#madame spiceberry

[icerosesummerbracket]

[Submission]

Someone mentioned a fic about Spiceberry and Opal making cookies and I think it might have been mine? Opal’s kind of a dark horse, especially after the rerelease, so I know there was a surprising amount of fics about them so it might’ve been a different one? Either way, this is super old but I did wanna share it since we’re having a lil fandom revival!

————

The heat from the wood stove and the smell of fire blooms filled the kitchen, wrapping itself around Opal like a blanket. People had chided Madame Spiceberry for “wasting” her powers on sweets of all things, but if her cooking made people happy, was it really a waste? Her patrons— their patrons now, Opal supposed— often said that the Madame’s secret recipes were the thing that brought them back again and again.

Opal sighed and looked down at the spread of ingredients before them. No pressure then…

Spiceberry clapped her hands together as she began, “Alright, now that we have everything set up, add the wet ingredients to one bowl and the dry ingredients to another.”

The…but nothing here was wet? Butter was when it melted, and eggs were on the inside, they guessed that that counted, but they weren’t sure about anything else. They grabbed the larger of the two bowls and decided to start with the obviously not-wets. Flour, salt, ginger, all of it measured out according to the recipe written in the madame’s swirly cursive. When they reached for the sugar, she stopped them.

“Ah, no dear, that goes in the other bowl.”

“But it’s dry?”

“Well yes, but…you haven’t baked very much before have you?”

Was it obvious? Opal felt their body shrink in embarrassment. “Um…no. My parents didn’t….w-we weren’t really…” they stumbled over their words. Did they have to say it? It wasn’t like she didn’t know enough already— hell, the way she took them in so readily, someone had probably told her. They shrugged, forcing a casual tone “You know how things are up north, if it’s not about fighting, we just didn’t bother.” It was an overly simple way to phrase it, but it was true. Strength and power seemed to matter above all else, it was what drove them to side with Radiance. It was why Opal decided to stay as far away from them as they could from now on.

Spiceberry placed a comforting hand on their shoulder and squeezed it. “Well my little gem, I’ve never been fond of fighting, and I’m more than happy to teach you if you don’t find it a bother.”

Opal blinked back tears. “I’d be happy to learn.” Suddenly the madame pulled them into a gentle hug. They wanted to linger there, in the warmth of her motherly embrace, but she let go quickly and began to do the baking herself, explaining each step as she went.

Their friends had helped them learn that the power Radiance offered would lead them down a dark path, but maybe here they could learn to wield a different kind of power. After all, the Lindera Inn had its own magic— fire blooms aside— one of welcoming kindness, fond memories, and gingersnaps.

[ooc: iirc it was never specified what Opal’s character arc was so I took some liberties bc I am a sucker for characters who have to learn how to be soft, but feel free to shoot this down if they have a backstory already/in the queue and this contradicts that too much]

[Submission end]

this is so good. i'm baking you cookies for this (metaphorically)

[radiantroseofice]

Got bored,made a stim/aesthetic board based on Madame Spiceberry! Ft cozy things one might find at the inn, her eclectic personality, and fluffy the snake! I kinda hope this counts as propaganda for @icerosesummerbracket bc I'm not good with words when it comes to this stuff lmao

(sources: X X X | X X X | X X X)

[aroiismemes]

[isabeth-apologist]

Favorite AROIIS characters 3/12 : Madame Spiceberry

[OOC : Someone said the name of Madame Spiceberry's inn had something to do with fairy tales, so I picked The Nightingale and The Rose but that can be a personal headcanon without being canon]

Lavender was (still is ?) associated with lesbianism (violets too, sapphics seem to have a thing for purple flowers) so I think it could fit Madame Spiceberry.

@icerosesummerbracket

[artekai]

I drew The Sillies™! I dunno what to say, they just give me those vibes lol.

This ship had me in its grip since the waterfall scene. I like their "I can fix her"/"I can make her worse" swag. And I like how change ultimately has to come from Etienne anyways, no matter how much Spiceberry wants to be her manic pixie dream girl. Spiceberry accidentally making her worse with well-meaning advice will always be iconic to me, lmao.

(rip Spiceberry who's already out of the tournament but maybe your wife can still avenge you, godspeed 🙏 @icerosesummerbracket)

[sobbingdistantnoises]

The @icerosesummerbracket bracket thing has evoked deep seeded memories of reading A Rose of Ice in Summer in me at the same time I was in need of procrastination material, SO. Madame Spiceberry, except I did this from memory and with no references so it is very very likely to be far from canon

[goblinoid-wretch]

Finished the sketch of Lux for @icerosesummerbracket ! [ I'll color him later once I redo the linear on my phone, just wanted to put him out here now. ]

He's been a character I've personally loved from his first appearance as a visitor to Madame Spiceberry's inn. Though he ended up being pulled from his initial role as a hidden manipulator following [spoilers]'s death at the end of Book 1 to become Radiance's right-hand man, that just let his character develop and [ if you'll excuse the pun ] bloom further into its own.

This drawing is what I would envision him as somewhere towards the end of Book 2 and throughout Book 3, when he's somewhere around 16 years old. I did my best to incorporate the type of symbolism the series is known to use into my design, but I don't feel like I've done enough yet.

[ Regarding the symbolism/aspects highlighted in the image ]

His hair is shaped to imitate a closed Scilla Siberica, or Siberian Squill. Squills are plants that represent loyalty or fidelity, which I felt tied in fairly well to his wholehearted devotion to Radiance and her plot at this time in the books.

His tie has a vine design, which is essentially the only bit of plant theming he has in his outfit. It was mentioned that Radiance wouldn't let him carry out his initial idea of theming himself around sunflowers to incorporate his plant magic into his new form, so he has to content himself with this. It still irks Radiance that he hasn't yet cast away all ties to that "impure" magic and fully accepted light magic, the only magic worth knowing in her eyes.

His cloak is comprised of a larger, heavier outer cloak and a thinner inner one, which come together to form the wings of an Indian Meal [aka Pantry] Moth. This particular type of moth is known to occasionally cannibalize other members of its kind. I don't remember if it's ever specifically mentioned what kind of moth Radiance is themed after, but I've been running with Pantry Moth because of her habit of bringing about the downfalls/deaths of everyone who works with her. Hence, she gives everyone who joins her a cloak similar to her wings. Lux wears his with pride as a symbol of his loyalty; a shame, really, given the events of Book 3's ending, but it was brilliant foreshadowing in hindsight.

I headcanon that his light magic always manifests with some kind of plant-based appearance, a quirk which Radiance also despises. His signature spell is, in fact, the White Rose, a fusion plant-light spell which Radiance would forbid him from ever using again if it wasn't so damn effective at driving away enemies. Because of his effectiveness as a spellcaster, she tolerates his blatant disregard for the sanctity of light magic with a poker face she has had ages to perfect.

He has acne. This one's for me more than anything else, as a former acne-ridden 16-year-old.

Anyway, that's all I have for this design. Gotta color and repost this drawing [ oog, color symbolism coming up next? idk if I can manage. ] I also have to get to work on his Book 4 design, cause I've got some great ideas for that one too.

Edit: yeag sorry about the right hand assumption, I think there's some plot built up in my brain that I'm accidentally incorporating without it being canon.

[gearbox-doll]

Y'know I'm not sure if a lot of people remember this series, but were any of y'all fans of A Rose Of Ice In Summer?

Because my brain likes to categorize characters and I think I've come up with some stuff.

Radiance is a winter character.

Chronicler is a fall character.

Kivan is a summer character.

Madame Spiceberry is a spring character.

Does this make any sense to anyone but me? Probably not. But. I do not care.

Tbh I think Radiance's 'winter' vibes come from the fact that my brain decided she looked like Morgan from The Magic Treehouse in the fourth Merlin Mission. Y'all remember that?

[icerosesummerbracket]

[Out of character]

Madame Spiceberry lore established so far: She is a fairly present side character who runs an inn that the main characters frequently visit. Very homely vibes, she has a big cool hat, a pet snake who's also in this minor character bracket, and I think we've agreed she's canonically a lesbian. The only real detractor to her claim is that she might be too op for a minor character bracket.

Lore established so far for the rose of ice: In world it seems to be the subject of myths and legends, and most believe it to be only that; however, some think it is a real thing, but instead of finding it, one must create it. Though it is never canonically confirmed to be present in any one spot throughout the series, it's importance is felt in its absence

Please note that lore can still be added for either as long as it doesn't contradict anything previously established as canon

[icerosesummerbracket]

hands down my favorite fandom drama was when people CONVINCED themselves madame spiceberry’s death was being foreshadowed because a gravestone was mentioned with a name they thought might be her first name. the sylvia discourse was insane to live through fr

Madame Spiceberry is unkillable. her hat has max defense

[radiantroseofice]

I was inspired by @isabeth-apologist to share one of my old fics as well! It's sad that ao3 hasn't been able to archive the old aroiis forums, I remember a lot of good fics from back then :(

I already submitted it to @icerosesummerbracket a bit ago, but why not post it to ao3 to make it more official? And maybe I'll write a new fic to help really ring in this fandom revival!

[icerosesummerbracket]

my secret is that i crackship madame x radiance. last I checked there were like two fics of them in the entirety of ao3 but the dynamic was delicious. how far can you go to see the good in someone? at what point does it become self-destruction? can women is gay?

Madame Spiceberry "I can fix her"-ing a little too close to the sun there /j

Okay shipping them IS a horrible idea yes yes but also. even just off the top of my head. thinking about Radiance seeing Madame Spceberry's attempts to reach the good in people as just another form of manipulation because that's all she knows and that's how she views the world

[icerosesummerbracket]

I love the Etienne/Spiceberry waterfall scene because my friend was live-reacting the chapter to me and she wouldn’t stop sending me this image

And I was like girlie the whole point of that location is that winter ever touches it but nope. She continued sending me “finally yuri on ice” image. So anyways shes right. Finally. Yuri on ice

FINALLY. YURI ON ICE.

[icerosesummerbracket]

madame spiceberry fans represent honestly!! the og gay mentor she's such an icon<3

my fave scene of hers is the one where she helps rose grow her first blood flower it's honestly such a good moment!!

the blood flower was such a cool little thing though, it's literally called a "blood flower" that raises so much intrigue, but then it turns out to be just a small worldbuilding detail...

[icerosesummerbracket]

SO tempted to submit Madame Spiceberry's hat as a joke. (i wont but. tempted!) But seriously shoutout to her amazing fashion sense!!

It IS a very good hat

[icerosesummerbracket]

Hear me out- Tongues & Teeth by The Crane Wives but it's an Etienne/Spiceberry song

Consider that the song is from the perspective of Etienne and she's exaggerating her worst traits because she thinks she doesn't deserve Madame Spiceberry, but it still ends with the line "If you're fine with that, you can be mine like that" because in her heart of course she wants Madame Spiceberry to love her back anyway