#🌸 — fresh from the garden.

[wordsofoleander]

No thoughts just naked toaster and a really touchy s/o. They're barely through the door and they're already making out with him just constantly holding his hand constantly making out with him constantly giving him kisses

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❥ someone get me a dictionary because i need a word to describe the warm feeling this ask gives me. hopefully me publishing this on valentine’s day months after you’ve sent this makes it up to you, nonnie!

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he’s always known that physical touch was your love language, but that was a whole different thing from actually experiencing your affection in person. now, there is always a surprise in store for them when they walk through the door once they're home. being not used to receiving attention like this growing up, they used to always dread getting ambushed with you all over them, but they’ve grown used to it.

no…actually, it’s more like it has become a part of his day to look forward to.

there are times wherein they think that they don’t deserve it, but when you softly say their name (their real name!) like it’s the sweetest dessert in the world, they can’t help but melt further into your touch. perhaps with time, he will be able to find it in himself to be less hesitant with reciprocating, or even let it be your turn to be doted on!

maybe that can be their next gift to you…?

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[digitalgirlguide]

WHY AREN'T YOU DATING YOURSELF TOO?

As I sat sipping my morning coffee, I couldn't help but wonder: why do we often wait for someone else to take us on a romantic date when the perfect partner has been there all along—ourselves?

We get so caught up in chasing love from others we often forget that sometimes that you can give yourself the love you need too.

There’s something soooo empowering about falling in love with your own presence. I mean why wouldn't I want to hangout with myself? I'm amazing, fun and smell good too.

When you take yourself out, you're not just spending time alone— you're setting the standard for yourself everytime you get dressed up and go to that fancy restaurant, everytime you grab your tote bag and favourite runners and go exploring in your city, or even monthly spa visits to pamper yourself. make your solo dates pop so you don't settle for less when it comes to romantic partners and platonic friendships

Physical Solo Date Ideas

Sunset Beach Walk: Slip into your cutest sundress and wander along the beach as the sun sets. You could even pack yourself some of your fave sparkling drinks and some fruits! and everybody always feels better after they spend some time by the water.

Picnic in the Park: Pack a basket with your favorite snacks, a cozy blanket, and a good book. Find a shady spot under a tree 🍓📖

Yoga in the Garden: Roll out your mat in your backyard or a nearby garden. Breathe in the fresh air and stretch your body 🧘‍♀️🌸

Gallery Hopping: Spend an afternoon exploring local art galleries. Take your time admiring each piece and journal about it after 🖼️

Stargazing Night: On a clear night, lay out a blanket in your backyard or a quiet park and look up at the stars ✨

Food Solo Date Ideas

Café Hopping: Spend a day exploring cafés in your city and act like the main character in a sitcom or romcom. My fave thing about cafe's is people watching and making up storylines about people. ☕️

Gourmet Dinner for One: Dress up and take yourself to that fancy restaurant you’ve been eyeing. Put on that dress you've been "saving for a special occasion" and order yourself the whole bottle! 🍷

Baking Adventure: Try out a new baking recipe and create some new sweet treats, whatever you have leftover you can share with your girls 🥮🍪🍰

Farmers’ Market Feast: Visit a local farmers’ market and pick out fresh, seasonal ingredients. Then, head home and cook a delicious, wholesome meal just for you.

Ice Cream Parlor Indulgence: Treat yourself to a visit to an ice cream parlor.

Remember, darling, you're the star of your own show. Every moment spent with yourself is a chance to fall head over heels for the fabulous person you are. So, slip into that cute outfit, step out with all the confidence of a city girl in stilettos, and let the world bask in your glow.

After all, the greatest romance you'll ever have is the one you create within yourself.

[dragon-ascent]

🪴✨🌻 Cottagecore Zhongli Headcanons 🌱 🍂🍯

--some ramblings about Zhongli as a cottagecore husband 🌙

🌸 When I tell you he loves the garden, it's an understatement. He tends to each and every plant like they’re his children, making sure they get the perfect amounts of water and sunlight. The key ingredient to your thriving garden, though, is the way he holds conversations with nature: telling the shrubs about his day, narrating stories to the flowers, and asking the trees how many little creatures have decided to make themselves a home on them. It’s no wonder the place is simply bursting with life.

The prettiest flowers and the juiciest fruit go into making you the best flower crowns and the most nourishing juice – there’s nothing better than the sparkle in his eye as he internally plans the ways he can turn the garden’s bounty into gifts for you.

🥣 If a dreamy aroma wafts about your home, that means Zhongli is in the kitchen whipping up a delicious meal. Every ingredient is either grown or found nearby, so freshness is a given. Be it soup, sweet pickle, yoghurt, galette, or a piping hot shepherd’s pie, Zhongli’s favourite part of the whole process is watching your eyes widen in wonder as you take the first bite. He loves to watch you indulge, and a happy partner is a happier Zhongli.

(As for your favourite part? Licking any stray batter or berry sauce straight off your husband’s cheek.)

Oh, and! The heavenly scent of his cooking often attracts woodland creatures, feathered and furred alike. He always makes sure to make extra for these little friends :]

🧶 His crafting skills are unparalleled – in fact, most things in your home have been skilfully made by your talented Zhongli, ranging from the cookware to the flower vases to even some of your warmest winter wear, padded lovingly with the softest wool. Heck, even the bindings of most of your books are made by him, intricately threaded with dried and pressed flowers for that personal touch.

🌷 Spring often heralds your favourite sight of your darling husband. On a pleasant afternoon, as the flowers begin to peek out from their petals again, the sunlight spotlights a certain place atop a wooden swinging bench outside your home (a bench crafted by none other than Zhongli, of course). Emerald-green ivy weaves its way along the bars of the bench, a backdrop alongside all the potted primroses, snapdragons and lilies around it.

And there, curled up right in the middle of the swinging bench, naps your lover in his fluffy little dragon form, his fur glowing under the light. Soft purrs escape him with every tender exhale, his sweet paws clutching his tail as he sleeps. A butterfly may often flutter over and perch atop his nose to complete the scene.

It’s straight out of a painting, really, which is why you have a painting of one such spring moment up in your shared bedroom.

[fanfictionismyaddiction]

Family, F1, and everything in-between

Social Media AU

pairing: Toto Wolff x wife!reader

summary: Follow the glamorous yet grounded life of Y/n Wolff, the supportive and stylish wife of F1's Toto Wolff, as she navigates the fast-paced world of Formula 1 alongside her husband, sharing moments of love, family, and behind-the-scenes paddock life ______________________________________________________________

Weekend getaway to the Austrian Alps with my favorite person ❤️ #QualityTime #NatureLover

LewisHamilton: Looks peaceful! Hope Toto unplugged from work for at least a minute 😂 → MercedesAMGF1: Of course I’m relaxing, @ LewisHamilton. Don’t worry, the team’s in good hands 😉 #WorkHardPlayHard

Charles_Leclerc: A much-needed break for the boss! Enjoy your time away 🌲 GeorgeRussell63: So this is what Toto looks like when he’s relaxed. Never seen it before! 😄 ValtteriBottas: Beautiful scenery! Make sure Toto doesn’t try to race down those mountains 😂 AngelaCullen: What a perfect place for some fresh air and reflection! Enjoy every moment ❤️ DanielRicciardo: Careful, Toto might start plotting his next strategy on those hikes! 😆 FanGirlSara: So adorable! You two are the ultimate power couple! ❤️ #Goals RacingHeart88: This is the break Toto deserves! You guys inspire us to balance work and life 👏

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A rare sight: Toto taking a break from his phone to actually enjoy dinner 😋 #DateNight #FineDining

PierreGasly: Impressive! How did you manage to get him to put the phone down? Teach us your ways, Y/n! 😂 EstebanOcon: A true miracle! Can we expect a happier Toto in the paddock now? 👀 LandoNorris: Bet he's still thinking about the next race strategy, though 😆 → MercedesAMGF1: I’m capable of multitasking, @ LandoNorris 😜 But yes, it’s nice to just enjoy the moment with my beautiful wife -Toto

CarmenMundt: You two are such a stylish couple! That dinner looks amazing too ✨ JessicaButton: Love seeing you both taking time for yourselves! Well-deserved break 🥂 FanPage_Y/n: This is such a wholesome post! Y/n, you’re a magician if you got Toto to put his phone away 😂 F1Life74: I aspire to have this level of work-life balance one day! Enjoy your evening 🌙

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Early morning runs are better with a partner 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ #FitnessGoals #CoupleWorkouts

CarlosSainz55: who’s setting the lap times? 😉 MaxVerstappen1: Morning runs? Toto really is dedicated. Next time, invite the rest of us! DanielRicciardo: Must be tough keeping up with him, Y/n! I’ve seen that man in the gym 💪 → MercedesAMGF1: She’s faster than you think, @ DanielRicciardo. Might have to consider her for the next driver lineup! 😂 -Toto

RosannaTennant: Couple goals! I’m inspired to get up early tomorrow… or maybe just sleep in and watch from here 😂 MarkWebber: Toto’s secret to success—early starts! You two look great! FitnessF1Fan: Y/n, what’s your running playlist? Need some motivation! 🎧 SpeedQueen99: You both look so fit! How do you balance everything so well?

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My favorite place to unwind: our garden at sunset 🌅 #HomeSweetHome

SebastianVettel: A perfect place to recharge. I’ll trade you some honey for a spot in that garden 😉 FernandoAlonso: You have to take good care of that garden, Y/n. It’s where Toto recharges his winning energy! GeorgeRussell63: That’s where all the secret Mercedes strategies are born, right? 😂 → MercedesAMGF1: It’s where I find peace, @ GeorgeRussell63. And maybe, just maybe, where I come up with a few ideas😉 -Toto

RomainGrosjean: Beautiful garden! Can’t wait to see it in person sometime soon 🌸 ReneeWolff: That garden is pure magic! Love seeing Toto relax there 🌼 LoversOfF1: Toto smiling and flowers blooming—this is the content we’re here for! 😍 EcoRacer17: Your garden is a dream, Y/n! And having Toto in the background is a bonus 😊

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Just another day at the track supporting @ MercedesAMGF1 🏁 Always proud of my boys! #F1Family

MickSchumacher: The ultimate team supporter! We’re lucky to have you around, Y/n 😊 LewisHamilton: You’re the glue that holds this family together! Appreciate you always ❤️ NicoRosberg: Always nice to see you at the track! Brings back memories 😄 NataliePinkham: Y/n, you’re such a star! The energy you bring is unmatched ✨ Y/nWFans: Love seeing you at the track, Y/n! You bring such positive vibes to the team 💙 Formula1Fanatic: You’re the real MVP of Mercedes, Sophia! Keep doing what you do! 🏆 F1_GossipCorner: Y/n Wolff is truly the queen of the paddock! So much respect for her 👑 MercedesAMGF1: Couldn’t do it without you by my side, @ Y/nWolff. Team Mercedes is a family, and you’re at the heart of it 💙 -Toto

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A little family time before the next race 🐾 #FamilyFirst #DogLovers

ValtteriBottas: That dog is living the dream! 🐕 You guys look so happy! → MercedesAMGF1: Our dog has the best life, @ ValtteriBottas. He might even join me in the paddock one day! 🐕 -Toto

LewisHamilton: Love seeing you all together! Give the pup some extra pats from me 🐾 PierreGasly: Y/n, you might have the cutest dog in the paddock! 😍 AngelaCullen: Dogs are the best stress relievers! Enjoy your time together 🐶 RomainGrosjean: Family time is the best time. I see Toto is more relaxed when he’s around the dog 😊 DogLoversUnite: That’s the cutest family photo! Your dog is so adorable! 🐾❤️ PaddockPets: Can we get more of Toto and the dog? This is the content we need! 🐶

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Behind the scenes of an F1 weekend 🏁 #TeamSupport #PaddockLife

LewisHamilton: Y/n keeping the team spirit high as always! 🙌 Charles_Leclerc: t’s always great having you in the garage, Y/n. You bring such good energy! ⚡️ GeorgeRussell63: Look at Toto, all business as usual 😂 → MercedesAMGF1: Focused as always, @ GeorgeRussell63. Y/n is the secret to our success in the garage 😉 -Toto

LandoNorris: Y/n in the garage = good vibes only! 🎉 TechFanF1: Seeing the behind-the-scenes action is awesome! Thanks for sharing, Y/n! RacingWivesClub: Y/n, you’re the real MVP behind Toto’s success! 💪

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Pre-race rituals with the one and only 🏁✨ #RaceDayReady #F1Life

LewisHamilton: That’s the pre-race boost we all need! Sending good vibes to you both! ❤️ MickSchumacher: Now I see where Toto gets his race-day focus from! 🏎️ NicoRosberg: Aww, bringing back memories! You guys are the best 💫 JessicaButton: Love seeing the love and support between you two! Power couple vibes all the way 🌟 TheWolffsfan: That’s such a sweet moment! Toto’s good luck charm ❤️ SpeedyF1Fan: This is too cute! No wonder Toto’s always so calm before a race. RacingLife_92: Y/n, you’re definitely the best part of the pre-race routine! 😍 MercedesAMGF1: Every race is better with you by my side, @ Y/nWolff. You’re my good luck charm 💖 -Toto

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When in Monaco… 🇲🇨 #MonacoGP #LivingTheDream

Charles_Leclerc: Looking stunning! Hope you’re enjoying my home race 🏎️🇲🇨 DanielRicciardo: Monaco magic! You two look like movie stars! 🎥 MaxVerstappen1: Y/n, you’re outshining the entire grid with that look! 😎 AngelaCullen: Wow, you both look amazing! Monaco has never looked better 😍 PierreGasly: Y/n, I think you just set a new standard for race day fashion 👏 FashionAndF1: This is what we call couple goals! Y/n, your dress is absolutely stunning! ✨ MonacoMagicFan: Toto and Y/n, the ultimate power couple at the ultimate race! 🔥 MercedesAMGF1: Monaco feels even more special when I’m with you, @ Y/nWolffYou make every event shine ✨-Toto

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Back to Brackley! Ready to get back to work with the team 🏠🏎️ #HomeBase #F1Family

LewisHamilton: Welcome back! Let’s get back to business 💪 GeorgeRussell63: The team's energy always picks up when you’re around, Y/n! Time to put in the work 💼 ValtteriBottas: There’s no place like home! Brackley is ready for the Wolff magic 🏁 AngelaCullen: Exciting times ahead! So glad to see you back with the team 😊 TiffanyCromwell: Y/n, you always bring such positive vibes! Can’t wait to see what’s next 💥 JamesAllison: We’ve missed you around HQ! Let’s gear up for an even stronger season 🔧 MercedesF1FanForever: It’s great to see you back at the heart of Mercedes, Y/n! Your presence is truly inspiring 💙 F1_Fanatic88: Y/n back in Brackley! Can’t wait to see what the team achieves next! #TeamMercedes MercedesAMGF1: Back to where the magic happens. Couldn’t do it without you by my side, @ Y/nWolff. Let’s make this season one to remember 🏆 -Toto F1FamilyMoments: Y/n support is what makes Mercedes more than just a team. It’s a family. Welcome home! 🏠💙

[thewritetofreespeech]

Winter Wonderland

summary: based on a cute idea I had when a friend of my sent a video of some of their first snow flurries here in the states, where they keep their cherry blossom tree 😊

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The blankets were nice and cozy this time of year. Plush, with a little weight to them from all the extra material, it kept you warm while dreaming of far-off places as you slept. Unbothered by the world, when you were gently woken up by your lover.

“[Y/N],” Byakuya’s even timber whispered to you at your ear, “wake up.”

You stir at his gentle prodding. Slow to open your eyes, then shivered away when his cool fingers touched your cheek. “What’s wrong?” You ask with a yawn. “Are you leaving?”

“No. Not that.” That was good. That meant there was no catastrophic emergency of the Seireitei he had to deal with. “I wanted to show you something.”

Surprised by the request, but still sitting up while rubbing the sleep from your eyes, Byakuya pulled back the blankets from you and then offered you a hand to stand on your feet. The difference in temperature from the warm blankets to the warm, but slightly cooler room made you shiver, and Byakuya handed you an outer robe to place on your shoulders. You had the sinking suspicion though that this was not just to shake off your chill. “Are we going somewhere?”

“You’ll see.”

He took your hand and led you down the hall from your bedroom. The walk was not far. Byakuya stopping almost as quickly as the walk started in front of one of the partitions. Pulling it back to reveal the garden in a brilliant sheen of white & cold. “Wow….” You gasp in awe quietly. As if too much noise would shatter the scenery.

You step out of Byakuya’s grasp and off the small steps into the garden. The chill hitting you instantly in the open air but did not seem to bother you like before. The fresh, soft snow fluffed underfoot. Attempting to crunch under your footsteps but too delicate to make a sound. You reach your hand out in the peaceful falling snow. The flakes dancing around it for a moment, with some brave enough to land but then evaporate almost instantly, “it’s almost like Senbon.”

“I know.” You turn to look back at Byakuya, who had come to join you in the courtyard. “This time of year is usually so bleak, but I was reminded of the beauty it sometimes can hold. Then I thought of you, and I thought you might like to share it.”

You smile at Byakuya and his words. This was a rare moment for him, being open. Not just with his words but being vulnerable as well. You reach out to reclasp his hand and tell him, “I do. Thank you.”

There was a slight uptick at the corner of his lips, a smile, before he leaned in to give you a kiss. His lips are cold, but perhaps that is your own, but heat up quickly under the pressure. Byakuya then released you quickly before gesturing over to a stone bench under one of the trees. It’s surface bare as the branches keep the snow back as best they can.

The two of you go to sit for a while and watch the snow drift. You would be back in your warm bed soon enough, but for now, the cold didn’t seem nearly as chilling. At least not with Byakuya by your side.

[hotasfahrenheit]

AYYYYYY it's me your neighbourhood florist girl with the flower knowledge again!

of COURSE the hydrangeas in the opening credits of the first episode of Spare Me Your Mercy caught my eye and i went "hmm if there's more flowers in this episode then i'll have to make a post" then we just got more hydrangeas but with an obvious focus on them so here we are!

hydrangeas are native to both Asia and the Americas, and while Japan is notorious for having cultivated them, there are ancient fossils of hydrangea blossoms from North America which means they grew in a variety of places and spread from there.

in Japan, hydrangeas traditionally symbolize heartfelt emotion, apology and remorse, because of a legend about an emperor giving hydrangeas as a gift to apologise for neglecting a lover. in Europe, where they were brought in the 18th century, they symbolised boastfulness, bragging and vanity because they produced many blooms but few seeds, and were sent by men to women who had rejected them. in Korea, they represent perserverance and resilience.

the general meaning of blue hydrangeas specifically now lays somewhere around serenity, apology, gratitude and understanding.

hydrangeas are a neat flower in that some varieties can act as a pH gauge for your garden soil- higher acidity leads to blue petals, but alkaline soil will change the petals to pink. by changing the acidity of your soil, you can adjust the colour of the petals. (white varieties can't be manipulated because they don't have pigment.)

they grow from early spring to late autum, and though most grow as shrubs around 1-3m tall, some are small trees and others grow as lianas, which are a long stemmed woody vine that climbs other trees; these varieties can reach up to 30m tall.

if you have cut hydrangeas at home, you can help maintain their bloom or restore wilting by immersing them in hot hot HOT water- even boiling- to help them freshen. the petals can also absorb water since they're technically actually a type of leaf, so you can also dunk your hydrangea blooms into room temperature water petal-first to help them rehydrate. this is a thing i've done at work as a florist- at the grocery store chain i started doing floral at, we always put our hydrangea bunches into buckets of steaming hot water, the hottest we could get from the faucets, when we processed incoming shipments and had given them fresh stem cuts before putting them out for sale.

in both Japan and Korea, some varieties of hydrangea are used for tea, while in the Americas, the Cherokee used the root as a diuretic and the bark as pain relief for muscle pain and burns, and as a remedy for stone and gravel in the bladder.

hydrangeas are also known as hortensia. the name "hydrangea", which derives from the Greek words for "water vessel", comes from the shape of the seed capsules, which resembled a water pitcher. they're called hortensia, supposedly for the name Hortense and after French astronomer and mathematician Nicole-Reine Lepaute, who was not actually named Hortense at all. she was named Nicole-Reine. someone tried to name them Lepautia or Peautia after her, but since they ended up being called hortensia (probably from hortus, which means garden) it's reversed into people thinking Hortense was her name instead of them being actually named after her.

so yes, with the associations with apology, remorse, serenity, understanding.... i'm not surprised to see them here, especially in the episode itself, but i am very intrigued, especially since being in the opening credits means we'll see them there at least through the whole show even if they don't show up again in the actual narrative. the fact that they symbolise remorse and grow around Tiu's mother's house, when he wasn't able to be there to see her before her death, is not lost on me.

hope this knowledge dump was fun and interesting to at least someone! i'll be back with another of these posts next time i catch some significant flowers in another show 🌸🌼🌹🌺🌷

[solkatt-arts]

Time for some pony ocs💕

I’m starting fresh instead of using my millions of old mlp ocs. I might still post some from time to time but these new fillies will be my go-to here on tumblr!

Strawberry Delight “Delight” is a calm and collected earthpony with the love for anything strawberry. She has her own strawberry garden and makes lots of berry treats for her pony friends🍓

Hazy Glow “Hazy” is a pegasus with a talent for flying at night! Her thing is to navigate the sky with only the moon and stars to help her. She is whimsical and optimistic. 🌌

Puzzles is a unicorn with great problem solving skills! She is caring and great at paying attention to the small things in life.🧩

Periwinkle is a flutter pony with a special magical ability! Her golden butterfly necklace gives her the ability to shape shift into any other pony-kind. However, it often doesn’t happen on command but when big emotions take over. Periwinkle is anxious by nature but is working on her confidence. 🌸

[readychilledwine]

Blooms and Blossoms

Summary - The building was perfect, bones ready for a new owner and beginning. Now Elain just had to convince Rhysand to let her have it.

Warnings - None, unless you want to count female independency

A/N - Happy @elainarcheronweek day 6! I think Elain is all of us flower girls who secretly wish we could be running a floral shop *dreamy sigh*. I just know her shop would be gorgeous.

🌸Elain Week Masterlist🌸Master Masterlist🌸

Velaris was never a sleepy town. Elain had realized that very quickly into her newest adventure as she had begun to call being made fae. The streets were always full of light and life. Footsteps and music following every twist and turn on the streets.

She noticed flowers everywhere. Every shop window, planters paid for by Feyre and Rhysand, large gardens, but there were no floral shops. No places for males and females to treat themselves to the beauty only petals could bring. She had been hunting for days to change that, and as she dragged a very confused Rhysand with her, she had a solution.

Elain stopped in front of an empty shop. No sign to detail what had once been, dust gathering on the windows, “Here.” The shop was located in the Rainbow. Near Feyre, yet far enough away the sisters would not be close enough to annoy each other.

“Here what?”

She rolled her eyes at her brother in law before dragging him inside the building. “Look at how perfect the bones of this place are.” Walls that needed fresh paint, floors in need of a good clean and stain. Counters he'd want to replace as soon as he saw her vision. “I want the till here,” she motioned to the empty counter space where she envisioned something ornate and gold to hold coins. “Coolings here?”

Rhysand was slowly catching on, a soft smile playing on his lips. “More windows,” he turned her to the main wall facing the street, for your floral displays and season decor. You will be required to change it for Starfall and Solstice.”

Elain nodded excitedly, “Maybe a new door? With a bell? You know that is one of my favorite sounds.”

“I'm picturing light blush walls,” he began. “To bring out the color in the petals. Neutral countertops, perhaps a white marble?” He began to walk around the large building. “Darker Stained floors.”

“Darker. Definitely a deep rich color,” she agreed before moving with him. It was working. Her goal was slowly coming into fruition. “Blooms and Blossoms,” she said the cheesy name, biting her inner lip and waiting for him to reject it.

Rhysand only glanced back at her, “Very catchy. Nothing around here or in the shopping quarters has a similar name, My dear.” He watched her lip trembled, watching as the happiest of tears began to pool. “An interesting fact. Feyre and I own this building. The former owner could not find a buyer before her marriage to a Day Court noble came. Feyre bought it from her out of kindness.” He motioned for her to follow, knowing she probably had not seen the back.

Her hand found his as they walked through the dark, trusting her brother to get her to whatever he was showing her safely. He opened the door to the back of the shop.

A greenhouse. The shop already had a beautiful greenhouse, archway massive and ready in place. “The artist who owned this building specialized in making paints and art supplies from flowers, berries, and foliage. She grew it all to capitalize on profit.”

Elain walked around the huge greenhouse, now bare bones, but ready and aching to grow life again. “Rhys, please.”

He nodded before motioning for her to come back to him. “It is yours. Work will begin tomorrow.”

Board by board, day in and day out, Elain watched as her dreams were built. Seeds and bulbs planted, suppliers contacted. Each moment was reality growing near. Dusty aged wood was made new again, a deep mahogany stain freshly laid with a satin finish. Walls primed and changed to a soft blush pink. The old worn countertops were removed and replaced with a white and gray marble. A gold register with flowers and fauna carved into it is placed. Every change had Elain in Rhysand's office, the most alive he had ever seen her.

She was electric like this. Her joy became contagious as the Inner Circle learned of her shop, and as opening day approached rumors were spreading through Velaris.

Elain had started spending more and more time at the shop, preparing bouquets of roses, wild flowers mixes, daisies, whatever she could in pretty glass and clay vases. She hummed to herself as she worked on her current project, 24 long stem red roses mixed with fresh baby's breath and soft feather-like foliage. She had not noticed Rhysand enter from the back shop door. She had not noticed his smile as he watched her. She only noticed when he came to the register, placing gold in the till before kissing her cheek.

“I'd like that one,” he hugged her. “It exactly what I was wanting.”

“Take your money back, you aren’t-”

He shook his head, picking a clear glass vase with an iridescent glazing, “I am your first customer, little sister.”

Those words made her heart ache, from joy, from gratitude, from the love pouring from her very chest. “Rhysand-”

“I am so proud of you,” he stopped her sentence, knowing she was going to argue. “So very proud. You've come to life, Elain.” He pulled her to him, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “Have you gotten to see the sign we had done?”

She shook her head, letting him pull her to the beautiful new stained glass door and wall of curtained off windows before pulling her outside.

“Blooms and Blossoms” was painted in a soft scroll on the largest window. It would be surrounded by her hanging pots and the flowers she had potted that could withstand the brightness of the window. Feyre had planned and centered it perfectly. Each season, it would shine, obvious to all who passed that this was the floral shop she hoped people would come to be regulars at.

“I saw all the beautiful exotics and staple plants you enchanted and are growing,” Rhysand wrapped an arm around Elain's shoulder. “Your suppliers are also doing wonderfully so far. The trade it's created has helped with a few other niche things we have here.” Rhysand's voice was soft as the two of them stared at the shop window.

“Thank you,” she finally gave him her gratitude after moments of just taking this in. “For funding this, for believing in me and my dreams.”

“That's what Velaris is for,” he whispered into her hair, “Dreamers.”

The next day was loud. It was crazy. Elain had not sat since the opening day party began. She had been blind to Rhysand and Feyre's influence before, but the fae of Velaris rushed to the shop she owned, purchasing single stems, mixed bundles, and house plants. Her smile stayed wide and ready all day, constantly holding in tears of joy as she did.

She was a business owner.

Her passion now a livelihood.

Cassian locked the door as the shopping day came to a close, and the last customer left. Elain slowly closed the curtains as her sisters and the Inner Circle stood in the flower shop. “That was insane,” Mor huffed as she fell to one of the client chairs Elain would use for custom orders. “How much did she make, Rhysie?”

The High Lord was deep into counting for Elain, shaking his head with a smirk, “More than enough to buy us all a round or two at Rita's.”

Elain squealed before bouncing slightly, “I have money to pay?!”

Everyone stared towards her before Feyre spoke, “You won't be paying, but yes?”

Elain screamed with joy, the fulfillment of having her own income almost too much for her. “I have my own money!”

They all glanced at each other as the middle sister began to skip and clean, singing softly to herself about being independent and having money.

“It seems this was about more than flowers,” Azriel muttered to Nesta.

The eldest sister just smiled at him, “It was about passion,” she said slowly. “And about gaining independence through doing something by her own choice.”

Azriel hummed, “Then it would seem she should be allowed to make whatever choices make her happy if this is the result.”

Nesta nodded in agreement as Elain skipped to Lucien, showing him the till, “It would seem she should.”

General Taglist:

@hnyclover @glitterypirateduck @slytherinindisguise @mischiefmanagers @bloodicka @starsinyourseyes @the-sweet-psycho @mariahoedt @rinalouu @sarawritestories @starryhiraeth @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @cumuluscranium @loneliestluvr @eternallyelvish @azrielsmate3 @daughterofthemoons-stuff @meritxellao @aria-chikage @hungryforbatboys @lilah-asteria @fandomrejects @sleepybesson @tayswhp @itsswritten @milswrites @littlest-w01f

[wordsofoleander]

🌸 answer me, my prince!

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

a suave prince with all he could ever ask for. a starry-eyed editor who longed for more. two unexpected penpals from vastly different worlds.

they were undoubtedly fated to meet, but never face-to-face.

❥ 735 words ❥ tags: au, fluff, slightly angsty if you blink, very very self-indulgent, no beta we die like chads, mentions of cove, qiu, and my ol2 mc! ❥ notes: the hyperfixation was so strong i emerged from inactivity. i finished the comic this fic shares a title with last weekend and refused to move on,,, made for #baxtermcweek (day 4 prompt: au), hosted by @minthe-drawings

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

He doesn’t realize how long he’s repeatedly been opening and closing the empty book chest until he slams it shut a little too loud, snapping him out of his reverie. His eyes dart left and right and his ears stay alert in case he accidentally woke anyone up.

He hears nothing, so hopefully the coast is clear. He opens the book chest again, and the letter he’s waited all night for sits perfectly inside, having appeared out of thin air. 

He needs not wait to carefully examine the envelope or admire its design (far more cleaner-cut and colorful than what he's received from others over the years) as he immediately gets to reading.

—

Prince Baxter Alexander.

You’re getting better at pressuring me to reply to you faster and faster. It scares me a little.

Regarding your story, I think what you did for their sake was quite admirable. I can’t even imagine going as far as to pretend to be Cove’s fiancée for his protection, let alone for 5 years! But back to you. Since you didn’t end up falling in love with each other, does this mean Lady Ysabel’s lover is much more good-looking than you are? Would you mind getting a portrait of the Laird Qiu for your friend?

—

Silly Iri.

(You’ve never asked me for my portrait. You wound me. Nonetheless, I forgive you.)

You of all people should be able to know that not every long-standing friendship necessarily has the potential to end in romance.

—

Like us?

—

We are a bit of a special case because I do not think of Ysabel every day.

—

(Oh, what am I going to do with you?)

Ever the type to give people the answers they want to hear now, are you? You’re surrounded by far more impressive people in your daily life, people you can actually talk to and see.  I highly doubt that you think of me every day.

(PS It’s way past midnight, so I should probably get ready for bed if I don’t want to be late for work. Sleep well, my prince.)

—

Irina Clarice, my sick twisted friend.

What? Is laying my entire self bare to you, heart and soul, in the written word last night not enough for you? After all the times I’ve spent my evenings waiting for your letters?

I specifically chose this time of year to get away from my parents under the guise of avoiding the heat and helping the monks at the scriptorium. Summer, after all, is the perfect time to do something crazy, pursue a new beauty, to start anew. I confess to you that I imagined nightly sneak-outs to rendezvous with someone who’s caught my eye, but all this time, I’ve been holed up in the scriptorium’s writing room, idly and politely waiting by the book chest on my desk in anticipation to see if you have replied to what I’ve written about my latest misadventures. Before I knew it, I’d already spent the entirety of my summer getting to know you. Now I do know you, and there is no one else like you anywhere else in the world. 

Tragically, we shall never have the chance to meet, so I don’t think whatever it is I’m feeling in my chest can be called love. My fate is sealed. 

Still, whenever the sight of someone so beautiful catches my eye, thoughts of you fill my head, and I become almost upset, complaining that no matter who I meet, they will never be anything like my Iri. So, my dear friend, do not tell me that I do not think of you every day. 

I do not recall you mentioning having felt this way towards your childhood companions, nor your devilishly handsome Xander from the antique shop,  so I shall regrettably but with dignity take this as a victory.

On a lonely night on the month of heat’s end, Your Baxter Alexander.

(PS Clarence and I are departing tomorrow at dawn for Golden Grove to attend Qiu’s wedding, just in time for the beginning of fall. Bringing the book chest with me would be far too bothersome for such a short trip. I expect to be away for about three to four days.

Even so, worry not your pretty little head and get a good night’s rest without my letters to bother you, Iri. I hope you do not miss me too much.)

[yuurivoice]

Did you decide to change withered!finn’s design and disregard his last one?

Or is it because of lore purposes and he changed/became more withered over time?

I’m so sorry if this comes off as rude! I hope you’re having a good day! -🌸

I wanted there to be greater distinction between the withered and garden variety, to help alleviate at least some of the confusion. Also like.......that yandere Finn artwork is ancient. He would have got a fresh coat of paint one way or another. ✨️

I feel I can say that whatever physical changes (and change of clothes lol) he acquired came about from finally getting his Orchid he so desperately wanted.

[honey-minded-hivemind]

Okay, okay... I had another au idea... It's a bit like the 🌺Lotus Eater AU, but... this would be its cousin au, kinda? Their themes match a bit, so do a few elements, but they're both stand-alone AUs?

I call this one... 🌸This Could Be Paradise🌙 (AU)...

A basic plot/premise for it would go something like this:

Reader wakes up on a strange (what they assume is an) island, but it's rather... big. It has fresh water almost in every water environment, it has plentiful fruits and vegetables and even prey animals, such as fish and chickens and cows... It's... quiet, though.

Then, one day, someone shows up.

(I'm going to say... Gambit... becausewe need a bit of comfort and so does he, after @][>)÷= @][>)÷=) (and he's a fun character, who's like a big brother/fun uncle)

And for once since they've been there, Reader feels hopeful and not wary, because this is someone they know, someone who is usually easy to talk to, and will likely have a plan to get off wherever they are.... Except he doesn't. He's acting... weird. According to him, he knows only his name and a few faces; otherwise, he doesn't remember anything besides waking up in a dark cavern on the island...

Reader is understandably freaked out.

Okay, the man with the plan doesn't remember much, if anything. So that leaves Reader as the idea person. Okay. They'll try to work with that.

Good news: The island isn't hostile and has plenty to eat and drink. There's no violent or crazy people so far. And if there IS a problem, they aren't currently running from it, so that's a plus. Does that make the situation good? ... No, not really. But it does make it better than 85% of most other insane situations they've been in. Bad news: They're (possibly?) alone on an unknown island. They haven't seen anyone else. And the only one of them who knows enough to remember they're in a weird, if not bad, situation, is Reader. Not the worst situation they've been in, again. But not ideal, either. So their plan?

They get to explore every inch of the island they're on, until something pops up that can help them.

It works.... albeit after three days of trying to explain Remy's life to him, with him mostly not believing Reader, or thinking they're very creative, but not remembering things correctly. They find a large, grandiose, very very odd... house? mansion? mall? city?... whatever it is. It's very big, it's spacious, and it's clean, from what they can tell. There are buildings within this one large one? Yet it doesn't make sense. (How can any of these places be here?) There are a few museums, galleries, aquariums, cafes... large rooms full of blankets and pillows and beddings... even things likes pools and gardens and balconies and whatever else one can imagine. Reader and Gambit, after going deeper inside the vast place, do find someone... It's one of their friends/teammates/mentors... (Reader is so glad that Gambit recognizes that mutant, because maybe now someone will think they aren't crazy)... Yeah. So, they do think Reader is the odd one out. According to them, they've been there the entire time, and they don't remember ever not being there...

Reader is rightfully scared now.

The two of them are invited to join the others, and while Gambit accepts, happy to see more of the people he remembers, Reader hesitates. They eventually accept, but keep their distance. Each step they take, every turn and new hall and new room, only makes them feel more on edge... They eventually meet with the others. For the most part, things seem okay on a surface level. But deeper? Most of them either don't remember anything before waking up in the buildings or cavern, or they simply change the subject... So Reader, while the others are distracted, slips away, going to find the root of the problem...

And somehow, they don't find anything.

The island is mostly empty, save for the animals and some diffent environments, but otherwise? There aren't any other buildings beside the... whatever the big one was. There aren't any other people there that Reader can tell. And they seem to be the only one who remembers... anything. No one seemed hurt. No one was unhappy. But... what the fr*ck is going on?

They find their answer when they eat a few odd flowers/fruits...

Their taste is sweet, saccharine... Their colors are appealing, inviting... Their scent is calming, heavy... But when Reader takes a bite...

It's like they can't remember a few things. And when they take another, smaller bite... those memories only blur further...

Suffice to say, they toss the flower/fruit as far from them as they can, and go to tell the others.

They do get to the building, navigating the complicated corridors and halls, and eventually find one of the adults. Reader explains everything, and the adult agrees with them, at the least saying it makes sense... only to then ask what's wrong with it. Leaving Reader confused and growing more nervous by each minute. The adult points out that they realize they are not from there, that they've known the entire time, but... do they really want to go back to where they used to be? What they remember, the few things not completely blurred out or wiped from their mind, depicts nightmares, hatred, fear, violence... So they ask Reader if that's what they remember too, and if so, are they really wanting to go back to that? To trade what is ultimately a safe haven, a paradise for all of them, for what sounds like H*ll?

Reader is quiet for a moment... and then they leave.

They're alone. None of their friends/family/teammates believe them, or they if they do, they're purposefully keeping quiet about the truth. Except... They get an idea. What if maybe the flowers/fruits act as a mind control/brainwashing thing as well? It's sweet as sugar, it smells like lavender and honey and chamomile, it's nice to look at... so what if it's purpose isn't just to make everyone's mind be wiped, but it was made or specialized to make them want to stay that way as well? ... It's gutsy, is what it is. And to find out, Reader is going to have to be very careful... There's one person who has been around them, and despite thinking they're odd, they'll likely go along with what Reader has planned: Remy...

Reader is careful, approaching him. They ask if he's willing to help them figure something out, to see if they're crazy or not... And they feel guilty when his eyes soften and he's trying to say they're not; yet Reader asks if he can let them explain... With a nod as their answer, they do: He and the others eat a sweet flower/fruit, and drink whatever juices or nectar come from it, right? Well... what would happen if they stopped eating it? Just for a while? Reader sighs in relief when Gambit agrees, then asks if they can keep it a secret until their test/game is over... which he agrees to, if only to cheer them up and calm them down...

Spending a week watching everyone and making sure their plan isn't found out is difficult. It's trying, especially when Reader is trying not to draw attention to themself or what they and Remy are doing... It's even harder when no matter what the conversation is about, Reader feels like they can't really say much because they know too much, and they'll be written off or considered more insane... Yet finally, (praise the heavens finally) five days have passed, and they can check on Remy... and they feel guilty, seeing how he seems nervous and fidgety for once. Because apparently they were right. It only takes a few pokes and prods at his memory for everything to come back, and Reader is soon trying to comfort him, because now he knows, too, and he isn't sure how to get them out. Somehow, after talking over what Reader's found, they devise a plan...

They need to leave. As soon as possible. If they can get someone else to follow them, then if they're too busy searching, then the two of them can try to drag them with them so they can make a rescue plan. Their one problem? Who to pick...

Whomever they choose, Reader is apologizing the entire way to them, all while Remy keeps trying to keep the peace between the three of them and keep them from running off. They have at most a week or two before they're caught, if they're lucky. Slowly, while they stay hidden and keep moving, the person they caught slowly feels the effects slipping away... And they slowly try to get Reader to confirm what is or isn't true, asking what their plan is...

And then during one night, it all goes south...

Remy wakes up to find their third member is missing, so he goes to find them, or at the least goes to see if they are on their side or not... Before he can find them, he's caught by a few of the adult platonic yans, who explain that they can't let them leave... Something saccharine and honey is forced into his mouth, and when's he's forced to swallow, his mind starts to blur around the edges... He tries to fight it, tries to fight them, but each movement sends him stumbling, to the point he's being held up... The last thing he hears before he blacks out is a soft apology, then everything fades to nothing...

Reader wakes up, possibly sensing the danger, and realizes they're alone. They carefully call out for Remy, then the other friend/teammate... And are met with cold, crushing silence. In a heartbeat they're up, staggering through the dark and hunting for any clues they can find... They stumble upon where Remy was caught, and a bit off is another area, showing signs of a struggle... and Reader realizes they truly are on their own now...

Reader goes to rescue them, able to enter and explore the behemoth building without any problem or kerfuffle... But everything in the building is so... quiet... Dark... A secret threat waiting to pounce... Reader manages to find a hall that smells of antiseptic and that thick, heavy scent of honey and nectar, and goes down it. They stumble into a lab area, soon finding Remy incapacitated, and Reader takes a step forward...

Only to hear a shift behind them, barely dodging just in time.

They weren't alone in the room. They'd been followed the whole time.

A few of the adults are there, and in the dim light of the shadows, Reader can almost swear their eyes glow a soft, faint pink. They say they need to stay still, and let themself be taken care of... That they've been feeling unwell, and that it's not necessary for them to hold on to the past, to the pain...

Reader runs, darting away from the hands that go to grab them. They're able to keep distance between themself and the others, carefully not to touch anything or slip... Yet when they notice one is missing...

Something heavy slams into them, holding them still, and the next thing they know something pricks them... A gentle feeling fills them, soft and sleepy and quiet, yet no matter how Reader tries to break free, they're soon limp, limbs heavy and head foggy, as they're carried to a medical table. Something... someone... says something, but it's faded before Reader registers what it is... Something wraps around their wrists, then their ankles... an object is placed against their face, forcing something sweet and thick into their senses... and slowly, everything fades...

(Reader wakes up awhile later, and are told they and Remy are going to be forced to forget what happened, their past, everything before waking up on the island... That it's for their own good, for everyone's good, and that they're only going to hurt themselves trying to escape. And for what? To go back to a world that hates them? That reviles them? A world that almost killed them? No... They'll be safer, healthier, happier, where they are. All they have to do is let themselves be taken care of, to let them get the medicine, that honeyed, nectary sweetness, back into their system, and everything will be okay... Just take calm, deep breaths, and let them handle everything, okay? They've got them... they're safe... Just take a deep breath... and relax...)

(Reader has a plan to escape, but... that is for part two...😉) (If you have questions about this AU, or the 📒Mutant High🧪 AU or 🖤Dark AU, feel free to ask them! I'm just not doing requests at the moment😊)

[breelandwalker]

Pink Moon - April 6 2023

Prepare for the blooming season and make sure you take those allergy meds - it's time for the Pink Moon!

Pink Moon

Named for the appearance of spring flowers, in particular the early springtide ground phlox, the Pink Moon often coincides with the first bloom of the season, with trees and fields in flower and a profusion of color returning to the world after the long bleak greyness of winter. Despite the name, the moon itself does not turn pink to match.

The April full moon is also sometimes known as the Paschal Moon, being the first full moon after the spring equinox. The Christian Easter holiday, which has a floating date, occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Moon. Alternate European names for the Pink Moon include Egg Moon and Budding Moon, and some modern pagan traditions call it the Awakening Moon. Indigenous names for this moon include Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin), Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit), Moon When The Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Planting Moon (Tunica), and Frog Moon (Cree).

Farmer's Proverb: A full Moon in April brings frost. If the full Moon rises pale, expect rain.

What Does It Mean For Witches?

The Pink Moon is a time for reconnecting with yourself and the world around you. The world is giving a good yawn and stretch after a long winter's sleep and so can we! Get outside if you can and get some fresh air. Explore your area, especially if there's something or someplace new you've been meaning to try. Revisit old haunts and discover what's changed since the last time you were out and about.

Take a moment to assess your current goals and mark your progress. Celebrate your growth and learn from your setbacks. Assess your boundaries as well. Are you making enough time for yourself? Are you letting things or tasks or people intrude where they shouldn't? Is there anywhere that you should be standing firm but aren't? Balance dedication to your work with playtime and relaxation. Remember that you are not required to set yourself on fire to keep others warm. Take time to care for your own needs and address those "I'm Sure It's Nothing" health concerns you've been putting off.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

By the time the Pink Moon comes around, there's either one more cold spell working its' way through or the first true warmth of spring beginning to appear. If the temperatures are rising to sunny pleasantry in your area, it's the perfect time to start planting your garden.

Whether you have a few pots on a patio or a fully-planned plot or just some well-beloved houseplants, get your fingers into the dirt and transfer those seeds and sprouts to a nice fertile home. You can work various kinds of magic as you do, for growth, fertility, prosperity, tenacity, resilience, protection, whatever seems needful. If you grow your own plants for your magical practice, you can also bless them for their intended purposes. If you don't garden (and not all of us do), you can grab your field guide and pruning scissors and go foraging.

For a fun and easy full-moon spell, set out some gallon jugs of potable water to make Pink Moon Water. This will be excellent for watering your garden...and yourself! (Rainwater isn't safe to drink these days, and water collected from wild sources is dicey even if you boil it, but drinking water works just fine.) You can also cast spells for creativity, change, fertility, happiness, adaptability, and growth. Use whatever methods resonate with you and remember that the most important component of any spell is the witch who casts it.

The earth is blooming, so let's bloom with it!

Happy Pink Moon, witches! 🌕🌸

Further Reading:

Pink Moon: The Fascinating Full Moon of April 2023, The Peculiar Brunette

Pink Moon: Full Moon for April 2023, The Old Farmer's Almanac

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[magickkate]

Hey witches! As nature awakens from its winter slumber and the days begin to lengthen, we come to Ostara, the spring equinox, a time of balance, renewal, and fertility.

Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox or Eostre, is a pagan holiday celebrated around March 20th in the Northern Hemisphere (September 20th in the Southern Hemisphere). It marks the arrival of spring and the balance between light and darkness as day and night are of equal length.

The holiday is named after the Germanic goddess Ostara, who represents fertility, renewal, and the dawn. Many customs and symbols associated with Ostara are rooted in ancient pagan traditions and folklore. Some key aspects of Ostara celebrations include:

Celebrating the Equinox: Ostara marks the arrival of spring and the rebirth of life in the natural world. It's a time to celebrate the earth's renewal, the return of longer days, and the promise of new beginnings. Here are some ways to honor Ostara and celebrate the beauty and bounty of the season:

🌱 Planting Seeds:

Get your hands dirty and plant seeds in your garden or indoor pots to symbolize growth, abundance, and new life.

🥚 Decorating Eggs:

Embrace the ancient tradition of decorating eggs, a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Paint, dye, or decorate eggs with symbols and colors that represent the themes of spring and renewal.

🌸 Nature Walks:

Take a walk in nature and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of spring. Notice the blooming flowers, budding trees, and chirping birds as you connect with the energy of the season.

🕯️ Rituals and Ceremonies:

Hold a ritual or ceremony to honor the equinox and invoke blessings for balance, harmony, and renewal in your life. Light candles, burn incense, and offer prayers or invocations to the goddess Ostara and the spirits of spring.

🍃 Feasting and Sharing:

Gather with loved ones for a festive meal or potluck to celebrate the abundance of the season. Cook and share dishes made with seasonal ingredients such as fresh greens, herbs, and spring vegetables.

Here are some ideas for recipes for Ostara:

Hot Cross Buns (Cross Quarter Buns): These tasty pastries are often enjoyed during the pre-Easter season of Lent. The decorative cross on top represents a Christian symbol, but you can infuse your own Pagan beliefs into it. Consider associating the four quarters of the cross with elements, directions, moon phases, seasons, Tarot suits, or fire festivals. To make your own, start with your favorite muffin or roll recipe and create an X on top using raisins, currants, or scored dough. Mint Chutney: Mint chutney is a versatile condiment that pairs well with various dishes. Keep in mind that the term “chutney” covers a wide range of culinary options. Roasted Lamb: For many ancestors, lamb was a symbol of spring and rebirth. Roasted lamb can be a delicious centerpiece for your Ostara feast. Dairy Products: Dairy is associated with fertility and new life. Include cheese, milk, cream, butter, and other dairy items in your Ostara meals. Eggs: Eggs symbolize new beginnings and potential. Hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs, or egg salad are great choices. Spring Greens and Fresh Herbs: Celebrate the awakening of nature by incorporating fresh greens like spinach, kale, and spring onions. Use herbs like parsley, chives, and dill to add flavor and vibrancy to your dishes. Seasonal Crops: Asparagus and fiddlehead ferns are early spring crops that align perfectly with Ostara. Check in your area what is available! Marshmallow Peeps: While not traditional in ancient practices, these colorful marshmallow treats have become an iconic part of modern Ostara celebrations

Embrace the Magic of Ostara: Whether you're planting seeds, decorating eggs, or simply basking in the beauty of nature, Ostara offers a magical opportunity to connect with the energy of spring and celebrate the renewal and rebirth of life. So gather your friends, set your intentions, and let the magic of Ostara guide you on your journey into the light! 🌼🌿

Spring is a time of rebirth and growth. Consider working magic related to these themes.

Explore magical aspects of:

Serpents: Symbolism and folklore. Eggs: Associated with new life. Spring Flowers: Use blooming flowers in your magical workings. Daffodils: Early bloomers with magical purposes. Rabbits: Beyond the Easter Bunny. Magical Gardening: Growing plants as a magical act.

Remember, Ostara is a time to celebrate the return of light, growth, and the promise of warmer days ahead. 🌸🌼🌞

Learn more: learnreligions.com Sabbats: A Witch's Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy(amazon.com) Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials BOX SET (amazon.com) witchcraftedlife.com magickalspot.com teaandrosemary.com

[scorchieart]

Happy, Wholesome Yves Headcanons

Because my week was full of baking sweets and pretty pink flowers, you all deserve some wholesome Evie vibes as well 🌸🌸🌸

Ask any prince to rank his favorite brothers and Yves will consistently appear in the top 3.

Tell Yves this and he’ll turn pinker than his freshly-baked peach berry pie.

Yves started a personal vegetable garden in the palace when he was first learning to cook so that he could have extra ingredients in case his recipes flop. They rarely flop. So he distributes most of his crop among families in his territory.

The palace cats patrol the garden and scare off thieving vermin.

Once, Licht couldn’t attend Yves’s tea party because of a conflict with his training schedule, so Nokto stepped in pretending to be him. Yves immediately figured out the switch, but didn’t mention anything.

Whenever any of the princes falls ill, Yves makes his specialty chicken soup and personally delivers it. His faction members have his nagging “I’m not leaving until you finish the entire bowl!” speech memorized, but Yves typically leaves the tray with a get-well letter and a knock at Chevalier and Clavis’s doors.

Whenever Yves falls ill, Sariel and Licht take turns standing guard at his door to make sure no undesirable pranksters decide to strike. 

There are never any incidents. But the others pitch in to make or purchase Yves’s favorite sweets and stop by to check on him.

When Luke first arrived at the palace, Yves hoped to impress him with homemade honey treats. It only took two days to win him over completely. Two more days and the town was entirely out of honey.

Even though he isn’t a fan of the cold, Yves never misses the first snowfall of the season. He curls up by the window with a thick blanket, a large pot of tea, and a warm crumble cake and watches children pulling their parents into the streets to play in the fresh snow. 

Growing up, Yves used to give apprentice and trainee cooks and tailors advice discretely from behind curtains and columns. Nowadays, artists and specialists travel from across the continent to seek guidance and approval at the hand of the fifth prince.

Requests from these visitors became so numerous that Yves fell behind on his official duties. To control demand, the first of May was designated a national festival for anyone to display their talents, from cooking and fashion to art and music, and Yves would spend the day meeting with each participant and giving reviews and feedback. 

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If you would like to be added or removed from my tag list, please send me an ask or a message.

[simpforchuchu]

Me again!! Since your requests are open I thought I’d request for high & low like we talked about before. In my dream I dreamt that I was a foreign transfer student to whatever city SWORD takes place in. I can’t remember if it was a boarding school or not but there was a lot of foreign girls with me. Anyway I’m pretty sure the school was having a back to school dance and I got to meet the oya boys while I was there!! I’ll admit my dream was very fujio focused but what do you think would happen if our main oya boys met their dream girl at that mixer everyone was so excited for at the end of high & low cross? It was so fun and romantic the dj was playing all these great hits from when I was in high school so we were dancing and they were asking all these great questions like what was it like back home and all that and I might’ve been watching Romeo + Juliet before I went to bed so it was very romantic at times 😅😅😊😊 sorry this got long it was just such a good dream

How would Oya Boys be at a School Prom ? Hcs

a/n: Hi! It’s been a while, sorry 🙏🏻It is really a cute dream, I’m jealous :D Thank you for your request andI hope you like it 🌸💕

Sorry for the grammer or spelling mistakes.English is not my main language so...

Thank you and love you 🥰

Warnings: none

Fujio

* We all know that Fujio is quite cheerful and very lively.

* And too talkative…

* Even though he doesn't give off a Casanova vibe, I think he's good at talking to girls and is flirty.

* He'll probably have his eye on one of the most beautiful girls in school and approach her with an expression that he thinks is sweet but cool.

* Small talk, a few jokes and giggles

* I think he is a romantic and quite sweet person, I feel that he will care about the girl he is dancing with, will pay attention to his steps and will continue to make little jokes without taking his eyes off her so that she does not get bored.

* I think he is also good at energetic ones after the romantic dance, he will hold her hand and drag her to the middle of the dance floor with excitement and make sure she has a wonderful evening.

* I'm sure he’ll walk home with him after prom

Todoroki

* I don't think he was ever interested in prom, he was forced here and he's nervous.

* As much as Tsuji and Shibaman want him to have fun like them, they know that loud music and this activity is not for him.

* Still, here he is with a pretty stylish suit and a good look.

* Even though there are girls who want to approach him, he will feel uncomfortable and go out to the garden for a while. A very beautiful girl who comes out to get fresh air in the garden like him will greet him with a smile when she sees him and this will be the beginning of everything.

* The two are quite similar. A young girl with good grades, the student council president, and a very smart delinquent... There couldn't be a better couple, right?

* They didn't like being here for a while and after small talk they realized they weren't bothered by each other's presence.

* They chatted in the garden until the end of the night. When the weather got cooler, Todoroki took off his jacket and placed it on the young girl's shoulders.

* When it was time to go, he asked hesitantly. “You still don't want to leave without dancing, do you?”

* They danced silently in the garden, smiling at each other with a sweet murmur. Todoroki couldn't remember his heart being filled with such a sweet feeling in a long time.

* And he certainly didn't know about the stupid grins of Tsuji and Shibaman watching from afar…

Yasushi

* He's neither a Casanova nor a flirty, he's just Yasushi.

* He didn't look forward to being here, but he doesn't regret coming.

* When he got tired of Kiyoshi's efforts to talk to the girls, he walked to the counter to get some more drinks and started pouring them into his glass.

* Another person was standing next to the counter, bored with the atmosphere. After watching Yasushi for a while, she approached him with a smile.

* “Do you want to get on people's nerves a little bit?”

* When Yasushi turned to the girl standing next to him in surprise, he smiled at her mischievous grin and walked with her to the booth where the music was playing.

* Although everyone was surprised when the romantic music suddenly turned into lively music, the duo laughed, high-fived and watched the surprised faces of the people on the dance floor.

* Yasushi didn't expect this girl full of surprises to suddenly hold his hand and lead him from the room to the dance floor, but he didn't complain.

* He was starting to have a lot of fun now :)

* He loved the young girl's energy, her smile and her cunning.

* When everyone saw them dancing madly and having fun in the middle of the dance floor, Yasushi only thought that this evening was not the last time he would see her...

HnL taglist : @straysugzhpe @tiddly-winx @ninamarie1994 @thatpoindexterpixy @koala-yuna @star2fishmeg

[daevastanner]

Say the Word

“Say the Word”

By Daevastanner

An Elucien one-shot inspired by the Elucien comic art by @artcraawl commissioned by @amandapearls for @elucienweekofficial

Read it on Ao3

Elain’s fingers gingerly brushed the leaves of her poppies, assessing their current state - soft, supple, and smooth around the edges. 

Not entirely satisfied with what her touch could decipher, she ducked her head and  narrowed her eyes at their color. Not a hint of brown or curling around the edges, the stems were full and firm. This greenhouse had done a world of good for those flowers she would’ve had to otherwise sacrifice to the winter elements. To think that she had once told Lucien she didn’t need anything so grand, to think she’d almost rejected this most recent gift from her mate. 

Straightening and admiring the flowers, she smiled. She should know better by now. Lucien’s gifts were always perfect. 

Long arms wound around her waist, full lips brushed her ear. Elain smiled but continued to fiddle with the poppies before her.

Hot breath tickled the shell of her ear, nearly sending a shiver down her spine. “Hello, beautiful.” A warm chest molded against her back. “I don’t mean to disturb you because you look so content tending to your plants, but…” Slowly a nose was buried in her hair, inhaling her scent as though attempting to memorize it, “...I’ve missed you.” 

Elain let her hands fall from the flowers, coming to rest over the long fingers crossed over her abdomen. As usual, Lucien’s hands were uncommonly warm. Uncommonly, but pleasantly. 

Her head tilted back against his shoulder and she shut her eyes, letting the golden evening light from outside warm her face. “I’ve missed you too. I hardly ever get to see you anymore. I feel like you’re always gone.” 

Lucien pulled her closer, inclining his head and pressing a kiss to her jaw. “I’ll always come running if you ever need me.” Another kiss that was so burning, Elain’s lips parted in a gasp. “Just say the word.” 

🌸

Elain’s eyes flew open, cool night air filling her lungs as she was met with the sight of her bedroom here in the river house. The expanse of bed beside her was vacant, an observation that made something in her cleave. She covered her face with her hands, still laying on her side. 

“Shit.” 

Looking at the window, Elain judged that it was well after midnight but nowhere near dawn. If she tried very, very hard, she could squeeze in a few more hours of rest and hopefully eliminate the odds of having purple smudges under her eyes for Nesta and Cassian’s ceremony.

Her hot skin and ever-tightening chest said otherwise. 

Elain sat upright, threw off the duvet and swung her legs over the side of the bed, planting her feet on the cool wooden floor in hopes of grounding herself. Her fingers dug into the mattress, squeezing the fabric as she attempted to steady her breathing, but to no avail. 

She needed air. Fresh air. The scent of begonias and daffodils.

Mouth set in a grim slash, Elain stood and crossed to her vanity, retrieving her long, silk dressing gown from her stool and drawing it on. She fastened the tie around her waist, preserving her modesty should she run into another restless resident of the river house, and exited her bedroom, stepping out into the moonlit hallway. 

The river house was silent, save for the sound of her own feet padding across the carpet, then down the stairs and towards the kitchens. She didn’t encounter a single soul, as she maneuvered around the various boxes containing decor and supplies for Nesta’s ceremony. Even Feyre and Rhysand seemed to be getting a decent night’s sleep for once. 

Arriving at the glass paned-doors leading out to the garden patio, Elain loosed a sigh of relief as she stepped outdoors and let the cool night mist bathe her cheeks. She closed her eyes as she shut the door noiselessly behind her, inhaling the chilled night air and letting it fill her lungs. The tightness in her chest loosened, her burning skin cooled, the fragrant scent of flowers permeated her senses.

Flowers and… cinnamon. Crackling embers. 

Elain opened her eyes, suddenly wide awake. She peered across the garden, silvery in the light of the moon, scanning between the meticulously groomed bushes and hedges for any sign of him. Absently, her feet moved her forward and around the towering column of laurel. 

She found him sitting on the marble bench facing a bed of roses, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He wore baggy sleeping trousers and a loose tunic open widely at the neck as though he hadn’t bothered with the laces after throwing it on. His long, red hair was pushed behind his shoulders, cascading in lush ripples down his back. Her mate truly was a breathtaking sight. There was no disputing that.

At that moment, Lucien’s head lifted at some unheard sound, turning in her direction. Brows raised, his metal eye whirred as it fixed on her. 

Elain dipped her head, mastering herself. “I apologize for the intrusion. I– I needed some air.” 

“It’s no intrusion,” Lucien replied, rising to his feet. “This is your garden. It is I who is the intruder, lady.” 

Perhaps it was the easy measure of his voice. Maybe it was the apprehensive smile tugging at the corner of his full lips. It could have been the gentle glimmer in his russet eye that reminded her so much of the dream that had brought her out here in the first place. Whatever ‘it’ was, Elain felt entirely at ease… and a little bit bold. 

She gestured to the marble bench with a manicured hand, then slowly approached. “Neither of us is intruding.” She lowered herself to sit, crossing her ankles and folding her fingers in her lap. “You are our guest and this is my garden.”

Lucien stared down at her, his expression blank, arms hanging at his sides. Elain offered him a timid smile and nodded at the vacant spot beside her. “Sit,” she said simply.

Lucien’s eye swept the garden, but with some caution, he sat next to Elain. It didn’t escape her notice the fair amount of space he put between them, not that it bothered her. 

For a moment they sat in companionable silence, nothing but the night breeze whispering through the garden leaves to fill the air around them. 

It was Lucien, whose gaze remained fixed on the flower-bed, who broke the quiet. “What brings you out here so late?” 

I dreamt of you. Of us. Of what we could be. 

But instead, she only said, “I couldn’t sleep.” 

He made a sympathetic sound beside her and out of the corner of her eye, she could see him rub his jaw with a long fingered hand. “Nerves about the ceremony tomorrow?”

Truthfully, Elain had no ‘nerves’ about the ceremony. The only negative emotion she felt in regards to Nesta’s big day was the niggling reminder that at one point, Elain had been the first of her sisters promised to be married and as of tomorrow,  she would be the last one left alone. Not that she’d ever admit her quiet resentment for her relationship status aloud. She was enjoying her freedom, her independence, that was true. 

Still, a part of her felt the longing for companionship that was only natural of living beings – whether they be mortal or fae.

She would give Lucien a fragment of the truth. “I’ll admit… I was nervous to see you.”

He finally met her gaze, amusement tipping up the corner of his mouth. “What cause have you to have nerves around me?” 

A blush heated her cheeks and she lowered her voice. “Do you remember last Winter Solstice?” 

Lucien nodded, bidding her to continue as he matched her conspiratorial posture and leaned in closer. 

“I kissed Azriel,” she grimaced. 

It may come as a surprise to others, but not to Elain, that Lucien’s lips turned down at the corners in approval, almost as though he were impressed. “When you said you wanted to explore your options you certainly aimed high…”

Elain laughed softly. “Nothing came of it, of course, but it was… nice.”

Lucien’s expression softened, his voice turning somber. “Well, there is no call for nerves. We’re past this, lady. We set our terms long ago. We’re both free to explore whatever we wish.”

Elain noted that he left out the latter half of their deal. That they were free to pursue whatever they wished until she said otherwise. When Elain said the word, they would begin to pursue what she had seen in her vision. The one she had told him about when he’d visited Velaris after the war with Hybern. It was all up to her. 

He had been so gracious. So patient. The ego she saw in other males was not present in Lucien. He didn’t need to boast that Elain had seen her choose him. He didn’t need to proclaim that it was only a matter of time until she accepted the bond. Instead, he quietly allowed her to pursue the life she’d never had a chance to live, and waited for his turn. 

“You never told me, by the way,” Lucien murmured, “what exactly you saw in your vision of us.”

Elain fidgeted, giving him a coy smile. “I told you what you need to know.”

“Well, what if I said I wished for specifics?” he pried, and the flicker of mischief in his eyes made Elain’s stomach clench pleasurably.

She played his courtier’s game and found that she enjoyed it, looking up at him through her lashes with a come-hither-smile, “Then I’d remind you that you are a patient male and can wait a while longer.” 

 He laughed, a breathless sound that made him look so very handsome. It was amazing how much he looked like sunshine in the dead of night with his hair and his eyes and his warm laughter. 

So briefly that if she’d have blinked, she would’ve missed it, Lucien’s gaze darted to her lips then back up again. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she observed their posture. The both of them leaning forward, head’s inclined and voices lowered – a prime position for kissing if there ever was one. And in private too. 

But to her surprise, Lucien straightened, pulling away, that glimmer of amusement didn’t leave his eye. “You know the conditions, lady. Not before you say so.”

Elain mirrored him, drawing in a deep breath through her nose to calm her racing pulse. 

Then, with that same smile that warmed her chest and sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach, Lucien said, “Just say the word.” 

Elain’s mouth went dry. She heard the echo of her dream ringing in her ears. The echo of that happily-ever-after just out of reach. 

Swallowing hard, Elain gave her mate a grateful smile. Sometimes she wondered if he could read her mind, like Feyre or Rhysand. Sometimes she wondered if the Cauldron was truly so clinical in its pairings, because for whatever reason, Lucien seemed to know her body and soul. Never, however, did she wonder about him. Not since they’d met when she’d tumbled out of the Cauldron and first heard his heart. No matter what anyone thought they perceived, no matter what anyone assumed, she’d always been certain about Lucien. Even when she hadn’t known it. Even when it had scared her. 

Exhaling, Elain rose, smoothing the silk of her dressing robe and drawing it tighter around her. “I’ll try to sleep again I think,” she murmured. 

“I think I’ll remain a bit longer,” Lucien sighed, leaning his elbows on his knees once more. “I’ll be careful not to disturb Nyx when I return. I’d hate to ruin one of Feyre’s few uninterrupted nights.”  

Elain winced. “On the topic of my sister… It’s best you don’t mention that I was out here. I don’t want anyone worrying about me on Nesta’s day.” 

He looked up at her, smirking. “You know better than to ask a favor of a faerie without offering something in return, lady.”

For whatever reason, the first ‘offering’ that came to mind was a picture of her on her knees… She quickly squashed the image, and straightened her shoulders, assuming the stance of a haughty courtier. “Very well. What is it you require in exchange for your silence?” 

He tilted his head, his mane of red hair shifting on his back. With equal arrogance, he replied, “One dance tomorrow night.” 

“Hm,” Elain hummed, eyeing him with exaggerated suspicion. “I must consider this.”

“A dance is not so grand a price,” the emissary grinned.

“True, were you a man, I would agree,” Elain began. “However you are a faerie, so I must clarify: Am I to dance until my feet bleed?”

“And ruin whatever delicate slippers you intend to wear?” he asked, arching a brow. “Never.”

“Until I lose my senses?” 

“And deprive myself of your pleasant conversation? Of course not.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Then I’m to dance until I die?” 

Lucien blanched. “That would spoil the whole party. No, no, no. I ask for one dance, to one song.”

Elain held his gaze, extending the silence as long as she dared. Only when the edge of his lip twitched did she answer. “One dance. One song,” she mused feigning thoughtfulness. Then, a few of his heartbeats later, “Very well.” 

Only when her back was turned to him did Elain permit herself a smile.

Returning to her room, Elain cracked the window, hopeful that the night breeze may allow some of Lucien’s scent to permeate the room. When the endeavor proved unsuccessful, she locked her bedroom door then crossed to her dresser. 

Kneeling, she opened the bottom drawer, and retrieved the old, pine green coat. She rose then, shutting the drawer with her foot. Then Elain brought the fabric to her nose and inhaled the scent of cinnamon and embers. The muscles in her shoulders relaxed, a sense of calm falling over her, heavy as velvet.

Shrugging out of her silk robe, Elain drew on the male coat, as she often did on sleepless nights. 

Sure enough, the moment she crawled back into the bed, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. Lucien’s coat wrapping her in a comforting embrace.

🌸

L U C I E N

This plan was already proving far more difficult than he’d anticipated. Elain was a vision tonight. 

She donned a dusty pink gown that highlighted the curve of her waist and the newfound swells of her breasts and hips. He hadn’t noticed these new, glorious curves she was suddenly in possession of last Solstice or even last night in the garden. 

Oh, how easily she’d believed him when he’d feigned surprise that she had kissed Azriel on Solstice. He’d known. Not because the shadowsinger’s scent lingered on her and not because he’d witnessed it, but because the High Lord of Night had thoroughly admonished his Spymaster for doing so. So loudly Lucien’s fae hearing had picked up on it from the guest wing. To his eternal amusement, Rhysand had seemed convinced that Lucien intended to challenge Azriel to a Blood Duel for Elain’s hand. 

He hadn’t corrected the High Lord when he’d seen him the next morning. After all, Lucien firmly believed there was no such thing as a bad rumor if it increased the intrigue of your character. Not to mention, he wasn’t supposed to have heard that heated conversation between the two Illyrian males. 

But how could he not have? He had been restless with Elain’s presence just down the hall (not unlike yesterday evening) with nothing to do but eavesdrop on the random noises around the river house. Including Elain’s hurried footsteps up and down the stairs not once, not twice, but four times that Solstice night. 

From across the reception hall, Elain met Lucien’s gaze. A sea of dancing bodies separated them, moving in time to the beautiful ballad of the string quartet. 

A perfect hostess, Elain had spent most of the after-party conversing with various guests while Nesta and Cassian made their rounds, accepting congratulations on their mating. 

Elain blinked at Lucien now, brown eyes sparkling in the fae-light that hung in strings overhead, bathing the guests of the temple in a golden glow. Lucien blinked back at her, then let his gaze wander lazily all over the temple. 

To the wide open doors that led to the patio where tables were set for those who wished to dine and mingle, then to the eastern side of the temple where those who wished to drink congregated around the enchanted tower of champagne flutes that would never run empty. 

Finally, he dragged his attention back to her, keeping his expression bored. 

Her brows drew together in question, as she studied him. He fought the urge to preen as her large eyes drank in his form. He’d worn his deep green suit with golden embroidery, well aware of the way it lengthened his legs and broadened his shoulders. He’d fastened his hair back at the sides, very cognizant of how it put the elegant features of his face on full display, making him appear hewn from bronze rather than flesh and blood. 

She was a fine match for him. More than enticing. 

But he was not blind to the fact that he was equally as desirable to her. Not as her eyes snagged on his mouth and not as he scented her arousal all the way across the room. 

Shaking herself from her daze, Elain nodded subtly towards the dance floor. 

Lucien only canted his head in response.

Her pretty pink lips parted as the realization donned on her. Lucien would not approach. He would not ask her to dance. She must ask him. In front of everyone. 

Color bloomed in her cheeks and Lucien fought the tugging at the corner of his lip. Instead he leveled her with a look that reminded her just who she had struck a bargain with. A faerie.

He’d decided on this approach, not solely for his amusement, but also to ensure their boundaries remained the same as ever. Elain must always make the first move. Must always take the first step. He would not initiate until she told him he could do so. 

Elain lifted the skirt of her dress and maneuvered her way through the crowd, across the room. He nearly laughed when she broke through the bodies and closed the distance between them with her chin raised in haughty indignance. 

“Elain,” he said, dipping his head. “What a pleasure running into you here.” 

“At my sister’s mating ceremony?” Elain asked flatly. 

“Ah, I forget the relation,” shrugged Lucien innocently. “You’re far more fetching than she is.”

“Don’t compliment me by insulting my sister, it’s rude.” 

“I would never dare insult Nesta Archeron,” he winked, and Elain cracked a smile, seemingly in spite of herself. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, lady?” 

Elain cut him with a knowing look. “I owe you a dance, remember?” 

Satisfaction bloomed in his chest. “Ah, so you do.” As the string quartet wound down their current song, Lucien offered Elain his arm. “Well, I’m happy to oblige.” 

He didn’t so much as glance her way as they glided towards the dance floor, but he did hear her snort softly beside him. The gruff irritation from someone as delicate as Elain was equal parts endearing and amusing. 

As the string quartet slowly began to strike up the next song, the dancing bodies converged, seeking out their partners once more. In one fluid movement, Lucien spun Elain to face him, lacing their fingers on one side and laying a broad palm on the small of her back. Elain wasted no time in placing her free hand on his other shoulder, meeting his measured gaze with an equally unruffled look. Where Feyre and Rhysand physically sparred, he did not envy them. He more enjoyed the battle of courtier wits between himself and Elain. 

The violin played a gentle, lilting melody and together, they swayed to the rhythm with the other dancing couples. He wondered if she could hear his heart hammering, if she could scent his anticipation. He had waited ages for this moment. The moment where Elain would come to him. Where they would converse, not as two fated mates who were bound by divine intervention, but as two individuals with a tender interest in one another. Flirting. 

He lowered his voice, casting a quick glance to the champagne table. “Have you noticed the shadowsinger tonight? He’s been giving that priestess some particularly longing looks.”

Elain scoffed. “I’m not surprised.” She inclined her head, then added softly, “I believe he was particularly nervous about tonight. You see the necklace she’s wearing?” 

Lucien spared a subtle look over at the ginger priestess, his metal eye whirring and focusing in on the rose pendant that dangled from her neck. “I do.” 

“Mm, what if I told you that that necklace was first gifted by Azriel,” Elain began, then her eyes glinted wickedly, “to me.” 

Lucien’s brows shot into his hairline, his gaze snapped back to his mate. “You can’t be serious.” 

Elain nodded, her lips pressed in a flat line in a clear effort to suppress laughter. “He gave it to me at Solstice when we kissed. Rhys called him away, so I went up to bed and…” she lowered her voice to a whisper again, “and had a vision of some unknown female in a teal gown wearing the very same necklace.”

Lucien stole another surreptitious glance at the priestess, who sure enough, wore a teal gown. When he looked back at Elain her expression was somber. A pang of sympathy turned his stomach. “I… I offer my sympathies that the shadowsinger did not return your affections.” 

To his surprise, Elain arched a brow,  pink lips in a caustic smile. “You mistake me. I don’t mourn the shadowsinger’s affections. I mourn that he would assume I would cause a scene tonight at seeing another female, one who I understand has had a remarkably difficult life, wearing a gift I returned to him in the first place.”

The words tumbled from Lucien’s lips before he could stop himself. “He does not know you. Not truly.”

Something in Elain’s gaze softened, her sad smile growing more sincere. The sudden shift made Lucien feel nervous as a prospective bridegroom. He cleared his throat, willing his palms not to sweat.

Elain’s eyes sparkling with mirth. “What about you? We’ve talked a fair bit about my pursuits. I’d like to discuss yours. I’m sure they are sordid and far more scandalous than a stolen kiss six months ago.”

Lucien laughed at that, a full bodied sound that surprised him. “If you’re certain it won’t offend your delicate sensibilities, Jurian and Vassa have invited me to their bed. Several times.”

Elain’s eyes flashed, her cheeks going crimson once more. The slender column of her throat bobbed as she processed his question, then replied hesitantly, “Well? Did you… accept?” 

Eyes locked,  Lucien dipped his head, his lips just inches from hers. “A gentleman never tells, lady,” he whispered.

Elain held his stare, “I see.” She tilted her head up, her mouth now dangerously close to his, “Where is this gentleman you speak of?” 

He laughed quietly. “You wound me.” 

She was so near he could taste her on his tongue. Jasmine and honey. When her eyes fell to his lips, he felt the air stolen from his lungs. 

Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me.

It was her move. 

Slowly, Elain’s eyelids began to droop, and in answer, Lucien’s heart threatened to break through his ribs. His grip on her waist tightened possessively, tugging her closer…

Then the song ended. 

The one song for his one dance was over.

And like the perfect courtiers they were, Elain and Lucien parted on instinct,  abandoning all notions of their almost kiss. Both parties averted their eyes as they attempted to gather themselves. Lucien bowed. Elain curtsied. It was over.

He suddenly felt entirely too warm, disappointment coursing through him and hollowing out his chest. 

She can’t see. Don’t let her see.

He would not have her initiate their relationship out of pity – out of sympathy. 

Mustering all his resolve, he gave Elain the most charming smile he could manage, and left the dance floor, heading straight for the patio doors. 

Stepping out of the temple and into the balmy, summer night, Lucien maneuvered around the various tables occupied by the remaining guests and onto the vacant river house lawn. He wrung his hands subtly at his sides, trying to forget the intoxicating feeling of her skin against his, of the curve of her waist beneath his palm. He had been a fool to indulge in his attraction to her. It would only make the wait all the more difficult. 

A fool.

He was such a fool–

“Lucien.” 

Halting in his tracks as he neared the river house, Lucien slowly turned towards the voice that called his name. 

Elain Archeron stood several paces away on the river house lawn, apparently having followed him. She closed the remaining distance between them, her skirts in her hands as she apparently had made an effort not only to find him, but to… to join him. 

“Were you retiring?” she asked, letting her skirts fall to drag over the dewy, dark grass.

At a loss for words, Lucien shook his head in response, shoving his hands in his pockets. 

A smile that looked somewhat relieved, lit her face. “Oh, good. I was going to ask if you’d like a tour of my garden.”

“O-oh,” was all he could manage around the spark of hope in his chest. 

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her expression now somewhat bashful, “And maybe… maybe answer a few of those questions you had. About the specifics of what I’ve seen.” 

Sometimes Lucien wondered if she could read his mind, just like Rhys and Feyre. Sometimes he wondered if the Cauldron paired souls, not just bodies. How else could Elain be re-enacting the very dream that had sent him into her garden last night? The dream where they stood among rose bushes and she recalled to him what their mating ceremony would look like, where they would lay their roots, the cadence of their children’s voices. 

But that was far too much information to place on her shoulders. Perhaps one day, he would tell her of the dream he had that night. The one that had brought them together in this garden and had given him the excuse to ask her for a dance. The dance that led them right back here. 

“Well? Would that agree with you?” Elain asked, tilting her head.

Lucien nodded emphatically, offering her his arm. “Yes, I should think so.” 

Her voice was bright. “Good.” She accepted his arm and started to guide him towards the moonlit garden. “You may ask your first question.” 

Unwilling to miss a good opportunity for banter, Lucien asked, “Have you seen how much of our future funds are spent on your gardening? I’d like a figure in mind so I can conserve my spending.”

Elain’s laughter was a song he knew he’d play in his mind for days to come. Over and over again until she said the word.

Then…

Then he’d come running.