#unfortunately. anytime one you guys asks a question about muse associations and symbolism i am going to have to make a really long post

[nearestend]

bronwyn ( @morteuse ) asked what plants i associate with the muses so here's a list of some, along with reasonings (only the ones i have actually thought through). might get long, so i will throw it under the cut:

alice: forget-me-nots. it is mostly the name; alice has a deep set fear of being forgotten or abandoned. she needs her work to leave a lasting impact after she's gone and done with it because otherwise all the things she had to go through to achieve them were a waste of time. it's not enough to be good, it's about being remembered. forget-me-nots are also associated with promises, fidelity, and true love, which are kind of appropriate for her too when you consider The Lore. i could go on but we have places to be, other muses to talk about, and i need to stop playing favourites with her all the time.

amelie: white lilies because they're often associated with chinese funerals. i believe in western cultures, they're more of a symbol for purity, but in chinese culture, they're not typically used outside of funeral arrangements because they can carry an aura of death or afterlife. they're sometimes seen as omens for mortality and life's fragility and a vase of wilting white lilies can signify upcoming illness or death.

eleanor: milkweed, for so many reasons. apparently if you have a dream pillow and you fill it with the little fluffy bits that grow off milkweed, it will cause the user to dream of fae. (ellie is based off the folklore of changelings, which were believed to be malicious fairies.) it's been used for its healing qualities, but can be poisonous if used incorrectly. something something about there being a fine line between healing and poisonous. it's also associated with the moon and the earth and if there is one thing most of you know about me, it's that i love symbolism, in case this whole post didn't make it obvious.

gus: i initially wanted to say morning glories would be his plant, but then i remembered that moonflowers are closely related and they felt more fitting! moonflowers bloom only at night, so they tend to be associated with dreams and there's been scientific studies that suggest they are influenced by the phases of the moon. they have very powerful medicinal properties (anti-inflammatory, pain relief, and possibly antidepressants, to name a few), which ties into gus and his whole job — entering dreams with the intent to heal or provide answers for others.

kate: the obvious answer would be dandelions, which we know she uses to forecast wind direction, but i'm more inclined to associate her with cardabelles — they've been used in areas of southwest france for centuries to predict weather. it's very durable against strong winds due to its structure, but it also reacts differently to certain weathers. it will unfurl its blooms in sunlight, but when humidity increases before rainfall, it will close up, indicating that it's time to take shelter. additionally, they're often hung on doors as good luck charms and said to ward off evil spirits.

i won't list every character, partly because i haven't thought out every single one (YET — i will eventually), but these are my favourites that i have come up with. i love symbolism and hidden meanings, etc etc.