bakerstreet | the floriography meme

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!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[If the bouquet he sends back seems elaborate and complicated, don't worry, it's probably just a riddle.]

[This is highly relevant to her interests.]

[ rooftop runner. athletic. cynical. can see your ~superpowers~. angsts about all the deaths. ]

[Pretty open... she's never actually seen, touched or smelled a flower before, which later has some significance in her canon, so I couldn't pass this up.]

M/F for shipping on his side

het

[ He has a handful of clovers in his hand - no four-leaved ones, so perhaps that's a reminder of the kind of life he's led, but three-leaved ones look well enough. Flowers are flowers, and unless they were the type to come along with poison, they did well enough to please a young girl who would like pretty things.

Only... well, she's not the girl he was expecting to find. ]

Ah, hi.

Are you lost?

I—

[ it hits her this is the first time she's spoken to a stranger. he looks like he'd be part of the family… maybe. he's tall and burly and makes her think of lotto, just not that big—but more importantly he doesn't seem to have a collar or that wide stare or red eyes they all had.

she swallows down whatever knot in her throat preventing her from speaking. come on, lily, you're a chatterbox, usually!! ]

Yes. [ …she tilts her head. ] I think?

[ her eyes drop from his face to the bunches of green he's holding. lily blinks a few times, and then gasps, seemingly stunned. ]

Are... are those flowers?!

[ It had taken months before finally deciding to live together. They had been happy, then. Arthur would even venture to compare them to newlyweds.

But it didn't last. More and more often, Peter would come home late or not until the next day. He would usually be too tired to do anything and tight-lipped about what had kept him exactly. It was his work, was always the excuse. For a long time, Arthur was patient, understanding. He understood how draining and time consuming it could be. But there came a time when Arthur was alone in the flat enough for it to feel like it did before he moved in.

It was hard not to worry, to be suspicious after a time. He didn't think Peter was the sort of man to cheat but... It ate away at Arthur enough to inspect his clothes and drawers one day. He didn't find anything to confirm those suspicions. Yet he continued to feel... out of place. Alone.

Even before he agrees to a job that would take him to Paris, he knows he needs time away from all of this. A job is a perfect excuse and distraction. He gives into the anger he feels when he leaves without even telling Peter, doing what the other man has done to him on more than one occasion when he stopped calling to let Arthur know he would be late or not coming home that night. He leaves a note on the table at least. In front of the flowers in their small glass vase.

Forget-me-nots.

He got them on a whim, thinking they would look good in the kitchen. It's almost bittersweet at how fitting they are as he's leaving. He doesn't leave a number that he can be contacted by or even say how long he'll be gone in the note. The closet on his side isn't empty even as some clothes are gone. Most of his belongings are still there. He thinks that should be indicative enough.

He doesn't think it will make a difference, though. Peter is hardly there nowadays.

It's days after he sets foot in Paris that he starts to feel guilty for how he had handled his departure. He should have told the other man instead of just leaving. Should have called the night he arrived, given him the number for his hotel room. It's enough to keep him up, distract him from his work until he finally gives in and calls their flat in London. He doesn't know why. Peter won't be there. He doesn't even know what time it is there, didn't think to figure out the time difference.

He just... wanted to hear the other man's voice. But with every ring on the other line, his heart sank, growing more and more convinced there would be no answer. ]

Edited 2014-01-12 19:18 (UTC)

[OTA for gen or shipping. No smut based prompts, please!]

[Age appropriate prompts only, please!]

Edited 2014-01-12 19:30 (UTC)

m/f on shipping.

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the floriography meme

Abe Sapien | Hellboy

The Riddler | Batman '66

Simon Blackquill ❖ Ace Attorney

mirai kuriyama || kyoukai no kanata || ota.

Anemone | OC | OTA

kate galloway. oc. ota

Pandora Drake | OC

Sherlock Holmes || Sherlock BBC || open

kiba • wolf's rain

Peter Guillam | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | OTA

Cloud Strife|FFVII ACC

Emilou Apacci | Bleach

lily rammsteiner ✘ dogs: bullets and carnage

no subject

no subject

anna | spring awakening ( modern au )

kougyoku ren • magi: labyrinth of magic

Yuri Lowell | Tales of Vesperia

garnet til alexandros xvii | final fantasy ix

Gwendolyn | Odin Sphere

5-ish? idek

katniss everdeen | the hunger games

Integra Hellsing ↑ Hellsing

Sakura Kinomoto ♦ Cardcaptor Sakura

faramir ❧ tolkien