant skit and gave me a bunch of her opinions

for those who, like me, also aren’t plant people, her basic summary was this:

“(Phil) honestly did a *REALLY* good job caring for a plant collection as a non-hobbyist. Some of those are so fragile. Just a few dry bits of fern to pull off is frankly impressive.” she full on said “phil did a good job.” yay phil!

the slightly longer version:

“My bet is that Dan left him a specific list of what to do and forgot the dracaenas, since the others show inconsistent or incorrect care, not neglect. And then Phil followed the instructions to the letter. Schedules don't work long-term; you have to observe and change care. Meaning that someone who is eager to Do The Thing for their loving partner could totally leave some plants in distress...because they are Following Instructions but not a Plant Guy.”

back to me for a sec:

obviously this whole thing where dan despairs over his dead plants is a (very funny) bit but i, the non-plant person, find it extremely sweet that phil obviously tried! plant care is hard even if you like doing it!

more specifics for each plant!

this isn’t in chronological order, and she apologizes for any plant misidentification, but honestly, it went so fast; i’m impressed she had reasonable guesses for pretty much everything

1. “the nanouk and maidenhair are absolutely fine.” 2. “the orchid will recover.” 3. “the snake plant (the first one) is very overwatered and shouldn't have been touched while he was on vacation, for any length of time. they can go months without water... Snake plants surprise people; they're almost more static decorations than plants, thus easy to overwater.” 4. “the calathea is fine. brown edges just means it's being a baby about inconsistent watering (or phil used tapwater instead of distilled)... Calatheas and ferns are really delicate.“ 5. “the schefflera is too brief to tell if it's drooping from under or over watering. it's in a prominent hallway so i'm guessing he overwatered. honestly they're kinda...susceptible to rot.” 6. “i think that the ones in the crotch planter is dracaena and i'm impressed they're so dry and crispy...they might have already been dying. the terra cotta probably dries out too fast.” 7. “he's not allowed to act dramatic about his bromeliad. they're supposed to die like that. it is underwatered though...The bromeliad's dead part is entirely death bloom, so it only looks bad.”

(rory note: dan? not be dramatic??? impossible)

8. “acting upset over his outside plants. in winter. he's gotta just be playing, lol.“

the more planty summary:

“his succulents only need one good soak and they'll be fine. most of his plants are fine. RIP suspected dracaena. everything else is either fine, will be fine with rehab, or can be propagated into a new plant(s)... tbh it looks like Phil turned Dan's plants into hobby rehabs for him to learn more about propagating and bacterial management and stuff so really Dan should thank him”

SAY THANK YOU, DANIEL

[acermp100]

WAWA WEEK 5: DAWN OF THE WAWA

29/3 – Spring/nature: HOUSE PLANTS

Oh hey there's a nature prompt and I have a fav side character and love researching and taking care of plants *THROWS MINEGISHI AT YOU*

Serizawa wants to buy some house plants

General Audiences. Mild cursing. Minegishi and plants and some slight bouts of retail inspired nihilism. AND MORE SERI/REI SILLIES AT THE END. GEE.

~2200 words

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The day had gone slow. Well, actually the entire week. No more school socials or holidays on either side of the calendar left only a few wandering by and even less deciding to come in. They’d look, they’d chat, they didn’t buy anything, they’d leave. Minegishi never really saw the point to it all but it did give him plenty of time to catch up on his reading. How interesting that the morel mushroom, famous for its taste and rarity, could grow in such a way it poisoned those who eat it. And we don’t even understand how it happens. Or maybe people had misidentified in their foraging.

The little bell over the door broke him out of his day dreaming. Oh joy, another bored employee ambling in during lunch for some vapid small talk. Wait, is that-

“Oh, hello!” A little bow punctuated the greeting. “I had heard you were working here but never had time to stop by.”

“Serizawa?” Minegishi set his book down. It was him, just with a suit and tie, a little brief case, and a new hair cut. And way more under the surface. “You look- a bit different since we last spoke.”

“Yeah- It’s been a while.” His voice trailed off as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Everything out here doesn’t even come close to Claw.” He jerked, standing up straight again. “I mean- that doesn’t mean I miss it! Just things changed. For the better though!”

“Don’t worry.” Minegishi almost cracked a grin, standing there with his dirt stained apron and classic retail worker expression. “I get it.”

Serizawa began looking around with wide eyes at the assortment of plants, flowers, and succulents. Minegishi had organized the small space over the past few days: fragile and colorful arrangements filled the shelves at his back with the opposite wall starting with little holders for individual flowers leading to small house plants. At the end was a refrigerator containing finished orders to be picked up surrounded by a large variety of more mature potted plants, some reaching to the ceiling.

Still so innocent. Minegishi wished he could feel such joy again, experience things for the first time with an open mind unstained by nihilism. At least Claw hadn’t taking that from Serizawa as it had him. Though another look at those cheerful eyes made him wonder if it was all just a mask.

“So, what brings you in?” Minegishi got up from his stool, actually interested in some small talk for once. “Have something in mind?”

“Oh! Um.” Serizawa shook his head, still trying to take everything in. “I was thinking a house plant. Something small for my apartment.” He gestured at the several on the shelves. “Maybe two?”

Walking over from behind the counter, Minegishi went over all the species in his head, organizing them in terms of ease of care, size, and light requirements. He ended with a turn of his head, looking up at his ex-coworker.

“Do you have any pets?”

“No.” Serizawa frowned. “Well, not yet. I wanted to get a cat but a few weeks ago I took care of Shou’s hamsters while he went on a trip with his mom.” And back to the unassuming smile. “That alone was too much! What with my job and taking night classes.”

“Mmm. I see.” Minegishi adjusted some of the pots. “Plants are easier to care for, however, that doesn’t mean you can just leave them alone and they’ll be fine.” Taking one of ferns he began to prune some of the dead leaves off the bottom. “Some need more light in the winter, or less water, most want food when developing flowers. You need to be aware of their needs or they will wilt and die.”

Serizawa nodded along, a serious look on his face. “I, well- I did a bit of research online. There’s a few spots where the windows let in light.” He glanced around the store a bit confused. “What do you mean food? Do I need to get like bags of fertilizer?”

Minegishi blinked once before crossing his arms, resisting the urge to bring a hand up to his face. “Serizawa.” He watched the man stand to attention. “Is your only experience with plants watching me in the greenhouse back at Claw?”

“I guess so?” Embarrassed fingers went through Serizawa’s hair. “I didn’t really have much time to properly learn about this. Just-“ He let out a sigh. “My boss, you know, Reigen Arataka? He’s stayed at my place a few times and made a comment how I should liven up the apartment. That it helps with morale and such. And he mentioned plants and something about air purification? We have a few plants at the office, so I thought I’d start small.”

Minegishi listened to the full vent, leaving a pause in case there happened to be more. “Alright. I understand now.” He turned and walked toward the back of the store. “Follow me.”

He lead Serizawa through a door to the closed off area even further into the shop. The taller man had to duck a bit under the shorter overhang. Light shone in though a crude set up of glass windows and tarps- Half of the back wall had been sacrificed to form a resemblance of a green house. Most of the sun failed to enter and so grow lamps were required, each hanging down off of wires over wooden planters all filled with an assortment of budding leaves and flowers. In the corner sat a darker patch filled with covered pots lined up in a row. All around lay buckets and bags of dirt along with hand shovels and twine.

Serizawa nearly hit his head on one of the lamps. He decided staying still was the best option now, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. 

“Relax. Nature is supposed to be soothing.”Minegishi caught a look from Serizawa and shrugged his shoulders. “Ok. Point taken. I don’t do that anymore.”

“Right.” Serizawa took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, growing far calmer. “So, is this where you grow the plants?”

“Some of them.” Minegishi paced, scanning each pot making sure all was in line. “Most flowers are shipped in from larger green houses and farms.” He stopped in front of a dozen or so pots separated from the others. “But I’ve been growing most of the houseplants here from cuttings and seeds.”

“They are so tiny. Cute.” Serizawa hovered behind Minegishi.  

“I suppose so.”

Holding out a hand, Minegishi closed his eyes and tried to focus. It wasn’t out of the need to actually manipulate the plants but to temper his powers so he wouldn’t cause harm.

“Woah.”

Each vascular sheath, every drop of water, every cell he could feel from the tip of the leaves down along the roots. Just a nudge and they harmonized with his aura. Little seedlings doubled in size, unfurling new leaves with some branching out as they grew taller. In the end the once near empty pots now hosted a variety of foliage from green to the dappled red and purple mixed with nearly emerging flowers.

Serizawa gasped. “That’s amazing!” Walking right up, he reached out to touch one of the plants but held back, still admiring the change and explosion of colors. “I’ve never seen leaves like this before.”

“That’s Codiaeum variegatum.” Minegishi didn’t wait for the expected confused silence. “Common name would be Croton. They come in several colors but I prefer the strong green with the red and yellow outlines.” He picked up a small watering can and started to tend to each pot. “You can put that one in front the window you mentioned and it will be fine.”

“Wait, you’re giving me this?” A pause, Serizawa still distracted. “I mean, I’m buying it?”

Without looking up from his work, Minegishi stopped at another pot. “Yes. It should be easy for you.” He flicked his gaze over his shoulder. “Just don’t over water: make sure the soil is dry before doing anything.”

At this point, Serizawa had taken out a note pad and was scribbling down details.

“And you will get this one as well.” The watering can was set down. Minegishi stood over sprawling plant with wide but long leaves. “It’s a Peace Lilly. Very comfortable in shade and tolerant of most indoor areas.” He set the pot off to side with the other. “See if you can keep it happy enough for it to flower.” In the end he was leaning against one of the planters, wiping dirt from his hands onto his apron. “Then you can come back and I can see what else would be suitable for you.”  

“Th- thank you!” Serizawa took one of Minegishi’s hands and less gave it a shake and more pulled at it for an awkward hug. “Um- I wrote down everything you said so I promise I will do my best.”

“Right.” Minegishi stood frozen, almost forgetting how personal his ex-coworker could be. “Let’s get these to the front and I’ll get your order processed.”

A few dings and a receipt print later and Serizawa was now a proud plant owner.

“What’s your address?” Minegishi looked up from the counter still writing down details. “I need it for the delivery.”

“Delivery?” Serizawa waved a hand. “You don’t have to do that, it’s fine.”

“Yeah. And you are gonna have a hard time carrying two pots filled with dirt and plants down to the train stop then home.”

“Oh.” Serizawa thought for a moment, having not even considered this. “I am returning to the office first. I guess you’re right.”

They finished getting all the information ready. Minegishi placed the pots in the corner for delivery after closing. He returned with a brilliant selection of flowers tied into a bouquet: white lilies mixed with roses both pink and red, opting out of the over used baby’s breath for the more enticing filler of dried lavender.

“Here.” He handed it over. “This is on the house.”

Serizawa took the delicate bundle in reverence. “They are so lovely. I don’t know where I’ll put these though.”

“Well, I thought you might need them.”

“For what?” Serizawa looked back with genuine confusion.

A long sigh. Why did he expect such blatant signs to even be read? Minegishi put his elbows onto the counter and leaned down, resting his head in a hand.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Well, the office could use come color.” Serizawa beamed. “So thank you! For everything.”

“Sure thing.”

Minegishi waved after the man, sincerely hoping things went well. The store returned to its empty state and he wandered into the back to start his research into fungus.

-----

Lunch break had long passed. Reigen Arataka sat at his desk, fingers steepled and eyes staring ahead, their focus avoiding what they truly wanted to look at. In front of him sat a cheap vase he had found in one of the drawers that now contained a vibrant mixture of sweet smelling flowers.

Serizawa sat happily working away at his desk.

What did this mean. How could he act so nonchalant. Bringing such an expensive bouquet like it was any other day of the week.

‘These will help bring color to the office!’

Yeah. Ok. Sure. He is just SITTING THERE what do I even do. Should I get him something back? Maybe chocolates? Or is that too brash. I mean it’s still less brash than ROSES. Is this because of the last movie night, us sitting on his couch together sharing popcorn.

Ugh. No. Stop thinking so much into this. Just get up and walk over there. Say some things. Don’t know what yet.

“Reigen-san, are you alright?”

Reigen jolted up, his back now straight. “FINE! Perfectly fine. Just lost in thought is all.” He waved a hand at his desk. “Coming up with new advertisement ideas for the business.”

“Oh. Alright.” HOW DID HE HAVE SUCH A CUTE SMILE. “Well you missed two phone calls. I thought maybe something had happened.”

“Ah, worry not!” Reigen fumbled, leaning back in his chair as it squeaked. “They were just spam calls.”

Serizawa gave a nod and returned to his papers. Taking an inhale and holding it, Reigen stared at the flowers. Maybe sleep on it. Take some time to understand the meaning behind it all. Too late. He rose to unsteady legs, mouth opening before his brain could catch up.

“Say, wanna hang out at the end of the week? Maybe I can come over again and watch movies.”

Serizawa beamed back. “Sure! I only have one class Friday night so I will be home probably around 6pm. How does that sound?”

Fuck fuck fuck. “Perfect.”

“Good! I can show you my new plants!”

Reigen blinked a few times and his train of thought never managed to get back on the rails for the rest of the work day.

[strawberry-soot]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ☀️KALIM BIRTHDAY SSR FLOWER ANALYSIS* ☀️*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Very much on brand for Kalim, his bouquet has a plethora of different flowers. Perhaps the most prominent ones are the white (pompom) chrysanthemums, which symbolize happiness, love, longevity, and joy, and are commonly associated with good luck. In American culture they’re representative of honor and respect, in Korea of honesty and sincerity, while in Japan they’re associated with the goddess of the sun (and the heavens). In the Victorian Language of Flowers they were a symbol of friendship and are to this day still used to convey loyalty and devotion, though throughout Europe they’ve generally become more representative of sympathy, death, and mourning.

Dahlias have historically been used to signify a lasting bond or commitment and have been gifted to show appreciation for one another. Nowadays they’re commonly associated with inner strength, purity, and good faith, though it’s not uncommon for them to symbolize (positive) life changes and the inner strength that comes with them. They’re perfect for someone under a lot of stress to remind them they have a good soul, or for someone who’s going through a rough patch in life/trying to recover from something.

The small blue flowers in his bouquet are cosmos which are a symbol of kindness in Japan. They’re reminders to go beyond your limits and stand for resilience since they grow back quick and even stronger when their petals are removed. Sometimes they also serve as a reminder that “you’re all you need to thrive.” Blue cosmos in particular symbolize inspiration and creativity.

Azaleas represent wealth, elegance, and abundance, though they’re also symbols of passion and strong emotion. Since the petals of azaleas are very fragile they’re used to represent a fragile love and its ability to blossom and turn into a long lasting relationship despite its delicate nature. In Japan and China, they’re often associated with homesickness and gifted to people you miss and want to see again soon – or to symbolize remembrance of home and a desire to one day return to it.

The heliotropes in Kalim’s bouquet are either salt heliotropes or Indian heliotropes, which luckily share the same symbolism. Heliotropes stand for devotion, acceptance, forgiveness, faith, and salvation. They’re heavily associated with the sun, as well as to devotion and everlasting love – regardless of the recipient’s feelings, or what hurt they may cause the one gifting the flowers. White heliotropes in particular are a representation of the innocent and pure love shared between people, and are symbolic of affection that can be expressed honestly and without fear of needing to hold back.

White tulips are commonly given to say “I’m sorry”, though they’re also symbols of purity, honor, and holiness. It’s said that dreaming about white tulips means you are about to experience a fresh start or new beginning in life.

Kalim might have a magnolia which stands for purity, luck, and stability.

The fern-looking flowers/leaves in his bouquet look like Powis Castle Artemesia/Artemisia to me but they may as well simply be fillers. If they are Artemisia they’d represent regret, suffering, and doom (which is thanks to their bitter taste). They’re popular ornamental flowers, but other than that hold no positive meanings.

Naturally, these are only my un-educated guesses considering I’m by no means a flower specialist so take everything with a grain of salt, and feel free to let me know if I got anything wrong/what flowers I might’ve missed.

[outofangband]

Common Symbols and Motifs in Heraldry, clothing and art part 2/?

Part one: Elves of Aman World Building Masterlist

I’m going to do the Sindar on this post though I might do the Falathrim separately and the Nandor and Avari on the later ones then go to humans! So I might increase the number of these more.

I will also probably add to this list just as I have the other one

Sindar of Doriath

Nightingales Generally ascribed meanings: the Queen Melian, song, love and devotion, bonding, joy

Bracken fern and fiddleheads fern Generally ascribed meanings: geometry and order

Beech Leaves: Generally ascribed meanings: Abundance, generosity, resourcefulness

Holly leaves Generally Ascribed Meanings: honor, defense, resilience

Oak leaves Generally ascribed meanings: Friendship, loyalty

Niphradel and snowdrops Generally ascribed meanings: purity, youth, innocence, cycles

Elanor Generally ascribed meanings: light, growth, curiosity

Bluebells Generally ascribed meanings: spring, fleet footedness

Elm leaves Generally ascribed meanings: the king, service, steadfastness

Sindar of Mithrim

Nettles, stem, leaves and flowers Generally ascribed meanings: nettles are used in the northern Sindar culture in a variety of ways including fiber for fabric, eating, and medicinal teas. Their appearing in heraldry, art and symbolism is usually believed to mean resilience, the change of winters to spring, and the earths resources

Clouds Generally ascribed meanings: the heavens, tranquility

Outline of mountains Generally ascribed meanings: history, family, honesty

Wolf's Bane Generally ascribed meanings: Lore, knowledge

Blue bellflower: Generally ascribed meanings: color, joy, exploration

Trout Generally ascribed meanings: home, water

Lake birds (herons, swans) Generally ascribed meanings: grace, flight, legacy

Lake birds (ducks, loons, teals) Generally ascribed meanings: cycles of life and predation, respect for land

Fir tree Generally ascribed meanings: shadow and light, truth

Sunflowers Generally ascribed meanings: joy, sun, day

Sindar of Nevrast (non Falathrim) Aquatic birds one (ducks/shelducks/grebe/teals/eider/sea ducks) Generally Ascribed meanings: stability, peace, family

Aquatic birds two (cranes/egrets/herons) Generally ascribed meanings: grace, skill, aptitude, seeking

Aquatic birds three (loons, crakes, rails, etc) Generally ascribed meanings: song, mystery, change

Ripples on a lake Generally ascribed meanings: the world, the ages, time

The clifflines of Nevrast: Generally ascribed meanings: strength, wisdom

Marsh grasses: Generally ascribed meanings: roots, abundance

Sea Lavender Generally ascribed meanings: the lands and sea, gentleness

Sunflower or daisy

Generally ascribed meanings: resilience, loyalty

General among the Sindar of Beleriand:

hummingbirds generally ascribed meanings: pollination, flora and fauna, wonder

butterflies and dragonflies generally ascribed meanings: change and transformation, fragility and beauty

willow trees generally ascribed meanings: peace, connection to Ulmo, mystery, prophecy

Obviously this isn't a complete list as many, many species of flora and fauna have their own meanings! Please feel free to ask about any or ask any world building questions! I hope this is ok!

Next post

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

I'm curious about the Hanahaki QPR fic! (for the WIP meme)

Thanks for asking about this one. It's been on my list for a while and hopefully I will find time to write it.

It's about Geralt who starts showing symptoms of hanahaki, but he's confused because he's a witcher and witchers (in this fic) don't feel love.

He sees a mage and it's confirmed he has hanahaki and after waiting it out for a better option, he finally decides to try and tell Jaskier he loves him.

It doesn't work, and he doesn't know why. What's worse is that Jaskier now looks at him funny.

The hanahaki gets worse and worse and Geralt is really put through it. He thinks he's going to have to stop being a witcher and at that point he admits to Jaskier that he's his friend.

And that's what cures him. He just needed to tell Jaskier how much he means to him as a friend.

Here's the only snippet I have of this fic.

Geralt stares at the yellow thin petals in his hand as he clears his throat. They look so fragile—wet with saliva—and it feels like a dream.

He doesn’t know how they got there, but when he wipes at his mouth and finds yet more petals, he frowns.

There was no reason this should be happening. He’s a witcher, he doesn’t experience feelings, especially not love.

And who exactly was his unrequited beau? There weren’t that many people in his life. Certainly not many who stuck around.

He saw his brothers in arms since early spring, and he hadn’t seen Yennefer in years. Both were much too long ago to contribute to this.

It had to be someone he’d seen recently, but that only left the bard and that didn’t make sense. They saw each other frequently for years on end. Why would he be hit with the flower disease now?

He rubs at the petals, watching how they folded under his touch. There’s a tickling sensation in his throat and it feels like something is trying to claw up from within.

Something in his chest burns, a pain that threatens to scream out of him.

Clearing his throat, he looks around the camp at the bluebells and the ferns. There’s not a single yellow flower around.

Roach nickers, looking impatient as she moves from one patch of grass to the next. She chomps through her tasty treat, definitely cursing Geralt for being tardy with her real meal.

'I’m sorry, girl,” he tells her, walking over to his bags and unpacking some carrots he’d bought for her.

She sniffs as he walks over to her, holding them out in his hand for her to gobble up. Her tail swishes as she munches.

Geralt chuckles, then coughs once when that tickle returns.

It doesn’t help, that scratching feeling gets stronger and stronger until he’s bent over hacking out his lungs.

When a handful of more yellow petals and a part of a flower head shoot out his mouth—landing on the ground below—the coughing stops.

Shit. He needs a mage and he needs one fast.

[pcttrailsidereader]

Circle Champagne

Retired Wilderness Ranger Ronin Demele, in his book Pacific Crest Trail: Mountain Encounters of a Wilderness Ranger, has written a series of short stories and poems based upon his experience along the PCT in Northern California's Trinity Alps. This particular story touches on a couple of important themes. The first is that Native Americans have a long history in the lands crossed by the PCT. Wilderness was never unpopulated despite the way that the perception has evolved over the past 150 years. Demele's story recognizes the long relationship that Native Americans have had with this landscape. The second is the grazing rights that have been 'grandfathered in' to areas like the Trinity Alps and the outsized impact that cattle have on the fragile high country. I know that I grew to detest the clang of the cowbells that seemed so disconnected with my PCT experience as I passed through the Alps.

The book is available for purchase through this link:

When I hiked up along this Trinity section of the PCT I always plodded slowly along the rocky, remote trail to feel the spirit of the Wintu Indians that spent thousands of summers up there in the upper meadows. I stopped at each creek crossing looking for Tangle Blue rocks matrixed with blue veins. I paused at the sight of a hawk in flight. This spot is snowy cold in winter, but paradise in summertime. Springs gush cold water, and meadows attract the big hardy bucks that make it up through the granite and red rocks.

Wintu Indian camps lined the small creeks that run through these meadows. Gigantic red-barked cedar still grow along the creeks. I always scanned the ground, looking for arrowheads reflecting in the sun. Obsidian chips littered the ground, and at creek's edge maidenhair ferns grew, and up into the forest I found bear grass. Bear grass and ferns were items collected for basket making. Arrow point making was practiced in the meadow. Obsidian from Glass Mountain was packed in many miles from near Mount Shasta.

As I neared the basin, I saw the orange and black spotted leopard lily that surrounds this place where two rocks part and cold icy water gushed freely, forming a small moist meadow. I dropped my pack against a rough, grey granite rock, bent to my knees, sipped, and silently thanked the deep earth source as generations of Wintu had done. Across the meadows and across the ages, I heard something. A bell clanging and cows mooing. This is now US Forest Service grazing land in the middle of Wilderness. I was there as a Wilderness Ranger checking on the grazing cattle. In front of me, I noticed not 12 of them as usual, but perhaps 25 or 30 black, full bellied, slow plodding, bell necked, plastic ear tagged munchers trampling the ruined meadow.

Over in the fir forest below the red cedars near the obsidian camp that I visited each summer, sat the Permittee in a folding chair. He was wearing a starched white shirt and cowboy hat and boots, sitting under a canvas sun shade. It was Circle Champagne himself. As I approached, he looked a little startled and offered me to join him this mid-day with a cold glass of champagne from this cooler nearby.

"No thank you," I said.

"From Marin County," he said.

"Bring'em all the way up here to fatten 'em up," he boasted.

"How many ya got?"

"A few here and there," he bluffed as he blinked to his assistant wrangler. "My wife is on the Board of Directors of the Marin County Agricultural Board, near San Francisco," he offered.

"Perhaps this means something important," I wondered to myself. This man, with his cows wandering around and with that champagne glass in a circle brand seared into their butts, stayed seated on his butt. His horses a few feet away pawed in the dust hoping to get movin' away from all the pesky flies circling the horses and cows. In the meadow, the slow movin' herd clanged and munched and stomped the rare flowers -- the columbines, the leopard lilies, and the pitcher plants, leaving pizza-sized patties in the sparkling pure creek water. This is the Wilderness Area.

"What kind of public benefit is this?" I wondered about the Permit and the Permittee. Off the trail, back at the Ranger Station, I handed in my trail report to the Resource Officer in charge. In it I outlined the violations I had witnessed; meadow overgrazing, water pollution, and attempted bribery of a Wilderness Ranger . . . me. I heard nothing back. It was business as usual in the enforcement department . . . now that the Wintu were gone from these meadows, what would their spirit say about this mountain mess?

[k00283051]

3D Studies Seminar:

I learned that 3D studies involves the engagement with the physical and tactile elements in our environment.

I found this seminar beneficial and interesting as I struggled towards the end of my project to incorporate a 3D aspect. Two particular artists who I found related to my project were Richard Serra and Phoebe Cummings.

Phoebe Cummings

Cummings work predominantly uses unfired clay to make poetic and performative sculpture and installations that emphasise materiality, fragility, time, creation and decay. Her work was delicately curated, like mine as we both tried to capture natures beauty but in different forms. She has many clay ferns throughout her sculptures as I have through my prints and digital photographs. Her work helped open my eyes to other material that I would not usually lean towards and how my work can be equally significant.

Richard Serra

As soon as I saw Richard Serra’s steel sculptures they reminded me of my cylindrical sculpture I made from my acetates. Taking on the same shape and form, but made from different material and of different meaning. The smooth soft bends and curved curated are like a never ending maze, like how my sculpture creates a “never ending” story or path of ferns through a forest.

[fatal-blow]

ACTUALLY this got long so im just gonna reblog but clay pebbles is ANOTHER misinformation thing ;u;

if you're willing to try again, here's some no nonsense, beginner friendly, low effort "my plants always die" troubleshoot guide for people who are at their wit's end regarding houseplant care.

unglazed terracotta, with hole at the bottom. the difference between plastic/glazed/metal pots vs terracotta is more than you might realize (terracotta has tiny holes that allow air flow) the hole at the bottom is for drainage, which the topic could constitute a whole other post, but tldr roots need oxygen and no drainage fills air space in soil with water (because the "extra" has nowhere to go) and drowns them

like i said in replies, cheap houseplant soil alone gets compact and nasty. BUT when mixed with perlite and orchid bark works well. cactus/succulents need more perlite. tropicals do best with some perlite and some bark. hanging plants like more bark, lil perlite, some soil.

it matters more how OFTEN you water vs how MUCH. infrequent, but heavy watering is typically best.

some tropicals are vulnerable to low humidity. counter this by grouping them together (sprizting is eh, pebble trays get gross)

tropicals = anything that isnt a desert plant. temperate plants don't make as good houseplants.

some plants are vulnerable to high humidity. counter this with a small fan running in the room from time to time.

the meaning of "damp" or "moist" soil is just that the soil doesn't feel like dust when you stick your finger in it. i killed a lot of ferns because i didnt know what that meant. literally just ignore it and water tropicals when the soil feels dry.

where you live in the world matters. if you live closer to the poles, succulents are hard to keep through winter. give them the sunniest spot in the house, try to get them outside in summer, do NOT water them during winter, and be okay with them looking a lil leggy and pale.

tropicals...are also tough near the poles, but for a different reason: low humidity. see tip about low humidity.

at higher latitudes, plants should be in the windows all winter. i know we all badly want the aesthetic of plants through the house, but there's just not enough sunlight.

im not joking do not water succulents in winter i promise they'll be fine.

don't even worry about fertilizer don't think about it. that's a problem for future you who has more plant keeping experience.

dont use pesticides. plants are gonna have bugs on them. this is a part of keeping houseplants. pesticides can make it worse. use soap and water to spray unwanted insects off.

(infestations typically happen when the plant is already sick--if it's buggy, you may already be late to the party)

dont water on a schedule, but if it helps set a schedule for checking on your plants. regular check ins can help you learn more about your guy.

light levels mean completely different things based on time of year and where you live. with houseplants, err on the side of putting your guy in a sunnier spot, cus indoor light is always much less than outdoor.

and lastly, plants are living things! they operate much more slowly than us, but they nonetheless react to things in their environment. you can learn those reactions by noting its "language," a healthy plant looks bushy, with leaves all spread out and pointing towards the light. it may have dark, glossy leaves, or plump stiff ones, with few deformed leaves (few is fine, many is uh oh), stems and trunks should be firm and strong, with no holes, very soft spots, or unusual coloration. roots should also be firm, and new growth should be visible with more bright colours (white, yellow, orange mostly). if the soil is wet and the roots look gross, bad. if the soil is extremely dry, dead roots will be fragile and can feel "deflated".

actually last, celebrate your victories. while this guide is meant to cover the Big Misconceptions, there's a thousand little reasons that plants die that you have no control over.

my ability to kill plants should be studied in a lab tbh

[houserosaire]

A Box of Ghosts

(Basically a bunch of entirely self indulgent Rosaire family history nonsense, continued from several prompts during FFXIV Write month: Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here.)

The midmorning sun lay in a great swath of light across the table, making the rich browns of polished wood gleam. Lord Mieux had curled himself in the center of that sun-warmed patch, his speckled fur gleaming with a million tiny sparks in its light. His soft drowsy purring mingled with the more distant but equally cozy crackling of the fireplace in Honore’s ears. He shifted his chair slightly, turning it until it sat just a bit more fully in the sun as well. Outside the windows, past the silver ferns of frost at the edge of the glass, he could see a sky of the clearest, brightest blue. It certainly did not seem the least bit like a time for ghosts.

With that thought Honore took a small sip of steaming tea, and a fortifying bite of lemon muffin and reached rather reluctantly for the carved box that had been his nemesis for some weeks.  Emboldened by sunshine, he pushed the lid back, scooted aside the carving Silvaineaux had said was made of dragon bone, and the fragile fabric of a handkerchief. Beneath it lay a bundle of letters tied prettily with a ribbon. It was this bundle he sought, and he carefully lifted it from the box, settled it on the table before him. For a moment he only stared at the neat bow the ribbon made, the faded color he thought had once been a sky blue but which now looked more grey than anything else.

He could put the letters back in the box. He told himself. He could take the whole thing back up to the attic and leave it to the dust and the ghosts. Even in the sunlight it was rather tempting. But he was no coward, was he? He had told Silvaineaux he would look at it and by the Fury he would. Besides he could not help wondering what it was in this box, in this bundle of letters, or the loose papers below it that had drawn some restless spirit back from beyond the grave. He gripped the ribbon gently and unbound it, lifting the first letter and opening it with little more ceremony than that.

The black ink on the paper had faded brown with time, but he could easily make out each stroke of the bold hand that had written it. It was a spare sort of writing, a bit like Silvaineaux’s in a way that made him imagine large calloused hands holding a quill when they would rather hold a sword.

Dear Sybille,

I write this in the full knowledge that you will not be able to write anything to me in return until I have settled some place long enough to send you an address. Still, I know the person who spent so much time at my bedside would worry and so I send you this to let you know I am still as well as I can be. 

We have traveled a long way already. I found the air on the ship bracing and fresh but Alexis turned a delicate pale green like some dandy’s silk coat. We are both glad to have made landfall and we have spent perhaps some weeks here. It may be that in the end we will linger longer or even stay.

Alexis holds out some hope for the work of these alchemists where Ishgard’s chirurgeons have failed. I am not sure I do. I can feel the venom in my blood still, coiled like a sleeping dragon and wanting only the slightest provocation to wake. But I don’t write thus to worry you. It -does- still sleep. And if perhaps these alchemists also lack the means to slay it, the air here is warm. Warmer than ours even in summer. And the heat seems to make that dragon in my blood sleep deeper.

So perhaps alchemists or no we will stay. I think you would like it here. I believe Alexis does. And for me… the warm air smells of spices. Everything is full of such brilliant color, even the buildings and clothes are brighter than a garden in the fullest of spring bloom. It is pleasant.

I found a local on the dock who made pretty drawings of the landscape in delicate color. I have sent one with this letter. Perhaps if you hold it close enough to your face for a moment you will smell a little bit of this foreign air.

If we stay, I will send you word. Until then do not worry. I am well. The dragon sleeps.

Your loving brother,

-Yvain

The signatory’s name tickled a little at Honore’s memory. And between the lines of that letter he found enough hints of a larger story to intrigue him but it still did not seem to him something a ghost would return over. The thought of the ghost made him stiffen, and he slowly looked around him, but the sun-bathed library remained quiet and Lord Mieux’s purrs had subsided into deeper sleep. He did not notice anything either. Honore set Yvain’s letter aside and reached for the next one.

This was a different hand, he could see it at a glance. Perhaps it had some of the same boldness as the last, as if the quill had moved over the paper firmly and decisively. But this one had something neater and a touch more refined to it. It bore a hint more deliberate art, not dainty curlicues but here and there a swipe of a flourish. 

 My dearest sister,

Do you miss me awfully? I miss you, though otherwise I suppose I have not much to complain of. The squad is billeted here at the estates of Viscount Coeurdelys for some weeks to help with the problems of dragons and heretics in their hills. It seems our name is worth something, for even as a lowly third son I have been afforded quite comfortable rooms in the main house to rest in between our outings. It is from these that I write to you, seated warmly beside a blazing fire as I imagine you must be at home. What a bitter winter it is thus far!

In any case, when you think of me imagine me thus cozily ensconced. Or else imagine me lance in hand, and slaying dragons handily and with great skill. As suits you. 

The Viscount’s heir is not far off our age and he is exceptionally comely.  Beautiful, really.  And charming and pleasant. A paragon really. As yet unbetrothed. Sadly for me I get the impression he’s more in your line than mine. And so I’ve made sure to tell him just a bit about how lovely my twin sister is, how gracious and kind and lovely. You’d make a wonderful Viscountess and if I can manage it for you, I shall.

We have had a few encounters thus far. A couple of the others have taken minor injury though I am as yet unscathed and have added some wyverns and aevis to my tally. But there does truly seem to be some gathering of heretics in the hills and I would almost wager my lance on the presence of a greater drake than those we have seen thus far. I suppose we shall see. 

I have been here some time already and I have settled in quite nicely otherwise. I hear sermons in the little village chapel from a priest at least as comely as the Viscount’s heir. I drink in the tavern not far off or sometimes in the hall with Donatien (the aforementioned heir). I have already sent you an account of my last adventures however…

Last night the oddest thing did happen. I was just leaving the tavern, a bit worse for my cups, though not so much so that I did not remember this on waking. But a man approached me. Some humble lowborn farmer, I think, bearded and terribly earnest.  He said to me: “I have heard you are a Rosaire. Do you deal with odd happenings like your brother?”

I was truly taken aback for a moment, for I could not think what he might mean, or even which brother, for it is not as though we do not have several. I have been puzzling a bit over that since and I’ve concluded he must have meant Yvain. Did he not have some interesting something earlier in the fall with that friend of his? In any case I have not heard that Gaheriet has done anything I would really call strange or odd, and Parsivaile, proper and Baronial as he is, would never. 

In any case as I stood there trying to scrabble my rather sodden wits together and make some guess as to what in the Fury’s name the fellow meant he simply stared at me with his earnest, pleading eyes. Finally I decided perhaps he meant some trouble with heretics or dragons, in which case that is rather precisely in my charge, and so I told him. “My good fellow, of course I do.”

He nodded at me ever so solemnly. “Then I will ask you kindly for your help.” He said. “On the morrow.” And then, he just left. 

He has not yet turned up to ask me (though it is still early. Earlier than my head would like, rather.) In any case I suppose today if he turns up to ask I will take my armor and spear and see if I cannot sort out his odd happenings for him. I will write you another very long letter about it when I have. In the meantime, I suppose I must close. May Halone keep you. 

-L.

Honore frowned a moment over that single letter signature before setting the letter aside too. He picked up the next, though not to read it. He unfolded it only far enough to see the salutation. A bit more rapidly he flipped through the rest: Dearest Sybille, Lady Sybille, Beloved sister, Dear daughter, all of them were written to the same person. Slowly he took hold of the box, closing it to look more closely at the intricate carving on the lid. A mounted knight rode in stately grace across the lid, his visor raised to offer a glimpse of handsome features. He carried a banner that scrolled artistically across the backdrop of leaves and flowers behind him and which bore the initials S.R.

It must have been Sybille’s box, he thought. They were her letters, the handkerchief and the ribbon looked as if they might have belonged to a lady. And so perhaps she was the ghost who haunted the box. For all that it was her box she was rather ghostly in it, he thought. Thus far he had found no real trace of her. No words she had written were kept within and the only idea he could glean of her came from the way others had chosen to speak to her. It woke an odd sadness in him to hold so many of her things and have no idea of who she had been within herself. It was even worse when he entertained the thought that perhaps she was lonely and had come back to look through her letters once more.

He was still frowning over the bundle of as yet unopened letters when the door opened. “Oh.” Silvaineaux said. “Have you found out anything interesting yet?”

“It’s all terribly interesting actually.” Honore said. “And I think maybe I’ve figured out who our ghost is.” And somehow now that he had read a few of her letters the ghost didn’t seem quite as scary as she had before. 

“Oh? Who is it?” Silvaineaux asked, tugging out a chair and to perch himself on.

“I think it must be the lady whose box it is. The letters are all hers. Who else would come back to look through them? Sybille Rosaire? She must have been some ancestress of yours, I imagine if we-” But there he stopped, because Silvaineaux was staring at him with the strangest expression on his face. “What is it?” He swallowed, suddenly uneasy.

“It is not a lady.” Silvaineaux said, his voice gentle, almost apologetic. “I have seen him.”

A shadow crept across the table and with it came an unpleasant thrill down Honore’s spine. He hastily bundled the pile of letters back into the box and pressed it firmly closed. It was only after he had that he realized that Lord Mieux was still half asleep and the shadow had been merely a cloud briefly covering the face of the sun. “Ah, well. Perhaps I will figure it out later.” He said offering Silvaineaux a rather weak smile. “I think I have had enough of old letters for today.”

[flower-seller]

Hisuian Floral Arrangements - 01

This is the first part in a small series where I will be breaking down floral arrangements in Hisui, or at least they are 'modernly' done. Some item and plant arrangements predate the formation of the clans, but many have developed alongside the shift and flow of Hisui itself.

This particular section includes flowers, vegetables, some plants and evolution stones! The next will be for berries, apricorns, mushrooms and charms.

Part 2

☆ Charms are often used to hold arrangements together, the type of charm can add weight toward a certain meaning

☆ Sometimes evolution stones are added into arrangements. They provide an additional depth of feeling in large part due to their more rare and precious nature

✦ Long post under cut! ✦

Hisuian Violet (Rich purple wildflower)

■ Modesty

■ Standing the test of time

■ Artistry

Ramanas Rose (Pink and purple wildflowers, often found bountifully in fields)

■ Abundance

■ Warm regards

■ Guilessness

Twinflare Blossom (Orange and purple flowers that often grow side by side)

■ Constant companion

■ Devotion

Faefreckle Flower (Tiny white flowers found speckled throughout fields and on slopes)

■ Small joys

■ Safe journeys

■ "I'll miss you"

Silphigem (Tiny golden flowers that grow in bunches on long stems, they are also used as a spice but are on the decline)

■ Protection

■ Flirtation

■ Enthusiasm

Pep-Up Plant

■ Cheer

■ Impatience

■ Innocence

Vivichoke

■ Immortality

■ Blessings

■ Enduring love 

Roselia/roserade Rose (Often those shed in battle or found naturally shed in the environment)

■ Declaration of war/Ill intent (bouquet of both red and blue given)

■ Blue Rose, specifically: Swift revenge

■ Red Rose, specifically: Longstanding grudge or woe

■ Flowers that have been dried to remove poisonous effects: Forgiveness, lament, tragic love

Cottonsedge 

■ Cherished memories

■ Safety

■ Things not seen but felt

Blushbrush Flower (Low growing pink flowers that cover the ground in dense patches, closer to a type of moss)

■ Harmony

■ Hospitality

■ Infatuation

Sootfoot Root

■ Humility

■ Wisdom

■ Watchfulness

Plump Beans

■ Affection

■ Simplicity

■ Bonds

Pop Pod

■ Surprise

■ "I am withholding my anger"

■ Returning

Bugwort

■ Bitter truth

■ Hidden worth

■ Patience

King's Leaf

■ Strength

■ Pride

■ Riches

■ Nobility

Hearty Grains

■ Everlasting beauty

■ Preparedness

■ Virtuousness

Caster Fern (Single unfolded leaf)

■ Protection

■ Secrecy

■ Fascination

Caster Fern (Bunch)

■ Community/familial ties

■ Festivity

■ Deception

Medicinal Leek

■ Well wishes

■ Healing

■ Resilience against adversity (From its ability to be found across all of Hisui's climes)

Sand Radish

■ "You are a rarity"

■ New horizons

Brinebloom Flower (Dark pink flowers that grow on vines, often seen on beached ships in the Cobalt Coastlands)

■ Melancholy/mourning

■ Silent beauty

■ Rebirth (Historically they were sometimes made into chains and wound around the bones of pokemon given to the sea)

Mints (As rare, if not rarer, than evolution stones in arrangements. Told apart by the different shades of color in their 'type' group)

■ Bold Mint: Persistence, enduring bonds, encouragement

■ Lax Mint: "Calm your anger", subtlety, meditation

■ Relaxed Mint: "Good things come to those who wait", sensibility 

■ Impish Mint: Whimsy, risk, jealousy

■ Adamant Mint: Strong emotions, boundless enthusiasm, hatred

■ Lonely Mint: "I miss you", fortitude, sympathy

■ Naughty Mint: ;), foolishness, haughtiness

■ Brave Mint: Glory, strength in battle, courage

■ Timid Mint: Timidity, "I cannot bear to say this aloud"

■ Naive Mint: Youth, mistaken love

■ Jolly Mint: Gaiety, gratitude, congratulations

■ Hasty Mint: Impatience, caution

■ Serious Mint: Steadfastness, "These words have weight"

■ Sassy Mint: Frivolity, vanity, luxury 

■ Careful Mint: Fair warning, fragility, deflecting negative emotions

■ Calm Mint: Reflection, piety, dignity

■ Gentle Mint: Motherly love, "You are safe", "Please take care"

■ Mild Mint: Formality, "I am not a threat" 

■ Quiet Mint: "Be silent", sincerity, mystery

■ Rash Mint: "I apologize", presumption 

■ Modest Mint: "Be humble", support, gratitude

Evolution Stones

■ Fire: Ambition, danger, passion

■ Water: Peace, steadfastness, rebirth

■ Thunder: Vivaciousness, creativity, anticipation

■ Leaf: Growth, future investments, fertility

■ Ice: Eternal patience, indifference, purity

■ Dawn: New beginnings, perceptivemess, "I have my eye on you"

■ Dusk: Intuition, decoy for bad luck, "Keep this secret"

■ Moon: Grace, cyclical change, hope in dark times

■ Oval: Good health, happiness, domesticity

■ Sun: Luck in money, clarity, joy

■ Shiny: Intelligence, discovery, truth

■ Black Augurite: Power, sharpness of wit, vengeance

Example bouquet:

Brinebloom, pep-up plant and king's leaf with a firestone wrapped in a caster fern leaf.

This can be seen a few ways, from condolences (Mourning + cheer + strength) to something from a shy secret admirer (Silent beauty + innocence + nobility). A caster leaf wrapped around a firestone can likewise imply "protect your passions" or a hidden danger! 

Where is the stone located? Is it wrapped somewhat loosely so slices of that bright orange glow can be seen nestled between all of the other items in the arrangement? Then it is likely a bit of high praise. If it is wrapped tight, hidden away at the bottom of everything else, meant only for your eyes and not even immediately, you probably just received a veiled threat or warning! Yikes.