the floriography meme

[nemuri]

the floriography meme


Flowers, in the Victorian Era (1837-1901), were often used as means of communication when people could not openly say things that we do these days. Think about someone who is naturally repressed; now imagine a whole society focusing on being repressed. You can see why lovers needed some sort of secret code. Poor things.

No longer used much, there are some remaining, well-known meanings—roses inspiring passion and love are a classic example. So, grab a bouquet and give it to someone special. Beware of what certain flowers could say, though. Not all flowers were used happily.

note: some prompts might cause triggers; be aware and specify in your comments

oo1. comment with your characters
make sure to put names, series, & preferences somewhere!
oo2. reply to others in character
oo3. go to RNG and roll 1-20
oo4. play out what happens! anything goes!
oo5. profit? profit!
oo6. originally from here

p r o m p t s

oo1. begonia ❀ beware

A hidden message is always appreciated. You need to keep an eye out, because your best friend might be banging your girl, or your girl is trying to off you!

oo2. chrysanthemum ❀ you’re a wonderful friend

Commonly used for funerals, this flower can also be used to send a gentle message. Someone is interested in you, but you only see them as a friend. Sorry.

oo3. clover ❀ promise

Promises, promises. Sometimes you mean them, sometimes you break them. Today, you promised your lover the best day ever. But does it work out?

oo4. daffodil ❀ unrequited love

There is an old tale of how a youth fell in love with his reflection and drowned. This is the ultimate rejection: no sparing of feelings, no kind words. Crush their souls.

oo5. forget-me-not ❀ memories, don’t forget me

This well-known flower is often given to loved ones as parting gifts. Who knows how long you’ll be gone? Maybe for only a day, or forever and a lifetime.

oo6. hazel ❀ reconciliation

You and a former love have parted ways for one reason or another. Time has cooled your head, but not your heart, so maybe it’s time to rekindle that fire.

oo7. hyacinth ❀ sorrow, forgive me

This holiday does not bring happiness to everyone. Yes, you’re sad and alone this year—but what are you going to do about it? Hopefully not mope with ice cream.

oo8. marigold ❀ cruelty

Love doesn’t mean a thing to you. The people around you are all puppets, and you love playing with them in the meanest way possible. Have fun, you psychopath.

oo9. mistletoe ❀ kiss me

Pure and simple: give someone a kiss! Your lover, your little sister, a stranger from across the room, or go wild and give the whole town some love!

o10. orange blossoms ❀ wedding, marriage bliss

Oh yes, you’re doing it: having a wedding on one of the cheesiest days of the year! Bring your rice and gifts, a priest is waiting to unite two people in love.

o11. plum blossom ❀ beauty, longevity

It’s a long shot, but you gotta try it. Flattery and buttering people up is one of the best ways to get what you want… romance, a date, money, sex…

o12. poppy ❀ oblivion

It is never good to be oblivious, and it’s awful to not see that someone is in love with you. But sadly, you are. Or is the other person the clueless one?

o13. primrose ❀ can’t live without you

You need them. More than lust or financial stability, you cannot imagine a world where you are not with this other person. Who said anything about a healthy relationship?

o14. rose (dark red) ❀ mourning

You never broke up with them, you never forgot about them. This is true love separated—they’re dead and gone. But have you moved on?

o15. rose (red) ❀ i love you, confession

Today is the day to express love, and nothing is better than expressing a love not expressed before! So go on, confess those beautiful feelings!

o16. rose (white) ❀ secrecy and silence

Sometimes you have to keep secrets. Sometimes that secret is someone else. So, enjoy a midnight rendezvous or run away for a passionate day somewhere.

o17. rose (yellow) ❀ infidelity

You couldn’t help it, this other person was just too… something to resist. That’s right! You’re cheating on your public lover today, but do you care or not?

o18. saffron ❀ abuse

Not all love is happy. Sometimes the problems are worse than money or cheating. It’s not limited to physical abuse either: there’s emotional, verbal, psychological…

o19. sweet pea ❀ good-bye

This day can really suck sometimes. Not as bad as being dumped on Christmas, but all the same. Your special someone obviously doesn’t feel the same anymore.

o20. violets ❀ let’s take a chance

Go for it! Love is exciting, and you don’t have to stay in a rut. Date someone new, elope, or do something creative. In the end, be different from the norm this year!

Comments

12 ~ Yuri is good at oblivious

[lovelydragoon]

The two of them always did have a habit of running into each other wandering around, but it was kind of nice to be taking a walk together for once. Good scenery for it, too. Judith smiled as they happened across a patch of flowers growing along the side of the path.

"They're pretty, aren't they?"

[jailbreaks]

Looking at the flowers that Judy mentioned about, Yuri just gave a bit of a noncommittal shrug. He wouldn't say flowers aren't pretty, but he's not really one to comment on such a thing, not really understanding the whole thing about 'beauty'. They're nice, though, he'll say that much about how they look.

"I guess. Better than nothing."

[lovelydragoon]

Meanwhile, she was just trying to make conversation. Flowers weren't something she usually paid much attention to, either. But since she decided to bring it up, she may as well pick one to take along. She glanced at the flower in her hand as she kept walking.

"I heard somewhere that these are supposed to mean... unknown love. Someone not noticing or acknowledging another's feelings. I think that was it." It almost sounded like something Estelle would come up with. Though Judith could imagine that if Estelle had made that observation, there would have been some kind of origin story along with it. Judith, on the other hand, couldn't even remember where exactly she had heard that before.

[jailbreaks]

"Is that so..."

His tone was almost dismissal if only because he couldn't even feign interest in such a thing. Even more so when it involved feelings and whatnot. He never really took interest in how he felt other than when it was for the best interest of others, and when it came to love, he cared even less. Figured it was something he'd never get and it was something he never really cared to want in the first place. And bless the soul that saw something to love in him, because he certainly doesn't see it.

"That's the flower language, right? Heard some of the ladies who run a shop in the Lower Quarter talk about something like that."

[lovelydragoon]

"Mmhm." She looked up from the flower. "I don't know many of them. It's sort of silly, isn't it? If someone has something to say, they shouldn't need flowers to say it for them." But that was just her opinion. Of course, she expected Yuri would agree.

"Still," she said thoughtfully, "This one might suit you."

[jailbreaks]

"Why's that?" He laughed, almost scoffing at that comment. Crossing his arms, the idea that a flower known for oblivion would be suitable for him because he can't see it. Then again, he knew himself and how he really didn't seek those kinds of feelings. Though he couldn't imagine he'd be dismissing another's unless he really was trying to.

"If you're referring to yourself, I don't think we'd last too long. Appreciate the thought, though!" His tone continued to be dismissal, almost mocking of what she said.

[lovelydragoon]

Her turn to laugh. And she couldn't resist playing with that suggestion. Where she'd been idly musing a moment before, she was now very intently coy. "Oh, I don't know about that. We do make a good team, after all. I think we could be good together." She shot him a last coquettish glance, leaving him to determine exactly what she had meant by that, before dropping the act.

"But it wasn't me I was talking about." If that hadn't been obvious already. In all honesty, there may have been more of a shred of truth in his joke there than she would care to admit, but that really hadn't been her intention in bringing it up.

[jailbreaks]

"Well, it's not like we couldn't try..." Still, he can't even see himself in that kind of relationship. Not with anyone. Not like that. Not with the life he ended up resigning himself to. Maybe it's better now, maybe he's been able to see the light and not have to spill blood, but that doesn't mean he doesn't come with a lot of baggage now.

"I figured." His tone spoke clearly, more serious now. Truth be told, he wanted to defer the topic, the conversation away and maybe talk about how nice the stars looked tonight. Still, he wanted to keep it at that. There's no reason to bring up a topic like this with him.

[lovelydragoon]

"You don't know who I'm talking about?" She gave him a curious look, trying to determine whether that was the case or whether he was being intentionally dense. Then she giggled softly. "Maybe it suits you even better than I thought." She spent another brief moment giving him a thoughtful look.

"Well, I won't say anything else." It was obvious that he didn't really want to continue this conversation, and if he really was that unaware, she didn't think it would be fair to Estelle to say anything more specific. So instead, she just reached over and tucked the flower behind his ear on a whim. "Think about it."

[jailbreaks]

He can't help but be a little bewildered as Judy's actions. Not that he wasn't expecting it (okay, he really wasn't) but just how easy it was for her to invade his personal space like it was nothing. Well, she wasn't the only one who constantly did that, but still. However, it didn't mean Yuri was completely stupid or unintentionally dense. It only took one guess to figure out where she was heading with this conversation, and that was a route he had no intention of going down.

"Guess it wouldn't hurt to think on it." He kept on going with this facade, hiding the fact that he figured it out. The cadence was perfect... everything. Because sometimes he preferred to be blissfully ignorant.