#from gems base. it blossoms.

[canelmo]

Hermittober 2023(+Limited life)

Day 8 — Blossom

[kaiser1ns]

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who gave you his minecraft server data so you can play together when he is too lazy to play tactical gunplay games

gamer bf!nagi seishiro lets you be the housewife, decorating and building the house however you like, while he is away mining or fighting with mobs, but he always brings you more flowers when he comes back

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who laughs at you being scared by the mobs when nighttime comes as both of you are not in the base but he will always protect you from danger (he will teleport, too lazy to fight)

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who suggests you to try games like valorant, league of legends or overwatch, and you, of course, pick the most difficult characters to play with because they were just so fine, sigh now he sends you tutorials and guides for the rotations and team comps

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who buys you the pretty battlepass (with the money reo gave him) with the cherry blossom theme so you can be "a baddie with a pink gun", your words not his

gamer bf!nagi seishiro just loves watching you struggle in games like genshin impact or honkai star rail for losing another 50/50 and having to grind for gems when everything is on 100% exploration and there are no available questa to do

do not be sad gamer bf!nagi seishiro has it under control and the next morning when you log into your account you will be greeted with maxed constellation and weapon refinement of the character you wanted, so what better way to thank him if not with endless kisses and cuddles?

gamer bf!nagi seishiro sometimes streams on his twitch account and let's say his fans went crazy in the chat section when you showed up to give him food, as the interest was no longer focused on the game, but on you

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who gets slightly jealous and annoyed when reading the comments "is your gf single?", "can i be her wife pls", "i though i was in heaven when this angel appeared" , they aren't going to be in heaven when nagi finds the ip address

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who just watches you laugh at the comments, nothing new at all, your relationship is no secret to the public, "i am sorry guys, but i am planning to become mrs. nagi" and the way he just freezes upon hearing this as you kiss him on the cheek and leave the room, he won't be surprised if tomorrow this part of the stream is on tiktok or any other social media

cuddling in bed before going to sleep with gamer bf!nagi seishiro as he plays geometry dash on his phone and if he dies it's your turn to try to pass the level and you do succeed, handing the phone to him for the next challenge

gamer bf!nagi seishiro didn't notice you had fallen asleep on his chest while he got to the next level, as he hums before turning off his phone he took a picture of the two of you, of course, it wouldn't be a good night without a good night kiss, as he softly kisses your temple, cheek and finally leaving a quick peck on your lips, murmuring something among the lines i love you; thank you; sleep well, princess

gamer bf!nagi seishiro who loves you so much that he will make sure you are going to be mrs. nagi soon enough

©2024 kaiser1ns do not copy, repost or modify my work

[koisuko]

can i get headcanons of petnames the earthrealm gang and others would give their S/O?

Note: these are all predictions based on my observations of their behaviors, some also inspired by others, let me know if you feel they are inaccurate!

tw: none, fluff, fem leaning pet names, this is a long one *sweats*

ft. Liu Kang, Bi-han, Kuai Liang, Raiden, Tomas, Kenshi, Johnny, Kung Lao

Bi-Han

Dove, wife, love, my heart, my snowflake, little warrior, my queen, little mouse, hun, gem, beloved, blossom

this man is not one for open acts of affection Infront of others, these would be in private most likely. But when he's around you, behind closed doors, he's a real softy. He also gives me possessive vibes, so this inspired some. (Due to his closed off demeanor, this was by far the hardest to decipher.)

Kuai Liang

my heart, my love, little flame, baby, beauty, my queen, little dragon, my one, darling, firefly/dragonfly

Like his brother, he would keep open acts of affection to a minimum. Not because he's uncomfortable showing it, he would just rather keep those special moments between the two of you. Although, he is more than willing to show how much he loves you Infront of others.

Tomas Vrbada

my love, baby, koloušek (little deer), sweetheart, angel, my queen, honey, beautiful

Tomas would most likely be more open than his brothers, showing affection whenever he's in your presence. He definitely gives me the vibe that he would be very soft, gentle, and shy when using these with you however.

Johnny Cage

dream girl, honey, hot stuff, doll face, kitty/kitten, sexy, beautiful, smoke show, my girl, baby/baby girl/babe, the mrs. , sweetheart, princess, wonder woman, good lookin', my superstar, eye candy

Johnny is by far the most open, PDA isn't even in his dictionary. If you're their, he's calling you all of the above with no shame. He hopes people are looking when he kisses you in public and calls you princess. He wants everyone around to know you're his and his only. (Johnny is an open book so he was the easiest to come up with)

Liu Kang

my treasure, my queen, my love, my heart, jewel, goddess, my everything, my one, my light, beloved, lovely, gem

Liu Kang is a busy man, working as earthrealm's protector and god of fire and all. When he gets the chance to, however, he's holding you close and whispering sweet nothings into your ear. He is a very humble man, and sees his s/o as someone to worship, someone he holds dearly to his heart and would show this any chance he gets. Pet names, holding hands, and gentle hugs in public are the farthest he goes, he is respectful and would rather keep his private life well..private.

Raiden

my love, beautiful, darling, my queen, my spark, sunshine, angel, precious, lovely, little butterfly, my one

Raiden would be much like Liu Kang and Tomas, showing only soft affection with a shy smile in public and keeping his full love for you hidden from prying eyes. Like Liu Kang, he is very respectful and would also worship his lover. If his love wanted his to show more affection in public? Consider it done, although expect a deep red to engulf his face in a rush of embarrassment if anyone (cough cough johnny) teases him on the matter.

Kenshi Takahashi

baby, love, honey, sweetheart, angel, princess, beautiful/gorgeous, wife, cutie, my rose, pretty, my girl

Kenshi is possessive, within limits, not overly so but you are his and his only. He will show his affection in public through hand holding, forehead kisses, long hugs, and lots of small sweet kisses on your lips and face. He will most likely point out all of his favorite features about you, one kiss at a time. He would still prefer to keep it private, but if someone oversteps, he's pulling you close and calling you his.

Kung Lao

love, baby, honey, sweetheart, doll, beautiful, honey/hun, candy, blossom, baby cakes, hot stuff, dumpling, cutie, cupcake

Kung Lao is a foodie, expect a lot of nicknames related to food. His cocky behavior shows in the nicknames he gives, giving you sarcastic and joking nicknames in public, causing a bit of banter between you two. In private he's letting you know you're his, in the softest way possible. He's very respectful of women in particular, he would never call you names to hurt your feelings, especially you being his special someone.

[shroomdreams]

cw: doggy style, fingering, multiple orgasms, gn!reader, usage of hole (can be interpreted as either vaginal or anal)

a/n: this is entirely based on that part of the liyue archon quest where zhongli liked the perfume mature women use 💀

thinking about...

...the way zhongli gazes at you from afar while you play with your son. you're currently on your day off, and you decide to spend with your son, gently guiding his hand while he flies a kite. he's never seen a beauty like you around the harbor before, had you moved in recently? either way, he finds himself being drawn to you. how your hair complements your face, how your clothes tastefully hug your figure, how he smells a particular kind of perfume on your person-

ah, he's got to compose himself.

zhongli introduces himself to your family of two- your son immediately perking up in intrigue when zhongli draws near. you brush aside your hair, talking to zhongli as your son narrows his eyes at him. still, he eventually grew to tolerating the older man's presence around you, though he pouted whenever he felt that zhongli was taking up much of your time. though a few snacks and a game of marbles is enough to cheer him up, and eventually zhongli endears himself to your boy.

you on the other hand, can't help the warmth that blossoms in your heart whenever you talk to zhongli. your work as the guzheng player at a quaint teahouse is nothing to write home about, but zhongli finds interest in your career anyway, suggesting some songs you could play. and on days where he visits your workplace, he often takes the table closest to you, drinking his tea are your deft fingers play a song he's known for a very long time.

oh, you know you shouldn't be feeling this type of way to zhongli- you're certain he couldn't ever return your affections, and dating a single parent probably isn't that appealing to him. still, you allow yourself to indulge in the fantasy, daydreaming about zhongli and how he might hold you close...

which is why you're a little shocked when zhongli makes a surprise visit to your home.

zhongli smiles as you sniffle and cry out, his fingers teasing your poor hole with precision. you shakily place your hand on his. "zh- hnnn- zhongli-" you gasp, feeling his digits curl into particular spot that has you seeing stars.

"you're doing so good for me," he whispered, quickening his ministrations and drawing out more moans from you. you're extremely grateful your son is off studying in school right now- "you have no idea how long i've been wanting to do this, my little gem..." he plants kisses on your neck as he continued to thrust his fingers in your hole.

"zhongli, i'm- i'm gonna-" you couldn't finish your sentence, letting out a strained wail as you arched your back, your legs shaking from the orgasm zhongli coaxed out of you. he whispers more praise in your ear, stilling his fingers are you whimper from the sensation, hips bucking upwards when he pulled them out.

"that was marvelous... but surely you could give me one more?"

you squeaked when zhongli flips you on your stomach, ass up in the air. you grip the pillows in embarrassment. it's been so long since you've been put in such a vulnerable position, twitching when you feel something slap against your ass.

"ready?" zhongli kisses your shoulder as he aligns the tip to your entrance. you nod, mumbling your consent. zhongli hums in appreciation as he begins pushing his cock inside.

"o-oh!" you gasp for air, feeling the intrusion rubbing against your walls, quivering as zhongli continues to push inside. you start to cry, feeling so full, feeling him so deep inside as his hips finally meet your ass. the pleasure and burn of feeling zhongli deep inside makes you sob, keening when he grinds against you. "it's so much! i- AH!" a snap of his hips makes you loss your train of thought. "zh-zhongli-"

"mmph-" zhongli growls. "such delicious reactions... do forgive me for being selfish-" he draws his hips back before roughly slamming his length inside, ripping a moan from you as he starts a fast pace. "i promise our next coupling will be more romantic than this one." how can he say such things while your insides are being battered by his dick? you don't even register what he's saying at this point, overwhelmed by the feeling of his rod dragging against your walls, kissing your sensitive spots with precise strokes-

you wail out as you feel another orgasm building inside, pushing your hips against zhongli in attempt to meet his thrusts. "zhongli! zhongli! o-oh- archons, there! ahh~!" zhongli groans out in approval, gripping your hips tight to pull you close, lewd slaps filling your bedroom as his thrusts become needy and rough as your walls milk his cock.

"th-that's it. go on, fall apart, my little gem-" he whispered, reaching over to play with your nipples. the added stimulation causes you to break and cry, crashing against your second orgasm as you sob into the pillows, tightening around zhongli's cock. he snarls, fucking you through your climax until you cry out, filling your hole with his seed.

zhongli huffs, grinding against your ass as you whimper from the slight overstimulation. he pulls out, a satisfied smirk on his face as he watches his cum ooze out from your hole. you fully collapse on the bed, breathless and dazed. you're about to fall asleep when your eyes shoot wide open, looking over to see that zhongli's fingers have found themselves back inside. a third orgasm quickly approaches as you wail, sobbing and begging zhongli for mercy until you cum again, legs twitching as he pulls out his fingers. zhongli holds you close as you cry, trying to calm down from the high he's delivered you to.

later on, your son makes a face when he finds you and zhongli in the kitchen, but quickly warms up when he finds that zhongli has made some snacks for you and him to enjoy.

thank goodness he doesn't notice the slight wobble in your legs when you pour him some juice- you still aren't sure how to tell him that you're dating zhongli now. what's certain though, is that zhongli adores you very much. your family of two grows into three.

[betweenlands]

Impulse thinks he might've started seeing things early this time.

It happens at least once a season at this rate, so it's not really a surprise on that side of things. And it's not as bad as the boogeyman clock-ticking he's heard twice now, so, he'll take it, just... it hasn't even been a full session yet?

He'd like to say it started when he ended up tag-teaming with Gem and Scott, but the truth is, that's not quite it. It started when he got his task and ended up in the cherry grove up there, and that little part of him he knows is basically a ghost detector went this task isn't so bad -- maybe people will actually trust me this time! There's never been a bad guy who built with cherrywood, right?

Really weird thing for a ghost detector sense to say. But then Gem and Scott caught up, and they sort of just fell into a natural alliance, and yeah -- Impulse looks at their location-in-progress and thinks we're gonna be the good guys this season, and for a split second feels this headache.

Then it's gone.

It happens again when Skizz visits, which is probably part of a task, but all Impulse knows is... he walks up to Skizz while he's saying "I've been that guy, that all I do is tell the truth, and I'm a loyal sword -- I think I might be the guy that just wants to lie to everybody and just be a jerk!"

Knee-jerk response: "Nah. Don't love that idea. Hate it."

Internal ghost-detector response: I mean, who says those things are mutually exclusive?

Impulse has to stop himself from whipping around fully at the voice, which sounds almost like Scott, except Scott isn't behind them right now -- just Jimmy, and past that the cherrywood trees. He thinks for a second there might be a flash of red among all those pink blossoms. He shrugs it off as Grian skulking around, even though he knows Grian doesn't have pink hair.

A few minutes later, he knows it definitely wasn't Scott, because the guy shows up to immediately point out a zombie villager appearing on the mountain -- there's a librarian, right there, aggroed more or less directly on him. They scramble to get it in a boat and cover its head. Some part of him suggests they should bury it underground, just in case. They only need one more.

Next sighting is a bit more difficult to ignore, mainly because Impulse knows when he's being made fun of, and when a goat smacks him while he's trying to wrangle it into a boat, he catches sight of someone with long blonde hair cackling like a maniac about it from the other side of the border wall, and before he can do anything more than think huh, how'd False get past the border? they're gone.

False is not in this season. He tries his best to put that behind him and inform his teammates of the real issue, which is:

"YOU SAID THAT GOATS WERE NOT A PROBLEM," Impulse yells, trying to pretend the panic is about the loss of a half heart. "I JUST GOT GOATED." He can see the campfire Gem and Scott set up over their shoulders. Someone wearing red is sitting at one of the seats. Impulse resolutely ignores the fact that he hasn't seen Grian at all so far.

That's it for the ghosts for a while, enough to lull him into a false sense of security. Maybe it is just Grian sneaking around. (Maybe the guy in a red poncho he sees in the distance in the badlands Scar has based just outside of is just Grian reliving his glory days.)

"By the way, this is Traitor Scar's!" Scar says brightly.

You think his partner's Grian again? a voice says wryly. It's not either of their voices. It's not the voice of anyone Impulse even knows, for that matter. It sounds like it came from over by the badlands.

"Trader Scar's," Impulse repeats, realizing he's misheard what Scar actually said.

Eh, the voice says. Like recognizes like.

[the-thing-in-the-dark]

🐛 Noa's 200 follower event 🐛

🍄 intro post 🍄

🥺 tysm to the 200 lovely people who decided to follow this shitty blog

send me as many asks as you want idc my inbox is literally covered in cobwebs at this point and i'm actually organised and have less work now so i'm bored

sorry i got a bit carried away with the backstory lol

You are exploring the forest and come to a clearing with many weird plants and animals. Echo, the Phantom Whisperling that's been following you around since you discovered it, chirps from under your hat, wondering why you stopped. You are an explorer and you are documenting many undiscovered flora and fauna of the Forgotten Woods. Certain plants an animals are hard to find. If this is your first time you can only find a limited number of plants - no animals. If you have explored before but not the Forgotten Woods, you can find all the plants - but only some of the animals. If you are a seasoned explorer and have been to the Forgotten Woods before, you can document all the plants and all the animals. Which plant or animal do you document first (if you can find it)?

🌱First timers (followers)🌱

🍄🌌: Phantom Glowcaps

I'll give you a really weird fun fact

🌿🌒: Moon shade Ferns

I'll drop some lore about the Forgotten Woods

🌙🕯️: Ebonfall Blooms

I'll give you a weird/creepy quote from me or one of my books

🐾Explored before (mutuals)🐾

🐦‍⬛🔮: Spectral Shadowcrow

I'll describe your blog in three words

🪻🪬: Gloomveil Blossoms

I'll make you a playlist that suits your blog's vibe (i don't hv spotify so keep that in mind)

🦊🌲: Forestflame Faerie

I'll make you a moodboard based on your blog/vibe

🫎Seasoned explorers (close mutuals or ik u irl)🫎

🦌🌫️ : Wraithglow Stag

I'll make your explorer persona as a DnD player

🐆🌧️ : Stormfeather Leopard

I'll write you a letter on why I love you + I'll give you a nickname

🦅🌪️ : Whirlwind Harpy

I'll drop some crazy/weird/funny lore about me. I don't have that much so the first three people who request this one will get it. (2/3)

💀Ask me anything (everyone) 💀

🦝 : Echo!!!

Ask me anything and I'll answer it

Remember mutuals can access anything in followers and close mutuals can access anything in mutuals and followers as well as their own sections. I stole the divider from canva and all the images from pinterest. This will end when it is not pinned.

tagging all my mutuals because it's been a week and this has like 8 notes

@moutainrusing @delusionaltogether @annabannnananana @shipspainfulships @whydontyourealize-viennawaits4u

@onlyinitforthefandoms @ashes-to-ashesxx @y-o-n-t-a @pastels-and-chaos @lilythefirst819x

@totalcharliespringsimp @moonysm @bartyjrsevan @thatdambreadcat @prongsbitch

@bleep-bloop-boo @ivysfandoms @pangothepangolin @mentally-unstable-childofhades @im-ur-sleep-paralysis-demon

@noahher @bonksyoucutely @yourlocalbadgerscales @last-great-all-american-bitch @moonyswarmsweaters

@mo0ns-and-stars @winnienora14 @undergroundglendower @lovemike0 @enbysiriusblack

@ros3kill3r @beauty-queen-official @reggiesswimteacher @the-marauders-are-ghosts @a-great-tragedy

@prideandfanfics18 @wastingawayinmyroom @cheekyboybeth @sunnysolace7 @gems-and-jewels

@hehenorahhehe @stars-on-my-bedroom-ceiling @zombie404 @hunterofartemis-12 @anything-for-my-moony-1971

@onlytenstarsinthesky @fiveguysshake @regulus-cannot-swim @ddanthedumbass @damsnackbar03

@reggiesswimminginstructor @williamgayers @fangirlghost-19 @blueandyellow7 @martukyymm

@im-on-crack-send-help @thearcher1003 @liggy-not-potter @queerthirsttrap @piedpiperlikesthings

@outromoony @garden-of-runar @obsessedwith15deadwizards @lilcri84b1 @cafffeineconnoisseur

@wishiknew224 @daydream-of-a-wallflower @swiftlybyler @throwbackgaylor @james-potter-yall

@chaserofstars11 @rudamaruda520 @marylily-my-beloved @thedvilsinthedetails @jamespotterbbg

@onlymelonlyy @ratsinpots @idk-what-to-put-here-123 @discoveredreality @mysticalthingphantom

@starchaserandsunseeker @notmybabies @vampiregirlsblog @byler-invested @androgynous-bhajipav

@miseryoforpheus @ghostofyourvampiregf @besthingiveverdone @rhettaisokay @rhysthedarkforestfey

@p3arlsgardenn @dakarihopsrealities @staringathesunbabe @pumpkin-gizzards @themortalityofundyingstars

@morninggloryrising @longtallglasses @deadchaoticcosmos @stranger-theory @ollieolioly

@gaysforbyler @greentealycheejelly @leodores @my-beloved-fandoms @imaddticedtobyler

@my-castles-crumbling @internal-organs58 @questionablebookmouse @the-lionsheart @normal-is-a-raging-psychopath

@starpupsys @supercitofus @willbyerslove @strawberrybyers @wakeupthemembersofbylernation

@justremuslupininamask @sweetronancer @willbyersoffical @e-reblogs @bylertruth3r

@fire-but-ashes-too

[loveisnotfinite]

Dear tumblr acquaintances and fairly obsessed Polin friends,

it has come to my attention that this devilish break in halves season hiatus is bringing some of you to feel doubtful; shaking up your certainties and challenging your better judgment about the happy ending and the most obvious “love conquers it all” wrap party that will follow the current Bridgerton season.

I must say I am not sure why of all shows you doubt Bridgerton to live up to your romantic expectations (since given its nature and the books it’s based upon it’s like fearing Jane the Virgin might have ended with Jane finishing under a bus) but I am inclined to believe it’s just nerves (for which I obviously recommend to put some lilies in your bath).

However, in order to quieten your stirring souls and in the hope some of those moments and something around those lines will take the light on screen, here are some evidence of your nonsense (with a few ridiculous notes of mine). SPOILERS AHEAD THOU, you’ve been advised.

From Romancing Mr Bridgerton:

From probatory statements number 1 to probatory statement number 3 allow me to just say:

I am melting

Wanna marry this man myself

Oh, Anthony, you lovely rake of my dreams…

Someone holds me… I can’t…

Let’s kiss him already…

If we get some of this in any form, it’s gonna feel orgasmic…

Dead and buried.

Who else wants a BTS of those several weeks?

Hence the dilemma. Bridgerton podium. Kanthony or Polin? The heart wrenching, intriguing dance of two souls battling it out against themselves or a tale of friendship blossoming in the sweetest love story, incidentally promoting the empowering storyarc of a young different kind of gem getting it all?

[thaumasilva]

me thinking about kingfisher grian and elytra & winged players headcanons (hermitcraft once again has its claws in me) / 701 words, snippet

--

“Are you back from endbusting?” Grian calls down.

Impulse shifts on his horse. “We might’ve, uh, gotten a little something for you here. If you want to come take a look.”

Grian scampers down the mountain, taking a not-insignificant amount of cracks to his boots, and crouches in front of them. Wordlessly, Impulse switches to holding an elytra in his hand.

“Oh!” shouts Grian.

“Now d’you want it now, or do you want to earn it?” Impulse asks, but is quickly cut over by noises of dissent from Grian and Iskall.

“Nah nah nah nah nah gimme gimme gimme,” says Grian, darting forward to pick up the elytra. It’s maybe a little greedy, but he’s been busy! Most people on the server who want wings have got them already, he’s just been stuck here with Rodney and finding all those rare blue blocks for his build.

“I think he’s already done his time,” Iskall says with a muffled laugh, echoing Grian’s thoughts exactly. “Here in the overworld.”

“Oh, sure, sure,” laughs Impulse. “Go on then, let’s see it! You haven’t gotten them yet, have you?” “Fresh new wings,” says Iskall.

“Yeah, fresh new season!” Impulse’s horse rears up for a second. “You ready?”

“I was born ready,” answers Grian. “This is the best part of the season!” 

[Grian has gained the achievement: Sky’s the Limit]

He says that, but tossing on the straps of the elytra, he always forgets how good it feels-- suddenly, an uplifting, dizzying rush fills his entire being. It’s the world’s most satisfying morning stretch packed into a few seconds of magic, Grian shaking his torso to wriggle his way into two new limbs arching out from his back. The elytra pops off. In its place, a pair of sharpish wings, thin and nimble, coated in the most gorgeous iridescent cyan. Their undersides are a ruddy pink, like terracotta, or cherry blossoms, and they fade out softly at the flight feathers.

Impulse and Iskall cheer, and Grian yells out his own satisfaction, giving his new wings a few test-flight flaps. They go with his base! Last season’s set was fun in their own right, heavy as a wool shawl and bulky with moss and skulk shot through the gray, but these look acrobatic. Probably the most dynamic he’s ever gotten on Hermitcraft.

“Are they real?” asks Iskall, spurring his horse forward with interest. “Not like are they real, but are they fantasy, or…?”

“Like a real species,” Impulse finishes. “Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know any birds that look like that. They look tropical!”

“Maybe I picked the wrong base location, maybe I should go shack up with Etho,” Grian adds, although a bit distractedly, pushing his wings as far forward as he can to get a good look at them. His wings are always unique, season to season, server to server. The past two go-arounds he’s had weird wings, that didn’t quite match up with any living bird, that were a bit more… adaptive to the season’s antics, instead of the chicken and parrot he’d had before. Something about these blue ones seem like a return to baseline, though. He’s got to find out.

“Hey there, Gem!” Impulse shouts.

They turn to see her wading across the river, darting up onto land with her headband’s tie streaming behind her. “Grian! You got your wings!” 

“Hallo there, Gem,” says Iskall, riding up to meet her. “We were talking about if Grian’s wings here are a fantasy bird like the last few times, or if he’s something… more observable.” He mimes holding a spyglass up to Grian. Grian takes a hop-skip and a jump and glides down to them, relishing the air through his feathers again. 

“He’s very shiny!” Impulse shouts.

“I can see that,” says Gem, admiring, and then her face twists up in laughter. Apprehension shoots through Grian. 

“What--” he starts.

“Grian!” Gem shrieks, and throws back her head in such crying laughter that she nearly falls over, stumbling back. She covers her face and then gives up on hiding. “You’re-- you’re a kingfisher!”

“No,” says Grian instantly, as Impulse and Iskall begin an uproar. “No!” He spins on the spot, outraged. “Really? Aw, really?”

[zeebreezin]

A major cultural belief amongst Antheri people is that gifts of the Mountain shouldn’t be used frivolously, or otherwise taken for granted. This is partially a religious belief, and partially something that emerged due to the kingdom’s floating nature. As such, Anther uses very little metal in construction or technology, instead relying on heavily cultivated, Stone-soaked plants and the correspondence for their modern amenities. Door hinges can be created with specially grown vines, clocks can be made with the correspondence and blooming flowers, and so on.

While stone buildings are seen as culturally acceptable (typically temples, government buildings, or the homes of the ultra rich), metal & gemstone based jewelry is seen as incredibly gaudy even in small quantities, if not outright distasteful. The only person you’ll see wearing gems in Anther on the average day is the ruling monarch, the Blossoming Actinoregent - and even then, their diamonds are typically only worn during religious ceremonies or important public addresses.

Instead of metal jewelry, worn wealth is shown primarily with fabrics in Anther. Bioluminescent dyes, complex embroidery, correspondence trimmed skirts that leave trails of light when they swish - Anther’s fabrics are renowned for their beauty across the Elder Continent, and are one of the nation’s primary exports, along with their crops.

Fittingly, flowers are also a massive part of Antheri fashion. Gardening, Botany, and floral arrangements are seen as a major form of self expression in Anther, a way of both cultivating the self, and of showing appreciation to the life that the Mountain provides. There’s an incredibly in-depth floral language that goes along with wearing your arrangement, from where it’s worn (most commonly being braided through hair, tied around the waist as a belt, worn over the shoulder, or woven into a glove/up the arm), the selection of plants, the prominence of each plant, and the state of growth the cutting is in. These garlands can speak volumes about the person wearing them and the image that they wish to present to the world. A politician choosing a base of Tagada vines for their garland (the dark red vines that grow underneath the Drifting Kingdom, linking the many floating pieces of land together) speaks to their commitment to the city’s lower classes, as well as their dependability. A young womanizer may choose budding flowers that symbolize love to suggest that they’re looking for something tonight, as opposed to implying that they’ve already found it. It’s perfectly acceptable to wear only a few simple blooms, especially outside of the upper classes of society, but wearing no garland at all is akin to wearing a black hoodie and shifty eyes all day. It’s a little suspicious, in its anonymity.

[deityoftherain]

cherry blossom tea - Flower Court during Secret Life Fanfic

Rating: Teen

Relationship: M/M, Multi

Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Status: Completed Oneshot

Word Count: 2,413

Summary: Martyn visits his boyfriends (Scott, Jimmy, and Tango) for a date at Gem and the Scotts' base while the server is taking a break from playing Secret Life.

I wrote this for @grimaussiewitch through the @mcyt-yaoi-exchange !

Polyamory was a new concept to Martyn.

Well, not new like he didn’t know what it meant, but new in the way that he was now a part of one. He had never been in a polyamorous relationship before! It was different– strange, even– but not in a bad way? Ugh, it was hard to explain.

Martyn wasn’t sure why it surprised him so much or why he still struggled to wrap his head around it sometimes. He supposed it was because, when he imagined his life, he never thought having multiple partners was an option for him. Other people, sure, but not him, not doesn’t-get-tied-down-anywhere Martyn! 

He had always assumed he worldhopped too much for monogamy to work out, let alone polyamory, and, yet, here he was: climbing up cherry wood stairs during a death game to see his boyfriends. Granted, they were on break from the game, but still!

Martyn smiled warmly at the thought, instantly feeling like such a sap. His boyfriends.

He may be the newest addition to the polycule, but he’s known each of them for quite some time. He’s known Jimmy the longest, of course, but Tango and Scott were long-term friends as well. He and Jimmy had a bit of a thing before– several times, actually– but it never went anywhere, though Martyn knew he had most of the blame for that one.

None of them ever managed to take the first step to change their relationship status to romantic until things got a little steamy between him and Scott on the Coral Isles. Martyn still remembered the way he felt when Scott confessed his attraction and told him that his boyfriends consented to their relationship. He also remembered the way Scott’s scales felt against his skin and the way his unusually sharp teeth broke through the fragile skin of his lips… 

Nothing happened right after Limited Life ended, though that was typical. Most life members took a week or so off to recover and “do nothing” for a bit. Martyn thought he more than deserved the little holiday, especially because he was the winner that time around! They (being Martyn and his boyfriends) did find time for the four of them to meet up on Hermitcraft at Tango’s base, though. They spent hours talking through everything– through boundaries and expectations– and the rest was history.

Martyn heard Scott shuffling even before he entered through the gate to Gem and the Scotts’ base, though his sense of hearing has always been strangely enhanced compared to the average Player. He didn’t hear Scott’s teammates, but that was to be expected. Martyn knew that Gem was planning to spend the break at the Mounders’, well, mounds with her girlfriend, Pearl, and he had seen Impulse heading towards The Heart Foundation to visit Skizz. Even if he hadn’t seen him make his way over, Martyn recalled Tango telling him all about it, dramatically complaining that Skizz hadn’t stopped talking about getting alone time with Impulse all week.

Martyn surveyed the area, soon spotting Scott setting up a little area among the cherry blossom leaves outside of the three individual cottages. Scott must have noticed him because he perked up, a grin widening on his face. “Martyn!”

“Hey fins,” Martyn greeted, using the pet name he had given Scott during Limited Life. What else was he supposed to do? Scott gradually turning all fishy as the clock ticked down opened up a world of ocean-y themed nicknames! “Where’s Tim? Or Tango, for that matter.”

“Not here yet,” Scott answered with a shrug. “Though neither he nor Tango are known for being very punctual. You get used to it.”

Martyn furrowed his brow as he settled down beside Scott. “Huh, that’s strange. He left before me. Ran off before I could ask why he was leaving so early.”

“That is peculiar.” Scott hummed, tilting his head down to sniff a flower he had picked. “I’m not too bothered though. We’re so high up and the map is so small that I don’t think he’ll get too lost. He’ll find us”

“Eh, you’re right. He is a Big Dog, after all, ruff ruff!” Martyn carried on the barking he and Jimmy had been doing most of the game, leaning into their theming hard. It was sort of difficult not to when the server had literally given them dog ears and a tail. Their new appendages were far more expressive than he liked though, giving him away when he otherwise may have gotten away with whatever it was that time. “He’ll be fine.” Scott sucked in his lips, graciously attempting to hold in his giggles. It only lasted a second before Scott started laughing fondly. He leaned forward and reached out his hand to ruffle Martyn’s blonde hair between his ears. “You’re so cute.”

“Nah, mate, intimidating,” Martyn corrected, but, admittedly, his tail wagged happily at the affection. “Not cute. I’m very scary.” “Mhm, sure.” Scott didn’t bother arguing, giving him one last scratch behind the ear before pulling his arm away. He laid down on the grass and petals, but he used Martyn’s thigh as a pillow. “Whatever you say, pirate.”

Martyn rolled his eyes, but he didn’t comment, content to run his fingers through Scott’s cyan locks as Scott sang various tunes for him. “Pirate” was Scott’s “revenge” for calling him “fins”, and both names stuck, mostly because they were both known to be stubborn when they wanted to be.

Scott sat up at the distant sound of competitive screaming quickly moving closer. It didn’t take a genius to guess that Tango and Jimmy were racing each other up the stairs, only confirmed when the voices got closer.

“Oi!” Jimmy protested something Martyn didn’t see occur. “That’s not fair!”

“You snooze, you lose, bucker-oo!” Tango forced himself through the gate, throwing his arms up in celebration. “Yeah, baby! Let’s go!”

“Holy moly, man!” Jimmy was all out of breath by the time he passed through the gate. “You are way too fast for someone so short.” Tango’s thin tail stuck straight up, the puff of hair at the end promptly engulfed in flame. “I am five foot two! That’s not that short.”

"Rancher, I love you, but are you sure about that?” Jimmy rested his elbow on Tango’s shoulder to prove a point, and Tango playfully shoved him away. They both burst into a fit of giggles, no bad blood between them.

While they were messing around, Martyn noticed they were both holding hand-picked bouquets of various flowers. Shit, was I supposed to bring flowers? He shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling very empty-handed. Martyn stole a glance in Scott’s direction, who looked particularly pleased with what they brought. 

“What kind of flowers did you get?” Scott asked as the two left their play fighting behind to sit with him and Martyn. “I see some tulips, ooh, and some cornflowers.”

“Uhh, I’m not sure of all their names,” Tango admitted, twisting the bunch of flowers around every which way to get a good look at them. “I know these ones are alliums. They mean good luck and prosperity.”

“And I got some poppies, of course,” Jimmy added, pointing out the red flower. Poppies had a more personal value to his and Scott’s relationship so of course he brought some, even though poppies appeared already alongside dandelions and cherry blossoms in the cherry grove biome. “And some lilacs! Magenta ones, meaning love and passion.”

Martyn’s ears pressed back against his hair, feeling embarrassed. Was the bringing of flowers an established thing? Why were they reciting the flowers’ meanings like Scott was some sort of floristry teacher? How the fuck did he not get the memo? Scott hadn’t mentioned anything to him! “Were we supposed to bring flowers? I didn’t– Tim! Why did you never tell me? Your fellow Big Dog?” 

“Oh, right.” Jimmy averted his gaze, tail pressing against the back of his legs as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, babe. I forgot that you didn’t know.”

“It’s okay, Martyn,” Scott reassured him, taking his hand and raising it to his lips. He pressed a kiss against Martyn’s hand before pressing his cheek against Martyn’s palm. “You wouldn’t have known, but I appreciate that you would have brought me some if you did know.” “Well, of course I would!” Martyn was almost offended. Almost. “I can’t be the only one not bringing you flowers! I may not always act like it, but I am a gentleman.” Scott raised an eyebrow, amused. “And you think they are?” “Hey!” Jimmy protested before Tango poked his side, instantly grabbing his attention away from Scott and Martyn’s conversation.

“They’re mostly doing it because I was trying to teach them flower meanings one night forever ago, before Limited Life. I assume so, anyway.” Scott sorted through the colorful plants, organizing them so he could easily access the kinds he wanted to make patterned crowns. “We’ve just been so busy that I haven’t hosted another flower lesson. I honestly forgot about it; it doesn’t come up too often.” “Impulse wore one of the cherry blossom flower crowns you made him and Gem when he was visiting us.” Tango entered their conversation once more as he picked at the grass and cherry blossom petals that had fallen from the trees. “That opened the topic to the other beautiful ones you did in Third Life with Jimmy when you had access to more colors, so I brought it up to Jimmy, we planned to gather more types just before heading to see you for quality assurance, and here we are.”

Martyn scrunched his nose, though he otherwise tried to hide the feeling of being left out, of being useless, of being less. He knew that line of thinking was irrational, and he wasn’t mad at his boyfriends, but it did sting a bit. Their relationship was still all so new and he was trying to find his rhythm!

He discreetly pulled up his inventory, searching through it as he racked his brain for a gift of his own. If he couldn’t do flowers, he could do that next best thing. “Scott, do you mind if I use your furnace to boil water real quick?” “You’re free to use whatever you like, as long as we aren’t in session,” Scott gave his permission, though his face creased with curiosity. “Why though?”

“Well,” Martyn started, placing his hands on his knees and pushing himself up to his feet, “I may not have brought different kinds of flowers, but I believe I can make something better.”

“Oh?” Scott was clearly intrigued by what he meant, but Martyn didn’t stick around long enough for his boyfriends to ask questions.

Martyn snatched some cherry blossoms off a nearby tree as he darted over to Scott’s cottage. He had visited many times before so he knew exactly which one was Scott’s. It would have been awkward if he entered Gem or Impulse’s instead. 

Fortunately, Martyn had some water in his inventory already, so he didn’t have to run back down the mountain (or jump off of Gem’s diving board) to retrieve some. Now he wouldn’t normally do this, but he let the petals seep in the water before it came to a full boil to help save time. He didn’t want to spend too much of his break standing in front of a furnace instead of spending time with the three waiting for him outside.

Once Martyn deemed the tea finished enough, he exited the cottage to find his boyfriends each wearing a crown on their head. They were likely made by Scott considering that Jimmy and Tango seemed to be struggling making new ones.

“No, lovebug, like this,” Scott instructed Tango both verbally and by demonstration. “There you go! You got it.” Jimmy noticed Martyn’s return first, eyes brightening, ears perking up, and tail wagging joyfully. “Martyn! You’re back! What did you make?” “Cherry blossom tea,” Martyn announced proudly, pouring the tea into a cup. He gave the first to Scott, seeing that he was the host, before dividing the rest of the tea between himself, Jimmy, and Tango. Once everyone had their tea, he claimed his spot beside Scott again. “It’s pretty simple to make from scratch. I actually know how to make a few different types of tea with what I find foraging and some hot water.” Tango let out a low whistle as Scott plopped a flower crown on Martyn’s head. “That’s crazy impressive! You gotta show me how to do that later.” “Just come up to Baxter sometime,” Martyn started, referencing the Dog House he and Jimmy affectionately named, “when I’m around and I’ll show you. Or message me on the comms and I’ll visit you on Hermitcraft.”

“Excellent.” Tango grinned, excited at the prospect of learning something new. “I’ll take you up on that, don’t you worry.”

Scott took a sip of the tea, and then paused for a long moment to properly consider what he was tasting before exclaiming, “Mm, Martyn! This is good!”

“Oi, don’t sound so surprised!” Martyn reprimanded in faux defensiveness, one hand on his chest and the other making a playful smacking motion in Scott’s direction.

“That isn’t what I meant!” Scott squeaked, promptly backpedaling. “I’m just impressed with your quick thinking and resourcefulness.”

Now that compliment meant a lot and filled Martyn with a sense of pride, though he attempted to not let it show. Codeword: attempted. Damn his dog-like appendages. “Eh, you don’t survive this long without picking up a thing or two.” “Well, I think it’s hot,” Scott commented as if he were sharing the day of the week, taking a long sip of his tea as he kept eye contact with Martyn.

“I’m always hot.” Martyn snorted, amused. He set his tea aside and scooted closer to Scott.. “Now get over ‘ere.”

Scott bounced up to his knees with a giggle, taking two “steps” towards Martyn until he was close enough for Martyn to pull him onto his lap. Their lips met and all feelings of being inadequate left Martyn’s mind. In fact, all intelligent thoughts saw themselves out the door, leaving Martyn only with bliss and pleasure, merrily content with how their group date had gone. Void knows that they needed this after how stressful Secret Life has been with the whole “no regeneration” rule, and Martyn planned to use every second of free time with his boyfriends.

If you got down this far, please reblog, like/kudos, and/or comment here and/or on ao3! I appreciate it all <333

[janewilsonrva]

Gems in the Park

Deep Run Park

Henrico County, Virginia (USA)

Based on a photo from September 8, 2024.

Jewelweed is an attractive plant that stands out in September along semi-shady stream banks in the moist woods of the eastern U.S., easily recognizable by its lush appearance and small orange blossoms. Every September I look forward to seeing its flourishing presence in many of our local parks.

Native Americans used it to treat minor rashes from Poison Ivy, but it's also a proven fungicide for athlete's foot.

[vampirestookmydoubts]

The Prince's Debutante - Series

A/N: This is a series based and written on the ideas of @aninhatatu, Prince Friedrich deserves all the love.

Summary: As the daughter of a disowned marquis and a common maid, you enter your debut season under the watchful eyes of your grandmother, hoping for a humble suitor, to secure your family's future. But your plans change when Prince Friedrich falls for you, sparking an unexpected romance.

Will you and Friedrich be able to find a way to unite love and duty, as you navigate the complexities of society? Or will your blooming love succumb to your family's different expectations and societal scrutinies?

Pairings: Prince Friedrich x Reader

Warnings: none

Chapter 2: Blossoming Affections

From the Society Papers of Lady Whistledown:

My dear readers, it appears that amidst the glittering diamonds of the ton, a hidden gemstone has emerged in the form of Miss Y/N Whitlock. While she may not possess the dazzling allure of a diamond, I daresay that she shines just as brightly, if not more so. Could it be that Miss Whitlock is the rarest of gems—a ruby in a sea of diamonds, catching the eye and heart of a Prussian nobleman? Only time will tell, but I for one am eager to watch this intriguing dance unfold. After all, in matters of the heart, sometimes it is the hidden gems that prove to be the most valuable of all.

In the wake of your memorable dance, the reports of Lady Whistledown didn’t wait and surely didn’t disappoint the ton’s interest in the unexpected relationship that started to unfold in front of everyone’s eyes.

Despite the murmurs and gazes that seemed to follow you wherever you went, you found yourself increasingly drawn to Prince Friedrich's company, and Fortuna seemed more than willing to cross your paths. Your encounters at balls and soirées became a regular occurrence, each meeting deepening your connection.

Your grandmother, Lady Clarece, was invited to see the latest exhibition presented at the museum, and decided to take you with her. ‘See and be seen’, as she told you in the carriage. Especially now that you were the center of the ton’s talks.

You absentmindedly walked through the exhibition of paintings and sculptures, taking in the different shapes and colors the artists used to bring their imagination to life, when someone approached you from the side.

“Remarkable how artists are able to bring the pictures in their mind onto paper, isn’t it?”

You turned around to the familiar and soft voice, dropping into a curtsy to greet the man. “I was just thinking about the same thing”, you admitted, which made Friedrich smile at you.

“I had hoped to meet you here, Y/N”, the blonde said, turning to the side and extending his arm in an invitation to follow him. “In this case I should thank my grandmother’s secret love for gossip and self-presentation, for my attendance to this event”, you joked, which made Friedrich stifle a laugh.

“Do you think her love for self-presentation would like to be publicly thanked for in front of London’s high society? Or maybe a bouquet of flowers?” You grimaced at the mere thought of Friedrich highly praising and thanking your grandmother. “Please, I beg you, don’t.”

You and him shared a laugh as you both seemed to imagine your grandmother’s reaction to his potential thank you speech.

“Well, then how about you tell me about the book you bought a few days ago. You couldn’t tell me about it the last time I saw you as you hadn’t started it yet.” As you strolled through the museum's hallowed halls, the world around you seemed to fade into insignificance, the exhibits becoming mere backdrop to the captivating exchange unfolding between you.

Your heart fluttered lightly at his genuine interest in your interests.

"It's called ‘The Enchanted Mansion'," you explained, your voice suddenly alive with excitement. "The story follows a young woman named Thea, who inherits a sprawling estate by her late grandfather, which is shrouded in secrets. Soon her grandfather’s dark past catches up with her, and she has to embark on an adventure of self-discovery, learning who she truly wants to be and overcoming formidable challenges. But she also finds true and honest love along the way."

As you speak, your own words painting a vivid picture of the fantastical world described in the book, you didn’t catch the way Friedrich was gazing at you.

"But what I love most about the book," you continued, voice suddenly softening with emotion, "is how it captures the essence of longing and desire. Thea yearns for something more and deeper in her life, something beyond the confines of her ordinary existence. And as she explores the mansion’s and her grandfather’s secrets, she discovers that the power to change the cycle and therefore her fate lies within her own hands and heart."

Friedrich listened intently, captivated by your passionate retelling of the story.

"It sounds like a truly remarkable book," Friedrich remarks, his gaze locked on your face. "I can see why it resonates with you so deeply."

You smiled warmly in response, grateful for Friedrich's genuine interest and understanding.

In that moment, you felt a profound connection with him, but your excitement was tinged with a hint of self-doubt.

"I hope I'm not boring you with the books I like to read," you confessed, cheeks flushing with embarrassment as you suddenly remembered who he was. "I imagine you prefer more sophisticated and clever books."

Friedrich's smile was warm and reassuring as he shook his head. "Not at all, Y/N. I find your passion for this story quite endearing." He reached out to gently squeeze your hand, his touch sending a shiver of warmth down your spine. "In fact, I've always had a fondness for tales like these."

Your eyes widened in surprise, heart skipping a beat at his unexpected admission.

"You do?"

Friedrich nodded, his gaze steady and sincere. "Yes, indeed. In fact, I quite enjoyed ‘The Duelist’s Honor’ by Mrs. Hartley, who is also the author of the book you're describing if I’m correct."

Your jaw momentarily dropped in astonishment, your mind reeling at the revelation. "I had no idea! I've always admired her work, but I never would have imagined that you—"

Friedrich grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement at your undertone. "That I, a prince, would enjoy stories like these? Believe me, Y/N, there is much more to me than meets the eye."

Your conversation flowed effortlessly, each literature revelation bringing you closer to Friedrich.

The following day, you were pleasantly surprised to be presented by a stunning bouquet of flowers the housemaid positioned in front of you in the drawing room.

A gesture that left your parents both intrigued and delighted.

"Beautiful flowers," your father remarked, examining the bouquet over his newspaper with interest. "I once sent your mother a very similar one."

Your mother's eyes sparkled with excitement, as she mused over the colorful arrangement. "Who would send such a precious bouquet?”

Their speculation was interrupted by the housemaid announcing a sudden visitor at the door.

Your heart skipped a beat as you recognized the familiar figure presenting himself at your doorstep: Prince Friedrich himself.

The sight of the prince elicited gasps of astonishment from your family, who were unaccustomed to receiving such esteemed guests at their humble abode.

As Friedrich entered the drawing room with effortless grace and charm, you couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and excitement at the prospect of introducing him to your family.

Your parents jumped from their seats, greeting him with a blend of surprise and delight, their expressions a curious mix of reverence and nervousness.

"Your Highness," your father stammered, bowing slightly. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit in our modest home?"

Friedrich smiled warmly, his presence commanding the room with ease. "I hope I am not intruding, Sir Whitlock. I simply wished to pay my respects and express my admiration for your daughter."

Your heart swelled with pride at Friedrich's words, though you couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety at the thought of your family's reaction to his unexpected visit. By now you had grown accustomed to navigating the intricacies of society, but having the prince suddenly in your own home felt like uncharted territory.

Your mother, ever the picture of grace under pressure, welcomed Friedrich with open arms, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Please, Your Highness, make yourself at home. It is an honor to have you here."

The blonde prince lowered his head in gratitude. “I hope you like the flowers I picked for you. The florist almost denied making it and wanted to change my mind to a bouquet of roses. But to me flowers hold a very special meaning and message.”

Your mother beamed with excitement at his words, as Friedrich settled into a comfortable chair.

“What a beautiful thing to say your highness!” Ever the inquisitive one, your younger brother quirked up from the sidelines.

 “So, what do they mean? And what about the flowers on your lapel?” your brother, James, asked and added a hasty ‘your Highness’ when he met your mothers gaze.

Your eyes now fell to the blue flowers that were neatly attached to the lapel of his jacket.

Friedrich smiled at the young boy, leaning slightly forward in his chair, meeting your eyes. “Much like the hidden meaning within these flowers, it is a secret that only a heart touched by true affection can ever hope to decipher.”

James looked between you and the prince with one of his eyebrows raised in a lack of understanding.

"Your Highness," he began tentatively, "What brings you really here?" His cheeky question earned him another stern look from your mother, but Friedrich just chuckled as he turned to James, his expression warm. "I wished to spend some time with your sister. She has captured my heart in a way I never thought possible."

Your cheeks flushed at Friedrich's candid declaration, and you felt a rush of emotion as you met his sincere gaze. Despite the unconventional nature of your forming relationship, you knew in that moment that your feelings for Friedrich were also deeper and more profound than you had ever imagined.

Throughout the visit, Friedrich charmed your family with tales of his homeland and shared his aspirations for the future. He spoke with warmth and honesty, putting everyone at ease with his easygoing demeanor and genuine interest in their lives.

As the evening ended, Friedrich rose to take his leave, his departure marked by expressions of gratitude and goodwill from your family.

As he turned to leave, Friedrich stopped in his tracks, turning back to you with a smile.

“I almost forgot!” Reaching into the inside of his coat, he pulled out a rectangle wrapped in silken cloth. “Flowers are beautiful, but their beauty is fleeting. They wilt and fade away so quickly. But words... written words have a lasting charm. They never lose their beauty or their ability to transport us to different worlds." Taking the gift from him you smiled, opening the wonky looking bow – you assumed he wrapped it himself – to be presented with a book bound in green leather and golden letters, spelling ‘The Last Marigold’.

"Indeed. While flowers may brighten a room for a few days, a book can stay with you forever, providing solace, excitement, and inspiration long after the petals have fallen. It makes books truly timeless treasures", you said, turning the book in your hands, feeling the leather under your fingertips. Friedrich’s smile also grew at your words.

“I found it in a small bookstore, in an alley hidden from the eyes of the ton. I thought you might like it.” The thought of him scanning rows and rows of bookshelves in even the tiniest of bookstores in London, when he could have just sent a servant to an expensive store, warmed your heart. He pulled out another copy of the book from his coat. “I’d love to hear your opinions on it the next time we meet.” With that and a deep bow and kiss to the back of your hand, he bid you and your family farewell.

The moment the door closed behind him, you swiftly escaped your excited and beaming mother, making your way to the quiet sanctuary of the library. With purposeful steps, you approached a familiar bookshelf and pulled out a thick, leather-bound volume, its cover adorned with an embossed flower and letters that had faded to near obscurity. ‘The Language of Flowers’ had been one of your cherished companions growing up. Your love for flowers had only deepened when your mother first shared the secret messages your father had sent her through bouquets during their forbidden courtship.

You began flipping through the pages until your eyes landed on the bluish flower you had noticed on Friedrich’s lapel. “Cornflower—the national flower of Prussia…” you read softly. Of course, he would choose something so symbolic of his homeland, you mused, scanning the passage until a sentence stopped you cold, making your heart skip a beat.

‘An unmarried gentleman in love might be seen with a freshly plucked cornflower, pinned upon his breast. The fate of his affection is said to be reflected in the flower’s bloom. Should the cornflower remain vibrant and fresh, it signals a hopeful promise that his love may be returned. But if the flower withers and fades too quickly, it is taken as a most unfortunate omen, a silent whisper from nature that his heart’s desire might remain unfulfilled.’

A smile tugged at your lips as excitement fluttered in your chest.

The bouquet Friedrich had sent you suddenly felt like a puzzle waiting to be solved, and you couldn’t wait to decipher its hidden message. Roaming through the pages, you hastily scribbled down the meanings of each flower—gloxinias, baby’s breath, primroses, daisies, and peonies—until you pieced together a message that made your heart race and your cheeks flush.

"From the moment I first beheld you, my heart was irrevocably yours. You have become the very essence of my existence, and life without you is unthinkable. It is my deepest hope that we might soon unite in marriage and spend our days together for a lifetime and beyond."

It was as though you could hear Friedrich’s voice in your mind, a tender whisper sharing the secret message only a heart touched by true affection could ever hope to decipher.

______________________________________________________ Tag list: @rebeccawinters, @inutheangel, @bbubbllejisoo

[becauseitsyouandi]

my personal jalex fic recs because fawk, jalex maaaaan

Because you can never get enough jalex <3

♡ 𝕞𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕤 ♡

OTP by Save vs. Magic ✿ Season 3 ✿ COMPLETE ❀ 'With 'Charmed and Dangerous' set to become a movie, Alex is shocked to discover the books based on her life are wildly popular. Even more shocking is what some fans are reading between the lines. And most disturbing of all? Justin might be one!' ✿ OMG. I love meta and I love Jalex, but more importantly I love realistically written Jalex where they don't want to jump each others bones as soon as the fic starts, so this is my #1 recommendation in a multi-chaptered fic if you think to yourself, wait, how in the F do they even start to realize they like-like (lol) each other anyways? Soo well-written, Save vs. Magic is a stellar author who has wrote plenty of gems for the jalex comm <3 After you read OTP, I recommend reading the Easter special for OTP A Handshake With God. So funny and a cute taste of Jalex's after.

Reflection by TheWolfHourx, TwistedWizards ✿ Post Season-4 ✿ IN PROGRESS ❀ Woooo boy, what to say about this one--- it's sexy, incredible sexy. Risque and full of tension, Alex is stuck in the You-niverse with daaark, eeeeevil Justin, who wants to make her his. She is living my dream! It is unfinished, and I want to give a disclaimer that it ends before they do the deed, so if you're okay with mild blue-balling, this is an awesome read that's not juuust smutty goodness yum, but has well written Jalex that makes you root for our main couple (and sexy evil Justin is there, did I mention sexy evil Justin?)

'More Transparent Than Water And Thicker Than Blood' Series by pandorium ✿ Season 3 to Post-Series ✿ COMPLETE ✿ Ooooooof. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster ride, my heart! Sweetness, and heartbreak, and then sweetness. A series of one shots span from post-movie codependency to Jalex as adults. Don't worry-- a happily ever after awaits with this one, even if the journey to get there for our two siblings is a bit long.

Something like Forever by someryn ✿ Post-Movie ✿ COMPLETE ✿ Two-part series that has Justin's POV Leave The Ashes, it's a look at how Justin and Alex cope, well fail to cope with the traumatic events of the movie. Alex struggles to communicate her emotions in Alex fashion, Justin is her steadfast brother who looks at her for just a bit too long, and there is sweetness and the perfect amount of spice added in (just a pinch). Delicious Jalex awaits with this fic <3

Truth Spell by saveyou ✿ Post-Movie ✿ IN PROGRESS ��� This is an AU where Justin runs away from home post-movie--and only Alex knows why. It's an interesting set up, but last update was in 2010 and it ends off sorely unfinished. But it is a nice read and I enjoy how Alex and Justin are written.

˚ʚ ♡ 𝕠𝕟𝕖-𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕥𝕤 ♡ ɞ˚

Holding Back the Night by Nerissa ✿ Post-Movie ✿ More like hold back my tears when mentioning this fic! This is my #1 Jalex fic recommendation-- it holds such a special place because it fueled my Jalex obsession to unstoppable levels. The ultimate codependency trope fic for Jalex in my opinion. The conversations in this fic are so so cute, tender and emotional. This is the hot-chocolate-your-grandma-gives-you of a Jalex fic. Lemme re-read this fic now <3

so what if you catch me, where would we land by ladytahiri ✿ Child to Adult Jalex ✿ 'Justin and Alex's lives unfold like a butterfly in reverse' ✿ Starts off on an amazing hook with Theresa catching Justin and Alex in a compromising position, and traces back through the blossoming of Justin/Alex's relationship, to when they were just children. Mwah mwah a billion chef kisses!

reach out and touch someone by omens ✿ Season 4 ✿ “Careful, Justin; that almost sounds like ‘what are you wearing territory?’ there.” ✿ AKA Justin and Alex are horny teenagers, Justin is away at college, and late-night husky phone convos ensue. Sign me tf up!

Hands That Touch The Wrong Things by TheWolfHourx ✿ Season 3 ✿ 'This obsession. This painting. Something about this screams at her louder than all her other paintings. Something inside her rips and roars and howls.' ✿ Angst and pain in Alex's POV as she grapples with her feelings post-Puerto Rico. She uses painting as an outlet for her desires she can't express.

Louder than sirens by popsongnation ✿ Post-Movie ✿ 'The feeling stays with her as time goes on, the need to touch him as often as possible. She knows he feels it too.' ✿ Uuuugh author why must you slay me! Codependency trope done so so well it hurts! Secret handholding and rapidly tangled feelings, my heart squeezes in pain for our two sweethearts.

[nvthedasmode]

The Dread Wolf's Grave

Notes:

Very short one-shot fic inspired by the quote; 'They asked "do you love her to death?" I said, "speak of her over my grave and watch how she brings me back to life.'

Lavellan's name is Harellan, 'Raven' is Varric's nickname for her.

One of Harellan's nervous habits is rolling coins over her knuckles.

Set sometime during early Veilguard, Solas presumed to be at the Lighthouse rather than in a separate prison.

First ever fic! I am not a writer! I am just a lil guy with a lot of feelings!

And I am so sorry I have no idea how to write Solas and Varric lol.

-----

To say that Varric was uncomfortable was an understatement. It was one thing to ask a dwarf to live on the surface, another thing entirely to ask him to make himself at home in the Fade. Unfortunately, he had little say in the matter. The Veilguard had settled themselves within a deep pocket of the Fade; a safe haven from the blighted elven gods now roaming Thedas, and thus far it had proven to be a wise choice.

Their new home was where he emerged from now, and the morning silence (save for Bellara’s excessive snoring) was a welcome indication that everyone was still fast asleep. Or, at least, everyone but the one elusive elf he was looking for. Once he was confident he had not woken anyone up with his heavy dwarven tread, Varric’s footsteps established a leisurely pace as he descended the stygian steps weaving from the gilded door of the Lighthouse to the shifting island below.

The Dread Wolf’s corner of the Fade expanded before him, shimmering masses of Fade-touched rock floating across the enchanted vista as unhindered wisps of magic soared above him like stars against Kirkwall’s night sky. It was brighter, warmer, but still as commanding as the area of the Fade the fear demon had ruled. Some of the silhouetted islands in the distance would have been large enough to cast a city the size of Starkhaven into complete shadow, and some dipped deeper than even the oldest of thaigs. Smaller rocks housed old and ruined walls, frescos of the fabled wolf glowing faintly from the veilfire sconces and causing him to appear equal parts treacherous and feeble.

The littlest cluster of rocks presented an assortment of ancient elven … trees, Varric assumed. Their metal base gave way to a spherical head that sprouted sharp, golden branches. They wove intricate shapes that moved to shelter a gleaming emerald centre, glinting like fire. This group veered closer to the island he now trudged along, glittering vines with blossoms as large as ponds wrapping themselves around the jagged surfaces and reaching out to grasp their neighbour - a complex walkway of mystic bridges that connected the islands, forming an imposing jungle that served as a shrine to what once was.

Far above him, when he thought to look, Varric could have sworn he could make out the slightest shape of an azure city, light refracting across the landscape as if it was pouring through a window in a Chantry cathedral. The sight was often cloaked in a calculated mist, as though his eyes were intruding on an intimate scene between two lovers - but every time he rubbed his eyes to see it clearer, it had vanished.

Varric had learned that the island he had called home for the past few weeks could shift its appearance depending on his old friend’s mood. While the Lighthouse remained the same, often the Veilguard would wake up to see their interim home had a different garden to explore, each one shaped from Solas’ lonely library of memories. Sometimes there would be luscious fields of green, emerald blades swaying to a song none but they could hear as perfectly round drops of dew dissolved into dazzling specs of light. Other times there were seemingly never-ending pathways; rivers of crystal gems creating a map upon the island, waterfalls replacing cities and curious wisps building toy castles from motes of magic. Once, when Varric awoke in the dead of night (or as close as one could get to that, in the Fade), he peered out his window to see Solas strolling Skyhold’s grounds, his tired eyes never leaving the figures of Cole and the Inquisitor as they helped to soothe a dying woman lying by the campfire, clutching a fatal wound. Had Solas reached out to them, Varric did not know, for he had quickly retreated back to his bed to allow his old friend his privacy.

Today, as Varric disembarked the steps, the soles of his worn boots met an impossibly soft sand that shifted gently beneath his weight. Something resembling seashells dotted the ground, their surface gleaming and moving in a way that made them look more like creatures than collectible souvenirs. Out of baseless paranoia more than respect, Varric carefully picked his way across the fabricated beach to the towering figure in the distance.

Solas stood at the end of the beach, the ripples of the ocean creeping along the sand to stop just shy of the tips of his feet, as though magic itself dare not disturb him. He stood tall, gazing across his domain with an expression befitting his name as the manufactured breeze lifted the ends of his coat. Hands clasped habitually behind his back, a single gold coin rolled lazily across his knuckles, causing tiny spurts of reflected light to shower across his long fingers. Any reasonable dwarf back under the surface might have mistook it for magic.

“Good morning, Varric,” came his familiar voice. He spoke in barely more than a murmur despite Varric still being numerous paces away, yet he heard it as though they were standing next to each other.

“And here I thought it was only Rook who had to listen to your voice inside their head, Chuckles,” Varric shouted back, scowling half-heartedly when he saw Solas’ shoulders betray a small laugh.

Solas patiently waited until Varric had made it to his side before speaking again, finally turning his gaze to his friend with a playful smirk on his lips. “Ir abelas, I did not want to deny you the pleasure.”

Varric let out an indignant snort. “I’m starting to understand why so many dwarves stay below the surface.”

“To avoid speaking with me?”

“Now, now, I didn’t say that.”

“You did not need to,” Solas responded curtly. Varric was glad to see the smile still lingering.

At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humour.

The two fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of the waves crashing a few hundred yards ahead of them filling the space. Had he let his mind tune out for a moment, it would not have been unlike the mornings they had spent waking up to the sounds of the Storm Coast - Solas casting a protective barrier over the campfire before the Inquisitor burst into tears at the idea of going a single moment without her tea; Cassandra cursing from the edge of camp as she tried and failed to prove she could in fact approach a nug without scaring it away; Lace and Varric placing bets on how many more days it could rain before they all lost their minds. He wasn’t sure which put his back up more; being surrounded by suffocating grey and rain, slipping on lethal cliffs that never seemed to dry - or being in the Fade.

It was Solas who broke the silence first, as if sensing Varric’s unease. “How are you adjusting?”

Varric shrugged, stalling as he measured his response. It wasn’t in the nature of their relationship to lie to one another (or so I thought, he corrected himself), but he wasn’t about to start tearing apart his friend’s home either.

“I can’t exactly say I’m keen to settle down and start a family here, but I’ll give it to you - it’s impressive.”

“Thank you,” Solas sighed heavily, his eyes focused on something in the distance. “Imagine what it would be like without the Veil.”

“Chuckles, not now.”

“So, when would you propose-”

“I came here to talk to Solas,” Varric said morosely, feeling a pang of regret as Solas’ shoulders stiffened. “Not the Dread Wolf. How about you humour me, just this once? Then I promise we’ll go back to the uncomfortable ‘Child of the Stone’ and ‘Ancient Elven God’ dynamic.”

Solas silently met his eyes then, and the coin in his hands stilled as white knuckles wrapped around it tightly. Just like the painted walls on the islands floating around them, Varric could see his were tall but crumbling. Exhaustion and pain had sunk their bloodied talons into his sharp features, but under the wolf there was still the man. A friend that desperately wanted to get out.

“I’ve never been good at this sort of stuff,” Varric muttered, turning his gaze back toward the ocean, “but you left a lot of people behind. Good people, that missed you.”

“I am not unaware of that, Varric,” Solas replied. Varric could hear the sharpness to the tone, a warning that he should drop the subject immediately.

They both knew he wouldn’t.

“I mean, even Buttercup seemed upset - although she tried her best not to show it. With you gone, Cassandra became her next target for pranks, and we both know pissing off the Seeker is a dangerous choice at best - lethal at worst. I mean, I’m speaking from experience here.”

A quick glance to his right told him Solas was also very pointedly staring out at the ocean again, doing his best to look the picture of disinterest, but the ironclad set of his jaw gave him away. It always had.

“And Ruffles! I thought she would never stop accidentally adding your frilly cakes to the Val Royeaux order list each month. Eventually, me and the Kid-”

“Did you come out here with the intent to torture me, Varric?” Solas snapped, his proud mask melting away to pained anger as he pressed his eyes closed. His nose scrunched as he breathed through it, the waves that stretched before them stuttering and turning a sickly green. “Do you see me as so many of my People do? Do you also think me a heartless monster with no feelings?”

Against his will, Varric’s mind recalled his friend’s broken sobs as she read Sutherland’s reports about the monstrous demon that had plagued Skyhold. Her heart’s deepest regrets ravaging the place they had once called home, the scars of his past forever embedded in the old Inquisition fortress.

“No,” he sighed. “I don’t think that at all, Chuckles.”

Another deep breath from Solas. The water slowly began to settle once more, melting back to a cool, pure cerulean that would have made the painters at Halamshiral turn crimson with embarrassment.

“Then what can I do for you?”

“Remember,” Varric said shortly.

Solas opened his eyes to peer at Varric with confusion, and he could see the purple storm deep within them threatening to pour out and engulf the island they now stood upon.

Silently, Varric nodded to Solas’ hands, still held tightly shut as though he were frightened of dropping whatever was in them. Solas slowly unfurled his fingers, the gold coin nestled innocently in his palm, small dents pressed into his pale skin from clasping it so desperately. The purple storm observed it silently, eyes barely blinking as they stared.

“I saw you playing with it,” Varric said gently, feeling his friend was more a terrified Halla than the dreaded wolf in that moment. “Raven used to do the same thing, when she was nervous. Ruffles had to pry it from her hand when we went to the Winter Palace.”

Solas continued staring at the coin, his expression unreadable. “She gave this to me on the way to the Temple of Mythal,” he said tentatively, as though testing out the words in his mouth. Varric supposed this was the first time he had allowed himself to speak of her in years. “She said she had no need for it any longer, since she had …”

“Since she had your hand to hold,” Varric finished for him. “She said it loud enough for the entire camp to hear.” The memory almost made him smile himself.

A ghost of a smile tried to lift the corners of Solas’ mouth, but it faltered before it even began.

“I remember.”

Varric did smile then. I knew you were still in there, Chuckles.

“Do you still love her?”

There was barely a heartbeat before Solas tore his eyes away from the coin, wrapping his fingers safely around it once more before straightening to his full height and turning to look along the endless sands.

Varric felt the Fade change before he saw it. The sands before them rippled and swirled, floating smoothly into the air to reveal the harsh black rock of the island below. A deep shadow lurked over the area, a stark contrast to the vivid, colourful sky behind it. The sands shifted and formed a familiar image; tall swaths of darkness encircling a small enclave while a suffocating green mist rolled along the floor, catching Varric’s ankles and sending small tendrils up his legs that dissipated as quickly as they appeared. Paltry red spirits skittered around nervously, as if they were constantly running toward - or away from - something.

This was the graveyard from the Fear demon’s lair. Or - more accurately, Varric supposed - Solas’ memory of it.

There was a slight adjustment, however. Only one, solitary gravestone sat in the enclave. The stone it was made from looked sick, brimming with fear and unspoken terrors, its aura almost oppressive.

Varric approached it wordlessly. The words upon it were the same and yet not as he remembered - the elegant, smug carvings of the fear demon were gone, replaced by hurried, almost infantile writing that looked as if it had been carved with a very sharp claw.

‘Solas,’ it read. ‘Dying alone.’

It was only then that Varric saw them. A spectral version of Solas - his friend, Solas - appeared slowly from the darkness, smiling as he offered a gloved hand to the second figure that manifested. Harellan met his smile with her own, eagerly gripping his hand and laughing as he twirled her into his arms. The scarlet spirits, appearing to be calmed by the two newcomers, turned to watch, sweeping closer to the radiant scene that seemed to consume the darkness around it. Varric could hear the faint sound of a band playing from - somewhere? Nowhere? The memory of his friends didn’t seem to care, nor did they notice him or the cruel grave at their feet. They danced and looked at no one but each other, and Varric was irrevocably certain that they would dance forever if the world would let them.

The lonely voice came from behind him then. It was so thick with immeasurable pain that Varric could not bring himself to turn around.

“Speak of her over my grave, Varric,” Solas murmured, “and watch how she brings me back to life."

[see-arcane]

Lucy Undying came out a few days ago and

"It's a feminist retelling, giving Lucy the agency she so lacked in Dracula."

I am putting feminist retellings on the top shelf unit we all consider if sometimes lack of agency of a character in a story was the point

In fairness, I get the 'why' behind stuff like this.

Lucy's story is painful. It is scary and tragic and ends cruelly for her, just like so many tales of female victims before and after her. Though her death(s) have a real narrative and an emotional point, whereas your average damsel is nothing but an extra pound of meat for the grinder to help add more woe to Hero Man's story. It hurts more with her.

She stands apart from the common fridged woman by being someone we know, someone loved, someone killed and remade into a bloodstained caricature of herself to be her attacker's eternal slave. Ending her existence in that second iteration is mercy, practicality, and the setting of the stakes for Mina when Dracula targets her. If the monster doesn't kill you, the heroes will put you down for becoming a monster too. Which itself ripples out into new moral conundrums when we see how staunchly Jonathan refuses to risk destroying Mina in any form; making us question in turn whether there really was hope for Lucy the Bloofer Lady--who had killed no one yet!--if only Van Helsing and the Suitor Squad had tried another angle. It makes you chew on the implications.

So, I get it. We all want to save the character we love and who got crushed underfoot by the plot.

The problem comes in when to do that literary rescue, you completely obliterate everything about that character which makes them themselves and not Generic Strong Spunky Female #1897. And the book's summary doesn't give me much hope for this not being the case.

Her name was written in the pages of someone else’s story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula’s first victims. But her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula’s clutches—and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants. Her undead life takes an unexpected turn in twenty-first-century London, when she meets another woman, Iris, who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris’s family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they’ll do anything to stay in power. Lucy has long believed she would never love again. Yet she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris while Iris is equally mesmerized by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by outside forces. Iris’s mother won’t let go of her without a fight, and Lucy’s past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl once more. Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness has always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?

Now, if the name here was different? If this was, I don't know, 'Lorelei Wilder' thwarting her monstrous master 'Count Lord Duke Dracattackula,' that'd be fine. But the fact that it's trying to convince me that the central character is Lucy Westenra, the girl we know through others' words and her own as a human, and through the lens of others' witness accounts as an apparently merrily content monster as the distorted Bloofer Lady, makes me fear the worst: That our girl's been girlbossed out of recognition.

I won't pass immediate judgment. Maybe it's a hidden gem. Maybe a century's worth of character development has altered Bloofer Lucy into this form believably and the author hasn't just retroactively taken an eraser to everything she was pre and post-vampirism in order to make Standard Rebellious Hero Girl (now with public domain name!). I'll cross my fingers for it.

But I won't hold my breath.

[duckieberry]

Baby Regressor Baizhu with Caregiver Zhongli

These headcanons were requested by an Anon! Thanks once more for the request

Baizhu is a very clingy little. He must be carried around by Zhongli at all times and will accept nothing less from his caregiver

Depending on the trigger, Baizhu’s regression goes one of two ways. He’s either really lethargic sick baby who just naps and cuddles with Zhongli all day or he’s sat on the archons lap babbling and playing with whatever is in reach

On the odd occasion when Baizhu regresses when Zhongli is not around, Changsheng will urge him to stop working and go find the funeral consultant before he fully slips. It takes a little bit of coaxing from the snake but she always convinces him in the end

Zhongli becomes very protective over Baizhu. He likes to keep the little one in his sight at all times and will not let a single ounce of harm come to his baby

When it comes to preferences for little gear, Baizhu enjoys using pacifiers, rattles and other sound based toys

Since Baizhu is a doctor by trade he knows the importance of taking his medicine. So when Zhongli has to get his little one to take some it’s always a very quick and easy process

There’s a very clear preference for healthy snacks when it comes to the little doctor. He enjoys all his fruits and veggies but has a specific fondness for softer fruits like sunsettias

It’s safe to say the archon adores entertaining his little one. Using his geo powers, Zhongli will make glowing gems or fun shapes to delight his baby while he relaxes. Baizhu is especially delighted when the rocks take the form of a snake or any other serpent like being

Making silly faces or goofy noises is the easiest way to make a regressed Baizhu giggle. He also enjoys when Zhongli makes draconic noises at him, it makes the regressed doctor squeal in delight every time

Zhongli has a few nicknames for Baizhu, he tends to call him things like: petal, my little serpent, sweetpea and blossom. Baizhu just calls Zhongli ‘papa’